A Future in Peril

The room took on an ominous air.  The bubble had long faded from its brief existance, but the ponies continued to gawk at the blank space where the terrible vision had been.  They could feel terror's cold grip squeezing the warmth from their soul.  "I can't believe it," Dusk said shaking his head in disbelief.  "He killed them all.  The mares...the fillies...everypony."  Luna jumped into Dusk's arms.  Tears fell from her sparkling eyes, as she dug herself deeper into his protective embrace.

Celestia continued to stare where the projection had been.  Her body was ridged like steel, but her mind raced with the speed of the wind. I knew he was evil, but this.... He must be stopped, else all of Equestria will suffer  I can't let this fiend destroy what my father spent his life building and protecting.

Twilight, still shaken by the vision of such a horrible atrocity, lightly tapped the stunned princess on the shoulder.  Her voice trembled, as she spoke,  "Wh-why do you think he's doing this?"  Her soft, purple eyes stared at her mentor, desprately waiting for a reply.

Celestia snapped out of her stupor and stared meaningfully at her young student.  "I fear he is out for revenge against my family, and he is starting with my kingdom," she said with a heavy heart.  This is my fault.

"I've never seen anything so...so appalling," stated Twilight with a quivering voice.  "What do we do now?"

Crimson held Luna tighter to his body as he spoke authoritively.  "We have to rally our soldiers.  We can't let him do anymore harm to the innocent citizens of Equestria."  He stamped his hoof on the ground, causing an echo to resound off the white walls of the room.  "I won't allow it!"

Luna released herself from her brother. Her fear replaced by a burning desire for vengence.  "I agree with Dusk.  Tis time we stood up to this fiend.  I'm committing my knights to hunt this detested parasite, his head shall hang from the highest tower by nightfall," she said passionately.

Celestia shook her head.  Her soothing voice was replaced with one that a mother would use to chide her children for misbehaving.  "That is enough you two!  I will not allow my authority to be cast aside like yesterday's hay.  There is no need for more sensless bloodshed.  We have the elements of harmony, so let's use them to bring down this threat."

The three ponies were caught off guard by Celestia's sudden change in posture.  Luna and Twilight bowed humbly down to her saying, "Sorry Princess.  We meant no disrespect."  Dusk reluctantly mimiced the two ponie's apologetic offering, but remained silent.

Celestia turned sharply to the door.  "Follow me to the vault," she ordered.  They walked briskly out the door, startling the other ponies on the other side.

Applejack's eyes expressed the worry that overtook her entire body.  "What's goin on?" Applejack asked concerned.  "Is Braeburn okay?"

Twilight gave her orange friend a despondent look.  "I don't think he will ever be okay, but you all must come with us.  There isn't much time," Twilight replied, gesturing for the others to join them.  The ponies followed Celestia silently down a long corridor decorated with paintings of gentle autumn scenes.  They turned down another long corridor, and continued to wind down the hallways of Canterlot Castle.  They stopped in an extravagant room with stained glass windows.  The sun shone brightly through the colorful glass, spreading different colors across the giant room's marble walls and floor.  A long, red carpet with golded embroidalry ran the length of the room, ending at an ornate door.

They promptly trotted to the magical door.  Celestia stuck her horn into the slot that was specially made for her.  The door flashed a pearescent blue, as the magical door opened.  It slowly opened to reveal a large ebony box with golden leaves ethched into the smooth surface.  Celestia used her magic to pick up the decorative box that held the elements of harmony.

She presented the elements to the six ponies.  The elements shined brightly within the confines of the box, as if saying hello to their physical representations.  Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but an evil laugh that echoed throughout the chamber cut her off.  "What is that?" Luna asked, preparing for the worst.  Dusk felt his muscles tense at the familar laugh.  He protectively stepped in front of his little sister, as black smoke gracefully descended to the marble floor.  It slowly formed into a sneering, black alicorn.

All nine ponies froze in disbelief.  "Draconus," said Celestia.

His voice sounded like silver chimes rustling in the breeze.  "Good to see you," he said politely.  "How have you been?"

Celestia quickly regained her composure.  "How dare you enter my home!"

"Your home?" he said tilting his head.  "Oh right.  I forgot that your father passed away."  Draconus arrogantly paced around the nine ponies, each step sending shivers down their spines.  "How I did enjoy his company.  It would be an understatement to say he was my best friend.  It was kind of him to play my most favorite game before he passed.  I think it was called...regicide. The screams for his brave, young boy to save him made it even more pleasurable, as my dagger found its way to his gentle heart."  He turned to face the crimson alicorn. "I always wondered where you went.  He might  still be alive, if you hadn't run away like a coward."

Dusk's blood boiled over causing him to lash out in rage.  "I'LL KILL YOU!" Dusk cried, charging at the evil monster that smirked crassly at him.  Draconus just laughed.  His horn gave off a black aura as he cast a spell at the oncoming prince.  Dusk stopped dead in his tracks.  His entire body ignored the commands from his brain to move.  His eyes darted back and forth, confused at what just transpired.

Rainbow Dash tried to rush to her fiance's side, but found that she couldn't move either.  It seemed that everypony, including Celestia, was paralyzed  by his malicious spell.  "How rude," Draconus said disappointedly.  "Is this how you treat all your guests?"  He walked menacingly towards Celestia.

"Did you get my message?  Of course you did.  Why else would you be retrieveing the elements of harmony?" he mocked in a charming fashion.  He sat down in front of Celestia, gently caressing her flowing mane.  "Did you enjoy the little display my army made?"  She just looked at him with hatred in her eyes.  "Oh, how silly of me," he said as his horn flashed briefly.

Celestia could feel the muscles in her mouth begin to loosen, as the magic that bound them was released.  She spit into Draconus' face.  "You're a monster," she said with hate seething from every word.  "You're not fit to live, no matter what Starswirl said about you.  I will see to it that you are put to death for your crimes."

Draconus carefully wiped the spit from his face.  "Still the arrogant brat I used to babysit from time to time," he said.  His hoof reached for a dagger that hung from his belt.  The blade made a menacing sound as he pulled it from the leather sheath.  He pressed it against the white alicorn's pulsing neck.  Celestia could feel her blood turn to ice.  "Tell me Celestia," he said malevolently, "how does it feel to be completely helpless as your kingdom is slowly being destroyed?"

He dug the blade deeper into Celestia's flesh.  She felt a bead blood trickle down her neck.  "I could end it right now," he continued.  "I could just cut your throat out, and be done with it all."

The eight helpless ponies' eyes darted back and forth.  Their thoughts were haphazardly racing through their terrified minds as they all tried to think of a way to save their beloved princess.  A tear fell from Twilight's eye.  I can't use my magic.  We're at the mercy of this psycopath.  There's nothing I can do, she thought hoplessly.

Draconus, feeling the message was clear, slowly withdrawing the blade from her throat.  "What fun would that be though?" he asked, sheathing the blade.  "If you were dead, I couldn't make you watch everything your father loved be destroyed.  It wouldn't feel like I earned this glorious kingdom if I won it through such underhanded tactics."  His face was still twisted into an impudent grin, as he rose from the ground.  "I know," he said.  "I'll give you exactly one month, then I attack Ponyville.  It was always your favorite little town.  I want that place to be the final act of our little performance.  The grand battle between my forces and whatever you can muster up.  I'll even order my changlings to not use there morphing ability.  After all, how would that be fair."

He used his magic to pick up the box that still contained the elements of harmony.  "Speaking of fairness," he said cynically.  "These trinkets will only give you an unfair advantage."  His form began to evaporate into the air.  "It was good seeing you all again.  I should visit more often," he chortled before completely vainishing from the room.

The ponies could feel the magic holding them begin to fade, their muscles once again under their control. Applejack ran over to comfort Rarity, who had fainted in her over dramatic fashion.  The others just stood stifly where they were.  "Princess Celestia," Twilight asked sincerely. "Are you okay?"  Celestia didnt' respond.  Draconus' words were still echoing in her mind.

Luna caressed her older sister.  "What does thou want us to do?" she asked while stroking Celestia's glorious coat in an attempt to comfort her awestruck sister.

"I'll tell you what we need to do," Dusk interrupted seemingly unaffected by the prior events.  "We need to prepare for war.  You heard his warning.  We need to muster a defense at Ponyville."

"It's Celestia's decision, not yours," Luna said sternly.

Everypony looked earnestly at their leader.  She felt pressure slowly descend upon her mind, and quickly snapped out of her daze,  "we need to summon a council to discuss what we will do."  She turned to Twilight.  "Summon the leaders of Cloudsdale and Ponyville at once."

"What about the other cities?" Twilight asked.  "Don't they need to be here?"

"It would take too long for them to organize an envoy.  I'll send some of my heliacal knights to evacuate the citizens.  That is all I can do for them," Celestia said.  Her entire posture turned from a caring mother to that of a serious leader in an instant.

Twilight nodded.  "Come on girls," she said to her friends.  "We have a job to do."  Twilight and her friends, with the exception of Rainbow Dash, hastily departed the room, eagar to carry out Celestia's orders.

"Do you want me to escort thou to thy room sister?"  Luna asked after they had gone.  Celestia, feeling the weight grow heavy upon her regal shoulders, allowed her sister to take her to her private chambers.  Luna let Celestia lean on her side as she walked her out of the vault room.

Rainbow Dash and Crimson Dusk were left alone in the majestic room.  Dusk was looking out one of the windows at the gardens below.  Dash could tell something was troubling him, even if he didn't show it earlier.  "What's on your mind?" she asked lovingly.

He turned to face her.  His solemn eyes met her determined gaze.  "Rainbow Dash," he said with a serious tone.  "I fear that dark times are closing in."  He stood up and sluggishly walked to the door.  Before he left, he stated with a bleeding heart,  "these are the times that try ponies' souls."  The words oscillated within the chamber as he and Dash trotted out the door towards an unknown future.