Chapter 3: A Challenge Accepted
Morning rose as Twilight got out of bed smiling seeing Spike twitch in his sleep, Twilight noticed Kald wasn't on his couch.
Twilight walked down the stairs to look for Kald but he wasn't there either, getting worried Twilight looked in the basement but still didn't find him.
Twilight galloped out of the door to the library and quickly saw Rainbow Dash napping on a nearby cloud, “Hey! Rainbow Dash!”, she yelled her voice strained with worry.
“Huh, what is it Twilight?”, Rainbow replied sleepily as she woke up from her nap, Twilight quickly responded “You haven't seen Kald have you, I can't find him anywhere,” Rainbow thought for a moment, “No I haven't seen him since the picnic yesterday, maybe Rarity has since she was making him those clothes,” Rainbow flew down from her cloud to join Twilight on their walk over to Carousel Boutique.
When they arrived Rarity was in the middle of stitching what appeared to be a shirt for Kald, Twilight a little less worried walked over to Rarity, “Hey Rarity, you haven't seen Kald by any chance today have you?”, Rarity looked at Twilight with puzzlement, “Why no deary why do ask?”, at this news Twilights ears lowered as her worry began to grow.
“Twilight, what's wrong?”, Rarity asked with sincerity, “I can't find Kald, it doesn't seem like he ever came back from his walk last night, i'm worried” Twilight said frantically, Rainbow put a hoof on Twilights shoulder to try and calm her down, “Don’t worry Twilight he probably just got lost, maybe Pinkie Pie has seen him,” Twilight stared at Rainbow Dash with worry, “We should hurry and check, I have a bad feeling.”
The three ponies walked out the door heading to Sugarcube Corner in hopes of finding out what could have happened to Kald all the while Twilight could feel a sinking feeling in her heart.
Twilight was the first through the door to Sugarcube Corner, “Pinkie, Pinkie, where are you?”, Pinkie Pie came bouncing out of the kitchen, “What's the matter Twilight you act like you're going to be tardy again,” Twilight grabbed Pinkie Pie and stared at her with a dire expression on her face, “Pinkie this is serious have you seen Kald I can’t find him.”
Pinkie released herself from Twilights grasp giggling, “Of course i have silly, I saw him walking into the woods last night.”
“Do you remember anything strange?” Twilight asked desperately hoping to hear good news.
Pinkie Pie thought for a moment, “Oh, well I saw Luna following him into the woods all secret like, i just guessed she was going to give him a surprise,” Twilight rattled her brain wondering what Luna would follow Kald for.
Spike suddenly burst through the door along with Fluttershy, “Twilight quick! We all need to go now”, Twilight stumbled back in surprise, “Woah, calm down spike what's happened?”, Twilight then noticed a letter in Spike’s hand.
Spike caught his breath, “Celestia sent me this letter wanting you and the others to come to Canterlot, Twilight something has happened with Kald,” Twilight expected this news but not that Kald would be in Canterlot.
Twilight’s bad feeling grew as she absorbed the news she just heard, she wondered what had happened to have Kald end up in Canterlot, and what could be so bad Celestia needed their help.
***********
Twilight and the girls gathered to the Library as Celestia’s letter had instructed to find Canterlot chariots awaiting them to which they quickly boarded.
Twilight was filled with worry as to what could have happened to Kald last night, “It must be serious if Celestia is rushing us like this,” she thought, as the possibility of her new friend being in great danger sank in.
The chariots soon arrived at the Canterlot Castle courtyard as Twilight and the rest disembarked and quickly galloped into the throne room to see Celestia and Luna arguing.
“I don't know where you're hiding him sister but you must release him immediately!” Celestia furiously yelled at Luna, Luna snorted, “What makes you think I have him maybe he ran off on his own,” Celestia stamped a hoof in anger, “I will find him sister and i will release him Equestria has enough troubles, we do not need to create more!” she yelled as she stormed off to Twilight and the others as Luna receeded back to her wing of the castle.
“What’s wrong princess what's happened?”, Twilight inquired with fear in her voice, Celestia calmed herself and faced the six brave ponies, “I have trusted you six with great tasks before so I trust you with this one now, Kald is missing as i'm sure you know and i believe that Luna is hiding him somewhere, I want you all to see if you can find him and rescue him.”
Rainbow swooped up and gave a salute, “You can count on us mam ain't no one taking our friend away,” as the others chimed in agreement Celestia smiled, “Thank you my little ponies, I will warn you now Luna has her Shadow Bolts posted around her wing of the castle and the dungeon on patrols, i suspect she is hiding him in the castle but i do not have any proof, so don't let anypony else know what your doing.”
“Don’t worry we will find him princess,” Twilight said reassuringly, “Come on girls lets see what clues we find,” Pinkie Pie said with her detective’s hat on as she darted out the door to head to the town square of Canterlot.
As Celestia watched them depart she stared back at the door to Luna’s wing of the castle, hoping they were not too late to save him.
***********
Luna closed her door as she entered her room, she looked around making sure she was alone, assured she was not being watched she casually walked over to a bookcase to which she kicked the bottom shelf making it sink back into the wall and to the right revealing a secret passage.
Luna walked down a few stairs to a room dimly lit with torches where Kald unconsciously hung from its low ceiling by his shackled hands, Luna used her magic to have him fall to floor as she kicked him in the side to wake him up.
“Oww! It’s rude to wake someone up that way you know,” Kald said tauntingly as he smirked in defiance to her treatment.
Luna used her mouth to grab Kald by the back of his jacket and drag him up the stairs, where Luna threw him onto the floor of her room.
“So, am I getting the royal treatment now?” Kald said keeping a smug, confident face.
Luna snorted in anger, “You may act tough, but no one will come for you.”
Kald looked at her and smiled, “Are you sure about that?”
“Of course I am, even if your so called friends look for you they will not find you here I am sure of that, and the magical pressure I keep on you should keep you from using your powers since you can’t hardly move,” Luna walked over and looked out her window, “I don't know what you came here for but it doesn't matter, you don’t belong here and I will be sure to get rid of you one way or another.”
“If that is so why haven't you just killed me then? Why do you keep me here?”, Luna walked over to Kald holding his chin with her hoof, “So I can learn why magic avoids you, and so that I can make sure nothing like you makes it to Equestria again.”
Kald’s eyes grew wide at her statement as he could feel the hatred in her gaze, Luna laughed, “I see i struck a nerve, but don’t worry everypony will forget you soon enough,” Luna put a carrot in Kald’s mouth, “Now eat, I can't have you dying now can I.”
Kald ate his carrot and looked at Luna with a defiant look on his face, “I won't die here, I have friends and they will find me,” Luna turned to Kald her face filled with anger as she trotted over and kicked him in the stomach, “And why do you say that? Why do you believe you are safe?”
Kald looked into her eyes so she could see his determination, “Because I believe in my friends and still have hope,” Luna kicked him again to which Kald passed out from the pain.
Luna left Kald on the floor and quickly left her room locking her door behind her, “Guard the door, make sure no one get in,” she ordered to one of her Shadow Bolts as she left to go fly, she had to clear her head, Luna didn't like what she was doing but she had to do it, she had to protect her little ponies from what her sister chose to ignore, with tears in her eyes she reached a balcony and took flight into the now night sky.
***********
Twilight and the gang met at Spike’s favorite doughnut shop to talk about what to do next since there had been no clues of where Kald might be.
“Did y’all find anythin’?”, Applejack asked as they all gathered around a table, Twilight and the others shook their heads, “The only thing suspicious going on is Lunas’ Shadowbolts guarding her wing of the castle,” Twilight said with a sigh.
Rainbow Dash began to delve into thought as she heard what Twilight had said, “Something on your mind Rainbow?”, Fluttershy asked in her soft tone.
Rainbows ears perked up, “Yea, yea there is, I wanna know what Luna is trying to hide and i'm gonna find out,” as she began to trot over to the door.
Twilight quickly teleported herself in front of Rainbow Dash to stop her“Wait Rainbow you just can’t just fly into Lunas room,” Rainbow flapped her wings in annoyance, “O yea, and why not?”, Twilight hung her head and sighed, “You remember what Celestia said we can’t raise any suspicion remember, no pony can know what's going on.”
Rainbow tucked her wings back in and snorted, “Ugh I guess you're right, but I need to get up there I gotta know what she’s hiding.”
At that moment Rainbow saw Luna flying away from the castle, “Look,” she called to the others as they all came outside to see what Rainbow was pointing at.
Rainbow looked back to the others and flapped her wings ready to take off, “Now’s my chance,” as she shot off like a bullet into the night heading to the window that lead to Lunas room.
The others watched as Rainbow disappeared into the dark, “Good luck Rainbow,” Twilight whispered to herself as worry began to fill her heart now that two of her friends were in harms way.
***********
Kald slowly began to wake up feeling pain all throughout his body from the magical pressure spell being kept on him and the blows he received from Luna, Kald crawled towards the bed in the room inching his way over and eventually sitting himself up at the foot of the bed.
Kald lowered his head looking down at the floor, Kald looked around the room realizing he was the only one inside and since he wasn't hanging from the ceiling he was relatively comfortable, well as much as he could be anyway.
Kald began to laugh a little to himself as a tear dripped to the floor, Kald wiped away his other tear and gathered his composure, he had to stay strong for his friends, he knew they would come.
“Kald is that you?”, Kald turned to the window his eyes wide with happiness at the Rainbow Dash he saw at the window, “Yes Rainbow it’s me, I knew you would come,” Rainbow flew in the window and trotted over to Kald and gave him a hug.
“Of course we would, we couldn't leave you hangin,” she said as she pulled away and saw the rough shape Kald was in, “By Celestia what has she done too you?” Kald smirked back at her, “This is nothing i’m fine.”
“Come on let’s get you out of here,” Rainbow said as she began to try and pick him up, “You weigh a ton,” she said in struggled grunts as she continued to try and lift Kald.
“That won’t work, Luna is maintaining some kind of magic pressure spell,” Kald said stopping Rainbow Dash from attempting to pick him up.
Rainbow stepped back, “Hey wait here i’ll go get Twilight to help get that spell off you,” as she quickly bolted out the window and out of sight.
Kald attempted to stand but only to collapse onto his knees and fall over, Kald was glad his friends had arrived but he knew it wouldn't be so easy to escape as flying out the window, once Twilight used her magic the Shadowbolts would know something was wrong and there would be a fight on their hands.
Sitting himself back up against the bed Kald waited for his friends to return he knew he needed to rest for what was soon to come.
Rainbow Dash soon returned carrying Twilight on her back, “O my, I am so sorry Kald,” Twilight said sadly, Kald looked over to her with a smile, “Don't worry this isn't your fault,” Twilight walked over to Kald and pointed her horn at him and it began to glow.
“Hmm, this doesn't seem too difficult, give me a second,” Twilight said her horn glowing as she concentrated on breaking the spell being held on Kald.
Soon Twilight's horn grew brighter and there was a flash and the spell was dispersed from Kald.
***********
Luna could feel her spell disperse as she flew through the sky, coming back to reality from her mind she noticed she had flown far past Everfree Forest.
With worry building in her chest she quickly turned around and began to soar back to Canterlot, hoping that nothing terrible had happened in her absence and that Kald had not escaped.
She tried to fly faster but tired from the flight out she settled for the steady pace she managed to maintain.
Her fear began to creep into her mind as she began to doubt herself on the decisions she had made, she found herself wondering if she had made the wrong choice being so cruel and cold to Kald.
Luna shook the thoughts from her mind, now was not the time to worry about that, her ponies needed her and she needed to get back quickly to ensure their continued safety.
***********
Kald went to stand up but sprung up too quickly and fell over, “I’m not used to being so light, this could take some getting used to,” just as fast as Kald had regain himself the door flew open, “Halt, you will not escape,” one of the Shadowbolts said darting after Kald.
Kald quickly spun and picked up the dark pegasus and threw it into the other that had just arrived at the door, “Stop in Luna’s name,” another Shadowbolt yelled as it blocked the window.
Kald turned and spun up his rings, aimed, and shouted, “Impact Bullet,” as Kald unleashed a bullet at the Shadowbolt knocking out of the air.
“Wow so that's what it is,” Twilight gasped amazed at what Kald had just done, “That’s an awesome name for it Kald my man,” Rainbow chimed in.
The sound of galloping ponies and armor clattered through the door as it seem more of Luna’s guards were coming after Kald.
“Quick we gotta get out of here,” Twilight shouted, “I can’t carry both of you out of here,” Rainbow protested.
Kald turned to Rainbow Dash, “take Twilight and go, if you can meet me in the courtyard i’ll give you a distraction from Luna’s guards,” Kald said with an arrogant smile on his face as he ran out the door.
Rainbow quickly grabbed Twilight and flew out the window to go meet with the others, in hopes of making it to Kald in time, Twilight was still mesmerized by Kald’s strange power and at the same time was excited to learn more when the time came.
As Kald ran down the stairs into a small circular room that appeared to be a study, “Stop creature!,” yelled a pair of bat winged pegasi that came down the stairs.
Kald turned and fired off another couple bullets, one connected and knocked the bat pegasi back as the other dodged and took off into the air and darted at Kald talking him at full speed as they both rolled across the floor.
Kald put his foot under the belly of the pegasi and kicked it off of him as they rolled launching it into the wall, as Kald got up he was tackled again from behind by the other to which he twisted his arm and placed his fist to the pegasi’s chest and fired an impact bullet rendering him unconscious.
Kald then got up and began running down a hallway leading out of the study, Kald turned down a few more hallways and down more stairs till he was in the throne room of the castle where more bat pegasi awaited him as well as dark coated colts with purple armor.
“Come on, i’ll take you all at once,” Kald yelled as he jumped from from the staircase, Kald’s rings appeared and began to spin as he readied himself for a fight.
Kald landed in the middle of the room atop of an armored earth pony knocking it to the ground.
Kald spun to kick a pegasus coming at him from behind, but was quickly rammed in the stomach by another and knocked over onto his back.
Kald hopped onto his feet and jumped over to a pillar and kicked off towards a group of unicorns, with their horns glowing ready to attack.
As the unicorns unleashed a barrage of magic bolts, Kald quickly brought his arms up to block.
The force of the impact stopped Kald in his tracks and made him fall to the floor and slide over to the other armor clad ponies.
Kald began to get up, only able to rise to his hand and knees as his rings contracted back to his skin and faded, Kald had become too exhausted to keep up the fight, “We have you now,” Kald heard one of the ponies say, “O no you don’t!”, Kald’s face lit up with a smile at the familiar voice of Rainbow Dash, as he saw her come flying into the mass of ponies taking down a few in an impressive high speed tackle.
“Don’t worry dear you don’t have to fight alone,” Kald heard as Rarity galloped in and punched one of the other earth ponies with her hoof.
Kald felt himself being lifted gently, as he looked over he met eyes with Fluttershy, “I’ll get you to safety,” she said in her soft voice.
“What is the meaning of this!,” one of the dark armored ponies yelled, “By order of Celestia we are here to rescue Kald, now leave him alone,” Twilight said in a commanding voice.
The armored pony just laughed, “We server Luna, your orders from Celestia mean nothing to us,” Twilight glared at the pony who spoke, “then so be it,” is all she said before she quickly shot a magic bolt into his chest rendering him unconscious.
“Ahh, did I miss all the fun?” Pinkie Pie said bouncing into the room a little late for the party so to speak.
Kald laughed a little, “Yea seems that way, but I am sure there is more to come,” Fluttershy carried Kald over to the side of the room and rested him against the wall.
Applejack galloped into the throne room panting as she ran over to where Kald and the rest were, “I came as fast as i could once i got that stuff ya asked for Fluttershy,” she said as Kald noticed the saddle bags at her sides.
“O good, thank you, here drink this,” Fluttershy said as she took a little glass container out of the bag and tipped it up for Kald to drink.
“Wow, I already feel a little better,” Kald said as his eyes widened with amazement as his bodily aches began to fade and he began to feel less exhausted.
“Good, give it a little more time and you should feel almost as good as new thanks to my medicine,” Fluttershy chimed as she took the bottle and placed it back into Applejacks bag.
***********
Once Kald had regained his strength, he stood and stretched a little feeling how refreshed his body felt and, stronger from the lifting of the pressure spell and through the fighting he had done.
“Thank you everpony, i couldn’t have done it without you,” Kald said smiling as he turned to address Twilight and the others, Rainbow glided over and patted Kald on the back, “Ehh it was nothin, couldn’t leave my cool new bud hangin,” Rainbow said as they all shared a short laugh.
Kald looked the throne room door that lead to the staircase that would lead them outside, “Well I guess it’s time to get moving again,” Kald said with a serious expression on his face.
Kald the the other opened the throne room door only at the surprise that there wasn't any resistance waiting for them on the other side, Kald looked around puzzled, “That’s strange, I was sure there would be more,” he said a little worriedly.
“They probably ran away from my pure awesomeness,” Rainbow said as she crossed her hooves looking triumphant, “Hold on Rainbow this does seem strange,” Twilight said cautiously.
Kald began to walk down the stairs with the others following behind as the reached the last door till they made it outside, “Why is it so quiet,” Kald said quizzically to himself as he placed his hand on the door and began to open it.
As the door fully opened, Kald finally saw why there had not been any resistance, in the sky was what looked to be a large tear into nothing that just lead to a white space where there was a large image of what looked like a metallic unicorn face.
Kald quickly ran to the courtyard to join the crowd that had amassed there, Kald quickly found Celestia amongst the crowd next to Luna, “Princess Celestia what’s going on who is that?”
“You, what have you done!,” Luna yelled as she turned to Kald angrily, Kald look at her with innocence, “I have done nothing other than escape you,” Kald said dismissively as he turned his attention back to the pony image in the tear in the sky.
The face turned to where it seemed to be staring right at Kald and spoke, “Good you brought the human, now relinquish him to me so i may rid him from this world, he does not belong,” she said in a booming voice.
Celestia stomped her hoof and spoke, “and who are you to make demands of my kingdom?” Celestia inquired with a commanding royal tone much like the pony in the sky used.
“I am the Dimensional Queen Teresia, and i command the human be turned over to me for purging,” Teresia shouted, Twilight looked in shock, “Teresia, it can’t be, the Princess Teresia from the old pony tales,” Kald turned to Twilight and asked, “what tale?”
“There was a story of how there was another kingdom of ponies very skilled in magic, their princess Teresia was the most gifted of them all, but one day it seemed like she had gone mad, and then a few days later it was like everypony in the kingdom vanished, it was rumored it was from some magic the mad princess Teresia had done,” Kald began to fill with worry at the story that Twilight had told, could this be the same pony.
Teresia turned as she had heard Twilight and Kald’s conversation, “Yes, the princess from the story and I are the one in the same, I learned of other dimensions and saw them for the horrors they were, and since no pony would listen to me, I sacrificed my kingdom and myself to create this dimensional white space separating Equestria from the rest of the dimensions, but this human tore through and must be purged to keep Equestria safe,” at the end of the last word Kald saw Rainbow Dash shoot past his head as she soared into the sky and yelled at Teresia, “You can’t have our friend, who are you to decide if he is a danger or not, he hasn’t harmed anypony!”
Teresia’s gaze turned to Rainbow Dash, “you would defy me young one?”, Rainbow raised herself defiantly at Teresia, “If it means sticking up for my friends then ya,” Kald quickly yelled out, “No wait Rainbow, if it means i can protect everypony, then I will go, I don’t want to see any of you get hurt.”
Teresia laughed, “A noble cause human, but you can not save them, they know to much and must be purged same as you,” Kald clenched his fists in anger, “How dare you, they haven’t done anything wrong leave them alone it’s me you want,” Teresia laughed again, “Fool! I can’t let them know, if they knew of you and other dimensions they will strive to discover them i can not let that happen.”
Kald gritted his teeth at what he was hearing, how could anything be so heartless and controlling, but then Kald heard his friends, “We won’t hand over Kald,” he heard from Rarity, “and we won't go down without a fight,” Rainbow chimed in, “even if the knowledge is dangerous we will decide for ourselves how to handle it,” Twilight said with amazing vigor.
Teresia seemed angry, “You would all defy me?”, Applejack glared up at Teresia, “If it means protectin’ our friends an’ family heck ya we do,” she said as she walked up beside Kald and the others standing tall, Teresia gritted her teeth, “Fine, have it your way, for your insolence the purge will start with ponyville.”
As the sun began to rise to end to Kald’s horrible night, Kald walked forward standing in front of the crowd standing tall and defiant as he stared up at Teresia, “O, something to say human?” Teresia said almost with amusement, Kald narrowed his eyes into an angry glare, “Yea, Bring it on,” is all he said as he spun up his rings and raised a fist to the sky yelling, “I will fight for everypony against your tyranny, you won't get away with this,” Teresia laughed, “Sure are you? Can’t you hear it?”
Kald as well as everypony in the crowd could hear screams from ponyville, Kald turned to Luna with a look of concern, “Luna do you have my satchel, I need it if i'm going to get to ponyville in time,” Luna looked at Kald, “I may not trust you human but,....” Luna made Kald’s satchel appear with a flash of magic as it landed in her hoof and she tossed it to him, “but you are our hope, please help us.”
Kald smirked as he reached into the satchel and threw out his disk and landed on his board and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down,” as he began flying towards ponyville, Luna looked on as he faded away and whispered to herself, “Good Luck.”
“Come on guys we gotta head back, Kald can’t do this himself,” Rainbow said to Twilight and the others as she sped off in pursuit of Kald, “She’s right, lets go girls,” Twilight shouted as Pinky and the rest began to gallop of back to ponyville.
Celestia walked over to her sister placing a hoof on her shoulder, “You did the right thing here sister, now we need to protect Canterlot, but first please help me round up the guard,” Luna looked at her sister in puzzlement, “The guard?,” Celestia giggled, “Why yes, those seven can’t do it on their own lets send them as much help as we can,” Luna looked at her sister with a smile and nodded, “Right.”
Luna galloped off to gather up troops, as Celestia watched her sister disappear into the castle she looked out to ponyville and wondered if they were prepared for a fight like this, but the thought of Kald and his stubborn and reckless act getting out of the castle made Celestia feel a little more reassured.
Celestia whispered to herself, “Good luck brave Kald, all our hope rests with you,” as she turned to gather her own guard to send to reinforce ponyville.