Darkness Released

"These books are just amazing," Twilight said as she roamed around the library. Her eyes wondered over the floor to ceiling bookshelves. Most of the books were still covered in dust from the time no one lived here. She had decided to spend some time here cleaning things up a bit with Spike. With a cleaning cloth engulfed in her glow, she brushed it over the books. "I never would have guess the Castle of the Two Sisters would have so many books in it. I can't wait to read them all."

"They are amazing," Spike said. He picked up a book from the shelf. As it was covered with dust, he took a deep breath and blew the dust off. The dust swirled up around his nose causing him to cough. "Ugh. It would have been nice if they sent someone to clean this place once in a while."

Twilight chuckled. "I don't think that was high on Princess Celestia's mind at the time."

"I guess you're right." Spike put the book back. Moving on to the next book he grabbed it and tried to pull it out. Only the top half of the book moved. The bookshelf rumbled causing dust to shake off of it. He took a few steps away from the bookshelf. "What's happening?!"

"What's wrong, Spike?" Twilight turned to her dragon friend. Her eyes widened when she saw the bookshelf pull away from the wall and shift to the left. "What in all of Equestria?"

"It looks like there's a room back here," Spike said when the bookshelf stopped moving.

Twilight walked over to the passage. Lighting up her horn, she stepped into the darkness. Her glow spread over the passage revealing a staircase that was made of stone, as were the walls. Spider webs, complete with spiders were spotted over the walls making the dark area even creepier.

"Charming place. Please tell me we're not going to have to clean this place as well," Spike said. "It would take forever."

"Don't worry, Spike," Twilight said stepping down the stairs, her hooves echoing off the walls. "We're just looking around. I don't see any reason for us to come in here all the time."

"Great," Spike said jumping upon her back. They continued on down the stairs for several minutes. He slumped onto her back and whined. "How far do these stairs go down? Tell me we're almost there."

"I think we're almost at the end," Twilight said. Several more steps later they finally came to the bottom. A cool howling breeze lifted up from seemingly nowhere.

"That was creepy," Spike said.

Walking farther into the room, Twilight increased the light on her horn. The glow flooded into the room with light. Drips of water feel down from the ceiling above and plunked onto the puddle it created on the floor. In the middle of the room was a podium with a single book sitting on it. She walked over to it. The dark blue cover shimmered in her glow. Leaning closer she brushed her nose across it. "Wow. This book's cover is made of crystal. Rarity would love it."

"Who would make a book out of crystals?" Spike asked.

"I don't know." Twilight engulf the book in her magic and opened the book to the first page.

"Wait a second." Spike sat up on Twilight's back and brushed his claw over the page. "Are those pages made of crystals as well?"

"It looks like it," Twilight said. "Though I have no idea why someone would use crystals to make a book. How did they even get the words on the pages? It's not ink."

"Maybe they carved the words into it?" Spike asked.

"But there are no indents in the pages," Twilight said. "Its completely smooth."

"Then perhaps it was a spell? What do the words say anyway?" Spike asked.

"Let me see." Twilight ran her eyes over the text. "It looks like a book of spells that will help nature grow more pure."

"Sounds like it would be helpful to Ponyville," Spike said. "Are you going to give it a try?"

"I don't know, Spike," Twilight said. "If this book is really meant to help then why would it be down here in this place instead upstairs with all the other books?"

"I don't know," Spike said. "Maybe this was just a hiding place for one of the Princesses. But you've read the words yourself. It sounds like a good thing. Why don't you try it?"

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try one spell," Twilight said flipping through the pages. "This one looks nice." She ran her eyes over the spell before speaking it. "Darkness within the world release. Let it roam free from the elements and be unbound."

The book started to glow dark blue. The glow swirled around Twilight and Spike. The darkness in the room drew in closer and closer to them. A chill ran up their spines.

"What's going on?!" Spike asked. "Why is it getting so dark in here?!"

"I don't know!" Twilight said. She increased the glow on her horn but it did nothing to push the darkness back.

Then the dark glowing swirl shot towards the stairs and disappeared leaving Twilight's glow the only light left in the room. She glanced around the room. It was back to normal.

"Did it work?" Spike asked.

"There's only one way to find out," Twilight said. Closing the book she ran towards the stairs.

Behind her the book started to glow again. The glow released and shot down to the floor. It faded away, leaving two ponies in its wake. One was a sun kissed coated filly with slightly wavy blue hair and the other was a colt sporting a tan coat with a red vest and a wild black mane with a straw hat hanging from his neck.

Neo stretched out on her lawn chair with a yawn. Opening her eyes the bright sun poured into them. She whimpered at the bright light and closed her eyes again. "I wish my solar crystal could control the sun. It's too bright out here."

"Sorry we can't do anything about that for you," Nami said. "I for one am enjoying this sunlight. My tan is going to be beautiful."

"This is nice," Robin said. The women were spread out near the sea on lawn chairs soaking up the sun while they could.

"It's so hot," Bepo whined.

Neo looked down to the end of her lawn chair. There Bepo was laying on the sand with his tongue hanging out and his boiler suit half off. She summoned a wind crystal and pulled a cool breeze around them. "Poor baby." She slummed back in her chair with a tired sigh. Running her eyes over the beach she found everyone was still outside but for Law. A strong desire to be near him washed over her. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. "Law, where are you? I want you near me."

Law's Room appeared within seconds quickly followed by himself. He picked Neo up off the lawn chair and sat down with her on his lap. "Sorry, love. I meant to be out here when you woke up."

"It's okay." Neo snuggled into his neck. "You're here now."

"How are you two feeling?" Law brushed his hand over her rounded stomach.

"We're fine now that you're here," Neo said. She nuzzled his neck again before licking his skin. "You taste wonderful."

Nami snickered while Robin smiled.

"Hey! Neo!" Luffy called as he ran over. "I'm bored! Let's go exploring!"

"Not now, Straw Hat," Law said. "She's tired."

"Huh? But she's been sleeping for an hour already," Luffy said.

"Leave her alone, Luffy," Sanji said walking over to them with a tray of cool refreshing drinks balanced on his hand. "Her body needs all the rest she can get."

"Being pregnant is no fun at all," Luffy said.

"How would you know?" Usopp looked up from the sandcastle he and Chopper was making. "You've never been pregnant before."

"Of course not," Luffy said. "I'm not a girl. Men can't have babies."

"Hm? Hey, what's that?" Chopper looked up into the sky.

Everyone looked up as well. Swirling above them was a dark blue glow.

"What is that?" Shachi asked.

"Is it just my imagination or is that thing getting bigger?" Topaz asked.

"I think you're right," Kailen said. "It is getting bigger."

"Where did it come from?" Bepo asked.

Just then the swirl shot out towards the pirates. Before anyone could react the swirl engulfed Neo's body and jerked her away from Law's arms. "Law!"

"Neo! Room! Shambles!" Law held out his hand. His Room flooded over them all, but it didn't work when he tried to warp her back to him. Neo remained in the hold of the swirl.

"Neo!" Luffy threw out his fist. Grabbing onto her arm, he pulled himself up to her.

"Moon Walk!" Sanji, dropping the drinks, launched himself into the air. "We're coming!"

"Luffy! Sanji!" Neo screamed. She pushed against the swirl glow. "I can't get free!"

"Hold on, Neo!" Sanji grabbed the swirling glow and tried to pull it away from her. "It won't budge!"

Luffy bit down on it but came up with the same result as Sanji.

"Luffy, what do we do?!" Sanji asked.

"I don't know!" Luffy said. The swirl started sparking. An electric shock ran through Sanji. The pain caused him to release the swirl. His body dropped "Sanji!"

"Sanji!" Neo said. Using her wind crystal she wrapped a breeze around Sanji and lowered him towards the ground. But her body and Luffy's started to fade away. "What's going on?!"

"Ah! We're disappearing!" Luffy said.

"La-" Neo's voice was cut off as she and Luffy disappeared from their friends view.

Making it outside Twilight skidded to a stop and gasped. The world around her was darker than it was when they went inside of the castle.

"Whoa! Did it get dark sooner?" Spike asked.

"I don't know, Spike," Twilight said. "I didn't think we were inside of the castle all that long. Something isn't right here. We better get back to Ponyville." Spreading out her wings she lifted them into the air and flew over the forest. Suddenly, something flew passed them, sending them spinning. She righted herself. "What the heck was that?"

"I think it was a Pegasus," Spike said. "They were flying kind of fast."

"I guess somepony has been taking flying lessons from Rainbow Dash," Twilight said. She continued on. Soon Ponyville came into view. But the closer she got the more she noticed something was wrong. Ponyville was a mess. Flowers were torn up from the ground and scattered all over the ground. Ponies were running around screaming while other ponies were chasing them. "What in all of Equestria is going on here?!"

"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie screamed.

Twilight flew down to Sugar Cube Corner. She entered into the building finding the lights were off and Pinkie Pie didn't appear to be anywhere. "Pinkie? You in here?"
"Over here, Twilight," Pinkie Pie said popping up from behind the counter. She waved her hoof then dove back down.

"What's going on, Pinkie?" Twilight walked around the counter and looked at her friend.

"I don't know!" Pinkie Pie said. "Some ponies just started going crazy all of a sudden!"

"What are you talking about?" Spike asked.

"Well, I was with Mrs. Cake," Pinkie Pie said. "We were serving a customer when all of a sudden she went completely crazy! Her coat darkened and her eyes took on this really crazy look! She threw the cake at us then ran out of here! That poor cake! Mr. and Mrs. Cake then ran off to hide! I was waiting for you! When I saw you outside I called for you!"

"Twilight, what's going on?" Spike asked.

"I don't know," Twilight said. "We better go check on our friends."

"I'm coming with you," Pinkie Pie said.

Twilight headed for the door. As they stepped outside several screams rang out in the air.

"Help us!"

"Twilight! You have to help us! Rarity has gone crazy!"

"Huh?" Twilight looked to her right to find two ponies, covered in gems, running towards them. Behind them was Rarity. The usually proper pony had a dark look about her. Not only did she have a wild look in her eyes but also her coat had a dark tint to it just like Pinkie Pie had said about the other pony. And she was floating several gems in her horn's glow.

"What's the matter, darlings?!" Rarity asked while shooting the gems at the ponies running away from her. "Don't you like the designs I've put on your coats?!"

"R-Rarity?" Spike asked. "What's wrong with her? She would never act like this."

The dragon and two ponies watched as Rarity continued to try and pin the gems onto the ponies coats as they ran by. Twilight said, "I don't know, Spike." Feeling something pushing on her leg, she looked down to find Angel. "What is it, Angel?"

The bunny hopped a few feet away and pointed to his right.

"I think he wants us to follow him," Spike said.

Angel nodded then hopped off again.

Twilight exchanged looks with Pinkie Pie before they followed after the bunny. They followed him through Ponyville and all the way over to Fluttershy's cottage. Angel entered into the tree.

"Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked as they stepped into the dark living room.

"Oh, hello, my friends," Fluttershy said walking out of the shadows. Her eyes and coat were like Rarity's. "It's so good to see you."

"She looks just like Rarity," Spike said.

"I'm so glad you're here," Fluttershy said. "You can help me with my plans to take over Equestria with the help of my animal friends."

"You're going to do what?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I'm going to take over Equestria. Those who have pets will trade places with their masters," Fluttershy said.

"Okay then. We're just going to leave you to it," Twilight said backing out of the cottage.

"Won't you join me? It'll be fun," Fluttershy said. She walked towards her friends as they continued to back out of her home.

"We'll think about it," Twilight said. "For now we have to go check on Applejack."

"Yeah. So see ya," Pinkie Pie said before dashing out of the cottage with Twilight and Spike.

"What are we going to do?" Spike asked.

"I don't know. But let's go see Applejack," Twilight said. Running as fast as they could, they made their way over to the Apple Farm. They skidded to a halt when they found the Apple family tearing up the farm. Apples were scattered over the ground, the grass had been dug up, and the animals were running wild over the fields. "Oh no! Not here too!"

"This is just wrong! Applejack loves this farm!" Pinkie Pie said. "No way they would tear it up like this!"

"I know, Pinkie," Twilight said.

"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash shouted out just before landing in front of the alicorn. "I've been looking all over for you! We have a serious problem! Several ponies in Cloudsdale are going insane! Their coats have darkened and they have this really crazy look in their eyes!"

"Not there too," Twilight said.

"What do you-" Rainbow Dash turned to find the Apple farm a mess. "What in all of Equestria is going on here?!"

"It's been like this since we came out of the Castle of the Two Sisters," Spike said.

"Wait! That must be it!" Twilight said. "The spell I cast!"

"What are you talking about?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"We have to get back to the castle! Let's go and I'll explain on the way! We were in the library at the sisters' castle," Twilight said taking off for the castle. "We found this room behind one of the bookcases. It lead down to this room where we found a book made out of some kind of crystal. Inside I found a spell that was supposed to help nature. A strange glowing swirl came out of it. Then we came out here to find Ponyville in such a mess."

"So you think that spell caused this?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I don't know," Twilight said. "But if it did there must be a spell that can undo it."

"Then we better hurry before the ponies completely tear Ponyville apart," Pinkie Pie said.

"There's the castle!" Twilight said as the trees thinned out. She led the way into the broken building, down the hall, and into the library. There the bookcase was still open. Lighting up her horn, they wasted no time in running down the stairs. She jerked to a haul when they saw the two ponies laying on the floor. "What heck?!"

"Who are they?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"I have no clue," Twilight said. "They weren't in here before." She stepped over to the book. Flipping through the pages she found all of the words in the book were gone. "Oh no! The spell is gone! All of the words are missing!"

"What do we do?!" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Maybe these two know something about all of this," Rainbow Dash said. She walked over to the ponies and look down at their cutie marks. "Huh? Those are strange cutie marks. Have you seen anything like them before?"

Twilight walked over and looked down at them. The filly's cutie mark was made up of five crystals. The biggest was yellow. Surrounding it were four other crystals, one light blue, one dark blue, one green, and the other red. The unicorn coat's cutie mark was a stretched out rubber band. "I've never seen cutie marks like these before. Wait a second." She looked over the filly again and found a horn and wings. "It can't be. She's an alicorn."

"What?" Pinkie Pie stepped closer. "She is an alicorn."

"How's that possible? I thought there were only four alicorns in Equestria," Rainbow Dash said.

"I don't know," Twilight said.

"Hey! She's pregnant!" Pinkie Pie said.

Rainbow Dash and Twilight dropped their eyes back down to the two ponies.

"Hey, she is," Rainbow Dash said noticing the filly's rounded stomach.

"What do we do now?" Spike asked.

"We wait until they wake up," Twilight said. "Maybe they can tell us what's going on with our friends."

"Is that such a good idea?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It's possible that they are the cause of this problem."

"We don't have a choice, Rainbow Dash," Twilight said.

"Fine. But they better not try anything funny," Rainbow Dash said. Flying in the air, she crossed her forelegs and waited for these two strangers to wake up.