Chap 15

“Why are you doing this Sol Lune?” Tiger gritted his teeth, “is it revenge? Is it cause I let you die?” “what do you mean Dusk?” Sol Lune looked surprised. “When we went to Hoofington, I went into the Darkness Mirror, but when I came back out you were already dead, I was too late,” Tiger struggled in his binds. “…I never thought of you as coming out too late my dear friend,” Sol Lune looked at him, “why would I want revenge on you? We were the best of friends you and I!”. It might have been the room that Tiger was in but it felt exactly the same as that day he had entered the Darkness Mirror for the first time. He cried out as he felt the familiar feeling claw at his heart.

---Somewhere in the Darkness---

“Dear Twilight Sparkle, please do not try to struggle so much!” this time it was not a copy, but something far more sinister. “Stop!” Twilight cried out, her hooves had sunk into the mirror as if they had trekked in mud. “Twilight Sparkle, do you realize you are a Pony with a very strong affinity for the night?” the Darkness seemed to slither around Twilight. “Why does that matter at all?” Twilight struggled to get her hooves out. “You will be one of the strongest allies as we take over Equestria, we the Darklings,” it gripped her leg and started to drag her further down into the mirror. “No… HELP!!!” Twilight cried out.

---Outside---

“…” Tiger looked at his friends, and then at Apple Jack, “ALRIGHT!” he yelled. “What?” Sol Lune looked at him. “Ok…I’ll give up, but on ONE condition,” Tiger had tears in his eyes, “you let them all go, every pony”. “You do realize we’ll just end up catching them again,” Sol Lune shrugged. “…I know,” Tiger closed his eyes. “Well if that’s what you wish old friend,” Sol Lune clapped his hooves and the binds released on Tiger. Sol Lune then with a swift movement pushed his right front hoof against Tiger’s chest. “Uh…” Tiger gasped as a bright light filled the room. It swirled around the room in the colors of a prism. The light flew down to the uncontious fillies. “Come along now Dusk, you are back where you belong,” Sol Lune smiled as he helped up a limp Tiger Dusk onto his back. Tiger’s eyes were blank, and a slight dark tinge had covered his whole body.

---Somewhere in the Darkness---

“You let her go now!” cried a voice. Twilight’s ears twitched. There was a bright flash, and there stood a mirage of Tiger. “What?” the Darkling hissed as he tried to attack the image. “Twilight…you have to belive in yourself if you want to get the elements back, Twilight you must belive in your own magical ability,” Tiger’s voice echoed, “I am leaveing you with my element of Friendship,” Tiger tossed a purple, sword down in front of Twilight. “…I can no longer fight, please tell Apple Jack, I am sorry,” he said softly as he disappeared. “WHAT? TIGER NO!” Twilight yelled. “Hehe.. now where were we?” the Darkling turned its attention back to Twilight. “You won’t win!” Twilight’s horn started to glow. The glow seemed to surround the purple sword, as it was lifted from the ground. She then slashed with all her might at the Darkling. “What?!” it gasped as the familiar cinders flew up in front of it. “I am the element of MAGIC,” Twilight’s eyes glowed as the whole room started to shatter.

---Elsewhere in the Darkness---

“Rainbow, I think we’re gonna have to take a rain cheque on that race,” Tiger’s mirage had appeared in between Rainbow Dash and the Vanity. “Just who the hay do you think you are?” the Vanity growled. “Rainbow Dash, you might like to show your stuff… but I also know you are the most loyal pony I know!” Tiger looked at Rainbow Dash who blushed. “Don’t listen to this fake,” Tiger tilted his head over his shoulder, “if you’re good at something you don’t have to show it off, it’ll show itself instead”. Tiger’s mirage started to shimmer as his head bowed, he seemed to be tired. “Tiger?” Rainbow Dash tried to help him from falling over, but felt nothing. “I leave you my element of Friendship,” he replied in a soft voice as a light blue shield dropped in front of Rainbow Dash. “Good he’s gone! Now we can get back to talking about how awesome we are!” the Vanity smirked. Rainbow Dash looked at the shield and saw her reflection, her true reflection, “I never keep my friends hanging, you know that if you are really me!” Rainbow Dash glared at the Vanity as she strapped the shield to her right front leg and flapped up into the air. She then started to glide down at an amazing speed. She became a rainbow streak as she crashed through the Vanity as well as the mirror. The room shattered. “Tough luck, I am the Element of Loyalty ya know”.

---Still elsewhere in the Darkness---

“Miss Rarity,” Tiger’s mirage looked up at Rarity who was crying. “Ti..Tiger?” Rarity tried to retain her composure. “Who has made you cry fair Rarity?” Tiger’s mirage looked behind him to find the Greed sneering back at him. “Rarity, I know you are a generous pony!” Tiger’s voice echoed, “you offered to help someone you didn’t know, and even listened to his troubles and offered advice as well,” Tiger seemed to be struggling to keep his contiousness. “Tiger? What is the matter?” Rarity gasped as she felt her hoof pass through his image. “I am such a foal..” Tiger closed his eyes, “I shouldn’t have run away, I could have met more friends like you, and I could have told Apple Jack my feelings sooner, but now..” tears slipped his eyes, “Rarity… I leave you my element of Friendship,” his voice shook. As his image disappeared a pure white bow and arrow dropped to the ground. They shimmered like gem stones. “I wonder how much those would sell for?” the Greed laughed mockingly. “YOU WILL NOT! I REPEAT NOT LAUGH AT THIS GENEROUS GIFT!” Rarity’s eyes flashed angrily as she lifted the bow and arrow with her magic. A dark shadow seemed to appear from the Greed and lunged towards Rarity. Rarity took aim with the arrow and launched it from the bow. A bright light shone from the arrow as it hit its mark and flew further then a shooting star into the Darkness, shattering the room. “That will show you, you ruffian! I am the element of Generosity”

---Still elsewhere in the Darkness---

“Fluttershy!” Tiger’s mirage stood in front of a quivering Fluttershy, “you are a really kind pony, I said it before but be proud of who you are, and don’t be afraid to show a little pride in yourself” he said as he turned around and frowned at the Rudeness. “Ponies who are kind, are always taken advantage of,” Tiger started, “but that’s where you have to draw the line Fluttershy. Being pushed around just isn’t cool,” Tiger’s image shivered as he stumbled a little. “Oh Tiger! Are you ok?” Fluttershy ran to his side to find that he wasn’t really there. “Fluttershy, keep that kindness in your heart… always,” Tiger smiled as he said, “I leave my element of Friendship”. He disappeared as bright yellow feather fan fell to the ground. “T..tiger” Fluttershy’s eyes filled with tears as he held her hooves up to wipe them away. “Still crying? You pathetic pony!” the Rudeness laughed. “I am kind! I love all my friends! AND YOU WON’T SAY OTHERWISE!” Fluttershy’s voice echoed and made the Rudeness’s eyes open wide in shock. Fluttershy grabbed the fan in her mouth and waved it with all her might. A strong wind filled with images of butterflies flew through the wind and blew the Rudeness away, which also seemed to shatter the room. “Everyone needs a bit of the element of kindness in their hearts… even you”

---Still elsewhere in the Darkness---

“Hey! YOU LEAVE PINKIE PIE ALONE!” Tiger’s mirage seemed to growl at the Depression. “Tiger?” Pinkie Pie looked up at him. “Pinkie Pie, remember when we were small? You’d always have those awesome parties. I had just moved into PonyVille and I didn’t know anyone, and you were there introducing me to everyone,” Tiger laughed, “we had the greatest party that night and we all laughed at the awesome jokes and pranks you pulled”. “Tiger..” Pinkie Pie’s eyes filled with happy tears. “You aren’t alone Pinkie Pie,” Tiger heaved a little and huffed as he almost seemed to fall over. “TIGER!” Pinkie Pie cried out as she ran to him. “You have some awesome friends, don’t ever doubt that Pinkie Pie, come on.. you gotta laugh, it just isn’t like you to be sad like this,” Tiger smiled, “I leave you my element of Friendship” he said as his mirage disappeared leaving behind a pink sling shot with a glowing cupcake in it. “Oooh, pretty!” Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves together, than got serious as her hair inflated into the normal bubblyness. “How do you know what he said was true?” the Depression asked. “Cause he is my friend too!” Pinkie Pie grabbed the sling shot. “Have one… on me!” Pinkie Pie fired the cupcake at the Depression’s face. The cupcake splattered all over the Depression’s face, crumbs flying into the air. “Hee.. hehehe… HAHAHAHAHA!” Pinkie Pie rolled on the ground laughing at the expression on the Depression’s face. The room seemed to shatter as the Depression faded. “Come again and party with me! We’ll have a lot of fun since I carry the element of LAUGHTER!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

---In the Darkness---

“Apple Jack!” Tiger’s mirage ran to his love’s side. “Ti..tiger? Oh … please don’t hate me,” Apple Jack tried to hold him, but her arms passed through. “Apple Jack? Why do you think I hate you?” Tiger’s eyes were looking drowsy. “Because Ah bullied ya so much when we were little ponies,” Apple Jack started to cry. “No way… my love… I knew you were just kidding around those times and to tell you the truth I didn’t mind it at all.. since it was the cutest pony doing that to me,” Tiger looked straight into Apple Jack’s eyes, “I don’t know who told you these lies, but they aren’t the truth that’s for sure!” Tiger turned around and glared at the Untruth, “you may look like my love… but you lack what makes her so special! She’s an honest pony! She works hard, and I love her,” Tiger yelled with all he could muster from his very soul. “Tig…” Apple Jack’s lips quivered. “Apple Jack, don’t you dare listen to her, I hate liers,” he growled. “I’ll give you my element of friendship Apple Jack”. He did not disappear this time, Instead a glowing light appeared in his hooves as an orange whip formed in them. It flew over to Apple Jack and she took it. “You know I love you right Apple Jack?” Tiger looked at her. “Ah do, and Ah love you too Tig! Ah know that’s the honest truth!” Apple Jack swung the whip around in the air and cracked it on the Untruth causeing her to scream as she disappeared. A warm light surrounded Tiger and Apple Jack. “What happened to you Tiger?” Apple Jack tried to touch him again. “…” he nuzzled her as his image faded a little. “Keep the element close to your heart Apple Jack, and never forget I love you,” his eyes started to close as the image faded away. “Tiger?” Apple Jack’s eyes grew wide in shock, “TIGER!!”