> The Dark Apprentice: The Call of Shadows > by DashiePies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twas the night before the lessons were due to begin from their sudden two day interlude. And Luna was atop her tower looking down onto the Kingdom, the air was still and the darkness wreathed throughout the land. Perfect for a little scheme. 'Tonight's the night' She thought to herself. 'Tonight is the night to do it'. 'Tonight is the night, and it will be done!'. And when Luna wanted something, there was always a 99% chance that she would get it. The Princess was a master of stealth and espionage, designing intricate plans and being able to influence others from behind the scenes was as easy as she had influenced Twilight. Like plucking feathers from a goose. However this was not her usual case of simply shadow routing her way through the night and entering the dreams of somepony. That would be too obvious. No for this move (given the complexity and delicacy of the situation) she would need to attribute and apply a more subtle tone as her modus operandi. Something so incognito that it might as well be a part of the furniture, as if the plan itself had been akin to the very course of the natural unfolding events themselves. And for Luna, being able to affect the natural using the supernatural would make too much noise, arouse too much suspicion. For this she would need to be as light on her magic as possible, as far away from the intended situation as possible while still being able to achieve her aims from the confines of her personal space. It continued to frustrate her that Twilight wouldn't trust her word on her own sister, but still this would ensure just the right amount of measure could be applied. To protect both her and her Student. And to finally, finally bring this enveloping situation under her control. After all, that is the nature of the student/mistress relationship in the formation of 'The Dark Apprentice'. As she stood there, she could feel an idea brewing in her mind. Something so brilliant not even her own sister would see this one coming, although it most certainly wasn't an idea in spite of her, quite the contrary in fact. "Aha, I've got it!" She said, striding across the room poising herself over her writing desk. Hovering a little quill and ink pot over, she pulled out a thin slice of parchment, and began to scribe. Dear Ms Mi Amore Cadenza, Following the recent fashion week over in Manehatten with the latest release of your wardrobe, Ponyville boutique would be honored to host your newest editions at our store. One of our representatives attended the Canterlot fashion summit last year and were greatly pleased with your proposal for natural floral sequin designs. In particular I would like to discuss with Rarity a particular line from your catalog with the flowered sequin patterns, I'm sure she would be delighted to know about those, possibly obtain a few units to sell alongside our product range. Should you be interested in this proposal please come to our opening night three days from now. Signed, Sweet Buttercup. Sales Manager - Ponyville Boutique Of course Luna knew this alone wouldn't be enough, not all of the pieces were quite in place just yet. And with that she pulled out a wooden panel from under the drawer just under her desk. A secret compartment hidden and neatly tucked away out of sight. Inside was a large almost purple box. Opening it she pulled out a diamond like single sealing stamp with no stamp engraving on its surface, it had a beautiful crystal jewel as its handle with a crescent moon insignia in its center. Levitating it over to her eye-line, she cast a small dark shadow onto the seal. On it, formed the seal from Ponyville boutique, with 1st class VIP edition signifying it was for a pony of VIP status. Only one seal of this exists, as only the owners of said establishments have a copy of one. It was how other businesses and organizations could recognize one another without the risk of impersonation. These seals were made by Celestia herself, only her magic could unbind that. However, this was no problem for the Princess. For Luna managed to attain a mental image of every seal in just a single night. Therefore giving her the letter writing keys to the kingdom! For her, she knows that the mental imagery of the seals had just enough of Celestia's impression to make Luna's master counterpart passable. All that was left now was to give Sweet Buttercup a little memory changing potion floral powder disguised as a bouquet of flowers, sent in a random delivery from an anonymous admirer. And the stage would be set. What Luna knew unbeknownst to those involved, these flowers spoken of at this summit (of course which she as a Princess had to attend, as boring as it was) could only be woven into fabric by means of a spell. Something that she knows Rarity would struggle with given the plant in question. Flavonis javana dixieorium. A rare plant only found at the summit of Mount Eres. Or something like that. Luna couldn't fully remember, nevertheless however, she didn't care. This she knew would trigger Rarity to ask for Twilight's aid. Rarity being anxious for this visit from Ms Mi Amore Cadenza and Twilight being a close friend practiced enough in the arts to perform a spell such as this, it was perfect. Of course she knew that messing with someponies memories was wrong, but the situation was beginning to run away with itself. And for what the Dark Princess had install for Twilight next would mean that she would need to get a handle on this before either her sister, Twilight or both got hurt. "Guards!" She shouted in a moderate yet commanding tone. "Yes ma'am" Said the two guards who took no less than 5 seconds to be stood to attention in front of her. "Fetch my private carriage, we are going to Manehatten". Said the Princess. "Uh, yes my lady. But why exactly are we going at this hour?" The guard asked meagerly. "To deliver a letter". She replied. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Dark Princess was leaving Ms Mi Amore's house, having hand delivered the letter herself. Doing it this way would help ensure the victim thinks this letter was delivered by the recipient herself, it won't make sense otherwise. And of course using the regular postal system could trigger Celestia and reveal to her that the seal impressions had been tampered with. - Twilight approached the bat-winged carriage just like any other night she had for the past month, it was no longer something she was afraid to do, no, this was something she yearned for now. In fact the ride up there felt like it took too long, why she couldn't just teleport there nopony knows! But Luna's orders are the Dark Apprentices hymns to be sung and followed to the letter. "Good of you to make it, My Dark Apprentice." Luna said in her regal, luminous tone. "Tonight you will not speak, not a word, not even in your mind, tonight you will listen. And listen carefully to what I say next". Twilight's heart thudded in her chest, what on Celestia's name was going to happen this time. If not already the theory of this dark side was beginning to get experimental enough, now talking is off the cards! "Since in your last lesson you didn't want to hit me, we finalized that violence was out of the question. However a little humiliation would benefit your progress greatly. Sometimes Twilight Sparkle a little humiliation is good for the soul, for it awakens the deeper aspects of our more vulnerable side." Luna continued. "I know you may consider this violent but I have a good feeling that when you see the science involved, youll see the benefits. Spanking or being spanked is actually quite common for conscious beings, why? Because sentient beings who can chemically produce celluli, produce this chemical when spanked. It happens when the buttocks are given a positive smack, and it releases this chemical. Sending positive endorphin like neurochemicals to the brain. Celluli therefore is very important in this case. And such is the theme for tonight's lesson". "The feeling of being spanked also does wonders for lowering the ego and you Twilight, forgive me for sounding blunt; are someone who likes to blow their horn a little too much. You want to know what its like to be kicked down a peg, to be made to feel lower than someone, not because you are inferior to them, but to be humble. Therefore Twilight Sparkle, you will supplicate yourself to me this night." For Twilight, Luna had her at the word supplicate. Suddenly a shadow like smoke engulfed the lavender alicorn, but she was turned around before she could get a look at luna. Her whole body was forced onto the bed laid down on its front, Twilight wanted to speak so badly but for the life of her dare not now that she was in the clutches of whatever shadowspell this was. The silky yet tightly bound shadowlike straps forced her back to arch into a perfect half pipe shaped curve, so her hindquarters and butt were raised far into the air. All of her mareparts were exposed, right in front of the view of Luna. It was strange, Luna had seen this countless times before, but she felt so exposed and helpless. It was in this moment Twilight new that she must have been right all along. "You have been messy in your lessons with me Twilight Sparkle!" Luna said now in her olden ponish like booming voice. "Now you will learn the hard way, naughty little mares need a little discipline and you have been a naughty little mare. Haven't you Twilight Sparkle". Luna said now with a slight aggression to her tone. "Haven't you Twilight Sparkle?". She said again. 'Was this a question, did she want me to reply. I wasn't allowed to talk remember?' Twilight pondered vigorously to herself. "Haven't you" SMACK "TWILIGHT SPARKLE" Luna said as she cracked a shadow like whip right across her butt cheeks. She wasn't kidding that time, she genuinely meant it. "Yeh, yessss Luna, Yesss Princess Luna" Twilight winced. "Did I say that you could speak?" The Dark Princess screeched slamming the whip across the other side in a diagonal motion. "And did I say you could call me Princess Luna!!! Its mistress to you!, my my you are doing very, well shit!". Luna said with a patronizing demeanor. For Twilight this was the first time she had heard Luna swear, whats more that this word had used to refer to her performance, the ultimate berration! "No, nno Mistress you didn't". Twilight said now pleading in utter confusion. "Did I say you could speak!?? That is twice you have done that now!" She said lashing the whip again and again, Twilight was wailing at this point. The searing pain running across her butt was agonizing, the burning pain wasn't fun at all. Whats more this was the most humiliating thing she had done in her life, with Luna. With Princess Luna and she was getting full on spanked by her. This was absurd, of all the things they could be doing together as well! "Don't fight it Twilight, this is the point where you must do the hardest thing and give up your pride. I promise that if you do this, you will know pleasure like none other than before, always know I will never mislead you". Those were about the only comforting words she had heard through this entire ordeal, but they were all she had to go on. And with that, this pain she held onto, this total humiliation. She let it through like a tidal wave smashing the dam of her ego. Then the Dark Princess said. "Now smack yourself Twilight, take this leather strap and smack yourself. Show me what a naughty little mare you can be." Luna's words at just flipped the lavender unicorns horny fuse, and quite literary too. A sort of frenzy began in Twilight's mind and without thinking she used her levitation powers to immediately take hold of the whip. SMACK, SMACK. "Hmmmmm, very good my student" Luna said with slight praise. "How do you like that mistress, am I a bad bad girl. Twilight said now licking her lips and drooling. using her saliva to spittle her juices with her hoof on her soaking little quishie. Luna could tell Twilight had done this to deliberately disobey her, but she knew this was a good thing. To Luna it signified that Twilight was becoming more open to self corruption, to make her do things that were in polar opposite to her whole being. And yet one month later, here she was doing just that! But she had to maintain her act. "That's three times Twilight Sparkle. You've done it now." The Dark Princess said now suddenly taking the form of a shadow. Out of the blackness twilight could see an all familiar grin, but before she could keep looking to see what had happened, a torrent of tentacle like whips tightly bound her, whipping her ass repeatedly while using the others to poke, prod and pleasure every oriphis and crack. Twilight couldn't take all of this simultaneous pleasure, she was shaking to the core with nerves and sexual excitement. And her poor little tushy couldn't hold on anymore. She let out a load scream and sprayed cum all over Luna. "See Twilight, you are indeed a very bad girl, when you go home at sunrise. I want you to take this whip with you, use it on yourself." The Dark Princess commanded in a gentle voice. Twilight was at a loss to say no. - Twilight was back in her room lavishing the lesson she had just done with Luna. She made no time in putting spike to bed and getting comfy between her sheets. The excitement she felt when she recalled Luna's explanation of celluli, something chemically tangible that Twilight could understand and utilize, by pleasuring and punishing her bottom like the naughty little mare she was. Raising her butt as far up into the air as she could, she reached out of the saddle bag the Dark Princess had provided with her special item inside. Hovering the spatula like leather whip with her mind, she began to smack herself. At first it was just little taps, on the sides of her cheeks. Each time recalling Luna calling her a naughty little mare, each time her nethers getting wetter and wetter. Twilight began to smack herself harder, as she did. She felt this dark feeling beginning to arise within her, as if she was enjoying some sinful act upon herself, this humiliation is the very polar opposite of her personality. And yet the corrupting of herself just turned her on all the more. SMACK, SMACK. Twilight let out a little squeal as she did and without even touching herself, her legs were drenched. Taking both hooves between her legs, she continued to smack harder and harder, the stinging starting to really hurt now. But this only made her do it all the more. WHACK, WHACK, WHACK!!! Twilight let out a scream as a huge spray of pussy juices spewed out of her and all over the bed. She was moaning and moaning into her pillow face down to muffle the sound as much as she could, luckly this didn't wake anyone, slowly her breathing turned back to normal and with that she fell asleep. This time as a dirty little mare as well as a naughty one. Twilight had now, well and truly sodomized herself. - The next day was spent reading up on previous research and finishing assignments for Celestia, today was as busy as any other. But then there was the letter she got from Rarity about some new store opening up in Ponyville. It wasn't rare of Rarity to ask for a favor, quite the contrary. But to ask about help with a spell, that one was new! Now of course the Carousel boutique and the Ponyville boutique were not the same establishment, the latter was just about to open. And tonight, had been that opening night. She couldn't help but think back to their first conversation about the topic of, 'se.uhh..ex'. Which as it had with the others greatly surprised her, it most defiantly didn't seem like one of the things she'd be open to discussing. Nevertheless the opening evening went down like any other did, Mi Amore Cadenza attended, Rarity was as nervous as usual and Twilight managed with little effort to show Rarity the spell in time needed to appease Cadenza to sell her product line here. - Twilight had just gotten home, being tired should be whats occurring yet her new found reality seemed now unaware of the concept of rest. But For Twilight her guilt was now too much, sat at her desk she was ready to put pen to paper, she had had enough. It was time to come clean to Celestia about this secret affair. And sadly face whatever consequences beset her. These lessons she sure was enjoying, there could be no mistake about that. She just needed to trust Luna's word and pluck up the courage to tell Celestia. But, no sooner had the thought left her mind. A scroll appeared in front of her. It read. Dear Twilight Sparkle, My faithful student, I must see you in my castle at once. Understandably you will be busy with things, but could you please visit my tower by sunset tomorrow, this is important. Your faithful teacher, Princess Celestia. Twilight's heart sank like a stone. She had just 24 hours to decide what to do, another lesson was due tonight. So she resolved to take it up with Luna about this, to see what could be done. - When Twilight arrived at the castle tower, Luna was stood with her back to her. "Luna, Princess Luna" Twilight said running up to her teacher, panting along the way. "This is serious, Celestia has called me in for a meeting, she wants to see me about something important tomorow!". Said Twilight. "Have you learned nothing from me yet, Twilight Sparkle? When you address me, you address me as mistress. Understood?". Said the Dark Princess with a sultry tone coking her eyebrow up. As rude as she found this, it made Twilight a little moist. As if somehow she was now turned on by her teachers berating, even if this news was of nuclear importance! In fact it was this brief procrastination off the situation, focusing more on Luna that really began to butter her breadcakes. "But what should I say to her, this has been going on for a month now and she still doesn't know." She said. "Why not simply tell her rather than putting it off, I have told you on our first meeting that my sister would not be angry at you for being my Dark Apprentice. Yet you don't trust that." Luna had a good point, why didn't Twilight trust that. After all Luna was Celestia's closest pony, even more so than Twilight was. But for Twilight the fact that she hadn't been detected, continued to go undetected and still enjoyed and learned new things. Was now the norm. As well as her time with Luna turning more into a crazy continuous addiction that she was becoming ever more overpowered by. She was really letting herself go and the worst part was, Twilight new it. "You remember the book, 'The Call of Shadows' my Dark Apprentice?" Luna continued. "This book is one of my personal writings, I showed it to you two weeks ago. But I did not divulge its contents. It contains the secrets and initiations in order to be able to form your physical self into a shadow (among other things) and is a great feat of research that took over 500 years to perfect. In other words rather than using shadows to travel through like with shadowrouting, with these teachings you will become the shadow, you are the night". Luna said, this time she was not joking. "To be able to use this book you must undergo shadow training, for that you will need to undergo a secret mission. One that YOU must go on alone". Twilight looked confused, that short expectation for some good news had just been quashed. "You...you want me to go and train alone, for how long?" She asked. "For as long as I say Twilight Sparkle, as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder." Luna did have her way of being both sweet and scathing at the same time. But she was enjoying these new spanking lessons, this was like going from hero to zero in 60 seconds. Or was it more like a little naughty to full blown evil? Twilight hadn't quite figured that part out yet but it was light years away from the whole hitting each other in the face idea! So that was a relief. 'Now I have to go on some secret paramilitary sorcery exercise in order to be able to read an old dusty tome' Twilight mentally remarked. And a dusty tome of that it was indeed. But Twilight along with being berated, had a thing for dusty tomes. Although not anywhere near as moist! "You will venture out into Equestria, to every town and smack ponies who you are not close friends with" The Dark Princess commanded. "You want me to what?" Twilight couldn't tell whether Luna was being serious or not. "This has less to do with domination than it has to do with forming yourself into a shadow, you will need to be able to perform other things from this book while in your shadow form. It also provides me with a little in flight entertainment while your away!" She said, this time in a seemingly more mockingly way than her usual iridescent replies. "You watch me!?" Twilight squeaked. "Haha, just joking my Dark Apprentice, however I'm quite sure now that you wouldn't mind if I did." Said the Dark Princess mockingly with a wink. However Luna was right, in order to learn from whatever was in that book. She would need to be able to do this first. "We will end tonight's lesson here Twilight Sparkle, at this stage our relationship must be put on hold until you have completed your mission, however your powers of our agreement will remain. Do not worry I will signal you to come back. You'll know its me when it happens." Twilight didn't have time to reply before the Dark Princess had disappeared in what seemed like a poof of Trixie's smoke, talk about a new level of being cut off. Now she was cut off without any time frame to work in, alone she would have to undergo this mission. But first, she had an important appointment, to see Princess Celestia. As Luna disappeared into the night, she entertained a little private thought. 'Its working'. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight walked gingerly up to the Castle chambers just outside Celestia's room. "Its unlocked, please let yourself in Twilight". Said that all familiar regal voice from behind the door. Twilight gulped and slowly pressed her away inside. "Twilight Sparkle, its so good to see you." "I apologize for summoning you like this but this is of serious importance, I believe your brother has already informed you about some of this?". The Princess asked in an attentive tone. Okay just act like your usual concerned purple self, your not the Dark Apprentice, your not really banging her sister. Your a virgin, a virgin! "The.. Dark Apprentice, you... know about that too Princess Celestia?". Asked Twilight, now in the full flow of her usual natural act. Although now this seemed like she was having to act just to seem like herself. "Yes, I'm afraid so. In the beginning I didn't tell you about the full title or the role of the Faithful Student, it would have meant telling you about what that involves. And now you know, im afraid the time has come for you to take on the true role of 'The Faithful Student', Twilight Sparkle I ask this of you in the name of the Crown. Will you oblige me and take on the role of faithful student?" Twilight stood there perplexed, it wasn't like she could just say no. But without knowing the terms of this agreement she was about to be entering into, without the parameters and rules of engagement set before her, the reluctance to do so was overwhelming. However saying no could also sway Celestia's suspicion onto her, something which was totally out of the question. It was also clear to her now that Celestia most defiantly disproves of this Dark Apprentice. Just what had Twilight gotten herself into, the reality of that was now just settling in. And since suspicion currently wasn't on her, it was in her best interests to keep that suspicion as far away from Twilight as possible. "Yes" Twilight replied in a little sheepish voice. It was just enough to show Celestia she was willing to proceed. "Im afriad you are going to need be the one to investigate the identity of the Dark Apprentice". Twilight winced for a moment and stood there wide eyed, her jaw ready to hit the deck. "Me?". "Wuu...why would you want me to do that?" The lavender ponies imagination had just reached epic proportions, what in the heavens was she thinking. "Sometimes Twilight, when faced with a foe such as this. The best form of defense is to attack, the Dark Apprentice is extremely hard to detect and is a master of disguise and espionage, you may be well versed in with magic Twilight but you are also known by almost everypony in the Kingdom. That is the biggest difference between you and the Dark Apprentice, nopony in Equestria knows who that is." Except me and your sister "What I'm saying is, the closer you get to the Dark Apprentice, the easier it will be for he/she to not discover who you really are. It will be the last thing they expect. Luna included". She continued. "You will report to me once a day, currently I have a theory that you could have already come into contact with the Dark Apprentice. Ms Mi Amore Cadenza, or she is being controlled by the Dark Apprentice to gather information about you. Either way I think with Mi Amore would be a good place to start." She said. "And do what?" Twilight asked, her stomach was in her mouth at this point, but she managed to keep it down. "Just watch, you need not spy on her. Why not offer to aid in her fashion tour that's coming up in a few days?" Said the Princess, who now to Twilight, seemed to have a good point. 'She clearly didn't doesn't seem suspicious of me' Thought the lavender Alicorn. 'But if she were to discover who I really am, it would break her heart. And possibly our trust forever.' And that Twilight could not allow. > Interlude > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Distant Past It was late evening at The Castle of The Two sisters, the moon was a glow a bright yellow formed into its crescent state. Luna was on one of her usual late night sneaks. Something Celestia was completely unaware of. Among the many things Luna loved to do during the night, exploring the gardens, running about the rooftops and stealing the odd cookie from the pantry. Luna loved to explore her sisters library. One thing that Luna was always told however, not to go in the restricted section. For Luna she need only to be told once, which was enough to satisfy her sister. Luna wasn't an alicorn who liked to break the rules, certainly not at this early stage of her fillyhood. But that one sentence had always played on her mind. 'And remember my dear sister, for all the books you see here are free to read. However you must not go into the restricted section, some of the books in there are dangerous to young fillies like yourself'. Of course she knew this was Celestia simply caring for her, however the prospect of powerful magical books and danger did excite her somewhat. But the being called a young filly she interpreted as a slate on her maturity. As if somehow the keeping to the many rules of her life wasn't demonstration enough of that. This particular night Luna wasn't in a happy mood. Not even stealing from the cookie jar would do it this time. She tried to much to impress her sister, in many ways she didn't feel equal to her and she was beginning to notice the other ponies in the kingdom showing more signs of worship and adoration. Creeping down the main hall, just past her sisters room. She peered around the corner to see the barred entrance to her private study, guard stood posted and highly alert. It appeared to be a very well guarded spot, especially with this extra addition. But for Luna she had given this a lot of thought, looked for vulnerabilities in the guards shift pattern, the types of materials used to build the gate along with other physical properties such as air density and geometric pressure points within the gate. However with all this careful calculation, all it really took was a spell. For years she had been playing around with photography, projections and film editing. With a little magic she was able to produce very high quality and convincing images of any kind she chose, using a simple voice changing incantation into salt water and her voice could alter. "Good evening, its good to see your still awake". Said Luna, who was now disguised as her sister. Giving him a playful tone in her voice, it was the kind of positive drivel her sister would probably come out with. "Would you mind letting me in?" said the fake princess. "Yes your highness, immediately." Said the guard, throwing back the iron gate. Luna passed through with ease. The Night Before Celestia was watching out her window just as Twilight was leaving following their recent discussion, in her mind there was no way it could be possible, the very idea of it in all her years of things that could surprise her this would be up there on the top of that bookshelf. As much as it pained her, she needed to be sure. Celestia new every part of her kingdom, even the fact that Luna had her secret life. However being detected by her sister would be too easy for Luna, for this she would need to apply just as subtle a tone as her dear sister would. A perfect match of cunning and wit, albeit a problem that she herself must solve alone. With as little help as possible. Magic between two sisters shares a powerful connection. For this to work she too must be away from the reconnaissance. "Guard, would you come in for a moment" The Princess asked turning around to face the now standing soldier in front of her. "What is it your highness?" Said the guard. "I need you to keep this strictly between the two of us and especially from your Captain Shining Armour. But I would like you to keep an eye on Twilight while she goes away, make sure no one sees you especially my sister." Celestia said with a low tone. "Why is she in some kind of trouble Princess?" The Guard said with a confused expression upon his face. "No, not at this point. But I would also like you to monitor Ms Mi Amore Cadenza as well, more over please alert me straight away if the two of them split up for an extended period of time, you must do so immediately. This is of the utmost importance." Celestia's tone had steadily become gradually more serious as she preceded to list these instructions to her Guard. "You must go immediately, remember tell no pony about this." Said Celestia. And with that the guard quickly exited her chambers, on route to wherever Twilight was heading. And little did Celestia know, her worst fear was heading straight to the heart of that truth. And now unbeknownst to Twilight and her new teacher, putting this perfect little secret of theirs in enormous danger.