Part 19 – Support
The knock came to the door somewhat late in the morning. Bright Eyes turned over, briefly forgetting where she was, and wondered why her bed felt different. She put the pillow over her head before the door opened and Genie trotted in.
"We'll need to leave fairly soon," Genie told her. "Baby Bouncy got a message to us about the missing baby pony."
Bright Eyes rolled over and took the pillow from her head. "Baby Sunribbon?"
Genie nodded. "Indeed. Streaky is coming with us too."
Bright Eyes threw the blankets off, got out of bed, then made her way to the bathroom. Genie left the room and returned to the living area. By the time Bright Eyes was ready, Genie had gathered everything they needed.
Streaky stood by the door, bag over her shoulder, glancing to the front door. Outside remained the same, dark, oppressive and very much the last place anyone wanted to be. After breakfast, the three ponies left Paradise Estate.
As well as the darkness, a freezing chill descended upon the land. The ponies could see their breath, and Streaky shivered. Bright Eyes wished they'd brought some kind of coat or covering to keep warm. She tried to ignore it, following Genie while she led, her horn lit up, ready to keep any creatures away.
When they reached the meeting place, Baby Bouncy was already there. In the bushes, there was a flash of rainbow hair. Streaky sprinted toward them.
"Baby Sunribbon?" she asked.
The baby pony stepped out of the bushes, and Streaky cried out, kneeling down to her. Baby Sunribbon had tears in her eyes, then she snuggled close to Streaky. Tears rolled down her cheeks, though she managed to blink them away long enough to look over to Baby Bouncy and nod her thanks.
"How's everyone else?" Bright Eyes said, letting Baby Sunribbon have her moment with the pony that was all but a parent to her.
"Pearly's worried. The leader called her in and told her what they plan to do," Baby Bouncy told them.
Genie frowned. "What are they planning?"
"To possess her with a demon. They think it'll make her more powerful than the unicorn Dazzleglow."
Both Genie and Bright Eyes gasped. "We have to get the three of you out of there!" Genie announced.
But Baby Bouncy shook her head, a look of despair on her face. "Pearly won't go," she answered, her voice quivering.
Baby Sunribbon approached, Streaky at her back. "Pearly saved me. She helped get me out of there, but she won't go without Baby Rainribbon or any of the other baby ponies," she said.
"Please let us get you out," Bright Eyes all but begged.
Again, Baby Bouncy shook her head. "I won't leave them. I can't."
Noises from behind caused them to duck behind the bushes. Baby Sunribbon moved close to Streaky, the Rainbow Curl pony put her hoof around her. Baby Bouncy's ears went back, and she bit back some muttered exclamations. Through the bushes, they could see a group of pale ponies, a unicorn at the front. Her horn was lit up, acting as a torch. She swung her head to and fro, scowling into the darkness.
Genie glanced around the group, then crept closer. Bright Eyes reached to catch her, however, was too late. Genie moved forward, staying low to the ground. The pale unicorn turned her head, achingly slowly. Everything from there seemed to happen in slow-motion.
The glow from the unicorn's horn caught Genie at exactly the wrong angle, illuminating her entirely. Bright Eyes cried out, rushing toward her friend. Genie looked over to the others.
"Go! Now! We'll meet up with you!" she shouted.
Streaky grabbed Baby Sunribbon and Baby Bouncy, running in the other direction, away from the group of pale ponies. Bright Eyes stood in front of Genie, surprising even herself. Genie walked to her side, the pair staring at the pale ponies. The unicorn raised her head, hair falling across her face.
Genie stepped forward, her own horn lighting up. She stood waiting for the pale unicorn to make her move. She responded, her horn lighting up.
"You're no match young one," the unicorn said. The light from her horn died to a flicker. "Go home."
Genie frowned and ran after the unicorn. "Wait!"
The unicorn turned back.
"Why? Who's your leader? Why is Dream Valley like this?"
The unicorn sat down, the other pale ponies looking between each other. The unicorn turned her head and hissed at them. "Llleeeave…"
The pale ponies hissed in return. Despite this, they turned and left.
"The leader waaantss power. All the power. Enough to make the hiiiiighnesss tremble."
Genie frowned. "Highness? Queen Rosedust?"
"Noooo…Hiiiighness."
It dawned on Bright Eyes then. "The Princess Ponies."
Genie turned to her, her frown growing even deeper. "But I thought the Princess Ponies were a myth."
"Nooo…" the unicorn answered. "The hiiighnesss are the only onesss to hope to challenge ussss. And Dazzzleglooow."
The unicorn's ears twitched, and she glanced around her. Her gaze stopped at a pocket of shadow, just as the dark unicorn stepped out. It snorted on seeing her, then looked over to Genie and Bright Eyes. The snorting turned angry, before it emitted a roar that chilled them. The pale unicorn hissed.
The dark unicorn circled the pale one, Genie and Bright Eyes moving backward away from them. The pale one followed, backing away from the dark unicorn to move in front of the ponies. Genie lit her horn up and aimed a puff of glowing clouds at the dark unicorn. It grunted, in surprise more than anything else.
The pale unicorn turned and ran, pushing Genie and Bright Eyes along with her. They sprinted through the darkness, following the pale unicorn as she led them away from her dark counterpart.
They returned to the strange hut they'd found before. The pale unicorn pushed the door open, gestured for them to go inside, then it stood next to the door.
"We ssshall be sssafe here. My…apologiesss for ssscaring you earlier," the unicorn said. She sat down on the floor.
Genie and Bright Eyes exchanged a glance. "What's your name?" Bright Eyes asked.
The unicorn blinked. It was as if she hadn't been expecting the question. "…Winter Night-Sssky."
"I'm Bright Eyes, and this is my friend, Genie."
Winter Night-Sky nodded to them both.
"Why don't you come back with us? To Paradise Estate. Perhaps they can help you."
Winter Night-Sky shook her head. "I would not be…welcome there. What happened to Applejack ensssured that."
"You don't know that," Genie said. "If they hear how you helped us, I'm sure they'd let you stay."
Winter Night-Sky looked to the floor, then stood up. She nodded once and held the door open for them.
Bright Eyes waited until Genie went first, the unicorn pausing at the door to give Winter Night-Sky a nuzzle on the way past. This once more shocked the unicorn, and she blinked, raising a hoof to her cheek.
Bright Eyes smiled on the way past and waited outside for Winter Night-Sky. Once all were accounted for, they began the journey back to Paradise Estate.