Chapter 5: Theradras

Twilight winced as she walked, her leg was still freshly healed, thus she felt a sharp pain in each step. She was hardly ready to stop her trek though, she had a mission, and when she was determined nothing would get in her way.

Despite her protests, Shining walked beside her to support her while she walked. Twilight loved him very much, but his protectiveness was annoying to her, she never felt that she needed protecting. She thought back to her father's words when she was younger, he always called her stubborn, "Stubborn as a mule, that filly!" Twilight let a brief smile grace her lips before it fell again. Even after so many years, the pain of losing them was fresh in her mind.

"You alright Twily?" Shining's voice invaded her thoughts, Twilight looked up at him for a moment in irritation, then she sighed and hung her head.

"Look, I-I'm fine, I don't...need..." Twilight trailed off as her voice caught in an unexpected sob. She fell back on her haunches and Shining's comforting hoof was gently pushed away as she covered her face with her hooves.

Shining sighed as he pulled his hoof back, looking up as Rarity approached him with a frown on her face. "I only asked her if she was alright..." Shining held both hooves up in defense from her gaze as if he had been accused.

"I didn't say it was your fault, Shining. Perhaps it would be best to make camp?" Rarity whispered, then gestured to Twilight, who had resolved to curl into a ball and hide her face in her hooves.

"Of course." Shining sighed and began to unpack his saddlebag, pulling out many a camping necessity.

Rarity's eye was caught when he pulled out a small tent, "My word! How did that fit in your bags?" she trotted over eagerly, looking the contraption over as it lay on the ground.

"It's compact, easy to carry for light travel. The guards usually have them. I was going to let you and Twilight use it..." Shining explained.

"Oh no not me! As much as I'd like it...Twilight needs her space, lets let her use it alone. I'll take turns on night watch with you." Rarity held her hoof up in protest while she talked, looking over to Twilight in the midst of her sentence.

Twilight's ears pricked at the mention of her name, and she curled into a tighter ball, determined not to let them hear more of the sobs she was failing to contain. She was mentally scolding herself for losing control of her emotions in front of them.

Shining nodded and began setting up the tent, Rarity collected flammable debris into a bundle, readying to cast a spell to light it. "No fire!" Shining warned quietly, "Not yet at least, let me cast my shield spell first."

Rarity's tensed shoulders relaxed and she let her horn's magic fizzle out. "Alright then, I'll fetch water..."

"That won't be necessary." Twilight's voice sounded, causing both her unicorn companions to freeze in their tracks. "I can conjure water, if you're thirsty, just tell me." Twilight turned to face them, and while it was still evident she had been crying, she did her best to cover up the fact.

Twilight's steps were graceful and upbeat, as if she had never broken down in the first place. Rarity and Shining exchanged looks of concern, she was obviously in pain over something, but she seemed determined not to let them help. And she was, she didn't want them trying to solve the problem, though a comforting hoof or warm body to sleep next to was tempting. Not that she needed one...of course not.

Twilight hummed to herself while she worked, it was an old Thalassian lament she had favored in her magic training. It told the tale of how the Thalassian elf ponies lost the fight to the Scourge in Quel'Danas. Quite a haunting tale it was, but Twilight enjoyed the tune nonetheless.

"Anar'alah.. Anar'alah belore..." Rarity's voice sang quietly, Twilight's head whipped around to face the smiling unicorn.

"You know the song too?" Twilight's face broke into a grin.

"Indeed, the story has often brought tears to my eyes, it's so tragic!" Rarity put a hoof to her forehead dramatically.

Twilight giggled, taking a deep breath, "Sin'dorei...." she continued singing, and Rarity's grin grew wider.

Shining put a silencing spell upon the camp as soon as they started singing, no matter how quite they were, it would undoubtedly draw attention to them if a creature heard it.

"Shindu fallah na.." Twilight continued.

"Sin'dorei..." Rarity joined her in singing the next verse. "Anar'alah, Shindu Sin'dorei, Shindu fallah na
Sin'dorei..."

Twilight closed her eyes and continued vocalizing, just as she remembered the song being performed in Darnassus. Shining smiled, he hadn't known she could sing, and her voice was angelic, along with Rarity's.

"Anar'alah belore.. Shindu Sin'dorei, Shindu fallah na." Rarity continued, her voice picking up in volume, Shining internally thanked himself for putting a sound barrier up around them.

"Sin'dorei....Anar'alah, belore.... Belore......" Twilight finished the last verse alone, as Rarity began to wipe tears, it was indeed a powerfully sad song, to those who understood the meaning.

Shining clapped quietly, "I didn't know you could sing Twily."

Twilight blushed, "I practice now and then...Medivh..." she halted herself and widened her eyes before clearing her throat, "Ahem, I mean, I had a passion for old Highborne songs. My mentor had a large opera house in his castle - if you can believe it - I sung there all the time. Granted, most of my audience were just the servants, but I still enjoyed it."

"I see...wait...castle?!" Rarity exclaimed, trotting up to Twilight (and invading personal boundaries) in her excitement. "You lived in a castle for forty years?"

Twilight looked at the beaming unicorn in surprise for a moment, then smiled, "Yes. Karazhan, that's the name of the estate. Though most people seem to think the castle is abandoned now."

Shining's eyes widened and Rarity paled to be whiter than her coat already was. "Karazhan? But, that castle is haunted! Nopony's been there for thirty years."

Twilight's brow furrowed in confusion, "Thirty years wha...What are you talking about? I lived there just two years ago and it was fine! No ghosts or haunting anywhere."

"Perhaps it's just a rumor...?" Rarity suggested. Twilight and Shining exchanged glances and nodded hesitantly.

"Maybe it's just Karazhan's location? The Dread Pass is a rather gloom and spooky place." Shining shrugged.

"Well in any case, as soon as this is over I'm going back there. I still want to make sure it isn't true..." Twilight looked downcast as she spoke, she hoped what they had said was not true, but there was still only one way to find out.

"Perhaps you should get some sleep Twilight? It's late and we have a mission in the morning." Rarity ushered Twilight into the tent, sighing in relief when she complied willingly.

Twilight played with the hem of her cloak as she lay in wait for much needed yet unwanted sleep. Her thoughts focused on Karazhan, it was a majestic castle, hundreds of rooms, many dozens of stories tall. Her favorite part of the castle was it's library, which in itself was more than four stories tall, the main floor was as big as a ballroom. The thousands of books in that library had kept her occupied for a great many years.

The words of Shining and Rarity deeply distressed her, Twilight had been at the castle only a couple of years before. What had led ponies to believe it was haunted? Normally she would dismiss such thoughts as petty superstition, but since Medivh's death, she had wondered if his magic remained. Though she hadn't stayed long enough to find out, she couldn't help but feel something might have happened to the remaining residents of the castle.

"Stop worrying yourself, its just folk-talk, surely nothing serious..." Twilight scolded herself and rolled over, attempting to become more comfortable. She blew air at her bangs when they fell across her face and tickled her eye. Her thoughts now allowed to drift, she thought of how deeply she missed sitting next to Medivh in the observatory. Looking at the stars and naming each constellation.

He often told her of the Titans, majestic beings that created Azeroth, and the stars above. She missed those stories, they helped her to sleep at night. Knowing there were greater beings out there watching over her world, made her feel safer. Her hoof found the tiny emerald she had hung about her neck two years before. She opened her eyes when her consciousness caught up to the move. Holding the sparkling green gem just beyond her muzzle, she sighed and let her eyelids close, gently squeezing a tear from her tired eyes. Inhaling deeply, she relaxed her hooves and pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulder before she let sleep come.

"Twilight? Twilight wake up!" Twilight sat up with a start, her tired eyes foggy and heavy from her sleep. She shook her head and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her leg, glancing up at Shining Armor. He looked quite worried, and eyed her carefully before he spoke. "We need to leave soon. Are you alright?"

Twilight then remembered, it was another nightmare, the same as always. "I-I'm fine..." she whispered as she wiped cold sweat from under her horn.

"No you're not, Twily...please, tell me what's wrong." Shining had knelt beside her now, using his telekinesis on the hem of her cloak to clean caking tears from her cheeks. Twilight looked down, her eyes rapidly bouncing from her hooves to the blanket. She wasn't ready, not now, she didn't want him to worry more. "Please?" Shining's voice sounded beside her ear again.

Twilight grimaced and jerked her head in his direction, "I said I'm fine!" she snapped, receiving a startled blink and slack-jawed mouth in response.

After his initial shock over her outburst, Shining sighed, closing his eyes slowly, "I know you better than that Twily.." He stood to leave his tail brushing gently against her cheek as he turned, whether it was on purpose or not remained a mystery to Twilight. "....but I can take a hint. I'll let you tell me when you're ready. Even if it pains me to see you like this." Shining said over his shoulder in a tone that clearly said; "You've hurt me" before leaving.

Twilight groaned and flopped onto her blanket, blinking back unwanted tears as the tent flaps fell to their former places. Putting her head in her hooves she inhaled deeply and shakily to steady her emotions. Snapping at him was not her intention, but she felt so confused, so frustrated with these dreams, she just couldn't bring herself to talk about it. Even if she could, she wasn't sure she would anyways. If she could get past it she would leave it at that, the past.

Twilight took one final deep breath and stood, rummaging around in her pile of clothes as she dressed herself again. After she had re-fastened her crimson cloak upon her shoulders, she sheathed her sword and stepped outside the tent. Rarity smiled at her, but she had clearly been talking to a downcast Shining Armor, who sat a few inches away from her. Her smile seemed forced, and Twilight couldn't blame her, still limping heavily on her hind leg, she tentatively walked towards them.

"Rarity, could I talk to Shining...alone?" Twilight asked, looking to the alabaster unicorn for an answer.

"Of course, Twilight." Rarity nodded and made for the other side of the camp.

Twilight shuffled next to her brother and carefully lowered herself onto her haunches, looking about anxiously. An awkward silence fell upon them, leaving her alone in her thoughts. "I'm not mad at you Twilight." Shining said in a near-whisper. Twilight looked at him in surprise, she hadn't expected him to talk first. "I'm just upset, I suppose, I don't really get why you wouldn't want to tell me about it. I'm your brother, I could find a way to help in the least!" Shining punctuated his last sentence by tossing his hooves in the air and letting them fall back to his sides.

Twilight looked down at the ground in shame, "I'm sorry Shining...I promise I-I'll tell you..when I'm ready." she said hesitantly, peeking up through her bangs.

Shining sighed and nodded, moving to stand, Twilight intercepted him with a tight hug, causing him to fall onto his back in surprise. "Twily wha..?" he mumbled, taking in the fact that she was hugging him willingly. She had initially refused or protested against any physical comfort from him since they had gotten to Maraudon. Now he tentatively pat her back in return, receiving a tighter squeeze in response. Twilight looked up at him with a smile before letting go, trotting away from him gaily, despite the limp in her step.

"I take it she apologized then?" Rarity chuckled as she approached, helping Shining to his hooves.

"Yes, you could say that. But she still won't tell me about the dreams. And I can't help but be worried..." Shining looked at his sister sadly as she hummed a tune to herself while packing her saddlebags.

"Like I said Shining, give her time, she'll open up when she's ready." Rarity gave his shoulder a reassuring pat and trotted off to help Twilight pack.

Shining nodded and followed suit, although he was still worried about Twilight - and he would be either way - he put it to the back burner. His job now was to help Twilight with her mission, personal problems would come later. I suppose... he thought to himself.

Twilight led the way through the caverns, carefully peeking around corners and turns before proceeding. So far they hadn't met any creatures, but that didn't make them feel any safer. The fact that it was easy as it was to sneak around set them on edge, fur raised and ears swiveling nervously as they walked.

Although it was a dangerous place, it was still beautiful, somehow sunlight managed to filter down from the heavens into the deep caverns. Whether by magic or by natural means, plants and lovely insects were abundant in every nook and cranny. Rarity sneezed a few times when butterflies landed on her nose, causing the colorful insects to flit away frantically, and leaving Shining and Twilight in a fit of nervous giggles.

Soon the sound of running water met their ears, it was still a distance away, but they heard it nonetheless. "Is there a waterfall up ahead?" Rarity asked, her ears were perked firmly towards the sound as they walked.

"Yes, not that that's necessarily a good thing." Twilight looked over her shoulder towards Rarity as she spoke, "It means we're close to Theradras."

"I thought that's who we were after?" Shining cocked his head in confusion.

"Yes." Twilight nodded, "But we don't know if she knows we're here yet. If she does, we're walking right into a trap. If she doesn't, we still have to fight our way to her."

"Fight what? We haven't seen anything since the hydras." Rarity asked.

"Exactly, all the more likely that they are making it easy for us on purpose." Twilight had turned around to face them now, ears swiveled backwards to catch any sounds from behind. "We need to proceed with caution, Theradras may have gone mad, but I can bet my right hoof she's not completely out of it."

Shining nodded, putting a hoof to his chin in thought, glancing about as he did. Rarity looked around nervously, eyes wide and hooves shuffling. Twilight's ear twitched, she turned about halfway, "Quiet guys! I hear something..." she hissed at her companions, more so to Rarity, who halted her movements with a blush.

Twilight rolled her eyes and looked down the tunnel, she saw nothing, but she could hear something. A deep rumble echoed through the caverns, dust and tiny rocks fell from the ceiling, and all three ponies widened their stances to keep balanced. "What is that?" Shining called out when the rumbling paused.

Twilight opened her mouth to respond when a second quake threw them off-balance once again. All three ponies made for the nearest shelter, the likes of which being a large frond. The rumbling ceased momentarily once they had hidden, Twilight listened carefully, panting and tense, as if ready to run at a moments notice. The rumbling occurred again, not as powerful now, "They are following a pattern, and it's getting further away.." Twilight mumbled, putting a hoof to her chin while she thought about what they could be facing. "Giants!" Twilight gasped in realization, "Don't you guys remember the stories? Theradras had giant stone guardians protecting her sanctuary!" The purple unicorn turned to her companions as she spoke.

"Oh, right...I do remember something about that. But, how are we going to take down giants?" Shining glanced at his sword in consideration, stumbling at the next quake.

Twilight thought hard, biting her lip, there was hardly anything to do. Giants had rock for skin, there is not much swords could do against that. They were slow, granted, but they had long strides, and could easily catch up to a galloping pony. If they were quiet enough, perhaps they could sneak past, but giants had keen eyesight, it'd be hard either way...

"What about a teleportation spell?" Rarity suggested.

"I don't know, I'm still recovering from my foolish attempt at an invisibility spell. It all depends on the distance, ponies carried with me, and whether or not the giants spot us." Twilight looked up at her horn while she spoke, the thought of a teleportation spell alone gave her a headache.

Rarity sighed, looking at the caverns around them as if they might yield an answer. "I know!" Shining exclaimed quietly, causing both mares to blink at him curiously. "Twilight, remember that magic trickster from when we were little foals?" he asked.

Twilight sat on her haunches and thought about it. "I think so, Trixie was her name right?"

"Right, she cast this weird spell that caused the air to shimmer around her. While she was behind it, she could move about without anypony seeing her. What type of spell is that?" Shining explained quickly before he looked to his sister for her answer.

Twilight blinked, "It's called an illusion spell, you tried to get me to do it yesterday. It only lasts about twenty seconds, and it's flimsy, mages usually use it for quick getaways." she clarified.

"Is it simple enough for you to cast? We could use it to sneak past the giants." Rarity proposed.

"Yes, it is indeed simple, but like I said, it is flimsy, we'd only have twenty seconds - tops - to make it past the giants." Twilight stood and looked around the corner of the cavern wall. The tunnel ahead was alight with a natural glow, seemingly leading to the outside. "I need to see what we are up against to be sure it's a safe strategy." she turned to Shining for a brief moment while she spoke, and if waiting for him to stop her.

Shining nodded slowly, "We've got your back..."

Twilight smiled, turning to trot out and into the tunnel. Following the light swiftly led her to a large opening, big enough for giants to pass through, that was certain. Now that she thought about it, all of the caverns were tall enough for giants. Ahead of her was a ledge of stone, marbled by mosses and small ferns. To her right was a bridge, long, thin, and guarded by giant stone ponies. The giants stood unwavering, simply staring ahead. Twilight noticed another one of them slowly turning around on the far side of the bridge, That must have been the one causing the quakes we felt. Twilight made a mental note of just how heavy these elementals were, they shook the ground violently with each step, four steps, each within five seconds of eachother.

"We'll have to make a move now, otherwise that one will shake us to our deaths." Twilight indicated the giant who had just finished its slow turnabout. Shining and Rarity readied themselves and followed Twilight as she galloped towards a nearby fern. They hid behind it carefully, trying not to disturb the fronds so as to keep from attracting the attention of the giants.

Twilight took in deep, calming breaths as her adrenaline began to surge. Heart pounding, she steeled herself and closed her eyes, focusing on the arcane energy in the air. "I'm casting...be ready.." she whispered to her companions, who tensed in preparation. Twilight took one more deep breath, she pictured the bridge in her mind. Using her horn to determine where they were, how far to the nearest hiding place, and carefully channeling the energy in the air into itself.

The spell was, indeed, a simple one, but she took her time due to her magical reserves having been over-exhausted recently. Plus she also wanted it to last as long as possible, if it cut out when they were only halfway to the nearest hiding spot, they were doomed. "Now!" Twilight whispered, galloping from behind the fern, Rarity and Shining close on her heels.

They made it past the first two stone ponies, who barely blinked as they passed. Rarity noticed a faint shimmer above them, the spell concealed the path Twilight was leading them on, giving the illusion that nothing was truly there. Twilight came to a skidding halt just behind another large fern, panting in relief.

"It worked!" Shining whispered, looking back at the path they had taken, the spell faded mere seconds after they had made it.

"Yes, it did...but we need a backup plan." Twilight looked at the path ahead, considering once again how much distance stood between them and the nearest fern. The stone giant was nearer now, but luckily for them the elemental was quite slow. It may have been closer, but it was more or less because of the fact that they had approached it. It was barely making its way back across the bridge.

"By Luna's moon, they are slow!" Rarity chuckled quietly, her good mood cut short when the rumble of the giants footsteps reached them.

"Rarity, I need your help if they spot us." Twilight turned her head to look over her shoulder at the other mare.

"Of course, with what?" Rarity came closer, listening intently.

"We are much more likely to be spotted by that one than the other two, if we are spotted, it's endgame for us. Unless..." Twilight looked up at the roof of the cavern, which was split down the middle to reveal the sky above, "We can call down some...backup." Twilight gestured towards the sky as she spoke.

Rarity looked up, narrowing her eyes before they widened, "Of course! What would we do with it though?"

Twilight grinned, "We most likely cannot take them all down, but we can take out the bridge." the purple unicorn looked at the ground and stomped her hoof twice to emphasize her words.

Rarity nodded, "Now be ready, I'm casting again." Twilight's horn glowed as the shimmer in the air returned, lighting a new path for them. Shining and Rarity moved to stand on either side of her while she cast the spell. "Go!" Twilight burst into a gallop and followed her trail.

She was galloping faster than she was last time, no doubt trying to beat the time they had before the spell ran out. The shimmer began to falter, and she noticed the giant ahead of them look down towards their position. Her heart began to pound again as it spell started to fade once more, "Faster!" Twilight hissed, putting everything she had into making it to the next frond.

Rarity and Shining galloped past her at that, arriving at the fern barely a second before she did. Twilight panted heavily and felt her legs buckle from the stress of running. She held her right hind leg up off the ground as it throbbed in pain, she had disregarded the shooting needles of pain that had surged through her leg while she ran. Now she wasn't sure if she could make it past the giant, who was now suspicious and had slowed its gait even further.

"I...don't think I can go another length just yet..." Twilight panted, shaking as she lowered her injured leg gently to the ground.

Rarity moved to pick up her leg when she realized Twilight was in pain, casting a soft yellow glow over the limb. Twilight felt a warm wave of relief wash over the leg and sighed, lowering her head to the ground while Rarity worked. She noticed it then, the bridge was barely shaking, the giant was taking slow, carefully placed steps. "It knows we're here..." Shining whispered, following Twilight's gaze. The giant's beady eyes were now narrowed at their hiding place, and it took a tentative step towards them.

Twilight stood, interrupting Rarity's spell, "No time for that! Lets go now!" she cast the spell as fast as she could and began to run, limping heavily on her leg and gasping as fiery needles of pain shot up the limb. Shining came up beside her and kept her from tripping. The spell was already fading, and they were just barely past the giant's hind legs. The giant itself had begun to halt it's approach on the frond they had hidden behind, turning it's head to look behind as Twilight's spell faded completely. The sound of their hooves pounding against the bridge suddenly coming into existence.

"Rarity, now!" Twilight called to the other unicorn as her horn alighted with an intense glow. The giant let out a warning call to it's two companions, who turned about surprisingly fast and began to proceed down the bridge. Rarity's horn began to glow as well, and she gritted her teeth as she galloped towards the end of the bridge with Twilight and Shining.

Twilight's leg was starting to give out, Just a little further! she told herself, willing more of what precious little power she had left into her horn, feeling Rarity's power combine with it and start the summoning. The giants were shaking the bridge tremendously, but the ponies made it to the end. Twilight collapsed at that, her horn still glowing, Rarity was staring at the bridge fiercely and grunting as the spell completed.

Shining watched as a giant, flaming rock appeared, levitating above the bridge. Twilight and Rarity jerked their horns towards the ground, causing the rock to plummet. The giants skidded on their hooves, sheer size kept their momentum going, the meteor crashed into the bridge, breaking through and down to the water below. Twilight winced as her horn sparked yet another headache, but she smirked in satisfaction when the giants tumbled over the edge of the crumbling bridge.

They most likely wouldn't die, but they would be helpless to stop the trio in their quest now. Rarity began healing Twilight's leg again, gritting her teeth as her magic reserves began to run low. "Twilight, I don't know how you're going to take on Theradras in this condition..." she said quietly, Twilight just lay her head down and closed her eyes, sighing as the healing magic began to do it's work.

Shining was looking about, they were in a lavish garden, in the middle sat a skeleton, and from it burst forth many an exotic plant. "Zaetar's Grave..." he whispered, causing the two mares to look up at him, "..I don't think we are alone..." Shining looked about ominously.

Twilight blinked and looked around, "Out of the frying pan..." Rarity whispered.

"And into the fire..." Shining nodded, in sheathing his sword and readying his shield. Twilight gripped her sword through telekinesis and sat up on her haunches. Wincing, she struggled to stand, Rarity turned her focus back on her injured leg and continued her healing spell at that.

Shining scanned the seemingly lifeless graveyard, searching carefully for movement. He saw none, but he could sense - somehow - that they were being watched, or worse; hunted. A loud footstep startled the trio, and Shining gulped as a shadow was thrown over them. All three ponies turned slowly to look behind them, the legends did not lie when they said Theradras was beautiful, albeit unusual.

The white, earthen horse was elegant and tall, at least twenty feet. Her snout was slender and her wild, auburn mane fell in soft waves over her neck. Her eyes were like piercing emeralds, narrowed angrily at the trio. She wore a teal gem about her neck loose cloth wraps around her legs. There was her most unusual attribute lay; her two extra legs, joining her body underneath her front legs. Theradras was no doubt a beauty, but the way she stared at them and her authoritative tone as she spoke shook them to the core.

"Who are you? What business have you breaking into my home? And how dare you harm my subjects!" Theradras hissed, raising her hooves to stomp on the intruders.

"Twilight!" Shining cried, the mare was still struggling to get to her hooves. He leapt over her and cast a shield spell, blocking the enraged colossus's hooves. Theradras screeched in rage when she hit his barrier, bringing her hooves up for another viscous blow. Rarity fired a beam of fire at her head, catching her off-guard and causing the elemental to stumble.

"Come and get me!" Rarity shouted, disposing of her clothes with a mournful glance before she took off at a gallop. Without the restricting garments she was much faster, but magically impaired, as the clothes enhanced magic wearers. But her taunt worked, and Theradras chased after the mare, of course, they could only run in somewhat amusing circles, as the sanctuary was surrounded by water.

Twilight grunted in her efforts to regain her footing, "Damn leg!" she muttered, Shining put his head under her stomach and lifted her to her hooves. "Thanks." Twilight said steadying herself.

"You should stay here, I'll go help Rarity." Shining suggested, moving to go after Rarity.

"But I need to do this, it's my quest! Tyrande instructed me to..."

"That's irrelevant when your life is on the line Twilight!" Shining interrupted, giving her a cold stare that clearly illustrated he wasn't backing down. Twilight shrank slightly under it, "You're going to stay here, you can't possibly fight with that leg! Sometimes pride is your true enemy Twilight. Let Rarity and me handle this." Shining turned once more, looking over his shoulder with his ears flat, "I can't take the chance of losing you again..."

Twilight blinked, she wanted to help, but his logic was far more sound, and in her thoughts she realized how foolish she must have sounded. "I'm sorry..." Twilight sighed, sitting in her haunches.

Shining nodded, "I know..." he then took off at a gallop, readying his weapons. Rarity yelped as Theradras nearly squashed her with a hoof, her eyes flashing with relief when she saw Shining galloping towards her.

"Finally! What took you so long?" Rarity called as she ran, leaping to dodge a boulder.

"Taking care of my stubborn sister!" Shining charged up his horn and fired a magical blow at Theradras to get her attention. The magic bolt struck her on the head and she stumbled at the contact. She slid to a halt and ceased her pursuit of Rarity, turning angry eyes towards Shining. At which Rarity skidded on her hooves to spin around and fire bolts of holy flame at the elemental.

Theradras flinched under the blasts, and Shining took her distraction as his chance to strike. Raising his sword, he thrust it at her abdomen, it slid through it surprisingly, as if it were flesh instead of rock. Grey "blood" began to seep from the puncture wound and Theradras screeched in a blind rage. Shining pulled the blade back from her body with some difficulty, hardly flinching when the grey liquid sprayed on his face.

Theradras narrowed her eyes at him and raised one of her extra legs, Shining - who was charging her at the time - was knocked back as a vine grew from the ground and crashed into him. He landed with a thud on his side, sliding a few yards before he stopped, getting to his feet with a grunt.
Rarity fired a more intense fire bolt at Theradras's face, once again enraging the stone horse. The unicorn produced her dagger and purposely fired past her head, causing Theradras to turn and watch the bolt smash into the rock walls beyond. Rarity grinned and threw her dagger at the elemental's exposed neck. Like Shining's sword, it sunk into her skin and Theradras screamed in both rage and pain as she stumbled and fell to the floor.

Shining and Rarity glanced at one another while Theradras lay panting on the grass. She was not making a move to fight back, so they approached cautiously. The stone mare had closed her eyes, but opened them wide as she heard their approach. With a cry of defiance she raised her leg and sent both ponies flying back at the walls of the grotto.

Shining and Rarity slumped to the ground, Rarity having been knocked out and Shining disgruntled. Theradras chuckled briefly, coughing up some of her grey blood while she struggled to stand. Once on her feet, she wobbled precariously as she approached the defeated pair. "Now you will die, trespassers!" Theradras hissed with a grin. And she began to raise her hoof when a powerful magic blast struck her from behind.

Twilight had limped out into the open, and was holding her sword at the ready while her horn glowed with intense purple light. "Don't you dare touch them again!" she yelled, firing at Theradras, who could hardly react in time as the second blast crashed into her. Like an ethereal hand, the magic gripped her throat and dragged her towards Twilight, who readied her sword. In desperation, she began to summon vines, the likes of which were easily blasted aside by Twilight.

Theradras, big as she was, cowered once she was close enough for Twilight to peer into her eyes with fierce determination. Her bared teeth relaxed into a frown as she stared into Theradras's frightened eyes. "I'm sorry..." Twilight's own eyes became soft, maybe even sad, and she plunged the ready blade into Theradras's heart.

Theradras gasped and coughed, her legs stopped flailing, and she collapsed entirely as Twilight's magic released her. Theradras widened her eyes as her mind cleared of the darkness that had shrouded it, looking to Twilight as tears formed in them. She reached a weak hoof shakily towards her neck, and ripped the gem that hung there from it. With great determination and willpower, she pushed it towards the purple unicorn. "Thank...you..." she rasped, closing her eyes as she relaxed her muscles one last time. "Zaetar...I'm with you..at..last.." Theradras whispered hoarsely. One last cough and a brisk, wheezing inhalation came before her body went still.

Twilight blinked, surprised when a tear or so fell down her own cheeks. "Go in peace, Luna watch over you...ande'thoras ethil..." she prayed, looking up to see the moon called The White Lady in the day sky. It hadn't been there before, but Luna could probably sense Theradras' death, and sent it as a comfort to her followers. Twilight herself, although she didn't know her, felt sorry for her. Theradras was not evil, she was simply overtaken by a darkness that only death could quell.

Twilight's legs began to stumble, and she hadn't realized how much she was shaking. Her injured leg gave out first, and she unexpectedly crumpled to the grass herself. In her burst of power and taking so long to stand on her legs, she had no doubt drained her strength and her mana. The recklessness now took it's toll and she blacked out.

Twilight was standing in Zaetar's Grave, but there was nopony else around. Where had Theradras gone? And where was her brother? Rarity? She couldn't find them. The rim of the grotto Twilight stood in shimmered and caught her eye, as if it were fogged by some strange mist. Walking towards it, she realized she wasn't limping, looking back towards her leg, it was as if she had never been touched by a hydra.

At that Twilight went into a panic, just as the air ahead began to shimmer, coalescing into the shape of Theradras. "By the heavens! I'm dead aren't I?" Twilight cried out in despair.

Theradras chuckled heartily, "No dear child, do not be alarmed, you are simply dreaming." the giant approached Twilight as she spoke, pulling her close and into an unexpected hug. Twilight gasped and went stiff, unsure of what to say, luckily, Theradras did not linger and pulled back before she got too uncomfortable.

"I cannot say in words how grateful I am that you freed me from that horrid dark, Twilight. But I can only hope to repay you with information, as I am no longer a part of the world of the living." Theradras turned and looked around her previous home, "It was so much more once..." she said sorrowfully as she began to stroke the grave she had made for her lover.

Twilight thought over her words for a moment before twisting her muzzle in confusion, "What do you mean information? Is there something I need to know? Or are you just saying you'll answer my questions?"

Theradras flattened her ears, "Both dear." she turned and stared at the wall for a moment, "Though I would prefer to have my mate with me, stop hiding Zaetar!" she called, her frown morphing into a smile as the dryad appeared.

Twilight had to do a double-take, she had never seen a dryad in real life, only pictures and sculptures. It was like a deer, yet as if mixed with her own species, Zaetar was particularly tall as well. He easily reached Theradras's height, with a little extra to his credit due to his antlers. He approached his mate and nuzzled her side, "Sorry my love, it is a pleasure to tease you once again." he chuckled, laughing harder when Theradras bumped him hard enough to make him stumble.

"Well enough of that, Twilight has questions." Theradras's smile vanished again, replaced by a more serious and foreboding expression.

"Indeed she does, but first, we must inform her of him." Zaetar flattened his ears and barred his teeth as he spoke.

Twilight simply sat on her haunches in confusion, This is going to take awhile... she thought. "Him?" she asked, looking up at the two ghosts, who both became more uncomfortable.

"My mate refers to the Old God...C'Thun.." Theradras spoke the latter of her sentence in a whisper, reminding Twilight of the little yellow Pegasus she had met on the road. She couldn't particularly remember her name at the time. "Speaking his name louder than a whisper is unwise, it is because of his return that I descended so deeply into darkness." Theradras continued.

"Wait," Twilight once again scrunched up her muzzle in confusion, "You're saying he returned before your descent? That's over 80 years ago! Why are we just becoming aware of this Old God now?" she asked, saying the phrase with disdain.

Theradras sighed and smiled gently, "Patience dear child, I am getting to that." she proceeded to lay on her stomach, becoming more comfortable for the telling of the story. "As you know, my children, the centaur, were the reason for my consort's death. But they did so not entirely of their own minds, they were possessed by the Old God from the beginning. I came afterwards, when he had pushed me into the depths of despair." Theradras paused, although she was reunited with Zaetar, his death still hurt. "I'll never forget that day...the day darkness enclosed my mind. It was like being trapped inside your own head! I couldn't figure out that I was simply playing through my memories over and over again, for nearly a century." the stone mare paused yet again, leaning into her mate for comfort, "It always started again on the same memory, the day you died."

Zaetar shushed her, "I'm here now, no need to dwell dearest, nothing can separate us anymore."

Twilight shuffled uncomfortably, "Sooo..." she drawled, receiving the attention of the ghosts once again, "..what of the rest of the story?"

Theradras smiled sadly, "Well, the Old God has - no doubt - been up to more than just poisoning my mind. I fear he is at work with something bigger, perhaps reawakening the Qirajians..."

"What?!" Twilight exclaimed, "I thought the Qirajians went extinct? Nopony has seen one for many centuries."

"Perhaps not, but Ahn'Qiraj is indeed awakening. You may not be able to tell, but I can see it now, being in the spirit plane has it's perks you know." Theradras chuckled briefly as she spoke, and so did Zaetar. "But in all seriousness, he must be stopped, no matter what he has planned, it cannot be good."

"Aren't the Old Gods responsible for the Black Dragonflight's descent into madness?" Twilight asked, remembering tales of Neltharion, the Earth Warder, who had gone mad and later been called Deathwing for his actions.

Theradras nodded, "They are only capable of evil, these petty creatures are not worthy of their titles." she snarled, "They are apparently angry that the Titans took Azeroth from them. One could only be glad that the Titans took action when they did, life here would never have continued to exist without them. This was a land of chaos and darkness before then, and it cannot fall back into that state." Theradras gently tapped her hoof on the grass during her sentence to punctuate her words. "Although my mother, Therazane, and the other elemental lords fought for the Old Gods once, she - at least - saw error in her ways and repented. But I fear that is how C'Thun was so easily able to control me." Theradras whispered as she said his name.

"Twilight, even though we are not sure of his plans, the Old God cannot be allowed to remain in this world. You must find a way to put a stop to his existence. Do what you will, assemble armies, rally races around you, but he must be put down, as soon as possible." Zaetar stated in a pleading tone, no doubt he never wanted anyone to be subjected to what his mate went through ever again.

Twilight blinked, "Wha...me? Why me? Wouldn't a world leader be more qualified? Like Tyrande or King Magni?" she asked, pointing her hooves to herself then to her sides, as if weighing something in each hoof.

Theradras and Zaetar looked at each other for a moment, then back to Twilight. "It is a prophecy..." Theradras began, but then the world began to shimmer violently.

"What's happening?" Twilight yelled over the noise.

"You are awaking! Twilight, remember what we have told you!" Theradras and Zaetar began to slip away.

"Wait, you need to finish what you were saying!" Twilight jumped to her hooves and ran towards the fading images, "What prophecy?" she called, her world going black once again as she leapt for them.

"Twilight? Twilight? Are you ok? Please wake up!" Shining's voice came to her as she awoke. Blinking groggily, Twilight looked around, seeing the moon was full in the sky, the sun had set, and the stars were out.

"Shining?" Twilight looked to her frantic brother, who had visibly relaxed and hugged her close.

"Thank Luna! I thought you were gone." Shining whispered.

"If I was dead I wouldn't be breathing you dumbarse." Twilight chuckled, extracting herself from his hooves. "Where's Rarity?" she looked around wearily.

"She was hit pretty hard, she's been out cold since the fight." Shining pointed to the tent he had set up once again. "Looks like we'll be staying here until you're strong enough to make a portal." he helped Twilight to her hooves, steadying her when she wobbled on her injured leg.

"Damn leg!" Twilight muttered, hopping on her other three to keep from putting weight on it. The leg throbbed insistently, and piercing pain shot through it each time she took a step.

Shining sat her down carefully next to a pile of twigs he had prepared for a fire, lighting them with his horn. "Let me see your leg." he instructed, holding out his hooves. Twilight lifted the limb into his waiting grip, laying her head down with a sigh, her thoughts allowed to drift back to her conversation with Theradras.

I forgot to ask her about the necklace! she thought, looking back towards her previous sleeping spot. The amulet sat in the grass, untouched, and Twilight made a mental note to grab it later.

"You have some pebbles and sharp rocks in here, no wonder it hurts so much." Shining put her leg down briefly to get a small dagger out of his belt. Using the tip to gently pry the rocks out of her sensitive hoof-bed. Twilight sighed in relief with each rock gone, feeling much less pain in her hoof, but her leg still throbbed. "There! All clean." Shining smiled, gently placing her leg down once again.

"What about my leg? It still hurts." Twilight lifted it and pouted, pursing her lips.

Shining chuckled, "I'm getting to it, don't worry." he pulled a small vial out of his bag, crimson liquid sloshed around in the glass. Twilight recognized the vial, it was a standard healing potion, made with a mix of Silverleaf and Peacebloom. He pulled the cork out of the vial and unrolled some linen gauze. Shining poured some of the potion onto the gauze before wrapping the cloth around her leg comfortably.

"How's that?" he asked, pulling out another roll of linen and wrapping it over the wet layer.

Twilight felt the potion seeping through her skin, a warm and comforting feeling that spread from the source. "Much better..." she whispered as the throbbing ceased, the potion relaxing her inflamed muscles and making her sleepy. She felt Shining moving her, and lazily opened her eyes to watch him, he had unrolled a blanket and lay her on it, putting another over her shoulders.

"Go ahead and sleep Twily, you've had a long day." Shining nuzzled her cheek before he walked away to sit on the other side of the fire. Twilight might have protested to his affection, but she was too tired to care, and closed her eyes gratefully as sleep came.

Twilight awoke to hunger pangs, lifting her head, she was greeted by Rarity, who had apparently awoken during her sleep. "Good morning, sleep well?" Rarity asked, and Twilight had to keep from salivating at the sight of berries in her hoof.

"Good as I can..." Twilight grumbled, the nightmares were back. She sat up slowly to avoid sparking a headache, and she noticed that Rarity's mane was disheveled. As she had a bandage around the back of her neck, a dried spot of blood having failed to seep through. "Does your head hurt?" she asked, limping on her own bandaged leg to sit next to Rarity.

"Eh...it's ok, I had a headache, but an extra nap took care of it." Rarity gave Twilight a hoof-full of berries, receiving a "thank you" in return.

"Where's Shining?" Twilight asked through a mouth full of food.

"Searching for food and refilling our water jugs." Rarity gestured with her hoof towards the area behind them. Twilight looked over her shoulder to see Shining on the distant side of the grotto. He was searching bushes and trees, which Twilight just noticed were full of fruit.

"How long was I out?" Twilight asked, grabbing her bag with her telekinesis and rummaging through it.

"About a day, maybe more, I can't be sure because I was asleep for most of it." Rarity replied, popping a few more berries into her mouth.

Twilight nodded, finding what she was looking for, a syringe with a strange blue liquid in the glass. Glad I bought that case for it. she thought with a chuckle, it was indeed inside a metal case with a foamy bedding for the instrument. Otherwise it would have certainly broken what with all her fighting during the journey.

"Is that an injector?" Rarity asked with disgust.

"Yes." Twilight picked the syringe up along with a nearly empty canteen, rinsing her foreleg carefully.

"Such a vulgar method, I prefer potions." Rarity looked away while Twilight stuck the needle into her arm, injecting the blue liquid into it. Twilight had never needed it before, but in this case, what with her magic reserves so thoroughly exhausted, a direct mana injection was their fastest bet out of Maraudon.

"Injectors are faster, potions take too long, we'd be stuck here for a week. With this I can make a portal in three days! At the maximum wait.." Twilight removed the needle and cleaned the area gently, wrapping a woolen bandage over it. The injector itself was put back in the box to be cleaned by a professional.

"I know, but it's still horrid. I tried one once, when I was a filly, I accidentally used all my magic reserves and snuck one of my physician's injectors because I had a magic test the next day. It was quite painful, and I'd prefer potions or the wait any day." Rarity shuddered and rubbed her foreleg at the memory.

"Some ponies take better to needles than others." Twilight shrugged, eating more berries. Already her horn was feeling energized and she could tell that her magic reserves were returning. It was painful at first, but surely worth it to get to Darnassus faster.

"Morning Twily." Shining nuzzled her cheek again and she pushed him away gently this time, causing him to chuckle.

"Morning Shining." Twilight smiled, "Have any of Theradras's guardians come around?"

Shining shook his head, "Maraudon is as empty as can be, besides any creatures not from Deepholm, such as her pet crocodile." he gestured towards the falls nearby as he spoke.

"I see, it would make sense, they were following her orders, and now that she is gone, Therazane would be their master once again." Twilight picked up one of the fruits Shining had retrieved and bit into it.

"Who's Therazane?" Rarity asked.

"Theradras's mother." Twilight replied casually.

Rarity choked on the berry she had swallowed, coughing twice before speaking, "She wouldn't..*cough!* be angry with us for killing her daughter, would she?" she asked fearfully.

Twilight blinked, "I hadn't thought of that."

Shining groaned, "Now we're going to have an angry elemental-queen after us aren't we?"

"No I don't think so, the legends said Therazane was a gentle being, slow to anger. I am sure she would not be happy, and probably would hate us even, but she prefers to keep to herself. I doubt she would hunt us up here, besides, she surely must know that it was for Theradras's own good." Twilight stated matter-of-factly, although she didn't look convinced of it herself.

An uncomfortable silence fell upon them, the only sounds being birds chirping and the falls. "So, what do we do now? Go our separate ways?" Rarity asked, "I'm sure my aunt is probably wanting to see me home safe."

Shining dug his hoof into the grass, purposefully occupying himself. "I'm not sure." Twilight began, "Theradras told me about something, and I think I'm going to need all the help I can get."

At that Shining perked, "What do you need help with? You know I'll always be available right?"

Twilight giggled, "Of course Shining, I knew you'd jump at the chance to stay with me." she let her smile fall as she remembered something. Standing, she limped over to Theradras's corpse, picking up the amulet she had given her before limping back to the camp.

"What's that?" Rarity asked, peering over.

Twilight slowly lowered herself onto her haunches, wincing when her leg throbbed a few times. "Something Theradras gave to me. I don't know what it is though." she inspected the ocean-green gem. After not finding anything interesting, she shrugged and stuffed it into her bag.

"How did Theradras talk to you? I thought you killed her?" Shining asked.

"I was dreaming, but she was there, and so was Zaetar. They told me that an Old God was the reason for her downfall." Twilight began, "She said I need to see to it that he is destroyed."

"Why you?" Shining shuffled closer.

"I don't know, I woke up before she could explain, and the second time I slept she wasn't there. It was like before, when I have...trouble..." Twilight trailed off, avoiding eye contact with Shining, who couldn't decide whether to put a hoof on her shoulder or not.

"I see, well, if you need me to help, you know I'm there." Shining said, looking to Rarity at the same time as Twilight.

Rarity thought about it for a time, "I suppose I'm with you as well, can't hurt to go on another potentially life-threatening quest right?" Twilight and Shining chuckled, after which another long silence fell over the group.

Twilight finally took a deep breath, "Zaetar seemed to think I'd need a lot of help, perhaps we should recruit some friends? Tyrande might be able to help." she looked to her companions for their opinions.

Rarity nodded, "I'm sure she could back us up with the Sentinel Forces."

"I don't really have anything besides my guard, and they actually belong to Tyrande in all honesty." Shining said, "By the way, where would this Old God be? And how would we take him down if the Titans seemingly couldn't?"

Twilight looked at him with uncertainty, "He's in Ahn'Qiraj, and I have no idea...I suppose, but if they trusted me, we should be able to do it." she looked down and furrowed her brow, apprehensive about everything Theradras had tasked her with.

"Which Old God is it? I know of both, but you know the thing about speaking their names." Rarity said, "Is it the...hmm, how would I say it? Eyes or mouths?" she brought her alabaster hoof to her mouth in thought while she spoke.

"I've never read of them, so I wouldn't know, but his name starts with a C." Twilight replied, "I believe the Druid mare we met talked about him."

"Fluttershy you mean." Rarity corrected, "I see...though neither would have been preferable." she joked.

Twilight chuckled, "Indeed not, Rarity...indeed not."

Twilight awoke refreshed the next day, and she immediately went into a meditative state. Although Mages tended not to be the spiritual type, they sometimes used meditation to restore themselves and attune with Luna or Celestia. In Twilight's case, as she was a Night Elven pony, Luna.

She sat on her haunches and relaxed her muscles, inhaling and exhaling evenly. Her eyes were closed, and her ears sagged in her relaxation. All her focus was in her horn, where her magical ley lines were. Twilight focused on the energy flowing through her, studying its path and intensity. She began to feel even more restoration than when she used an injection the day before. And she could feel Luna's presence; strong, cool, and gentle magic.

Twilight stayed like that for a couple of hours, after which she got to her hooves and slowly stretched. Careful of her healing leg, she limped back into the camp just as Shining and Rarity were waking. "I'm ready to cast the portal spell." Twilight announced.

Shining looked up sleepily, "Are you sure?"

"Positive, I've had time enough, and I used an injector. Just now I've been meditating, I'm perfectly prepared and ready." Twilight began to pack her bags, ushering for them to do the same.

Rarity and Shining scrambled to pack, following Twilight's lead. Twilight herself finished and prepared a portal rune from her satchel. The flat, burnt orange rock had a neon green, circular rune in the middle. Twilight began channeling magic into it, pulling the bulk of her output from the arcane energy in the air. This method would save her reserves from being overused, and the rune began to glow brightly.

"Are you guys ready?" Twilight asked, turning to her companions while she held the rock in her telekinesis.

Shining and Rarity were finishing as they responded; "Almost!"

"Just nearly dear."

Twilight nodded and stood patiently, waiting for them. Almost simultaneously came the call of; "Done!" and both unicorns were at her side.

"Alright then, to Darnassus, and then, to Ahn'Qiraj." Twilight threw the rock on the ground, at which it dispersed into dust. The air above it shimmered violently and began to swirl over the image of the Elven city. Twilight motioned for Rarity and Shining to go through, after their forms disappeared she looked back once more before she followed, unsure of the journey yet ahead.

Author's Note

The true villain has been revealed! I hope I described Theradras well, she's not very pretty in the actual game but in my story she's very unique.

In case anyone wants to know what they are saying in the song, here's the translation:
By the light,
By the light of the sun
Children of the blood
Our enemies are breaking through
Children of the blood
By the light
Failing children of the blood
They are breaking through
O' children of the blood
By the light of the sun
Failing children of the blood
They are breaking through
O' children of the blood
By the light of the sun
The sun

I accidentally deleted this chapter when I was working on it before, I had to start again from scratch and it took a whole month to rewrite it!
Next chapter: new pony(ponies) joining the group!
As usual, I appreciate feedback on mistakes and such. And some comments would be nice