Prologue
Prologue
Throughout Equestrian history, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had defeated many beasts and powerful beings to make the land of Equestria safe for everypony. Some of the more dangerous beings where slain, others escaped to Tartarus and the Everfree forest, and more where frozen in stone. When Luna had lost control of her powers and became Nightmare Moon the spells that held some of those powerful beasts began to fade. Over 1000 years, Celestia herself had to maintain the burden of keeping those beasts frozen in stone. When Nightmare Moon was defeated and Luna had been brought back to her former self, signs began to show that Celestia couldn’t maintain the task of keeping all the dangers of Equestria frozen forever.
While Luna was still trying to recover her powers to retake her half of the burden, the god Discord broke free. Celestia couldn’t focus her energy on defeating Discord while still maintaining the other sealed horrors, she sent her star pupil Twilight Sparkle and her friends who are the new Elements of harmony to defeat Discord and seal him back away. With the power of the Elements of Harmony slowly fading from Celestia and Luna still trying to regain her powers, the magic holding back the stone imprisoned beasts was growing weaker.
While Discord was free and regaining his dormant powers, he worked at the magic holding back his former dark companions as his disharmony flooded Equestria. Soon more than just one devious and dark foe will be released back into the peaceful Kingdom of Equestria.
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Celestia walk gracefully onto her balcony to watch as Luna began to raise the moon. Since her dear sister was still recovering from the loss of her powers, Celestia let her raise the moon as much as she could before the sun goddess herself took charge and finished the job. Luna stood in a garden below Celestia’s balcony. Her head turns to look up at her sister and gave a smile. Celestia knew she did better than last night but at a great cost.
Celestia walked off the balcony and glided down to her sister and nuzzled her neck. A small tear formed in Luna’s eyes as she looked up at the luminescent moon.
“Will I ever be able to raise my moon without help? It feels like no matter how hard I try I will never be as strong as I used to be.”
Celestia looked up at the moon with her. “You did raise it further then last night. You will get to a point where you won’t need my help.”
Luna’s smile faded. She gaze not leaving the moon as she utters, “You know full well we are both getting weaker. With the power of the elements fading, they will all be free. Will Twilight and the others be able to find out their full potential before it is too late?”
“Luna! Don’t think of such grim thoughts.”
Luna turned her head towards her sister with a serious look. “You can feel them breaking free and yet you let Twilight take her time with learning her powers. Bahamut is almost free and you still haven’t found out what had brought the celestial god to dark rage.”
“Luna I have tried everything within my power to find out what has made Bahamut turn on us, but with my fading power I can’t focus on that.”
Luna looked away and sighed. The night was quiet and a cool breeze flowed past the sisters. Celestia turned her gaze from her sister back to the sky. Both sisters where in dire need of rest from the long day of dealing with legal problems from all over Equestria.
“Let us head inside and get some rest. When it is time to raise the sun, we will decide how to approach this.” Celestia turned and spread her wings to fly back to her room. However instead of taking flight she stood there. “You best get rest soon. Bahamut may break free any time. It will be up to us to stop him.” With that she lunged into the air and disappeared over the balcony. Behind her Luna still sat and watched the moon.
Twilight opened her eyes and looked around. It was still night due to her bedroom being so dark. However, something was amiss, deep inside she felt that something has happened. Troubled by this emotion and unsure if it was just from a dream that she couldn’t retain from waking up or if something might have happened. Shifting out of bed her eyes took notice of her assistant Spike in his small bed. He was sprawled out all over it with the sheets in disarray. Twilight kept a small giggle to herself she proceeded to walk to the window. In the distance she could make out that it was faintly bright.
“Seems I woke before Celestia has risen the sun. Oh well, might as well get started for the day.” With that Twilight started towards the door until Spike woke up eyes wide open. “You ok Spike?”
Clenching his stomach he belched out flames that turned into a scroll. “You have to be kidding me! The day I get to sleep in and I’m already forced to awake up by letters from Celestia!” Twilight giggled and levitated the scroll over to herself. Spike wiggled back into his bed grunting and groaning with anger. “Good night. I’m going back to sleep.”
Laughing at his adorable cranky nature when woken up like this brought a tear to Twilights eye. As soon as she was finished laughing, she strolled back to her bed where a lamp sat upon the nightstand. Clicking the light on she heard Spike grumble more and flip his sheets over his head. Settling down on her bed twilight opened the scroll and read:
Dear Twilight,
The time has come that it is up to you and your friends to take charge of
The Kingdom. An old foe has broken free from his stone prison and has taken
all the other captured creatures that Luna and I had sealed away long ago.
The god Bahamut has broken free and destroyed most of Canterlot in his rage.
Luna and I saved all that we could and have sent them to Ponyville. Please alert
everypony you can. Many are injured and need attention. Luna and I will be
going after Bahamut and try to stop him. Bahamut has created from the remains of
Canterlot castle into an underground Labyrinth to hide himself and all the other
stone beasts that Luna and I had sealed away. Don’t come after us and try to
help. It is time you took charge and finished your training to learn the full extent
of the power stored in the Elements of Harmony. One you have unlocked their
hidden powers, take on your own student teach them like I have you. Please
don’t try to stop Bahamut yourself, should we fail. As my last wish’s it is for you
to rule Equestria. I have addressed this to the court before this incident has
happened. It has been an honor to have been your teacher. Goodbye and good luck.
Your Princess and mentor,
Princess Celestia
Twilight dropped the paper and bolted for the door. Over her shoulder she shouts, “Spike! Get up! We have a catastrophic problem! Canterlot has been destroyed!” Twilight bolted out her room and down the stairs.
Running as fast as her hoofs could carry her she stopped just outside the library and looked around. In the distance she can see the red glow. Now that she knows what has happened, the red glow she has mistaken was actually the fires of Canterlot. Which friend should she go to first? Rarity? No she would pass out and couldn’t help. Fluttershy would freak out and lock herself in her house till time ended. She needed to find somepony that was fast enough to spread the word. Rainbow Dash! Twilight looked around and found her direction. She bolted till she came to the cloud home of Rainbow Dash.
“Rainbow! Wake up! This is important!” Twilight shouted up to the cloud house.
The sleepy Pegasus walked to her fluffy white window and looked down. “What do you want Twilight? The sun isn’t even up and you sound like all of Equestria is ending.”
“It is! Canterlot has been destroyed. I need you to fly to the mayor and rally as many ponies as possible to the town hall! I will explain more there,” with that Twilight turned and ran off.
Behind Twilight the sound of Rainbow Dash hitting high speeds due to her skillful flying to fetch the mayor and other ponies. Twilight was making her way to Sweet Apple Acers when caught sight of the hospital.
‘…we have sent them to Ponyville.’ echoed in Twilights head. “I need to alert them now.” Turning towards the hospital she heard Rainbow Dash soar overhead.
“I will get Applejack and Fluttershy, Twilight! The mayor is out already and trying to get everypony she can as well,” Rainbow Dash shouted as she soared past.
Before Twilight could respond her friend was already gone. Continuing to the doors of the hospital she forced them open and looked around. One clerk was at the services counter looking shocked at Twilight’s sudden burst through the door. Twilight instantly recognized her as Nurse Redheart. She was reading a magazine at the time of her sudden intrusion. The nurse was in her white robes and hair in a mess.
“Twilight? What is the matter?” Nurse Redheart asked putting the magazine down. She gave a very concerned look at Twilight.
Twilight looked around panting. She was in a state of shock from the overwhelming news. Her head drifted to the left as she observed the rows of green seats lining the wall. Then she shifted attention to the right where the same looking seats where against the other wall.
“Twilight!” Redheart shouted.
Twilight snapped to attention as she looked at the nurse who was walking towards her with a very concerned look. “Canterlot…” Twilight drifted off and shook her head. Doctor Stable walked into the waiting room looking confused.
“What about Canterlot, Twilight?” ask Doctor Stable.
Gathering herself, Twilight looked at both of them making sure they are ready for the news. “Canterlot has been attacked and destroyed.” Both the doctor and nurse looked at each other with concern. “The princess sent me a letter about it. She said the ponies she was able to save are on their way here. There are injured that need attention.”
The Doctor sat down on the floor in dismay while nurse Redheart covered her mouth in shock.
“How,” the Doctor started, “How did this happen?
“Some legendary beast known as Bahamut was released. He apparently leveled all of Canterlot and turned it into an underground maze to hide it self and many other beasts. There will be a town meeting for those who can make it. I will explain everything I know there,” Twilight said turning to leave. “I am sorry to drop this on you but I have to alert more ponies.”
“Thank you Twilight,” The nurse said. “We will do everything in our power to help them.”
Twilight nodded and ran for the doors. She opened them with magic and to her surprise; all of Ponyville was already active and headed towards the Town Hall. Soon she would have to present to the town what has happened and her letter from the Princess. As she started to trot down the road from the hospital to head home she noticed a long line of light moving in the distance. It was the refugees from Canterlot.
“Twilight! Can yah tell me what in tarnation is going on?” Applejack said strutting up to her friend. “Rainbow flew right through my window an’ shook me awake. Said somethin’ about Canterlot in chaos an’ Equestria is endin’. As she flew out a’ my window she said meet at the Town Hall.” Twilight stopped and looked at Applejack. Her eyes started to fill up with tears. “Come now sugar cube. What is this entire Ruckus about?”
“Frakus!” said another familiar voice. Pinkie popped out from behind a light pole from a crossed the street.
Applejack glared at Pinkie as she trotted over with her usual happy smile. “Can you fill us in now about what all is going on?”
Twilight sighed and looked Applejack in the eyes. “I got a letter just after I woke feeling something was wrong. I thought it was just something from a dream I couldn’t remember when I woke, but I was wrong when I got a letter from Celestia. She said some beast she had sealed, broke loose and destroyed Canterlot. Luna and her are off to stop the beast but if they fail,” Twilight paused and wiped away some tears. “If they fail, she left me in charge to take care of Equestria. She said I will have to finish learning the true powers that the Elements of Harmony hold.”
Applejack gasped and dropped to the ground on her bottom. Pinkie lost her smile as she realized the true severity of the situation. In the background the crowd of the town grew louder as everypony was getting anxious to find out what is happening. Twilight looked past her friends towards the center of Ponyville and knew she had to pull herself together before she confronted the entire town.
Applejack got up started walking towards the center of town. “Ah’ll jus’ meet you back at the Hall. Pinkie, why don’t yah just come with me?” Pinkie looked at Twilight with concern. The Pink pony wrapped her forelegs around Twilight in a hug. After a moment of the caring embrace Pinkie let go and trotted off. As Pinkie followed Applejack, Twilight noticed the pink pony didn’t have that special skip or hop in her step. Twilight sighed hoping Pinkie will be alright.
Turning for her library, Twilight started off to get prepared.
As Twilight approached the crowd with her letter from Celestia in her saddle bags and Spike sitting on her back slightly grumpy from missing out on sleep; the crowd parted for her to get to the podium. Concern, worry, fear, and sadness were on everyponies face that she passed. The mayor was perched next to the stand for Twilight to speak with a blank and emotionless look on her face.
As Twilight approached the mayor whispered, “Please don’t say anything to throw the town into a panic. We need to keep calm and solve this without problems.”
Twilight stopped next to her, “I know. This is something that we could never have expected. Ponies will react the only way the know how in this situation,” She brushed past the Mayor and stood before the entire town. All eye where placed on the lavender unicorn. The words couldn’t leave Twilights mouth. She needed her friends by her side to announce the world shattering news. As if her friends read her very thoughts, they left the crowd to join her by her side. Rainbow Dash floated down behind her, Applejack stood right next to her, Fluttershy wiggled and squeaked trying to get passed the crowd unnoticed, Pinkie had apparently been behind a pillar of the town hall and stood next to Rainbow Dash. Rarity made her way to Twilight and stood on the other side of Twilight as Fluttershy finally made her way past the anxious gathered ponies.
Looking to each of her friends for that confidence Twilight was able to start. “Everypony, you have been brought here tonight, this late for grave news. You all may have noticed the faint glow in the distance. That glow,” Twilight paused trying to gather herself, “is the burning city we once knew as Canterlot.” Commotion spread throughout the gathered. Many ponies started to worry. Twilight knew she had to continue before everypony started tossing questions and falling into a chaotic scared mass. “The Princess sent me a letter about two hours ago telling me that another dark creature has been released. His rage destroyed the entire city. There are survivors and they are on their way now. Once I finish explaining everything I know, could you help these poor souls.”
“In the Letter, the Princess explained this beast has turned the remains of Canterlot into a labyrinth. He hides underground freeing more of the imprisoned monsters that have been kept in stone,” Twilight paused to gather herself for the hardest part that tears her apart the most, “Princess Celestia and Luna went to stop this monster. Should they fail, I am to take over as Ruler of Equestria.”
“I’m sorry Twilight but can you show us this letter you received. Just to prove the legitimacy of this,” The mayor asked. Twilight floated the letter from her bags to the mayor. After the Mayor read through it she turned to the crowd. “It is indeed listed for what she speaks.”
The Crowed murmured and panic spread further among the town. The Mayor saw it was starting to lose control and butted in, “This beast is staying up there in Canterlot and won’t bother us. There is no need to panic.” The crowed went silent as the mayor tried to calm them. “So long as it is busy, there is no need for it to come down here.”
Twilight nodded a thank you to the mayor who seemed to have calmed the town down. “Now, I will head to Canterlot tonight to see what all I can do. There are Refugees on their way as we speak looking for medical attention and a place to stay. If you could all do to help them, that would be great. The princess would personally thank you herself if she was able to.”
Rarity leaned into Twilight and whispered, “You know you’re not going alone. We can’t just leave you to fend for yourself.”
Applejack leaned in also to give a few words to Twilight, “Rarity is right. We are the Elements of Harmony. If anypony can put this here beast in his place, I recon it’s us.”
“Thank you. As soon as the town clears out, we will head off to Canterlot,” Twilight said lowering her head in worry.
As Twilight and the others arrived at Canterlot, they found that the town was indeed demolished. Some buildings where still on fire as they walked down the main street towards the destroyed castle. Everypony resisted looking into each of the destroyed buildings in fear of what they might see. As they walked it was evident that the princess did save anypony she could because no signs of life were seen throughout the rubble. An ominous chill sweep over the six ponies as a nearby roof collapsed to the ruined structure of a home that some family had once occupied.
The closer to the castle the group got the less number of standing houses of the once glamorous city of Canterlot remained. However the closer they got the darker and scarier the surroundings got. The once green fields leading to the castle where singed black from the fires of the mayhem that befell during the night. The few trees that were at the draw bridge to the castle where nothing but charred sticks grasping at the skies for release.
“This is Horrible!” Rarity said looking around. “This fiend must pay for what he has done.”
“Ah recon that’s the entrance to the monsters hidden’ place,” Applejack pointed her hoof to gate that was once Canterlot Castle.
The castle seemed to have melded into the mountain. The draw bridge was still down, but the opening itself seemed to lead into the mountain. As the ponies approached the entrance, they could tell that somepony put torches further down the hallway on the walls, inside the ruined structure.
Twilight scratched her head, “I could have sworn there wasn’t stairs leading downwards once we got past the gate house.”
“Indeed. It used to be a courtyard. I remember it from the night at the Gala and when I came here on that business trip,” Rarity said peering down the tunnel.
“Come on, we don’t have time to remember what it looked like,” Rainbow Dash said flying past the group to be the first inside.
Rainbow Dash stopped the moment she entered the tunnel. She seemed to be frozen in fear. Twilight noticed this and ran up to her and looked deeper inside the tunnel. Behind her the others slowly crept up to get a good look as well. Further down the ponies could barely make out the shape of a body on the ground. Twilight was the first to react and charged down the dimly light hallways to see if the fallen was alright.
As Twilight approached a mutter came from the body, “Who-Who is,” as the voice trails off.
Twilight recognized that voice. Fear struck Twilight as she ran to the wounded. As she approached her fear became reality. She saw a black flowing mane with small glimmering stars in it. On the flank of the pony was a moon in a dark blotch against a deep blue fur coat. It was Princess Luna. She was in silver armor that covered a portion on her chest. However there were some holes in the armor where blood oozed out. Her wings had metal braces over them to help protect the delicate bones, but those to were punctured and dying her beautiful blue feathers a sickening shade of red.
“Luna!” Twilight said rushing to her side and checking her over to see how bad the damage was.
“Oh no,” Fluttershy squeaked rushing over as well. The others stood back to observe Twilight and Fluttershy.
Luna weakly raised her head to look at Twilight. “Bahamut was much stronger then Celestia and I had imagined. Celestia went,” Luna stopped and grunted in pain.
“Please try to stay still,” Fluttershy whimpered putting her hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “Twilight, go on ahead with the others. I will help Luna the best I can and take her someplace safe.”
“Fluttershy, that’s pretty admirable for you. Are you sure you can do it yourself?” Twilight looked her in the eyes.
Rarity stepped forward, “No, I will help her. I think its best that you four carry on.”
Applejack gave Rarity a questioning look, “Why aren’t you gana come with?”
“I am certainly not the type of pony to waltz into a fight. Besides, Fluttershy won’t be able to carry out the Princess in her armor by herself. Even if I get a little blood on me, it’s not like it won’t wash out.”
Luna started to raise a hoof to point down the tunnel, but Fluttershy stopped her from moving. In a grunting pain Luna tried to speak, “A young colt… went in there. He was in raged about losing his mother that,” Luna stopped to cough.
“Please don’t talk Luna. Twilight and the others will find him. He will be alright,” Fluttershy assured her.
Twilight growled showing her frustration. After giving a quick glace to Fluttershy, then Rarity, and her other friends, she turned and bolted down the hallway. With the sign that it was time to continue, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie followed behind Twilight.
A little ways down the hallways Twilight noticed she was running out of light. She cast a spell to float an orb of light over her head as she ran to see. To her surprise there was another hallway to her right. It seemed to connect to the original hall she was running down. As the others caught up she looked to each of them for suggestions.
“My pinkie senses tell me we should go down this new tunnel,” Pinkie said putting on a smile as she bounced past Twilight and down the other corridor.
“We might as well give it a try,” Rainbow Dash said following Pinkie.
Twilight looked to Applejack who nodded to her in agreement. With that, the four were running down the new tunnel. As Twilight ran she looked to her sides to see what the tunnels where made of. To her surprise it was the same white bricks that the Castle was built with. When Celestia said this monster made a labyrinth, she forgot to mention it was out of the castle itself. Continuing down the hall way Pinkie stopped abruptly causing the others to slam into each other trying not to knock into Pinkie.
“Oh lookie, a door!” Pinkie said looking over the door.
Twilight picked herself up off the ground with a dazed look. Floating her light orb closer to the door she realized it was the one that Celestia has used to seal back the Elements of Harmony during the time of Discords reign. Behind the door two voices could be heard. What exactly they were saying was uncertain, but one sounded to be that of a young colt.
“We gota’ open that door!” Applejack said stumbling to her feet.
Twilight walked up to the door and pushed on it as hard as she could. To her surprise and dismay it opened. Shooting forward and landing on her stomach again Twilight’s orb vanished. Inside the room was well light with many torches lining the walls. In the center of the room was a strange creature that Twilight couldn’t recognize and the young colt that Luna had mentioned. He has a white fur coat and a brown mane. He also had a white horn on the top of his head showing he was a Unicorn. The colt had a large cut along his left shoulder to the bottom of his rib cage. From what Twilight could tell, he didn’t even have a cutie mark yet. This creature hovering over the colt was blue and almost humanoid like. Its eyes where green and had no mouth. The colt was struggling to stand as he faced down the beast.
As the others walked into the room they did a double take at the creature. Pinkie lost her smile and was transfixed on the beast. Applejack wanted to back away but bumped into Rainbow Dash who shook her head in disbelief.
“What is that thing?” Rainbow Dash asked with a crack in her voice.
At that the sure sound of the Pegasus, the monster turned its gaze towards the four ponies.
“Sugar cube, blurting that out wadn’t the smartest idea,” Applejack said slowly gaining the courage to walk up next to Twilight.
The monster returned its focus to the small colt. “I will avenge you mother,” the colt said. As if to respond to the child, the monster raised its arm as if to strike. The Colt cringed ready to take the blow.
“No!” shouted Twilight running at the monster.
As the monster brought its arm down to deal the final blow, its arm started to glow purple. The strike halted mid-way to its target. The colt looked up at the monster surprised. He looked from the monster to Twilight who was rushing towards the beast. The sight of a friendly face was enough to make the colt relax. Instead of backing away, the young pony passed out and collapsed to the ground.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash bolted behind Twilight, towards the strange fiend. Pinkie started bouncing towards the young pony to see what she could do to help.
“You will not harm him!” Twilight shouted at the monster. Just then she slammed into it knocking it to the floor. She released her magic from its arm and stood panting.
The monster slowly stood back up and glared at Twilight. It seemed to send a vibe of anger towards the unicorn. It disliked her taking away his chance to kill.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped up next to Twilight.
“I think we will have to fight this thing,” Dash said getting ready to pounce.
Applejack looked to Twilight, “We have your back, Sugar Cube. I ain’t gunna let this thing harm any of us.”
“We need to get out of here with the little colt. Once we regroup we will look for Celestia.” Twilight returned her angered gaze at the beast.
Behind Twilight, Pinkie Pie was picking up the small colt and turned to leave. The monster took note of this and rushed at her. The monster was faster than anypony would have imagined from the earlier first impression. Pinkie stopped to watch the oncoming monster as if petrified of fear that she became a target.
“We said to stop!” Applejack bolted to intercept it.
Rainbow however was faster to react then Applejack and was already in front of it ready to take it head on. The monster tried to swipe at Rainbow Dash but missed. Rainbow dodged to the right of the monster as Applejack approached its left.
Unprepared for the pincer attack, the monster could only watch as Applejack landed on her front hoofs, spun around and launched her back hoofs at its chest making a loud crackling noise. The beast flew towards Rainbow Dash who had turned her back side so that she was ready to buck the monster herself. Twilight stood in awe as Rainbow gave her blow to the monsters head. Some green liquid seemed to ooze out as Rainbow pushed her hooves into the monsters head forcing it to twist making another loud cracking noise. Applejack ran out of the way as the monster was bucked back to where she was standing to give her attack.
As soon as the monster landed and came to a halt from its long slide, Twilight trotted over to Rainbow and Applejack. Both where panting from the amount of force they had to put into hitting the beast as hard as they did.
“I think,” Twilight paused, “you both killed it.”
“Well, it was either it or us,” Rainbow Dash said wiping her hooves on the ground to get the green mess off them.
“Let’s head back to Fluttershy and Rarity to take this colt to a doctor. It’s too dangerous to be split up if things like these are all over this place.
As the four ran for the door the colt started to become conscious again. He looked around on Pinkie’s back till he noticed Twilight. She conjured her floating orb of light once again as they made their way back down the dark tunnel. He watched as his vision started to fade. She turned and looked at him with concern before the young colt blacked out again.
The group reached the first hallway and turned towards the entry way. As they ran, something behind them seemed to take notice of the commotion and follow them.
“You don’t think that thing is still alive do you?” Rainbow Dash asked looking behind the group.
“Ah hope not,” Applejack said starting to panic.
Twilight split her light orb in two and left one half behind to float in the same spot. “If it is following us then it will have to pass this. Rainbow Dash, watch it to make sure noting passes that light. If something does, tell me what it is.”
Rainbow looked back intently on that light. Something seemed to approach the light.
“Something is behind us!” Rainbow blurted out. As she watched she noticed it looked like another pony. Upon deeper inspection she realized its eyes weren’t right. They had the same green color as that monster. “Twilight, either that thing wasn’t dead or I’m seeing things. It looks like it’s a pony but…” she trailed off.
“But what?!” Twilight shouted.
“It might have transformed into a pony to be able to catch us,” finished Rainbow.
Looking behind the group Twilight split another orb to see what she was talking and sent it down the hall. It quickly arrived at the pursuer. To her dismay, it was that monster. The side of its head was covered in green ooze.
They had just reached the part of the hallway that Luna was in when it screeched at them and seemed to stop in its tracks. Luna, Rarity, and Fluttershy weren’t where they should have been which Twilight assumed they left this mysterious place. Twilight began to slow down and observe this beast. Certainly enough it took the shape of a pony, but seemed familiar. It changed color to match applejacks fur, but it has Rainbow Dash’s mane and wings. Its tail took on a fluffy pink shape.
“It must be some sort of shape shifter. Possibly could be something known as a Doppelganger. They are known to take the shape and look like anything they encounter,” Twilight said looking at the stationary beast. “Seems like it’s only purpose is to guard the inner parts of this dungeon.”
The Monster stood there and watched them waiting for them to attempt to come back in. Twilight turned and followed the others outside to the destroyed city in a fast paced trot. As they reached the outside world, something about Canterlot was different. The skies build up a snow storm that was slowly covering the ruined city in white snow. Tracks of three other ponies with a sure sign that one of those was bleeding, lead into the city itself.
“Looks like Rarity and Fluttershy where taking Luna to the train station,” Twilight observed the bloody snow.
“Twilight! You might wana check the little pip squeak out,” Pinkie said looing over her back at the young colt.
All eyes turned toward the colt. He was starting to pant heavily and the wound was still dripping with blood.
“He won’t last much longer unless we get him to the hospital,” Twilight said.
“I can fly him back to Ponyville,” Rainbow Dash said stepping up Pinkie. “I am the fastest flier in all of Equestria after all.”
Applejack nodded in agreement. “He needs tah have treatment now.”
“Alright Rainbow Dash, once you drop him off and make sure he is helped quickly, head back here,” Twilight said walking off towards the town. Rainbow Dash picked the young colt up and took off faster than anypony would have expected. “We need to catch up with Rarity and Fluttershy to make sure Luna is alright.”
“Hold on just one moment!” Pinkie said flopping on her side and rolled around in the snow a couple of times. Some of the blood that covered her back from the young pony absorbed into the snow. After seeming like she was cleaned up well enough, Pinkie rolled back to her hooves. “Okey Dokey Lokey! I’m clean and ready to go.”
Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie started to run as fast as they could down the dead main street of Canterlot. Most of the fires seemed to have died out leaving the buildings as nothing but a blackened out image of what they once were. The trio arrived to the destroyed train station where they found Rarity and Fluttershy tending to Luna’s wounds as best they could. Rarity seemed to have had stitched some of Luna’s wounds, while Fluttershy focused on keeping Luna awake. Despite how wrecked the Princess looked, she sounded like she was doing much better.
“Oh thank goodness you girls are alright,” Rarity said looking up from her job of stitching another wound shut. “I managed to find some thread that wasn’t damaged in a shop that was half burned. I feel bad for raiding what remained of their store, but we simply had to do what we could for Luna. She was starting to lose too much blood.”
Luna nodded at Rarity with tired eyes, “Yes, and thank you Rarity. I am not certain how you learned to stich wounds but it seems to help a bit.”
“Oh hush! It is just like stitching dresses,” Rarity said looking back at her task of tying off the stiches she had just finished.
Fluttershy looked over at Pinkie and bolted to her side, “Oh Pinkie! Are you hurt?!”
Pinkie giggled as Fluttershy started moving her fur all over checking for any wounds. “No silly! It’s only a small stain from the colt we saved in the weirdo maze place.”
Luna looked up at Pinkie with worry, “How was he?”
Twilight sighed and sat down next to Luna to make herself more comfortable. “When we got to him, he was wounded from his shoulder to his rib cage. Some monster which I believe to have been a Doppelganger, had given him that wound. We ended up fighting it off before it could finish what it started to the colt.” Fluttershy sat down with a hoof over her mouth as she gasped.
Luna looked down with a tear trickling down her cheek. Applejack sat down on the other side of her so she had a pony on both sides. “Rainbow flew him back to Ponyville so he can get some treatment. The lill’ guy oughta be fine. He had the guts tah take on that monster,” Applejack said putting a small smile on to show Luna things will be ok.
“I certainly hope so.”
“We need to start heading back to Ponyville where it is safer,” Twilight said standing up to make her way to the town. “We also need to see about raising the sun soon. Since Celestia is missing, Luna might have to do it.”
“Nay, dear Twilight. I can barely raise the moon half as high as it needs to be. I will need help. It will have to be done like olden pony times. We will need about four other Unicorns to help,” Luna exclaimed as she struggled to her feet. Twilight and Applejack helped her up and Pinkie bounded past them.
“Be carefully dear. You may be stitched up, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are still hurt,” Rarity stepped forward checking over her job to making sure nothing tore.
“I’ll be fine,” Luna grunted stabilizing herself between Twilight and Applejack
As the six ponies wandered into Ponyville, all the villagers stopped their busy tasks to helping the refugees to see who was wondering into their territory. Ponies gasped at the sight of Luna and her horrible condition. Everypony murmured to each other about if they succeeded or if they were all doomed. From a distance a friendly face that Twilight recognized trotted up with brown robes over her body. Small glances of white and black stripes could be seen on her front legs as she approached.
“Zecora!” Twilight exclaimed as her zebra friend pulled her hood off to reveal a concerned look, “We need your help-“
“I know of what you ask, for me it is an easy task,” Zecora said walking over to Luna and checking her wounds. “Our dear princess appears to be faring well, but these wounds must be treated or they will become hell. I have potion to clean those cuts, I shall retrieve it before the poison rots her guts.” With that Zecora turned ran off to the Everfree Forest where her home resides.
“Your friend is very kind, I remember her from Nightmare Night,” Luna said smiling watching the zebra disappearing behind a building. All the other ponies of Ponyville went back to their work at hand.
“She certainly is,” Twilight smiled. Twilight turned her attention to Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity, “Can one of you help the princess? I need to check on that colt.”
“Oki Doki Loki!” Pinkie said bounding over to Luna and pushed Twilight aside taking Luna’s side to keep her standing. Rarity walked over to examine the stitches again while Fluttershy pawed at the ground unsure what to do.
“Is something wrong Fluttershy?” Twilight asked looking at her friend.
“What would you want me to do?”
Twilight thought for a moment. Fluttershy was known for tending to animals more than another pony, and Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack should be enough to help Luna till Zecora returned. “Well, you could go to the mayor and ask her to try and get at least five unicorns that are strong enough with magic to help raise the sun.”
“Okay,” Fluttershy put on a big smile and trotted off to find the mayor.
Twilight smiled and started off to the hospital. As she walked she began to fill with worry as the thought of Rainbow not making it in time to save the poor colt. She started to go into a fast paced trot. More images of her friend crying because she failed at her objective of saving a life. Twilight not was in a run. Ponies all around her had faces of hopelessness and the wounded that couldn’t fit in the hospital lined the streets more frequently as Twilight got closer to the hospital. As she was running some of the wounded ponies became familiar.
Lying against Sugar Cube Corner was one of Twilights old college when she was studying in Canterlot. Her front right ankle seemed to have been broken and has some cuts and bruises. On the other side of the street, one of the nobles that Twilight met on her birthday in Canterlot. He was one of the ponies who Rarity was receiving sales from when she went there for business.
Sadness. Fear. Worry. Twilight felt all three of these at once, but suffered each individually. As Twilight was running she didn’t see Rainbow coming towards her.
“Twilight!” Rainbow said, but it didn’t seem to reach her. With her full speed, Twilight collided right into Rainbow.
Quickly picking herself up Twilight check over who she ran into. “I am so-“
“Twilight, its ok. I came looking for you because I heard word that you are back. I wanted to let you know that the colt we saved is doing alright. Doctors said if I hadn’t of flown him here as fast as I did, he wouldn’t have made it,” She said standing up and putting a hoof on her friends shoulder.
“I was so worried about him that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. I am so sorry Rainbow,” Twilight said tears starting to fill her eyes.
Rainbow put a hoof to her face and wiped the tears away, “You do need to come to the hospital. There,” Rainbow hesitated, “was something strange happening to him though. The doctor wasn’t sure if it was a unicorn thing or not.”
Twilight eyes lit up. “Ok, take me to him.”
Twilight was staring at the door that guarded the young colt they had saved. Behind the heavy wooden boarder, she could make out the sound of two ponies talking. Rainbow Dash looked at her friend with worry.
“Ready?” Rainbow asked.
Twilight nodded and used her magic to open the door. As the door opened, the two ponies talking went silent. Doctor Stables and Nurse Redheart where standing in front of a curtain that was hiding something. They looked at Twilight with hopeful eyes that make Twilight see uneasy.
“How is he?” Twilight asked looking Doctor Stables straight in the eyes.
“He is doing fine. Right now he is asleep, but we have had some unexpected occurrences with him,” The doctor said looking to the curtain. “He kept muttering something about his mother, and then his eyes would glow. From what we could tell he was having magical surges that ended up destroying the monitors we had hooked up to him.”
“May I see him?” Twilight asked. Rainbow looked at Twilight with curiosity.
Redheart looked over at Stables with a questioning look if he would let her check on the patient. “Certainly,” the doctor said using his magic to pull the curtain back.
Under green sheets laid the white unicorn colt. Twilight couldn’t see the wound since the colt was on his back and showing only his left side. He was asleep and seemed at peace. Twilight approached the bed. She could hear the ponies soft breathing that was mixed in with the pulse beeps of the Heart Monitor.
“Were you able to get his name?” Twilight said keeping focused on the colt.
“No. All he did was mutter about mother,” the doctor said.
As if to respond to the doctor’s sentence, the white colt open his eyes. His breathing got faster and deeper. His eyes began to glow white and a magical aura appeared faintly but became more visible as it grew stronger. Doctor Stables, Nurse Redheart, and Rainbow Dash started to back away to the walls of the room. The small unicorn began to float just above his bed. He turned from a lying position to an upright standing position.
Twilight was speechless, for she recognized this sort of power. When Twilight was participating in the magical aptitude test when she was just a little filly, the same sort of power fluctuation happened to her.
“Mother,” The colt said looking from side to side, “Mother!”
Twilight knew she had to do something or he might just release so much power that it could destroy the hospital and the buildings a crossed the street. Focusing her own magic on absorbing the colts massive output of power, The Doctor shouted through the increasingly loud roar from the chaotic power emitting from the colt, “What are you doing?!”
Twilight ignored him and continued to focus on her task. The power continued to grow and Twilight was losing the battle. The next thought was reaching out to the unicorn with voice and mind.
Twilight reached to the mind of the unicorn with a spell and shouted through the mental link and in voice, “I am here for you. You are not alone!”
The Colt gave a surprised expression and the magic around him began to fade, but the room started to light up. The young Unicorn seemed to be reabsorbing the magic swirling around him and convert it into an increasing bright light.
All the ponies in the room covered their eyes as the light became too bright to handle. The roar of the energies died and Twilight heard in her mind, “I’m not alone. I am with mother.”
The bright light faded to revile a still and calm unicorn colt lying on the bed as he previously was. His breathing was calm and seemed to have a small smile on his face. Doctor Stables run to the other side of the bed to check on the wound to find it completely healed.
“For the love of Celestia,” the doctor said in awe. “Somehow his wound is completely gone. Whatever did this is beyond my comprehension.”
Twilight noticed that a small light lit up on the young colts flank and faded just as fast as it appeared. This young colt had just gotten his Cutie Mark. It was a sword pointing down with a faint aura around the blade that looked exactly like the large sparkle on Twilight’s flank.
The colt opened his eyes slowly and turned to look at Twilight. Twilight hesitated at first but then bent down to be face to face with the young unicorn.
“How are you feeling?” Twilight asked looking into the brilliant cyan blue eyes of the young colt.
“I heard my mother,” he said looking at Twilight in a sort of weak daze. “She said, Aura, I am with you.”
Twilight felt a chill run through her body. She wasn’t sure if she should tell the young colt it was her voice.
“She said that she will always be with me,” Rainbow stepped forward to get a better look which caught the colt’s attention. “You were the one who flew me here. Mother said to thank you.”
“I-I…” Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure what to say.
The colt turned his gaze back to Twilight. “My name is,” The colt started to fall back asleep. In the last bit of his consciousness muttered, “Aura.”
Author's Note
I have been known that i cant write a story till i write what leads up to the majority of the story. So hopefully this helps set an idea as to how Canterlot gets destroyed and introduces the main character well enough. I shall upload to my deviant art the floor lay out of each floor that is relevant to each chapter as the story goes.
Chapter 1 - Into the Labyrinth
Chapter One
Into the Labyrinth
Twenty years have passed since the Labyrinth had risen from the rubble of Canterlot. Luna and Twilight took charge of Equestria after the disaster. Celestia was still missing and the threat of the monster that the bottom of the maze still threatened Equestria. Exactly how long all of Equestria had before all the monsters inside where free and stone prisons that Luna and Celestia and sealed them away in; no pony knew. Due to the urgency of needing to reach the bottom of the Labyrinth, Luna and Twilight didn’t seal up the maze, but put out a bounty to any pony that can make it to Bahamut and back out with a map of how to get there; they will receive riches beyond any ponies’ wildest imagination. Added to the hefty reward, they would bear the title of Savior of Equestria.
Over the years, Luna gained back her power to raise the moon, while Twilight masters the ability to raise the sun. Acting as both rulers of Equestria, life couldn’t have been better. For the ponies who dared brave the perils of the Labyrinth brought forth ancient tomes that had been long forgotten. Upon further investigation of these books, Twilight discovered that there was other ways to use magic. Since most ponies had difficulty learning a new spell, this book had way around mastering it using the horn itself as a casting source.
Rune magic had evolved from the rediscovery of these tomes. Runes are the symbols with their own names on the pages of the tomes. The requirement to use rune magic, a pony must have the correct citation and know how to direct the spell after chanting it. Ponies from all over Equestria arrive to the Labyrinth to test their grits in hopes of finding some of this old treasure. Part of learning about Rune magic, revealed that there is a possibility to revive those who have died in the Labyrinth. The only drawbacks to using Rune magic to bring back the dead, was the consequences if it failed. It became a large practice for some ponies to learn the difficult rune spell to bring back the dead. Neither Twilight nor Luna can have 100% success when they try. If the spell doesn’t work, the pony’s body dissipates into a pile of ash. A different spell is required to try to bring their body and life back from these ashes. Should the spell fail again, their ashes fade from existence.
Many species of monsters had also been documented and written about that have been found in the maze. Twilight and Luna continue to pay a large amount of bits to any pony who finds something new in the labyrinth that could benefit the progress to reaching Bahamut or anything that they could use to beat him. Some have claimed to have seen monsters wielding ancient powerful weapons that have been told about in old fairy tales and stories from pre Equestrian history.
Over the Twenty years, Ponyville became the center of attention for the brave ponies to enter the labyrinth. Not all where there for wealth and fame. Some have lost things to the disaster that befell Canterlot or seek something in the Labyrinth itself. Some seek to learn more about themselves or to help ponies in need. Merchants had come and settled in Ponyville to get some sales with the increasing population.
Even though the popularity of the Labyrinth was large, it also drove ponies away. Some come to the town in search of something or making a living, but end up losing more than they had ever wanted. Many ponies will turn and walk away when the Labyrinth of Canterlot is mentioned, other seek rumors from there. But over the twenty years since the fall of Canterlot, the ruined city was always known to be a forsaken land.
“Aura!”
The white unicorn named Aura turned his head to towards his door. He had a long brown mane with silver stripes running through it. The stallion’s eyes where a brilliant cyan blue that looked like they had a radiating glow due to their color. He was wearing a red cape and around his neck that covered his whole back but had a hole in it for his tail to hang out. His tale was the same color brown with the same sliver streaks slowing from one end to the other. Around his neck was a red bandana tied to cover the tie for the cape. Aura was living in the same library that Twilight had lived in since she was first charged by Celestia herself, to seek friends and check on the preparations in Ponyville. Since the fall over Canterlot, Twilight had two more ponies living with her in the Library. Aura and Luna now lived in the small library with Twilight. Aura was her pupil in training, who is learning the powers of magic through her.
Aura lived in the basement of the Library, while Luna had her room on the base floor. Being in the basement gave Aura a large room for practice with magic and swordsmanship. Despite Twilights disapproval of her own pupil risking his life in the Labyrinth, she couldn’t stop his passion for exploring. Aura had forgotten most of what happened to him since he was attacked by the doppelganger in the Labyrinth, but still looked up to Twilight as a motherly figure. Though he knows deep down that his mother died in the catastrophe, Twilight had always been there for him like she was his mother.
“Yes mom?” Aura called up the stairs.
“I need you to come up here and look over this text that some adventurer brought in,” Twilight called back
Aura looked around his room. He was currently practicing with his sword against a wooden target in the center of the room. Most unicorns used magic over weapons, but Aura saw the usefulness of being able to levitate a sword instead of carrying it in your mouth or having small blades attacked to your hoofs. He levitated the sword he was using to its scabbard, Aura took a quick glance over his room.
“I’ll be right there,” Aura called up the stairs to the main floor of the library. Aura placed his sword in its scabbard against a chest on the opposite side of the room. The chest backed up to his bed and contained his most cherished items he found in the labyrinth. Next to his bed was his metal armor he wore when exploring. Past that was his desk for writing since Twilight encouraged him to write every day.
Aura trotted up the stairs to open the door to the basement where Twilight and Luna stood in the middle of the room looking over something on a table. On the other side of the table, stood a strong looking stallion that had a sword on his back. He was a simple earth pony with a brown fur coat; his mane was a sort of light yellow that melded into a light brown. Over his shoulder was a scare from a battle he had to have survived. Wearing almost no armor Aura got to chance to look at the ponies cutie mark. It was a picture of a bit that had a gleam off the edge
“Aura, this is Glimmer Gold. He found this magnificent text that I think you might want to read,” Twilight said with an excited look on her face.
“You always saying I would like to read it,” Aura said giving a smile. “If it was a young pony’s book and it was good you would say I would like it.”
“Well this one is special,” Twilight said with a frown.
Aura walked over and looked at the book. It was a book that was written in old pony times that Celestia had written. It was a book that dates back many years ago. The title read: Lord and Rulers of the Monsters of Tartarus. Upon looking at the author of this text, Aura double took at the name. Princess Celestia. “When did the princess write this,” Aura asked confused.
“I have no idea. Being locked away for a thousand years, you miss a thousand years of that your sister does. I have had no idea that she wrote these books or tracked down legendary artifacts to store away in the castle,” Luna said sighing with a saddened expression. “If only I could ask her about this myself.”
“What’s even stranger is the writing on the inside of the cover,” Twilight said flipping the hard bound page to revel the first piece of parchment with a small letter written on it.
Aura skimmed over the letter which read:
Dear Twilight,
I began working on this book shortly after you managed to hatch spike. I knew that one day Bahamut would break free and release an unspeakable evil. His plans to free the leader and rulers of Tartarus would happen one day. I have put all my knowledge about what sort of monsters and their leaders in this book. You will one day need this. I want to apologize for not sharing this news with you sooner, but you are my star pupil, and I taught you well. You will be able to handle this situation just like when I needed you to save Luna. I hope that his info helps you along your long journey and helps you become the princess I once was.
Your friend, teacher, and princess,
Celestia
Aura shook his head unsure as to how to accept this situation. The first thought to himself was to secure the library for further discussion, “Twilight, did you lock up the library and leave a note outside saying we closed early for the day?”
Shaking her head, “No but that is a good idea. We need to discuss and learn about this. Once we have a better understanding about what’s in this book, we will then release it to the public.”
Aura walked over to the door and began to twist the dead bolt lock in place when he realized something is wrong. The dead bolt was already locked. Twilight told him she didn’t lock it and that means some pony else did.
After a sort sigh Aura looked around the library. Luna, Twilight, and Glimmer looked confused. “Keith. I know you’re in here.”
All heads turned their attention to the hallway to the kitchen when a voice came from it, “Maybe I am maybe I’m not!”
“Twilight said she didn’t lock the door, but it’s already locked. You had to have picked the lock thinking she did to sneak in and re bolted the door to cover your tracks. With that you just responded to me,” Aura said frustrated. In the kitchen every pony could hear a faint slur of vulgar.
Out of the hallway came a light brown Pegasus with a red feathered hat with a silver feather jetting out the left side of it. His mane was a darker brown with streaks of black in it, but showed to be very short and messy. Both ears had 3 piercings each running up to the tip of the ear. Around his neck was a pair of goggles with tinted lenses. Along with the strange match up of accessories on this pegasus was a red tunic that he wore, with the red sleeves all torn. A belt around his thighs contained many pockets and loops that held tools to pick locks and Celestia knows what else was in the pockets of the belt. His tail was the same brown and black as his mane, but short and very messy. His expression was very mellow as he was eating a hay sandwich. Around both his front hooves was a metal bracelet that had small daggers attached to. With a simple fling of his hoof, the weapons could be drawn out. On the bottom of both front and back hooves was tan boots.
Luna and Twilight stared at Keith. Ignoring their starring daggers at him, he proceeded to take another bite out of his snack.
“I purposely put a lock infused with magic on the fridge during open hours so no pony steals our food. How did you break that spell, and why are you in here?” Twilight stomped towards the pony.
“Hey, chill now Twilight. I just used this simple little gizmo that I got from a traveling unicorn that absorbs most magic placed on locks. It’s just a tiny little needle that you prick the magic and it will absorb it through the tip. Whatever spell you put on it, didn’t last but a couple seconds. Second, I was hungry and thought I would drop in and see my best friend and what he is up to,” Keith said with a small smile on his face.
Luna sighed and shook her head, “I don’t know why we don’t lock you up in a cell for all the times you have broken in here without permission, even when the library was closed.”
“Luna… I mean Princess Luna; you are a very silly pony. You know you can’t lock me up. Either a, I would just break out by picking the lock, which I am good at, b, you couldn’t hurt poor Auras feelings for putting his bestest westests friend behind bars that he can easily break out of. Or c, You would need me to pick the lock on all those chest that are holding special artifacts that you guys need,” Keith said with a grin flashing over to Luna and putting his arm around her should.
“Take thy hands off me now or I will remove them myself, “Luna said blankly not even giving eye contact.
Keith did so and flashed over to Aura with almost Pinkie Pie speed. Aura shook his head and walked back to the table to look over the other pages of the book. Certain pages listing a leader also included a sort of legendary weapon that they were associated with Aura slipped over and over till he came to a page that had Bahamut. There was a detailed picture of this dragon. The dragon had silver scales and brilliant blue eyes. What through Aura off was in the description next to the picture.
Bahamut is also known as ‘The Platinum Dragon’. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were once great friends with this dragon. He was a good and kind dragon that believed in the same goals as the sisters. They both seeked a peaceful world where there was no problems, no war, and no evil.
Bahamut left one day to investigate a rise of evil dragons. Months later he returned. Speaking to the Alicorn sisters Bahamut claimed he had found his true power and that their dream of a peaceful world was nothing but a lie. Only thought the destruction of the weak can a strong and glorious world be formed. This sudden shift in his nature was off and could not be explained.
Aura looked over to Luna, “So what cause Bahamut to change?”
“I know not. While I was sealed in the moon, Celestia tried everything she could to cure him while he was trapped in stone. She could never find the reason behind his change,” Luna said with a saddened expression.
“Whatever has caused him to do turn on everypony, we have to find out before we come a crossed him,” Twilight said walking off to the kitchen. Keith slowly started to edge towards to run when he heard a slam in the kitchen, “Keith Lock!” Twilight shouted, “Don’t you know how to close a fridge door and put stuff away!”
Keith whistled and went to hide behind Aura. Glimmer, Luna, and Aura started to laugh at Keith as he had a sort of terrified expression, “I think this is the part when I exit out the door I came.”
“Keith you know you won’t escape her wrath,” Aura said turning to face his friend.
“Not unless I flee to the Labyrinth,” Keith stood up on two legs and pointed towards the door out of the library.
“I will chase you down to the depths of Tartarus itself if you even think about running!” Twilight shouted storming from the kitchen back into the main room. Keith darted for the door but found that Twilight had used her magic to grab hold of his small stubby tail. Cringing for his beating Keith cowered as he was dragged to her. “You are in so much debt to me as it is. I think I almost own your soul,” Twilight said with a smirk.
“I love you too?” Keith said scared.
Unsure how to respond to respond she dropped the scared stallion.
“Well I am sorry, but I must take my leave. I must return to my group with this coin to repair out equipment and heal some wounds from our adventure,” Glimmer said with a smile of sear amusement. “I hope that this will help us all end these dark times. Thank you for seeing me and accepting my find.”
“No thank you. For this sort of find you deserve to have a song sung in your group’s name,” Luna said bowing to Glimmer.
Glimmer bowed back and walked to the door to leave. Next to him a purple aura surrounded a Pony trying to sneak out of the library. Twilight was lifting Keith back to the center of the room with an un-amused glare. Aura double took to his sides never realizing his friend snuck off Glimmer chuckled to himself as he unlocked the door and left.
Keith whimpered at Twilight as if he was a hurt puppy. “Don’t you even try it Keith,” Twilight said setting him down. “The main reason you came was to try and get Aura to go into the Labyrinth today. Sadly for you, that’s not happening today.”
“I don’t see why I couldn’t go exploring for a little while today,” Aura stepped in.
“See? He wants to go slay some monsters, raid for treasure, and drink some Cider,” Keith said sitting on the floor.
“Besides what would you want me to do today anyways,” Aura asked.
Luna glanced at Twilight, and Twilight returned the look with a sigh, “We both where hoping to give you some more magic lessons.”
“And there will be time for that when I get back. It’s not even noon and we won’t go to deep today.”
Luna shrugged and walked off to the kitchen leaving Twilight to make the decision. Twilight looked over Aura and saw he was eager to leave the Library and explore. With another long sigh Twilight knew she couldn’t keep her pupil locked in the Library. If she could lock him in here, she would, but Keith would eventually pick the locks and free Aura. Waving her hoof in a shooing manner Aura darted past her to the basement.
Within moments Aura was back in the main room with armor and his sword. Aura had put on a red tunic to match his cape and bandana, and then put a large metal chest plate on over the clothing. His cape fell to the side as he checked bottom part of his armor. Around his waist was another type of plate mail. It covered the rest of his back and his flanks. Though his Cutie mark was covered, the flank armor had his cutie mark worked into the design of the protective metal. Tied around Auras flank was also a leather strap holding a small book. In this book he had some very simple Rune Spells for when he needed them in the Labyrinth.
Seeing that his chest and flank armor was secured, Aura levitated a couple leather straps around his waist to tie his swords scabbard to him. Once the sword was secured to his side, Aura crouched and leaped to check that the plates worked together to give him full movement.
“Aura, don’t forget your boots,” Twilight said as Aura started to make his way towards the door.
“But we aren’t going to explore that far,” He protested.
“Put them on,” Twilight said with a sterner tone.
With a sigh, Aura trotted back downstairs and returned with all his hooves in leather boots with metal plating on the fronts guarding his hooves and metal on the bottom for supports.
“Well now that we are done with dress up, can we go Aura?” Keith said at the door clawing at it as if he was a cat or dog wanting outside.
Aura looked to Twilight which was told he could go with a simple nod. Aura ran towards the door and used his magic to open it and run outside. Keith wasn’t too far behind him. The two ran through the town excited to be able to explore the labyrinth. Though they shouldn’t like the dungeon it is, it was a place for them to feel free to go where they want, and face tough challenges that only the monsters of The Labyrinth could offer.
Soon the two had left the town behind them and where making their way up the road to the Labyrinth. Everypony calls it the road of sorrows from its past of the citizens of Canterlot that had traveled down it to reach safe haven in Ponyville.
As they walked up the path a group of adventurers where comes back from their adventures. Aura and Keith lost their zeal as they realized the group was carrying a limp pony over one of their backs. Some pony had died in the labyrinth and was being taken to the hospital to see if they can be brought back.
As the group approached, Aura popped out a question to them, “What floor?”
The stallion that was carrying the fallen pony continued walked, but the unicorn mare following behind them stopped to answer Auras question, “We made it to floor four before we were taken by surprise by a group of five half-demons. We killed three of them before one got our friend.”
“What the hay are half-demons doing above floor five?” Keith asked looked back at the limp pony being taken to a hospital for a chance to be brought back.
The mare shrugged, “The monsters are traveling up from the lower depths to the top floors. More and more strong ones are appearing daily. At this rate they will start leaving the Labyrinth and attacking the town,” She paused for a moment,” If you’re going in there, the best of luck to you both.” She turned and trotted to catch up with the stallion she was following.
Aura sighed and shook his head. Many lose their lives by the day in there, and no pony has gotten past the fifth floor. At the fifth floor, some of the darkest, strongest monsters lurked. Though Aura never wanted to go down that deep, one day he knew he will have to.
Keith patted Aura on the shoulder and nodded towards the top of the hill. Over the hill was the destroyed city of Canterlot. An unwritten rule to adventuring was to pick a flower and leave it at the entrance of the city. The legend goes that if a pony does this, a spirit from Canterlot will follow you and your group into the labyrinth and help you in a time of need should it come. Aura stopped before the entrance to Canterlot and looked to Keith. Keith didn’t have his usual mellow grin, but rather a series and saddened expression. Between Aura and Keith, Keith was the one who always carried the flower for the two of them. When he when to pick it, Aura didn’t bother to ask.
Aura sat down and bowed his head in respect to those who died that night as Keith walked over to the side of a destroyed building and placed a fresh, Apple Blossom on the pile of hundreds of other flowers that other adventurers placed for their respects and wish of good luck with a spirit to guide them. Once Keith dropped the flower he walked over to Aura and sat next to him, removing his hat, and bowing his head in respect and prayer.
After a moment, they both stood up, Keith put his hat back on, and they began walking through the ruined city. They walked quietly and looked forward. Around them the ruined city had a fine layer of snow covering the ground and destroyed buildings. There wasn’t any where Aura and Keith walked because it had been melted from all the ponies going back and forth to the dungeon.
Canterlot Castle, stood before them, melded into the mountain with the gate leading into the dark tunnel of the labyrinth. Over the years some ponies have placed more torches up to light the maze up better as they traveled around, but the entrance was always dark.
“Well it time to kick flank and take fame. Let’s go get us some treasure,” Keith said trotting forward.
Aura sighed and put on a little smile as they passed the threshold of the labyrinth. The two made their way down the entrance tunnel. Aura observed the white stony wall admiring the condition of maze. All the white bricks where in tack and undamaged. His mind wandered about what the castle looked like before it was warped. With every trip made into the maze Aura day dreams as he walks. Though he had been in the castle a lot when he was just a colt before Bahamut destroyed it, he just couldn’t remember it well enough. When Twilight rescued him, his memories of his past became very hazy. Only the memory of his mother’s voice and appearance remains in his mind.
After the two had walked for about five minutes, they had arrived to the fork in the maze. They could continue down the hall way they were going or turn right and head to the room Aura was rescued in.
Keith stopped and turned to his unicorn friend, “Well buddy? Shall we go straight and see what lies beyond there or shall we go to your room?”
Aura glared at Keith, “Just because Twilight saved me from that room doesn’t mean it’s my room.”
“Well Twilight dedicated that room to you in your name. You were the only pony saved from the labyrinth back when it was created, other than Princess Luna who was lying on the floor to the entrance,” Keith said looking down both hallways.
Aura sighed with defeat. He knew Twilight was fond of him and wanted to honor her student by naming a room that he survived the first monster any pony had ever come a crossed. “Let’s go to my room then.” Aura turned to the right and started down the hall way.
Keith followed suite after his friend. The dim light from the torches cast the ponie’s shadows on the wall; the way they looked gave Aura an edgy feeling. They walked for about another ten minutes before they reached a golden door. Around the door was colored gems and a hole in the center. Twilight told Aura stories that this door had once been used to guard the Elements of Harmony. Only Celestia or Luna had the ability to open it. By sticking their horns onto the small hole and using a special spell. Now, however, it only takes a simple push to open the door.
Both Aura and Keith stood looking at the door. It was a work of art and the only one of its kind in the entire labyrinth. Beyond this door is when both ponies could be in danger of monsters attacking. They took their time looking at the door to work in their minds the courage and confidence to proceed forward.
As they stood there, both ponies heard some commotion start up behind the door. What was going on, neither were certain. Aura walked up to the door and pushed both open and peered into the room.
A crossed the room was two goblins crouched over looking at something. These monsters stood on two feet and were the size of a young colt. They had a yellow-green colored flesh; they both wore a tattered brown leather of some sort around their chests and a grimy green loin cloth. In one of the goblins hands he had a small wooden club while the other had a beautiful blue staff with gold designs on it. It wasn’t until one of them kicked what they were looking at that Aura realized what was happening. Some poor pony is being beaten to death by them.
Walking closer to them Aura shouted to the monsters, “And what are we doing today my little monstrosities?”
Both turned around, still hiding the pony behind them on the ground. The one with the staff grunted at Aura, “We are just enjoying ourselves some fun! And it would seem you have come to join in on this fun. “
Keith walked up next to Aura and whispered in his ear, “That’s no ordinary staff. It might be a special relic that the princess had locked up. So in that case I’ll take the one with the club.”
Aura nodded and continued towards the monsters. “You see here, I have a policy against monsters harming other ponies. Now if you would be so kind as to give up your lovely staff and drop your weapons. I would hate for this to turn into something you both will regret.”
The goblin with the club began to laugh. Keith leaped in the air and flew at the goblin, and before the goblin could react, Keith cut a big smile in the monsters neck with the small blades that retracted from front hoof bracelets. The goblin dropped to the ground dead with a green blood running from the wound. The other goblin leaped away from Keith to a corner of the room. Aura got a glimpse of what the goblins where beating and it was a light teal mare with a beautiful gold colored mane. Aura unsheathed his sword with his unicorn magic and pointed the blade towards the goblin.
“How could you harm such an innocent mare?” Auras voice was stern with growing rage.
“That wench had this staff. We found her on floor 2 and chased her down to this room. Do you have any idea what powers this staff holds?” The goblin shouted out with a power hungry look on his face. “I doubt it, so I will show you!” Raising the staff over its head, the monster began to release a maniacal laugh. The staff itself began to glow a brilliant blue aura around itself before the aura traveled and enclosed the goblin. What happened next, through Aura off guard. The goblin split in half and became two goblins. The aura continued to split the goblin in half and make more clones of him.
“Aura, I think you should strike them down before there are too many of them,” Keith called to Aura while tending to the mare on the ground.
Aura realized that Keith was right, that goblin needed to be stopped before he gets overwhelmed. Rushing towards one of the split clones, Aura drove his sword in the chest of it. To his surprise the clone just faded and the blue aura around it faded with the clone.
“Nice guess little colt, but wrong me,” the 5 copies of the goblin said.
Aura began to worry as he slashed through another two copies only to have them fade from existence. As soon as they were gone another two goblins took their place.
Aura began to step back from the goblins and look for a hint as to which one was the real goblin. Behind him he heard a mare’s voice, “The clones have a purple staff! Kill the one with the blue staff!”
Aura looked behind him to see she was calling out to him before blacking out limp on the floor. A loud yell brought his attention back to the goblins. Two of them where leaping at him with their staffs above their heads. Aura leaped to the side and rolled to avoid their attack. Another clone came running at him swinging a purple staff hoping to hit Aura. The staff whirled past Auras head as he juked to the side. Before the monster could recover from its failed strike Aura ran his sword through the gut of the clone. Once it faded away Aura could see blue staff that the original was holding.
The two clones that Aura dodged where closing on him to get another chance, but stopped in their tracks before they got to him. As they faded, Keith was left behind them floating behind where they stood with his hidden blades pointed out where their backs would have been. Aura nodded his thanks and took off towards the original.
“What’s wrong little pony, not having fun?” The goblin said splitting again. Next to the goblin stood two clones that both laughed with the original. All three were ready for Aura to approach them. To their dismay Aura stopped and gave a wry grin. “What are you smiling about pony?”
Aura looked straight at the original, “You want to play? How about we play catch?” Aura said using his magic to shoot his sword straight at the goblin. The clones stepped in front of the original hoping to stop it, but the sword went right through them and stuck in the original goblins chest. The clones faded away and left the goblin alone and in dismay.
The sword was strong enough to pin the goblin to the wall. Aura walked over and used his magic to pull the staff from the hands of the dying goblin. The monster looked at the wound and looked back grinning at Aura. “It seems the master was right. You are going to be a thorn in his side,” With that the goblins eyes rolled up inside its skull and it collapsed limply on the blade pinning it to the wall. Aura fastened the staff to his saddle bags and turned his attention back to the goblin.
Aura looked confused, “Your master?” Removing the blade swiftly the goblin dropped to the ground. Aura cleaned his blade on the goblins body and walked over to the mare that was still unconscious. Keith joined Aura and looked her over. She wore a dark teal skirt and shirt. Both of her ears had two silver pricings. She wore a necklace with a black gem. But the most unusual part about her was she had gold tattoos of runes on her neck and front legs.
“Keith let’s get her to the hospital,” Aura said sheathing his sword and leaning down to get her on his back to carry her out.
“To think we came in for some relaxation and possibly some treasure and we find a mare. Today is a good day!” Keith said bumping Aura in the side.
Aura and Keith just left the room when a loud voice echoed through the labyrinth. The voice sounded like it was tired or exhausted. “Aura, you have proven yourself once again,” A long sigh followed. “I am looking forward to our encounter once you reach the fifth floor. You..,” another long sigh, “and the other five. I shall see you when the time comes.”
Aura looked at Keith, “Other five?”
“Well I am one of them, I guess there are four other friends you have that you haven’t told me about?” Keith said with a laugh.
“I have no idea what it’s talking about,” Aura said looking out into the hallway.
“Oh Aura how could you! I thought the friendship we had was special!” Keith said walking away making fake weeping sounds with his hoof over his face. Aura just shook his head smiling while trying to keep a laugh down.
Aura and Keith made it out of the labyrinth and got the mare to the hospital. Aura stayed at the hospital waiting for the mare to wake up so he can find out what she was doing in the labyrinth. Keith went to the library to tell Twilight about the experience and give her the staff they recovered. After a couple hours Twilight came to the hospital to see this mare that Aura saved. Once Twilight learned everything about what happened, she returned to the library to leave Aura to tend to the mare.
It was early morning when the mare came to and found that Aura was asleep in a chair next to her bed with his head resting on a table, drooling in his sleep. He wasn’t in all his armor, and only had his red bandana around his neck. The mare giggled at the site of Aura passed out with the lake of drool covering the table.
The giggling was enough to stir Aura from his slumber. After looking around the room and wiping his mouth clean of his drool Aura turned his attention to the mare laying in the bed giggling at him.
“Good morning,” He said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”
The mare finally stopped giggling and put on a beautiful smile that made Auras heart flutter. “I am feeling well. Was it you who saved me from that monster?”
Aura nodded, “Yes, they would have killed you if I hadn’t of shown up. May I ask, what is your name?”
The mare turned her attention to the window behind her. She became transfixed on the birds flying around a tree in the dawning sky. As if lost in a trance she mutters out, “Angelus. My name is Angelus, but you can just call me Angel.”
It wasn’t until then that Aura realized how beautiful her eyes where. The radiant dawn shinning in her golden eyes gave them a brilliant glow. Aura pulled himself off the chair he fell asleep in and walked over to her bed.
“Well Angel, can you tell me what you were doing in the labyrinth? You don’t seem the type of pony to openly visit the labyrinth regularly.”
Her attention turned back to Aura, “I…” She hesitated. “I don’t remember why I was there. All I remember was running from those monsters. I had that staff and I don’t know where I even got it, but they wanted it.”
Aura became confused, “Yet you knew what the staff did. You told me how to tell the difference between the clones and the real one.”
“I don’t remember that at all.”
Aura sighed, “Well maybe the injuries might have taken away some of your memories. Hopefully they will come back soon enough.”
Angel nodded and began to sit up in her bed. Her stare became transfixed on the sheets that she was snug under. “May I ask you a question?”
“Certainly Angel.”
“What is your name and where am I? I mean I am having trouble remembering a lot, and I would love to know the name of the one who saved me.”
Aura smiled with a nod, “Well, you’re in Ponyville hospital and I am Aura Sparkle, the adopted son of Twilight Sparkle.”
Angel looked back up to Aura, “Thank you. Now I have a small request. This may sound crazy but something is drawing me back to the place you rescued me. I assume you visit that dungeon regularly, and I want you to take me with you.”
Aura was taken back. This mare who he rescued from the maze is asking him to take her back there. How does one respond to such a request? After gaping over the favor Aura had to give some sort of answer, “I suppose I can, but I can’t take you too deep.”
“I understand. It’s because you don’t think I can handle myself. That isn’t true. I couldn’t fight those goblins because I didn’t have a weapon to fight back with. I did have that staff, but I didn’t know how to use it. Added I lost my spell book when I was running from them.” Angel said looking at Aura desperately. “If you can take me in there I am certain I will start to remember more.”
Aura took a deep sigh, “Alright, I will take you with us, but you have to be careful.”
“Thank you!” Angel said leaping from her bed and hugging Aura who gave off a bright red blush.
A knock came at the door to the hospital room. With Angel still hugging him, they both looked at the door. There stood Keith with a wry grin on his face. “I don’t know how you do it, but you know how to get the ladies,” Keith said chuckling. “So you want to go into the labyrinth with us, eh?” Angel nodded. “Well then we will have to get you a weapon.”
“How long have you been there Keith?” Aura asked with an annoyed frown.
“Long enough to know what’s going on,” Keith turned his attention to Angel, “Excuse my friend’s bad manners. I am Keith Lock, master thief, master spy, master of traps, and some say I’m a master to the ladies,” He said winking.
Angel had a large blush on her face and let go of Aura. She climbed back onto her bed and looked at Keith and Aura. “So when do we get to go adventure?” She asked.
Aura and Keith looked at each other before returning their attention back to her, “Once your ladyship has recovered,” Keith said with a smile removing his hat and bowing to her. “I am sorry, but I must be off. The libraries fridge requires my attention.” And with that turned around and left the room.
“Don’t listen to him. He is always like that and it’s best you ignore what he says most of the time,” Aura said with a laugh.
Angel nodded and looked back out the window. “Tomorrow,” she paused, “Tomorrow let us visit the labyrinth.”
“Alright then, If you’re feeling well enough I can show you around the town,” Aura said.
Angel hopped out of her bed and bolted to the door, “Well then let’s get going!”
Aura trotted over to her and walked her out the hospital and into the town where he began to show her, the small town of Ponyville.
End of Chapter One
Author's Note
Map of Floor 1: http://dpx4.deviantart.com/art/Floor-1-355703587?ga_submit_new=10%253A1361502374
