//------------------------------// // xlvii - Hermes' Word // Story: The Path of Absolution - Punishment // by Morningstar1337 //------------------------------// Shining Armor, Spike, Princess Cadence, and Princess Celestia were deep in the Everfree Forest. Near the gates of Tartarus, Celestia saw Diamond Dust and Legion close to the gates, as multiple windigos escaped from within. She saw they were carrying a large silhouette within the gates. Legion saw that Celestia was freed. He said, “Handle the Princess.” Diamond Dust went forth. Celestia knew she had to close the gates before the windigos escape with with what they were carrying. Meanwhile, Cloudchaser, Flitter, Thunderlane, and Star Song distracted Cerberus and tried to stop the manipulated Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo from hurting him. Lyra played the Orpheus Strings on her lyre to calm the beast. Apple Bloom slashed at Cerberus with her sword. But her fear of the beast hindered her attack. Sweetie Belle froze one of Cerberus’ legs but he broke free soon after. Scootaloo swung her scythe at the beast but the blade was intercepted in one of the dogs mouth. The fillies were scared, they couldn't even scratch Cerberus. They fainted from fear and exhaustion. Cerberus readied itself to eat the three fillies until it heard a soothing sound coming from Lyra’s harp. The relaxing sounds soothed the beast. Flitter and Cloudchaser took the fillies to safety. “It’s working,” Bon-Bon said. She was impressed with Lyra’s talent. She looked up and saw the windigos were ready to attack Lyra. “Look out!” Bon-Bon charged Lyra out of the windigos attack. Her barrier had taken some damage and her hind legs were frozen solid. The force interrupted Lyra’s music and Cerberus was quickly alerted. It saw Diamond Dust and Celestia battling closer to the gates. Celestia fired another yellow beam from her horn. Diamond Dust blocked the attack with her wings. Celestia said, “I can’t let you let him go.” “I’m sorry,” Diamond Dust said, “But there’s not a choice here!” Feathers fell from her wings and became ice shards. The shards flew towards Celestia, but Spike blew his flames and melted the ice. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence followed soon. “Are you okay, Princess?” Spike said. Celestia nodded. She noticed that Diamond Dust was holding back. Diamond Dust fired another wave of ice shards, but Shining Armor created a magic barrier and stopped the ice. “If you want the princess, you have to get through us first.” Diamond Dust bluffed, “Fine, I love a challenge!” Celestia whispered, “You sure you can handle her?” Shining Armor nodded. Celestia saw the silhouette was almost near the gates. She knew that she had to close the doors before that happens. She flew over Diamond Dust and galloped closer to the gates. Diamond Dust tried to chase her but Cadence fired a blue beam and chipped part of her wing off. Diamond Dust prepared to face Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. In Canterlot’s hospital. Gale Force looked out the window of his room. He still wanted to get revenge on the windigos for what they had done to Over Cast. He stomped his hoof at the wall. ‘Why?’ he wondered. ‘Why am I stuck here? I have to stop them!’ He felt hatred and rage flowing within him. He saw a blue pillar of light emerge from the Everfree Forest. He knew that he sent his team with Shining Armor to help find the Princess. He hoped that they would destroy the windigos for him, but he still felt unsatisfied. “Gale Force?” A nurse said. Gale snapped and shouted “What?!” “Um...” The nurse was scared of Gale. She had never see anypony that angry before. “The psychiatrist is waiting for you. He’s at the other end of the hallway.” Gale went out of the room. His rage burned with the fury of a thousand suns. In the Everfree, Star Song, Thunderlane, Flitter, Cloudchaser, Lyra, and Bon-Bon took the unconscious fillies to safety. Spike, Shining Armor, and Princess Cadence fought off Diamond Dust. Princess Celestia however was in front of the gates. She tried to closed to doors, but arcane and ancient magics kept the gates open. The body that the windigos carried peeked out below the top of the gates. Legion was nearby. He said, “Thine effort is worthless. Thou knoweth that there is only one way of closing the doors now.” Celestia didn't want to do it. She knew that if she did, the fifth seal would be broken. She looked back. “So you finally showed yourself.” Legion said, “I wouldn’t want to miss out on getting my body back.” A beam of ice shot out from being Celestia. She saw the attack and dodged it. “I will not be fooled a second time.” Legion said, “A thousand years ago, thou sealed most of my legions of spirits in this place. But this time, I have the upper hoof. Thy student and her allies are trapped within my talismans and by the time they escape, the seven seals will be broken.” “I won’t let that happen!” Celestia fired a beam of light from her horn. A pillar of ice emerged from the ground and blocked the attack. Legion said, “The fifth seal will be broken by thy hoof or mine.” He flew to the sky. Celestia followed. Meanwhile Diamond Dust battle Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and Spike. She charged at Shining Armor with and used her horn to stab the captain. The attack hit Shining Armor’s barrier and caused cracks to appear on it. He concentrated on keeping the shield up, but Diamond Dust used the opportunity to fire a wave of ice at him. Spike blew our green flames and melted part of the ice. But the ice wave hit Shining Armor’s barrier and broke through it. The captain of the royal guard was knocked by the the attack. Cadence saw what happened and tried to attack Diamond Dust. But her adversary missed. Diamond Dust retaliated with another beam of ice. She looked back at the gates and saw the giant body. Celestia and Legion fought to the finish when they saw the body and gates glowed. Runes appeared on the body and gate as the windigos almost got it through the gates. She looked shocked at the sight of this. ‘How is this possible,’ she wondered. Legion said, “The seal is breaking. Celestia, keeper of the sun. Knoweth that thy world will freeze as the waters of Cocytus flows from the gates.” The runes of the fifth seal started to disappear into particles as the magic keeping the seal faded away. Diamond Dust’s crown glowed as Legion began to move towards the corpse. Celestia had no choice now. Her horn began glowing a bright yellow as she chanted, “I separate the body and banish it to the ice!” A beam of light emerged from her horn and hit Legion. Diamond Dust writhed in pain and fainted, her tiara’s glowing yellow as well. The giant corpse vanished. The attack subsided. Legion saw that Diamond Dust had fainted. Celestia said, “You can’t return to your body, nor can you use Diamond Dust as your host.” Legion said, “Clever, but this is a temporary setback, and with my body free from Tartarus, the sixth seal of seven will be broken soon. Thou had only accelerated Equestria’s demise.” He vanished. Celestia descended to the ground and she used her magic to close the gates of Tararus Spike said, “Princess, what happened?” Celestia looked to the unconscious Diamond Dust. “We must return to Canterlot at once!” Shining Armor gestured at Diamond Dust. “What about her?” “It’s too dangerous to leave her here,” Celestia said. “The spell will wear off in a few hours and the windigos will find the body.” “I’ll gather the rest of the search party,” Shining Armor said. The group prepared to return to Canterlot. Celestia looked back to Cerberus and said, “Good boy.”