//------------------------------// // Three Last Times // Story: Guardians of Light: A Shadow Forms // by Alphadude007 //------------------------------// Guardians of Light: A Shadow Forms Chapter 38-Three Last Times -Canterlot: 1,000 years before Nightmare Moon's return- Starswirl paced the floor of the library, his thoughts racing through his mind. Hopes for the princesses' safe return, worries that they were claimed by Sombra's magic, and various uncertainties swirled about in his head. "I am sure the princesses are well, Starswirl." Commander Storm spoke up. "With the Elements of Harmony on their side, Sombra should be no match for their power." "I thank thee for thy concern, commander. But don't thee have a Summer Sun Celebration to arrange?" Starswirl sternly reminded the unicorn. Storm's eyes turned downcast. "Ah yes. The celebration. I suppose I will go and help the social committee put the final touches on the event. I hope I was some help to thee, Starswirl." "And thee were, but now thou have previous duties to attend to." Starswirl said, his tone conveying no emotion as he dismissed Storm. With a nod of his head, Commander Storm turned and walked out of the library. Clover waited until the commander was out of earshot before speaking up. "With all due respect, Master Starswirl, we would still be in our incapacitated states if it weren't for him." "I am aware of that and he has my gratitude." Starswirl said sharply, turning to look at his student. "But right now there are more pressing matters that need attending." "Master, I know that thou want to help the princesses as much as thee can, but thou have done all thee could." "Oh?" Starswirl shot Clover a ludicrous look. "And had I told them that Sombra was capable of wielding fear magic, they would be much better prepared to confront the tyrant." "We did not know that at the time they departed." Clover said, a sense of calm permeating his tone. "But what if we had known?" Starswirl asked, a bead of sweat racing down his brow. "What if what we had learned from the crystal we had known before Celestia and Luna left?" A moment of silence fell onto the room. "Starswirl." The wizard in question's head snapped to his pupil. "What did thy vision show thee?" Clover asked, a determined look hardening his features. Starswirl's eyes found sudden interest in the arrangement of the floor tiling. "Clover, I know that thee have concerns for my well-being. But I am fine." "No, Master. Thou have been restless ever since we woke up from those visions we had." Clover said, his tone softening. "What did thou see?" Starswirl's eyes close as he recalled the dream he'd received. Letting out a defeated sigh, Starswirl spoke up. "I was in the throne room with Princess Celestia. She told me that their mission had failed and that the Crystal Empire was already lost. She blamed me for misinforming her and Luna before they began their mission, so she cast me from her presence." Clover's ears perked. "I had a similar dream." Starswirl's gaze switched from the floor to Clover's. "Instead of Princess Celestia, it was thee that cast me out. Thou called me a failure and that thee wanted no part in my future disappointments." Teacher and student shared a sympathetic look. "Clover the Clever." Starswirl addressed. "I gave thee that title for a reason. Thou art no failure and I would never describe thee as such." A smile flickered at the side of Clover's mouth. "And thou art invaluable to Princess Celestia and Luna. I know for a fact that they have not, nor would ever, consider kicking thee out of the castle." Starswirl beamed proudly. "Clover, I know that thou will carry my legacy forward. I picked thee out of all my candidates or a reason, that thou would take what I have learned and take it even further, finding new explanations and new spells that I could never dream of." "And nothing short of burning every book in Equestria would blot thy name from history. I am honored to be thy pupil, Starswirl the Bearded." Clover said, his grin growing to a smile. "And I am honored as well to have such a magnificent student as thee, Clover the Clever." Starswirl replied. A sudden cracking sound caught the pair's focus. Both Starswirl and Clover turned towards the crystal that stood tall in the center of the library. Their jaws dropped at seeing a six-hued bright light streaking through a zigzagging crack in the base of crystal. The colors of the rainbow? That must mean- Starswirl's shocked look lit up into one of exuberance. "Master? What's going on with the crystal?" Clover asked, catching a glimpse of his teacher's facial expression. The crack suddenly shot up the crystal, the rainbow-colored light stretching with each addition to the crack. "The Elements of Harmony. That's what's happening." Starswirl replied confidently, Clover's concerned expression morphed into a look of triumph as the pair watched the crack branch out across the crystal. Within moments the rainbow light was peeking out through every crevice that covered the black rock's structure. Starswirl and Clover couldn't tear their eyes away from the display of Elemental magic, the rainbow lights illuminating their very souls with joy. With a thunderous KRSH! and a bright explosion of multi-hued light, crystal fragments shot through the air in every direction. Shielding their eyes, Starswirl and Clover braced themselves for the crystal shards that were shooting towards them. To their surprise, the pain never came. Starswirl opened his eyes to see all the crystal shards hovering in mid-air, like somepony had stopped time mid-explosion. A white light pulsated rainbow colors shone brightly where the crystal once stood. Clover opened his eyes and couldn't keep a gasp from escaping his mouth at the sight. "Amazing, isn't it, Clover?" Starswirl asked, his smile still stuck to his face. "Like nothing I have ever seen." Clover responded, not daring to take his vision from the fragmented crystal shards around him. With that, white light made one last massive pulse of rainbow light. Starswirl and Clover watched as the tiny black shards shot towards and disappeared into the white light, never to be seen again. As soon as the final black piece vanished into the light, the white light disappeared with a rainbow-colored twinkle. "It's over, Clover." Starswirl declared heartily. "They won." -Crystal Empire: 1,000 years before Nightmare Moon's return- Quiet. That's the only word one could describe the atmosphere that lay over the icy surface where Sombra had just been banished. Even the chilling arctic wind had stopped its howling in awe of the Elements' power. Three Equestrians stood and stared at where the mad unicorn king had been sent into the ice. How long would he stay down there? Forever? A thousand years? Ten minutes? They didn't know, but all they could do was keep their eyes focused on that one spot. One of us has been banished into the earth, just like that alicorn said. Luna pondered, her emotionless eyes still glued to the ice. A sense of dread fell upon Luna's being. There is still another banishment remaining. "Princesses!" Shooting Star's surprised-sounding voice caught the royals' attention. "The Crystal Empire… where did it go?" Both Celestia and Luna turned to face the direction Shooting Star was looking, and sure enough, the reflective buildings and opulent spires of the palace were gone. Luna's eyes widened in shock as she beheld the empty ice plain that stretched out before them. It was as if the Crystal Empire had never existed. "What happened to it?" Celestia wondered aloud as her magenta eyes scanned the calm ice before her, looking for any signs of life. After a few moments, the horrible truth dawned on her. "He really did mean it when he said it was impossible to obtain." "What dost thou mean, sister?" Luna questioned, raising an eyebrow. The solar alicorn bowed her head in condolence. "Sombra must have cast a spell that tied the essence of the Crystal Empire to himself. When he was cast into the ice, the Crystal Empire faded from existence." "So does that mean that Sombra is… dead?" Shooting Star asked, the taste of the word 'dead' leaving a filthy taste on her tongue. "The Elements of Harmony do not kill, Shooting." Celestia replied, swiftly banishing the thought from the pegasus scout's mind. "They simply contain that which they are used upon." Shooting thought over the Princess's response. "So will Sombra be able to escape?" Luna spoke up. "On his own? No. His magic is much too weak to combat the Elements. But with the power he was imbued with? I cannot say." And hopefully he will stay down there for a long, long time. "Then let us hope that Sombra remains imprisoned for many years to come." Celestia concluded her stare at the icy plain and spread her wings. With a great flap, the solar princess took off into the midafternoon sky. Shooting Star and Princess Luna swapped looks before taking off behind the white alicorn. "Where are we going, Princess?" Shooting Star called after her. Celestia turned her head back to her scout. "South, back to Equestria." "But why the urgency? Surely we can stop somewhere nearby and rest!" Celestia pondered this, her eyebrows furrowing together in thought. "Maybe thou art right. But where could we land between here and Canterlot?" "We have a second castle in the Everfree Forest." Luna recalled telling the yellow-eyed alicorn. "Go there after thy fight with Sombra. From there we can show Celestia our true power." "We can go to the Castle of the Two Sisters." Luna suggested. The idea made Celestia's eyes light up. "Excellent, Luna! It's on the northern edge of the Everfree Forest. Canterlot would be within a reasonable distance from there." "Shall I accompany thee there, Princess?" Shooting Star asked. "Unfortunately no, Shooting Star. Thou must go ahead of us and report that we are on our way and to check up on the Summer Sun Celebration preparations. Luna and I will rest up at the castle. Now make haste to Canterlot!" With a salute, Shooting shouted, "Aye, Princess!" and sped off into the blue sky. Celestia and Luna's eyes tracked the pegasus until she was a mere spec amidst a great azure expanse. "Come now, sister. We have a long journey to the castle." Celestia said, speeding up towards the mountains ahead of them. An ambitious glint flashed in Luna's eyes. Soon Celestia's power would be hers. Then her night, not Celestia's sun, would reign forever. -12 Hoofington Road, Ponyville: Present Day- Cipha looked down at her hooves, their perforations giving her a clear view of the floor beneath them. Well, I'll only have to use that disguise one more time. "Man that was easier than I thought." Chassis's smug tone was heard from across the room. "That Trixie pony sure is a sucker. She won't know what hit her." Cipha looked up at the proud changeling, a bittersweet look crossing her visage. Sure they'd single-hoofedly save the hive, but at the expense of the peaceful living of the ponies that Cipha was just beginning to appreciate. "Yeah, well don't go celebrating just yet, Chassis." Cipha was quick to bring her companion's enthusiasm down a peg. "We still have to maintain the act for tomorrow morning. After that, we can celebrate all we want." "And I know exactly how I'm gonna do that." Chassis said, a ravenous gleam twinkling in his blue eyes. "Yes, Chassis." Fang piped up, a trace of annoyance in his tone. "We all know how eager you are to sink your teeth into one of those ponies." "Why stop at one?" Chassis replied with a snicker. "I think I could have half this town to myself if I wanted to." If Fang's eyes could roll any farther, he'd be getting a good view of his brain. "Well good on you for being ambitious." Chassis gave Fang a sympathetic glance. "Aw, I know how much you're starting to care about these ponies. But look on the bright side." He said, his tone rising in eagerness. "At least we won't starve." "Whatever." Fang shrugged, his angular horn glowing green. With a swooshing burst of green magic, Fang had taken on Speedy Delivery's form. "I'm heading out." "Suit yourself. I'm gonna go hit the sack." Chassis said, trotting merrily towards his bedroom. "Can't be tired for the conquest of Equestria tomorrow!" Cipha looked from Chassis's fleeting form to Fang's sullen state as he turned the doorknob to walk out. Letting out a sigh, Cipha walked over to Fang as he pulled the wooden door open. "Hey. You alright?" She asked, trying to get a look at her partner's face. "Yeah. I'm fine." Can you be a worse liar? Cipha thought, reaching a hoof for Fang's chin. "Fang, look at me." Fang couldn't tell if she was trying to be stern or supportive from her tone. Probably both. "I'm fine, Cipha. I just need to take a stroll around Ponyville." Cipha retracted her hoof. Maybe I should give him some space. She considered. All things considered, maybe he does deserve a proper last look at the village before leaving in the morning. "Okay. Just… don't be out too late. I need you well rested for tomorrow." "I won't be out too long." Fang replied flatly, walking out the door and closing it behind him. The cool breeze swept Fang's fake mane out of his face, his eyes resting on the dirt road before him. The stars twinkled above him, the moon casting its silver gleam on the earth. His vision scanned what he thought would be the last time he would see the pony village in such a peaceful state. He thought of the changeling armies falling upon Ponyville and its residence, the colorful ponies he'd come to enjoy being being around, fed upon in the streets. Chrysalis would be sitting atop it all, victorious over such a terrible foe as innocent ponies. He didn't want to stop the tears that fell. -Ponyville Library: Present Day- Twilight stared out the window of her second story bedroom, the moon's craters like eyes looking back at her. She recalled the first time she looked out that very window, the night she and her friends found the Elements. Today, however, the Mare in the Moon no longer looking down on the world as Twilight observed the night sky. The same feeling of foreboding she experienced on that night had resurfaced in light of recent events. I just hope that whatever is behind all this is taken care of quickly. The purple alicorn thought as a yawn forced her mouth open in its escape attempt. "Sleepy?" Twilight turned her head to see the face of her number one assistant, a smirk flashing across her visage. "Kinda." "Can't blame ya. We've all had a pretty rough past day or two." Spike remarked, climbing into his basket bed and pulled the blanket over his scaly body. Twilight was silent for a moment as she turned back to look at the moon. "Spike… do you ever wonder if this is all happening for a reason?" Spike arched an eyebrow at his guardian. "Uh… not really. What makes you ask that?" "I've just been thinking. Everything that's happened since the day we all got our cutie marks to finding the Elements and turning Princess Luna back to good to me becoming a princess…" Twilight responded, her wings spreading out as she spoke. "…and now these dreams we're all having." Spike's eyebrows furrowed as Twilight paused to let out a sigh. "I just wonder if everything that we have done and all that's happened to us is building up to something. And if it is… I don't know how we should prepare for it." Spike kicked his legs over the side of his basket bed and stood up. Walking over to Twilight's side, he put a clawed hand on her shoulder. "Well, if all these things are determined by fate or just by pure chance, that still doesn't change what the magic of friendship has done to you guys these past few years. So even if something big and terrible is coming, I'm sure that whatever it is, you all will face it together." Twilight glanced down at Spike with a surprised look on her face. Such wise words from one so young. She thought, glad to have an assistant like him at her side. "Besides, whatever happens, you can count on me to be there for you guys." Spike finished reassuringly. Twilight looked down at the sympathetic look Spike was giving her and a smile of her own stretched across her face. "Thanks, Spike. Now let's get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Spike nodded and leapt into his bed, pulling the blue blanket over himself again. "Alright. G'night, Twilight." He said, closing his green reptilian eyes. "Goodnight, Spike." Twilight responded, her horn lighting up faint purple. The light switch took on a similarly colored aura, turning downwards with a flik. Darkness enveloped Twilight's vision as she walked over to her bed. Crawling onto her bed and pulling the covers over her, Twilight took one last moment to look out the window. The moon was still there, staring back at her from hundreds of miles away. Hopefully the princesses will have some answers for us when we get to Canterlot tomorrow. Twilight thought optimistically as her eyelids became heavy. Slowly but surely, the blackness of her eyelids overcame her eyes as Twilight sank into a deep sleep.