Sins of the Ancients

by Tundara

Chapter Twelve: A Reckoning

Sins of the Ancients

Chapter Twelve: A Reckoning

"Oh my, this is where your world dreams?" The spirit beside Luna laughed and spun, the motion swirling the bubbles of dreamers in a whimsical dance. "This is so much nicer than the wanderers who managed to find their way into the Winterlands. Dreams here are so much more magical."

"I thought you had been to Equestria before," Luna smiled as she slid through the dreams ahead of the spirit.

"Nope, when I was alive I never made it to Equestria."

A frown pulling at her face Luna looked back to the spirit asking, "But, then when did you learn..."

"Can't tell you that, it could change things." The spirit waggled a finger with a tut-tut noise.

Sighing in frustration Luna rolled over and with a flap of her wings sped ahead through the dreams. They were still leagues away from the dreams of Canterlot, and while in relative terms it wouldn't take them long to reach where Luna slept, they still had to cross the distance.

Laughing like she was a little girl again the spirit took off after Luna, ducking and swishing her way through the cascading bubbles. Despite the direness of the events that had brought them together, and what may have been waiting in Equestria, Luna couldn't help but give a short laugh as the spirit raced through the dreams. There were not nearly as many as there had been when she had left to uncover the origins of the spirit that plagued Ponyville indicating that it was daytime in Equestria. As the two chased each other more and more of the bubbles vanished, popping like they were made from soap, as the dreamers woke up never aware of the Princess and spirit.

"You're talking differently now," Luna noted as the two slowed down, both smiling wide.

"Yes, your Dreamworld has Time, something the Winterlands don't possess on my world. I can actually think linearly again. Oh, this is wonderful!" the spirit ran her fingers through her mouse brown hair and flicked the long sleeves of her robes. "Wow, it feels so odd to remember being in the Winterlands. It's like everything happened at once, but in a jumble, and over a thousand years. Actually, I think I interacted with people from over a thousand year period. Or maybe it was two thousand, or ten, I don't know. There were so many who would wander into the Winterlands seeking answers. And then they'd be a spirit themselves. But they were always taken to the Summerlands. They tried so hard to stay linear, and the others can't abide that. Or they missed life too much. Or a million other reasons to move on."

"What purpose does the Winterlands serve? I've been trying to understand why there is such a bleak featureless emptiness. The Dreamworld here makes sense at least," Luna said flaring her wings to slow herself as she came to rest atop the glistening silver dream of a middle-aged stallion in Manehatten.

Chuckling the spirit slowed herself coming to a hover beside Luna.

"That's the thing, it's purpose is to be a barrier between the waking world and the realms of the dead gods."

"Dead gods?"

"Yes," the spirit draw her legs underneath her so she was floating cross legged. Resting her chin on a weave of her fingers she continued. "Long story, rather boring, pre-Ancient history. The last gods died when the Ancients committed the Sins."

"What did these Ancients do?"

"They became too powerful and poked things that shouldn't be poked. They opened the Doors and... and... things got bad." The spirit looked away a dour look darkening her fair features. "The Winterlands weren't always like they are now. They once were filled with gleaming pathways, cities built of golden light or slithering shadows, and eldritch forests that echoed the world of mortals and showed the ways to other worlds, or to the after-lives promised by the gods. Now they are gone, destroyed by the Sins, and in their place is a nothingness roamed by the wraiths, Ancients chained down by their own sins, cursed so that they can't enter the Summerlands."

"I never saw the Winterlands like they were meant to be. There is a disconnect, a distinct 'when' that can't be crossed. Even the Summerlands can't be used to cross over into how things were before. So much has been lost."

The gloomy look and sullen weight in the spirits voice lifted as she stretched extending a hand towards Luna.

"But if everything goes as it should, then there is a chance to fix everything."

Taking the offered hand Luna asked, "And if it doesn't?"

"Then things will continue as they have." The spirit shuddered before looking over the few remaining dreams. "But right now events are proceeding as planned, so there is hope."

Shaking her head Luna held her tongue before she asked what the spirit meant. She knew that there was more going on then she could see, and it both frustrated and worried her. But Twilight had vouched for the spirit and Luna had no one else she could trust that could maybe help her remove the other spirit, the one casting a black shadow over Ponyville. If it wasn't stopped Luna felt certain that Equestria was doomed.

"Can you see the future here?"

Sliding through a dense group of night-shift workers from Trottingham the spirit shook her head. "I could, but I don't think you would approve of the method."

"By stealing a mortal's life force, you mean?" Luna closely watched the spirits face for any sign of emotion; surprise, fear, regret or otherwise.

Instead the spirit just laughed as she continued to follow Luna.

"That would be the most efficient and safest method for me, yes. Though I could use some of my own essence as well. But the biggest problem with seeing the future in such a way is that your gazing on possibilities. This place isn't timeless like the Winterlands, everything is in flux. Though it does let you plan and make corrections." The spirits mood changed in a flash as she continued, her voice becoming slow and heavy with weariness. "Back home I have to say what is needed for events to happen as they already have, not what people want to hear," the spirit paused to wipe away a tear, "Or what they would want to know to prevent terrible things from happening."

"What happened, if you don't mind my asking," Luna slowed down to stride beside her companion.

"I wasn't told, and couldn't tell, about the deaths of my family. They were murdered when I was young by people plotting a war. The plotters were actually trying to kill Twilight, though they didn't know it was her at the time. My parents and brothers were caught in the attack. Twilight I managed to forgive, but..."

The spirits voice trailed off as her mouth clamped shut.

"But?"

"Nothing. We have a job to do. The Fifth doesn't belong in Equestria and he could ruin everything. I am too close now to see everything brought down by a petulant child who refused to cross over because he was tortured and murdered by his father."

Luna's eyes widened, not from the disturbing nature of what the spirit had said, but rather how she said it. Gone was the whimsical laughter of minutes before, in its place a seething anger. Fire burned behind the spirits eyes and even the long tongue of her belts and hair began to lift like a fine mist. Her posture straightened and step quickened so that Luna had to break into a trot to keep pace.

"How much farther until you can cross back into the waking world?"

"Not far," Luna said looking at the few dream bubbles around them, all from Neighshire to Canterlot's north.

"Good. I will meet you in Ponyville."

Before Luna could protest the spirit faded away, her essence falling like sand before vanishing in a hazy smoke. Biting her lower lip Luna flapped her wings speeding towards the cluster of Canterlot's dreamers.

"You leave my sister alone!" Rarity shrieked pawing at the ground.

"I will if you gi-"

"C-c-combo is back, and stronger than before!" Pinkie shouted as her ear flopped madly.

"Pinkie, now is not the time!" Rarity and Jasmine both yelled together shooting the pink pony furious glares.

For her part the possessed Sweetie Belle just sighed while Celestia lowered her horn.

"Leave the filly this instant," the Princess said in a calm voice that echoed with millennia of strength.

"Or what? I already bested your sister. What do you think you'll do?"

In response Celestia sent a wide beam of golden light from her horn striking Sweetie Belle on the chest. The small white filly was lifted into the air and hurdled against the side of the library as Rarity called her sister's name. The light seeped around the filly's limbs forming a golden shell. Celestia gave a slightly smug smile as she picked up the knife and crushed it into a small harmless lump. Sweetie Belle didn't struggle against the magic holding her, instead the possessed filly began to laugh.

"I didn't need the knife to kill the filly. That was simply for show. You've changed nothing. Unless Rarity gives herself over to me willingly, I will kill her sister. And just for your little display I will only give her thirty seconds to decide."

"Now, see here you little-"

"Twenty five."

"Rarity, you can't give yourse-"

"Twenty."

"Quiet, Jasmine, this is my sister and-"

"The doozy is getting stronger!"

"Ten."

"Every pony, please!"

"Five!"

"YES!" Rarity shrieked silencing Jasmine, Sweetie, Pinkie, who had fallen to the ground from the violence of her jittering tail. "Yes, I accept. You can do whatever it is you want to me, just please, leave my sister alone."

Jasmine leapt beside Rarity, placing a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "You can't. We have no idea what the spirit wants."

Rarity shot the other unicorn a withering glare. "Why don't you do what-ever it was you did before then?"

Snapping her mouth shut Jasmine looked away guiltily.

"She doesn't because it won't work now. I've grown too powerful for that," the spirit sneered with Sweetie Belle's voice. "Why do you think she's been running around collecting the reagents to make a new focus? Ha, that won't work either." Sweetie Belle chuckled, the sound sending a shiver up the spines of every pony present. "Now, come closer and relax, this won't hurt."

"I really think you girls should be listening to me," Pinkie whined, but was promptly ignored.

"My little pony, I cannot let you do this," Celestia said gently moving forward.

Gulping down her fear Rarity walked slowly towards her sister. Celestia also stepped closer to Rarity, opening her wings. Rarity knew that the Princess would do anything to protect her little ponies, and as much as Rarity was afraid for her sister and herself, she was also afraid of what would happen if Celestia offered herself in Rarity's place. What would happen to Equestria if the evil spirit sunk it's hooks into Celestia? Rarity wasn't willing to find out. With a sad shake of her head Rarity told Celestia without words not to interfere, not yet anyways.

"Please, your majesty, just keep my sister safe."

Once Sweetie was safe Rarity hoped that Celestia and Jasmine would do everything in their power to stop whatever plans the spirit needed her to accomplish. Even if it meant killing her.

Stopping in front of Sweetie Belle, Rarity closed her eyes and relaxed pretending like she had just entered the spa. There was a momentary chill that seeped deep into her bones, and then nothing. Rarity blinked and wondered if the spirit had gone back on its word.

"Well, that was surprisingly easy, I should have threatened the foal from the start," Rarity said as she turned to face Celestia and Jasmine, a cruel smirk on her face.

Rarity blinked again in confusion. Why had she said that? She hadn't wanted to say those words, but they felt so right that they had just tumble out. Looking over her shoulder Rarity flicked her tail, then tested her ears and shuffled her hooves, everything moving as it should. But it all felt so distant, like she was removed from the process.

"Oh, she's a fighter," Rarity chuckled. "It's pointless though."

Why did she refer to herself in the third pony, Rarity wondered. This was wrong, something was very wrong, but she couldn't place her hoof on it.

"Uh, girls, the doozy is getting worse," Pinkie yelped from the ground.

"You are still going on about that?" snorted Rarity. Waving a dismissive hoof, Rarity struck the jittering pink pony with a wave of force, a wave that didn't come from her horn.

Yelping louder Pinkie careened into Celestia's guards like a cotton candy bowling ball, sending all three ponies into a tangle of legs and armour.

"Pinkie!" Jasmine growled lowering her horn towards Rarity. "I can't allow this to continue, you know that Fifth. You also know what I am capable of doing. I also think we both know that Rarity would want us to do anything to stop you."

"Actually no, now that Rarity can see what I plan to use her for she is quite content to go along," Rarity laughed.

Inside her foggy mind Rarity cringed. She had no idea what she was talking about. Everything was so hazy, but felt so right, and yet so wrong. There had been something important, she could feel it, but what was it?

"I won't allow this charade to continue," Celestia said coming to stand beside Jasmine, lowering her horn as she spoke.

"Oh, nonsense, everything is perfectly fine, I assure you." Rarity began to trot towards her boutique. There were some things there she sudden felt the urge to collect. Before she had taken more than three steps a shimmering golden wall of light sprang up around her. Snorting Rarity looked over her shoulder and at the golden glow around Celestia's horn. "That really is pointless," Rarity snipped.

Celestia didn't speak in return, instead continuing to channel magic through her horn. Around her three gold circles manifested, their interiors a complex set of lines in the shape of stars, the first with five points, the second with seven, and the last one with three. After a moment two more circles appeared, their interior holding the shape of a tear drop and the other a flame.

The spell seemed vaguely familiar to Rarity. It took her a moment before the answer came to her, they were Wards. She'd read about them in some of her fantasy based romance novels. In those stories each was designed to repel a specific type of attack and once created would maintain themselves for some time before dispelling. Rarity cocked her head to one side wondering what Celestia thought the wards would protect her from.

"Wards, how quaint," Rarity said with a light giggle.

A gentle blue glow began to encompass Rarity's horn as she reached out towards the stones buried just below the surface. The ground around her began to form dozens of bulges as the stones wiggled their way out of the dirt lifting into the air surrounded by a glow identical to the one around Rarity's horn once they were free. Snarling Jasmine threw from her horn a blast of pure telekinetic force identical to what she had used earlier in the day against the imps.

Like a purple wave it roared towards Rarity churning up the earth in its wake only to stop and explode in a rainbow of sparkles a couple feet from Rarity's snout. Smiling Rarity looked up and basked in the floating little sparkles around her. Why was she smiling, this didn't seem funny at all.

"You shouldn't have done that, Jasmine," Rarity tittered unleashing the stones she had collected towards the lavender unicorn.

Jasmine's eyes went wide as the stones hurtled towards her, each the size of her own head. She was still too unused to Twilight's body, the shield spell Jasmine tried to conjure only creating little sparks that fizzled from the end of her horn. Jasmine's vision was filled with white before the stones reached her as Celestia leapt between the attack and Jasmine. Through the clear afternoon air sounded a crescendo of rings like a dozen gongs being struck at once. Golden light flared around Celestia and just as quickly faded away.

"You should let me handle this," Celestia said in her natural warm way over her shoulder to Jasmine. "Afterwards we will discuss just who you are and what has happened to Twilight."

"Oh, the two of you won't be discussing anything later, your majesty," Rarity laughed staggering from side to side. "I had been prepared to let the both of you live, but you're going to be so bothersome, I can see."

Let them live? This was Princess Celestia she was talking to! Rarity really had no idea what was happening anymore. Nothing made sense. She needed to get to the boutique, it was important, so why was Jasmine and Celestia trying to stop her? Rarity needed to make them see reason. Or force them aside.

Rarity began to stalk forward like a lioness approaching her prey. Around her the stones began to orbit. More and more continued to wiggle free of the ground, joining their brethren around Rarity. She was their center, like the heart of a galaxy and the stones her stars. Never had Rarity felt so powerful before and so in control.

On each stone Rarity inscribed little runes, each imbuing the cold rocks so that they began to transform into different forms. Some became covered in frost, others burned, a few dripped with venom or acid, and a couple pulsed and sparked with electricity. She continued to laugh as the stones, her stars, began to descend in a cascading avalanche at the two other ponies.

Tossing her head Celestia surrounded Jasmine in a aura of gold light, the purple unicorn protesting for a brief moment before there was a little pop and she vanished. Then the avalanche was on her, Celestia's wards flaring continually as stone after stone continued to impact against them. Across Ponyville the ringing noise of a hundred gongs sounded.

"Enough!" Celestia shouted throwing out a wave of power along with her voice that sent the enchanted rocks tumbling away.

It was only a moment before the enchanted missiles once more towards hurtled towards the Princess, this time of their own accord with no direction from Rarity. Unfurling her wings Celestia took to the air batting aside swarms of the missiles, those she missed ricocheting off her wards. Rarity sighed, this was going to take ages she realised, and she just didn't have the time to play with the solar princess, as much as it would be fun. This needed to be ended quickly.

The ground around Rarity rumbled as she sent her magic deeper into the ground. Around her three huge slabs of granite began to grow. Rarity gave a delighted laugh. The power flowing from her was heady and intoxicating, though she did wonder why she was attacking the Princess. Oh well, she'd worry about that later.

"You know, there is a reason passive wards were discontinued on my world," Rarity said idly as the three boulders finished growing.

Her world? It was Equestria, wasn't it? Or was it somewhere else, Rarity couldn't remember. It wasn't important anyways.

Along the backs of the rocks thin lines of eldritch blue began to glow, twisting and snaking together forming an inverted five pointed star inside the heart of a six pointed star. Around the stars a ring of little pink lights manifested.

Enchanting the large slabs of granite had been so easy, Rarity thought flicking her mane aside. Magic had never been her forte, not like it was Twilight, but Rarity had always had a knack for finding and enchanting gemstones, it was her special talent after all. With her business as a seamstress and fashion designer Rarity had honed her control until it was elegant precision. These crud vessels couldn't hold a fraction of the power it was possible for Rarity to put into a gemstone, but they did have weight and size on their side, and that was what she needed more than some perfect vessel for her talent.

Still, like most unicorns, she didn't know many actual spells. A small trickle of sweat formed itself on her brow as Rarity lifted the three boulders into the sky towards where Celestia still battled and swatted at the swarms of lesser stones.

From her horn a blade of flashing light thrust through the stones as Celestia ducked and weaved across the sky. Trailing behind Celestia darted the white and gold forms of the pegasus guards that had traveled with the princess, their legs snapping out to kick away stones before they could impact on Celestia's wards. Rarity pouted wondering when they had entered the fray. She had completely forgotten about them. Their efforts were utterly pointless. Celestia's wards would more than protect her from the stones. Shrugging her shoulders Rarity stopped thinking about the guards. They were completely unimportant and expendable, nothing but grist to be ground in her ascent.

"You've been at peace too long, Princess," Rarity sneered as the three granite blocks flew higher. Celestia just grunted as she swatted the last of the small stones aside and Rarity continued talking. "You should have ignored those stones, they can't break your wards after-all, and instead gone straight for me. But you don't want to hurt any of your oh so precious subjects, so you flail away in-effectually. Sad really."

In response Celestia sent an arrow of pulsing energy down towards the white unicorn. Rarity's sneer grew wider as the arrow struck an invisible barrier, splitting down the middle so the two halves burrowed into the pock-marked ground on either side of her.

"And so, you die," Rarity waved a dismissive hoof as the three enchanted pieces of granite reached the same height as Celestia.

Celestia, die? How could Celestia die? She was the Goddess of the Sun, literally and figuratively the light that shone down on and guided Equestria, Rarity wondered in the hazy depths of her mind. Celestia couldn't die, could she?

The princess seemed to realise her mistake as the slabs formed a triangle with her in the middle, tucking her wings to her sides to dive out from between them only to bounce off an arcing field of silver lightning. Thunder rumbled as the stones began to glow brighter and brighter, the two guards swooping down to kick the nearest one. Light flared around their hooves for an instant before, with a sharp crack, they were sent hurtling away. Narrowing her eyes Celestia sent a beam of magic at one of the stones, only for it to be reflected back at her.

Wards flared dissipating the beam. The wards didn't resume their passive state when the last of Celestia's beam vanished, instead glowing brighter and brighter. From the granite slabs the lightning arced inwards connecting to Celestia's wards. Celestia's eye flew open wide as she realised what was happening to her protective spells. Frantically she waved her horn trying to cancel the wards, but nothing happened. For a moment her mouth formed a small 'O' of shock, and then a second sun blazed in the sky above Ponyville.

Snapping her eyes shut Rarity covered her face with one limb unable to look directly at the boiling turmoil of magic overhead. Out of the core of the tempest red scythes cascaded outward like solar flares. Most flew harmlessly into the sky, but one smashed into Twilight's library, the tree bursting into flames. A second passed as nothing happened other than the spreading of orange flames, then the top portion of the library toppled with a deep groan, a clean smooth cut where the flare had passed.

Smiling to herself Rarity kicked her hooves turning towards her boutique. She stopped a moment later as the artificial sun died and a small black comet fell to the ground. Changing her direction Rarity headed towards where the object had landed.

Confidence making her strides faster Rarity saw, as she had expected, Celestia. Where once the princesses coat had been white it had been burnt to a black as dark as obsidian, and Celestia's lustrous mane was nothing more than a few smoldering pink strands. Moaning Celestia opened one eye.

A single tear slid down Rarity face, dripping from the end of her muzzle to land with a soft whisper on the grass. Even through her muddled state Rarity knew she had just done something utterly heinous and unforgivable. Yet she couldn't stop herself.

"Amazing," Rarity said in wonder as she approached the blackened form that was Princess Celestia. "To have survived with wards that potent exploding around you." Leaning down so her mouth was beside Celestia's ear, Rarity added, "I think I shall let you live now, broken, defeated, helpless. Only able to watch as I consu-"

Rarity's voice fell into a sharp squeak as an invisible force smashed into her chest like a train sending her tumbling away from Celestia. Shaking her head Rarity slowly stood. In the depths of the crater Celestia also stood, a small shower of ash falling from her revealing splotches of white underneath.

"Impossible!" Rarity snarled slowly backing away from the princess.

Flames gutted for a moment, then roared into life, replacing the dancing aurora mane and tail that had been a hallmark of Celestia's image for centuries. Rarity was afraid, truly afraid. Both of Celestia's eyes glowed with gold-white light, and sparks shot from her hooves as she, slowly, walked towards Rarity. Plasma, neon green in colour, coalesced around the princess' horn forming into a long scimitar held in a sheen of Celestia's telekinetic energy.

"You wish to play with Goddesses, foul spirit?" the Princess of the Sun snarled.

Rarity stopped backing away from Celestia, a little snort of amusement echoing across the field, silent except for the crackle coming from the sword.

"You won't use that on me," Rarity said, "It's not in your nature to kill, especially your own subject, or, what do you condescendingly call them? Your little ponies?"

Celestia started a retort, but before thoughts could be formed into words she was struck from behind by a ball of crimson lightning. The princess yelped spinning to face the new threat, a shell of pure white fire enveloping her. Rarity raised both her eyebrows as she too looked for where the attack had originated. To her shock she found herself gazing up at the opaque essence of a second spirit.

A woman Rarity seemed to recognise for some reason. Where had she seen her before? Had it been in a dream? No, not a dream, but someplace that was just endless grey, and so long ago.

She was clothed in the most beautiful red and gold robes Rarity had seen. The robes both accentuated femininity and grace while conveying a sense of power and opulence. Long belts danced like snakes in the air along with the woman's long hair. Her face was a pale white contrasting wonderfully with the gold choker and low cut bosom, and heightening the deep red glow emanating from her eyes. Rarity felt a pang of envy gazing up, but not for the beauty, but for the sheets of power radiating from the woman.

"Celestia, I ask you once, leave this matter to me."

"Who are you, what are you?" shouted the princess in return, lowering her stance as she did and charging magic into her horn.

"I am April Conrad, student of Twilight Sparkle."

"Excuse me?" Celestia asked, the shell of white fire around her sputtering away.

Rarity didn't waste her opening when she saw it so wonderfully granted. With a twist of her neck and snort invisible lances of psychic energy were sent spiralling at Celestia's back, leaving a trail of faint power connected to Rarity. The princess cried out in surprise, hooves gripping at her head, while beside her the scimitar of plasma exploded. Rarity smiled.

The smile vanished a moment later. Along the lines of energy Rarity could feel Celestia's conscious. It was very literally like gazing upon the sun; a rolling, boiling nexus of energy. Rarity could feel her own power dwarfed, as incredible as it had felt moments before, as she continued to gaze on the essence of a goddess. So much power, to touch it would have been enough to destroy her outright. No wonder Celestia had toyed with the enchanted stones. Rarity was going to have to retreat, bide her time, and confront the princess again at a later time when things were more equal.

Except that there wasn't the time. She had something important to do that had to be done right away. Even this battle was delaying her too much. The boutique, she needed to go to the boutique.

Releasing the connection to Celestia, Rarity again found herself backing away. The Princess of the Sun let out a bestial snort as the connection faded, turning around in a flash and firing a bolt of condensed sunlight at the white unicorn. The invisible barrier that had been protecting Rarity shattered under the force of the blow, sending the unicorn tumbling into a bush.

"Celestia, stop! You can't defeat him here, just his host," April cried out diving down out of the sky to land, arms spread, in front of the princess. The Princess didn't respond, she just walked forward and through the spirit. "I suppose it was too much to hope you'd let me do this my way."

Leaping at the princess, the spirit grabbed Celestia by the head. White fire flaring on her hooves Celestia set her legs to kick. Rarity smiled, she could tell from the lines of energy dancing in the air from the hooves that a hit from them would prove devastating even against the spirit. Instead Celestia stayed standing on her hind legs, mane burning higher into the sky sending up plumes of thick black smoke, and then she fell over onto her side with a grunt.

Turning slowly April shot Rarity a grim smile.

"Fifth," said the dead woman.

"The Scarlet Lady," Rarity chuckled tossing her head. "What are you doing here, April? Shouldn't you be playing with the mortals back in the Protectorates?"

"I am here to stop you, obviously," April said flicking her hands out to her sides.

"Stop me? Ha! You just wasted the vast majority of your strength on Celestia! I must congratulate you on that. I must admit I didn't realise her true potential. To bring her down so quickly is a feat."

The robed spirit looked down at where Celestia lay and winced before returning her attention to Rarity.

"I have enough strength left, I believe, to handle you," April let a slow smile form adding, "I have seen how this ends; it's not pleasant for you."

Rarity stiffened her eyes growing wide.

"You may wander the Winterlands, but you are not the only one who can see the future. I know you're lying," Rarity snapped, but her words didn't hold conviction, even to her. There was something about this Scarlet Lady that made Rarity afraid.

"In life I was a master of the seventh circle. What were you? A little boy terrified of his own father. Your strength only comes from the violence of your death and the power resting beneath your home. Mine comes from mastery of the self and the magical world."

"That is true, except," Rarity said, her posturing becoming relaxed an instant before she vanished and re-appeared behind April, "I have grown since coming here."

Rarity had teleported with Twilight several times and had never gotten used to the sensation of stretching and shrinking that came with the spell. It always left her feeling a little queasy afterwards, something wholly un-lady-like.

This was nothing like that.

Instead she was both several feet away from the robed spirit and behind her. Then she was just behind her.

A shrill scream ripped through the air as Rarity whipped her horn down and towards the new spirit a short blade of light extending from the horn's tip. April began to twist towards Rarity the pale blue glow making her skin look sickly. A sound like fabric being ripped made Rarity wince as April fell to the ground. Beneath Rarity, April rolled onto her back clutching at her left elbow where her arm had been moments before, the remainder of the limb bubbling in an oily mist beside her on the ground.

"Tell me, is this how you saw everything happen?" Rarity tittered pacing around the writhing spirit.

"Actually, yes," April managed to say between her clenched teeth.

Hissing filtered through the air barely audible above the commotion coming from the rest of the village. Rarity's ears perked up at the sound. Frantically she spun in a circle turning every direction until she found what she feared; a small blue disk forming several feet away.

"I was only biding my time," snarled the prone spirit.

Rarity tried to step away from the spirit beside her, only to find an icy wave spreading across her throat as April's remaining hand grabbed her. With elegant ease Rarity was hoisted into the air, her legs kicking and her befuddled mind wondering why all this was happening. Over the shoulder of the spirit Rarity saw a flash of midnight blue followed by a gentle swish of wind as Luna appeared in the clearing. The princess of the moon took a quick look at the devastation around her, from the burning toppled library, to the spirit holding Rarity, and coming to a rest on Celestia's prone form.

"Sister?" the midnight blue alicorn asked taking a step towards Celestia before halting and shifting the full force of her baleful glare towards Rarity and April.

Smiling towards Luna, April said, "I'm sorry, it is the only way," before she hurled herself and Rarity into the blue disk.

Pain, like a million little knives digging into her skin, ripped across Rarity as she fell through the portal. It lasted only an instant before vanishing, only to be replaced by a wave of heat so intense that Rarity felt like she had landed in the heart of a bonfire. Landing with a dull thump more pain and heat streamed through her. Rarity could hear her coat sizzling as she rolled over onto the side as a primal scream ripped from her throat. The ground bubbled and popped like embers as she staggered to her hooves. Overhead a blood red sky churned with dark charcoal bellied cloud.

In a blink of an eye April stood in front of Rarity, the spirit staring deep into Rarity's crystal blue eyes. The bleak inferno around Rarity melted away as Rarity returned the spirit's stare, loosing herself into deep pools of liquid ice. A chill tickled up her spine despite the rivers of sweat already making her coat sticky. Parting her lips a little gasp escaped Rarity as she felt herself begin to fall, a deep weariness overtaking her. Distantly Rarity was aware of a dull thump as she landed again on the scorching stones.

With one eye Rarity saw April standing over top of her. The spirit had been joined by a small boy, an angry snarling boy with dark red eyes.

"No, you've ruined everything!" the younger looking spirit shrieked stamping his feet.

She had never felt so tired or weak before in her life. Rarity couldn't even lift her head to watch as the two spirits flickered into little glowing orbs of light, one silver, the other a deep crimson. The orbs flung themselves high into the air, flying at each other and crashing together with the splitting roar of a canon firing. Sparks flew from the orbs at every impact. It'd have been beautiful to watch if Rarity hadn't been so overwhelmingly hot and tired.

"Somepony, help me, please," Rarity begged, her voice coming out as a gentle whisper quickly lost in the repeated crashing overhead.

Tears ran down her face as Rarity thought about everything she had just done. How could she have done what she did to Celestia and Jasmine? It had felt natural, though not right. Maybe she didn't deserve to be saved. Little sobs wracked her weary body as the two battling spirits vanished into the dire clouds so far above.

Just as the last drop of hope leaked from Rarity's eye her vision swam with midnight blue.

"Lady Rarity? It is I, Luna, I am going to get you out of here," the alicorn said, her magic washing around Rarity like a cool blanket around a mewling baby.

Everything grew cool, even the short raspy breaths that had been scorching Rarity's lungs. She was safe now. Luna was taking her home. Gently Luna lifted herself and Rarity towards the blue gateway that lead from whatever tortured world they had land in back home. Looking back towards Luna, Rarity mouthed the words 'thank you'. The illusion of safety died an instant later as the two orbs came rocketing down out of the sky, both spinning stuck together and heading like a burning comet towards Luna's oblivious back.

Rarity attempted to raise a hoof to point or say something, but she was just too tired. Every ounce of her essence felt completely drained. Not in a way that she felt sleepy, but like she had been running and running for years. Her eye widened to a huge black saucer as the orbs grew closer and closer. At the last moment Luna seemed to feel the approaching danger, but by then it was too late.

A sharp yelp erupted from Luna as canon fire exploded in her and Rarity's ears. Both mares fell out of the sky, a long scream managing to tear itself from Rarity as she headed back towards the scorching ground below. After only a moment she was struck by a blast of blue magic. Rarity tumbled up into the air, connecting with the gate.

Again the million little knives pierced her sore skin, and then vanished replaced by cool fresh summer air.

Rarity landed with a dull thump that sent a river of shock coursing through her weary body. From her position on the ground she could see the shining blue portal and waited for Luna to emerge. Instead the Door flickered, then shattered like a stained glass window.

"I cannot allow you to return to Equestria, Fifth," April said, the crimson orb returning to her human form only a few feet away from Luna.

Spinning on her heel the spirit thrust her remaining hand towards the blue disk. From her hand a thin pink line extended. The Fifth growled like a primal beast, his body flickering from where he had been to beside April. It was too late, the pink line connected with the portal, dying a moment later with a sharp crack that sent April tumbling to the ground.

Luna raised her head slowly as she took quick gasping breaths filling her lungs and nose with a pungent heavy sulphurous air. Overhead the blue disk flickered and then shattered. Luna lifted a hoof reaching for the spot where the disk had been.

"No, don't be gone," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the scalding air.

At least she had managed to rescue the bearer of the Element of Generosity, Luna smirked.

"NO! NO!" raged the small spirit child looking on in contempt at the prone forms around him. His hair dancing like flames he stalked to where April lay. "I was so close! It all would have been my plaything! A million souls all mine for the taking! A world for the taking! I would have been a God!" With each exclamation he kicked the other spirit the burnt landscape around them echoing with a deep thundering boom.

"If I cannot have them, then I will have you instead!" The boy howled grabbing April by the front of her robes and pulling her up before him. "I am the Fifth Elemental, what are you to me? Nothing but another wayward lost soul!"

"Nay! Take your... hands off her!" Luna shouted, her voice rolling across the bleak burnt land as she slowly stood.

Charging forward Luna called up an icy wind that cut through the oppressive heat towards the Fifth. The boyish spirit released April jumping back as a silvery shield appeared to deflect Luna's attack. Unleashing another unearthly scream that rattled landscape, the spirit retaliated at Luna with a lance of pure blue light. With a twist of her horn Luna parried the attack sending the lance careening off into a distant hill where it exploded with a deep booming rumble.

Spells flew fast on the heels of the one before as both the princess of the moon and the boyish spirit attacked with relentless fury. Fire met lightning, and dark sickly grey roots twisted out of the ground reaching for Luna's legs only to freeze and shatter into small chunks.

The dissipating energy as spell after spell collided was enough to send a cool breeze washing across Luna keeping the heat at bay. Snow began to fall, only to hiss away into mist on contact with the ground, called into existence as Luna rose into the air on strong flaps of her wings. Storm clouds gathered in the sky above, beginning to spin with an eye forming above Luna as the princess rose higher and higher. Lightning arced down from a storm as the spirit sent two then four balls of burning indigo fire after her. Again the deep rumble of explosions rolled across the blistered landscape as the fire detonated.

Luna had anticipated the attack calling up a shell of ice around her that flash melted away before that hungry flames. Smiling she sent another bolt of arcing energy towards the spirit, one surrounded by jagged shards of Ice.

She felt so alive, like she hadn't felt since being cleansed of the dark madness of Nightmare Moon. This battle felt right, natural. Celestia had always been more tempered and slower to act, less inclined to fight and instead find another solution. Luna wasn't like her sister in those regards. Everything was coming back to her, how to deflect attacks, what to block, what to dodge and when to counter. A wide smile plastered on her face Luna looped through the blistering air continuing to cloak herself in soothing icy magic.

Vanishing the spirit let out a frustrated howl, re-appearing a dozen feet away.

"If this was any other land I'd have flayed you alive by now!" he snarled conjuring a spinning disk of dark red energy over his head.

Wings flapping gently in a hover, Luna could feel the malevolence leaking from the disk. Whatever it was constructed from was pure evil and wickedness, sins made real. With a shout the spirit sent the disk flying up towards her. Instead of summoning another shield the princess tucked her wings to her sides diving down towards the disk. From her horn she sent a spear of shadowy energy that seemed to pull light towards it rather than radiate it out. Just before the spear connected with the disk the princess rolled down and under the disk continuing her descent towards the spirit. Smirking he flicked a wrist, the disk reversing its course after the princess.

"This ends!" Luna shouted as a cone of wind began to form around her, snow and ice trailing in her wake while the dark red disk gained. "You threaten our citizens! You threaten our world! You threaten us! You harmed my sister! Die, again, spirit!"

As she finished speaking a great crack resonated through the air splitting the blizzard above in half and tossing loose stones on the ground aside. From behind Luna a wake of darkness flowed, streaming from her ethereal mane like a painter drawing a line through the burnt sky. The spirit tried to summon another shield, the silvery shell forming in the blink of an eye, but still not fast enough to fully manifest before the princess reached him.

The world went silent as Luna came to an abrupt halt all the energy of her momentum entering the spear growing from her horn. Three sets of eyes looked at a point just below the boys frilly collar. Slowly the boyish spirit lifted a hand and pushed Luna away, the princess not resist the motion as she continued to stare. Her horn made a wet sucking sound as it exited the spirit's chest. Immediately thick black ichor began to pour from the wound.

"But... how?" the spirit asked in a whisper that echoed across the sky. "I was going to be a god..."

Slowly Luna backed away from the spirit as more of the black ichor flowed onto the stones where it formed a hissing pool. So much of the fluid was flowing from the spirit, like a damn had been burst, that it began to pour from spirits eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Falling to his knees the spirit reached towards Luna.

"Please, I, I don't want to die again," he said, eyes begging as much as his words.

"There is naught but wickedness within you," Luna sneered pushing the small hand of the spirit away. "I would not save you even if it was within my power."

The spirit looked up at Luna sadly, black tears falling to join the ever growing pool around him, "Then I leave this existence knowing that you have doomed all those you sought to save. The Doors will open and worse than I shall pour forth into your precious Equestria."

Ethereal flesh melting beneath his skin the spirit laughed as he sunk into the pool of ichor until, with a little plop, nothing else remained.

"He is right you know," April said from where she had watched the battle, a sad smile on her face, her remaining hand clutching the stump of her left arm. "The Doors will now open to Equestria. There is no one there who can stop it from happening. Only Twilight can save you, or doom you all."

"AND SHE SHALL FAIL."

The new voice ripped out of the ground around them as if the very earth itself was speaking, crashing down on Luna like a hammer. Luna gave a small sigh. Of course, just when things looked to be improving it had to get worse again.

"IT WAS UNWISE OF YOU TO COME HERE, LUNA, GODDESS OF THE MOON."

Luna looked around for the source of the voice as the ground began to buckle and fresh air wafted over her face. Under her hooves the ground became cool and soothing to the touch, the air in her lungs gently stealing away the burning stench.

"WELCOME, LITTLE GODDESS, TO TARTARUS!"

The name sent a chill racing along Luna's back and to the tips of her wings. She had suspected distantly, but had hoped she was wrong. There was supposed to be only one door that lead to the infernal nightmarish lands, a door watched by a massive triple headed guard hound, and barred by an adamantium gate forged by the last alicorn of the previous era. If new doors were opening, Equestria was in far greater danger than Luna had imagined.

"IT IS A SHAME ONE OF THE 'ELEMENTS OF HARMONY', MAGED TO ESCAPE. A PITY, BUT POINTLESS."

The ground continued to tremble, great cracks forming along its surface, as Luna flapped her wings to again take to the air. April likewise lifted up into the air, but only a few feet, just enough so that she wasn't staggering.

"What new foe is this?" Luna asked turning her gaze towards April.

"I don't know. This is all new to me as well. I died before coming this far."

"AH, YES, THE SCARLET LADY. I MUST THANK YOU. IT WAS YOU WHO HAS MADE ALL THIS POSSIBLE. THE GREAT MANIPULATOR. HOW MANY PUPPETS HAVE DANGLED ON YOUR STRINGS TO BRING THIS ABOUT? A HUNDRED? A THOUSAND? MILLIONS? AN ENTIRE WORLD DANCING TO YOUR TUNE."

With a great final rumble the ground fell away between where April and Luna floated. From the hole poured a great pillar of black smoke reaching up into the sky before spreading out like a tree a thousand feet in height. As the black branches grew across the red sky little pieces of the smoke detached themselves falling like snowflakes to the ground below. Luna lifted her head as a flake drifted down towards her foreleg. She let out a scream as the flake alighted itself with a hiss onto her fur. Kicking her leg Luna shook the flake off, but dozens more were descending towards her.

Realising the dangerous nature of the black smoke flakes, Luna ducked and weaved her way around the trunk of the smoke. April just continued to float where she had been, the flakes passing through her incorporeal body. As Luna began to close in on April, she saw them; two massive liquid green eyes glaring out from within the smoke. Out of the base of the smoke a long bluish-grey leg extended. Each claw on the leg's paw was longer than Luna, and they looked positively dainty compared to the paw itself. Whatever the leg belonged to was larger than anything princess had ever heard of before.

"We must get out of here," Luna gasped as she swept past April.

After flying a dozen lengths Luna slowed and turned looking back the way she had come. April stood at the base of the massive trunk of smoke. The spirit looked over her shoulder and smiled toward Luna.

"I am sorry, for everything that has and will be," April shouted, "Go, I will hold him at bay as long as I can. Just, tell Twilight, that it is her choice to make. The Sins can be corrected!"

Luna called April's name, but the spirit ignored her, instead walking into the smoke. Shaking her head Luna turned away and with a strong push of her wings fled. A part of her wanted to stay and fight whatever new monster threatened her lands, but she could feel the very air itself slowly sapping at her strength. The air was again returning to its scalding state whatever power the monster within the smoke was using dimming the farther Luna went.

She was flying blind though, with no idea where to go or how to get back to Equestria. For hours Luna flew, only the cool grip of her magic shielding her from the elements.

The bleak burnt world though quickly revealed it wasn't as empty as Luna had first guessed. To what Luna thought of as the south, though it was impossible to know what direction was what with no Sun, just the uniform red glare in the sky, flocks of black creatures took to the sky, while in the north a swarm of grey six legged animals that looked like a cross between hairless rats and buffalo stampeded.

On the stampeding animals backs rode large yellow skinned things brandishing spears, axes and swords. From their long lizard snouts curled the tusks of boars, and even from the distance Luna kept between them and the monsters Luna could see the thick ropes of drool and mucus trailing from mouth and nose. Everywhere she looked Luna saw more and more monstrosities emerging, all grotesque in their form and heading towards the huge tree of smoke that continued to grow, now towering a full kilometre into the sky, like a beacon to the hordes of monsters.

"We have to get home somehow, warn my sister..." Luna gasped over and over as she continued to fly.

Just as her wings were beginning to slow, the events of the day finally overcoming Luna's deep reserves of energy, they saw it; a glimmering blue disk of light. Luna felt her heart do a little skip of joy. She was saved. Luna tucked her wings to her side and dived towards the Door. The hot blistering wind ripped at her eyes, forcing her to squeeze them shut to prevent herself from being blinded.

As they closed in on the Door Luna heard of long wet snarl. Opening an eye she looked first towards the Door, then over her shoulder. Behind her two of the black flying creatures swooped down. The wind was too scalding to keep her eye open to get a good look at the creatures, but in the moment she did look at them she saw the leathery quality to their wings and ivory barbs decorated the skinny tails whipping in their wake. But worse she saw the black tridents they clutched in long talons, stretched forward with spindly arms.

Over the howl of the wind as Luna dived came the sounds of chittering as the monsters closed in on their prey. They sounded so close, Luna thought as she shut her eyes harder.

Then the coolness of the door washed over Luna, feeling like ice water after the heat despite the pain. It lasted only a moment before true fresh air carrying the scent of wet grass and mountain flowers exploded through Luna's senses. Her eyes flashed open, catching a glimpse of a crystal blue sky with a single long puffy cloud between two massive stone peaks for only a moment before she was rolling and tumbling across a hard surface. Even then it felt so cool and refreshing despite the jarring impacts.

Coming to a stop Luna smiled. She was home, she was safe, and the spirit plaguing Ponyville destroyed.

The calm sense of safety didn't last. Noises, harsh and unfamiliar exploded around Luna forcing the weary alicorn to roll her head away from the beautiful sky to more terrestrial sights. What she saw didn't make any sense. Around her were dozens of creatures similar to the spirits, all in poorly fitting blue and white clothes. Luna's eyes stopped, fixated on the sharp steel blades held in the creatures' hands.

From the midst of the blue and white strode a figure in a shining silver cuirass. He was a bit taller and more imposing than the rest. At least Luna assumed it was a 'he' from the bulky nature of his attire and the thick curling mustache beneath a long hooked nose.

Rolling over onto her hooves brought a collective grumble from the assembled figures around Luna. Turning her head she looked for the Door. This was most certainly not Equestria. For a couple long moments Luna debated if she should use the portal to return to Tartarus, or remain wherever it was she now found herself. The decision was taken from her moments later as the portal vanished with a small 'pop', but not before the two winged monsters chasing her came tumbling forth.

Reacting on adrenalin and instinct Luna quickly fired a bolt of silvery energy at the closest monster. The beam connected with the center of its body, encasing it a thick coat of frost that burnt to skin, but didn't slow it down as it charged towards Luna, trident thrusting towards her heart. Flaring her wings, Luna hopped backwards to avoid the deadly rusted iron prongs. Just as she was readying another spell, a whistling trailed past Luna's ear and the creature staggered. For a moment Luna wondered what had happened, then she noticed an arrow protruding from the creature's dark leathery neck.

In a matter of moments another dozen arrows joined the first, protruding from the back, chest, limbs and neck. Still snarling it pressed forward again, trident raised above its head, only to be intercepted by the mustached human. His gleaming blade slashed the air twice. The monster stood stock still for a moment, then its head tumbled from its shoulders.

The remaining monster took to the air, hissing and screeching. It got only a dozen lengths before a ball of green fire reached up and consumed it. Luna shifted her gaze towards the source of the fire.

Walking towards her she saw a tall human with a long mane of snow white hair. His pale blue eyes were sunken into his face and he leaned on a staff of ebony, the wood oiled to a polished sheen with twisting bands of gold worked into its surface.

"At long last," he said in a surprisingly vibrant voice, deep and rumbling like the mountains towering high above. "I have been expecting your arrival, your Majesty, Princess Luna, Lady of the Moon," the man continued, sweeping into a low bow.

Around Luna all the other humans kneeled.

All Luna could manage was a small undignified, "Excuse me?"