Rise of Tambelon

by Sunstar

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Dark, Main 6, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5974

Everypony grew up hearing the ancient myths of a city in the clouds that is the prison of a demon

Everypony grew up hearing the ancient myth of a city in the clouds that is the prison of a powerful Demoness. Celestia and Luna have kept much of the myth a secret. When the signs of Tambelon rise again, Celestia leaves Luna in charge so she can go ring the bell of Liberty and send Tambelon back into the realm of darkness. There is one problem. The bell is shattered. Tambelon ain't going nowhere.

Twilight Sparkle uncovers a secret hidden below the library that tells about the seven Guardians of Magic and how one Guardian subcumed to the darkness in her soul and was sealed away. She learns about Tambelon, where Celestia and Luna came from, and makes yet another shocking discovery.

Published 2011-11-03 04:32:43 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-31 00:31:09 UTC

Prologue

Thick clouds blocked the moon as night ruled the world. Six adult ponies stood in a circle, their powers directed at a seventh pony who is struggling against the onslaught of strong power. The pony is weakening, but she is putting up a hard fight.

“I can’t keep this up! Where is Grogar?” one of the six ponies, a winged unicorn, cried out.

“We just have to hold out a little longer!” another pony, this one also a winged unicorn, answered.

“We have to keep fighting! You know this is what she would have wanted! I know it is hard, but she is gone! It’s just evil using her shell!” a female pony, this one a unicorn, grunted in concentration.

Wind ripped across the ancient battlefield, whipping up manes and tails and sending debris scattering. The sky opened up as thunder began to howl. Lightening flickered across the night sky. Rain beat down in a near constant down pour. Above the storm, lightening swirled in a riot of color.

“He’s here!” the unicorn cried out, “Grogar is here!”

A great city resting on the storm tossed clouds hovered far above them. Grogar leapt into the fray. His eyes narrowed on the bedraggled form in front of him. He pawed the ground, his heart heavy. Why did it come down to this?

“I hope you can forgive us someday.” Grogar concentrated. Black tendrils leapt from the city and devoured its promised prey. The pony screamed, but was silenced moments later. The storm came to an abrupt end as the sun rose. It became quiet and eerie as peace settled in with the calm of the early morning.

“I… I can’t believe it came down to this…” one of the two winged unicorns walked over to Grogar, “I can’t believe she turned into that monster.”

“We can only move on from this.” Grogar answered.

“Did you bring them?” the unicorn asked, joining them.

“I did. Celestia, Luna, it’s okay. You can come out now.” Grogar turned to the bush lining the far side of the battlefield. Two wet winged unicorn bodies tumbled from under the bush. One was white, while the other one was the color of late twilight. They both ran to Grogar’s side, “Celestia is the white one while the darker one is Luna.”

Luna leaned into Grogar’s side while Celestia pranced around them. The unicorn nodded her acceptance. The two would do nicely for the jobs she planned for them. Celestia would receive day while Luna would be given night.

“Daddy, what is going to happen to us?” Luna asked.

“Today you will begin your training.” Grogar smiled at the little winged unicorn baby. Luna was very young. He knew she would grow into her position well. He looked up at the lightening sky, where he could just make out the remains of the once powerful Flow. Even now, he still shuddered at what had nearly happened. Soon, the Flow would vanish forever into myth.

“I can’t wait to begin!” Celestia was excited, “I can’t believe we were chosen to become guardians! I bet I’ll make it to Chief Guardian someday!”

No one bothered to correct her. She and Luna had been told by Grogar that they were chosen to become Guardians and it was left at that. Grogar and the remaining Guardians secretly hoped that by doing what they were about to do, Celestia and Luna would become strong enough to defeat the nightmare they just locked away. Grogar knew that Tambelon was a temporary solution. It would stay hidden for only five hundred years. They all hoped that five hundred years would be enough time for Celestia and Luna to grow and mature enough to be able to defeat the darkness.

Chapter one

Very few ponies had witnessed Celestia bring forward daylight. Even fewer still knew what made up the great sphere of light that lit up the sky. Celestia was in deep concentration. Slowly, she gathered herself together and dug deeper into herself. Celestia had sweat pouring off of her in rivers, her mane and tail plastered to her white coat. Finally, she was rewarded with light climbing up over the mountains. She sank to her knees, gulping great lungfuls of air. Her body trembled in exhaustion. Celestia knew that this was not a good sign. She was never like this after bringing in the day. She was still laying down when Luna entered the temple looking as fresh as a daisy.

“Celestia?” Luna asked, “You look like you just came off an Iron Pony competition.”

“And you look like you just took a shower.” Both sisters laughed except that Celestia sounded more like a winded wheeze.

Despite their light joking banter, both sisters knew that it would only get harder for Celestia to bring in the day. They both knew what it meant and their banter was a way to keep up their spirits.

“If you want, I can cover for you tomorrow. We both know I’m the stronger one.” Luna was serious. Celestia didn’t argue. She decided. Luna would handle bringing in the day tomorrow. There was no way she’d be ready to bring in the day again tomorrow.

“Please do. I don’t know how much longer I can go like this.” Celestia felt her strength returning, “Tambelon gets closer every day. In two weeks, it will be here, and so will She.”

“I don’t think She can be defeated.” Luna sighed, “She was once a force of goodness and love. It’s hard to think of Her as something so dark and evil. They said that She was dead, that Her body was simply a shell that Evil decided to possess, nothing more. I don’t believe that. I think She might still be in there somewhere, fighting to get out. While Nightmare Moon had me, I kept fighting to get out.”

“I believed, Luna. They chose to lock you up for safety reasons. I wish they didn’t have to do that to you. Without the Flow, they are just normal ponies like us. They couldn’t fight you, and nor could I. I’m glad you are back. I’d be dead by now of exhaustion If you didn’t cover for me.” Celestia said.

“How did you manage without me the last time Tambelon came?” Luna asked.

“Volcanic eruption.” Celestia answered, “No one could see the sun so I didn’t bother with it. Tambelon came on a Pyroclastic cloud. It wasn’t fair because a Pyroclastic cloud isn’t a cloud. it’s a superheated wave of gas and rock from a volcano. I even complained to Chronos about it. Apparently, a Pyroclastic cloud works too.”

“It shouldn’t because it’s not a cloud.” Luna frowned, “You’re right, that is so not fair.”

“Evil never plays fair, girls.”

“Chronos!”

“Celestia, the sun is hanging low. Get it into the sky, not just above the treetops. Also, its not the dead of winter any more. Warm it up. Luna, the moon should have set hours ago.” Chronos was in his disguise as a brown earthling with brown hair and blue eyes. His symbol was an golden hourglass.

“Sorry, Chronos!” Luna blushed, and concentrated on setting the moon.

Celestia pulled herself to her feet, “I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

Outside, the sun rose higher into the sky and the weather warmed up. Celestia was breathing hard again by the time she finished.

“That is more like it.” Chronos smiled, “I know it is getting harder with Tambelon getting closer. Remember, not a word to the people. We’ll get through it.” his expression changed to one of painful sorrow.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Spike’s voice cut into her dreams. Twilight woke up and blinked sleep out of her eyes. The baby dragon, Spike, was bouncing on her bed. Twilight groaned.

“Spike! Will you please move? It’s not your birthday.” the female purple unicorn got up and shook herself, “It’s Spring Market day!” Both pony and dragon raced toward their respective jangle piggy banks.

“I got twenty jangles!” Spike’s eyes got dreamy as he thought of the ruby sticks, gem candy, and his favorite, sun baked emeralds.

“I got 25 jangles!” Twilight called out, her own eyes dreamy as she thought of candied daisies.

“Eww! Spike! Stop drooling on my tail!”

“Rarity! It’s Spring Market day!”

“Just look at my beautiful tail!” Rarity moaned, “I know it’s Spring Market day. I do hope you both are not going looking like that!”

“What?” Twilight saw herself in a mirror and screamed. Spike joined in on her scream. Twilight’s purple coat looked matted and her mane and tail were in shambles. Spike didn’t look much better.

“Come this way, darlings! One of my specials will get you both looking spiffy again in no time!” Rarity replied cheerfully, “I’ll even throw in a free makeover!”

Twilight and Spike looked at each other and screamed again. Before they knew it, they both were sitting in tubs of hot water inside Rarity’s Boutique.

Rainbow Dash found herself diving for the ground again, her heart hammering in fear. She pulled herself up out of the dive and forced herself to breathe. Why was she so scared? Rainbow turned a slow circle. She faced northeast and trembled. Around her, many pegasi turned northeast and trembled. Several let lose with whinnies of fear. A few more turned tail and ran, only to freeze in place as their faces reflected total terror. Rainbow screamed, her eyes no longer seeing the sunny morning.

She saw a tower of rock. Something purely evil stood on that tower of rock, its dark hair flowing around it. The red sky filled with fleeing black bodies of pegasi. They didn’t get a chance. Each one tumbled from the sky in a bloody mass of fur and feathers. Those who survived the fall found themselves being devoured by the evil creature.

“Snap out of it, Rainbow!”

“What is with the pegasi?”

“I don’t know!”

“Mommy?”

Applejack walked down main street, horrified at the many pegasi bodies laying around her. Pinkie Pie was with her. The pink earth pony was quiet. They came up to a gray blue baby unicorn shaking her pegasus mother.

“It’s Bright Eyes and Baby Brightglow! What happened, Brightglow?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Don’t know.” Brightglow sniffed.

“Pinkie, find Twilight. I’ll stay with her.” Applejack ordered.

“I’m on it!” Pinkie Pie raced off down the street.

“Will Mommy die?” Brightglow asked, her big yellow eyes filling with tears.

“Bright Eyes will be fine.” Applejack reassured the baby unicorn, “Twilight will know what to do.”

“It is a racial memory, one so horrid only pegasi be so torrid.”

“Zecora! Do you know what is happening? What is a racial memory?” Applejack turned to greet the zebra.

“I know not the sight, that what causes pegasi such fright. A racial memory is one so shared that all see how it fared.” Zecora stopped by Bright Eyes, “I know not what gives such fright. Every pegasi quakes at its sight.”

“Can you find out what they remember?” Applejack heard cantering hooves and turned to see Twilight covered in soap coming toward her.

“Can do will do!” Zecora answered.

“What is going on?” Twilight shivered, “I was enjoying that bath.”

“Look at the pegasi. Why are they so scared?” Applejack asked.

“It could be a racial memory. I haven’t read much about them in my books.” Twilight answered.

At the moment, what ever had its hold on the pegasi let go. Left and right, pegasi rose. Bright Eyes nuzzled her daughter to calm her down. Rainbow blinked, trying to recall what had just happened. She looked northeast and shuddered involuntarily. Twilight winked back to Rarity as she was no longer needed. Applejack walked up to Rainbow.

“What happened?” she asked her friend.

Rainbow closed her eyes, “I don’t remember now. I know it was bad, really bad.”

“Sis? Celestia!” Luna shook her sister.

They were back in the castle in the library. Luna didn’t know what was going on. She had been outside when she saw the pegasi drop to the ground. Luna had then ran to find Celestia, only to watch her drop in the library. Now she was frantically trying to wake Celestia up.

“No!” Celestia screamed suddenly, causing Luna to jump, “I won’t let you win! Not this time! I’ll fight you myself if you dare set cloud in Equestria!”

“Celestia!” Luna tried again.

Celestia blinked, “Luna? I’m fine.”

“Celestia, what happened? I know I wasn’t here to help you five hundred years ago. The pegasi are down.” Luna asked.

“The story is too horrible. Tambelon is closer. Luna, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to go intercept Tambelon now while She is weak. Hopefully I can drive it back before it reaches Equestria. I want you to stay here and keep things running smoothly. I’ll leave early tomorrow morning.” Celestia looked out the window at the mountains in the northeast, “Don’t tell Chronos.”

“Sis, it’s too dangerous! What happened back then that has you acting crazy?” Luna asked.

Celestia closed her eyes and whispered, “The apocalypse happened.”

“I don’t understand! What happened, Celestia? Why are you rushing off into battle?” Luna tried.

“We were shoved to near extinction. The last two Guardians died sending Her back. Too many lives were lost. Demons fed above ground. Horrible times.” Celestia got up and walked toward her room outside the library, “She almost won. I won’t allow Her to rise again!”

Luna gave up trying to get answers from Celestia.

Far away, over the distant northeastern range and beyond the vast woodland that blanketed the land on the other side of the range, over a blazing hot desert, the sky convulsed. Desert dwellers looked up first in curiosity then in terror. A massive storm grew from the center of the sky. Every creature dashed into hiding. They knew this was not a normal storm.

Twilight Sparkle and Spike browsed the outdoor market. It was a place set up under colorful tents just outside of town. Many vendors hawked their wares over the sound of excited chatter as ponies browsed the stands filled with many goods. There were apples, various gems and fruit, rugs, jars, flowers, creams, and many other goods from everywhere in Equestria. One thing Twilight hadn't counted on was the crowds. On her back, Spike munched contentedly on a ruby stick. he held a bag of gems in one paw while he used his other paw to hold the stick. Several times now, he had nearly fallen off of Twilights back.

"What are you looking for, Twilight?" Spike asked.

"I'm looking for Dracora's stand. She sells the best tasting candied daisies." Twilight said, seriously considering using magic to force the slow moving mare in front of her to move faster. The mare stopped to examine a rug displayed by a vendor who began talking about the rug in hopes of a sale. Twilight fumed, trying to worm around the mare. Unfortunately, the mare backed up and Twilight scrambled backward to avoid being walked on. Spike somehow ended up on the mares back and Twilight froze. the vendor was rolling up the rug. Quickly, Twilight winked Spike back onto her back. She also managed to get by the mare, only to wind up with a faceful of Pinkie Pie. Somebody had clearly let the already high energy pink filly get into a supply of sugar.

"HaveyoutriedFlame'ssugarcubes? Haveyou? Haveyou?" Pinkie Pie suddenly grabbed Twilight and dragged her through the crowd to Flame's stall, "Twosugarcubesplease!"

"Don't you dare! She's had too much sugar!" Twilight dragged Pinkie Pie outside, intent on giving the young filly a piece of her mind. Instead, what happened next made Twilight forget about Pinkie Pie. overhead, what looked like a moving sea of color raced groundward. Twilight was shocked into silence as hundreds, if not thousands of pegasi filled every spot on the ground. They all were crouched low, fear written on their faces. many of them trembled. several of them cried silent tears. then each pegasus laid flat on the ground, all facing the same direction, north east. What was going on?

“What’s happening, Twilight?” Spike asked.

Twilight was about to answer when a scream caught her attention. Bright Eyes was still standing. She was shaking horribly and sobbing loudly.

“I’m burning!” the cry came from Bright Eyes, but the sound was of a pegasus in torture, “I’m on fire! It hurts! I can’t find water!” She sank into a motionless heap of blue gray fur and yellow hair. Twilight’s jaw dropped. Bright Eyes bad eye was normal during her outburst. Twilight spotted Fluttershy and ran to her friend.

“Fluttershy? What is happening? I can’t help you if I don’t know what is wrong with you.” Twilight whispered gently to her friend. Fluttershy looked up and screamed, her eyes seeing another time and place. Slowly, her voice haunted by the horror she shared, she began to speak.

“Once a mighty force of love and kindness, now so corrupt, a sacrifice of an entire town, She rages again.” Fluttershy whispered, “She comes again, She who burned her own kind and destroyed until there was nothing left. The great Demoness rises again!”

“Midnight Moon?” Twilight tried.

“Not the midnight one, the sun one.” Fluttershy stopped talking and would say no more.

“Not Celestia.” Spike whispered, “It can’t be Celestia!”

“I think it is Celestia.” Twilight sighed.

At that moment, the Pegasi were released from their shared terror. They all rose as one and shook themselves. They then dispersed into the crowd as if nothing had happened.

Chapter 3

Twilight Sparkle stood in her library, books levitated around her. Each book had something to do with memory. She released her hold on some of the books which crashed into the ground. More books followed suit until Twilight had five books in the air. She opened her mouth.

"I know, clean up this mess, Spike." Spike appeared and began to pick up the books, "You have work to-" he choked and had to be pounded on the back as a scroll erupted from his mouth along with about half of the books at the Royal Library.

"I swear, Spike. I only asked for three books!" Twilight cried out, all but performing the Heimlich maneuver on Spike as he gasped and wheezed out two more books. At that moment, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity arrived. Spike saw Rarity and went to say hi, only to burp and nearly broadside her with another book.

"My goodness, Spike!" Rarity effortlessly caught the book with her magic, "They have you working hard."

Spike nodded, "I've got heartburn now..."

"What is all this?" Applejack asked.

"I asked the princess for books about the mind, and I think I needed to be more specific. Lets see, Mind Games, no, Mind Power, this is a novel, no, Girls, mind lending a hoof? Where is Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked, "I want all text books on the mind in one pile and the books that are novels or games in another pile."

"You got Lu-baarp! Luna. Here's a book called Mind Fantasy. Its a novel." Spike tossed it into the growing pile of novels and games books.

"Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash couldn't come because they had a meeting." Applejack explained, "Pegasus and one Alicorn only."

Pinkie appeared from inside a book, "It says here that a racial memory is one that every pony remembers." She broke the laws of physics to vanish into the book only to appear inside a second one, "There is a collective mind shared by all of us. it remembers, and so we remember! The Pegasi remember first, then the Unicorns, and finally the Earthlings. Ooh, a murder mystery!" Pinkie somehow dove from the book she was in into the novel.

"Blarp!" Spike broke the ensuing silence as a scroll formed in a burst of emerald flame. Twilight caught it with her magic.

"Luna here." Twilight read, "Sorry for all of the books. I miscalculated the send spell and ended up sending half the Royal Library by mistake. Would you mind sending the books you don't need back? Celestia will likely banish me back to the moon if she finds out my little mistake. Princess Luna. That explains the books."

*****

This was one of those times Rainbow Dash wished the Pegasi had some kind of leader. The Earthlings had Mayor Mare, The Unicorns had Twilight, but the Pegasi had nopony. Right now, the flying ponies had all gathered on a large storm cloud. Several younger pegasi were trembling. Rainbow noticed that they had all chosen to face northeast. Why? What was coming from the northeast that had them all so terrified? The sound of wing flaps broke into Rainbows mind. She looked up to see Luna coming in for a neat landing. The pegasi all bowed before the moon princess.

"At ease." Luna folded her wings, "I take it you all are sensing it?"

A myriad of heads all nodded.

"What does it mean? Why us?" Rainbow asked.

"Tambelon is a city that sits on a storm cloud. Unlike Cloudsdale, Tambelon was once bound to the land. I bet you are all sensing it first because of the fact it moves like a storm system. I am issuing an order to all pegasi. Until the threat of Tambelon has passed, all pegasi are herby grounded." Luna replied, "It won't be long. Celestia has gone to ring the bell of liberty to send Tambelon back from whence it came. When she has returned, you'll all be allowed to fly again."

"P-princess?" Fluttershy eeped and dove behind Rainbow as Luna turned to her, "W-what a-about t-the a-animals?"

Luna smiled, "I am hoping you can bring them to the train station at midnight. I am going to send them to the Valley where they will be safe. I have already sent two teams of animal caretakers ahead to prepare."

"T-thank-y-you, P-princess." Fluttershy replied meekly.

"Princess, about being grounded, what if your talent requires you to fly?" Orion Pax raised a nearly black hoof.

"You are allowed to fly because of what you are doing for Equestria." Luna decided.

"What about weather patrol?" Rainbow Dash cried out, "We gotta fly for that!"

"Weather patrol is suspended." Luna answered, "I'm only allowing Orion Pax to fly. The less you know, the better. You don't need that hanging over your heads with Tambelon approaching."

"I need to fly!" Rainbow begged, "Its not fair that you let Orion Pax fly and not us!"

"Calm down, Rainbow." Dainty Dish put a tiny hoof on Rainbows shoulder. The little Pegasus was basically all wings. When Rainbow first met Dainty, She had actually wondered if there was even a pony connected to those huge wings. Dainty was also the fastest Pegasus alive. While she was ungainly and slow on the ground and at low altitudes, she was fast high up in the upper atmosphere where she lived. "Um, I had a question. What if you live in a cloud mansion? You kind of need to fly to get to them, and due to my allergies, I can't bring my home down here."

"Rainbow, you can bring your home to the ground and anchor it. I'll allow you to fly for that. Dainty, I'll let you fly to your home. You don't need to move it. You should be safe up there. If it gets too stormy up there, head for the ground, otherwise, do your best to ride it out." Luna smiled.

"That works for me." Dainty answered, "I may fly during the beginning of the storm to take pictures, but I'll be careful. My wings can take way more then the standard pegasus wing can."

"We are going to go to tactical alert from this moment on. Pegasi, prepare for extreme life threatening weather conditions. I want the warning bells up and running. I want to see preparations for extreme flooding and high winds. I do not want to see any of you out here fighting the storm when and if it comes." Luna laid out her battle plan.

Celestia struggled against the storm. She was lashed by the rain and pelted by hail as she climbed higher to get above the storm. The winds came at her from all sides. Celestia's right wing snapped back, the bone snapping painfully. Before she could correct for a single wing spiral, the wind rushed her, sending her tumbling hoof over tail. disoriented, Celestia teleported toward what she hoped was land.

She reappeared in the air, hooves failing madly for purchase on land that was not there. Celestia opened both wings despite the pain in her right wing, and managed to glide. Hitting an updraft just right, she rose higher. Casting a quick numb spell on her right wing, Celestia cleared the cloud layer. Up here it was cold and calm. White clouds spread out as far as the eye could see. The sun shone brightly. Celestia landed on the cloud surface. There was no noise. Folding her battered wings, Celestia began to walk northeast.

The sun winked out. Something huge rushed past overhead. Looking up, Celestia gasped. The Demoness's large mass was a sight to behold. Resembling a giant golden alligator, it glided through the air without the aid of wings. Cold hungry blue eyes locked onto Celestia. The long, tapered equine snout scented the air. Celestia was frozen. She knew this wasn't the Demoness's true form, but her hunting form. She was riding the air currents, not flying. It lowered long equine like scaled legs to land on the cloud. Its form changed, melting into a golden alicorn with dragon like wings. Red hair flowed in the same solar wind the Celestia's mane did. The eyes changed from blue reptilian eyes to the translucent jewel eyes Celestia once knew. The mark on her hips was a raised bright golden sun set with a ruby in the center.

"You dare enter my domain again, Princess?" the Demoness hissed.

"I can't let you hurt anymore ponies, Mother." Celestia lowered her head, "I must ring the bell and send you back. I'm sorry I can't save you."

"I'm afraid I'm here to stay, daughter." the golden Alicorn replied.

"Please, Mother, don't make this harder then it is!" Celestia lowered her head, "I miss you, the old you."

Celestia was the tiny white Alicorn foal snuggled into the golden Alicorns side. She raised her tiny head which already sported a tiny horn. It was warm and cozy right here next to her mother. Celestia felt her tummy growl and began to search for more of her mothers milk. Smiling, the golden Alicorn lifted herself up to her feet so her newborn daughter could nurse.

The golden Alicorn groaned, her body gripped by a contraction. Celestia watched her mother and worried. Another contraction gripped her mother's body as the golden mare lowered her head and strained. Slowly, a dark and wet bundle slipped out of the golden Alicorns body. the sack broken open as a tiny dark Alicorn gave her borning cry. The newborn was cleaned up by a grey Alicorn stallion who was smiling. Celestia turned her head to the solid black Alicorn standing beside her.

"Did I get a sister or a brother, daddy?" the little white filly asked.

"You have a little sister, Celestia. Her name is Luna." the black Alicorn nuzzled the golden Alicorn fondly, "Another girl, my love."

Laughing, the golden Alicorn was tackled by Celestia and Luna. She tickled her daughters, and relished their laughter. Little Luna began to yawn between laughs. Soon, mother and foals were sleeping blissfully under the shade of a tree.

"You must leave, my daughter." the golden mare lowered her head, "Go, before the darkness claims you."

"I can't leave. Not until I send you back." Celestia turned to walk away. Beyond her, the golden mare followed. Celestia knew her mother was fighting to stay in control. Before long, the darkness would overtake her. It hurt that she could do nothing to save her mother.

"I give! there is nothing in these books!" Twilight was frustrated, "How can I solve this if I have no clue as to what I am solving?"

"Calm down, Twilight. What do we know so far? The pegasi are experiencing racial memories. What are they seeing? Something bad involving Celestia, right? Let's try this. Has Celestia ever been evil before?" Spike asked.

"Celestia has never been evil, Spike!" Twilight began pulling books off the shelves with her magic, "Why can't I find anything?"

Applejack's head shot up. A distinct buzz filled the air. She, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all paled and ran about, opening windows and piling pillows against the bookcases. Twilight continued to yank books out and toss them aside. The buzz got louder. Rarity picked Twilight up with her magic and stuffed her under the table while Pinkie dove into a book. Applejack went under the staircase, while Rarity huddled next to Twilight. Spike joined Applejack. They waited. The buzzing stopped to be replaced by the concussion of a sonic rainboom. Rainbow Dash shot through a window. Somehow defying the laws of physics, she missed all the pillows and crashed through the boards covering up the fireplace. There was silence.

"Rainbow?" Applejack crept to the fireplace, "Hey Twi, why is there no floor to this fireplace? Rainbow couldn't fall fast enough to put the hole there."

"No floor?" Twilight lit her horn and put her head into the fireplace, "There's stairs. I don't see Rainbow."

Pinkie popped out of a book wearing a safari shirt and a hat similar to what Daring Doo wore, "We get to go spelunking! I'll pack the cupcakes!"

"Spelunking? But its dirty in there!" Rarity looked at the fireplace apprehensively.

"Rainbow is down there, Rarity. She might be hurt, or worse. Ah'm going down there to find her." Applejack said.

Fluttershy arrived at the library. Pinkie Pie was trying to shove a huge bag into the fireplace which Twilight was trying to stop. Rarity had found a full body coverall and was fussing over it, while Applejack was inside the fireplace, being shoved against the wall by Pinkie's huge pink bag.

"Pinkie, that bag will not fit!"

"What if we find aliens? I need to be able to welcome them to Ponyville!"

"Consarnit Pinkie! Stop pushing that bag!"

"It's so bland!"

"That is the point, Rarity! Pinkie, there are no aliens down there! That bag will not fit! What is in that bag, anyway?"

"Ah can't breathe!"

"Let's see, my party cannon, my back-up party cannon, my back up back up party cannon,my back up back up back up party cannon, party supplies, party games, party tent, party sleeping bags, party cakes and cupcakes for any occasion, oven, counter, fridge, tables, chairs, freezer, TV, DVD player, VHS player, Blu-ray player, CD player, walk-pony, MP3 player,-"

"Pinkie, Why on Celestia's good earth would you need all that stuff?"

"I wanna be prepared!"

"Rarity, are those my bedsheets? Pinkie, you are not taking all that with you!"

"Ah still can't breathe!"

"Okay, I'll leave my back up back up back up cannon behind. It started shooting pies lately."

Pinkie reached into the bag and pulled out a giant wooden cannon. Applejack yelped. Fluttershy sighed.

"Rarity, if those are my bed sheets, I will turn your mane green for a week! Pinkie, that bag stays here!"

"Ah think Ah'm turning blue! Ah need air!"

Fluttershy let loose with with a sharp whistle, getting every one's attention. Applejack pushed the bag off of herself and flopped out of the fireplace where she laid on the floor, sucking in greedy gulps of air.

"Someone want to tell me what is going on?" Fluttershy asked.

Twilight explained while Pinkie emptied her bag. Rarity finished her coverall while Applejack started to look more orange then blue. The group lined up at the fireplace and began to walk down the stairs. The stairs were made of stone and iron. Rarity and Twilight lit their horns for light as they pressed deeper into the darkness. Twilight stumbled on a narrow step, banging her horn against the stone wall. She yelped and rubbed her horn. Rarity gasped, pointing at the wall. Magenta light raced away from the point of impact, lighting up torches ahead and behind them.

"It's the most basic light spell, and we both forgot to check for it." Rarity looked ahead, "I think I see the bottom."

They pressed on, reaching the bottom of the stairs. This time, Rarity taped her horn against the wall. Blue light raced away from the impact site. More torches lit up, bringing in more light. Everypony stopped and blinked. They were in a round room, the walls painted in a mural that showed seven ponies, four of them Alicorns, one of then a pegasus, one of them a unicorn, and one of them with butterfly wings. Rainbow Dash sat in front of the mural depicting a red and white mare with butterfly wings. Her mane and tail were red and white. Normal magenta eyes held Rainbows identical pair.

"There is very strong magic here, stronger then even Celestia." Twilight whispered, walking over to Rainbow Dash, "Rainbow, are you okay?"

"I think that is me, in a past life." Rainbow whispered, her gaze never leaving the image, "I feel sadness."

"Why do I look so much like her?" Fluttershy walked over to sit before the pegasus, "Is she me? Why is she so sad?"

The pegasus on the wall was smaller then the other pictures. She was yellow and white with yellow and white hair. her eyes were normal and blue, the same color as Fluttershy's eyes. The wings looked off. Fluttershy realized the wings were short and wide.

"What has gotten into them?" Applejack found herself being drawn to the forest green Alicorn stallion. His wings were that of a dragon, his mane and tail were green, white, and pink. The strangest of all were his eyes. They were sage green, but instead of a normal or dragon eye, they were crystal. She noticed that he was built like her, stocky and short.

Pinkie Pie bounced over to sit in front of the picture of a black male Alicorn. His eyes were the same color as her own. His mane and tail were black. They had a slight curl to them. The wings were short and broad, much like the pegasus.

"Wow! he is just like me!" She called out.

Rarity and Twilight both walked up to the picture of the Unicorn. Twilight sat while Rarity moved to the alicorn next to her. The unicorn was pink with pink, red, and white hair. her eyes were purple, the same as Twilight's eyes, except they were formed of crystal. Rarity stared at the Alicorn's blue eyes, same as her own. He was red with black hair. like the green Alicorn, he had dragon wings.

The light went out, plunging the room into total darkness. Screams and gasps rang out, but were quickly silenced. A pink glow lit the center of the room. Everypony turned to the light. Slowly, the unicorn in the picture in front of Twilight took form. She was transparent.

"Do not be afraid, Elements of Harmony. My name is Galaxy, and I am a Guardian of Magic serving under the Radiant Lady Sunstar." pink light lit up the picture of the final Alicorn, a golden mare with dragon wings and blue crystal eyes. Her mane and tail blew in a wind of its own. "Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie, remember who you used to be!" the light plunged out again as the ponies all gasped. Soon, screams rang out among them.