Author's Note

hello everyone its your girl NinjaMare and....i understand that I've not been uploading stuff for a long while. mostly because adulting sucks, and life has been, ROUGH, to say the least. i also been having trouble because this Ch & the next one are going to be the end of the story, but I've only done a rough draft and I've been struggling to figure out in how to end this story project. so i hope this and the following chapter will be worth it.

again, I'm sorry if this story has gone untouched and on a hiatus.

Chapter 52: A Plan of Action

Within the castle of friendship Twilight slept soundly and peacefully in her large bed, sleeping so soundly that if one would simply pass her bye would thought her dead as her breathing was quiet, and lacked any heave to her covers when she breathed. Just goes to show just how tired the princess of friendship was after staying awake for what was practically a week, it didn’t help that the poor mare was also mentally exhausted from all the hoops and hurdles she has lept through, not to mention having been visited by two aspects of death in the span of a few days back to back. But even though her body and mind gave out to allow the princess to gain some respite, the alicorn couldn’t ignore what her instincts were telling her. Find Zack. Save her. Save her soul. Those words pounded away in Twilight’s very soul even as she slept, till it became to much and she was roused from her sleep, not fully rested but at least enough to be able to function and operate probably. Rubbing her eyes with a hoof Twilight looked around her room to see if anyone else was around, yet it seemed that she was left alone. Looking to her bedside counter the clock showed that it was barely four o’clock in the morning.

“I don’t even remember when I fell asleep.” Twilight groggily muttered aloud as she crawled out of her bed sheets and started to trot her way to her rooms bathroom, where she took a short soak in a hot bath to help wake her up. But as she soaked in the water Twilight was already wrapping her brain in how to save her look alike, WITHOUT having to kill her.

“There just has to be some other way, just…” the mare laid her head on the rim of her tub. “There has to be.”

The alicorn eventually emerged from the tub and drained as she dried herself off, her mind still hard at work now trying to figure out not only how to find Zack but also save her. even with Grogar’s Bell to drain Discord’s ambient magic from her twin it would save her, but while also draining the magic that constituted Zack’s current body. Either she and her friends end Zaq’s like by force, or end it by draining all the magic from her and free her soul while ending her current life. That’s when Twilight stopped in mid trot as she exited her room when a thought came to her! The plan was to use the bell to drain the chaos magic that was drawing in all of the chaotic forces of the world that was attracted to Zack, but in doing so the bell would also drain the magic that made Zack’s current body effectively ended her life right there and then, yet what if Twilight stopped using the bell right at the point in draining all of the magic from Zack but not the amount that created her body!

“But could it worked?” Twilight said as she started to frantically pace back and forth as her minded raced with the aspects of the idea.

“If I were to use the bell how would I know how much magic would be drained, and how much magic would be left to let Zaq live? But if we do this how can we before that the remaining magic to keep Zack’s body alive and functioning while not being a chaos magnet?”

“Twilight your awake!” the voice of Spike snapped the violet mare out of her train of thought before she felt her assistant tackle into her and gave her a hug.

“Hey there Spike.” The mare greeted as she petted Spike’s head before the pair split and the dragonling started to look her over.

“You seem like you got plenty of sleep, at least you don’t look like your about to collapse.”

“That reminds me Spike, when did I fall asleep?” Twilight asked her little assistance.

“Actually you’ve been passed out for two whole days.” Spike retorted.

“Two days!”

“Can’t blame you thought with how much you’ve stayed awake for.” Spike said as he looked more relieved to see the alicorn well-rested.

“By the way Twilight are you hungry, thirsty? Anything?”

“I do feel a little hungry.” Twilight said as she rubbed her stomach. Spike then wasted no time in guiding the violet mare to the throne room where Twilight sat down in her thrown, while Spike scurried off towards the kitchen. It didn’t take long for the dragonling to return with a cart of food ranging from a plate of toast, a mug and cup of coffee, and a large bowl of cereal.

“By the way Spike where is everypony right now?” Twilight asked as Spike plated the food in front of her while she poured her own cup of coffee.

“When you were sent to get some sleep, Celestia and Luna immediately set out to get Grogar’s Bell. As for everyone else they all headed home to get some rest themselves. Thorax tried to go with the princesses to get the bell, but they told him to get some rest so that when they get back, he’ll be at full strength when we go and help Zack.”

“That is if we can find her first.” Twilight said before taking a spoonful of her cereal and a sip of her coffee.

“I think we might!” Spike said excitedly which nearly had Twilight gag on her coffee, but before the mare could ask Spike what he meant the little dragon rushed off to an adjacent room, and came back with a newspaper.

“Right after the princesses left to go get the bell Derpy dropped by and delivered yesterdays paper, and take a look at this!” Spike then handed the paper over to Twilight who held it in her magic and looked at the page Spike was referring to.

“Town at the base of the Foal Mountains have reported strange things happening on the mountain…and…ponies mysteriously disappearing!”

“That has to be her!” Spike said as he leaned up on the table with a hopeful tone in his voice.

“Reports also stated that a mysterious and ominous dark cloud has recently formed and continues to grow over the mountain, and that the water from the mountain has been tainted as distributers from the town have discovered traces of unknown magic infused to the water causing strange side effects, such as inducing feelings of great sadness and a sense of grieving.”

“Well Twilight? What do you think?” Spike asked with both curiosity, hope, and a little bit of worry in his voice.

“I’m not sure but it might be a good place to start looking for her if anything, but we’ll have to wait until the princesses return with the bell.” The alicorn said as she places the paper down and went back to eating her breakfast, though as she was finishing off her meal Spike belched out a letter and started to read it.

“Whose it from Spike?”

“It’s from Celestia.” the dragonling said as he looked up at Twilight with a bittersweet look on his face. “She and Luna finally got the bell and are heading back here after retrieving something else from Canterlot.”

“Then we better get everyone else ready, because if this newspaper is correct and our hunch is right as well then we’ll need to move as fast as we can.” Twilight said as she downs the last of her coffee before leaving her seat.

“I’ll go get Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash; Spike I want you to get the others.”

“Alright. But if your going to get Rainbow Dash she’s going to be with Fluttershy.” Spike retorted.

“She’s with—oh!” Twilight said as she remembered Rainbow’s condition.

“…she can’t get into her house since she can’t fly anymore.” Spike said in a lone voice. “Fluttershy offered to help her into her house, but Rainbow said no, cause even if she gets help getting in she can’t get out without having somepony fly her out.”

“I see.” Twilight said as she rubbed her the bridge of her nose with a hoof. “Then why don’t I get Fluttershy & Rainbow along with Applejack as well as Rarity, then you get everypony else.”

Spike nodded his head before gathering up the dishes and scampered off, while Twilight channeled her magic and teleported to Sweet Apple Acers where she can see light coming from the apple families homestead, along with the smell of food being cooked. Trotting up to the building Twilight knocked on the door, which opened to show a very tired looking Applejack. Who then quickly developed a surprise look on her face.

“Twilight!” the farmer said as she brought her hooves up to Twilight’s face. “How are you feeling?”

“Applejack I’m fine.” Twilight chortled as she brought her friends hooves down back to the ground.

“That’s good to hear. You’ve been knocked out fer a few days, so ah was getting kinda worried.”

“I appreciate it Applejack but I’m here to tell you that the princesses have the bell.” The farmer rubbed the top of her head with a hoof as she gave a sigh.

“Then ah reckon the time to try and find Zack?” the alicorn nodded her head.

“I’m going to get Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow, can you meet up at the castle with everypony else?”

“Sure thing Twi just gotta let the family know what’s up, I’ll see you later.” Applejack then headed back into the house to go inform her family while Twilight teleported her way to Carousel Boutique, where the alicorn can see that Rarity’s room was lit up.

“Looks like Rarity is pulling another all-nighter for a client; I hate to interrupt her but …” Twilight then trotted up to the building front door and gave it a few more solid knocks, to ensure that her friend heard her. After a few seconds with no response Twilight was about to knock on the door again, but the window to Rarity’s room opened up where Twilight then saw Rarity poke her head out.

“Sorry I’m currently—Twilight?!” Rarity said in shock. “Hold on darling I’ll be right down!” Sure enough Rarity closed her window and Twilight could hear her friend rush down the stairs before the door was opened.

“Twilight how are you, are—”

“I’m fine Rarity I’m rested and not stressing, much.”

“Phew thank goodness.” Rarity said with a sigh of relief as she puts a hoof on her chest.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you while you work Rarity but, the princess sent a letter a minute or so ago. They got the bell.”

“So that means…we can go and look for Zack and…”

“I know your busy so if your unable to—”

“Not another word Twilight.” Rarity hastily said as she fully exit her home and shop before locking the door behind her. “Right now a friend is out there somewhere hurting, and is in the midst of grief and madness, I want help her MORE than doing something to distract me until we have a plan. We do have a plan, right?”

“…I might have one…though I wanna run it by the princess and everyone else.”

“Alright then then let’s go your castle.”

“You go on ahead Rarity, I still need to get Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.” Twilight said as she readied to teleport but before she did she looked at Rarity with a concerned look.

“Rarity. How is…how has Rainbow been the few days I’ve been asleep?” Rarity expression immediately to a disheartened one as she responded to the princess’s question.

“She’s been trying to not show it but, I know, we all know that she’s still taking it hard.” Rarity wiped a tear away that began to form in her eyes. “She went to the doctors yesterday to see if there is anyway to get her wings healed.”

“And?” Twilight asked hopefully but Rarity just shook her head.

“I’ll see you back the castle darling.” Rarity said in a somber tone before she trotted towards Twilight’s castle, while the princess teleported to Fluttershy’s cottage where she was surprised to see the light’s on at this hour. Making her way to the cottages door Twilight knocked and it almost immediately popped open.

“Twilight?” Rainbow said as she stood in the door. “When did you wake up?”

“Not to long ago. Is Fluttershy awake?”

“Yeah she’s making breakfast.” Rainbow said as she leaned on the door frame. “You wanna join us?”

“No thanks I already had breakfast, but I’m here to tell you that the princess got Grogar’s bell and will be at the castle in a little bit.”

“Gotcha. I’ll tell Fluttershy and we’ll be right over.”

“Thank you Rainbow Dash.” The alicorn looked to the pegasus’s side where she grimaced at the sight of Rainbow’s crippled featherless wings.

“Not the prettiest things to look at.” Rainbow said in a grumbled voice as she reached for a shoulder with one of her hooves.

“Oh no Rainbow I didn’t mean to stare!” Twilight stammered in a panic voice as she didn’t mean to offend or bring attention to mare’s wings.

“It’s fine Twilight…I’ve…I’ve gotten used to it.” Rainbow said as she pressed her hoof tighter on her shoulder. “And it’s just something that I’ve gotta get used to.” the mare let out a shuttering breath before leaning off the door frame and standing on all fours.

“We’ll see you at the castle soon Twilight.”

The violet mare gave a small nod before pegasus closed the door. Twilight then trotted across the bridge from the cottage before lighting her horn with magic, and teleported back to the castle’s main entry hall. Once back at the castle the mare took her time to trot her way to the throne room, mostly to recollect herself and mentally prepare for the ordeal ahead of her. But she was also taking the time to fully layout the idea that she had before setting out to collect her friends, and as she was thinking about in how to control the bells power to absorb magic the alicorn started to wonder if her idea was actually feasible, wondering if the bell will stop draining all of Zack’s magic when she says to, or just keeps absorbing until there’s nothing left. If it’s the former then maybe there is a way to leave enough magic to allow Zack to live while containing the corrupted magic within the bell, if this is possible then Twilight and the others can help Zack from there in deciding what to…do…the alicorns train of thought quick a sudden turn when that line of thinking entered her mind. Deciding what to do for Zack. The more that one line of thought replayed in her mind Twilight started to realize that isn’t fair to her look alike, because Zack’s future should be decided by her not any pony else. Especially if the option of dying and being lead to an afterlife by a literal aspect of death is on the table.

“…Zack should be the one to decide what to AFTER we save her. Not me, not the princess…not even Death. SHE will be the one to decided on WHAT she does. If we can save her.” Twilight said a firm sense of conviction in her voice as she rushed to the throne room, where upon entering she found Thorax and Starlight there, both sipping what smelled like cups of coffee. While Spike, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack also sipping away some kind of drink.

“Welcome back Twilight.” Thorax said as he put his mug down. “Where’s Rainbow and Fluttershy?”

“They’ll be here soon, their just finishing up with breakfast.” Twilight retorted. “Are Celestia and Luna here yet?”

“Not yet.” Starlight simply stated back. “So Twilight Rarity said that you might have a plan in mind when we find Zack?”

“Yes, but, I want to wait to everypony is here to hear it.”

The others nodded their heads and simply waited till the princess and the pegasi duo showed up. Several minutes go by and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash eventually arrived at the castle and joined the others in the throne room, and soon enough the princess arrived in the throne room via teleportation. When the two elderly alicorns arrived the group took notice that they looked roughed up, as their manes and coats were slightly disheveled, much like ruffled feathers. They also took notice that each of the alicorns held an item, with Celestia holding the renowned bell of Grogar which looks pretty rusted and dull looking, while Luna held a thin yet dusty looking old book.

“I see that everypony is here.” Celestia said as she places the bell on the table.

“Are you two alright? You both look a bit, frazzled.” Fluttershy asked as the princesses started to use their magic to prim themselves as Luna began to speak.

“The winds on the mountain were being quite difficult, and the magics surrounding the cave that the bell was located in prevented us from teleporting directly to it.”

“So we had to climb the rest of the way after teleporting as close as we possibly could.” Celestia continued as she finished combing out her mane and tail, while Luna finished preening her feathers.

“So this is Grogar’s bell?” Pinkie asked as she looked the bell over before giving it a few taps with her hoof, causing it to give a very dull dinging sound. “Doesn’t really look all that impressive. And does it still work?”

“It works. We tested it when we arrived back at Canterlot.” Luna said as she places the book she was holding in her magic on the table. “This book which was written by Gusty the Great tells in how to use the bell.”

“It does!” Twilight snapped as she instantly teleported the book to her and began reading it’s limited contents.

“Yes it does.” Luna said with a bit of weariness after hearing the smaller alicorns sudden outburst, as well as hearing the mare muttering to herself.

“So how do we use the bell?” Starlight asked the two royals.

“Bell is not actually that difficult to use, and the spell meant to be used with it is also fairly simple.” Celestia replied but before she could explain further Twilight spoke up.

“Alright! This might actually work!”

“What will Twilight?” Rarity asked her friend as she and the others all looked to the princess of Friendship, who closed the book and putting it down as she began to explain her idea.

“I’ve only been thinking about this particular plan for only short time, but after reading the content of this book, and from what Celestia had just said I think it will give us the best chance to help Zack. and give us a third option.” Everypony was surprised to hear what Twilight had just said and they were paying attention as she continued to speak.

“My idea is that we use the bell to drain ninety-five percent of all the magic from Zack, or maybe just ninety percent, leaving her just enough make to theoretically remain alive—”

“But with that little magic she would be severely weakened! She would probably be unable to move!” Celestia said which got the others giving worried concern, especially Spike and Thorax.

“But at least she will be alive!” Twilight stated loudly brining back everypony’s attention to her.

“Now I know both Event Horizon and, Death, have told us that we need to end Zack’s life in order to save her. And if we spare her she will only suffer more because of the corrupted magic…but can we REALLY make that call. I say no!”

“But Twilight—” the mare held a hoof up as Thorax was about to speak.

“The reason why I’m saying this is because WE don’t have the right to make this kind of decision, because it is not OUR life we’re deciding on what to with. It’s Zacks. So my plan is that we drain nearly all of the magic that Zack has, enough so that she is alive and hopefully cleansed of all the corrupted magic infused to her, afterwards we will tell her everything that Event Horizon and Death has told us to her.”

“And then we let her decide what she wants to do. Live or die. That is HER choice to make.” Everypony surrounding the table a looked at one another with uncertain looks, but as time went on and they fully took in the plan that Twilight has proposed, as well as the connotations of what should ultimately be left up to Zack to decide on in their minds, they all looked towards the violet pony who kept a firm resolute expression.

“If you agree to this new plan, raise your hoof.” Aside from Twilight everypony in the room rose a limp to which Twilight nodded her head as she then produced the newspaper that Spike gave her earlier to read.

“When I was having breakfast Spike showed me this paper that has a rather ominous article about something bizarre happening at the Foul mountains, and from what has been written it might be due to Zack being there.”

“Then what are we waiting for lets go!” Rainbow Dash said as she stamped a hoof on the ground. “We might as well check out and see if its legit or not, even if it isn’t, we’ll figure something else out.”

“Rainbow’s right! let’s move out ya’ll!”

The others cheered in response and with everypony in high spirits Twilight powered up her magic to make a long distance teleportation, and in one large flash of lavender light the group left the castles throne room, and appeared at the foot of the Foul Mountains. Where upon their arrival the group found it to be quite the sight. much like the article that Twilight read before the mountain did indeed have a large ominous black cloud swirling above it, casting a massive dark shadow on the surrounding area, while faint flashes of lighting crackled within the darken mounds in the sky. The group took a moment to ready themselves before they started to make their way to the town they could see, but as they got closer and closer the town the more the group felt that something was wrong, as everything was quite. The whole town looked like it has been abandoned, but what really made it incredibly unnerving was that the group could see what look like blacken stains and water covering the ground, and the porches and front steps of the buildings.

“Where is everypony?” Celestia asked as the group continued to venture into the town, looking through windows and open doors to see that the building were indeed empty.

“HELLO! IS ANY PONY THERE?” Pinkie called out but got no response.

“Something tells me that we’re not going to find any pony here anymore.” Starlight said as she and the others reached what looked to be the town square, which had blacken water covering every bit of the ground, while wagons and stalls were toppled and tossed all over the place.

Just as the ground was about to venture out and search more of the town they all spotted something, light coming from the end of the eastern street. At first the group was happy to see that somepony could possibly still be here, and tell them what happened, but as the light got closer to the street corner the more they saw that the light was an eerie green coloring. While the sound of water powering could now be heard, and smoke started to waft up into the air, followed by the sound of crackling electricity. It was then that the source of the light and sounds came into view but what they all saw made all of them reel back in fear. trotting into view was the form of a long gangling body of a pony, a serpentine long neck slithering across the ground while long spindly legs quietly took steps out into the open. A pair of wings then could be seen, one burning with a darken fiery hue and emitting smoke, and the other while longer was being used as a fifth limb and had deep cold blue hues covering it as blacken water slowly poured from it. but the truly captivating part of what they were seeing was the mountainous amount of green fire burning as the slender bodied ponies mane and tail, mixing with the smoke from the red wing, while evaporating the blacken water from the blue wing.

Just then the ponyisque creature turned it’s head to face the group where they saw a long spike horn coated in black electricity, hollow pale white eyes crying even more blacken water, and finally when the being shifted to trot towards them they saw a gaping hole in it’s chest as the head raised into the air. A hole that was bleeding out a thick black ooze that warped and twisted itself back up to the hole, and continue to pour from it. the group and the being just stared at each other for only a minute until Thorax and Spike spoke at once.

“Zack?!”