Having been granted rulership over the city of Vanhoover, and confessed their feelings for each other, Lex Legis and Sonata Dusk have started a new life together. But the challenges of rulership, and a relationship, are more than they bargained for.
“Are you sure you don’t feel anything? No indigestion? No stuffiness? No tickle in the back of your throat?”
Twilight’s question earned a sigh from Spike, rolling his eyes in irritation. “Ei heew hain.”
Blinking at the nonsensical answer, Twilight belatedly removed the tongue depressor from her assistant’s mouth, quenching the light from her horn as she ceased examining the back of his throat. “Sorry, what was that?”
“I said I feel fine,” huffed Spike, rubbing his chin gingerly. For all that he regularly munched on gemstones, five uninterrupted minutes of holding his mouth open had left his jawbone aching something awful. “Twilight, I’m telling you, there’s nothing wrong with me. If Starlight had sent a reply, I would have received it.”
“Then why hasn’t she written back yet?!” Twilight’s yell was accompanied by a reflexive flap of her wings, but it was anxiety, rather than anger, that colored her features. “It’s been seventy-two hours since we sent her the instructions for the spell that’ll let her write back, and there’s been no word!”
Spike grimaced as Twilight began to pace up and down the length of the train car. Fortunately it was one that they had all to themselves, Princess Celestia having reserved the entire train for their trip to the Crystal Empire. With her and Princess Luna, along with a small cadre of guards and retainers, having taken the frontmost car, there were plenty others where Twilight could fret uninterrupted.
“Come on, Twilight,” Spike pleaded, hating how distraught she looked. “I know Starlight’s special talent is magic, but you said that spell wasn’t exactly an easy one. Not to mention her horn was still injured, right? So it’s probably no big deal that she’s taking a little longer than you thought to write back.”
Twilight rounded on him, incredulity and panic written all over her face. “No big deal?!” she echoed. “No big deal?! Less than two days after I take on my very first student, she winds up being thrown into another dimension filled with all sorts of dangers, right alongside the dangerous maniac who attacked us in our own home, and now she’s not writing back even though we’ve sent her eleven letters in the past three days begging her to let us know how she’s doing, and you’re saying it’s NO BIG DEAL?!”
Flinching, Spike managed a rictus grin. “Um…yes?”
“AUGH!” Flopping down onto an empty seat, Twilight buried her face in her hooves, her nervous energy temporarily expended. “This is all my fault, Spike,” she moaned. “I never should have let Starlight chase after Silhouette like that.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself,” offered Spike, a worried look on his face as he crept closer to her, not wanting to trigger another outburst. “You told Starlight not to go after him, but she took off on her own anyway.”
But Twilight shook her head. “I should have done something. If I’d put up a force field or telekinetically grabbed her or even just flown a little faster, she’d still be here right now. And I never should have left that portal just sitting there like that, waiting to be activated.”
Wincing at the guilt in her voice, Spike found himself wishing he had some backup, knowing that a funk this bad would be difficult for him to break Twilight out of all on his own. But there was no one else available. Although all of their friends had offered statements of support – both for what had happened to Starlight, as well as for Luna’s restoration – before the two of them had boarded the train, none of them had been able to come with them, citing personal obligations that needed to be fulfilled.
That was something that neither Twilight nor Spike could begrudge them. While their friends had made it clear that they didn’t regret having dropped everything to run off to Vanhoover with them, Rarity had orders that had begun to pile up at the Carousel Boutique in her absence. Applejack couldn’t bring herself to miss another harvest at Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy had let it slip that Angel would have a temper tantrum of epic proportions if she left again anytime soon. Rainbow Dash had bemoaned the chewing out she was sure to receive from the other weather ponies for leaving them in a lurch. Pinkie Pie had said something about needing to bake three hundred cupcakes ASAP…though nopony was certain if that was because Sugarcube Corner had a backlog of baked goods that needed to be made or if she was simply feeling particularly hungry.
With Soft Mane wanting to stay behind to look after her mother, and Princess Celestia putting all of her focus on Princess Luna – who was in a decidedly mixed frame of mind, being almost too nervous to be hopeful – that left nopony else to try and keep Twilight calm as she fretted over Starlight’s increasingly-worrisome lack of response. Now, with no one else to help him talk Twilight through the latest of what was becoming a series of self-inflicted guilt trips, Spike fell back on one of the more tried-but-true tactics he’d learned for managing Twilight: distract her. “So,” he began, trying to sound nonchalant, “do you think the crystal ponies will be able to remove Lex’s curse from Luna?”
The look Twilight gave him in response made it clear that she knew exactly what he was doing. But she held it only for a moment before sighing. “I hope so,” she murmured, turning her eyes toward the window at where the Crystal Empire was rapidly approaching. Normally it took three days by train to get there from Ponyville, but Princess Celestia had requested that the engineer make the best time possible. Between that, and the train not making any of the stops that it normally would have on the way there, they’d managed to cut that time down considerably. “After everything that’s happened, we could all use some good news.”
Spike wasn’t sure what to say to that. Fortunately, he was saved from coming up with a reply as a knock sounded from the door at the front of the car, a guard sticking his head in a moment later. “Princess Twilight? The engineer says that we’ll arrive at the Crystal Empire in thirty minutes.”
Twilight managed a smile, nodding in acknowledgment. “Thank you.”
She held the expression until the armored stallion had left, her worried look reasserting itself as soon as the door closed. “If this doesn’t work, Luna’s going to be crushed.”
“It’ll work,” replied Spike confidently as he climbed onto the seat next to Twilight’s. “And Starlight will write back before you know it, too.”
Twilight couldn’t help but raise a brow at that. “What makes you so sure?”
Pointing a clawed thumb at the glittering buildings visible out the window, Spike smirked. “Because when Spike the Brave and Glorious comes to the Crystal Empire,” he answered smoothly, “the day’s as good as saved.”
Twilight just stared at him for a moment, before a strangled snort escaped her lips, finally turning into a full-blown bout of giggling. “Let me guess,” she tittered, “you were saving that line to use on Soft Mane?”
Blushing as she saw right through him, Spike gave an embarrassed smile. “I was really hoping to show her the statue of me while we were there.”
Still chuckling, Twilight reached over and wrapped the little dragon up in a hug. “We’ll take a picture of it for her,” she promised. “One with all of us in front of it. You, me, Princess Celestia, Luna, and Starlight, together.”
Glad that he’d managed to cheer her up, Spike hugged her back…and hoped that things would turn out the way he’d predicted.
“Everything’s prepared,” reported Cadance, flying up to the third-story balcony that jutted out over the front of her palace, where Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Spike, and Shining Armor were gathered. “The Crystal Heart is in place, and the crystal ponies are all here.” Landing, she walked over to her husband, giving him an affectionate nuzzle before directing a warm smile at Luna. “Are you ready?”
Swallowing, Luna managed a nod. “Yes, I am.”
“Alright.” Parting from Shining Armor, Cadance headed back toward the edge of the balcony, spreading her wings. “I’m going to lead the crystal ponies from down there, so that I can add my love to the Crystal Heart as well.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, surprised. “You can do that?” she blurted. “I thought only crystal ponies could empower the Crystal Heart.”
“Normally that’s the case,” explained Shining Armor, smirking as he nodded toward the crystal heart cutie mark on his wife’s shapely flank. “But Cadance is an exception, being the Princess of Love and all.”
“And being a disciple of Lashtada, the goddess of love, doesn’t hurt either,” added Cadance with a smirk of her own, before her expression turned serious as she glanced at Luna again. “I’ve been praying for our success since I got word that you were coming. I’m sure Lashtada won’t let us down.”
Luna managed a smile at that, though her expression remained strained. “Thank you, Cadance.”
Giving one last nod, the alicorn priestess flew back down, leaving the others to await the Crystal Heart’s activation.
Knowing that it wouldn’t take very long, Celestia turned to her sister. “Luna, I know that you’re nervous about whether or not this will work. That’s why, even though I’m certain it will, I want you to know how proud I am of the courage you’re showing right now.”
This time Luna’s smile was much shakier, but it was also far more genuine. “Celestia,” she began, her voice trembling as she moved to rest her head against her sister’s chest. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“I’ll always be with you, sister,” murmured Celestia, wrapping one foreleg around Luna and pulling her into an embrace. “Always.”
Off to the side, Twilight smiled at the display of sororal affection, and Spike surreptitiously wiped his eye with a claw. The only one not watching the two was Shining Armor, looking down at where the pellucid streets of the Crystal Empire were lined with ponies. “Here we go,” he murmured, watching as they all knelt, directed by the voice of his wife – unseen, since she was standing in the open plaza where the elevated palace’s first floor would have been were it a normal building, and where the Crystal Heart was displayed now – which was raised, not in command, but in a gentle request for them all to share the light and love that dwelt within them.
Immediately, a gentle glow began to gather beneath the crystal ponies’ hooves. It spread out slowly along the translucent roadways, the radiance from each of the crystal supplicants mixing and merging, growing brighter and stronger until it filled every one of the pathways that connected the Crystal Empire, a visible representation of the bonds that its citizens shared. Everyone on the balcony knew from experience that in a few seconds, the Crystal Heart would absorb that power, and then radiate it outward in a field of powerful magic that would cover the entire Crystal Empire…and hopefully blow Lex Legis’ evil magic completely apart.
Luna closed her eyes.
Celestia held her breath.
Shining Armor bit his lip.
Twilight shuffled in place.
Spike let out a belch.
That last one was incongruous enough that everyone turned to look at the little dragon…and so everyone saw the green bout of flame that left his mouth, resolving into a folded scrap of paper that arced through the air toward Twilight a second later.
“It’s here!” gasped Twilight, the tension of the moment suddenly forgotten as she grabbed the letter with her telekinesis, pulling it to her as she tore it open, her eyes devouring its contents. “It’s from Starlight! She…” Words failed her as her brain caught up to what she’d just read.
Beneath them, the light filling the streets of the Crystal Empire suddenly raced inward, drawn by the pull of the Crystal Heart.
But Twilight didn’t register that at all, nor did she hear the voices of the people around her asking what was wrong. Instead, she could only stare at the single line of script written on Starlight’s letter.
Captured by griffons. Taken someplace called Cuachan. HELP!
Then the love gathered by the Crystal Heart burst outward, washing over everyone.
Twilight finds out what's happened to Starlight, as the Crystal Heart is used on Luna at last!
Has the curse Lex placed on Luna been lifted? What will Twilight do about her wayward student?
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being honest, this feels like the connection to a part of the story I haven't read
Could I have a spoiler?
With WARGAMES here, I haven't been reading the rest of David Silver's stories lately so I do wonder if this actually happened in his story or if it's bait for David to write it.
Regardless, your flair for cliffhangers are on form as usual, by which I mean frustrating and good at the same time. At first I thought Spike might have been right about Starlight's delay with her response since casting magic with a bad horn is a bad idea. Still, to have been captured, most likely by slavers, Twilight's fears and paranoia is gonna skyrocket.
And that's not adding in the ambiguous result of the Crystal Heart's magic on Lex's curse...
10736059
So I take it you didn't read the part about this being a sequel, with a link to the previous story right there in the description?
10736059
Everglow's a D+D world. Twilight has a portal that goes there. Griffons in Everglow are normally as friendly as any other race?
I'm not sure if anything else from the prequel was relevant for this chapter.
10736141
I quote:
I hope that this explains my query
10736274
That still puts it on you for not reading the other stories and then asking what's going on when people or events from them are referenced. As pointed out, you were warned this was part of a larger series, even if it does mostly stand on its own.
Prediction: Starlight is gonna be the first to find the missing siren sister.
10736279
so, given that I personally have very little understanding of d&d, would your previous comments indicate that if i asked for information about a spell or curse from d&d or ponyfinder, it would be my fault for deciding to read a story which is partially based on d&d, despite the fact that the story itself is compelling?
Firstly, let me explain my intention by posting this comment: I was originally hoping to know if this links to a part of ponyfinder that i am unclear on. The name was seemingly used to create a cliffhanger, so I was hoping to find information that helps explain the cliffhanger to me. I was also wondering if this was a link to the sister/prequel story. I was aware of the presence of the sister story, and I was wondering out loud whether the event in this story is a reference to an already posted part of the prequel/sister story, or if it was some new detail that had not yet been explained in the story.
Secondly, as part of internet culture, Who asked you? If you feel that a request for information about a story is rude or impolite in a way, please feel free not to respond. I felt that lacking some knowledge about any complicated story is fair, and acceptable, so asking for additional information, such as how significant the name of a town is, or what this letter means, or for additional data should be alright. again, if answering a request for a spoiler is annoying or difficult, I fail to comprehend how pointing out a link to a large story is overly helpful in answering my question. You see, I find that searching approx. 400k words (both prequels) for an explanation of a town is rather tedious. if I can ask someone who has read those 400k words and is willing and able to explain these, I would much rather do that.
Or as simply as possible, If i make a video game reference, and someone doesn't get the reference, and you understood it, would you tell them to buy the video game to understand the reference?
10736154
Thank you man, I appreciate the effort
So...is Lex ever going to get around to bringing Adagio back with him?
At this point in the Crystal Empire, could it be considered a direct conflict? between the wishes and abilities of two opposing? Everglow deities. One which cast the curse directly, but has very few followers, and the other which has an entire city of followers that are supported by a high priestess, temple, and focusing artifact? Would it be at this point that the Mortal Plane Rules of Deific Interaction or equivalent would be called upon, and possibly even Pantheon ruling, at least on further interactions at this level, if not this actual interation?
Starlight was dropped on because Everglow Griffins are like Player Class or Enabled? Pathfinder Griffins, which are far larger, stronger and can have Classes, Feats, Abilities, Skills as such? Or, are they Human or Player Race flown Mounted Combat Griffins? and she didnt have chance to detail such on her message?
How long did she take to get the message sent, andhow long did it take for the dimentional, planar journey? Any delays, interuptions by defense spells or intrested deities?
10736059
10736141
10736154 There is indeed a connection to another fic, but it's not one of the ones that directly precedes this. Rather, Cuachan is a griffon city where several chapters of Tarnished Silver and Clouded Diamonds takes place. The significance being due to that particular story being a sequel to The Apple Falls Far From the Tree, which is the story that Lateral Movement follows; essentially, it's a nod to this story's sister story. It's not the first one, either; the glimpse we got of Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Blue, and Gneech (back in Chapter 436, before they were lost again as of Chapter 442) was in reference to that particular fic also, since that's the story where Blue and Gneech joined them.
Having said that, name-dropping Cuachan was (like a lot of external references) meant to be something of an easter egg. If you'd read that story, it would ring some bells, but if not then the line where it's mentioned retains significance simply because it reveals that Starlight has been captured by griffons and needs rescuing (since she wrote "HELP" in capital letters). And of course, her naming the place she's been taken makes sense from an in-character perspective also; Twilight doubtlessly told her to say where she was when she wrote back (remember how frustrated Twilight was when Pinkie couldn't name the town where she'd left Diamond Tiara and the others back in Chapter 445?).
So my intention was for the line to have dramatic relevance whether you'd read that particular story or not. That said, I certainly don't mind explaining the significance, since this isn't technically spoiling anything...though it might be a hint that some part of that other story might become relevant to this one soon.
10736108 If you look at my previous comment, you'll see that this is indeed a reference to another one of David Silver's stories, one that takes place concurrently with Lateral Movement, though the reference wasn't intended to be one that excludes anyone who hasn't read that particular fic. Rather, it's more of a hint as to something that may or may not become relevant later on.
As for Starlight, well, clearly Spike's hope that everything would turn out alright isn't going to come true. A rescue mission is almost certainly going to need to be mounted, and that means danger. Of course, there's no mention of what happened to Silhouette; is he there with her? Or has something else happened?
And of course, we still don't know what effect the Crystal Heart had on the curse Lex placed on Luna...
But yeah, I do love writing cliffhangers; to quote someone else, "Ain't I a stinker?"
10736337 An intriguing possibility, though it's worth noting that Cuachan is far outside the Pony Empire's borders, and while we don't know precisely where Adagio is now, the last place we can definitively place her is Viljatown, the Pony Empire's capital.
10736419 He did promise that to Sonata and Aria, but at the moment he's not exactly equipped to deliver on that. He never forgets his promises, however; it just might take him a while to act on it.
10736570 It's questionable how much the use of the Crystal Heart to break Lex's curse could be considered a proxy struggle between the Night Mare and Lashtada. While it certainly appears that way from a political standpoint, Lex's curse was cast entirely of his own accord, whereas the crystal ponies using the Crystal Heart is something they've always been able to do (and it's uncertain how much having some of them worship Lashtada will affect that, if it does at all). So the degree to which either deity is able to manifest their power in Equestria wouldn't seem to factor into it...at least, that's the idea. The reality might turn out to be different. Or it might not; we'll have to wait and see.
Everglow's griffons are different than your standard Pathfinder griffons, the same way unicorns there (and on Equestria) aren't your typical Pathfinder unicorns. Rather, Everglow's griffons are detailed in the (aptly named) Griffons of Everglow (please be aware that's an affiliate link), a sourcebook which also details the city of Cuachan, I'll note. In other words, they're a PC race unto themselves, with quite a few griffon-specific mechanics (e.g. feats, archetypes, traits, etc.).
Presumably, Starlight's message was instantaneously delivered after it was sent. That's how it usually works for Spike's messages (and similar magic, such as sending), though I suppose there could be a delay or a second or two. Which isn't to say a delay is impossible, only that it would be highly unusual.
and the Crystal Heart failed..
10736656 Well, that remains to be seen. With everyone hoping for the best, even as they worry about the worst, which result has come to pass?
10736633
Ah, okay, I see now. Thanks for letting me know.