Eclipse

by BlackTearDrop

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Dark
Length: 3439

A Dark and Powerful Maelstrom is threatening the whole of Equestria. Could a mysterious rogue pony harness the power of The Eclipse and defe

Twilight is trying to find out more about the elements of harmony and the return of Nightmare Moon but she is being stalked by a mysterious follower and to make matters worse after fainting in her library the Princess has sent her to Ponyville to relax and make some friends!

She makes it through the first day fine but along with her new-found "friends" have they all met this mysterious follower before?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-02-05 16:18:50 UTC

The Feeling

Hey everypony! This is my first Fanfiction I've ever written so please go easy on me...

So enough with the long authors note! I will now begin the story, this first chapter is set in the   first episode, the series pilot, “Friendship is Magic -Part 1 (The Mare in the Moon)”.

Alright now Enjoy!

Twilight Sparkle lay down lazily on the grass, bathing the the warm Canterlot summer sun her Unicorn horn glowed faintly as she turned the page of the massive book of old pony folktales laid out in front of her

“Elements of Harmony, I know I've heard of those before...but where,” Twilight said to herself

A thought sprung into her mind, tossing the old book into her saddlebag, she trotted of onto the main path and headed to her library.

Inhaling the lovely fresh air as she walked, Twilight thought long and hard about where she had heard of the Elements before she had read about them. Was it in another folktale? Something to do with the moon? a mar-

“Oh there you are Twilight!”

Her thoughts were interrupted by the scandalous voice of a certain glamour unicorn pony argh!...she almost had it!

There stood before her were three ponies who she recognised as some of Moondancer's  posse of popular ponies, not that they were mean or anything its just that they were, well,  popular.

“Moondancer is having a little get-together in the West Castle courtyard, you wanna come?” the white and pink middle pony asked

The three of them smiled at her intently, awaiting her answer. Twilight actually found some part of herself considering their offer, she had attended a few of Moondancer's parties before and they hadn't been that bad, albeit she usually contented herself by sitting in a corner with her head in a book while the other ponies socialised and mingled, she at least found the company of other ponies comforting. NO! She must get to the bottom of this Element of Harmony thing while it was still fresh in her mind. She didn't have time to go to a party!

“oh...err...sorry girls I gotta lot of studying to catch up on,”

Twilight immediately galloped off with out waiting for a reply, rude, but at least she was getting her priorities right. She galloped past two other ponies as she made her way to the library where she stayed, one of them might have waved at her but she was in too much of a rush to wave back. Going through the public park now, the last leg until Twilight made it home, she stopped. A cold feeling went from the base of her skull across her spine, she was being watched. Twilight spun around and caught a fleeting glimpse of a dark shape disappear from sight. She looked around a bit more to make certain whatever it was, was gone.

“Hello? Is anypony there?” Twilight called out

She listened for a response or any noise that would indicate movement, but there was none, only the whisper of the wind as it ran through the leaves of the nearby trees. The feeling was gone as well. It seems that whatever was following her was gone for now. Twilight, although still feeling disturbed at the prospect of somepony or something following her, relaxed slightly and turned to assume her previous path and almost stepped on something.

“Huh? What's this?”

On the path in front of her was something glistening in the afternoon sun. her horn lit up as she levitated the object up closer to her face to examine it. It was a golden medallion with symbols of  Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Stars and other celestial bodies written all over it,

“What is this thing?” Twilight said as she flipped it over to the other side

On the flip side three symbols for the three types of ponies were drawn Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth. They were surrounded by other symbols and engravings as well, Twilight recognising them as Dragon, Manticore, Sea serpent and other types of magical creatures, they were all looking up at a massive Emblem engraved above them. It was a full moon covering the sun with the stylised wavy rays of the sun emerging from around the edges of the celestial body in front on it. A Solar Eclipse.

Twilight brow furrowed in thought, could this have been dropped by her mysterious follower? She remembered something from the old ponytale she was reading, about Nightmare Moon wanting to bring about eternal darkness, maybe this had something to do with it. Was her follower helping her?

Twilight shook her head the possibility of her follower having something to do with the

Elements of Harmony was very small and this circular medallion thing could have been dropped by anypony! Twilight tucked it into her saddle bag and began galloping towards her residence once more, she would look more closely at this cryptic emblem later. Now she needed to solve this feeling she had about the Elements of Harmony!

******

CRASH!

“Spike! Spiiiiike! Spike?,”

Twilight stared at the Baby dragon who was sprawled across the floor holding his head, eyes spinning.

“There you are,” Twilight said, trotting up to a bookcase “Quick, find me that old book of Predictions and Prophesies- what's that for?” Twilight asked referring to the crumpled up package impaled on Spike's tail

Spike twisted around and sighed when he saw what had happened to his hard work.

“Well, it WAS a gift for Moondancer but-,”

“Oh Spike you know we don't have time for that sort of thing!” Twilight sighed in disappointment

“But were on a Break!”

Twilight was breathing heavily she was taking a longer time that usual to recover from her galloping to her house, she cast the feeling aside and started to look through a number of books searching for the one she was after. Using magic she levitated the books in front of her but even that little amount of effort was tiring. The feeling of exhaustion ran through her again as her knees buckled and the feeling she felt in the park returned.

“Twilight?...TWILIGHT!,” Spike cried as he rushed to her side as she collapsed on her side

The last thing Twilight remembered was two intoxicating voices whispering in her ear as she blacked out.

The first voice spoke as if singing her a lullaby but among the sweet notes of its song was a sinister underlay.

Hush now, Quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head...

While the second voice was more forbidding and chased the other voice away

Twilight fully blacked out she heard it whisper

Embrace the Eclipse, Twilight Sparkle,

your time has not yet come,

Embrace the Paradox...

Reassignment

A/N: Second Chapter up, OOOOH Twilight collapsed and what the hell is up with those two voices? And were they both evil? OK this next chapter is still set in the first episode. Also I'm aware that this story has little or no plot of it's own at the moment but bear with me I've made a step in the right direction with this chapter and everything will come to light soon. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony... but I wish I did.

Ch.2: Reassigned

Bright lights blinded Twilight as she slowly awoke from her slumber. As her eyes adjusted she looked around, she was in a hospital.

“Twilight!,” an enthusiastic voice from behind her cried out

She turned around quickly to meet the voice and immediately wished she hadn't, a searing pain coursed through her neck, a cramp.

“Hayfries!,” she cursed rubbing her neck with her forehoof

“Be careful Twilight, the Doctor said your muscles may have cramped up a bit in your sleep,” the voice, confirmed to be Spike, said  from her bedside.

Twilight examined her surroundings a bit more before responding to Spikes statement. She was in a private room in a hospital, probably Canterlot General, outside in the hallway she could see nurses and doctors rushing past her door.

“What... happened?” Twilight said groggily

“Well...you kinda just past out in the Library and I was really worried and I just didn't know what to do so I called the Princess and she arranged for you to be taken to Hospital she even gave you a private room. Are you okay? ” Spike rattled off quickly

Twilight smiled trying to look as happy as she could for him  “Yes Spike I'm fine...Wait The Princess? Is she here?”

“Actually you just missed her, she left a few minutes ago to talk with the doctor,”

“oh...,” Twilight sighed. She pushed away her hospital bed covers a and tried to sit up, her head was thumping but other than that she was fine.

“By the way I found that old book err Predictions and Prophesies? You were looking for it back at the Library, I brought it with me,” Spike said, shuffling a bit he pulled out a large book he was sitting on and held it out out her

Twilight smirked happily at the fact that through all the hullabaloo of her collapsing and having to be taken to Canterlot General, the baby dragon had still remembered his duty as her number one assistant

“Thanks Spike,” She said, as she levitated the book out of his hands and opened it up in front of her pages flipping by quickly.

“Err...Twilight are you even gonna ask what made you sick?,” Spike asked sounding concerned

Twilight's eyes widened “oh yeah, hehe...guess it just slipped my mind,” Twilight said sheepishly “What did the doctors say?”

Spike thought for a moment scratching his chin with his claw “Well the doctor said something about low blood sugar and how that ties into pony's energy reserves and loads of other medical stuff I didn't understand but I think he was trying to say that you collapsed from being too tired,”

“What!?! That's crazy I'm not overexerting myself!”

“I don't know Twilight, you haven't taken a proper break from your studies in weeks!”

“Alright fine I'll take a break... after this,” Twilight said with a huff. Spike rolled his eyes as she returned to flipping through the pages of the book. “Elements, Elements, Elements Ah Ha!The Elements of Harmony... See. Mare in the Moon?”

“That old pony tale? That's nothing but a load of hayfries,”

“Hush Spike,” Twilight snapped, before reading out from the book “Mare in the Moon, a Mythical Pony who tried to rule Equestria. Defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the Moon, Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about  Night Time Eternal!

“Well that sounds a bit morbid...” Spike said sarcastically

After glaring at him Twilight said“Spike do you have any idea what this means?” looking intently at him

“err...no”

Twilight rolled her eyes in slight impatience “argh...Spike This year is the thousandth year and the day after tomorrow is the Summer Sun Celebration! Which is the longest day of the year!”

Twilight eyes were getting wider and wider every time she made a statement she roughly pulled Spike closer and looked him in the eye “We have to inform the Princess right away!”

“Inform me of what?” a calm voice behind her said

Twilight jumped and hit her head on a over hanging lamp fixed to the wall near her bed “P-Princess Celestia!” she stammered rubbing head head with here right hoof

“Hello my faithful student, thank goodness your finally awake! I've been so worried,” The Royal Alicorn said as she walked into the room from just outside the room“How are you feeling?”

Twilight smiled up at her mentor “My head is hurting a bit but other than that I'm fine”

Celestia smiled “Good, anyway your timing is impeccable young Twilight as I was just about to ask Spike to take some notes down about you,”

“Huh? What do you mean? About what?” Twilight said eyebrows furrowed with confusion

“Spike, Take note please,” Celestia stated “I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle, due to lack of rest and relaxation, shall take a break from her studies,”

Twilight stared wide eyed in disbelief “Wait WHA-!?,”

Princess Celestia continued undaunted by her student's outburst “Instead she will be reassigned to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this years location, Ponyville,”

“b-b-but, nononononononononono,” Twilight seemed to be having a full nervous breakdown rocking back and forth shaking her head rapidly from side to side, her horn was glowing and things were levitating around the room, including Spike

“Urr... Twilight,” Spike said hovering perilously over the Rubbish bin

Twilight snapped out of her trance as Celestia put her hoof on her shoulder, all the items floating around the room Clattered back down, including Spike, who was guided safely by the Princesses magic on to Twilights bed.

“Please continue Spike,” the Princess said taking her hoof off Twilight shoulder “And In addition to this very important assignment I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends,”

Twilight facehooved “Urgh, Nooooo...”

****

Standing in the corner of the hospital shrouded in shadows completely invisible to the others in the room I brush the fringe of my dark mane out of my eyes. The Princess was trying to calm down the Unicorn sitting on the bed and the Dragon was watching them intently. I know not why I've been tasked with this pointless assignment. This Unicorn Twilight Sparkle, while ecstatic at times, was extremely potent with magic. She could easily take care of herself if need be but the recent scare with the Maelstrom invading her mind has put me under increasing pressure from my Mistress to keep her safe from the Chaos. After all she wont be able to play her part if she is corrupted... too early.

****

The Next Day...

Twilight and Spike sat in a golden chariot pulled by two royal pegasi guards, they soared over the beautiful Equestrian countryside through clouds and past birds towards Ponyville. Twilight was slumped over the side looking longingly at the buildings of Canterlot as they flew further away from the cliff side city.

“Look on the bright side Twilight The Princess arranged for you to stay in a library, doesn't that make you happy?” Spike said hoping to cheer her up

Twilight suddenly brightened up “Yes! Yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right. I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library and find some proof of Night Mare Moon's return!”

Spike sighed as they landed in the little town's main square, Ponies of all types and colours wandered around busying themselves with everyday duties. The town was beautiful in it's own right and everyone seemed happy as they trotted around the market stalls and shops.

Twilight stepped out and walked up to the Pegasus Guards pulling the Chariot smiling politely “Thank you sirs, you may depart back to Canterlot now”

The guards looked at each other and one of them lent in to whisper in her ear “Actually Miss Twilight we think it best if we escort you around Ponyville for your first day if it's all the same with you,”

Twilight looked quizzically at them “Why? I really don't think that's necessary,”

“As we were flying we both saw what appeared to be a Pony tailing us from a distance, at first we just thought it was a bird from the way it flew. It was just darting in and out of the clouds so gracefully as a butterfly but at the same time as fast as a Falcon,”

The guard speaking seemed to be lost in a trance of what seemed to be admiration for this Mysterious Follower, so his partner took over “But then we saw its mane and tail flying in the wind and we knew it must have been a Pegasus pony, Miss Twilight we think your being followed and its our duty as royal guards to protect you,”

They now both stared at her awaiting her response. Twilight thought back to her encounter at the park at Canterlot. The dark purple shape and did she catch a glimpse of a black mane as it ran off out of her sight? “Just out of curiosity sirs, what colour was the Pony?”

The guards looked perplexed but then deep in thought before they answered her “Dark purple coat, a shade darker than yours maybe and a jet black mane and also the weirdest thing. he seemed to be moving the clouds around to hide himself as best he could without touching them and they had a strange aura around him almost as if he was doing magic,”

Seeing the sceptical look on Twilight's face he quickly rebuked himself “I know its impossible ma'am him flying meaning he's a Pegasus but that's what I saw,”

Twilight thought about it with slight shock. The guards had essentially described what little details she saw from her Mysterious Follower at the park, Who was this inexplicable Pony and why was she being stalked by him or her? She she accept the guards offer? No! The guards will just slow her down through the day and she still had to get to the Library to find out more about Nightmare Moon!

She sucked up her courage“Sirs, thank you for you offer but I will have to decline,”

“but Ma'am-”

“I can take care of myself,”

The guards looked at each other hesitantly before nodding to her and taking off again with the golden chariot in tow, raising up dust and dirt as they took off back to Canterlot.

Twilight suddenly realised that during this whole exchange Spike had not said a word and turned to face him, he was not there. Twilight spun around to see where else he could be and saw him walking towards here with a bag full of snacks stuffing his face with hayfries. “Hey Twilight! What did I miss?”

Twilight sighed then thought of telling him about what the guards saw and thought against it, there was no need to worry the baby dragon.

“No, the guards just wanted to make sure I knew my way around, but I told them we had a map, so where to first? I'm itching to get to the library,” Twilight changed the subject fast.

Spike looked at the Clipboard in his other claw “Err...food preparation at Sweet Apple Acres,” Spike said totally oblivious to Twilight's rapid change of topic

As Spike started walking away, Twilight stopped and looked around behind her, Something strange was afoot and she needed to get to the bottom of it.

“C'mon, Twilight!” Spike called out to her

Twilight turned around on her hooves “Coming!” she called after him

She sighed, it was going to be a long day....

()()()()

I was surprised at her courage when she turned down the support of the guards. Or foolishness. I was cloaked again in the shadows observing the scene from a distance. It was a shame my cloak doesn't work when flying fast, the guards had managed to spot me in flight. Still. They posed no threat now. I watched Twilight follow her dragon pet towards the Apple farm on the other side of town and I followed swiftly behind. Once again brushing my mane fringe out of my eyes as I walked   I examined Twilight's appearance closely. She had a beautiful mane,it will be a shame the Maelstrom will ruin it when she's corrupted. I looked to the sky it was mostly clear apart form a few clouds milling about. But there's a Storm coming and its going to change the face of the world.

I smiled at the thought, a world of darkness with not even Moonlight shining from above. No rules just Pure, Unyielding, Chaos but with absolute Order at is heart. A Paradox. A Storm is brewing and Ponyville was in its path.

A/N: Hey guys Updated finally! A lot of the true story is still up to guess work at the moment but a few hints and extra features were revealed in this chapter. As well as that it was also almost twice as long as the first chapter! What is the Maelstrom? And what's all this stuff about Chaos and shizzle?...Who knows?...I DO! And your only gonna find out if you Read and Review and I'll get the next chapter up double quick I hope. I welcome Criticism as it helps me get better at writing but the odd compliment is cool as well ^.^ :-)

Read and Review!