In Youth Eternal - A Dark Secret

Chapter 6: The Gathering

Pinkie Pie and Spike emerged from from the edge of the forest and into a field. Spike gazed across the field to see an apple orchard protected by a wooden fence. “That must be Sweet Apple Acres!” he exclaimed, relieved to find the home of somepony else he can trust.

As the two cut across the field, Pinkie Pie was biting her bottom lip in worry. “Hey, Spike?” she asked, her voice unusually calm for a pony with ADHD. “Why would Princess Celestia do this?”

“I don’t know Pinkie. But I have really good hunch, if this book means anything,” he replied, his voice solemn.

Pinkie Pie perked up with determination. She smiled at Spike. “Awww c’mon! Cheer up! We’ll save Twilight!” she exclaimed, regaining her usual demeanor.

“Ya really think so?” said Spike, looking towards Pinkie Pie.

“I know so!” Pinkie exclaimed, trying to cheer Spike up. Spike smiled back at Pinkie pie.

The duo reached the fence surrounding Sweet Apple Acres. Spike climbed through the horizontal gaps in the fence while Pinkie Pie simply hopped over. They quickly made their way through the orchard, passing many apple trees. Before long, they heard barking.

“S’the matter Winona? Sumthin’ out in the orchard!?” a voice called out from the farm house. A door slam could be heard from off in the distance. The barking quickly became louder.

“That sounded like Applejack,” observed Spike. He and Pinkie Pie continued onwards through the apple trees.

Suddenly, a small form leaped out towards them. It was only Winona. “Winona! What is it?” asked a nearby voice. Applejack finally appeared to Spike and Pinkie Pie. Winona simply started panting in excitement.

“Oh! Howdy, Pinkie Pie! Spike!” said Applejack, greeting her two great friends. She lowered her head to meet Winona, giving the dog a nudge. “S’alright Winona. Ya’ can go back to the house.” The dog barked once in response, and promptly disappeared into the orchard towards the house.

 “So what ya’ll doin’ out here this early?” she inquired.

Spike stepped forward. “It’s Twilight! She’s in danger!” he exclaimed. Applejack expressed concern with her eye brows perking up. “We were staying the night at the Castle. I woke up and found Twilight was gone. So I went to go find her, and saw her being carried off towards the castle dungeon at Celestia's orders. She was beaten up!”

Applejack’s face went from concerned to horrified. “What!? Ya’ll mean ta’ tell me that Princess Celestia had Twi attacked and jailed?” she asked, already knowing the answer. “But, why? That dun’ make any sense.”

Spike opened the book bag to retrieve the book that he and Twilight snatched from the library. “If this book is any indication, Twilight’s gonna die...” answered Spike, as his head lowered in despair.

Applejack couldn’t believe what she was hearing. But she knew Spike wasn’t lying. He would never lie about something like this. And being the element of honesty, she could tell he was sincere. “Well what are we waitin’ fer? Let’s go save her!” exclaimed the blonde and orange earth pony.

“Yeah Spike! We’ll save her!” chimed Pinkie Pie, bouncing into the air.

“Okay. We should gather the everypony else and figure out how,” suggested Spike. A serious look crossed his face. “Applejack, can you go get Fluttershy?” Applejack nodded in response. “And Pinkie Pie. Go find Rainbow Dash.” Pinkie saluted rather comically.

“Okey-Dokey-Lokey!” exclaimed the pink happy-go-lucky pony.

“Alright. I’ll go get Rarity. Meet up back at the Ponyville Library,” said Spike, with determination ever so obvious in his voice. Applejack and Pinkie Pie nodded in agreement.

With that, the group split up to search for their friends.

*     *     *

A loud thumping sound startled the mare awake. Her head shot up quickly, looking towards the iron door. The small opening in the door revealed somepony to be standing right outside.

The door slowly opened, letting more light into the room from the hallway. A shadow was cast over Twilight Sparkle's form. The shadow of an alicorn. Her eyes gazed into Twilight’s, imposing a highly malicious intent.

“Twilight Sparkle,” spoke Celestia, calmly. “You’re probably wondering why I had you imprisoned, aren’t you?” questioned the Princess, a mocking tone accompanying her words.

Twilight lowered her head, her eyes displaying anger. She felt betrayed; hurt by the sudden turn of events. She was in utter despair, but intended to defy this evil princess until the end. “You’re damn right I do,” growled Twilight, looking back up to Princess Celestia.

A smirk had ran across Princess Celestia’s visage upon Twilight’s remark. She remained standing in the open doorway. “I’ll tell you, my little pony,” replied Princess Celestia. “I just wish it did not have to come to your imprisonment.”

“What do you mean?” inquired the imprisoned unicorn.

“Do you know about the nature of immortality, Twilight?” she asked. She was rather nonchalant about how she asked Twilight.

Twilight shot Celestia a hard glare, remaining silent.

“Immortality, my little pony, does not come naturally, even to alicorns.” revealed Princess Celestia. Twilight arched a brow, continuing to listen. The mare was admittedly surprised and intrigued. She had always thought that alicorn's had eternal life.

“We alicorns have long lifespans, yes, but they are still limited, just like everypony else’s. Under normal circumstances, I probably would have passed away by now,” she remarked, her face stoic.

Twilight thought for a moment, trying to piece together everything. Alicorns aren’t immortal, but Celestia seems to be anyways. Twilight then recalled the contents of the book; about how everypony in but her and Celestia was dead, with their hearts removed. On top of that, like her,all of them been been a personal student of Princess Celestia.

“Figured it out yet?” asked Princess Celestia, smiling rather mockingly.

“No way...” muttered Twilight. “You... Your students...”

“That’s right, Twilight Sparkle,” said Princess Celestia. “I have killed every single one of my students.”

Twilight’s eyes widened with small gasp, stunned at the revelation as she began to nervously sweat. The liquid expelled from the mare's pours quickly ran cold.

“They were sacrificed using forbidden, arcane magic; an ancient ritual that I discovered long ago.” Celestia continued to gaze into Twilight’s eyes, intimidating the unicorn.

Twilight turned away in despair and anger, her animosity growing for the Princess. She calmed herself however, and turned back to face Princes Celestia.

“Is Princess Luna in on this too?” inquired Twilight, curiously.

“No. I never told her about my discovery,” she replied.

Twilight tilted her head in confusion. “Then, how come she-”

“An unintended side effect from the seal that was placed on her when I banished her to the moon. It stopped her from aging while she was there. But that’s not important,” interrupted Celestia, knowing what Twilight’s predictable question would be.

“What’s important, Twilight Sparkle, is that your sacrifice will sustain my immortality,” divulged Celestia. She let out a sinister chuckle, slowly approaching the imprisoned unicorn. “You see...” Celestia began to say. Twilight backed up into a corner as far as she could, her eyes widening in terror.

“The ritual needs a pony who has been strengthened by the magic of friendship,” spoke Princess Celestia, lowering her head to Twilight’s level, mere inches from the purple mare’s face. “I just wish you didn't go snooping so I could have taken you by surprise.” Princess Celestia brought a front hoof up to Twilight’s chin, raising her head a little, silently mocking her for the moment.

The look in Twilight’s eyes reverted to anger, and spat in Celestia’s face. “You won’t get away with this, Princess Celestia!” insisted Twilight, her voice angry.

Princess Celestia jerked back, wiping the spit off her face with a hoof. Her eyes narrowed has her hoof then moved to the side. Quickly, the hoof struck the side of Twilight’s jaw. She yelped in pain as her head jerked to the side, leaving another bruise. “Stupid mare. I’ve been getting away with it for the past thousand years,” claimed the Princess. The frustration in her voice was noticeable. Twilight sat there, looking back at the princess with a glare.

Celestia quickly changed her demeanor however. She put on an lightly arrogant smirk as her poker face. “I suppose you’re also wondering what I did about Spike,” Celestia speculated. Twilight’s glare diminished to a state of sadness before returning to its former flare of anger.

“YOU LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS!!!” Twilight demanded, shouting full force. The fire in her furious glare only intensified.

Princess Celestia remained unmoved. “He’s dead, Twilight Sparkle,” she claimed, keeping her smirk. “I killed him. Ran him through with my very own horn.” Princess Celestia chuckled with apparent content.

With that, Twilight was broken. He anger vanished, her eyes widened, her mouth hung low. Her face froze like this. The distraught mare’s eyes swelled up with tears, flowing down her face. Twilight could not believe what she was hearing. Absolute despair weighed down onto the mare’s shoulders like an ocean, and all hope vanished.

“No...” she whispered. Shaking her head, tears flying off her face, she continued, “No... No! NO!! NOOO!!!” Twilight couldn’t contain herself any longer. A surge of rage and despair flowed through her body like her own blood. Twilight lost all hope. She cried out, gritting her teeth as her head hung low, tears dripping onto the floor. “How could you do this!?” screamed the unicorn. Celestia did not reply.

Unbeknownst to Twilight Sparkle, however, Princess Celestia was bluffing. She doubted Twilight would find out Spike was actually alive, being confident that she could have the baby dragon hunted down and killed. The Princess relished in Twilight Sparkle’s intensified sorrow. The princess laughed softly, turning towards the door.

“Hmph. Despair while you can, my little pony. Your time is almost up,” she said, looking back at the broken Twilight Sparkle. With that, the door slammed shut, the door’s lock giving a click. The purple unicorn was left to her own devices again, alone in her prison cell, emotionally broken.

*     *     *

The sun was peeking over the horizon more, blanketing Ponyville in its morning light. The light shined through the partially closed drapes into the Carousel Boutique.

“Hmmmm. What else does it need?” questioned a certain white unicorn, looking over a recent design. “Perhaps a few more jewels here,” she suggested to her self, bringing a hoof up to her chin. The white mare was excited about her new client, a fairly well known marketer based in Canterlot. This could be good for Rarity’s business.

Rarity’s horn lit up, magic flowing through it as she trotted over a chest. It opened, revealing a number jewels, gems, and diamonds. “Ah, yes! This one is splendid!” Rarity exclaimed, levitating a diamond out of the chest. She trotted back over to her nearly completed dress, worn by a mannequin.

Without warning, before she could attach the diamond, Rarity heard knock at her door. The white unicorn looked up from what she was doing. “Hm. Now who could that be?” she asked herself, trotting over to the door. Rarity’s horn lit up, causing the door to open.

“Oh! Hello Spike.” she said, seeing the baby dragon on the other side of the doorway. She stepped aside to allow him entrance.

“Hey Rarity!” he exclaimed, his eyes drooping with love for a few a seconds. However, given the situation, Spike snapped out of his brief love trance. ‘Not now Spike! Twilight’s in trouble!’ asserted his inner thoughts. “Hey, uh, listen.”

“Yes? What is it Spike?” Rarity questioned.

He inhaled through his nose, closing his eyes, before letting out. “I need your help to save Twilight! She’s in serious danger!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air.

“Whahaha!?” gasped the white unicorn in surprise, her visage expressing great concern. “What ever do you mean?”

“Follow me to the library. I’ll explain there. Pinkie Pie and Applejack are gathering the others,” he quickly explained. “We gotta hurry!” He made a run for the door, signaling Rarity to follow him.

Rarity couldn’t stand by idly knowing that her great friend Twilight Sparkle was in grave danger. She nodded in acknowledgement to Spike, promptly follow the baby dragon out the door. She used her magic to close and lock it once they were outside.

With that, the duo quickly made their way to the Ponyville library to meet up with the others.

*     *     *

“So, does everypony remember the mission objective?” inquired a gruff voice, touching down on the ground in the Ponyville city limits. The Captain of the Royal Guard had just arrived in Ponyville with his troops, ready to commence with their mission. Along with them were carriages with supplies and tents.

“Sir, yes sir!” shouted Royal Guard soldiers in unison.

“That’s what I like to hear!” he yelled in reply. “Now move out! I want the buildings searched thoroughly!”

Various squads of earth, pegasus, and unicorn stallions, equipped with their brilliant golden armor, split up. The entrances were carefully guarded, with sky and street patrols being conducted to search for the baby dragon fugitive. The Captain personally visited the mayor in her office to explain the situation.

A knock sounded at Mayor Mare’s door. “Come in!” she chimed. The door opened, with Captain Strong Wing entering the mayor’s office. “Ah! Captain Strong Wing! What may I do for you?” she asked.

“Miss Mayor, we have a situation. A fugitive has escaped and is hiding here in Ponyville. Our mission is to find and arrest him. Princess’s orders.” explained the Captain, his face stoic.

“Who is the fugitive?” Mayor Mare inquired, tilting her head a little.

The Captain unrolled a small wanted poster of Spike, revealing it to the Mayor. Miss Mayor raised her brow in surprise.

“Spike? But he always seemed like such a good baby dragon. What in Equestria made him a wanted criminal?” asked the Mayor.

“We have reason to believe he is responsible for the disappearance of element bearer Twilight Sparkle,” replied Strong Wing. He fed the mayor the cop out explanation, something everypony was going to hear in an attempt to rally support from civilians,

“Oh dear...” she muttered. A look of disappointment crossed the Mayor’s face. “Well, old friend, I wish you good luck on your search.” Miss Major briefly shook hooves with the Captain. “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

“Your cooperation is appreciated,” he said. “But we have this under control.”

The Mayor nodded. Captain Strong Wing turned to the door and exited the Mayor’s office to personally assist his troops in the search for Spike.

*     *     *

Approaching the Ponyville Library, Spike and Rarity spotted several armored pegasi flying in the distance above the town. “Oh no! It looks like Princess Celestia has sent out troops, probably to find me!” shouted Spike, becoming frantic at the situation.

“It will be alright, Spike. We just need to meet the others and we’ll sort out this whole mess,” reassured Rarity, smiling at Spike. “Let us go into the library for now.” Spike nodded in agreement.

Spike and Rarity reached the door to the library. As the baby dragon reached for the door knob, he heard sounds coming from the other side, but he couldn’t make out what they were. Spike and Rarity glanced at each other before directing their focus back on the door. He promptly pushed the door open and stepped inside, with the white unicorn in tow.

The two Royal Guards who were searching library looked up towards the door, distracted from their searching. There, they saw the baby dragon in question, looking back them.

Spike’s eyes widened, taking a step back, having just been spotted by the guards. He could only say one thing.

“Uh oh...”