Chapter Nine
Harmony and Disharmony
Twilight Sparkle and the others gently floated back to the ground as the brilliant light of the Elements’ magic faded away. As soon as her hooves touched the ground, the purple mare whipped around and ran to her teacher’s side. Princess Celestia was still shivering badly when her student reached her, and a quick touch of her hoof told Twilight Sparkle that the white mare was freezing cold.
“Hold on Princess; I know a spell to treat this.” Twilight Sparkle spoke in a rush forcing herself to calm down and summon up her magic. Focusing her mind on the healing spell the purple unicorn’s purple magic turned a gentle pinkish white, and she touched her horn to her teacher’s. The magic aura spread out across Princess Celestia’s body until it completely enveloped her then it was slowly absorbed into her body. With a great sigh, the princess opened her eyes and smiled up at her most faithful student.
“Princess you’re alright!” Twilight Sparkle cried out throwing her forehooves around her mentor’s neck and burying her face into her flowing rainbow main, the Princess’ skin was warm to the touch now.
“Yes. Your skill with magic is impressive as always my little pony.” Princess Celestia returned her student’s hug with a quick nuzzle before Twilight Sparkle released her grip and the white mare stood back up. She stiffened for a moment as a stab of pain coursed through her head. She had worried that Dark Star’s spell would have lasting side effects, but it was a minor thing. Worried her student would notice her pain Princess Celestia smiled warmly, “I am fine now, and it would appear that I am not the only one who has recovered.”
Twilight Sparkle gave her teacher a confused look then turned to see what the princess was looking at. Rainbow Dash wings beat steadily as she hovered in the air hugging Applejack is a similar manner that the purple mare had just been hugging the princess. For her part Applejack was easily standing up on her own.
“Applejack! Rainbow Dash you’re all right!” Twilight Sparkle called causing the two to break apart with wide smiles across their faces.
“Yeee haaa!” Applejack cheered, excitedly shaking off her bandages. “Better than all right Sugarcube, Ah ain’t never felt better.”
Rainbow Dash followed suit fluttering and flapping out her wing every which way until they had shed the last of the bandages while kicking off the rest. “Ha, this is awesome!” Rainbow Dash flew in a few circles through the air and landed back next to her best friend. “We’re gonna have to break out these bad boys next time I have to stay in the hospital.”
Applejack gave her friend a weary but slightly amused look. “They ain’t here so ya can go bang yerself up whenever ya like Sugarcube.” Rainbow Dash started to reply, but a shout from Pinkie Pie, who was standing across the field, cut her off before she could.
“Hey look you guys! That meanie wenie Dark Star is still all gloomy looking.” The others all turned to look over to their pink friend who was standing over the unconscious form of the false unicorn pegasus. “Shouldn’t he have turned back into a nice pony or disappeared or something.”
Rarity gave her cotton candy maned friend a worried look and shouted out to her trotting a few paces towards her. “Pinkie, darling, come away from that fiend, he-”
That the moment the black stallion’s eyes shot open. In an instant, Dark Star sprang up from the ground and digging his forehooves firmly into the ground delivered a powerful buck into Pinkie Pie’s chest. With a quick flap of his wings, he leaped into the air whipped around and landed again facing his opponents as he crouched low to the ground ready to strike.
Pinkie Pie cried out as she sailed through the air towards her friends, Rarity in particular, who realized too late that she had become an impromptu landing cushion for the flailing pink mare. The landing was met with a loud ‘Mmph’ as the two friends suddenly became a tangled mess, the white unicorn’s eyes spinning dizzily from the collision. However, Pinkie Pie almost instantly jumped back to her hooves with a giggle. “That was so cool! Did you see that! I thought Dark Star was out for good, but he jumped up and kicked me, and I went flying through the air it was so much fun! I want to do it again!”
The others just stood stunned, not only because Dark Star seemed to be completely unaffected by the Elements, but also because of the bizarre enjoyment Pinkie Pie had gotten from being kicked across the field by the evil pony.
“Too bad Celestia,” Dark Star laughed, a wide smile spreading across his face as he dropped his defensive pose, stood up to his full height and shook out his wings before folding them neatly at his side. “Seem the Element won’t work on me. Still, I was a little worried there for a while.”
Focusing his will through his false horn Dark Star started summoning his magic. “Anyways, I’ve got a ‘Welcome Back’ party to plan for my Queen, and I think a little lower powered cold snap will keep you party poopers from causing too much trouble.”
Dark Star started to toss his spell then suddenly realized he could not feel his magic. With confusion he looked up at his horn, his eyes crossing in the attempt, and found it was not glowing with magic. “It’s gone?”
“That’s too bad!” Rainbow Dash dropped out of the air and delivered a powerful kick to the side of Dark Star’s head. “Cuz my hooves are still right here.”
The black unicorn pegasus flew back several feet from the force of the blow before flaring out his bat wings and catching himself mid-air. “Aww good kick,” he admitted holding a hoof to his aching head. Then, quickly reevaluating his position, Dark Star whipped around and shot off into the dark woods.
“Hey! You’re not getting away that easily!” Rainbow Dash shouted and became a blurred spectrum chasing after the white-maned stallion.
“Hold on there Rainbow!” Applejack shouted after the rainbow maned mare and cursing herself for not grabbing the pegasus when she had the chance. Not wasting a second the orange mare took off in a full gallop after the two flyers. The other followed suit crying out in vain and chasing after the much faster pony.
Twilight Sparkle came to a sliding stop as Applejack’s form disappeared into the gloom of the forest. Her eyes shot wildly from side to side, and her ears twitched back and forth trying to detect the orange mare, but it was useless.
“What are we going to do darling,” Rarity asked moving up to her friend.
“Those ponies got some speed, there’s no way we could catch up,” Pinkie Pie bounded over to join her friends, it would seem her random ability to prance after Rainbow Dash and somehow keep up was forgotten.
“I don’t know,” The purple unicorn shook her head and turned to the Princess. “Princess can’t you find them, with your magic it should be simple.”
Princess Celestia simply shook her head slowly at this, “I’m afraid not my dear Twilight. My body has healed from Dark Star’s spell, but it seems to have affected my magic more than even he realized it would, for it has yet to return.”
“Well, umm, at least he didn’t finish raising the moon,” Fluttershy added softly, trying to reassure her friends.
“That is right darling,” Rarity piped in happily beaming at her yellow friend. “Without the moon, that ruffian cannot finish his spell on poor Princess Luna.”
Princess Celestia closed her eyes and slowly shook her head at this. “I’m afraid the moon does hang in the sky this night.” The princess raised her hoof and pointed to a black patch of the night sky. “This night there is a new moon, a dark moon, the symbol of Nightmare Moon’s return.”
“Then we have to find them, but how?” The soft pink-maned pegasus asked softly.
“Twilight have you done any research in the field of auras?” The princess asked turning to her student.
Twilight Sparkle furrowed her brow in thought, “Some. I read a book on the matter but it was a little abstract, so I didn’t spend much time on the subject.”
“I understand, but even a basic understanding should be enough,” Princess Celestia moved to stand next to her pupil. “I will help guide you through the process. First, close your eyes and try to clear your mind.”
“Right!” Twilight nodded closing her eyes and lowering her head trying to clear her mind of any thoughts. However, even for a normal pony, such a task would be difficult, but for the purple mare whose life was run on constant planning and schedules, it seemed impossible. Every time she told herself not to think of anything ten different thoughts would pop into her head all calling out for attention. Soon her face was scrunched up in concentration, her teeth gritting angrily.
Princess Celestia saw this and smiled softly; she might have even found it cute if they were not in such a dire situation. Gentle she draped one of her wings over Twilight Sparkle’s back, the effect was instantaneous. The unicorn’s body relaxed as she eased unconsciously into the warm wing. “Don’t try and force yourself Twilight, just relax. Picture yourself floating adrift in an ocean. The water cradling you gently, safely.”
Twilight Sparkle took another deep breath and did as the princess described, relaxing and picturing herself in a dark ocean that cradled her like her mentor’s wing. The princess waited until she felt her student complete relaxed under her wing before continuing. “Good now let yourself pull away from the image, let the vision of yourself get smaller and smaller until you can’t see it anymore.”
The unicorn mare followed her mentor’s instruction almost without trying, deep down noting to continue such exercises in the future. Soon all she could see was a great black void, but it was not unwelcome as she thought such a thing would be, she felt totally at ease.
Seeming to sense this the Princess’ voice came to her once more. “Now my little pony, release your magic and let it flow over the world around you, let it fill the world around you.”
Twilight Sparkle’s horn flared to life gently, no pony could see it, but her magic flowed out from her horn and spread out over the area like a ripple. She did not feel anything at first and began trying to sense the auras around her, slowly the feelings of the different auras washed over her.
White was the first thing she felt; it was an odd sensation feeling a color, or shade as she automatically corrected herself. Her mind immediately began to analyze the sensation to better classify what she was feeling, but the more she tried to focus directly on the aura the more, it seemed to slip away. Clearing her mind of stray thoughts Twilight Sparkle returned her attention to the feeling of the color, but this time she allowed that feeling to fill her up completely, not analyzing it just allowing herself to feel it.
The color washed over her, and she felt something else, the warmth of the sun, and it was then that Twilight Sparkle was able to identify whose aura it was. It was unmistakable now; she had felt the warmth of the sun many times indoors while in the presences of Princess Celestia. Now she realized that warmth was the princess, a kind nurturing light that helped everything around it grow, and in the warmth of the Princess’ nurturing light, it became easier to sense the others auras.
Not surprisingly Pinkie Pie’s aura was felt pink, but it was also light and carefree as if it would be happy to float off to wherever the wind would take it if it were not tethered down to the pink pony herself. As this feeling washed over her Twilight Sparkle could not help but let out a small chuckle.
Rarity’s was a deep purple and felt like it shone brightly with a light that illuminated those around her. However, this light was not oppressive, like one that created deep shadows, instead, it felt as if those bathed in it would shine all the brighter.
Finally, there was the yellow of Fluttershy’s aura, it felt gentle and warm, like a favorite blanket, giving and asking for nothing in return.
Twilight Sparkle was amazed by the feelings stirred up by directly interacting with her friends and mentor’s auras. It was like knowing them on a deeper, but more primal level than she could know them getting to know them as ponies. One did not make the other more or less valuable they were just different aspects of the same thing.
The purple mare’s stomach sank at the thought of what she had to try to do next. Sensing the aura of her friends and mentor was easy, they were standing there with her. Sensing Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Dark Star would be like trying to determine if somepony had passed through a hallway before you, she did not know if she could. However, at that thought, her friends seemed to sense her doubt, and the all stood a little closer to her. The color of their auras felt as if they dimming and brightened ever so slightly as if expressing both concern and faith in her. Twilight Sparkle let this feeling fill her up, and she began to concentrate again.
As she concentrated she began to sense things that were amiss, things that did not belong in the forest. A few strands of blond mane was the first thing she noticed. She could not see them, but she felt them clutched in the dry fingers of a dying branch that had snatched them from her friend’s mane as she rushed into the forest. From these strands radiated her friend’s aura which felt orange naturally. It also had the feel of a tree, no the feel of the sound of a tree with the wind rushing through its leaves; it was a dependable sound, one that never lied.
Next Twilight Sparkle sensed a blue feather resting atop the high branches of a tree. It had been shed by Rainbow Dash in her pursuit and had come to rest atop the very same tree whose lower branches held Applejack’s hair. From that feather emanated a blue aura that felt like the sky, ever shifting but ever present.
Finally, there was a tuft of fur that had been firmly secured into a tree’s bark by a brief collision caused by the miss timed turn of a black coated stallion. From this fur came a gray aura, a combination of white and black and from it emanated such a powerful feeling of loneliness with an underlined need to find a purpose that it made Twilight Sparkle shutter so badly that she almost lost her concentration.
As Twilight maintain her concentration, she began to find it to be easier to feel even these distant auras. Even better she could feel the remnants of her friends presents pulling towards something, and with only a bit of concentration, their aura ribbons could be felt. They wounded through the trees, Applejack’s following Rainbow Dash’s which followed Dark Star’s. “This way,” Twilight Sparkle said with a smile quickly taking off to run along the fading ribbons the other’s following in her wake.
---
Dark Star darted through the trees trying to push himself to go faster; he had not realized just how much slower he was without his magic augmenting his speed. At least, besides the fresh ache in his head, he was not feeling any fatigue or pain, totally refreshed after his short downtime.
He did not spend much time dwelling on such thoughts as his heart raced with fear of his pursuer catching up with him, it was exhilarating. He had not known such unsureness for a long time, since becoming Dark Star he had always be sure of everything. Nothing could harm him, and nothing would stop him, it was like an impenetrable suit of armor.
The black stallion did not have a chance to think more about such things, however, as a sudden fierce battle cry pierced the air. Dark Star looked up to see the blue mare drop down out of the sky and slam down onto his back before he could dodge. The force of the sudden blow was more than Dark Star’s wings could compensate for and he was driven into the ground, slamming into it and sliding several feet before stopping.
Most ponies would have been knocked out cold from such a crash, but even without his magic Dark Star was a seasoned warrior and trained to handle such blows. Ignoring the pain, he quickly swiped a hoof out across his back to grab the blue mare and reverse their positions. Surprised that he was still able to move so fast Rainbow Dash quickly avoided the grab, backflipping off the stallion. Dark Star instantly seized the opportunity and rolled forward coming up back on his hooves.
“Ha! Not so tough without your magic huh,” Rainbow Dash shot forward closing the distance between them. “I’ll show you for hurting my friends!”
Rainbow Dash swung out with her forehoof eager to crack the stallion in the head once more. However, Dark Star easily dodged the attack, slapping it aside for good measure. “Sorry but don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
Rainbow Dash almost paused that the half apology, however, she could not let the momentum go to waste and quickly whipped around and bucked out at the black stallion. Dark Star jumped back to avoid the blow, and a quick beat of his wings allowed him to put a bit more distance between him and the angry mare. He had to try and think of a way to counter attack the skilled, fast, and reckless mare.
By the time he touched back down, she was already facing him snorting angrily, but holding back the impulse to attack and searching for a better opening. Dark Star could not help but smile, “You’re pretty good. Definitely not a stranger to a fight.”
“Ya that’s right,” Rainbow Dash shouted back not breaking her angry glare. “And you ain’t got your dirty magic tricks to cheat with this time; there’s no way I’ll lose again.”
Dark Star shrugged casually, “A stand-up fight would have been a lot of fun, but you wouldn’t have won. I can see from the way you fight you’ve spent too much time sparring and too little in real fights; you’re a flyer, not a fighter.”
“Oh ya!” Rainbow Dash shouted, her wing flaring out in an angry challenge. She started forward but caught herself, remembering that this stallion had almost killed her, Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Princess Celestia. He was too dangerous for her to allow herself to fall into such a weakly laid trap. Calming herself, she folded her wings and chuckled back casually, “That’s pretty tough talk coming from somepony way over there. Why don’t you try coming here and sayin’ that.”
“Naw I’m fine here,” Dark Star waved off the invitation casually and placed a hoof to his chin pretending to stare off in thought. All he needed to do was strike the right nerve, and he had a pretty good idea which one that was. “Hmm now that pretty cowpony friend of yours, she’d definitely be the one with the best chance of beating me.”
“Applejack!” Rainbow Dash jerked with surprise.
“Ya that was her name.” Dark Star smiled to himself letting his eyes go unfocused, so it seemed like he was staring off into space. “I’d definitely come out on top of course, but breaking a wild mare like her would be a lot of fun. Maybe I’ll pay her a visit after Nightmare Moon’s been revived, and…”
At that moment Rainbow Dash saw red and let out a savage neigh as she charged towards the black stallion. However, Dark Star easily jumped back, just a moment before the blue mare’s hooves would have reached him, and with the quick snap of a spring loaded trap, slammed his elbow down into the back of her head and his other hoof up into her stomach. All the fight and air was suddenly banished from Rainbow Dash’s body, and she crashed to the ground in front of Dark Star gasping for breath. Before she could recover Dark Star pinned her to the ground with a back hoof to her flank, a forehoof on her neck and another on her shoulder. Finally, for good measure, he grabbed one of her wings in his mouth and pulled it back twisting it painfully to paralysis the trapped mare.
“Hold still,” Dark Star muttered through the wing and clenched teeth. “I don’t want to hurt you any more than I have to, but you’re the only one who can keep up with me.” Dark Star put a little more pressure on the back of Rainbow Dash’s neck forcing it down on an exposed root. “So you’re gonna have to take a little nap, don’t struggle you’ll only hurt yourself more.”
Rainbow Dash’s heart began pounding in terror, and she instantly ignored Dark Star’s suggestion, struggling with all her might against the stallion. However, Dark Star was larger than her, and his body build more like an earth pony’s making him much physically stronger than her. Struggling was pointless. Her body was already screaming out for oxygen it would only take a few seconds for her to blackout.
It was then that Dark Star’s ears picked out the sound of somepony crashing through the bushes, and he glanced back just in time to see an orange earth pony come into the starlight just a few dozen feet behind them. A few seconds was more than he had.
“Rainbow Dash!” The mare cried out, worried eyes turning angry as they went from the mare on the ground to the stallion standing over her. Her savage neigh was not that dissimilar to Rainbow Dash’s, and it made Dark Star retract the hoof over Rainbow Dash’s neck.
Dark Star knew he stood no chance against these two mares together and desperate for a way to escape he grabbed onto the first idea that jumped to mind. In an instant, the black stallion snapped his head up and around with a strong twist. The result was a sickening pop, and the fresh oxygen that Rainbow Dash had taken in was immediately expelled in an ear-splitting scream.
The scream was like a stab to Applejack chest, stealing her breath and causing her to halt her charge for fear of collapsing. It was as if she were sharing her friend’s pain and fear.
Dark Star took the opening, dropped the mare’s wing, which fell limply to her side as she writhed with pain, and shot off into the dark for the forest, his eyes squeezed shut as he fled the scene.
Applejack cursed Dark Star’s fleeing form as she rushed to her friend’s side. Rainbow Dash howled in pain trying in vain to reach the joint where her limp wing connected to her body. “Rainbow! Oh gosh, what’d he do to ya?”
Rainbow Dash barely heard her friend through her screams of pain, the pain which seemed to dull her other senses so that it could be felt all the clearer. She had sustained injuries from crashes before, but a sprained wing was nothing compared to this. The loss of control and the feeling of her wing being ripped from its socket was too much. “Applejack my wing! My wing!” Was all she could manage crying it out over and over until Applejack managed to hush her.
Looking at the limp appendage Applejack reached over and tentatively touched it with a gentle hoof. The wing itself seemed undamaged save for a few mangled feathers where Dark Star had grasped it in his mouth. It was not until she touched the joint where the wing met the mare’s back, exciting renewed cries of pain from the blue pegasus.
Applejack brought both her hooves to Rainbow Dash’s head cradling it and leaned in close pressing her forehead against the other mare’s reassuringly. “It’ll be OK Sugarcube,” Applejack hushed gently trying to calm her friend, who was still struggling and crying so bad her tears splashed against Applejack’s face. “Listen ta me Dash, yer wing’s hurt bad, but ya just gotta calm down. Ah promise everythin’ gonna be all right.”
Rainbow Dash said nothing back. Instead, her own hooves shot around Applejack’s neck pulling the other mare in closer with a fierce squeeze, and pressing her forehead against Applejack’s as hard as she could as if trying to dispel one pain with another. Applejack endured the discomfort and continued to hush and reassure the rainbow maned mare. It seemed to work as the pegasus’ cries became sobs and then just pain filled panting.
“Applejack! Rainbow Dash! Where are you guys!” Twilight Sparkle’s voice echo through the dark woods. Relief washed over the orange mare, and she pulled her head away from Rainbow Dash’s and looked out into the woods in search of some source of her friend’s voice. Rainbow Dash pressed her face into her friend’s neck not wanting to let go even as the pain began to subside to a manageable level.
“Twilight! We’re over here!” Applejack called out catching sight of the faint glow of her friend’s horn bobbing through the dark woods like a firefly. The glow soon took the shape of a horn, then she could see her friend’s face coming through the darkness, and eventually, her whole body was revealed by the starlight followed soon after by Fluttershy, the princess, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity.
“Oh dear! What happened?” Fluttershy asked seeing the pair huddled together on the ground and rushed to their side.
“That darn coward Dark Star messed up Dash’s wing somethin’ fierce an’ then just took off like ah yellow belly snake.” Applejack spat angrily
With everypony gathered around her Rainbow Dash suddenly felt that crying over her wing was not something a pony as cool as she should be seen doing. She quickly detached herself from Applejack neck, shook off the earth pony’s hooves and sat up straight on her haunches glancing off to one side casually. “It’s not so bad,” She assured them, but the strain in her voice and fresh tears pooling at her eyes betrayed the truth of just as much pain she was feeling.
“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack and Fluttershy chided the blue pegasus in unison, though only the blond mare looked embarrassed at her outburst. She adjusted herself into a sitting position not too unlike Rainbow Dash’s and suddenly became interested in the edge of the dark woods in the opposite direction her friend was facing, letting Fluttershy continue to fawn over Rainbow Dash. “You should lay down before you hurt yourself any worse, I’ll check your wing.”
“I’m fine. Just wrap it up, and I’ll be fine. We gotta catch up to the jerk Dark Star.” Rainbow Dash tried to sound confident even as she shook from Fluttershy’s examination.
“You’re not fine Rainbow Dash, your wing’s been dislocated,” Fluttershy corrected the other pegasus, her soft tone carrying more than a bit of authority, but was underlined by worry.
“Can you not do something about it, Darling?” Rarity asked focusing her attention away from the limply hanging wing.
Fluttershy shook her head, “I could pop it back into place, but we have to get her back to the hospital as soon as possible.”
“No! No way I’m going back to the hospital again, no!”
“Yes, you will Rainbow Dash,” The Princess’ regal voice cut off any further protest. “I hereby make it a royal order.”
Rainbow Dash’s ears wilted as she looked up into Princess Celestia’s firm eyes. She looked away and muttered a “Shoot!”
“Sorry Sugarcube, Iffen only ah had gotten here sooner.” Applejack said similarly dejected.
“I am afraid you are going back as well my little pony, and you as well Fluttershy,” The Princess interjected looking from the orange earth pony to the yellow pegasus.
Fluttershy accepted the order with a simple nod, but Applejack was not about to be sent from the fight so easily. “What the heck for? Yer gonna need me, Princess, y'all don’t have a chance o’ beatin’ that varmint without me, and ah intend on payin’ ‘im back fer what he did ta Dash!”
“I am sorry you feel that way Applejack, but the time for violence has passed, if it ever really had a place in this. There may yet be another way to stop Dark Star, but will be left up to us.” Princess Celestia spoke softly looking over to the purple and white unicorns and the pink earth pony that stood along with them. Then she looked back to Applejack, “Besides you, my little pony, are the only one who can carry Rainbow Dash all the way back to the hospital. Or do you wish dear Fluttershy to make the trek alone?”
Applejack started to protest but she stopped herself, she knew very well what the Princess really meant. If left alone with Rainbow Dash it was only a matter of time before the reckless mare convinced their more timid friend to let her do something stupid. Applejack would have to go along just to keep Rainbow Dash reigned in. With a sigh and a nod, Applejack agreed, “Yes yer majesty.”
“All right we’ll see you girls real soon.” Twilight Sparkle smiled reassuringly to the three, who returned her smile, though only Fluttershy was sincere.
Twilight Sparkle turned away from the other, shut her eyes and summoned up her magic. After a few moments of concentration, during which Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched on in confusion, she reopened her eyes and took off into the woods her horn aglow once more. “This way!” The Princess, Rarity and Pinkie Pie quickly followed after her, and soon they were swallowed completely by the darkness.
“Alright, let’s git goin’ ah guess, no point in standin’ ‘round here anymore.” Applejack said solemnly, and Rainbow Dash just nodded.
“Actually we should, umm, replace the wing in its socket first, so it doesn’t get any worse,” Fluttershy said quietly as she moved to Rainbow Dash’s side.
“Sure, can’t hurt any worse than havin’ it pulled out,” The blue mare shrugged.
Fluttershy paused, “Umm, ya,” She agreed hesitantly and gave a quick glance over to Applejack that was missed by Rainbow Dash.
Applejack, however, did not miss the silent warning in that look and stepped up to Rainbow Dash carefully wrapping her hooves around her confused friend’s neck and pulling her in close even as Fluttershy gently took hold of the wing. “Just so ya know Rainbow Dash, y'all can bite down on mah hat iffen ya need to.”
Before Rainbow Dash could question the meaning of those words, Fluttershy quickly popped the wing back into place. The sickening crack was not the only thing that was worse than the first.
---
Twilight Sparkle ran through the dark of the Everfree Forest, her legs pumping hard and her horn aglow providing both illumination for her and her friends to run by and allowing her to see Dark Star’s aura ribbon as it twisted its way through the woods. The Princess ran next to her while Rarity and Pinkie Pie ran side by side behind her.
The purple mare would have been lying if she said she was not afraid of the coming conflict. The Elements were separated, and Princess Celestia did not have her magic, and she wondered how they were going to stop Dark Star even if they managed to find him in time. Her mentor had said there was no point in trying to fight the false unicorn pegasus, and she was right of course. Without the Princess’ magic, he was too skilled of a warrior for them to defeat. Sure Rarity was also fairly skilled in hoof-to-hoof combat, Twilight herself was a powerful unicorn, and Pinkie Pie was random enough to throw almost anypony off, but Dark Star had a thousand years more experience and training than any of them, even the Princess. If they had all been together, or if at least the Princess had not sent Applejack away they would have a better chance.
All this weighed on Twilight Sparkle causing frustration to build up in her chest until she let out an angry groan, “I don’t understand Princess.”
Princess Celestia turned to her student giving her a questioning look until the purple mare looked her way again and continued. “I don’t understand why the Elements of Harmony didn’t work Princess. We were in tune with each other, and our friendship was strong, so why didn’t they work?”
“I was wondering the same thing, Your Majesty,” Rarity added.
“Ya and it’s not like Discord was messing with our brains this time,” Pinkie Pie said jumping up and twirling her hooves separate direction on either side of her head, her eyes becoming whirls.
Princess Celestia stared off in thought for a moment before asking, “My little ponies, do you know how the Elements work?” There was no harshness in her tone; there never was, she always seemed to have the same gentle tone of a kind a patient teacher that she always seemed to speak in.
Twilight Sparkle almost said, ‘of course. The Elements draws on the aspects of harmony embodied by her and her friends transforming it into raw magical energy to…’ That was where she stopped herself, for there was no apparent uniform nature to the effect of the Elements of Harmony on an individual. They had turned Nightmare Moon back into Luna, froze Discord into stone and seemed to take away Dark Star’s magic. Even different bearers gained different results, for a while Princess Celestia and Luna together also transformed Discord to stone, the Princess alone using the Elements simply banished her sister into the moon. Why did they operate so differently with each circumstance?
Seeing that her student and her friends were unable to answer the question Princess Celestia began to explain. “The Elements of Harmony are just what they seem, different aspects that bring about peace and co-existence. However, the Elements are not only needed for harmony in relationships but also within a pony to make them whole and at peace with themselves. When these aspects are replaced by feelings of jealousy, greed or any other matter of negative emotions ponies become driven to commit evil. When the Elements are brought against somepony like this, they dispel these negative emotions ridding ponies of this darkness and allow them to become at peace with themselves. This doesn’t make said pony perfect of course, like Luna they may be filled with great remorse over what they have done or think badly of themselves for what they have done, but it allows them to start healing.”
Twilight Sparkle frowned at this, “So then why didn’t it turn Discord good as it did for Princess Luna?”
“Well, Discord is the spirit of Disharmony the very opposing force to the Elements and shares a unique relationship with them. They’re like magnets, Discord is drawn to the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and in turn, the bearers are drawn to him.” Princess Celestia seemed a little distant as she spoke, but Twilight Sparkle frowned at the statement. Sure Discord seemed particularly obsessed with her when they fought, but she imagined that was simply because she was the most difficult for him to turn, and she certainly had no interest in him and made a point of forgetting about the mischievous spirit once the conflict was over.
“But as the embodiment of disharmony Discord cannot be changed nor destroyed by the Elements, without the Elements themselves being destroyed, so he was merely trapped instead.
“Luna, however, was slowly corrupted by dark feelings over time until she was overcome by them and corrupted. She committed evil believing that she was doing what she needed to find peace.” Princess Celestia paused looking downcast, with shame playing across her face for a moment. “I too was filled with darkness then, I felt betrayed and though I was able to use the Elements of Harmony against her, but they could not work properly. I suppose my sister and I had become opposites of each other as well so the effect was similar to what had happened to Discord and she was only sealed away.”
Princess Celestia gave a sad sigh at the memory then looked up at Twilight Sparkle with a smile. “But you and your friends perfectly embodied the Elements of Harmony, so you were able to use them to restore her properly, bringing my sister back to me.”
Twilight Sparkle could not help but return her mentor’s smile, her love and appreciation was all she could ever hope for. However, there were still questions the young mare had about the different effects the Elements seemed to have on each pony and asked. “But…”
Twilight Sparkle’s question was cut short by the sudden parting of the trees before them. The stars, no longer hindered by the thick canopy of leaves, shone down brightly illuminating the area around them. They came to a sudden halt in front of a deep gorge that descended into unseen depths. An aged rope bridge provided the only means for flightless ponies to cross, and despite its age, the ponies knew it would hold them. Shortly past the bridge the tall towers of an ancient castle were no longer shrouded by thick fog and could easily be seen over the tangle of trees that long ago was a beautiful courtyard.
They all at once recognized the familiar ruin and wondered how they could have failed to notice the path they had been running along sooner. At once the ponies, save the Princess let out a gasp, “The castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.”
“I should have known Star Knight would come here.” Princess Celestia sighed deeply a torrent of memories flooding her mind as she looked upon the crumbling ruin. “It was the last place we were all together.”
“Your Majesty we should hurry,” Rarity said stepping up next to the Princess.
“Ya there’s no telling what that meanie weenie is doing in there,” Pinkie Pie added bouncing up to the Princess flashing her a bright, reassuring smile.
“The ritual will start soon,” Twilight Sparkle observed looking up at the hole in the starry night sky that showed the new moon climbing close to its apex. “We still need to figure out where he’ll be performing the ritual and how to stop him.”
“The only thing we can do now is talk to him,” Princess Celestia said quietly and started forward running as fast as she could across the rickety looking bridge. The others followed without hesitation, and the sun princess slowed so they could keep up with her. “If he needs the moon to perform the ritual then we’ll find him in the solarium.”
They raced through the tangled trees of the courtyard and burst through the large double doors and into the castle, their hooves clopping noisily against the stone floor. Nothing impeded their progress, something that momentarily gave the Princess pause. However, Dark Star had made it quite clear during their battle that he did not believe anypony could stop him, so it was likely that like many other evil ponies before him Dark Star had been overly confident believing that no pony would get this close to stopping his plan.
Princess Celestia led them to the center of the castle where a domed building sat between two towers; its glass tiled roof was spotted with several missing or cracked panes of glass. Reaching the solarium’s Princess Celestia kicked the doors open and gasped at the alien sight before her. Gone were the rows of cushions and flower basins that once adorned the room and transformed it into a lush oasis within the cold stone walls of the palace. Everything had been cleared away leaving the room a large round hollow pit, to enter it was to become exposed and vulnerable. However, there in the center, where once a huge, intricate fountain sat was a large slab of obsidian on top of which Princess Luna lay stretched out on her back. As they entered the massive chamber the Lunar Princess’ eyes shot open and she turned to see her sister, Twilight Sparkle and the others. Seeing her sister, Princess Celestia shot forward, the others only a step behind.
“Stay away!” The princess of the night cried out as soon as she found her voice, but it was too late. Before the ponies were even a quarter of the way into the room, a massive magic circle flared to life, crimson light etching itself on the once plain stone. Princess Celestia and the others slid to a halt and were about to turn back when suddenly their strength failed them, and they crashed down onto the stone floor.
“What’s happening?” Rarity cried out struggling to bring her legs together under her. Her body felt like it weighed a ton and even her hair pulled down painfully against her scalp. Once her legs were in position, she gave a mighty push to lift herself off the ground. She only managed to rise about an inch before crashing back down with a pained whine.
“It’s a gravity spell,” Princess Celestia groaned looking over her subjects. Pinkie Pie was not doing well at all, pinned flat against the floor with her legs splayed out pointing in every direction.
Twilight Sparkle tried to stand as well but quickly realized that she would have no better luck than her purple maned friend and decided to change tactics. Concentrating she summoned forth her magic and with a flash of light winked out of sight, only to wink back in the very same position. “What’s wrong with my magic?”
“The magic circle not only intensifies gravity but dampens magic as well.” Dark Star said stepping out from behind the obsidian block, a pleased smile spread across his face. “I’m impressed that you could summon up any magic at all Twilight Sparkle. Even Luna would have trouble performing magic within the circle, had I not already neutralized her abilities for the duration of the ritual.”
“You savage brute!” Rarity snarled, still trying in vain to stand. “Don’t you dare harm the princess!”
“I’m not going to hurt any pony, least of all Luna.” Dark Star replied his voice a little defensive as he placed around the block checking the circle and the sky. He had designed the circle to leave some space around the black stone free of magic for him to work in while the magic on the block itself was keeping Princess Luna powerless and still.
“Yes you did, you hurt Dashie’s wing you meanie weenie,” Pinkie Pie accused trying without success to point an accusing hoof at him.
Dark Star paused for a moment before turning back to face the trapped ponies, “I’m honestly sorry about that, but she attacked me, and I had to defend myself. She forced my hoof.”
“You expect us to believe that?” Twilight Sparkle shot him a glare.
“I do,” Princess Celestia said quickly before Dark Star could respond, earning her a surprised look from every pony in the room. “I know you don’t want to hurt anypony Star Knight, so I’m begging you, please stop this. You’ll only end up hurting ponies if you bring back Nightmare Moon.”
Dark Star paused and looked down for a moment as if he was considering the white princess’ words, but quickly shook his head. “Sorry Celestia I can’t do that, I have to serve my queen, I have to. You and your little ponies stole her away from me, and I have to get her back.”
“You cannot force somepony to be something for your own sake Star Knight.”
“Ha! That’s an ironic thing for you two… to say.” Dark Star paused and shook his head to cast off a stray, half-formed though. “After what you did to my queen, forcing her from her true role as ruler into that of a mere princess once more. But in a few short moments, the Verse Polluesum ritual will change her back, and we will have won. The night will be eternal once more.” Dark Star stepped back and looked up at the black void of the new moon as it claimed more stars as it moved into place.
“No!” Twilight Sparkle shouted struggling wildly to get to her hooves, but it was no use. “Princess we have to do something,” Tears started to well up in the young mare’s eyes, “We can’t let him do this.”
Princess Celestia’s head hung low, and her eyes stared at the floor distantly. To the purple mare, the Princess had always seemed to have all the answers, as if there was nothing she could not do. Now it seemed with Princess Luna just a few feet away waiting for them to rescue her, Twilight Sparkle’s beloved mentor had given up.
“Do not be afraid Twilight Sparkle; you will find that my queen to be a much kinder ruler to those who follow her willingly and I’m sure she’ll find a place for you all.” Dark Star spoke as the pitch black void of the moon moved into the center of the sky. As it did, the runes of another magic circle in the unaffected area around the obsidian slab flare to life, filling the room with a sickly green light.
The smell of burning ozone filled the air as bolts of purple lightning shot up from the runes and pour into the obsidian slab before surging up through the skylight towards the black moon. Both Princess Luna and Dark Star cry out in agony as the electricity surges through them, neither safe from its effect.
The lighting disappeared, absorbed into the face of the moon and the room fell silent for several moments before a beam of dark energy poured from the moon. Like black water, it poured upon Princess Luna who cried out once again as the obsidian slab she was laying upon began to pulse with energy. After a long moment the waterfall of darkness stemmed, and as the last drops of darkness touched the pulsing glass-like stone it unleashed an audible crack, and a cloud of darkness bellowed forth from the ruined slab filling the room completely.