Courage Knows no Weaknessby Outcast4EverChaptersChapter 1 - Darkness RisesChapter 2 - Is it True?Chapter 3 - Apple-Bucking BunniesChapter 4 - Sorrow and SightChapter 5 - Meteors of DoubtChapter 6 - Journey for DestinyChapter 7 - The Mystery of the GemsChapter 1 - Darkness RisesComet Dust raced through the streets of Ponyville, her red magic the only thing keeping her from running into the other ponies. Her pale pink cape billowed out behind her as her white hooves pounded the dirt streets. She swerved to the right as she heard a faint beep in her left ear, narrowly missing a young filly. “Sorry!” she called behind her, turning her head as she heard a delayed gasp of fright. Her blind purple eyes snapped back to attention as she heard another faint beep, this time in her right ear. She swerved left and heard a giggle from behind her, causing her to skid to a stop. That was one of her mother’s friends, Pinkie Pie! Forgetting her concerns for a moment, she turned and trotted back to where the pink mare stood giggling like a small filly. “Hello, Pinkie.” she said quietly as she approached the boisterous mare. “Hey, Comet Dust!” said Pinkie between giggles. “Where are you off to in such a rush? Is there something wrong?” Pinkie’s quiet laughter faded immediately as Comet’s deep purple eyes darkened with concern. “Oh, no.” she whispered. Comet Dust only nodded before turning and breaking into a gallop towards her mother’s library. * * * * * * * * * * * * Twilight looked up as Comet entered in a flash of blue, white and pink. “What is it?” she asked, concern lacing her soft voice. Comet was panting hard, trying to catch her breath after her race through town. The magic from her horn faded as she stopped the echolocation spell she used to get around. She was in a place she knew like the back of her hoof, there was no need to use it now. As she caught her breath, the young mare glanced up at her mother without seeing her. “I saw it. They’re coming.” was all she managed to say before she fell to her knees in exhaustion. “NO. Not them. It can’t be.” whispered Twilight softly to herself as she knelt beside her daughter and laid a comforting wing across her daughter’s back, forgetting about her amazing hearing. “But mother, I saw them.” protested Comet Dust, still panting slightly. “Surely you believe me?” “Of course I do sweetie, it’s just...” “You don’t. I know what’s going through your head. You’re thinking, She’s *blind. She can’t see **anything.* But you know what mother, just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I can’t see. It just means I can’t see with my eyes. I can hear, feel and taste things other ponies can’t. Even ‘Pinkie Sense’ doesn’t do that!” “I know, honey. I know.” whispered Twilight. She stroked her daughter’s mane gently with one hoof, the other wrapped around her daughter’s neck in a gentle hug. “No, you don’t! How can you possibly know what it’s like to be blind? You could always see and still can! Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you know everything! All the reading you do can’t possibly tell you what it’s like! You’ll never understand!” screamed Comet, pulling away from her mother and standing on shaking hooves. Anger pounded in her head and all she wanted to do was escape. But she needed her mother to believe her first. Pinkie had. Why was it so hard for her mother? “Why don’t you trust me?” she asked softly, masking her anger with sorrow. Twilight stood and Comet flicked an ear towards the clattering of hooves on the wooden floor. The sound grew louder and Comet could tell her mother was slowly moving towards her. The slight ruffle of feathers alerted her to the folding of wings about a foot in front of her. “I do trust you, Comet. I just don’t want to see you getting hurt.” was the quiet reply from her mother’s lips. Comet stared at her mother without seeing anything. She couldn’t tell if her mother was sad or angry, or even afraid. Her voice gave away no emotion and Comet couldn’t see her mother’s eyes. Pinkie had tried to describe each Element of Harmony to her once, so she tried to imagine her mother’s face. Slowly, an image came into view. Her mother had light purple fur and dark purple eyes. Her indigo mane was straight, with a streak of purple and magenta beside her horn. Based solely on her mother’s voice, she tried to imagine how she looked right now. Her mouth was drawn into a slight frown, her eyes sparkling with concern. Comet could feel tears pushing at the corners of her eyes, threatening to break free from her sightless orbs that imprisoned them. “I’m sorry, mom. It’s just, sometimes I feel like you don’t understand what it’s like.” she sobbed, her voice cracking. “Shhh.” Twilight hushed, walking over and giving her daughter a hug. Comet felt the hot tears flow from her eyes down along her cheeks, a few straying to her muzzle in their trip down her face. She shut her eyes tight against the floods of tears ready to escape. She wanted to help her mother understand, but she couldn’t think of any way she could. As she cried both inwardly and outwardly, Comet removed her cape with her magic and hung it beside the door. Her cutie mark was now visible. Her midnight blue flank sported a red rock-like form with a trail of orange fire that ran down most of her hind legs. Twilight saw the often hidden cutie mark and was reminded of a project she had been working on. She pulled away from Comet and lifted her daughter's head gently so she could see clearly the dark purple eyes they shared. “Follow me.” she whispered, heading over to the door that led down into her lab. Chapter 2 - Is it True?Chapter 2 - Is it True? “No, no, NO! This can’t be happening!” whispered Pinkie sharply as she walked through Ponyville with her head held low. Fillies bounced around her legs joyfully, but all Pinkie could think about was the impending danger. Comet Dust was usually never wrong, so that meant it had to be happening. But Pinkie couldn’t believe it. If it was true, it could mean the end of Equestria. The princesses would perish, each and every one of them. Surely Comet knew? If she didn’t, why had she been in such a hurry? The usually joyful and smiling Pinkie’s lips were drawn into a frown as she trudged along, not even noticing where she was headed but knowing she was going somewhere. With each step more doubts filled her mind. What if Comet was actually wrong this time? She doubted it, but she couldn’t be sure what to think. Comet was spirited. She could easily just be pretending, trying to get all of her mother’s friends worked up about nothing. Maybe she *would** joke about this....* thought Pinkie, her muzzle bumping into something right in front of her hooves. She looked up to see that she had walked all the way to Fluttershy’s cottage. “Coming!” was the faint reply to her ’knock’. Pinkie Pie looked up as Fluttershy opened the door. She could feel her mane starting to fall flat with concern and sorrow. “Oh, Pinkie Pie! It’s you! Are you alright?” asked Fluttershy softly, concern still evident in the shy mare’s voice. “Not really.” Pinkie’s mane kept growing flatter and flatter the more she thought about Comet. What had she seen? Whatever it was, the way the young mare’s blind eyes had darkened told Pinkie it wasn’t good. “Then, why don’t you come in?” Pinkie Pie smiled gratefully at Fluttershy and stepped through the door as her yellow friend stepped aside. “Thanks.” said Pinkie, cheering up slightly as Angel hopped onto her back. From the small crack in the doorway, Fluttershy hadn’t really seen what was happening to Pinkie. Now she saw her friend’s flat mane and gasped. “P-P-Pinkie! Y-your mane!” Pinkie trotted over to a mirror and looked at her reflection. “Would you look at that? Just like at the rock farm.” she said sadly, her smile fading. “A-and Discord. Pinkie Pie, Wh-what’s going on?” Pinkie Pie turned to the pegasus and sighed. Angel jumped off as she lifted her head to look at her friend. The little bunny hopped over to Fluttershy and started playing with her mane as Pinkie made eye contact with her. Pinkie’s bright blue eyes became dull with sadness. “No!” Fluttershy cried. Pinkie nodded and went over to her friend, giving her a hug. It didn’t help either of them, though. As soon as Pinkie and Fluttershy started to hug each other, they broke down crying. Angel , now bored, hopped out the door and turned towards Sweet Apple Acres. Chapter 3 - Apple-Bucking Bunnies“Rainbow Dash! Get yer butt down from there!” called Apple Jack from under a red delicious tree. It was apple-bucking season and the tree was bearing the blue pegasus’s favorite fruit. “And stop eatin’ all them apples!” “Why should I?” Rainbow asked, taking another bite from an apple with a loud crunch. “Cuz yer s’posed t’ be helping me harvest these here apples, that’s why!” “So?” Furious, Apple Jack turned and got ready to buck that pegasus out of the tree. She lifted her hind legs and balanced carefully on her forelegs, her muscles tensing for the buck. She wound up for the kick and with one strong hoof knocked the rainbow-maned pegasus and all the apples out of the tree. “Ow! What was that for?” cried Rainbow, her voice squeaking slightly after the impact with the ground. The excellent flyer couldn’t ever remember having a landing like that. Even in flight camp! “T’ get ya outta that there tree.” said AJ with a joking smile. “Whatever.” Rainbow Dash stood and launched herself into the air, landing on the next tree over. She laid down on one of the branches and made herself comfortable, yawning loudly. She stretched her legs to the sky and her wings towards the ground before closing her eyes and taking a nap. Apple Jack watched in amusement as Rainbow got comfortable. She started bucking the apples from the other trees until she heard a soft snore coming from the one where Rainbow Dash was resting. She trotted over to the tree confidently. “Hey Rainbow! Time t’ get up, sugarcube!” she called, kicking the trunk like she had before. Rainbow fell to the ground with a thud before she even stirred slightly. When she opened her eyes sleepily, all she saw was a pair of emerald eyes staring back at her. “How do ya like them apples?” asked AJ before trotting away. Rainbow stood to follow her when a small white rabbit jumped in front of her. “Not now, Angel.” she groaned, leaping into the air. Angel grabbed onto Dash’s tail and slowly climbed it until he was on her back. He moved forward between her wings and thumped his back paw at the base of her right wing once, causing it to lock momentarily. WIth a cry for help from the blue pegasus, Angel thumped on the nerve again and the relieved mare was flying steadily once more. “What was that for?” asked Rainbow, turning her head. Angel looked at her and twitched his whiskers, knowing she wouldn’t understand. “Don’t tell me it’s something to do with Fluttershy!” Okay, maybe she would understand. “That pegasus is always doing something that involves me dropping everything and saving her. Hmph, even when we got our cutie marks I was defending her.” Angel lifted his back paw again right above the trick nerve at the base of a pegasus’s wing. “Okay, fine. I’ll go help her. Just please, don’t make my wing lock up again.” Angel looked at the pleading pony’s eyes and lowered his paw to its original position. “Thank you.” whispered the pegasus quietly as she landed beside AJ. “Hey, we gotta go help Fluttershy with something.” “Well, I guess I could use a break from buckin’. Let’s go.” replied the orange pony, trotting out of the orchards and along the path that led to Fluttershy’s cottage. Chapter 4 - Sorrow and Sight“Spi-ike!” called Twilight as she led Comet Dust down the winding staircase into her lab. Comet heard a thud as Spike rolled out of his bed lazily. Moments later, she heard his claws scraping against the wooden floors as he ran to catch up with Twilight. “Yes,... Twilight?” he said, slightly out of breath. “Fetch me that golden box over there, the one with the ruby on top.” “Sure, thing Twilight.” Comet heard Spike retreat towards the wall where she knew the small bookshelf was. “Got it!” he called triumphantly after a few moments of stretching to reach it in its obvious perch on the top shelf. The sounds of scraping claws grew louder as Spike ran back with the box in his, well, claws. “Thanks, Spike.” Comet could sense her mother’s magic as she placed the box on the floor and opened it, causing an even stronger concentration of magic to fill the room. “What is it?” asked Comet hesitantly. “This is a bracelet made from the purest of gold and the core of an extremely special fire ruby.” answered Twilight. “What does it do?” “Remember the spell I’ve been making you practice?” “Of course, mom. I only have to practice it every day.” “Then try on the bracelet and find out.” Comet gasped as the cold metal wrapped itself around her hoof, clasping at the back to fit her perfectly. She closed her eyes and concentrated, quietly reciting the words to the spell. “From blackest night, to day’s sweet light, may this gem hear my plea, and allow me to finally see.” After a few seconds, she slowly opened one eye, then the other. She could not only register color and light, but she finally got to see her mother! “It... works.” she said in awe. “Well, not permanently. After the spell wears off this time, it will only work when it is absolutely necessary. You see, the fire ruby can only hold magic for so long and has to recharge before it can hold a full-strength spell ag- “ Twilight stopped. “Oh, Comet! It works!” she said, giving her daughter a hug that would rival any given by a bear. “Can we go find the others, mom? I want to see them before I... y’know.” “Sure. They’re all at Fluttershy’s. C’mon Spike.” “C-Can he ride on my back this time?” asked Comet shyly. “You bet!” cried Spike, jumping onto the unicorn happily. The young purple and green dragon sat atop the unicorn he had helped to see. The fire ruby used for her bracelet was probably one of the finest he had made yet. But he would never let Comet know he had helped; it would make her feel bad if she knew he had used some of his special magic to help her. As they passed her cloak on the way out, Spike reached over and grabbed it. “Wouldn’t want to forget this.” he said quietly, knowing Comet would need it later. * * * * * * * * * * * * Applejack peered into the cottage, seeing as the door was left ajar. Rainbow had gone to get Rarity and Angel had come back with the orange mare, finished with his mission. All he had wanted to do was get Fluttershy’s friends over here to talk to her, and now that was done. He hopped off of AJ’s back and towards Fluttershy, stroking her mane once more. Taking a few quiet steps into the cottage, Applejack cringed slightly when a board creaked under her hoof. Pinkie Pie looked up at her with tear-filled eyes turning red from crying. Her mane was as flat as AJ had ever seen it. “What’d I miss?” she asked quietly, going over and laying on the floor near her friends. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rarity looked up from her sewing as Rainbow Dash rapped on the window of her boutique. “What is it now, Rainbow? Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?” asked the white unicorn as she opened the window. A flash of colors later, Rainbow Dash was standing beside Rarity’s sewing table. “So, what’cha workin on?” “Just the most amazing dress ever for Twilight. She said she wanted something that looked spectacular for her daughter’s upcoming birthday. I couldn’t understand why for the life of me, but I still accepted the challenge. So, what brings you here?” “Oh, uh, Angel came and found me at Sweet Apple Acres. You know that bunny doesn’t exactly like me, so I figured something had to be wrong with Fluttershy. AJ and Angel are probably there by now, but I thought I should come get you, just in case.” Rarity looked at Rainbow and sighed. Normally the cyan pegasus just wanted to annoy her with tricks. She glanced at the dress she had yet to finish. “Well, I guess I could take a... short break. Let’s go.” she said, already trotting down the stairs. “I’ll see you there. But Rarity,” “Mm-hmm?” “Just, hurry. Okay?” “You’ve got it, Rainbow Dash. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Rarity bolted out the door, her hooves carrying her as fast as they could. She saw a rainbow streak in the air as the blue pegasus flew towards the opposite side of town. Twilight had tried to show her a teleportation spell once. Maybe she could use that to get to Fluttershy’s faster! She concentrated on her destination. It lay on the outskirts of town somewhat close to the Everfree Forest. As she ran, her horn started to glow the color of sapphires. She shut her eyes and pushed forward through the crowds of ponies that were in the streets. Then suddenly, she was gone. She felt something pluck her from the streets and disappear with her. Her stomach tightened and her knees buckled under the force of the pull. She tried to relax and focused solely on Fluttershy’s cottage. When the rushing wind around her died down, she slowly opened her eyes. Everypony had turned to stare as she appeared in Fluttershy’s living room. Rainbow Dash flew through the door a few seconds later, a rainbow trail following her through the door as she crashed into a birdhouse that hung from the ceiling. “Stupid animals.” she mumbled, trying to pull her muzzle from the entrance to the tiny structure. “Here, let me help you darling.” said Rarity, pulling the pegasus free with a simple levitation spell. Rainbow looked up, slightly dazed. “H-how did you get here before me?” “Just a simple teleportation spell, something I’ll probably never try again.” Rarity couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of teleporting again. The way her stomach had tightened left her feeling a little sick. She looked over at her other friends and gasped. Pinkie’s mane was flat and lifeless, Fluttershy had tears streaming down her face and Applejack’s emerald eyes were red from crying. She had never seen anything like this among her friends. “What’s going o-” She stopped short as Twilight and Comet Dust raced in through the open door. “Twilight, what’s happening?” asked Rainbow, now recovered from her crash. “I think I should let Comet explain.” Chapter 5 - Meteors of DoubtComet Dust gulped and looked at the expectant faces of her mother’s friends. “I- I saw them. A new evil is rising, coming from a place few ponies can reach. A place where only princesses can fly to. They come from the dwelling place of the sun and moon, the home of the twinkling stars. They come, intent to destroy all of Equestria by bringing down its leaders.” She felt tears starting to well up in the corners of her eyes. No, not now! Plan now, cry later! she thought furiously. Her horn glowed momentarily as she dried up her tears with magic. Comet took a deep breath and continued. “No one knows who they are, what they are capable of. Even now with the ability to see, I can’t figure them out. All I know is this: they come from Planet Xy, an unknown planet that appeared as if by magic a few years ago. Their one purpose is to destroy this planet so they can rule the galaxy.” “Wh-why do they want to destroy this planet? Why do they have to destroy this planet?” asked Rainbow Dash quietly. “It’s quite simple, Rainbow.” said Twilight. “This planet is the only other planet in our solar system that supports life, if what Comet is saying is true anyways. If they want to take over the galaxy, they’d have to destroy all other lifeforms. In order to do that, they have to destroy what helps us live, not just us. If they gain a galaxy by destroying one planet, what does it matter to them?” “Could you try not to use egghead facts to bore us? Just tell us, in simple terms, what the hay is going on!” “I think what Twilight’s tryin’ to say is that we’re the only things that could possibly stop ‘em if they did come. Right Twi?” “Exactly. But based on scientific fact, it is impossible for there to be another planet that supports life. So, Comet, are you just trying to trick us?” “How can you think that? I wouldn’t joke about the fate of Equestria! Celestia forbid it!” shouted Comet. Hurt was evident in her eyes as she raced away, Spike still sitting on her back. She raced through the Everfree forest until she was sure she would be alone for a while. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the fire ruby in the bracelet around her foreleg. “Now I have seen, and I have done, return my given sight back to where it had begun.” Spike immediately recognized the counterspell used to take away the gift of sight. “No, Comet Dust.” he breathed. “No!” Spike shied away as the midnight blue unicorn’s head whipped around. Her pupils were now purple, no longer the black that gave her sight. The red glow to her horn ceased as the last light faded from her eyes. Now all Spike saw was sorrow. “I had to, Spike. I couldn’t stand to see the doubt in their eyes.” Comet turned away and her horn glowed a deeper red. She wasn’t using normal magic that allowed her to cast simple spells, she was once again using the complex echolocation spell. “Come on, Spike. We’re going to see someone who might believe me.” * * * * * * * * * * * * Zecora donned her cloak and walked out into the Everfree Forest. Her golden bracelets jingled around her foreleg as she walked through the tangles of bushes and branches. Her saddlebag thumped against her side as she ran into a familiar unicorn. “Welcome, Comet Dust. I see that seeing me is a must. You never come alone out here, unless something troubles you, my dear.” Comet Dust looked up. “I’m sorry, Zecora. If you’re doing something important, I can wait.” she said softly. “Company is always welcome, especially with your spirit of fun. Gathering my herbs can wait, for soon the timberwolves awake.” “If you say so, Zecora.” Comet Dust trotted after Zecora with her head held low, swerving to avoid low branches as she followed the swift-moving zebra. Spike had one arm around her neck, still holding her cloak gently in his claws. The long fabric billowed out behind Comet as she moved through the shadows, flicking her slightly whenever she swerved to the right. “Spike, why don’t you fold my cloak until later?” asked Comet quietly. “Okay, Comet.” The purple dragon sighed, his green eyes sympathetic. The only family he had ever known was Twilight and Comet, and now they were torn apart. As he folded the pale pink cloak, he noticed something sewn onto the inside. Rarity had made this cloak for Comet, so he just naturally assumed it was a miniscule gem. Shrugging it off, he folded the cloak over his arm and resumed looking ahead at Zecora. “Not much further, friend of mine, ‘til your true path you will find.” * * * * * * * * * * * * Twilight watched as Comet raced out of Fluttershy’s cottage. Once her daughter’s red and pink tail vanished into the Everfree Forest, Twilight turned back to her friends. “You guys don’t think I was too hard on her, do you?” she asked softly. “No, not at all.” they all mumbled in unison, except for Rainbow Dash. She was whistling, pretending not to have heard her friend. “Well?” “Huh?” “Do you think I was too hard on Comet?” “Weeellllll...” said Rainbow, trying to decide if she should answer honestly or not. “I was, wasn’t I?” said Twilight, breaking into sobs. “Not at all, sugarcube. You were just bein’ a mite overly protective is all.” said Applejack, slowly moving towards the lavender alicorn. “Heck, if any of us had a blind daughter we’d all be doin’ the same thing you were, right y’all?” Each mare nodded silently. One by one, they each moved towards the crying princess until only Fluttershy was left in the center of the room. “G- guys, shouldn’t we be out looking for Comet? It’s going to get dark soon and she ran into...” she said quietly. “The Everfree Forest!" the others finished with a gasp. Twilight bolted up into a sitting position; she had collapsed to the floor when she started crying because of the force of her emotion. “You're right, Fluttershy! What was I thinking? The timberwolves will be waking up in a few minutes and the spell from her bracelet could have worn off by now. Plus, Spike’s out there with her!” Rarity, who had been away from her dress for far too long and wasn’t sure she wanted to head into the woods, now jerked her head up and looked at Twilight. “If my little Spikey-wikey’s out there, count me in!” she said with a determined look. “Then we better get going, girls.” And with that, they galloped out into the darkness of the Everfree Forest, not even considering that she might be safe with a friend. Chapter 6 - Journey for DestinyAs Comet walked into Zecora’s hut, she sensed a natural magic that had become as familiar to her as unicorn magic. “So, what are you brewing today?” she asked the zebra. “I see you have taken interest in my brew. If you look inside, your true path will shine through.” “But, I can’t see anything. It would be pointless for me to take a look.” “Their doubts have affected you, but being sightless will not affect this brew. Look inside for what you seek, only you may take a peek.” “Alright. I’ll try. Spike,” “On it.” said the young dragon, hopping from the midnight unicorn’s back with her cloak. “Just promise me you will never take your bracelet off.” “Whatever, Spike. Let’s just get this over with.” Comet trotted to the center of the room until she could sense the brew directly in front of her. She closed her sightless eyes against the slight heat that bubbled up into her face. She stopped using the echolocation spell, the red glow fading from her horn. Instead, she focused all her energy on the cauldron before her and the brew inside. A voice called to her, so quiet she could barely hear it echoing in her ears. “Comet Dust, I know what you feel.” “But, how can anypony know? No one I know is blind like me. I’m just a strange young mare who's never had a normal life.” “Your life is not normal, but that just means you're special.” “I’m not special.” huffed Comet. “I’m different. I always have been and I always will be.” “Now Comet, if I believed that you weren’t special I wouldn’t be here.” “I still don’t believe you. My mother used to tell me I was special. She used to tell me that there was a greater destiny for me than anypony could see. Now she doubts me. I tried to warn her but she just shooed it away like it was a harmless prank.” “Your mother doesn’t understand you like I do. I believe that there is something coming. Of course, I don’t know what. Neither do you. But you shouldn’t let that stop you from fulfilling your destiny.” “What is my destiny?” asked Comet quietly. “Your destiny cannot be told. You much search to find its true path. Go deep into the Everfree Forest until you reach the Cave of Prophecy. By the time you reach it, the night of the full moon will be approaching. You must stay within the cave until after the full moon has passed.” “What do I do inside the cave?” “You don’t do anything. Over the course of the full moon, you true destiny will be shown. Now, you must watch carefully. You will only be shown this once.” Comet felt a pull as she vanished into a dark abyss. A flash of white light greeted her and she squinted against the blinding effects it had on her. How is this affecting me? she pondered, turning around in a full circle to try and regain her bearings. It had once again fallen dark in the empty space surrounding her and she couldn’t grasp onto any reality. Her horn started to glow in an attempt to provide some light, however small it may be. As she did, stars of all sizes joined her in the abyss. Swirls of color accompanied the stars, forming pictures around her. “Wh-what’s going on? Where am I?” Comet called out, her magic fading as she was surrounded by light. Her voice echoed before fading to silence with no reply. “Hello?” she called again. Just watch. “O-okay.” Comet watched the pictures forming around her. There were six. She recognized them as the Elements of Harmony. Each gem was in a necklace around one of her mother’s friends’ necks. Except for one. This one was in a crown on Twilight’s head. The gems were glowing, providing the light that Comet was surrounded by. She watched as beams of light shot out from each element, surrounding her with a rainbow of colored lights. As the colors swirled around her, her bracelet started to glow along with the elements. She looked down as the metal started to heat up, the magic inside the fire ruby melting its way into her own bodily flow of magic. Suddenly, the light around her faded and she could barely see the swirling colors inches from her hooves as she returned to the darkness she was accustomed to. She still managed to catch one last burst of light from the colors as she returned to reality, despite her return to blindness. “C-Comet? Are you okay?” A quiet, familiar voice pulled her back into reality as the colors faded to nothingness. “Spike?” she asked softly, sitting up slowly. “What happened? The last time something like that happened was when your mother became a princess.” “True as that may be, nothing has happened to this pony. A burst of magic may have shown, but nothing but knowledge has grown.” said Zecora, sweeping a thoughtful gaze over the unicorn. “I-I’m not so sure about that, Zecora. I’m more confused now than ever before.” Comet stared blankly at the door to Zecora’s hut, her back to the bubbling cauldron. She heard a quiet scraping sound as Spike moved towards her across the dirt floor. Her cloak was dragging along behind the dragon slightly, throwing up tiny clouds of dust that clouded her remaining senses. “Comet?” The young mare tilted her head downwards in the direction of the purple dragon’s voice. “Hmm?” “What are you thinking about?” Spike asked, placing his claws gently on her hoof. “It’s... nothing. I have to go.” Comet looked away, her horn glowing a light red as she took her cloak from Spike’s claws. It unfolded itself and floated down over her back. She pulled the hood over her glowing horn before switching to her echolocation spell. “Stay with Zecora until morning, Spike. Zecora,” she said, turning towards the zebra, “take him into town tomorrow, back to my mother. Tell her I’m fine and not to worry about me.” Without waiting for a reply, Comet trotted out of the still-open door to the hut. “Goodbye.” she called behind her, disappearing into the dark. Spike traced the slight dark red glow from her horn until it vanished into the shadows. “Zecora, do you have any idea where she’s going or if she’ll really be okay?” he asked with a shaking voice. “Do not worry, dragon friend. She will be fine in the end.” Chapter 7 - The Mystery of the GemsTwilight gulped as the group reached the edge of the Everfree Forest. She heard Fluttershy’s quiet whimper as the pegasus took a cautious step backwards, debating whether or not to flee. She could tell Rainbow Dash had landed behind the shy mare and was keeping her from turning and running. Rarity stood to her right a few paces behind her, Applejack on her left. Pinkie was right in front of Fluttershy, her mane still as flat as before. If I hadn’t seen her disappear in here, I wouldn’t believe she was here at all. thought Twilight, her horn starting to glow against the darkness. She turned to look at her friends. Each one was watching her expectantly, waiting for what they were supposed to do. She took a deep breath and stretched out her wings. “Rainbow, you and I are in the sky. Rarity, you’re going to lead PInkie, Fluttershy and Applejack on the ground. Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of Comet or Spike. And be careful, the timberwolves should be awake by now so we need to keep our guard up.” “You got it, sugarcube. Those timberwolves don’t stand a chance against us, though.” said Applejack. “Let’s head to Zecora’s first. With any luck she stumbled upon Comet and will at least know where she’s headed.” said Twilight, jumping into the air and catching herself with her outstretched wings. “Of course, darling. We’ll meet you and Rainbow there. Come on, girls.” Fluttershy gulped and walked forward slowly with her head held low, mane dragging along the ground and wings folded tightly to her sides. Pinkie Pie bounced slowly in front of her halfheartedly. Applejack moved ahead with her head held high, just barely behind Rarity as she lit the way. “Come on, Rainbow. We better get going.” Twilight flapped her wings hurriedly and flew between the trees without so much as a second glance to make sure Rainbow was following her. Moments later, the blue pegasus caught up to her with a flash of color. “Are you alright, Twilight?” The alicorn looked over at her friend. “I guess. Why?” “You don’t seem like it. Normally, you wouldn’t be this... disoriented.” “I’m fine, Rainbow. Comet on the other hoof, might not be.” Twilight looked ahead just in time to avoid running into a tree. “I know you, Twilight. You’re not okay.” Rainbow stopped flying and just hovered in the air. “It’s not easy taking care of someone with a handicap. Remember Scootaloo?” Twilight stopped and turned back to look at Rainbow.”Of course I remember Scootaloo. Who could forget that adorable little filly you took under your wings? I also remember how much you cared for her.” “She’s only about a decade older than Comet. Ten years ago, I was still treating her like a filly. But I learned that by treating her like a filly she never got to grow up and be her own pony. Sometimes you have to earn to let them go, Twilight.” Twilight stared at the blue pegasus before her, her horn glowing raspberry so they could see each other. She saw concern in her friends rose-colored eyes and sighed. “I guess you’re right. But that doesn’t mean I care any less about her. We still have to find her, and I’m going whether you’re coming with me or not.” Twilight glanced at her friend as she flew away, dodging branches as she raced towards Zecora's hut. She was so concerned with getting to the zebra’s hut that she didn’t even notice when she flew over a faint red glow in the trees. * * * * * * * * * * * * Comet looked up as she heard the flapping of her mother’s wings. The larger wings moved more air and caused a slightly louder sound than that of a normal pegasus. She ceased the glow of her horn and listened as the wingbeats grew faint. She must not have seen me. Comet thought with a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, she pulled her hood over her horn even more just to be safe. She continued her echolocation spell and cautiously moved through the forest once more, turning to the right to head deeper into the trees. * * * * * * * * * * * * Rainbow Dash landed outside Zecora’s hut out of breath. She had flown as fast as she could to try and reach Twilight, but the alicorn had seemingly vanished in mid air. She turned as she heard a group of voices behind her. Rarity’s sapphire-colored magic surrounded her horn as she led the others through the undergrowth into the small clearing. “Does anypony know where Twilight is?” she asked. The approaching mares looked at one another before turning back to look at Rainbow. “No idea, Dashie.” said Pinkie Pie. “I’m right here, girls.” Rainbow turned to see Twilight coming out of Zecora’s hut with a nervous-looking Spike on her back. “Where’s Comet? I thought Spike was with her.” The purple dragon looked up at the gathered ponies. “She left. She looked into Zecora’s brew and then she just... left. I- I have no idea where she went or if she’s even coming back.” Spike looked away from the staring ponies and wiped away his tears before he remembered the small item that had been sewn inside Comet’s cloak. “R-Rarity, I saw something sewn into Comet’s cloak. What was it?” “Whatever do you mean, Spike? I didn’t add anything to Comet’s cloak when I was making it. I made it exactly as Twilight asked me to.” Rarity said, flipping her mane. “Why, what did you see?” “I- I’m not sure. I thought maybe it was a small gem.” “On the inside? Spike, that doesn’t sound like Rarity.” said Twilight. “We can’t worry about it right now anyways. We have to find Comet.” “I’ll say. Twilight, she used the counterspell on her bracelet. If she doesn’t reactivate the magic soon, she may never be able to use the gem again.”
Chapter 1 - Darkness RisesComet Dust raced through the streets of Ponyville, her red magic the only thing keeping her from running into the other ponies. Her pale pink cape billowed out behind her as her white hooves pounded the dirt streets. She swerved to the right as she heard a faint beep in her left ear, narrowly missing a young filly. “Sorry!” she called behind her, turning her head as she heard a delayed gasp of fright. Her blind purple eyes snapped back to attention as she heard another faint beep, this time in her right ear. She swerved left and heard a giggle from behind her, causing her to skid to a stop. That was one of her mother’s friends, Pinkie Pie! Forgetting her concerns for a moment, she turned and trotted back to where the pink mare stood giggling like a small filly. “Hello, Pinkie.” she said quietly as she approached the boisterous mare. “Hey, Comet Dust!” said Pinkie between giggles. “Where are you off to in such a rush? Is there something wrong?” Pinkie’s quiet laughter faded immediately as Comet’s deep purple eyes darkened with concern. “Oh, no.” she whispered. Comet Dust only nodded before turning and breaking into a gallop towards her mother’s library. * * * * * * * * * * * * Twilight looked up as Comet entered in a flash of blue, white and pink. “What is it?” she asked, concern lacing her soft voice. Comet was panting hard, trying to catch her breath after her race through town. The magic from her horn faded as she stopped the echolocation spell she used to get around. She was in a place she knew like the back of her hoof, there was no need to use it now. As she caught her breath, the young mare glanced up at her mother without seeing her. “I saw it. They’re coming.” was all she managed to say before she fell to her knees in exhaustion. “NO. Not them. It can’t be.” whispered Twilight softly to herself as she knelt beside her daughter and laid a comforting wing across her daughter’s back, forgetting about her amazing hearing. “But mother, I saw them.” protested Comet Dust, still panting slightly. “Surely you believe me?” “Of course I do sweetie, it’s just...” “You don’t. I know what’s going through your head. You’re thinking, She’s *blind. She can’t see **anything.* But you know what mother, just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I can’t see. It just means I can’t see with my eyes. I can hear, feel and taste things other ponies can’t. Even ‘Pinkie Sense’ doesn’t do that!” “I know, honey. I know.” whispered Twilight. She stroked her daughter’s mane gently with one hoof, the other wrapped around her daughter’s neck in a gentle hug. “No, you don’t! How can you possibly know what it’s like to be blind? You could always see and still can! Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you know everything! All the reading you do can’t possibly tell you what it’s like! You’ll never understand!” screamed Comet, pulling away from her mother and standing on shaking hooves. Anger pounded in her head and all she wanted to do was escape. But she needed her mother to believe her first. Pinkie had. Why was it so hard for her mother? “Why don’t you trust me?” she asked softly, masking her anger with sorrow. Twilight stood and Comet flicked an ear towards the clattering of hooves on the wooden floor. The sound grew louder and Comet could tell her mother was slowly moving towards her. The slight ruffle of feathers alerted her to the folding of wings about a foot in front of her. “I do trust you, Comet. I just don’t want to see you getting hurt.” was the quiet reply from her mother’s lips. Comet stared at her mother without seeing anything. She couldn’t tell if her mother was sad or angry, or even afraid. Her voice gave away no emotion and Comet couldn’t see her mother’s eyes. Pinkie had tried to describe each Element of Harmony to her once, so she tried to imagine her mother’s face. Slowly, an image came into view. Her mother had light purple fur and dark purple eyes. Her indigo mane was straight, with a streak of purple and magenta beside her horn. Based solely on her mother’s voice, she tried to imagine how she looked right now. Her mouth was drawn into a slight frown, her eyes sparkling with concern. Comet could feel tears pushing at the corners of her eyes, threatening to break free from her sightless orbs that imprisoned them. “I’m sorry, mom. It’s just, sometimes I feel like you don’t understand what it’s like.” she sobbed, her voice cracking. “Shhh.” Twilight hushed, walking over and giving her daughter a hug. Comet felt the hot tears flow from her eyes down along her cheeks, a few straying to her muzzle in their trip down her face. She shut her eyes tight against the floods of tears ready to escape. She wanted to help her mother understand, but she couldn’t think of any way she could. As she cried both inwardly and outwardly, Comet removed her cape with her magic and hung it beside the door. Her cutie mark was now visible. Her midnight blue flank sported a red rock-like form with a trail of orange fire that ran down most of her hind legs. Twilight saw the often hidden cutie mark and was reminded of a project she had been working on. She pulled away from Comet and lifted her daughter's head gently so she could see clearly the dark purple eyes they shared. “Follow me.” she whispered, heading over to the door that led down into her lab.
Chapter 2 - Is it True?Chapter 2 - Is it True? “No, no, NO! This can’t be happening!” whispered Pinkie sharply as she walked through Ponyville with her head held low. Fillies bounced around her legs joyfully, but all Pinkie could think about was the impending danger. Comet Dust was usually never wrong, so that meant it had to be happening. But Pinkie couldn’t believe it. If it was true, it could mean the end of Equestria. The princesses would perish, each and every one of them. Surely Comet knew? If she didn’t, why had she been in such a hurry? The usually joyful and smiling Pinkie’s lips were drawn into a frown as she trudged along, not even noticing where she was headed but knowing she was going somewhere. With each step more doubts filled her mind. What if Comet was actually wrong this time? She doubted it, but she couldn’t be sure what to think. Comet was spirited. She could easily just be pretending, trying to get all of her mother’s friends worked up about nothing. Maybe she *would** joke about this....* thought Pinkie, her muzzle bumping into something right in front of her hooves. She looked up to see that she had walked all the way to Fluttershy’s cottage. “Coming!” was the faint reply to her ’knock’. Pinkie Pie looked up as Fluttershy opened the door. She could feel her mane starting to fall flat with concern and sorrow. “Oh, Pinkie Pie! It’s you! Are you alright?” asked Fluttershy softly, concern still evident in the shy mare’s voice. “Not really.” Pinkie’s mane kept growing flatter and flatter the more she thought about Comet. What had she seen? Whatever it was, the way the young mare’s blind eyes had darkened told Pinkie it wasn’t good. “Then, why don’t you come in?” Pinkie Pie smiled gratefully at Fluttershy and stepped through the door as her yellow friend stepped aside. “Thanks.” said Pinkie, cheering up slightly as Angel hopped onto her back. From the small crack in the doorway, Fluttershy hadn’t really seen what was happening to Pinkie. Now she saw her friend’s flat mane and gasped. “P-P-Pinkie! Y-your mane!” Pinkie trotted over to a mirror and looked at her reflection. “Would you look at that? Just like at the rock farm.” she said sadly, her smile fading. “A-and Discord. Pinkie Pie, Wh-what’s going on?” Pinkie Pie turned to the pegasus and sighed. Angel jumped off as she lifted her head to look at her friend. The little bunny hopped over to Fluttershy and started playing with her mane as Pinkie made eye contact with her. Pinkie’s bright blue eyes became dull with sadness. “No!” Fluttershy cried. Pinkie nodded and went over to her friend, giving her a hug. It didn’t help either of them, though. As soon as Pinkie and Fluttershy started to hug each other, they broke down crying. Angel , now bored, hopped out the door and turned towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Chapter 3 - Apple-Bucking Bunnies“Rainbow Dash! Get yer butt down from there!” called Apple Jack from under a red delicious tree. It was apple-bucking season and the tree was bearing the blue pegasus’s favorite fruit. “And stop eatin’ all them apples!” “Why should I?” Rainbow asked, taking another bite from an apple with a loud crunch. “Cuz yer s’posed t’ be helping me harvest these here apples, that’s why!” “So?” Furious, Apple Jack turned and got ready to buck that pegasus out of the tree. She lifted her hind legs and balanced carefully on her forelegs, her muscles tensing for the buck. She wound up for the kick and with one strong hoof knocked the rainbow-maned pegasus and all the apples out of the tree. “Ow! What was that for?” cried Rainbow, her voice squeaking slightly after the impact with the ground. The excellent flyer couldn’t ever remember having a landing like that. Even in flight camp! “T’ get ya outta that there tree.” said AJ with a joking smile. “Whatever.” Rainbow Dash stood and launched herself into the air, landing on the next tree over. She laid down on one of the branches and made herself comfortable, yawning loudly. She stretched her legs to the sky and her wings towards the ground before closing her eyes and taking a nap. Apple Jack watched in amusement as Rainbow got comfortable. She started bucking the apples from the other trees until she heard a soft snore coming from the one where Rainbow Dash was resting. She trotted over to the tree confidently. “Hey Rainbow! Time t’ get up, sugarcube!” she called, kicking the trunk like she had before. Rainbow fell to the ground with a thud before she even stirred slightly. When she opened her eyes sleepily, all she saw was a pair of emerald eyes staring back at her. “How do ya like them apples?” asked AJ before trotting away. Rainbow stood to follow her when a small white rabbit jumped in front of her. “Not now, Angel.” she groaned, leaping into the air. Angel grabbed onto Dash’s tail and slowly climbed it until he was on her back. He moved forward between her wings and thumped his back paw at the base of her right wing once, causing it to lock momentarily. WIth a cry for help from the blue pegasus, Angel thumped on the nerve again and the relieved mare was flying steadily once more. “What was that for?” asked Rainbow, turning her head. Angel looked at her and twitched his whiskers, knowing she wouldn’t understand. “Don’t tell me it’s something to do with Fluttershy!” Okay, maybe she would understand. “That pegasus is always doing something that involves me dropping everything and saving her. Hmph, even when we got our cutie marks I was defending her.” Angel lifted his back paw again right above the trick nerve at the base of a pegasus’s wing. “Okay, fine. I’ll go help her. Just please, don’t make my wing lock up again.” Angel looked at the pleading pony’s eyes and lowered his paw to its original position. “Thank you.” whispered the pegasus quietly as she landed beside AJ. “Hey, we gotta go help Fluttershy with something.” “Well, I guess I could use a break from buckin’. Let’s go.” replied the orange pony, trotting out of the orchards and along the path that led to Fluttershy’s cottage.
Chapter 4 - Sorrow and Sight“Spi-ike!” called Twilight as she led Comet Dust down the winding staircase into her lab. Comet heard a thud as Spike rolled out of his bed lazily. Moments later, she heard his claws scraping against the wooden floors as he ran to catch up with Twilight. “Yes,... Twilight?” he said, slightly out of breath. “Fetch me that golden box over there, the one with the ruby on top.” “Sure, thing Twilight.” Comet heard Spike retreat towards the wall where she knew the small bookshelf was. “Got it!” he called triumphantly after a few moments of stretching to reach it in its obvious perch on the top shelf. The sounds of scraping claws grew louder as Spike ran back with the box in his, well, claws. “Thanks, Spike.” Comet could sense her mother’s magic as she placed the box on the floor and opened it, causing an even stronger concentration of magic to fill the room. “What is it?” asked Comet hesitantly. “This is a bracelet made from the purest of gold and the core of an extremely special fire ruby.” answered Twilight. “What does it do?” “Remember the spell I’ve been making you practice?” “Of course, mom. I only have to practice it every day.” “Then try on the bracelet and find out.” Comet gasped as the cold metal wrapped itself around her hoof, clasping at the back to fit her perfectly. She closed her eyes and concentrated, quietly reciting the words to the spell. “From blackest night, to day’s sweet light, may this gem hear my plea, and allow me to finally see.” After a few seconds, she slowly opened one eye, then the other. She could not only register color and light, but she finally got to see her mother! “It... works.” she said in awe. “Well, not permanently. After the spell wears off this time, it will only work when it is absolutely necessary. You see, the fire ruby can only hold magic for so long and has to recharge before it can hold a full-strength spell ag- “ Twilight stopped. “Oh, Comet! It works!” she said, giving her daughter a hug that would rival any given by a bear. “Can we go find the others, mom? I want to see them before I... y’know.” “Sure. They’re all at Fluttershy’s. C’mon Spike.” “C-Can he ride on my back this time?” asked Comet shyly. “You bet!” cried Spike, jumping onto the unicorn happily. The young purple and green dragon sat atop the unicorn he had helped to see. The fire ruby used for her bracelet was probably one of the finest he had made yet. But he would never let Comet know he had helped; it would make her feel bad if she knew he had used some of his special magic to help her. As they passed her cloak on the way out, Spike reached over and grabbed it. “Wouldn’t want to forget this.” he said quietly, knowing Comet would need it later. * * * * * * * * * * * * Applejack peered into the cottage, seeing as the door was left ajar. Rainbow had gone to get Rarity and Angel had come back with the orange mare, finished with his mission. All he had wanted to do was get Fluttershy’s friends over here to talk to her, and now that was done. He hopped off of AJ’s back and towards Fluttershy, stroking her mane once more. Taking a few quiet steps into the cottage, Applejack cringed slightly when a board creaked under her hoof. Pinkie Pie looked up at her with tear-filled eyes turning red from crying. Her mane was as flat as AJ had ever seen it. “What’d I miss?” she asked quietly, going over and laying on the floor near her friends. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rarity looked up from her sewing as Rainbow Dash rapped on the window of her boutique. “What is it now, Rainbow? Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?” asked the white unicorn as she opened the window. A flash of colors later, Rainbow Dash was standing beside Rarity’s sewing table. “So, what’cha workin on?” “Just the most amazing dress ever for Twilight. She said she wanted something that looked spectacular for her daughter’s upcoming birthday. I couldn’t understand why for the life of me, but I still accepted the challenge. So, what brings you here?” “Oh, uh, Angel came and found me at Sweet Apple Acres. You know that bunny doesn’t exactly like me, so I figured something had to be wrong with Fluttershy. AJ and Angel are probably there by now, but I thought I should come get you, just in case.” Rarity looked at Rainbow and sighed. Normally the cyan pegasus just wanted to annoy her with tricks. She glanced at the dress she had yet to finish. “Well, I guess I could take a... short break. Let’s go.” she said, already trotting down the stairs. “I’ll see you there. But Rarity,” “Mm-hmm?” “Just, hurry. Okay?” “You’ve got it, Rainbow Dash. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Rarity bolted out the door, her hooves carrying her as fast as they could. She saw a rainbow streak in the air as the blue pegasus flew towards the opposite side of town. Twilight had tried to show her a teleportation spell once. Maybe she could use that to get to Fluttershy’s faster! She concentrated on her destination. It lay on the outskirts of town somewhat close to the Everfree Forest. As she ran, her horn started to glow the color of sapphires. She shut her eyes and pushed forward through the crowds of ponies that were in the streets. Then suddenly, she was gone. She felt something pluck her from the streets and disappear with her. Her stomach tightened and her knees buckled under the force of the pull. She tried to relax and focused solely on Fluttershy’s cottage. When the rushing wind around her died down, she slowly opened her eyes. Everypony had turned to stare as she appeared in Fluttershy’s living room. Rainbow Dash flew through the door a few seconds later, a rainbow trail following her through the door as she crashed into a birdhouse that hung from the ceiling. “Stupid animals.” she mumbled, trying to pull her muzzle from the entrance to the tiny structure. “Here, let me help you darling.” said Rarity, pulling the pegasus free with a simple levitation spell. Rainbow looked up, slightly dazed. “H-how did you get here before me?” “Just a simple teleportation spell, something I’ll probably never try again.” Rarity couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of teleporting again. The way her stomach had tightened left her feeling a little sick. She looked over at her other friends and gasped. Pinkie’s mane was flat and lifeless, Fluttershy had tears streaming down her face and Applejack’s emerald eyes were red from crying. She had never seen anything like this among her friends. “What’s going o-” She stopped short as Twilight and Comet Dust raced in through the open door. “Twilight, what’s happening?” asked Rainbow, now recovered from her crash. “I think I should let Comet explain.”
Chapter 5 - Meteors of DoubtComet Dust gulped and looked at the expectant faces of her mother’s friends. “I- I saw them. A new evil is rising, coming from a place few ponies can reach. A place where only princesses can fly to. They come from the dwelling place of the sun and moon, the home of the twinkling stars. They come, intent to destroy all of Equestria by bringing down its leaders.” She felt tears starting to well up in the corners of her eyes. No, not now! Plan now, cry later! she thought furiously. Her horn glowed momentarily as she dried up her tears with magic. Comet took a deep breath and continued. “No one knows who they are, what they are capable of. Even now with the ability to see, I can’t figure them out. All I know is this: they come from Planet Xy, an unknown planet that appeared as if by magic a few years ago. Their one purpose is to destroy this planet so they can rule the galaxy.” “Wh-why do they want to destroy this planet? Why do they have to destroy this planet?” asked Rainbow Dash quietly. “It’s quite simple, Rainbow.” said Twilight. “This planet is the only other planet in our solar system that supports life, if what Comet is saying is true anyways. If they want to take over the galaxy, they’d have to destroy all other lifeforms. In order to do that, they have to destroy what helps us live, not just us. If they gain a galaxy by destroying one planet, what does it matter to them?” “Could you try not to use egghead facts to bore us? Just tell us, in simple terms, what the hay is going on!” “I think what Twilight’s tryin’ to say is that we’re the only things that could possibly stop ‘em if they did come. Right Twi?” “Exactly. But based on scientific fact, it is impossible for there to be another planet that supports life. So, Comet, are you just trying to trick us?” “How can you think that? I wouldn’t joke about the fate of Equestria! Celestia forbid it!” shouted Comet. Hurt was evident in her eyes as she raced away, Spike still sitting on her back. She raced through the Everfree forest until she was sure she would be alone for a while. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the fire ruby in the bracelet around her foreleg. “Now I have seen, and I have done, return my given sight back to where it had begun.” Spike immediately recognized the counterspell used to take away the gift of sight. “No, Comet Dust.” he breathed. “No!” Spike shied away as the midnight blue unicorn’s head whipped around. Her pupils were now purple, no longer the black that gave her sight. The red glow to her horn ceased as the last light faded from her eyes. Now all Spike saw was sorrow. “I had to, Spike. I couldn’t stand to see the doubt in their eyes.” Comet turned away and her horn glowed a deeper red. She wasn’t using normal magic that allowed her to cast simple spells, she was once again using the complex echolocation spell. “Come on, Spike. We’re going to see someone who might believe me.” * * * * * * * * * * * * Zecora donned her cloak and walked out into the Everfree Forest. Her golden bracelets jingled around her foreleg as she walked through the tangles of bushes and branches. Her saddlebag thumped against her side as she ran into a familiar unicorn. “Welcome, Comet Dust. I see that seeing me is a must. You never come alone out here, unless something troubles you, my dear.” Comet Dust looked up. “I’m sorry, Zecora. If you’re doing something important, I can wait.” she said softly. “Company is always welcome, especially with your spirit of fun. Gathering my herbs can wait, for soon the timberwolves awake.” “If you say so, Zecora.” Comet Dust trotted after Zecora with her head held low, swerving to avoid low branches as she followed the swift-moving zebra. Spike had one arm around her neck, still holding her cloak gently in his claws. The long fabric billowed out behind Comet as she moved through the shadows, flicking her slightly whenever she swerved to the right. “Spike, why don’t you fold my cloak until later?” asked Comet quietly. “Okay, Comet.” The purple dragon sighed, his green eyes sympathetic. The only family he had ever known was Twilight and Comet, and now they were torn apart. As he folded the pale pink cloak, he noticed something sewn onto the inside. Rarity had made this cloak for Comet, so he just naturally assumed it was a miniscule gem. Shrugging it off, he folded the cloak over his arm and resumed looking ahead at Zecora. “Not much further, friend of mine, ‘til your true path you will find.” * * * * * * * * * * * * Twilight watched as Comet raced out of Fluttershy’s cottage. Once her daughter’s red and pink tail vanished into the Everfree Forest, Twilight turned back to her friends. “You guys don’t think I was too hard on her, do you?” she asked softly. “No, not at all.” they all mumbled in unison, except for Rainbow Dash. She was whistling, pretending not to have heard her friend. “Well?” “Huh?” “Do you think I was too hard on Comet?” “Weeellllll...” said Rainbow, trying to decide if she should answer honestly or not. “I was, wasn’t I?” said Twilight, breaking into sobs. “Not at all, sugarcube. You were just bein’ a mite overly protective is all.” said Applejack, slowly moving towards the lavender alicorn. “Heck, if any of us had a blind daughter we’d all be doin’ the same thing you were, right y’all?” Each mare nodded silently. One by one, they each moved towards the crying princess until only Fluttershy was left in the center of the room. “G- guys, shouldn’t we be out looking for Comet? It’s going to get dark soon and she ran into...” she said quietly. “The Everfree Forest!" the others finished with a gasp. Twilight bolted up into a sitting position; she had collapsed to the floor when she started crying because of the force of her emotion. “You're right, Fluttershy! What was I thinking? The timberwolves will be waking up in a few minutes and the spell from her bracelet could have worn off by now. Plus, Spike’s out there with her!” Rarity, who had been away from her dress for far too long and wasn’t sure she wanted to head into the woods, now jerked her head up and looked at Twilight. “If my little Spikey-wikey’s out there, count me in!” she said with a determined look. “Then we better get going, girls.” And with that, they galloped out into the darkness of the Everfree Forest, not even considering that she might be safe with a friend.
Chapter 6 - Journey for DestinyAs Comet walked into Zecora’s hut, she sensed a natural magic that had become as familiar to her as unicorn magic. “So, what are you brewing today?” she asked the zebra. “I see you have taken interest in my brew. If you look inside, your true path will shine through.” “But, I can’t see anything. It would be pointless for me to take a look.” “Their doubts have affected you, but being sightless will not affect this brew. Look inside for what you seek, only you may take a peek.” “Alright. I’ll try. Spike,” “On it.” said the young dragon, hopping from the midnight unicorn’s back with her cloak. “Just promise me you will never take your bracelet off.” “Whatever, Spike. Let’s just get this over with.” Comet trotted to the center of the room until she could sense the brew directly in front of her. She closed her sightless eyes against the slight heat that bubbled up into her face. She stopped using the echolocation spell, the red glow fading from her horn. Instead, she focused all her energy on the cauldron before her and the brew inside. A voice called to her, so quiet she could barely hear it echoing in her ears. “Comet Dust, I know what you feel.” “But, how can anypony know? No one I know is blind like me. I’m just a strange young mare who's never had a normal life.” “Your life is not normal, but that just means you're special.” “I’m not special.” huffed Comet. “I’m different. I always have been and I always will be.” “Now Comet, if I believed that you weren’t special I wouldn’t be here.” “I still don’t believe you. My mother used to tell me I was special. She used to tell me that there was a greater destiny for me than anypony could see. Now she doubts me. I tried to warn her but she just shooed it away like it was a harmless prank.” “Your mother doesn’t understand you like I do. I believe that there is something coming. Of course, I don’t know what. Neither do you. But you shouldn’t let that stop you from fulfilling your destiny.” “What is my destiny?” asked Comet quietly. “Your destiny cannot be told. You much search to find its true path. Go deep into the Everfree Forest until you reach the Cave of Prophecy. By the time you reach it, the night of the full moon will be approaching. You must stay within the cave until after the full moon has passed.” “What do I do inside the cave?” “You don’t do anything. Over the course of the full moon, you true destiny will be shown. Now, you must watch carefully. You will only be shown this once.” Comet felt a pull as she vanished into a dark abyss. A flash of white light greeted her and she squinted against the blinding effects it had on her. How is this affecting me? she pondered, turning around in a full circle to try and regain her bearings. It had once again fallen dark in the empty space surrounding her and she couldn’t grasp onto any reality. Her horn started to glow in an attempt to provide some light, however small it may be. As she did, stars of all sizes joined her in the abyss. Swirls of color accompanied the stars, forming pictures around her. “Wh-what’s going on? Where am I?” Comet called out, her magic fading as she was surrounded by light. Her voice echoed before fading to silence with no reply. “Hello?” she called again. Just watch. “O-okay.” Comet watched the pictures forming around her. There were six. She recognized them as the Elements of Harmony. Each gem was in a necklace around one of her mother’s friends’ necks. Except for one. This one was in a crown on Twilight’s head. The gems were glowing, providing the light that Comet was surrounded by. She watched as beams of light shot out from each element, surrounding her with a rainbow of colored lights. As the colors swirled around her, her bracelet started to glow along with the elements. She looked down as the metal started to heat up, the magic inside the fire ruby melting its way into her own bodily flow of magic. Suddenly, the light around her faded and she could barely see the swirling colors inches from her hooves as she returned to the darkness she was accustomed to. She still managed to catch one last burst of light from the colors as she returned to reality, despite her return to blindness. “C-Comet? Are you okay?” A quiet, familiar voice pulled her back into reality as the colors faded to nothingness. “Spike?” she asked softly, sitting up slowly. “What happened? The last time something like that happened was when your mother became a princess.” “True as that may be, nothing has happened to this pony. A burst of magic may have shown, but nothing but knowledge has grown.” said Zecora, sweeping a thoughtful gaze over the unicorn. “I-I’m not so sure about that, Zecora. I’m more confused now than ever before.” Comet stared blankly at the door to Zecora’s hut, her back to the bubbling cauldron. She heard a quiet scraping sound as Spike moved towards her across the dirt floor. Her cloak was dragging along behind the dragon slightly, throwing up tiny clouds of dust that clouded her remaining senses. “Comet?” The young mare tilted her head downwards in the direction of the purple dragon’s voice. “Hmm?” “What are you thinking about?” Spike asked, placing his claws gently on her hoof. “It’s... nothing. I have to go.” Comet looked away, her horn glowing a light red as she took her cloak from Spike’s claws. It unfolded itself and floated down over her back. She pulled the hood over her glowing horn before switching to her echolocation spell. “Stay with Zecora until morning, Spike. Zecora,” she said, turning towards the zebra, “take him into town tomorrow, back to my mother. Tell her I’m fine and not to worry about me.” Without waiting for a reply, Comet trotted out of the still-open door to the hut. “Goodbye.” she called behind her, disappearing into the dark. Spike traced the slight dark red glow from her horn until it vanished into the shadows. “Zecora, do you have any idea where she’s going or if she’ll really be okay?” he asked with a shaking voice. “Do not worry, dragon friend. She will be fine in the end.”
Chapter 7 - The Mystery of the GemsTwilight gulped as the group reached the edge of the Everfree Forest. She heard Fluttershy’s quiet whimper as the pegasus took a cautious step backwards, debating whether or not to flee. She could tell Rainbow Dash had landed behind the shy mare and was keeping her from turning and running. Rarity stood to her right a few paces behind her, Applejack on her left. Pinkie was right in front of Fluttershy, her mane still as flat as before. If I hadn’t seen her disappear in here, I wouldn’t believe she was here at all. thought Twilight, her horn starting to glow against the darkness. She turned to look at her friends. Each one was watching her expectantly, waiting for what they were supposed to do. She took a deep breath and stretched out her wings. “Rainbow, you and I are in the sky. Rarity, you’re going to lead PInkie, Fluttershy and Applejack on the ground. Keep your eyes peeled for any sign of Comet or Spike. And be careful, the timberwolves should be awake by now so we need to keep our guard up.” “You got it, sugarcube. Those timberwolves don’t stand a chance against us, though.” said Applejack. “Let’s head to Zecora’s first. With any luck she stumbled upon Comet and will at least know where she’s headed.” said Twilight, jumping into the air and catching herself with her outstretched wings. “Of course, darling. We’ll meet you and Rainbow there. Come on, girls.” Fluttershy gulped and walked forward slowly with her head held low, mane dragging along the ground and wings folded tightly to her sides. Pinkie Pie bounced slowly in front of her halfheartedly. Applejack moved ahead with her head held high, just barely behind Rarity as she lit the way. “Come on, Rainbow. We better get going.” Twilight flapped her wings hurriedly and flew between the trees without so much as a second glance to make sure Rainbow was following her. Moments later, the blue pegasus caught up to her with a flash of color. “Are you alright, Twilight?” The alicorn looked over at her friend. “I guess. Why?” “You don’t seem like it. Normally, you wouldn’t be this... disoriented.” “I’m fine, Rainbow. Comet on the other hoof, might not be.” Twilight looked ahead just in time to avoid running into a tree. “I know you, Twilight. You’re not okay.” Rainbow stopped flying and just hovered in the air. “It’s not easy taking care of someone with a handicap. Remember Scootaloo?” Twilight stopped and turned back to look at Rainbow.”Of course I remember Scootaloo. Who could forget that adorable little filly you took under your wings? I also remember how much you cared for her.” “She’s only about a decade older than Comet. Ten years ago, I was still treating her like a filly. But I learned that by treating her like a filly she never got to grow up and be her own pony. Sometimes you have to earn to let them go, Twilight.” Twilight stared at the blue pegasus before her, her horn glowing raspberry so they could see each other. She saw concern in her friends rose-colored eyes and sighed. “I guess you’re right. But that doesn’t mean I care any less about her. We still have to find her, and I’m going whether you’re coming with me or not.” Twilight glanced at her friend as she flew away, dodging branches as she raced towards Zecora's hut. She was so concerned with getting to the zebra’s hut that she didn’t even notice when she flew over a faint red glow in the trees. * * * * * * * * * * * * Comet looked up as she heard the flapping of her mother’s wings. The larger wings moved more air and caused a slightly louder sound than that of a normal pegasus. She ceased the glow of her horn and listened as the wingbeats grew faint. She must not have seen me. Comet thought with a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, she pulled her hood over her horn even more just to be safe. She continued her echolocation spell and cautiously moved through the forest once more, turning to the right to head deeper into the trees. * * * * * * * * * * * * Rainbow Dash landed outside Zecora’s hut out of breath. She had flown as fast as she could to try and reach Twilight, but the alicorn had seemingly vanished in mid air. She turned as she heard a group of voices behind her. Rarity’s sapphire-colored magic surrounded her horn as she led the others through the undergrowth into the small clearing. “Does anypony know where Twilight is?” she asked. The approaching mares looked at one another before turning back to look at Rainbow. “No idea, Dashie.” said Pinkie Pie. “I’m right here, girls.” Rainbow turned to see Twilight coming out of Zecora’s hut with a nervous-looking Spike on her back. “Where’s Comet? I thought Spike was with her.” The purple dragon looked up at the gathered ponies. “She left. She looked into Zecora’s brew and then she just... left. I- I have no idea where she went or if she’s even coming back.” Spike looked away from the staring ponies and wiped away his tears before he remembered the small item that had been sewn inside Comet’s cloak. “R-Rarity, I saw something sewn into Comet’s cloak. What was it?” “Whatever do you mean, Spike? I didn’t add anything to Comet’s cloak when I was making it. I made it exactly as Twilight asked me to.” Rarity said, flipping her mane. “Why, what did you see?” “I- I’m not sure. I thought maybe it was a small gem.” “On the inside? Spike, that doesn’t sound like Rarity.” said Twilight. “We can’t worry about it right now anyways. We have to find Comet.” “I’ll say. Twilight, she used the counterspell on her bracelet. If she doesn’t reactivate the magic soon, she may never be able to use the gem again.”
