Fate Of Two Worlds

Several days have past since the duel robbery of the Equestrian History Museum and the Royal Library. Celestia and Luna sat in their throne room saying goodbye to two guards that just delivered the update to the cases.

“It’s odd sister the one who hired The Hermes Bros to steal the tome and artifacts is still silent after almost a week. One would think there would have been some siting of the spell being used.” Luna turned to her sister as she got up and walked down the steps to the throne.

“Perhaps they are biding time, you did send a letter to Twilight as I asked did you Luna?” Celestia paused “And now that I think about it, it is odd how there have been reports of strange storms forming over the gates to Tartarus.”

Luna nodded “I did several days ago. I also sent one to Cadence just in case the criminal appears at the Crystal Empire.” Luna stomped her hoof and gave a huff. “We should have just torched those books Starswirl left here. If we did then none of this would be happening.”

Celestia shook her head “Sister we couldn’t have done that, those tomes were apart of his legacy we have no right to destroy his contributes to the land.”

Luna just rolled her eyes “Yes I understand that but he and the rest of the Pillars are back, so we should have at least talked about the guarding of his more dangerous work, maybe even have them sent to him. Anyways I need to return to my room for rest before the night court starts, good day sister.” Luna gave a small bow before walking to the door.

“Rest well Luna I’ll send a scribe to inform you if anything important comes up.” Luna exited through the oversized doors. Celestia turned to the giant stain glass window depicting Twilight and her friends. “Hopefully this is wrapped up soon without any problems.”

It was a normal sunny morning in Ponyville. The farmers market bustled with ponies looking for goods. Shops had customers floating in and out as the fillies and colts made their way to the local school house. Pinkie hopped along the road to the castle where three of her friends live. She hopped up the steps of the castle clearing all of them in a single bounce and knocked on the door with her hoof. She waited but no one answered so she knocked again. This time the door cracked open to reveal a small purple scaled paw. “Yes who is- oh hi Pinkie what brings you here?” The small dragon asked the pink mare giving a curious glance back inside every few seconds.

“Hiya Spike I was coming by to help Twilight with a sciency thing. Or was it a writey thing? Hmm oh I remember now it was a writey sciency thing.” The pink mare bounced in kiddy glee.

“Oh you did huh, well Pinkie I think Twilight is going to take a rain check on that.” A crash came from inside the castle followed by a voice “Oh no oh no. Spike get back here I can’t find her anywhere!” Spike let out a groan. “Coming! Sorry Pinkie I gotta-” He was cut off by a pink blur dashing past him. “-go. Oh good grief.” Spike closed the door and followed the pink mare into the chaos that is what Spike and Starlight have taken to be called ground zero. It was one of the many rooms that was at one point covered wall to wall with books, but all the books have found a new home on the ground creating a sea of paper and ink. Pinkie stood in the doorway next to Spike watching Starlight shift through the books looking for something.

“Three days ago Twilight got a letter from Princess Luna I don’t know what she wrote but whatever it was it got Twilight really riled up.”

Pinkie laughed it off “Oh Spike we have seen worse than this remember the great Discord sealing party last year that we had?” Pinkie started to walk over the discarded books as the dragon spoke up

“Yeah and Discord was their to. It was really awkward to celebrate beating the guest of honor.” Pinkie stopped a small bump in the book pile and reached her hoof into it.

“Exactly and Twilight spent a week trying to figure out how to make a cake. Ah ha found her.” Pinkie then yanked up on the book pile to reveal Twilight swaying in the air as Pinkie held her by the horn not noticing the pink mare as her face was buried in a book.

In the far corner Starlight sighed in relief. “Oh thank Celestia I thought we lost her again.”

It was then Twilight noticed where she was “Oh.” A small poof of magic and she disappeared and reappeared on the other side of Pinkie “Hi Pinkie I didn’t see you come in. What can help with?” Twilight tried to stifle a yawn.

Pinkie teetered on her hooves “Well I did promise to come and help with a sciency writey thing but it looks like you’re having another book swim.”

With that Twilight looked around at the mess and her face flushed red. “Hehe yeah I guess I went overboard. Starlight can you give me a hoof.”

Starlight trotted over to the girls “Yeah sure.” Their horns lit up before all the books were levitated back to their placement on the shelves.

“So Twilight what happened to make you go all super serious study mare again?” Pinkie asked her friend who held up a letter that was left rolled up on the table in the middle of the room. “It’s a Letter from Princess Luna it appears a old tome from the Royal Library was taken along with a few artifacts from the history museum. What she says here is that the stolen tome was one of the few Starswirl the Bearded finished in his time In the Royal Courts. A variation of familiar summoning where the spell constructs a new body for the artificial soul to inhabit and is bounded to the summoner like a-” Twilight was cut off by Starlight who tapped her shoulder who then pointed at Pinkie. Twilight then noticed a steady stream of steam floating out of her ears.

“Maybe you should make it a little more simpler.” Starlight suggests.

“Sorry Pinkie to make it simple imagine being able to make a talking pony out of magic. That make sense?”

Twilight poked her friend who simply nodded “Yeppy got it Twi. A meany baddy stole a book that tells him how to make a new friend out of magic.” Pinkie lets out a loud gasp. “Maybe I should try it, a magic thing that makes new friends. IgottagotellthegirlsIwillberightback.” With that she bolted out of the room leaving the two mares and dragon in a stupor.

Almost a half an hour past before Pinkie rounded up everypony at the Map. “So Pinkie what was so important that you needed to drag me away from my important Wonderbolt duty?” Rainbow spoke up from her chair.

“Silly Dashie when I found you, you were snoozing in an apple tree.” Pinkie chimed in.

Rainbow glared at her pink friend. “Hey I only get one day off now in days I’m gonna take every advantage possible.” Before Rainbow can continue a cough came from the doorway behind her.

Everyone turned to Twilight as she walked into the room. “I didn’t send Pinkie to go and get you girls. I was just explaining to Pinkie about the note Princess Luna sent to me yesterday. And she sort of ran off before I could finish.”

Rainbow facedhoofed. “Of course she did, so what is it this time another skeleton in Celestia’s closet got loose? Is Equestria going to crumble from some natural disaster?”

Twilight shook her head. “No she just asked for me to keep a look out for anypony suspicious, Somepony stole a precious text from the Royal Library and two artifacts were taken from the Equestria History Museum.”
“Ah, I read about that in the news. Princess Platinum’s personal broach was stolen along with a sheathe belonging to a high ranking officer during the three tribe period three days ago.” Rarity chimed in.

And to that Applejack raised an eyebrow “Now aye can see why some low life would steal some jewel. But why ah sheathe? Why not the sword or some pretty picture you can at least sell the rest for bits?

“The two robberies are probably linked in some way.” Fluttershy finally spoke up.

“Perhaps but what is the connection?” Starlight pondered. “Twilight what exactly was in that book that was stolen?”

Twilight only shrugged “Luna didn’t tell me only that it involves Starswirl's research into summoning magic. Nothing on what the actual spells were”

As she spoke Spike ran through the doorway waving a letter frantically. “Twilight you gotta read this.”

Twilight levitated the paper up and began reading it. As she read it her face darkened. “Twi what does it say?” Applejack spoke.
“Its from Cadence, she says. She says Tirek is attacking the shield outside the Crystal Empire and she needs help.” Twilight spoke slowly as if not able to process what she just read. As a collective of gasps filled the room.

Rarity was the first to speak up “Tirek? But he’s supposed to be locked in Tartarus. How did he get out?”

“It doesn’t matter we gotta get to the Crystal Empire as fast as possible and kick his flank. I mean he shouldn’t be too big this time right?” Rainbow Dash rang in.

“Right there hasn't been reports of any ponies drained of magic so Tirek shouldn’t have been able to acquire much magical energy. We gotta stop him before he changes that. Starlight you stay here with Spike incase anypony comes looking for us.” Twilight turned to the pink unicorn who gave a firm nod. “Alright girls we need to hurry.” With that the six ponies gathered around each other as Twilight teleported them off.

Two Days Earlier outside the Gates of Tartarus

In the rocky mountain range encircling the gates where its devoted guardian lays a single pegasus is soaring over to the gates. Cladded in light blue armor with a decorative spear strapped to her back the mare came to a landing in a large clearing in front of the pathway into the rocks that lead to Tartarus.

“Here it is about time.” A rashy but feminine voice came from the mare who groaned at hearing her own voice. “I swear when I find the one responsible for making me look like this i will hang her by her wingtips and tar and feather her.” The mare give her chromatic tail a flick hitting her cutie mark that showed a cloud with a bolt of rainbow lightning coming out of it.

She stopped in her tracks as a growl echoes from the tunnel in front of her. The mare’s magenta eyes focused on the tunnel, her grin grew as she saw what crawled out of it. A large canine with three heads and a black coat. “Ha was wondering where you were sleeping at ya pup. Come on then let's have a roll around for old times sake. “The mare beckoned the guard dog on.

Cerberus snarled before pouncing on the intruder. When he moved his paws away from where the pony was pinned he found nothing. The dog frantically looked around the enclosure with all three heads. “You gotten slower over the years haven’t you?” the voice coming from the pegasus who was flying next to cerberus’ ribs with her back to the beast. “You’re still that same dumb mutt I got to guard this place all these years ago. Well if that's the case. Scram!”

The mare jolted her elbow back striking the dog in the ribs. When the elbow connected Cerberus was blasted out of the crater and sailed into the forest outside the mountain ridge. The mare landed and started walking into the tunnel. “Well that was disheartening.”

It wasn’t long before the mare reached the giant obsidian doors that separated Tartarus from equestria. The mare reached up and pulled on the handle as a loud screech echoed through the chamber the doors sat in as the gates were pulled open.

“Okay almost there” The mare stepped through the gateway and walked along the steep slope down into Tartarus. She spent several hours walking down the obsidian staircase passing by caged and chained beasts snarling and screeching at the intruder.who just rolled her eyes. As the pony reached the bottom she saw her target a large cage holding a black coated centaur.

Tirek’s eyes flung open when his cage started to rattle and a loud clanging echoed in his ears. “Rise and shine sleeping filly.”

Tirek shook his head and looked down to see a mare he faintly remembers “Oh it’s one of you. Did you come and gloat about your friendship. You were certainly the type to do it you chromatic pest.”

The mare just laughed. “No i'm only here to take something off you’re um paws claws whatever’ But it looks like you don’t have and accessories on ya except that collar of your.” The mare gestured to the collar Tirek still wore.

“Wait who are you exactly because you’re definitely not Rainbow Dash?” Tirek lowered his head to the pony’s eyelevel to get a better look at her.

“It doesn’t matter.” Tirek returned to his former sitting position in his cell.

“If you think you can take it little pony then come in this cage and get it.” Tirek coaxed.

“Don’t mind if I do.” The mare cracked her hooves before walking up to the pen.

The pits were filled for several hours of pained screams. As the time past every occupant in the realm shook with fear when they heard the screams of agony.

After the screams died down the gate reopened as the mare stepped out of Tartarus with the collar wrapped around her body like a sash and took off back north to where her boss told her to meet with the rest of them. “I wonder if Rider is done with her search. I want this finished as fast as possible so I can get to searching for that damned mare.”

The sun was setting by the time the pegasus touch downed outside a small cabin just outside the Crystal Empire. “Ah Lancer good to see you well. Did you get what I asked for?” Inside the cabin Changed Oath sat in a chair with Princess Platinum sprawled out on the couch in front of the fireplace.

“Yeah one collar from some over sized goat, Boss.” Lancer tossed Tireks collar to Changed who caught it with his magic.

“Ohh Commander I'm just simply overjoyed you didn’t get some nasty scar on that new beautiful face of your.” Platinum grinned looking over from her couch.

“Quiet you silver tongued harlot before I stick you to the wall.” Lancer growled to the unicorn.

“Oh so you want to reenact the night after we signed the treaty. If we do I’m afraid Master is going to have to be Chancellor Puddinghead.” Platinum stifled a giggle as she watched the once proud pegasus steam in rage.

“Now that's enough you two. It's almost time for the next step of the plan and to do that we need to do this just right.” Changed spoke up breaking the two up before a fight happens.

“And what is exactly your plan?” Lancer asked with a crooked eyebrow.

“Glad you asked. With the necklace I can fully supply one more summon freely, a day or two if I summon two more. So I’m going to use what Rider recovered and cast the ritual and have that servant sneak into the city while the next day using what you recovered to stage a full frontal attack. And while the empire is distracted with Tirek our agent will sneak up and swipe the Crystal Heart.With it we can keep this guy-” Changed rattled the collar in his hoof. “topped off. And most importantly the Crystal Heart will be mine all mine to shape and mold.” Changed’s eyes flashed a green color for a few seconds when he said that last sentence before laughing as the rooms other occupants stared in confusion.