Ancestral Cycle #1: Freedom

“So let me get this straight: you’re a King?!” Voidus exclaimed. The Cartographer was kind enough to lend Song and Voidus her chambers to converse privately.

“Yup.” Song went to his journal and opened it. “And by the way, who was your ancestor?”

Voidus was a bit confused. “Uhh…Queen Shadowfall. Why?”

Song was flipping through the book, and stopped. “Aha! I got it!” He read for a little bit and said, “Apparently...Shadowfall was Requiem’s little sister.”

“Little sister?!” Voidus exclaimed. He sat down, bewildered. After a while, he said, “So, we’re related?”

“Through complications.” Song replied.

Voidus decided to take a change in the subject. “Y’know, it’s been a year since you’ve been in Equestria...Celestia’s worried about you.” Song was flipping through the journal, but stopped abruptly when he said that.

“She’s...worried about me?”

Voidus nodded. “Yeah. I overheard Celestia talking to Luna some months after the Discord incident, but just before the changeling assault-”

“Discord...incident? Changeling...assault?” Song echoed.

Voidus laughed and slapped his shoulder. “You missed a lot.”

“No kidding. So have you-”

The door opened, and The Keeper poked her head in. “Affiliated with yourselves?”

“Yes.” Both Song and Voidus replied. Before, Voidus couldn’t get a good look on The Keeper. But now, she was hot. He could feel his heart pounding just by looking at her. She’s as pretty as Luna, and as cute as Twilight,  He sighed dreamily.

“Good!” She happily trotted in. She looked at Voidus, whose heart stopped. “So, what are you here for?”

“Looking for this guy,” Voidus said, pointing at Song. He looked at him. “Speaking of which...do you know how many times my timberwolf lost your scent? I lost count honestly.” he shook his head.

You’re brother’s amusing,

“Thanks, voice.” Song muttered.

Listening to you talking about family, I think I'm remembering something...my name. It’s Sansutā.

“Sansutā...Sunstar?”

Bingo. How’d you know how to translate that?

“I dunno…” He said thoughtfully.

“Don’t know what, Song?” The Keeper asked.

“I...uhhhhh…” Song had a troubled look on his face. “Well...I need to go talk to Moonstar. Could you...explain everything to Voidus?” He was slowly backing out of the room.

“Of course. Go tell Moonstar whatever you need to say.” She said, and turned to Voidus. Song 180’d and ran out of the room.

He charged down the hallway and stopped before the nearest guard. “Have...you seen...Moonstar…?” He panted.

“The library, sir.”

Song sprinted towards the library. When he got close, he slowed down to a trot, and stopped before the library door. He inhaled, and exhaled, breathing and catching his breath. He walked in the library, and looked for Moonstar. He found her in the large back corner, reading a book. He never saw her with glasses on, but the dragon was sitting in a large chair, reading a big book. She’s gotten bigger. Might as well be the size of Twilight’s treehouse!

Moonstar noticed Song, then went back to reading. “So,” She asked as she flipped the page. “How’s our little intruder doing?”

Song rubbed his head. “Uh, yeah! Turns out the intruder was my friend from Equestria. And his ancestor was Shadowfall. Requiem’s little sister.”

“Really?” Moonstar asked, obviously showing little interest. “I remember Requiem talking about a little sibling he had in Equestria…” She looked at him. “But I’m gonna guess that’s not what you wanted to talk about?”

Song shook his head. He sat down at the small table in front of her and asked abruptly, “Do you know who Sunstar is?”

Moonstar froze. Bingo. She looked at Song, put a mark in her book, and set it aside. She laced her claws together, and stared at Song in silence. She finally asked, “Why do you ask, and how do you know of that name?”

Suddenly, a gold light came from Song’s chest, and an orb of light jumped from Song’s chest onto the table; it took the form of a dragon. “Because I told him,” The spirit said.

Moonstar stared at the figure, shocked. “S...sister?” Was all she could manage. A tear formed in her eye.

“Memories. They’re coming back. Up until…”

“Until...?!” Moonstar urged her.

“Until I arrived at the other castle...I don’t remember anything after that…”

“Does this mean you’re...dead…?” Moonstar asked slowly.

The dragon spirit shook her head. “I can feel not only Song’s heartbeat, but mine as well. I think I’m still alive, but I can’t feel my body.”

“So, you’re hidden somewhere in Sulvania?” Song asked.

“Hopefully.”

Song began to think, then Moonstar snapped her claws. “I’ve got it! I remember why you went back!” Song and Sunstar looked at her. Moonstar pointed at Sunstar and said, “You said you went back to the castle because you said you thought of a way to defeat Dark!”

“Which means…” Sunstar began putting the pieces together.

“You’re somewhere in the Archives! Of course!” Moonstar was suddenly happy.

“The Archives?” Song asked, confused.

“All information from previous Sulvania to Dracgoni are held there. Sunstar is somehow alive and hidden down there.” Moonstar quickly explained.

“Right. But from what I hear, Dark now occupies that castle. Do you think he’s found the entrance?”

Moonstar shook her head. “I doubt highly. He's been digging everywhere else. Plus, if he did, we’d be long gone.”

“Agreed. Look, let’s worry on strengthening Song, and then we’ll worry about me. We need to be ready by the Day of Creation. No later.” Sunstar said

“Why?”

Sunstar looked at Song. “Because that’s when the Echo’s Gates are weak. Perfect opportunity for Dark to open them.” She walked along the table, pacing.

“Well, first things first for me: we need to get not only Song strengthened, but you as well, Sunstar.” Moonstar got up and walked along the rows of books. “And if we are to do that…” She pulled out a green book and threw it on the table. “We need to prepare Song for the Trials.”

“The Trials…?” Song echoed.

Moonstar opened the book. “The Trails of Courage, Wisdom, and Power. You need to complete those in order to establish Sunstar as a Sol.”

“But...what are these Trials?” Song complained.

Moonstar read through the books. “I’ll tell you what I can. These Trials aren’t a physical trial, but a mental and spiritual trial. You have to not only know the Sol, but know yourself. That’s all I can tell you. But,” She pushed the book towards him. “You can start by studying and preparing for this.” She smiled and walked away.

Song looked at the book, and slowly slid it towards him. “Lovely,” he huffed as he propped his head on one hoof and began reading. “More studying. Terrific.”

Sunstar purred with amusement.

***

A year passed, and The Keeper waited at the main entrance. “Do you think he made it?” The Keeper asked Voidus.

“Of course. Song’s will is strong. There’s no way a trial such as what you said will make him falter. He has a strong heart.” He quieted as the doors to the castle’s entrance opened silently. Voidus and The Keeper watched as the stallion approached. He wore a crimson cape, and it was definately Song “You can hardly tell it’s him,” Voidus whispered.

Song had changed completely. In stead of his usual short grey and white mane and tail, his mane and tail had more white than gray-it was long as well. His blue fur seemed more...fluffy than normal, and Song looked up at them. His gold eyes had a different look in them: a look of the flaming sun. He stopped before them, and the soldiers looked surprised.

“How do you feel?” The Keeper asked. She kneaded the ground and said, “I-I should have told you that it was difficult to send a pony alone up there, especially at this time. The changeling patrols have gotten more frequent.”

Song looked at them for a long time. He then smirked and said, “I feel...powerful. More alive.”

The Keeper sighed with relief. “Excellent. That means you’re Sol is working just fine. Come on, you’re probably hungry.” She smirked as Song trotted after them.

In the dining room, Moonstar was awaiting for Song, who was confused. “Queen Moonstar, why are you sitting in here? How did you know I was going to be back?”

The Queen smiled and said, “First of all, just call me Moonstar. Second, I could smell you from a mile away, and not in a bad way.” She winked at him and said, “and third, I know that the fastest way to a male's heart is through his stomach.” Song, still confused, sat down next to Moonstar, but The Keeper looked at Moonstar.

Is she flirting with Song? What’s gotten into Moonstar? The Keeper shook her head and sat down. It's around that time of year... They all waited until the food was brought out, and The Keeper ah-hemmed to Song and Voidus. “Before every meal, we give our thanks to the ones who provided it, and to the Ancestors.” She reminded them. All of them silently bowed their heads, thanking all of the ones who created and prepared the food. Then, they ate.

An hour later, General Winter ran in wildly. She was panting, and The Cartographer asked, “General Winter?! What’s wrong?!”

She took several breaths and blurted out, “There’sachangelingarmyheadingtowardsthemountainandCaptainCycloneStormistryingto fendthemoffbutthat’snotallbecauseIsawDarkwiththearmyaswell!” She blurted out and then inhaled.

“What?!” The Keeper exclaimed.

Winter inhaled and said, “Dark is coming! And another army has seen in the north!”

Everyone in the dining room(except Song and Moonstar) automatically got up and looked at The Keeper. She said, “We need to get the army ready. Infantries one, three, four and five, aid infantry two at the mountains! six through eleven, to the north! Twelfth, protect the castle! Now!” They all saluted-their left hoof or claw going over their right shoulder-and hurried out of the room.

The Keeper looked at Moonstar and said, “Moonstar, please take care of Song. I don’t want anything bad to happen to him!” With that, she and Voidus galloped out of the room. Moonstar looked at Song, and so did Life.

“What?” Song asked, looking at both of them.

Moonstar looked at Life and commanded, “Get Song a snug outfit of armor. I don’t want him naked.” Life nodded, and motioned for Song to follow. “It’s gonna be a long night, Song.”

Something nudged Song’s side, and he jolted awake. Life was poking his side, and Song rubbed his eyes. “I-I’m sorry! I fell asleep…”

Life smiled. “Don’t sweat it, friend. I figured from the trials, plus the hard training, you’d still be tired.” She helped him up. She looked around the big room. They decided to position out in the throne room, since there was a balcony overlooking some of the city.

“So how come they are attacking now? Didn’t The Keeper say-”

“That there was a magical barrier at the mountain? Correct. Sunstar sacrificed herself and created a magical barrier. Or so the story has said.” Life responded. Song nodded, understanding. He shifted a bit, uneasy of the silence. “What’s the matter, Song?” Life asked.

“I-I don’t like the silence. It seems as if something’s lurking…” He kept glancing around.

Life laughed and playfully hit him on the shoulder. “C’mon, Song! There’s no need to worry! They’re fighting waaay out of our way.” Just then, an explosion erupted from one of the walls, sending Life and Song flying-Song hit a column with his head, and he blacked out.

Life tried to get up and use her magic, but for an odd reason, she couldn’t use it. Something tackled her, and when she realized it was a changeling, her magic somehow gripped her. Vines spouted out of the floor and it wrapped the changeling up. She threw the changeling to the side, and guards dressed in black and crimson armor rushed in to attack Life.

She could sense the magic of all of them. Combined, they were more powerful than her. Unless… Forgive me, Moonstar. Looks like I’ll have to wreck something. Again. She hadn’t used him in a while. The soldiers aimed their weapons at Life and closed in, ready to skewer her.

She sighed and closed her eyes. She felt power surge through her veins as she tapped into the power of another. Her wing spread out, and the guards immediately backed up. Grow, Exuberance! Her mind screamed, and she felt a beast stir deep within her bosom, and she raised off of the floor without beating her wings. Her eyes completely went a bright green, and she said two words; “Tsuru, Gekido!”

Immediately, vines sprouted out of the floor and started destroying the forces around her. She groaned in pain, forgetting how hard it was to control Exuberance. A tornado of vines went everywear. She could hear the screams and yells of soldiers around her, but she concentrated on being wake, and protecting Song. Damnit Moonstar! Where in the name of Faro are you?!

When she couldn’t stand it, her power started to wane, and she slowly started to go down. As soon as her hooves touched the floor, she fell over and blacked out for a few seconds. When she came back, she could hear a sound scraping along the tile. Claws. Life weakly looked up to see a large creature covered in a blanket of darkness. There was no light in the room, and she was cold. The creature noted her awakening, and turned to face her.

Life couldn’t make out any features, except the teeth; very sharp, as if the could chop her in half. She stared at the creature, and it spoke in a deep voice; “My my, what a bloody mess you have made. You killed every one of my soldiers-well, except for my two guards. And yet, you are a Doctor.”

Life retorted weakly, “A Doctor chooses which lives will live, and which won’t when their patients are in their care.”

“Hardly one to be back talking, aren’t you? You’re in a weakened state.” He looked over at Song. “Although, you’re good stallion friend will be quite useful.” He smiled, and ordered his guards, “Guards, take that young stallion and bring him with us.” The two guards nodded and began to advance on Song.

Life got to her hooves. She still had strength, and she will use it to protect the future King. The dark creature watched, probably amused, as Life held out her hoof. Vines sprouted out of the floor, grabbed a weapon, and threw it at Life. She grabbed whatever it was-surprisingly a spear- and threw it at the two stallions. It wizzed at them with incredible speed, and they didn’t have time to react before it impaled them both and stuck them to a wall.

The creature made a face. “That’s my last two soldiers I brought with me.” He glared at her, and another spear was thrown to her. But before she could do anything, the creature had her against the wall, clutching her throat with his claws. “Normally, I’d snap the victim’s neck, but I have something in mind for you.”

The darkness that covered his body began to recede from his teeth, all the way to his neck. What Life was looking at was a full grown dragon, and she tried not to stare into his eyes. She gasped for breath and the creature laughed, gripping her neck to where he could look into her eyes. “Such a pure, young girl. Sadly, your mind won’t be stable when they get back. Have a nice time with your nightmares!” he howled with laughter, then cut short. She stared into her eyes with an insane look in his eyes as he said, “Remember the day you lost your sanity, my dear. For I. Am. Fear.” And with that, Life stopped straining and crumpled to the floor when Fear released her.

Fear looked around and saw the throne room in shreds. There was a big hole in the side of the wall where he made his entrance, but there were thousands of other holes littering the floors, walls, and ceilings. So much destruction...and for a Captain in the lowest Infantry! He calmly walked over to Song, picked him up, and flew out of the hole in the wall.

***

“Hey!” A bang on the bars of Song’s cell woke him up with a start. Song looked at the soldier who was unlocking his cage. “Get up. Dark would like to speak with you. Now.” Song obediently went to the guard, who shackled him and led him through the castle. Whoever this “Dark” was, he managed to get to the root of Song’s number one fear: Lightning.

He never knew why or how his Phobia started. It was...just there. He reflected when he talked to Moonstar about it, half a year ago. Nopony had come to rescue him. He’d been kept imprisoned for three months, and not a single assault was made. He met this Dark many times, and was relieved when they gave him his journal-and a bit suspicious. And he was right.

Dark was looking for an ancient artifact named Dragonstar.

Song wasn’t given much info on it-save it that it was a portal to the Echo, a realm of shadows. And apparently his ancestor’s knew that there was a way to activate the Dragonstar. He felt sorry for Life. He’d been weak and got himself knocked out, leaving her to be injured by Dark.

He came back to reality as two heavy doors opened. Instantly a flash of lightning  and a roll of thunder erupted from inside the throne room, and Song’s fur stood on end. “How are you, Song?” A booming voice like the rolling thunder itself echoed around the room.

Song didn’t respond; he was frozen in fear.

“What have you learned of the Dragonstar?” The voice boomed. When Song could see, he saw the creature sitting on the throne-all he saw were golden orange eyes and a big black shadow.

“N-Nothing!” He stammered. “I-I’m still figuring out the riddles that Solar Note left behind!” He was shaking.

The creature roared, and exclaimed, “I need that done in three days! Three days, or else I will have to wait for another Lunar Eclipse!” The creature slammed its fist into the arm of the throne, causing Song to jump slightly. “I give you ‘till the sunrise tomorrow to figure it out. Take him back to his cell!” The guard gruffed at Song and shoved him back out of the throne room.

Song was thrown into his cell, and the guard laughed slightly before leaving. For the hundredth time, Song sat on his bed and picked up his journal. Well, it would be nice if they fed me. Song sighed and began looking through the book, trying to find the information.

Into the night, Song made small notes in his journal, but no progress was made. Frustrated, threw the book against the wall and yelled, “Soporo!” He didn’t know why he said “Lullaby” in Sulvanian, but now Song was too frustrated to care. A slight ringing noise came from his head, and he looked over at the book.

It was glowing gold. With a newfound interest, he slowly picked up the book, and opened it. The letters on the page lifted up, and re-formed to show Song what really was in there;

The Location of the Archives.

***

“Keep moving, weakling.” Dark barked. A massive army trudged behind them as they trekked across the land. The cloudy eternal sky loomed over them, and not a single ray of light poked through the clouds. According to what he heard, Dark used magic to keep the land in darkness. Sighing, Song pulled the journal out of his robe pocket and looked at the map. It was impossible to calculate what he wrote-only he knew the secret of the Dragonstar. They trudged on in silence after ha made a few changes. Eventually they reached and stopped before a large structure. It was a statue of a white dragon with red spikes, and at the base there was a silver plaque which read;

“Aequalis est animal,

Quod illa monuerit.

Qui ignorant, sed quaerentibus regnum,

Parat sibi conscivit,

-Ancestor Albion”

“What does it say?” Dark growled.

Song coughed and lied to him. “It says those who seek out the truth must know the truth.”

An irritated snort escaped the shadowy creature’s snout. “Just solve it, idiot.”

Song closed his eyes and shuddered. He concentrated and spoke in ancient tongue: “Ostende scientia Elder.”

Nothing happened.

Dark growled. “You lie! You deceived me into stalling so you could think of a way out! I have no further use of you, traitor!” He raised his claw to strike Song. Only for it to get pierced by an arrow. Dark yelled in agony, and gripped his claw. He looked in direction from which the arrow came.

Yards away, a black alicorn with a red and silver mane stood.

“This land just got a new King, so don’t be thinking you can kill him so easily.” The Cartographer snorted. The thick fog that laid in the air across the land slowly cleared, revealing a massive army a bit smaller than the one Dark brought.

“Stand down, little mare.” Suddenly four large shadowy creatures the size of buildings stepped over Song and Dark to block the Cartographer’s path. “Let your stallion friend do his work.” Dark shoved Song over to the statue. “Get to it!”

Song limped over to the statute, and opened his book. He looked in front of him across the open space at the Cartographer. She slowly shook her head, wishing that Song wouldn’t do it. Then the weirdest thing happened; Song winked. Then, in quick motion, he clapped his hooves together and thrust them upon the ground by the statue's base. There was a large rumbling sound deep within the earth, and it shook the earth with much trepidation. As the towery figures wobbled, four different colored lights-red, blue, white, and green-each found their own mark on each of the figures and destroyed them in one blow. The entire army then yelled and charged straight towards the dark army.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Dark yelled as Song got to his hooves. He turned around to face dark. "You have betrayed me!" He roared.

Song snorted and said, "I was never sworn to your loyalty to begin with."

In response, Dark growled and lunged at Song, his sword ready to split the stallion in two. Song ducked, and then things got even more weird: the statue spread its wings and the staff it had swung out and caught Dark i the chest, sending him flying. It then slammed the staff into the ground and in a hollow Ethereal voice it spoke, saying two sentences:

"Commencing the Dragonstar Procedures. Resontia Portal beginning underway."

Song turned his attention to Dark as the two armies clashed. Dark roared, "Leave the whelp for me!" And got back to his claws. Song braced himself for Dark to charge, and he did: all four claws, full power ahead. Song did a backflip just as Dark slammed into the ground. Song grabbed a scimitar from a fallen pony, just as Dark equipped his own-a halberd.

Dark swung down, and Song parried(surprisingly) the dragon's heavy blade.  As they locked their blades, Dark hissed, "I will end you!" Song heard his breath inhale, and he braced himself for what happened next-Dark opened his mouth all the way, and spewing hot fire like lave erupted from his mouth, coating Song in it. Dark smiled triumphantly, until he saw Song still very much alive. "What?! Impossible!"

Song pushed Dark back and roundhouse kicked him in the jaw. Dark went flying, and Song panted. "Take...a look around..." He gasped. He knew what the Dragonstar did, but he didn't know why he was getting weaker. There were several stone columns surrounding the statue, and Song said. "This Dragonstar....has the ability to take away certain magic...it is a defense mechanism against Black Magic...such as yourself. And besides...training in the Art of the Dragonskin wasn't hard at all. It's just pure strength now."

The dragon watched as the columns had a faint blue glow, and laughed. "Do you think I need to rely on magic to beat you?! I can do it with just my strength! After all, you are just a pony!" He cackled with laughter.

Song gritted his teeth as he ran forward on his hind hooves with the scimitar. That's so racist... was all Song could think of, then he yelled, "I'm taking you down!"

Dark began to grow in size, and when he was the size of a warehouse, he hefted the massive halberd. "Bring it!" He grinned. Just before Song reached him, Dark swung sideways at Song. However, Song anticipated his move, and jumped up; he grabbed onto the staff part of the halberd and began to run up the staff towards Dark. Before Dark even knew what was happening, Song had lunged at him for a strike. Dark saw Song out out of the corner of his eye, and managed to move his head away from the slice of Song's scimitar-but not before Song ripped it straight across Dark's eye.

Dark roared in pain as Song flew past and rolled across the ground. Song quickly got to his hooves and began to charge at him again. His scimitar began glowing gold, and strangely gold wispy smoke flowed out of Song's angered eyes. Dark recovered, and began to charge Song as well. Song jumped up, but Dark had anticipated his move as well. As Song jumped up, Dark slammed him aside with the butt of his halberd.

Meanwhile, the literal battle between Good and Evil raged around the Dragonstar. The Keeper jumped back away from a slash, and soon found that she and Voidus were fighting back to back. All around them explosions of both bright and dark colors erupted around them, like fireworks. "It's a wonder that the world doesn't see this!" Voidus joked as he stabbed a soldier.

The Keeper snorted and yelled back, "They'll just think it's aurora arboreal!" She flapped her large wings at a soldier, and a gust of wind shot out. Eventually, Voidus had moved away from The Keeper, and the soldiers were ganging up on her. As she stabbed one soldier, another tackled her and pinned her to the ground. A third soldier jumped at The Keeper, his sword ready, and swung in for the finishing blow. Well, he tried.

Both soldiers were thrown off by a shield enshrouded in green magic. A hissing noise was made, and a black shadow loomed over The Keeper. "Get up, Keeper!" The raspy voice said. "I"m not gonna get invited to crash a party just to see the invitee die!"

A bit confused, The Keeper rolled over onto her hooves and picked up her blade. When she saw the sleek black body, the green, eyes, the green mane, and the holed hooves, her heart lifted up. "Chrysalis!" The Keeper cried with glee. "Does that mean-?"

Suddenly, and uproar erupted from all over as many of the dark soldiers turned into changelings and began attacking the dark soldiers. "That we're here?" Chrysalis replied. "I can't miss the opportunity for payback!" She growled. "Let's go!" She swatted a soldier out of the way and slammed her scepter into a shadow dragon. "Who exactly are we protecting?" She asked.

"Song Tune! He'll solve your kingdom's problems if we help him!" She sliced at another soldier.

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. "And if he doesn't?" That caught The Keeper off guard. Chrysalis jumped over The Keeper and stabbed a changeling. "Well?" She hissed.

"You can cut off my horn."

"Deal."

Suddenly a roar erupted louder than the rest, and they saw Dark standing over Song. "No!" The Keeper gasped. "Please, not again!"

Dark looked down at Song. Song was gripping his left eye, which was bleeding profusely, "You lose, King. Now, I will finish what my Mistress asked of me." He lifted the halberd, and grinned evilly as he poised to strike down.

Song coughed and said, "There's something else quite interesting about the Dragonstar," He rasped. He smiled and said, "Attack the spell caster, and the statue will protect."

Suddenly, the statue slammed into Dark and threw him to the ground. Dark roared and rolled out of the way as the statue slammed the spear into the ground where Dark was. Meanwhile, Song rushed to where the statue's pedestal was, and began to pry at the metal covering on the top of the base. Every now and then a soldier would try to rush him, and then he'd have to take care of it-until The Keeper, Chrysalis, and Voidus showed up.

"Get to it!" The Keeper yelled. "We've got your back!" Song nodded and began to work at the metal again. Back at the statue, it was falling to pieces. Not being used in over centuries did take a toll on the statue. One of its wings was broken off, the horn was gone, and its hooves were cracking. But it still relentlessly hacked away at Dark. In frustration, Dark roared and spewed white hot fire at the statue-finally melting the stone away and turning the statue to nothing.

Just as Song pried away at the metal and saw what laid underneath, something quite large smacked him and sent him flying. Song skidded and rolled across the ground until he came to a stop. He shakily got to his hooves, his strength waning rapidly, and saw that the thing that hit him was Dark's tail. Dark had also thrown the three ponies protecting Song away as well. He laughed triumphantly and reached inside the base. What he pulled out was....a gold stone that had swirling light inside of it-except the light was rather dim.

"Finally!" He roared with excitement. "The Power of the Royal Bloodline is mine!" He cackled with laughter. "My mistress will; be most pleased, and the world will bend to her will!" He held it to the sky, and a swirling vortex began to form from the clouds. His laughter echoed with the rumble of the sky, and lightning struck down.

Then everything really went to Tarturus.

The swirling vortex reached all the way down to the Dragonstar, but stopped above it. The vortex then moved around the Dragonstar, as if there was an invisible wall. It then began swirling in a clock-wise formation, like a real tornado. Dark was ultimately confused, and shouted, "What's happening?! This wasn't supposed to happen!"

The only two inside the field were Song and Dark.

"I'm afraid I should've told you sooner," Song coughed as he stood up. "You see," He shouted over the roaring wind. "For many years, you have yearned for the 'power' given to us by Mother Night, which says that it will give you real power. I hat to break it to you....but there is no such power."

Dark looked at him. "What?!" He roared. He attempted to jump at Song, but white streaks of light shot from the statue base and grabbed Dark-making him unable to move and making him drop the sphere.

"Another matter," Song spoke over the roar of the wind. "The sphere is made entirely of an element known as Sunstone. In the journal, I read that the said stone was put into the base to power the magic. But, if touched by dark magic, two things will happen: the stone will be polluted, and there will be a defense system to make sure the spell caster dies. Sadly, since it has not been used in centuries, it needs a push." He moved his hooves, and the light wrapped around dark moved as well. Song stood the dragon straight up, and looked at him seriously.

"I remember now, on that dark night, when you destroyed my family. Normally I would kill you myself, but I believe there needs to be righteous judgement before an execution." His eyes began to glow brighter and brighter, and at last he said, "Let this dragon be judged, and let him die with justice served." A gold ethereal creature rose from the base of the Dragonstar. It was wearing tattered robes and boned wings. In one claw it held a wicked halberd-the front part being a scythe blade and the back being a pick-and pointed a claw straight at Dark. It then spoke two words in a raspy dark voice.

"Ludicium Aequalitas!"

Suddenly white streaks of light began erupting from within Dark. He roared, "No! My mistress shall save me! She will! She promised me!" He clawed at the ground as the light began dragging him towards the creature. "I WILL NOT FAIL!" He roared, until the creature put the blade against his throat. Dark glared at Song, as if he poured every hate into a curse, and shouted, "I CURSE Y-"

The creature pulled the blade back, but instead of decapitating Dark's head, it ripped all of Dark's soul out. The screams of agony was deafining to Song, and he covered his ears as waves of magic hit his mind. He sunk to the floor and screamed in pain as images of every singe creature that died by the order of Dark entered his mind. Song laid on the floor, twitching and shivering, and the blackness of his mind dragged him into subconsciousness.

***

"Song!" A slap woke him straight up. He slowly opened his eyes and realized that there were crowds of ponies standing around him. The Keeper was holding his head in her hooves, Voidus was next to her, Chrysalis was in front of Song, and Winter was to his left. "Thank Census you're alive!" She hugged Song rather tight, until he was trying to gasp for breath.

"Keeper! Keeper!" His muffle voice resonated from under her chest. She pulled away, and he gasped for air. He felt pain and a short cry escaped his lips.

"What's wrong?" The Keeper asked.

"I-I think I broke some of my ribs..."

Chrysalis snorted as she trotted forward. "Wouldn't doubt it. After the thing dispelled, you destroyed the Dragonstar, and the three black creatures that rose from the Dragonstar's base. Then, you passed out."

Song didn't remember any of that, but he kept it to himself.

The Keeper gasped and said, "Your eye! It's not as bad as I thought it was!" She was right; his eye had a scar across it, but it was not damaged.

He looked up at the cloudy sky, and watched as the clouds began to part. The sun's beautiful rays shone down and cast its holy light across the land as if saying, "I can shine upon this earth again!" Song closed his eyes and sighed warmly.

"When the Blackness of Evil is washed away, the sun and the earth will together again play." The Keeper slowly said the finishing line of the prophecy. She looked down at Song with tears in her eyes. "You did it, Song." She hugged him again. "You are the true King." She whispered.

Winter put a hoof on her heart, taken back by the beautiful day. "I thought I'd never see the glorious day again," She breathed. A chorus of murmurs in agreement echoed throughout the crowds. Suddenly, a white pegasus mare with a gold mane and purple eyes stepped forward; Song remembered her, he name was Alineth, and the two became friends when he began his training a couple of years ago. "Let's hear it for Song Tune!" She shouted. An uproar of cheers  erupted around the crowd, and they all began chanting the same word:

"Vic-tor-iae! Vic-tor-iae! Vic-tor-iae! Vic-tor-iae! Vic-tor-iae! Vic-tor-iae!" It was a beautiful sound, and Song watched with happiness as the soldiers hugged and cheered and chanted in harmony.

"What will we do now, my King?" Alineth asked him. She was a pretty mare-save for the fact that Song felt something different about her-but in times like this she was always serious. She was always at his side, beckoning to his call, and she enjoyed talking to him. She was also the one that mostly trained him in hoof-to-hoof combat, but other than that, she was a nice mare.

Song looked up at the sky. "We rebuild this Kingdom of Equality." He raised his hoof to the sky, and said, "We rebuild Sulvania!" It was a name he had fund in his Ancestor's book. The Elder Dragons called this place Sulvania when they made their Kingdom in the name of "Harmony". He looked at her and smiled. "And we tell the world who we are!" That made the crowd roar even more. They began cheering and dancing and hugging. Some of them even kissed each other.

Song nudged Voidus' hoof, receiving a look from him. "Hey...do you think that the world can hear the sound of peace?"

Voidus looked up at the sky and nodded. Everyone put their hoof or claw up into the air, as if they were reaching the heavens. "I'm sure the Ancestors and Celestials can hear our victorious cries." But a dark deep voice came from within Song, and only he heard it. It chilled his bone, and it's voice was as dark as Tarturus itself. He could imagine the being glaring at him, as if planning to do something that no pony would be able to stop;

"Victories are the end of your joy."