The Forgotten Kindgom

Chapter 3

Shining Armor and Princess Cadence rush inside Princess Celestia's room expecting her to be asleep. Surprisingly she was awake and stood in front her window starring out at the big almost red moon.

“Princess!” Shining Armor shouted. “There is something wrong with Twilight! We...” He got interrupted.

“I know.” Said Celestia “I have had the same feeling the whole night, but at night I don't have my fully power so I sent Luna to search for her and...”

Celestia closes her eyes as a tear slowly runs down her cheek.

“And?” Cadence asked.

“And now I fear the worst. As you can see the moon has a faint glow of red, and this glow increasing in color. When the moon is fully red that means Luna isn't with us anymore.” Celestia said with a serious voice.

“But...” Cadence started.”Only another Princess can kill a Princess when she are at her full power.”

“Exactly.” Answered Celestia.

“Wait Wait!” Shining Armor said. “Let me get this strait. You mean that out there in the Everfree Forrest is another Princess that is somehow now trying to kill Luna?”

“Yes, or it could be worse! Follow me!” Celestia exited her quarters without telling where she were going.

Meanwhile in Everfree Forrest.

“Ah Luna my dear Luna. I see that you are not banished anymore. How bad. I could use some of that Nightmarish power you had.” Pain Said with a grin.

“If... You don't release Twilight.... You will soon see some of that power!” Luna said between the sobs.

“Ah so cute, but you see...” Pain's horn started to glow and Luna's almost lifeless body got struck by a lighting. “I have your life in a bag, and I need Twilight to resurrect my dear family.”

Pain turned around and stared at Twilight's lifeless body, which was levitating in blue electrified force field. Around the force field were three stone coffins with golden edges. Inside these coffins laid three skeletons of once mighty kings and queen. Repetitively blue lightnings struck Twilight's body to drain energy to wake up these skeletons.

“Not long now. Soon my brothers will we rule this world once again!” Pain said with a evil grin while circling the coffins of her brothers.

A voice echoed inside the walls of the ruined Castle.

“PAIN! You need to kill the moon controller. The blood red moon will make this ritual faster! I can feel the power! I need this!”

“Y—Yes Brother!” Pain answered with a shaken voice.

The blue lighting formed at Pain horn once again. A light screamed through the air and struck Luna. A unpleasant scream filled the castle ruins. Luna's head hit the floor and the moon slowly faded in to blood red.

A laughter echoed followed by a deep voice.

“Haha. Good. Now we only need to find and destroy the other one!”

Meanwhile in Canterlot Library.

Princess Celestia, Cadence and Shining Armor was walking past bookcase after bookcase until Celestia stopped.

“Here it is. Follow me.” Celestia's horn stared to glow and a secret passages way in the wall opened.

On the way down the spiral staircase Celestia started to explain what was going on.

“A long time ago, when my grandparents ruled Canterlot there was an empire that reached all over Equestria. There was four rulers that ruled it but Canterlot was still standing tall and was not conquered.” They reached the bottom of the stairs. In the  end of the hallway was an old wooden door. Celestia opened it and inside was hundreds of old dusty books, maps and other various things.

In the corner stood a piece of armor and a sword. Celestia walked over to it let out a sight and said.

“This was once my grandfathers Armor, with this sword he defeated the brutal warrior king. I don't enjoy to say this but. If the time comes, you Shining Armor must wear this and Protect Canterlot just like my Grandfather did!”

“It would be an honor my Princess.” Shining Armor answered.

Celestia started to go through the books of her grandfather and stumbled upon what looked like a diary. With a magic lock, there were a note stuck on the side. “To my beloved Granddaughters. I write this as a warning for the future when you will be the rulers of Canterlot. I explain it in the diary. I have chosen a spell to lock and keep this diary secret. A spell only you can break.”

Celestia though for a while and didn't notice that Shining Armor and Cadence had left the room. Her horn started to glow and the lock on the book slowly opened.

The pages flipped fast and stopped on the last page.

“Day 364 after the fall of the empire and the warrior king.

I had this dream tonight, a dream about a purple unicorn. Her name is still crystal clear in my thoughts. Twilight Sparkle. She has a power that no one. Not even I can possess. But with great powers comes great responsibility. If she gets captured by one of these empire kings or queens. I fear the worst for Equestria. Celestia my first born granddaughter if you read this you most stop the ritual. If the moon is red you only have until dawn to stop it. I most go now but I am watching you from the other side.”

The page ends there.

Celestia stood and though about what she had read, from the hallway she heard hoofs running fast towards her. She turned around just as the door flung open.

“Celestia come quick!” It was Shining Armor.

They entered Celestia's living quarters and already on place was Princess Cadence staring at the blood red moon. Tears filling her eyes.

Celestia slowly walked towards the window her head pointed down at the floor. When she reached the window she slowly lifted her head and saw the terrible sight. She could not hold it in anymore. She collapsed on the floor and stared to cry.

“Shining! Find the General and take some men and find Twilight. I will stay here with Celestia. Put a stop to this madness!” Cadence shouted.

Surprised by the tone Cadence used, he quickly made a salute and ran away.

Shining Armor ran through the corridors in Canterlot and ordered every guard he passed by to follow him. With almost every royal guard in Canterlot he reached the general. “Come with me general, we have to find my sister!” The general looked behind Shining Armor and saw the army or royal guards that followed him and knew he was serious.

Meanwhile in Everfree Forrest.

The voice echoed again.

“Be on your guard Pain I can feel someone coming with a great numbers of followers. They feel.... Strong.”

“Don't worry brother I have it under control. Just mind your own business of getting your body back, okay?” Pain said annoyed. “Ah but soon we will rule this world again brother, I can feel her power draining, soon brother soon you will have the power you once had!”

“Follow me we most hurry! There is no time!” Shining Armor shouted.

The royal guards followed him as they made their way to the castle ruins.

“PAIN! They are closing in! Do something! NOW!” The voice shouted.

“Fine!” Her horn glowed. “There done! Happy now?”

As shining armor and his troops ran down the narrow path he could feel that something was wrong.

“Halt!” He ordered his men.

It was silent in the Forrest, to silent. The ground beneath them started to crack open.

“Back up! Back up!” The general shouted.

From the ground rose undead warrior ponies. Some of them was only skeletons from the years of decomposing and other had just stared to decompose.

“Stand your ground! Wait for my command!” Shining Armor stood in front of his troops and the corpses came closer.

“Wait for it! Wait!” Shining Armor stared on the lifeless corpses that stumbled towards him.

He drew his sword pointed it at the masses of the undead and shouted “Charge!”

The royal guards took up sprint as they made their hoofs struck the ground it was as loud as thunder and their battle cry echoed through Everfree Forrest!

“Celestia With us!” Everyone shouted as the charged into the undead.

“Ah that will keep them busy for a while.” Pain said.

“Good. Now we can finish this in...”

“Not so fast! You haven't forgot me have you? My name is  Dawn Essence and I am here to stop you! And nothing can stand in my way! Not bad for a simple thief, right?” He said with a smile.

“Ugh, you again! I though I was finish with you!” Pain shouted.

“Ha! You will have to kill me if you want to stop me!” Dawn said with pride.

“Okay, fine.” Pain said as her eyes started to glow.

“Um. I... I'm not afraid of you...” Dawn said as he swallowed his pride in form of saliva.

“Yeah right!” Pain's horn glowed with the familiar dim blue light. And lightnings started fly towards Dawn Essence.

Dawn Essence on the other hand had reflexes like the thief he was and simply dodged them.

“Ha! You can do bett..!” He sentence got a sudden stop when he ran into the caste wall.

“Well. Let's get this done now and no more interruptions I hope!” The voice Echoed

The last of the undead attackers fell to the ground with a slimy thud.

Shining Armor stood over it and ripped out his sword which was stuck in the chest of the corpse.

“You two! Search the battlefield for our casualties. And return them home to Canterlot for a royal burial!”

“Yes sir!” The two guards said in choir and saluted Shining Armor.

“The rest of you gather around!” The troops formed a circle around Shining armor.

“Okay this is the plan! I will take one half of my troops and head for the castle to save Twilight. General You and the other half shall stay here in case there will another attack.”

“Yes sir!” The general saluted.

With a salute Shining Armor and his half of the army continue to walk down the narrow path.

The general needed to get a temporary defense base up as soon as possible.

“Okay! You two! Go in the Forrest and gather wood to make some defenses and a fire place! And you start to dig a trench!”

“Yes sir!” The troops shouted.

The general turned around and looked at the shadow of Shining Armor slowly fading in the mist.

“Celestia be with you, Shining Armor.”

“Take it easy men, we don't know what lurks in the shadows of Everfree Forrest.” Shining Armor whispered to his soldiers.

A crack could be heard from down the path. A pair of yellow eyes emerged from the darkness.

“Halt!” Shining Armor shout and drew his sword.

“No need of those deeds.” A voice answered.

“Ah it's you, Zecora.” Shining Armor put his sword back in his sheath.

“No time to talk, we have to walk!” Zecora ordered Shining Armor.

“Okay. Let's go Soldiers! Follow the zebra!” Shining Armor shouted.

In the castle ruins a bright blue light was lighting the night sky.

“Yes! YES! I can feel the power flowing through her veins! Ah soon brother! Soon you will have your body back!” Pain Shouted.

“Yes and we will rule this land once again!” The voice Answered.

Back at the path Shining Armor and Zecora had big trouble.

“What is this thing!?” Shining Armor shouted.

“No time to talk!” Zecora quickly answered.

“Sir... He... He is to strong our men can't hold him!” One of Shining Armor soldier stuttered.

The bony monster turned around and focused on Shining Armor.

“Food!” It gurgled.

This creature came directly from hell. Corpses and skeletons of hundreds of ponies had been put together forming this massive creature. Swords or arrow could not hurt him. The unicorns spell were to weak to chain him. And he was mad, really mad.

The creatures arm flew up in the air trying to crush Shining Armor. With a loud crash it hit the ground. Making a hole unable to jump over.

On one side of this hole was Shining Armor on the other side was his soldiers and Zecora.

“Run sir! You need to save Twilight! We will hold him! Don't worry about us!” A Soldier shouted.

Shining Armor stood and watch as the creatures mangled his troops. With a salute he turned around and ran. As he ran he could the screams of his soldiers and the laughter of the creature.

In the ruins Pain were shaking of excitement. “Yes! Not long now! Ohh I can't wait to have slaves again!”

“Ugh! Wha.. Where am I?” Dawn woke up, only to find him self dangling upside down in a blue aura. “Ey! Release me! Or else!”

“Or Else what!?”

A pair of gray eyes was right in front of Dawn's face. Glowing with hatred.

“Um.. Nothing....” Dawn whispered.

“I thought so!” Pain said.

“Now the final touch to finish this!” Pain shouted and laughter filled the ruins.

“Release her! Or I will KILL you without mercy!” In the door way stood a very exhausted Shining Armor.

“Oh You... I though my Behemoth  killed you. Ah well then I have the pleasure to do that!” Pain Smiled.

“ But he didn't! Now release my sister!” Shining Armor Shouted.

“Oh my, haha your sister you say? Well then, I will make watch as I slowly kill her right in front of your eyes!” Pain laughed. Her horn lit up and Shining Armor was stuck in a familiar aura as Dawn.

“Now just sit tight and watch the show as your beloved sister dies!”

With the sound of thunder a white hoof with golden bracelets struck the castle floor.

“Not if I have anything to say about it!” Celestia had arrived and behind her came the general and his half of the troops.

“Go and release Shining Armor general!” Celestia ordered.

“Yes mam!” The general answered and ran to Shining Armor. “Glad to see you alive.”

“You too. Did you find my men?” Shining asked.

The general looked into Shining Armor's eyes, his head sunk. “Yes.” he whispered. “Only one survivor, barley. His on his way back to Canterlot.”

“I see.” Shining Answered.

“I'm sorry I didn't came sooner.” The general apologized.

“It's not your fault! Now release me so I can save Twilight!”

“Ce... Celestia! I... I will not let you ruin this! Not when I'm so close!” Pain shouted.

“It's already over Pain. There is nothing you can do! Now release Twilight and I might spare your life!”

“NO! I WILL NOT!” Pain ran towards Celestia with glowing eyes and horn. “DIE!”

“Very well.” Celestia's horn stared to glow.

A flash as bright as sunlight filled Everfree Forrest.  Whit a soft thud Pain's lifeless body hit the floor. The force field surrounding Twilight faded. Twilight fell towards the floor, but before she landed she got lifted up en levitated over to Celestia.

A red mist formed behind Twilight and sunk into her body. No one noticed this as she levitated towards Celestia. A dark laughter filled the ruins.

“Haha! You are too late Celestia! I might not have my body. But that's not any problems!” The voice faded. And Twilight woke up with a gasp.

“Whe....Where am I? Ow my whole body hurts!”

“Don't worry Twilight you are safe. Now we need to get back to Canterlot!”

The ground started to shake. The walls of the ruins trembled and fell. The floor stared to sink and the statues in the ruins fell and broke as they struck the floor.

“Yes! It is agood time to move. Like NOW!” Dawn shouted.

“You are right.” Celestia answered. And with a flash they were all gone.

As the ruins fell into the pit that opened beneath it the laughter could be heard faintly.

“Haha! Oh Celestia you have no idea what you've just started!”

Back in Canterlot the flash lit the halls of the castle.

The first one to run was Dawn.

“Ugh! Remind to never do that again!” He ran to the balcony and tilted over his head.

“Celestia I'm sorry about Luna.” Said princess Cadence.

“No. It was my fault I shouldn't have sent her alone. But now we need to bury her and the brave troops that fell during this night.” Celestia said.

The day after was the biggest ceremony Canterlot have ever seen. It was a festival in the memory of Luna and the soldiers.

Twilight and Celestia stood on the balcony and over watch everything.

“Twilight dear, can you follow me please?” Asked Celestia and turned around without looking at Twilight.

Twilight's eyes flashed red. “Yes my Princess. Lead the way” On a table just inside the balcony laid a cheese cutter

“I will follow you, just walk on and don't mind me.”

The familiar laughter echoed in the air as Twilight rose the knife shaped cutter.

The End.

To be continued.