“What's the status?” I asked as I approached the commanders near the fighting.
“We have the advantage, General. We're keeping them at the gate, but more and more are coming out. There's no end to them.” Said Shining Armor.
“The skies are clear for the most part.” Said Saga.
“My night guard are around for any signs that more of the enemy slipped by.” Said Captain Night.
“And my wolves are giving The ponies time to rest... General.” Waya said with a smirk, “It's good to see you again, Shiro.”
“I'm just glad you're furry again.” Shining said.
“Why wouldn't he be furry?” Waya asked, “What did I miss?”
“Not much.” I said, “I got a deadly disease that was going to kill me in a year. Celestia killed Jynx. I went into Tartarus to get her back. Pinkie adopted a changeling foal. Celestia was possessed by the Nightmare. The pony that was looking for a cure for my fatal disease tricked me into opening the gate to Tartarus. then he turned me into a human, unintentionally curing me. I was names General of the united army. I turned back into a tiger to kill the doctor. Fluttershy is going by Kataya again, and can shot a beam of pure concentrated light out of her mouth. How was your trip?”
“Somehow...” Waya said slowly, “None of that surprises me.”
“I'll tell you about it later right now we need to close up that gate.” I said, “Any Ideas?”
“Only one.” Said a familiar regal voice.
Everyone else bowed as Celestia, Luna and Twilight landed. The later two looked like they had been crying.
“Twilight!” Waya ran up to the love of his life and nuzzled her, “I missed you.”
“I missed you too Waya.” She said, returning the affection.
I let them be and turned to the sun raiser, “So you have a plan?”
“Yes, but I can't do it alone.” She said.
“Let me guess, you need my help.” I said.
“Not so much, though it would be appreciated.” She said, “I need Midnight's help. The spell mother cast to bind the spirits to Tartarus has been weakened and needs to be strengthened. The spell requires druid magic and unfortunately he's the last. I assure you it's not dangerous.”
I glared at the princess. I couldn't believe she wanted to bring my son into this.
“Where is this going to take place?” I asked.
“It's going to have to be there.” She pointed with a hoof to an area about two hundred yards from the rear of the army, “It has to be rather close to the opening in the spell. I assure you no harm will come to him.”
“Celestia, If he so much as stubs his hoof, I'm will not be as merciful as last time.” I said to her, “Am I understood?”
Everyone else stared at me as if I suddenly sprouted a second head, except Shining who glared at me. Threatening someone's mother will do that though.
“Perfectly.” She replied, “Twilight...”
“Yes, mother.” She said and took to the sky as fast as Rainbow Dash.
“She's gotten fast.” Waya said.
“Pegasus magic is her secondary.” I said, “She's almost as good a flier as Dash. Her earth pony magic isn't too good, but she's still a whole lot stronger than she use to be. She was even helping AJ with apple bucking not too long ago.”
“I really have missed much.” Waya said.
“Shiro, I will need your help to prepare the spell.” Celestia said.
I went with the goddess while she explained what I needed to do. I began carving the symbols she described while she and Luna went to retrieve the necessary reagents.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Twenty minutes later everything and everyone was gathered. The intricate symbols were drawn rather easily as they were ones I already knew, but the configuration didn't make sense. I wasn't the best with magic but I was still pretty knowledgeable of it.
“Twilight, Shining, Luna.” She said to her family, “I need you three to channel your magic to Midnight so he can guide it. Midnight, you know how to do it, right?”
“Um, yeah. Twilight told me on the way here. It's not too hard.” Replied my son.
Celestia turned to the three alicorns behind her and hugged them, “I love all of you.”
I looked on in confusion for a moment before I realized what was really happening here. There was a cost for the spell. Celestia stood in the center of the ring of arcane symbols and gave a nod. The three immortals lit up their horns, and streams of energy flowed to the young druid. He began chanting in that ancient language that so few knew. I learned a few words but not many. All caught was something about spirits and aide. When the runes began to glow, Celestia joined in the chanting. Her horn fired up, and pure white energy cascaded into the runes, causing the to shine brighter.
“Whoa...” was all I could utter.
The runes glowed so bright I had to shield my eyes. I created a pair of dark sunglasses and put them on so I could still see what was going on. Celestia started to rise into the air as she was encompassed by a bright glowing orb. She floated ever higher until she was a good twenty feet in the air. With a force that almost blew me away, a beam of pure energy shot into the ground. The glowing orb shrank as the blast continued until it was the size of a basketball. When the last of the light was drained, all that remained was a small sapling, and a crystal orb floating over it. We all watched as the orb cracked, and shattered into half a dozen pieces that went shooting off into the distance. Suddenly the ground started shaking. I looked toward the gate and saw it moving, closing.
“We won.” I said to myself.
A cheer erupted from the army as a cry came from the three royals. I looked over to the sapling that stood where the sun goddess once did. She sacrificed herself for her subjects. I felt tears in the corners of my eyes. I walked up to the sapling and sat beside it, my eyes closed.
“Goodnight, Sun Shine.” I couldn't hold back the tears.
I looked over to see Twilight, Armor, and Luna holding each other, crying on each other in their grief. I didn't like Celestia after what she did, but this... she more than earned my forgiveness.
“Dad.” Midnight said, “Is it over now?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I answered him.
He walked a little ways away and looked over at the battle as it slowed. He turned back and looked at me with a smile on his face... one that was taken from his as an arrow pierced his side. I looked in horror as he fell to the ground in a heap. Shining Armor took off like a bullet and slew the harpy responsible.
“D-Dad...” Midnight gasped, “It h-hurts...”
I felt a familiar feeling deep inside me, and it was quickly building.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“It's going to be OK, Midnight. I can fix this.” Twilight said and looked back at Shiro, “Shiro, he's going to be... no.”
Her eyes widened in horror. Her feline friend's eye's were blood red as an evil blackness seeped from them.