//------------------------------// // Magic Duel // Story: A Passing Through Kamen Rider // by thunderclap //------------------------------// Spike gazed at the egg in his hands, mesmerized by the patterns on its shell. It sported a red color, a spiral of green weaving around it. In his hands was another life, one that had been asleep for long before he was hatched. He tried to picture the hatchling that was dormant beneath the surface of the egg’s shell. If he was anything to go by, then the hatchling would match the egg itself. “Red and green is a nice combo,” he spoke the the unhatched dragon, moving his fingers over it. “I wonder if you’re a girl or boy? Is there anyway to tell before you come out?” “I’ve actually been reading all the materials that Smaug gave me to see for myself,” Twilight’s voice chimed in, walking down to the library with her muzzle buried in an old scroll. “There are some old drake’s tale about the amount heat given to an egg affecting the gender of a hatchling, but it’s never really been proven.” Looking up from the egg, Spike followed Twilight’s movements. “I guess we won’t find out until they hatch then, huh?” “That seems to be the case,” Twilight agreed, rolling up the scroll. “Normally I’d suggest conducting an experiment on the matter. But for something this important, I’m just going to make sure they hatch safely.” Setting the egg back in the chest, Spike rose to his feet. “Do you have any ideas on how to do that?” Scratching her cheek, Twilight shook her head. “Not at the moment, but I’ve been working on it as much as I can.” Kneeling down, Twilight removed a green and blue egg. “It seems green runs in the family.” “Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of purple or green on these eggs,” Spike agreed, tracing his palm against the green spirals. “Though none of them have that glittery white that Bahamut had. Maybe it comes from his mate?” “Well, Bahamut had purple on him,” Twilight reminded, turning the egg over in her hands. “So maybe he supplied the purple and his mate the green.” Putting the egg down, she took a seat on the loveseat. “Was probably easy for Bahamut to get a mate after becoming the first Dragonlord.” Spike nodded in agreement, dropping down next to her. Gazing at his clothes, he took a moment before speaking. “Hey, uh, Twi? Can we talk about what happened with Poseidon?” Sitting the egg into her lap, Twilight looked up at Spike curiously. “Is this about what he said?” “Yeah. I just thought he wanted the medals but...” Frowning, Spike reflected make on the riders words. “He said he’d been looking for me for centuries; that I was his ‘treasure’.” Twilight frowned, putting a hand to her chin in thought. “That doesn’t make any sense, only a handful of people knew about your existence for centuries.” Sudden realization dawned on Twilight, and she looked into Spike’s eyes. “Spike, can you hand me the deer medal?” “Yeah, sure.” Reaching into his pocket, he produced the medal in question. “Whatcha thinkin’, Twi?” “Filthy said your father created some Core Medals of his own, right?” Twilight questioned, pointing at the coin in his claw. “Medals like that one, right?” Spike stared at the medal, tracing every detail with his eyes. “Twilight... you don’t think, he’s my dad, do you?” Moving his eyes to her face, he suddenly felt very small. The idea that an infamous pirate king was his father clashed with the concept of the kind stallion he had been told about. “It’s the only idea that makes sense right now,” Twilight offered, flashing Spike a sympathetic look. “If he could make Medals, then maybe he figured out how to make a Driver. Though, he obviously didn’t figure out how to avoid the corruption of his Medals like with your belt.” Placing her hand on his, she gave it a squeeze. “I promise, we’ll fix him but first, we have to make sure these little ones get to live, okay?” “Yeah, my real dad is still in there,” Spike said, nodding firmly. “He freaked out about his identity when he saw my real face. That’s why he sank the boat and left.” Peeking down at the egg in her lap, Twilight gave a nostalgic smile. “You know, you’ve grown up so much these last few months. I remember when you were a hatchling. So small and clingy, needing to snuggle up for body heat.” Spike chuckled weakly, rubbing the side of his head. “I guess my duty as OOO has helped me mature.” He frowned, an errant thought crossing his mind. “You don’t think I’m too different, do you?” Shaking her head, Twilight flashed him a smile. “No, you’re still the same in so many ways. It’s like you just said, you’re maturing. I’m proud of you, Spike.” Pulling him into a hug, she planted a kiss on his head. “You’re still my dorky little brother, no matter how big you get.” Snorting, Spike gently slugged his sister in the arm. “And you’re still my mess of a sister even with a boyfriend and a kid.” Getting to his feet, he pointed towards the kitchen. “You want anything before playing mother goose?” “Do we still have some of those topaz?” Twilight inquired, staring at the cabinets. Spike groaned, feeling a swell of annoyance. “You and Sombra are going to eat all of my snacks. Maybe you should start helping Rarity with her gem hunts?” “What and cut in on one of the few times you get to be alone with her? Still not old enough to go on dates without a chaperone?” she teased, watching him walk to the kitchen. Giggling to herself, she set a hand on the egg. “Alright, let's get you a check up!” Standing up, she made her way to the basement to grab some equipment. She sat the egg down on a table, pulling out a stethoscope and placing it on the surface of the shell. The rhythmic beating of a tiny heart reached her ears, with the occasional sound of movement. Relief washed over her, a renewed sense of hope that her task could be accomplished creeping into her thoughts. “Don’t worry, little one,” she cooed, petting the shell. “You’re going to get a big breath of fresh air, I promise.” Setting the stethoscope down, she picked up a book on hexes and minotaurian magic. “Now, what’s keeping you in there? Maybe a stasis spell?” Flipping through the pages, she carefully combed it over for any stasis spells. After an hour or so of searching, she found a spell that might fit the bill. Walking over to her whiteboard, she copied the formula for the spell and sat the book down with a bookmark to remember her place. Tapping her chin with a marker, she studied the formula and worked it over in her mind in the hopes of reverse engineering it. “Twilight!” Rainbow Dash burst into the library, eyes wide and searching. “You have to come to the square!” With a sharp inhale through her nose, Twilight sat her marker down and turned towards the frantic pegasus. “Is there some sort of emergency? Because if there isn’t, I’m busy with this.” She gestured towards the egg. Dash closed the distance, grabbing Twilight’s shirt. “Trixie’s back! She’s doing all this crazy magic! You have to do something!” “Trixie?” Twilight questioned, tilting her head. After a moment she came to a realization. “Oh right, that blowhard stage magician from a while ago. Why would I be interested in stopping her new act?” “Twi, it ain’t an act! She’s going crazy!” Dash pushed her back, pointing towards the door. “You need to get out there and do something about it!” Twilight blinked, moving up the stairs. She didn’t know what Dash was going on about, but if Trixie was actually doing harm instead of just boasting while performing subpar stage magic, then she should at least check it out before calling the local guard. The trip into town was rather hectic, ponies were rushing down the street away from the square. This wasn’t a good sign to Twilight, causing her to squeeze her way through the crowd. She got to the front just in time to see a bolt of red magic hit Rarity. The unicorn in question shrieked, her clothes turning into a brown sackcloth dress. “What have you done!? This is hideous!” Turning her head, Twilight found the showmare Trixie grinning maliciously while wearing a necklace bearing a black alicorn shape with a red jewel at its center. Twilight gaped, the magic the other unicorn was using was far above anything she showcased before. The moment the two locked eyes, Twilight knew something was very wrong with the showmare. “There you are, Sparkle!” Trixie flourished her cape, pointing at Twilight. “I’ve waited for this moment for so long; the day I show you for the fraud you are!” “Expose me for a fraud?” Twilight repeated, stepping forward. “Um, in what way am I a fraud exactly?” “You humiliated me!” Trixie seethed, using her magic to produce a large screen. Keeping her magic working, she replayed the events of their last meeting. “You made me look like a fool! My name was dragged through the mud; my career came to a screeching halt!” The footage changed to completely new scenes, showing Trixie being driven from towns, pelted with objects and her wagon vandalized. “I even had to go crawling back home, all because of you!” “Trixie, I never tried to humiliate you,” Twilight reasoned, cringing at the scenes being displayed. “I just wanted to defend my town from the rampaging ursa minor. I’m sorry you had to go through all that.” “Shut your damn mouth!” Trixie ordered, the screen winking out of existence. “We’re going to settle this once and for all, Sparkle. A little contest of magic, between the two of us. The loser has to leave Ponyville. Forever” “Why would I agree to a contest like that?” Twilight questioned, frowning at the other unicorn. Trixie’s horn glowed bright, a corresponding glow appearing around Golden Oaks. “I’ll just make your life a living Tartarus until you do,” Trixie explained, starting to tear the tree from the ground. Twilight’s pupils contracted, the eggs jumping to the forefront of her thoughts. Taking in a massive gulp of air, Twilight unleashed a gout of flame onto the showmare. Trixie panicked for a moment, dropping the library from her aura and erecting a barrier around herself just as the flames singed her fur. A minute passed before Twilight extinguished the flames. Smoke rose from her nostrils, though she didn’t seem bothered. “You want a duel, Trixie? You just got one.” Unfiltered rage coursed through her, her rational mind nearly blotted out with the instinctive need to protect the clutch. “I knew you’d see it my way,” Trixie replied, reaching beneath her cape. “And seeing as you’ve made the opening move, it’s my turn.” Igniting her horn, she fired a blood red beam at Twilight’s face. Twilight met the beam with her own, creating a shower of fireworks. “Are beams the only thing you have to show, Trixie?” “Hardly,” Trixie dismissed, brushing her mane over her shoulder. “But it’s your turn now.” Glancing around, Twilight zapped a frog, granting it a pair of wings. “Woo!” Pinkie cheered, popping up to the front of the crowd. “Show that meanie what the best mage ever can do!” She waved her pom poms around, her clothes having been replaced with a cheerleading outfit. Trixie gave the pink mare a flat look, lighting her horn up. A mouse cursor appeared next to Pinkie’s mouth before moving over it. With a click, Pinkie’s muzzle was removed and placed into a trashcan icon that the showmare created. Pinkie stopped mid jump, desperately patting at her muzzle. She whimpered, staring at Trixie with fearful eyes. “Top that, Sparkle,” Trixie spat, a smug smile spreading across her lips. Her smile fell as Twilight breathed in deeply again, letting out a plume of fire that she turned into a raging tornado with some quick work of her horn. “I’ve changed just as much as you, Trixie.” Twilight met her gaze, her eyes contracted into slits. “I’m not just a unicorn anymore.” Trixie’s horn ignited, a bubble shield surrounding the flaming tornado. The shield shrank, becoming the size of a marble which Trixie pinched between her forefinger and thumb. Smirking, she flicked the captured fire at Twilight’s forehead. Twilight caught it, unphased as it exploded in her hand. “Like I said, I’m not just a unicorn anymore.” “Hmm, so you’re fireproof now,” Trixie noted, watching wisps of fire snuff themselves out against the purple mare’s fur. “But what about ice?” In an instant, the showmare conjured up an icy gale that careened towards Twilight. Lighting her horn, Twilight blasted the gale, turning it into nothing but fog. “That as creative as you can get, Trixie? Aren’t you supposed to be a showmare?” Snapping her fingers, a flash of light emerged from Trixie’s horn. When it died down, the fog around Twilight was replaced with water, drenching the purple mare. “I dunno, Sparkle, you look pretty wet behind the ears.” Huffing, Twilight brought up her aura, lifting all the water off her fur. Dragging the water along the ground, she picked up a swath of dirt, created mud, and splattered Trixie with it. “And you’ve got mud on your face, Lulamoon.” “Enough of these petty games!” Her horn glowing, she spotted Snips and Snails in the audience. “You two! You little cretins brought that accursed bear into town!” Firing a ribbon of magic, she caught the two as they attempted to flee. “Top that, Sparkle.” When the magic ended, Snips had been transformed into a foal while Snails had been aged into an old stallion. The crowd gasped, whispering amongst themselves as the rejuvenated Snips burst into tears. Trembling, spells raced through Twilight’s mind. She tried a few, only for the spell to give out halfway through. Her eyes darted to and fro, desperate for anything that could match Trixie’s feat. “I-I,” she began, only to collapse to her knees, “can’t.” Trixie broke into a cackle, grabbing Twilight in her magic and tossing the mare out of the town’s limits. “I knew you were a joke, Sparkle. Celestia must have taken pity on you." Focusing her magic, a glass dome appeared above Ponville. “Enjoy your exile.” Cutting her magic, Trixie allowed the dome to fall over the town. Twilight’s eyes widened, finding Sombra crawl beneath the crowd before pressing himself against the dome. “Momma!” he wailed, beating a fist against the barrier. Overcome by a mix of rage and fear, Twilight beat on the dome, blocking out the pain. “Let me in!” Flame licked at her lips, leaving blackened scorch marks on the glass. “Damn you, Trixie! I’ll kill you!!!” Sombra recoiled, terrified by his mother’s sudden outburst. Yawning, Trixie turned away from the dome. “Face it, Sparkle, you lost. You can’t force your way back in.” Twilight snarled, slamming her fist against the glass. “You can’t keep me out forever, Trixie. I’ll find my way back you. You won’t keep me from my family!” Rolling her eyes, Trixie threw a spell at the dome that caused it to arc with electricity. “All that banging is starting to get irritating.” Sombra whimpered, pulling away from the dome. “Mommy, I’m scared. Y-you look so angry.” The comment made Twilight pause. When had she gotten so angry? A sick feeling filled her belly, her brain registering her threat to kill Trixie. “I-I’m sorry, Sombra. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s not right to say things like that. I’m sorry I scared you.” Sniffling, he got as close to the barrier as he dared with the electricity running through it. “It’s okay, Momma. Papa will do something about this wall.” “I’ll find a way in, I promise.” Giving him a reassuring smile, she got to her hooves. “Go find your papa, okay? He and Uncle Spike will keep you safe.” Nodding, Sombra told her goodbye and dashed back into the crowd. Twilight watched him for a few moments, turning away from the dome. She trusted Wyatt and Spike to keep Sombra and the eggs safe. Taking a deep breath, Twilight pushed back the dark feelings in her mind. “Come on, Twilight, think! Who knows obscure and strange magic? It’ll take too long to get to Canterlot...” She began to pace, running through her archive of knowledge. She needed someone close by whose knowledge rivaled if not outmatched her own. Her eyes lit up and she ran off towards the Everfree Forest. The trip took longer than it normally would thanks to the dome, but Twilight managed to reach the forest’s edge with her breathing only becoming slightly labored. The animals gave her a wide berth, though whether it was because of how angry she was or if they could smell the dragon on her, she couldn’t tell. She followed the trail, steering clear of the Poison Joke patch. The last thing she needed was to have a useless horn on top of everything else. Eventually, the familiar hut of the hermit zebra Zecora came into her line of sight and she allowed herself to slow to a near stop. Twilight took a moment to ready herself before she knocked on the door. “Zecora? Are you home? There’s an emergency in Ponyville and I really need your help.” “I am indeed in my abode,” Zecora’s lyrical voice responded through the door. “What brings you down my lonesome road?.” A sense of relief washed over Twilight as she stepped into the small hut. “Oh thank Faust you’re here. A crazy mare came into Ponyville, using magic I can’t even do! She’s put a dome around the town and threw me out!” Smoke filled the room, a dark growl building in Twilight’s throat. “Well, that is quite the tale you tell,” Zecora replied, turning away from her cauldron to look Twilight in the eyes. “I think some help would serve you well.” Her gaze moved over Twilight’s body before returning to her face. “I owe Apple Bloom an apology. Her words were true as I now clearly see. She informed me of your form’s sudden change; I’d dismissed this, as it sounded too strange.” “Yeah, I took part in a ritual that bonded my family to Spike’s,” Twilight quickly explained. “I’ll tell you more about it later when I’m not busy trying to get back into my home. It involves dragon shamanism and I’m curious how it compares to the shamanism in zebra culture.” “When I am done with my concoction, we will begin your introduction. I can teach you techniques. If you add on some flair, it will surely bring low this bully of a mare.” Zecora gave a confident nod, adding some unknown ingredient into her brew. “Thank you, Zecora,” Twilight replied, taking a seat in a nearby chair and breathing a sigh of relief. Watching Zecora attend her cauldron, Twilight let her mind wander; thinking of how she would get Trixie back. A day had passed since Twilight’s banishment and Sombra hadn’t left Wyatt’s side. That was one of the things that had kept the young man from giving the blue dictator a rider kick to the skull. That, and even with her crazy magic, he was sure that his rider powers would kill the mare. And that was something that he didn’t need hanging over him. Trixie had wasted no time taking over the town after throwing Twilight out. Banners with her smug face hung from every lamppost and the villagers gave her a wide berth to avoid her torment. Poor Snips and Snails got the worst of it, the pair forced to pull Trixie’s personal chariot. Apparently, Trixie didn’t trust wheels. She had put most of the town to work doing rather unreasonable things. Pinkie had all but become a court jester, Rarity was forced to make the aforementioned banners and Daring had been forced to insert Trixie into a Daring Do story. That was just the tip of the iceberg, suffice it to say, the only one in town with a smile on their face was Trixie. Wyatt escaped the worst of it as far as physical labor went. Though he couldn’t escape the feeling she had been lacing somewhat racist jabs into her words when he had passed by her. If it kept her wrath away from Sombra, he’d put up with it for however long it took to get rid of her. Still, it was clear that something had to be done about Trixie. When the dictator had finally decided that everyone could stop working on her personal projects, Wyatt had grabbed the girls and led them to the library. “Okay,” Wyatt started, leaning on a bookshelf. “It’s only been a day and Trixie’s already gone full dictator.” “That’s because she’s wearing the alicorn amulet.” Daring tossed her disguise on the loveseat, a scowl maring her face. “It’s what's boosting her power in exchange for eroding her sanity; hence things like not trusting wheels.” “You’ve heard of this thing before?” Wyatt questioned, arching a brow before shaking his head. “That’s not important. So we just need to get the amulet off of her?” “Not a thing.” Daring leaned on the wall, her scowl deepening. “Only she can take it off.” “Ugh, of course that’s the catch,” Wyatt huffed, pinching his brow. “And it’s not like we can just go up to her and coerce her to take it off on her own.” Spike grunted standing guard by the basement door. “If she comes in here, I’m knocking her into next Tuesday. She can’t know about the chest.” “Oh, I get first dibs at her,” Wyatt stated, clenching and unclenching his hand into a fist. “After banishing Twilight and making my son cry, she’s earned a punch to the throat. That amulet can only take so much of the blame.” “We have to do something about her,” Rarity spoke up from her seat. Her hands were soaking in little pans; filled with mineral water. “At this rate she’ll work me to the bone!” “Yeah!” Dash agreed, ice packs wrapped at the bases of her wings. “I spent the whole day trying to make it, ‘cloudy, but not too cloudy’ for her. And I swear I ended up with the same amount of clouds as there were at the start of the day.” “We can probably sedate her until Twilight gets back inside the town,” Daring suggested, idly cracking her knuckles. Trixie was a textbook example of a narcissist; everything was about her, no matter the context. Being forced to write what amounted to fanfiction affronted her authorial side. An affront she would not abide. There was no way she was going to present what Trixie had forced her to make to the world. “Sedation doesn’t sound too bad,” Wyatt admitted, relaxing his fist and resting it on his arm. “Do you know any potions or poisons from your travels that could do the trick, Double D?” “I don’t need any.” Flexing her fingers, she grinned at him. “We both know how affective I am at putting ponies to sleep.” “I hate t’rain on yer parade, Darin’, but how do ya figure ya can just go up and knock her out with a punch?” Applejack cut in, arching a brow. “I mean, ya’ll saw how fast she can throw up a barrier in her fight with Twilight.” “I know more than a few ways to take out a unicorn,” Daring assured, stepping away from the wall. “I’ll have her on the floor before you can blink. And if I can’t, have one of the riders knock her ass flat.” “I’d rather keep my rider powers as a last resort thing,” Wyatt said. “I might want to punch her in the face, but if I did it while in my armor there wouldn’t be a face left to punch.” Daring closed her eyes, humming to herself. “If we distract her, I should be able to lay her out. Keep her talking about nonsense; that mare has no situational awareness whatsoever.” “Herself is the topic I’m sure will distract her the most,” Spike grumbled, staring down from his post. “I swear her ego is the size of a mountain. It was bad enough before, now she’s basically making us worship her.” “Well, this plan’s better than nothing,” Wyatt relented, pushing away from the wall. “We might as well give it a shot. The worst thing she can do is banish us like Twilight. You girls stay here, Daring and I will take care of Trixie.” “Smart thinking, kid,” Daring said, striding up the stairs. “Limit the number of people that piss her off if the plan goes south.” Daring put her disguise back on, pushing her glasses back into place. “Looks like all those lessons with Flash Fire are paying off.” “She literally beats them into my head, so they better be,” Wyatt joked, jogging upstairs right behind her. “And hey, for the first time in my life, I’ve got abs that aren’t drawn on by a sharpie.” “You drew abs with a sharpie?” Daring snorted in mirth. “That’s not something you should be admitting to, Wyatt.” “Hey, it was for a Halloween costume when I was eight, that’s the perfect age to do something stupid like that,” he retorted, opening the front door. “What? Did little Double D never do silly things as a filly?” “Now, I never said that.” Stepping outside, Daring allowed memories to wash over her. “I did a lot of stupid stuff as a kid; we all do in one shape or another. I once let myself to caught by diamond dogs so I could watch my dad beat them up.” “I bet he chewed you out once he learned about that,” Wyatt said, chuckling at the image. He always enjoyed the stories of Daring’s life, whenever the mare felt like sharing them. Each gave just a little insight into Agito and what kind of man he was. “Oh, you better believe he chewed me out,” Daring recalled with a laugh. “He even made me dig up an armful of gems as a way to apologize to that pack.” The pair continued their conversation, making their way towards town hall. Trixie had commanded the building; turning it into her unofficial palace. Banners alternating between her face and cutie mark covered the place in an obnoxious display of self-aggrandizing. Opening the door, they found the mare in question discussing where the merits of a statue in the hall with Mayor Mare. Spotting Wyatt, Trixie shoved Mayor Mare to the side. “You there, hu-man! Trixie demands to speak to you.” Biting back the urge to correct her, Wyatt forced a smile and approached her. “Oh? Is there something the town’s new leader needs from me?” Eyeing him over, Trixie almost struck a pose. “Trixie has learned that you are seeing Twilight Sparkle.” Placing her hands on his chest, she leaned in close. “I can offer you so much more than that prude could ever dream of.” Wyatt blinked, his thoughts coming to a screeching halt. He had to stop himself from screaming, looking down into her eyes to study her expression for some kind of trick. “This is a surprising offer,” he managed to get out, his tone deceptively even. “I had gotten the impression that you looked down on me when I passed by you earlier.” “Nonsense! Trixie was merely playing a part.” Gesturing her head to the mayor, she grinned. “The lesser ponies have to be put in their place. You however, hu-man; are far above these peons.” The shock had finally worn off and an idea had formed into Wyatt’s head. Despite the urge to puke, he could keep Trixie on the line of conversation long enough for the distraction that Daring needed. He just needed to keep the act up. “Coming from a talented mare like you, that’s high praise. Pardon my curiosity, but what makes me above the peons?” “You’re a one of a kind creature; an exotic being that stands out from the crowd.” Trixie stepped around him, tracing her finger along his body. “Together, the two of us would become the premiere couple in all of Equestria! Our wedding day would be something ponies tell their children for generations!” “Planning the wedding already?” Wyatt inquired, bile rising in his throat as he silently wished Daring would get on with it. “Shouldn’t I take you out to dinner first?” “It always helps to plan ahead.” Trixie leaned in closer, curling some of his hair around her finger. “We’ll make those charaltens up north look like posers. I even wrote up a little song for the occasion~” Wyatt wanted to cringe; everything the mare was saying and doing set off alarm bells in his mind. But, he knew that Daring would only get one shot. “Looks, magic and now songwriting?” he asked, sounding impressed. “Is there any area where you don’t excel? What’s this song?” “I call it ‘Tricks Up My Sleeve!’” Trixie twirled, striking a pose. “Of course, I’ll be sure to have Yearling edit it, everything must be perfect!” “I’ll give you an edit!” Daring threw a punch, aiming at Trixie’s horn. “How about I edit that horn of yours right off?” Before Daring’s fist could make contact, Trixie grabbed her arm, tossing Daring over her shoulder. Wyatt gaped, honestly impressed by Trixie’s move. “Wow, Trixie, I wasn’t expecting you to know self defense techniques like that,” he commented, not needing to embellish his words for the first time since the start of their conversation. “That was a perfect judo throw.” “So she’s got some moves.” Daring picked herself up, fixing her glasses. “Come on then, Trix, show me what you got.” “You really don’t want to do that, Yearling,” Trixie said, cracking her knuckles. Tossing her cape off, she got into a fighting stance. “I am quite sure I could beat you in a fist fight.” “I really doubt that, Lulamoon.” Daring darted in, faking a punch to Trixie’s chest, only to catch her in the jaw with her other fist. “Case in point.” Trixie clicked her jaw, crouching down and feigning a punch to Daring’s stomach, only to sweep at the adventurer’s legs. “You’re not as good as you think, Yearling. Try to keep up, old hag.” Growling, Daring kicked forward at Trixie’s knee before pulling herself to her hooves. “You’re getting on my nerves, foal. I’m getting a little sick of seeing your face.” “That’s going to be a problem seeing as my face is all over this town,” Trixie retorted, punching at Daring’s stomach. “Now why don’t you be a good little author and go back to writing out my story?” Daring caught Trixie’s fist, elbowing the unicorn in the chest. “I’d rather drink a cup of rainbow juice than write that drivel.” Shoving Trixie backward, Daring went in for a tackle. “Take your fanfiction and stuff it up your flank.” The two mares went down into a tumble, rolling on the floor with neither one able to pin the other down. The fighting removed most of Daring’s disguise, not that she really cared at the moment. Snapping himself out of his stupor, Wyatt tried to pry Trixie off of Daring before the showmare could notice the adventurer’s identity. “I’ll knock your horn off, Lulamoon!” Daring growled, picking herself off the ground. Wyatt cursed under his breath, putting himself between Trixie and Daring to protect his friend’s secret. This of course resulted in him catching two fists to both sides of his jaw for his troubles. “That was a bad idea...”The ground rushed up to greet Wyatt, saying hello with a hard smack. He brought a hand up to his jaw, pain erupting from the area as soon as he did. “You hag!” Trixie boomed. “That’s my future trophy husband you just punched!” “You just want him because he’s Twilight’s. How pathetic of you, you obsessed bitch.” Daring spat, narrowing her eyes. “Of course that’s why I want him,” Trixie huffed, rolling her eyes. “I mean, why else would I want to be with a naked ape like that? I just want to twist the knife in Twilight’s defeat.” Daring snorted, shaking her head. “Kamisama, watashi wa anata ni tachimukau koto wa dekimasen, anata wa narushishisutikkuna meinudesu.” A devious smirk spread across her face even as the look of confusion grew on Trixie’s. “Speak a language your ruler understands!” Trixie shrieked, charging at Daring and kicking at Daring’s chin. “Maybe I’ll just erase the knowledge from your head!” “You’re not taking anything my dad taught me!” Daring shouted, dodging Trixie’s kick and letting loose a flurry of punches at the showmare’s chest and stomach. “Stop talking and fight me!” Trixie didn’t respond, bringing both of her hands down on the small of Daring’s back in a devastating hammer blow. “Shut up, you stupid nag! I’m in charge now, know your damn place!” Wyatt pulled himself to his feet, ignoring the pain in his jaw. If he was lucky, it wouldn’t turn out to be broken. He stared as the two mares went at it for a moment, neither of them willing to give up. If it kept up, both mares would be knocked out. Steeling himself, he snuck up behind Trixie and pulled his arms beneath hers to keep her from moving them and locked his wrists behind her neck. To top it off, he wrapped his hand around her horn and squeezed as hard as he possibly could. “Eh, I’ve never really been a fan of knowing my place,” Wyatt commented, nearly crying from the agony in his jaw. “Punch her out already, A.K.” “With pleasure,” Daring said, rearing back and punching Trixie in the side of the head. Her body relaxed as Trixie went limp in Wyatt’s grasp. “Lock her up the bank vault or something. Could always have the hospital keep her sedated...” “Hospital sedation and bank vault,” Wyatt concluded, bending down and hefting the unconscious mare over his shoulder. “Something tells me that the amulet would just let her be able to teleport out of the vault if we don’t pump her full of delicious meds.” “Get your jaw checked while you’re there.” Daring moved about the room, grabbing her discarded disguise. “I really didn’t mean to hit you this time.” “Kinda sure it’s broken,” Wyatt grumbled, walking over to the door and waiting for Daring to finish picking up the scattered clothes. “And you’re forgiven for the punch; I know it was meant for the klanspony here.” Daring chuckled, unable to keep herself from picturing Trixie in a white hood like from some of the more concerning stories her father had told her. It was rather fitting given how she had referred to Wyatt. She shook off the thoughts, donning her disguise once more and walking alongside the young human towards the hospital. A part of her couldn’t help but hope that this amulet business was over before it really had a chance to have started. Twilight steadied her breathing, focusing on maintaining her spells. Under Zecora’s instruction, she was standing on a lake, simultaneously casting a water walk spell and levitating a trio of water orbs. No matter how clear she made her thoughts, her anger bubbled back up to the surface. “Let your thoughts be clear as air,” Zecora said, balancing on one hoof on a walking stick next to the lake. “Do not bring your anger to bear.” “I’m trying,” Twilight replied, shifting her stance. “I just... I don’t know how to handle this kind of anger. I’ve never felt this way before, not even when Discord was messing with our heads.” “Your body has made a massive change,” Zecora noted, opening one of her eyes. “It should not be shocking that you feel strange. What you feel is not just the wrath of a dragon. Within you is the love of a mother which is greater than one can imagine.” An image of Sombra crying out for her overtook her mind; negating her concentration. Twilight let out a cry as her magic faltered, dropping her into the pool. “I believe that falling into a lake, is a sign that we should take a break,” Zecora stated, hopping off her walking stick and leaning down to offer Twilight a hand out of the pond. “Thanks.” Twilight took Zecora’s hand, pulling herself out of the water. Never in her life had she ever seen Spike struggle with himself like this. In fact, the only time he ever had was his greed episode on his birthday. “I don’t, Zecora. I just... don’t really know myself as well as I thought I did.” “Dear Twilight, everyone from time to time finds themself lost in the maze of the mind,” Zecora replied with a chuckle, grabbing her walking stick. “But with patience, an exit is something you may find.” “You’re right, you’re right.” Twilight cast a small spell to dry her clothes. “You know, Zecora, I’ve been thinking of heading to the old castle. There might be some leftover spell books or artifacts.” “Do not be reckless in your use of artifacts, they may take their toll and not leave you intact,” Zecora warned, leading Twilight back to her hut. “But if it is new knowledge that you require, the castle may have what you desire.” “I’ll do whatever I have to, Zecora. I need to protect my family.” Focusing her gaze at Zecora’s back, Twilight sighed. “Wyatt and Spike are always putting themselves in danger. For once, I want to be the one that protects them.” “That is, indeed, a noble cause,” Zecora started, moving branches out of their way with her walking stick. “But an easy path should give one pause.” “I know, I know. I need to get a handle on this. I don’t want to scare Sombra like that again.” “Your path is clear, find yourself and you will know the way to hold onto what is dear,” Zecora reasoned, glancing back at Twilight with a smile. Nodding, Twilight took in a few cleansing breaths and thought on what she and Zecora had been discussing. Zecora made it all sound so simple. Like it was just a matter of sitting down and magically having an epiphany about how to handle her newfound dragon qualities. She was left to digest the lesson the entire way back to the hut, her mind restless as she tried to rest. Over an hour passed before Twilight decided she would take a chance at the old castle. It had housed something important for her once, it might have something again. She knew it was a longshot, but desperation made her willing to take the risk. She explained what she was doing to Zecora and the zebra made no attempt to stop her. Stepping into the empty entry hall, Twilight took a moment to take in her surroundings. The castle hadn’t change much since she’d last been inside it; perhaps a few new fallen bricks. She allowed herself a minute to reminisce before returning to her search. Taking a moment to consider a plan of attack, she decided to head up the staircase and start there. Turning down the hallway, she quickly found the castle’s library. The room was fairly intact compared to the rest of the castle, even the stained glass windows depicting the sun and moon remained unbroken. Levitating a multitude of books off their shelves, Twilight poured herself into each one. Perhaps it was the greed for knowledge, or just her love of reading; but for a few moments she forgot all about her inner conflict. Her eyes widened, pulling her muzzle out of one of the books. “Of course!” She beamed, looking between all of the old tomes. “I can calm myself down by healthily feeding my draconic greed. I’ve been trying so hard to fight against my new dragon instincts, that I didn’t ever think to understand them!” Closing her current book, she touched one of her fangs. “I wonder what Bahamut would think of me?” She recalled the tales that Smaug had given her of the first Dragonlord, his humble beginnings to his rise to power. The point that stuck out to her the most was the description the old shaman had given the legendary figure. It wasn’t brains, brawn, or even sheer size that had helped him achieve his goal. No, it was an indomitable will that had helped Bahamut. With renewed resolve, Twilight returned to her books making sure to gleam everything she could learn. Her unread pile dwindled and her read pile skyrocketed. While there were new spells contained within some of the tomes, none of them could compare to altering the age of a target. No, she needed something big, something showy. She tested a chair before carefully taking a seat and considered her options. Mixing some of the spells together could prove to be helpful. Without thinking, she leaned backwards, tilting the chair up as she continued to think. The floor beneath her tilted backwards, sending her tumbling down an opening in the wall behind her. A scream pierced the air as Twilight slid backwards down the shaft, finally depositing her in a heap. Groaning, she hauled herself to her feet and found herself in a dark chamber. Luckily, she found a sconce with a torch next to her and lit it with a quick puff of her fire breath. With the help of the torch, she found out that the chamber was circular, with a pedestal holding a handful of items. Approaching the pedestal, she found that the items were: a book, a strange black medallion in the shape of a hand, and five stones colored black, red, green, blue and yellow respectively. “What is all of this?” Levitating the book in her magic, she began to read. A few lines were all she needed to identify the author. “This was Clover the Clever’s!” She was unable to contain her excitement, bouncing in place like an excited filly. “Thank goodness Clover’s handwriting was so much better than Starswirl’s.” A quick look around the room alerted her to a few more torch sconces. Walking around the room, she lit them up bathing the room in light. Setting her original torch back in its place, she took a spot under it to read through the book. It has been at least a year since the Pillars disappeared, leaving myself to oversee the latter half of the princess’s studies. It burdens my heart, but I have been keeping Starswirl’s last assignment a secret from them. Considering its absence from his workshop, I can only assume he took the first belt with him. Using what notes he did leave, I was able to fashion a second, though I myself lack the necessary magical potential to wield it. For now, it shall remain here; safe from prying eyes. I fear my mind is slipping, repeated exposure to the effects of the memory stone has eroded my mind. It is highly possible I will lose the knowledge of this hideaway before I can pass on the knowledge. Should that come to pass, I can only hope Faust will see to its rediscovery. To whoever finds this journal, if you should lack the potential as I did; I implore you to seek out somepony that can properly wear my creation. Kuuga and Celestia’s decision to hide the Gurongi leader’s belt leaves a nagging fear that Equestria may come under threat once more. For the future of Equestria. Twilight closed the book, walking back to the pedestal and picking up the medallion. She turned it over in her grasp, finding two holes that appeared to be for holding a belt. “This has to be what he meant,” she muttered to herself. Gulping, she continued to turn it over. “If one of the most famous wizards in history couldn’t make this work, do I have any hope of doing it?” Gathering up the materials, Twilight teleported back to the floor above. Once she was reoriented, she dashed out of the castle and back towards Zecora’s hut, desperate to share her findings.