Verve

“Pumpkin?” Tempest called, turning her eyes back to the missing mushroom in the now pitch black; only the faint blue lights of glowing fungi surrounded her. She was just standing there, wasn’t she? Where did she go? How?...

“Pumpkin!” she repeated herself, screaming as loud as she could - if this was a prank, it was in exceptionally poor taste. Yet… She had never been one to pull a prank like this before. Or a prank at all. She scanned the ground for tracks, hoof marks - signs of life, anything.

The alarm bells in the back of her head began to ring, a pit of dread welling in her stomach. It wasn’t because she was alone in the woods - no, it was because she didn’t feel alone.

Without wings or magic to lift her, she returned to the campfire in a gallop. “Vee, report! Where’s Pumpkin?!”

“Hmhm? She… Stern-fry, she was with you. What do you mean where’s Pumpkin?” Vee glared, standing up by the now bustling fire. Arin and Celestia - who had already assembled the blaze from plentiful wood - shot the wine-colored mare confused looks.

“She was standing right next to me, harvesting a mushroom - I turned my eye to the shadows for a second, and she was gone. No sign, no trace - not even a mark that she fled. Celestia, Arin! Check the canopy - if Pumpkin followed orders, she should be near the light.”

The Princess and her Seraph looked to each other, and nodded - wings flashing as they prepared to bolt. But before they could, Celestia whinied - spinning on her legs with a beat of her wings to the campfire. Arin’s ascent was interrupted, as he jumped into the air in a flurry of his pinions only to crash to the floor in shock.

“Something is there! In the woods! Right behind us!” Celestia called, shaking from her hooves to horn. Arin scrambled to the fire, unsheathing Sun Song to stand between her and the lurking shadows.

Vee, who had retrieved her lance from Pumpkin the other day, ripped it from her bag in a hurry. Wide awake at the disappearance of her Sister, and now under attack - the remaining four circled around the campfire with their eyes to the shadows.

The whispers from the other night began again, a horrifying rumble of undecipherable jabber that echoed from all around.

“Stern-fry, I swear on all that I find sacred, if my Sister is dead, your head is going on this lance after we deal with these chatterbox Jerk-faces,” Vee growled, back to back with the battle ready Unicorn. Tempest’s broken horn crackled with energy, rage burning inside of her.

“You’ll have to catch me, first. I’ll be too busy caving in whatever skull took her from me,” she replied, unease surrounding them. The building terror rising in their guts with each passing second; even the stalwart Commander found it hard to stand prepared, the trees creaking and groaning with unseen winds.

“Should we flee?” Celestia asked quietly. “If we can’t find Pumpkin, we may never find her in the dark-”

“No! We abandon no one! We are a team! If these… things took her, then they’ll give her back! Otherwise we will never find her in the shadows, even if we split up,” snarled the Unicorn, stomping her hoof in frustration. “If you are a coward now, Celestia, run - flee into the light. I will die before abandoning a friend, especially one I care for.”

The Princess left herself open to gaze at the unyielding mare. Even with fear soaking through their hearts, she faced the dark and braved the burden of terror for a friend. With a nod, her magic - as weak as it was - shot forth an arc of light into the sky, bursting into a blinding, glowing, illuminating wave of light. For several seconds, the dark world they stood in was captured in the strength of the sun.

She wished she hadn’t done this. Between the trees and lurking in the shadows, stood hundreds of black vine-lashed beings - taller than a pony each, their legs ending in roots and covered in a thick, dark sap. They shrunk back in fear of the light - revealing their thorny hides, cracked boney tarp wings and - with a surprising keen eye, Arin saw a few cutiemarks. The dark settled in once more, the whispers growing with intensity.

“Tia, these things have wings and cutiemarks,” he said, the fear wavering, but caution still restrained him to the spot. “Are you all sure they’re evil? Or out to hurt us? They could be ponies under some foul curse...”

A root sprung up from under the flame, darting up to seize the logs gathered - before crashing down over the wood, splintering it to pieces. The fire dimmed and shrunk dramatically, the creatures around stepping in closer to the group.

“They’re either afraid of the fire and want to put it out, or they want to take us in the dark,” Celestia stated bluntly, scanning the growing shadows as her dim magic went to seize a bundle of wood to add to the flame. Several vines lashed out, clasping around the twigs in defiance.

“They could be guardians of these woods? Hmhm. If so, then they have my Sister - I’ll neigh to them.” Vee clutched her spear close, approaching the shadows despite the fact that every hair in her coat stood on end against it. She even clicked her lantern off, as a sign of good will.

“Excuse me, all Scary-fries gathered. I’m Vee-Ness, Coffee Enthusiast and resident nudist of Canterlot. I don’t suppose you’ve seen a little ‘Fry about - neigh high, bubbly, penchant for stuttering, hmhm?” she spoke boldly into the shadows. The whispering drew quiet, an uncomfortable silence seeping over them.

“Rest.”

“Sleep.”

“Become of the Vine.”

“It beckons you.”

The quiet voices around them grew bold, the language they uttered a mimicry of their own. Vee raised her wings to flap back to the flame, but before she could take off - an ebony vine shot forward, catching her hoof. She dropped her spear with a clatter, her legs stumbling to land on the forest floor.

“Oho! That is definitely not good for the feathers,” she said, before being ripped into the darkness around them. No scream came from the Pegasus, the air driven out of her lungs from the rough trauma.

“VEE!” Tempest called, dashing forward with a nova of electric light billowing from her horn - searing the air with shocking intensity. Celestia and Arin were close behind - the light of flame arcing off Sun Song, solar energy from the Princess’s horn blazing their path. A trail of feathers followed after Vee - before suddenly disappearing.

The far light of the fire faded, as more vines wiped away the burning light - coals smothered in dirt and logs stowed beneath the damp, cold earth.

Tempest turned her tracker’s eyes to the forest floor - yet there was nothing. No signs, no hide nor hair of the pegasus. Gone, without a trace. Just like Pumpkin. No, not like Pumpkin - she didn’t sense the creatures in the dark before.

In the frenzy to find their missing companion, another dark tendril shot from the earth - wrapping tightly around Celestia’s hindlegs - a second bulbous orb vine just barely missing her screaming mouth. Arin instantly swung into action, slicing through the tendrils with burning speed, a hiss of whispers piping up around them.

“Dream with us.”

“Join the wood.”

“The Entity beckons you.”

Helping the Princess to her hooves, the dim light of her horn began to falter.

“Arin, they’re not afraid of light - they’re afraid of the sun and flame. These aren’t wood creatures defending their forest! They’re parasites! I should have known the moment you said they have cutiemarks!”

Vee faded into view with a faint flash of blue light; ethereal body solidifying as she huffed and groaned. Stunned looks all around nearly caused the group to break, as the pegasus settled in. Gashes, cuts, scrapes, and grievous wounds marked her body to shreds, mane and wings smothered in dirt as she recovered. “Sun-fry - one moment…”

Vee vomited a pool of coffee onto the forest floor, a severed, wriggling pod squirming in the mess beneath her. She grimaced at the sight, bucking it into the black woods with a snort. The group huddled in around her, Arin’s magic flashing across Vee’s battered body with the chime of bells. Antithesis knitted the damage in moments, the Purple perking up after wiping her muzzle clean.

“Sun-fry is right. If these things have my Sister, it’s only a matter of minutes until it’s too…” She heaved again, shuddering. “...Too late.”

Tempest began to panic; there were hundreds of these creatures, and one wrong move would instantly spell their doom. She didn’t have magic like Vee, who could just fade into the dream world on a whim. Nor did she have a well of Solar Magic to draw from - but she did have an incredibly weakened sun princess on hoof. And she couldn’t leave Pumpkin to her fate, either.

“We need sunlight. A lot of sunlight. Celestia, on my call - flash another solar flare, and bring the sun directly overhead of us. Arin, the moment these things begin to fall back - fly up into the canopy, and cleave a hole through the branches; if they have wings, they may give chase in the dark. Try not to burn down the forest. Vee, you’re going to support Princess Celestia - keep her alive, and if she runs out of magic, take her above the shadows. Do you understand?”

“Stern-fry, you’ll die down here alone. Are you sure?” Vee asked, Tempest giving a nod.

“Death before submission. I’ll fight to the last breath. I’m not going to abandon her. If these things have Pumpkin, I…” She stopped herself short, shaking away an enraged tear. “On my command. Three, two-”

The whispers shifted to screams, as the very roots of the trees shook around them. The leafy boughs far above cracked and yawned, shifting in an unseen breeze. Within seconds, an ear splitting sound of literal billions of leaves moving, millions of branches shifting, cracked through the forest - the light and beauty of the sunlight crashing through to the dark world far below. A rain of rotten lumber homes fell to the floor in broken planks and ropes, the old pony civilization above them crushed to bits.

The effect was instantaneous. The cracked hides of the creatures around them churned in their fading shadows, skin melting to reveal their vine-strangled skulls. Silently, as if the very words had been taken from their lungs, and without pause - they drifted behind the base of the great woods around, vanishing into the shadows and murk. On a distant airship, a crew gathered at the strange sight - noting the remarkable change in the endless, petrifying dark of the deepwoods.

“Vee! Tempest! Celestia! Arin!” Pumpkin’s faint voice called, far in the distance. All eyes traveled to the forest floor around them, but nothing caught their eye. “Up here!”

In the light of the exposed floor, eyes shot up to the clasped crowns of the trees far above. Sitting on top of the great Forest Lord’s antlers, was none other than the missing witchy mare - a giddy smile on her face.

Shock and awe of the being’s majesty fell through the now quiet clearings of the wood, as its bark-covered head lowered steadily through the trees to meet the four stragglers.

“Indeed, I count four upon my eye. May I see her - the Sun Bringer, Dawn Caller - the one you call Princess Celestia?” His deep, booming voice spoke in the calmest whisper, nothing more than leaves through the trees.

The Princess stepped forward, dumbstruck. Her eyes locked to the glowing green orbs within the entity’s bark-covered skull. It absolutely thrummed with natural power, the ageless being standing long among the testament of time.

If his wooded maw could smile, it was hard to tell. It simply gazed quietly right through her, like a sunflower would the dawn. Embracing her light in the majesty of his trees.

“May I see it? Your power? Your light? Bring me the sun, and be deemed friend.” He spoke calmly to the Princess, who stupidly nodded.

“If it is the sun you desire, then it is the sun I will rouse,” her voice came, elegant and refined like a Princess should sound. Her horn flashed pink, closing her eyes. The massive ball of flame hanging in the sky shifted and turned overhead - against the looming tide of the Lunar Magics seeking to encroach on its majesty.

The being tilted its head back, massive glowing eyes hiding behind the life of fresh leaves. It hummed through the unseen breeze that rattled it, almost adorably for a massive, city sized creature - before speaking quietly to the four left standing.

“I bear many names, though you may call me Trilvanos, Lord of the Deep Wood. Bearer of Boughs and Thinker of Thickets. I speak for the old branches that sway here. Heir to the Dawn, you are friend to all trees that root in my forest.” He bowed his mighty head, and Pumpkin took her chance to jump down into Tempest’s doting hooves.

“I thought I lost you, my Sweet…” the unicorn whispered, soft lips meeting hers in a gentle, heartwarming kiss.

“N-No! I wasn’t missing - I was found. I-I um… don’t know what happened. I took the mushroom, and I was gone.”

“Strange things have been the norm beneath my canopy for ages past. But those who bear the Mark of the Wild tend to find the strangest things the norm,” he spoke somberly, a single leafy vine stretching out to stroke over cheek. “A precious creature you truly are.”

She smiled at the compliment, crossing her forehooves together. As brave as she had been, compliments were hard to accept.

“This Cloven Heart speaks of your troubles and pains that ache this world. There is much I can do to aid you in these winter times. Come. I will guide you, as I would saplings toward the light. I-...”

His old eyes settled on the far Seraph, standing to Celestia’s side. Perhaps he was slow, or had not noticed the humanoid among the ponies - his eyes were old, and the roots long. But he knew far too well what he saw.

“Heir of Dawn, that forbidden creature strikes anger at my wooden core. Is it foe?” he spoke quietly, to the Princess of the Sun. “Ilk of your kind are not welcome in my trees, wood burner. Torch bearer. Flame striker.”

Celestia’s wing engulfed the Seraph, her eyes heavy with worry. “I assure you, Lord Trilvanos - he is in my care. He’s my Knight, my guardian, and my lover.”

The great Lord of the Forest gazed through the tall Seraph and his white wings, embracing his form with a wave of curious magic. His glare relented, churning a deep rumble in his chest.

“He carries a blade of warmth, and a heart of light. I have judged you wrong, Strange One. If you hold the love of the Sun, then you are in pleasant company. You may join me, like the others who stand with you.”

The branches of his long leafy antlers settled towards the floor - inviting them to clamber aboard. Pumpkin was quick to hop on, happy for the ride - though the others were a little more wary to join him. It took a minute or three, but the party finally gathered the will to climb aboard. Once all passengers were settled in the comfort of his presence, his body raised upwards - his trees gracing the light of the forest canopy.

In long, silent steps, he traveled. His faded legs unhindered by root, long antlers untouched by the crowns of other trees that parted for his presence. The very woods moved for his stride, the soft breeze and warm light a welcome sight for the party.

“Trilvanos?” Arin questioned, after several minutes of long silence. “What were those creatures in the dark? That whispered for us to join them?”

His long leaf ear waved in the wind, before his rumbling voice spoke in that familiar, soothing voice. “Ah, you speak of the Dark Kin. The spirits of great woods that perished at the blade of the axe, or the spark of a flame. They exist in the realm of the Deepwoods. Those who tread far beneath the canopy’s light soon find their whispers hauntingly close, especially without the Mark of Trees to keep their ilk at bay.” His long stride carried them through leagues in mere minutes; the forest whipping by in a breeze. “They claim the bodies of creatures like you, to host their spirit once more. A corruption they are, a fragment of dark energy from a time now lost.”

“If you had not travelled with a Cloven Heart in your company, you would have all surely perished, like the ponies before you who dug their roots into my realm. While they planted many trees - they also uprooted the lives of many more. Thus, the Dark Kin were born - at the call of shadow and the stir of great evil.”

Tempest hugged tightly onto Pumpkin, who quietly burrowed her muzzle into her neck in return. They were quiet, save the gentle sounds of love and affection between them. Silent promises whispered and sweet kisses sent. Finally, the Unicorn found her chance to speak.

“Then how did you find Pumpkin? How did she vanish right before my very eyes?”

At that, the giant tree-creature rumbled. Thinking long on a response; perhaps the answer to give, or something to slate their thirst for knowledge.

“I can not say here. Not in this form.”