Keepers

Aevum's eyes were suddenly filled with white, and he felt like he was falling fast. Suddenly a circle appeared around where he was standing. It was glowing bright red like the circle he stepped into at the very start of the trials of the cave.

Then the six pointed star symbol appeared within the circle, also glowing red. The star was made up of two triangles.

The two triangles slowly began to turn underneath Aevum’s hooves. With one final lurch the cave spun into view around him and all the white light disappeared. The red symbol remained underneath him.

He was back in the cave, but now the circle's each had the star symbol within them unlike before, when they were empty.

In a flash of light, Madia, Cael and Flain appeared on their designated circles. They looked around a moment and exchanged glances with each other.

Aevum's first thought was to leave and head back to the settlement immediately, but he was helf firmly in place by some sort of spell or enchantment.

The symbol beneath him spun faster and faster, steadily growing brighter as it did so. Aevum could literally feel the magic and energy in the air as the cave and it's runes lit up into the four colours of the keepers.

Like before, lines traced from the individual circles into the center circle. However this time something more happened. That same six pointed star beneath Aevum’s hooves slowly drifted down the traced line and into the center.

The other stars did the same until they met.

When the four stars collided the turned into one yellow star which expanded to fill the larger circle.

There was a flash, and Aevum felt like he could move again, but his internal clock was completely thrown off. He had no idea what time it was, which was something he was always aware of until now.

He figured it was the effect of their powers going away until they were fully unlocked. "Go now, you must hurry! Your powers will unlock in ten minutes!" Alaria's voice echoed through the cavern.

Aevum acted instantly. He took off down the cave hall leading into the prophecy area of the cave. Skidding as he came out he turned and began running towards the cave entrance.

He looked back to make sure the others were following him. Sure enough they were right there behind him.

He turned forward again and ran up the stairs coming bursting out into the powerful wind and... Aevum paused when he got out. He looked around, a red mist had filled the forest and made visibility low. The wind was blowing strong enough that Aevum had to hold back against it.

"What's going on?" Madia yelled over the sound of leaves and wind. "The elements are in total chaos! It's just as Narcian said!" Aevum answered. "There's no time to waste, come on!" Flain called out.

They took off again as fast as they could through the dangerous forest, trying their best to dodge the bushes trees and branches that almost seemed to be targeting them. Crashing through leaves and twigs Aevum flinched as they stung his face and body.

As they got closer to the settlement the fog and mist was slowly clearing. By the time they came bursting out into the village, the mist had completely faded.

Aevum almost fell over from running so fast and suddenly seeing his village. All four of them gasped as they took in the sight.

Ponies lay dead in the dirt and mud roads, buildings burned and most were destroyed. Massive gaping holes showing the inside of the burning homes. Debris from explosions and destruction littered the village that wasn't even complete yet.

Aevum fought to keep himself from dashing towards his father's house, but it didn't work.

He took off without a second thought to see his father. "Aevum wait!" Madia called after him. He ignored her and kept going.

As he ran he passed many ponies he had been friends with at some point. He passed the white one that told him to saw some wood, and the pegasus who were building the other house, one of which whom had been a very close friend of his.

The others were chasing after him, but he didn't really care by this point. He tripped and fell to the ground. He slid a little, scraping himself in the process. He ignored the pain and got up. He was directly in front of his father's house now.

The door had been blasted open, and flames were billowing from the roof. He ran in and stopped breathing.

Lying there on the ground, grey and fragile, was his father's dead body. Aevum felt the tears building in his eyes, but that wasn't all there was to see. Not far from him, was Narcian, also on the ground. She was bleeding from the chest, like she had been slashed or stabbed there.

She was still breathing, miraculously.

"Narcian!" Aevum said regaining his breath. He ran over to her as she lay on the ground trying to stay alive. "A-Aevum...?" She stammered. "Narcian hang on!" Aevum said to her desperately.

"Th-the p-princesses... th-they were... t-taken..." She said her voice filled with suffering. "Madia, Flain we have to help her!" Aevum yelled turning around quickly. "We don't have our powers anymore! We can't do anything!" Madia pointed out.

Aevum turned back to Narcian. "A-Aevum... P-princesses.. He c-couldn't... t-touch th-them... p-protection..." She managed to say. "What?" Aevum asked trying to get her to explain.

"P-p-please... save... our world..." She said as her eyes closed. Aevum watched as Narcian, the master magician of the royal family died in front of him. And we couldn't do anything to stop it... Aevum thought, his sadness turning into anger.

The four keepers stood in silence for a bit, then Madia said something. "We need to find the princesses. We can't let them die in vain." She said to Aevum.

"This will be the last death whoever did this will be responsible for." Aevum said his voice quivering. "Aevum, what do you mean?" Madia asked nervously.

Aevum turned around and pushed his way past the others.

"Aevum?" Madia said trying to talk to him. He didn't respond, instead he looked to the ground and found hoof prints. Aevum followed them with his eyes and they lead into another nearby forest other than the magical one.

Aevum felt his anger burning through as he took off on the trail. "Aevum, stop! Our powers aren't unlocked yet!" Flain called after him. Aevum wasn't concerned about that. All he cared about now was finding the pony who did this.

He crashed through the bushes and trees ignoring the pain he was feeling and chased after the pony.

He stopped when he came into a clearing. There was a black pony standing in front of the two terrified princesses. Celestia locked eyes with Aevum, before she and her sister vanished in a flash of light.

The black pony let out a sigh and turned around. It was the pony that had tried to stop them when they were first escaping with the princesses. His cold blue eyes made Aevum feel cold, but he was far too angry for it to have much of an effect.

"I must give your old rulers some credit. They stumped me quite well." He said. His face was serious and looked a little annoyed. He was still calm though. "You... you killed my entire village!" Aevum yelled seeing the blood on the alicorn’s horn.

"You call that a village? I could destroy it in my sleep." He taunted. Aevum clenched his teeth. "What was the point of killing everypony?" Aevum cried. "Why not just take what you want and leave?" He asked.

"Because they might try to stop me, like you are now. I think you're a little late now though." The black pony responded. He closed his eyes and grinned satisfactorily. "What did you do with the princesses?" Aevum questioned.

"I sent them to my master of course. If anypony can bypass that protection spell it's Discortunal." He said like it was obvious. "Protection spell?" Aevum wondered.

"Yes, those blasted royals placed some sort of protection on their daughters. I can't hurt them at all, otherwise they would be dead by now." The black pony explained.

"There's something special about you... I can feel it. You and two others escaped with the princesses. How?" The blue-eyed pony asked.

"It doesn't matter now. You won't live long anyway." Aevum said glaring. "Hahaha! That's rich. Are you going to kill me child? Do you want to get revenge? How do you plan on doing that?" He laughed.

"With our help." Aevum heard Cael's voice behind them.

Aevum looked over his shoulder and saw the other three walking up to join him.

"Ha! Four ponies against death itself! Do you know who I am?" He questioned the keepers. "I am the embodiment of death! I am Tennebris, captain of Discortunal's army!" He said raising his hoof towards them.

Suddenly what looked like clawed hands came up out of the ground and began grabbing the keepers, pulling them to the ground.

Aevum collapsed and lay there on his stomach held to the ground by the hands. Tennebris slowly walked over to them smiling.

Suddenly Aevum felt an odd sensation. It felt like energy flowing through him. Aevum and the others looked at each other. The energy was building up inside him and he felt time flowing around him.

"Do you know who we are?" Aevum asked a grin spreading across his face. Tennebris frowned as Aevum spoke. "We are Equestria's keepers of the elements!" Aevum said.

Aevum’s eyes suddenly glowed red as his powers returned. The familiar star and circle symbol appeared underneath them and the dark hands suddenly dissipated like mist.

The star’s triangle’s spun quickly and light filtered from the circle. Aevum and the others stood up to accept their powers back.

Aevum felt his inner clock working properly again. He knew the exact time down to the millisecond. He felt like he could do anything with time now, and was prepared for anything.

Suddenly his back felt sore and ached. The triangles stopped spinning and landed in a perfect position to align into the full star once again.

Wings suddenly grew from his back and Aevum suddenly felt the extra muscles and parts of his body as they appeared. The wings weren't like pegasus wings. They were bigger, and were red like his element colour.

With one final surge of energy, the symbol beneath them exploded with light and flame around them, leaving a crater in the ground.

The explosion caused no harm to the four of them, and they floated down into the shallow, but wide crater. Aevum looked at the others.

Madia now had purple wings like his, only slightly smaller. Flain was the same, only his feathers were blue and white. Caels wings were exactly like Aevum’’s except that they were green.

Aevum looked at Tennebris. They were now equal in height, unlike before when Tennebris was taller. His face was filled with shock, confusion and best of all, fear.

The four awakened keepers walked out of the crater side by side. "You may be the master of death, but we are the masters of this world, you and your master do not belong here." Aevum said facing Tennebris.

"This can't be possible... where were you four when we arrived?" Tennebris said in bewilderment.

"Discovering who we were. Your timing was terrible, we just unlocked our potential." Flain said calmly. Tennebris was horrified, but clearly angry.

"But the records show this world is thousands of years old! How did this world survive without keepers?" Tennibris asked. "Ask the one who abandoned your world, because his creation was corrupted." Madia said.

This made the other keepers turn and look at her. "The one who created your world left when Discortunal entered a reign of destruction. He cast you out in sad disappointment. Your world was supposed to be the most perfect of all!" Madia explained.

Aevum decided to roll with it and turned back to Tennebris. "The most perfect..." Tennebris echoed. "And... Discortunal shattered that..." He suddenly realized starting to have a change in heart.

The keepers look at each other. It was their turn to be shocked. The master of death was hesitating, and seemed to be having doubts.

"If Discortunal hadn't... No! Leniact is not your enemy!" He suddenly explained looking afraid. "What?" Cael responded. "Discortunal is your enemy! You don't know the full story!" He said. He seemed to be struggling. His teeth were clenched and his eyes were filled with pain.

Aevum was confused by the alicorns sudden attitude change. "What? What are you talking about? Who is Leniact?" Aevum asked trying to get some explanation. "Leniact, and Discortunal are one in the same pony! Leniact was our ruler! Discortunal was our destroyer!" Tennebris revealed.

Madia gasped. Cael stumbled over her words as she tried to say something in response. Clearly they had all figured it out somehow.

Leniact and Discortunal were the same pony, but one was a ruler, and the other was responsible for the other worlds chaos.

"Are you telling me Leniact was a good ruler, and Discortunal was not?" Aevum asked. "Leniact was the most suitable to be a ruler out of thousands! He never really cared for the living in it, but he cared for his kingdom! Discortunal takes pride in destruction and chaos!" Tennebris went on.

"You don't know everything, you need to know about our pas-AH!" He was interrupted by a yell as he collapsed in pain. His eyes were clenched shut and blood was visibly coming from his mouth he was clenching so hard.

"Oh my my, I certainly can't let you do that..." A voice said. Aevum recognized it instantly. "Discortunal!" He said. "Hahaha! My friend Tennebris, is this how my loyal servant repays me? I bestowed a way for you to follow me always without question, but these children found a weakness in that!"

Tennebris' eyes shot open, they had turned red like Discortunal's. "I'm afraid I'll have to remove what's left of your true self. You're my puppet until you die. Now please handle the situation accordingly." Discortunal's voice said like it was a joke.

"Yes... my... lord." Tennebris said standing up. All emotion was gone from his face. He looked at them, but seemed to be looking through them like he was staring at something behind Aevum. "He's completely under Discortunal's control!" Madia exclaimed.

Sure enough he went charging at the four keepers. The black clawed hands came up again. "Not this time." Flain said without raising his voice. The hands suddenly stopped. "According to law, the dead do not rise." He said, the smallest grin appearing.

The hands retreated into the ground again. Madia closed her eyes, clearing starting to think. "Aevum, buy me some time?" She asked. Aevum smiled. "How much?" He answered her with a question. "30 seconds?" She suggested.

"Easy." Time slowed at the perfect speed so Tennebris wouldn't reach them for another 30 seconds.

Madia stood there thinking, Flain and Aevum waited anxiously as the girls focused on what to do.

After exactly 28 seconds Madia spoke up. "Got it!" She said opening her eyes. Aevum immediately knew exactly what to do next.

Cael disappeared and Flain lept into Tennebris' path. Madia ran around to the other side of Tennebris as the last two seconds ended and stood in a ready position.

Aevum stepped to the side slightly and crouched down ready to run. Time resumed and Tennebris launched ahead to Flain. Flain stood there unmoving wearing a plain almost bored face. Tennebris went launching right through Flain like Flain was a ghost.

The puppet stumbled and before he could regain his footing Cael appeared with a pop and essentially punched him in the snout with her front hoof.

He went flying back towards Madia. Flain had joined her and was standing with her. Grass started to grow as the stunned pony went careening over to them. Madia and Flain leapt up and hit him in mid air sending him crashing to the ground. When he landed plants and grass sprung up.

Clever, they took his energy and put it into the ground so he would be weaker! Aevum grinned and charged at Tennebris at the perfect time.

Right as Tennebris stood up fully, Aevum struck (more like tapped) Tennebris on the shoulder. Aevum stopped without skidding and Tennebris' eyes widen.

Aevum took his hoof off of Tennebris, and the dark alicorn froze in time, permanently.

Aevum sighed. "Ha, now that's a well thought out plan." Aevum said complimenting Madia. "Thank you, but it wouldn't have worked without any of you!" She said giving everyone credit.

Tennebris' eyes turned blue, and he stared off into space never to move again. "I feel bad, after what happened and how he's going to remain now." Cael commented. Aevum nodded in agreement. "Perhaps we can unfreeze him later after all this is over." Aevum offered.

"Maybe, if he's 'himself.'" Flain added. They all sighed. "I feel like I have lost almost no energy at all." Cael commented. "Me too, having our powers like this is great! Discortunal has a challenge ahead of him!" Madia said energetically. "He wanted one if you remember from before." Aevum pointed out.

Then he thought of something. Tennebris had mentioned Leniact, and how Discortunal had once been a ruler. Was there more than what they thought to the tyrant?

"I'm impressed. You knew since I was the master over death, I could not be killed with ease. Instead you froze me. Or so you thought." Tennebris suddenly said.

Aevum whirled around. Sure enough, floating over Madia was the armored alicorn. He had his hoof on Madia's head, and she was staring straight ahead in shock.

"You honestly think I'm that clueless? I'm offended." Tennebris said calmly. "Perhaps this will teach you a lesson." He said frowning at Madia. "The strategist is the most important part of any battle. So it's only logical that you're first."

Madia gasped and all the colour started draining from her body. "Madia!" Aevum said starting to run to help her. Tennebris had clearly thought of this though. Another one of those hands came up and tripped Aevum.

Aevum got up quickly, but when he did Madia had gone completely grey. She collapsed to the ground and lay limp. Tennebris looked at her with what looked like suspicion.

Aevum felt his adrenaline building as Tennebris crossed the line. "You destroyed my village... you killed my father..." He said. "And now, you kill my closest friend." Aevum said still staring at Madia's body.

"Keepers, what a joke." Tennebris said. The hands came up and grabbed Aevum again. Aevum didn't even flinch. "Tell me, what happens when a pony gets old?" Aevum said, his voice cold and merciless.

Tennebris' eyes widened slightly. "Why, they become fragile and weak of cour-" He was cut off by a yelp of pain. "Correct." Aevum said looking up to face his enemy.

Aevum, I am not dead! Madia's voice suddenly said in his head. Your emotions are getting to you again! Don't let that cloud your judgement and mercy! She said.

Aevum flinched now. Tennebris gasped and stumbled to the ground. Aevum looked at him and realised he had aged. He had gone from looking 30 years old to 50. Madia's body suddenly vanished, and Cael stepped forward.

"Master of death, what a joke." She said. Madia suddenly materialized beside Cael, perfectly healthy. Aevum was really confused now.

Madia tapped Tennebris on the head. His eyes slowly closed and he fell asleep. "Aevum, freeze him now. He won't be able to ever wake up if he's frozen." Madia said. Aevum decided questions could wait a listened. He froze Tennebris and left him there.

Flain walked over. "So he made a copy of himself... how did he manage that?" He wondered. Madia shrugged. "Probably with a little help from Discortunal." She reasoned.

"Wait hold up, he killed you! What just happened?" Aevum asked for an explanation. Madia giggled. "Oops, sorry I thought I explained the whole plan to you!" She apologized. "I did exactly what he did. I projected a copy of myself. Kind of an illusion." She then explained.

"Oh, I see." Aevum said gulping. He was beginning to fear his own power. He had just forced that other pony to age unnaturally fast. It was such a cruel thing to do. Madia was right, his emotions controlled him.

"Aevum?" Madia got his attention. Aevum looked at her to show he was listening. "Closest friend?" She said clearly holding back a laugh. Aevum could swear he was blushing suddenly. How do I keep getting myself into these positions? He thought to himself.

"You just don't choose your words carefully enough!" Madia teased. Oh right, she can read minds! That only makes it better! Aevum thought sarcastically.

"Yes it does, now that my powers are unlocked I can see every single thought you have including your memories and opinions!" She said narrowing her eyes and smiling mischievously. "For Equestria's sake tell them to get a room." Cael said.

She promptly fell on her face as Flain tripped her up using magic. He chuckled to himself and began walking. "It's not their fault you're so immature about this sort of thing." He commented as he walked by Cael.

Cael got up spitting dirt and grass from her mouth. "Next time you trip me up you may find yourself being the one on the ground!" Cael threatened. Everyone laughed.

"A few ponies after my own heart!" Discortunal's voice suddenly boomed. Everyone immediately jumped up ready to fight. "Even in the darkest of times you still have your fun. Who knows perhaps next time you'll be the ones causing those dark times!" He jeered.

"Shut it, we're on our way to end these times!" Cael exclaimed. "Oh my, what a temper. You must be the keeper of space correct?" Discortunal said. "Oh, and the little girl with the imagination, you know love isn't something I appreciate in my kingdom. It's just not entirely... appealing to my nature." He said keeping his voice low.

"Your kingdom?" Aevum exclaimed. Madia looked stunned by Discortunal's comment. "Bahahahaha! You think you're the only one who can read minds girl?" Discortunal laughed noisily. "You really care for him that much? That will only make it even more fun to kill him!" Madia clenched her teeth.

"No wonder you murdered your own loved ones in your world. You don’t care at all for lives, you treat them like you can just make another one in an instant." Cael put in.

"Ah the young keeper of space! I'm certain you're curious about your sister’s condition are you not?" He taunted. "I think you may find her body at the west castle gates. It's a little hard to recognize though after what it's been through..." He commented.

"Shut up! You're a liar and a tyrant, why should any of us listen to you?" Cael said. Right then though an image appeared in front of them in the air. It showed a picture of an orange filly, but her body had been broken cut and bruised. There was mud and dirt all over her and she lay on the side of a road.

"No-!" Cael gasped. "Haaahahahahaha! She made a brilliant escape attempt, but she didn't get far! She was escaping the city with your mother when they got stopped by my loyal subjects." He cackled.

"What do you plan to achieve by telling us this?" Flain asked. "I'm merely giving you all an idea of your situation. Which reminds me, that pegasus friend of yours found her parents." Discortunal said. "Dead!" He burst out laughing again. Flain said nothing and his expression didn't change.

"My my aren't you a serious one? Ponies like you bore me, I will enjoy ending both you and your friends lives." He said sounding slightly annoyed. “Perhaps that’s the point.” Flain said.

“Hm, no matter. I look forward to your arrival at my castle! I will find your attempts to defeat me quite amusing, I know it.” Discortunal said. “Stop acting like you own this place, you’re far from it.” Aevum said.

“Bold words, but considering I already have the princesses in my possession and killed the rest of the royal family I think you will find anyone would say I have earned my right as ruler of this kingdom!” He said confidently.

“Kill all of the royal family, good luck with that.” Flain said. “You clearly don’t know about this worlds setup. Considering that just about every single pony in the castle is considered royalty, you’re going to have to be awfully merciless.”

“Thank you for pointing that out my dear friend, I shall get righ-” Flain interrupted Discortunal as he was talking. “Ah ah ah, did you know that all alicorns are counted as royalty as well? That means, we are royalty as of recently.” Flain told Discortunal.

Discortunal paused at this. Aevum smiled at Flain’s cunning explanation. “No matter, I’ll just kill you when you arrive. I will be waiting, keepers.” He said, sounding a little less confident after that.
Aevum exchanged a glance with his friends, the looked up toward the sky. “And we will be there. If you want a challenge, you’ll get one. I assure you.”