The Day of Reckoning

The group galloped through the dirt roads of Canterlot. Everypony in there gasped and watched as they spotted some of the bruises and scratches on a few of them. "Don't worry, everypony. Everything's going to be fine," Twilight bade. They soon made it to the Royal Castle, slamming the doors open as they halted at the Throne Room.

"Twilight? What's wrong?" Celestia asked.

"We've been... attacked," Fluttershy replied.

The two alicorns gasped at the mention of the attack. After what happened a few days ago, they couldn't be more shocked to hear what just happened.

"Attacked? By whom?" Luna asked.

"Was it Chrysalis? Tirek? Cozy Glow?" Celestia chimed.

"No," Twilight replied. "It was a brand new enemy."

"Tell us everything," Celestia said.

"Okay. Long story short: We were all relaxing at an open field in Ponyville when a tall, gray wolf came out of nowhere and attacked us with a long staff that negates magic and called us evil for some reason. We beat him and took his staff, but he managed to escape and now we need your help to figure out what the staff is and it's history in order to stop him," Pinkie Pie said before taking a deep breath.

"...Right..." Luna said. "Now, may we take a look at this... staff?"

Twilight walked over to the Princesses with the staff at hoof and passed it down to them. They both carefully examined it. Every angle. Every branch. Until they spotted something written on the bandaged part. "Gabriella?" Celestia read.

"Huh?" The group said, darting their heads at each other in confusion. "Who the hay is Gabriella?"

"That name sounds so familiar. We just can't put our hooves on it," Celestia said, rubbing her chin in thought.

"Hmm... Maybe a book at the Canterlot Library will have the answers we're looking for," Luna said.

"Good idea, Luna," Both Celestia and Luna got up from their royal thrones and strolled down the room, passing the group. "Follow us." Despite a bit of confusion, the group did as they were told.

Odium stared at the still water beneath him.

The wolf sighed. "This doesn't feel right," He muttered to himself while holding onto his heart. Is this really what he wants to do?

Suddenly, his reflection soon shifted from its original image as the water warped and rippled. "Huh?" As he stared down, the reflection soon formed into an black, elderly silhouette with white, glowing eyes. The wolf quickly screamed and stepped back. After a few seconds, he crawled towards the reflection and peered down. "It's you..."

"Why are you sitting there? Shouldn't you be carrying out your mission?" the reflection asked.

"Yes, I know, but... I've been thinking," The wolf replied. "Is what I'm doing really the right thing to–?"

The reflection shushed him. "Now, listen. I know that this might seem wrong, but unless you complete your mission, others will continue to suffer. You know you don't want that, right? I mean, what would they think if you were to let that happen?"

The mere mention of that made sweat run down his fur as he glanced down from the reflection with a deep frown. Is what he's doing really the right thing to do? How can he tell for sure? What would they even say to him if they found out? But no matter how wrong he thought it was, letting others suffer was even more wrong, wasn't it? ...He just ...didn't know what to do.

He quivered for a moment, clenching his eyes shut. He opened them again. "Okay, I'll do it."

"I knew you'd make the right choice in the end. Now, go out there, find those evil beings, and teach them a lesson once and for all!" Soon, a fish swam by, causing the reflection to warp back into the wolf's. He then got up from the ground, sighing and shaking his head at what he had to do as he ran into the woods. His body was still sore from the fight, but his passion for the greater good drove him to keep going.

Back to the group at Canterlot, who soon made it to the library. Celestia and Luna entered in first while the group followed them. They then walked in front of the librarian at the counter.

"Excuse us," Celestia said, taking the staff from Twilight and showing it to the librarian. "We were wondering if you could help us find a book about this staff." The librarian squinted her eyes at the staff.

"Hmm... Sure, your majesties. Lemme check and see if we still have it," The librarian got up from the counter and guided the group across the library.

"That was easy," Fluttershy whispered to Rainbow Dash.

As they strolled through the large sections, the librarian led them into the one that had a picture of Earth on top. "Here we are. The World History Section," She then searched through one of the shelves as the group watched. “Let’s see… Where is that book...?” The librarian continued scouring, but then lifted her head out of the shelf. "It's not there."

"What?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Other ponies, including the rest of the group and the librarian, shushed her. "Sorry. What?"

"It must've already been checked out, which is weird because not many ponies go to this section for some reason. Sorry about that,"

Twilight sighed. "It's okay. Thanks for the help, though."

The group walked out of the section, most of which with their heads down low. "So much for findin' out about this here staff,'' Applejack sighed.

"Fortunately, we already know of another place here in the library that can help us. Right, sister?" Celestia asked.

"Exactly," Luna replied.

"You mean...?" Twilight asked.

"Yep." Celestia, Luna, and Twilight all walked through the library, past the others. "Follow us." The rest of the group glanced at each other with confusion before doing what was said. They made it to a shelf that had two books with the sun and moon on them. Celestia and Luna pulled at them with a clink before letting go. The shelf then slid to the side, revealing a large room. The rest of the group, sans Twilight and Discord, stared at awe at what just happened as they entered.

"Of course!" Twilight said. "The Restricted Section! Why didn't I think of this before?"

Celestia and Luna guided them through the corridor. "So, how are we going to find the right book in this place?" Applejack asked. "No offense, your majesties."

"None taken," The group then entered the secret library. They spread out across the room, searching from shelf to shelf. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, the Princesses, and Discord scoured through the top shelves while the others tried the bottom. Pinkie Pie looked through the corners until her eyes darted her to a dusty, old book with a weird continent on it.

Pinkie Pie grabbed the book and showed it to everyone. "Is this it?"

"Let us see," Celestia and Luna both levitated the book out of Pinkie's hooves and squinted their eyes at the cover. "Yes! This is exactly what we need."

"Finally," Discord said.

The two sisters both laid the book on a nearby table and flipped it open. Much to the group's surprise, the first page had a stained-glass picture of a golden fleece with a long, black mane and tail. She also wore a dark-grey cloak with holes at the front. In front of her was a shiny, white crystal ball on a wooden pedestal.

"Who is that?" Fluttershy asked.

"That is Gabriella," Celestia replied. "Gabriella the Seer."

"Gabriella?" Rainbow Dash and Discord both snickered. "What kind of name is that?" The group glared at the two, who then stopped snickering and rubbed the back of their heads. "Sorry."

"Anyway." Luna flipped to the next page. "She was a powerful and mysterious seer who lived in a far away country on the other side of the planet."

"Other side of the planet?" Starlight asked.

"Yes," Celestia said, flipping to the next page. "However, she wasn't always this way."

Luna flipped the next page. "She was once a sweet little girl, but somehow got corrupted by nihilism and machiavellianism and used her magic and weapons for her own gain."

"So, this staff must've been created by her, right?" Spike asked.

"Mmm-hmm," Celestia turned the next page. "But once she was found out by the former rulers of the country, they banished her permanently to a large cave deep within the Black Tree Forest."

"That sounds awful," Fluttershy said.

"But we still don't know why that wolf guy wanted to hurt us," Applejack said.

"Maybe the seer must've done something to make him do it," Twilight replied. "Can you flip to the next page in order to see why?"

Celestia and Luna turned the page, only for their eyes to widen when they noticed that the next pages were torn out.

"What?!" Everyone shouted.

"But this doesn't make sense!" Rarity exclaimed. "Where did the other pages go?"

"Did they tear off once you picked the book up, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.

"I'll check," Pinkie scanned the corner for the other pages, but none were there. "Nope," she replied. "I don't see any."

"Great!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, crossing her forelegs. "Now what?"

"I guess we're going to have to find him and explain to him what we know," Starlight replied.

"But even if we do find him, how are we going to tell him without getting into another fight?" Applejack asked.

"Good point," Twilight said, rubbing her chin. "We'll need a well-thought-out plan."

"Fortunately, we might know exactly what to do," Celestia remarked, turning to her sister, who nodded.

Everyone huddled together while whispering the plan.