//------------------------------//
// LP58: The Dark [Shipping?] 
// Story: Half Hour Horses: Legacy Prompts 
// by HoofAndQuill 
//------------------------------//



The prompt: The Sacred Darkness

or

The prompt: Let There Be Light.



"Okay, girls.  I think we're going to have to stop here for tonight."

Princess Twilight Sparkle sighed, dropping onto her rump in exhaustion.  The three ponies had been walking for hours, down endless tunnels in this old mine system, with no light other than Twilight's horn.  The light flickered and wavered.  Applejack looked around them, but there really wasn't anything to indicate where they were, or where they should go.  "Here, Twi?  We can't even see anythin' coming!  Besides, Fluttershy here-"

Twilight winced,  and her magic flickered again.  "We can't go any further, Applejack.  I can barely keep this lit!  We just need to rest, just for a few hours.  The others have Rarity, she can make light too.  They'll be okay!"

With that, her magic finally failed, and the three ponies were cast into absolute pitch darkness.

Applejack and Twilight both paused, waiting for the terrified 'eep' that they knew was coming, but it didn't come.

A voice out of the darkness.  "Uh, Fluttershy?  You okay?"

"Yes, Applejack.  I'm okay.  I'm... not scared of the dark."

Twilight's voice spoke softly, though every little noise seemed so loud all the sudden.  "Well, let's try to get a little rest.".





Everypony always assumed that Fluttershy was scared of the dark.  It made sense to Fluttershy, she was scared of a lot of things, and plenty of ponies were scared of the dark.

The darkness could hide all kinds of scary things, and that was why most ponies were a little scared by it.

But... the darkness could hide all kinds of scary things, and that was why Fluttershy liked it.

Here they were, in pitch blackness, and nopony could look at her.  Nopony could stare at her.  Sure, Twilight and Applejack could hear her, but Fluttershy was very, very good at being quiet.  Because most ponies didn't like talking when it was dark, nopony was trying to talk to Fluttershy either.  It was just quiet, peaceful blackness.

Well, almost.

A quiet noise tickled at Fluttershy's ears.  It was quiet, even in the dead silence of these old mines.  Somepony's breathing, just a few feet from her, was getting shakier and louder with each breath.

Fluttershy was very god at staying quiet.  She shuffled slowly toward the sound.

It had to be Applejack.  Twilight wasn't beside her, or she hadn't been when the light went out.  The sound of somepony so close, when she couldn't see them... it was a little scary.  But ponies didn't sound like that unless they were upset.

Fluttershy shuffled closer, still silent.  The other pony's breaths grew quicker, and Fluttershy could hear hooves pressing against the stone floor.

Fluttershy reached out a wing, and settled it over a warm, solidly-built back.  Yes, it had to be Applejack.

The breathing stopped with a sudden gasp.

The air in the mine was still for a few long seconds.

Twilight's voice spoke quietly, from somewhere out in the darkness.  "Fluttershy?  Are you alright?"

Fluttershy could feel Applejack squirm.  Applejack wouldn't want to admit it was her, but Fluttershy knew the pony very well.  So, Fluttershy spoke before Applejack could.  "Um, yes, Twilight.  I'm... fine.  Don't worry."

Twilight spoke again.  "Alright, don't worry, Fluttershy.  I'm pretty sure we would hear anything trying to sneak up on us."

Fluttershy nodded, not that anypony could see.

Applejack shivered under her wing, and Fluttershy leaned in, guessing as best she could, and nuzzled at Applejack's muzzle.  She felt strange, she would never have done this if she could see the other pony, but... somehow, this felt like the right way to comfort her friend.  Applejack froze up, but didn't make a sound.  After a moment, she nuzzled gently back.





When Fluttershy woke up, it was still pitch black.  But she could still feel the warm strength of Applejack pressed to her side.  It was nice, almost embarrassingly nice.  Fluttershy felt herself blushing even though nopony could possibly see-

"Girls, ready to get started again?"  Twilight spoke at the same time as she lit her horn.

Fluttershy and Applejack both looked wide-eyed toward the sudden light source, their muzzles pressed together as they cuddled on the stone floor.  Twilight stared back at the two for the longest second in the history of Equestria.

The light went out.

The second-longest second in the history of Equestria passed.

Twilight spoke again, a bit more cautiously, and without the light.  "... Girls, are you ready to get started again?  We really need to look for the others."

From a yard or so to her right, Applejack spoke.  "Sure am!"

From a yard or so to Twilight's left, Fluttershy's voice spoke with a quiet hesitation.  "I'm... um, ready."

Twilight's horn glowed, and she smiled at the two ponies.  "Just a little farther, I'm sure we'll find them soon."

Twilight lead the way, and the other two ponies followed.  If they walked a little closer than usual, well, nopony could blame them.  The mines were dark, after all.