//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 - A Shocking Discovery // Story: For Want of Eternal Nightmare // by Flame Bolt //------------------------------// “Um girls... Rainbow Dash has been gone for quite a while.” Said Fluttershy. “I’m sure she’s fine.” replied Applejack. “But shouldn’t somepony check to see everything is fine?” “Fluttershy’s right.” Responded Twilight, turning to face Fluttershy and Pinkie, “It would be a good idea to send somepony to check on her, just to make sure she is alright.” “I-I’ll go.” Fluttershy immediately volunteered. “I’ll come too!” Responded Pinkie, as she giddily bounced past Fluttershy and disappeared into the trees. “Hey, wait for me!” Squeaked Fluttershy before galloping off after Pinkie and disappearing out of sight. “Rainbow, where are you?” Pinkie cheerily asked, while still bouncing. Just then the trees rustled attracting Pinkies attention as she bounced over to them, “You aren’t very good at hide and seek Rainbow.” Out of nowhere, Shadow Fang lunged at Pinkie and grabbed her, but before he could cover her mouth she cried out for help, “Fluttershy, help me!” Shadow Fang cursed under his breath and knocked Pinkie out and disappeared back into the trees with Pinkie slumped over his back just as Fluttershy arrived. “Pinkie... Pinkie, where are you?” called Fluttershy, receiving no reply from the forest. This scared Fluttershy, now she was on her own and something had happened to Pinkie. The girls needed to be warned, but just as she turned round and began to gallop back, she was tripped up by Silent Wind. “tsk tsk tsk, I can’t have you running off and spoiling the big surprise now can I?” Silent Wind jeered. “P-P-Please don’t hurt me.” Fluttershy whimpered in response while attempting to scramble away from Silent Wind. “Go on, run” dared Silent Wind, “how far do you think you’ll get before I catch you, not very far, I’d say.” She leaned in closer, “Tell you what, if you make this easy for me and come quietly you’ll be able to see your two friends that we’ve captured already. Of course, if you run, then we’ll knock you out like we did with them and take you with us anyway, in other words you don’t really have a choice in the matter. So, what’ll it be?” “T-The first option.” Replied Fluttershy. “Good choice.” Acknowledged Silent Wind. “Ah Shadow Fang and Silent Wind, I take it your task was a success?” “Of course, Nightmare.” Said Shadow Fang before signalling Silent Wind to bring both Pinkie, who was still unconscious and Fluttershy to Nightmare. “Excellent, throw them in the dungeon and make it the cell that their cyan coloured friend is in.” “Right away” replied Shadow Fang before taking Fluttershy and Pinkie to the dungeon with Silent Wind. “May I ask why you do this?” asked Fluttershy as they left the room. “We do it because Nightmare tells us to, we’ve been around for about a thousand years thanks to her. The least we can do is repay the favour.” Replied Silent Wind as the group turned left and headed down a corridor. “Why do you want to stop her?” “Because Celestia knows she’ll try to bring about eternal night again and she wants her sister back.” “It’s funny because you won’t be able to stop her now.” Chuckled Shadow Fang “It looks like we’re here.” Announced Silent Wind as they approached an iron door that was open and being guarded by Night Shade. “Well, that was fast, we already have half of them? I expected more of a fight from the Elements.” Joked Night Shade. They all followed Night Shade to Rainbow’s cell and opened the door. Shadow Fang, with Pinkie on his back entered first and carefully set Pinkie down, followed by Fluttershy who immediately checked on Pinkie before Shadow Fang left and locked them in. After Shadow Fang, Silent Wind and Night Shade were out of sight, Pinkie woke up. “Where are we?” she asked. “Captured and in the Castle dungeon.” Replied a vaguely familiar voice. Fluttershy whirled round in surprise. “R-Rainbow is that you?” “This is going to be awkward Fluttershy.” She replied “What’s awkward?” Asked Pinkie. Rainbow stepped into view and the reaction on Pinkie’s face said it all as her jaw comically fell to the ground, whilst Fluttershy slowly backed away. “Like I said awkward.” Responded Rainbow. “What did Nightmare do to you?” Asked Fluttershy. “I can’t really say, to be honest, but I noticed my transformation as I drifted in and out of consciousness whilst stuck in here.” “Well this is rich.” Snorted Nightmare, surprising the group as they all turned to look at her, a smug grin on her face. Rainbow being... well, Rainbow beat everyone to the punch. “How long have you been spying on us?” “A few minutes, I don’t intend to overstay my welcome so I’ll cut straight to the point.” “What do you want?” Snarled Rainbow. “I want you to carry out a little task, if you do it I’ll release you.” Rainbow was quickly running out of patience, “Tell me before now, before I lose it!” Nightmare smirked before leaning in, “I want you to kill...” “Your friends.”