//------------------------------//
// A New Moon 
// Story: Flutter Mane-ia 
// by Emerald Skysoar 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Two: A New Moon


As the Sun sank on the horizon, the once beautiful library descended into a deep and utter darkness. The rich yellow waves that painted the scene as a wondrous sight were replaced by black waves that sucked it into the veil of the night. It seemed when Nightmare Moon attacked the castle, the library was one of the only places to receive little damage from her vengeful ire. For this reason, even the stars were of little help to the newly crowned alicorn princess and her faithful assistant, for the dusty ceiling up above had no holes in it to let in their shining light. 
 
Spike, who was barely able to keep himself from bolting before, had an even stronger urge to run away from the lack of lighting. If it wasn't for his keen dragon vision, which allowed him to peek through night’s blindfold, he probably would have ran home as fast as his little legs would carry him. He timidly looked around the room to see the various nocturnal creatures become more active, as they greeted the new evening like an old friend and accomplice. Glowing eyes stared at him and Twilight hungrily, and he could even swear he saw some of them salivating. It looked as if each animal was getting ready to pounce on the two from the perches surrounding them. Just as it seemed to Spike all hope was lost, a piercing light shone from behind him, discouraging all the foul creatures from entering its holy radiance. He turned to see a magical white orb floating above a nearby table; Twilight magically holding it in place.
 
The new princess was rather peeved at the situation. Here she was, in a treasure-trove of ancient knowledge, only to be interrupted by a lack of light. With a bit more pressure on her horn, she finally stabilized the large ball and floated it up to the ceiling to place it there. Brightness washed over the room once again, though it did not paint the chamber with the same golden glow. The mystic tomes, books, and scrolls once again became visible; rejoicing in the exile of the darkness. The room was in silence—as if taking refuge from the cruel blackness around it—except for the chatter of the nocturnal beasts and the sound of a distant groan elsewhere in the ancient structure. This was soon broken when Twilight asked, “Spike, can you run down to that organ room we saw on the way up here and grab some of the candles there?”
 
Terrified of the thought of wandering this spooky castle alone, he quickly responded, “Why can’t we just use the light you created and continue our search? That sounds like a much better idea to me. So it’s settled then. Now let me get back to wo—“As he tried to walk away at the last sentence, the alicorn promptly levitated him right in front of her.
 
“Spike,” Twilight started “what’s the matter with you today? There is nothing to be scared of in this castle, and you will see that when you go get the candles for me. You know keeping this amount of magic out for a long time drains me. And besides, someone has to continue the search. Now Spike, this is for your own good.” At that point, she lifted him up and placed him in front of the ajar door.
 
“Wait Twilight,” begged Spike “please don’t make me go alone. There’s something strange about this castle. Before I fell, I saw this thing in—“He was once again cut off, but this time it was from the slamming and locking of the old door. Once again, he was surrounded on all sides by the darkness.
 
A muffled sound soon followed him through the door. It took him a second, but soon he was finally able to decipher what Twilight was trying to tell him: “Don’t worry Spike. As long as you are calm and collected, this task will be a breeze. This will make you into a tougher dragon. Hurry back!” And with that came true silence, for not even the building or any of the creatures made a sound. Now Spike was truly all alone.
 
‘Come on Spike, you can do this. It’s just a few candles. Just stay cool, calm, and collected and everything will be fine.’ He thought as he started walking down the long and lonely hall back towards the main entrance. With each step he took, his claws echoed down the empty passage. After a moment, he found himself at the top of the small staircase in the large room. Here, the great openings in the roof allowed the millions of twinkling stars to shine their light into the decrepit castle. Mesmerized by the beautiful sight, Spike looked through the hole and all his worries melted away. As he gazed at the heaven, he noticed one thing was missing. He glanced around, but he could not find the heavenly body. ‘Must be a new Moon then.’
 
After what seemed like hours, he tore himself away from the enchanting sight. Twilight was counting on him, and he would not let her down. The pipe organ, if his memory was correct, was located in the second path to the right. And so, he was off. He walked down the desolate hallway with a new sense of reassurance and a new-found confidence.
 
He was halfway to his to the organ room when he noticed it. The temperature was beginning to drop. It seemed that this side of the building had a chilling draft. The deeper he went down to his destination, the colder it got. Still reassured, Spike marched on, but he was beginning to feel different. Uneasiness slowly rose up through his body, like a bubbling cauldron of panic. As nervousness began to take him, he wildly looked around for what was causing his distress, and what he saw made him regret ever leaving the library this morning.
 
Several feet behind him floated a mass of shifting darkness. Shadows flowed all around this… entity. They circulated in every direction, pulling in the blackness that surrounded it like a black hole. Spike was paralyzed with intense fear. He was horrified, yet strangely intrigued. Within seconds, this absorbing process was done. Now the condensed orb began to shape itself. It expanded wide first, and then upward. Soon, this inky blob was twice the size of the baby dragon, and it began to take the shape of a large pony. Features started to take form all over it. Long legs sprouted from its base, followed by wings on the back of it, a horn, and a great mane of shadows on its head. Last, a pair sinister of yellow eyes and a wide, evil grin appeared on its face, showing off razor sharp fangs. With that, the Pony of Shadows was now complete.  
 
The petrified Spike stood in shock. He didn't even quiver with fear, for the terror was too much for him. However, as the shadow pony spread its wings and began to walk towards him, his feet began to move on their own. He ran down the passage like his life depended on it, taking random paths and going through doors trying to shake the shade of his trail. But after a few minutes of doing this, he looked around to find the dusky alicorn was actually getting closer to him. Ahead, a dead end loomed ever closer with each passing second, a symbol of his impending doom. He slid to a stop as he reached the cruel wall, each ancient brick laughing at the trembling dragon. Spike pounded at the wall with all his might, but his efforts were no good. He was trapped, and there was no one going to save him. In one final attempt, he cried out “Twilight! HELP!!!” But his words were in vain, for she was too far away. Now the racing ghost was close to getting him. ‘It’s all over!’ thought Spike, closing his eyes in horror waiting for death to take him.
 
Suddenly a loud click sounded behind him, as the barrier turned and gobbled him up. He hit his head hard against the dusty floor, landing in an unknown place. His vision was fading, but the last thing he heard was a loud “Eeeeepp!” and then a bang.
 



 
“Fluttershy darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked, staring back to gaze at the distressed pegasus. The two had been walking for a little while now, but they had yet to see any worthy tapestry. They had kept to the main path, and peeked inside the various rooms, searching for anything worth restoring.
 
“Yes… I’m fine. Thank you for your concern though, Rarity.” replied Fluttershy softly. But the truth was that she was not fine. Her stomach was in knots and her heart was racing a mile a minute. She glanced around nervously at every sound, and moved at a rather sedate pace in comparison to the white unicorn. Her coat was beginning to get matted from the cold sweat dripping off her.
 
“If you say so dear…” said Rarity as she continue her progression through the dilapidated hall. Debris littered the path all around them. Were it not for the numerous holes in this wing of the building, seeing ahead of them would be impossible. Still, without the moonlight, they could barely see in front of them, even with the little bit of light coming from her horn. “My designer’s intuition says we’re close to something extraordinary. Just a few more steps and—“that was the last thing she said before the duo plummeted down a dark hole activated by a pressure switch.
 
 
“Rarity, are you OK?” Fluttershy asked, her mothering instincts taking over. “You’re not hurt, are you?” It was a short fall. In total, they probably fell down about a story. But in reality, only Rarity fell, for Fluttershy used her wings to gently dive down.
 
“Yes, I suppose I am alright. But can you believe the nerve of this ungrateful castle? Here we are trying to restore ancient art, and it rewards us by dropping us nearly to our deaths!” She took a second to examine their new environment. Down here, the air was even more rancid than up above. It was nearly pitch black, so she quickly lit up her horn. The light sprouting from it showed they were in a small room, roughly about eight by eight feet. She moved around, inspecting the walls for any indication of an opening. She came up with nothing and gave in after going around the room twice. “Well then… it appears we are trapped.”
 
“Trapped?!” Fluttershy asked frantically, “How can we be trapped?! There has to be a way out, there just has to be!” Now the pegasus was hyperventilating. She trotted nervously in a circle, frantically searching for any sign of a door. “Who will feed my sweet Angel Bunny and all my other animal friends if I’m down here? Imagine them all, stuck with no food or water for Celestia knows how long. What if he hurts himself? What if he­—”
 
“Wait,” Rarity interrupted “do you feel that?’ She was referring to the diminishing heat of the room.
 
“Y-y-yes.” Replied Fluttershy shaking, not from fear, but from the chill in the air. The air was getting colder and colder, and soon they both huddled for warmth against the wall of their stony prison.
 
Then, out of nowhere, a series of dull bangs erupted through the room. They were coming from the opposite wall from the ponies. But, as quickly as it came, it faded into the darkness.
 
“W-w-what d-do you think th-that w-w-was?” asked Rarity, beginning to feel scared herself. Subsequently, a cry was heard echoing throughout the tiny room, originating from the same wall as before.
 
Following that was something truly unexpected. Fluttershy rose from the dank and dark floor. She stood proudly in the ocean of blackness, quietly challenging it as she defied its terrifying ambiance. She slowly and sternly made her way toward the wailing wall, which now had gone silent. Rarity, shocked at this display of bravado, just shuddered and watched as the pegasus prepared herself. She stopped and looked down, focusing all her concentration on her eyes. When her preparation was complete, she took a mighty step forward and released her steely gaze at the barricade with maximum power.
 
All her efforts paid off as the barrier started to shift. Too bad she closed her eyes to regain her normal vision as the wall came down and pushed her to the other side, into the unknown. During this process, all her bravery melted away. All she had time to do was scream, before she was pushed into the re-solidified divider with a bang and passed out…
 
 

 
The Pony of Shadows was intrigued at this new turn of events. It circled around the unconscious mare with a wide grin planted on its face, as vultures to a fresh carcass. The impact had wounded the small yellow pegasus, and a trickle of crimson blood dripped down, staining her beautiful pink mane. The shadow pony moved down slowly and carefully toward the sleeping pony. Inches away from the angelic pony, it stopped. An ebony tongue shot out of the widening smile, moving slowly up and down Fluttershy’s hair to remove the all crimson elixir.
 
‘Shall I kill her now, or later?’ it pondered. Over a thousand years had passed since the dark vampony tasted the sweetness of pure life energy. The essence filled the specter with a feeling of fullness, making it seem like it was a whole again. It knew, that if enough blood was absorbed, it could once again regain its original form. But one pony would not be enough. The ritual would require several ponies at least, combined with the energy of a truly powerful creature. If only it had caught the dragon instead of this weak yellow one! ‘Still… this one may have some use yet. If I could take each pony one by one under my influence, then the little dragon would be easy to capture. Yes… I shall make this one my minion, and when the time is right, I shall overcome another. Mark this night, my little ponies, because before the Sun rises, you shall all be sacrificed!!!’
 
 
 



 
It had been a few minutes by the time Spike woke up. When he opened his eyes, he saw the most beautiful pony looking down upon him. Her coat was as pale as snow. She was blushing as she noticed him wake up, making her cheeks cherry red, the same color as her luscious lips. As she backed away, he could see she had the most beautiful mane he had ever seen. It shone brighter than the brightest stars in the sky. It flowed seamlessly down, like a cascading waterfall of sapphires. She grabbed his sides with her soft embrace, and gently pulled him in for a kiss. But before their lips could meet, she moved to the side and whispered softly in his ear with her silky smooth voice: “WAKE UP!!!”
 
Spike was jolted awake instantly. This time, he woke to Rarity violently and yelling at him to get up. He noticed her usually pristine mane was covered with mud, debris, and twigs. Dust soiled her milky coat in various places. Her hooves were cold to the touch. She even had a few scratches on her face. Her horn was lighting up the tiny dungeon they were currently in. It looked like she was crying, but it was hard to tell as he was being shaken. “Alright Rarity, I’m up, I’m up.” Spike insisted.
 
At the sound of his voice, she stopped her rocking. He was right about the crying, as tears and mascara streamed freely down her face. She opened her eyes and instantly her distressed look vanished. “Oh my Spikey-Wikey, I was soooo scared you wouldn’t wake up!!” she wailed pulling him into a cool hug. Spike blushed at this, but didn’t pull away. The two sat locked in the embrace for a few moments as Rarity released all her tears. He was all too grateful to hold someone, especially after the night he had so far. It was broken when she pulled away, her tear ducts bereft of any liquid. “Now Spike,” she asked “what in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you doing in a ghastly place like this?”
 
“Twilight and I came here to search the library for information about the locked box from the Tree of Harmony. Why are you here Rarity?”
 
“Well you see, I had a very important reason I needed to come here. I needed some authentic ancient tapestries so I could restore them and get inspired for a new line. So Fluttershy and I… FLUTTERSHY!!!” She screamed the last part out and ran to the flip door, banging on it saying “Fluttershy! Fluttershy are you alright? Can you hear me?”
 
In response, the door turned, but this time only halfway, so the captives could exit the cramped prison. Rarity lifted Spike up with her magic and ran towards freedom. Waiting on the other side was a smiling Fluttershy, though… something seemed different about her. Her coat and mane looked a couple shades darker than what Spike remembered. And she looked strangely at ease, almost as one would be in their home. Immediately, Rarity went right up and hugged her saying “That was so brave of you to take charge and lead us out of that filthy room. However did you figure out how to open it?”
 
“There was nothing to it… Rarity. I always find a way to help out a friend in need.” Even her voice sounded funny. Each word came out of her mouth slowly, as if she was calculating it. Everything she said felt fake. Her voice sounded a little deeper than before too.
 
“Anyway, how are you feeling? I heard a loud bang just as you made it to the other side.”
 
“I am fine. That must have been the wall snapping back to a close. But now I feel tired. I must find a place where I can retire for a bit.”
 
Now Spike spoke up. “You can join Twilight in the library if you need to rest. I’m sure she could use the company. Especially after…” at that moment he remembered why he was in this wing in the first place. “Fluttershy, when we switched places, did you see anything… out of the ordinary?”
 
“No Spike, I do not know what you mean. Maybe your imagination got the better of you. I just arrived into a quiet, empty hall. “
 
’Was Fluttershy right?’ he thought. ‘Could it all have just been in his head? No… it couldn’t have. That doesn’t explain the frigidness in the air. How else could’ve Rarity been that cold too if he was making it all up?’ “Alright then.” He said slowly. “Do you need me to walk you to the library then?”
 
“Thank you, but no. I think I can manage. Besides, who will help Rarity find her tapestries?”
 
"She’s right Spike” Rarity interjected. “I will not have this horrid misadventure be in vain. As soon as we find the right one, I can go back home and take a nice bath to purge this vile dirt off me. Now if you’re sure Fluttershy, we’ll be on our way.”
 
“I am quite sure.” At that, Rarity resumed her quest for the perfect old fabric, this time with Spike as her new assistant. “Happy hunting!” She waved until they disappeared into the shadows. ‘Now, on to more pressing matters. The only real threat to me according to this fool is the alicorn. If I can get her, the rest will be too easy.’ She started her walk back to the main room, masterfully avoiding the hidden traps like an old pro. It took her about a minute to get back by taking the secret shortcut through the walls. She climbed the small stairs and waited at the top, looking out towards the glowing library. As she was about to go to it, two loud screams echoed through the halls. ‘Hmm… maybe a quick snack wouldn’t hurt.’ she thought as she descended the stairs in the direction of the shrieks, licking her lips hungrily.