C5: To the Center
Traveling to the center of the nest was difficult since it was like moving through a maze that only Twilight and Midnight could see. As the leaders led them through, those following them would step in the leader's hoofprints and moved as their leader's moved. The distance wasn't great, but it was a slow process. The seven of them remained very quiet, concentrating and making sure that their movements were exact. Eventually, the two groups arrived on a hilltop overlooking an empty field, each leader announcing that the area was clear enough for those following them not to have to walk in their hoofprints.
“I think we're here,” Twilight said with a sinking feeling.
“Why, what do ya see, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“You can't see it?” Twilight asked.
Rarity replied, “All I see is a clearing in the middle of the forest.”
Midnight gulped hard at what she saw. “There is a huge cocoon.”
"How huge is huge?" Applejack asked.
"Two, maybe three times the size of the library," Twilight replied.
Fluttershy gasped and hid behind her mane. “That doesn't sound good.”
Twilight sighed. “The Gloomspinner is trying to create a gloom queen.”
“And that's bad, right?” Rarity asked.
Midnight responded with a bit of hesitation in her voice, “Yes.”
Twilight added. “Remember when the Ursa Minor came to Ponyvile and after I got rid of it, Spike asked me what would an Ursa Major look like?” The others nodded in response. “If that thing should emerge, you'll see how big an Ursa Major is.”
The other ponies gulped in unison.
Rainbow Dash clopped her hooves together. “So what are we waiting for?” She tried to take off.
Twilight grabbed her by the tail with her magic and Rainbow Dash flopped onto the ground with a thud and a yelp. “No, Rainbow. There is a canopy of webs hanging over us.”
Rainbow Dash grumbled. “This would be a lot easier if the rest of us could see them.”
“Maybe you can,” Midnight said, looking over the cliff. “Twilight.”
Twilight joined Midnight at the edge of the cliff. “What do you see?”
She pointed, “See all of those webs concentrating into the cave over here?”
Twilight nodded. “You think that is the shadow anchor?”
Midnight nodded. “What better place to gather shadow from than a place where the sun never touches?”
Twilight sighed. “If we can get rid of that, then we all would be able to see.”
“It would make it easier,” Midnight said.
Twilight looked around, trying to find a way in. “The fliers can't go in, they wouldn't be able to see the webs. The ground is out of the question, too many webs.”
Midnight pointed. “Do you see that empty space near the top of the cave?”
Twilight nodded. “Yes, but none of us could possibly get there.”
Midnight smiled and her horn glowed red, casting a spell that made her hooves glow for a moment. She proceeded to walk off the side of the hill.
“What in the world?” Applejack gasped and the rest of them ran up to the edge.
Twilight giggled. “Spider step.”
Midnight looked back at Twilight. “Well, what would you expect?” She started walking along the cliff side. “Once you are able to see the webs, take out that thing as fast as you can.”
“Right,” Twilight replied, watching as Midnight disappeared into the cave through the opening.
*
Midnight moved carefully along the top of the cave, grateful that the spell also removed any sensations that she was upside down, in fact, making gravity affect her as if down was still down to her, keeping her hair from touching the webbing over her head. Her stomach, however, was queasy for other reasons. It was slow going, especially since spider step required at least one hoof to be on the surface at all times.
With her shadowsight, Midnight could see where the webbing bunched together. The spot that they bunched up looked like an area of pure black, even with the spell being active. As she approached, she took a cautious glance around, hoping not to see any gloomspawn guarding the area. Relieved, she took a long, deep breath.
“What a mess,” she chided herself. “I only just moved to Ponyville to get away from the city and have a peaceful life looking up at the stars and painting. I wasn't planning on getting into such a dangerous adventure or even finding friends.” Another long sigh. “But, they found me.”
Midnight looked around to see if any spawn might have showed up while she was lost in thought before continuing, “Six new friends. Only been in town for a few days and found friends brave enough to enter a dangerous place to risk life and limb to save me.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “My new friends,” she thought. “They are heroes, after all. They had fought and freed the night princess from the dark and defeated Discord, of all things. Worse still, one of them is the personal student of the princess of the land.” She nervously tapped at the ceiling of the cave, which was the ground to her. “Yet, they made me their friend. Just an artist from Canterlot, nopony special.”
Before returning to the task she gave herself, she chided herself again, “What a mess.”
She concentrated and created a ball of light. “At least this will help them. It is all I can do, after all. I'm not a hero.” It was a simple spell, even for her. With a small bit more concentration, she sent it into the center of the shadowy area. She turned off the shadowsight, seeing that the webs were starting to appear in normal sight. Turning to leave, Midnight knew that she wouldn't make it back in time. “Hopefully, that will be enough.” The tear finally rolled down her cheek. “Good luck, my friends.”
*
The ponies on the hilltop fidgeted as they waited. Fluttershy pawed at the ground, Rarity played nervously with her hair, Pinkie Pie pondered the party that they would have to celebrate afterward, and Applejack played with the rim of her hat. Twilight looked over the edge, wondering where Midnight was. Rainbow Dash was pacing back and forth in the air next to Twilight.
“What is taking so long?” Rainbow Dash groaned. “She shouldda been back by now.”
Twilight sighed. “No.”
Rainbow Dash flew next to Twilight. “No? What do you mean?”
Twilight looked around now, having recognized what Midnight was doing. “Spider step is a very slow traveling spell. She won't be able to make it up here in time to join us.”
Rainbow Dash looked over the hillside and back at Twilight. “Then why did she go? What is she thinking?”
The others started listening to Twilight. “She is trying to protect us.”
“Then...” Rarity paused.
“Why would she do such a thing?” Applejack asked, putting her hat back on her head.
“I'm not sure,” Twilight admitted. “Maybe she blames herself for putting us in danger?”
“That's crazy,” Rainbow Dash said. “We gotta get her.”
Twilight's horn glowed and held Rainbow Dash fast before she could take off. “You're right. You will get her.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Right.”
“When you see the webs,” Twilight looked up and turned off her shadowsight. “Take off and get her. We'll meet you by the big cocoon.”
“I don't see...” Rainbow Dash gasped as the immense cocoon appeared in the field ahead of them as well as the canopy of webbing. “Okay, I'm off.” She disappeared over the side of the hill.
“Everypony else, we head towards the cocoon and prepare for a fight. Run as fast and as hard as you can. I'll blast a path through the webbing.” Her horn glowed brightly. “Remember, don't let the webs touch you.” The others saluted and prepared to charge. Twilight blasted the first set of webs in front of them and they followed the path down to the ground below. The others followed behind, with Applejack dragging Fluttershy by the tail.
*
Rainbow Dash disappeared over the edge of the cliff and dodged the webbing, weaving between them with ease as they started falling to the ground. She heard Twilight blast magic from the hilltop and figured that was what was causing the webbing to fall. With plenty of space now, she could take her time to search for Midnight.
On the ceiling of the cave, Rainbow Dash spotted her, walking along slowly, her head sagging, though it looked odd since her head was pointing upwards. She flew by, realizing that she wouldn't be able to grab her from this angle.
“Jump!” Rainbow Dash yelled. Midnight looked up at her in shock. She yelled again, “Jump, I'll catch you!”
Midnight hesitated for several moments, visibly trembling.
Rainbow Dash yelled again. “I'll catch you, trust me, just jump!”
Midnight swallowed hard. She closed her eyes and released her spell. As she plummeted to the ground, her body went limp. Rainbow Dash dove and caught her, carrying her near the ground.
“You're a little bit heavy,” Rainbow Dash grunted.
“Shut up,” Midnight commented. She stayed quiet for a moment, staring at the ground as it passed under her hooves. “You should have left me. They...”
“YOU have a party to attend,” Rainbow Dash interrupted, “after we take care of the big bug.”
Midnight smiled. “Thanks.” Rainbow Dash maneuvered a bit and the normal gray coat of Midnight appeared slightly green around her face. “Um, Rainbow Dash....”
“Just call me Rainbow,” she responded.
Midnight gulped. “Rainbow, unless you would like to see what I had for dinner, please avoid any fancy flying.”
Rainbow Dash replied, “Sure thing.”