Dreams, Nightmares, and Friendships

A young female Pikachu ran towards the magmortar, her cheeks sparking with electricity, and with a battle cry she shot headfirst into him, using Slam. Stumbling back, the fire type let out a roar before firing a flamethrower at the Pikachu, who skillfully dodged and jumped onto his back before letting loose with a thunderbolt. With a cry of pain, the Magmortar collapsed and the Pikachu grinned, hopping onto his back.

“Outlaw number five of the day! That’s gotta be a new record!” She laughed, wearing a cocky grin, putting up two fingers, closing one eye, and putting her other hand on her hip. The blue jackal that had been sitting against a nearby wall eating a sitrus berry smiled.

“You know Pika; some Pokémon would think you get way too cocky. Especially after you came up with that victory pose.” He said as he ate the last bit of sitrus berry and stood up.

“Hey, I’m awesome like that! Besides, who wouldn’t act like me if they’ve defeated THIRTEEN legendaries?! That’s no small feat Riolu! Of course I’m gettin’ cocky!” Pika said, grinning all the while. Then she noticed something.

“Hmm? What the heck is this?” She muttered as she untied the small bag from the Magmortar’s wrist and undid the drawstring, only to have her eyes widen in excitement and she let out an excited squeal.

“Riolu there’s a thunder stone and sun ribbon in here!” She screamed in excitement, jumping into the air several times. Instantly Riolu rushed over.

“Are you serious?! That means we can finally evolve!” He explained happily.

~-~-~

“Hey Twilight, I’ve got a message for ya.” Twilight looked up from reading her journal entries and thanked Spike before taking the scroll that he held and opening it. Soon though, her eyes drew wide in both astonishment and slight horror.

“Spike did you send any notes to Princess Celestia recently?!” She asked. Spike raised a brow in confusion.

“Uh…yea there was that one on the table. Since Owlowiscious hadn’t thrown it away I assumed that you wanted me to send it.” The baby dragon said, though he was quite puzzled as to why Twilight looked so horrified.

“B-but that- why did you send it?!” She asked.

“I just told you Twilight.” Spike deadpanned. Twilight groaned and rubbed a temple with her hoof.

“Princess Celestia is coming to Ponyville simply because she wants to know more about why I think Darkrai is kind of funky.” She said.

“Funky as in: A partier like Pinkie Pie or funky as in: he’s totally weird?” Spike asked, trying to recall a time he had actually spoken to the black Pegasus stallion. Twilight gently bit her bottom lip.

“I’m not sure…I just get this off kind of feeling about him.”

“Are you sure you’re not crushing on him?” Spike deadpanned. Twilight blushed and shook her head and said, “No! It’s not like that Spike! Anyways, Owlowiscious would you and Spike mind fetching Darkrai? I guess if Princess Celestia wants to see him he might as well be here.” With that Twilight rushed back upstairs and grabbed a brush, beginning to gently work at the few knots in her mane and tail. About a half an hour later, Spike returned and Owlowiscious flew in through the window.

“Bad news Twilight, Rarity’s in the middle of a really big order and Darkrai’s busy helping her.” Spike said with a small shred of resentment hidden in his voice. Twilight hastily remembered that her number one assistant had a crush on Rarity, and probably didn’t like how some other male was there to help her out instead of Spike himself.

“W-what?! But a simple big order for Rarity couldn’t be more important than Princess Celestia!” Twilight exclaimed. Spike shrugged.

“Darkrai said that he was obliged to help until Rarity either dismissed him or until the job was done. I offered to help her out instead but she just brushed me off and said that she had Darkrai to help her out.” Spike said jealously, folding his arms.

“Spike, I doubt Rarity likes Darkrai more than you just yet; remember, he was hired by Rarity to be an actual assistant to her line of work. Of course she’ll be accepting his help first; it’s what his job is.” Twilight reasoned. This seemed to at least make sense to Spike, for his arms dropped to his side.

“Did Rarity say when she would be done?” Twilight asked exasperatedly.

“We are done. Rarity just shipped out the order.” Twilight whipped around and came nose to nose with Darkrai. She yelped and leaped back a couple of feet.

“How-when-why-who-what’re you doing here?!” She exclaimed. Darkrai pricked an ear.

“I came because Spike and Owlowiscious requested my presence.” He said coolly.

“B-but how’d you get here so fast?!” Spike asked.

“What’re you talking about?” Darkrai responded. Twilight blinked a couple of times before shaking her head.

“I’ll work out the physics later…anyways, listen. My monarch, Princess Celestia, is coming to meet you, and I just wanted to politely request that you be prepared…she’s used to being treated with the utmost respect…” Twilight trailed off as soon as she realized that Darkrai’s eyes had glazed over, and she tentatively nudged his shoulder with a hoof. Instantly he snapped out of his stupor and grimaced as if he had caught whiff of a bad scent.

“I’ll return shortly. There’s something I must tend to first.” Darkrai said. Twilight watched in confusion as he left.

“…Yea, I think he’s funky weird, not funky partier.” Spike muttered.

~-~-~

Rage boiled within the pit of his stomach. It seethed through every muscle in his strong body and flowed out through every action he made. Even the seemingly small movement of pacing back and forth seemed to violently expel more fury.

And Darkrai couldn’t even fathom why!

“Why can’t I find out why?!” He shouted angrily, bucking the nearest tree furiously. Surprising, a couple of oranges fell from it and one actually hit his head. He raised a foot and stomped on it then began pacing again, ignoring the orange juice that was collecting dirt and dead bits of grass thanks to its stickiness.

“Geez, have you got a temper problem or what?” Darkrai looked up. Through fuzzy vision, he could make out a blue form. Why did that sound so familiar…blue…blue, yellow, black, pink, blue- colors swirled past his vision and he closed his eyes, shook his head violently, and then opened his eyes again to find his vision now clear again. The Pegasus pony known as Rainbow Dash stared at him.

“What do you want?” Darkrai asked, resuming his angered pacing.

“Why are you even out here? It isn’t exactly like this is a safe place.”

“Try telling that to the three fillies who raced past earlier blabbing about how they were going to get some…’Creature Hunter cutie marks’…such noise…too much noise…I hate noise…too much noise…” Rainbow’s eyes widened and she shot down, pinning Darkrai to the ground.

“You mean to tell me that the Cutie Mark Crusaders came by, heading for the EVERFREE FOREST, and you didn’t stop them?! What is wrong with you?” Rainbow shouted.

“Some might argue there are a lot of things wrong with me.” Darkrai said as he gently but forcibly pushed Rainbow off and resumed his pacing.

“Well whatever! If Sweetie Bell, Applebloom, and Scootaloo go in there then they’re in serious danger!” Darkrai froze. Rage stopped permeating his fibers to be replaced by a sense of dread. As Rainbow looked around, suddenly a black flash raced past her towards the Everfree. Rainbow watched Darkrai’s rapidly fading figure before springing into the air, flying after him.

~-~-~

“Ah don’t know…maybe this wasn’t a good idea.” Applebloom said as she looked around.

“Oh don’t worry, we passed Darkrai on our way here and he didn’t stop us.” Sweetie Bell said confidently, remembering that she had paused to admire the amazing stallion before resuming the way to the Everfree Forest.

“By the way, you’ve mentioned this Darkrai dude several times. Who exactly is he?” Scootaloo asked. Sweetie Bell smiled.

“Rarity said that he showed up several days ago, passed out right near here. At first nobody trusted him, but then he saved Rarity from a thief. Now he works at Carousel Boutique helping Rarity fill out orders when she needs his help.” She said, letting her mind wander.

“I got a good look at him, and he didn’t look all that honorable to me.” Scootaloo said uncertainly.

“Oh don’t worry! He’s fine!” Sweetie Bell said, waving a hoof in dismissal. A howl interrupted her and she whipped around just as a Timber Wolf leaped out of the bushes behind them, followed quickly by about a dozen or so more.

“Oh Celestia!” Sweetie Bell screamed as she began running in a panic. Applebloom and Scootaloo quickly followed. The timber wolves weren’t far behind either.

“Ah told you guys that this was a bad idea!” Applebloom yelped.

“Play the I-Told-You-So game later when there AREN’T timber wolves after our flanks!” Scootaloo shouted.

“You three watch out!” Suddenly, with a flash of blue, red, black, and white, Darkrai had slammed into the leading wolf, and started mercilessly kicking, bucking and ramming into the wooden wolf. The Cutie Mark Crusaders watched in amazement as the black stallion forced back the lead wolf before he looked over his shoulder as he began backing up again.

“Stay behind me, and whatever you do, don’t run. Predators instinctively go after prey that runs. When prey runs it means it’s weak. Weakened prey means an easier meal.” He said, facing the timber wolves again. His wings flared out and he stamped the ground angrily.

“Try to harm them! I dare you!” He shouted. The timber wolves growled in response and two leaped forward. Darkrai shot forward and nailed them in the stomach with his wings, then slammed them into the ground. Two gurgling howls were cut off. Instantly the pack backed up, unnerved.

“M-Mr. Darkrai…how’re we gonna get out of this?” Sweetie Bell whimpered. Darkrai’s gaze slid back to meet her eyes and he smiled.

“Do you know the way out?”

“N-no, but Applebloom knows where a zebra named Zecora lives…”

“Go there and have this Zecora character take you back to Ponyville.” Darkrai ordered, his tone suggesting that argument was far from the best option to go with.

“W-will ya be alright?” Applebloom asked worriedly.

“…we’ll see, won’t we?” Darkrai smiled before turning to the pack of timber wolves. They had begun to inch closer, and now they let out fearsome howls. Darkrai watched as the Crusaders ran off and he spread his wings so as to cover their escape.

“Well then…are you going to attack?” He challenged.

~-~-~

“Sweetie Bell I’ve been so worried!” Rarity said as she pulled her sister inside. Noticing the filly’s shivering, she frowned.

“Where have you been?” The white mare asked. Sweetie Bell looked over her shoulder and shuddered before suddenly blurting out, “We thought it’d be a good idea to try our hooves at creature hunting but then we got lost in the Everfree forest and then some timber wolves showed up and then suddenly Darkrai showed up and he told us to leave and he still hasn’t shown up yet!” Rarity gasped and looked towards the forest.

“What on earth were you thinking, and now Darkrai may be being eaten by Timber wolves!” She said worriedly.

“Actually not.” Sweetie Bell and Rarity looked up as Darkrai walked into the boutique, sporting only a deep bite mark on his shoulder and a gash across his back.

“They didn’t put up much of a fight.” He said. Rarity gasped and began tending to his wounds.

“Mr. Darkrai…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried-”

“One part brave, three parts fool. It’s alright. Everyone makes mistakes.” The stallion interrupted. Sweetie Bell stared at him with a grateful smile.

“Thank you.” She said. Darkrai dipped his head just as Twilight walked in, looking around.

“Darkrai there you are; where did you wander off to, I’ve been looking all over for…what happened?” The lavender unicorn mare trailed off then asked.

“Sweetie Bell thought it would be a good idea to hunt down creatures for her cutie mark. Darkrai here narrowly saved the CMCs.” Rarity explained as she finished bandaging Darkrai’s shoulder. Twilight blinked before gulping.

“Well Princess Celestia is still coming to see him so…are you fit?” She asked, turning towards the blue eyed pegasus stallion. He nodded.

“I don’t see why I can’t attend a meeting with this… Princess Celestia.” He said calmly. Twilight sighed with thankfulness.

“Ok; she’ll be arriving soon, so-” The clattering of a carriage hitting the ground outside drew Twilight’s attention away from Darkrai’s almost hypnotic eyes and she looked outside as Princess Celestia herself stepped out of her royal carriage and looked around. Twilight shot outside.

“P-Princess Celestia!” She cried happily, running up to her mentor. Celestia smiled and bent down to hug her apprentice, then stood straight again.

“So where is this Darkrai fellow you’ve told me about?” She asked.

“Behind you.” Celestia looked over her shoulder and blinked upon locking gazes with Darkrai. He took two steps forward then bowed, still managing to look regal even as his slightly long mane brushed the ground.

“You are Princess Celestia yes? It is an honor to meet the mentor of Twilight Sparkle and the Ruler of Equestria.” Celestia blinked and dipped her head.

“It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Darkrai.” She said. Looking at Twilight, she whispered, “What gives you bad feelings about this stallion again?” She asked. Twilight bit her bottom lip gently.

“Well…for one he has amnesia, two, sometimes he wanders off and when we find him he’s ranting about anything from colors to the moon and back…and three is the fact that he can use spells. Like a unicorn; even though he’s a Pegasus.” The purple unicorn replied. A thump distracted the mares and they directed their gaze at Darkrai, as his mane settled on the ground.

“…ah…” Celestia managed to comment as Twilight lifted the dark coated stallion using magic and hurriedly rushed him into Carousel Boutique, beckoning for Celestia to follow.