//------------------------------// // Ch.14 A Hero's Revival // Story: The Origin Chronicles Vol. 1 // by SmokeShadow95 //------------------------------// “You are still here, Luna,” Twilight said inquisitively. “Yes, Twilight, I am still here,” Luna responded wearily, “I have no reason not to be here. I still do my royal duties.” Luna was right. She did still perform all her royal duties. But all her spare time was spent with Spike. Over a month had passed since Spike battled the Black Colts. Most nights Luna spent with Spike, and many of the days as well. Twilight also came by often. Luna gave Twilight a weak smile of encouragement. It did not help. Luna looked back at Spike. He was in bad shape. He had minor wounds from the battle. That was to be expected and they were healing just fine. It was his other wound that was the problem. A large black scar across his chest. It was directly over his heart. The scar seemed to move and slither on its own. It had gotten larger since he had been there. It was almost to his shoulder. He writhed in pain whenever a pony touched near the area. Luna sadly looked over Spike. “It will be alright, Luna,” Twilight said. “I know,” Luna said, “I still believe in Spike. I always have. If any single being can get through this, then it will be him.” “Exactly. Cadance went back to the Crystal Empire to try and find something that might help make him better,” Twilight said hopefully, “And Smoke Shadow is doing the same thing wherever it is he goes to.” “Yes, I know,” Luna said wearily, “And I am here. Doing nothing.” Twilight knew exactly how Luna felt. She felt the same. Luna spent her spare time at Spike's side. All the while, Twilight was scouring the library for anything that could help. She found nothing, and yet she still searched. Luna tried on many occasions to access Spike through his dreams. The first time she tried it nearly put her in the hospital right next to Spike. Some force was keeping her out. Strong and powerful, but Luna kept trying. She had barely slept in days. Even Celestia was a bit of a wreck. She hardly let it show, though. She came to see Spike that same day. She found both Twilight and Luna nearly asleep over his bed. Both of them perked up when she came in. “I knew I would find you both here,” She said with her usual calm demeanor, “You should both go and get something to eat. Neither of you have eaten much these past few days.” They both knew it was pointless to argue with Celestia. She was the only pony to keep her calm the best throughout this whole situation. Her kingdom and all the ponies that lived there were in danger, yet she stayed calm. And she was right. Twilight and Luna had not eaten much the past few days. Celestia was always right. Luna knew that better than most, being her little sister. And so they got up and followed Celestia to what was left of the dining hall. Twilight walked into the remains of the dining hall and felt a cool breeze blowing in. She looked over to where a large section of the wall used to be. That was her fault. One of the Black Dragons she had dusted fell onto the castle. Instead of breaking into smithereens is crushed half the dining hall. Then it broke into smithereens. It was being fixed, slowly. The rest of the city came first to Celestia. They sat down with everypony else. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and all the others were there. But there was no sound. It was an uncomfortable silence. Every meal was like this. Without Spike there it was all gloomy and depressing. Even Pinkie Pie was feeling blue. Even her hair was losing its poof. Luna sat down next to Celestia and looked at the meal provided. Soup. Again. It was all they had. Much of the food stores were destroyed in the attack. It was something at least. She lost track of how long she had been sitting there when she got a cold, yet familiar chill between her wings. She practically leaped from her chair and faced the shadows. Intently she stared into them. “I know you are there,” She said strongly, “Come out, Smoke Shadow.” The shadows swirled and twisted more than ever. Luna stepped back and away. She had never seen this before. There was no swirling of shadows. There was no shadows coming together. NO, this time was different. The shadows moved and shifted, but it was a violent motion. After a few moments shapes began to appear. Claws and spikes began to take form. More claws came and even more spikes. A body formed and limbs too. This was not like Shadow at all. They could now see that it was indeed him, but they did not know what was happening. After several moments it was over. A final roar from Shadow and the shadows around him subsided. Something weird happened after that. The shadows cascaded over him and rolled off. The seeped out from under his scales and left his body. He was breathing heavy and seemed to be in some pain. “Smoke Shadow,” Luna said, “What has happened to you?” “I have left the world of shadows,” He said, “Because I have a way to save Spike.” “What?!” The single word echoed from the collective mouths of every pony there. He struggled to get up and had to lean on Luna for stability. Celestia called for Spike to be brought in immediately. Shadow said he needed a space larger than the hospital room to work. The dining hall would do fine. It was spacious and largely empty. Spike's bed was wheeled in. Shadow looked over him. He did not often show his emotions, but it was clear that he felt somewhat guilty about what happened. But now he could make up for that. He said he could save Spike. Now was his chance. “We have all looked for anything that could save Spike,” Twilight said defensively, “Why should we trust that you found anything that could save him?” “Because I could go where you could not. I was able to search places where your dreams could not even take you. Nightmares would brighten some of the places I had to go to find this,” Shadow replied. “And just what did you find,” Twilight responded. “It is called a Soulshadow Crystal,” Shadow said, “It is much like the shadow gems your King Sombra created, only in the most absolute, purest form.” “How will that help him,” Twilight yelled, “He was poisoned by shadows! How is a shadowy crystal going to help him? That doesn't make sense.” “Listen, Princess,” Shadow said with a snarl, “Do not tell me what does and does not make sense about the shadows. I know that world better than any being ever has.” “Enough,” Luna shouted loudly, “Stop arguing now so we can get back to saving Spike!” “My deepest apologies Luna,” Shadow said sincerely. “I'm sorry,” Twilight also said sincerely. “I know these days have not been easy on any of us,” Luna said, “But Shadow says he can save him. I have known him for a very long time. I trust him. So we shall let him try.” All ponies silenced themselves. Luna smiled more happily than she had in a while. There was something in her smile that had not been seen in a while. It was something that everypony was glad to see again. Luna had hope. Smoke Shadow walked up beside Spike. He lay motionless in his bed. His breathing was shallow and slow. Shadow looked over the wound on his chest. It was grave. Much worse than he had thought. There was only one thing left for him to do. He took the Soulshadow Crystal and place it above Spike's wound. One pointed tip of the crystal rest in the wound. Spike did not feel any pain from this touching him. Shadow to shadow. Shadow also took out the black gem amulet he had given to Spike. The Amulet of the Dark King. Another shadowed object that could be used to help save Spike. Using them together, Shadow was going to wake Spike up. He placed one hand on top of the Soulshadow Crystal and held the amulet in the other. He placed his amulet hand over his other hand. He closed his eyes and focused on Spike and the shadows in the wound. Even for a powerful dragon like Smoke Shadow, the spell took a moment to start. When it did the crystal began to hover just over Spike and his wound. It was no longer touching Spike or Shadow. As Shadow concentrated the crystal started to spin. Slowly at first. A few shadows weakly rose from Spike's wound. As the crystal spun faster and faster more of the shadows began to rise and leave Spike. They swirled around Shadow's hands in a tempest of darkness. All the ponies backed up from him. The swirl of shadows was so fast and thick that the crystal was lost behind them at times. But it was working. Spike's wound was shrinking. Withing moments it was down to its original size. Shortly after that more shadows left, but the wound remained the same size. All ponies watched in awe as the last of the shadows left Spike. They continued to swirl around Shadow for a moment longer before subsiding. “All the shadows have gone from him,” Shadow said, “But he is not healed yet.” “What do you mean? You said that would help him,” Twilight said accusingly. “It did. As long as the shadows were poisoning him nothing would have helped,” Shadow said, “Now that the shadows are gone there is one more thing I have to do.” Shadow put the amulet around his neck. He needed both hands free for this and that was the only place he trusted to put it. He knelt his head down and held his hands in front of him. He focused all his remaining energy into the spell. A small light flickered in Shadow's chest. It did not seem to come from anywhere particular. It was an ethereal glow that flowed throughout him. It travel up his chest and down his arms. It massed in his hands and Shadow put it all together in a small orb between his palms. The ponies watched in wonder. It was only Luna that caught on to what he was doing. She saw the signs. His unusual entrance. How he said he 'left the world of shadows'. The Amulet of the Dark King. And now this. She watched the color drain from his scales as that ethereal glow flowed through him. “NO, SMOKE SHADOW! DON'T,” Luna yelled. But it was too late. With one quick motion Shadow thrust the ethereal orb into Spike. The same glow that was in Shadow traveled throughout Spike and dimmed. Shadow dropped to his knees and spoke to Spike. “For a long time I thought I was alone in the dark. I let nothing and no one inside. Darkness slowly made its home in me and I did not care. Then I met Luna and she taught me that darkness isn't such a bad thing. And then you came along, Spike, and you helped me to find that one last light I had left in my soul. Thank you, Spike.” With that said he stood and turned back to Luna. She looked distraught. On the verge of tears she looked away from him. He took a step toward her and she took a step back. With one more quick step Shadow came up and grasped Luna in a shadowy embrace. “You have been a dear friend to me, Luna,” He said, “Goodbye.” Luna looked at him one last time as he stepped away. Her eyes were filled with tears. She watched as Shadow's scales slowly turned to the shadows he was named after. From the feet up he slowly disappeared like smoke. His last look to Luna was a smile. And then, just like that, he was gone. Luna rushed to the spot where he stood and started to cry. “I don't understand,” Celestia said. “He saved Spike,” Luna said between sobs, “By giving up his soul. That 'last light 'he mentioned, he just gave to Spike. He gave up the last piece of his soul to save Spike.” “But that means that-,” Twilight started. “He is gone,” Luna finished, “Forever.” Each pony there stood silent. They all absorbed the news that Smoke Shadow was gone. Luna took it really hard. She knew him the best of anypony there. None of the others really knew him at all. Not even Celestia. But it was not all a grave day. The silence in the air was broken by a welcome noise. A grunt. A moan. A small noise that signaled Spike was waking up. Luna rushed over to him. She looked him over. His chest wound was closing up before her eyes. It was going to leave a jagged scar, but at least Spike would be okay. He did not wake up fully that day, but all signs were good. One dragon survived.