Continuing on with their journey, the group came to an impossibly dark part of the forest. Something struck fear into the group of ponies, except the Thestrals. Dangersignal gulped in a nervous way. It must have showed, because Fluttershy moved closer to him. She intended to make him feel safe, but she also wanted to feel safe.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “I still have a slight fear of the dark, but something about this darkness, it almost feels like this darkness is playing with our fears.”
“You’re right,” Twilight said. “But, why?”
“It’s another test,” Dangersignal said. “Nightmare Moon is definitely playing the “Hard Villain” card.”
The others chuckled and glanced at the dark woods. It still struck fear into them, but they needed to get through. While they pondered, Shadow Prowler smirked in pure confidence.
“Come on, you just need to remember that there is nothing to fear,” he said. “A song I was taught as a youngster had one line in it.”
“What was the song?” the group asked.
“Courage comes to those who fight
Face their fears with no ready weapon
Nothing to lean on, nopony to stand by
Feeling alone in the world
Courage acts as a light
A friend that will never leave
Somepony to lean on
Act as your weapon
Courage is always there
Even when all is lost
Courage, you are grand
Courage, there you stand.”
“You had that song tucked away in your memory?” Darkseige asked.
“Correct,” Shadow Prowler said. “My mother taught me that song when I found out that my family had served as Princess Luna’s guard and I was feeling nervous and even scared when I was told that I’d take up the position.”
“Wow,” was all anyone could say.
“A suggestion for us getting through this part, is that we put the men on the outside, with the ladies on the inside,” he said. “The Stallions, despite having fears could actually be the bigger ponies and show their own brand of courage in the face of adversity.”
They agreed to the plan and proceeded with getting in formation. The operation took less than five minutes and the group plunged bravely into the darkness. The air was so still that the two Alicorns could have easily balanced their Standard Issue Royal Guard Throwing Knives in it.
Suddenly, there came a sound of hooves scraping dead leaves. The stallions in the group began to tense up. Just then, off to Dangersignal’s left, as Rainbow Dash was on his right, he saw three sets of eyes. A mouse ran up the Alicorn’s spine and his eyes bulged.
“No! It can’t be!” he thought. “They’re…!”
Every pony looked over to see an earth pony, unicorn and a smaller earth pony. The group saw that Dangersignal and Dragonstorm were paler than the clouds they had helped to clear. The three ponies that stood in the darkness smiled a comforting smile and slipped into the darkness.
“Who…what…huh?!” Twilight stammered out at last.
“Alrecht ye tae, explain this!” Hurricane snapped, advancing dangerously upon the paled Alicorns.
“Hurricane! Behave!” Rarity snapped, blocking his path.
His wings flared up and he gave her one of the coldest stares that the marshmallow white mare had ever seen. The unicorn shrank back from the Pegasus. Just then, Aquatis Storm, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Storm Burst surrounded him and flared their wings, returning the cold glare.
While the “Glaring Contest” was going on, the others decided to ask the two Alicorns what was going on.
“Those,” Dangersignal said, regaining his breath and composure. “We’re the ghosts of me and Dragonstorm’s parents and baby sister. We’ve seen them around when we went out to clear our heads at night. It seems that now, when we have ponies to be friends with, they’re finally at peace. Something I feel is way too over the top to be believed.”
“Then your unique brain must have failed you,” Aquatis Storm called, not adverting his glare from Hurricane.
“Whatever is left, after you eliminate all the impossible answers, is possible,” Soundstar pointed out. “There are many things I can’t explain, but they’re possible.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much,” Dangersignal said.
Shadow Prowler chuckled. He then used his front left hoof and pointed to a clearing. Making a gesture that the others guards were familiar with, every pony high tailed it out of the darkness and into the silvery glow of the moon.
One word crossed the groups mind as they continued on-Checkmate.