//------------------------------// // Giggle at the Castle of the Two Sisters // Story: Starlight's Great Adventure // by Discord The Narrator //------------------------------// After bidding farewell to Fluttershy and Applejack, Starlight was going to choose the members of the two groups, until Shining Armor spoke. "We need to go back to the Crystal Empire, guys." he said. "Wait! What about Ponyville? We need the three of you so we can win!" said Spike. "I think I have an idea for that. Ponyville has some corrupted ponies, like our Empire. But, if we bring our own army..." explained Cadence. "...they won't know what is happening until their last seconds!" said Starlight. "We still have to reform them, because I think they still are zomponies. Furthermore, I don't know how long will the trip be, without train. But we will do that." explained Shining Armor. "Okay then. Meanwhile, the four of us will split up. Me and Discord will do a visit to the Castle of the Two Sisters." "Good combo. I visited it years ago, so I should remember its halls." said Discord. "Sunburst and Spike, you are going to investigate Ponyville. Contact us if you see anything strange, right?" said Starlight. "Very well. You remember the 'message spell', Starlight?" asked Sunburst. "I do. We can communicate between us anytime." she said. "Okay. See you later, guys." said Discord. And they went by their different ways... _______________________________ "Watch out, Pinkie. Sure you will need to fight." said Midnight Sparkle. "Of course, silly! I was preparing just a little party for them!" "Perfect. And I've been informed that the CMC are coming back." "Oh, Starlight. You won't escape my hooves..." ________________________________ Starlight and Discord went through the Everfree Forest, in search of the mighty Castle of the Two Sisters. At some moment, Discord turned to see Starlight's scarred eye. No colors at all, but she said she could still see with it. "How are you doing, Starlight?" asked Discord. "Eh? Oh, you mean about my eye! I'm doing well. It's just that I didn't see that coming..." answered Starlight. "It looks like it will be permanent." said Discord. "I hope not. After saving everypony, I don't know how they will react when they see my face." said Starlight, starting to cry. Discord grabbed her face with his hands, wiping out tears. "That is the face of a great hero, Starlight. And if that scar is really permanent, everypony will recognize you as a hero. I'm sure of it." said Discord. "Thank you..." said Starlight. "Anytime, dear. Anytime." ________________________________ After some minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the pit separating them from the ancient castle. The only bridge was broken. "Aaah... Now, we don't have any way to go across the pit!" exclaimed Starlight. She heard a finger snapping and, when she looked, she saw Discord holding a giant pencil. "There we go! Now, we just need to..." said Starlight, but she was interrupted by Discord, who placed the giant pencil like a bridge across the pit. This left Starlight so confused. "What? You were not thinking I was going to draw a bridge with the pencil, were you?" asked Discord. "Eeeeeh... No?" said Starlight. "Nevermind. Let us move." said Discord. Some seconds later, after crossing the "bridge", they were standing at the castle's doors. "The Castle of the Two Sisters. With this night, it looks too scary." said Starlight. "Indeed, Starlight. It was a creepy castle since Celestia abandoned it, some time after Luna was banished to the moon." said Discord. "Remind me why we are here." said Starlight. The loud organ's song answered her question. And that was because an... _____________________________ (Hey! That's my sentence! Steal another one's book!) Oops! Sorry, Discord! GETTING BACK TO THE LAST SCENE... _____________________________ The loud organ's song answered her question. "Because a REALLY old instrument doesn't play songs by its own. We need to enter there and search for it." explained Discord. "Got it. Do you have a map?" asked Starlight. "Yes." answered Discord. "Then, we are in." said Starlight. And they entered through the big doors of that castle, looking for the song's source... ________________________________ Meanwhile, Sunburst and Spike went into Ponyville. Walking through the town wasn't hard at all, it just included some zomponies. "Wait a minute..." said Sunburst. "What is it?" said Spike. "I just realized something. Do you see the moon?" asked Sunburst. "Yeah, it is too close to the ground. Why?" said Spike. "Normally, when that thing happens, the moon is just on top of the town hall. But it seems like it chose another place for tonight." said Sunburst. "Really strange. Come on. Let's see!" said Spike. And the two of them ran towards the place where, on top, the moon was resting. Knowing exactly what was happening, Spike was so worried... Because the moon was above Carousel Boutique... ________________________________ Starlight and Discord walked through the main hall of the castle. After watching the multiple corridors, Discord pointed at one. "This way." he said. Starlight nodded, following Discord through the corridor, until the organ sounded louder, activating a trapdoor just in front of them. The Castle of the Two Sisters was popular not just by itself, but also because the old organ was perfect for secret passages and, most importantly, traps (so, if you go there with some friends, DON'T PLAY THE ORGAN unless you are sure that everyone is on the room). Anyways. The trapdoor surprised them, but Discord knew about the traps. "Some places of the castle have traps or secrets. We have to avoid them. Lucky you, I remember where they are. I don't think we should have any problem." he explained. "Okay. Let us continue our way." said Starlight. ________________________________ The Crystal Family were doing well on their trip back to the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor was basically running, teleporting himself sometimes. Cadence flew all the time, with Flurry Heart sitting over her. "Even if we didn't have the train, we still can do this. We will arrive to the Crystal Empire without problems." said Shining. "Now that I think about that, how are we going to convince the zomponies to fight against Ponyville's monsters?" asked Cadence. "Like we did with Sombra a long time ago. Our love will be their courage." said Shining. Cadence nodded at that, while Flurry Heart laughed. And then, they continued to make their way. ________________________________ MUSIC (for this part, I recommend putting the music with loop) After avoiding more traps and one secret passage leading to the big dragon statue, Starlight and Discord finally arrived to the organ's room, where some pony was playing it. "Excuse me! Who are you?" asked Starlight. "Hihihihihi! And I thought you already knew my name, Starlight!" And when she turned around, Starlight gasped in surprise, while Discord said "not this again". It was Pinkie Pie... But she was covered with a black cloak, revealing just her face and her hooves. What made Starlight so nervous was the fact that Pinkie's eyes were glowing yellow, and the pupils could not be seen. "Wait a minute. Where is my legends book?" asked Discord. Then, as if cue, a big book appeared from nowhere. Discord put on some glasses, opened the book and started searching for something. After five seconds, he found it. "There! Pinkie is... the Pony of Shadows!" exclaimed Discord. "Oh, don't be silly, Discord! I'm not that mysterious, creepy and legendary pony. I'm something more like... Eeeemm... Oh right! Shadow Pinkie!" "Whatever." said Discord, before he ate the book. (Do I have to say that he CAN EAT PAPER!?) "We came here because your organ is so dangerous, Pinkie! Stop playing it!" said Starlight. "But this is a party, Starlight! This is an 'I-am-going-to-play-the-organ-so-my-friends-will-have-awesome-powers-and-destroy-Harmony' party!! Enjoy it!" said Shadow Pinkie, touching some notes on the organ, making it sound louder. Starlight and Discord were already noticing the growing cracks on the walls... "You don't need to tear the castle to pieces, Pinkie! Think about it, and stop playing that!" said Starlight. "I don't think so. But you know what? You two should stop being party-poopers! Don't you see the things you are doing? You just need some FUN!!" exclaimed Shadow Pinkie, as she left her place on the organ. It was still playing music, but she was already away, as she started to chase our friends through the ancient castle's halls, now full with fully-activated traps. "Stay close to me, Starlight. I know how to handle these traps." told Discord. "But what about Pinkie Pie?" asked Starlight. "We will keep her distracted until we can find some way to defeat her. Let's go!" said Discord. And they ran through the halls, avoiding traps and a raging Shadow Pinkie. "Oh, come on!! Would you two stay still just for once??" ________________________________ They ran to the main hall, but the door was closed, and there was no way to open it. "Oh, please! Can we stop with the bad luck?" said Discord. "This means that we MUST reform Pinkie Pie. That is the only way to finish this!" said Starlight. "Come back! Don't you wanna enjoy the party?" asked Shadow Pinkie. "Come here and fight, Pinkie!" exclaimed Starlight. "Hihihihihi! Finally, the party will be FUNNIER!" said Shadow Pinkie, appearing from one of the multiple halls to attack our friends... ________________________________ Spike and Sunburst were still staring at that door. Carousel Boutique's door. They were a little unsure about what to do. "Let's just open the door and see what we find inside, shall we?" said Sunburst. "Eeeeh... Okay... Yeah, I will open it." said Spike. And so he did. A few seconds later, the door was opened, and they entered. Inside, the boutique was really dark, with broken clothes everywhere. "I don't think anypony is here. Maybe Rarity left before." said Sunburst. "Maybe. But why is the moon above her boutique? I don't get it..." asked Spike. "I think I already know why, Spike..." answered Sunburst. "What do you mean?" said Spike, looking at Sunburst, but his eyes were looking at something. When Spike looked, there was somepony else with them... Was it... Nightmare Moon? No, it was... "Oh... No..." said Spike. ________________________________ The Crystal Family arrived to its destination: the ghost version of the Crystal Empire. Flurry Heart prepared herself, just in case she needed to summon another magic shield. Cadence and Shining Armor smiled at that. "Seeing our daughter train her magic... It is a big satisfaction." said Cadence. "She is still with the shields, but that is a good way to learn: being defenssive." said Shining. After looking at Flurry Heart during some seconds, receiving sounds and smiles from her, the three of them decided that it was time to enter the Empire and try to bring the zomponies into their side. "If they unite with us, our army will be ready, and then we can return to Ponyville with them!" exclaimed Shining. "That is a very good idea! Let us try it now!" answered Cadence. And our beloved family entered through the mess of ruined streets and abandoned houses, with the zomponies starting to circle them... But they were ready to fight... ________________________________ After a bunch of moves, hits and spells, the battle was almost finished. Shadow Pinkie was as exhausted as Starlight and Discord were. But the three of them were still up, looking between themselves. "...Wow... You really... know how to... how to make a... party... more intere... interesting, Starlight... said Shadow Pinkie. "I just... learnt magic... I needed to... do that... One way or... another..." said Starlight. "... Me... too..." said Discord. They didn't say anything else until five seconds later, when Shadow Pinkie talked. "The... The party..." that was all she could say, before she fell to the castle's floor. Starlight was shocked, but the calm invaded her when Discord, dressed as a doctor, examined Shadow Pinkie's body. "She is just unconscious." he said. "*phew* Okay then. I suppose the reforming spell will work now, right?" said Starlight. "I think so. Try it." answered Discord. Discord got away from Shadow Pinkie's body, while Starlight aimed her horn and fired the spell... And then... Then... Then... Finally, Pinkie opened her eyes. Our friends were surprised because, now, those were her normal eyes. And yes, she still wore the black cloak. "Well, Pinkie Pie, we already saved you! What do you think of your appearence?" asked Starlight. "Oh, I think I look very creepy! But you should take care of that eye, duh!" exclaimed Pinkie. Just as Starlight tried to answer, they received sounds from the "message spell". *Starlight! You... need to... come right now!* "Wait, Sunburst. What do you say?" asked Starlight. *We have big problems... Come now!* "What are you talking about?" asked again Starlight. Before the spell broke, the last message was: *Stop there, darling. Don't do anything stupid.*