Lazy Bones

~6: To The Rescue~

Dear Princess Celestia,

I am writing to you in regards to a possible link between the disappearance of a high wizard by the name of Glyph, and two guards from my barracks by the names Mason and Feather Duster. During my search for these missing individuals we came across an old mill believed to be the location in which they vanished. Within this mill there is a peculiar hole which carries residues of an unknown magical energy. Your student, Twilight Sparkle, pointed out to me that it might be possible the missing guards had requested your high wizards presence upon discovering something magical like this, as she fathomed they all disappeared around the same time. While this is a theory, I believe it may be wise to request your guidance on this matter.

Faithfully, Captain of the Hamlet Guard, Iron Heart

P.s. Twilight Sparkle has also expressed concerns regarding strange behaviour exhibited by some of her friends, while I have no doubt she will inform you of this herself, I feel the need to mention it.

Celestia read the letter, then re-read it, then read it again, this time analysing every word carefully. But as much as she tried there was not denying what was going on, and to make matters worse her faithful student and her friends were caught in the middle of it. Celestia sat in her study waiting for Luna to finish reading the letter. After another moment Luna looked up to address her older sister.

“When did this arrive?”

“Early this morning,” Celestia responded, waiting for Luna to continue.

“And has Twilight Sparkle informed you of this?” she asked, her face remaining passive. Celestia shook her head, failing to disguise her worry. “You know what happening, don’t you?”

“Sometimes I forget how much you missed during your years…” she drifted off but Luna knew she was referring to the years of her imprisonment. “Several centuries ago I travelled to Hamlet and sealed away seven spirits, from what this letter says, it is clear to me, those spirits are now free.”

“What is so dangerous about these spirits?” Luna asked, Celestia thought for a moment before answering, Luna knew she was trying to think of a way of explaining this to her without giving away all she knew, her sister could be very frustrating in those regards.

“They are the embodiment of natural desires taken to the extreme,” she explained, “Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Pride, Sloth, Wrath…”

“And the seventh?” Luna asked, Celestia just looked at her, and Luna began to understand. “you should have told me about this before sister, I had a right to know.”

“I know, and I apologise, but right now I need you on my side, for the sake of Twilight and her friends.”

Luna wasn’t about to argue, she would never have hesitated in following her sister in order to save them, regardless of what Celestia was hiding from her, even if she believed it was to protect her.

“When shall we depart?” Luna asked.

“Right now.”

~

The urgency of the matter at hoof lent speed to the alicorn sister as they soared through the sky, side by side. It was late afternoon by the time they reached Hamlet; Celestia only hoped they weren’t too late. They had already agreed to check the house Celestia fixed them up with first, and upon descending in the town square, as well as catching the attention a quite a few on lookers, they entered the house. It was eerily quiet, Celestia didn’t need to cast her soul detect spell to know there was nopony there, but as she did she detected a faint presence coming from the attic, it was weak but unarguably present.

Having no time to spare Celestia and Luna teleported up through the house arriving in the attic bedroom, to find it littered with books. They were all upturned and thrown in every direction, to anypony else it would look like the house had been burgled, but Celestia recognised the symptoms of her Twilight’s infamous study marathons. It also didn’t take long to find the source of life she had detected, curled up on foal’s cot, lay a snoring dragon.

“Spike, you must wake up,” Celestia announced walking across to him, he began to stir at the sound of her words, “dark matters are afoot and we must locate Twilight.”

Spike yawned and blinked momentarily, then looking up he saw who had addressed him, however he didn’t react, there was no panic or desperation for approval, if anything he looked annoyed at her, this disturbed Celestia.

“How should I know where she is?” he snapped at them both, Celestia’s eyes widened in surprise at this, “she’s your student, you should know. Now go away, I’m trying to sleep.”

Celestia was rarely spoken to like that, and never from someone she considered to be a friend. Luna looked furious at the dragon’s insolence, and looked like she was about to scorn him with the traditional Canterlot voice, but Celestia held up a hoof. Something wasn’t right here, and she had a funny feeling she knew what.

“You look starved Spike, have you really been so tired you couldn’t even feed yourself?” she asked, an edge creeping into her voice.

“Eating takes too much effort,” he groaned, rolling to face away from them, “I’d rather sleep.”

“It seems we got here just in time,” Celestia said in a neutral tone, “shall we do this the easy way, or the hard way, Sloth?”

Spike lay perfectly still, and Celestia could feel Luna bracing herself next to her. After a moment that seemed to stretch out into hours Spike rolled back over, but he didn’t look annoyed any more.

“Nothing goes past you, Celestia,” he spoke, his voice horribly off key, like it was being distorted. He smiled up at them both, his both stretching impossibly wide, his fangs unusually long.

Celestia unfolded her left wing and lowered the object she was hiding under it to the floor. Spike (or more accurately Sloth) stared at it suspiciously.

“What is that, another of your toys Celestia?” he asked, this time there was no hint of mocking friendliness.

“Something like that, I’d go into details but we’re on a tight schedule.” With that Celestia raised her head allowing her magic to flow freely from her horn down onto the black cube that rested between her and Luna.

But Sloth wasn’t having any of it; before either of them could react he leapt of the bed and sent a spout of emerald green fire in their direction. The surprise attack broke Celestia’s concentration and her and Luna were forced to abandon the cube and leap for cover.

“That’s an awful lot of fire power for a baby dragon,” Luna shouted from behind the study desk Sloth laughed.

“You forget, we are the very nature of living beings taken to the extreme,” he explained smugly, “I use my power to make Spikey Wikey feel sleepy, and the more he sleeps the stronger my powers become. So much so that I take even his natural abilities further than he ever could.”

Celestia wanted to retort but she couldn’t think of anything appropriate or clever, and she was vaguely aware of time ticking away. With further hesitation her and Luna both leapt from their covers and began sending a barrage of attacks at Sloth from either direction. Spike’s scales protected him but he was still thrown off balance, in the confusion he let out another bout of dragon fire. The study was now a raging inferno and the princesses were forced to raise shields to protect themselves. Sloth ran from the room just as the floor began to give way, Luna took chase as Celestia rescued the cube before it could become lost in the rubble.

Following after her sister she left the house in time to see Luna tackle Sloth and encase him in her own midnight blue aura.

“Lazy bones,” Luna mocked dragging the dragon over to Celestia where she waited by the burning building, once again gripping the black cube in her own field of magic. All around the town square, ponies came out of their homes to look in horror at what was taking place, Celestia briefly wondered about the political ramifications of two princesses charging into a town outside their rule and burning down a house, but she shook the thought away, she’d cross that bridge when she came to it.

Sloth was now screaming obsanities at them, its voice now resembling nothing of the dragon it was possessing. Not wanting to cause Spike any further discomfort Celestia raised the now fully charged cube to the struggling dragon. Before he could say or do anything more, the cube a dark wave, enveloping the surrounding area. It was like Celestia was submerged in water, curious feeling indeed, but as she thought about it the cube began drawing the bubble of energy it released. As Spike was released from it he stopped kicking and scream and just hung there completely oblivious as to what was going on. When at last all the energy was stored in the cube Celestia could now see a single ball of light floating in the dark object.

~

“Oh Princess, please forgive, I didn’t mean to do it, honest. Oh please don’t banish me, please, please, please…” Spike was blubbering away in Celestia’s lap; she gently stroked his head and whispered assurings in his ear. They sat by the fountain in the town square as Luna put out the fire, a difficult task having been started by dragon fire, but she was more than capable of it. When Celestia finally managed to calm Spike down and made him realise he wasn’t going to be punished she decided it was time to find out what he knew.

“Spike, while you were being possessed by Sloth do you remember anything that happened?” he nodded, whipping his eyes.

“mhmm, I remember everything,” he admitted, “I don’t understand any of it though, at the time it felt like I was in control, but looking back none of it makes any sense.”

“It’s alright now Spike, but we need your help, Twilight and her friends are still in danger and we need to find them,” she informed him, urgency creeping into her voice.

“I’m sorry, they all left at different time, I was sleeping mostly so I don’t know what was going on really,” he said, clearly thinking back hard for anything that might be useful to the princess, “there was some trouble where Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were arrested, we had to pick them up from the barracks.”

Arrested! Perhaps they didn’t arrive just in time after all. This gave them somewhere to start she guessed, and maybe she could identify which spirits were possessing which mares, it would certainly give them a heads up of what to expect.

“Alright Spike, you’ve been very helpful,” she told him honestly, “but we can’t keep an eye on you while we rescue the others so I’m going to teleport you back to Canterlot, you’ll be looked after there and we’ll see you when all this is done.”

Spike nodded, putting his faith in the Princess, with that she focused her powers through her horn and into the baby dragon she was nursing.

Luna walked over just as he vanished, the house was now a smouldering ruin, but at least the fire hadn’t spread to any of the other buildings.

“Do you have any leads sister?” Luna asked, Celestia picked up the cube again, cradling it under her wing.

“Yes, we need to head to the barracks.”

~

“The pink one is due to report in tomorrow your majesty,” the guard on duty informed them, “you can understand why what with the charges that we need to keep track of her.”

“I understand,” Celestia said, hiding her shock at everything she’d been told, Pinkie Pie, guilty of attempted cannibalism? That one was easy, Gluttony. Rarity had stolen jewels, sounded like Greed. Rainbow Dash and Applejack had been in a fight, she guessed one of them was probably Wrath, but had no idea which or what that made the other.

These weren’t really leads but they could probably guess where their desires would drive them. Departing from the barracks they turned to face one another.

“Cannibalism?” Luna said horrified, “this is getting more out of hoof by the minute.”

“No doubts sister, we can’t afford to…” she began but at that moment they were both blown off their feet by a mighty explosion. Regaining her composure Celestia looked up to see a very familiar multi-coloured ring spreading out across the sky. Without a need to communicate both sisters spread their wings and took off to find Rainbow Dash

~

It hadn’t taken them long to spot the rainbow manned Pegasus after that; after all she was leaving a brightly coloured trail for them to follow. Picking up speed they reached to just metre behind her. Celestia held the cube in front of her using her magic; they needed to land Rainbow Dash if they were to trap the spirit.

“Luna,” she shouted over the wind, “we need to convince her to land.”

“Already on it sister,” she shouted back, and then to Celestia’s horror, she fired a black streak of lightening from her horn, striking Rainbow Dash in the flank.

As she plummeted to the ground both princesses dived, each combining their magic to slow and hold the Pegasus as she neared the ground. Celestia would lecture her sister later about the use of dangerous methods in apprehending ponies, but right now she couldn’t deny it was effective. Landing softly they both looked up at the Pegasus who was flailing in her purple prison.

“Let me go, I can’t be seen like this,” she whined, “I have a reputation to uphold.”

That sounded like… well Rainbow Dash to be perfectly honest.

“Rainbow Dash, cease your struggling and submit to our questioning,” Luna commanded. Rainbow Dash stopped and looked down at them, Celestia could see the distain in her eyes.

“Oh, if it isn’t the princesses,” she said in a mock baby voice, “oh so special and amazing, pfft…”

She began flexing her wings and preening her mane, “they should make me a princess, I am so much better than either of you in every way imaginable.”

Pride, Celestia grunted in slight annoyance before addressing Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow Dash is that really what you think?

“Duh, why wouldn’t I?” she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, “is there any doubt after I single hoofedly beat discord.”

“Single hoofedly?” Luna repeated sceptically, “forgive me, but I recall you had help from five other mares in that case.”

“I dint need them,” she said waving a hoof and flicking her a strand of hair with the other, “I could have done it on my own, I was just feeling generous with the glory.”

“Enough,” Celestia said raising the cube as she began power her magic into it.

“What is that thing?” Rainbow Dash asked, Celestia smiled up at her.

“Don’t get the wrong impression Pride, I do learn from my mistakes,” Rainbow Dash’s face fell, “the last time we fought I led you into a trap, the unfortunate side effect is that you had to remain here where I couldn’t keep watch over you, but this time I’m bringing the trap to you.”

Pride didn’t try to fight the hold over her, it knew from past experience it couldn’t be broken with physical force, so it just smiled down at them with Rainbow Dash’s mouth.

“trust you to be a pain in the flank as always Celestia,” it said in its natural, skin crawling voice, “go ahead and use your little trinket on me, it doesn’t matter.”

“And why doesn’t it matter?” Luna demanded as the cube began to emit the dark wave again.

“We wanted revenge,” it said as the wave washed over it, “and we’re going to get it.”

Nothing more was said, as soon as the words left Rainbow Dash’s mouth, the wave was sucked back into the cube, dragging Pride with it.

~

As the three flew over Hamlet, Celestia noticed the stony look of determinism emblazoned on Rainbow Dash’s face. She had taken being possessed very personally, but under all that Celestia also saw the regret etched in her features, she wanted to make amends for how Pride made her act. Celestia wasn’t about to turn away a willing and capable fighter, after all the others might not give in so easily.

As they glided over the streets, Celestia noticed a large commotion ensuing in one of the towns districts. Alerting the others the descended to investigate. It didn’t take a detective to see what was causing so many ponies, so much grief. They appeared to be in a shopping district, and every shop on the street had an identical hole in their front windows, and their interiors ransacked. Celestia immediately recalled the charge Rarity had been brought into the barracks for, and by the looks of things she was now carrying considerably more than several hoof fulls of jewellery.

Where would she hide that much loot? The house was already out, so then… her thoughts were interrupted however as she overheard a pair of guards ponies talking urgently to one another.

“We just got word, they tracked the suspect to the caves outside town,” one informed the other, “they need all the help they can get, apparently some psycho’s loose on top of everything.”

Celestia turned to the other two, they had both heard it as well, so simultaneously they each spread their wings again and took off for the edge of town.

Celestia was familiar with this land, and she knew exactly what caves the guard had referred to. They were just west of the city boundaries and were primarily a tourist attraction. But as they approached they could make out the crowds of heavily armoured and armed guards clustered around the entrance. It seemed none of them were entering however, could it have something to do with the ‘psycho’ the guard had mentioned earlier. Regardless of the circumstances they couldn’t let the ponies be arrested, Celestia knew they weren’t responsible for their actions but she’d have a hard time convincing them that.

Circling around they approached a back entrance Celestia knew of, thankfully it was deserted so it appeared she was the only one. Landing together they entered the narrow gap, Celesta took the lead, lighting their way a spell so powerful it was like the sun itself was shining through the caverns, she was followed by Rainbow Dash and Luna took the rear. As they walked they began to hear noise up ahead, from the sound of it, a high pitched argument. Turning the corner they emerged into a deep cavern lit by cracks in the ceiling. At the bottom of the giant pit before them lay a glittering mould of treasures.

But as Celestia looked closer she found very few of the objects had enough monetary value to be considered treasures, in fact, for the most part it was just random and in some cases useless junk, she even saw the kitchen sink. No doubt this was the work of Greed, and to confirm her thoughts about who might be carrying out this, she saw Rarity laying spread eagle at the top of the pile, trying desperately to scoop it all up out of the reach of… Pinkie Pie?

“Get your filthy hooves off my... uh, things.” Rarity screamed, but Pinkie just hopped wildly around picking up random item after random item and (causing Celestia, Luna and Rainbow Dash’s eyes to become as wide as dinner plates) proceeded to eat them. This was taking Gluttony to a whole new level. Not wasting any more time they leapt down from their perch, gliding silently to the cave floor. Rarity who was still trying fruitlessly to protect her ill-gotten goods didn’t see them, Pinkie however did.

“Hey Dashie,” she exclaimed waving at them, Rarity also looked over, her eyes widening in horror as she saw the princesses, “did you bring any snacks for me?”

“No I didn’t,” Rainbow Dash replied coolly, Pinkie just shrugged a swallowed the pocket watch she was holding in one mouth full. Exchanging a quick glance with Luna, Celestia began to arm the cube; hopefully they were too distracted with their activities they wouldn’t resist. Apparently that was hoping too much.

As both Rarity and Pinkie Pie saw what Celestia was doing their expression darkened.

“Not so fast Celestia,” Greed said from Rarity’s body, “you dint think it would be that easy did you?”

“Well actually your friend didn’t even try to fight back,” Luna said gesturing at Dash, Pinkie rolled her eyes.

“And I thought Sloth was the lazy one,” Gluttony moaned, “none the less…”

And before any of the could react Gluttony leapt across to Celestia and snatched the cube away from her. She raised it into the air over her gaping mouth.

“No!” Celestia screamed, and she fired a small burst of magical energy squarely into Gluttony’s stomach, sending her flying, and the cube to become lodged in the pile of stolen objects. Greed laughed, and with a swish of Rarity’s horn, the entire trove was thrown into a tornado, scattering everywhere. The cube was buried somewhere, and Celestia had no way of finding it quickly.

“Leave them to us princess,” Rainbow Dash said flying off towards Pinkie Pie, while Luna leapt up to face Rarity, “you find that thing.”

Celestia obeyed and dived into the pile, roughly where she hoped the cube had landed.it was easily the most un-royal she’d felt in over a thousand years, buried to her knees in stolen goods while desperately flailing her forehooves in what was becoming an increasingly vain attempt at finding a powerful magical object. With a sigh she reflected on how old she was getting.

The noise around her was deafening on top of everything else, what with Rarity and Luna casting a vast array of spells in every direction, neither making much progress at actually hitting the other, and Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie locked in a constant struggle, bouncing throughout the cavern like they were part of a giant game of pinball. Celestia barely had time to fathom how Rarity managed to steal so much in a single night, and even more curiously how she managed to move it across town without being stopped, but then as she saw Pinkie leap inside an urn and reappear above Rainbow Dash’s head she mentally accepted there would always be things she didn’t understand.

Her searches were proving futile as she heard a scream from behind her, and turned to see Gluttony with its mouth wrapped over Rainbow Dash’s head. She spread her wings ready to rush to her rescue, when her flailing hoof caught hold of something which she swung up, smacking across Gluttony’s head, forcing it off. Celestia blinked in disbelief, so did Dash as she realised what she was holding. Gluttony leapt forward once more but Rainbow Dash was already gone, soaring across to Celestia, the cube clutched to her chest.

Without waiting for Dash to reach her, Celestia began charging her magic, so as Rainbow Dash reached her, Gluttony clambering behind, she was able to send it all powering into the waiting cube, releasing its wave even faster than previous occasions. Gluttony screamed in frustration, but Greed who was still locked in combat didn’t even realise what was happening until it was too late. Both Pinkie Pie and Rarity fell unconscious into the pile as the spirits were wrenched from their bodies and sealed kin the cube.

They all fell to their knees, fighting to get their breath back, it was getting harder to charge the cube, each time it was taking more of her strength to see it through. Alas they weren’t permitted to rest as they had hoped, as at that moment they could hear guards pouring into the caverns, with a single nod to Luna they grabbed the unconscious ponies and all three of them fled the way they came, leaving the stolen items and the oncoming guards behind.

~

Celestia, Luna, Rarity and Pinkie Pie lay in a ditch, several miles outside Hamlet, much to the displeasure of the former three. As Rainbow Dash scouted ahead for any signs of the remaining three, Celestia filled in Rarity and Pinkie Pie on the truth behind their behaviours. Rarity was not surprisingly outright ashamed at her behaviour, quickly regaining her old flair for drama, Pinkie however was strangely upbeat about the whole thing. Celestia knew she was the element of laughter, but for her to show no remorse or even that she understood what had transpired disturbed Celestia, she always was a peculiar one.

After a short break of twenty minutes, most of which Celestia had spent anxiously pacing, Rainbow Dash returned with news.

“I saw Applejack,” she announced breathlessly. Celestia had already surmised Applejack was harbouring Wrath, so when she heard this she was prepared for the worst.

“Where is she? What is she doing?” she requested hurriedly, signally the others to get ready to leave.

“She’s in a park,” she replied, she sounded hesitant, “and she’s… not doing anything.”

Celestia thought about this as they flew, Rarity’s hooves wrapped around her neck, could it be she was wrong? Was Applejack perhaps not possessed by Wrath? She didn’t have long to ponder thins however as she very quickly made out the solitary figure standing in the park. Landing gently behind her, Rarity dismounting, the five began walking forward, remaining cautious none the less.

“Applejack,” Celestia said calmly, when they were only several metres away.

Applejack turned to face them, a slight look of surprise passed her face, but vanished just as quickly.

“Princess,” she replied tilting her hat respectfully, “ah figured you’d come.”

“Applejack… are you feeling alright?” Celestia asked warily, something seemed off about the mare standing in front of her, but it was different from the way the others had felt to her.

“That’s a tricky question princess,” she said, doing nothing to ease Celestia’s concerns, “ah’d be lyin if ah said ah was walkin on sunshine.”

She stalled a moment before continuing, “These last few days, ah’ve been so… angry, all the time.”

Celestia was right, but then what was going on?

“Ah still am, sort of,” she admitted, “deep down ah mean, but it’s different now, ah can’t rightly explain it…”

“Applejack…” Rainbow Dash whispered taking a step forward. Celestia unfolded her wing and lowered the cube in front of her.

“Ah know something wrong,” she said after a moment of silence, “you do what yah have to, ah… ah’m just sorry for what happened.”

Celestia just stared, could Wrath have vacated her? It wouldn’t be like it, and it would serve no purpose, going to the effort of corrupting her only to leave before finishing the job. Luna nudged her, she knew she couldn’t take the chance, kneeling down once more; she touched the tip of her horn to the cube, and began to let her magic flow.

The whole process was over quickly, Applejack barely flinched, and when it was over Celestia stared back into the cube, and saw five lights floating where once there had only been four. Pinkie rushed forward and embraced Applejack tightly, and was soon joined by Rarity and Rainbow Dash.

“She managed to resist it,” Luna said, Celestia looked over and saw she was just as bewildered as herself.

“I didn’t think it was possible,” Celestia confessed.

“thank you princess,” Applejack said breaking away from her friends and stepping over to her, “but ah can see we’re two short, what can ah do ta help?”

Celestia couldn’t help but beam down at the orange mare, “anything you can provide I would appreciate,” she said, “however we are at an impasse, we still have no hint as to where Fluttershy or Twilight is.”

“Hmm,” Celestia turned to see Rarity deep in thought, “perhaps… there was a guard, Twilight was friendly with him, he might know where she is.”

Celestia knew who she referred to, the guard captain who had alerted her to the situation, Iron Heart. It was a perfect lead, turning to Luna she saw she had already taken the initiative and summoned Iron Heart’s personal files.

“We have an address,” she informed the group.

“Then let us waste no more time,” Celestia said, everything was looking up for them.

~

Iron Heart’s house was not in a pleasant state by the time they arrived. It was a burnt out husk, a smouldering shell, ripped apart from the inside. Perhaps the situation was still as grim as they had first appeared. They all entered the house, and to nopony’s surprise it appeared completely deserted.

“Back to square one,” Rainbow Dash muttered angrily.

“Don’t lose all hope,” Celestia encouraged her; “there may be something here which can provide us with an insight as to what took place here.”

Without needing to agree on anything, the party split up, making for different rooms of the surprisingly large house. Celestia, Rarity and Pinkie Pie ascended the stairs together. While the house was ruined, it remained relatively intact and stable; it was not as Celestia had first assumed a completely lost cause. As Pinkie and Rarity both disappeared into separate rooms Celestia walked across the hallway for the only room whose door was already open. Walking inside she found herself in Iron Heart’s bedroom, the evidence being the large bed in the centre of the room.

As she passed through the door way she felt some eerie, like an unpleasant presence. She only realised when she heard the door close gently behind her, and she turned to see Fluttershy, grinning wickedly at her.

“So nice of you to finally drop by Celestia,” the creature inside her said, making her skin crawl. It rested Fluttershy’s hoof on the door the whole room was bathed in a red tint, “now we won’t be disturbed.”

“Fluttershy can’t use magic,” Celestia said, but she already knew what this meant, and she braced herself.

“No, but I can,” it said placing all four hooves back on the ground, “and the more Fluttershy gives into her desires the stronger I become… and she’s given in , a lot!”

“You disgust me,” Celestia said, understanding the hint the creature was giving her, “to corrupt an innocent being like her.”

The creature laughed maniacally, “Celestia you prude, all we do is take what’s already there, and let it bloom. Fluttershy already had those desires; all I had to do was give her a push down the right path.”

Fluttershy started walking across the room, she limped noticeable.

“You’re injured,” Celestia pointed out.

“It doesn’t matter, a minor sacrifice for bringing our plan to fruition,” it said trying to laugh again, but it was too weak.

“I think I can understand what happened here,” Celestia said coldly, Fluttershy grinned even wider, ignoring her pain.

“Then you know you’re already too late,” she said, still approaching Celestia, “will you continue to fight pointlessly? Go ahead, bring out your little box and lock me away.”

Celestia flinched, and judging from the way the creature said that last line it knew.

“But you can’t can you?” it mocked, “using it has made you weak, so you passed it on to your dear sister, who of course, can’t reach us.”

“How did you know?” Celestia demanded, she was worried now; this one was displaying more power and now more knowledge than any of the previous ones.

“Wrath,” she said simply, “you’re puppet might have conquered her anger, but in its last moments, Wrath gave us the information we needed.”

“Enough!” Celestia bellowed, “you will not succeed, I beat you once before and I’ll do it again.”

“Loosen up Celestia,” it said stopping just short of her, “thousand years must be pretty lonely.”

She reached up with a hoof to stroke Celestia’s mane, but she slapped it away.

“Not in your existence Lust,” Celestia spoke venomously. The smile was gone from Fluttershy’s face, and before Celestia could react, she felt pain explode through her whole body.

She fell to her haunches, unable to breathe. No sooner did Lust pull Fluttershy’s hoof from her gut than she sent another hit straight to her jaw. Celestia was sent smashing to the floor, she had no doubt if not for Lust’s spell, she would have been punched straight through the floor. She didn’t need to be a doctor to know that in two hits Lust had broken her jaw and probably a few ribs, but she didn’t stop there. Lust stepped down on her outstretched leg and began to apply even amounts of pressure; she felt the bone snap and would have screamed out in agony if not for her mouth filling rapidly with blood.

Lust was strong; Celestia shuddered to think what it had driven Fluttershy to do in order to gain such strength. She felt Lust grasp her mane and had her head wrenched back so she was staring straight up into the now unrecognisable face. Fluttershy’s eyes were gaping holes, and her mouth was stretched wide, filled with fangs, and dripping saliva.

“We were told not to kill you,” Lust said, “that we were to let you live so that you might see what had become of your faithful student.”

Celestia felt a void open up inside of her, she felt powerless.

“But… I just can’t resist.” Lust dived down, mouth open as wide as it could possible go… then the room exploded. Celestia was tossed away, Lust having lost its grip on her mane. She lay crippled in a heap on the floor, her vision was blurry, her ears were ringing. But she felt something, six figures. Straining her eyes she could make out Lust barely standing in front of her, but it was facing away, facing the figures that now stood where the bedroom wall had been.

“Time to join your brethren,” Luna cried out, and as Celestia’s vision cleared she saw her Sister wearing a golden crown, adorned with a six pointed star cut from an amethyst. Around her stood Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack, all wearing their own respective elements of harmony. And there at Luna’s heels, was Spike, wearing the element of kindness. Lust screamed in protest as the six elements lit up and transferred their power to the cube rotating over Luna’s head. The resulting wave was awesome, not black as it had been all the times before, but pure white light.

It was the last thing Celestia saw, as she slipped out of consciousness.

~

When at last her eyes flickered open, she could see it was night-time through the hole in the ceiling. Around her sat her sister, Spike, the four elements they had already saved… and Fluttershy, whose eyes were bloodshot and puffy, her face streaked with dry tears.

“Sister…” Luna said, the relief unmasked in her voice.

“Princess, I…” Fluttershy began as a fresh wave of tears filled her eyes.

“Hush now,” Celestia whispered, it only occurred to her then that she was once again able to talk. Feeling her limbs were now fully healed although still aching, she raised a hoof and wiped a tear off Fluttershy’s cheek. “it wasn’t your fault.”

“You were badly injured sister, I am sorry we could not arrive to your aid sooner,” Luna said, sounding thoroughly ashamed of herself, Celestia just shook her head.

“You came, that’s all that matters,” she murmured, she wanted nothing more than to continue lying there with her friends around her and rest… but they weren’t finished yet. Six had been defeated, one remained, her faithful student was still in danger. “Fluttershy, there will be time to talk about the things that have passed, but that time is not now. It is more important than ever that you remember, do you know where Twilight Sparkle is?”

There was a moment of silence before Fluttershy answered, her voice barely more than a whisper, “… yes.”