The first thing I noticed was the debris streaking across the sky, trailing smoke behind each individual piece. Some of the larger ones broke up after a bit into smaller pieces, but every single one was on a trajectory of 'away from Mt. Canterlot'. As the smoke faded, I could faintly see each one glimmering and shining in the sunlight.
The second thing I noticed was that I could feel each individual piece. They resonated with a power I was all too familiar with. A power akin to my own.
I 'looked' up towards the summit of the mountain, and then I was metaphorically crushed with the sensations of waves of power crashing into me. It overwhelmed my senses, and I was in the gardens!
This led to the third thing I noticed: I was suddenly at the summit, when a second ago, I was in the gardens.
Granted, I did want to investigate. But this was a bit quick, especially for me, as I am a huge set of armor. I don't tend to do 'fast'. 'Clomping' is about the limit of my unaugmented speed.
I immediately came to the conclusion that I was not to blame for my sudden space/time shift.
For hovering above what used to be the summit was a flickering image of a boulder with a single blue eye set into it.
I had encountered this particular wiseass before. Granted, in another dimension. But we'd met.
Ah, the Wise One. I do believe I gave you my opinion of you last time we met.
It blinked at me before replying. Indeed you did. But I came to the conclusion that I'm the Wise One and still have a duty to fulfill.
I growled at him. And this is part of it? Detonating a mountaintop is part of your duty?
There was an eerie laugh then. Oh not just that. You see, ever since you were whole, I could feel your presence across dimensions, moreso when you used Psynergy. Once you obtained a set of Stars, I was drawn to your presence because of my duty. I failed to protect one world from the threat of Alchemy, I will not fail again.
I sighed. There aren't even any Lighthouses to unleash the power of the Stars! Why would you come here?
It blinked at me again. The magic of this land is strange. Who is to say they will not find a way? I cannot take any risks. I will come here and take, then guard the Stars. And then I will ensure that nobody will take them from me.
I gripped my sword tightly as it started to twitch. And how would you do that, O Great and Powerful Wiseass?
Simple, I will task Dullahan with guarding them.
There was silence for a few seconds while I processed this. Um. Pretty sure that's me.
A mocking, echoing laugh resonated across the mountain. No, it is not. You are the flames, the spirit, the filling, the boy taken before his time and forced to play a role, and you do so masterfully. But the armor itself, it remembers what it means to be Dullahan. It remembers power, strength, duty. That is the part I will make guard the Stars, and you will merely be along for the ride.
As I took the information in and started to prepare my rebuttal, I felt something shift inside me again.
I bow not to you, Wise One. Nor will I ever. The boy has taught me much about right and wrong, when to stay my blade, and when to use my strength. The only reason we are not one is because he shies away from slaying his foes directly. He believes every life is precious and should be saved.
My sword was drawn and pointing at the boulder.
Whereas I do not. He will never use Charon, never use Condemnation. He will never call on anything to harm his foes directly, he prefers to force them into acting 'right' according to his moral code. Anything with more than instincts is worthy of saving, if at all possible. I would slay all that dared think themselves monsters, that dare make the boy angry.
I could feel the Fulminous Strike charging up.
You are one such thing.
The Wise One laughed again. This is but a projection, an extension of my true self and strength, and even if it were not so, you would be no match for me. I took the summit, transformed it into Psynergy Stone, and blasted them across the land, all without being there! With even more of a signature to lock on to, I will be THERE...SOON.
The Strike activated, shredding the projection into mere whisps of color and light, before that too vanished.
Let that be a lesson to you: YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE, YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE!
As the projection vanished, I felt that something inside me shift again, and this time, I managed to get a lock on it. I immediately dubbed it 'The Switch' and filed the information away for later.
So...we good? I'm back in control this time?
There was silence for a moment before I got a response.
Indeed you are, boy. A question: would you mind terribly if I violated your code regarding the Wise One, should he ever actually manage to come here?
Mind? Hell, I'd aid in the charging up of Charon!
There was a deep, echoing sense of laughter in my mind. It is good to see you know when the line must be drawn, boy, and when it must be crossed.
So, uh, how do we make the distinction here? I'm pretty sure you know that almost literally everyone on this earth knows ME as Dullahan, when that's clearly you.
I 'felt' the sensation of a shrugging set of shoulders as the spirit in the very armor responded. I care not that you have used my name as yours. I will rarely take control anyways, save for those instances when I think things NEED to die.
I then sighed as I realized something. There's an answer to our Wise One dilemma, but I don't like it.
Oh?
Yeah. Remove the Stars from ourself. Hide them away. It's not perfect, but if we're touching them, he can lock onto us easier. The problem is, doing so would make us weaker, and if anyone else were to find them...
I could sense, again, somehow, the spirit that I shared my relative coordinates in space-time with shaking its metaphorical head. Being weaker, we could handle. The possibility of anyone else getting their mitts on the Stars is too great, though. We shouldn't even consider it.
This time, I shrugged. Any delay of the Wise One's plans, no matter the price, would be a boon, considering I don't know how much progress the royal winged unicorns are making in sealing this world off.
I just had to say that, didn't I? I just had to open my goddamn 'mouth' and mention the sisters.
"Not much, I'm afraid, Dullahan."
I groaned and turned around, facing the sisters as they walked over the edge of the blast crater that had once been the summit of Mt. Canterlot.
Celly, Lulu. How wonderful to see you. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're gonna want to figure out a way to seal off this world from others VERY soon.
Celestia looked at the flames dancing out of my neck and cocked her head to one side in confusion. "And why is that?"
A pretty powerful entity from another world is on your doorstep, picking the lock. You do NOT want to let him in. He did THIS just to bash at the door. He'll do worse if he gets in, as he considers himself and his supposed mission above all other concerns.
The sisters exchanged a glance, and then Luna spoke up. "Tis mine magic and knowledge that are more suited to such a thing, Dullahan, but I have been out of touch with advances in magic for some time. I am getting caught up, but it would take years before I could come up with a spell that would seal us off."
I sighed. Far too much time. We need a shortcut, something that'll work sooner, and we need it yesterday.
Celly and Lulu gulped and exchanged a look before her royal sunness spoke up again. "I have had a thought, Dullahan, but I am uncertain as to if you would like it."
I waved a hand at her. Any thought is better than none. Hit me, Celly.
Lulu blinked at the turn of phrase while her sister plowed on. "I have tasked my student with studying about other worlds and how to access, then seal us off from them. However, our knowledge about them is limited. If you know more than us-"
All but guaranteed, I interjected.
"-Then I would ask you something. I would ask you to teach her what you know."
There was silence for a minute. No, literally. I counted.
Rage combated Duty inside my head. A want to see these placid, blind horses pay for what they'd done warred with protecting this world from the Wise One and his machinations.
Duty won. The last time the Wise One had followed his sense of duty, an entire world was put on the line, and children were forced to fight their own parents. We didn't need that here.
If. IF. I agree to do this. She cannot come to Newvale. And I cannot come to Ponyville. So we would need a neutral ground. As well, the knowledge is not to be undertaken lightly. It nearly broke ME when I discovered it. Is the world worth her sanity, Celestia?
She looked shocked for a moment, as though I'd struck her. "I...I love all my ponies, every life. If this entity is as powerful as you say, then we all need to be protected. Yet to possibly sacrifice Twilight's sanity...I...I cannot make that decision now, Dullahan. Nor do I think I ever could. The two weights are too great, they counter each other perfectly."
I scoffed and turned to Luna then. There was a phrase where I'm from. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. I'd agonize over it too, make no mistake. But you do not want this guy getting in. Believe me. I'm not sure he can be bested. The only reason I know he's not a god is because he was made. Gods simply are. So yes, in theory, he can be bested in combat. I've yet to determine how that would work, though.
Celly shook her head again, and Luna held up a hoof. "Sister, in the meantime, I shall strive to teach her all I remember. Tis not much because of my exile..."
I would have tilted my head at that. Wait, exile? What happened? I thought you two were the best of sisters.
Luna looked askance for a moment. "Five hundred years after your imprisonment, I did desire to MAKE ponies enjoy the night, and refused to lower the moon. I transformed to Nightmare Moon, and it was only recently when I was released and redeemed, cleansed of the influence upon mine mind."
Influence? What could make you-
And then it clicked in my mind.
Oh no. You didn't. PLEASE tell me you didn't.
Luna merely nodded her head, and I brought my hand up for a facepalm before remembering there was no face to palm.
Lulu, you should have KNOWN better! Though it does explain a few things. Like how you know anything about alternate dimensions. Or why you weren't effected back when I broke free. When Dissy touched the darn thing, he became what he is today! I reserve touching ponies with the sword for they that deserve it!
Lulu nodded again. "I was not about to fall into madness a second time. The moment I saw your sword missing, I put a small barrier around myself to prevent direct physical contact with objects."
I actually nodded at her then. Good on you.
Then I turned to Sunbutt. Well. If you want to change your mind, you know where to send a message. I really wouldn't advise you or your closest servants to advertise their connection to you when they come over. There is no love for the thrones in Newvale.
I called for a Djinn, and a Jupiter one answered my summons. Tell mine to begin to evac. Ensure the Bearers are left alone, they're all this country has to defend itself, and we'd not take that from them. We're many things, but we're not animals. I will meet them back at Newvale.
As the Djinn nodded and flew back down the mountain, I charged up my Teleport and vanished.
-----
(A little while later)
I sat in my Penumbra Sanctum, thinking to myself.
It was mostly a large cave with a row of pillars set down the middle, one pair every ten feet, with them being set ten feet apart.. What with the whole thing being fifteen feet wide by eighty long and ten high, it was an impressive cave. A picture was carved into the middle of the floor to signify the elements and myself. Upon each pillar, a shelf jutted out, facing inwards. The Cloak stone rested on one of the shelves, as well as the few other unaligned psynergies I had time to imbue into stones. Behind my little stone seat rested the Tablets that I had imbued all those years ago, resting on the back wall.
I was not happy with my situation.
I had essentially told Celly that she needed to hurry up and lock the door.
Which would lock me in, regardless. Even if she could change my form back to normal, find the point in space/time in my own world where I came from. I would be locked in.
But the risk of the Wise One was too great.
The needs of the world outweighed the needs of myself.
I was in a decidedly sulky mood, with only the spirit of Dullahan to keep me company, when Silver Cross came in.
"Sire! There is news! The Crystal Empire has returned!"
Thoughts ran through my mind at blinding speeds before I came to a conclusion, one that both halves of me agreed on.
Saddle up! We're going to see about keeping the damn thing HERE this time!
