//------------------------------// // Scroll 7 // Story: The Rider Of Darkness // by GaleWind //------------------------------// Scroll 7 It took over twenty minutes to finally get my sister to calm down enough to ease her into a seat behind me. I got the boat started again and we made our way back to port. When we were half way there, she finally spoke. “Echo, how were you able to do all those things?” She said. “That’s a very long story and I don’t know you’ll believe me.” “Please, I need to know what just happened and how you did all that.” She said. I decided to give her the short version on everything that has happened to me and I used the same spell I used on Big Mac on her and explained its purpose. I finished my tale as we pulled into port and I saw my sister’s head down. “I can’t believe all this. How could I be so blind to not see him for what he really was?” She said crying. I turned the engine off and immediately drew her into a hug. “Don’t blame yourself Aqua. You couldn’t have known what he really was and it isn’t your fault. I’m just glad you’re safe now.” I said. She kept crying for a minute until it stopped. “Thank you for saving me. I’m sorry I drove you away.” “You’re welcome and don’t blame yourself sis. I’m the one at fault for not giving you a clear reason why I left but, it’s all in the past now. Come on, let’s get you home.” I said. She agreed and we made our way back home. When we got back to the house, the girls were asking what happened and where Seeker is. Me and Aqua decided on the story that Seeker needed a vacation and that Aqua needed my help to convince him. They were confused about his sudden departure but, they accepted it. That’s when I noticed that someone was missing. “Where’s Zepha?” I asked. “She went into the basement while we were waiting for you two.” Twilight said. “Why is she down there?” I asked. “That’s the weird thing. As soon as we got here, she took one glance at the newspaper that was here, grabbed it and went into the basement.” She explained. That is strange, Zepha never acts like that. “I’ll go see what’s wrong. Can you girls look after Aqua for me, she needs some support.” I said. The girls agreed and took my sister into the kitchen with them. I went to the basement door and carefully opened it. “Zepha, are you okay?” I asked. I then heard soft and silent sobbing. I looked at my bed and saw her on my bed with her head hung low. “Zepha, what’s wrong?” I asked. She looked up and her eyes were bloodshot from crying. When she saw me, she rushed over and started crying into my shoulder. “They captured him.” She said through her tears. “Who’s ‘they’? Who did they capture?” I asked in concern and confusion. She bent down, picked up the newspaper and showed me the front page. I looked at it and was shocked by what I saw. On the front page was Swift Talons, Zepha’s father, being taken into custody in chains by two griffins in grey armor. The title read “Griffin Fugitive Captured! Captain of disgraced ruler, Iron Wing’s personal guard taken back to the kingdom! Sentenced to Execution in Six Days!” I looked up to her in shock. “They got my dad.” I walked back upstairs after I had calmed Zepha down enough for her to get some sleep. All the girls were in the living room and had concerned looks on their faces. “Is she okay?” Fluttershy said first. “She’s fine. She’s was exhausted after today and she’s asleep now.” “That’s good to know. We were real worried about her.” Twilight said. “Thanks for the concern for her girls.“ I said. “Before we left, I was able to learn that the missing ponies have been reported to have left by boat somewhere. I’ve already informed the siblings and we’re waiting for a reply.” Twilight explained. “That’s good but, I can I ask you girls something?” “What’s up, Echo?” Rainbow asked. “I’m going to be staying here for a while. Aqua asked me to help her with something. It will be a chance to mend our ties.” I said. “So, we’ll stay here with you.” Applejack said and the others agreed with her. “No, you girls can’t do that. I know you want to stay and help but, this mission is too important and I don’t want to delay it.” I proclaimed. The other’s argued about this until Twilight spoke up again. “As much as this Is wrong, I agree with what you’re saying but, promise us you will write to us.” She said and the others upsettingly agreed. I promised them I would and they began going to their rooms because it was getting late. I told Aqua to stay because I had to talk to her. “I know when you’re lying, Echo. You may be able to fool Applejack somehow but, not me. What’s wrong?” She asked. I began telling her what the situation was and she was shock. “What are you going to do?” She asked. “Go to the Griffin Kingdom, save Zepha’s father and take down Maelstrom.” “How do you plan on getting there? The Griffin Kingdom is on lockdown because of the rebels. The only way in is through passport and that takes weeks to get.” “I been there before once and I know one of the leaders of the rebels. There’s a secret way in by boat.” “Even if you take that boat of yours, it won’t be enough. Even at top speed, it will take a week for you two to get there.” “That’s why I’m going to overhaul the mechanics and the engine to cut the distance to three days.” I said. She looked at me if I was crazy but, then began to think. “You know, my company just finished the creation of a new crystal engine that takes in air to cool the crystal to give it more power. There’s only one and it could help you.” “Thanks sis, I’m going to tell Zepha in the morning. Then, the real challenge starts.” The next day, I informed Zepha and she couldn’t agree fast enough. The girls got the reply and were on their way to the train station to Manehatten. We said our goodbyes and the two of us made our way to the docks. I used my magic to direct Shadow to protect the others from the darkness. We got my boat back into the hanger and began working. Aqua arrived with the engine in the evening. It took the rest of the day and the next but, we got it finished. It was day three and the boat was finished. Zepha, for some reason, decided to name it ‘The noble hunter’. We got into the water and were about to head out when something happened. Out of the water, a crab like monster jumped out and landed behind us, along with four seracs. “You’re going to pay for what you did to Seeker!” He shouted. I turned around and had a blank expression on my face. I pulled out my driver and transformed. “Zepha, get in the boat and start it up. I won’t be long.” I said. She nodded and got in the boat. I threw a dagger at the monster and it bounced off his shell. “You won’t harm me with tricks like.” He pronounced. We didn’t have time to waste on this guy. So, I decided to just end this. I pulled out a new gem: a purple, diamond shaped one. I pulled out the handle and placed it in and slammed the handle into place. “Magic Star.” The gem began to spin and a purple light shined from the driver, engulfing me. When the light died down, I was holding a purple staff with the gem secured on top of it and the symbol of the element of magic on my helmet. The seracs charged at me and I pointed my staff at the closest one. The gem glowed and a bolt of pure magic shot out. When the bolt connected, the serac was vaporized. I repeated this three more times until all the seracs were gone and the monster was shaking in fear. I pointed the staff at the monster and purple magic shot from the staff towards him. He was shock and began being lifted into the air. I pulled the handle out and heard him say something. “How are you doing all this!?” He shouted. I said one thing before slamming the handle back into place. “Magic.” “Magic Star, Exceed!” A ball of energy began forming at the top of my staff. When it was big enough, it shot forward, following the beam and towards the monster. “May the Essence of Magic, Annihilate this evil.” He yelled in pain as he was disintegrated. I cancelled the transformation and got into the boat as we sped off. “I didn’t think you could finish a fight that fast?” She asked. “Right now, we need all the time we can get. Now, let’s go rescue your dad and the Griffin Kingdom.”