Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

Rise of Dark Equestria: Return of Sombra

“The truth of our heart is something so sacred that we hide it from ourselves. What are you willing to do to find that truth? Will you be able to endure the pain of loss to find it? Will you make the ultimate sacrifice to gain it? The Star and Chaos Incarcerate will soon have to make that same choice... ”

By Dragon Feather and AlicornMistress

Chapter 2: The Fall of Harmony

Part Three: Desperate Decisions and Realized Truths

Several weeks had past since the fight over the girls rapid aging. Discord had been working day and night on a solution to the rapid again problem the entire time. Even with all of the research and work that Twilight had already done before he started the chaotic draconequus had yet to come up with anything that would help. The main problem seemed to be with the elements themselves. Since the power of the Elements of Harmony had fused with the girls very life force the lost of harmony was in fact draining the life right out of them. So the question was do they just remove elements magic from the girls or cut their connection to them?

Removing the elements was out of the question since the power had fused to the girls very life force completely. The one pony that would survive the magical extraction process would be Twilight since she was an alicorn and nearly indestructible when came life threatening things. The other four mares would not survive the complicated and painful process. If they did some how make it through the several hours of being magically torture to remove the elements they would only languish in sheer agony for a few hours to days before dying anyway. No normal pony's body could take the amount of magical punishment the extraction process or being without any magic in their bodies while the days of healing took place.

The second choice would only speed up the aging process. While it was true Elements of Harmony were in fact draining the life out Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash they were the only things keep the girls from just instantly dying. The magic from the elements had tied the six friends all together with Twilight magical aura as the template. Since Twilight magical aura had made her ageless with the magic of all three tribes of ponies the magic of harmony between the girls had tried to do the same to the other five. The only problem was the other five girls were not alicorns so the magic did the next best thing, it made the others all ageless and unchanging but not true immortals like an alicorn. While it was true that girls could survive a great deal of bodily harm and trauma they were not indestructible or invulnerable. After all Rarity was about to end her own life with poison, all though the concentrated dose was enough to kill a whole large city of ponies.

The fact they were not able to age or change was what broke Rarity and led her to made her desperate decision. Now that Rarity was gone the other girls save for Twilight were losing or had lost their connection to their Element of Harmony. It was that lost of self that was killing them. It was also that very variable that was the hardest to quantify in the complex magical equation that was the Elements of Harmony.

Discord paced back and forth in front of the large blackboard filled with several magical theories and formulas as well as the mathematical representation of the magic that was the Elements of Harmony. He had been staring at the mass of formulas and equations for the last 72 hours straight and still he couldn't come up with a solution to save his friends. Even when he plugged in his own chaotic reality warping magic into all of the research models and equations it always end the same. All of the girls died and Twilight ended up with all of the elements in her body. Nothing seemed to work, none of the solutions he had come up with or found in the many books and notes Twilight had provided seemed to help. It was as if Death and Fate had conspired to take his friends lives.

“No, no, no, no! It has to work, I won't let any of them die. I can lose anymore of my friends!” Discord screamed in frustration as he tossed one of the many stack of notes and papers across the table in anger.

He had to find a way to stop the aging or at least slow it down to give them more time so he could find a permanent solution that wouldn't mean crippling or killing his friends to save them. Discord sighed as he look at the mass of papers all over the table and floor of the study. The whole room was a wealth of knowledge on everything remotely magical in nature complied by Twilight for the sole purpose of saving her friends and yet none of was helping. There had to be a way to fix this, there must be something he was missing. The overworked draconequus sighed again and began gathering up all of the tossed papers in their proper order to go over all of the research and notes again. He would find the answer or die trying.

After all of the parers were organized again the exhausted and frazzled draconequus sat down in a chair as he laid his head in her mismatched hands and cried. He had only know the girls a short time and yet they had become a part of his heart. Each one of them had taught him something about friendship and Spike had been the little brother he never had but always wanted. He loved all six of the mares that at one time would have turned him to stone with a second thought. Why was this so hard? Why could he not find a way to save them? Hr had in this study for weeks going over all of the collected data and even add his observations and research to it all but nothing was working. It was like the was something missing. Like he had forgotten a large piece of the puzzle that was hidden right in front of him but still just out of reach. What was it about the Elements of Harmony that he had forgotten for thousands of years ago? What as it about this problem that felt so familiar and yet was so foreign to him? What ever it was it was the key, the very puzzle piece he need to save his friends yet he could not find it.

Discord was about to throw another fit when he heard the hoof falls of somepony entering the room. Seconds later he heard a familiar voice call out his name. In his tired and frustrated state the wary draconequus couldn't place a name to the voice calling him. Discord had been up for the last four weeks straight without much food or sleep so he was a little loopy to say the least. He was complete oblivious to the fact the Twilight was the pony calling his name. He just ignored the lavender alicorn in favor of staring at the last health report on the girls.

Twilight could see that Discord had lost himself to the research much like she had done in the beginning. She now understood why Pinkie Pie and the other girls were so mad at her and why they had lied to her to about what was happening to them. Discord was losing himself to this, he had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, he had lost a great deal of his color and his body looked dull and lifeless. He was in a dirty lab coat whose edges were tatter and black in spots, not to mention he smelled rather sour and musty from being shut up in the study for the last few weeks by himself. He had been at this so long that he had used up a great deal of his magic and seemed to be doing everything by paw and talon.

Twilight saw what she had looked like to her friends when they had come to put a stop to her mad plans of redemption through the sacrifice of her sanity. She had to stop Discord before he completely lost himself and what little sanity he had left. If she couldn't save her other friends she'd at least save Discord from himself.

“Discord, you have to stop. Discord please listen to me stop before you hurt yourself anymore than you already have. You need some sleep... and a bath from the smell in here. Just stop for a little while, okay? Discord are you listening to me?” Twilight asked as she poked at the wary draconequus with her hoof lightly.

Discord grunted in angry as he kept hearing the voice of some pony talking to him and now was poking him to get his attention. What could this pony possible want? Couldn't they see he was busy trying to save lives? Where the ponies of Equestria so insensitive to his and Twilight plight? Discord continued to ignore the bothersome voice as he went back to shuffling to some the research Twilight had been doing on magical energy conversion theory. Maybe converting some of the energy back in to life force would help or at the very least slow the aging down.

He was reading through one of the longer research paper when the voice of the pony in the room got louder and more insistent. Discord sighed heavily, he didn't have time for dealing with some lost scribe or hoof servant looking for Twilight or the others. He had important work to get back to as lives depended on him find an answer soon. 'Better deal with this servant or guard of what every pony it is now. I don't have time for this since Twilight will be here later to check on my progress. I really want to have some to show for all of the time I have wasted so far.' Discord thought before he directed his attention to the pony in the room but he didn't turn around.

“Oh what is my good pony? Please don't bother me now can't you see I'm in the middle of important research for Princess Twilight. If you're looking for the Princess she should be in the throne room holding one of her royal courts right now. If it's the other elements you're looking for, they all should be in the infirmary right now or in the dinning hall as it is about lunch time.” Discord said dismissively without turning around as he waved the pony off.

Twilight looked up at the dismissive draconequus with a look of irritation filling her face. He was so wrapped up in his guilt and sadness he wouldn't even bother to see the pony he had been so dismissive with was the Princess he was doing research for. Enough was enough Discord was going to stop right now, have a bath, get something to eat, then go to bed for the next two days and Twilight wasn't taken no for answer.

Twilight teleported from behind Discord to in front of him, the bright flash of magic made Discord jumped up from his seat falling on to his back on the floor with a startled scream. When he looked up to get a better view of the pony that had scared him his eyes fell on an angry Twilight Sparkle standing on the table looking down at him. The shocked and slight annoyed draconequus quickly got to his feet and dust himself off before greeting the angry Princess of Friendship.

“Well hello there Twilight, I was just thinking about you. As you can see I'm still hard at work on the problem. I haven't found a solution that will work permanently yet but I have found a few things that might buy us a little time. I was just compiling the data when I was inter-” Discord never got to finish as Twilight wrapped his mouth in the magenta glow of her magic silencing him.

“Discord, shut up!”Twilight told the draconequus as she eyed him angrily. Discord start to raise his lion paw but was soon subdued by Twilight’s magic. “I talk and you listen, that's how this works right now.”

Discord wiggled in the bands of magic that bound him up and found he was indeed trap so he just nodded his yes before focusing his attention on Twilight.

“You have been at this for weeks now and this has to stop... no it's going to stop and today. You are here by ordered to stop all research into the Element Aging Project, take a bath, get something to eat and go to bed for no less than forty-eight hours. If you do not I will be forced to have you locked in iron and Nth metal chains before I have guards and servants make you do what I just ordered you to do. Am I clear?” Twilight asked just before she removed the magical grip from the draconequus' mouth to let him speak.

“But Twilight we have to keep working on this... I have to keep working on this otherwise... otherwise...” Discord trailed off as tears spilled from his eyes.

Twilight's heart sank at Discord's plight and the lavender alicorn knew well the pain Discord was feeling and yet it was so much greater than her own pain somehow. But if they were going to save the other girls Twilight needed Discord to be at his full strength and sane, or as sane as the chaotic draconequus could be. “I know Discord, I want to save them all too but we can't do that if you kill yourself by overworking. Get some rest and after that we will tackle this together.”

Discord just stared at Twilight for a long while with tears in his eyes before he bowed his head and nodded yes. “Okay, Twilight you win. I'll stop for now and go rest for a bit. I have been working rather hard in the last few weeks.”

Twilight quickly released Discord then hugged him tightly as tears poured for hers eyes as well. Discord hugged the lavender alicorn back and cried with her for a moment. They both need to cry and to hold each other for comfort. At times it seemed like they were the only two soul that understand the true depths of the sins that had been committed against the other five girls and Spike. In a way they both blamed themselves for this great tragedy but in truth it was Discord who knew the full truth of what was really going on, if only he could remember it all from so long ago.

“Discord I'm scared and I don't know if I can take losing anymore of them to this.” Twilight said softly as she held Discord tightly ignoring his less than pleasant smell at the moment.

“I know Twilight. I don't want to lose any of you like to this. I know at some point that the other girls would have pass on into memory. I know full well that they would all grow old and die eventually leaving you and I behind to keep their memory alive. But to lose them to death like this, after they have suffered so much is... We won't let it happen, we can't let them go, not like this. I will got get rest for a while and when I have my magic back we will find a way no matter what. Even if we have to put them in a magical slumber in a timeless pocket dimension until we find a cure. We will save our friends and give them back what we stolefrom them.” Discord said through his tears and sniffles.

“What we stole from them? Discord what do you... You don't mean this has something to do with you as well?” Twilight asked quickly as she pulled away from Discord in surprise at what he had implied.

“Yes I do and while I can't remember all of the details but this started a long time ago back before I went crazy. I don't remember why I become so crazed or why I started ruining the lives of the ponies of Equestria back then. I do know that the Elements of Harmony didn't exist until after I had lost my marbles, so to speak. The elements were created to comfort me, not imprison me, but I can't remember who made them for me or why she had to in the first place. I can say this though, across the sea just past the country of Cervidas eastern boarder is The Lost World. It's a place of chaos and ancient magic but maybe there still is a library the holds the answers we seek and may fill in the gaps in my Swiss cheese of a memory.” Discord told Twilight as he stared into her eyes.

“We have to go at once! I'll get an airship and some guards ready to travel within the hour. You can sleep on the way but we have to find that library and soon. I'll get everything ready while you go bathe and eat by the time your done we will be ready...” Discord cut Twilight off by press a talon to her lips softly and shook his head no.

“No Twilight, that place is dangerous even for a being as powerful and old as me let along a young alicorn who is yet to learn her true limits. I would have a hard enough time protecting myself let along you, the girls, and a whole complement of EUP soldiers. I will go find the library myself with your help through a magical link when I have my magic and strength back. This way one of us is here watching the girls and continuing the work while the other goes and find the source of all this. In the end we will find the answers we need.”

Twilight stood there for several minutes thinking over Discord's proposal and what it would mean if he found them the answers they need to save the other girls, She also thought about what to do if Discord got hurt or worse while he was in The Lost World. Twilight didn't want to think about losing Discord too but they did need answers. She could always talk to Celestia and Luna about this but her friends were still angry with the older alicorns. Twilight really need some advice but she didn't want anger her friends or have Celestia tell her to let them pass on as it was what was suppose to happen. After debating with herself for several minutes she finally made her decision.

“Alright Discord I will let you go but on one condition, before you go we'll preform the Caster to Caster link spell. This way we can talk in real time and I can see and hear everything that's going around you. That way I can help with any translations, offer up some of my magic if you need it, and I'll be an extra set of eyes and ears for you. If anything goes wrong I will have a magical lock on you so I can teleport you back here.” Twilight told Discord in a firm tone. She would not let him say no and if he did she would just prevent him from leaving on his own with a Soul Bond spell. The spell would tether the two of them together at the core of their magic and souls. This made so that the two creature in question couldn't go to far with the other being magically pulled along. If Twilight cast that spell Discord wouldn't be able to go more than one hundred feet without the young alicorn being magically pulled along behind him.

Discord just sighed and knew full well that Twilight could just as stubborn as Applejack when it come to their friends so arguing the point with her right now wouldn't get him anywhere but magically stuck with Twilight. The best thing to do was let her win, go bathe, eat, and get a few days worth of sleep. After he was rested he could debate with her about her plan or lack there of when came to The Lost World and all of its many dangers. If worst came to worst he could just leave when she wasn't looking.

“Fine you win Twilight I'm too tired to debate with you right now. We will talk about it in a few days and work out the details. I'll see you then. Please try not be lose yourself in here and promise me you won't try to go The Lost World without me.” Discord said before looking sternly at Twilight.

“On my honor as Princess and as your friend IPinkie Promise that I will not try to go to The Lost World without you. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Twilight told Discord as she made an X over her heart, flapped her wings this time, then touched her closed right eye with her hoof softly.

“Thank you for that Twilight, I can rest peacefully knowing that you are safe and your watching over the other girls when I'm not around.” Discord said with a yawn before he tiredly walked out of the study heading back to his room where a bath, a hot meal, and soft bed were waiting all waiting for him.

Twilight stood there after Discord left the room staring at the the disarray and chaos of papers and research scattered about. She signed softly then set about cleaning it up with her magic. Once the room was neatly organized again Twilight pause by the thick leather journal that Discord had been keeping his progress and thoughts about the rapid aging problem in. Twilight open it and leafed through the pages reading up on where Discord had continued her original work. The chaotic draconequus had made some surprising discovers that would farther advance modern magical and medical sciences by decades. He even found a few ways to slow the age process down in normal ponies to give a longer life span by fifty to ninety years in some cases. But for all of that he had yet to find a way to cure the girls. He had few practical theories that would slow down the aging but nothing that would buy them the much need time to find a permanent cure.

After reading some of Discord's more depressing thoughts about his failure to help his friends and to help Twilight in her time of need the young alicorn closed the book and left her study. She need to get some more help with this project, some discreet help. There was only one place in Equestria that had the ponies with the magical power and intelligence to help her now. It was time to call in a few favors from the magical college founded in her name.

************

Pinkie Pie sat on the the examination table in the pale green paper gown waiting for Dr. Rose to come back in with her test results but she already knew that it wasn't going to be good news. Pinkie already knew she only had short time left, everypony was hoping for a few more years or even a few months but Pinkie knew her time left was measured in weeks and nothing more. Already her Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy had rendered her almost blind. Pinkie was now classified as legally blind since she had lost over eighty-five percent of her visual acuity. Her vision was now 20/200 or worse, meaning that what a legally blind pony can see at 20 feet the average pony can see clearly at 200 feet. She was now reduced to using a cane and the seeing eye dog named Goldie, that Fluttershy had trained for her, to get around on her own.

The time was coming for Pinkie to make the preparations for her final resting place and to put the last of her affairs in order. Once all of the arrangements with the bank and the lawyer were made about Sugarcube Corners and her vast savings only one thing would be left undone. The last bit of business that would be left was what she need to say to Twilight before she didn't have the time to say it.

Pinkie was mentally going over her list of things to do when Dr. Rose come back in the room. Pinkie could tell it was her from the scent of rose and lilac perfume and the tell-tale jiggle of her wedding bands on her right foreleg. Pinkie turned her head in the direction of the sweet smell and smiled. All thought she could still see the vague blurry shadow outline of the doctor in the little bit of light her eyes could still perceive Pinkie still used her nose and ears to locate the doctor.

The charcoal gray mare entered the examine room with the file folder held in her rose pink glow of her magic, her reddish purple mane was wrap up in a bun on the back of her head and she had a less than happy look on her face. As a doctor Ruby had delivered some hard news to a lot of ponies but now she had to deliver the hardest news of poor health to a pony she owed her life too. For Ruby this was worst thing to happen to her and one of her patients, she wished that the pony in front of her could be anyone other than the famous Pinkie Pie.

Dr. Rose pulled out the rolling stool and sat in front of Pinkie Pie with nervous smile even though Pinkie wore a happy one. Dr. Rose cleared her throat before she open the file held in her magic and look it over for a few moments before looking up at Pinkie Pie.

“Well Pinkie I have some bad news for you. All of your test have come back and I'm afraid that you only have three weeks left, four and half weeks if you keep taking your medications and the magical energy infusions. You will lose your eyesight completely in a day or two as the cells in you eyes are dying at much faster rate than any other cells in your body. I'm sorry but at this point there is nothing we can do medically to prevent the enviable. As per the Princess' orders on this matter I have to take my findings to her so Discord can prepare magical stasis for you until something more can be done to reverse the rapid aging process.” Ruby told Pinkie Pie with somber tone.

“Don't be sad Ruby I have known that my time was short for a while now and I'm okay with it. Don't get me wrong I would love to have another fifty or sixty years to live so I can get few more things crossed off my bucket list. I mean I would love the extra time to tell my special somepony how I feel about her, date her, get proposed to by her, start a family with her, and grew old in her arms. Even though I want to have the extra time I'm still happy with the life I have lived. I meet you Ruby, I helped you found your special talent, and now you save ponies every day. I'm happy with what I gotten done in my life now its time for me to rest Ruby and there is nothing wrong with that.” Pinkie said with happy tone to her voice.

“But Pinkie I don't... There are so many ponies that will need you in the future, that still need you now. I don't want to lose you. I owe you my life and the fact I can't save you is the worst part of this for me as your friend and as a doctor.” Ruby said as tears spilled from her eyes as started at Pinkie.

Pinkie slipped from the examination table and walked over to Ruby and pulled her into a tight hug. The pink mare let Ruby cry it out on her shoulder as she rubbed her back. It was a few minutes until the gray mare had her emotions under control and Pinkie step back to smile at Ruby. “It's okay Ruby I knew that you care for me a lot and I care you just as much. I love you and all of the ponies I have helped over the years but nothing last forever. Even the laughter must die after a time. Don't be sad just remember me for I will live on in all of deeds of the ponies I have helped over the years. I will also live on in the memories of all of my friends.”

For a long time Ruby just stared at Pinkie Pie for a while, she study the all of the lines in her face and the curves of her cheeks. Ruby wanted to remember ever line, ever wrinkle, her happy smile, even the sparkle in the mare's nearly milky white eyes. This was Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter, the pony that would do any and everything under the sun to make a pony smile.

This simple smiling mare was the one that had saved Ruby from making a huge mistake in trying to take her own life when she was just a filly. Pinkie had been the one pony to believe in Ruby's desire to help others which lead the gray mare to her cutiemark and desire to be a doctor. Pinkie Pie was the mare that had help Ruby tell her loving husband Black Staff she had feelings for him when they were still in high school. Pinkie had been the one pony there when her daughter Black Rose and her son Black Feather had been born. Pinkie was the one that had help Ruby gain the life she had now. To not be able to save the mare that had given her so much hurt Ruby to her core.

“I understand Pinkie but I have to give my findings to Discord and the Princess today. I have no choice it's a royal order. What do you want me to do?” Ruby asked Pinkie looking for any way out of having to force the pink mare into being kept alive against her wishes. “I will do whatever you ask of me, I owe you that much.” Ruby Rose told Pinkie as she held on her hoof tightly.

“I don't want you to get trouble with Twilight so give her the test results but just wait a day or two before you give them to her. I'll tell her that my appointment with you is in a day or two later today. That way she won't ask about my test results for a bit. This will give me time to finish up some business in town and start on my way back home.” Pinkie explained softly.

“Pinkie are you going home to… to...” Ruby couldn't even finish the sentence as she didn't want to think about Pinkie dying let along say it.

“Yes I am.” Pinkie said matter-of-fact tone. “All of my family have been buried on that land and as a Pie it is were I want to be buried. I'm just going back there to get ready for my final party is all Ruby. This party will be my finest party ever, a party to end all parties and I want you and your family to be there for me okay.”

“Of course Pinkie we will all be there and we will be the last ponies to leave it in honor of you.” Ruby said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Good Ruby so turn that frown upside and smile, smile, smile for me.” Pinkie asked in her heart warming way. Ruby smiled through tears and hugged Pinkie one last time.

“Okay and I will hold on the results for a few days but can you do me one last favor before you leave for home?” Ruby asked softly.

“Sure, what is it?” Pinkie ask as she slipped off the paper gown and reach for her walking cane.

“Have dinner with me and my family one last time. Let us remember you as the super happy fun loving mare that loves everypony.”

“I liked that very much Ruby. I'll see you on Friday at 7:00pm for dinner. Well I'm off now to make ponies smile, smile, smile.” Pinkie said before she made her way out of the infirmary to the waiting area where Goldie was waiting to lead her back to the Sugarcube Corners.

************

A week had passed since the last test result for the girls health check-ups had come in, well all of them but Pinkie Pie's. The prognosis wasn't good, the girls age related aliments were getting worse and soon there would be no time left to save them. Twilight had already made preparation for Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash to be put into long term magical stasis in the next three of four months. Pinkie Pie was another story entirely, until she found how bad Pinkie's situation was she couldn't make preparations for her long term care.

Twilight had gone to see Dr. Ruby Rose since she had some time before she was to meet with Discord before he left for the Lost World. She would find out what was taking so long for the test results first hoof. Twilight entered Ruby's office finding the charcoal gray mare sitting behind her desk doing paperwork.

“Hello Princess Twilight, the test results are right there in that folder on my desk. I have my letter of resignation ready for you too. I just need to finish up this paperwork so that my replacement doesn't have anything to worry about at least until you order preparation made for the other Elements long term care.” Ruby said without even looking up from the work she was doing.

“Letter of resignation? Why would you need that? I have no complaints about your professionalism or your skills as a medical physician. So why are you quitting?” Twilight asked a bit curious and afraid of of what the answer would be.

Ruby looked up from the last few papers she had yet to sign with tired eyes. She sighed softly before setting the paperwork aside and leveling her gaze on Twilight. “You will know once you read what's in that file and I'm fully prepared to suffer the consequences of the actions that I have taken. I have done what was asked of me and I went as far as I have out of love. Love for the mare that has save me life and help me get the happiness that I have today. For that mare I would do whatever she asked, even if that was killing Princess Celestia, to make her happy. Luckily her final request wasn't that extreme but I fulfilled it and more to insure she would have the time she needed for her final party preparation.”

“What in the hay are you talking about Ruby? What do you mean you fulfilled Pinkie's final request?” Twilight asking getting a bit flustered and agitated by Ruby's cryptic words.

“It's all in the file so you should read it for yourself. Afterward no matter what you have to say or do I'm prepared for whatever punishment you have for me for what I have done. I did it out of love for Pinkie Pie, the mare that saved my life.” Ruby said softly before she pushed the file over in the rose pink glow of her magic.

Twilight picked up the file in her own magic and opened it. The lavender alicorn read through the file finding out that Pinkie's Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy had rendered her almost blind, she had a severe calcium deficiency, advance osteoporosis and arthritis. Her type two diabetes was under control but it was making her ability to heal suffer which was compounded by the fact she was aging two to four years every week. If everything in the file was correct Pinkie only had three to four weeks left and the report was a week old!

Twilight slammed the file down on the desk as a low growl of anger escaped her lips. Her bangs hid her her eyes which were almost a bright red from rage. The lavender alicorn was quickly filling with rage at being kept in the dark about how bad Pinkie's condition was. “Where is she?” Was all Twilight asked without a single hint of emotion in her voice.

“Pinkie Pie should be all the way back home by now?” Ruby said softly before she looked away with tears in her eyes.

“She isn't in Ponyville, I would sense her presence and the pulse of her element if she was. So don't tell me she at home cause I know that's a lie!” Twilight half yelled as she slammed her hoof a tremendous amount of force on the polish oak desk that it cracked the top in half as the legs splintered a bit. “I will only ask one last time, where is she Ruby?”

“I told you the truth she went home. But not here in Ponyville. Pinkie went to the place where her journey started and so it will be the place where it will end. Pinkie has gone back home, her true home, back to the place where you and the other Elements first became connected.” Ruby told Twilight before she wiped her eyes. “You know the place, she has spoken of it before and it is the place were her family is waiting for her.”

“Did she go back to the rock farm?” Twilight asked and Ruby just nodded yes.

“Did she go alone?”

“Yes, she left a week ago. I was suppose to hold the results of the test back for a day but I knew that if I did that you would only stop her so I have waited until today to give you that file. I wanted to give her enough time to get all the way home and get everything ready for her final party. It was her last request and I could not refuse it nor could I let you stop her. I knew that if I told you about her test results the day after I told Pinkie you would of had time to stop her. I couldn't let you talk her out of doing what she needed to do. I could not oppose you directly so I just lied to you to give Pinkie the time she needed. Now that she is home you can do whatever you wish.” Ruby said in a matter-of-fact manner to Twilight.

Twilight just stood there without saying a word as she filled with a unending rage at the mare in front of her. How dare she assume that Twilight didn't have Pinkie's best interest in mind? What made Ruby Rose think her love for Pinkie was greater than the love and regret Twilight had at what she had taken from Pinkie Pie and the others? What gave this mare the right to lie to the one pony that LOVED Pinkie Pie most in the world?

It was in that moment that Twilight realized that she was in love with Pinkie Pie, that Pinkie was probably in love with her too. No she had been in love with Pinkie Pie for the last 135 or so years but could never say the words that she felt in her heart. Pinkie had been more open but still shy about her true feelings. In the moment it all seemed so clear to Twilight that Pinkie had been trying to tell her she was in love with the clueless alicorn for the last 135 years.

”How could I have been so bucking clueless all this time? She had been trying to tell she was in love with me for the last three decades and I wasted all of that time...” Twilight yelled at herself as she grounded her teeth together in fury and regret at her own carelessness.

How could she have missed something so obvious and why hadn't anypony pointed it out to her before now? It was now almost too late and the lavender princess may not have the chance to say “I love you” to the mare she cared for so deeply. This fact must have been why Pinkie was so broken up when she had told Twilight about her age related problems.

If the data in the file was true Twilight only had a few days to a week at the most to be with Pinkie Pie. She was already well past the point that magical stasis could help so it was all about about making Pinkie as comfortable as possible until the end. Twilight was determined to do just that and after it was all over and she buried her friend and special somepony, the Princess of Friendship would deal with the good Dr. Rose.

“When I get back from the rock farm we will finish this matter Doctor Rose. I promise you this, it will not end well for either of us.” Twilight said coldly before she tossed the file back on the broken desk before she walked away slamming the door behind her.

“It doesn't matter Princess since the worst punishment I could receive was not being able to save Pinkie Pie from this. You can't do anything to me worse than that.” Ruby said softly before she broke down crying.

************

Discord was surprised to see so many ponies in lab coats and several large pieces of scientific equipment in the study when he arrived to speak with Twilight about his trip to the Lost World. Before Discord could say anything there were several unicorns and pegasi hovering above and around him. Within seconds they were taking his measurements, collecting samples of his fur, scales, feathers, shaving from his horns and hooves. After that was done the collection team took a sample ever body fluid Discord had and few he didn't know he had.

The whole examination and sample collection lasted all of a five minutes but after it was over Discord felt a tad bit violated and very curious about why it had happened in the first place. While the slightly irritated draconequus was rubbing his tender dragon scaled tail in the place that several loose scales had been removed he noticed that no pony was paying any attention to him save for one. A pink unicorn mare wearing a lab coat with blue rimmed spectacles on the bridge of her nose. The mare's red and white mane was braided in a prench style then wrapped up in bun on top of her head. Discord also noticed her tail was in the same prench braided style as well.

“Greetings Lord Discord. My name is Rosetta Stone and I am to give you the briefing on the equipment you will be using on your quest to The Lost World. Princess Twilight wanted you to have the latest magical devices to help you out as much as possible so you wouldn't have to over use your own magic.” Rosetta told Discord with bright smile.

“Well I expected Twilight to go all out in her preparation for my trip but I wasn't expecting this. So Miss Stone could you tell me why my pony was just violated in the name of science?” Discord asked softly as she rubbed his tail.

“Well to answer your question Lord Discord all of the samples were taken so we have base line of your physical structure before you leave. We even took scans of your brain wave activity and chaotic magic level as well. Since we don't know what the magic levels of The lost World are like we need to make sure that when you get back there will be no adverse affects to your health from pro longed exposure. Its one of the many safety protocols that the Princess has put into effect for this research mission.” Rosetta explained.

Discord looked away for a second and he thought about what he had just been told. While it was true that The Lost World was a place of magic far older then himself he should be relatively okay going there. But on the other hoof he wouldn't do the girls any good if saving them cost him his life. “Well Twilight you sure have gone all out for this and with good reason. If that what you wish I will play along for now.” Discord said to himself and he scratched his chin before focus his attention back on Rosetta.

“Okay that is a good point you make there Miss Stone. No sense in getting all bent out of shape over Twilight's safety rules at this point.” Discord said with a laugh as he bent himself into several weird angles until he looked like living a Picasso painting.

Rosetta giggle at Discords' antics before composing herself and getting back to the matter at hoof. “If you will follow me over to the the portal area after you pull yourself together, I will give you the equipment briefing. After that you are to meet with Princess Twilight for the caster spell link.”

Discord straighten out his psychical form before he followed behind Rosetta over to a large crystal arch way that had several runes on it ever few inches. All of the runes were ancient equestrian some of them Discord could read while other were a complete mystery to him. One thing was clear they all pointed to one thing, travel or Traveler. This arch was a travel gate similar to the ones used hundreds of years ago in the time of Starswirl the Bearded. How the castle knew they need it or why the castle had selected such an archaic method of travel was beyond Discord. Although he had feeling it had something to do with Tree of Harmony and the Elements themselves.

Discord didn't have time to raise any questions about the portal as Rosetta had already stared going over the equipment he would be using on his mission. The whole briefing took 45 minutes to complete since Rosetta explained every item in detail as well as its use. The most important ones being the dragon crystal visors would allow him see several energy formations and arcane power sources that would normal go undetected by standard spells and some of the more advanced level detection spells. There was the Bag of Holding Back Pack which had a pocket dimension in it much like the ones he normally created. The only difference was this was self sustaining so the was no need to feed it magical energy to keep it working. It had weight limit of 1000 pounds but the pack would only weigh a light 50 pounds even when it was completely full. The Communication Crystal or Comms. Crystal, which was mounted on a leather brand so Discord could wear it on his forearm, was for communicating with ponies in the study when ever he wasn't in directed contact with Twilight should something come up or he need a something translated.

The last items of importance were the book holder pouches lined with Nth stones. Nth stone was a rare rainbow colored mineral rock that blocked magic. Nth stone had the same anti-magical properties as the rare metal Orisidium, but with two major differences. The first being when Nth stone is altered in any physical way like cutting it or crushing it into a powder it still retained its full anti-magical properties based on the quantity of the stone. Physically altering Orisidium like melting it down to forge it into a blade reduces its anti-magical properties by 1.2% based on the quantity of the metal. The second difference was that Nth stone casts a field of anti-magic base on the size of the stone. One ounce of the stone produces a one square foot field of anti-magic, so the more Nth stone present the larger the area covered in anti-magic.

The only known way to block the anti-magical effects of Nth stone or Orisidium was with tree sap based leather. The anti-magical fields the two elements produced would be completely blocked by tree sap leather an inch or more thick. The outsides of the 9 book holders were made of heavy tree sap leather about two inches thick while the inside was regular leather. The holders had been designed to hold five two inch thick Nth stone plates on all four sides and the bottom. The book holders could contain three or four tomes of substantial size. They had been crafted just in case so Discord could transport any books he found of use back with him. The Nth stone plates were there if any of those books were magical in nature and might be dangerous to any pony of less than immortal power or life span.

They had also had prepared a Orisidium sword and dagger in thick sap leather sheaths for Discord if he faced anything of greater power than himself. Orisdium was the only metal known to be able to kill anything of legendary or immortal power. It was rumored to be the metal that felled many of the Alicorns of old during the Immortal Alicorn Wars. There was only a small amount of Orisidium around, with the largest supply of it was held by the Minotaur Empire with Equestria having a small stock pile just in case the Princesses ever lost control of their powers or turned evil.

“Well that's everything Lord Discord. You have four replacement visors in the backpack should you damage the one your wearing and two back up Comms. Crystals. There are several magical parchments, ink and several quills should you need them in case all other forms of communication fail. The sword and dagger or last resort weapons if should you find yourself in danger from something of ancient power. Please try to refrain from using them, but use them if you have no other options for survival. The Princess should be along for your final briefing in a moment. May Faust be with you on your mission Lord Discord, as all of our prayers go with you.” Rosetta said softly before she gave Discord a soft hug.

“Thank you so much Rosetta Stone. I don't know why you are here, I think Twilight may have called in a few favors why I was sleeping. Whatever the reason I'm glad that you are all the same. Please take good care of the work Twilight and I have started while I'm gone.” Discord told the mare softly before returning her hug.

“Of course Lord Discord all of Equestria owes its good fortune and well being to the Element bearers and you. I will do whatever it takes to insure theirs and your happiness like you all have ours for the last fifty years. That is how all of the ponies in this study feel as well as the ponies of the advance team waiting for you at the Cervidas border.” Rosetta replied.

Before Discord could reply to that Twilight showed up. Rosetta excused herself as Twilight walked up and stood before Discord with a frown on her face. Discord looked Twilight over for moment before carefully choosing the next words he would let slip out.

“What has gone wrong now? I know that unhappy look all too well. If I had to guess on what cause you to have that look...” Discord said as he rubbed his chin, “I would have to say it has something to do with Pinkie Pie, right?”

“How did you know...?” Twilight started say before she stopped talking abruptly. Now was not the time to get into her feelings about Pinkie when so much was at stake. “Nevermind that. I will explain it to you later right let just make the spell connection so you get get going. I take it Rosetta Stone has explained everything to you already?”

“Yes she has and I'm impressed with how you got around your “Pinkie Promise” about The Lost World. I know I'm to meet with the advanced team and rely my findings to them as well as any updates on my health and safety conditions. They are there for my protection as well as your peace of mind. Yes, yes I know everything about the mission Twilight. Just promise me while I'm gone you will take care of yourself and girls, please?” Discord asked as he offered his claw to Twilight.

Twilight reach out and place her hoof in Discord outstretched claw before looking up at him. “I promise you I will. I have another promise to keep. I need to tell something very important to an exceptional mare.” Twilight said softly as she filled her horn with magic.

Discord in response filled his claw with his chaotic magic. In seconds it began to glow a soft swirl changing rainbow colors. Moments later the magic that filled Twilight horn flowed out of the keratin appendage and down her foreleg into her hoof making it glow a soft purple. When the two magicks touched they slowly swirled together creating spiral of pulsing white magic in the space between hoof and claw. Slowly with a steady and practiced voice Twilight began the spell to connect herself to Discord magical. As the spell words drift out into the room Twilight's eyes change form her soft violet to solid white. In response to the spell Discord's magic started to move up Twilight's foreleg.

At the half way point in the Spell Discord began his part as Twilight's voiced fade out. As the ancient words of power filled the room in Discord deep baritone the walls seemed to vibrate from the resonance of the two immortal casters arcane power. Slowly Discord eyes turned from yellow with red pupils to a solid white as Twilight's magic began to move up his arm. All of the ponies in the room fell silent as the watched the exchange of power as a deep bond of magic formed and the casters heart became connect to one another. In that moment Discord's could feel Twilight's magical core as well a the swirl of feelings and thoughts running through her mind. The spell was near completion as both casters took on the glow of the others magic tinted with the color of their own. In the final moment of spell both Discord and Twilight voice rang out in unison, “Magic to magic, Caster to Caster, our hearts and minds are one. We are of one soul and one magic until the contract is broken or the mission is complete. So sayth the pact of Caster to Caster!”

In a flash of lavender light the pact was made connecting Discord and Twilight together as one magical being with two forms. In the final moment both Discord and Twilight saw a flash of swirling blueish white light form beyond the Ether. Seconds later they heard a soft female voice crying for them to stop, to turn back before it was too late. The blueish white light of the vision vanished turning into a dark red mist as the first voice cut out. After the first voice fade away a second more powerful but female voice could be heard laughing darkly. The laughter abruptly stopped as a large claw seemed to reach out of the mystical vision toward the two casters before they broke contact with each other with scream. Both the alicorn and draconequus were staggering back away from each other a few steps as they rubbing their temples trying to clear their heads of the pain from the vision.

“What in the nine levels of Tartarus was that? What was that thing? It was reaching out from beyond the Ether to get at us. Nothing but.... nothing but an Over Go... No nothing can do that, nothing! Not even I can do that and I'm chaos incarnate. What was that thing and why was it...?” Discord said in a shaky voice as he closed his eyes to clear his double vision.

Twilight was stand still on shaky hooves several steps away from Discord with her eyes closed, wings spread as she panted hard. Several ponies rush over to help but Twilight waved them away before she opened her eyes. “I'm fine my little ponies don't worry. I will be alright there was a lot of magic transferred between the two us. So it will take some time for us to adjust to being linked like this.” Twilight lied knowing full well that the spell shouldn't have effect them like it had.

“But Princess Twilight, Lord Discord spoke of something reaching for the two you. We should run some tests on you and Lord Discord.” One of the ponies said but Twilight dismissed his concerns.

“There is no time for that right now. Discord and I will spoke on this matter later. I have another pressing matter to attend to. After that matter is resolved you make run as many tests on me as you wish my little ponies.” Twilight said softly to her research team and hoped they wouldn't object.

“Princess Twilight this is highly irregular but I know that you will not let us argue you in to in-action. So I request that you take Clear Thought and Sweet Memory with you to monitor you for any side effects. This way we can prepare for the tests and be updated if anything happens to you. Is this fair Princess?” Precious Metal asked.

Twilight was going to argue but she felt Discord thoughts stir within her mind. She heard him ask her to just agree and go to Pinkie's side, that time was running out. Twilight wanted to tell Discord to mind his own business on the Pinkie issue but she felt his sadness over the situation. Rather than hurt the draconequus feelings more Twilight agreed to his and Precious Metal requests.

After a few arrangements were made for several tests to be ran on Twilight when she returned and a few scans ran on Discord before his departure both Twilight and Discord said their goodbyes. With that out the way the two immortals were off on their respective missions. One was going to say farewell to a dear loved one, the other was going to find a way to save his loved ones.

************

Twilight stared out of the simple unmarked carriage window at the surrounding countryside and the mineral rich salt flats in the southwest of Equestria. The sight of the open desert landscape near Appleloosa would have been something to stir up Twilight passion for giving out guidebook information but the trip itself had Twilight's mind elsewhere.

Sitting next to Twilight was, a yellow coated unicorn mare with blue and light green mane and tail wearing a yellow and white vest with a red rose on the pocket, Clear Thought. She silently watched Twilight looking for any abnormal behavior but was having trouble discerning any side effects from the spell ritual from Twilight's saddened state over the situation with Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie was the only thing on Twilight's mind and everything else wasn't even a close second place or even third. The lavender alicorn had left so much unsaid and now she didn't have any time at all to say any of the things she needed to. That's the funny thing about having Time over Legacy, you forget that you may not have the time to say I love you to the ponies you love. This had happened to Twilight. She had put off telling Pinkie Pie the truth of her feelings and now she had to say I love just before she said farewell forever.

Twilight gave a heavy sigh as she continued to stare out the window. If it wasn't for the fact the others had insisted they go along and Applejack didn't hate teleporting so much the grief stricken and distressed alicorn would already have been at Pinkie's side. Traveling by train then by carriage was taking far too long, just so she could be watched for magical feedback side effects, Twilight thought. In fact Twilight figured she could have flown there faster than they were currently moving and would have only had to deal with Rainbow Dash and several Pegasus guards tagging along.

Applejack could see that Twilight was not taking the news or the long slow trip well. It was only a matter of time before Twilight would be once again be shut up in her study. Only this time she would have a whole research team of ponies Tartarus bent on getting the Mad Princess what she wanted. Discord was gone for the time being and none of the others wanted to call on Celestia or Luna for help. That only left Princess Cadence and Shining Armor for help. Applejack figured she might as well send word to the Crystal Empire once all of this unpleasantness was over and get ready for the worst if they lost Pinkie.

“Twi you got ta calm down, sugarcube. We'll be there in an hour or so.” Applejack said to the sullen alicorn. “Ya got ta know that Pinkie only did this cause she didn't want ta burden anypony.”

“Applejack I'm not mad about her going back to the rock farm. In fact I expected she would want to be there in her final moments. It is the place where she began and holds a lot of memories for her, no the the trip is not what has me frustrated right now.” Twilight said simply before she let out another sigh.

“Then what has ya lower than a snake's belly Twilight? It can be the fact we have ta go to the rock farm so we can take Pinkie back to the castle ta help her, is it?” Applejack asked worried at why Twilight was so distressed and evasive with her answers.

“No, Applejack, I'm not upset about going to the rock farm. But you're mistaken about why we are going the rock farm though.” Twilight said softly with little to no emotion left in her voice. The Alicorn of Friendship had reached her limit emotional and she was ready to break. “I'm not going to the rock farm to take Pinkie back home with us. I'm going to say goodbye to her.”

“What are you saying Twilight? Of course we are taking Pinkie back home to Ponyville to give all of those magical treatments you and Discord have created.” Rainbow Dash said with more force the she intended. “We going to save her, you said that you would save all of us, remember that? That's really why we are going, right? We going to save Pinkie Pie, right?”

Twilight didn't even turn her head toward the rainbow maned mare before she answered her. “No, we are not.” Twilight said flatly. “If I had found out about her condition a week ago I could have put her in magical stasis to prolong her life until we found a cure. I planned that for all of you once we got close to the 'Zero Point' in your timelines. But that's not possible with Pinkie, not now. I can't save her no matter what I do. There is nothing that can be done to save Pinkie even with the nearly infinite magical power I have at my hooves. I'm powerless to stop time for her, all I can do is be by her side until the very last moment.”

“WHAT! That's a lie. You have to be lying!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she pointed a shaking hoof at Twilight.

Twilight slowly turn around letting every pony in the carriage see her face. All eyes were on the Princess of Friendship's sad face, they all saw the tears that spilled endlessly down her cheeks as she wept. They could see her pain, they could feel the sadness and dread of the situation thick in the air around the lavender alicorn. It was in the moment that everypony in the carriage knew that Twilight was serious about what she had said. No pony wanted to believe it but the truth was Pinkie was going die and there was nothing anypony could do to stop it.

Rainbow Dash stared at Twilight as tears ran down the cyan mare's cheeks. Of all the crazy things Twilight had done over the years not once had she ever given up or accepted fate as it was laid out before her. This time however she had done just that. Twilight had given up and was just going to let Pinkie Pie die. How could she? How dare she? What was wrong with Twilight? All of those and more questions pounded around in Rainbow Dash skull before she couldn't take it anymore.

“No I won't accept this, do you hear me! I won't accept you just giving up on Pinkie like this! Twilight I know you love Pinkie Pie. Hell we all knew that she loved you for years. So fight to keep her, to save her. Don't let Pinkie die.” Rainbow Dash pleaded.

“Don't you think I know that Dash! I don't want any of you to die like this but what would you have me do?” Twilight shouted back as more tears ran down her face, “I've loved her for the last 135 years but could never bring myself to say it. I didn't even want to believe it myself so I just buried those feelings in my own mind. I thought I had forever to be with all of you. I thought I would always be with Pinkie so I would never need to say I love you out loud. I was wrong, so very wrong about it all. Now I don't have any time to say what I need to say or to do what I need to do. I won't make her suffer just to save my own heart or yours. I love her too much for that. I will let her go on her own terms, I will just hold her until the end. This is what I will do for Pinkie Pie, the mare I love.”

Everypony in the the carriage froze after Twilight finished speaking. No pony knew what to say or do after that. The only sound in the carriage was Twilight sobs and the everypony elses slow breathing. Several minutes of silence later the only sound in the carriage was Rainbow Dash trying to open the carriage door to get out. Applejack snapped out of her daze when she heard Dash trying to pull the locked door open with frantic shaking hooves.

“Dash what in the hay are ya doin'?” “Applejack asked as she tried to stop the shaking cyan mare.

“No Applejack don't try and stop me! I won't go and watch Pinkie die, I refuse to say goodbye like this. I can't do this, I won't do this! I don't want to watch both Pinkie and Twilight die in each others arms!” Dash shouted before she got the lock undone and open the carriage and take to the sky in a blur rainbow color.

Applejack just stared as the door flapped in the wind about to be torn off until it was enclosed in the dark blue glow of magic. The door was pulled closed then locked again as the dark blue unicorn mare with a sliver and white mane and tail looked every pony in the carriage over.

“Are you alright Miss Applejack? Did you get hit with any debris when the door opened?” Sweet Memory asked Applejack.

“No... uh... Ah'm fine. Ah'm just a little shook up is all. Ya'll should check on Twilight. She'll be needin' ya more than me real soon.” Applejack said softly and she processed what had just happened.

Sweet Memory just nodded before turning to help Clear Thought comfort Twilight. The Princess of Friendship was in a very emotional and agitated state and if she stayed like that for to long she was in risk of having a nervous breakdown. It took the two unicorns several minutes to calm Twilight down but they finally got her to stop crying. The whole time this was all going on only one passenger in the carriage had remain silent, unmoving, just watching as everything unfolded.

Steel Heart sat there next the the window just noting everything, feeling that it wasn't his place to interfere just yet. No, he was just waiting for moment when he would be need to offer his words, his magic, and his strong back for what was to come. Soon would come the time to say farewell and bury a trusted friend, a beloved cousin, a mare loved so deeply that it hurt to even think about. Steel Heart sat quietly waiting for the time that he would need to become the emotional rock that his Princess and her friends would need to tether to, to keep them from being lost in a sea of despair and uncertainty.

In only a half hour would the carriage reach its destination and then a farewell to Pinkamena Diane Pie would begin...