The Forgotten Elements: Shrouded Darkness

"Twilight

"Twilight"

"Twilight!"

Twilight's head shot up from her desk, the suddenness of the movement caused her to fall off her chair and collide with the floor. She let out a pained groan as she lay on the floor, searching for the pony that woke her. It turned out to be Spike who had immediately rushed over to help her, and was now carefully checking to see if any permanent damage had been done to her head.

"I'm fine Spike." Twilight said pushing the little dragon away, and getting to her hooves.

"You need to come down stairs someponies here to see you." Spike said as he cleaned up the books that had fallen off Twilight's desk.

Twilight groaned her appreciation of Spike's helpfulness, rubbing one of her hooves against the part of her head that had hit the floor. She looked out the window and sure enough it was night time, the moon shining brightly.

Why would someone be here? Twilight thought to herself

I put out a decree that only the Elements of Harmony were allowed in the castle. She made her way down the stairs, still massaging her head.

And only ponies with information. She paused for a moment observing the thought, before it dawned on her.

Ponies with information.

By this time she was sprinting down the stairs, eager to get to the main hall and find out who this pony was. She was slightly confused when she didn't find the pony in the main hall. Instead a note lay on the floor. She quickly called all the Elements so that they could read the note together. Once everyone was gathered she read the note surrounded by her magical aura aloud.

Dear Elements of Harmony.

We have not met formally but we have still met

You think you are the only group of elements there is.

You are extremely wrong, as there are forces at play

that you could not understand.

But I do.

There is a darkness in Canterlot, that is not Nightmare Moon.

Instead it is much worse. Much much worse.

Don't underestimate him.

While I can not tell you the location or name of the murderer

I can also give you clues.

"Pegasus of Night.

Pegasus of Black.

Fear his dark might.

For he will strike back."

Signed: A Forgotten One

An uproar started among the Elements, everypony talking at once, trying to unravel the meaning of the note.

"Why so cryptic?" Rarity said

"Could Pegasus of Night mean a bat pony?" Fluttershy contemplated

"Spike send a letter to Canterlot and warn Princess Celestia that something is in Canterlot!" Twilight ordered

"We need to get to Canterlot!" Yelled Rainbow Dash flying towards the door, only to be halted by Applejack

"How are we supposed to know if that note was true!" Applejack told Rainbow

"I think a cupcake is in order" Pinkie Pie concluded as she pulled a cupcake out of Fluttershy's ear and began munching down on it.

"Spike darling, what did the person who delivered the message look like?" Asked Rarity, everypony turning to Spike as the answer was ultimately to all of their questions. Spike began shifting on his feet nervous of all the eyes.

Suddenly Spikes eyes flashed a brilliant green, before returning to normal, causing him to hold his head in confusion, as he began shaking his head as if to get rid of something. Suddenly noticing all the eyes on him he looked around in confusion, unsure of why everypony was looking at him.

"Uh, hi?" Spike said, questioning if that was the right thing to say.

Everypony looked at him in confusion. Something had very clearly happened to him, and nopony knew what it was. Spike gulped as he slowly backed away from all of the ponies staring at him, clearly wanting him to say something. He slowly backed away to what looked like a door to the outside. One of the ponies, the unicorn with the white coat, began walking over to him slowly, as if he may bite her. As the unicorn came closer, Spike realized it was time to run.

He broke into a sprint, barging out the door, with the faint yells of "Spike!" echoing behind him.

How do these ponies know my name? Spike thought panicking, as he ran down an alleyway to lose them. He stopped as he came face to face with a two pony high wall, turning to try and leave the alleyway, hoping that the ponies wouldn't catch him in it. But it was too late.

The ponies had him cornered, in the alleyway, as he began frantically searching for a way out. He backed away slowly, as the group of ponies cautiously approached him, unsure if he would attack them. The ponies stopped however and looked over Spikes shoulders, their eyes widening in fear, at whatever was behind him, especially the rainbow haired one. At first he thought they were scared of him, but then looking at his small build, he realized that it wasn't him. Slowly he turned to face the thing behind him, unsure of what he would face.

What he saw was not what he had expected. A mass of unnatural moving shadows stood behind him, with two blood red eyes staring back at him. He was frozen with fear as the curling mass, simply stood and stared, no emotion coming from those eyes. Slowly he backed away from the figure, but then remembered the ponies behind him. He looked at both of them sideways, unsure of who he would rather face.

The ponies looked friendlier, but they clearly didn't like the black mass of shadow they were facing. The black mass however showed no hate towards the ponies, as he was simply still staring at Spike, wanting him to make a decision. Suddenly a small tendril broke of from the rest of the black mass, creeping towards him, but not in a hurtful way, more like an invitation. He cautiously watched the tendril as it stopped halfway to him.

Spike gulped as he watched the black tendril with a mix of caution and curiosity, as he extended his claws towards it. He heard several gasps from the ponies gathered. That didn't matter though as he continued to extend his claws towards the tendril. He knew that the black mass wouldn't hurt him, in fact he also somehow knew that he would get a fresh start if he touched that tendril.

Where am I going if I touch it. Spike thought questioningly.

Canterlot. A thought suddenly entered his head answering his question.\

After getting confirmed as to the location, Spike took the tendril fully in his claws. He was then enveloped by the darkness, he didn't know how he could feel it, but he knew his body was being transported somewhere. He heard several gasps from the ponies as they watched him with shocked faces. Didn't matter what they thought, he felt... safe, secure, as if nothing could get to him. His feeling was supported when he heard the ponies fighting to get inside the darkness. Then the fighting noises stopped.

Spike opened his eyes finding himself on the moonlit streets of Canterlot, a dark purple pegasus standing in front of him. It threw a bag at his feet making a jingling noise as it hit the ground.

Bits. He thought, realizing that there was probably enough Bits in there to rent a house or get a place to stay.

He looked up to thank the strange being that had helped him, only to find an empty street, the moon shining on it. He sighed as he got up and began the walk to a nearby hotel.

Void Runner watched as Spike made his way down the street, probably to find a hotel to stay in.

The time is almost here. He thought as he flew back to his home.

They will pay...

Luna watched silently, as Void Runner flew back to his home.

Why was Spike here in Canterlot? Luna thought

And why was Void Runner helping him?

She decided to investigate gliding after him silently. One thing she had found out about Void Runner, was his superb hearing which was, dare she say, better then hers. After a while he arrived home, with Luna close behind. Soon after entering the house Luna knocked.

Why are you here again? She asked herself

To see why he was with Spike. She thought back.

Her thoughts were abruptly cut off as he answered the door soon after, clearly surprised to see her at his doorstep. Once again she got lost in those red eyes. Those blood red eyes. She felt something push against her head, snapping out of it, when she realized that it was Void Runner's hoof pressed against her horn, trying to get her attention. Now the color of a beetroot, she scrambled to remember her question.

"Why were you with Spike?" Luna blurted out.

One of Void Runners eyebrows rose slightly, with the tiniest hint of panic entered his eyes, and with Luna so focused on them she noticed the panic that stuck out.

"Who?" He asked the panic still hiding inside his eyes.

Her eyes narrowed a bit, she knew that he knew who Spike was.

"The dragon on the street that you gave money to." She said testing for a reaction

The panic in his eyes slowly grew, but then faded completely, visibly relaxing, he answered

"Oh that dragon, I didn't know his name, only that he was on the streets, and I couldn't leave him there."

She blinked at his answer. It was so... genuine. But it was still hard to believe that he didn't know Spike. She thought about confronting him again, until her attention went back to his eyes. They were so strange, as if it was a beautiful mistake.

"Why are your eyes red?" She found herself saying, clearly taking him off guard.

Immediately blushing at such a personal question, she was now giving herself a mental beat up.

"From birth." Void Runner suddenly said

He's giving you permission to ask more. She thought

Or was it just an answer? She reasoned back

It took her a while to resolve the fight between the warring thought, finding herself once again staring at his eyes. He was asking if she wanted to come in for some tea. She was about to reply a vigorous Yes, when she realized it was time to lower the moon. Politely declining she flew back to her tower, building up her magic to lower the moon.

From birth? she silently questioned.

As she landed on the tower, she had expected there to be nopony on it. However as she made her way down the stairs to get something to eat, a familiar voice sounded from behind her, comforting her but also horrifying her.

"Been somewhere?" The voice said

Slowly turning to face the voice, readying herself to take the bombardment of questions, that was no doubt coming.

"What do you mean?" Luna said, putting on a shaky smile.

Now fully facing the voice, it was hard to be terrified of such a nice face, but Luna knew better. Sure she was very nice, but she could get very mad if she wished. Her rainbow colored mane swishing around her, despite there being no wind. A perfect smile on her face. Her gold armor glistening in the moonlight.

"You know what." Princess Celestia said

Gulping Luna quickly searched her brain for a way out.

Does she know about Void Runner? She thought

"I don't understand the question sister." Luna answered, trying to gain as much time as she could, to think her way out.

Celestia, gave a smile that was made to coax out the answers she wanted.

"Where have you been going at night?" She said, very clearly enjoying this.

Luna now slowly backing away to the stairs, still trying to think of a way out of this situation, gave a smile that she thought meant, 'I don't know what you're talking about', very clearly having the opposite effect as Celestia's smile grew wider.

"I know you've been leaving at night, after you raise the moon." Now smiling like mad, and clearly trying to not laugh.

Luna decided to abandon ship, sprinting down the stairs, and past her bat pony guards into the Great Hall. She could distinctly hear the laughter coming from her sister who was now lying on the floor, crying with laughter.

She's hiding something alright. Celestia thought

Now composed enough, that she was able to walk past the guards without laughing. She slowly walked to her own tower prepared to raise the sun. Luna was not going to hear the end of this.

Void Runner watched as Luna flew back to her tower. She was getting good at sneaking up on him. He didn't even hear her coming up behind him. Her question about Spike had been even more surprising, revealing that she had seen the little exchange between them. He sighed as he remembered her strange question about his eyes. That had brought up unpleasant memories.

I will have my revenge...