Spike and Luna's daughter must overcome tragedy and treachery in her own quest to save Equestria from a new darkness she will know all too well.
The third and final story in the Origin Chronicles trilogy.
Many years have passed since the Darkness threatened all of Equestria. These have been years of peace and joy. Luna and Spike have married and had a daughter, Star Shadow. For a while, everything is wonderful. However, there a still a Darkness, slumbering in the depths of Equestria. Unfortunately, only young Star Shadow herself can face this Darkness. Can she overcome her own past, her own emotions, and stand up to face this threat? Or will she succumb and lead the Darkness across the land herself?
The old dragon looked up, his eyes peering through the darkness of the night. The moon had long since risen to its place in the sky and yet he found himself to be not so alone this night. Old he may by, but his senses were still quite sharp and he heard something. Hoofs, small and numerous, moving quickly and racing about as they made their way to him. He could tell they were still a few moments away and took the time time to ready himself. He straightened himself up, letting all the creaks and cracks out of that old body of his. One particularly loud crack in his neck almost had him worrying, but it was too late. His time was up.
“So,” The old dragon said in the dark of the night, “You are back, are you? Have you come for yet another story?”
“That's right. We have,” Said a small voice from not far off.
The old dragon let out a powerful breath. He took in one equally as powerful before breathing a torrent of flame into a readied pit before him. Life breathed anew in the flames as they danced and jumped and cast their glow across the dark night. His eyes peered through the flames.
“I have a story for you then,” He said to his young visitors. Six young ponies, fillies, who had come to him before in search of a good story. They were here once again and he intended to tell them a story once again. “But this will be the last story I will be able to tell you.”
“What?” Blurted out one of the fillies.
“Why is that, mister dragon?” Asked another.
“Yeah, what's up with that?” Demanded yet another.
The dragon held up a large hand and silence fell upon his young visitors. They knew that after that would come the look. Either way they would be shutting up.
“After this story, my young friends, you will know everything that you need to. I have told you about the great hero dragon, Spike. I have told you of his fierce battles against the Darkness and all it represented. I have told you of the love he had for the pony princess, Luna.”
“Yeah, you have,” Interrupted a young filly, “And they were great stories, so why stop telling them?”
“The next story I am going to tell you is about a young filly, much like yourselves,” Replied the dragon, seemingly ignoring the question asked of him. “She will travel a dark and strange path, a path full of twisted shadows and tainted reflections. She will face many hardships along her journey.”
“Who is this filly and what does she have to do with Spike and Luna?”
The dragon's eyes slowly passed over the fillies until they came to rest on the little one whose most recent outburst was getting on his nerves. She sat there on the other side of the fire with her hooves crossed and an annoyed look on her face. He let out a small sigh. He supposed he had kept them waiting long enough.
“This dark and twisted tale I have for you, young ones,” He said. “It is not the tale of Spike the dragon. Instead, I will tell you of his daughter.” The old dragon dramatically emphasized the last word, much to the fillies delight.
Whether they knew it or not the young fillies were collectively crooning their bodies ever closer to the flames of the fire, trying to get closer to the words that made up the very fabric of the story. The old dragon smiled. This is what he did.
“This young filly, born of stars and shadows, will have to endure so very much,” Said the old storyteller, “And all if started with- Well, why don't I just tell you already?”
Ten years. Ten years had passed since then. Spike could hardly believe sometimes. Ten years since he had fought the Darkness and destroyed it. Ten years had passed since he had lost nearly all of his mystical powers. Ten years had passed since he had been with the one that he loved.
“And this one is already going by so fast,” He said to himself, with only the night air to hear him.
“You say something, dear?” He heard from behind him. He turned around to see Luna approaching, ever beautiful as the day he first realized he loved her. Spike smiled as Luna came closed. He leaned in for a quick kiss.
“Nothing, dear,” He said. “Just talking to myself is all.”
“Oh, a good talk was it?” Luna teased him. “Not too one sided?”
Spike couldn't help but laugh at the bad joke, “I just can't believe it sometimes. Ten years.”
“I know what you mean,” Luna said as she stood beside him.
Luna stood with him and she lay her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and together they looked out over the city of Canterlot and the lands that lay beyond. Spike's eyes drifted off towards he direction of Ponyville. He hadn't been back in a long time.
“You're thinking about going back aren't you?” Luna asked.
“You know me too well,” Spike replied.
“I am your wife after all,” Luna retorted playfully. “Isn't it part of the job to know my husband?”
“I suppose,” Spike said. “I was thinking of going back. It's been too long. Almost five years now.”
“Then go,” Luna said. “I will still be here when you get back.”
Spike turned his head to face Luna. She was looking up at him. The moon shone down on them and for a moment it was like they were the only two beings that existed in the entire world. Spike leaned in for a kiss. His lips were so close to making a connection with Luna's, only to be soundly interrupted by a hoof at their chamber doors. With the moment shattered and the connection lost for the moment both Luna and Spike let out a small, shared sigh. Another knock on their doors brought their attention to the matter at hand, or hoof.
“Enter,” Luna said. The door handle moved after a solid second to reveal two of the castle guards. One of them being of Celestia's royal guard, the ponies that were stationed all over the city and the especially the castle. The other was a thestral, a member of Luna's personal guard ponies that watched the night when the rest of the royal guard could not.
“Beg your pardon, Highness,” Said the thestral in a raspy voice, “But it is a matter of utmost urgency.”
“What is it?” Luna asked with a notable touch of worry in her voice.
“Your daughter,” The pony replied flatly. “We caught her attempting to leave the castle ground once again.”
“Oh,” Luna said. “And where is she now?”
The two guard ponies stepped aside and out of the doorway. Behind them stood a small, young filly. She slowly inclined her head upward until she was looking up at Luna. A small smile slowly appeared on her face. That kinda smile only a kid could pull off. That smile that says they're still all innocent and stuff. This little filly was pulling it all off. She even had the eyes to go with it. However, Luna was a powerful Alicorn Princess and was able to resist her charms.
“Get in here,” She said sternly at the young filly. The filly's smile quickly disappeared as she got to her hooves and trudged on in to the room that belonged to her parents.
“Thank you,” Spike said to the guard ponies as they left. They each responded with a curtly nod and kept moving.
“Oh, come on, Mom,” The young filly cried out. “I am the daughter of the Princess of the night. And my dad is possibly Equestria's greatest hero. Why can't I stay up just a little bit later?”
“Star Shadow,” Luna said. “My dearest Star Shadow, we have talked about this. You are still a young pony, and young ponies need to go to school. Your school is only open during the day. Therefore, you need to sleep at night.”
“Ugh, come on, Mom,” Little Star Shadow complained, “Not this again. I've heard a million times already.”
“And I will tell you a million more times if I have to,” Luna said in a very motherly tone. That tone that was half joking but at the same time Star knew she would enforce that threat in a heartbeat if she pressed the issue.
“Fine,” She finally conceded with a pout. “Guess I'll go back to my room then.”
“Not alone, you won't,” Spike said, finally chiming in on the exchange, “I will walk with you.”
“Seriously?!” Star blurted out, not expecting her father to say that, “My room is only, like, a hallway away. Do you really need to go with me?”
“Yes, I do,” Spike said as he gestured for her to get her butt moving towards the door. As he left with little Star he looked back over his shoulder and gave Luna a small wink. She smiled in response and turned to get back to her nightly duties.
The two of them walked down the long castle corridor side by side. Neither of them said a word to each other. Spike glanced over at his daughter ever few moments. Her head was low as she was getting really into her pouting. She didn't seem to notice Spike looking at her. He looked ahead, they still had a a few moments before they reached her room. Spike got an idea.
He may have lost the vast majority of his magical prowess, but that didn't mean Spike lost all his tricks. He was a dragon after all. Carefully he maneuvered his long, prehensile tail behind and around his daughter. Swiftly he reached around her with it, ever watchful to not be seen by her. He did this all to give her a quick tap on the shoulder, at which point he even more quickly recoiled his tail back and behind himself.
Star quickly turned her head around to her right side, the same side Spike had tapped with his tail. All she saw when she looked was the wall, and only the wall. She didn't let it bother her and set her eyes in front of her again. Spike smiled slightly and raised his tail just barely an inch in the air.
“I know that was you, Dad,” Star said suddenly.
Spike stopped, caught of guard by his own daughter, “I don't know what you mean.” He finally stammered out.
“Come on, Dad,” Star said with a small yawn. “I know it was you. Just admit it.”
Spike couldn't help but smile at his daughter. She was barely awake as she walked alongside him. “You must be tired.” Spike said as he reached down and scooped her up in his scaly arms. “You're starting to talk all crazy like.”
There was no more fighting it. Star Shadow finally gave in. She let out a big, adorable yawn and nestled her face into Spike's chest. “I am your daughter after all.” She said as she closed her eyes.
It was only another few paces to her room. Spike used his tail to gently push the door open as he held Star Shadow in his arms. The room itself was quite dark but Spike did have some excellent vision from him being a dragon and all. Not to mention he pretty much knew the layout of this room by heart. He and Luna both spent many a night in here during the first several years of their young daughters life. Even though Spike knew the room, what he didn't expect was the mess his daughter had made.
Spike was barely into the room when he saw it. He was in the middle of his step, he couldn't avoid it. His foot was already coming down when he first saw the glare. It was small, nearly imperceptible. But he did see it, and all he could do was prepare himself for it, mentally if not physically.
Spike bit his lower lip to hold in the groan of pain that would have otherwise escaped from him in that moment. Balancing himself on one leg and against the door frame behind him Spike lifted his foot up. He used his tail to quickly brush off the small building block toy Star had left on the floor. How do those things always hurt, even through dragon scales? Spike thought to himself. He let the thought go as he looked deeper into the room.
“It's a frickin' minefield in here,” He whispered under his breath. Star made a noise as she rest in his arms but she didn't wake. Spike breathed a breath of relief and carefully moved farther into the room. One would think this to be a simple and trivial thing for someone like Spike, Dragon hero of Equestria, former master of Dragon magic, and all around awesome person. However, more than once Spike found himself wishing he had his full magic potential back. He curse the air itself more than once that night, but he did finally make it to the bed where he lay down the little Star.
“Goodnight, my little Star Shadow,” He said as he gave her a gentle kiss to her forehead.
===
“Well, that took longer than I expected,” Luna stated soundly as Spike entered the chambers they shared.
“That would be because I had to navigate our daughter's bedroom,” Spike replied to Luna. She turned her head just enough to let him see her raised eyebrow. That was all he needed to see to know she wanted a further explanation. “Our daughter didn't clean up her room like we asked her to today.”
“You mean like I asked her to,” Luna said, emphasizing a single word to make a point.
“Yes, dear, like you asked her to” Spike replied. He walked up to Luna and stood next to her on the balcony. He placed both hands on the railing and wrapped his fingers around the metal bars, letting the cool night air roll over his scales. “I'm sorry I was so caught up with my own things today. I should have been there to help out more with Star.”
Luna came in a bit close to Spike and she leaned up against him. “It's alright, Spike. I understand. You have your own duties, as I have mine. We both knew this before Star was even born. And we talked about it.”
“I know,” Spike said. “We didn't want her to be raised by sitters and servants. We were going to be in her life as much as possible. And we have been, for the most part. We make time for her.”
“Yes,” Luna reassured. “We have been there for her.” Luna breathed deeply as the both of them just stood there. She lifted her head off Spike's shoulder just long enough to point her horn towards the moon in the sky. She took a moment to let the magic in her flow into it and then she sent out a magical pulse that traveled outward in all directions, covering all of Canterlot and the lands of Equestria beyond.
This pulse would come back and let her know if there were any ponies out there suffering from terrible nightmares and the like. Anything she could do to help these ponies she would. Spike liked to refer to this method of hers as her Slumbering Sonar. At first she thought it sounded ridiculous, but it came to grow on her. Together they smiled, and they stared out into the night sky.
Eventually, Spike succumbed to the night and went to bed. Even after nearly ten years he still wasn't completely nocturnal. There were times where he could stay awake for three days straight with no sleep and suffer from no ill effects. Other times he could barely make it through one day without yawning and/or nodding off for a quick power nap. This night he fell asleep quickly and slept quite soundly for some hours.
The morning came around, as it always did, and Spike rose up from the bed. He stretched his body and let out one last yawn. He turned to Luna's side of the bed to give her a morning kiss before he got ready for his day. When he turned, though, all he found next to him was an unkempt bed and empty air. That was quite unusual, as he usually woke before Luna did.
“Luna?” Spike called out her name, hoping that she was somewhere in the chambers. He got no response. A small amount of panic crept into his mind. He knew it was probably nothing, that she was just out with Celestia or something, but there was still that small part of that thought it. That small part in the back of his mind that wondered, what if it wasn't?
Spike threw the blankets off himself and practically leaped from the bed. His blood was already pumping as he made his way around the large bed. He bounded for the door as quickly as he could without actually running. His clawed hands reached for the doorhandles just as another, outside force opened them. The doors swung open to reveal that it was none other than Luna herself standing in front of Spike.
“Oh, hello there, Spike,” Luna said with a chuckle as she saw Spike standing there with his hands out and a somewhat disheveled look about him. “Are you alright? You don't look so good."
Spike took a moment to correct himself. He stood up straight and brought his hands back to him. “Yeah, sorry. I had a rather bad dream, and then I woke up without you next to me. I guess I kinda panicked a bit.”
“No need to be sorry, dear,” Luna said as she moved past him. “I understand. I wasn't in bed because I didn't go to sleep last night. I was going to, but then I remembered something of the utmost importance and I had to start working on it.”
Only then did Spike notice the papers Luna was carrying with her. She moved over and placed them on her desk before heading off to the bathroom. “What was that was so important?” He asked.
“Don't tell me you don't remember what day is coming up,” Luna quickly replied, stopping just before the bathroom door.
“Yes, I know Star's tenth birthday is coming up soon,” Spike said. He was going to continue when a thought formed in his mind. He stopped mouth still open and Luna just watched as the gears turned in his head. It took him mere seconds but he finally got it. “And we have absolutely no idea what to get her for a present this year,” He said with a sigh. He dragged a hand down his face as if to wipe away the feeling of failure he was feeling.
“Don't worry, Spike, I have some ideas,” Luna said as she swished her tail in the direction of her desk, and the papers she had just placed on it. “Why don't you look through those why I take a shower.”
Spike could tell it was a statement and not just a suggestion. He gave his wife a nod and strolled over to the desk. He grabbed the papers and sat down in a nearby chair to look through them.
“What do we have here,” He said to himself as he flipped through the pages, “Jewel encrusted tiara, personal chariot for the young one, personal library with many rare books (librarian included), etc.” The rest of the list went on similar to the these items. Spike couldn't help but cringe a little bit as he came to the end of the list. He was worried. Luna came out of the bathroom still with her hair done up in a towel. She could easily see the worry on his face with just one look.
“What's wrong? You don't like any of the ideas?”
“Umm, well,” Spike struggled to find the right words, “I just think they all might be a little, uh, not right, I guess.”
“Not right? What do you mean?”
“Well, this is her tenth birthday. I want her to get something that really means a lot, from the both of us. Something that has meaning to it.” Spike said. “All these ideas seem more like some something, a friend of the family would give her, not something her own parents should be giving her.”
Luna quickly grabbed the papers out of Spike's hand with magic. She held them in front of her and scanned through them once again. She was quick and when she was done, she threw them all up in the air and let them fall around in a mess. She slumped down in the middle of this paperwork pile and pouted.
“Oh, you're right Spike,” She cried. “I was just so worried we didn't have anything for and this was all I could come up with.”
“Don't worry, my dearest Luna,” Spike said as he came over and consoled Luna. He sat down next to her and draped an arm around her before pulling her closer to him. He sat there for a moment before an idea came to him.
He turned his eyes to a chest on the far wall. One of the few possessions he had that spoke of true dragon heritage. He raised a hand and concentrated on just that chest. He threw his hand up wit ha flick of his wrist and the lid of the chest slowly opened up. It fell back and hit the hard wall behind it with a thud. That brought Luna's attention to it. Spike concentrated once again, but this time on a single item inside of the chest.
He knew exactly what it was and where it was. He had placed it in that chest himself and it hadn't been touched since then. It was probably pretty dusty by now. Spike raised his hand slowly as he dragged this item out into the light of day. After a moment a large book rose from the chest and floated over to them. It dropped right in front of them as Spike let out a heavy breath.
“What is this?” Luna asked as she reached for the book.
“A story,” Spike said. “My story. And yours as well. From the very beginning, that one day that started it all. The day I found that book on dragon magic, and everything that happened after that.”
“Spike,” Luna said as she flipped open the cover of the book. “When did you do all of this?”
“I started a few years after I defeated the Darkness, and lost my magic,” Spike replied. “Remember all that work I was doing. It was this. I had to travel around to get some eyewitness accounts and outside views for everything.”
“You didn't ask me about any of this,” Luna stated, half a question and half a statement.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Spike said. “For either you or Star. Why not give it to her for her tenth birthday?”
“I think it's a wonderful idea, Spike,” Luna said, right before leaning in to give Spike a passionate kiss. One which he returned in kind.
The days passed on by slowly for little Star Shadow as she waited in anticipation for her day t come. Her birthday, that is. It was coming, less than a week away now. She was so happy she could barely contain it. She bounced with joy with every step she took. All throughout the castle the ponies could hear her laughing and playing. They also heard her questions. Yes, being so young Star Shadow was oh so very curious about what she was getting for presents this year. She had gotten many great gifts in the past, and she had loved them all.
“But what am I getting this year? Huh, Mom?” She pleaded with Luna, her eyes wide and lips pursed in a face that would have made almost any mother give in. However, Luna was not any mother.
“Well, if you want to know that badly,” Luna replied as she walked with Star. “Then I guess I will just have to do this.”
Luna's horn flashed with a magical light for a second before a small box materialized in front of her. She floated it down to Star who could barely contain her smile. Her legs shook with excitement, and she nearly jumped up to get to the box that was almost within her hooves. Luna released the box and only a second had passed before the little one had already shredded the outer layer of wrapping paper. She stared down at the plain box sitting in front of her. Slowly she reached out, her mind flashing through ideas of what it could be. A crown of her own? A pet bird? A new Daring Do book to read? A Power Ponies action figure? So many ideas! She pulled the lid off the box and she froze where she was.
“Uh, Mom,” She said weakly as she stared into the box. “There's nothing in here. It's empty.”
“Look at the lid again, Star,” Luna said plainly. Star's smile faded and she did as Luna said. She lifted the box lid up again so she could see it clearly. At first she had thought it was just a plain box. Simply white in color. Nothing special about it. Until the white started to move. She watched as another color began to appear, bleeding through the white and shifting before her eyes. Star watched as this color shifted into words.
“The Answer Box,” She read as the words appeared, “Question: What am I getting for my birthday? Answers within.”
“Satisfied?” Luna asked.
“I don't get it,” Star said, obviously puzzled at the message the box was meant to send.
“The box holds all the answers you're going to get from me on the question you asked,” Luna explained. “Now do you understand?”
“So the box holds the answers?” Star said. “But the box is empty, so there are no answers? Does this mean you aren't going to tell me what I'm getting this year?”
“Very good, Star,” Luna said with smile. “Now run along. I believe your father had something he wanted to talk to you about.”
“Ooh, ooh! Maybe I can some answers out of him,” Star said as she sprang to her hooves.
“Oh, I doubt that,” Luna chuckled as she walked away. “Where do you think I got the box from?”
===
Star walked along the castle corridors. She had grown up here, lived here all her life, and still she got lost from time to time. The castle was a big place and she was a little pony. And now she was supposed to go and find her father, Spike the dragon, and she had no idea where to start looking. Her mother had neglected to give her that small detail before sending her off. And so, Star's only choice was to start with all the places he normally was. First stop, his office.
Spike had an office set up away from the chambers he shared with Luna. She had her own desk set up in the rooms, but Spike preferred his office to be elsewhere. He said it made it easier to separate his work from his family. A point Luna understood, and so he had his office. It was a few floors up and on another side of the castle. Star had only been there a few times, and not in couple months. Still she remembered the way quite clearly. The first time she was there she had to sneak in to surprise Spike on his birthday. She almost made it but he spotted her first. The walk there was uneventful. She just moved along, saying hello to the occasional castle staff pony she saw. When she got there the only thing she saw were two guard ponies standing outside the door to the office.
“Hey, guys,” Star said. She approached the big, muscled, and very serious looking guards. “Have either of you guys seen my dad today? You know, big guy, dragon, real tall, purple scales? He's kinda hard to miss. I'm trying to find him.”
The only visible response she got was the guard ponies moving their eyes to look at her. That was the only acknowledgment she was getting and she got the impression that they were just acknowledging her presence, not her question.
“Seriously, nothing?” She asked, half serious about the need to find Spike and half about them not laughing at all. Not even a smile. “Guess I will go and ask somepony else.” She sighed as he walked off.
Feeling a little bit discouraged, Star moved on to one of Spike's other favorite places. Other than Luna's side. She was already there and she didn't Spike at all. No, this time she was heading off to the throne room. Spike's experiences over the years made him well versed in matters of security, both breaking through it and building it up. Celestia valued this in him very much and often had him talk to ponies that came to her with questions regarding these matters. Spike often spent at least a few hours a day with her in the throne room addressing these questions. From Spike's office it was only a short travel down to the throne room. It didn't even take Star ten minutes.
“Hiya, Auntie,” She beamed as she came into the throne room.
“. . . And I assure you, this matter will be looked into. I will have my very best looking into it,” Celestia said, addressing the ponies in front of her still. “These bandits will be dealt with. You have my word.”
Three ponies stood before Celestia. They bowed their heads in thanks and smiled happily as they walked out of the castle doors. Two guards closed the large doors behind them. They went back to standing tall and very still after that.
“Hello there, Star Shadow,” Celestia said. “What bring you here today? Don't you have school?”
“No, it's Saturday, Auntie Tia,” Star answered.
“Oh, it is isn't it?” Celestia faked some obliviousness. She shared a small laugh with Star and got off her throne to see her. “So, little one, what did you need?”
“I'm trying to find my dad,” Star replied. “I already checked his office, but he wasn't there. At least, I don't think he was. The ponies by the door don't talk very much.”
“Hmm. Trying to find Spike,” Celestia pondered the concept for a moment. “Well, he isn't here. Have you checked the dining hall? You know how your dad likes to eat those gems.”
“That's true, but it's not lunch time yet,” Star replied.
“Oh, of course it's not,” Celestia said back, “What was I thinking?”
“I don't know,” Star said, “Do you have any other ideas where I can look for him?”
“Hmm, let me think,” Celestia replied. She thought about it for a moment and eventually had to concede that she didn't have any idea where Spike could be. It was a big castle after all. But she wasn't going to tell Star that. Instead, she was going to the next best thing.
“Guards,” She raised her voice just enough to get the attention of all the guards in the throne room. One by one, all of their heads turned to face her. Something that the young Star Shadow found to be really cool. “Do any of you happen to know the whereabouts of Spike the dragon? His daughter seeks to find him.”
Murmurs and whispers started traveling among the guards present. Their voiced got louder as they talked more and more guards had to talk to guards farther away. It would seem that they all wanted to be part of the conversation and yet none of them wanted to move from their position at the same time. The whole scene kind of reminded Celestia of a class room for some reason. After several moments and small discussion later the guards talk died down and one of stepped forward.
He stepped barely out of his position, just enough to let them know he was the speaker. “Spike the dragon was last seen heading down the southeast stairwell leading to a largely unused section of the castle, Your Highness,” He reported in a very official tone of voice. “He never spoke to any of the guards of his intentions or exact destination.”
“Thank you very much,” Celestia said with a kind nod. The guard stepped back into place and resumed his duty of being very still and quiet. The room fell back into its natural silent state and Star found it to very odd all of the sudden.
“Come on then,” Celestia said. “Let's go find you father.”
Celestia started walking a bit ahead of Star and she jumped up to race after her. They walked together for a while. The time was filled with Star going on and on about her birthday. She tried to pry even the smallest bit of information out of Celestia, but all she got was cryptic answers and riddles or nothing at all. She was even more stubborn than Luna was. Celestia couldn't help but snicker a bit when Star told her about the answer box. She remembered when Spike first gave it to Luna all those years ago.
“So where are we going?” Star asked after a while. “And when will we get there?”
“We are going to a part of the castle that not many ponies go too, young one,” Celestia replied. “We will be there in just a few moments.”
“Why don't ponies come down here? Is it dangerous or something?”
“No, little one, it's not dangerous. It's just that this part of the castle is mainly used for storage. We store a lot of things, but only about one a month does a pony come down here to check on everything and make sure it is still there.”
“Whoa,” Star said as the two of them passed by the tenth door in that corridor. The door was slightly open and she peeked inside. She saw a very large room full of nothing but large boxes and crates. “It's somepony's job to go through and just look at stuff. Sounds boring.”
“It very well may be,” Celestia said. “But it is an important job nonetheless.”
“How important could it be just look at stuff?”
“Well, Star, think of it this way,” Celestia explained. “We store all manner of things here, from antique tomes much to fragile to have in any library to magical charms with to much power to have them out. If either one of those items got out and fell into the wrong hooves, it could end very badly for the ponies involved. Do you understant?”
“I think so,” Star honestly replied as she thought about it. “I don't know much about magic yet, though.”
“Then it's time you learned, isn't it?”
Celestia, for the first time in well over a hundred years, physically jumped. The sudden voice caught off guard in every possible way, and Star would swear her horn carved a nice line in the ceiling. Celestia took the next few seconds to catch her breath.
“Oh my,” She said between breaths, “Spike, why must you do that?”
“Sorry, Celestia,” Spike said, trying to hide the smile he had from successfully scaring the almighty Celestia.
“Daddy!” Star exclaimed as she ran up to him. He dropped to one knee and took her in his arms, picking her up and twirling around a few times.
“I was just about to come and get you, my little Star,” Spike said as he stopped twirling around. “Your timing is great.”
“Is that so?” Celestia asked. “Might I inquire as to what it is you're doing down here, Spike?”
“Of course,” Spike replied. “Come on in.”
Spike turned around and pushed open the door he had just emerged from. He carried Star on through and Celestia followed behind them. She walked through and saw a sight that she was definitely not expecting. Even though she wasn't down here much at all she still knew the general design of her castle, and this was not it. Not at all.
The whole entire room was covered in crystal. The castle may have been built upon crystal caverns, but it was not meant to be made of crystals. That was Cadance's palace. Celestia stared, wide eyed at the crystal faceted walls that lined the room. Spike let Star down and she ran around the room having fun watching her reflection in the crystals.
“Spike,” Celestia said, “What have you done to my castle?”
“It's just a layer of crystal,” Spike said in an attempt to reassure her. He wasn't sure if it worked. “Look, Celestia, Star is my daughter. The daughter of a dragon is one thing, but when that dragon is me it opens up a whole new list of worries. Among them is. . . “
“Dragon magic,” Celestia finished for him.
“Exactly,” Spike said. “When I was first being taught, it was in a made up of these very same crystals. They absorb excess magical energy. It's perfect for teach Star Shadow magic.”
“But Spike, she is a pony,” Celestia stated. “Can she even do dragon magic?”
“She has dragon blood,” Spike answered. “And some part of her spirit is that of a dragon. I would rather know now than worry later.”
“Yes,” Celestia agreed. “Better safe than sorry and all that.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“You're quite welcome, Spike. And to be completely honest, even if she can only do a fraction of what you could that would still make her one of the most dangerous ponies in Equestria,” Celestia lowered her voice to barely above a whisper when saying that last part.”
“I am well aware of that,” Spike whispered back.
“Hey, what are you talking about?” Star asked suddenly.
“You, of course,” Spike quickly replied. “Your birthday is coming up and I wanted to show this to you.”
“You mean you're going to tell me what I am getting for my birthday,” She said in disbelief. “All Momma gave me was the answer box, and Auntie Tia wouldn't say anything either.”
“That just means they are doing their jobs,” Spike said. “As for your birthday: Starting that day we are going to be coming down here, and I am going to teach you magic. It's going to be a lot of work, but how does that sound?”
“AWESOME!!” Star shouted joyfully, but then she had a thought. “But Dad, I am gonna be taught at school how to use magic.”
“Pony magic, my dear Star Shadow,” Spike said, “When we are in this room, I am going to teach you about dragon magic.”
“Whoa,” Star said. “I have the best Dad ever!”
“I agree,” Spike said. “Now go run along and play. You still have a few days before your birthday. Enjoy them while you can.”
Star Shadow wasted absolutely no time. She couldn't wait to go and find some pony to tell. She was smiling wide as she raced through the halls of the castle. All throughout the castle her laughter could be heard, and her happy smile was passed on to every pony that saw it.
The next days that passed were all a blur to her. She just went through the motions of the days like she always did. She did some reading in the library. The librarian was always happy to see her and they talked about books for a bit. Star even asked about any books on dragon magic, but the librarian told her they didn't have any. She wasn't surprised. She knew that Spike probably had them all locked away somewhere.
Star went to school when the new week began. She was so excited about her upcoming birthday it was all she could talk about. She told any and every pony that would listen about her dad, Spike the dragon, and how he was going to teach her all about dragon magic as soon as she turned ten years old.
Celestia's ascension of the sun had just barely begun, and already Star was wide awake. She was barely able to sleep at all the night before, her every waking moment filled with such anticipation and excitement for the coming day. The beginning of the day held little meaning for her.
Star went through her usual morning routine as fast as any pony possibly could. She hoped that maybe if she did everything else faster the day itself would move faster and her party would get here sooner. She quickly showered and had barely dried off before she set about brushing her teeth. She spat her toothbrush out hastily and left the bathroom. Smiles and giggles filled her chambers as she gathered around all the homework she needed for school. All the while daydreaming all about the different possibilities of the gifts she would be getting.
“I can't wait for today,” She said gleefully as she raced out the door.
School for that day went by just as quickly as she had hoped it would. Star was hardly even able to pay attention to the teachers all day. She was too focused on the party. She had seen the staff of the castle bustling about more than usual today. They all had an extra something about them, something that was making them work harder than ever. Star wasn't surprised.
“Are you ready, Star Shadow?”
“Huh, wha?” Star mumbled as her mind slowly came back around to join the rest of her classmates in this reality. “Sorry, I didn't hear you. What did you say?”
“Jeez, Starry, back to Equestria please. Do I need to wave my hoof in front of your face?”
Star Shadow couldn't help but smile at this pony. And why wouldn't she? This was her best friend in the whole wide world of Equestria. Starlight Charmer is her name. That was actually the very thing that first lead them to becoming friends, their names.
A long time ago, when Star Shadow first started school most ponies who were around her treated her one of two ways, neither of them particularly good. On one hoof some ponies would be nice to her, really nice. Too nice. She was the daughter of a Princess of Equestria and because of that ponies often thought they could gain favor with Luna through her. They were wrong.
On the other hoof was the opposite reaction. The other ponies treated her with sheer disdain and resentment. They looked down on her for simply being born with a Princess for a mom and Spike as a dad. They automatically assumed she would just have the obvious rich, spoiled brat lifestyle and treated her as such. And yet even through all this, Star Shadow found there was a actually a third group. Well, mainly one pony.
“Hey there,” Starlight said, extending a hoof to help Star Shadow up. She had tripped with her school project in her hooves. Unfortunately, it had broken into pieces when it hit the floor. Star Shadow stared at the shattered pieces of her project, and her confidence. Some tears welled up in her eyes and she started to cry in the hallway of the school.
“Hey there,” Starlight repeated. She brought her hoof down and lowered her head to match the height of the pouting Star Shadow. “What's your name?”
Star Shadow looked up at the strange pony standing in front of her. A Unicorn, with bright blue eyes and a shimmering white coat that had an eerie beauty to it. Her flank was blank, but she didn't seem to mind at all. “ . . . Shadow.”
“Shadow?” Starlight said the name again, testing it out on her tongue. “What kinda name is just Shadow?”
“It's Star Shadow,” She said as she wiped the tear drops from her cheeks.
“Really?!” Starlight exploded in excitement. She spun on her hooves real quick before coming back to face to confused little filly. “My name is Starlight Charmer. Star and Starlight, what are the odds of that? That's so cool!”
“I guess,” Star Shadow unenthusiastically uttered as she slowly gathered the remains of her former school project.
“Hey, hey. You wanna be friends?” Starlight asked abruptly.
“No thanks,” Star said quickly, “I have to get this mess to class and explain it.” With that said, Star picked up the last remnant of her broken project and left poor, young Starlight standing there with no idea what just happened.
A few moments later, in the classroom Star walked in with all the broken pieces. All the eyes in the room immediately shifted their focus to her and the mess she had with her. She could not stop herself from shaking under the gaze of all her fellow students. She just hoped that her shaking wasn't visible.
“What's this mess?” The teacher asked, prodding the pile of pieces with his pencil. Star opened her mouth to speak, but never got the chance to utter even a single word. The classroom door swung open dramatically and Starlight came rushing in.
“Hey, teach. Like my project?” She asked as she set her own bags on a nearby desk.
“I don't see your project, miss. . .?”
“Starlight Charmer,” She announced proudly in front of the entire class. “And my project is right there in front of you.”
Star's head swiveled around quickly and she just stared at this pony. This strange pony just claimed that her shattered, broken mess of a project was her own. And she was smiling, too. The teacher looked down at the mess and simply swept it off the desk with one sweep of his leg. He let out a heavy sigh and looked at Star Shadow.
“And you, Miss? Where is your project?”
Star looked at him quickly and then back at Starlight. It was insane, this situation she was in. She didn't have any idea of what to do. What was she supposed to do now, with no project to claim as her own and no reason to not have one with her now. She narrowed her eyes to glare at this pony, Starlight. She was ruining everything. Had she even thought about this, the effect of her actions?
“Oh, I got that,” Starlight said, rushing back to the desk with her bags on it. She pulled out a small object and handed it over to the teacher. He didn't seem amused or impressed in the slightest. “What, I found it outside after mine broke into a couple million pieces. It's hers. See, it even has her name on it.”
Sure enough, when both the teacher and Star looked down to where Starlight was pointing they saw a single word. 'Star' was clearly written in ink on the edge of the project. Star did notice one thing off, though. The spot right next to her name. It was very dark, unusually dark. And the teacher saw it too.
“What is that dark patch, there, young Miss?” He asked.
“Her last name,” Starlight replied quickly. “Shadow. Her name is Star Shadow. Dark spot, shadow, get it?”
Once again the teacher did not seem amused in the slightest, but he did turn his attention away from Starlight and toward Star herself. “Anything to say, Miss Shadow?”
Star was stunned for a moment. She just stared at the project before her, and then she looked back at Starlight. She was still smiling. “I know it's a little small,” Star said, “But it does have everything you requested in it.”
“Very well,” The teacher said. “As for you, Miss Charmer, given your obvious commitment to your project and the unfortunate instance that occurred I will give you one extra day to put something together. Now, to your seats.”
“Thanks, teach,” Starlight said. And that was how they met. If they hadn't have had such similar names that day would have gone much differently.
Star just smiled at this pony talking to her. “Only if you want to lose it, Charmer.”
“Oh good, you're back,” Charmer joked, “That zombie you had filling in was an absolutely terrible actress.”
“Shut up,” Star said playfully, “Is there something you wanted, or can I get back to my daydreaming now?”
“Well, your daydreaming took up the entire day,” Charmer said. “Time to leave. School's out.”
If she hadn't have seen it, she probably wouldn't have believed it. If you asked her about it she would have told you that she witnessed a filly unicorn mare who had no magical training whatsoever. . . teleport. Serioulsy, one second she was there and the next Star was gone. Faster than the blink of an eye she was gone. Once again, Starlight Charmer was left standing there by herself wondering what had just happened.
“Hey, slowpoke! You coming?” Charmer turned around to see Star at the door all ready to leave. Together they raced to the castle. The time had finally come. The birthday party.
Ponies filed into the castle. Presents piled up on the far side under the window. A grand feast filled the tables. Talk spread among the ponies, cheer ran through the crowd, and a joyous atmosphere filled the air. The sun shone in brightly through the windows as the day went on, not that anypony noticed. All the attention was on the guest of honor.
Star Shadow had arrived right on time with her friend not a second behind her. From the first moment she was seen by the ponies she had been bombarded by a constant stream of 'Happy Birthday' and other such sayings. She simply smiled and stuck it out, knowing that there were things worth waiting for. Food, delicious food. Cakes and pastries and pies baked by some of the best bakers known to the castle, from the city of Canterlot and beyond. Delicacies from all over the land whose alluring aromas floated on the air and drove Star's attention away from the ponies that surrounded her. Spike watched as his little one dove face first into a plateful of cake and ice cream.
“You have quite the daughter there, Spike.”
Spike quickly glanced to the side, needed only that to realize who it was that was talking to him. The voice was familiar and yet unheard by him for quite a long time. Spike sighed deeply as she came up to stand beside him.
“Twilight,” Spike said with a wide, toothy smile, “It is good to see you. It has been too long.”
“And whose fault is that, I wonder,” Said another voice he hadn't heard in many years. “I dare say it is you, dear Spike.”
“Now, now, lets not be too harsh, Rarity. Spike has a daughter now. Young ones take a lot of time.”
“Rarity, Fluttershy,” Spike exclaimed joyfully as he enveloped the two mares in a big dragon hug. “It's good to see you girls again.”
“It's great seeing you too, Spike.” Twilight smiled at him with that same smile that he used to see all the time. “The others are here too, somewhere.”
“Oh, Applejack went to talk with the ponies in the kitchen after having tasted of 'them so called apple darned things' is how she put I believe,” Rarity said. “I do hope she doesn't start yelling at them. . . . again.”
“I'm sure they can handle it,” Spike said. “What about Dash and Pinkie Pie?”
“Pinkie Pie is talking to Luna about little Star's upcoming parties,” Fluttershy reported. “I'm pretty sure they were up to her 16th the last I knew. And Rainbow Dash is most likely in one of two places.”
“The punch bowl or the Wonderbolts,” Spike said as if he had never left Ponyville. “Anyway, why don't you guys come with me. I'm sure Star will love meeting you.”
“Oh, and we just can't wait to meet her!” Fluttershy said in giddy excitement as they walked along. Meanwhile, after having devoured half their weight each from the enormous banquet tables both Star Shadow and Starlight Charmer moved on to the main event. Opening the presents.
Star ran up to the small mountain of gifts at the end of the hall. She slowed to a stop as she came closer and closer. The pile was easily as tall as her mom, or her dad, perhaps taller. She could hardly believe it as she looked at the all. Gleaming foil wrapping paper in a dozen different designs caught her eyes and lead her gaze through a maze of dizzying patterns and colors on the ribbons that held them so close and tightly closed. Some were big, some were small, and a few were in some very oddly shaped boxes. Stars eyes shone brightly as she looked up at all that.
“All of them are for me?” She half asked to nopony in particular.
“All for you, little Star,” Spike said as he got close. “Why don't you open them all now, and after that you can meet my friends from Ponyville. Okay, sound good?”
“Your friends from Ponyville,” Star repeated. “The only one I've ever met was Twilight, and that's only because she is a Princess. I totally wanna meet them, but I gotta do this present thing first. Best. Birthday. EVER!”
“She seems excited,” Fluttershy said with a giggle as Star almost literally dove into her presents. They moved a little ways away from the front of the crowd and found an empty table. Pinkie Pie and Luna came up as they huddled around the table to talk and catch up.
“At least she's got her priorities straight,” Pinkie Pie said after a huge bite of cake. “You always do presents first. Introductions can come later.”
“Ahem, Spike,” Luna said. “Where is Star's present? Did you leave it up in our room?”
Spike's posture straightened a little bit. It was usually hard to notice, even for him sometimes. He did it out of a natural reflex that he had trained into his body. But the girls had seen it so many times over the years it was easier for them notice something so small. It almost always happened when he was either in danger, or really stressed out.
“Hmm, now that you mention it, dear,” Spike said quietly. “It's definitely possible that I did do just that.”
Luna's eyes looked into Spike's, and he could feel her. She was not just looking at him, but into him. She was peering into his very soul. There was nothing he could do but wait for the inevitable.
“Sometimes you are a difficult dragon,” Luna said. She leaned in close and gave Spike a quick kiss on his cheek, leaving a small, black, kiss mark on his scales. “But you are my difficult dragon. I'll go up and grab it real quick. In your old chest, right?”
All Spike could do was nod slightly as Luna quickly sauntered off and disappeared down a side corridor. He stayed in the spot for several moments more, staring at that corridor entrance.
“It's okay, Spike, you can breathe now,” Twilight's voice carried through to him as he let out the most stressed out sigh any of them had heard in a while.
“Oh, that was close,” Spike said.
“What do you mean?” Rarity looked at Spike with an inquisitive gaze in her eyes. “Have you forgotten your daughter's present before?”
“If I say yes, will you stop looking at me like that,” Spike asked.
“It's quite possible,” Rarity answered.
Spike simply left the answer to Rarity's question simply at yes, promising he would explain later on. Rarity would make sure he held to that promise. Together at the table they sat and talked for a bit. Spike was constantly being distracted by Star's loud outbursts, but he knew she was just having a lot of fun with her presents.
“Um, Spike,” Twilight said. “Not trying to pry or anything here, but shouldn't Luna be back by now? All she was doing is grabbing that one present, right?”
“It shouldn't take that long to get one present,” Pinkie Pie said. “Unless it's hiding in a pile of, like, a million more presents. Then it might be hard to find. Like, really hard.”
“I'm gonna go and look for her,” Spike said. “You guys stay here and meet Star when she's done with her presents. She really wants to meet you. I'll be back soon.”
Spike left the girls and quietly made his way to a corridor off to the side. They watched him for a moment as he left. He easily slid his way through the mass of ponies that made up the crowd. He moved through them like they were flowers in a field, and he was gliding right over them. It was quite clear that he had learned that from having attended many, many of these large gatherings.
“HOLY CRAP,” Pinkie suddenly exclaimed. “This is serious, girls we need to go.”
“What is it this time, Pinkie,” Rarity asked. “I will not be tricked into purchasing another bottle of perfume that has me walking around smelling like a carnival.”
“It was cotton candy, Rarity,” Pinkie said. “And it made you smell absolutely lovely, if you ask me.”
“Well, of course you would say that, Pinkie,” Rarity said. “You followed me all around Ponyville for a day and attempted to chew on my tail.”
“Two things,” Pinkie stated uncharacteristically flatly , “It was only three hours, twenty seven minutes and forty nine seconds that I followed you around, and yes I can prove that. Believe it or not, but I do have a schedule I keep. Sometimes. Not often.”
“And the second thing is,” Rarity inquired.
“It was just gonna be an itty bitty nibble,” Pinkie said as innocently as she possibly could. She looked at Rarity with those big eyes and puffed out lips.
“I have a younger sister, Pinkie. That look doesn't work on me,” Rarity said back, completely immune to the look.
“Darn it,” Pinkie blurted out. “Eh, it was worth a try.”
“Um, Pinkie, you were saying something before about something being serious,” Fluttershy said. “What was it about?”
“Darn it times two,” Pinkie said. “Rarity distracted me and I almost forget. Girls, look over there!”
Pinkie stood on her back legs and quite dramatically thrust a hoof out in the direction of the pile of presents, or at least where it used to be. “Star is almost done with the presents,” Pinkie said equally dramatically. “We must go and meet her now.”
The girls made their way through the thick crowd. Not even Rarity could easily navigate the way through, and she was as close to a ladylike socialite as any of the girls got. She made a mental note to have Spike show her a thing or two about how he does it. By the time they all got through the crowd Star was on her last three presents. The girls saw Applejack and Rainbow Dash on the other side of the crowds edge. At least they were all here now. Even Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence stood among the ponies in the crowd.
Star Shadow fiercely tore apart the wrapping paper with her hooves. Small, shredded pieces of green and blue striped wrapping paper rained down over the area. Star's hooves barely got down with that when she saw the box. It was closed. Not on her birthday! She thrust her hoof at the box lid, but stopped just short of it. Gently she lifted up the lid and peeked inside the box. A puff of smoke greeted her and turned her face dark with soot.
“Sweet!,” She yelled out as she pulled out a small journal. “A spellbook, so I can write down all about the spells I am gonna learn at school. This is gonna be useful, and it's even purple. My favorite color!”
“Really, Twilight? A book?” Rarity whispered the words in a hushed tone.
“It wasn't me,” Twilight replied in an equally hushed tone. “I got her the stuffed toy to practice spells on. I only wish that was purple now.”
“What toy?” Rarity asked.
She was answered by a scream from the center of attention. Star had jumped up with delight as her next present barely fit in the box it came in. She pulled one end of the bow and the entire ribbon threw itself off as the box fell apart and huge stuffed toy pony emerged. It easily stood twice as tall as Star herself. It was clearly stuffed, and yet exuded a small aura of magic.
“Really, Twilight?” Rarity said.
“Okay, this is your last present, Star,” Starlight said. She gave Star a small thin rectangular gift wrapped up in some nice, yet simple, white paper with gold trim. As Star focused on it the paper shimmered with different colors. She stared at it for a moment, and then she set it down.
“What's the matter, Star?” Starlight came up to her friend.
“Where are my Mom and Dad,” She asked. “They always watch me open my last present, but they aren't here.”
A sudden silence filled the room, from end to end. An uncomfortable awkwardness weighed down on the crowd as nopony knew what to do next. Twilight looked around trying to find Spike or Luna, but neither one of them were anywhere to be seen.
“I'm sure they'll be here any second,” Starlight said in an attempt to comfort her friend.
Star Shadow shot up to all hooves. She stood tall and straight as a sudden sensation flooded her body. She had no idea what it was or what to do about it. She was helpless as she visibly shivered and shook in front of everypony there. This shiver, that sensation, only lasted a few precious seconds, but it was enough. Something wasn't right and Star knew it. She didn't know how, but she did.
She looked back at the crowd, all the ponies gasping as they believed her attentions were on them. In truth, she was looking through them. She was looking in the direction of the same side corridor that both Spike and Luna had used not half an hour before. Her eyes were filled with worry as she darted off for the corridor. Her small size gave her an advantage, and was able to slip past most of the ponies with no trouble.
“Star, what is going on?” Starlight was barely able to keep up as she went after her.
“You stay here and calm the crowd,” Celestia said to Cadence and Twilight. “I will go after the young ones.”
Star Shadow bolted up the stairs. She knew something was wrong. She didn't know how she knew, but she did know. Her little legs carried her up step after step without fail. She ran by castle staff without pause, not even stopping to apologize. Starlight could only give a passing 'Sorry.' as she ran to keep up with Star. And as she ran she noticed something on the stairs. It was just a dark spot at first, so she ignored it. But now they were on nearly every step, and it getting more and more heavy and dark.
“Star,” She said. “Why are you crying?”
Star ran up the doors that opened into Spike and Luna's chambers. She knew them by heart. She knew everything about these doors. Every time they squeaked and creaked she was always aware, usually claiming that it was loud enough to interrupt her reading. Every fiber in the ancient wood that made the doors she knew. Her hooves had touched these doors a thousand times, and yet they were completely different now.
When she used to come up to these doors she knew what was behind them. The warm smile of her mother. She was always beautiful when she smiled to her from the balcony, as the moon rose behind her. Her father's strong, yet gently hugs. He would always scoop her up and squeeze her a bit to tight, and then they'd laugh about it. She knew the happiness that lay beyond these doors and had never before hesitated before going in. But now, she felt not that happiness, or warmth. She felt only a cold dread that froze her tears to her coat.
“Starlight!”
Starlight froze in her tracks at the sound of her name being called. She turned her head to see Celestia herself coming up after her. She had a very serious look about her. From the serious line her lips made to her eyes piercing through the defenses of anypony she came across. Every step she took was determined.
“I have to get to Star,” Starlight said. “Something is wrong.”
“I know, young one,” Celestia said firmly, yet comfortingly “But you must let me handle this. Go back downstairs.”
“But-”
“Go, Starlight,” Celestia said again with a little more firmness to her tone. Celestia just turned Starlight around. She had just passed her and was on her way up. She was so close now, and yet she was already too late. Everypony was too late.
A piercing scream echoed through the castle. A scream from a young one, a scream of horror and surprise. Dead silence followed. In the absence of all sounds, all noise, only one thing could be heard. All ears perked up as the cries of a broken soul carried through the halls of the castle.
A scream. I remember it. Mine? Of course. It has to be mine. No one else there. I remember that feeling. My heart dropping, my soul being crushed, my vision blurred by tears. I remember it. I dream of it every night. It is my nightmare!
Star sat up quickly, angrily clutching at a pillow. She threw across the room with a huff. She needed a moment. Her body was covered with sweat. She put her hooves to her head and groaned. These memories, these thoughts. Why wouldn't they just leave her alone.
"Why can't I just sleep in peace," She sobbed.
=====
"Five years. It's been five years," Star stated. "Why won't these dreams stop, Aunt Celestia?"
Celestia looked up at her niece. She was the spitting image of her mother. She was tall and thin, with coat as dark a blue as the nighttime sky. A rich violet color flowed in her mane, the kind of violet you only see with the setting of the sun. Silver streaks, like starts, ran through her mane. Her eyes were the one of the only things that could even hint at her father being a dragon. She inherited Spike's green eyes. Her eyes beautiful, glinting in the light in way only a gem could.
"Aunt Celestia, are you listening to me?"
"I'm sorry, Star," Celestia replied. "I wish I could help you, but I do not know what more to do. You have tried everything that I knew of. I know your are troubled, bu-"
"Troubled?" Star interrupted. "My nights aren't 'troubled'. They are torturous! I am plagued by these memories, reliving that night over and over and over. When will it end? Why won't it stop? Why can't you do anything?!â€
Normally, shouting and yelling within the castle would have brought at least a few guards in from elsewhere. Over the years, though, Star's outbursts hadn't ceased. They became commonplace. She could be seen or heard yelling or shouting at somepony. For a while it was to be expected. She was grieving. But this was getting old.
"Star Shadow," Celestia said, stepping down from her throne. “Enough of this! You are of an age now where you should be able to control yourself. Hold thy tongue if you cannot speak to me in an appropriate manner, or at least an appropriate volume."
"I'll take my leave then, Princess," Star said with more than a hint of sarcasm in her tone. She turned around and stepped away from Celestia. In the midst of her third step there was a noticeable darkening of the area around her. In the next instant Star was gone. She had teleported somewhere. Celestia gave up on trying to follow movements. The Princess sighed heavily.
=====
In a flash of darkness Star Shadow emerged in one of her favorite spots in the castle grounds. It was one of the highest point in the tallest towers of the castle. Somepony once told her that Luna loved to try and get as high as she could when she was just a filly. Even then she wanted to be as close to the stars as she could. But that wasn't why Star liked it. It was far away from anypony else. It was isolated and quiet. It was dark most of the time due to the fact that the windows were insanely small and placed high up on the walls. A small Pegasus could fit in, but nothing even remotely bigger than that.
Star breathed in the familiar scent of her home away from home. It was a strange scent of several old scented candles that she had smuggled up here all blended together. It wasn't really a good smell, but it was far from horrible as well. The center of the round room had a bed of pillows and blankets in. She trudged over to them and let herself fall into the softness. Only there was no softness. Only the hard crack of another body.
"Oww!"
"Ooh, Star, gave a pony some warning, will ya," Starlight exclaimed, rubbing her head.
"Charmer?" Star said her name but it was more in shock than recognition. "What are you doing here? How did you even get in here?"
"Oh, a couple of the guards let me in," Starlight answered. "You know, through the door."
"That door hasn't been opened in over a thousand years," Star said flatly.
"That would explain all the trouble they had," Charmer replied, faking any surprise she was showing.
"I still don't understand how you can get any pony you want to do anything you want," Star told her friend as she laid back among the pillows. "What kind of magic is that?"
"First off, I don't need magic to do that," Charmer acknowledged, "I've got the looks to charm most stallions, and the magic for anypony else. It's all about reading the pony to know which to use. Of course having a cutie mark for charms and illusions doesn't hurt. In fact, it helps so much."
Star glanced over at her friends flank. Her cutie mark was quite lovely. A line of dark, yet shimmering smoke coiling its around a translucent heart, the color of which matched the blue in her eyes. She rolled her eyes. What a ridiculous cutie mark.
"When was the last time you ever did anything for yourself? I'm genuinely curious," Star asked.
"I made my own breakfast," Charmer remembered, "I think it was last week. I made toast. I even put jam on it."
Star finally decided to just let the conversation die. She collapsed into the bed of pillows, this time without hitting another pony. She took one of the larger body pillows and held it close to her. This was one of her favorite feelings. Holding something close. She could close her eyes and drift away, lost in a sea of comfortable fabrics. The scent of all her candles lazily hanging in the air. She had fallen asleep up here so many times.
"Another dream, Star?"
Star slowly opened her eyes. "Yes. This one didn't last as long as some of the others, but I still woke up with that scream echoing in my head. I can't take it anymore."
"What are you gonna do." Charmer asked, lowering herself down to rest next to her friend.
"I don't know, Charmer,†Star said. “I've tried everything Celestia knows of."
"Oh, well that's your first problem," Charmer replied.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Celestia may be a thousand year old Princess, but I really don't think she knows that much about dreams and nightmares, or how to stop them,†Charmer said. "And if your going to ask a Princess for help, why not ask one with more of a magical kick?"
"I have no idea what your going on about."
This time it was Starlight Charmer's turn to roll her eyes. "Princess Twilight, obviously."
"Why would I go and see her," Star growled. She threw her pillow against the far wall with a startlingly large amount of force. “Last time I asked for her help, she wouldn't even look at me."
Charmer saw the anger in her friend. It was all too common look for her. She remembered back when she first met her friend. A lost little Unicorn filly, so full of hope and happiness. Even for being the daughter of the Night, she could brighten up a room. And now all that was gone. All that hope and happiness had been drained out of her for the last five years, replaced with an anger and resentment for just about anything and everything.
"Star," Charmer said with a rather serious tone. "You need to go see Twilight. Even if she can't help you with your dreams, she can still help you."
"Oh yeah? How," Star asked sarcastically.
"Closure, Star," Charmer replied. "You've never told me what you saw that night, but I know it's been haunting you. Maybe Twilight can help. She and -"
"Don't say his name," Star interrupted.
"They were close once," Charmer finished. "She might have some answers for you."
"And what if she doesn't," Star turned to face her friend. She had a very intense look in her eyes. It wasn't quite anger. Charmer couldn't really tell what it was she was thinking. "What if I go all the way there, and she has nothing for me? No answers, no closure, nothing at all. What then?"
"First of all, you wouldn't be going," Charmer replied. "We would both be going. And if you don't get anything, then we run away."
"You can't be serious."
"Of course I'm not," Charmer replied with a giggle. "But it's an idea, isn't it?"
"You're never going to let this go if I don't agree to go an see her, are you?"
"What are friends for," Charmer teased Star as she stood up.
"Fine," Star groaned. "But we're leaving my way."
Before Charmer's smile could fade she could feel it. A slight tingle in her coat. A minor ringing in her ears. The world around her darkened for just an instant, and then it was gone. Before she even realized it, she was somewhere else. Her eyes darted around. The tower was gone. No more dusty pillows and old candles.
"You can breathe now, Charmer," Star said.
Charmer didn't even know she was holding her breath. She breathed in deep for a couple of seconds. She brushed part of her mane back behind her ear.
"You know I hate it when you do that," She told Star. "I can't stand teleporting. I don't know how you do it."
"It's as easy as walking, or breathing," Star explained. "I just have to know where I'm going."
"And where exactly is this?" Charmer looked around. Posters and fliers littered the brick walls. A few trash cans held most of the trash, but some of it spilled onto the concrete floors. The noise of many ponies moving and talking was all around them.
"A small alley by the train station," Star grinned before noticing her friends questioning stare. "It's not the first time I've been here."
"Clearly. But why an alley of all places?"
"So you can make sure we don't get recognized when we get on the train."
"Oh, that actually makes sense."
Charmer didn't have to put too much effort into her spell. She merely focused on their bodies. She wasn't going to do anything too drastic. She simply adjusted the already existing colors of their coats and manes. She lightened Star's coat a lot and made her mane and tail a single color a few shades lighter. Her own coat was white, so she had to change it to a light cream color, with her mane a dark chocolate brown. It was a simple enough thing for her to do. She examined Star to see her work.
"Oh, you look lovely," Charmer exclaimed as she saw one last thing she had to change. "Oh, but your eyes. They're a dead giveaway."
Her horn flashed with a bit of magic as she switched Star's slit, dragon eyes to a normal pony's. She also changed their color just a bit. She simply kept the green, but darkened it just enough to pass as different.
"There we are. Just don't smile and we'll be fine."
Twilight's eyes couldn't get any wider. In all her years as a princess, she had never before seen anything like this. She stood in the library of her castle, like she did most evenings. Only, this time she wasn't alone. Two ponies stood with her.
“How did you two get in here,” Twilight asked of her guests.
“Charmer,” One of them said. “Drop the illusion.”
Twilight's watched as a veil of light fell from the two ponies. One of them was a complete stranger, but the other was the opposite. She hadn't seen her in such a long time, but she couldn't forget her.
“Now it makes sense,” Twilight breathed. “Star Shadow, and her best friend Starlight Charmer.”
“You know my name,” Charmer faked a bashful smile, “How sweet. I'm gonna blush.”
“Twilight,” Star struggled to say. “I. . . need to. . . talk to you.”
“Celestia doesn't know you're here, does she,” Twilight asked.
“You really think we would have the disguises and fake our way in if this was an official visit,” Charmer sarcastically stated.
“Starlight,” Star hissed, “Don't make this harder than it needs to be.”
Charmer rolled her eyes and turned down one the nearby aisles of the library. Both Star and Twilight waited until they could hear her looking through some of the books. Twilight took her down to further into the library, away from where Charmer was. They sat down in a table by a window overlooking Ponyville.
“I think I know why you're here, Star,” Twilight told her. “I got a letter from Celestia today. You've been having dreams, right?”
“Not dreams,” Star corrected. “I can't get that night out of my head. I've been seeing it almost every night for years. I just want it to stop.”
“I can't imagine what that must be like,” Twilight said compassionately. “I know Celestia tried her best to help you.”
“Yeah,” Star muttered. “Lotta good that did. So much help.”
“Star Shadow,” Twilight barked. “She did the best she could these past years. You lost your parents that night, but she lost her sister. For the second time, Luna was gone. For someone who's been around as long as she has, the time she did have with her seems like barely a few moments.”
“At least she has memories of her,” Star shouted back. “I mean, clear pristine memories. All I have are hazy, cloudy images. Shapes and shadows in the dark that don't mean anything to me.”
“And why is that Star,” Twilight asked. “Why do they mean nothing? Have you done anything to make them mean something? Or have you been whining and running away for the past five years?”
“Screw you, Twilight!”
Star yelled, angrier than had been in a long time. She pushed herself away from the table before storming off towards the door. Her chest almost hurt her heart was beating so fast. She didn't want to stop moving. She knew if she did Twilight would so how much she was shaking. She just wanted to be gone, away from here. She was so angry she felt like she could run back to Canterlot.
“Star Shadow.”
She heard Twilight call her name behind her, but she didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to listen to her.
“Star Shadow, stop running from me.”
Star stopped and whipped her head back before she could stop herself. “I'm not running! I came here for help. I wanted your help, to end my suffering. And all you do is the same crap that Celestia does. You pity me and lecture me. I'm tired of it! Just go back to how it was before I showed up. Pretend I don't exist”
“Star, I've been a part of your life a longer than you realize,” Twilight told her. “Celestia had never raised a child before. Neither have I, but I had Spike from when he was just an egg. My friends have younger siblings. I could hardly believe how many times she asked me for advice.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you really think Celestia came up with every single one of the things she told you, Star,” Twilight asked. “Those dreams you have, I already helped with them. I have been for years. A lot of the things she tried I suggested.”
“Shut up!”
Star hated this feeling. It was welling up from deep within her. She was angry, and sad, and she could feel tears coming on. What was this feeling? She stared at Twilight, and she stared back. Star felt like such a mess was rolling around inside of her. Meanwhile, Twilight looked just as regal and intense as every. She hated it.
“Come now, Star. You're a smart pony. This had to cross your mind at some point.”
Star threw her head down. She didn't want Twilight to see her eyes, welling up with tears. She hated herself right now. Not because she crying. Not because she tormented by nightmares. It was because she felt weak. No, she was weak. Twilight was right. For years now, she had been whining and complaining. For years she had just run away to her tower to try and avoid the rest of the world. For years now, she had been simply too afraid to anything. And she fell into a slump on the floor of Twilight's library, a crying emotional wreck of a pony.
“Tell me, Star,” Twilight said as she came and put a wing around her. “Why are you really here?”
“Charmer said I should come and talk to you,” Star said in between sobs. “She said I might find some closure here.”
“She's not wrong,” Twilight consoled her. “But that can wait til tomorrow. It's late, and you need some rest.”
As much as she wanted to, Star couldn't fight anymore. For the first time in a long time, she felt tired. Well and truly tired, exhausted from all the things she had never said before then. All the anger and energy she had mere moments ago had gone out of her with her tears. She let Twilight lead her out of the library and to a room down the hall. She fell asleep quickly, and she slept peacefully.
Twilight waited a moment for Star to fall asleep. As soon as she was sure was asleep, she stepped out of her room. She took a breath, and stood in her library again. She didn't forget about Charmer. She made sure to appear a few rows behind where the Unicorn should be. She could hear her, moving books on the shelves and mumbling to herself.
“You know, you really should check your books more.”
Twilight spun around quickly. Sitting on the floor two aisle away was a pony. Twilight straightened up a bit before walking over to her.
“I check all my books,” Twilight told her as she approached.
“Well, not good enough then,” Charmer said as she tapped a hoof lightly against the cover of a book on the floor next to her. “Because this one's enchanted. Don't know what it is, or what it does, but its pretty powerful stuff.”
“I know,” Twilight said. “It's a harmless enchantment that catalogs and sorts all my books. Helps me find anything I need quickly. Even if the book isn't in the library, it still finds it. One book to find them all.”
“If it's such a simple enchantment, then why is it so powerful?”
“I have a lot of books,” Twilight explained. “And many of those books are books that I don't want any random pony waltzing in and looking at.”
Charmer got the point. Twilight was being a little less than subtle with her hint. She stood up and stretched her legs. She put her books back on their shelves before leaving the library. Twilight did the fastest check of her life to see if the books were put back correctly. She was surprised, pleased but surprised, to find each of them in the same spot she had put them in originally. She breathed a sigh of relief before teleporting to the hallway outside.
“Wow, that was close.”
Twilight turned around to see Charmer standing there again. Twilight had to try and hide her look of annoyance.
“Seriously, I thought it would take you at least five seconds less than what it did,” Charmer said. “Even with a teleport, still took you that long. I guess with nopony to mess with your books you've gotten a bit rusty.”
“Quiet,” Twilight snapped back defensively, “And get out of here. Go to bed like Star. There's a room at the end of the hall. It's right next to where I put Star.”
“I know. I'm already gone,” Charmer deviously grinned as her illusion faded. Twilight couldn't hide the look on her face. She groaned through a frown as she made her way up to her own room. She wasn't one to judge quickly, but she was already getting the feeling that she wasn't going to like that pony.
The morning came slowly. Star's eyes lazily drifted open. She sat up as the early morning sun shone in through the window. A yawn escaped before she suddenly stopped. For a moment she just sat there, in a stunned silence. She woke up, from a deep sleep.
“I didn't dream,” She whispered to herself.
She could almost leap for joy. She shot out of bed and into the hallway, stopping short of a rather large stallion standing in her path. Memories of the previous night ran through her head like in an instant. She wasn't at home. This wasn't Canterlot. And the stallion in front of her was most likely one of Twilight's royal guards. But she knew how to handle this. She'd seen Celestia do this before many times. She stood straight and tall. She held her head high, but not too high. She cleared her throat to speak, but was cut off.
“Princess Twilight told me to fetch you and your friend for breakfast,” The guard stallion stated very formally. “Please, follow me.”
Star was silent. She wasn't really sure what to say to that. She just relaxed her body and followed behind him. She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw him glancing behind at her.
“He's cute, isn't he,” Charmer said, appearing from nowhere next to Star.
Star suppressed the small jump that was her natural response. Charmer had been doing that for years, she was used to it. Most of the time it didn't even phase her, but today her mind was clear. She felt good, really good. And now that she was here, there was no ignoring her friend.
“What were you saying,” Star asked.
“The guard. He's kinda cute,” Charmer nudged her friend a bit. “For a crystal pony, anyways.”
Star looked back at the stallion escorting them. She didn't see it before under all his armor, but Charmer was right. He was a crystal pony. She had only ever met a few before. Even after all this time, most of the crystal ponies stayed in the Crystal Empire. Many of them left to visit other parts of Equestria, but very few left permanently. As she looked she thought she saw him glancing back at her again.
“I think he likes you,” Charmer teased. “Say something to him. Or I could, if you want. I can do your whole 'angry with the world' act pretty well.”
“Don't you dare,” Star half jokingly threatened. “He keeps looking at me, but I don't think its for the same reason you think it is.”
“Really? I've never been wrong about this before,” Charmer replied.
“Maybe in Canterlot, but this is Ponyville,” Star whispered. “The ponies here are a little different.”
Charmer was about to respond when she saw the the stallion had stopped. He looked over his shoulder before opening a door to his right. He stepped in, holding the door open for the mares. The room was a lot smaller than they thought it was going to be. They were expecting a grand hall with a long table and whole lot of chairs with Twilight sitting at the end.
“Good Morning,” Twilight said from the seat of a small, family sized table. “Not what you were expecting, is it?”
“You could say that,” Star said as she and Charmer sat down at the table.
“Well, this is closer to my room and I like it better than the big room downstairs,” Twilight told them. “Would you like something to eat?”
Spread out on the table were an assortment of pancakes, waffles, sliced fruit and a few other delectable breakfast treats. Charmer wholeheartedly dove in, going straight for the pancakes and strawberry jam. Only Star knew this secret weakness of hers, strawberry jam. Star brushed her mane back behind her ear. She used this motion as an excuse to quickly glance behind her. The guard stallion was still there. He wasn't looking at her, but she could see that he seemed tense. Twilight must have seen something, too. She nodded at him and he left the room with a salute.
“I see you met my guard,” Twilight said with a sip of her orange juice.
“He didn't even give his name,” Star told Twilight. “Just said you told him to bring us here. He kept looking back at me. I got the feeling he wanted to ask me something.”
“I'm sure you notice already that he's a crystal pony,” Twilight said. “Are you curious as to why I have a crystal pony guard?”
“Yes, actually.”
“It's because of your father,” Twilight told her. “That stallion was in the stadium during the Equestria games when he was just a colt. He wasn't that far away when Spike saved a lot of ponies. He was inspired by Spike.”
“I still don't understand,” Star said.
“I'm not finished,” Twilight replied. “You see, that young colt wanted to grow up to be a hero like Spike. After Spike fought the Darkness, he never thought he would be able to be anything like that. Until he met Spike.”
“He met my father,” Star excitedly asked.
“Yes,” Twilight answered. “And Spike told him to grow up strong, and become a guard pony. Because protecting those that you care about is the most heroic thing you can do. Since the colt didn't have anypony to protect, Spike asked him to come here. I was still a new princess at the time and had next to no guards. He was the first official guard pony I actually had. And he's been here ever since.”
Star still didn't quite understand. She was really glad to hear about her father. She barely even thought about him anymore. With her dreams, it was bad enough to remember him. But now, she was actually excited to hear about him, to listen to what he did for this pony.
“Star,” Twilight said. “You have your father's eyes. He sees Spike in you, just like I do.”
“I used to think these eyes were a curse,” Star told Twilight. “Everypony who looks at them sees him, and not me. Maybe I still kinda think that.”
“Well, maybe if you learn more about Spike you won't feel that way anymore,” Twilight said. “For now, just eat.”
In all the time that they had spent talking Star hadn't noticed Charmer next to her, stuffing her face. By the time the meal was done, Charmer had eaten three plates full of pancakes, and one full of waffles when there were no more pancakes. She groaned when Star rolled her out of the room. Twilight was taking them somewhere else. She wouldn't tell them exactly where, just that it had something to do with Spike.
“Why didn't you stop me, Star,” Charmer groaned. She ate too much.
“It's not my job to watch you,” Star replied. “Besides, Twilight was talking to me. I was listening to her.”
“Why am I even here,” Charmer asked. “Couldn't Twilight just have taken you wherever we're going by yourself?”
“Hey, you wanted to come with me,” Star reminded her. “And I don't think Twilight wants to leave you alone in her castle.”
“With all the guards she has around today, I would hardly have been alone,” Charmer muttered under her breath.
They both walked in silence after that. Star's mind was filling with different possibilities as to where they were going and what she was going to see. She imagined one thing after another, wondering which possibility was worse than the others, and which was best. Charmer was simply regretting her breakfast decisions. They walked on for another few minutes before Twilight finally stopped. She took a deep breath before continuing.
The castle changed as they moved farther down the corridor. The rest of the castle she had seen was bright, polished crystal. It sparkled and shone in the morning light. Even at night the colors came through vibrantly. But now, it was all changing. No more color, no more light. All the colors seemed drained from the walls and the floors. Dust and webs seemed to fill the hall more than air. The only light was coming from Twilight's horn as she walked. Finally she stopped and turned her head. There was a door. Star noticed the resemblance between the mark on the door and Twilight flank.
“I moved my room after it happened,” Twilight explained when she saw Star looking at her flank. I couldn't stay so close anymore.”
Star didn't question it. She just followed Twilight as she kept walking. It wasn't very far at all until she stopped again. This door didn't have any markings on it, but Twilight looked at it like it was the most important door in the world. She breathe in deeply again, before reaching out and opening the door.
“This was Spike's room,” Twilight told her. “A very long time ago, before he even became a hero of Equestria. Back when he was just my hero.”
Star looked around the room. It was smaller than most any other room she'd been in. She had seen pictures of Spike before his hero days. He was quite a bit smaller back then. This small room was all he needed. The bed was just big enough for him to rest his head. He head shelves for his books, comics mostly. There was a chest on the other side of the room. It was still open a bit, and Star could see a few parts of toys still dangling out. A layer of dust covered everything in the room. Star was worried if she moved too fast she too would get covered in dust. Not the she minded moving slowly through the room. It gave her time to look at everything her father had. Her eyes fell upon a few pictures in frames on a dresser.
“Oh, those,” Twilight perked up when Star stepped up to them. “I haven't seen those in so long.”
Star didn't say anything back. She picked up a frame with her magic and blew some of the dust off it. It was Spike. He looked so happy. He was standing still, but she could tell he was just bursting with joy. His smile was so big. He was standing in the Crystal Empire, with a few crystal ponies. Behind them all was a large crystal statue.
“I'd heard that there was a statue built for him,” Star said, “But I've never seen it.”
“You've never been to the Crystal Empire?” Twilight sounded more shocked and surprised than anything. “Really?”
“Of course I have,” Star replied quickly. “The last time I went was a few months before my tenth birthday. But I just stayed in the Crystal Palace most of the time. He took me down to some of the rooms he trained in. That was the first time I'd seen it. I haven't been back to Empire since then.”
“Yeah, I know that much,” Twilight told her. “Celestia told me of all the times she tried to get you to go. Business trips, family meetings. You know, my brother and Cadance just had a baby a few years ago. Her names is Flurry Heart.”
“I know,” Star said distracted. Her eyes moved over more of the photos. One was of Spike and six mares. Twilight was just over his shoulder. The other five seemed so familiar, but she could place a name to them. “This is you. Who are the other five?”
“You probably don't remember them. It's been a long time since you met them, or even heard their names,” Twilight answered. “That's Applejack there on the left. Then Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. I'm next to Spike, as you said. Then Pinkie Pie and Rarity are on the right.”
“I remember them now,” Star realized. “Well, I remember hearing their names. Did you know Spike was planning on coming back to visit after my birthday?”
“He was?” Twilight's mind immediately filled with all the lost possibilities. Everything she and Spike could have done. All the catching up, the reading, the magic talk. “That would've been fun. The girls would've loved to see him again.”
“Yeah,” Star said as she turned around to face Twilight. “But he never made it. Thank you, Twilight, but I think I've seen enough for right now.”
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Twilight showed them some more of her castle. Charmer spent most of her day in Twilight's library. Star herself mostly slept. She felt like she had been awake for so very long, and now she was catching up on all the rest she never got before. When she wasn't sleeping, she mostly stared out the window. She could see all the ponies down below. They all moved about, working or playing. They seemed happy. For the most part, so did Star. Until a nightmare shook up this seemingly perfectly normal day.
=====
It was late into the evening when Charmer rushed into the room. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief when she saw Star Shadow sitting up in bed. She closed the door behind her and stepped up to the bed. Star didn't look so good. She was breathing heavy herself. She was covered with sweat and her mane was a mess. But that wasn't nearly as important as her eyes, and what she saw in them.
“Star,” Charmer tested, “Are you alright?”
Star didn't respond. She didn't do anything. There was no discernible reaction of any kind. Ther was just that look in her eyes. They were wide open, as if she was afraid, but she had seen Star wake up afraid before. This was different. Her eyes, the look in them, it was more wild than afraid.
“Star,” She tried once again, moving closer to the side of the bed. “I heard you scream from my room. Is everything alright?”
Star kept up her wild, unfocused gaze. She just stared out into nothingness. Charmer sighed a little sigh. She quietly turned and headed back for the door. She almost made it.
“Starlight.”
If there was ever a sound that could make a pony freeze in their tracks, it had to be the sound of a name they never used. At least, that's how it was for her. Star was the only pony in all of Equestria who ever used her first name. She might have been the only pony who even knew it anymore. Charmer always knew it was serious when this name came up, but this was the first time her own name sent a chill up her coat. She looked back at the bed. Star was staring straight at her. She seemed to have returned a state more resembling her normal one. That being the angry mare from Canterlot. Not the nice, calm one she had been portraying in Twilight's castle.
“I see you're back to your normal, angry self,” Charmer joked, but returned a serious question. “Was it another nightmare? This one must have been bad. It sounded pretty bad.”
“Starlight,” She said again. “I've never told you what happened to my parents. What I saw that night.”
“I know, Star, I know,” Charmer said. “It's okay.”
“I want to tell you now,” Star stated, “Would you please listen?”
Charmer was more than a little stunned. In all of the years that she had been friends with Star, she never had been told about this. She knew it was a sensitive topic, to say the least. She never pressed the issue. She never asked about it. She never expected any answers. And now Star was just going to tell her.
“Of course,” Was all she could say. She climbed up on the end of the bed and sat with her friend.
“It all started at my birthday party. You remember when I got to my last present. I got this. . . this feeling. This shiver that ran through me. I couldn't understand it at the time. Still not sure if I could now. I don't know what it was, but I could just tell that something was wrong. And I had to go find them.”
“I remember,” Charmer whispered. “I tried to follow you, but Celestia stopped me.”
“Be glad that she did,” Star told her friend with a serious tone to her voice.
Star Shadow, ten years old. She ran up the stairs, moving as fast as her little legs could carry her. Each step, each breath, seemed to last more and more time. She could feel it, she knew it. Something was not right. Even though she didn't know why, she started to cry. Small tears started to form on her cheeks as she came up to the doors. Her parents room was on the other side. She knew it. She knew what was there. It was almost as familiar to her as her own room. So why was she so scared?
There was something different about these doors. Beyond those doors, she could expect the warmth of her mother's hugs. She could feel the smooth scales of her father. She could always expect a smile from them, unless she was in trouble. Then it was lecture, and then a smile. Beyond those doors was happiness. But not that night. That night all she felt when she came up to those doors was cold night full of dread.
She pushed the door open with all her might. It was almost too much for her little body. When she stepped inside she found out why. The whole room was a mess. It was like every little thing that they owned had been thrown around the room. Spike's books were strewn all across the floor, with pages ripped out and still rustling with the breeze coming in through the open balcony doors. Shards of broken glass from Luna's mirror littered the area. Star actually cut her hoof on a piece sticking out of the floor. She barely even registered the pain as she moved further into the room. Brushes, quills, pages, bottles, candles. It was everywhere. Star could see it all, even though the room was darker than it should have been. She was near the bed when she noticed one other thing. This was not something that was there before. It started when she stepped in it.
She heard it before she felt it. A small sound, like that of stepping onto the dry floors after playing in the puddles after it rains. She could feel the wetness around her front hooves. She didn't want to look down. Everything in her told her not to look, but she did anyway. Red. All she was red. She gasped, she couldn't breathe. She couldn't even scream as she ran past the red. She saw more it on the walls, dark sprays covering the light of the room. And then she finally saw. She finally found them.
Spike was slumped down on the balcony. His back was pressed up against the railing. His hands fell loosely at his sides. His tail was curled beneath him and it didn't look like it was a comfortable position. His chin was resting on his chest. But all Star could see was the red. His normal clothing had been ripped away. Everything except his pants, and even those were torn and cut in many places. She could see fresh cuts and scrapes, all red. And in the center of his chest, just slightly below his chin was a crystal. Embedded in his scales was a small, black crystal. She almost didn't see it through her mother's mane.
Luna lay at Spike's side. Her head rest in his lap. She never wore the same amount of clothes as Spike did. This made easier to see the wounds on her own body. Cuts and scrapes, just like Spike, only worse. The color red darkened her coat. The regalia she wore, some of it was missing. Her royal headdress and one of her hoof pieces. One of her wings rested under her body, as if she had fallen on it. The other rest as normal at her side. Star saw that she too had a small, black crystal in her chest.
There was nothing young Star shadow could do but scream. A scream that pierce through all the noise of the castle. A scream so full of pain that the even the following silence felt unnatural. In the absence of anything else, the only thing that could be heard were the cries of a young filly, broken and afraid.
“The next thing I remember is Celestia holding me and taking me away,” Star said. “I remember my mane feeling wet. I thought it was just my tears, but I think it may have been Celestia's as well.”
“I don't know what to say,” Charmer said after a moment of silence. “Star, that's horrible. I see now why you have nightmares about that night.”
“But you're still wondering why I'm telling you this now, all of the sudden, right?”
“I wasn't going to bring it right away but since you did, yes. Yes, I am curious about that.”
“That has been my nightmare for years now,” Star growled with a growing anger in her eyes. A familiar sight to Charmer. “But this one was different. I saw something more.”
“Wait, why are you even having nightmares anymore,” Charmer asked. “I thought Twilight stopp-”
“DON'T SAY HER NAME!” Star all but roared at her friend. “She's responsible for all this!”
“What? Star, what are you talking about?”
“I saw it, Starlight,” She said. “I have relived that night a thousand times, and yet only tonight did I see it. There was something there that didn't belong. A book.”
“A book?” Charmer got off the bed and paced a few times. “Seriously, Star, a book?”
Star followed her off the bed. “I know how it sounds, but just listen to me. This is very specific book. I've seen it Celestia's personal library. She caught me trying to read it once and told me about it.”
“What kind of book is this?”
“A spellbook,” Star said. “Only two copies exist in all of Equestria. One of them is in Celestia's personal collection and she said that Twilight has the other one in her library.”
“And what makes you think that it was Twilight's book that was in your parents room,” Charmer asked. “Wouldn't it be more plausible that Spike or Luna simply borrowed Celestia's copy?”
“Details, Charmer, details,” Star yelled. “Normally, you'd be right. But there is a small difference between the book Celestia and Twilight have, even though it's the same book.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. You see, the books are ancient,” Star told her. “So over time they've gotten some wear and tear. Celestia's copy of the book has the lettering on the cover of the book outlined in gold and the spine is red. The book I saw in that room was red, only more faded and no gold around the letters.”
“And you got all of this from a dream?”
“You know I've always had really vivid dreams,” Star said. “Come on, you've got to believe me.”
“Oh, I believe you,” Charmer said. “I'm just not sure as what to do next.”
“That's easy,” Star said with an angry smile. “We run away.”
“Star Shadow, you cannot be serious,” Charmer said. “I was merely making a joke when I said it before.”
“Well, I'm not joking,” Star replied, annoyed. “I'm leaving. Tonight. I am going to get on the first train out of Ponyville, and I'm not gonna look back. I'd really like it if you came with me, Charmer.”
“Sigh,” Charmer joked. “You wouldn't last a week without me and you know it. Of course I'm coming with you.”
“Good,” Star smiled. “Now lets get everything we need. Pack light.”
It wasn't any more than an hour later and the two ponies were sitting next to one another on a train. It was one of the few late night trains that ran through Ponyville. They were lucky enough to catch it right before it left. Who knows how long it would've been til the next one. Star insisted that they actually pay for the train, even though Charmer insisted that she could've gotten them on the train just as easily. It didn't really matter a few moments later as they found a quiet place to in the last cabin of the train.
A couple of hours had gone by as they sat in silence. Star stared out the window the whole time, thoughts filling her mind. So many thoughts. Everything about her life was about to change.
“Ahem, Star, my friend,” Charmer quietly called out, interrupting her friends thoughts. “We've been on this train quite a while now. Any idea as to where we're going?”
“Did I make a mistake, Charmer,” Star asked, not taking her eyes of the dark night outside the window. “I didn't even think about anything at all. I just up and left, and dragged out right along with me.”
“Star, it wasn't like you didn't have reason to leave,” Charmer encouraged. “I think the only one who truly made a mistake here is me. I've been trying to amuse myself with any passerby for the past couple of hours when I should have gone and found somepony to amuse me. I just didn't want to leave you all alone.”
“You think sticking by me was a mistake, do you?”
“Just right now, my friend,” Charmer half joked. “You can be rather melancholy at times.”
“Well, you try losing your family and then your home,” Star growled. She said it. She even believed it. She knew that it technically wasn't the truth. Her family was gone, but not all of it. She still had Celestia, maybe. Even less the truth was her home. If there was one thing she could be thankful for all these years it was that she always had a bed to sleep in and a roof over her head. How long was that gonna last.
“You know very well that the only family I have is you, Star,” Charmer replied. Star did know that,she was part of her family. She didn't know much about Charmer's past. She never talked about. Star didn't talk about her own, but most ponies knew at least the general things that happened. She knew virtually nothing about Charmer beyond what she has seen her do over the years.
“And I can make anywhere my home,” Charmer finished her sentence. “All I need is the right amount of charm.”
“How do you do it, Starlight,” Star asked with an exaggerated sigh. “How is that you can always make me feel less like crap when I know I should?”
“I don't believe I fully understand the question.”
“I should feel terrible right now,” Star exclaimed. “I just left everything I know behind. Celestaia will likely never see me again. I'll never set hoof in my room at the castle again. I'll never sleep in my bed, read my books. I'll never fall asleep in the middle of the pillows in my tower again. I have no idea what to do next, where to go next, or how I'm going to prove that Twilight had something to do with my parents that night. I should be nervous wreck right now, having a mental breakdown over the tiniest details!
With a few last heavy breaths, Star looked into friends eyes. “But I'm not.. For some reason, whenever I'm with you I can think clearly. Starlight Charmer, how do you do that?”
“Oh, that,” She replied. “Well now that I know the question, the answer is quite simple. It's friendship, obviously.”
Of course, Charmer held a straight face as she said that. She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, common knowledge to all ponies. Star raised an eyebrow at her. They held it for a solid minute before both of them fell into fits of laughter. It didn't last long, however, as the train suddenly became a much more exciting place.
It started with the sound of screams. Cries of terror and pain echoed down the long cabins of the train until they were heard by the two friends. Their ears perked up at the sounds. They both jumped into the aisle and listened again. A second of silence, hushed whispering. Screams.
“What is going on,” Star rhetorically asked.
“I don't know,” Charmer whispered. “But that last scream was closer. Whatever it is it's coming right for us.”
“Not if I can help it,” Star said intensely, trying to mask the small quiver in her voice.
She raised her horn up and cast a spell. The lights in the cabin flickered once before dying out, leaving the whole place covered in darkness. The only light coming in was the faint moonlight shining through the windows. Star and Charmer backed up a few paces, anxiously waiting for the door to open.
“Star, friend,” Charmer said in a hushed tone. “We are in the last car. Why don't we just leave out the back? Can't you teleport us to safety?”
“No,” Star replied in an equally hushed tone. “Teleporting from a a moving vehicle, even a train, can have unforeseen effects. I don't want to risk it.”
“You would rather risk staying with whatever is behind that door?”
Star didn't answer. She glanced over at her friend, leaving her with a gesture to remain silent. She had heard something. It was faint. Celestia always used to joke with her that she had a dragons ability of exceptional hearing. It was times like this when she believed her, or maybe it was just the adrenaline heightening her senses. Either way, there were hoofsteps coming. It wasn't until Charmer heard them as well. Star could feel her tensing up next to her. Quickly, before the door opened, she cast another spell. She had no way of knowing if had actually worked or not. She could only hope.
The hoofsteps stopped outside the door. They were heavy, each step sounding like a loud thud. Whatever pony made them must be large. What Star didn't realize was the big, loud steps covered up the sounds of the smaller pony. That was the first pony she saw. The door opened and he stepped inside.
The pony moved in small quick bursts, much like a rodent. Even his tail thin. His eyes scoured the room quickly, looking over everything he could see in the dim light. Star was quietly thankful that he was an Earth pony and not a Unicorn. She was doubly thankful when the other one stepped inside. He was massive for a pony of any kind. He easily stood half a head taller than most of the royal pony guards, and every part of him was thicker. She was amazed beyond words when she saw wings on his back.
“It's too dark to see anything in here,” The big Pegasus said. His voice was low, but powerful. Even his whispers were loud. Star would definitely not want to hear him shout.
“Yeah, I gotcha,” The small Earth pony said back. His voice was deeper than the other one's, surprisingly. Not too much, but it was noticeable. “Wonder why it is so dark in her'? Ain't dark any other place on this train. Lit up normal like.”
“That would be magic, Ratigan.”
This was a new voice. A voice that they hadn't heard before, the voice of a mare. It was only a single sentence, simple an direct. And yet, for some strange reason, Star felt like that voice was different. Not just the voice of another pony, but the voice itself had some unnatural aspect to it. She was entranced by it, bewitched it.
“There is magic in there with you,” The voice, enticing Star even more, “And perhaps a pony or two.”
Star's eyes were so focused on the mare that came through the door. She was beautiful, gorgeous. A coat of dark silver, like a coursing pool of flawless metal. A crimson mane flowed down, hugging her neck and following the lines of her perfect body. Black streaks added to her mane, and her allure. Star felt drawn to her, enticed by her. Every step she took, every move she made was as appealing as she had ever seen. She was so graceful. She made it seem so effortless. This mare stepped past her two stallions and looked about the room.
Her mane hung down in front of her left eye, but she still saw the world perfectly fine. Barely any detail escaped her gaze, or her horn. Star saw her eye dart in her direction. Her heart nearly stopped when their eyes met. Star was worried they would be found just by the sound of her beating heart. The mare playfully looked around the room, a small and sly smile across her face. She knew Star had seen her.
“Come on out now,” She whispered wickedly into the darkness. “I know you are there.”
Star stirred where she stood. Charmer watched as her friend actually stepped out. Hidden in a pocket of shadow they were, and now that pocket was torn. Night still hid them well enough, however, as only passing moonlight lit up Star's face.
“Oh, how lovely you are, my dear,” The beautiful mare exclaimed with a false joy, or was it genuine?
Her angelic voice drew Star ever closer. She stepped forward, one step after another. What was this feeling she had? She didn't know, but it was strange. She wanted to not like it, to claim at as false and be rid of it. Yet, it felt so right. Her mind raced with all these thoughts, she didn't even see the mare move to her.
She circled around Star a few times, her eyes looking over every inch, every part of her. Star was too caught up in her thoughts to realize. Then she came up beside her, closer than most any pony ever gets. She stood taller than Star, but her words still whispered in her ear.
“You can sense it, can't you, my dear?”
The dark whisper echoed in her mind. Star was shaken back to world. She saw the two stallions before her, but not the mare. She couldn't see her, but she could feel her. She could feel the presence of another body so close to hers. Her coat stood on end. Her breathing became sharp as she felt the breath of the mare on her cheek.
“Power,” The mare hissed. “Alluring, is it not?”
Star's mind was cluttered with thoughts. She wasn't sure what she was feeling right now, but the mare was right. This, whatever it was, had an allure that she had never felt before. The mare carefully stepped around Star one last time, making each movement of her body as graceful and seductive as possible, feeding into the feeling that Star had.
“Why don't you have your friend come out and join us?”
Charmer swallowed what little hope she had left of remaining undiscovered. She had been huddled in a shadowed corner so far, but that time was over. Star looked back at her. She composed herself as much as possible, and she stepped out into the moonlight.
“Ah, another so beautiful,” The mare said with an unnaturally attractive whisper. “Another so powerful.”
She stepped up closer to Charmer. She looked her over for a moment, that wicked smile never leaving her face. When she seemed content she turned back around walking past Star again. She slowly sauntered past her whispering again so dark into her ear.
“I know who you are, my dear.”
Those words broke Star out of whatever trance she seemed to be in. She shook her head slightly, as if shaking the very effects off her. She glared up at the mare. She was beautiful, but now she seemed less alluring than before.
“What do you mean,” Star demanded. “How do you know me?”
The mare stopped for a moment. Her eyes darted back to Star for just a second. It passed by so fast Star almost believed it didn't happen, but she saw it. For just that brief time there was something in her eyes. A madness? A darkness? She didn't know.
“I know all about ponies like you,” She said. “I can see it right away. Lost and wandering, looking for the way forward. I can be that way for you, my dear.”
“Of course,” Charmer uttered from the back. “Do you really expect us to just leave with you?”
“Why not,” The mare said, suddenly upon Charmer before she even knew it. “All lost ponies are looking for something. A home to replace the one they lost, answers to questions that plague their dreams, a family that never had to begin with.”
“And you have those things,” Star asked. She was staring down at the floor, deep in thought.
“Of course, my dear,” The mare sauntered around her again. “I can anything you need. It's what we do, and you can to.”
“What do I need to do?”
“You can't be serious,” Charmer exclaimed. She dragged Star back to a more private place. The other three stood closer to the door. That mare watched them closely. It was unnerving.
“Star, you can't be serious about going with them! You can't be,” Charmer berated her friend.
“Why not,” Star replied sharply. “You heard her. She can me what I need. She can help me find the proof about Twilight.”
“And what about me, Star,” Charmer asked. “Are you just going to leave me here?”
“Of course not,” Star said. “I won't go with them unless we both do. I want you with me. You're my best friend.”
“Sigh, it's a tough job sometimes,” Charmer joked before turning to face the mare. “What do we have to do?”
The mare bared her wicked smile to them both. “Everything you were, everything you had,” She hissed. “All except for each other. Leave it all behind.”
Celestia stood in her chambers. Night had long since come and she still up and awake. It had becoming an unfortunate, yet common occurrence with her. She sighed heavily as she finally lifted the crown off her head. A glance out her window told her it was nearing the middle of the night. She needed to sleep. If for nothing else, then for the image she put up for her subjects. They needed to believe everything was alright, even if was not.
Morning came. Celestia was not rested, not as much as could have been. She yawned as she sat up. A frown persisted on her face as she went through her morning routine. With only a few hours of sleep she moved slowly to shower, dry, and get her mane sorted in time. She rushed getting her regalia to her hooves and get to the balcony. She hoped her subjects wouldn't notice the sun rising a moment or so later than normal. At least it was still rising. As she place a hoof to her chamber doors, she took a second to breathe. One deep breath, and a smile for her subjects.
Another lifeless day on the throne. Celestia sat next to an empty throne. She couldn't help but steal fleeting glances at it throughout the day, even as she was entertaining the nobles and their whining. She got through like any other and the evening came. She actually excused herself early Only a few matters remained and she could push them off until the next day. A certain pony had come in, and that demanded her attention more. He slipped in unnoticed, moving directly for her chambers. She followed as fast as the societal etiquette would allow her to.
“You are late,” She said to him as soon as she closed her chamber doors.
“Apologies, Princess. Deepest apologies,” He returned. “I feared I was compromised, and that delayed my presence here for a time.”
“Were you,” Celestia asked seriously.
“Comprised,” He asked as a question.
“Of course compromised,” Celestia snapped back. “Were you compromised? Do I have to find another pony for this assignment? Or are you competent enough to do the job?”
The pony found himself rather stunned. Years he had known Celestia, maybe not personally, but perhaps a bit more than most others. Being a member of her personal guard lets you see the Princess in ways the public doesn't. And yet, never in all of his years had he see her angry. He hadn't even see her so much as annoyed, or irritated. He wasn't ashamed to say he was not fond of this side of her. He kept his head down to avoid the unfamiliar, unsettling look in her eyes.
“Princess,” He started. “Forgive me rudeness, but my report was not yet finished.”
“Then by all means, finish it,” She commanded, coldly.
“I was not compromised. I know how to cover my tracks,” He told her. “But there was something about the situation that struck me as odd.”
“Odd? Explain.”
“I investigated after the incident. Two ponies, both Unicorn judging by the traces of magical energy left behind. If I am correct, then they teleported in, Princess. And I truly believe the reason behind my not being compromised was not in fact due to my own skill, but luck. I happened to be wearing an amulet that resists enchantments and charms. Still, I felt them pull at my mind.”
“And what about that strikes you as odd,” Celestia asked.
“Teleportation and charms,” He said. “If I may be so bold, but that sounds like them, does it not?”
He risked a glance upwards with his words. The anger about her had gone, faded away. In fact, he believed he saw something, something he hadn't seen in a long time. Deep in her eyes, which had been nothing but dark pits of despair and sorrow for so long, he believed he saw hope. A small, tiny flicker of hope that he wished he could ignite. By the way she smiled, it seemed she had the same wish.
=====
Star sat be herself. The cool breeze of the night blew over her coat. She breathed deeply in the fresh night air. She loved it. She loved the way the night felt. She always made a point to try and enjoy the nighttime. She raised her up toward the moon and let the breeze blow through her mane. She wondered if Unicorns ever felt like this. Some of them must with they way they fly. She loved the breeze, but her real nighttime love were the stars. Charmer often teased her about living up too much to her name. Unfortunately, this nigh had far too many clouds to see the stars. Not that it mattered really, as a pony come up behind her.
“Admiring the clouds, are we?”
Star knew that voice. She would always know that voice. It was the same voice that broke through to her. It was the same sultry voice that lured her, enthralled her. The same beautiful mare came up and sat next to her.
“Just remembering that night on the train, actually,” Star replied.
“A most wonderful night.”
“Life changing,” Star absentmindedly added.
Star followed the mare out into the next train cabin. She could still feel it pulling at her. That same attraction, that same allure. And yet, somehow she now felt more aware of it. She felt like she could actually resist it now. Was Charmer feeling it too? She already seemed to resist it.
“Why did I feel so drawn to you,” Star asked in a hushed whisper of a tone. She didn't think anypony could hear her.
“It's a natural allure, my dear,” The mare said, grinning at Star's surprise that she heard her. “But I do confess to feeding into a bit every now and then.”
“If it's such a natural allure, then why bother feeding it at all,” Charmer asked.
“I get what I want either way, so why not play into my strength,” She said. “After all, I'm going to teach you how to do the same.”
“Is that what your cutie mark means,” Star asked, gesturing at her flank. A strangely beautiful mark adorned her coat. A single rose, with pedals instead of red. Red droplets fell from the pedals like dew. “It's beautiful, Miss. . .”
“Oh, I haven't yet given you my name, have I,” She said laughed. “What an oversight. My name is Ebony,” She said with a smile and a hiss. “Ebony Mirror. And what do I call you?”
“She is Shadow,” Charmer said. “I'm Charmer.”
“Shadow and Charmer,” Ebony repeated. “How lovely, and fitting.”
“Ebony,” Star, now called Shadow apparently, tested the name. “What did you mean when you said you'd teach us the same?”
“You will know in due time, my dears,” Ebony replied. “For now, let's leave this dreadful train.”
Star hadn't even realized they'd walked down most of the train by now. They all stepped outside into the brisk night air. A strong wind blew across them. The mares mane seemed untouched as Star's and Charmer's flew about their heads. She grinned as a Star didn't feel the wind anymore. At first she thought it was a barrier of some kind, but then she felt something different. It reminded her of a time Charmer tried to describe what teleporting felt like.
It was a sort of pull, but not a physical one. More like a tugging deep in your gut, like your being dragged by something. It wasn't forceful, but still nauseating at times. Next thing you know you're standing someplace else and your lunch is still catching up. And while all this is happening, you have this persistent tingling running through your coat. It was hard for her to understand at the time, but now she knew how she felt. The wind had stopped, but not because of a barrier. Ebony was teleporting them. All of them. Five ponies, at once. She was so strong.
Star could only watch as the world around her melted away only to be replaced. What was an open field under the night sky with stars and wind had now become and rocky canyon with scraggly tree husks casting eerie shadows down on them. The high canyon walls blocked most of the wind, but at least the stars were still there. Kind of. Star had never seen any of these stars before. She had no idea where they were. And yet she was calm, and maybe a bit excited.
“From now on this is your home,” Ebony said.
“And that was the beginning of our time here,” Shadow said.
“I remember,” Ebony said. “Four long years, and you've come such a long way, my dear.”
“You always say that,” Shadow blushed.
“It's always the truth, my dear,” Ebony smiled back. “However, I didn't come to you to reminisce. I have need of you and Charmer. It's rather urgent.”
“I'll get her right away, Ebony,” Shadow said.
“Good. Meet me in my quarters one you have her,” Ebony said rather seriously.
“Your quarters,” Star questioned.
“This is a complicated and delicate manner, Shadow,” Ebony told her. Her tone also said that she was going to say no more on the subject. Shadow just nodded and left to get Charmer.
Charmer was found in the Great Hall, or at least that's what she called. The name started to catch on a year or so ago. She finally got some of the others to call it that. It went from there. The Hall served as a multipurpose room of sorts. It was lined with tables and the kitchen was attached, so it was a dining hall. It was a meeting room as well, seeing how it was the largest room of the building. And on certain, rare occasions it also served as a dance floor. That's only happened once since they've been here. Charmer was laughing it up with a couple other ponies and a griffin when Shadow showed up. She fit in here more than she would ever admit.
“Charmer,” Shadow called out for her.
“Hey, friend,” Charmer replied. “Did you need something?”
“Ebony wants us. Now. She has an urgent job,”
The laughing and revelry died down quickly after that. The others around Charmer all looked at her, wide eyed. All of them knew of Ebony, of course. That meant they knew when she needed ponies for an urgent job that it was important, and only the most trusted were sent on them.
“Ebony needs us for an urgent job,” Charmer repeated.
“Yes.”
“Well then,” Charmer said as she stood and stretched her legs. “Let's not keep her waiting.”
“You two must be mighty important ta be sent on urgent jobs,” One of the others said. It was the griffin that spoke. He was a little older for a griffin, but still in good shape, and somewhat good spirits. Many of the those that stayed here looked up to him as kind of like a weird uncle that was always telling stories. Charmer liked him, but Shadow never quite saw him as anything other than a griffin that wouldn't shut up.
“Of course,” Charmer said with that sly, thin smile of hers. “It's only natural that Ebony trusts the two ponies she personally recruited.”
A silence fell of them all. The griffin stared at Charmer for a moment. The other two ponies present stopped in the middle of what they were doing. One pony was eating a bowl of oatmeal and stopped mid bite. The other just stopped. She was a young Earth pony, new here. From what Charmer knew she was extremely fit and could run for days without stopping. Her eyes were so wide right now they were almost unnatural.
“Oh my,” She squealed. “I had not idea you were her.”
“'Ey! Who are they then,” The griffin asked the earth pony, but she was too awestruck to answer.
“Allow me,” Charmer said. “My name is Charmer, and my friend here is Shadow.”
“Oh,” The griffin said as her suddenly realized he knew them. Well, he knew of them. Everyone here knew of them. “Ebony's favorite spell slinging pets.”
“I am no ones pet,” Shadow glared at him. “Come on, Charmer. Ebony needs us.”
Ebony was eagerly waiting for them in her quarters. She had been waiting for a little under ten minutes when they finally did show up. Shadow and Charmer walked into Ebony's quarters a little nervous. Hardly any pony was allowed to be in here, and even fewer were invited. Shadow had been in here a few times over the years. Ebony watched them as they sat on some pillows on the floor.
“Good. You're all here,” Ebony said nodding to all three of them. It was only them that Shadow and Charmer saw the other pony in the room. He was sitting in a corner of the room behind them.
“Ratigan,” Shadow said, exasperated. She didn't like the pony. He reminded her a rodent, always poking about and looking to get into things he shouldn't be getting into. She even found him in her room once during her first year. She made sure that never happened again. Ever since, both of them took great lengths to avoid the other.
“I know of your troubles with each other, but I ask that you set them aside for this,” Ebony pleaded with them. “This is far too important to be undermined by a petty feud.”
“I understand,” Shadow said, shooting Ratigan a fleeting glare.
“Good,” Ebony smiled. “You three are the only ponies I can trust with this.”
Ebony slid a folder over to them. Ratigan stepped up to read it with them. Charmer flipped it open with a flick of her horn. To say they were all surprised at the contents would be an understatement. The first thing they saw were pictures. Many pictures, but they were all of the same pony. Shadow remembered him from the train. He was with Ratigan. She glanced over at him. He was more affected by this than either of them. He pulled some of the photos closer to him.
In each of the photos was the same large Pegasus Shadow and Charmer had seen on the train. Only he didn't look at all the same. He was cleaner, sharper. And in several of the photos, he was wearing the armor of the Canterlot Royal Guard. He was laughing with other ponies, more guards. He was proud and happy. Some later pictures showed him as they knew him now. Longer mane, a dust covered appearance, and shifty eyes. He was sneaking into Canterlot Castle.
“No,” Ratigan said. “Ain't right. Can't be.”
“I'm afraid it is,” Ebony said. “He's been here over a year. I should have seen it sooner.”
“Ebony,” Shadow said, looking through the photos. “What is it that you want us to do?”
“I sent him on a job a few nights ago,” Ebony explained. “He has not returned. With this evidence, it's doubtless as to why. I need you three to find him, and find out how much he knows.”
“That it,” Ratigan asked, “Just gotta fond out what this traitor knows?”
“No, my dear Ratigan,” Ebony cooed. “You're here because I need somepony who can make sure he doesn't tell any other pony what he knows.”
He smiled at that. She knew what he liked to do, even if this is a pony he considered a friend. He knew what he had to do, and he always tried to enjoy his work. He left to prepare himself for the job. Charmer took the file for herself to study. She wanted to know as much as she could about this pony before she went on this job. Shadow took a last cursory overlook of the photos but otherwise she felt ready. The only thing preventing her from leaving the room then was the feeling of Ebony's gaze on her. She could always feel her staring.
“Shadow,” Ebony said. “There is one more thing about this job you should know.”
Shadow didn't bother looking up. She didn't have to say anything to let Ebony know she was listening. Her ears perked up and she shot a glance up at her. Ebony picked up on it.
“Given the rather sensitive nature of this job, I see it only natural that I reward you if you get this job done,” Ebony said in that alluring tone of hers. “You must do it well though. Nothing can go wrong. No mistakes.”
“Of course,” Shadow said, finally looking up. “And what would be my reward?”
“Your one and only wish of course,” Ebony purred. “I will let you go and get what you want most.”
Shadow could hardly believe it. Four years, and Ebony had barely even spoken to her about this. They talked about it once when she first arrived but that was it. Hardly a word since then. And now she was coming out with this, out of the blue? Shadow stood there with her mouth slightly open. She was dumbfounded. And then she smiled.
It was only a half an hour later and the three of them were standing in a dark alleyway. It was night still, so no pony noticed the additional darkness that flashed into existence for a second. Shadow chest rose and fell in heavy breaths for a moment after that.
“I thought you were s'posed to good attis kinda thing,” Ratigan sneered.
“I just took all three of us on a long distance trip in a matter of seconds,” Shadow replied between annoyed breaths. “Just be lucky you're all here.”
“Whatever,” He said. “Anyways, where are we?”
“As close as I could get to his last known location,” Shadow told him.
When it was clear that that answer wasn't enough for him Charmer chimed in with her own response. “Phillydelphia, Ratigan. We're obviously in Phillydelphia. Just take a moment to take in that pungent aroma of regret, and loneliness in the air. Might be a tinge of desperation as well.”
She wasn't sure if her nodded at her in response or if that was an attempt at a rude gesture she didn't understand. Either way it ended with him rolling his eyes and walking to the street. He looked around at the city for a moment. They were a good distance from the main city, with all the tall buildings and fancy stuff. The neighborhood they were in could easily have been identified as the 'bad' neighborhood. Run down houses, closed stores, and overgrown sidewalks as far as he could see.
“I know where we are,” He stated clearly. “Ain't far now. Come on.”
He didn't wait for them as he set off at a brisk pace down the street. Shadow hurriedly trotted up to catch him and Charmer was right beside her. Even though he was on the small side for an Earth pony he moved fast. He was always ahead of the two of them. Charmer threw up a disguise around them after they were passed by a couple of ponies. There was nothing strange about them, but she didn't trust their whispers. It was an easy thing for her to cast an illusion. In a flash, she was a charming stallion walking along with his beautiful mare and their young child. Shadow noticed immediately, but Ratigan seemed oblivious.
“Did Ebony say something to you,” Charmer asked her friend. “Come now, tell me. I can tell something is wrong with you.”
“Nothing is wrong with me,” Shadow shot back quickly. “I'm just focused. This job needs to be done right. No mistakes.”
“Yes, I know that,” Charmer replied. “But you seem even grumpier than usual at the moment. What is it that has you in such a foul mood?”
Shadow sighed. “Ebony did say something,” She relented. “She said if we can do this job right, then I can finally go after it.”
“What,” Charmer nearly screamed, breaking her otherwise calm demeanor. “Are you serious?! She said that?”
“Yes,” Shadow said seriously.
“Ahem,” Ratigan interrupted. He was angrily tapping his hoof on the sidewalk and glaring at them. “If yoor done yappin', then can we get bacta work? 'Round this corner, third building down. That's where he crashes.”
Shadow and Charmer stepped forward far enough to peer around the corner. The street turned sharply to the right so at least they knew no ponies would be coming from the other direction. Shadow used her magic to spread the shadows of the night around them, making them harder to see. They could easily spot the building in question. It was a small to medium sized warehouse by the looks of it.
“He lives in there,” Charmer asked with more than a hint of disgust in her voice.
“Ain't a bad place,” Ratigan said. “Big on the inside, spacious. Notalot ponies around.”
“You've been inside,” Shadow asked.
“A few times,” Ratigan sighed. He was trying hard not to show it, but he once considered this pony a friend. This job wasn't easy for him. It was getting harder as the night went on.
“Do you think he's here,” Shadow asked.
“ I dunno,” Ratigan asked. “Maybe.”
“Useless,” Shadow whispered under her breath.
“Ratigan, my friend, I need you to do something for me,” Charmer said, slinking her way around to the other side of him. He watched her carefully.
“What is it,” He asked cautiously.
“You've been inside,” She said. “I need you to picture the inside of that place. I need you to bring those delightful memories to the surface of your mind. Just imagine you are inside again.”
“Why?”
“Just do it,” Shadow snapped. “The sooner you do, the sooner we can be done with this job.”
Ratigan scowled. He really didn't like the way she talked to him. He figured this whole thing was probably part of some magic thing Charmer was going to do. He didn't much like magic, but he knew it was all these two did. What they didn't know was that he was already picturing the inside of that building. He was trying not to, but memories were coming up in the mind. He couldn't stop them not matter how hard he tried to just focus on the job.
“Good. That works,” Charmer said with a smile. He glanced up at her. He then found out that was a mistake. His eyes met hers, glowing powerfully along with her horn and he couldn't look away. “Thank you for letting me in.”
He could feel her. She was in front of him, standing only a hoof out of reach but he could feel her. She was in his head. She was crawling around inside of his head. He could do nothing but stare into her eyes as her magic sifted through his thoughts and memories. He was completely paralyzed. It wasn't that he was afraid, or panicked. No, it felt more like he just couldn't remember how to walk away. The very act of moving his legs felt unnatural to him in that moment. Was it a moment? Time was meaningless during that incursion. He wasn't sure how long he was suffering through that when it was gone. Everything he was feeling was yanked back.
“What did you just do to me?!”
He wanted to shout at them as loud as he could but he didn't. He growled through clenched teeth instead, angrier than he had ever been. He glared up at Charmer with a rage rising up in his small frame. Charmer just held that grin on her face like a badge of honor. She smirked and sauntered her way back around him and to Shadow.
“What did you do?!”
“Relax, Ratigan,” Charmer said. “I just wanted to see the inside of that building for myself.”
“That's it,” He growled. “You pick my brain for that? Do you have any idea what that feels like? Do you?!”
“I've been told it's quite unpleasant,” Charmer shot back quickly with a cold glare.
He wasn't sure what to do, what to say next. He was there when Ebony brought these to along. For years he always just thought of them as Ebony's pet ponies. He knew some of the others thought the same of him, but at least he had a job to do. He was important to her. She started sending these two out much too soon for his liking. He could never figure out what she saw in them. But he was seeing it now. He stumbled back a few steps, falling to a seat. His eyes widened as as his anger subsided and was replaced with a new sensation. It had been a very long time since he felt afraid. But staring up at these two, it was the only thing he could feel.
Shadow had them both half consumed in the darkness. She stood behind Charmer with a stern, serious look on her face. Her body was low to the ground. She stood like a predatory animal stalking its prey. He never really thought about it before, but he came to realize now that Shadow wasn't afraid of anything. Why should she be? It was a beautifully dangerous sight. It was made only more so by Charmer herself.
Standing tall and proud next to her friend. Her light coat complimented nicely. It also mislead anypony thinking she was a nice pony with kindness in her heart. No, she reveled in games and manipulation. The more she could mess with the mind of a pony the better. And she could smile all the while doing it. He had just experienced that firsthoof. Maybe that was the thing that finally opened his eyes. These two were the perfect pair. One to wreck the mind and the other to wreck the body. He shivered where he sat.
“Come on now,” Charmer said. She cast a spell and a small image of the building appeared before her. A three dimensional hologram of the building hovered in front of them and Charmer focused on the main floor. The image fell away until just the room she wanted was left. It was a large, empty space. “Its what I could piece together from poor Ratigan's most recent memories. Only two weeks past. Can you do it with just this? Is it enough?”
“Should be,” Shadow said as she studied the image. “You're going to have to stand closer to us, Rat.”
He gulped, swallowing his fear and stepping closer the pair. He shuddered as he felt Charmer's eyes on him. He wanted to look away but Shadow caught his attention. She let the shadows slip of their bodies, leaving them momentarily more visible. But not for long. He watched as pure darkness itself wrapped around her horn. It grew and swallowed them all up. He felt a tug in his gut, stronger than before and pulling him along with it.
The next thing he knew he was looking at the inside walls of the warehouse. He also noticed they were not on the floor. He nervously looked down to see a dark disk under his hooves. He couldn't feel it and it bothered him greatly. He scrambled to get off falling to the floor in the process. In his frantic mess of movement he collided with a stack of boxes. Needless to say the boxed fell. Countless bits of scrap metal and other random assortments were now scattered about the place. As Ratigan stood up again, shaking, he heard a few strong wingflaps.
“Ratigan,” The Pegasus questioned. He emerged from a room on the second floor. The stair leading up had long since rusted away but he had his wings to get him there. He quickly flew out to see what all the noise was about. He didn't expect to see him. He flew down the floor and landed with all hooves down. “What are you doing here?”
Ratigan was still shaking when his former friend showed up. He landed across the room. Neither he or Ratigan himself could see the girls anymore. A sharp pang of fear came to him from that. He looked back at his former friend. Some small part of him actually wanted to warn him.
“Sorry, bud,” He ended up saying. “Wish it didn't have to end like this.”
“What are you. . .” His sentence trailed off as he saw the shadows to next to Ratigan peel back. A moment ago it was empty space. Anypony would tell you the same. He didn't even realize the darker it had gotten. But now two ponies stood before him.
“He looks surprised,” Charmer smiled.
“What?! No,” He muttered. “I got past you. I covered my tracks. You didn't find me!”
“You're right,” Shadow said as she stepped closer. “We searched your room back at home. We didn't find anything. Ebony, however, found everything. You shouldn't have crossed her.”
He didn't reply. His initial shock was wearing off. Shadow could see him going through his options. He was desperately trying to think of something, anything, that could help him here. After a few seconds he hung his head.
“Giving up already,” Charmer teased. “I expected more from a Royal Canterlot Guard.”
“Is that what you think I was,” He said. “Ha! Well, I supposed you're kinda right. I was once. You said Ebony found everything. Obviously she didn't, or else you would have known that Princess Celestia herself chose me for this mission.”
His determination was admirable. He believed in what he was doing. And he was not the kind of pony who would go down easy. Ratigan knew this. He should have seen it sooner. He just wasn't himself that night. But he saw the signs as they appeared. Wings tensing up just behind the shoulders. Small adjustments made to positioning his hooves. Even his breathing changed. He was a Pegasus and he was bigger than most, but that didn't mean he wasn't fast. In fact he was quite known for being fast and incredibly strong. For a Pegasus that is. So when he shot forward like a speeding train Ratigan shouldn't have been surprised. All he could do was yell out an all too late warning.
The guard pony moved with a surprisingly quick burst of speed. He hooves extended out for a fight was expecting. What he wasn't expecting was for his hooves to go through them. Both Shadow and Charmer dissolved into smoke at the slightest touch from his hooves. He quickly flapped his wings and turned back. He saw Charmer sitting in the middle of the floor by herself. The fact that she was sitting so carelessly was irritating him to no end. He charged at her, half expecting another smoke trick.
Instead he got hooves. He had to admit she had nerves of steel. She waited until the last possible second. He'd taken down yaks with his charge. He knew the damage it could do, but she didn't flinch. At the absolute last second she rolled back and under his charge, throwing her hooves up to meet his body. It did little to nothing to him, but that wasn't the point. It slowed him just enough for her. It forced his eyes down to her. In that last, brief second. He saw her glowing eyes.
She rolled under his charge, somehow taking no damage from it. Even he could admit that she was good. Better than he thought. After all, Ebony wouldn't support those who couldn't handle themselves.
“Thank you,” Charmer called out to him. He did not like the grin on her face as she looked at him. And her unnervingly cheerful tone sent a shiver up his spine.
“Just stop,” Ratigan yelled out. “Just stop, bud. Ya can't win against these two. Jus tell 'em what you know.”
“Yes, please.” Shadow stepped out of the dark to stand next to Charmer. “I would much rather save as much of my energy as I can so I can us all back home. Don't make me waste any more on you.”
“You want to know what I know,” The guard repeated. “I know who you are. Both of you.”
Charmer was unaffected by this. She had become so accustomed to keeping up appearances and such that you could tell her the world was ending right behind her and she still wouldn't move. Shadow on the other hand, was not so well trained. She was so used to having the upper hoof. She was used to being more powerful than any problem set before her. So when she flinched, even though it was just a small flicker of movement, Ratigan saw it.
“Should I tell Ratigan here,” The guard pony shouted. “He could go and tell Ebony. I'm sure she'd love to know. Maybe she already does. But what about all the others. What will they think when they find out who you really are?”
“You're bluffing,” Shadow hissed.
“I think your parents would disagree.”
Even Charmer moved at that one. Ratigan saw it in her face. Her grin faded. A look he couldn't quite describe replaced it. Worry? For who, Shadow? Pity for the pony on the receiving end of their power? Could it have been a small bit of empathy for what was about to happen?
The guard pony had no time to react. In less time than it took to blink Shadow was gone. He didn't even close his eyes. He didn't look away. She was just gone. He couldn't even think as to why before his side exploded with pain. The impact of two hooves sent him through the air. He hit the far wall hard. Hard enough so that they all could hear the snap of his wing. He grunted through the pain as he stood back up. He walked forward. He didn't get far before a ring of fire encircled him.
“I studied your file,” Charmer said. “You hide it well, but you have a small fear of fire. Perhaps this will keep you in check.”
Ratigan watched as he worriedly back away from an invisible threat. Every time he stepped back he turned and stepped back again. Whatever it was he was seeing, whatever flames were there were surrounding him.
“This won't work,” He said in staggered tones. “I can still speak. I can still say your names.”
“Just tell us what you know and this can all end, my friend,” Charmer called out to him.
“Don't bother, Charmer,” Shadow said. “If he does know our names, then he knows everything.”
“Yes, I suppose that makes sense,” Charmer said. A quick flash of magic and he flames were gone. Beads of sweat from his pain and his panic coated the guards body. He sneered through ground teeth, not letting the pain stop him.
“So, is this the part where you shut me up?”
“Well, it was supposed to be Ratigan here,” Charmer said. “But I don't think he's up to silencing you at the moment.”
The guard pony sat down, defeated. Not just physically. He was battered and broken to be sure, but it was more than that. He could feel Charmer in his head. He knew the flames weren't real. He could feel her worming through his mind even now. It made it hard to think. Every potential thought just lead back to her. It was exhausting.
Shadow stood only a few paces away from him. She stared at him with anger in her eyes. Then she closed them. There was nothing he could but watch as darkness surrounded her. Not like the fire surrounded him, though. The fire was threatening and hostile. The shadows, the dark, did not just wrap around her. They welcomed her. They fell over her like a blanket falls over a young filly. She wasn't just comfortable in the dark, she was a part of it.
He watched as the dark warped around her. She lifted her head up. He thought it was just the ground at first, but it wasn't. The whole building started to shake. It was like a tremor centered on Shadow. Chains hanging about the warehouse rattled together. All the scrap metal scattered across the floor clattered against other pieces. The metal walls groaned under some unseen strain. Meanwhile, the shadows were growing. The dark shadows in the corners of the room were spreading out like they were drawn to Shadow herself. He could barely hear himself think through this destructive symphony.
“Hahaha,” He laughed. Perhaps he was delirious by this point. He wasn't even sure himself anymore. “Witness the true power of Star Shadow, daughter of Luna and Spike.”
His laughter was the last thing anypony heard before the darkness overtook him, enveloping him for an instant. But an instant was all that was needed. Ratigan watched in horror as this one pony just took a sane pony and drove him into a delirious stupor in a matter of minutes. He couldn't look away. He couldn't move away. He was afraid and he wanted to run, but couldn't. He couldn't get his legs to work. He saw Charmer walking towards him. His heart skipped a beat. Now he understood that look on her face. It was everything he thought it was all at once and more.
“Sleep now, poor Ratigan,” She purred.
And he did. His eyelids dropped. He couldn't stop it. The last thing he saw before his forced slumber was Charmer's grin. Thankfully, his sleep was not one full of dreams or nightmares. He wasn't sure if it Charmer was purposefully keeping it empty or not. He was just thankful. Period.
When he did finally wake, he found himself waking to the gentle shaking of train cabin. He was lazily lifting his eyes when a sudden jolt of the train forced his eyes open wide. He had to keep himself so rolling off the seat. He saw Charmer and Shadow in the seats across from him.
“What happened?”
“We confronted him in the warehouse,” Charmer said. “He attacked. You got knocked out in the fray and we finished the job without you.”
“'Bout what he said?”
“You didn't hear anything,” Shadow said. “You were unconscious at the time. And he is now a drooling mess on its way to Celestia's doorstep. Is that clear?”
“Of course,” Ratigan agreed. Why wouldn't he? After what he just saw he wasn't going to risk crossing them. Especially when they were the only three in an otherwise empty train cabin. But he remembered. He heard what the guard pony said. He knew her name.
“Is this true,” Ebony asked the three of them. They stood in her chambers, across from the table many of the others often referred to as her desk. It a coffee table at best. That didn't make it any less nervous to be on the other side of it though. Of the three of them, however, only one of them seemed to be visibly nervous. “Rartigan, need I repeat myself?”
“Of course not, Ebony,” He quickly replied. “It's true.”
“You're not normally this quiet,” Ebony observed his nervous glances to the ponies that stood at both his sides. “Are you ashamed of the almost useless performance you showed tonight?”
“That's a little unfair, Ebony,” Shadow said. Ebony gave her a curious look that bid her to continue. “Rat wasn't completely useless. He did lead us to the location. And he did give a very detailed description of the layout. It could've been a very different report without him there.”
Ebony shot a glance at Ratigan. He suppressed a shake when Shadow mentioned his giving a detailed description. He almost slipped it by her, but she'd been watching him for too long. She knew all his tells and shakes. Something had happened. Whatever it was must have been quite something to make him shake like that. She smiled at the delectable thought.
“Ebony, is that all you need from us,” Charmer asked politely. “I am in dire need of some rest.”
“Of course,” Ebony said. “Both you and Shadow must be tired. Taking on a royal guard of any court must be trying. Go and rest. I still have to talk to Ratigan for a moment.”
An overwhelming feeling of relief washed over Ratigan as soon as they were out of the room. He stopped shaking and could actually think for himself without fearing that she was still in his mind. He walked over and sat in a chair across from Ebony.
“Tell me, Ratigan, what happened,” Ebony whispered. “I want the truth.”
“You want the truth,” He replied. “I wish what they toldya was the truth. Truth is them two are terrifying. Truth is I had to watch as they tore down a pony I learned just hours before was a royal guard. He didn't stand a chance.”
“You are unusually articulate,” Ebony teased with a smile.
“This ain't funny, boss,” Ratigan said with a forcefull hoof on the table. It was all he could do to stop himself from yelling. He made that mistake once with her already. He learned never to do it again. “That Charmer, she got inside my head. I didn't give no description. She tore outta my mind. I can still feel her in there sometimes.”
“She got inside your head and pulled out the details of the inside of the building,” Ebony mused to herself. “Oh, Shadow must have used that to approximate a safe teleportation entrance. Ha! How clever. Who knew those two were so creative?”
“Are you even listening to me?”
Ratigan shouted. Ebony was listening. One of the few things Ratigan never seemed to understand about her was that she was always listening. She was always watching. Nothing happened in her home without her knowing about it. And she everything about the ones she let into her home. That was another thing he seemed to forget.
“Ratigan, do not raise your voice to me again,” She calmly whispered. “Given everything you've been through I can forgive your agitation, but do not forget that gutter I found you in. I'll make that place look like a palace if you ever forget the rules again.”
“Of course, Ebony,” He apologized as fast as he could. “I don't mean nothing by it.”
He bowed his head and got up from his chair. He felt like he overstayed his welcome. He had a hoof on the door handle and was turning it when Ebony's voice called out from behind him.
“Those two ponies really frightened you, didn't they,” She asked.
“They ain't ponies, Ebony,” He replied somberly, “They're monsters.”
=====
Shadow and Charmer immediately ran down to the dining hall. Tired as they were, food came first. Charmer kept up her usual smile and walking proudly as she always did. It was the persona she had been maintaining for years now, even before Ebony. What surprised her was Shadow smiling right along with her. She had smiled before, but they were small and personal smiles. Now she was beaming with cheer. Excitement seemed to jump out with every step of her hoof. She was nearly bouncing.
“Shadow, are you okay,” Charmer asked.
“I'm wonderful, Charmer,” She said joyously.
“Good to hear,” Charmer replied. “You just don't seem to be acting like yourself at the moment.”
“Oh, you mean I'm not acting all doom and gloom and angrily staring at people until they leave me alone,” Shadow joked with her friend. “There's no need for that anymore. It's finally happening!”
“And just what might that be?”
Shadow and Charmer didn't even realize it, but they were walking right by the table that the old griffon always sat at. It had been a few days and yet it could have almost been just a few moments. The same ponies sat there as always.
The griffon sat at the head of the table as he always did. On his right was the same young Earth pony from before. She stared up at them with a sort of reverence in her eyes. Charmer was starting to get worried about the little pony. On the left of the griffon was a Pegasus. He was the quietest one of the three. He never seemed to care what anypony else was doing or saying. He just ate his food and that was that. Of course, this made a good first impression on Shadow, who often felt the same way.
“Oh, why hello there,” Charmer said. “We were so caught up in conversation that we didn't see you there.”
“Ah, pooey!” The griffon scoffed. “You are always aware of what is around ye,” He said pointedly at Charmer. “Not a pony can sneeze within twenty yards without ye knowing about it.”
“Thanks for the praise, bu-”
“Wasn't praise,” The griffon said. “It may be true but it's bloody annoying is what it is. I've seen enough secret passing crap in my time to know yours.”
“I thank you for the praise, however unintentional,” Charmer said. “But no pony is perfect, no matter how much you my think so.”
“Yeah, but you two are pretty close from what I hear.”
It was the Pegasus this time who spoke. Shadow looked at him curiously. What did he mean? He didn't feel the need to continue until he saw all their eyes looking down on him. He sighed heavily.
“Seriously? You two don't know what anyone else thinks of you, do you,” He asked. Charmer and Shadow glanced at each other and then back at him. He sighed again. “You two are Ebony's personal projects. She found you herself. She recruited you. Only you two are allowed to call her by name to her face. We all have to call her Boss. She gives you all the important jobs.”
“What he means to say,” The griffon interrupted. “Is that you're her pets, the both of you.”
“I am no ones pet,” Shadow said firmly.
“Ye said that once before,” The griffon laughed. “Right before you went off on an important job for Ebony.”
“We do jobs for Ebony,” Shadow stated, glaring at both the griffon and the Pegasus. “What of it? What's wrong with that? Huh?!”
“No need to to get testy, now,” The griffon said.
“No, you both started this,” Shadow growled. “I want to hear the end of it. What do you have against us working for Ebony? It's not like you don't. All of us here do jobs for her.”
“No, you do jobs from her,” the Pegasus said. “We all do jobs, but only you two get jobs directly from the Boss herself.”
“So what,” Shadow snapped back. “We're good at what we do. Ebony appreciates that. It's the whole reason she brought us in in the first place.”
“You know, Shadow, I don't actually think they have the problem you think they do,” Charmer said. “I think those two are just jealous of us.”
“What?! Jealous? Me,” The griffon rose farther out of his seat with each word he shouted. He was bigger than they knew. They'd only ever seen him sitting down. Now he stood there at full height with all his muscles rippling beneath his feathers.
“I've been through more battles than you two can ever know. I've done things that would make your little pony hearts shatter. I've spent more of my life outside the borders of this perfect little Equestria. I've seen wonders enough to make the heartless cry tears and horrors so downright terrible that even the most just would give up his ways at the sight of it. I've lost more in my life than I have gained. I can feel my mind beginning to fade as the years stack up, but I still can say at least one thing with the utmost certainty. You two have nothing in your lives worthy of my jealousy. I'm far too old to be bothered with such nonsense.”
“Quite the speech, Talon.”
If there was ever something quieter than the silence that fell upon the whole room just then, he had certainly never heard it. He had heard the silence in the air that followed battles so fierce that not even buzzards came in the days after. Still, not even that compared to the chill that ruffled his feathers when she spoke.
Ebony stood on the stairs that lead down from the upper floor. She slowly descended, step by step, in the silence. She knew all eyes were on her. She could feel their eyes as her hooves met the bottom floor. She could practically hear them breathing in sharply as she passed by. She sauntered over to the table in question, reveling in all the attention.
“Talon, my dear,” She said. “What have you said now to get everypony so riled up?”
“I've just said what we all think, Boss,” Talon said.
“And just what might that be,” She asked. “And why does it concern these two?”
“They're your pets and we all know it,” The Pegasus said loudly. He didn't like being called a pup. “They get special treatment from you and the rest of is are tired of it.”
“Oh, is that so,” Ebony rhetorically whispered. “You all think I favor those two above all else? Above everyone else? Well, you would be right.”
Needless to say they weren't exactly expecting that reply from her. She lifted her head up high and looked around. Including that table a little over a dozen others sat at tables in the dining hall. Her voice was loud and carried throughout the hall. More stood at the banisters of the upper floor. They looked in spotted pairs down upon the dining hall, their ears perked up and waiting for Ebony to speak. Everyone was eager to hear what she had to say.
“Shadow and Charmer,” She started, their names resounding through the hall like names of legend. “You all believe them to be my 'pets'. Such nonsense. None of you are my pets. None of you are worth more or less than any other. We all are family here.
“But for those of you who have doubts, let me alleviate them. Any of you can rise up to join them. They are strong. They have proven themselves trustworthy. They did not complain about their lot here. If they had any problems they worked to better themselves and therefore their surroundings. Any of you can do the same.”
She turned her head every few seconds. She looked all around. She looked into the eyes of everyone there, pony or not. Her words carried through the air like music. Everyone could feel them as much as they heard them. Ebony could see the effect she was having. She could hardly believe there was once a time when she would never have guessed she could be inspiring.
“Do not look at them with envy,” She spoke. “Set aside your jealousy. Refuse to listen to rumors. Do not wish to be them. Wish to be with them, next to them. Any of you can have a place at my side. You just have to prove yourself worthy of it. Can you do that?”
A moment of unusual silence filled the room after she was done. Following it came a cacophony of cheers and applause. Hooves were stomped on the ground, clapped together. Claws were raised , voices were heard. In the middle of it all was Ebony, smiling wickedly. She slowly strut her way back to the stairs.
“Ebony,” Shadow called out to her before she was too far away. “Thank you.”
“No need for thanks, child,” Ebony said in her sultry tone. “You are special. It may be that I favor you a bit, unhealthy as that may be. Can you blame me, though? You are such a sight when you work.”
“But, Ebony,” Shadow blushed. “You've never seen me work.”
“Oh, I see a lot more than you think, dear,” Ebony hissed under her breath. “Now as I recall, you were going to get some rest, isn't that so? Perhaps a meal as well?”
“Point taken,” Shadow chuckled. “I'm going.”
Shadow walked off. Ebony lingered momentarily and watched her. “You're so very welcome, child.”
Later on, things calmed down. Ebony's speech did wonders to liven up the others. They were all fired up and ready to do things, even if there wasn't anything to do. Thankfully, quite a few of them went off to train. Most of the noise died down pretty quickly. Shadow and Charmer were able to get some food. They even sat with the Talon the griffon and the other two. Talon said something that lingered in her thoughts. It was such a simple thing he said when they sat down. Charmer tried to tease him about being jealous again.
“I'm far too old for jealousy,” He said. “But you both are powerful, Ebony was right about that. I think I'll just have to learn to respect that. More than I already do that is.”
Shadow tossed and turned in her bed. It was such a simple thing, or maybe it wasn't. He respected her? But then why was he always antagonizing her and Charmer? Maybe it was Charmer doing the antagonizing and he was just biting back. That was definitely a possibility, but it didn't sit well with her. He respected her. If even half the things he says in his stories are true, then earning his respect was quite something. So what more was there? Shadow growled at the thought and sat up, throwing her pillow across the room in the process. Her chest heaved as her annoyance wore her out.
A knock on her door broke her out of this state.
“Who is it?”
“I don't think I've ever told you my name,” The voice said through the door. “But we've spoken a bit.”
“I know your voice,” Shadow said. “You're the Earth pony that sits with Talon, right?”
“Yes,” She exclaimed excitedly. “Everyone around here calls me Runner. It's close enough to real name.”
“Stop talking through the door, Runner,” Shadow said.
The little Earth pony came in. Her short mane bobbed up and down with each of her bouncy steps. Shadow still found it hard to believe she was a full grown adult Earth pony. She was just barely bigger than a filly. She was actually a few years older than Shadow herself.
“What do you want, Runner?”
“Well, I guess I just wanted to talk to you,” She said.
“Not really the best time,” Shadow said, opening the door with a bit of magic and gesturing Runner out of it.
“Wait,” Runner pleaded. “I want to talk about what Talon said.”
“What about it,” Shadow asked, intrigued. She closed the door again.
“He respects you,” Runner said. “We all do. We all know you've done. He pokes and prods at everyone, though. It's just his way. He says nobody gets stronger by just letting 'em be. They gotta be pushed to their edge and stuff like that.”
“Hmm,” Shadow smiled. “Well, I supposed it's just his way. Now, if that's all I would like to get back to sleep.”
“Just one more question,” Runner said. Shadow conceded and let her ask. “I haven't been given a job yet. What do you think I'll be doing?”
Shadow sighed and got out of bed. She guided Runner over to a small table she had set under the window. They both sat there for a few seconds with the moonlight shining down on them.
“Runner, why are you here,” Shadow asked. “Not here in my room, but here in this place. Nopony gets here by accident. Something had to happen to bring you here. What was it?”
“Oh,” Was all Runner said. “It's not something I like talking about.”
“Fair enough,” Shadow said, staring out at the night sky. “I'll go first. I lost my family. My father, my mother. They were both taken from me. I lived with nightmares almost nightly for years. I didn't know what to do so I ended up looking for help with a family friend. Only to find out that said friend of the family actually had something to do with the night I found my parents. I ran away with the only pony I could trust. Charmer. It only later that night that Ebony found us.”
Runner had never heard Shadow speak so much. She almost never spoke anything more than a short sentence or two. Now she was getting so much more than she ever thought she would. Shadow had a family once.
“It's funny how similar our stories are,” Runner half joked. “I lost my family, too. Both parents. A timberwolf attack at the edge of the White Tail Woods. They weren't supposed to be anywhere close to that area. I found out later that a few rogue storm clouds drove them from their normal hunting grounds. I ran away as my parents screamed. And I didn't stop running.”
Shadow looked back at Runner. Rivers were running down her cheeks. Her normal, bubbly smiling face was mess. She was trying to smile still, but her quivering lips betrayed her.
“I never stopped running,” She sobbed. “I didn't stop until Ebony found me. I could barely stand on my own. Talon watched over me. He stayed with me until I got better. I just don't want you to hate him, okay? He's really a good griffon.”
“I could never hate him, Runner,” Shadow said softly. “My life hasn't been great, but I have learned many things. One of the most important things is that I don't have room in my life for hate. He may irritate me at times, but that's what family does.”
“That's so good to hear,” Runner said with a smile. She wiped some tears from her cheeks. “But what about your family? You said it was a friend that had something to do with it? Do you hate them?”
Shadow couldn't respond right away. She wanted to. “I don't know,” She ended up saying. “For so long, I thought I did. I guess I will find out soon. Ebony's given me permission to go after them.”
“That's good,” Runner said. She got up from her chair and made her way for the door. “You deserve some good ol' fashioned vengeance.”
“Is that so,” Shadow joked. “Is that what you want for the timberwolves that took your family?”
“No,” Runner stated flatly. She looked back over her shoulder at Shadow with a sly smile on her face. “They're already gone. Why do you think Ebony took me in?”
With that said Runner exited Shadow's room, leaving her with a moment of shock. Shadow smiled. She even laughed with herself a bit. There was a lot more to that pony than she thought. She brought her pillow back to her bed and settled in. This time she didn't have any trouble getting to sleep.
Charmer nodded to Shadow. The two of them stood in the dark of the night. The wind rushing by whipped through their manes. Together they stood on the back of the last train of the night. Home was far away, but had a train station close enough that they could catch one that went almost anywhere. And included in anywhere was Ponyville. Shadow stared up at the nighttime sky as they moved. She took a deep breath.
“Is it weird yet,” Charmer asked. “Going back after all these years?”
“Kinda,” Shadow replied. “But at the same time, it's kinda exhilarating too.”
“It's been over four years since we've been here,” Charmer asked. “Almost five. You do know our anniversary with Ebony is coming up soon, don't you?”
“I remember,” Shadow said. “How could I forget that?”
“Just making sure,” Charmer said.
Charmer cast a quick spell over her mane to keep it down, mostly. She didn't mind a little breeze blowing through it but this was a bit much for her. Not for Shadow, though. She was enjoying it as much as she possibly could. Charmer always liked seeing her out and about at night. She always seemed happier then. Under the shining stars and dark sky. Then again, that pretty much matched up with completely. Even her cutie mark was seemingly designed around it. A silver star streaking across the horizon on her flank. One half of the star was above the horizon, sharp and silvery. The other half was below the horizon, a darkened, hazy wisp of a star. Behind it all, the whole horizon was bathed in a lovely green light that matched her eyes. Charmer gazed at her friend for a moment more before her eyes snapped open.
“We're close,” Shadow said with a smile.
Charmer peered over the railing and sure enough Shadow was right. Not far off in the distance was the looming shadow of the Crystal Castle. As the train neared Ponyville more silhouettes of buildings appeared. Shadow nodded at Charmer and then lifted her head. A flash of darkness, indistinguishable from the night, and they were gone.
Charmer thanked whoever she had to that she had gotten used to teleportation over the years. She almost never felt that small tug in her midsection anymore. It still did take her a couple of seconds to get her bearings afterwards, though. Hence, she found herself staring a brilliantly bright wall of pink crystal while Shadow looked around.
Shadow motioned her forward with a hoof, but also made sure to tell her to keep quiet. And so they crept forward lightly and slowly. They peered around the corner at the entrance to the castle. This was probably one of the only places in all of Equestria that she couldn't just pop right into. She knew the layout of this place by heart, but it was warded against all types of magic and the wards themselves were extremely powerful. Most likely they were put in place by Twilight herself. Luckily for them, Twilight's own intelligence was her own downfall.
“Intelligence leads to arrogance,” Shadow hissed in a hushed tone as she observed only two guards watching the entrance.
“Perhaps,” Charmer whispered. “Or perhaps more await us just inside. Can you know for certain?”
“Yes, actually,” Shadow grinned. “Ebony taught me a new spell just for this.”
“Oh, really,” Charmer looked at her friend. “And when was this?”
“We've been practicing whenever we have time,” Shadow explained. “Off and on for about a year now.”
“About a year,” Charmer repeated. “You better know this spell, then, for your sake as well as mine.”
Shadow stepped back and raised her horn. Charmer stepped back from her. She liked watching this. There was something surreal about watching the shadows themselves bend to the will of another pony. Especially one who did as lovely as Shadow did.
Darkness lingered in the nighttime air. The only light shining down came from the dim stars above them. The whole area around Shadow seemed to get darker. Shadows descended upon her from the sky above it seemed. Darkness rose up from the beneath her, enveloping her. Light itself was warped and twisted, devoured as Shadow became one with the shadows. Charmer watched in awe as she saw her friend go form a physical pony to a shadow in less than a seconds time. She watched as the shadows dispersed into a barely visible fog along the ground. This dark mist rolled beneath the hooves of the guards without them even moving to notice. If she hadn't seen it herself, Charmer would be hard pressed to believe it. She could make illusions of such things effortlessly, but to actually do it was baffling to her. The last she saw of her friend on the outside was the tiniest silver streak in the dark mist slipping between the cracks of the doors. Charmer smiled widely. Her turn was up.
Shadow focused everything she had on herself. She brought forth every memory, every thought, every little thing that made her who she was, and she focused on it. She stepped forward cautiously, her hoof dissolving into nothing at the slightest step. She focused more. She had to bring herself back. She had to pull herself together, literally. She had to make herself solid again. She put a hoof on the floor, a solid hoof. Happily, she stepped again. And again. She peeled herself away from the shadows just as the doors opened. Before she could cast any spell a large guard pony stepped through. They didn't look the slightest bit surprised as they shut the door behind them and looked back at Shadow. A sly smile appeared as the illusion fell and Charmer greeted her friend.
“That was amazing!”
“I almost thought I couldn't bring myself back,” Shadow said with a heavy breath.
“Oh, my dear friend,” Charmer said. “If anyone could turn themselves into shadows and come back, it's you. Remember, you own the dark.”
“Nopony owns the dark,” Shadow said. “You just have to know how to walk in it.”
“Is that one of Ebony's lines?”
“A direct quote,” Shadow giggled softly with Charmer. They hurried to move away from the doors before they were caught. They heard soft murmurs coming from the other side of the door but weren't sure if they were the cause or not.
They found themselves standing at an intersection before long. Long corridors ran our in five separate directions not including where they came from. This was right where they wanted to be. Five directions to go, and each one leading to a different part of the castle. Shadow had studied this place. Ebony managed to find her some leads on a few books that held detailed layouts of the castle. She took all the time she needed to study them thoroughly. She felt as if she knew this place almost as well as if she lived here as well.
“From left to right,” She whispered, waving her hoof in front of each corridor as she spoke. “Kitchens, ballroom, guest wing, library, royal chambers.”
“Good to know,” Charmer replied. “Well then, let's get moving, shall we?”
“Hold up,” Shadow said sharply. “I know the layout of this place well, but there are some things I couldn't prepare for.”
“No royal accommodations have used defensively based magic in near a thousand years,” Charmer assured Shadow. “And between the two of us we can handle any guards we might happen upon, one way or another.”
“You always got my back,” Shadow said.
“When I made that illusion over your body permanent those years ago, I'm fairly certain that made me have all of you,” Charmer replied. “Figuratively speaking.”
“Of course,” Shadow said before heading off in the direction of the library.
Charmer followed behind a few paces. Each had their own way of blending in. Shadow of course was one with the darkness of the halls. With each passing shadow she walked through she was as invisible as the air itself. Only the faintest of glows from her eyes could possible give her away and that would only happen if she was staring right at that pony in question. It was more than just physically blending int, though She even moved quieter. Every step with every hoof was as silent as the nightly breeze outside. It was almost as if she was gliding across the floor with each darkened step. Meanwhile, Charmer was using her own strategy to keep herself hidden.
Charmer had always admired the crystal structures of this Castle, as well as the Crystal Palace. She loved the way the light bounded off the shining facets of the walls and ceilings and the floors. It was so perfect for illusions and magic. And so was she.
She cast a blanketing illusion across the immediate area surrounding her body. A simple trick of the light at heart, but she powered it up immensely. Light bounced off every available surface to shroud her in a mirage of sorts, making it seem like nothing more than an empty hallway where she stood. Runner had once asked her why she didn't simply use an invisibility spell. Charmer replied with a simple answer. There was just no fun in that. It was true enough, but that wasn't the only reason. Even an invisible pony still leaves tracks and evidence. With this spell she can control what gets left behind by her steps. She's mislead more than a few ponies with it. Together they moved silently through the empty halls.
All was quiet for a while. They had been walking for a solid ten minutes and up two floors before they ran into any troubles. A patrol of guard ponies. Three of them. They walked opposite the two of them in a triangular formation. One in front with the other two on either side behind him. There was no way to move past them unnoticed. Shadow couldn't cast the mist spell again. Truthfully, she just didn't want to. It took to much out of her to use and she didn't like how long it took her to regain her form the last time she used it. Thankfully, the guards hadn't seen them yet.
Shadow shot to one side of the hall and Charmer the other. It still didn't help the situation at all. The lead pony would move right past them but the two behind him would most certainly feel them as they walked past. It didn't help at all that this particular hallway was along the outer edges of the castle so tall, thin windows decorated this hall from one end to the others. Soft moonlight shown down, leaving Shadow less and less area to hide in.
Charmer glanced over at Shadow. She glanced back shrugging. Charmer sighed and looked back at the ponies. Something almost immediately caught her eye. The pony in the lead. He wasn't just any pony. His armor was different. It was gilded around the edges, padded with more cloth around the bottom edges by his flank. He even had bracers to go over his forehooves. Charmer frantically waved her horn at him, trying the get Shadow to see it. Shadow was already keenly aware of his armor. He was Twilight's royal guard captain. No doubt about it. They didn't have time to think any more as they heard them talking just a dozen or so paces away.
“Are you sure about this, Captain,” One of them asked.
“There was a spike in magical energy at the entrance to the castle a little over ten minutes ago,” The heavily armored lead pony said. “It was brief, but powerful. Worth investigating. I expect a 'yes, sir' from here on out.”
“Yes, sir!”
The two on back echoed the words in unison. Shadow wasn't sure what to do. This was the absolute worst place for her. She could try and get above them but there was more light up there and they were so close they were sure to notice anything she did. Charmer was feeling similar anxiety. An unusual feeling for her and not one she liked. Only one thing came to her mind to stop them. Magic flowed out of her horn for a brief second.
The guard ponies stopped in their tracks, all three of them. Behind them they heard something. The tow in the back turned around to find the source. The sound of a pony running across the floor doesn't just come out of nowhere. And yet it seemingly did to them. No pony was in sight when they looked. As they scanned the hallway they heard it again. It was more distant this time.
“Perhaps they turned a corner,” One of them said.
“Even if they did they're still an intruder,” The Captain said.
Charmer smiled to herself. She could barely contain her smile, her joy. Such a simple little trick, hardly even a spell at all and it was working. She let another quick burst of steps loose, They sounded even more distant than the last, but she added to it the faintest sounds of whispering. Nothing coherent of course, but it was believable. Meanwhile, Shadow was slowly backing up, tracing her path back the way she came. Charmer moved as quickly as she could to follow her.
The Captain pony growled to himself. He heard the steps again. Whispers too. Something was off about them but he couldn't quite place what. He knew nopony should be out an about in the castle at this hour, but he also knew several of the maids and cooks liked to misbehave and stay up late into night. He stared forward, certain that something wasn't right. He could feel in his coat. And then he saw it.
Nopony would believe him if he said it out loud, but he saw it. A flicker, faint and barely even perceptible at all. It was flicker in the air itself. Moonlight poured in from the windows. For a moment he thought it was just a trick of the night, but then he saw it again. That same flicker in the air.
“Go and follow the steps,” He told his two followers. “I will continue down this hall. Regroup in ten minutes time if you find nothing.”
“Yes, sir,” They said in unison before turning and walking down the hall.
Shadow and Charmer half ran and half crawled all the way back to the intersection. They let loose all the breath they had been holding in since they saw the Captain. Charmer shot quick, nervous looks back down the hall. She didn't want to be surprise by any of them. Shadow on the other hoof, seemed distracted. Her mind was elsewhere.
“We don't have a lot of time,” Charmer said. “What do we do?”
“Did you see who that was,” Shadow asked.
“Of course I did,” Charmer replied. “That was the Captain of Twilight's Royal Guard. And he is going to be here any second.”
“I've met that pony somewhere before,” Shadow said. “I know I have. I just can't recall where.”
“You can ponder it later, Shadow,” Charmer urgently pleaded. “Once we are a few floors away from him, for instance.”
“You are not going anywhere.”
Both of them froze in place. From the hallway came a large Crystal Earth pony with equally large armor. He stepped out into the intersection with them. Charmer could swear he seemed bigger now than he did before. He towered over them like a kind of monster. His eyes looked down on them. Only then did Shadow realize it.
“You,” She breathed ever so softly. “I know you.”
“I doubt that,” He replied automatically. “I am not associated with any pony of your kind.”
“Are you so sure,” Charmer said, calmness coming over her. She finally saw it as well. She was mentally kicking herself for not recognizing him sooner. He had grown some in four years, and that armor did wonders with his frame. “Look at her again,” She whispered.
Shadow could feel a certain something lifting off of her. Like a piece of her was melting away and a part of her was slowly fading. Charmer's horn was glowing with a dim light. She knew what it was. For the the first time in years her eyes were her own again. She closed them tightly for a just a second for the spell to fade completely. When she looked back up at him his face contorted into a face of shock and disbelief.
“No! No,” He said. “It cannot be true. You can't be here.”
“Why not,” Shadow pursed her lips and bat her eyelashes in a fake attempt to look innocent or cute. “Why can't I be here?”
“Because you are dead,” His voice trembled. “You died four years ago, when beasts attacked a train leaving Ponyville.”
“Is that so,” Shadow asked. “Well, I've never been dead before. I wonder what it feels like.”
“NO! This can't be,” Princess Twilight herself confirmed it. You can't be here. She said you were dead.”
“Twilight said I was dead,” Shadow repeated. “Well, good for her. She got the whole family.”
“What-”
“Oh, didn't you know,” Shadow prodded the Captain. “Your beloved Princess Twilight had something to do with the night Luna and Spike died. She might have even been behind it. Who knows?”
“Impossible!” His voice no longer trembled. He spoke with conviction. “Be you spirits or no, I will not let you speak of the Princess that way.”
“What are you gonna do about it,” Shadow pressed further. “Are you gonna go and confront your princess, the liar?”
“ENOUGH!”
Charmer didn't even bother hiding her wicked grin. She was getting inside. She was scratching away at the walls of his mind and he didn't even know it. He was so focused on Shadow that he hadn't even bothered to look at her again after he saw her eyes. Not that Charmer was bothered by this. She took the time she had to craft the perfect illusion. She could see it already working its way into his mind.
“Begone, whatever you may be,” The Captain said as he rose up on his hind legs. Shadow jumped back as his massive hooves slammed into the floor. Shadow could feel the wall behind her. She had missed the hallway behind her and now she had nowhere to go. If he hit her with even one of those hooves, she was going to feel it.
“Captain!”
His eyes shot up to the voice that called out to him. Shadow followed his gaze. Charmer was gone. In her place stood a princess. Tall and regal with beauty enough to match any pony in all of Equestria. Twilight stood before him. The anger in his eyes subsided as reverence took its place, and then confusion. He shook his head.
“Captain,” This Twilight said once again. Shadow knew it was just Charmer with an illusion, but the voice was impeccable. Even though she hadn't heard Twilight's voice in a long time she would swear that that was her voice. “What are you doing?”
“No, no,” His body trembled. “You're not her. You are not her.”
“Oh, am I not,” Charmer as Twilight whispered. Her tone was soft, yet alluring. Compassionate, and yet sultry. “Do I not look like her? Do I not sound like her?”
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no,” He stammered to himself more than anypony else.
Twilight came up to him. She sauntered around him where he stood. She brushed up against him for only the briefest of moments. But it was enough. She could feel him shudder under her touch. “Do I not feel like her?”
He fell into a slump on the floor, barely sitting up with his chin to his chest. Even so, his eyes were wide open with confusion. They darted every way they could as they tried to make sense of this. If only he could think clearly, though. Something was in his head. He could feel it. Whenever he tried to think of the real Twilight he could feel a wall pressing back against him. How could he fight his own thoughts?
“I know what you want,” Twilight whispered into his ear. “You want Twilight. You can have her. I can give you to her. For as long as you wish. How does that sound, hmm?”
“N- n- no, I c- can't,” He stuttered.
“But why not,” She taunted as she continued to saunter around him so seductively. “The pony you admire most. The Princess herself. The pony you can never have in this life. I can give her to you. And so much more,” She shot a quick glance at Shadow and she stepped forward.
He looked up at Shadow. The pony he saw before wasn't there. Somepony new was standing before him. She was more beautiful than any mare he'd ever seen. A coat as dark and lovely as the night sky. Silver streaks in her mane and tail like pure starlight had taken rest there. Eyes like dazzling emeralds, split by black slits that pierced through his very being.
“You can have them both,” She told him. “The daughter of your greatest hero. Alive again, just for you. Both of us at your side, lasting as long as you like. Would you like that?”
“Yes,” He weakly admitted.
“You shall have them,” She hissed, brushing by him one more.
He left their company a broken stallion. Charmer and Shadow left with one last piece of information from him. He told them the fastest way to the library since the hallway was blocked by guards. Another hall, a few turns, and they were there with no more trouble. They weren't expecting anymore, either. The Captain was supposed to keep everything calm so long as they were quick and quiet. And that they were.
They darted into the first door they saw on the library floor. It was an unused guest room as far as they could tell. Sparse furniture, plain but functional. It was clear that nopony or any other had been in this room for a while. They caught their breath as they heard a couple sets of hooves hurriedly move past. Judging by the low giggles and the whispers it was most likely just a couple of maid mares.
Shadow panted softly by the door. “Why am I so tired,” She thought to herself. “I've been through tougher jobs than this without breaking a sweat.”
Charmer was feeling it too. She leaned against a bed for a moment to collect herself. Shadow listened against the door for another moment longer. When she felt it was safe she waved Charmer over. She took a step before stopping. Something caught her eye. She walked over to a bookshelf on the side of the room.
“These could be useful,” She said as she removed a pair of saddlebags from the shelves. She tossed one to Shadow. “Quality souvenirs if nothing else.”
Shadow looked over the bags. They were made for some kinda diplomatic part near as she could tell. She'd seen similar bags on ponies during her years growing up with Celestia in Canterlot. They were in pretty good condition, too. She couldn't guess as to why they were just sitting on a shelf in an empty room, but she wasn't complaining. The only the she didn't like was metal clasp in the shape of Twilight's cutie mark that dominated the front of the bags. She tolerated it for the time being, though. More important things had to be done tonight.
They were close to library now. They took a chance and didn't use any magic to conceal themselves, relying instead on the experience they've gained over the past few years and Ebony's insistence on training. They moved quickly, yet carefully and made it to the library with little effort. It hadn't changed much since the last time they were there. More books were added, obviously. It was Twilight's castle after all. But they only needed to find two, and they didn't have a lot of time to do it.
Charmer moved to the center of the library. From there she did her best to remember the books she looked over last time she was here. One in particular was her target. She sent a small pulse of magic out of her horn. It was a simple spell she stole from the Unicorn who developed it. It was a radar of sorts, but it only pinged objects with strong magics tied to them. She attuned her spell to enchantments and waited for something, anything to get her attention. Meanwhile, Shadow moved quickly from one end of the library to the other. She checked every door and every window. She locked the doors, doubling her assurances by casting a simple, but strong sealing spell on the locks. True to her nature, the darker the area around the locked door, the hard it would be to open. She didn't bother sealing the windows magically, but she did make sure all of them were closed and the curtains drawn shut.
“Shadow,” Charmer whispered in a hushed tone. “I found it.”
She followed Charmer over to one of the aisles and Charmer lifted a book off one of the higher shelves. She brought it down and took it over to a nearby table. It was dustier than she thought it'd be. Perhaps Twilight was getting lazy with her cleaning, or maybe the maid pony was incompetent. Either way she lightly blew away most of the dust and then she opened the book.
“It's blank, Charmer,” Shadow remarked. “Why is it blank?”
“It's Twilight's enchantment,” Charmer explained. “Take the book. It's connected to every book Twilight has ever owned and can find them. Focus on what book you want. This book will find it. Do you understand?”
“Its a magical catalog for library books,” Shadow answered as she placed her hooves on the book. “I think I can understand that.”
She closed her eyes and thought about the book. Or at least she tried to. She couldn't quite get the image of the book directly. She angrily sighed as she knew what she had to do. She focused again, but not on the book itself this time. Rather, she brought forth in her memory the place and time where that book may be found.
Darkness filled the room beyond the door. Pages from various other books littered the floor. Candles, half burned and unlit were scattered about. Farther into the room light from the night outside glinted off the shards of the broken mirror on the floor. At the balcony two being lay still. Shadow pushed herself toward they mirror shards. She looked away from the balcony. She focused on the shards. Sitting among the shards was a book. It was faded red, with the letters that made up the title so faded she couldn't even make out what they said. Not that it mattered, she found what she was after. She was about to pull herself out when something else caught her eyes. It was tiny. Minuscule. Past the shards of broken mirror lay the standing frame that housed the mirror. It was overturned, on its side and bent out of shape. In the limited light that she had she saw something. Something so small she couldn't even get mad that nopony else saw it. A strand of hair from a ponies mane or tail. It was purple. That was all she could see before something pulled her back.
Charmer shook Shadow gently at first. She shook a little harder the next time. Shadow's eyes snapped open suddenly. There was something in her eyes that worried Charmer. It was familiar, but not in a good way. The look she had reminded her way too much of the old days. The days where she was just angry at everything and took it out on anypony. The days where she was reckless and didn't think far enough ahead to worry about consequences.
“I've got the book, Shadow,” Charmer told her. “We've got to go. I heard some commotion a moment ago. I think the guards are searching for us.”
“What?! I thought the Captain was supposed to keep them under control,” Star fumed.
“Let's just leave,” Charmer hurried her friend to the nearest door.
Voices greeted them as they neared the door. At least four separate voices could be heard. All guards judging by what they were saying. They were searching for something. Or somepony. The voices were still some distance away, but they were getting closer. There were two other exits out of the library. Charmer didn't waste time turning around and running for farthest one.
“Go, Charmer,” Shadow said. Charmer stopped and looked back at her.
“What did you say?”
“You have the book,” Shadow ordered. “Take it and go. I'll lead them away.”
“That is a terrible idea,” Charmer replied. “I am not going to do that.”
Shadow glared at Charmer. “We do not have time to argue. Just get out of here. Go!”
“And what of you, Shadow,” Charmer asked. “What am I supposed to do when I learn that you've been thrown into Twilight's dungeon?”
“They have to catch me first,” Shadow said with a grin. “They can't catch what they can't see, and nopony can see in my shadows.”
“A Shadow Chase,” Charmer questioned. “You want to pull a Shadow Chase? That barely worked the last time you did it, and that was just a few thugs. Official, highly trained royal guard ponies are looking for us.”
“It's been over two years since I last tried it,” Shadow replied. “I've grown a lot more powerful since then. I can do it.”
“Do you even have enough energy left for something like that?”
“Oh yeah. Do you have enough to get out with the book?”
“Yes, I believe so. I might have to enlist the help of a guard or two, but I can get out. I can assure you of that.”
“Good,” Shadow replied. The voices were very close now. They would be just outside the doors momentarily. Shadow darted over to them and waited a few back from them. Charmer darted away to the farthest set of doors. She couldn't see Shadow anymore but she knew what to do. She would wait. She would listen. There would a moment when she could leave. A moment, where everypony would be caught up in the confusion of Shadow's diversion that she could slip out unseen. And so she waited and listened. Meanwhile, Shadow was also waiting.
Shadow watched the doors intently. She only had a single moment to pull this off. One try. That's it. She'd learned the best time to start this. There was a second of time between when somepony opened a door, and when they actually saw what was on the other side. That was her time. If she could pull this off in that brief time then she could set off with a huge advantage. If not, then she would have a lot more trouble getting away. It wouldn't be impossible. Just harder.
She spent the moments leading up with her body tensed up. She shifted her hooves about ever so slightly. Part of it was just to make sure her legs didn't get stiff. The other part was the sheer anticipation of what was coming. She felt a whole new burst of energy in her. She was gonna make sure to put it to good use. And so she also spent the time charging up her horn.
She weaved magic around herself like a veil. A constantly shifting, amorphous fog of shadows danced around her, waiting to be unleashed. She kept it up, pouring just enough magic into it to keep it active. And then it happened. She was ready.
She half heard it, half saw it. The voices had died down for some reason but whispers could still be heard. But she knew they were just on the other side of the door. She could sense it. Then the door handle moved. Just barely it twitched as a pony first gripped it before turning it. She charged up her spell completely and the mist around her pulsed. She smiled wide as the door opened just a tiny bit. A sliver of light shone through and into the library when she launched her spell.
The guards swung the door opened expecting to see the library. Instead, only a wall of darkness fell upon them. They had no time to react before they found themselves encased in a dark mist. All of them, six in total struggled to keep their composure midst the dark. They couldn't see so they collided with each other often. Their voices blended together as they each tried to call out to one another. It didn't help when Shadow leaped into the fray. She could see everything.
Shadow leaped at the guards. Her goal wasn't to fight them, but slow them down. Her perfectly timed darkness spell was doing its job. She jumped in front of one of the guards, raising her hoof to strike him right across the jaw. He recoiled as she ran at two other guards. They were stumbling back towards each other. She sidestepped one of them and slammed her body into the guard. The guard stumbled over, tripping over the second. They both fell into a mess of armor, wings, and angry shouting. Finally, it was time for the second phase.
The darkness was beginning to die down. As it faded away she ran out of area of effect. She waited a second before pulling the darkness away and surrounding herself with it. The guards were stunned for a moment as they had to wait for the eyes to adjust to the new light even though it was still night. Shadow coated herself in the shadows and shaped the remaining shadows into three other versions of herself. It took a moment longer than she wanted. The guards were already getting up when she was just finishing the last one.
“Look, there!”
One of them called out. Her voice carried over with her hoof as she pointed to the three dark ponies standing several paces away. All of them the same color of unnatural darkness. In unison the three ponies darted off down separate halls. The guards growled in frustration as they split into teams of two and each team followed a different pony. Shadow was grinning a very despicable grin in the hallway as she watched them all leave.
“Can't believe that worked,” She thought to herself. “Guards are so dumb sometimes.”
She left with her grin and ran to the nearest door that lead away from the directions that the guards went. The door opened to a stairwell that only went down. Luckily for her that was the way she needed to go. She ran down quickly, not even bothering to hide the sound of her steps. Her hooves almost failed her, though, as she ran. She nearly tripped and fell down the stairs. A sudden sensation flooded over her coat. She caught herself, leaning against a wall, and stopped for just a moment. One of her shadows was just vaporized. That feeling always took her off guard. It was a strange tingling that she never quite got used to. She forced herself to keep going after that.
A single, solitary door was at the bottom of the stairs. It opened up to a grand and empty space. Her hooves carried her through the door with little care for what was actually on the other side. She slowed to a stop as she got further and further inside. Her eyes widened as she gazed about the room.
“Whoa,” She whispered under her breath.
Windows taller than even those at the Royal Canterlot Castle lined the walls of this great hall. Even in the night she could see the light of the stars glistening off the patterns of the stained glass. Colored glass in amazing patterns captivated her. Images of Equestria, ponies and lands she had never seen before were captured in the glass. She stared at it for longer than she knew, or would admit.
Hanging down from above her was a chandelier. A truly massive thing made of crystals of varying colors. Thin, shining metal chains draped around this rims of the layers. Unused candles sat in their places waiting to be lit, casting their warm glow across the room below. She gasped as she moved away from underneath it. Two smaller, but similar chandeliers were on other side of it, going down the length of the room.
“This must be the ballroom,” She whispered to herself. “Have to admit, it's pretty beautiful in here.”
She took one last moment to take everything in before leaving. A set of double doors on the other side of the room drew her attention away. She ran toward them, wanting to leave this place as soon as she could. Her hooves reached out for the door. And then she stopped.
Something was there. She could feel it. An overwhelming feeling washed over her. She couldn't place it. She knew it, the feeling to fear and anxiety. She knew it because she often gave that very same feeling to others. Now she was on the other side of it, but from where? Something was there, she could feel it. Her hoof hovered just barely an inch away from the door handles, but she shook as stood there. And then she wasn't standing there anymore.
In fact, nothing was there anymore. She was shaking where she stood, and the next thing she knew she heard a loud crack. A deafening, thunderous sound from nowhere and everywhere. A pressure built up against her chest. She could feel it pressing against her. It was the last thing she felt before a sudden, shocking pain erupted in her chest. A flash of light. A moment of darkness.
Shadow's eyes opened and shut every few seconds. Her mind was filled with thoughts of nothing but the pain. It coursed throughout her chest, radiating up to her neck and shoulders. Not even breathing was free from pain. Each shallow breath she took was a reminder how much it hurt.
“Who are you?”
Shadow lay on the floor. She was facing away from the voice, but she still knew it. She could never forget that voice.
“I'll ask again,” Twilight said. “Who are you?”
Twilight stepped into the room. She easily stepped over the debris of the now shattered doors. A dozen guards streamed in after her, taking up positions all around the center of the room. All around where Shadow was laying now, barely breathing. Each of them carried a spear with them. Twilight's horn cast a soft glow for just a second before the largest of the chandeliers lit up. Candles lit with small dancing flames. The center of the room was cast in an eerie orange glow.
“Princess,” A voice called out from behind Twilight. She turned to see her Captain walk up with two guards behind him.
“Captain,” Twilight said flatly. “Care to explain this?”
“I have failed you, my Princess,” The Captain said. “Two have infiltrated the Castle. One has escaped. I had my guards searching for the other, but it would seem you found her first.”
“Of course I did,” Twilight said. “Her blatant use of magic left a clear trail to follow.”
“Shut up.”
Twilight looked back at the center of the ballroom. The unknown pony was shifting. The dozen guards surrounding her stepped back and lowered their spears at her.
“Don't move,” Twilight ordered. “The spell I hit you with is meant to keep you immobilized. The more you fight it the more pain it will cause.”
Shadow got her hooves underneath her. She grunted with effort. Through ground teeth she stood up. “Shut up,” She hissed angrily. Each second of pain was worth it as she stood on all four hooves. Her head still hung low, but she glared up at Twilight. Twilight herself was having a hard time believing what she was seeing.
“Star Shadow,” She said in disbelief. Even though her guards were well trained a silent murmur traveled between them. Their eyes darted back and forth, from Star Shadow herself to the other members of the guard. Their hooves shifted and they did their best to hide their nervous glances and curious looks. “Star Shadow, is that you?”
“Shut up, Twilight,” Shadow said through her teeth. She was still reeling from the pain in her chest.
“Star,” Twilight said. “Guards, lower your weapons. Lower them now!”
Twilight waved a hoof and the guards took their spears away. Her horn glowed slightly and she pointed it at Star. Star could feel the pain leaving her ever so slightly. The magic did a lot, but she also felt the physical effects of flying across the room and slamming into the floor. She panted heavy breaths and stared at Twilight. Twilight stared back into her slit green eyes.
“That was a mistake,” Star Shadow said confidently.
Without another word the room shook. Tremors overtook the guards surrounding her. They seemed to struggle to try and remain standing where they stood. The chandelier shook violently above her head. Star's horn wrapped her in darkness. From the corners of the room the shadows warped and grew. They extended outward, into the room. They reached farther into the room as she angrily sneered.
She screamed, cried out as the dark surged forth like a storm.
Rolling waves and shifting mists blew forth like a raging storm cloud. The shadows collided with one guard after another, enveloping them just as they called out in fear. Twilight looked on in stunned silence.
“Star, why are you doing this?”
Twilight called out to her, but she got no answers. The only thing she found when she looked at Star was a seething rage, an anger she had never seen before. She saw in Star a darkness that reminded her of bad times in the past.
She watched as her Captain of the Guards moved past her. He walked past Twilight and approached Star with no hesitation. Twilight couldn't believe it.
“Captain,” She said as he walked by.
“Princess,” He whispered absentmindedly. “We'll be together forever.”
The two ponies behind him followed him to Star's side. One of them flickered in the light form the chandelier. It disappeared as they got close to Star, along with the illusion around Charmer. She smiled as she turned to face Twilight.
“Goodbye, Princess,” Charmer purred. The warping shadows cascaded around them. In mere moments they would be gone in a blanket of shadows.
Twilight finally was able to get a grip of herself. She charged up more magic in her horn. She was intent on not letting them leave. She focused and unleashed a blast of magic that would dispel the darkness.
Star screamed again, but this time was not effort. Twilight's spell slammed into her as she finished her own spell. It had taken her this long just to bring about enough energy in herself to cast the spell to begin with. Twilight's first hit took more out of her than she thought. And now she got hit again, just as she was teleporting back.
=====
Back at home, Talon and Runner sat together for a meal. The dining hall was a little less full than it usually was. Only about a dozen others were there. It was quiet, too. It wouldn't stay that way for long, though.
Out of nowhere tremors shook the whole building. Spoons and forks clattered across tables. Glasses and cups shattered as they fell to the floor. Worried whispers and distressed talk filled the whole room. The level of light in the room dropped. Suddenly, Charmer was standing in the middle of the room. She was already moving when Star's body flew through the air. Moving faster than anyone believed he could Talon leaped into the air. With a few powerful wing beats he caught the unconscious pony. He carefully glided back down to the table with her in his arms.
“What happened,” He demanded an answer, yet his voice was full of compassion.
A pained scream erupted from behind jagged teeth. Through hissing fangs every breath was forced out. A few deep breaths kept the pain at the forefront of thought. Shallow breaths slid their way out in a feeble attempt to ease what pain their was. Eyes were closed as the source of the pain was sought after. The chest? Yes, definitely the chest. A grunt escaped as claws traveled across his scales.
Spike's eyes opened. He shot upright in a second, breathing hard. He took a moment to take everything in. His eyes scanned the area around him. Blackness. Dark. Empty. All those words seemed to apply. He slowed his breathing as his mind traced back to him, and how he got here.
“Where am I,” He thought to himself. His bleak surrounding did nothing to instill hope that he was in a good place. In fact, the low hanging mist covering the ground for as far as he could see did the opposite. He had a very bad feeling about this place. He put his hand on the ground beside and pushed up to lift himself off the ground. He was barely able to move an inch before an incredible pain tore through his chest.
He fell to the ground, his hands clutching at the scales of his chest. He had never felt anything like this. Every beat of his heart sent the throbbing pain through his chest. His clawed hand dug at the scar across his chest. It did nothing. This was not the source of his pain.
“Argh! What,” Spike groaned in pain, “What is this? Why does my chest hurt so much?”
With strain and effort, Spike managed to roll over to his stomach. The mist rolled over his as he lay there and panted. The mist was cold, too cold. It chilled him deep into his scales. He felt the chill of this place deeper and deeper, until he could feel it in his very soul. He cared not for such a chill. It shook him. With all his strength he lifted himself up. His arms outstretched before him and holding him up. He pulled his legs beneath him and threw his torso back.
“Aah!”
He screamed at last. One last jolt of pain shot through his chest. Heavy breaths, breaths only made through hard work and effort, fell from his mouth. He sat there on his knees for a moment. His eyes were closed and he just focused on himself. He focused on blocking out as much of the pain as he could manage. He focused on his breathing, his emotions. He had to remain calm. After a moment he slowly opened his eyes to survey his surroundings.
“Nothing but darkness,” Spike thought. “And this strange mist. Where am I? And how did I get here?”
He was right. All around him, in every direction. It was nothing but a dark, empty void. The only thing giving this place any sort of depth was the mist rolling along the floor. As Spike looked around him, his eyes carefully scanning for anything, something caught his attention. It was something in the mist. A shape? A figure? His searched for any more signs of it, but he lost it. The mist swirled and shifted, rolled and drifted all over. There was nothing that left any singular spot any different than any other. Another sudden flitter of something caught his eye. He saw it just out of the corner of his eye. And then another, from the opposite direction. He reached out for something, not knowing what might be reaching back for him. His grasp met nothing as he fell to his stomach.
“Wait,” He called out. “Wait!”
Another flitter spurred him to rise once again. He managed to get to his knees again. He lifted himself up to standing. Pain was throbbing beneath his scales, but he pushed forward. The pain wasn't as bad as it was just moments ago. He could at least walk and bear it.
He stepped forward a few steps. He was seeing things all around him. The mist was more than just drifting and shifting at this point. It moved with purpose. It rolled around him, by him, past him. It avoided him. The mist was alive. His head spun as he tried to get even a small glance at whatever was in the mist, yet all he got was nothing. Spike stumbled forward, growing ever more contemptuous of the mist. It was just mist. He shouldn't be having this much trouble with it. Why couldn't he see anything?
“Just show me already,” He shouted to anyone or anything that might hear him. “I'm tired of this. Just let me find what you're hiding already, you stupid fog.”
Spike's anger was beginning to rise. It had gone past irritation already. He knew full well he couldn't lash out against the mist. It was formless vapor. It would do no good. He could not hurt it. And so he searched in all directions, looking for something. Some clue as to where he was. Some hint as to what had happened to him. At the very least he could find something to hit. He felt like he had a lot of pent up energy ready to be released. He roared in frustration and at nothing in particular. His feelings almost blinded him to the fact that his chest was no longer hurting him. At least, he was no longer feeling it at the moment. He also, almost lost sight of the light that now shone down upon him.
“Hold up,” he thought as he noticed the light. He looked down at his hands, the sheen of his scales. There was light reflecting off them. He pushed his anger aside and looked up. A pillar of light shone down. He couldn't bear to stare straight into, not even for a second. He looked back down at his hands. “I know where I am,” he thought. “But how can I be here?” Spike looked around him. More pillars of light off in the distance. He sneered at them. He hated them. He growled.
“How can I be here,” He yelled and shouted. “This place isn't real. This is a nightmare created by the darkness, by Galeek. It's not real! I can't be here. I shouldn't be here!”
The anger in his voice was slowly dissolving into a panic. Spike knew where he was. It was place of nightmares and darkness where he foresaw the horrible things that would happen to the ones he cared about. The lights in the dark were filled with lies, or harsh truths. Spike spun around to turn his back to the pillars of light, even though he stood in one himself. His mind was not at ease as he saw several more when he turned. Closer than ever and with the mist purposefully drifting around them the pillars stood. Spike growled to himself as the mist rose up.
Slowly pulling itself up out of the mist was a dark, flat surface. Broken and jagged edges on all sides. It was as large as Spike's torso. And it wasn't alone. All around him broken shards rose up like an swarm. Hundreds of pieces hung in the air, higher than he could see at times. Each piece shimmered in the light of the pillars, but cast out no light in return. Spike watched them anxiously. What were they going to do?
He got his answer when they started moving. Slowly, at first, the broken shards drifted sideways. They moved from one pillar to another in a lazy, monotonous pattern. Spike watched as they moved. He kept his head moving from side to side. He was always turning around. He was watching, waiting. After moments upon moments he began to see things in the shards.
“What is this,” He asked himself. “What trick is being played on me this time?”
Flashes of images appeared in the shards. He could only see passing glances of them. Ponies of all kinds. Mares, stallions, fillies and colts. All were in the shards. Some were working at stands and shops. Some were sleeping peacefully in their beds. Some were standing guard by important looking doors. Some flashes didn't contain any ponies at all. Griffons flew threw the sky in some flashes. Some flashed were devoid of the living and only displayed locations. Empty shops and empty streets. Libraries with only books and dust in them. Spike couldn't understand what it all meant.
“What is this,” He growled. “What am I supposed to do with this, huh?”
The shards flew past him faster than before. The images were barely even flashes as each one blurred into the next. A dizzying array of colors encircled him. He roared out defensively. He wasn't sure what else to do. His heart was racing, bring back with it that pain from before. It beat against the scales of his chest like drums.
“NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
That single scream shattered Spike's world. Immediately, gone was the rage that was rising higher and higher in him. Gone was the panic that was threatening to grip him tight. Gone were the shards that surrounded him with fleeting distractions. The fell from the air, sinking back down into the mist where they were before without so much as a noise from any of them. Gone were the pillars of light that shone down from nowhere and illuminated nothing. And gone was the darkness itself. Spike stepped towards the scream, knowing that had no way to be sure what made it. Yet, something about the scream called to him. It was strangely familiar to him, but he couldn't place why. So he simply moved after it with a new determination in his steps. He barely had to move at all before the mist parted before him. The mist rose up and fell back down again, parting like the pages of a book and letting Spike pass through. He could feel something, tugging at him as he passed through the mist, Something didn't want him to leave, but he had to. And so he stepped from the land of darkness and into the light.
=====
“NO! Back off!”
Several ponies had to dive out of the way to avoid being hit by the sporadic magical blasts. The pony who fired them struggled against her captors. Several pairs of hooves held down the pony, or tried to. Her body lurched with every passing moment. She showed a surprising amount of raw strength. Ponies were scrambling all around her. They were trying to avoid her horn, yet get a firm grip to hold her down. Meanwhile, one pony stood back and away from it all.
“I've never seen her like this,” Charmer said. Her normal tone of voice, sleek and alluring while being underhoofed was gone. Compassion and worry carried with her words now. She watched as her best friend lashed out once more. One of her hooves was loose. She struck out with it and sent two ponies to the floor, each of them strong earth ponies. In a desperate attempt to stop her thrashing one pony even tried to lay his body over hers. A quick, yet powerful blast from her horn stopped that. With more ease than any other being there Talon managed to get a grip on both her front hooves with one clawed hand. The other pinned them to her body in such a way that she couldn't use them. He put as much of his body weight as he dared onto her, but he didn't want to hurt her.
“'Ey, girl,” Talon called out to Charmer. “What happened out there?”
“The job went bad,” Was all Charmer could say. “The job went bad and she got hurt.”
“Obviously, but I ain't askin' for the obvious,” Talon remarked. “I asked what happened to her.”
“I don't know,” Charmer said. “She was hit by some kind of magic, I think?”
Talon wasn't able to say anything more. Runner had been using her small size to pin Shadow's head to the ground. However, her small size also made her very lightweight. One false step was made, and Runner was made into a flyer. Now Talon was having to avoid her angered magic. He couldn't. She sent out a massive wave of dark force in all directions. Every pony within a few paces of her was pushed back, and rather violently so.
“No,” Shadow screamed at no one. She shook her head. “Get away from me! Leave me alone!” She shot the floor around her a few times, but nothing was there.
“Calm down, child.”
The voice got her attention and now Shadow spun around to face this new voice. Ebony was approaching slowly. Her own horn held a soft glow to it.
“Calm yourself, child,” She half sung towards Shadow.
Calm yourself, Child, for the lowering light The day is done. Time for it to drift away Ease yourself, for there is more to come
Still yourself, Child, with the stars so bright The moon rises, as the day slowly fades Rest in your dreams now, with the setting sun
Sleep now, Child, on this beautiful night Stars be with you, can you hear what they say Peaceful slumber before a new days begun
Dream now, Child. Such a lovely sight It's your world now, gallop and play Sweet dreams, child, and your endless fun
Ebony's words rolled off her tongue like the sweetest of honey. Shadow eyes slowly closed as her faltering steps came to an end. She collapsed under the power of Ebony's spell, but she couldn't refute the fact that she also felt exhausted. The dark embrace of sleep overcame her and that's the last thing she remembered.
“Take her to my quarters now,” Ebony ordered a few of the closest ponies that weren't injured.
They rushed to obey and carried the now sleeping Shadow off to Ebony's quarters. Ebony stood there and watched them as they carried her up the stairs. She then turned back and looked around at the dining hall. It was a mess, to say the least. Broken tables and chairs lay in pieces everywhere. Dark marks from the cascade of spells that were cast stained the floor, the walls, and even a few on the ceiling. All around ponies were picking themselves up, or helping somepony else up. There were many injured. Thankfully, none of the injuries were anything worse than a sprained wing or hoof. Ebony sighed.
“I'm so sorry, Ebony. I should've done something.”
Ebony turned to face Charmer. “It's alright, Charmer. I cannot blame you for this unfortunate incident,” She said. “But you must tell me exactly what happened if I am to help her. Can you do that?”
“Of course,” Charmer said. “I don't like seeing her like that. What is happening to her?”
“I have an idea, but I need to hear what you have to say to know if I'm right,” Ebony told her. “Come now. Let's go and sit with Shadow. It is better if we speak there.”
Charmer turned and headed up the stairs. Ebony was right behind when she felt something. A sudden chill ran through her coat, and much deeper still. She turned quickly only to find no one there. She felt it again. It was right on top of her. She quickly stepped to the side and stared at the place she where just stood. Again, nothing. She felt the chill pass, but an unsettling familiarity brought on a new one.
“Everything alright, Boss,” Talon asked her.
“Yes, of course,” Ebony told him. “It seems my spell took a bit more out of me than I thought. Subduing a powerful pony like Shadow with just a sleep spell was tricky.”
“Good thing you did what ya did when ya did, Boss,” Talon said to her. “I've seen that kinda madness before. Never ended well then. Honestly, I don't know what you can do to help her now I ain't gotta lot hope for her.”
“I appreciate the honesty,” Ebony replied. “But Shadow will recover. She's simply too stubborn not to.”
“Now that I can believe,” Talon said with a light chuckle.
“Indeed,” Ebony walked off with a smile. The smile quickly faded, however, as she rushed to her quarters. She managed to save face with Talon, but something was not right down there. She felt something. She was willing to admit to herself that it gave her pause, but she was afraid of it. She wouldn't be until she knew what it was. The fact that it was here, in her home, and that she didn't know what it was. At the moment, that was what made her afraid.
=====
Spike was blinded by the light for a second. Everything was bright and shining. So much light. He squinted his eyes, waiting for them to adjust. He could make a few of the things around him. It was mostly blurry shapes with indistinct outlines. He took a few careful steps forward, away from the dark void he was just in. Some of the shapes in the light moved and shifted, some did not. Were they ponies? A ringing in his ears made left him unable to hear any of the potential voices. Slowly, little by little, the world came into focus. Everything was still brighter than staring into the sun, but he could tell the outlines of things more clearly. There was one thing, however, that wasn't so bright. A dark patch, moving fast and away from him.
He rushed after it, moving carefully around the shapes, both moving and not. The ringing in his ears had lessened down to dull tone, but he still couldn't hear much of anything. Formless murmurs and indistinguishable whispers. All of it quiet and at the same time loud. Were they talking about him? He had no way of knowing. He just continued following the dark patch.
He followed it up what he could only assume to be stairs. He was lead farther and farther in until finally it stopped. The world had become much clearer now, yet also less so. Details were emerging, defined and sharp. He could clearly make out what things were at a distance and the sounds he was hearing were identifiable, even voices. The problem was he had long since heard or seen anything of note. Occasionally he could make out something, but it was never close. The environment was nothing but corridors lined with doors. The dark patch he was following ended up being a pony being carried by two other ponies. They went up another flight of stairs and this brought them to what Spike assumed was a tower of some sort. No more doors, no long hallways. Just a single set of double doors leading to a room. The two ponies gently set the third down on a nearby padded bench. Spike approached.
His eyes clear now, he looked down. A mare, young and beautiful. She was sleeping. “Must be a deep sleeper,” Spike mused to himself. “if those two can carry you around without you waking up.”
Spike took the small moment of amusement but didn't let himself stray to far from his task. He was drawn here for some reason. From the most foreboding darkness to the brightest light. She was the only thing to stand out. Who was she?
“Why are you so important,” Spike thought. He knelt down next to her. Only afterwards did he realize two other ponies were there with him. He looked over his shoulder at them. One was fiddling with a key ring and the other was standing next to him. They talked back and forth, but the one without the key ring was most definitely looking directly at him, or the mare. They spoke as if Spike wasn't there at all.
“They can't see me,” Spike thought. “What is going on?”
Spike stared back at the mare on the bench. Her coat was naturally dark, but it seemed unnatural to Spike. His scaled hand hovered just above her, shaking. He was nervous. He had fought monsters in his past but he was nervous to touch this mare. He didn't know where he was, how he got here, and at that moment he was beginning to question what he was. He reached down and placed a gentle hand on her neck, brushing away a few strands of her mane. She shuddered under his touch. Her tail twitched strongly before going back to hanging off the side of the bench. Spike's gazed traveled across her body.
She was young, but very fit. She was tall and thin, but healthily defined. For a Unicorn he could see she had some well defined muscles that supported her frame. Her coat was marred, though, from what he could see. Sweat and dust mattered her coat in layers. Dark lines crossed her body, coming from her chest. He couldn't see it clear enough, but he could assume they were scars. It reminded of him of his own scar on his chest. Her cutie mark caught his eye next.
“Why does that seem so familiar to me,” He thought. “What does it mean?”
Spike spent a little too long looking at her cutie mark. He finally pulled himself away and turned back to face her, only to jump. His head turned to look back at her face. Instead, he found her staring directly at him. Her head was up, her eyes were open, and she was staring right at him. Her body shook under his hand. Her lips quivered and a certain amount of shock was present in her eyes. Spike fell back in shock of his own. It faded fast, however, as he looked up into her eyes.
“Star Shadow,” Spike whispered.
“You're here,” Star Shadow said under her breath. “You're here.”
She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. She wanted to shake the very image of him out of her head. He couldn't be here. She knew that. He was gone. He couldn't be here, so why was she seeing him?
“Star Shadow,” Spike said. He crawled back over to her. He placed a hand on her again, the loving hand of a father. “I'm here.”