Chapter 1: An unusual meeting

Chapter 1

By Willson

“De...Derpy? how..what... huh? Twilight's expression, something between a cross of utter confusion and dumbfoundedness. Her eyes focusing and unfocusing as she tried to stare at Derpy.

“You ok Twilight?” Derpy asked looking back, watching Twilight's expression and eyes changing constantly just like the tides of the sea. Derpy watched this spectacle unfolding before her. Wondering how Twilight was accomplishing this great feat of facial movement.

“Stiff, but ok…”

“You ...kind of fell…”she said sheepishly

“Well thanks for telling me that, well from where exactly though if you don’t mind Derpy?”

“ Up there” Derpy put bluntly as she raised her hoof pointing the high vaulted ceiling above.

“No wonder, I feel like crap, well not like that but, you know what I mean” Looking to Derpy but it seemed she hadn’t been listening and was distracted at the moment.. “ Oh great Not only am I someplace new but with Derpy of all ponies…” Murmuring it to herself, not to offend Derpy but even she knows she isn’t much help in a situation like thi… wait what situation are they in? Raising herself off the cold ground she put her right hoof out to balance herself as her sight wasn’t going to be much help at the moment. After putting pressure down on her hoof a quer sensation feed back up to her brain and a split second later it translated into immense pain. Gasping for air as she dropped like a rock back to the ground she yelped out more in surprise than pain.

“Twilight! Shhhh don’t be too loud or they will hear you…” Derpy suddenly more alert the usual, well more unusual for Derpy that is.

“Waa?” but before should get her question out Derpy stuffed her hoof in her muzzle silencing her then with a glance left Twilight dazed and more appalled at the new Derpy then at her current state..

Twilight finally took her eyes off of Derpy and looked around while Derpy walked away, talking to herself softly. Twilight looked first to her right, what she saw stunned her. Staring right at her was a giant hole in the stone wall were there would have been a raised platform. “Wait That design…” Shifting her weight she stared at the stone work that remained. “...No this can’t be the place that I think we're in…” The thought finally dawning on her, the vaulted ceilings large open space and a raised platform she was in Celestia's throne room, no what was left of it.
The sight of it all, it just… took her breath away. Looking past the hole she could see down the great mountain Canterlot was built upon. Burnt trees and underbrush scattered against the now grey ground. Looking away from the horrible seen outside and up to the sides she caught a glimpse of a banner hanging by a few threads, one of Celestia's banners tattered and torn as if claws had cut through it. Claws the size of her legs. Rubble was spewed across the marble floor like forgotten toys left out after play. From above where sunlight was pouring in were more holes some small and others as large as a cart.Other parts of the building's skeleton showing within the holes the exposed supports barely holding on. Creaking with great effort to hold it’s shape as the wind blowing unhindered by the massive holes scattered across the hall tried to force it apart.
To Twilight's left more rubble spread across the ground randomly and the great doors that would have entered the hall beyond was no more but a shamble of it’s former self. Then her eyes caught movement right before looking away, looking back she noticed the right door was now at a forty five degree angle.

“Umm Derpy…” Derpy looked to Twilight then saw her motioning to the door and glanced to it.
A figure entered into the great hall and closed the door behind itself it was clad in a grey cloak that shimmered with the breeze.

“So she finally wakes” a male voice said the voice emanating from underneath the cloak.

“Who are you?” Twilight returned defensively trying to rise again but with little progress to show except another gasp escaping her lips.

“A friend ”Derpy said hastily” His names..”

“My names Will” He interrupted the hood of the cloak facing to Derpy. Derpy’s ears lowered a little but something past between them that Twilight could see but her ears perked up after a half second. “You are probably confused,” The cloaked figure walking to Twilight now with Derpy trailing behind happily humming to herself “I'll explain everything... after we get you out of here first but for now, all you need to know is my name.”

“Well I won't be going anywhere with this sprained hoof and I’m not leaving without my friends…” Twilight said aggressively, her ears lowering. Will continued walking to her either oblivious of her slight threat or just ignoring it ßcouldn’t tell with his face covered. Reaching Twilight he brought from under the hood his horn “You're a unicorn”

“Yes now hold still…” he lowered his horn towards her hoof,, at first she flinched pulling it back and Will chuckled waiting for her to present her hoof to him. Twilight swallowed and outstretched her damaged hoof from her view she saw him smirking. He then reached down and muttered a few words his horn engulfed in an ice blue aura and the pain seemed to be washed away by a warm feeling rising throughout her leg.

“Thank you…”Still suspicious of the cloaked pony she tested her hoof and slowly stood up put little by little slowly putting more pressure on it, when it didn’t hurt she stood up quicker than she anticipated and stumbled into Will, right into his cloak, he smiled and chuckled. Twilight quickly straightened herself after falling into him blushing in embarrassment.

“Your welcome… but I don't think you want to bring those things along” he motioned upward to the ceiling, there hanging from a beam were 6 pods and one of which now stood broken… the one she had come from.

“*Gasp*… my…”

“Your friends, I don't think so” Will said sighing to himself and shaking his head. Twilight looking at him if as he had lost his mind.

“What do you mean not my friends they are right there!” she said pointing at the pods and staring into the hood of the male pony.

“There’s more than meets the eye Twilight…You should know after reading so many books” he remarked, Will looked up towards the pods

“Look…” Twilight looked back up at the 5 figures inside the pods. An ice blue beam sweeping over all the pods like a printer but as she watched she gasped as they changed into something different.

“There…” her face draining of all color ,her ears turning down in fright and her eyes dilating as she stared at the changelings now inside the pods.

“Changelings… yes, set there to warn the rest of them if someone tried to free you and your friends...” he looked about then stared out the massive hole where the throne used to be then as if coming out of a trance turned back to Twilight “...to stop you from escaping”

“So we never … “

“Actually defeated her... no” The cloaked figures head lowering for a split second before popping up again like a wakamole machine.

“That means… *gasp* we lost but how…” she looked about frantically trying to figure out how this could've happened. “But we had The spell of true love from cadence…”

“You never made it to the Elements and then for a split second you then were in the hall like we are now that should have been a big clue it wasn't real…” taking a breath louder then he wanted too caused him to straighten more “ They put you under quite quickly, a sleeping spell stronger than I thought they could do. Allowing them to encase you in those pods putting you in a deep sleep sending your mind into a dream world...” pausing mid thought the hood turned to the door then back to them. “I will continue to explain but once we get out of this Dreadful castle”

“Wait...Then where are my friends…”

He turned and quickly went over to the door and listened. He ignored the question but right before Twilight was about to repeat it he said “ Like I said before I’ll explain everything later…” Twilight angered by this ignorant pony lowered her ears and stood next to Derpy staring coldly at Will “ Derpy ,Twilight we need to move now let's go” Will opened the door and slipped through without looking back his cloak flowing through the crack after him.

“We better go he’s right” Derpy said looking to Twilight “We stay here and we will be captured” with that she slipped and fell but got up and smiled and looked about to make sure no one saw and went over to the door and motioned for Twilight to follow “let's go” Twilight looked at Derpy then thought to herself what kind of world am I in that Derpy is this knowledgeable and confident?

Looking to Derpy and seeing getting impatent She started forward “What am i getting myself into?” Twilight said to herself, following Derpy to the door.

Twilight slipped through the open door but stopped before going through and turned back towards the room. Looking about one last time, maybe her last time she thought to herself. She looked down saddened thinking of all the good and bad times she had in here but she wasn’t going to get any of that back if she stayed would she. Then with a final glance she turned slipping through the door after Derpy.

“Over here” Derpy whispered as Twilight came through on the other side of the door. Derpy standing off to the side in a side hallway looking around the corner and smiling her derpy smile. Twilight paused inside the door frame and quickly glanced down the hall. When Twilight didn’t see no pony coming she rushed over to Derpy and as she rounded the corner she ran into the cloaked figure of Will.

“*Ooff*… Sorry”

Will’s cloaking giving a noticeable nod then moving to Derpy “Derpy you fly up ahead and check before we continue” The cloak ruffling as he turned back to Twilight.

“Ok” She said gleefully but before taking off Derpy lost her balance for a sec but regained it, just in time as she was about to hit the floor head first. Derpy laughed to herself then lept into the air and glided down the hall. Derpy’s grey flank slowly getting smaller and then disappearing around a corner.

“Let's go” Will said, well more of the hood as it nodded down the hall a bit too exaggerated then meant to. Will then started trotting down the hall barely making a sound like he was walking on clouds. On the other hand Twilight had a harder time keeping quiet. She had to walk slowly to muffle the noise from her hooves hitting the marble floor and Will periodically had to stop and wait for her to catch up, his impatience almost nonexistent but still there. By the time Twilight got to the end of the hall Derpy had returned and was giving a thumbs down, no a hoof down that it wasn’t clear.

“...Are you sure… Ok I guess we're going to have to go the back way…”Twilight just catching the end of the conversation as she reached them” You made it, ok follow me and Derpy we need to move fast…” Will’s voice not very reassuring that there wasn’t any problem further on. The three trotted down the hall Derpy gliding her and there while Will moved down the hall like a ghost his hooves barely touching the ground. Will though quickly taking the front lead them through the twisting halls of Celestia's Castle. It was sometime later that Twilight saw Will stop. They caught up to him at an intersection in the hallway.

This intersection looking just like the others Twilight could only wonder why they had stopped they had two choices, go left or right simple. But Will was looking straight ahead. Twilight looked past him and only saw a wall then she was struck with a thought “ You're lost aren’t you?”
Will looked behind them ignoring the question which only just made Twilight angry again. Twilight convinced of this and having lived half her life here was about to step in when Will looked back towards the wall and muttered a few words.

“What?”

His horn glowed a light blue illuminating his face for a split second but Twilight still slowly getting used to her legs again missed her chance to see who ever was underneath. But what really had stopped her was the sudden rumbling coming from the wall. Dust fall from around a portion of the wall, not just a little but a waterfall of dust that made Twilight's eyes water. The stones had begun to crack and move away and as the dust settled a doorway now replaced where once the wall had stood.

“*Gasp*… I never knew this was here!” Twilight looking towards the now new entrance curiosity fuming from her wondering of what laid beyonds its frame “I’ve read everything about this castle… th...this shouldn’t be here” Twilight said baffled and surprised that this secret passageway wasn’t even anywhere in the books.

Even though Twilight couldn’t see his face she could tell he was smirking “There are some...” he said amusement creeping into his voice”...things... kept out of the history books for a reason” His smirk turning into a grin” Let's go, quickly now, before were spotted” Will looked around to make sure there was no one near and trotted into the now open passage a slight vibration upon the cloaks surface as Will walked away chuckling. Twilight angry but not but as well confused and not, right now she didn’t know which was utterly not amused by his statement as Will was.

Will Stopped inside the door and motioned for them to follow. Twilight snapping out of her slight brain freeze quickly crossed the open ground with Derpy right behind her. They both entered the passage, barely squeezing in shoulder to shoulder. Though once through Will muttered a few words and the doorway was replaced once more by the impenetrable stone that was there moments before.
The passage was then plunged into total darkness.

“I can't see! Im blind!” Derpy yelled out histarcaly.

Will Muttered something from Twilights right and a ball of light slowly glowed to life dimly at first then began to intensify until it light up a large portion of the passage it floated about Wills head bobbing around happily.” Ohh… sorry...hehe” Derpy smiled at them as both looked at her, Twilight's right brow raised and Wills cloak shuddering in his amusement.

Twilight then turned to the light floating, no bouncing near his hood “I’ve never seen something like this before” Twilight inquired.

“It's a willowisp his father was a great help to mine”

“*Gasp*... a willowisp but I thought they were legend…”

Will smiled “... They are …” Twilight staring at the ball of light now floating around her head. “ Well… let's go before those bugs find out you're gone.” The wisp stopped mid air “ Woa not you mate..hehe…” The light now seemingly talking, no yelling at Will silently as she couldn’t hear what it was saying. Giggling they stopped then Will only shook his head and motioned for them to start walking.

Will turned and slowly trotted down the passage the willowisp slowly hoping around after him now seemingly no longer angry at him. Derpy and Twilight followed behind. The corridor was tight but wide enough for her and Derpy to walk side by side but just barely. They followed the passage way for a few feet before going up a flight of stairs.

Twilight looked around but all she saw was the stone passage that was engulfed in darkness. On the walls she noticed at intervals were rings in the wall had been hammered into the wall long ago when this tunnel was used more often, but by the looks of it this tunnel hasn't seen a pony in here for decades. She noticed that the passage was turning slowly but turning in an upward angle.

“Um aren't we going up… I thought we were trying to get out of here only one of us can fly you know”

Will continued walking up the passage and without looking back and answered “I know… we will get out of here soon enough but first i need to show you something…”he stopped and they bumped into each other “Here”

Twilight looked about but all she saw was the dark passage way all around her. Will turned towards the wall next to him and touched his now glowing horn to it. Nothing happened at first then a cloud of dust rose from the ground as the section of wall began to fall away causing them to cough. The willowisp disappeared and Will stepped through the now new opening in the passage. Twilight and Derpy after they had stopped coughing followed him through the new hole in the wall and as they did it closed behind them just as quickly as it had fallen away for them to pass. Twilight looked around as it closed, and as the dust settled the doorway was gone like it was never there to begin with. When she turned back around she noticed that this hallway seemed familiar.

“Derpy if you mind staying out here?”

“No problem” she said smiling then she started walking and tripped but quickly stood back up and continued down the hall.

“Twilight” Will stood in front of two massive doors, then Twilight knew where she was.

“Celestia's quarters… but were not allowed in there unless called in by Celestia herself” She came towards the massive doors etched in gold.

“Yes… but that's also why I have brought you here” He turned around and pushed against the massive doors that would usually take 3 or 4 ponies to open but it opened easily for Will who seemed to not touch it at all except for his hoof. He opened it just enough for him to slip through the door.

“But…” she stood there pondering what to do “...Hugh” she entered even though it went against all she stood for. When she entered her breath was forced out of her as if someone had just tackled her to the ground, the room was a total wreck it was destroyed. There were scorch marks everywhere along the walls and floor there were massive holes in the tower walls allowing wind to rush in and exit unhindered. The only thing still standing was once again one banner of Celestia's mark flapping in the wind.

“So was this what you wanted to show me…?”

He looked at her then turned away back towards the room “This wasn't like this not long ago that is more like 3 weeks and 4 days ago…” puaseing” Well about...” he sighed and Twilight could see he was shaking his head, he then looked back up and continued “ A group of ponies had taken enough of this Evil you would say…They were sick of hidding in terror” Will puasing once more before continuing “So a group of 30 ponies had gotten into the castle. There plan... to break out Celestia from her prison here in her tower… but it was a trap they had been waiting for them to come to get her and they knew that if Equestria lost its strongest in just saving Celestia no one could stop them…” WIll walked towards the balcony “ They lost 15 after they broke her chains to release her… But they were able to get down there…” Twilight walked over to the edge and looked down in the courtyard below “ But as they did they lost the rest and Celestia was…”

“*Gasp*… Turned to stone!”Twilight interrupted as she saw the statue of Celestia kneeling in terror.

“... Yes and no one knew what had happened to those who went and all lost hope and succumb to the darkness..” Will puaseing letting this sink in. Twilight didn’t need time, she was glued to the figure in stone below and at the acoupening statutes of the other ponies around her.
“How do you know this” Twilight asked as she finally looked up from below “If no one saw what had happened how did you know?”
Will sighed and looked downward and answered from underneath his cloak “I was the one who let them into the castle I was the one who came up with the plan and as by fate I was the only one who got away…” He looked towards Twilight and for the first time Twilight saw his face his Ice blue eyes cold and deep in thought drawing her into them and his hair a dark blue cut short like it had been cut with a dull blade “...The last thing she told me before I left her side was to come back and get you and then find the elements and right everything…” He turned back down and stared at the forms below. “ That is why I’m here and now you know some of what has happened since you've been gone and also now you know what you need to do...I hope”

“Yes…” Twilight looking back at the statues below, back up and then saw Will turn towards the door and start walking to it.

“I think it best for us to go now…” Will reaching the door while Twilight looked one last time at Celestia vowed to free her and Equestria from what ever Evil force now held the world in a deadly limbo. She tared her eys from below and turned towards the doors as well and trotting over to Will. Then they exited the room into the dark hallway beyond. The duo turned right and started down the passageway when Derpy came running and Slammed right into them knocking them down.

“Derpy what's up” Will asked as he quickly got up from under Derpy and Twilight.

“They're coming!!” But before she could finish the hissing and sounds of hooves on marble came to them from down the hall and rounding the corner where hundreds of changelings.

“Into the room now!” Will half dragged, half lifted Twilight up and they galloped back into Celestia's quarters. They stumbled into the room and as they did so, Will closed and sealed it with his magic, just as the front wave of changelings ran into the door causing loud audible crashes from beyond the door.

“I don't think that door will hold them!” Twilight pointed as the door seemed to warp inward and then returned to its original form “Correction I don't think it will hold them for a minute!” Will looked about as Twilight was frantically trying to find things to blockade the door with. While Twilight did that Derpy Floated about aimlessly jumping higher into the air with each blow to the door and then banged right into one of the supports. Causing heaps dust to fall causing her to sneeze herself backwards onto the floor with a thud.

Will quickly looked about the room thinking up plans to eitehr help there escape of delay the changelings but one thing did come to mind something he had seen earlier “Come on, I know How we're getting out of here… Derpy let's go!” he yelled the last part as once more the door move inward this time a thundering deafening cracking noise could be heard washing over them and as it settled the hissing on the other side of the door became more prominent.

Twilight then saw what Will was doing a look of utter terror appearing on her face “What! No I am not..” Before Twilight could finish her sentence she was dragged to the balcony and thrown over, Will then threw himself quite comically over his legs close to his body like a cannonball. While Derpy behind them just simply dropped like a rock closing her wings tight to her flanks. As they disappeared, the door came crashing down with a massive storm of dust, rising up from the floor from the weight of all the changelings.

“I hope you like skydiving because that's what we're doing” Will yelled as he caught up to Twilight who was screaming but also gasping as the air came rushing into her lungs every time she opened her mouth.

“Well…” Twilight said gulping trying to getting herself under control “... I hope…*gulp*... you have a plan to stop us... because here comes the ground! ” and not far below, the ground was sure enough, rushing towards them at terrifying speeds... and all Will did, was smile.

Author's Note

Thank you who have like/followed or stared this story.

This story is a work in progress so I will try my best to get these chapters out every Friday so do please stay tuned. Oh as a side note I had to edit after publish becuase of missing parts I have fixed it but after about an hour of up time GG

If you can please do leave a Like it helps keep this story going so don't be stingy :P

Either then that thank you for reading my work

Till next Friday, SGT.Willson signing off

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