Twilight was happy as could be as she carried a tray of tea, suspended with her magic into the main room of the library. Her friends were all gathered in the room talking among themselves. Despite the late night, they had all wanted to stay together, so Twilight had brought them all back to her home insisting on it. Applejack had her work done. Rarity's orders were done, so no one had any demanding work too lull them away. Twilight had even put off her studies for the night, much to the dismay and happiness of her friends.
"It's nice to just be together like this." Pinkie Pie said bouncing like a spring across the room. The little pink pony seemed physically unable to stand still.
"Sure is. We never get to just hang out anymore, there is always something going wrong we have to fix." Rainbow Dash said leaning down on the floor while the others took the couch and chairs.
"Yes it's simply marvelous to see you girls again. I'm sorry I've been so busy but orders have been mad lately." The white unicorn exclaimed, perhaps a little overdramatically.
"It aint nothin sugarcube. Me and big mac have been busy as can be with the apple farm so I suppose I'm as much to blame as any pony." The orange earth pony said guiltily pulling her hat down.
Fluttershy didn't speak and simply sat quietly in her chair, hiding behind her pink mane.
"Oh come on girls let's not worry about any of that tonight." Twilight said with laugh, trying to lift was she was worried were falling spirits. "We're here to celebrate our friendship, not talk about how much we don't talk. Besides we're here together now right?" She asked as she distributed the tea to each of the girls.
They all nodded in agreement as they took the tea. The conversation soon turned to Pinkie Pie's latest plans for a huge Party for Lyra and somehow shifted to Rainbow Dash's latest tricks and the incident where she almost smashed Derpy into the ground when she messed up a new move she was trying. Fluttershy spoke up about the latest animals under her care, Applejack managed to avoid talking about applebucking and Rarity even kept off the topic of fashion, save for a few lighthearted comments to Rainbow about caring for her appearance.
How the topics kept shifting was a mystery but Twilight was too happy to care, it was just nice to be with her friends for a nice night. It seemed that they hadn't spent much time together in recent days, always one thing or another pulling them away. Even Twilight had gone back to Canterlot several times to see the princess and the trips had taken a toll on her friends and on spike as well. The little dragon enjoyed having the place to himself but whenever she got back he was always right there with a hug and steady ear. She smiled as she gazed up where he was already sleeping. Tonight was a good night.
She was smiling to herself when a huge explosion shook the whole tree home and a loud bang came from the door. The whole group shook and the sudden noise made Fluttershy cry out and hide under her hooves while Rainbow shot to the ceiling and clasped onto it for dear life.
"What the hay was that?" Applejack yelled straightening her hat as she looked to the door regaining her footing.
"I don't know." Twilight replied. She galloped to the door opening it with her magic. Whatever had caused the huge explosion couldn't be good news. She had no idea how right she was. The door opened and Twilight gave a huge gasp. "Princess Luna?" She exclaimed.
Luna was in front of the door, breathing heavily, but worse was the pure white mare she had slung over her back. Celestia was unconscious her head rolling lazily over her sister's neck, blood dripping from the black and red mark on her chest making a sick comparison to her white coat. Twilight could only stare in numb shock at her mentor.
"Twilight. I'm sorry I did not know where else we could go." Luna explained. A set of gasps came from inside the house as the rest of the group came to see the two princesses at the door. "Please, we need help."
Something snapped her back to reality and Twilight shook her head. "O-of course, come inside quick!" She urged, stepping back so Luna could enter the home. Luna stepped over the threshold and the others backed away in awe of the scene before them. Seemingly from nowhere, Rarity produced a large red couch and gestured the princess to it. Luna struggled to the couch and laid her sister down on it. The other ponies gathered around in concern.
"Oh my, oh my, what happened?" Fluttershy asked.
"We were attacked. A pony attacked the castle, defeated all of the guards, and then he . . ." She looked to her sister. "He hurt Celestia. One of the guards held him off while we escaped."
"Some pony did this?" Twilight asked her mouth a gape. It was unthinkable that any pony would be strong enough to attack Princess Celestia, let alone cause her injury. "Who?" her question was laced with venom as she spoke, never taking her eyes off Celestia.
Luna shook her head. "I know not. He called himself Darkside and he was an alicorn like Celestia and I. He was so powerful. I do not know where he came from." Luna hadn't missed the hatred in Twilight's voice or the anger in her eyes over her injured mentor.
"We need ta get her to a doctor." Applejack chimed in, receiving nods from the group.
Luna intervened. "I didn't take her to hospital for a reason. We can't have ponies knowing about this, it will cause a panic. Besides, I believe this evil pony might be chasing us, He will expect us to be at a hospital." Luna looked back at her sister. She was still unconscious and her breathing still very strained, it was clear she was in a lot of pain. Luna placed a hoof on her neck and stroked it to try and help with the pain. It killed her to see her sister in so much pain but powerless to stop it.
"Well we have to help her!" Twilight snapped much to everyone's surprise. She cast her eyes down when she received looks from everyone in the room.
Applejack walked over to Twilight and put a hoof over her shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. We'll get a doctor out here right quick and he can help her. Right?" She asked towards Luna.
Luna nodded firmly. "That will be fine, but someone else will have to get them, my presence would raise too many questions."
"Okay, Pinkie Pie and I will get Nurse Red Heart and a doctor." Applejack said receiving a nod from the bouncing Pinkie.
"Okay, but hurry and be careful." Twilight said to her friend before pulling them into a hug and opening the door.
"Well, I guess I don't have to knock."
Every pony in the room felt a shiver creep up their spine as the voice floated to their ears. A large dark colored Alicorn stood outside in front of the Library, his white teeth turned into a sick little grin. Luna's face was not only one of fear, but rage.
"Darkside!" Luna called, leaping through the door to face the monster outside.
"Oh how cute, you remember me." The dark monster laughed.
Twilight was out of the house flanked by her friends. Her eye's narrowed on the large Alicorn before her. He was at least as large as the princess but he was much more terrifying than even Nightmare Moon had been. "Is he the one who did it?" Twilight asked, already knowing the answer.
Luna nodded never taking her eyes off the enemy. Twilight glared at the large Alicorn, her eyes shooting daggers his way, but the large colt didn't seem bothered by it all. "If I had to guess, you must be Twilight Sparkle, the student to the other one." He said like he was thinking out loud.
"Why did you hurt the princess you big meanie?" Pinkie questioned the large colt.
He gave Pinkie a curious tilt of the head. "I can already tell I'm not going to like you." He said ignoring her question. Darkside looked over the rest of the group before him. "I have to say I was expecting more than this."
"Listen here you big jerk," Rainbow Dash said stepping to the front of the group. "You better tell us why you're here or you're going to be sorry."
The dark colt glanced at Rainbow and smiled. "You remind me of someone I used to know. Of course she didn't have a Rainbow on her head, but she did have wings like you do. I really am going to enjoy this world." His eyes fell to the next one in line, Rarity standing to Twilight's side. "Well I can see we have a beauty queen among us."
"Oh stop it." rarity said shyly looking down. When everyone turned and angry glanced she shuddered. "I mean . . . how dare you!" She snapped.
Darkside chuckled a bit before resting his eyes on Fluttershy who cowered behind rainbow dash. "Oh come on now, no need to hide. Hiding can't stop the fear anyway." He laughed a little and Fluttershy just hide behind Rainbow Dash again.
"Leave her alone!" Rainbow yelled holding fore hoof in front of Fluttershy protectively.
"Oh come on now, no need to be like that. I thought I would come and check on my friend. Celestia right? Where is the big ol softy?" He laughed.
"Shut your mouth!" The cyan Pegasus dived at the larger pony's head her hoof outstretched. No one could stop her before the white horn started glowing. As the Pegasus was about to strike him, a thin wall appeared and smacked the rainbow flier aside. Rainbow dash hit the ground on the side and stuck there with a groan.
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy flew to her friend's side as Darkside chuckled.
"I really feel bad. I mean, you came to them for help?" he asked looking at Luna who was grinding her teeth and narrowing her eyes like daggers. "You came to bunch of little girls for help? Seems a bit irresponsible, dragging these poor little girls into a fight with me. They might have survived if not for that." He glanced over the group his eyes landing on Twilight. "Now I may have to kill them all."
"We're not so easy to push around." The whole group glanced at Rainbow Dash who was standing again, with Fluttershy's help, her eyes narrowed. "You're dealing with the elements of harmony you monster."
"Yea, we aint ever going to lose to some pony like you!" Applejack spoke up standing next to Twilight.
"Right!" Rarity said joining her friends. Pinkie Pie jumped on her hind legs and held her hands in fighting pose while Rainbow and Fluttershy came to join them as one group, Luna standing above them all, a mild smile coming to her.
Darkside looked across the group before bursting laughing. "Oh god that's hilarious! You're going to fight me? And . . .and you're going to win? Ha ha ha ha! How? What the hell are the elements of harmony? Harmony, really? God I can't believe THIS is what is supposed to stop me!" The Large stallion laughed harder barley able to talk. "Ya know, fine. I normally prefer to play a bit but if you all are so strong then come on. Hit me." The large alicorn lowered his head to stare at the group facing him.
Twilight gladly took the monster's taunt. Focusing as much power into her horn as she could, letting the picture of her mentor wounded inside fuel her anger. Not bothering to think of spell she let all her power fly at their foe. The purple magic was blinding and looked as though might consume the whole area as it sailed at the larger pony.
All the power however simply vanished as it struck Darkside. The seven mares watched in shock as the energy was drawn down as if being consumed by the large stallion's shadow. When the last of the power had vanished Darkside's eyes opened and he glanced at a horror struck twilight. "My turn."
Luna saw the attack coming. When the power gathered in Darkside's horn she had already thrown herself in front of the other ponies. When the violet blast streaked at them she quickly cast up the strongest shield she could before the blast struck it shattering it like glass. The shield however managed to nullify the attack leaving only a hint of colored dust in the air around them. Luna took one more breath before falling to her knees.
"Luna!" The ponies yelled as Darkside chuckled.
"Impressive. Oh I'm going to have so much fun here!" The large alicorn said as he took one step towards the cowering group. "I actually fell a little bad, so much potential I have to end."
"You aint gonna touch no pony!" Applejack leaped to the head and threw herself protectively before them all. Pinkie was next to her in an instant with Rainbow flanking Applejack's other side.
"Ya know, two bit heroics are only fun for a short time. Then it just gets sad." He sighed. "What can you hope to do against me? Your gods have fallen, what do you have?"
"We have each other!" Twilight declared, stepping next to her friends. "We have the power of friendship that is more powerful than anything else!"
Darkside visibly twitched. "That's so innocent it's sad. Not to mention just flat out revolting." He stepped towards them but the group held strong. "So much faith in each other, I wonder how misplaced it is, just how much dark do you sweet little things really have?" His eyes gave a slight glow, their intensity burning as he looked on the group.
His eyes fell to Pinkie Pie, his gaze burning and powerful. "What can a little pink fluff ball do, hmm? You aren't strong enough to help anyone. Seems all you do is laugh to hide all that sadness you have, you'd be better off crying over your life, you can't make it any better." Pinkie pie shook on her legs unsure and shrank back, no hint of a smile.
His gaze drifted to Apple jack. "And you are a strong one, brave and good willed but what does all that good intention mean? You can try to be the best there is but you'll never be good enough, there is always more to be done, more important things. In the grand scheme of things your nothing." Applejack didn't pull back but her legs did begin to buckle and her eyes fell down, slight tears forming in them.
Rainbow Dash stared back and tried to hold the monsters gaze but he only laughed at her. "And you, so much pride. It's so sad that all your friends can see through it, that pride can't help you when your weak and you'll lose to me. In the end you'll always lose, all that pride, you should be so much more but those friends of yours will always anchor you back to be a loser." Rainbow's legs shook and she almost fell as a tear gathered in her eyes.
"Ha ha ha. I've only gotten started and three of you are about to run and cry! This world is so sweet, it's going to be fun tearing it apart." He took one more step making them all pull away. "Starting with you."
"Darkside!"
All of their ears perked up at the new voice, Darkside as well as he turned to find the source of the voice. He turned only to be struck by a large piece of wood that splintered as it hit his face. The blow made him stumble but not fall.
The stick's former owner landed and spun in the dirt to face Darkside, putting himself between the mares and the monster. He spat the remains of the stick from his mouth and narrowed his eyes on his foe. His dark brown mane and tail fell over a light grey coat as he stood his ground against the monster.
"So long as I'm here you're not touching anybody!" The new colt yelled in response, stomping his hoof in defiance. He quickly looked over his back at the group of mares. "Get the princess inside, now!" He commanded.
Twilight snapped out of her stupor and nodded. She used her magic to put Luna on her shoulder and guide her inside with Rarity's help.
Darkside tilted his head from one side to the other. "No." he whispered. "Is that . . . is that you? Hehe, you look different."
The stallion spat on the ground. "Hard to believe that's you either, but I guess it's easier to follow your evil."
Darkside began laughing again. "Well this is interesting. You look good, sorry I didn't stick around when we got here, just had to get out and see the sights. Like these little ones here, we were just playing a fun little game." Darkside's shadow shifted and four long snakes like shapes erupted from his shadow and lashed out, the tips were narrowed to arrow like edges aimed at the ponies in front of the library.
The new arrival stomped his fore hoof to ground and the blades flew off to the side when they struck a large yellow transparent wall that had formed before him. "You know you can't touch them as long as I'm here." His voice was a low hiss. "Back down."
The edges slithered back to their master before vanishing into his shadow again. "Oh you're no fun anymore. Fine, I'll leave you with your little girlfriends. I'll be around, cause I can tell we're going to have all kinds of fun here." The large alicorn turned and walked away. "Give my regards to the white one." He ended with chuckled before turning to black mist and evaporating to the sky.
He scoffed. "Bastard."
Well that happened. Ya know I never realized how fucking hard it is to write all these different personalities. When I'm not the one who created them it's really hard to keep them straight and realistic.