-It's too bright...- Twilight thought as she squinted through the incredibly white colour around her, barely able to make out the shapes of others around her. She struggled to lift a hoof, only to find her strength seemed to be non-existent.
-Who said that?- a brash voice came from her left. One of the shapes in that direction and in front shifted, revealing a silhouette of something reaching out to the side while a much shorter extension was on the other side.
-R-rainbow D-Dash? I-is that y-you? a timid voice sounded from behind Twilight and to the right.
-Goodness, this is certainly one powerful light,- remarked a posh voice that seemed to originate from behind Rainbow and Twilight.
-Ah'll say, it's like staring at the sun up close and personal like,- stated a Southern accent behind Twilight.
-Could really use more colour, I think...- mused a squeaky voice contemplatively.
-Enough.-
At the sound of the wizened tone, the intense light faded away to a more acceptable level that allowed the six to see their surroundings, which seemed to be a circular, unmarked room of stone, clearly and stand shakily to their feet. Before them stood a Pegasus with a grey coat, wings folded over a two-coloured, monk-like robe, most of it being white with the rest black, the hood serving to obscure his features, aside from the glowing light blue mist that trailed slightly from his eyes. Turning around, he inclined his head for the group to follow him along a stone passage as he said in the same tone, -They will see you now.-
-Who will?- Rainbow asked before noticing the others staring at her in a mixture of shock and confusion, asking, -What? I got something on my face?-
-Rainbow...- Twilight said, her mouth not moving to form the words, before she noticed herself doing it and began softly babbling gibberish.
-Come. Patience is a virtue, but delaying is, at times, an insult.
Snapping her head around, Rainbow growled at him, -Oh yeah? Well, patience this!- Charging at the Pegasus, who still had his back turned, she leapt to tackle him, only for a wing, partially unfurled with a single primary extended, to stop her dead in the air. With a flick, he sent her rocketing back to skid to a stop next to her friends.
Folding his wing to his side, he turned his head to gaze at them as he said, -Fighting me is pointless. You have no strength here. Now, come. They will see you now.-
-Who are 'they'?- asked Twilight, slightly over her shock at everypony becoming telepathic in this place, as they began following their guide. Despite the lack of torches or other such sources of illumination, they had no trouble seeing the plain tunnel, nor the pony leading them.
-They are who will judge you. You will see them for yourself,- was the grave reply, despite the neutral tone.
Some time later, the group found themselves standing in a large, ancient-looking amphitheatre of moss-covered and cracked stone, two massive arches side by side in front of them with a tall cross separating them. Silently, the Pegasus left the six alone.
After a moment of nothing, Rainbow asked the rest, -Well, what now?- Her answer was the interior of both arches bursting into light, the left side an ominous dark red while the right was a pure pale yellow. Vague, shadowy forms were seen in both, the left broad and tall, with eyes like fire, while the right was thin and petite with eyes blue as the sea. The six all instinctively huddled together, Fluttershy becoming all but invisible.
-Are you the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony?- a soft, feminine, breeze-like voice said, the blue eyes looking down at the six trembling at the display, whom nodded after a moment.
What was to be said next was interrupted as the Pegasus re-entered saying, -Apologies, Masters, but the Raven has arrived.- A dark shape flew over his head as he spoke, banking into a turn as it reached the cross. Alighting on the top of it, the shape turned out to be just that - an ordinary raven that sat preening inky black feathers that seemed to absorb light with a beak like ebony, eyes a shade of gold.
The left shadow's eyes narrowed as it spoke in a rumbling bass, -What business have you here, Raven?- Said raven, eyes glinting as it regarded the shape to it's right, spoke in a cunning tone only a thief could be proud of, -My Master wishes that I take part in this, that he may interject should he so desire. We are Neutral, as you should remember; it is his place to break any ties that should occur.-
-You make it sound like your important, but you don't look anything special,- Rainbow shot, before the others managed to quiet her. With a blink, the raven's eyes landed on Rainbow Dash with a fearsome glare.
-'Nothing special', eh?- he paraphrased, a smirk hidden within his voice, -Well, then... how about NOW?!- With a flare of his wings he sent a blast of wind towards the group which concealed himself in a whirlwind of silver. As they opened their eyes from the sudden burst, they saw that the raven had, inexplicably, grown to the size of Ponyville's Town Hall. Grey markings ran down his wings and body while an eerie mask of bone lay upon his face, covering the top of his beak and flaring out at the back into three fins. His talons gripped the arms of the cross comfortably as he folded his wings and stared down his beak at the ponies and challenged Rainbow Dash, -Still think I'm an ordinary raven, pony? I am known as the Raven, messenger of the Neutral Master whose name was lost long before this world existed.-
-I apologise for my friend, but,- Twilight said, cutting Rainbow off, -where are we, and just who are you?-
-The answer to those questions are of no concern to you,- rumbled the red shade, sending a glare at the gigantic bird before regarding the petite shadow as well, -Now, shall we begin?- As both gave their consent, the Raven, eyeing the shade a moment as a message seemed to flash between them, looked at the ponies and began;
-We meet here at this time, within the realm between realms, to discuss the actions that you six have enacted recently and, most importantly,- here his manner became serious, -The consequences of those actions.-
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"Twilight... please... no..." whimpered Celestia, tears dripping down her face as she stood still in shock, Luna practically comatose. An enraged bellow sounded behind her as Shining Armour, stumbling slightly from his still-new prosthetic, charged at the still-present cloud with his horn wrapped in magenta light, a military sword being summoned to his side and drawn.
A black shape, barely visible in the smoke, made an abrupt motion and all save Shining shied away as the cloud was dispersed forcefully. As Shining cleared the last bank of cloud that was sent away from the shape, he swung his blade wildly only for the familiar black blade to parry it, sparks flying everywhere. With a sudden swing, the sword in Shining's magical grasp was cut in half, and he felt himself being lifted into the air, the creature's hand wrapped around his neck. Fighting for air, he looked to glare at the creature, only to find it somewhat different.
Where earlier it had been barechested with a type of ruined robe and sash covering it, somehow the robe had been mended seamlessly, revealing them to be some kind of pants, while a long black coat covered it's shoulders, arms and back, the front left open with the hole in it's chest for all to see.
"I already told you..."
These words, followed by the sword lifting into a position to stab him through the head, caused Shining to start panicking as the monster's head became visible, shadowed eyeholes revealing white skin at the edges of the vivid yellow eyes themselves.
"I've had enough..." The sword was drawn back as Shining's efforts to free himself became frantic and violent.
"OF YOUR SHIT!" The sword tip grew startlingly close to Shining in just a second, the sheer force of the creature being shown once more.
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-Consequences? You make sound like we're being punished,- said Rainbow, confusion written all over her face.
-Perhaps you should be,- commented the Right Shadow, the blue eyes staring stoically at the pegasus, -then you would learn a lesson.- However, her words went in one sky-blue ear and out the other.
-Why should WE be punished?!- she snapped at the shadow, -That monster is the one that's evil, not us! That thing's hurt us and other ponies, as well as Princess Luna! So why should WE get the blame for what it's done?!-
-And what about what you six have done?- the Left growled menacingly, Rainbow flinching momentarily at the anger in it's voice, before retorting, -We've been trying to stop it from hurting others!-
-Silence!- commanded the Raven, ignoring the glare the Left sent him while directing one of his own on Rainbow Dash, -Well, it seems we need not recall the present issue for any reason. Before we begin, however,- he regarded the two at either side, -I would ask that the ponies Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy be spared, for harbouring no ill will towards the creature.-
-I request that Rarity be added to that list, for having not taken any action against it,- interjected the Right, eyes flicking to the mentioned pony as she breathed silent relief.
-And I vouch Applejack, provided she take no further action whether physical or verbal,- stated the Left.
-Are we agreed?- a silent confirmation passed between the three, -Then those whom we have named shall suffer no sentencing from us, though they will continue to bear the pain they have wrought upon themselves. Two bursts of white light suddenly surrounded Twilight and Rainbow, bringing them to the front of the group.
-As for you two, however,- Raven began, only for Rainbow to interrupt him.
-NO! No bucking way am I takin' manure for trying to protect Equestria! If the stupid Elements had worked, this wouldn't've happened!-
A rather unsettling yet dangerous silence fell around them at those... thoughts? Words? Twilight wasn't sure, broken by the Left growling, -'If the Elements had worked,' you say?- His voice grew into a roar as he spoke,
-DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW THEY WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE?!-
-We-well... no...- Rainbow admitted reluctantly after a moment, the shade's anger cowing her. The Right's eyes narrowed slightly as she continued where the Left began, -No, you don't. And we shouldn't have to tell you. But the way you do NOT use them is with thoughts of revenge and hate. The Elements are a shield, not a sword.-
'Well, if it was a sword, there wouldn't be a monster possibly attacking ponies right now, would there!- Rainbow shot back. Only to reel back in surprise as a large plume of smoke rose up and circled into a ring between the two groups, mist emanating from the edges to the centre.
"STOP!"
The scream of a filly echoed throughout the room, making every pony flinch while the Raven and Shade's didn't bat an eye. Within the ring of smoke, an image took shape.
The desperate cry caused a black blade to stop perfectly, a thin trickle of blood beginning to eke from the slight cut from the sword being pressed against Shining's skull, said Unicorn being held by his throat by the now-clothed creature. Celestia moved forward, even as the creature turned his head slowly to regard the speaker darkly.
"Please... just, stop," Sweetie Belle sobbed as she stood on shaky legs, collapsing onto her flank once he faced her, tears streaming down her face.
The group began yelling at the picture, urging Sweetie to run, begging somepony to do something or hurling abuse at the creature. In the commotion, they nearly missed her next words;
"Y-you hu-hurt all the Ch-Changelings, y-you to-took my si-sister awa-away... Ha-haven't you h-hurt enough p-ponies?" she questioned through her tears to a seemingly emotionless creature.
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"Ha-haven't you h-hurt enough p-ponies?"
Those words kept echoing in my head, even as I stared at the little white pony I'd saved. Turning my head, I looked at the blood-stained ground behind me, corpses and disembodied limbs strewn everywhere. Looking back to remind her that I'd saved her, I looked into her eyes.
And saw.
I saw a creature with a strange mask of a skull, holding up a struggling, injured, defenceless Unicorn, with a blade poised to kill him. Behind me, I saw not the results of a fight, however unfair, but the scene of a mass murder. What I saw, was the Monster that these ponies claimed I was.
I opened my hand and let the Unicorn drop to the ground, my blade pulling away and lowering until it rested by my side as I backed away a few feet, allowing his comrades to levitate him to safety.
'Can I really think of myself as anything but a monster, now?'
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-S-Sweetie Belle,- Rarity whispered, aghast at the thought of her little sister putting herself in danger. All Twilight could think of, was every time that they'd encountered the creature. As she did so, more smoke-and-mist circles rose in front of her, showing all the details. Reviewing each of them, she looked at the still sobbing forms of her mentor and the little filly.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke, -If I take full responsibility, will you let Rainbow Dash go?- Her question caused her friends to gasp and begin asking her what she was doing, but her focus was on the Raven as he spoke.
-Explain as to why we should do as you ask of us?-
Another deep, shuddering breath preceded Twilight's speech.
-Because I was the first to come into contact with the creature, despite how scared I was of it. When it saved us from the Ursa Major, I didn't even think of considering thanking it. I was just so much more scared of what it could do.
-When I found it in the forest with Princess Luna, I didn't try and prevent anything. I could have stopped them from fighting, or I could have ended it early. When it helped us out of the Forest, how did I repay it?
-I helped to subdue it and imprison it, without thinking of what I'd said to it in the Everfree. I told it I wouldn't hurt it, and what do I do? I betray the trust it had in me. If I had simply let it walk away, nopony would be hurt now.
-And now...- her voice began shaking as tears slowly began dripping from her eyes, -Now, I tried to seal it away because I was so afraid of it. Even though I knew it had done some really bad things, like killing that Ursa, hurting the Princess and... and everything...-
She looked up at the impassive judges in front of her, dimly aware of the others viewing each occasion with the creature and of Rainbow Dash looking at her in angry confusion.
-What has it done that we ponies, who are taught to embrace peace, love and tolerance, didn't force it to do? That I didn't force it to do?-
She let her head fall as she struggled to stop sniffling and hiccuping. And so she missed the unseen triumphant smirk on the Raven.
-Granted.-
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Celestia could do little but try and comfort the little fillies, two others having appeared shortly after the creature dropped Shining, as best she could, paying little mind to the ponies now slowly revealing themselves now that the Changeling invasion had suddenly stopped. Nearby, Cadance held and cried with a grieving Shining Armour.
Luna simply stared hollowly out at the mourning ponies, as each newcomer learned what had occurred. In a town such as Ponyville, everypony knew each other to an extent that tears were shed for the lost. And she allowed the guilt and sorrow to fester, as she knew it was all her fault. Her gaze flicked to the mostly ignored creature, who simply stood apathetically at the entrance of the street that held the massacre of the invasion.
A sudden, blinding burst of rainbow drew everyponies attention from the loss of six mares, dying down to reveal the floating figure of Rarity. Four more bursts followed, one after another, allowing Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and finally Rainbow Dash to be seen hovering above the ground, a soft light emanating from them.
As the onlookers watched with awe and hope, the light faded to allow them to fall limply to the ground.
"R-Rarity?" sniffled Sweetie Belle, slowly making her way to her sister and, reaching her, gently nudging her side with a tear-matted hoof, "Rarity... p-please b-be okay..." All around her, ponies were gathering around the Elements of Harmony, all praying that they were alright.
"S-Sweetie Belle," the white Unicorn murmured, her eye slitting open enough to see, "Thank goodness... you're... alright." Any more was unnecessary as the white filly flung her hooves around her sister and cried.
Celestia ignored the tears that ran down her face as each of the Elements of Harmony was greeted by those that cared for them, thankful to whatever gods that existed that they were all-
Celestia took a sharp intake at the missing sight of her student. She began to panic slightly, looking all around in the hope that she had just missed her. Yet, among the various colours of her subjects, she couldn't spot that familiar lavender.
A final flash of rainbow light lit up behind her, causing her to whip around to almost collapse at the sight of her student laying on the ground, curled up with her back to everypony.
She ignored decorum as she raced over to check on Twilight. Upon reaching her, shock overrode everything that she felt.
For Twilight's head bore three black lines, white markings within seeming to form runes, that converged on the base of her horn and spiralled up to completely wrap the pinnacle.