Darkness Rises

Light breathed heavily as his eyes shot open. The first thing he noticed was the unnatural cold air chilling his body. He looked at his surroundings but unsurprisingly there was nothing but darkness clouding his vision. He made an effort to pick his body up, groaning in pain in the process. It feels like the very life force got sucked out of his body, or perhaps... maybe that’s what that thing did.

As if on cue, Light sensed something approaching behind him so his horn gave off a crimson red hue and immediately turned and fired a bolt of dark energy towards it. Alas, this formless entity didn’t seemed fazed at all.

”Good, your reflexes are sharp. As for your power... impeccable.” Light felt like he should be proud of its words but all he could think of was something familiar about this creature. As if he has heard of it before from stories. Finally, it hit him.

“I know you, you’re the darkness that everypony was talking about! The same evil entity that controlled Stygian!” As he said his name the darkness wrapped a tendril around Light’s throat and squeezed ruthlessly.

”Do not speak that name! He was weak and pathetic! But you are different, you have the potential to be far more powerful than he could ever have been.” It released its grip from him making Light take very deep breaths of air. He rubbed his neck gently as he slowly got up to face this unnatural villain.

”We don't have much time, Celestia has sent her prized student to locate you. No doubt her friends will be by her side. It’s time I tell you why you’re here. For returning me back into this world, I offer you a gift.”

Light instantly knew this “gift” it was offering. Tempting, but he knew such evil power was not welcome in Equestria. What would Princess Celestia think about this?

The darkness recognized his hesitation so it attempted to push further. It knew exactly what to do.

“I understand your pain and anger, such a shame. Tell me, why do you think they came in the first place?” It asked, causing Light to look up in complete shock.

“H-how do you know about that, you don’t know anything! What do you understand about my suffering?! You are just some ruthless abomination that just wants control and destruction!” At that moment his eyes changed bright red along with his horn.

“Well... I won’t let that happen. I. Shall. End you.”

Dark magic spewed forth from his horn radiating a red hue. His magic penetrated the dark figure allowing the magic to seep within it, causing the shadows to slowly dissipate. He expected to hear cries of pain coming from it, but the last thing he expected... was laughter.

”Hahahahah! Yesssssss!”

The darkness shot out its own beam of dark magic, but not to block Light’s attack. No, it went straight for his heart. And then, everything changed.

He gasped as he felt the cold power penetrate his heart, he looked on in horror at his white coat. His veins were slowly turning black, the evil corruption was spreading quickly throughout his body.

Then, he screamed.

Outskirts of Shadow’s Rest

“Are you sure this is the right way Twilight?” The small purple dragon asked as he continued to observe the map in his hands, brushing off some snow that landed on it.

However, Twilight did not hear Spike’s question, she was focused on the sudden shift of the temperature. Sure it was cold up in the crystal mountains, but this was different. Almost as if these very lands just died. Something wasn’t right.

After a couple of seconds of silence Spike looked up at her in concern. “You ok Twilight?” He asked.

She shook her head and looked at him, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine Spike, I’m just worried is all.”

Pinkie Pie hopped joyfully besides them. “What’s there to be worried about? The snow is fun!”

Rainbow Dash sneered and rolled her eyes at Pinkie Pie’s childlike behavior. “What’s fun about going through freezing weather and heading to place that Celestia herself said was extremely dangerous?”

Applejack nodded at her words. “Ah agree with Twilight and Rainbow, don’t y'all think something seems wrong with this place?” She asked as she put a hoof to her hat to hold it steady from the violent winds.

“Yes darling besides the fact that we are freezing to death here, I must say the weather has gotten a bit gloomy.” Rarity held her light pink scarf close for some ounce of warmth.

As the group treaded carefully through violent weather, Twilight spotted something from the corner of her eye. She recognized it to be a cave. But not just any cave, she has found it. A black heavily chained up metal door.

She got the groups attention immediately and started making their way to the cave with haste. They all stopped a short distance away from the door, fear could be seen on each of their eyes. However Fluttershy’s fear got the best of her and she slowly backed away from it.

“I-I can’t do it! Who knows what could be in there, you all s-should go on without m-me.” She stuttered in horror, attempting to fly away only to be tackled by Rainbow Dash.

She pinned her against the cold rocky floor and gave her an annoyed look. “Are you crazy?! We only just got here, and you’re scared of a stupid door?!”

Not a moment sooner the door lit up causing everypony to slowly turn towards it. Bright red runes and writings covered the entire surface of the door. “Uhh you’re all seeing this right?” Spike asked, looking on with overwhelming curiosity and amazement.

No pony gave an answer, they were completely fixated on the doorway in front of them, Rainbow slowly got off of Fluttershy without looking away.

“This is it.” Twilight stated, she felt accomplished for finally reaching her destination, but she still knew that something was wrong.

Yes, indeed something was not right, in fact the very fate of Equestria is now at stake and they all have no idea. The gateway to hell itself is almost on the brink of becoming unleashed. The magically enchanted chains are the only thing keeping Equestria from entering an era of complete darkness. Pray they foolishly don’t attempt to open it.

“LETS OPEN IT!” Pinkie yelled excitedly at the top of her lungs and dashed straight for the chains.

“PINKIE PIE!” Everypony screamed.

As she put her hooves on the chains, she turned her head and gave a look of pure innocence. “What?”

The very ground beneath them shook violently, causing them to stumble to the cavern floor. “I-I swear I didn’t do do anything!” Pinkie cried out in shock.

As the ground continued to tremble uncontrollably, cracks started to form just outside the cave. Dark tendrils crept its way out from the cracks. Slowly coming together to merge into one giant figure. A figure that everypony knew very well, one they hoped to never see again.

There standing right in front of them was a towering monstrosity, it was none other than the nightmarish Pony of Shadows itself. Only this time the creature didn’t laugh, it only stared at them menacingly with its demonic red eyes.

Twilight looked as if she had seen a ghost, she would never have thought this thing would possibly return.

“No... no, that’s impossible.” She whispered to herself as panic flooded her mind. “What are we going to do?”

Rage consumed his soul, never did he believe he would deserve what happened to him. Light thirsted for revenge, and he knew just where to start. He looked towards the pathetic creatures in front of him, he instantly recognized the light magenta fur from one of them. Twilight Sparkle.

”Ah, so it begins. Kill them all Light, let’s send the princesses and all of Equestria a message.”

Light let out a defiant roar so that all of Equestria could hear.

Darkness has returned.