//------------------------------// // Chapter Fifteen - A Celestial Journey I // Story: Summer Bound // by Windsocks //------------------------------// “They're pushing through the bottom levels, at this rate, they’ll reach-” Was all Ivory Spear could say before a loud crack of thunder could be heard on the other side of the door. “Sir, I suggest that we relocate to a safer position,” Ivory suggested as she pulled out her spear and aimed it towards the door. Captain Steady Hoof shook his head, “We have to stop them now. Who knows what they’ll do if they reach the top floors,” With that said Steady Hoof took out his own spear and aimed it at the wooden door. The room went completely silent as the sound of hoof steps made themselves known. Sweat started to collect on Ivory’s brow as her spear started to shake. Steady Hoof, on the other hand, was calm and collected. He had been trained for these types of situations and would not give in now. Time passed by as the steps grew louder and louder until they stopped right on the other side of the door. Giving Ivory a quick nod they both tightened their grips on their spears and awaited the enemy to come to them. They didn’t have to wait long as the door exploded into splinters. Another crackle of thunder ripped through the two guard’s ears. Nevertheless, they stood their ground still pointing their spears at the door where the silhouette of a pony and a human stood. “Good afternoon gentlecolts,” came the rosy voice of a mare as she swiped her hoof sideways. Seeing the attack milliseconds after its initiation, Steady Hoof erected a magical shield around both him and Ivory. Seconds later another bolt of lightning swept the room connecting with the shield. However, instead of blocking the attack like it should have, the shield only seemed to strengthen the attack. As the bolt got larger, Steady Hoof’s eyes widened. “Is all this violence really necessary?” I questioned River as we walked passed the two guards that were now knocked unconscious. “If you really are that powerful then why not teleport us away or something?” River glanced towards me still smirking, “Now where’s the fun in that? I would like to see the fear in everyponies eyes when they see my new power!” “I’ll give you that, for a pony that is all sorts of messed up you sure covered it up pretty well,” I commented exiting the room and into the now marble hallways of Canterlots upper levels. Luckily, she wasn’t killing every single pony, instead opting to knock them out. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” River replied as she walked up to the lab's door and all but vaporized it. When the dust settled we both stepped in to see Luna standing in front of the floating phone. I won't lie, a small smile carved its way onto my face when I saw Luna. With her here we can finally put an end to River's rampage. “Halt! One more step further and I’ll vaporize the both of you.” “Oh well, it’s nice to see you care about me too Luna,” I stated as I rolled my eyes. River being the rebel she is, chuckled at Luna’s command and took a step forwards. Welp, it was nice being alive, I commented to myself as Luna held true to her word and charged up her horn. Within seconds a large white beam came out of her horn and slammed right into me and Rivers bodies. When the light faded I came to see both me and River completely unscathed. Utterly confused I looked over to Luna who was panting for air. “You really think I would be that stupid to reveal my plan, walk through Canterlot Castle while it was under heavy guard and challenge you if I didn’t already complete my plan?” This caused both me and Luna to raise an eyebrow. Sliding her hoof across the air again, Luna was thrown across the room by the lightning. The lab wall cracked as she impacted it and slid off. “I’m offended, I truly am,” she continued as she swiped the floating phone, “and this?” she motioned towards the phone, “This is just insurance.” Looking back towards me River pouted, “Why the long face? You helped me get here; you should be happy.” “You won't be able to get away with this you know. When Celestia wakes up she’ll put you ten feet under.” “But I have already gotten away with it, and did you not just see what I did to Luna? Magic means nothing when you can't control it.” And just like that, a white light surrounded the both of us. The next thing I remember was standing outside on one of the palaces many balconies. River let out a demonic laugh, “Now it is time you see the true power you have given me.” Raising her hoof towards the sky a large bolt of electricity shot out. Turning my gaze skywards I came to see the clouds start to form and swirl around the lone bolt of electricity. Before long the whole sky was blotted out by the clouds. The horrible weather conditions from before came back little by little. It was now clear how the storms of old were conjured up. Not to mention that my theory of ponies being unable to do evil things got thrown out the metaphorical window. Either way, shit was getting pretty interesting as I continued to watch River shoot arcs of lighting out of her hooves into the sky above. “UNLIMITED POWER!” She shrieked as the first drops of rain hit the ground. Before I could even begin to comment on what she had just said, the world around us twisted and contorted. After which, it was like someone cranked up the brightness and set bloom to max as I experienced the dreaded white out. With a large pop, Twilight and her friends appeared within the walls of Canterlot castle. Yet, the castle was in a state none of them had ever thought they would see in their lifetimes. Gasping in horror Twilight and her friends made their way down the war-torn main corridor. The tapestries that decorated the walls were all torn up, priceless vases and busts were shattered across the floor, and even pieces of the ceiling were gone. “What could have done this?” Twilight pondered out loud as her friends started to pan out. “Ah don’t know but I reckon they had to have been mighty powerful,” Applejack commented as she gestured towards a couple of unconscious guards. Rarity -while completely appalled by the current state of the castle- walked up next to Applejack, “She’s right darling and these… burn marks aren't from any magic I know of.” Placing a hoof in front of her muzzle she continued, “these poor stallions.” Rarity’s statement intrigued the rest of the group as they all walked over towards the three knocked out guards. Each one still wearing their golden armor, but like Rarity had commented the damage was clear. Mysterious burn marks that looked like bolts of lightning spread across their fur. The sound of shuffling rubble tore their gaze away from the guards and towards a pony rounding one of the corners. Her blue coat was matted with dried blood as she limped into the main corridor. “Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaimed as she galloped over towards her. Hearing her voice, Luna looked up with a small smile gracing her lips, “Twilight we art glad you are here.” Firing up her horn, Twilight took the weight off of Luna’s injured hoof, “What happened? We came as fast as we could. We could hear the explosions all the way from Ponyville!” Twilight asked as she arrived on the other side of Luna. “Kenneth, he- he’s working with River,” Luna’s small smile faded to a scowl, “I knew he couldn’t be trusted, I can’t believe I was actually having second thoughts about him. Together they walked through the castle destroying everything in their path. I tried to stop them from grabbing Kenneth’s phone but River - she has a power unlike I have ever seen before.” “River and Kenneth?” Twilight questioned with a puzzled expression, “Are we talking about the same ponies here?” Luna let out a large sigh, “I know what I saw Twilight. River threw me across the lab to get to the phone and Ken just stood there watching.” Twilight was still skeptical about the whole event. Things just didn’t add up, Kenneth would never do something like this, “Do you know where they went? I and the girls can chase them down,” Twilight offered as the rest of the girls arrived next to Luna, each one nodding as if to strengthen her offer. “Yeah, I’ll give them the one-two. Just point us in the right direction and it'll be over before you know it.” Rainbow Dash commented punching the air in front of her with her hooves. Luna shook her head, “They teleported away, and by the amount of magical energy I felt; I think it's safe to say they’re very, very far away.” With that said, Twilight and the rest of the girl's expressions dropped. “What about Celestia? Where is she?” Fluttershy of all ponies asked. This caused Luna’s eyes to widen, “We must find mine sister! Who knows what those two have done to her!” Shaking her hoof free of Twilights magic, Luna turned around and started to walk back into the castle. She was stopped however when she tripped over from the sharp pain that shot through her right hoof. Acting quickly, Twilight fired up her horn again and floated Luna off the scuffed marble floor, “Luna you’re in no position to search for her. I and the girls will find her.” Luna shook her head, “I must find my sister, you don't understand what this could do to her! Without my help, she might slip into darker parts of her mind. It is of utmost importance that you bring me to her.” Seeing that Luna was still as stubborn as ever, Twilight nodded her head as she signaled the rest of her friends to start searching, “Is there any place you think she would be at?” Twilight questioned as she walked down the main corridor towards the throne room, levitating Luna next to her as she did so. “Her chambers would be the first place I would check,” Luna stated. “Alright, but on the way, we’re checking the throne room.” With Luna’s agreement, it didn’t take long at all for the two of them to open up the large oaken doors that lead into the throne room. Breaching the threshold both Twilight and Luna gasped in horror. Ten if not twenty guards all laid unconscious on the floor, their spears scattered in between them. Two large marble pillars had been sliced in half and were now laying on the ground mixed with the multicolored-glass from the shattered murals. The throne itself was missing its back rest as parts of the plush red carpet were still on fire. Acting off instincts, Twilight laid Luna down and started to douse the fires on the carpet. Luna, on the other hoof, was not going to sit around while Twilight fought the fire. Instead, she got up and started to limp around the room looking for her sister. “Celestia!” She yelled, “Sister where are you!” Rarity and Fluttershy walked through the many hallways of the castle. Luckily, they had been here multiple times before, so getting lost wasn’t really an issue. Unlike the time they explored Celestia’s and Luna’s old castle. “You think Celestia would be in her room?” Fluttershy questioned as the two came across the two large wooden doors with Celestia’s cutie mark burned into it. “I mean if I was in a castle that was under attack; I would run to my room and hide under my blankets.” Rarity rolled her eyes, “Darling I hardly think that Celestia would hide from danger. In fact, if anything, I think she would be like Rainbow and charge head first into the fray.” “We’ll it couldn’t hurt checking? I mean we’re already here,” Fluttershy commented. “I guess you’re right, a room searched is a room searched,” And with that being said the two pushed through the large doors and entered Celestia's chambers. While they had been in Canterlot Castle many times before, they had never once stepped hoof in Celestia's chambers. It was this reason alone that caused both of them to gasp as they mindlessly looked around the luxurious bedroom. Not a single thing was disturbed unlike what lay just outside its doors. The marble flooring was replaced by a plush white carpet with little decals embroidered in with a yellow polyester fabric. Every wall has multiple paintings adorning them, each one masterly crafted by steady hoofs depicting mostly Celestia herself and Luna. Her bed was very spacious as to be expected, but one thing was off. Next to her bed on top of her nightstand, stood alone picture frame that was left empty. Walking up towards the nightstand, she picked it up. Spinning it around in her magical grasp she took note of a white piece of paper attached to the back labeled ‘just ask’. Confused as to what the ‘just ask’ meant to Celestia, Rarity went to place the frame back onto the night stand only to reveal that hiding just behind where the frame was, was a perfectly preserved Midnight Sun. Being in the fashion industry, she knew how rare these flowers were. These two items lead her mind back to the note on the back of the frame, and then back to the Midnight Flower. She felt like the answer was right on the tip of her tongue, but before she could come up with anything solid she heard Luna yell out in her Canterlot voice. “Oh my, that doesn't sound too good,” Fluttershy said still shaking from being caught off guard. Tossing her train of thought away she ran passed Fluttershy and towards Luna’s voice. With the last bit of fire put out, Twilight once again levitated Luna, “It doesn't look like she’s here,” She said walking back out of the throne room. A couple more steps out into the main corridor and she almost got hit by one of the castle maids. She was running away from what looked to be the castles emergency ward. “Hey, Miss!” Twilight yelled out. Sadly, the maid didn’t stop. Instead, she just yelled out: “I don’t want to die, I’m too young!” With a quizzical expression adorning both Twilight’s and Luna’s face; they turned towards the direction that the maid was running away from, “You think this has to do with Celestia?” Twilight questioned. “Either way, we should make sure it’s nothing serious,” Luna said as the two started to approach the door that lead to the castles emergency ward. They didn’t even have to get within twenty feet before they could feel the extreme heat radiating from the ward. Twilight looked over to Luna, “it’s too hot! We would die before we even got to the door. What in Equestria is going on in there!” Looking defeated Luna’s head dropped, “We’re too late.” As she said that the door in front of them disintegrated, revealing Celestia standing under its frame. Her mane and tail were on fire, her eyes held no iris nor pupil, and the marble floor beneath her hooves melted into magma causing embers to spin around her form. She wore no regal accessories and by the expression she adorned, she was definitely not happy. “Move,” Her voice echoed as if three people were saying the same thing at the same time. “If you wish to live, I suggest that we do as my sister requests,” Luna said as Twilight did as commanded and trotted out of Celestia’s path. “You’re stronger than this! Fight it, Celestia!” Twilight couldn’t help but yell as she watched her mentor passed by. A trail of molten marble laid in her wake, her words were seemingly ignored by the sun goddess as she continued down the corridor. Getting to her hooves, Luna patted Twilight on the back, “There is nothing we can do now, but see what she has planned. She is too powerful even for me to stop.” Twilight whipped her head around and looked at Luna with hope sparkling in her eyes, “What about the elements! They brought you out of your Nightmare Moon state! It can work, we just have to get my friends!” “The elements only work against evil, while it may look bad, I can assure you that Celestia does not harbor any evil thoughts about what she’s doing. Using the elements would only worsen her condition and may actually inadvertently cause her to become corrupted,” Luna lectured. “But she’s already corrupted! I know my mentor, and she would never let something like this to happen.” Twilight exclaimed. “And we know mine sister!” Luna yelled, “You don’t think it hurts me as well seeing that the best we can do at this moment is just watch where she goes. She may be your mentor Twilight, but she is my sister!” She continued, tears starting to form in her eyes. “I don’t want to lose her as much as you do.” Luna’s words cut deep into Twilight. She was right, compared to Luna she barely held a candle towards her light. Hearing all the commotion the rest of the group found their way back to Twilight and Luna. Each one held a gloomy expression as they watched Celestia wander towards the throne room. As Luna had said, nopony could get even remotely close to Celestia, so instead they opted to follow behind at a safer distance. Stopping at the throne Celestia’s horn glowed. Within seconds a compartment in the wall opened up revealing a manikin clad in golden armor. Even from this distance Twilight could see the detail and craftsmanship of the armor. It was both a piece of art and a tool of destruction. Above the armor hung a large split blade spear. At the bottom of the spear head was a white crystal that radiated so much light, that she could see tendrils of white light waft away into the air around it. “Daybreak, there has only been one time I’ve seen her take up arms and adorn her sunforged armor,” Luna commented as she watched her sister levitate her golden armor onto her figure and step into her Athunium plated boots. Turning around Celestia tied her hair into a ponytail and placed her spartan helmet on. Her eyes fixated on Luna as she walked towards the center of the throne room. “What is the purpose of all this sister? You cannot reach them, they’re magic is stronger than you when they’re together. They’re farther gone than you think!” Celestia let out a small demonic chuckle, “Not even space nor time can keep me from finding them.” As she said those words her white eyes brightened as she swung Daybreak through the air. Everyponies eyes went wide as the spear left behind a large tear in the fabric of reality. Luna was left speechless as she witnessed her sister's true power. Never in all her life did she think that her sister was capable of punching holes through space. Not only that but to warp time enough to create a tear that could lead to places so far, they had yet to come up with a term to measure it. Without second thought Celestia’s horn once again lit up. The air around her started to super heat which in turn caused the embers to change into specs of plasma. Twilight and her friends had already started to run away from the amount of heat Celestia was emanating. Before long the spell she had been casting finished and Celestia stood there on two legs looking exactly like a human. "I can't let River destroy Kenneth," She said with a small nod. With nothing left to do she walked through the tear in the air causing all the heat to vanish leaving Luna in the cold and dark throne room. Not wasting any time, Luna broke out into a full-on gallop towards the tear. Yet, before she could reach it, the tear collapsed in on itself and vanished from existence. Collapsing from her injuries she let out a loud cry of pain. Turning herself onto her back, she looked towards the ceiling of the throne room. Everything was spinning around her, and the light from the sun seemed to fade from the room as felt the darkness inside her start to swell up. “Why sister… Why?” She whispered as the sound of hooves made themselves known.