Twilight rushed to the throne room’s doors with Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy following close behind. She looked at the barrier protecting the room. She lifted a hoof and knocked. “Hello? Princess?” The barrier faded and the doors cracked open. “It’s okay. It’s safe out here now.”
The guards opened the door and looked outside. Then they looked at the six ponies at the door. “Hurry.” A guard let the girls in as he looked around for the creature.
“Princess!!” Twilight exclaimed as she saw the princess partially turned to stone.
“Twilight Sparkle, my star pupil.” Princess Celestia’s near flawless white coat was spoiled by her petrified left wing, tail, front left hoof and rear flank. Her hair flowed in a windless room as her crown sat proudly on her head. The six walked up to the princess and bowed in her presence. “Did you and your friends defeat the basilisk?”
Twilight’s eyes watered up at the sight of her princess. “We didn’t.” The guards at the doors started to panic and got ready to close the doors.
Applejack took a step forward. “Crimson did.”
“Crimson?” Princess Celestia thought to herself for a moment. “He didn’t kill it, did he?”
Twilight shook her head. “No.” Again, the guards panicked and started to close the doors. “It’s mortally wounded in the halls.”
The princess gave a faint smile. “Good.” She squinted a little as the petrification continued to grow, slowly engulfing her body.
“Princess!?”
“Calm yourselves.” The princess said, trying to focus on her stone infliction. “If you kill the basilisk, there would be no easy way to dispel this stone curse.”
Applejack looked at the princess. “You say’n we can reverse this spell?”
“Like a counter-spell?” Twilight added.
“Yes. But it requires very specific materials.”
“What are they?” Twilight asked.
Rarity took a step forward. “I have lots of gems.”
Fluttershy stepped forward as well. “And I know how to get special herbs.”
Rainbow Dash jumped and hovered in place. “And I’m the fastest pony in the castle. I can get you anything!”
Pinkie Pie smiled. “And I can make a cake for your get well party!”
The princess gave another faint smile at the positivity and dedication to her friends. “You must find a flawless and pristine padparascha sapphire, then have it cut into a form with great skill and precision to have the stone harness magical powers. Theeeen…” The petrification crept a little more making Celestia wince in pain. The princess struggled to halt the petrification causing her more pain. The ponies looked upon her in dire worry as the petrification stopped growing. The princess looked back at the six. “Then enchant the sapphire with the blood of the living basilisk that caused the victim to turn to stone. The stone then can be used to lift the curse.”
Applejack looked back toward the doors. “Crimson did a number on that thing. I don’t think we’ll have enough time to do all that.”
Rarity looked up at her mane. “Actually…”
Twilight’s eyes popped open. “That’s it!” Princess Celestia looked at the six wondering what they were talking about. Rarity took off the hair trinket Crimson made for her and handed it to Twilight. Twilight went to the princess and presented the jewelry.
Princess Celestia looked at the skill and precision of the cut gem and the intricate carvings and engravings in the metals. “This is…” The princess looked at Twilight. “This is the best work I’ve ever seen!”
Rarity turned her head in a blush. “Crimson showed me how to make it.”
“This is perfect!” Princess Celestia’s horn glowed as she closed her eyes, then touched Twilight Sparkle’s horn. While her attention was lifted from her curse, the petrification grew to almost cover her right wing. Light emanated from the two as everyone looked at them in awe and worry. The light diminished and the petrification slowed down again as Princess Celestia lifted her head. “I have bestowed upon you the ancient ways of weaving magic to create magical gems.” She handed the sapphire to Twilight. “Now go, before it’s too late.”
Twilight took the gem, turned around, and ran passed her friends. The friends turned around and follow behind her.
Twilight ran as fast as she could – faster than she ever ran. “Please be alive. Please still be alive.” She ran up to the monster and looked at it’s mangled and bloody body. It slowly blinked and looked at Twilight as its shallow breathing weakened.
Applejack nudged Twilight. “Hurry up, Twilight!”
Twilight took a deep breath, then closed her eyes. The gem floated between Twilight and the basilisk as Twilight’s horn glowed. The five nervously waited and watched Twilight.
Rainbow Dash stared blankly. “… Nothing’s happening.”
Every second felt like forever as Twilight remained focused on the difficult spell Celestia bestowed upon her. Then, the monster groaned as deep red mist seeped out from the basilisk’s gray scaly hide. Then the monster went limp and lifeless as the mist floated toward the sapphire and circle around the gemstone. The sapphire soaked the mist, changing its color from a dark orange to green and it fell to the ground. Twilight collapsed in exhaustion as the gemstone landed in a pool of the basilisk’s blood. The five ran up to Twilight.
Fluttershy leaned down to Twilight. “Oh my. Are you okay?”
“Y.. yeah.” Twilight looked up in a dazed and weakened state. “Did it work?”
Rarity used her magic to telekinetically pick up the gemstone. She lightly shook of the blood from the stone. “I hope so.”
Twilight panted and looked toward the creature. “And the basilisk?”
Applejack looked over at the beast. “It’s gone.”
Twilight slowly got up. “Alright, let’s get back to Princess Celestia while we can.”
Fluttershy and Applejack helped Twilight stand up. Her knees shook as she tried to get her strength back.
Applejack bore most of Twilight’s weight. “Take it easy, hun.”
Twilight shifted her weight to, for the most part, stand on her own. “I’m okay. We have to hurry.” She turned and started to trot down the hall. She wobbled back and fourth like a pony drunk off of Granny Smith’s Secret Apple Cider.
The five watched as Twilight slowly started to get used to the room spinning in her eyes. Applejack turned her head to looked at the girls. “Come on, now. Let’s make sure she gets back safely.” The five caught up and escorted her back to the throne room.
The throne room doors stayed open, but guards stood posted at the entrance. Twilight staggered passed them with the five close behind. They looked strangely at the dazed and weakened pony.
They walked up to the nearly petrified princess next the throne. The princess looked at the six as they approach. “Did you succeed?”
Twilight panted, trying to get her breath. “I… I hope so.” She telekinetically presented the gemstone to the princess.
“Hmm…” Princess Celestia looked closely at the gem. “It looks half-done.”
Twilight looked upon Celestia with distress. “What do you mean?”
“Did the creature live throughout the entire process?”
Twilight looked down in sorrow. “I… I don’t know.”
Rainbow Dash stepped forward. “Sorry, princess. It didn’t.”
Rarity gasped at the dire news. “All is lost!”
“I see.” The princess studied the gemstone. “I can feel its magic, but it’s very faint.”
Fluttershy looked at the princess. “What can we do?”
“Hmm…” Princess Celestia started to think to herself. Then, she lifted her head and looked at Twilight. “Twilight Sparkle, use the Elements of Harmony on the gemstone. Hopefully, it’ll amplify the magic enough to break this curse.” Princess Celestia pointed her horn toward the hallway that led to the vault.
Twilight watched the Princess’s horn glow. “Do you really think it’ll work?”
Celestia’s body got more encased in stone as her horn stopped glowing. She caught her breath and looked at the ponies. “I think you six hold more power than you know.” The six looked toward the hallway. “I’ve unlocked the vault for you. Now hurry.”
The six started to run toward the hall. They ran down the red carpet, passed the stained windows, down toward a door with an inscription of a sun in the middle. In the very middle of the sun was a small glowing hole. The girls stopped in front of the door.
Rainbow Dash hovered and stared at the doors. “Now what?”
Applejack stared at the door, turned around, then kicked the doors. They slammed open to revile a small sealed room with a pedestal with a gemmed box sitting on top of it.
Twilight’s eyes lightly popped. “That’ll work.” Twilight then used her magic to telekinetically lift the box and brought it out of the room.
Applejack walked next to Twilight. “Do you really think this will work?”
Twilight looked at Applejack. “We have to try.”
Twilight opened the box and the six don their designated pieces. Applejack put on a gold necklace with a red ruby apple. Pinkie Pie grabbed a gold necklace with a blue balloon shaped emerald. Rarity put on a gold necklace with a blue diamond. Fluttershy got a gold necklace with a pink sapphire butterfly. Rainbow Dash put on a gold necklace with a dark red lightning bolt shaped ruby. Finally, Twilight Sparkle telekinetically placed a large gold crown lined with blue opals and a large six pointed star red sapphire.
Twilight put the box back on the pedestal. She turned around and looked to see if they all had their necklaces on. “Okay, girls. Let’s go.” The six galloped back toward the throne room.
Twilight entered the throne room with the others close behind. They saw Celestia had been mostly covered in stone. It crept up the left side of her neck and started to petrify her face. Her guards looked at her with mournful and grievous concern.
Twilight gasped. “Princess!” The six ran to the princess.
“Now hurry.” Celestia struggled as she lifted her head, trying to get as far away from the stone skin. “Free your friends. Don’t worry about me.” Her face started to get encased in stone as Celestia took a deep breath. “GO!” She commanded, then stood completely petrified.
“NOOO!” The six stared at the statue of Celestia as her guards tried to keep their composure.
Fluttershy looked in horror, sorrow, and confusion. “What do we do?”
Twilight turned and looked toward where her brother’s statue sat. A tear rolled down her cheek as she realized that she may never see her brother in the flesh again. She blinked as another tear fell. “… Save Celestia.” Twilight held her head up high. “My brother would have wanted us to.” She looked toward the lightly empowered sapphire and took a few steps toward it. The six walked up behind Twilight in deep sorrow at the horror they’re living through. They positioned themselves with the sapphire between them and the stone princess. Twilight turned her head and looked at her friends with teary eyes. “Is every pony ready?”
Applejack wiped her eye with her hoof. “I think so.”
Twilight turned back towards the sapphire. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash lit up and started to float into the air. “Good bye, bbbff.” She whispered to herself trying to catch her breath. Then her eyes lit up and she started to float into the air as Twilight herself started to illuminate a white glow. Then a rainbow helix shot out from the six toward the ceiling before merging together. A rainbow formed from the crest of the spiraling helix and shot into the sapphire. The sapphire resonated and shook as it absorbed the rainbow. It cracked as more and more of the element’s power was absorbed. Finally, it buckled, then shattered into countless pieces. Every pony in the room was knocked off their hooves and fell to the ground as a shockwave boomed through the halls, shaking the very foundation the castle sat on. Being slow to get up, the six looked at the results of their efforts to look upon the shattered gem.
Rarity gasped and covered her mouth in horror with her hooves. “Oh no!”
The six got to their hooves and circled the destroyed sapphire.
Rainbow Dash looked up at Twilight. “Did it work?”
Twilight looked over toward the princess. “I don’t think so.” She stared at the statue of the princess.
The six turned and walked to the throne. Twilight was stricken with guilt and failure. She started to feel overwhelmed and angry at the failure of the Elements of Harmony, making her feel sick with grief. Her knees weakened as she felt sick to her stomach at the dismal future her, her friends, and the entire kingdom will be facing.
Applejack looked at Twilight. “What do we do now?”
Twilight’s legs buckled and she fell to her knees. A tear slid down her face and fell to the ground. “I don’t know.” She dropped her head, broken in shame. Shortly after, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy follow suit and dropped their heads in sorrow.
Pinkie Pie looked at the girls as they dropped their heads. Confused, she dropped her head too. She started to look around at the ground. “… What are we looking at?”
Twilight let off a sniffle, crying in defeat. “Nothing.”
“Oh…” Pinkie looked at Twilight. “How would we know if it worked?”
Twilight lightly lifted her head to look at Pinkie Pie. “What?”
Pinkie tilted her head. “How would we know if the spell worked?”
“Well…” Twilight briefly thought to herself. “I guess the stone would crack and break.”
“Oh, okay.” Pinkie replied. Twilight lowered her head in sorrow, and all but Pinkie Pie cried at their loss. Pinkie Pie looked at them confused. “I don’t get it.”
Twilight looked at Pinkie Pie with a sniffle. “What? What isn’t there to get?”
“Why are you all crying?” Pinkie asked.
Twilight started to feel the negative emotions turn to anger. “Why are we crying? Because Equestria will never be the same. The princess is gone. My brother is gone. Crimson is gone… My brother…“ She restrained her anger and looked down at the ground. She sniffled, then lightly looked back at Pinkie Pie. “Don’t you realize that?”
Pinkie Pie looked up and away as if she learned something that everyone else knew. “Ohhhh… But the princess isn’t gone.”
Twilight looked confused at Pinkie Pie. “What do you mean?”
Pinkie Pie lifted her hoof and pointed at the princess. “See?”
The girls turned their heads to see the statue slowly cracking. Finally, the stone skin was blasted off from the inside as Princess Celestia stretched her limbs, breaking herself free from her stone prison.
“PRINCESS!” The girls ran to the princess in excitement and disbelief. She was surrounded by the guards in the room as they all start to cheer in happiness and excitement.
“Princess, you’re alive!” Twilight exclaimed.
With the entire room in an uproar, the princess gracefully lifted her hoof to silence everyone in the room. “Of course I am.”
“But… how?” Twilight asked.
“Didn’t you use the Elements of Harmony to free your friends?”
“Well, no. When we used the elements to free you, the gem shattered.” She turned her head to look at the shattered gem. The princess looked upon the broken sapphire.
“I see.” Celesia looked around at the heavily damaged throne room.
Applejack turned toward the door. “Do you think the others will be okay?”
Twilight looked to the princess. The princess gestured towards the door. “Go to them.” The six turned and ran out of the throne room as the princess addressed her guards.
The six galloped through the halls as fast as they could. Rainbow Dash stayed with them, even though she could fly there faster than everyone could run. “I’m going to check on my brother.” Twilight said.
“I’ll check on Crimson.” Rainbow Dash answered.
Rarity followed Rainbow Dash to see Crimson and Applejack followed Twilight to see Shining Armor. Fluttershy stopped in her tracks in between the two. “Oh my.” Fluttershy started to engage in an internal struggle on who to look to.
Rainbow Dash stopped at the statue of Crimson. Shortly after, Rarity and Pinkie Pie caught up.
Rarity looked up at the statue of Crimson. “Did it work?”
The three looked at the statue. “I don’t think so.” Rainbow Dash replied.
Meanwhile, Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie ran up to the statue of Shining Armor. They stopped and looked for cracks.
Twilight closely observed and studied the statue. “Do you see anything?”
Applejack took off her hat so she can get a closer look. “Noth’n.”
Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie sat and watched Crimson as Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie sat and watched Shining Armor. Fluttershy was still in between the two going back and fourth on who to follow.
Twilight’s eyes started to water back up. “I… I don’t think it worked.”
Applejack put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, suga.”
Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie stared at the statue of Crimson.
“It has to work.” Rainbow Dash said. “It has to.”
While Fluttershy stood in between the statues of Shining Armor and Crimson, the rest of the five stood and waited in dreadful silence.
After a long silence, Twilight broke in rage and sorrow. “NO!” She burst into tears as the failure of their efforts to reverse the affliction placed upon them from the basilisk.
Applejack and Pinkie Pie hugged and consoled Twilight, who was emotionally destroyed from the ordeal. “Come on, hun. Maybe the Princess will know what to do.” The three stood up, turned around and started to head back toward the throne room.
Fluttershy saw Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie walk up. She noticed Twilight’s terrible condition and heavy heart. “Oh my.” She walked up and hugged her devastated friend. “I’m so sorry, Twilight.”
Applejack looked up at Pinkie Pie as she, some how, walked up from Crimson’s direction. “Pinkie Pie?” She turned her head in confusion, then back at Pinkie Pie. “I thought you were with us with Shining Armor.”
“I was.”
“But I saw you coming from Crimson’s statue.”
Pinkie smiled and nodded. “Uh-huh.”
“Then how did ya…?”
Twilight fell to her knees as she broke down. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack surround her to console her. Then, Twilight coughed as dust fell on her nose from above her. She wiped off the dust with her hoof and looked at it with confusion. She looked up at the greatly compromised ceiling. The three looked at Twilight as she stood up and looked toward Rarity and Rainbow Dash. The ceiling cracks and rocks started to fall to the floor. “Rarity! Rainbow! Get out of h-“ The entire hallway came crashing down as Rainbow Dash grabbed Rarity and bolted toward a more secure location. Twilight used her magic to put a telekinetic sphere around herself and her friends around her as Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie huddled close to Twilight. She focused her powers in her horn as the others looked around at the rocks that surround them. They tried to look around, but the only light inside their bubble was the dim hint of light illuminating from Twilight’s horn.
Applejack looked around at the dim surroundings. “What are we going to do now?”
“I don’t know.” Fluttershy answered.
Twilight struggled to stay on her hooves. “I… I don’t know… how much… longer I can… hold this…”
The ground started to rumble as the glow from Twilight’s horn started to falter. Applejack took a step closer to her friends. “I guess this is it.” Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy hugged Twilight and held each other as they closed their eyes. The fear consumed them as they grew numb from the cold. The light died out as the bubble grew dark. Then a bright flash hit their eyes as they thought their last thoughts. Rocks crashed around them as they gave into the reality of their last breath. They braced themselves for the plummeting rocks above them, but instead got hit horizontally and was slammed to the ground as a loud boom deafened the girls.