Remember, the bigger the light that's cast… The greater the shadow will be…
Chapter 25: Darkness Rises
(P.O.V. none, Ponyville)
A few days had past since the fight had happened, and everyone was living comfortably. The Mobians had helped the ponies repair the battle damage from the fight, and with help from some magic, new plants had started to grow sooner than later. Soler and Sonic were returning from a run and had decided to walk to the castle through Ponyville.
"Man, everything has been so peaceful. It's great!" Sonic said, stretching.
"Yeah. It's been great, but I feel like something is going to happen." Soler replied, almost sounding like he was talking to himself.
"Yeah, yeah, you're worrying over nothing. So anyways, I've been meaning to ask you, how was it that you were able to do that Chaos Swarm attack?" Sonic asked.
"Oh. Well, to start, like I said during the fight, I thought of the attack when I fought Shadow and he did a sort of Spear Shower attack that wrecked me. But when I remembered the attack, it could only go in one direction and spread out over an area, so I went ahead and made an attack that can be controlled and moved around the battle. So I thought of Chaos Swarm, which is basically like my Hailstorm attack, but the projectiles are multiplied to an extreme level and can be manipulated." He explained. Sonic nodded with some understanding of the attack,
"Well anyway, I can't wait to see you use that attack in some real combat." Sonic replied excitedly. Soler laughed nervously.
"Well ya see, I won't be able to do that attack for a long time." Soler said, causing Sonic to look at him in confusion,
"Why?"
"Well for starters, I can only do the attack while I'm in my Chaos Break Mode, since it requires so much Chaos Energy to do. Second, the attack requires a lot of concentration to control, which took all my effort and concentration to pull off when I first did it. Now when I'm in Break Mode, I do get a mass boost in Chaos Energy, so that's not too much of a problem. But to do it, I need to charge that Energy, and I probably won't have that much time to charge it in battle, so it will leave me very vulnerable. Another problem is the concentration part. I need full concentration to keep it together, so a stressful situation will be my downfall with that attack. And even in my Break Form, it takes up way too much Chaos Energy, so I could only do the attack in a dire situation." He told the blue hedgehog.
Sonic did no more than glare at the white hedgehog, who smiled at him anxiously. Sonic sighed and let it go as the two continued their walk to the castle. It was starting to get dark as the sun started setting, and the moon began rising. Soler saw the rising moon with dread in his heart.
Why is it that I feel like something horrible is going to happen? He worried.
(?)
*A few days earlier*
Systems running at max capacity. The Computer said, The three Emeralds have kept systems running 300% more efficiently. A cold laugh followed.
"Excellent. With three Emeralds, I can now do more than I've ever been able to do." Came a voice. The being watched the pitiful beings of this world from a distance. He watched as his longtime adversary was being brought into the hospital, along with the black one. All their little friends trailed behind them. "Hmm, it seems that Shadow wasn't able to finish off Soler. I expected this, but at least now I know I can even turn those Mobians against each other." Through the windows, he could see nurses rushing desperately to stabilize the two hedgehogs.
"Computer, how is the duplication software coming along?" The voice asked.
With the three Emeralds powering your systems, the nanites are able to work more efficiently than before. But to be able to replicate, they need a basis to start from. The computer replied.
"Hmm, so I need to get the data of something that has the ability to replicate to give my nanites the data needed to start from." He thought aloud. He focused on the hospital windows once again, and noticed that those nurses were able to stabilize the two hedgehogs. He looked down to the entrance and saw their friends all piling out of the hospital, their spirits obviously down from seeing their fallen friends.
"It would be easy to crush them all right here and now." The being said, "But that would be too easy. I want them to suffer before I dispose of them. Computer, scan to see if there are any beings in this world that can replicate to gain the data." The computer took a few seconds to scan the area, widening its search radius with each sweep.
I've found a being with the given criterion. It's located 900 miles Southwest from your current location. It told him. The being stood from his perch and stepped into the moonlight, revealing himself to be Neo. He took one last look into the hospital and watched Soler struggle to breathe.
"I'll give you this time to heal. But know that your time is coming closer to an end. Computer, set my tracker for the location."
Location acquired. Tracking enabled, the Computer said. Neo then levitated into the air and flew off, towards the direction of the being.
(P.O.V. Neo)
Neo traveled through the air at breakneck speed. With three Emeralds powering him, he'd been running beyond his normal parameters and loved the power. He looked at his tracker, which read that he was only a few miles away from his target. The locale around him conveyed a darkness, along with a massive set of spire towers he was approaching. He landed in front of the towers and examined them, taking note of the holes of various shapes and sizes scattered all over them. There was only one main way in and out of them.
"Computer, is this where the the being is located?"
Yes. It appears to be deep inside the structure. I advise doing a scan of the area before entering. It finished as Neo turned on its heartbeat scanners, picking up nothing. Puzzled, Neo switched to a heat scanner, and failed to pick up any heat signatures. He decided to simply switch to a more general scanner, to try picking up on any signs of breathing life. This time, he had several hundreds of pings all throughout the structure. He was interested in seeing exactly was inside, but knew his ultimate goal was deep inside. Anything else that got in his way would be crushed. He started to make his way through the mass opening in the front, following his tracker.
"Computer, do a mass area scan of the structure."
Scanning… The computer said while Neo continued going through the place, entering the ever-deepening underground. He could definitely feel the presence of other beings around him, though the only scanner that could pick up anything was the one used to track breathing. He could also feel hundreds of thousands of eyes watching his he went down deeper. If it wasn't for his tracker, Neo would've been lost in the maze of the place, what with the many pathways.
The eerie feeling about the area intensified the deeper he went down. Neo didn't care what the place felt like, since he wasn't afraid of anything, or even knew what it felt like. Since he wasn't a normal bot, he could understand emotions, and had only his free will and thoughts. He got out of Eggman's control so long ago, he'd forgotten what it felt like to not have his own thoughts and free will.
Scan complete.
"Well?" He responded.
I have found that the structure seems to have many different exits, but only from the inside. This area was built by many hands, and is well over hundreds of years old. It also has a very complex series of connecting tunnels and passageways that run deep underground. His Computer reported. After listening to the report, a few thoughts ran through his head. Between the many signals of life, and the report of how deep and complex this place is, it was becoming clear that this place might be like some sort of hive.
"Computer, where is the signal's location?" He demanded. The computer took a moment to search for the target again.
It is a few more feet down, in a central chamber. It seems to be that the tunnels all connect to that chamber in some way. It answered. Neo nodded and pushed forward.
Neo looked at his tracker, detecting the target in the chamber ahead of him. It also read that he was now a few hundred feet underground. Before entering the room. he performed another scan of the area ahead of him. He still didn't pick up any heat signatures or heart beats, but there seemed to be a large amount of breathing around him.
Neo walked into the chamber, a massive setting that looked like it was dug out, just to be so big. Green sacks dotted the walls and ceilings, illuminating the room enough to see. He walked deeper in and could feel hundreds of eyes burrowing into him. The tracker said that the target was in this room, but since he was so deep underground, he couldn't get an exact location for it.
Where are you? He thought, when a voice, almost on cue, spoke from the room's darkness.
"Well it seems that our intruder has arrived." The voice said, sounding distorted. It echoed as if two voices were talking, one right after the other. Neo searched for the source with his eyes, but it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.
"Show yourself so I can get this over with." He ordered. The voice laughed, coming from everywhere in the chamber.
"Why, it isn't often that someone, or something, just strolls straight into my nest and down into my chamber. So let me ask who, or what, are you?" The voice replied.
"Telling you my name is irrelevant. It won't change why I'm here. Now, show yourself and make it easier for me, and less painful for you." Neo retorted. The voice laughed once again.
"Well I guess there is no reason to hide." The voice responded. Then, torches blazed a green fire as they started igniting throughout the room. Neo looked around, and could now see that there were little black pony creatures all over the room. Their glossy eyes were blue, and their wings like those of insects. The fanged creatures' hooves had holes in them as well. The worst part wasn't their appearance, but rather the sheer number of them all over the room, trapping Neo.
"Well, you see that now, since you've come this far, I can't let you leave." He heard as he looked towards the center of the room, where there was another pony, about the same size as Celestia. She had the same blue eyes as the others, but hers were extremely cat-like. A green band went around her insect-winged, black-coated body. Her position of power was marked by a long and holed horn borne alongside a crown laid out her long azure mane.
"Even though you don't appear to be flesh and blood, my children will still tear you apart." She said.
"Your children?"
"Yes. These are all my children. They all come from me." She proclaimed, "Now then, since we're done talking, children, show him the power of the Changelings. Destroy him." The Changelings charged at Neo. Neo didn't move, allowing them to near him. Once the first one was within reach, he grabbed it by the throat. A squeal escaped the Changeling, as Neo tightened his grip and snapped its neck. He then threw the dead body at the next one that came close, taking it off guard as he charged right behind it, slamming its head into the ground with a large cracking sound. The body went limp, and the other Changelings momentarily ceased their advance, fear slowly creeping into their minds. Neo stood back up and turned to look at the rest, his cold red eyes sent a chill down all their spines, even Chrysalis, the apparent leaded, felt it.
"Now, you'll all meet the same fate as these two." He said coldly, charging at the group. Chrysalis watched as he took down her Changelings with ease, their cries ringing out.
What is this thing? She wondered fearfully. Neo was making short work of them, killing some, and wounding others. He didn't care much for if whether they all lived or died, he only came for the Queen. Another charged from behind him, but stopped when his Chaos Spear went through its stomach, snatching away its life. The last Changelings fell in the fighting over the following few minutes. Neo stood, unscathed, in the middle of hundreds of Changelings, some savagely executed, others severely injured. Neo looked at his work, unimpressed, then up to Chrysalis, her fear visible. He started to walk over the bodies of the Changelings towards their Queen. One of the Changelings struggled to take a stand, and Neo simply stepped on it's neck. He closed in on Chrysalis, too shaken to flee.
"W-What do you want?" She asked her, voice shaking in terror. Neo's eyes bore right into her, the Queen who couldn't look, much less run, away.
"Power…" He answered calmly as he stuck his fingers into her stomach, ignoring her wails of agony.
"Computer."
DNA scan complete. DNA replication complete. Nanite replication program complete. Body replication is now accessible. It reported. Neo removed his hand and let Chrysalis drop to ground, pained, but alive. Her green blood trickled down her fur.
"Data acquired." He said as he turned to leave.
"Why… Why not just kill me?" She asked him. He stopped, but didn't look back at her.
"There is no point in ending your life now, since you pose no threat. But when I conquer this world, you might be of service, so you'll stay alive. For now," He replied, before he teleported out of the chamber.
(P.O.V. Neo)
Neo watched Soler as he left Twilight's castle in a hurry, appearing excited. A few days had passed since Neo went to the changelings, and he was getting used to his new ability. Soon after Soler left, Shadow and the small dragon exited the castle, following the white hedgehog. Neo kept himself hidden as he followed them to the station. He watched as Shadow skated off towards what looked like a city in the distance. He cloaked himself and followed Shadow. Shadow unknowingly led him to a mountainside city. Neo remained cloaked, but maintained a distance above the city to see where Shadow was heading, the castle.
Neo found a spot on the mountain from which he could watch the castle. Unable to see all the way inside, the robotic hedgehog turned on his heat tracker and discerned the bodies of two hedgehogs and two ponies. One pony was smaller than the other, and stood next to one of the hedgehogs.
"Computer, see if you can pick up the audio inside." Neo said. As the computer started working, Neo picked up voices, one of them being Soler's.
"Awe, man. You looked so peeved, it's priceless!" He heard Soler say. They didn't talk about anything of use, but Neo watched their heat signatures. Shadow's heat signature seemed to just disappear, meaning that the black hedgehog had probably teleported away. The only signatures left were Soler's and, probably, the two Princesses.
The sun began setting as Neo observed them. Soler and one Princess left the room, teleporting to the top of one of the spires. After moving to a different spot, Neo was able to see into the room on the spire. He watched as Soler walked out onto the balcony with the Princess in tow. The Princess' fur was a dark blue, and her mane and tail seem to flow continuously, a night sky in their own right. He watched as her horn lit up, and the moon rose into the sky. Then, the stars followed suit. The two watched the sky for a few moments, before her horn lit up again, and the two teleported away.
Neo stayed in that spot as the night went on, and the two returned. They lied down in her bed and went to sleep. As morning came and it became midday, Soler rose and teleported away.
"So this is who Soler has been seeing." He said, "Why won't that hedgehog learn? Computer, scan that pony. I need data on her." A faint laugh escaped him.
Processing… Information found.
Subject: Luna
Occupation: Co-ruler of Equestria, Princess of the Night
Family: Sister of Princess Celestia
Brief History: Luna was sent to the moon by her sister for many years. She was recently brought back by Princess Twilight and her friends. She has been co-ruling Equestria ever since.
Neo digested the information as he watched Luna sleep.
"Computer, why was she sent to the moon?"
She was sent to the moon because she turned into a being called Nightmare Moon in an attempt to take over Equestria. She would've succeeded if Celestia hadn't used the Elements of Harmony to stop her.
Neo pondered this new information, and a plan formulating in his mind. He chuckled.
"This will be useful." He said as he continued watching her. Neo observed her over the next few days, learning her patterns, and when she'd be alone. One night, right after she had risen the moon, he decided it was time to execute his plan. He uncloaked himself and made his way to her room.
(P.O.V. Luna, Canterlot)
Luna had just risen the moon for another night, and was heading over to her stand to write a letter.
"I wonder what I should write to Soler tonight?" She thought aloud, "I have not talked to him in a while, so I wonder what he's been up to. And maybe when we can spend more time together." She blushed a little with the thought of spending time with him again in her mind. Luna had to admit that she has been thinking about the hedgehog a lot lately. She always loved his company, and she loved the way he always brightened up her day whenever he was around. She loved the how he always made her feel warm inside when he was around,
Am I in love with him? She ruminated.
"Well, aren't you looking lovely tonight?" She heard a familiar voice say. She turned to see the hedgehog in question standing on the balcony.
"S-Soler? I wasn't expecting to see you tonight," she stammered as a blush came across her face. He smirked as he approached her.
"What? You aren't happy to see me? I'm hurt, Luna." He joked. She shook her head and smiled at him.
"No, that's not what I meant. Just, it's a surprise seeing you. Not that it isn't pleasant to see you." She responded, "Why are you here?" Soler smirked, standing right in front of her.
"Well I just wanted to check up on my beautiful mare." He answered as he stroked her cheek, "Is there something wrong with that?" Her heart fluttered at his touch, now that she was blushing madly.
"Well Soler, I've never seen you act so direct before. It's…" She stopped as she started to remember, he's never acted this direct with her. When he wrapped his around her the first time she entered his dream, he freaked out when he found out it was really her.
Why is he so forward with me now? Plus, since when has he started calling me his beautiful mare? Something's wrong. She took a step back away from him, his smile now fading.
"What's wrong?" He asked her.
"Well nothing. It's just, you've never been this direct with me before, and it's taken me by surprise." She told him, her blush and shyness gone. Soler took back up his smirk as he approached her again.
"Well, I was too afraid to express my feelings, but now that's changed. All I want is to be with you, to stay with you Luna… Forever." He exclaimed. Luna was slightly taken aback, but then jumped away from him, her horn glowing.
"Who are you!" She demanded. Soler's smirk turned into a frown, then he started to cackle maniacally.
"Well, it seems I wasn't convincing enough, was I, Luna? Well of course, it is hard to imitate such an annoying rodent." He said with a changing voice. Then his eyes morphed from their inspiring emerald to a cold red. "Well at least I was able to get this close, huh?" His voice had gone completely mechanical. Then, the white of his quills became blue, and his muzzle went from peach to silver. Luna watched in horror as his whole body morphed from flesh to metal as he approached her. Once his transformation was complete, he looked like a metal version of Sonic, with a few differences.
"Well it won't matter anyways. You have something I want, and I'll soon have it." Neo said in a detached tone.
"Not likely." She announced, preparing to attack. But then her eyes, widened in shock, unable to move, at all.
"What's going on? Why can't I-" Her knees went weak and wobbly, causing the Princess of the Night to collapse, looking towards the balcony.
"Seems like the injected neurotoxin has finally taken effect." Neo noted. Fear began to manifest in Luna as all she could do was listen to his metallic footsteps grow closer and closer to her. They stopped, and she felt as his cold hands grab her by the throat, lifting her up to eye level. She started into his red eyes, no sign of remorse or mercy in them, worsening her dread.
"Soler will come for me, and you will be sorry." She declared, despite her trembling. Neo only laughed at the remark.
"I'm planning on it. Now, let's get out of here so we can find a nice and quiet place. We wouldn't want to wake up anybody with your screams now, would we?" He retorted. A tear streaked out her widened eyes and down her face. She looked at the moon, screaming one word before they teleported away…
"SOLER!"
(P.O.V. Soler, Ponyville)
Soler stared at the moon, concern overwhelming his heart.
"Come on, man. You're probably just overthinking things. Let's head back already, I mean, it's already nighttime." Sonic said to him. Soler shook himself, and then nodded as the two hedgehogs started walking back to the castle.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm probably just-" He stopped when his ear twitched. He stopped in his tracks and looked around nervously, on edge. Even Sonic stopped, tinged with anxiety by how Soler was acting.
"Soler, is everything-" Soler put up his hand in order to silence Sonic. He listened carefully, trying to pinpoint a sound. At first, all he heard was the nature around them. But then, he heard the sound, loud and clear…
"SOLER!" Luna screamed. His eyes widened and he looked around, unsure of where it came from.
"Luna! Luna, where are you?" He shouted to the air. Sonic watched him do this, not knowing who he was talking to.
"Soler, what are you talking about? Luna's at the castle."
"No, something's wrong. Something isn't right. She's-"
"SOLER!" He heard her scream again. He looked around, tens. He turned towards Sonic, ready to run off.
"Soler, wait. Don't just-" But it was too late. With a boom, Soler dashed off into the night. Sonic stood hesitant of what to do. He snapped out of it and turned on his communicator.
"Tails! Tails, respond! We got a problem, Tails! Tails!" He shouted as he ran off to get the others.
And this, is the beginning of the end. Thanks, you guys, for sticking around, just look at how far we've come. We're in the last stretch of the first arc, guys! It kinda doesn't feel real, but it's happening, and it's all thanks to you guys for sticking around and enjoying the story. Welp, strap in and get ready, it's going to be a ride. This is Solerwolf… OUT!