“WILL YOU PLEASE STOP!!!” Riverbreeze slammed her hooves against the open book in front of her. She took a deep breath. “Listen, Cocobean.” She glared at the patchy brown horse.

“I am trying to get this essay written. If I don’t, I’m going to be in serious trouble.” Cocobean started. “Oh, sorry River. I’m just bored. Wanna go for a walk?”

She bounced up and down excitedly. When the silver-dappled filly rolled her eyes, Cocobean pleaded, “PLEASE!!! I’m going crazy! And besides! You need a break.”

“Fine. Let’s go.” Leaving her books spread over the table, she stood. Cocobean happily held the door open for her. “What’s your essay about?”

“Nightwing.”

“Who’s he?”

“He was a black foal that was born...1500 years ago. They say that the black foals never die, as they have inherited immortality from the 100 year star, but it seems that their power has weakened, so they only live an extended life. And Nightwing was killed by Star in the final battle. Star lost his powers in that battle.”

Cocobean pondered this. “So all black foals are dead?”

“Yeah, the latest one just passed away last year.” They walked in silence. Soon they came to a tree with an unusual mark. It was a hoofprint carved deep into the bark. The edges looked like they had been singed with fire. “What’s that?” Cocobean asked.

“I don’t know…” Riverbreeze paused, remembering something she’d read.

“They found marks like these in Nightwing’s cave.”

“Cave?”

“Yeah. It was where he slept for, like, 500 years.”

The small filly next to her trotted a few paces forward. “Look over there! There is another mark just like this one!” Cocobean paused. “What if that means...Nightwing ISN”T DEAD?”

“I’m sure it’s just an odd coincidence, Coco. Some idiot trying to scare pegasi.”

“It’s working…” She whimpered.

Riverbreeze had to practically drag Cocobean as they followed the trail, (there were more prints) until they reached the heart of the forest. “Aww, great! Now we’re lost!” Riverbreeze fumed. “Stupid marks.”

“What’s that?!” Several amber feathers dropped onto the dirt below as an eerie sound drifted through the trees. It sounded like heavy breathing, and then a whoosh of a blast of what could have been starfire.

“We’re gonna die!” Cocobean wailed. Even Riverbreeze was starting to think something could be wrong.

“It’s probably just an animal...yeah...some really big cerberus or something! Why it would be so far from Tartarus, I have no idea…” Her voice trailed off as another explosion sounded around the corner.

Riverbreeze placed a hoof forward, determined to get to the bottom of it. “It’s got to be something rational,” she repeated over and over.

Cocobean grabbed onto a purple and blue wing with one of her teeth and Riverbreeze was forced to drag the other pegasus along with her.

Suddenly, they stopped. Cocobean gasped.

Tucked away behind the trees was a humongous cave. The mysterious hoof-prints were all over the walls, along with thousands of scorch marks. In the center was a glowing circle.

“What’s that?” Cocobean asked abruptly.

“I think...I think we just found...Nightwing’s cave!” Riverbreeze was too excited to remember her fear. She began dancing around.

“I found it! I found it! Oh, if only I had my camera and paper! I found Nightwing’s cave!!!”

The filly was so happy, she accidentally found herself in the middle of the golden circle. Lights flared around her, all of the black marks glowing powerfully. This quieted her, and she had the sense to stand stil.

Out of the blinding light, a shining, terrifying, pure black pegasus appeared, glimmering like fog. “WHO DARES DISTURB MY SACRED CAVE? LEAVE IF YOU VALUE YOUR SOUL!!!”

Both young mares screamed in terror and galloped out of the cave and back into the forest, muttering incohesively about the notorious villain.. “He’s still alive...He’s real...He was right there...” They carefully and fearfully made their way back to Riverbreeze’s house, holding each other tightly.

Back at the cave, a dark brown pegasus shook paint and water off his already dark hide. Stormhoof, the notorious prankster, had struck again! He laughed, reliving the two fillies wild-eyed looks and screams of terror. He liked to come here and play Destroyer with his friends sometimes. Speaking of friends, two strong colts cantered into the cave. Stormhoof cleared his throat. “Wait til I tell you about this!”

Picture will be coming soon!!!

https://www.theguardianherd.com/messageboard/herd-chat/the-complex-challenge-info-desk

There is the link for the Info Desk!