//------------------------------// // Funfzehnte // Story: Gestalt // by The Writer's Group //------------------------------// psp7master was given only the fourteenth chapter and was asked to write this fifteenth, final chapter. Twilight concentrated all her magic, channelling it through her horn. A simple inspecting spell, nothing too elaborate. She closed her eyes, feeling a whirlwind of power building inside her, a whirlwind that might be too difficult to handle, shall something go wrong. She had never felt an emotion so intense; so pure, and so dark at the same time. It seemed as if her magic had somehow got out of her control and was leaded by some mysterious puppeteer concealed in the shadows of her own mind. Hello, Twilight. “Huh? Who’s there? Who are you?” the lavender unicorn demanded aloud, making her friends exchange concerned glances. I am you. “What are you talking about?!” Twilight was becoming impatient: she had business to do! She had to save her brother, and the whole Equestria, from- Oh. Of course... That makes sense, Twilight thought. There, there, the voice in her head replied. You needn’t speak to talk to me. You don’t want to worry your friends, do you? The unicorn could swear she could sense thick mockery in Gestalt’s tone. What do you want from me? she thought, gradually feeling more and more enveloped in the magical darkness that filled the cave. “Twilight?” she heard Rarity’s concerned voice. Then came the others; but those she did not hear. Her friends were becoming distant, their voices flowing away, their silhouettes consumed by the shimmering blackness. Now, that’s better, isn’t it? No, it is not! Twilight retorted, losing her composure. Give me my friends back, and, for buck’s sake, give me my brother back! she practically roared inside her head. “Um... Twiley? I am here...” The unicorn turned round, only to see Shining Armor standing right behind her, a confused expression on his face. “Shining!” Twilight exclaimed aloud, galloping towards her brother; but, no matter how fast she ran, the distance between them didn’t seem to shorten. Finally, the lavender mare ran out of breath and stopped, breathing heavily. A feeling that something was wrong didn’t leave her head for a single second. Uh-uh, the voice laughed. You want to reunite with your brother, little Twiley? Then you have to join me! That was his trick, Twilight realised. Gestalt was feeding on ponies’ souls, much like changelings were feeding on ponies’ love. But while changelings were countless minions of one powerful queen, Gestalt was his own master - and a terrible one at that. It wasn’t her brother that he was after, no; Shining Armour was only a bait, a lure for the Elements of Harmony to follow. “Giiiiiirls!” Twilight yelled on top of her lungs. They can’t hear you, Twilight, the mocking voice replied in their stead. They are too busy fighting illusions of their own device. “Of your own device,” Twilight retorted aloud, hoping that maybe, if she just kept on talking, Gestalt would loosen the grip on her friends. Oh no, dear Twiley! The terrible voice laughed, and that laughter resonated all around the cave, making the lavender unicorn shiver slightly. “Twilight?” a soft, scared voice reached the librarian’s ears; it was terribly near, but at the same time seemed so distant. “What is this eternal racket?” another voice demanded, lady-like tones filling it with grace and elegance. “Woah nelly! Ah can’t say that was laughter! Our pigs c’n laugh better!” “Show yourself so I can kick your ass, Gestalt!” “Woooo! It’s very scary, Mr. Gestalt - or shall I call you Luce? I know your friends call you Luce and would really like to be your friend because I like making friends everywhere and this is the end of the story and-” “Giiiirls!” Twilight demanded, eager to play upon the beast’s mistake as quickly as possible. “The Elements! Now!” The Bearers immediately understood everything and channelled their powers through the enchanted gems, their Elements flowing freely, all aimed at one goal - Gestalt. Twilight closed her eyes, losing herself in a tidal wave of magical power containing both the spell to destroy Gestalt for good and the surge of her Element. Waves of magic lit the cave, radiating fury and passion. Channelling Loyalty. “Aaargh!” Gestalt cried aloud, no longer able to mess with the ponies’ minds due to the amount of pain he’d received. Channelling Honesty. The beast screamed, his ethereal body aching in imminent torture. Channelling Laughter. “Mercy!” Gestalt cried out, feeling his grip on Shining Armour weakening, which made him only more pathetic in his own eyes. Channelling Kindness. “No. NO!” Ud’lufuce sensed the pain in his body fade gradually, replaced with terrible guilt and embarrassment - the power of Kindness had successfully evaded him up to this moment. Channelling Generosity. Gestalt was not sure what had just happened. He knew that he no longer held Shining Armour - may he be damned - nor did he have any power over anything, even his own body. But the pain was gone; and it scared him. For the first time in his existence, he had been scared, and terribly at that. Am I... dead? the dark being wondered idly. “No,” Twilight’s voice resonated across the cave. “Not yet.” Channelling Magic. The cave erupted in a show of colour and a whirlwind of magical energy, collapsing, its remnants vanishing in the rays of Friendship Cannon, rocks being thrown away for miles. Twilight fell down on the ground, breathing heavily. They... did it? “Twiley!” a concerned voice reached her ears, and she raised her head, only to see her brother, alive and well, approach her, his eyes shining with concern. “Shining...” Twilight smiled, sudden fatigue overwhelming her. “Are the girls all right?” she wondered with a yawn, feeling her eyelids grow heavy. “Yes, they are,” the stallion replied. “How are you? You look terrible!” he exclaimed, eyeing his sister, who just shifted uncomfortably and rolled over. “I’m fine,” she replied. She looked at the blue sky. Birds were diving through it happily, exchanging sweet melodies with each other. Celestia’s sun radiated warmth and happiness all around Equestria, soothing the cold ground, making small critters abandon their slumber and once more come out from their homes, rubbing their sleepy eyes. Clouds were gracefully drifting across the sky, untouched by pegasi, bathing in their own glory and stateliness. Twilight wanted to run aimlessly, sunshine trickling down her coat, or feel the breezy rain cover her whole, or fight the wind as she raced it. But right now, she needed only one thing. Now that everything was over, she could finally allow herself a few minutes of rest. Just a few minutes... “Everything’s fine,” Twilight repeated before closing her eyes, drifting off into the world of peaceful dreams - a world devoid of any nightmares. Das Ende