Courage Knows no Weakness

Comet 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.