Enchantments, Incantations, and Darkness

Chapters

Prolouge
Chapter One: Separation
Chapter Two: Resurrection
Chapter Three: Chaos

Prolouge

With the crowning of Twilight Sparkle happening in front of her very eyes, the Great and Powerful Trixie has decided there was no better time to attack. She sent her apprentice down to alert the army of enslaved unicorns and pegasi she had waiting downstairs. If she was going to take down her mortal enemy, she was going to need all the help she could get. Unknown to her, however she wasn't the only pony who wanted revenge on who was now Princess Twilight Sparkle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moondancer burst into the room, mane and tail frayed from a stray beam of magic. "What is it, foal!," Trixie commanded.

"They're everywhere! hundreds of changlings are attacking our army!" Trixie was startled by the news.

"WELL GET THEM TO STOP!" Trixie screamed.

"W-we can't t-tell who's who ma'am," she replied. Trixie thought for a moment.

"Find their leader, we may have use of them."

To be continued in: Chapter One: Separation

Chapter One: Separation

Three months later...

It was very early in the morning, and Rainbow Dash was busy mustering clouds together for a monster of a storm that was scheduled for that morning. Why do I always get stuck with the early morning shift? she asked herself. I could be at home sleeping through this whole thing. Deep down Dash knew she really didn't mind. It kept her mind off of the recurring nightmare she had been having. A black pegasus warning her of an impending danger for all of Equestria. It's just a dream she told herself. With her storm complete, and Dash flew up to her home and went into her room. As she lay on her bed she heard a sinister voice whisper,

"Those weren't just bad dreams Rainbow Dash."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight Sparkle was in her library reading when she stumbled upon an entry labeled The Guardian of Equestria. As she read on, her faithful companion and friend, Spike walked down the stairs, still drowsy from his nap. "Hey Twi, watcha reading?" he inquired.

"Something about a 'Guardian' of some sort" she replied. She continued to read and then looked up abruptly. "Spike, pack your bags, we're going after the Guardian." and went about gathering the necessary materials.

"Uh Twi? Do u know what this guy even looks like, or where he lives?" Spike asked.

"It's not a he, Spike," Twilight corrected, "It's a statue. and this book tells that, if it is awoken, the Guardian can give us access to information even Princess Celestia doesn't know."

"I'll get the others, and-" Spike started, but Twilight cut him off.

"No. I have to do this alone."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Now, THIS is truly the way to unwind, is it not?" Rarity asked Fluttershy.

"Yes," replied fluttershy sheepishly. They were out on their weekly spa trip and enjoying the steaming sauna as usual. Throughout idle conversation the topic turned to Rainbow Dash.

"Have you seen her lately?" Rarity asked.

"Now that you mention it," Fluttershy returned, "I haven't seen her in days."

"How peculiar," stated Rarity, "It's not like her to stay away like this for a long period of time." there was silence for a period of time, as both ponies were clearly lost in thought.

"I'll check up on her on my way home." Fluttershy said after a while. She paid her fee and then took to the sky.

As Fluttershy neared the home, she saw no signs of exterior damage. The clouds were white and puffy, the windows all intact, and the columns erect. The inside however, was a different story. Clearly a large scale struggle had taken place. walls were destroyed, the floor had holes and dents in it, Dash's bookshelf, one of her only pieces of furniture, was split in two. Fluttershy beckoned for her friend to come out of hiding, as if this was a sick prank. upon further inspection of Dash's home. Fluttershy found a blast mark, and the cold, limp body of a changeling thrown against a pillar. seeing this brought back unholy, sickening memories of their last encounter with the vicious army of changelings. Her head pounded as she traveled back in time to the raging battle ground of the Canterlot Castle, fighting off vicious hordes of copies and clones. Fluttershy swore under breath and said, "You've messed up now demons. You hurt my friends. Now, i'm gonna hurt YOU." She was shaken out of her trance by a smooth voice.

"So i see you HAVE met my new friends." Trixie said smugly, "No use for introductions then." And with that she zapped Fluttershy, and she fell to the ground, shaking violently.

To be continued in Chapter Two: Resurrection

Chapter Two: Resurrection

Twilight was weak, tired, and bitter. The chamber of the Guardian was guarded by ungodly horrors, deadly traps, and required an unhealthy dose of black magic to get through it all. Spike was worried about Twilight before, but never like this. He insisted that the make camp in an oasis-like chamber in the deep underground route that they were on. The room was light from some glowing mushrooms on the ceiling and contained a small pond, some trees and plenty of grass. Spike looked over at Twilight. The black magic running through her system had left her coat darkened and had taken so much substance out of her, her ribs were now visible on her sides. He handed twilight an apple. The red juicy fruit had restored some happiness in her tired eyes. Spike didn't sleep a minute the whole night. He patrolled around Twilight, ensuring that she slept well. She would need her energy for what came ahead.

Spike felt It in his scales. His heart. His soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fluttershy's eyes opened to a dragging sensation. She was then thrown into a cage. She felt so useless and, ironically, like an animal, she wept for hours. The changeling guards cloned her and mocked her they made fun of her. This continued until the mustered up enough courage to perform 'the stare' and with that the guards fell silent. Fluttershy sulked in self disappointment until two guards unlocked her cage and told her she was being brought before the Princesses. Princesses? she thought to herself. Trixie must've moved up in the ranks around here. As she stood in the throne room, the sounds of another pony being dragged were heard. and sure enough , Rainbow Dash was dragged through the grand doorway with enchanted chains.

"Dashie!' Fluttershy exclaimed. She was stricken immediately afterwards and told not to speak again. "Welcome fillies!" Trixie bellowed.

"You are my captive audience today." She went on to explain. "And for my first trick, I'M GONNA MAKE YOUR WORST NIGHTMARES COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU!" Smoke exploded everywhere and when it settled, every enemy they had ever defeated were on stage. Night mare moon, King Sombra, Queen Chrysalis, all of the opposites of the Elements of Harmony Discord created in the maze behind the castle, and Discord himself.

"DISCORD!" Fluttershy yelled. "HOW COULD YOU! WE WERE FRIENDS! I TRUSTED YOU!"

"Well just goes to show, you can't trust chaos, Fluttershy." Discord replied nonchalantly. Fluttershy looked him in the eye and said quietly,

"You really are a monster." and broke down into tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight stared in awe at the iron and gold behemoth in front of her. There was a large mechanical lock and a riddle which read, "Chamber of the Guardian: If you want to open the door even a little, away at your life you must whittle." Twilight grimly realized what she must do. She began the Incantation.

Creatures of the dark differ from those of the light,

we do not share your fright!

Those with souls stained black,

know there is no turning back!

Tormented souls fall into the muck,

for they know they are OUT OF LUCK!

Twilight rose into the air as the black hands of Death grabbed and stole a small portion of her life energy and put it into the door. She looked happy to be finally in the chamber, but on the inside she had never felt so much pain and anguish. She and Spike carefully walked into the chamber of the Guardian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(For the rest of this chapter, you are at the perspective point of the Guardian)

Black, putrid, darkness is all I have ever felt. Being trapped in stone is horrible, the Guardian said to himself. I understand why- he was cut off from his own thought by the stone around him crumbling. The light flooded into his eyes, searing them to his brain. It was unbearable for a time, but his deep blue eyes slowly adjusted to the light pouring in. As he gazed upon his savior he saw something he hadn't seen since even before he was encased in stone. Happiness.

"H-hello," The young mare said. "I am Twilight Sparkle, and I understand you have some very valuable information." The Guardian thought for a moment, then responded

"Hello Twilight, I have more than just information, and my name is Onyx Shield."

To be continued in : Chapter Three: Chaos

Chapter Three: Chaos

Fluttershy and Rainbow dash sat in awe as their worst enemies were brought forth in front of them. She even created copies of us... Rainbow thought to herself. She might even be worthy to be called a challenge. Fluttershy wore a look of sadness and betrayal, while Rainbow had a look of unwavering smugness. Fluttershy heard Discord's voice in her head, It's all part of the plan, don't you worry your pretty little head... followed by a wink from him. He then turned to Queen Chrysalis,

"Why don't you demonstrate your army's unique power for me, and our audience here?" he requested.

"Certainly," she responded, and ordered her army to transform into replicas of herself. They responded immediately and created several hundreds of the Queen.

"Oooh!" he responded, "Now do her!" He pointed at Rainbow Dash. The Queen sighed but decided to humor him. As she gave the command, there was a sound of splintering wood, followed by an orange blur tacking the guard restraining Rainbow Dash. Another mare somersaulted through the shattered doorway.

"WHO'S READY TO PARTAY?" The pink mare asked, while launching confetti from a cannon she seemed to pull out of thin air.

"Y-YOU TWO! H-HOW DID YOU FIND US?" Trixie stammered.

"I believe I already answered that." Discord replied, "YOU.CAN'T.TRUST.CHAOS." As he replaced the chains holding Rainbow Dash with clouds and lifted a heavy fog into the room. Dash then bucked her captor, grabbed Fluttershy by her mane, and the four friends ran out into the sun and stopped dead in their tracks. The landscape before them was not what they had left. It was darker, colder.

Dead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Shield." Twilight said to the jet black stallion before her. "I have so many questions for-" Onyx stopped her.

"Now is not the time for questions Twilight." he said with a slight edge in his voice. "I am sure your motives were pure, but you have effectively ended this world with your actions." Twilight stared at him with a slight twinge of insanity in her eyes.

"Wha- WHAT?!" she exploded. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT I HAD TO DO TO GET HERE! I GAVE AWAY SOME OF MY OWN LIFE!" She was shaking with anger and sadness. Onyx put his hoof around her shoulder.

"It's not your fault." He said soothingly. "You could not have known, I was the ONLY one who knew." Twilight looked up at him.

"Tell me. Tell me what I have unleashed upon my home."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie were standing on top of a mountain, overlooking Equestria. What they saw didn't make them feel anymore at home than the cages they were locked in in the caves. The grass within close proximity to the mountain was a sickening grey-brown hue.The trees were black and leafless, there was ash and soot floating in the air. They sighed a small sigh of relief as this, corruption would be the most appropriate word for it, had not reached Ponyville. Yet. "Down here!" a familiar voice called.

"Rarity!" Fluttershy called back as they all went down the mountainside to share a friendly embrace. Tears were shed between the two reuniting parties, but Pinkie Pie, being Pinkie Pie said,

"There is no need to cry. It's time to party!" and launched her confetti cannon.

They shared a laugh, but Rainbow and Rarity asked in union, "Where's Twilight?" "I thought she was with you." They said, again in union.

"Oh Twilight?" The voice of the chaos god said. "Nowhere important, just unleashing ancient evils and demigods is all." They all stared at him in disbelief. "What?" he replied jokingly. "Well I guess that's a LITTLE important."

"We haf ta get ta the Princess," Applejack stated. "NOW."

"Well why didn't you say so?" Discord replied, as led the trail to Canterlot. The ponies followed, pushing themselves to their maximum speed, galloping and flying alike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Follow me," Onyx said, "I can do better than tell you my story, I can show you." He led the way to the back wall of the bleached white chamber. He let his true colors show, literally. Onyx's wings were ablaze with a multi-colored flame. The enchanted flame spread across the wall revealing a secret room. As the flame dies out, a book on a marble pedestal comes to light. "Open the book," Onyx said ,and, as Twilight goes to open the book, A light spills out of it revealing the memories of the Guardian. "Centuries before the rule on Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were in power there was an eternal struggle between Light and Dark. I, being the living embodiment of the Light, was forced to fight an eternal war with the Darkness. I fought to protect and he, to destroy. I took the name Onyx Shield, Defender from darkness. He is Diamond Sword, destroyer of light. I made the ultimate sacrifice, giving my life away to take in his and then encase us both into the stone. From my life energy spawned the two crowns. these were bestowed upon the two most worthy ponies in Equestria. Celestia and Luna."

"We have to get to the Princess and warn her." Twilight explained

"No we need the Elements of Harmony." Onyx said.

"Well you're looking at one of them! We need to get to my friends. I'll explain on the way. Hurry!"

"Twi! A letter from the Princess." Spike called. Spike cleared his throat the read, "My faithful student, return to Canterlot immediately! There are very urgent matters that we need to discuss. Your friends and I will be waiting. -Princess Celestia"

To be continued in: Chapter Four: Uprising