Star In The Darkby Emotional FlightChaptersRainbow DashApplejackRarityFluttershyI - SpikeTwilight SparklePinkie PieRainbow DashThe wind whistled by her mane as she whipped through the air. She twisted, turning by the nearby tree. Her Star guided her forwards, and a small scattering of rainbow light played near her hooves. She breathed in, the air swirling into her nostrils. Rainbow Dash was alone. Before her, a monolith rose into the air like a jagged rip in the world. The glowing stream flowing off of the peak shimmered, but Rainbow Dash held no allusions as to its true purpose. As a pulse began to work its way into the workings of the world, she soldiered forwards through the thickening air. Her Star pulsed her rainbow ever brighter. Rainbow Dash was alone. She could feel her Star, roaring defiantly against the wind. Her wings pushed outwards, the air around them solidifying into tangible substance. She could feel her magic, holding the cloud and keeping its form. Rainbow Dash was alone. The wind tore by her fur, and she shuddered, holding the condensed water together with an effort of supreme will. As the pulse began to abate, retreating into the glow, she began to relax onto her resting spot. Rainbow Dash was alone. She needed to maintain the knowledge of others. Her Star was the connection, and she would be damned before she let it go astray. Rainbow Dash was alone. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it. ApplejackHer hooves planted themselves in the dirt as she leaned forwards into the harsh wind. The earth folded around her hooves, and she leaned forwards. The pulse tore through her world, and even as she tried to calm, it shuddered up her forehooves. Applejack was bending. The darkened crack, looming above her, seemed to twist in the light, piercing into the moonlit air. She glared up at the menacing blackness, standing grounded in the earth. Applejack was bending. Her Star put up a defense against the pulse, but she knew that it wasn't going to be enough. She looked down as the flashes echoed across the landscape, lighting up both the trees and the forest. She shuddered as the feeling warped around her Star's defenses. Applejack was bending. It flowed into her, and she pulled her energy inwards in an attempt to stave off the storm. She wasn't sure, but she felt like she had to move, to go away from the awful feeling of consistency. She shut down such thoughts with a shudder. Applejack was bending. She had to stand alone. Her Star was the last line of defense, and she would hold that position until the blackness had overcome her. Applejack was bending. If she had to give away her own Star to do it, then so be it. RarityHer hoof caught on a branch, and she tripped, falling onto the ground with a thump. Her horn, lit for the light, cast shadows over the landscape. A staff which had been clutched in her hooves fell with a clatter to the ground next to her. Rarity was stumbling. Her horn lit slightly brighter, and the staff drifted over to her hooves. She pushed herself upwards until she was once again standing tall. Her white coat shimmered slightly, even as the menacing spike into the sky loomed above her. As she looked up, the glowing river began to flow. Rarity was stumbling. She wasn't ready, but she prepared anyway. The horn on her head blinked for just a moment, and a pair of leaves slid down over her eyes, blocking out the natural glow. A pair of custom ear coverings came over her sensitive sound receivers. The light on her horn went out, and the darkness closed in around her. She shivered. Rarity was stumbling. The pulse hit her in the dark, slamming into her coverings. She grimaced, but stood firm, her Star pushing back the ever encroaching darkness. Rarity was stumbling. She had to give up her own. Her Star gave to those she knew, and she would help those others until her coat lost its whiteness and faded to grey. Rarity was stumbling. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it. FluttershyHer wings were folded tightly against her sides. Her Star tried to call out to those who would listen to her voice, but it was caught in the pulse. She could feel her voice warping, becoming part of the collective beat that cover all of this undue creation. Fluttershy was closing. The air bent around her irregular energy, folding over her form as she took her magic and culled it to her farthest depths. The glowing river above her wisped its way off the apex of the utter blackness that sliced its way jaggedly upwards into the star filled sky. Fluttershy was closing. She whimpered, folding her wings forwards with a pain filled grimace. The feathers pushed back against the wind, and she hunkered down against a nearby tree. Her Star shuddered for a moment, but picked itself back up and reasserted itself against the tearing pulse. Fluttershy was closing. The pulse hammered against her, and she tried to pull in a little more to hold off the storm. Her eyes were clenched shut, but even through her eyelids, the glow was pulsing. As the pulse slowed to a stop, she moaned, getting back on her hooves. Fluttershy was closing. She had to have empathy. Her Star was to feel others, and she would fight against the blackness with all her might to see one of them again. Fluttershy was closing. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it. I - SpikeI - Spike Spike's feet thumped against the ground. His toes dug into the soft dirt, and he launched himself forwards with a leap. He rolled to a stop, panting slightly from the exertion, his breathing the only noise in the silent forest. He was alone. He knew this, almost instinctively. Despite this, he had soldiered on, trying to find someone - anyone - that he could talk to. He hadn't seen anyone for his entire time in this place. The trees, the jagged tear that somehow had physical form, the glowing river - he was alone in this place, and he hated it. His fist clenched. There was nothing. No need, none of the driving force that life normally provided. He didn't need food, didn't get thirsty, and couldn't fall asleep. The only break from the monotony was the damnable pulses from the center of this place. They were so regular and consistent that he had taken to counting their release as a way of measuring the time. At this point? One-hundred and sixty two. He slumped. He just wanted to see one more pony again... The glowing river pulsed. Spike gasped and turned, trying to block out the sound he knew was beginning to force its way out of the crack above him. He glanced up. The glow hit his retina, and he immediately hunkered down, whimpering. One-hundred and sixty three... The sound roared over Spike. He could feel something in him, pulsing in time. He panicked, trying to stop its pulse. It began, slowly, to morph out of synch. He clenched his hands as hard as he could. He knew that he shouldn't conform, that he had to stay strong and be different. That was what drove him now, for he had no other purpose. He had to stave off the endless monotony. Spike opened his eyes as the pulsing abated. He curled upwards, getting back up onto his feet. He groaned as he stretched, his muscles untightening after such a frantic experience. He stepped forwards - The air in front of him shifted, shimmering as if it was just a mirage. He vanished. Twilight SparkleThe stars winked into existence above her as she walked through the darkening trees. The moon gleamed down with a shimmering light, touching upon all of the stones scattered around the ground. Her hoofbeats rang out through the forest with regularity as her appendages struck the ground. Twilight Sparkle was cold. She wasn't quite sure how long it had been. A day? A week? A year? Her wings twitched as she went down this line of thinking before quickly shutting it off. Despite having eternity, there was no time for regrets. Twilight Sparkle was cold. Her horn pulsed, and she grimaced, hoofbeats faltering for a moment. She looked upwards through the trees at the spire that rose from the center, and noting its glowing stream, she quickly snuffed out her light. The forest's trees no longer reflected her magic, and she shivered. Twilight Sparkle was cold. Above her, she felt a pulse, but she knew better than to watch. She kept her head down and her eyes clenched shut as the pulses traveled over the landscape and shuddered through her frame. She had turned off her energy, but there was only so much she could rid from her frail form. Twilight Sparkle was cold. She needed to keep balance. Her Star was to keep harmony, and she would do it until the end of her days. Twilight Sparkle was cold. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it. Pinkie PieHer hooves planted themselves against a nearby tree as the pulse tore its way through the world. The stones beneath her hooves shuddered with a regular symphony. The rocks around her felt unnatural as they hummed in chorus. Pinkie Pie was quiet. Her ears folded back against her head as the pulse wormed its way into her brain. She whimpered, trying to ignore the rhythmic thumping that was making her hooves twitch with the beat. She started to slam her hoof out of time. Pinkie Pie was quiet. Her Star tried to stop the pulse as it tore through her consciousness. As her heart conformed to the beat, her Star pushed back against it. The green trees around her flared with life even as she pushed back against the beat of the world. Pinkie Pie was quiet. Above her, the tower carved its way into the sky, the glowing stream flowing off of its crown and down to the earth. The pulse tore at her Star, and she pulled her energy inwards, battling against the rising tide of sound. It ripped at her heart, trying to mold her beat until the end of time. Pinkie Pie was quiet. She needed to keep her own pulse. Her Star was to show differences, and she was going to do so until the heat left her withered carcass. Pinkie Pie was quiet. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it.
Rainbow DashThe wind whistled by her mane as she whipped through the air. She twisted, turning by the nearby tree. Her Star guided her forwards, and a small scattering of rainbow light played near her hooves. She breathed in, the air swirling into her nostrils. Rainbow Dash was alone. Before her, a monolith rose into the air like a jagged rip in the world. The glowing stream flowing off of the peak shimmered, but Rainbow Dash held no allusions as to its true purpose. As a pulse began to work its way into the workings of the world, she soldiered forwards through the thickening air. Her Star pulsed her rainbow ever brighter. Rainbow Dash was alone. She could feel her Star, roaring defiantly against the wind. Her wings pushed outwards, the air around them solidifying into tangible substance. She could feel her magic, holding the cloud and keeping its form. Rainbow Dash was alone. The wind tore by her fur, and she shuddered, holding the condensed water together with an effort of supreme will. As the pulse began to abate, retreating into the glow, she began to relax onto her resting spot. Rainbow Dash was alone. She needed to maintain the knowledge of others. Her Star was the connection, and she would be damned before she let it go astray. Rainbow Dash was alone. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it.
ApplejackHer hooves planted themselves in the dirt as she leaned forwards into the harsh wind. The earth folded around her hooves, and she leaned forwards. The pulse tore through her world, and even as she tried to calm, it shuddered up her forehooves. Applejack was bending. The darkened crack, looming above her, seemed to twist in the light, piercing into the moonlit air. She glared up at the menacing blackness, standing grounded in the earth. Applejack was bending. Her Star put up a defense against the pulse, but she knew that it wasn't going to be enough. She looked down as the flashes echoed across the landscape, lighting up both the trees and the forest. She shuddered as the feeling warped around her Star's defenses. Applejack was bending. It flowed into her, and she pulled her energy inwards in an attempt to stave off the storm. She wasn't sure, but she felt like she had to move, to go away from the awful feeling of consistency. She shut down such thoughts with a shudder. Applejack was bending. She had to stand alone. Her Star was the last line of defense, and she would hold that position until the blackness had overcome her. Applejack was bending. If she had to give away her own Star to do it, then so be it.
RarityHer hoof caught on a branch, and she tripped, falling onto the ground with a thump. Her horn, lit for the light, cast shadows over the landscape. A staff which had been clutched in her hooves fell with a clatter to the ground next to her. Rarity was stumbling. Her horn lit slightly brighter, and the staff drifted over to her hooves. She pushed herself upwards until she was once again standing tall. Her white coat shimmered slightly, even as the menacing spike into the sky loomed above her. As she looked up, the glowing river began to flow. Rarity was stumbling. She wasn't ready, but she prepared anyway. The horn on her head blinked for just a moment, and a pair of leaves slid down over her eyes, blocking out the natural glow. A pair of custom ear coverings came over her sensitive sound receivers. The light on her horn went out, and the darkness closed in around her. She shivered. Rarity was stumbling. The pulse hit her in the dark, slamming into her coverings. She grimaced, but stood firm, her Star pushing back the ever encroaching darkness. Rarity was stumbling. She had to give up her own. Her Star gave to those she knew, and she would help those others until her coat lost its whiteness and faded to grey. Rarity was stumbling. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it.
FluttershyHer wings were folded tightly against her sides. Her Star tried to call out to those who would listen to her voice, but it was caught in the pulse. She could feel her voice warping, becoming part of the collective beat that cover all of this undue creation. Fluttershy was closing. The air bent around her irregular energy, folding over her form as she took her magic and culled it to her farthest depths. The glowing river above her wisped its way off the apex of the utter blackness that sliced its way jaggedly upwards into the star filled sky. Fluttershy was closing. She whimpered, folding her wings forwards with a pain filled grimace. The feathers pushed back against the wind, and she hunkered down against a nearby tree. Her Star shuddered for a moment, but picked itself back up and reasserted itself against the tearing pulse. Fluttershy was closing. The pulse hammered against her, and she tried to pull in a little more to hold off the storm. Her eyes were clenched shut, but even through her eyelids, the glow was pulsing. As the pulse slowed to a stop, she moaned, getting back on her hooves. Fluttershy was closing. She had to have empathy. Her Star was to feel others, and she would fight against the blackness with all her might to see one of them again. Fluttershy was closing. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it.
I - SpikeI - Spike Spike's feet thumped against the ground. His toes dug into the soft dirt, and he launched himself forwards with a leap. He rolled to a stop, panting slightly from the exertion, his breathing the only noise in the silent forest. He was alone. He knew this, almost instinctively. Despite this, he had soldiered on, trying to find someone - anyone - that he could talk to. He hadn't seen anyone for his entire time in this place. The trees, the jagged tear that somehow had physical form, the glowing river - he was alone in this place, and he hated it. His fist clenched. There was nothing. No need, none of the driving force that life normally provided. He didn't need food, didn't get thirsty, and couldn't fall asleep. The only break from the monotony was the damnable pulses from the center of this place. They were so regular and consistent that he had taken to counting their release as a way of measuring the time. At this point? One-hundred and sixty two. He slumped. He just wanted to see one more pony again... The glowing river pulsed. Spike gasped and turned, trying to block out the sound he knew was beginning to force its way out of the crack above him. He glanced up. The glow hit his retina, and he immediately hunkered down, whimpering. One-hundred and sixty three... The sound roared over Spike. He could feel something in him, pulsing in time. He panicked, trying to stop its pulse. It began, slowly, to morph out of synch. He clenched his hands as hard as he could. He knew that he shouldn't conform, that he had to stay strong and be different. That was what drove him now, for he had no other purpose. He had to stave off the endless monotony. Spike opened his eyes as the pulsing abated. He curled upwards, getting back up onto his feet. He groaned as he stretched, his muscles untightening after such a frantic experience. He stepped forwards - The air in front of him shifted, shimmering as if it was just a mirage. He vanished.
Twilight SparkleThe stars winked into existence above her as she walked through the darkening trees. The moon gleamed down with a shimmering light, touching upon all of the stones scattered around the ground. Her hoofbeats rang out through the forest with regularity as her appendages struck the ground. Twilight Sparkle was cold. She wasn't quite sure how long it had been. A day? A week? A year? Her wings twitched as she went down this line of thinking before quickly shutting it off. Despite having eternity, there was no time for regrets. Twilight Sparkle was cold. Her horn pulsed, and she grimaced, hoofbeats faltering for a moment. She looked upwards through the trees at the spire that rose from the center, and noting its glowing stream, she quickly snuffed out her light. The forest's trees no longer reflected her magic, and she shivered. Twilight Sparkle was cold. Above her, she felt a pulse, but she knew better than to watch. She kept her head down and her eyes clenched shut as the pulses traveled over the landscape and shuddered through her frame. She had turned off her energy, but there was only so much she could rid from her frail form. Twilight Sparkle was cold. She needed to keep balance. Her Star was to keep harmony, and she would do it until the end of her days. Twilight Sparkle was cold. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it.
Pinkie PieHer hooves planted themselves against a nearby tree as the pulse tore its way through the world. The stones beneath her hooves shuddered with a regular symphony. The rocks around her felt unnatural as they hummed in chorus. Pinkie Pie was quiet. Her ears folded back against her head as the pulse wormed its way into her brain. She whimpered, trying to ignore the rhythmic thumping that was making her hooves twitch with the beat. She started to slam her hoof out of time. Pinkie Pie was quiet. Her Star tried to stop the pulse as it tore through her consciousness. As her heart conformed to the beat, her Star pushed back against it. The green trees around her flared with life even as she pushed back against the beat of the world. Pinkie Pie was quiet. Above her, the tower carved its way into the sky, the glowing stream flowing off of its crown and down to the earth. The pulse tore at her Star, and she pulled her energy inwards, battling against the rising tide of sound. It ripped at her heart, trying to mold her beat until the end of time. Pinkie Pie was quiet. She needed to keep her own pulse. Her Star was to show differences, and she was going to do so until the heat left her withered carcass. Pinkie Pie was quiet. If she had to give away her Star to do so, then so be it.
