The Power Of Darkness: Luminous Sparkle

When I woke up I screamed. I screamed as loud as I could, because I was no longer in Equestria. In a way I could say I deserved to scream and yell, and be realistic about the problem. There was no portal or way back to Equestria that I could see. My body felt weak, from the change of worldly proportions.

The ground felt lush beneath me, as I lay face forward in the middle of the forest. The air whispered its soft voice. Shade from the trees loomed over me in the daytime, giving brief comfort from the suns rays.

Its summer time here in this world. And my clothes cling to my body. I try to sit up and rest myself against a tree beside me, but my body is weaker than I thought previously. I can barely stand the gravity of this world. Let alone it up. Using the strength that is given to me, I use my strength to get closer to the tree and rest my back against it.

I soon hear a squish from the ground and see that the ground is wet from rain that must have passed through here a few days ago. The clothes are dirty now. I need to get clean.

My hands are a light tan color, not like from the other universe where I am the same pony color. And I notice that there is a staff laying right next to me, I grab it and use it to help me remain stable. It has a similar appearance to my cutie mark sticking from the ends of the staffs. It seems as if it was made for me. My hands have brown leather gloves on.

My legs are wobbly and at a lower height than from the other human world. Silver hair hangs from my head. It feels soft and lush, and maybe a bit longer than my usual length. I feel as if I don't even look like myself. Like I'm an entirely different being. Maybe I am, but for right now i need to get clean.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I called out to whoever could hear it. A girl with light blonde hair peeked my way. She headed towards me and helped me to my feet, "Thank you," I told her.

She smiled, "Are you okay? You seem out of shape," she asked.

"I'm new around here and I'm not used to this place just yet," I admitted.

"That's alright, let me help you get clean." She grabbed my hand immediately and I ran with her far into the woods.

"What is this place? I asked.

"Mapleworld. Right now were close to Ellinia, a small town known for the magical library that it has."

"Magical library?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, this place is filled with magic and people who love to learn about it. Most of the people here often have magical capabilities."

"Really? That's very interesting. Tell me more about this world," I asked her.

"Well it would take me more than an entire day explaining all the world and culture surrounding this place. Where have you been?"

"I've been somewhere where no one has been. No one one can explore it. A different universe."

"Your so interesting. I wish you could tell me about your world." She was a small girl, the age of ten. She believed in the magical fairy tales that an adult wouldn't believe. Which is why I thought of her as innocent, yet she was a kid willing to listen to anything.

"Where are your parents?" I asked. She was too young to be on her own.

"I...I don't know, they disappeared one day while they were searching or food. It was a long time ago." Poor kid. She changed the subject, "You have pretty eyes," she said, "They are different colors. That makes you special." She pointed to my left eye, "That one's blue," she pointed to the other, "that one's red."

I didn't realize that my eyes were different, I didn't even consider that I might be someone I feared. I didn't think I would be Luminous when I entered this universe. "The only way to move forward is to choose your destiny. A road filled with light and dark is your fate alone. Choose wisely." Those words echoed through my mind. At the end of the chapter of the book it said the darkness will consume you, is this what it meant? That Luminous would be of light and dark? I was destined to face this challenge?! Why did I have to be Luminous?! Why?!

Tears slipped through my feelings. She looked at me worriedly, "Don't cry... What's wrong?" She asked me, "Don't cry..." But I did, this was not what I wanted.

She made me move into the cottage to get clean. Once I was inside I looked at a mirror, occupying the living room and saw me as the person I was fated to be: Luminous.

She introduced herself as Lania, and welcomed me to stay with her. I introduced myself as Luminous Sparkle, because at the same time I was both me and I was Luminous. Taking his appearance as the girl version of himself. Maybe when you transfer over you must remain as the same gender or else it would be more complicated than that.

Lania was a sweet girl, she we a small blue dress and took care of herself like an adult. She learned to survive on her own by fishing and earning money by killing creatures.

I hated killing creatures, but that was how she survived to get food and necessary needs.

First day I stayed at her place I felt sad. Because, I could no longer be with my friends. I had no way of fin ding a portal to take me back to Equestria.

I did find a way to travel between the lands here, but they had no way of entering Equestria. Where could the portal back home be?

"Are you okay?" She asked me as I zoned out in the middle of lunch. She made some chicken soup earlier, I was grateful for the meal. But without my friends I felt lonely. I never knew how much friendship helped me have fun in life.

I didn't want her to worry about me, "I'm fine," I faked a smile to reassure her.

"Are you homesick?"

"I guess you could say that."

"I don't believe you," she looked at me with a straight face. For a moment she seemed like a mother, wanting to care for her child. Having to grow up so early in life has made her more mature in some way.  She sat beside me. Then suddenly hugged me with her little arms round my torso. I smiled, my silver hair hung down my white and gold laced clothing. Lania truly wanted me to feel right at home.

"Here, I'll tell you a little bit of my world, in exchange for a lit bit of your world," she gave me a quivered lip, with big sad eyes, I couldn't say no to a face like that. She was a kid, she deserved to have stories told to her filled with magic and fantasy. Your only a kid once.

"My Mom used to tell me the story of five heroes who took down the Black Mage. It was a fairytale that she told me a long time ago. Later on I found out that the story was actually true. There was a dark caped villain who planned on destroying Mapleworld- this wondrous land- for himself. But five heroes sealed him away for centuries. No one knows who these five heroes are, but they were what saved this world from the Black Mage."

The Black Mage that name rang a bell, it was from chapter one of the book I read earlier. And Luminous was one of the five heroes! How could he be alive after that battle from centuries ago? I don't know how, but maybe the Black Mage had something to do with it.

I needed a minute to take this all in. Within a day I had gained some information from a little fairytale about a battle that happened long ago. This world is so different from Equestria and so much more interesting than the other human world. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad, just for until I can find A portal back to my home world.

"So now you can tell me about your world. Where did you come from?" She was eager to learn about Equestria.

"Now my world seems so less serious than yours, I'm not sure if you will believe me or not."

"I'll believe anything!" she cried out immediately, "I promise not to tell anyone. It'll be a secret, just between you and me." She put out her pinkie for me to do a pinkie swear. I shook her finger with mine, "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye," she said. I said something different, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Her version was a lot more brutal than mine.

"Wow, you even pinkie swear differently than me, our pinkie swear sounds so much crueler than yours. Okay, that's it, I officially like yours better, I'm using it permanently."

"Okay, so now tell," she turned her full attention towards me.

"My world is filled with magic, but we are colorful ponies who use the magic of friendship to stop evil. Were are kind of like your five heroes, only villains come along every few months to try to rule the world of Equestria."

"So you are like heroes in your universe?"

"Yes, only we have six heroes who save the day."

"Your world sounds fun! Mapleworld must look so different to you, doesn't it?"

I nodded, "Very." Her eyes gleamed with interest about my world.

We talked for hours and hour, talking back and forth about our two very different universes, soon it was nightfall. She lit some candles to keep us out of the dark. "Did you know in this world there are people with wings?"

"No, I didn't."

"There are people from other planets, I saw a person with little horns and pink wings. She's not from around here, sources say shes from that planet over there," she points at a purple colored planet right next to the moon, "That planet there is Pantheon."

"You learned all about this by observing other?"

She quickly nodded, "Yup! I love listening to other peoples conversations."

"So are they some kind of different species?"

"I guess, I haven't found out what she is just yet." She turned to me, "I like you," she smiled. "I have something that might make you feel a little bit more at home."

"Okay..."

"Close your eyes!" She said immediately.

I closed them shut. She set something into my hand. "Now open them!" She demanded playfully.

In my hands, there was a luminescent bracelet. She gestured me upwards and led me to the living room, where there was so much space to move around. "Now try on the bracelet," I slid it on. It suddenly started to glow. Then luminescent magic started to swirl around me, I felt a tingling sensation near my back and then the light started to fade.

"Yes! It worked!" Lania screamed in glee. "Thank you random act of kindness!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about these wonderful things!" She pointed at the huge prismatic wings that now resided behind my back.

"How did you?...."

"A guy traded this with me one day and said that they give you the ability to fly, and since you told me earlier that you used to have wings, I thought about giving this to you. Do you like it?"

I took a moment to look at my new wings, they were huge compared to the human world wings I had in the other universe. I flexed my wings and they moved naturally. "Thank you so much! I love them!"

"That guy was so sweet, after he gave me that item he yelled, 'random act of kindness!' as he left Ellinia."

"Wow, what luck!"

"I know! I hope you really do like my present. I want us to to be the best of friends!" And then she hugged me and I hugged her back.

We went off to bed, Lania laying right beside me, I kept her company, but tonight she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned late at night. I fell asleep but was soon awoken to the sound of music. "I'm sorry for waking you up," she said sleepily as she returned to bed.

"Why did you turn on music?"

"It helps me go to sleep on a night when I can't seem to sleep. And also my Mom used to play this song when I went to sleep every night when I was little."

"It sounds so pretty," I said.

"That's why I love this song. It must've been one of my Mom's favorite songs.  I remember her always smiling when she played the song. She disappeared when I was five so I can still remember little bits of her. I remember she had short blond hair and blue eyes like mine, but she was very tall for her age. Hearing this song always helps me remember her."

That was when I held her close, and we slept through the night listening to the calming music.

Then I got a headache. This was the first out of many more to come.

-- Years Later --

This morning I woke up with the worst headache imaginable. It was the worst headache I've felt in years. But today was a beautiful day and a simple bad headache wasn't going to stop it.

I headed downstairs where Lania was fully awake. Her hair is a lot longer than when I first met her. That feels like such a long time ago. "Good morning Luminous," she greeted me.

I looked at the pantry doors they were rummaged through, then there sat her Cat Penny, licking her paws. "What did you do this time Penny?"

"I did nothing," she stated matter-of-factly.  Lania and I nodded our heads in disapproval. Her cat could talk and by now I was used to the talking creatures, so this was a regular day to me. Luckily she didn't get into anything this morning, but we still had groceries to get.

"Okay! We need fresh milk, three servings of pork, fishing bait...."

Lania interrupted, "And thread! I need thread. Were going to be freezing if I don't have time to knit scarves and socks."  

"Of course! Of course, red and white thread," I immediately write it down on paper, with a small quill, "I apologize, my headaches."

"Is it really bad today?" she asked. I nodded, biting my lip through the pain. My head aches more and more with every passing day, as if a fire was burning in my mind.

"Mrow! Need me to scratch the shopping list into your arm?" Penny cat-called me.

"Don't be mean Penny!" The cat rolled her eyes, "And you! Don't forget my stuff this time. I don't want my feet to freeze off!"

"I won't Lania, not this time. I swear it!"

"Let me at least walk you out, Penny, you guard the house, okay? " she asked.

"Mrow! Lania this, Lania that, what about little old me?!" Penny nagged.

"Penny when I return, I promise I will catch you the king of all fish." I promised. Ever since I've been here I've learned so much. I've learned to fish, and done so much more.

"Really!?!" her face looked surprised. "I mean... you can't sway me that easily! Just... it better be a really fat one!" she said smugly.

"I'm sure it'll be the biggest fish in the lake Penny," Lania assured her. "Let's go Luminous!" She took my arm and led me outside.

Suddenly my chest felt very tight like I couldn't breathe, "Let's.... Go..." I've never experienced that before. I tried breathing as normal as I could, not to worry Lania. Then it subsided.

The day was bright and sunny, with no clouds seen in the sky. "The weather is beautiful! We should have a picnic before winter comes! Would you like that?" she asked me.

I replied, "Let's buy some ingredients from the market! I feel like cooking today!" She taught me how to cook too! today was a wonderful day to make something delicious.

"Yes!" she agreed with me. "I'll make a cream cheese spread and we can make fancy sandwiches!"

Yes! A home-cooked meal is what I need to calm the turmoil inside. She waved me off and soon I was on my way to the market. She followed me at a distance as I walked a few steps. "Don't take too long, okay? I know how you like to dilly-dally in town." I always tried to visit the magical library when I could, but today Lania wants me to be home soon, she worries about me so much.

"I'll return as soon as I can Lania!" I turned to her, "Lania, since you've welcomed me to stay here, I wanted to thank-- AHH!" I screamed in pain.

"Luminous?" she sounded scared.

I felt this terrible sense of darkness, Lania moved towards me. "Luminous, are you okay? You don't look so well."

I didn't want her to get hurt, I feel like something is wrong with me. A dark aura starts surrounding me. "Stay away from me! Get back!" I warned her. I realized something as the darkness is surrounding me, I remember The Black Mages words, 'The darkness you took from me will consume you,' was this what he meant? I tried to keep this feeling inside me, but it was too strong, even for me to handle. The world exploded in darkness.

I opened my eyes, everything was on fire. All the trees were burned to a crisp. I wouldn't even call it a forest. It was all ashes. I did this. I burned the whole forest. "What have I done?" I cried, falling to my knees. Our house was burned down, along with Lania. She lay dead on the burned grass. "Lania..." Tears fell to the ground.

"The Black Mage has cursed me!" I realized. "His dark power has corrupted my heart! But why now?!" Why?! I called my staff to me, it flew out of the ashes into my hands. What can I do now? Lania was the only person I called a friend.

I feel this darkness inside me, it courses through me, and it caresses me like a moth to a flame. It makes me feel wonderful on this inside. But I try to avoid the darkness. It is overtaking me! I'm losing control of my own self... No this is who I was destined to be so now the darkness will make me embrace it! "Lania, this is for us! I will embrace what is mine! Hahahaha! I am a creature of darkness now!" and I stride off with the dark aura surrounding me, leaving behind all that I know.

I teleported myself using these new dark powers, the scenery changes before me, now I'm surrounded with new creatures and high above the world in the treetops. Wooden bridges are seen everywhere as the bridges lead to more and more areas. I see all the small creatures, they are pathetic and weak, "Was this how the Black Mage understood the world? I see now that everyone else is beneath me!" But then I tried to find my way through the darkness. My soul was almost lost to the power of darkness. I see its appeal, but I will not have it erode my entire being. I can't let it control me, I must learn to harness it and make it my own.

I am unstable, and very dangerous. I have to hold on to the good inside me. But first I must master my new magic, it will be a lot different than my old magic back in Equestria. This shining rod staff will now be used for dark magic. Who shall I test it on first?

-- End Of Chapter --