//------------------------------// // For whom the bell tolls, Part I // Story: Spiders and Magic: The Harmony Avengers // by andrew7 //------------------------------// Twilight, Princess Celestia, Luna and Cadance followed Spider-Manes example, looking down and their brows raised and mouths opened wide in shock what they just saw down there. There was a massive crater over five hundred meters wide made in the ground. Local area around the crater resembled nothing but rather a wasteland with rocks, grass dissolved and dead trees without leaves, everything suggesting and evident by the enormous magical explosion occurring in there. “This looks like the place alright.” Spider-Mane trailed of bluntly, checking damaged area from the high of his Spider Glider. “Look at the size of that crater.” Twilight exhaled in awe checking a massive crater. “The explosion must have been more powerful than I expected.” Amethyst alicorn shifted her gaze to princesses. Princess Celestia observed the crater and damaged area around carefully with an utmost interest in her violet eyes. “Lets fly down and get a closer look.” Celestia suggested, flipping her beautiful white wings and soared down as the others followed her example. Celestia, Twilight, Luna and Cadance gracefully landed along with Peter landing with Spider Glider via bottom jets on the wasted and cracked ground. “Wow….What a mess.” Spider-Mane stated both offhandedly yet with a stunned expression as he scratched back of his neck and checking damaged area and a massive crater. “We will need help from the side of authority for magical safety and radiation protection as well as really big cleaning squad to clean this up.” “I only wish it would be that simple, Peter.” Cadance replied with a sombre expression. “A disaster like that and even of magical origins are very difficult for a mere ponies or unicorns with magical abilities themselves to handle. It usually takes all the combined effort of unicorns or alicorns, along with a natural strength and magic of the nature to restore such a damage. By the way, it usually may take years for scenery to recover by itself.” Young princess explained and giving her stallion a solemn look. Celestia remained silent, brooding in her thoughts and eying damaged area as well the crater after that powerful magical explosion, yet her attention suddenly centred on several dislocated rocks around the wasted area. However, there was something strange about those rocks, like they would generate and slowly running out of energy, that was fading away. “Sister?” Luna whispered, being aware of her sisters reaction. Dark blue alicorn shifted her attention to rock Celeastia was looking at and a moon princess exhaled a little. “Do you think?” Realizing the royal sisters gazes aimed to the rocks, Twilight and Spider-Mane along with Cadance joined their sides. “What is going on, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked curiously. Just right now, Celeastia broke her train of thoughts, regaining her senses yet remaining her look fixed at those strange rocks. “This is just not any ordinary place, my friends. There is a magic present all over the place.” A tall yet beautiful mare replied in her usual polite tone. “Heh?” Peter blurted out dumbfounded under his mask. “Eghm, I am sorry, Princess Celestia, by the all respect to you, but….There was just a massive explosion of a magical origins here. The magic is now all over several miles away.” Considering young stallions words, sun goddess shook her head and raised her hoof. “No, Peter. It is not like that.” Celestia replied calmly, yet deep down satisfied with Peters sensible statement. “This magic I fell is different. It is about this place….It is a Place of Power.” She replied. “Place of Power?!” Twilight exhaled excited with her brow raised. “No way!” Though, Peter unlike her wife who was rather excited, masked stallion seemed on the other hand dumbfounded. “Um…Place of Power?” Being aware of her husbands confusion, Twilight interjected. “Peter. Places of Power are sacred fields that are posed by rune stones and relics that generates an unfettered amounts of magical energy that are generated throughout the Equestria. There are plenty of fields across the land and only great mages and royal alicorns are allowed to enter such places generating a life power of Equestria.” Moon princess explained. “Really?” Peter trailed of in awe. “You mean….It is like a power plant back on Earth?” He asked, shifting his gaze to Twilight. “Yes, Peter. It is something like that. Though, instead of generating electricity or nuclear power, here in Equestria it is magic.” Twilight replied with a smile on her face and nodding. “I see….” Peter murmured in agreement. He massaged his chin thoughtfully several time and then his eyes widened, as an idea hit him like a brick into the head in a realization. “HEY! That is it!” Stallion jerked out of excitement and almost hopping up. The princesses and Twilight almost jumped out of fright and swiftly shifting their collective and bewildered gazes to Spider-Mane. “What is it, Peter?” Twilight asked carefully, still a bit astonished what got into her husband all in the sudden. Though, being quite slow to respond, Spider-Mane spoke off a little casually and taking a serious stance. “I guess….I already know what might trigger that magical explosion, ladies.” Being astonished by their friends statement, Luna was first to speak off. “Oh really, Peter? What then?” Alicorn asked rolling her head on the side a bit. “Well….” Peter started. “I guess this entire Place of Power just might be the case. You see…., as Twilight said, these rune stones and relics had actually acted as a power generators, holding and generating an unfettered amounts of magical energy.” “Yes?” Luna only nodded bewildered yet interested where Peter was getting to. “My guess is, that something must have actually overload those rune stones, which then caused just like Twilight theorized before, a reaction among magical particles in the stream fluid, which then released an intense magic energy and eventually causing the explosion.” Peter gave the best rational and scientific explanation he could. Astonished by stallions unique explanation, Princess Celestia replied back with smile on her face. “That is indeed an unique view in the situation, my friend.” Yet, snow-shite alicorn thought deeply for herself, considering Peters theory. “Though, I am sorry to be objecting, but on Place of Power, when there are numerous rune stones and rock, as the magical energy channels through them, the rock acts all synchronized.” In the instance Luna interjected. “It is true, Peter. By that way, as you have said, all the rune stones on the field acts as one combined generator and magical energy that channels through them is in a near-perfect balance and norm. Therefore, there should not be an overload.” The mare explained, earning an affirmative nod from her older sister. Though, standing by his suggestion, Peter thought deeply. “Mmm…But, what about…If there were two rune stones like generator exactly on the same place, my guess is it would cause two different magic energy streams to cross feeding on each other and the feedback could then result an overload.” Once again, Peters theory gained a collection of amazed looks from princesses and Twilight who seemed to be concerned, considering her husbands words. “You know….That actually might be…plausible.” Cadance who remained silent for a duration of time, step forward. “But….Peter.” She trailed off slightly in disbelief. “What could possibly cause that overload? I mean, each Place of Power has its own sets of rune stones and each field is separated individually and scattered all over the Equestria.” “Mmm….That is what I am about to find out….Uh oh!” Spider-Mane though deeply again, but his train of thoughts was suddenly broke off by once again by his Spider-Sense, buzzling in his cranium out of control, signalizing an upcoming danger as masked stallion clutched. Though the buzzling was stronger than usual, lucky for Peter, it was not nearly that strong like before in reaction for magical explosion. But, whatever the danger was about to come, it must have been big, really big. Being aware of their friends all very well familiar reaction about upcoming danger, Twilight edged closer to Peters side. “What is it Peter?” The mare asked softly with a concern filled in her voice. “That has been some strong Spider-Sense.” Spider-Mane spoke off cautiously, like he would expect something bad was about to happen. “Better stay on your toes, ladies. Looks like we are gonna get some serious trouble.” Peter warned as he maintained his signature defensive pose, scanning the area carefully. However, before any mare could say something, a deep, gruff and dark like voice echoed throughout the wasteland that would literally send chills into others spines. “Chm. You have no idea how much right you actually are, young one. Yet, you should better brace yourselves. Because this trouble will be like anything you have ever faced in your entire lifetimes.” Spider-Mane, Twilight and Princesses gasped and nearly jumping in fright by the hearing of the dark mysterious voice echoing around, that could literally put King Sombras, Green Goblins or Venoms usually cold and malicious voice to shame. “What…What…What was that? Who is there?” Peter blurted out nervously, if not with a hint of fear and uncertainty being present in his voice still maintain his defensive stance, ready for anything. Suddenly, just like he said, a burst of light erupted several meters away from masked stallion and four alicorn princesses as a smoke, even supposedly of dark magic origins spread after a burst, causing Peter, Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Cadance to shield their eyes with their hooves. Finally, the smoke faded away and revealing an enormous being, bigger than Princess Celestia, resembling a huge and strong ram. He had two powerful rounded horns on a massive head, four strong legs with even-toed and sharp hooves, white eyebrows as well as a white goatee, an unusual razor sharp teeth exposed from his lower jaw like carnivores do and an evil glowing red eyes. Though, what was the most peculiar was a red collar with golden amulets and a big golden bell with a red strip with a strange glyph like letters on it. The being literally resembled a “demonic ram from a netherworld”. Spider-Mane and Twilight were the first who removed their hooves from their faces, yet their mouths fell agape and yeas widened in an utters shock by the look of a demonic ram standing in front of them with a devilish grin on his face, exposing his sharp fangs. Celeastia and Luna were next to be stunned by rams demonic present in a utters shock, yet multi-coloured mane alicorn seemed to be somewhat even more stunned than most of her friends, well if not even necessarily frightened. Cadance though was the last to get stunned by the monstrous ram, yet she also watched an expression of her aunt in an utmost concern, yet she decided not to say any word in their mysterious visitor presence. “At last we meet.” Demonic ram spoke of with his deep and gruff voice in an embittered and cold manner and centring his whole attention to pair of Royal Sisters of Equestria. “Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. A dear protégés of Star Swirl the Bearded. Au unicorn that had caused my so much trouble.” Peter, though already being able to recollect his senses, yet unable to let his masked lenses of his mask out of the enormous ram. “Eeeehm…..And just…Who are YOU supposed to be, goatee?” Masked stallion asked cautiously with an innocent quirk that was somewhat rich to be ignored. Reacting slightly dumbfounded by oddly costumed stallions witty response, yet keeping his ever serious and rock like expression in his face as an anger and frustration associated with it, ram growled and exposing his sharp teeth. “IAM A RAM! YOU INSOENCE FOOL!!!” Ram roared nearly distorted and stomping his hoof to the ground, shaking the ground by the impact. Peter nearly jumped out of fright, chuckling nervously under his mask, obviously cursing in his thoughts his big mouth and lame jokes. Yet eying a demon like ram with cautious and judging from his evident strength and despite his seemingly aged look, the ram must have been very powerful and strong. So for now on, Spider-Mane decided to play it cool and waiting how the situation is going to evolve. A monstrous ram, who already managed to recollect his senses as he coughed a little. “As you must know boy, to indroduce myself……..Grogar is the name. The Necromancer master of dark arts. An emperor of Tambelon Empire and Equestrias worst nightmare.” An evil ram stated arrogantly, addressing himself with a pride and he established the most respectable stance he could muster. With such a boasting attitude, even Trixie and Blueblood could hardly compare with him. “Grogar….” Princess Celestia whispered cautiously for herself. Though it was still too soon to respond, judging from princess yet still lasting shock and awe in her expression by the looks of monstrous ram, it could be possible that his apparent name was somewhat familiar to her. Unfortunately, Peter who could never hold his tongue and always having a little too big mouth that could be compared to Pinkie Pies, could do nothing but speak off with some of his trademark sarcastic quirks. “Grogar? You mean….that you have been groggy for some time?” The idea was just too rich to ignore, yet Twilight bumped masked stallion into his gut by her elbow and denying him a scolding glare, pointing Peter not to provoke Grogar any further. Once again, Grogar denied a bewildered gaze, yet immediately scowled and growled menacingly in irritation by another of masked stallions sarcastic remark. Due to steadily rising tension in the atmosphere and before it could go out of control, Luna interjected, closing her gap between Peter and Twilight. “Careful, Peter.” Moon princess spoke off in both cautious and warning tone. “He is a powerful necromancer warlord who once attempted to take over and rule the entire Ponyland three thousands of years ago, until he had been banished into Shadow World.” “Oh great.” Spider-Mane murmured under his mask bluntly. “Just what we need. Another villains with a superiority complex who wants to destroy the world -- I mean Equestria.” Paying stallions remark no mind, evil ram only smirked devilishly by Lunas statement. “Aaah. I am glad that historians mentioned me in history documents. I had been beginning to think that I had been forgotten. It is nice that at least anypony does remember. But in your case, I guess it would rather be an opposite, wouldn’t it?” Grogar stated both bluntly yet satisfied and chuckling under his breath with his teeth exposed. In the instance, Cadance joined her friends side. “Grogar? An Emperor of Tambelon?” A pink mare exhaled in disbelief, like even she would slowly start getting in. “But….I have thought it was only a legend.” “Well, I don’t know Cadance. That guy seems a very real to me.” Spider-Mane muttered sarcastically under his mask. “What is it, that you want, Grogar?” Now Twilight spoke off cautiously, glaring an evil ram suspiciously. Yet a horrible realization struck her mind hard. “Are you….The one responsible for that magical explosion?! Who actually overloaded the rune stones?” The mare asked both angrily and frantically. "Indeed." Grogar smirked deviously in response and agreement. “As there wasnt any more fitting a perfect way to herald my return. And now I am BACK! Free at last out of the Shadow World, to finish what I started three thousands of years ago….To rule the Equestria!” Demonic ram proceeded coldly. Just right now, Princess Celestia finally recollected her sense and trotted her way to Spider-Mane, Twilight, Luna and Cadance, standing and stepping firmly in front of them facing Grogar with a determined and intensified glare on her violet irises. “Equestria is under our protection, Grogar. My the most faithful student Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and her personal knight, Spider-Mane. Cadance, ruler of Crystal Empire. My sister Luna, guardian of the night. And me…Princess Celestia, Princess of the Sun and ruler of Equestria. Together, we shall protect our home. Even…from you.” Snow-white alciron with multi-coloured mane scoffed menacingly, her glare intensifying. Eying four alicorns and masked stallion in a strange red and blue attire, Grogar laughed somewhat playfully. “I am so glad that you feel that way…Princess Celestia. A proud words indeed. Otherwise…I would have brought this along for nothing.” Ram stated arrogantly and pointing his hoof on a collar with a golden belt on it. “That is quite a pretty bell hanging on that decorated collars of yours, Grogy.” Spider-Mane stated nonchalantly, paying an attention to that golden bell with red stripe and strange marks on it hanging on Grogars collar cautiously, while Twilight, Celestia, Luna and Cadance took defensive stances. ”Do you actually intent to ring it for an reinforcements or sing us a lullaby?” Despite Grogars steadily raising irritation by Stallions supposed idiocy with his evil glare deepening, evil ram maintained himself cool and chuckled. “Not at all. Seeing Equestira having a three Royal alicorns and two kids protecting it….In the contrast, defeating you will not a problem at all.” Grogar chuckled menacingly. In the instance, a golden bell on his collar started ringing all by itself by a campanology like melody, earning a collective and suspicious gazes from Spider-Mane, Twiligh, Celestia, Luna and Cadance. The bell eventually started glowing by bright red aura of seeming negative energy. In the instance, Spider-Manes Spider Sense screamed like crazy in his head. The bell must have been of magical origins, empowered by some terrible and corrupted power. Just like that, Grogars enormous horns then started glowing by the same aura as well, generating a dark magic. “Better brace yourselves. It is time to take one nasty ride.” Grogar proceed venomously with a devious fanged grin. “LOOK OUT!” Peter screamed on top of his lungs, jumping into his hind hooves and stretching his hooves defensively as Grogar released two bright red energy streams from his horn, which combined into one powerful energy beam heading right to heroes with a blazing speed. But in the last minute, Twilights horn gloved by her own violet magic aura as young princess created a protective force field around her and the others, shielding them from the upcoming blast, Yet, as Grogars dark energy beam collided with the force field, Twilight suddenly felt an uprising pressure in her cranium, as she did her best to hold magical shield together. The force field managed to protect those inside from harming, however, Grogars blast was so powerful that it caused sending magical bubble like shield flying several yards away as it eventually cracked and Twilight, Peter, Celestia, Luna and Cadance collided with ground, making several rolls as they eventually made a halt, while Spider-Mane gracefully back flipped on his hooves. Peter swiftly checked princesses who were slowly recuperating from the blast and making their way back onto their hooves, as he heard a near groaning. Peter looked around and saw Twilight who struggled to make her way back to her hooves, rubbing her cranium. Stallion immediately rushed to his beloved wife side, grabbing her with his hooves gently and helping her to stand up. “Twilight. Are you okay, honey?” Peter asked with an utmost concern and he gently brushed her head against Twilights cheek affectionately, making sure she was alright. The mare returned her stallions affection and smiled warmly. “Don’t worry, Peter. I am fine.” Twilight replied reassuringly, yet her expression turned dismayed and she turned cautiously to Grogar who was slowly making his way forward. “But….Grogars magic…I….I have never seen anything like this before. I guess that only a few individuals beside Princess Celestia and Princess Luna even possess such a great power and magical potential.” Twilight exhaled astounded, unable to supress her amazement by evil rams magical abilities. “Impressed by my power, child?” Grogar asked with an interest in his voice and smirked devilishly. “This has been just a mere small amount of power of my collar bell. You have no idea what I have stored for you next.” “Sorry, Mr Hornhead. “But it is already getting late. It is time for you to go back to your shed.” Spider-Mane stated sarcastically as he burst galloping forward, engaging Grogar face off. “Peter! Wait!” Twilight jerked out worryingly, trying to halt charging Peter but it was for naught. Grogars golden bell once again started ringing in the same melody and glowing by red aura. In the same moment, just like before, Grogars rolled horns started pulsing by the same dark energy. Though this time, evil ram created an orb by concentrating his dark magic through his horns in front of his muzzle. An orb of dark energy was steadily growing bigger, gaining on power, as Grogar eventually released that concentrated dark energy bolt right towards his opponent. However, with his amazing speed, agility as well as with Spider Sense alarming for an upcoming danger, the wall-crawler leaped from the ground high into the air and back flipping effortlessly above the energy bolt that collided with ground in an explosion, yet Peter landed on his hooves effortlessly and he kept speeding towards Grogars direction. Unfortunately, evil ram shoot numerous other bolt of dark energy from his horns to masked stallion, yet just like before with his bell ringing and glowing. Spider-Mane dodged second incoming blast by jumping aside and third one by making a swift maneuver via flipping and landing on his hooves, never ceasing his pursuit towards Grogar. “You know….Dodging enemies assaults is actually quite fun, but you just cannot do everything by yourself, Grogy. Now it is my turn.” Spider-Mane jerked out bluntly as he fired a strand of webbing from his left hoof as the strand cling to one of Grogars horns, which quite surprised the ram. Peter holding on his web, swung the strand sharply and masked stallion slingshot his frame right towards his opponent like a projectile. Masked web slinger extended his right hoof to deliver a powerful blow zipping through the air, ready to strike the ram as he was getting closer and closer. However, seeing his opponents upcoming assault and despite Grogars big head, bearing a two massive sets of horns, the ram effortlessly swung his head back into a counterattack. Be the moment when Spider-Mane was very close, his Spider Sense blurted like crazy, but it was already too late for stallion to react. Grogar swung his horned head like bludgeon and hitting Spider-Mane very hard and sending the stallion flying by impact, which could be compared to strength of Incredible Hulk, Rhino or Juggernaut. “Wow! Good reflexes. And on second though, that has actually hurt.” Peter cursed under his breath as he soared through the air like a cannon ball and colliding with one of the rune stones and crashing it by impact. “Ugh! Okay…I have really not seen that coming.” Stallion muttered as he found himself covered by the debris and pain coursing through his body. In the instance, Grogars glowing bell rung once again and this time, demon like ram released a chain like glowing whip from his horns by channelling his dark energy. Magical chain, acting actually like a snake crawled his way to grounded stallion and before Spider-Mane could get up on his hooves, the chain wrapped his entire body. “What the…!” Peter jerked out as Grogars magical chain constricted him. Stallion struggled and attempting to free himself from his restrains. But unfortunately no matter how strong he was, Spider-Mane failed in his attempt, unable to break through the dark magic chain that totally immobilized his being. “Oh crap. Mmm. I wonder…If he even could actually make me tell the truth via this chain.” “PETER!!!” Twilight creamed out aloud and galloped her way towards magically restrained Peter. “I will just kill two birds with one stone.” Grogar proceed coldly as his magical bell rung again and his horn glowed by his dark energy, averting his gaze to young mare and stallion. But before evil ram could shoot another of his magic bolts, different blast of pure yellow bright energy hit Grogar with a power of missile and sending evil ram flying through the air. He crashed through several dead trees in his way and eventually colliding with ground, making several rolls before coming into halt, creating a small trench. Evil ram grunted in pain as he managed to make his way back on his hooves and shaking his head several times to recollect his senses, though a pain still aching a bit throughout his body. Growling menacingly, Grogar looked around to find the one who shot him as his gaze landed on Princess Celestia with her horn glowing by yellow aura and Luna along with Cadance standing by her side. “You savage!” Princess Celestia hissed, glaring Grogar with a venomous scowl. “Leave them alone!” “You want to fight? Then pick some someone of your own size!” Luna fiercely jerked out with her usually ocean blue eyes hidden behind white glowing light, with also Cadance joining and standing close to her aunts side, being more than willing to assist in order to protect her family from Grogar. “Very well then.” Grogar chuckled, ignoring Twilight kneeling at strained Spider-Mane and shifting his full attention at Royal alicorns. “Lets see what you Royal alicorn princesses got.” Demonic ram stated challengingly, burying his hoof over ground several times in a very menacing way and shifting his head from side to side as it crackled a bit. “Yet….Expect no mercy nor decency from me.” In the instance, Grogars bell rung once again glowing by a red aura, his horns started charging his dark energy as he released another of his concentrated energy bolts right to princesses. Celestias, Lunas and Cadances horns glowed with their respective auras and creating one strong force filed by their combined might. The blast collided with the force field, shaking its structure, yet alicorns managed to keep it steady as magic shield eventually absorbed the blast. Cancelling the spell and force field fading away, three royal alicorns spread their wings and soared into the air. Going into a counterattack in something like a Wild West shootout, Cadance released several magical bolts from her horn right into Grogar, who was despite his rather hulking physique surprisingly agile and fast as he managed to dodge pink mares blast by jumping aside and countering with energy bolts of his own. Yet, Princess of Crystal Empire flipped her wings and she dodged rams blast in mid-air, keeping her distance. Celestia along with Luna released several magical bolts from their horns, bombarding demonic ram persistently with their combined might, yet Grogar created his very own magic shield that absorbed most of Royal Sisters blasts and keeping rams own being protected from the attack. "Pureblood alicorns. Such a slow learners.” Grogar huffed unimpressed and released yet another concentrated powerful beam of dark energy from his horns. Luckily, both alicorns swiftly disappeared in a flash of light, effectively dodging blast and each mare materialized in a different direction. Meanwhile aside from a fierce battle between alicrons and demonic ram, Twilight was kneeling at Peter, who was still restrained by Grogars magical chain, still unable to set himself free, no matter how hard he tried. Twilight was using her magic to break a dark magic spell of the chain that constricted her husband as hard as she could, but so far without any result, much for mares dismay. “Chm! Come on, Twilight! Can you just not negate the magical effects of this chain?” Spider-Mane whined desperately, as he frantically kept struggling. “We are missing all the fun back there.” Wise-cracking web slinger though finished both sarcastically and humorously. Twilight rolled her eyes in an exasperated manner. “I am trying Peter. But this chain is forced with an immensely powerful dark magic. It would take more than just an ordinary magi or spell to surpass that.” Young alicorn thought deeply as an idea flashed in her head. “Unless….I could use a Negating Spell to negate dark magic and breaking the chain off. But it will take all my concentration and will to do that and it takes some time.” “Alright than honey.” Peter agreed, as he shifted his attention back to ongoing battle occurring nearby destroyed forest. “You better hurry this up, Twilight. I am afraid Princess Celestia, Luna and Cadance cannot keep that up forever. They need our help as well.” Stallion instructed in concern and seriousness present in his tone. Twilight closed her eyes and her horn started pulsing by her violet aura as it nearly flashed like as small beacon. Young princess than transferred her own magical energy into chain, its violet glow light surrounding its red aura of dark magic. Peter, despite his mask lenses usually protecting his eyes, was just forced to shut them down by such amount of light. To be continued…….