Chap 12

---Apple Jack’s room the next morning---

“Mmm..” Tiger groaned softly. His arms were still around Apple Jack who was sleeping. He smiled and moved in closer. “Mornin hun,” Apple Jack opened her eyes and yawned a little. “Sorry pretty lady, I didn’t mean to wake you up,” Tiger nuzzled her. “Naw.. it’s ok,” she nuzzled him back, “got a lot of work to do today huh?” “Yup,” Tiger hugged her close one more time before getting up. “A lot of work..” he got out of bed and stretched. “You worried?” Apple Jack asked him. “A little… but I got you with me,” Tiger looked back at her. “Like Ah told you Tig.. Ah’m here for ya,” Apple Jack said as she walked over to him. (Gotta be strong) Tiger thought to himself, “well, since you’re here,” Tiger grinned, “I feel like I can do anything!” “haha settle down there lover boy,” she laughed as she grabbed her hat and put it on. “Let’s go!” Tiger started for the door.

---PonyVille---

“Tiger! Apple Jack! Over here!” Twilight held up a red colored book as she ran towards the two. “This is the spell!” Twilight turned through the pages and showed Tiger. “Hmm…yes, this is it!” Tiger nodded, “this will help greatly when we enter the darkness…” “And here is the map!” Spike held up a map of Canterlot. “Alright, this is perfect,” Tiger looked through the map. “The thing is … I think they are most likely in the lowest part of Canterlot,” Tiger said, “namely cause Canterlot itself is usually located closer to the sun. So I am guessing that they will be underground somewhere,” Tiger pointed to the caves underneath Canterlot castle. “And this here spell’s gonna protect us from the Darkness?” Apple Jack asked. “Since you girls lost a lot of the element’s power from our last fight with Sol Lune…I have an idea on how to protect you with my elements,” Tiger tried to explain. “Is that even possible?” Twilight asked. “Yeah… you just have to focus on your element and I’ll do the rest,” Tiger nodded, “would it be possible to gather everyone here?” “Sure.. Spike?” “I’m on it Twilight!” Spike saluted and ran off.

---Soon---

“Alright, everyone here?” Tiger asked. They all nodded. “Ok, we are gonna test run this spell,” Tiger looked at them, “Twilight if you could..” Tiger asked Twilight who’s horn started to glow. “Now… I need you all to focus on your element, focus on it hard,” Tiger instructed. Everyone’s eyes closed. There was a bright flash from Twilight’s horn and everyone but Tiger was surrounded by a clear glowing sphere of light. Tiger then closed his eyes and started to glow the familiar gold color. He was in full armor now. “Ok.. focus….” Tiger murmered. There was a bright flash from him that shone on the spheres. “Honesty,” Apple Jack exclaimed as her sphere turned a bright orange. “Laughter!” Pinkie Pie giggled as her sphere turned a bright pink. “Loyalty hay ya!” Rainbow Dash grinned with confidence as her sphere turned a light blue. “Kindness..”Fluttershy turned her head shyly as her sphere turned a bright yellow. “Generosity,” Rarity smiled proudly as her sphere turned a creamy white. “Magic!” Twilight’s sphere turned purple. “There!” Tiger breathed out. The girls looked at the newly formed spheres. “What are they?” Pinkie Pie asked as she touched her sphere, “it’s so warm and it makes me feel happy!” she bounced up and down exicited. Apple Jack touched hers and giggled. “These are my feelings towards you, my friends,” Tiger smiled. “Ahhh that explains that,” Apple Jack turned to look at him with a wink that made Tiger blush. “Oh my…with this I feel brave,” Fluttershy said as she touched her sphere. “How exquisite!~” Rarity smiled, “the value of friendship!” “We so totally have to race again after this Tiger!” Rainbow Dash turned to him. “You bet Rainbow,” Tiger grinned. “Tiger? How do you hold the elements of friendship?” Twilight asked. “I honestly have no idea Twilight… but one thing’s for sure… I’m glad to have friends like you all,” Tiger looked around at all of the ponies,” and friends to me.. are a real treasure, that’s why I won’t let anything happen to any of you” he finished and his armor disappeared along with the magical glow from all the fillies. “Tig, don’t try to do it all by yerself!” Apple Jack frowned at him, “you’ll git hurt jus like last time if you do”. “Yes, a gentle colt knows when to ask for help too you know,” Rarity added. “It took our elements of harmony… so we need to help you get them back!” Twilight nodded. “We are so totally gonna kick flank!” Rainbow Dash did a backwards somersault in mid air and then posed.

“He really is like you AJ,” Twilight laughed. “Hay…” Apple Jack blushed. “Ohhh yeah I remember!” Pinkie Pie thought of it, then she shivered, “BAKED BADS, guh…!” “Huh?” Tiger looked at Apple Jack. “What they are tryin to get at is that, you gotta ask for help when you really need it Tig,” Apple Jack summeraized. “Alright… we’ll do this all together then,” Tiger said, “let’s go to Canterlot, does everyone have their equipment?” they all nodded. “Let’s go”.

---Dungeon in the Darkness---

“He was the one that … I accidently dropped in your sun tears sister,” Luna reminded Celestia. “Yes, I do recall that happening to a pony,” Celestia answered. “A pony made from the night who was dipped in morning,” Luna smiled, “I remember how happy I was with the colors that flew from that. The color of dusk, but sister.. wouldn’t that mean?”Luna’s eyes went wide. “He is over a thousand years old,” Celestia finished, “I kept him safe and released him on Equestria when I thought the time was right. He was one of the only ponies I knew of at the time that could fight off the Darkness without falling into its clutches,” Celestia explained, “I am guessing that’s why the Darkness wants him so much, since he has the affinity for both day and night… they would be able to stretch across patches of land that the light only touches”. “He always had an amazing way with friendship as well,” Celestia remembered Tiger Dusk training in the academy. “If he is that in tuned with friendship… it will be chaos if the Darkness touches him though,” Luna said, “it’ll turn to pure hatred, and chaos. He’ll become a pony that will destroy everything dear sister… we must get out of here!” “But how Luna? Our cells hold us tight and restrain our powers. The sun and moon can’t rise or set while we are in here. All I can think of is the Elements of Harmony, and my dear student…Twilight Sparkle, I do hope she is alright,” Celestia felt worried tears fall from her eyes. To her Twilight was a like a daughter of her own. There was a cloud of ink black smoke that appeared in between the two sisters’ cells. “…” it was the hooded pony. “Please don’t do this to our Equestria!” Celestia protested. “…” the hooded pony tilted its head. “What can you accomplish by making everything disappear?” Celestia’s eyes went wide with shock. Luna was silent. Her sister seemed to understand the silence from the hooded pony. “Who are you?” Celestia narrowed her eyes at the Darkness. “…” the hooded pony simply turned on the spot and disappeared, and reappeared in Celestia’s cell. Two gleaming red eyes were glowing in front of Celestia. “I.. it can’t be,” Celestia moved backwards, pressing herself against the wall. “Sister!” Luna yelled, slamming into her cell door. “…” the hooded pony lingered for a moment and slipped out of the cell in another cloud of smoke. The smoke spiraled towards the exit of the dungeon, and seeped through the door with ease. “Sister…it’s him,” Celestia seemed to be out of breath. “Who?” Luna asked. “The pony who was exiled for touching the darkest of dark Ailcorn magic,” Celestia whispered. “…”Luna’s mouth opened. She felt her heart beat rise.