//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Darkness Eternal // by RosaryOmen //------------------------------// The group leapt from the train once it pulled to a halt at the Canterlot station, the ponies here were faring no better than Ponyville. Several were sleeping on their feet at the station as the group of friends passed through it, careful to not wake them. “Look!” Fluttershy stopped dead as the castle came into view. Canterlot castle was shrouded in darkness, the starry deep blue clouds concealing it from sight. Pinkie let out a loud, dramatic gasp at the sight. “She has to be there!” “Okay girls, let's go.” Twilight started forwards. “Keep your eyes open, we don't know what's going on in there.” The ponies followed the purple unicorn through the streets, pausing when they got to the entrance to the castle. The gates were locked, a magical glow surrounding them. Applejack ran forwards before anyone could say anything, and turned at the last minute to kick at the gates. As her hooves connected, the magic sparked; sending the earth pony tumbling across the ground towards her friends. “Applejack!” Rarity called as the orange pony slid to a halt. “I'm okay.” Applejack grunted and got to her feet. “What in the hay was that?” “Night Mare Moon has locked the gates, I assume the magic she used repels physical contact.” Twilight replied, eyeing the glowing gates. Rainbow Dash flew up a few feet into the air. “Hah! Why bother when we can just carry you over!” She grinned before going to fly over the gates, much to the protest of her friends. The magic barrier sparked, sending the blue pegasus crashing to the ground. “Rainbow!” The group cried out in unison, Twilight quickly using a large burst of magic to slow the pegasus' fall. “Okay, so I may have rushed into that one.” Rainbow shook herself once she was on her feet. “It looks like we'll need to find another way inside.” Twilight turned to look at the gates again. They searched the outside of the castle grounds for a way in, the magic seemed to be blocking their entrance wherever they went. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy couldn't find an entrance from the skies as the clouds blocked their attempts. “Twilight, try using your magic.” Rarity suggested, motioning to the side gate they stood in front of. Twilight Sparkle nodded and lowered her head, her horn pointing to the gate. She braced herself, her friends moving back a little as her horn began to glow. The spark grew in side, magic reaching out and colliding with the magic that guarded the castle gate. The two magics exploded in a flash of colour and light. Twilight strained harder to try and break the spell, the light emanating from her horn increasing in brilliance and size. Sweat rolled down her forehead, her body trembling with effort. There was a huge explosion of magic and the six ponies were flung backwards, they crashed into a pile of pained groans. “Did it work?” Applejack rubbed her head as the group untangled themselves. “That was some explosion.” “Look! LOOK! LOOOOK!” Pinkie bounced excitedly, pointing towards the gate. “It worked! Yay!” The pink earth pony was right, Twilight's magic had dispelled a section of the forcefield style spell. The dark magic was writhing, slowly starting to mend the damage done to it by the purple unicorn's magic. “Quick! Everypony through the gap before it closes!” Twilight called as she dashed forwards towards the closing hole. They rushed forwards, each pony leaping through the closing gap as fast as they could. Rarity just made it in time, the magic closing behind her with an audible crackle. “Woah Nelly, that was close!” Applejack took a closer look at the closed gap. “Although, it don't look like we can get out unless ya' do that spell again.” “It looks like we have no choice, but to go forwards.” Twilight tilted her head to look up at the shrouded castle. Fluttershy cowered behind her friends. “It looks so... scary.” “We can do this, Shy.” Rainbow comforted her friend. “There are scarier things than Night Mare Moon in Equestria!” Fluttershy's pupils dilated and she let out a horrified squeak. “Come on everypony! Let's get going!” Pinkie bounced around them. “Let's go find that meanie-head!” They stuck close together as they made their way through the once lush gardens, the plants withered and dying without sunlight. “This is awful.” Fluttershy frowned sadly as they passed by the dying greenery. “If we don't stop Night Mare Moon, Equestria will die. We'll starve!” Twilight kept a look out for anything that would stop them. The doors to the castle were unlocked, allowed the six ponies to just walk inside. They were cautious, this now seemed too easy. Inside the castle, it was way too quiet; no guards were visible anywhere. “Where is everypony?” Applejack whispered as they walked quietly through the hallways. “I don't know.” Rarity shrugged. “It's awful quiet.” As they rounded the corner to head into the Royal Chambers, their questions were answered. Guards lined the room, their once white armour now a dark blue. Night Mare Moon sat in Princess Celestia's throne. Before they could plan anything, the dark alicorn was towering over them; amusement written all over her face. “So, you've come back to try again I see.” She laughed mockingly. Twilight stood her ground, pawing at the ground with a hoof. “We've come to stop you, Night Mare Moon.” She looked at the group, and laughed at them once again. “Foals! What exactly are the six of you going to do against all this guards, and me?” Sadly, Night Mare Moon was right. Those guards were under her power, and the alicorn herself possessed a lot of power. “You're killing Equestria!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her ears flat back against her head. “Preposterous!” The alicorn laughed. “Guards! Take care of them!” She teleported back to the throne, as the guards surrounded the six ponies. Fighting back would be no use, they were outnumbered for starters; not to mention the guards were basically puppets right now. The guards dragged them downstairs, to the dungeon that none of them even knew had existed. Each pony was shoved into a separate cell from each other, the guards leaving them alone once the doors were locked. “Twilight!” Rarity complained loudly. “These cells are all filthy!” “That ain't our real issue right now, sugar cube.” Applejack paced in front of the bars. “We need to get the hay outta 'ere.” Fluttershy was cowering in the far corner, Rainbow Dash was trying to break the bars down unsuccessfully. “Girls!” Twilight pressed her face close to the bars. “I can teleport home, and try to get some help. We can't do this alone.” “Who else can help us?” Rainbow Dash asked, kicking at the bars in frustration. “We need the Princess.” Fluttershy piped up from her corner. “She's nowhere to be found though, Fluttershy. Night Mare Moon might have even banished her.” Dash sighed. “Either way, we need help for this. Either we find the Princess, or we need to get more ponies to help us.” Twilight replied, twisting her mouth. “Twi, jus' get goin' before the guards come back.” AJ urged. “We'll be okay in 'ere, jus' get help.” The unicorn nodded and focused, a ball of light grew from the tip of her horn and grew. The light covered her, and vanished; Twilight Sparkle was gone. “Please hurry, Twilight.” Rarity paced back and forth in the cell. “Please.”