Chap 16

Apple Jack’s eyes opened. “Uhn…” she groaned as she saw all her friends standing in front of her, looking at her worriedly. “Wakey wakey Apple Jack!” Pinkie Pie smiled as she helped her up. “Wh..where’s Tiger?” she looked around and saw her friend’s eyes turn downcast. “…So it wasn’t a dream huh?” Apple Jack looked down at the ground and found the glowing orange whip along with her hat. “He… he,” Twilight started but couldn’t find the words, instead she looked at her purple sword and replied, “we’ll get him back AJ”. “That cosharn foal..” Apple Jack closed her eyes angrily, “why’d he go and do that! He promised!” “Apple Jack… he wanted to help us,” Fluttershy said in a small voice. “Now we so gotta help him!” Rainbow Dash held her right hoof up, the one which had the shield. “Yer right…after that Ah’m gonna tan his flank,” Apple Jack declared as she grabbed her hat and straightened it up on her head. She grabbed the whip and rolled it up and put it in her saddle pack. “Which way do ya think they went?” Apple Jack asked. “Well the stairs would be a good start would it not?” Rarity asked. “Oh… right,” Apple Jack smiled sheepishly. The six traveled up the stairs and found themselves in the courtyard of Canterlot castle. At this point Pinkie Pie had realized, “hey! That meany meany dark stuff isn’t around here anymore!” “My gosh, you are right Pinkie Pie!” Rarity looked around only to find the pale sky and the ivory color. “Then … the place we were in!” Twilight exclaimed. “Mus have been that Darkness Mirror Tig was talkin about,” Apple Jack muttered. “I totally rocked it!” Rainbow Dash grinned proudly. “Umm..we all did,” Fluttershy added modestly. “Hmm, where do you think we should check first?” Twilight asked. “Do ya think the dungeons?” Apple Jack asked. “I don’t see dungeons on the map though” Twilight examined the map closer. “Ah, I think she’s talking about that place?” Fluttershy pointed at large building that was next to the castle. “But! That was never there before!” Twilight exclaimed. “Must have been the Darkness,” Rainbow Dash answered. “Well let’s git a move on then!” Apple Jack started galloping for the building.

---The Darkness’s throne---

“Here he is Master, Tiger Dusk as you requested!” Sol Lune knelt down and rolled Tiger over onto the floor. Tiger’s eyes were still blank, and it was as if his body had become slightly darker then it was before. “…” the hooded pony seemed very pleased as it hovered across the ground and spun around Tiger Dusk. “Is he really that important?” Sol Lune asked carefully. “Yes…” a quiet, yet cold voice seemed to hiss from under the hood. Sol Lune looked at Tiger, (it’s for the best.. my friend) he thought. Ever since Tiger had reviled what he thought what he had been guilty of, Sol Lune’s head had been filled with a lot of thoughts. (He is my friend…right? And we were Knights of Equestria… fighting off this very Darkness that I wear) Sol Lune looked away. “…” Sol Lune gritted his teeth as he turned to leave. “Where are you going Sol Lune?” the hooded pony’s voice was quiet but it traveled to Sol Lune as if he were next to him. “…To check on the progress of those in tuned with night,” he muttered. “Don’t be too long now. Your friend will be joining you soon,” it seemed to laugh as a hoof from the cloak it wore touched Tiger’s chest. As this happened the dark oily substance seemed to permeate Tiger. Tiger’s body shook violently for a moment, as the orange color from his body seemed to travel to his cutie mark, at the same time the black from his cutie mark traveled outwards coloring him pitch black. Sol Lune shuddered a little without realizing as he left. As he walked down the corridor his horn began to glow. “Hmm..? Intruders in the dungeons…” he murmured to himself, “I am guessing it’s those ponies that Tiger had so much confidence in, and his lover,” Sol Lune stepped his pace up a little. “They will not go far,” Sol Lune said as his body was shrouded in a blue light. He had teleported.

---Dungeons---

“Everypony ok?” Apple Jack exclaimed as she saw several ponies that were locked in cages. “Hey! It’s Apple Jack!” some of the ponies exclaimed. “And look its Twilight you gotta help us please!” “Rainbow Dash came to save us!” “Fluttershy, it’s so great that you came!” “Pinkie Pie!! Let’s have a party after we get the hay out of here!” “Miss Rarity.. it must be a dream come true!” ponies from the cells celebrated. They were all freed with in a flash. “Get going everypony… there are no more shadows outside, so don’t worry!” Twilight pointed to the exit. “Thank you so much!” they cried out as the galloped off. “So you’re all here to ruin the plans hmm?” Sol Lune asked as he appeared in the room. He swung out his new lance and pointed it at the fillies. “Where the hay is Tiger?” Apple Jack glared at Sol Lune who stood there almost indifferent. “He’s joined the Darkness…” Sol Lune looked away. “Why are ya doin this?!” Apple Jack yelled, “wasn’t he your best friend?” “What do you know?” Sol Lune glared at Apple Jack. “Ah’ve loved him since Ah met him when we were little ponies so Ah know plenty!” Apple Jack swung her whip out, as the other ponies took out their gifts from Tiger. “What?” Sol Lune’s eyes grew wide in shock. “Those are the weapons of the founders of the Knights! WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE?” he pointed his lance at all of them. “They were gifts from Tiger…” Twilight held her purple sword up. “He saved us from your dumb Mirror!” Rainbow Dash held her shield up as well. “He left us his friendship, and we are going to get him back,” Rarity held an arrow up. “We’ll show you meany pants what we got!” Pinkie Pie spun her slingshot and joined it up in the air. “I know you have some kindness inside you too Sol Lune… otherwise Tiger wouldn’t have been your friend..” Fluttershy held the fan up. “Hahaha,” Sol Lune laughed mockingly, “what a group, well if you think you can get by me, just TRY IT!” he said as he jumped for the ceiling. He spun upside down and placed his hooves against the surface of the ceiling and pushed himself downwards. “Scatter everypony!” Twilight yelled as she dodged the ferocious lunge from the lance. “Hang on sugar cube!” Apple Jack cracked her whip towards Sol Lune who was thrusting his lance rapidly towards Twilight. The whip cracked against his lance making him stumble for a moment. He glared at Apple Jack at turned towards her. “Very well, you will be first!” Sol Lune yelled as he lunged at Apple Jack who was backing away. The lance was thrust once again. Apple Jack didn’t have much time, but with a quick reaction she managed to tie the whip around the lance’s tip which had stopped right in front of her face. “Grr!” Sol Lune growled as he tried to pull the lance away.  a glowing cupcake hit the side of his head as he was trying this. “Urgh!” he cried out as the frosting covered his eyes. “YAH!” Pinkie Pie cheered. “My turn!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she flew up and swooped down with the shield in front of herself as she crashed into Sol Lune and sent him flying outside the open door of the dungeon. “Am I… being defeated?” Sol Lune gritted his teeth as he stood up. “Sol Lune, you are a Knight of Equestria, why do you fight for the Darkness?” Twilight asked pointing the purple sword at him. “That is none of your business Twilight Sparkle!” Sol Lune roared as he swiped his lance at the sword. Sparks flew as the two weapons met. “This lance will be your doom, you silly ponies!” Sol Lune said as he pushed Twilight back. “Twilight!” Fluttershy exclaimed as she swung herself around and waved the fan at her incoming friend. A gentle wind filled with glowing butterflies flew underneath Twilight and buffered her fall. From behind Fluttershy an arrow flew over top of her and landed in front of Sol Lune with a bright flash. “Gah!” he closed his eyes. “Take that you disrespectable Knight!” Rarity huffed. “Yeeeehaw!” Apple Jack reared onto her hind legs and started to charge towards Sol Lune. She whipped the lance from his mouth and landed behind as she whipped the back of his armor. “…” Sol Lune gasped as he felt his armor of Darkness start to crack. “Quit liein to yourself,” Apple Jack said as the armor fell apart.