Darkest Equestria

A few days later, Pinkie woke to murmuring. It was the middle of the night, the only light being from the candle on Trixie's prized skull.

Trixie was the one murmuring in her sleep. Her body jolted. It heightened, loud and unintelligible, the words spilling over one another in a tide.

Pinkie stood. Her wounds had started to heal well over the days, though they still hurt. As for Trixie, she seemed to be recovering at a steady pace. At least... physically, that was.

"Trixie?" Pinkie set a hoof on the mare. "Are you okay?"

Trixie's jolting stilled at her touch. Her breathing evened out.

Pinkie sighed. It had been happening every night. Trixie was clearly suffering. The mind was a fragile thing, it was something that Pinkie knew well. It could be mended, healed, made better, but it would never be truly cured. All she could do was hope that Trixie came through it a stronger pony. For strength was needed in the coming days.

It was cold tonight, and Pinkie really didn't feel like walking the halls of the hospital alone. Too many bad memories. So, once Trixie seemed to have calmed down, she climbed back into bed and closed her eyes. She waited for dawn.

When Pinkie awoke again, it was not to dawn. It was night. She kept forgetting that it was now the night days. The next two days would be cloaked in darkness.

There was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" Pinkie asked.

The door opened, revealing Baldwin. The rags covering him looked oddly at place in the hospital, like he was some kind of specter. His tarnished gold mask forever hid what lay beyond its embrace.

"Pinkie." Baldwin said. "I come bearing news."

He had been by earlier to check on her, so it wasn't surprising he had something to say.

"What is it?"

"Ponyville has received more occupants, courtesy of Twilight." Baldwin said. "As head adventurer, she wants you there to greet them. If you are up to it."

"I'm the head adventurer?" Pinkie asked. "When did that happen?"

"You will have to ask Twilight." Baldwin said.

Pinkie glanced over at Trixie. She was sleeping at the moment.

"I don't want to leave Trixie alone." Pinkie said.

"Very well. I will tell Twilight that you will not be there." Baldwin said.

"Wait. I want to be there." Pinkie nibbled on her hooves. "Can you watch her for me?"

"Duty calls for me as well." Baldwin said. "I am sure that she would accept that you have duties to attend to."

Pinkie Pie sighed. It was true. She couldn't just watch over Trixie forever. Things had to be done, work had to be done if they were to prosecute their war on the Everfree.

"Alright, I'm coming." Pinkie Pie jumped to her hooves, only to wince at the feeling of stretching wounds.

"It would be wise to not strain yourself." Baldwin said. "Unless you crave pain."

"I don't particularly like it." Pinkie said. "How about you? You're wrapped up in bandages all the time, are you in pain or something?"

"Pain." Baldwin raised a hoof and looked into its cracked surface. "I find that pain and suffering are not ideal, but they breed strength nonetheless."

"Strength?" Pinkie asked.

"Only when suffering is at its peak, can we find how much strength we truly have within." Baldwin said.

Pinkie Pie wasn't really sure she agreed, but she could see his point. "Interesting. I'll have to keep that in mind!"

"Then let us depart." Baldwin said.

Pinkie took one last look at Trixie, and then started the journey. They walked towards the Golden Oak Library, leaving the hospital behind. The moon was out, and if everything was right, it should have been morning. A light rain fell, soaking the dirt roads of Ponyville and caressing her sore coat. It felt nice.

"I never asked you why you came here." Pinkie said. "I know Applejack and Rainbow Dash are looking for redemption, Trixie is looking for bits to restore her cart, but what are you looking for?"

Baldwin hummed, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "What does a forgotten king wish for? The safety of his people, and to pass on knowing he did all that he could."

"So, are you looking to restore Equestria as well?" Pinkie asked.

"Indeed. My body won't last forever, sick as it is. The call of adventure found me, and so, I answered." Baldwin said.

"It's true then. You're sick." Pinkie frowned.

"Indeed. My body fails me." Baldwin said. "And through its suffering, I have found the will to continue and do something about this mess."

"Do you mind if I ask what it is?" Pinkie said. "Sorry if not. I'm just wondering if Nurse Redheart can cure it."

"There is no cure for leprosy. My kingdom could not suffer a dying king. I found peace with myself, my fate, and I left my kingdom in good hooves." Baldwin said. "My hooves led me here, and so I remain."

Leprosy. It was a disease unheard of in Equestria. But in Saddle Arabia, she had heard it was a problem recently. Something about the loss of magic made ponies able to catch it. Apparently, it was so painful that some ponies would rather pass on than suffer it. And yet, Baldwin stood tall, as if unaffected by its dark embrace. She wondered what he looked like beneath those rags.

It was inspiring to see him walk, and Pinkie couldn't help but widen her eyes a bit in awe. If there was any pony who should have been a hero in this place, it had to be Baldwin.

"You're a good pony." Pinkie said. "All these great new ponies... I really have to get around to throwing a party for all of you. Would you like that?"

"I wouldn't be opposed." Baldwin said. "Perhaps it would raise spirits. Though you are already quite good at that."

"I hope I am." Pinkie said. "I really hope my efforts are doing something."

"You are doing more than you know." Baldwin said. "I am sure that Trixie is grateful. Though her being here for just bits seems out of place. I suspect she has reasons of her own for being here."

"Like what?" Pinkie asked.

"Only time can tell... but one does not make a dark pact and come out unaffected."

Pinkie was left to think on that as they walked. It was true that Trixie did make some kind of deal with a mysterious entity. A pony wouldn't just do that for nothing, would they? And that skull of hers... there were so many mysteries. She wouldn't pry though; the mare had been through enough recently.

The Golden Oak Library came into view ahead through the fog of rain. A warm glow came from within the library, and the muffled chatter of voices could be heard. It seems that Pinkie was to be late again. This time though, she had the excuse of her battered body. The small things. The bright side.

"I'm here!" She pushed open the door and stuck her head inside.

Immediately, everypony in the room turned to look at her. There were many familiar faces, that of Applejack and Rainbow Dash and Twilight. However, there were three new ones.

"Pinkie!" Twilight came forward before she could really look at them. "You made it. I'm glad you could come. Please, meet the new arrivals every pony. They won't be going with you into the forest, but they will help you"

A pony stepped forward. He had a white coat of fur, and a blue mane. He was strong looking and wore a tarnished suit of purple and gold armor. Pinkie recognized it as the old armor of the royal guard. In fact, it was the armor of the captain of the royal guard.

"My name is Shining Armor." The pony said. "I am Twilight's brother, and she had good things to say about you."

"Oh, that is great to hear!" Pinkie said.

"I will be training those going into the Everfree how to fight." Shining Armor looked at her wounds. "It looks like you could use it."

"I really could." Pinkie agreed. "I can't keep getting shredded into confetti forever."

Getting trained by the former captain of the royal guard was certainly going to help. Pinkie glanced over at Twilight. It seems that being the former Princess's student allowed connections in high places. Of course, Shining Armor was also her brother apparently, so that didn't really count.

"An open mind is the first step to learning." Shining Armor nodded.

The next pony stepped forward. She was of average size, but her toned body spoke of a life of work. Her coat was a tannish brown, and her fluffy mane was a light yellow. Soot marks stained her hooves and chest. On her flank was a cutie mark of a hammer with a streak of lighting running behind it. "The name is Mjölna. I'll be working on your weapons and armor."

"Thanks for helping out." She looked like a strong individual. A little too expressionless and hard perhaps.

"Don't mention it. If the coin is good and the ale keeps coming, I'll keep your weapons and armor in good shape." Mjölna said.

Every pony turned to the last arrival. She sighed and stepped forward, keeping her head beneath her cowl.

Sporting a heavy and thick fur cloak, it was a wayward looking mare. She had a hood that covered most of her head and face, obscuring their identity behind the cowl. On her left shoulder was the lifeless skinned head of some canine, probably a wolf. Beneath the embrace of her cloak, Pinkie could see a tannish coat color. Other than that, there was nothing.

"My name is Daring Do, and I'll be teaching you to survive." The pony said.

"Daring Do?" Rainbow asked. "That sounds familiar. I never really got into reading, but I swore I heard your name on a book somewhere."

"I used to write adventure novels. No pony wants to read them anymore." Daring said. "And now I'm here. I was wandering Equestria and figured I might as well teach here than die and rot in some jungle somewhere."

Well, that was bleak. But Pinkie couldn't blame her.

"My name is Pinkie Pie, party pony extraordinaire! Or at least, I used to be. Now I just bake bread and kill things in the forest." Pinkie said. "Not really as great as I used to be."

"Better than most." Rainbow grumbled. "Could have gone my way..."

"Excellent. It looks like you have all met each other now." Twilight said. "Don't you all worry abouts bits for now. I have plenty in store to pay all of you. However, we will need to procure more eventually. That all can wait though... Where was I?"

Twilight paused for a moment and glanced at her clipboard. "Oh right, I wanted to talk to you all about the plan going forward."

"Here we go again..."

"Last expedition was a success, though it was not without consequence. The old road is clearer for now which means we can get supplies and ponies through. Soon we will have more adventurers to fill out our ranks, and laborers to repair the town." Twilight said. "What I need all of you to do is train with Shining Armor to fight, and with Daring Do to survive in the forest. These skills will be invaluable in continued assault on the forest. The first two expeditions were only for a day after all. If we are going to proceed further into the forest, you will have to learn how to survive for many weeks at a time."

Pinkie winced at that. The last expeditions went on only for a day and each time a pony died or got seriously injured. They needed to be smarter, stronger, and of course... better equipped.

"Mjölna will improve your weapons and armor. As we get more materials and bits, we can improve your gear more and more." Twilight said. "She is the best blacksmith in Equestria I know of."

"Sounds good to me." Applejack said. "My armor could always use a touch up."

"Any questions so far?" Twilight asked.

No pony said anything for a moment.

"Ok, then on to the next topic." Twilight said. "I have been speaking with Nurse Redheart. If any pony is having issues, speak with her. She will administer effective treatment for a price. Don't worry about it, I will be paying for any treatment you receive."

"We have to pay now?" Applejack asked. "When did that happen?"

"When the world fell to the gutter." Rainbow Dash said. "Figures."

"That is all the news I have for now." Twilight said. "I am working on getting more ponies to come here. I believe that we will be receiving a sizable amount soon. For now, expeditions are on hold until more ponies arrive or when Pinkie and Trixie have healed. Until then, train with my brother and Daring Do, and have your equipment improved by Mjölna."

"Sounds good to me!" Pinkie said. Her wounds would thank her for a break.

"That is all." Twilight turned back to her books. "Be safe and hold in there, more help is on the way."

How Twilight was causing all of this to happen, Pinkie could only guess. She wouldn't even know where to start in orchestrating all of this. All she knew how to do was throw parties. Speaking of parties, with this many ponies, maybe it would be worth throwing one. Where would she even get the supplies for a Pinkie Pie party though? There wasn't much to work with here.

"Would you stay behind Pinkie? I need to talk to you." Twilight said.

"Sure thing!" Pinkie said.

“Wait just a moment.” Twilight said.

She walked over to Shining Armor as he was leaving. They conversed, exchanging a few words. Then they hugged. When they finally detached, they all started to leave.

The ponies in the room started conversing as they headed out. No doubt towards the tavern. It seemed to be the place where every pony was going nowadays. Though Applejack and Rainbow would be heading towards the abbey. She really did need to visit that place someday. Maybe a little meditation and prayer would do her good.

When all the ponies in the room had departed, Twilight walked over to her. She looked tired, very tired. Her eyes had bags beneath them, and she stood on shaky hooves.

"Pinkie. I need to talk to you about something." Twilight said.

"You already said that." Pinkie said.

"I did?"

"Are you okay Twilight? You look exhausted." Pinkie said.

"I'm fine. There is still so much that needs to be done." Twilight said. "Speaking of, I need your help with something."

"I'll do what I can to help." Pinkie said with a worried smile. "Just let me know what it is."

"You said you saw the sonic rainboom, correct?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah."

"Was it Rainbow Dash that did it?' Twilight asked.

"It was actually. I never saw her do it, but she used to brag to every pony in town that she was the one that did it." Pinkie said. "Why?"

"Well, I was investigating the occurrence." Twilight said. "And I found something worrying."

"Oh?" Pinkie asked. "What would the sonic rainboom have to do with anything?"

Twilight knocked over a pile of books, revealing a large paper attached to the wall. On it was a mess of markings and lines drawn between varying events. It was so confusing to Pinkie that she didn't even bother trying to understand it.

"When the rain boom occurred, it caused you and me to get our cutie marks. It was an explosion of magic that caused an ambient increase across the world." Twilight tapped a picture of a rainboom on the paper. "However, this influx of energy also caused many ponies to mysteriously gain powers. Such as yours. Your Pinkie sense."

"That is when I got my Pinkie sense." Pinkie said. "I also got the ability to do whatever I wanted! That's gone now though."

"The ability to do whatever you want?" Twilight asked.

"Well, I could pull whatever I needed for a joke out of my mane, amongst other things." Pinkie said. "Or moving super-fast!"

"That's... not normal." Twilight said. "And further reinforces my theory."

"What's the theory then?" Pinkie asked.

Twilight cleared her throat. "Remember, this is just a theory. So don't take it for the truth."

"Alrighty!"

"When the rainboom happened, it caused an influx of magic. When this magic hit Equestria in a wave, it had to come from somewhere. I believe that it drew on future reserves of ambient magic, weakening it." Twilight said. "It should have been replaced quickly, but... it wasn't."

"So, what does that mean?"

"It means that something is using magic. No, not just using it, eating it. As most of our magic comes from harmony, I believe that this is connected to the iron crown you discovered. Something is eating our magic and rendering us unable to recover. In other words, Equestria is being eaten."

"That... isn't good." Pinkie said.

"That's more than not good." Twilight said. "If this continues, then each time we use what little magic remains, it won't recover. And where is our remaining magic located?"

"Umm..." Pinkie thought for a second. Most magic didn't work anymore, so she couldn't really think of where the remaining magic would be. "I'm not sure."

"Ponies." Twilight said. "We may not be able to extend it much beyond our bodies anymore, but ponies have magic inside of them."

"I don't understand where you are going with this." Pinkie said.

"It means that with each death, whatever is feeding on our magic gets another meal. And that magic will never return to the world." Twilight said.

That didn't sound good at all. "Do you know what is feeding on our magic?"

"No. But based on my research, this sounds exactly like what happened to the ancient alicorns." Twilight said. "And funnily enough, it was a sonic rainboom that finally stopped the drain of magic that wiped out the alicorns."

"Wait. You're telling me that the sonic rain boom started this, but also ended it?" Pinkie asked.

"Exactly. It almost seems like the rainboom is a switch. One boom dulls the magic, and another reignites it. I can't explain why yet, but I will keep researching." Twilight said. "It's like the iron crown. The iron crown represents the opposite of harmony to my knowledge, and the rainboom can flip it to its original state. Two sides of a coin, if you will."

"But Rainbow can't do the rain boom if she can't fly!" Pinkie said. "We would need this magic drain to end or find enough magic to allow her to do the rainboom again."

"And there lies the problem. Somehow, someway, the ancient alicorns were able to gather enough magic to perform a rain boom." Twilight said. "I just don't know how they were able to get enough."

Pinkie thought for a moment. "Well, where is all of the magic we used to have now?"

Twilight went into deep thought for a moment. She stared at her drawing and glanced over at her books. Then, her gaze slowly went to a circular window. Through it, the form of the Castle of The Two Sisters loomed.

"It has to be there, at the heart of evil." Twilight said. "All of our magic is being drawn inside of there. If we can get enough of it back to get Rainbow Dash to do the rainboom again, then maybe..."

"We can end this." Pinkie felt a spark of renewed hope ignite in her chest.

"Yes. We can restore Equestria. This is all a theory of course; nothing is for sure. But I believe that it is a start." Twilight said. "I will look more into what exactly the rainboom is but I'm not optimistic. There are few recorded cases of it ever happening. The rainboom is tied closely with the fate of Equestria. It gives cutie marks, strange powers, and seems to set everything right as it can set everything wrong. I will work on cracking its code."

"What do you need me to do?" Pinkie asked.

"Rainbow Dash must be kept alive at any cost. If she really has done the rainboom before, then she cannot perish." Twilight said. "I tried to get her to stop adventuring, but she denied me. She is determined to go into the forest."

"That sounds like her." Pinkie said. "I'll do whatever I can to protect her."

"Thank you, Pinkie." Twilight said with a tired sigh. "The plan has not changed. We are still going to remove this evil, but at least we have an idea of what to do after. A way to restore the magic in Equestria."

"What if it fails?" Pinkie couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know. Another rainboom could extinguish the magic in Equestria, or it could restore it. There are just so many unknowns." Twilight said. "I will look more into this. But if everything fails... I'm afraid that even if the evil is removed, nothing will go back to how it used to be. Right now, the fate of Equestria seems to be shattered, and only a surge of magic might be able to mend it back together. A jump start. Once the drain on the magic is removed, we have to have enough of it to spark the ignition."

"And that is the rainboom." Pinkie nibbled on her hooves.

"Exactly." Twilight said. "You have to make sure that Rainbow survives. You're the strongest pony I know, if any pony can keep her alive, it's you."

"The strongest pony?" Pinkie asked. "Please, I'm not that strong."

"I didn't mean physically." Twilight tapped her lightly on the chest, right next to the heart. "It takes more than strength to keep a pony alive."

Pinkie was reminded of the grim words in the hospital the other day. Of how both Applejack and Rainbow planned on eventually dying for redemption. This was definitely not a good start.

"I will do whatever it takes." Pinkie said. "You can count on me!"

"Pinkie. I know you are taking this seriously, but I want to say it clearly now." Twilight's eyes hardened. "If you have to choose between a pony's life and Rainbow's, you have to save Rainbow. Don't let anything change your mind. She has to survive. I would lock her up if I could, but I don't know how that would affect her wanting to do the rainboom in the future. If my theory is correct, everything relies on this."

Pinkie wasn't really sure what to say to that. It was something that she never would have imagined Twilight would say, let alone tell her to do. "I'm sure that isn't going to happen. How could I choose between two pony's lives?"

"I know it's hard, and it probably is not going to happen, but I'm just letting you know." Twilight said. "As a theory of course. My theories could be wrong."

"How often are they wrong?" Pinkie asked.

"Once or twice." Twilight said, a smidgen of smugness coming through her exhausted voice.

That didn't really reassure Pinkie Pie. She couldn't imagine choosing one pony over another to save. She was getting tired and stressed just thinking about it. "I really hope that one of your theories is right, and the other is wrong."

"I do too." Twilight sighed. "But at least we have an idea of what needs to be done."

Pinkie nodded. "So, we continue to do what we have been doing?"

"Yes. We have to exterminate the heart of this evil, then get Rainbow to perform a rain boom. If that happens, then I believe it will be able to kickstart a return of magic. And of course, with Princess Celestia's help, everything can return to normal." Twilight said. "She used the elements of harmony after all."

Pinkie really hoped that Princess Celestia was still alive there.

"What happened to the elements of harmony anyways?" Pinkie asked. "I remember we were talking about going to find them all those years ago, but then the forest started to grow..."

"I don't know. I hope they exist, but that is the extent of my knowledge." Twilight said. "I mean, Nightmare Moon was real, wouldn't the elements have done something by now if they were real as well?"

They both stood there for a moment, just thinking. There was a lot of information to process and things to think about.

"I think we should both get some rest." Pinkie said. "I'm exhausted and my brain feels like fudge."

"I agree." Twilight said. "Stay safe Pinkie, and please, use the resources I have gathered. Train yourself, improve your armor and weapons, learn how to survive, I can't have you getting hurt on me anymore. I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

"We will win." Pinkie said. "I will do whatever I can to keep Rainbow safe."

"Thank you, Pinkie. I'm counting on you." Twilight said with a light smile. "As always."

Today, they discussed, and tomorrow, the true test began. Train, recover, protect. There was work to be done yet, evil to cleanse and burn, lives to shelter, wounds to be healed. They would cut out this evil and restart the lifeless heart of Equestria. Purpose and path were made clear to Pinkie.

She required only the strength to follow it.

And somehow that feeling gave her as much strength in her limbs as it took away. Her goal for a better world seemed a little clearer, a little closer, but looking at the extent of what had to be done filled her with dread. It seemed almost insurmountable now that she was thinking about it. They were still only on the edge of the Everfree, and who knew what terrors lay in the tenebrous depths?

A party. That's what she needed. A return to her roots. A good laugh, and she would be good to go. It would liven the spirits of her friends, and hopefully Trixie in particular.

And after that, her training would truly begin. To not only cleanse evil and keep hope and laughter alive, but to shelter a rainbow.

Under her watch, this rainbow would never fade. That was a promise.

Her promises were really starting to stack up, weren't they? It made her think that it might not be possible to keep all of them...