Chapter Two: Day One

Cries of tropical birds caught Fluttershy’s ears as a tropical yet rocky view came into sight. Her eyes glanced around when she began to move forward. Her neck craned as she took in the sight wondering where she was. Her ears twitched as she looked into the trees trying to distinguish something that wasn’t a tree. She listened to the surrounding area before continuing on her hooves upon the path. Eyes watched her as she continued through the forest wondering who the strange male was from before.

Applejack rushed towards the castle as fast as she could. Apple Bloom had told her that there was an issue in the castle.

“Twilight!” Applejack yelled the moment she saw her friend standing at the doors of her castle. Twilight turned around looking extremely tired.

“I heard what happened, where can I help?” inquired the farmpony running up to her, Twilight sighed before saying. “There is a powerful barrier in place preventing us from getting in. We don’t know if Fluttershy is alright, or if anyone who was left in the castle is harmed.”

“I think Chief and I could take a swing at the barrier.” Applejack said before reaching back for her sword only to find it gone. “Shoot I must have left him in the castle.”

“Chief?” asked Twilight and Applejack blushed saying. “My sword.”

“Oh.” Twilight was slightly surprised about that, she had nearly forgotten that they could communicate with their weapons. That was when an idea popped into her mind. “Discord!”

“What in Equestria are you doing?” the confusion on Applejack’s face was evident as Twilight looked at her saying. “Discord, he was working on Fluttershy’s sword and shield. In the Everfree Forest.”

Applejack was about to ask what the plan was when Twilight took off. Looking towards the castle Applejack tried to connect to her friend. She felt herself get bounced off of something yet when she opened her eyes she was somewhere different.

“Chief? Fluttershy?” she asked in confusion seeing a familiar figure, though instead of the large male. She saw his true form, horns and all.

“Chief!” a voice cried out as someone rushed forward, it was a human. The Iron Bull shook his head as if trying to rid himself of something that he was seeing. Applejack ran forward with the group moving around him as he sank to the ground.

“You’re alright.” they whispered to him and Applejack smiled as she saw him looking at them anger vanishing from his eyes. He grinned before laughing wrapping his arms around all of them holding them close.

“Thank you.” he said looking at Applejack in the eyes. “Both of you.”

“Chief?” Applejack asked hearing a crack before she was thrown backwards.

“Applejack, are you alright?” Rainbow’s voice asked and Applejack shook her head clearing her vision. Rainbow Dash was standing in front of her worried expression on her face. Taking a moment Applejack gathered her thoughts before saying. “I think Fluttershy has bigger problems than just the castle.”

Fluttershy walked out of the room smiling happily she was glad she was able to help. Though she wasn’t quite sure who the man was in relation to Applejack. She heard a sound causing her ears to twitch. It was leading her to another room, another person to help. She opened the door and entered the light mind now focused on her purpose.

Rainbow Dash paced her eyes glancing at the clock. Applejack had said Fluttershy was in a lot more trouble than they originally thought. ‘What did that even mean?’ she questioned internally her eyes glancing back and forth at the castle walls. Her eyes paused at the broken window she shifted slightly. ‘They wouldn’t miss a spot like that.’ she told herself, her ears perking up as Twilight appeared next to Discord. The Draconequus looking very irritated.

“I hear Fluttershy is trapped within the castle.” Discord growled looking around. “What made you think it was a good idea to just leave her in there alone?”

“That’s the problem, she isn’t alone in there.” Applejack replied earning a raised eyebrow from Discord. “There are other people in the castle. From what Chief told me it’s like they're split. Between a dark version and their troubles. The troubles are contained and the darker half wanders until one or the other is helped.”

“Who… when did you hear about this?” Twilight asked and Applejack set down her blade saying. “They have a soul residing in them. One that chose us, this is their physical form. Now whatever thing caused them to become cruel had help.”

“Dawning Gloom was a definite part.” spoke Twilight and Rainbow nodded her head saying. “After the first attack I think Fluttershy’s darker half must have it out for her.”

“Yes, yes that is all very interesting.” Discord brushed off most of the detail. “I’ll deal with her when I see her again. I’ll just pop into the castle and…”

“Uh Discord, we don’t know what type of barrier is being used. I was hoping you could help out with that part.” Twilight suggested and Discord gave her a blank look. “Dawning Gloom has Sombra’s knowledge about ancient spells and magic. I don’t want you going in their by yourself and getting stuck.”

“I’ll…” Discord stopped seeing the pleading look in Twilight’s eyes. “You don’t want me to get hurt… do you?”

“I told you before, you’re my friend.” Twilight answered a smile on her face and Discord blinked in surprise. “We need a plan.”

Discord looked between her and the castle before frowning. He approached the walls filling the twisting of different kinds of magic trapped within the walls. It was using the magic used to create the castle, twisting everything inside. It was building up, like a explosive ready to go at any moment.

“We have to get in there.” Discord told Twilight earning a look of surprise. “Whatever your shadow did is trapping a lot of magic in there.”

“How long do we have?” Twilight’s face paled as Discord looked at her his face serious. “Including today, a week.”

Fluttershy walked through the halls wincing a bit. The last room took a little longer than expected. She pulled out an apple eating it as she walked towards the kitchens. She tried not to think of her friends. ‘Are they in the castle or….’ she shook her head trying to banish the wandering thought. Her eyes glanced at the windows watching them darken with the setting sun. Her ears twitched hearing yelling and her head turned towards the sound. It was coming from a dead end.

“Hello?” she called out looking around before backing up and heading back towards the kitchen. Only to find the path had changed one more time. Taking a deep breath Fluttershy began to find her way back to the kitchen. She paused when she saw something blocking her way. A black ghost laying on the ground staring up at the ceiling.

“Napstablook?” she called out and the ghost didn’t even look at her. “Are you alright?”

“Why do you care?” the ghost asked keeping his gaze towards the ceiling. “Why aren’t you hiding?”

“You’re my friend Napstablook.” explained Fluttershy sitting next to him as the ghost looked away. She smiled sadly and sat there for a moment in silence.

“You’re weird.” the dark Napstablook told her glancing over and Fluttershy shrugged. “I’m going to have to fight you, you know. It’s the only way.”

“Why?” Fluttershy tilted her head to the side watching Napstablook float up and down for a moment. He glitches for a moment as he thought his face growing angrier and angrier.

“I’m not going to fight you.” Fluttershy told him sternly, the darker ghost seemed to be fighting something within him. Fluttershy saw her SOUL fight to appear. Reaching out she held it close asking. “What troubles you Napstablook?”

“STOP TREATING ME LIKE A FRIEND!” yelled Napstablook tears of acid welling up before launching towards Fluttershy. The caretaker dodged to the side not speaking. This angered the ghost even more he was yelling. He hated her, he hated other Monsters, he hated everything… Mettaton. Fluttershy paused when she heard Mettaton’s name.

“Why do you hate him?” she asked quietly and Napstablook paused. She took this chance to form a mask from a slab of wood she had started carrying with her.

“He left to become famous, he left me by myself.” Napstablook mumbled as Fluttershy slipped the mask over her face. “He didn’t care about me, what would happen to the farm when he was gone. Everyone leaves me, why should I care? It’s annoying, THEY’RE ALL ANNOYING!”

“Blooky.” Napstablook looked to where Fluttershy was. Instead of the yellow pony there stood Mettaton. Yet he was different from what he remembered. Instead of the black and red robot with multiple eyes and arms, was silver, pink, and black. Napstablook let out a razor of rage raining more tears upon the robot. Mettaton huffed before walking forward with purpose causing the ghost to flinch visibly. Mettaton faced him eyeing him for a moment. The dark Napstablook glared at him only to flinch when Mettaton raised a hand. A frown grew on Mettaton’s face as he pulled Napstablook into a hug saying quietly. “I will always love you Blooky. No matter what.”

Tears welled up in Napstablook’s eyes as a glow surrounded the two. The forms peeled away, Napstablook and Fluttershy returning to normal in a flurry of feathers.

Fell Sans watched from a distance ready to attack only to hear something being drawn. Glancing to the side he barely managed to dodged a sword swinging towards him by an unknown assailant. The sword was gone in seconds like it wasn’t even there to begin with as the halls began to change again. Fell looked down the hall where the sword came from only to see wisps of light red hair floating towards the ground. ‘Well there’s always next year.’ he thought before vanishing shoving his hands into his pockets vanishing as well.

Fluttershy watched as Napstablook faded glad she was able to help the darker version of him. She wondered why Fell was watching them. Shaking her head she climbed to her feet feel rather tired, she moved to find a safe room to sleep in.

Twilight looked out at the castle as the sun set, Celestia and Luna were going to meet them the next day to try and help. ‘This magic, I don’t think anyone has ever seen it before.’ she mused shaking her head hoping that the next day would provide some answers.

Author's Note

I do not own MLP nor any other form of media, game, or book that appears in this fanfic.