Throughout all of time, there has always been the need for those who would seek to do evil, but the forces of good have always been there to stop them, these two forces have been battling for eternity. Never truly siding one way or another, These ‘Heroes’ and ‘Villains’ never truly die, but they do disappear from periods of time. However, what if there were evils so great that it required the good to seek help From Other medians, this is a story tells of such an event, where the guardians of a peaceful and magical land called Equestria. To defend their land from an unknown evil, sought help from a source they could never hoped to fathom. The power of those that serve similar roles across space and time. This power will test their hearts, bodies, and minds, but perhaps i’m getting ahead of myself…
This humble tale begins in the small town of Ponyville, where a certain flustered unicorn was currently pacing back and forth trying to decipher a way to solve an unknowingly life altering issue.
“Uhm, Twilight, you know that pacing back and forth isn't going to make this any easier,” her young assistant pointed out sighing at his friends behavior.
The unicorn headed the young dragons advice and fell onto her haunches with a loud groan. “Sorry Spike, it’s just I've been over this issue a thousand times, and I just can’t find a more efficient way to use the Elements. I mean there’s just no way to get them ready quickly without either knowing of a threat ahead of time or just carrying them around all the time.” As she spoke she rose from her sitting position and walked up to her desk where a dozen books lay open and waiting.
“Oh come on Twilight, I’m sure it’s not that bad… I mean it’s not like we need the Elements that often,” Spike assured her a soft smile following his kind words.
“Maybe not Spike, but look at my brother’s wedding, or the incident in the Crystal Empire. When we needed them most, we didn't have them. There just has to be a better way.” Twilight retorted, never letting her eyes stray from the collection of tomes she continued to flip through.
The baby dragon sighed in resignation, choosing instead to leave his friend to her studying, then went to finish lunch. Twilight; however, didn't even notice as she frantically continued to read tome after tome of magic. As time passed, she consumed more and more of the library’s stock of useful books. This only proceeded to frustrate the mare even further. When she finally exhausted what she assumed to be the last of the useful archives, she decided that perhaps the basement storage might hold something of value. Upon her investigation, she wandered into the storage and proceeded to scan the sparsely dust covered shelves hoping in vain that she would find something that might help her. She was just about to lose hope until she noticed a dusty ancient looking one that seemed almost too old to be in a library so young.
“Hm? What do we have here?” Twilight questioned, using her horn and levitating the hefty book in front of her face.
“‘The Forces That Bind Us.’ Well that’s a strange name,” giving a small chuckle she turned and began to make her way back to her study. “Who knows? Maybe you have a solution to my dilemma.” Twilight mused as she sat the book down on her desk and blew off the thick layer of dust that covered the book and opened it to a random page. Upon discovery of this book, Twilight was left in awe as she read through her new muse as she read about a side of magic that was completely new to her. Each spell was a whole new delight to the knowledgeable, loving mare; however, after a while of browsing she came upon a very interesting spell one that could very well hold the key to what she’d been looking for.
“Alright. Spike, just place the stone on the table there.”The excited mare instructed.
“If you say so. But don’t you think it’s a bit early to be testing such a complex spell? I mean you only found it yesterday and you even said the book you got it from was magic you haven't even heard of before.”
“Oh Spike, I studied the spell all night! And besides, that’s why we're starting with something small.” Twilight retorted, watching as her assistant begrudgingly placed the stone where he’d been instructed. Once done, the mare concentrated on the spell she was trying to use and let her mana gather to a peak. Then she cast the spell a beam of light gushing from her horn and connecting with the stone, and in a bright flash the stone had been replaced with a glistening diamond!
Not believing his eyes, Spike slowly stumbled over to the ex-rock and poked it with a single claw. after verifying it was what it appeared to be, the now awed dragon quickly scooped up the diamond and took a healthy bite. “Wof Twilith you acfually dith it.” The dragon confirmed his mouth still full.
Twilight gave Spike a glare, before smiling wide at her accomplishment. “I can't believe it worked! This enhancement spell in theory should allow me and the girls to increase our own strength, so that we won’t have to rely on the Elements as much. I mean just imagine if it works it could allow us to stop a problem much faster with far less risk.” The overjoyed Mage boasted.
“Alright Spike,” Twilight said. “Now that you've finished off our test subject, I think we should gather the others and should tell them about my discovery “ Twilight stated. However, just as the two opened the door, Twilight was met face to face with a smiling Pinkie Pie. “Oh, hi Pinkie! I was just about to come find you and the others.” The surprised librarian confessed.
“‘Fraid Pinkie beatcha too it Twi.” Applejack chuckled as she and Twilight’s friends filed into the library, one by one.
“YEP Twilight I was just skipping through town saying hi to everypony like I do everyday, when all the sudden my Pinkie sense goes crazy and i’m all like oh my gosh Twilight has something super special to show us and then I ran to Applejack’s farm and got Rarity at the Boutique, then Fluttershy in the market and Dashie who was taking a nap on a cloud just above Sugarcube corner. Then we all headed straight over.” The Pink pony explained at a speed anypony that didn't know her would find impossible.
“Pinkie, I’ve known you for years and In still find it unbelievable how fast you talk.” Rainbow dash dead-panned rolling her eyes as she did so.
“Oh Dashie, don’t be silly! I can talk much faster than that.” Pinkie counted as she bounced around her friends.
“Girls, girls, Pinkie was right. I have something incredible to show you.” Twilight interjected.
“So what’s so important you needed us here? I mean it’s gotta be pretty big if Pinkie was sensing it, right?” Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head in wonder.
“I must agree with Rainbow, darling. What could possibly be so important that I had to stop with a very important design?” Rarity inquired.
“Well, you know how when we go against some powerful tyrant or invader or whatnot how without the Elements we’re more or less defenseless?” Twilight asked, giving them all a level gaze.
“Yeah sugarcube, stop beatin’ around the bush and get along with it!” Applejack retorted, raising an eyebrow at her friend’s question.
“Well ever since the Crystal Empire situation, I've been trying to come up with a way for us to be able to defend ourselves without completely relying completely on the Elements’ power, or even group tactics. I mean what happens if we’re attacked separately? Anyways, I’ve done some research, and last night I finally found a spell that might just fix this problem once and for all.” Twilight explained, levitating the tome out for all to see.
“So what you found a spell that can... I dunno, summon the Elements, or maybe use them, I don’t know, separately?” Dash questioned. falling onto her haunches, and gripping her head in confusion.
”Not exactly Dash, it’s more along the lines of an enchantment spell that if used properly could boost our individual traits and thus giving us a way to fight or defend ourselves without using our trump card right off the back.” Twilight reasoned, showing the group the page that help her alluded spell.
“Hm... I gotta say, it would make stopping all these villains a might bit easier.” AJ agreed, nodding her head in approval.
“Good! I’’m glad you agree. So, who’s up for a little test run?” Twilight chirped happily as she started toward the door.
“Umm… Don’t you think it’s a bit soon to be testing such a powerful and dangerous spell Twilight? I mean if you want to that’s fine...” Fluttershy spoke up for the first time, fear evident in her voice.
“Oh come on, Shy! It sounds super fun! I mean imagine what this spell will do! Who knows how super mega neato it will be to be enhancifacated.” Pinkie giggled while bouncing around her timid friend.
“Yeah Fluttershy, I mean... if it works, just imagine how much faster, and not to forget, how awesome I’ll be.” Agreed a rather enthusiastic Rainbow Dash, proceeding to dash ahead of everypony else and rush out the door with the others close behind, though some more reluctantly than others.
Rainbow Dash waited at the door until Twilight walked out, and they all quickly followed her behind the library to a small grove and formed a circle. waiting for Twilight to give them their instructions.
“Alright girls! Let’s get started. First I’ll need you to put on your Element.” Twilight started levitating a box off her back that she grabbed on her way out of the library.
“Not that i’m complaining, Twilight, but why exactly do we need our necklace if the point is to need them less?” Rarity voiced taking the necklace that was offered to her, and slipping it into position.
“Well this spell is rather advanced, and normally I wouldn't be able to use it on all of you at once, but if I use the latent powers of the Elements as a catalyst, I could endow the spell with a sort of trigger, for once the spell has worked successfully. It becomes a lot easier to reactivate, being the power is then already inside of you, it’s just passive.” Twilight instructed as the rest of her friends equipped their own jewelry.
“I’m glad i don’t have to do this! It sounds really convoluted if you ask me” Spike huffed, as he watched the group from a safe distance.
“I’m starting to agree with you, Spike.” Applejack answered with a sigh.
“Oh, don’t be so posh, dear. I’m sure Twilight wouldn't do this if she wasn't confident it would work, right?” Rarity assured her discouraged friend.
“Rarity’s right. I am almost certain that this will work. I swear.” Twilight spoke up, hoping
that she acquired her friends’ trust.
“Alright if everypony is ready, then why don’t we begin?” With that, and a collective sigh from her friends Twilight began the spell, her horn being engulfed in a magenta aura that quickly spread over her and her friends, causing the entire area to be engulfed in a white blaze. As the group felt the magic pulse through their Element and into them, it seemed as if the spell was having no effect, but as the pulsing grew in speed they all began to feel a warmth creeping into their very cores. As the warmth overtook each of them, they started to see an image of somepony they’d never met; however, each of the Elements seeing someone else entirely.
As Spike watched he couldn't help but become worried for as the spell progressed, the entire group seemed to have gone into a trance. Panicking, the young drake rushed toward his seemingly helpless companions. He bolted up to Twilight, fear emitting from every feature on his body, grabbing a hoof of his surrogate sister and shaking furiously. The magic hit him like a blow to the face by a sledgehammer, forcing him into the coma-like state as well.
After several minutes of the spell taking its its course, it stopped as suddenly as it began.
The ponies (and Spike), slowly regained their wits and woke confused, disoriented, and slightly annoyed what just occurred.
“What in the name of Celestia just happened? I thought that spell was suppose to make us better, not beam images into our heads!” Applejack groaned, being the first of the group to completely regain her thoughts and make it back onto her hooves.
“Yeah Twi what gives all I saw was some weird pegasus in a red jacket... How does that make me any better of a flier?” The speedster pegasus added, stretching her wings to ensure they were undamaged.
“Ugh i’m sorry girls... I guess the Elements altered the chemistry of the spell,” the embarrassed unicorn apologized.
“It wasn't that bad Twilight, at least nopony got hurt.” Fluttershy reassured her now moping friend.
“Yeah Fluttershy’s right, it was actually kinda fun. Really, I mean with the whole light show and the weird pony I saw in my head and all, it was really neat, Twilight, so cheer up miss party pooper.” The bubbly party pony happily rejoiced bouncing in place with delight.
“Thanks girls. But it WAS a disaster. I think i’m going to go lay down the spell took a bit out of me then i thought it would.” Twilight sighed, getting up and heading back toward her tree home.
“Twilight, I really don’t think you should be so hard on yourself. It’s not like it was your intention for it to go wrong... and besides i’m sure if you practice a bit more next time, it will be as easy as pie.” Rarity tried hoping it would make her friend fell a bit better getting several words of agreement from the others.
“Thanks girls, but I think we should all get some rest after this whole ordeal. “Come on, Spike.” Twilight said, levitating her still disorientated assistant onto her back, and leaving the others to depart for their own homes.
Twilight quickly made her way inside and up to the second floor, where she dropped Spike onto the bed and slumped face first into her pillow.
“Twi, are you okay? You seem really upset by the spell going all weird.” Spike asked shifting his position to face his downtrodden pseudo-sister.
“Well, let’s look at the facts; first I messed up the spell. Second, I put me and my friends in danger by being reckless. Third I nearly got you hurt, and finally the effects of whatever the spell did are making me feel really weird. The mare answered through a face full of pillow.
“Really? You too? I mean I thought maybe me getting involved without an Element was why I feel so weird but if you feel it, then maybe everyone else is feeling it as well.” Spike thought aloud, getting off the bed and walking over to his own basket and climbing in.
Twilight soon followed his example, readjusting her position and proceeded to crawl under her covers, in hopes that sleep would help ease her troubled mind.
Throughout town, the other participants unknowingly followed Twilight’s example, each feeling a bit off, and hoping that a good night’s rest would bring about an end to the odd prick at the back of each of their minds.