Pony May Cry

Chapters

Prolugue
Mission 1: Curse of the Living Statues
Mission 2: The Magic Link
Mission 3: Of Fire and Honesty

Prolugue

Twilight sat at her desk in her Library room at the Golden Oaks library

“The Pegasi haven’t Lost their touch when creating Downpours and storms, even though they say it’s going to be light it amuses me how they always make it a real Doozy. Probably due to Rainbow Dash’s new system using Convection currents instead of manual Wingpower to start up the Storms.” Twilight thought to herself as she watched the Clock tick by.
It’s been Almost 50 years since the Passing of Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. And it’s been that long since Spike wanted to re-join his own kind after the Deaths.

Twilight has been blessed with Immortality as she was an Alicorn yet, there are some things that just want to make you pass on as well with your best friends. It’s also saddening when you see the one who make you smile all day long grow old and fade away into dust while you look young and vibrant and move just like you were a young Mare.
“This weather won’t last forever so I’d best make do with what I can. Let’s see… Oh how about I learn how to conjure up Magical guards? No I did that last time.” Said Twilight pacing around the centre table carving another circular groove into the floor for the 100th time in well, the 130 years that she has been residing in the Library.

The door swung open abruptly to reveal Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
“Celestia, Luna Hi, Welcome, how are you. Ha Ha what Brings you here?” Blurted out Twilight “Well Twilight its nice to see you to but we come with an important Task that can only be Accomplished by you and you alone.” Explained Celestia “Yes Twilight Sparkle, We require you to confront a new evil that has come to destroy Equestria” Luna Elaborated.
“What is this ‘evil’ you talk of? I’m sure it’s not any worse than the 3rd Changeling Invasion or the time discord ‘accidentally’ let the Minotaur’s out of Tartarus” said Twilight with a confused look.
“It’s something that even we have not come across in our lifetime. But we do know that you need to Travel to Marelet Island, which by our Searches is located past Las Pegasus and out to sea.” Answered Celestia “But be warned there are things there that even your Magic cannot comprehend”

“Don’t worry Princess’ I will handle the situation and report my findings to you when I get back to PonyVille!” Said Twilight Triumphantly
“How soon can you leave?” Asked Luna
“Just give me a Day and I should be ready to go” Replied Twilight
“Make haste Twilight I can feel its Aura getting Stronger as we speak” Warned Celestia
“On it, Good Bye Celestia, Good bye Luna!” Said Twilight as she bid the Princess’ farewell.

Twilight sat alone in the library thinking about what the new evil could possibly be, “Another of Discord’s old creations? No, he promised on his Chaos magic that he didn’t have any more creations hiding in Equestria. Perhaps after I should ask him for a list of all his creations good and bad.” Pondered Twilight.

Twilight sat there motionless until she heard another knocking at the door “Coming, but the library is closed so…” She paused mid-sentence as she saw what she wouldn’t have thought to seen until her passing. “Applejack? Rarity? Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? Pinkie pie? Is that really you girls?” She asked after shaking off the initial shock.
“Now, Twilight why wouldn’t we want to come to see our best friend ever?” Applejack Asked in a voice unheard of for many years. The other 4 nodded in agreement but wore saddened faces, even Pinkie pie who was always smiling. “Is something wrong Girls? And why do you look the same as when we met?” Twilight asked hoping to find why her friends were here and not enjoying the wonders of the afterlife.

“Well…” Rainbow Dash Started “Uhh…” Fluttershy Added “Ya see Twilight… We escaped.” Answered Applejack after a few moments of uncomfortable silence. “Wait, WHAT!?” Exclaimed Twilight nearly setting herself on fire for the 8th time “Now Listen here Sugarcube, we had a good reason and we don’t have much longer. He will attempt to recall us.” Applejack reasoned keeping a calm tone for a Pony who nearly got Barbequed just moments ago.
“Wait, recall? He?” Twilight blurted out while comprehending this new information.
The others started to fizzle “Twilight save us! Marelet Island” Pinkie Pie yelled before she and everypony except Twilight was Teleported away.

“This is bad, very bad” Twilight said dashing frantically around the room in an organized yet uncoordinated path around the books and furniture. “Now I know I have to save them, at Marelet Island. I hope they will be ok until I find them and free them from their oppressor.” Said Twilight with a Steely expression. “I vow that I will uncover this evil and save my friends even if I get captured, their happiness means more to me than anything in Equestria!” Vowed Twilight before tripping down the stairs and only just catching herself with her wings before slamming head first into the A-D section of the library.
“Sometimes you just got to love wings when you don’t have time to teleport” Grinned twilight as she stepped into the crisp PonyVille Air.

Her walk to the train station was like it normally was; ponies bowing, a foal saying they want to be like you, the usual since she became an Alicorn and a Princess. She still wondered if PonyVille should upgrade to the underground ‘subway’ trains like Manehatten and most of Eastern Equestria, thanks to the discovery of forever burning candle. But as always Twilight knew that she couldn’t let the Friendship Express go into the scrapyard, it was special and the last of its kind to still be operational.
Twilight stared at the newly painted Train bedazzled at how they could replicate the original colour scheme so brilliantly, yet make it shun the need to improve like the ‘Subway Trains’. The way the windows were perfectly preserved thanks to rarity, it brought many memories of old back to Twilight as she started to lose herself in her emotions. Twilight sighed “Now is not the time for reminiscing about before, even if it was the best time ever I need to focus on the task ahead, I can’t fail Celestia, Luna, Cadance or most importantly my friends.” And with those words Twilight stepped onto the Train and departed for Las Pegasus.

The Train Ride was uneventful besides the on-board Kitchen running out of Hay fries again, and that Twilight forgot to write to spike, all was well. The Train Arrived in Las Pegasus the next day around noon, “Well I’d better go to the seaside and investigate for signs of Marelet Island.” Reassessed Twilight as she yawned of her drowsiness from the train ride.
Twilight strode down Main Street, Mares, Stallions, Foals all whispered that ‘Princess Twilight is here’ and stared making Twilight Blush and use an Invisibility spell “Well this came in handy” She Remarked as she saw the Coastline.
‘It’s always had a serine beauty about it though it is threatened by the constant dumping of cider kegs and salt bags, no wonder its sweet and salty at the same time’ Though Twilight as the sun started to set over the pristine ocean water. “Plus it’s a good chance to walk on the sand, oh how I’ve missed the feeling of sand on my hooves it’s been way too long, I should go to the beach more perhaps the lake In PonyVille should do for my needs.” Mumbled Twilight as she walked along the beach searching for an island like shape on the horizon.

After 30 minutes of searching and enjoying the sand Twilight spotted Marelet Island and started to unfurl her wings when the light started to fade quicker than usual. “Huh? Oh well I guess it’s for the best” Twilight yawned and proceeded back to the hotel district with a mental image of the location as to teleport there the next morning.

Twilight had a rough sleep even though she was in the ‘Celestial suite’ of the Royal Villas, she continued to play back the last few days in her mind all night and she didn’t get any sleep until she cast a silencing spell on herself around 4am. “Rough night Princess?” asked the old maid “Yes sorry if I kept you up.” Apologized Twilight with a sympathetic look on her face, the unicorn maid looked as if she had not got a good night’s rest in years. “No worries Princess now go do what you need to do. Also do you require the room tonight?” The maid inquired. “Probably not Miss…” Twilight said politely to attempt to get a name. “Oh where are my manners, my name is Gold, Gold light.” Replied the maid backing off a bit at the request. “What a lovely name that is Miss Light, I will be off now, Thank you for your hospitality.” Said Twilight in an angelic voice to soothe Gold Light as she walked back to her room to prepare a Teleportation spell “3 best magic’s – 1) Friendship 2) Knowledge 3) Teleportation. Always!” Twilight joked to herself as she gathered the mental preparations for the teleportation spell.

Twilight tried to teleport straight to Marelet Island but she forgot one of teleportation’s rules; you have to have a clear mental image of the destination you want to teleport to. Twilight had a bit of a rage fit and decided to just teleport to the beach where she can survey the coast gain. After 5 minutes she reached the spot she was at the day before, overlooking the ocean and gazing at the island. She conjured a walk on water spell and then remembered she had wings “Oh… haha whoops I still forget I have these” Twilight Blushed as she took flight and flew towards Marelet Island.

The Initial fly around showed Twilight that there was a Castle and a few bridges and statues. “I guess I fly to the dock.” Twilight said landing on the rickety wooden dock. She Started to walk towards the heavy steel gates and tried to push it open, after when it didn’t open she tried many spells but it seemed to have an Ancient lock spell, “I can’t believe that I’m being stopped by a Gate, Granted that I can Fly over but I need to investigate this.” Twilight complained as a brilliant sunbeam came down upon the Steel Gate. “Sorry Twilight I forgot that this was here” Celestia chuckled as she hovered above Twilight, “I can’t go any further, good luck Twilight’ Celestia said as she teleported away before Twilight could retaliate.

“I guess my mission Starts here” Said Twilight pulling a militaristic stance as she walked into the Archway.

Mission 1: Curse of the Living Statues

Twilight looked around the pathway and noted that the sea was to the right and a giant rock wall was to her left “Sometimes I think Celestia is just sending me on these because of what happened when I tried to throw her a surprise party all those years ago.” Sighed Twilight as she walked on the cobblestone pathway leading up to the castle. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen such beautiful architecture in such good condition, I can imagine Rarity ‘flipping out’ over this and coming back to her senses and saying ‘*clears throat* excuse me, ladies don’t flip out’. “Oh Rarity if only you were here with me, but then again too much whining” Twilight muttered thinking about Rarity.

Twilight walked up the hill and noticed a few half-filled vials lying around filled with all sorts of strange coloured liquids. “I would hate to blindly drink those” Thought twilight as she prodded one vial with magenta liquid in it, which spilled out onto the cobblestone and started to fizzle and melt the ground.

Twilight knocked on the gigantic wood and steel hybrid door that was the entrance way to the castle. “Hello?” Twilight called hoping that nopony would answer the door. “Is anypony there?” Twilight called as she heard hoofsteps coming from inside. “I don’t mean to be a bother but is somepony there?” Twilight began to suspect something was terribly wrong with the castle.

A clicking noise came from behind Twilight, and as she spun around to identify the sound the ground opened up beneath her and she fell into the cavern, too shocked to fly or conjure any spells she hit the ground hard and slowly started to stand up, “Ouch, sometimes I wish I didn’t accept all the quests that Celestia gave me, then I wouldn’t have to fall into pits all the damn time!” Twilight grumbled at the top of her voice as she started to heal her cuts and scrapes she acquired from that fall. Twilight inspected the cavern and noted that it should have killed her, if the spike trap was still operational. “That’s what hundreds of years do to you if you don’t take care of yourself” Twilight mocked the broken spike trap.

“Truly, I love going on adventures outside of books and those that Celestia and Luna give me but I hate doing these pit trap ones” Twilight continued to rant about all the quests that involve falling into pits and caverns. “But its fine, at least now I can gain access to the castle.” Twilight said to brighten her demeanour as she pushed open the creaky wooden door. It gave way to a narrow corridor. “I don’t think that anypony has been here for a very long while, maybe not since the lunar banishment.” Twilight assessed as she wandered down the corridor that the door lead to. “I wonder what in Celestia’s name could have built this castle and all the other things on Marelet Island.” Twilight questioned as she started to feel insecure about here destination.

Twilight was grateful that there were torched and candles that lit the way every 4 or so meters. “Am I glad that these torches haven’t burned out yet, otherwise even with my magic I wouldn’t be headed anywhere but into the same wall every time.” Joked Twilight as a breeze threatened to extinguish some of the torches. Twilight walked into a room with its door blown to bits by what seemed to be an explosive or fire magic, “Hello I mean no harm just come out if you can hear my voice.” Twilight hollered as she stepped into the centre of the room. “Oh what’s this?” Twilight poked at the strange looking charm “looks like it would be important I should hold on to anything that seems like it would benefit myself or anypony later, maybe this is a sign that I’m headed the right way.”

She walked out of the room and back to the corridor “Seems like this castle wants to be explored and wants to make games with those who do.” Twilight assessed as she walked into a heavy steel door that read ‘One must offer ones charm for the door, the door craves all things strange, in its delight the passage will open’ “I guess that must mean this charm” Twilight presented the charm to the door and it was levitated in a light beige aura before being teleported somewhere. The door opened to a large room which looked like the entrance of the royal castle in Canterlot before Celestia and Luna redecorated and refurbished it, but there was one strange thing that stood out from the rest, a statue of what looked like Chrysalis. “Something tells me that she has something to do with all this.” Twilight remarked as she walked up to the statue which read ‘The mighty ruler of the Changelings, she will bring us love to power our stony bones.’ “Wow Catchy” Twilight said sarcastically “I don’t know about all this stony bones business but I guess it’s something that I will have to face later on” Twilight muttered to herself as a breeze started to blow.

Twilight started to turn around to observe the rest of what she labelled as; The Entrance Hall. “I need to construct a map to navigate around this castle.” Twilight said summoning some parchment and a quill with an ink pot. “Now if this is the entrance hall then these go here…”Twilight rambled to herself as she finished mapping the Entrance hall, the Caverns and the initial Cobblestone pathway. “Hold it, Wait.” Twilight screamed to nopony but herself, “That’s the door that I knocked at before!” Twilight rushed over to examine the Door. “Seems like somepony barricaded the door with ancient magic but I’m sure there are other ways to break through if needed.” Twilight stepped away from the door and walked gleefully back to her temporary ‘home base’.

“So I guess that if this is anything like the ‘Castle of the two sisters’ and the royal castle in Canterlot, then there’s levers and rooms everywhere. That’s if it is the same type of Architecture which it isn’t so… I have to map every room and the paths that I take then.” Twilight said standing up and packing all her things into her saddlebags. “Then I assume that my search should start at that door.” Said Twilight pointing at 2 doors at once, “Oh well…”Twilight cleared her throat “Let’s try the fancy one first.” Twilight trotted over to the elegantly engraved door to find another riddle “Not this again, I think these are on all the important doors.” Twilight started to feel annoyed but refreshed herself just before she did anything Equestria would deeply regret.

The door read ‘only a tribute of dead souls will grant you access to my realm’. “Again Catchy” Twilight remarked and she started to contemplate the meaning behind the riddle. “Dead souls? Where do I get Dead souls?” Twilight complained as she sat down on an old couch, which exploded from age. But instead of Dust, woodchips, and fluff; it yielded blood red crystals orbs, “GwAAAHHH!!” Twilight screamed as she fell to the floor right on her flank, “Ow… wood sucks as a cushion. Huh? Red Crystal Orbs, They look like dead pony spirits. Hay maybe this is what the door wanted!” Twilight picked up the Red Orbs and waltzed over to the door. When she presented the Orbs the door the same light beige aura wrapped around the Red Orbs and they were sucked into the door knob, after which the door’s Inscription changed ‘Found the source of what I asked, but more is needed for you to pass’ “Well then I guess anything that looks destructible gives off these and I probably can use then later so… I guess buck tables and chairs?” Twilight felt uncertain of what she needed to do but she knew that these Red Orbs could mean something.

Twilight noted down that Red Orbs have something to do with the Castle and the Red Orbs are connected to Dead Pony Spirits. “Well this means that with these spirits I can set them free by using them somehow.” Twilight said aloud to make sure that her wording is correct which it always is. “I hope the use of these actually frees the spirits as the prisons are destroyed.” Twilight hoped as she started to destroy more furniture to collect the Orbs.

Twilight spent the next half an hour deciding what can and can’t be broken for Orbs. The list is: Furniture, pottery, barrels… Can’t be broken: Floor, Doors, outside items eg. my belongings, and inanimate statues. “I don’t know why I attempted to destroy my own belongings for orbs… but all for the power of knowledge!” Twilight said as she repaired the table she summoned.
“That seems to be all the items that can and can’t, now to give some to the door.” Twilight joyously said as she gave the rest of the Orbs to the Door. The door violently swung open and the area around the door knob started to splinter, “Ok now to investigate this hallway, also send a letter to Princess Celestia after you have finished exploring the other doorways.” Twilight told herself to tone down some of her adrenaline after bucking and magically dissipating all the furniture in the Entrance Hall. Twilight had always wanted to destroy items of no worth and value that didn’t belong to anypony when she was mad, now she can all she wants. “Control is at utmost importance here, who knows what could come after me if I break the wrong thing.” Twilight remarked as she slowed her pace to that of a leisurely walking 75 year old mare.

Twilight walked to the end of the hallway, a single door stood in her path but when she pushed it; it opened into a room with a single torch lighting the room, it looked like an old study fit for a noble pony and resonated with knowledge as Twilight slowly investigated the room and took the time to stare out the window to see a courtyard just across the windows glass, in the centre there was a statue with a key on the hilt of its sword. “Looks like an old guards pony statue, that key looks like it would fit the lock on the glossy, blood red door.” Twilight noted as she removed the key from the hilt and proceeded to walk away. A shrill sound occurred behind Twilight who covered her ears, and she turned around to see multiple Stone Guards all directing their swords towards Twilight. “GwAAAHHH!” Twilight screamed as she avoided the 4 lunging Stone Guards swords via Teleportation.
“I didn’t want to have to do this but you leave me no choice!” Twilight exclaimed before summoning her quartz sword named ‘Mares Edge’, it has been Twilight’s favourite, and most faithful Sword ever since the tragedy in Tartarus. Twilight lunged at the statues and dusted 2 before having to step back while the others took their chance at getting Twilight while she was recovering from the long sword strokes.

Twilight summoned her twin magic guns – Knowledge and Friendship. “With the power in these I banish you to the pits of Tartarus!” Yelled Twilight as she fired Knowledge and Friendship at the 2 remaining Statues. They exploded on contact with the plasma projectiles. “Oh that was great, haven’t said anything like that in ages!” Twilight jumped in her happiness before taking a few deep breaths to calm herself.

“Lucky I always have Knowledge and Friendship by my side, no point sending these away if there are more of those ‘living statues’.” Twilight said slinging Mares edge over her back and attaching Knowledge and Friendship onto her flank using purple straps she conjured. “Now I would assume by doing what I just did, more should come and I shall fight until I find the answers I’m looking for!”
Twilight Trotted back down the hall way to find more statues being summoned through the cracks in the wall. “You shall be destroyed!” hissed one of the statues spewing dust around the hallway, it had a gold loop through the blade of its sword. “I am going to get past you and make you wish you moved on to the afterlife!” Twilight drew Mares Edge and started to glide towards the statues gracefully as she started to twirl in a cyclonic shape with Mares edge fully extended on the outer layers held by her magic. Two of the statues jumped into the cyclone and they got shredded to pieces, “How’s that on for size?!” Mocked Twilight as she broke the cyclone and watched the dust settle on her back gracefully.

She stared down the two remaining statues and cast a simple yet deadly telekinesis trap on the floor. “Come at me you mindless stones!” Twilight stepped back as the statues fell for the taunt and they became ravelled in purple vines. “Statues. Always the gullible ones hey?” Twilight mocked as the statues were crushed to pieces by the vines. “Never charge a princess who knows how to counter you” Twilight said flicking her tail at the dusty remains of the statues, slung Mares Edge over her back once more and checked that she was alone before she continued down the hall until she reached the Main Entrance hall.

“Ok now let’s actually map out that corridor and explore the rest of this hall.” Twilight planned as she started to draw the corridor and the old study. The room started to get colder as Twilight slowly summoned a lamp to light the room and warm her aching hooves, “Haven’t done that much fighting since, well in a very long time.” Twilight started to remember some of the battles she has fought in over the years and shuddered at the memory of the monsters and creatures she has fought. “Now time to put this key to the test!” Twilight walked over to the red Glossy door and unlocked it using the previously obtained key.

The Door swung open. “Now this is where the hunt begins! You hear me!” Twilight taunted walking through the door and beginning her journey into the depths of the castle.

Mission 2: The Magic Link

Mission 2: The Magic Link
Twilight walked through the door and discovered a room with a very large boom gate and a clearly marked runway of sorts, “Huh? What is this? Is that what I think it is?” Twilight quickly refreshed her composure and walked over to the ancient structure. “Celestial Glider MkIII.” Twilight read aloud and decided to mark its location, “I will probably need this for later when I’m rescuing the girls.” Twilight designated the room as ‘The hangar’ and continued on her way. “I really wish they didn’t all have to die around the same time, I really wish they lasted just a few more years, but my last attempt to keep Rarity alive for Spike’s sake caused her so much pain and suffering. Until she faded away…” Twilight reminisced as she started to sob near the plane.

“This isn’t the time to cry over what happened before” Twilight sniffled getting to her hooves and slowly walking down the hangar in a drunken fashion after the immense crying that befell her a few moments ago. “Yes come on Twilight” Twilight told herself in an effort to calm her nerves and dry her tear ducts, “Your Friends need you and they are counting on you to free them from this evil!” Twilight cast all her negative emotions aside and replaced them with determination and courage as she trotted off down another corridor which was marked ‘Library’.

Twilight walked along the hallway half focusing on walking and half focusing on her friends, “If I were a super dark being where would I be?” twilight asked herself as she walked to keep her brain working and to null the pain of the past. Twilight absent minded over thinking about the day she met her best friends in all of Equestria rammed head first into a solid gold statue with an hourglass that rotated slightly. “Oh dear.” Twilight blushed as she stood up and began to walk around the statue, inspecting it for any signs of importance. “AH! Found you information!” Twilight exclaimed as she found a plaque which read, ‘Those who seek out her mighty throne room, will perish’ “Well that’s comforting.” Twilight remarked as she read on, ‘I hold the power to bestow items to aid your quest and save you from the pits of Tartarus. In return I require ‘Red Orbs’ as tribute for these powers.’

Twilight sat in silence as she pondered the plaque… “So I just insert orbs into this thing here and I get a pull out menu showing items?” Twilight asked herself while shoving some red orbs into the statue. “Well it’s a mystery, but I think I have an idea to solving this.” Twilight lit up her horn as she cast a spell that detects spirits. She recoiled as she started to see the massive colonies of spirits around the hourglass, “So those are lost spirits then… and I think after this quest of sorts I should talk to Celestia about some matters involving the dead and what not.” Twilight said aloud to herself as she shut off her spell.

“Now time to test this theory” Said Twilight softly to herself before casting her spirit connection spell. Twilight cast out her voice mentally, and heard a spirit reply “Ah, a princess. It’s been a while, only the Queen comes to refresh our spirit glass.” “So I wish to enquire about these ‘powers’” Twilight said sitting on her haunches as she spoke not wanting to strain her legs further. “The power I claim to have is in the form of scrolls, these scrolls contain a single spell that amplifies your abilities to wield a weapon or use simple magic. These also contain combos that will enable you to survive Princess.” The Spirit said summoning up a shelf of scrolls.
“Well I have the Orbs to pay for these but, I want to know something… Why are you helping me?” Twilight pursued as she started to draw out some orbs she kept in a saddle bag pocket. “Well you see dear Princess, the Queen just isn’t the same anymore and thus we wish to move on to the afterlife and be with our loved ones, as the Queens power binds us here.” The Spirit replied after some wavering. “She doesn’t care who we sell to, as long as we are held captive.”

“Well uhh…” Twilight started before realising that she didn’t know the spirits name, “Pardon me for asking dear sir but, your name is? I like to refer to ponies and beings by their name if they want to.” Twilight Asked with a guilt ridden look on her face for not asking sooner. “I don’t mean to be a bother though so… you don’t have to answer.” “My name is Filament, I died over 60 years ago and have been trapped here since she revived.” Said Filament with a saddened expression on his face, he hid it quite well but Twilight could sense his sorrow. “Listen Filament,” Twilight said after carefully thinking through her next course of action, “I promise on my name to save you from her grips and give you passage to the afterlife” Twilight walked closer to Filament and gave the golden statue a warm hug Filament slowly cheered up from his previous mood.

“Listen Miss Sparkle, you must start to continue down the corridor for there is a gift just for you. But a challenge prevents your progress after this gift.” Filament warned as he flickered out and severed Twilight’s spirit link with him. Twilight started to think about the warning before standing up and stretching her hooves and other appendages. “Wow haven’t sat that still in front of somepony for…what? 50 years?” Twilight asked herself thinking about the past once again. “No thinking about that will be detrimental to my quest and personal well-being.” Twilight started off towards the next corridor, with signs of caution she slowed her speed to that of an old Mare going up a hill.

“Sometimes I wonder if this castle will be my end, nah I have to save all the good spirits!” Twilight reassured herself as she began to get bored at the fact that she was walking really slowly. She turned around after hearing a certain sound of stones scraping along polished stone floors, “So your back? I assumed as much from lackeys of the ‘Queen’.” Twilight mocked as she turned to see Pegasi statues prepare stone wing-blades to attack her with. The Pegasi statues lunged at Twilight with anger in their demonic eyes, and caused twilight to jump slightly, “Oh, that’s going to scar… badly.” Twilight said to herself as she was clipped by one of the Pegasi wing-blades on her fore-hoof, the Pegasi turned around to face Twilight once again.

Twilight, this time ready drew Friendship and Knowledge and steadied her aim, not towards the Pegasi but towards the ground in front of her. The Pegasi lunged, this time with more conviction as Twilight took flight and started to fire down upon the stone beasts, who didn’t even have time to face their downfall as they turned into dust and stone blades. “Wow, that speed… too bad they don’t serve as guards in Cloudsdale.” Twilight panted as she limped lightly down the hallway towards the slow burning of torches and lamps of the next clearing.

“Hey… what’s that?” Twilight asked the empty room as she gazed upon a weird scythe lodged in the adjacent wall, “It has my cutie mark on it… I wonder” Twilight said as she stepped towards the scythe and reached out her hoof. Her hoof met with the hilt of the scythe and it created a blinding light temporary blinding Twilight and decimating the wall which it was held in.
After the blindness dissipated Twilight looked at her hooves, which glowed in a very deep shade of purple along with a strip of pink which looked like binding of some sort she looked at the rest of her body which emanated the same glow but it seemed to be growing in tone as it got closer to her star shaped cutie mark. “Gwah! Huh? What is this?” Twilight screamed as she circled herself attempting to see all that the ethereal coat covered which seemed to pulsate to the rhythm of her heart beat. “It seems you have gained a new form even I have not.” Celestia’s voice emanated in Twilight’s head, “What really!? Is it something that’s befitting me? Is that why it appears out of my Cutie Mark?” Twilight resonated back to Celestia via her mind.
“My dear Twilight, you must stop worrying, this form you are experiencing is ethereal represents the stars and those that are in its grasp. It is what you would can your Universal form, or to call it something simple, let’s call it your ‘star form’. But it comes at a cost to utilise this form, it requires great deals of magic and stamina, both of which you have in surplus… yet you will tire. Utilise this wisely with your new magical arm; Starfall. Its power comes from your inner stars, I must go now Twilight, take care!” Celestia explained before withdrawing her mind from Twilight’s.

“So this is Starfall huh?” Twilight asked the scythe with a slight grin as she picked it up with her magic and stood up to see two sets of doors, one of which looked like cathedral doors and the other, were double doors with a sign that said library above it. “I know there’s something about this door.” Twilight said walking up to the Cathedral door and placing a hoof against it before realising that there was really something missing. “Wait there’s something wrong… ah ha it needs a rod or shaft to activate the lock mechanism.” Twilight said before stepping away to plan her next move on the door. “I reckon that I can breach that door if I find that key of sorts, maybe it’s in the library or beyond it.” Twilight said while starting to regain some stamina after realising that she didn’t shut of her Star Form while she was examining the door. “That could have been bad if I hadn’t turned it off, maybe I would have fainted here.” Twilight sighed.

Twilight sat on her hooves as she resummoned her mapping tools and mapped out what she discovered from the last time she mapped out the castle until what she had discovered. “It seems that this castle is never ending and just wants to show its true colours.” Twilight assumed as she started to map out her current room. “Maybe somepony will need this map later when I finish up here and save all the beings good and evil.” Twilight muttered to herself as she started to stand up on her hooves. “Now to investigate… the Library!” Twilight squealed as she clopped her hooves together and started to push open the door, observing the large two-story library. “Wow… It’s amazing.” Twilight said in awe of the beautifully kept library. “Oh my Celestia! It’s just like the one in the Crystal empire but way more cosy, wood always feels better than crystals on a cold winters day.” Twilight continued through the library picking up random books and rearranging desks. Twilight accidentally stepped on a loose stool or two, and noticed that they dissipated into splinters and red orbs. Twilight started to recklessly break the chairs and tables along with all the stools that lay around on the floor. “I’m starting to worry about the fact that I will get into a habit of destroying other ponies’ property.” Twilight said sheepishly as she broke an entire table with her magic. “If anything I will probably develop a much more efficient way than this.”

Twilight sat down on a rickety chair as she heard a shrill sound coming from beyond the beautifully carved wooden doors, “Hold on! I’m coming!” Twilight said jumping out of the chair and rushing to the doors that the scream came from. “No use it’s locked.” Twilight said in defeat as she tried to open the door using magic, “This place really knows how to prevent magic from opening doors.” Twilight sighed as she hurried around the double story library in search for what she assumed to be a key of sorts. Twilight hurried around the library and started to panic due to the increasing tension of curiosity the urge to help another pony, “Maybe it’s in a place where it stands out yet is well hidden to those who don’t seek it?” Twilight pondered as she looked for anything that was a key shape.

Twilight passed a painting that resembled Marelet Island and saw a key looking object, the inscription on the paintings banner states ‘Take thy key, but if thou desecrate thy soul thou shall be inflicted with thousands of years’ worth of pain and suffering…’ “Wow… that’s really descriptive, seriously I don’t want to risk it but I need it.” Twilight said stepping back from the painting, and taking in deep breaths to calm herself. “Ok time to focus Twilight!” Twilight assured herself as she began to conjure a simple telekinesis spell to grab the key, “Huh?? Wait!? It’s attached to the Painting!” Twilight exclaimed as she started to pull the key away. “This may require some thinking… Ok let’s run over this again,” Twilight said recomposing herself as she began to create a mental checklist. “Ok, take thy key, but if thou desecrate thy soul thou shall be inflicted with thousands of years’ worth of pain and suffering… so take the key, but if I damage the painting, I will be tortured for a thousand years… That sounds like what happened to Luna, It sounds horrible… What if I make the painting borders vanish and take the key from it before it registers that it’s been disrupted… I’m sure it only affects the space in front of it.” Twilight said to herself and without another thought she went through with it.

Twilight vanished the Painting, grabbed the Key, and teleported away from the painting. After the spell’s effect faded the area in front of the painting burnt into flames and a magical vice came down and dragged the floor away into a hidden passage, which emanated sounds of saws and running water. “Joy that worked, I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t do what I did” Twilight shuddered as she began to imagine what would have happened. “Perhaps I’d better not, you know for my sanity’s sake…” Twilight whispered to herself, though she doubted her mental security as of that statement. Sounds of fire emitted from the wall.
Twilight unlocked the door and peered through the slight space between the open doors, “Wow this is one of the biggest hallways I have ever seen.” Twilight admitted as she marvelled in the spacious hallway. She began to walk down the grand hallway as the door behind her started to swing back to its original position, “Wow, amazing, maybe Celestia will build some stuff like this in the Canterlot royal library.” Twilight said turning her head around several times to gather all available data on the elaborate engravings and finishes.

Twilight arrived in a room with a fountain in the centre of it, yet the only thing it spouted was air currents and a mild stream of blood. “That… can’t be good.” Twilight muttered as the door locked behind her and a blue phantom hoof obscured the path along the long hallway, anytime Twilight attempted to dispel it or go through it reached out and attempted to crush her, every time did teleport out of harm’s way some statues started to come to life and began to nosily make their way over to Twilight. Twilight didn’t notice her current problem until one of the Statues thought it was a good idea to slash down on her backside, with its limited visibility it didn’t see Starfall.

Twilight noticed the sharp, piercing noise of stone on magic infused iron and turned to find a multitude of statues waiting for their turn to hack her apart, no matter the cost. “I guess I was too focused on the door to notice your presence.” Twilight said composing herself and pulling a battle pose holding Starfall with her magic and slowly drawing Friendship and Knowledge as to not draw attention to her antics. Twilight quickly teleported behind the foes onto the top of the fountain not caring about her newly bloodied hooves and the fact that the blood was soaking up towards her body. “Eww… gross… this is going to require a lot more cleaning than necessary when I get back home…” Twilight muttered to herself as she skilfully dodged a barrage of swords and stony wingblades. Twilight retaliated with some quick hoof work and some quick slashes from Starfall, decimated half the statues with ease and fluency. “You lot are next!” Twilight said through her slightly heavy breathing and the occasional shot from either Friendship or Knowledge to keep the remaining statues at a safe distance for Twilight to recover from.
“I guess you don’t need to rest? “Twilight asked as she destroyed some more statues to her left right and centre. Twilight started to lose her focus as she dodged another blade by evading to the left. “I hate you things so much” Twilight said slashing at the remaining statues and destroying those remaining with a few quick lunges, teleports and the occasional shot of magic infused bullets or plasma blasts.

Twilight looked around, out of breath and fatigued decided it was time to take a few minutes to recollect her senses and recompose herself, “that….Was….really tiring….”Twilight panted as she summoned some water to drink and to clean off her blood-stained hooves. The sudden sound of stone collapsing caused Twilight to jump and yelp in surprise, she turned quickly to identify the culprit of the sound to find a coffin shaped object in its place. Twilight limped over to the door after realising that her left fore-hoof was bruised and looked broken in a few places, “I really need to look after myself more on this island.” Twilight concluded as she cast a spell to nullify the pain in her leg temporarily.

Twilight pushed the coffin stone slightly which gave way easily to reveal a simple ladder leading down to a dimly lit room. As she arrived in the dimly lit room she noticed a peculiar staff in the middle of the room, “Hey maybe I need that to open that door.” Twilight said making her way over to the staff and began to read the inscription; ‘I am the Staff of Judgement, one must take me to thou cathedral door, as without me thou shan't pass…’ “I’m starting to love these inscriptions.” Twilight said sarcastically as she wrapped the Staff in her magenta magical aura.

As Twilight lifted the Staff of Judgement off its pedestal, and the wall behind it opened to reveal the library’s lower level. “Oh yay the Library!” Twilight said practically galloping into the library only to be stopped by three scissor clouds. “Oh no… I guess I can’t enjoy this library now.” Twilight said slightly slumping as she started to draw both Mares Edge and Starfall, “so what are you and what do you want?” Twilight asked in her calmest voice, hiding her fear of those scissor like contraptions.
“We, little pony are the Sin scissors, we serve the queen and the hive, you are an intruder therefore you are our enemy and a threat to the hive!” The sin scissors dove straight for Twilight.

Twilight didn’t get away fast enough as she left fore-hoof obtained a nasty gash from the lead scissor all across the length of it. “Ow… uggh…” Twilight groaned as she sliced one of the wing scissors in half, effectively killing it. Twilight teleported onto the second Sin scissor and stabbed down with Mares edge into its hinge, then turned to face the final scissor who stared at Twilight with no remorse or signs of fear. Twilight charged it with Mares edge fully extended to maximise her range as it charged as well, it was a joust of death, Twilight ducked down and slashed up against the sin scissor’s underside producing a shrill metallic sound and the sound of scissors falling to the ground. “Well… I’ve seen better days.” Corralled Twilight as she looked at her fore leg at the thick red blood flowing out of her body. Twilight started to walk while casting some simple healing spells to alleviate the bleeding and repair the wound as to not tire herself out.

Twilight arrived at the cathedral door and stabbed the staff of judgement into its key hole causing a loud rumble and the door to crack open revealing the next room.

“Time to get down to business.” Mocked Twilight as she limped into the room, as the door closed behind her…

Author's Note

Ok the long awaited (I don't know if you were or not) chapter is here
sorry if its a bit rushed and cluttered...
Its been a long wait for this and yes... my bad on that
School work always takes first priority

Anyways enjoy and leave feedback as always

Mission 3: Of Fire and Honesty

Twilight limped into the Cathedral and proceeded to shut the door behind her and take a well needed break, as her blood loss has severely weakened her and caused major fatigue. “I need to lie down…” Twilight moaned as she collapsed halfway across the room. She began to slowly repair her wounds and staunch the bleeding, while moving at a slow pace as to prolong the limited blood in her system after the attacks. “They just… seemed to…. Know where to hit…” Twilight whispered, while wincing with pain from the spell as it causes slight stinging when it forms new skin, fur, nerves, blood vessels. “I need to develop a much more efficient spell for this.” Twilight noted as she fixed up the blood vessels and the surrounding muscle tissue.

After what seemed like two hours of lying down in the cathedral did she notice the time and the sun rising, only then did Twilight realise what time it was, “I have been here for about eight hours and accomplished barely anything… maybe in another eight hours I will have finished with the majority of this castle.” Twilight said rubbing her hooves together and walking over towards the gigantic window with an elegant view of the sea and the rising sun along with the limestone cliff.

“The view is stunning, but I don’t have all day. Time to get back to work!” Twilight exclaimed cracking the glass window around the centre. “Right… royal Canterlot voice…. Got to keep that under wraps or I will alert the rest of the Castle of my presence…” Twilight whispered sheepishly as she slowly backed away from the window. Twilight observed the rest of the cathedral to see a set of staircases going up to the balconies above the general seating, Twilight trotted up the stairs before she noticed that the air started to smell like the sea. “That’s odd… I don’t see any openings that could let the sea air get in here.” Twilight said to herself slowing her trot to a brisk walk. She glanced over to her left to see a peculiar statue, “Hey what is that?” Twilight thought to herself as she slowly walked over to the statue. It was a statue of an earth pony holding up a spherical object, “That sphere doesn’t belong there… but I see no way to remove it” Twilight said before reading the inscription.

The inscription read ‘This is the Pride of the earthen ones. The pride of the earthen ones is a pride that is masked by modesty and happiness, it holds the key to progressing further…’
Twilight placed a hoof on the Spherical object and heard a loud rumble behind her, she turned to see a doorway out to a bridge. “Sweet doorway… I need one for my laboratory… maybe when I get back Celestia will let me find the Magic for it.” Twilight muttered as she gasped in awe of the doorway. Twilight started to walk over to the doorway, the fresh smell of sea air filled her nostrils and lungs as she breathed creating a relaxed and calm environment, a great counter to the high paced hacking and slashing from the previous rooms. She stepped outside of the door way and was blown away by the beautiful serenity of the sea mixed with the sunlight as the sun started to rise over the waters horizon, the soft sounds of the sea penetrated the air with the slight hint of sea creatures making their morning calls. Twilight started to walk as she listened in of the crispness of her hoofsteps clopping on the mildly worn cobblestone, “This, is just beautiful, never have I seen a sight like this,” Twilight said in a very monotone voice as she struggled to stop herself from sitting down to observe the beautiful scenery that the bridge gave way to. “Right Twilight FOCUS! We got a bridge to investigate!” Twilight shouted at herself as she sheepishly looked around to make sure that no pony saw her, otherwise she would look like a crazy lunatic.

Twilight then made a mental note to explicitly say ‘don’t yell at yourself when you thing there are other ponies or beings around you’. She hastily brushed off any dust and dirt that got intertwined into her coat when the wind picked up. Twilight started to trot towards the Bridge without first thinking about the possibility of the bridge collapsing or there being anything to fight, Twilight neglected caution and care over getting to the other side, she let her guard down by taking in the entrancing views and sunrise.
Twilight felt the bridge rumble under her hooves and she immediately regretted stepping her hooves onto the bridge as it collapsed into the sea below. “Farewell Equestria, I have failed…” Twilight said sorrowfully as she hit the water. Twilight looked around to see that she wasn’t dead, drowning, or even underwater, she was in a pitch black room with the only lighting coming from a shaft of light coming from the other side of the dark abyss. “Hello? Is anypony there?” Twilight asked the gloomy abyss as a few blue and orange flames started to kindle, Twilight started to back away from the flames as the burst into Flaming pony skulls, with nothing inside except a raging fire fuelled by hatred and violence. Twilight felt a bit of her soul being sucked away as she stared into the skull’s unyielding flames, she quickly averted her eyes “What are you?!” Twilight yelled out from behind a protective hoof. “We….are….the…..the souls lost to the use of forbidden magic….we have no name …. We….seek……fresh souls….to….consume to……give us…..more….strength…” The nameless beings replied in a very forced manner, “You….shall be…our next…..victim….” They started to charge at a very unaware Twilight, causing her to let out a scream of surprise and a few flailing hooves that met with some very unfortunate skulls.

Twilight started to regain her composure as she got up from the wet puddle of water she fell into, “You don’t just attack a Princess while she is off guard!” Twilight exclaimed as she drew Starfall and proceeded to gallop towards the still recovering creatures before her. Twilight summoned a visor made of magic and light to shield her raw eyes from the devious eyes of her, “very cool trick but now it won’t work on me!” Twilight mocked as she sliced one of the Creatures in half as if it were a sheet of paper. The other nameless skulls were shocked and angry at the death of their kinsman, they blind charged Twilight and increased the Flames in their eyes to near blinding light levels. Twilight’s visor only just kept her eyes from boiling under the intense light that the skulls gave off, Twilight’s eyes burned as they slowly dried out. “Is this your tactic? To melt my eyes so I become one of you?” Twilight called out from behind a hoof as she protected her mouth from drying out.

The skulls had put so much energy into keeping up their raging fires that they could no longer speak, Twilight had figured this out after another minute of mocking and questioning, each time feeling as if her fur was starting to get singed. Twilight gave up reasoning and drew Friendship and Knowledge, pelting magical bullet after magical bullet into the tough craniums of the skulls. “I think I’ll name you things hell pits, isn’t that a good name?” She only managed to crack the hell pits tough cranium as they drew close enough that Twilight had to quickly abandon her current spot in order not to be engulfed by fire and not have her soul painfully ripped from her burning body. “You…Will….Die….By…Our wrath!” The skulls hollered as Twilight sliced another one clean in half, she turned around to see the advancing hell pits approach her position. Twilight looked for an opening so she could escape, but soon realised that the only way to get out of there was to kill the three remaining hell pits. Twilight drew upon her inner Star Form, and unleashed a torrent of magically created water, which engulfed the hell pits in a tsunami of water which put out their burning flames, and killed them quickly without any screams or noise, only the low gargle of fire being extinguished.

Twilight calmed her senses and withdrew her Star power, and started to walk towards the spot of light that grew closer by her every step. She slowly began to trot towards the light, which turned out to be a spectral rune which glowed like a sun through sun glasses. Twilight carefully stepped onto the rune which exploded in a blinding white light which engulfed Twilight…. “Help!” She screamed as she closed her eyes.

Twilight opened her eyes to see she was on the other side of the bridge opposite the Castle and the broken bridge was replaced with pieces of concrete which was held in place with a white aura which when Twilight examined it, was filled with dead souls forever damned to hold up the stones until they were repaired. “I guess that’s my way back from this side.” Twilight commented as she looked over the edge to see the black abyss that she was just in previously. Twilight could hear the screams of the Flame Seekers re-materialising down below, “Better not go down there again or I might have a bit more than I can handle from them…” Twilight commented while backing away from the edge of the bridge. “If I want to cross then I guess teleporting is the way around it, or I could risk my life trying to jump from each rock, or the more conventional way, I fly…” Twilight said, looking at her wings before turning around to see what was on the side of the bridge which caused her pain to get to.

Twilight walked up to the towering statue that lay before her, the only thing of significance on her current side of the Bridge. “Hmm… What is it?” Twilight asked herself as she started to look for some indication on what it could be. She came to a conclusion that it didn’t have any point, just to be there to activate something or trigger an event, “Maybe it responds to a hoof?” Twilight wondered as she placed a hoof on the Statues base. Twilight felt something happen as she removed her hoof and quickly jumped to her hooves, “Something did happen, and I have an idea where it occurred!” Twilight exclaimed, beaming with slight joy as she unfurled her wings and took off to the other side of the Broken Bridge. Twilight landed with the grace of a Princess and the noise of a clumsy Pegasus, “No time to worry about elegance while landing, there is something that I need to investigate.” Twilight muttered as she galloped into the wooden doorway she left behind just that short while ago.

She burst into the Cathedral before composing herself and walking in a slow trot over to the Pride of the Earth Pony Statue. “It looks different…” Twilight noted as she approached the statue. The Orb it was holding looked unstable, Twilight grabbed it in her magic and had a voice fill her head; ‘Now the earthen ones shall be of assistance to you…’ Twilight was perplexed at the object as she tucked it away in a saddle bag pocket, “I think it will help me dearly in the future, I’m just not sure when it will be…” Twilight said before she was cut off by a loud and extremely shrill sound of Glass shattering and crashing into the ground.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Roared the being that crashed through the skylight, “I have come to end your quest here!” Twilight turned around slowly to see a hell spider, one of the most fearsome creatures to come out of Tartarus, it had rivers of lava as its blood vessels and eight orange coloured eyes and its skin was jet black perfectly complimenting the lava’s fiery colour. “Who are you? And why are you here?” Twilight responded keeping her fear in check, when did anypony see a hell spider except in books. “Why Ms Sparkle I’m here to stop you through any means, even through blackmail.” The Hell spider said as he wore a mischievous grin.
“Now what do you mean by that? My… umm… what was your name?” Twilight said unfurling her wings in an attempt to assert dominance even though her fear was starting to show through her facial expression. “My name is Pantheon, and here let me show you my bargain” Pantheon said with another grin as he opened a portal which revealed a cage, “Look who it is Applejack!” Yelled Pantheon as he strung the cage up so Twilight could see clearly through the iron bars that it indeed was Applejack. “Applejack! Are you ok?” Twilight said dropping all her hatred at the sight of Applejack, “Twilight! Ah’m fine just get me outta here!” Applejack said with fear dripping of her voice.

“Ok Pantheon, what are your terms?” Twilight asked as she looked back towards Pantheon with a slight frown, while walking down the stair case to arrive in front of Pantheon. “Why Ms Sparkle, I want you to clear off this land and go home, leave us be!” Pantheon said with a sly grin slowly backing off, while also moving Applejack’s cage up towards the skylight which he initially appeared from. “Never, I’m not leaving until I finish my quest and free my friends from this castle and this bucking island!” Twilight said starting to grow furious from his words. “Well then your fate is sealed Twilight, I just have to destroy you to make you leave us forever!” Pantheon exclaimed as he pounced upon Twilight’s position.

==========================--------- Begin Boss Fight ----------=============================
Twilight rolled to her side only earning an earful of Pantheon’s battle cry which caused her to flinch and slide a little bit more than she anticipated. “If your plan was to scream the whole time we may be here all day Pantheon!” Twilight mocked as she summoned Friendship and Knowledge to her side and started firing purple bullets towards Pantheon’s exposed flank, Pantheon quickly turned in time to see the bullets collide with his exposed hide causing a very ear-splitting howl which shook the cathedral’s stone walls as if they were made of paper and bonded with glue. Twilight covered her ears as she got an earful of the howl, “Wow is that another tactic? To deafen me?” Twilight yelled the Question as she was still feeling the effects of Pantheon’s howl, which sent a shockwave of sound into her ears causing a very unpleasant ringing noise to persist.

“As great a plan that is, no I have something much worse for the likes of you Twilight Sparkle.” Pantheon said as a sinister grin crept across his face and he turned fangs glowering at her as he allowed hot lava to trickle down his fangs and drip on the floor slightly burning holes into the polished tiles and creating a foul odour seeping from the depths of his Stomach. “Intimidation?? Is that all you got Pantheon?” Twilight mocked as she inhaled the fumes, slightly recoiling and spluttering as her mind comprehended the fumes she breathed in. Twilight’s vision started to become unfocused, she began to feel disorientated and light headed, “What did you do!” Twilight yelled as her voice started to waver as she fell to her knees to steady herself. “This? Why it is merely sulphuric gas, great for fire not so good for organic life. You have been given enough to kill a normal pony and the majority of wildlife creatures, any more and you will die.” Pantheon explained not stopping the generation of sulphuric gas permeating the air. “You have a choice to flee and never return, or you can die here with your precious friends.” A wide grin crept across his face once again as he spoke, “I’d like a second opinion on that! I am going to defeat you and save my friends!” Twilight proclaimed getting back on her hooves and summoning her weapons.

Pantheon growled “Your funeral I gave you a chance to avoid this but I see now you need to have a more direct approach, farewell Twilight Sparkle!” the ground beneath Twilight’s hooves immediately started to warm up to near searing temperatures causing Twilight to start jumping from hoof to hoof. “What did you just do?!” Twilight exclaimed at the top of her lungs while rapidly jumping on her hooves to avoid them getting cooked thoroughly, “Why Twilight, I need not explain, just look at your hooves.” Pantheon called in a very childish mocking tone, Twilight glanced down towards her hooves and saw the floor starting to become very bright orange, the intensity of the colours and the heat caused Twilight to avert her eyes from the growing patch of magma below her hooves. “Arrgh… I will win Pantheon and I will free Applejack from your control and allow her the peace she deserves!” Twilight jumped off the floor and spread her wings taking flight and rushed straight for pantheon with Mares Edge held in a piercing position, Twilight made contact with the still reeling Pantheon who was utterly shocked that Twilight didn’t stay on the Magma trap so that she would get exhausted and die on it.

Mares Edge pierced Pantheon’s side which caused hot red Magma to begin pouring out of his side where Mares Edge made contact. “How is that for rolling over and dying huh Pantheon? Maybe I should just end it all here, by killing you!” Twilight turned around and slashed the still recovering Pantheon as he lay on the ground struggling to get back up on his six limbs. Twilight began to walk away from Pantheons motionless body to feel a sudden pain on her flanks, Twilight looked over to see that one of Pantheon’s fangs was lodged in her Flank right through the centre of the Star, she also saw pantheon standing with a fang missing from his smile. “What… you didn’t… “Twilight groaned as the Pain overcame her body and she fell to the floor slowly dragging herself along the ground towards where she dropped Mares Edge. “Still moving? Most ponies would have died the second I lodged a fang there? What makes you any different Twilight?” Pantheon mocked as he slowly walked over to Twilight’s crawling body. “I can’t die now! I can’t just abandon my friends without giving them freedom!” Twilight yelled as she grasped the fang in her flank using her magic and removed it eliciting a scream of pain as blood started rapidly pouring out of the wound only so be instantly clotted by a quick healing charm Twilight used to alleviate the pain.

“Wise words Twilight but you are ultimately wrong about your ideals, your friends cannot save you here, it’s just you, me and fate.” Pantheon said slowly pulling an aggressive stance, “Then there’s no stopping me now.” Twilight replied raising her weapons in-front of her face defensively. Twilight started to theorise a plan inside her mind using Pantheon’s weight and size against him and in her favour. “I need to concentrate, think Twilight, what can I do to defeat him?” Twilight asked herself as she started galloping towards Pantheon with Starfall rapidly rotating around her body at a speed unmatchable by anything other than the light of the sun. Pantheon rushed at Twilight bearing his fangs which secreted more magma than previously, he did not see that Twilight had Mares Edge raised above her body in a manner that spells death to those who meet its touch, as Twilight wrapped Mares Edge in a green aura, the Aura that occurs when Dark Magic is employed into the world. “Farewell Pantheon, it was fun while it lasted.” Twilight mocked as she brought the blade down onto Pantheon’s now exposed head resulting in all the light present in the room disappearing and the sound of death permeating the air. The lights returned after a short while exposing the now weakened Pantheon lying on the ground, while irregularly breathing, “I shall be back, next time you won’t survive!” Pantheon said as a Green and orange Aura surrounded his figure and made him vanish.

“That was too close, next time don’t get hit in the flank.” Twilight said rubbing her Flank in a soft manner to not injure it anymore. “Oh Applejack!” Twilight gasped as she Levitated Applejack’s cage down to the cathedral floor. “Twilight! You won!” Applejack said as Twilight unlocked her cage, and she rushed over to give Twilight a hug. Twilight savoured the warm embrace of her friend, “Applejack you are free now, you can go back to Ponyvi…” Twilight said before getting cut off by an orange hoof, “No Twilight, I can’t, I need to go back to the other side where my family is Twilight, there’s nothing here for me anymore. I’m sorry Twilight…” Applejack said comforting Twilight with a free hoof, “But I will always be with you no matter what Twilight, here take this.” Applejack continued as she placed a hoof on Twilight’s chest and started to fade away, “Take the spirit of honesty and give the Queen a big beating for me and our Friends!” Applejack said as she was turned to a cloud of orange mist. “Farewell Applejack!” Twilight called as the mist settled and an orange glow emitted from her chest, Twilight placed a hoof to it “Always Applejack, I shall get our friends back from this hell no matter what the cost is.” Twilight promised as she walked to the Cathedral door and pushed it open, ready for whatever was outside waiting for her.