//------------------------------// // Chapter 111 - Sensation // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// Spike, Cadence and the Cutie Mark Crusaders have taken the spiraling stairs that would lead them to the tallest point of the Crystal Castle. When Cadence has informed the four of their current location, Scootaloo groaned and complained that they have wasted their precious time inside the castle, just to get outside. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle however, told her that at least they have rescued Cadence in the process. Aside from that, nothing else was said as the five walked on the brilliant-white crystal stairway. They have been walking for almost an hour now. While Cadence still looked as fresh as they first laid their eyes on her, the other four however, were ready to just lie down to catch their breaths. Climbing up stairs was too difficult than walking on a field. It's probably because that they apply less effort on walking on a straight path. Walking up staircases require effort to pull one's hoof up and carry the body's weight while the other hooves climb up. Spike was sweating furiously. His sight was starting to dim from tiredness. He was just glad that both Kronz and Twilight weren't sending him letters. He doubt he could materialize one at his current state. While they continued their climb, Cadence, who was leading the party, will occasionally glance back, and often times stay standing still for them to catch up. Aside from a few words of encouragement, she said nothing else. She was busy in her mind, thinking of that painful day when her beloved husband became obsessed with gathering more power. She had tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen. Years flew by, as she painfully watched him acquire more and more power. What made things worse, their people were suffering heavily from it. What made things worst, he wanted more. One day, as she stared down from her balcony, she realized that her people would suffer greatly if he kept on going with his obsession of power. She was starting to doubt that the Crystal Heart would be enough to at least ease their pain and suffering from their...king... As Cadence reached the final steps of the stairs, she walked on the flat crystal circular surface. As she did so, her eyes fell on the small pedestal standing on the middle of the circular floor. The ancient Crystal Heart, made by the purest of crystals and enchanted with the purest of magic, lay lifelessly on top of the pedestal. The hope and light it used to shed were absent, making her frown and sigh. The Crystal Heart was an ancient artifact that unifies all of the Crystal Ponies' positive energy. With their positive energies mixed together as one, the heart will shine upon them, easing their troubled minds and restore their tired bodies. It was as if each pony were helping each other in a magical way. However, the king has been merciless towards them the more power he had gathered. As the years flew by, only a few positive energies were collected by the Crystal Heart. It was Cadence who kept charging the artifact, for her people. When he decided to fuse his power with the Crystal Heart, that was when Cadence stood her ground. However, for all those years that she kept charging the artifact, her powers could no longer match against him. As she made her way to secure the artifact, the king had crystalized her, turning her into a crystalized statue. But before the spell was complete, Cadence casted a spell on him as well. She doesn't know what that spell was. The only thing she knew about it was that, when Celestia payed their empire a visit many years ago, she taught him that spell. Celestia called it a just-in-case spell. The sun princess' worried look when Cadence's husband was around was enough to let her know who to use it to. Now that she thought about it, being the princess of love herself, she finds it ironic that she blindly fell in love with him. Now however, she wasn't sure if she still feels the same at this current time. Cadence's train of thought was broken as she heard four collapsing bodies behind her. Turning, she saw Spike and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, lying down on the crystal floor, panting for breath and soaked in their own sweat. “Can't...feel...hooves...” Apple Bloom wheezed. “Can't...feel...any...thing...” Scootaloo wheezed. Cadence couldn't help herself to smile of pity at them. It doesn't seem to bother her though. What was important was that they were already there. Although, she can't understand one thing. Spike had told her that Sombra was in another dimension. How did her ex-husband got there? “Uh, hello?” Rainbow Dash said in annoyance after her failed attempt of removing herself from the curtain that tangled her up into a ball. “Little help over here?” She gave an annoyed look at the two alien two-legged creatures who were staring in shock at her...or at least, one of them was. Claire blinked, her eyes shrunk, and she took a deep breath. Kronz, knowing what'd happen, took a careful step back. “OH MY GOD IT'S RAINBOW DASH!” Claire shrieked with a big and wide smile plastered on her bright face, paired with sparkling eyes. She dashed towards the startled pegasus, literally ripping the curtains and instantly pulling her into a tight brony hug. Claire could not believe how furry and warm Rainbow was. While she couldn't believe that she was actually hugging the real-life Rainbow Dash, the pegasus on the other hand, could believe that if this keeps up, she'll die from the lack of air. Thankfully, Kronz poked Claire's shoulder, slightly catching her attention. “You can't have her!” Claire shouted, “she's mine!” “Yeah, sure, whatever,” Kronz rolled his eyes having a difficult time fighting the urge to let his fanboyish nature coming loose. “You're killing her, by the way.” “Oh my gosh!” Claire then pulled her in front of her view. Rainbow however, limply hung her pained head down as she had a difficult time recovering her breath. Claire started shaking her in panic. “Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no—!” she chanted while she ran around her apartment in full-panic mode. Kronz sighed... The city was quiet. The only noise present were the faint sirens of the police cars, the gentle raindrops, splashing noises from shoes on puddles, and the soft yet worried murmurs of people near the bridge. It has been hours since the darkness has taken over the island. No one actually knew what was going on. Other nations with high technology had arrived, carrying with them advance unmanned machines that they sent to the island. There were flying machines, and amphibious machines. The people controlling those machines were able to navigate the island for a few short minutes until their machines somehow lost their communication. They weren't able to get anything, other than the fact that there is something going on in the island. The calm silence of the gloomy world was broken however. The people near the bridge, and in any other parts of the city, stopped after they have heard an odd faint sound that came from the island. The sound was gentle, and constant. Several eyes fell on the island, and soon, out of all the sea of black mist, a pair of large blue wings came out, and then dived back into the mist. It appeared again, and disappeared once again. People got curious, and they stared at those strange blue wings. Somehow, it got bigger, like it was getting closer, until finally, with one powerful flap, a crystal blue dragon emerged from the sea of black mists. It roared as it hovered in the air. As the dragon's roar died down, silence reign once again. And then, panic exploded. While the people ran away from the bridge in panic, the dragon angled itself towards the vertically-raised parts of the bridge, and flew straight towards it with a mighty roar. As it's powerful crystal head slammed on the vertical concrete, the iron cables snapped, instantly bringing the raised part of the bridge back down. As the dragon began flying towards the other end to bring down the other raised part of the bridge, nearby soldiers started firing their weapons at the dragon. Bullets, rockets and explosions filled the air. The dragon hovered on the other half of the bridge, and it didn't seem to be affected by any of the attacks. As it flapped its wings to turn its back on the army, a black equine figure jumped down from its back, and landed on the concrete bridge. Grinning, Sombra flared his horn with dark energy as he started running towards the city. Soldiers divided their attention, and started firing at Sombra as well, however, a black barrier protected him as he got closer and closer. As Sombra got to the end of the bridge, where the soldiers were stationed, he made a giant leap forward, literally jumping over all the stunned soldiers below him. Landing on the ground, he quickly turned with a grin, and raised his front hooves up and slamming them down, creating thick black strings which struck the very hearts of nearby soldiers. Twilight, who just got out from the air carriage, was walking towards the castle's double doors as she was escorted by her furiously-blushing brother. She was about to set a hoof on the first of the few stairs to the doors when she stopped. While Shining Armor wondered what was wrong, Twilight's sight slightly dimmed as a very negative aura of magic ran passed her, almost making her faint. “Twilight!” Shining shouted, catching his sister before she could collapse on the ground. “A-are you okay!?” Rarity, who was waiting for them at the door, fell on the ground as well. Unicorn guardponies helped her back up, as she rubbed her head with a hoof. Grunting, Twilight rubbed her head as she shut her eyes. “Ugh... W-what the hay was that just now...?” Inside the Apple Family's barn, Applejack just pulled out a freshly-baked apple pie from their wood oven. With a thick piece of cloth on her mouth, she carefully bit the tray where the pie was sitting on, and turned to place it on their dining table. Things are starting to look up for her and her family. Big Mac was slowly returning to his old self, and she was so ha— “Applejack!” Braeburn shouted in panic as he and Big Macintosh jumped from their seats and pulled the mare back up to her hooves. “AJ!” Big Mac cried in concern. Applejack groaned as she rubbed her head with a hoof. “Ugh... What in t-tarnation just happened...?” Pinkie Pie smiled warmly at her family's rock farm. It had been many many years since she was captured. It was really nice to be back home. The air was cold, but it didn't stop a few sweats from running down her face. With a tired hoof, she wiped her forehead while her two sisters were walking towards her, holding tired smiles. The three of them have been working hard to remove the thick blanket of snow on their farm. Her sisters were only a few hooves away before a powerful negative sensation struck her. Her sight darkened as she unceremoniously collapsed on the ground. Fluttershy was helping a few mares in preparing food for the ponies inside the old castle of the alicorn sisters. She and the mares were mixing up a delicious tomato soup for everypony. While the other mares chatted happily with one another while cutting vegetables, Fluttershy was humming happily as she stirred the soup inside the very large cauldron. The mares called her attention, stating that the vegetables have all been cut and diced nicely. With a smile, Fluttershy called them over, and suddenly dropped her large spoon as her vision dimmed. Cadence gasped as she felt a powerful feeling creeping through her. At that very moment, Spike who just got back to his feet, coughed green fumes of flame, making him stumble back on the ground with a groan while a scroll materialized in the air. Apple Bloom caught it before it fell on the floor, and unrolled the scroll. “Spike, I don't mean to sound like I'm rushing you, but we seriously need help right now!”