//------------------------------// // Aftermaths and Echoes // Story: My Little Mages: The Shadows' Revenge // by Foxhelm //------------------------------// The six witnesses, Big Mac, Tempest, and the couple were in a silent awkwardness as they walked back to the reception proper. After a few seconds, “So ever thought about having kids?” Trixie asked Starlight, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Trixie!” Starlight shouted as she buried her face.  “What?” Trixe countered with shoulders raised in confusion. “Sure, you and I had a few fun times on our road trips, but at some point we’re going to have to define what our relationship is. Am I the squeeze you need when Sunburst’s soldier boy can’t salute?” She asked, she then turned with an evil smirk to Sunburst, “Of course he didn’t seem to have that problem earlier.” “TRIXIE!” Sunburst shouted as he covered his groin, his face as red as a beat. “What?” Trixie protested. “I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to be part of the action, granted I would have also just swapped places with either bride or gr-” she was silenced by a spell from Twilight.  “The less we talk about this the better. The only thing that needs to be said is ‘‘Yes, Flash and I have consummated our wedding and we are now man and woman’, Agreed?.” Twilight declared. Everyone else quietly agreed. They all turned to Trixie expecting an agreement she only pointed to her mouth indicating that she can’t voice her agreement in the current state. Twilight rolled her eyes and ended her spell. “Fine. I won’t say anything but that.” Trixie groaned as she agreed to the terms, just before they arrived at the doors. Before Twilight could open the door, she was pulled back by Tempest with the later’s arm ready to electrocute whatever she touched, “Do you hear something?” she asked. The others were about to answer but fell silent as they realized that they heard nothing.  Twilight in a panic forced Tempest a side. After she flug open the doors she gasped. “Get Dr. Redheart!” she ordered as she flew in with Big Mac in her wake. Three hours later, most of the guests were in rooms in Magivillie General Hospital, recovering from the initial shock and trauma, save a hand full, Discord and Armity were still in surgery, but past the worst of things and Sunset was in the patient pickup room with an ice pack on her head. There she was joined by Twilight, Flash and SciTwi, after she heard Dr. Redheart said, “She’s mostly fine, but don’t stress her too much, I don’t want her head ache to act up.” “Hey guys,” Sunset said weakly as she waved to them, “So your marriage is official right?” she asked. SciTwi walked right up to her, “You’re cracking jokes now! I find you unconscious and the reception hall an utter disaster, and you’re cracking jokes?!” she scolded Sunset, tears in her eyes, not unlike a parent after pulling a child away from a dangerous animal at a zoo that said child had angered. Sunset gave a weak teehee, before she dipped her head, “Sorry, babe, but…” Sunset stopped not sure how to explain it. “Humor is a coping mechanism.” Flash stepped into the conversation, saving Sunset. As the others turned to him, “Especially dark humour for us in the military.” The three just stared at him, “You should hear some of Flash Magnus’ jokes some time,” he added. There was about two seconds of awkward silence before Flash coughed, “So what happened?” Sunset took a breath, “You got a memory gem so that you can just see my memories?” she asked. Everyone looked at what they were all wearing, still in dresses (suit in Flash’s case) for the wedding and then turned back to Sunset. “Right.” she softly groaned before she sighed. “Almost as soon as you all left ten people in long robes with cloaks and hoods came in with various instruments. One walked up to the table your,” she pointed to Flash and Twilight ‘families were and said something about playing a tune for your wedding. Your mom basically said yes and then they played this strange tune that sounded both familiar and yet like nothing I’ve heard.” “Do you remember it?” SciTwi asked. Sunset smirked, “Babe, I can play it.” she boasted before she turned to Flash, “Say can you get your guitar?” Flash nodded and turned to leave and within two seconds he was back with his guitar, his ethereal wings on his ankles still pulsating purple. He handed it to Sunset. Sunset then bag to play. After a few notes Twilight and Flash turned to each outer, their faces losing shades of color as the tune continued. Sunset stopped as she noted the widening eyes and dilating pupils of the two. “You guys know it?” she asked. “And who are you, the Cloud Sage said,” Twilight whispered as she and Flash turned back to Sunset and SciTwi. “That I must kneel so low?” Flash added his lips trembling as he sang slightly louder than Twilight. The two stopped as Sunset’s own eyes widened in terror as she finally recalled the song. “The Banes of Castle Moor.” Sunset whispered in horror. SciTwi looked at her three companions in the room. From one to another in utter bewilderment. “Excuse me, but who is Castle Moor and what are his banes?” she asked as she sought clarification. The three turned to the forth in the room, “Sorry, you’re technically three years old.” Flash started, which caused Sunset’s eyes to widen in horror as it dawned on her how old her girlfriend actually is, while Twilight could only bury her face in her hands and groan. If Flash was aware, he showed no signs as he continued, “You see, prior to the founding of Mystica…” “I already know about Bullion’s reign and the era of the Three Tribes.” SciTwi cut him off, her face revealing the lack of amusement over this lackluster history lecture. “So get to the point.” As Flash gave a weak teehee in response, “And don’t speak to me so condescending about how long I have actually lived, I am biologically in my twenties.” she added as she crossed her arms and puffed out her checks in a pout. Flash gave a nervous laugh before he cleared his throat. “Well, before Bullion became king, his father was murdered by a Skyborn noble who was a vassal to him, The Cloud Sage of Castle Moor. After Bullion, according to his own account, ‘conquered’ the Sirens. Bullion began his conquest to be king by first raising Castle Moor and casting Cloud Sage and all of his kin to the dust.” Flash informed. “This event led to the commissioning of the Banes of Castle Moor, a tune Bullion would use to send a message to his other vassals and then to those he conquered once he became king to remind them of his fury.” “Castle Moor was called that because it was a castle surrounded by a labyrinthine moor that only Skyborn could lay siege to.” Twilight added, “Which is why the song is so haunting, because at the time Bullion had next to no support and what little support he had were a handful of Earthborn serfs that were forced to provide food for Castle Moor.” she continued to elaborate, in an attempt to point out how terrifying Bullion was. “Okay, moving on from the song, what else happened?” Flash asked as he saw that the conversation had to move forward.  Sunset sighed, “As they played, another being arrived. He was about three meters tall and after he greeted your families and the princesses he revealed himself to be Sombra.” Sunset informed. Twilight froze as Sunset continued. “He fought the princesses and those at the table and something seeped out of his armor, only to be revealed to be the being you wrote about, the Nightstalker?” she asked as she tried to remember. She didn’t wait for Twilight to voice an answer before she continued. “Then the musicians revealed themselves to be others your wrote about, people with some bad blood with your friends, I think their names were Lightning Dust, Wind Ryder, the FlimFlam Brothers, Suri Polomage, Gladmage and Svengali.” she listed before she paused again and took a breath. “The last of them were the Sirens.” Twilight was still silent, but terror grew on her face. As Sunset finished recounting what happened, with the use of Grogar’s Bell on everyone, until “And after Gaea and Gloriosa shoved me out of the way, Amity knocked me out and hid me.” Sunset took another breath as before she continued, “And that’s it until I woke up here.” She dipped her head in defeat. “Sorry, I wish I could have done more, but…” she trailed off. Twilight stepped away and started to pant, much like when one started to have a panic attack, “Sombra’s alive (pant, pant) he has Grogar’s Bell (pant, pant, pant) and he gathered…” she began to wheeze. “Twi!” Flash shouted as he took Twilight by both her upper arm. “Look at me, look at me.” he ordered. Twilight turned. “Good, now ddddeeeepppp breath.” he said as he tried to speak while taking a deep breath. Twilight took a deep breath. Flash then covered her mouth, “Now hold.” He counted three beats, “Now let it out, sslloowwllyy.” he tried to draw out the ‘slowly’ to guide Twilight through it. Twilight then let out her breath as directed. “Better?” he asked. Twilight gave a weak smile, “I am not panicking anymore.” She stated, fairly depressed. After a deep sigh  “What am I going to do?” she asked as she looked away. “Sombra dissolved right in front of me, he didn’t even resist the …” She paused as she recalled the last time she engaged Sombra and recalled how long it took her and her friends to actually get to Chantalot and that Sombra was waiting for her, her friends and Discord. “He expected us to beat him.” Twilight realized as she turned to face the others. “This was a contingency plan. As he waited for my friends and I to arrive, he must have figured out flaws in Discord’s plan, well the plan he wanted Sombra, Chrysalis, Cozy and Tirek to implement while under the mask of Grogar.” Sunset placed the guitar down as she spoke up, “Okay so he elected to recruit the rest of your…” She paused as she recalled the Sirens were also a foe of hers as well, “...well our rogue's gallery. But how did he survive?” “Well if Celestia and Luna could only banish him under the ice and when the Elements of Harmony were used on him after using the Crystal Heart as a magnifier, it didn’t kill him…” Flash started. “And even if Discord would snap things in and out of reality, resurrection, even in the twisted form used by a necromancer, is almost impossible. Sombra would need to have something in our realm of existence that houses a piece of his…” Flash started to voice what the other three were piecing together. “THE ALICORN AMULET!” Twilight shouted as she recalled the item she had not contented with for years. “Sombra must have been the person who made it.” she mused. “So while he was waiting for us, he found where it was located and collected it.”      As Twilight finished stating her presumption of what could have led to this. Sunset got up, no longer feeling the ill effects of what happened to her, “But how did he get to be three meters tall and able to surpass Celestia, Luna, and the others, and how did all the others become into what I saw and how did the Sirens get their true powers back?” the pyromancer asked. Twilight held her chin in thought, “They had Grogar’s bell…” she paused and then dropped her hand before she gasped, “They must have used it at the Grandhedge, it’s the only place with the stored magical energy that could enable Sombra to be able to match Celestia and Luna with just his left hand, let alone how everyone else changed.” she surmised. SciTwi cleared her throat, “Um question, how would that even be possible?” she asked. Sunset took her girl-friend’s hand, “Grogar’s Bewitching Bell dates back to even before Starswirl, during the time of Gusty. Not much from back then was ever recorded and much of whatever has been recorded was likely lost to time. But if it can strip Discord, of all beings, of all his power turning him into pretty much a normal human… twice...” she trailed off as she allowed SciTwi to connect the dots herself. SciTwi gave an ‘Ow’ as she got the answer to her question. “Right.” She then turned to Twilight, “So what do we do know? We can’t let Sombra and them keep the bell and all that power.” Twilight took a breath as she shut her eyes for just a second. After that second her eyes opened slowly as a confident smile formed on her face. “I am going to get a team together and with them I am going to put this mad dog down once and for all. So who’s with me?” she asked. Before the other three could answer, “I am.” came the voice of Timber. The group turned to see that they had left the door open as Timber stepped into the room. “Dr. Red Heart directed me here.” He informed them before he pulled out a gem from his pocket. “Can anyone make this into a memory protection and does anyone know how to use that?” he asked. Sunset nodded and took the gem. After she whispered into the gem she placed it on Timber’s forehead and from his eyes was sent out a projection. The projection showed Timber looking down at Gloriosa lying in a medical bed hooked up to a life sport machine. Next to him stood Dr. Red Heart. “I am sorry Mr. Spruce, but it appears that your sister’s body can’t survive on its own, as she’s in an extreme form of a co-dependent symbiotic relationship and for some reason the partner creature or creatures can’t fulfill their part of the mutual survival.” “I know,” Timber sighed as he dipped his head, “She, our mother, and our maternal grandmother have all been vessels for a spirit, that started at each of their conceptions and ended with the conception of their first daughter.” “A familial generational spirit pack?” Red Heart mused as she looked at the machines hooked up to Gloriosa, both to keep her alive and the readouts of Gloriosa’s status, “That actually does explain much,” she mused before she turned back to Timber. “Assuming that the spirit also had its own power drained, then we need to return to the spirit its power.” Timber raised his head and looked Red Heart in the eye, “How much time do I have?” he asked.  Red Heart looked back at the readouts for a second, “Before permanent damage to her body set in, namely her internal organs…” she paused as she tried to give a quick calculation. “At best week, but that’s liable to worsen,” she informed Timber. “On top of that the longer it takes for the spirit’s power to be returned the harder her recovery will be.” she added. “Do you know where Princess Twilight is?” Timber asked as he walked to the bed and took Gloriosa’s right hand. “I am going to save you, Sis.” he whispered. He then opened his mouth but stopped from speaking and after about a minute as if he was caught in a thought that he realized was not one he should indulge in. He then closed his mouth and took a breath. “Just please hold on.” He then got up and looked to Red Heart as she guided him out of the room. The projection ended as Sunset removed the gem from Timber’s forehead. “So how long have you been listening to us?” she asked.  Timber shocked his head, “I don’t really know, long enough to know that you’re going after those that did that to my sister.” he answered. He raised his head and looked square at Twilight, “I don’t really care about this Sombrero guy, and a part of me wants to …” he paused as he didn’t want to say what was on his mind. “Make them pay?” Sunset asked which caused Timber to turn to face her again. “But you’re scared about how Gloriosa would view you if you let that want of revenge be your motive?” it was phrased as a question, but everyone could tell it wasn’t. Timber sighed as he dipped his head, “yeah…” he reluctantly confessed before he took another breath. “But I need to get Gaea her power back as soon as possible, I’ll cross the bridge of vengeance or mercy later.” He then turned back to Twilight, “So, will you let me join you?” he asked. Twilight nodded, “So what about you all?” she asked the other three in the room. Flash smirked, “I got a couple of scores to settle with Sombra, I am in.” as he recalled not only when Sombra bewitched him but also broke his back. Sunset had a little chuckle, “If Twilight’s notes are anything to go by, you’re going to need help with that.” she joked at Flash’s expense. Flash only rolled his eyes in response, “I’m in too.” “Me too!” shouted SciTwi. Everyone turned to her with a degree of shock on their faces, “Well, my girlfriend and fiance are both going to face this monster and what am I going to do here? Pace around in the kitchen? Twiddle my fingers? It’s not like I can do anything for any of the other guests who had their magic drained by the Bell.” she pointed out that she really had nothing better to do. Twilight smiled at this, “Okay, we just need a few more.” About an hour later, “Why is Trixie here?” the illusionist asked as she, Starlight, Sunburst and Tempest had joined Twilight et al in the Castle of Friendship’s throne room as all but the illusionist were preparing to confront Sombra and the last of Twilight and her friends’ rogues’ gallery while all of their Aura Marks were hovering over the base of Mt. Philistine. Tempest tapped Starlight on the shoulder and leaned in so that only the binder would hear her, “If she complains one more time...” she lifted her right hand with her fingertips pointing to the ceiling as electricity danced between them. Starlight’s eyes widened for a second before she stepped away from the back of spell components and scrolls of spells she can bind together, “I’ll go talk to her.” Starlight said as she walked towards the illusionists, “Hey Trixie, can we talk?” she said as she pulled Trixie out of the room. Tempest smiled as she went back to cleaning her armor and calming her mind. “So what’s the plan?” Sunburst asked as he looked over his scrolls, his spell book and prepared to cast his combat spells. Flash, while cleaning his sword, shield and armor, “Separate each of Sombra’s cohorts from him and the rest, make sure they can’t hurt us without killing them, get Grogar’s Bewitching Bell, use it on them and Sombra, use the bell to return the magic that it took from everyone else, destroy it, destroy the alicorn amulet, kill Sombra and put the rest on trial,” the sentinel answered as he finished cleaning and started to don his armor. “Simple.” “I am more concerned about the how.” Sunburst said as his body shook in slight terror of the upcoming fight. “I am not a soldier.”  Flash clearly fought back a groan, “Do you know the ‘Hold’ spell?” he asked as he sheathed his sword into its scabbard before donning the belt it was attached to. “Yes,” Sunburst answered weakly. Flash then patted Sunburst on both his shoulders, “Good.” there was a bit of a dismissiveness in his tone that Sunburst didn’t seem to pick up, “We’ll go from there if we need it.” Elsewhere in the room, Sunset spotted Timber preparing arrows and a bow. She walked up to him, “It’s not wrong to want justice for what happened to Gloriosa,” she said as she was trying to comfort him. Timber stopped and sighed, “Yeah,” he relented. He took a deep breath before he looked up to the ceiling and the roots of the dead Golden Oak and the memory storage gems hanging from them. “But who am I to say what counts as justice?” he asked. Sunset couldn’t give him an answer. “Don’t worry if you don’t have one, I don’t have one either.” he said as he began to load his quiver. “I ask myself it because Gloriosa will ask me if I do anything more than just bring the ones that used the bell on her to answer for their crimes.” About ten minutes later, Twilight came with her old staff and spell book, she was in followed by Starlight and Trixie. “Alright, everyone one ready?” she asked as she absorbed that everyone was armed and ready to go. Everyone nodded. “Alright.” she began to draw a magical circle. Once she finished, “Alright everyone step in.” “Wait, wait, wait,” Trixie shouted before she stepped in. “How are we going to get back?” she asked.  Starlight pointed to Twilight’s boats, “Those boots are made for walking, and walking is what they’ll do and if you don’t stop complaining, they’re gonna walk overall you.” she pretty much threatened before she shoved Trixie. Once everyone was inside, “Alright, here goes everything.” Twilight said as she took a breath and activated the circle. A shadow emerged from the base Mt. Philistine and revealed itself to be Sombra and his allies. “Excellent work everyone.” Sombra said as he applauded them. Lightning and Wind could not help but smirk, “That foolish girl knows where she belongs.” Wind commented. “Right in the Trash.” Lightning added as she snickered. Suri, The FlimFlam Brothers, Sven and Glandmage only seemed to give off the joy of catharsis release via the justice. However, the Sirens were very much annoyed, but clearly the two that interfered with their justice upon Sunset cared about Sunset and likely she cared about them in turn, so they elected to make lemonade. The lot were joined by Grindale, after he slipped from Sombra’s armor, and they all cheered, discussing what they were about to do, ignoring the other party of the lot.  A wicked grin formed on Sombra’s face as he took Grogar’s bell and, pointing it at Grindale, rang it. Grindale howled as he struck from his colossal form to about the size of a boy barely a decade old, all the while his body morphed from the dark goo appearing substance to being a flesh and bone being that was no different than a Magicborn but with pale gray skin, black hair and steel blue eyes. As he turned to face Sombra, only to see Sombra’s eyes were fields of white and his focus gem was shining brilliant yellow only for it to blast Grindale. The magic eradicated Grindale, destroying his body, leaving nothing but an outline. Everyone else was left frozen, unable to move as Sombra pointed the bell at the decade. “You had your fun, but now the bill comes due.” Sombra said as he rang the bell. Within seconds of casting the spell, Twilight et al arrived at the ruins of the Grandhenge. Everyone prepared their means to attack or defend themselves(namely Trixie as she cowered behind Sunburst and Starlight), but there was nothing. Nothing but "Help...us…" from a weakened and broken woman. Twilight, Flash, Sunset and Trixie didn't take long to recall the owner of the voice.  "Adagio?" Trixie asked as she revealed herself and walked in front of everyone to see Adagio, Sonata, Aria, Suri, Flim, Flam, Lightning, Svengali, Gladmage and Wind all on the ground covered in scrapes, bruises, lacerations and other wounds. They were all pretty much bloody messes in a very literal means. Trixie walked up to and then knelt down to speak with Adagio. "What happened?" Adagio could only open her left eye as the other was swollen shut as she coughed up some blood, "Well ain't it The Great and Powerful." She laughed somewhat bitterly, but the glimmer in her good eye told Trixie that Adagio was glad to have some help. Adagio then coughed again. "You wouldn't believe it." She stated bitterly. By that time Twilight and Sunset had joined Trixie as the others gathered, bound, and started to treat the wounds of the rest of Sombra's cohorts, save Aria and Sonata who were just unconscious, as if the wind was knocked out of them. Sunset took out the gem she used to show Timber's talk with Red Heart. "You won't be able to hide anything." Sunset said as she placed the gem on Adagio's forehead Adagio groaned as light projected from her eyes and the memory started.  Suri, The FlimFlam Brothers, Sven and Gladmage only seemed to give off the joy of catharsis release via the justice. However, the Sirens were very much annoyed, but clearly the two that interfered with their justice upon Sunset cared about Sunset and likely she cared about them in turn, so they elected to make lemonade. The lot were joined by Grindale, after he slipped from Sombra’s armor, and they all cheered, discussing what they were about to do, ignoring the other party of the lot.  A wicked grin formed on Sombra’s face as he took Grogar’s bell and, pointing it at Grindale, rang it. Grindale howled as he struck from his colossal form to about the size of a boy barely a decade old, all the while his body morphed from the dark goo appearing substance to being a flesh and bone being that was no different than a Magicborn but with pale gray skin, black hair and steel blue eyes. As he turned to face Sombra, only to see Sombra’s eyes were fields of white and his focus gem was shining brilliant yellow only for it to blast Grindale. The magic eradicated Grindale, destroying his body, leaving nothing but an outline. Everyone else was left frozen, unable to move as Sombra pointed the bell at the decade. “You had your fun, but now the bill comes due.” Sombra said as he rang the bell. "What the fuck?" Lightning shouted as they all were trying to process what Sombra said and what happened. Sombra grinned as he shook his head as he put the bell on his belt. "It's simple. I don't need any of you any more." "So you're just going to take our power and kill us?" Adagio asked as she came to her senses and looked at the residue of the Nightstalker before turning back to Sombra. Sombra laughed maniacally at that. "No, I am going to take back what I gave and leave you to the jackals as you crawl on your bellies like the snakes I found you as." Sombra declared as he moved his feet to prepare himself to battle the ten. "Now will you accept your doom with what little dignity you have left, or must I break you each first." "Not if we get the bell from you." Adagio challenged as they all stepped forward as they readied to fight. Sombra could not but help break into a thunderous laugh. "And even if you succeed and use the bell on me. What will you do next?" He asked. This caused the rest to stop and begin to think. "Have you wondered why I waited until after Twilight and her sentinel left for their bedding ceremony to have you all go ahead of me?" He asked. The others were left perplexed. "Do you have any idea how powerful a sentinel is if they happen to be bound in matrimony to, as one flesh with one who they are devoted to regardless of how powerful the one devoted to is?" He asked. The rest were still at a loss. "I managed to hex Sentry, almost turning him to be devoted to me." Adagio pointed out. "And how did that work out?" Sombra asked. "I have been observing Twilight, her friends and their foes since she and her dragon help my half-sister's base-born son's lust born daughter usurp me." Sombra pointed out. "He managed to be set free from your hex and managed to challenge you in battle." He informed them. "Besides Twilight is not the scared little girl you sang against, Adagio. She's been a true woman since she blasted me without the Elements of Harmony, while you're still ..." Sombra stopped and chuckled at his pause and Adagio growled in response. After his laugh. "So even if you get the bell from me and use it on me, you'll have to either fight over it amongst your petty and impotent selves to see who can claim all that power, at which point Twilight and her sentinel will arrive and leave you eating dust or you can divide the power of the bell amongst yourselves and still be eating dust once she arrives." "We're not letting you take our powers without a fight." Sonata declared before she charged him. Sombra smirked. There was a flash of light and the field changed to look just like how Twilight et al arrived, save Adagio. She was standing in front of Sonata and Aria, the two later sirens were in their human form and drained of their magics, and wearing the white tunic like garments. Adagio was panting as Sombra stood in front of her. "You can't win, Adagio." Sombra pointed out. "The rest can live, but Bullion, Starswirl and Twilight were and are fools to allow you and your sisters to live." Adagio looked over shoulder to her sisters then back as she panted. She then looked down her chest. Her heaving chest. She then looked back up and followed Sombra's own eyes. An idea came to her. She couldn't stop her body from shaking in disgust at it, but she knew those eyes. "Please, I will do anything, please don't kill my sisters."  Sombra stopped for a minute. His triumphant grin shifted to a thoughtful frown. He hummed, "You do know that I will take your power regardless?" Adagio nodded. Sombra smiled before he took the bell of his belt. But he didn't point it at Adagio. "And I shall be seated as the most high, as the head of the assembly." He rang it upon himself. After almost a minute all the power in the bell was absorbed into Sombra. Sombra's body grew to four meters tall while still proportional to his original state. From his back came six wings. His face shifted to be more akin to a cobra's (hood and all), his body was now a blaze and shone like polished obsidian, and he grew a serpent tail thrice as long as he stood. Sombra turned the bell on Adagio, "Fallen, fallen is Bebil the great, who made the sons of gods drink her wine of debauchery." and he rang the bell on Adagio, draining her of all her magic and turning her back into a human with the same white tunic like garment of her sisters, as she fell to her knees and hands. Sombra closed the distance between the two and wrapped her around her waist with his tail and lifted her up and brought her face to his. "Anything?" He asked, it wasn't a real question as he opened his mouth and leaned in to force his tongue into her mouth. Adagio tried to turn away, terror and horror written on her face, but Sombra's tail had already wrapped around more of her body, including around her neck with the very tip forcing her to face Sombra.