ACT 9: Chapter 2 - The Puzzle of the Past

A Memory Resurfaces

Steel stood motionless, his golden core flickering erratically.

The others watched him carefully.

Then—

His fists tightened.

“… This is incorrect.”

Twilight blinked. “What do you mean?”

Steel’s golden eyes locked onto the petrified forms of his wife and daughter.

“Aldos is gone. We—” he turned toward Twilight, toward the others—“defeated him together.”

The weight of his own words settled.

“If Aldos has been destroyed…”

His core flared violently.

“… Then why does his magic remain?”

The group fell silent.

Because Steel was right.

Aldos’s dark sorcery should have faded with him.

Yet here his wife and daughter remained, locked in stone, unchanged, untouched by time.

Something was wrong.

Something was missing.

And they needed answers.

A New Mystery

Starlight rubbed her chin, deep in thought.

“Maybe… the petrification wasn’t from Aldos himself, but something older?”

Twilight frowned. “But we saw Aldos use dark magic to wipe out Steel’s people. If his magic is still here, then…”

Rarity’s eyes widened.

“… Then perhaps Aldos was never the true source.”

Everyone froze.

Steel’s golden eyes narrowed.

If Aldos’s destruction had not broken the spell—

Then that meant…

Something else had cast it.

Something even older than Aldos.

Something that might still exist.

The Transport Problem

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings. “Okay, mystery aside—we still gotta move them.”

She motioned toward the petrified forms of Steel’s wife and daughter.

“Carrying them all the way back to Ponyville? Not happening.”

Applejack nodded. “One bad step, and we could damage ‘em.”

Fluttershy’s ears drooped. “And we can’t risk that.”

Twilight’s horn glowed.

“I might be able to teleport them… but I don’t know if moving them through magic will cause any side effects.”

Steel’s voice was calm, but firm.

“… No unnecessary risks.”

Twilight sighed. “Then we need another plan.”

Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped.

“I GOT IT! We build a super special, ultra-secure, shock-absorbing, anti-bump transport platform!”

Everyone stared.

Pinkie grinned. “I may have helped Maud move some super-fragile gems once. Trust me.”

Twilight exchanged a glance with Starlight.

“… Honestly? That might be our best option.”

Steel nodded.

“… Acceptable.”

The Journey Home Begins

With combined effort—

Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie constructed a reinforced transport platform, enchanted by Twilight and Starlight for stability.

Steel personally secured his wife and daughter, ensuring they could not be harmed.

Then—

They began the long journey back to Ponyville.

Through forests.

Through mountains.

Through lands long abandoned.

And the entire time—

Steel’s mind raced.

Not with doubt.

Not with fear.

But with one absolute certainty.

He would bring them back.

He had to.

And if something else was responsible for this curse—

Then he would find it.

And he would end it.

Because this was no longer a battle for Equestria.

This was a battle for his family.

And Steel would not fail.

Not this time.

To Be Continued…