Prologue - Beginning of the end
“Bye, dear Fluttershy, thank you for hosting me today,” said Discord as he put on his fedora and walked towards the door.
“The pleasure is mine, Discord, shall see you again next Tuesday,” Fluttershy replied as she lead him to the entrance.
“Ah…” Discord’s grin suddenly disappeared, yet he didn’t let her see it. ”Right, see you next Tuesday, Fluttershy,” he shouted back as he flew out of her cottage. They waved to each other before Discord snapped his claw. A sudden flash of light later he was high above Ponyville, staring all around him, looking closely at everything he could see. As he was gazing at the world beneath him he saw lights in Twilight’s castle.
“More books, Princess Bookworm? I really can’t understand where do you keep them all.” Discord chuckled to himself. “Well, you have always been the strange one even for my standards.” He giggled to himself once again. “Hope you liked the life you lived, because it’s gonna end soon.” Discord’s smile disappeared. He closed his eyes, lowered his head and even shed a tear as he started flying toward the Crystal Empire. “It was a good world…”.
Lights all over Ponyville started fading as he flew further away. Finally, even the light in the castle of Princess of Friendship died off.
After a short time he arrived at the Crystal Empire. Admiring its greatness from high above.
“Good job Princess of Love, I always knew you were good ruler. But I’m afraid it doesn’t matter anymore. Hope you won’t suffer much”, Discord looked behind the Empire as he spotted the wall of pure black slowly shifting towards it.
“Hello again, it seems you came back much faster this time, and yet you are moving so slow on on this land. I wonder is it the cause of the overflowing essences in Equestria or something about Celestia warding magic. Well, shall look at this later, not like it could be stopped, but for now I has to speed it up so they won’t suffer as much.”, Discord straightened his arms in front of him and grasped the air holding it tightly.
“Well, here it goes.”, he pulled his arms strongly to himself and at the same time the wall started moving much faster only to slow down a second later still devouring and absorbing everything on it’s path. “You really can’t do better old fool?”, he shouted at himself.
“Every time you lead the growth of all kinds of all worlds and when it comes to it you can’t even end it swiftly? What guardian are you?”, he mocked himself. After the while he calmed down.
“Okay Diccy, start acting proper for once in this world. This ends now, there is still a lot of to improve although for the next time. At first I must find out how to extend even more the time before the rebound effect...”, he looked as the wall slowed when collide with castle of Cadence.
“ I'm sorry little one..., hope you won’t have to see the end it…”.
Author's Note
I always saw Discord as someone who is much more wise than it was made in a show. Here comes my try to make him look like someone who is supposed to be.
Author's Note
Entire story happens after the series finale. It's gonna have a lot of pop, biblical, comic, movie and book references. Hope you find them and understand them. 'till next chapter!
First trumpet
“Look out!”
Twilight’s eyes shot up, widening. The alicorn teleported away just as a half dozen heavy tomes landed where she stood. She reappeared in the air next to her assistant, hooves on her hips and a frown on her face.
“Um, sorry?” Spike gave her a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head. He slid down the ladder he was standing on, proceeding to pick up the fallen books. He stopped when he saw all of them bathed in the grip of magenta magic.
Twilight sighed. “It’s alright,” she said, bringing one volume to herself, inspecting it, “not a scratch on the cover, thank Celestia.” She hummed quietly as she turned the book in her hooves. “To think it survived over a millennium in the Crystal Empire and now it might have been hurt by a simple fall.”
“Hurt, huh?” Spike rolled his eyes as he watched her gently place it onto the shelf. Twilight ignored his condescending tone, zipping through the large hall of her library with the heap of books in tow.
"Spike, can you check what time is it? I don't know how long I have until the meeting with girls," Twilight, pushing the last tome to its rightful place. .
"Uh, let me check," Spike said and dug his hand into one of the many piles of books that towered around him. He fumbled around for a moment, the tons of paper teetering ominously. “It’s almost five PM,” the drake stated finally as he fished out a small clock. “Meaning you should get going soon if you don’t want Rarity to be mad.”
"Okay, it’s still a few minutes before I have to leave. How many books are left?" Spike looked around and into the corridor. He gulped, gazing at the towering stacks and piles of books reaching up to the ceiling. Some of them swayed menacingly, threatening to fall any moment. He tapped his chin, wondering how was it even possible to gather so many books in one shipment and also to have place or time to read them all. Even his dragon lifespan wouldn’t be enough for it. Shaking his his head, he just shrugged and turned to Twilight.
"Um, I would say about two to three days? If we sleep for about two hours?"
Twilight just giggled as she sorted through another dozen of books while keeping the track of those which she wanted to put on her ‘must read until next weekend’ list. Which were practically all of them. She rolled her shoulders, eliciting a few pops from her stiff joints. "Okay, this seems like a good moment to take a break then. I’m so looking forward to the new spa procedure Rarity mentioned.. Hope you can handle the work till I come back." Twilight smirked at her dragon companion.
"Well, no lazy weekend for me, I guess," Spike murmured as she left the room, the pop of her magic sending a wave of air through the room. The dragon only gulped before the stacks of books wobbled and fell down, washing him to the other end of the library.
"... and then I said to her, 'Well, it's not my problem that your work is not good, darling.' Oh hi, Twilight. Ready for the best relaxation you ever had in your life?" Rarity spoke as she turned to Twilight.
"Hi girls. Of course I am!" Twilight grinned as the they entered the spa. (alt. Aloe and Lotus greeted them as they entered. Twins asked girls to come with them. Giggling pegasuses went after Aloe, Applejack and Pinkie were sent to steam sauna. Rarity with Twilight followed Lotus to massage room while they were talking about some future plans.
“Cya later girls!”, said Dash before she and Fluttershy entered her room”
“Oki, doki!”, yelled Pinkie as he she was happily bouncing to the sauna.
After some time, the girls started meeting as they came one by one from nearby rooms.)
"Oh, it's so gorgeous. Don’t you think darling?", Rarity purred in pleasure in jacuzzi as she saw her pink mane pegasus friend. Rarity moved to the side to let Fluttershy in.
"Oh, yes. I also really liked this new wing massage," spoke Fluttershy as she entered the bath. She let out a deep sigh when she submerged herself into the warm water.“Did Applejack and Pinkie didn’t not come out of sauna?”
“Not yet..”, Rarity answered as the giggling of Pinkie was heard from the room next to them. Rarity dive more into the bath.
"I wish I had to never leave this bath again," Twilight murmured. The girls chuckled. Suddenly they all heard shouting.
"Twilight! Twilight! Where are you?! I have a letter from Princess Celestia and it's really important! Twilight!" Spike burst into the room, panting. Twilight left the bath and wrapped herself in towel, approaching him with surprised look.
"What is happening, Spike?" Twilight turned to him as he tried to catch a breath when he stopped by her side. He was winded.
"Anyway, a little after you left I got message from Princess Celestia, but I thought it could wait until you came back. Then I got another, and another. After the eighth I knew it was important, so I rushed to you as the letters were still app--" Spike belched and another letter came out of his maw. Twilight grasped it with her magic and opened it.
“This is too much letters for one dragon to deliver.” Spiked said he held the urge to puke. Twilight was gazing at letter for quick moment before she spoked.
"Princess Celestia requires our aid now, she says it's crucial that we arrive as fast as possible 'cause it's vital situation.”
"I saw a royal chariot waiting outside our castle.” Spike mumbled, covering his mouth with a hand to get rid of the barrage of letters.
"Come on, everypony, we have to move. Princess Celestia is waiting and we don't have time to waste!"
While on the way the girls were talking about what was so important that the Princess required their aid as fast as possible Chariot was flowing through the vastness sky, being pull by pair of pegasus guard. Inside it 6 ponies were sitting. Thinking about the cause sudden summons.
"Maybe she forgot about somepony’s birthday and now she wants us to help her with it!" Pinkie exclaimed, gazing at the castle in the distance. She narrowed her eyes, huffing in annoyance at such possibility.
“Now, now darling. I don’t thinks it’s gonna be something like that.” Rarity told Pinkie as she started mutter under her breath.
“Even if it’s gonna be some bad guys to beat, I know we shall take care of it in a second. I don’t wanna be in their skin as I come for them. Because of them I missed my wing massage!” Rainbow yelled as she was throwing herself around the chariot punching the air before her. Applejack rolled her eyes before turning to the rest of the group.
"I don't think what can be happenin' to call us so late in the night. She usually waits till morning before sending a letter, right Twi?" said Applejack, looking worriedly at the alicorn lost in thought.
"Huh? Ah, yeah, right. Maybe she just wanted to check if we are still reliable in times of peace?" Twilight smirked as she looked at the full moon.
"I've never seen something like this, it is too big for one entity to make this." Celestia was walking around biting her lips next to Luna who were hugging Cadence. In the middle of the big room table stood. It was filled with various maps, letters and books.
The room in which their were was never seen by Twilight and the rest.It was located in the cellar. The room was filled with maps, books and portraits of some ponies in military costumes. Over the table was big chandelier which was set with various crystals.
"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked as the girls entered the room.
"Oh, thank goodness that you arrived so fast, we are truly in time of great need."
"What is happening?" said Twilight as she looked to Cadence. She didn’t look as the babysitter she remembered, normally the Princess of Love would jump and greet her on sight. This time she wasn’t even able to lift her head and look at Twilight. She didn’t even open her eyes. Her mane was torn and frazzled, visible burns and bruises snaked all over her. Twilight got goosebumps as she stared at her, a shiver running down her spine.
Cadence was never in such state. The absence of Shining Armor in the room was strange especially in such times when they were called. He always was next to her and to see her little sister. Twilight was getting nervous.
"The Crystal Empire is gone, Twilight!" Princess Celestia stated in low, sad voice. A single tear started gather in her eye.
"What?!" The girls’ shout echoed through the long and empty corridors of the castle.
"It all happened just two days ago in the middle of the night. We heard sudden screams and weird hypnotic music flowing from the same side.The music was strange. It was sad, yet some seemed to get a joy out if it. Like when you let something go, it’s painful yet reassuring. I and Shining started evacuation to Canterlot. The ponies who got too close to the strange wall made out of pure blackness which was keep moving while the couldn't. They were just waiting for the end to come. The ones that touched it were getting absorbed by it. I was caught by the music when throwing ponies further from wall who were caught in sounds and lifting the rubbles over the ones that got stuck underneath. I just couldn’t let my subjects perish in such a horrific way. I suddenly heard music really loudly and definy. I stopped moving, casting spells, everything was blurry I just didn’t want to move, just stand where I was standing without regret. Only to let it go" There was only silence in the room, broken only by Cadence’s crying. She started to speak again after a break to her breath and wipe the tears off.
"Shining pushed me out of the way as the blackness started to approach me. I looked up, my vision swimming. When I glanced up I only saw that he was hypnotized, staring into nothingness. With his last bit of will he gazed at me and smiled, just before his eyes closed when he was devoured by it..." the room once again grew silent. None of the ponies moved or tried to speak. All of them lost in this single moment with one thought.
“No, no, this can't be... Shining... is gone?" Twilight spoke as a Cadence burst into tears. Princess Celestia approached the pink alicorn and took her under her own wing. Twilight break down after she finally let that the information into her reality.
"Cadence," Celestia started, "was able to sent all survivors to us. The wall of blackness has appeared on all borders of Equestria and it seems it is encircling us. This is strange magic that we have never seen before. I checked personally what this "wall" is and I don't know, but it reacted to the bits of my magic that Elements of harmony left in me. Wall shot out at me but I managed to dodge. I was able to scan it with my own magic before flying back to Canterlot. It’s construction is not natural. If our assumption is correct, the Elements should stop this thing. There is even the possibility of freeing the ones consumed by the blackness.”
Twilight rose, glanced at Cadence who was still crying, and then looked at the girls. They all nodded to her, agreeing in silence.
"Tell us what we have to do," Twilight said strongly.
"There is no time to waste," Princess Celestia stated as she started heading towards the door, the rest following her.
"We have prepared a ritual that should, if cast perfectly, demolish the basics of the spell that created the wall. After that it should revert back to its caster when we unleash the Elements at it. We have already gathered everything necessary while waiting for you.”
“Guards!" shouted Luna as they stopped before the grand castle gate. The guards opened it. Before their eyes appeared a big ship levitating over a platform in one of the open gardens of the castle. The frigate was enormous, its size almost covering the entire sky above them. It was crafted out of white wood decorated with insignias of the Sun and Moon. This was no ordinary flying vessel that the Princesses would use to make parades around Equestria. It was clearly designed for war. There were dozens of holes for cannons in the body of the ship. Its sails were dark blue as the mane of Princess Luna who stepped before the rest.
“It is called Eclipse. Now come, we have a call to answer,” Luna stated proudly as she trotted over a small bridge onto the deck. Others followed Luna as she entered the ship. As they entered it they saw how big the operation was. Lots of soldiers loaded big crates and arcane cannons on the deck with the help of ropes and barrows. About two dozen of unicorns casting protective and upgrading spells on the vessel. Everypony work hard to fly off as fast as possible, after most of it was done the captain approached Princess Celestia.
“Princess Celestia, loading has been complete. The mages have also ended their chants. We are ready to go on your order,” the captain stated.
“Thank you, Captain Stormrage. Go back to your position, we shall depart in a moment.” He nodded and took his place next to the helm.
"To the Crystal Empire!” Celestia shouted. The frigate rose into the air and rushed in the direction where the black horizon grew larger with every second.
The night was calm and warm, summer breeze blowing around them. In the distance the black wall stood unfazed. Beneath them one could see bonfires and tents. The occasional shouting of ponies reached their ears from time to time. They were all survivors of the the great calamity. All of them without home, separated families and everything they loved just two days ago. Fluttershy’s eyes were full of sadness, tears flowing down their cheeks. Some even falled down on the ponies beneath them as the ship flew over camp.
“Don’t worry, Fluttershy, we shall help them all. They are in good hooves. After we help the Princesses fix this problem they shall co back to their homes,” Twilight smilled to Fluttershy. She looked up at her and smiled with sadness still in her eyes.
The princesses walked over to the captain, exchanging a few words. He took a deep breath and shouted, “Attention!”
All eyes were now looking a them, Celestia and Luna cleared throats and started their speech.
"Listen everypony! Our help is needed and this our duty as the Guardians of Equestria help those who need it. Fulfill your oaths and follow me! The roar of Equestrian guards arose all around the ship. There was no longer any fear in their eyes. They all stood strong and ready for what shall come.
