The throne room was a mess. Piles of books pulled from the archives were stacked around in a disorderly fashion. A spell matrix of chalk was drawn out on the ground while the rug was thrown to the side. A bowl of blood was slowly being filled by Luna while Nightmare Moon worriedly looked over her shoulder.
The stained-glass windows in the throne room each depicted heroes and historical events of the past. They almost seemed to watch the proceedings, as if judging their methods.
"Why don't we use the elements?" Twilight asked as she finished drawing another chalk line.
"The inside of the amulet is fatal to non-alicorns." Celestia flipped through a book, looking for any helpful information. "You and your friends would not survive. Also, Gaiya is too far gone to purify with the elements."
"You don't think there is even a scrap of his old self left in him?" Nightmare Moon asked as her shadows stretched towards the amulet. She was searching for its magical signature personally. "He was my creator, but I never really knew him."
"There might be, but it's not worth the risk." Celestia said. "The fate of all Equestria is in the balance."
"It is still strange to hear that there is a third alicorn. To have it wiped from memory entirely..." Twilight shuddered. "This matrix is as powerful as it is terrifying. I don't want to forget about him, it feels wrong to willingly sacrifice your memory."
"It has to be done. As long as a pony knows Gaiya's name the inner spell matrix will stay powered." Celestia said.
They worked in silence, drawing lines and searching old tomes. It was a mystery to Celestia what was going on outside the castle, but she hoped that Cadance was mitigating the damage. To have two princesses suddenly vanish was not good for Equestria to say the least. They had to finish this research quickly.
Celestia glanced up to Luna. They nodded to each other and Celestia switched places with her at the bowl. Blood flowed and flourished in the bowl. It would be close, but they might be able to get enough in time. The act of draining blood was making her feel weak though. It was no doubt that Luna felt the same, probably worse.
"How do you enter the amulet?" Twilight asked.
"A single touch to the central gem and a code that I have." Celestia said. "Then you are transferred to the realm within the gem."
"Incredible. To think such magic exists." Twilight made another line with chalk. "How did you do it?"
"I made it alone long ago. The spell matrix within was made by all of us three alicorns together." Celestia sighed. "If only I wasn't so foolish."
"There is no changing thy past dear sister. We can only move forward." Luna piped up from where she rested on the ground.
The basis for the spell matrix was nearing completion. With two alicorns, a shadow which was the incarnate of Nightmare Moon, and a genius on par with Star Swirl the bearded, it was only a matter of time until they succeeded. Yet, as they were working the amulet was cracking.
"And so the game comes to a close." Gaiya's voice echoed through her head. "Have fun with your little tantrum darling?"
"I made a mistake and I intend to fix it." Celestia said.
"Who art thou talking to?" Luna asked.
"Gaiya." Celestia said. "He has been lurking in my head for as long as I can remember. Which is to say, a very long time."
"Thou hast never told us such a thing!" Luna frowned, a disappointed look on her face.
"He tricked me into thinking his fake name, Void, helped grow his power." Celestia sighed. "That is why I never told you."
"A heathen then to drive Tia to such lengths." Luna said. "He will do well to be forgotten."
"Okay, that is it." Gaiya's voice grew low. "After all I have suffered, everypony still hates me? I can see I'm not wanted; I will be waiting for you in the amulet. Then I will show you all just what you have been missing out on. Let me tell you, it is going to be beautiful. Oh, the things you will see..."
The presence of Void left her mind. Or was it Gaiya, the real alicorn? What would happen after all of this? They would forget this all ever happened. The spell matrix would be perfect, and the darkness would be locked away forever. Yet, he would also be locked away forever. Did he really deserve that? Or were those words his final game? One last barb beneath her skin, one last whisper in her ear.
This had to be done.
"I think I got it everypony!" Twilight drew one last line in the chalk. "According to my calculations, the existing spell matrix could be modified like this in order to perfect it. Even with the amount of... blood... we have available it should still be possible."
"This is most brilliant dear subject!" Luna looked over the circle.
Twilight looked like she just got blasted by an airhorn from Luna's booming voice.
"It looks perfect, well-done Twilight." Celestia looked over the spell matrix herself. It looked perfect to say the least. Now, there was one last thing to be done. "Now we need a plan. Time is of the essence, but we cannot go in without an idea of what to do."
The sound of an explosion outside echoed throughout the room. Stone dust trickled from the ceiling. Outside one of the castle's windows a group of screaming ponies ran by.
"They seem to be having fun." Nightmare Moon gestured to the window. "They also seem to be destroying the city in a mass induced herd hysteria."
"Then we shall come up with a plan in haste." Luna said. "How can we do this with only two ponies?"
"Three ponies." Celestia glanced over at Nightmare Moon. "If you would join us of course."
"You can count on me, Celestia. I will merge with Luna to grant her more power." Nightmare Moon said.
"Are you sure I can't help princess?" Twilight shuffled her hooves on the ground. "I mean, my friends and I are the elements of harmony, I am sure that we could help!"
"I am sorry Twilight. The space inside the amulet is not fit for anything besides an alicorn. You would suffocate in the void without air." Celestia said.
"Then at least take the elements with you!" Twilight said. "I know that they don't work with you anymore, but maybe they could help!"
Celestia sighed. The elements would not help. They could push back the darkness but could never destroy it. The elements did not eradicate, they purified. Even they, they could only purify if there was something left of the pony to begin with. However, there was no point in not taking the elements with them. They would not stop Gaiya if he broke free, and if he did... it would not end well for Equestria.
"I will take them with. If only to make you feel more comfortable." Celestia said.
"Thank you, princess."
"It is of no trouble. Now, it is time to devise a plan. We will need to carry the bowl of blood to the matrix without spilling it, then we will need to carve the new lines of the spell matrix into place. We will need to do all of this while the central spell matrix is active, giving Gaiya untold magical power. Not to mention, the ancient darkness will be within him and supplying him with further strength." Celestia said.
"How about we use something other than a bowl?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Maybe a closed container."
"Jars?" Twilight suggested.
"That is agreeable. I will fetch them at once." Luna flew and came back with four glass jars. She dumped the jam out within them onto the ground creating a pile of fruity mash.
"A waste..."
"It was necessary. Now, what of the spell matrix? How will we carve the new one in?" Luna asked.
"It is simple, but we will need to subdue Gaiya while we do so. He will be stationary while locked in the spell matrix, we can use this to our advantage." Celestia said.
"So, a classic beatdown? That is something I can get behind." Nightmare Moon slammed her hooves together. On the elegant, wicked looking Nightmare Moon, it looked a bit out of place.
"That is a surprisingly simple plan." Twilight tapped her hood against her chin. "A simple solution is often one of the best."
"Then are we all in agreement? We do not think thy city is going to last much longer." Luna said.
Celestia took a deep breath. This was it; it was time to face Gaiya. The font of her failures. The place that she had begun to fall all those years ago. It was her mistake which had led to all the others. And now, it was time to bury it forever. To be forgotten forevermore until the end of time.
That thought hurt more than she thought it would. The little Gaiya she knew all those years ago flashed through her mind.
"I am ready." Celestia stood. "Will you all stand with me?"
The amulet thrummed with dark energy in response to her words.
"Thou already knowest our answer, Tia." Luna stood.
"I'm not giving up my only two friends." Nightmare Moon glanced over to Twilight. "Unless..."
"I don't know exactly what your story is, but you can call me a friend." Twilight smiled. "I would love to do research on you later!"
"That is... both terrifying and heartwarming." Nightmare Moon nodded. "Then I will call you friend as well!"
"Then let us depart. Twilight, please stay safe for me. I would suggest returning to Ponyville in case things go poorly." Celestia said.
"Wait, you almost forgot the elements!" Twilight said.
"We have them." Luna opened up one of her saddlebags revealing the box of the elements of harmony. The same saddlebag she had been wearing when they fought. Celestia then realized that Luna had the elements during their fight. If things had gone differently... What was done was done and everything had turned out for the better. "We also have the jars of blood."
"Okay... please be safe princesses." Twilight said. "And you as well Nightmare Moon."
"Gaiya should be scared." Nightmare Moon turned into a cloud of dark smoke and enshrouded Luna. A moment later the much taller and powerful Nightmare Moon stood in her place. "Just look at us!"
"Indeed. We do make an imposing sight." Luna stretched her new form.
"It is time!" Celestia felt a burst of energy at the sight of them standing together. Her flaming form and her sisters dark one were indeed intimidating. "Touch your horn to the amulet and cast the entrance spell!"
"Stay safe!" Twilight yelled.
Celestia touched her horn to the amulet. Her horn began to glow red as it resonated with the amulet. Shadows swirled around her like a maelstrom. Luna stood next to her at the eye of the storm. As the dark magic embraced them, she could feel themselves begin to be pulled into the amulet. With a lurching feeling in her chest, Celestia felt her vision fade.
When the maelstrom vanished, all that was left was Twilight who was chewing on her hooves and an ominously pulsing amulet.