When Darkness Reins

"Twily!" Shining Armor exclaimed as the slender alicorn mare flung herself into his outspread forelegs. He'd missed his little sister more than she'd known. He had been caught up with managing the crystal empire and his new daughter...he'd had his hooves full, and only now did he have a chance to finally see his sister again.

"Oh, Shining Armor. I missed you so much! How's Flurry Heart?" Twilight questioned, canting her head to the side as the rest of her friends hurried up, Spike wobbling on his wee little legs as he held a leaning tower of bags.

"Oh, she's kept our hooves full. Right now, Sunburst is foalsitting her so I could have some time to spend with my little sister." He ruffled her glossy mane and she giggled, her lips turning up in an even wider smile.

"Oh, I wanna see her!" Pinkie exclaimed, throwing herself in front of Applejack, who took a few steps back to avoid her with a grin. "Where is she? Oh please, I wanna see her!"

"Well, she's in her playroom with Sunburst." Shining chuckled, and Pinkie was gone in a millisecond, merely a pink blur shooting into the regal doorway of the crystal castle. Rarity suddenly flashed her horn and levitated the many bags as Spike began to lean a bit too far back, accidentally letting go of his burden to flail his arms with a cry.

"Well darling, we're going to head to our room and then join Pinkie. We want to give you and your brother some time to catch up." Rarity smiled as Fluttershy nodded behind her in agreement, helping Spike to his paws as he brushed himself off with an embarrassed smile.

"Oh. Okay! Well, I'll see you fillies later, then." Twilight smiled, waving her hoof as her friends turned and cantered the same way Pinkie had gone. After they had left, Shining put his hoof on his little sister's back.

"Come on, Twily. I got someplace I wanna show you." He said warmly, his eyes sparkling. Twilight grinned and bounced a little.

"Alright!"

* * * *

The crystal road glittered underneath the ponies' hooves as they cantered along, Twilight chattering on about happenings in Ponyville, and how she and her friends had been helping with friendship all over Equestria. She went on about how well Starlight was doing in her studies, among other things, and Shining listened with full attention.

"Oh, um...where's Cadence, by the way?" Twilight asked, looking up from the small, crystalline StarSwirl The Bearded figurine she had bought at the small store Shining had taken her to. It was very well made, midnight-blue crystal dotted with silver specks, like stars.

"Ah. She had some business to attend to in Canterlot. She'll be back tomorrow." He replied cheerfully, swishing his long, streaked tail as they passed another store, "The Crystal Creature." Displayed in the windows were beautiful, crystal figurines of creatures ranging from rabbits to dragons.

"Ooh!" Twilight cried, her wings flaring in excitement. "I could buy something for Fluttershy in there! Come on, Shining Armor! I've got a few bits left." And before he could get a word in edgewise, she had galloped through the door, the little bell tinkling. He smiled, shaking his head, and trotted after her.

* * * *

"Oh my gosh! It's....It's lovely, Twilight! Thank you!" Fluttershy squealed from atop her bed, kicking her hind legs and hugging the purple-and-blue-hued crystal cat figurine to her chest. Applejack had positioned her apple figurine under her lamp, Pinkie Pie was ogling her cupcake, Rarity was squealing over her blue-tinged white gemstone, and Rainbow was grinning as she proudly displayed her Wonderbolt-badge replica figurine. They all loved their gifts, especially Spike. Twilight had gotten him a  bag of different-colored gems, and he was happily munching away in his little basket.

"I'm so glad you like them, girls." Twilight replied happily as she rocked Flurry Heart, the small alicorn filly dozing off in her forelegs. "I saw these, and immediately thought of you!"

"But did ya get yourself anythin', sugar cube?" Applejack asked worriedly, sitting up and adjusting her mane as she met Twilight's gaze in her own.

"Oh! Yeah, yeah, I did. It's over there in the shopping bag somewhere. We also got some treats for Flurry Heart, like apples and stuff." Twilight replied, leaning down and pressing her lips to Flurry's forehead, and the foal cooed softly in response, pawing at the air with her forelegs.

Fluttershy looked down at the little one, flicking an ear and brushing some of her mane out of her eyes. "Um, Twilight...doesn't she look pretty sleepy to you?" She asked softly, setting the cat figurine onto the nightstand by her bed.

"Yeah, I'm gonna put her to bed now." Twilight replied with a smile, gently lifting Flurry Heart up into the air with her magic and getting to her hooves. "I'll be right back, girls." She stated, and her friends replied with acknowledging murmurs and nods.

* * * *

"Goodnight, sweetheart." Twilight murmured as she tucked in the foal, and Flurry gurgled something back and snuggled into the sheets. Twilight smiled fondly and sat back, her horn dimming as she took a few steps towards the door. Flurry's breathing slowed and deepened, and when Twilight was sure the young one was asleep, she turned and slowly cantered out of the dark nursery, carefully shutting the door behind her.

As the young alicorn mare glided, almost silently, through the hall, she suddenly heard soft, hushed voices. Perking her ears, she quietly trotted over to the door in which the voices could be heard from. Pressing her ear to the door after scolding herself for her nosiness, she listened.

"Sire...another pony was found slaughtered at the border. A young mare, heavily pregnant." The voice sounded sorrowful, and there was a heavy sigh. "The same marks were upon her body...the same black ooze. Throat torn open, all limbs severed."

Twilight felt her stomach lurch and she bit her lip. Despite her horror, her curiosity piqued, and she listened harder.

"Again?" Her brother's voice. "Damn. Have you found ANYTHING that might help us determine who, or what, is committing these murders?"

"No, sire. Just that rancid, unidentifiable ooze."

Twilight furrowed her brow. "...Ooze? Hm..."

The voices continued.

"Sire, we are starting to fear for the crystal ponies. This....monster, has been murdering and terrorizing. Ponies will start to panic....then what will we do?"

"We will keep quiet about the whole ordeal. Nopony except the royal guard will know."

Twilight pulled away from the door, her legs feeling shaky and weak. She wobbled down the hallway until she was far enough not to get caught, and slumped against the wall, her heart thudding in her ears.

"Murder? Secrecy? What...what is going on here?" She whispered into the dark, swishing her long tail and lowering her head, waiting for her composure to return to her.

"I...I have to tell my friends. We have to do something..."

She scrambled to her hooves, whirling around and flinging herself down the hallway leading to the room she shared with her friends. Something was going on in the Crystal Empire. Something sinister....and she was going to get to the bottom of it if she could.