The very heart of the world rests underneath its tallest mountain. Below Crackspire Peak lies a maze of caverns and tunnels, long abandoned by whatever people who had in furor dug themselves deeper and deeper into the earth’s beating chest. It only now occurs to Scorpan that the occupants of this catacomb could have in all likeliness been digging up, away from what sits just underneath.
Scorpan walks with no hurry in his step, across subterranean bridges and over gaping holes that drop into empty blackness. In the tunnels there are dusty, forgotten skeletons, half-buried in dirt—each one all that’s left of some lost creature who had died clutching at itself in darkness.
For the longest time, only one other living being knew the path from the caves at the surface down to the very bottom. Now there are five.
There are no bones in the lowest reaches of the caverns. As Scorpan approaches the deepest chamber, he feels the familiar slow throbbing beat that shakes the dirt beneath his feet. From below him comes the muffled growls and howls of something very, very angry.
At last, he steps into the final chamber. It is huge: easily large enough to hold a castle. Far above, the roof shines with a faded, orange light. Though faint from the distance, it is enough to see by. Scorpan puts out the torch he carries.
Once, long ago, Scorpan had flown up to the roof of the cave and had seen the round, glowing stones pressed into the ceiling, the color of fire and shining as bright as suns. He had plucked one of the rocks from its perch, only for it to dim and melt away into nothingness in his hand.
Now, near the entrance of the room is a white coated unicorn, his dark mane and beard just beginning to pale with age. The bells in his cloak and hat jingle and clank as Star Swirl approaches.
“It is nearly done,” says the wizard. “The Princesses have subdued him and are preparing the spell at this moment.”
Scorpan looks past Star Swirl. “Let me speak to him.”
Star Swirl nods, and together they walk to the center of the chamber.
“You!” cries Tirek, as soon as the pair comes into sight. He pounds his mighty arms against the dome of crackling magic that imprisons him. “You led them here! What have you done, Scorpan?” Spittle foams and flicks from his mouth as he speaks.
“I warned you, Tirek. I begged you, brother.”
With a bellow of rage Tirek tears the medallion from his neck and charges it with magic. Nothing happens. Screaming in frustration, he slams it against the walls around him.
“I’ve told the Princesses about all our plans. About every trap you set for them. There is nothing you can do now.”
“Where is my brother?” Tirek rages. “Where is the one who fought and bled with me? Where is the one who crafted the very weapons we used to strike down our father?” He shakes the amulet at Scorpan.
Around his magical prison, Celestia and Luna are carving runes and sigils into the stone floor. Their brows are wet with their exertion as their magic cleaves the rock. Scorpan silently watches their work for a moment before turning back to Tirek.
“I regret the person I was. I regret each life we took. As should you.”
“And why? Because of friendship?” The word is spat out with disgust. “Barkings of a mad dog! To accept friendship is to invite betrayal and defeat.”
“No, brother.”
“No?! Hypocrite!” He stamps his hooves, cracking the stone. “Here I stand, trapped, and you still call me ‘brother,’ you weasel!”
“Tirek, I—”
“Speak not my name, traitor! You may have deceived yourself, but not I! I know your true nature.”
Luna and Celestia turn to Star Swirl. The wizard nods and speaks to Scorpan. “We’re ready.”
Scorpan only hesitates a moment before saying, “Then, begin.”
Three horns light with magic while the runes glow and growl. Slowly the earth opens up around Tirek to swallow him. The sound of hounds echoes through the chamber.
Tirek roars in fury. “You don't fool me! You cannot live in a world of flowers and ponies! Your true self calls to you!”
With a rumble, the ground closed above Tirek, muting his words.
For a long while, Scorpan stares at the unbroken spot of earth where his brother disappeared into. Finally, he whispers, “What if he's right?"