Chapter 9: Pillars of Friendship

"They say the greatest bond is that of love and trust, but if that's true then whys it take only a single action to destroy it?" The answer: Betrayal, Backstabber, Traitor… That's what their called…

Twilight didn't even realize how fast she was running through Canterlot Castle. After the changeling spy assault adrenaline was still coursing through her body. She had probably run at least half a league hoping up and down stairs and kicking doors open. Finally she stopped at the door to the throne room, turning with a skid before bucking the doors wide open.

"Twilight?" Princess Celestia looked up from her long list of duties as the large doors swung open by her faithful student's charging intrusion. Twilight ran to the feet of the throne before bowing quickly. She was completely out of breath and was panting heavily.

"Twilight what's going on?" Celestia asked putting down her scroll and walking down to look at her.

"In the library…" Twilight continued still panting "He was disguised as a guard. He attacked me."

"Are you alright?" Celestia said looking worried at how hard her student was breathing.

"He tried too-"Twilight choked while trying to explain, nearly falling over on one hoof.

"Yes your highness." One of the guards responded before leaving the vicinity. He returned shortly after Twilight's breathing had become slower with a tray of hot tea. "Drink Twilight" Princess Celestia said pouring her student a cup "You look like you've been through a lot."

Twilight took a large sip of tea before gulping the rest of it down. She then made a huge sigh as it kicked in. "That's much better." She said as her voice became normal again.

"He wanted-"Twilight didn't get to finish before Shining Armor trudged heavily in carrying a wounded guard.

"Your highness we found him in the library." Shining Armor said putting down the wounded pegasus.

"He's fine but he took a hard blow to the back of the head. Winds we're tied up pretty tight."

"I recognize this one…" Twilight said looking closer. "He's the guard that the changeling was disguised as!"

"Positive." Twilight confirmed looking closer at the unconscious body. "He was with Cadence and I last night in the Library as well."

"This." Twilight pulled out the red pillar of crystal, still pulsing softly with magical light. Both Princess Celestia and Shining Armor gazed at it for a moment with unblinking eyes, almost hypnotized by its glow.

"Not sure. But the changeling went insane when I discovered it. It has to be something important."

Princess Celestia tapped it with the tip of her horn. Immediately she flung her head back up the as if repulsed by it.

"Princess?" Twilight said dropping the pillar on the floor. It fell on the floor with a tiny clang.

Celestia shook her head a moment as if something had recently bumped her head. "I am fine."

"Powerful magic" Celestia answered picking it up "Whatever secrets this thing holds is protected by very powerful magical wards."

"Let me try." Shining Armor said putting his own horn on the pillar. The pillar's humming became a glow as the horn resonated with its own light. Shining Armor's facial expression grew as hard as iron, barring his teeth in concentration as sweat started to drip off his mane.

Suddenly a spark of light shot out of the connection of the horn and pillar, sending the Captain of the Guard flying backwards onto the floor and knocking his helmet off.

Shining Armor sat up before putting both his hooves on his horn as if it was on fire. "That could have gone a lot better." He said patting it slowly.

Shining Armor shook his head slowly "Not even close." Shining Armor wobbled a bit before putting a hoof on his head again. "The backlash of the spell hit me like a brick."

"Yes your majesty." Shining Armor bowed before taking his leave. Twilight nearly followed him out until the Princess called for her to stay for a moment.

Celestia cleared her throat before asking: "Do you have any ideas on how or why this object is here in the castle?"

"Twilight is there something you wish to tell me?" Princess Celestia inquired further

"It's not that, it's…" Twilight sighed for a moment looking for the right words to describe this. "It's that I'm not exactly sure if… if that thing is actually safe to use."

"Twilight, my faithful student" Celestia said "You don't have to hide anything from me. I understand why you're a bit worried. Luna told me everything."

"That she'd be comfortable telling me?" Princess Celestia finished for her "I could tell immediately from her actions that something had been troubling her more than usual. I expected the same results from you."

"Princess I'm so…" Twilight couldn't find the will to finish, ashamed that she had tried to hide something from her mentor.

"There is no need to be sorry." Celestia reassured her student "You we're just trying to keep us safe from harm. Maybe you should take a break too."

"Do not worry Twilight. I do however have something for you." Celestia gestured at the side entrance of the room. "You can come in now."

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike popped out of the small door way before quickly group hugging Twilight.

Twilight's worry melted away in the embrace and she could not help but laugh in glee. "Aww you guys you shouldn't have…"

"Why not sugar cube?" Applejack said squeezing Twilight even harder. "We we're invited her by the Princess herself."

"We we're so worried when you didn't come back." Rarity said "We thought something went wrong."

"Startle?" Rarity looked at the mellow pegasus for a moment "Fluttershy you we're almost worried sick about Twilight till dear Spiky wikey came up with the letter."

"After we got the letter everyone jumped on the train and whoosh we're all here!" Pinkie jumped in "Oh yeah I also got this." She pulled out the 'Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide' out.

Twilight just about snatched the book in an eye blink. "Just what I needed! Thank you!"

"My faithful student, you need to give it a rest." Celestia said "Go back to Ponyville with your friends. I know you missed being with them."

Twilight looked at her mentor with a sad face but on looking back behind her at the rest of the group she smiled and nodded. "I guess it couldn't hurt to have some fun again."

"Party on the train home!" Pinkie Pie said hopping up and down. Twilight couldn't help herself but laugh as a single tear of joy escaped from her eyes.

Princess Celestia waited for her student and her friends to be well out of the castle before turning her attention to the pillar.

"Father what did you leave behind for us to find?" She said placing the said pillar on top of her throne's arm rest.

"Sister?" Princess Luna came into the throne room alone "You sent Twilight home?"

"This is our matter Luna." Celestia said glumly "Even my student Twilight should not bother with something like this."

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna both with the pillar in hand headed towards Canterlot Tower. After going inside they stopped in front of the vault containing the Elements of Harmony.

"But we are no longer their appointed wielders… what if the Elements reject us? Or maybe reject me?" Luna said unsure about her elder sibling's idea.

"Do not fret sister we only need one of the Elements." Celestia said as she unlocked the vault

"When I touched this pillar I felt the familiar sense of the Elements before its protection spell repelled me." Celestia explained "Also I found this…" She turned the pillar towards her sister till a noticeable symbol that shimmered inside the pillar's crystalline interior.

"I know. This dear sister is possibly one of father's treasures he left behind for us, hidden in the library for over a thousand years."

"I'll explain later Luna but for the moment…" Celestia opened the ornate case holding the Elements of Harmony carefully picking out Applejack's element out. "I must know what father left for us to find."

She put the apple gemmed amulet around her neck before closing her eyes to concentrate. A short second later Princess Celestia's eyes flashed a flaming orange before she put her radiant horn onto the pillar again.

Sparks of fire and electricity flew out from the contact as if a buzz saw was grinding its way through metal bars. Celestia flinched and grunt trying her best to keep herself concentrated but the pillar itself remained unperturbed by her efforts; its glow growing ever brighter as the Princess exerted more and more energy.

Sweat and exhaustion quickly began to become noticeable on Celestia's body. Her mane started to lose its flowing consistency and her legs began to wobble under the stress. Celestia fell to one knee, but she did not break contact with the pillar.

"Sister, that's more than enough!" Luna said covering her face with one of her hooves to block the force of the magic. "You'll hurt yourself if you keep trying!"

"I… must… keep… trying!" Celestia stubbornly grunted picking her single fallen knee up and redoubling her efforts. She gritted her teeth and shut her eyes and the sparks became like dragon's fire.

"No! Celestia!" Luna cried but her elder sibling already was pouring all her power into the Element of Honesty. Immediately Celestia began to wince in pain as the magic began to falter.

Celestia's short yelp became a constant moan as the magic began to slowly overwhelm her.

"Celestia!" Princess Luna cried powering up her own magic and placing her horn next to her sister's atop the pillar. Immediately the backlash of magical force shot through her being like thunder. Strain automatically forced itself upon her body along with painful overwhelming force.

"Luna…!" Celestia said gazing at the rash decision of her younger sibling "What are you doing?"

"What…" Luna winced out her mind nearly numbed out by the pain and effort she was exerting "What I've should have done before… a long time ago…"

Princess Luna stood up tall, her connection to the pillar un-severed by a string of pulsing white light connecting her horn to it. She practically limped over to Celestia before lifting up one back hoof.

"Protecting my sister!" she bucked Celestia on the chest, knocking off the Element of Honesty and sending the elder Princess on to the floor.

The full force of the pillar's might redirected itself at Luna; the force nearly tripled in output causing the lunar princess to collapse on the floor screaming in pain.

"Luna!" Celestia cried trying to force herself over to her sibling's aid, but she used too much energy. She herself could barely move. All she could do was watch in horror as the pillar's protective wards tormented her sister's mind. Tears began to pour from her eyes.

Luna tried clenching her teeth and biting her tongue in efforts to ignore the pain and force herself up. However with every effort she made, the pain redoubled itself forcing her back onto the ground screaming.

She was going to die. Luna thought to herself unable to comprehend anything else but the pain. Thoughts of regret and remorse flooded her head as her body soon became numb and her mind became blank. But there was one single thought that Luna held on to even amidst the chaos she was in.

As her vision blurred out she gazed at her fallen elder sister Celestia who gazed back with tears in her eyes. Luna tried to smile but she couldn't.

Then a hoof place itself on top of the pulsing pillar and it stopped. The light died out like a blown out candle and the pain vanished along with the weight of fatigue. Princess Luna took a gasp of air, catching her breath from her screams.

"Luna…" Celestia dragged herself over to comfort her sister. "Oh beloved sister… I'm sorry, are you alright?"

Luna could not move her body. Her wings did not respond to her commands and she laid there still gasping for air. She felt her elder sister's warm embrace but still she felt as if the life had been drained from her body.

The same hoof the stopped the pillar made its way to the Element of Honesty on the floor.

"You'll find that some secrets are not meant to be discovered just yet you're majesties."

"Master Atom?" Celestia said gazing at the stallion that had both the pillar and the Element of Honesty in his hooves.

Celestia put her head down on her still panting younger sister. "I did this… I caused this. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. But my dear sister…"

Atom placed both the pillar and the Element of Honesty back into the vault before closing it. "I know you're anxious. But perhaps it's better for you to focus on the here and now." He said gesturing at the fallen princess of the night.

Celestia looked at her younger sister who had just about fallen asleep in her embrace. She kissed her on the forehead. "Perhaps I have been ignoring what's really important at the moment." She tried to get up but her shaky legs caused her to nearly fall down on top of Luna.

"I haven't been this tired in a long time." She said doing her best to stay stable.

"Tend to yourself Lady Celestia." Atom said walking over and lifting Luna with his own horn's magic "Is there a place where she can rest?"

"Yes. Please take her to my room immediately…" Celestia said walking next to her unconscious sister.

Slowly the two carried the younger princess to Celestia's personal bedchambers. Despite herself being exhausted from earlier efforts, Celestia lit the fireplace herself as Atom placed Luna onto the bed. After putting the bed covers over her she stood at the side of the bed still facing her sister.

Though her mane had returned to its previous radiance, Celestia did not feel any better. She wanted to apologize to Luna a thousand times over. But there in front of her she slept. Unmoving and breathing slowly.

"A choice that nearly got her killed!" Celestia cried still staring at her. "I was such a fool to think that I could force my way in by simply using the Elements of Harmony! She was right and I knew it! We are no longer connected to the Elements I tried anyways…!"

Celestia held her head lower no longer able to bear the sight of her injured little sister. "I should be the one bedridden. Not her."

Atom took his gaze away from fire and put a hoof on hers. "You can't protect her all the time…"

Celestia pulled her hoof away. "What are you saying? That I should allow her to stand in harm's way?

"I can't lose her again." Celestia said with a strong voice "Not again. My heart wouldn't be able to take it."

"And you think you dying to protect her would make your sister feel any different?" Atom addressed sternly towards the elder princess.

Celestia didn't respond to the question. She gazed back at Luna who was peacefully asleep in bed.

"You said you can't bear to lose her." Atom repeated "You don't think that wouldn't apply if she lost you instead?"

Celestia opened her mouth about to angrily retort her response, but no words came out and she gritted her teeth in shame.

"I know of the recent events. You sent her away when she became jealous of your rule, but you regretted that decision ever since. You told yourself that you'd never lose her again when your precious student returned her to the way she is now."

Princess Luna moaned and turned in the bed briefly as her elder sister tucked in the covers over her shoulders. "I don't know what to do."

Atom put horn over the bed chanting inaudible words Celestia did not recognize. A dim light of white and gold covered the both of them and she felt as if all the worries of the world had vanished. The scratches on both her and sister began to fade and the injured look on Luna's sleeping faced turned into a calm smile.

"Trust her." Atom said "She's you're sister." He lifted his horn to complete the spell casting. Celestia did not know what to say.

Renewed both physically and mentally that her younger sister was safe, she stood up proudly letting her man once more flow into the air.

"We should leave her to rest." Celestia said "I must speak with you more on what's happened."

Quietly they both left the bedchambers and down the grand hall of the castle where they both spent the rest of the day chatting. Celestia endless asked question after question but many of her guest answer's we're not exactly to her liking.

"Then you know what it is then!" Celestia said, her eyes focusing on the male winged unicorn. "Why does it have the Element of Honesty on it?"

"That Pillar is the container of pure 'Honesty' in Equestria. There are five more like it, each of them corresponding to your Elements of Harmony." Atom explained "They are each powered by every living beings own life force."

"Holds the collective power of just about everypony's attribute of 'Honesty'" Atom said

Celestia stamped on the floor "No wonder its effects we're so powerful, but how does these Pillars work with the Elements themselves?"

"The Elements are conduits." Atom explained further "Conduits that channel their powers into the effects that you have seen in the past. But as you know, only chosen wielders who are connected to the Elements of Harmony themselves can wield it."

"But if such power is contained within these pillars, then why has the Elements failed before?" Celestia questioned

"The Element's power is not physical or even magical in nature. It is the representation of a person's heart and soul. The pillars are both fueled and empowered by the wielders themselves. If a dishonest person we're to try and wield 'Honesty' then its power would be greatly diminished by opposite and opposing values."

"The pillar draws it strength from every living creature, not just its chosen wielder. The pillar will remain as strong as the people who power it, but only a person who truly represents it can utilize its full potential."

Celestia thought to herself for a moment pondering on what she had been told. "Is there anything else inside it that I should know?"

"There is…" Atom said grimly "The pillars are also two other things. First they are also memory shards of incredible proportions. But instead of holding actual memories they instead store emotions. The second is probably the most dangerous part about them."

"But-" Celestia's words we're cut off as a flash of yellow fire familiar to how she sends a letter magically to spike shot in front of her before forcing itself into Atom's unicorn horn. For a moment his eyes went bright and then returned to normal as if he understood what it meant.

"Wait cannot you not explain to me more?" Celestia cried not wanting to be left with more questions.

"Another day Princess" He said opening a window on the side. "You'll have much more to worry about than ancient riddles very soon." A flash of light blinded the entire room for a moment. When Celestia opened her eyes, the stallion was gone.

The only thing left for her to see was a lone shooting star, flying above the sunset.

"The Captain of the Guard… Shining Armor… and his pretty little wife…" Queen Chrysalis seethed at the thought of either of them "Now his little sister gets in my way again! I should have you imprisoned Draco!"

"My queen!" Draco begged on his knees "I swear under your rule that I will not fail you again! Please your highness let me prove myself and my loyalty to you!"

Queen Chrysalis lifted her own wicked hoof ready to smack her subject across the cheek. She then stopped herself in mid swing causing Draco to flinch in fear.

"Alright then…" She said her sneer turning into a devilish smile "You're lucky that I'm in generous mood today Draco. For I have just the mission for you. You see something wonderful has happened. Something that hasn't been seen in a thousand years… "

Echoes of the Old World

by Ultima75000

Pillars of Friendship