//------------------------------// // Chapter 105 - Pure // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// “Kronz, we just reached the end of the long stairs. We're now inside this small room where there's a brown wooden door with a crystal on top of its frame. We tried opening the door, but it won't open. And oh, there seems to be a crystal statue of an alicorn right in front of the door, by the way.” “An alicorn? So far, there are three alicorns that I know of: Celestia, Luna and Cadence. Can you describe that statue for me?” “Well, the statue looks like it's surprised or something. Maybe she used to be...not a statue...? And then she gasped and turned into a statue? Wait... What if the door does that to a pony? Will it work on dragons as well? I don't like to find that out...” “Calm down Spike. Take a breath and ask your companions not to use magic on the door. For now, tell me the features of that alicorn...” “Okay, okay. That was a close one. Sweetie Belle was about to use her magic on the door. Phew... Glad I got your message before she tried her magic on it though. Anyway, she has a long mane, almost reaching her hooves, but the tips curled up like a small ball, or something. Her tail is also long and curls up on the tip...or end. Whatever. I'm not an expert on pony hair. I'm a dragon! And oh, she has a cutie mark that sort of looks like a heart. Wait... Is she the crystal heart you are talking about?” “Sweetie Belle is there!? Cuteness!!! Ahem, sorry... Anyway, no, that is not the crystal heart. That is Cadence, the alicorn of love. I don't know why she's turned into a statue, or if the door has something to do with it. As far as I know, that door can show you your greatest fear in your life. In theory, if you are locked by the door's curse, maybe—just maybe—that it slowly turns you into a crystal statue. I'll write you back after I make some more research... 'Till then, don't touch or use magic on that door. And oh, say hi to Sweetie Belle for me. Both from me and Claire.” “Uh...yeah... Sure... She says ‘hi’ back, by the way...” “Awesome! I hope one day we can meet you guys. Anyway, I've read a few...shall we say...‘articles’ about the Crystal Empire. From what I've discovered, the stairs leading to that area can only be accessed through applying dark magic on the crystal key in the throne room. How...exactly...did you activate that key? Does Sweetie Belle know dark magic?” “Uh, yeah, about that... The crystal just sort of...happened to glow black and revealed the stairs, but it also somehow made the crystal statues move even though they could see our eyes.” “Maybe Sombra has something to do with it. Since I am forcing a portal to open, maybe he sensed it and sent a few of his powers there to try and stop you? It's all theory yet though. Anyway, this time, you guys need to apply ‘pure’ magic on the crystal on top of the door frame to open the door properly. I'm not sure how Cadence ended up turned to stone...or statue... Since I think ‘love’ is one of the ‘purest’ of ‘magic’ there is. Does Sweetie Belle or any of your unicorn company know how to use pure magic by any chance?” “No. She doesn't seem to know what that kind of magic means. All she knew is simple levitation, fire, lightning, and barrier magics. And there are no other unicorns with me here. Only Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Anyway, maybe I should ask Twilight.” “Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. She does know a lot about these things related to magic than I do, or any of us here in my world. Say hi to Twilight for me though.” “Hey Twilight, it's Spike. Sorry if I didn't respond earlier, but I received your letter. Anyway, can I ask you a question? What is ‘pure’ magic?” “Hey Spike. Wow, I didn't know you're interested in magic! It's kinda difficult to write while in mid-air, not to mention how cold things had become ever since we reached our land's snowy borders. So I hope you don't mind how messy I'm writing. Anyway, pure magic is a kind of magic that is unique in everypony. Yes, even non-unicorn ponies have that kind of magic. I haven't really studied more about that though, so the only things that I know about it is that when one pony's heart and mind are pure, then that pony can share that special magic with others. Unicorns however, can easily release that kind of magic through our horns, like any other kinds of magic. Hm... Now that I think about it, maybe it's pure magic that we need to dispel the curse of these Windigos. Anyway, why can't you just do some research about this in the library? I'm sure there's a book there about it.” “Twilight's reply doesn't make sense to any of us though, so I'm sending her letter to you.” “Okay, you just officially sent me an official letter from Twilight Sparkle! The greatest unicorn ever! Claire is sooo jealous right now, by the way! Ahem...anyway... From what I could tell, it means that you guys should concentrate on feeling that pureness inside yourselves. It's like...searching through yourself, and appreciating everything that you have in your life. Yeah, I suck at these kinds of heart-to-heart topics, but you get the point. And from what you've told me, it looks like Sweetie Belle only knows magic that can do harm and protect herself from harm. I'm going to ask you a lot of stuff about your world later when all of this is over, if you don't mind. It's got me pretty curious. Anyway, her magic is kind of...fueled by negative energy. If we're talking about pureness, then it's all positive energy. A light kind of magic, if you will. And oh, Claire pointed out that it's like what you guys feel like about friendship. The magic of friendship, if you will. It's worth the try, right?” “The magic of friendship?” Scootaloo arched an eyebrow after she and the others finished reading Kronz's latest letter. “And even those without horns can do it!?” she exclaimed as Spike puts the scroll inside Apple Bloom's saddlebag. “That would be totally cool, if it's not such a lame magic like pureness or love or friendship or something lamer...” “Hm... I agree with Scoots...” Apple Bloom nodded. “It sounds like one of those stories for little colts and fillies before heading to sleep.” “Or to remember somepony during a funeral...” Scootaloo whispered lamely. “We could at least try it,” Sweetie Belle said, already closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to calm herself. “What are you doing?” Scootaloo arched an eyebrow. “What does it look like I'm doing?” Sweetie Belle whispered, although her voice carried a tone of annoyance. “I'm concentrating... Looking inside myself... Sensing positive energy... Feeling our...our...” she trailed off for a few short seconds, “...friendship...” While Scootaloo rolled her eyes, Apple Bloom smiled warmly at what she heard from her friend. Even though she was unicorn, and from Unicornia, Apple Bloom never would have thought that the unicorn would treat her and Scootaloo as her... “...friends,” and somehow, she liked it. “Yeah, I guess it's worth a try...” She then walked and stood beside Sweetie Belle, who was in front of the door. “You too?” Scootaloo asked, startled a bit from hearing those words from Apple Bloom. They have been helping each other ever since she lost one of her wings from that dreaded day. Even though Sweetie Belle became allies with them years after Scootaloo and Apple Bloom met, she still didn't consider the unicorn as her friend, let alone be friends with anyone. To her, it's like an annoying hindrance that pulls one's self back, disabling one's self from concentrating on the battlefield. But still...there's a weird feeling inside her heart, and no matter how hard she ignores it, it still reminds her that of all the things she has encountered, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were always at her back, because the three of them are... “...fine...” She stood up and walked beside Sweetie Belle. “It's better than doing nothing, I suppose...” Spike simply stood a few feet behind the three young mares, beside the crystal statue. Although he felt really left out, he smiled. Staring at the three ponies reminded himself of how he feels towards Twilight and Jay. He was ultimately crushed when Twilight, a few years ago, started not to care about him, and how overjoyed he was when the old Twilight he knew back then came back. And now, Jay is in trouble, and he needs him. Jay has saved him a few times, and helped him return Twilight's true self. Now it's time to return a favor. Because, that's what brothers are for, right? ‘Huh, I wonder if I should call Twilight my big sister as well...’ “Spike?” Sweetie Belle called. She turned over her shoulder and flashed him a gentle smile. “You are also our friend. You know that, right?” Spike blinked. “Uh...” Apple Bloom then turned her head over her shoulder to look at him with a smile. “Yeah Spike. We're yer friends, right?” Spike blinked again, feeling weird that they called him their friend. He never actually made friends before, not with the war going on back then. It felt...really strange for the baby dragon. Somehow, it felt really nice to have friends and they call you their friend as well. He couldn't describe it, even though he was a studious little dragon. “Would you hurry up already?” Scootaloo groaned, staring at him lamely. “I don't like how sappy we're getting...” Spike smiled, and chuckled as he stood beside Apple Bloom. He looked at them with a smile, and the three smiled to him in return. Then, with a determined nod, the four faced the door, and closed their eyes to concentrate on this strange feeling of friendship, while unknown to them that the four of them were faintly glowing in white as the crystal on top of the door frame glowed in white as well.