Trixie Lulamoon trotted disgruntled up the stairs of the castle. She'd been close to Canterlot when the panicked Royal Messenger had found her, demanding she return with him to meet with Princess Luna. She had no doubt it had something to do with the ongoing darkness that accompanied the night and the absence of the sun, however she was not expecting to stumble upon an injured Princess with desperation in her eyes as Trixie entered Luna's chambers. “Trixie is heart broken to see you in such a state Princess but she is no doctor.”
Luna couldn't help but let a half hearted chuckle escape her muzzle before harsh reality crashed back over her. “You misinterpret my motives young one. The empire calls upon you in a great time of need. I will be fine but the same cannot be said for Equestria if she is not stopped.”
“She? Who?” Trixie broke her character as she heard the urgency in the alicorn's voice.
“Twilight.”
“Twilight? As in Twilight Sparkle? Why would she need to be stopped?” Trixie cut her off at the mention of the purple unicorn's name as confusion shrouded Trixie's mind.
“Trixie please, just listen and all will be explained. Twilight is not her own, she has been possessed by an ancient evil, one we had thought to be defeated long ago, King Umbra himself. She has cast Celestia in an eternal slumber in which she will not wake until this evil has been banished back to hell. I was not prepared when I stumbled upon her and you witness the results. I was just able to force her retreat.” Luna sighed and took a deep breath.
“Twilight did all this? I doubt she is so powerful.” Trixie had no doubt Twilight was strong, but not so strong as to take out two Age old Alicorn.
“She possess Celestia's Staff and armor. With her own strength combined with these relics her power has become far too great for me to handle alone.”
“What do you expect me to do? I've had trouble with her before hoof.” Trixie took a couple of steps back, not being able to fathom the idea of facing Twilight in her current state.
“Do not panic young one, I will lend you my Lunar Staff and Armor to counteract the balance. Under normal circumstances I fear this would not be enough, but I could still sense Twilight's presence combating her oppression, fighting to free herself from her mental prison. I know of recent years you two have grown closer to each other, if you could somehow get through to her, you should be able to overpower her.” Luna continued.
“But, but Princess, I am but a show mare.” Trixie stammered. The fear of dying far outweighed the possibility of glory.
“Nonsense! Are you honestly so cowardly?” Luna would not tolerate excuses in place of honesty and her anger was apparent in her voice as Trixie retreated further back. “I know the limits of your power and they are not far behind Twilight's if they are even behind. If you do not accept the Empire's calling then I fear their will not be an Empire for very long. Do you think hiding now will save you? Eventually the evil will spread so vast that nopony will escape it including you. So why not give us all a fighting chance, and what of Twilight? Would you let her stay prisoner to this madness? Let her witness the destruction of her home, the death of all she loves through her own eyes, helpless to stop it?” Luna's composure had not lasted long under the stress as she came to tears.
Trixie suddenly felt ashamed of herself. Her motto, however foalish it may seem had always been The Great and Powerful Trixie and yet here she sat, avoiding the chance to make a difference, to save Equestria, to save Twilight. “I'll do it.” She stated firmly.
“I must apologize for my outburst. This is not your fault, it is ours and here I am cursing you as if you yourself had brought about these unfortunate circumstances. This news pleases me, you must depart as soon as you can, every second we stand idle is another second Twilight's power grows. My guard will take you to your weapon and armor. Return to me and I will explain how to use them before you set off.”
Another thought crossed Trixie's mind that made her sick. “Princess, how exactly am I to stop her?”
A pained look crossed over her muzzle before she answered. “I fear you may have to kill her.”
“C-cant I just separate her from the staff? I thought That's what was controlling her.”
“It is far to late for that, Umbra's shadow is inside of her now.”
Trixie was grief stricken to hear this. 'So, this is how our rivalry must end... One of us is going to die.' She thought to herself. Despite their qualms they had in the past, Trixie had liked to think it all meant something more and one night... it had. “T-theirs no other way?” She was close to tears herself now.
Luna's lack of words was enough of an answer for her.
“If it has to be this way.”
One of Luna's guards escorted Trixie to the armory, on their way Trixie noticed Celestia's doors had been blocked off and two guards posted on either side. When they arrived at the armory the guard unlocked the cage in which her armor awaited and fitted it to Trixie. The armor was to big at first but it had been enchanted to automatically adjust to the wearer's size. Four hooflets and body armor completed the set. They had to enter a separate room to find the staff mounted to the wall. The guard refused to touch the staff and instructed Trixie to wield it with caution. Trixie took hold of the staff and felt a jolt shoot through her body so strong she nearly dropped the weapon. There was a spot on the armor made specifically to hold the staff and an empty sheath in which she filled with a sword from the armory.
When she was back in Princess Luna's chambers Luna took the staff from Trixie. Her horn began to glow as she closed her eyes, basking the staff in a bright light that blinded Trixie. When she opened them their was a faint since of relief about her. “I had to make sure the staff was pure.” She doubted Umbra would have been able to curse both staffs but she must be sure. “This staff will enhance any of your own spells, and grant you new powers as well, wield it with care.”
With a shaking hoof she hoofed the staff back to Trixie. “There is not much time, I have received reports she has holed herself up in Ponyville, in the Great Oak Library, probably the only place Umbra could access in Twilight's mind as a safe house.”
“If she is not there?” Trixie asked.
“She is, we needn't reports to know that. Ponyville has been evacuated and a perimeter set around its borders. The sky grows dark and the town has become warped, all centered at the Great Oak Tree.” Luna sighed. “I needn't tell you how important this is, I can get you close to Ponyville via teleportation but I am afraid I can not pierce the air around it. Umbra's magic is protecting the town. You will land at the closest checkpoint to the town, the guards have already been instructed to give you no trouble.”
“What if I fail?” Trixie's doubt was evident in her voice. Out of all the unicorns in equestria she had to be the one.
“You mustn't.” Luna replied quickly. “I have faith in you, do not forget that, I wish I could say more but you must hurry, I have just enough strength to get you there.” Luna crawled from her bed and set her hooves on the floor shakily.
“Trixie was about to rush to her side when Luna put one of her forlegs out in front of her. “Do not worry about me, are you ready?”
Trixie took a step back and gave her the most confident nod she could. “I-I wont let you down.” With this Luna's horn shown a bright purple color, and even though Trixie had not left the ground she felt as if she were flying. She'd only done short distance teleportations, nothing so far. All at once she felt the earth under her hooves and her surroundings had changed. All around her stood a group of bewildered looking guards who's expressions soon changed to that of realization. The sky was much darker here, the clouds black, lit by only the occasional flash of lightning. A steady wind blew from the north, the direction of Ponyville.
“Give yourself a moment before continuing.” One of the guards approached her. “A team of our elites have been ordered to escort you to your target.”
“She's not a target!” Trixie snapped, “She's... never mind, theirs no time for this, why do I need escorts?”
The guard motioned behind him at three stallion and two mare, all with white fur and armored far heavier than any of the others. The group consisted of two Pegasus armed with bows, one unicorn with a staff and two earth pony with dual swords. “Umbra is not the only evil that lurks beyond this perimeter, its the reason the checkpoints are up to begin with. Your escort is here to insure you do not waist any energy on lesser demons. The trip is short but we shan't take any risk.”
Trixie agreed with this, she would need all the power she could muster to contest this new threat.
“Trixie? What is she doing here?” A voice from behind her called.
Trixie spun round to find Rainbow Dash, hovering not a few feet away, along with the rest of the gang. “I'm here to save you all.” Trixie sneered.
“You?” Rainbow mocked. “Yeah right.” It was obvious she was upset and was taking it out on her.
“Rainbow pipe down.” Apple Jack snapped. “Ah don't see you doin nothin.”
“G-guys please d-don't start fighting.” Fluttershy peeped.
Pinkie Pie did not speak, her mane had flattened out and dropped over her muzzle as she sat with her head hung low.
“Flutter Shy is right, you all must calm down. Fighting will accomplish nothing. Trixie dear, I wish you luck and do be careful.” Unlike the others Rarity had an idea of what had happened between the sorceress and the magician.
Apple Jack and Rainbow continued to bicker as Trixie nodded to Rarity before turning away. “Lets go.” She tried her best to hide the fear in her voice.
The first few minutes of their trot seemed like a day. The further they got the slower time seemed to pass by, in fact everything seemed to move in slow motion around them and everything seemed to move. Three of the soldiers surrounded her, the unicorn at the front with the earth pony at the rear. The two pegasi hovered overhead, scouting out what they could but the environment was not of the norm and it was hard to tell if something was hostile, when even the ground moved.
The unicorn ahead of her suddenly stopped, halting the squad before rising and drawing her staff.
“What is it?” One of the others asked as he drew his own sword, his ears twitching as he tried to pick out any threatening sounds, his snout scrunched up as he attempted to sense the same. Yet he could catch nothing.
Trixie could sense it to, it was unnatural. She wasn't sure if it was hostile but it definitely wasn't normal. She rose and drew the lunar staff.
“Put it away.” The other guard ordered. “You must fight only as a last resort.”
“Don't worry about me, I will exert only what I must.” She huffed, casting a side glance at the soldier while maintaining a prowess over her surroundings.
With a suddenness that startled them all a dark vine, laced with thorns shot from the treeline to their left. It wrapped itself around the left for-leg of the closest soldier who cried out and dropped the blade that was held in that hoof. With a shout he cut through it with his other sword. A hissing sound followed the vine back into the wood line but the remainder of the vine was still wrapped tightly around his for-leg, the vine's thorns dug into his skin and blood leaked around the edges of the holes. He sheathed his sword and grabbed the edge of the vine and looked away.
“Don't Pull It!” The unicorn squalled before rushing to his aid. The two pegasi aimed their bows in the direction the attack had come from while the remaining soldier watched the other side. The unicorn tapped the vine with her staff with a small whisper and the vine dissolved into ashes and blew away. Without the thorn's interference the blood flowed more freely from his wounds in which the unicorn took wrappings from her saddlebag and hastily patched him up. “We must be quick.” She said to nopony in particular but to everypony.
The suddenness of the attack brought more fear and doubt to Trixie's mind but she could not back out now. She couldn't back out to begin with. Equestria needed her, Twilight needed her.
“Can you still move it?” The unicorn soldier asked her comrade.
He flexed his for-leg before nodding. “Aye, I don't believe it was poisonous, it burns something wicked though.” As he reach down for his fallen blade another vine shot from the brush in which the unicorn shot a flame at it. Two more followed, the pegasi let loose their arrows while the soldier slashed one down. The last soldier was not so foolish as to give up his position on the other side for fear of an attack on both sides though he grew antsy as his comrades fought on.
Every time they burned or cut through a vine, two more took its place as it retreated into the brush. After getting a sample of his blood the vines seemed to focus their attention on the first soldier. One managed to catch his freshly bandaged for-leg, rendering the treatment vain. He let out another shout before cutting it through. The mage cast a freezing spell over the brush in hopes of stopping the assault and for a moment it did. “Lets Go!” She shouted as she took off in the direction of their target location. Trixie and the others wasted no time complying as the group once again surrounded her.
However the sound of the ice cracking and shattering behind them was enough to entice them to turn back around. It was to late for the victimized soldier. Another vine shot past him, gashing his side before wrapping itself around his waist. By this time he was covered in his own blood and pain wracked his body but still he fought on. Hacking and slashing at all that came his way. He heard the others coming back for him when he shouted. “No! Go Now, They want me the bastards. You have your mission go!” He was just able to finish the command as another vine caught one of his hind legs he stood on and pulled tight, trying to drag him down before he cut that one through as well.
The mage stopped and growled to herself. She hadn't wanted to leave him but she had no choice, he was right. The mission was too important to risk failure. “May the heavens await you!” She shouted before casting a particularly powerful flame barrier across the path. “Come on.” The five remaining dashed back off, though the mage cringed as she heard the soldier's cry's fade away over the crackle of the fire and the howling of the wind. She could only hope he would die quickly.
Their full speed gallop did not slow until the treelines on either side of them grew thinner, enough to see a good distance in, despite the haze that began to contaminate the area. They slowed to a trot to catch their breath but kept moving. As Ponyville's gates came into view a horrible wailing filled the air. It grew louder and louder to the point the soldiers had covered their ears and the pegasi fell from the sky, unable to concentrate on flying. It was like a thousand ponies screeching but their seemed to be no source, just the air around them. Trixie began to shake and cringe as the terrible noise assaulted her ears, even through her hooves. A spur of the moment idea saved her as she cast a spell to significantly dull her hearing. The wails could still be heard but not to such an extent to cause pain, however the sound still sickened her.
The mage must have had the same idea seeing as she did not seem effected. Trixie could not hear her but understood what she meant when she pointed to the others. Trixie cast the same spell on one of the pegasi while the mage treated the others. Relief flooded over them one by one though panic had started to wash over Trixie. Her heart thumped in her chest harder and faster, the combination of the hazy, ever moving air, and the wails from nowhere nearly sent her into shock. The mage rushed over to her and took her hooves in her own as her horn began to glow. “Trixie, can you hear me?” The voice was in Trixie's head, trying to comfort her.
Trixie attempted to say yes through her muzzle before the mage shook her head. “Think your answers”
“Y-yes I can hear you, but how?” Trixie thought as she stared into the orange eyes of the unicorn.
“I specialize in medical magic, this spell is used to communicate with unconscious soldiers but it also works with the conscious. Listen, you have to calm down, you are the priority here.”
“Why me? Why not another? Like you?” Trixie argued.
“Your magic is much stronger than mine, you merely lack nerve. I can sense it, also you've had combat experience before, just not in such a state.” The mage was referring to a security job Trixie had pulled when her magic act had hit a low.
“How do you know?”
“I am adept at mind reading as well, for when ponies are to far gone to answer me, even through this magic. You mustn't worry, just relax. Umbra is merely attacking our senses. Stay focused.” The voice in her head was firm, strong and comforted Trixie enough for her to nod her head in agreement. “Good, now we can not waist any more time, I'll need to break the spell so we can move.”
“Wait! Just in case... May Trixie know your name?” Thinking in the third pony helped her to relax.
The mage hesitated for a moment, as an elite she was not supposed to give her name, this was not even her actual appearance. Though she didn't see a likely scenario where she came out of this alive. “Lockett.” With this she broke the spell, and motioned for Trixie and the others to follow. The two pegasi took back to the sky on either side of Trixie and the remaining earth pony took up a position behind her, seeing as the other soldier was no longer available to cover the opposite side he instinctively counteracted the balance. The mage trotted along ahead.
With nopony able to hear, they hadn't noticed the soldier to the rear come under attack. He had just seen the specters from the corner of his eye when he turned. The specters were in the shape of a pony, with no color, defining lines other than its shape or even eyes. Even its shield and sword were pure black. There were three of them that assaulted his position and he set himself up for defense. He called out but they still did not hear him and kept trotting along, ignorant to the situation.
The soldier just managed to parry a blow and cut one of the specters through its chest, his blade cut through like butter and blood spilled from the wound, it vanished as it hit the ground. The next was a bit faster than he had expected, he ducked left but felt the phantom blade cut through his right ear, cutting it through and detaching it from his skull. He staggered back in shock as the blood poured down his face from the wound, half blinding him as the liquid leaked into his eyes. He barely saw the next strike from his left and reacted instinctively, thrusting a blade through the specter's gut. The process repeated itself, gushing blood, then it vanished as it hit the ground. 'There hadn't been one to my left. There must be more!' He gave up his stand and took off after the group, he had to warn them lest they be caught off guard next. He lashed out, an indirect attack at one of the specters he was passing by but his steel met its shield. However the move served its purpose, distracting it so it would not attack itself.
Despite knowing they could not hear him he still cried out, trying desperately to get their attention but to no avail. He'd drop to all four hooves to gain speed but he didn't want to risk losing his only defensive measure. He looked over his shoulder, praying that for some reason they had not given chase only to be disappointed. There were seven or eight of them now, gaining and she was only twenty or so yards out from the group. His heart thumped in his chest, half due to his exhaustion and half to compensate for the blood that still drained from where his ear once was. The fatigue caught up with him and he began to falter 'I'm not going to make it.' With one last burst of strength he threw his sword off to the left of their direction. He thanked Celestia when one of the pegasi turned to see it and looked back.
Horror crossed her face as she witnessed the bleeding soldier standing so far back. 'How?' She thought, then flew ahead of the group, pointing back with her hoof. The three ponies turned to face the situation, confusion masked their gaze for only a moment before seeing what the pegasus had seen. The pegasus that had alerted them, along with the unicorn ran back to help. Trixie tried to follow but the remaining Pegasus dropped down in front of her, spreading his wings to block her path. He simply shook his head no.
It was too late for the soldier, he felt a hot flash of plain cut down his back, opened his muzzle but no sound came out, and he turned round before falling to a knee. With his remaining sword he sliced through the apparition, sending it back to whence it came. Another of the specters caught up and stabbed him through the for-leg that held the remaining blade. More pain, still no sound. Pure adrenalin kept him alive for just a while longer while he grasped the phantom's sword, attempting to pull it out of his leg. One last cut to his throat ended his struggles. The specter pulled its sword from his arm and let him fall to the ground, clutching his throat. It may have been too late for him but he died knowing he'd done his job. His last sight was the Pegasus flying above him, shooting her bow and a blast of magic over his left side. His relief soon followed as his body went numb, the wailing had stopped and a flash of bright light enveloped his vision.
The Pegasus shot an arrow that went straight through a specter as it vanished in a pool of blood. She went to dock another before her wing was gashed by a thrown phantom sword. She dropped her arrow and fell to the ground but was able to land on her hooves. She scrambled to grasp another arrow from her quiver and was relieved to find it soon in her grasp. Though her pain made her aim unsteady she was still able to catch another in the side of its neck.
Lockett brandished her staff and blasted each with a bolt of ice that drifted in her sights. Once the last of the specters had been slain the wailing had stopped. Lockett looked around, staying alert for any signs of life other than the bleeding Pegasus. With caution she undid her spell on her hearing, and was relieved when she heard nothing other than the panting of the Pegasus. She undid his hearing spell as well and called out to him.
He looked startled to hear her voice as she grasped her bloodstained feathers in her hoof. “I'm okay.” She replied shakily. “Its a flesh wound but I will not be able to fly.” The mage took the wrappings from the pegasus's bloody saddle bag to wrap her wing. After making sure the bleeding had stopped she wrapped the wing across her body so she could not involuntarily flex it.
Trixie had already reversed their hearing spells as Lockett and the Pegasus returned. She looked a lot more relaxed now that she could hear again without the wailing. Though she felt terrible watching another pony die. The Pegasus that had stopped her looked shaken.
“Whats wrong with you?” Lockett asked him.
“I should have been watching.” He choked. “I knew he was back there. Knew and I didn't check up on him, how can I be an Elite when I can't even pull security right?”
The Pegasus would have carried on if Lockett hadn't of struck him with her hoof, a tear in her own eye. “Listen to me, I understand, I do. I was supposed to be in charge here and I have had two ponies die on my watch. Two soldiers. We can mourn later, but for now we must move on. Part of being an Elite is knowing when to cry, and now is not the time!”
The soldier looked as if he had just been scolded by his mother, what could he say? She was right. “I'm sorry, lets get moving.” The sternness returned in his voice convincing Lockett to move on.
The group continued on their way through the gates of Ponyville, or what they thought was the gates of Ponyville. All of the buildings were mutated, almost like they were melting as she watched. Rain began to pour down from the skies, as a stroke of thunder broke through the howling of the wind. The library was just visible through the fog and rain, though the tree was rotted, a few of its roots broke up through the ground and the leaves had died and fallen from their place. Vines, similar to those that had attacked them earlier grew around its trunk. Even the soldier's nerves were racked as they proceeded with caution, much slower than before. The buildings and alleys that surrounded them provided to much cover for a wide scale attack. The shadows that danced around them did not help to set them at ease.
Trixie recognized the statue that had sat in Ponyville in front of the library, and that was the problem, that statue was not supposed to be in front of the library. “Lockett stop.” She called in a hushed tone.
“What do you see?” She called back, doing as she was told. Lockett had never been in Ponyville, she knew nothing of the statue.
“That statue, its not supposed to be there. I've seen it before.” Trixie needn't say more.
As if the statue could hear her, it slowly began to come to life. Moving slowly at first, cracking and creaking as it slowly made its way to them.
“Shit.” Lockett shot a shock wave toward the statue, doing little more than slowing its piece and chipping away at the edges. “You two, distract it and give me some time, Trixie stay behind me.” She ordered. A small symbol of magic began to glow under her as she began to chant. A simple enhancement spell that would strengthen her blast.
“Lockett just let me. I can take it now.” Trixie pleaded.
“No, you must reserve your power.”
Trixie growled as the scene unfurled around her. The two pegasi, only one airborne shot their arrows in vain, while avoiding the deadly stone hooves that lashed out at them. Lockett stood in front of her, beginning to glow with a faint white aura as she worked frantically to gain the power needed to blast the statue to hell. While she just hid behind, letting them die for her when she could have easily saved them. For a moment she had a mind to disobey her order and take the statue at once, she even readied her staff. The only thing that stopped her was knowing any wasted magic could mean her defeat in the library. With a short cry she re hitched her staff. “Damn It To Hell!” She couldn't watch any longer. She closed her eyes and turned away, whatever was going to happen was unavoidable, and she needed to accept that.
The wounded Pegasus had broken her stride, much to her demise. She had settled on shooting two arrows then retreating and repeat the process. However she grew frightened when the statue came dangerously close to catching the other Pegasus and had stopped to fire more. With a swiftness unnatural for anything its size the statue turned and nearly crushed her. She yelped and over corrected herself, falling on her back and losing her bow. There was no time to recover, no time to move. The last thing she saw was the gray concrete of the Statue's hoof fall upon her.
“No... NOOOOO!” The other Pegasus was in rage, he couldn't take another one of his soldiers falling in such an awful way. They didn't even have a chance. He'd seen soldiers fall before but not in such a way. He bee-lined for the statues head, as he landed upon it he began to strike the statue's concrete skull in vain, doing little more than chipping away at it. The statue shook violently, trying to dislodge him. When it could not it dropped to its stomach and ran one of its for-legs across its head, breaking off the ears but succeeding in knocking the rage blind stallion away.
His vision was blurred, his ears were ringing, his head was bleeding and he couldn't find the balance to stand. He was unaware of the extent of his injury. He continued trying to stand, but to no avail. Eventually his hearing faded all together, leaving him confused. “I'm dying.” He croaked as his body failed him. He made one last attempt to stand, getting only his top half of his body off the ground before collapsing for the last time.
Lockett could finally feel the energy she needed to destroy the beast. She opened her eyes and directed her staff at the approaching statue. The blast was nearly invisible, betrayed only by the debris and rain that flew with the wave. The stature held its ground for only a moment, before chunks of it were blasted away, first its left foreleg, which offset the balance of the beast. As it fell its head cracked against the ground and was the next to disintegrate. A moment later the rest was gone.
Lockett fell to her knees and dropped her staff, struggling to catch her breath. Trixie turned back around with the absence of the statues heavy steps and ran to Lockett's side. “Are you okay?” She was worried that the last of them was about to die. She knew by their absence the others were already dead.
“Kill that bastard.” She choked. “Kill him, kill him slowly.” She looked up at Trixie with grief and anger. “This was supposed to be our last mission, we were done with the Elite. I knew every one of them, we were the only ones that knew anything about each other They were the only one's that knew the real me, he killed them. My team, my friends, my family.” She choked on the last words as tears flooded her eyes and she took her face in her hooves.
Trixie was lost for words. She wanted so desperately to help her, but how? She couldn't do anything, but take revenge on he who was responsible. “I promise.” A foolish promise to make, but what was going to happen if she broke her promise? The only way she would was if she died and then what would those words mean? “Are you going to be alright out here?”
“No... No I won't.” She shook her head sadly, pulling a small dagger from her sheath. “Our last mission was a success. Zero failures. I'm going to join the others.”
“Lockett, w-what are you talking about?” She didn't have to ask, but she couldn't stop herself.
Lockett looked back up at Trixie, tears in her eyes and a sad smile across her muzzle. Her horn flashed a dull blue and her appearance slowly started to change much to Trixie's surprise. From her head down her colors began to show. Her mane was a light purple with a bluish streak down the side. It flowed gracefully down her soldiers. Her eyes turned from orange to a sky blue and her fur matched. Her cutie mark changed from a shield and sword to a golden chain with a key tied to the end. She was beautiful, even soaked in blood and rain. “This is me, my name is Lockett Keyshine. I should have never left my job as a locksmith for this life, however I am proud to have known such great ponies. I love them and now I must follow.”
Trixie did not try and stop her. Lockett allowed her to turn away before she drew her last breath.
Trixie did not turn back, she walked slowly up to the library, now dead and decrepit. The door was still intact but nearly rotted away. It was time to decide the fate of Equestria, possibly the world. Those ponies had not given their lives in vain. She wouldn't allow it. With a sigh she opened the door, which creaked open slowly.
Inside the library looked like the library, only in shambles and much larger than she remembered stretching so far she could not see the end. Nothing moved in here, nothing made a sound, even the noise from outside could not penetrate this atmosphere. Shelves lay toppled with books scattered across the floor. Broken glass, and fragments of vases surrounded the area along with other miscellaneous debris. Amongst the debris lay the last thing Trixie had expected to see. Half draped over a fallen book case lay her cape from long ago. It hadn't lost any of its color, or looked worn in the least. “S-she kept that?” Trixie whispered to herself as she trotted over to it. The warm fabric made her smile for a brief moment as she picked it from the ruble. Instinctively she cast it over herself and latched it across her neck, then looked into the darkness. There was only one direction to go.
The farther she trekked the darker it became, lit only be eerie green light's that floated aimlessly high over her head. Everything seemed to lose its color, and the debris became thinner. A faint sound caused her ear to twitch, a sad sound. She set off into a gallop down the dark rows of book shelves until she saw a purple unicorn, sitting facing away from her in the middle of the floor, wearing Celestia's armor, crying.
“T-T-Twilight?” She called.
The purple unicorn's ears perked up, startled. She turned to face Trixie and rose to her hooves. “Trixie, y-you have to he- hel, Oh no, no not again!” She exclaimed as she clutched her head screaming. “NOOO!” Twilight fell to her knees, but when she rose, she was not her own. Her gaze became cold. A wicked smile broke through her muzzle and her eyes began to glow a faint green. “So they sent you to stop me?” Twilight scoffed, her voice was warped now, as if two ponies were talking. “That foolish bitch of the moon was to afraid to face me herself then.” He mumbled more to himself than her. “No matter, her time will come, you were quite foolish to come here young one.” Twilight drew her staff and aimed it at Trixie. “I'll kill you quickly, on account of your bravery.”
“Shut Up!” Trixie's anger finally caught hold. “I'll destroy you before you harm anypony else, your going to die here!” Trixie drew the staff, and finally unleashed its power, a blast of mana shot at Twilight but a barrier formed around her with a simple glow of her horn.
Twilight began to laugh, almost manically. “You don't even know how to use that thing. You have no chance here. I'll tell you what, I'll give you a chance to run.”
“Stop Fucking Talking!” Trixie shot two more blast but with the same result.
“Do you know the definition of insanity young one?” She chuckled.
“I said Shut Up!” A stronger blast this time emitted from her staff. She was relieved to see a small frown cross her muzzle the next time she spawned the barrier. It was quickly replaced with the same stupid grin. “That's more like it.” Twilight swung the staff as it began to glow, a blade of light made its way for Trixie.
Trixie had no time to summon her magic and ducked out of the way, replying with another blast. However Twilight was not there to receive it.
“Behind you.” Twilight mocked.
Trixie felt the brunt end of the staff crack against her back and she fought to keep her hoofing as she stumbled forward as she yelped from the pain. She turned quickly and drew the sword in conjunction with the staff but again Twilight was not there.
“Your slow, almost to slow for this to be fun.”
Trixie turned to the sound of the voice.
Twilight stood atop a fallen book case just ten hooves away. She tapped the staff against the shelf she stood on and it crumbled to dust from under her.
Trixie growled and swung her own blade of magic at Twilight who parried the blow with the sun staff and answered with another blast. Trixie teleported just before she was hit and appeared just in front of Twilight, swinging her blade. Twilight was just able to block the attack with her staff but was unable to block the lunar staff's follow up strike.
It met its mark across her head, casting her back a few hooves. Twilight growled and looked back at Trixie, a small cut above her eye. She vanished in a puff of smoke, Trixie turned around, expecting her to appear behind her and she did, but only for a moment. The next instant she was gone again, only to appear at Trixie's rear. Her horn and staff began to glow as she aimed it square at Trixie's back.
Trixie was just able to turn and put up her barrier however it was not strong enough to stop the full force of the blast and she flew back, landing on her side and sliding until she collided with a standing book shelf. She moaned in pain as she clutched her head, upon inspecting her hoof she found blood, but not an alarming amount. She had managed to keep hoof of the staff but the sword was long gone. 'She's to strong, but... I have to fight.' She thought to herself as she got back up. Twilight hadn't moved.
“Its not to late to run.”
Trixie ignored the remark and sent several smaller blast as a distraction in her direction before focusing her power, much like Lockett had. Much to her surprise a magic symbol representing the moon formed under her in a deep blue color. A moment later she aimed her staff at Twilight and shot a beam of blue and black light.
A look of surprise crossed Twilight's face before she dodged the beam.
Trixie wasted no time shooting another, enticing Twilight to teleport away. With a scowl Twilight's horn and the entirety of the staff began to glow. Her own symbols forming around her, but not of the sun, of fire and pain. She let loose her own power toward Trixie, who countered with her own beam.
The two met, and it became a battle of will... That Trixie was losing quickly.
“Shit.” Trixie broke her spell and ducked out of the way, however a stray beam of her spell gashed her shoulder enticing a scream as blood flowed down her forleg. She struggled to calm herself as she heard the same manic laughing as before. 'I wont be able to overpower her.' She thought, as she began to lose hope. She was relieved however when she could still move her leg. She swung the staff through the air, another blade of magic which Twilight countered with her own. Trixie used the chance to teleport to her side, mid swing of another blast of magic that caught Twilight's hind leg, bringing her to one knee with another growl.
An idea came to Trixie mid attack, she would use her own specialty of magic, illusion. She cast a spell, enhanced with the staff to create multiple clones of herself around the area. Twilight stood tall again, her head on the swivel as she scanned the area. “Such cowardice.” She growled.
All of them aimed their staffs at her and shot blast of mana in her direction. Twilight did not bother to try and pick out the real caster, instead she raised her barrier all around her as she held her hoof out in front of her with her horn glowing. To follow she blasted one of the clones which dissipated into the air.
All of Trixie's clones charged her at once, screaming, with their staffs raised. Twilight shot them down one by one, but not fast enough. One thing Umbra had not expected was for the clone's attacks to be solid. The first was across her back, when she stumbled forward another met her with a blast of magic, sending her to the ground, squalling in pain. The next was a downward swing that she blocked with her staff. Twilight teleported back to her hooves a few hooves away and blasted several of the clones into the air. She growled having not hit the real one.
The clones laughed in unison, as they aimed their staffs once more, symbols appeared in front of every one of them and beams shot from every direction. Twilight roared as she slammed the staff to the ground, a shadowy barrier protecting her. Twilight was almost unsure if she would be able to hold the shield until the blast stopped and she dropped the spell, heaving for air.
One of the clones teleported behind her, using the staff to choke her and hold her still while another of them shot blast waves in their direction. Twilight yelled as a blast of magic sent the clone behind her into dust and canceling out the blast waves. “Enough of these Games!” Twilight shouted. Her horn and staff started to glow an angry red, several symbols appeared before her and an electricity ran rampant through the room, in groups the clones disintegrated, while the real one cried out in pain as the blades of lightning cut her all over and sent her flying once more to the ground.
The pain was nearly unbearable, she barely had control of her body as the shocks sent her into spasms. The staff had been knocked from her grasp and lay a few feet away but she hadn't the control nor energy to grab it yet. 'So I have failed. This is how it ends.” She thought through her pain and agony. Above all an overwhelming sadness took hold of her, everypony was going to suffer now.
“I have to admit, I thought this would have been over sooner. Much sooner. What you lack in power you make up for in ingenuity.” Twilight raised her staff once more just as Trixie made it to her knees to face Twilight. Blood and tears matted her face as she waited for the final blow.
“Twilight, i-if you can hear me... I'm so sorry.” Trixie called out before closing her eyes. She heard the sound of the spells released but she did not feel its wrath. 'He, he missed?' Trixie opened her eyes to see the unicorns hooves shaking violently, and Twilight was unable to steady her weapon.
“Blast, I've used to much power.” Twilight mumbled then laughed. “Your friend is trying to save you. I'm impressed, she shouldn't be able to interfere. No matter, you don't have much in you. I'll cut you down the old fashion way.” Twilight began to make her way slowly over to Trixie, grinning madly.
Trixie's mind raced, if she were going to do something it needed to be now. She thought back over all her years in magic, over everything. One spell in particular came to mind, perhaps her last hope. An admittedly forbidden magic she had read from one of Celestia's forbidden tomes while the castle slept. One to separate one's soul from their body. She had attempted it on small animals as an experiment but never got it right. Perhaps with the staff... Umbra was weak now, he shouldn't be able to resist. She had no other choice and maybe just maybe...
` As Twilight stood in front of her, shakingly raising the staff above her head, Trixie shot a blast of magic from her horn. Not powerful enough to do any real damage but enough to stagger and delay Twilight's attack. She slid over and snatched up her staff as quick as she could, aiming it at Twilight.
“Why? You know its pointless, why fight on and prolong your suffering? Prolong your friend's suffering?” She looked confused to see Trixie smile.
“This is it.” Trixie said as a hazy glow shot from her staff, to fast for Twilight to raise her shield. The blast met its mark, dead center of Twilight's head but nothing happened. Twilight looked over herself, then looked back up grinning. “Have you really nothi-” She stopped and dropped her staff, clutching her head again. “What? Whats going on, what sorcery is this?” She called, her voice becoming more warped in an instant. “How, No No NO! I won't allow it!” Twilight's eyes began to lose their glow as she screeched, sounding more and more like the mare she was rather than the evil that possessed her. He fell to her knees, then to the ground still clutching her head, and began convulsing. “No NOOOOO No No No!” She repeated this over and over as she rolled to her back. And gave one last screech before something dark separated itself from her body. A shapeless black entity that took off in the direction from where Trixie had come.
“No not now.” Trixie mumbled, shooting down the specter with the staff. To her relief it dropped to the ground but still moved. Trixie walked over to it and aimed the staff down at the shapeless form. “Die.” A bright flash of light, and the entity was gone.
Trixie dropped her staff, and fell to all fours, weak from blood-loss and exhausted, but alive. All around her the world began to warp. The darkness gave way to light, the room began to shrink quickly and its color returned. In a matter of seconds the library looked like itself, still in shambles but normal. That's when Trixie remembered Twilight, who lay motionless in the center of the room, bloody and beaten.
With hope she trotted over to her, crying. “Twilight? Twilight are you okay? Twilight?” It didn't look good, until Trixie noticed a slow rise and fall in her chest. 'She's alive!' Her theory soon proved true as Twilight whimpered in pain, opening her eyes slowly.
“Trixie, you- you did it.” She whispered weakly.
“No, we did it.” Trixie countered, smiling and brushing some of her mane from her eyes. “Are you okay?” It seemed like a dumb question but she had to ask.
“I've been better.” She giggled before groaning again.
“Can you walk?”
Twilight slowly rolled over to her stomach wincing, and rose to her hooves shakily before stumbling. Trixie caught her before she fell. “Come on, I'll help you back to the castle. Just outside of Ponyville will be some guards to help us.” Trixie told her.
“I d-don't know if I want to go back. I'm s-scared to ask, but... is Luna okay?”
Trixie smiled with a sense of relief. “She's fine.”
“But all those other ponies I killed I-” Twilight stammered before being cut off.
“You did not kill anypony!” Trixie snapped. “He did, and now he is gone. Nopony blames you for what happened here. Nopony. If they do, they will deal with me.” Trixie declared.
Twilight couldn't help but smile. “Thank you Trixie.” She whispered as they exited the ruined library, set off for the castle. Bloodied, beaten, in pain and happy. Happy the nightmare was over.
