Harmony Lost

Chapter 2 Darkness Falls

As the sky is dark with ominous clouds, Rarity and Rainbow are headed into the Everfree forest toward the Castle of the Two Sisters.
"Ok darling, are you ready?" Rarity asked as the two looked at each other.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Rainbow responded, trying not to show the worry she had for her friend Twilight.
As the two entered all the could hear was nothing. No birds, wolves, or even the wind. No sound at all.
"Ok now this is even creeping me out." Rainbow stated. "Shouldn't we hear at least the wind?"
Her quandary did not escape Rarity, but they pushed on knowing they needed to. Little by little they headed deeper into the Everfree Forest knowing they had no choice. Within about thirty minutes they had arrived at the Castle and what they found took them both by surprise.

"Oh dear!?" Rarity said with a gasp.
"This is the right place right?" Rainbow said a bit perplexed
The reason that they were in shock was that they had found the castle all right, but it looked nothing like what they remembered it to. The towers now were twisted in odd shapes, the color was that of a violet shade, and the door had even changed.
"This could be a problem?" Rarity stated as she was thinking to herself. "We have no way to know if the library was where it was originally."
"That's not our only problem." Rainbow pointed out with her hoof. She was pointing at a pack of Timber Wolves that had just come out from behind the castle.
"That could be trouble." Rarity responded in kind. The two sat for a moment to figure out what would be the best way to handle this. Currently they only had to handle five wolves, and the last thing they had was time to waste.

Rarity and Rainbow approached the castle quietly. Even if it was only five Timber wolves, neither one of them wanted to have to deal with them if they didn't have too. As the crept toward the dark castle the felling of dread sunk in even more. Suddenly a loud snap was heard from under Rarity's hoof. She had stepped on a branch and the sound echoed out in all directions. The wolves who had been sniffing at the ground all lifted their heads and looked toward the source of the sound.

"Now might be a good time to run Darling!" Rarity said to Rainbow with urgency in her voice.
"You think?" Rainbow couldn't hide her sarcasm, but that was just who she was.
The two ponies went as fast as they could, Rarity at a full trot and Rainbow flapping her wings at full speed. Three of the wolves gave chase after them.
"Where are the other two?" Rainbow asked as she looked back to see this. Just than the other two came jumping out in front of the two ponies. Just as they were about to pounce Rainbow kicked out in the snout confusing it and giving the two ponies a chance to make a break for the castle. The wolves gave chase but could not catch the before they made it inside. As soon as they got inside the wolves stopped right outside of the door and shock in fear before leaving them alone.

"Well, that was odd?" Rainbow stated as she watched the leave.
"Darling let us take what we can get. We have things to do remember. We need to locate the library and find that book." Rarity restated why they were there. The two headed into the dark castle, unsure of what they would find, only hoping that they could find the way to help their friend. The castle seemed even more creepy, the lack of noise other than the creak of the wood planks they would step on every so often. Even Rainbow stayed on the ground as to stay close to Rarity.

"It's not like I'm scared or anything." Rainbow stated.
"Nor am I dear." Rarity replied. The two of them were obviously freaked out in the castle. They continued to look around for what seemed like an eternity before Rarity remembered the spell that Celestia had given her. The two stoped and she cast the spell; it lit up a small path leading down the hallway they were going down a turning around the corner. The two of them darted off to follow the light ready for the nightmare to end. As they headed around the corner the see the light is guiding them into a dark part of the castle with the only light being the light of the spell that they are currently following. They know they have no choice and continue to do what they must, staying close together as to not get separated in the darkness.

The light stops at a door that is currently closed. So far every other door they have passed as been opened, this is the first closed door they have come across. As they open the door slowly they are amazed to see that this is in fact the library that they had been looking for. Much like the rest of the castle, it did not look like what they once knew but it was the library no less. The two entered and began the search. Surprised the room was well lit by candles, they began to check every book they could find hoping to find the one they needed. As they looked they began to spread out each one heading down different isles looking for the book. Before too long they could not see each other, but continued the search because they did not want to slow down.

Time passed and the library seemed almost endless in size. Each book they checked caused them to think twice about this hunt, but neither of them wanted to give up. The two met up for moment in the center of the library to catch their breath before continuing.
"Are we even sure the book we need is here?" Rainbow said a little distraught.
"Of course it is. If Princess Celestia said it is than it is." Rarity reassured her. "After all the spell she gave me was to find the room with the book. It would not have led us here if the book was not here." Just than her horn began to glow, not its normal color, but that of a yellow hue as if it was Celestia's magic flowing through it.
"Rarity, you horn!" Rainbow exclaimed.
Rarity began to point her horn down different rows of books. Suddenly the glow intensified. The two ran down the row she was pointing it till suddenly the glow stoped as they passed a book shelf.
"This must be it." Rarity stated. "It has to be located her, on these shelves." The two started their search with new vigor. Hoping to finally find something that would lead to their dear friend's condition.

Just as the two got to the final shelf, a gust of wind whipped up in the room. The wind had blown out all the candles, leaving the two of them in pitch blackness.
"Rarity, Rarity, RARITY!" Rainbow shouted frantically, but their was no response. Rainbow searched the area closing, Hooves stretched out, but no pony was their. "Ok, this is not funny!" She said out loud. "Rarity if your here say something." Yet no response yet again.

"Oh dear that was quite unfortunate." Rarity stated as she lit up her horn to light up where she was. "Wouldn't you say so Rainbow?" She looked up and Rainbow was not there. "Rainbow, darling, are you hiding or something?" She asked aloud. "Rainbow?" She looked around but there was no sign of her friend. Just than she noticed, she was not even at the same place she was before. "What is going on here?" She asked herself.
"That is none of your concern!" A loud ominous voice spoke to her.
"What? Who's there?" Fear filled her voice.
"You shall learn so enough!" No sooner was this comment spoken, Rarity's horn went out and a lout scream echoed in the library.
The candles relit and Rainbow went rushing as fast as she could toward the sound of the scream, but to find no pony was there.
"What the hey is going on here?" She shouted confused. No answer could be heard, all she knew was that Rarity was missing and she had to find her.