//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: The Arrival Part 1 // Story: Redemption // by Mystic_Knightwolf //------------------------------// Redemption Chapter 14: The Arrival Part 1 Twilight was at odds. When Celestia and Luna had warned her and Cadence of Tirek's return, Twilight was more than willing to fight tooth and nail to defend Equestria from this threat. But determination quickly made way for disappointment as soon as she was told that Discord would be in charge of tracking the monster down instead of her. The studious mare eventually settled on studying with her friends to bide her time, having filled them in on what's happened, but after making connections between the tree of harmony and themselves, triggered by a run-in from Discord himself, Twilight was summoned again. Sometime on the way, it donned on her that Blueblood was nowhere to be seen. Twilight figured that he'd be right up there with her to defend Equestria, but even in her gallop through the castle, she didn't see any sign of him. Even Shining Armor and Trixie were present in the castle to try to protect it. As much as she'd like to think that the pale prince had a plan on the matter, she pushed it to the back of her mind as she reached the throne room to answer her teacher's call. It shouldn't have come to a surprise that Discord had betrayed them and sided with Tirek, but after their brief history together, she couldn't say she put it above him. Now, what was supposed to be a search for one weakened enemy quickly turned into defending against two powerful foes. That was when the princesses agreed on hiding their powers away in Twilight, as her existence as an alicorn was not yet known to the centaur. So here she was, out in the open, practicing her magic, trying to get a handle on herself. But luck nor skill was on her side as all she managed were sudden supersonic bursts of speed and random teleportations across Equestria. It was frustrating, to say the least. And With Tirek probably having already rampaged through Canterlot, she's in a race against time. He'll be looking for her, and there's no telling how strong he'll already be. She's out of options. Unless... "The Tree of Harmony!" with that realization, Twilight took to the skies again, in a zig-zag line towards Ponyville. XXXXX "I love you, Auntie." Blueblood spoke, teleporting away from the royal throne room after finding out that none of the princesses were there. "But sometimes, I cringe at your decisions." he continued to nopony in particular, making it to ground level, his sights locked on exactly who he was looking for. After Tirek had departed with Discord after fuming at the discovery of Princess Twilight, Blueblood returned from the Sanctuary to follow in his wake and continue with his plan. And now, he's found step one. "Trixie. Get up." he urged, prodding at her side. "It was... terrible, Blueblood." the blue mare spoke, barely having the strength to stand, leaning against him for support. "Tirek, h-he-" "Shh." he cut her off, resting a gentle hoof on her nose. Taking a step back form the wobbling mare, his horn began to glow, and aiming his horn at the former showmare, he struck her with a beam, but rather than burn her, knock her back, or explode, it encompassed her, gathering in her horn before dissipating. Trixie gasped, breathing frantically at the massive influx of raw essence before finally gathering her bearings. Figuring out what Blueblood had just done, she quickly tried a teleportation spell, and she did so with particular ease, but rather than the magenta light she was so used to, her magic was now the same deep blue hue as Blueblood's. The realization made her gawk at the pale prince, bewildered, before looking back at her cutie mark, the symbil proving testament to her special talent now a compass behind a wand. "You didn't restore my magic, you-" He cut her off again with another hoof. "Yes yes, I have you part of my essence. But forget about that now. I need your help." his hoof moved to her shoulder, and before she could object, they were away. XXXXX "The... Sanctuary? Why are we here? What's in here that could possibly help us?" "Something special. Down." Blueblood replied before issuing the order, and they descended down into the basement. Rather than a closed off shaft, the elevator they were on had an open shaft, and as they neared ground level of the cavern they were now in, her eyes caught sight of a... giant gyroscope? "Trixie doesn't like being left in the dark. So what's the plan, Blueblood?" "At first, it was a simple matter of find whoever dares threaten my family, beat them to a bloody pulp, and then undo the damage done. But I know better, so I kept my distance and learned all I could about this Tirek." he began, leading Trixie off of the elevator platform and across the mote that surrounded the platform the gyroscope was comprised of. "I came across the storybook that Auntie keeps all of her and Luna's tales in, and learned about him that way. I wanted to lend them my magic, but then I surmised that in his sweep through Canterlot, Tirek had banished them and Cadence to Tartarus, same as they banished him. If previous ventures there says anything, they're still alive." "So you would like Trixie to go to the kingdom of the dead to look for them, is that it?" Blueblood shook his head. "I cannot ask that of you, so-" It was Trixie's turn to cut Blueblood off. "Nonsense! You are the better combatant, you go and defeat Tirek. Trixie can go and fetch the princesses, provided she has a way back, of course." she herself has done her fair share of research on Tartarus, and with some justification from Luna, she knows that it's largely a prison for monsters and a recycling center for souls. Taking it in stride, the prince nodded. "You share my magic, so the Sanctuary will let you and any guests you bring teleport here." he informed, stamping his hoof, and the gyroscope whirred to life, its rings slowly beginning to spin. "Are you absolutely certain, though?" it never hurt to make sure. "A simple rescue mission. Trixie has read many stories and done much research. Not to mention she and Luna have our own share of monsters we banished there as night guards." Trixie assured, taking a step back as the portal began to manifest. Through it, both ponies could see the weakened alicorns, slumped and chained to the cold stone, flanks devoid of of their respectful cutie marks. If anything, it only spurred her even more. "Trixie... I... can do this." "Very well. I have faith in you. This compass on my flank has saved me innumerable times. With any luck, the one on yours should do the same. Stay alive. Okay?" Trixie Lulamoon smirked. "Trixie should be the one telling you that." XXXXX "Soon, there won't be a pegasus, earth pony, or unicorn that will be able to stand up. Against. Us." Discord monologued after Tirek had absorbed the magic of Twilight's friends. But it wasn't a sentiment he uttered without batting an eyelash. But it was eventually the case after seeing the look of betrayal on Fluttershy's face. But even with victory within their grasp, the Centaur wasn't done yet. "Us? Who said anything about 'us'." Tirek laughed as he began charging his magic again. As soon as he heard the mockery in the centaur's voice, Discord was immediately filled with regret. "You did." he meekly tried to reason, but he knew it was a fruitless effort as he was pulled up by the tyrant's magic. "You've helped me grow strong! You've provided the means by which I can obtain Princess Twilight's magic! And now, you're no longer of any use to me." and then Tirek proceeded to drain the draconequus' chaotic magic. The darkened stream of vivid, erratic magic drained from Discord's mouth and into Tirek's, causing the centaur to grow other several feet. And without another word spoken, he turned tail and started for the Everfree Forest. "But you said that this was a sign of your gratitude and loyalty. A gift from someone close to you." The centaur scoffed. "My brother who betrayed me. You're as worthless as he is." and without another word, Tirek's hulking form departed, leaving a magic-drained Discord to lament his actions. "Surely you saw this comin'?" it was Applejack who tried to reach out to him. "I didn't. I truly didn't." "Girls!" everyone quickly looked up to see Twilight herself, still not in full control of her powers, land with a ground-shaking crash, skidding to a halt before she met the cage her friends were trapped in. Hopping back to her feet, one question raced to the forefront of her mind. "What happened?" "Ask him!" Rainbow Dash retorted, pointing an accusatory hoof at Discord, who had just gathered the strength to get to his feet. "Tirek tricked me into believing he could offer me something more valuable than friendship. But there is nothing worth more. I see that now." the lamenting Discord spoke up, holding the medallion. "He lied when he said that this medallion was given as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. But when I say that it is a sign of true friendship. I am telling the truth." and taking the accessory off, Discord walked up to Twilight and gently placed it around her neck. As she looked down at the medallion, it shined an all too familiar rainbow gleam. The realization made her gasp. And she wasn't the only one who connected the dots. "Ya think that might be the last one we need?" Applejack spoke up. "We have to get to the chest." with newfound determination and an empowering smirk, Twilight turned tail and hoofed it to the Everfree, her friends, all of them, right behind her. XXXXX Even from so high up in the sanctuary, Blueblood could feel the resonance of the alicorn magic that was imbued within Twilight. So much magic in one pony made even himself seem like a tiny moon by comparison. But he didn't need boundless amounts of magic to beat an enemy such as this. He just needed skill, and he had more than enough. He could only hope that Twilight could hold out long enough for him to get there. And if the moon and sun earlier today were any indication, she has trouble controlling that kind of power. But that was why he was here. If he can't defeat Tirek, he'll at least buy time for his sister-in-law to find a solution. But then again, he didn't intend on losing this fight. There was nothing else to it. He won't go down like the others. This pony has bested dragons, tamed seas, been to Tartarus and back, and cheated death countless times. If this monster wants power, then he'll find it, and the Pale Rider will be happy to send him back to Tartarus with a grave sculpted by him. Blueblood huffed. "There's always some fool who wants to rule the world." With the use of the telescope at the top of the Sanctuary's ancient castle, he was able to find Tirek and his red hulking form rampaging through the Everfree, coming out of Ponyville. "Target sighted." Blueblood thought aloud as he stepped back and waved his hoof over the encrusted sapphire jewel on his titanium collar. The accessory responded, and out from under it, thick, elegant plates of metal extended to cover him. First his back, then his shoulders, followed by his flank and limbs, and finally, his neck, mane, and head. Not an inch of white fur, blue eyes, or blonde hair was visible. Now ready for battle, he wasted no time in charging a spell. Blueblood was encompassed in a blue orb, amassing magic not just from himself, but from the entire floating island. He rose off the ground, raising his horn skyward to maximize his intake. There was so much magic radiating off from him, his fur began to gleam his blue magic hue. With his pure blue glowing eyes trained on the tiny red and black spec that not only threatened the livelihood of his little ponies, but also banished his family to Tartarus. The orb he was in, with a loud, powerful crackle of magic lightning, turned into a high-speed projectile, falling like a meteor to Equestria's surface, naught but a blue streak across the reddened sky. 'Tirek, I'm coming for you.'