I gasped when I saw the black cloud. My eyes went wide and I took a step back. I was overwhelmed with a strange mixture of curiosity, wonder and fear.

"No... " I squeaked. The black cloud turned to me.

It was Mörk. It was Mörk. It… It was Mörk!

My mouth went dry. The face in the cloud opened its maul and roared. My ears started to buzz.

"Wing! Civviq!" somepony shouted from afar - I think it was Aile. "Run!"

But I was too afraid to run, too afraid to even turn. All I could think of was that gigantic, big cloud that was now headed directly for me.

"You pitiful being!" it yelled at me, both through my head and echoing through the dome. "You ignorant foal! You might have defeated that useless pawn, you still haven't defeated me!"

He turned to look at the others.

"You are all ignorant for thinking you have even weakened me!"

"Lies!" A voice came, from the back. "You're bluffing!"

I turned around to see Dark Heart standing up, weakly. At first, I scowled, but then I saw his eyes. They were white. He was freed. I was surprised when I realized that; I wondered how they did it.

"You cannot hold us here!" Dark Heart's voice cracked. He sounded like a mad-stallion.

"And I will prove it!"

Dark Heart threw himself at the wall opposite of us. Right before he would hit the wall, however, he cast a spell and… he just disappeared! He had phased through the wall!

Mörk screamed furiously, a terrifying noise. The cloud floated upwards to the roof of the dome, and hid in the darkness.

After one look at the cloud, Aile ran towards us.

"Wing! Civviq! Are you okay?" he asked us, worried. I nodded.

"Dad!" Wing jumped into a hug. "I'm so glad you're back…"

Aile returned the hug and smiled. "I'm just glad that you're okay. The both of you." he added, smiling at me. I smiled back.

Aile released Wing from the hug and the three of us walked back to the others. They were discussing the spell Dark Heart used.

"I think I know which spell that is." Shadowflame announced. "It's a pretty difficult spell. I think I could rewrite the spell and cast it on the wall, so we can all go through it easily."

Snipit nodded. "I can help you. I have enough magical power left."

"What can I do?" Carbon asked. "I mean, I can do magic, but I don't think I can do that kind of magic…"

Swift nodded. "I don't want to sit here and do nothing."

"Actually," Warpath wheezed, "I think that is exactly what you should do at the moment. You are all wounded, if not badly."

"Meh, I don't feel anything." Swift waved nonchalantly with a hoof, but then winced in pain. He hissed and clutched the hoof to his chest. Warpath raised his eyebrow.

"You haven't collapsed yet because of all the adrenaline coursing through your veins." Shadowflame said. "I think it's starting to wear off now. Prepare yourself, because you're going to feel every scratch you've gotten during the battle."

Swift sighed, letting his burnt wing rest against his side, wincing.

Enerjack's hurt wing dragged over the ground.

"Still," Enerjack said, "I don't think we should let our guard down."

He eyed the ever-swirling, black cloud in the roof of the dome. It was steadily growing, a low rumble echoed through the cave; but luckily, it wasn't in our heads anymore.

Aile limped slightly as he approached the group with me and Wing. Wing couldn't help but eye it worriedly.

Something caught my eye - there was something… off.

I searched, and then I saw him - Swift, a changeling? I couldn't help but blink out of confusion. I had never seen a changeling before.

"Uhm…"

Aile looked at us, then at Swift, and then back at us again.

"Oh, right, you don't know it yet." Aile said.

Swift met my eyes, and then averted them. He had changed, but has the Swift I knew changed with it?

"He's a changeling!?" Wing said, surprised, his eyes wide. "But.. But…"

Aile shrugged. "We had agreed to sort it all out when we've gotten out of here."

He lowered his voice. "I know it might be a little strange, and, frankly, I would've fought him if he turned out to be against us. But he isn't, or at least, for now. He saved my life. The least thing I could do while we're in here is to trust him."

"He… He saved you?" Wing said. Aile nodded. Wing looked down at his hooves, thinking.

"But, if he had saved you, he can't be evil, can he?" he asked. Aile chuckled.

"Indeed, he can't."

Above our heads, the black cloud grew bigger and bigger, almost reaching the edge of the light that was cast by the torches that were still left.

"Is that spell ready yet?" Enerjack said, growing impatient. Shadowflame frowned.

"Almost. I think it's ready to cast," Shadowflame said. "Where was the exact location that Dark Heart jumped through?"

Carbon trotted to the wall. He walked around, slowly, until he stopped.

"I think it's here."

Shadowflame nodded. "Excellent." He trotted over with Snipit. They lit their horns and cast the spell.

Slowly, bit by bit, the rocks seemed to melt away. Under the spell's magic, the stones turned from pitch black to snow white and fell apart. A tunnel appeared.

"This is how they must've gotten in." Shadowflame said. "And this is how we'll get out."

Behind them, the cloud of Mörk started to approach them. One by one, the torches were blown out, until only the two that were the closest by them were lit. The dark cloud slowly engulfed the rest of the dome, until there was only a small patch of light left - where they were standing.

When the opening was finally big enough for all of them to get through, Shadowflame and Snipit stopped casting the spell. As soon as the glow left the stones, the edges started to grow white again.

Shadowflame cast a look at the cloud.

"We've gotta hurry," Shadowflame said. "Enerjack, Warpath, you first."

Enerjack nodded and stepped into the hall. The rest came shortly after that, and we were all safe right in time before the opening closed again. It was dark in the tunnel. Behind us, we could hear Mörk's loud roar of anger slowly draining away. Luckily, Mörk couldn't follow us throught the walls.

"We've gotta go, before he gets us." Aile said, with a worried glance to the wall.

Enerjack huffed. "I don't doubt he will. Hopefully, we're very, very far away from here by the time he gets out of there."

Warpath coughed. "Of course, we won't…"

Shadow lit his horn and walked to the head of the group to light the way. "Let's go."

The tunnel never seemed to end. It went up, down, made several turns - enough to make your head spinning. Our hooves became tired and started to hurt even more. But, unlike the one I went through, this one did have an end. At last, after what seemed like an eternity, we finally reached the exit.

It was somewhere around noon, and behind us was a great mountain. Below us was a dense forest, the smoke of campfires circled up. Delicious smells of lunch blew in our noses.

"Mmm… I haven't had a bite in ages…" Enerjack said.

Swift nodded hungrily. "Neither have I."

Warpath shot him a funny look. "I thought changelings ate love and stuff?"

Swift shook his head. "No, we can eat normal food too. Or, at least, I can."

Enerjack nodded, hesitantly.

"Anyway, let's get going." Shadow said. "I think I see a pathway down to the camp. See if we can get to that camp. Hopefully, it's not a Mörklingcamp."

"And if it is?" Aile asked.

"Then we go fight the pony's!" A cracked voice rang over the hill. Dark Heart was lying on the rocks below them. "It took you ages to get out of there! What have you been doing? Tag?" He barked a laugh. Me and Wing exchanged confused glances.

"I think all that darkness has made him bonkers." Enerjack said. We all nodded.

"What?" His voice cracked again. "I'm NOT mad! I'm NOT! I'm going to prove that to you!"

He jumped up and ran off over an non-existent path, almost tripping over the rocks.

"I'm going to defeat Mörk! If nopony follows him, he has no darkness to live with! And then he weakens so much that he HAS to let us go! And YOU are going t- WAAH!"

He fell head-first into a rock. His body fell limp.

"I-I'm okaay…"

Shadow nodded slowly. "Yes.. It does make sense… If we can defeat all Mörks followers, than maybe we can close him into the mountain and leave him there. He might come back, but at least we know what can stop him."

"What?" Aile asked. "But how are we going to turn 'em all 'white'?

"Theee stooone~.." Dark Heart's feeble voice came from below.

"Uuse that bloody stoone."

"That is heavily guarded, you know." Aile warned. "Not just everypony can waltz in and get it."

"Can' we jes' get that blooody stone to do what we wan- with the riiight magic. DARK magic-c-c!" Dark Heart said, with a drunken drawl in his voice.

"And who is gonna cast that?" Shadowflame asked. "Oh, wait - "

"I am!" Dark Hear said. "I will saaave the day!" He lifted his hoof to get up, but that only resulted him to fall down flat on his nose.

"Ye-OW!"

"You know," Carbon Copy said, "I think I can actually get the stone so we can destroy it." He started to walk the path towards Dark Heart. "I'm just going to impersonate as him…" he touched his shoulder with his hoof, "and bring it back here."

"What if things go wrong?" Snipit asked, narrowing his eyes.

"That's why I want you to come with me, Snipit. I need you to stay somewhere out of the way so I can get that stone safely. If there is some ruckus, you'll know what to do."

Snipit nodded. "Okay."

After thinking, Aile stood up.

"I'll go with you."

Wing's eyes grew big and he sprung up.

"No, dad-"

"Wing, no." Aile said and turned to Carbon. "I know where the stone is. I can lead you there."

Carbon nodded.

"But, dad…" Wing said. "Why can't you stay here, with us? You're hurt too."

"Son…" He sat down. "We need to take down Mörk and this is the best way to do it."

Wing's ears drooped. Aile smiled sadly and hugged him.

"Promise me you'll come back." Wing said, leaning back. Aile nodded.

"I promise."

Shadowflame sighed at the scene before him. He stood up. "I'll stay here and make sure they're okay, Aile."

Aile nodded back. "Thanks."

Shadow turned to Enerjack.

"Enerjack, I want you to look after Dark Heart."

Enerjack huffed. "Don't worry. He's acting like a drunk. He can't go far before we get to him."

He glanced sideways at Dark Heart, who was still trying to get up. He fell down again with a yelp.

"Or even stay unharmed." he added. Shadow chuckled.

"All right. That sounds like a plan." he said. "Warpath? What do you think of it?"

Warpath coughed, and nodded. "Yes… I think it is a good plan. Now go, before Mörk gets here."

After one last look to the mountain, Snipit, Aile and Carbon started to go down the mountain.

Wing stood up to follow Aile, but Shadow stopped him. He smiled reassuringly to Wing.

"Don't worry," he said, "It will all be okay."

As Aile, Carbon and Snipit made their way down the mountain, they discussed the details of their plan.

"First, Aile," Carbon said, "You've gotta tell me where exactly they keep the Stone."

Aile nodded. "Well… They keep it in a cave, near the base of the mountain. They've build the camp around the entrance, so you'll have to go through the camp to reach it."

"Are there guards around the entrance?"

"Many. But Dark Heart has full authorization to go there. Let's hope they do not know about his current state yet."

Snipit huffed. "And what if they do?"

"Then you take them down." Carbon said.

"But don't kill," Aile added, "they have no idea what they're doing. Remember that."

Snipit nodded. "Where can I stay?"

"Up high," Aile said. "There are plenty of trees where we can stay around the entrance. You'll have a clear view."

Snipit grunted when he almost tripped over a stone. "And how do we get there without being seen?"

"We fly. They never look up."

Carbon lifted his eyebrow. "That's pretty stupid."

"I know. But they never expect air attacks, so, yeah."

They had almost reached the camp. They entered the forest.

"By the way, Carbon," Aile said, "enter the camp from the entrance. Their leader won't go stumbling down the mountain."

Carbon nodded. "Where is that entrance?"

"Follow me - hold on," Aile stopped and started to walk towards the edge of the forest. They could hear the bustling of the camp. Once they all had a clear view of the camp, Aile looked up. "Snipit?"

"Yeah?"

"You see that tree over there?"

He pointed towards one of the trees in the middle of the camp. It was an old oak, perfect to hide in.

"Yes."

"Good. You can hide there."

Carbon shifted to have a better view.

"Where is the cave entrance?"

"Over there."

A few meters away from the tree, in a steep slope in the foot of the mountain, there was a tunnel. It was guarded by three guards: two on both sides and one in front of it.

"All right. I'll see you soon." Snipit said. Carbon and Aile nodded and Snipit flew away.

"Carbon, follow me." Aile said. He led him towards the entrance of the camp.

With a flash of magic, Carbon changed into Dark Heart. He took a deep breath and stood up straight, his facial expression turned sour and stoic.

"We meet up with the rest up the mountain." Aile said. "Good luck."

Dark Heart nodded and strode into the camp. Aile flew up to the tree where Snipit sat.

Meanwhile, up at the mountain, the other members of the Strikers were lying down to rest. Warpath had his eyes half closed, but his breathing was getting better. Shadow made sure that his wounds were healing well.

Enerjack is washing his wing in a nearby creek. The water was cold, but he heated it up with a small fire so it was the right temperature. Swift had washed his cuticle wing with the water as well and now rested his hoof in it. It wasn't ideal, but for now, it was the best they could get.

Wing's still watching over the camp, in the direction Aile had gone. I walked over to him and sat down. Should I say something? I don't know. He lowered his head and sighed.

"He'll come back." I said. "I'm sure of it."

"I hope so…"

An awkward silence filled the air. He kept staring towards the smoke that circled up from the trees. Behind me, I heard Swift approach us.

"Uhm. Hi." he said. He shuffled with his forehoof over the ground, the other still clung to his chest, too painful to walk on.

"I know that, well… Me being a changeling and all, I…"

Before he could continue, however, he got cut off by Wing.

"Did you really save my dad?"

Swift looked up, surprised.

"Yes… Yes I did."

Wing looked at him, searching for a lie, but he didn't find it.

"I… Thank you."

Swift smiled, exposing his fangs. "I always protect my friends."

Wing smiled back, and I couldn't help but smile too.

"Then I don't care if you're a changeling or not. You're still Swift, right? The same Swift we know as a pony." Wing said. I nodded.

Swift laughed. "Absolutely! Come 'ere you two."

Before we could react, he had pulled us in a hug. All three of us were laughing when he released us.

"Heh. I think this is the most I had laughed in a really long time…" I said. Wing nodded.

"Yeah… Me too. All these adventures… I just wanna sit somewhere warm and have some hot cocoa."

I nodded. "And tell stories! Heh, this will be quite a story to tell once we get out of here, huh?"

Swift snorted. "As if anyone will believe us."

"Guys! Look!" Enerjack shouted and pointed down. We all rushed to the best viewing point to see what was going on below.

The entire camp was in chaos, but Aile, Snipit and Carbon were nowhere to be found.

"I just hope they're okay…" Wings said, worriedly.

I sighed. I really hoped so too.

Carbon Copy, disguised as Dark Heart, had managed to stride through the camp. With his head up high, he ignored everyone around him. But inside of him, his heart was pounding. Anypony could turn around and notice him any minute now. They would sense that he wasn´t the pony they thought he was, and, and…

Shut up, he told himself, they won´t.

He sighed inwardly. In the distance, he saw the entrance to the cave.

Let´s get this over with.

He strode towards the entrance. The guard in front of the entrance saluted Carbon nodded back. With that, the guard stepped aside.

That was easier than I thought… almost too easy.

He strode inside. It was dark, but he could clearly see the gem in the middle of the cave, in the white stone.

He approached the stone carefully. He lifted it with his magic - very carefully - and put it in his pocket.

He turned around to walk out.

And once he stood in the daylight - he found that all eyes were fixed on him.

He didn't move. The silence was deafening.

"RUN!" Snipit shouted - and all hell broke loose.

Carbon leapt into action. The guards pointed their spears at him, but Carbon dodged them all the best he could. He tried to run, but the crowd started to close in on him.

With a great battle cry, Snipit slammed down next to him, beating away the crowd. Aile landed next to him, a spear in his hooves.

"Come on! Let's go!" Snipit yelled. All three of them started to make their way through the sea of ponies.

Ponies from all sides bumped into him, kicked him, bucked him, but he bucked back just as hard. Soon, however, he found that with every pony he bucked away, three more took his place. Despite this, he kept bucking and stomping.

All at once, they got separated. Carbon got punched into the ground. With a loud yell, he fell - and the gem fell on the ground with him.

All the ponies that were around him, did not see the stone under them.. Several felt it crush under their hooves. But all of them felt the pain that came with it. Black smoke rose from the stone, forming a thick cloud over their heads.

"Not again…" Aile said. Snipit grunted.

"Let's go! Go! Go!"

With the Mörklings distracted, they all made their way for the edge of the forest. From there, they made their way up to the mountain, where their friends were waiting.

Wing saw them the first.

"Dad!"

He ran towards him as fast as his legs could carry him. The others stood up and walked towards the trio.

"And? How did it go?" Shadow said. "Do you have the stone?"

"Well… yes, and no." Carbon said. He had changed back to his normal form now.

"You see… we had the stone, but it was trampled."

"Trampled?" Warpath asked.

"It broke in lots of little pieces. Black smoke came out of it; everypony started to scream." Carbon answered.

"Smithereens!?" A broken voice piped up. "SmitherEENS? The stone is in smithereens!" Dark Heart started to cackle - and then abruptly stopped and sat down, quietly murmuring, rocking back and forth. "That's no good - that's no good - that's no good - not good at all…"

Warpath frowned. "Then, what will happen?"

"He'll return!" he said, with wide eyes. "You have freed his followers, you have freed the evil that is inside the stone - but look!" He pointed with his hoof at the top of the mountain. A dark cloud was seeping out of the rocks, and gathering above the camp.

"He is weak now, he has no body, no form. You have slowed him down for years, decades if you're lucky.. He will have to find a new Dark Gem, he will have to find new followers, but he will return."

He turned to face Warpath.

"You will have to destroy the Stone the right way, the only way. I know the only way, but I cannot do the only way now, because the right pony isn't present!"

Warpath frowned. "Then - wait… Illuminae."

Dark Heart had continued to rock back and forth. "Pony isn't present… pony isn't present… pony isn't present… Illuminae, she's not here… not here… not here…"

"Sooo…" Swift said, slowly, "In order to truly defeat Mörk, we will need to find Illuminae?"

Dark Heart didn't respond.

"I'll take that as a yes. Guess we'll have to keep searching then…"

Warpath nodded. "Yes... "

"And what about those ponies down there?" Shadow said.

"They're innocent." Aile said. "They don't know what they were doing. The crimes they've committed should not be held against them."

Warpath nodded.

"We should inform Princess Celestia about all this. She can round up all the former followers and punish them correctly, if at all."

He turned to Shadowflame.

"Shadowflame. Can you transport a message to the Princess with your magic?"

Shadow frowned, thinking about it.

"I think I can teleport something to her. But I cannot guarantee it'll end up there as well."

Warpath nodded. "It's good enough."

He got a stone and scratched something in it with a claw.

"Here. Teleport this."

Shadow's magic engulfed the stone and send it away.

"And now we wait."

"Wait for what?" Aile asked.

"For the guards to show up and bring us to headquarters."

Swift shuffled with his hoof in the ground.

"Including you, Swift."

Swift looked up, surprised.

"But.."

"Swift Spry. You're a valued member of the Strikers. You have proven yourself worthy of being in this team, Changeling or not." Warpath said with a small smile.

"Besides," Warpath added, half-jokingly, "You owe me a fight."

"And an explanation." Snipit said.

Swift was too flabbergasted to say anything.

"I… I… Thanks…"

The beating of wings indicated that the guards have arrived.

"Hm. That was quick." Snipit said.

"Well.. I guess this is goodbye, then." Aile said.

"I wonder what will come next."

~The End~