//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Losing Control // Story: Midnight Star // by Nebula Star //------------------------------// Midnight Star By Nebula Star Chapter 4: Losing Control *** Trembling, Twilight opened her eyes. She'd collapsed on the floor when Midnight had attacked her. Her legs still felt weak, and her wings were lying limply on the floor by her sides. Taking a few shuddering breaths she waited for a little of her strength to return before she finally pushed herself up off of the floor, getting to her hooves. Even then though, her legs felt like rubber as she struggled up the stairs. She had to find a way to remove Midnight from her mind. Unfortunately, Ponyville's little library wouldn't have any information on removing such invasive spirits that she hadn't already learned. She needed materials from the royal library in Canterlot on more advanced techniques. Even once she removed Midnight's soul however would that be enough? As powerful as Midnight was, Twilight dreaded what she could do, wandering Equestria as a vengeful spirit. She'd have to make sure that Midnight couldn't ever hurt anypony. She'd have to banish her, and not just from Equestria. No, it would have to be a banishment spell like the one Celestia had used to lock Nightmare Moon away for a thousand year. Spells like that would also only be found in the Royal library. She hated the idea of banishing anypony like that, but she couldn't let Midnight hurt anypony. She had to act for the good of Equestria, and she'd have to act fast. She could feel Midnight bashing at the barrier with her power, at most she had a few days, probably less. It would be quickest for her to fly to Canterlot herself to do the research, but her lack of sleep as well as being attacked had left her exhausted. She doubted she could make the flight. She also didn't dare let herself be distracted, if Midnight broke through she'd be hard pressed to defend herself as it was. She'd have to request the materials be brought to her... But if Celestia suspected she were in trouble, she might come herself, and then she'd have to explain about Midnight. Explain that she'd accidentally brought her here, likely killing her in her own world. More importantly, if she did lose control, then Celestia would be flying directly into Midnight's hooves. The princess of the sun was powerful, but even she had been bested by Nightmare Moon at the summer sun celebration. If what Midnight had said was true, and after feeling her power Twilight believed it was, then even Celestia wouldn't stand a chance against Midnight. She needed the materials quickly, but she didn't want Celestia coming herself to investigate... Finally reaching the main floor of the Library she went to the writing desk and sat down, getting out a quill, ink, and paper. Then taking a slow breath to steady herself, she began to write. Dear Princess Celestia, I'm writing to request more research materials, I'm afraid. It occurred to me recently that the mental defense spells you taught me after the incident with the changeling queen would be insufficient against a truly powerful invasive spirit, and I wanted to know if there were more advanced techniques for defending against and possibly removing such a spirit. Also, could you then banish the spirit with a spell to prevent it from harming somepony else or would you have to deal with it in some other way? Obviously the Ponyville library doesn't have any information on these techniques that I'm assuming are quite advanced magic, so I'd like to request some books and/or scrolls on the subjects of removing invasive spirits as well as banishing such spirits from the Royal Library. Hoping you and Luna are well. Sincerely, Princess Twilight Sparkle It would have to do... Celestia usually sent any materials she requested from the library the very next day and they'd arrive usually by that night. Hopefully that would be the case this time as well. And hopefully it would be soon enough. Rolling the letter into a scroll and sealing it, she called Spike to have him send it. ~~~ By the following evening she wasn't sure it would be enough. Midnight's attacks on her barrier were relentless and Twilight hadn't dared sleep. She was exhausted beyond belief and at her wit's end. She was just lying on a pillow in the library, trying to stay calm. She'd managed to keep Spike from suspecting anything was wrong with her except for lack of sleep. There was nothing he could do to help after all, and she didn't want him to worry. She was beginning to worry the Princess hadn't sent the materials right away like she usually did. Twilight didn't think her mental barrier would hold for another day. Nor did she think she could go without sleep for that long. Finally though there was a knock on the door; “Special delivery.” Trying to compose herself, Twilight got up and went to answer it. As usual the delivery pony bowed when she opened the door. “Package for you Princess.” “I've told you, you don't need to bow when just delivering a package! I'd rather everypony just treat me normally except at formal events,” Twilight almost yelled. Midnight's constant attacks on her barrier had given her a headache in addition to everything else and her nerves were already thin. “My apologies, princess.” She just shook her head. “Forget it... just, give me that.” She took the package in her magic, levitating it in the air next to her. “And let me sign for it...” He levitated his clipboard and quill to her with his own magic and she took the quill and started to sign. Just then though Midnight attacked her barrier again and Twilight felt it give slightly. In a panic she rushed signing and then dashed back inside; she had to hurry. But not wanting to be disturbed she took the package down into the basement and opened it. There was a letter from Celestia again but for the first time, she didn't even bother to open it. She was running out of time. Whatever Celestia had to say, she had at least sent the books Twilight had asked for. Taking the first book out of the package she opened it and began to read. It was about Banishment spells. There were several different kinds that would work on different types of creatures or ponies. According to the book, the only ones that could work on Alicorns or powerful Unicorns were banishment spells that bound their soul to a celestial body, such as the sun, moon or stars or into an alternate plane of existence such as the astral plane. Assuming the spells would also work on disembodied spirits, she turned to the chapter on such banishment spells and studied both the banishment spells as well as the reversal spells. They were complex, but didn't require much energy. As she read she felt several more attacks on her barrier spell, and each time it gave way a little more. She had to focus though and she tried not to think about the impending attack. Even so, she had to re-read a few passages multiple times to make sure she understood them properly. Once she was confident she understood the banishment spell, she went on to the next book. This one was on advanced mental defense. She opened it and skimmed through the chapters but soon tossed it aside angry at the waste of her precious time. The book was all about defending against attacks from an outside source and had nothing about removing an invasive spirit. Another attack on her barrier that she actually heard as a faint boom spurred her on to the next book. This one looked more promising. She started skimming over the chapters looking for one focused on removing invasive spirits. Boom. Panic began to set in as she found the chapter she needed. Quickly as her magic would allow she turned to the page. Boom! Containing spells. preventative spells. Boom! Removing powerful spirits! She quickly began to read. BOOM! She skipped ahead to the spell itself, forget the theory behind it. BOOM! Twilight had just read the last part of the description of the spell when her barrier shattered. Desperately she tried to cast it but it was already too late. Midnight attacked her with her full strength and Twilight couldn't concentrate enough to cast the complex spell. She collapsed to the floor putting her hooves over her head as she screamed from the pain of Midnight's onslaught. She couldn't hold on; Midnight would take control, and then she'd use her body to destroy Equestria... She should have warned the princesses, should have asked them for help. In anguish Twilight screamed. “Twilight?” Twilight's eyes shot open, Spike! The baby dragon had heard her screams and was coming down the stairs. Perhaps she could still warn the Princesses. “SPIKE! Send; Letter to Princess!” Twilight shouted up to him between gasping breaths. Realizing something was terribly wrong, Spike didn't argue or question why, he just ran back upstairs and got paper and a quill bringing them back downstairs. “Twilight, what's happening?” He asked panicked seeing how much pain Twilight was in. “Letter.” Twilight gasped closing her eyes, trying desperately to resist just a few seconds more. “What do you want it to say?” Twilight clenched her teeth, she was slipping... “Help me!” She gasped and Spike's eyes widened. He quickly wrote the two words and rolled up the letter preparing to send it. It was too late. Twilight's eyes opened again, but it wasn't her that opened them. The next instant she lunged at Spike, knocking the letter out of his claw and then batting him across the room with her wing. Twilight watched as if she were a spectator inside her own body unable to stop it. Midnight had control now. Stretching her wings and cracking her neck, Midnight stepped over to the scroll she'd knocked away from Spike. “Ah, good old flesh and bone.” She said softly, then grinned. “You should take better care of yourself, Sparkles, you're exhausted,” she taunted and then burned the letter. Twilight tried to fight back; to take back control, but she couldn't seem to do anything. It was as if she were bound in place, unable to move; unable to even use spells. Midnight had bound her somehow in a way that allowed her to still see and hear everything that was going on, but she couldn't do a thing about it. It was a mental barrier similar to the one she'd used to contain Midnight, but far stronger. She tried to push Midnight's power away from her own consciousness, but it was like trying to push a mountain. She was just too strong. “What's going on!?” Spike asked clearly confused why Twilight had attacked him and now seemed to be talking to herself. Midnight turned on him. “Now we can't have you running off and telling anypony something's wrong...” She said and her horn glowed. Chains seemed to grow out of the basement wall, lunging at Spike like angry snakes. He barely had time for a startled shout before he was pinned to the wall, bound head to tail. “Hey... what, Twilight!? Why are you doing this?” Midnight just laughed, “As amusing as your questions are, I can't have you making noise and alerting anypony,” she said then her horn glowed again and a steal band appeared around Spike's mouth preventing him from speaking. He tried to yell in protest anyway but could only mumble. “Perfect,” she said then thought for a moment. “Hmm, yes; better take care of that Owl of yours too.” Let me go! Twilight shouted mentally. “Now why would I do that?” She asked leaving Spike chained to the wall and heading up to the main floor of the library. Spike watched her go looking scared and confused. “You were going to try and banish me,” Midnight reminded her. You're threatening Equestria! As a princess I'm sworn to defend this land and its ponies! You left me no choice! Midnight! Why!? Why do you want to make everypony suffer!? You could have started over here! I wanted to help you, you could have had a happy life! She snorted, “Now why would I want something so dull as a simple happy life. No, I will rule this world, but before I take the throne, I'll need some rest. And then of course we need to take care of your punishment.” Twilight felt her an icy chill run through her soul. What do you mean? Midnight looked at her reflection in the window and spoke as if Twilight were the reflection. “You killed me in my own world, then tried to hold my soul imprisoned. And let's not forget that you intended to banish me.” She smiled wickedly. “Fortunately I know exactly how to punish you so that you'll learn your lesson.” Twilight didn't like the sound of that. What are you going to do? she asked, afraid what the answer might be. “Oh don't worry, you'll find out soon enough. Now where is that owl...” ~~~ What are you searching for? Twilight asked the next morning worried what Midnight was planning. After she'd caught Owlicious and locked him in a small cage with Spike in the basement, she'd gone to bed. Twilight had after all been up for two days. Being locked away from one's body did have some benefits. Twilight found she didn't seem to need sleep, and so had tried to break free several times during the night while Midnight was asleep. It was in vain however. Midnight's spell holding her was just too strong. Now Midnight was going through the various history books in the library as well as any books she could find about the Royal Pony Sisters. She'd been at it most of the morning. “You're memories have been quite helpful, It was very kind of you not to object when I was in contact with your mind. Unfortunately you didn't have the one piece of information that really concerns me. Just how strong is Celestia?” If Twilight could have, she would have glared at her. You were going through my memories!? “You are far to trusting,” she said simply. “In any case, I'm not really worried. It seems every time they've been faced with a crisis, the princesses turn to the Elements of Harmony to save them. And one thing your memories did make clear is that your precious elements are useless without you. I'm actually just killing time until I can carry out your punishment. Never hurts to know as much as you can about your enemies.” But they don't have to be your enemies! Midnight, please stop this! “All good things end, Sparkles,” she replied coldly, slamming shut the book she'd been skimming through. “It is time you accepted that cruel truth.” Midnight! “It's a lesson I intend to teach to this world, beginning with you!” She growled. “I do believe it's time.” What are you going to do? She laughed. “I told you, I intend to punish you. Now if I remember your schedule correctly, then it's time to meet Rainbow Dash for your weekly flight and we don't want to be late...” Twilight suddenly felt a clenching feeling in her heart. Midnight had said she knew exactly how to punish her and now she realized what she had meant. Midnight was going after her friends.