//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Magic's Return // by Twilight Nightmare //------------------------------// There were simply not too many things that scared Night Light, but one of the few things that did just sat down in the plush leather chair opposite of him across his desk in his home office. It was the man singly responsible for all of his wealth and good fortune as well as being the man he blamed for ripping his family apart. He knew it was his own doing, driving his wife and eldest away and faking his own daughter’s death to the woman. They were some of the few people who actually knew the truth about real magic and as far as Twilight Velvet knew their daughter was completely vaporized in one of Night Light’s experiments. In an attempt to escape from him and his experiments to protect Shining Armor from falling to Twilight Sparkle’s fate. It had been over a year, almost a year and a half if he counted the few days she was returned thanks to two of his thralls from the police force and royal guard. Despite his attempts to reassert control over his daughter through the only way he knew how since the girl was immune to all of his attempts to control her through magic, she still escaped a few days later. The only positive side to all of it, as far as he could tell, he had managed to get a simple spell to work that would compel her to stay in the local area that consisted of all of Canterlot and the small town that many actually mistaken for part of the royal capital named Ponyville. “Any luck tracking your little brat down?” The man wearing a dark blue suit asked as he relaxed, steepleing his fingers to shot Night Light a stern look. “Not as of yet sir, I believe the spell to compel her to stay in the area took hold though.” Night Light said as he tugged nervously on his collar. This man before him was the one who granted him power and taught him everything he needed. He was able to see some glimpses into the future and even though Night Light thought him to be crazy at first, a few painful examples convinced him that the man was on the level. Even still, Night Light was doubtful when the man explained Twilight Sparkle’s future and how it would help the men overthrow the kingdom. The man calling Twilight Sparkle a brat though angered Night Light despite the fact that he had called her much worse. In fact some of the things he had done to Twilight Sparkle the last few years sickened him…but he reminded himself it was him or her. Twilight would suffer by his own hand or his lord before him would end his existence and the pain that he put his daughter through would look like heaven in comparison. Or at least that was what he tried to tell himself in order to banish the guilt he felt over it since he did care for his daughter. Or at least he knew he did at one time… “And you believe this why?” The man asked, arching an eyebrow as he studied Night Light with a dark look. “Surely you aren’t trying to waste my time or worse yet, betray me.” “With all due respect sir, you know of my daughter’s resistance to mind altering magic. I tried compelling her to stay here in the manor, but the magic required was too much as her subconscious wants to escape her so much. It didn’t take much to compel her to stay in the area thanks to the old woman she said taught her to live on the streets. And every tracking spell I tried to place on her ended in failure, often times backlashing on me.” Night Light said, rubbing his eyes as he remembered his daughter’s screams of mercy the last time he saw her. “The only way I had of trying to control her is instilling enough fear into her that she wouldn’t dare go against me…as per your orders.” “I have new orders for you. Find the brat and call me, I will send a doctor over.” The powerful man smirked making Night Light shiver. “Doctor Sir?” Night Light asked, confusion and fear for his daughter making his voice sound unsure which made the man frown. “The girl needs to be alive for our plans to work. She doesn’t need her legs.” The man smirked again, his eyes blazing with power as if expecting the outburst from the father who slammed his hands down on the desk angrily. “You can not be serious!” Night Light shouted before realizing what he was doing. It was too late though as pain shot through his mind causing him to collapse on the ground. His mind going blank as he felt his Lord’s power washing through him, both punishing and washing away any rebellious thoughts. A few moments later Night Light stood, straightening his own clothes as he bowed to the now smiling man sitting there. His voice seemed devoid of emotion at first as he continued, but quickly grew back to normal as his mind banished everything but the pain from his thoughts leaving behind an anger at his daughter for causing this. A dark thought whispering that it was her fault and she would suffer for it. “It will be done my Lord, the little brat will pay for thinking she can escape the Night.” “Good, make sure it is done.” The man in the chair said before turning into a black cloud and drifting from the room leaving Night Light to prepare another search for his daughter. She would pay for her insolence and he would enjoy every second of it. XXXXXXXXXX Twilight Sparkle sat huddled in the dirt under the bridge that supported the monorail that provided quick transportation around Canterlot. She guessed it was made to keep the system from blocking street level traffic, but for it provided some shelter in several areas away from the main part of the city. It kept most, but not all of the rain and wind off her, though if there was too much rain she would be hard pressed to stay out of the gathering water. Right now it was mostly muddy except for the small patches of dray ground right up against the thick supports which she rested pulling her legs up to her chest. It would be another night without food, something she was growing used to despite the pangs from her stomach demanding to be fed. It was why she was forced to eat from trash cans and dumpsters as the old woman who insisted on being called Nana taught her. The old woman had taught her all she needed to know about surviving on the streets which was gross, but the woman explained was a necessity. There weren’t many homeless really so there weren’t really any shelters or anything. The only few people who were homeless was homeless by a combination of choice and situation. Twilight’s own reason was either stay home and be abused by the monster that was her father or be free of him. There were no other choices as she learned she couldn’t trust the police, not that she really trusted anyone except for Nana. Trust was something she just couldn’t afford. “Twilight!” The voice called again making the girl look up in shock. She was sure she escaped the rainbow haired girl. She wasn’t sure how the girl knew her, but the only explanation she had was the persistent girl was one of her father’s cronies. One of the people she knew was looking for her as a few had chased after her before. Hugging her knees tighter to her chest she prayed that the girl wouldn’t come this way as Twilight was tired. She didn’t really feel that she had the strength to go on any longer, barely able to get to her feet if she tried. Maybe if she actually had food she might have more energy, but she was feeling a little dizzy on top of feeling weak. “Please go away, please go away, please go away…” Twilight kept whispering to herself. No matter how many times she repeated it, the rainbow haired girl didn’t go away. In fact she ran into the area before spotting her and huffing in annoyance. “I’m not going to hurt you, but I’m not going away until you talk to me Twilight.” The girl said as she stomped up to twilight and crossed her arms. Somehow Twilight knew the girl was telling the truth so sighed knowing it was useless to try and run now. Maybe if she rested and talked to the girl a few minutes she could buy time until she regained enough strength to try running again. If she was lucky she could even get the rainbow haired girl to drop her guard long enough to escape. “I don’t care what you say, I’m not going back!” Twilight spit out angrily giving the rainbow haired girl a sharp stare. “I will never go back to my father, so tell him to leave me alone!” “Whoa there girl, I don’t know what your talking about.” The girl said waving her hands in a defensive way as she shook her head. Her jaw dropped as if realizing something. “Your dad…does he hurt you? My dad is the chief of police, he can help you.” “Yeah, just like they helped me last time? Going to drag me back kicking and screaming again?” Twilight snorted in derision at the girl. As if the girl’s father would help… “Look, we got off on the wrong foot I think. My name is Rainbow Dash.” The rainbow haired girl said giving an encouraging smile, even if she looked a little awkward as she reached out her hand to shake. At first Twilight intended to slap the hand away, but she tentatively reached up and took it, a spark of something shooting through both girls. Both yanked their hands back staring at them in shock trying to figure out what happened. “That was a heck of a static shock.” Rainbow Dash laughed nervously as she scratched the back of her neck. “Yeah.” Twilight said, her head spinning even more before the world seemed to grow blurry. The next thing she knew she was tipping over as everything grew dark.