The Darkness and the Light (Book 2 of the Alicorn Chronicles)

Chapter 23: New Places, Old Enemies

Sparkle awoke to the sun shining down on her coat. She opened her eyes just a but to let them get adjusted to the sunlight. It wasn't normally this bright in her room, even on days when Tia's sun was at it's brightest.

Sparkle gasped and stood. She in a large stone room with a glass top where the sun shone straight down on her body. Her necklace, shoes and tiara were nowhere to be found.

The walls rose several hundred feet high, a gray barrier locking her in. The floor was covered with dirt and blood, both of which now covered her coat. The heat created by the sunlight bounced off the stone walls, causing the room to be very hot.

Suddenly, a small section of the wall opened up, revealing several ponies. Two stepped forward, guarding the door. Next, a pony in a dark cloak stepped into the room. Under the hood, Sparkle saw two glowing green eyes. Something about them was eerily familiar.

The green-eyed pony then removed her cloak, and Sparkle could see why those eyes were familiar.

"Danny." Sparkle hissed, powering up her magic.

"I don't think so. Your majesty." Danny mocked, holding up Moondrop with her green magic.

Sparkle still glared at Danny, but her magic vanished.

"It's good to see you again, Princess. I'm glad you remember me." Danny said, looking innocently at Sparkle.

"How could I forget. You nearly killed me." Sparkle said, wings ruffling.

"Oh, yes. I did, didn't I? Well, no hard feelings, right? Princesses don't hold grudges." Danny smirked at her, eyes flashing.

"Who says I'm holding a grudge?" Sparkle smirked right back, sitting on her haunches and examining her hoof.

Danny glared at Sparkle, but her expression soon became smug.

"Well, if it wasn't for Sammy, I would have succeeded." She said.

"What have you done to Samuel?" Sparkle hissed.

"Sammy Poo? Oh, well, he's right outside! Would you like to see him?" Danny asked.

Sparkle continued to glare at Danny, but didn't make a sound. Danny smiled and turned to the guards.

"Bring in Sam." She said.

Soon, the one stallion who held Sparkle's heart appeared in the doorway, but made no move toward Sparkle. She tried to fight it, but tears soon filled Sparkle's eyes. She had to look away from Samuel's now green eyes.

"There's a good Princess. Holding your tongue. Good girl." Danny said as she walked over and patted Sparkle's head.

Sparkle's gaze snapped back to Danny. Her eyes narrowed, and flashed. Danny removed her hoof, but didn't flinch. She walked over to Samuel and he wrapped his wing over her. Just like he always did to Sparkle.

"Well, I hope you can make our wedding. Sammy and I are going to be very happy together." Danny said, snuggling close to Samuel who in turn touched his horn to hers.

Sparkle glared at Danny.

"You may have fooled Samuel, but you can't fool the whole kingdom. They won't support either of you when they find out he left me for you." Sparkle said.

"But they won't." Danny smiled and laughed wickedly, her magic swirled around her, making her rise into the air.

When she landed, her coat had turned from gray to pink, her short mane from black to pink and gold. And her glowing eyes, from green to blue. She has become the spitting image of Princess Sparkle Shimmer.

Sparkle's eyes grew wide and her mouth hung open is shock.

"Impossible." She whispered.

Danny laughed.

"It won't take much to fool the kingdom. And now, I have Sammy by my side to help me fool your friends." Danny said, her voice mimicking Sparkle's.

Samuel's eyes then went back to their normal color, and he blinked and shook his head. He looked at Sparkle, then Danny. He smiled evilly and nuzzled her.

"Come, my dear. We have a kingdom to take over." He said.

Danny gave Sparkle one last smug look, then followed Sparkle's true love out the cave door.

Sparkle sat down on the hot, dirty cave floor. Danny had taken everything. And Sparkle had no idea how to stop her.

What was she going to do?

~Princess Sparkle Shimmer