Chap 9

---PonyVille---

“What’s going on?” Tiger looked up as he ran into PonyVille which had a large shadow hanging over it. The sky was darker than usual. “Oh no…” Tiger whispered. “Tiger?” Apple Jack looked at him. “Find Apple Bloom.. HURRY! And try to get as MANY ponies away from here!” Tiger exclaimed. “What the?  Hay wait TIGER!” Apple Jack called out to Tiger who was running towards the center of town. “You took my friend… but you won’t take my home…” Tiger growled into the sky. “Now now… is that anyway to greet a friend?” came a familiar voice. “No..” Tiger looked confused. “No? come on Dusk, I’m hurt,” a dark blue Unicorn pony with a cutie mark of a eclipse along with pitch black armor that seemed to have stars sprinkled through it decended from the clouds. He took off his helmet reviling his face and light blue mane. “Sol.. Lune,” Tiger looked up in shock. “Surprised? Why?” Sol Lune asked as he landed in front of Tiger. “… But I thought you..” Tiger fell back. “I did, but I guess you could say the Darkness saved me?” Sol Lune said in a cool silky voice as he held a hoof up and gently waved it about. As this happened a dark oily type of substance seemed to float about above it. “…” Tiger looked at it. “Amazing isn’t it?” Sol Lune mused at the substance, “I missed you Tiger Dusk.. and the Darkness wishes for you to join us.. you see the thing is, we need all the ponies on Equestria that are strongly in tune with the night or Darkness,” Sol Lune smiled back down at Tiger. “Tiger DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!” Twilight yelled from a few meters away, “it’s the same evil that possessed Luna!” “Twilight Sparkle, you’re needed too,” Sol Lune turned to the purple pony. “I’ll beat your darkness just like I did for Nightmare Moon!” Twilight yelled. “Oh please… Elements of Harmony?” Sol Lune laughed. Tiger’s world was moving in slow motion. “Do you know why your Princesses aren’t here right now?” Sol Lune turned around and held his hooves up in the air. “Cause my MASTER has trapped them, there will be nothing but the Darkness now! NO DAY… NO NIGHT, NO SUN, NO MOON!” Sol Lune laughed. “You’re crazy!” Twilight yelled. “Twilight we’re here!” Rainbow Dash landed beside her friend. “We’ll show this no pony not to mess with the elements of harmony!” Rainbow focused. “He is rather rude isn’t he?” Rarity stood beside Twilight and closed her eyes focusing as well. “I’m so sorry I’m late..” a yellow pegasai who Tiger guessed was Fluttershy said in a quiet voice. “He’s gonna ruin Tiger’s party! I won’t let that happen!” Pinkie Pie stood beside her friends as well. “Tiger… we’re gonna have to stop yer friend…” Apple Jack looked at Tiger who looked back with a blank stare. “You… can’t stop him… no WAIT!” Tiger yelled as the group of fillies started to glow. “All it takes… is a spark!” Twilight yelled. Necklaces of the fillies’ cutie marks appeared around each of their necks. A rainbow lightning bolt, a butterfly, a diamond, an apple, and a balloon. Twilight had her crown once more. “The elements of HARMONY!” Twilight’s voice shook with power. A tornado rainbow seemed to spin around them, and shot up in the air and landed in front of Sol Lune who stood there with a smug look on his face. “Really..” he cracked his neck a little, “I thought it would have more of a bite then that” he laughed as he stomped the ground causing the earth to shake violently. As this happened the 6 fillies fell to the ground groggy. “Such a shame…” Sol Lune tisked, “but now I have it, and your only means of defense is gone,” he smiled as he held up the dark oily substance again. This time it was shining brightly with what appeared to be a rainbow trapped inside. “What.. what have you done?” Twilight asked as fatigue closed in on her. “NO!” Tiger got up. “No? what are you talking about Dusk?” Sol Lune looked at Tiger who had gotten up. “Let that magic go Sol Lune! It’s friendship.. if you take that away..” “so you won’t join us?” Sol Lune cut Tiger’s words short. “I won’t!” Tiger glared at him. “…Is it cause of these fillies?” Sol Lune looked at the group that were still on the ground. “…” Tiger looked at Apple Jack who was trying desperately to stand up. “Ah…I see” Sol Lune smirked as more oily substance began to form in front of him. It grew longer and longer, until Sol Lune bit down on it. It was his lance. “I’ll start with the cow girl,” Sol Lune laughed as he started charging at Apple Jack. “YOU WON’T!” at that moment Tiger’s voice echoed, and everything seemed to move slowly for him. A bright light engulfed his head and body, and a gold armor replaced the light. A regal red cape flew from his back. In front of him, it shone brightly a broad sword which was glowing the colors, of the elements of harmony.  the two weapons met and sparks flew. “WHY TIGER? YOU ARE MY FRIEND ARE YOU NOT?” Sol Lune pressured his lance against Tiger’s sword which was shaking violently. “BECAUSE…” Tiger looked back at Apple Jack who’s face was in awe. “BECAUSE I LOVE HER” he yelled as he pushed Sol Lune back, and swung his sword in front of himself and took a defensive stance. “Love?” Sol Lune almost seemed surprised for a moment, and then started to laugh, which turned into an intimidating cackle. “You are a foal Tiger Dusk,” Sol Lune sighed as he grabbed his helmet and slipped it on over his head, he then picked up his lance once more. “Sol Lune… I know you are in there somewhere… FIGHT IT!” Tiger started to move towards him, still holding his glimmering sword up. “This isn’t some sort of fairy tale Dusk,” Sol Lune’s eyes started to glow a sinister dark blue, “I have ABSOLUTE alliance to my MASTER!” Sol Lune jumped into the sky, with his lance pointed up. “SOL LUNE!!!!” Tiger roared as he leaped up too. Sol Lune turned his body in mid air so he was facing Tiger Dusk now with the tip of his lance. The two met. There was another blinding flash. “So that’s what a Knight looks like..” Twilight gasped. “We need to help him!” Pinkie Pie’s legs shook as she collapsed on to the ground again. “We can’t…” Rarity shook, “we barely can stand!” “Common don’t give up!” Rainbow Dash was trying to get up with Fluttershy, but it was no use. “Tiger…” Apple Jack watched as Tiger Dusk dodged an incoming barrage of thrusts from the lance. “MIGHT CONTROLS EVERYTHING!” Sol Lune held the lance high. As he did this the lance started to glow a dark purple. “And without it… you can’t PROTECT ANYONE!” the lance was thrusted against Tiger’s sword which sent him flying into a building. “Guh hah!” Tiger Dusk gasped as the air left his lungs. “Let alone… yourself” Sol Lune started to walk towards Tiger Dusk. “Git UP TIGER!” Apple Jack yelled, “GIT UPP!” “You’ve got a really annoying voice you know that?” Sol Lune switched walking directions, “watch me Dusk… watch me as I end your so called LOVE” Sol Lune pointed the lance at Apple Jack now. “NO!” Tiger’s eyes started to glow green. He left the hole in the building and slashed his sword with all his might down on Sol Lune’s lance. The lance shattered. Sol Lune’s eyes grew wide, he did not even see Tiger’s hind legs hit him straight in the chest. He flew back and tumbled across the ground. “Apple Jack… are you alright?” Tiger looked over his shoulder. “…” Apple Jack was silent. “Say something dear!” Rarity was blushing at the sight. “Ah… Ah’m ok,” Apple Jack stuttered. “Hang tight… “ Tiger turned his head back to Sol Lune who was getting up. “Very well, TIGER DUSK, I shall take my leave for now… but know this… you are no friend of mine anymore!” Sol Lune seemed to coil up in the Darkness as it shivered into the sky and darted in the eastern direction. “WAIT COME BACK!” Tiger yelled, but he felt the strain on his body takeing over, as he fell to his knees. “Uh..” Tiger gasped as his armor disappeared as did the sword. The last thing he could hear was Apple Jack’s voice calling out to him, as his consciousness seemed to slip.

---A few days had passed---

“Sol Lune!” Tiger gasped as he sat up. He was in a bed. “Hang on there sugar Tig, lay back down right this instant!” Apple Jack’s hoof gently pushed him back down. “Apple Jack, where did he go? I have to stop him!” Tiger tried to move again but to no avail. “Yer gonna rest until your good an ready,” Apple Jack had tears of relief flowing down her cheeks. “You’d better listen to her, she’s been by your side for 3 whole days,” Big Macintosh said as he came into the room. “So this is the youngin that was on our farm all these years ago.. and to think? An actual Knight!” it was Granny Smith, an old mare who had a pale green color, her mane was grey and her age was showing yet she looked very wise. “To think… one of my grandchildren with a Knight,” Granny Smith smiled, “it’s so romantic!” “Grandma!” Apple Jack blushed. “I.. I can’t stay here in bed!” Tiger struggled again. “Listen here you,” Granny Smith walked over to Tiger and stared at him. “Mah granddaughter here has been taking care of you and your wounds for 3 straight days, have a little respect!” “I.. I’m sorry,” Tiger stuttered. “That’s better! Come along now Macintosh, we gotta let the love ponies have some private time,” she started for the door. Tiger realized it at that moment that he was in Apple Jack’s bed. “Take it easy little bro,” Big Macintosh waved as he closed the door behind him. Tiger looked around and saw Apple Jack looking at him. “Are you ok hun?” Apple Jack asked. “…Yeah,” Tiger’s face got hot, “Apple Jack um well.. I guess you know my secret now huh?” “Why did ya keep it a secret Tig?” “I thought, well you wouldn’t feel the same way!” Tiger looked away. “Ah do..” Apple Jack blushed. “I thought you wouldn’t like me and well.. what?” Tiger’s eyes grew wide. “Ah do love you too Tig..” Apple Jack leaned in closer to him, “ever since Ah was a little filly… and you came down to the farm to do the work.. and when ya got up and left… it broke mah heart, I thought about ya every day Tiger..” she nuzzled him. “Apple Jack..” Tiger closed his eyes and nuzzled her back. “I thought about you every day too.. not a day went by when I didn’t think of you..” tears were slowly rolling down his cheeks. His arms reached around her and pulled her close to his chest. She held him close as well. “Ah’ll say this Tig…” Apple Jack smiled, “you looked might handsome with that fancy armor” Tiger chortled a little before he felt Apple Jack’s lips touch his.