//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: The Sanctuary Of The Unicorns // Story: Equestria Is Not Enough // by Canon Fodder //------------------------------// Chapter 13 The Sanctuary Of The Unicorns "Down this way girls!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing down the hallway. "That was so close. It feels so good to be able to fly again!" Added Rainbow. Twilight brightened up with an idea, "Great! Once we get outside, you can fly us to the library." Rainbow flapped her wings out with pleasure and relief, "You got it! I've missed flying." Two more guard Unicorns appeared up ahead of them. Twilight didn't feel intimidated anymore. She just smiled and used to her magic to smack them both with the door they were standing next to. They both staggered and fell over each other. The girls laughed as they galloped over them. They coralled around another corner and returned to the previous lobby where they had knocked the bookcase over. They trotted over to the large doors that lead to the fresh air and opportunity of escape. But suddenly their opportunity was interrupted by the harsh sound of an angered, tormented, annoyed, impatient and probably "clinically" insane Nova Sparks, accompanied by a Dog and two Earth pony guards, "Stop right there you bloody mules!" Rainbow Dash showed off her freed wings, "You're in trouble now! You can't stop us." Nova scoffed at them, "That's where your wrong my dear. This is the end of your little game of hide and seek. I mean really? You cannot expect to evade my clutches forever. Take a glance at the situation would you? I have an entire army out for you! It's just a matter of time before your completely cornered...and defeated. I vow on my words that YOU, Twilight Sparkle will perish at my hooves, and I intend to fulfill that destiny right now. GET THEM!" The henchmen ran for the girls and they dispursed to dodge the foes. The dog leaped for Applejack, while the two Earth ponies shot their lasers from their hoof gadgets, trying to down Rainbow who was flying around them. Twilight went face to face with Nova, like she had wanted. Though instead of magic, Twilight flew a few hooves at him. He dodged and retaliated the same way. Applejack wrestled with the massive mutt, headbutting, grappling, struggling on the ground. The dog was getting the upper paw of the situation. Although Rainbow Dash was enjoying her battle very much. The Earth ponies became frustrated with their failure to strike down Rainbow. She swooped down and clotheslined both of them down, and swooped up yet again. Twilight and Nova got a good few shots on each other, but then Nova tackled her down to the ground and kept trying to strike her head but she shielded herself with her hooves. Nova soon had gotten beat out from repeatedly punching at Twilight. She took the opportunity and shot Nova with a blast of light which knocked Nova off of her. Twilight got up and tried to make a break for the door, "Girls! Over here!" Applejack called over to her, still wrestling with the canine, "Twi...I'm a little...tied up at the moment..." Twilight shot at the dog but her magic deflected off of his magic proof armour. Then Rainbow swings down and also tried to wrestle the dog off of Applejack. The dog only laughed at their lack of effect on his aggressivness. He flicked Rainbow away like she was a fly and continued to tussle with AJ. The multi-color maned Pegasus became dazed and shook her head to focus in again. Rainbow shouted at him, "Oh, so you wanna play rough do you?" Dash backed up against the wall, ready to charge, "It's gut check time!" The Pegesus glared at the canis guard and smiled cleverly. Then, very swiftly took flight with incredible acceleration and velocity. The dog glanced up from Applejack and looked at the incoming pony. He gasped and tried to leap away, but Rainbow was too fast for him as she barged into the near four hundred pound dog. Rainbow tackled him back down and whaled ferociously at the downed canine, "You like that?...How does this one feel?...Take that!" The dog grunted and groaned from the repeated strikes. Applejack got up and trotted over to help Twilight who was straining, trying to open the large doors to the outside, "You need help hun?" Twilight wiped the sweat from her head and smiled at Applejack, "I'd appreciate it." After Rainbow's assault, she left the dog unconsious, battered and bruised. She began to trot over and help her friends, she glanced over at Nova Sparks who was still on the ground, "This is my chance!" She thought to herself. She changed her mind and went to give Nova a piece of her mind. She neared Nova when Rainbow caught Twilight's eye, "Rainbow NO!" Nova sprang up to his hooves and began choking Rainbow with his magic. Using his horn to compress the air around her neck. Rainbow thrashed around, struggling for a breath. Nova laughed dementedly. Twilight tried to save her by counter-acting Nova's magic but it was no use. Rainbow was fading, Twilight and AJ couldn't get close or else Nova would surely catch them in his choking range as well. They had to think of something quickly. Rainbow was pouring sweat, trying to breath, "What are we going to do?" Asked the worried Twilight. Applejack shifted her eyes around trying to think. Then looked back at her saddlebag and an idea clicked in, "Ah-Ha!" She reached into the bag and hauled out the first aid kit. Twilight was confused, "How is that going to help?" Applejack grinned, "Hehe...You'll see. BATTER UP!" She tossed the box into the air and got into her bucking position. Rainbow was lowering to the ground, almost lifeless. Without a moment too soon, Applejack bucked the kit with all her strength. It flew, speeding through the air towards Nova. He was too distracted with Rainbow to notice anything until it came close within his sight. He let go of the spell out of surprise, "What the buck?!" Nova was bashed in the head by the projectile, giving the girls time to escape. Twilight and Applejack went to Rainbows aid, "You alright Sugar Cube?" Asked AJ. Dash was still panting heavily but nodded, "Yeah...I'll be fine...Let's...get out of here..." The girls helped Rainbow to her hooves and then trotted over to open the door. They pushed with their strength but it wasn't budging, "What is wrong with this door?" Twilight asked. Applejack wondered, then she sighed and face-hooved, "Wait a minute, move away fer a sec..." Twilight and Rainbow Dash stepped aside while Applejack grabbed on to the door handle and pulled instead of push. Sure enough, the door opened up. Rainbow gave a subtle laugh, "...Oops..." "Nevermind that, let's go!" Exclaimed Twilight. The girls galloped out into the royal courtyard and towards the high fence. Applejack and Twilight became discouraged, "Now what are we gonna do?" AJ complained. Rainbow flapped her wings, "...Duh." Twilight chuckled, "Oh Yeah, I forgot." All of a sudden, the doors of the castle flung open. Nova and the Unicorns were there again. Nova screamed out, "CEASE THEM BEFORE THEY GET AWAY!" They began shooting them with their magic. The girls swiftly dodged each shots. Rainbow hollered out, "Girls! Grab on to my tail!" Applejack and Twilight clenched on hurriedly and like a flash, Rainbow darted out as fast as she could. Although it was dark, only the light of the moon could guide them. Nova trotted up towards the fence and whistled very loudly. Two, armoured Pegesi flew to his side, "You requested us Master Nova?" Nova pointed out towards the girls in the sky, "YES! Catch those mares! I can't let them escape. Get them, then kill them!" They saluted, "Right away sir!" The armoured Pegesi took flight and homed in on the girls. Twilight looked back and seen them. She spoke through her teeth, "Rainbow! Behind us!" Dash looked back and seen the white steeds flying towards them, "Twilight! Where's the library? Hurry!" She pointed her hoof down at a unique building with a marble statue of Star Swirl The Bearded holding a book in front of it. Rainbow looked back again and knew she had to lose Nova's cronies first, "Hold on tight ladies, this is going to be shaky ride!" Rainbow began to accelerate, so did the guards. Rainbow was impressed, "Oh You guys are good. But can you keep up with the best young flyer?" She sped up faster and the guards still managed to keep up. Dash only laughed, "Alright, you guys got speed, but do ya got agility?" She took a sharp turn and flew back around the guards, then twisting around buildings, below and over bridges, and through the clouds, out into the dark of the night. This confused the guards and made them lose their place, "Where'd they go?" One of them asked. "Don't look at me, you were leading!" Said the other one angrily. The leading guard grunted, "Ahhh Nova's going to kill us if we don't find these mares." The other guard looked around and sighed, "Well were gonna have to look for them. We can't go back empty-hooved." He took the lead, "Come on, their around here somewhere..." The former leading Pegesus followed and they lowered to the ground and began their search. Meanwhile, Rainbow and the girls appeared from behind a cloud. Rainbow waited until the two guards were out of sight, then continued to make her way to the library. ----- "Alright girls, were here." Rainbow said as she landed on the roof. They let go of Dash's tail and Twilight looked for something, "Uhh What are you doing Twilight?" Twilight continued but responded, "I'm looking around for the attic. It's around here somewhere. This is where I always used to go for my studies. I had special permission from the Princess." "You need help Twilight?" Asked Applejack. She shook her head, "I'll find it, you girls keep a look out. We don't have a lot of time." The dimmest line of sunlight hanged over the horizon and was soon to disappear over the gleaming moon. It must've been almost midnight. The girls noticed that the streets were nearly silent, only the trots and clops of the guards patrolling around Canterlot. Nova had surely sent out his best, excluding Comet and Buckingham. Rainbow gazed up at the radiate moonlight and she thought for a while, about Cloudsdale, Ponyville, but mostly she thought about her friends. Whether they were dead or alive, she didn't know. Again, she began to quietly sob over her missing companions. Looking over another side of Equestria, was Applejack. She looked down at the distant pastures, towards home, towards Sweet Apple Acres...Towards Applebloom. The memories of her little sister entered her thoughts yet again. Applejack was scared for the life of her sister. Was she safe? She couldn't help think that Applebloom may never forgive her for leaving again. She whispered her apologies, and put her head down. After ten minutes of reminiscing, Twilight finally uncovered the trap door to the attic, "Found it!" Applejack tilted her head up and trotted over, "Mighty good job there Twi, let's go..." Twilight looked into her eyes and she worried, "You ok AJ?" Applejack nodded and smiled, "I'm fine, just thinking about something." Twilight sympathized and put her hoof around her heart-torn friend. She called over to Rainbow, "You ready Rainbow Dash?" Before she turned around, Dash wiped her tears away and tried to make her voice sound normal. She too, trotted over, hiding her emotions, "You bet, let's get going." They climbed down into a small narrow hallway that lead to another room Twilight illuminated her horn, brightening the room, which made it appear much bigger. That was the attic. It was surrounded wall to wall, with books. Applejack was amazed, "Boy howdy! Look at all these books." Twilight laughed, "Oh Yeah, this is where I always used study for my tests in magic school. It's been a while, (she coughs) and really dusty." Rainbow looked around and noticed a sun roof where the moon shined through, "You sure their not going to find us in here?" Twilight looked through the rows of books and shook her head, "Oh Were not staying up here, this is only the attic. We have to get down to the basement, that's where we'll be hiding." Applejack and Rainbow looked at each other confused, "A basement? Really? Yer kiddin right?" Said AJ. Twilight looked back at the girls and chuckled, "Well it's not exactly a basement, I mean it is, but it's not. It's a secret room. The Princess showed it to me years ago. She said it was where the descendants and students of Star Swirl used to test their magic in front of a league of wise, knowledgeable Unicorns known as the High Canterlot Council For Unicorns. Only special ponies were accepted into the union. These members would go on to become the---" "Yeah that's great and all..." Rainbow interrupted, "But this really isn't the time for a history lesson." Twilight laughed nervously, "Your right, let's go." Twilight approached a handle on the floor which appeared to be another trap door that lead down to the library itself. Twilight peeked her head down first to make sure no one was around, the building appeared to be closed. She waved Rainbow to fly each of them down. Twilight made Applejack go first, she had to make sure she went back and checked if the trap door to the roof was shut and grab a couple books off the shelves of the attic. Twilight returned to the door down to the library and Rainbow helped her descend to the main level. Rainbow went back up one more time to shut the trap door. Twilight lead them to the book shelves in the very back, she shined the small light from her horn to create tolerable brightness. These shelves were also very dusty. Twilight looked up, down, and across the rows of books. She did this for five minutes until Rainbow had gotten fed up, "Twilight what are you doing?" She didn't respond. She gestured her hoof in front of Rainbow in a be quiet motion while still looking at the books. They were almost at one end of the shelf when Twilight finally found what she was looking for, "Ah-ha!" "What is it Twi?" Asked Applejack curiously. "Lean up against the bookcase girls..." Twilight said. Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other skeptically and did as they were told. The leaned against the shelf and Twilight also got into position as she pulled one of the books out halfway...Part of the floor slightly rose in a circular shape below their hooves by a couple millimetres, The sound of gears meshing and locks turning could be heard on the other side of the wall. Then the floor, the bookcase, and the girls began to turn. Arriving on the otherside of the bookcase, behind the wall, it was a secret compartment. Although Applejack and Rainbow were disappointed. It appeared to be only another narrow hallway, except this time it lead to a dead-end, "Uh Twilight? There's nothing in here." Said Rainbow Dash. "Just wait." Twilight responded. Next to them, were three tall stacks of encyclopedias and dictionaries. Twilight flipped open the cover of one of the books on top of one stack and instead pages, embedded within the book was a handle. Twilight pulled it back and held AJ and Rainbow back as the sound of more machinery occured. All of a sudden, at the end of the hallway, part of the floor gave away, then another part, and another, continuing all the way up to the girls hooves. Each part of the floor fell shorter as it neared them. Creating a staircase before them. The girls were astonished and impressed. Twilight lead on, "Come on girls, it's just down here." Twilight brightened her horn, for it was getting darker as they proceeded downward. They got to the bottom of the staircase and trotted through the opening to the next room. Once they were all on the otherside, the staircase lifted as it transformed into a wall behind them. Applejack checked it, "Uh Twi? Are we trapped?" She shook her head, "Don't worry we can lower it again. There's a switch on the wall." Twilight looked around the pitch-black room and found an unlit torch on the wall. She fired a bolt from her horn to ignite it. With the room somewhat brighter, she seen more torches around the room. Twilight went to each one, lighting it with her horn. When she completed that task, the girls could see that the room was very elaborate, symmetrical, covered in ancient books. In the center of the large room was a detailed spell circle, etched in the rock of the floor. Twilight explained, "That's where Unicorns would be put to the tests of the early Equestrian Era..." In the back of the room were five podiums, with names engraved into each one, "...and these were the podiums of the five Unicorns of judgment." She named them off from left to right, "...Aries The Noble, Ellipsis The Enchanter, Star Swirl The Bearded, Bellflower The Sorceress, and Duchess of Canterlot, Dewberry III. These five ponies were philosophers, teachers, judges, and leaders for a short time before a political system was established. Somewhere among these books girls, lies the answer to defeating Nova Sparks once and for all. I know the meteorite hit Equestria a long time after these ponies were around but there has got to be something." Applejack trotted up, "Well were here to help Twi, just what are ya lookin for?" Twilight gazed around, "That's just it, I don't know where to begin! Aries and Bellflower only practiced their magic with plants, Dewberry studied from books, and Ellipsis was a strict school professor. I guess Star Swirl would be our best starting point. He was after all, known as the Master of Magic. The girls looked at the rows and columns of books ahead of them. Rainbow sighed, "I guess we better get started." They proceeded in diving into the mass quantity of ancient documents in search for a way to counter-act Nova's powerful magic. ----- Hours passed into the early morning, around 3:30am. Applejack and Rainbow had fallen asleep. Twilight was still awake, lying down next to a mountain of books she had skimmed through. Still nothing. Many of the books were hard to read because of their deterioration, that and the fact they written in Ancient Equestrian English. Twilight felt her stomach rumble, they hadn't packed a lot of food before they left Sweet Apple Acres. They finished off most of what they had before AJ and Dash drifted off. Sooner or later they would have sneak out and find food...Twilight shook her head to ignore the hunger urges and continued digging her snout into the books. Although her pains grew stronger and she couldn't concentrate anymore. She peeked her head up from her document and looked over at Rainbows saddlebag for anymore traces of food, and luckily there was one more apple left for the snacking. Twilight licked her lips as she stood up. She trotted up to the apple and kneeled down to bite it, when all of a sudden, the apple began to glow. Twilight backed off from confusion. She was puzzled as the apple also began to roll itself across the room. Twilight looked back and Applejack and Rainbow Dash to assure they weren't playing a trick on her. She decided to follow the fruit. She wasn't following for long until it stopped. But where it had stopped really perplexed her even more. The apple had stopped in the center of the spell circle. Twilight looked at it baffled as she proceeded to pick it up again. When she entered the outer ring of the circle, it shocked her hoof and she jumped back, "Ouch!" The circle began to light up. Each detailed line progressively enlightening. While this was happening, the enchanted apple levitated. The circle completed lighting up, and Twilight looked up at the apple. She thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, a hazy image began to form. The figure was large, white, flying...spiritual and majestic. The transparent figure of a ghost. Twilight peered at it, and smiled very happily, "Princess Celestia!" The entity finally focused itself into clearity and what Twilight had predicted, was true. The spirit of Celestia was before her. She looked down at her faithful student and spoke softly and sweetly, with an ominous echo, "My dear Twilight Sparkle I am filled with joy to see that you have found the Sanctuary Of The Unicorns. Most importantly, I'm glad your safe." Twilight bowed down and began to cry relieving tears, "Oh Princess Celestia, I thought I'd never see you again..." Celestia smiled, "Please do not cry for me anymore my child, I am at peace now. Also, I will always be with you, with all of you. My physical form maybe defeated, but I'll always be here, spiritually. But I am afraid this may be the final time we'll see each other. Listen closely to what I have to say." Twilight stood up and wept her tears away, "I'm all ears, your majesty." The spirit continued, "Very good. I can sense that Nova Sparks is starting to lose confidence in his society. He knows that he can be defeated. Also you will pleased to know that Spike and the others are still alive, and well." Twilight closed her eyes and sighed with easing relief, "Oh Thank goodness. You have no idea how happy I am to hear that." Celestia smiled again, "I know you are...You were right to come here my child. For safety, but you should know that you had the answer to defeat Nova Sparks all along...The elements of harmony." The student facehoofed, "Of course, how blind of me!" Celestia chuckled softly, "Do not blame yourself my faithful student, traumatic experiences can block much of the mind. But yes, the elements of harmony are the only way of stopping Nova Sparks magic overhaul. I took the elements to a secret location after the six of you had banished Discord. Now they lie within the one true place Nova Sparks cannot get to them...Your hearts." The apple that had been levitating around Celestia suddenly burst into six equal parts. Etched in each pieces peel, were their individual cutie-marks. The parts of the apple landed before Twilights hooves, "I don't understand." The Princess explained, "It's simple my dear. Each part of this apple, represents the individual element that each one of you were destined for. Once you eat your slice of the apple, your element will be engraved into your heart forever. But in order for this plan to work, you MUST free the others before it is too late. Nova will surely have plans in using them, to get to you. I will tell you that as long as you have your mirrors, their magic cannot harm you, but that doesn't mean they can't hurt you...I would recommend that until you figure out a plan to free your friends, that you remain here. Nova's guards will not find you here." Twilight briefly looked discouraged, "But were out of food. What can we do?" The Princess laughed again, "Look in Bellflower's Essence of the Herbs. Chapter 37, transforming wood to fruit. I would suggest that in the night, you go into the library of this building and only use the pages of certain books that are...common. The books in here are too important." Twilight nodded, "I understand Princess." "Finally I will say that you must complete your mission before Nova's project: meteor is finished. That missile will surely be the end of the Equestria we know. It won't take long for the Griffons to fight back...Good luck Twilight Sparkle. I know you'll find someway to save your friends. See to it that you have Applejack and Rainbow Dash eat their slice of apple as well, and be careful with the other three for Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. You only have one shot at getting this right. Also, let Applejack know that her sister is doing fine." "She'll be glad to hear it Princess." Twilight added. Celestia smiled warmly, "I'm sure too. Big Macintosh will be shifted back to normal when Nova's magic is lifted from the power of the elements. You must smite Nova with them. His horn is now the most powerful horn in Equestria, and if you take his horn out, it will cause a chain reaction and deactivate the magic within the special rock from the stray meteorite...Also I regret to inform you that the Mayor of Ponyville was killed at the hooves of Nova. He must be stopped at all costs! No matter what, he cannot succeed. Or else he'll surely bring the end of the world as we know it. Our land's fate is in yours, Applejacks, and Rainbow Dash's hooves now. Good luck my most faithful student..." Twilight spoke up, "Wait Princess! Are you sure this is the last time we'll ever see each other?" The Princess shut her eyes, "I am afraid so my child...But let me say that you were the best student I have ever taught. You are strong and you can overcome anything. Over the years, I would like to say that I thought of you as my own daughter. You will oversee this adversary Twilight, I can feel it...Farewell my child, I have and always will, love you. Remember...For Equestria..." The spirit of Celestia soon faded and light in the spell circle, darkened. Twilight tipped her head down and dropped one last tear from her eye, "For Equestria Princess, and thank you...For everything..." [...To be continued]