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// Chapter 4 Evil in Starlight 
// Story: Forgotten Time 
// by Drattaarcana 
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It was nighttime in the Unicorn Range and Princess Luna, an Alicorn with a dark blue coat and light blue Mane and tail that shimmered like starlight, was laying on her camping bed which was very uncomfortable.  She never really enjoyed camping, but it was night time and the moon was out.  She enjoyed looking at the moon to remind her of her old duties to Equestria.  Next to her was a pony with a white coat and a mane and tail with cerulean, turquoise, cobalt, and heliotrope stripes, this was her sister Princess Celestia.  Celestia was sound asleep, and Luna thought for a moment to enter her sisters dream to pull a prank but decided not to.  The forest was quiet, and she started to think about their mission to find Alicornia.

The tree of harmony was clear —find the lost city.  Luna started drifting as she fell asleep her dreams seemed pleasant but then suddenly, she was awoken by her sister.  As Luna opened her eyes, she noticed that Celestia had erected a barrier of light magic.  Luna, having been in many battles, knew immediately something was wrong and they were surrounded by strange ponies; they were part shadow and part living.  They had black eyes with no pupils and had black coats with gray fire mane and tails and they all looked identical. For a moment Luna thought she was dreaming a nightmare until Celestia screamed “Luna hurry, wake up we are surrounded! This isn’t a dream my magic doesn’t work on them for some reason, and I can’t hurt them physically.”

When Luna was finally on her feet she immediately asked, “What are these creatures? They seem like magic itself, and if your magic doesn’t work then they must be like the wendigos. They are ancient magic.”  Luna was afraid but she needed to help defend so she also erected a barrier with her lunar magic and a light barrier. Maybe when the sun comes up, they would disappear.

 

Somewhere else In the Unicorn Range

 

Arcana was looking at the garden he and Flight Hoof made several months ago, and the crops were doing well.  He had gotten a lot of his magic back and he was able to use a portion of his power.  In Alicornia, his magical abilities would be considered that of a regular alicorn but at his height he was so powerful most of the alicorns could not compete with his strength; that was a big reason he was chosen by them to end the war.  Of course, he did not tell Flight Hoof or Silky Sky that he was traveling into the forest and using his innate power, the ability to absorb magic from the surrounding area and take it into himself.  Because Arcana had chosen to absorb the Core of light to banish one of Alicornia’s enemies it came with a great curse; the ability to drain the life force of those around him and turn it into magic.  His bracelets prevent all magic from outside his body from affecting him, but they absorb magic into themselves as well but don’t steal magic from living being this allows him to control a vast amount of magic where he can keep others safe. 

 

While he was out this night, he tried opening a nexus, the source of the sun. He wanted to see if he could access his other powers; the ability to use the powers of creation.  When he opened the nexus, he heard a voice and it said “my magic doesn’t work on them for some reason and I can’t hurt them physically.” Arcana immediately sensed that he would have to use magic again.  In his mind he was conflicted; he knew these creatures; they were known as shadow fiends, a product of his magic, but could Arcana use his power once again.  The power of the ascended is dangerous and not long for this world, but if he has returned then Arcana must do what is needed.  He used his powers of foresight.  Arcana possesses the ability of True Sight which is the ability to see the correct future and was always accurate. Using this ability, he was able to determine the voices’ location.  He saw two alicorns, which he assumed they must be Princess Celestia and Princess Luna; with the location confirmed he teleported to them.

Back in the unicorn range

Luna and Celestia kept up the barrier for as long as they could and just as the barrier was weakening a stallion appeared before them. They could not believe their eyes as it was an alicorn who just appeared before them.  Then they heard a foreign language which sounded like “hi ca so da niegh crag ora siu syrn ra calig toragatha” at this moment a massive white magic circle appeared blocking out the moon and the stars it was massive within this circle were hundreds of smaller circles and the amount of magic was incredible Luna’s coat shivered by its power.

Something was off about this alicorn as powerful as the spell was the pony itself seemed to have no power at all as if he were void of magic completely.  Then suddenly Luna’s horn started to fail; it was magic interference. A very rare occurrence where a spell’s magic energy was so strong it caused other spells to fail and the barrier protecting them broke completely.  Then the pony spoke other words “helio shildeon” Luna could not believe her eyes this alicorn just casted a spell while casting another spell and this new spell provided a light shield that seemed to heal her at the same time.  The next words out of the pony’s mouth were in modern ponish and he said, “stay put the shield spell I cast will protect you from the creatures and the damage of my spell.”

 

Then beams of light poured from the small circles. These beams when they hit the ground shook the ground and created mini earthquakes and after several minutes the spell dissolved. The creatures had vanished into ash. With the creatures finally gone Luna could now see the pony standing before them clearly it was a silver alicorn stallion. At this moment Luna had a million question but was speechless.  She looked at her sister who also was slacked jawed and didn’t seem to be able to speak.

This is understandable for the power they just witnessed was unreal.  If magic like that existed there would be no evil who could compete with this power, was this the Pony of Light spoken about by the Tree of Harmony.

Arcana broke the silence first “hello I am Arcana Moon, I am the ascended Alicorn of destiny.” 

Celestia and Luna were still speechless, and Arcana seemed to be waiting patiently.   Luna finally regained her senses and began to speak “wha, whaaat were those things.” Stuttering because of the shock.

Arcana replied with a stern face  “Those were Shadow Fiends, they are dark magic creatures that serve the Calamity, I thought I had destroyed him in my time.”

This time Celestia spoke with the air of a leader “We were tasked to find the kingdom of Alicornia and the pony of light. Are you perhaps the pony of light from Alicornia?”

Arcana Moons expression just grew sad and solemn “Alicornia no longer exists as it was destroyed by war and I am the only survivor, as for the pony of light I have no clue what you’re talking about, I may have some insight that you need and answers to many question, however let’s get somewhere a little safer, I am currently staying with two Pegasi who saved my life.” With that the three Alicorns started traveling toward a small house in the forest.

Once they came into sight of the cottage, Silky sky and Flight Hoof were stunned when Princess Luna and Princess Celestia showed up with Arcana Moon. Arcana asked very politely “Can you give the three of us some privacy.  Flight Hoof and Silky Sky nodded and went inside.  Arcana then turned to the sisters and asked, “So, what do you want to know?”

It was Celestia who spoke first “That spell you just used, what was that spell? It was so strong my horn stopped working.”  Arcana seemed to soften a little but looked very thoughtful as if asking about the spell put him at ease.

Arcana Responded with “The spell is known as toragatha, though in your tongue I guess it translates to Holy Judgement, it is a common spell for dealing with unholy enemies.  As for why your horn failed, that just had to do with the energy I used to cast it, it’s known as the tridofa effect or in your tongue the overflow effect, basically the magic causes those who cannot withstand the amount of magic basically induces a state of magic interference.  Those affected are overflowed with magic from the caster; it disables the horns of other unicorns or in this case Alicorns.”  Arcana started to feel sympathy as he had never seen Alicorns as weak as these two or maybe spells of such magnitude had to do with the fact the nexuses have been closed to the world for so long that magic users can no longer use such spells.  Putting it out of his mind he returned his attention to the sisters and said, “Now it is my turn to ask a question, why do you seek the Forgotten City of Alicornia?”

It was Luna who answered, “We seek the Pony of light, as the tree of harmony tasked us with locating the pony of light so that’s why we are seeking Alicornia. You stated you know nothing of the Pony of Light, but you seemed to be a very powerful mage, any chance you could help us locate this pony of light?”

Arcana seemed to be struggling over the question, after a moment he said “I cannot help you, I have chosen to save you because of the shadow fiends, but no I am sorry my time is finished, I cannot allow my power to corrupt the world once more, my crimes are numerous and my power has ended many lives, if I had perished by the time seal spell I would have atoned for my crimes but since I was freed I can no longer die as such I do not want my power to influence the current state of the world.  I would have been content to lose my soul to the time seal spell but alas fate had other options.  I am content to live the rest of my days as a simple farmer nothing more.”

 

Celestia and Luna were completely taken aback. He basically was saying that he doesn’t want to use his magic. Before either of them could respond Arcana continued with “I refuse to leave Silky Sky and Flight Hoof. They have done so much for me and I still need to repay that debt.” And after a moment of thought he said “I am weary, let's get some rest and continue this in the morning.”  With that they entered the house of the two Pegasi.