//------------------------------// // Fear and Forgiveness // Story: Insanity War // by InsaneBatPony //------------------------------// Fear and Forgiveness Twilight awoke to the sound of birds chirping and a breeze coming from the window. She slowly opened her eyes and tried to wake herself up from what seemed to be a very long nap. She sat up in the bed and looked at her surroundings. Around her was a large spacious room with minimal furnishings. A table to her left a few paintings on the wall and a large red carpet with gold trim. She got out of the bed her eyes watery from sleep. She stumbled a little bit not knowing why. She tried to open the window so she could see where she was but no magic appeared. She tried again and the same result. She took one hoof and raised it to her head. She felt around her head for the mark of a unicorn. She felt nothing. Her hoof dropped to the ground and she fell onto her haunches. Tears beginning to fall from her eyes. She sobbed there on the ground for an unknown amount of time when a great light appeared in the room with her. Twilight covered her eyes with her foreleg trying not to look directly at it. When the light dissipated there stood Princess Celestia looking down at her student. “You’re up! I’m surprised that you recovered so quickly. My dearest Twilight you’ve been crying. What for?” She said with the look of a caring mother in her eyes. “My horn is gone. I can’t use magic anymore. The thing that made me, me, is gone.” Twilight said tears beginning to fall again. “Your horn was lost in your fight with the other Elements.” Celestia said with mourning in her voice. “What?! My fight with my friends? When did that happen Princess?” “Think Twilight, the memories are there, I was not able to erase them when I turned you back to your old self.” “Princess I don’t understand what you’re telling me right now.” “You have been gone a long time Twilight. You disappeared a few months ago after reading a research journal. You resurfaced later as the general for our enemy’s army.” “What? I don’t remember any of that! I never disappeared! The last thing I remember is a strange pony leaving some type of book on my front porch in Ponyville.” Twilight said while straining her mind to remember the events that took place only months before and a few moments ago. Celestia conjured up a little magic in order to help Twilight remember the events of the past. She touched her students head with her horn and looked into her mind to find the memories she needed to remember. Celestia delved deeper and deeper into Twilight’s mind and found what she was looking for after navigating the twists and turns of Twilight’s now confused state of mind. She dragged up only the most important memories and a few of the worst, not to make her student suffer, but to make sure she knows the deeds that she and Insanity committed together. Celestia pulled away from her student and looked into her eyes. Twilight’s eyes had darkness in them like a storm cloud. She was running through the events of the past that her mind naturally tried to seal away. She eventually came to but not without collapsing to the ground in a stupor. “Twilight?” “Princess. H…How could I do all those horrible things? I don’t know what to say or do.” “There is nothing to say Twilight. And you were not the one who did all those things, Insanity did them.” “But he used me to do them.” Twilight wailed as she cried now more than ever. “I killed Fleetfoot and countless other ponies that had done no wrong.” Celestia came closer to her crying student snuggling up against her and placing her wing around her in a gentle embrace. She nuzzled her neck trying to comfort her student. “Listen Twilight Sparkle, your right he used you to do his evil deeds but you also have the power to make it right.” Twilight looked up at Celestia with a look of hope in her eyes, tears forming in the corners. “What has happened has happened and the ponies that have left this world can never return to it, but it is possible to make things right. Not only with us here in Canterlot but also with the rest of Equestria.” “How can I make things right when I have caused so much harm to everypony in Equestria?” “That is up to you my student. All I can tell you is that true friendship transcends almost any misdeed. If your friends are truly your friends than there is nothing to fear from them. They will forgive you and accept you back into the group without hesitation. The only thing you can do is try.” Twilight looked at her teacher then at the floor thinking over what Celestia had just told her. “But I can’t face them without my horn, I’m not me without it. I need it not only to look like myself but my special talent is spells and I can’t use any without it.” “I know you can’t. There is a special gift only Luna or I can bestow upon another pony. It is the gift of revival but it can only be successful if the one receiving it is pure of heart. And I have no doubt that you are pure of heart Twilight Sparkle.” “But how can I be? I committed all those horrible crimes and…” Celestia put her hoof to Twilight’s mouth to quiet the poor unicorn. “Trust me Twilight Sparkle. I know it will work for you.” Celestia gathered the necessary amount of magic that was required for the spell of revival. She again touched Twilight on the head and a great light flashed from the room illuminating some of the streets outside the castle. When the light faded and Celestia stood back from her student Twilight opened her eyes and felt the top of her head again searching for the mark of a unicorn. This time she could feel it there. The spell had worked. Twilight’s horn was replaced by Celestia. “My horn it’s back! Oh, Thank you Princess! Thank you!” Twilight squeeled in happiness. “Now my student it is time for you to see your friends again.” _________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Princess and Twilight made their way down through the many hallways and corridors of the castle passing a few guards who only stared as Twilight was beside her teacher again. After what seemed to Twilight after an eternity of walking they arrived at the war room, where everypony was waiting for them. Celestia entered first followed by Twilight. The discussion on the aftermath of their battle cut short by their entrance into the room. “Twilight is that you dear?” Rarity asked quizzically. “H..hi everypony. Yes it’s me Twilight.” she said nervously. Just then the whole room burst into laughter and joy, everypony in the room was crowding Twilight giving her hugs and kisses to the cheek, the kisses coming mostly from rarity. “I don’t understand. How can you all just accept me back after all of the terrible things I’ve done?” “Yer our friend aint ya?” Applejack said. “Yeah! You’re not miss meanie pants anymore. So there is no reason not to accept you.” Pinkie spoke up. “That’s right, besides what would the Elements of harmony be without the Element of Magic?” Rainbow Dash spoke. “Thank you everypony. I don’t know what to say accept thank you.” “Forgive me for being abrupt with this but we need to continue our little meeting on what we need to do next in order to stop Insanity from taking over the rest of Equestria.” Luna interjected. The group all sat down around their large map of Equestria including the newly restored Twilight and Princess Celestia. They discussed everything from past victories and past losses to the present date so that they could analyze what tactics worked best in their favor. After about two hours their meeting was concluded. They all retired to their quarters except for Twilight and Celestia. “Where are we going Princess?” “I know of somepony else who missed you a great deal during your absence.” Celestia said with a look in her eyes that made Twilight a little nervous. They continued walking until they reached the forge in one the basement rooms of the Castle. “Forge Master, There is someone to see you.” Spike's lieutenant said. “Really, who could be visiting at such an hour?” “The Princess, Sir and she has guest with her as well. Princess Celestia said she is an old friend of yours.” “An old friend? She?.... It could be?” Spike ran out of his quarters and proceeded to the entrance of his forge. When her arrived he was greeted by the Princess and a purple mare with a look of confusion on her face. “Spike is that you? You’ve grown a lot in my time away.” Twilight said. “It is you. I thought you were gone forever!” Spike said as her took his friend in his arms and hugged her. “It..it’s good to see you to Spike! I can’t breathe!” Twilight said gasping for air while she struggled for air. Spike released her from his grip. “I thought that you disappeared forever Twilight. Where have you been?” Twilight could only look at the ground at this question. She could not tell him of her time as the General Mania. “It’s a long story. Maybe I will tell you some other time.” “Well I’m really glad your back. When this whole thing is over, let’s have Pinkie Pie throw a big party for your returning home.” Spike said with amusement. “I’d like that actually.” “I’m sorry to cut your reunion short but it is late and Twilight needs her rest.” “Right. I want to talk to you tomorrow during any off time I have ok.” “You have a deal my number one assistant.” Twilight said with a large grin. Spike could only smile and reminisce about the last time she had called him that. They parted ways and all returned to their quarters in the castle. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Morning came and it was the usual business around the Castle in Canterlot, commanders training their units, guards making their rounds etcetera. Celestia was in the throne room when a guard came running in a panic.  “Majesty!” said the guard who came in. “What is it?” Celestia said with concern.  “Something is heading this way! I’ve never seen anything like it.”  “Can you describe this beast to me sir?” Celestia said now in alarm. “It looked like a dragon. Except its body was the size of the castle and it had an orange and red hue to its scales. It roared as it flew closer to the guard tower….” While in the middle of his description a roar came from the distance it shook the castle and the ground. The roar was so powerful it could of split the sky in two.  “That was it! It was that roar I heard!”  Celestia looked at the guard with a surprised look on her face. “Xiuhcoatl! It can’t be him.” Celestia mumbled to herself in alarm.  “Guard, gather every able bodied pony to aid in this battle for it will be the most challenging yet!”  The guard bowed and ran out of the room to carry out the orders.  “You! Run and get me forge master Spike!” Celestia yelled at another guard.  He too ran to carry out the order.  “I fear Spike is the only chance we have of defeating this ancient dragon.”  _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Within minutes the whole crew was gathered in the throne room. All of them with nervous and alarmed looks on their faces.  “What is it Princess?! What was that sound we heard?”  “That was Xiuhcoatl. He is an ancient dragon, one with power equal to that of the mightiest of dragons. He survived the great dragon wars, and he ended it as well.”  “What do you mean Princess?” Spike asked his curiosity about ancient dragon history piqued.  “He ended the war by personally killing the dragons who ruled the two factions. He killed one and took control of that faction and then proceeded directly to killing the other leader. After he killed them both he took control of both factions and united them. Naturally there were those who disagreed with him and he killed them in formal challenges to display power and strength.”  “What happened to him after that?” Spike asked once again.  “After ruling the dragons mercilessly for two hundred years he disappeared. Never to be seen again until now. I can only assume that this is Insanity’s doing. Xiuhcoatl would not just reappear without a reason.”  “What do we do to defeat him Princess?” Rainbow Asked. “I don’t know I have never had to face a foe like this before. But I do know that in legend he can only be defeated by a dragon of a special kind, a rare breed if you will.” Celestia looked at Spike with a remorseful and downtrodden look. “Forge Master Spike, you will need to face him.”  Spike looked at the Princess in shock. He had never fought before, at least he didn’t fight anything larger than Twilights pet owl.  “I can’t Princess. I’ve never been on a battle field before.”  “I know that is why it hurts me to ask you to do this. Listen to me Spike, you are the only dragon that can stand up to Xiuhcoatl.” Spike looked at the floor deep in thought and finally after a few long minutes looked up at the Princess. “I’ll do it. I’ll fight the dragon.” He said with a downtrodden tone of voice.  “Spike you can’t!” Twilight yelled at him. “I have to! There is no other way!”  “But, but. Princess please there has to be another way!” Twilight said with anxiety and sadness.  “I’m sorry Twilight if there was another way I would have told you already.”  Twilight collapsed to the ground with tears in her eyes mumbling to herself. The others all looked at one another with the same look that Celestia had in hers.  “Spike, were all counting on you. Before you go into battle I will use the aging spell to put you to your full grown size so that you will stand some chance at defeating him.”  “I will do what I can to stop him from accomplishing whatever he is coming here to do.” He walked over to Twilight gave her another hug. “I’ll keep my promise, I still want to talk to you.” He said in her ear.  Twilight shook her head in agreement tears flowing freely from her eyes.  “I’ll be alright Twilight. Don’t worry. I’ll be back and we’ll do things at the library just like old times ok?  “Ok. I trust you. You had just better come back. I just got my number one assistant back.” Twilight said calming down a little bit.  Spike left the group and proceeded to the designated spot where he would be hit by the spell and would face his largest challenge yet. NEXT CHAPTER THE GUARDIAN _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Author's note In case any of you readers are wondering Xiuhcoatl is a Nahuatl name meaning "fire serpent" or "weapon of destruction."