For the Power of a God

“I’m telling you, there’s something weird about that book.” Noon had come and Twilight and her friends began their picnic. They settled on a bluff overlooking the grassy plain; the tree they sat under was the only one for miles. Gently rolling grassland met with clear, blue sky, the perfect setting to enjoy a day with friends.  The red and white checkered blanket floated down as Twilight’s friends began the preparations.

“I just don’t see what’s so wrong ‘bout a silly old book,” commented Applejack. “It just don’t seem worth the fuss.”

“I think that if Twilight thinks it’s a big deal, it probably is. I mean, that’s just what I think,” Fluttershy piped in. “I mean, remember that time with the letter?”

“Yea, we all remember how worked up an egghead like you got over something like that. What’s up with the book then anyway?” Rainbow Dash said, floating above Twilight and eying the book with disinterest.

“That’s just it, I don’t exactly know. I think it made me dream about a time in the past, a time near when the book was published, but I’m not sure,” Twilight replied. “I think there might be an enchantment on the book that transfers its contents to the reader.”

Pinkie gasped. “Maybe it’s supposed to tell everyone secrets about the future! Oh! Have it read my future Twilight! I want to know about the new flavour cupcakes the Cakes are baking! Please, please, pleaaase!” She hopped up and down in front of Twilight, the former not bothering to explain how illogical her friend’s statement was.

“Well, sugercube, since you’re the resident go-to-pony ‘bout all things magical and the like, you would know better’n’all of us put together.”

“You could always ask Rarity. She might not be as adept as you, but I’m sure she could help. She always talks about you inspiring her to learn more about magic at our spa get-togethers.” Fluttershy always had a lot to say about Rarity, mostly because Rarity had a lot to say.

“Where is that drama queen anyway? She was supposed to help me make my tricks look flashier yesterday, but never showed up.” Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground with a pout and crossed arms.

“She’s probably just busy with another one her fancy schmacy orders,” suggested Applejack. She shuddered as the memory of Twilight’s sleepover reminded her of how froufrou her creations could be.

Twilight mulled at how little help her friends were when it came to magic, but tried to enjoy the picnic. The beautiful weather definitely helped her mood and soon she forgot about the dusty old book and focused on having fun. As Spike’s sandwiches and Pinkie’s cupcakes ran out, the group started to rest, the sun dipping low on the horizon. Sunlight began to fade as the fatigued group drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

***

Luna’s night had already materialized when Twilight finally awoke. She lay beside her friends with her eyes closed, soaking in the cool, summer breezes that washed over her. She opened her eyes just a crack, only to be greeted by a mare, fully clad in dark garments. Twilight tried to cry out in surprise, but a hoof immediately found her mouth to stifle her call. Panic struck, as she tried to warn her friends with kicks and screams.

“Make any noise and you die here. Don’t even think about blinking out,” the unfamiliar voice commanded. It sounded as if she was speaking through a gag and couldn’t articulate properly. Regardless, the blade at Twilight’s throat prevented her from any movement and casting would be obvious and require too much time. With closer inspection, it seemed that the blade was attached to the underside of her fore hoof and could easily be retracted. The assailant’s attire was composed of strips of black fabric that gave her a mummified look, loose ends trailing in the wind.

“Where is the book?” questioned the mare. Her piercing, bright golden eyes scanned the picnic area. Twilight forced herself to not look behind the tree where all their saddlebags were. The golden eyes studied her intently.

“You’re gaze, it’s avoiding the tree.” As she slowly got up to check the tree, her blade still pointed at Twilight, a blur of blue tackled her to the ground. Rainbow Dash grabbed her adversary’s hind leg and lifted her off the ground with her fore hooves.

“What the hay do you think you’re doing pointing a knife at my friend, huh?” Rainbow looked down to realize that her capture wasn’t flailing, which is what normally happens when non-pegasi ponies are lifted off the ground. Instead, she lifted herself up and swiped where Rainbow was grabbing her.

“Whoa, calm down lady.” Rainbow let go as the attacker landed on her feet and bolted to the trees.

“Ohh, no you don’t.” Twilight erected a force field in front of the tree and the cloaked figure rebounded off of it. The sounds of the struggle caused her friends to slowly awake from their slumber.

“Wh….what’s going on? What’s with the all ruckus?”

“And I was having such a lovely dream about chocolate covered frosting…mmm…chocolate covered frosting.”

“Don’t you see the…” But as quickly as she appeared, the silent assassin was gone. Twilight scanned the horizon. Where could she have hidden on such a levelled out plain? she thought.

“Oh man did you see me Twilight? I totally saved your life there with my signature Rainbow tackle.”

“Uhh, I’m grateful that you saved my life, but wasn’t that just a normal tackle?”

“Oh, Twilight, I knew you wouldn’t understand.” Rainbow Dash shook her head disapprovingly.

“Is anypony going to tell us just what the hay just went on ‘round here?” Applejack gave them an inquiring look.

“I was attacked by some black bandage wearing freak when Rainbow Dash saved me. She probably didn’t notice her sleeping on a nearby cloud,” Twilight explained. “She wanted the book and held a knife to my throat to get it." She swallowed visibly, still feeling the cold tip of the blade against her neck, the fear the she could’ve died finally seeping in. “I have to tell Princess Celestia. Go home everyone, the night isn’t safe,” said the trembling unicorn. Her friends were reluctant to leave her after such a traumatizing experience, but Twilight insisted that she be alone to deal with what had happened.

“The least we can do is walk you home,” said a concerned pink pony, an unusual frown robbing the place her smile would usually occupy. The fearful unicorn complied, relieved that her friends were by her side on the way back to the library.

***

“Spike, take a letter.”

“On it.” The dragon rushed over to the drawer and picked out some parchment and a quill.

Twilight began detailing all the events that happened to her the past two days. Had it really been only two days? The discovery of the book and the events that led up to the attack had felt like weeks. Near death experiences will do that to a pony, I guess.

“…and I request your immediate council, your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Got it!” exclaimed the dragon. He had calmed down immensely since Twilight relayed the news of what had transpired that night. Several scorched paper bags littered the floor; hyperventilating had always been a problem when it came to Spike’s panic attacks.

“Send it, hopefully the princess will answer soon,” Twilight said as Spike opened the window and sent the letter in a magical green flame. Almost as soon as it was sent, Spike grabbed his belly and belched out a letter that Twilight quickly grabbed with magic.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student,” Twilight read. “Though your situation is very concerning, my duties in Canterlot prevent me from visiting and offering my guidance directly. I know you will be able to keep yourself and the book safe with the help of the other Elements of Harmony until I am able to make the trip.” Twilight’s jaw dropped, too shocked to finish reading the letter.

“Does she not realize that I could’ve been killed tonight? No, the princess trusts me. I’ll do everything I can to learn about and protect this book.” Twilight read and re-read the letter just to be sure she understood what Princess Celestia was telling her. If this was simply petty theft, the princess would have just asked me to send the book to her. The fact that she wants to come personally must mean that there is more to this then I originally thought. Twilight glanced nervously at the saddlebags she left beside her desk. She brought the book out and scanned through it once more, hoping to find something she missed.

“Wait a minute, this wasn’t there before.” The last page of the book seemed to have some writing etched on its margins, flowing script that were similar to the study notes that she would always write. “It looks like some sort of spell, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Maybe ‘Interpreting Indiscriminate Incantations' would help?” suggested Spike, pulling it out of a nearby shelf. A blanket of magic formed over the book as Twilight brought it to the desk.

“Hmm, the only thing this tells me is that it might be a summoning spell. That isn’t enough information.” She glanced at the spell once again, an uncertainty filling her. “The easiest way to figure this out is to just cast the spell and deal with whatever comes out. That way, I’ll have a better control of the situation and understand the book a little more,” she reasoned. Her curiosity always got the better of her.

“Ok, Twilight, but be careful, you don’t exactly know what’s going to come out of there.” Spike shuffled nervously, the apprehensiveness evident in his body language. “I mean, what if it summons a dragon?”

“According to the book, a simple spell like this can only summon something small. Besides, living creatures wouldn’t survive a summoning as basic as this,” assured Twilight. “I’ll set up some defences just in case anything happen, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.” Twilight set up a few wards before addressing her assistant. “Run down the appropriate ward safety check list.”

The baby dragon ran to the wardrobe and fetched out a list contained on several papers stapled together.

“Magic nullification ward?”

“Check.”

“Physical barrier ward?”

“Check.”

“Isolated system ward?”

“Check.”

…

***

Twilight’s horn glowed when an intense bright magenta glow as she began forming the magical matrices in her mind. As she cast the spell she felt a sharp tugging at her chest. She looked down and gasped when she saw a white tether connecting her body to what seemed like empty air. A faint outline of a stallion seemed to emerge at the other end of the tether, but faded as quickly as it appeared. Twilight poured more magic into the spell, in hopes of getting answers from the stallion she just saw. Suddenly, a bright flash enveloped the room before everything went pitch black.

“Twilight!” cried a worried purple dragon.

“I’m right here Spike!” Twilight called out to her assistant, but their voices seemed to echo off the very darkness that consumed them. A voice, seemingly belonging to the darkness, pulsated from all around them; an ominous presence filled the entire room.

A quest for power so long ago, the seeds of destruction it did sow.

Champions of light and dark alike, fought each other, strike with strike.

Their souls forever bound to me, tethered until I agree

To allow a fight for divination, their bodies reformed for the duration.

A war of the millennia, Masters will install, Heroes at their beck and call.

In one day, they will appear, to make your objective very clear.

The disembodied voice resounded painfully through Twilight’s mind until an eerie silence permeated the silence.

“Spike?” As soon as the silence was broken, the darkness was lifted and Twilight was back in her library. She realized that she felt extremely exhausted and fell asleep before reaching the ground, her assistant already snoring on the other side of the room.

***

Golden eyes watched them through the library window, their owner swearing to herself as she watched the events unfold. She thought she would be able to steal the book when Twilight was asleep and leave unnoticed, but it appeared that the lavender unicorn had other plans for it. Things were not going according to plan. She knew she had to participate in this silent war whether or not she wanted to. She looked up at the still darkened sky and galloped back to her hideout. Since it has come to this, even more preparations are necessary. She sighed; this night was really beginning to suck.

***

A flash of green fire lit up in front of Princess Celestia, materializing into a letter. She closed her eyes after she read the report from the most faithful student.

“Luna,” she telepathically called out to her sister.

“It is time.”