//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 // Story: Flipside // by Bed Head //------------------------------// Chapter 17 Wind. Moonlight. Blurs of color and sound. Everything was just a blinding streak, tinged silver by the full moon above. Dead ahead, almost like a beacon shone on it, was Canterlot Castle. Its shimmering spires almost looked like they were gilded in silver. She banked hard, wings pumping through the air as she steered toward the battlements. She could just make out a group of armored figures standing on it. Her wings pumped frantically, trying to stop... WHAM! Rainbow Dash gasped in horror, her eyes snapping open. Bright, artificial light immediately tore into her pupils. The sky blue mare's stinging eyes slammed shut as her hooves flailed. She could feel her limbs tangling in some kind of fabric as she thrashed on the oddly soft surface beneath her. With a final cry of alarm, she tumbled from her perch. Her aching body made a heavy thud as it impacted against cold tile. The weather manager lay in place for a few moments, her head spinning as she took deep breaths. Slowly, she worked her hooves under herself and began to push up. Rainbow Dash cracked her eyes open again, and found herself surrounded by a barrier of white curtains. A bed sat silently next to her, the mattress squishing pleasantly under her forehooves as she pulled herself up. Her wings flicked out, casting the pure-white sheets that had followed her off the bed from her body. The word "hospital" was the first thing to work into her skull. It was quickly followed by a wave of pain, prompting her hoof to rise. Her wings snapped shut as she felt something thick and soft wrapped around her head. As she lowered her hoof again, the trailing end of a bandage fell into her vision. "Ugh..." she groaned to nopony in particular. "Wha... what happened?" Her brain struggled to answer the question, images from her dream pushing through the pain. Slowly her mission bubbled to the surface of her mind, and her eyes widened in realization. "Canterlot!" she gasped, sliding a bit on the sheets as she got her hooves moving. "The guards... gotta find them..." Dash's head throbbed once more as she moved for the curtains. She reached out, quickly swiping away the barrier of white fabric... Her rose-colored eyes blinked in surprise. A gray earth stallion waited on the other side of the curtain. He stumbled back a few steps, giving Dash a brief glimpse of the newspaper cutie mark on his flank. "Well, glad to see you're up!" the stallion said in an excited whisper. "Quite the little show you made coming into town, wasn't it?" "Show? What are you..." Dash winced as her head throbbed again. "Wait a second. Just who are you? And where am I?!" The earth stallion hurriedly shushed her, looking over his shoulder as he did. Rainbow Dash followed his gaze, finding a closed door with a window set above it. Her heart sank slightly, noticing the dark and starry sky beyond the glass. "You don't remember? You musta crashed harder than anypony guessed," the stallion said, still speaking softly. "You're in Canterlot, bright eyes! Came flying in like a comet. Almost smashed right into the Captain of the Guards from what I saw..." The earth pony's voice continued, but Rainbow Dash quickly tuned him out. Her smile had been returning since the word "Canterlot". Suddenly her headache was fading, her thoughts becoming much more focused. She moved to take a step forward, when suddenly one of the stallion's hooves jumped in front of her. The mare could just make out the words "Press Pass" on the laminated card nestled in it. Her cross-eyed gaze was quickly drawn down the cord attached to the card, which hung from the new stallion's neck. "... But where are my manners? Name's Ink Blot," the gray pony said with a grin. "Editor-in-Chief for the Canterlot Sun—" Rainbow Dash's muscles suddenly locked up. Her hoof, raised to take a step, stomped back to the ground. "Wait a second!" she interrupted, pushing Ink Blot's hoof away. "The Canterlot Sun? And you're the pony in charge?" Her eyes narrowed, her mind recalling a certain purple pony. The unicorn standing over everypony else as Nightmare Moon appeared behind him. Him trembling in fear as she confronted him. The same sort of press pass that Ink Blot held, tucked into the band of the stallion's hat. Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed as her head began pounding once more. This time with a rush of blood rather than pain. "That's me," Ink Blot said as his pass dropped back to his chest. "And after your entrance into town you're... umm..." The gray stallion trailed off, finally seeming to notice Rainbow Dash's glare. She snorted, her hoof scraping the ground as her wings flared. Ink Blot swallowed hard as the weather manager began stomping toward him. "So you're the one that sent that traitor to Ponyville!" she shouted, causing the stallion to jump in shock. "T-traitor?!" Ink Blot parroted, backing away. "Wait, what are you talking about?" "Don't play dumb!" Rainbow Dash snarled, eyes narrowing. "That Purple Prose was all over the place, talking about how he worked for your newspaper!" "Double P?" Ink Blot gasped out. He stumbled, his flank pressing against the far wall. Dash could hear another gulp as he glanced back at the solid stone. The sky blue pony ignored her slowly returning headache as she continued to close in on the frightened stallion. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear the creaking of a door. "Now just back up a second, I've known Prose for ages!" Ink Blot shouted, raising a hoof defensively. "Just what do you mean 'traitor?'" "That's exactly what I'd like to know!" a new voice suddenly chimed in. Rainbow Dash turned with a start. The door that Ink Blot had looked to before was open. Standing in it was a white unicorn in elaborate, purple armor with a stern glare in his eyes. Dash's gaze moved past him, causing her to rub her eyes in disbelief. She could almost swear there was a pink alicorn following directly behind the newcomer. "Captain Shining Armor..." Ink Blot spoke up, scooting away from Dash. "I-I thought you were going with those guards to look for the princess." Rainbow's jaw dropped as the words rang in her ears. "Captain Shining Armor's" eyes remained on both the editor and Dash as he stepped fully into the room. "I was going to, until this filly made her entrance," Shining Armor answered, stepping clear of the door. "She mentioned something about Ponyville before she passed out. Princess Cadence and I both thought it might be smart to hear what she had to say. Before the newspapers showed up." The pink alicorn followed Shining Armor into the room, causing Dash's eyes to nearly pop from her head. There was a rustle of motion as Ink Blot dropped into a swift bow. Before Dash could offer the same respects, the princess raised one of her hooves. "Please, don't worry about formalities now," Cadence pleaded, her eyes tearing slightly. "I... I just want to know what happened to my Auntie Celestia." "Well that's what I'm here for!" Rainbow Dash volunteered, stepping forward as she ignored the returning headache. "You won't believe what's been happening down in Ponyville!" All attention was on her immediately, and Dash swelled a bit with pride. The guard captain's narrowed gaze, however, sent a shudder down her spine. "Then why don't we start with that Purple Prose you mentioned?" Shining Armor requested, his armored hooves clanking against the floor as he moved closer. "I'd like to know just why you're calling my younger brother a traitor." Rainbow Dash could feel her jaw scrape the floor. Spike's eyes were wide in disbelief. For the first time since Nightmare Moon's escape, the night seemed almost peaceful. A soft breeze blew through Spike's mane, lilting up to the branches overhead. The leaves shook and rattled, their shadows dancing on the ground under his hooves. The unblemished surface of the moon hung over the trees, its light shining on the path before him. In a way, it almost felt as though the celestial orb were trying to apologize. Trying to make amends for being forced into the sky by its alicorn mistress. The unicorn's wide-eyed gaze wasn't on the moon, however. Rather, he found himself staring to the far side of a ravine. Caught under the silver spotlight, tangled with vines and moss, stood a collection of half-collapsed walls. Spike could see a short flight of stairs leading up to a wooden door set into the wall. Somehow, a part of his mind managed to question how the door remained when barely any of the stone did. His head turned, looking to the other five ponies nearby, all of whom seem locked in various levels of awe. "Well now," Time Turner spoke from Big Mac's back. "Call me overly optimistic but... I think that might be the place." "The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters..." Cheerilee gasped out, one hoof covering her mouth. "It looks just like the pictures from the book!" Spike blinked, his mind catching up to the conversation. He gave the purple mare a quizzical look. "Wait, seriously?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well... you know," Cheerilee said, blushing a bit. "More like what's left of it, I guess." "It sure looks like it's a thousand years old," Thunderlane commented, hovering over the rest of the group with his forehooves crossed. A sudden yelp from Time Turner drew Spike's eyes to him again. Big Mac was slowly plodding to the edge of the ravine, still carrying the smaller earth pony. Spike gave the ledge a cautious look, but followed as the red stallion turned to a pair of stone pillars sprouting nearby. Ancient ropes wrapped around the stones and ran across the chasm, with planks of aged wood bound between them. "Don't look very sturdy," Mac commented, tapping one of the pillars with his forehoof. Spike took a step away as the whole bridge gave a slight shudder. A sharp pain jabbed into his shoulders as Twilight's claws tightened along his back. He looked back, finding the little dragon trembling as she stared at the drop before them. "Not more cliffs..." Twilight moaned, clinging tighter to Spike. "Please, no more cliffs..." "It'll be okay, Twi. Maybe... maybe somepony can fly you across," Spike suggested as he gave her a gentle nuzzle. "I'll bet Ditzy would love to give you another ride. Right, Ditzy?" There was no answer, no bubbly cry of "Sure thing!" or "Of course!". Only silence. "Ditzy?" Cheerilee asked, her hooves scraping against the ground as she turned. Spike followed her example, his head tilting in curiosity as he found the gray pegasus. Both of Ditzy's eyes were focused straight ahead, completely locked on the castle. Her wings twitched erratically as Spike took a cautious step toward her. "Uh... Ditzy?" he asked, waving a hoof in front of her face. "That's the... that's where the elements are..." Ditzy finally spoke, a smile slowly coming to her muzzle. "That's really it, right? The Elements of Harmony are in there?" Spike glanced over his shoulder, seeing the others all turning toward Ditzy as well. "If Cheerilee's story is anything to go by," Time Turner answered with a quick nod. "Then it's a definite—" "Hang on, Dinky!" Ditzy suddenly shouted. Spike's ears suddenly popped as the air pressure around him fluctuated in the wake of a gray cannonball. Twilight let out a surprised cry, her claws tangling into the reporter's mane as he slid all the way back to the bridge. Spike could feel his hat rip itself from his head, caught in Ditzy's slipstream as she raced toward the remains of the castle. "—Possibility," Time Turner finished, his eyes wide. "Oh dear." The reporter's eyes were wide as he stared at the spot Ditzy had been standing. A rough outline of her formed of twigs, dust, and other debris remained in her place for a split-second before collapsing into a small heap. His head turned, spotting a whirl of gray streaking toward the far side of the ravine. "Hey Ditzy!" Thunderlane called out, wings pumping as he flew after the mare. "Wait for us!" There was a clatter of hooves that Spike vaguely realized belonged to Cheerilee and Big Mac. Before he could say a word, the duo dashed past him. The reporter bit down on his lip as he heard Time Turner shouting something to Mac. Whatever he was saying was ignored as the two mobile earth ponies raced across the bridge, setting the whole thing bouncing and swaying. "You were saying?" Twilight whispered in Spike's ear. Big Mac and Cheerilee had already finished crossing, but were still running. Spike gave the bridge a worried look as its motions slowed. "Just... hang on tight, okay?" Spike said, taking a deep breath. He could hear the ropes strain as he started after the others, bounding onto the bridge at a full gallop. Twilight's whimper rang in his ear as he willed himself not to look down between the boards. His gaze instead locked on the others up ahead, already charging up to the doors of the ancient palace. Spike's lungs burned as he closed his eyes, trying to shut out the creak of wood and the sickening sway of the ropes. Something crunched under his hooves, nearly stopping his heart. He pushed himself faster, trying to outrace the mental image of the collapsing bridge— "Spike!" Twilight shouted, yanking on his mane. "Spike, stop!" The unicorn reared back at the pull, nearly flipping onto his back. His eyes flew open in shock... His forehooves fell back to solid ground. Panting for breath, Spike glanced back to see the still-standing bridge far behind him. Twilight chuckled, hugging his neck tight before the two let out simultaneous sighs of relief. Something soft suddenly settled onto his head, drawing his eyes up. His hat greeted him, along with a hoof straightening the feather quill. Turning, he found Cheerilee smiling as she lowered her leg. "I think you might have dropped this," she said with a light chuckle. "Thanks," Spike said, adjusting the cap himself out of habit. "How's Ditzy... whoa..." He looked past the teacher, eyes going wide. There was no sign of the others, but Ditzy had made their path pretty clear. Even if there had been more than one way to go, the still spinning leaves and wind-carved furrow in the ground were easy to spot. It all formed a trail leading up the stairs to the castle door... which Spike noted, suddenly seemed to be swinging on busted hinges. "Did Ditzy do all this?" Twilight asked, jumping from Spike's back. "She might have gotten a little... over excited," Cheerilee admitted, before smiling and starting toward the castle. "Come on, the others are already inside!" Spike gave the damaged trail one last look, before shaking his head and trotting after her. Twilight plodded alongside him, letting out a low whistle as they passed the doors. The heavy, wooden structure seemed to be barely holding on, swaying a bit in the gentle breeze. "Oh my goodness," Cheerilee gasped out from up ahead. Spike turned forward, his heart jumping at Cheerilee's gasp. He dashed the last few steps between the two of them, and skidded to a halt. His eyes slowly widened at the sight that awaited him. Past the doors, in the ruins themselves, Spike found himself in what looked like an old ballroom. Cracked and broken pillars lined the walls, framing empty window arches. No roof remained overhead, allowing the moon's light to cascade into the center of the room. The others stood perfectly still, staring at where the light fell. An elaborate statue, pitted with age rose before them. A statue with five orbs of marble, each carved with a jewel-like shape, set onto stone arms around a larger orb. Spike and Cheerilee slowly walked up, joining the others. "We found them..." Ditzy Doo said, looking unhurt despite the splinters and dust on her coat. "We found them! The Elements of Harmony!" Ditzy began jumping up and down in place, her wings lifting her higher and higher each time. Spike watched her, feeling a smile come to his own muzzle as the mare continued her odd celebration. "So it would seem," Time Turner spoke up, pointing up at the statue. "I guess the first order of business is to get them down here." "I'm on it," Thunderlane volunteered, his wings snapping open. "Yeah! I'll help!" Ditzy cheered, flitting into the air toward the statue. Spike's smile immediately collapsed as the pegasus mare approached the statue. Even from a distance he could make out small pits and cracks in the orbs. Twilight's claws gripped his leg, apparently recalling the moment they'd met the mailmare. The thoughts of Ditzy running into him were compounded with images of the stones before them smashing on the ground. "Ditzy, hold up—" Thunderlane cut in, his wings giving a powerful flap. Thunderlane surged forward, getting just under Ditzy as she gripped her hooves around one of the stones. The mailmare didn't seem to be listening as she tugged upward on her prize. "Whoa!" she gasped as it came loose, causing her to shoot an extra foot into the air. Spike joined the collective gasp with the others as the wall-eyed mare wavered in midair. She quickly steadied though, looking at the sphere she held in confusion. "It's a lot lighter than it looks," she commented, slowly gliding to the ground with it. A mass sigh of relief sounded around Spike. He felt the growing tightness in his chest fade as the orb gently clinked against the ground. One of his hooves moved over his heart, assuring him that it was beating once again. As the pair of pegasi flew to the next stones, Spike took a step closer to the one on the ground. Despite the flaws in its surface, it almost seemed to shine under the light coming from above. It almost looked like a tiny moon itself as Spike ran the edge of his hoof along the jewel carved into it. As Ditzy and Thunderlane descended with the next stones, all eyes were on them. None of the group gave the moon above a second glance. Not even as a shadow flickered across its surface and its light seemed to dim slightly. Nightmare Moon was seething as she glared up at her moon. The last remnants of golden thread fell from her cloudy body as she raced over the trees. If Celestia had any comments to add to the night princess' latest escape, she was saying them to herself. The Mare of Darkness could feel Celestia's frustrated glare from around the chains now binding her muzzle and horn. There was no time to enjoy putting the sun princess in her place, though. Reflected in the moon's silver surface, Nightmare Moon could see the ruins of an ancient castle. More importantly; she could see six ponies and one dragon gathered in a circle, with five marble stones sitting in the middle of their group. The dark alicorn let out a snarl, pushing herself to move faster. The treetops bent below her as her senses continued to focus on her goal. Slowly, she could hear the voices of the ponies leaking across the distance. "Welp," Big Mac spoke up, placing one hoof on top of the closest stone. "That's all o' them." "Wait..." Spike said, raising an eyebrow. "There's only five. What about the sixth element?" "There was something in the story about that, remember?" Twilight pointed out as she stepped closer to the stones. "The 'spark' that makes the last element appear." "Very good, Twilight," Cheerilee said with a proud smile as she gave the baby dragon a pat on the head. "The story said that, when the other five elements are united, they make a spark that brings out the sixth one." Seven expectant pairs of eyes turned to the stones. Nightmare Moon almost wanted to laugh at the sight. She set her jaw though, drowning the urge in her anger. There was still a chance, however slim, that it might happen. She looked back up. The ponies still stood around five inert stones. Ditzy's wings were beginning to slump as she reached forward and prodded one of them. "Hmm, perhaps there's more to it?" Time Turner suggested, watching as the orb rocked indifferently at the poke. "I mean, if it all it took was them being together than the last element would be here right now." "Maybe the batteries are dead?" Ditzy Doo suggested, looking to the others. Silence fell among the ponies. The blond mare seemed to be the only one actually thinking about the question. The others all looked like they couldn't tell if she was serious. "Hey, wait a second," Thunderlane said, rolling one of the stones between his hooves. "How can we even be sure these are the elements?" Nightmare Moon knew she didn't even have hooves to trip over in her shadowy form. That knowledge somehow failed to keep her from stumbling in midair at Thunderlane's words. "What did he say?" she asked, her flight coming to a halt. "What do you mean?" Big Mac asked, staring at the other stallion. "Come on, guys. Would you just leave the elements sitting out in the open?" he continued, rolling the stone back to its brothers. "These were part of a statue. What if they're just some kind of decoration?" Nightmare Moon could hear a muffled shout of disbelief from her sister. The black pony stared up at the image her moon showed her, a chuckle working its way from her throat. "They don't recognize them..." she realized, her laughter growing. "Those little foals don't recognize the Elements of Harmony!" The worry that had driven Nightmare Moon was suddenly dissolving as she hovered in place. Peals of laughter rained from her cloudy body, hidden behind a howling wind. The tree branches below rattled in the noise as she twisted in midair, rolling about in her mirth. "I don't know," another voice spoke up. "Something doesn't seem right." Nightmare Moon's laughter slowed and died as she looked back up to the moon. Spike stood by the elements, looking over them curiously. "If it were a decoration, why not have all six?" he asked, kneeling in front of the elements with a curious expression. "If we had a way to test them, that would be something," Time Turner responded, rubbing his chin. "I'm not really sure how we could do that, though." "Maybe it's like Ditzy said?" Twilight suggested, suddenly looking up with a dawning realization on her face. "Maybe they need a recharge... a 'spark' of magic?" Nightmare Moon's jaw dropped, the night becoming deathly quiet around her. "You have to be kidding me," she muttered as Spike's horn began to shimmer. "I've got enough juice left to try," Spike volunteered. "Let's see...." The others took a few steps back, watching a green glow wrapped around the five stones. The treetops beneath Nightmare Moon were sheared flat as she took off toward the distant castle. Spike's tongue stuck from the side of his muzzle. Green light wreathed around his horn, surrounding the stone orbs in front of him. His magic slowly worked its way over their surfaces, prodding into the flaws. His brow furrowed as the light seemed to stop just outside of any of the imperfections. "Any luck, Spike?" Cheerilee's voice asked from behind him. The unicorn's breathing was growing heavier. His head was starting to pound as the light around his horn flickered. The stones remained still before him though, even as he struggled to pour more magic into them. He grit his teeth, feeling the energy rebounding from the pits and cracks. "I... I don't know..." he panted out, his eye twitching from the strain. "It's like these things are trying to keep me out!" Something began to falter inside, the lights around the stones fading. Spike's vision blurred as his mind pushed harder to stabilize the power. The glow began to steady, the magic forcing itself harder against its targets. "Hey, Spike?" Thunderlane's voice was actually worried as he spoke up. "You're not looking so good." "Maybe we should try to get these back to Ponyville instead?" Time Turner chimed in, his voice wavering slightly. "We still have help coming from Canterlot, after all..." Spike pushed himself to his hooves, his legs trembling under his own weight. He could feel his magic slipping away, just like at the cliff. The cliff. The unicorn clenched his eyes shut, trying to force back the helpless feeling. The sensation of being utterly useless to the others. His frustration mounted as he pushed harder, scraping for every inch of magic he could get. "No..." he spoke through gritted teeth. "I... I can do this..." "Spike..." Twilight said, her voice sounding like she was chewing on her claws. "Please... you're gonna hurt yourself—" "Look guys!" Ditzy suddenly gasped. "Something's happening!" Spike's eyes snapped open and widened in shock. The stones were beginning to lift off the ground, his magic still glowing bright around them. His magic gripped tighter around the orbs, the light slowly brightening... The rocks shuddered, and suddenly began to spin around one another. Spike's brow furrowed, his magic fading at the sight. A chill breeze blew through the open door, sending a shudder down Spike's spine. "Well... that's somethin'," Big Mac commented, stepping up behind the unicorn. "Dunno if it helps any..." "I didn't do that," Spike said, his horn extinguishing completely. "I... I don't know what's happening..." The carved orbs still spun, black winds carrying them in a tighter and tighter orbit. All six ponies backed away as the winds gathered into a tornado, blocking any sight of the treasures they carried. Spike gasped as a pair of furious eyes appeared within the windstorm, glaring out at them. "Oh my gosh..." Twilight muttered, falling onto her scaly rear. "It's Nightmare Moon!" "And if she's after those stones—" Time Turner began. The realization slammed into Spike, followed closely by powerful winds. His hooves braced against the ground, sending up a few sparks as he was shoved back. A rattle of hooves and shouts of surprise indicated the others suffering similar fates behind him. A terrible roar echoed from within the tornado as it began to lift from the ground. "NO!" Spike shouted. "The elements!" The young stallion was running before he was even aware his hooves had moved. The eyes on the funnel cloud narrowed at him as it slowly rose toward the sky. Winds shot out again, trying to push Spike away once more. Somepony was yelling something behind him. He could hear a flapping of wings trying to join him as he powered through the gale. With a final burst of strength, he lunged into the air. The winds whipped at his mane in one final attempt to shove him back. Spike could feel his horn carving a path through the storm, like an arrow loosed from a bow... "SPIKE!" six other voices called out. Then everything was lost in a rush of noise and darkness as he plunged into the storm. The winds tore at Spike's body as he twisted in their grip. Around him, the five marble orbs that made up the Elements of Harmony spun wildly. His body trembled as the tornado tried to pull him in every direction it could. His legs contorted painfully even as he tried to draw them in, almost lost completely to the storm's mercy. His horn sparked fitfully as he struggled to remember something, anything to protect himself. "Come on, come on!" he shouted at himself over the noise of the tornado. "Work, work, work..." He could feel the shape of the magic. Pictures floated through his mind of a simple bubble of light. The white colt laughing with him as he rolled around in it like a hamster ball. Something clicked inside. A flimsy bubble of green light shone into being around Spike. Immediately, the winds around him ceased. His legs snapped closed against his body, shaking from the undue stress put on them. "Yes!" Spike cheered, right before noticing the lift the winds provided had also cut out. "Uh oh... Whoa!" With a deafening crash like breaking glass, Spike's shield struck the floor. The entire construct shattered apart, fragments fading back to the aether and leaving the unicorn in a heap on the ground. He took a deep breath, eyes scanning around as several thunks echoed around him. Forming a small circle around him, were the Elements of Harmony. Spike stared in shock for a moment, before letting out a breathless chuckle. "I did it..." he realized, looking up. "I did it! Guys, I got... them..." His enthusiasm faded, his eyes shrunk to pinpricks. The black storm was gone, allowing him to see just where he had landed. There was no sign of the others, or even of the statue that had marked the center of the room. An abandoned dais sat before him, and the long walk leading up to it gave the impression of a throne room. And standing on the dais, glaring down at him, was a pitch-black alicorn adorned in metallic-blue armor. "No, my little pony," Nightmare Moon growled, her eyes glowing silver as she stepped forward. "I've got you."