//------------------------------// // Chapter 14, Rising to the Challenge // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 5 -- Faded Memories // by shysage //------------------------------// Princess Twilight broke the group link for a few minutes. The six sets of Twins, just sat together in each of their chairs, probably just enjoying the amazing privilege of being with their Twin. It was clear that Princess Twilight was still thinking, or still listening. After a few minutes of silence, Princess asked "Shysage, there is some place in Equestria that is magically significant to us, to the ponies in this circle. I just can't remember what it is." Shysage's Mare immediately began to weep softly, and put her head down on her Stallion's shoulder. Shysage also remembered immediately, and replied quietly "Princess, the night you and eleven of the ponies in this room stood against Sunset Shimmer, under the magic shield there, Sunset threw every possible spell at that shield. "This created a huge rut around the area of the grass that was under the shield that protected you all. "That circle of grass is now the center of a memorial garden on the Commons lawn in Canterlot." Princess Twilight, trying not to cry herself, said softly "Yes, that is it..." This had been a terrifying night for those that were there, and all twelve wept softly for a minute or two. Still, Princess Twilight now knew what the next step was, so she began. "Shysage, and Summer Twins, please listen carefully. "And this is perhaps the most dangerous part of our response. "You three need to fly to Canterlot, and somehow get the other three Princesses to that spot, that circle of grass in Canterlot. "If you involve Shining Armor, be very careful, we do not want to alert Star Dusk. I would prefer that you do not enlist his help. "Still, Summer, please avoid the use of the Phantom Alicorn, unless it is necessary, either to protect your Twin, Shysage or Equestria's Princesses. "We are staying right here, and so you will need to find your way out yourselves." Shysage and the two Summers headed out the big doors, and up the stairs right away. It was about noon. Shining Armor was sitting at his post, outside the big doors for the Audience Hall in Canterlot. Star Dusk had apparently slept in or something, and was coming out for the first time today. Star Dusk asked a question that stunned Shining Armor. "Guard, should I be worried about Equestria's leadership remembering again?" She asked. Star Dusk did not appear to ask this question so as to accuse or press Shining Armor specifically. Maybe she had a bad dream or something. Well, Shining Armor suspected that Princess Twilight had her girls back now, but he wouldn't say anything about that. Still, Shining Armor had a pretty good view of Star Dusk's situation, and so he answered honestly, and with genuine concern... Shining Armor told Star Dusk, the true, most important answer to her question, what he felt she really needed to hear. "I don't think Equestria's leadership is your real problem, Star Dusk, for you are great." Star Dusk just looked down. She realized her guard was right... Then she walked slowly back into the Audience Hall... Shysage and the Summer Twins were heading up the long stairs from the Council Room. It looked to Shysage like what had happened in the Council Room had somehow 'activated' the inside of the Castle, because there was now plenty of light as they headed up the stairs. Once outside, Shysage could see the very faint, purple shield around the Castle, extending from the tip of the top Spire, down around the Castle in a perfect Sphere, that no doubt wrapped down around under the Council Room as well. Shysage mentioned the following. "Ladies, once we leave the shield, let's keep talking to a minimum. "Summer, I'm sorry, but I think we will land on the train tracks in the cave near their final approach to the Canterlot Station, and walk from there to the prison cells under the Palace. "We will then work out getting the Princesses to the circle garden. "And we will ignore Shining Armor. "I think Equestria will do the rest." The flight to Canterlot was quiet, and took less than an hour. As Shysage had indicated, from the air, they easily located the cave where the train tracks made their final approach to the Canterlot Station. Summer was not wild about walking this stretch of tracks again, but it had to be done. Still, they stopped at the small pool off to the right at the end, and drank some water. Shysage led them, slowly, to the cells under the Palace, and the outside gate was already unlocked. Once they were inside, the three Princesses let themselves, and the two Twins, out of their cells Princess Cadance and the two Luna Twins soon walked slowly out the back door, and headed for the circle garden together. Shining Armor saw them off in the distance, but didn't move, and said nothing. Shysage's Mare and the two Celestia Twins then left next, and followed the same path to the garden. Shysage and his mare's Twin followed them. Shining Armor had seen all of this, but, of course, said nothing, and did nothing. Shysage and Equestria Girls Summer had followed the Celestia Twins and Shyage's Mare by maybe 75 feet. The very second that Princess Celestia walked out into the center of that circle of grass... ...Princess Twilight and her eleven girls, and more importantly, the twelve 'Elements of Harmony' were IMMEDIATELY 'called' to positions around the circumference of that circle of grass... Twin next to Twin... They were all there... ...in the blink of an eye... Shysage was amazed... His Princess, Princess Twilight, had known or suspected this would happen... In addition, all twelve ponies, along with Equestria's Princesses, Shysage's Mare and the Principal Twins -- the entire circle of grass -- was IMMEDIATELY enclosed in the same purple magic shield that enclosed Princess' Castle... "Dad, mom's Twin, I want you both in here." Princess Celestia said quietly. Shysage walked in and sat next to his Mare, and her Twin sat next to her on the other side. Princess Celestia asked quietly "Princess Twilight, is the 'Group Link' ready, or would you like to check that now? Princess Twilight responded quietly "Princess, we are one, we are devoted, we are ready." ... Equestria was ready too... Even though he knew he was taking a risk, Shining Armor walked over towards the garden, towards Princess Celestia. Once he was close enough to speak, Princess Celestia said quietly "You have something to report Shining Armor?" Shining Armor spoke simply and quietly "Princess, even though what Star Dusk has done is very bad, I honestly think she is a victim, of the power, force, or being that she has assisted. As a result, I think she will require our protection." "Thank you Shining Armor, you may return to your post" Princess Celestia replied. Shining Armor headed back to his post, and was maybe half way there... ...and rapidly found out that he had picked a terrible time... "YOU BETRAYED ME, GUARD!!!" Star Dusk fumed. Shining Armor replied quietly "Star Dusk, I did not. I never did what you told me not to do, and I always did what you told me to do. And when you asked me questions, I always answered as honestly as I could." "Well, somepony did..." Star Dusk said sternly... Then she began to cast the memory spell on Shining Armor. Shining Armor simply put his head down, and let her finish. Star Dusk added the Allegiance spell too. "Star Dusk please come over here so we can talk" Princess Celestia said calmly. Star Dusk came to within maybe 40 feet of the group, then stopped. Princess Celestia knew that she really needed to find out the name of the being that Star Dusk had helped, and was helping. Princess Celestia had no intention of arguing with Star Dusk. Princess Celestia had already guessed Star Dusk was simply a 'pawn' being used, even before Shining Armor said what he had said. Still, Princess Celestia was unsure of how to approach this discussion. Princess Celestia didn't need to worry... Star Dusk immediately noticed Shysage, very close to Shysage's Mare; she was easily discernable with her slowly healing bruises on her head and face... "So you are Shysage... How can you justify commandeering the heart and will of a mare like you have?" Star Dusk asked, with a good dose of irritation... Shysage answered calmly, and without anger at all "Was that not your goal, as well, with that last 'wontonness spell' ?" This struck a nerve in Star Dusk... "I just wanted a pony to love me..." she almost cried out. At this, Shysage's Mare began to cry... And it wasn't just a few sniffles either... Shysage's Mare cried for a minute or two. Then, still crying, she tried to speak. "Star Dusk, you can't just take that... You need to learn to give that first... "And Shyage hasn't taken anything... I have freely given him everything, and he has just as freely given everything for me and to me... "You have to learn to give first... But I promise you, that when you give, you will receive far more in return..." Shysage's Mare just wept softly after saying this... Star Dusk was sure she was facing a hostile audience. But of all these ponies, compassion and understanding from Shysage's Mare, after all Star Dusk had done to her... Star Dusk could not ignore her words, and was soon weeping softly herself... "Nopony ever told me that... I'm so sor--" Star Dusk said. At this point, a barely perceptible glint of Red washed quickly across both of Star Dusk's eyes. Star Dusk's attitude changed immediately. "No... PONYROS WILL KILL YOU ALL!!!" She yelled. "Put her to sleep, please" Princess Celestia said. Less than two seconds later, Shining Armor had accomplished just that. It was a light sleep spell, that actually looked like Star Dusk was sleeping, standing up. Princess Celestia had Princess Twilight and her girls rotate, so that Princess Twilight could look towards the far edge of the Commons lawn. The rest of Equestria's three Princesses, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance formed a line, also facing the far edge of the Commons lawn. The three Princesses were maybe 50 feet from Princess Twilight and her girls, in roughly the center of the Commons lawn. The Realm of Equestria stretched off to the horizon for dozens of miles, past the far edge of the Commons lawn... And Equestria's leadership, gathered here, could easily see that... ...And this was Princess Celestia's exact reason for extending the Commons Lawn to the edge... ...Everypony could see the Realm of Equestria, and the thousands of ponies in it, stretching off into the distance... ...And Equestria was at stake during confrontations like this... ... Star Dusk was maybe twenty feet back, asleep, and Shining Armor was standing near her. "Mom, dad, please stand behind Lu and I by maybe 30 feet. And mom, stay a pony, and don't get involved unless you need to." Princess Celestia said softly. "And mom's Twin and the two Principal sisters need to stay inside the magic shield. "Shining Armor, please enclose Star Dusk in as good a shield as you can." This was quickly done. Princess Celestia raised her voice, and spoke... "PonyRos, come forth. We are Equestria, and we choose to remember our past, as the basis for building our future. "And we resent the fact that you have tricked one of our ponies to accomplish your ends. "PonyRos, show yourself. Equestria's leadership is ready to face you, right here, right now." ... After half a minute, both Pinkie Pies said softly, at the same time "Princess, he is here." PonyRos looked at what would be standing against him at this point. He was surprised to see now 12 'Elements of Harmony', and four Alicorn Princesses. He could not see the Phantom Alicorn, and he could not have known about the magical amplification supplied by the 'Group Link'... Still, he thought better of a battle he was unsure he could win. He growled loudly and fiercely for all to hear "NOT TODAY..." And PonyRos decided to head for the abyss from where he had come... But first, he consummated the gesture of a fleeing coward... He used his power to overcome and kill perhaps the weakest pony present... He took Star Dusk's heart, alive and beating, from Star Dusk's chest, as he retreated into his den... No magic shield could stop PonyRos from taking his end of the deal he had roughly forced on Star Dusk. The day she called for him, he did what most of the stallions she had met, had done... PonyRos jumped into her life, trampled her, then just took what he wanted... "Princess, he is gone..." both Pinkies said together. And Star Dusk collapsed to the ground... ... For the next hour, everypony present cried deeply over Star Dusk. The 'tears of devotion' flowed freely; their tears soaked her body. There was no anger or animosity towards what Star Dusk had done, even from those in this group that had suffered the most... Equestria stood up for justice, and it was clear that PonyRos was largely to blame... And for even one ponies' life to end like this was just tragic... After that hour, everypony was just sitting in a circle around Star Dusk crying... There was just nothing anypony could do...