Chapters Chapter 1, A Note not Wanted
"Darkness resides in us all, its only those who embrace it are to be destroyed......" -unknown
ShadowGale walked down the dark corridor of the manor. The quiet clop of her hooves against the oak wood floor was the only sound that echo across the hallways and rooms. She had caught wind of a message being sent to her by the princesses. ShadowGale groaned,
"Why can't those princess solve whatever is biting their asses by themselves," She sighed and stopped at the top of the stairs. Some servants rushed around busy as always. ShadowGale was expecting someone to arrive today but it seems they have not shown yet.
"What a shame," said ShadowGale under her breath. The chilly night air blew in from an open window at the end of the hall. She turned and walked to the window taking a breath of air before closing the window with a soft click. cold,just how she liked it. ShadowGale smiled a wicked smile. Then frantic hooves beats from behind grew louder as they approached, then skidded to a stop.
It was a servant.
"Madame ShadowGale, the messenger has finally arrived," He said frantically,
"Most good, its about time," ShadowGale smiled. She walked back down the hallway to the main hall. The Servant showed her were the messenger was told to wait. What ShadowGale saw was looked more like one of the princesses followers then a messenger. The mare was a light purple with a darker purple mane with pink stripes weaved into the mane and tail.
"Um miss Sparkle," Stammered the Servant, Twilight Sparkle turned toward them, and faced the servant with a happy expression.
"Madame ShadowGale," He said bowing and motioning a hove toward ShadowGale. and quickly after darting away as if scared by a ghost.
"Um..hello I'm Twilight Sparkle," Twilight said a little fear spiking up her voice before it settling down again.
"Greetings Twilight, as you might already know who I am," ShadowGale said with a smile, ShadowGale sat down in a chair by the fire and motioned for twilight to join her.
"Who is that now?" ShadowGale asks, Twilight looks around a bit before spotting what she meant.
"Oh, that's Spike he's my friend and assistant," Twilight said happily with a tint of pride. ShadowGale smiled wickedly again by accident. Twilight's eyes widened, ShadowGale quickly fixed her expression,
"Sorry about that, " she said laughing a little. Twilight smiled,
"That's ok," Twilight said. The atmosphere between them was an awkward one, ShadowGale didn't like this so she decided to hurry this along.
"Well it getting late and your little friend looks like he needs a room, and I'll read the letter before i go to bed," ShadowGale said voice sounding a little tired.
"Here let me show you to your room." She said, standing up and walking a few feet. Twilight stood up and an purple, pink aura appeared around Spike and placed him on her back then she followed ShadowGale to her room. The two walked up the stairs to the dark corridor that lead to the guest,master and resident rooms. The only sound that echoed down the hall was the clopping of hoofsteps of the oak wood floor. Twilight pondered whether to strike another conversation. Her face curved into an expression of thought and slight fear, "Is that fear I feel, why?" Twilight thought a little confused by why fear entered her emotions. ShadowGale chuckled under her breath, "This young unicorn fears me, how quaint," ShadowGale thought,laughing a little on the inside before asking Twilight a question.
"Um Twilight can I ask something?" she asked, tone full of curiosity,
"Yes, what is it?" Twilight responded with a bit of annoyance, that question had shattered her train of thought.
"What is your opinion about the princesses that rule over this land we call home?" ShadowGale said some slyness in voice,
Twilight heard the sly sound in her tone but answered anyway,
"Princess Celestia is my mentor and almost second mother in a way also is a great and wise leader and Princess Luna is more of a friend, who is still getting used to everything after being banished to the moon, she has a scary look to her but it really kind and gentle," Twilight said with lots of pride in her voice and she wanted ShadowGale to hear it.
ShadowGale smiled at Twilight's great pride in these princesses while was also getting stabbed in the back by the cold dagger of jealousy. ShadowGale had nothing else to say as they walked, it was eerily silent once again but in a few short steps Twilight would be in her chosen room and get some sleep, she had almost forgotten how leaded her legs were. she almost lost herself again before Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder, she looked up to see a concerned face looking back at her, Twilight for once took the chance to look into ShadowGale's eyes, the eyes were the window to the soul after all. dark burgundy with some black in eye color. it had a sinister look at their roots but when concerned they look warmer than you'd expect. Twilight shook her head,
"Sorry did I bunk into you?" Twilight apologized, ShadowGale smiled sweetly,
"yes but it alright, it happens," ShadowGale said still smiling, lightly pushing the room door open,
"we're here already?" Twilight said surprised. staring into the dimly lite room. she walked in, a brighter light was there too greet her, along with a bed that was calling to her, summoning some magic, that wrapped around Spike lifting him down on a small bed on the floor. Twilight jumped into bed and it was heaven to rest after a long journey. Twilight snuggled into the covers, ShadowGale laughed a little,
"well you seem to like it,and from the sound of him snoring he likes it to," she laughed a little louder,a snoring noise emitted from Spike signaling his comfort. Twilight laughed a little too before sleep was beginning take her in its gentle embrace, ShadowGale saw this and said "Good night" and left the room, the door closed behind her with a soft click. ShadowGale continued down the corridor, her soft hoof beats steadily echoed into the darkness.
The full moon's glow shown in through the windows of the hallway. As she entered her room, the slightly louder click of the doors closing behind her was eerie. She hung up her cloak in her wardrobe, she shook her wings a little before folding them to her sides and with a turn walked toward her bed as she walked, ShadowGale couldn't help but look into the mirror, she stopped to look real hard, a dark memory arose from an ancient grave like a zombie.
ShadowGale ran to confront her father who was already fighting her mother. As she ran into the ballroom where they were fighting she was horrified at the sight, blood everywhere mostly her Mothers and the housecarl who probably joined a little bit earlier. ShadowGale was frozen in fear, her joints locked in place, as she watched her Father butcher the housecarl in two pieces. Her mother shouted at him, anger loud in her tone, "Balthazar stop this madness," She cried angerly but almost more of disbelieve,
"Why should I, you have used black magic before Belladonna," Balthazar laughed, the purple ghost-like aura stretching on the end of his eyes. Belladonna gritted her teeth and lunged at him blade in a magic hold. Balthazar smiled as his eyes turned emerald green as he made a purple colored blade shoot out. "No....." ShadowGale said quietly and weakly, the blade shot out and all she could hear was her mother"s piercing scream echo. The sword went right through Belladonna like a knife to soft butter. Balthazar only smiled and threw the body off like nothing, a gasp slipped out from ShadowGale's mouth loud enough to reach her Father's ears. She cowered in fear as her Father turned to look at her, Balthazar walked over to his little frightened foul and said "It's ok there's nothing to be afraid of," He spoke quiet but ShadowGale could hear the wretched bite of amusement in his tone it stabbed her like a dagger. "There's plenty to be afraid of, Father," She said a little angry. Balthazar heard the tone loud and clear, backing off just a bit he said something ShadowGale will never forget. "Gale dear, I want you to know something, something important," there was a small pause, "That your daddy didn't choose to be this way, it was passed down in the family with great pride really and it is passed,now to you," He finished looking at the shock on his daughter's face. He smiled wickedly, as he knew his daughter was hating the new found answer.
"It....it can't...no your lying!" ShadowGale yelled and pushed her Father away, taking back he continued,
"Oh you know it true after all-" he was cut off by ShadowGale screaming "SHUT UP!!!" Balthazar's eyes narrowed, ShadowGale was slowly backing away from him when he looked her in the eyes.
"Don't you get snappy with me girl," He growled.
"I don't care,you killed m
Mommy and SteelWing, your not my Daddy anymore-" ShadowGale gasped as her neck was grabbed and she was suddenly hoisted up into the air by a purple tentacle, she started to gasp for breath. Balthazar was upset for how rudely his daughter spoke to him but she was his only daughter he had so,he would pass for an apology. ShadowGale was suddenly falling and with a hard boom fell to the floor. Pain shot through her as her father spoke
"Now listen well because I'm only going to say this once,you need to APOLOGIZE right know!" Balthazar said half yelling half through his teeth.
ShadowGale was silent for a minute before angerly shouting a straight forward "NO!" fear none existent in her voice, Balthazar roared in rage as now sword like object hurled toward her. A feeling sudden swept over her, it was a sinister feeling one that was dark but made you feel alive at the same time. Her eyes flooded with anger became just like her father's but scarier and more intense. Violent colored tentacle grabbed each blade and tossed them aside. ShadowGale lunged at her back father, Balthazar tried to dodge but failed and now welding katana like swords,stabbed into him. Balthazar in the first time in a while felt this stinging feeling over run him, his eyes widened, pain it was pain but instead of screaming he only laughed until his remaining breath faded but she continued to stab until there was hardly a body, letting out every sliver of anger she had bottled up into each thrust of the katana.Then the feeling left as quickly as it came and with that feeling the katanas left with it. ShadowGale looked at her bloodstained hooves, collapsed to the floor and began to cry, and before the memory fades, she says "What have I done and what creature lurks with in me?"...... ShadowGale stared into the mirror, all she saw was a her dreaded father looking back at her, it mocked her, taunted her. Her expression turn sower, ShadowGale roared in anger and hit the mirror as hard as she could,the deafening shattering sound shrieked across the hall. Waking Twilight with a start, jumping out of bed, she galloped down the hall toward ShadowGale's room, the source of the sound, she galloped past her room a little but soon managed to come to a skidding stop, Twilight turned around and trotted back to ShadowGale's room. She listened for a moment but heard nothing she assumed made she was wrong about where to shattering sound came from but she was concerned about something she did hear though, for the one thing that could be heard was almost nonexistent but loud enough to be found if searched for, Behind the door Twilight Sparkle heard the faint sound of crying.
(A few hours after Twilight's departure to Black Wind Castle). Princess Celestia paced around the room, she was filled with worry about her faithful student's safety.After all that place hold an unpredictable pony with past very dangerous.
"how is she not there by know I mean it shoulded be taking long," Celestia thought angrily as she paced. Then in the mist of all that thinking, a knock a door was heard.
" A.....sis are still in there?" a familiar voice asked, Celestia ceased her pacing, knowing that Luna would be a little upset about why she was pacing and not finishing her work. Quickly sitting down again at her desk she said,
"Yes I am, why?" Celestia said in most calm voice she could muster,
"Can I come in?" said the voice, with a bit of suspicion in her tone,
"Yes, you may," Celestia responded. The door quietly creaked open,
"Tia? you ok?" Luna asked as she entered,
"Why would you ask?" Celestia said, a little worried,
"I just heard PACING a minute ago," Luna said, angrily. Celestia sighed.
"Fine you caught me..." She admitted, head dropping a bit. Luna's expression softened, she was beginning to think, maybe she had over reacted little.
"I'm sorry it just annoys/worries me to no end when you paced like that, I shouldn't have lashed," Luna said frowning. Celestia faced to look at Luna with some sadness in her eyes.
"Lulu, its ok, I should be apologizing,not you," Celestia reassured, Luna sighed and got up to go sit next to her sister, Celestia wrapped a wing around Luna, hugging her close. It was silent for awhile before Luna shattered the silence,
'Tia, I know how much you're worried about Twilight Sparkle but she'll be fine, what I don;t understand why your so worried?" Luna said calmingly also partly asking question. Celestia sighed deeply, then spoke,
"Lulu,well you see Black Wind Castle is a dark place,known for harboring a family of black magic users, that's why I'm worried for Twilight, the resident's of that place are.....unpredictable," Celestia said like an upset mother. Luna thought hard for a moment before standing up, letting Celestia's wing limply fall to the floor, Celestia turned to faced luna as she walked out,
"Luna,where are you going?" She asked,
"I just remembered some errands I need to complete, thats all," Luna said turning her face toward Celestia while giving her a small smile. Celestia nodded in understanding, Luna nodding back, exiting the room, the doors barely making a sound as they closed. Celestia got up and walked over to her bed and layed down, all of her duties were done and everyone even princesses could always use a nice nap.
Luna walked down the sunlight hallway. She was heading to her bed chambers to finish some of her own work, which was in some desperate need of attention. When Luna finally reached her room. She opened the door to a dimly lite room with some moon decor. As the heavier oak doors closed with unexpected slam, making Luna jump a little, she sighed, she also worried for twilight but kept saying to herself that twilight would be fine. Luna had conversed with ShadowGale once before and she seemed alright but one thing was off. Unlike most dark magic users,she believed that dark magic was evil yes but it only because of the user. Luna thought hard for a moment, maybe she would have to visited her sometime again. She sat down at her desk, pulling a few books from a nearby shelf. She stopped for a moment before opening the cover, Luna bite her lip, she wanted to look inside but she didn't want to at the same time."I'll look later," Luna thought. opening the other book instead, she read on but her eyes kept glancing at the deep purple cover. The book had ancient spells in it but not all were to friendly. Luna resisted with all her might but finally broke, opening the book, she began freshing her memory on its contents. The book originally belonged to ShadowGale but it was a gift to Luna. "A gift given a long time ago," Luna thought. "Long time ago...."
Chapter 4 More Past stories
Twilight Sparkle pushed the door open, to find shards of glass, littering the floor. A black coated figure, lying near the mirror frame.
"ShadowGale..."Twilight whispered, ShadowGale looked up at Twilight in surprise.
"Twilight Sparkle, why are you here?" she asked. Twilight walked over to ShadowGale's side.
"what wrong enough, to cause you to do this?" Twilight asked. ShadowGale was a bit shocked that she cared, it answered her question.
"Oh just remembering how I......and who I......" ShadowGale tried to say before she began to uncontrollably cry again. Making Twilight panic on what to do. Then it hit her. Twilight sat down next to ShadowGale and wrapped her front legs around her and hugged her tight. ShadowGale let out a small gasp, before returning the hug. Twilight let ShadowGale go, ShadowGale reluctantly returned her hooves to her lap.
"Are you ok now?" Twilight asked. ShadowGale eyes fell on Twilight with a heavy stare. Twilight nervously shifted where she sat, Twilight couldn't comprehend how ShadowGale could make you so uncomfortable so fast. ShadowGale look out at the moon for a moment, it's eerie glow shown across the landscape. Twilight took this time to look ShadowGale over, the first thing that caught twilight's attention was that she had wings as well as a horn. Then ShadowGale's appearance was looked over. She was quite tall and looked around the size of Celestia. A dark magic "corrupted" shadow of waxing crescent moon on ShadowGale's black coat. Twilight observations was halted when ShadowGale sighed deeply through her nose. "yes I'm quite alright Twilight thanks for coming." ShadowGale's eyes were as kind as Twilight had even seen them in her visit. ShadowGale stood up, casting some magic from her horn. The glass littering the floor was picked up and reassembled into the mirror, placed back without a crack.
"You can go back to bed and I'll see you in the morning," ShadowGale turned back to her bed and climbed in, her head flopped in Twilight's direction. Twilight was confused for a moment before understanding the very subtle body language.
"Good night, ShadowGale," Twilight said, turning away, and leaving the room. When Twilight made it back to her room and snuggled into the bed, she thought that maybe just maybe she was actually making some progress.
the next morning.
It was a bright and beautiful morning, and Twilight was headed down stairs to the dining room for breakfast. Still shaken from the events of last night Twilight hoped ShadowGale was doing well. As she entered the room she was surprised to find ShadowGale waiting for her.
"Morning Ms. Sparkle," ShadowGale smiled warmly, while turning to face her.
"Um, Morning, are you doing better?" Twilight said hoping her hadn't over stepped her bounds.
"Yes I'm much better thank you, sit won't you," ShadowGale gestured to the set of chairs at the far end of the table. Twilight hurried down to them. She climbed up on to on and got cozy.
"I greatly apologize for last night, I've been under a lot of stress of late," ShadowGale frowned.
"But besides that are you settling in ok?" Twilight meet ShadowGale's content smile.
"Yes I am and so is Spike," Twilight smiled back,
"By the way where your dragon friend?, I'd hate to leave one of my guests hungry," ShadowGale looked around for a moment before centering her gaze back on Twilight.
"oh, He's asleep still, I believe, want me to go wake him?" Twilight said, a tad worried. ShadowGale nodded her head, and Twilight haste fully left the room. When Twilight was gone, ShadowGale clapped her hoof on the table, and with speed out came a servant from the kitchen. She bowed,
"Yes, Madame?" Her voice was slightly shaky, but only due to a cold she was fighting. ShadowGale smiled,
"Could you set a place for Twilight's dragon friend, to her right will do," Servant bowed again,
"Of course, Milady." Then the servant walked out of the room and into the kitchen. After a few moments she come out once again, and she then set the spot for up Spike. Just as she left, Twilight come down with an angry Spike. Spike was reluctant to get up because he knew ShadowGale was dangerous and Celestia herself warned him about her. "I'm going to have be careful around her," Spike thought, scowling. As the dining room came into view, did ShadowGale. "Spike, this is ShadowGale," Twilight gestured toward her, ShadowGale smiled and nodded. Spike nodded in response, then got comfortable in his seat. With that ShadowGale clapped both of her hooves on the table, and within seconds waiters and waitresses appeared carrying all sorts of breakfast food. Twilight was a bit overwhelmed at first, but eventually got the hang of the rush. After they left back into the kitchen, Twilight look over to Spike and scowled,
"SPIKE! Why didn't you take any?! ShadowGale doesn't have to feed us, you know." Twilight glowered, ShadowGale smiled, sinisterly before speaking.
"Oh, no need to fret Twilight, I know just the thing to handle disobedient little Dragons." She cackled. Spike froze, fearful on what she was going to do.
"Don't worry, it wouldn't hurt," Then ShadowGale's horn lite up, Spike braced himself for impact, but when nothing came he opened his to gasp in awe. A large platter of jewels was hovering before him, Spike dug in the instant ShadowGale put it down. Twilight still frowned,
"How does that help discipline him?" She demanded,
"Well, I'll tell you later," ShadowGale winked in Twilight's direction, Twilight then had a very interesting question.
"Um, ShadowGale?, How did you become an alicorn?" ShadowGale's face twisted into a snarl before just remaining tence. Twilight slouched, worried she had asked the wrong question, Spike to had noticed and hid behind his meal.
"Well, Twilight, believe it or not I was once an Earth pony, my father made me this way," ShadowGale finally spoke, Twilight was interested now same with Spike.
"Since being a Unicorn in my family was important, I was left alone often by my Father, for he wanted a daughter that could cast magic not push and pull carts." ShadowGale paused gathering the memories and containing some emotions with them.
"I still loved him though, but at one point he would never leave his office, he only came out for food and water, but even that was rare, One day, he surprised me with the promise of a gift, and said for me to go into the garden for he would be there shortly, I blindly listened then walking out into the garden. I walked onto the center so then be ambushed by a restant spell and a magic circle. My Father stepped out, and his horn was lit with black magic, sure I was used to this, but A sick feeling in my gut told me that something horrible was about to happen. Then this pain sensation flooded my forehead, and only increased. I tried to cry for my Mother, but the screams were silenced, the sensation then made its way to my sides. I won't fully describe the agony of the moment, but I digress, Then wings burst from my side just bones and with the spells magic made flesh and fur grow over quickly. When the spell was over, I collapsed onto the stone circle we were standing in. My Father looked me over first before walking off, I blacked out then, after I'm not sure how long, I woke up in my bedroom with my Mother." ShadowGale had finished the story and her breakfast, along with Twilight and Spike. ShadowGale pushed her plate further away from herself, and then stood up. She turned, and walked out of the dining hall. Twilight got up, following ShadowGale into the other room it didn't matter how fast she walked ShadowGale was always ahead of her.