August 7,
A sinister laugh came from the should-be dead pony, “I'm happy you remember me.”
“What's going on? How are you alive? I saw you die.” Twilight was trying to make sense of everything.
“No, no, no. you didn't see me die. The one you saw die was an unfortunate stallion who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just made him look like me.”
“Why” Twilight asked.
Candle scowled, “Because all the planning I had done was useless with a chaos mage around. His magic would have interfered with mine and ruined everything.”
“What do you mean? What plans?” Twilight was terrified by this point. Nothing made sense to her.
“My plans to get you, my dear.” he said as if it were obvious, “You see, you have royal blood in your veins thanks to this.” he levitated a circular object with spikes on the inside. Twilight recognized it immediately.
She gasped, “The crown of thorns!”
“You recognize it, good. It did play an important part in your life after all.” he grinned maliciously, “It gave you immortality.”
“Is that what this is? You just want immortality?!” Twilight screamed, “You sent Gil and Gray Fang after Shiro, didn't you! You released Discord! Just to get me?!”
“Oh, Twilight, I had to remove him from the equation. You see chaos magic is an unknown factor, and I can't afford unknowns.” said Candle, “As for immortality, I already have that. What I want is what was taken from me.”
“What are you talking about, Candle?” Twilight asked.
“STOP CALLING ME CANDLE!!!” He yelled, “Candle Light was just some poor idiot of a spelunker who decided to explore a cave that lead to Tartarus.”
Twilight's fear grew at the mention of the evil place.
“I am Chronos, King of Equestria.” he said.
Twilight's blood ran cold at the name. The father of Celestia and Luna. The tyrant king
“How?” was all she could say.
Chronos smiled, “This fool wandered into Tartarus. I found him and possessed him. With my new skin Cerberus didn't recognize me as his charge and ignored me. He soon notice his folly and quickly gave chase.”
He got close to the purple unicorn and smiled, “He found me in the small town of Ponyville, where a naive mare led him away from me and back to Tartarus.”
Twilight felt sick. She had helped in the escape of the worst of hells residents. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the crown placed on her head or the ropes tying her.
The spikes penetrated the skin on her head and she yelped in pain. She tried to struggle but couldn't break the bindings. She felt it drain her of not only blood but a portion of her life force as well as Chronos chanted an unknown spell.
She felt her life starting to fade when it suddenly stopped.
“Ah ah ah, we can't have you die yet. After all, when I have my throne back, I’ll need a queen.” Chronos licked her cheek. The contact made Twilight cringe, “Be happy. You and I will be the last two ponies in existence when I give this world to the void demons.”
He removed the crown and threw her in a cage of stone, placing an inhibitor on her horn. He then placed the Crown of Thorns on his head and once again chanted. He grunted as the artifact began pumping the blood and essence into him.
When it finished he threw the object off before being enveloped by a cloud of black energy. It swarmed and swirled around him like a storm cloud. The cloud formed the shape of a pony slightly taller than Celestia. It solidified into an ash gray alicorn and collapsed in exhaustion.
Twilight watched through half lidded eyes as the pony became the terrible beast she had only read about.
“Psst.” Twilight was pulled from the darkness by an unknown sound, “Pssssst” she was too weak to search out the origin, “Hold on little Twilight Sparkle, you'll be fine.”
The last thing Twilight saw was a pair of mismatched eyes, and a single fang.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
August 9,
Fluttershy helped Jynx through the Ponyville hospital. Rainbow Dash had just told them that they found Twilight.
She appeared in a flash of light in the emergency waiting room. She was unconscious but stable. The only injuries seemed to be several puncture wounds in regular intervals on her head.
“Excuse me. Where's Twilight's room?” asked Jynx.
“Room 142, through those doors and to the left.” said the receptionist.
They found the room easily and walked in. The nurse was taking notes from the monitors.
“Oh, hello, I’ll leave you alone. She just woke up about fifteen minutes ago so she might still be a bit incoherent.” the nurse said as she left the three alone.
“Girls I’m glad you're here!” Twilight half yelled.
“Eep” Fluttershy jumped at Twilight's outburst.
“Twilight, what happened? We looked all over for you.” Jynx said.
“I was foalnapped.” Twilight started, “It was those pearls that Shiro gave me. They transported me to the caves beneath Canterlot. I know this sounds crazy, but it was Candle Light. He's actually Chronos, the tyrant king Queen Gaia locked in Tartarus. He escaped by possessing somepony and used the Crown of Thorns to regain his old form.”
“Oh, my, it is bad. It's OK, Twilight, it was all just a bad dream.” Fluttershy tried reassuring her fiend.
“No! It wasn't.” Twilight shouted making the timid yellow mare jump, “I'm sorry, Fluttershy, but it wasn't a dream. It was him. The fact that I vanished for a day and come back like I did proves that.
“He wanted to make me his queen.” Twilight shuddered at the thought, “That's not all. He said that he was going to give Equestria to something called the 'void demons', whatever they are.” Jynx looked confused, but Fluttershy looked horrified.
“D-d-d-di-di-di-did you say v-v-v-vo-void demons.” Fluttershy was shaking.
“Do you know what that is?” asked Twilight.
Fluttershy nodded, “They're monsters that live in the space between worlds. Every now and then one can make its way into a world but they usually need help. The thing that possessed Luna and made her Nightmare Moon was one of them.”
Twilight and Jynx were shocked and scared by what she said. The thought of hundreds of Nightmare Moons drained the color from Twilight's face.
“Do you know when this is supposed to happen?” Jynx asked.
“No, he never said but I know that he was weak after he transformed. I saw him collapse. So he'll have to recover first.” Twilight said, “But he's an alicorn so it could be any day.”
“How do you even know about...? Fluttershy?” Jynx looked where the pegasus was just a moment ago, “Where did she go?”
“She was just here.” Twilight said, “Maybe she'll be back?”
They waited five minutes before she returned with the locked book with black dragon on it.
“I know how to stop the void demons. There is a song in the book of shadow song, but I can't do it. My voice isn't loud enough. It needs to be done by a full grown dragon in order to be loud enough to work.”
“What about your grandmother?” asked Twilight.
“She gave her gift to me. She can't perform the Derat Tagal at all.” said Fluttershy.
The three sat silent until Jynx laughed.
“I think I might have an idea to make you louder.” Jynx said with a grin, “I need to talk to somepony you two work out the details.”
She slowly left the two of them to work out a plan.
Fluttershy unlocked the book and turned to the song in question.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Chronos was furious. He was asleep for a day and his pet escaped. He couldn't figure out how she did, but she did.
It didn't really matter. He was ready to begin the spell to open the gate.
Soon he would have his throne back, as well as worthy subjects.
The old god stepped into the runic circle and began the long ritual.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
August 10,
Twilight, Fluttershy, and Jynx were getting ready to put their plan into action when they saw a familiar sight.
“Ah, Twilight, Jynx, and Fluttershy if I recall.” said the voice of Trixie, “Have you come for the show?”
“Actually we're in the middle of something rather important. I’m not sure we'll be able to make it.” Twilight said apologetically.
“Oh,” Trixie said sounding upset, “It must be important. Well, I’m going to put on another tomorrow so maybe you can catch that one?”
“I hope so. Sorry, but we really can't chat. We have to go.” Twilight said as she walked off.
“She seemed really disappointed we can't make the show.” said Fluttershy.
“I know but we have a schedule to keep. Besides Vinyl's waiting for us.” Twilight said.
The approached the white unicorn DJ as she waited by Fluttershy's cottage.
“What kept'cha?” she asked.
“Sorry, I got REEEEALY hungry.” Jynx said sheepishly, “I get kinda cranky when I’m hungry.” Twilight and Fluttershy nodded vigorously.
“Seems legit.” she said, “You ready to go now?”
“You're not scared of going in there?” Fluttershy said indicating the Everfree.
“Meh. If I get eaten I get eaten. Life's short enough without worrying yourself to death.” Vinyl said and walked into the forest with her DJ booth in tow as if she were walking in the park.
“I'll be waiting for you when you get back. Be safe!” called Jynx. She wanted to go with them but knew she would only be a liability in her state.
She watched the three mares disappear into the infamous woods. When they were out of sight she turned and started making her way back to her home unaware of the shadow overhead.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Celestia, as she did every morning after she raised the sun, walked through the statue garden. She was lost in thought when she came to two of her biggest regrets. She looked at the fake statue of discord, disgusted with herself. She hated lying to her little ponies, but Discord had been quiet sense the Ponyville incident and she didn’t want a panic on her hooves.
And her other regret, the brave human-turned-tiger who fought so selflessly for his friends, his image standing... nowhere. His pedestal was empty.
Fear gripped the sun princess's chest. She turned looking for any signs of him, listening for screams that would surely come. She was still rather tired from that morning, and knew he was strong enough to maim Discord.
Celestia turned to see a black hole open in the air in front of her and creatures pour out. Was this Shiro? She was sure he didn't have the presence of mind to do something like this in his state.
She blasted the creatures as they emerged and tried attacking anything in sight. They were everywhere in moments. Her guard was trying their best to stave off the monsters, but with little effect.
A sinister laugh fills the air, “Have you come to welcome me home?” the voice was all too familiar to the goddess, it filled her worst nightmares.
In a burst of black fire, the figure that went with the voice appeared.
He grinned at Celestia, “Have you missed me, my daughter?”
Celestia stared in horror as the creature she most feared approached her.
She lowered herself in a threatening pose, ready to fight for her life.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I opened my eyes for the first time in four months and was greeted with painful sunlight. When my eyes adjusted I noticed I was about three miles from Ponyville. It was visible in the distance.
I looked around trying to figure out what happened, and how I got free. My sword was sticking in the ground a few feet away. Whoever freed me must have retrieved it for me.
I walked over to take it when I saw a note attached.
Dear Tiger Guy,
We’re even.
Yours truly
Big D.
“Even? Bull shit.”
I looked out over towards Ponyville, home. I put my harness on and slid Piercing Light into its place.
“Hold on, Jynx, I’m comin' home.”