//-----------------------------
// Story: Hour of Twilight
// Chapter: Chapter 10: Emptiness. Glitter of Hope
// Author: Darth Femto
//-----------------------------

#######################################################################

Chapter Ten
Emptiness. Glitter of Hope

#######################################################################

Back in the void of Twilight's soul, the Princess of the Night sat in thought, contemplating an escape plan. It had been more than a day since the cyan pegasus and the lavender filly entered the vault of memories. She was becoming impatient, as the more time they spent in the prison, the less chances they had to escape. A soft yawn drawed her attention, glancing to her right. Even through all of this madness, she found the strength to smile at the two ponies snoozing at her side, her former student, Silverghost and the small pegasus filly, Scootaloo.

The serenity was broken by a shift in the flow of magic, startling the alicorn. Luna got up and nudged the silvery unicorn. "Wake up Silverghost, something's happening," she whispered sternly to the sleepy unicorn.

"Huh, Princess? What, is something wron-aaaaahh w-what the h-hay?!" Silverghost shuddered, feeling her power being drained forcefully from her heart, becoming weaker with each passing second. "P-Princess... I-I can't-" she stammered, before collapsing on the cold floor.

The Princess wasn't doing any better struggling to contain her own magic. "Ugh, don't you go sleeping on me, Silverghost! Scootaloo, are you-" she gasped, noticing the filly becoming more and more thin, like something was devouring the flesh of her bones. Scootaloo groaned in pain, mumbling something through her moans.

"...no, Twilight... stop fighting...aauugh!" she cried out, before falling unconscious from the drain, her body glowing a soft purple.

Princess Luna growled in frustration and summoned the remaining of her power. "Guardian of Ancient Kings, at my side!" she howled, her horn glowing a bright white. The power drain stopped suddenly, as a large bubble surrounded her and her companions, severing off the magical links to the prison.

The silvery unicorn woke up from her unwanted nap and groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Ugh, Princess? Wha, what happened?" she glanced towards the alicorn of the night, her eyes meeting a second figure standing beside, her, glowing like the Sun itself. An alicorn, clad in golden armour, bearing a sword and a shield in its magical grip, emanating a warm, soothing aura that seemingly protected them from the dark magic surrounding them. "What... what is that?"

Luna panted, as she overexerted her powers when she summoned the guardian. "This, huu, haaa, this is an ancient servant of the Old Order of the World. It was given to us as a maturing gift from our parents, alongside the Sun and Moon respectively, over four thousand years ago. However, it uses all... all of my magic to maintain," she spoke, struggling to breathe, sweat pouring from her face, and her muzzle bleeding from the stress. "Get the small one, we have to move out, I cannot keep this up for much longer."

Silverghost complied, picking up the weakened orange filly and placing her on her back. "But, what about Rainbow Dash? What if she comes back, and gets attacked like us?"

Luna frowned, turning to face her student. "Unfortunately, we have to assume that risk. If we stay behind, I will get overwhelmed and the dark magic will break through the shield. Silverghost, I know you are loyal to your friends, even those you've just met, but we can't take that risk. Let's go, I'm sure she will be fine," she calmly spoke to the unicorn, despite having difficulties standing upright from the exertion.

Silverghost nodded and trotted beside her teacher. "Alright, Princess, let's go!"

Luna smiled and galloped away, Silverghost following close behind, while the golden alicorn spectre running in front of her, slashing at the tendrils of shadow that tried to penetrate the shield. 'I hope you're alright, Rainbow Dash... what's taking you so long!?' the night alicorn gritted her teeth, silently swearing at the situation, being forced to leave behind the element of Loyalty.

Outside the castle, in the back yard, the Regent of the Sun clashed swords with her former pupil, unleashing magic of a potency unseen before. Each time they swung, the mountains would shake, the sound of metal crying out under the magical pressure echoing out into the heavens. The soldiers stood and gaped at the battle before their eyes. Two entities, equal in power, measured themselves, as they leaped at each others throats, the intent to kill floating in the air.

Crimson Dawn jumped out of the way of the white Alicorn's charge, spinning wildly in the air before crying out in rage, swinging madly at the seemingly distraught Princess. Her blade met the dust, trapping itself, as Celestia teleported away and charged once again, this time head forward, impaling her in the chest, drawing first blood. Dawn cried out in pain and teleported to a safe distance to compose herself, however the white alicorn gave her no pause, as she threw her blade at her with such a force that she thought it could break a mountain in half.

Dawn ducked as much as she could, avoiding the sharp edge of the sword as it flew above her head, embedding itself in the walls behind her, shattering them to dust. She rose to her feet and coughed, more blood oozing from her new wound. Her eyes were starting to lose focus, struggling to keep herself on her feet. 'How could I have come here in such a condition?! Am I that insane?!' she growled internally. She exhaled shakily and smiled. 'No need to worry, I still have that,' she smirked, narrowing her eyes.

The black unicorn rose to her hooves and levitated her blade at her side, taking on a defensive stance, as Celestia re-summoned her sword. Sweat dripped from her forehead, her heart beating faster and faster. There was a chance that she might get killed if she did not focus. However, she still had a job to do. The elements had to die. Now.

Dawn forced magic out of her, gathering it all at the tip of her horn, compressing it into a black ball of energy. Celestia took notice of this and summoned a large shield around herself, preparing for the attack. The swirling ball of magic was compressed so much, the very air around it seemed to ignite from the sheer pressure of it.

With a cry of hatred, the orb was fired at such a speed it could only be seen by the Princess. Celestia crouched and prepared to deflect it, only to gape in shock when she realized that she wasn't the target to begin with.

"No!" she cried out, teleporting instantly before the spectating bearers of the elements, who watched in shock as the world around them twisted from the powerful magic. Celestia's shield deflected the blast successfully, but at a cost. She was sent flying into the castle, skidding through the cobble stone floors. She coughed and spat blood, wincing as a sharp pain shot from her sides. 'Great, I think I broke two ribs...'

Celestia growled, pawing at the floor, before shooting off into the open once again, aiming directly at the disoriented unicorn. 'One strike! That's all I need!' she pleaded with her luck, banking left and swinging upwards, managing to cut the deranged unicorn once more, injuring her greatly.

Dawn recovered fast from the pain and flew away, positioning herself across the field, her vision blurry from tears of anger. She could barely breathe, let alone stand on her legs. She lost focus for a moment, causing her to collapse on the ground, yelping out in pain. She was exhausted.

"What happened, done already?" Celestia asked the dark unicorn, swinging her blade around. "I thought you could do more than that, or are you that weak?" she spat, chuckling.

Dawn rose from the ground, shaking the dust of herself, pouring some magic into her wounds, cauterizing it. She winced slightly at the pain, but paid no attention. "Celestia, always so full of yourself... Thinking you already won when the battle has just begun? Hah! This time I will finish the job; I have the power to do it!" she seethed, her aura shifting once more.

Celestia felt this sudden change in her aura and stepped back cautiously, eying her enemy intently. 'What's on her mind? I must act fast, before she gets her chance,' she thought strategically, bracing herself.

The magical aura enveloped the dark unicorn, her devilish features becoming more visible, fangs sprouting from her muzzle and her eyes' sclera becoming black, a white mist emanating from them. Her spectral wings vanished altogether, the energy seeping into her coat, strengthening the muscles and giving her mane a surge of power, as it shifted from being physical to becoming a dark mist, similar to Nightmare Moon and Luna's.

Celestia felt unusually scared by the display of power, but what came next made her heart skip a beat.

The Crimson Dawn, radiating a black mist, frowning, used her blade to carve a sign on the ground, on which she then spat some blood that kept flowing from her pierced lung. Completing the summoning rune, she smirked at the white alicorn.

"Carve their corpses... Abaddon, Angel of the Bottomless Pit!" she bellowed, causing the sky to darken, black clouds gathering at the peak of the heavens, shrouding the land in darkness, the Sun's bright glow dissapearing behind the black mass. Violent winds picked up, as they howled through the mountains, frightening the spectators, and the white alicorn herself.

A flash of lightning, followed by a cry of anguish pierced the darkened skies. Narrowing her eyes, Celestia gazed in disbelief at the creature standing before her. Such power, such a vile aura. She was frightened beyond recognition, her grip on the blade wavering. She bit her lower lip, swallowing the lump in her throat. "You... what have you done?! You mad mare!" she cried out at the monster. Dawn laughed. Evil, insane, laughter. Celestia froze on the spot. She could not think straight anymore. 'Wh-what is that?! That can't be the Crimson Dawn... this power is beyond our own!' Gritting her teeth, she yelled as loud as she could.

Dawn started advancing, her magic swirling around her, holding in its grip a black scythe, purple runes etched along its edge, glowing in the eerie darkness that surrounded it. "Is it so surprising, 'Tia?" She teased the white alicorn, edging closer and closer. She glanced at the spectators, enjoying their frightened stares. "Let this be your final lesson," she hissed. "I have become... DEATH!" she howled, swinging at the Princess.

Celestia was paralyzed, her eyes following the motion of the weapon, as it came down upon her. Time seemed to slow down, as the blade edged closer and closer to her coat. Her eyes widened in pain and terror when the cold metal of the blade sunk into her neck, tracing down to her chest. Her magic wavered, disappearing entirely, her sword crumbling to dust before her eyes. She tried to speak, but only gurgle sounds came, as blood flooded her respiratory system. Collapsing on the bloody ground, she caught a glimpse of the demon with her left eye, grinning at her.

Dawn stomped on the alicorn's head victoriously, before turning around to face the spectators. She licked her lips and casually stepped forward, the scythe following closely, fresh blood dripping on the ground. Above her, the skies rumbled, as the clouds broke and rain began pouring heavily.

Valiant, still dizzy from the hit he received, watched hopelessly as his Princess laid in the mud, her pristine white coat stained with blood. For the first time since he became a soldier under the Princesses' command, he cried from his heart. Hope had been lost for Equestria.

Luna kept galloping through the shadowy corridors, panting heavily, shaking direly. Silverghost was close behind her, exhausted as well from all the running. It didn't help the fact that out of the blue, some monstrous spawns of magic formed and followed them, howling menacingly, threatening to devour them wholesomely.

The alicorn of the night stumbled and fell face first onto the ground, her eye lids heavy. Silverghost stopped by her and pulled at her solidifying mane. "Come on, Princess, we can't rest now! We are so close!"

Luna tilted her head awkwardly and chuckled. "Close, close to where?! We aren't going anywhere at all... I-I need to rest..." she lowered her head, closing her eyes. Her magic had completely faded, the guardian she had summoned vanishing in thin air.

The silvery unicorn was becoming more concerned, as she heard their followers approaching. "No time to sleep, your Highness!" she blurted out, picking up her teacher by her mane, dragging her along further down the endless corridors, hoping for an escape. She moaned in pain as she pulled, advancing slowly. With the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of her followers, causing her to yelp loudly, dropping the Princess. "P-p... Princess! Wake up, we are in trouble! Prince... Princess? Oh, damn it all..." she cursed, glancing wildly to her sides, looking for an escape. All she could see were more cages and cells housing many more sleeping ponies. They were writhing in pain, moaning in a hushed voice, as they flailed about in their sleep. Their essence was being consumed, and it wouldn't be long before she and the Princess would join them.

"Ohmygosh, what can I do?" she asked out loud. "I have to keep running, yiiiipe!" she yelped, grabbing the Princess once again my her mane and dragging her away from harm.

As she rounded a corner, she met a dead end, as a large door, enchanted, blocked her path. "Oh no no no, this is bad! Really, really bad! Some pony... some pony help us!" she cried out, hoping for an answer. And she did receive one, from the beasts, growling hungrily at them. "Ohmygosh, I think this is it... I'm sorry every pony, I'm so sorry I disappointed you!" she wept, falling to her haunches. Then, she felt it.

Before she could say anything, she felt herself levitated towards the door. "Ughh, Princess, uh oh...whooaaaa!" she squeaked as she got pulled through the door, along with the Princess and the still sleeping filly.

Dawn inched closer and closer to the saddened and shocked soldiers, eyeing them with glee. 'So much fun for me, now that Celestia is finally gone!' she laughed to herself. Her eyes locked onto the shape of her friends, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Spike, Soarin' and many other. Despair was etched on their faces. Her casual trot was interrupted by a whimper, which became more loud with each passing second. Turning her head around, she gaped at the scene.

Celestia, crying out loud, rose from the ground shakily, blood pouring freely from her wound. Even though it was raining, her tears were evident enough, as they shone brightly. Raising her head, she muttered out words, words that cut deep in Dawn's morale.

"... hope. I have lost hope... in saving you, Twilight," she sniffled. "You aren't here anymore... you died twenty years ago. You... You! are just a nopony. You are just a worthless, vengeance driven, ghost of her!" she cried out. "I will do what I must, and lay her to rest, as she deserves. I won't hold back anymore, demon," she hissed.

Dawn was about to reply to the injured Alicorn's claims, but gasped in shock, as the ground shook with vigor, a completely new and unknown force traversing the rifts and gathering at Celestia's position.

She was forced to cover her eyes, as her teacher became ablaze in a bright, her mane becoming a white fire, her coat shifting to match her mane. Her cutie mark resembling the sun had been changed into a red carving, blood slowly dripping from it. Her eyes became orbs of pure power. The aura she radiated had split apart the black clouds, allowing the Sun's light to pour freely unto her, further strengthening her.

The light faded out, leaving in its place the same white alicorn, bearing a magical white, misty mane, flowing upwards. Her eyes had become a soft, glowing cyan. She opened her mouth slowly, blowing in the wind, sending a greenish mist that covered her wounds and healed her fully, restoring her power.

She closed her eyes in concentration and frowned, calling upon her cosmic powers to grant her the ultimate gift of the stars.

"By the power that was granted me as Daughter of the World Maker, I summon thee Glorenzelg, Lament of the Stars!" she cried out, a bolt of light striking down at the alicorn, her appearance changing once more.

The witnesses were forced to cover their eyes for a moment, to protect themselves from the blinding light. Once the light faded, where Celestia were now stood a completely different alicorn, made of constellations. Celestia was no more, only Sol, Vengeance of the Stars.

Dawn raised Abaddon to defend herself. The moment the two weapons made contact, the world was enveloped in a bright flash.

They were violently spinning through the void. Silverghost closed her eyes and covered her ears, hoping to ignore the fact that she was about to empty her stomach, again. All of a sudden, she hit solid ground with a loud thud, landing on her rump. The filly and the Princess landed near her, she assumed by the sound of it. She heard gasps and loud cheering. She also felt something else.

Warmth. Pleasant warmth, and light. Gently opening her eyes, she gaped at the sight of a tall, regal alicorn, seemingly made out of stars, wielding a large blade, staring at her with wide eyes. Glancing around, she noticed that she was in the back yard of some large castle, somewhere in the mountains. The cheering became louder, and she finally noticed the massive crowds of ponies gathered around her and the majestic alicorn.

"Silverghost, you're back!" she heard a voice from her left. Before she could steer her head, she was knocked to the ground by a pony, hugging her dearly, weeping into her silvery coat.

"What... the hay!?" she managed to blurt out, struggling to breathe through the death hug. Using her magic, she pushed away the pony embracing her, revealing none other than her old office co-worker, Lyric. She smiled warmly and hugged him back.

The Alicorn's shape changed, reverting to her old self, revealing none other than Princess Celestia, as she used to be. SIlverghost waved at the Regent of the Sun and went over to greet her, but stopped, suddenly remembering that Luna came as well.

A groan caught their attention, and every pony gazed at the shape of the alicorn of the night, as she woke up from her nap, her eyes widening as realization struck her. They were free. Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack trotted over to the group, cheering loudly for their friends.

"Welcome back amongst the living, y'all!" greeted the orange cowpony, throwing her hat in the air.

Luna smiled weakly and tried to stand up. Celestia came to her side and lent her a hoof, a wide smile on her face, tears streaming down her face.

The white alicorn nodded and leaned in to hug her sister. A sudden explosion and screams of pain startled the celebrating ponies. Celestia helped her sister to her feet and stared off into the direction of the rising smoke. Using her magic, she re-summoned her blade at her side and took on a battle stance. Glancing to her sister, she motioned for her to flee inside the castle along with the other ponies.

Luna nodded briefly and called out to her subjects. "Head back to the castle! Do not stay behind! Flee!" she bellowed, panting. She was still exhausted, drained of energy. She picked up the orange filly snoozing on the ground and placed her on her back, between her wings, preparing to fly towards the castle, when another explosion caused her to fall on her knees. Turning around to see the source of the blast, she gaped in horror.

A badly injured black unicorn, with a broken hilt suspended by her wavering magic inched towards them, bleeding profusely. Her torso had been completely crushed, her right eye had been apparently destroyed. Her horn bared cracks and fissures along its length, shallow trails of blood trickling down on her forehead.

Dawn limped painfully towards the group, breathing with high difficulty, crying out in pain every step. As she neared the blue and white alicorn, she gave each a hateful glance, gritting her teeth.

"This... is not... over," she muttered, focusing her magic one more time, teleporting away from the scene.

Luna sighed sadly, glancing thoughtfully at her sister. "Celestia... I don't know how to break this down to you... but," she paused, forcing her tears back. "The element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash, is currently in the soul of that monster, helping out the true Twilight to defeat her. 'Tia," she choked out a sob, "I thought I had lost you forever..." she wailed, burying her head in her hooves, crying out loud.

The white alicorn approached her sister and picked up the still sleeping filly and levitated her over to a guard, to be sent to the infirmary, while she sat beside her sister and nuzzled her affectionately. "Hush, now, dear sister. I'm here for you... Everything will go back to normal, you'll see," she smiled, scooping the younger alicorn in a tight embrace, allowing her to cry herself out.

After a while, Luna calmed herself and broke the hug, staring into her sister's pink eyes. "Celly, where do you think she went now?"

The Regent of the Sun pondered on the idea for a while, before frowning. "Oh, I do have an idea where she might be..." she whispered in her sister's ears. The moment of peace was interrupted by the crowd bursting into joyous laughter and cheering, at the sight of the two Alicorns reunited. Celestia smiled and lifted up her sister, motioning for her to join the surprise party the element of Laughter had prepared so quickly.

Indeed, they needed to recover... to rest, for they were not ready to face what awaited them in the darkness of the Old Castle in the Everfree Forest, where nightmares come true, and hope is futile.

Rainbow Dash slowly opened her tired eyes, groaning out loudly. She rubbed her eyes and tried to stand up, quickly realizing just how dizzy she felt. Also, there was something else. She was crying tears of blood. The cyan pegasus gasped loudly and glanced around, looking for the small filly. She immediately recognized the new place she had been placed into: Ponyville's Orphanage. In front of the main door stood a lavender unicorn, silently talking to herself, occasionally giggling. Rainbow was taken aback by the display, and chose to approach her old friend with caution.

"Twi', is that you? What... what happened?" she asked, stepping forward. The lavender unicorn turned and smiled at her friend, sniffling. The sight of her friend completely horrified the pegasus, causing her to scream out in fright. Twilight, just like her, was crying tears of blood, and her right eyes was shut completely, blood oozing slowly from under the lids. She had deep cuts across her chest.

"Rainbow Dash, I'm so happy you could make it! Look, we're getting closer to my final days as a sane pony!" she grinned enthusiastically, further sickening her friend. She started limping weakly towards the cyan pegasus, laughing and crying in pain at the same time.

Rainbow made a great effort to hold her stomach's content inside, as a smell of rot entered her nostrils. Her eyes widened as realization struck. The world of memories she was in... was dying, decaying. It was crumbling to dust. Her time was running out.

Twilight approached her friend and patted her on the shoulder. "Dash, snap out of it, we have to go sign your adoption papers, remember?" she winked with her remaining eye, before limping back, towards the orphanage.

Rainbow Dash was so sick and depressed she wanted to just lay there and cry her pain away, her stomach heaving with disgust. However, a voice snapped her out of her trance.

Hour of Twilight

by -Brutus

Emptiness. Glitter of Hope