//------------------------------//
// Chapter 03 - Spellbond 
// Story: Mind of Matter - Winds of Change 
// by SilverCreep 
//------------------------------//

	The old stage had been put aside and a new one had been made.
Twilight at one end And Trixie at the other.
You of coruse stood in the middle
Both had requested you be the judge.
You are Anon.
and You're in Equestria.

Ever since your arrival, you've learned a few things about a pony named Trixie, how she was a show-off, a bragger, and just a rather rude pony.
But, in the past three days you were with her, she showed a much softer, and almost determined side of herself.
She and Twilight, from what you gathered, were bitter rivals, and the entire trek from where you arrived to Ponyville was of both you and Trixie plotting to get Twilight into a magic duel for the other mare.
Of course, you don't mind a good fight; but, this was a bit...uneasy.
Especially since you were the judge of it.
*Sigh* Dems the perks of being Human
Everypony wants you.

Trixie and Twilight have agreed to have a duel, on the consent that Trixie shows Twilight how she brought you here.
Which is a big lie.
You came here by an unknown means and she happened to stumble upon you.
BUT in the time you had been with her, she wasn't all bad to be made out from the other ponies.
In fact, she was just alone, and wanted to be favored by many.
A foolish idea to show off and brag, but one she seemed to be very good at; putting on a show anyway.
Now, with you having made the perfect entrance, Twilight had accepted the duel challenge from Trixie and both now stood face to face, ready for the go signal as you exhale.
'Alright...lets keep this a clean good fight, no fancy foolery, no trick shots, simple magic dueling and nothing else.'
You have NO idea how this works anyway, you're just trying to get things straight.
'Winner...I guess...is whoever is the last pony standing between the two... lets not try to off one another alright?'
You cough, Such is the shame of conflict, you can't help but overload this idea with so much want.
Trixie and Twilight duking it out.
Damn that was cool.
You take a step back, watching both of them
'Alright, come in and...well...tap horns or something.'
"Tap horns?" Twilight ask
"Why would we do such a thing?" Trixie adds
You sigh 'Its a sign of respect, you may not want to see eye to eye, but show some dignity in a fight.'
The two blink, looking at one another and sighing, trotting right before you and tapping horns.
"I will win this, and learn HOW you did that." Twilight mutters.
"It wont happen, Trixie will make it so." Trixie replied as they parted back to their starting positions.
You look at each one.
'Ready...' you rose a hand.
Hell would be let lose if you had any idea of what sorta thing you were getting into.
'BEGIN!'
Nothing happens
They just stand there, looking at each other as you back up a good distance to the other ponies, you and the other mane cast are sitting there on the sidelines, waiting for the magic to start flying.

'So....how does this work?' You ask Rarity, standing beside you.,
"Oh heavens, have you never seen such a thing before?"
You shurg 'perhaps not, I know what a duel is, not sure if the same here.'
Rarity smiles "Well darling, its quiet simple really, both Unicorns try to land a perfect hit upon their opponent, it starts off small, throwing things with magic you know, then the disenchanting spells, disabling spells, all those rough and rowdy business of avoiding the others attacks, and then..." she shifted a bit "the real ensemble begins as both competitors try to best the other with their most powerful magics!" She sighed a bit "Such is how these work, a beauty in fighting over somepony special...to be the center of such a thing between two Stallions..." and she was off in her thoughts again.

You didn't mind Rarity's banter on the subject, but how she explained it, and how close you were, you felt a little...uneasy.
The pair before you remained motionless for over a minute before the sudden blip of a rock nearby levitates it under Twilights magic and sends it right over to Trixie.
The blue mare smirks as she caught it, letting it hover before her and then shot it right back only to have it caught by Twilight and returned.
God...
What a boring match of paddle ball you were witnessing.
No one else seemed to mind, but damn, you wish it was....bigger.
It suddenly got bigger.
Before your eyes, you could see the magic radiating between them suddenly spark quite a bit as a table nearby is lifted by Trixie, and without much strain, sent over to Twilight.
The purple mare sees it, and quickly dives aside, letting it smash into the ground.
Twilight smirked, rising the shattered pieces and sending them straight at Trixie.
The Blue mare put up a shield, catching two of them as she sent them right back while the other three bounced harmlessly off her protective barrier.
"Is that all?" Trixie said with a yawn as Twilight gave a scowl. She shot a glance to an apple cart and picked the whole thing up, causing a surprised Big Macintosh to dash off.
"Hey..." Aj began "Ah twi, yah otta be careful with at, we need dem apples fer-"
Aj didn't get a chance to finish, all three buckets of apples were suddenly lifted with the magic of the unicorn, and the many apples were suddenly sent right towards Trixie.
The blue mare gasped and quickly dove aside, avoiding the majority of the apple assault as the buckets and their contents splat on the ground.
"Twi!" AJ yeld "What ya'll doin!"
She tried to rush over but she stopped by Rainbow dash.
Odd twist.
"Hold on there AJ, even I know its stupid to stop a magic duel."
"But...." Aj protests and huffs "fine, ah guess its no big deal, but dey were fer sellin."
'I'm sure you can get more AJ, you own a whole orchard..."
Aj looked at you, sighing as she trotted back.
"Ya'll be right Anon, ah guess..."

You didn't really notice, but all five ponies had moved around you. Rarity to your left, Fluttershy to your right. AJ and Pinkie are close enough they could slip into your lap, and Rainbow hovered just above your head.
"So...you really back?" Rainbow asked as you look up.
'I am sitting here aren't I?'
The Pegasus mare grinned "Well thats super great, I was wondering when your slow butt would ever find the time to come back here, you know its been a YEAR since you left?"
'A year?'
RD nods "Yeah, Pinkie counted."
The pink mare, like always, is right up in your lap now as she has a calendar with X's on all the days.
"See, I kept counting, I would put this nice black x each day you were gone, and now your back, yay!" she tossed the calendar off to know-were before one of the Unicorns grabbed it and threw it at their opponent.
You sorta lost interest as the five mares are all joyful to have you back.

"So...Whats it like...uhm...back home?" Fluttershy asked
'Well...can't say I've been on any adventures like standing up in trial or fighting with a Princess, but...I did get a new pet.'
"ooo! what kind?" Fluttershy is quite close now, her wings perking upwards as they flutter softly.
"A cat, she's the cutest little thing." you pull your phone out as you tap it. 
All the ponies lean forward, so much so thet nearly block the screen as you scroll to the picture of your cat.
A chorus of Awwww's to how cute the kitten was on the bed you took of her.
"She is simply marvelous, that coat of fur is simply amazing~!" Rarity says, noting the mix of caramel, black and white.
"Is...that a Calico?" Fluttershy asked "ohh, I always wanted to see a Calico, their so soft and cute, especially kittens."
You snicker as you flip through more, pictures of you and other humans, of you doing things and going places; the ponies seem impressed.
"Well, ah sure say that your little magic box has quite a collection of pictures Anon, yah sure done much when ya got back home."
'Yeah...I did...I guess I have you all to thank, you did help me get myself sorted out and...well...break out of my anti-social shell."
Pinkie smiles "its what friends do Anon, we're happy to have help!" She gasped "Oh my, that means we need to make a WELCOME BACK PARTY!" Pinkie lept up, throwing streamers out as she cartwheeled around.
Same old Pinkie.
You laugh just as you see a cart....Trixies cart...to be exact...slam just at the spot where Pinkie hard cartwheeled from.
"HOW DARE YOU DAMAGE TRIXIE's CART!" Trixie barked as she suddenly lifted up two park benches from nearby "You...shall pay for that!" and they were flung at Twilight.
The mare dodged, only to see them whip back aroud and go right for her again.
She started to trot away, trying to find a means to avoid and get clear, eventually hitting the deck as they flew over...and...
Slammed right into the window of her tree house.
"HEY!" She shouted, turning back "you did that on purpose!"
"And you flung Trixie's cart at Trixie! Such a crime can only be punished by means of the same destruction!"
"Grrr you'll see what kind of Destruction I can bring you arrogant."
"Nosey."
"Self Centered."
"High and Mighty"
"Boastful"
"Bookworm!"
"Washout!"

Trixie gasped "YOU..DARE call The great and Powerful Trixie a washout!?"
"I bested you before Trixie, I will do it again!"
"HAH!" She remarked "from the Goody four hooves....Trixie shall not be so easy to sway this time!" and they were both off, trotting after one another, flinging whatever they could along the way.
"Uhm....anypony gonna stop em?" Aj asked as you all looked on.
"Oh good heavens, they will destroy everything!" Rarity gasped "My word, what are they doing!?" 
Rarity shouts as the two mares had begun yanking the flagpoles around the town hall and shook off the flags.
"Oh...I think their jousting!" Pinkie exclaims, un-phased by the fact she nearly got squashed by a cart.
'Wait...jousting?'
"Oh but of course darling," Rarity began, brushing her mane aside "did you not thing we still held something such as that as sport? By Celesrtria's mane, it is one of the oldest forms of settlement we have, though, I do hope those two aren't planning on..."
The orbs at the top of each where yanked off, leaving a dull end.
"Oh...my..." Fluttershy muttered as she cowered closer to you.
They were getting very serious...
You didn't even want to get anywhere near that battlefield as they stomped their hooves and lowered their 'jousting' poles.
Of course, a direct hit from that would hurt, but it was blunt, so it was impossible that they would...
They rushed each-other, narrowly missing on the first past as they simply trotted about and came again.
It was...tedious to watch, back and forth, a few near hits and clinks of their metal poles before they finally give way and snap when they finally collide head on.
Both ponies are sent back a bit landing on their behinds from the recoil of metal poles breaking,obviously the work out was getting to them as they slowly rose panting.
"It...seems we are at an impasse..." Trixie began "neither one backing down?"
"Not...until I know....How..." Twilight exhaled "Until you tell me."
"You'd have to best the Great and Powerful Trixie before she even decides to tell you."
"Then...I guess we don't have an end in sight!"
Twilight lept at Trixie.
Trixie lept at Twilight.
And all you could tell from then on was a cartoon tussle ball bouncing all over the place.

Stupid PG rating, wanted to see the actual hooves to cuff.
"They certianly are brash about their goals..." Rarity began "Why can't either of them just accept the other's strenghts?"
'Considering Trixie did, you know, do something Twilight nearly got killed for, I can imagine it'd be pretty...important, that and Pride.'
"Pride? Oh dear me Pride is the LAST thing anypony needs Anon, why, Pride is the reason I dared to try Blueblood before his...fiasco with me at the Gala."
"Still ain't livin that down sugh?" AJ mutters.
"Certainly not, a Lady always seeks the best for her measures, and the faults of what she's done to always remember the worst..."
'Yet not the best?'
"Oh dear me Anon, there are so FEW stallions to even consider such a thing."
"That's because she's so picky." RD interjects.
"AM not!" |Rarity exclaims "I'll have you know I am more than able to find the perfect stallion...I have it all in my mind deary, and I plan to keep it there until he's found."
RD rolls her eyes as she sighs "whatever, its getting boring watching those two fight..." she says, nudging over to the tussle ball. "I'm gonna bounce, besides, someones got to clear the sky before the night sets in." and off she went, leaving the others with you as you sigh, finally seeing the tussle ball separate as both ponies land belly up across from one another.
You were about to call it a draw when they slowly got up.
Exhausted, but the most determined look on their faces as their horns began to glow.
Oh...shit.

You can smell a thick ozone all around you as Rarity's horn suddenly starts to sparkle "Oh dear!" she mutters as magical charges began to jump from her tip.
'Whats going on?' you ask as the wind suddenly picks up, nearly whisking away Fluttershy before you grab her, and then find yourself loosing your grip before AJ grabs you.
She's rather sturdy to hold you back as you can see RD suddenly being whipped about high above, the clouds going with her.
"Whaooo whats going on!" she cries as she's tossed about as you look at Rarity, her horn glowing vibrantly.
"I...never seen such a thing before!" she said, trying her best to focus her thoughts. 
"Oooh...Twilight mentioned this to me long ago, and I hadn't bothered to remember, oh darn my distracted mind...." she exhaled, thinking "Aha!" she said with delight "when...two unicorns continue to discharge strong amounts of magic...the resulting cascade of energy will..." she paused "cause all other types of magic to be fed into their abilities!" Rarity shouts as she realized what she had said. "Their absorbing all the magical energy around us!" she cried as she was nearly swept away as the wind picks up while the two unicorns before you slowly begin charging their horns, and you can figure those beams they may fire at one another would not be the small fry you've seen.
These two were letting their powers run wild.
You ease away from AJ and hand Fluttershy to her.
"Anon!?" AJ calls "where' ya'll goin?"
You huff 'I started this...Im going to stop it!'
"DEAR ANON WAIT, you cant hope to stop them, they may not even be able to stop themselves!"
'Well, its better than not trying and seeing everything explode now isn't it?'
"ANON!" Rarity calls, trying to go after but getting knocked back by the wind.

You rush forward.
Shit...
Shit shit shit!
This is your fault, hell, you can't even blame Trixie.
Was your idea to have the plan of making Trixie seem like she knew something Twilight didn't.
Was a good idea...but...
You rush between the two, putting out both hands.
'Hold your horses, that's enough!' you bark.
No answer, both their eyes are pure white as their horns brilliance suddenly peaks and two huge beams come right at you as you close your eyes.
'Give me strength!' You mutter and brace as the beams collide around you.
Everything was enveloped in a brilliant white light as you suddenly feel everything...cool...around you.

-=-
"Dearest Journal
It has been almost a year since the Human, Anon, had left our world, leaving my sister and I to return to his own, his...Earth...beyond the skies and stars to whence he came.
Things have...change...quite drastically since his departure, and its certainly been a rather bumpy experience. 
Anon's actions, despite only being set to Canterlot, had been spread through Equestria as a renouncing feat of heroism, stating that Anon had aided Celestia in defeating the "Crystal Dragon" that had attacked Canterlot.

Such a reaction to his efforts that Tia had decreed the day of his departure "Anonymous day" where everypony remembers the feats Anon had done to help both myself and Celestia in overcoming the evils within our fair land. It certainly is popular, especially with those of Ponyville, the Element bearers take it to heart and were quite glad to have been given such a memento for their friend. Oddly enough, there has been some sort of cult following to this day, ponies dress up in their best suits, donning green masks and fedora hats to present themselves as "Anonymous" and wander about, helping ponies with whatever they may need.

It is a positive influence on a sole human's actions, and one both Tia and I are proud of, but it is just one of the few blossoming things overshadowed by the fears we still hold. BlueBLood, the nephew Prince of Canterlot has yet to return since his desire to capture Anon; even after Anon had returned to Canterlot as the darkness overcame him, BlueBlood had dared not to pursue, odder still was his disappearance since then. There had been no word of BlueBlood from any of the neighboring cities within any distance of the Everfree he could have escape to.
This Puzzles Tia, and perhaps frightens here more than she'd let on.
But she is the ruling Princess.
We still hold our faith and strength for her, and she has not let us down.

Though, there are some unsettling things I've notice of my sister; her actions speak quite loudly despite her soft words soothing my thoughts. Every so often Tia would leave herself in her study for quite some time before ever bothering with her other duties around Canterlot. Likewise, she would often venture off to who-knows-where before returning with grass in her mane. Perhaps it is my curious nature, but I feel she may be missing anon more than she lets on, and I am not one to complain; I miss anon just as much as she, his kindness and  dedication to us...well...few could ever be so capable of taking on Tia in a fight and actually letting her enjoy it. 

Our hopes for Anon to return have never wavered, but, perhaps he is not one to be able to return; he is from another world, and whatever responsibilities he has must be handled with as much diligence as Tia or I would consider for our own.
My hope is...that soon he does return...and perhaps both Tia and I can relax a little better knowing his strength is there for us.

Yours Truly My Journal
Princess Luna."

Luna sighed, closing her night-sky embroidered journal and slipping it into her desk as she gazed over at the afternoon sun.
The days had certainly begun to get shorter as the wonderful season of fall had spread through Equestria.
The nights were becoming more and more beautiful with a clearer, cooler sky to play in, and Luna was more than happy to keep her skills with the night sky as sharp as ever.
But...it was more of the day she was concern about.
Like she wrote in her journal, things around Equestria have been tense, perhaps more-so due to recent events...but they were not her's to tell. With a huff, she slowly rose and trotted to her balcony, eying the slowly hanging sun as the brisk wind blew by, causing her to shiver and close the window firmly before easing the drapes over them.

There was a sudden knock at the very window she had closed as she sees Celestia floating just before it, her large wings easily keeping her in place as she held a sheepish smile and waved her hoof.
Luna returned it as she opened the window and her elder sister gently touched down onto her floor.
"Tai!" Luna said as she nuzzled close.
"Luna...so good to see you." Celestia replied as the pair embraced.
"Are your duties done for the day Tai?"
"I sadly wish they were, but there are still the matters of the Griffin Kingdom to be had."
Luna perked her head "What word does the Griffin kingdom bring?"
Celestia sighs "Nothing good I'm afraid, their King is slowly losing his holding, and much strife has begun to plague their capital."
"Dear me sister, what tho do they seek to do?"
Celestia flutters her wings before folding them to her flanks.
"They request aid for resources, their territory is too mountainous and their capital city has grown too large to supply the demand of food and materials they need...and...well..." she sighed "several of the emissaries from Griffon territory who reside here have requested we intervene and try to help."
"Help them? That is a first Sister, the Griffins tend not to appreciate our help."
Celestia nodded "As troublesome as it may seem, we are not ones to refuse a request for aid, especially when the populace of a city, even from those we do not see too well, are suffering."
"Then what shall we do?"
Celestia huffed again "I do not know, we do not have the means nor the ponypower to supply any major effort, let alone knowing what exactly their situation is...for now...all we can do is speculate."
Luna nodded, she didn't feel it reasonable to deal with the Griffins, many ponies felt they were more of a bother considering their...distasteful past between the two.

Griffins always saw...lesser of ponies, and it didn't help in any of the grand delegations they held for all countries within their world.
Being asked for help from them was...strange, but also saddening.
"Perhaps we can think of it over tea Sister if you have time?"
Celestia smiled "Why I would wish for nothing more sister dear."

You are Celestia
It has been a long time since Anon's departure, and much has happened since then, many things, many good, many bad, and even a few terrible events have struck your kingdom, but you've endured, remained as strong willed as the ruler you've always been and known by your subjects.
Of course, there have been faults.
Incidents of recent months have made a rather stir in the court, and word of uncertainty has risen again.
With Bluebloods disappearance since Anon's escapade, you've come to wonder just what sort of wicked plot he had begun to commit; without ties to the royal court, he was a free stallion.
Even his iron guards had gone with him, leaving his entire wing bare and empty, devoid of life.
You had planned to turn that into a daycare for the fillies of the court advisers to get in their good graces, a fitting change for what it once was.
But the fact he was gone still troubled you.
Why had he left, and where had he gone?
It was something you couldn't get past, knowing how spoiled the stallion was, to simply up and leave everything certianly had to be considered a very delightful reason, at least for him; what coiling desires could his sick mind think.
You shivered at the thought as your mind returns to the present, and a soft sigh escapes your lips as you magick a scone over and nibble at it.
Times had changed, you've certainly taking precautions, increasing your Guard Count and Luna's, training them harder and with more of a demand.
Considering the events with Shining Armour...
A new threat was rising, and soon enough, you'd need to face it again.

But...that was in the past.
Now...the present was what mattered as you sigh, easing your cup from its saucer and taking a light sip of the fruity tea served to you.
You and Luna had taken the time to spend a quiet moment together, both you and her had been up to your necks in work for the coming festivities of Running of the Leaves, Nightmare Night, all the way to Heartwarming Eve.
Certainly a list of tasks to be done for each, with much more in the preparation of each event.
You exhale at the thought as you move your cup from your lips, trully a dizzy assortment of things to handle.
But...you are Princess Celestia, and with Luna's help, you've been able to handle just about everything.
Almost...
You pause for a moment, your tea cup suddenly stiffing in place as you feel a rather...familiar prick in your horn.
Strange...you had not sensed such a thing for awhile.
That similar pain had not been felt by you since....
Since....Anon.
You instantly put your tea cup down as you look up, almost demanding answers from a ghost before you as Luna looks up in surprise.
"Sister dear?" Luna asks "Are you alright?" the midnight princess asked as you turn to her, suddenly feeling the urge to get up and trot around.
"I'm...fine sister, complete fine." you say as you trot around the table almost three times before sitting back down.
Luna blinks a few times as you feel your horn spiked again.
"I've certainly never seen you commit such an act as trotting around the table Tia, are you sure?" Luna asked, keeping a quizzical gaze on you as you suddenly look out the window in the direction of Ponyville.
Your horn twitched again.

Could he have come back to your realm once more?

It...wasn't certain, just because your horn ached like before doesn't mean Anon was back.
But that feeling was definitely the same as the first time you had him arrive in Equestria.
You'd feel it.
But now, its confusion, you don't feel the same calmness you had.,
You had the urge to go.
go and find him
Anon
Oh sweet Anon...has he finally returned to you?
Luna just gazes at you.
"Sister...Celestia, are you well?"
She looks blankly at you, your face filled with an odd mix of joy and curiosity as you look back at her, scrunching your noise.,
"Ah...I am sorry sister, lost in thought..."you exhale "I....think something immense shall happen soon?"
"Immense sister dear? Whatever do you me-"
Her voice is cut off by the sudden explosion that seems to ripple about the air.
It is not Rainbow Dash doing her Sonic Rainboom again, this...explosion was different.
You suddenly felt the cascading wave of energy rippling through the air as you perk your head and trot to the window, seeing a massive blast of magical energy ripping upwards into the sky.
"He has returned~!" you think to yourself as you quickly gallop out to the balcony and gaze over at Ponyville...
Where the blast had come.
You pause, seeing it dissipate and...well...a big cloud of dust covering it.
"Oh dear, it seems there is something a miss at Ponyville." Luna says, trotting out beside you.
"Hrmmm there certainly is." you muttered, certainly not the kind of thing to expect, but could this be part of Anon's return?
Such a blast, certainly it couldn't....
You had to check.
"Luna, we must investigate this immediately."
And the two of you flap off, quickly taking wing towards Ponyville.

-=-

The air was clouded with thick brown dust, it was hard to see, even harder to breath as AJ coughed, finally returning to her senses as she eased herself up from her crouched position, shaking her hat free of the dirt as she looked down to see Fluttershy tucked right by her. 
When Anon...had lept into the blast, he had tucked Fluttershy with her, and had said to keep her safe.
Aj was more than happy to oblige as she kept herself low and used her stronger body to keep the Pegasus mare tight to the ground, even sharing part of her hat to cover their manes.
As the earth pony slowly got up, she nudged Fluttershy, allowing the Pegasus to meep as she quickly got up "oh..t-thank you AJ.":
"Nuttin to it sugh." AJ said with a grin "Ah just hope everypony else is alright."

"We're fine over here!" Pinkie calls out as she and rarity popped out from a bush "Made it just in time!"
"Oh good heavens, my mane, oh its covered in dust and whats this...leaves! Oh this will take forever to clear out!" Rarity whines as she pushes through the bush, finding leaves and dirt caking her mane and some of her coat as she looked around "And the one time I neglect to bring my bag, oh Rarity you're certainly losing your grace." she sighed as Pinkie jumped from the bush, not a care in the world as she landed beside Rarity.
"Here use mine!" she chirped as she handed the unicorn a rather...pink...looking brush.
"Why thank you P-" Rarity paused "But...Pinkie, I never knew you comb your mane?"
"I don't, I just keep getting brushes from the cakes for my birthday, I think they want me to look more...professional."
"Well nothing wrong with spiffing yourself up, but I do find it odd, considering your mane doesn't abide the same style as everypony else..." she poked it, it instantly puffing out as the dirt and leaves fell from it almost without a problem.
"Well, s'all good were here...but...hey, where Rainbow?"
"Mmhmmm!" came a muffled cry from a big pile of dirt as AJ blinked, slowly trotting around it before her eyes caught a small tip of a rainbow coloured tail.
"Ah, Rainbow, ya;ll right?"
"mmmHMMMM!?" she complained as she tried her best to squirm out, but finding almot a ton of dirt atop her wasn't an easy feat to do.
Especially for a Pegasus.

"Danrit, can ya'll make it out?"
AJ asked as Pinkie pressed her ear to the mound.
"Hrmmm..." she said 
"Hrmmmm?" she repeated
"Hmmmm!?" 
"Well?" Aj asked as she approached Pinkie.
"I don't know, can't make her out, something about wanting to be in bed."
"On my HEAD!" RD called from within the mound, though like before it was muffled.,
"Oh my, I think she's upside-down!" Rarity asked as she studied the mound.
"Upside-down, aint good fer anypony ta be stuck that way!" AJ said as she began to dig into the dirt.
"Darnit..." she muttered as she began to dig a hoof into it, but only getting bits of it off, its thick covering made it difficult to dig too deep.
"Dirts mighty hard, can guess that there blast musta made it tougher than normal...gonna take awhile!" she said as she continued to dig.
"Oh I hope we can get her out" Fluttershy muttered as she fluttered to the top of the mound and began to dust away what she could with her hooves, being rather gentle for dirt as she helped the best she could.

Eventually everypony around began to, and all four mares were quickly digging with all their might to get RD out.
Sure enough, after some hard menial labor that...even Rarity decided to help with.
An exposed rump of RD appeared, and her tail now fully freed from the mud.
"Gosh Darnit...this ill take ferva!" Aj mutters "We gotta dig faster...ya'll okay Rainbow?"|
"I been better!" she said behind a lesser muffled voice.
"Least she can still breath."
"Yeah, but I'm still upside down! Maybe if you slow pokes hurried up a little..."
"Now Now Rainbow, we're trying the best we can, its not like we can magic a shovel and dig you out...."
Rarity paused for a moment...
"On second thought..." she trotted off, and coming back with a single shovel.
A nice, round dirt moving shovel.
She huffed, and with a quick whip of her horn began to dig, taking good chunks from the pile as AJ smirked.,
"Fancy seeing yeh do some heavy liftin sugh, didn't know you had a working bone in yer body."
"Even a lady must know when to roll up her sleeves and put a hoof to the grind stone, I value my own life just as much as Rainbow, and I know full well she'd be at her top perform to get me from such a scrape."
AJ chuckled "Ah know she'd do it fer any one of us...just as we'd do the same fer her."
"That's right!" Pinkie shouts as was digging with her own shovel, a bright yellow hard-hat atop her head.
"You know what always helps me get some tough work done? A song!" she said as she inhaled and then began to sing.
"Oh were digging, were digging, were digging rainbow out.'
"The silly little filly got her head stuck in a mound..."
She would keep singing as the others all began to laugh.
Only Rainbow wasn't too sure about laughing.
Especially with your head stuck into a pile of dirt.

Sure enough, with great speed from everypony, Rainbow is soon exposed from the mound and falls flat onto her belly.
"Ugh...I think I'm going to be sick..." she said as the blood rushed back from her head and her eyes goggled about.
Pinkie was the first to grab her and hug her tight "Oh Rainbow, we're so glad you're okay!"
Rainbow blushed "Yeh...well if it wasn't for those two wizard wannabees, I wouldn't have been stuck..." she looks around "and Ponyville wouldn't have this cloud of dust everywhere!"
"Heavens, what did happen to those two?" Rarity asked as she looked over to where the blast originated, unable to see anything through the thick smog of dust covering it.
"All ah think is we best wait till it settles, walking inta a dueling ground like this is just silly."
"I couldn't agree more AJ...though it pains to have to worry about dear Twilight, al stuck in there with that...show off."
Rarity huffed as Fluttershy meeped a bit.
"I hope Anon is alright, he did go in to...stop them."
"I'm sure he's fine, he's a stubborn human." RD said.
"Moreso then you?" AJ asked
"Hey!" RD retorted as they all shared a chuckle.
"Well...there isn't much we can do but wait...and hope...Oh Celestia, I do hope its nothing truamatic." Rarity says as they all stare into the abyss.

Dust was kicking all around them like a storm as Twilight slowly opened her eyes. 
She was sore all over, her whole body ached as she slowly rose her head.
She and Trixie had certainly went all out, and that was one heck of a blast to have cause such a torment of energy.
But...Anon...he had jumped right into the middle of it, wanting to stop their duel....
Twilights eyes went wide as she got up, ignoring the pain.
"Anon..." she called "ANON!"
She trotted over, suddenly stopping instantly as she saw what was before her; a lip to a giant crater just a few feet infront of her, the dust storming all around it as she looked around, trying to make out anything inside of it, but to no avail.
She huffed, feeling worse and worse as the seconds past as she turned and started trotting around the edge.
"Anon!" she cries as she suddenly stumbles over something.
"Owie!" she cried as she looked back to see Trixie, slowly the light blue mare stirred as she opened her eyes and got up.
"What...what is all this?" she asked in surprised.
"Take a guess....we did this." Twilight said as Trixie spun around instantly.
"This is clearly your fault." Trixie began.
"Mine? You were the one who wished to challenge me."
"Oh details, details, you clearly overstepped your boundaries, Trixie never considered such...actions would be taken.'"
"ANd you didn't?"
Trixie huffed.
"IF You consider yourself the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, only you can be blamed for such an act!'
"Say the mare who wanted to magic duel without guidelines."
"Oh hush... Trixie had set a judge."
Twilight was flustered "YOU Mean the on we vaporized?"

Trixie blinked for a moment, slowly the deeper realization had begun to settle in hr haad that sh was just as much tgo blame for...destroying ANon.
"Oh...." Was all she could say.
"I never should have taken your challenge. Now ponyville is a mess and ANon...well..
SHe looked at the crater as dust still billowed around it before she and Trixie slowly creep up to the lip but are unable to hear or see anything.
Trixie blinked, looking at Twilight with a little cough
"Well, guess..that concludes the duel...uhm shall we call it a tie?" Trixie stuttered, slowly backing away.
Twilight grumbled as she grabbed the mares tail and tugged
"You know I won't stand for this, clearly you crossed the line this time Trixie."
Trixie was about to reject the notion when a sudden, powerful beating of wings disrupted their argument, and the grand Celestial Princess's, Celestia and Luna, slowly touched down behind Twilight, looking in bewilderment at the dust storm all around them.
"Twilight Sparkle....What is all this?"

What Celestia thought was a magical enchantment was actually a devastating crater in in the center of the town.
A swirling vortex of one.
In fact, so potent was the blast that the very dust it had created fabricated into a vortex filling the entire crater with crackling energy.
Luna was just as perplexed as she looked over to the crater, seeing the storm the thickest deep within it.
"P-Princess Celestia." Twilight said bowing slowly, seeing Trixie just stare in utter shock before Twilight forces her down too.
Celestia looks them over, huffing.
"Twilight Sparkle, what have you gotten yourself up to now? I do hope you haven't been delving into the dark arts again..." Celestia asks, eying the two mares bowing before her; one rather cuter then the other. 
Suffice to say, diplomats will have a field day as she looks over to the spinning storm before a soft *ahem* paused her mind
"Uh...y-your majesty, Trixie thy humble ask of ye to sp-spare a moment to listen to her tale." the blue mare said, slowly raising herself. 
"Twilight and I had engaged in a duel to see who was the best unicorn in Ponyville, and low and behold-
"She brought Anon back!" Twilight barked out, standing beside Trixie "I...wanted to know how...so she challenged me to a duel, and if I won, she'd tell me."
Celestia focused instantly onto the blue pony before her.
"Trixie....Lullimoon is it?"
"Y-yes....t-that is my name." She said slowly, somewhat surprise.
"Hrmmm, I had heard of your...antics before with one of Twilight's letters, I'm...surprised you came back to Ponyville after what had occurred.
"I..."

"She had changed some..." Twilight interjected "her show was...much better this time around. She wasn't boasting or showing off, rather...she wanted to show us her own skills against talents we had. Rainbow dash's flight against her magicking a small plane, or her strength of magic against Applejacks physical strength. Both times she showed much more...calmness in her defeats and was more than wiling to press on with her display...that was until we had the duel."
Trixie looked at Twilight before she turned back to Celestia.
"It...it is true...Trixie the humble had wished to...bring a better impression of herself to the Ponyvillians...and..." she looked about "Trixie thought she had done a much better job until..." she waved a hoof about, showing the mess they made.
Celestia sighed, smiling a bit as she trotted over.
"Twilight said you brought Anon back...is that true? How did you achieve such a thing?"
Trixie and Twilight gulped, and turned to the crater.
"He..." Trixie began, but sighed "I did not bring him back."
"What?" Twilight said in surprise "You mean you didn't bring him here?"
"No...Trixie...didn't bring Anon here..." she looked at Twilight "it was a lie...Trixie made it up..."
"You mean you lie about bringing Anon from another dimension? But...but he was-"
"Smoke...and some magical flashing, Anon...had already been here. Trixie had met him three days ago on her trip to Ponyville. He...he was a wonderful human and Trixie had heard of his exploits from the article talking about him...she...she had to get to know." She paused, easing to her tummy "despite Trixies...rudeness at first, he was willing to bear her, and....helped push Trixie to new heights with her abilities and attitude..." she smiled up at Twilight then Celestia "He was as kind as the article had said...and now..." she sighed, a few tears in her eyes "he may not be here anymore."
Celestia looks quizzically at Trixie.
"What does she mean Twilight?" she asked as Twilight looked away, and then back at the princess.
"He had wanted us to stop, so he jumped into our beam attacks to...make us stop."
Celestia's eyes went dinner plates.
"He..
Did...
WHAT!?" she demanded, almost in a booming voice as the two cower as her wings flared, her mane almost exploding with her benevolence as it ebbed and flowed quickly as a flame.
"Twilight...Trixie...what are you saying, have you both....vaporized Anon?"
Trixie starts bawling "Oh grand Celestia, we had no...no intention of harming him! He...He did not wish for anypony to get hurt and-" She was cut off as Celestia magicked the mares mouth shut, huffing as she approached the pair. 
"You two certainly have much to explain for this, even more to say that you have done what you did...Twilight, I am very displeased with you, taking a duel with the level of power you possess, I am surprised you hadn't destroyed all of ponyville during your...escapade..." she looked over to Trixie "and you, Trixie Lullimoon...I am equally displeased, despite your skills matching that of Twilights, I cannot condone your actions for both challenging the pupil of my teaching and lying about a magical act that has yet to ever been accomplished by our scholars." she muttered, turning over to the crater.
"If it is true Anon has been...slain...then there is little choice then to mark you both with the utmost pressure of the royal court-"

Celestia paused, her horn twitched again, the same pain rippled through her mind as she turned from the two to gaze upon the crater. She started to approach it, leaving both twilight and Trixie rather...confused.
"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked meekly as she watched the princess approach the lip and slowly eye deep into the clouded abyss. The alicorns horn began to glow and as she flared her wings and a sudden beam struck right into the heart of the dust storm, cascading throughout the storm as it slowled and eventually dissipated.
There
In the very center of the storm
Was a single pillar of land.
Its grass and dirt untouched below as atop it was planted a brilliant blue shield, octagonal sections forged into a half sphere as the Princess eyes it with interest.
"Anon?" she asked, as the shield slowly began to fizzle out, leaving a rather...silly looking human holding both arms out stretched.

You are Anon
and you're really not sure about this whole thing.
You had jumped into the fray of battle between Twilight and Trixie, and honestly, you hadn't expected it to get...this...bad.
Hell, you were just hoping for some good unicorn on unicorn brawling.
Not magic blasting.
Especially not village wrecking magic.
But, you couldn't have expected that now could you?
As the shield around you slowly fizzled out, all you could do was slowly open your eyes.
You had remained motionless like that for almost half an hour when you jumped in between the blasts hoping that you'd stop this madness.
You had.
But now to your surprise, the whole area around you was nothing more than a crater as you eye the area around you, atop the small patch of grass covered dirt.
The ONLY patch of it.

"Anon?"
That voice.
The sweet, motherly, all too familiar voice
All of a sudden brought you right back to reality as you turn and look to see Celestia.
Standing before Twilight and Trixie.
The two obviously more in over their heads of trouble for what happened as you sigh.
'Celestia...its good to see you a-'
You can't finish as she swept right at you, landing perfectly in the little space available, grabbing you by the stiff of your collar and tugging you up and back to solid ground as she placed you on your butt before the two dumbfounded mares.
"Anon...so...it is true you have returned, I am...glad that you are unhurt."
'Huh?'
You look over at Celestia as she ushers her head towards Trixie, the mare had water filled eyes as she and Twilight quickly lept upon you.
"Anon!" Twilight said 
"HrmmmH!" Trixie added, still having her mouth bound as they hugged you.
"Oh...I...I'm so sorry, we...we got out of hand"
"Hrmm Hmm, Hrm HMMM!" 
"and...and we didn't think we;d gon over board."
"Hrmm!"
"And...and"
You put a hand to Twilights lips.
'S'okay...no one got seriously hurt.' You said before easing the two off you and standing up and looking them over 'you two really pack something else in those horns...oooh whee...'
"How did you survive that then?" Twilight asked.
You flick your wrist, showing her your gauntlet.
'Upgrades, gotta love em.' You point to an image of a shield just below and to the left of your sword image. 'I guess when it saw I was putting my life on the line like that, it felt it had to keep me protected.'
Celestia blinked, slowly approaching from behind, eying the device.
"Ah, so your magical mirror has a new attachment?" she asked, quite intrigued as she eyed you.
"Well...yeah...I kinda got it during my escapade with Twilight and Cermina in the Everfree... long story, but it helped quiet a bit considering it gave me both a means to defend my friends and fight my enemies."

Celestia smirked "So, even a human that does not possess magic can still control it?"
'Not the same kind' you correct 'this is still kind of technological, same concept but still...different.'
The Princess chuckled "It is still magic when your will is what controls it." She eased away, looking back at the other two "which brings you to back to my attention." She fluttered her wings a bit as she stands before Twilight and Trixie.
"Twilight Sparkle, you are my most faithful student, and I know there is still much for you to learn, but your actions here...especially with the desire to learn something somepony else may know... cannot be simply swayed past." she huffed, hearing the trotting of Twilight's friends from behind and catching them in her peripheral. "I applaud your interest to learn new things, but I thought your actions from the last time you tried crossing into darker magics was a lesson enough, it seems your curiosity still can get the better of you." she smiled a bit as she turned to Trixie "Trixie Lulimoon, despite your prior actions, Twilight has spoken rather...well of you...and I am willing to let those pass. This...however, cannot be so easy to sway and consequence must be committed for you and Twilight."
'Hey...'
Celestia turned to you "Anon?"
'Don't blame either one of them, you want to blame someone, blame me. I got this whole thing sorted out...didn't I Trixie?"
The blue mare eeped behind the closed maw, looking at Anon with surprise and then Celesita before nodding slowly.
"You did this Anon?"
'When Trixie and I met, she was telling me how she wanted to get Twilight into a duel with her to see who was the best Unicorn in Ponyville...well...we made a smoke-and-mirrors show of trixie bringing me here...all false, how I got here I don't know, but I had arrived here three days ago, and...well... I met Trixie when her caravan just so happened to be drivivng by my arrival point and I hitched with them.'
You stand in front of Twilight and Trixie.
'If you want to grind an axe for them, then use me, I should take what ever punishment they should be given.'
Celestia blinked, surprise as always for your...unusual antics, but a smile crept across her face as she stifled a giggle.
"Well...I am...quite relived you were not hurt Anon, but I cannot just let all blame settle on you, besides, you did try to stop it."
'Eh...somewhat.'
Celestia smirks "This is...however, my duty...and I know just the thing to help these two ponies come out from this little...rivalry they had."
"Celestia...what do you mean?" Twilight asks.
"From this point on...I...Princess Celestia, Decree that Twilight Sparkle, and Trixie Lullimoon, be considered Sisters...temporarily...until both of you can learn to get along."
"WHAT!?"
"HRMM!?" 

The expressions on both mare's faces were priceless, even you had to smirk and hide your laughter as the tw stared dumbfounded at their Princess.
"P-Princess...not that I would doubt your decision, but...are you CRAZY!?"
Celestia stiffled another giggle "why do you say that twilight?"
"Trixie as my SISTER? How is that going to work?"
"Simple really." She smiled, that...coy smile.
You caught it.
She was up to something....
oooh you liked where this going.
"Both of you need to learn to be friends, despite what has happened in the past. You two should try to get to know one another better, and what way then putting you both as family...temporarily of course."
"But...but that's...how is that even possible?"
Celestia smiled "Twilight, I know you wish to continue studying the meaning of friendship, and I know full well you wish to do this with your friends, but sometimes, a little sacrifice must be made to learn all you can about what friendship really is about. Think of it as a task I set for you, you and Trixie learn to be good friends and who knows what good it could bring..."
'But wouldn't they just as easily be able to spend that time separated?' You ask
She returns that coy smirk.
"That is where it gets...interesting." she lights her horn as it creates a very thin band. This band suddenly leaps from her horn and enchants both Twilight and Trixie before vanishing in a puff of glitter.
"That...was a bonding spell. As it stands, seeing as you two are now sisters, you must be within a certain proximity of one another..."
"And....if we move apart too far?" Twilight asks 
"You are simply pulled back..."
Trixie, who was still unable to talk, was getting rather annoyed.
"Hrmm hrmmm! hrm HRM hrm hrmmm hrm hrm hrmmM!"
"Oh dear...I better remove that." Celestia says with a sheepish smile and zaps Trixies maw.
"Ah...." she said, suddenly being able to move her mouth as she sighs and inhales.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie need not wish for her to be sistered to Twilight!" she said, casting her a glare "How ever shall we decide who is best?"
"Perhaps its better you find how to be the best together...rather than as individuals." Celestia replied "Both of you are very capable, even without the dimension grabbing of Anon, Trixie is quite strong for a 'show pony' mare...Twilight, it would be wise that you two learn to work together rather than keep trying to be at odds."
Trixie huffs, looking at Celestia before turning to you.
Shrugs
'I'd go with it...' you mutter as the blue mare sighs.
"Very Well...Trixie...shall do her best with this."
Twilight was rather perplexed, but with the odds against her she let out a deep sigh.
"Fine...I guess we can try something out....better than trying to blast one another right?"
They share a glance for a moment before looking away.
Celestia chuckles "Give it time, I know you both can do this." she eased back, slowly turning her gaze to you.

"Anon..." she said trotting over....
'Celestia?'
"Anon..."
'Celestia-' *whump*
She embrace you...or at least as best a pony could as her neck pressed tightly against your chest and her wings wrapped around you.
Warm and soft like always...though...you can't help but feel something...
Cold...
something deeply cold inside her as she slowly pulls away.
"It has been many suns and moons since your last steps upon our land Anon...I am...glad to see you have returned to us once more."
'Your very welcome your majesty, I thank you kindly for such grace.'
You bow, show some respect.
She blushed a bit 
"Much has happened since you left Anon, and indeed, many things have changed since then...but...as Princess of Equestria, there is one thing I must request of you."
You perk your brow a bit 'Request?'
"Yes...Anon...human of Earth and Knight of Equestria...it has been one year since your departure, and as Princess of this realm...I ask...no...I demand that you allow me to...inspect...your capabilities once more."