Chapter 65
I was sitting on the train looking out the window. The terrain had changed not too long ago from the green grassy fields to white snowy hills. Looking out I shivered slightly, I was never that fond of the cold. Used to it, yes. Fond, no. Reaching into my saddle bags I pulled out two scarfs. The smaller a dark black, and the larger a midnight blue.
“Skies.” I called out down the rail getting her attention. I levitated the black scarf over and wrapped it around her while doing the same with the blue to myself. Next to me I saw Rainbow raise an eyebrow. “What?”
“Nothing, nothing. Just never took you as one to accessorize.” She said with a chuckle.
I rolled my eyes. “When you’re outside the train freezing, I may just accept your apology, and if you’re really nice I might just share with you.”
“Ha, like that’ll happen. I’m the toughest mare in all Equestria. A little cold isn’t going to slow me down.” She said confidently. I looked around at the girls and Spike who were smiling and rolling their eyes. I may face some payback for this later, but I think it’s worth it.
My magic lit up and the latch on the window turned unlocking the window, moving the window slightly a breeze of snow and cold wind blew into the train right where Rainbow was sitting. She as well as the girls started shivering, with Rainbow getting the worst of it. Skies, Spike, myself, and Rarity, who had brought her own scarves as well, were the only ones who weren’t shivering from the slight cold wind.
Rainbow gave me a glare that went away with another shiver. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry about the accessory thing.” She said looking at me.
I smiled and undid the scarf around my neck raising the window at the same time. Rainbow moved over and sat down next to me. I wrapped the scarf around both our necks giving us the added benefit of our body heat to its warming effect. Rainbow gave a soft sigh as she began to warm up again.
The rest of the girls gave a small sigh at the display, Skies and Spike were both fake gagging in their seats.
“You know I’m going to have to get back at you somehow for this.” Rainbow told me.
“Fine, fine, but only you. No bringing Pinkie in on your revenge like last time. I don’t think that pink mane really fit me.” I told her.
“What’s that supposed to mean.” Pinkie said appearing in front of me from under my seat. “Do you have something against pink manes?” She asked me accusingly.
“Only on me.” I told her with a smile.
She stared at me a second longer before breaking into a smile. “Fair enough.”
I rolled my eyes, along with the rest of the girls. “So how much longer until we arrive?” I asked Twilight.
“It shouldn’t be much farther now.” She answered me. “Celestia, said that my brother would meet us there.”
“Great, I’m getting tired of just sitting here.” I said.
“Then why don’t you go take a short walk on the railing of the train car?” Rainbow asked me.
I smiled. “I think I will.” I said slowly lowering my hooves to the floor. Rainbow let out a short yell as she also found her way to the floor forgetting that we were attached by the scarf. “Well, let’s go.” I said starting to walk towards the door to the train car we were on. Rainbow dug her hooves into the floor and made us skid to a halt. “What? I thought you wanted to take a walk.” I said to her.
“Well-I mean… I just remembered I wanted to catch up on my sleep.” Rainbow stammered out.
I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Alright fine, we can sit down.” I said with a chuckle moving back to our seat.
I turned and looked out the window towards our destination. I couldn’t actually see where we were going, but I could still feel the dark presence that was there, and every second this train moved closer it just seemed to feel bigger and badder.
I don’t know how long I was spaced out staring out the window, but I was brought back to reality by Rainbow giving a small cough. I turned to look at her and saw her nod towards Rarity who was looking at me with expectancy. “I’m sorry I was spacing out. What was it you said?” I asked guessing that she said something to me and was waiting for a reaction. At least I hoped that was what she did, otherwise my question would be really awkward.
“Well darling, I was just asking you where you got that scarf. It was made with expert hoof work, and I’m almost certain that you didn’t get them from me.” She responded.
I gave a small smile. “They were actually presents that were given to me.” I told her. “The black one Skies is wearing I got when I was four, this one I got in the mail about a month back.” I told her.
“They were presents, from who?” Rarity asked.
“My mother.” I answered.
“And where did she get them, I would love to talk to whoever made them.” She told me.
I chuckled. “Well, you had the opportunity a little while ago.” I told her, causing her and the others to look at me confused. “My mother made them. Velvet Stitch, you know, the mare that’s considered one of the best seamstresses in all of Canterlot.” I said with a small smile. I saw Rarity’s pupils shrink to pin pricks.
“Your mother is the Velvet Stitch!?” She asked loudly. “She told me her name was Velvet at the wedding, but she’s actually the Velvet Stitch?! Why didn’t you tell me this?!” She asked me, somewhere between angry and star struck.
“It never came up.” I answered with a shrug and an uncertain smile.
She just stared at me a while longer before sighing. “I suppose that I can’t really blame you, It doesn’t really come as a surprise. Anyways, as long as I know you I still have a great chance of meeting her again. I will not pass up an opportunity like this.” She said very determined. I chuckled.
I then heard the brakes start to engage on the train, and it began to slow. We came to a stop not even a minute later. All of us began to get off the train, Rainbow and I still connected by the scarf. The wind was whipping all around us, I’m glad that when I opened the window it wasn’t this bad outside. I opened by mind and began to sense somepony approaching. I looked in the direction and saw a pony emerge from the storm, wearing a black winter outfit and some goggles.
“Twily.” I heard the pony say. Yep, that was Armor.
“Brother.” Twilight said giving him a small hug as he got up onto the platform.
“I hate to be a rush, but we should probably get to the empire as soon as we can. Don’t want to stay out in this weather any longer than I have to be.” He said. We all agreed and began to follow him.
I was walking at the front with Armor discussing things about the empire, anything they had discovered about it. “So you really think it’s-” I stopped speaking as well as walking causing those around me to pause and look at me.
“Shadow, what’s up?” Rainbow asked still at my side.
I slowly unwrapped the scarf and separated us wrapping it back around Rainbow once I was free. I turned around and started to look at the direction we came from. “I think we should run.” I said.
“What why?” Armor asked worried.
“Because I can feel something very big and very bad closing in on us.” I said. As if to further my claim a loud roar echoed around the tundra. “Yeah, we should definitely run!” I shouted as we all started running as quick as we could away from the noise. Looking ahead I saw a large magic dome. Risking a glance, I turned my head slightly and saw a very large black cloud chasing us. As I ran I suddenly saw myself run by a stopped Shining Armor. I stopped as well and looked at him. ‘Oh, no way in Tartarus I’m letting him try to delay this thing himself.’ I turned around and ran beside him. Shining’s horn let out a bright glow and he tried to set up a barrier right as the smoke came around us, but cloud passed through easily and began to engulf us. It wasn’t affecting me, but judging by the sounds of pain I heard coming from Shining I don’t think he was as lucky. I began to panic, but slowly realized that this cloud was still darkness. With a large pulse I sent the cloud away from us. I finally saw Armor for what had happened to him. Around his entire body were black crystals seeming to grow out of his skin. I could feel the dark magic coming from the crystals, draining him of his power. I quickly diverted my attention to him and started focusing on dispelling the crystals. I managed to dispel the crystals up to his horn, but they had already fed on too much of his magic and I couldn’t do anything about them, but Armor was able to get to his feet now at the least. We both took off towards the barrier as the cloud began to chase us again. Risking one final glance I looked back at the cloud and saw two eyes peering at me out of it, they were evil. That was the only way to describe them. They studied me, half with anger the other confusion. I turned my attention away just to see the barrier directly in front of me. Armor ran straight through unimpeded, but the cloud was stuck behind it. I on the other hoof managed to pass through the barrier, but as soon as I touched it my whole body felt like it was coursing with electricity. I managed to push through, but when I made it to the other side I collapsed on the ground, my vision fading.
Before I did pass out, a feeling I was very common with now, I managed to see what the empire looked like. If there was one word I could use to describe what it looked like… it would be grotesque.