The coming of darkness

“Well then, I guess this is where we part.” Twinkle Star said loudly, trying to make everytihng she said clear through the rain. Her two youngest sisters seemed to understand, because they nodded simultaniously.
“Good luck, Twinkle Star. I hope you’ll find her. I really do.” Ivy yelled, and Twinkle Star smiled, though she wasn’t even sure her sister could see it.

It was raining so hard this evening, which combined with the strong wind made Twinkle Star feel highly uncomfortable. It was so dark even though Twinkle Star was pretty sure the sun hadn’t set yet; but she couldn’t see it in the sky anymore, not even vaguely behond the clouds. All was black. Yes, autumn was definitely upon them now. She already worried how she was going to get through the night. She couldn’t possibly fly in weather like this so she would never reach some proper shelter in time.

“Thank you, Ivy. Good luck convincing Junai, too. Well, I hope to see you two really soon.” She yelled, and Ivy and Fleur replied something but she couldn’t understand what they said.
She gave her sisters one last hug and then walked off the road. She looked back after a few steps but she had already lost sight of her sisters. Well, they were probably on their way as well.

She had said goodbye to Aline and her other family members earlier in the morning. It had felt good, to say goodbye to everyone properly, but it was hard, also. She didn’t know when she would return. She knew she would start asking around in the villages closest to the Friendship Lands first, and ponies on the trade route, too. Someone must have seen her. A little girl like her… she wasn’t able to live on her own in the wild, Twinkle Star was sure of that. And she must have stood out in a crowd. Some people should know how royal powers felt like, and Calin was still unable to hide them properly.

It was already hours ago that the rain had soaked her coat, but she didn’t want to take it off. It’s dark grey colour would hide her perfectly in this weather. She didn’t know why, but something told her to be careful. She was out here all alone and because nobody knew when she would return, she wouldn’t be missed that easily. What if someone happened to her, who would go look for Calin?

When Twinkle Star arrived at the crossroads, she decided to take the path leading north. The closest town was at the end of that road, which also bordered on the trade route. She suspected she had the highest chance of speaking to travellers around there. Of course, if she had listened to her heart instead of her reasoning, she had chosen the path south. If she had known, she would have met Calin and she would have had the chance to change everything. But she didn’t know, and she chose the wrong way.

A little more to the south, Rain was pushing Calin forward. The girl was tired, so very tired, and she hadn’t eaten in days. Not that there was no access to food, but she refused to eat it. She could understand why, but she had preferred to see Calin eat. Especially now the weather was so bad. Of course she had created it on His orders, but she would have shielded Calin from it if she could. But her control over the elements didn’t stretch that far.

“Rain… I want to rest.” Calin whispered.
“You can’t. Now keep going.” They had fallen behind Him and the other already, and through this darkness they had to keep up. Not that she wouldn’t be able to find them again if they got lost, but she didn’t want them to get punished.

Rain… Calin was the only one who still called her that. The other had changed so much, now… She was sure He hadn’t sealed her again. She still remembered so much and talked about it, with Him. No, He had done something different to her this time. Her eyes had changed now. They represented His eyes so much now. The blood red fury in them… What had happened, she didn’t know. He had done something to her that made the talkative pony disappear completely. What was more, she wasn’t hiding her powers at all anymore. She used to didn’t care, but they were completely exposed now. And He didn’t disapprove, so she was sure there wasn’t anything left for Him to fear now.

And those powers… they felt so dark, so tainted. Anyone who came near her could see the world only as a dark, hideous place. She had never seen the other like this, but it pleased Him. She had finally become what He wanted her to be. He had changed… but He was even more vicious than He had been. When he had discovered the guard had been able to feed Calin some fruit He had simply killed him without saying a word, and she had been glad he hadn’t found out the guard had done what he did on her request.

She pushed Calin forward once again when He called her. She forced Calin to start trotting and a moment later they were standing in front of Him. She couldn’t even see Him now, hidden in the darkness of the night. But His red eyes were visible as always, and she felt the powers of the other one.

“My Lord.” She bowed.
“Keep closer to me. I do not like it that you stay so far behind.” He growled.
“Yes, My Lord.” She said, bowing again.
“We’re going to be there soon.” He continued, and she confirmed. “Good. We will rest here tonight. Calin will need her strength today. See if you can find some food she will eat. Tomorrow it will begin. You,” He said to the other, “prepare to unleash your powers. You will make the sun shine for the last time tomorrow.”

“Yes, master.”
The other’s voice was as cold as the feeling her powers gave her. Every trace of the pony she used to be was gone, and it upset her, but she didn’t know why. She had never been close to the other and if this would help Him to achieve his goals, she should be content with it. She had always been content if things were pleasing Him. But she wasn’t,. and she couldn’t explain why. Maybe this wasn’t such a good thing for Him after all? No, no, no. She should not doubt His judgement.

The other retreated from them now, probably to do as He wished and prepare herself.
“Well, go find some food for the girl. She stays here. I will have to teach her what her part will be. Tomorrow… The descendants of Sadae will have very little to smile about.” She bowed again and trotted off into the bushes, to see if she could find food for little Calin.

“There! There it is!” Fleur yelled. Ivy followed her gaze and she saw the little dot of light in the distance, too. It had to be the cabin. It just had to be. She couldn’t believe they had actually found it.
“I think you’re right. Come on, let’s go, before we lose sight of it again!” She yelled back to her sister who enthusiastically began to trot, making her almost slip.

They had been looking for it for so long, even though it shouldn’t be too far from the road. But the bad weather had made them get lost and they had had to retrace their steps for quite a while before they finally could start all over again. They were soaked, both of them. It was still raining ridiculously hard and it was dark now, so much more than usually. The dark clouds were blocking any light that the moon might have given them.

It already seemed ages ago since they had said goodbye to Twinkle Star. The poor girl was still so upset about Calin that she had refused to go with them to the cabin for the night, so she didn’t have to spend the night in this awful weather, but instead decided to go on in the night anyway, claiming she didn’t want to waste any time. It was to be expected, but still Ivy would have felt better if Twinkle Star had come with them.

She still hadn’t figured out how to convince Junai to come with them without giving a reason. Of course she had been shocked when Aline had announced she was pregnant, and maybe a bit jealous, too, of only for her mother’s reaction. She had been so happy, so carefree for once. Even Stelline had been so full of joy when she realised her children would get a playmate next year. She had wanted to give her mother a reason to be this happy, too, but still she was convinced it wasn’t her time to get married yet.

When they got closer to the light they had seen, they could see the outline of the cabin getting clearer. It was indeed the right cabin, and Ivy felt extremely relieved when they finally knocked on the door.

A few moments passed before they heard some sounds coming from the other side of the door, and it opened. Junai’s surprised face was looking at them from within the safe walls of the little house.
 “My, Ivy, Fleur! What brings you two ladies here at an hour like this?”
 “We come with a message from the palace. As for the hour, well, you can blame the weather for that.” Fleur answered. Junai smiled and opened the door wider, and the two ponies stepped inside.

It felt so unbelievably good to be inside the little house. She untied her wet cloak and gave it to Junai, who quickly put it in the kitchen to let it dry.
“I assume you two would like something hot to drink? How about some tea?” He asked.
“Oh, that would be lovely Junai, thank you.” Ivy replied gratefully. He disappeared into the kitchen again and the two girls walked on to the living room. No one was there, which surprised Ivy. Weren’t Aline’s parents supposed to be here, too?

A few moments later Junai appeared again and after he handed the girls a towel he sat down.
“Well, tell me, what message do you bring me?” He asked curiously.
“It is actually a message for both you and the parents of lady Aline. Aren’t they here?”
“No, I am sorry to disappoint you. They left this morning, on their way to the trade route. They want to see what they could find there for curtains and carpet and other things, you know, for the mansion. Aline had agreed to let them find something suitable, because she wanted her mansion to be like the one she was born in. Not that she can remember, but, you know. Sentiment, or something.”

“I see… I assume they won’t be back soon?” Ivy asked, and Junai shook his head.
 “No, I’m sorry. It’ll take more than a week I am sure.” As Ivy dried her mane, Fleur took over.
 “Well, then I suppose it will have to be just you. We bring a request from the lady Aline. Could you please come back with us to the castle as soon as possible?”
“Why, is something wrong with her?” Junai asked shocked.
“Oh no, nothing like that. She’s perfectly fine. She just has something important to announce and she wants you to be there when she does.” Ivy replied.
“Oh… I wonder what it is, then. Well, then I suppose I will come with you. Can we leave tomorrow late in the morning? I will have to tell my workers that I will be gone for a few days.”
“Yes, of course, that is…” But Fleur was interrupted by the whistle of the kettle. The water was boiling and Junai rushed back to the kitchen. When he was gone Fleur and Ivy smiled. Well, at least the hardest part was over, and they were safely inside. Tomorrow evening they would be back already. Everything was going smoothly.