//------------------------------// // Flare in the Sky // Story: Spike the Fairy // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// Midnight Rarity leaves Mount Everhoof and decides to find any pony wandering around late at night. There could be any campers around these parks. Princess Cadance wakes up after having a horrible nightmare. She looks at the clock in her room. "3:30," Princess Cadance groans. Shining Armor is still sound asleep. "I hope Luna makes a speedy recovery from the assault by the hooves of Midnight Sparkle." It's been two days since Midnight Sparkle and Demon Tail possessed Rarity. Princess Luna is still recovering from the injuries. A Crystal Night Guard knocks on Princess Cadance and Shining's door. "Coming," Princess Cadance gets up and walks to the door. She opens to see the Night Guard. "Your highness, my guards and I noticed a flare in the northern skies near the remains of Mount Everhoof." "A flare?" Princess Cadance trots to her window to see the flare in the sky. "Somepony needs help. Shining, Shining," Princess Cadance calls her husband. Shining Armor wakes up and yawns. "We're having breakfast in bed again?" "No," Princess Cadance shakes her head. "I need you to come with me to Mount Everhoof. Somepony has launched a flare in the skies." "Alright," Shining Armor yawns. "I'll get my armor, and we'll go." Princess Cadance and Shining Armor gear up and take a platoon of Crystal Guards to Mount Everhoof. On the way to Mount Everhoof, Princess Cadance feels disturbed by a familiar presence not long ago. Shining Armor sees the remains of Mount Everhoof. He figures this is where Spike deflected Midnight Sparkle's attack days ago during the war. "Wow, and to think how powerful Midnight Sparkle and Fairy Dragon were at the time," Shining Armor is still in awe even after witnessing the battle. "It's crazy to think what lengths Midnight Sparkle is willing to pursuit for the sake of her beliefs," Princess Cadance wishes to see her Twilight in better condition than what she is. An hour later. A Crystal Guard steps on a shard which catches everyone's attention. He and the other Crystal Guard notice shatter shards around the area. "What is it?" Shining Armor examines the shard. Princess Cadance is startled by a different shard she stepped on and stumbled back. Shining Armor and the Crystal Guards check on Princess Cadance when they see a dragon's head. "What in the world?" A Crystal Guard is mesmerized to see a dragon head statue. "Sir, I found," A Crystal Guard throws up after picking up a head of a pony. "Oh dear, Celestia," Shining Armor gags and swallows his vomit. Princess Cadance illuminates the area with her magic to see the shards of two dragons and the pony. Then it struck her, which made her worry even more. "We need to gather these shards and head back to the Crystal Empire, pronto." Shining Armor sees the worry in his wife's eyes. "Right away, Cadance," Shining Armor and the Crystal Guards pick up every shard they can find. Princess Cadance uses her magic to teleport everypony back to the Crystal Empire. She gallops to her throne to write a letter to Princess Celestia and Luna about her discoveries. Shining Armor and the Crystal Guards decide to assemble the shards in hopes that Discord can bring them whole. Flurry Heart starts crying. Shining Armor gallops to Flurry Heart to check on her. He sighs in relief that she's fine and probably needs a diaper change. Shining Armor couldn't help but feel that Flurry Heart should sleep with him and Cadance for safety. Princess Cadance teleports the letter to Princess Celestia and Luna in Canterlot. She sighs heavily and sits on her throne, yawning. Princess Cadance decides to write a letter to Empress Ember since her dragons are petrified and shattered. "Another..," Princess Cadance yawns. "Bar of Alliance meeting is in order..," Princess Cadance falls asleep on her throne. Shining Armor comes looking for Cadance while holding Flurry Heart. He sees Cadance asleep and decides to be with her. A Crystal Guard brings Flurry's playpen into the throne room, and Shining Armor sleeps with Flurry Heart in the playpen. Princess Celestia wakes up as a letter falls on her bed. She yawns and stretches. "4:40 in the morning? I wonder what the letter reads," Princess Celestia turns on the light, unveils, and reads the letter. Her heart sank at the mere mention of Mount Everhoof. "No..," Princess Celestia sheds a tear after reading the section about a pony and two dragons shattered. Princess Celestia gets up and writes a responding letter to Princess Cadance. She'll be at the Crystal Empire at 7:30 in the morning; she still needs to check on her sister at the infirmary. Empress Ember wakes after feeling the letter hit her head. She blows her flames to ignite her bedroom. "Okay, let's see what this is about," Ember starts reading the letter and becomes furious. Two dragons of hers shattered for reasons not yet explained. "I'll find that punk her cause great turmoil on my kin!" Ember grabs her scepter and flies to the Crystal Empire. It's now 7:00 in the morning. Princess Celestia lowers the moon and raises the sun. She sighs, knowing who the culprit is after watching the tapes at Canterlot Ward. Midnight Sparkle and Demon Tail waste no time gathering the pieces for their next phase. Princess Celestia flies out of her room to the infirmary. She goes to check on Princess Luna in Room 283. Princess Luna is in bed recovering better. "Morning, Celestia," Princess Luna turns to her sister entering the room. "Morning, Luna. How are you feeling?" "Better. The doctor said I could be leaving later today. I'll resume my duties while initiating an investigation searching for Midnight Sparkle." Princess Celestia sighs. "We're having a Bar of Alliance Meeting at the Crystal Empire. Midnight Sparkle struck, and I believe she's in possession of a powerful artifact." "No.., don't tell me.., she got..," There's an artifact Luna is aware that could be crucial. "She got the Bell. According to Cadance's letter, Fairy Dragon inadvertently destroyed the top of Mount Everhoof during his confrontation with Midnight Sparkle. Grogar's Bell fell with the snow. It appears that Midnight Sparkle located the Bell and took the magic of the dragons and pony while imprisoning them in stone and shattering them." "Will there be an end to this mad-pony?" Princess Luna questions Midnight Sparkle's persistence. "So far, no matter what Midnight Sparkle tries, she winds up failing. However, we must show the consistency that good always triumphs over evil. When you leave, go to Discord's house and inform him what transpired. I have to get going." "Alright. Before I go see Discord, I'll decree that no pony in all of Equestria should wander off alone, especially at night." "Very well, see you later," Princess Celestia hugs Luna and flies out of Room 283.