MLP-Dark Knight Chronicles 1.

CHAPTER 1: THE RAIN'S SORROW.

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Eight flowers were planted where a garrison of rebels was being buried.

Mares and stallions were crying, colts and fillies were trying to understand why their parents, brothers and sisters were being buried. Some of them were covered with a red blanket, the official color of the rebel forces.

Auroram, once a shining kingdom, was now under the darkness and witnessed awful days. The treason of High Queen Amber and the invasion of the terrifying centaurs, ponies with four legs and two arms, was an awful surprise. The High King was murdered, but the princess and the prince were rescued. Princess Ryla Breeze and price Dark Knight were now under the protection of the rebel army.

A stallion and a mare were watching the burials with regret. Both were gray and had green manes and cyan eyes.

"How are they sister?" the stallion asked "The princess sounded angry last night…".

The mare looked at him with a concerned smile.

"The prince keeps to argue that he wants to see his mother…" she informed "The princess lost her patience this time and screamed with him, It was he less needed at this moment… I went to check him this morning and he seemed… Gloomy…".

The stallion looked to the bunker where the rebels were hiding and using as a base of operations and sighed.

"I'm going to get down there and say a few words…" the stallion said "What about you sis?".

"I'm going to check Knight once more…" she said "I think he needs a little… Well, help…".

"O.K." he said "See you later Hope…".

"See you Spike…" she said.

She entered the bunker and saluted some guards. Hope passed through the corridors she saw ponies who were afraid, hopeless, hurt and depressed. It was a terrible vision, but she had to look tough, she was the commander of the rebel troops, but inside she was terrified.

She walked straight down the main corridor and stopped at the last door. She opened the door and entered the dark room.

"Knight?" she asked while closing the door "Knight it's me… Hope.".

"Hmmm…" he said.

Hope walked a little and sat down. She saw his red eyes opening and looking directly to her.

"I want to be alone…" he said.

Hope smiled at him and opened her hooves in a welcoming and warm gesture.

"Of course you don't Knight…" she said softly "No one does… Come here…".
The dark colt approached and hugged her. Hope cuddled him and started to sing.

"Hush now, quiet now" she sang "It's time to lay your sleepy head…".

Knight started to cry and she cuddled him tighter.

"There, there…" she said softly "I'm here… It's OK… You can cry… My brave colt.".

Then an explosion was heard in the outside and the whole room shook. Hope looked up and Knight held her tightly.

"NO!" he shouted "Don't go! You don't have to do this! Please!".

Hope caressed his mane and kissed his snout.

"I have to…" she said "Because I need to protect the ones I love and care for… And I love you Knight, you're my brave little colt… And this is reason enough for me to do it. So I must go.".

He released her and kissed her snout.

"Come back OK?" he asked and she smiled.

"I always do, don't I?" she blinked and left the room.

She opened the door and left the room leaving Knight alone in the dark.

He remembered how he used to follow his father in the morning of each day. He also remembered his mother doing her duties always accompanied by his sister, Ryla.

Shining days those were, but not anymore. The centaurs have retrieved this right of the citizens of Auroram.

Dark Knight stood hours waiting for Hope's return, but the time seemed to pass very slowly.

He listened to hoof steps outside his door and stood up looking at the door.

But it wasn't Hope.

Ryla opened the door and looked at him with sad eyes.

"Knight…" she said "Come… Hope wants to see you…".

Knight stepped forward and looked at his sister.

"Where's she?" he asked.

"Just follow me… Please…" she said "No questions little brother…".

She turned around and he followed her.

He passed through the gloomy corridors and saw ponies crying. Something bad had happened. They passed through the main quarters and kept going.

"Hope's room is…" Knight started.

"She's not there…" Ryla said "Just follow me, please…". Her voice sounded sad.

They passed through more corridors and entered the hospital wing. Ryla and Knight walked towards the last door of the main corridor. There was a lot of ponies gathered at that door including Major Spike, Hope's brother.

"Princess, prince…" Spike greeted and looked to Knight "She's inside… Go on…".

Knight opened the door and entered in the room. When the door closed he froze in place he was.

Hope was lying on the bed. Her right eye was covered by a bandage which had a few drops of a red liquid on it. Her left back leg and her right front leg were missing and her mane and tail were gone as well.

She had an oxygen mask on her snout and she was breathing slowly and weakly.

Knight approached her and stood next to her bed. When she opened her left eye she saw him there. His red eyes were covered in tears and his hoof was over her left shoulder. When she realized that was him she gave a weak and sad smile.

"Told you…" she said "I… Would be… Back…".

"Yes…" he said "Yes you said it… What happened?".

She caressed his mane with her remaining hoof.

"There was a…" she took a deep breath "A centaur garrison… We trapped them, but… A dragon appeared… It killed all of the centaurs and most of our troops… I was lucky compared to the ones who he really caught… I was lucky *cough*…".

Knight sobbed. It was terrible for him to see Hope in that condition.

"Are you going to be OK?" he asked and she gave him a smile.

"Yes… I *cough* will…" she lied.

She looked at him and smiled again.

"Lay here with me…" she asked and he did it.

They stayed that way for a couple of minutes and Hope continued to caress Knight's mane.

"Thank you Knight…" she said, her voice was getting weaker and weaker "I can say that you are my little colt… I… I love you…".

"I love you too… Mom…" he said "Yes… You're my mom Hope.".

She smiled and a tear dropped from her eye.

"Hush now… Quiet now…" she started to sing "It's time to lay your sleepy head…".

Knight closed his eyes and started to listen to her lovely voice singing to him. He loved when she singed, because it brought him peace.

Suddenly she stopped and Knight opened his eyes. He looked at her and saw her expression.

Her eye was shut and her mouth had a peaceful and sweet smile on. But she wasn't moving. Or breathing.

"Hope?" Knight called "Hope, wake up!" but she didn't.

He poked her with his hoof, but she didn't react. Knight's eyes were full of tears and his
face had a desperate expression.

"STOP THAT!" he shouted "HOPE THIS IS NOT FUNNY! STOP! HOPE! WAKE UP! HOPE!!".

Ponies entered the room in a hurry. Ryla and Spike were the firsts, but when the major saw his sister he started to cry. Ryla hurried to Knight's side and grabbed his waist trying to get him out of there. Away from Hope's corpse.

"Come on little brother…" she cried "Let's go… Please…".

"NO!" he cried "SHE IS NOT DEAD! SHE CAN'T BE DEAD! PLEASE HOPE WAKE UP! HOPE!!!".

Ryla pulled him out of the room and hugged him tight. Her eyes were full of tears and she was sobbing.

"I'm sorry little brother…" she cried "I'm so sorry…".

He hugged his sister and continued to cry. Ryla kissed his head trying to calm him, but she knew that it was useless. Hope was like a mother to them, and they just lost her.

The only thing that could be heard was Knight's cry, but all the rest was deadly silent.

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Knight was standing in front of Hope's grave. The rain was pouring down, but he did not care. His expression was dark and his tears had dried. Two days. Two whole days crying Hope's death.

He cried enough.

His eyes were emotionless. The glow that one day had been present in those red eyes had faded. Now they were just empty.

He was wearing a red armor that was given to him that same day. Major Spike told him that was Hope herself that did that armor with the intention to give it to Knight. She was planning to give to him since a few days ago. But she never had the chance.

Blue roses were lying over her grave. 'Hope's favorites…' Knight thought.

A lonely tear rolled over his face, but it blended to the rain. Maybe some others were there, but the rain would never allow them to be seen. If they existed, but they didn't.

He blinked slowly and a new glow appeared. But only for a short period of time. But not a good glow. It was anger, wrath. He wanted vengeance.

Knight took his saddle-bag and gave a last look at the refuge of the rebels and again to Hope's grave. He blinked again.

"Good bye…" he said with a husky voice and leaved…