//------------------------------// // The True Power of Magic // Story: Even Harmony has an Opposite // by Optimistic Pessimist //------------------------------// The True Power of Magic “TWILIGHT!” Applejack hollered out. The Obsidian knight had knocked her back once again, and this time, she didn’t bounce back up. Pinkie Pie struggled to look over at Fluttershy, and she was still cold, though she was fidgeting. “Amazing what rage can do to a pony, yes?” The Knight spoke in his hollow voice. He raised his blade. “But now it is time to finish... what?” Twilight had found the strength to stand back up. She flinched and staggered a little. She looked at the knight. “Wow, you really beat me up.” With that Twilight closed her eyes. The Element of Magic had been knocked far from her head long ago, but she wasn’t concerned with that. Her horn had started glowing again. This time, it was its normal purple glow. The wind started blowing gently. The glow around her horn grew until it surrounded Twilight. Twilight's’ eyes opened, and they glowed a brilliant white. Her aura had grew brighter and whiter until the others had to shield their eyes from the light. They all felt an explosion, and they looked back at Twilight, and stared in awe. Twilight had changed drastically in appearance. Her mane was streaming windblown and had turned completely white. The stripes of purple and pink now streaks of silver and gold. Her magic had turned to a brilliant white and concentrated to a great lance from her head. Her eyes no longer purple, but a brilliant gold, with white magic streaming from it like tears. But the most stunning transformation was on her back. The magic had collected to her back and from it extended two large beautiful white wings accented with a golden shine. Her very presence blew the dust and dirt away from her. The Element of Magic flew from a far corner and propped itself on Twilight's head. Her white magic flickered, and the tiara sparked. Twilight flapped her majestic wings, flinging loose particles of raw magic onto the floor. White and gold swirled together to form a staff. Then from the sky descended a flaming comet. Twilight grabbed her staff and held it out. The meteor struck the staff, spinning it like a baton. When Twilight stopped it, there was a purple star shaped crystal with a glowing white core. It had five star bits floating around the star like moons to a planet. The others watched in awe as Twilight held the staff up, and from it shot five balls of energy. Each one enveloped the wounded Elements, and gave a light flash. Energy had returned to them. Fluttershy had woken up and was already reaching for her staff. Rainbow Dash was ready to leap forward, only to be blocked by Twilight’s staff. Rainbow Dash looked over to Twilight. “I can handle this Rainbow.” Rainbow Dash looked uneasily at her. “Did you see what he did to...” Twilight cut her off with a light giggle. “Just watch. I’ll let you know when I need you.” Rainbow Dash was shocked, but then began to smile, and backed off. Twilight looked over to the knight. “Now, where were we?” She spun her staff, and it trailed a light purple aura. The Obsidian Knight burst yet again into a black aura, and held up his blade. Twilight held her staff down, and leaped forward, trailing white magic behind her. The Obsidian Knight burst forth, A comet surrounded in black flame. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity all looked at her battle. They had never seen Twilight partaking in any physical activity, and usually found her in her library, mixing chemicals and reading books. They were shocked at such strength her new form had given her. For every one blow that the Obsidian Knight threw at her, A parry and a counter strike awaited him. She was able to read through even the most complicated string of blows and dodge every single one, striking back only when she knew she could. Every time the Obsidian Knight jumped away to try and recover, Twilight pointed her staff, letting loose white chains that bound him, and brought him close, leaving Twilight plenty opportunity to strike many blows. Even Pinkie Pie, with her two blades and her shadow, could not string together their strikes so fluidly as Twilight could. The Obsidian Knight managed to block one blow from Twilight and used the recoil to skid backwards. He was heavy with breath. Twilight was also breathing heavily. She could see how worn out the black knight was. “Alright girls. Formation! Don’t forget your weapons!” They lined up side by side, weapons held at ready. They looked at each other, and then back at the enemy, who was still catching his breath. Concentrating, all of the girls burst into a brilliant aura flame, one a different color of the rainbow. As one for all, and as all for one, they charged the knight. The Obsidian Knight saw this and held his blade up to defend. But to his surprise, his blade shattered on contact, and he was blown back by their power. As each of the colors passed him, so each girl struck a blow. The Knight was knocked to his back. The girls circled back and struck him again, knocking him to the ground. The girls circled upward, high into the sky. Then they charged downward, spiraling towards the Obsidian Knight. He looked up, gasped, then hung his head in defeat. A great explosion ensued, A brilliant dome of color spread across the land, dissipating all the clouds that had darkened the sky, lighting up the sky with the brilliance of daylight. When all that had cleared, the girls floated down and landed on the floor. They held up their weapons, and they dissolved into the air. Twilight’s white magic faded, restoring her dark mane, and Rarity rushed over to keep her from falling over. Twilight looked up weakly, “Thanks Rarity. That magic took a lot out of me.” Pinkie Pie suddenly shouted. ”LOOK GUYS! A hole in the floor!” They all looked over. Sure enough, a hole and a set of stairs had appeared in the floor of the ancient palace. Together, they walked down.