The Meaning of Time/An Hour of Judgment

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9

Chapter 1

My Little Pony is copyrighted to Hasbro Inc. I take no full value credit in any characters own by them, nor do I take credit in using their universe, that they own. I do, however, take ownerships of the OCs mentioned soon in the story.

The castle north from Canterlot that hid in-between the great mountain peaks that towered over the lands of Equestria emitted a loud chime before the sound of pipes belonging to an organ whistled off with the voice of the wind. The mossy stones that kept it standing tall were slightly covered with cut drapes bearing a Gear symbol with the sun and moon in between it. The moat that surrounded the ancient castle was mucky and stagnant. It fit the ominous castle of depression that gloom so dimmly on a hill where a large forest on a hill resided.

Within the large room that had nine columns standing on each side of the red rug, was a choir of twelve foals, six being colts and six being fillies. But, playing the organ that was coated gold, was an alicorn with a gray coat and mane with golden eyes. His eyes had bags under them, and sleep was too rare for him. But aside from his tired facial feature, his attention to the white and black keys before him was strong. Each key emitted its loud streak that was accompanied by the harminous choir of the young ones. His cutie mark was half a moon and sun connected together with twelve stars around it and on his wings was a infinity symbol.

When the sound began to soften, he played the last few keys before releasing them from his sore hooves. The choir sang their last latin chant before taking a time to breathe. Looking back at them, he softly smiled and got off the bench he sat on the entire time. Each foal looked at it him, half full of excitement, while the other half were busy chatting to each other. He soon sat down and cleared his voice catching their attention and halting any other conversation.

"You may all have a break now, you all were wonderful." He spoke in a calm tone that was a bit soft and deep, but soothing to hear. The foals smiled at him before leaving the massive room, leaving the large alicorn alone to ponder to himself. Once the door closed after their exit, he stared up at the ceiling, frowning in disappointment.

On the ceiling, was a painting of Celestia and Luna, both alicorns just like him, and ones given important roles in the world. Celestia, was a white alicorn with a rainbow flowing mane and tail that swirled around a sun while her sister, his, too, was Luna, that was dark blue with a light-dark blue mane and tail flowing around a moon. Though the painting was unique, its meaning troubled the old alicorn. History was well known for them, written mostly by them, but he on the other hand was forgotten in the trail of the past.

"Sisters, what is it like to be loved? To be remember? To be known for the hardships and trials you two had went through like, I, too? I worked my way up here like you two, but in return, I was given nothing. No ponies taking my existence seriously. Why? Why have I been forgotten?" He asked, lowering his head to the ground. Silence filtered the room as the stallion stared aimlessly at the ground with gloomy eyes.

"No more, I will not allow you all to gain this fame and glory anymore. I will make you notice my existence, even if it means making you suffer. My power...it...is more important than yours." He gritted his teeth before opening his wings. Sand started to gather around him, before engulfing his body. Soon, it fell to the ground, seeping through the small cracks. When they vanished, the stallion, too, was gone and nowhere in sight.

The alabaster purple eye alicorn stared into the dawn sky with a wary look. A sudden change of the magical energy flowing within the planet shifted and gave off a disturbing vibe that coursed through her coat. Soon, her attention was appointed to the throne door that opened by the guards in golden armor standing out, allowing six mares into the princess' premise. She turned around and sat down in front of her chair, allowing the requested vistors to stop before her. When they did, the first one to come up to her and speak was her trusted assistant, Twilight Sparkle. The mare was a unicorn with a purple coat and sparkling pointed star cutie mark. Her mane was dark as well as her tail and both had pink highlights.

"Princess Celestia, you called for us on something urgent! Please tell us what it is?!" Twilight spoke.

"It seems that the magical energy channeling through this planet shifted. Luna and I felt a disturbing change of in it and it is not normal for such things like that to happen. What I am expecting is that it is some bad omen that must be taken care of immediately."

"Who is it, Nightmare Moon?!" Rainbow Dash, a blue coated pegasus with a rainbow mullet mane and combed tail, and purple eyes shouted. Her cutie mark was a white cloud striking rainbow lightning. "The Changelings?!"

"Oh, I know! IT'S PARASPRITES!" A completely pink mare with blue eyes named Pinkie Pie that was a cheerful mare with three balloons to be her cutie mark. Her tail and mane were both puffy. The excited mare was called Pinkie Pie.

Oh, I hope not. Those vile insects were so troubling when they ate all my fabric." A white mare with a dark violet curly mane and tail spoke. Her eyes were blue and her cutie mark were three diamonds. Her tone was polite and had a strong fancy. This unicorn is Rarity.

"Now, I doubt its them varmints. They have none of them magic energy stuf' Twi talks 'bout often at times." A country accent orange coat, blond pony-tail mane, and green eye mare said, wearing a Stetson brown hat. Her cutie mark red apple cutie mark screamed her nane "Applejack", or AJ to be short. Her race like Pinkie Pie was an earth pony.

"Then what can it be?" A yellow pegasus with a combed pink mane and tail asked. Her cutie mark was four butterflies and her tone was soft. She was Fluttershy.

"Our brother, Déjà Vu." Luna said, appearing in the room in a flash of light, trotting quickly to her sister side. "Thy fear brother's cometh is nigh." She spoke in her old accent, while combining a modern accent that was not in any old Canterlot styled tone.

"Brother?" Twilight repeated what the alicorn of the moon said confused.

"Yes, my dear student. You see, we have a brother that was believed to be dead long time ago. I would not have imagine him being the cause of that strange disturbance. But if it really is him, then I fear there has to be a real good reason why." Celestia said in a worried tone.

"Why haven't you told us you had a brother?" Twilight asked, still shocked from the shocking news. She was at first shock about Prince Blueblood being related to her, but only as a distant cousin before, but to hear her speaking of a close relative causing, or possibly causing the sudden rift in the flow of the planet's energy. She became amused and curious to find out more information about him.

"Maybe she has forgotten me, in the course of time..." His voice sent sudden chills down the mares' backs as they started looking around for him, "or maybe she decided to pretend I was dead the entire time and take the glory of this planet's existence for herself." He said, appearing in front of Twilight by a whirlwind of sand, before it sinked into his coat, being absorbed into his body.

Twilight was stunned at such a spell used, but astonished as well as frighten that another alicorn was standing before her, towering in the same high Celestia was up to. His eyes troubled her as he stared at her with an emotionless expression before turning his back to her, facing his sisters that sat there in shock.

"Your belief of me being dead, during that war is only a mere illusion casted upon yourself from the wretched minds you two contain. But here I am, in flesh." He said as his horn started to glow. He did not take action, instead, gather up sand that came out from the ends of the ground and beneath the ponies hooves, causing Fluttershy to panic and slip and Applejack to stumble down to the ground while Pinkie was surfing. Soon, the sand took shape as a giant clock, with Pinkie Pie hanging off the long arm laughing with excitement from her bouncy mood.

"Brother, how? We thought you've fallen in action with Hollow!" Celestia shouted. Twilight ears perked with interests again, curious to the next pony mentioned by her teacher. She was too new to this, she had to know more. She seeked knowledge, and a way to set things straight if her brother came to commit bad deeds.

Looking at the clock, the purple mare gasped, spotting the crown jewels of the Elements of Harmony embedded in the sands of his sand-made-clock. "The Elements of Harmony!" She cried out, causing her friends and princesses to advert their attention to the clock, becoming threaten instantly. As Fluttershy got up from the sand, she fell back down once Rainbow Dash flew pass her in fast speeds, heading towards the alicorn, only to be frozen in the air. The ponies gasped as the stallion frowned, staring at her. He did not like using his magic that much, that kind at least.

"Such fast to make an action out of things around you. Your ignorance is quite...a mediocrie here." He said in a emotionless tone that was all too unsettling. He moved out the way and formed a sand tendril beneath Dash, trapping her in its tight grip, but not too tight enough to harm her. His mission was not to harm anypony, instead, it was to provide them a troublesome task.

"What do you want with us, brother?!" Luna demanded as her horn started to glow, but it stopped once she noticed the sand around Dash started to grow tighter after he glare at her.

"Time...Begin." He spoke lightly, causing Dash to gasp for air, looking around shocked and confused.

"How the-hey?! Where did this sand came from? It's too dang heavy!" She growled, trying to break free from the sands grip.

"My sister, Luna, has presented my name, but my title stands firm and stronger than steel. I am Eternal and Everywhere than any can imagine. I am stronger than Celestia and Luna, but weaker than them, too. I am the foundation of their roles; I am the Alicorn of Time." He stated proudly as his wings flared up. A sign of arrogance flashed before them, but also divine power to tamper with the flow of time with ease. "I am the reason you all Exist." He said with strong emphasis on their existence.

"What do you want with us, brother? Why are you coming here with the Elements of Harmony at your grips?!" Celestia asked, becoming wary of her brother's motives. He stared at her with a dull expression that confused her, but also brought a unsettling feeling she was not going to like the answer.

"To bring upon punishment to all those that have forgotten me. To those that took credit for my work. To those who truly does not understand the meaning of which I write and create. Sisters, this is not only punishment, but judgment!" He said as a sand dragon formed around him. Fluttershy fainted, as the others stared in horror, all except Pinkie that was building a small sand castle on the clock, oblivious to the event going on before her.

"You know where I dwell. Do not wait on patience, my sisters. Haste as much as fast as you can. I will show you the wrath of time." He said as the sand dragon crashed its body down on him with sudden force. When the sand sunk through the cracks of the ground caused by the force, the alicorn of time was nowhere in sight.

"Ah!" Rainbow Dash cried out after the sand tendril sunk into the ground, releasing her. She got up from the ground and started stretching her back, looking around shock. "How did he do that and where did he go?!" She asked.

"I don't know, but Princess Celestian and Princess Luna, what just happened. Why did he take the Elements of Harmony and what was he so mad about? What is it that you have not told anypony for so long?" Twilight asked, staring at her mentor worried.

"Twilight, all of you, my brother has taken away the Elements of Harmony as you know, and his intentions are unclear but promising that it will harm all the creatures in Equestria as well as the outside of it. I cannot tell you why we kept this secret, for we made a solemn vow not to. And signed our blood that if we dare speak of such, our powers will be strip away and our roles as rulers will be demolish. I am sorry, but it is up to you six to stop whatever he is up to." Celestia said in a stern tone.

"Princess?" Twilight muttered shock from her mentor's denial to answer her.

"I am sorry, but you must do this. The fate of Equestria could be at risk. I would assist, but I must first look into some things before I take action in assisting your mission." She said.

"It is true, we must, too. It'd be best if all of us worked together." Luna said.

Twilight stared down in disappointment, before shaking her head and nodding her head at the princesses. When the clock of sand vanished with the Elements after Vu's vanishing, Pinkie saluted the princesses while being covered in her sand castle. Fluttershy managed to wake up and started doubting on going on the mission, but she had no say when Rarity and Applejack, plus Rainbow Dash, agreed. She felt pressure, and decided to take place in the mission, too, knowing her friends might actually need her since they were going after the stolen Elements of Harmony.

"I am glad we all are working together. If only I can spare you six information about our brother, the best I can do is wish you luck and make haste on my research. When everything is done, do not worry. For when you are in dire need of me, I will be there as fast as I can." Celestia said, softly smiling at her subjects.

-To be continued-

Edited by EpicAeromancer33

Author's Note

I am changing up on a lot of things here. So far, I just finished fixing up this chapter with this story. The first fanfiction I actually ever worked on. I hope my readers did not abandon this, I would greatly understand why.

Do please leave a comment and advice in how to improve my writing, I am always open for your critique.

Chapter 2

It was taking hours for Celestia to find the scroll located within a massive vault. Besides her, tossing and reading levitated rolls of paper was Luna, assisting the long search. Where they were located at was the Canterlot history record vault. They made sure the six of her special subjects were sent to the forest that resided in-between the hills in the north while she and her sister started their search. Sadly, none found any scroll that spoke of the alicorn of time and it was too dangerous to assume that six ponies were enough to stop their brother’s vengeance.

When they stopped, only a look of worry covered their faces when they shared glances. But suddenly, as if their hope sparked, their ears perked up and their glances change direction towards the role of scrolls. A symbol branded in their insignias was embedded in the wall of stone. They reminisce the time they marked that wall that had hidden away records of many tragic hours that struck personally to them physically and mentally. Both trotted to the wall, dropping whatever scroll they had in their magical grips to the ground and headed to the wall. Once they stopped in front of it, their horns flared up and the symbol on the door glowed brightly, before the wall it was carved into slid up, revealing a hidden chamber of dusty ancient scrolls.

The two felt history before them wash over their bodies in lavishing knowledge. In acute to this discovery of ancient history, they spotted the scroll involving their brother encased in glass screwed into the wall. Next to it, were other scrolls recorded back in their history from their predecessors. Once they stopped in front of the ancient paper written in their old handwriting, they started scanning each line carefully. Each word had to be understood clearly and carefully and once they finished reading, they re-reread it over and over again until they finally understood the history behind the tragic event that led them to believe their brother was dead.

Sand started to shift around the alicorn of time that sat on his throne chair, staring up at the ceiling aimlessly. But soon, the sand settled down for the gloomy alicorn as he heard the door opened. Looking down to see who had entered in his circled throne room, he spotted two young colts dressed in silver armor with gray coats and green eyes, standing side by side next to a filly that glared at him angrily. The filly was red and a unicorn with a black mane that matched the color of her eyes. She, however, had no cutie mark similar to the guards and the siblings she had sung alongside in the massive room that contained the organ.

"Ten, what brings you here in such a disappointed mood?"

“The sands within the hour glass had suddenly become heavy. Six and Four nearly broke their backs when the morons were trying to smooth it down. Did you use your time spell again?” She asked, her tone sounded mature, but her physique was young.

Déjà Vu simply brushed back his mane before nodding his head at the filly before him. The alicorn had no time to avoid a book from hitting the center of his chest, causing him to cough and fall to the ground, clutching his stomach in pain. The filly growled and stomped her right hoof on the ground frustrated.

“You damn old fool! You know what can happen if the hour glass breaks due to the excessive use of your time spells. What are we going to do if we lose you, huh, dad?” She asked in a worried tone mixed with anger.

Déjà Vu rose from the ground taking in deep breaths before settling down and looking at his filly with an emotionless expression. “I am aware of my limit with the time spells, Ten, but do not worry about me. I know when and when not to use them.” He said. The filly growled as her eyes flared angrily at the alicorn. She conjured a book by her side and chucked it at him, but this time he had time to avoid it by catching it with his sand. “Would it make you feel better that I promise not to use it again in four days?”

Ten thought for a few seconds before calming down. She stared at him and gave a conforming nod. “I am not going to handle all these fools for long, dad. If you die, I am going to be very angry.”

“I understand, Ten, I understand.” He said as his sand settled down, dropping the book to the ground. The filly sighed and left the room accompany by the guards who were her brothers. Once she was gone and the door was shut close, the alicorn’s eyes widen as he coughed violently, before blood came out, dripping slowly from his lips. He frowned and stared up at the blood being absorbed into the sand.

“I am getting very old.” He muttered before staring up at the ceiling. His eyes lowered before his sand started to shift around him. It soon took the form of a large sand dragon that hovered over him, staring out through the closed window. The sun was at the peak of its dawn, but seeing through the eyes of his sand dragon, whose perception surpassed his, he could spot royal pegasi guards flying chariots with the six wielders of the Elements of Harmony. He sighed once his dragon opened its wings and turned into a stream of sand, sinking into his body.

“But I am not getting too old to not prepare myself for greeting visitors,” He muttered, “but…I should be wary of that one. She carries far more energy than the others.”

The mane six were separate three from three from one another on two chariots that were carrying them off towards the towering mountains. Twilight sat by Rarity and Pinkie Pie in the chariot from the right, while the other three sat in the chariot to the left. Twilight was busy looking over a map that scanned over the mountains and areas beyond them, but found no spot involving Déjà vu’s castle.

“Twilight, any luck finding his castle on the map?!” Pinkie Pie asked, staring down at the clouds the chariot flew over.

“No, it is nowhere in sight. Maybe it was put in another map, maybe, but there is nothing here that does not seem out of the ordinary. I remember scanning this map over and over again for my Geography test and memorized mostly everything, but finding a castle that’s not in this map shocks me still today. There is a forest in-between the mountains on the map, but no landmarks or special places marked.”

“Perhaps it’s really ancient that no pony discovered it yet.” Rarity suggested, but Twilight shrugged it off, focusing her attention on the map again.

“I would like to challenge him to a sand castle building match! I will make the biggest and coolest sand castle out of all that sand the next time we see him!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully, causing Twilight to groan while Rarity stared at her in amusement.

“How did he manipulate all that sand and stop me in the air?” Rainbow Dash asked, flying onto the chariot, sitting next to Twilight.

“It was a certain type of Terra magic, or Psammo-magic. It is a type of magic used mostly by few unicorns and mostly zebracorns in the desert plains, southwest of Equestria.” Twilight stated.

“There is a place in the desert full of sand castle builders?!” Pinkie Pie cried out in shock, causing Rainbow Dash to chuckle alongside Rarity.

“Well, I’m not sure, but there are ponies that live there as traders and roam around the world in caravans. The desert plains is full of salt which is a high mineral located there.” She said.

“So, what about him pausing me in time?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“That was clearly a time spell, but, he did not freeze you in time. Instead, he slowed you down. You can’t freeze time; instead, you can only speed it up and slow it down. Time spells are very rare and kind of difficult to use. Depending on which level of magic you are using involving that type of spell.” Twilight explained.

“So, he slowed me down?” Dash said.

“He can use sand magic?” Applejack asked from afar.

“Yes.” Twilight answered.

“He summoned that giant sand dragon…it was too terrifying.” Fluttershy said in a frightened tone.

“I noticed that, it seems he is well skill in Psammo-magic. I am sure he is a master with time spells since he is the alicorn of time.” She said, rubbing her chin. Twilight then peeked over the chariot, staring straight ahead pass the stallions carrying them. “Assuming that he knows we are close, he probably is preparing something big for us. So, you girls need to be careful. If he could easily freeze Rainbow Dash in time, and the fact he is an alicorn that knew Celestia and Luna, due to the fact he is their brother, he can very dangerous.”

“Don’ worried Twi, we can handle ourselves!” Applejack said with a confident smile.

“Yeah, we can make sure this guy knows his place!” Rainbow Dash said smirking.

“And maybe figure out why he is planning on harming the world.” Rarity said, brushing back her mane before smiling lightly.

“And maybe challenge him into seeing who can build the largest castle of sand!” Pinkie shouted.

“Maybe, yeah, maybe,” she softly smiled, “I just hope…” She frowned, “this mission does not end in a terrible conclusion.”

“I’m sure we can have a good ending, for…what can go wrong? We’re the bearers of the Elements of Harmony!” Dash said proudly.

“An’ there ain’t nothing going to stop us from succeeding.” Applejack added.

-To Be Continue-

Chapter 3

Sand started to shift around the manipulator that robbed the elements of harmony. He sat there, staring out of his window with a calm expression, gazing at the subjects his sister had sent to face him. He sighed as he opened his wings wide, causing the sand around him to sink into them. Once the sand was within the large feathers, they all shot out in rapid speed, taking forms of small birds. He folded his wings and watched as his sand birds left to the sky, heading towards their assigned target.

“Let’s stall them now, make sure their visit is not too much to worry about.” He muttered to himself, clapping his hooves together as his horn started to glow. The sand birds eventually smashed into each other, taking a much larger form. When the giant bird was completed, it became noticeable from a far distance of the approaching characters.

He softly smirks before setting his hooves back down to the ground. His horn stopped glowing as he began exiting out his room. He glanced back one more time before closing the door behind him, sure that their encounter with one of his greatest spells would buy him time to prepare for their visit. But without him noticing, there was a small alicorn filly hiding in the dark corners, staring out the window frighten. Her horn started to glow as sand started shifting around her, but eventually it fell flat to the ground, causing her horn to shoot out sparks before she collapsed to the ground exhausted. She stared back out the window worry, silently hoping the approaching subjects of Celestia’s could push through and make it safely to the castle.

“Twilight, what is that?!” Rainbow Dash cried out, pointing at the giant sand falcon.

“It’s a falcon made of sand! It seems Déjà vu created it and sent it to us. He doesn’t expect us to make it so fast.” She stated, gritting her teeth angrily as her horn started glowing.

“You sure your magic can work on that thing? Shouldn’t we work together and escape from that thing?” Applejack asked in a worried tone.

“I am aware of that and hope we would be capable of escaping such a large creature. I am going to see if I can distract it and perhaps stall it for a while, in order to bid you guys time to escape.” She said.

“But what about you, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, frighten from the massive approaching creature.

“Don’t worry; I think I can count on you two guards to guide that thing away from the others, right?” She asked, looking at the two pegasi royal guards. The two nodded their heads, giving her a determining smirk.

“Okay, then be careful. If that does not work, we will try assisting you and distract that large ruffian.” Rarity stated.

“Since when were you giving out plans, eh, Rarity?” Dash asked.

“I’ve seen enough large creatures for the time being. I should at least be glad it was not that sand dragon. I will become peter by that bird.” She stated smirking at Dash as the carriage from the right flew by the side of the other. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both hopped onto it, alongside Rarity and Applejack. Rainbow Dash glanced back at Twilight who motioned for her to leave with the others, but the Pegasus ignored such command and landed by her side.

“Not going to happen, Twilight. It would not be fair if you get all the action now, hmm?” She asked, smirking at the shocked lavender mare. “You guys go, I’m gonna stay behind and help out Twilight!” Dash yelled.

“Are you sure, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked, looking at her friend worried.

“You bet. I always wanted to test out my new flying trick that will knock that bird out of stupidity and into amazement!” She said, staring ahead at the approaching sand falcon. Twilight gave herself a few seconds to think of a plan that will suit her and Dash and smirked at the conclusion made. She figured it would be best suitable for Dash to be beside her and chances are, they might be able to take down the falcon than distract it.

“Alright, Dash, I have a plan.” Twilight said, looking at her with a confident smile.

Once the carriage separated from the other that was carrying Twilight and Rainbow Dash, the four watched from a distance the sand falcon chasing the other carriage that changed its course. Applejack adjusted her hat before glancing at the guards carrying them. She soon looked back at her two friends from a distance and gulped hoping whatever plan Twilight had in mind would work. Eventually, the sky became very bright as the sound of rippling electricity crackled through the sky, startling the four. The next thing they saw was a bright light that blinded them for a few seconds.

Rainbow Dash dashed through clouds, attempting to outrun the small sand birds that chased her from behind. She made sure to keep good close to Twilight and the carriage holding her so that she would not stray from her friend. Twilight was charging up her magic, preparing to launch a new spell that she had been working with her for a long time. She was confident that it would work, as long as Dash distracted the giant sand creature that sent out small birds of its own at her.

The fast Pegasus was soon startled by a surprise attack from the sand falcon’s birds that formed together into a mid-sized version of a falcon, flying towards her in great speed. She had no time to avoid its sweeping hit as it flew to her right side and rammed her, sending her through a few clouds. Rainbow Dash regained her balance once she landed on a cloud, skidding back. She glared at the approaching falcon that was heading straight towards her. Huffing out angrily, she took off towards it, gaining a large amount of speed. Wind blew hard against her face as their collision was close.

She soon smirked, dashing down; causing the bird to fly over her before exploding into pieces after the fast mare flew upwards, crashing through its belly and out its back. She shook her head side to side, getting sand out of her mane before flying towards Twilight struggling with the other guards against the large falcon. When she flew towards its face, she came into a painful sudden halt, crashing into the sand that was hard as rock. It stunned her for a while before she gasped and leap off its face after tendrils of sand sprouted out to grab her. She landed next to Twilight and sighed in relief.

“I’m almost done with the spell; do you think you can at least distract it a bit longer?” Twilight asked.

“I will try, but ouch…I did not expect the sand to be that hard.” Dash groaned, before getting up and taking off.

“Just a bit longer, Dash.” Twilight muttered, “And we can catch up with the others.”

Déjà vu sat in front of a giant hour glass chained to four columns inside of a massive room where darkness filtered behind them. He had a concern look on his face, staring at the forming cracks on the hour glass that held magical sand. But what was within in the sand that was only revealed to be in a crystalized form was a pony whose appearance remained obscure. The door behind him that cast light from the hall caused him to slightly turn around. It was the alicorn from before staring at him with a frightened expression as she started trotting to him.

“You should not be afraid, my daughter, the time is growing short, but the presence of this event will surely be wonderful. I just hope I have enough time on this world before I cast the ultimate time spell.” He said.

“What of auntie Celestia and Luna?” She spoke in a soft tone, fragile and soothing.

“They must first face judgment along with the world. If they were to not face judgment, then all that we have worked for would have been for nothing. Until then, I will see to it that this event follows up…even if it cost me my life.” He said in a stern tone.

“But do you really need the Elements of Harmony?” She asked.

“Yes…I do, Twelve. Without it…I will not be able to complete this. Time spells are not so easy for me to manage than it is for you. The more I use it, Twelve, the faster my life span decreases. It’s not so great than I was at when I was young.” He stated.

“Is there any other way you can do it without putting your life on the line?” She asked in nervous tone.

Silence came into the room as Déjà vu stared deeply into the crystal inside of the hour glass. He shook his head slowly and turned to his daughter. “No, that is why you will take my place in keeper of time.”

-To Be Continued-

Chapter 4

The battle with the Sand bird continued as Rainbow Dash dodged its sand tendril attacks. It took a few minutes for Twilight to finally charge up her spell, but she had to time her attack right in launching it at the sand bird. When Rainbow Dash noticed Twilight giving her a signal to return, she smirked and flew around a cloud before heading through it, quickly flying pass her friend that fired a purple blast of magic.

The Sand falcon was hit directly in the chest, causing it to be knocked back before plummeting down the sky. The two cheered, watching the massive bird fall, but pause once they saw its sandy chest begin to spread apart and soon arise into the air, taking the form of a long snake.

“You got to be kidding me?!” Rainbow Dash cried out as Twilight charged up another spell.

“Don’t worry, I got this!” She yelled, firing another blast of magic. The sand snake quickly twirled in a helix form, causing the beam of magic to go through center of it, missing its body.

“You miss!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“You don’t say?!” Twilight cried out, beginning to panic.

“Quick, make a right turn!” Rainbow Dash yelled at the Royale guards that quickly pulled the carriage right, dodging the incoming snake. She sighed in relief before gasping when a shadow hovered over the carriage. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and the guards both gasped when they saw the large mouth of the snake opening wide as it came down.

The lavender mare eyes glowed brightly white as her horn sparked purple before launching out a blast of magic. A golden beam came out from the purple luminescing horn, crashing hard into the sandy dark mouth of the snake causing it to explode into pieces, sending chunks of hard sand everywhere. Twilight began panting as she felt her energy spent and muscles becoming tired. She rested on the floor of the carriage as Rainbow Dash came to her side both shocked and worried.

“Twi, are you alright!?” She asked, but Twilight did not respond, but instead, she passed out on the floor with her eyes rolling back. “You guys, we need to land now, something is wrong with Twilight!” Dash yelled at the guards who finally caught up with the others.

“Rainbow Dash, are you and Twilight okay?!” Rarity called from afar.

“Twilight passed out, we need to land and see if she’s okay!” She yelled, as her friends gasped and became worried.

“Y’all heard’em! We gotta land!” Applejack said, looking at the guards that nodded their head and flew down. The group spotted a forest as soon as they passed through the massive white clouds and beyond the forest was the ancient castle where Déjà vu resided.

“It has been years, sister, years since brother’s supposedly death. The war that he fought in had wiped away any trace of him, thus leaving the only answers of his disappearance was simply death.” Celestia said as she strapped her saddle bag tightly around her. The two were outside in the gardens, sitting in front of each other.

“We understand sister, but we must confront brother alone and see if we can possibly get answers to why he is doing all of this, instead of slowing down and walking on the path of good. While we do that, you can provide support to Twilight and her friends since you know more about them than…we do.” She said, frowning at the end of her sentence.

“Sister, you must not frown. You made plenty of friends in Ponyville and she was one of the first. Now, I will leave and find the others, be careful, and best of luck to your plans to convince our brother to return the Elements of Harmony and stand down from his anger and return to us so we can be a family once more.” Celestia said, wrapping her sister in a tight hug. The mare of the moon returned the hug, nuzzling her sister’s neck before being release. When Celestia’s wings opened, Luna followed, and when Celestia began flying away, Luna did so, too.

Twilight’s eyes slowly opened as she stared into the bright blue sky pass the large branches. When she started groaning, Fluttershy rushed to her side.

“Twilight, you’re awake, what a relief.” The young mare spoke, smiling softly at her friend.

“Fluttershy, where are we and where is everypony?” Twilight asked as her tone sounded weary. The unicorn slowly got up from the ground and saw all her friends chatting with one another.

“You passed out after using a strange spell to save the guards and Rainbow Dash from that sand snake. We landed here in the forest and waited for you to wake up before continuing on to Déjà vu’s castle. We are close at.” She explained, causing Twilight to blink in surprise before staring down at her hooves shocked. Fluttershy looked at her unicorn friend worryingly as the mare had an unsettling look upon her face.

“I had a strange dream that was so strange.” Twilight said, looking at Fluttershy. “It was a frightening one that left me very disturbed.”

“W-what was it all about?” Fluttershy asked hesitantly.

“If I tell you, I am sure that not even you will be able to understand.” Twilight said, shaking her head as she started trotting towards her friends. Fluttershy only stared at her with concern as the mare gave her friends a fake smile, concealing her unhealthy mental state.

Déjà vu eyes slowly opened as he felt the tight cables connected to the hourglass slowly be release from his back. He breathed heavily as he stared into the dark ceiling. “I must continue.” He muttered in a painful tone as the cables were levitated back into his back, attaching before piercing his spinal section. His eyes started glowing brightly gold as his horn lighted up. Sand began forming around him as the Elements of Harmony appeared being rotated around the hourglass.

“Father!” Twelve yelled, staring at her father frightened as he began crying out pain. Yellow lightning began striking down around him, causing the sand to scatter around the room.

“In order to enable the Elements of Harmony to activate, I must embed them into me. Soon, I will be one with Time and Space and judgment will be cast upon this world in a blink of an eye!”

His dark tone caused Twelve to become unsettled and frozen in terror as she backed away from the sand whirlwind that her father was within. The amount of energy being spent was dangerous and she could feel the unstable gems starting to lose control of their own strange magic, too, while casting their own lightning that was blue instead of yellow.

She knew it had to stop and quickly forced the cables off her father’s back, pulling it off with a magical grip spell. Everything began to settle down as Déjà vu stood there exhausted and half-dead from the excessive usage of his own magic. He soon vomited on the ground when the whirlwind of sand began sinking into his body and the Elements of Harmony fell onto the ground.

“Father, are you okay?!” Twelve called, running to his side as he began breathing heavily, staring at the sand beneath his hooves in a dreaded state.

“I need a new host…my body…it is not capable of holding such power.” He said in a shocked tone as his began trembling. “No, after all this time, it was not successful!” He muttered before feeling a large stinging pain struck his back. He stood his ground and began limping pass Twelve who stared at her father shocked and dishearten.

“Father, “Fix the hourglass and make sure the Elements of Harmony are brought to my chambers at once, I must…meditate.” He cut her off, glaring at his daughter with a dark stare before proceeding out the massive room. Twelve frowned as she sat down on the sandy floor, beginning to sob from her father’s descent to madness.

The darkness in space was all too horrifying to Twilight as she remained cold and lost in the abysmal plane of emptiness. She had no control over her body as she floated aimlessly. But when her body came to a stop, it did not stop by any inanimate object around her, instead it was but magic that held her in a tight grip. Her body glowed brightly, glinting dark purple as she soon saw large white eyes opened wide before her.

“The realm you float upon is only but a grave full of your ancestors and your friend’s friends ancestors. The grave is dark, hollow, nothing but an empty void from where you will soon meet again in the realm of the dead.”

Whoever he was, his tone was completely dark. It froze Twilight’s body and caused her to remain petrified.

“I am the emptiness in all. I am what many feel and encounter when they lose someone they loved. I am…Hollow Void, the Alicorn of Space and we will meet again very soon, my granddaughter.”

“Twilight?” Rainbow Dash’s voice caused the lavender mare to return back to the world of consciousness as she looked around confused. Her friends all stared at her worried. The mare looked around again before ending the silence.

“Yeah?” She replied.

“Are you okay, you have been dazing off a lot since you woke up?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh, sorry, it’s just I’m a bit tired. It’s getting late anyway and I think we should camp here while the Guards fix up the carriages.” Twilight said.

“Okay, I think it is best at least to call it for the night and continue on to the castle tomorrow.” Applejack said, picking up Twilight’s strange tone. The mare was more than tired, but frightened.

“Okay, if you say so.” Rainbow Dash said, shrugging her shoulders as she looked around. “I will find us some wood and make a campfire. Anypony brought food with them?”

Everypony remained silent.

“Great, looks like we are starving for the night. Hopefully, that Déjà vu can at least offer us a meal when we break through his castle’s doors.” Rainbow Dash said, before flying off.

Twilight stared off again, staring deep into the forest’s depths. In the darkest part of the forest sent chills down the mare’s back as she soon saw white bright eyes.

‘What in Celestia did I just see?’ She thought.

-To Be Continued-

Chapter 5

The princess of the moon was covered in scratches as she struggled through the blistering cold winds that angrily blew against her. She had been flying since she pulled up the moon into the night sky and had no success in making it to Déjà vu’s castle in time than she had predicted. The wind was not normal, for she knew that the anomalous of the strong squall was a mere simple spell casted from a unicorn skilled with Aero-magic. She had to not use any type of magic, sadly, for she knew her brother would sense it. The best she could manage was to continue on flying in order to remain under the radar.

Luna felt a strange pulse, however, disrupting the magical flow of invisible energy within the planet’s spatial field that not even she could see. The source of all magic felt off and sent an ominous feeling down the mare’s back as the fur of her coat pointed up. When she gained a clear view of the forest where her brother’s castle resided, she decided to find a landing spot. The wind continued to blow still, even when she landed on the grassy round near the stagnant water of a malodorous swamp. This displeased the mare as well as appalled her as she began walking through the grass, heading straight.

Fog began to swarm around the swamp, clouding Luna’s vision, causing everything ahead of her to become obscure, but the mare continued straight ahead. She was glad, however, when the wind suddenly ceased, but disturbed and irritated by the fog that came out of the nowhere. Clearly, she could feel the magical energy off the illusion-type spell created off of Aqua-magic. The mare still had her strong knowledge off of the four elements and the effects each elemental magic had on an individual.

She remembered spending some quality time with Twilight, studying together in magical lessons that were exciting and thrilling. She could not forget such cherishing moments. The mare was her first friend and granted a sense of courage and completeness to her heart. Just thinking about the purple mare, Luna shivered at the thought of her best friend being endangered, but then came that pulse again, sending another chill down her back. It distracted her from what was up ahead and caused her to look around in a state of panic.

The pulse was unsettling, inducing fear into the mare as she started to tremble. Her body was unable to process the need of movement as her motor-skills remained nonfunctional. All she was capable of doing at the state of petrification now, was stare up into the foggy sky. The fog began to swirl around her before taking the form of an alicorn larger than her. Its size was that of a titan, staring down at her as she stared at it.

“Nifilheim,” The mare muttered through her trembling lips.

Nihilheim was not an ordinary alicorn or a living thing in fact. It had no gender or specific appearance able to be correctly categorized. Instead, it was a massive Fog conjured by a forbidden spell that swallowed up its victims, causing them to be lost in a realm of nothingness. Though the swamp was still there and the mare was fully aware of the illusion being cast upon her, she could not escape it. In order to escape, one must be a unicorn or of her race in general and cast a release spell to dispel the illusion away, but she could afford being spotted by her brother. This was a defensive spell that her brother had staged for any trespassers.

The dangers of the spell were all too serious since one could easily die of starvation if they did not escape its foggy world. Nihilheim was a fog. It was the realm of nothingness.

Luna continued to stare at the giant fog-formed indescribable thing, starting to gain back her movement and back away, but there was nowhere left for her to back away to since she was trapped in the illusion.

“This sorcery is nothing but deceiving, there must be a way out of it,” She said, shutting her eyes, daring not to look at the eyes of nothingness. “There are four elements in magic; Aqua, Aero, Terra, and Pyro; Pyro is strong against Aero while Aero is strong against Pyro, Terra is strong against Aqua while Aqua is strong against Terra. Illusion-type magic is made from Aqua-magic while Remedy and Ailment-type magic is made from Terra-magic. Aero and Pyro are more violent types of magic since they stick together as destructive types.” She muttered to herself, stating what she remembered reading in a book about the concepts of magic.

“Each four elements have a large variety addition to it, making them the cycles of magic. Unicorns born into the world can only learn one at a time and it will take years for them to master. Alicorns can only learn two at a time and it will take months for them to master a type of magic.” She soon paused and opened her eyes staring up at the foggy titan. “Gravity spells and Time spells, however, are not in either category of the four elements.”

She soon frowned, glancing around. “How are we going to escape this swallowing fog without using magic?” She wondered. After a few minutes of thinking, the mare decided to gather around her thoughts and ways to solve her case in escaping the illusion. Her expression became stern as her horn started glowing bright. “I guess we have no choice, but to use magic.”

Celestia’s fur stood on its ends as she paused on the green grass in the middle of the forest after feeling the strong pulse of disturbance within the magical flow of energy. She knew all too well who was responsible for this and made haste through the path that further into the forest.

“Something does not feel right, this strange disturbance hasn’t happened since Discord was loose causing havoc in Equestria. If I use a spell, who knows what might happen.” She said, shaking her head in disapproval to using magic at a time like this. “If there is a disturbance in the magical flow of energy then that means using magic will come at a tough price and not be what you would expect. I hope Twilight is aware of this, since she will most likely use her magic at any time she gets a chance.”

The pulse came back again, causing the mare of the sun to freeze in place staring up ahead in terror. Her wings opened wide and her expression became stern as she began steeling herself for whatever horrors were up ahead. Celestia began trotting and soon she began running. When she gained enough speed, she took off into the forest, getting closer to the source of this disturbance.

Déjà vu scoffed as he walked to his throne chair and sat down. Sand was behind him in a form of a snake and within the mouth of the sand serpent was Luna, bruised, and unconscious. The princess mouth was opened slightly wide while signs of struggle was shown on her body, hence the bruises. The alicorn of time stared at his sister with disappointment before making his sand set her down on the ground. The sand snake soon sank into his body, fusing with him.

“Sad, you fell for my trap. I knew you were approaching sister since you entered into my magical field of vision. You are not the only one I sensed, your subjects and our sister are in the forest and eventually they will be here shortly.” He said, resting his right hoof on his chin. “For now, I will be taking your power.” He said, giving her a soft grin.

From the floor below Luna, cable wires broke loose, piercing the ceiling until they swayed around in the throne room. Eventually, six sprouted needles and soon pierced into the mare’s back and wings as well as the core of her neck. Luna cried out in pain, waking up from the painful puncture. Tears had streamed down her face as electricity flowed through them, beginning to drain her energy.

“I must see if you are a perfect host for the Elements of Harmony, if your energy is suitable, then I will see to it that they are embedded into you and that my final plans will come to life. The world will face judgment.” He said, resting his left hoof against his chest.

“B-brother, you don’t have to do this!”

“Oh, but I do, nothing is going to stop me from casting judgment upon all.” He stated.

“But why, why couldn’t you s-simply came to u-us and speak of your absence?!” She cried out painfully.

Déjà vu remained silent before his horn began glowing while he sighed softly. “You can never understand why I decided doing this, if I had the opportunity, I would have done what you suggested.”

“What?”

“Enough.” Déjà vu said in a grim tone causing the draining cables to increase their power of voltage, making Luna cry out in pain.

‘I…I will see to it that my mission succeeds. I will cast judgment upon the world and bring her back!’

-To Be Continued-

Chapter 6

Twelve stood in a bright room where light blinded both sides of the area. In front of her resting on a golden carpet was a mare that was a unicorn. Her body remained still as her eyes were shut tightly close. Twelve’s body had begun trembling as she felt tears stream down her face. There, standing behind the mare before her was a large dark alicorn figure that had the form of an alicorn. The piercing white eyes of the pony figure only sent fear down the filly’s back as its wings opened wide and horn glowed brightly purple.

“No,” She muttered, beginning to back away as sand started to gather around her. “NO!” The alicorn was taken back when a massive sand wolf appeared over her, bearing its fangs before launching its body forward.

The filly suddenly woke up in sweat as she found herself sleeping next to the massive hourglass. Looking around, sand had been spiraling around her apparently, which she assumed was because of her strange nightmare. Her horn lighted up, causing the sand to seep into her body so the entire room was completely clean. The filly, however, jumped in fright when she heard an agonizing cry from the floors above. Wires, from the hourglass had burst through the ceiling and began sending off electrical shocks, confusing the filly as she began rushing to her father’s room.

She took many turns down the long hallways before reaching the stairway and heading down to her father’s door. When she attempted to open it, the guards, her adopted brothers, blocked her path and glared at her with a cold expression sending fear down her spine. Her ears flatten as her tail touched the ground, while she backed away.

“Forgive us, Sister Twelve.” The guard on the right spoke.

“Father wants no pony to enter into his room, he is busy.” The guard on the left said.

“B-but what is going on in there, I heard some mare yell?” She asked, becoming more frightened than she was before.

“We are not allowed to speak of any business being done at all in his room, forgive us. For now, return back to your quarters or watch over the hourglass.” The guard on the right said.

Twelve was not one to object her father’s orders, but always curious and frightened on whatever he was plotting in his room. She frowned and went right, heading off to her room. The filly wanted to speak out, but she knew too well that her father had lost his mind to listen to any reason. The best she could do was pray that her aunt and her subjects made it safely through the security.

“Where did this fog come from?” Rainbow Dash spoke out as the group struggled to find their way through the forest. The guards were behind them, scanning the area for any danger, but they, too, were lost from the fog’s blindness.

“This is no normal fog,” Twilight began. “It seems to have some strong magic coming off of it.”

“Magic, y’all mean this fog here is some kind of spell?” Applejack asked, glancing at her friend before looking down at her right hoof after stepping into a cold puddle.

“Yeah, pretty much.” Twilight said before stopping in her tracks after hearing a frightening howl up ahead.

“W-w-what was that?” Fluttershy stuttered as she began trembling.

“Seems like it came from up ahead.” Rarity said, walking next to the frightened mare.

“We can see something straight ahead of you, Ms. Sparkle!” The guard yelled as his fellow brethren trotted beside him.

“What is coming our way?” Rainbow Dash asked nervously.

“OOOH, I bet it’s a Timberwolf! You know, they howl and stuff so why not? Maybe it’s pack of them!” Pinkie Pie yelled, bouncing up and down.

“Now why would there be Timberwolves in the forest?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking at her friend confused and hoping her prediction to whatever danger ahead of them was not true.

“It’s approaching quickly, brace yourselves everypony.” Twilight said as her horn began glowing.

The dark figure was coming closer and becoming less obscure than it was before. Soon, when all the ponies were prepare to see whatever the dark figure was; Twilight’s eyes widened recognizing the lining of the figure and form. She quickly lifted her head and turned around to the others. “Wait, I think I know who it is?” She stated.

“What, are you sure, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I am, just remain calm and let it get closer.” She said, her tone being confident.

“Alright, we’ll take yur word for it, stick to each other’s side girls.” Applejack said as Fluttershy carefully backed away to Applejack.

When the dark figure stopped, it slowly began walking forward as if it was cautious on what was ahead of it. When it finally it came into a visible view for the ponies, each one gasp while Twilight sighed in relief.

“Princess Celestia!” She called out happily as the princess of the sun came into view smiling at her subjects. The guards bowed as Twilight trotted to her quickly and gave her a hug.

“Twilight, I am glad that you are all safe. Have you encountered any trouble lately?” Celestia asked.

“We had, it was when we were in the air. Déjà vu sent a sand falcon to attack us.” She informed, but kept away the information of her passing out after using a strange spell.

“I am glad you made it out of there alive, have you seen my sister?” Celestia asked, releasing Twilight from the hug and looking at her worried.

“No, we haven’t, Princess Celestia.” Twilight said, becoming concerned. “What happened to her?”

“She went off on an infiltration mission and I was hoping she passed by all of you before continuing ahead.” She said.

“Sadly, we did not see her, Princess Celestia.” Rarity said.

Suddenly, Celestia and Twilight froze when they felt the terrifying pulse in the air. The ground vibrated a little bit before the fog began swirling around them. Fluttershy began breathing heavily in panic, while Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie looked around confused along with Rarity and Applejack. The guards glanced at each other before sand beneath their hooves swept them off the ground and swallowed them in the form of a Venus flytrap. The group of seven gasped and stared at the sand plant in horror as it slowly submerged into the ground.

“W-what happened to them, what is that?!” Rainbow Dash cried out as Celestia charged forward with her horn blazing bright. The princess of the sun launched a powerful that cut through the sides of the massive mouth before destroying the sand stem that kept it up. The sand dispersed and out came the guards in a state of shock before shaking themselves away and readying themselves for combat.

Sand started to shift around the group of ponies. Soon, in the center of the group was Déjà vu, but his eyes were made of sand along with his body. The ponies quickly scattered back from him, but had no time to avoid his sand that came from beneath their hooves taking them up into the air at once. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy attempted to fly, but were quickly grabbed from both the wings and hooves by sand tendrils. Soon, all the ponies were forced under submission by the sand tendrils making their attempts of escape impossible.

“My line of defense is impregnable. This land is all enchanted with my magic. Anything that enters here will be easily spotted by me, even if you do not use magic, just by stepping on the dirt or flying pass one cloud, I will be able to sense you and take further action.” He said, glaring at Celestia. But he was suddenly taken out by a blast of magic that came from Twilight’s horn.

The tendrils grip tightened on the lavender mare, causing her to cry out in pain. “Twilight!” Celestia called, watching her student suffer from the crushing sand.

“I have no intentions in eliminating you. Stymied, I bet you are all in your attempt to stop me. I assure you all, that your attempt will not go unknown, for when judgment is cast upon the world…all will remember their final moments before time is gone and a new world is made where I control with absolute power.” He said, beginning to reform from the sand. The sand clone was soon restored properly, grinning at the trapped ponies. “Now, let me bring you to your cells, I’m sure you will enjoy them. You won’t be seeing Luna there however; I have some use for her.”

“Luna, what have you done to her, brother?!” Celestia cried out.

“Surely, if she fails, I will show you what I am doing to her.” He said as his horn started glowing. Sand began expanding, slowly concealing their faces until they saw only darkness. “A word of advice, it will hurt.”

-To Be Continued-

Chapter 7

Déjà vu coughed painfully as he almost stumbled onto his pipe organ. By his side was his daughter Six and pegasus daughter, Eight. The alicorn had used too much of his magic and increased the pain to course through his body. It, however, did not matter to him. His body was nothing to him as well as the pain of others he had called his sisters. So far, all he wanted to do was succeed in his plan in casting judgment, but his other plan, the true intentions of his work, was almost complete and he did not waste a single second to have it finish.

Though it was not finish, yet, he did not want to lose his chance in completing his mission in a week. So far, it had been three days lately and to avoid any suspicion with the others around the world, who he did not want bothering him at the current situation, he had been raising the sun and moon. All in truth, this had been the case for his pain. It took a lot of magic than he could even imagine raising and lowering the two massive orbs within space where he cursed for many years and only wished to erase it if given the chance.

When he sat down on his bench, he glanced at his two fillies and gestured them to their positions with the others. Soon, he turned to the keys on his organ and slowly began playing an ominous tune pitched along with a saddening melodious touch. The room itself became the din to the miserable and depressing beautiful pipe organ choir. The pain was written through the notes emitted out of the pipes and the Latin language coming out from the colts and fillies translated the emotion being brought upon the ears of those that listened. This was the suffering of time, the pain that advent towards a cataclysmic plummet.

The translated emotions brought tears down the foals’ eyes as they were the only ones within this castle that understood his pain. While they mourn through verses, Twelve had snuck away, using her sand clone to sing for her, and went off into her father’s room that was not guarded. Her brothers went wherever he went and guarded his entrance at all times, it was easy to pass by their eyes on certain notices and this was specifically one of them.

When she opened the door, she gasped at the sight before her. Her aunt, Luna, was pinned to the wall by the cable wires draining away her energy and slowly on the verge of death. By now, she would have already guessed that her father used her as a host and if she were to die, he would show callous disregard towards it and proceed to get another pony, mostly her other aunt and her approaching subjects, and replace one of them with her. Her father was cruel, but at least she was relieved he was not cruel to his children.

“A-are you alive?” The filly asked, cautiously trotting towards the unconscious mare. When Twelve stopped in front of her, her horn lighted up and her attempt to detach the cables failed. She suddenly stopped when she realized the pain the princess was expressing with her face when she moved the cables with her magic. This, however, woke the princess up.

“W-what, an alicorn, w-who are you?” Luna asked through her painful breath as she felt the wave of pain travelling through her body once more.

“I-I am Twelve…your niece.” She said.

Celestia struggled to use her magic along with Twilight and Rarity, but the three continuously failed. They were trapped with the others in a magical barrier sealed cell located within the farther depths of the castle’s dungeon.

“It’s no use, Princess Celestia; our magic is useless against these bars and any solid object within this cell.” Twilight admitted with defeat.

“These types of spell, who would have guessed he would use them so perfectly well.” Celestia stated, beginning to pant from exhaustion.

“Father has nothing to do with these seals, aunt Celestia.” A colt spoke up, causing the group to stare out of the cage, spotting a small white unicorn with a blond mane and tail that was short and wavy. His golden eyes cast a grimacing gaze upon them all as if he only wished to show his contempt.

“Aunt, are you his son?” Celestia asked in shock.

“Adopted son, like the rest of us, except Twelve.” He said, sitting down on the cold cobblestone floor.

“Adopted and there are more of you around?” Twilight muttered.

The small colt nodded his head and gotten up from the ground. “We’ve been living here ever since the end of the Great Alicorn War. Not once have we ceased in aging or went out into that miserable world full of only tragedy and grief.”

“Great Alicorn War?” Applejack repeated as every pony within the cell became even more shock, all except Celestia as she stared at the small colt with a sadden look.

“So, you have not told your subjects, huh? I figured since all of those that knew of it had passed on, all except you and Luna. Figures, those like you on the outside of this castle are evil! They tell only lies and keep the truth hidden from the depths of time.” He stated in a cold tone.

“It’s not like that; I just did not want any of my subjects to be…horrified by the dangers of war. I wanted them to remain self-aware of sadness, tragedy, and some wars, but not that war. That war…it was…unsuitable and too much for any pony to comprehend.” She said, closing her eyes in shame.

“Princess Celestia, what war is he talking about?” Twilight asked nervously.

“I will explain to those peasants of yours, my dear aunt.” The colt said, glaring angrily at her. “Listen closely, understand my words: for words like these requires all of the attention needed. These words are the trumpet that howls louder than any instrument, the war that brought the near extinction!”

The ponies watched as his eyes lowered into a cursing glare, staring at all of them as they looked at him in affright.

“Before the banishment of Luna and the sealing of Discord, there was a war between two powerful forces within the magical plane; they were my father, Déjà vu and my uncle, Hollow Void. Time and Space was important in balancing the planet and its elements. Countries from across the world agreed and found it suitable to have one or two alicorns governing these elements and nature events so that peace could be managed. However, Hollow Void saw differently, he saw that alicorns like him were being used as slaves instead of peaceful figures. He believed alicorns were of a dominant race and thus led into a bloody war. He waged war on everything that was of no equine species.

“His influence got many alicorns to work beside him as he wanted to eradicate his foes. Father, however, worked beside him, but found his ideals wrong and pointless for he believed that the world and all outside of it required time instead of darkness where not even the moon can shine along with the sun. That’s right, Hollow Void’s intentions was to bring pure darkness into the world, mostly to those that were not ponies. Father’s was to control the planet and grant freedom to all alicorns that saw themselves as slaves. They took their numbers out of the planet, fearing it might crumbled it into pieces if they were to continue on their, and went off into space.

“The deal was, whoever became the winner of the war could continue their plan in controlling the world. They did not expect that after leaving the planet, years will quickly pass by, peace will be reassemble by Celestia and Luna, and that they would be forgotten. They were, somewhat forgotten, but remember for their carnage that caused every alicorn fighting for them to die until they were the last ones standing. The two fought for hundreds of years until father came out as victor, killing Hollow Void with a fatal blow with his horn.

“When he returned home, he found that the world had betrayed him greatly and forgotten all evidence of his existence, all except those that were still alive until now, excluding Aunt Celestia and Aunt Luna. He spent his life in depression, unable to solve the problems in gaining control over the world since he had no pony to fight beside him. Deciding to give up his conquest of world domination, he sought out into the world to learn what had happened the pass hundred years. He shown only a caddish attitude towards Discord’s imprisonment and pity for Luna’s banishment, but had no exact feelings for Celestia since he found himself intrigued by one thing…a mare.

“The mare was an orphanage mother; raising all of us foals since the war he was a part of had torn our families apart. Because of that war, fear became known and many countries waged war on anything that was a pony, forcing Celestia to request peace and use his name as well as Hollow as the tool to all blames. They have been categorized as Global Terrorist, along with all the other alicorns that fought with them. Feeling that it would be best forgotten and never mentioned, Celestia requested with her wise words to erase all evidence of her brother. She was oblivious that the orphanage where Déjà vu met our mother would never forget him.

“He gave us all a home as his own apology for our homeless and parentless lives and became our foster father. The mother that raised us became his wife and bared his child, an alicorn named Twelve who will be his next successor into taking his throne. Sadly, during this, mother became very ill and died. Her death brought our father back into depression. The war did not scar him, the death of our mother, and the shocking truth that all had forgotten him brought pain heavily down on his shoulders.”

“So what gives him the right in just taking away the Elements of Harmony, if he was that mad he was forgotten and knew Celestia had erased all evidence of his existence, why did he not go to her and convince her he was alive?!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“Because, the surety of that anything that was still alive, that was aware of the war’s existence, would remember him and mark him a global terrorist. The world will go into a state of panic and demand that he be…punished severely for his crime.” Twilight said, causing the group to look at her. “She was only doing it…to protect his reputation…and status as her brother. No pony would see her as great if they found out she was related to a pony that wiped out most of his race.”

“Smart one, aren’t you. She believed that doing that would protect her brother if he ever came back alive; even though she kept telling herself lies many times that he was dead, along with Luna. But she knew very well he was alive and becoming the same as he was before.” The colt said, gritting his teeth angrily.

“So his plan is to do what he wanted to do from the start, control the planet after eliminating every race except ponies?” Twilight asked as she looked at him frightened.

“Now if I just told you, it wouldn’t be any fun if you couldn’t figure it out yourself. Don’t worry, shortly when Aunt Luna dies, one of you could ask him after he replaces you with her.” He said, beginning to laugh lightly.

“What kind of colt takes his own families’ suffering humorous?!” Rainbow yelled.

“The kind of colt that can only blame the ones responsible for his suffering.” He said in a cold bitter tone, glaring angrily at her.

“Celestia is not responsible for his suffering or the death of his wife!” Rarity stated.

“Oh, she is, and she will pay for it. After all, a princess should go down with her kingdom with pride as a captain would for his ship.” He said.

“Princess, are you going to let him talk like that to you?” Twilight asked, looking at her teacher confused and worried.

“Twilight, do not worry. I understand why he is speaking of me with such disgust. I am sure all your siblings would act the same.” She said, looking at him calmly. “I would not blame them if they stone me to death, I do deserve such things.”

“Princess?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“What I did back then was selfish, I had to run a kingdom and maintain peace. War is bitter and cold, it brought only blood instead of life. It brought sadness. It brought hatred. But I am glad it brought others together to sooth for other’s painful regression that had grown so strong from their lost loved ones. However…” Her tone grew grim as she angrily glared at the colt, “I will not allow my own sister to suffer and toss aside with such callous disregard by my own brother, even if it means actually finishing him off.”

The ponies stared at her shock to make such a promising threat. Twilight watched as her master’s eyes were glued on the colt that remained still and unfazed. How could a small colt not be shock by her raise of tone? How could the colt not be afraid of her? She could not figure out the answers to these shocking questions.

“Say that when you get a thousand volts coursing through your body.” He said walking away, but Celestia knew she had sparked a sense of wariness within the small colt. She had diminished his attitude successfully and now focused her time on trying to escape the cell.

“Princess, did you…mean all of that?” Twilight asked.

“No.” She spoke softly, closing her eyes as she attempted to hide away her tears.

-To Be Continued-

Chapter 8

It only took a few steps for the alicorn of time to stumble up the stairs as he headed towards his room. He was tired and required rest, but with his body’s condition, it became the obstacle in his way to reaching his quarters. His wings ached, his muscles cried out agony, and his vision was blurry. Any further and he would surely collapse in front of his doorstep. Each breath was rough and full of pain. Seconds felt like minutes of unbearable pain as he continued down the red carpet layout hall.

He soon stopped and planted the side of his shoulder against the wall, staring down the corridor with a horrified expression. Sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking up his fur as his breath became visible in the air. His eyes narrowed as his teeth gritted into an angry snarled. He puffed out air through his nose before his wings flared in air. Sand began swirling around him, preparing to launch out an attack at his will. His eyes flared in anger, seeking to grant pain to whatever was ahead to arouse his fury.

Then, taking a few steps forward before breaking into a run, he launched himself forward and gave off a deafening yell that caused the place itself to shake. This was the sign of darkness making its way through whatever path was in front of it, leaving behind a purging black fire that was impossible to extinguish or overpower.

When the ground shook, fear ran up through Twelve’s back as she began panicking. She stared at the door in terror as she backed towards the confined Luna. She had witnessed this sudden destructive wave of madness from her father before and only grimaced at the thought of remembering the first time it began. She shook her head and quickly looked at her aunt.

“I…I am sorry, but I have to leave you. Whatever he does…whatever it is…forgive him. He’s sick…and has no clue in the pain he is causing to everybody dear to him.” She said, not wishing to stay any longer, she vanished in a gust of sand that slowly sank into the cracks in the floor.

Luna remained confuse, unsure what Twelve meant; however her body froze in terror when she felt dark magic, familiar to the time she was Nightmare Moon, coming close to the door. She did not know how to prepare herself for whatever monstrous doing that was going to be done upon her, so she began struggling, hoping to break free from the torturous cables that had sunk into her fur and skin.

The doors then swung open, flying through their hinges until they collided with a shattering bang against the walls. A sand dragon entered into the room, glaring at Luna with its white eyes. When it began sinking into the ground, Déjà vu stood in its place, absorbing the sand into his body. Luna could see the red lines in his eyes as they drilled holes into her very soul.

“I’ve captured your sister and your friends,” his tone was laced with venom as his glare did not fault, “if you failed, I will replace you with one of them, starting with Celestia.” He said.

Luna became shock at the callousness within her brother’s tone. This Déjà vu was only a monster, seeking to give only pain more than anything else. What made him like this? She had wondered from the start but had no answer. Then, the pain from the cables shot up again right into her spine and limbs. The alicorn of the moon cried out in agony before a sand tendril wrapped around her throat, beginning to choke her.

Déjà vu did not laugh or made a single mocking noise to express his pleasure in choking her, instead he coldly glare at her as she struggled through the pain and for air. Tears came down Luna’s eyes as she moved her lips, begging her brother mutely to stop his torture. The alicorn of time became furious, finding her pleas to being pointless and irritating. He squeezed harder until he saw red in her eyes as more tears came down. Eventually, all that left Luna’s mouth was soft painful huffs. When her body was beginning to grow weak and her eyes started to lower, he released his tendrils from their grip and watched as the cables ended their part of the torment.

Luna took in a deep breath of air, beginning to function properly, but while she panted, she frightening stared at Déjà vu who made no fazing expression. This brother of hers was dead and all that was left of him was the body of a soulless monster.

“My brother…suffered because of me, so I must take full responsibility.” Celestia stated, staring down at her subjects calmly.

“Princess Celestia, with all due respect, w’at y’all gotta do that for? He’s dangerous as it is.” Applejack stated, staring at her ruler with a worried expression.

“Plus, what if you can’t defeat him and save Luna?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Celestia brushed aside the possibilities of her being defeated by her brother. The thought of such possibilities was better off being ignored. She needed to save her sister and regain the elements of harmony from her mad brother anyway she could. Staring down at her worried subjects, she spoke, keeping calm still.

“Twilight, do you remember those spells I said to you that was forbidden of being use?” She asked.

Twilight nodded her head.

“You can now use them, but only in self-defense. You must help the others escape once I retrieve the elements of harmony.” She said, turning her back to them as she focused on the locked cell door.

“A-are you sure?” Twilight questioned, but she felt a sudden chill stroll down her back causing the fur on her back to stand up.

“Yes,” Celestia began, “be sure to make good use of them.”

Twilight remained quiet, unaware that the only person who noticed her change of mood and fur stance was Applejack.

“I entrust you all with each other’s life. Remember, with your friendship, good will always triumph over evil.” She said as her horn began glowing black.

No pony spoke next. They stood there silent and shock as their ruler struggle casting spell. Shaking her head, Twilight’s eyes narrowed as she went by her mentor’s side, attempting to use her dark magic. Sweat rolled down their foreheads as magic sparked from their horns. They gritted their teeth, increasing their energy, using as much as they could to break through the spell.

“If they continue this any longer, they will surely tire themselves out!” Rarity said, trotting next to Twilight, using whatever magic she had to break through the barrier’s exit. She knew no forbidden magic, but she still assisted anyway she could.

The three were not the only ones trying to break free as the guards and the others began hitting the gates, using their shoulders and strong hooves. Fluttershy assisted, though kept away from hurting herself. She struggle pushing the bars, but no matter how strong the magic from the three unicorns and the strength from the guards and her friends, they were unable to break through.

None gave up though.

Eventually, they all stopped when sand began forming outside of the cell, seeping out from the cracks. They froze and waited for whatever came out from the large puddle of sand. When a pony emerged, slowly absorbing the sand, Pinkie Pie went into a karate stance as the others prepared themselves. Fluttershy hid behind Applejack, afraid of seeing the sand dragon again.

But instead of a sand dragon or Déjà vu himself, there was the young Twelve. Her horn glowed brightly, opening the cage. The ponies stared at her shock, but relieved, but soon suspicious.

“Who are you?” Celestia questioned, opening her wings, granting cover for the others.

Sensing the vice in her aunt’s tone, she answered quickly. “I’m Twelve,” she gulped, “your niece.”

Celestia remained unfazed as her horn started glowing dark.

“I’m not like my little my siblings to begin with. I’m here to help you stop my father.” She said, frightened from her aunt’s killer gaze.

“How should we even believe you?” She asked.

Twelve thought for a moment before nodding her head. “I-I free you, I spoke to Auntie Luna, and…I…I don’t know what else to say from there.” She said. She watched as her aunt’s killer gaze soften and her wings folded slowly.

“Why are you helping us?” Celestia asked, narrowing her eyes, leaning down to Twelve’s eye level.

“I…I’m afraid. My father is a monster. He’s…not himself.” She said in a terrified tone.

Celestia stared at the small pony for a few seconds before backing up, giving her space. She glanced back at the others and motioned them out the cell. Her gazing expression did not spare the words for them to get the message she wanted to speak privately to the filly. Quickly, the ponies escaped, heading right where the exit was located at.

“Twelve is it? May you tell me why he is doing this? What is his real plan?” She asked, looking at him.

“You mean with the elements of harmony?” She asked, looking at her.

“Tell me everything; what does he really want with them.”

“Where do we go?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking around the long hallways.

“I think we go left!” Pinkie yelled.

“Maybe right.” Fluttershy said.

“Ms. Sparkle, what do you suggest?” One guard asked the nervous unicorn that stared down the stone steps.

“I…don’t know,” she muttered, beginning to look around, “I honestly don’t know at all.”

Her eyes soon widened when she felt the pulse again, but it was within her body where it came from. Her tongue became dry as her pupils shrunk into small dots. The others soon froze into ice, causing her to panic as the hallways began freezing. The fire on the torches, too, became frozen. What was ahead that gave off a dark, gut-wrenching laughter that bellow down the hall, caused the mare to panic and back up. But instead of feeling steps behind her, she felt a solid wall of cold ice.

She turned around and was facing her reflection. What was behind her though from the mirror’s perspective was a large dark figure in the form of an alicorn. The figure’s cold eyes stared at her with malice as it began walking towards her. She turned around and stood in her place, trembling in terror as it stopped and leaned down until their eyes faced one another.

She wanted to yell, but the fear had prevented such actions. Her body remained paralyzed as body became colder in fear than hot on the inside. Then it spoke, sounding male and cold.

“The Old Ones seemed to have seen potential in you. How pathetic that they picked me, of all dead stars, to watch over your pathetic soul that should be cast into the grieving depths of Yomi or maybe take a ride on Charon’s boat into the depths of Hades where Menos will judge your wretched fate.”

She had heard him before, but his tone was clear and not loud. It was blunt and deep. It carried its malice and balanced its pride. But something told her, and she tried denying it, that somewhere out there prevented this thing from harming her as she would presume it wanted to.

“Do keep your tongue stray, peasant, speak!!” He ordered.

“W-who…wh-what are you?!” She asked.

“I am the keeper of the stars, the inescapable void born in our hearts, the one leading his kind through a conquest against the heretics; what I am, is the son of the void. Where the Nexus cannot keep up with its source of producing harmony and chaos, I come to swallow what was left behind into the void; into the realm of Nihilheim.”

“Nihilheim…are you…Hollow Void?” Twilight questioned.

“Hollow Void is a name given by the Old Ones but not kept by me. I have no name, for how can I if it, too, had been swallowed up into the void?”

Twilight became confused.

“It is obvious you are confused. I understand why, but I also do not have time to not care. To be honest, you are better off wherever the Old Ones want you at.”

“W-what happened to my friends?” She questioned, forgetting the hallway and the others were frozen in ice.

“I have frozen this section of time. A skill I copied off my brother before he killed me.”

“What do you look like?” She asked, her fear began decreasing, but she remained cautious of the large alicorn before her.

“Form, form you ask of, FORM?!!” he began laughing, finding her question merely a joke, “peasant, I am dead! I have no form! I am only a spirit without body or form. My body’s probably gone anyway.”

Twilight noticed the change of his tone being…disappointed.

“Why are you…here anyway?” She asked.

“To watch over your pathetic soul, the Old Ones ordered me to do so. Plus, I would not mind getting revengeance against the blasted pest that killed me,” he said, soon, white lines formed on his dark lips as his eyes narrowed, “so I had to come and watch as you made it this far to this pathetic castle.”

“That fog…was it you that caused that?” She asked.

“That blasted defense spell my brother learned epochs ago, please, I had no doing towards it.” He answered.

“Can you help me and my friends get the Elements of Harmony and escape this place?” Twilight asked, causing the dead spirit to look at her quietly before scoffing.

“I cannot. I am trap in this realm where only you can see me.” He said, looking down the dark hallway.

“Is there any other way you can help us at least? These Old Ones ordered you to watch over me, so there must be a real good reason why. I’m sure it is to protect me, “Why they ordered such a thing was not to help you…but give you the premonition of this tragic story you play in.”

“Tragic story, the entire world is at stake and we need to retrieve the, “those blasted tools my sister conjured up from planet’s energy is pointless and quite redundant.” He interrupted her, causing her to remain silent.

Walking up to a frozen Fluttershy, the dark being lowered his head to her, grinning as his eyes stared into her stiff frightened ones.

“They are inessential in preventing my brother from completing his goal. Apparently, my other sister, Luna is actually beneficial and will surely die in the next few hours if no one frees her from those draining cables.” He said, looking back at her with a cold grin.

“Princess Luna, you have to deactivate this spell so we can save her!” Twilight yelled as panic sprung up in her, but she received a cruel laughter. He sardonically mocked her with his smile and shook his head.

“Saving her is pointless, do you have any clue how big this place is and where his throne room is located at? Trying to save that worthless mare would be time consuming. You should worry about escaping this place than finding her.” He said.

Twilight saw the cruelty being expressed through his words. She gave him a disgusted look, offended by his attitude towards his own blood. When she opened her mouth, she stopped and shook her head. She was no longer afraid of him, but angry.

“How could you say such a thing to your own sister? Have you ever considered them being more than just your kind, but family?! Celestia and Luna risked their reputation to keep you guys hidden from ignominy! No pony out there knows you, or any other creature outside of Equestria because they did not want their own brothers being scarred and hated for the rest of their lives!”

Hollow did not flinch from her words. He expressed nothing more than his white smile, but it soon vanished when he began thinking about it again. He fought to give his kind freedom and control over the world. If ponies today or even the world was to know the outcome of his conquest, he would have been considered a fool who had it over his head.

“Lies!” he yelled, “they truly would never understand the trouble my kind went through! We were forced to be slaves, serving under countries that despised our guts! What I did saved them all, it brought freedom! This world belongs to the equine species, not some blasted creature that can walk, slither, fly, or talk and call themselves children of the planet.”

Twilight knew she hit a weak spot in the dead pony. His pride.

“I saved millions! My brother, if he was not a greedy fool, we would have finally free and save this world from the darkness those creatures blanket it in. Now, my two sisters foolishly believe peace would protect them from the war those vile creatures in dirty thrones are plotting, she is terribly wrong!”

“What they did…was to end the bloodshed you and your brother had started.” She said, silencing him as his glare grew cold, steering daggers into her skin.

“What…are you trying to get at?” He asked.

“You have two sisters that been through what you and your brother been through, but they did not ended in with lives at stake. They did not dare kill one another. I am sure you know Princess Luna was also considered Nightmare Moon, correct?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Well, when me and my friends many years ago came into the picture, she captured came back from her prison and imprisoned Celestia, holding her hostage. Me and my friends came and used the Elements of Harmony to vanquish Nightmare Moon from her body, thus saving her and Princess Celestia. My mentor forgave her and began telling her the things that happened since she was gone. It did not take long for them to get use and forget the trouble that was caused in past.”

“What does that have to do with me and Déjà vu?” He asked.

“You two ended it differently. Instead of calling it a truce and returning home to see what happened all those many years, he killed you in his final battle and returned to Equestria to find out peace was made by all the nation leaders. Sadly, he was forgotten for many good reasons and did not see clearly why. It was to protect his return, along with yours if you two were to return together. This was only possible for you two to restart your lives and live happily!”

“Happily? How could I live happily if the world still required alicorns?!”

“It didn’t anymore. I read my history books written by many journalists with personal experience throughout the time. Technology advanced. There was an easy way in maintaining the nation’s vital resources. All that was needed was the moon and sun and Princess Celestia and Princess Luna clearly had that handled. There was no more fighting needed. Everypony became friends with the species outside of Equestria. Peace was settled and still goes on today.”

Hollow Void scoffed, finding it impossible. “Peace can never be maintained forever you know? War has ways in sneaking into that pleasuring cycle and causing chaos to spread across the world.”

“That was handled, too. A draconequus by the name of Discord attempted to plunge the world into chaos. Celestia had us, the wielders of the Elements of Harmony to make him turn into stone! We save the world from chaos.”

“I don’t believe it, how in the world did you use such pitiful tools to stop inevitable events? Has harmony become the omnipotent in this world?” He asked.

“No,” she said, shaking her head, “chaos still exists in this world, but good…good will always triumph over it.” She said.

“What pointlessness.” He growled.

“You should be grateful they went through all the trouble to protect you two, if it were I, I would have you two go into Tartarus, but that’s not me. I would see to it that you learn from your mistakes and be forgiven.” She said, causing him to glare at her angrily.

“And who in the blazes do you think you are talking to like that?” He growled, lowering his head towards her.

“I am talking to a coward who believes that he is a savior, but all he is, is a coward that will abandon his two sisters for his own selfish gain.” She said, narrowing her eyes while keeping her stance directly forward. This was a sign of insult which Hollow did not taken so well. Sadly, he did not do anything but remained still, glaring angrily at her.

“What is it that you really want?” He asked.

“To save the world and end this madness.” Twilight answered.

Hollow Void had lost, but did not show its effects on him. He lifted his head to the air and backed away, scoffing. “I will lift the spell and see whatever I could to assist on helping you save my pathetic sister.” Twilight looked at him shocked as his dark horn began glowing.

“Thank you, “Don’t you thank me, peasant. Be glad that the Old Ones have me on a blasted leash or I would have abolished your existence.” He said, turning away and walking down the dark hallway. Twilight watched as the prideful dead spirit begins vanishing into the darkest depths of the hall as the ice soon began melting away.

When everything returned to normal, a bright flash shined before her eyes, blinding her. When the light died down and her vision returned to normal she found herself next to massive door, but resting unconsciously on the ground beside her was her friends and the guards.

“It seems they could not handle my teleportation spell so very well.” Hollow stated, gazing directly at the door.

“Are they okay?” Twilight asked.

“They’re alright, but first, you must worry about now. In this room is where you will find the way to save Luna. Be careful though, what you will see will perhaps change your world.” Hollow said, fading away as Twilight opened the door and cautiously walked into the room.

When she was in, she gasped and stared at the massive hourglass in shock.

“What in Celestia…is that an hourglass?!” She shouted.

“What do you think it is?” Twilight jumped back in fright after being startled by the blond colt’s voice. He emerged from the dark corners, glaring angrily at her as his horn began glowing brightly.

Twilight got up and stood her ground. “Where are the Elements of Harmony and what is this?!” She yelled.

The colt stared at her in disgust before stomping his right hoof on the ground. “This here is what will end father’s suffering once the Elements of Harmony of no use. Where they are exactly is not here, but above us where his throne is a few floors above slowly becoming one with Auntie Luna, slowly killing her.”

“Look, I know what happened back then was too much for him, but you have to understand that if this does not stop, Princess Luna will die and the world will surely be fated to its end.” Twilight said, hoping to strike reasoning into the colt.

The colt gritted his teeth and launched a sand spell. The lavender mare gasped before leaping to the side. The sand morphed into a tendril grabbing her right hind leg, pulling her back. Twilight used a fire spell to free her from the tendril shocking the small colt as he felt his body being wrapped in a rope of magic.

“What is this, why is it black?!” The colt yelled as he was lifted up to the air. Twilight sighed in relief, wiping sweat from her forehead before glancing at hourglass. She started ignoring the colt’s demands to free him and proceeded forward to the hourglass while taking wary attention with the large cables that was through the ceiling above her.

When Twilight reached out to touch the glass, the colt yelled.

“Don’t touch that or she will die!”

She froze in place and looked at him confuse, before glancing back at the hourglass. Within it caused her eyes to widen. She had no words to explain what was inside the hourglass.

-To Be Continued-

Chapter 9

“Why are you doing this to me? Have I not suffered enough?” Luna questioned, “What do you want from me?” Her voice racked in pain as tears streamed down her eyes. Her brother’s heartless gaze was a terrifying sight before her.

He did not answer her question, instead, scoffing and sitting on his throne chair. Glancing to the left, he stared out of the window quietly. Luna coughed a few times before gritting her teeth in pain when she felt the cables returning a painful jolt of electricity. Her life was on the brink of death. She could not last any longer with the cables attached to her. Struggling was out of the question since they would tighten around her.

Shutting her eyes, she muttered out her parent’s names, only to feel a magical grip tighten around her neck. She was forced to open her eyes and look up staring into her brother’s eyes that stared into her. She felt daggers stabbing every part of her soul; wanting to murder it instead of stealing it. Sand formed around him and slowly took the form of a massive dragon, glaring at her with its light brownish eyes.

“They are not alive to save you from your doom. If this fails, I will replace you without a single care and toss your body into a lake. Stop talking and just accept your place now in this world.”

Those words struck her painfully with every syllable pronounced with a bitter tone of malice. Then she felt something course through the cables. A strange type of magic, but also familiar sent a warm sensation through her body as if soothing her pain. Apparently, Déjà vu was not aware of this and went back to looking out of his window from a distance while Luna took the advantage to figure out the source. She waited for a few minutes for the strange magic to return through the cables, and it did return again.

She smiled mentally knowing who contained this much magic, glad that help arrived for her. It was Twilight’s magic.

“Somepony capture Zero in the Hourglass room!” A young colt dressed in armor shouted, causing Déjà vu to twitch a bit. Luna noticed how his eyes remained still, but his right ear was twitching madly as a sign of aggravation. Putting together the intruder, the hourglass, the cables, and Twilight; Luna managed to figure out who the intruder was and kept in mind of her plan of escape. Twilight was going to free from the bounds.

But realization dawned on the princess when she suddenly remembered her most of her magic being drained by the cables. She was not going to be any match against her brother in a weaken state. Pride and stubbornness was still alive in the mare when she felt that if she was surely going to lose a fight, she would go down fighting instead of begging. She clearly saw those eyes of her brother being emotionless and cold. Putting aside their blood, he was only an enemy of the world not just the country.

“I want you to handle it along with the others, have Twelve there, too.” Déjà vu ordered. The colt saluted before him and ran out of the room. The alicorn slowly glanced at Luna for a few seconds before returning his emotionless gaze out the window. His horn began glowing brightly as the moon began rising into the air with night right behind while sun went down to bring day to the other side. The alicorn of the night stared in complete shock at this.

“It is easy, honestly. Raising the moon or lowering it is not hard at all. I just need to keep things on schedule, that’s all. Right now, your subjects believe that you are still alive and fighting against me with the greatest strength you have, or had. Too bad they will be disappointed when they are being abolished from this plane of time.”

“Wait…what do you mean by “abolished”?” Luna asked, frightened by her brother’s next response.

“I will compress time together…and…restart it.” He said bluntly.

“Compressing time and restarting it? That does not make any sense!” Luna stated, staring at her brother in confusion.

“Let’s start from here: The past, present, and future will all collide into one small ball then be wiped out clean. All that was in the history of time will be restarted from day one and I will be there to govern it as it grows. It is like a phoenix: all of its memories are remembered after its death. If it lives for a very long, long time and gets close to others, those experiences will painfully flash before its eyes. Those that are reborn in my new world will remember only the terrors of war and atrocities that they will seek me for safety. I will rule the world and make my own laws. Nopony will be able to die. Nopony will be able to hate. Nopony will wage war. Nopony will suffer like I did. That is what would become in the new world.”

“You will kill everything on this planet!” Luna cried out, “What if does not work? You will be all alone!”

“Nothing matters to me anymore,” Déjà vu spoke causing Luna to remain silent and grimace at his apathetic tone, “What matters to me now is the new world I would be creating.”

“You…you don’t have to do this, brother,” Luna stated, “Would you kill every single thing on this planet…no…in the universe just to rule?!”

“More than that, my little sister,” He softly chuckled, “I plan to end the suffering I been through. Hence my explanation to why I am creating a new world.”

Luna saw no way in persuading him. She prayed mentally for the others to free her and stop him before his plan comes into action.

“Oh where, oh where has Twilight gone? We can’t find her anywhere in this large, ancient, Victorian place!” Rarity complained.

“Beats me, but complaining isn’t gonna get you anywhere if you continue doing it!” Rainbow Dash yelled flying down the hall as the others followed behind.

“How did Twilight suddenly vanish?” Fluttershy asked, concerned for her friend.

“Beats me.” Applejack stated.

“Did any of you felt cold after we exited the creepy dungeon?! I sure did! I remember feeling cold for only a split second before we all realized Twilight was gone!” Pinkie Pie yelled, causing the others to go into deep thought about it.

One of the guards began to speak up, finding the change of climate a clue to her absence: “Perhaps somepony froze time and kidnapped Ms. Sparkle.”

This caused the others to stop and glanced at the guard in shock. He blinked twice looking back at them confused, wondering what he said wrong. Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and walked over to Rarity, devising up a plan to find their purple friend.

“If that is so, Rarity, don’t you know any spells that could help us locate Twilight?”

“Darling, my level in magic I must say is not so skilled with Twilight’s. I’m only great at levitating things and finding…gems.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “That’s the point. Wouldn’t Twilight have a gem with her or…beside her? Can you at least try using a spell that will help you locate her easily?”

Rarity gave it some thought before taking a cautious glance down the hall. She nodded her head and gave a determined smile. “I shall do my very best. I shall scan this entire castle of grotesque horror and its grim lore and find our friend no matter what it takes!” Her horn started glowing brightly before she cast her spell. A blue wave of magic spread out through the entire hall emitting off a whistling sound of wind that echoed in the lament hallway.

All the ponies remained silent, until the marshmallow mare turned to them with a dashing smirk. “I think I found her friend!” She stated before running down the hallway.

“That’s our Rarity, yee-haw! Let’s go, everypony!” Applejack yelled, following behind Rarity.

Rainbow Dash nodded her head and followed suit with the others.

“That was a good idea you gave Rarity, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy commented, flying next to her friend.

“It made a lot of sense really. Twilight might have been taken to the room where the Elements of Harmony are being hold up. Since Rarity knows a lot about gems, I’m sure she can find them a mile away.”

“But what about Princess Luna, do you think Twilight got replaced, “Let’s not think about that Fluttershy. Twilight and Princess Luna are tough mares. They won’t go down without a fight.” Rainbow Dash said, smiling at her timid friend who remained concern for her friend’s safety.

“O-okay.” She muttered.

“Sorry about your siblings.” Celestia said, looking down at the unconscious colts and fillies before her as she stood in the middle of the hallway.

Twelve frowned. “It’s alright; at least you put them to sleep with that spell. It was harmless right?”

“Of course, now we have to worry about is Déjà vu. Take me to him and I will see what I can do to convince him to end this madness.” Celestia said.

“I am not sure he will even be capable of being convinced. You know his true objective; his mind is set in completing it.” Twelve said, leading the way to her father’s throne room as Celestia follow behind.

“There has to be a way. He must understand that to do such a thing will surely backfire on him and leave unsettling results to handle.” Celestia stated in a concerning tone. Twelve only shook her head, finding all reason in convincing her father to surrender to being truly impossible. His mind was impregnable of being convinced and only his goal matter the most than anypony else in his life. Truly, the alicorn was gone from the world and this broke the daughter’s heart. Her father was never like this. Now, since the days have grown and the years ever so became heavily dreadful, he was not her father anymore, but a monster in his skin.

Celestia knew that if he succeeded and life managed to survive, he will regarded in ill repute. Everyone in the world will go after him and there will be no way she could protect him from the danger they carried. What still remained, however, in Celestia’s head about Déjà vu’s plan was the hourglass within the chambers below countless floors of the castle. Twelve had informed her of the mare within the capsule and explained how she played a vital role in all of this. If there was a way to use her as a source of reasoning, perhaps she will be able to save her brother from absolute destruction.

“Twelve…do not worry. I will do my best, okay?” Celestia asked, giving the filly a reassuring smile. Twelve did not look back, but nodded her head confirming she understood. This was difficult for the filly to handle, but she knew what was best to be done.

Slowly being plotted out in her head, Twelve was planning to kill her father if things were not handle fast.

-To Be Continued-