//-------------------------------------------------------// The Dark Ones -by Blitz Stratus- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Flickering Candles //-------------------------------------------------------// Flickering Candles "Spike! Where are you?" The violet Unicorn shouted out as she descended the stairs leading into her home's cellar. "Right here Twilight." A little purple dragon replied holding up a lantern, it casting long shadows along the walls. Twilight sighed in relief. She couldn't understand after all the time she had spent in the library how she had not stumbled upon these old wings before. "We need to stay together Spike, There's no telling how far these corridors go for." She said as she examined the dust filled shelves. "You don't have to remind me you know." Spike huff. "I'm sorry Spike but we can't be getting lost down here." "Why are we even down here anyway Twilight?" Spike questioned the purple unicorn. "Spike there's no knowing what has been left down here." "So where down here in this eerie corridor looking for books?" "Yes we are Spike." Spike only sighed as they began to walk into what seemed like endless darkness. He regretted ever telling Twilight about what he found while he was organizing some of the libraries extra books. "I should never have told her about this place." Spike mumbled under his breath as they ventured further into the blackness that lay beyond the lanterns light. "Twilight I don't think anythings down here." Spike finally spoke up after what seemed like hours of walking. "We should head back." The dragon said looking over his shoulder, being down here was giving him the creeps. "Hold on Spike I think I see something." Twilight said as she took the lantern from Spike's claws. Twilight took hold of the lantern and began to trot forward. She couldn't see much at first but as she advanced something began to glint in the distance. It seemed to be a box but she couldn't be certain from the distance she was at. "Spike could you come here and help me with this?" Twilight asked as she lit some candles and began place them around so they could see better. The candles were lit but it did little good it wasn't much brighter then before, and the only thing they really succeed at was by freaking Spike out even more as they flickered and waned. Twilight drew closer to the object. It was about as large as her and it had iron bands rapping all around it. Its body seemed to be made of wood but Twilight didn't know what kind but if she stared at it she swore she saw something or some ponies face moving in the grain. Its lock looked worn an ancient, as if some pony had been trying to get in to it before when the key was right next to it. "Shall we see what's inside." Twilight asked as her magic rapped around the key. Spike said nothing as he slowly began to back away from the box. Something just didn't seem right about it. The key slowly drifted toward the lock and it made a soft click as Twilight turned the cold silver key. Suddenly the lid rocketed open, black swirling shapes shot forth and snake around Twilight and Spike toward the exit. The candles were out but from what Spike could hear he didn't want to see what was making its way towards him. It slithered by him very slowly, Its bones seeming to crack at every movement of its body. "FREdoM aT LaasTT." It gargled horsily. "MuSSt FeEEDd." It said whipping its tail slamming it into Spike, pinning him against a row of shelves. "You WiLL do NicElLY." Spike was helpless, there was nothing he could do has the creature ran what he hopped was its tongue down his face. Then abundantly a bolt of energy slammed into the creature, its pale skin seem to catch ablaze. Spike fell to the dusty floor, the dust getting in his eyes making it difficult to see. "Get away from him!" Twilight shouted, shooting another a volley of energy bolts toward the creature. The creature howled as several bolts impacted it's thin body. But as Twilight unleashed another volley the creatures leathery tail deflected her attack causing the bolts to hurtle back toward her. "LiTTle PeSSt." It hissed as it lunged at Twilight. There was a loud thud and a crunch sound as the creature landed. Twilight could only stare above her as bits of saliva dripped down onto her face. Her lower half felt numb as she tried to struggle free,but for no matter how hard she tried she couldn't cast any spells. "YOOUr...MMaaGGic...Will...FFeed us." It wheezed through labored breaths. "Not while I'm here ugly." A mares voice rang out, followed by a sharp blast. "Eat this." The mare shouted as another blast rang out. "YYoUu." It hissed in dis test as it was throw off Twilight's body. "What? You miss me ugly?" The mare taunted. "But for now let's shed some light on you ugly." She said as the candles re-lit. "NOO!" The creature bellowed. "Still don't like the light do you?" The said as she launched herself, forelegs ablaze with magic. Twilight looked on as the mare slammed into the pale creature as it began to howl in pain. Then to Twilight's horror she watched as the creature swung its one remaining arm and cut the mare's head off. It tumbled to the floor with a dull thud, The mare's ice blue mane falling dishevely over the dead mare's muzzle as it came to rest beside Twilight. "Oh sweet Celestia." She said through stammered breaths. "LeAAVe Us." The creature bellowed in pain drawing Twilight's attention back to the creature. To her disbelief the mare's body was still slugging away at the creature even though her head was laying right next to her. "How is this possible?" "Well I would believe you would call it magic." A voice said next to her. Twilight said nothing as she slowly turned her head and to her horror saw the mare's severed head staring back her with piercing golden eyes. "As much as I would love to tell you how I'm doing this I have business to attend to." She said as her eye's began to glow. "You might what to move for this." The mare said as a ball of energy formed in her mouth, sparks radiating from the orb. Twilight just laid there mouth agape causing the mare's head to sigh. With seemingly effortless movement the head lifted off the ground and fired the orb, spinning back by the force of the blast. The orb flattened as it traveled, spinning faster and faster as it rocketed toward the creature. "Die you ugly piece of sin." The head shouted as she bounced off the ceiling and landing on a shelf with a soft thud as the orb slammed into the creatures chest. It tried to scream but its chest was shredded as its life source left its shattered and torn body. What was left began to smoulder as the mares still headless body wrenched the creatures remaining arm free of its now burning socket. "Oooooh what a lovely prize." The mare hummed, as her bodies forelegs began to emit a eerie black smoke. There was a loud wheezing sound as the smoke began to leach into the creatures arm, twisting it and splitting it in two. The split arm drifted up as the mares forelegs flesh and muscle dissolved leaving only the bones barely visible through the the black haze that surrounded them. Then even the bones broke apart. Loud snapping sounds resonated as the creatures own bones began to fuse with mares, causing her hooves to change under the haze of the ilk. When the smoke finally cleared Twilight gazed in horror as the mare hooves had been replaced by five long obsidian claws, seeming to stretch longer then her head. "Hey! Could you come pick me up now?" The mare's head shouted at her body. There was a loud thud as the mare's body kicked the smouldering remains out of the way and extended its claws. "Thank you." She sighed as she rolled into the out stretched claws palm. "Now what to do with you." Her piercing gaze falling upon Twilight as she spoke as two fangs grew down from her upper jaw. //-------------------------------------------------------// Pancakes and a Really Odd Mare //-------------------------------------------------------// Pancakes and a Really Odd Mare Twilights eyes shot open, her body was bathed in a cold sweat. "What happened last night?" She groaned as she tried to sit up in her bed. But as she did so she was met with a sharp pain and stiffness. Twilight threw back the sheets and found what was causing the stiffness. Both of her legs had been sent and rapped in a heavy cast. "What the hay? How did I..." She questioned as the faint sound of singing came to her ear. "Come with me childern and follow my ways, into the world of darkness and magic. With all my power I'll show you the way. To all your dreams, hopes and illusions." A eerie voice sang out. Twilight sat there quitely, trying to think of what to do. She began to gaze around her room but as she scanned passed Spike's bed her lavender eye's snapped back, it was empty. Steeling her courage Twilight slowly slid out of her bed and creeped her way to her door, opening it just to get enough for her get a view of the library. "Everthing seems normal." Twilight thought to herself as she pushed the door open a little further. Not seeing anything she carefully opened the door till she had enough room to pull her casted hinelegs through, having to make a small jump over the door seal. But now she faced a greater challenge, stairs. "Uuuugh." She mentally groaned. Twilight reluctantly turned around and slowly began to lower herself as she bit into a near by shelf, this was turning into more trouble then it was worth. "Only a few more steps." She quitely grunted, sweet beading on her forehead. She had six steps to go when her jaw muscles gave why. Six loud thuds later Twilight found herself face planted into the hard oak floor, her muzzle throbbing in pain. "Now, now." The eerie voice chimmed. "We can't have you hurting yourself can we." It said as magic enveloped Twilight and began to flip her up right. But as Twilight leveled out and as her head stopped spinning she found her stomach's contents right at the top of her throat. Half of the mare's face had been burned away going down clear to the bone, her right eye laying loosly upon her cheek. Then as she tilted her head a thick yellow pus oozed slowly out of her bloodly and charred eyed socket, some of it sliding down her cheek and falling to the floor with a thick plop. "Oh if your wondering if why my faced is slightly scorch blame your stove." She sighed as she carried Twilight into the kitchen. "Oh and you might need to get a new one at that." "Why?" Twilight questioned as she floated in midair. "Cause it exploded while I was making pancakes." The mare said flatly, as smoke wafted into Twilights nose as they entered her kicthen. Twilight took in the full view of the disaster that was once her homes kitchen. Pans and dish's were strewn about the room, with large burn marks covering the walls and ceiling, and what was the stoves door imbedded in the far wall along with pieces of what was left of the mares bloody face clumped in the sink. "What can I say, paulo equus arn't good with stove's." She said with a shrug as she set Twilight down at the table, the only thing that appeared unharmed. "Yeah, so sorry about the mess." The mare said rubbing the back of her head. "But this is kind of your fault." "WHAT!" Twilight screamed, astonished by what she was hearing. "How is you destroying my home my fault?" She questioned. "I'm not the one who opened the box." The mare said with a smile."You have no clue what you've unleashed upon Equestria." She giggled as her right forehoof changing back into five long obsidian talons. "What are you?" Twilight gasped. "Right now that's not important, isn't there something or should I say someone you're looking for?" The mare inquired. "Where is he?" Twilight questioned, her horn beginning to burn with magic. "Oh in the box in the main room of your library." The mare answered, examing her claws. Twilight slowly rose from her chair and began to slide backwards out of the room, never letting the mare out of her sight. Eventually after a few bumps she was standing next to the iron banded box. She placed her hooves on the lid and began to pull, but no matter how hard she heaved she couldn't get it to open. "You know there's a easier why to open that." The mare said as she walked into the room, claws clicking against the floor. Twilight said nothing as the mare edged closer until she was leaning on the wooden box. "All you have to do is ask." She giggled as she lifted the lid with ease causing Twilight to groan in fustration. "What? Did you think just because you unlocked the box you think you can lift the lid?" The mare asked as her upper half disappeared as she leaned inside. "Now lets see, sword, baseball cap, crystal skull," The mare mumbled as Twilight watched and listened to her dig through the contents of the box. "You know what we might be here for awhile." She shouted as she fell into the chest. "What do you mean?" "Oh never mind found him." She said jumping out of the blackness of the box and landing on the ceiling. "Hi Twilight." Spike waved down. "Oh by the way Spike, did you find my boots while you where in there by chance?" The mare asked as she fell from the ceiling, landing with a light thud. "Oh it appears you did and my red hat and coat. Cute and good at finding things." She giggled as she set him down. "Ember what happen to your face?" Spike shouted. "Oh you know how I said we were going to have pancakes?" "Yes?" "Where not going to have pancakes." Embers laughed as she slid on her coat and hat.