Chap 4

---Back on the farm---

“So did ya stamp the Darkness Mirror out?” Apple Jack asked as she walked over to Tiger and sat down beside him. “Yes…but at the cost of a friend that was with me,” Tiger gritted his teeth trying to hold back his tears. “Sol Lune was one of my best friends within the Knights, his skill with the lance was unparalled, they say he was the pony who could jump as high as the sun, and strike the heart of darkness like the moon,” Tiger brushed a few tears away. “By golly, what happened?” Apple Jack’s anger had died down and was feeling sympathetic with him now. “It was just the two of us… if we had, had more ponies with us it wouldn’t have ended the way it did…the whole town might have been empty of ponies… but shadows of the Darkness kept on attacking us from every direction. It’s as if they were tearing away from the very fabric of the shadow and forming physically in front of us. We fought and fought. We fought for what seemed like hours. Our muscles ached. We had so many cuts and scratches, and I felt as if I were about to pass out. We managed to finally reach the center, the very core of Hoofington. I could tell… it was the darkest there. Usually only one pony is allowed into the core to destroy the mirror. It’s all the space it has. We were back to back. I was facing the mirror’s direction, and he was fighting off the shadows. ‘Get your flank in there, and stamp that mirror out!’ was what he yelled at me before he smirked and bucked me into the core. The moment I entered, I felt as if an icy griffon’s claw had clenched itself around my heart. It was very difficult to breath, but I saw the mirror gleaming in front of me. As I looked into it I saw a reflection of something horrible, something I won’t share … not now anyways,” Tiger shuddered, “I stamped it with my hooves, I stamped it with all my might, and as it shattered the whole world seemed to leak out with color. The shadows were blown away and light seemed to rain in. I could see the grass, and flowers. Everything was warm once again. I turned around to congratulate Sol Lune…” Tiger’s head hung low now, “he was on the ground, and he wasn’t moving” “Oh… hun..” Apple Jack held Tiger close. Apple Bloom had run over and was hugging him too. “That day, I ran away, I never wanted that to happen again… I wanted to run away to the far ends of Equestria, were no one would find me..” “But runnin ain’t gonna solve anything” Big Macintosh shook his head. “I know,” Tiger nodded his head. “That’s why I came here, I came here to destroy the Darkness Mirror in the Evergreen forest,” he said. “Actually… Ah don’t think ya have to worry too much about the Evergreen forest anymore,” Apple Jack gave a warm smile, “while you were gone, me and my group of friends, took care of Nightmare Moon inside of the Evergreen forest” she said proudly. Tiger stood there his eyes bulged for a moment, “ho.. how?” he stuttered. “There was a pony that came down from Canterlot, her name is Twilight Sparkle, and she’s really into studyin… and apparently Nightmare Moon was comin back after being trapped on the moon for 1000 years and all that. At first I thought she was hoppin mad, but Nightmare Moon really did appear and she had captured Princess Celestia, and was threatenin every single pony with eternal night. Twilight really seemed to know what was goin on, so I followed her along with mah other friends, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. The forest itself was pretty darn dangerous… traps, monsters and obsticles that we probably wouldn’t have been able to overcome if our friends weren’t there. It wasn’t until later when Twi was being attacked by Nightmare Moon that we discovered that we were the spirits of the elements of Harmony,” Apple Jack looked at a completely stunned Tiger. “You are… one of the spirits of Harmony?” Tiger’s mouth was wide open now. “Eeeyup,” Big Macintosh conformed it. “Ah’m the Element of Honesty, Rainbow Dash is Loyalty, Fluttershy is Kindness, Rarity is Generosity, Pinkie Pie is Laughter and Twilight is Magic, we destroyed the Darkness that surrounded Nightmare Moon… come to think of it, when Ah saw that armor of hers that she was wearin it looked pretty shiny and dark… kinda like a mirror almost you could say,” Apple Jack finished with a thoughtful look. “I can’t believe that two of my first friends were elements of harmony!” Tiger exclaimed, still in kind of a shocked state. “It took real friendship to create the magic that destroyed that darkness, and to top it off… we saved the Princess and her sister” “Well.. I guess I’m not needed here then,” Tiger laughed, almost sadly. “Whatcha going on about now?” Apple Jack frowned. “Well I came back to destroy the darkness inside of Evergreen forest, but you all took care of it yourselves,” “so? That doesn’t meen you ain’t needed here!” Apple Jack’s voice rose again. “Ya can stay as long as ya like,” Big Macintosh smiled. “Please don’t leave again…big brother Tiger” Apple Bloom’s eyes wiggled again with tears. “Can work with us again,” Apple Jack turned her head away, in a huffy sort of away, “ya know… buckin the apples like we used to do?” “You’d let me do that?” Tiger turned to Apple Jack, who was blushing now. “Hey.. Ah don’t go back on my word ya know? Yer gonna work hard though…” “Yeah I know” “And it ain’t like that Knight fancy shmancy stuff” “Doesn’t matter to me,” “Alright then let’s all mosey on to bed,” Apple Jack turned around and started for the stairs that lead upstairs, she had a small smile on her face, “Tiger, you can use the upstairs room of the barn tonight, while we get the guest room set up fer ya. I’ll bring out some warm blankets and pillows in just a bit,” she said as she climbed the stairs. “…Thanks Apple Jack,” Tiger smiled. “I only like hard and honest workin ponies,” she called back. “Common, I’ll show ya the room, Apple Bloom, you’d better get to bed, you silly filly don’cha got school tomorrow?” Big Macintosh asked. “Oh yeah…” Apple Bloom sighed, “well anyways! It’s good that yer stayin here Tiger! Goodnight!” she waved as she climbed up the stairs too. “Follow me bro,” Big Macintosh said as he opened the door and the two walked outside. “You know… Ah haven’t see her swing her moods so much in a long time… I reckon she’s just really happy to see you again,” Big Macintosh gave a small chortle. “She seemed kinda angry at me..” Tiger Dusk laughed a little nervously. “Eh she’s just a little ticked that you didn’t come back sooner,” Big Macintosh smiled as he opened the door to the barn, “you’ll find the room just up these stairs,” “thanks big bro,” “it’s good to have ya back Tiger Dusk, oh and sis should be out soon, have a good night bro,” Big Macintosh waved and left. “Night,” Tiger called out, and headed up the stairs. It was one of those spacious rooms, with bales of hay lined up nicely against the wall. He walked over to a small desk and saw a lamp. He turned it on. He took a deep breath and let it out. It smelled so nostalgic. He saw the bed sitting next to the window. “Ya like it up here Tiger?” Apple Jack’s voice made him jump. “Uh yeah,” Tiger smiled, “I was just remembering how we used to play up here” “I’m glad yer back Tiger,” Apple Jack walked past him and lay down the blanket that was draped over her back, she then went about setting up his bed. “Remember, yer gonna work hard!” she reminded him over her shoulder. “Don’t worry… I know how to work hard” Tiger answered. “Good..wouldn’t have my stallion any other way” she whispered to herself. “Huh?” Tiger asked. “Nuthin!” Apple Jack answered quickly as she finished the bed, “there ya go, Tiger all ready for ya” Apple Jack turned around and walked towards him. “Umm Apple Jack?” Tiger blushed, “hmm?” “thanks again” “you got a lot of time to make up for ya know that right?” “I’m not going anywhere for a long while” “Good, seeya in the mornin then!” Apple Jack walked by, and as she did she swished her tail against his.

“Wow..” Tiger Dusk breathed out as he watched her close the barn door.