//------------------------------// // Ch. 4: The Roots Sprout // Story: Dark Shadows // by Melody Brush //------------------------------// Chapter four: The Roots Sprout The next morning Petunia never left Big Mac's side as he got to work on his morning chores and getting Sweet Apple Acres ready for the celebration later this evening. Big Mac was walking through the apple field with Petunia on his back as she clung to him, nuzzling her face into his mane. Big Mac looked back to the filly on his back and she pulled her head up to look into his eyes. "Are ya alright, Petunia?" He asked. She inclined her head with a quiet 'mhmm' then reached up and nuzzled his nose, earning a happy smile from the red stallion as he nuzzled her back. He pulled away from her and resumed his walking through the apple trees back to the farm. When he came out of the fields onto the farm yard they saw Applejack and Applebloom feeding the pigs. Applebloom looked up and saw her big brother with Petunia on his back coming from the trees and ran up to greet them. "Hey Big Mac, hey Petunia!" She chimed. Petunia shakily waved her hoof at the farm filly without a word as she held on to Big Mac. "Hey, Petunia, Applejack and ah were gunna go t' the train station t' pick up mah cousin, Babs. Ya wanna come?" Big Mac smiled as he looked back to Petunia. She shook her head as her answer and buried her nose in the red stallions orange mane. "Ya don't wanna go?" He asked. She shook her head again. "Why not?" Applebloom asked with a bit of a pant. Petunia lifted her head up to show her red eyes which clearly showed the fear being muffled by the comfort of the big red stallion she was perched on. "I won't go without Big Mac." She whispered. "Well, ah don't see nothin' wrong with that." Applejack said, trotting up to the group with a smile. "Y'all can go to the station t' pick up Babs while ah get things done 'round here." "You sure, AJ?" Big Mac asked his sister with genuine concern. "Don't you fret nothin', big brother," she said, "ah can handle things around here." "Like the time ah got hurt during apple buckin' season over two years ago?" Big Mac said with a bit of a smirk, earning a soft scowl from AJ. "That was different," Applejack defended herself, "ah got a few chores left t' do and some o' the town folk'll be here t' get the rest o' the celebration set up." Big Mac stared at her for a minute before smiling at her. "Okay, ah'll take them t' the station and pick up Babs." He said. Petunia hugged the back of his neck as she nuzzled her nose into his mane. ~~)oOo(~~ The trip to the station was not long as they all walked side by side through the town. Several ponies looked up and greeted the three with cheerful smiles as they passed by, even the mayor of Ponyville took the time to stop and say hello to them. Petunia shied behind Big Mac when the mayor said 'hello' to her, but with Big Mac there she built up enough courage to say 'hi' Back to the grey haired mare. They soon arrived at the station and the train had not yet pulled in with its passengers. Applebloom was bouncing with excitement to see her favorite cousin. They looked off into the distance to where the train would come in from as Applebloom talked about the first time Babs came into town. They started to hear the trains wheels screeching on the track and a whistle echoing in the air, signaling the train was close and Applebloom bounced furiously as it approached. "She's here! She's here!" Applebloom cheered. The train came to a slow, screeching stop as it pulled into the station to drop off and pick up passengers. The doors of the trains opened and the ponies on the inside trotted out wile the ponies waiting trotted in. Applebloom's eyes darted back and forth as she searched the crowd for her cousin wile Petunia hopped upon Big Mac's back. Applebloom was so busy looking for Babs she did not notice a brown earth pony filly with short red mane and tail come up behind her. Babs poked her cousin on the shoulder with her hoof and Applebloom turned around and the two embraced each other. "Hey, Babs!" Applebloom cheered. "Hey, Applebloom." Babs replied. She looked up to Big Mac and saw the new pure white alicorn filly on his back. "Hello, Big Mac. Who's that on your back?" She asked. Big Mac looked back at Petunia, who hid behind his head for a moment before poking her eye out to get a look at the city filly. "This here is Petunia Snow." Big Mac answered. "Petunia, this is Babs Seed." Petunia poked more of her head out from behind Big Mac. "I like your eyes, Petunia." Babs said. Petunia smiled sheepishly at the comment. "Thank you." She said. "Is she a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Babs asked Applebloom. "Not yet," she replied, "she won't go anywhere, or do anythin' without Big Mac or Fluttershy." Babs looked confused as she looked up to the filly. "She's very shah." Big Mac explained. "Ah, okay." Babs said with a smile. The train left the station and the four began their hike back to Sweet Apple Acres, Applebloom and Babs trotted side by side, exchanging laughs and stories, wile Petunia rode on Big Mac's back. By the time they got back the farm was loaded with ponies working on getting everything set up for tonight. Several foreign ponies, along with some fireworks experts of Ponyville, were out across the fields where there were no trees, or anything that would easily catch fire, setting up fireworks for the night. Twilight and Spike were overseeing the arrangements, making sure things were being done correctly and on time. Applejack and several volunteers were setting up the farm with tables, obstacle courses and various other things for ponies to be able to enjoy the celebration. Rainbow Dash was in the sky with several other pegasi clearing the sky. Petunia looked up to see if she could find Fluttershy up there helping them, but she never saw her. She let her head drop with a sigh when she did not find the mare who helped, and cared for her since she got out of that terrible forest. Big Mac looked back at Petunia and nuzzled her before he gestured his head to the direction they came from. Petunia followed his gaze and saw Fluttershy trotting up to them with a happy smile. Petunia hopped off of Big Mac's back and bolted for her caretaker, jumping up into her forelegs and hugging her tightly. "Well, hello sweetie." Fluttershy said. Petunia only continued to hug the mare before she climbed up unto her back as Big Mac came up to them. "Was she good for you, Big Mac?" "Eeyup." He replied. The three of them then headed over to help out with the decorations of the celebration. Big Mac did a lot of heavy lifting wile Fluttershy found a quiet place with Petunia to lead some animals in a musical choir. ~~)oOo(~~ Everypony in Ponyville was gathered at Sweet Apple Acres, playing games, sharing stories, talking about the running of the leaves, and simply having a great time. Young colts and fillies were running and playing with family and friends from out of town. Applejack and Granny Smith were serving apple treats to everpony hungry for apples and Petunia was with Fluttershy, each enjoying a glass of apple cider as the events of the evening went on. Petunia put her glass down and poked Fluttershy to get her attention. Fluttershy looked over to Petunia with a sweet smile. "Yes, Petunia?" She asked. Petunia bounced in her seat folding her legs together with a pleading look in her eyes. "Oh..." Fluttershy put her own cup down and picked Petunia up in her forelegs and flew up to find Applejack. She spotted the orange farm pony hoof wrestle with a small crowd cheering each of them on. Fluttershy landed outside the crowd with Petunia bouncing on her back and she politely tried to get through to Applejack. "You're not gonna win this one, AJ!" Rainbow grunted. "Ah sure ain't gonna loose here!" Applejack barked back. The two grunted and groaned, sweat visible on their foreheads as the pushed against the others hoof. Scootaloo was behind Rainbow, cheering her on wile Applebloom shouted for her older sister. Petunia started to get a little more frantic as time proceeded and she patted Fluttershy as she bounced on her back. Fluttershy looked up to her friends with a little bit of panic in her eyes. "Um, girls." She called shyly." "You're hardworking on the farm won't save you here!" Rainbow spat. "Excuse me." Fluttershy called again. "Ya can't use yer wings here!" Applejack growled as she pushed against Rainbow's hoof. "Um, girls..." Fluttershy yet again called. The two athletic mares continued their struggle over the crowds cheers, pushing and grunting against each others hooves. Petunia bounced in place on Fluttershy's back as the yellow mare tried in vain to get her friends attention and was growing more worried as time went on. Fluttershy was about to speak up again when all of a sudden there was a crash and the two mares were sent to the ground as a grey pegasus with yellow mane flew into the table causing it the shatter under the pressure of the crash. "Oops! My bad..." the mare said as she lay on Rainbow. Petunia was not bouncing on Fluttershy's back anymore, she was burying her face deep into her pink mane. Fluttershy moved to comfort the little filly while Applejack scrambled to her hooves and Rainbow shoved Ditzy Doo off of her. "Derpy, you featherbrain!" She shouted. "Sorry girls." Ditzy apologized. "Sorry? I was this close to winning and you come crashing in!" Rainbow barked. "Now sugar cube, she didn't mean anythin'" Applejack said. "Besides, it's all jus' fun in games." Just then Big Mac came in with a concern look on his face. "AJ, are y'all okay?" He asked. "We're just fine, big brother." She answered as she bumped him on the shoulder with a hoof. He looked over to see Fluttershy with Petunia clenched to her back. She slowly lifted her head from Fluttershy's pink mane and looked up to the red stallion then he smiled at her. She reached out for him when she saw him smiling at her and he answered her silent call to pick her up, earning an 'aww' from a few of the ponies around them, especially Ditzy who giggled at the filly. "She's just precious!" She said. "Thank you, Ditzy." Fluttershy said with a smile. Just then, Petunia started bouncing in Big Mac's hooves, clenching her hind legs together. "Oh..." Fluttershy said with a look of realization."... um... Big Mac, can you..." "Eeyup." He answered before she could finish, then he walked off with Petunia to the barn. "Hey, Fluttershy?" Rainbow called. Fluttershy looked over to her friend who had a big grin on her face. "Can she fly yet?" ~~)oOo(~~ Big Mac carried Petunia on his back into the house and walked her to the bathroom. She ran in and closed the door while he waited for. His attention was captured when he heard some noises coming from inside when everypony was outside, or so he thought. He walked down the hall to see who was sneaking around the house when everypony was suppose to be outside. Petunia came out to find the red stallion was not waiting outside for her and trotted through the house to the front door, where she ran right out and bumped into two fillies, one pink with a tiara on her head and as her cutie mark, the other was grey with silver mane, blue glasses and a silver spoon shining on her flank. "Hey!" Diamond Tiara snapped. "Watch where you're going!" "I'm sorry..." Petunia whimpered. "Oh look, Diamond," said Silver Spoon, "it's the new blank-flank alicorn staying at the pegasus' zoo." "You're right, Silver Spoon." Diamond agreed as she grinned menacingly at Petunia. "So, tell us, blank-flank, what's it like living in a zoo?" "I bet it smells like poo everywhere." Silver Spoon observed. "Her hooves probably smell ugly, like her dull boring color." "I like taking care of the animals, and Fluttershy likes my color." Petunia defended herself. "She would." Diamond mocked. "Yeah," Silver agreed, "somepony like her would like such a blank color." "There's nothing wrong with my color." Petunia said as she began to shy away from the two. "Oh, of course there isn't," Silver said, "if your a blank sheet of paper that needs paint splashed on it." The two laughed as Petunia looked at her pure white coat, and she felt a tear starting to build up in her eyes. "I know if I was a single color like that I wouldn't want to go out in public." Diamond said with a smirk. "I know, right?" Silver agreed. "She should go to that fashion pony and have her die her coat and mane, at least she won't look like a blank canvas, then." Petunia looked up at them, her eyes beginning to water. Just then her vision was replaced with a similar scene. It was daytime and the sun shined down as the skies were being cleared by the pegasi. She knew they were not in Ponyville because all the houses were made of crystal. The ponies passing by were also crystal, ignoring Petunia and the other foals. In Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's place were to colts, one was bright red, the other a rich green, both looking like a high class of ancient Equestria. They were laughing and pointing a hoof at her, calling her names like 'blank-flank' and 'dragon-eye'. Her head, involuntarily dropped and she saw her reflection shining at her from the ground, but she was not the same in the slightest. She was a unicorn colt with a curved horn the was black at the base that turned a blood red at the end. Her coat a deep grey and mane a menacing black, flowing like smoke from her head and her irises were red like her own except the eyes themselves were a green and the pupils of her eyes were dagger shaped like a dragons. She recognized the face that replaced hers from books she read while at the library. Granted, they were books that were only published in the last year, but they gave a lot of information about the Crystal Empire from the thousand year old citizens of the great city. This face that she was staring at was the face of a very young King Sombra. Petunia blinked and she was back in front of the two rich looking fillies teasing her. They were laughing as though nothing had just happened until they turned their attention back at their target. "What, blank-flank?" Diamond snarled. "Are you going to cry now?" "I think she is." Silver stated. "Just look at those red eyes water up." Petunia realized her eyes were watering up, but from what? Was it the two fillies teasing her? Or, was it that flash of a vision she just had? And why was she having so many visions about the Crystal Empire? She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes dry before she sheepishly smiled to them. "I think your coats are lovely colors." She said. Before the two could say anything, Petunia took off running, using her wings to pick up her speed and before long she was out of sight. Diamond and Silver both looked at each other like everything they knew about bullying backfired on them. Then the door to the house swung open and a very concerned looking Big Mac came into view, looking left and right until he saw the two fillies. "Have you two seen Petunia?" He asked, worriedly. The two looked at each other and smirked before looking up at the stallion. "You mean the new baby alicorn that's staying at the zoo?" Silver asked. "No, we haven't." With that, Big Mac darted past them and began searching for Petunia Snow before anything bad could happen to her. ~~)oOo(~~ On top of the barn, out of sight from everypony was Arbmos and Luna watching Petunia Snow standing in front of the other two fillies as they teased her for her white coat. "Can we not stop there torture over her?" Luna asked as she helplessly watched the three. "Don't let your feelings overcome you, princess." Arbmos said calmly with her eyes locked on the white filly. "She is but a child." Luna stated, "Why must we add to her torture?" Arbmos did not answer. Luna turned her gaze to the other alicorn and saw her horn was glowing a faint grey, then turned her gaze back to Petunia who ran off into the crowd. "What did you do to her?" She asked. Arbmos' mane then began to engulf her body in white smoke and when her body was visible again she was not an alicorn, but a regular sized, white pegasus with blue mane and tail. She took off after the alicorn filly and Luna followed after her. "Arbmos, what did you do to that child?" Luna asked again as she caught up with the smaller pegasus. "I gave her a little push to the next stage of her ascension." Arbmos answered, following Petunia past the crowd to the apple trees. "And, what is the next stage?" Luna asked as they dove down into the trees. Arbmos turned her head to the alicorn of the night with a blank expression. "The next stage, Princess Luna, is you." Luna blinked at this as Arbmos began walking through the trees to find the filly. ~~)oOo(~~ Petunia ran past the crowd toward the trees where she would hide herself from everypony. She was not going to hide because she was teased. She liked the color of her coat and mane, Fluttershy liked it and it was very similar to the fur of her pet ferret, Blizzard. No, she went to hide for a completely different reason. She went to hide because of these visions she had been having. She did not know why she was having these visions, but she know they were not good, especially if they involved Sombra, which they did. She found a single tree in the midst of all the other apple trees and walked up to it and collapsed beside it, laying her head on her hooves. She let out a sigh as she felt the first stage of sleep begin to take over her. She lifted her head and gave it a good shake to chase away the signs of drowsiness and looked up at the trees, her thoughts turning to the first set of trees she ran through. After staring at the trees for a few minutes she turned her gaze up to the stars and watched them sparkle in the deep blue blanket that were soon replaced by thunderous booms and bright colorful lights. Petunia jumped at the first crack of the fireworks, but was soon mesmerized by the beautiful mix of colorful lights. She turned her gaze to the sky and smiled as the fireworks flashed and cracked in the night sky. She enjoyed the sight as her eyes grew heavy, demanding she give in to sleep. Soon enough, she could not fight any longer and rested her head on her hooves, then passed out. As Petunia fell asleep Arbmos, in her alicorn form, and Luna, with her horn glowing, came out from behind one of the apple trees, slowly approaching the little sleeping alicorn. Luna looked as though she was having second thoughts about something as she looked down at Petunia. Arbmos took notice of this and her flowing white mane floated its way in Luna's line of sight to get her attention. "Don't falter on me now, Princess." She said as Luna turned to face the pure white alicorn. Luna frowned. "Why must 'I' be the one to do this?" She asked. "Because," Arbmos said with a serious look on her face, "your role in this is just as important as Celestia's." "But, why must we be a part of this?" Luna asked. "Is there no other way for her ascension?" Arbmos simply stared blankly at the younger of the two sisters. Luna let her head drop with a heavy sigh. "Princess Luna," Arbmos called with a sharpness in her tone, "the longer you wait, the closer we get to failing and all will be lost." Luna looked up at the alicorn with a look that screamed 'why', her eyes even began to water up. "You know why, Luna. Now do it." Luna gave another heavy sigh as she turned her gaze to the sleeping alicorn filly in front of them. There more times in the past, like this, in which she did not agree with this alicorn, but every time she was this serious it meant that things were dangerously close to the edge of a thin cliff. She remembered the last time she tried something different from what Arbmos told her to do and that led to many things that she regretted later. Princess Luna took in a deep breath and focused her gaze to the sleeping filly and illuminated her horn with her magic. ~~)oOo(~~ Fluttershy was looking left and right for Big Mac and Petunia, a strong worried expression visible on her face as time went by. Big Mac took Petunia inside to the bathroom a while ago and she had not seen them since. She spotted Big Mac frantically looking through the crowd, and this made her fears rise when she saw Petunia was not with him. She ran up to the red stallion who noticed her coming and met her half way. "Big Mac, where's Petunia?" She asked. "Ah was about to ask if you've seen her..." He replied. Her eyes shot open wide as her heart started racing a mile a minute. Without another word the two split up and started searching for the little alicorn. Big Mac got Applejack and the other Apples' and told them what was going on, then they all began searching the farm. Fluttershy went to the others and did the same. When she found Twilight enjoying a glass of apple juice she ran up to her. "Twilight!" She called. Upon hearing Fluttershy's panicked voice Twilight nearly dropped her glass as she turned to see the yellow mare. "Fluttershy, what's wrong?" She asked. "Petunia's missing, we can't find her anywhere!" Twilight's eyes shot open when she heard this and she put her hooves on Fluttershy's shoulders. "Fluttershy, we'll find her, I promise." She reassured her friend. Fluttershy gave a quick nod then the two took off to look for Petunia. Fluttershy flew around the barn a few times then to the ground where she met up with Big Mac after she got Twilight to help find there charge. "Any luck?" She asked him. "Nnope." He answered with a shake of his head. "Oh, what are we gonna do?" She pleaded as tears started to form in her eyes. Big Mac placed his hooves on her shoulders. "Fluttershy, we're gonna find her." The look in his eyes told her he was just as worried as she was at the disappearance of Petunia and he was not going to stop until she was found. She wrapped her hooves around him as a whimper escaped her lips and he returned the embrace to help ease her nerves. Though they had there friends and family out searching for Petunia, the celebration continued as planned and the fireworks were sent into the sky. Flashing bright, beautiful colors in the night sky and everypony marveled in the beauty of the fireworks display. Fluttershy and Big Mac were looking for Petunia in the crowd when Twilight came up to them with a hint of fear in her expression. "Fluttershy!" Twilight called. "Did you find her?" Fluttershy asked. "I might have. I felt some kind of magic coming from the apple trees. It might be her." Twilight explained. The three all bolted in that direction through the crowd. Rainbow Dash flew down over head to get their attention. "Fluttershy, I saw something in the apple trees." Rainbow said. "We're going there right now." Twilight replied. Fluttershy and Twilight took to the sky with Rainbow over the apple trees to find Petunia while Big Mac ran into the trees from the ground. The three searched as they flew over the apple trees to find Petunia, Fluttershy kept her eyes glued to the ground as she flew overhead as Rainbow took off for the area she first saw something, and Twilight used her magic to scan the area around them. "Girls, I feel something over there." Twilight said as she pointed a hoof ahead of them. Fluttershy bolted for that direction through the trees with a hopeful smile on her face. She landed on the ground and started to run for the first tree she saw, but stopped short. Twilight and Rainbow Dash landed behind her and there jaws dropped when they saw what Fluttershy was staring at. Petunia stood rooted to the spot with her back arched up, screaming at the top of her lungs almost as though she were in pain. Black markings showed all over her body and her main and tail were like smoke flowing in the wind. Soon Big Mac came running and stopped beside Fluttershy as he saw Petunia in the state she was in. Fluttershy took a step closer and was stopped by a cyan blue hoof. She turned back to find Rainbow with a panicked look on her face as she shook her head. "Are you crazy?!" She asked. "Don't go near that thing!" Fluttershy looked back at Petunia who was still screaming as the markings on her body grew more menacing and dark. "I have to do something." She said. "She needs my help" "But..." "Let her go, Rainbow." Twilight said. Rainbow looked back at Twilight like she lost her mind, but when the young princess gave her a stern look she backed away and allowed Fluttershy to go to Petunia. Fluttershy took slow steps to Petunia, stopping once when the alicorn thrashed her body as the markings became more like a body suit covering the back of her body. "P-p-petunia?" Fluttershy called. Petunia shot a glare at the pegasus, causing her to jump back a step. Even Petunia's eyes had changed. They gave off a purple hue of smoke and the whites of her eyes were green. "It's okay, Petunia. It's just me... Fluttershy." Petunia's glare soften and the flow of her smoky grey main began to die down. Fluttershy smiled reassuringly at the filly. "It's okay, Petunia. I'm here for you." The black markings began to vanish and her eyes returned to normal. "Fluttershy?" Petunia's sweet voice called out. Fluttershy smiled and gave her a quick nod. Petunia bolted for Fluttershy and jumped into her forelegs, burying her muzzle into Fluttershy's chest as she cried hard. "Help me!" Was all she said as Fluttershy petted her back and her mane returned to normal. Big Mac came up beside them and nuzzled Petunia as she cried into Fluttershy's chest. "We're here for you, Petunia." He said softly. Twilight and Rainbow Dash backed away slowly, leaving the three alone. When they were no longer in sight they turned and left to tell everypony Petunia was found and there was nothing to worry about. ~~)oOo(~~ It was midnight and Arbmos stood alone on the balcony of the tallest tower of Canterlot Castel with her smoky, white mane flowing in the gentle breeze like real smoke. Her gaze locked on the now quiet town of Ponyville in the distance as it slept after the long celebration of autumn. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath as she felt the magic of a much older alicorn fast approaching. Princess Celestia landed behind Arbmos without a word and glared at the pure white alicorn who did not move from her spot as she patiently waited for the high princess to speak. "You wish to talk about your sister." Arbmos said with a calm and regal tone. "You lied to me!" Celestia stated flatly. "How so?" Arbmos asked without turning her gaze. "You told me she would have no further part in this!" Celestia barked. "Would you have let her go if I told you she was meant to do this?" Arbmos asked, keeping herself locked in the same position looking over the town in the distance. "She nearly brought an end to it all!" Celestia shouted. This got Arbmos to turn her head to face the princess with a blank expression. Celestia glared at Arbmos, unmoved by her red eyes staring into her soul. "I would not have sent her to attempt the spell if I believed something was to go wrong." Arbmos explained. "Petunia needed that moment of power for her ascension, and her ascension will happen." "What more is there to be done by Luna?" Celestia asked. Arbmos did not answer. She stared at the high princess fore a long period of silence that was filled only with the rush of the cool gentle breeze. A shadow flew over Arbmos' form and Celestia looked up to see the form of another large pony looking down at them from the sky. "Get some rest, Celestia." Arbmos said. "There is nothing more I need from you or your sister for now." With that, Arbmos took to the sky while gazing down at Celestia then flew away with the other pony into the night sky. "Arbmos!" Celestia called as she watched the two fly away, her thoughts locked on what that alicorn had planned for little Petunia next and why it had to be like this. She knew all to well what needed to be done, she just wished it didn't have to be like this. Why wasn't I wrong?