//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 - Crimson and the Twisted Doors 
// Story: Fire and Brimstone, Book 2 
// by BluePhoenyx 
//------------------------------//

All was dark, save the red flames on the horizon and the six lights up high.  The six lights grew dim and fell as the red eyes appeared out of the darkness.  “You’re too late, girl.”  The six lights vanished.  Flames shoot up with a deep, menacing laugh. 


* * *


Twilight quickly sat up in a cold sweat.  Her bed covered in sweat and her coat moist to the touch.  She panted heavily, trying to catch her breath.  She looked over to see Spike still in his bed sleeping soundly.  After she took a deep breath, she gulped with a dry throat and looked towards the kitchen.  She quietly got out of her bed and snuck to the kitchen to get a drink.  On the way, her wing bumped the table.  Groggy and slow to react, it tipped over, knocking its contents on the wooden floor causing a brief ruckus.  Spike jolted awake.  
Spike saw Twilight let out a deep sigh.  “Twilight, are you alright?”
Twilight looked back to Spike.  “Yeah, I’m okay.”  
Spike jumped out of bed and walked toward Twilight.  “You don’t look alright.”
“Just a nightmare.”  Twilight continued to walk toward the kitchen.  
“You wanna talk about it?”
Twilight poured herself a drink.  “I just…  I just hope I don’t let every pony down.”  She took a big drink to moisten her parched throat as Spike stood silently.  She put the empty cup on the counter and poured herself another drink.  “What if Princess Celestia made a mistake?”
“Was that what your nightmare was about?”
Twilight took a deep breath and nodded her head as she took another drink.  “I was being judged by the ponies of Ponyville and was being sentenced for not being a loving princess.”  Spike and Twilight stood silent for a moment.  “And there was this one pony – she was old and poor.  She kept pushing me and throwing rotten food at me.”
Spike put his tiny claw on Twilight’s shoulder.   “It was just a dream.  You ARE a loving princess, and I know Princess Celestia didn’t make a mistake when making you a princess.”
A tear ran down Twilight’s face as she looked toward Spike.  “You really think so?”
Spike smiled.  “I know so.”  Twilight let off a faint smile.  “Come on, go back to bed.  You have a busy day tomorrow.”
Twilight puts down the drink.  “You’re right, Spike.  I’m going to do the best I can and be a great princess!”
“That’s the spirit!”  The two walked to their separate beds and laid down.
After a brief pause in the darkness, Twilight turned toward Spike.  “Spike?”
Spike rolled over toward Twilight.  “Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
Spike smiled, then rolled back over and the two go back to sleep.


* * *


The sun again beamed through Twilight’s drapes, illuminating her room.  She woke up with heavy eyes.  Yawning and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she then slowly sat up.  After a deep exhale, she got out of bed, walked toward the kitchen again, but stopped to quietly picked up the knocked over table and books.  She looked over at Spike then smiled while shaking her head.  Twilight got her quill and ink and started to write Spike a letter.

Dear Spike,
Thank you for being there last night.  Take the day off.
Princess Twilight Sparkle

She quietly put the quill away, put the letter down next to Spike’s bed, then snuck out of the library without waking him up.
The sun shone low on the horizon as the morning dew cooled the air.  She looked in the distance at Ponyville and Canterlot.  She smiled while breathing in the morning air.  Then she spread her new wings and started to fly awkwardly.  After a few flaps, she fell to the ground.  She got up and looked around embarrassed to see if any pony saw her spectacle of grace and power in flight.  Feeling that no pony  saw her, she dusted herself off, then walked toward the Ponyville Train Station to head to meet the Princess.


* * *


The train slowed down as it reached the gates of Canterlot.  Twilight stared out the window looking at the beauty of the land.  As the train released steam, the doors opened allowing passengers to exit the train.  She started to walk to the main gates when she noticed that the gates were closed, and armed guards stood at the ready.  Twilight walked up to the guards.
“What’s going on?”
The guard looked at Twilight as the gate started to open to allow her in.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia seeks an immediate council.”
“Where is she?”
“In the throne room.”
Twilight rushed through the gates and toward the throne room.  
On her way, she noticed a lot more guards than normal around the area.  As she reached the doors to the throne room, she noticed two guards at the doors.
“Princess Twilight, Pr-“ A guard said before Twilight cut him off.
“Just open the doors!”  The two guards opened the doors to allow her entry.  The sound of the doors opening echoed in the large, elegant throne room.  A large red carpet was stretched from the doors up to the throne where two guards stood, but no princess.  Twilight turned toward the guards.  “Where is Princess Celestia?”
“Princess Celestia is at the royal vault.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
The guard looked shocked.  “Princess, I tried b-“  
Twilight ran passed the guard and rushed toward the vault to find Celestia.

On her way to the vault, her pace was slowed by the familiar devastation seen in the surrounding area.  She walked toward the vault where Princess Celestia stood.  “Princess!”
Celestia turned to greet the new princess.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle, I’m glad you’ve arrived.”
“What happened?”  After a brief pause, Celestia stepped aside to reveal the twisted and warped vault that held the Elements of Harmony.  Twilight gaspped.  “Who could have done this?”
Celestia gestured downward.  “The answer lies under your hooves.”
Twilight took a couple of steps back while looking at the floor.  She saw the burn marks of symbols and shapes under her.  “I’ve seen this before.”
“That you have.”  Celestia walked toward Twilight.  “These are the type of magic runes Crimson used.”
Twilight looked up at Celestia, shocked at the name.  “Crimson?”
Celestia nodded.  “Yes.  I’m sorry to say, but I think he stole the Elements of Harmony.  I know no one else that can use this kind of magic.”
Twilight shook her head in denial.  “He wouldn’t.”
“I’m afraid there are no other suspects.”
Twilight thought to herself with a brief pause.  Then with a deep sigh, she looked down saddened.  “You… You’re right, Princess.  He’s the only one that could have done this.”
A guard approached from down the hall.  “Your majesty, Princess Luna has arrived.”
Celestia nodded to the guard and he walked away.  “Come, Twilight Sparkle.  We must meet with my sister.  Let the royal investigators take care of things here for now.”
Twilight sniffled and held back her tears, then nodded in compliance to Celestia and the two walked away from the vault.

Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia walked together down the hall, not toward the throne room, but to a more guarded room further in the back of the castle.  Twilight looked up at Celestia.  “Princess, is this..?”
Celestia nodded her head.  “Yes, this is the war room.”  The guards opened the large reinforced double doors to show satin curtains blocking the view of the room.  Twilight stopped in her tracks in pause as Celestia started to go through the curtains.  “Come, Twilight Sparkle.  Your council will be most helpful.”  Celestia walked into the room and the curtains settled from the gravity.  Then she walked through the curtains into the mysterious room that Celestia had spent so much time in lately.
After the red satin curtains was a small hallway.  On the other side of the hallway were a pair of guards, and another set of double doors.  The guards opened the door to let the two in.  The room was a large room with a huge table in the middle.  The table itself was a map of the entire known world with a grid breaking down the map into sections via distance.  Tokens were laid all across the table of different shapes, colors, and markings.  Around the table were six chairs which ranking officers sat in.  On a step was a throne and chairs next to the throne.  Princess Luna sat in the chair on the right side of the throne while the left hand side was empty.  Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, stood to the right of Luna observing the room.  The talking amongst the officers stopped immediately, and every pony stood up at the sight of Celestia and Twilight.  Twilight stood in place for a moment looking around as Celestia walked around the table and to the throne.  After she sat down, the officers took their seats.  Celestia looked over the entire room, then at the confused alicorn princess at the doors.  
Celestia lifted her left hoof and gestured to the empty chair to her left.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle, if you would.”
“Oh, uh.. Of course.”  Twilight walked around the table and over to the step, then sat in the chair beside Celestia.  
The room sat silently in awkward tension.  “My sister, Princess Luna, has arrived from the western lands.  At my request, I have asked her to get information for us on these strange occurrences.  Please, let us hear what you have discovered.”
Princess Luna lifted her head slightly.  “I hath discovered that thy western shores are being invaded by an unknown source of pirates.”  The room started to mumble amongst themselves as Luna continued.  “I hath heard reports of fishing and pearl diving vessels vanishing on voyages on a calm sea.”
Celestia slightly tilted her head down toward Luna.  “Survivor testimonies?”
Luna looked saddened at the question.  “My sister, these pirates are ruthless.  They not only leave no survivors, but they don’t leave any trace of any pony, pegasus, gryphon, or anything otherwise to find.”
Twilight gasped.  “What if the gryphons flew away and-“
Celestia lifted her left hoof to politely halt Twilight’s sentence.  “Continue my sister.”
Luna looked over to Twilight.  “I hath thought of such.  No reported sailors or fishermen have been found. Not slain or living.  Not at the docks or at their homes.  They hath simply vanished.” 
Again, the room started to mumble amongst themselves.  “Thank you my sister.”  Celestia looked over the room.  “What of the building of war ships?”
An officer pony dressed in blue stood.  “My Princess, building of your war ships are underway.  However, we’re short on hoof power and it’s a slow process.”
Celestia looked at the blue dressed officer.  “Commander, would more hoof power speed up the process of the construction of my ships?”
The officer in blue nodded. “Yes, My Princess.”
Celestia nodded at the officer in blue and he sat back down.  Then she looked over to a pony officer dressed in green.  “Colonel, status report.”
The green pony officer stood up.  “Princess, our troops are ready to deploy on your command.”
“Good.  Send some of your troops to assist the Commander for my ships.”
The officer in green saluted.  “Yes, Princess.”
Celestia nodded at the officer in green and he sat down.  She turned her attention to a pegasus officer dressed in silver.  “Colonel, status report.”
The pegasus officer stood up.  “Air troops are good to go at your command.”
“Scout the seas.  Find these pirates that threaten our lands.”
“At your command.”
“But don’t go too far out.  Just keep our shores safe until my ships are built.”
The silver dressed pegasus saluted.  “At your command, princess.” 
Twilight leaned toward Celestia.  “Uh, princess.  What am I doing here?”
Celestia turned to Twilight.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle, your presence is needed here.”
“For what?”  Twilight questioned.
A unicorn officer dressed in purple stood up.  “Princess, what do you request of us?”
Celestia looked at the pegasus officer, nodded for him to sit, then turned to the unicorn officer.  “Warlock, how is the research?”
The purple unicorn officer stood flustered for a moment.  “Er, it-“
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said while turning her head toward Twilight.  “May I request your assistance in magic research?”
“Magic research?”  Twilight looked surprised and nervous, suddenly being in the spotlight.  “O-Of course, Princess.”
“Good.”  Celestia turned back toward the unicorn.  “Princess Twilight Sparkle, my star pupil, will assist you in your research.”
“Uh, yes, Princess.”  The unicorn looked at the young Twilight Sparkle with little confidence and sat back down.


* * *


For the next few hours, the room talked about troop mobilization and other military business.  Only a couple of times did Twilight speak, and that was only when Celestia asked her a question about magic.  Otherwise, she remained still and silent.

After the meeting ends, the officers got up and left through the doors.  Celestia and Luna stood up and started to walk out of the room.
Twilight, still sitting down confused, looked up at Celestia.  “Princess?”
Celestia and Luna turned around.  “Yes?”  Celestia asked.
“Uh, I… don’t know what you asked me to do, really.”
Celestia looked at Luna.  “My sister, if you have other duties to attend to, don’t let me hold you back.”
Luna smiled.  “Very well.  Until next time.”  Luna started to walk out of the room.
Celestia looked back at Twilight.  “How much do you know about elemental magic?”
Twilight looked a touch baffled at Celestia.  “Some, I guess.” 
“Ever since Crimson has come and gone from our kingdom, I have had unicorns look into the powers of the elements to manipulate them as Crimson did.  Our research has been unsuccessful.”  Twilight stood quietly as Celestia continued.  “We don’t know if it’s the runes he draws or how he empowers them.  We don’t know if it’s the power he holds in that curved horn, or anything on the subject.  If we’d known, we’d have been able to prevent the theft of the Elements of Harmony.”
“I don’t think it’s the runes.” 
“Please, explain.”
“He draws stuff on the ground, but he also manifested and manipulated fire without the drawings.”  
Celestia thought to herself for a moment.  “Your point rings true.  However, it’s the power of the natural elements we’re trying to use for the better of Equestria.  I need you to help the Warlock and his unicorn troops to unlock this magic.  If we can unlock the power of elemental manipulation, we can defend ourselves better overseas.”
Twilight nodded.  “Okay.”
“Report back to me with your findings.”
The two started to walk out of the war room when Celestia turned her head to Twilight and smiled.  “Did you see how stumped the Warlock was with that simple telekinetic question?”  The two chuckled and talked lightly amongst themselves as they left the room.


* * *


A young colt and filly played on the beach chasing each other in the ocean breeze.  In the distance was a moderate looking cabin bordering a thick forest on a hill overlooking the sea.  Smoke came for the chimney as the sun started to set.  A middle aged mare walked out of the cabin.  She looked over at the small dots on the shores that were her children as the sun started to touch the horizon.  “Children, dinner time!”  She yelled.
The colt ran on the beach sand.  He looked behind to see his sister chasing him trying to tag him.  He then tripped over something causing him to crash face first into the sandy beach.  He slid to a stop spraying sand everywhere.  The colt started to tear up tightly closing his eyes from the sand.  
The filly stopped just before hitting the obstruction.  She looked at the obstruction with deep worry.  “B-Brother…?”
The colt sniffed, trying to hold back the tears.  “Don’t laugh.”
The filly looked with worry and caution.  “Brother!”
The colt wiped his eyes, trying to get the sand out with the help of his tears.  “What?”  He finally was able to peek through his eye lids.  He looked upon a limp body of a stallion laying helplessly, half-buried in the beach sand.  “Who’a.”  He finally got the sand out of his eyes and stood up.  “Where did he come from?”  His sister stood quiet as he walked toward the body.  He slowly extended his hoof to touched the battered and beaten body.  When he touched the body, the body coughed, expelling water from his mouth.  After the coughing, he went back unconscious.  “Sister, he’s alive! …  Sister?”  He looked up to his sister, who was staring at the setting sun over the sea.  He looked at the sea to see what his sister was looking at.  He saw planks of wood slowly drifting to shore with the tides.  He walked around the stranger and stood next to his sister.  He lifted his hoof and placed it on her shoulder.  “I’ll get mom.  You stay here.”  She looked upon his brother scared.  “Just keep an eye on him.  I’ll be right back.”  She nodded as he turned, and trotted as fast as he could to the cabin.