Cantervania: Symphony of the Nightmare

Three ponies groped blindly for a path in the starless night. Far, far below, lights of villages dotted the landscape, their inhabitants blissfully unaware of the trio scaling the dark and foreboding mountains. A storm raged above them, causing them to fight for their balance as they stumbled onwards. A dim glow from one of their horns their only source of light against an ever increasing darkness.

“We need to find shelter soon!” Twilight Sparkle cried as her soaked mane slapped her neck. “I can’t see anything!”

“I agree!” Tempest called back, squinting out into the dark maw before her. “I think I see a cave up ahead! Luna?”

The tallest of the three stepped forwards, her eyes accustomed to the darkness and shining like two pale moons. They narrowed and one of her wings covered her head.

“Yes, Shadow, that is indeed a cave.”

She turned to her companions as the wind howled around them. As she opened her mouth to speak, lightning struck the rocks above them, creating an almighty crashing sound as boulders shifted and came loose, tumbling down the mountainside.

“Inside!” Luna roared, her voice rose above with the howling squall. Her horn ignited in a flare as she caught several rocks and hurled them away from them.

Needing no further encouragement, Twilight lurched forwards, her hooves slipping against the wet rocks. She stumbled, and yelped as a hoof swung out to grab her. The Shadow yanked her into the cave, Luna quickly followed, dropping the rocks she had held above their heads behind them rocks continued to fall, until the sounds of the storm were mere echoes. The young mare fired a spell at the ground, illuminating them all in a warm magenta glow and lamented to herself as she rung out her mane and tail in the gloomy cave.

“How has it come to this? Last week I was happily living my life in Ponyville without as much as a care in the world, getting excited about the Summer Sun Celebration and the Grand Galloping Gala at the end of the season.”

According to Luna, they had passed the shadow of the mountain that held Canterlot three days ago, and reached the first steps of Foal Mountain, known to locals as Fool’s Mountain for it’s treacherous slopes, approximately one day ago. Twilight was fascinated by what Luna told her of the stars, even though they seemed to freeze in the perpetual night sky, the Princess assured her she could read them. The unicorn took her word for it, having no way to disprove it or any reason not to, her being the Lunar Sovereign herself.

“Well,” Tempest muttered as she examined the rocks at the entrance of the cave. “I hope this cave turns into a tunnel with an exit, or we’ll be spending a while digging our way out.” She shot a look at the Princess. “Thanks for trapping us in here.”

Luna glared at her and shook her head, splattering flecks of rainwater on the walls around her, and re-soaking poor Twilight in the process. “Oh I apologise, Shadow, perhaps next time should I let your thick skull protect us from a cascade of falling rocks?”

Twilight held her head in her hooves once again as the bickering started. “Girls, please,” she mumbled weakly as the insults started to fly.

“You wish you were Celestia!”

“Scruffy no good vagabond!”

“Yak fucker!”

“No-horn!”

“Everypony please that’s enough!” Twilight cried, finally finding her voice and slamming a hoof down on the hard stone floor, the sound echoing through the dark cave. “Fighting like this isn’t going to get us anywhere so can we please just...” She sighed.

“Get along? At least while we’re in this cave?”

Tempest scowled but nodded.

Luna also nodded and bowed respectfully to Twilight. “I apologise, young Sparkle.” She gave the Shadow a look and muttered under her breath. “It would seem the youth of today is wiser than even the most experienced of us.”

The broken horned unicorn grunted and slunk down to her haunches, facing away from them in a sulk and lay down. She absentmindedly pawed at the ground, drawing shapes in the dust.

Twilight’s stomach grumbled, breaking the awkward tension. She opened one of the bags at her flank and used her magic to pull some food out. “I’m starving, anypony want some breakfast? Or dinner? Whatever time it is?” she offered hopefully as she held three juicy looking shiny red apples.

The Princess gratefully accepted one, levitating it over to herself in an dark glow. She bit into it, crunching the apple noisily, making Tempest’s ear twitch in annoyance.

“Do you have to eat as loudly as possible?” she grumbled without turning around.

“Yes,” Luna stated matter-of-factly with a cocky grin. “It pisses you off.”

A small growl emanated from Tempest in response.

Twilight facehoofed with a groan and trotted over to Tempest and levitated an apple down to in front of the sulky unicorn’s face.

She grumbled a thanks and took it in her hoof, taking a loud bite of it. Satisfied, Twilight turned back towards Luna and hunkered down by the glow of her magical fire.

They all ate without speaking to one another as minutes that felt like eons passed by, the crunching of apples and the flickering of the fire the only source of sound. Eventually, just as Twilight opened the Monstrum, Tempest stood up, dusted herself off, and tossed a well chewed apple core towards the fire.

“Well, I’m going to explore this cave, see where it leads. Feel free to follow me, or stay, I don’t care.”

Twilight stared at the back of her head as she turned and sauntered off into the darkness. She turned to Luna with an exasperated look and closed her book shut.

Luna smiled sadly as she also rose. “We had better follow her, I’d hate to think of anything bad happening to her in this dark dreary damp cave.” She winked at Twilight and walked on ahead, leaving the awkward filly to gather up her pack. As she tightened the straps around her waist, Twilight thought back to their time in Ponyville with a shake of her head.

“They go from hating each other to being best friends, then to hating each other again,” she muttered as she cantered off after her companions, sending another illumination spell into the air as she ran to catch up with them.

***

Twilight shut her eyes and willed herself out of existence as she sat between the Princess and the Shadow, each one bellowing seemingly as loudly as possible about their previous--ahem--’conquests’. Whose house they had raided she couldn’t say, but knew that whoever it was liked cider as much as Rainbow Dash, and had several casks of it stored away in their cellar, where they all now sat. She grimaced as she imagined the homeowner returning any second now, catching them all in the act of theft and telling tales of debauchery.

“I tell you,” Tempest slurred in between large gulps of cider. “There was this stallion out west, he was--hic--thiiis big!” She gestured with her hooves, separating them several inches apart. “Beat that.” She smirked at the Princess.

Luna rolled her eyes and grinned as her wings fluttered. “Well many, many--hic--moons ago, there was this mare, with quite possibly the softest mane in Equestria and a--hic--devil in the sheets.” She batted her eyelashes and chuckled. “Oh how she squealed when I-”

Twilight slammed her hooves over her ears as the princess began to ramble in excessive detail about this particular mare, causing Tempest to roar with laughter. She shook a mug of cider at the poor filly and grinned mischievously as she wrenched her hooves down from her ears.

“What about you, Spurkle? Any good--hic--colts in Ponyville?”

Twilight felt her ears burning as she took a swig of cider. Her throat tingled, and her chest felt heavy. Her mind swam with information she never wanted to know.

Tempest gave her a prod and eyed her cautiously, seeming to sober up for a moment. “Sparkle have you... Never had sex?”

The lavender unicorn’s cheeks quickly turned a deeper shade of red as she set her mug down. “I might have... Once. Or twice. I don’t really see what the big deal is-”

Luna slammed her hoof down, scaring the poor thing beside her. “You must tell us!”

Tempest eagerly nodded and took a swig of her own drink. “Yes, Twoilet! Tell us!”

Together they tried guessing at what Twilight’s conquests would entail. Two stallions at once? A chanceful meet behind the cake shop? A sordid affair in the deepest depths of depravity? A romantic escapade involving some seriously hardcore psychedelics?

Twilight scowled and vehemently denied any such thing, but felt a warmth inside her as she was reminded of a similar discussion with her friends a long time ago.

“I told you not to call me that, my name is Twi-light.”

She took a deep breath and gazed into her empty mug. “I’m out. I’ll-” She stood up to hopefully gain some reprieve from the sudden interrogation, but felt the Shadow’s hoof swing around her and force her back down to her seat.

“Oh no you--hic--don’t! I’ll go get you anotherone and you tell Lil’ Miss Moony here allll the details! An’ then tell me everything when I comeback so I can make fun of you.”

Before Twilight could protest, Tempest stumbled away in search of another drink, cackling madly. A chill ran down her spine as she felt the Princess’s hoof start to tickle the base of her neck.

“So Twi-light Sparkle, tell me about him.” Luna winked as she spoke, taking great pleasure in teasing the young mare. “Was he a local friend of yours?”

“Princess, please. He was nopony really-”

“Shhhh shh shh shh shhhh, young one. Listen.” Luna leaned in, her eyes blearily looking at Twilight with an unfocused gaze. “Tis no shame of what we speak. For two young lovers to find solace in the night is... Is...” She suddenly threw her head back and stared at the celling, raising her hooves in praise, startling Twilight.

“Is ecstasy itself! For no purer act than that of love between a mare and her chosen one exists.” She took a large gulp of her drink as if to punctuate her words.

Twilight forced an awkward smile as the Princess began to ramble and heard the rumble of Tempest approach, another cask at her hooves rolling along the ground.

“So then, Sparkle, have you provided us with details of your sordid past?” she chuckled as she refilled their mugs.

“No...” Twilight thought for a moment and grinned ear to ear, an idea suddenly forming in her head. “But I will tell you in exchange for something.”

Tempest’s eyes widened. “A trade you say? Go on...”

Luna watched closely, quietly sipping the last of her cider, and chuckling with anticipation.

“I’ll tell you all about my mysterious stallion... If you tell us your real name.”

Tempest scoffed, while Luna cackled with laughter. “Ingenious, Twilight!” She clapped the filly on her back and continued to chuckle as she took a drink.

The Shadow shrugged simply. “That is not a fair trade, Twilight Sparkle, for you already know my name-”

“Ah but,” Twilight interrupted and held up a hoof, eager to do some teasing of her own now. “I’ve been reading. In the Monstrum it says that a Shadow must take a chosen name for themselves when they begin training.” Her eyes flashed with glee as Tempest’s face fell.

“So what was your name before you became Tempest...”

She took a swig of her drink and smacked her lips together and slammed her mug down.

“...Shadow.”

Tempest’s lip curled upwards in a sneer. “Oh so you want to play that do you?” she grumbled, straightening her neck up. “Okay, okay. So how about this, I tell you my name. You tell us about your secret stallion’s hot throbbing cock, and Luna...” She turned to the Princess and gave her an evil smile as Twilight’s ears burned once more.

“Luna tells us about her tryst with Discord.”

Twilight’s jaw swung open in surprise. “Her what?” she cried as cider spat out of her nose, causing tears to well in her eyes and her nose to burn.

Luna narrowed her eyes and smiled back. “Well played, Shadow. I am curious though, how came you by such knowledge? For such a thing was tens of thousands of years ago, and I assure you, no historian has ever recorded such a thing.”

Tempest started back. “Wait... Wait it’s true?” she asked as her eyes widened. Twilight continued to gape in awe and wonder. “The oldest rumour in Equestria is fucking true?!”

The alicorn’s ears pinned back as she stammered, her cheeks turning a deep shade of purple as she began to furiously blush. “I--that is--we...”

Tempest and Twilight howled with laughter, and began to repeatedly ask very personal questions, much to Luna’s chagrin.

***

The cave was indeed a tunnel, and if it had an end it must have been very far away, Twilight thought as she stumbled through the darkness. She could just barely spot Luna in front of her, even with the light shining from her horn.

A grunt and a series of squeaks came from up ahead. Twilight and Luna rushed forwards to see Tempest staring down at a group of rats scurrying past.

“Vermin,” she muttered and stepped over them. “I hate vermin.”

Luna snorted and stepped over them, continuing into the darkness. Twilight smiled to herself as she remembered sweet Fluttershy, who would have probably stopped to ask the rats about their day, or for directions. Out of respect for her friend, probably thousands of miles away somewhere safe, she waited for the rats to move on before moving herself.

Luna noticed her lingering and watched her curiously. “What are you doing?”

The unicorn blushed and looked down, kicking a rock bashfully. “Oh--nothing just... Remembering.”

“Hurry up!” came the short bark of Tempest Shadow up ahead.

Twilight’s ears pricked up and she cantered onwards, Luna watched her go and hurried after.

Soon they found Tempest gazing up at a large stone wall, with a large stone door in it’s centre. Twilight gasped when se saw it. “Is this...” she asked, barely able to contain the excitement in her voice as she saw the symbol engraved upon the heavy looking door:

Two lightning bolts, mirrored.

Tempest felt elation as she traced a hoof over the symbol. “It seems there is a god looking out for us after all.” She cast a look at Luna, who gazed at the symbol. The princess noticed her watching, and inclined her head downwards one inch in respect.

“Well done, Shadow. It seems you were right after all.”

Tempest nodded back, and turned to the door, looking at the heavy-looking handle. “Give me a hoof with this would you?”

Twilight and the Princess stepped forwards, their magic intertwining against the large iron ring. “On three,” Luna said. Twilight nodded.

“One, two, three!”

They lowered their heads in concentration as magic illuminated the dark cave, Tempest grasped the handle in her hooves and tugged. Sweat started to run down twilight’s face as she felt the strain in her horn. Her heart fluttered as she felt the door start to inch forwards.

Slowly, but surely, they made progress, and the door came free.

Twilight stumbled backwards, suddenly losing her balance as she released her magical grasp. Luna caught her and stumbled back herself a bit.

As she straightened herself up with the Princess’s help, she sniffed her nose, and was reminded of something all too familiar to her.

“Paper... Ink... Booooks...”

Tempest nodded and peered into the dark room. “I would suppose this is the headquarters of the Shadowguard, said to be the oldest library in Equestria, even older than-”

“Canterlot’s yes,” Luna muttered. “You’ve told us already.”

Tempest shot her a dirty look and stepped forwards into the new darkness. Light illuminated around her as the mark on her flank lit up, and lights high above flickered to life, powered by some unseen magic.

Twilight’s jaw dropped and her eyes sparkled with wonder as rows upon rows of books lay before her. “”Oh... My... Gosh... I thought Canterlot was big... There must be hundreds of thousands of books here!” Her brain moved at a million miles an hour as they all entered and stared around.

“Come on,” Tempest said as she cantered forwards. “This is just a side entrance.”

“I thought you said you’ve never been here,” Luna replied quietly.

Tempest shrugged. “Call it a hunch then,” she said cryptically.

The Princess grunted at her and walked on, lightly fluttering her wings in irritation.

Twilight remained behind as the two strode away, further into the gigantic library. “So many books,” she mumbled and giggle with glee. “So much knowledge, how will I ever-”

“Sparkle, hurry up!” Came Tempest’s bark from up ahead. “And shut the door behind you.”

Twilight hurried to shut the heavy door, pushing with all her strength against it.

“Hnnng!”

Finally it closed shut, and she rested against it, panting lightly. She spun around and began to hyperventilate as her urge to read consumed her

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohmygoshomygosh! So many books! All unread! Ancient artefacts!”

She gasped for air as her magic grasped several books and opened them, her eyes darting back and forth over the ancient texts. “I just--I can’t!”

“Twilight come o-” Tempest’s voice called again.

“Don’t take this away from me!” Twilight wheezed, eliciting laughter from somewhere ahead as she struggled to contain herself. Eventually, she gathered her wits together long enough (and a decent amount of books) to catch up to her companions.

The library seemed to stretch for miles in every direction around them, seemingly as large as the mountain itself. Luna gazed up at the intricate designs on the ceiling’s high above and whistled. “I’m impressed. This must have taken centuries to build.”

Tempest nodded. “At least. The old stories my mentor used to tell me say this place was built long before the Shadowguard arrived. They just moved in.”

A purple blur flashed past them, giggling away to itself.

“Oh my gosh guys they have Canterlot Cantabiles Volume Thirty One. Thir-ty- One!” Twilight clutched a book to her chest and plastered her ears back. “That’s when it gets good!” She gasped and her magic illuminated around another book, bringing it to her chest. “And over here there’s Windigo Weather Warning from the pre-Equestrian era!”

Tempest laughed. “You sure enjoy books don’t you, Sparkle?”

Twilight’s head nodded vigorously without turning to look at her. “You have no idea. Oh my gosh guys, I can’t--I just can’t!”

Luna brought a book over to herself and read the cover. “Myths of Discor-.” She put the book back quickly and blushed as Tempest flashed a grin at her. “You promised to never speak of that.”

“I didn’t say anything. You did.”

“Ugh. I don’t even understand myself how the Shadowguard came by most of these books. They should be locked away in the restricted section in the Canterlot Library.”

The lavender unicorn’s ear twitched and she slowly turned around, her eyes wide and wild. “Res-tric-ted... Section?” She darted forwards, startling the Princess somewhat. “Where?”

Tempest laughed and trotted onwards. “Come on, let’s see if we can find somewhere less open and get some rest.”

Luna nodded and grabbed the small unicorn with her magic, hoisting her into the air. “Come along, Twilight Sparkle.”

“No! Please! I must read!”

“Not right now, we have more pressing matters to attend to. Besides, we can’t exactly leave you alone with all of this forbidden and dangerous knowledge, can we?” Luna smiled sweetly.

Twilight’s cries of protest eventually settled at the thinly veiled threats put forth by the Princess.

“Alright but... Put me down please, Princess.” Her cheeks burned with indignity and her cheeks flushed red, having regained her composure.

The dark blue glow of the princess’s magic released her as she touched down to the ground once again. As they began to ascend the mighty staircase, Twilight let out one last squeak of glee as she glanced back at the hordes of books around them.

After what felt like hours of searching the vast fortress, they eventually found a smaller, closed off room, and set up a small camp site as Twilight unpacked their bags.

“What we got left?” Tempest asked.

“Apples,” Twilight mumbled absentmindedly, her nose currently in a book she’d swiped up.

“That all?” Tempest snorted.

“Yep.”

“You’re not very talkative when you’re nose is in a book you know.”

“Yep.”

“Alright, have it your way.”

“Can do.”

Luna chuckled softly to herself as she listened. Fires above them flickered and danced in intricately designed chandeliers, creating fantastic shadows along the walls of ponies fighting monsters. “You said this was a monastery, Shadow?”

Tempest nodded, taking a bite of an apple. “So they say.”

“Then I must ask, where are the monks? Surely they did not just pack up and leave heir horde of knowledge to rot away in a dusty old dungeon?”

The Shadow shrugged. “The stories never mention anyone looking after this place, just that Shadows came from all around to store information.” She cocked her head. “Come to think of it, I’ve never heard of ponies, or otherwise, taking care of the books. I wonder who stored them all.”

Silence fell, as the trio felt chills up their spines. Even Twilight, so engrossed in her book and was barely listening, caught the chill in the air.

“Well,” Luna hopped up and strode to the door. “I’m going for a look around. You should rest, my little ponies.”

Tempest waved a hoof at her and fixed her cloak into a makeshift blanket, slumping down against a wall and closing her eyes. “Don’t die. It’ll take us years to find you.”

Luna made a rude gesture with her hoof and sauntered off, leaving the two alone together.

***

A few hours passed. Twilight Sparkle shivered as she read over one of the long forgotten books in front of her, her breath wispy and ragged as the small room grew colder. She glanced over at Tempest seemingly asleep across from her. “How can somepony sleep in a place as cold as this?” she wondered out loud.

“Because they have no choice.” Tempest’s voice rang out, startling the young unicorn as she looked up.

“Oh, Tempest… I didn’t know you were awake,” Twilight mumbled sheepishly.

The Shadow chuckled and raised her head. “It’s late, you should be asleep,” she stated.

“How can you tell it’s late?” Twilight asked as she closed the book.

Tempest gestured to the door Luna had left through. “Because she hasn’t come back yet, I’m guessing she’s still awake somewhere around here.” Her cheeks reddened as she lifted up her cloak. “There’s room for more than one under this dusty sheet, if you want. It’s warmer than nothing.”

Twilight smiled and shivered again. She was indeed colder than she thought, her hooves were almost frozen to the ground as she walked over next to the Shadow and hunkered down. The smell of the country roads filled her nostrils, and her head was filled with thoughts of Ponyville and her friends once more. She felt sad, and released an unhappy sigh.

As Tempest wrapped the cloak around her and nestled in, she frowned at the mare. “What?”

Twilight looked up at her. “I just feel... Lonely, you know?”

Tempest nodded.

“More than you realise.” She remembered the stories her mentor had told her, of how after every successful hunt they held great feasts and sang and drank, like they had done in Ponyville, and smiled to herself.

“Thank you, by the way,” Twilight murmured as she pulled the cloak over her chin. “For this.”

“I don’t do cuddling-”

Tempest stopped herself and frowned.

“...You’re welcome.”

They sat in silence for a while, with just the sound of the wind blowing a light chill through the air. Twilight looked over at the doorway.

“Don’t you feel a bit sorry for her?” she sked quietly. “I mean, being asleep for years, with nopony to cuddle?”

“I told you I don’t do cuddling.”

“I know, but still.” Twilight’s heart felt as heavy as her eyelids. She yawned and stretched. “It’s lonely even when you’re standing next to her,” she murmured as her ears pinned back. Sorrow tinged her voice. “It’s strange...”

Tempest raised an eyebrow and cocked an ear. “How so?”

“I’m not sure,” Twilight continued, “she’s intelligent, a good listener, sometimes even witty in her own way. But she’s definitely a good pony. I know she’s made mistakes, but she’s good in her own right. But it’s like she’s a cold spot in the room. Sad without knowing why.” She turned and looked at Tempest. “It’s not like your sadness.”

The Shadow scoffed. “I’m not sad.”

“Not right now, but I’ve seen how you look at us. How you gaze off into the distance remembering things, like your family. Or this place.” The unicorn waved a hoof around the room. “You are sad, Tempest, but I can scold you or tease you or talk to you and I know there’s somepony there.” She looked up at the small shadows dancing around the room form the dim fires.

“Luna’s sadness is like an icy well; bottomless and heart-breaking. The further you look into it the deeper it goes, then it swallows up your voice and anything you try to say to help just makes it worse somehow,” she lamented, her eyelids fluttering with sleep.

“Am I really that sad?” Tempest asked, absentmindedly. They shifted together under her cloak.

Twilight chuckled softly and yawned again. “Yes, you are. You don’t even realise it anymore, and then sometimes… you’re nice, and give me your warm cloak as a blanket...” She yawned again, and her eyes finally gave out from exhaustion, and her chest rose and fell with a steady beat.

Tempest glanced at her again and smiled to herself.

“Well Tempest... I think you’ve gone and made a friend...” she mumbled quietly.

She chuckled softly and lowered her head, giving the young mare at her side a quick nuzzle, and closed her eyes, slowing her breathing and allowing sleep to take over.

Luna stood on the other side of the door, listening. She rested against the wall as she gazed around the vast library. She closed her eyes and thought about happier times, from when she and Celestia played together as fillies, from when she met that mare in the gardens all those years ago. “She must be long dead by now,” she murmured as a tear rolled silently down her cheek. “I should visit her grave sometime.”

As she rested, she closed her eyes, and slowly breathed amongst the dust and the books.

“A relic among relics...”

***

Tempest awoke with a start. She heard voices shouting outside, and big flashes of green light illuminated the night sky outside her window. Her door burst open, and there her father stood, his mane wild and unkempt. The small filly rubbed her eyes and stretched with a yawn.

“Papa?”

The dark stallion turned to her. “Hi sweetheart,” he said as he strode to the window, glancing out of it. “Having nice dreams?” He ducked down as figures moved outside the window, cautiously peering up out of it once the coast was clear.

“It’s late, papa, what’s happening?” the small filly asked curiously.

Her father backed up from the window and motioned for her to lay low on her bed. “Well... You know how papa has some...” He paused and struggled for words as raised voices went past the window. “Theories... About our neighbours?”

Tempest nodded sleepily. “You said they were trying to replace mama.”

Her father nodded back, his eyes wild and afraid. “Well I think they succeeded, and I’m afraid it’s-”

A sing-song voice called to them from inside their house. “Dear? Where are you, my love?”

Tempest’s father, a muddy brown unicorn with a rustic red mane, glowered towards the door. He put a hoof to his lips, signalling his filly to keep quiet.

Tempest, however, had other idea and broke out into a smile and bounded towards the door, dodging his hoof as he tried to grab her. “Mama!”

The door swung open again, revealing her mother: a tall earth pony with pink hair and a dark purple coat. She smiled and turned her green eyes down at the young filly. “My lovely little filly, come to mama.” Her voice almost slithered out of her mouth, causing Tempest to skid to a halt.

She glanced back at her father nervously, who lowered his horn and prepared to charge. “Sweetheart... Get out of the way. Mama’s not... Herself.”

The mare in the doorway narrowed her eyes. “What’s the matter, dear? Don’t you love me?” she hissed, her eyes flashing green.

Tempest’s father fired a burst of magic from his horn, sending her crashing through into the hallway. Tempest recoiled and started after her. “Mama!”

Her father scooped her up and dashed out of the room, the sound of buzzing filling the sky as he ran. “Why did you hurt mama?!” she cried as tears welled up in her eyes. “Why?”

Her father said nothing as they ran, stallion clutching filly to his chest.

She struggled and squirmed in his grasp. “Papa!”

Her words seemed to snap some sense into him and he paused running. He opened his mouth to speak as a large flash of green happened behind him, and his wife’s voice hissed out from the dark.

“Dearrrr… why do you runnnn? Don’t you lovvve meee?”

Tempest yelped as a pony that resembled her mother stumbled forwards. She looked like her mother, yet wrong. Twisted. Her face was half off, revealing chattering fangs underneath, and a glowing luminous eye.

Her father stood in between them and lowered his horn. “What did you do to my wife?”

The mare cackled and began to grow. Her horn turned jagged and cruel, holes appeared in her legs, her hair turned into a dark cerulean and draped over her face. Her skin changed as her legs grew, and turned into a dark grey as what resembled a crown formed on top of her head, behind her horn.

She cackled manically and glared at Tempest’s father. “Does your wife’s love mean nothing to you, stallion? Or perhaps...”

Her eyes turned to the young filly at his legs and she sneered, licking her lips. “Oh but your love for your filly is simply... Delectable...”

Tempest’s father stood his ground and trembled with fear. “You will not touch her you monster. Where is my wife?!”

The insectoid creature sneered and threw her head back. “I have far more interesting things to deal with than a stupid stallion and his delicious young filly.” She flashed a toothy grin at the filly, making her cower. “Drones!”

A great buzzing filled the air, as several pairs of eyes lit up the darkness around them.

Tempest and her father backed up, whipping their heads around trying to look at the many pairs of eyes suddenly watching them.

“Take them.”

At the creature’s command, the drones surged forwards, quickly swarming the stallion and his filly.

“Run!” he roared, giving his daughter a shove.

She needed no encouragement, never feeling so afraid in her life as the nasty grey things gnashed their teeth at her. Unfortunately she ran the wrong way, and straight into the legs of the nasty creature who pretended to be her mama. She shrieked in terror and cowered before her.

“My, my, so young, so full of love. Del-ic-ious…”

Tempest bucked and whinnied as the creature picked her up with a bright green glow. “Lemme go! I want my papa! I want my mama!”

Her horn began to glow bright with her words, and a bright blue glow radiated from her forehead. Her father watched, astounded, as the swarm of bugs around him dispersed. Their leader shielded her eyes and strained to keep a hold of the filly.

“Stop--ugh--stop squirming you foul, insignificant-”

The glowing intensified. With a loud bang, the bugs’ leader was sent several feet back, and her drones scattered into the night in fear.

Tempest’s father scooped her up and stroked her mane. Upon seeing her broken horn he wept, fearing for her life. He held an ear to her small chest and listened. “There it was!” he cried happily, hearing a heartbeat. “Oh my sweet girl...”

He cradled her in his legs as the sound of buzzing filed the air once again. He quickly turned and fled, slinging her over his waist, into the nearby forest as a voice cried out behind him.

“Find him! Get that filly! Drink them dry my children!”

Tempest was barely conscious as her father placed her in a hollowed out tree stump. He smiled at her and gave her a kiss on her forehead. She mumbled something at him.

“Pa...pa?”

“Stay hidden, sweetheart. I will come find you when it’s safe.”

He glanced away, seeing green lights flash in the trees around him. He quickly grabbed a small log and held it to his chest, his magic glowing in a bright aura around it.

He looked back at his filly, drifting in and out of consciousness and felt a tear roll down his cheek as he kissed her forehead one last time. Her broken horn fizzed and sputtered.

“Pa...”

“I love you. I always will. Mama does too, wherever she is.”

As her vision faded to nothingness, the last she saw of him was him disappearing into the night, and green lights quickly chasing after him.

She heard a familar voice as she slept, calling out to her.

”Tempest...”

...

“Tempest?”