His laughter rang in my ears as my knees finally gave way and I crashed to the floor. My vision blurred and went black.

I was devastated, exhausted, and seeing my friends that way really was the final straw.

Looking back I was surprised I even made it that far - but luckily, in the end, it all turned out all right.

Somewhere in those caves, I lost my quill and notebook. I wouldn't go back there, ever again, and it wasn't until now that I had enough magical knowledge to summon it back. I was afraid that it would be lost, forever, destroyed. But luckily it was still intact - maybe a little bit damaged, but it had been lying in a cave for years, so I was surprised it was still readable.

These adventures will stay with me forever, but I haven't gotten over it yet. Maybe, by filling in the blank pages of this journal, will help me with that. So, here you go. The last bits of my first adventure.

I opened my eyes again. I was a little disorientated; I wasn't in the cave anymore. I was transported to some sort of great hall, a dome, with no visible exits. On the walls were torches, which gave a soft, flickering light, just enough to be able to make out my surroundings. The ceiling, however, was so high that I couldn't see it.

The ground was a little uneven, but reasonably flat. I felt the stones under my belly. I was lying in the middle of the dome, I saw now. Looking around, I saw all my… friends standing around the edge. They were all wearing some sort of dark armor, with black flames emblazoned on the edges. They wore helmets, just as black, which make their mane appear like smoke. They were also all carrying spears.

A loud laugh echoed through the dome. Afraid, I crouched away from the middle to the walls - and just in time, because cold, black flames roared up where I was lying. And there appeared Mörk with Black Heart.

Hello again. Had good dreams?

My ears fell flat against my neck.

Thought so. Black Heart?

The pony next to him saluted.

Why don't you… demonstrate what my powers can do.

Dark Heart grinned maliciously. "Yes, sir."

Mörk disappeared in the black flames again, but I could still feel his presence. Dark Heart walked over to the edge of the dome.

"Do you see them?" He waved to the ones around us. "They are mindless soldiers who do anything to the Dark Lord's bidding… including killing."

He pointed his hoof towards Swift Spry. With his wing, he unsheathed Shinigami from a black belt that went under his armor.

"...His friends…"

He pointed towards Enerjack, who stood opposite of him. Swiftly, he flew over to Enerjack and prepared to attack him. But just before the blade hit Enerjack's neck, he stopped. Enerjack didn't even flinch.

"...And even you, if I wanted him to…"

Swift flew up again, but didn't charge.

"...No. I've got something else entirely in store. Your very worst fear."

Dark Heart took a few steps back. Swift Spry landed behind Wing Noir, who had taken a few steps forward towards me.

"But first… I will give you a choice."

He slowly walked towards me again.

"Join me, and you will get your friends back. You will be stronger than ever under our Lord Mörks rule."

He paused for a minute to point to Wing, who was now to the left of me.

"If you don't…"

He motioned towards Swift, who put his blade over Wing Noir's neck.

"Your friends are going to kill eachother… one by one… and after they're done, I'm going to finish you."

Dark Heart laughed devilish, and I had no idea what I should do. I know they aren't themselves, but they're my friends! And I can't let them die!

But if I say yes, they're going to kill us anyway for everything I've done, for sure...

I bit my lip. Oh, what to do?

"Indecisive, are you?" Dark Heart continued.

"Well, let me make it a bit… simpler for you."

In one swift move, Wing drew his spear and charged me. Swift flew up to the ceiling and circled above us.

Right before Wing could reach me, he stopped, with his spear pointed at me.

"Join us.. or he will kill you."

I looked in Wing's eyes. They were black, but his golden irises were flaming with rage.

"W-Wing…" I started, quietly. "Wing, it's me…"

He didn't move, but I saw something shift.

"Wing… Please…" I begged him. But still, the black in his eyes didn't waver.

Quiet chuckling behind me.

"I'm getting a bit impatient now." Dark Heart said. Wing took a step closer, the point of his spear was now almost at my throat.

"What will it be…. Yes, or no."

Wing's eyes started to waver, determination in his golden irises.

"No answer? I'm going to take that as a no." Dark Heart said, chuckling.

"Such a pity. We could've used you, and your friends."

Wing's eyes turned from determination into fear. Slowly, he took a step forward, his spear ready to hit me. I scooted backwards, away from him. I could see in his eyes that he wanted to stop, but he couldn't. They still were in control.

Somewhere, from very far away, I could hear Dark Heart's voice commanding.

"Kill her."

Wing's pupils shrank as he plunged towards me. I didn't try to dodge - I kept looking into his eyes. If I was dying now, then at least I was with friends. Because they are the ones that love you - even if they don't always show it. My friends love me. And I love them.

It all seemed to happen in slow motion. In front of me, Wing Noir was charging with his spear at me, screaming. Above us, Swift suddenly plunged down, immobile. And I sat there, petrified, as Swift knocked Wing out of harm's way.

Wing gasped, shaking Wing off of him. In the flickering light of the torches, I could see the black in his eyes waver. Swift didn't move at all.

"Wing!" I screamed. He had dropped the spear and was struggling to get up.

"Wing, are you alright…"

I galloped at him and hugged him.

"Civviq… I'm so, so sorry…" he whispered, his eyes clenched shut, still trying to get the last bits of black out of his mind.

I smiled. "It's okay, Wing… It's okay."

Behind us, Dark Heart was taken aback by the sudden change.

"No! you useless... "

He grunted, scowling. He turned and pointed at Enerjack.

"You! Kill them!"

Enerjack roared and charged, but before he could reach us, Swift flew up and threw himself at Enerjack, stopping him. He roared again and opened his mouth to fire at Swift, but he dodged the bolt of fire. In the bright lights of his blasts, I saw Swift… flicker, I don't know how to describe it - he changed into something, but before I could determine what it was, he was normal again. I wondered what was wrong with him.

Enerjack roared again, angry either at that he couldn't hit Swift, or the mere fact that he had to hurt Swift. But Swift kept dodging, not once drawing Shinigami to attack him. Even though he was still half under control, he had part of his mind back and commanded it not to hurt his friend.

Swift flew over Enerjack's head, tumbling in the air. He crashed against the wall of the dome and fell down. Enerjack charged and fired, but Swift dodged at the last second. The beam hit the wall and it collapsed.

Enerjack tried to dodge the big boulders coming down, but some were too big and landed on one of his wings. Enerjack roared in pain; I flinched at the echoes that went through the dome.

"NO!" Black Heart yelled. "YOU! KILL THEM!"

He pointed at Warpath. The unidragon started to move towards us.

"Yes!" Black Heart said. "Kill Civviq! And kill Wing too!"

Warpath positioned his spear. Under the torch behind Wing, however, somepony stirred. I squinted to see who it was. Warpath slowly stepped forward us, his spear ready for battle; but his teeth were clenched. He didn't want to do it and he was fighting as hard as he could. But he had to.

He plunged his spear at Wing.

"NO!" Aile yelled. "NOPONY HURTS MY SON!"

With a loud yell, he came into motion and blocked Warpath's spear with his own. He then tried to pull the spear out of Warpath's grip, but that didn't go so easily. Warpath plunged forward with his spear, with a clear, malicious intent fueled by Mörk.

Aile stepped backwards, dodging Warpath's spear, and pinned the spear to the ground so Warpath couldn't pull back. He then tried to push Warpath down, forcing him to release the spear, but Warpath's horn lit up and he cast a powerful shield spell to get Aile off of his side, releasing him.

In the meantime, Dark Heart was getting more and more nervous. He knew that strong emotional feelings and enough pain could get somepony out of the trance, but he was stunned by the amount of ponies that freed themselves at once. But this battle wasn't over yet.

"Mörk, give me strength," he whispered, and motioned to Carbon and Snipit.

"You two, take 'em all out. Now."

They nodded and took off. He then motioned towards Shadowflame.

"You, you stay with me. Cast those platforms so I can see it all from up."

Shadow's horn lit up and they slowly started to rise on a red platform. They rose until they were almost at the top, not visible anymore.

From below, Swift looked up and saw them rising. He narrowed his eyes and tried to get up, but the fight with Enerjack and Mörk within him had drained a lot of energy. But he had to get up and help the others - and take out Black Heart. If he could take out Black Heart, then maybe it would be easier for the rest to be freed.

He took a deep breath and tried to get up. The small stones under his hooves hurt, but he had to push through it. He gritted his teeth and shook his head to clear it a bit more. Then, he realized that he was 'flickering': too much energy was drained from him to maintain his current form.

But he couldn't betray them. Not now.

He summoned the last of his energy and spread his wings.

Snipit and Carbon had started to free Enerjack from his stony prison, levitating the rocks from his wings. Snipit cast a spell on one of them, to get the pain away. Enerjack roared again and try to fly - but he couldn't. As quickly as they came, Carbon and Snipit ran away to help Warpath.

Enerjack looked up to see Swift struggling to reach Dark Heart. He narrowed his eyes and started to pursue him.

Aile Noir was completely outnumbered. With the unidragon not even beginning to get tired, and a unicorn and alicorn to help him - he was struggling to get by.

He wanted to fly up, but he couldn't just leave Wing Noir and Civviq behind. That would be stupid of him; they would be killed immediately. He had to make a plan.

"Wing!" he bellowed, trying to dodge Warpath's spear. "You have to try to find an exit! There has to be one!"

Wing had dropped his spear and was trying to fly away from Snipit. I got chased by Carbon - I was getting really tired. Thank goodness that they can only use their magic if they're told to.

"Dad, look out!" Wing ducked to dodge Snipit, who flew right over him - straight at Aile. But he got out of the way and Snipit collided with Warpath.

Behind me, Carbon was still running. My lungs were burning.

Aile positioned his spear towards Carbon.

"Civviq, come over here!"

I started runing towards Aile, Carbon following me very closely. I ducked under Aile who knocked Carbon off his hooves. I fell down.

"Are you two still all right?" Aile asked us. I nodded, and so did Wing.

"Good. I need you to go past the walls to find a way out of here. Anything will do. I'll cover you. Now, go."

"But, Dad…" Wing started, but Aile cut him off.

"No, kid. You heard me. Go."

Wing bit his lip and threw his hooves around his father's neck. Aile smiled and returned the hug.

"Now, go." Aile said when he released Wing. Aile sighed and returned his attention to the three who were now trying to get up.

And with that, Wing and I went to go search for an exit.