//------------------------------// // Chapter 4- Feelings and Training // Story: Of Flame and Shadow // by Garuda IV //------------------------------// Sunshine was standing besides one of the windows overseeing the east as she raised the sun to start the new day. Though it was made a little bit harder with her disguise still up, she didn't mind it much. As she finished raising her sun, her horn's aura diminished, but what caught her attention was that her ethereal mane had returned due to so much of her magic being directed to raising the sun. She quickly fixed her mane and returned it back to it's pink color before anyone would accidentally find her out. Rarely having the time to just admire the sunrise, Sunshine just continued to stand there and watch while in thought. She was cut short, however, by a set of hooves coming down the stairs from Twilight's room. She turned and saw her approaching. "Good morning," Twilight greeted her aunt. Sunshine trotted over to her and gave her a loving nuzzle. "Good morning, Twilight. You sleep well?" The young princess nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I've actually been sleeping a bit better these last few nights." Sunshine let a sly grin show on her muzzle. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a certain kirin living under your roof now, would it? After all, you just met him a few days ago. Though I suppose different ponies move at different paces," she commented. Twilight looked at her, a little confused as to her question and comment at the end. "No, it doesn't. I mean, sure it's nice having him living here, even if it was just for a few nights, but-" She paused as the last part of Sunshine's sentence finally hit her. Twilight was now madly blushing at what her aunt was insinuating. "Princess! Why would you- no, it's nothing like that! What I meant was that I just happen to sleep better with him here... in the castle." "Care to elaborate on that? Like, what is it about him that makes you feel more comfortable in you own castle?" "I'm not sure how to put it exactly. Granted he does appear tough and ferocious, but he also... emanates this feeling of safeness and calmness." Twilight sighed. "I can't really explain it. The best way I can compare it to is that he has the combination of Tirek's foreboding power, and Fluttershy's kind and calming nature." Sunshine was pondering the comparison, trying to find a way of making it easier on Twilight before an example came to mind. "Tell me, Twilight, aren't we also the same as you just described? Powerful beings, but also kind and calming to our little ponies?" "Well, I suppose we are," she answered while nervously rubbing her forelegs together. "But that's us, not him." "Regardless, from what you've described, he does sound similar to us, doesn't he?" Twilight said nothing as she just stood there in thought as Sunshine continued. "Then again, perhaps that's just how he naturally is." Twilight thought about it for a moment more before looking back to her. "Well, he did say that he was naturally a gentle and kind pony, and I suppose that his ferociousness could come from him being part dragon. Then again, maybe I'm just thinking about this too much." Sunshine giggled, knowing that Twilight was still the same as always and put a hoof on her back. "That's very possible," she said as she guided Twilight with her to the kitchen to eat. "Although, perhaps it might be simpler than that, if you would hear me out?" She paused and waited for Twilight's approval, which was given. "I think that you may have a little crush on your new friend," Sunshine guessed, her sly grin from earlier returning. Twilight turned her face away from her, trying to hide her blush. No, that can't be it, she thought to herself. I've only known him for less than two days. Besides, doesn't it usually take longer for feelings like that to even start coming up? "It actually varies between each pony, Twilight. Some will start to feel attracted towards others after months of knowing them, while others will start to feel them after a few days. There are even those who would start feeling attracted to others just after a few hours," Sunshine answered. Twilight turned to her with a shocked expression of how she knew what she was thinking. And although Sunshine was having fun teasing her, she wouldn't keep it up for long. "You said that last part out loud, my dear." Twilight used her wings to hide her face from Sunshine while they continued to the kitchen, the smell of pancakes growing stronger by the second. Silently, the two walked side-by-side until they entered the kitchen to see Dark standing up bipedal with a slight swing to him. The two silently looked at him, noticing that he was bobbing is head and swing his tail to the tune of a song he was humming to himself. Twilight was then feeling something fluttering in her stomach, and it wasn't her stomach's wanting for food. Now that she had a moment, she was starting to really examine him. The big and well-toned muscles on his legs from his habit of standing on them for so many years, and the way the muscles on his arms and back would flex when he would move them sent a shudder down her spine. Sunshine looked over to Twilight and immediately noticed her gaze. She didn't say anything to her, instead just looked at her in amusement of her assumption apparently being correct, and a little happy for her. Twilight, forgetting that she didn't come in alone, quickly turned to face her aunt, who's facial expression had remained the same from their earlier talk. Though no words were spoken from Sunshine, Twilight knew what she was thinking. "Sh-Shut up," Twilight bashfully said, again facing away from her. Hearing her voice, Dark stopped his humming and bobbing, and slowly turned to the two mares who silently walked in on him. "Umm, how long have you two been there?" he asked with a blush. With Twilight still to embarrassed, Sunshine answered instead. "About a minute, maybe two," she answered while sitting herself at a spot at the little kitchen table, Twilight following right behind her and taking her seat. "So, what's made you look so happy this morning?" "Just feeling a bit happy from the party last night," Dark answered while setting out their breakfast. "Although, I wasn't expecting anypony to be up so soon." Sunshine giggled. "Well, we weren't expecting a show, though I don't think Twilight minded too much." Dark looked at them, clueless as to what she meant. He as about to go into it, but was promptly cut off by Twilight. "So, how did you sleep last night, Dark? We didn't hear you struggling with your wings again," she asked him. Dark shrugged. "They weren't that bad actually. Then again, you did say that it took you about a week to adjust to yours, and it's been roughly a week since I got mine." He took a seat at the table with his own plate before looking back up. "By the way, how much do you two know about kirins?" "Sorry, but I know next to nothing about them," Twilight apologized. Sunshine however knew a little bit. "I don't know much, but there is some that I know of them. What is it that you wish to know?" "Well," Dark began. "I'm just curious about my lifespan now. Will I still age like a normal pony, that of a dragon, or is it somewhere in-between since I'm both part dragon and pony?" Twilight also looked over to Sunshine while she contemplated this. It was a few minutes before she finally gave her answer. "I'm sorry, Dark, but I don't know that one. We've never had a kirin that was willing to let us test them before," she answered. Dark just shrugged. "It's no problem, just curious is all." Twilight however was excited about this, another subject for her to test. "If it's alright with you, could I run some experiments and tests on you?" she asked. "Sure. Just as long as it's mostly painless, or non-life-threatening for that matter," he answered jokingly. She agreed with a nod and the three continued their breakfast, Spike showing up five minutes later and joining them. Things were quiet for a while until Sunshine broke the silence. "So, Twilight, are you going to be in the Running of the Leaves next week?" she asked. Twilight thought about it for a moment. "Is it okay for an alicorn to even participate in it?" "As far as I know it is," Sunshine answered. "Then again, I never thought about it before, so perhaps we should check in to make sure." "Sorry for interrupting, but what is this 'Running of the Leaves'?" Dark asked. "It's an event here in Ponyville where ponies would run through Whitetail Woods and knock down the leaves for fall. Over time they turned it into a race and Twilight was in it last year. She placed fifth, which is rather good considering that it was her first race ever," Spike answered. "Why don't you join in it too?" Dark waved a claw. "Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think I'm quite ready to start running with claws yet. I'll just watch instead, though it does sound like fun, so maybe next time." Dark paused for a moment before starting back on Spike. "By the way, what happened to you last night, Spike?" "You mean at the party?" he asked. "I was tired and decided to take a nap." The room was quiet for a moment before Twilight picked up from where Dark left off. "Really? You just fell asleep? Alone?" Spike looked to Twilight questionably. "What are you talking about? Of course I fell asleep alone. Although, when I was sleeping, I did feel something warm covering me, so thanks for the blanket." Nopony answered the Spike as they were to busy with trying to keep themselves from giggling and chuckling at the memory of how they found him. Spike however, didn't get what was so funny. "Hey, what's going on? Did I miss something?" Sunshine was the first to compose herself. "You'll find out soon enough, Spike." While they were on the subject of Spike Dark thought now would be a good time to ask a question that's been bugging him since Twilight's story from yesterday morning. "Um, Twilight?" "Yes?" she answered, noticing his hesitation. "Is it okay if I ask you something about you and Spike?" "Sure, go ahead." "Well, I was just wondering about what your relationship with Spike is? I mean, from what you told me, you were the one who hatched and raised him, so what are you to Spike exactly? Are you his adopted mother, his sister, or his caretaker?" All eyes were on Twilight as she pondered the question. She has thought about it multiple times before, but in the end, she didn't call Spike anything more then her 'assistant' or 'best friend'. Now, however, with her being put on the spot, she felt like she had taken enough time to make her long overdue decision. She looked over to Spike who was watching intently and gave him a warm lovingly smile. "If I had to say how I felt about Spike, it would be that he feels like a little brother to me," she answered while hugging and nuzzling the little dragon. "Yeah, I can see why you came to that decision. You two do kinda act like how siblings would. Always looking out for each other while also having a bit of fun by messing and teasing one another as well," Dark concluded with a smile. "That's probably the best choice you could make," Sunshine chimed in. "Although I could see you as his mother after seeing you raise him in Canterlot, I can also see a sibling bond the two of you share." She then turned to Dark. "Speaking of little siblings, when were your little friends coming over?" Dark was about to answer when the castle doors swung open and three voices filled the castle halls. I'm starting to get the feeing that my being interrupted is going to happen quite often. Shortly after hearing them enter, the Crusaders, each wearing their saddlebags, ran into the kitchen and greeted everyone. "Good morning everypony," they then turned to Spike. "Hey, Spike," they greeted in a extra chipper tone. They returned the greeting before Dark spoke up. "You three are here rather early. Did you even get anything to eat before coming here?" They didn't even answer as their stomachs did it for them. Dark gave them a light laugh before getting up and walking over to the stove. "Alright, you three take a seat and I'll cook you up some pancakes." They didn't waste any time in taking their seat at the table, which was right besides Spike. The poor dragon didn't know what to do with having three fillies crowded besides him and just sat there, nervously twiddling his claws. With Dark working the stove again, he didn't see the look on Spike's face as it started turning color from purple to crimson. Twilight and Sunshine, however, did and quietly smiled at him. A few minutes later, Dark finished the girl's breakfast and brought it over to them. It wasn't long before the three plates were cleaned off and were brought to the sink and rinsed out before the Crusaders ran back over to Dark. "All done," Apple Bloom announced. "So, what do you girls wanna do?" Sweetie Belle thought about for a moment. "What do you want to do, Dark?" Dark smiled down to the three. "I'll let you three decide. I'm fine with whatever it is as long as it doesn't break anything." They cheered before grabbing onto Dark's claw and began leading him out into the lounge. A few minutes later, making sure that they were out of hearing range, Sunshine trotted over besides Spike. "So, Spike, which one of them do you like?" she asked him. Spike let out a loud groan. "Like I told Twilight, I'm not telling anypony." "He's right," Twilight admitted. "We tried to get him to tell us, but he's once again proven to be stubborn about it." She paused for a moment to think about which one of them it could be before a thought hit her and she loudly gasped. "How could I not have guessed it earlier!" she exclaimed. "You don't have a crush an any one of them, you have a crush on all three of them, don't you?!" Spike just facepalmed himself and let out an irritated groan. "Once again, Twilight, I'm not telling you, or anypony who I like. It may be one of them, or it may be all three of them. Either way, my lips are sealed." It's been a few hours since the Crusaders came to play with Dark. During that time they played hide and seek, read some books, and a few other things. Some of which made Dark question his masculinity as a stallion. However, it was now 1p.m. and was time for them to eat. Making their way to the kitchen, they bumped into Twilight, Sunshine, and Spike, who were just leaving from having their own lunch. Upon seeing Dark, the three immediately burst into a laughing fit at how Dark looked. Even the three fillies were giggling at him for what they did to him. The Crusaders wanted to try practicing putting on some makeup and decided to try practicing it on Dark. Needless to say that it didn't go very well for him. They put on eyeliner and powered his cheeks, which wasn't that bad actually in terms of messiness, the lipstick on the other hoof was a different matter as it covered his lips and went up past his cheeks. They even braided his mane which he actually didn't mind at all. To the contrary, it reminded him of when his dad would braid his mane for him and actually liked it. The things that I put up with when it comes to kids, Dark thought to himself with a mental sigh. He looked back to the two mares and dragon who were still trying to control themselves and sighed out an audible sigh while shaking his head. "Go ahead, let it out." "Sorry," Twilight apologized while still giggling. "So, what happened to you exactly." "We wanted to practice with putting on makeup and were using Dark to test it on," Sweetie Belle innocently answered. "Well, most of us anyway," Scootaloo interjected. "Don't mind Scoots," Apple Bloom spoke up. "She just doesn't wanna admit that she liked it as well." "Anyway, we were heading over for some lunch. I take it that you already ate?" Dark asked. "Yes, we did," Sunshine answered. "However, I was wondering. When will you be ready to start your magic training?" Dark and the Crusaders stopped and turned to face them, Sweetie Belle seeming rather excited about it. "Ooh, magic training? Can I do some too?" she asked enthusiastically. Twilight stepped forward. "Sorry, Sweetie, but this is dangerous magic pertaining to Dark's cutie mark." "All the more reason for us to help him," Scootaloo countered. "After all, isn't our jobs to help others with their cutie marks?" "True as that may be, my little ponies," Sunshine began. "This kind of magic is dangerous, especially to ones as young as you three." She paused for a moment. "However, you can watch as long as you keep your distance and do nothing to interfere with his training." They cheered, although they won't be taught any magic, they can at least get to watch and quickly ran into the kitchen. Dark however, was a bit reluctant to let them watch. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, this is dark magic we're letting them watch," Dark questioned. "I actually agree with Dark. Should they really be watching?" Twilight sided. Sunshine shook her head. "You two are right, it wouldn't be a good idea for them to see dark magic being performed. However, we're going to be working on those two spells Dark told us he studied on already. Seeing that should be quite harmless to those fillies." "Alright, if you say so," Dark relented while making his way to fix the girls something to eat. "By the way, where do you wanna start the training at?" "The lounge will work," Sunshine answered. "Okay, I'll meet you there after I get the girls and I something to eat... and after I try to wash off this makeup." After an hour and a half of eating and trying to remove the makeup, Dark was standing in the middle of the lounge while Spike and the Crusaders were sitting on a couch off to the side, and Sunshine and Twilight were standing in front of Dark. Twilight had already scanned over her library and found the spell book that she locked away behind one of her book shelves, much to Sunshine's knowledge, seeing as how she sent it to her for safe keeping. "Okay," Twilight began while levitating the book in front of her. "It says here that you need to focus your magic into your eyes and think of the spell you want to use... huh, I didn't think it would sound so simple to cast. Alright, you can start whenever you're ready." Dark closed his eyes, relaxing his body and started taking slow, deep breaths. Now calm and focused, he lit up his horn and directed his magic into his eyes. A few seconds of channeling the spell, Dark ceased his casting and slowly opened them up. Although nothing seemed different, the others could clearly see that it worked. Dark's eyes were now glowing completely gold, not even the whites of his eyes or his pupils could be seen. "So, did it work?" Dark asked to which they all nodded. He tapped his chin and came up with an idea. "Can somepony grab a cloth for me to use as a blindfold?" Sweetie Belle reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a black cloth, which she then levitated over to Dark. After thanking Sweetie Belle, Dark grabbed the cloth and tied it around his head to cover his eyes. This gave him an eerie look as now his golden eyes were glowing through the black eye-band. "Sweet, I can see everything," Dark said excitingly, seeing through the cloth that covered his eyes. "I'm surprised," Twilight commented. "I didn't think that you would be able to cast it perfectly so quickly." "Yeah, me neither," Dark answered excitingly as he surveyed the room. However, once his sights fell upon Sunshine, he froze and slowly turned back to Twilight. "Umm... Twilight? Why does your aunt look like Princess Celestia now?" he asked, his voice wavering slightly. Twilight looked over to Sunshine and saw that she was still in her illusionary disgui- Twilight's eyes shot open. She quickly looked back to the spell he just casted and facehoofed, forgetting that the spell pierced through illusions. "Sorry, Princess, but I forgot that the spell can see through illusions, including your disguise," Twilight admitted. Everyone besides Twilight looked to Sunshine in confusion until she lit her horn and shrouded herself in her golden aura. A quick flash of light later and in the place of Aunt Sunshine stood Princess Celestia. Immediately the Crusaders and Spike bowed while Dark stood there, stuck in place at now knowing who he'd actually been idly talking to since last night. Princess Celestia turned around to the four young ones and gently told them to rise before looking back to Dark with an explanation. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you of who I was earlier, but I wanted to see you for myself without anypony knowing of who I really was." That would actually explain a few things, Dark thought to himself before speaking to the princess. "Alright, I understand why you did that, but I still have to ask, why such secrecy?" Celestia let out a soft sigh. "We've had an... encounter, with kirins before you. I have ordered the report of the encounter to be marked as confidential, and had any involved be sworn to secrecy by royal decree. But... let's just say that it didn't go over very well for anypony involved." She paused to collect herself before continuing. "So, when Twilight told me about you, I decided to look into you personally as to whether or not you could be trusted. And of course, I couldn't conduct my own investigation without drawing the attention of practically every pony in the castle and in Ponyville unless I wore some kind of disguise. That is where Aunt Sunshine came into play." Dark nodded, understanding her reasons. "Pretty clever. Alright, I suppose I can understand where your coming from." "I do hope that your not too upset with Twilight or Spike for them not telling you about this little turn of events." "Nah, I'm not really upset, if at all. More like trying to get over the shock that her supposed aunt was actually Princess Celestia in disguise. Speaking of which, do I address you as Princess Celestia or Aunt Sunshine?" Celestia giggled in amusement. "When I'm like this, I am Princess Celestia. In that other form, I would prefer Aunt Sunshine. Although, I try not to use that disguise very much, otherwise ponies start asking questions and begin poking around." She turned to the three fillies. "And I also hope that you three will keep this a little secret as well?" she softly asked them, of which each agreed to enthusiastically. "Well, now that that's out of the way, should we start on the next spell?" Twilight asked, which Dark nodded to while keeping the makeshift eye-band on. "Alright, the next spell was called Soul Eyes correct?" "Yep," he answered. "Okay, according to the book, the instructions are more or less the same as the Second Sight. Only difference is that you'll also have to channel the magic through your body as well as your eyes." Dark nodded and began preparing the spell, lighting his horn and spreading the magic through his body, most of it in his eyes. After a few seconds passed, Dark ended the casting and looked to see if it worked. To his surprise, it failed. "Well? Did it work?" Twilight asked. "Sorry, I think I botched it up somewhere and it didn't work," he replied with a shrug. "Alright, try it again and we'll find out what went wrong." Heeding Twilight's words, Dark began to recast the spell. He took a little more time in trying to make sure the spell worked properly this time. About ten seconds later he stopped the spell and noticed that it didn't work again. "What the hay?" he asked with a little hint of annoyance. "Why isn't the spell working? I thought it was compatible with the Second Sight spell." "According to the book it is." Twilight tapped her chin trying to figure out what went wrong. "Do you have any ideas, Princess?" Celestia looked over Dark with a thought. "Perhaps he's not using enough magic to perform the spell." "But I used the same amount of magic on my eyes as I did for the first spell, and also used some extra magic to cover my body," Dark explained. "But is that the amount you would use for a pony body, or a kirin body?" she inquired. Dark's answered with a facepalm and shaking his head. "I can't believe I didn't think of that beforehoof." For the third time, Dark started up the spell in hopes of making this attempt successful. Waiting five seconds this time, Dark finished casting the spell, this time pouring over twice as much magic into it as before. And with it came positive results. He opened his eyes and saw everypony with what looked like a small gold fire burning in the center of their chests. However, Twilight's and Celestia's 'Soul Flames' were burning twice as bright as the others in the room, though he couldn't see his own. "Yep, that did it," Dark proudly announced. "Hold on a second, I need to test something out." He then trotted off to one of the doors and closed it behind him. Walking down the hall a few steps, he turned around and could still make out the souls of those still in the room. He returned quickly after. "Sweet. Apparently I can see you all through even the crystal walls." "So, what's it like?" Apple Bloom asked. "I can still see everything just fine, but the biggest difference is that I can see a small flame burning in everyone's chest, which I think is suppose to be your soul." Dark answered, causing the fillies and dragon to look at themselves and at each other trying to find what Dark saw. "Good," Twilight piped. "Now, according to what you said and what the book describes, if you pump more magic into your eyes, then you can expand the outline of the soul to match the body that it belongs to." Dark began pouring more magic into his eyes, causing their small flames to expand and take shape of everypony, and dragon, around him. "Yep, it worked." Celestia took a sigh of relief that nothing dangerous happened, and there were no problems overall. "Well, I believe that that's all for now, unless you would like to continue?" she asked Twilight and Dark. Twilight seemed content at ending now, but Dark wasn't quite done yet as he spoke up. "If it's alright with you two, there's one more I would like to try. However, I don't know if it's in the spell book." Twilight looked confusingly at Dark. "Why wouldn't it be in the book?" "Because, it's a spell that Nocturne used while we fought." Thought the fillies were confused by this, Spike, Twilight, and Celestia weren't. Calmly, Celestia spoke out to Dark. "What exactly did this spell he used do?" "Basically, he turned his body into shadows and sorta melded into the shadows that surrounded us. He was also able to phase his claw into the shadows and have it reappear in a completely different location. That last one is the one I would like to try," he answered. "And why would you think it wouldn't be in the spell book?" Twilight asked. "Because, he was a dragon and they can't use magic. That, and I think it may have been apart of his Scaleless Dragon powers." "What's a Scaleless Dragon?" Scootaloo asked. Not wanting to disturb the fillies with details, Dark decided to give them the short version. "There a very rare race of dragon." "And you meet one? Wasn't it scary?" Sweetie Belle asked this time. "A little bit. They're over twice as big as a normal adult dragon and don't have any scales. But they also seem to be more intelligent and less hostile than others are." "That's awesome! Maybe we'll see one too," Apple Bloom exclaimed. Dark shook his head. "There are only five of them now, and I doubt that they would have any reason to come around here." He paused as he realized what he had just said. I really hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that and have it come back to bite me in the flank at some point. Celestia, done with talking to Twilight during his little Q&A with the Crusaders, approached Dark. "Twilight and I have decided to oversee this new magic of yours, under one condition." "Of course, what is it that you wish?" She looked back to Twilight who was over by Spike and the Crusaders with a magical barrier around them before answering him. "If you even feel as though you may lose control, we want you to stop immediately. We don't want you, or anypony for that matter, to get hurt." Dark nodded and relaxed himself. "So, what is the first step to doing this?" Celestia shook her head, then turned around and walked over into Twilight's barrier. "I don't know, so you will have to figure it out on your own. We'll be on standby just incase something happens." He released a nervous breath before beginning. "Alright, here I go," he announced, more to himself then his audience. Closing his eyes, Dark remembered the night he did battle with Nocturne, and how he used his magic. Okay, now I wish Discord was here to tell me how the hay Nocturne was able to cast his magic, Dark thought to himself. Even though he could remember everything about that night clearly, he couldn't quite make out how his claw was able to phase through the shadows like they did. Then again, his claws were shrouded in darkness before they... perhaps that's how he did it. Surveying the room, Dark could see that the sun's angle had casted the room partly in shadows and began to test his theory. Dark lit his horn in its magical aura and focused it on his right claw. Soon it started to glow gold with his aura and he tried inserting his claw through the shadows, which did absolutely nothing. Confused he tried it again, but ceased his magic after the second failed attempt and stared at his claw in thought. After a few minutes of silent thinking, he decided to try it another way. If Nocturne could do it with just his claw, then maybe that was the secret behind it. Instead of focusing his magic through is horn, Dark began to direct his magic into his right arm and down to his claw. It soon became wrapped in a dark shroud with transparent wisps of shadows fluttering about on his arm and claw. Seeing this made Twilight and Celestia nervously twitch, ready to act in a split second. Slowly, Dark lifted his claw before looking towards a spot where he wanted it to reappear. Picking a location near a book on one of the top shelves, he slowly moved his claw forwards into the shadows. To his surprise and everyone else's in the room, Dark's claw started to vanish, leaving slight ripples in the dark shade where his claw was passing through as though he dipped his claw in a pool of water. Looking back up to his designated spot, he saw his claw reappear and continued through as he delve his arm deeper in. Soon, half of his arm was in the dark ripples while the other half was up above by the bookcase. He grabbed the book with his claw and carefully brought it back towards him. Once he was done, the shadowy ripples dissipated, leaving Dark with his arm and claw still attached, and holding the book he plucked from the shelf. He looked back to the others who were still watching and saw them with looks of amazement of his new magic. As soon as Twilight dropped her barrier, the three fillies ran over and leaped onto him, knocking him over and putting him on the bottom of the cutest little dogpile he'd ever been in. "That was so awesome!" they all exclaimed. Spike ran over and joined them, though he didn't jump on Dark and instead stood by him. Twilight and Celestia both approached him. Twilight with excitement as to witnessing a new method of magic, and Celestia, though impressed, was just happy nothing went horribly wrong. "That was very impressive, Dark," Twilight praised before taking notice of the book. "So, why did you pick out that book?" Dark looked to the book he was holding which was titled The Sunset Saga. He looked back to Twilight and shrugged. "No reason, just wanted to test that spell by grabbing a book off the top shelf. I had no idea which book I was grabbing." He then read the back of the book to get an idea of what it was about before he frowned. "However, I think I now understand why you would put it up there. I mean, since when do vampires shimmer in the sunlight? I thought they were suppose to burn to ashes?" Twilight took the book in her aura before returning it back to its rightful place on the top shelf. After getting the fillies off of him, Dark got up and turned his attention to Celestia who's gaze he felt on him. "How are you feeling?" she asked. Dark took a moment to look over himself and pat his arm and claw down. "Everything feels fine. Seems like there isn't anything wrong with me, physically or magically." "Good, just making sure that your alright. By the way, how did you figure out how to do that?" "I thought back to when I fought Nocturne, remembered how he was able to do it, and tried to mimic his actions. I also noticed that his claw was shrouded in darkness, and after seeing that using my horn didn't work, I thought about trying to channel my magic into my arm and claw," Dark explained. "That seems to be rather risky," Twilight commented. "Exactly, and that's why I went slow with it. I didn't want to accidently rush it and hurt myself." Celestia looked out the window and saw that it was time for her to begin lowering the sun. With fall approaching, the sun would have to set sooner than usual. Walking over to the window, she lit up her horn, gripping onto the sun and gently descending it. Though it was nothing new for her, Twilight, or Spike, Dark and the Crusaders have never seen it in person before and just watched in silence. With the sun now tucked away for the night, Celestia turned and walked back to the others. "Well, I think it's about time we got ourselves some dinner," she suggested. Everyone in the room agreed with the princess, and together they left the lounge for the kitchen. After they got there, Dark made his way over to the counter to begin preparing them their dinner. "After were done eating, I'll be walking you three home," Dark told the three little fillies. "Thanks, Dark, but well be fine on our own. Ponyville's a safe village anyway," Apple Bloom protested. "Yeah, besides we've done this before," agreed Scootaloo. Dark looked back to the two. "As nice of a town this may be, I'm not going to let three young fillies walk home alone. Besides, what would your families say or do if you came back alone without somepony escorting you at night?" he countered. Though they didn't really consider themselves to be little anymore, they agreed with Dark. Scootaloo was more reluctant than the others, but then again, Apple Bloom did live near the Everfree Forest, and Sweetie Belle would have probably been a bit nervous walking home alone at night. Happy with that being straightened out, Twilight looked to her mentor. "So, will you be staying another night?" Celestia nodded. "I was able to get today and tomorrow off, so I will." She looked down to herself before re-casting her illusion spell, returning to being Aunt Sunshine just incase somepony decided to barge in. Fifteen minutes later their food was finished, a good helping of grilled mixed vegetables, courtesy of Dark's fire breath. Even though it wasn't like normal grilled vegies, his fire breath did preserve the flavor rather well. After handing everyone their food, Dark took his plate and sat himself down beside Twilight, Celestia taking up her own quarter of the table, Spike and Apple Bloom taking another, and Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at the last. Dark was about to start digging in until Twilight poked him in the arm. "Umm, are you going to take that off before you start eating?" she asked him. "Huh? What are you talking bout exactly?" Dark questioned back. "I mean your eye-band. You're still wearing it, and no offense, but it's kinda creepy looking." "Oops, sorry about that. Guess I just got so used to it that I forgot it was even there anymore," he apologized, removing the cloth and dispelling the eye enchantments, returning his eyes to normal. "Thank you, Dark." Everyone was silent while they ate, the only sound was of kitchen utensils clinking on the plates. That was, until Dark broke the silence with a new question on his mind. "So, Twilight? Aunt Sunshine?" he called. "I know we set some rules with my... magic training, but what about my draconic magic?" "If it's alright with you, I would prefer we kept the same rules as before. For now, make sure that Twilight or I are there when you practice it," Sunshine answered. "Alrighty then," he replied. "Also, after I'm done taking the girls home, I'll be heading to bed early." "Oh yeah. Ya start workin' the farm tomorrow mornin', don't ya?" Apple Bloom remembered. "Yep. Applejack wanted me there before sunrise, so I'll need as much sleep as I can get before then." He turned to the others. "Also, I'll need to have everyone's food ready before I leave." Twilight shook her head. "You don't need to do that. You'll already be getting up early as it is, we don't need you to get up even earlier just to make us breakfast." "But I said that I would, so long as I am living here. Besides, I know a spell that can keep your food at the desired temperature so it won't go cold on you." "Nope. Spike and I can cook our own food. You can just worry about yourself during your work days." "But-" "Dah!" Twilight exclaimed, raising a hoof up at Dark, which he knew meant "shush up and accept it". "Alright, but what if I wanted to make myself a nice breakfast and I just happen to make enough for two or three others?" he asked mischievously. He didn't get a verbal answer as Twilight just glared at him, causing Dark to sigh in defeat. "Fine, you win. I won't cook breakfast for you guys during my work days." Smiling in triumph, Twilight patted Dark on the head. "Good boy." This caused the other females to giggle while Spike was covering his mouth with both of his claws, trying to hold himself back from laughing out loud. Though Dark was a little embarrassed, that didn't mean that he had to be alone in it as he looked straight at Spike. The little dragon was about to make a clever comment but was promptly interrupted by Dark. "Say anything about this, Spikey-boy, and we'll be having a repeat of yesterday's lunch at Sugarcube Corner," Dark stated. This immediately shut him up as the laughing and giggling was now directed towards Spike. After calming back down, they continued on with their dinner, enjoying the company of one another and engaging in idle, non-embarrassing topics. The sun was starting to make its descent when Captain Iron Guard and his platoon of fifty soldiers came to the mountain range where Stonewall Village was set to be located. They made great timing by having the pegasi pull chariots filled with unicorns and earth ponies, and by tiring themselves out with only four hours of sleep during each night. "Over there!" Iron Guard called out, pointing to the direction of a flock of vultures circling the sky. "That must be where the village is located." The closer they got, the more birds they saw. It wasn't just a dozen or so birds like he thought it was, though, but was instead well over a hundred that created the flying ring. Then finally, upon passing over the last mountain between them and Stonewall Village, they could see the remains of the village... or at least try to. "Dear Celestia on her throne, what happened here?" Iron Guard whispered upon seeing the entire village being caked in crimson with the mangled corpses of hundreds of dead dragons scattered amongst the ruins, and one giant black dragon in the center of the town square. Landing on a cliff side that could support the platoon of ponies, Iron Guard looked back to his troops who where trying to keep their stomach contents down. Even from this distance, the stench of the dead was rather potent. Never had they ever seen such a bloodbath like this before. All dragon corpses, roughly a week old at first glance perhaps, but no ponies. Iron Guard cleared his throat and addressed his soldiers. "We will make camp here for the night. Find a place you can pitch a tent and start a fire. I want everypony to get yourselves some rest, you all deserve it. However, I will need one pegasus volunteer." He waited for a moment before one such pegasus stepped forward, to which the captain nodded to in approval. "Tomorrow, after you get rested up and grab something to eat and drink, I'll need for you to return to Canterlot Castle as fast as you possibly can. Princess Celestia needs to know about what has happened here. The rest of us will stay here and sort through this... mess, and see if we can't at least find somepony else who may have survived." The pegasus saluted before being given a report from Iron Guard and running off to recuperate before his return trip. As the soldiers were pitching their tents and starting fires to cook their food and warm them from the cold wind creeping in, Iron Guard stood out alone on the edge of the cliff. Silently, he removed his helmet and stared out unto the mass graveyard. "What in Equestria could have been able to do all of this to so many dragons?" he asked himself as the last of the sun's light disappeared from behind the mountain peaks.