Chapter 43:
Shadow Play Part One:
One day while reading her books in the Canterlot Library while also going through her checklist for everything she needs in order to prepare for the upcoming Friendship Festival which is right around the corner. For her it’s a very special day she wants to remember for many moons to come when it happens as she goes over everything she needs for the festival to go off without a hitch.
During her focus on her work, Sunburst runs into the room with a very urgent manner on hoof.
“Twilight!” Sunburst rushed up to her.
“What?!” Twilight asked surprised by his sudden and unexpected appearance.
“I found something more about the Pillars of Equestria.” Sunburst told Twilight as he opened the book to show her his discovery to which Twilight gasped once she read through what Sunburst has discovered.
“Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness!” Twilight said very giddy at this discovery.
“I know right!” Sunburst shared her same enthusiastic excitement. “We got to tell Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about this!”
“I better gather all my friends from Ponyville for this.” Twilight cheered in excitement as she ran off to do so.
In just a short amount of time while Sunburst managed to request an audience with the two royal sisters in the throne room, while Twilight managed to immediately summon her friends from Ponyville where they all gathered in the throne room where the sun and night princesses were seated in the throne room.
“The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all – strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery.” Sunburst narrated from the book as Star Swirl the Bearded along with five other ponies are shown in the page of the book. “Myself and these Pillars of Equestria were gathered together by another to maintain and share the light of these powerful ideals. But we soon came to believe the pony who brought us together only wanted that power for himself.” Sunburst narrated as another pony uses his magic to obtain the magical items that best represent their elements before Star Swirl himself ordered said pony to leave town and never come back while looking away with some regret.
“Cast out and alone, this power-mad pony turned to darkness to satisfy his thirst. Transformed into a Pony of Shadows, he returned for revenge – to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope.” Sunburst narrated as banished pony turned into a giant terrifying demon pony leaving the six ponies charging towards him in an attempt to stop him.
“To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice. But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time. We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have I only hope it will be enough." Sunburst finished narrating as he reached the end of the entry. “That's the last entry. And maybe Star Swirl's final words before he vanished.” Sunburst finished as he closed the book as the two princesses look on in surprise at this discovery.
“I've always wondered what happened to Star Swirl.” Princess Celestia said in amazement as she levitated the journal towards her so she and Luna can read it for themselves. “This is quite a discovery, Sunburst.” She commended Sunburst who bows in respect.
“So it's genuine? You can verify that this journal really belonged to Star Swirl the Bearded?!” Twilight again asked as she excitably flapped her wings.
“Indeed.” Princess Luna confirmed as she took a look at the journal herself. “From the looks of it, the last thing he wrote before facing the Pony of Shadows.”
“Uh... So, the Pony of Shadows was really real?” Rainbow asked feeling slightly unnerved.
“It appears so.” Princess Celestia confirmed with a nod.
“We never met the other Pillars, and we were too young to understand the danger they faced.” Luna added as they lamented their younger days.
“Hold on a second now.” Applejack spoke up so she can take down of what she had just heard. “All those legendary ponies were real, too? And they went off with Star Swirl to face the Pony of Shadows, and then none of them were ever heard from again?”
Sunburst nods yes in response.
“Uh, yeah. Weren't you listening?” Pinkie replied with a nudge to the shoulder as if it were a trick question.
“But what happened to them all?” Fluttershy asked.
“They must have defeated the villain, since Equestria is still full of light and hope.” Rarity figured from the best to their discovery.
“But how? And where did they go?” Starlight asked still wanting to find out more of the mystery.
“My Olde Ponish is a bit rusty, but I wonder if the answers can be found somewhere within the pages of this book.” Celestia replied as she closed the journal.
“Well, I just happen to be an expert in Olde Ponish. I mean, I've practically memorized every ancient text about Star Swirl there is!” Twilight exitcably offered as she galloped in place as Sunburst giggles seeing her excitement of one of her biggest fans as Spike face-palms annoyed by it.
“Seriously. All of them.” Spike added in an annoyed tone to emphasize his point.
“We have fond memories of our old teacher. If you could discover what happened to him, we would be most grateful.” Luna said as she levitated the journal to Twilight who then grabs ahold of after jumping up mid-air in glee while flapping her wings very excited to be given this chance.
“Solving a thousand-year-old mystery could take forever!” Sunburst pondered as he got into Applejack’s muzzle. “Think of the research! The re-reading! The re-re-reading!” He then said in Spike’s face as he reluctantly shared a hoof-bump with Sunburst as the young dragon doesn't share the same excitement as Twilight and Sunburst.
“You might find you need help.” Celestia responded as she briefly placed a hoof to her mouth to resist laughing at Twilight and Sunburst’s eager excitement of Star Swirl.
“Luckily, she's got a whole bushel o' helpers right here.” Applejack vouched everypony’s support for Twilight and Sunburst
“Totally!” Rainbow also agreed before wondering an important question. “Uh... how long will all this research take, exactly?”
“Let's get this back to the library. I'm sure we'll figure out what happened in no time.” Twilight told everypony as they all cheered in excitement as they set off to do so.
Everypony worked tirelessly into doing the research to find the answers they need as Spike brings forward a new candle after the previous candle melted away.
“Figure it out yet, Twilight?” Spike asked Twilight who held a pencil in her mouth as she looked over the journal who shakes her head in response that she’s got nothing so far as Spike tosses away the candle into the waste basket full of burnt candles which woke up Sunburst who fell asleep in his research.
“What did you figure out?” Sunburst asked after having snapped to attention now that he is awake to which Pinkie woke up as she then ate the cupcake she fell asleep on.
“You figured something out?” She hopefully asked after eating the cupcake.
“What is it?” Fluttershy asked as she rubbed her eyes as she tried to wake herself up.
“Nothing.” Twilight honestly answered with a sigh that she too is empty-hoofed and lost so far in their research. “I mean, Star Swirl was a genius, obviously. But forget Olde Ponish. There's parts where his hornwriting is like another language!” She then groaned in exhaustion of how difficult this pursuit really is. Much harder than she thought it was going to be.
“Twilight, we've been studyin' and referencin' and cross-referencin' for three days straight now.” Applejack brought up as she yawned.
“Ugh. I haven't spent this much time reading since the last Daring Do book came out.” Rainbow Dash brought up as she stretched her back while sitting on a pile of books.
“Perhaps it is time to take a break.” Rarity suggested as Starlight came in with tea in tow. “This mystery is over a thousand years old, after all. Another day or two won't make a difference.”
“Two days?! I don't want to waste two seconds!” Twilight refused to back off as she walked over to her chalkboard. “I'm close to an answer. I can feel it."
“Hearg sylfum se Ponhenge” Starlight read from the writing when she took a look at the writing on the book. “What's that?” She asked Twilight.
“The Temple of Ponhenge?! You can read that?!” Twilight asked her student in surprise that she can figure it out.
“The hornwriting's pretty sloppy, but it's nowhere near as bad as mine.” Starlight honestly answered as she continued to take a crack at the writing. "Toward dol grimlic of Fola Firgenbeorg"
"At the base of Foal Mountain" Sunburst translated.
"User endemest scield" Starlight read.
"Our last stand" Twilight translated.
“Well, that sure sounds like a clue to me.” Spike yawned as he blew out the nearby candle so he can take a nap as Twilight pulls out another book as everypony gathers together to where they all later go to the site of where the Pillars were all last seen.
“This is it. Ponhenge. I can't believe it.” Twilight marveled as everyone scoured the area to where Sunburst takes notice to some writing on one of the statues.
“I've never seen magical runes like these before! Have you?” Sunburst asked Twilight with amazement at their discovery.
“Uh-uh.” Twilight replied.
“I don't think anypony's seen any of this for a long time.” Rainbow Dash commented as she took notice of the overgrowing vines and vegetation and tried to pull it out only fall backwards into a nearby bush.
“It'd take a whole team of ponies to clear away all this brush.” Applejack commented as she pulled Rainbow Dash out of the bush.
“Even then, I'm not sure we'd find out what happened here over a thousand years ago.” Fluttershy brought up as she tried to place a rock that fell out of a tree she as looking at back inside.
“You're right.” Twilight sighed in defeat. “I suppose it was a long shot.”
“Cheer up, Twilight.” Spike tried to brighten up a smile. “Finding a whole set of ancient ruins is pretty impressive. Maybe you could write a paper on it.”
“I guess I hoped we'd get here and the mystery would just magically be explained.” Twilight still isn’t satisfied as she placed the book down in front of the statue she walked up to before walking away.
As soon as she did the book started to glow a bright blue light.
“Uh... Twilight?” Spike quickly said to her who then gasped in amazement at what is happening as magic from the book produces an image of Star-Swirl the Bearded.
Twilight then walked over to the image as placed a hoof over it.
“Star Swirl, Is that really you?” Twilight hoped as Sunburst walks over and places a hoof over the image which is indeed a hologram
“I don't think he is here. I don't think any of them are.” Sunburst pointed out as the holograms from the other Pillars are shown at their respective statues as Star Swirl casts a spell at the center statue of the area which created the hologram of the Pony of Shadows as he laughed evilly.
“You summon me at your peril, Star Swirl! Once I defeat all of you, this realm will embrace the darkness as I did so long ago!” The Pony of Shadows declared as he got into Star-Swirls face as many ponies from the present back up from behind the statues expect for Twilight who continues watching with intent wondering how it all played out while backing up just so she properly see the scene as the Pony of Shadows evilly laughed while ensnaring the Pillars together. “Drawing me here will only make me stronger. You will never defeat me!”
“We did not come here to defeat you.” Star Swirl defiantly told him off as he freed himself with his magic and used it to pull out his journal as a magical surge flows through their most magical elements to create a barrier around him
“What are you doing?!” The Pony of Shadows asked in disbelief and surprise.
“We came... to contain you.” Star Swirl answered as they all are lifted up as the Pony of Shadows screams in defeat as they all disappear leaving behind their treasured items behind where they all disappear since they were all holograms as items of the past leaving everypony in the present stunned in shock and amazement at this discovery.
“Well, you did ask for a magical explanation.” Pinkie cheerfully told Twilight as she pulled back up the journal.
“Uh... what just happened?” Rainbow Dash asked clearly confused by what they just saw.
“It looked like Star Swirl cast a spell that banished the Pony of Shadows.” Starlight analyzed the magical flashback as she turned to Sunburst.
“Of course!” Sunburst realized. “Powerful magic like that would leave an impression on this place. Bringing the book back here let us see what happened.”
“Which was what?” Applejack asked.
“Star Swirl and the rest of the Pillars sacrificed themselves to save Equestria.” Twilight solemnly answered as she held the journal with her wing. “Just like I did once before.”
The next day after making back to Canterlot, Twilight continues burying her neck deep down in her research where she tries and then successfully understands Star Swirl’s spell as she then gathers everypony back to the library to share her discovery.
“I know I've finished one of Star Swirl's spells before, but this one was on a whole different level!” Twilight started to explain as she pulled out several books. “Was it an explosion of magical feedback? An evocation? A kind of incantation? It's Star Swirl, so the possibilities are endless!” She then flew up into the air in excitement before sending the books back. “And once Starlight set me on the right track with his crazy hornwriting.” She giggled as Starlight humbly grinned. “I mean, he was a genius, so I guess we can forgive a little messiness I went through the journal again, and it's amazing!” She then said as she levitated said journal into Applejack’s face.
“Twilight, darling. We understand you're excited, but that's all we understand.” Rarity tried to speak to her that they are not on par with her intellect and knowledge as much as her.
“What exactly is so amazing?” Rainbow Dash asked sounding uninterested by the discovery.
“Only how Star Swirl and the other Pillars sent the Pony of Shadows to limbo!” Twilight replied as she flew up into her face.
“They did what now?” Applejack felt the need to ask again sounding annoyed and confused to which Twilight responded by pulling out a diorama as she used her magic to show them what happened.
“They used their magic to open a portal between worlds – to limbo – and pulled the Pony of Shadows inside.” She demonstrated as she created a ball of magic similar to the one the Pillars used on said villainous pony before vanquishing it with her magic.
“Darling, your diorama!” Rarity exclaimed in shock seeing her hard work destroyed.
“I made more!” Twilight replied unfazed by what she just did as she points the said dioramas created on one of the nearby tables before continuing. “Star Swirl thought the only way to trap the Pony of Shadows in limbo was for the Pillars to take him there.”
“So they got stuck, too!” Applejack concluded now understanding of what happened as Twilight flew beside her.
“The Pony of Shadows must have been really awful for them to do that.” Fluttershy shuddered in fright.
“I suppose being trapped for all time with a super-duper bad guy in limbo might be okay if you were doing the limbo, but that's still pushing it.” Pinkie figured as she literally tried to limbo under Twilight who didn’t see her from her observing her book until she saw she was right in her face before backing up.
“The thing is, I think I can get them out.” Twilight brought up with a determined expression as she an idea in mind of how to do it.
“Twilight, are you serious?” Sunburst asked in surprised amazement that’s possible. “You can save the most legendary ponies of all time?”
“I-I don't know.” Starlight spoke up unsure of the idea. “Opening portals between worlds didn't work out well for me. Are you sure it's safe?”
“Well for starters, the portals you opened were through time. Second of all, Star Swirl wrote the spell you used to do it. If he'd been here, he could have stopped it. And third and most and importantly, yes I know this is risky but I’m sure we can as we work together we can pull this off even if the Pony of Shadows managed to return too.” Twilight answered as she flew up to her and took the time to acknowledge what she is getting herself into.
“But you'd be savin' all the Pillars, right? A-And they disappeared ages ago.” Applejack pointed out and asked how that’s going to work.
“That's the thing about limbo. It isn't one place or another. It's in between, so time stands still. If we can pull them out, it'll be like they never left. ”Twilight explained as she flew back to her seat. “I actually built another model to demonstrate…” She added as Rainbow Dash again groaned completely bored out of her mind as she banged her head onto the table of how endless this is.
“What can we do to help?” Spike quickly offered.
“If I'm right, we need to find items that are connected to the Pillars in some way.” Twilight said as she thinks up the plan to go on about it.
“You mean, like, stuff that belonged to them?” Rainbow Dash correctly asked.
“How would we know what to look for? Or where?” Fluttershy wondered.
“Luckily, Star Swirl took a lot of notes.” Twilight replied as she pulled out the journal and opened it up to a particular page. "My compatriots are as varied as the realm itself and hail from every corner of our land, bringing with them artifacts and talismans of great power." She read from the book.
“Um, Twilight? What are you doing?” Starlight asked pointing her attention to said glowing magic above them.
“I'm not doing anything!” Twilight honestly answered just as surprised as said items appeared all over the map of Equestria.
“Rockhoof's shovel!” Applejack said as she eyed said image of the item next to her.
“Flash Magnus' shield!” Rainbow Dash said as she eyed said item across the table.
“Mistmane's flower!” Rarity pointed out to said image across the table.
“Meadowbrook's mask!” Fluttershy also pointed out to the item in front of her.
“And the blindfold Somnambula wore when she faced that nasty sphinx!” Pinkie also pointed out as she eyed the particular item in front of her.
“I guess we don't need to figure out who should get what.” Twilight said in response to all of this seeing that items closet to them spoke of said decision.
So with that all said and decided, while Twilight, Sunburst, and Starlight all to clean up the area to where the Pillars all disappeared too after having the others who set out to find the items in question to meet them all back there with said items in tow.
Applejack sets out to retrieve Rockhoof’s shovel from an archaeological dig at his old island home after saving everypony there by using her super strength to kick away a huge boulder that was going to crush everypony gathered.
Rarity retrieves Mistmane's flower from her old village after helping an elderly descendant of the village's residents restore the beauty of her family garden. Rainbow Dash and Spike retrieve Flash Magnus' shield from the Dragon Lands when Garble is revealed to be using it as a surfboard to after tricking the arrogant dragon into a race to buy them the time they need to escape with said shield.
Fluttershy retrieves Meadowbrook's mask from Cattail in the Hayseed Swamp who previously helped her heal Zecora back to health after she caught the Swamp Fever and was using the mask as face protection from the flash bees.
And last but not least Pinkie Pie retrieves Somnambula's blindfold from the pyramid outside the desert village with the help of Daring Do as they both manage to clean out a pool that was filled in slime as said blindfold was stuck in the drain.
During the final preparations, both Twilight and Sunburst can’t help but express their excitement at the thought of finally being able to meet up with their idols for the first time in their lives.
“I can't believe I'm gonna meet Star Swirl the Bearded! You know, outside of my dreams.” Twilight told a just as excited Sunburst as they look over Star Swirl’s journal on one of the statues.
“I can't believe you're actually going through with it.” Starlight expressed her disbelief as she removes one of the vines from one of the statues.
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.
“I'm all for pushing the envelope, obviously, but this is pretty out there for you, Twilight.” Starlight voiced her concerns.
“What's "out there" about saving the most legendary ponies of all time from a thousand-year-old prison?” Sunburst asked wondering how this could be a bad thing.
“Well... nothing when you say it like that.” Starlight honestly said as she moved to clear the vines off on another statue. “Unless "the most legendary ponies of all time" knew what they were doing, and we shouldn't mess with it.” She voiced her reasons why she is against this.
“I'm sure Star Swirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then, but magic has come a long way. Mostly because of the work they did.” Sunburst reasoned with her while getting what she is saying.
“That's true.” She agreed. “And you did get your wings from finishing one of Star Swirl's spells.”
“Exactly.” Twilight answered with a nod.
“But then I messed with one and nearly destroyed the universe, so...” Starlight also brought up.
“Starlight, I get what you’re saying…” Twilight acknowledged what she is trying to say. “But keep in mind I’m always a step ahead even when I’m reformed. And even if the Pony of Shadows is brought back too we’ll be able to stop it because I already have another plan in place.”
“That's good news.” Spike called out as she and Rainbow Dash had just arrived.
“Otherwise, we'd have brought this shield for nothing.” Rainbow said as she flew down to place the shield down towards the owner’s statue.
“I hope you don't think you're the only one to find her artifact, because this here shovel says otherwise.” Applejack responded as she put Rockhoof’s shovel in place.
“Honestly, you two. Not everything is a competition.” Rarity laughed off the two ponies competitive nature as she walked by with the flower in tow. “But Mistmane's flower is by far the most attractive of the artifacts.” She said as she admired the flower as she placed in front of its respective owner’s statue.
“You're just saying that because you didn't have to scuba dive in a pit of green slime to get yours!” Pinkie added her input as she placed the slime coated item in front of the owner’s respective statue.
“Or move a flash beehive.” Fluttershy also added as she placed the mask in front of the owner’s statue.
“Good work, everyone.” Twilight commended every journal as she placed the journal in front of Star Swirl’s statue. “Let's do this!” She said with determination to accomplish their task at hoof. Before casting magic from her horn she turns to Starlight to silently ask her if she trusts her on this to which Starlight obliged with a groan as she joined Twilight and Sunburst on focusing their magic on the journal which created the same magic the Pillar’s made before banishing the Pony of Shadow’s.
Once they see it’s working so far, Twilight and Sunburst both smile in anticipation while Starlight still looks unsure of what’s going to happen as they watch their magic do its work as the magic successfully brings all six ponies back from limbo.
Once they all fell back onto their statues they find themselves quickly pulled off of the statues when boulders that have also appeared over them nearly crushed them as they all landed onto the statues.
“What... What has happened?” Star Swirl asked as he awakens and tries to figure out what is going on.
“It worked! We brought you back!” Twilight happily said as she approached her idol.
“To where?” Star Swirl asked as he gets up on his hooves.
“You and the others have been trapped in limbo for over a thousand years, but I figured out how to get you ho…” Twilight explained to him of the situation before Star Swirl interrupts her mid-sentence with alarm in his eyes.
“What?! No, no, no, no! You must undo what you've done!” Star Swirl exclaimed in shock and horror.
“Why?” Twilight asked.
“You cannot bring us back!” Star Swirl further exclaimed as Twilight backs up.
“But I did. I brought all the Pillars back.” Twilight calmly responded and she looks a little taken aback by his sudden shock. “What harm is done.”
“You cannot bring only the Pillars back!” Star Swirl further exclaimed as lightning strikes as the Pony of Shadows makes its appearance in the central of the area as dark clouds appeared over the sky.
“Oh yeah.” Twilight dully and calmly said upon seeing him as if she almost forgot why and what Star Swirl is talking about. “That’s why.”