//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 + 11 - Blazing Wings, Screaming Heart Part I & II // Story: The Darkness among the Stars // by Haseo //------------------------------// Chapter 10 + 11 Blazing Wings, Screaming Heart Part I & II Rainbow couldn't believe her eyes. The old stallion stood above her in the sky, with wings of pure black flames. She had never seen such a weird but threatening thing before. “Who, or what, are you?” She regained her stability just mere inches from the ground and rocketed back into the sky, her mane pressed to her head by her acceleration. “Maybe you can grow yourself wings, but I was born with them. There is no way you could out fly me!” The cyan mare was almost at sonic speed, her eyes began to tear up and her wings were strained by the unbelievably strong air pressure, but she could feel the breath of her hunter right behind. Though he wasn’t a pegasus, he could follow each of Rainbow Dash's movements. Soul never lost track of her while she made twists and turns, flew through clouds and mist. They were skydiving through the canyon of Ghastly Gorge but no rock formations or thorn bushes could stop him in his tracks. The bushes simply began to burn to ash as he got close to them. That was the worst of all for the young pegasus flier. His wings were so incredibly hot, the heat would have been enough to melt even iron. In the pegasi martial art, it is common to strike the enemy with your own wings. A blow of Soul's wings would mean instant death. “Damn it! Why is he so fast? This isn't possible!” She looked behind her to estimate the distance left between them. He was only a few feet behind, Rainbow could look directly into his eyes. They turned from this marvellous shining blue to demon-like red glowing orbs, cut by a slit in the centre of the eyes, the former white eye became nearly as black as his fur. Rainbow Dash knew that if she didn't do something, he might kill her. “I have only one chance left … Sonic Rainboom!” She gained elevation and threw herself down the aerial stream, the heat in her back became greater and greater and she didn’t have much time left. A cone of air pressure formed around her front hooves, she was now near the library again. Her feathers slowly began to anneal from the heat of Soul's magical wings, he got closer every second. The world began to shake as Rainbow pierced through the shield of air before her. A shock wave in all colours of the rainbow spread over the village of Ponyville. She did what only she could do. Only she could fly at sonic speed. She looked behind her rainbow-coloured contrail and couldn't see her hunter anymore, she had finally escaped him and saved her life. The first bang was still ringing over the landscape as a second loud slam followed the first. It wasn't the sound of a pony breaking the sound barrier. It was the sound of a black rear hoof hitting between two cyan wings. “Stop, playing around, fool.” Rainbow Dash was blundering towards the ground in front of the library, unable to regain flight. [/hr] Roughly at the same time, Applejack came down the stairs. Her eyes were bloodshot but a small smile sat on her lips. She approached the friends that she left behind mere moments before. “Ah'm sorry. I only wanted to talk to him for a brief moment.” Rarity didn't know what she should say first, her uncertainty ruled over her mind. “Darling, did you cry? What did he do to you?” Applejack closed her eyes and the rest of the water collected itself to the last tear that ran down her cheek. She beamed at her friends with a warm and loving smile. “Ah think Ah've found someone that finally understands.” Now Twilight got the hint and stepped before Rarity. “Applejack, please tell us what is troubling you. We're your friends, everypony is worried about you.” Before the farmer could answer Twilight's question, a pink bouncy mane pushed itself into her face. “Hey Applejack! You're back so Soul must be back, too! Where is he? Behind you? Under that table? I want to dance!” Pinkie Pie jumped up and down while she chirped her short sentence bullets. Applejack and the others could only laugh at the image. “He wanted to stay upstairs for a few more minutes, he’ll come down soon.” The pink party pony stood still in an instant and turned her head a few inches clockwise. “So he’s up there with Dashie?” Applejack raised an eyebrow and stepped closer to her bubble-gum-coloured friend. “She wasn't there with us, we were alone.” Pinkie Pie took a deep breath and sighed in annoyance, while she rolled her eyes. “Oh my gosh, AJ! She followed you two after you went upstairs and she hasn’t come back down yet.” Applejack couldn't believe that her best friend had peeked at her while she spoke to Soul in private. Her head turned red like a tomato, out of anger. “She wouldn't dare to-” Before she could finish her sentence, she was cut off by a faint bang. Not many ponies seemed to noticed the sound. Afterwards a softer slam was audible. It must have been right above the library. Rarity and Fluttershy were somewhere in the room, but there was no time to get them. The friends ran outside the library. They stood still in shock from the scene that had occurred before them. Rainbow Dash stood still in the air only a foot about the ground, held in place by little circular orbs that levitated around her and shined like little stars. Small tendrils extended from each star piercing Rainbow's flesh. She was unable to move except her head. It was a disgusting and beautiful at the same time. But there was more, something much more terrifying. Next to Rainbow stood a big black pony-like figure. Massive wings made of blazing black fire stretched from his back. His entire body seemed to be covered in flames. He turned his head to the three friends. His gaze missed Applejack and Pinkie Pie but drilled through Twilight's eyes, deep into her mind. She began to scream like insanity had infested her. It didn't even blinked, just stared at her. “This thing! This is the monster that chased me in my nightmares! It's smaller and more pony-like than before but I'm sure!” The other elements didn't even know what to say. None of them moved, the monster and the ponies stood still until the monster seemed to relax. It took a deep breath and closed his demonic eyes. They slowly opened again, but the hatred was gone. The eyes changed from the glowing red to the smooth shining blue eyes. A sound like an igniting match could be heard. His wings began to burn brighter until they vanished in the blazing heat around him. As soon as the flames were gone, they could see an old black stallion with silver-grayish mane. The stallion named Soul Tearer. The mouths of the three friends fell wide open, they couldn't believe what they saw before them. He stood there, watching them. Twilight could only shake her head, she didn't want to believe, but he was still watching them. “Yes, Miss Twilight. I'm that creature that you saw when you thought that you slept. But don't be worried, your friend is unharmed. She won't have any permanent injuries, she will be able to fly again by tomorrow.” He turned his head to the scared cyan pegasus, she hadn’t said a word since she was fixed in mid-air. Twilight couldn’t take it any more, her expression became the one of a knight. Unrivalled bravery in front of her former hunter. "Leave Rainbow alone! I want... No, I order you to let her down!“ Soul descended Rainbow Dash gently to the ground. Twilight was still furious, her friends rushed to Rainbow to aid her. "What do you mean, when you said that I thought I had slept?” The old stallion could offer a small innocent smile for her naive question. “My dear, please tell me which spell you used before we met.” Twilight was angrily pacing around as she thought. “It was the ‘Imaginary Transportation' spell, it was written in a book that I found, hidden in the library. The writers were called-” She couldn’t finish her sentence, before Soul interrupted her. “Helia and Star Swirl." Twilight didn't understand how he could know this, but hadn't the chance to say anything before he went on. “Written by the great magician of time and his teacher, the empress of the sun.” Now she totally didn’t understand what was happening. “No, no, no. The empress of the sun you mean, is our Princess Celestia!” Soul began to laugh like an evil villain would. “So she calls herself that now...” As he drifted away in his thoughts, the others began to be restless, especially the orange farmer. “Wait a moment. Before you go on with your crazy story! Why have ya done this to Rainbow!” Soul's horn began to glow and the tendrils pulled themselves out of Rainbow's flesh. Her injured wings healed without any strain. “I didn't want to hurt her, but I'm still upset about her insults. She tried to make me think that all bad things that have happened to me were right.” Applejack's gaze was pointed at Rainbow in this moment. Twilight was still struggling with his words. Pinkie tried her best to help Rainbow Dash. Only Applejack stood alone in front of the library. “Rainbow, you peeked at us, right? So you heard what he talked about. Tell me what you said to him.” The farmer approached the scared pegasus and the old stallion. The so unusually timid cyan racer answered in a small voice, it sounded like it could be shattered by a fingerprint. “I said he deserved everything.” As soon as she finished her sentence, she was slapped by a strong hoof again, the hoof of her best friend. “How dare you say something like that! Nopony deserves something like that! His fiancèe died in battle! They made him watch her die, along with his unborn!” Small tears formed in the eyes of every attending pony. Despite the act of violence against Rainbow. Applejack couldn't take it anymore. "And now you!" She looked at Soul with anger. "Just because she provocated ya, ain't mean that ya have to hurt her!" Twilight was the one whose curiosity urged her to ask more. “Soul please tell me… Who are you really? What do you want from us?” He pushed his own thoughts away and went to stand directly in front of Twilight, standing nose to nose with her. “My name is Soul Tearer. I fought in the great war between the two Princesses and lost my dearest friend and lifetime rival, my fianceè and my foal. Over a thousand years ago, my fear forced me to banish myself.” He did his best not to shout at them. He went quiet before he exhaled calmly. “I was the one who created peace in this world.” Twilight couldn’t contain herself anymore. “Liar! I tried to look you up! There is nothing about you! No birth certificate, no school degree, no nothing!" Soul couldn't suppress his laughter anymore, he cried out, laughing. “ Of course! I erased every hint of my existence along with my kind of magic. It was far too dangerous for this world.” Twilight took a few steps back and crumbled to her plot. “I'm kind of confused. Then why could I bring you back here? How was it even possible to travel through time that easily?” Soul's grin became bigger with every word that left Twilight's mouth. “I don't know why you could tear me through time, nor do I know for what purpose. I'm only searching for peace without fights and without death. The only thing I can say for sure is that I'm Soul Tearer, former master over time and space. I'm seeking peace and harmony. Nothing more, nothing less.” The four friends now surrounded Soul, eager to understand what he told them, the smartest of them, the personal student of Princess Celestia, was the one who dug for the desired information. “What are you talking about? This is insane! I've read about some ponies that were the specters of time and space but they're already dead. Stop talking nonsense, and tell the truth.” The stallion slowly sat down and looked up in the air, where he had chased the young cyan pegasus before. “First of all, I'm very sorry, Miss Rainbow. I didn't meant to hurt you but it would be safer for everypony if you never insult my loved ones again.” Rainbow hadn’t dared to look at him until now, she only peeked up a little bit, but dared more as she saw the kind smile of the old pony. “I'm sorry, too. I promise you I won't do it again. It was reckless and spiteful of me.” Soul offered her a warm smile, which she returned. He turned now again to Twilight and her friends. “Now, I will answer your question. It seems like this century is more peaceful than mine. No wars, no death, no suffering... You wanted to know about me, so I will tell you. My name is Soul Tearer, I was born over a thousand years ago in Canterville and attended the Lunar Training Site for Military Aspirants. Well, if I remember right, you called it Canterlot. I suppose the village has quite grown since I was there the last time.” The friends couldn't say anything, they were more than surprised. Only Twilight could catch up with the seemingly unbelievable facts. “Well, that sounds plausible, I will believe you for the moment but what about your magic? It feels so dark, so bitter, so full of hatred.” For a few moments the time traveller paused and looked her in the eyes. “I was a soldier of the Princess, I have fought in war. Many died, even more were injured. You're a very smart little filly, do you understand the concept of power?” Even the most talented unicorn in all of Equestria had to think about this question, she scratched her chin again and stroked her mane, before she answered him. “Power is the most balanced good in the world. A strong positive power will always be equalized by something similarly strong. This is the reason new and stronger threats always show up. As long as the pure side of ponydom exists there will be darkness. But why are you asking me such a philosophical question?" Soul had to laugh at the attitude of the young unicorn, but he looked more than pleased with this answer and nodded over and over as she spoke. “I understand why the Sun chose you as her student. The answer is quite simple: For over a thousand years, the country that is called Equestria was ruled by two iron-hoofed sisters and their most loyal and strongest subordinates. Each of them represented an aspect of creation. The sun and the moon were leaders of the country and their pupils had control over time and space. All of them had fought for the same purpose. They were on the same side. That forced the universe to counter this overbalance, and it created a foe that they couldn't defeat without sacrificing what meant the most to them.” Soul seemed to be deep in his own memories, his face was sad, sorrow and pain written in his eyes. Applejack didn't want to look at him when he was like this. “But how in tarnation, can ya be time and space at the same time?” Twilight joined in and burst out her small knowledge. “Yeah! The owners over time and space were Princess Celestia's student Star Swirl the Bearded and Princess Luna's student Black Terror. There is no way that you could have mastered their aspects.” Soul stroked his mane until he reached his horn, it had a beautiful spiral grain, and was nearly invisible through his dark colour. “Pain can drive ponies into madness. Through the various battles were fought, I lost my finaceè. The enemy captured her, I realized it too late. I couldn't save her. They tortured her and stabbed her into her chest. They knew she was pregnant and that I was watching. I was a highly decorated soldier in those days, they thought it could weaken us. At the other side of the battlefield, my best friend had fought. We were at rivalling schools, so after we joined two different parts of the forces we became more or less a kind of lifetime-rivals. He fell in combat by my very own hooves. I felt it literally when he took his last breath.” Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash hugged each other, tears were in their eyes, only waiting to drop to the ground. It was a heartbreaking scene but the rational part of Twilight’s mind wanted an answer for her question. “You know that we feel with you and I don't want to appear cold and heartless, but it still doesn't answer my question.” Soul sank a little bit together, he got more and more easy while he spoke his bitter past. “Do you know what my name means?” Twilight couldn't take it any more, she couldn't cover her annoyance any more and shouted at him a little bit louder than she originally wanted. “What does that have to do with my question!” The frown on his face grew bigger and his eyes seemed to show his pain even more. “Foals these days are really impatient. Like I told you, pain and loss can drive a pony to madness. The name of a pony often indicates their passion or special talent, only a few have more. My name is Soul Tearer, I choose this name because my soul got torn apart when everypony I loved died.” The mouths of the friends stood wide open, they didn't want to believe what they heard just now, but hadn't the chance to respond. “After I lost everything that had value to me, I was driven by hatred and the thought of revenge. The specter of time had fallen and I captured his power. My madness dragged me into a incredible and unlimited source of power. I separated the raw and dark power from every attending aspect of our enemy and sealed it into different places in time and space, so nopony would ever be able to release them. The specter of time, Star Swirl the Bearded and the specter of space, Black Terror… had died on this day along with the entire Lunar army and the greatest foe in ponies’ history.” The four friends still couldn't move out of their awe. Applejack slowly regained her ability to speak. At first she tried to say something, her mouth moved but no words could be heard. Her voice slowly rose until everypony could hear her. “But… but if ya had fought in this battle and your whole fighting force was gone… how did ya survive?” His face was wet from the tears he had shed. It's was a shame to see this great stallion cry. He couldn't take the pain of his memories any more. Somehow he managed to talk between his sobs. “I… I ran away. I took the cowards exit! I dropped them in the pit of hell, banished them in an eternal place, where no time exists. Just after I dropped the last one, I opened a rift in the fabric of time and banished myself into an ancient Equestria. I sealed this time period with a Time-Lock. No pony should have been able to enter. I chose to suffer alone in this paralysing agony and left myself to rot there!” He looked in Twilight's eyes, tears still in his bloodshot eyes, filled with regret and the wish to end his eternal suffering that was meant to be his life. “Why did you bring me back! What purpose did you have? Tell me!” Twilight couldn't have thought of an answer, she stammered senseless fragments of words but couldn't form a real sentence. Twilight couldn't have thought of an answer, she stammered senseless fragments of words but couldn't form a real sentence. Applejack stepped before him to stop him from hassling Twilight. “Because of us.” Her eyes were watery and bloodshot. She fought back her tears the whole time Soul talked about his self-chosen destiny. The farmer stood right before him, her head hung low. She looked at him with a pleading gaze from her low position. He couldn't believe what he had heard from the crying mare in front of him. “W- What? What are you talking about?” Applejack's head slowly rose, even now she had to look up to Soul. She gazed at him with a blush. The farmer stood on her rear legs and laid her hooves around his neck. He was frozen and couldn’t move. He just watched as the orange mare pulled him closer to her while she slowly closed her eyes. His eyes were still ripped open, he didn't dare to blink. His coat tensed up, every single hair pointed upwards. Single tears began to fall from the cheeks of the two ponies. Soul finally returned the hug carefully. She had pushed his head under her own and pressed her lips on his forehead. Slowly he proceed to press her back and pulled her immediately back to his strong chest. Applejack dug her face deep into the fur of the strong stallion, her hat fell on the ground. Both closed their eyes tight and squeezed each other firmly. She pushed her whole weight into him and caused them to almost to fall down. While they gently cried into each other manes, their watchers fell silent. They couldn't believe what they saw. The hard working but usually so emotional, distanced friend and the still seemingly impossible stallion hugged in front of them, not minding their watcher. The mouths of the three mares wouldn't close anymore. While Rainbow Dash couldn't watch this sappy scene, Pinkie flashed a huge smile, she was so happy for them. Twilight's eyes twitched several times, her brain didn't want to comprehend the sudden change of the situation into something like... this. Applejack spoke softly into his ear. The others could still perfectly hear her words. "I know that ya suffer the loss. Come and stay with us. All seven of us can become friends. Wounds never heal if they are left alone. Only friends can mend them." He looked into Applejack's face. The eyes of the farmer opened slowly, only a little bit. The green colour of her watery eyes occupied the whole visible sphere. Nopony ever saw Applejack so exempted of her stressful and hard life. “Applejack… I don't know what I'm supposed to do now...” The great stallion's thoughts were racing back and forth. Twilight's mind regained itself once more. She stepped before them and watched them with doubt in her eyes. “Soul, you should know that Applejack is our friend and when she wants you to join our little circle of friends than we want that too, but I have to ask you a very important question. After all you told us, there is just one thing I want to know. Are you our friend or our foe, will you go or will you stay?” Everypony's eyes landed upon the black stallion. He gently pushed Applejack away while he rose up once more. His eyes were closed and had already dried. “I'm sorry Applejack, but I can't do this. Miss Sparkle is right, it happened once where I couldn't tell the difference between friend and foe. I won't let this happen again. I can only answer the second question. I will leave Ponyville.” They looked shocked at Twilight, Applejack's happiness faded in an instant. “No! You can't leave us now. You can stay with us, Soul.” Soul gave her his most caring and fatherly smile, he looked directly into her shivering eyes. His horn and eyes began faintly to glow, his voice grew unusually deep. “My child. Time has its own way of leading the fate of a pony. Every twist and turn is exactly predicted and every part of your life is unchangeable. Everypony you met and those you will meet are already fixed. But I don't belong to your time.” Applejack struggled with the words she heard. The last thing she saw was the disintegrating remains of the dark stallion. Leaving Applejack and the rest of her friends alone. She sank to the ground and stared into Princess Luna's endless night. The magician of time and space has disappeared.