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// Ch 5. The Darkness Revealed 
// Story: Crystal Book 
// by CherryTune 
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Chapter 5



*The Darkness Revealed*


Celestia woke up to raise the sun but before she could Luna stopped by and told her about the visitor from last night. Celestia acknowledged and they decide to double the guard until further notice and not worry too much about it until the current situation has been dealt with. She waits for Luna to lower the moon before raising the sun starting the new day. Luna returns to her chambers to rest awhile before the leaders start showing up, and Celestia heads to the throne room.

When she arrives Twilight and her friends were already there talking by the throne. Zecora instructed Starlight, Trixie, Sunburst, Skystar, Tempest, Shining Armor, and Pharynx on the ancient histories and her role in protecting its secrets. Starswirl had reunited the old heroes and also described the details of the recent events. Cadence and Discord came in through the main doors with Thorax who arrived early in the morning and headed towards Twilight,s group.

Celestia sat on her thrown and received word from her herald that Twilight's barrier was showing signs of failure and that Prince Rutherford should be arriving just past noon. At which point all the leaders will be ready and hopefully a plan formulated. The day goes by and Zecora's group had moved to Starswirl's workshop where she had placed herbs, minerals, gems, and special brews. Starswirl and the old heroes spoke with Celestia, Cadence, Twilight, Thorax, and Discord to discuss their role in the fight. Twilight's friends went back to Ponyville and would be back by the time Prince Rutherford arrived.

Zecora and her group developed a potion much like the ancient tincture. She explained that it will channel the energy of anyone who drank it to the nearest shaman, or in this case a powerful magic user. Celestia had given Zecora full access to resources and she began mass producing this new elixir in preparation for the potentially thousands of volunteers. While the production carried on the group went to locate Starswirl and the old heroes.

Celestia, Cadence, Twilight, Thorax, and Discord, with the input from the old heroes, developed a plan for the final show down. It would require many moving parts with the least complicated being what Twilight and her friends role would be. The three princesses, Tempest, Discord and Thorax would learn how to recreate Twilight's barrier spell and use it to form a large bubble around the spirits.

The entire group will drink the magic potion to act as the catalyst to releasing their energy. The old heroes will then draw that energy from the mass of volunteers and store it around them. Zecora, Starlight, Trixie, Shining Armor, Skystar and Sunburst would then use the energy from the old heroes and direct the energy at the spirits. Twilight and her friends would be inside the sphere and she would personally protect her friends with a spell before casting the final blow.

The remaining plans were finalized, by noon Twilight's friends had returned, and Prince Rutherford arrived at the station. Pinkie had already gone to escort him to the throne room where Celestia presented the situation to the leaders. After which she urged Cadence, Skystar, Rutherford, Thorax, and Ember to go back to their lands and request as many volunteers to join them. The leaders dispersed and headed to their respective lands and those remaining practiced what they needed to.

Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Thorax, Tempest, and Discord worked on casting Twilight's barrier spell. Starlight, Sunburst, Trixie, Skystar, and Shining Armor practiced the channeling spell with Zecora. Twilight was walking out of the throne room to meet her friends to practice her protection spell that would keep them safe inside the bubble barrier.

Tempest caught Twilight in the halls outside the throne room before she could meet her friends. “Twilight.” She said softly.

“Tempest!” Twilight responded.

“Do you have a moment?” Tempest asked.

“Sure, are you ok? How’s learning the spell with the others?” Twilight replies.

“I… I don’t know if I can help.” Tempest said

“Why not?” Twilight asked.

“I… My horn. I can’t keep a stable barrier up. I’ve tried.” She said. “It’s impossible, every time I try it’s just smoke and sparks. Nothing I do works.” Tempest continued.

“Tempest, remember when I said your horn is just as powerful as the unicorn it belongs to. I meant it and I am certain you can do this. You have plenty of time to make it work.”

Tempest looked away and said nothing. “Come with me.” Twilight said while grabbing Tempests hoof. Twilight took her out to the courtyard, where she was to meet her friends later, and practiced the barrier spell with Tempest. An hour or so later Tempest managed to create a small stable bubble big enough only to fit Twilight and herself in. She held it for a few seconds. Her eyes closed as she strained to keep it together before it collapsed. “See! You had it!” Twilight said. Tempest opened her eyes and looked at Twilight. “I did. I actually did it!” she said. “I knew you had it in you.” Twilight said with a smile. Tempest looked up at Twilight and smiled.

A moment later Twilight's friends arrive and greet Tempest and Twilight. Her friends get in place and Twilight works on her personal protection spell. Tempest feeling out of place says her goodbyes to the group and heads to the throne room to continue to practice with the princesses and Discord. As she arrives Celestia and Discord are being snippy with each other. “This is impossible, I am a master of chaos not master of barriers!” Discord said. “I don’t understand why I have to do this can’t you get some other pony to do it?” he continued snidely.

“No Discord, you are the only one who can do this.” Celestia said.

“No I can’t. I can make pigs fly, I can make tea sing, and I can remove horns, wings and manes from ponies. But I can’t cast barriers.” Discord responded while snapping his fingers. Celestias horn, Lunas main, and Cadences wings vanished, appearing on Tempest. Tempest stood their shocked not knowing what was going on.

Celestia gasped. “Enough of this, return us to normal this instant!” She barked.

“You never let me have any fun Celestia.” He said and snapped his fingers again.

Their manes, horns and wings returned and Discord folded his arms and slouched. “What’s going on?” Tempest asked. The princesses looked over at her then back at Discord. “I can’t cast this ridiculous spell.” Discord said quickly. “Not even the great Starswirl the Bearded could show me how. Let alone these princesses.” He continued.

“Come on now. If I can do this so can you can to.” Tempest replied. 

"Yes but we both know you can't either Fizzle Pop!" Discord said.

Tempest frowned, walked over to Discord, excused herself and Discord from the princesses and took him off to the side. She showed him what Twilight showed her and reassured him that he could just as easily create a barrier as he could turn the world upside down. They practiced for a few hours and before the sun began to set the first of the volunteers started showing up.

Ember flew back from the Dragon Lands and ushered a thousand dragons. Rutherford stampeded back from Yakyakistan with a hundred yaks, Thorax returned with a couple thousand changelings. Skystar flew in with a hundred Hippogriffs. Cadence marched in a hundred of her best guard and a thousand crystal ponies. Twilight and her friends drew in ponies from Our Town, Manehattan, Ponyville, Phillydelphia, Cloudsdale, Rockridge, and Appleloosa. The griffons from Rockridge will join the Hippogriffs and the buffalo from Appleloosa will join the Yak heard on the burial grounds.

With the nations combined they head to the ancient site. Zecora brought her crystal to the stones at the edge of the crags. This time she forced the crystal into the stone symbols all the way. The shroud dissipated, drawing back, and revealing a vast expanse of land. Twilight's barrier was filled with fissures, crackling and straining against the spirits who seemed to have grown in strength. They rush to get into position. Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Thorax, and Discord flew into position and Tempest stood at her post.

She was still nervous about the spell but Twilight walked up beside and placed her hoof on her back. Twilight looked at her and said “You can do this.” Tempest nodded and Twilight flew off to her position near the center. Zecora walked up beside Tempest with Rockhoof, the yaks, and buffalo in tow. Discord and Skystar fly into place with the hippogriffs and griffons. Thorax hovers in place with his changelings while Sunburst and Mistmane stand below.

Cadence took position in the air while Shining armor, Mage Meadowbrooks, and the crystal ponies marched in behind her. Luna hovered above Starlight and Somnambula, while Ember and her dragons landed near by. Celestia, Starswirl, and Trixie walked up to their positions with the ponies of Equestria gathered around.

Twilight and her friends were the closest to the barrier and at Twilight's mark Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Discord, Thorax and Tempest would cast the bubble encapsulating Twilight and her friends. Twilight started to cast her personal protection spell on her and her friends and at that point Celesta took to the air and commanded “Alright everyone let’s begin.” Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Discord, Thorax and Tempest began casting their fields. Tempest struggled to generate a lasting field even though she had practiced.

The others managed to successfully create their portion of the bubble and each section started to form the shell. Tempest took a breath, closed her eyes, concentrated, and cast her part and it successfully started to form with the other five sections completing the force field. No sooner had the barrier gone up before the spirits broke free pouring dark miasma into the encapsulated area. Twilight and her friends were protect by her spell and the miasma could not pass through the magic surrounding them.

A silence filled the air. Zecora passed the signal for everyone to drink their potions. As the Yaks, buffalo, griffins, dragons, ponies, and hippogriffs drank their potions the ground started to rumble. The miasma settled hugging the ground and a dark spire shot up out of the center impacting the top of the dome. One by one the dark spirits climbed out releasing lesser spirits. The groups outside quickly readied the six chests filled with the ancient relics.

The six spirits let out a scream that filled everyone with fear. They flew erratically trapped inside the bubble and one by one the spoke.

Distrust whispered “We are free.”

Greed continued “Your world is ours.”

Anger growled “You will pay for what you’ve done.”

“You cannot contain us any further.” Deception said.

Hate stopped suddenly and stared at Luna and said “You’re no better than us.” He then darted to Tempest and continued “In fact you are worse.”

Ego stopped in the center looked around and said in a deep voice “You amount to nothing and not long from now you will be nothing.” Ego let out a growl and the six spirits came together and began forming into something much bigger. Dark magic shot into the ground and splintered out escaping through the barrier while lesser dark spirits darted chaotically inside. Those that cast the barrier readjusted their spell and blocked any remaining energy from escaping.

The day light suddenly subsided and a dark shadow was cast across the entire open crags. Only the light from the shield illuminated the area. The stone ancestors that littered the burial grounds started to glow with dark red symbols. The volunteers standing next to them backed away but they were surrounded and dispersed throughout the groups. The stone figures twitched and cracked and slowly began to animate.

The spire pulsed and doubled in size and intensity. The shield bearers struggled to maintain its integrity. The six spirits culminated into a much larger being. It stood up towering over Twilight and her friends barely touching the top of the dome. It’s body was dark red, dark miasma oozed out of its saw toothed jaw, its large horns arced with energy. Its large round black eyes with small white pupils darted around and shook as it glared at the united beings trying to trap it.

Stone ancients began to move and started to attack the creatures of Equestria. The closest stone ancients began attacking the six chests trying to destroy them. Starswirl shouted “We must protect the vessels!” He shot at a stone ancient shattering it. A light blue energy shimmered up and away from the rubble and the red glow dissipated into a dark smoke which quickly inhabited another stone ancient. Another stone golem charged Tempest when Rockhoof swung his shovel obliterating it. "Quickly defend those casting the barrier!" Those in the air were being pelted by large stones flung from the reanimated ancients.

A crystal pony, with curly main and golden highlights on her dark blue coat, was being overpowered by a stone ancient crushing down on her. Her crystalline body began to glow as a light blue energy flowed into her. Ancient symbols appeared on her body with a gentle blue hue. She gained enough strength to kick off the ancient. She stood up and looked around and saw that others who were struggling were also being affected by the strange entities. Zecora was being blocked by ancients as Rockhoof was busy protect Tempest, and the yaks and buffalo were fending of dozens more.

Several stone ancients surrounded Zecora and started closing in. They began the charge but time seemed to slow down. At the moment where time stood still a voice range out saying “Descendant of the ancient tribes, protector of our sacred grounds.” A golden figure said while slowly descending in front of her. “Please let me lend you my strength.” She continued. She walked forward placed a hoof on Zecora's head. Zecora closed her eyes and when she opened them the spirit was gone.

She quickly locked on to the nearest golem and with lighting quick reactions ducked under and kicked it away. It shattered on impact with the ground, the blue shimmer faded away and the smoke quickly found another host. She quickly made rubble of the remaining ancients. Zecora noticed her main was mixed with bright gold and light blue ancient symbols covered her body. She saw the same ancient symbols begin to appear on the yaks and buffalo as well as Tempest and Rockhoof.

Zecora watched as the tiny dark spirits kept jumping from host to host. She realized that they need to start capturing the lesser spirits so that they could cast the ancient sealing spell. She targeted a stray golem charging in and tackled it pinning it down. “Your efforts were meek at best, release this body and take your rest.” She said. She concentrated and focused her energy just as the potion was meant to do. The stone ancient writhed around before an electrical field started to shock it. After a few moments the electrical field drew out the smoky spirit and whisked it into the yak chest.

The lifeless stone ancient crumbled and the spirit inside wisped away. Zecora was quick to spread her findings and it quickly made its way around the battlefield. Spirit after spirit were being locked away in the vessels and the number of golems dwindled. Though thousands more littered the outskirts of the occupied areas without the dark spirits no more could possess them.

In total hundreds of dragons, yak, buffalo, changelings, ponies, hippogriffs, and griffons were incapacitated, thousands more were injured barely able to stand. As the last of the golems were being naturalized the masses turned inward at the horrifying goliath that stood inside the barrier. It thrashed around striking the barrier from inside. The shield casters struggled to keep it together. Twilight and her friends were fighting off stone golems unable to shatter their bodies quick enough or have enough time to cast out the spirits.

Those on the outside looked on, their bodies shimmered with ancient symbols. “This is it!” Starswirl said. “Trixie you know what to do, I am counting on you.” She looked at him and nodded before walking towards the bubble. Starswirl stood still, lowered his head, and concentrated. The Equestrian ponies behind him followed suit. Starlight Glimmer looked at Somnambula and Ember who had just landed next to her. She nodded her head and said “Right let’s do this.” Ember and Somnambula lowered their heads and focused. The remaining dragons did the same.

Around the shield, the old heroes and the supporting groups all bowed their heads. In a wave of transformation the ancient symbols on all the creatures glowed more intensely than before. Energy tendrils extended out towards the old heroes and began pooling around them. Those who were injured drew strength from what they witnessed and began to stand adding more to the energy pools.

Trixie took in a deep breath. “Just like he showed me.” She said to herself. Zecora looked back at Rockhoof and then ahead at the behemoth. Shining Armor looked for Twilight in the miasma but then turned his focus inward. Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Shining Armor and Skystar also got into position waiting to cast the spell.

The total energy of the valley poured into the old heroes and in unison Zecora, Starlight Glimmer, Shining Armor, Trixie, Skystar and Sunburst cast their spells. The burst of energy did not go unnoticed by the behemoth. It thrashed more intensely, the spirits inside darted more aggressively, miasma started building up inside, and the shield began to crack. A few moments later the full force of the pooled energy shot through Zecora, Starlight, Trixie, Shining Armor, Sunburst, and Skystar. The powerful beams penetrated the bubble and struck the mammoth spirit.


End Chapter