//------------------------------// // The Broken Seal // Story: Living Darkness // by vildtiger //------------------------------// Note: part 1 and made from the episode "The Crystal Empire" This happens eight days after the last chapter. Far up north, at the edge of Equestria, a team of royal guard ponies, two of them being captains are standing on a snow-covered hill, watching a city out of crystals there wasn’t there a few days ago. The earth pony captain turns to the century younger unicorn. “Barely has come back from the honeymoon and already dealing with another invasion.” He remarks dryly. Shining Armor smiles weakly to the other captain with the name of Quick Lance. He looks like an ordinary earth pony in size but this golden brown pony has mastered his earth pony magic and can do a lot of damage when he wishes. “I don’t think this is an invasion like with the Changelings.” He points out, reminding the one hundred and fifteen years old captain. “The princesses said that there once was a kingdom here.” Nodding down to the barely visible kingdom thanks to this heavy snowstorm. “And that must be the kingdom, finally returned after whatever spell there made it disappear in the first place.” Quick Lance hums of what Shining Armor has said, whatever it’s an invasion or part of their own country returned, he would like to know what they are dealing with in details. “Move out!” He commands the four royal ponies accompanying them, the youngest of them, an orange pegasus eyes the one he has been commanded to escort and Princess Cadence follows the guards down towards the city. Quick Lance did not really fancy bringing the princess with them, but of two reasons he let her. First; she is a princess which means he is obliged to obey her and second; this newly arrived kingdom was once powered by magic very similar to her special talent. The group’s movements towards the newly arrived kingdom are slow thanks to the heavy snowstorm and deep snow, Shining Armor stops when he suddenly hears an ominous screech in the storm. “We’re not alone.” and that is the quote that the guards ready their weapons. Several painful and nerve-wrecking moments, they spot the shape of the owner of the screeching but this huge creature never gets in close enough so they can see what it is. It soon proves that the creature is least of their problems. Quick Lance turns around when he hears somepony laugh and is ready for anything when a dark grey unicorn without a cutie mark stands not far from them, not at all seems bothered by the raging storm. “The seal has been broken, the ancient darkness is free once again.” The unicorn says, having a rather creepy smirk on her face. She walks towards the group of guard ponies. “We will cover the land in snow, infect hatred in every heart, and you:” her’s blood red eyes lands on Cadence “Chosen by Harmony will not stop us.” A shield spell surrounds this creepy pony, but she does not stop moving towards them. When passing through the shield, it reveals its true form as a living mass of darkness in form of a pony with white glowing eyes. Quick Lance recovers first from the startle that Shining Armor’s shield spell had no effect and instead tries to use brute force against this thing. He kicks it right in the chest, enough to snap an oak tree in half and this shadow pony did get thrown away, but when it gets up again, it reveals that even with a broken neck, it does not die. Its face twists unnaturally with its bent neck. “You cannot stop us.” and turns its neck back to normal. Black crystals appear around the area and out from them, more shadow ponies appear, one is a pegasus and another is earth pony this one having a sort of shadowy necklace and mouth unnatural big and filled with sharp teeth. This predatory earth pony charges at the group, not at all faced by the spears or magic hitting it. Only flinching when Cadence fires at it. Seeing that, Quick Lance commands the others. “Protect the princess!” Realizing that only her magic has any effect on these creatures. When the monster earth pony charges again, it has a whole group of shadow ponies at its side, enough that the princess does not have the chance to fire at them all. Quick Lance decides to at least give her space and kicks the monster earth pony as the last one did have a small effect. He realizes too late that the shadow pony he kicked before had been faking it for this time its comrade did not budge when he kicked it with all his might. He tries to get away but the shadow pony traps him by biting him over the head, its darkness seeping into his very being and there is nothing he can do to stop it. “Quick Lance!” Shining Armor calls and shoots a magical being at the shadow pony biting the other captain’s head, but it doesn’t even seem to notice him. The monster shadow pony disappears into Quick Lance and the earth pony stand frozen for a few seconds, then just as Shining Armor is about to ask if he’s alright. Quick Lance lifts his head, revealing that he is NOT alright. His golden brown pelt has lost part of its color and his eyes have the same poison green aura coming as that griffin had under the invasion. “They can do possession..!” Shining Armor gasps in horror and decides to tell the other guards before they all end up like Quick Lance. “Don’t let them touch you! They—“ he never finishes his words for the possessed Quick Lance charged into him, throwing both of them to the snow-filled ground. Shining Armor shoots a magical beam at the possessed captain and at least it does has an effect, on Quick Lance, not on the monster possessing him. “Get out from him!” He shouts, refusing to let this thing keep his mentor and friend under its control. “He belongs to us.” Shining Armor eyes snap to another shadow pony, the same one there had the form of a unicorn mare not long ago. The unicorn smirks down to him. “You cannot stop us.” The possessed Quick Lance stomps onto his shoulder, a loud crack followed by the agony is enough to say why the shadow ponies chose to possess this earth pony. Shining Armor screams from the pain, he can fight through it sure but the shadow ponies must have known that a unicorn cannot do magic that well when under mental stress such as pain. He has no chance in stopping Quick Lance to steer for another attack, this time the hooves are aimed at his chest and Shining Armor knows that it does not matter if he has armor on; Quick Lance will kill him. “Shining!” Cadence cries, calling out both her own magic but also the magic residing inside the gold necklace around her neck. “Get off him!” and shoots her Love powered beam at the possessed captain, it does throw Quick Lance off and ignoring the other guards warning not to leave their protective circle. She runs over to her beloved, horrified to see him in such a state. Cadence hugs him, more than ever wishing she knows how to do healing spells but the only healing she can do is for the mind, which isn’t much help to Shining Armor’s broken shoulder. Then, to both surprise, Shining Armor’s silver necklace starts to shine. He stares at it for a few seconds, then up to his horn which now has a turquoise magical aura instead of his usual magenta, it's a struggle because of the agony going through his shoulder but Shining Armor succeeds in activating another shield, this time it has an effect on the shadow ponies. They get thrown away from the area and the one possessing Quick Lance gets forced out. The earth pony captain drops to the ground but slowly gets back up. His now again grass green eyes filled with regret meet Shining Armor’s, but the unicorn captain does not blame his co-worker for his injury. “It wasn’t your fault.” He wheezes through the pain. Quick Lance still feels horrible as he did almost kill Shining Armor. He… it used his small envy towards Shining Armor from raising in ranks so quickly- made it so bad that he wanted to kill this young stallion. Realizing that, Quick Lance feels like a horrible pony but his pride keeps him from saying it. He does not need a speech of forgiveness, especially not from who is still a colt at heart. Shaking his feelings aside. “We need to warn the princesses about these shadow ponies.” Forcing himself up on his hooves, “you go.” Shining Armor tells him, he gives his beloved a thankful smile when she uses her magic to support his weight from his broken shoulder. He turns to the other guards, eyes now deadly serious. “I and Cadence need to be sure this kingdom won’t fall into their shadowy hooves.” “I’ll go with them.” The orange pegasus volunteer, but Shining Armor has seen first-hoof that is a horrible idea. “No Flash Sentry, you saw what happened when Quick Lance tried to fend them off. Only I and Cadence can do this.” The young pegasus guard lowers his head but does not argue. Quick Lance however, “You two cannot do this alone!” He stomps his hoof into the snow. “You cannot fight with a broken shoulder and— no offense princess but you have no fighting experience.” “None taken.” Cadence replies honestly, for Quick Lance speaks the truth. Eyeing her beloved. “We need help.” They can't do this alone, that is certain. Shining armor nods, eyeing his still glowing necklace for a moment. “Those with an Element of Harmony are immune against the shadow ponies.” He turns to his co-workers. “Go, inform the princesses.” Quick Lance commands the soldiers to leave, he sends the pair one look. “Good luck.” and leaves the area as well. Shining Armor and Cadence exchange a look with one another before both head towards the kingdom they can just barely see in the heavy snowfall. *Next day, Ponyville* Every one of Twilight friends, let it be turned human or pony, are all watching rather calmly the purple unicorn completely freaks out when she got a letter from Princess Celestia that she will be put on a test. Twilight gathers everything and poor Spike is in the crossfire as she levitated, quills, books upon books— some of them rather large at him, she even gives him two huge stacks of flashcards, telling him to quiz her on everything she has ever learned, but looking at the two big stacks, Twilight can clearly see. "That isn't going to be enough cards." And runs over to find more. Rolling his eyes at Twilight freakout, Spike puts down the flashcard stacks, telling her hard and a bit annoyed over how much she is panicking over this. "Twilight, calm down. It's just a test." "Just a test?" Twilight repeats, running over and shouts completely out of it that he does not see how important this is. "Just a test!? Princess Celestia wants to give me some kind of exam, and you're trying to tell me to calm down because it's just a test?!" Before answering, Spike does the smart choice in seeking cover behind Solder and borrows the pegasus's helmet. "Uh... yes?" He replies and as expected, Twilight's magic flares and in a scream of frustration, the whole library gets flung to the air for a moment before landing back onto its place. Everyone inside the library got thrown around, Soldier and Spike, both been in the magic's blast radios are covered in magical residue. And that's is where Spike is happy he sought cover and returns the helmet to the startled but okay Soldier. Getting back on her hooves, Applejack remarks to the others. "I'd say she's handling things pretty well, all things consider." Which the others wholehearted agree, they all know how Twilight can be when she gets stressed out when it comes to pleasing the princess. So instead of arguing and end up like Spike, they simply help her pack her things and send her off. While Twilight is off doing her test, Miss Pauling informs the mercenaries that according to the last letters they got from those in the human world, Marasmus and Ignis should have that summoning spell ready at any moment. "We don't know what will happen, so it will be best we stick together and don't do anything... crazy." The last she muses as the mercenaries are prone to do crazy things and this world is no better. The mercenaries nod, while Soldier lifts his hoof. "Question Miss Pauling." Miss Pauling turns to him and can only hope he has something worthwhile to say. "Yes, Soldier." "Candy hair would like to make a goodbye party before we leave." Miss Pauling raises a brow, not at the whole party thing, that is this Pinkie whole shtick, what does is that Soldier sounds like he would like this party. "Maybe, I don't know. The spell could happen at any moment." She admits. Soldier frowns lightly behind his helmet. "Then I better tell Derpy and Doc not to make too many American muffins." Medic blinks from Soldier's words. "I don't know how to make muffins." Turning to Pinkie when she explains him giggling. "Not you silly, Derpy friend Time-Turner is a doctor too." Oh, that does make sense, but Medic doesn’t remember meeting a doctor at the hospital with the name of Time-Turner. Must be another kind of doctor. "I see, well perhaps you should inform them about our soon departure." He tells Soldier, the olive green pegasus salutes and flies off. "We will make the party as soon Twilight returns." Applejack tells the turned humans, her smile does drop and admits somber to them. "I'm going to miss you guys." "Same here, it's been strange but fun too." Engineer says chuckling and do hope there is a way for them to return. If not, then he is going to build a way. "Let's try not get strangers." "Agree" Rarity says, stepping over to the turned humans. "You are always welcome here, but if you could; do kindly give us a warning." Heavy chuckles at that. "We can't promise." He says, Rarity shrugs, she guess she can adept for a sudden arrival on their part. Not long after, Soldier with Derpy close behind approaches the group, suggesting mostly to Pinkie that since she already has decorated, they can use her house for this goodbye party. "I have already made some muffins." She says and guides them back to her house, asking. "Where's Twilight?" "On a test." Rainbow Dash replies, Derpy nods and suggests that the unicorn can join when she is done with it. At her house, Derpy takes the plate of her muffins and offers them to the newly arrived crowd, not long after, Time-Turner arrives back from his lap, having a pair of two colored glasses on his head. "What's that you have there Doc?" She asks as he does prefer being called that. "Right now it's just bogus." Time-Turner replies, he takes one of the muffins Derpy offers him and after a bite explains her and anyone interested. "I am trying to create spectacles there allow me to see interdimensional particles of magic but all I got out from it is a pair of fancy, but useless glasses." "Looks just like a pair of 3-D glasses to me." Scout remarks and has NO idea what this brown earth pony was trying to make out from those glasses, looking around, it seems only the team's eggheads did. Ah, so this Time-turner is that kind of doctor. Medic is intrigued but this kind of science is more Engineer's field. And so right he is when Engineer asks him. "Have you tried caliber the superluminal vivacity going over the lens?" "Um, no actually." The Doctor replies and feels a bit silly he didn't think of that, he borrows a few tools from Engineer, does as this fellow scientist suggested and when putting on the glasses again, he cheers. "Great whickering stallions! It worked!" Scanning the whole room to see the particles surrounding them. When looking at the others, he notices that the particles surrounding them are... well, a bit strange. "Huh, that's odd. You- except the miss over there, seems to be attracting a special form of particles." "May I see?" Engineer asks and Time-Turner gives him the 3-D looking glasses, he blinks of what he is seeing. "Well I be, looks like Doc here just created a pair of glasses there can see the magic of this world. That includes the magic from the Elements." For each of these particles surrounding them has faintly the same color as their element. This is gosh darn fascinating, and a pair he would very much like. Can be useful. "Would you mind show me how you made these?" He asks this pony of his kind of science. "Of course." Time-turner nods and trots off with Engineer close behind, much to the amusement of the others as Engineer has the face of a child in a candy store. Scout rolls his eyes though and with Rainbow Dash muttering. "Eggheads." both reclaim another muffin. *** A few hours later, Twilight returns but the test is far from over it seems. "We are going to the Crystal Empire!" She declares to everyone and must apologize to Derpy and the turned humans that they just don't have time for the party. "This is much more grave and important than a goodbye party. Pack some warm clothing, it's cold where we are going." She explains to them and from what the guard told Celestia what her brother requested, Twilight hands her friends their Element necklaces. Leaves and moments later returns from the library with the turned humans silver colored necklaces. "I know it's much to ask, especially this close to your departure, but... Celestia suggested it was best you came along." She tells them, hoping they can look past it and aid her and her friends in this mission. "I'm sorry but this isn't—" Miss Pauling tries to deny this request of the mercenaries service, but again she is reminded that she really isn't their boss's assistant in this world when Soldier rather rudely interrupts her, saying loudly. "We will fight any maggot getting in your way!" and the others agree, with Heavy saying calmly. "We will follow you." Twilight smiles thankfully and leaves along with her friends to get warmer clothing that can keep them warmer in something way worse than this gentle winter currently surrounding them. Livid by this disobedience from the mercenaries, Miss Pauling brings them outside from Derpy's house and lectures them with the as loud voice she dares in this town. "What did I say not doing anything crazy? You aren't getting paid to help these ponies!" "It doesn't matter, they need our aid." Demo argues, not only are these mares and dragon their partners and thus part of the team but they are their friends and in his eye; friends help one another. "The Administrator can fire me if she does not like it." "Well, I would like my other soul back, but I don't want to leave them to fight on their own." Engineer muses while putting his own magic seeing goggles into his toolbox around his neck. Heavy nods in agreement, he is the only one of all the mercenaries there did not need warm clothing thanks to his now thicker coat, still needs a hat though. "They are strong, but we are stronger; we know war, they do not." and he will prefer that they did the fighting while the mares fix the problem a more diplomatic manner. Wouldn't surprise her if these guys won't return to the war Helen has set up when they return, they have been in this world for too long, that's for sure. Those mares have shown them how to make peace instead of causing conflict. She sighs in defeat. "Alright, fine. Go if you must..." and that they do, even Scout leaves, although he does look back after a moment of hesitating, he follows the others. *North of Equestria’s borders* After a whole day of travel, the train finally stops at the edge of Equestria, as Twilight warned the winter here is nasty and freezing cold. Everyone, dressed up in warm clothing leave the train and out to the blizzard, the only one there doesn’t look bothered by this freezing cold is Heavy. Sniper snaps his head upward when he hears an ominous roaring sound. "Something's out there." He muses and calmly yet tensely pulls out his bow and ready an arrow. The mares send him a worried look for his warning, then out to the roaring blizzard when a familiar voice, especially for Twilight calls her name. Out from the storm, Shining Armor slowly appears. He is covered in a long scarf to protect him against the freezing snow and a pair of goggles to protect his eyes. He removes the goggles and part of the scarf, allowing Twilight and her friends see his weary but beaming face. "Twily! You made it!" He and his younger sister engulfed each other into a warm hug, but the pain in his right shoulder forces him to make it short. “Brother, what’s wrong?” Twilight asks worried from the flinch Shining Armor did when they hugged. With a sigh, Shining Armor removes part of the winter scarf, revealing a large, nasty bruise and the area looks very wrong. “We ran into some trouble when we tried to reclaim the empire.” The light grey unicorn steps forward, explaining simply. “I’m a doctor.” So Shining Armor lets this doctor pony look at his wound, the other unicorn frowns. “Broken, part of the bones has been shattered. I’m surprised you could walk on it.” Shining Armor does not answer the doctor’s remark nor the horrified look on his sister’s face. A healing spell from the doctor and the pain is gone. Shining Armor tries out his leg and when only feeling a slight ache from having dealt with a broken limp for two days, he gives the doctor pony a thankful nod. Another roar from the distance reminds him they are not safe here. "We'd better get moving. There are things out here we really don't want to run into after dark." He explains and takes the lead, glad that the trip back will go faster now he can stand properly on his right leg. Fluttershy gulps, eyeing her friends once before asking the older unicorn in a scared whisper. "What kind of things?" Shining Armor eyes the group, glad to see they all have the Elements, at least then they can protect themselves if they get attacked. "Let's just say that the old filly stories... aren't that fictional as I thought." and he starts leading them through the storming blizzard, warning them to keep an eye out. "Ever since we reclaimed the kingdom, something keeps trying to get in!" He tells them through the roar of the blizzard, "We think it's the unicorn king who originally cursed the place!" "But Princess Celestia said I was being sent here to find a way to protect the Empire!" Twilight calls back through the howling wind and sure hope it's just her imagination that she get the sense it is getting colder. Shining Armor eyes her, calling back. "We sure can use all the help we can get! King Sombra is not all of our problems!" He has to stop for a moment when he almost walked into one of the many statues decorating this large field. He walks around it. “This way!” The others follow, but they all stop when Pyro remarks. “Hey, it looks like me and Spike.” Making all look up to the stature made out of black crystals, it does look like their two dragons, except this dragon is bigger and spikes differently. Around this dragon statue feet are several what look to be ponies, they seem to be fighting alongside this dragon which is curious as ponies are too afraid to go near any dragon. Before any of them can ask who decided to put such a strange art piece out here, Shining Armor reminds them it is not safe to stay in this area. So they move on. A howl, louder and clear sign whatever has been hiding in the storm has gotten close. Out from the corner of her eye, Twilight spots something but when she and the others turn, it has disappeared back into the storm. Her brother gasps and tells them hard. "We have to get to the Crystal Empire! Now!" Another howl, and this time, the creature shows itself. Out from the hail, a horse-like creature, ghostly in appearance and eyes cold as ice appears. Twilight freezes up seeing this creature, something she only thought was part of stories. "I-It can't be!" She cries seeing a live Windigo right before her eyes. The spirit of this winter of hatred howls and the storm gets worse, ice starts to appear on their pelts and wings. Sniper fires one of his arrows at the creature, but the arrow freezes and drops before it ever hits the target. "Run!" Shining Armor commands them and they all take the run for it. He does stop and with his own Element necklace shining, he fires a beam at the Windigo there screams in pain from getting hit by the very thing there caused their banishment. With the ice creature down for the moment, Shining Amor follows the others but the danger is not over yet. Out from the dark crystals decorating this field, the Shadow Ponies along with the King of Darkness reappear. The King is still not able to take his solid form but still a great threat. Shining Armor fires another beam powered by love at the King of Darkness but the creature dodges it and forms itself into a mass of shadows, chasing them. Running past another dragon stature Shining Armor readies himself for another attack but to his horror, the light from his necklace fades and he is forced to retreat now that he no longer has the weapon to fight. Just barely, they all get through the barrier, something the Windigoes and the shadow ponies yet cannot breach. "This way." Shining Armor tells the others and leads them over to a castle made out of crystals. Inside and sitting on the throne is Cadence, like when he left her, she is exhausted but still keeps her magic going, Shining Armor is happy that the Element of Love is giving her some aid on this task but it's only a matter of time before she collapses from lack of sleep and food. But at least Cadence does have the energy to greet his sister like they always do: with that little silly dance. "One of these days we need to get together when the fate of Equestria isn't hanging in the balance." Cadence remarks weary from constantly using her magic. Something Twilight notices right away. "Are you okay?" Shining Armor thinks it's best to explain this now. "Cadence has been able to use her magic and our Element of Love to spread love and light. That seems to be what is protecting this kingdom. But she hasn't slept, barely eats. I want to help her, but only the Elements magic has any effects on King Sombra and the Windigoes and it is powered by Cadence." and from how he no longer can use it, it is clear that Cadence is reaching the limit. The barrier can break any moment. Of course, Cadence tries to ensure she is fine, but she isn't fooling anyone, least him. "You’re not fine.” He tells her before turning to his sister and friends. “She can't go on like this forever, and if her magic were to fade... Well, you saw what's out there waiting for that to happen." "That's why we're here." Twilight ensures him, turning to her friends when Applejack corrects her. "Why we're all here." The others hum in agreement. Turning back to her brother, she did notice in his small speech that he mentioned he could use his twin Element of Love as a weapon. "Shining Armor, you said you were using your side of the Element of Love as a weapon against Sombra?" He nods. "Could you teach us how you did it?" That he can, figures they are going to need all the firepower they can get "Those of us carrying the silver necklace can draw power from our partner— what I understand, those having the gold necklace holds the Element in itself. Alright, find your partner." they do "Twilight, you and your friends need to activate your element on your partners, when the necklace starts to glow, the connection is set and you-" He eyes those with the silver necklace. "-should be able to fight Sombra, just be careful not to overuse it.” He eyes his wife worried. “It’s only so much magic our partners have." They nod and Twilight and her friends activate their elements. The brown one-eyed unicorn and the royal blue bug-pony necklace starts to shine. But a yelp from the others sign that something is wrong. Confused that she cannot form this connection her brother spoke about and worried that it seems to cause Medic pain, she stops and asks him. "What's wrong?" Medic caress his chest with a pained frown from that experience, he felt Twilight's magic tried to force his soul to mend with his other and did for a split second see through RED Medic's eyes of him doing a sort of experiment on some poor bastard, not that it matter much. What did is he and the others- minus Spy and Demo, cannot use their necklace as a weapon. "We need a complete soul." He whispers to Twilight. Her eyes wide, but shows she understands. She turns to her brother. "Only Demo and Spy will be able at the moment. The others are dealing with a sort of blocking curse." Something is a bit fishy about that explanation but he is sure Twilly has her reasons, so pushing that aside, Shining Armor asks the two who succeed to activate their necklace. "What Element do you carry?" "I and Demo carry Honesty." Applejack answers. "Guidance is the element I and Spy carry inside." Zecora reply smiling up to the changeling. "Well, I am unsure if those two Elements will be much use against Sombra." Shining Armor muses and suggests the group. "But there is something else I would ask of you. With Cadence putting all her strength into keeping her spell going, and me taking some of the pressure off by fighting Sombra. We haven't been able to gather much information from the Crystal Ponies." Hearing that even the ponies here are out of crystal, Rarity burst of ecstatic, so much she is pulling her own mane, making a few strands of hair crack off from the Windigo ice. "There are Crystal Ponies?!" A tap on her shoulder, followed by Engineer's voice. "Hold your horses there Rarity." She laughs embarrassed by her own distraction and tells the eyebrow raised Shining Armor. "Please continue." Pushing aside that one being excited over something not important at the moment, Shining Armor explains. "We have to believe one of them knows how we can protect the Empire without having to use Cadence's or the Element of Love's magic." After a moment of thoughts, Twilight exclaims excitedly. " A research paper!" Much to her brother's confusions and something she is more than happy to explain. "That must be part of my test– to gather information from the Crystal Ponies and deliver it to you! This is gonna be great! I love research papers!" "Yeah, who doesn't?" Rainbow Dash asks Pinkie sarcastically, of course, said pink pony took it literally and suggests pretty much everypony she thinks will like it. She finishes off by suggesting Medic who has both an annoyed and 'it's Pinkie for you' kind of look. Twilight nudges her brother, ensuring him not to worry. "Don't worry, big brother. I am really good at this sort of thing." Shining Armor nods in a sign he trusts her on this one.