//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: Shadow of the Sun // by Starwin //------------------------------// Shadow of the Sun By Starwin Chapter 14 A blurry red ceiling was the first thing that Twilight saw as her eyes opened. Her brain was having problems with what she was seeing. Her brain was lagging behind as her eyes darted back and forth trying to take in her new surroundings as quickly as possible. Her first thought was that she was in some kind of room, but that didn’t seem right. This place had walls, and a ceiling, and she was laying on something soft. The place was room shaped, but it just felt… off, although she couldn’t say why. The avalanche! Her friends! Memories and panic flooded into her as sleep faded away. Twilight was jolted fully awake, sitting up and instantly regretting it. Her head was pounding, her chest hurt and her vision was out of focus. Twilight let her eyes close, trying to will her body to relax. After a moment she opened her eyes again and tried looking around a second time. Her surroundings didn’t seem to make any sense. This red colored room was long and box shaped. It had an arched ceiling with rows of softly glowing light fixtures that bathed the room in a yellowish hue. Sets of dark windows lined the walls on either side. There were also a dozen benches on each side of the room, all facing forward like this was some kind of theater. This room just didn’t make any sense. It took Twilight another moment to realize that outside the windows it was pitch black. Night? How could that possibly be night outside? Twilight turned her body and pressed her face against the glass. At last, the realization of where she was finally snapped into place. This wasn’t a room! This was a train car! And they were in a tunnel! How in Equestria had she gotten here? Another wave of panic prickled over Twilight. Quickly she spun from the window. Her eyes raked the inside of the car before she finally let out a sigh of relief. Spread out across various benches were her friends and… was that Trixie? Everypony appeared to be asleep, everypony, except herself and Rainbow Dash. She looked at Rainbow and Rainbow looked back at her, but neither of them spoke. Twilight lay back down at a loss for words. Her most recent near death experience weighed heavy on her. She contemplated waking the others and asking for answers. However, for the moment, she preferred her friends asleep, where she couldn’t put them in more danger. Ever since this whole thing had started a worry had been building in the back of Twilight’s mind. A worry she would not confess to her friends. This whole journey felt like she was leading them all into terrible peril. And Twilight felt like it was her fault. Carefully, Twilight put a hoof down on the ground. She winced slightly at the pain but the leg held her weight. Slowly, she moved herself off the bench. She was standing. Twilight took a step forward and felt her leg nearly buckle, but she managed to steady herself. Slowly she limped through the compartment, her steps uneven and shaky. She glanced at each of her friends as she passed them. They all appeared to be fine and peacefully sleep. Spike’s leg twitched as though he were chasing after something in his dreams. Twilight couldn’t help but smile and wonder what he was dreaming about. Twilight stopped at Rainbow Dash, who turned to look at her. There was something in Rainbow’s eyes that gave Twilight pause. Or, at least there had been something. Whatever Twilight had seen it was gone now. “You’re awake,” said Rainbow. Her voice was slightly raspy and the sound of it startled Twilight. She hadn’t realized just how quiet it had been until Rainbow spoke. “So are you,” answered Twilight. “How did we get here? How did you get us out?” “I didn’t,” replied Rainbow. “She did.” Rainbow turned her head towards Trixie who was sleeping a few benches away. Twilight followed Rainbow’s gaze. “Trixie saved us?” asked Twilight in disbelief. Rainbow nodded slightly. “Maybe she isn’t so bad after all…” Twilight turned back to Rainbow. “Did you not sleep again?” “I’m not tired,” said Rainbow. Something in her words told Twilight she wasn’t being entirely truthful. However, Twilight didn’t inquire further. “I’m going to have a look around while the others are still asleep,” said Twilight. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” asked Rainbow. “Should you even be up and walking?” “I’m fine,” lied Twilight. “I won’t go far.” Rainbow looked like she wanted to argue but didn’t say anything. “I’ll be back in a bit.” Leaving her friends to sleep, Twilight moved into the next compartment. She made her way through the empty passenger cars as she headed towards the front of the train. It felt a little eerie with no other ponies on board. The floorboards creaked and silence filled in the gaps. The dark tunnel outside made Twilight feel as if the world had vanished and the train was all that existed beyond herself. Her progress was slow. Several times she had to stop to rest when her legs hurt too badly. She considered going back and waiting for the others to get up, but her curiosity, as well as her desire to be alone, drove her forward. Twilight was five cars away before she allowed her thoughts to turn towards the thing she was dreading, the reason she wanted to be alone. It was the thing she had been avoiding. The thought she didn’t want to think. The concern that had nearly crushed them all. Celestia. Twilight had kept her thoughts about Celestia in check, but under the stone, in a moment of desperation, Twilight had thought about the Princess. The Sun Goddess had been her mentor for much of her life, since Twilight was a little filly. She had never thought of Celestia like a mother, but more like a grandparent, although she would never dare tell the Princess that. What worried Twilight was the same thing that worried everypony else, the Sun. However the fears of her friends and the other ponies were nothing compared to Twilight’s. They merely assume something had gone wrong. A miscast spell perhaps or maybe Celestia was sick. Twilight had worse fears. What if they reached Canterlot and found Celestia to be just fine. Except, what if she wasn’t Celestia anymore? What if she had become like Nightmare Moon. How could they possibly hope to stop her? Twilight didn’t even know if she could face her mentor like that. The unicorn let out a sigh as her worries whirled through her head. She reached the front of the train. The compartments ended here, not giving access to the engine up front. Carefully, Twilight made her way out of the car and out into the tunnel. The sunlight was bright here. It blazed down in golden light at the tunnels end, just in front of the engine. She stopped a good dozen hooves from the brightness, even though she could still easily feel its heat. She missed the nighttime. Her eyes swept up the tracks. This train wasn’t going anywhere. Even if they could get it started, the path ahead was blocked by more rock fall. It looked like they would have to continue on hoof over hazardous terrain. Twilight glanced away from the track and out into the sky. The Moon was still there. Although it was hard to tell, Twilight was sure it had moved a little further, although it was still not very high. Yet, the Moon wasn’t moving. Like the Sun, it too stayed where it was. Twilight wondered why Luna had stopped it. Had she felt the earthquakes it was causing? Or was there another reason… was it even Luna who was behind it… Twilight winced again as she shifted her weight from one hoof to the other. Her legs were really starting to bother her. Letting out a sigh, Twilight decided it was probably a good idea to make her way back to her friends. She probably shouldn’t have pushed herself in the first place but it was nice to move under her own power. It would still be difficult for her to go any great distance. But at least she had her friends to… “Heya Twilight!” cried a voice from behind her. Twilight stumbled forward in surprise. The sudden movement was too much and Twilight collapsed to the ground with a painful thud. “Oh-my-gosh! Are you alright?” “Pinkie?” asked Twilight, looking back at her friend who had managed to sneak up on her. “Yeah I think I’m okay… ouch!” exclaimed Twilight when she tried to stand back up. “Well, I guess I’ve been better… What are you doing here?” “Well, I was having this amazing dream,” explained Pinkie. “I was galloping through a never ending field of lollipop trees! And then, I was riding down a chocolate river in a giant cupcake! And then, I was flying through the sky on a rainbow star! And then, I woke up and saw you going off on your own and I figured you would need a ride back, so I followed you.” “Uh, okay,” said Twilight. She tried to stand again, her legs protested loudly but at last she got back to her hooves. She didn’t really have an answer to her friend’s ramblings. “Are any of the others awake?” Pinkie shook her head at first and then nodded. “Oh, Rainbow was,” said Pinkie thoughtfully after a second. “Anyhow, why wake them up, when we have a train!” With a woosh, Pinkie sped off, leaping up into the main cabin of the engine. “Let’s get this train a-rollin!” shouted Pinkie. Somehow, she had found an engineer’s hat and was wearing it atop her head. “I don’t think we can,” said Twilight. She slowly trotted back to the steps leading into the engine. “Something stopped this train from getting to Canterlot in the first place. And even if we could get it running, the path is blocked by fallen rocks.” “Oh yeah, I guess you’re right,” said Pinkie. She hopped out of the compartment, leaping over Twilight and leaving the engineer’s hat behind. “That’s too bad, I love riding the train, its so much fun!” “Come on,” said Twilight. “We should really get back to the others and get a move…” “Twilight!” exclaimed Applejack. For a second time Twilight found herself startled by the sudden appearance of one of her friends. Although, this time, she did manage to remain standing. “Oh my stars I thought we had lost you! I thought we had all…” Applejack trailed off, her eyes were wet with tears. Twilight felt surprised at by her friend’s reaction. The earth pony was normal so firm and hardly ever mushy. Applejack grabbed Twilight in a hug, which took her complete by surprise. A brief moment later, Twilight felt another pair of forelegs wrap around her as Pinkie Pie joined in. Then a third pair of smaller arms took hold around her lower half as Spike embraced her as well. She put a hoof around him, glad that he was there for her. The rest of her friends were trotting up to them as well. Twilight smiled. She was happy that they were all alright. “It’s okay,” said Twilight. “We made it out.” “Uh-hem,” said a voice that made everypony’s head turn. Trixie had come along too, walking the furthest behind the group. She was beaming as if she had some great secret to offer. “You all have the Great and Powerful Trixie to thank for saving you,” proclaimed Trixie. “I used my incredible magic to rescue you from certain doom, against all odds, with my fantastic abilities and incredible powers!” “You used incredible twice,” said Rarity. Trixie turned a slight shade of red. “What are y’all going on about?” asked Applejack sternly. “You ain’t never helped no pony.” “Excuse me!” said Trixie indignantly. “I most certainly did!” “Lay off Applejack,” said Rainbow Dash. “If it wasn’t for Trixie, I don’t know what I would have done. She really did save your lives, somehow.” “Somehow?” scoffed Trixie. “Somehow? Not somehow, but with the most amazing magic I have ever cast!” “What do you mean?” asked Pinkie. “Well, my magic has been… spotty as of late,” said Trixie, it looked as if it took her a great deal of effort to admit this. “But when I was saving all of you, it was like no magic I’ve ever felt before. It was an amazing feeling. I was able to do it because… because of you.” She looked away embarrassed at her own admission. “But just to be clear, just because the Great and Powerful Trixie saved your lives doesn’t mean we are friends.” “So what are you doing here then?” asked Applejack. “Well, the Great and Powerful Trixie has decided to help you on your journey,” answered Trixie smugly. “It is obvious that you required someone of my talent to assist you.” Applejack did not look pleased by this announcement, but Twilight spoke before any of her friends could. “We would love to have you come with us,” said Twilight. “We can use all the help we can get.” Twilight looked to her friends and felt relief as each of them nodded their agreement in turn, even Applejack. “So we’re back to climbing the mountain then?” asked Rarity, sounding a little disappointed. “I wish we could ride this train the rest of the way.” “Me too!” exclaimed Pinkie. She bounced up and down, circling around the group as she talked. “I love riding trains! And I love eating cake while riding trains! Oh-my-gosh! Do you think there’s any cake left of this train?” “No,” said Trixie with such certainty that it made Pinkie’s ears droop. Her bouncing stopped, midair and she drifted down slowly as if she were light as a feather. Trixie gave her a strange look. “How did you just… Never mind. The others took most of the food and water when they left. I secured what I could,” she tapped her saddle bags with a hoof, “but there wasn’t much.” “What happened to the train anyhow?” asked Twilight. Trixie shrugged. “I don’t know,” replied Trixie. “It just started slowing down and then suddenly stopped. The engineers didn’t have a clue why it wouldn’t go. They just said that they couldn’t get it to move anymore.” Twilight glanced up at the engine alongside them. She had read many books, some of them about trains and how they worked. Train engines used a combination of steam power and magic. Magic to heat the water in the boiler and steam to turn the wheels and move the train. Enchantments like that didn’t usually fail. “Rainbow, can you go outside and see how bad the path ahead is?” asked Twilight. With a quick salute, Rainbow Dash launched herself into the air and sped off into the blazing light. They didn’t have to wait long before the pegasus returned. “It looks pretty bad,” said Rainbow Dash as she landed with a gentle flap of her wings. “There’s no clear path and a lot of the ground looks pretty rough.” “Well, what should we do now?” asked Applejack. “Oh! Oh!” said Pinkie hopping up and down. “We can take turns riding Dashie up to the top!” With a hop she leapt towards Rainbow Dash, intending to land on her back. “Don’t even think about it,” said Rainbow. Her glare stopped Pinkie in mid-hop and the pink earth pony floated down slowly to the ground, looking disappointed. “Seriously, am I the only one who is bothered by how she keeps doing that?” asked Trixie a little disconcerted. “She’s Pinkie Pie,” explained Fluttershy with a shrug. The other ponies nodded. Trixie looked at them like they were all crazy. “Besides, I don’t think that would work,” continued Rainbow Dash uncertainly. “I already tried to fly up to Canterlot but I ran into some kind of invisible wall of heat.” “Wall of heat?” asked Applejack in confusion. “Invisible wall of heat,” corrected Rainbow Dash. “That’s strange,” said Twilight, more to herself than anypony else. “I thought your element protected you from heat.” Rainbow shrugged. “We could have Trixie teleport us up to the top,” suggested Spike. “Just like she got us out from under those rocks.” “The Great and Powerful Trixie does not just teleport anypony who asks,” scoffed Trixie. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea anyhow,” said Twilight. “If there is something going on in Canterlot that was too hot for Rainbow, teleporting right into the middle of it seems like a bad idea.” “Oh wait! I know!” cried Pinkie, turning around towards Rarity. “Most certainly not,” said Rarity. “I am not carrying you up the mountain!” “Well, I’m out of idea-ea-ea-ea-eas,” said Pinkie Pie, suddenly starting to shake up and down rapidly. Trixie didn’t have any words for what she was seeing. “Ooo, my pinkie-sense! It says there is another way over there!” Pinkie pointed to the other side of the train and began to trot off nonchalantly, humming to herself. “Trust me,” said Twilight, glancing to Trixie, whose face was filled with utter confusion. “It’s a whole lot easier if you just accept it.” The group made their way under the train at one of the car connections and reached the other side of the tracks. Pinkie turned left and began walking back down the tunnel. They followed her back to where they had woken up in the train car. Twilight was just about to speak up and tell Pinkie this was the wrong way, when they reached an opening in the rock. The recent shaking appeared to have loosened the rocks that had been blocking the opening. The passage seemed to be artificial. Somepony had dug this tunnel and then sealed it up. The way was dim but the path appeared to lead upwards. It was not tall, although it was wide enough to trot side by side. “Any idea where this thing comes out?” asked Applejack. “Nope!” answered Pinkie. Rainbow Dash looked nervously at the small entrance in the rock, not moving a hoof towards it. “You know what, I’ll just meet you guys up at Canterlot,” said Rainbow. “Oh come on Dashie!” said Pinkie Pie brightly. “It’s not that scary. I know! I can sing you a song about it! OH, when the walls are closing in and… mefh-mefh-a-mefh.” Rainbow slapped a hoof over Pinkie’s mouth, halting her song. “Okay, okay, fine I’ll go, just… no singing, okay?” pleaded Rainbow Dash. She removed her hoof. “Okie-dokie-lokie,” replied Pinkie happy and she bounded forward into the tunnel. With a nervous glance, Applejack followed along behind her. Then Fluttershy, who looked positively terrified, then Rarity who was doing her best not to look scared. Spike was right behind Rarity. Twilight felt an eerie sensation of déjà vu. “Are you sure you’re okay with this Rainbow?” asked Twilight as she stood beside her terrified friend. Trixie gave them both and odd look before trotting off after Spike. “No,” said Rainbow Dash. “But the last time I stayed behind…” Her eyes turned towards Twilight, looking at the bandages. “That’s not your fault,” said Twilight with a reassuring smile. “Well, not all your fault.” “I know…” said Rainbow. “Twilight…” Rainbow glanced into the tunnel to make sure the others were out of earshot. “I’m… I’m worried. Not about the tunnel, about what happened in Hoofington. What’s going to happen to me when I take this off?” She tapped the elemental necklace. “Will I change back into that thing?” “I don’t know,” said Twilight. “But whatever happens, your friends will be here for you, no matter what.” Rainbow smiled. “Dash! Are you coming? Do I have to start singing,” called Pinkie’s voice. “Yeah, I’m coming, I’m coming,” said Rainbow. Looking a little fearful, she trotted towards the tunnel. She stopped at the entrance, looked back at Twilight and smiled. Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and trotted on. At least the tunnel was going in the right direction, up. Twilight had no idea where this would come out, or if it even did come out. But she trusted Pinkie Pie. Luckily the tunnel had widened slightly and Rainbow’s anxiety had lessoned somewhat, although she still looked nervous. For the most part they trotted in silence. Pinkie Pie was still bouncing happily at the front of the group, leading them onwards. Twilight couldn’t say how long they have been traveling. Her legs were starting to ach badly but she pushed herself forward, not wanting to hold them up. She was very thankful when they came to a stop. The group had reached a split in the path. The tunnel forked into two passages, with no indication of which one they needed to take. “Well, which way now?” asked Applejack. She glanced between the nearly identical openings. Pinkie shrugged. “I don’t know,” said Pinkie. “What in the hay do you mean, you don’t know!” exclaimed Applejack. “You’ve been leading us this way. How can you not know?” “I don’t control my pinkie-sense silly,” explained Pinkie Pie. “They told me to come into this tunnel. They aren’t like some magical guide that tells me the path to take!” A strange shiver ran down Pinkie’s back. “Oh, that one!” she said pointing to the right tunnel. Applejack rolled her eyes and started to walk towards where Pinkie was pointing. However another shiver ran down Pinkie’s back. “Wait, no, that one!” she cried. She stretched her hoof across her body, pointing to the left tunnel. Applejack stopped, gave Pinkie a strange look and began to trot to the other tunnel. No sooner had she reached it then a third shiver ran through Pinkie. “No, wait, that one!” She lifted her other hoof and pointed back towards the right tunnel, so that her front legs were crossed. She held the pose for a few seconds before losing her balance and face planting into the ground. “Will you make up your mind!” exclaimed Applejack. “It nwat mhy fwalt,” said Pinkie, her face still pressed against the ground, hoofs still pointing to both tunnels. She looked up. “My pinkie sense says we need to go both ways!” “That impossible,” said Rainbow Dash. “We can’t go both ways!” “Yes we can,” chirped in Fluttershy. Then she shrunk and whispered. “If we split up…” “I think we should stick together,” said Rarity. “I agree. I don’t think we should split up,” said Twilight. “But I also trust Pinkie. Do you know who should go which way?” “Hold on,” said Pinkie. Her eyes screwed up, trying to concentrate. Her face was tense with focus. “Nope!” she answered at last. “Hmm,” said Twilight, looking back and forth between the passages. The passage to the left appeared to lead downwards, while the one to the right went up. Based solely on direction, Twilight assumed they would need to continue upwards to reach Canterlot. So why point down unless… “Unless,” said Twilight voicing her thoughts aloud, “we do need to go both ways!” “So you want us to split up?” asked Spike in confusion. “No we should stick together but what if pinkie is right?” explained Twilight. “What if we do need to go left and right?” “But you said we shouldn’t split up,” said Fluttershy. “We aren’t going to,” announced Twilight with a smile. She trotted to the left entrance and as she got close, the purple star gem in the tiara atop her head began to glow softly. “We’re just going to go this way first.”