Night's Magicby SteampunkBronyChaptersPrelude: Shattered MarbleAs evening fallsThe Witching HourThe Showmare and the ShadowSundown on the first nightNight and DayDiscoveryBack from the everfreeMoonlit Perilreturn of the showmareDowntimeThe AcadamyPrelude: Shattered MarbleAuthor's Note: Fillies and gentlecolts, this is the original version of the prelude, however, Starquake One did his own version of it which just blew my mind. Starquake One's Version Now, I know i'm not that good, i'm an ideas guy, so I thank you Starquake, and i'll be improving these first few chapters once I complete this tale. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Darkness… how long has it been now… a month, a year, a millennium? Longer? All because I wished to pursue magic that Celestia deemed "unnatural and revolting"… Luna had helped me near the end… I wonder what has become of her… I hope nothing bad… I know what happened to me… I'm locked in stone, transformed into a statue and now I sit here in the gardens of Canterlot, beneath Celestia's great castle, it's amazing what you can discover about a place with magic and too much time on your hooves. Aside from that I have no other senses, my eyes blinded, my skin numbed, my ears unhearing, even my sense of smell robbed from me in this stone prison. Discord had escaped… and I saw how he did it, and I could do it too, I just need the right moment… wait… is that… it is, it's luna… I wonder if she will recognize me as a statue… hmm her aura is different… purer… wait, purer… by the moon… I did cause her disappearance… that spell that she helped me with must have corrupted her somehow, and I was too blind to see how I was changing her… She's looking at me now, I wonder if she'll try using her magic to see me… all of us… the six of us that once were the greats, myself at magic, the others at art, agriculture, battle, enterprise, and performance… of course that had been long ago but if only I could get a hold of some power I could be free of this, the others can stay… they all got what they deserved. Art was obsessed with creating perfection… so he tried to harness the princes' life essence to wipe the country clean and start over with everything his image of perfection. Battle had tried to expand Equestria through conquest and nearly got the nation destroyed because of it. Enterprise had tried to take over Equestra through money so he could rule over everything. Performance tried to use her skills and charisma to start a rebellion. Agriculture… well he arrived after me but he was so full of hate I have an idea of why she would petrify him… As for me… I don't deserve this… I simply wanted to research black magic, the dark arts. Magic that no one understood. Gather the knowledge about it so that I could better Equestria… But she damned me to this fate of being locked in stone... Wait… what's this… is she? She is! She's examining me with magic! oh by the moo- wait… she recoiled… It's me luna, help me! for the love of the night! please… she ran…. by the moon why would she run? why… now other ponies are looking… wait could this be my chance? they are focusing on me… this could be my only chance… -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- in the gardens -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Why did the princess run like that?" one of the three unicorns who witnessed the events asked. "I don't know… she seemed rather intent on that statue until she screamed and bolted…. perhaps something to do with that?" "Yeah… perhaps…" a third, a unicorn said. "I'm gonna try something…" "Okay then…" the second said as the unicorn concentrated. "By Celestia… there's a spirit in that statue!" "WHAT?" the first and second said in unison as they too concentrated and reached out with their magic. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- They are reaching out… now is my chance… -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The skies over Canterlot were suddenly overtaken by a whirling storm as the three unicorns near the statue fell over, the glow from their horns being drawn into the statue. Cracks formed over the alabaster surface as three royal guards rushed to where the statue was, unsure of what was happening. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I've almost done it… I can feel the spell breaking! just a little more… -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the three guards rushed in, the cracks spread along the white stone, a black mist seeping through them. they tried to awaken the unicorns before one of them noticed the mist. "Wh- what in Celestia's name?" one guard stammered, looking at the statue. "What is is Brightmane?" Another said looking up. "The statue! look at it!" Brightmane said. "Starwatch, go get more backup, if Discord was any indication we're going to need more he-" the leader of the three was cut off by a loud blast as the statue exploded in a wave of magical energy. Coughing from the dust the guards got back to their hooves as something moved in the blast's crater. "What happened?" Brightmane asked. "Is Everypony all right!" The three froze as a teleportation spell carried of the pony shape in the crater. "Brightmane…. alert the princesses… this can not be good!" the leader said again, looking around for the unicorns. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- on a hill in the Everfree near Ponyville -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A lone grey and black unicorn materialized in a flash of light, standing only for a moment before collapsing to the ground. Pained, ragged breathing came from him as his sides heaved with the effort of just breathing, he remained there for a moment, before he lifted his head, and a low, dark laugh began. The animals that inhabited the night around that hill, the chirping insects, the owls and bats, the predators, and the prey all fell silent as the laugh gained intensity and insanity, rising in volume as the unicorn's head fell back to the grass. They all fled the scene at a crazed shout that echoed through the forest… "i. am. FREE!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's Note Thanks for reading, I will be continuing this as I get the muse to, hopefully I can keep the character's consistent. If you notice anything wrong please feel free to let me know in the comments, constructive criticism helps make better writers after all. inspired by: Garden Party: Petrified As evening fallsChapter 1: A new world "This is not good…" Celestia said as she paced near the crater where the statue had exploded. "You are sure a pony teleported away right after?" "Yes your highness, all three of us saw it." Lancer, the leader of the royal guard squad that had witnessed the escape said. "If i may ask, who, or what was that?" "He was a unicorn from long ago. He was imprisioned for practicing dark magic." Celestia said. 'seems a little much to me… but i trust the princess.' Lancer thought as the unicorns started to wake up. "Sister, what's going on? What was tha…" Luna dropped off as she saw where the crater was. "It was him, wasn't it? Starlight Sparke?" there was a murmur from the three guards at the mention of the name. "I was hoping to keep his name out of the ears of the press but yes it was him. You six don't mention that to anyone please, i don't want his name to reach Twilight…" Celestia said with a sigh. "How many of these statues are actual ponies sister?" Luna asked quietly. "I felt his spirit in there, and now he's broken free… did i release him?" "It wasn't you your highness." one of the three Unicorns said as he got up slowly. "I think it was us. We saw you run and when i discovered that there was somepony the other two looked as well… then i felt a pull and blacked out. I think he stole our magic reserves to break free…" "That would be something within his power…" Celestia mumbled. "There are five other statues that contain ponies… the rest are actual stone, well aside from discord there… agriculture, art, battle, enterprise and performance. Gather those statues without using magic I will re-cast the spell. I do not want any more old enemies escaping. Sister wi… what's wrong?" Celestia asked, concern in her voice as she turned to see luna crying slightly. "You were behind his disappearance weren't you?" She asked. "Luna I… Yes i was… but we'll discuss that later." Celestia replied. "As for you three, i need to make sure he didn't do anything besides take your magic reserves. I doubt he did but i have to be sure." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I dragged myself to my hooves and scanned the area with my magic. "Hmm… the everfree… not ideal but at least i'm out of canterlot…" I said hoarsely. In hindsight… it was probably not wise to yell like that after over 1000 years of not speaking… I mused, wincing at my sore vocal chords. "Is anypony out there? to brave the Everfree at night is quite rare…" I heard and exotic voice from the bushes to my left. "Hello?" I called in reply. Hopefully i'm near a town… "I thought i heard a shout." Said a female zebra as she stepped from the bushes. "My name is Zecora, what is all this about?" Time to think on the fly Starlight… "Finally i found somepony, My teleportation spell went awry a few days ago, and i have been barely surviving since. Is there a town near here you could be so kind as to direct me to?" I asked, praying to luna that the lie would not be noticed. "You are lucky to have found me today, ponyville is not far away. However, it is still quite a distance from here. How about we go to my house, it is quite near." Zecora said smiling. "Thank you for your hospitality. My name is Nightshade, and i will admit, i have not be into ponyville revently, though i live nearby. I recently moved in and I rarely go into town so I don't know anyone in the area." I said. it has been 1000 years… my canterlot accent will probably be noticed if anything is the same as it was back then. "It is a small community, but the ponies are kind. They may seem a bit crazy though, keep that in mind." Zecora chuckled as we started off into the woods. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "But you knew he was one of my only friends!" Luna exclaimed as she paced around Celestia's study. "How could you lock him away like that?" "Luna, do you not realize what he had done to you? He planted the seed that caused you to become Nightmare Moon!" Celestia replied. "I am sure he did not mean that. He was nothing but curteous and kind while i was studying with him." "He was practicing dark magic Luna. Dark magic! I had no choice!" "Just like you had no choice but to destroy any evidence that existed of his research? He had created spells to help ponies with other types of magic yet you erased those! Even now i can't find some of his medical spells that could save thousands of ponies." "I had to be sure no pony would follow the path to dark magic…" "So you locked him away in stone? He's been in there as long as i was on the moon! I only could bear that because i could build things out of blocks of moonstone, can you imagine what being locked in stone would be like!" Luna nearly yelled as she turned to Celestia. "Would you rather me have killed him? That was the other option" Celestia said, a hint of anger seeping into her voice. "No!" Luna said, shocked. "How could you even think that? he was researching that magic to teach ponies how to defend against it, and now that he's free from your foolish move he has a bucking good reason to use dark magic against you! I only pray that he has the good sense not to provoke an attack." Luna growled as she started to leave. "Well what should i do?" Celstia spat at Luna. "You know him better than i do." "Don't send guards after him and pray he's not out for revenge." Luna said, her seething tone making her voice sound close to that of Nightmare Moon's as she stopped in the dooray. "For if he is, i fear for Canterlot." Celestia just stared at the door as it slammed hard enough to knock a nearby vase off it's pedestal. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "This is very good soup Ms. Zecora. May i inquire what the recipe is?" I asked, taking another sip of the delectable vegetable soup in front of me. "It is an old recepie from my homeland, simplistic, yet its flavour is grand. Alas, however my company until dawn, it's secret is not one for me to pass on. It was taught to me by my father's mother, and until i have a child of my own i will not speak of it to another." Zecora said with a smile. "That is too bad, a soup of the likes of this could be enjoyed by canterlot's elite and they would pay a good amount for it." "Perhaps when i become too old to dwell in this forest." Zecora said taking our empty bowls and placing them in a wash basin. "However, for now we shall rest." "I do believe that is a good idea…" I said as i looked at the various books she had on her shelves. "Wait… is that a translation of Trotenkahmen's dark book i see?" "You read old zebrecain? i never thought i'd meet another who can who is equestrian." Zecora said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Studying ancient scripts, scrolls, and tomes is a passion of mine. I have put a great deal of effort into acquiring texts such as that one there, in fact that is one of the few pieces of ancient zebrecain literature i have had trouble finding." I said as i walked over to the shelf. "Would you mind if i borrowed this for a day or so? It may help me unravel some of the mysteries i've been trying to solve from that period." "As long as you return it I mind not, but i would like to see the collection you've got." Zecora said. "If the teleportation spell didn't destroy my library i will gladly show it too you." Well, that is if my old house near ponyville still exists after 1000 years, no one knew of it seeing as i had that portal to canterlot, but time does take its toll. "I thank you for your trust with this tome, i have been searching for a copy for many years." "It is a problem, although i hope your library is all right. Now, shall we retire for the night?" Zecora rhymed as she pulled out two large cushions. "I agree, that spell took a lot out of me… oh great i'm rhyming now well." Zecora just laughed at that as she snuffed out the few candles that lit the room. ---===---===---===---===--- Author's Note: Well there is chapter one, sorry about the length of these things being kinda short but i am both easilly distracted and prone to having my train of thought jump its tracks. Drop a comment with suggestions for improvements, as well as your general opinion on it, i'd love to hear both. The Witching HourI awoke at around midnight despite how tired i had been. Bloody hell... can't even sleep normally anymore, thank you your highness... ah well i suppose i could delve into this book by moonilght... I thought as i moved over to a spot where the light of the moon filtered through a window. "hmm... The moon is bright tonight... Luna is angry at somepony... I hope it is not me..." I muttered as i flipped open the book and began to read, the old language was as easy to understand as equestrian script to me. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "GAH!" The powder blue mare yelled in frustration as she nearly threw the ancient tome to the floor. "Six nights! SIX NIGHTS I've been trying to decipher this ridiculous language! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY A STUPID BOOK!" She yelled at the high ceiling of the ancient library. She had found the old house while fleeing from ponyville and had settled there to live. Upon discovering the wealth of magic literature within its walls she had devoted herself to studying it, hoping to find a suitable spell to cast to exact her revenge on the mare that humiliated her. "I've learned much from these old books, now if i could only figure out these ones..." She muttered, cursing as she failed yet again to figure out what the strange symbols meant. "Perhaps this is why whoever lived here kept them in that study, so they wouldn't have to strain to understand them..." Ah good that spell... say what's this? somepony in my house? Identify yourself and your reason for going through my collection of literature. A colt's voice rang through her head. "Wha! WHO IS THERE! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE DEMANDS YOU SHOW YOURSELF!" Trixie yelled, a spell preparing itself. Relax young one, i am merely the owner of the tome you are trying to decrypt. I wish you the best of luck, that is written in elder draconis, i even had trouble with that one. The voice said, mirth leaking in to the mental voice. "The great and powerful Trixie apologizes for her intrusion into your home..." She said, stunned. "Would you be so kind as to enlighten Trixie as to the method of communication that you are using right now? Trixie has never witnessed a spell like this before..." What? this old Hex? it is merely a way for me to check on my home. I will be there tomorrow if you would like to wait for me, however i must inquire as to why you are trying to study a tome on the topic of necromancy. "Trixie is WHAT!" she exclaimed, jumping back from the old book. What you were trying to read was the Naturon Demonto in the dragon's language, more commonly known as the Liber Mortuorum In simplified old equestrian. "That does ring a bell..." Book of the dead sound more familiar? "Really... Trixie is intrigued as to how you acquired a copy of such a... despised book." There are many things about me that best remain a secret, however, I hope you would be willing to stay another day or two, so I can at least have some help dusting, i have been away from the house for a considerable amount of time "Trixie agrees with that statement... there is a lot of dust in this old place." Yes well, one thousand years trapped in rock does tend to make one tardy of their cleaning habbits... as for how that happened, i shall explain later if you wish to hear my tale. "one thousand.... trixie is intrigued... she awaits your arrival with great anticipation." She said eagarly. Good, good. I will be there few hours after sunrise, I am currently staying the home of a rather charming zebra who so happened to find me within the everfree forest. She may accompany me to the house so if you could clean up a little that would be much appreciated. "And why should Trixie do that?" Because I am a gentlecolt, and i have the power to, from my current location lock you in a book until you decide to comply. The voice said in a rather matter-of-fact tone. Think of it as a small rent charge. Trixie would have turned white if not for her fur. "T-Trixie will do some cleaning before your arrival then..." She stammered out. Thank you. Oh and one more thing, "Yes?" Refrain from the use of third person dialogue when referring to yourself please, it is rather irritating. -=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's note: Yeah short chapter this time, however i'm out of plot ideas for today, however i gave myself a few more options this time. As always i hope to spot a comment or two if nopony minds, constructive criticism is always appreciated. 'till next time fillies and gentlecolts. The Showmare and the ShadowI sighed as I closed the leather cover of the old book, looking out at the orange glow on the horizon. Well that sure answers a few questions i had on Trottenkahmen's Reign, as well as the spell he used to last so long... I think i almost have the necessary knowledge of dark magic to finally cast it... I thought as i moved back over to the cushion and pretended to be asleep as Zecora stirred. She yawned as she rose and stretched, glancing my way before lighting a cooking fire and putting on some kind of oatmeal, grabbing some jars labeled in zebrecain. Let's see here... yes those go well... what is that? Mandrake root in oatmeal? Is she mad? She then proceeded to taste test it, giving a nod to herself before walking over to me. "Nightshade, it is time to rise from your rest, i have already had time to prepare breakfast." I made a point to seem tired as i rose and yawned. "I suppose it would be time to awaken. Mmm, smells lovely." She hasn't keeled over yet so i should be fine. "Another recipe from my homeland, easy to make and it's flavor is far from bland." She said with a smile. "Ah yes, oatmeal, it is amazing what you can do with such a common base, no?" I said as she passed me a bowl and i dug in, a hand carved spoon floating in the shadowy aura of my magic. "Your magic is rather unique." Zecora said, looking at the magic fog around the spoon. "Do you know the reason or for that do you seek?" "There was an accident when i was young, there was a strange burst of magic from within the royal palace which caused me to accidentally mix up a few of the strands of magic i was trying to use and i used a dark magic spell instead, blew a hole in the wall of the room i was in and knocked me out because of it. After that i awoke and found my magic's aura to be this dark color." I said. "I think it's a side effect of using black magic." "Yes, the shadow magic as described by a friend of mine in ponyville, while dark it is not always evil." "Oh? What is your friend's name?" I asked. "Twilight Sparkle, the element of magic. If not for her Nightmare Moon's return, as well as that of Discord, would have been qute tragic." Aw buck... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Thank you all for gathering so quickly" Celestia said to the six mares who stood before her. "'Twern't Nothin Princess." Came the reply from the element of Honest, Applejack. "Indeed, You know that we don't mind being called to canterlot on occasion." Rarity said with a smile. "I-it's not a problem princess..." Fluttershy said softly with a small smile. "Yeah, Whenever you call on us something we get to do something awesome!" A certain rainbow maned pegasis quipped enthusiastically. "Dash, really?" Twilight said sighing. "anyhow, your letter was rather vague princess, what is it you need us to do?" "Ooh, Ooh, lemme guess!" Pinki pie jumped up and down. "Is Discord back? No, we'd have seen it, a pestilance of parasprites? a herd of hydras? a mob of manticores? a communal of cockatrices? A-mrff!" Pinkie was silenced by an orange hoof. "I'm sure you noticed the large crater in the gardens out back on your flight in, as well as the absence of a few statues..." Celestia said, looking tired. "The crater was caused by one of those statues." "Wait... what do you mean?" Twilight said. "What i'm about to say cannot leave this room, i trust the six of you which is why I'm telling you this..." "Whatever do you mean princess?" Rarity asked, looking a little worried. "Discord wasn't the only being trapped in stone within the gardens, there were six others..." She sighed. "They were all threats to Equestria in some way." Twilight froze at gardens. "Wh-What?" "They were locked away due to my lack of options, that and i did not wish to kill anypony." Celestia said. "Please don't let this color your opinion of me too much... It was a last resort." "And i reckon by that crater that one of 'em broke free?" Applejack said worriedly. "Yes... His name was... is... Starlight and if he isn't found he could pose a great threat to equestria." Celestia said as there was the sound of voices outside the throne room. "... will let me enter this instant or i will have the lunar guard gain me entrance." Came a regal voice. "I was hoping to avoid this..." Celestia said with a sigh, her horn glowing as she opened the doors. "It's alright, let her in." "Sister, do you never listen to my advice? Even when you ask for it!" Luna exclaimed, clearly frustrated. "P-princess luna?" Twilight stammered, clearly shocked at the sudden appearance of the Regent of the Night. "Good morning Ms. Sparkle, and good morning to the rest of you as well, although i wish your visit was under better circumstances." Luna said. "Cele, have you told them just who Starlight was before you locked him in marble?" "I was getting to that sister." "And i can control the sun." Luna muttered. "Well continue on, although I would like to be sure the facts are presented, not an exaggeration." Celestia sighed. "Sister please..." "They do deserve to know who they are going to be fighting in your name." Luna said, a hint of venom in her words. The elements looked at each other, slightly worried from the sudden confrontation. "Luna Please..." "I thought as much... Starlight was an old friend of mine before my banishment, He was locked away for studying the practice of dark magic and minor necromancy." Luna said. "Something i only recently discovered myself. He was also partially responsible for me becoming Nightmare Moon, although i'm sure if he had been given a chance he would have been the only one to see the true source of my madness and remove it." Luna said dryly. "However you locked him away before that..." "Sister please stop..." Celestia pleaded, a tear falling. "I'm almost done sister." Luna said with a sigh. "They should know this though, He was studying those magics to help ponies defend against it, however due to its nature and the fact that it was outlawed and he had been denied royal permission to study it he requested my help to study it in secret. This went smoothly for about twelve years until one of the spells we were working on, one to generate magical energy by drawing it out of matter, went wrong. The particular gemstone we were using to store the energy was flawed and exploded, throwing both of us into the spell circle, causing another explosion whose crater became the froggy bottom bog." There was a long silence before Celestia spoke again. "I thought he had captured Luna and used her to try to run a spell due to the sheer amount of magic in the blast. I imprisoned him while Luna was unconscious." Her voice had gained an edge. "When you transformed into Nightmare Moon I was sure it was something he did..." There was another long silence as the two princesses didn't want to continue. "Well... What do we do about him?" Rainbow Dash asked. "He's still a danger to Equestria..." Celestia said after a moment. "Cele!" Luna had a shocked expression on her face. "Lu, i wasn't finished yet." Celestia seemed even more tired than before. "He's still a danger to equestria, however due to us knowing neither his location, nor his current intentions i think we can't do anything but wait until those become clearer. I won't take any action yet but if he is out for revenge I will have no choice but to take action." The other seven mares in the room nodded before Celestia spoke up again. "I'll have a notice put out for ponies to keep an eye out for him, but for now you six should return to ponyville... I'll be there in a few days time to search for any kind of clue to his whereabouts, there may be something beneath Froggy Bottom Bog." "Princess Celestia... if i may make a suggestion?" Pinkie pie, for once, sounded nervous. "Yes Ms. Pie?" "Perhaps luna should do that." Everypony in the room looked at Pinkie, surprise plastered across their faces. "What? She knows where the place was, as well as she know him best out of all of us. If anypony has a chance of finding him it would be her." "Pinkie that's... actually not a bad idea..." Dash said, bewildered. "She does have a point princess..." Twilight admitted before muttering "and is the only one crazy enough to say it..." "Say what?" Pinkie asked looking confused as Applejack facehoofed. "Hmm... on one condition..." Celestia said after thinking for a moment. "You six shall accompany her, It's not that i don't trust you Lu, but you two were rather close before..." "It's alright Cele, I understand." Luna smiled as she walked up to the sun princess. "I will meet you six at twilight's in two days." She said, turning to the elements of harmony before continuing up the steps to the throne. "Sister, you look stressed, take a day off. I'm sure i can handle things." "That... sounds like a wonderful idea... just let me let my advisers know so they don't panic..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Now... how to wiggle my way out of this one... I thought as Zecora led me into the library. "Zecora? Whatever you doing here?" Came a coltish voice from around the corner as we entered. "Ah, spike, is twilight around? We were wondering if a solution to my new friend's problem would be located in the library, where knowledge abounds." Spike came into view right then, a young green and purple dragon. "No, she's out in Canterlot right now, the princess summoned her and the rest of the elements." "That does not sound very good." I said, faking concern to keep up the poker face. "It probably isn't, but it's nothing those mares can't defeat. Even Discord and Nightmare Moon were powerless at their feet." "Don't you mean hooves?" Spike asked, obviously confused at the odd choice of the word for non hoofed leg endings. "It's to keep with the rhyme scheme my friend." I said chuckling. "That it is little dragon, although i think our meeting is beginning to drag on." Zecora said with a small smirk. "Yes, it seems Ms. Sparkle isn't in, so i'll stop by some other time. Thank you for your time Spike." I said with a smile. "It was nice meeting you." And nice to not have to deal with my descendant... it's nice to know my family still exists though. Sunlight survived our foal's birth then. I had come to terms with outliving my wife and son long ago. "Nice to meet you too mr?" "Nightshade." I said as me and Zecora stepped out the door. "I should be able to make it home from here, thank you, unless you wish to see my place. It is a very old house that not many know of, although a mare named Trixie has been staying for a while, she seemed in need of a roof over her head." "That blue coated showmare is still near the town? I thought she would have not wished to stick around." Zecora said. "Oh? What happened? I never asked her why she showed up, just if she needed shelter. She's stuck around ever since." "I will let her tell you her tale then. I do not wish to spark any misunderstandings again." Zecora said with a chuckle. "Oh?" "When i first arrived last year, my appearance the ponies did fear. The though i was some kind of evil being, but the truth, twilight coaxed their eyes into seeing." "Ah, yes i know of what you speak of. I have been chased out of a few communities because of my magic's aura." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- In about half an hour we had reached my house, the last few minutes of the trip had passed in silence as i mentally contacted trixie and explained the cover story, which she agreed to go along with in exchange for some tutoring in more powerful magics. Stepping through the overgrown gate, Zecora spotted my house among the dense forest around it. "Do you not keep the trees and vines off of your walls? I do not think you'd want them invading your halls." "I have placed enchantments on the building to prevent nature from getting too friendly with it, although, i do not mind it looking aged as it is, it has a certain charm to it." I said smiling as i saw my protection enchantments had kept the building intact, although vines and moss covered it and the clay roof tiles could use some minor repairs. "Although, i think i should get around to fixing the roof sometime soon." I said opening the large oak door. "Hello Nightshade." Trixie said, putting on an act of familiarity. It's fortunate that a showmare happened to find my house, for if not i'd be in a bit more trouble. I thought as zecora bought the act. "Hello Trixie, I'm sorry about the probable rude awakening yesterday, had a spell blow up in my face and drop me in the Everfree." "That's alright, i was just about to go find some ingredients for a spell if that's alright with you." "That's fine, i was just going to show Zecora the library." "Nice to meet you Zecora. I'm Trixie." The powder blue showmare said. "It is nice to meet you as well. Now shall we see this library if it is still well?" "The spell didn't damage it and i cleaned up any mess in there." Trixie said as she stepped out. In reality she was just going to go to a small clearing and meditate for some time. "Follow me my zebra friend, the library is at this hallway's end." I said with a smile in near-perfect Zebrecain. "Ah my native tongue graces my ears, it is nice to hear after so many years." She said as we stepped into one of the many halls of the house. "Although if you wish we do not have to rhyme all of the time." "That would be a welcome change from when i was in your homeland, why do they rhyme like that?" "It is a method to keep the mind stimulated, for speaking in rhyme is a challenge to most." She said as she started looking around. "Your collection is impressive, many of these books i have only heard of, and i have visited my nations greatest library. How long have you been collecting?" "To be honest the oldest and rarest i inherited from my father, the rest i found in my travels. when you have been as far as the leonine nations to northern draconia, you tend to find a few treasures. I have even been as far south as the penguin nations, although my stay there was short." I said. "That is an impressive amount of distance... would you mind if i borrowed a few of these older tomes?" She asked indicating a few on herbology. "Not at all, I just ask you to allow me to make a copy of your copy of the dark book, i could realy use one." I replied with a smile. "Is that all? an apple would cost me more than that. You would make a terrible entrepreneur." Zecora said laughing "Ah but you cannot put a price tag on knowledge my striped friend." I replied as i picked up a large purple pearl and placed it in a pedastal between two small desks. I the proceeded to lay the dark book upon the one on the left. "One thousand and seventy four pages correct?" I asked as i headed for a door. "Yes, why?" "I placed an ink copying spell in that pearl. I need the same number of pages though." I said as i returned with an iron bound blank book. "I had a feeling i'd be copying this particular title so i already have a suitable blank." "That's rather impressive..." Zecora said as i placed the blank on the second table, opening it to the first page and activating the spell. "For a book this size, it will take roughly a day to copy, i can bring it to your place tomorrow or drop it off at another location if you wish" i said as the first page's ink started to appear on the parchment of the blank. "Hmm... leave it with Ms. Fluttershy, but wrap it up so she does not see the cover, she is a good friend of twilight and i'm afraid Ms. Sparkle would know what that book is, and the legality of that tome." She replied as we walked for the door. "That i will do, it has been a pleasure meeting you Zecora. Stop by any time during the day, at night i'm afraid i have a small family of cockatrices that like to hunt under Luna's moon." I said with a smile. "How many are there, i may have something that can keep them out of your hair." Zecora said, intrigued. "Four to six, i haven't really counted, although they stay within the walls so they are no threat to the town and i don't mind them, they prove to be very reliable guards of the property." I said as we stepped out onto the path from my house. "I will keep that idea in mind, taming manticores, with the right knowledge, is not out of my abilities, and in the everfree they are not hard to find." She said. "That is true." I laughed. "Well, arrivederci Zecora, and have a pleasant day." "Likewise my new friend, and may you find happiness at each day's end." Zecora rhymed as she started away from the house. I smiled as she left and stepped back into the house, mentally contacting Trixie. Showmare, my guest is gone, you may return to the main house. You could have warned me of the cocatrices... She replied, anger tinging the mental speech. Yes, i could have but they let you reach the house so i knew you would be fine. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "So, Ms. Trixie, what am i to do with you?" I said as she entered the library, looking up from the Naturon Demento. "I have quite the problem on my hooves, if i chase you off you'd tell the authorities of my book collection, if i keep you around you'll probably find some of my activities to be darker than what you can handle, and if i let you go your way i'll have no way of ensuring that you keep your mouth shut about my current location." Let us see how good of a thinker she is, and if she could be a possible apprentice... "Well Tr- sorry, I would like to stay around and learn more magic, i have nowhere else to go and i can help out around here..." She said quietly, sounding disappointed. "Even if those jobs involved going into ponyville to get supplies?" I said with a small smirk. "I... I don't know if they would allow me back into their town... last time was there my... stage persona... convinced two young colts to attract an ursa minor to the town and it nearly destroyed it. The incident was blamed on me and if I hadn't left they would have run me out of town." She said with a sigh. "Everything I owned was in my wagon, which was crushed by the Ursa, i've been trying to find the spells i had collected but not yet learned, it has been difficult but i managed to find most of them here... you have quite the remarkable collection." "Second only to canterlot for old spell books..." I said with a smile. "Nothing here aside from the book i am borrowing is under 1000 years old." "That was before the book banishment..." "Yes, Due to dark magic being one of the catalysts for Luna's transformation, Celestia destroyed every book regarding it that she could find. Fortunately she didn't discover my collection." "Don't you mean this collection?" "No i mean my collection, as for how that is possible, well i will explain that later. As for now, what kind of magic would you like to learn? Aside from dragon magic i know most kinds." "Something i can't learn anywhere else, something that i will never again get the chance to learn." She answered with a conviction that surprised me. "... Very well showmare, i will teach you some of the oldest and most powerful magic out there... but be warned, it is more than just fun and games to wield that kind of power." I said as i stood, hamming up the line like i used to, adding that extra zest that would solidify me as the teacher. "What kind of magic?" She asked. The room darkened as i started to speak, all my doing of course, "Magic that has been forbidden for nearly two milenia after the fourth Celestial war, Magic so powerful that Celestia herself fears its might." The only light now came from a runic circle slowly forming on the stone that made up the floor of the library, green fire scribing the lines in the stone. "Its traditional name is the dark arts, but you all call it black magic." Her eyes went wide at that, for i doubt anypony aside from Luna knew much of the old arts, fewer even would know about the dark arts. "So what say you Trixie the Showmare? Do you accept the offer?" "Yes!" She nearly shouted. "Then swear upon my next words. Do you swear to listen to my judgement and only use what i teach you to benefit Equestria?" "I swear it." She said, the flame of the runic circle had spread and now surrounded her with a light blue circle which pulsed at the words. "Do you swear, Trixie, to not harm any being with this magic unless they are a threat to those who prefer peace to the war open knowledge of this magic would cause?" "I do." "And do you swear, Trixie of the Stardust family, the family of my first student in magic," She gasped at that one, "To seek the truth and knowledge that is hidden in the shadows, and to only believe that which is proven true in both day and night, light and shadow, public and private, and to follow the ways of the Lunar Scholar? The ways of one who seeks the truth to protect others, and does what must be done to achieve this end?" With steel in her voice and determination in her eyes, she spoke the final agreement as the circles flared, runes spreading across her body a crescent moon around a lemniscate shining through the fur of her cutie mark before fading away. "The oath has been taken, the seal set and the path of the sun closed, you are now a child of Princess Luna and though we may survive the day we thrive through the moonlit night." I said as the circles faded, the room starting to brighten. "I, Starlight Sparkle, welcome you to the order of Moon Trixie Stardust, your training begins at sundown." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's note: Well that took a little longer, but i'd say it's worth it. Drop a comment below with what you think of it. also, the lemniscate is the infinity symbol --> ∞ P.S. hooray for sudden plot ideas, they are what keep my stories going! Sundown on the first nightAuthor's Note: I am putting in a bit of a background music system now, (copied shamelessly from a different story) although it is not required. ********* = open this in new tab/window and listen while reading, or switch to this music and stop the previous track. ********* = Stop all music Enjoy -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ********* The royal guard was tense, the princesses had asked for privacy and it was nearly sundown. None were allowed in the throne room although you did not need to be within the marble walls of that grand hall to hear the argument that had been occurring. "And you never told me about this why?!" Celestia nearly shouted. "Because you never thought me worthy of knowing about the Solaris clan!" Luna replied, slightly angry. "I know they were studying advanced light magic, so I decided to create an organization to study the darker arts, something you seem to reject as a good idea." "It is a bad idea because time and time again allowing ponies to use that magic has proven to be a mistake! Every single one of them has either gone insane, died from a magical mishap, or been turned into some kind of monster!" "Yes, and I would assume that I fall under the monster category." Luna spat bitterly. "I knew the dangers, and asked for volunteers. Starlight was a blessing on the organization, and one of the first. He already knew a lot about the dark arts and he demonstrated that he could use them to a small degree. He was ages ahead of any of the others at that time, as well as he was ahead of me, which shocked me. I accepted his offer, finding no ill will to Equestria in his heart and made him the head of the Order of the Moon." "How much else did you do behind my back?" Celestia said. "How much more of your prior activities will come back to bite me in the flank?" "My prior activities sister?" Luna asked darkly. "How about how many of yours? Was it I who locked Starlight in stone? Was it I who disbanded the study of magic that was appearing more and more often to harm others? Was it I who prevented others from trying to recognize and stop it? WAS IT I WHO LOCKED MY OWN SISTER IN THE MOON AFTER DESTROYING THE ONLY HOPE OF AVOIDING THAT BECAUSE I FEAR DARK MAGIC?!" she yelled, the room itself seeming to grow darker. ********* Luna's voice echoed through the halls of the castle for a moment or two, the guards just outside of the room cringing at the sheer volume, as well as in fear. There was a resounding silence after that as thing returned to the way they were before. ********* Then Luna spoke again. "If we are to survive into the future sister we have to accept that there are things in this world that can harm us, for me it is light magic, for you, dark magic. I devoted the organization to the study and practice of the dark arts in order to understand them. The Order of the Moon is still around, I have spoke with them and they are continuing the original goal, despite a millennium of setbacks due to Starlight's imprisonment and the Solaris Clan. They continued despite the ongoing efforts of the Solaris Clan to destroy them under an order that seemed to be from you, they are my most loyal, and I believe I will be choosing a lunar guard of members from their order, as you have done with yours." Luna said glancing out the window. "I believe it is time to end the day, and allow a new member of the order to begin her training." "What?!" Celestia said confused. "You mean you didn't feel it? The pulse of magic that accompanies the real initiation to the order? Starlight just initiated a new member, and I am willing to bet that will be more common now that he is back, for those who are with the order will seek him out now that he's announced his return." "Then we follow them to him." Celestia said. "No, I won't do that, I will simply ask him to gather the order and research why I became Nightmare Moon, as well as to re-instate the old ways of the order, they have deviated somewhat over the past millennium." Luna said with a smirk at Celestia's obvious anger at the answer. "Sister I love you but I also have to make sure we are protected, your unwillingness to allow the dark arts to be studied will be your downfall, so allow my order to do what they do best, now that their true leaders have returned. Your order has done well from what I have heard, however there have been incidents of light magic being used for evil as well, you would do well to examine your ranks and weed out the malice within them, as I will do." Luna said as she stepped out onto the balcony, her horn glowing as the moon rose above the horizon. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ********* The wall torches burned an electric blue in their wrought-iron holders along the circumference of the great room. Deep beneath the librairy the room seemed to eminate an aura of the dark magics that had been preformed within. Starlight and Trixie sat opposite each other on deep blue cushions made of fine silk, trimmed with silver thread as the blue unicorn gazed around the stone chamber. It was incredibly tall, at least four floors could be seen around its circumference as the stairs wound their way up, benches lining the railings so others could learn from what was happening below. Along the walls were countless tomes, records of things that had transpired in that room, the spells, the knowledge gained from each experiment, and the names of those lost. Starlight's Cutie Mark, the symbol that the order had chosen, was carved above every door, and was the design that adorned the floor. Great columns, adorned with pieces of obsidian and lapis lazuli held the roof above them up, preventing the library from descending into the earth. At each floor there were torches set into the pillars, shining their ghostly blue light over the hidden library. "Now your training begins." Starlight said after a moment more of silence. "In order to use the dark arts, you must find the strands of dark magic around you, then you must be ready for the sheer power. Stand Trixie, First I will show you what you must be ready for." "Okay..." Trixie said, slightly worried as she stood, the two cushions disappearing as the stones glowed green with the spell circle that formed around the two. "This will allow you to feel what I do when I access the dark magic, it can drive some crazy if they cannot shut off the flow of the magic, so you will first feel it in this manner." I said. "Wha?" Trixie exclaimed as she suddenly saw herself from my point of view, frozen in place. "Your body won't move, but you can still speak. Your senses have been linked with those of my body, that includes your feel of magic." I said. "Now, we begin, follow what I do carefully." I said as I reached out for the magic, the shadowy strands of it appearing to my magical sense as if they were visible. "Do you see them Trixie? Can you feel the power in them?" "Yes... I can." "Good, now can you see the brighter strands?" I said. "Yes, what are they?" "Light magic, your first time doing this will be important for one simple reason, light and dark repel and once you've accessed one it is near deadly to access the other. They repel each other so viciously that if you link the two you could probably take out a good chunk of the castle in Canterlot. Memorize how the dark and light strands feel, for if you screw up you won't be able to learn dark magic." "I... I understand." Trixie said. I gave her a few minutes to memorize the feeling before continuing on. "Next, we access the strands." I said, pulling one of the strands to my horn with magic. The moment they connected power flooded through my body, and the spell circle pulsed, bursting into magical green fire that overpowered the torches. "Can you feel it Trixie? The power to mold the world around you with shadow? The ability to walk through the shadows of the night unseen? The power that can be used to either strike fear into the hearts of the innocent or those that wish to harm them?" "I can... it's almost too much." "Which is why I am guiding you this time, until you get used to it. I have had other students delve into things ahead of when they were ready loose their minds, their lives, or morph into demonic forms. A few of those kept their sanity so they were allowed to stay around as guards. The same will happen with light magic if you are not careful. Now, you guide the magic this time." I said as I cut off the flow of magic and allowed Trixie control of my magic. ********* -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Earlier that day... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ********* Time Keeper was a humble earth pony with an hourglass cutie mark, keeping to himself and his timepiece shop. The small business was one of the most renowned clock shops in the area due to his ability to make clocks that kept near perfect time, as well as his ability to repair clocks that most others could not. He had set up shop in Ponyville to get away from Fillydelphia's hustle and bustle, as well as to replace a member of the order of the moon who had passed away. He was just repairing a small black clock, about the size of two stacked apples, when he heard the jangle of the chimes above his door. "Hello, welcome, how may I... Ah, Shade, Your clock is almost done." He said smiling. "Did you feel it?" Shade asked excitedly. "Feel what? I've been fixing clocks all afternoon and you know I am all but oblivious to anything but those door chimes." Time said, slightly irritated at having to remind his friend of that fact again. "Moments ago... there was a pulse from east of the town just moments ago... It felt like old magic of the order..." Shade said. "What?" Time said. "How? only a few of us know that magic, fewer can actually use it... This merits investigation." "I thought so too... we well check it out tonight. Hopefully none of the solars felt that." Time put down the small screwdriver he was working with, smiling. "Screw em and finding it tonight. Let's go find the source of that pulse." he said hanging a closed sign over the door and stepping out. He turned and they walked past the neighboring store, BonBon's Candy Emporium. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Next door -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Lyra, did you feel that?" a cream colored earth pony said, perking up behind the register at her candy shop. "I think I did Bon... Think we should close up shop and investigate?" The mint colored unicorn said, sitting up from her slouched position. "It's probably nothing... that felt like something negligible, probably Twilight screwing around with magic and spike interrupting again." "Yeah, probably... still, do you think we should check it out? I mean, we are the only members of Solaris in the area..." "True, but the elements of harmony are around, I'm sure if anything goes wrong they can handle it. Besides, you can see Canterlot from here, if it's anything we or the elements can't handle I'm sure Celestia would be here in a flash." "Yeah, good point. Hmm, there goes Time and Shade, wonder what they're up to..." "Who cares, those two airheads are never involved in anything important." "Yeah, they barely do anything aside from tending their shops at all." Lyra said and both started laughing. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's Note: There ya go fillies and gentlecolts, the next chapter. Sorry if I missed anything in the editing. Also, let me know what you thought of the music system, as well as suggestions for background music if you think a song doesn't fit. Ciao and thanks for reading. Night and DayAuthor's Note: I'm ditching the music system unless there's a large amounts of people asking for it back. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Time and Shade pressed through the thick foliage that grew along the small path, their hooves sinking into the soft moss that covered it, showing that while three others had followed the path recently, only one had returned. "Time... I don't think we're going the right way..." Shade said nervously. "Relax shade, it'll be fine, besides, somepony came this way recently, look at the plants that line the path, some of them have broken twigs." Time said as he forged onward. "Shouldn't I be leading? you can't use any normal magic and I don't think the order's magic would be easy to explain if an earth pony used it." Shade said. "Will you quit your whining? I'm trying to follow the path here." "Whining? My friend I am not whining, I am complain- why'd you sto..." The deep blue unicorn's jaw dropped at the sight of the estate. "Think this is it?" "I think we can be sure of it, look at the gateposts." The two grey stone pillars holding up the wrought iron gate bore the symbol of the Order of the Moon, as well as a depiction of Luna's cutie mark was the central design in the large gate. Beyond that the ferns, shrubs, and trees seemed to be growing wild, yet in such a way that all the cobblestone paths through the grounds were clear from obstruction. As they stepped through the gate, the hinges not uttering a sound despite their age, they could see the vines covering the walls and roof. "Who lives here?" Shade muttered as he glimpsed a small garden of various plants from the Everfree down one of the paths, recognizing only the deep blue leaves of poison joke among the garden. "I don't know... but this may be the house of the founder..." Time said excitedly. "Look at the door, it bears the motto of the order, as well as his cutie mark." The heavy ebony door was decorated with patterns that weaved through each other, making it impossible to find any single beginning or end. 'In the shadows we hide, for the moon we stand.' was engraved around the edges of the order's symbol, the heavy brass knocker sitting in the middle of the door depicted a unicorn holding and ancient scroll which the curved ring made of a silvery chain with it's links welded together hung from. "Should we knock?" Shade asked. "Probably, what harm can it do?" Time replied, pulling on the blue tassel that hung from the knocker, lifting the ring before allowing it to fall with a resounding knock. "Daymn... that thing is loud." "Probably enchanted... usual cover story?" Shade asked as he turned to look over at time. "Yeah, usual." Time said, jumping as the door opened of its own accord. Shade shivered at that, glancing to the sky. "Almost night... sun's about to set. Think we should try to head back?" "Through those woods? Hell nah. That would be asking to get lost, let's just get inside before something attacks us." "Sounds good to me brony." Shade muttered as he stepped inside with Time, the door closing with a thud behind them. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Luna sat in her study, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth, its light reflecting off of the polished onyx that rimmed the fireplace. Silver inlays depicting her moon's phases danced across the arched mantle, allowing room for only her abacus of fine silver and polished obsidian room atop the graceful arch. The rooms walls were covered in bookshelves, or rather the obsidian shelves were part of the walls. six grand pillars rose through the room, the candles held in delicate silver holders adorning their sides casting a warm glow through the room. A small click was heard from the direction of one of the bookshelves before it swung inwards, revealing a hidden passage. A blue and white maned unicorn stepped out. "Ah Colgate, thank you for arriving so soon." Luna said smiling. "You're welcome Your Highness, although the sudden summons and the method of my entrance has me wondering why I was called." Colgate said. "I need a message delivered to the order, and you are one of the three, actually come to think of it it's four now, living ponies that know of that passage." "Well that makes se... wait four? Who else did you show?" Colgate asked curiously. "Nopony you'd know personally, but he is somepony you've heard of, and he is the reason why I need this message delivered." Luna said, smiling. "Come sit, I have some tea that I think a connoisseur such as yourself would enjoy. It's an import from Neighpon." "Oh?" "Yes, Gyokuro, or Jade Dew in Common Equestrian. It was a gift from their ambassador upon my return." Luna said pouring a cup for the other unicorn, as well as refilling her own. "I have heard of it before your majesty, it is one of their finest teas and I thank you for allowing me to partake in it." Colgate said smiling. "Colgate, you know you don't have to be so formal around me when the other aristocrats aren't around, I get enough of that though my daily life as is..." Luna joked, sipping her tea. "I'm sorry Luna," Colgate said in a less formal tone of voice as she chuckled. "I just spend so much time with the aristocracy that it sort of sticks. I am one of the orders only nobles after all..." "Yes, which is why you were the one I asked for. It seems an old friend of mine has broken free of his prison, you remember that odd storm a few days ago? The one my sister claimed was caused by a, and I quote, 'overzealous weather patrol who were trying to clear clouds." Luna said chuckling at the poor excuse. "Yes, I do recall that. What about it?" "Well it was not so much as the storm that was important, more the cause that was. It seems that that statue of the Order's founder wasn't a statue so much as it was him trapped in stone. I discovered this and in my confusion ran, which caused a few of the castle's gardening staff to take an interest in the statue. When they probed it with their magic he siphoned off their magic reserves and used that to break free, the act of which caused that storm. Unlike Discord he couldn't escape without such a light show, due to his seal still being rather strong." "Starlight has returned? Is that the message you want me to deliver?" Colgate asked once she pulled her jaw off the floor. "Not just that, I would also like you to relay to the two agents of ours in Ponyville to keep an ear out for any news regarding a black and gray unicorn with starlight's cutie mark. I sensed him casting the mark of the lunar scholar earlier, which means the Order has a new member as well." "The mark of the Lunar Scholar?" "More commonly known as the order's symbol, Starlight devised a spell that would mark a member of the order with said symbol. It was lost when he was locked away though, so he's currently the only one who knows how to cast it." "Ah..." Colgate said as she finished her tea. "Well then I'd best be on my way to deliver your message Luna." "Oh, Colgate, one more thing," "Yes? Your highness?" The aristocratic tone back in her voice. "Let the Order know that I will soon be calling a gathering, I wish to examine the current members and determine if any wish to use the knowledge that they could gain for more... nefarious purposes than just research." "Of course Your Highness." Colgate said as she stepped out and closed the bookcase behind her. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Man this place is huge..." Shade said as the duo turned down another hall. "You need a freaking map just to get around here..." "I know, but at least we know it's Starlight's place..." Time said as he pushed open the door to the library. "Woah... jackpot..." "By the moon..." Shade muttered. Rows upon rows of bookshelves spanned the hoofball field sized room with stone pillars rising from among the shelves to support the roof. a large circular area in the center of the library had cushions around a circular fire pit, which was enchanted to keep sparks from drifting off. at the far side of the library they could see the pedestals that held the copying book as well as the entrance to the storage room. "This is amazing... let's see what kind of books are here..." Time said galloping down the stairs, heading for the reading area where an ancient tome sat upon a desk that would be at eye height when lying on the nearby cushion. "Time will you please slow down?" Shade said trying to keep up with his friend. "Time waits for nopony." The brown stallion quipped as he stopped by the tome. "Lesse here... old draconic, that's rare. Septiola si no ma tarathra ma kæ nothra... it can't be." Time trailed off as he placed a bookmark at the page and closed the tome, gasping at the title. "By the moon! This is a Naturon Demonto..." "What? are you sure?" Shade said as he stepped up beside Time. "Positive... I think we just found a treasure trove. Imagine what else could be here!" Suddenly the door to the library slammed shut as Starlight materialized ten feet from the two startled stallions. "I assure you there are many more tomes like that here, as well as other forbidden information. Shame you'll never be able to tell anypony about it unless you can come up with a viable excuse for this intrusion." He said as the torches around the library went out, leaving only the fire pit for a light source as the two stallions froze in fear. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: Well that's another chapter for you. Lemme know if you spot any errors, I've read through it a few times but I could have missed something. here's starlight's cuite mark, i got bored in class the other day. Starlight's CM I have the order's symbol sketched out, however my camera died on me so i can't transfer and ink it like i want to, so that'll have to wait untill I can figure out what broke. Also, i may be trying to build some of these scenes in Minecraft soon, so if anyone is interested in helping clear some room on a server, just PM or e-mail me. Discovery"Woah, woah woah!" The brown intruder said after he recovered from the shock. "I'm Time Keeper, this is Shade. We were just exploring and we didn't think anypony lived here. We're scholars and the only reason for our curiosity with this place is the symbols on the gateposts, we've seen them before but we do not know what they mean." "I could tell you, but then again I still have to decide on what is to be done with you... I can't just send you on your way seeing as you know what that book is, where did you learn of that book?" I said, curious now. If luck is on my side for once these two will be with the order... then again luck is not something to rely on. "Well, I'm the only one who knows that language between the two of us, I attended Celestia's school for gifted unicorns when I was younger an-" "Enough with the story, just say it, I can tell you're lying." I said. "Tell me, did you recognize the mark on the front door?" "Well..." Time was about to speak when Shade cut him off. "Look, we work for an organization that hope to preserve forbidden knowledge, and yes we recognized that symbol, why?" I chuckled as I walked over to the Naturon Demonto, taking care to stay between them and the fire so they couldn't see my cutie mark. "Depending on your answer I may make you a copy of this thing, what's the name of your organization?" The two looked to each other, "Er, may we have a moment?" The unicorn said before casting a sound damper around them. I couldn't help but chuckle at the earth pony's animated behavior, it was pretty clear that he wanted a copy of the Naturo Demonto. The unicorn however, seemed like the wiser of the two and kept his cool, probably denying the earth pony his request. This proceeded for a moment or two until they dropped the sound shield. "I swear Shade you're an idiot for not wanting that book..." The brown one said sighing. "How about this, We know that that symbol on the door is the cutie mark of the Order of the Moon's founder." "Hmm... glad to hear they still remember me." I said with a chuckle allowing the torches to re-light and reveal me. "S-Starlight Sparkle!" Shade yelped and froze up like one of those fainting goats. Time's jaw hit the floor, well figuratively of course. "Er, do you mind showing us a spell? We have to be sure you're not a Solaris." Time said. "Of course, name a spell." I said chuckling. "Hmm... Zoltiev's third shadow shield spell." Time said with a small smile. "Hmm... child's play." I said as the arcane circle flared into existence around me as the semi-transparent shield formed. Once more the earth pony's jaw dropped. "Okay, I'll take your word for it... Even Midnight Star has problems with that one and he's our most powerful." Shade said dragging himself up. "But how?" "Well, after discovering my studies Celestia locked me in stone for a millennium. As I was writing down the Initiation spell too, probably screwed you guys over on that front." I said with a chuckle. "Trixie, you can come out now, they're with the order." "That's good... Trix- sorry, I wouldn't want to have to fight anyone at this point." Trixie said as she stepped out from the bookshelves. "In any case, I take it you two felt that pulse earlier?" I said with a chuckle as I noticed Shade was blushing a little. Time noticed this and cuffed the black unicorn on the back of the head. Oh these two are entertaining. "Yes, we did and we came to investigate. It felt like the order's magic. What was that spell?" Time said as Trixie started giggling at the wall eyed expression the cuff had left on Shade's face. "That was the mark of the Lunar Scholar, the spell used to mark members of the Order so we would know if somepony was in the know or not." I said chuckling. "I was initiating Trixie here, she expressed an interest in dark magic and the oaths cast during the initiation ensure that she's trustworthy." "Really?" Time said. "That would be useful to learn, we've had problems with spies of late." "That it would be, but first, would you like to see the catacombs? Well, I like to call them that at least, has a nice ring to it." I said with a chuckle. "Um, sure." Shade said. "Don't worry, it's just the old school, the only dangerous part is full of water, and that's why it is dangerous." I said with a chuckle as I opened the hidden door behind the scroll rack. "Right this way, oh and mind your step, the first one is a doozy, old elevator spells are always fun." I said, stepping out into the open air of the shaft behind the bookcase and falling the sixty or so feet before the spell caught me and placed me gently on my hooves, followed shortly by the other two who screamed the whole way down, and then Trixie. "NEXT TIME WARN ME!" Shade said, his legs shaking as he rounded on Trixie. Time, meanwhile, had broken down into fits of laughter from a combination of his friend's reaction and adrenaline. "Please, Tr-sorry- I knew you wouldn't want to jump so I decided to show you it was harmless." Trixie said, chuckling to herself. "Oh by the moon Shade, your face... that was just priceless!" Time said in between gasps of air. "I have never seen anypony's eyes get that big!" I just chuckled as I started down the corridor towards the training room where Trixie and I had been. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- in Canterlot -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Deep in the dungeons of Canterlot Castle, a soundless conversation was beginning between a pair of statues. Ah, finally, I can contact you. A voice sounded through Ghost Spear's head. Who is this if I may ask. The petrified warrior replied. Oh come now, you don't recognize the voice of one of your most powerful enemies? Discord... lovely now you can torment me. Oh I intend to do nothing of the sort. Instead I am offering you a chance to be free, I can free you seeing as your entrapment spell is weaker, however I need your word that you will help me with something... Name your terms draconequis. It is simple, do as you do best and cause a war, find an existing conflict and escalate it as you so love to do. Promise me to do this and then I shall free you. Would that not free you due to all of the disorder? Yes, well that is kind of the point my fellow statue, however this time I do not wish to throw the world into chaos, just add a bit more to the existing one, give the ponies a little more strife for my years trapped. I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance... but I've changed since then. I accept your terms discord. Very well, I shall free you, but be ready to run, as you noticed somepony else escaped recently so they'll be wary of the rest of you. For the embodiment of chaos you sure do plan ahead... I call it organized chaos, for if you are a step ahead of your adversary, you tend to loose less. Discord said as Ghost felt a pulse of magic shatter his prison -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- four others felt this pulse, The royal sisters, Twilight, and Starlight. In a sheer bout of irony they all uttered the same words at it: "That can't be good..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- author's note: Hello again everypony, sorry about the length of this one, just haven't been able to write of late. In any case, this new direction should help me. still looking for a pre-reader so if anypony wouldn't mind i'm sure i missed a few things in there... call em as you see em. Back from the everfree"Deep within the Everfree forest sits the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, the former capital of Equestria. Now, I say former because I discovered upon my first teleport that Canterlot is now the capital, well, not that it matters much to me however it is the setting of a recounting of how one of our more... unique members came to be with the order, although she cannot access our magic she has proved to be invaluable in teaching our members combat skills due to her heritage. I believe she will make a fine commander of our Shadowalkers after a year or two, and when she learns some discipline." An excerpt from the journal of Starlight Sparkle, Head Scholar of the Order of the Moon -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The halls of the Castle of the Royal Pony sisters were silent these days, very few sentient creatures dared face the dangers of the Everfree to reach them and the magics left over from Celestia's banishment of Nightmare Moon kept all but the insects away, however this night faint snoring could be heard coming from one of the more intact towers in the old castle. A brown and white form lay on a mattress that clearly had been placed there recently. New timber supports for the failing walls were wedged in haphazardly and the roof was repaired in much the same way. A single oil lamp sat in the corner, unlit for the time being as the owner had no use for it in her sleep. Ancient paintings adorned the wall, only a few containing recognizable pictures of the lunar princess in her former glory. Elegant tarnished silver sconces adorned the walls, a few missing here and there having been removed to sell for bits, for the inhabitant of the castle still needed some supplies from the civilized world. The elegant ebony four post bed had seen better days, and so had it's occupant. Slowly, as if apologetically the sun crested over the trees and a shaft of light fell through the remaining intact window and onto the white feathered head of the sleeping tenant. Stirring from her slumber, Gilda stretched and climbed off of the quilt covered mattress. "Another beautiful morning in the everfree..." The griffin sighed as she looked out the window, eyes devoid of any happiness. Morning dew glistened upon the boughs of the trees and scattered the light of the morning sun, causing the light to dance among the drooping leaves of the willows. A slight smile appeared on the griffin's beak as she opened a chest in the corner of the room, withdrawing some salted meat before descending stepping out of a broken window and flying down to a fire pit in the courtyard. While there was an elegant fireplace in the tower room, she only used that in the winter and when it was raining, wood was a pain to fly up to the tower in large amounts. The uncut grass swayed in the breeze as she flicked open a small pony fire starter, the contained spell creating a small green flame that quickly took to the dry wood she placed in the small fire pit, fashioned from an old fountain. Skewering the meat upon a metal spearshaft she had found, she began to roast it over the small blaze, singing a slow tune to herself as she cooked. "Though far from your nest-mates and mother, and friendly skies are but a dream, remember these words of another, as insignificant as they may seem. Keep an eye to the sky for her good graces, and remember what you learn from all the places, that you go in your travels, and as your path unravels, know that your fate is yours alone, and remember, remember those days at home. Wherever your wings may take you, don't let others words break your and remember your lessons, and remember your blessings, for without them you'll be alone, but always remember, those days at home and when they fight you, stand strong as you must do and hold agaisnt their blows, though they try to cause harm do not be alarmed, for why they do this the sky only knows. and remember, those days at home." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Hey applebloom!" Scootaloo and Sweete Belle called out to the other filly as they walked up to Sweet Apple Acres. "What's up girls." The yellow filly called back, trotting up to them. "Ah just finished my chores for the day." "Good, because I think I have a plan to get us our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said energetically. "Oh? How?" Applebloom asked, her attention caught by the prospect of a chance at a cutie mark. "Rarity mentioned an old castle in the Everfree, and I'm willing to bet that there's some kind of treasure in there." Sweetie belle said. "Yeah, Dash mentioned it once too, it's where they defeated Nightmare Moon!" Scootaloo chimed in. "Cool, how do we get there?" Applebloom asked eagerly. "Well, there's a path to it i'm willing to bet, I mean it is a Castle. Let's go grab some saddlebags and treasure hunting supplies from the barn!" Scootaloo said. "CUITIE MARK CRUSADERS TREASURE HUNTERS!" The three yelled before speeding off into the barn. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Gilda sighed as she picked up the axe and got to work on a tree that was near the castle's walls, her powerful swings rending inch deep cuts with every swing, the large tree shaking with each swing. a number of other stumps attested that this was not the first tree she had brought down, although the forest was already getting to work on new trees to replace the old ones. The thuds of the axe reverberated slightly among the trees. A few minutes later there was a loud crash as the tree fell, followed by more thuds as Gilda went to work on removing the branches, the smaller ones only taking a swing or two to remove, while the larger ones she left for later as a pile of firewood slowly stacked up in the old guardhouse. Leaning against the doorframe the griffin took a drink from her canteen. "Yaknow... I should go back to Ponyville soon, say sorry... and thank you..." she muttered, musing to herself as she looked at the forest. "I was a bit of a bitch, but getting kicked out of Gryphus will do that to ya..." She closed her canteen and went back over to the fallen tree, resuming her work. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Are ya' sure this is the right way scoots?" Applebloom asked as they trotted along an overgrown path through the everfree. "I'm as sure as Rainbow Dash can fly." Scootaloo replied earning a look from Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. "Ah don't think that's proper grammar." Applebloom said, thinking back to the previous day's lesson. "Yes, I'm pretty sure it would be 'I'm as sure of that as I'm sure that Rainbow Dash can fly." Sweetie added. "Ah buzz off you two, you know I don't care." Scootaloo said as they reached a river. "Great, now what're we gonna do?" Applebloom asked. "Ah mean Ah don't think that Ah can swim that far." "Me neither, besides I would rather not get wet." "Now I really wish I could fly... it's starting to get late." Scootaloo said looking at the sun's position in the sky. "Relax Scoot," Applebloom said reassuringly. "Ah reckon we still got a few hours before we haveta' head back." "Uh, girls," Sweetie belle said looking at the river. "Does water usual do that?" "Do what?" Scootaloo said looking at the water. There was a ripple in the water heading towards the shore. "Ah ain't ever seen it do that before..." Applebloom said, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. Suddenly a large purple head surfaced, the sea serpent's orange hair and moustache surprisingly well maintained despite the water. "Why hello there!" It said cheerily. Applebloom was the first to recover. "Uh, Hello." She said. "Ah beg yer pardon, but what are you?" "Me?" The sea serpent asked. "Well I'm a Sea Serpent darling. Oh arn't the three of you just the cutest!" He rose a bit more out of the water and placed his elbows on the shore. "I'm Steven Magnet, what do they call you three precious little things?" "Well, Ah'm Applebloom," The young farmpony said happily. "The orange pegasis there is Scootaloo and the other one is Sweetie Belle." "Yeah, We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo said as she knocked Applebloom aside. "Ow, what in the hay was that for?" Sweetie Belle said as Applebloom landed on her. "Whoops..." Scootaloo said sheepishly as Steven chuckled. "What are you three darlings doing this far into the Everfree?" The sea serpent asked. "Well we were treasure hunting, but I don't see a way across this river, we're looking for an old castle." Sweetie Belle explained while Applebloom tackled Scootaloo "Oh, I know where you're talking about. It's not far from here once you get across the river." "Yeah well that's the problem. None of us think we can make the swim." "Well that won't do now." Steven said. "Here," he said as his tail rose out of the water. "Hop on you three." "Thanks Mr. Magnet." Applebloom said as she got off of Scootaloo and helped the other filly up before climbing on. "Yeah, thanks!" Scootaloo echoed as Sweetie helped her up. Steven then carefully moved his tail across the river and let the three fillies hop off. "Take care darlings, meet me back here when you're done at that old place and I'll swim you to Ponyville, I can't have you too exhausted now." Steven said waving as the three trotted off down the path again. "Will do Mr. Magnet!" Applebloom called back before they rounded a corner out of sight. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A laugh of triumph sounded through the woods as a large chunk of the trunk split off after an hour of hacking. Gilda looped a rope around it and started to pull it to where the guardhouse was. "Man, if only the rest of those loosers from Snowpeak could see me now. I bet I could beat em in a fight now... I wonder how Jackle is doing..." She thought out loud as she pulled. After about five minutes the log was inside the castle walls. Removing the rope Gilda took off, heading for the main courtyard to refill her canteen in the spring there. As she flew over the old banquet hall she could hear voices arguing. "Who the hell is this far into the Everfree?" "Ah'm tellin you that it ain't gonna budge featherbrain." Gilda heard as she spotted three fillies standing in front of the castle's main door. A yellow earth pony with a red bow was arguing with an orange peagasis while a white unicorn looked around the courtyard. The hell're three kids doing here? Gilda thought swooping lower. "hey, you three, what are you doing here?" She called out. "What in the hay?" Applebloom said as she jumped as Gilda landed. "Who're you?" "Eh, just a nobody." Gilda replied nonchalantly. "What are you three doing this far into the Everfree, it's dangerous here at night." "We're looking for treasure." Scootaloo said turning to the griffin. "Hey, I recognize you, Gilda right?" "Y-yeah, how'd you know?" Gilda said surprised. Oh please don't mention last year... "Rainbow dash has a photo of you in her house, I visit there every now and then when someone helps me get up there." Scootaloo said. "It's from junior flyers camp." "Hmm, you wouldn't happen to be Scootaloo would you?" Gilda asked. "Yep." "Dash mentioned you when I was visiting Ponyville." "That's where ah remember you from!" Applebloom cut in. "You were at that party that went south last year..." Gilda sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't bring that up. I'm not proud of how I acted back then, I was going through some tough times and overreacted." "Ah'll say." Applebloom said. "But that's fine." the filly said as she looked up at the sky. "Uh-oh..." "What is it?" Gilda asked. "Ah don't think we'll make it back to the river by nightfall..." "Hmm..." Gilda thought. "Tell ya what, I've cleaned up a tower here and i'm living there, If you want to stay the night i'm sure we could figure something out. Either that or I'll walk ya to the river, i know the way and Steven should be willing to swim ya back to Ponyville." "Stay here? That would be so AWESOME!" Scootaloo said grinning. "Ah dunno..." Applebloom said. "If mah sister catches us in the Everfree again Ah'll get grounded for a month..." "Well I don't want to intrude but it is rather late..." Sweetie Belle said. "Consdarn it... Allright we'll stay the night." Applebloom said. "Okay, follow me, i'll take you to the tower." Gildia said, heading towards an opening in one of the interior walls of the castle. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's note: Well, I've decided to cut away from the main story for a while, i got the idea to do this after listening to Jackleapp's song Winter. Don't worry, we'll be back to normal before long, I just don't argue with my muse when it comes to things like story ideas. Moonlit Peril"Right this way you three." Gilda said as she took another turn out into the courtyard where she had eaten breakfast. "Wait here for a moment, I'll go grab some wood for a fire." The three fillies nodded and sat by the soot blackened fountain base. "Woah..." Scootaloo muttered, causing the other two crusaders to look at her. "What is it scoot?" Sweetie Belle inquired, noticing the other filly was looking up. "Wow..." the white unicorn said as she imitated her pegasis friend. The sky above them was clearer than they had ever seen it. Amidst the deep black of space the billions of small pinpricks of light twinkled and flickered, dancing across the dome of the sky. The silver moon, not nothing but a small curved sliver of silver light hung in the sky like a silver canoe, simple yet elegant. As they sat mesmerized by the sight, Gilda returned with the firewood. She glanced up to see what the fillies were looking at and was entranced too. "Ah don't think ah've ever seen it this clear, even from mah place." Applebloom said after a little while. "Yeah, too much light pollution in Ponyville I suppose." Scootaloo said, drawing a look from her two friends. "What? I occasionally spend the night at twilight's place. She's taught me a bit about the night sky." "Twilight... Isn't that the purple unicorn?" Gilda asked as she set the logs in the firepit. "Yeah, she's real nice." "Why do you stay there sometimes though?" Gilda asked, lighting the wood. "She your sister or something?" Scootaloo looked down, a look of sadness crossing her face. "No... my dad sometimes gets in these moods and..." "Shh, kid." Gilda said, putting a wing around the orange filly.. "I understand. My folks were the same, heck my whole town was. I was always the runt of the town. Everyone went after me when they needed to beat something up, toughened me up. I didn't have many friends, well sides Dash, but I didn't say anything about it to her." "Why not?" Scootaloo asked puzzled. "Pride I suppose. Back then I did my best to put on a tough attitude, I guess I thought that if I told Dash she'd think I was weak and look down on me." "Ah don't think Dash would look down on anyone for that, 'specially not her friends." Applebloom said. "What'd ya do to the people who were mean to ya?" "Nothing at first, then I started to fight back. Took some lessons on how to fight, heck even bought a sword at one point, but that caused things to get real bad. I nearly died at one point. Hold that thought, I'm gonna go grab something for us to eat, er, do you three mind if I have some meat?" Sweetie Belle and Applebloom shook their heads, Scootaloo looked a bit nervous though. "Something wrong Scoots?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Well... It's just..." She began but was cut off by Applebloom. "Bit unsettled by tha' whole meat thing?" "Yeah." "It's alright, I'll do that after you three are asleep then." Gilda said with a smile. "I understand, most ponies don't run into any kind of carnivore." "Thanks." Scootaloo said as Gilda took off to the tower. "Ya know, she ain't so bad anymore." Applebloom said watching Gilda fly to the tower. "Yeah, we should invite her back, I mean, taking the three of us in for the night is an awfully nice thing to do... according to my sister we can be a bit irritating sometimes..." Sweetie belle said with a giggle. "I suppose I can see why she would say that..." Scootaloo said, and soon all three fillies were giggling at the joke. The three fillies stopped giggling as Gilda suddenly turned around and started yelling something at them. "...un! Get into the trees, HYDRA! GET MOVING!" -=-=-=- optional music: Ace Combat 5 OST - Scinfaxi -=-=-=- "Wut is she? Oh buck..." Was all Applebloom could say before screaming like the other three crusaders and running towards the opening in the castle's wall. The Hydra tore apart a chunk of the tower as its attention turned to the three fillies rather than the griffon who was flying out of its reach. It roared as the tower proceeded to fall on its tail, momentarily stopping it. Gilda swooped in low and yelled to the crusaders, "Scoot! jump onto my back! You two, get ready to be picked up!" Scootaloo looked back and jumped up, using what little flying ability she had to gain some hang time as Gilda swooped under her and pulled up, the orange filly landing on her back. There was a loud crash as the hydra broke free of the rubble, by now rather angry. "Heads up girls!" The other two crusaders yelped as Gilda scooped them up, holding them tightly in her front arms. "Scoots, hang on tight, I can't climb or go much faster holding the three of you so we're going through the trees!" Gilda yelled over the air rushing past them as the forest loomed ahead, the underbrush barely visible in the moonlight. In seconds they were screaming, figuratively in Gilda's case, and literally in the case of the crusaders, through the forest. The trees whipped past, coming within inches of Gilda's large hazelnut as they flew, speeding within a foot of most of the undergrowth of the Everfree. If I can just make it to the river Steven will help us. I have to save these kids, they are NOT dying on my watch! Gilda thought, her face set in grim determination. She glanced back and saw the hydra tearing through the thick trees, furious that its meal was escaping. It was gaining slowly, it's speed and ability to just charge through the forest allowing it to catch up to the weighted down, weaving griffon. Gilda looked back just in time to see a small branch from a tree inches from her face. She screached in agony as pain erupted from the right side of her face, causing her to loose concentration and dip. The underbrush clawed at her and the fillies momentarily before they burst out, rolling to a stop beside the river. "Gilda!" Applebloom yelled running to the injured griffon, the other two crusaders following suit. "I'm... fine." She said, grunting at the pain. "STEVEN! HELP!" She yelled, the smooth river rippling as the serpent surfaced. "Oh my... what happened to you four?" He asked. "No time, get the fillies to Ponyville I'll distract the hydra!" Gilda said, flapping her powerful wings and shooting into the air, flying for the hydra. "H-Hydra!" The serpent said, looking around in shock. "Gilda!" the crusaders yelled as the sea serpent snapped out of his shock and scooped them up. "Come on you three, oh I do hope she knows what she's doing..." Steven said as he placed them on his back, looking back in the direction of the hydra's roars before shooting down the river. -=-=-=-=-=-=- end music -=-=-=-=-=-=- "Alright, that was better Trixie, try again." Starlight said smiling as the powder blue unicorn sighed and concentrated, deep blue shadows gathering around her horn. "Remember, patience is important." A deep blue mist gathered over a spot about a foot wide on the river, and soon a sphere of water was lifted, it's outside rippling and contorting as the showmare tried to keep it stable. "Very good, now move it over yourself." Starlight said and smiled as his student hovered the ball of water. Time and Shade kept watch along the riverbank. They had all decided that it would be a good night to go out for a stroll and had ended up by the river to do a bit of training, and for Starlight to see how much magic they knew. "Heads up everypony, something's coming down the river!" Time said, his ears perking at the sound of young voices. Trixie's concentration broke and the shadow magic dissipated dropping the sphere of water onto her. "Gah! That's cold!" "Shh..." Time said, motioning for the others to be quiet. "... have to go back, there's no way she can defeat that thing on her own!" "Girls, she knows what she's doing and she asked me to get you to Ponyville, she's buying us time." "Well I'll be, a sea serpent." Starlight said. "Good evening sir! May I ask what is going on?" "Oh thank goodness someone!" The serpent said. "Can you take these three back to Ponyville, a griffon friend of mine is distracting the hydra that was after them but I don't know how long Gilda can last." Steven said in a panicked voice. Starlight's smile faded, replaced with a serious expression. "We'll help, how far back down the river is it?" "About a mile, I swam as fast as I could." Steven said. "Got it, keep going, Ponyville isn't far, we'll help Gilda." he said. "Alright, time to see if you three can fight, let's move!" He said galloping down the riverbank, the other three following suit. "Oh I hope they make it..." Steven said, the crusaders nodding as they took off down the river again. -=-=-=-=-=- BG music: Ace Combat 5 OST - Hrimfaxi -=-=-=-=-=- Gilda panted as she dived at the hydra once again, weaving past it's attempts to eat her and raking her claws along one of it's necks. Flying just out of range she yelled hoarsely, "C'mon? Is that all you got you overgrown tadpole!" Just a minute longer, then I can fly off, they should be far enough away by then. Wings don't fail me now! Gilda thought making another swoop. The hydra had other plans however. It had cost the beast an eye and some blood but it finally had figured out the griffon's attack style. It feinted as if to snap at Gilda again but the another head swung at her and knocked her clear across the river the two were fighting beside. "GAH!" Gilda yelped in pain as she flew through the air, unable to recover. She landed with a thud on the opposite bank, the hydra following, intent on finishing off the pesky griffon. Well... I guess this is it... Gilda thought, trying to drag herself to her feet, but two of her legs had been broken by the hydra's swing and the impact from landing. Sorry I can't make it back kids. Hope ya let Dash know that I died saving your hides. She braced for the hydra's bite as one of the heads shot out towards her. "SE'RITETHUS!" someone yelled nearby and they hydra roared, a sharp bang echoing through the forest. Gilda raised her head and saw four ponies running up to her, three unicorns and an earth pony. The unicorn's horn was surrounded by a dark colored haze as he fired another spell at the hydra, another unknown word pouring from his mouth as the hydra was hit by a bolt of white lightning. Another unicorn, this one powder blue backed up the black one, adding a dazzling display of illusion magic to the mix, the bright flashes and images that kept flashing into existence around the hydra disorienting it. The earth pony and grey unicorn ran up to her. "Mam, Miss Gilda? Can you stand?" The unicorn asked as they reached her. "No, the landing broke two of my legs I think..." She said, before breaking down into a fit of coughing red flecks landing on the sand in front of her. "Oh that ain't good..." "Oh buck..." The earth pony said spotting the flecks of blood. "Probably a punctured lung... two broken legs, that wing doesn't look right, probably dislocated... and that eye is probably beyond repair. She needs profession medical help, Shade can get her there, can you handle the hydra?" "With ease." the grey one said as he turned. "Shade! Trixie! Stand back." The two immediately got out of the way and stopped casting, and ran back behind the gray one. "In the moon's name, rain down from the heavens." He said, his voice level, the little light there was seeming to lessen around them. "Ma'tae'si." A black aura flared around his horn as hundreds of inch thick silver rods rained down from the sky, each one terminating in a needle's point. The hydra was unable to escape as the deadly downpour tore into its body, ending its life. "Get her to a hospital, I'll clean this up." the grey one said as Gilda lost her grip on the world, the last thing she saw was a black circle opening in the air in front of them. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: 'pologies for the delay, i've just not had the muse to write here for the past little while, hope I can make it up to y'all. as per usual I gots no editor so any spelling and grammar errors lemme know, and please let me know what you think. Also, if some of the behavior of the characters seems weird (or Starlight being an OP Gary sue) i will explain/fix these issues in due time. return of the showmareIt had been a relatively uneventful day for Nurse Redheart, actually it had been a rather uneventful week for the medical mare seeing as there hadn't been many injuries and the majority of the patients that were left were just those recovering from surgery but didn't want to stay in the Royal Canterlot Hospital. "Bored?" The small hospital's other on duty staff member asked. Their shift was over in ten minutes and, per usual, those ten minutes seemed to be the longest ten minutes of the day. "Yeah, that's the downside of our field isn't though Tenderheart?" She said with a half grin. "We don't want people to get hurt but when no one is we don't have much to do." Not a moment after she said this the door of the hospital was bucked open and two unicorns charged in, an unconscious griffon held in their combined telekenetic grip. The earth pony who had 'opened' the door soon followed. "The griffon needs help, damaged eye, multiple bone fractures, at least one rib broken, and possible punctured lung!" The two medical ponies just stared for a moment before the earth pony piped up again. "Let's GO!" He said. Redheart was the first to recover and quickly took control. "Tenderheart, get Dr. Mend on the line, you three, bring her this way!" She said jumping over the counter rather than taking the longer route to go through the door. She pushed open the doors that led to the emergency wing. "How long ago did she pass out?" "About thirty seconds, teleported here." one of the unicorns, her coat a powder blue with a wand cutie mark said. "Trixie?" Redheart asked. "I'll explain later, right now Gilda is dying." She said as Redheart opened the door to the ER. "Put her on the bed, Trixie do you remember that spell that Dr. Mend preformed on the green filly who had a punctured lung?" "I remember what it did, yes." "Can you do something similar?" "I..." She said, pausing for only a second or two before continuing, her expression going from unsure to one reflecting the calm determination of the Nurse. "I'll try." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Twilight can you PLEASE tell me what is going on!" Spike said as he followed the panicking mare around the library. moments before she had sat bolt upright in her bed with a loud yelp that woke the baby dragon. She then proceded to bolt out the door to the balcony, as if looking for something around the town in a panic. "Thatcan'thavebeenanythingbut... ineedto... yes... before anything bad happens..." Was all Spike could catch of the purple mare's muttering. "TWILIGHT!" "GAH!" The librarian jumped two feet in the air, surprised at spike's sudden yell. "What in Celestia's name was that for?" "Can you please explain what just happened to cause you to rush out to the balcony so quick? You looked like you just ran into Discord and Nightmare Moon working together." He said pulling out ink, a quill and some parchment, getting the feeling he'd need it. "Right... Take a letter." "Already ahead of you Twi'." "Good. Please write exactly what i say, no changing words so it sounds better to you this time got it?" She asked. "I... okay." This must be really important or really, really bad. "Princess Celestia, I'm not sure if you just felt it but moments ago I felt a powerful pulse of energy from the area near Ponyville. From my experience with Nightmare Moon I can say that it was similar to her magic, which leads me to believe that it was a dark magic spell. your student, ~Twilight Sparkle" "That's all Twi'?" "Yes send it." The unicorn said, looking out the window worriedly. -=-=-=-=-=- Meanwhile in another corner of Ponyville, a mint green unicorn and a cream colored earth pony simultaneously sat bolt upright in their beds and exclaimed, "Holy Buck did you feel that? Yeah. Stop that! Stop copying me! I'm not copying... You first. No you! GAH!" The both flopped backwards down into their beds in frustration at the same time. Lyra proceeded to cast a lighting spell. "We have GOT to stop doing that." Bonbon said, sitting up again. "Okay so do we investigate that ungodly dark magic pulse or do we pretend we slept through it..." "Hmm... investigate it but we slept through it if anypony asks." "Sounds like a plan." Bonbon replied as they both climbed out of their beds. The two were good friends, yes, but not lovers, well not that they'd admit. Some of Ponyville was still rather old fashioned after all. "From the alert spell it seems that that pulse came from the Everfree..." Lyra said as she checked a small crystal hanging from a shelf in their room. "Lovely... well let's get going, if that was the order of the moon the boss is gonna wanna know." -=-=-=-=-=- Starlight sighed as he deposited the last vial of hydra blood in one of his saddlebags, as well a few of the silver spikes his spell had created. Damn, I bet Celestia herself felt that one... He thought, feeling the start of a migraine. And there's that spell I had Luna cast on me. I hope no one actually finds me for the next little while, that spell was powerful, and so will this headache be. Oh goody, I hear wings, wonder who that is. He thought to himself. He looked up at the treetops, his grey form blending in with the shadows of the forest well enough if he held still. Those are some big wings... another griffon? No, that's a pony... by the moon... "Starlight! I know that was you!" A familiar voice called out over the forest. "Down here, My queen." He called back, stepping out from the shrubbery. The princess of the night landed along the riverbank right beside him, soon embracing him in her wings. "Starlight, my friend!" "Luna, It's been far too long." He said smiling. "Although I do believe we should move from this location, I doubt any members of Clan Solaris in the area would have missed that." Releasing the grey unicorn Luna looked over the bloody mess that was formerly a hydra. "Yes, I do suppose... may I ask what that mass of silver studded pulp was?" "It was a Hydra, a Griffon named Gilda was protecting three fillies against it, we managed to get here before it ate her but she was not in good condition." "Hmm... well it wouldn't do to have this thing's corpse poisoning the river. Let me handle this, if I remember right you had me cast that headache inducing spell on you." "Indeed, although it was supposed to only be temporary, did you figure out any limiter spells?" "I have." She said smiling as her horn glowed, the mass of bloody flesh lifting off the ground surrounded by a starry aura before bursting into black flame. "I don't think this will burn the spikes." "Leave them, give Solaris something to fret over, let them think that they can track me using those spikes." Starlight said with a chuckle. "I take it 'Tia's furious?" "Quite, I don't think I've seen her this agitated since we reversed the gravity on all the palace furniture that one night." Luna said with a mischievous grin as she levitated the silver spikes and sticking them into the ground among the blood and ash of the hydra. "They still talk about that you know. A few of the carpets haven't come down yet either." Starlight was laughing by now. After a minute he managed to catch his breath. "By the moon, it has been far too long since I've had a good laugh like that... Ah, it's good to be back." He said as the two trotted off down the riverbank, the silver spikes arranged into the crest of the order of the moon and the ash arranged in the shape of starlight's cutie mark. "Isn't that a little bold?" "You've already destroyed a hydra with a tier six hex, may as well finish the announcement of your return in style." "I suppose, although I'm willing to be that Ponyville is going to become quite the interesting village soon." "Soon? Let me fill you in on the past two years." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The door to Celestia's chambers thudded shut behind the brown unicorn stallion. He took the familiar route to the princess' study, the guard stationed there simply nodding to him before opening the door. "Ah, Lord Sun." Celestia said, a hit of relief in her voice as she set down a scroll she had been reading. "I assume by the fact that I haven't even summoned you yet that you felt that pulse of magic from the direction of the Everfree?" "Correct your highness. I thought you'd have instructions for me as to what you would like the Clan of Solaris to do in response to this... atrocity of magic." Chocolate Sun replied, a slight smile upon his muzzle. "Scour the area, my sister teleported off without explanation shortly after that pulse." "Why would she do that?" "Two reasons, it seems the Order of the Moon has gotten wind of the recent... incident in the Canterlot gardens." Celestia said with a small sigh. "I doubt that would be enough to get her out of her tower unless the order's members were involved." Chocolate's tone was one of disgust when he spoke of the rival organization. "That would be the other reason. The pony released from that statue was none other than Starlight Sparkle, the founder of the Order of the Moon. I task you and your order with finding him and bringing him and his order to justice." Chocolate Sun took a step back, surprised at the announcement. That only lasted a moment before he resumed his previous stance grinning madly. "Your wish is our command your highness." And we will execute it with all our might. Those Order of the Moon heathens will be eliminated. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: Well another chapter for all of you. Things are starting to warm up with this. Let me know of any errors I've missed. Also, I do not in any way mean to insult any religions with this one, any and all terms that do have religious connections that I use in my fics are being used for their meaning, not to make one faction seem like any real religion. P.S.: before anypony mentions it, yes Chocolate Sun is a terrible name for an antagonist, but this is equestria and names like that are the norm. Downtime"Really? there are whole cities on the moon now? Get a little bored up there?" Starlight said chuckling as he poured tea for Luna and himself. "Indeed, although I have little doubt that that the fact that I built them on the far side of the moon will throw off the first few travellers to the moon when the majority of the population finally figure out a reliable way to get up there." Luna said with a smile. "I can picture the tabloids now, 'Lunar Ponies? Celestia's greatest prison? More on page 15!'" Starlight said causing them both to laugh. "It seems your library remained intact all these years, you must teach me that preservation spell you used here, we could really use it in the Canterlot Archives." "I can imagine so… But first I would like to talk a bit of business, seeing as now i'm going to have Solaris breathing down my neck." Starlight said with a smirk. "That and the limiter spell, i'd like to get that switched from the old one we used before it actually kicks in, I can feel it starting…" "Ah yes, let me get that for you…" Luna said as her horn flashed once, then after a moment started to glow a deep blue as Starlight was enveloped in a similar aura. "Same idea as we were trying for last time, limit your power but enable you to release power as needed, and authorized?" Luna asked. "That would be the general idea… although let's hope that a full release is never needed." Starlight said with a sigh, "Although if you do remember that one scholar's philosophy, Murphy was his name I believe, 'If it can go wrong, it will at one point or another.' " "Yes, I suppose so, that's why we aren't locking down your power permanently." She said as her horn flashed again, and the aura faded from around starlight as his cutie mark glowed a deep blue for a moment, then that faded as well. "There, it is done." "Now, on to business, we have to somehow hide the order's activities in Ponyvile, despite a heightened solaris presence… any ideas?" "Well, my sister has an academy for gifted unicorns, and I know it is a bit of a Solaris stronghold so why don't we do the same. A bit bold perhaps but they won't try anything against a school, I mean we almost could use this house if not for the sheer effort it would take to hide all of these books…" Luna said glancing around the library. "Perhaps something close by? It wouldn't take me too long to build a structure after what I did on the moon… Terraforming spells are tricky but when you master them, buildings become child's play to create." "Who would be the head of the school, yourself?" Starlight asked after a moment of thinking. "Either me or you, I wouldn't trust it to anyone else." Luna said. "Hmm… well I would gladly do the job, we'd just want to get a good number of the order here first. We could make it an academy for all pony academics, not just for gifted unicorns as 'Tia has. I'd have to hide my cuitie mark constantly but that would be a small price to pay." Starlight smiled at the prospect. "Clan Solaris will do all that they can to sabotage us…" "What's life without a little challenge here and there?" Luna said, a mischievous smirk giving voice to her thoughts. "I would throw up a distraction first of course, perhaps a large dark magic pulse near Stalliongrad, or Manehattan. Both are large population cities and far enough from Canterlot to distract the Solars for some time." "That sounds like a good plan. In the meantime I shall improve my wards around my home, can't have those who would use the teachings of the order for evil getting in here now can we?" "Then it is settled, i'll announce the completion of the school in a few days, after of course I build the place. Tia is going to go bananas on me… and probably come to speak with you." Luna said, sounding worried at the idea. "Let her, she doesn't have control of the elements of harmony anymore and the wards on this property can protect me in time in case negotiations go south." "This is quite the gamble my old friend…" "Still, let us roll the dice and try our luck, the daring do end up getting the best rewards after all." "Yes, but the grander the dream the harder the fall." "Ah but one does not know the outcome until the end of it all." "Stop that." Luna said chuckling. "You're rhyming like a Zebra." "I am not." Starlight said chuckling as he sipped his tea. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Applebloom!" Applejack shouted as her, rarity and the rest of the Elements of harmony ran towards the riverbank where Steven Magnet had stopped. "Where in Celestia's name were you three!" "Thank Celestia you three are alright!" Rarity cut in hugging her sister. "Although I can't say the same for your state of clenliness." "Yes where were you three... actually I think I know that answer." Twilight said looking over to Steven Magnet. "Good evening Steven, care to explain where you found these three?" "Don't be too hard on those three little darlings... they've been through a lot." Steven said worriedly. "I hope Gilda's alright though." "You mean that meany-pants griffon? She's still around Ponyville?" Pinkie chimed in cheerily. "She was living in the castle of the pony sisters, girls would you like me to tell what I know first or would you like to tell the while story?" Steven asked the crusaders. "I'll tell the story." Sweetie Belle said. "We were out treasure hunting after hearing your story about the castle in the forest, and we ran into Gilda there. She's much nicer than you described sis, and she sounded sorry for what happened. We were just about to have something to eat when a hydra crashed through one of the castle's walls." the gathered ponies gasped at that revelation. "We started running as one of the towers fell on it, stalling it for a little while. When it was clear we weren't fast enough Gilda picked us up and started flying, we were almost at the river when she hit a branch head on, knocking us out of the air. After we landed she yelled for Mr. Magnet who brought us here. We passed some ponies who said they would go help Gilda." "What are we waiting for we should go help them!" Rainbow said, about to fly off. "You won't need to do that." A familiar voice said. "We are safe." The elements of harmony turned around, surprised to find Trixie there. "We managed to get the griffon to safety, she's in the hospital although she's in pretty bad shape." Trixie said. "It looked like she'll probably have lost an eye, but aside from that the rest should heal if we managed to get her there in time." "Tr-Trixie?" Twilight stammered. "How did you get her back so fast and what do you mean by 'we'?" "I was following the riverbank and ran into three other ponies just before the sea serpent passed by. I helped them carry the griffiin to the hospital through some kind of portal. Before yo ask, I don't know who they were, although one used some kind of ridiculously powerful spell to kill that hydra." Trixie said with a shudder. Applejack eyed her suspiciously but didn't say anything. "Also, about last time I was here... I'm sorry for how I acted." Trixie said with a sigh. After a moment Fluttershy said, "Well... I forgive you at least Trixie." Trixie looked up, slightly shocked as the rest of the elements agreed with the yellow pegasis. The last to speak was Twilight."I do as well Trixie, besides, the ursa wasn't your fault, that was snips and snails and I think they are still grounded for that." She said with a chuckle before her expression changed to a more serious one. "Those ponies who helped out, what did they look like?" "Well, I wasn't really paying attention because I was mostly trying to stabilize Gilda. They must have been unicorns because they were all using magic, one didn't return with us, but the other two helped me get Gilda to the operating room then teleported away." Trixie said. "All three had dark coloured coats though, although I bet it was a disguise because I remember one having wings." Twilight sighed. "I think you may have just run into members of the Order of the Moon, perhaps even their founder." I am glad I was in showbiz before this... Trixie thought before replying. "I remember reading something about them. Was the founder's name Starlight by any chance?" "Yes." Twilight said shocked. "Did they call one of them by that name?" "They did, although I heard him say he was leaving the area. Do you recall his last name? They said it although I don't remember what... wait, your last name is Sparkle right?" Trixie said with a chuckle. "Yes... Why?" "No reason, I just remembered running into one of your relatives last time through Canterlot, I can't remember her all to well but I do remember that name. Small world..." "I.. guess?" Twilight said looking confused before a certain pink earth pony gasped. "Does this mean we can have a 'crusaders are safe and trixie's back and not a meanie anymore' party?" Pinkie said excidedly. Twilight chuckled before saying, "Let's put that off a bit, that way we can add Gilda in as well. Dr. Mend should have her fixed up in a few days if everything goes well." "Well, as fixed up as he can." Trixie said with a sigh. "Like I said before, it looked like she's probably lost an eye. Anyhow, I'd best be on my way. Oh, before I leave, do you know if anyone saved my cape and hat?" "I don't think so darling." Rarity said as she levated a measuring tape out of a small saddlebag she had on. "However, if I can take a few measurements I think I could remake them for you, free of charge." "Th-thank you." Trixie exclaimed smiling. "Although I really only need the hat now, the cape was just for show. It can look however you want so long as the type of hat remains the same." The showmare said as Rarity took a few measurements. "Oh I have the perfect Idea, I have some black and silver cloth that i'm never going to use otherwise that will be perfect for this." 'Rarity said as she finished. "Do you mind stopping by my boutique in two days? and do you have a place to stay?" "I'll can pick it up then, yes, and I do have a place to stay. Thank you again, and have a good night everypony." Trixie said as she left, in considerably higher spirits. -=-=-=-=--=-=--=--=-=-=-=-=-=-- A/N Sorry about the hiatus there, been feeling rather uncreative of late, but I think my muse is slowly returning. Per usual let me know of any errors in my writing and please leave a comment below regardless, I like hearing what people think about my writing. ~Steampunk The Acadamy"And that's the general plan." I said chuckling at Trixie's expression. Luna had left a few hours ago, shortly before Trixie's arrival back and I had just filled her in on our plan to start an academy. "How is the griffon by the way?" "She should be fine, however she will probably have lost an eye from that." The showmare replied with a sigh. "So you want me to use a teleportation talisman to go to Stalliongrad, set off what is essentially a dark magic bomb, and then teleport back here?" "That's the gist of it, yes. The spell won't hurt anypony, but it will attract a lot of Solaris attention, which is the basic idea. That way we can move a good chunk of the order's members who are instructors in various subjects here. Luna is also rounding up some ponies who are sympathetic with the order who are teachers as well so we can get everything organized. We'll have everything from magic to flight to farming to cooking. All as a cover for the order so we can have a centralized base once more. Celestia is going to have a hay day when she hears about it. Luna is just scouting a good location in the nearby woods for the academy." I explained. "And as I previously stated, I have some wards to strengthen. Here, let me show you how to use that spell bomb and amulet..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Ah dunno twi, something about what Trixie said ain't adding up to me. She seemed to not remember a lot about those stallions who she 'ran into'." Applejack said while pacing the library as Twilight flipped through a large tome. "That combined with all the dark magic pulses that I've been feeling of late... well something is going on that's for sure." The purple librarian replied. "And thanks to Trixie I'm trying to figure out what connection there is between Starlight and my last name. She must have connected something in her mind to switch topic so suddenly there..." Twilight said frowning. "Ah, here we go, 'Sparkle family tree'." "You have a book with your family tree in it Twi? In the Ponyville library?" Applejack said chuckling. "Well... it's not all that surprising. My father's side of the family has a few nobles and this is a tome of noble families." "... oh." Applejack said, looking a bit surprised before Twilight burst out laughing. "What in tarnation is so funny Twi'?" "Your expression. Priceless." She said when she had the breath. "Sorry about that. I've been a bit stressed these last few days because of what's been going on. Let's see here... huh that's a strange last name... Lulamoon, my gradfather's brother's wife. Seems there's quite a few same gender pairings here too, didn't know that." Twilight said as she went down the family tree. "Huh, maybe Aloe has a shot with ya after all sugarcube." Applejack said laughing. Twilight deadpanned at that. "Probably not happening AJ, you know I'm into colts." "What about that time with pinkie?" Applejack teased, laughing harder at Twilight's instant blush. "That hard cider does weird things to a pony..." Twilight mumbled as she looked back down at the tome. "What the?" "What is it Twi'?" "There's a blacked out entry here... from around the time of Nightmare Moon." "A blacked out entry?" Applejack trotted over and took a look. One of the portraits and names had been covered with black ink so you couldn't read it. "That's strange Twi', who'd do that?" "I don't know... but I do know a spell to remove that ink. I've had similar problems with inkwell accidents before." She said concentrating on the tome, as there was a knock on the door. The two ponies looked up as the door opened revealing Lyra. "Hiya Twilight." The mint unicorn said cheerily. "Oh hi Lyra. Looking for another of the usual?" Twilight said with a smile. "Nah, this time I'm looking for maps of the area southwest of ponyville?" "Before or after the acres?" Applejack asked. "T'aint much past the acres 'cept the path into the Everfree." Applejack said. "Yeah, that area of the Everfree." Lyra replied. "Looking for somewhere?" Twilight asked. "You could say that." Lyra said with a chuckle. "Whaddya mean by that?" Applejack asked, but Lyra's reply was cut off by the door opening once more. "Twilight Sparkle are you in?" Princess Luna said stepping into the library. "P-princess!" Twilight stammered jumping to her hooves and bowing, Applejack and Lyra following suit. Luna sighed. "Relax Twilight, w- er, I am here on unofficial business. I was wondering if you had any maps of the area on the fringe of the Everfree past Sweet Apple Acres." Lyra's ears perked up at that as Twilight replied, "I do, actually Lyra here is looking for much of the same thing." "Oh why art thou... sorry, old habits die hard as they say. What are you looking for in that area?" Luna asked as Twilight started looking through a back room for the maps. "Oh no reason, a friend of mine found a clearing in that area that she wants to show me because of an odd tree, but we can't seem to find one of the landmarks on the way there." Lyra said, causing Luna and Applejack to frown. "Now, Ah' understand that everypony has their secrets Lyra but even Fluttershy would have seen through that one." The orange mare said. Lyra started fidgeting at that as Twilight called from the back room, "Applejack can you help me with this cabinet? It's jammed shut." "Commin' Twi'." Applejack said heading off to find twilight and leaving the other two mares alone. "Don't worry about me, I hold nothing against you Lyra of Clan Solaris. It's just the higher ups in the order I dislike." Luna said with a smile. "Wha, how?" Lyra said shocked. "I can see magic currents, my sister can't though, she deals with the less subtle aspects of magic. I can see that the dark currents avoid you while the light currents are attracted, that usually means a member of Clan Solaris." "Ah... so I take it I'm heading in the right direction then." "Yes, however please try to learn whose lives your about to ruin before reporting anything." Luna said with a sigh. "I'm seeking to establish an acadamy in that area." "Wait, what do you mean, whose lives i'm about to ruin?" Lyra asked. "It's simple really, The Order of the Moon is made of Scholars who seek to keep the dark arts alive. the oaths one has to take are very strict on the matter that nopony in the order can use the knowledge they've gained to bring harm. Solaris has no such oaths and from my understanding has waged a bloody crusade against the order." "They have?" Lyra said skeptically. "It's mostly covered up, however I have been going over the Order's records and in the last ten years alone the order has tracked at least 400 deaths of their members back to Solaris. Not to mention that the pony in charge is... rather eccentric to say the least, he openly states his distaste with me and my magic and I have, more than once found Solaris members following me around. I managed to loose them tonight though." Luna said with a chuckle. "I'm taking a gambol in telling you this of course, however I can offer you something no other member of Solaris has ever had, a chance to see what the Order is like, what Starlight is like, and see some of the behind the scenes. You would have to swear an oath of secrecy about names, places and exact details of certain things, but then you may just help end some of the hate." "... why are you offering this to me?" Lyra said in reply. "Because, Lyra, aside from seeing the streams of magic i can also detect deceit and lies. Back when I wielded the elements of Harmony alongside my Sister I held the element of Honesty. They've been telling you fanatical lies I'd bet, at least that's what they did 1000 years ago to gain followers. What is their description of dark magic may I ask? Actually, hold that thought, the other two are returning. We'll continue this on our way out shall we?" Luna said with a mischievous smile. "I may work more subtly than my sister, but you'll hear of a rather bold move of mine and Starlight's soon. May as well roll more dice." Lyra was about to reply as Twilight and Applejack returned. "Found them. I'll assume you would like to sign them out Princess?" "Please Twilight, call me Luna. I will return this tomorrow, after I've made a few copies." The lunar princess said as she took the map with her magic. Glancing at the noble family tree tome she frowned and said "Hmm... Twilight I don't suggest removing that ink unless you want to, as they say, open up a huge can of worms." "Whaddya mean by that Princess?" Applejack asked. "I can't say who inked that out but they did so for a reason. If you do want to, then please let me know before you let my sister know, it will save you some trouble further down the line." Luna said turning to leave. "What about me, I still need a copy of that map." Lyra asked Luna. "Walk with me for a bit, I'll make a copy as we go." Luna replied as she stepped out the door, Lyra in tow leaving behind two rather confused mares. -=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: Hello again, Steampunk here. First off, sorry for how much this story is jumping around, I tend to do weird and occasionally wonderful things with plotlines and ponies, but i promise in the end things will tie together. Secondly, sorry for if this chapter seems a bit weird or rushed, I decided to just sit and write the next bit of storyline that came into my head. Thirdly, DOUBLE UPDATE WOO! Lastly if you remember to comment:
Prelude: Shattered MarbleAuthor's Note: Fillies and gentlecolts, this is the original version of the prelude, however, Starquake One did his own version of it which just blew my mind. Starquake One's Version Now, I know i'm not that good, i'm an ideas guy, so I thank you Starquake, and i'll be improving these first few chapters once I complete this tale. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Darkness… how long has it been now… a month, a year, a millennium? Longer? All because I wished to pursue magic that Celestia deemed "unnatural and revolting"… Luna had helped me near the end… I wonder what has become of her… I hope nothing bad… I know what happened to me… I'm locked in stone, transformed into a statue and now I sit here in the gardens of Canterlot, beneath Celestia's great castle, it's amazing what you can discover about a place with magic and too much time on your hooves. Aside from that I have no other senses, my eyes blinded, my skin numbed, my ears unhearing, even my sense of smell robbed from me in this stone prison. Discord had escaped… and I saw how he did it, and I could do it too, I just need the right moment… wait… is that… it is, it's luna… I wonder if she will recognize me as a statue… hmm her aura is different… purer… wait, purer… by the moon… I did cause her disappearance… that spell that she helped me with must have corrupted her somehow, and I was too blind to see how I was changing her… She's looking at me now, I wonder if she'll try using her magic to see me… all of us… the six of us that once were the greats, myself at magic, the others at art, agriculture, battle, enterprise, and performance… of course that had been long ago but if only I could get a hold of some power I could be free of this, the others can stay… they all got what they deserved. Art was obsessed with creating perfection… so he tried to harness the princes' life essence to wipe the country clean and start over with everything his image of perfection. Battle had tried to expand Equestria through conquest and nearly got the nation destroyed because of it. Enterprise had tried to take over Equestra through money so he could rule over everything. Performance tried to use her skills and charisma to start a rebellion. Agriculture… well he arrived after me but he was so full of hate I have an idea of why she would petrify him… As for me… I don't deserve this… I simply wanted to research black magic, the dark arts. Magic that no one understood. Gather the knowledge about it so that I could better Equestria… But she damned me to this fate of being locked in stone... Wait… what's this… is she? She is! She's examining me with magic! oh by the moo- wait… she recoiled… It's me luna, help me! for the love of the night! please… she ran…. by the moon why would she run? why… now other ponies are looking… wait could this be my chance? they are focusing on me… this could be my only chance… -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- in the gardens -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Why did the princess run like that?" one of the three unicorns who witnessed the events asked. "I don't know… she seemed rather intent on that statue until she screamed and bolted…. perhaps something to do with that?" "Yeah… perhaps…" a third, a unicorn said. "I'm gonna try something…" "Okay then…" the second said as the unicorn concentrated. "By Celestia… there's a spirit in that statue!" "WHAT?" the first and second said in unison as they too concentrated and reached out with their magic. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- They are reaching out… now is my chance… -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The skies over Canterlot were suddenly overtaken by a whirling storm as the three unicorns near the statue fell over, the glow from their horns being drawn into the statue. Cracks formed over the alabaster surface as three royal guards rushed to where the statue was, unsure of what was happening. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I've almost done it… I can feel the spell breaking! just a little more… -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the three guards rushed in, the cracks spread along the white stone, a black mist seeping through them. they tried to awaken the unicorns before one of them noticed the mist. "Wh- what in Celestia's name?" one guard stammered, looking at the statue. "What is is Brightmane?" Another said looking up. "The statue! look at it!" Brightmane said. "Starwatch, go get more backup, if Discord was any indication we're going to need more he-" the leader of the three was cut off by a loud blast as the statue exploded in a wave of magical energy. Coughing from the dust the guards got back to their hooves as something moved in the blast's crater. "What happened?" Brightmane asked. "Is Everypony all right!" The three froze as a teleportation spell carried of the pony shape in the crater. "Brightmane…. alert the princesses… this can not be good!" the leader said again, looking around for the unicorns. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- on a hill in the Everfree near Ponyville -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A lone grey and black unicorn materialized in a flash of light, standing only for a moment before collapsing to the ground. Pained, ragged breathing came from him as his sides heaved with the effort of just breathing, he remained there for a moment, before he lifted his head, and a low, dark laugh began. The animals that inhabited the night around that hill, the chirping insects, the owls and bats, the predators, and the prey all fell silent as the laugh gained intensity and insanity, rising in volume as the unicorn's head fell back to the grass. They all fled the scene at a crazed shout that echoed through the forest… "i. am. FREE!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's Note Thanks for reading, I will be continuing this as I get the muse to, hopefully I can keep the character's consistent. If you notice anything wrong please feel free to let me know in the comments, constructive criticism helps make better writers after all. inspired by: Garden Party: Petrified
As evening fallsChapter 1: A new world "This is not good…" Celestia said as she paced near the crater where the statue had exploded. "You are sure a pony teleported away right after?" "Yes your highness, all three of us saw it." Lancer, the leader of the royal guard squad that had witnessed the escape said. "If i may ask, who, or what was that?" "He was a unicorn from long ago. He was imprisioned for practicing dark magic." Celestia said. 'seems a little much to me… but i trust the princess.' Lancer thought as the unicorns started to wake up. "Sister, what's going on? What was tha…" Luna dropped off as she saw where the crater was. "It was him, wasn't it? Starlight Sparke?" there was a murmur from the three guards at the mention of the name. "I was hoping to keep his name out of the ears of the press but yes it was him. You six don't mention that to anyone please, i don't want his name to reach Twilight…" Celestia said with a sigh. "How many of these statues are actual ponies sister?" Luna asked quietly. "I felt his spirit in there, and now he's broken free… did i release him?" "It wasn't you your highness." one of the three Unicorns said as he got up slowly. "I think it was us. We saw you run and when i discovered that there was somepony the other two looked as well… then i felt a pull and blacked out. I think he stole our magic reserves to break free…" "That would be something within his power…" Celestia mumbled. "There are five other statues that contain ponies… the rest are actual stone, well aside from discord there… agriculture, art, battle, enterprise and performance. Gather those statues without using magic I will re-cast the spell. I do not want any more old enemies escaping. Sister wi… what's wrong?" Celestia asked, concern in her voice as she turned to see luna crying slightly. "You were behind his disappearance weren't you?" She asked. "Luna I… Yes i was… but we'll discuss that later." Celestia replied. "As for you three, i need to make sure he didn't do anything besides take your magic reserves. I doubt he did but i have to be sure." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I dragged myself to my hooves and scanned the area with my magic. "Hmm… the everfree… not ideal but at least i'm out of canterlot…" I said hoarsely. In hindsight… it was probably not wise to yell like that after over 1000 years of not speaking… I mused, wincing at my sore vocal chords. "Is anypony out there? to brave the Everfree at night is quite rare…" I heard and exotic voice from the bushes to my left. "Hello?" I called in reply. Hopefully i'm near a town… "I thought i heard a shout." Said a female zebra as she stepped from the bushes. "My name is Zecora, what is all this about?" Time to think on the fly Starlight… "Finally i found somepony, My teleportation spell went awry a few days ago, and i have been barely surviving since. Is there a town near here you could be so kind as to direct me to?" I asked, praying to luna that the lie would not be noticed. "You are lucky to have found me today, ponyville is not far away. However, it is still quite a distance from here. How about we go to my house, it is quite near." Zecora said smiling. "Thank you for your hospitality. My name is Nightshade, and i will admit, i have not be into ponyville revently, though i live nearby. I recently moved in and I rarely go into town so I don't know anyone in the area." I said. it has been 1000 years… my canterlot accent will probably be noticed if anything is the same as it was back then. "It is a small community, but the ponies are kind. They may seem a bit crazy though, keep that in mind." Zecora chuckled as we started off into the woods. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "But you knew he was one of my only friends!" Luna exclaimed as she paced around Celestia's study. "How could you lock him away like that?" "Luna, do you not realize what he had done to you? He planted the seed that caused you to become Nightmare Moon!" Celestia replied. "I am sure he did not mean that. He was nothing but curteous and kind while i was studying with him." "He was practicing dark magic Luna. Dark magic! I had no choice!" "Just like you had no choice but to destroy any evidence that existed of his research? He had created spells to help ponies with other types of magic yet you erased those! Even now i can't find some of his medical spells that could save thousands of ponies." "I had to be sure no pony would follow the path to dark magic…" "So you locked him away in stone? He's been in there as long as i was on the moon! I only could bear that because i could build things out of blocks of moonstone, can you imagine what being locked in stone would be like!" Luna nearly yelled as she turned to Celestia. "Would you rather me have killed him? That was the other option" Celestia said, a hint of anger seeping into her voice. "No!" Luna said, shocked. "How could you even think that? he was researching that magic to teach ponies how to defend against it, and now that he's free from your foolish move he has a bucking good reason to use dark magic against you! I only pray that he has the good sense not to provoke an attack." Luna growled as she started to leave. "Well what should i do?" Celstia spat at Luna. "You know him better than i do." "Don't send guards after him and pray he's not out for revenge." Luna said, her seething tone making her voice sound close to that of Nightmare Moon's as she stopped in the dooray. "For if he is, i fear for Canterlot." Celestia just stared at the door as it slammed hard enough to knock a nearby vase off it's pedestal. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "This is very good soup Ms. Zecora. May i inquire what the recipe is?" I asked, taking another sip of the delectable vegetable soup in front of me. "It is an old recepie from my homeland, simplistic, yet its flavour is grand. Alas, however my company until dawn, it's secret is not one for me to pass on. It was taught to me by my father's mother, and until i have a child of my own i will not speak of it to another." Zecora said with a smile. "That is too bad, a soup of the likes of this could be enjoyed by canterlot's elite and they would pay a good amount for it." "Perhaps when i become too old to dwell in this forest." Zecora said taking our empty bowls and placing them in a wash basin. "However, for now we shall rest." "I do believe that is a good idea…" I said as i looked at the various books she had on her shelves. "Wait… is that a translation of Trotenkahmen's dark book i see?" "You read old zebrecain? i never thought i'd meet another who can who is equestrian." Zecora said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Studying ancient scripts, scrolls, and tomes is a passion of mine. I have put a great deal of effort into acquiring texts such as that one there, in fact that is one of the few pieces of ancient zebrecain literature i have had trouble finding." I said as i walked over to the shelf. "Would you mind if i borrowed this for a day or so? It may help me unravel some of the mysteries i've been trying to solve from that period." "As long as you return it I mind not, but i would like to see the collection you've got." Zecora said. "If the teleportation spell didn't destroy my library i will gladly show it too you." Well, that is if my old house near ponyville still exists after 1000 years, no one knew of it seeing as i had that portal to canterlot, but time does take its toll. "I thank you for your trust with this tome, i have been searching for a copy for many years." "It is a problem, although i hope your library is all right. Now, shall we retire for the night?" Zecora rhymed as she pulled out two large cushions. "I agree, that spell took a lot out of me… oh great i'm rhyming now well." Zecora just laughed at that as she snuffed out the few candles that lit the room. ---===---===---===---===--- Author's Note: Well there is chapter one, sorry about the length of these things being kinda short but i am both easilly distracted and prone to having my train of thought jump its tracks. Drop a comment with suggestions for improvements, as well as your general opinion on it, i'd love to hear both.
The Witching HourI awoke at around midnight despite how tired i had been. Bloody hell... can't even sleep normally anymore, thank you your highness... ah well i suppose i could delve into this book by moonilght... I thought as i moved over to a spot where the light of the moon filtered through a window. "hmm... The moon is bright tonight... Luna is angry at somepony... I hope it is not me..." I muttered as i flipped open the book and began to read, the old language was as easy to understand as equestrian script to me. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "GAH!" The powder blue mare yelled in frustration as she nearly threw the ancient tome to the floor. "Six nights! SIX NIGHTS I've been trying to decipher this ridiculous language! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY A STUPID BOOK!" She yelled at the high ceiling of the ancient library. She had found the old house while fleeing from ponyville and had settled there to live. Upon discovering the wealth of magic literature within its walls she had devoted herself to studying it, hoping to find a suitable spell to cast to exact her revenge on the mare that humiliated her. "I've learned much from these old books, now if i could only figure out these ones..." She muttered, cursing as she failed yet again to figure out what the strange symbols meant. "Perhaps this is why whoever lived here kept them in that study, so they wouldn't have to strain to understand them..." Ah good that spell... say what's this? somepony in my house? Identify yourself and your reason for going through my collection of literature. A colt's voice rang through her head. "Wha! WHO IS THERE! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE DEMANDS YOU SHOW YOURSELF!" Trixie yelled, a spell preparing itself. Relax young one, i am merely the owner of the tome you are trying to decrypt. I wish you the best of luck, that is written in elder draconis, i even had trouble with that one. The voice said, mirth leaking in to the mental voice. "The great and powerful Trixie apologizes for her intrusion into your home..." She said, stunned. "Would you be so kind as to enlighten Trixie as to the method of communication that you are using right now? Trixie has never witnessed a spell like this before..." What? this old Hex? it is merely a way for me to check on my home. I will be there tomorrow if you would like to wait for me, however i must inquire as to why you are trying to study a tome on the topic of necromancy. "Trixie is WHAT!" she exclaimed, jumping back from the old book. What you were trying to read was the Naturon Demonto in the dragon's language, more commonly known as the Liber Mortuorum In simplified old equestrian. "That does ring a bell..." Book of the dead sound more familiar? "Really... Trixie is intrigued as to how you acquired a copy of such a... despised book." There are many things about me that best remain a secret, however, I hope you would be willing to stay another day or two, so I can at least have some help dusting, i have been away from the house for a considerable amount of time "Trixie agrees with that statement... there is a lot of dust in this old place." Yes well, one thousand years trapped in rock does tend to make one tardy of their cleaning habbits... as for how that happened, i shall explain later if you wish to hear my tale. "one thousand.... trixie is intrigued... she awaits your arrival with great anticipation." She said eagarly. Good, good. I will be there few hours after sunrise, I am currently staying the home of a rather charming zebra who so happened to find me within the everfree forest. She may accompany me to the house so if you could clean up a little that would be much appreciated. "And why should Trixie do that?" Because I am a gentlecolt, and i have the power to, from my current location lock you in a book until you decide to comply. The voice said in a rather matter-of-fact tone. Think of it as a small rent charge. Trixie would have turned white if not for her fur. "T-Trixie will do some cleaning before your arrival then..." She stammered out. Thank you. Oh and one more thing, "Yes?" Refrain from the use of third person dialogue when referring to yourself please, it is rather irritating. -=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's note: Yeah short chapter this time, however i'm out of plot ideas for today, however i gave myself a few more options this time. As always i hope to spot a comment or two if nopony minds, constructive criticism is always appreciated. 'till next time fillies and gentlecolts.
The Showmare and the ShadowI sighed as I closed the leather cover of the old book, looking out at the orange glow on the horizon. Well that sure answers a few questions i had on Trottenkahmen's Reign, as well as the spell he used to last so long... I think i almost have the necessary knowledge of dark magic to finally cast it... I thought as i moved back over to the cushion and pretended to be asleep as Zecora stirred. She yawned as she rose and stretched, glancing my way before lighting a cooking fire and putting on some kind of oatmeal, grabbing some jars labeled in zebrecain. Let's see here... yes those go well... what is that? Mandrake root in oatmeal? Is she mad? She then proceeded to taste test it, giving a nod to herself before walking over to me. "Nightshade, it is time to rise from your rest, i have already had time to prepare breakfast." I made a point to seem tired as i rose and yawned. "I suppose it would be time to awaken. Mmm, smells lovely." She hasn't keeled over yet so i should be fine. "Another recipe from my homeland, easy to make and it's flavor is far from bland." She said with a smile. "Ah yes, oatmeal, it is amazing what you can do with such a common base, no?" I said as she passed me a bowl and i dug in, a hand carved spoon floating in the shadowy aura of my magic. "Your magic is rather unique." Zecora said, looking at the magic fog around the spoon. "Do you know the reason or for that do you seek?" "There was an accident when i was young, there was a strange burst of magic from within the royal palace which caused me to accidentally mix up a few of the strands of magic i was trying to use and i used a dark magic spell instead, blew a hole in the wall of the room i was in and knocked me out because of it. After that i awoke and found my magic's aura to be this dark color." I said. "I think it's a side effect of using black magic." "Yes, the shadow magic as described by a friend of mine in ponyville, while dark it is not always evil." "Oh? What is your friend's name?" I asked. "Twilight Sparkle, the element of magic. If not for her Nightmare Moon's return, as well as that of Discord, would have been qute tragic." Aw buck... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Thank you all for gathering so quickly" Celestia said to the six mares who stood before her. "'Twern't Nothin Princess." Came the reply from the element of Honest, Applejack. "Indeed, You know that we don't mind being called to canterlot on occasion." Rarity said with a smile. "I-it's not a problem princess..." Fluttershy said softly with a small smile. "Yeah, Whenever you call on us something we get to do something awesome!" A certain rainbow maned pegasis quipped enthusiastically. "Dash, really?" Twilight said sighing. "anyhow, your letter was rather vague princess, what is it you need us to do?" "Ooh, Ooh, lemme guess!" Pinki pie jumped up and down. "Is Discord back? No, we'd have seen it, a pestilance of parasprites? a herd of hydras? a mob of manticores? a communal of cockatrices? A-mrff!" Pinkie was silenced by an orange hoof. "I'm sure you noticed the large crater in the gardens out back on your flight in, as well as the absence of a few statues..." Celestia said, looking tired. "The crater was caused by one of those statues." "Wait... what do you mean?" Twilight said. "What i'm about to say cannot leave this room, i trust the six of you which is why I'm telling you this..." "Whatever do you mean princess?" Rarity asked, looking a little worried. "Discord wasn't the only being trapped in stone within the gardens, there were six others..." She sighed. "They were all threats to Equestria in some way." Twilight froze at gardens. "Wh-What?" "They were locked away due to my lack of options, that and i did not wish to kill anypony." Celestia said. "Please don't let this color your opinion of me too much... It was a last resort." "And i reckon by that crater that one of 'em broke free?" Applejack said worriedly. "Yes... His name was... is... Starlight and if he isn't found he could pose a great threat to equestria." Celestia said as there was the sound of voices outside the throne room. "... will let me enter this instant or i will have the lunar guard gain me entrance." Came a regal voice. "I was hoping to avoid this..." Celestia said with a sigh, her horn glowing as she opened the doors. "It's alright, let her in." "Sister, do you never listen to my advice? Even when you ask for it!" Luna exclaimed, clearly frustrated. "P-princess luna?" Twilight stammered, clearly shocked at the sudden appearance of the Regent of the Night. "Good morning Ms. Sparkle, and good morning to the rest of you as well, although i wish your visit was under better circumstances." Luna said. "Cele, have you told them just who Starlight was before you locked him in marble?" "I was getting to that sister." "And i can control the sun." Luna muttered. "Well continue on, although I would like to be sure the facts are presented, not an exaggeration." Celestia sighed. "Sister please..." "They do deserve to know who they are going to be fighting in your name." Luna said, a hint of venom in her words. The elements looked at each other, slightly worried from the sudden confrontation. "Luna Please..." "I thought as much... Starlight was an old friend of mine before my banishment, He was locked away for studying the practice of dark magic and minor necromancy." Luna said. "Something i only recently discovered myself. He was also partially responsible for me becoming Nightmare Moon, although i'm sure if he had been given a chance he would have been the only one to see the true source of my madness and remove it." Luna said dryly. "However you locked him away before that..." "Sister please stop..." Celestia pleaded, a tear falling. "I'm almost done sister." Luna said with a sigh. "They should know this though, He was studying those magics to help ponies defend against it, however due to its nature and the fact that it was outlawed and he had been denied royal permission to study it he requested my help to study it in secret. This went smoothly for about twelve years until one of the spells we were working on, one to generate magical energy by drawing it out of matter, went wrong. The particular gemstone we were using to store the energy was flawed and exploded, throwing both of us into the spell circle, causing another explosion whose crater became the froggy bottom bog." There was a long silence before Celestia spoke again. "I thought he had captured Luna and used her to try to run a spell due to the sheer amount of magic in the blast. I imprisoned him while Luna was unconscious." Her voice had gained an edge. "When you transformed into Nightmare Moon I was sure it was something he did..." There was another long silence as the two princesses didn't want to continue. "Well... What do we do about him?" Rainbow Dash asked. "He's still a danger to Equestria..." Celestia said after a moment. "Cele!" Luna had a shocked expression on her face. "Lu, i wasn't finished yet." Celestia seemed even more tired than before. "He's still a danger to equestria, however due to us knowing neither his location, nor his current intentions i think we can't do anything but wait until those become clearer. I won't take any action yet but if he is out for revenge I will have no choice but to take action." The other seven mares in the room nodded before Celestia spoke up again. "I'll have a notice put out for ponies to keep an eye out for him, but for now you six should return to ponyville... I'll be there in a few days time to search for any kind of clue to his whereabouts, there may be something beneath Froggy Bottom Bog." "Princess Celestia... if i may make a suggestion?" Pinkie pie, for once, sounded nervous. "Yes Ms. Pie?" "Perhaps luna should do that." Everypony in the room looked at Pinkie, surprise plastered across their faces. "What? She knows where the place was, as well as she know him best out of all of us. If anypony has a chance of finding him it would be her." "Pinkie that's... actually not a bad idea..." Dash said, bewildered. "She does have a point princess..." Twilight admitted before muttering "and is the only one crazy enough to say it..." "Say what?" Pinkie asked looking confused as Applejack facehoofed. "Hmm... on one condition..." Celestia said after thinking for a moment. "You six shall accompany her, It's not that i don't trust you Lu, but you two were rather close before..." "It's alright Cele, I understand." Luna smiled as she walked up to the sun princess. "I will meet you six at twilight's in two days." She said, turning to the elements of harmony before continuing up the steps to the throne. "Sister, you look stressed, take a day off. I'm sure i can handle things." "That... sounds like a wonderful idea... just let me let my advisers know so they don't panic..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Now... how to wiggle my way out of this one... I thought as Zecora led me into the library. "Zecora? Whatever you doing here?" Came a coltish voice from around the corner as we entered. "Ah, spike, is twilight around? We were wondering if a solution to my new friend's problem would be located in the library, where knowledge abounds." Spike came into view right then, a young green and purple dragon. "No, she's out in Canterlot right now, the princess summoned her and the rest of the elements." "That does not sound very good." I said, faking concern to keep up the poker face. "It probably isn't, but it's nothing those mares can't defeat. Even Discord and Nightmare Moon were powerless at their feet." "Don't you mean hooves?" Spike asked, obviously confused at the odd choice of the word for non hoofed leg endings. "It's to keep with the rhyme scheme my friend." I said chuckling. "That it is little dragon, although i think our meeting is beginning to drag on." Zecora said with a small smirk. "Yes, it seems Ms. Sparkle isn't in, so i'll stop by some other time. Thank you for your time Spike." I said with a smile. "It was nice meeting you." And nice to not have to deal with my descendant... it's nice to know my family still exists though. Sunlight survived our foal's birth then. I had come to terms with outliving my wife and son long ago. "Nice to meet you too mr?" "Nightshade." I said as me and Zecora stepped out the door. "I should be able to make it home from here, thank you, unless you wish to see my place. It is a very old house that not many know of, although a mare named Trixie has been staying for a while, she seemed in need of a roof over her head." "That blue coated showmare is still near the town? I thought she would have not wished to stick around." Zecora said. "Oh? What happened? I never asked her why she showed up, just if she needed shelter. She's stuck around ever since." "I will let her tell you her tale then. I do not wish to spark any misunderstandings again." Zecora said with a chuckle. "Oh?" "When i first arrived last year, my appearance the ponies did fear. The though i was some kind of evil being, but the truth, twilight coaxed their eyes into seeing." "Ah, yes i know of what you speak of. I have been chased out of a few communities because of my magic's aura." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- In about half an hour we had reached my house, the last few minutes of the trip had passed in silence as i mentally contacted trixie and explained the cover story, which she agreed to go along with in exchange for some tutoring in more powerful magics. Stepping through the overgrown gate, Zecora spotted my house among the dense forest around it. "Do you not keep the trees and vines off of your walls? I do not think you'd want them invading your halls." "I have placed enchantments on the building to prevent nature from getting too friendly with it, although, i do not mind it looking aged as it is, it has a certain charm to it." I said smiling as i saw my protection enchantments had kept the building intact, although vines and moss covered it and the clay roof tiles could use some minor repairs. "Although, i think i should get around to fixing the roof sometime soon." I said opening the large oak door. "Hello Nightshade." Trixie said, putting on an act of familiarity. It's fortunate that a showmare happened to find my house, for if not i'd be in a bit more trouble. I thought as zecora bought the act. "Hello Trixie, I'm sorry about the probable rude awakening yesterday, had a spell blow up in my face and drop me in the Everfree." "That's alright, i was just about to go find some ingredients for a spell if that's alright with you." "That's fine, i was just going to show Zecora the library." "Nice to meet you Zecora. I'm Trixie." The powder blue showmare said. "It is nice to meet you as well. Now shall we see this library if it is still well?" "The spell didn't damage it and i cleaned up any mess in there." Trixie said as she stepped out. In reality she was just going to go to a small clearing and meditate for some time. "Follow me my zebra friend, the library is at this hallway's end." I said with a smile in near-perfect Zebrecain. "Ah my native tongue graces my ears, it is nice to hear after so many years." She said as we stepped into one of the many halls of the house. "Although if you wish we do not have to rhyme all of the time." "That would be a welcome change from when i was in your homeland, why do they rhyme like that?" "It is a method to keep the mind stimulated, for speaking in rhyme is a challenge to most." She said as she started looking around. "Your collection is impressive, many of these books i have only heard of, and i have visited my nations greatest library. How long have you been collecting?" "To be honest the oldest and rarest i inherited from my father, the rest i found in my travels. when you have been as far as the leonine nations to northern draconia, you tend to find a few treasures. I have even been as far south as the penguin nations, although my stay there was short." I said. "That is an impressive amount of distance... would you mind if i borrowed a few of these older tomes?" She asked indicating a few on herbology. "Not at all, I just ask you to allow me to make a copy of your copy of the dark book, i could realy use one." I replied with a smile. "Is that all? an apple would cost me more than that. You would make a terrible entrepreneur." Zecora said laughing "Ah but you cannot put a price tag on knowledge my striped friend." I replied as i picked up a large purple pearl and placed it in a pedastal between two small desks. I the proceeded to lay the dark book upon the one on the left. "One thousand and seventy four pages correct?" I asked as i headed for a door. "Yes, why?" "I placed an ink copying spell in that pearl. I need the same number of pages though." I said as i returned with an iron bound blank book. "I had a feeling i'd be copying this particular title so i already have a suitable blank." "That's rather impressive..." Zecora said as i placed the blank on the second table, opening it to the first page and activating the spell. "For a book this size, it will take roughly a day to copy, i can bring it to your place tomorrow or drop it off at another location if you wish" i said as the first page's ink started to appear on the parchment of the blank. "Hmm... leave it with Ms. Fluttershy, but wrap it up so she does not see the cover, she is a good friend of twilight and i'm afraid Ms. Sparkle would know what that book is, and the legality of that tome." She replied as we walked for the door. "That i will do, it has been a pleasure meeting you Zecora. Stop by any time during the day, at night i'm afraid i have a small family of cockatrices that like to hunt under Luna's moon." I said with a smile. "How many are there, i may have something that can keep them out of your hair." Zecora said, intrigued. "Four to six, i haven't really counted, although they stay within the walls so they are no threat to the town and i don't mind them, they prove to be very reliable guards of the property." I said as we stepped out onto the path from my house. "I will keep that idea in mind, taming manticores, with the right knowledge, is not out of my abilities, and in the everfree they are not hard to find." She said. "That is true." I laughed. "Well, arrivederci Zecora, and have a pleasant day." "Likewise my new friend, and may you find happiness at each day's end." Zecora rhymed as she started away from the house. I smiled as she left and stepped back into the house, mentally contacting Trixie. Showmare, my guest is gone, you may return to the main house. You could have warned me of the cocatrices... She replied, anger tinging the mental speech. Yes, i could have but they let you reach the house so i knew you would be fine. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "So, Ms. Trixie, what am i to do with you?" I said as she entered the library, looking up from the Naturon Demento. "I have quite the problem on my hooves, if i chase you off you'd tell the authorities of my book collection, if i keep you around you'll probably find some of my activities to be darker than what you can handle, and if i let you go your way i'll have no way of ensuring that you keep your mouth shut about my current location." Let us see how good of a thinker she is, and if she could be a possible apprentice... "Well Tr- sorry, I would like to stay around and learn more magic, i have nowhere else to go and i can help out around here..." She said quietly, sounding disappointed. "Even if those jobs involved going into ponyville to get supplies?" I said with a small smirk. "I... I don't know if they would allow me back into their town... last time was there my... stage persona... convinced two young colts to attract an ursa minor to the town and it nearly destroyed it. The incident was blamed on me and if I hadn't left they would have run me out of town." She said with a sigh. "Everything I owned was in my wagon, which was crushed by the Ursa, i've been trying to find the spells i had collected but not yet learned, it has been difficult but i managed to find most of them here... you have quite the remarkable collection." "Second only to canterlot for old spell books..." I said with a smile. "Nothing here aside from the book i am borrowing is under 1000 years old." "That was before the book banishment..." "Yes, Due to dark magic being one of the catalysts for Luna's transformation, Celestia destroyed every book regarding it that she could find. Fortunately she didn't discover my collection." "Don't you mean this collection?" "No i mean my collection, as for how that is possible, well i will explain that later. As for now, what kind of magic would you like to learn? Aside from dragon magic i know most kinds." "Something i can't learn anywhere else, something that i will never again get the chance to learn." She answered with a conviction that surprised me. "... Very well showmare, i will teach you some of the oldest and most powerful magic out there... but be warned, it is more than just fun and games to wield that kind of power." I said as i stood, hamming up the line like i used to, adding that extra zest that would solidify me as the teacher. "What kind of magic?" She asked. The room darkened as i started to speak, all my doing of course, "Magic that has been forbidden for nearly two milenia after the fourth Celestial war, Magic so powerful that Celestia herself fears its might." The only light now came from a runic circle slowly forming on the stone that made up the floor of the library, green fire scribing the lines in the stone. "Its traditional name is the dark arts, but you all call it black magic." Her eyes went wide at that, for i doubt anypony aside from Luna knew much of the old arts, fewer even would know about the dark arts. "So what say you Trixie the Showmare? Do you accept the offer?" "Yes!" She nearly shouted. "Then swear upon my next words. Do you swear to listen to my judgement and only use what i teach you to benefit Equestria?" "I swear it." She said, the flame of the runic circle had spread and now surrounded her with a light blue circle which pulsed at the words. "Do you swear, Trixie, to not harm any being with this magic unless they are a threat to those who prefer peace to the war open knowledge of this magic would cause?" "I do." "And do you swear, Trixie of the Stardust family, the family of my first student in magic," She gasped at that one, "To seek the truth and knowledge that is hidden in the shadows, and to only believe that which is proven true in both day and night, light and shadow, public and private, and to follow the ways of the Lunar Scholar? The ways of one who seeks the truth to protect others, and does what must be done to achieve this end?" With steel in her voice and determination in her eyes, she spoke the final agreement as the circles flared, runes spreading across her body a crescent moon around a lemniscate shining through the fur of her cutie mark before fading away. "The oath has been taken, the seal set and the path of the sun closed, you are now a child of Princess Luna and though we may survive the day we thrive through the moonlit night." I said as the circles faded, the room starting to brighten. "I, Starlight Sparkle, welcome you to the order of Moon Trixie Stardust, your training begins at sundown." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-===-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's note: Well that took a little longer, but i'd say it's worth it. Drop a comment below with what you think of it. also, the lemniscate is the infinity symbol --> ∞ P.S. hooray for sudden plot ideas, they are what keep my stories going!
Sundown on the first nightAuthor's Note: I am putting in a bit of a background music system now, (copied shamelessly from a different story) although it is not required. ********* = open this in new tab/window and listen while reading, or switch to this music and stop the previous track. ********* = Stop all music Enjoy -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ********* The royal guard was tense, the princesses had asked for privacy and it was nearly sundown. None were allowed in the throne room although you did not need to be within the marble walls of that grand hall to hear the argument that had been occurring. "And you never told me about this why?!" Celestia nearly shouted. "Because you never thought me worthy of knowing about the Solaris clan!" Luna replied, slightly angry. "I know they were studying advanced light magic, so I decided to create an organization to study the darker arts, something you seem to reject as a good idea." "It is a bad idea because time and time again allowing ponies to use that magic has proven to be a mistake! Every single one of them has either gone insane, died from a magical mishap, or been turned into some kind of monster!" "Yes, and I would assume that I fall under the monster category." Luna spat bitterly. "I knew the dangers, and asked for volunteers. Starlight was a blessing on the organization, and one of the first. He already knew a lot about the dark arts and he demonstrated that he could use them to a small degree. He was ages ahead of any of the others at that time, as well as he was ahead of me, which shocked me. I accepted his offer, finding no ill will to Equestria in his heart and made him the head of the Order of the Moon." "How much else did you do behind my back?" Celestia said. "How much more of your prior activities will come back to bite me in the flank?" "My prior activities sister?" Luna asked darkly. "How about how many of yours? Was it I who locked Starlight in stone? Was it I who disbanded the study of magic that was appearing more and more often to harm others? Was it I who prevented others from trying to recognize and stop it? WAS IT I WHO LOCKED MY OWN SISTER IN THE MOON AFTER DESTROYING THE ONLY HOPE OF AVOIDING THAT BECAUSE I FEAR DARK MAGIC?!" she yelled, the room itself seeming to grow darker. ********* Luna's voice echoed through the halls of the castle for a moment or two, the guards just outside of the room cringing at the sheer volume, as well as in fear. There was a resounding silence after that as thing returned to the way they were before. ********* Then Luna spoke again. "If we are to survive into the future sister we have to accept that there are things in this world that can harm us, for me it is light magic, for you, dark magic. I devoted the organization to the study and practice of the dark arts in order to understand them. The Order of the Moon is still around, I have spoke with them and they are continuing the original goal, despite a millennium of setbacks due to Starlight's imprisonment and the Solaris Clan. They continued despite the ongoing efforts of the Solaris Clan to destroy them under an order that seemed to be from you, they are my most loyal, and I believe I will be choosing a lunar guard of members from their order, as you have done with yours." Luna said glancing out the window. "I believe it is time to end the day, and allow a new member of the order to begin her training." "What?!" Celestia said confused. "You mean you didn't feel it? The pulse of magic that accompanies the real initiation to the order? Starlight just initiated a new member, and I am willing to bet that will be more common now that he is back, for those who are with the order will seek him out now that he's announced his return." "Then we follow them to him." Celestia said. "No, I won't do that, I will simply ask him to gather the order and research why I became Nightmare Moon, as well as to re-instate the old ways of the order, they have deviated somewhat over the past millennium." Luna said with a smirk at Celestia's obvious anger at the answer. "Sister I love you but I also have to make sure we are protected, your unwillingness to allow the dark arts to be studied will be your downfall, so allow my order to do what they do best, now that their true leaders have returned. Your order has done well from what I have heard, however there have been incidents of light magic being used for evil as well, you would do well to examine your ranks and weed out the malice within them, as I will do." Luna said as she stepped out onto the balcony, her horn glowing as the moon rose above the horizon. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ********* The wall torches burned an electric blue in their wrought-iron holders along the circumference of the great room. Deep beneath the librairy the room seemed to eminate an aura of the dark magics that had been preformed within. Starlight and Trixie sat opposite each other on deep blue cushions made of fine silk, trimmed with silver thread as the blue unicorn gazed around the stone chamber. It was incredibly tall, at least four floors could be seen around its circumference as the stairs wound their way up, benches lining the railings so others could learn from what was happening below. Along the walls were countless tomes, records of things that had transpired in that room, the spells, the knowledge gained from each experiment, and the names of those lost. Starlight's Cutie Mark, the symbol that the order had chosen, was carved above every door, and was the design that adorned the floor. Great columns, adorned with pieces of obsidian and lapis lazuli held the roof above them up, preventing the library from descending into the earth. At each floor there were torches set into the pillars, shining their ghostly blue light over the hidden library. "Now your training begins." Starlight said after a moment more of silence. "In order to use the dark arts, you must find the strands of dark magic around you, then you must be ready for the sheer power. Stand Trixie, First I will show you what you must be ready for." "Okay..." Trixie said, slightly worried as she stood, the two cushions disappearing as the stones glowed green with the spell circle that formed around the two. "This will allow you to feel what I do when I access the dark magic, it can drive some crazy if they cannot shut off the flow of the magic, so you will first feel it in this manner." I said. "Wha?" Trixie exclaimed as she suddenly saw herself from my point of view, frozen in place. "Your body won't move, but you can still speak. Your senses have been linked with those of my body, that includes your feel of magic." I said. "Now, we begin, follow what I do carefully." I said as I reached out for the magic, the shadowy strands of it appearing to my magical sense as if they were visible. "Do you see them Trixie? Can you feel the power in them?" "Yes... I can." "Good, now can you see the brighter strands?" I said. "Yes, what are they?" "Light magic, your first time doing this will be important for one simple reason, light and dark repel and once you've accessed one it is near deadly to access the other. They repel each other so viciously that if you link the two you could probably take out a good chunk of the castle in Canterlot. Memorize how the dark and light strands feel, for if you screw up you won't be able to learn dark magic." "I... I understand." Trixie said. I gave her a few minutes to memorize the feeling before continuing on. "Next, we access the strands." I said, pulling one of the strands to my horn with magic. The moment they connected power flooded through my body, and the spell circle pulsed, bursting into magical green fire that overpowered the torches. "Can you feel it Trixie? The power to mold the world around you with shadow? The ability to walk through the shadows of the night unseen? The power that can be used to either strike fear into the hearts of the innocent or those that wish to harm them?" "I can... it's almost too much." "Which is why I am guiding you this time, until you get used to it. I have had other students delve into things ahead of when they were ready loose their minds, their lives, or morph into demonic forms. A few of those kept their sanity so they were allowed to stay around as guards. The same will happen with light magic if you are not careful. Now, you guide the magic this time." I said as I cut off the flow of magic and allowed Trixie control of my magic. ********* -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Earlier that day... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ********* Time Keeper was a humble earth pony with an hourglass cutie mark, keeping to himself and his timepiece shop. The small business was one of the most renowned clock shops in the area due to his ability to make clocks that kept near perfect time, as well as his ability to repair clocks that most others could not. He had set up shop in Ponyville to get away from Fillydelphia's hustle and bustle, as well as to replace a member of the order of the moon who had passed away. He was just repairing a small black clock, about the size of two stacked apples, when he heard the jangle of the chimes above his door. "Hello, welcome, how may I... Ah, Shade, Your clock is almost done." He said smiling. "Did you feel it?" Shade asked excitedly. "Feel what? I've been fixing clocks all afternoon and you know I am all but oblivious to anything but those door chimes." Time said, slightly irritated at having to remind his friend of that fact again. "Moments ago... there was a pulse from east of the town just moments ago... It felt like old magic of the order..." Shade said. "What?" Time said. "How? only a few of us know that magic, fewer can actually use it... This merits investigation." "I thought so too... we well check it out tonight. Hopefully none of the solars felt that." Time put down the small screwdriver he was working with, smiling. "Screw em and finding it tonight. Let's go find the source of that pulse." he said hanging a closed sign over the door and stepping out. He turned and they walked past the neighboring store, BonBon's Candy Emporium. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Next door -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Lyra, did you feel that?" a cream colored earth pony said, perking up behind the register at her candy shop. "I think I did Bon... Think we should close up shop and investigate?" The mint colored unicorn said, sitting up from her slouched position. "It's probably nothing... that felt like something negligible, probably Twilight screwing around with magic and spike interrupting again." "Yeah, probably... still, do you think we should check it out? I mean, we are the only members of Solaris in the area..." "True, but the elements of harmony are around, I'm sure if anything goes wrong they can handle it. Besides, you can see Canterlot from here, if it's anything we or the elements can't handle I'm sure Celestia would be here in a flash." "Yeah, good point. Hmm, there goes Time and Shade, wonder what they're up to..." "Who cares, those two airheads are never involved in anything important." "Yeah, they barely do anything aside from tending their shops at all." Lyra said and both started laughing. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's Note: There ya go fillies and gentlecolts, the next chapter. Sorry if I missed anything in the editing. Also, let me know what you thought of the music system, as well as suggestions for background music if you think a song doesn't fit. Ciao and thanks for reading.
Night and DayAuthor's Note: I'm ditching the music system unless there's a large amounts of people asking for it back. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Time and Shade pressed through the thick foliage that grew along the small path, their hooves sinking into the soft moss that covered it, showing that while three others had followed the path recently, only one had returned. "Time... I don't think we're going the right way..." Shade said nervously. "Relax shade, it'll be fine, besides, somepony came this way recently, look at the plants that line the path, some of them have broken twigs." Time said as he forged onward. "Shouldn't I be leading? you can't use any normal magic and I don't think the order's magic would be easy to explain if an earth pony used it." Shade said. "Will you quit your whining? I'm trying to follow the path here." "Whining? My friend I am not whining, I am complain- why'd you sto..." The deep blue unicorn's jaw dropped at the sight of the estate. "Think this is it?" "I think we can be sure of it, look at the gateposts." The two grey stone pillars holding up the wrought iron gate bore the symbol of the Order of the Moon, as well as a depiction of Luna's cutie mark was the central design in the large gate. Beyond that the ferns, shrubs, and trees seemed to be growing wild, yet in such a way that all the cobblestone paths through the grounds were clear from obstruction. As they stepped through the gate, the hinges not uttering a sound despite their age, they could see the vines covering the walls and roof. "Who lives here?" Shade muttered as he glimpsed a small garden of various plants from the Everfree down one of the paths, recognizing only the deep blue leaves of poison joke among the garden. "I don't know... but this may be the house of the founder..." Time said excitedly. "Look at the door, it bears the motto of the order, as well as his cutie mark." The heavy ebony door was decorated with patterns that weaved through each other, making it impossible to find any single beginning or end. 'In the shadows we hide, for the moon we stand.' was engraved around the edges of the order's symbol, the heavy brass knocker sitting in the middle of the door depicted a unicorn holding and ancient scroll which the curved ring made of a silvery chain with it's links welded together hung from. "Should we knock?" Shade asked. "Probably, what harm can it do?" Time replied, pulling on the blue tassel that hung from the knocker, lifting the ring before allowing it to fall with a resounding knock. "Daymn... that thing is loud." "Probably enchanted... usual cover story?" Shade asked as he turned to look over at time. "Yeah, usual." Time said, jumping as the door opened of its own accord. Shade shivered at that, glancing to the sky. "Almost night... sun's about to set. Think we should try to head back?" "Through those woods? Hell nah. That would be asking to get lost, let's just get inside before something attacks us." "Sounds good to me brony." Shade muttered as he stepped inside with Time, the door closing with a thud behind them. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Luna sat in her study, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth, its light reflecting off of the polished onyx that rimmed the fireplace. Silver inlays depicting her moon's phases danced across the arched mantle, allowing room for only her abacus of fine silver and polished obsidian room atop the graceful arch. The rooms walls were covered in bookshelves, or rather the obsidian shelves were part of the walls. six grand pillars rose through the room, the candles held in delicate silver holders adorning their sides casting a warm glow through the room. A small click was heard from the direction of one of the bookshelves before it swung inwards, revealing a hidden passage. A blue and white maned unicorn stepped out. "Ah Colgate, thank you for arriving so soon." Luna said smiling. "You're welcome Your Highness, although the sudden summons and the method of my entrance has me wondering why I was called." Colgate said. "I need a message delivered to the order, and you are one of the three, actually come to think of it it's four now, living ponies that know of that passage." "Well that makes se... wait four? Who else did you show?" Colgate asked curiously. "Nopony you'd know personally, but he is somepony you've heard of, and he is the reason why I need this message delivered." Luna said, smiling. "Come sit, I have some tea that I think a connoisseur such as yourself would enjoy. It's an import from Neighpon." "Oh?" "Yes, Gyokuro, or Jade Dew in Common Equestrian. It was a gift from their ambassador upon my return." Luna said pouring a cup for the other unicorn, as well as refilling her own. "I have heard of it before your majesty, it is one of their finest teas and I thank you for allowing me to partake in it." Colgate said smiling. "Colgate, you know you don't have to be so formal around me when the other aristocrats aren't around, I get enough of that though my daily life as is..." Luna joked, sipping her tea. "I'm sorry Luna," Colgate said in a less formal tone of voice as she chuckled. "I just spend so much time with the aristocracy that it sort of sticks. I am one of the orders only nobles after all..." "Yes, which is why you were the one I asked for. It seems an old friend of mine has broken free of his prison, you remember that odd storm a few days ago? The one my sister claimed was caused by a, and I quote, 'overzealous weather patrol who were trying to clear clouds." Luna said chuckling at the poor excuse. "Yes, I do recall that. What about it?" "Well it was not so much as the storm that was important, more the cause that was. It seems that that statue of the Order's founder wasn't a statue so much as it was him trapped in stone. I discovered this and in my confusion ran, which caused a few of the castle's gardening staff to take an interest in the statue. When they probed it with their magic he siphoned off their magic reserves and used that to break free, the act of which caused that storm. Unlike Discord he couldn't escape without such a light show, due to his seal still being rather strong." "Starlight has returned? Is that the message you want me to deliver?" Colgate asked once she pulled her jaw off the floor. "Not just that, I would also like you to relay to the two agents of ours in Ponyville to keep an ear out for any news regarding a black and gray unicorn with starlight's cutie mark. I sensed him casting the mark of the lunar scholar earlier, which means the Order has a new member as well." "The mark of the Lunar Scholar?" "More commonly known as the order's symbol, Starlight devised a spell that would mark a member of the order with said symbol. It was lost when he was locked away though, so he's currently the only one who knows how to cast it." "Ah..." Colgate said as she finished her tea. "Well then I'd best be on my way to deliver your message Luna." "Oh, Colgate, one more thing," "Yes? Your highness?" The aristocratic tone back in her voice. "Let the Order know that I will soon be calling a gathering, I wish to examine the current members and determine if any wish to use the knowledge that they could gain for more... nefarious purposes than just research." "Of course Your Highness." Colgate said as she stepped out and closed the bookcase behind her. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Man this place is huge..." Shade said as the duo turned down another hall. "You need a freaking map just to get around here..." "I know, but at least we know it's Starlight's place..." Time said as he pushed open the door to the library. "Woah... jackpot..." "By the moon..." Shade muttered. Rows upon rows of bookshelves spanned the hoofball field sized room with stone pillars rising from among the shelves to support the roof. a large circular area in the center of the library had cushions around a circular fire pit, which was enchanted to keep sparks from drifting off. at the far side of the library they could see the pedestals that held the copying book as well as the entrance to the storage room. "This is amazing... let's see what kind of books are here..." Time said galloping down the stairs, heading for the reading area where an ancient tome sat upon a desk that would be at eye height when lying on the nearby cushion. "Time will you please slow down?" Shade said trying to keep up with his friend. "Time waits for nopony." The brown stallion quipped as he stopped by the tome. "Lesse here... old draconic, that's rare. Septiola si no ma tarathra ma kæ nothra... it can't be." Time trailed off as he placed a bookmark at the page and closed the tome, gasping at the title. "By the moon! This is a Naturon Demonto..." "What? are you sure?" Shade said as he stepped up beside Time. "Positive... I think we just found a treasure trove. Imagine what else could be here!" Suddenly the door to the library slammed shut as Starlight materialized ten feet from the two startled stallions. "I assure you there are many more tomes like that here, as well as other forbidden information. Shame you'll never be able to tell anypony about it unless you can come up with a viable excuse for this intrusion." He said as the torches around the library went out, leaving only the fire pit for a light source as the two stallions froze in fear. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: Well that's another chapter for you. Lemme know if you spot any errors, I've read through it a few times but I could have missed something. here's starlight's cuite mark, i got bored in class the other day. Starlight's CM I have the order's symbol sketched out, however my camera died on me so i can't transfer and ink it like i want to, so that'll have to wait untill I can figure out what broke. Also, i may be trying to build some of these scenes in Minecraft soon, so if anyone is interested in helping clear some room on a server, just PM or e-mail me.
Discovery"Woah, woah woah!" The brown intruder said after he recovered from the shock. "I'm Time Keeper, this is Shade. We were just exploring and we didn't think anypony lived here. We're scholars and the only reason for our curiosity with this place is the symbols on the gateposts, we've seen them before but we do not know what they mean." "I could tell you, but then again I still have to decide on what is to be done with you... I can't just send you on your way seeing as you know what that book is, where did you learn of that book?" I said, curious now. If luck is on my side for once these two will be with the order... then again luck is not something to rely on. "Well, I'm the only one who knows that language between the two of us, I attended Celestia's school for gifted unicorns when I was younger an-" "Enough with the story, just say it, I can tell you're lying." I said. "Tell me, did you recognize the mark on the front door?" "Well..." Time was about to speak when Shade cut him off. "Look, we work for an organization that hope to preserve forbidden knowledge, and yes we recognized that symbol, why?" I chuckled as I walked over to the Naturon Demonto, taking care to stay between them and the fire so they couldn't see my cutie mark. "Depending on your answer I may make you a copy of this thing, what's the name of your organization?" The two looked to each other, "Er, may we have a moment?" The unicorn said before casting a sound damper around them. I couldn't help but chuckle at the earth pony's animated behavior, it was pretty clear that he wanted a copy of the Naturo Demonto. The unicorn however, seemed like the wiser of the two and kept his cool, probably denying the earth pony his request. This proceeded for a moment or two until they dropped the sound shield. "I swear Shade you're an idiot for not wanting that book..." The brown one said sighing. "How about this, We know that that symbol on the door is the cutie mark of the Order of the Moon's founder." "Hmm... glad to hear they still remember me." I said with a chuckle allowing the torches to re-light and reveal me. "S-Starlight Sparkle!" Shade yelped and froze up like one of those fainting goats. Time's jaw hit the floor, well figuratively of course. "Er, do you mind showing us a spell? We have to be sure you're not a Solaris." Time said. "Of course, name a spell." I said chuckling. "Hmm... Zoltiev's third shadow shield spell." Time said with a small smile. "Hmm... child's play." I said as the arcane circle flared into existence around me as the semi-transparent shield formed. Once more the earth pony's jaw dropped. "Okay, I'll take your word for it... Even Midnight Star has problems with that one and he's our most powerful." Shade said dragging himself up. "But how?" "Well, after discovering my studies Celestia locked me in stone for a millennium. As I was writing down the Initiation spell too, probably screwed you guys over on that front." I said with a chuckle. "Trixie, you can come out now, they're with the order." "That's good... Trix- sorry, I wouldn't want to have to fight anyone at this point." Trixie said as she stepped out from the bookshelves. "In any case, I take it you two felt that pulse earlier?" I said with a chuckle as I noticed Shade was blushing a little. Time noticed this and cuffed the black unicorn on the back of the head. Oh these two are entertaining. "Yes, we did and we came to investigate. It felt like the order's magic. What was that spell?" Time said as Trixie started giggling at the wall eyed expression the cuff had left on Shade's face. "That was the mark of the Lunar Scholar, the spell used to mark members of the Order so we would know if somepony was in the know or not." I said chuckling. "I was initiating Trixie here, she expressed an interest in dark magic and the oaths cast during the initiation ensure that she's trustworthy." "Really?" Time said. "That would be useful to learn, we've had problems with spies of late." "That it would be, but first, would you like to see the catacombs? Well, I like to call them that at least, has a nice ring to it." I said with a chuckle. "Um, sure." Shade said. "Don't worry, it's just the old school, the only dangerous part is full of water, and that's why it is dangerous." I said with a chuckle as I opened the hidden door behind the scroll rack. "Right this way, oh and mind your step, the first one is a doozy, old elevator spells are always fun." I said, stepping out into the open air of the shaft behind the bookcase and falling the sixty or so feet before the spell caught me and placed me gently on my hooves, followed shortly by the other two who screamed the whole way down, and then Trixie. "NEXT TIME WARN ME!" Shade said, his legs shaking as he rounded on Trixie. Time, meanwhile, had broken down into fits of laughter from a combination of his friend's reaction and adrenaline. "Please, Tr-sorry- I knew you wouldn't want to jump so I decided to show you it was harmless." Trixie said, chuckling to herself. "Oh by the moon Shade, your face... that was just priceless!" Time said in between gasps of air. "I have never seen anypony's eyes get that big!" I just chuckled as I started down the corridor towards the training room where Trixie and I had been. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- in Canterlot -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Deep in the dungeons of Canterlot Castle, a soundless conversation was beginning between a pair of statues. Ah, finally, I can contact you. A voice sounded through Ghost Spear's head. Who is this if I may ask. The petrified warrior replied. Oh come now, you don't recognize the voice of one of your most powerful enemies? Discord... lovely now you can torment me. Oh I intend to do nothing of the sort. Instead I am offering you a chance to be free, I can free you seeing as your entrapment spell is weaker, however I need your word that you will help me with something... Name your terms draconequis. It is simple, do as you do best and cause a war, find an existing conflict and escalate it as you so love to do. Promise me to do this and then I shall free you. Would that not free you due to all of the disorder? Yes, well that is kind of the point my fellow statue, however this time I do not wish to throw the world into chaos, just add a bit more to the existing one, give the ponies a little more strife for my years trapped. I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance... but I've changed since then. I accept your terms discord. Very well, I shall free you, but be ready to run, as you noticed somepony else escaped recently so they'll be wary of the rest of you. For the embodiment of chaos you sure do plan ahead... I call it organized chaos, for if you are a step ahead of your adversary, you tend to loose less. Discord said as Ghost felt a pulse of magic shatter his prison -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- four others felt this pulse, The royal sisters, Twilight, and Starlight. In a sheer bout of irony they all uttered the same words at it: "That can't be good..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- author's note: Hello again everypony, sorry about the length of this one, just haven't been able to write of late. In any case, this new direction should help me. still looking for a pre-reader so if anypony wouldn't mind i'm sure i missed a few things in there... call em as you see em.
Back from the everfree"Deep within the Everfree forest sits the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, the former capital of Equestria. Now, I say former because I discovered upon my first teleport that Canterlot is now the capital, well, not that it matters much to me however it is the setting of a recounting of how one of our more... unique members came to be with the order, although she cannot access our magic she has proved to be invaluable in teaching our members combat skills due to her heritage. I believe she will make a fine commander of our Shadowalkers after a year or two, and when she learns some discipline." An excerpt from the journal of Starlight Sparkle, Head Scholar of the Order of the Moon -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The halls of the Castle of the Royal Pony sisters were silent these days, very few sentient creatures dared face the dangers of the Everfree to reach them and the magics left over from Celestia's banishment of Nightmare Moon kept all but the insects away, however this night faint snoring could be heard coming from one of the more intact towers in the old castle. A brown and white form lay on a mattress that clearly had been placed there recently. New timber supports for the failing walls were wedged in haphazardly and the roof was repaired in much the same way. A single oil lamp sat in the corner, unlit for the time being as the owner had no use for it in her sleep. Ancient paintings adorned the wall, only a few containing recognizable pictures of the lunar princess in her former glory. Elegant tarnished silver sconces adorned the walls, a few missing here and there having been removed to sell for bits, for the inhabitant of the castle still needed some supplies from the civilized world. The elegant ebony four post bed had seen better days, and so had it's occupant. Slowly, as if apologetically the sun crested over the trees and a shaft of light fell through the remaining intact window and onto the white feathered head of the sleeping tenant. Stirring from her slumber, Gilda stretched and climbed off of the quilt covered mattress. "Another beautiful morning in the everfree..." The griffin sighed as she looked out the window, eyes devoid of any happiness. Morning dew glistened upon the boughs of the trees and scattered the light of the morning sun, causing the light to dance among the drooping leaves of the willows. A slight smile appeared on the griffin's beak as she opened a chest in the corner of the room, withdrawing some salted meat before descending stepping out of a broken window and flying down to a fire pit in the courtyard. While there was an elegant fireplace in the tower room, she only used that in the winter and when it was raining, wood was a pain to fly up to the tower in large amounts. The uncut grass swayed in the breeze as she flicked open a small pony fire starter, the contained spell creating a small green flame that quickly took to the dry wood she placed in the small fire pit, fashioned from an old fountain. Skewering the meat upon a metal spearshaft she had found, she began to roast it over the small blaze, singing a slow tune to herself as she cooked. "Though far from your nest-mates and mother, and friendly skies are but a dream, remember these words of another, as insignificant as they may seem. Keep an eye to the sky for her good graces, and remember what you learn from all the places, that you go in your travels, and as your path unravels, know that your fate is yours alone, and remember, remember those days at home. Wherever your wings may take you, don't let others words break your and remember your lessons, and remember your blessings, for without them you'll be alone, but always remember, those days at home and when they fight you, stand strong as you must do and hold agaisnt their blows, though they try to cause harm do not be alarmed, for why they do this the sky only knows. and remember, those days at home." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Hey applebloom!" Scootaloo and Sweete Belle called out to the other filly as they walked up to Sweet Apple Acres. "What's up girls." The yellow filly called back, trotting up to them. "Ah just finished my chores for the day." "Good, because I think I have a plan to get us our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said energetically. "Oh? How?" Applebloom asked, her attention caught by the prospect of a chance at a cutie mark. "Rarity mentioned an old castle in the Everfree, and I'm willing to bet that there's some kind of treasure in there." Sweetie belle said. "Yeah, Dash mentioned it once too, it's where they defeated Nightmare Moon!" Scootaloo chimed in. "Cool, how do we get there?" Applebloom asked eagerly. "Well, there's a path to it i'm willing to bet, I mean it is a Castle. Let's go grab some saddlebags and treasure hunting supplies from the barn!" Scootaloo said. "CUITIE MARK CRUSADERS TREASURE HUNTERS!" The three yelled before speeding off into the barn. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Gilda sighed as she picked up the axe and got to work on a tree that was near the castle's walls, her powerful swings rending inch deep cuts with every swing, the large tree shaking with each swing. a number of other stumps attested that this was not the first tree she had brought down, although the forest was already getting to work on new trees to replace the old ones. The thuds of the axe reverberated slightly among the trees. A few minutes later there was a loud crash as the tree fell, followed by more thuds as Gilda went to work on removing the branches, the smaller ones only taking a swing or two to remove, while the larger ones she left for later as a pile of firewood slowly stacked up in the old guardhouse. Leaning against the doorframe the griffin took a drink from her canteen. "Yaknow... I should go back to Ponyville soon, say sorry... and thank you..." she muttered, musing to herself as she looked at the forest. "I was a bit of a bitch, but getting kicked out of Gryphus will do that to ya..." She closed her canteen and went back over to the fallen tree, resuming her work. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Are ya' sure this is the right way scoots?" Applebloom asked as they trotted along an overgrown path through the everfree. "I'm as sure as Rainbow Dash can fly." Scootaloo replied earning a look from Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. "Ah don't think that's proper grammar." Applebloom said, thinking back to the previous day's lesson. "Yes, I'm pretty sure it would be 'I'm as sure of that as I'm sure that Rainbow Dash can fly." Sweetie added. "Ah buzz off you two, you know I don't care." Scootaloo said as they reached a river. "Great, now what're we gonna do?" Applebloom asked. "Ah mean Ah don't think that Ah can swim that far." "Me neither, besides I would rather not get wet." "Now I really wish I could fly... it's starting to get late." Scootaloo said looking at the sun's position in the sky. "Relax Scoot," Applebloom said reassuringly. "Ah reckon we still got a few hours before we haveta' head back." "Uh, girls," Sweetie belle said looking at the river. "Does water usual do that?" "Do what?" Scootaloo said looking at the water. There was a ripple in the water heading towards the shore. "Ah ain't ever seen it do that before..." Applebloom said, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. Suddenly a large purple head surfaced, the sea serpent's orange hair and moustache surprisingly well maintained despite the water. "Why hello there!" It said cheerily. Applebloom was the first to recover. "Uh, Hello." She said. "Ah beg yer pardon, but what are you?" "Me?" The sea serpent asked. "Well I'm a Sea Serpent darling. Oh arn't the three of you just the cutest!" He rose a bit more out of the water and placed his elbows on the shore. "I'm Steven Magnet, what do they call you three precious little things?" "Well, Ah'm Applebloom," The young farmpony said happily. "The orange pegasis there is Scootaloo and the other one is Sweetie Belle." "Yeah, We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo said as she knocked Applebloom aside. "Ow, what in the hay was that for?" Sweetie Belle said as Applebloom landed on her. "Whoops..." Scootaloo said sheepishly as Steven chuckled. "What are you three darlings doing this far into the Everfree?" The sea serpent asked. "Well we were treasure hunting, but I don't see a way across this river, we're looking for an old castle." Sweetie Belle explained while Applebloom tackled Scootaloo "Oh, I know where you're talking about. It's not far from here once you get across the river." "Yeah well that's the problem. None of us think we can make the swim." "Well that won't do now." Steven said. "Here," he said as his tail rose out of the water. "Hop on you three." "Thanks Mr. Magnet." Applebloom said as she got off of Scootaloo and helped the other filly up before climbing on. "Yeah, thanks!" Scootaloo echoed as Sweetie helped her up. Steven then carefully moved his tail across the river and let the three fillies hop off. "Take care darlings, meet me back here when you're done at that old place and I'll swim you to Ponyville, I can't have you too exhausted now." Steven said waving as the three trotted off down the path again. "Will do Mr. Magnet!" Applebloom called back before they rounded a corner out of sight. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A laugh of triumph sounded through the woods as a large chunk of the trunk split off after an hour of hacking. Gilda looped a rope around it and started to pull it to where the guardhouse was. "Man, if only the rest of those loosers from Snowpeak could see me now. I bet I could beat em in a fight now... I wonder how Jackle is doing..." She thought out loud as she pulled. After about five minutes the log was inside the castle walls. Removing the rope Gilda took off, heading for the main courtyard to refill her canteen in the spring there. As she flew over the old banquet hall she could hear voices arguing. "Who the hell is this far into the Everfree?" "Ah'm tellin you that it ain't gonna budge featherbrain." Gilda heard as she spotted three fillies standing in front of the castle's main door. A yellow earth pony with a red bow was arguing with an orange peagasis while a white unicorn looked around the courtyard. The hell're three kids doing here? Gilda thought swooping lower. "hey, you three, what are you doing here?" She called out. "What in the hay?" Applebloom said as she jumped as Gilda landed. "Who're you?" "Eh, just a nobody." Gilda replied nonchalantly. "What are you three doing this far into the Everfree, it's dangerous here at night." "We're looking for treasure." Scootaloo said turning to the griffin. "Hey, I recognize you, Gilda right?" "Y-yeah, how'd you know?" Gilda said surprised. Oh please don't mention last year... "Rainbow dash has a photo of you in her house, I visit there every now and then when someone helps me get up there." Scootaloo said. "It's from junior flyers camp." "Hmm, you wouldn't happen to be Scootaloo would you?" Gilda asked. "Yep." "Dash mentioned you when I was visiting Ponyville." "That's where ah remember you from!" Applebloom cut in. "You were at that party that went south last year..." Gilda sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't bring that up. I'm not proud of how I acted back then, I was going through some tough times and overreacted." "Ah'll say." Applebloom said. "But that's fine." the filly said as she looked up at the sky. "Uh-oh..." "What is it?" Gilda asked. "Ah don't think we'll make it back to the river by nightfall..." "Hmm..." Gilda thought. "Tell ya what, I've cleaned up a tower here and i'm living there, If you want to stay the night i'm sure we could figure something out. Either that or I'll walk ya to the river, i know the way and Steven should be willing to swim ya back to Ponyville." "Stay here? That would be so AWESOME!" Scootaloo said grinning. "Ah dunno..." Applebloom said. "If mah sister catches us in the Everfree again Ah'll get grounded for a month..." "Well I don't want to intrude but it is rather late..." Sweetie Belle said. "Consdarn it... Allright we'll stay the night." Applebloom said. "Okay, follow me, i'll take you to the tower." Gildia said, heading towards an opening in one of the interior walls of the castle. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Author's note: Well, I've decided to cut away from the main story for a while, i got the idea to do this after listening to Jackleapp's song Winter. Don't worry, we'll be back to normal before long, I just don't argue with my muse when it comes to things like story ideas.
Moonlit Peril"Right this way you three." Gilda said as she took another turn out into the courtyard where she had eaten breakfast. "Wait here for a moment, I'll go grab some wood for a fire." The three fillies nodded and sat by the soot blackened fountain base. "Woah..." Scootaloo muttered, causing the other two crusaders to look at her. "What is it scoot?" Sweetie Belle inquired, noticing the other filly was looking up. "Wow..." the white unicorn said as she imitated her pegasis friend. The sky above them was clearer than they had ever seen it. Amidst the deep black of space the billions of small pinpricks of light twinkled and flickered, dancing across the dome of the sky. The silver moon, not nothing but a small curved sliver of silver light hung in the sky like a silver canoe, simple yet elegant. As they sat mesmerized by the sight, Gilda returned with the firewood. She glanced up to see what the fillies were looking at and was entranced too. "Ah don't think ah've ever seen it this clear, even from mah place." Applebloom said after a little while. "Yeah, too much light pollution in Ponyville I suppose." Scootaloo said, drawing a look from her two friends. "What? I occasionally spend the night at twilight's place. She's taught me a bit about the night sky." "Twilight... Isn't that the purple unicorn?" Gilda asked as she set the logs in the firepit. "Yeah, she's real nice." "Why do you stay there sometimes though?" Gilda asked, lighting the wood. "She your sister or something?" Scootaloo looked down, a look of sadness crossing her face. "No... my dad sometimes gets in these moods and..." "Shh, kid." Gilda said, putting a wing around the orange filly.. "I understand. My folks were the same, heck my whole town was. I was always the runt of the town. Everyone went after me when they needed to beat something up, toughened me up. I didn't have many friends, well sides Dash, but I didn't say anything about it to her." "Why not?" Scootaloo asked puzzled. "Pride I suppose. Back then I did my best to put on a tough attitude, I guess I thought that if I told Dash she'd think I was weak and look down on me." "Ah don't think Dash would look down on anyone for that, 'specially not her friends." Applebloom said. "What'd ya do to the people who were mean to ya?" "Nothing at first, then I started to fight back. Took some lessons on how to fight, heck even bought a sword at one point, but that caused things to get real bad. I nearly died at one point. Hold that thought, I'm gonna go grab something for us to eat, er, do you three mind if I have some meat?" Sweetie Belle and Applebloom shook their heads, Scootaloo looked a bit nervous though. "Something wrong Scoots?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Well... It's just..." She began but was cut off by Applebloom. "Bit unsettled by tha' whole meat thing?" "Yeah." "It's alright, I'll do that after you three are asleep then." Gilda said with a smile. "I understand, most ponies don't run into any kind of carnivore." "Thanks." Scootaloo said as Gilda took off to the tower. "Ya know, she ain't so bad anymore." Applebloom said watching Gilda fly to the tower. "Yeah, we should invite her back, I mean, taking the three of us in for the night is an awfully nice thing to do... according to my sister we can be a bit irritating sometimes..." Sweetie belle said with a giggle. "I suppose I can see why she would say that..." Scootaloo said, and soon all three fillies were giggling at the joke. The three fillies stopped giggling as Gilda suddenly turned around and started yelling something at them. "...un! Get into the trees, HYDRA! GET MOVING!" -=-=-=- optional music: Ace Combat 5 OST - Scinfaxi -=-=-=- "Wut is she? Oh buck..." Was all Applebloom could say before screaming like the other three crusaders and running towards the opening in the castle's wall. The Hydra tore apart a chunk of the tower as its attention turned to the three fillies rather than the griffon who was flying out of its reach. It roared as the tower proceeded to fall on its tail, momentarily stopping it. Gilda swooped in low and yelled to the crusaders, "Scoot! jump onto my back! You two, get ready to be picked up!" Scootaloo looked back and jumped up, using what little flying ability she had to gain some hang time as Gilda swooped under her and pulled up, the orange filly landing on her back. There was a loud crash as the hydra broke free of the rubble, by now rather angry. "Heads up girls!" The other two crusaders yelped as Gilda scooped them up, holding them tightly in her front arms. "Scoots, hang on tight, I can't climb or go much faster holding the three of you so we're going through the trees!" Gilda yelled over the air rushing past them as the forest loomed ahead, the underbrush barely visible in the moonlight. In seconds they were screaming, figuratively in Gilda's case, and literally in the case of the crusaders, through the forest. The trees whipped past, coming within inches of Gilda's large hazelnut as they flew, speeding within a foot of most of the undergrowth of the Everfree. If I can just make it to the river Steven will help us. I have to save these kids, they are NOT dying on my watch! Gilda thought, her face set in grim determination. She glanced back and saw the hydra tearing through the thick trees, furious that its meal was escaping. It was gaining slowly, it's speed and ability to just charge through the forest allowing it to catch up to the weighted down, weaving griffon. Gilda looked back just in time to see a small branch from a tree inches from her face. She screached in agony as pain erupted from the right side of her face, causing her to loose concentration and dip. The underbrush clawed at her and the fillies momentarily before they burst out, rolling to a stop beside the river. "Gilda!" Applebloom yelled running to the injured griffon, the other two crusaders following suit. "I'm... fine." She said, grunting at the pain. "STEVEN! HELP!" She yelled, the smooth river rippling as the serpent surfaced. "Oh my... what happened to you four?" He asked. "No time, get the fillies to Ponyville I'll distract the hydra!" Gilda said, flapping her powerful wings and shooting into the air, flying for the hydra. "H-Hydra!" The serpent said, looking around in shock. "Gilda!" the crusaders yelled as the sea serpent snapped out of his shock and scooped them up. "Come on you three, oh I do hope she knows what she's doing..." Steven said as he placed them on his back, looking back in the direction of the hydra's roars before shooting down the river. -=-=-=-=-=-=- end music -=-=-=-=-=-=- "Alright, that was better Trixie, try again." Starlight said smiling as the powder blue unicorn sighed and concentrated, deep blue shadows gathering around her horn. "Remember, patience is important." A deep blue mist gathered over a spot about a foot wide on the river, and soon a sphere of water was lifted, it's outside rippling and contorting as the showmare tried to keep it stable. "Very good, now move it over yourself." Starlight said and smiled as his student hovered the ball of water. Time and Shade kept watch along the riverbank. They had all decided that it would be a good night to go out for a stroll and had ended up by the river to do a bit of training, and for Starlight to see how much magic they knew. "Heads up everypony, something's coming down the river!" Time said, his ears perking at the sound of young voices. Trixie's concentration broke and the shadow magic dissipated dropping the sphere of water onto her. "Gah! That's cold!" "Shh..." Time said, motioning for the others to be quiet. "... have to go back, there's no way she can defeat that thing on her own!" "Girls, she knows what she's doing and she asked me to get you to Ponyville, she's buying us time." "Well I'll be, a sea serpent." Starlight said. "Good evening sir! May I ask what is going on?" "Oh thank goodness someone!" The serpent said. "Can you take these three back to Ponyville, a griffon friend of mine is distracting the hydra that was after them but I don't know how long Gilda can last." Steven said in a panicked voice. Starlight's smile faded, replaced with a serious expression. "We'll help, how far back down the river is it?" "About a mile, I swam as fast as I could." Steven said. "Got it, keep going, Ponyville isn't far, we'll help Gilda." he said. "Alright, time to see if you three can fight, let's move!" He said galloping down the riverbank, the other three following suit. "Oh I hope they make it..." Steven said, the crusaders nodding as they took off down the river again. -=-=-=-=-=- BG music: Ace Combat 5 OST - Hrimfaxi -=-=-=-=-=- Gilda panted as she dived at the hydra once again, weaving past it's attempts to eat her and raking her claws along one of it's necks. Flying just out of range she yelled hoarsely, "C'mon? Is that all you got you overgrown tadpole!" Just a minute longer, then I can fly off, they should be far enough away by then. Wings don't fail me now! Gilda thought making another swoop. The hydra had other plans however. It had cost the beast an eye and some blood but it finally had figured out the griffon's attack style. It feinted as if to snap at Gilda again but the another head swung at her and knocked her clear across the river the two were fighting beside. "GAH!" Gilda yelped in pain as she flew through the air, unable to recover. She landed with a thud on the opposite bank, the hydra following, intent on finishing off the pesky griffon. Well... I guess this is it... Gilda thought, trying to drag herself to her feet, but two of her legs had been broken by the hydra's swing and the impact from landing. Sorry I can't make it back kids. Hope ya let Dash know that I died saving your hides. She braced for the hydra's bite as one of the heads shot out towards her. "SE'RITETHUS!" someone yelled nearby and they hydra roared, a sharp bang echoing through the forest. Gilda raised her head and saw four ponies running up to her, three unicorns and an earth pony. The unicorn's horn was surrounded by a dark colored haze as he fired another spell at the hydra, another unknown word pouring from his mouth as the hydra was hit by a bolt of white lightning. Another unicorn, this one powder blue backed up the black one, adding a dazzling display of illusion magic to the mix, the bright flashes and images that kept flashing into existence around the hydra disorienting it. The earth pony and grey unicorn ran up to her. "Mam, Miss Gilda? Can you stand?" The unicorn asked as they reached her. "No, the landing broke two of my legs I think..." She said, before breaking down into a fit of coughing red flecks landing on the sand in front of her. "Oh that ain't good..." "Oh buck..." The earth pony said spotting the flecks of blood. "Probably a punctured lung... two broken legs, that wing doesn't look right, probably dislocated... and that eye is probably beyond repair. She needs profession medical help, Shade can get her there, can you handle the hydra?" "With ease." the grey one said as he turned. "Shade! Trixie! Stand back." The two immediately got out of the way and stopped casting, and ran back behind the gray one. "In the moon's name, rain down from the heavens." He said, his voice level, the little light there was seeming to lessen around them. "Ma'tae'si." A black aura flared around his horn as hundreds of inch thick silver rods rained down from the sky, each one terminating in a needle's point. The hydra was unable to escape as the deadly downpour tore into its body, ending its life. "Get her to a hospital, I'll clean this up." the grey one said as Gilda lost her grip on the world, the last thing she saw was a black circle opening in the air in front of them. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: 'pologies for the delay, i've just not had the muse to write here for the past little while, hope I can make it up to y'all. as per usual I gots no editor so any spelling and grammar errors lemme know, and please let me know what you think. Also, if some of the behavior of the characters seems weird (or Starlight being an OP Gary sue) i will explain/fix these issues in due time.
return of the showmareIt had been a relatively uneventful day for Nurse Redheart, actually it had been a rather uneventful week for the medical mare seeing as there hadn't been many injuries and the majority of the patients that were left were just those recovering from surgery but didn't want to stay in the Royal Canterlot Hospital. "Bored?" The small hospital's other on duty staff member asked. Their shift was over in ten minutes and, per usual, those ten minutes seemed to be the longest ten minutes of the day. "Yeah, that's the downside of our field isn't though Tenderheart?" She said with a half grin. "We don't want people to get hurt but when no one is we don't have much to do." Not a moment after she said this the door of the hospital was bucked open and two unicorns charged in, an unconscious griffon held in their combined telekenetic grip. The earth pony who had 'opened' the door soon followed. "The griffon needs help, damaged eye, multiple bone fractures, at least one rib broken, and possible punctured lung!" The two medical ponies just stared for a moment before the earth pony piped up again. "Let's GO!" He said. Redheart was the first to recover and quickly took control. "Tenderheart, get Dr. Mend on the line, you three, bring her this way!" She said jumping over the counter rather than taking the longer route to go through the door. She pushed open the doors that led to the emergency wing. "How long ago did she pass out?" "About thirty seconds, teleported here." one of the unicorns, her coat a powder blue with a wand cutie mark said. "Trixie?" Redheart asked. "I'll explain later, right now Gilda is dying." She said as Redheart opened the door to the ER. "Put her on the bed, Trixie do you remember that spell that Dr. Mend preformed on the green filly who had a punctured lung?" "I remember what it did, yes." "Can you do something similar?" "I..." She said, pausing for only a second or two before continuing, her expression going from unsure to one reflecting the calm determination of the Nurse. "I'll try." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Twilight can you PLEASE tell me what is going on!" Spike said as he followed the panicking mare around the library. moments before she had sat bolt upright in her bed with a loud yelp that woke the baby dragon. She then proceded to bolt out the door to the balcony, as if looking for something around the town in a panic. "Thatcan'thavebeenanythingbut... ineedto... yes... before anything bad happens..." Was all Spike could catch of the purple mare's muttering. "TWILIGHT!" "GAH!" The librarian jumped two feet in the air, surprised at spike's sudden yell. "What in Celestia's name was that for?" "Can you please explain what just happened to cause you to rush out to the balcony so quick? You looked like you just ran into Discord and Nightmare Moon working together." He said pulling out ink, a quill and some parchment, getting the feeling he'd need it. "Right... Take a letter." "Already ahead of you Twi'." "Good. Please write exactly what i say, no changing words so it sounds better to you this time got it?" She asked. "I... okay." This must be really important or really, really bad. "Princess Celestia, I'm not sure if you just felt it but moments ago I felt a powerful pulse of energy from the area near Ponyville. From my experience with Nightmare Moon I can say that it was similar to her magic, which leads me to believe that it was a dark magic spell. your student, ~Twilight Sparkle" "That's all Twi'?" "Yes send it." The unicorn said, looking out the window worriedly. -=-=-=-=-=- Meanwhile in another corner of Ponyville, a mint green unicorn and a cream colored earth pony simultaneously sat bolt upright in their beds and exclaimed, "Holy Buck did you feel that? Yeah. Stop that! Stop copying me! I'm not copying... You first. No you! GAH!" The both flopped backwards down into their beds in frustration at the same time. Lyra proceeded to cast a lighting spell. "We have GOT to stop doing that." Bonbon said, sitting up again. "Okay so do we investigate that ungodly dark magic pulse or do we pretend we slept through it..." "Hmm... investigate it but we slept through it if anypony asks." "Sounds like a plan." Bonbon replied as they both climbed out of their beds. The two were good friends, yes, but not lovers, well not that they'd admit. Some of Ponyville was still rather old fashioned after all. "From the alert spell it seems that that pulse came from the Everfree..." Lyra said as she checked a small crystal hanging from a shelf in their room. "Lovely... well let's get going, if that was the order of the moon the boss is gonna wanna know." -=-=-=-=-=- Starlight sighed as he deposited the last vial of hydra blood in one of his saddlebags, as well a few of the silver spikes his spell had created. Damn, I bet Celestia herself felt that one... He thought, feeling the start of a migraine. And there's that spell I had Luna cast on me. I hope no one actually finds me for the next little while, that spell was powerful, and so will this headache be. Oh goody, I hear wings, wonder who that is. He thought to himself. He looked up at the treetops, his grey form blending in with the shadows of the forest well enough if he held still. Those are some big wings... another griffon? No, that's a pony... by the moon... "Starlight! I know that was you!" A familiar voice called out over the forest. "Down here, My queen." He called back, stepping out from the shrubbery. The princess of the night landed along the riverbank right beside him, soon embracing him in her wings. "Starlight, my friend!" "Luna, It's been far too long." He said smiling. "Although I do believe we should move from this location, I doubt any members of Clan Solaris in the area would have missed that." Releasing the grey unicorn Luna looked over the bloody mess that was formerly a hydra. "Yes, I do suppose... may I ask what that mass of silver studded pulp was?" "It was a Hydra, a Griffon named Gilda was protecting three fillies against it, we managed to get here before it ate her but she was not in good condition." "Hmm... well it wouldn't do to have this thing's corpse poisoning the river. Let me handle this, if I remember right you had me cast that headache inducing spell on you." "Indeed, although it was supposed to only be temporary, did you figure out any limiter spells?" "I have." She said smiling as her horn glowed, the mass of bloody flesh lifting off the ground surrounded by a starry aura before bursting into black flame. "I don't think this will burn the spikes." "Leave them, give Solaris something to fret over, let them think that they can track me using those spikes." Starlight said with a chuckle. "I take it 'Tia's furious?" "Quite, I don't think I've seen her this agitated since we reversed the gravity on all the palace furniture that one night." Luna said with a mischievous grin as she levitated the silver spikes and sticking them into the ground among the blood and ash of the hydra. "They still talk about that you know. A few of the carpets haven't come down yet either." Starlight was laughing by now. After a minute he managed to catch his breath. "By the moon, it has been far too long since I've had a good laugh like that... Ah, it's good to be back." He said as the two trotted off down the riverbank, the silver spikes arranged into the crest of the order of the moon and the ash arranged in the shape of starlight's cutie mark. "Isn't that a little bold?" "You've already destroyed a hydra with a tier six hex, may as well finish the announcement of your return in style." "I suppose, although I'm willing to be that Ponyville is going to become quite the interesting village soon." "Soon? Let me fill you in on the past two years." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The door to Celestia's chambers thudded shut behind the brown unicorn stallion. He took the familiar route to the princess' study, the guard stationed there simply nodding to him before opening the door. "Ah, Lord Sun." Celestia said, a hit of relief in her voice as she set down a scroll she had been reading. "I assume by the fact that I haven't even summoned you yet that you felt that pulse of magic from the direction of the Everfree?" "Correct your highness. I thought you'd have instructions for me as to what you would like the Clan of Solaris to do in response to this... atrocity of magic." Chocolate Sun replied, a slight smile upon his muzzle. "Scour the area, my sister teleported off without explanation shortly after that pulse." "Why would she do that?" "Two reasons, it seems the Order of the Moon has gotten wind of the recent... incident in the Canterlot gardens." Celestia said with a small sigh. "I doubt that would be enough to get her out of her tower unless the order's members were involved." Chocolate's tone was one of disgust when he spoke of the rival organization. "That would be the other reason. The pony released from that statue was none other than Starlight Sparkle, the founder of the Order of the Moon. I task you and your order with finding him and bringing him and his order to justice." Chocolate Sun took a step back, surprised at the announcement. That only lasted a moment before he resumed his previous stance grinning madly. "Your wish is our command your highness." And we will execute it with all our might. Those Order of the Moon heathens will be eliminated. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: Well another chapter for all of you. Things are starting to warm up with this. Let me know of any errors I've missed. Also, I do not in any way mean to insult any religions with this one, any and all terms that do have religious connections that I use in my fics are being used for their meaning, not to make one faction seem like any real religion. P.S.: before anypony mentions it, yes Chocolate Sun is a terrible name for an antagonist, but this is equestria and names like that are the norm.
Downtime"Really? there are whole cities on the moon now? Get a little bored up there?" Starlight said chuckling as he poured tea for Luna and himself. "Indeed, although I have little doubt that that the fact that I built them on the far side of the moon will throw off the first few travellers to the moon when the majority of the population finally figure out a reliable way to get up there." Luna said with a smile. "I can picture the tabloids now, 'Lunar Ponies? Celestia's greatest prison? More on page 15!'" Starlight said causing them both to laugh. "It seems your library remained intact all these years, you must teach me that preservation spell you used here, we could really use it in the Canterlot Archives." "I can imagine so… But first I would like to talk a bit of business, seeing as now i'm going to have Solaris breathing down my neck." Starlight said with a smirk. "That and the limiter spell, i'd like to get that switched from the old one we used before it actually kicks in, I can feel it starting…" "Ah yes, let me get that for you…" Luna said as her horn flashed once, then after a moment started to glow a deep blue as Starlight was enveloped in a similar aura. "Same idea as we were trying for last time, limit your power but enable you to release power as needed, and authorized?" Luna asked. "That would be the general idea… although let's hope that a full release is never needed." Starlight said with a sigh, "Although if you do remember that one scholar's philosophy, Murphy was his name I believe, 'If it can go wrong, it will at one point or another.' " "Yes, I suppose so, that's why we aren't locking down your power permanently." She said as her horn flashed again, and the aura faded from around starlight as his cutie mark glowed a deep blue for a moment, then that faded as well. "There, it is done." "Now, on to business, we have to somehow hide the order's activities in Ponyvile, despite a heightened solaris presence… any ideas?" "Well, my sister has an academy for gifted unicorns, and I know it is a bit of a Solaris stronghold so why don't we do the same. A bit bold perhaps but they won't try anything against a school, I mean we almost could use this house if not for the sheer effort it would take to hide all of these books…" Luna said glancing around the library. "Perhaps something close by? It wouldn't take me too long to build a structure after what I did on the moon… Terraforming spells are tricky but when you master them, buildings become child's play to create." "Who would be the head of the school, yourself?" Starlight asked after a moment of thinking. "Either me or you, I wouldn't trust it to anyone else." Luna said. "Hmm… well I would gladly do the job, we'd just want to get a good number of the order here first. We could make it an academy for all pony academics, not just for gifted unicorns as 'Tia has. I'd have to hide my cuitie mark constantly but that would be a small price to pay." Starlight smiled at the prospect. "Clan Solaris will do all that they can to sabotage us…" "What's life without a little challenge here and there?" Luna said, a mischievous smirk giving voice to her thoughts. "I would throw up a distraction first of course, perhaps a large dark magic pulse near Stalliongrad, or Manehattan. Both are large population cities and far enough from Canterlot to distract the Solars for some time." "That sounds like a good plan. In the meantime I shall improve my wards around my home, can't have those who would use the teachings of the order for evil getting in here now can we?" "Then it is settled, i'll announce the completion of the school in a few days, after of course I build the place. Tia is going to go bananas on me… and probably come to speak with you." Luna said, sounding worried at the idea. "Let her, she doesn't have control of the elements of harmony anymore and the wards on this property can protect me in time in case negotiations go south." "This is quite the gamble my old friend…" "Still, let us roll the dice and try our luck, the daring do end up getting the best rewards after all." "Yes, but the grander the dream the harder the fall." "Ah but one does not know the outcome until the end of it all." "Stop that." Luna said chuckling. "You're rhyming like a Zebra." "I am not." Starlight said chuckling as he sipped his tea. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Applebloom!" Applejack shouted as her, rarity and the rest of the Elements of harmony ran towards the riverbank where Steven Magnet had stopped. "Where in Celestia's name were you three!" "Thank Celestia you three are alright!" Rarity cut in hugging her sister. "Although I can't say the same for your state of clenliness." "Yes where were you three... actually I think I know that answer." Twilight said looking over to Steven Magnet. "Good evening Steven, care to explain where you found these three?" "Don't be too hard on those three little darlings... they've been through a lot." Steven said worriedly. "I hope Gilda's alright though." "You mean that meany-pants griffon? She's still around Ponyville?" Pinkie chimed in cheerily. "She was living in the castle of the pony sisters, girls would you like me to tell what I know first or would you like to tell the while story?" Steven asked the crusaders. "I'll tell the story." Sweetie Belle said. "We were out treasure hunting after hearing your story about the castle in the forest, and we ran into Gilda there. She's much nicer than you described sis, and she sounded sorry for what happened. We were just about to have something to eat when a hydra crashed through one of the castle's walls." the gathered ponies gasped at that revelation. "We started running as one of the towers fell on it, stalling it for a little while. When it was clear we weren't fast enough Gilda picked us up and started flying, we were almost at the river when she hit a branch head on, knocking us out of the air. After we landed she yelled for Mr. Magnet who brought us here. We passed some ponies who said they would go help Gilda." "What are we waiting for we should go help them!" Rainbow said, about to fly off. "You won't need to do that." A familiar voice said. "We are safe." The elements of harmony turned around, surprised to find Trixie there. "We managed to get the griffon to safety, she's in the hospital although she's in pretty bad shape." Trixie said. "It looked like she'll probably have lost an eye, but aside from that the rest should heal if we managed to get her there in time." "Tr-Trixie?" Twilight stammered. "How did you get her back so fast and what do you mean by 'we'?" "I was following the riverbank and ran into three other ponies just before the sea serpent passed by. I helped them carry the griffiin to the hospital through some kind of portal. Before yo ask, I don't know who they were, although one used some kind of ridiculously powerful spell to kill that hydra." Trixie said with a shudder. Applejack eyed her suspiciously but didn't say anything. "Also, about last time I was here... I'm sorry for how I acted." Trixie said with a sigh. After a moment Fluttershy said, "Well... I forgive you at least Trixie." Trixie looked up, slightly shocked as the rest of the elements agreed with the yellow pegasis. The last to speak was Twilight."I do as well Trixie, besides, the ursa wasn't your fault, that was snips and snails and I think they are still grounded for that." She said with a chuckle before her expression changed to a more serious one. "Those ponies who helped out, what did they look like?" "Well, I wasn't really paying attention because I was mostly trying to stabilize Gilda. They must have been unicorns because they were all using magic, one didn't return with us, but the other two helped me get Gilda to the operating room then teleported away." Trixie said. "All three had dark coloured coats though, although I bet it was a disguise because I remember one having wings." Twilight sighed. "I think you may have just run into members of the Order of the Moon, perhaps even their founder." I am glad I was in showbiz before this... Trixie thought before replying. "I remember reading something about them. Was the founder's name Starlight by any chance?" "Yes." Twilight said shocked. "Did they call one of them by that name?" "They did, although I heard him say he was leaving the area. Do you recall his last name? They said it although I don't remember what... wait, your last name is Sparkle right?" Trixie said with a chuckle. "Yes... Why?" "No reason, I just remembered running into one of your relatives last time through Canterlot, I can't remember her all to well but I do remember that name. Small world..." "I.. guess?" Twilight said looking confused before a certain pink earth pony gasped. "Does this mean we can have a 'crusaders are safe and trixie's back and not a meanie anymore' party?" Pinkie said excidedly. Twilight chuckled before saying, "Let's put that off a bit, that way we can add Gilda in as well. Dr. Mend should have her fixed up in a few days if everything goes well." "Well, as fixed up as he can." Trixie said with a sigh. "Like I said before, it looked like she's probably lost an eye. Anyhow, I'd best be on my way. Oh, before I leave, do you know if anyone saved my cape and hat?" "I don't think so darling." Rarity said as she levated a measuring tape out of a small saddlebag she had on. "However, if I can take a few measurements I think I could remake them for you, free of charge." "Th-thank you." Trixie exclaimed smiling. "Although I really only need the hat now, the cape was just for show. It can look however you want so long as the type of hat remains the same." The showmare said as Rarity took a few measurements. "Oh I have the perfect Idea, I have some black and silver cloth that i'm never going to use otherwise that will be perfect for this." 'Rarity said as she finished. "Do you mind stopping by my boutique in two days? and do you have a place to stay?" "I'll can pick it up then, yes, and I do have a place to stay. Thank you again, and have a good night everypony." Trixie said as she left, in considerably higher spirits. -=-=-=-=--=-=--=--=-=-=-=-=-=-- A/N Sorry about the hiatus there, been feeling rather uncreative of late, but I think my muse is slowly returning. Per usual let me know of any errors in my writing and please leave a comment below regardless, I like hearing what people think about my writing. ~Steampunk
The Acadamy"And that's the general plan." I said chuckling at Trixie's expression. Luna had left a few hours ago, shortly before Trixie's arrival back and I had just filled her in on our plan to start an academy. "How is the griffon by the way?" "She should be fine, however she will probably have lost an eye from that." The showmare replied with a sigh. "So you want me to use a teleportation talisman to go to Stalliongrad, set off what is essentially a dark magic bomb, and then teleport back here?" "That's the gist of it, yes. The spell won't hurt anypony, but it will attract a lot of Solaris attention, which is the basic idea. That way we can move a good chunk of the order's members who are instructors in various subjects here. Luna is also rounding up some ponies who are sympathetic with the order who are teachers as well so we can get everything organized. We'll have everything from magic to flight to farming to cooking. All as a cover for the order so we can have a centralized base once more. Celestia is going to have a hay day when she hears about it. Luna is just scouting a good location in the nearby woods for the academy." I explained. "And as I previously stated, I have some wards to strengthen. Here, let me show you how to use that spell bomb and amulet..." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Ah dunno twi, something about what Trixie said ain't adding up to me. She seemed to not remember a lot about those stallions who she 'ran into'." Applejack said while pacing the library as Twilight flipped through a large tome. "That combined with all the dark magic pulses that I've been feeling of late... well something is going on that's for sure." The purple librarian replied. "And thanks to Trixie I'm trying to figure out what connection there is between Starlight and my last name. She must have connected something in her mind to switch topic so suddenly there..." Twilight said frowning. "Ah, here we go, 'Sparkle family tree'." "You have a book with your family tree in it Twi? In the Ponyville library?" Applejack said chuckling. "Well... it's not all that surprising. My father's side of the family has a few nobles and this is a tome of noble families." "... oh." Applejack said, looking a bit surprised before Twilight burst out laughing. "What in tarnation is so funny Twi'?" "Your expression. Priceless." She said when she had the breath. "Sorry about that. I've been a bit stressed these last few days because of what's been going on. Let's see here... huh that's a strange last name... Lulamoon, my gradfather's brother's wife. Seems there's quite a few same gender pairings here too, didn't know that." Twilight said as she went down the family tree. "Huh, maybe Aloe has a shot with ya after all sugarcube." Applejack said laughing. Twilight deadpanned at that. "Probably not happening AJ, you know I'm into colts." "What about that time with pinkie?" Applejack teased, laughing harder at Twilight's instant blush. "That hard cider does weird things to a pony..." Twilight mumbled as she looked back down at the tome. "What the?" "What is it Twi'?" "There's a blacked out entry here... from around the time of Nightmare Moon." "A blacked out entry?" Applejack trotted over and took a look. One of the portraits and names had been covered with black ink so you couldn't read it. "That's strange Twi', who'd do that?" "I don't know... but I do know a spell to remove that ink. I've had similar problems with inkwell accidents before." She said concentrating on the tome, as there was a knock on the door. The two ponies looked up as the door opened revealing Lyra. "Hiya Twilight." The mint unicorn said cheerily. "Oh hi Lyra. Looking for another of the usual?" Twilight said with a smile. "Nah, this time I'm looking for maps of the area southwest of ponyville?" "Before or after the acres?" Applejack asked. "T'aint much past the acres 'cept the path into the Everfree." Applejack said. "Yeah, that area of the Everfree." Lyra replied. "Looking for somewhere?" Twilight asked. "You could say that." Lyra said with a chuckle. "Whaddya mean by that?" Applejack asked, but Lyra's reply was cut off by the door opening once more. "Twilight Sparkle are you in?" Princess Luna said stepping into the library. "P-princess!" Twilight stammered jumping to her hooves and bowing, Applejack and Lyra following suit. Luna sighed. "Relax Twilight, w- er, I am here on unofficial business. I was wondering if you had any maps of the area on the fringe of the Everfree past Sweet Apple Acres." Lyra's ears perked up at that as Twilight replied, "I do, actually Lyra here is looking for much of the same thing." "Oh why art thou... sorry, old habits die hard as they say. What are you looking for in that area?" Luna asked as Twilight started looking through a back room for the maps. "Oh no reason, a friend of mine found a clearing in that area that she wants to show me because of an odd tree, but we can't seem to find one of the landmarks on the way there." Lyra said, causing Luna and Applejack to frown. "Now, Ah' understand that everypony has their secrets Lyra but even Fluttershy would have seen through that one." The orange mare said. Lyra started fidgeting at that as Twilight called from the back room, "Applejack can you help me with this cabinet? It's jammed shut." "Commin' Twi'." Applejack said heading off to find twilight and leaving the other two mares alone. "Don't worry about me, I hold nothing against you Lyra of Clan Solaris. It's just the higher ups in the order I dislike." Luna said with a smile. "Wha, how?" Lyra said shocked. "I can see magic currents, my sister can't though, she deals with the less subtle aspects of magic. I can see that the dark currents avoid you while the light currents are attracted, that usually means a member of Clan Solaris." "Ah... so I take it I'm heading in the right direction then." "Yes, however please try to learn whose lives your about to ruin before reporting anything." Luna said with a sigh. "I'm seeking to establish an acadamy in that area." "Wait, what do you mean, whose lives i'm about to ruin?" Lyra asked. "It's simple really, The Order of the Moon is made of Scholars who seek to keep the dark arts alive. the oaths one has to take are very strict on the matter that nopony in the order can use the knowledge they've gained to bring harm. Solaris has no such oaths and from my understanding has waged a bloody crusade against the order." "They have?" Lyra said skeptically. "It's mostly covered up, however I have been going over the Order's records and in the last ten years alone the order has tracked at least 400 deaths of their members back to Solaris. Not to mention that the pony in charge is... rather eccentric to say the least, he openly states his distaste with me and my magic and I have, more than once found Solaris members following me around. I managed to loose them tonight though." Luna said with a chuckle. "I'm taking a gambol in telling you this of course, however I can offer you something no other member of Solaris has ever had, a chance to see what the Order is like, what Starlight is like, and see some of the behind the scenes. You would have to swear an oath of secrecy about names, places and exact details of certain things, but then you may just help end some of the hate." "... why are you offering this to me?" Lyra said in reply. "Because, Lyra, aside from seeing the streams of magic i can also detect deceit and lies. Back when I wielded the elements of Harmony alongside my Sister I held the element of Honesty. They've been telling you fanatical lies I'd bet, at least that's what they did 1000 years ago to gain followers. What is their description of dark magic may I ask? Actually, hold that thought, the other two are returning. We'll continue this on our way out shall we?" Luna said with a mischievous smile. "I may work more subtly than my sister, but you'll hear of a rather bold move of mine and Starlight's soon. May as well roll more dice." Lyra was about to reply as Twilight and Applejack returned. "Found them. I'll assume you would like to sign them out Princess?" "Please Twilight, call me Luna. I will return this tomorrow, after I've made a few copies." The lunar princess said as she took the map with her magic. Glancing at the noble family tree tome she frowned and said "Hmm... Twilight I don't suggest removing that ink unless you want to, as they say, open up a huge can of worms." "Whaddya mean by that Princess?" Applejack asked. "I can't say who inked that out but they did so for a reason. If you do want to, then please let me know before you let my sister know, it will save you some trouble further down the line." Luna said turning to leave. "What about me, I still need a copy of that map." Lyra asked Luna. "Walk with me for a bit, I'll make a copy as we go." Luna replied as she stepped out the door, Lyra in tow leaving behind two rather confused mares. -=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- A/N: Hello again, Steampunk here. First off, sorry for how much this story is jumping around, I tend to do weird and occasionally wonderful things with plotlines and ponies, but i promise in the end things will tie together. Secondly, sorry for if this chapter seems a bit weird or rushed, I decided to just sit and write the next bit of storyline that came into my head. Thirdly, DOUBLE UPDATE WOO! Lastly if you remember to comment:
