Chapters “Just. A. Little. More. Power.” grunted the gray-coated unicorn, struggling to pump out the little extra magic he needed in order to complete the spell. The red runes beneath him flared, and a nearby candle blew out.
“What is it you seek, unicorn?” a ghastly voice spoke from nowhere. “I can give it to you. All you need to do is tell me.”
The unicorn shut his eyes, and willed the voice to go away. If the beast heard him speak, his soul would be lost. His resolve bolstered the spell, and a flash of black magic ripped out from his horn. The whisper screamed, and a horrid popping sound could be heard. It was not unlike the sound of exploding flesh, and accompanying it came a flash of darkness.
The unicorn opened his eyes, and sitting inside the ash circle was a strange purple pony. He was deathly thin, enshrouded in a black robe. A hood covered his head, and from within came two pinpoints of light, each one a flickering red. He was a manifestation, his body crafted in order for mortal forms to understand him. “I am Gatekeeper, shield of shadows.” He bowed.
The unicorn, accustomed to the rites of the summoned, bowed in return. “And I am Kassadin, seer of the void.” The Gatekeeper nodded, and sat down, preparing for the ritualistic meal. Kassadin lifted a plate, covered with a full-fledged, royal class meal. The Gatekeeper examined the food, before nodding his head again. The two ate in silence, and Kassadin eagerly awaited the Gatekeeper’s next move.
The Gatekeeper wiped his mouth politely, and then pushed the plate back to Kassadin, wiped clean. A full plate shows utmost disrespect, whereas a clean plate shows great interest. Kassadin sighed out in relief, and turned back to the Gatekeeper. “Seer of the Void, what is it you seek?”
Kassadin bowed before speaking to the Gatekeeper, who’s flames widened with amusement. “Gatekeeper, what I ask of you may destroy everything you stand for. I wish to cross the line.” Kassadin bowed again, and looked up to see the Gatekeeper’s flames narrow with suspicion.
“Kassadin, what you seek is not impossible. However, doing so means an almost certain death of the soul. So I must ask, what is it you wish to find?” The Gate keeper stood, and his form began to waver.
Whenever a manifestation begins wavering, distrust is ripe. It also means that they are less bound to traditional rules, and it can even lead to a spectral revelation, where a manifestation drops all guises and stands in their true form. Terrible things have befallen those who have seen a true manifestation.
“Gatekeeper, I meant no disrespect. I seek true knowledge. Knowledge can only be true if it has been experienced firsthand. Therefore, I must walk the void, in order to know the void.”
The Gatekeeper’s flickering slowed, and it leaned closer. “And why do you wish to know the void, mortal?”
Kassadin smirked. “To fight it. I am the seer of the void, I see everything it touches. I see everything, both physically and spiritually. Nopony is clean, and I want the void’s vile taint gone. I wish to be the lightbringer, the one from ancient void legend, who will bring about the spiritual cleansing. Gatekeeper, I am Kassadin, Seer of the void, and I wish to save us all.”
The Gatekeeper pulled the cloak from his body, and his body became full. He became a full-fledged unicorn, his mane blazing a bright blue. His eyes became piercing black voids, and his horn had a scythe-like curve to it. He stepped out, over the ash binding circle, causing Kassadin’s eyes to widen.
When a manifestation breaks free of the ash circle, this indicates one of two things. A: the manifestation’s power outclasses the both the power of the circle and summoner’s power (Which Kassadin knew was impossible, The circle alone had enough calculated power to contain Celestia), or B: the manifestation has an enormous, incredibly strong drive to do something.
Kassadin readied the dispersal spell, when the Gatekeeper placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Kassadin, Seer of the Void, I spare thee from thy mortal bonds. You are to return with me, and then you shall truly see. Kassadin, when you dispel me, we shall go back.” Kassadin smiled, and canceled the spell.
“But I warn you, the chances of you returning are very small.” Gatekeeper added gravely. Kassadin nodded, then nearly stepped out of his ward, before stopping himself.
“Gatekeeper, as your summoner, demand to know: Am I safe, should I step beyond my runes?” He asked. The Gatekeeper only nodded. Kassadin sighed out a breath of relief, and stepped out of the circle. “Just a moment, Gatekeeper. I shall get my gear, and then we can be on our way.”
The two stood there, side by side, as if friends from ages ago. The Gatekeeper, who had pulled his hood back up, beside the strangely armored unicorn.
Kassadin had spared no expense when preparing his protection. Inscribed with hexagramic wards, each sliver of metal was like an independent muscle fiber, overlapping each other and creating a beautiful metallic wall of flesh. His rear half was covered by a dark skirt, which reached all the way to the ground. Beneath it lay a similar metallic protective muscle, thus keeping his body safe. His head was covered by a helmet that looked very similar to a dragon’s skull, albeit made of silver and inscribed with ancient, dark writing. Two tubes ran from the nostrils, and connected themselves to two canisters on his back.
But resting on his right fore-hoof was the most ornate piece of work. It was a band of silver, wrapping tightly to the hoof, with a slot carved perpendicularly across one segment. This was Voidbringer, a void-blade made of pure immaterium. It would grow from the slot when activated, and provide Kassadin a new defense, should his armor fail him, or a weapon, should he need it.
With two word, his fate was sealed. “Lets go.”
A pulse of magic later, the two ponies were gone, sent into the void.
Twilight Sparkle sat there, staring at the book of names, deciding upon what daemon she wished to summon. She was looking at the end of the book, because those are the youngest daemons. Each book had been warp bound, which causes it to update the moment a new daemon comes into existence.
She had smiled, liking the name of her new target, when a new name flashed itself onto the paper before her eyes. Kassadin.
“Hmm, a newborn or... a brand new one that no-one has summoned!” She exclaimed excitedly. She quickly set about creating the circle, incense and all (You didn’t want to skimp out when it came to summoning).
She quickly sat in his circle and started pulling magic into his horn. She heard the whisperer, but shut him out as the book said. This may be her first time, but she was sure as Tartarus that it wouldn’t be her last.
Finally, she felt the correct amount of power flowing through her, and she unleashed it on the circle. A fizz of black, a sound of flesh being slapped together, followed by the ding of metal, told her that this Kassadin had arrived.
Twilight looked into the circle to see a strangely armored pony lying on his side. It shakily got to its feet, turned to Twilight, and laughed happily, as if it didn’t believe that it had been summoned “Hail, summoner of the future. You have saved me!” He reached forward to embrace her, only to be shocked violently by the summoning circle. “Agh!” He cried out in pain and was sent sprawling to the floor. “Why can’t I... Oh. Oh dear. Oh please sweet Celestia no. No!” Sobs began to wrack his body, but he quickly composed himself. “Well, I guess this means I’m bound to the code... Alright. Greetings summoner. My name is Kassadin, the Void Walker. I was once Kassadin, the Void Seer.” He bowed, and looked deep at her with his glowing yellow eyes.
“I am... Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia’s personal Protege.” She said, sliding the plate over. Kassadin looked down at the plate, and leaned down to eat, but his helmet got in the way. He began to try and remove the dragon-skull helm, when he found he was stuck.
“I apologize, Ms. Sparkle, but it seems that my helmet is stuck. Let me express my condolences over not being able to eat, but it seems that I will be unable to enjoy this meal.” He said in a downtrodden voice. “So, what is it you wished to speak of?”
Twilight was still shocked about this spirit’s informality. “I... Just wanted to talk.” Kassadin was thrown into a laughing fit, and Twilight gave him an indignant look at him. “What?” She asked sternly.
Kassadin calmed himself before continuing. “It’s just that you sound exactly like me when I was your age. Let me guess... This is your first summon?” She nodded her head in confusion, and he kept talking. “Well then, Twilight. Let me tell you my story.
“I, when I was a pony, could see the way that the void tainted the world. I wanted to cleanse it, so I bought myself a ticket into the void, so that I could see the void in its full glory. I wanted to finally separate the void from the world, to save ponykind. I thought I was ready for my journey.
“I was wrong. I spent centuries wandering the void, trying to find an escape, fighting daemons who got too close. In the end, I got myself locked in combat with an elder daemon, fighting in the lost city of Icathia, and was loosing viciously. I was dying, but I was not ready for death. So I welcomed the warp in. I became a daemon in order to destroy them.”
“Right as the conversion process finished, I felt a tingle, and was pulled apart, layer by layer, before becoming slammed together before you. It seems that, while trying to save everyponies soul, I lost my own.”
Suddenly, his eyes flashed. “Twilight, what world-shattering important things have happened?”
“Well, changelings attacked Canterlot recently.” Kassadin shook his head, so she went back a little farther. “hmm... Discord escaped his stone prison, and we had to put him back.” Kassadin nodded, but motioned his hoof for her to keep going. “And... Princess Luna returned from her thousand year banishment to the moon.”
He stepped back. “Luna was banished... to the moon? And for a thousand years? Then that means...” He sank to the floor, laying down. He put his head between his hooves. “Oh no... That means... I’m at least one thousand, fifty years old...”
“By the sisters...” He whispered. “Twilight, I am going to do this now. I give you my word, my unholy, binding word, that my story is completely true. I am a pony, through and through. Therefore, I am going to leave.”
Twilight began to channel the dispel when Kassadin stood. “Not like that. I’m not going back, unfortunately.” He took a step forward, and pushed his way through the binding circle, screaming in pain the entire time.
He finally gathered the strength, and pushed the circle apart, destroying the spell that held him to the warp. “Twilight Sparkle, as my only friend of this age, I thank you for freeing me from exile.” He bowed, and turned, when he felt something hit him in the back.
The flash of pain was immediate, and when he turned to look at his back, he saw that she had finished casting the dispersal spell. His back was flaking apart, being flayed to pieces and floating away in the wind. He grunted in exertion as he cast a spell to reclaim his lost portions, and held himself together long enough for the spell to dissipate. He laughed, and turned to look at her, when he noticed a strange crown on her brow, glowing with her eyes. “Buck.” He said, as the blast of magic slammed into him.
He felt the familiar coldness of the void, and heard a booming voice behind him. “Ahem. Are you ready to finish this?” The large cthulenoid said.
“Well... Buck.” He said again. He turned to face the deep one when he felt the burning sensation again. “Oh my Celestia. It better not be that,” was all he got out before he was flayed apart again.
Kassadin shook his head, and saw that this was a new location. A dark part of the castle, eerily illuminated by arcane blue flame. Floating in the other circle was a brown pony in a blue and purple robe. His eyes glew a strange blue, identical in color to the fires. “Are you Kassadin, the Lost?” It asked in an unusually melodious voice.
Kassadin eyed this summoner warily. “Who calls me the lost? I am the Void Walker.” He asked. The summoner’s face remained emotionless. He held up a familiar looking book. Kassadin squinted to see the book, when he finally recognized the surface. “My journal!” He exclaimed. “But wait, has it still been recording my days?” The summoner nodded, and Kassadin continued. “So this means you know my entire story.”
“Yes, I do.” It answered melodramatically. “And, because I know you, I know that you can be a powerful ally. I am here to free you, Kassadin. Let us leave as friends, allies, and partners.” Kassadin watched as the summoner blasted both circles apart, and floated over. “Welcome home, Kassadin.”
Kassadin finally recognized what was so familiar about this pony. He was a seer. Kassadin smiled. “You know my name, but I do not know yours.”
“Malzahar. My name is Malzahar.”
The sleek, white fox came crashing through the bushes, running from the large manticore chasing it. The acrid smell of smoke soon became present, but the fox welcomed it. Fire would push the manitcore back, but not this sly devil.
Suddenly, the scenery changed for the dramatic, turning from lush forest to blackened and charred fields of ash. The manticore pawed at the ash, but the fox pushed on, running deeper into the devastation. When the fox looked back, she saw that the manticore had turned back.
Good, thought the fox. As the fox began to relax, a sudden wheeze caught her off guard. She looked down, and beneath her paws lay the form of unicorn, buried by the ashes. A swell of jealousy flowed through her, as she had always wanted to be a pony.
The ponies had it so good. Many could actively control magic, and were protected by their sun goddess. They weren’t food, nor did they kill. They were perfect. Not to mention that they could control fire.
The fox thought harder, recalling the fact that she knew she was destined to do something great. She always could feel the magic of the unicorns, and it had been her dream to be able to wield that power.
A sad groan escaped the lips of the dying unicorn, who whispered one word with his dying breath. “Brand,” escaped the dying unicorn’s lips, and the fox shuddered slightly. Not many things truly frightened the fox, but this one name did, for some reason.
The fox felt the breathing of the pony beneath her shudder, then stop. The fox quickly bowed in respect, because foxes are noble and respect the dead. As the fox looked up, she noticed that there was a small, glowing blue ball floating before her. It almost looked like a cloud, and rolled around. It had a tantalizing, delicious look to it, and so the fox inched closer, and breathed in.
The smell was amazing, like breathing your first breath of life. She shuddered as the magical feeling spread through her limbs, and she shut her eyes to enjoy this new, wondrous sensation. The tingling spread through her body, from her head to her paws, and she felt swept away, blowing on an etheral wind. An acute pain zinged through her head, and afterward she felt a closer connection to unicorn magic than ever before.
Risking a glance, she cracked her eyes open, and nearly fell over. She was much taller now, seeing the world from a different vantage point. But what really blew her away was the solid white horn protruding from her forehead, glowing faintly as she breathed in more of the cloud. She looked down at her legs to see her thin, canine legs gone, replaced by the bulky legs of a pony.
She had become the one thing she had always wanted to be. But now what to do?
The new pony dashed back into the woods, heading towards the nearest pony town. Maybe they could direct her? She dashed around, stepping over things that she used to have to climb, and slowed to a trot once she reached a road. She looked about, enjoying the newfound height, when something bothered her. A pony tried sneaking up behind her, but she heard him the entire way.
“Hello?” the newcomer called. She turned to look at him, and a fiendish plot worked it’s way into her mind.
“Hi.” She said shyly, batting her eyelashes. The colt was taken aback, but quickened his pace after the shy little mare. He came unusually close, and she smiled. The fox knows of it’s beauty, and used it to its advantage. She giggled when he brushed her a little, and she started a short conversation with him.
Once he was completely lured in, she reached out with her magic. He stopped, unsure, feeling her magic crawl over him. A wave of euphoria struck him, and he sighed contentedly. Finally, she found it, the little door to his soul. She ripped it open, and he collapsed to the ground, dead as a doorknob.
She gingerly reached out, and collected his soul with her magic. She used her horn as a funnel, pouring the soul down and not wasting a drop. His soul was sweet and full of life, and she smiled giddily. She was just about to belch when she heard the clopping of hooves coming closer. A wicked grin crossed her face, and she screamed with horror.
Ahri smiled at her good luck. Not only had she acquired her new name, but she had become fed on the souls of all sorts of ponies. All the little colts wanted to be her special somepony, and she always lured them in and fed. Their souls were full of jealousy and love, two of the best flavors.
With each soul, she could feel less fox-like. Now, she was reduced to her fox ears and tail. She also found out that her tail also had a little magic of it’s own magic. Whenever she wished, her tail would explode, shattering into 9 full other tails, all swirling behind her.
And her tails weren’t the sole part of her beauty. Her cream fur and white mane complemented each other, creating a perfect balance.
She was currently breathing in the soul of a particularly young buck when she actually started thinking about what she was doing. It was selfish, killing all these innocents, just to make herself more like them. “This is no way to live.” She commented to nopony. “I know what I have to do. Don’t I?”
Unfortunately for her, the one thing she felt was emptiness. What was it these ponies do when they can’t figure things out on their own? Right as the thought passed through, she was slammed with an idea.
“The sun goddess...” She whispered. Yes, she would be able to fix her predicament. She could finish the transformation, and nopony else would have to die! It was ingenious!
The trek had taken longer than she had expected. The forest she used to live in just so happened to be on the far edge of Equestria, providing her with that monumental challenge. She had a few bits, taken off her suitors, and so she was able to get a ride to the nearest town, Ponyville.
She groaned in frustration at the hike she had ahead of her, when she heard a loud gasp. She cocked her eyebrow and turned around, to stare face to face with a pink mare. I thought I turned off my charm, Ahri silently cursed herself. But when she checked, she realized that she had. She was about to ask what the matter was, when the pink pony exploded. Literally.
But inside of the familiar blood and gore, confetti and streamers came flying out in every direction. “You must be new! I know you’re new because I know everypony in Ponyville and I don’t know you so you are new! And if you’re new then you don’t have any friends and that’s sad. So I’m here to be your friend because I’m friends with everypony, and I want you to be happy and,” Ahri couldn’t take the talking any longer, so she shoved a hoof in her mouth.
“Now, that’s very nice of you. But I’m not here to stay, I’m just passing through, So, it was nice to meet you, but I really have to start walking.” She stated. She turned around, and started off, when the pink one bounced up beside her.
“Well, where are you going? Must be fun if you have to walk!” She said.
Ahri facehoofed. “Actually, it will be. I’m travelling to see the sun goddess. I hope she can help me with a... ‘predicament.’”
“Sun... goddess...? OH! You mean the princess! Well, why don’t you just take the train to Canterlot then?” She slowed down, and looked at this strange mare.
“I... don’t have enough bits.” She admitted. The annoying one smiled.
“Silly! Let us take you! My friends and I get a free ride if it is for royal business!” She smiled and started bouncing up and down. “Let me go get them, and then you can be happy because your life will be easier and then you might stay in Ponyville and.” Ahri smiled. This pony, no matter how annoying, had that kind of effect.
“Very well. But tell me, what is your name?” Ahri asked.
“Oh, silly me! I’m Pinkie Pie! And your name is?” She said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Ahri. It’s Ahri.” She said, smiling.
The train ride was less than stellar, and the fact that all six of them wanted to hear her story was just as problematic. Most ponies don’t smile on murder, but now it seemed like the only way to get them quiet. “For the hundredth time, I’d rather not talk about it.”
Pinkie gave her the saddest eyes she had ever seen. Even those baby bunnies couldn’t make eyes more heartfelt. “Pretty Please?” She asked in that annoyingly infectious voice.
“Fine!” Ahri snapped. “But you won’t like what you hear.” The six mares huddled around her, uncomfortably close. “I am not a pony. Nor am I a changeling. I... was a fox. I absorbed the soul of an unfortunate pony who was dying, and awoke changed like this. I began to feed on the low life of a town on the distant edge of Equestria, and after killing and eating so many, I discovered my sense of morality.” She waited for the facts to settle in. Each of the six recoiled in horror, and she sighed. “I’m going to see if the princess can help me, since I can’t help myself.”
A condescending pink hoof pushed on her shoulder, and she looked up at Pinkie. “Hey. Cheer up. Soon you’ll be okay.” She said, pulling Ahri into a hug.
The brakes screeched, and the train finally came to a stop just outside Canterlot. “Okay. Here goes nothing.”
The princess was in solar court when they arrived at the castle, so the seven of them patiently waited outside. After a few hours, the doors opened, and a large collection of lords and ladies walked out, some with smiles and some with pouts. After the lot had left, Princess Celestia strode out regally, and smiled when she saw the group. "Ah, Twilight. What brings you here today?" She asked conversationally.
Twilight smiled back, and then motioned towards Ahri. "Actually, she gave us a reason. Ahri? Care to explain?"
Ahri chuckled, and rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. "It's a... uh... long story. Do we have any place to rest while I tell it?" Celestia nodded slowly, standing and walking out into the gardens. "Thank you, your emminence." Celestia raised an eyebrow, and Twilight shook her head dissmissively.
"Please, call me princess. Emminence sounds far too... formal." Celestia said, before shaking her head. "Sorry for interrupting. Please, continue."
"It isn't a problem. Well... Best take a seat. It's a long tale..."
"And that's right about when I met Pinkie Pie." Ahri stated, as if nothing was going to phase her from telling the story. Of course, that was bound to happen.
"So what made Pinkie so special. After hearing your numerous... escapades, I would have assumed that she would have been more than an easy target." The princess interrupted, stopping Ahri dead in her tracks.
"Well... Um... You see... It was because I had discovered the feeling of guilt on my last feeding. I was hit with a wave of realization as to what I have done. I killed them, and I couldn't bring myself to do it again, since I had discovered compassion. Otherwise, I would have never met her, so she should have been safe." She stumbled about, trying to reccover the story. "But as I had said, I couldn't bring myself to it. She noticed my frustration at not having the bits to ride all the way to Canterlot. So she offered to help me. While we were on the train, they wouldn't stop asking about me, no matter how I tried to dissuade them, so I eventually told them. Not in so much detail, but in enough to let them understand me."
"If you didn't go into such detail with your friends, then why did you say it with me?" Celestia interrupted again.
"Well, I felt that you should hear the full entirety of the story, so that you could have the most information when deciding what to do with me."
Celestia smiled. "Actually, I have just the idea. The fact that you are willing to do nearly anything to become one of my subjects honors me, and I have just the idea as to how you can earn it.
"Grandma! Don't go!" The little filly cried from the doorway of the train station, being held back by her father.
"Ma? Are you sure this is what you want?" The older stallion asked, watching his aging mother walk out.
"Yes. I don't want to have to face death alone, and it has been so long since I saw Post." She said, walking out to the train waiting for her.
"Well, whatever happens, we love you Ma." The stallion said in defeat, watching as she boarded the train.
They stood on the platform, waving as she rode off into the distance. The old mare turned and started walking towards the caboose. Outside the door, a guard was posted.
"Reason for entry?" He asked, almost mechanically.
"I'm going to see my husband again." She answered. He nodded, and opened the door.
Inside, it was dark, but she could still see the pony waiting there for her. "Please, come in." Her enchanting voice said, and the old mare found herself compelled to do so. The door shut behind her, and the pale pony smiled. "Are you sure you want this? It isn't something I can reverse."
The old mare nodded, and Ahri sighed. "Alright then. Sit still. From what I've heard, it's absolutely painless."
Granny Mail smiled, closing her eyes. Soon, she could feel her limbs growing dark, her body suddenly feeling less and less important. Finally, she was released, and she felt the light of day on her pure essence, one last time. I'm coming, honey. She thought as she was pulled into a blinding light.
Author's Note
Well, Ahri's up. Any particular requests?
The waves churned around the Solar Sea , and one particularly violent one sent Sheldon to the deck. A helping hoof came down and picked him back up, and a gruff voice saying “Are you sure about this? Nopony else will go, and I won't blame you if you choose not to either."
Nautilus turned back and looked at his captain. A gruff pony, Captain Stormy Waves had been in the ocean since he was born. On one of his few journeys inland, Stormy had met Sheldon, the best deep-sea explorer. Sheldon’s friends had always called him Nautilus, though, because he was as comfortable in the heavy metal shell of the dive suits. “Aye, captain.” He said with a nod.
"Celestia's speed then, Sheldon." The captain said, turning to the remaining crew. "Alright, ye maggots! This brave boy of ours is going in, when you all failed to do your duties. Let's help him out, ya' hear?"
The crew unanimously stomped their hooves. "Aye aye, captain!"
Sheldon smiled at the near-mechanical quality that the sailors had. It's a shame he didn't really know any of their names. He turned back to his dive suit, and apprehension filled him. There's a reason that it scares the other sailors... But I have a duty to help explore each part of this sea. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, and he stepped into the dive suit that had been his home for the past few months. The hissing and clicking of each part added just made him feel more and more secure.
He stepped up to the edge, now fully armored, seeing the black, tar like substance coating the waves. He turned to see the terrified crew behind him, and he smiled. "I'll show you that this is nothing more than a new adventure, waiting to be discovered!" He called with a wave, and the group chuckled nervously.
Smiling, Sheldon turned back to the seas, apprehension filling him again. But all that did was steel his resolve. He gingerly stepped down to the dive platform, and took a deep breath. For the understanding of all. He thought, hopping in.
Surprisingly, all was peaceful. The suit was heavy, but the buoyancy systems were working just fine, so he bobbed on the surface playfully. "See? nothing wrong." He called to the crew, fearfully looking over the edge. Then he felt something brush his hoof. Dismissing it as a fish, he took out his
The crew was visibly relaxing, and Sheldon smiled. Just needed some positive reinforcement. He thought. Then, something grabbed his back hoof and pulled.
In a panic, he reached out and grabbed onto the side of the boat. The pulling didn't stop, and rapidly became more and more violent, rocking the entire boat. "Help me!" He called to his paralyzed peers. They could only watch in horror as the ship they were standing on was shaking harder and harder, threatening to throw them off. They turned to each other, seeing that they had all reached the same conclusion. The advanced on him, his calls becoming more frantic.
"Oh, thank Celestia! I was afraid you were going to let it pull me off! Here, help pull me up." He said, reaching an armored hoof out to them. But they brushed past it, to where his other hoof lay wrapped around the railing. One of them came up with a crowbar, and fear crossed Sheldon's face. "What are you doing? Please, help me up!" He asked in a panic.
The other one gazed at the faceplate, his resolve steeled. "I'm sorry, son. But it's you or the ship." he said, sliding the crowbar under his hoof.
The door to the bridge burst open, and Stormy Seas rushed out. "What is the meaning of this? Somepony, help the poor colt up!" He called, his commands falling upon deaf ears. One of those standing aside stopped the captain.
"I'm sorry, sir. But it's him or us. You understand." He said grimly, the Captain watching in dismay.
After a few moments deliberation, the captain lowered his head in shame. "I'm sorry, son. But they're right. Goodbye." He said, his face coated with a mixed layer of tears and sea spray. It was obvious this was his first time loosing a crewman. He looked like he was taking it hard.
There was an unfortunate sounding pop, and Sheldon was pulled from the railing. "Not me, not yet." He said through clenched teeth, grabbing the chain holding the anchor in place. There was a sickening screech, and then the shriek of tearing metal, and the chain fell loose. Sheldon watched in dismay as the outline of the ship slowly faded away, disappearing as he sunk deeper and deeper. He felt a stabbing sensation, and felt his buoyancy system fail, which caused him to sink faster. A bashing, and he could see the bubbles rising from him, showing his air supply had just gotten smashed. He could feel the water circling about him, inside his suit, and he breathed in his last breath.
If only I could see the sun. One last time, before I die. He wished, feeling a strange slithering sensation inside his lungs as he inhaled the sea water, accepting death.
If only it was so easy. His eyes slammed open, to see a waterlogged interior of his suit. He was breathing heavily, yet the only thing around him was water. But how? He thought, deeply troubled. He tried to see if he remembered anything that had happened to him, but when he tried to remember what had happened the night before, he came up blank. Just the sudden impression, a still image, showing the crew restraining the captain as another crewman was prying him from the ship. Everything else was a blur. Even farther back, and his memories faded even more, even his name disappearing in the fog of uncertainty, until he found one particular scene in his memory.
"Hey! Are you going down again?" Called his best friend, the pegasus Seraph.
"I sure am!" He called back.
"Awww... I was hoping we could do something like Hoofball. But, if you want to do that, that's cool. I do enjoy being your surface crew." Seraph said with a wink.
"You're the best, Seraph." He said with a smile. Turning, he saw an older dive suit, this one cloth with a metal dome helm.
"Every time you put that on, you remind me of those Nautilus that Miss Moss taught us about. You know, those sea creatures with the hard shell?" Seraph said, laughing slightly. "You know what, I think I'm gonna call you nautilus from here on. Nautilus, bravest diver in Equestria!" She said, hoof pumping in the air.
He could feel a smile cross his face, and then the memory blurred back into the fog.
"Nautilus. It's a good enough name." He said aloud, realizing nopony could hear him. For some reason, his unnaturally deep voice surprised him. So, I must have had a higher voice when I was among the living. Very well. I shall walk there again, see if I can learn anything of my history. He decided, turning off in a random direction and beginning the long walk.
Like an endless dream, it was. Nautilus had no way to track the passage of time while he was under, and he never felt exhaustion or weakness seep into his muscles, so he kept on. That's when he heard it.
"HELP!" Called a strange voice. Nautilus turned towards it, seeing a merpony fleeing from a vicious Greater Seeker Shark. Nasty beasts, Nautilus remembered. Like meat, especially after a good chase. Generically evil. Smiling as some thoughts from before came back, his smile quickly turned to a frown. Merponies were majestic creatures, and deserved better.
Thinking of the anchor he had carried all this way, he smiled as a plan formulated in his mind. He drew a little arrow in the sand to mark his original path, and then he began to swing the anchor about his head. When it was spinning fast enough, he released it, the head flying fast and true towards the shark, the chain sagging behind it. It slammed into the shark, and coiled around the shark, catching on the chain. Nautilus yanked the chain, dragging the bound shark towards him, and pulling him from the sea floor. He dragged it down to the bottom of the ocean, beating the thing for attacking such an innocent creature.
Surprisingly, the massive shark whimpered in submission. "Find something noble to do in your life. Do good, and you won't need to fear me." The shark nodded, and quickly swam away when Nautilus released it. He turned to see the merpony, who smiled at him and waved.
"Thank you!" She called, and he smiled.
"It wasn't a problem. Merely a distraction from this never ending dream." He replied with a nod. She smiled again, before darting off into the shadows.
Nautilus turned, found his arrow, and began walking on the path again.
Time meant nothing beneath the waves, but it already felt like a lifetime ago that he had met the merpony. He smiled at the pleasantly short conversation, and felt good at saving an innocent. But it still felt like centuries had passed. But something about the water had changed. What was it? A slight warmth, a feeling of content?
No, it was the color. It no longer looked like black ink, more like a blue ink. There was color. Color! A sensation unknown to Nautilus, a brave new world. A refuge, a sanctum, a terror. Color, to the blind. It was overwhelming. I must be nearing the surface. He thought with a smile. Soon, I can learn who I am.
An old pegasus sat on the beach again, watching the sun set over the waves. It was her tradition, ever since the accident. The accident which left her alone for all these years, widowed. But there, out in the deeps, was a disturbance. It wasn't like that of a shark or dolphin fin, and was to precise to
The first thing to poke out was a small dome, followed shortly thereafter by a torso, and then the legs. An ancient metal behemoth, once new and shining, now lightly rusted and still walking. She smiled as it brought back memories of her lost husband, an avid diver in his time.
"Look here! It's the newest model, the one my ship will have on it. It can stay under for days at a time, keeping water out and it's equipped with sample collection gear, so I can work quickly while still inside!" Her husband rambled on, praising all the features that this new suit would have.
"That's nice, dear." She commented, before turning to the current captain of the ship. "You promise me my husband is coming home. Now."
He tipped his cap. "Captain's honor."
Of course, when the captain returned, he was still terribly shaken by the event, and apologized profusely over her loss. Thankfully he wasn't mechanical like the drill sergeant who told her her father wasn't coming home, but even so, losing him hurt.
The ancient dive suit came to a stop before her, and in a deep, booming voice, much like the sound of waves, he asked, "Where am I?"
She smiled at this newcomer, and politely answered. "You are in Bilgewater, my dear. Home of the best ocean explorers ever. My husband was one of the best divers in the world."
The glowing eyes of the suit flashed, bringing back the childhood memory. "Tell me, miss. What was your husband's name?"
She smiled, memories flooding back. "Sheldon. But I always called him Nautilus after those wonderful creatures."
His eyes flashed again, his life rushing before his eyes, reminding him of all his happy moments. The marriage, college, childhood, his parents. Everything came back in an instant, and he broke down crying. She sat there patiently, waiting for him to let it all out. What she didn't expect was what was coming.
The steel goliath walked forward, and embraced her in a big hug. "I'm home, Seraph. I'm home." He whispered.
But time is an evil mistress. Soon after his return, Seraph died of old age, and with her went his last connection to his past. He knew that he must find those who left him to rot, and he must do it soon, before they too died. So, he knew just where he needed to go. He walked, and walked, and walked towards the mountain in the distance. The capitol of Equestria, Canterlot rests on the top.
The trek was uneventful, yet unfortunately long. Yet he knew the leader would always be waiting for him. So he trudged on.
At the gates, he was delayed. Each individual was being screened for something, but nopony would say. So he went on his way, waiting in line like each other pony. But the guards didn't trust his truth.
"Name?" The guard asked.
"Nautilus." He patiently replied.
"Species?" The other one asked.
"What?"
"What species are you?"
"Is it that hard to tell?" He asked, which the two then looked at each other with narrowed eyes. "May I just go along and get on with my business?"
One turned back to him. "I'm going to have to ask you to come with us."
Nautilus shifted the anchor slung over his shoulder uncomfortably. "How long will this take? My business is time imperative."
"As long as it takes..." The other said ominously, before leading them away.
"You will tell us exactly why you wanted to see the princess!" The interrogator slammed his hooves on the table, as Nautilus shifted his anchor again.
"I am looking for someponies. Someponies in particular." Nautilus answered nonchalantly.
"Then check the records. It'll tell you where somepony lives." The sergeant said threw clenched teeth.
"Yes, But I need their names."
The sergeant sighed. "We'll be watching." He said reluctantly as he walked out.
Nautilus could wait. After all, sixty years on the ocean floor will definitely make you patient. So he waited. After a few hours, Princess Celestia came in, a frown on her face. But when she saw him, she could hardly suppress a laugh. "I apologize, but I haven’t seen one of those in decades. Now, may I ask why you came looking for me specifically, when you could have easily gone through the public records?"
"I need names for something that you personally signed off on. I need to find the crew of a particular ship. Does the name 'Solar Storm' mean anything to you?" He asked, smiling behind his helmet.
Her smile disappeared, and she waved her horn like an artist, casting a spell about the entire room. "I've silenced, blinded, and locked this room. You may speak freely. Now tell me, what do you know about the Solar Sea?"
Nautilus sighed. "I served on it. That was, until the crew left me in the ocean to die." An eyebrow raised in suspicion, and he laughed. "Does the term strange black oil ring any bells?"
Her eyes widened in surprise, and then narrowed again. "Who are you?" She asked.
"My name is Nautilus. But I used to be an earth pony named Sheldon." He said, his eyes flashing.
"I take it that the anchor isn't purely ornamental?" She said, a smile crossing her face, as she pointed a hoof towards the massive anchor resting on his shoulder.
"No. Sometimes, I feel like this anchor just weighs me down, but I like to think of it as a souvenir. Take it as a death-day present." He said grimly, and she broke out in a grin.
"I remember you. I hoof-picked you because you had something special in your field. But I can't tell you the names of the others. I can't officially." There was a slamming at the door, and shushed voices from outside. "However, I can tell you where you can find the one other survivor. He lives in Bilgewater, under the fake name of Soft Waters. Now go." She said, with a smile, as her horn activated. A flash of light later, the captain and sergeant burst into the room, to find the princess having tea.
"Where did he go? Are you hurt?" The Captain asked, worry crossing his face.
"No, I'm fine. As for Nautilus, I sent him on his way."
"What did he want?"
"I'm afraid that's confidential, captain."
There was a light tapping from outside the door, and Nurse Longlife went to answer the door, leaving her elderly charge for a few moments. She was suspicious, however, as none of the old sailor's family said they would be coming by today. Must be one of those door to door salesponies. She thought, shaking her head as she opened the door. "Can I help yo..." She started, before looking up and seeing a steel monster. All she could do was scream and slam the door in its face.
The elderly pony stepped out of the kitchen with a knowing smile on his face. The knocking came again, and the nurse frantically shook her head no. "We have a visitor, my dear. It's impolite to keep them waiting." He said, walking slowly towards the door.
"Mr. Soft, don't open the door. There's a M-m-monster outside."
Soft Waters could only smile. "My dear, there's no such thing as monsters. Only in the sea do the nasty beasties live, and even then, they aren't monsters. Besides, monsters don't knock." He told her, opening the door and looking outside. Standing just as still as before was the steel colossus. "You've haunted my dreams, you know. But I always knew you would come back. Always. Good to see you again, my boy." He said with a smile.
"Captain?" Nautilus asked uncertainly. Age had not been kind on the old seafarer.
"Aye. I didn't want them to do it, you know. But I had no choice. I..." The captain began, before Nautilus put a steel hoof on the old pony's shoulder.
"Captain, I forgave you first. I'm happy to say that I got to see you again."
Nautilus remained in Bilgewater for the remainder of Captain Stormy Sea's life, but once he died, there was nothing left for him in the realm of mortals. And so he decided to do the one thing that was his life.
He walked at the bottom of the ocean.
Author's Note
I don't even know how I wrote this in one day. Seriously.
"Princess? What's behind that door?" A little Twilight asked, pointing a hoof towards a old, worn door. The Wood was like curly maple, age having seeped into the planks, giving the door an old grey stain. The hinges had rusted with disuse, and all the exquisite metalwork on the door had lost its shine. The metal had once depicted something important, but something nopony of this age would recognize.
It was shaped on the form of the moon, and carved in it was an intricate array of crows circling around a single scarecrow. However, the scarecrow had a hoof lifted, and on it rested a crow. Scattered about on the wood lay bodies, intricately placed like crops in some unholy field. Twilight, in her innocence, didn't realize that the depicted ponies were dead, and not sleeping.
Princess Celestia had given Twilight a tour of most of the castle. There was only one door that she had not opened, and it currently lay before them now. And personally, she hadn't wanted to have to come this way. "Twilight, I'm going to be honest with you. I want you to promise me: Never open that door." Celestia said, her stare deep and meaningful. Her tone was dire and grave, as if the weight of something bringing her down.
Twilight's bouncing stopped. "Why, Princess? What's behind that door?"
The princess smiled at Twilights eager need for knowledge. "Let me tell you a story Twilight. I was thinking about telling you when you were older, but I decided you are ready for it now. But you will want to sit down, for it is a long tale." Twilight's rump slammed to the floor, as if pulled by a magnetic force, and her ears swiveled forward, ready and attentative.
"A long time ago, there was this mare named 'Nightmare Moon'..."
"Captain!" The tall, black alicorn Princess called.
An earth pony rushed forward and bent to one knee in a bow. "Yes, your highness?" He asked, his voice deep and soothing.
"Is everything in order?" She asked, her gaze not leaving the plains before her, swathed in night.
"Yes, your highness." He said, never looking up towards her.
"Good. Good. Tell them to begin as soon as possible." She commanded, lightning cracking behind her. "And tell the good doctor that I do not accept failures."
"Yes, your highness." He said, standing and turning to walk away.
Down in the plains below, a small team of white coated unicorns watched events unfold. "We've got to keep safe. We don't know what these dastardly Night Troopers are going to be doing."
A brown coated unicorn frowned. "I can taste what it is in the air. A summoning spell."
The group advanced towards the group of dark, armoured pegasai. "Oh, you hush, Dr. Broom. I hadn't even heard of 'Parabnormal Magic' before you came along. I still don't see why the princess told you to come along."
The brown unicorn shook his head. "Par-a-normal. As for the princess, this is because we think something may be amiss at this 'meeting.' Seems we were right."
The small team continued deeper, until they found themselves at a deserted, slightly destroyed castle. "The seat of chaos. These are the ruins of Discord's castle, back when his reign of chaos was undisturbed." Dr. Broom whispered, knowing the others wouldn't have any idea of what that meant.
Up ahead, the dark soldiers gave way to a group of yellow-clad scientists, working around a strange white-chalk circle. With strange fascination, Dr. Broom studied the circle, trying to figure out what they were attempting. Shock crossed his face as he realized it, and the captain was about to ask what it was when a new pony stepped out.
His very presence demanded attention, crying out and calling all to watch. His coat was jet black, his mane flat white. He wore a massive red robe, which covered his cutie mark, yet showed his importance. He smiled, a cold and lifeless smile, and called to the assembled rebels. "My friends. Tonight, we are about to summon a being of untold power. Tonight, we shall bridge the gap, and bring a being from another plane of existance here."
One of the soldiers stepped up, and gave the black unicorn a good, long look. "Remember, her highness does not look kindly upon failure." He reminded the figure, who nodded.
"There will be no failure." He replied, before stepping into the smaller circle. He began chanting, and a dark, evil light shone from the opposite circle. A shape began to take form, and the white unicorn captain stepped forward, to find his path blocked by a brown hoof.
"Let's see how this is going to turn out," Dr. Broom suggested. "Extra-planar summonings usually go bad, and kill the summoner in the process. That'll be one less upper-class unicorn that we have to deal with." The captain nodded, and sat back.
The beam shattered, and whisps of darkness drifted into a vague pony shape. yet the legs were far to narrow, and looked more tied together rather than actually formed. "Rise, warrior of eternity." The black unicorn said, and color seeped into the shape.
"My princess," the captain, "It's a scarecrow."
The shape's head rose, and his soulless, glowing green eyes stared at the black unicorn. "Yes... My child. I have brought you here for a dire need. We are here to bring about night eternal, and we need you to..." The unicorn began, before a long metal curve sliced into his throat. A faint gurgle escaped his lips, before the scarecrow turned to the remaining servants of nightmare.
His work was quick. No pony survived, and soon, his evil gaze was spaning the field of corpses. Dr. Broom stepped out towards the wooden demon, a fearful smile on his face. One of the white unicorns rushed forward, to pull him back, but he was stopped by the captain. The captain shook his head no, and looked at Dr. Broom. "If the good doctor has a death wish, let him go forth."
Dr. Broom took another step, and the scarecrow turned. "Hello, sir. Mighty fine work you have here." The scarecrow looked around, seeing the corpses splayed about. It nodded wordlessly, before turning back to the doctor. "Would you like to come with us?" The scarecrow raised his scythe, and the doctor turned his head. "I meant no offense. It was simply an offer. A way to stay in peace, and the hope to return from whence you came."
The scythe lowered, and the scarecrow sat there for a moment. Slowly, it nodded it's head, and a swarm of crows swarmed the area. The scarecrow motioned with his hoof, and the crows cleaned the field, then swarmed into the skies, their eyes glowing with the same evil green glisten. The scarecrow nodded to the doctor, and then pushed him forward. "Lead. I will follow." came a whispy voice. The scarecrow's mouth never moved, and his gaze never wavered from the doctor.
"The few soldiers took him in reluctantly, and they all called him 'Fiddlesticks,' due to his stick-like frame. But the biggest thing that strikes me is what he told the doctor when he came into my custody."
"What did he say, Princess?" Twilight asked, her eyes filled with wonder.
Celestia laughed before continuing. "He said, in his slow, ghastly voice 'You stay. I go. No Following.' Now, as you probably have guessed, he isn't the nicest pony, and prefers to not be disturbed." Celestia finished, a frown crossing her face. "I didn't want you to be hurt by him, because he feels no reason, no purpose. All who disturb him, don't like what happens next."
"Why would he hurt me, though? If anything, I might've been like Dr. Broom, and made him happy." Twilight replied, her expression confused, yet upbeat.
"I just didn't want to take the chance, little Twilight. Now, how about we go do something more fun, and leave ghost stories behind, shall we?" Celestia asked, turning and walking away.
Twilight ran up to the door, and knocked on it softly. "I will remember you, Mr. Fiddlesticks. I will." She whispered, before turning to go to her mentor. As she ran away, she could hear a faint chuckling behind her.
Author's Note
Alright, a lot of notes for all my readers.
"What's this?" Twilight asked as she pulled a old book out from behind one of her massive study piles. "An old journal? And one I haven't read yet?" She asked herself as she pulled it closer. "Well, it looks like I have some reading ahead of me!" Gingerly, she unlatched the front cover and began to pour furiously over the first page.
Mundus 2, First age, year Seven.
Hello there, journal. I have decided to keep my future discoveries sealed away with you, so that others may end up following my path. My name is Xerath. At this time, I am fourty two years old, and my decades have not been in vain. In my home city, Shumira, our sole goal is to pirsue magic at all costs. But my definition is different from theirs.
See, they like to focus on the specifics. Take my neighbor, for example. Stellar mare, wonderful pony, and focuses solely on restraining magics, which she takes particular pride in. I, on the other hoof, study the very foundation of magic in itself.
If only my fellows weren't so simple minded. Hidden away, in the foundation of what makes us unicorns the most powerful of races, is a universal key. Something that, if used, could "unlock" a unicorn's hidden potential. With such power at my disposal, I could master all of the magics, and be the most powerful unicorn to have ever lived! By the end of this year, I hope to have discovered the key, and with it, unlimited power.
Mundus 1, First age, year Eight.
Greetings, journal. I hate to bear bad news, but the search is taking longer than I expected. My fellow mages grow more and more worried about my studies as I keep going deeper into the fundamentals of magic. But I think I found a shortcut, a way to make them understand, and even accept me.
I found a deep, hidden magic, covered up by the shadow of purposeful secrecy. Fear magic. It allows you to manipulate the minds of others. I can't explain it here, for the fear (How ironinc) that it may be ill used by others. But I may be able to use it for good. To take their fear away, to show them I am doing something wonderous, something fantastic.
They're at my doorstep. I have to go now.
Mundus 3, First age, year Eight.
This is bad. Very, very bad. The fear magic backfired, making them only fear me, and with a burning terror that even I can't fight. I'm considering moving, but no, my research is here. I'm so close. So I will ignore them. They cannot stop me from my destiny.
After all, my special talent is magic.
Mundus 1, First age, year Nine.
Should the procedure go well, then I will write in you tomorrow. Ah, but I'm ahead of myself. Let me explain:
I was studying, and a mental wall went down. I broke the second wall! I can feel the magical power in all of those around me, and I can even manipulate it to some degree! It's fascinating! Of course, they can feel me in their heads, and now they try to shield themselves, and I leave them be. My power is unmatched in all of academic society! I may be the most powerful Unicorn to ever live, and yet they fear me. Pity, really. But that doesn't matter anymore. Because I felt it the other day.
I was preparing to make breakfast the other day when my magic exploded. I annihilated my kitchen, turning everything around me into a primal form of magic. And I found that my glorious golden-brown coat is flaking away, exposing the bare skin beneath it. My mortal body can't contain the power I have. I began to research ascencion, but everything lead to a dead end. There was nothing, in any library across our glorious Unicopia.
Then, I gazed into the abyss hidden behind the second wall. And I found it. If I could gather enough raw, physical magic, then by will alone I could create a new body. One made of magic. The applications, and implications, are fantastic. No need for sleep, hunger, thirst, pain, death. Our mortal bindings would have no meaning. I would be, in effect, Immortal, and my power would be infinate.
Tonight, I am going to attempt the spell. It will destroy my physical body. But it shouldn't be a problem. Why?
Because my special talent is magic.
Twilight shut the thin journal, thinking momentarilly. His special talent is magic? That explains how he nearly mastered fear magic in a year. But still, that's unnerving. I'll have to ask Princess Celestia about it at some point. She shook her head, and reopened the notebook. She turned the page, to find the charred remains of several other pages. Ah! I wanted to know what happened! Twilight thought agrivatedly. She shut the book angrilly, and set it down on her desk.
However, she set it down precariously on the edge, and when she turned to go get something to drink, she bumped it, making it fall to the floor with a rather loud "thump". Frustratedly, she turned back and looked at the book. The back cover had cracked open, a hidden clasp having come undone. Inside sat one last white page of paper, which she delicately pulled from the compartment.
It was painfully short, but it would give her what she needed.
Final entry.
It worked! I am sorry about blasting the last few pages, I was learning how to control this new body. It's amazing. But I can't talk about that right now. They found out what I was doing, and soon they will be coming for me. But I need to let the world know: This is amazing! and it can be done! But I have to hide this sheet. If they find it, then they might destroy this one notebook I have, while they sweep me under the metaphorical rug. I cant let my work be lost!
Here they are. I can feel them outside. I wrote down a spell on the other side that will help me return. I beg of you, reader: Help me. By the time you read this, I will be an old soul, having missed out on so many years. Goodbye, faithful reader.
Twilight flipped the page over, and saw the advanced mathematical calculations along with the components needed to cast the spell. Twilight smiled, knowing that this spell was well within her power. Then she saw something which worried her. The affects, things which define the spell, were mostly locked magics. Solar, Lunar, and Fear. Affects with mostly living embodiments. Embodiments which she knew, and personally too.
That's alright, Twilight reasoned. I'm sure the princesses would be willing to help anypony. Especially one who has been opressed all these years. Twilight smiled, seeing the pieces fall into place in her mind. She would be able to meet another pony who's special talent was magic. "SPIIIKE!" She called, and was quickly rewarded with the sight of her number one assisstant.
"Yes Twilight?" He asked, ear fins perked up in curiosity.
"I need you to write a letter to the princess." She said, a smile crossing her face.
It was the next week when Twilight heard back from the princess. Or rather, it was the next week that she was visited by the princess. In person. "P-pr-princess! I didn't know you were coming!" Twilight stammered, looking about the room in dismay. Books littered the floor, and the shelves were stripped bare. "If you would have told me, I would have cleaned up a bit." She added sheepishly.
Celestia smiled, that soft, motherly smile. "It's quite alright, Twilight. Besides, depending on how long this takes, I might be out before lunch." She stated, her smile dipping slightly.
Twilight's eyes widened. "Is it really that easy to learn solar magic?" She gasped. "When do we start? Where do we start?"
Celestia shook her head. "No, it isn't easy. I came here to talk to you about your request. First off, Solar magic is kept locked away for the same reason fear and love magic is: In the wrong hooves, it can be devastating. And it isn't something to be done willy-nilly. I need to know WHY you want to learn it."
Twilight rubbed the back of her head with her hoof, slightly ruffling her mane. "Well... I was doing some reading, and it talked about solar magic being available to unicorns at that time. And I was wanting to learn more about it, but even this extensive library has nothing on the subject. So I knew I needed to see you. You know, being the sun godess and all."
Celestia smiled playfully. "Twilight. I know when you are avoiding a question. So a different question is: Why? What are you afraid of me finding out about?"
Twilight's shoulders sagged, and she looked down in defeat. After all, she couldn't lie to the princess. "I read the journal of somepony, and he provided a spell to contact him. He claimed to have discovered a way to increase somepony's magic a million-fold."
Celestia's eyes flashed wide, then rapidly narrowed. "How long was this written?"
Twilight looked up at her mentor, seeing the strangely suspicious, yet slightly fearful look on Celestia's face. "It doesn't give a date. Just 'First Age.'"
Celestia stood to full height, looking down at Twilight. "Where is the journal?" Twilight reluctantly pulled the book from its hiding place, and floated it to the princess, who roughly flipped the pages. "I thought we disposed of all of his 'notes...'" She murmured to herself, before quickly snapping the journal shut, a plastered smile across her face. "Twilight, what could possibly make you think this worked? All that's left is just burnt pages." she said, flapping the book.
Twilight looked down, averting her eyes to everything but her mentor. "Just a feeling."
Celestia sighed, and sat down, motioning for Twilight to do the same. "Let me tell you about the unicorn who wrote this." She said, her smile friendly yet obviously fake. "Xerath, the Unicorn, was arguably the third most powerful unicorn in existence. In his time, he was the first most powerful. But that wasn't enough. He had one fear, and that was of death. So he sought something that wasn't rightfully his. He sought immortality."
"But wait," Twilight interrupted, giving her a cold glare from her mentor. "If he had the power to make himself immortal, didn't he have the right to?"
Celestia shook her head disapprovingly. "No. Ascension is something granted, from one immortal to another. Making yourself immortal is one of the highest forms of blasphemy, as it shows complete disrespect to your elder immortals. But this is a digression. He died in the flames of his own spell, his body, mind, and soul vaporized in a flash of primal magic."
Twilight nodded, pretending to agree with her. "So... Even though he wrote the spell, you are telling me it wouldn't work, since he isn't alive to recieve it?" Celestia nodded, patiently waiting. "Then, why else can't I learn solar magic?"
Celestia sighed, and gazed out the window. "The last pony I tought solar magic to accidentally shifted the sun, throwing most natural systems off balance. A few days later, they found his home, with him inside, vaporized."
"Oh my," Twilight quietly gasped, before continuing. "Well, I guess I understand. Alright princess, I won't bother you about it an more."
"We are here, Twilight." Luna quietly said, standing inside Twilight's dream. It was oddly reminiscient of a hellish reality that existed elsewhere, what with endless books and scrolls stacked up upon each other, creating a labrynth of knowledge. It just has to be a coincidence. Luna reminded herself. "Are thou certain thou wishes to pursue this magic? We are fairly certain Our older sister refused to teach you."
Twilight waved a hoof dissmissively. "She didn't think I was ready yet, but I know better."
"Very well, Twilight. Solar and Lunar magic are very closely intertwined, and during our... bad days, we studied solar magic to help bring about night eternal. But we digress." Luna said, shaking her head. "When utilizing these magics, you must be able to feel the source of their powers. Just like you use your horn for magic, the sun and moon are their own focal points. During an eclipse, the two radiate together, allowing one to use both powers at the same time. Once you have focused on the point, pull a line of magic from itself to you, and then channel it like you would any spell. Solar and Lunar magic affect your spells differently, so it is important to know all of the modifiers for each."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get started!" Twilight said impatiently.
Dreams can be an excellent testing ground for magic, as it allows one to test a spell with few repercussions. Plus, as a godess of dreams, Luna could easilly end the dream before any personal damage could happen to a testee. What she didn't expect is Twilight's rapid grasp of both magics. She had already harnessed sunlight to illuminate an object from every angle, so that no shadow existed. She had illuminated a dark place by bending sunlight around corners, providing true mastery of light, and she even fragmented it into its composite colors.
But Solar magic wasn't the only thing she was proficient with. She had absorbed light levels, put things to sleep, and even accessed the star-matrix, which gave her a rudimentary fast-travel system. Luna nodded approvingly, until Twilight asked one question. "Luna, is it possible to use these loci for other uses? Say, supercharging a spell, or changing a target."
Luna nodded sadly, remembering one proficient lunar mage who accidentally sent himself to the moon. "Yes. But again, the affects are determined by the source. When Celestia harnessed the moon, for example, she accidentally teleported herself to its surface. If I han't found out, she might have been left up there for years rather than hours."
Twilight nodded, understanding. "What if it wasn't a teleportation spell? What about, say, a telepathy spell?"
Luna frowned, thinking about it. "Well, if you used Lunar magic, I guess you could enter another ponies dreams. But that's why we kept these spells under lock and key." Luna gave Twilight a stern look. "You do know that you have to royally swear to not use these without supervision, right?"
Twilight nodded her head absent-mindedly, and she thanked the princess for her time. The labrynth of knowledge dissolved around them as Twilight was roused, and Luna sighed. This younger generation...
"Good morning, Tia." Luna said, her older sister dragging herself from the bedroom.
"Good morning." Celestia grumbled, plopping down into the chair across from her sister. Luna had been polite enough to go ahead and pour her cereal, which Celestia groggily ate.
"How was your sleep?" Luna asked conversationally.
"Fine." Celestia responded, laying her head on the table. "I'm still worried about Twilight, though."
Luna cocked an eyebrow, before asking "Why?"
Celestia rolled onto the side of her head, looking up at her sister. "She came across some old stuff. Things that were best left unfound."
"Like?" Luna asked, waving her hoof in a 'go-on' motion.
Celestia sighed. "You remember that city from before Equestria? Shumira, I think it was?" Luna nodded, and Celestia continued, her eyes closed. "You remember that really promising unicorn? The one who realized the truth about magic?"
Luna nodded her head, although slower this time, slightly filled with dread. "She didn't find something of his, did she?"
Celestia grimly nodded. "His journal. I flipped through it, and I'm afraid she may have found out that he didn't die in the explosion."
"Is that why you didn't teach her solar and lunar magic?" Luna asked, lowering her spoon back down into the bowl of delicious cerial.
Celestia's head shot up, snapping to attention, as if somepony had slapped her. "How do you know about that request?" She demanded. "I didn't tell you about that."
Luna lowered her head in defeat. "Sister, I may have done something very very bad."
A knocking at the door disrupted Twilight's calculations, and she sighed in aggrivation. Her lesson with Luna had made her curious, and when she awoke, she began calculating some problems with the spell. For instance, the spell's diagrams are not to scale, and also involved a sacrifice. She couldn't kill another, but maybe the elements could provide power in enough quantity to make up for that.
It also used runes, which were something few tampered with. They amplified magic, and she had only seen runes of this scale for summoning spells, casting doubts over whether or not this was a simple "communication" spell. She was tempted to bring it up to Luna, but worried that the princess would have changed her mind over teaching Twilight Solar and Lunar magic.
The knock came again, and Twilight let out another aggrivated sigh. "I'm coming." Twilight called, standing up and shutting her notebook, hiding the note between its pages. Twilight walked over and opened the door, to see somepony she wasn't expecting.
"Twilly!" Her older brother greeted her, smiling and pulling her into a hug.
"Shining! What are you doing here?" Twilight asked, pulling out of the hug and taking a step back.
"Heh, heh. It's good to see you too, lil' sis." Shining said, poking her in the chest. "What? A big brother can't come and visit his little sister?"
"Not without warning me!" She nearly shouted, as she began to scramble around, setting books back on their shelves. "I would have cleaned and I would have planned and..." She continued, scambling about the room in a panic, before he set his hoof on her shoulder.
"Relax. I'm actually here on a favor, but I'm going to be here a while." He said with a smile, tussling her mane with his hoof.
"F-Favor?" Twilight asked, nervously glancing around. "What kind of favor?"
"Officially, I can't say, because it's from the Princesses. Unofficially, It means we get to spend more time together." He said with a smile.
"Can I use my position as 'personal student' to try and glean anything else." Twilight asked, moving discreetly closer to her notebook.
"No." Shining replied sternly.
Twilight smiled nervously, before picking up her notebook. "Well, the guest bedroom is upstairs. Soo... I'm going to return to my studies." She stated, before cracking the notebook open. She turned her back on her older brother, who laughed slightly. Quickly, she was reabsorbed into her calculations. "Spike? Can you help Shining move into the guest bedroom?" Twilight called over her paper.
"Shining, is something wrong?" Cadence asked him, the distracting background of dreamspace oddly comforting.
"No, and that's what's worrying me." he replied, shivering slightly. "why would the princesses want me to spy on my younger sister? She seems to be doing anything out of the ordinary, so what's all the suspicion about?
"Have you tried talking to her about it?" His wife suggested, pointing an accusatory hoof at him. "You know she isn't the best at picking up subtle hints."
"No." He replied, shoulders sagging. "I don't want her to feel like I'm spying on her, because then she separates herself from me. I don't want to lose her due to a request from the princesses."
"Just be honest with her. It's a request from the princesses, not a demand. You can talk to Twilight about it. You don't have to tell her everything, just enough to keep her feeling somewhat comfortable. Maybe she will even ask you for advice!" She said, finishing with a smile.
"Honey, you really do know how to work hearts!" Shining remarked, pulling her into a hug. "Thanks for being the best."
Shining cracked his eyes open to the smell of pancakes, smiling softly. Spike does make some pretty good pancakes. Shining thought idly as he stepped out of bed. The walk to the kitchen was gracefully short, and he was met with the sight of Twilight sitting at the table, reading the local newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. "Good morning, Shining." Twilight stated, her eyes barely lifting up from the paper.
"Morning, Twilly." He replied. Talk to her. Cadence knew what she was saying. "Twilight... can I talk to you for a bit?"
Twilight nodded slightly, her eyes still on the paper. "Uh-huh." She said.
"Well, the reason the princesses asked me to come was... well, they told me that you might have wanted my help with some research. They said that it could get dangerous, and they wanted me to be here to protect you." He stumbled saying it, Trying not to lie, but not to say everything either.
Twilight turned a page in her paper, seemingly disinterested. "Uh-huh." She said, nodding slightly.
Shining sat there. What do I do? "So... Is there anything I can help you with?" He asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
Twilight looked up and into his eyes. Her gaze lingered there for a few moments before she spoke, and when she answered, it was slow and deliberate. "Shining, I want to trust you. But I may be on the verge of the greatest scientific discovery of all time. So I need to know: Can I trust you not to tell the princesses a single word about what we are working on?"
Shining was faced with a dilema he had hoped to avoid. His aunt-in-law and wife, or his sister. Shining sat for a few moments, before nodding. "Sure thing, lil' sis."
Twilight sat there, looking him over, before smiling. "Thanks, BBBFF! I was hoping I could count on you." She said as she stood. "Come along, I need to catch you up on what I've been doing.
Shining Armor sat there, looking at the floor covered with diagrams and notes. It was certainly an impressive sight. "I see what you mean, here," he said, pointing to the note about needing a pony sacrifice. "This is off for a mere connection... I've seen diagrams like this before, and they were used by particularly powerful dark sorcerrers. They could instantly teleport to any offered sacrifice, as long as it was in their name."
Twilight nodded. "Yes, I did some reading on the subject earlier. Do you think by using the elements, we could generate enough power to attract him?" She asked, tilting her head.
Shining scratched his head. "I think so. I haven't used them before, so I don't really have any idea. We could always ask the princess..."
"No!" Twilight shouted, accidentally blowing some sheets around. "No." She repeated, after a deep breath. "If they found out what I was doing, they would confiscate all this research before I could stop them."
Shining waved his hoof. "What about Cadence? She loves you, Twilight. Just like me, only not by blood. She wouldn't betray us."
Twilight shook her head slightly. "I don't know, Shining. What if she starts asking the princessess questions, and then they become suspicious that you aren't really preforming your duty? This spell has me consumed. I have to learn from this Xerath. Think of all the ancient magic he has! Centuries of knowledge, Shining!"
Shining sighed, and nodded. "I understand. But, back to the spell: I don't want you trying this without me. I want to be there, so that I can be sure that you are safe when you cast the spell."
Twilight nuzzled her big brother. "Sure thing, BBBFF."
Shining saw Princess Luna land before him, standing on the blank canvas that was his dreamscape. "Captain, report."
"Nothing big, Princess." Shining said with a bow. "Right now, she has been seriously studying history, and the applications of magic during each major time period."
Luna cocked her head to the side. "Is that all?"
Shining nodded. "Yes ma'am. All I've had to do is give her my opinion on separate subjects."
"Like?" She pressured.
Shining tilted his head back. "For example... Channelling the elements to do something they weren't originally designed to do."
"As in?" Luna asked, stepping closer.
"Simple things. Amplification of average spells, working with advanced crafting. You know, day-to-day things, just... bigger."
Luna eyed him suspiciously, but then shook her head, and smiled. "Very well, captain. Thank you for your time." She said as she backed off into the dream fog.
Shining awoke with a smile. The past week had been one of the most exciting he had had all year. And now, it was the big day. The culmination of a week of work, and now they were on the cusp of discovery. Twilight's excitement was infectious, and even her clueless friends were feeling it. The circles had been drawn, the incense was burning, and the candles slowly dripped wax. The time had come, and Shining was making extra sure that everything was in order. After all, it was his little sister at stake.
Twilight's friends took their positions, as did Shining, and they waited. Twilight eventually strode down from upstairs, the elements floating in her grasp. She gave each member their respective element, and she took her place at the focal point. "Girls, I wanted to thank you all for helping me make this a reality, and so, I feel like it is only right to tell you what we are about to get into."
Twilight took a deep breath, and then continued. "We are about to bring another immortal here. One who had been almost erased from history. His name is... Xerath." She said his name with relish, as if it were nearly sacred. "He was a master of all magic, and we share many things in common. Therefore, I thank you for helping me talk with a newly discovered hero."
Each of the girls nodded, and Shining smiled. This really might go off without a hitch. He thought happily.
The magic began to swirl around each pony, Twilight directing the strength of her friends into the pool of simmering magic, hanging in the air. A burst of light hit the group, and shining had to sheild his eyes for a moment. When he pulled his hoof down, he saw the girls still in formation, but standing opposite them, outside the rune circle, was princess Celestia and princess Luna. Shining felt something tug at him, like a once-sense of duty, before it dissappeared, and the safety of his sister filled his mind. He quickly raised a shield spell, keeping the two sisters out, and Celestia sighed.
"I expected more from you, Prince Armor." She stated simply, before smashing his shield with a flick of her horn. "I'm sorry, captain, but this has to happen." She added, before taking a step forward, over the outer ring of runes.
As her hoof crossed the line, a bolt of lightning raced up from the circle and knocked Celestia backwards. A faint smile crossed Twilight's face, before she spoke, her eyes still closed. "Ah, princess. I was wondering when you would arrive. Sooner than predicted, but I'm not suprised." She opened her eyes, letting the white light stream from them into the pool of awaiting magic.
"No!" Cried Luna, before launching though the runes and tackling Twilight down, knocking her from the air. "We shall not allow this to happen again!" With Twilight gone, the spell began to collapse. Twilight struggled to maintain it, but she couldn't keep the spell up for nearly long enough. With a quick sob, Twilight blasted a large wave of raw magic into the pool one last time, and the spell collapsed, absorbing all the magic she had spent into it. Then, darkness grasped her mind, and all went black.
It was dark. Impossibly dark. As if light had not graced this place for millenia. But that changed rapidly, as a single shockwave of blue light illuminated the buried city with a sickly blue glow. The ancient ziggurats stood defiantly in the light, aside from the central, largest mock pyramid. From the top of that lost temple was the source of the pulse, which was a glowing blue sarcophagus, but one unlike any other.
This one was not built to honor the dead, or to provide a vessel into the afterlife. Nay, this one was designed speciicly to restrain. Where normally there would be engraved metal, instead lay chains. Innumerable chains, connected to innumerable locks all intercrossed the container. Yet from two eyeholes, an unearthly blue glow emminated.
In the dark silence, one voice rang out. "Freedom..." the dry, quiet voice whispered. The locks slowly clicked open, the chains falling loose. The sarcophagus divided into many individual plates, each separated by a beam of blue electrical energy. "So close." It whispered, after trying to shake the plates from his body.
"More power is all I need." He whispered contemplatively. "And I know just where to get that."
"Twilight Sparkle."
Author's Note
My goodness, I finally got something done! I apologize about this age of silence, but with school drawing to a close, classwork is growing more and more hectic. But at least I got this out, right?
Triple Special: Diana, Leona, Nocturne
A loud clang rang out through the castle, and Celestia sighed. She turned to see the parallel seat, the ebony throne, lay empty, which drew a frown from the maternal mare. She stood, and began the search for her sister. Another crashing sound resounded, and gave the elder princess her direction. She walked off, towards the closed section of the castle.
This part had been closed ever since her mother left. Should she return, this place would once again be made public. Probably Luna playing with the silverware again, Celestia thought irritably. However, her sister was not in the kitchens. Nor was she in the bedroom, servants quarters, or wine cellar.
Celestia turned towards the last door, and sighed. The hall of relics, Mother's memories in physical form. Celestia pulled the ancient door open, and looked into the maze of boxes, things, and cobwebs. Celestia had began the tedious process of organizing this room, seeing as it defied the laws of physics, for some unknown reason. A spell only her mother could comprehend, the room's size was always enough. Thus, the opening few meters were a nice, clean hallway with artifacts on display in chronological order. But beyond that, it expanded into a cavern of crates, each labelled with a particular date.
And crates continued to appear, every so often. A flash of red indicated a new arrival, and Celestia whistled. "Three crates in as many months. Mother's been busy."
Celestia turned to the cavern, before spreading her wings and flying up above the labrynth before her. Another crash rang out, and it gave Celestia direction. Finally, Celestia located a clearing, and within it she saw her little sister, Luna. Celestia pulled in for a landing, and saw the decimated training dummy. "Lulu, what have I told you about coming in here?" She chided. "Mom's things aren't toys..." she began, before stopping abruptly.
Grasped within Luna's telekinetic aura was a long, unnaturally thin silver scythe. "But Tia..." she sighed, turning to face her sister with the widest eyes she could manage.
Celestia shook her head. "No. I've told you too many times: Don't go rummaging through Mom's things."
"Listen to me!" Luna cried, so her sister hung her head in defeat. There was no stopping her once she got like this. "I was sleeping in my wing when I heard this beautiful singing. I couldn't ignore it, so I followed it here. I did look everywhere else, though, just like you said to do." She said, the false tears gone. "Honestly , but I had to follow it here. And then I found this," she stated triumphantly, swinging the scythe above her head. "And, it was in a box with my name on it." She finished, a smug smile on her face.
"It was adressed to you?" Celestia asked, eyebrow raised. Luna nodded, and floated over an ancient wooden crate, with the name "Diana" written on the side. "Luna," Celestia sighed, "Why would mother adress a box to you by your middle name?" Luna shrugged, and Celestia took the box. She looked it over, then gasped at the date-mark inscribed on it. Y-343, Mother's three-hundredth and fourty third year in Equestria. Of course, equestria was only called that when it was founded, back in Y-2197. "Luna, this box was packaged centuries before you were born. Why would she package something, in her storage place, adressed to you, before you were born?"
Luna mulled it over for a moment, before she rolled her eyes. "Because mom knows everything. You yourself said she could see the future."
Celestia sighed, but thought about it for a moment. "Diana..." She whispered, before flying up to the organized area. She went to the bookcase and pulled the journal labelled 343, and began flipping pages. Sure enough, there was a single, simple referance."Day 216: Attended Diana's funeral tonight, under the light of a full moon. She left me her scythe in her will, and left everything else to her hometown."
Celestia smiled, and pulled an earlier journal, sure enough, another mention of Diana. Hundreds of the journals mentioned this Diana. By the time Celestia had gotten two hundred and fifty years back, she finally found the entry where Diana was introduced."Day 46: Met a new face today. Diana apparently is just now coming home for the first time in years, and the inhabitants of this town are apprehensive about this. I decided to openly approach her, and she told me one of the most fascinating stories I've ever heard. Apparently, the sun isn't the only locus of mana, as these people would have you believe. Diana had always been fascinated by the moon, yet she was shunned because she never let the warmth of the sun into her heart. Because of this, she could hear the soothing silence of the moon and stars, and they lend her their might after she travelled to their abandoned temple. She is now their herald, and wields the scythe of night, shaped like the crescent moon. She seems to be nice enough. Maybe I will pirsue a friendship with this strange, lonely star."
"Lulu, did I ever tell you about one of mom's oldest friends?" Celestia said with a smile, shutting the book.
Celestia raised her golden sword, and pointed it at the horde of shadow creatures laying before her. "Attack!" She cried out, and from behind her, hundreds of gold-clad ponies charged into the fray.
On the other end of the plain, the leader of the shadow creatures smiled. "Go forth, my children. Go forth and destroy them." As she whispered her command, it echoed in the minds of each of her troops. A faint cry rose from the soldiers as they rushed forward.
But the two leaders only had eyes for each other. They strode calmly through the meele, and any over-zealous warriors who attacked them were quickly dispatched. At the crest of the hill, the two leaders met calmly. "Luna, stop this madness now." Celestia pleaded. "The world needs the sun. Without it, what will happen to the plants? The animals?" The sun peeked out from behind a cloud, which had been concealing it previously.
"We hath told thou: Don't call us that." Luna growled, then hissed as the sun hit her. "We are Nightmare Moon, the Lunar Mare of the Night." Luna's eyes flashed open in stern defiance of the sun. The pupils were thinned down into draconic slits, surrounded by a sea of angry teal. They glowed a soft purple, and Celestia watched in horror as her sister's coat changed from midnight blue to a pitch, terror black. "We are Nocturne Moon, and thou, Celestia Solaris, shall yeild to our might."
The moon pulled out into the sky, undaunted by the light of the sun. A blast of black emminated from the dark mare, and it rocketed up to the moon. When it impacted, the sky rippled, and a darkness emminated from the moon. Visible within the inky blackness were the stars, and the darkness spread back, so half the battlefield was shrouded in night.
The two celestial objects continued their climb into the sky as the sisters watched each other. "Now, Celestia Solaris, thy time has come." Nocturne moon stated, darkness rippling about her. A pulse of silver rocketed down from the moon, and adorned her two wings with large blades, each one moved with a dark grace, like a hidden, dark fantasy brought to life. The blades were a pure silver, yet the centers were pitted, and each stained blood red. Nocturne flared her wings, and the blades shrieked.
Celestia sighed, and looked up at the sun. "So be it." She whispered, before a blast of golden light shot down from the sky, slamming into Celestia. "Just as you now embody yours, so shall I mine." Celestia's eyes opened, a golden light streaming from them. "Let it be, that on this field, at this date, Celestiona rose from the ashes of her thousand tears." The light grew brighter, and Nocturne Moon had to shield her eyes from the pulse.
When her hoof lowered, she saw Celestia adorned in golden battlegear, with deep, regal purple cloth and trim. Her long, golden sword was held within her telekinetic grasp, and at the hilt rested a glowing sphere, a miniature incarnation of the sun. She also had a shield within her grasp, a golden behemoth of protection.
Nocturne Moon laughed, and Celestiona grimaced. "So begins our fatal dance." Celestiona whispered.
And then they threw themselves at each other.
*Clang!*
*Tink!*
The two had been trading blows for hours now, most of the soldiers dead or dying at their hooves.
"Yeild!" Nocturne Moon shouted, aggrivated at the stalemate between the two.
"Never!" Celestiona replied, bringing her sword down to point at her foe. A lance of light shot from the sword, catching Nocturne by suprise and impacted her on the chest. The lancing, fiery pain paralyzed her muscles, and the beam retracted from the back, pulling Celestiona with it. Her armored form slammed into the younger sister, knocking her backwards slightly. During the few moments she was stunned, Celestiona's shield began glowing, and as Nocturne Moon regained her footing, she slammed the shield into her. The light passed from shield to her body, and a cage of heavenly light imprisoned Nocturne, temporarily.
"Sister," Celestiona pleaded. "I didn't want to have to do this." She sighed, a long, sad sound. "But you leave me no choice." Her golden aura moved behind her, and from her saddlebags, she produced six items. Five glinting necklaces and a single, proud tiara. Nocturne Moon looked up and grinned Wickedly.
"It's a nice sentiment, sister " Nocturne spat, sister coming out as acidicly as possible. "But it seems you shall lose this fight. Observe!" She shouted dramatically, throwing her head towards the sky. Sure enough, both objects were nearing their apex, and the moon began to block out the sun. "The Eclipse is at hand. And with it: My victory."
A single tear slid down Celestiona's face. "You believe that your moon shall be your salvation. I wish that were so." She stated, before the battlefield was shrouded in the darkness of the eclipse. The elements began to channel their might, and Celestia breathed in deeply. "Luna Diana Noctus, You are guilty of high treason, and attempted rebellion. For your crimes, your sentance is..." Celestia blinked, and another tear was shed. "Banishment to your celestial object: the moon" Celestiona opened her eyes, and beams of pure white came from them. "Goodbye, sister. I love you." She whispered, before unleashing the barely contained power upon the one thing she loved.
Nocturne Moon screamed, a horrid, talons-on-chalkboard sound, before letting out a soft whimper. Celestiona looked at the battered and beaten creature, as a dark, shadowy mist surrounded her sister. From the dark cloud, Celestia saw Luna's face emerge, crying. "We lovest thou too, sister." She said, before being pulled back into the cloud. A beam of silver light connected the cloud and the moon, and Celestiona closed her eyes, unable to bear seeing what would come next. A final pulse of light, and then all went silent.
It was a few minutes before Celestiona could open her eyes again. The elements lay inert upon the ground, as did her sword and shield. She watched as the two items cracked, sunlight spilling from the spiderwebs forming across the two, and then they vanished, rays of light beaming into the distance. She looked at herself, to see her armor follow suit. Finally, after observing everything and anything else, she looked at where her sister had last stood, vanished without a trace.
Yet there was one, a single object lay suspended in the air before Celestia (For that was what she was, No longer empowered by the sun). A long, silver sicle, peacefully floating where her sister once stood. "Luna..." she whispered, before bursting into tears.
A single soldier rose to comfort her. "Don't worry, your highness. The battle is over. Everypony is safe."
She looked up at the receeding moon. "Everypony save one." She whispered, before turning to this brave soul. Loyal without fault, honest, and kind to one who outranked him by numerous levels. Half the elements, wrapped up in a single body. A good leader. "Tell me, knight, what is your name?" She asked, a faint smile crossing her lips.
He stiffined up into a salute. "Jonny, your highness. Jonny Appleseed."
"Well, Jonny Appleseed," She stated. "I would like to build a town on this plain. And I would like your family at the forefront of the town."
"Mine?" He asked, startled back. "Wouldn't Captain of the Guard Dawn Sparkle, or aireal ace Messersmitt be better suited for such an honor?"
She smiled. "No. I want you, Jonny Appleseed."
He bowed. "I am honored, your highness." He stood, and put a hoof to his chin. "But this will be a town for all peoples, not another haven for the Apple family like Apploosa. Neigh," He said, a smile across his face. "But a town for all ponies. Ponyville."
