The Secret of Equestria

by Xinamar

Shadows Rise

Chapter 3- Shadows Rise

Opening my eyes, I could feel a jolt run across my body causing me to shoot off the bench I fell asleep on. It was like I was waking up from some bad dream, but I can’t quite remember what made me jump so suddenly. Pausing for a second, I could feel the cold damp air course down my spine. I turn around and look towards the entrance of my cell and feel a slight breeze pass by my face. It’s so cold down here I can see my breath. I won’t be able to sleep if it’s this cold, even with my jacket. Now fully awake I walk forward towards the cell bars, while rubbing my arms in an attempt to get some feeling back into them. At the entrance of my cell I catch sight of something shining right outside the bars. It’s a key, I think. Squatting down it looks within arms reach. So I get as close to the iron bars as possible and slide one of my arms in between the bars and reach for it. At full extension I could only get my index finger onto it. Carefully I try to get it closer to me. After a few failed attempts I manage to get it close enough to me to pick it up. After doing so, I grab the key and try to find the lock on my cell door.

Shaking, I could feel my nerves getting to me. What if the key slips out of my hand and out of my reach? What if this isn’t the key to my cell door? Completely overcome by these thoughts I slowly retract my arm from the door and take a second to collect myself. But as I sit there I can feel something heavy in my chest. A feeling I should just stay in this black iron cell within the ever so pulsating light of the nearby torch. Like there is some kind of safety while I remain in this light. But, I know this is just a false sense. If I were to stay here I know what would become of me. I’d merely waste away into nothing and that thought of discomfort outweighs the safety I feel in this cell. So calmly I try again to find the keyhole to my cell. Within seconds I do find it, place the key within it, turn the key, and unlock the door. Even though I believed I was calm before, I could still feel my heart beat lessen and the tenseness that enveloped my body come undone.

Peeking outside of my cell I see a downed guard near the exit of the room. Quietly I step outside and try to keep a safe distance from him. Finally managing to step passed him, I make my way out a doorway and into a hall lined with other cells. I walk down it hoping to find Trixie. I still have questions that need to be answered, and I think she may know the answers. Continuing down the hall less and less light seems to be following me. This came to the point that I could no longer see what was in the cells. Thinking I may have missed her I turn back and look over the cells. After not seeing her, I start thinking that they most likely placed her in a different room, but there is no other exit into this hallway except for the one I came through. So I go back down the hall one last time, and again stand at the border between the light and the darkness. Maybe she’s just beyond it, I think to myself. She could be right on the edge where the light fades, and I could be staring right at her and not see her. I could possibly be so close but just not know it. With my heart pounding I make the decision to cross but as I take that decisive step I feel a sharp wind cut past me. And then everything goes dark.

Frozen in time I can’t seem to move my body. It feels like the darkness is pressing down on me keeping everything still. A weighted feeling in my chest arises again. The same one I felt in the cell but instead it’s telling me to run. But I can’t see anything, and I refuse to go any further without light. Suddenly I feel warmth from behind me and it reminds me of something. The torch in the room I was in should still be lit if the wind came through here. Forcing myself to turn back I carefully walk back the way I came. As I walk my foot stumbles on something. I crouch down and carefully reach my hand out to feel what this could be. Some parts feel soft, while other parts feel stone cold and hard. I then come to the realization that what I’m touching is the guard. I quickly retract my hand back. Was that really the guard? It couldn’t have been, what I touched was way too frigid to have ever been a living thing. In my head I don’t want to believe that it is the guard, but I can’t let denial cloud my judgment. Even though I can’t see him, I know it’s the guard from earlier. How could he have gotten here? This isn’t where my cell is. No, this isn’t right. How could he have gotten here!? Just calm down, calm down, I tell myself. I just need to find my way back. So I start feeling around the cold, coarse, stone walls to try and retrace my steps. After what seemed like an eternity I spot a flickering light. Excited, I throw caution into the wind and rush towards it. It’s faint but I know exactly what it is, it’s my safe passage.

Running faster and faster I make it into the doorway and blast towards the torch. Quickly I pull it off the wall and am overcome with this sense of safety as the warmth from the flame overtakes me. Letting out an exhale I begin to feel completely calm. Ready to finally escape this place I turn around, and there he is, the guard with the light from the torch shining off of his golden armor. He’s staring directly at me with his cold dead eyes. As if that emotionless face was looking into my very soul. Out of surprise the only thing I could think of was to jump back, but I accidentally drop the torch at that very same moment. I can no longer see the guard, but I can still hear the sound of his slow and deep breathing. Frantically, I stumble onto the ground and reach for the torch. With it in hand, I wave it back and forth as though I was trying to repel a wild animal. But, he’s gone. No where in sight.

Stunned and out of breath I lower my arms and try to figure out what had just happened. But no matter how long I think about it, it just doesn’t make sense. You can’t just up and vanish without making some kind of noise or without leaving a trace. And that feeling in my chest, everything tight, my heart throbbing uncontrollably and without pattern, what was that? It seems familiar, like it’s natural, but is it really that natural to be overcome by such a feeling? Taking a few more deep breathes; I finally get up off the floor and make my way out of this room and into the hallway.

Walking forward, I could hear the slightest of noises each one causing me to jump a little every time. Even though I think myself calm I can still feel the tightness in my chest lingering. Forever telling me to move faster or that every little noise is some kind of threat. I can’t let this feeling hold me back, but this really does feel natural, like it should be. As I can continue to walk lost in these thoughts I feel some kind of presence behind me. I try to reassure myself it’s just my feelings acting up again, but am then met with a terrible growl. It sounds like a wolf on its nightly prowl about to strike its prey. The thought of being hunted down pierced my very being, and forced me to quickly turn around. Everything behind me, now illuminated by the torch, seems to be clear. I can’t see the end of the hall as it is still shrouded by shadows that don’t seem to be leaving. I begin to hear a deep breathing. It doesn’t sound like a normal human breath, but something else, something feral. Two sharp red eyes pierce through the dark, and a shadowy limb steps out from it, as the growl slowly starts up again. My chest tightens, my heart jumps a beat, and I only could feel the need to run never to turn back around.

Running I could no longer feel my legs. Each breath now feels like a brand new struggle, and a sense of exigency is all that is driving me into the dankness of this dungeon. I can’t seem to reach the end of this hall like somehow it’s a lot longer than I remember. In fact, it just may be expanding the further I go. Then, I hear something behind me, chasing me. Thoughts of this creature catching up to me and tearing me to pieces fill my mind. Like a fuel to keep me moving. But I feel my heart racing almost struggling to keep up with my body. I have reached my limit, everything then starts to slow. My mind, my body, and, from where I’m standing, almost time itself appears to be going slower. This must be where it ends. I will soon be consumed by it and the darkness about it. I don’t see the point in trying to fight any longer. I’m trapped in this never ending prison, this void of shadows, will soon claim me as one of its own. But then a glorious sign of hope shows itself. I come to the beautiful sight of the stairs ascending to the heavenly freedom I so desperately desire. A spark of faith shines in my once helpless soul as I push myself even harder to my freedom.

I begin to sprint up the stone steps, but on the verge of falling unconscious I trip on the last step right before I can reach the top. Without any balance or grip I start to fall down the stairs. I turn onto my back to stop myself, and then I see it, the large mass of a dark creature with its intense red eyes and shadowy breath pursuing the remaining distance to reach me. I can’t let this be the end of me now. I’m almost out of this horror, and I will not allow this monster to take me. Ignoring the pain rising in my arms and back I try to gain a grasp on the rough stone walls with its many cracks and crevices. I use the bottom of the torch to help me get back to my feet and jump up the last few steps. Then the doorway to my escape comes into view. But much to my despair one last challenge stands before me, the long narrow hall to this door of hope. With the sounds of the creature’s steps and echoing breathes I take off for the door. It’s getting closer. I hold out my hand reaching to the door so that I may finally be saved. All that stands between me and my utter demise is this thin wooden door. As soon as I reach the door I grasp the handle and push myself through with all my force. Hurrying around the door I slam the door shut as it echoes throughout the main castle hall. I lean back onto the door to hold back the creature as it then starts violently banging on the door out of a fit of rage. Trying my best to keep my feet in place and back against the door, but I could feel that this is a hopeless effort. It’s like trying hold back the current of a river.

“Who goes there!?” An angry voice yells from a distance atop the staircase to the Princess’s throne within the darkness of this gloomy palace. I know this voice. It’s the princess! I should now be feeling a sense of security now that the Princess has arrived, but I can only imagine the fury she will express once she sees me. Now I am between two evils, the dark creature that lies behind this door that will bring me to my doom, and the Princess who sentenced me to that dark eternity. I don’t know whether to hide or to try to keep this door shut, but there is no time to decide. The Princess comes around the corner and by my torch light she easily spots me. I can see the shock and anger in her eyes. “You! What do you think you’re doing? Trying to escape?!... Step away from the door.” I can’t step away now, I think to myself. I can’t let this monster through; I can’t endanger the Princess and myself. Even though she sent me down to that dark place of agony I feel the compulsion to keep her from harm. “I said step away,” she promptly orders. Her horn then starts to glow and at the same moment the banging on the door stops. Out of fear and a sense of some possible security I raise my hands and slowly step away from the door. Going too slowly the Princess nudges me away with a glance of annoyance on her face. She then uses her magic to open the door and out comes the guard I saw from earlier completely out of breath. “I’m sorry princess… (Huff)… I couldn’t catch up with’em.”

“It’s fine. Now if you could please escort the prisoner back to his cell.”

“With pleasure… but first…” All of a sudden the guard’s eyes turn red and a shadow-like aura surrounds his body. With a smile on his face he charges at me slamming his helmet into my stomach. I fall to the ground and drop my torch as its light then diminishes. I’m in too much pain to try and get my bearing; all I can do is clench onto my stomach writhing in pain. “What are you doing? I said to-” Then out from the doorway behind the guard, an enormous black wolf leaps out through the shadows and starts attacking the Princess. The wolf is nearly half the size of Celestia. It too is emanating that shadowy glow along with having those crimson eyes, the same eyes that stared at me from the darkness. The Princess is struggling to keep the wolf at bay. It tries to slash its sharp claws at her throat, but she’s able to barely dodge it. As the wolf appears to be overtaking her, the Princess’s horn begins to glow. It gets brighter and brighter, and in a flash the light becomes blinding. As soon as the light dims I see that the guard and the wolf are disoriented from the intensity of the flash. Her horn then starts to glow a deep orange with wondrous glowing orbs of light circling around it. They shoot towards me and into my body. Instantly the pain that had been keeping me down has vanished. I get to my knees in astonishment, but the Princess doesn’t seem to be very pleased.

“Aireal! Quick. Go into my room and retrieve that wand. Hurry! I will not be able to keep them back for very long. Well? What are you waiting for? Go!” Without hesitation I run past the guard and wolf into her room. It’s dark, but not to the extent to where I can’t see anything. What I can see is a big glass chandelier above my head, and a grand master bed with a maroon red cover and golden bed stand. Taking a few more quick glances around the room I spot something glistening in the darkness. The wand is on top of a small white table reflecting the moonlight from a nearby window. I grab it, ready to run back, but once I turn around I see the possessed guard. With his back towards me he chuckles, lifts his hind legs, and kicks me, launching me onto the Princess’s bed. Slowly I roll off the side onto my face. I force myself to sit up against the bed and hold my chest as I try to regain the breath that was knocked out of me.

“Come on out. I’m not done with you yet.” He taunts. Because of the pain my mind is in too much of a panic to try and think of a way out. Turning my head towards the edge of the bed I can hear him slowly walking around it. I need to try and push past the pain, but it feels like my heart is about to abstain from its beat. Suddenly, a small breeze brushes across my hand, and oddly enough it seems to be getting stronger. Looking down at my hand the wand appears to have this strange current of air circling around it. The only thing I can think to do is to hold it out in front of me. The guard then makes his way past the bed and as soon as his whole body is completely visible I feel a strong rush of air discharge from the wand. He is thrown back smashing into a wall causing the room to shake. Falling down he leaves behind a large indent bringing small pieces of rubble with him, and he remains motionless. I stare at the wand in amazement, but I have no time to bask in its wonder at this moment. Right now the Princess needs me to return, I just need to do my best to stand up.

With my hands grasping tightly onto the wand I rush out of the room. I come to the sight of the Princess desperately trying to hold back the wolf. However her attacks seem ineffective in comparison to the wolf’s strength and agility. I begin to feel air swirling around the wand again. Holding the wand cautiously and away from my face I aim it pointing towards the wolf creature. At first everything seems to be moving at such an impeccable speed that I can hardly keep up with all the mayhem. But as I’m holding the wand out in front of me everything is starting to slow down. Everything that was once a blur is now coming into focus and the sense of urgency that once filled my mind begins to dissipate. Now, completely calm, the wind around the wand is an uncontrollable storm ready to be released. I can then see the wolf stop and turn its head towards me. Its eyes overwhelmed with the lust to sink its teeth into me. It leaps into the air towards me, and I shut my eyes.

With a sense of serenity I can feel the uncontrollable storm’s power reach its peak, and as I open my eyes it’s released. I watch the wolf’s body cut through the air and slam into a large pillar. It’s back coiling around it as the sound of snapping bones and tearing tissue echoes across this empty room. Plummeting to the ground with a whimpering cry its body then sprawls along the floor. Now motionless the wolf’s eyes open up, crimson red, begin to fade to the same blackness as its coat. Watching the color wash away from its eyes something begins to fill my heart. I come to the realization that I am witnessing this creature’s final moments. As I stare into its dying eyes and I begin to wonder what it’s feeling. Maybe now, with our roles reversed, it feels the same sensation I had when we first met. When those once sharp eyes pierced through my sanity and all thought became senseless, every inch of my chest began to tighten, my heart beating uncontrollably, and to breathe became a struggle. Maybe that is what it now feels.

When that sensation came to me I only wanted it gone never to come back, but those thoughts couldn’t stop it. It was wrapping around me grasping me tighter and tighter the longer I looked into its eyes. Escaping it alone would be impossible; I would need a guide to lead me out. If this creature is now realizing that feeling, then it surely must know. I would have wanted a savior, but no one was there for me. I feel the temptation to walk over to it in an attempt to help it, care for it, even save it if I could. To show it some light and save it the way I would have been wanted to be saved. Yet, I can’t seem to force myself to do it. In my heart it feels like the right thing to do, but I can’t. I only stare as its eyes finally turn to pitch blackness its body evaporating into nothingness joining the shadows around us. While I just stand here with the wand in my hand.

“(Huff)… Thank you…. (Huff)” The Princess says breathless. I look down to the ground questioning myself. Thoughts fly left and right saying that I didn’t do the right thing. I let that creature die, another living breathing thing. Feeling the Princess’s stares I can sense her confusion about my silence. Her thinking must have been: It was a monster and didn’t deserve any help. But I still can’t shake this guilt lingering in my heart…

“I know what you must be thinking. But listen to me; it was either it or us. You should be grateful we’re still alive.” Ignoring her comment I continue to look down at the ground remaining in my silence as I try to piece together my thoughts. However, it was shattered by what sounded like a crash of thunder. The Princess and I turn our heads down the main hall, and we find Twilight bolting down the red carpet with a bright orange glow following behind her. Her face filled with distress.

“Ponyville is in flames!” She says as she skids along the floor trying to stop herself.

“What?!” The Princess shouts. All three of us run outside and look towards the horizon. I could see it. Ponyville completely covered in flames. Even from where we’re at you could hear the screams of the ponies.

“I’ve tried using water and even my magic to try and put out the fire. But nothing worked.”

“This can’t be happening…” The princess whispers.

“What are we going to do?!”

“Aireal, I need you to go with Twilight to Ponyville and save as many ponies as possible. Have others help you if they can.”

“But why can’t you try using your magic?” Twilight asks.

“My magic will not have any more of an effect than yours… Aireal will you please help us?” I look out in the distance towards the flaming town. I can only imagine the chaos, and all the innocent lives that could be in danger. With all this in mind I nod my head.

“Good. You may take that wand with you. You’re going to need it.”

“Princess! …Ugh… What happened? … (Gasp), the prisoner!” says the guard from earlier finally making his way outside to us. The princess extends her hoof out in front of him holding the guard back.

“He’s not a prisoner. I think he can be trusted for the time being…”

“Come on Aireal there’s no time to waste. Everypony needs our help. We won’t let you down your majesty; we’ll do the best we possibly can!” Twilight says confidently.

“Thank you both. And Twilight, please be careful.” On that last note Twilight runs out of the castle as I follow closely behind.

Author's Note:

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now on to chapter four..... COMPLAIN....