The price of knowledgeby Spaceman006Chapters"1" A happy coronation, Guests from the past"2" A history lession, The price we pay"3" The brothers three, the flames of change"1" A happy coronation, Guests from the pastCanterlot The newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle walked onto the castle's ceremonial balcony flanked by Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Candance. Soaking in the gathered crowd's praise and admiration, Twilight Sparkle felt a bit of unease wash over her as she looked over her new subjects. "Subjects” thought Twilight. She was sure she would never get used to the idea that she was now a co-ruler of Equestria. All of her new subjects were going to be counting on her and although she had saved Equestria on countless occasions she knew that this was the beginning of a completely new chapter of her life unlike any other she had encountered. Twilight’s confidence wavered for just a second as panic at the idea of letting so many ponies down began to fill her mind. Lucky for Princess Sparkle, Princess Celestia saw the growing apprehension on Twilight’s face and lowered her head to whisper into her former student’s ears. “You are going to do just fine my faithful student,” whispered Princess Celestia “or should I say Princess Sparkle” Celestia let out a small giggle at her slip of the tongue. “I still cannot believe how much you have grown in such a short time,” said Celestia as she smiled proudly like a mother on her daughter’s wedding day. “It feels like just yesterday that you applied to my School for Gifted Unicorns.” The pride that grew within Twilight from the kind words of her teacher and friend scattered all of the fears and doubts that had begun to grow within her, for the time being. Twilight knew that no matter what lay ahead of her that she would always have her mentor to help guide her. With the boost to her confidence, Twilight faced the crowd of thousands of waving and smiling ponies with her head held high. The ceremony lasted only a few hours before Princess Celestia gave a final speech then said fare wells as she and the other princesses turned and reentered the castle. “Princess Celestia ─” “It is just Celestia now dear, “Celestia chimed in, the smile ever growing on her face “there is no need for such titles among equals.” “I am sorry Pri─ Celestia… this is going to take some getting used to.” Twilight said, her cheeks turned a bright shade of red. Once back inside the castle a sudden bump from her right and left caught Twilight off guard. “You will get used to it,” said Cadance and Luna as they both tackle hugged their newest sister. Smiling at her family, Celestia wrapped her forelegs around them all her eyes beginning to water as her smile shone brightly. The group hug went on for a few minutes as sisters, old and new, basked in the company of one another. Celestia was the first to break the embrace. “I believe that is enough bonding for the moment,” Celestia signed as she looked at the clock on the wall. “Luna, it is time to raise the moon and make preparations for the night court.” Luna lowered her head as she slowly released the others and turned to walk out mumbling under her breath about stupid schedules and whiney nobles. Celestia moved to join Luna on the balcony leaving Twilight and Candance as they composed themselves. “I wonder what kind of royal task I am going to have to take on seeing as there are no more heavenly bodies that need moving” Twilight pondered out loud. “I am sure that they could just leave the safety of Equestria up to you now, heaven knows that you have saved it more than enough times here lately,” Cadance said with a wink. “Indeed she has, I believe that Equestria will finally know true peace with Twilight safe guarding the land.” Celestia said returning once more inside. There was a sound not unlike a thunder clap that filled the room as three formless shades appeared in the center of the room. The shades began to take on shapes of a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony all wearing robes that were well used and battered. “Hello again Miss Sparkle,” the pegasus said grinning from ear to ear. Twilight’s eyes changed from one of shock to one of pure terror. “We have some to collect on what we’re owed.” Ponyville a little over a year ago “Twilight why can’t I go with you?” whined Spike. “It could be dangerous Spike. I don’t know what I will run into on my search for the pool of Dodona, if it even exists, but I do not want to risk anything happening. The Everfree forest is going to be dangerous enough besides what every danger the pool of Dodona has to offer.” Twilight had made up her mind after the return of nightmare moon and the mirror pool incident that she would look into all of the old mare tales. Twilight was glad that Candycolt and Slendermare had turned out to be just stories to scare little foals, and one lavender unicorn. Twilight checked over her book on Ancient Legends of Equestria for what seemed like the hundredth time then she placed the old tome into her saddle bag along with a few black scrolls. “If it is so dangerous then why are you going alone?” asked Spike giving Twilight a disapproving glare. “Like I already told you Spike, I am stopping by Zecora’s hut for possible directions on the pool’s location and advice on what I could possibly be facing there. Plus, I have all of my magical gear and I will teleport at the first sign of trouble.” She hated lying to her number one assistant but if the stories of the pool of Dodona were true there was a treasure of incalculable wealth there. She couldn’t risk Spike’s greed getting the best of him while in an unknown and possibly dangerous place. “Why aren’t you at least taking the girls with you?” asked Spike, his face a wash of longing for adventure and concern for his caretaker. “Spike,” Twilight snapped. “You know that Applejack is busy planning for her family reunion, Rarity is up to her neck in unfinished orders, Pinkie Pie is working a double shift at Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash is at the weather pony convention, and Fluttershy would be too afraid to go into the Everfree forest in search of something that may not exist.” Twilight realized that she had lost her cool in her frustration and wrapped her number one assistant in a hug. “I would love for my friends to come with me but this is the only time I have in my schedule to go looking for it.” Twilight broke the hug and walked toward the door. “I promise to be careful and that I will be back by tomorrow.” “Pinkie promise?” Spiked sniffled. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my─ ARGH!” Before Spike could see her cheeks redden from embarrassment, Twilight headed out the door and off towards the Everfree forest. The Middle of the Everfree Forest “I am sure that oak grove is around here somewhere,” Twilight panted as she trudged through the undergrowth of the forest. The myth said that the pool of Dodona was set in the heart of an oak grove and Twilight had begun to find more and more oak trees as she continued down her current heading. Twilight began to wonder if the myth was even true right about the time that she tripped over what appeared to be the ruin of a former structure. Twilight turned to look over what she had tripped on to find the remains of stone structures hidden randomly within the undergrowth. "These structures are very out of place there are not any records of a civilization in the Everfree forest that predates Celestia’s and Luna’s rule” Twilight pondered aloud. “There is much that you do not know Miss Sparkle….” A voice upon the wind whispered. “Hello? Who said that? Is anypony there?” Twilight asked in a panicked tone. “You are so close Miss Sparkle, come closer and learn of things forgotten and ancient…” “Why should I go toward something that would not give me its name?” “It is you that have come looking for me….” “The pool of Dodona? How can you be talking?” “Step towards the glove and all shall be revealed.” Twilight carefully trotted in the direction of the faceless voice, a million questions buzzing through her head. About three hundred paces away there was an opening in the undergrowth which led to a small pool in the middle of an oak grove. The pool of Dodona was nothing like Twilight had imagined. The book had described the pool of Dodona as a pool of the purest water and overrun with beautiful flowers. The truth however was far from story book prefect. The pool was full not with pure water but with rotten and stagnant water. Any sign of growth and life had long since decayed around the pool. “This is the pool of Dodona? Where are its pure waters?” Twilight asked. “Much has been lost,” the words bubbled up from the pool. The pool stirred and boiled as three figures rose from the murky water. Twilight thought about running but shock over took her as the figures one shape of an earth pony, one the shape of a unicorn and the last the shape of a pegasus all dressed in moth eaten robes arose from the stagnant waters. “Come hear the story of what was…” the pegasus spoke. “The story of ancients and their gods….” Author's Note First story. I hope you like it. If you do not like it please say why. (newly edited but the amazing CRIMSON CARNATION "2" A history lession, The price we pay“Gods?” Twilight asked the three figures. Twilight had heard of the idea of a god, but never thought that anyponies in mass would put it to practice. In fact, ponies didn’t have a word or idea for what a god was until they began diplomatic relations with the Griffin Empire. The griffins did not have a set name or ritual for their gods and their religion were not a major part of griffin culture. The only story the griffins have about their gods was the creation story of their people in which they were the guardians of the sun god but now the griffins only think of the gods while praying for things like good weather or good crops. The introduction of the idea of something greater than anypony was odd for everypony to comprehend; this may have been in part to pony’s use of magic. Ponies had no need to pray for good weather when all they had to do was ask a pegasus to clear the sky or go get rain. Ponies had no need to pray for good crop when any earth pony could tell you what you need to do for your crops to grow. With unicorns and alicorns being able to use magic to bend the fabric of reality to their will the ponies of Equestria never needed to look toward a god. That is not to say that when ponies began to grasp this foreign idea that they did not find two beings that they could easily identify as gods. While someponies began to think of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as gods, the princesses worked hard to show their subjects that no matter how old that they may be that they are just ordinary ponies. As ordinary as two super powered alicorns that move heavenly bodies can be. Princess Luna thought to outlaw the practices of princess worship upon her return citing their love of Celestia over herself as part of her becoming Nightmare Moon but Princess Celestia thought it best to just discourage the practice rather than give them a punishment that would widen the rift between Luna and her subjects. “Yes Miss Sparkle, ponies once worshipped many different gods and goddesses.” The shades explained. For the first time Twilight noticed that although there were three different ponies they seemed to speak with a hive mind. One pony would begin the sentence and the others would finish it without a pause or break. “How can that be? If my ancestors would have had gods surely they would have left writings about them?” Twilight asked skeptically. “Your ancestors were tricked by the monster Prometheus and the goddess Eris. The pair confused the ponies of this land into thinking that the gods wished to destroy them so the ponies of the land began destroying the temples and statues of the gods.” “What is a Prometheus? Who is Eris? Why would they want to trick the ponies? “Twilight began to ramble off question after question in rapid secession. “Be still! We shall tell you all we know but it would be best if we started from the beginning.” Twilight was taken aback at the harshness of the outburst but that was quickly replaced with curiosity as the figures stepped back as a small circle of the pool began to clear. “Long ago when the world was new the only things in the world were the gods and the titans.” The vortex of clear water arose to show what would become the country of Equestria long before ponies had found it. “The god Zeus with his brothers Hades and Poseidon led the gods and goddesses into battle with the titans for the titans sought to destroy the world and everything it would soon hold.” The image changed into a periwinkle pegasus with an ivory mane and beard standing beside an ecru earth pony with a bister mane and a ultramarine unicorn with a turquoise mane leading an army against monsters that would have given the Princesses pause. “The gods, with the help of Prometheus one of the titans, won the war and destroyed the titans scattering their remains to the four winds. After their great victory over evil the gods began to distribute the spoils of war.” “Zeus was given the sky to rule and a place the gods to dwell. Zeus was to rule as the king of the gods and to act as an unbiased judge when the gods would quarrel. Zeus would become the gods of storms and lightning to who ponies would pray for good weather and mercy.” The water transformed to show a mass of clouds not unlike Cloudsdale if Cloudsdale was the size of Canterlot. The houses, if you can call them houses, were the size of whole wings of the palace. Twilight looked on in confusion as she saw all types of ponies walking on clouds as if they were born to do so. The figures smiled knowingly. “Yes Miss Sparkle, the gods and goddesses could walk on clouds as well as among the mortals below. This was before the events that give ponies their connection to magic. No pony had yet felt a connection with the earth, a connection to the sky, or a connection to the forces of creation.” Horror filled Twilight to the marrow. The very thought that she would be without her magic, the very thing that defined her, scared her more than anything she had ever faced. The color drained out of her face as she felt the beginnings of a panic attack take hold of her. Twilight tapped into her magic for the simplest spell for comfort, bathing in the magic and the memories of the spell. The light spell she summoned was one she had used nightly as a child so that she could read long after her bedtime. The magic and the memories stopped the panic attack from seizing her as she focused back on the figures speech. “Hades was given Tartarus to rule over the riches under the earth and to act as warden over the evils locked in Tartarus. Hades would become the god of the riches of the earth.” Twilight began to wonder if this could all be true. She had been outside of Tartarus a few times but never inside. The gates of Tartarus had been warded by spells that denied entry to any who would seek to open them. Princess Celestia had once said that there was a spell in her archives that would allow the user to send anything hit by the spell to Tartarus but once the spell was complete there was no way of retrieving what you sent there. When Twilight had pressed upon Princess Celestia her desire to learn more about the spell, Princess Celestia had looked at Spike with what Twilight thought was a look of regret before saying that it was an area of magic best forgotten. Twilight began to wonder what could be locked within its walls for Princess to keep it from her. The archives of Canterlot said that Princess Celestia and Luna had used Tartarus as a prison for monsters that had once roamed the land. The figures broke Twilight’s train of thought by continuing the history lesson. “Poseidon was made god of the oceans and protector of the seas.” “As a reward for his service in the war the gods gave Prometheus the honor of creating all the creatures of the land. The most prized creations of his were the three pony races. In time the gods took pleasure in the pony races seeing in them a bit of themselves. The gods revealed themselves to the ponies after a time to the praise of the pony races. The ponies of the land rejoiced as all of their troubles could be solved by their new found gods and goddesses. So began an age of prosperity and peace. Sadly it was not to last…” The vortex of water began to churn more violently as it began to form the shape of what looked like alicorns and the monster Prometheus. "Not all were happy with this new found peace. The goddess Eris had never received much praise from the ponies below as she brought mostly chaos to their world such was her nature. Her temperament began to change as she spent more time with Prometheus. Unbeknownst to the gods, Prometheus had begun to become jealous of the praise that the ponies of the world showered the gods with. Prometheus preyed about Eris’s sadness at the lack of praise she received thus manipulating Eris into helping him turn the ponies of the land against the gods.” The vortex was frothing as it morphed into the figures of Prometheus and Eris as they disguised themselves as two normal looking earth ponies. “The pair then began to cause chaos as they went while blaming the gods from their misdeeds. By the time the gods realized what they had done the ponies of the land had begun burning temples and destroying status to the gods.” The vortex calmed as the image changed into that of buildings on fire and ponies dragging statues to the ground, shattering them. "The gods grew angry at the ungrateful ponies and sought to rain down upon them their fury and anger. Only Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon saw that it was not their fault as they had been tricked. The three gods found Eris and Prometheus and destroyed them. Sadly the ponies of the lands were too far gone in their new found hatred of the gods to be saved.” Twilight was taken-a-back at this new found thought. Had these gods of old destroyed the ponies of the pass like they had Eris and Prometheus? “What did the gods do to them?” Twilight asked not sure she wanted to know. “The only thing they could do. They gave the ponies of the land the magic they now have today.” The figures spoke as the vortex faded back in the stagnant waters. Utter confusion filled Twilight. Why want anypony reward such hate? Better yet, why would anypony give a gift to somepony that would only show violence? “Why would they do that?” Twilight asked aloud. “The gods realized that they were partly to blame as their negligence had allowed Eris and Prometheus to corrupt the minds of the ponies. If the gods had tried to change the ponies minds all that would do is cause the rift between them to grow. The gods knew that the ponies couldn’t make it on their own and would need something to help them survive in this world if they wished to go it alone. The gods thought of the pony races as their children so the gods gave of themselves so that ponies would be safe. With that the ponies of the world touched magic for the first time.” Twilight looked toward the pool hoping that it would show her how the gods gave the pony races their magic and to see where the gods went after they had given their gift. The waters of the pool did not move or stir. Twilight still had questions that she wanted to have answered. “Where did the Gods go? The figures hung their heads. “We do not know. We have been cut off from the power the gods had given us for so long it is hard to see into anything but the past and that is only possible because of the offering that ponies seeking our knowledge have given us as payment.” “Offering? Payment?” Twilight said with panic beginning to fill her voice. “Of course Miss Sparkle, surely you knew to bring something in payment for knowledge that no library in Equestria would have. The legends of this pool state very clearly that something must be given as the pool acts as a magical contract between itself and the knowledge seeker.” Twilight began to feel the full blown panic attack as this knowledge gripped her. “I don’t have anything that I could offer besides quills and parchment plus a few potions I have,” Twilight stammered out. “Sadly Miss Sparkle for it to be an offering it must have great value to you. No matter we shall just have to take something else you value and hold dear. We shall just take all the memories you have of your friends…” Author's Note A big thank you to everything that Favorited my story. This means alot to me as I never thought that anyone but the judges of the badass twiilght contest would read this. To everyone that has read this thank you and I hope this is to your liking. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU (Newly edited by Crimson Carnation) "3" The brothers three, the flames of change“MY FRIENDS? YOU CANT TAKE MY FRIENDS FROM ME,” Twilight shouted her voice full of rage and terror. Twilight lost all control of her rational thoughts as the idea of losing every memory of her friends rattled her already stressed mind. Memories flooded Twilight's mind of all the past adventures with her friends, each a memory she treasured dearly. She began to wonder if this price included Spike. Another wave of panic racked her as the thought of losing the one person in the world that had been by her side the longest. The relationship between Twilight and Spike was hard to put into words as she acted as both his mother and big sister. The thought of losing her number one assistant awakened something akin to a mother's rage. Her manner shifted as she became determined, she would fight and die for these memories but with her newfound clarity drawn from her determination she began to realize that if what they said was true she was bound by a magical contract. Normally those that wished to enter into a magical contract began by brewing a potion of aconite stems, asphodel blossoms, shavings of the lotus tree, and narcissus root. While potions normally have some magical connection to either pegasus, earth or unicorn magic, the potion used to start a magical contract has no magical connection at all. No one truly understands the power behind a magical contract - only that once struck it could never be broken without consequence, only concluded. The potion offers no effect that can be measured or tested but the connection between the two parties is painfully real. Whichever party breaks the contract is subject to the will of the opposite party. While the practice of a magical contract was not outlawed it had fallen out of fashion as being barbaric. Twilight knew that there was no way to break the curse that would not end with them getting the payment they wanted but she could try to offer up another form of payment. “What…,” Twilight stammered still recovering from her shock before her conviction reaffirmed themselves in the thought of a crying drake in front of a crystal door. “What… what else would you take as payment,” Twilight finally managed to ask. “Only something that is of great value to you will be able to be offered.” The figures informed Twilight in a matter of fact manner. Twilight saw that the figures did not show any emotion about what they were telling her. They seemed to get no pleasure out of her suffering but at the same time they did not show any compassion towards her plight. “What would you offer us child? You’re magic perhaps? No, you are too fond of your magic to ever part with it. You do not have a lot of things that would qualify as sacrifices that we would be able to use.” The figures walked to the edge of the pool and stopped. The figures looked down upon the ground as a starving stallion would a banquet table. “Land…Miss Sparkle…We want your land.” Twilight had braced herself for the worst imaging all the kinds of things that she loved taken from her so it came as a surprise. Twilight had to contain the joy that was welling up inside of her at their new proposition. As Twilight was the second child in her line the lands of her family would go to her brother Shining Armor by birthright. Because of Twilight’s continual tutelage from Princess Celestica, Twilight was only a temporary denizen of the library having no claim to it as it is property of the state. Twilight fought back a manic giggle as she had found a way out of her predicament. “I give unto you all my lands and holdings,” Twilight proclaimed triumphantly as she gave the figures a mocking bow. “We shall collect upon your debt at our convenience but in the meantime do you have anything else you would like to know Miss Twilight?” “No!” Twilights reply was blunter that she had meant it to be but the thought of being ensnared again just after getting free scared her. “No…, thank you but I must be going with our business done.” With as much composure as she could muster Twilight began her journey home trotting at a pace that betrayed her inner panic. Once Twilight was beyond the range of hearing the figured turned to themselves. “Come my brothers we have much to do for the upcoming festivities. To believe that one of such power and intelligence could be so easily manipulated.” With that the figures of began to fade back into the pool their laughter oily and slimy like the waters their faded into. Ponyville a few hours later Twilight closed the door to the library as quietly as she could so as not to wake the sleeping dragon she knew she would find not far from the door. Spike had fallen asleep waiting up for her to return. Twilight’s first instinct was to grip the sleeping dragon in a rib crushing hug but she knew if she woke him he would ask about the pool and she was not ready to talk about that just yet. She picked the sleeping dragon up in her magic and took him to their shared bedroom. After laying him carefully into his basket she stopped to watch her number one assistant sleep for a time. He slept in a peaceful ignorance unaware that she could have lost him today. The thought brought tears back to her eyes. How much pain would that have caused him to have to explain to her that they were not only friends but family. Twilight trotted downstairs as silently as she could and opened her travel bags. Twilight pulled the accursed book from her travel bag and trotted over to a corner of the library she had spent many a cold nights reading. What she was about to do went against everything she stood from but she knew that it had to be done. Twilight threw the book into the unlit hearth before she unceremoniously cast the spell to light the fireplace. Twilight had no idea of what she had expected to see as she watch the book burn but it seemed that after all the evil it had caused that the book should have done more than just burn. Fire, although destructive, was also a purifier yet Twilight could not shake the feeling of a blight upon her. Twilight would have to look into buying land in the Everfree forest as a backup but for now all she wanted to do was to turn in and sleep this nightmare away. Present Day “Twilight do you know what these ponies are talking about?” Celestia bent down to ask her former student in a somewhat private manner. “Your student owes us a debt that we intend to collect right now,” the periwinkle pegasus said in a matter of fact manner barely able to hide the smugness in his voice. Celestia straighten as she moved toward the three interlopers, the persona of grace. “I am sure that Princess Twilight while be more than happy to attend to this debt that you speak of but at the moment we are having a private moment and we would ask that you come back at accepted court hours. Guards please show our guest out,” Celestia said in an authoritative but diplomatic tone. Twilight shook with horror as the gears began to turn in her head. Twilight maybe the second child in her family’s line unable to get any family land but now she was a princess a co-ruler of a nation with lands far greater than any one house. Twilight had never gotten around to buying the land in the Everfree forest like she had planned. Twilight had spent months trying to track down who the rightful owner of the forest while trying to hide her reasons from everypony. She did not want Princess Celestia to find out that she had gotten herself in over her head. Twilight’s pride had gotten the best of her and now the whole nation was going to pay. Twilight had to think of something and think of it fast. “Princess Celestia! I need you to banish me,” Twilight half shouted forcing the words out as the idea formed in her head. “Twilight why would I ever do that?” Celestia asked, confusion and alarm radiating from her words. “Because, Celestia, she thinks that if you banish her that will stop us from taking the land she owes us,” the ecru earth pony said oozing smugness and glee. “But as you see,” the earth pony leveled his grin to his compatriots, “we are alright here. Your student paved the way for our return.” The earth pony smiled as Celestia rounded to face Twilight. “What are they talking about Twilight?” Celestia asked voice cold and direct. Twilight had only heard Celestia use that voice once before at wedding of her sister-in-law and her brother. Twilight looked for the right words to say but before she could think of anything the horn of the ultramarine unicorn began to glow. “Brothers we don’t have time for this,” the unicorn spoke as his magic blasted the guards that had begun to form up around the Princesses. Princess Celestia rounded on the unicorn, set to lose a powerful spell of her own, when the most peculiar thing happened. Twilight watched as the pegagus raised up like Applejack about to buck an apple tree then bucked the open air. Lightning shot forth from the open air striking Princess Celestia squarely in the chest causing her to scream with pain and sending her flying against the wall. Silence filled the room as the limp body of Princess Celestia slid to the floor. Twilight and Cadance rushed toward her side ready to tend to her wounds but where blown back by an unseen force. Luna blasted though the side wall of the castle upon hearing the cries of her sister in pain. Luna, still dressed in her ceremonial night court robes, surveyed the scene before her looking for her sister’s attacker. The Princess Luna was met with a blast for the ultramarine unicorn that was a mix of magic and something resembling a tidal wave throwing Luna to the stone floor trapping her there. Luna began trying to cast spells but whatever held her was choking her with what looked like water. Luna managed to fire off three energy blast that flew randomly due to her lack of control but was unable to break her watery prison try as she might. With a final release of an air bubble Princess Luna stopped moving as the water prison withdrew from her. It took all the mental fortitude Twilight could muster to just stand. Her Princesses, her teachers, her friends had been dispatched in just a few seconds what chance did she have of defeating them but Twilight would have to do something. Cadance was not as strong as Twilight had believed for upon the sight of her aunts dispatched so easily Cadance fell to the floor. Twilight had failed Celestia and Luna, she could not fail to protect Cadance, the last remaining monarch. With that Twilight turned back to face the intruders standing in front of Cadance shielding her as best she could. “Cadance go find Shining Armor save yourself,” Twilight shouted. “Actually she is free to go,” stated the earth pony. Twilight jaw dropped at how causal his statement had been as if he had just dismissed day court for the evening. “We have no need of her yet.” The earth pony trotted causally toward the two remaining princesses. “Run along home Princess Cadance, we have no quarrel with you this day. We wish you and your husband well on your journey home.” “W….Why,” Cadance whispered. “What makes me so special,” Cadance asked her strength beginning to return. “It goes against the unwritten rules of conduct to harm a guest while they are under your roof, Princess Cadance,” the pegagus spoke like a teacher scolding a filly or foal for missing a question that they knew. “We are the new rulers of this land and as such we must keep diplomatic relations with neighboring lands….civil. So you and your husband will leave this city now or you will have to be detained…” the pegagus looked over at Princess Luna’s body as he spoke the word, “for your own safety of course.” Cadance began to open her mouth to speak but was cut off by Twilight before she could speak. “Go Cadance, all of Equestia is going to need you now. Get Shining Armor and tell him everything that has happened, then get out of here. Shinning will know what to do.” “But what about you?” “Don’t worry about me get yourself to safety.” “But…” “GO!” with Twilight’s last outburst, Cadance called upon her magic and with the sound of a magical pop she was gone. “Now Miss Sparkle what to do with you,” the earth pony mused. “I know,” he said with a manic grin “I banish you.” The earth pony stomped his front hoof causing a fireball the size of cartage to form out of the floor. Had Twilight been anyone but Shining Armors sister she surely would have been burnt to a crisp. Twilight had her shield up as soon as she had seen the fireball begin to form. Twilights shield held as the fireball first made impact but she felt the power behind the blow and knew she couldn’t hold the shield for must longer. The lavender bubble began to crack and fracture the flames beginning to find their way pass the shield. As she felt her spell fail, Twilight braced for what was to come. The shield broke and the fire closed the distance and all Twilight could do was watch as the flames moved to engulf her the kaleidoscope of reds, blues, greens, and even pinks filling her vision before her vision finally faded to black. Author's Note (newly edited but Crimson Carnation)
"1" A happy coronation, Guests from the pastCanterlot The newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle walked onto the castle's ceremonial balcony flanked by Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Candance. Soaking in the gathered crowd's praise and admiration, Twilight Sparkle felt a bit of unease wash over her as she looked over her new subjects. "Subjects” thought Twilight. She was sure she would never get used to the idea that she was now a co-ruler of Equestria. All of her new subjects were going to be counting on her and although she had saved Equestria on countless occasions she knew that this was the beginning of a completely new chapter of her life unlike any other she had encountered. Twilight’s confidence wavered for just a second as panic at the idea of letting so many ponies down began to fill her mind. Lucky for Princess Sparkle, Princess Celestia saw the growing apprehension on Twilight’s face and lowered her head to whisper into her former student’s ears. “You are going to do just fine my faithful student,” whispered Princess Celestia “or should I say Princess Sparkle” Celestia let out a small giggle at her slip of the tongue. “I still cannot believe how much you have grown in such a short time,” said Celestia as she smiled proudly like a mother on her daughter’s wedding day. “It feels like just yesterday that you applied to my School for Gifted Unicorns.” The pride that grew within Twilight from the kind words of her teacher and friend scattered all of the fears and doubts that had begun to grow within her, for the time being. Twilight knew that no matter what lay ahead of her that she would always have her mentor to help guide her. With the boost to her confidence, Twilight faced the crowd of thousands of waving and smiling ponies with her head held high. The ceremony lasted only a few hours before Princess Celestia gave a final speech then said fare wells as she and the other princesses turned and reentered the castle. “Princess Celestia ─” “It is just Celestia now dear, “Celestia chimed in, the smile ever growing on her face “there is no need for such titles among equals.” “I am sorry Pri─ Celestia… this is going to take some getting used to.” Twilight said, her cheeks turned a bright shade of red. Once back inside the castle a sudden bump from her right and left caught Twilight off guard. “You will get used to it,” said Cadance and Luna as they both tackle hugged their newest sister. Smiling at her family, Celestia wrapped her forelegs around them all her eyes beginning to water as her smile shone brightly. The group hug went on for a few minutes as sisters, old and new, basked in the company of one another. Celestia was the first to break the embrace. “I believe that is enough bonding for the moment,” Celestia signed as she looked at the clock on the wall. “Luna, it is time to raise the moon and make preparations for the night court.” Luna lowered her head as she slowly released the others and turned to walk out mumbling under her breath about stupid schedules and whiney nobles. Celestia moved to join Luna on the balcony leaving Twilight and Candance as they composed themselves. “I wonder what kind of royal task I am going to have to take on seeing as there are no more heavenly bodies that need moving” Twilight pondered out loud. “I am sure that they could just leave the safety of Equestria up to you now, heaven knows that you have saved it more than enough times here lately,” Cadance said with a wink. “Indeed she has, I believe that Equestria will finally know true peace with Twilight safe guarding the land.” Celestia said returning once more inside. There was a sound not unlike a thunder clap that filled the room as three formless shades appeared in the center of the room. The shades began to take on shapes of a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony all wearing robes that were well used and battered. “Hello again Miss Sparkle,” the pegasus said grinning from ear to ear. Twilight’s eyes changed from one of shock to one of pure terror. “We have some to collect on what we’re owed.” Ponyville a little over a year ago “Twilight why can’t I go with you?” whined Spike. “It could be dangerous Spike. I don’t know what I will run into on my search for the pool of Dodona, if it even exists, but I do not want to risk anything happening. The Everfree forest is going to be dangerous enough besides what every danger the pool of Dodona has to offer.” Twilight had made up her mind after the return of nightmare moon and the mirror pool incident that she would look into all of the old mare tales. Twilight was glad that Candycolt and Slendermare had turned out to be just stories to scare little foals, and one lavender unicorn. Twilight checked over her book on Ancient Legends of Equestria for what seemed like the hundredth time then she placed the old tome into her saddle bag along with a few black scrolls. “If it is so dangerous then why are you going alone?” asked Spike giving Twilight a disapproving glare. “Like I already told you Spike, I am stopping by Zecora’s hut for possible directions on the pool’s location and advice on what I could possibly be facing there. Plus, I have all of my magical gear and I will teleport at the first sign of trouble.” She hated lying to her number one assistant but if the stories of the pool of Dodona were true there was a treasure of incalculable wealth there. She couldn’t risk Spike’s greed getting the best of him while in an unknown and possibly dangerous place. “Why aren’t you at least taking the girls with you?” asked Spike, his face a wash of longing for adventure and concern for his caretaker. “Spike,” Twilight snapped. “You know that Applejack is busy planning for her family reunion, Rarity is up to her neck in unfinished orders, Pinkie Pie is working a double shift at Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash is at the weather pony convention, and Fluttershy would be too afraid to go into the Everfree forest in search of something that may not exist.” Twilight realized that she had lost her cool in her frustration and wrapped her number one assistant in a hug. “I would love for my friends to come with me but this is the only time I have in my schedule to go looking for it.” Twilight broke the hug and walked toward the door. “I promise to be careful and that I will be back by tomorrow.” “Pinkie promise?” Spiked sniffled. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my─ ARGH!” Before Spike could see her cheeks redden from embarrassment, Twilight headed out the door and off towards the Everfree forest. The Middle of the Everfree Forest “I am sure that oak grove is around here somewhere,” Twilight panted as she trudged through the undergrowth of the forest. The myth said that the pool of Dodona was set in the heart of an oak grove and Twilight had begun to find more and more oak trees as she continued down her current heading. Twilight began to wonder if the myth was even true right about the time that she tripped over what appeared to be the ruin of a former structure. Twilight turned to look over what she had tripped on to find the remains of stone structures hidden randomly within the undergrowth. "These structures are very out of place there are not any records of a civilization in the Everfree forest that predates Celestia’s and Luna’s rule” Twilight pondered aloud. “There is much that you do not know Miss Sparkle….” A voice upon the wind whispered. “Hello? Who said that? Is anypony there?” Twilight asked in a panicked tone. “You are so close Miss Sparkle, come closer and learn of things forgotten and ancient…” “Why should I go toward something that would not give me its name?” “It is you that have come looking for me….” “The pool of Dodona? How can you be talking?” “Step towards the glove and all shall be revealed.” Twilight carefully trotted in the direction of the faceless voice, a million questions buzzing through her head. About three hundred paces away there was an opening in the undergrowth which led to a small pool in the middle of an oak grove. The pool of Dodona was nothing like Twilight had imagined. The book had described the pool of Dodona as a pool of the purest water and overrun with beautiful flowers. The truth however was far from story book prefect. The pool was full not with pure water but with rotten and stagnant water. Any sign of growth and life had long since decayed around the pool. “This is the pool of Dodona? Where are its pure waters?” Twilight asked. “Much has been lost,” the words bubbled up from the pool. The pool stirred and boiled as three figures rose from the murky water. Twilight thought about running but shock over took her as the figures one shape of an earth pony, one the shape of a unicorn and the last the shape of a pegasus all dressed in moth eaten robes arose from the stagnant waters. “Come hear the story of what was…” the pegasus spoke. “The story of ancients and their gods….” Author's Note First story. I hope you like it. If you do not like it please say why. (newly edited but the amazing CRIMSON CARNATION
"2" A history lession, The price we pay“Gods?” Twilight asked the three figures. Twilight had heard of the idea of a god, but never thought that anyponies in mass would put it to practice. In fact, ponies didn’t have a word or idea for what a god was until they began diplomatic relations with the Griffin Empire. The griffins did not have a set name or ritual for their gods and their religion were not a major part of griffin culture. The only story the griffins have about their gods was the creation story of their people in which they were the guardians of the sun god but now the griffins only think of the gods while praying for things like good weather or good crops. The introduction of the idea of something greater than anypony was odd for everypony to comprehend; this may have been in part to pony’s use of magic. Ponies had no need to pray for good weather when all they had to do was ask a pegasus to clear the sky or go get rain. Ponies had no need to pray for good crop when any earth pony could tell you what you need to do for your crops to grow. With unicorns and alicorns being able to use magic to bend the fabric of reality to their will the ponies of Equestria never needed to look toward a god. That is not to say that when ponies began to grasp this foreign idea that they did not find two beings that they could easily identify as gods. While someponies began to think of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna as gods, the princesses worked hard to show their subjects that no matter how old that they may be that they are just ordinary ponies. As ordinary as two super powered alicorns that move heavenly bodies can be. Princess Luna thought to outlaw the practices of princess worship upon her return citing their love of Celestia over herself as part of her becoming Nightmare Moon but Princess Celestia thought it best to just discourage the practice rather than give them a punishment that would widen the rift between Luna and her subjects. “Yes Miss Sparkle, ponies once worshipped many different gods and goddesses.” The shades explained. For the first time Twilight noticed that although there were three different ponies they seemed to speak with a hive mind. One pony would begin the sentence and the others would finish it without a pause or break. “How can that be? If my ancestors would have had gods surely they would have left writings about them?” Twilight asked skeptically. “Your ancestors were tricked by the monster Prometheus and the goddess Eris. The pair confused the ponies of this land into thinking that the gods wished to destroy them so the ponies of the land began destroying the temples and statues of the gods.” “What is a Prometheus? Who is Eris? Why would they want to trick the ponies? “Twilight began to ramble off question after question in rapid secession. “Be still! We shall tell you all we know but it would be best if we started from the beginning.” Twilight was taken aback at the harshness of the outburst but that was quickly replaced with curiosity as the figures stepped back as a small circle of the pool began to clear. “Long ago when the world was new the only things in the world were the gods and the titans.” The vortex of clear water arose to show what would become the country of Equestria long before ponies had found it. “The god Zeus with his brothers Hades and Poseidon led the gods and goddesses into battle with the titans for the titans sought to destroy the world and everything it would soon hold.” The image changed into a periwinkle pegasus with an ivory mane and beard standing beside an ecru earth pony with a bister mane and a ultramarine unicorn with a turquoise mane leading an army against monsters that would have given the Princesses pause. “The gods, with the help of Prometheus one of the titans, won the war and destroyed the titans scattering their remains to the four winds. After their great victory over evil the gods began to distribute the spoils of war.” “Zeus was given the sky to rule and a place the gods to dwell. Zeus was to rule as the king of the gods and to act as an unbiased judge when the gods would quarrel. Zeus would become the gods of storms and lightning to who ponies would pray for good weather and mercy.” The water transformed to show a mass of clouds not unlike Cloudsdale if Cloudsdale was the size of Canterlot. The houses, if you can call them houses, were the size of whole wings of the palace. Twilight looked on in confusion as she saw all types of ponies walking on clouds as if they were born to do so. The figures smiled knowingly. “Yes Miss Sparkle, the gods and goddesses could walk on clouds as well as among the mortals below. This was before the events that give ponies their connection to magic. No pony had yet felt a connection with the earth, a connection to the sky, or a connection to the forces of creation.” Horror filled Twilight to the marrow. The very thought that she would be without her magic, the very thing that defined her, scared her more than anything she had ever faced. The color drained out of her face as she felt the beginnings of a panic attack take hold of her. Twilight tapped into her magic for the simplest spell for comfort, bathing in the magic and the memories of the spell. The light spell she summoned was one she had used nightly as a child so that she could read long after her bedtime. The magic and the memories stopped the panic attack from seizing her as she focused back on the figures speech. “Hades was given Tartarus to rule over the riches under the earth and to act as warden over the evils locked in Tartarus. Hades would become the god of the riches of the earth.” Twilight began to wonder if this could all be true. She had been outside of Tartarus a few times but never inside. The gates of Tartarus had been warded by spells that denied entry to any who would seek to open them. Princess Celestia had once said that there was a spell in her archives that would allow the user to send anything hit by the spell to Tartarus but once the spell was complete there was no way of retrieving what you sent there. When Twilight had pressed upon Princess Celestia her desire to learn more about the spell, Princess Celestia had looked at Spike with what Twilight thought was a look of regret before saying that it was an area of magic best forgotten. Twilight began to wonder what could be locked within its walls for Princess to keep it from her. The archives of Canterlot said that Princess Celestia and Luna had used Tartarus as a prison for monsters that had once roamed the land. The figures broke Twilight’s train of thought by continuing the history lesson. “Poseidon was made god of the oceans and protector of the seas.” “As a reward for his service in the war the gods gave Prometheus the honor of creating all the creatures of the land. The most prized creations of his were the three pony races. In time the gods took pleasure in the pony races seeing in them a bit of themselves. The gods revealed themselves to the ponies after a time to the praise of the pony races. The ponies of the land rejoiced as all of their troubles could be solved by their new found gods and goddesses. So began an age of prosperity and peace. Sadly it was not to last…” The vortex of water began to churn more violently as it began to form the shape of what looked like alicorns and the monster Prometheus. "Not all were happy with this new found peace. The goddess Eris had never received much praise from the ponies below as she brought mostly chaos to their world such was her nature. Her temperament began to change as she spent more time with Prometheus. Unbeknownst to the gods, Prometheus had begun to become jealous of the praise that the ponies of the world showered the gods with. Prometheus preyed about Eris’s sadness at the lack of praise she received thus manipulating Eris into helping him turn the ponies of the land against the gods.” The vortex was frothing as it morphed into the figures of Prometheus and Eris as they disguised themselves as two normal looking earth ponies. “The pair then began to cause chaos as they went while blaming the gods from their misdeeds. By the time the gods realized what they had done the ponies of the land had begun burning temples and destroying status to the gods.” The vortex calmed as the image changed into that of buildings on fire and ponies dragging statues to the ground, shattering them. "The gods grew angry at the ungrateful ponies and sought to rain down upon them their fury and anger. Only Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon saw that it was not their fault as they had been tricked. The three gods found Eris and Prometheus and destroyed them. Sadly the ponies of the lands were too far gone in their new found hatred of the gods to be saved.” Twilight was taken-a-back at this new found thought. Had these gods of old destroyed the ponies of the pass like they had Eris and Prometheus? “What did the gods do to them?” Twilight asked not sure she wanted to know. “The only thing they could do. They gave the ponies of the land the magic they now have today.” The figures spoke as the vortex faded back in the stagnant waters. Utter confusion filled Twilight. Why want anypony reward such hate? Better yet, why would anypony give a gift to somepony that would only show violence? “Why would they do that?” Twilight asked aloud. “The gods realized that they were partly to blame as their negligence had allowed Eris and Prometheus to corrupt the minds of the ponies. If the gods had tried to change the ponies minds all that would do is cause the rift between them to grow. The gods knew that the ponies couldn’t make it on their own and would need something to help them survive in this world if they wished to go it alone. The gods thought of the pony races as their children so the gods gave of themselves so that ponies would be safe. With that the ponies of the world touched magic for the first time.” Twilight looked toward the pool hoping that it would show her how the gods gave the pony races their magic and to see where the gods went after they had given their gift. The waters of the pool did not move or stir. Twilight still had questions that she wanted to have answered. “Where did the Gods go? The figures hung their heads. “We do not know. We have been cut off from the power the gods had given us for so long it is hard to see into anything but the past and that is only possible because of the offering that ponies seeking our knowledge have given us as payment.” “Offering? Payment?” Twilight said with panic beginning to fill her voice. “Of course Miss Sparkle, surely you knew to bring something in payment for knowledge that no library in Equestria would have. The legends of this pool state very clearly that something must be given as the pool acts as a magical contract between itself and the knowledge seeker.” Twilight began to feel the full blown panic attack as this knowledge gripped her. “I don’t have anything that I could offer besides quills and parchment plus a few potions I have,” Twilight stammered out. “Sadly Miss Sparkle for it to be an offering it must have great value to you. No matter we shall just have to take something else you value and hold dear. We shall just take all the memories you have of your friends…” Author's Note A big thank you to everything that Favorited my story. This means alot to me as I never thought that anyone but the judges of the badass twiilght contest would read this. To everyone that has read this thank you and I hope this is to your liking. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU (Newly edited by Crimson Carnation)
"3" The brothers three, the flames of change“MY FRIENDS? YOU CANT TAKE MY FRIENDS FROM ME,” Twilight shouted her voice full of rage and terror. Twilight lost all control of her rational thoughts as the idea of losing every memory of her friends rattled her already stressed mind. Memories flooded Twilight's mind of all the past adventures with her friends, each a memory she treasured dearly. She began to wonder if this price included Spike. Another wave of panic racked her as the thought of losing the one person in the world that had been by her side the longest. The relationship between Twilight and Spike was hard to put into words as she acted as both his mother and big sister. The thought of losing her number one assistant awakened something akin to a mother's rage. Her manner shifted as she became determined, she would fight and die for these memories but with her newfound clarity drawn from her determination she began to realize that if what they said was true she was bound by a magical contract. Normally those that wished to enter into a magical contract began by brewing a potion of aconite stems, asphodel blossoms, shavings of the lotus tree, and narcissus root. While potions normally have some magical connection to either pegasus, earth or unicorn magic, the potion used to start a magical contract has no magical connection at all. No one truly understands the power behind a magical contract - only that once struck it could never be broken without consequence, only concluded. The potion offers no effect that can be measured or tested but the connection between the two parties is painfully real. Whichever party breaks the contract is subject to the will of the opposite party. While the practice of a magical contract was not outlawed it had fallen out of fashion as being barbaric. Twilight knew that there was no way to break the curse that would not end with them getting the payment they wanted but she could try to offer up another form of payment. “What…,” Twilight stammered still recovering from her shock before her conviction reaffirmed themselves in the thought of a crying drake in front of a crystal door. “What… what else would you take as payment,” Twilight finally managed to ask. “Only something that is of great value to you will be able to be offered.” The figures informed Twilight in a matter of fact manner. Twilight saw that the figures did not show any emotion about what they were telling her. They seemed to get no pleasure out of her suffering but at the same time they did not show any compassion towards her plight. “What would you offer us child? You’re magic perhaps? No, you are too fond of your magic to ever part with it. You do not have a lot of things that would qualify as sacrifices that we would be able to use.” The figures walked to the edge of the pool and stopped. The figures looked down upon the ground as a starving stallion would a banquet table. “Land…Miss Sparkle…We want your land.” Twilight had braced herself for the worst imaging all the kinds of things that she loved taken from her so it came as a surprise. Twilight had to contain the joy that was welling up inside of her at their new proposition. As Twilight was the second child in her line the lands of her family would go to her brother Shining Armor by birthright. Because of Twilight’s continual tutelage from Princess Celestica, Twilight was only a temporary denizen of the library having no claim to it as it is property of the state. Twilight fought back a manic giggle as she had found a way out of her predicament. “I give unto you all my lands and holdings,” Twilight proclaimed triumphantly as she gave the figures a mocking bow. “We shall collect upon your debt at our convenience but in the meantime do you have anything else you would like to know Miss Twilight?” “No!” Twilights reply was blunter that she had meant it to be but the thought of being ensnared again just after getting free scared her. “No…, thank you but I must be going with our business done.” With as much composure as she could muster Twilight began her journey home trotting at a pace that betrayed her inner panic. Once Twilight was beyond the range of hearing the figured turned to themselves. “Come my brothers we have much to do for the upcoming festivities. To believe that one of such power and intelligence could be so easily manipulated.” With that the figures of began to fade back into the pool their laughter oily and slimy like the waters their faded into. Ponyville a few hours later Twilight closed the door to the library as quietly as she could so as not to wake the sleeping dragon she knew she would find not far from the door. Spike had fallen asleep waiting up for her to return. Twilight’s first instinct was to grip the sleeping dragon in a rib crushing hug but she knew if she woke him he would ask about the pool and she was not ready to talk about that just yet. She picked the sleeping dragon up in her magic and took him to their shared bedroom. After laying him carefully into his basket she stopped to watch her number one assistant sleep for a time. He slept in a peaceful ignorance unaware that she could have lost him today. The thought brought tears back to her eyes. How much pain would that have caused him to have to explain to her that they were not only friends but family. Twilight trotted downstairs as silently as she could and opened her travel bags. Twilight pulled the accursed book from her travel bag and trotted over to a corner of the library she had spent many a cold nights reading. What she was about to do went against everything she stood from but she knew that it had to be done. Twilight threw the book into the unlit hearth before she unceremoniously cast the spell to light the fireplace. Twilight had no idea of what she had expected to see as she watch the book burn but it seemed that after all the evil it had caused that the book should have done more than just burn. Fire, although destructive, was also a purifier yet Twilight could not shake the feeling of a blight upon her. Twilight would have to look into buying land in the Everfree forest as a backup but for now all she wanted to do was to turn in and sleep this nightmare away. Present Day “Twilight do you know what these ponies are talking about?” Celestia bent down to ask her former student in a somewhat private manner. “Your student owes us a debt that we intend to collect right now,” the periwinkle pegasus said in a matter of fact manner barely able to hide the smugness in his voice. Celestia straighten as she moved toward the three interlopers, the persona of grace. “I am sure that Princess Twilight while be more than happy to attend to this debt that you speak of but at the moment we are having a private moment and we would ask that you come back at accepted court hours. Guards please show our guest out,” Celestia said in an authoritative but diplomatic tone. Twilight shook with horror as the gears began to turn in her head. Twilight maybe the second child in her family’s line unable to get any family land but now she was a princess a co-ruler of a nation with lands far greater than any one house. Twilight had never gotten around to buying the land in the Everfree forest like she had planned. Twilight had spent months trying to track down who the rightful owner of the forest while trying to hide her reasons from everypony. She did not want Princess Celestia to find out that she had gotten herself in over her head. Twilight’s pride had gotten the best of her and now the whole nation was going to pay. Twilight had to think of something and think of it fast. “Princess Celestia! I need you to banish me,” Twilight half shouted forcing the words out as the idea formed in her head. “Twilight why would I ever do that?” Celestia asked, confusion and alarm radiating from her words. “Because, Celestia, she thinks that if you banish her that will stop us from taking the land she owes us,” the ecru earth pony said oozing smugness and glee. “But as you see,” the earth pony leveled his grin to his compatriots, “we are alright here. Your student paved the way for our return.” The earth pony smiled as Celestia rounded to face Twilight. “What are they talking about Twilight?” Celestia asked voice cold and direct. Twilight had only heard Celestia use that voice once before at wedding of her sister-in-law and her brother. Twilight looked for the right words to say but before she could think of anything the horn of the ultramarine unicorn began to glow. “Brothers we don’t have time for this,” the unicorn spoke as his magic blasted the guards that had begun to form up around the Princesses. Princess Celestia rounded on the unicorn, set to lose a powerful spell of her own, when the most peculiar thing happened. Twilight watched as the pegagus raised up like Applejack about to buck an apple tree then bucked the open air. Lightning shot forth from the open air striking Princess Celestia squarely in the chest causing her to scream with pain and sending her flying against the wall. Silence filled the room as the limp body of Princess Celestia slid to the floor. Twilight and Cadance rushed toward her side ready to tend to her wounds but where blown back by an unseen force. Luna blasted though the side wall of the castle upon hearing the cries of her sister in pain. Luna, still dressed in her ceremonial night court robes, surveyed the scene before her looking for her sister’s attacker. The Princess Luna was met with a blast for the ultramarine unicorn that was a mix of magic and something resembling a tidal wave throwing Luna to the stone floor trapping her there. Luna began trying to cast spells but whatever held her was choking her with what looked like water. Luna managed to fire off three energy blast that flew randomly due to her lack of control but was unable to break her watery prison try as she might. With a final release of an air bubble Princess Luna stopped moving as the water prison withdrew from her. It took all the mental fortitude Twilight could muster to just stand. Her Princesses, her teachers, her friends had been dispatched in just a few seconds what chance did she have of defeating them but Twilight would have to do something. Cadance was not as strong as Twilight had believed for upon the sight of her aunts dispatched so easily Cadance fell to the floor. Twilight had failed Celestia and Luna, she could not fail to protect Cadance, the last remaining monarch. With that Twilight turned back to face the intruders standing in front of Cadance shielding her as best she could. “Cadance go find Shining Armor save yourself,” Twilight shouted. “Actually she is free to go,” stated the earth pony. Twilight jaw dropped at how causal his statement had been as if he had just dismissed day court for the evening. “We have no need of her yet.” The earth pony trotted causally toward the two remaining princesses. “Run along home Princess Cadance, we have no quarrel with you this day. We wish you and your husband well on your journey home.” “W….Why,” Cadance whispered. “What makes me so special,” Cadance asked her strength beginning to return. “It goes against the unwritten rules of conduct to harm a guest while they are under your roof, Princess Cadance,” the pegagus spoke like a teacher scolding a filly or foal for missing a question that they knew. “We are the new rulers of this land and as such we must keep diplomatic relations with neighboring lands….civil. So you and your husband will leave this city now or you will have to be detained…” the pegagus looked over at Princess Luna’s body as he spoke the word, “for your own safety of course.” Cadance began to open her mouth to speak but was cut off by Twilight before she could speak. “Go Cadance, all of Equestia is going to need you now. Get Shining Armor and tell him everything that has happened, then get out of here. Shinning will know what to do.” “But what about you?” “Don’t worry about me get yourself to safety.” “But…” “GO!” with Twilight’s last outburst, Cadance called upon her magic and with the sound of a magical pop she was gone. “Now Miss Sparkle what to do with you,” the earth pony mused. “I know,” he said with a manic grin “I banish you.” The earth pony stomped his front hoof causing a fireball the size of cartage to form out of the floor. Had Twilight been anyone but Shining Armors sister she surely would have been burnt to a crisp. Twilight had her shield up as soon as she had seen the fireball begin to form. Twilights shield held as the fireball first made impact but she felt the power behind the blow and knew she couldn’t hold the shield for must longer. The lavender bubble began to crack and fracture the flames beginning to find their way pass the shield. As she felt her spell fail, Twilight braced for what was to come. The shield broke and the fire closed the distance and all Twilight could do was watch as the flames moved to engulf her the kaleidoscope of reds, blues, greens, and even pinks filling her vision before her vision finally faded to black. Author's Note (newly edited but Crimson Carnation)
