//------------------------------// // Chapter 47 // Story: Internal Darkness // by Silver Sorcerer //------------------------------// Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all associated characters, settings and stories are the rightful subjects of Hasbro, the HUB, Studio B, and Lauren Faust. Chapter 47 They hurried through the storm, trying to reach their destination with all of their strength, their endurance, and their courage. They could feel they were getting closer as they ran. The storm became even more intense and the lightning struck the shield that they protected him, forcing Twilight and Shining to strengthen the barrier. Yet they could tell it was quickly failing and would soon collapse, exposing all of them to the storm of the century. If this storm ever let up the entire forest would most likely see an entire forest destroyed. But they had neither the time nor the heart to worry about a forest. Rainbow Dash was carrying an unconscious Applejack on her back and they all worried about what they would find at Magicon's Mansion. They kept running, knowing they would have to reach it very soon, but all came to grinding halt when Rarity yelled out a scream. Looking back they say that she had tripped over a large branch that seemingly had come out of nowhere. She had landed in the mud and she looked absolutely a wreck. Examining herself she screamed even more because of her disgusting appearance. "Rarity, calm down!" Twilight cried. "Calm down? Calm down! Do you have any idea what this mud will do to my mane and coat? Do you know how long it will take to fix this? Do you know, Twilight?" "Now's not the time for your petty problems, Rarity!" Rainbow cried. "We have to get AJ to somewhere safe." "Oh yes, Magicon's Mansion is the perfect place to keep her safe. Why not just throw her into his hooves then." "Rarity!" they all cried and she immediately recognized her mistake. The red on her cheeks couldn't hide her embarrassment. "Oh well…then, uhh…nevermind. Let's just…uhh…go." They gazed over her one more time before they all turned back and headed towards the mansion. Their speed was slower, just a simple trot, but they were all on edge. The storm was intense, even more so than when they first crashed. It could only mean that they were getting close and none of them knew what was in store when they arrived at Magicon's mansion. Walking alongside her brother, Twilight asked, "What do you expect to find at his mansion?" "Other than him, I'm not sure," Shining answered. "You can never be fully prepared for what your enemy has in store, but given that this storm is most likely of his doing, I would guess he has some pretty nasty things set up inside the mansion, just waiting for us." "Bobby traps?" Twilight asked nervously. "Most likely. Though of which kind, I have no idea." "Do you think there will be other ponies there?" "Hard to say. If he owns a mansion then he'll have servants but who knows if they maintain loyalty to him or even like him. I doubt they'll put up much of a fight anyway." "I meant like security." Shining shook his head. "Given the location of his mansion, Magicon probably thought the forest would be ample security to the mansion. He probably doesn't have any and he's been too rushed to get any to defend him. If we can get through his traps we'll most likely just be fighting him." Twilight gulped. She had seen what Magicon could do to anypony and a group of ponies. His magic was one of the strongest and deadliest she had seen in her life. Yet she had been able to overcome at least part of it, with assistance from her brother, but it was still a daunting task. On top of it, she was tired and she knew the rest of the group was too. They would have to use everything they had to fight Magicon and it still might not be enough. She trembled at the thought of her defeat and death and the same fate for her friends. They had battled Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis and all had been successful. But two out of those three times required the Elements of Harmony, which they didn't have, and Twilight stopped dead in her tracks as that realization came across her. A cold fear zapped through her and she trembled violently. Shining stopped short and hurried back to his sister. "What is it?" "I just realized, I forgot the Elements of Harmony!" Shining took a deep breath and spoke firmly. "Do you really think you'll need those?" "I…I…don't know." "What makes you think they would work anyway?" "Because they worked on other villains." "But those weren't plain unicorns No matter how powerful Magicon is, he is still a mortal unicorn. He is not eternal nor has the lifespan of an alicorn. He can be stopped by spells just like any other pony. The Elements aren't necessary." "I…don't know…Shining. I would just…feel better if I had them." "Well, it's a little late for that. We need to keep moving. The rest of the group is waiting." Twilight took a deep breath and nodded and joined her brother in a quick trot towards the mansion. They kept moving but Twilight remained at the back of the group until something passed through their shield that made them all stop and gaze at it. "What is it?" Fluttershy asked. "I think it's a gatehouse," Rarity answered. "All mansions have them." "So does that mean?" Pinkie asked. "Yes, we're here. Let's keep walking forward, but keep a sharp eye. You never know what Magicon may have planned here." "Shining, wait. This gatehouse looks unoccupied. What if we leave Fluttershy and Applejack here? They'll be safe." Shining looked at the stone of the gatehouse and at the structure itself, but shook his head. "Though they would be safe, they would be unreachable. We'd never be able to get to them with the storm outside in case of an emergency. We'll find a safe place in the mansion and I'll make sure that Magicon won't harm them." Cadance sighed, but nodded and kept with the group as they moved further into the grounds of the mansion. They couldn't see much but they saw fragments of stone buildings, whether they were stables, greenhouses, or something else was unknown to them. They didn't bother anyway to explore. They had neither the time nor the drive to; they were here for one pony: Magicon. As they walked they began tom see the outline of the gothic roves and turrets of the mansion. A few candles in the window shined through the torrential rains and the flashes of lightning outlined the silhouette of the mansion which made them all freeze. Fluttershy jumped behind Cadance for cover and Pinkie couldn't help but tremble at the sight of the mansion. "That's…it?" she asked. "That's it," answered Shining, coldly. "He certainly has his…unique tastes," Rarity commented. "It looks more like a fortress than a mansion," Rainbow observed. "How are we…going to…get in?" Fluttershy asked. Shining and Twilight exchanged glances and Shining spoke. "We'll have to blast our way inside." "Shining, what makes you think we can't just sneak in?" Twilight asked. "Because we did that already and it's not like he's not expecting us. He knows we're coming. Might as well give him what he asked for anyway." She reluctantly nodded and looked at the rest of the group who slowly nodded. They turned back to the mansion and continued walking closer to it, though with each step they grew more nervous and hesitant. Even Shining couldn't help but feel a small drop of fear inside. Once they reached the overhang to the front door, Shining and Twilight carefully dissipated the shield. The sounds of the storm immediately returned with the howling winds and the piercing intensity of the rain, but under the overhang they were safe from it. "Now, listen everypony!" Shining called to make sure his voice was heard over the sounds of the storm. "Twilight and I are going to blast that door open," he pointed to the front door. "When we do that you all rush in and get to the side walls. I don't know what'll be on the inside but generally the sides are the safest place for anypony. Twilight and I will be in right behind you. Everypony ready?" They all hesitantly nodded, knowing what lied ahead but unsure and unwilling to do it. But they had to. They couldn't let Magicon continue to rule Equestria. He was a bad pony and had to be stopped, though they didn't know how they would. They neared the door, but remained out of harm's way from Twilight's and Shining's spell. They stood directly in front of the door, touched their horns, which began illuminating. With their combined strength they focused on the door and cast the spell directly at it. The door responded by shattering into thousands of wooden fragments flying everywhere. Everypony ducked as smoke filled the area but didn't duck for long as they ran through the gaping hole where the door used to stand and entered Magicon's mansion. It was now or never, the moment had come. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ The blast shook everypony in the mansion and they all turned around to see smoke where the front door had been just seconds ago and the sounds of the storm echoing throughout the main hall. Cold wins rushed in, causing all of them to shiver and making Magicon's cape blow around his body. They heard hoofsteps echoing throughout the hall and they saw that Littlemore and Garden Hedge were rushing in to find the source of the noise. But they weren't the only ponies that were being heard. Through the smoke Magicon and Fresh saw the Elements of Harmony run into the mansion and stand alongside opposite walls, inspecting themselves, each other, and their surroundings. Magicon rushed to his hooves and cried, "It's too late, Fresh! Get Garden, Littlemore, and Trim out of here! I'll take care of this on my own!" "But Magicon-" "Now!" he cried, looking directly at her with burning eyes of fire. Fear immediately overcame Fresh, but she snapped out of it and called to Garden and Littlemore. "Garden, Littlemore, help me move Trim to the kitchen! They're in the back, away from all of this. We'll be safe there." The two quickly complied and together they moved Trim and themselves out of harm's way. Magicon let out a small sigh of relief as they exited the hall and turned back to the obliterated door and the ponies coming through it. He could see Cadance, Fluttershy, and a dirty Rarity on one wall while Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and what appeared to be an unconscious Applejack on her back on the opposite wall. Just as he was about to wonder where the other two were Shining and Twilight came running through the door and stopped in the center of the hall, both of their eyes falling upon the unicorn. Magicon glared at all of them and most of them returned it, none more so that Shining. Magicon spoke loudly so his voice has heard clearly. "So, it's come down to this," he began pacing the floor at the foot of the stairs, his eyes on all of the ponies before him. "A pony can't even have the peace and quiet of his own home without being intruded by enemies." "You brought this on yourself," Shining rebutted. "If you hadn't been so bad, things would be different. But you aren't good and you aren't capable of doing good things. You have no soul and you're the worst pony in Equestria!" "Ha! We'll just see about that now, won't we?" He smiled maliciously and he sent a wave of magical energy out that knocked everypony off their hooves. Shining barely had enough time to get on his hooves before Magicon ran to him with a killing curse. Immediately the two began dueling, just like before, while the other ponies went to work. Rainbow ran into one of the adjacent rooms and set Applejack down a couch with Fluttershy at her side. "You sure you can heal her?" Rainbow asked Fluttershy nodded. "I'm not a mare of many talents, Rainbow, but medicine is one of my specialties." "Should I stay?" "If you want." Rainbow thought a moment but heard the sounds of the battle outside and knew who needed her most. Applejack would never forgive her if she did nothing while her friends battled Magicon. With a heavy, yet strong heart, she spread her wings and soared back into the entrance hall. Looking down on the scene she saw smoke filling the room as spells missed their targets and hit the walls and floor instead. Twilight had joined the fight and was attempting to restrain Magicon with gravity spells while Shining attempted to hit him with his own spells. Magicon either dodged or blocked them, and cast his own at the two unicorns. Cadance remained out of the fight, silently observing, waiting to assist when needed. Rarity jumped in when she could, but her limited knowledge of fighting magic, made any attempt against him useless. Pinkie, unsurprisingly, brought a party cannon with her and had begun shooting confetti and party supplies at Magicon. Rainbow knew that she had to act and began immediately diving towards to the unicorn. The ceilings were taller than his bedroom, making her dives all the more powerful. Magicon managed to dodge the first one, but on the second one Rainbow crashed into a magical barrier he created and spiraled uncontrollably into a wall. "Rainbow!" Rarity cried and ran to her aid. As she arrived Rainbow got on all fours and shook the dust and debris from her. "I'm fine, Rarity. Thanks anyway." She flew back to the ceiling to prepare for her next assault while Rarity ran to Cadance and attempted to help where she could. The strain of the uneven fight was apparent on Magicon as sweat fell from his body. He had no time to swat it away as he kept dodging spells and attempting to cast his own. Like before he saw that he was outnumbered and evenly matched. He couldn't flee, where was he going to flee to? But he had to do something and he thought of it within an instant. "If I can't play defensive, I'll play offensive," he laughed and with one single move turned toward Cadance and Rarity and cast a killing curse. The fear was evident in both of their eyes and they screamed and huddled together as they braced themselves for the worst. Shining, seeing the curse, and fearing for his wife, rushed to their defense. With a single jump and spell he managed to deflect it just above Cadance's head before he landed on the floor with a loud thud. "Shining…are you?" "I'm fine, Cadance. Just get out of here! Be safe!" She nodded and ran with Rarity to the side of the staircase and watched the battle at a safe distance, away from Magicon's dangers. Magicon, angered by Shining's bravery, turned his attention to Twilight and attempted to cast killing curses and stun spells at her. She managed to dodge and block some of them, but her magic was only semi-on-par with Magicon's and they both knew it. "You know if you had trained with me, you would be able to defend yourself much better," he teased. "You couldn't teach me anything," she replied in determination. "You refuse to learn to do you know what happens to those that refuse to learn? They die!" he teleported to behind her and sent a spell right at her which sent her flying. She screamed, hooves flailing, as she tried to grab onto anything as she flew through the air. Then as she was about to hit the ground and probably break her back, she felt soft hooves catch her. Turning to her side she saw Rainbow with a small smile land her safely. Both nodded and immediately went back to work to defeat Magicon. Shining was once again charging at the unicorn but Magicon managed to grab onto his tail with his magic and flip him around. "How about we try this one more time?" he asked with a malicious smile and attempted to force himself onto Shining. He did his best to resist and push the unicorn away but Magicon's magic forced him to kiss the unicorn for a brief second. Shining screamed on the inside and that scream gave him enough energy to blast Magicon away and send him flying through the air where he landed at the foot of the stairs with a loud thud and a cry. He slowly got back on all fours, just in time to be the victim of Shining's charge which sent up the stairs and land halfway up them with a cry. He looked down and saw the oncoming stallion with his sister right and Rainbow dash right behind him. Pinkie had abandoned the cannon and was carrying some sort of mini-cannon in her hooves. Having no time to act Magicon cast a general magical wave which sent everypony barreling down the stairs and landing at their base with a loud thud and a few grunts. Only Rainbow Dash had managed to avoid the wave and flew directly at the unicorn who telekinetically grabbed her on her tail which caused her to come to a dead stop and hover uncontrollably in mid-air. Magicon then threw her against the wall with a loud thud and everypony closed their eyes at the sound of bone meeting solid wood and Rainbow Dash's cry. She slid down the wall to where Cadance and Rarity were hiding. They looked over her and saw that the force of the throw had broken a few bones in her left wing. "Rainbow, you can't fly like this," Cadance stated. "Not again!" she cried. "Think about it like this, Rainbow, you still have four hooves. You can still run and attempt to charge Magicon from the ground." "Yeah, yeah, okay. I gotta go," and she ran away from the two ponies and up the staircase to join her friends who were rushing up the staircase as well. Magicon had climbed to the top and began casting spells to try and blast them off the staircase. They dodged all of them and he became more and more frustrated as his spells missed their mark. Shining and Twilight cast their own spells in response but Magicon avoided those. But one of Twilight's spells crashed into the stained glass window behind Magicon, shattering it to pieces and allowing to storm to penetrate the hall. His cape fluttered uncontrollably and he felt himself being pulled by the storm into its swirling abyss. He held firm against the carpet and thought of a wonderful idea. It would cost him significant magic but it might just work. As the group approached the steps he waited just for the right moment before using a significant amount of his magic and transforming into his mist and floated off to the side of the staircase, towards the hallways that led to the bedrooms. The group screeched to a halt as they reached the top of the staircase, yet it wasn't enough for Shining who slipped out of the hole and was about to be sucked into the storm. "Shining!" Twilight cried and grabbed his hoof as his body was flying in the storm like a flag on a flagpole. "Everypony, help me!" Pinkie and Rainbow grabbed onto her tail and attempted to pull them in, but were unsuccessful due to Shining's size and the strength of the storm. Worse still was that lightning was not far off. Shining could be struck and they would all be killed. Rain pelted him as well as the rest of them and they squinted to avoid being blinded. "Rarity, Cadance, help!" Pinkie cried into the mansion and the two exchanged glances and ran up the stairs. But hallway up the froze as Magicon reappeared before them and blasted both of them down the stairs. He then turned towards Pinkie and gently tapped her on the shoulder. She turned her head and was met with Magicon's back hooves which knocked her out and she fell to the floor, unconscious. Rainbow heard the knock-out and looked at Magicon with her mouth agape and her eyes shocked, but that was quickly replaced with eyes for revenge. Magicon saw it, smiled, and yelled, "Go ahead, Rainbow, I dare you to. I'm right here. You can attack me, right here." He pointed to his chest, inviting her to make her strike. "Don't do it, Rainbow!" Twilight cried against the storm. "If you give in, Shining and I will be sucked into the storm." "Oh come now, Rainbow, you can do both. You can attack me and still save your friends." "Rainbow, don't!" "What are you, a coward?" "Rainbow!" "Shut up, both of you!" Rainbow cried, closed her eyes, and massaged her head with her front hooves. Yet it was those hooves that had been holding onto Twilight and only with Twilight's and Shining's screams did she realize the error of her ways. Her eyes shot open just in time to see Twilight's flank fly out into the storm her hooves scrambling to catch onto anything. She heard Magicon's evil laugh and rushed out into the storm head first. She spread her wings and the pain seared through her body and she cringed from the pain but she couldn't stop. She saw Twilight and Shining flying through the storm, completely scrambling and screaming for help. She flew as fast as she could against the wind and rain to their aid. With an outstretched hoof, she managed to grab onto Twilights rear hoof and immediately turn back towards the mansion. Lightning struck overhead and thunder rang through her ears, but Rainbow pushed on. She managed to see the mansion return to her gaze and the pain was becoming unbearable. She felt herself growing weaker against the storm and she managed to open her eyes just a bit to see Rarity at the edge of the window, mane blowing everywhere with an outstretched hoof. She grabbed it and pulled her inside, away from the window where she and Twilight crashed onto the carpet. "Wait, Shining!" Rainbow cried, but Rarity pointed to the stallion just across from Rainbow. He was a complete wreck as was Twilight, but one thing stood out more than anything else: Cadance was right beside him, tending to him. Looking around Rainbow asked, "Where's Magicon?" "Gone," Rarity answered grimly. "What do you mean, gone?" "He ran down that hall. I couldn't go after him because I needed to save you guys." "Well, I'm going after him-ah!" she only now remembered the searing pain in her wing. "You're in no condition to fight. Besides, Magicon is seriously weakened. He couldn't have gotten far. Fluttershy!" The cream-colored pegasus arrived quickly and immediately began examining Rainbow. "Ouch! Be careful, Fluttershy!" "I'm…trying. Hold still, Rainbow." Rainbow took a deep breath and calmed down so Fluttershy could look at the wing. As she did Rainbow asked, "How's my AJ?" "Not bad, thank ya'," answered a pony. Rainbow's heart stopped as she saw the orange earth pony ascend the stairs with her signature cowpony hat. She smiled at Rainbow, who returned the smile. Applejack ran towards the pegasus and the two passionately kissed. "I'm so glad…you're ok," Rainbow sobbed. "Ah am too. But now ain't the time for cryin'. Fluttershy will fix ya' up in a jiffy and ya'll be on your way to stop Magicon." "Yes," she smiled and continued crying while they hugged. "Umm…not to interrupt…but…Rainbow, you're left wing is broken. You can't fly at all." "I know that, Fluttershy. This isn't the first time it's happened. What can you do?" "Only wrap it. Other than that, nothing. You must avoid moving your wings at all costs." "Can I still fight?" Fluttershy bit her lip. "Well…I…guess, as long as you are careful." "Ah'll make sure of it," Applejack answered. "Isn't that romantic?" Cadance whispered to her husband who was just regaining his strength. "Yeah…romantic." "How are you feeling?" "Okay, just wet and very tired." "We should take a break." "We can't. Magicon's still alive and now has the time to prepare for us. He's gaining more energy by the second." "I think you're overestimating the unicorn." "How so?" "When I went to rescue you I saw him stumble down that hallway," he pointed to the one behind her. "He's just as tired as you are, probably more so because he's had to use a significant amount of magic against so many ponies." "Yeah…well, at least that's good." "And that everyone's safe." "Yeah…How's Twilly?" "See for yourself." Cadance pointed to the purple unicorn who was slowly coming to her hooves and approaching them, a solemn look on her face. "Twilight, how are you feeling?" Cadance asked. "Not bad," she replied, her voice sounding a little hoarse. She stopped in front of the hole which now had a magical barrier in front of it as did the hole in the front of the mansion. "Who cast-" "I did," Cadance answered. "Oh, thanks. So what's next?" "Rest," Fluttershy answered amazingly commanding everypony's attention. "You all survived the first fight but you all must get a few minutes of rest before you head back to fight Magicon. And…umm…I'll be right there…with you." They smiled and tended to their injuries and each other. Fluttershy was right: the survived the first part of the fight and weakened Magicon, the second part wouldn't be far behind and the outcome would be much more certain, even definite. There would be a victor and loser, yet nopony knew who it would be.