An Unstoppable Forceby IliketoreadandstuffChaptersA Peaceful MorningThat Chill in the AirReckoningThe CleansingA Peaceful MorningIt was yet another morning in the Everfree. The bright, blue sky was spotted with clouds of various shapes and sizes, and the trees provided plentiful shade for the creatures that resided there. Creatures like the wise zebra, Zecora. The Everfree was her home and a place that most accommodated her for years prior, and she felt comfortable in this strange, dangerous area. She stepped out into the forest, taking a deep breath. She could smell the forest's age and could hear its history in the rustles of the leaves and the howls of the wind. Though, as she took in this peaceful environment, she could just barely feel a breeze too cold. A sunray too dim. A smell too rancid. Her hairs stiffened just a bit, and a chill coursed down her spine. A cold morning, indeed, she thought to herself. It was the middle of summer, so the cold was indeed a foreign temperature, yet there were many things in the Everfree that weren't as one might expect. Many little treasures and colonies that seem too rich or too small to hold any sort of value. Now, to remind myself of what it is I need. She took out a list of ingredients she needed to pick up. Just a few petals and pieces of bark, as well as the mucus from a knot-dwelling creature. With these ingredients, a potion may be formed that can bring courage and strength to those who ingest it. She traveled along, keeping out a keen eye for the things she needed, and again felt that cold breeze. The breeze that filled her lungs with the aroma of...well, she wasn't sure what it was. Something felt off, she could tell. It was the smell of the air, the chill in her spine, and the pit in her gut. She could feel that the aura of the world was just off. Not much, but enough to be noticed. She observed her surroundings, noting the clouds in the sky were much bigger than before. The blue of the sky wasn't nearly as bright. And the smell. The smell became stronger than ever before. She carried on, her limbs feeling weaker than before. It wasn't often that Zecora felt fear. She had always lived in a perfect chaos; a world she could observe and learn from. A world that stayed the same, only bringing new secrets and mysteries. She neared a tree with a rather large knothole, and the smell was almost too strong. She took out some herbs, tapping the powder out on her hoof and rubbing it under her nostrils. It nullified the smell just enough so that it wasn't obnoxious, but it was still a raw and heavy scent. Mucus from a knot-dwelling creature, that's all she was here for. She peered into the hole, seeing nothing more than an oppressive pool of darkness within. The smell was able to overpower the herbs at this proximity. She reached a hoof in, feeling something small and furry. Pulling it out, she froze as she saw it. It was the creature she needed, there was no doubt, but it was much too limp. Too calm. Too quiet. It was almost as though... Zecora's eyes widened, and she dropped the critter on the ground. It didn't move, instead bouncing and splaying itself out. Its eyes never blinked. Its nose never twitched. Zecora, disgusted and horrified, rushed back to her hut. Once inside, she slammed the door behind her, leaning on it and panting. "That poor little creature with its motionless eyes! What a shame that it met such a cruel demise!" Zecora said, calming down a bit. She had seen animals that shuffled off of their mortal coil before, but they were always few and out of the way most of the time. It was the size of a youngling, so it couldn't have been an age-based death. There were no scratches or blood, so it couldn't have been attacked. Perhaps it was a disease? A plague? As she considered this, Zecora dipped her hooves into a small pool of a cleansing potion. She calmed herself down, writing it off as just that: a disease. The Everfree wasn't exactly the cleanest place in Equestria, so it would make quite a bit of sense. Zecora looked out into the forest, still a bit shaken. The light from the sun was very dim and the only glimpses of the sky came from tiny cracks in the clouds above. Even though the smell was explained, there was still that cold breeze. That chilled spine. That feeling in her gut. It was the feeling she got before a storm. That Chill in the AirMornings generally come as an annoyance to those who live through them. The abrupt disturbance from a comfortable slumber is hardly a welcome feeling. Except, on this day, for the Princess of Friendship. The sunlight that bled through her window refracted off of her muzzle and into her shut eyelids; a silent alarm clock that shines every day, working tirelessly to wake Equestria up. Her eyes opened gently, aching at the brightness in her room, and she rubbed them of sleep. She stretched and popped her back, before hopping down from her bed. Though she was still a bit tired, her energy for the day was quickly building. It was the middle of summer, and the air outside was very hot and very humid. A cool draft seemed to slither through the room, making her shiver just a bit as it touched her raw, warm coat. Still, she stepped out into the hallway, navigating it with impressive familiarity. She could still remember the days when these halls were completely alien to her, traversing them as though they were a labyrinth without any idea of where she was going. How things have changed in only five years! Yet so much had remained the same. This thought gave her a nice sense of comfort. It was the warmth and reassurance of a mother to her child, reminding them that things will be okay even if things aren’t as they were. Even if the skies are dark, there will once again be sunlight to shine on the world. Spike met up with her at the front door. He was clearly taking a bit longer to fully wake up, which was understandable considering the amount of work he’s always had to do. Twilight smirked with pride at her little dragon. So diligently working for her and their friends, all done because of their love and compassion towards each other. Spike looked up at her, managing a cute little smile. She opened the doors in front of her, and Celestia’s nectar flowed through the doors once more, presenting a gateway to a vast, magical world beyond. It was a familiar sensation that every pony feels on every day, yet every time is just as beatific as the last. Twilight smiled, and inhaled deeply. She could smell the scents of nature: soil, hay, and grass. She exhaled cheerfully. Today was going to be a good day. She just knew it. Equipping her saddlebags, and allowing Spike to hop onto her back, the two of them trotted along the path into town. They were greeted by content, familiar faces as they approached the marketplace. Everyone greeting her with smiles and waves. A few of the fillies even galloped along and crossed her path, caught up in some sort of game. Twilight knew she had to set a good example for the young and impressionable. She knew she was the one to inspire them, and she did so comfortably and with ease. A minor offset to her joy was a small chill in the air. It was a breeze that flowed throughout town like an invisible serpent, spreading its subtle freeze into the comfortably warm environment. Though it was hardly noticeable, and barely affected Twilight’s mood, it was still there. Tiny, but just enough to tip the scale a bit. They made it into the marketplace, with booths of various different products lining the streets. Vegetables and herbs. They needed vegetables and herbs. They had purchased a few of the commodities, like carrots and celery, but also picked up a few unusual vegetables to add some extra flavor. There was a pear-shaped plant with a blue color to it, coated in yellow spots, a few red spheres that smelled spicy, and a ring-shaped stalk of what looked like asparagus. That last one evoked the appearance of Ouroboro. All of them were stored away respectively in the saddlebags, yet Spike inspected the stranger ones with suspicion. “You sure those are good to eat?” Spike asked. “They don’t look very appetizing.” “Sure,” Twilight replied, “why wouldn’t they be?” “I dunno. They just look a little concerning,” Spike took out the pear-shaped vegetable, “especially the blue one. From my experience, spots means sickness.” Twilight chuckled gently, understanding Spike’s concern. “We can go talk to Zecora about them if it worries you that much. I’m sure she’s seen something like these before. “That would be nice. Thanks.” Spike stored the blue plant back in its saddlebag, looking ahead to see where they were headed. They were trotting towards a mattress store. “Right now would be nice.” “It can wait! We need to get you a new mattress, first.” Spike rolled his eyes. “The one I have right now is fine.” “Uh-huh. Even though you always complain about how it’s deflated and how your back always feels sore when waking up?” Spike remained silent, rubbing his back as it ached. At the edge of the Everfree forest, something seemed a little strange. Granted, that was a given in regards to this mysterious place, but this was a different kind of strange. Twilight new the chaos well, and today’s seemed a little more chaotic than usual. The forest was breathing, it’s heart beating rapidly. Something had upset it, and she didn’t know what. It piqued her curiosity, though, and she pressed on. Spike tensed up. “Still not used to this place,” Spike said. Twilight smirked a bit. She and her friends had been through this forest so many times that it would be strange if she wasn’t used to it by now. As they walked deeper and deeper into the eerie forest, that chill in the air became even stronger. The forest seemed darker than before. There was a smell that was rancid to the nostrils. And the trees, which were usually bustling with spooky eyes and mysterious creatures, were faded and empty. There were a few croaks from frogs, a few chirps from birds, and they would occasionally spot a squirrel leaping from branch to branch overhead. But that was the extent. Twilight’s joy became drastically offset by this unusual environment. Such an odd thing to be disturbed by a place that isn’t disturbing enough. It wasn’t long before they found Zecora’s hut, still full of light and vibrance. They could hear the zebra moving around within, organizing her potions and bottles for an unknown purpose. Twilight knocked on the door, and the frantic movements were abruptly halted. The serpent slithered through Twilight’s skin. She could tell that there was something wrong. Zecora opened the door a crack, seeing Twilight and Spike staring back in confusion. “Everything okay in there?” Twilight asked, concerned. “Yes. Yes, I am fine,” Zecora sighed, before analysing them. “Though, I can tell that a chill has coursed down your spine.” “There’s a cool breeze that comes through,” Spike added. Zecora looked to the sky in suspicion. “Ah, yes. That chill in the air,” Zecora looked at them again. “A storm is coming, as I’m sure you’re aware.” “A storm? Like a thunderstorm? The weather seems pretty nice,” Twilight said. “Not of thunder, but something more. What exactly? I’m not sure.” Zecora ushered them in, keeping an eye on the infinite blue above them before closing the door. “This morning, a cold one, I went out for ingredients. I thought that the calm air would make that convenient. When I came to a tree, there was a strong smell. It was rancid and raw. Something dead, I could tell. The creature I found was still young and still fresh.” Zecora stared at the ground and shivered. “I can still feel its cold, lifeless flesh.” “Oh my gosh.” Twilight said, covering her mouth with her hoof. “I’m so sorry to hear that. How did it die, do you think?” “The cause of death? I do not know. There were no bruises or wounds to show.” Zecora continued to stare, before snapping out of it and looking at Twilight. “Since that, I have found, the forest is silent. A telltale sign of a force that is violent. The critters are scared, and they’ve hidden away. This fear and anxiety has certainly dampened my day.” Twilight put her hoof on Zecora’s shoulder, comforting her. “I’m sorry you’re going through this, and that does sound a little weird. I kinda felt like something was...off. But, don’t be too worried! Even though your day’s off to a rough start, I’m sure things will turn out for the better. You have a knack for solving problems, I’ve found.” Zecora smiled, nodding. “Thank you, Twilight, I’m sure that is true. I’m sure that your day will be fairly good, too.” Zecora took a deep breath, and Twilight stepped back a bit. She was so caught up in this moment that she had completely forgotten about why they were there in the first place. “Oh! Um, Spike was worried about some of the vegetables we got at the market.” “Still am,” Spike mumbled. “Could you find out if they’re safe or not?” Zecora nodded, and Twilight took the odd veggies out of her saddlebags. Zecora looked at them for a minute, before grabbing a book and flipping through it. She pointed at the blue one, referencing the book. “Cream Spotted Pearplant. Born of the vine. It tastes a bit strange, but it’s perfectly fine.” Spike breathed a sigh of relief. “The others I’ve seen, and they’re not bad either. Feel free to eat them all at your leisure.” “Thanks, Zecora,” Twilight turned to Spike. “All better?” “Yeah. Just gotta be careful, y’know?” Spike replied. Spike climbed onto Twilight’s back, ready to leave. The two of them exited the hut, and stopped to say goodbye to Zecora. “We’ll see you later, Zecora. I hope the rest of your day goes better!” Twilight said. Zecora smiled and waved, and they parted ways. As they walked away, Twilight and Spike could hear Zecora returning to whatever it was she was doing before they arrived. Those noises, however, soon faded away. And then it was just silence. A deafening, oppressive silence. Every so often, the cold breeze would rustle the branches of the forest, but that was the only type of comfort they could find. It had been a long time since Twilight felt this way in the Everfree forest. Spike burped, and Twilight excused him. Holding the next one in, Spike turned the opposite direction, and spit out a letter onto the ground behind them. Twilight stopped, picking up the letter with her magic and handing it to Spike. She continued along the path out of the forest. “Dear Twilight Sparkle,” Spike began, “you have been summoned for a meeting in Canterlot by the two Princesses. An urgent situation has come up, and we ask that you respond ASAP. Your other friends have also been summoned. We hope that you respond. The Royal Guard.” Twilight formed a pit in her gut. Urgent? What could be so urgent that all of them needed to attend? Something that could threaten the well-being of Equestria, no doubt. “We should probably head over there now. Sounds really important.” “We need to drop this stuff off back at the castle, first. But, yeah, it probably is really important.” They exited the forest. The air was cooler than before. “I hope everything’s okay.” ReckoningTwilight and Spike rushed back into town, gathering up their friends and informing them of the emergency. Rainbow Dash was the last one they met up with, and she was quickly asked about the storm that Zecora had mentioned. "I don't think there are any storms scheduled. Not here," she said. Twilight wrote it off as Everfree forest oddities, and the rest of the group quickly headed to Canterlot. As they entered the castle, they could tell that things were much more cautious than they had been. The expressions on the faces of the Royal Guard meant that they knew something the six of them didn't. Not yet, anyway. Reaching the doors to the throne room, the six of them stopped politely before being let in. Twilight was slightly relieved to see only the sisters were present, and that Cadence was not. It might not be that bad, Twilight thought. The sisters, who had worriedly been conversing, soon noticed the group as they entered. "Ah! I'm glad you all could make it," Celestia said, retaining a concerned expression. "Of course," Twilight replied. "What seems to be the problem, Princesses?" The sisters looked at each other. "It'll sound silly," Celestia mumbled to Luna. "We can't just sit around and do nothing, Celestia," Luna said, just as quietly, "if it truly is something, we must act sooner rather than later." Celestia nodded, turning back to the group. "There is a village to the North, known as Gallopool. It is a small village, but it is peaceful and full of good ponies and crops," Celestia began. "We had been trading with them for several years now, but we lost communication with them a few days ago. A few pegasus guards conducted a flyby to check on them, and they saw that everyone was still there. It has been five days, now, and we have grown more worried. Many accounts say that there have been terrible storms all over the Northern hemisphere. We fear that this town has been ravaged by a tornado or worse. We hope for the best, but plan for the worst, so we humbly ask you to travel there and see for yourself." "Storms, huh?" Spike thought aloud, Twilight and Rainbow Dash looking at him in response. Twilight looked at the others to see if they were also on board. They all nodded courageously, Pinkie more excited to visit a new village than anything. "We accept," Twilight announced, "and we won't let you down." "Excellent!" Celestia exclaimed. "Stay safe, my little ponies." The group said their farewells before exiting the throne room. The rest of the group made this out to be something of a typical mission, if not even simpler. Check out a village, make sure things are okay, and that will be the end of it. But Twilight couldn't help but feel this pit in her gut. This looming threat of some great storm worried her, especially considering the fact that it isn't a scheduled or a controlled storm. And, as the Princesses said, it wasn't localized only to the Everfree forest. Twilight was afraid to admit it, but she was slowly becoming scared of what was to come. They were exiting Canterlot when Twilight just couldn't hide it anymore. "Is anyone else really freaked out by this storm business?" Twilight blurted, stiff and shaking with anxiety. Everyone else saw this flurry of emotion, thinking of what to do. Applejack stepped up to speak the first words. "Absolutely," she said softly. "But, I'm sure we've faced much worse than this. For all we know, it's just a rogue storm that can be blown away by some magic or pegasus manipulation." Twilight and Applejack made eye contact. Applejack remained calm and confident, instilling this feeling into Twilight as well. "But, what if--" Twilight began. "No need to worry about it 'till we get there. If it's that bad, we'll get rid of it together. Even if it hurts. Okay?" Twilight took a few moments to breathe, before relaxing and nodding. The group carried on. The seeds of doubt had been planted in their minds, but the trees of courage stood strong regardless. It was a long yet relatively boring journey to the village, but the environment surrounding the village was very out of place for the ponies. There was no grass or flowers. No trees or moss. Everything was dirt and rocks for as far as they could see. "What happened here?" Rarity asked. "Maybe it's soil for farming?" Fluttershy suggested. "The Princesses did mention that they grew good crops." "Nah. This ain't farmin' soil," Applejack said. "Too dry. Hasn't been plowed, either." "It was probably the storm," Twilight mumbled to herself. Pinkie had been bouncing ahead of the group, undeterred by the plains of dry soil surrounding the village. However, her bouncing abruptly halted when she saw the village. The rest of the group, who was still a bit behind, were confused and worried, before seeing what she had. The village wasn't even there anymore, but they could see its shadows. There were still a few signs and splinters of wood poking up from what seemed to be blackened, burnt earth. A few spots of dirty white were also partially buried by the dirt. The six ponies slowly walked along the path into the broken village. Rainbow Dash went over to inspect one of the white spots in the ground, prodding at it before unearthing it. She quickly jolted back, as though it had bitten her. "Bones," she said, her throat suddenly dry. "There are bones here!" Everyone froze in place at this revelation. Rainbow's gaze was affixed on the dirtied femur on the ground, and she wiped off her contaminated hoof on her other foreleg. Pinkie's mood also clearly took a drastic shift from before. She could feel the weight of what had happened here throughout her body, and her emotions seemed lost. She was still processing everything. There was a cloud of dust that hung in the air, gradually settling on the ground and remnants of the village. The ponies wondered what exactly this dust was from, hoping for the best. Twilight, cautious, looked at a wooden slab on the ground. It was clearly some sort of picket sign that had been broken. She picked it up and put the pieces together, seeing the message it held. 'THE END IS COMING.' Her heart sank. They knew what was happening, she thought, yet it still did its work. The tense atmosphere was momentarily distracted by a distant boom to the north. It was like the roar of a beast on the horizon, echoing throughout the land to warn of its approach. "Nothing like this has ever happened before," Fluttershy stated. "Not that I can remember." "We don't even know for sure what happened!" Applejack reminded. "Is it that hard to figure out?" Twilight asked, turning back to the others. Her face was accusatory and had hints of rage lurking beneath the surface. Her brows were slightly furrowed and her eyes were daggers. "If I'm right, this is the result of that storm!" "Even the dirt?" Fluttershy asked. Rainbow, curious, flew up high into the air to get a better look at this town. As she ascended, the air felt colder than usual. She looked back down after she felt high enough, and was surprised to see that the dirt surrounding the former village was strangely linear. It clearly spanned for miles, but it looked more like a path than anything else. She plummeted back down to the others. "I'd say so," she said, "this dirt looks like a giant, beaten path." "So it has some sort of clear direction?" Twilight pressed, her paranoia returning. "Easy," Applejack said. "We're still not entirely sure what we're dealing with here. For all we know, it's just a storm with a straight wind to carry it." "Are we sure everyone here is...y'know?" Pinkie asked, looking at everyone with a blank expression. "Maybe a few made it out before it went down." "That sounds pretty likely," Applejack said. "If they knew it was coming beforehand, maybe they were able to get out of its vicinity." "I did find a sign that warned of 'the end,'" Twilight added, feeling a tiny bit more at ease. "But where would they go?" "Somewhere safer, I'm sure," Fluttershy said. There was a silence among them after that, filled only by the soft blowing the wind. A cold wind that carried the ghosts of the villagers, no doubt. "We should head back. We got what we came for," Rainbow said, breaking the silence. "I agree," Rarity said. "I can't spend another moment in this...graveyard." Her last word was low and somber, and she looked at the ground. Everyone else silently followed each other as they left. Twilight looked back, though, the thought of the village lingering in her mind. It was still there. And it was still dead. The last thing she saw of it was the sign on the ground. The futile warning of what had transpired. Halfway through the journey back to Canterlot, the group decided to take a break for a moment. Thoughts of their little expedition filled all of their minds, though they were reluctant to admit it. Applejack considered herself to be the only one truly familiar with loss out of the group, and remained the most level-headed. She could see that everyone else was processing the situation in their own ways, however. Pinkie was clearly dissociated, with her eyes blank and spaced out. She displayed no emotion, and this all probably hit her like a train. Rainbow Dash tried to stay confident and not think about it as much, but still carried the weight of sadness with her. Rarity was shaken, a sick feeling in her stomach and a bad taste in her mouth. It was clear she didn't even want to talk about it. Fluttershy was quiet and respectful, and would shake every so often as she thought about it. And Twilight. Twilight was tense and shaky, clearly having all of her thoughts polluted by this occurrence. A poison in her mind that effectively coursed through her veins. As much as she felt the need to do something, Applejack didn't think anything she could say would help them. As much as they all wanted to talk through this, they knew that they would just hurt more and make matters worse for them. They would talk when they were ready. They sat there for about seven minutes, gradually loosening up and relaxing a bit. Just enough to be comfortable with walking the rest of the way. They all got up, looking at each other and feeling a sense of hope. A pleasant reminder that they were still there. That they still had each other. With that, they continued along their path back to Canterlot. The Cleansing"They're all gone," Twilight reported, solemnly. The Princesses stood to attention, and were clearly shocked at the news. "Gone?" Luna said. "As in...?" The group nodded. Celestia took a deep breath, attempting to remain calm. It had been a while since ponies had suffered such a fate under her careful watch and rule. "There's hardly a village left," Rainbow said, "it's just dirt and a few pieces of wood, now." "And bones," Twilight added. Luna covered her mouth, her complexion displaying pain and horror. Celestia respectfully closed her eyes, tilting her head down just a bit. "I'm...sorry that you all had to see that," Celestia said, "I wouldn't have sent you had I known." "At least we know now, I suppose," added Luna. "Thank you for doing this. Even if it wasn't what we had hoped." The group was about to respond, yet the silence introduced a rapid sound from the hallway outside. The sound of galloping hooves. Cadence suddenly burst into the room, short of breath and clearly terrified. "THE END IS COMING!" Cadence shouted. Twilight's blood ran cold at these words, and a wave of lightheadedness washed over her. "T-The Empire! A blizzard! It's so...please! Help us!" Cadence's legs began to shake, and she collapsed on the floor, exhausted. Twilight rushed over to her, helping her up. She felt so brittle. "A blizzard?" Luna asked. Cadence nodded weakly. "It just...! And the wind! It has to be the end!" Cadence shouted. Twilight repositioned Cadence's head to look at her. "Slow down, now," Twilight said, softly. "Breathe." Cadence did so, at first panting, before breathing through her nose and out her mouth. She tried to stand on her own, able to do so, though with tremendous effort. "A terrifying blizzard rolled in last night," she began, her voice still shaky. "At first we thought it was nothing to worry about. It's the North, y'know? But then everyone started freaking out about the wind and the dark skies surrounding the Empire. Ponies started thinking that it would be strong enough to break through the barrier! And the lightning!" Her eyes went wider, as though she was reliving a traumatic memory. "It's a bright green lightning! It's distant, but the thunder is enough to shake your bones! Shining and I have tried to calm the ponies down, but it hasn't been working out. They always expect the worst." "What about Flurry Heart?" Twilight asked, concerned. "We're going to have her stay with you, if that's okay," Cadence said. "I don't want her to be caught up in this mess." "Of course that's okay! I promise she'll be safe with us," Twilight replied. Cadence smiled, a bit relieved. "Though the lightning is an odd thing," Luna said, "we cannot assume it is anything more than a bad snowstorm." "I agree," Celestia chimed. "The best thing that you can do is remain calm and ease their worries with sound logic and reassurance. The Crystal Heart will surely be able to protect you." "Okay," Cadence whispered. "Okay, yeah. Okay." Twilight and the others were much more suspicious, though. They would love to be able to write it off as some common storm, but they were no longer sure that's all it was. "I'll head back to the Empire to pick up Flurry Heart. Thank you for your time." Cadence looked around, weakly waving goodbye before exiting the throne room hurriedly. "I'm not sure we should underestimate this storm, Princesses," Twilight said. "What more can we do?" Celestia asked. "We don't quite know how we can prepare for...whatever else it could be." "Especially since we don't know whatever else it could be," Luna added. "Look," Rainbow said, "that thing has a path. I saw it. The dirt in the village was big and straight, and it was headed north. I don't think this is just a coincidence anymore, and I don't think this is a usual storm, either." Rainbow stood firm in her assertion, and Applejack stood beside her, backing her up. Twilight joined as well. "We're still not sure what we can do," Celestia said. "We're open to suggestions if you have any." "I'll see what I can figure out," Twilight declared, turning for the door. The others were reluctant to follow. "Why just you?" Applejack asked. Twilight stopped at the door, not turning around. "I feel like I have some sort of responsibility in this," she replied. "But you don't!" Applejack reminded. "This isn't your fault that there was nothin' you coulda done to stop it." Twilight wanted to think that, but she just couldn't do it. She left through the door. Spike was the first to follow, while the rest remained stationary. She had gone through countless books on storms and destructive forces, yet still Twilight could find nothing. Until she reached a book by Starswirl, written over a thousand years ago. It was titled The Bringers of Apocalypse, and had five chapters explaining different ways that the world could end. There was a great war that could sweep the nations of Equestria, the emergence of a great evil from within the ground, and the rampage of Tartarus. Yet, it was chapter four that caught her attention the most. There was little described for it, but it was known as 'The Obitus Storm.' It details a storm that only grows in size, wiping all life from the land beneath it with streaks of lightning and chilling winds. Twilight's heart sank at how eerily accurate this description was. Yet, what lead Starswirl to write about this? Why this specifically? How could he know? Perhaps this isn't the first time this has happened, Twilight thought. Maybe he even lived through it and was able to stop it! Although her hope was a bit flimsy, it was one of the few things she could hope for. According to the book, most of the information he gained was from old runes to the southwest, between Los Pegasus and the Ghastly Gorge. She packed the book in her saddlebags, and began heading out of the castle. "Where are you going?" Spike asked, innocent as a child. Twilight looked at him for a moment, thinking of what to say. "I'll be back. Don't worry. Just...don't follow me, okay?" Twilight said. "You'll be holding down the fort for a bit." Spike was a bit disappointed, as his question still hadn't been answered. "What do I do when Cadence drops off Flurry Heart?" "Just tell her to drop her off in my room. Starlight can help out, too. I'm sure she'd be fine with it." "Okay. Be careful." Twilight smirked sincerely. "I will be. I always am." Twilight walked through the two front doors, the warmth of the sun from earlier now weakened by the cloudy skies and time of day. Spike felt a certain kind of heartache as she left. Though he didn't want to say it outright, he knew that she was his closest friend and the only mother figure he's had. He waved weakly as the door closed, subtly mouthing the words 'I love you' before they shut completely, echoing through the open room. It took about half an hour for Twilight to finally arrive at the runic site. The winds had become much more turbulent and were blowing to the north, especially at such a high altitude. The air was quite cold, though still being surrounded by the warmth of summer. Twilight was happy to have an objective and a focus, as it was something to keep her mind off of their mission to Gallopool. She landed steadily in front of a stone, having only six runes carved into it. It was much windier there, but she barely noticed. She translated those runes using another book she had brought, finding it to be very old. "You came here as well, I see," said a deep voice to her left. Her concentration broken, Twilight looked to find the source of the voice. "Starswirl?" she asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?" "Same as you," he replied, "I have come to put an end to the storm." "Haven't you done it before?" Starswirl scoffed. "Not in the slightest! I didn't even know it existed until I came here more than a thousand years ago. In fact, I'm still not sure it does exist. Regardless, the storm to the north worries me." "If you're not sure it exists, then how did you know about the wind and the lightning?" "Educated guesses, mostly. But that's not how I discovered its possible affects." He scanned the horizon, stopping once he saw a clearing of trees. "Over there," he pointed, "should be the entrance to a cave. It's rather deep, so I ask that you be careful." Twilight, still a bit unsure of all this, went over to investigate. The landscape slowly dipped down into a hill, and dropped off a few feet away. There, she could see the entrance to the cave. Carefully, she descended and shimmied towards it. It was very dark and freezingly cold within the stone mouth, and she could tell that it went down like a ramp. She emitted light with her horn to help guide herself through. The cave was still quite damp, and patches of ice and snow could be found along the walls. It kept going deeper and deeper; Twilight was unsure there would even be a bottom. It was like the Arctic, now, and she shivered from the cold. She began to wonder if there was even anything down here. Just then, though, something caught her eye on the wall to her right. She got closer to it. Upon further inspection, she found it wasn't on the wall. It was in it! It was tough to make out what it was, but it was dark and rough. Like burnt wood. In fact...the patterns...that's exactly what it was! She looked around the rest of the cave, seeing that some of the stalactites were actually old, splintered planks and boards. There was even a sheet of paper, mostly burnt, hanging from the ceiling. It was in a language she couldn't understand and didn't recognize, but could tell that the paper itself was ancient. Beyond ancient! She descended further, where she began to see old, yellowed bones stuck in the walls. Bones of something strange, akin to that of a primate's. Especially the skulls. Pieces of fabric and cloth still hung from their disintegrated arms. Further down, she saw a pit that dropped down for miles. Metal beams and dirtied bulbs jutted out from the walls, bent and broken. How long had they been there? She had never seen anything like it! She tried to increase her luminescence, finding it hard to concentrate. There was a skeleton lying on one of the stone platforms, still dressed in torn clothes and a helmet. Like a construction worker or a miner. Perhaps that's what they were? Twilight, the cold beginning to numb her limbs, stepped back from the edge. She felt sick. She had to get out of there immediately! She rushed through the tunnels, frantic. So many things rushed through her mind as she thought about those things. The posters. The beams. That skeleton! She didn't know what they were! Who they were! Where they even came from! A light was softly reflected by one of the walls ahead, and she followed it until she was upon the cave entrance once more. Forgetting the steep decline, she propelled herself into the air, gliding and screaming. Her wings deployed, and she swooped back up towards the ridge, where Starswirl awaited. She didn't quite stick the landing, stumbling and faceplanting into the ground beside him. She was hyperventilating, trying to calm down. Starswirl tried to comfort her, putting his hoof on her shoulder. "Who...w-who were they?!" Twilight asked loudly, tearing up. "Nopony knows," Starswirl said, grim. "Nopony ever will, I don't think. One of my associates from long ago was able to tell that the burnt wood and some of the bones were burnt by lightning rather than fire. This led me to think that it was some sort of storm that had placed them there." "Do we know how deep it goes?! What were those beams?! And that skeleton! What were they doing there?! How did they--" "Ssh ssh..." Starswirl hushed. "Calm down and think one at a time." Twilight was just so overwhelmed by all of this. If that skeleton had some sort of advanced technology and they still suffered, how could they hope to stop this?! Slowly, she reminded herself. Deep breaths. Tears streamed down her face, but she was calming down, at least. "I'm not sure how deep that pit goes, exactly, nor do I intend to find out. It is a resting place for souls older than any of us, and I doubt they'd want to be disturbed. Other than that, however, I know about as much as you do. Where they came from, what they could do, it's all a mystery to me." "That's...n-not very comforting," Twilight said, sniffling. Starswirl looked down, guilty. "I know. I'm sorry." There was a pause as Twilight finished her crying, straightening up. "This storm...the 'Obitus' storm...what is it, exactly?" "From what I can tell," Starswirl stood up, walking back toward the runes; Twilight soon followed, "it is a force that goes through a process I call 'The Cleansing.' It roams across the land, wiping out all life. However, once all life is eradicated, it merely begins anew. It is a cycle that I doubt will ever end. If I'm right, we're merely catching the end of this cycle." "How many times has this happened, do you think?" "There's no way to tell. Could be four. Ten. Perhaps even hundreds. That cave is merely where the messes that weren't very well cleansed ended up. Where history is layered upon itself in countless repetitions." "Is there a way to stop it?" Twilight asked, that one question burning in her mind. Starswirl knew this, and responded the softest way he could. "I don't know." Twilight felt another wave of panic surge through her body, pushing it aside. Just because he doesn't know doesn't mean there isn't a way. "We don't have much longer, do we?" Twilight asked, a mixture of sadness and determination puppeteering her tone. "Not sure on that, either," was the reply. "I'd be willing to guess another week at most, but I'm not sure how accurate that is." So deal with it as soon as possible just in case, Twilight thought. "Twilight," Starswirl said, looking at her with a hint of fear in his eyes, "if you can't fix this, I might be able to place us in limbo until it passes." "How would we get out? How would we fit the entire population of Equestria into that? We can't do it at Ponehenge, anyways." "I know, I know. That's what I'm trying to work out. But, even if it takes quintillions of years, I'm sure there will be someone who can bring us back." I wouldn't count on it, Twilight thought. "I'll be able to fix this. I promise." Twilight spread her wings once more, walking in the direction of Ponyville for her return. She stopped, though, looking at Starswirl again. "But," she said, "if this is the last time we see each other, I just want to thank you for everything. The spells, the teachings, you've truly been one of the biggest inspirations throughout my life. I'm glad to have met you." "As am I," Starswirl said, humbled. Twilight nodded, taking off towards home. On the flight back, she kept thinking of ways around this. She didn't have a lot to go off of, but she knew that it was a storm of some sort. A storm with clouds. Pegasi control clouds. Maybe they could do something about it? But if lightning is it's biggest weapon, maybe it's best that they keep their distance. They didn't have very many options, but they had to do something and soon. There had to be a way to stop this. There always was. She just had to figure out what.
A Peaceful MorningIt was yet another morning in the Everfree. The bright, blue sky was spotted with clouds of various shapes and sizes, and the trees provided plentiful shade for the creatures that resided there. Creatures like the wise zebra, Zecora. The Everfree was her home and a place that most accommodated her for years prior, and she felt comfortable in this strange, dangerous area. She stepped out into the forest, taking a deep breath. She could smell the forest's age and could hear its history in the rustles of the leaves and the howls of the wind. Though, as she took in this peaceful environment, she could just barely feel a breeze too cold. A sunray too dim. A smell too rancid. Her hairs stiffened just a bit, and a chill coursed down her spine. A cold morning, indeed, she thought to herself. It was the middle of summer, so the cold was indeed a foreign temperature, yet there were many things in the Everfree that weren't as one might expect. Many little treasures and colonies that seem too rich or too small to hold any sort of value. Now, to remind myself of what it is I need. She took out a list of ingredients she needed to pick up. Just a few petals and pieces of bark, as well as the mucus from a knot-dwelling creature. With these ingredients, a potion may be formed that can bring courage and strength to those who ingest it. She traveled along, keeping out a keen eye for the things she needed, and again felt that cold breeze. The breeze that filled her lungs with the aroma of...well, she wasn't sure what it was. Something felt off, she could tell. It was the smell of the air, the chill in her spine, and the pit in her gut. She could feel that the aura of the world was just off. Not much, but enough to be noticed. She observed her surroundings, noting the clouds in the sky were much bigger than before. The blue of the sky wasn't nearly as bright. And the smell. The smell became stronger than ever before. She carried on, her limbs feeling weaker than before. It wasn't often that Zecora felt fear. She had always lived in a perfect chaos; a world she could observe and learn from. A world that stayed the same, only bringing new secrets and mysteries. She neared a tree with a rather large knothole, and the smell was almost too strong. She took out some herbs, tapping the powder out on her hoof and rubbing it under her nostrils. It nullified the smell just enough so that it wasn't obnoxious, but it was still a raw and heavy scent. Mucus from a knot-dwelling creature, that's all she was here for. She peered into the hole, seeing nothing more than an oppressive pool of darkness within. The smell was able to overpower the herbs at this proximity. She reached a hoof in, feeling something small and furry. Pulling it out, she froze as she saw it. It was the creature she needed, there was no doubt, but it was much too limp. Too calm. Too quiet. It was almost as though... Zecora's eyes widened, and she dropped the critter on the ground. It didn't move, instead bouncing and splaying itself out. Its eyes never blinked. Its nose never twitched. Zecora, disgusted and horrified, rushed back to her hut. Once inside, she slammed the door behind her, leaning on it and panting. "That poor little creature with its motionless eyes! What a shame that it met such a cruel demise!" Zecora said, calming down a bit. She had seen animals that shuffled off of their mortal coil before, but they were always few and out of the way most of the time. It was the size of a youngling, so it couldn't have been an age-based death. There were no scratches or blood, so it couldn't have been attacked. Perhaps it was a disease? A plague? As she considered this, Zecora dipped her hooves into a small pool of a cleansing potion. She calmed herself down, writing it off as just that: a disease. The Everfree wasn't exactly the cleanest place in Equestria, so it would make quite a bit of sense. Zecora looked out into the forest, still a bit shaken. The light from the sun was very dim and the only glimpses of the sky came from tiny cracks in the clouds above. Even though the smell was explained, there was still that cold breeze. That chilled spine. That feeling in her gut. It was the feeling she got before a storm.
That Chill in the AirMornings generally come as an annoyance to those who live through them. The abrupt disturbance from a comfortable slumber is hardly a welcome feeling. Except, on this day, for the Princess of Friendship. The sunlight that bled through her window refracted off of her muzzle and into her shut eyelids; a silent alarm clock that shines every day, working tirelessly to wake Equestria up. Her eyes opened gently, aching at the brightness in her room, and she rubbed them of sleep. She stretched and popped her back, before hopping down from her bed. Though she was still a bit tired, her energy for the day was quickly building. It was the middle of summer, and the air outside was very hot and very humid. A cool draft seemed to slither through the room, making her shiver just a bit as it touched her raw, warm coat. Still, she stepped out into the hallway, navigating it with impressive familiarity. She could still remember the days when these halls were completely alien to her, traversing them as though they were a labyrinth without any idea of where she was going. How things have changed in only five years! Yet so much had remained the same. This thought gave her a nice sense of comfort. It was the warmth and reassurance of a mother to her child, reminding them that things will be okay even if things aren’t as they were. Even if the skies are dark, there will once again be sunlight to shine on the world. Spike met up with her at the front door. He was clearly taking a bit longer to fully wake up, which was understandable considering the amount of work he’s always had to do. Twilight smirked with pride at her little dragon. So diligently working for her and their friends, all done because of their love and compassion towards each other. Spike looked up at her, managing a cute little smile. She opened the doors in front of her, and Celestia’s nectar flowed through the doors once more, presenting a gateway to a vast, magical world beyond. It was a familiar sensation that every pony feels on every day, yet every time is just as beatific as the last. Twilight smiled, and inhaled deeply. She could smell the scents of nature: soil, hay, and grass. She exhaled cheerfully. Today was going to be a good day. She just knew it. Equipping her saddlebags, and allowing Spike to hop onto her back, the two of them trotted along the path into town. They were greeted by content, familiar faces as they approached the marketplace. Everyone greeting her with smiles and waves. A few of the fillies even galloped along and crossed her path, caught up in some sort of game. Twilight knew she had to set a good example for the young and impressionable. She knew she was the one to inspire them, and she did so comfortably and with ease. A minor offset to her joy was a small chill in the air. It was a breeze that flowed throughout town like an invisible serpent, spreading its subtle freeze into the comfortably warm environment. Though it was hardly noticeable, and barely affected Twilight’s mood, it was still there. Tiny, but just enough to tip the scale a bit. They made it into the marketplace, with booths of various different products lining the streets. Vegetables and herbs. They needed vegetables and herbs. They had purchased a few of the commodities, like carrots and celery, but also picked up a few unusual vegetables to add some extra flavor. There was a pear-shaped plant with a blue color to it, coated in yellow spots, a few red spheres that smelled spicy, and a ring-shaped stalk of what looked like asparagus. That last one evoked the appearance of Ouroboro. All of them were stored away respectively in the saddlebags, yet Spike inspected the stranger ones with suspicion. “You sure those are good to eat?” Spike asked. “They don’t look very appetizing.” “Sure,” Twilight replied, “why wouldn’t they be?” “I dunno. They just look a little concerning,” Spike took out the pear-shaped vegetable, “especially the blue one. From my experience, spots means sickness.” Twilight chuckled gently, understanding Spike’s concern. “We can go talk to Zecora about them if it worries you that much. I’m sure she’s seen something like these before. “That would be nice. Thanks.” Spike stored the blue plant back in its saddlebag, looking ahead to see where they were headed. They were trotting towards a mattress store. “Right now would be nice.” “It can wait! We need to get you a new mattress, first.” Spike rolled his eyes. “The one I have right now is fine.” “Uh-huh. Even though you always complain about how it’s deflated and how your back always feels sore when waking up?” Spike remained silent, rubbing his back as it ached. At the edge of the Everfree forest, something seemed a little strange. Granted, that was a given in regards to this mysterious place, but this was a different kind of strange. Twilight new the chaos well, and today’s seemed a little more chaotic than usual. The forest was breathing, it’s heart beating rapidly. Something had upset it, and she didn’t know what. It piqued her curiosity, though, and she pressed on. Spike tensed up. “Still not used to this place,” Spike said. Twilight smirked a bit. She and her friends had been through this forest so many times that it would be strange if she wasn’t used to it by now. As they walked deeper and deeper into the eerie forest, that chill in the air became even stronger. The forest seemed darker than before. There was a smell that was rancid to the nostrils. And the trees, which were usually bustling with spooky eyes and mysterious creatures, were faded and empty. There were a few croaks from frogs, a few chirps from birds, and they would occasionally spot a squirrel leaping from branch to branch overhead. But that was the extent. Twilight’s joy became drastically offset by this unusual environment. Such an odd thing to be disturbed by a place that isn’t disturbing enough. It wasn’t long before they found Zecora’s hut, still full of light and vibrance. They could hear the zebra moving around within, organizing her potions and bottles for an unknown purpose. Twilight knocked on the door, and the frantic movements were abruptly halted. The serpent slithered through Twilight’s skin. She could tell that there was something wrong. Zecora opened the door a crack, seeing Twilight and Spike staring back in confusion. “Everything okay in there?” Twilight asked, concerned. “Yes. Yes, I am fine,” Zecora sighed, before analysing them. “Though, I can tell that a chill has coursed down your spine.” “There’s a cool breeze that comes through,” Spike added. Zecora looked to the sky in suspicion. “Ah, yes. That chill in the air,” Zecora looked at them again. “A storm is coming, as I’m sure you’re aware.” “A storm? Like a thunderstorm? The weather seems pretty nice,” Twilight said. “Not of thunder, but something more. What exactly? I’m not sure.” Zecora ushered them in, keeping an eye on the infinite blue above them before closing the door. “This morning, a cold one, I went out for ingredients. I thought that the calm air would make that convenient. When I came to a tree, there was a strong smell. It was rancid and raw. Something dead, I could tell. The creature I found was still young and still fresh.” Zecora stared at the ground and shivered. “I can still feel its cold, lifeless flesh.” “Oh my gosh.” Twilight said, covering her mouth with her hoof. “I’m so sorry to hear that. How did it die, do you think?” “The cause of death? I do not know. There were no bruises or wounds to show.” Zecora continued to stare, before snapping out of it and looking at Twilight. “Since that, I have found, the forest is silent. A telltale sign of a force that is violent. The critters are scared, and they’ve hidden away. This fear and anxiety has certainly dampened my day.” Twilight put her hoof on Zecora’s shoulder, comforting her. “I’m sorry you’re going through this, and that does sound a little weird. I kinda felt like something was...off. But, don’t be too worried! Even though your day’s off to a rough start, I’m sure things will turn out for the better. You have a knack for solving problems, I’ve found.” Zecora smiled, nodding. “Thank you, Twilight, I’m sure that is true. I’m sure that your day will be fairly good, too.” Zecora took a deep breath, and Twilight stepped back a bit. She was so caught up in this moment that she had completely forgotten about why they were there in the first place. “Oh! Um, Spike was worried about some of the vegetables we got at the market.” “Still am,” Spike mumbled. “Could you find out if they’re safe or not?” Zecora nodded, and Twilight took the odd veggies out of her saddlebags. Zecora looked at them for a minute, before grabbing a book and flipping through it. She pointed at the blue one, referencing the book. “Cream Spotted Pearplant. Born of the vine. It tastes a bit strange, but it’s perfectly fine.” Spike breathed a sigh of relief. “The others I’ve seen, and they’re not bad either. Feel free to eat them all at your leisure.” “Thanks, Zecora,” Twilight turned to Spike. “All better?” “Yeah. Just gotta be careful, y’know?” Spike replied. Spike climbed onto Twilight’s back, ready to leave. The two of them exited the hut, and stopped to say goodbye to Zecora. “We’ll see you later, Zecora. I hope the rest of your day goes better!” Twilight said. Zecora smiled and waved, and they parted ways. As they walked away, Twilight and Spike could hear Zecora returning to whatever it was she was doing before they arrived. Those noises, however, soon faded away. And then it was just silence. A deafening, oppressive silence. Every so often, the cold breeze would rustle the branches of the forest, but that was the only type of comfort they could find. It had been a long time since Twilight felt this way in the Everfree forest. Spike burped, and Twilight excused him. Holding the next one in, Spike turned the opposite direction, and spit out a letter onto the ground behind them. Twilight stopped, picking up the letter with her magic and handing it to Spike. She continued along the path out of the forest. “Dear Twilight Sparkle,” Spike began, “you have been summoned for a meeting in Canterlot by the two Princesses. An urgent situation has come up, and we ask that you respond ASAP. Your other friends have also been summoned. We hope that you respond. The Royal Guard.” Twilight formed a pit in her gut. Urgent? What could be so urgent that all of them needed to attend? Something that could threaten the well-being of Equestria, no doubt. “We should probably head over there now. Sounds really important.” “We need to drop this stuff off back at the castle, first. But, yeah, it probably is really important.” They exited the forest. The air was cooler than before. “I hope everything’s okay.”
ReckoningTwilight and Spike rushed back into town, gathering up their friends and informing them of the emergency. Rainbow Dash was the last one they met up with, and she was quickly asked about the storm that Zecora had mentioned. "I don't think there are any storms scheduled. Not here," she said. Twilight wrote it off as Everfree forest oddities, and the rest of the group quickly headed to Canterlot. As they entered the castle, they could tell that things were much more cautious than they had been. The expressions on the faces of the Royal Guard meant that they knew something the six of them didn't. Not yet, anyway. Reaching the doors to the throne room, the six of them stopped politely before being let in. Twilight was slightly relieved to see only the sisters were present, and that Cadence was not. It might not be that bad, Twilight thought. The sisters, who had worriedly been conversing, soon noticed the group as they entered. "Ah! I'm glad you all could make it," Celestia said, retaining a concerned expression. "Of course," Twilight replied. "What seems to be the problem, Princesses?" The sisters looked at each other. "It'll sound silly," Celestia mumbled to Luna. "We can't just sit around and do nothing, Celestia," Luna said, just as quietly, "if it truly is something, we must act sooner rather than later." Celestia nodded, turning back to the group. "There is a village to the North, known as Gallopool. It is a small village, but it is peaceful and full of good ponies and crops," Celestia began. "We had been trading with them for several years now, but we lost communication with them a few days ago. A few pegasus guards conducted a flyby to check on them, and they saw that everyone was still there. It has been five days, now, and we have grown more worried. Many accounts say that there have been terrible storms all over the Northern hemisphere. We fear that this town has been ravaged by a tornado or worse. We hope for the best, but plan for the worst, so we humbly ask you to travel there and see for yourself." "Storms, huh?" Spike thought aloud, Twilight and Rainbow Dash looking at him in response. Twilight looked at the others to see if they were also on board. They all nodded courageously, Pinkie more excited to visit a new village than anything. "We accept," Twilight announced, "and we won't let you down." "Excellent!" Celestia exclaimed. "Stay safe, my little ponies." The group said their farewells before exiting the throne room. The rest of the group made this out to be something of a typical mission, if not even simpler. Check out a village, make sure things are okay, and that will be the end of it. But Twilight couldn't help but feel this pit in her gut. This looming threat of some great storm worried her, especially considering the fact that it isn't a scheduled or a controlled storm. And, as the Princesses said, it wasn't localized only to the Everfree forest. Twilight was afraid to admit it, but she was slowly becoming scared of what was to come. They were exiting Canterlot when Twilight just couldn't hide it anymore. "Is anyone else really freaked out by this storm business?" Twilight blurted, stiff and shaking with anxiety. Everyone else saw this flurry of emotion, thinking of what to do. Applejack stepped up to speak the first words. "Absolutely," she said softly. "But, I'm sure we've faced much worse than this. For all we know, it's just a rogue storm that can be blown away by some magic or pegasus manipulation." Twilight and Applejack made eye contact. Applejack remained calm and confident, instilling this feeling into Twilight as well. "But, what if--" Twilight began. "No need to worry about it 'till we get there. If it's that bad, we'll get rid of it together. Even if it hurts. Okay?" Twilight took a few moments to breathe, before relaxing and nodding. The group carried on. The seeds of doubt had been planted in their minds, but the trees of courage stood strong regardless. It was a long yet relatively boring journey to the village, but the environment surrounding the village was very out of place for the ponies. There was no grass or flowers. No trees or moss. Everything was dirt and rocks for as far as they could see. "What happened here?" Rarity asked. "Maybe it's soil for farming?" Fluttershy suggested. "The Princesses did mention that they grew good crops." "Nah. This ain't farmin' soil," Applejack said. "Too dry. Hasn't been plowed, either." "It was probably the storm," Twilight mumbled to herself. Pinkie had been bouncing ahead of the group, undeterred by the plains of dry soil surrounding the village. However, her bouncing abruptly halted when she saw the village. The rest of the group, who was still a bit behind, were confused and worried, before seeing what she had. The village wasn't even there anymore, but they could see its shadows. There were still a few signs and splinters of wood poking up from what seemed to be blackened, burnt earth. A few spots of dirty white were also partially buried by the dirt. The six ponies slowly walked along the path into the broken village. Rainbow Dash went over to inspect one of the white spots in the ground, prodding at it before unearthing it. She quickly jolted back, as though it had bitten her. "Bones," she said, her throat suddenly dry. "There are bones here!" Everyone froze in place at this revelation. Rainbow's gaze was affixed on the dirtied femur on the ground, and she wiped off her contaminated hoof on her other foreleg. Pinkie's mood also clearly took a drastic shift from before. She could feel the weight of what had happened here throughout her body, and her emotions seemed lost. She was still processing everything. There was a cloud of dust that hung in the air, gradually settling on the ground and remnants of the village. The ponies wondered what exactly this dust was from, hoping for the best. Twilight, cautious, looked at a wooden slab on the ground. It was clearly some sort of picket sign that had been broken. She picked it up and put the pieces together, seeing the message it held. 'THE END IS COMING.' Her heart sank. They knew what was happening, she thought, yet it still did its work. The tense atmosphere was momentarily distracted by a distant boom to the north. It was like the roar of a beast on the horizon, echoing throughout the land to warn of its approach. "Nothing like this has ever happened before," Fluttershy stated. "Not that I can remember." "We don't even know for sure what happened!" Applejack reminded. "Is it that hard to figure out?" Twilight asked, turning back to the others. Her face was accusatory and had hints of rage lurking beneath the surface. Her brows were slightly furrowed and her eyes were daggers. "If I'm right, this is the result of that storm!" "Even the dirt?" Fluttershy asked. Rainbow, curious, flew up high into the air to get a better look at this town. As she ascended, the air felt colder than usual. She looked back down after she felt high enough, and was surprised to see that the dirt surrounding the former village was strangely linear. It clearly spanned for miles, but it looked more like a path than anything else. She plummeted back down to the others. "I'd say so," she said, "this dirt looks like a giant, beaten path." "So it has some sort of clear direction?" Twilight pressed, her paranoia returning. "Easy," Applejack said. "We're still not entirely sure what we're dealing with here. For all we know, it's just a storm with a straight wind to carry it." "Are we sure everyone here is...y'know?" Pinkie asked, looking at everyone with a blank expression. "Maybe a few made it out before it went down." "That sounds pretty likely," Applejack said. "If they knew it was coming beforehand, maybe they were able to get out of its vicinity." "I did find a sign that warned of 'the end,'" Twilight added, feeling a tiny bit more at ease. "But where would they go?" "Somewhere safer, I'm sure," Fluttershy said. There was a silence among them after that, filled only by the soft blowing the wind. A cold wind that carried the ghosts of the villagers, no doubt. "We should head back. We got what we came for," Rainbow said, breaking the silence. "I agree," Rarity said. "I can't spend another moment in this...graveyard." Her last word was low and somber, and she looked at the ground. Everyone else silently followed each other as they left. Twilight looked back, though, the thought of the village lingering in her mind. It was still there. And it was still dead. The last thing she saw of it was the sign on the ground. The futile warning of what had transpired. Halfway through the journey back to Canterlot, the group decided to take a break for a moment. Thoughts of their little expedition filled all of their minds, though they were reluctant to admit it. Applejack considered herself to be the only one truly familiar with loss out of the group, and remained the most level-headed. She could see that everyone else was processing the situation in their own ways, however. Pinkie was clearly dissociated, with her eyes blank and spaced out. She displayed no emotion, and this all probably hit her like a train. Rainbow Dash tried to stay confident and not think about it as much, but still carried the weight of sadness with her. Rarity was shaken, a sick feeling in her stomach and a bad taste in her mouth. It was clear she didn't even want to talk about it. Fluttershy was quiet and respectful, and would shake every so often as she thought about it. And Twilight. Twilight was tense and shaky, clearly having all of her thoughts polluted by this occurrence. A poison in her mind that effectively coursed through her veins. As much as she felt the need to do something, Applejack didn't think anything she could say would help them. As much as they all wanted to talk through this, they knew that they would just hurt more and make matters worse for them. They would talk when they were ready. They sat there for about seven minutes, gradually loosening up and relaxing a bit. Just enough to be comfortable with walking the rest of the way. They all got up, looking at each other and feeling a sense of hope. A pleasant reminder that they were still there. That they still had each other. With that, they continued along their path back to Canterlot.
The Cleansing"They're all gone," Twilight reported, solemnly. The Princesses stood to attention, and were clearly shocked at the news. "Gone?" Luna said. "As in...?" The group nodded. Celestia took a deep breath, attempting to remain calm. It had been a while since ponies had suffered such a fate under her careful watch and rule. "There's hardly a village left," Rainbow said, "it's just dirt and a few pieces of wood, now." "And bones," Twilight added. Luna covered her mouth, her complexion displaying pain and horror. Celestia respectfully closed her eyes, tilting her head down just a bit. "I'm...sorry that you all had to see that," Celestia said, "I wouldn't have sent you had I known." "At least we know now, I suppose," added Luna. "Thank you for doing this. Even if it wasn't what we had hoped." The group was about to respond, yet the silence introduced a rapid sound from the hallway outside. The sound of galloping hooves. Cadence suddenly burst into the room, short of breath and clearly terrified. "THE END IS COMING!" Cadence shouted. Twilight's blood ran cold at these words, and a wave of lightheadedness washed over her. "T-The Empire! A blizzard! It's so...please! Help us!" Cadence's legs began to shake, and she collapsed on the floor, exhausted. Twilight rushed over to her, helping her up. She felt so brittle. "A blizzard?" Luna asked. Cadence nodded weakly. "It just...! And the wind! It has to be the end!" Cadence shouted. Twilight repositioned Cadence's head to look at her. "Slow down, now," Twilight said, softly. "Breathe." Cadence did so, at first panting, before breathing through her nose and out her mouth. She tried to stand on her own, able to do so, though with tremendous effort. "A terrifying blizzard rolled in last night," she began, her voice still shaky. "At first we thought it was nothing to worry about. It's the North, y'know? But then everyone started freaking out about the wind and the dark skies surrounding the Empire. Ponies started thinking that it would be strong enough to break through the barrier! And the lightning!" Her eyes went wider, as though she was reliving a traumatic memory. "It's a bright green lightning! It's distant, but the thunder is enough to shake your bones! Shining and I have tried to calm the ponies down, but it hasn't been working out. They always expect the worst." "What about Flurry Heart?" Twilight asked, concerned. "We're going to have her stay with you, if that's okay," Cadence said. "I don't want her to be caught up in this mess." "Of course that's okay! I promise she'll be safe with us," Twilight replied. Cadence smiled, a bit relieved. "Though the lightning is an odd thing," Luna said, "we cannot assume it is anything more than a bad snowstorm." "I agree," Celestia chimed. "The best thing that you can do is remain calm and ease their worries with sound logic and reassurance. The Crystal Heart will surely be able to protect you." "Okay," Cadence whispered. "Okay, yeah. Okay." Twilight and the others were much more suspicious, though. They would love to be able to write it off as some common storm, but they were no longer sure that's all it was. "I'll head back to the Empire to pick up Flurry Heart. Thank you for your time." Cadence looked around, weakly waving goodbye before exiting the throne room hurriedly. "I'm not sure we should underestimate this storm, Princesses," Twilight said. "What more can we do?" Celestia asked. "We don't quite know how we can prepare for...whatever else it could be." "Especially since we don't know whatever else it could be," Luna added. "Look," Rainbow said, "that thing has a path. I saw it. The dirt in the village was big and straight, and it was headed north. I don't think this is just a coincidence anymore, and I don't think this is a usual storm, either." Rainbow stood firm in her assertion, and Applejack stood beside her, backing her up. Twilight joined as well. "We're still not sure what we can do," Celestia said. "We're open to suggestions if you have any." "I'll see what I can figure out," Twilight declared, turning for the door. The others were reluctant to follow. "Why just you?" Applejack asked. Twilight stopped at the door, not turning around. "I feel like I have some sort of responsibility in this," she replied. "But you don't!" Applejack reminded. "This isn't your fault that there was nothin' you coulda done to stop it." Twilight wanted to think that, but she just couldn't do it. She left through the door. Spike was the first to follow, while the rest remained stationary. She had gone through countless books on storms and destructive forces, yet still Twilight could find nothing. Until she reached a book by Starswirl, written over a thousand years ago. It was titled The Bringers of Apocalypse, and had five chapters explaining different ways that the world could end. There was a great war that could sweep the nations of Equestria, the emergence of a great evil from within the ground, and the rampage of Tartarus. Yet, it was chapter four that caught her attention the most. There was little described for it, but it was known as 'The Obitus Storm.' It details a storm that only grows in size, wiping all life from the land beneath it with streaks of lightning and chilling winds. Twilight's heart sank at how eerily accurate this description was. Yet, what lead Starswirl to write about this? Why this specifically? How could he know? Perhaps this isn't the first time this has happened, Twilight thought. Maybe he even lived through it and was able to stop it! Although her hope was a bit flimsy, it was one of the few things she could hope for. According to the book, most of the information he gained was from old runes to the southwest, between Los Pegasus and the Ghastly Gorge. She packed the book in her saddlebags, and began heading out of the castle. "Where are you going?" Spike asked, innocent as a child. Twilight looked at him for a moment, thinking of what to say. "I'll be back. Don't worry. Just...don't follow me, okay?" Twilight said. "You'll be holding down the fort for a bit." Spike was a bit disappointed, as his question still hadn't been answered. "What do I do when Cadence drops off Flurry Heart?" "Just tell her to drop her off in my room. Starlight can help out, too. I'm sure she'd be fine with it." "Okay. Be careful." Twilight smirked sincerely. "I will be. I always am." Twilight walked through the two front doors, the warmth of the sun from earlier now weakened by the cloudy skies and time of day. Spike felt a certain kind of heartache as she left. Though he didn't want to say it outright, he knew that she was his closest friend and the only mother figure he's had. He waved weakly as the door closed, subtly mouthing the words 'I love you' before they shut completely, echoing through the open room. It took about half an hour for Twilight to finally arrive at the runic site. The winds had become much more turbulent and were blowing to the north, especially at such a high altitude. The air was quite cold, though still being surrounded by the warmth of summer. Twilight was happy to have an objective and a focus, as it was something to keep her mind off of their mission to Gallopool. She landed steadily in front of a stone, having only six runes carved into it. It was much windier there, but she barely noticed. She translated those runes using another book she had brought, finding it to be very old. "You came here as well, I see," said a deep voice to her left. Her concentration broken, Twilight looked to find the source of the voice. "Starswirl?" she asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?" "Same as you," he replied, "I have come to put an end to the storm." "Haven't you done it before?" Starswirl scoffed. "Not in the slightest! I didn't even know it existed until I came here more than a thousand years ago. In fact, I'm still not sure it does exist. Regardless, the storm to the north worries me." "If you're not sure it exists, then how did you know about the wind and the lightning?" "Educated guesses, mostly. But that's not how I discovered its possible affects." He scanned the horizon, stopping once he saw a clearing of trees. "Over there," he pointed, "should be the entrance to a cave. It's rather deep, so I ask that you be careful." Twilight, still a bit unsure of all this, went over to investigate. The landscape slowly dipped down into a hill, and dropped off a few feet away. There, she could see the entrance to the cave. Carefully, she descended and shimmied towards it. It was very dark and freezingly cold within the stone mouth, and she could tell that it went down like a ramp. She emitted light with her horn to help guide herself through. The cave was still quite damp, and patches of ice and snow could be found along the walls. It kept going deeper and deeper; Twilight was unsure there would even be a bottom. It was like the Arctic, now, and she shivered from the cold. She began to wonder if there was even anything down here. Just then, though, something caught her eye on the wall to her right. She got closer to it. Upon further inspection, she found it wasn't on the wall. It was in it! It was tough to make out what it was, but it was dark and rough. Like burnt wood. In fact...the patterns...that's exactly what it was! She looked around the rest of the cave, seeing that some of the stalactites were actually old, splintered planks and boards. There was even a sheet of paper, mostly burnt, hanging from the ceiling. It was in a language she couldn't understand and didn't recognize, but could tell that the paper itself was ancient. Beyond ancient! She descended further, where she began to see old, yellowed bones stuck in the walls. Bones of something strange, akin to that of a primate's. Especially the skulls. Pieces of fabric and cloth still hung from their disintegrated arms. Further down, she saw a pit that dropped down for miles. Metal beams and dirtied bulbs jutted out from the walls, bent and broken. How long had they been there? She had never seen anything like it! She tried to increase her luminescence, finding it hard to concentrate. There was a skeleton lying on one of the stone platforms, still dressed in torn clothes and a helmet. Like a construction worker or a miner. Perhaps that's what they were? Twilight, the cold beginning to numb her limbs, stepped back from the edge. She felt sick. She had to get out of there immediately! She rushed through the tunnels, frantic. So many things rushed through her mind as she thought about those things. The posters. The beams. That skeleton! She didn't know what they were! Who they were! Where they even came from! A light was softly reflected by one of the walls ahead, and she followed it until she was upon the cave entrance once more. Forgetting the steep decline, she propelled herself into the air, gliding and screaming. Her wings deployed, and she swooped back up towards the ridge, where Starswirl awaited. She didn't quite stick the landing, stumbling and faceplanting into the ground beside him. She was hyperventilating, trying to calm down. Starswirl tried to comfort her, putting his hoof on her shoulder. "Who...w-who were they?!" Twilight asked loudly, tearing up. "Nopony knows," Starswirl said, grim. "Nopony ever will, I don't think. One of my associates from long ago was able to tell that the burnt wood and some of the bones were burnt by lightning rather than fire. This led me to think that it was some sort of storm that had placed them there." "Do we know how deep it goes?! What were those beams?! And that skeleton! What were they doing there?! How did they--" "Ssh ssh..." Starswirl hushed. "Calm down and think one at a time." Twilight was just so overwhelmed by all of this. If that skeleton had some sort of advanced technology and they still suffered, how could they hope to stop this?! Slowly, she reminded herself. Deep breaths. Tears streamed down her face, but she was calming down, at least. "I'm not sure how deep that pit goes, exactly, nor do I intend to find out. It is a resting place for souls older than any of us, and I doubt they'd want to be disturbed. Other than that, however, I know about as much as you do. Where they came from, what they could do, it's all a mystery to me." "That's...n-not very comforting," Twilight said, sniffling. Starswirl looked down, guilty. "I know. I'm sorry." There was a pause as Twilight finished her crying, straightening up. "This storm...the 'Obitus' storm...what is it, exactly?" "From what I can tell," Starswirl stood up, walking back toward the runes; Twilight soon followed, "it is a force that goes through a process I call 'The Cleansing.' It roams across the land, wiping out all life. However, once all life is eradicated, it merely begins anew. It is a cycle that I doubt will ever end. If I'm right, we're merely catching the end of this cycle." "How many times has this happened, do you think?" "There's no way to tell. Could be four. Ten. Perhaps even hundreds. That cave is merely where the messes that weren't very well cleansed ended up. Where history is layered upon itself in countless repetitions." "Is there a way to stop it?" Twilight asked, that one question burning in her mind. Starswirl knew this, and responded the softest way he could. "I don't know." Twilight felt another wave of panic surge through her body, pushing it aside. Just because he doesn't know doesn't mean there isn't a way. "We don't have much longer, do we?" Twilight asked, a mixture of sadness and determination puppeteering her tone. "Not sure on that, either," was the reply. "I'd be willing to guess another week at most, but I'm not sure how accurate that is." So deal with it as soon as possible just in case, Twilight thought. "Twilight," Starswirl said, looking at her with a hint of fear in his eyes, "if you can't fix this, I might be able to place us in limbo until it passes." "How would we get out? How would we fit the entire population of Equestria into that? We can't do it at Ponehenge, anyways." "I know, I know. That's what I'm trying to work out. But, even if it takes quintillions of years, I'm sure there will be someone who can bring us back." I wouldn't count on it, Twilight thought. "I'll be able to fix this. I promise." Twilight spread her wings once more, walking in the direction of Ponyville for her return. She stopped, though, looking at Starswirl again. "But," she said, "if this is the last time we see each other, I just want to thank you for everything. The spells, the teachings, you've truly been one of the biggest inspirations throughout my life. I'm glad to have met you." "As am I," Starswirl said, humbled. Twilight nodded, taking off towards home. On the flight back, she kept thinking of ways around this. She didn't have a lot to go off of, but she knew that it was a storm of some sort. A storm with clouds. Pegasi control clouds. Maybe they could do something about it? But if lightning is it's biggest weapon, maybe it's best that they keep their distance. They didn't have very many options, but they had to do something and soon. There had to be a way to stop this. There always was. She just had to figure out what.
