Chapter 49

– Destiny Calls –

It had been hours since Twilight and the Elements went off to Tartarus and still no word. Trail was starting to wonder when this crisis would turn around. Magic was such a big part of their lives, how could they survive without it?

“Brother, pacing will not make the situation go away. Sit down and eat.” Zala said, preparing food for the children.

“How can I eat and pretend like this isn’t a disaster Zala? So many questions are running through my head. How is Tirek doing this? And if it isn’t him, what else could drain the magic from the land?” Trail said, still pacing.

A claw pushed against his face as Tala landed in front of him, “Bro, sit down before I make you sit down. Your pacing is giving me a headache. Just relax. Princess Twilight and her friends always fix things eventually. We have to focus on the kids.”

“I know. I should check on Comet. And have any of you seen Starlight?” Trail asked.

Zala and Tala looked at each other and then back at Trail, Zala got a look of concern, “Come to think of it, no I haven’t in a while.”

“Maybe a problem came up with the kids. I’ll go check it out.” Trail said.

He left the kitchen and walked around the school. He couldn’t find Starlight anywhere, not in her office, or Twilight’s office, the courtyard, the library, she was nowhere to be found. It was so strange, she would never abandon her duties. Maybe Comet would know where she is.

Comet was much easier to find than Starlight, she was hanging out with her friends in their dorm room. He opened the door and saw them all laying on the beds and the floor just talking. Comet looked up to see her dad enter, “Hi Daddy. What’s up?”

“Hey kiddo. Have any of you kids seen Starlight? I can’t find her anywhere.” Trail asked.

Comet and her friends thought for a moment, Comet answered, “No, not since we were in the library earlier. Maybe she had to go into town for something?”

“I doubt she’d go without telling us. Something’s not right. Kids, can you help me find her?” Trail asked.

All the students including Comet got up immediately and shouted together, “Of course!”

Comet and Ocellus paired up and began their search, the rest of the friends having paired up as well. Whatever was going on, Trail did not want them running off alone. Comet had a bad feeling, Starlight wouldn’t have just disappeared on them. Where did she go?”

“Don’t worry Comet, we’ll find her.” Ocellus said, having noticed Comet’s worry.

“Thanks Ocellus. If only I had my magic, it just sucks not having it after working so hard.” Comet said.

“Yeah, even my magic is gone now. Who could do such a thing? I read about this Tirek guy, and I really hope it isn’t him. What if he goes after my hive?” Ocellus said, worry now on her face.

Comet hugged the changeling, “That’s not gonna happen. No one messes with my friends.”

Ocellus hugged back and they continued on their way, past the courtyards and now coming up to the library. At that moment, Comet felt a tingle in her head. It was almost like something was pushing her towards the library.

As they walked into the library, that tug on her mind kept pulling, towards the back of the library. Comet and Ocellus moved past the last bookshelf and gasped. There, lying in a heap on the ground, was Starlight’s wheelchair. Both wheels were broken and the seat was torn. The girls looked around and saw nothing but the grate from the other day, open and exposed.

“Why is the grate open? Didn’t we close it back up?” Comet asked.

“I thought we did. Maybe the tree wants us to go down there?” Ocellus suggested.

Comet and Ocellus moved down the grate and into the bowels of the school. The feeling was different from the last time. Comet couldn’t feel the tree’s presence, and the atmosphere felt off. Like something was off with the tree.

As they continued through the halls, they eventually saw a small opening, almost like a window without glass and peeked through it. A large circular room that had several pillars of crystal coming out of the floor and up into the ceiling, with a door on one wall. But that wasn’t what immediately caught the girl’s attention.

In the center of the room was a glowing sphere of magical energy, with six artifacts laid out in a magic circle. The glow from the artifacts seemed to be pulling in energy and feeding it into the sphere. And inside the sphere was Starlight Glimmer, who looked helpless as she floated there.

“Starlight.” Comet whispered before Ocellus put a hoof to her mouth.

Comet was about to ask Ocellus why she did that, but the changeling pointed her hoof at the door on the wall. It opened and a small pony came inside the room. A pony that Comet had hoped never to see again.

Tourmaline Rhinestone, the colt who was banished from the School of Friendship, walked right up to the captive Starlight.

“You know Starlight Glimmer, this could all be seen as your fault. If you hadn’t stuck your nose in my business, none of this would have happened. And I’m not just talking about your current predicament.” Tourmaline said, walking around the magic circle.

Starlight apparently couldn’t speak in the sphere, as she looked like she was screaming at the colt with a look of rage.

“I was top of the class, I was the best unicorn in this school. I could have been the personal student of the Princess of Magic. I had it all planned out. And then you and that backwater country peasant came in and ruined all my plans!” Tourmaline said, losing his cool but quickly composed himself.

“But no matter, things are going just as Tirek said they would. That centaur is old news. He doesn’t deserve all the magic in Equestria. That honor should be mine! And thanks to you, things are going even faster than anticipated. Who knew a unicorn drained of her magic could be an even greater magnet than all these artifacts? How could somepony as great as you fall so far?”

He stopped right at the door in the room.

“At sunset, all the magic in Equestria will belong to me and me alone! I will be the greatest unicorn in all of Equestria! I will be the most powerful being on the planet. Even the Princesses will bow to me! The name Tourmaline Rhinestone will be remembered and worshiped for the rest of time!” He said, cackling wickedly.

Comet and Ocellus stared at the colt with wide eyes, he was insane!

“We have to tell my Dad about this. We need help.” Comet said softly.

Ocellus nodded and they quietly made their way out of the caverns and back into the school proper.

“HE WHAT!?” A collective of voices said in the hallway of the school.

Comet and Ocellus first ran into the rest of their friends before they found her Dad and Aunts.

“So Tourmaline is the one responsible for all this?” Sandbar asked.

“Yeah, he said he learned how to drain magic from Tirek. He said he wants all the magic in Equestria to himself.” Comet said.

“How did he get in contact with Tirek? It’s not like there’s a Tartatus Pin Pal system is there?” Smoulder asked.

The group all shrugged, Gallus took to the air, “Who cares how he did it? We need to stop him.”

“Right, let’s go get my Dad and Aunts. They can stop him.” Comet said, pointing in the direction of the kitchen.

The group of friends all ran as fast as they could, the door to the kitchen was right in front of them, but before Comet opened the door, Silverstream stopped her.

“Hold on, listen.” Silverstream said, holding her ear to the door.

Muffled voices could be heard through the door, making Comet nervous. She slowly creaked the door open just enough to peek inside. And what she say made her gasp.

Trail, Zala and Zecora were all pinned to the wall of the kitchen by a magical aura. And standing in front of them was none other than Tourmaline.

“How can you still use magic? And why are you here, Tourmaline? You were banished!” Trail yelled at the colt.

“Banished because of your daughter! I was set to be the next Archmage of Equestria. I was going to be the Starswirl of my age! Until your spawn came to this school and ruined my plans! Now, things will be different. I hold all the power now Trail Blazer. And I will rule Equestria and bring forth a new era of power.” Tourmaline declared.

Trail’s eyes widened, “So it’s you. You’re the one stealing the magic of the land.” Trail said.

“Yes, how perceptive of you. Like it wasn’t obvious enough. Gods, you country ponies are so slow.” Tourmaline mocked.

“And what do you plan to do when you have all the magic? Rule Equestria? The Princesses would never allow that.” Zala said.

“I don’t think those ancient fossils will be able to do anything about it once all their power is mine. After Equestria, I’ll take the Crystal Empire, and drain the power of the Crystal Heart. Then the rest of this pathetic world will fall before me!” Tourmaline said.

“I WILL BE EMPEROR OF ALL THAT STANDS BEFORE ME!” Tourmaline shouted, laughing maniacally.

“How could a mind so young, sport such a wicked tongue?” Zecora said.

“Be quiet Zebra! I’m in charge now, and when I’m done with this place, it’ll be my castle and no pony will ever stop me!” Tourmaline declared.

Comet and the others finally got away from the door and ran down the hallway of the school. As they were running, Comet bumped into Tala. Everyone stopped as they saw the griffon.

“Comet, there’s no running in the hall. Jeez, what’s got you in such a hurry?” Tala asked.

“Auntie Tala! Oh thank the Princesses you’re here. It’s bad, really bad!” Comet said, scared out of her mind.

“Woah woah, take a breath kiddo. What’s bad?” Tala said.

Gallus flew in front of the griffon, “Tourmaline is behind all the magic in Equestria disappearing, and he’s got Counselor Starlight trapped in a magic circle, and now he’s got Mister Trail, Miss Zala, and Zecora all trapped too and-”

He was cut off as the older griffon clamped his beak shut with her claws, “Slow it down boy. Tourmaline’s behind all this?”

“Yes! And he’s captured Starlight, Daddy, Auntie Zala and Zecora! We need to get help, Auntie Tala!” Comet shouted.

Tala put a claw over her mouth to shush her, looking around to see if anyone was listening to them. After a few moments, she gestured for the kids to come closer, making them huddle around her.

“Ok, we need a plan. Any clue how Tourmaline is draining magic?” Tala asked.

“He’s got this magic circle in the caverns under the school. Me and Ocellus saw a door but we’ve got no idea where it led to.” Comet said.

“He also had artifacts in the circle. I think he’s using them as magnets to attract the magic. Once he gets all of it, I guess he has a way to absorb it all.” Ocellus said.

“Headmare Twilight and the other teachers are probably stuck in Tartarus without magic to get them out. So who else can we turn to for help?” Silverstream asked.

Comet looked at her Aunt, “Auntie Tala, you have to fly to Canterlot and warn the Princesses. We can do some digging around here and find out how to stop Tourmaline.”

Tala shook her head, “No way Comet, that’s way too dangerous, especially without magic.”

“We don’t have any other choice. You’re the only one fast enough to reach the Princesses. Tourmaline is too powerful to fight directly. We need as much help as possible. We can handle it Auntie, I have my friends with me.” Comet said, gesturing to all her friends.

Tala was about to speak her objections, but after thinking about it, she sighed, “I don’t like this one bit, but you’re right. I’ll go get the Princesses, but you all keep her and yourselves safe, that’s an order.”

“Yes Ma’am!” They all said.

“Alright, I’ll go now. Find somewhere to hide and come up with a plan. Do not try anything crazy until I come back with help.” Tala ordered.

She took off out the nearest window and flew as fast as she could towards Canterlot. Even at her top speed, it would take her a while to get there, let alone bring enough help.

“So, where should we go? How are we gonna stop Tourmaline?” Smoulder asked.

“We need more information. But I don’t think the library has anything we could use.” Ocellus said.

A light bulb in Comet’s brain lit up, “Maybe not the school library. But I know a library with all kinds of one of a kind books.”

“What library?” Silverstream asked.

Comet moved over to a window, pointing in a direction. The rest of her friends joined her and looked in the direction she was pointing.

“But all Yona see is Headpony’s castle.” Yona asked.

Then it dawned on all the friends, making them all let out a collective, “Ooooooh.”

Comet and her friends quickly jumped out the window and ran for the castle. If anypony had a book about magic draining circles and artifacts, it would be the Princess of Books herself, Twilight Sparkle.

The castle door opened thanks to a little yak power, and the library was super easy to find. The bookshelves were vast, each filled to the brim with books.

“Don’t tell me we have to read through all of these?” Gallus grumbled.

“We don’t have a whole lot of choices Gallus. The fate of Equestria is riding on us.” Sandbar said.

“Sandbar’s right. Pick a section and let’s get started everyone.” Comet said, moving to the first bookshelf.

She found the first book and tried to pry it out with her hoof, not having any magic. But she wasn’t used to picking stuff up with her hooves and it flew out of her hoof, landing square against the back of Smoulder’s head.

The dragon rubbed her head and glared back at the unicorn. Comet gave a sheepish smile and a “Sorry Smoulder.”

Smoulder stomped her way to Comet, dropping the book in front of her and leaving to find her own bookshelf. Comet looked at the book and simply expected the book to open. Then she remembered, no magic, and opened the book with her hoof.

“This is gonna be a long night.” Comet grumbled.

Author's Note

Hey guys, Hades here.

So Tourmaline is back, isn't that great? Did you guys miss him?

Well have fun, see you next time