//------------------------------// // Dead Hollow Tree // Story: The Legend of Celestia: Twilight's Harmony // by Shazam 25 //------------------------------// Twilight open her eyes and rub her head. She look up and saw her Wooden Sword was broken and Shining Armor and Mix Match was no where in sight. She jump up and look around. She felt alone. She started to cry when a voice spoke up. "Twilight, Twilight Sparkle. Dry those tears." The voice said. "Huh?", Twilight said, "Who's there?" "Worry not, I'm a friend. I been watching you since born." the voice said again. "You call me Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said. "Yes, that your name is it?" The voice ask. "Well I always know that my name was Twilight, but I didn't know Sparkle was part of my name." Twilight said. "Well, now you know. Listen, the land in trouble and you are the only to save it." It said. "What? Me? But just a filly." Twilight said. "Maybe, but you are skill in a sword, but you need a real sword." It said again. "But..." Twilight started to say. "I know, but you need one for this quest. And you stood up to the guards that were stronger than you. That took courage." It said. "I guess so, but how am I going to get a sword?" Twilight ask. "Head back to your house, I left something there for you." It said. "Ok and what is your name?" Twilight ask. "Call me Cadance." It said. Twilight started on her way back to Unicorn Village. This was not the trip she was hoping but she might as well. Twilight walk back in Unicorn Village and saw that Lyra was still in the same spot that she left. She look up and saw Twilight. "Twilight! You back already?!" Lyra ask. "No, we didn't get even get to Canerlot." Twilight said and explain what happen. When she finish, Lyra was surprise. "Are you sure?" Lyra ask. "That was all I know until I woke up." Twilight said. "I go tell the Mayor. And stay away from him. I bet he's having party that you are gone." Lyra said. Twilight roll her eyes and watch as Lyra ran off. "I take the mayor doesn't like you." Cadence said. "Yeah, he thinks I'm noting but trouble." Twilight said. " I see. Before you go get your sword you need to get a shield." Cadance said. "But they cost 100 Bits! I have only 30 bits as my savings!" Twilight said surprise. "I'm sure the owner call help you a little after all you know him." Cadance said. Twilight was a little confuse but went back to her Tree house and grab her bits. She walk to Old Miller's Shop and walk in. "Huh? Twilight? Back already?" He ask. "No, we never got to Canterlot and listen I what to buy a shield." Twilight said. "A shield huh? Well as you know it cost 100 bits but, for fillies like yourself the price is only 20 bits." Miller said. "Really?!" Twilight shouted. "Of Course. However it made of wood so don't go near fire, OK?" He said and hand Twilight the Wooden Shield. Twilight look at the shield and saw that there was a unicorn head crave on it and it eyes look like it was glowing. It was also outline by white stone. Twilight place it on her back and fond that it was a perfect fit. "If you even need another one after that one is gone please come back and I'll let you have another one for the same price." Miller said. "Thanks Miller!" Twilight said and left the shop. Twilight was already on her way home when Cadance spoke up. "You see? I told you, you can get a shield." She said. "Yeah, yeah, Now that sword in my house right?" Twilight said. "That right, I made the sword myself." Cadance said. Twilight reach her house and climb up her ladder. She enter her house and saw a crest in the middle of the room that she didn't see before. Twilight open it and pull out the sword. The sheath was color in a purple and gold and the handle was a brass color. She pull it out and saw a real blade that her size. "This is the Unicorn Sword. It more powerful than your old wooden sword." Cadance said. Twilight the sword back in the sheath and on her back right behind her shield. Twilight look at the mirror and admit she didn't look bad. She draw them both and stood on her back hooves. She held the shield in front of her and the sword next to her like she was getting ready to fight. She then put them away. "So what now?" Twilight ask Cadance. "Well, I want you to go to Canterlot but there something else you need to get before you go." She answer. "What is it?" Twilight ask. "It going to be dangerous but you heard about the dead tree that lays to the south of your village?" She ask. Twilight eyes widen when she knew what she was asking. "The Dead Hollow Tree?!", She shouted, "But what in there that I have to get?" "It one of the legendry Crystals. The Crystal of Courage." Cadance said. "Crystal of Courage?" Twilight ask. "Yes, you need it but it been hiding the Dead Hollow Tree." Cadance said. "Ok, I'll go." Twilight said. Twilight left her tree house and slide down her ladder. She then started to head into the village, as she went though some of the Unicorns were surprise that Twilight was back so soon and she was carrying a sword and shield. The only that stop her was Scissor Cut. "Hey, I head that you got knock out by a guard. I guess they didn't want a blank flank." She said. "We didn't even reach Canterlot, Scissor Cut and the guards were noting like Shining Armor." Twilight said. "Huh? Yeah right, you were kick out." Scissor Cut said. "If I was kick out, then why would Mix Match let me return alone?" Twilight ask her. That stop Scissor Cut. No matter how much she hate Twilight, she was right. Mix Match never let her return alone. "SO WHAT! YOUR JUST A...!" Scissor Cut started to say but stop when a sword come close to her nose. "I'm not going to listen to you any more and yes this is a real sword. After I take care of something I'll leave the village like plan now move!" Twilight shouted. Scissor Cut back off and watch as Twilight put her sword away and walk on. She notices where is was going. Is she crazy?! That the way to the Dead Hollow Tree! Why in Equestria is she going there?! Scissor Cut thought. Twilight reach the Dead Hollow Tree. Before entering it, she spotted something in the way. It look to be some kind of wolf. Twilight drew her sword and shield and ready to attack. The Wolf jump at her and her vision blur. Twilight open her and look around. She didn't know that the wolf was be hind her and change into an armor pony when she turn around. She ready herself again and the Armor Ponies did the same. Twilight charge and swing her sword. The Armor block it and before Twilight could see it, she was knock away. Instead of feeling the sword, she only felt the ground she landed on. "A sword can not be use if the user doesn't have the Courage to strike their foe." It said. Twilight stood up and said, "Well if you haven't notices, I'm a Filly!" "Yes that is true, but you must know the way of the warrior are set even for young Fillies like yourself." It said. "Who are you and where are we?" Twilight ask. "We are in a secret training grounds that only knows to the Hero of Equestria and I'm that hero." It said. "Huh? That can't be. I read that the Hero went missing and was never fond." Twilight said. "Very True but while my body gone, my spirit remains until I can pass my teaches to the next hero and since you saw me, you are the next Hero or should I said Heroine?" It said again. "Ok, what is your name?" Twilight ask. "For now just call me Sword Master." It said. "So what going on?" Twilight ask. "I'm here to teach you a move that will help you defeat monsters. Some will get back up after you knock them down. After doing so, jump in the air and hold your sword down to the ground and you will deliver the final blow." He said then jump at her. Twilight jump back as she watch the sword stick right into the ground. He pull it out and added. "Remember once the enemy has been knock off his feet, use this blow to finish them before they get up. Now try it on me." He said. Twilight look a little uneasy but nods. The cross Swords and Twilight act by striking first. She land blow after blow under she knock Sword Master off his hooves. Once he was down, Twilight jump in the air and came down with her Sword pointing at the ground. She stab right were his heart would have been if he wasn't dead. "Good, Good. You did well. You are truly mark in the Sword-Skill play. Remember this lesson for I can only teach one at a time. Once you get some that can made you play like a wind though strings, find a Music Stone and replay the music you hear." He said. "Ok, I'll remember, though I am confused at the moment." Twilight said and did the Finish Blow again. "Before I leave, I like to know your name." Sword Master said. "Twilight Sparkle." Twilight told him. "A fine name for a warrior. Until we met again Twilight Sparkle." He said and disappear. Twilight cover her eyes as a bright light cover the area. When she open them she saw that she was back at the Dead Hollow Tree. The name did live up to it or should I say dead up to it. Twilight heard stories of how monsters live the tree. She knew going alone was a bad idea but she didn't have a choice. She step in and ready herself for her first Dungeon. "Well Twilight, You have to find your way around here. If any monsters come just use your sword to stop them and your shield to block their attack and you don't have to worry about any fire enemies here." Cadance said. "OK, though I'm not sure about this." Twilight said but move on. Twilight look around, the inside look like just the outside, but roots cover the ground, some of the tree stick out like platforms and vines that grew up them. As Twilight look up she could see some webs near the top. And there was a web in the center of the tree. She search the base of the tree first and soon saw a plant grow from the roots. It look to have a head and then try to bite her but Twilight jump back and strike it with her sword, it was cut back and drop some nuts. "Huh? What was that?" Twilight ask. "Deku Baba's. Those things are very dangerous but drop useful stuff for you, Look!" Cadance said. Twilight saw the nuts and pick them up. She look at them and then place them in her bag. "Those are Deku Nuts, They're useful against enemies. Just throw one in front of them and they will be stun. Then just strike them with your Sword." Cadance explain. Twilight nods and look around some. She fond another Deku Baba and this time it just when up to the air. Twilight rise an eyebrow and swing her Sword at it. She watch as it drop a stick. "Deku Sticks, Now these can be use like your sword but they will break if the hit an enemy. They can also be use as a torch but burn quickly." Cadance explain again. After that Twilight climb up the vines and follow the path that had more Deku Baba's. She strike them down to get more Deku Nuts and Sticks. She soon reach a door and went in. The door slam behind her and bars did as well. "Twilight be careful! It a trap! To get out, just beat the monsters or solve the puzzle in the room." Cadance warn. Twilight draw her Sword and held her shield in front of her. She saw some strange scrubs move and before she knew it some creature pop up and shot Deku Nuts at her. Twilight dodge them and run up to them but they dive under before she can attack them. "What the...?" Twilight said. "Those are Deku Shrubs, they hide when you get close. So stay away and deflect the nuts they throw at you." Cadance inform her. "You could have told me before I got close to them!" Twilight said and back away still face them. Once they pop back up Twilight held her shield in front of her. She deflect the Nuts back at them and they started to run around. Twilight chase them and before she could make a blow, they spoke... "Wait! Don't hurt us. Maybe we can work out a deal." They said. Twilight stop and lower her weapons. She stare at them and waited. "Ok, you know that web in the center of the tree? Well if you jump from the highest stop of the tree you can break it and search the lower area." They said. "Ok, for that, I'll let you go." Twilight said. "Oh, Thank you! Just be careful, we heard that a powerful monster live at the bottom." They said again before running off. "A monster at the bottom of the tree?" Twilight ask. "I'm not sure what they mean, but I guess we might as well keep going." Cadance said. Twilight nods and notices that a huge crest appear in the room. She open it and got a slingshot. "That a Unicorn Slingshot! You can use it as your long-range to take out enemies without getting close. Try it in this room." Cadance said. Twilight look around and saw switch above the door. She took out her Slingshot and aim at it. She release the shot and the gate open. Twilight walk out and walk up. She soon come to some vines and saw some strange Spiders on them "Cadance, What are those?" Twilight ask. "Skullwalltulas, They will attack you if you get close and they knock you off if are climbing. You better take them out with you slingshot you got." Cadance said. "Right!" Twilight said and pull it out. Twilight aim and shot all three Skullwalltulas and climb up the vines to the next level of the tree. She walk on and fond another big crest. She open it and got the map to the whole area. "WOW! A map! Now I can't get lost." Twilight said. "Yes, we are close to the top. Once there you can jump off to the web, though it is high." Cadance agree. Twilight continued to climb the tree until she reach the top. She came to another door while rounding the floor and step in. The door slam shut and bars appear over it. Twilight notices a switch on the ground and step on it. She saw some platforms rise making away to another crest. She jump across and made it to the crest as soon as the platforms lower. Twilight up the crest and fond a compass. "A compass?" Twilight ask. "Yes, it will tell you where you are and where the boss of this dead tree is." Cadance said. Twilight shrugs and place the compass in her bags. She walk back to the door after dropping down and climbing up some vines. Outside, Twilight saw open spots for her to drop on the web but Cadance stop her. "Twilight! Wait!" She shouted. "What is it?" Twilight ask. "Look up." Cadance said and she did. Twilight saw a huge spider that had a skull on it and it was waited for her. "What is that?" Twilight ask. "Those are Skulltulas, they will drop down and spin if you get close. The skull on their bodies act like a shield. Once they turn around, attack their soft bellies to defeat them." Cadance said. Twilight nods and pull out her sword and shield. She walk close and jump back as the Skulltula drop down. Twilight wait until it turn around and use her jump attack to kill it. After it burn away, Twilight aim her jump and jump off. She land on the web and it started to move down until it couldn't hold any more and broke. Twilight fell again and landed in some water. She surface and look around. She saw move webs and some high platforms. She swam to dry land and climb onto the higher platform she could reach. She saw a switch in the ground and step on it. A torch lit and burn a web away. Twilight look around and saw another web blocking a door. She nods and took out her Deku Stick. She lit it and ran to the web as fast as she can, because she was holding the stick in her front hooves. She reach the web and it burn away. Twilight when thought door and fond a few bats. She ignore them and went though another door close by, the next room had bars on the door and some unlit torches. One torch was lit and Twilight use the Deku Stick again to lit all of them up. Once she did, the bars remove and she exit the room. She come to a wide space room and step in the middle. Then a Skulltula drop down from the ceiling, but this was bigger then the ones she saw. This one even shot webs at her. Twilight dodge the webs and look for a way to attack back. She discover that this one follow her until it shot a web. Twilight was able to round behind it and use a jump attack to weaken it. She repeat the pattern and it was taking down in no time. Twilight walk away and fond a small tunnel. She crawl though it and soon saw she round the area but this time to a much higher platform that she couldn't reach. She push a block that was on the platform, down to the ground below. She then spot another web only this time, she had to get the fire from the area below. Twilight pull out a Deku Stick, lit it and run back to the web. She lit it and fell though. Twilight land in some water again and swam to the land. Twilight look up to see another door but before moving on, Cadance spoke up. "Twilight, behind this door is the boss of this dead tree. Are you ready?" she said. "I think so, but if I need that crystal...I do any thing in my magic to get it." Twilight said. "Ok, but remember, you're not alone. I'll be with you like I have this whole time." Cadance said. "Thanks, Cadance." Twilight said and pull out her sword and shield and walk though the door to fight the boss of the Dead Hollow Tree.