The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the Crystal Empire Library as the five plus two guards rushed through isles looking for a certain book.
"What kind of book are you searching for exactly?" asked Flurry as she skimmed through the pages of two books.
"The seal is normally located in areas where no life inhabits the surrounding space," answered Elliot. "Which means nobody should have gone to the seal since the area around it is forbidden,"
"Forbidden, in that case we should check out Everfree Castle," suggested Flurry.
"Everfree Castle?" asked Tempest.
"Yeah, my mother used to say that almost nopony goes around that area since it's gloomy and worn down," answered Flurry.
"Could be worth checking, let's go," said Crescent. The group rushed out of the library and followed Flurry as she led the group for Everfree Castle. However what was supposed to be an hour long walk became easier thanks to Flurry's teleportation magic Twilight had taught her and the group was standing outside Everfree Castle within moments.
"Wow creepy," said Marisa taking one look at the abandoned castle.
"Indeed this is no doubt one of the places anyone would put the seal," said Elliot.
"I don't like this," whimpered Tempest. Crescent looked over to Tempest with a sad look. It was no doubt she would feel uneasy about coming to this place. But replacing the seal was the only way to put an end to this madness.
"I'm scared too, but this is our only hope," said Crescent.
"Crescent's right, let's go," said Elliot as he walked towards Everfree Castle. Marisa grinned as she followed Elliot in without hesitation. Meanwhile the others reluctantly followed the two in. As Crescent, Tempest, Flurry, and Shining followed Marisa and Elliot deeper into the worn down castle, they stuck together in case something attacked them.
"This is so unsettling," said Flurry.
"No kidding," said Shining. The group continued to wander through the halls until they came to a stop in an open room. In the center they could see what seemed to be a giant circle with two triangles on the bottom and one stacked on top along with a star in the center of the three triangles, could be seen painted on the ground with red paint.
"That's it!" said Elliot.
"That's the seal?" asked Marisa.
''It certainly looks like a seal to me," said Crescent. The group followed after Elliot as he ran up to the seal.
"Yes it's no doubt that this is the seal," said Elliot.
"But it looks kind of strange," said Shining. He wasn't wrong, the seal had looked faded, as if someone had dumped a bucket of water over it.
"It's no doubt that somebody tried to destroy the seal, considering that the damage done looks fresh," said Elliot.
"Heh clever observation there cowboy," a bone rattling cackle spoke up from behind them. The group turned around as Dry Bowser suddenly emerged from the darkness.
"Wha who are you?" asked Tempest.
"I am Dry Bowser, I have been given orders directly from Eclipse regarding you all," answered Dry Bowser.
"Eclipse!?" Shining gasped.
"That's right, I hate to break it to you ,but I cannot allow you to replace that seal," said Dry Bowser.
"Oh yeah, and I assume YOU'RE going to stop us, there's only one of you and the six of us," boasted Marisa.
"Don't get too cocky, you think you can beat me, not when Master Eclipse has my back," said Dry Bowser.
"What do you mean?" growled Crescent. He wasn't showing but it was clear that Dry Bowser was smirking. He stomped one of his skeletal foot down hard and let out an angry roar as a black aura suddenly flared to life around him.
"What in the name of Equestria?!" Flurry yelped. Dry Bowser laughed as he pointed a skeletal finger at the group.
"Ready, here we go!" he roared. He inhaled and blasted a stream of blue fire at the group. The group quickly scattered to avoid the attack as the fire blew a sizzling hole in the wall behind them.
"Great balls of fire, that could've knocked us out in one hit!" Elliot yelped.
"It must be Eclipse's power," Crescent suggested.
"Then we'll need to be cautious when fighting him," said Shining. Elliot pulled out both revolvers and aimed them at Dry Bowser as he turned to face him. He fired several rounds only for them to bounce off Dry Bowser as he slowly approached him.
"Damn my bullets won't do crap," cursed Elliot.
"Damn right they won't," laughed Dry Bowser. He inhaled and coughed up a giant blue fireball at Elliot forcing him to roll to the side in order to avoid the attack.
"Heh your bullets may be useless, but let's see how my magic works against this guy," laughed Marisa as she pulled out a small octagonal box and aimed it at Dry Bowser. "Master Spark!" Marisa announced as a rainbow colored beam shot out of the box and at Dry Bowser. Dry Bowser held up his arms as the beam struck him and pushed him back several feet. Marisa smiled as she waited for the dust to clear. Suddenly Dry Bowser jumped out of the smoke in front of Marisa, not a single scratch on him. "What it didn't do anything!?" Marisa gasped. Dry Bowser raised his claw as the black aura covered Dry Bowser's arm and took the shape of a large shadowy claw. Marisa yelped and quickly jumped off to the left as Dry Bowser brought his claw down hard. "Hey a little help here!" Marisa called out.
"I got you," said Crescent leaping in the air. Dry Bowser turned around as Crescent spread out her wings and glared at Dry Bowser. Her horn began to glow in a deep blue aura as she fired a blue beam at Dry Bowser. Dry Bowser inhaled and blasted a stream of blue fire back at Crescent. The stream of fire and beam collided with each other and exploded shaking the entire castle. Once the smoke cleared the group had reunited with each other and was ready for the next attack.
"Damn he's strong," cursed Elliot.
"If we attack him all at once maybe we can beat him," suggested Tempest.
"Worth trying," said Flurry. The group waited to see what Dry Bowser would do, but instead of attacking he laughed.
"Tough luck looks like I win,"
"What are you talking about, you haven't beaten anyone," said Shining. Dry Bowser smirked as he turned around and launched a fire ball setting the seal on fire.
"Shit the seal!" Elliot screamed. Once the fire died down the only thing left was a scorched ground where the seal had been. Dry Bowser turned around and smiled demonically.
"Game Over," he said. Elliot clenched his teeth in anger and raised both of his revolver to his face. Dry Bowser roared as a black portal appeared beneath him and he began to sink in.
"Hey get back here!" said Marisa running after Dry Bowser. But the portal disappeared just as she reached him. Just then multiple screeches could be heard echoing from the direction of ponyville.
"Great now we're doomed!" whimpered Flurry.
"Maybe if we make the seal now, we can still make it," suggested Crescent.
"Not possible, creating a new seal takes way too long, replacing one only takes 2 hours but making a new one takes 48 hours," answered Elliot.
"Are you kidding me we can't live in a world filled with supernatural beings!" said Tempest.
"At this rate we'll have to go to war!" said Shining.
"Not if we start now," said Crescent. "I'll help so just tell me what we need to do,"
"We won't have time, there's too much we need to do," said Elliot.
"We won't know unless we try!" said Crescent. Elliot looked over to her and saw her eyes burning with determination. Knowing that arguing with her wasn't going to fix anything, Elliot decided to go with it.
"Oh to hell with those Menace, Flurry can you take us back to the castle?" asked Elliot. Flurry nodded. "Hurry we need as much time as possible," said Elliot. The group gathered around Flurry as her horn began to glow in a yellow aura. Within a flash the group was gone. The rise of The Menace had begun.