//------------------------------// // The End // Story: Shrouded in Fear // by TinnyPiano26 //------------------------------// Bright Day kneeled down and closed his eyes, feeling the earth underneath him, as Twilight sat and watched. He had led her to a field along the outskirts of Ponyville, not answering a single question she asked. Now I'm sitting here while he takes a break, and I don't know why. she thought to herself, rather annoyed with him. Twilight had finally had enough after a few minutes of Bright Day's kneeling. She began speaking. "Can you please just--" "Shh, I'm trying to focus." he interrupted her. "Focus on what?" He remained silent, much to Twilight's dismay. Finally, Bright Day opened his eyes and stood up, walking and ushering her to follow. She simply stood up and remained in place. After a few steps, he turned back around and looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Are you coming or not?" he asked her. "Not until you start answering my questions." she angrily snapped back. He visually recoiled, then closed his eyes and shook his head. "Fine, what do you want to know?" "First of all, why are suddenly being so quiet all the time?" He put his hand on his chin in thought, then shrugged. "I don't really know, myself." Twilight rolled her eyes, unsatisfied with his answer. "Why weren't you answering my questions on the way here?" "Because they'll be answered once you see where we're going." "And where exactly are we going?" she glared at him. "We're already there, actually." Kneeling down, Bright Day ripped a patch of grass out of the ground, revealing a small, dark green rune symbol. He put his hands against it and turned back to Twilight. "You might want to get over here." he said, a small frown present on his face. She trotted over to him and looked back to where she was standing with a confused look. The bipedal man channeled a small amount of energy into the rune, which began to glow white, and looked back as a patch of land faded out of existence. Soon replacing it was a large, black, metal safe imbedded into the ground. Bright Day walked over and twisted the knob on the top, stopping at three numbers and pulling the door open. He reached inside and pulled something out, walking slowly back to Twilight afterwards and showing her the object. It was a small, black disk that had a dark aura surrounding it. Imbedded in the center of it was a red button, which Bright Day seemed to keep his thumb away from. Twilight studied the object for a little longer, finding nothing else of notice, and looked up at Bright Day questioningly. "What exactly is it?" she asked, reaching towards the disk. He pulled the disk back and answered her, his frown increasing in size. "It's how we're going to bring the Dark One here." He pressed the button on the disk and threw it, watching happily as it flew. It went far away from them, then dropped sharply to the ground. After a minute of waiting, it exploded in a shower of dark particles, revealing a very confused Dark One. When his eyes came to rest on Twilight, he scowled and angrily said to her, "You again? When will you ever lea--" His eyes moved over to Bright Day and stared at him in shock as he tried to form incoherent sentences. Finally he gulped and regained his ability to talk. "Brother?" Bright Day nodded and approached his cowering sibling, who simply stood in place, too shocked to move. The elder stopped in front of the younger and stared at him, his expression hard and cold. The Dark One studied his brother, noting his features, which looked young and fresh. They stared at each other for a minute before Bright Day wrapped his arms around his brother and lifted him in the air, squeezing him affectionately. "I missed you so much, brother." Bright Day whispered to him as he released the hug. The Dark One continued to stare at his sibling, his look now one of shock and confusion. "I burned the book you were in! You should have died!" he yelled, stepping back. Bright Day held his arms out to his sides. "And yet here I am." he replied. The Dark One scowled and screamed, charging forward while Bright Day simply stood still. When he got close to his brother, the Dark One stopped as he felt a hand firmly grip his shoulder. He looked up into a pair of sympathetic, hurt eyes and felt himself immediately tense up. "I knew that one day I would have to do this," Bright Day said sadly to his brother, stepping back and gathering magic in his hands, "I just wish there was another way." Orbs appeared around Bright Day as he ripped his brother's dark aura away, making him roar in pain. The aura flew into the orbs, which then dropped to the ground as each of them filled up completely. When Bright Day finally stopped, the Dark One was sealed within the balls now littering the ground. He levitated them and walked to the open safe, putting each one in carefully and sealing them inside. He walked back to the rune and kneeled down once more, channeling more magic into it, not even looking as the safe was replaced by the patch of land. He lingered for a moment as a single tear landed on the rune before standing up and walking away. Twilight simply stared on as Bright Day faded slowly out of existence. He turned back to the mare and said before he disappeared, a sad smile on his face, "Thank you for letting me see my brother again." Twilight stood there for a moment, then smiled. "You're welcome, Bright Day." she said before turning around, spreading her wings, and taking off for Canterlot. Twilight opened the door to her bed chambers and, seeing something strange on her desk, walked over and sat down. It was a scroll, kept closed by the royal seal, which she hadn't seen for over a month. She took the seal off, unraveled the scroll, and began reading. Dear Twilight Sparkle, Bright Day has come back to the Void and informed me that the Dark One has been sealed away for good, and that he couldn't have done it if you hadn't helped him. He thought that you deserved something for doing that, and has sent me over to your world again as a gift. Now that he has much more power, he can complete this task. You should be seeing me shortly, and I will be happy when that happens. "Sincerely, Princess Celestia." she heard a voice behind her say. She turned around and stared in shock. Standing in front of her was the newly resurrected Princess Celestia, who was smiling widely. "Princess!" Twilight yelled, rushing forward and nuzzling her, tears streaming out of her eyes. They sat together in silence, save for the occasional happy sob from Twilight, before Celestia whispered in her ear, "I promise, I will never leave you again." The End