//------------------------------// // 5 A Fate Changed // Story: Transformations and Nightmares // by QueenLunaMoth //------------------------------// The forest was thick darker then even the night thanks to the thick branches and canopy of the summer leaves blocking even more of the full moons eerie and unnaturally bright light. Twilight made a note on the brightness wondering if deep down Nightmare had made the moon brighter somehow to feed the plants in it's light instead of the sun's rays. But that wasn't important right now. Twilight catches back up with the front of the group, in case 'her queen' comes looking for her upon entry into the forest. "I'm a little glad you all came, even if only MAYBE two of you trust me." Twilight frowns she certainly was not happy she was beginning to think of these 5 as friends but now with all that's happened she was wondering if she'd lost that chance perhaps she really wasn't meant to have friends. Pinkie seems to notice bounding up to the sulking mare, "Hey Twilight see I told you I'd see you later though I didn't know that doozie was gonna this. Come one think of it this way once this is all over you'll have the best Nightmare Night Costume ever." Twilight can't help but smile a little, "Gee thanks now I know my scary appearance and altered body totally will not be out of place once a year." she laughs harshly. "Well, at least I'll fit in with the rest of the monsters." "You know what I say I say you crack up at the creepies and the meanies just because you look different doesn't mean you are a different silly filly. I've dealt with meanies before just gotta laugh with them sometimes. I learned that the hard way." Pinkie just smiles before continuing not seeming any less chipper. "Besides AJ said you were very brave for letting yourself get changed like this come on and smile even when things look grim sometimes a smile and a laugh can make even the worst situations seem better. After all laughter the best medicine... well unless you've got feather flu and then I wonder how you got that cause normally only pegasi can get that but then I'd give you my Auntie Pie's home remedy then THAT'S the best medicine." She smiles leaving a now giggling Twilight behind as she bounds ahead into the dark forest. "Laughter huh?" Twilight smiles feeling a bit better perhaps everything would work out and even if it didn't she'd just smile and know she did her best, perhaps that's all that can ever be asked. She smiles wider feeling another soothing warmth blossom across her chest. "She's strange but she knows how to make others smile even when things are dark." The trek finally began to take it's toll after an hour into the forest from skidding down a cliff with the group since there was no quicker way down, and moving through a dark patch of forest Twilight was beginning o feel the strain of being awake all night so far as where the others. "If this keeps up we'll be dead on our hooves before we reach the ruins." Twilight sighs " "We can't rest sugar cube you know that we gotta find those ruins and fast." "Yeah...unless you're trying to stall us!" Came a rather threatening tone from Rainbow Dash. "Oh Dash be nice she looks exhausted beside all of us are too nopony is used to staying up this late."Fluttershy tried to defend Twilight though unsuccessfully as Dash cries out in response "Yeah well miss creature of the night over there should be fine so let's get going!" A sharp snarl rips through the tension around the group 8 pairs of glowing yellow eyes form a semi-circle around the group the telltale smell of rotten plant causing the girls to lock up, Rarity is the first to react she grabs pinkie pie and in a scene not fitting of the dire situation they now all found themselves in she shakes the mare as a few cupcake and other teats suddenly drop to the ground. "Sorry Pinkie." is all she says in a clear rush as she magics up the food and then bites her lip as her magic flares a sharp razor like slash runs across her leg a crimson stream of reading mars her pristine white coat she whimpers slightly as she coats the confectionary treats in the dripping red before tossing them into the pack of Timberwolves. The pack indeed is distracted running after the scent of fresh blood Rarity encasing her leg in an aura to prevent her injury from making the wolves come back to them. As the 8 wolves run after the blood-soaked goodies the girls run fast and far deeper into the forest until they nearly run themselves off a canyon...filled with fog and mist and low hanging clouds it is nearly the end of them if not for Twilight grabbing several ponies in her own magic to prevent them all from falling from the edge. "Rarity." Twilight pants looking to the now even paler white unicorn. "Hmm yes, Darling?" She says shakily and weakly panting. "Twilight walks over grabbing the leg in her magic using her healing magic as best she can to close the wound. "Thank you....you saved us...but your coat...your body this cut will leave a scar even with my efforts and you'll be woozy from blood loss...I....why did you do that?" "I'm willing to sacrifice whatever I need to to help others...besides a Lady's beauty is not just skin and fur-deep," she says with faux conviction but clearly not pleased with the idea of a scar. "Rarity that was beyond generous...and brave....and to be honest a little stupid." Rarity just chuckles a bit. "Oh don't worry about me I'm a big mare a little blood loss won't stop me from helping you save the day." Pinkie soon trots over with a cupcake in tow. "Rarity eat this...I know you took some of my stashes to save us but here have the last one you'll need it if you don't wanna faint." The Pink mare's mane oddly deflated again "Pinkie I would never take your last treat if I could help it no darling you keep it I'll find just give me a few moments to rest I'll be fine." "Rarity Pinkie right takes the cupcake and rest a little...we're actually almost to the ruins," Twilight said motioning her head across the canyon indeed within view was the ruins of the castle of the two sisters a broken bridge all that remains between them and the ruins was a disheveled broken bridge. Rarity reluctantly takes the cupcake eating the confectionary treat letting Pinkie's mane oddly pop back into shape Twilight wondered how she did that but right now it didn't matter." "Ok Dash I'm tending to Rarity would you please go fix the bridge and be careful we're close to my majesties castle so be on your best behavior around our new queen," Twilight said before sighing as she gains many concerned looks sending everyone a silent magic message. 'I'm acting remember I have to play the part of her legate and you all are my recruit before our mighty queen yes that was sarcasm so let's not all get caught before we have even a small chance to look for the elements of harmony. So please...please trust me long enough to get us through this then you can hate me all you want Dash.' Dash seems to glare only a moment before saluting and diving off into the cloudy abyss before a few moments pass and she fixes the bridge on the other side. "One Bridge fixed Legate." She salutes again. Twilight just nods before standing up. "Rarity is healed, how are you feeling?" "I..I'm much better now not as woozy that cupcake really helped." "Well, of course, it's like when you give blood a quick snack can make you feel even just a little better until you recover," Pinkie says matter of factly. "Come on we are keeping the Queen waiting." Twilight gestured to the bridge beginning to head across it as the group crosses the bridge towards the ruins entering the large room past the ruined craggy stairs and into the still smoldering ruined door clearly blasted apart by a magical force. "Ah, I see you found some recruits very good my Legate." The dark mist once more appears and congeals before Twilight and the others Fluttershy squeaks and bows in a rush hiding behind her mane from the large mare the other follow suit even Rainbow dash though she is the last to bow outside of Twilight whom stays standing through her eyes lock on the still standing mare with anger and concern. "Report your findings Legate...and next time be sure to join your comrades in bowing to me or you will be punished." "Of course my queen I simply did not to expedite my report on the locations of the Elements of harmony." "Hmm very good it seems you have discovered their location but I do not see them present did I not say to bring them to me? Yet I do not see the former gems of harmony only ponies you recruited." "Of course my queen you also said should I be unable to retrieve them come find you. I have discovered the former location of the elements of harmony, however, I don't know their exact location, however, I did find they were last located here, however, I suspect that my former teacher would not be foolish enough to leave them here. That leaves Canterlot as the most likely location to hide them and keep them safe. You being the ruler now will be freely able to access anything in the former capital. Not to be presumptuous but I would suggest you search there. Me and my new recruits can scour this castle for any remains of them." "Hmm, you make a valid argument Celestia was wise enough to surrender to me so our fight would not harm her, now my, precious subjects. I will take your advice...very well Legate scours the ruins for the Elements should you find them destroy them!" she snarled before turning to dark mist once more and flying from the ruins after several moments a sigh of relieving erupts from everypony in the room." "Twilight remind me never to play poker with you," Rainbow said "Yeah sugar cube I know lying isn't a good thing to be good at but I sure as shoot am glad you managed to get her away from here." "Well that's just it I didn't Lie....exactly I mean we all know the elements are here but she doesn't I just told her I didn't know exactly where they where and what they where here last and that it would be silly to assume that Celestia left them here...but that's the thing this is a big gamble 50/50 either I was right and the elements are in Canterlot and I just ruined everything or they are here and just saved us...I'm sorry I hope I guessed right." "It's ok you did the best you could given the circumstances we couldn't rightly search the ruins for them with that...thing breathing down our neck. Now come on girls we need to find these elements." The girls scoured the ruins until several minutes later they found a planetarium like a statue on each long rusted armature and pedestal rested a stone with the gem like symbols on them. Fluttershy, Rainbow, Rarity, and Twilight all move the orbs down to the ground. "The book said the 6th element was lost but how is that possible the others are all here where is the 6th." "Back in my day dear Legate you needed to form a spark of the 5 together to bring forth the 6th." a dark chuckle fills the room as once more the dark Queen of the night takes shape before the mares this time however they all stand at the ready. "Don't just stand there you fools destroy them as I commanded and you all will be heavily rewarded." "Hey, Twilight...think you can spark those suckers cause." Rainbow rushes headlong a blur of rainbow and cyan missile ramming into Nightmare knocking the air out of both. "You're not gonna take over Equestria nor are you gonna hurt my friends I should never have doubted Twilight just because of what you did to her from now on she'll always have me at her back and side I'll never leave her or Ponyville or Equestria hanging now come on and fight me you..." Rainbow didn't get to finish the sentence with a blast of magic strikes all the mares away from the elements of harmony slamming them all into the far wall of the ruined wing of the castle. "You fools I could have given you power and position you've dreamed of and beyond you could have been my royal guards answering only to me and now after I destroy these elements you will be made my servants and playthings!" Nightmare Moon rears up to smash the elements of harmony only for Twilight to suddenly teleport between her and them conjuring a shield that makes her armor-clad hooves bounce off. "What is this. Teleportation...my my, impressive you would have been a fine student of mine I was going to teach you so much of my magic but now...now you won't last the night." Nightmare's horn begins to charge sickly blue and black lightning like magic arcs on her horn but Twilight's horn charges as well embuing the elements with magic before teleporting away the elements glow bright and thrum with energy. "No...nooo!" but the charge stops and sputters out. "Hahaha fool you need all 6..and now." This time her hooves come down smashing the elements apart into shards. "Now you have no hope...surrender and I may be merciful. " Twilight feels shattered..she failed...sure she had been taught failure wasn't bad but this..this was worse then failure this was defeat. "Ha, what are you gonna do you, big meanie! So what if you're gonna capture us or make us servants you'll never take our smiles and laughter!" Pinkie pie shouted in defiance "Yeah, you'll have ta muzzle us to keep us from hollering the truth to any pony who'll listen!" Applejack shouted next "Face it Nightmare you may have destroyed those element things but you'll never win somepony will always stand up to you because they are loyal to their friends and family protecting them from you!" "Yeah..you..um big meanie you may be mean and cruel but small acts of kindness can undo even the vilest acts with time and care." "That goes for generosity to giving our time, blood, money, body, soul and life if need be to stop you and help those around us we'll stand up to you no matter what you do!" Nightmare cackles, "That's why you all will perish before me tonight without those elements you 6 are just annoying obstacles." A spark...a light a warmth and surge of power filled Twilight's chest. "That's where you're wrong Nightmare...the elements aren't gone...they are right here!" The ruined stones begin to glow. "Fluttershy showed me nothing but kindness even when the others thought I was your minion and stood up to you and your threats she's the element of kindness." A green glow fuses with Fluttershy as the gems encircle her in a bright light protecting her in a barrier of green magic "What...no I destroyed them!" Shouted Nightmare her horn charges blasting At Twilight only for a shield of magic to dissipate it. "You're wrong the elements aren't just rocks they are their bearers and they all are here right now. Applejack when she was honest to herself and to us about her fear of the woods and yet strove to stop you and help us..and threatening to tell anyone who'll listen about you she's Honesty!" Red gems glow and surround her just like Fluttershy "Pinkie helped me smile even when things looked down and I felt awful and trapped because I let myself get turned into this Umbra just to fool you. Even in the end here she's more than willing to make us smile and keep our spirits high even in the face of danger she's laughter!" Pink gems and lights shimmer around pinkie guarding her as well "Rarity sacrificed her body and beauty scaring herself and giving her own blood to distract a pack of timberwolves and even now she threatens you with her generosity!" white gems join the color rainbow filling the room's glow of magic "Rainbow Dash is Loyalty the hardest element to earn but once you earn Loyalty it's there forever. Rainbow didn't trust me at first even attacked me but once I showed I was trustworthy she stood by my side attacking you and protecting us giving us time to get the elements and still she stands by our side even as you threaten us!" Blue gems finally join the glow "But you're missing the last element you can't stop me without it!" Nightmare Shrieked in fury. "That's where you're wrong again Nightmare...you see All through the night I've been feeling more and more connected to these 5 ponies and I hope them to me together we all came together to stop you that formed a bond..a connection a spark and with that, the final element is reviled...Magic!" Twilight's chest glows brighter a star similar in shape to her cutie mark glows brightly it's indigo and violet glow shines as Twilight's eyes turn white with power and energy. The 6 mares float up into the air as the elements all work together before a blast of all the colors combines together barreling down on Nightmare moon a loud shriek and roar of "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" fills the air but that is not all who is shrieking Twilight too is crying out in pain and agony. The element of magic was destroyed completely 1000 years ago upon the banishment of Nightmare moon the battle between Her and Celestia cracked the star element and when it was used by one pony forcing them all to work the power and forcing it to work was to much for the element and it shattered while the others went dormant. As Twilight had said the elements are embodied in the 6 mares but in Twilight it was truer than ever. With the element destroyed Twilight and the element became almost one and the same so Twilight was channeling the worlds strongest magic through her very being from the others through her as a focal point and down onto Nightmare, it was not pleasant. As the magic built and built and builts a the elements stop channeling on Nightmare their job done but the brightness builds and builds bright as the sun itself before a huge explosion of energy rips through the ruins. The magic ignites the mossy stone, the force kicks up dirt and blasts the 6 mares apart from one another sending Twilight careening towards where Nightmare had stood while the others collapsed onto the ground the intense magic drawing in the wild weather of the forest mixing together dust, smoke and now fog and cloud together to form a sickly smokescreen as the silence of the night finally filters back in leaving 7 mares all collapsed on the ruined floor of the castle. None were awake to notice the sun rising.