//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: A Flurry of Darkness // by Alyssa Hartwick //------------------------------// After the events of “The Crystalling”, the Crystal Empire had experienced many years of peace and prosterity, but that was not going to last much longer, for darkness can never be truly extinguished for it lived in the shadows. It was Flurry Heart’s fifth birthday, and she had everything a filly could want. Toys, friends, servants, great parents and cake! But still she felt rather… distant. She was treated differently than the other filly's and colts because she had a horn and wings. She wanted to be special not because she had magic and flight, she wanted to be special in a different way. She had friends, sure, but none really understood how she felt, And being a five year old she didn't know how to cope with it. So she played along. Her friends screaming with laughter, the adults chatting, the sounds of her favorite songs playing in the background, but that was all it was. Background noise. So much noise. She felt alone. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a cloud of smoke going through one of the many doors that littered the large hall where the party had taken place. She followed it. Sneaking past all of the ponies in the room, she reached the dark doorway. She looked back to see if any pony had noticed her leaving. Of course none did... they never did they were to busy celebrating her birthday even though she wasn't. Her ears pressed against her head, she walked into the room. The room was dark. She could not see really much of anything. She turned her head, looking for the smoke she had seen. She then called out. “Is anypony there?” She walked deeper into the darkness of the room. She jumped at the sound of the door being closed loudly. She quickly spun around trying to see who had shut it. Seeing nothing, she slowly turned away from the door, still eyeing it. She looked back in front of her and saw two glowing green eyes, flowing with purple magic. Her eyes widened in shock but that was all it was, shock. She was not…afraid. Those eyes were almost....comforting. As she gazed into those green magic filled eyes, she thought how they were the prettiest eyes she had ever seen. And how she wanted them. Then the smoke spoke ... “Hello…” , its voice deep and rumbling. Her eyes widened in awe as the shadows in the room gathered to create the shape of a stallion. A red horn had formed on its head, above those green eyes that she could not look away from. She then said "How did you do that?" her voice filled with amazement. His answer was simple "Magic, what else could it have been?" he said with a sharp toothed smile Feeling pleased with the answer she received she nodded. Flurry then asked “Where can I get eyes like those?” The Smoke pony replied with a chuckle, “You have to do many things before you can little one”. “Please? It’s my birthday!” the filly stated. “Oh is it now!” The shadow mused. “Yes it is” she said in a matter-of-factly tone. “But eyes like these are hard to come by you know, I can’t just give them to you” the thing said. She replied with “Okay, then tell where I can get them!” she said, annoyed. “Well I got them someplace very hard to reach, and not even your mommy can get them” the thing replied. The filly getting angry said “How can I get them, then!” she huffed angrily. “Hmmmm…” the creature pretended to ponder. “How about we make a deal?" He said. She then asked him "What's your angle mister?" she asked him skeptically. He chuckled at her response for he had not expected her to be this cautious "I don't have an angle" he said in half truth. He continued "Here's the deal, If you become my friend, then I can get you pretty eyes like mine, but its going to take a long time but I can teach you things while you wait, that no pony else can teach. Its as simple as that.” the creature said with a mischievous grin. If the filly’s eyes could widen any further, they would have. Her smile was practically radiating off her face. She joyously said “Okay! Its a deal! she said with the utmost happiness. " Thank you Mr.…?” She then said questioningly. “Sombra, but you call me Mr. Shade” He said in an almost fatherly voice. “Thank you Mr. Shade!” she said. “But” he then said “You can’t tell anypony about the secrets I tell you, especially about the eyes or you won’t be able to see me ever again” He said in a more hushed tone. She then nodded “I Pinkie promise!” she then proceeded to do the motions “I Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye!” “Flurry!” Cadence and Shining Armor called. Flurry looked towards the door then back at Mr. Shade. He then Smiled and nodded. Flurry then ran out of the door beaming over her new friend. He was now alone, his eyes glowing softy in the darkness… for he knew that he had already won. “There you are!” Cadence called in a sing-song voice as she watched as her daughter came out of one of the small guest rooms that lined the large hall. She was about to ask Flurry why she had gone into the room instead of staying and playing with her friends until she saw the huge grin plastered across her baby’s face. “What’s got you so happy, sweetie?” she asked in a sweet tone only a mother could use . “I made a new friend!” She replied excitedly. “Oh! and who is this new friend!” Cadence replied happily to her as she was glad her daughter has yet again made another friend. Flurry then responded... “His name is Mr. Shade!”