Three days since the party joined arms Sunset Shimmer and Twilight had both started consistently studying all energies and styles they encountered throughout Onimak. Awkright was down below deck reading minor stories while Caster was at the helm of the ship. They were only a couple of hours away from The Isle Of Night and there first step towards saving there captured friend.

Sunset looked around after setting down her journal looking for Gidget. The young creator was intriguing. The young girl hardly ever sat still and her aura of capability exceeded many young fillies at her age. Looking up towards the sky Sunset spotted the girl hanging off the side of the crow's nest. Sunsets eyes widened, "Hey! Gidget are you alright?!" she cried out.

Gidget began to fall as she seemed to lose grip on the nests edge plummeting rapidly down to the deck. Sunset screeched and jumped over a railing and catching the girl with a wave of her hand. A yellow magical aura surrounded Gidget as she squealed and giggled, "H-hey! Ha ha! You weren't supposed to catch me! I was testing out some new glide gear I had sewn onto my clothing. It clips to my back and looks like an extra layer of clothing till I need it," she said exposing the flaps of leather.

Sunset let out a deep sigh and scowled, "You shouldn't be experimenting with equipment on a ship. I could understand if we were in a wind room, but were out in the middle of the ocean. Not even just your average ocean. An ocean, in a realm, that we hardly know anything about!" she said.

Caster clicked a little switch on the floor below the helm. A medium sized staff came out of a little pocket below the helm causing it to stick in place. Caster smiled, "Pirate Cruise Control," he chuckled walking down to the girls. Sunset was a little frustrated with Gidget but Caster shrugged off the notion, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Sunset Shimmer is right. While were out on the ocean heading for The Isle of Night anything could happen. Dark depth Exion can rise up and snatch you out of the air. The Aura that protects this ship only covers the ship. Anybody aboard the ship is vulnerable to attack," he explained.

Gidget stuck her tongue out at the Phoenix Smith, "I could've handled myself. I handled myself pretty well heading into the depths of hell," she said pouting. Caster groaned, "Ok for one that was ground battle. The design of your glide flaps won't allow you to brawl in mid-flight," he said.

Sunset blinked looking at the large man, "How old are you again sir?" she asked sheepishly. Caster held up a finger keeping her focused, "Head down to my work shop and work a little bit more. We'll be arriving at The Isle soon," he said to Gidget. Gidget scowled and began to trudge down the steps to the lower deck.

Caster shook his head wiping his hand over his face, "The young are getting more and more cocky as the days go by..." he said sitting against the railing. Sunset chuckled, "That's how we all see it. It's part of growing I suppose," she said.

Caster nodded leaning his head back letting the wind bowl over his short hair, "I suppose you're right. We were all that age at one time I suppose... To answer your question, I'm thirty-two years old. I've just learned a lot since I was a little boy and my cousin, as dim witted as he is sometimes, helped me along the way. I now lead and watch over the main continent of the realm. Can't say I'm really happy with the position, but I am proud I get to be the one to help mold the path for a better future for our people," he said.

Sunset giggled, "Well Mr. Leader, why aren't you back on the continent if it's so important?" she asked.

Caster leaned to the side looking at her, "Well... The realms are in danger and that cheeky girl down in my work shop needs help knocking the villain controlling my cousin back to the pit from once he came," he said. Sunset laughed warmly, "Sounds like a lot of responsibility," she said.

Caster shrugged, "Honestly it comes with the title of being a hero. It's just an occupational hazard," he chuckled. Sunset smiled as Caster went back to the helm, "Occupational hazard..." she murmured.

Twilight was meditating in the lower decks. The young princess was practicing her magic focusing on the items she had floating around her. Awkright limped into the room eyeing the princess hungrily but held himself back. The Exion felt surprised how well he was getting used to the upper world.

Twilight took a deep breath opening one eye to see the Exion, "What do you want?" she asked. Awkright chuckled walking forward on his staff, "Nothing really. Just curious to actually watch another inhabitant of another realm practice their art. I can sense you have touched the darkness of your realm and control it quite well. I'm impressed Princess Sparkle," he said.

Twilight scowled, "I don't mind a compliment here and there but hearing it from you is suspicious. Also, I had to practice it a lot more when I was around my friends. Working with magic requires knowing both sides of the table. I almost didn't make it out of the experiment alive..." she said.

Awkright shrugged leaning against a post, "I suppose what should really matter to a wizard such as yourself is that you're here today. It was a lesson and an accomplishment for yourself. Don't let failed attempts bring you down, learn from the mistakes and grow," he said.

Twilight frowned, "I appreciate the lesson but... Why are you telling me this?" she asked quietly. Awkright rolled his eyes, "I suppose it's the shard of sanity that was left in Roarks mind that was left in me. I hardly know anything except experience. Heed my words and follow their meanings," he said walking back up the stairs.

Twilight sat dumbfounded taking in the Exions words. Was he being sincere, or was he just putting thoughts in her head? The pony girl sighed softly unsure of what to think. This realm was almost completely different from Equestria and Canterlot High. She sighed softly closing her eyes beginning to meditate, *Oh sweet Celestia... What have I gotten myself into?* she thought.

The Isle of Night, it's blacks sands and dark mountain terrain stood before the odd company of five. Caster sighed softly, "Well the easy part's over. Now we-!" Awkright had jumped over the edge onto the beach. Caster scowled and jumped down after him. The girls all looked at each other and shrugged as they began to climb off the ship.

Awkright looked around taking in the musty air as his eyes began to glow slightly. The Exion Lords arms began to straighten as dark energy began to seep from the ground flowing into his body. Awkright felt the energy fill his body and chuckled as it dissipated and fell away from his body. The Exion Lord flexed his hands but still could not use his arms properly.

Caster frowned, "What was with the little show?" he asked. Awkright turned pointing one finger towards the other. Caster blinked, "You can use your arms now?" he asked.

Awkright nodded, "I can channel some of my energy through my arms again, but I still require aid. The raw energy that had been left here was able to revive some of my bodily functions. When I leave I will be useless once more. However, I am able to do one thing to aid us in our quest. Raise my hand towards the mountains," he said.

Caster frowned activating his phoenix style keeping a separation between physical contact. Awkright focused his mind and what little energy he had as Caster raised his arms towards the mountains. The thick mist around them began to swirl and shift as it rose above and beyond the mountain tops.

Caster blinked as the girls joined them, "How were you able to do that? The mist is practically a living being here," he said as he lowered the Exions arms. Awkright sighed rotating his shoulders. A sickly popping noise could be heard as his arms popped back into place.

"The mist is made from dark matter. Raw dark matter. It can only be moved by an Exions hand or ability," he said. Gidget cheered aloud causing everyone to stare at her. Gidget giggled softly, "You two actually worked together and didn't even argue!" she said.

Awkright chuckled while Caster's flaming armor began to crackle and grow darker in color. Sunset and Twilight both started laughing, *You know... It may not be what I'm used to like in Equestria... But it still has the hearty feeling I get when I'm around my friends,* Twilight thought happily.

Caster growled and deactivated his abilities, "Come on. We've gotta deal with some things before we get to Nightshade's cave. This island has more to show besides it's abnormal terrain," he said. Awkright nodded picking up his staff.

Sunset raised an eyebrow, "What's hiding on the island?" she asked. Caster turned towards her then looked at Awkright. Awkright sighed, "Some older... Lesser renown Exion live on the island that have been mutated by the constant exposure to the dark matter in the island. The only reason any of you can stand here, or Nightshade for the matter while he was training, is due to the fact that we're radiating enough energy or magic to counteract the dark matters assault," he said.

Sunset nodded, "And if we use all of our magic?" she asked.

Awkright stared at her, "So long as we're around you can't be touched," he said.

The ground began to quake and Caster sighed, "Alright time to get a move on. If we don't... We're gonna have company," he said. Gidget gestured towards the ship with a questioning look. Caster chuckled, "The enchantment set upon the ship is still in effect even though we're not aboard her. The beasts won't be able to pierce the barrier so they probably won't bother it much," he said. Gidget looked to the boat then back at her company and smiled with enthusiasm.

Caster led the way through a small crevice and into a large tunnel, "Twilight, or Sunset, whichever, Think you could shed make some light for us?" he asked. Awkright slightly tapped the man, "What?!" he said irritably.

Awkright frowned, "Let me lead the way. I can see quite well in the dark. Plus... The creature stirring in this tunnel wouldn't be so nice if we woke it up with the light," he said. The man groaned, "Fine..." he said.

With Awkright in the lead they avoided small crevices and a giant scaly tail. Gidget looked around the island as they passed. Craters could be seen around the area. The distinct smell of decay surrounded most of them.

Awkright stopped at the base of a mountain that curved up and Gidget stick by my side, and you girls do the same. Caster's Zodiac Style should be suitable enough for him to climb by himself. This cliff can be a bit slippery. After Gidget and I make it to the top you girls follow so Caster can catch you if needed," he said.

Caster scowled as he watched Awkright and Gidget begin to climb, *You seem to care a little too deeply about this girl Awkright...* he thought. As Awkright and Gidget continued up the air seemed to thicken. Gidget found it a little hard to breath. At the top Awkright dropped himself against the side of the mountain breathing heavily and wheezing, "I hate being mortal," he groaned. Gidget smiled and turned towards the edge, "Alright we made it! Twilight! Sunset! Come on up!" she cried.

The little girls cries echoed through the air and a deep gurgling roar could be heard from above. Awkright quickly rose but was quickly knocked down by a large silky arm! Gidget turned with her armor activating. The hulking mess of a creature looked at the girl as its tendrils lathered across its mouth eyeing the girl.

Gidget's scythe quickly formed in her hand as she swung out at the creature. The creature easily shifted out of the way and caught the girls leg with its tendrils slamming her into the ground repeatedly. Gidget cried out as she heard Caster call from below. The creature threw her to the edge of cliff opening its slimy maw. Gidget started to rise grabbing a small sliver of rock as the creature slammed itself towards her. Gidget stepped to the side and stabbed the creature in the eye with the sliver.

The creature reacted by slapping the girl hard blasting her off the cliff. The strike knocked the wind out of Gidget as she plummeted from the sky down to the cavern below. She hit the side of a mountain hard bouncing to the ground. The sound of her arm and leg cracking rebounded in her mind. Gidget tried taking in a breath but the pain quickly washed over her and she blacked out.

Author's Note

So now you get to see a little bit more of what dark matter can do to other beings in Onimak along with what's in store should anyone truly wish to explore the isle of night.

Any thoughts? Please comment!
~Mighty Ninyn