Chapters The mane six stared at her in awe, she stared at them back. Her eyes were completely white, she was surrounded by a white aura. It grew until she was no longer visible. In her place was a ball of silver magic. Finally, it began to fade, and a monster like none other stood in her place. Her mane and tail were a black flame, her heart was too. Her grey coat became darker then any other, and an atrociously villainous smirk spread on her face.
"Hello there... Nice to... Meet you...!" She laughed. A spark rose from her horn, and she disappeared. The six ponies found her on the balcony, her wings unfolded, then leaping off. She flapped her wings rapidly and cast another spell. A shadow grew upon the crystal empire until it looked like Sombra had returned, if only him instead of her.
Twilight and her friends watched, feeling worthless. Twilight's purple aura surrounded her horn, and she teleported a cage on top of the alicorn monster. It fell with her trapped inside it. "Why are you doing this, who are you?" Twilight yelled.
"I am Darkness. That is the answer to both questions." Darkness lay her head down, her eyes grew white, and later, the unnamed mare sat in the cage, unconscious...
The grey mare trotted out of her temporary chambers, greeting every pony with a cheery smile. She tossed her head to the side in confusion. Every pony had a frown wedged on their faces.
"Whatever's the matter? You all look so sad!"
"It's because we have to do this." Shining armour stepped towards the alicorn, tied her hooves together with a rope, and stared at her in agony as if she was a close friend. He had taken a liking towards the sad pony and yearned to help her find who she was, unaware that this was the threat that terrorised the Crystal Empire. She looked back and forth at Cadence, Shining Armour and Twilight in both curiosity and terror. Twilight, realising how lost the pony was, began to explain what had happened the day before, also adding that she had found a book that spoke of a legend much like this, and her destiny wasn't a pretty one. The alicorn lay there, haunted by memories and visions, for a split second before the tears began to swell up in her eyes. Shining Armour pushed Twilight out of the way when she had finished, looked at the guards and nodded, telling them to "take her to the dungeons."
As she was dragged away, she began to whisper
"I'm so sorry... I never meant to-" her voice was drowned out as the guards pulled her further away.
"Yes, I'm 'so' sorry. You'll be sorry... You and all the things you love in life... For I am Darkness!"
Her eyes slowly closed as she took her last breath. The rope hung tightly on her neck, causing her to choke. Her heart took one final beat before it spread it's bat like wings. She had finally done it, turned into the monster she loathed when she begged for it. The guards gasped in both awe and utter terror. She bared her teeth at them like a wolf. No pony could tell whether it was a smile or not.
"Fools! Did you really think you could escape from your own shadow? That whisper in your chest that points out your every flaw? Of course you did. Your pitiful ways of living speak for themselves." She growled at them, looking at each and every one of them in disgust. "Well, you were wrong." She smirked as she trotted out the door, all of them frozen. In fear.
The rain heavily poured onto her coat, once again her grey form, as she searched for shelter. Thunder danced through her ears, her tears now disguised with the rain. She stroked her red, rope burned neck sadly, as she whispered quietly to herself,
"Fools..."
Dealing with the Princesses
The unknown pony, blind with greed, touched Darkness with a shivering hoof, and began to transform. Her eyes slowly becoming the same dagger, her mane becoming darker than the night. Her breath transformed into soft gasps, her adrenaline was released, and the same armor that rapped itself around her stomach and neck like a snake. She hesitated, she knew what she had to do, but she didn't want to. Nevertheless, she leaped off the cliff and spread her wings. Never had she felt so free, or happy, and yet there was such a large amount of sorrow in her soul. She glided to Canterlot, and instantly discovered a force field had been put up. Noticing a train entering through the protective field, she flew in through a window, covered in her black cloak. As the train came to a halt, she strolled out of the door, her cloak still firmly on her head. The guards surrounded the train station, one threw its spear on her neck.
"Please take your cloak off, we must see and identify you." He growled. Darkness walked by, her horn illuminating, and the tip of the spear melting.
"You could hurt yourself with that..." She laughed.
The guards patrolling the doors of the castle and the corridors were all gone, and the princesses were in a panic. "Sister, what is it?" Luna asked fearfully.
"I... do not know. It's not good, but i shall contact Twilight as quickly as i can..." Celestia answered.
"I don't think you have enough time for that, your 'highness', I believe you are no match for me." Darkness smirked, walking to Celestia.
"Luna, go, Twilight and Cadence..."
"But sister, what about-"
"Go!" Celestia screamed. Luna ran as fast as she could, trying to get to Princess Twilight.
Darkness and Celestia walked in circles. "Could you be that filly, from years ago? That grey mare? That alicorn whom escaped my thoughts for years?"
"I'm flattered you remembered. Yes, I was the pony who hid under the shelter of a table in the corner of an alley. An abandoned one too. I knew not that you were coming to the town. You looked at me with disgust, unlike the other subjects of yours. My wings unfolded and you shrieked. I ran away, and yet you never thought to care for me as you did with Cadenza."
"Cadence was born under my care! I knew not of you!"
"And when you did?"
"I-I"
"Save it." Darkness shot a beam of light that hit Celestia, and the whole of Equestria was filled with light... But not that warm kind, a dark light, impossible, but it was so. Darkness smiled, "The mare in the sun? Not as catchy as Luna's title, but it'll have to do for you." Celestia was gone...
The evil pony waited on Celestia's throne, her crown displayed in a glass case. Luna, Cadence and Twilight crashed through the door. Their horns each pointed at Darkness, threatening her. "Celestia! I've returned-" Luna noticed her crown within the display case, letting out a scream, "You... You loathsome, horrible creature! I... Sister... DESTROY HER!" Their horns were surrounded with an aurora, and they attacked. Darkness' horn shone once, and with that one time, Twilight was trapped in the stars, Luna in the moon, Cadence in a crystal (as a statue to decorate Darkness' castle) and while Celestia was in the Sun, there was only one thing left to do. Destroy the elements, just in case the rebellious fillies, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie would try anything. Darkness ordered the guards to bring her a chariot, and make their way to the Everfree Forest.
When the chariot landed, she walked down the stairs, and looked at the harmony tree.
There it stood, in all it's glory. The tree of harmony, a meter away from Darkness. Only, it wasn't Darkness... It was the unnamed pony. Her coat was once again grey, and her eyes innocent. She stood, paralyzed, looking at her reflection through the tree's crystal bark. She heard a voice, a gentle voice. "Is this who you want to be?" The mare looked down in confusion.
"I never had a choice..."
"Answer me, Is this who you want to be?"
"It's not... I just want to be loved... Is that too much?" She began to cry, her tears salty and bitter, like she was.
"Do not cry. I understand how you feel. I too walked your own path. Every step. I regret doing so, I wanted love, but I was welcomed with screams, not of delight, but terror. It's not worth it, Darkness." Another familiar voice reassuringly said.
"If you want to be loved, you need to work for respect. You can't just expect the world to adore you if you become a dictator." A different voice spoke.
"Wait... Luna? Celestia? Twilight? Why are you talking to me? Why are you looking at me?"
"Because we understand. Its normal to feel alone, especially when you went through what you went through!" Luna softly smiled.
"Understand? You wouldn't understand! You've been pampered all your lives! You weren't homeless for your childhood, you didn't have apple cores in your tangled mane, which wasn't even yours to finish! You weren't looked down upon and thought of as a dirty freak! You were looked highly for! You were the ones with responsibilities I would have held high upon my shoulders!"
"And I lost my sister for 1000 years." Celestia sniffed.
"I watched the people i cared about suffer due to my own selfishness!" Twilight cried.
"I spent my days on exile far from civilization, I hadn't seen anypony from up there. Is it better to be alone, or rather looked down upon and still with people?"
"Alone!" The unnamed pony shrieked.
Suddenly, Celestia broke out into a song. The other princesses joined her later.
I watched the world I cared for,
be turned around several times,
I stared at the moon,
knowing that I had no way to stop my eternal mourning,
knowing i'd live in immortal regret,
until she'd return
I listened at the silence of the night,
hoping for a sign to lead me home,
I'd look back, wondering,
questioning myself again and again how I betrayed them all,
questioning myself how I betrayed them all without a tear,
I had to keep rocking myself to sleep,
just for me to stop repeating those words,
until the day I would return
I know how hard it is to keep going,
especially when they all want you to stop,
I know how it feels to cry and wonder how I got myself here,
I know how it feels to be let down and disheartened,
but you have to look up at the sky,
and keep going forward!
Just keep flying!
Just keep soaring,
looking towards a happily ever after,
lets make it,
can't make it unless we're
TOGETHER!
Just keep flying!
Just keep soaring,
looking towards a happily ever after,
lets make it,
can't make it unless we're
TOGETHER!
The mare tossed her hair to the side, she didn't understand.
"Our time is short, do what is right!"
"But... What is right?"
"Listen to your heart! Not Darkness' heart!"
Darkness shuddered, back in reality. She shook her head and grabbed the nearest element. Hesitantly at first, she began to crush it between her hooves. When the last one was completely destroyed, she made her way to Ponyville. The whole village was deserted as she approached. She knocked on what was once a cheerful house. "H-Hello?" A voice who's formality was of only one pony.
"Rarity, it's so nice to see you again. You know how it would be even nicer? To see you behind bars!" Darkness' horn grabbed Rarity and threw her in a small cell attached to the chariot. She then made her way to Sugarcube Corner. "2 ponies down, 3 to go." One by one, the cell began to fill until all five ponies who were left were inside.
"What did you do with Twilight?" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Nothing, she simply went up there." Fluttershy gave a squeal of fright, "Calm down, not up there, she's banished on the stars."
"And how the hay is that any better? Y'all evil ponies keep gettin' worse by the minute!" Applejack stated.
"I agree completely! Poor darling Twilight, locked away up there, all alone- What ever did you do to the princesses?"
"Ugh! Stop asking questions, your starting to annoy me!"
"ANNOYING? ME? NEVER! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD THINK I WAS... ANNOYING!" With a sigh, Darkness commanded the guards to go to Canterlot. She had each pony locked in a cell, a sound proof one.
Princess Twilight fell to the floor. "Princess, you would entrust me with such an important and challenging task you completed after thousands of years?"
"I am. I believe you can do it in less than a quarter of how many years it took me to prepare. If you can save an empire multiple times, and the whole of Equestria another several times, you can complete it!" Twilight took a deep breath, and opened the large, golden door, met with glances from the pony. Twilight grinned at the frightened pony, who straightened up when she noticed her.
"Could you do it quickly..."
"Do what quickly?" Twilight tossed her head to the left.
"Well... Wait, you're not going to send me to the moon?"
"No? Why would I do that? No, I'm going to take you on as my student, as Princess Celestia did for me. I believe you need a place to stay, my Castle is very large, we can find a room for you there. What do you say? Are you Darkness, or are you Eclipse?"
"Eclipse?"
"Your new name, if you wish to carry it on your shoulders."
"I... can you really escape from destiny?"
"No, but you can create your destiny. I don't believe your heart is bitter enough to be Darkness, but how am I to know, the only you i saw was the one who banished me to the stars. You know more about yourself than anyone. Who are you, my little pony?"
"I-I don't know... But I choose to be Eclipse, if you'll have me as your student..."
"I will!" The two exchanged a hug, for they were going to be family. The grey pony- Eclipse trotted through the door to Celestia and Luna. They looked at her in uncertainty.
"I promise, that my heart will continue on the path of which I choose. I choose for it to be forever pure, and I will continue on this path so that I may, one day, enter yours."
The End :heart:
A sequel is being created, so stay tuned for: Whispers- Songs of the Soul
The Threat Towards The Crystal Empire
Long ago in Equestria, there was love and happiness, but also hated and sorrow. The magic in those emotions created three
ponies. One among them was Luna, the princess of the moon, Celestia, the princess of the sun and finally,... From which
was born through hatred. The unnamed pony was an alicorn, but something was strange about her... She had no colours
In her body, just grey and white. But there was something else...
It was an ordinary day at Twilight's castle and Spike was cooking breakfast, just like usual. "Morning Twilight, did you sleep well?"
Spike asked curiously. Twilight rubbed her eyes and smiled.
"Yes Spike, thanks, how about you?" she replied, sitting down to eat her food.
"Good...but that was actually for Rarity-" Twilight groaned in misery "but I guess you can have it..." Spike laughed nervously.
Twilight began to eat when suddenly, a letter sent from Celestia was there. "Dearest Twilight,
A threat towards the Crystal Empire has been made, I need you and your friends to come to Canterlot at once. Yours Truly,
Celestia." Twilight's eyes widened, she began to panic. She called her friends. As soon as they came they joined in the worry.
" Oh no... How very horrible" Fluttershy squeaked
" I do hope they are okay!" Rarity added.
" Girls! Go pack your bags and meet me at the station. Be quick!" Twilight told them. Rainbow dash shoved the ponies through the wooden door and assured Twilight it would be okay. Finally, all six ponies were at the train station. Pinkie pie bouncing up and down, smiles all over her face as this was her first travel since a long time. The train finally arrived and the ponies went in. The doors shut closed and the fillies sat down. It started to move and Fluttershy could not help but hold on.
Finally, they arrived in Canterlot. The city's beauty pounded through their hearts. They entered princess Celestia and Luna's throne room. Celestia was looking out the window while Luna read her book. " We came as fast as we could..." Celestia embraced her former student, and began to explain.
"I do not know who or what it is, all I know, from what I've been told, was it wore a black, torn cloak, and had eyes of which were silver. I wish you luck, you must defend Equestria!" The girls cantered to the train station, and waited for the train to come. When it did, they hopped in and awaited the time they reached their destination.
It was dawn by the time they were even halfway there! Suddenly, the walls of the train violently shook, the glass on the windows were scattered on the floor. The six ponies huddled together in fright. The train rocked left and right, and then- BAM... The train had fallen. Twilight opened her eyes. A black mare stood there, she was an alicorn with wings as large as a carriage. Her black coat was darker than that of ebony. She had a torn cloak with a 'black broken heart' holding it together by her neck. The eyes of the mare were like only 2 other creatures Twilight thought of, Nightmare Moon's, or a dragon's. The mare than disappeared, leaving Twilight shaken. Thankfully, the six ponies were the only passengers on the train, and the captain had escaped as soon as the shaking started.
The six ponies finally awoke, but they did not enjoy what they saw. The train looked beyond repair, and they seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Pinkie Pie tried to make thing better, but why would anypony look at the bright side when the world seemed to be on the dark side. They all started to walk, but it was not easy. Rainbow Dash had clipped her wings, Twilight had broken her horn, Rarity was covered in mud, Pinkie pie could not walk, Apple jack was starving and Fluttershy was being attacked by her Shadow. Twilight tried to fly and pick Pinkie up, but she was still a beginner and had not learned to yet, and so ended up falling on top of her. Little did they know that they were being watched from in the mountains. A grey mare with tears in her eyes stood there. She looked at them with confusion. No matter what happened, they continued to smile and be positive, even though everything was not the way they wanted. Suddenly, fright pierced the mares heart and she began to panic, were there anymore ponies inside the train? If so, where they hurt? The alicorn spread her wings and glided down to the floor, right next to the train.
"Hello...Is anypony there?" There was no answer. She repeated those words and nopony except Twilight heard her.
"Hi there! No need to worry, We were the only riders. I'm Twilight Spar-" and before she could continue the alicorn had taken the skies and was trying to get away. Fluttershy started flapping her wings eagerly, she had sensed sadness in the pony's body.
" Um...Excuse me, do you mind if you..well... stop running away please because we need your help..." Fluttershy gulped. This mysterious mare's ears pricked up, they wanted her help? She slowed down and flew back. "I am Twilight Sparkle, these are my friends, Fluttershy, Rainbow dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie pie. Whats your name?" Twilight asked curiously.
"I don't.... I don't know?" The unnamed pony told them.
"Oh, well how about your wings or horn, how did you get them?"
" I think I was born with them."
"Where?" Twilight asked and there was a long pause as soon as the mare shrugged. It was interrupted by a sneeze from Pinkie Pie.
"This way to the crystal empire." She stuttered, and began guiding them towards the shining kingdom. As they glided down onto the balcony of the castle ( rainbow dash picked applejack while rarity levitated herself. Pinkie of course used balloons) they were greeted by Cadence, who smiled weakly at them. For her eyes were full of worry, but they lighted with their usual spark as soon as she saw the alicorn, who's wings were carefully folded when they touched the ground.
"I see you brought a unicorn friend, twilight!" She smiled
"Unicorn?" They asked, their eyes filled with confusion. Pinkie hopped next to the grey alicorn, startling her, and unfolding ether wings.
"I think you mean ALICORN friend. And actually, we don't know her." She laughed.
"I'll be on my way..." She squeaked as she jumped off the edge of the balcony.
Cadence's heart sunk as she saw the pony, and used her levitation spell to bring her back. Alas, this pony was much more stronger than Cadence, and was able to escape. "Stop!" She cried and to her surprise, she did just that.
"What is it that you want from me?" The mare asked firmly. Cadence shook her head as if to say "nothing." The mare, quivering with fear, glided back down.
"Twilight, could I talk to you for a second?" Twilight nodded frantically.
"So you don't know anything about her?" She asked curiously.
"I'm sorry, Twilight, but I did not know of another existing alicorn... and for that reason I..."
"Yes, Cadence?"
"I think- I think she's the threat made against Equestria..." Twilight gasped out of disbelief, and both left the corner to join the group. The unnamed pony trotted a few inches towards Twilight. "Could you send a letter to Celestia?" Twilight nodded. The mare handed her a parchment of which Twilight sent to her room.
"There, it's at princess Celestia's chamber now." Twilight lied. The pony bowed her head gratefully and flew through the door that led to the room she'd stay in and rested her head.
Twilight threw herself onto her bed and grabbed the letter greedily. It read...
Dear Princess Of Equestria,
I'm so sorry...
That was it. Twilight let out a squeal of disappointment before she heard the wings of an alicorn flap. Twilight peered outside. The unknown alicorn stared at her, whispering something in a sorrowful voice.
"Twilight, what's a dream?"
"It's... Like another imaginary realm that's amusing or lovely to you... Don't you get them?"
"No. I see imaginary realms that scare me... A nightmare, you call it. It's those little, and frankly pointless things that others take for granted..." Suddenly, she reared up, her eyes glowing white. She gasped and attempted to gallop away, but was surrounded by the mane 6. Rearing up, she began to transform..
She continued to walk under the weather. The sky teared itself apart as she attempted to gallop towards a dim cave. She lay her wet head on the rocks. Shadows swallowed her whole yet she felt as if she was at home.
"Well well, what do we have here? Oh, a bad mare, I see." A voice echoed through the walls. She sat upright at once.
"Who are you?" She squeaked.
"I go by many names, Luna, The pony of shadows, but you can call me Nightmare Moon."
"What do you want from me?! Go away! I'll unleash your worst fear!"
"Hahaha, I AM fear, dear." A shadowy figure stood in front of her. "What I want is simple. You. I can help you, dear, like I helped HER. Too bad she wasn't grateful," "but I can save you from this destiny. I can help you take back what should've been YOURS!" A spark of envy and anger ignited in her heart. The grey pony walked backwards, her eyes fixed on the pony of shadows. She hesitated as she made her decision.
"You will assist me to embrace the fate and destiny that I have yearned for, and what must I give you in return?"
"Nothing you need. Just you, as I said before. I will take over your mind and soul, and I will speak for you and do what needs to be done on your behalf. Do you accept?"
With a salty and bitter tear running down her cheek, she whispered "Yes, I will do as I must..."
"Good..." It cackled as the shadow grabbed her heart. Darkness stood there, right in front of the terrified mare. It's silver eyes stared at her, the dagger for a pupil as always. It held up its hoof, and with a heavy heart, she grabbed it and shook it. She turned back, watching her shadow change into that of Darkness'. Now, however, she had silver armour that rapped itself around her stomach and neck, her left hoof too. The end of it was a curl, and her helmet had a crown rising from it.
"Is everypony this easy to trick?" She cackled.
Close your eyes, imagine you had a nightmare that made you cower in fear. That made your very senses scream, that made you want to shut your eyes and stop. Imagine it came to life."[|b]
The Celestial And Lunar Revolution
The guard slammed the door opened and galloped towards the throne. "Your Majesty! Horrid news from the South, they have started a Revolution! They want Princess Celestia and Luna back! They've called it 'The Celestial And Lunar Revolution'. They have thousands of ponies with them, and they're marching here now! We await your order." Darkness got up and ran to the balcony.
"They're too close to gather a new and larger army, take what we have. Don't hurt anyone, just use them to keep the Revolutionaries in their places." The guard saluted her and cantered out. She walked out and looked at the sky. She'd kept the sky in a Solar Eclipse for all her time. The crops were slowly dying, the whole of Equestria were starting to starve.
"I don't know what to do... I can't let anybody hurt themselves anymore... I just can't..." Darkness ran to join her army who stood, protecting the walls of the castle.
The guards paused in confusion as they watched her move forwards. "I understand that you all do not wish to be ruled by me. I- will put down my crown... But you may decide among yourselves who is to be Queen."
"We want Princess Celestia, Luna and Twilight back!" somebody from the revolution yelled.
"No, not them... I- I fear them..."
"Look! The Queen is scared of the ones who should be given the throne once more! Down with the Queen! Down with the Queen." They chanted aggressively, and began to charge. The guards decided it was time for them to attack as well. Darkness leaped up as they clashed.
"Stop... Stop please... STOP!" The queen screamed, and finally, they listened. "I will allow the princesses to return..." A swift cheering went throughout the land. She ran into her chambers, beginning to start her returning spell.
It was exhausting, even an alicorn couldn't complete it without great effort. Finally, after ages, it worked. Celestia, Luna and Twilight looked down upon the grey pony, who was unconscious. "What should we do..."
"I don't know- what- what's going on with her..." The light grew and grew, and when it cleared away, a beautiful pony stood there. Cadence soon ran through the door, nuzzling her family. The unnamed pony looked guiltily at the princesses, looked back and shrieked. For now, she was no longer grey, she was a true alicorn with her golden coat. Her hair, too, was blonde and it flowed as Luna's and Celestia's did. Her cutiemark was a sword behind a heart. Her eyes were red as pure blood, just softer.
"What does it mean?"
"Listen to your heart, not your sword, an important gift to have." Celestia beamed, "Now, your punishment. How about..."