//------------------------------// // Chapter 13. Turnabout Triumph // Story: Resuscitatio Artium Magicarum // by Xomniac //------------------------------// “TWILIGHT! WAIT UP!” Spike panted as he chased after his big sister figure. ‘Geeze, what’s gotten into her!? One second I’m helping Rarity at her booth, the next she tears by like a bat out of-! Ergh, I’ve got to think of a better word for that.’ Finally, to Spike’s relief, Twilight slowed down, going from a gallop to a trot to a stop. Spike panted as he bent over, leaning on his knees as he gasped for air. “Thanks... so... what’s wrong?” The unicorn turned her head and Spike flinched. Twilight’s eyes were all but dripping tears but she had that fake, nearly insane smile on her face that she usually only had when Princess Celestia was about to make a visit. It always precluded a full day of twitchiness and hair-trigger reshelving. The canned laugh she made as if trying to be casual was equally saddening, and disturbing as Spike prodded, “Twilight?” “Oh, it’s nothing Spike! Absolutely nothing! Cadance just played a prank on me and I took it the wrong way! Hehaha, don’t worry about a thing, everything is going to be just fine!” Spike winced at how hollow those last few words were. Something was seriously wrong and he wasn’t about to let Twilight bottle it up. “Twilight, it’s me, your Number One Assistant! You know I’m always going to be here for you!” Walking up to her, Spike gave her leg a fierce hug, “Come on Twi, you’ve always helped me with my problems. So what’s so bad that you don’t want to let me help?” Twilight choked a sob, visibly shuddering as the tried to calm herself, “I...okay, if...if you really want to know, but not here, let’s go somewhere less public.” Turning, the unicorn started to lead the baby dragon out of the main festivities. Privacy was found in a food tent off the main thoroughfare, largely empty so the pair could find a table away from the prying eyes and ears of the public. Holding a drink, Spike watched Twilight as she cradled a crystal apple, “To hear the Crystal Ponies tell it, those things explode unless you pull out the stem and soak it for a few days.” Twilight nodded as she took a bite, before she giggled weakly, “Don’t tell Applejack, but this is nearly as good as her apples.” She giggled again and Spike joined her. “Maybe she’ll bring some back?” He said, tentatively trying to break the ice before his expression became serious, “Okay Twilight, we’re somewhere private. Spill.” Twilight was silent for a second staring at him before sighing despondently, “Okay, I’ll tell you. I was talking with Cadance, about the Crystal Heart. Scholar... interrupted us. He... he told us that if we found the real heart... used it... then he and Iron Will and Gilda and Trixie would... would die...” Spike gasped in shock. “T-that’s horrible!” Twilight shook her head, tears brimming at her eyes. “No... the horrible part is that Cadance knew. She knew and she was willing to let them... let... them...” She hiccuped miserably. Spike gaped in shock. “W-what!? Cadance. Our Cadance said that?! But that’s-!” “Insane. I know,” Twilight nodded somberly. “But... the fact of the matter was... that she wasn’t actually our Cadance...” “Uhh...” The young dragon blinked in confusion. “Run that one by me again?” Twilight scrunched her eyes shut as she recounted what had occurred. -Ten Minutes Ago- “Cadance...” Shining Armor whispered as he rubbed her back gently. “Please... tell me... tell us what’s going on...” “Cadance, we’re here for you,” Twilight prompted. “Let us help.” The Alicorn princess sniffed as she wiped her hoof over her eyes, trying to do away with the tears. “I... alright...” Cadance shakily got to her hooves and walked over to the banister, staring out over Vitrum. “I... I’ve watched the Crystal Empire grow... ever since Concordia fell. If Scholar reclaims it... if Scholar gets back into power... then everything that I’ve worked for... the peace that me and Celestia and Luna have worked for... it will be gone.” “But Cadance,” Twilight protested, placing her hoof on her sister-in-law’s shoulder. “Why would it mean the end!? Why can’t there just be peace, and happiness like always!?” Cadance bowed her head sadly. “Think about it, Twilight. When we sealed Concordia, dozens of species were imprisoned. And, well...” Cadance groaned as she kneaded her forehead with her hooves. “There’s... there’s just no way to say this without sounding horrible. Ugh, the entire situation is horrible! I know, I’ve been running over it every day for the past millennia... “But the fact is that there isn’t a way out. If we unseal Concordia, they will never forgive us. They’ll bring the wrath of the greatest empire to ever exist down on us for our mistake. And Equestria... my god, you can’t even imagine... Twilight, I know you’re smart, so here’s a small economics question: what happens when you introduce several dozen species, all with their own cultures and needs to the global socio-political stage?” Shining Armor swallowed heavily as Twilight paled, her pupils dilating and ears flattening. “Sis, what’s wrong?” The lavender unicorn swallowed heavily. “C-complete global economic collapse...” Her brother’s jaw dropped in shock. “W-what!?” Cadance nodded sadly. “It’s true. All those different economies, all those individuals and their needs... the world isn’t prepared to deal with them. And where will they live? Even if we set up cities like Cloudsdale and such, there simply isn’t enough land for them all. They need to stay sealed. At the least, this way they’re still alive.” “But... Cadance...” Shining Armor pleaded. “How can you just, just condemn Scholar and his followers!? How can you sentence them to death so casually!?” Cadance sighed, turning her head away from him. “Because that’s what we had to do back then. Concordia was generally peaceful, yes, but it was a nigh-unending battle to keep it such. Sure, there were physical wars, but underneath them were the political chess games that we had no choice but to play. Politicians, aristocrats, military officers, whether it was because they were ambitious, greedy, or just truly believed their cause was just, they faced us in unspoken wars. We the Oligarchs might have been at the top of government, but we were never able to avoid battling them. And in those battles, we made choices. Necessary choices. Terrible, terrible choices, but necessary. The needs of the many or the needs of the few? The most basic choice of all.” “But you...” Twilight swallowed heavily. “You sounded so... so cold.” The pink Alicorn’s mood soured further as she growled. “The Dark Love. A mask I used in the political arena. I used it to act calm no  matter what I had to do. I got the name because of how there were no limits to what I was willing to do for those I cared for. It’s the only way I was able to handle doing what we did to Concordia. Once it was all over and done with, I buried it, I didn’t want to deal with it ever again. I left Canterlot because I just... just couldn’t deal with what we did, and staying with Celestia and Luna reminded me of it. I secluded myself, and when Sombra did what he did, I wandered.” She turned her head and gave Shining Armor a heart-warming smile. “Then I met you, Shiny. I was ready to just, settle down, put the past behind me...” Her smile died suddenly. “But dealing with Scholar has been chipping away at my nerves. She just... just keeps coming back out. So long as there is any reminder of Concordia remaining, I fear it will never be gone. That’s why I have to do this. And if I am going to do it...” She looked at Twilight. “Then I’m going to need your help, Twilight.” Twilight flinched in shock. “W-what!? Why-?” “Because...” Cadance lamented. “You’re the only one who can. I’m too busy concentrating on keeping up the shields, and Shiny-” “Is too weak to do anything...” The Captain of the Guard stated sadly. “Shiny, no!” Cadance protested, whipping around hastily. “Shining Armor, I promise, you are strong, and you aren’t useless. Both you and Twilight are two of the strongest unicorns I’ve seen in centuries. You could even give some of the people back in Concordia a run for their money. “But the fact remains... for the past few weeks, you haven’t been dealing with Concordians, or even disciples from the Academia. You’ve been dealing with Oligarchs. We kept ourselves on a whole different level. People like Scholar and...” She shivered violently. “Chrysalis... you simply don’t have the experience, the power... none of it. You can’t begin to compare. “But you can be useful. Scholar might be incapacitated, but that minotaur of his, Iron Will... who knows what he might do. I need you here with me.” She laid her hoof on Shining Armor’s shoulder. “Please Shiny... I can’t do this without you,” She looked at Twilight mournfully. “Both of you.” The siblings glanced at each other for a second, before nodding resolutely, all doubts banished from their minds. Cadance grinned sadly. “Thank you... the both of you. Twilight, I’m sorry to ask you this, so sorry,  but at this point, we’re out of options. Here’s what I need you to do...” -Present- Spike gaped openly at her. “She wants you to find the Crystal Heart!?” Twilight nodded somberly. “Uh-huh. Shining Armor doesn’t have his magic, Cadance needs to keep the shields up, and the others are keeping the fair running. T-there’s no one else. If I get the Heart, Equestria will be safe, the Crystal Empire will be free, and...” She swallowed heavily. “I... I’ll pass Celestia’s test...” Spike snarled furiously, slamming his fist on the table. “Forget the damn test, Twilight! This isn’t about Celestia! It’s about you! It’s about what you think you have to do!” “That’s where you’re wrong Spike!” Twilight rebutted. “This has everything to do with Celestia!” The dragon threw his arms wide in frustration. “How!? How does this have anything to do with her!?” “Because all my life she’s all I’ve ever had!” Twilight screamed miserably. Spike blinked in shock. “Wha...?” Twilight sobbed as she buried her head in her forelegs. “All my life...” She ground out. “All my life, I’ve looked up to Princess Celestia. All of my life I’ve heard her preach peace and harmony and friendship... and now what? It’s all a lie? Sure, I have I have you and my parents and my friends... but all my life, Celestia has been my whole world... Now... without her... with everything a lie... what am I supposed to do?” Spike stared at her solemnly before standing up, walking around to her, and clasping her hoof. “Twilight, listen to me. No matter what, no matter what happens, or what anyone says or anyone thinks... I’m more than your number one assistant. I’m your family. If you need something to cling to, anything to cling to, then cling to me.I love you Twilight, and that will never change. I promise.” Twilight stared at him in shock for a second before smiling sadly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she enveloped him in a hug. “Thank you, Spike. Thank you so much...” Spike returned the hug eagerly. “Not a problem, Twi,” he pulled back, gazing at her worriedly. “So... what are you going to do now?” Twilight, bit her lip hesitantly, darting her eyes around before furrowing her brow, a blazing determination entering her eyes. “I’m going to find the Crystal Heart. But I’m not doing it for Celestia, or for Luna, or even Cadance. I’m doing this for my friends. I’m doing this for Equestria and all the ponies who live in it. This falls on me, and me alone.” Spike gave her a hesitant look before voiding his face of emotion and nodding resolutely. “I’m with you, Twilight,” He scrambled onto her back, giving her a reassuring smile. “All the way. Heck,” he tucked his hands beneath his armpits. “I won’t even lift a claw to help.” Twilight smiled gratefully before frowning and turning to glare at a darkened corner of the food tent. “So,” she stated darkly. “Anything you want to add, Scholar?” Spike gasped in shock as the Rune Keeper stepped out of the shadows. He stared at her morosely, his expression unreadable beneath his hood. “I’ve heard that tone a thousand times before,” he stated solemnly. “Is there anything I could say to stop you?” Twilight shook her head without hesitation. “Not a chance. I’m sorry.” Scholar shrugged. “Then that’s all there is to it.” Twilight nodded in acceptance before turning and galloping towards the palace. As she ran off, Spike spared Scholar a single, final glance. Scholar stared after them before bowing his head and turning away. “Semel iterum, alea jacta est,” he muttered. “Rursus et rursus, alea jacta est.” -o- Gilda gasped for breath, her chest heaving as she knelt on the ground. She’d long ago emptied her stomach. ‘This is ridiculous...’ She mentally groaned, dragging her head up to stare at the wooden construct that seemed to tower over her, almost mocking in how it was unchanged. ‘How the hell am I being bested by a door!? Admittedly, a very sadistic door, but it’s the thought that counts...’ The griffon groaned as she clawed her way up the door. “Alright,” She snarled through her teeth. “Let’s go, you damn dirty door. Round Thirty-eight.” She grasped the doorknob in her claw... ...but instantly let it go when a black crystal came within inches of braining her. ‘Shit!’ She mentally screamed as voices began to echo down the stairwell. ‘I’m out of time!’ She jabbed her talon at the door. “I’m not done with you yet,” she whispered venomously before flapping her wings and zipping to hide beneath the winding staircase. Not a moment too soon, either. It was mere moments later that Princess Celestia’s protege came tumbling down the stairs. As tired as she was, Gilda was barely able to keep herself from laughing as the unicorn chased the door around the stairwell. Her amusement cut off when Twilight snarled furiously and blasted the door with black magic. ‘Damn, she’s stronger than I thought...’ Gilda mused. Twilight smiled euphorically as she trotted towards the bright light emanating from the doorway. “Spike!” She called out. “I think it’s here!” ‘Yeah,’ the would-be Stormknight snorted to herself. ‘But fat chance getting to it. And in three, two, one...’ As predicted, the unicorn froze in her tracks and fell on her rear, staring at the stone wall as her eyes were flooded with dark magic. “And presto, like clockwork,” Gilda muttered as she let go of the stairs and landed behind the pony. She stared at the terrified equine, savoring her horrified expression before grinning sadistically. “No princess to save you now, bitch...” the griffon chuckled darkly as she slowly lifted her talons. But before she could strike, a new voice rang out, frantically calling down the stairs. “Twilight! Twilight!” Gilda growled in annoyance and darted back into the shadows, out of sight. She watched angrily as the juvenile dragon darted down the stairs. To her shock and envy, the dragon’s voice appeared to snap Twilight out of her trance, dispelling the magic. Spike panted as he reached the bottom of the stairs. “I know you told me to stay up there,” he rambled quickly as Twilight tried to regain her bearings, “But you were down here for such a long time and you weren't answering and I got worried so I came down here and you were just staring at that wall and... I was calling your name, but I couldn't seem to get your attention, and–” He cut off as he glanced at where she’d been staring. “What were you looking at? I mean...” He glanced into the doorway, unknowingly setting off the enchantment hidden within. “It’s just a wall...” Gilda winced in sympathy as the drake’s eyes were filled with magic. Enemies they might be, but that door was one fate she would wish on very few. Spike blinked in confusion as Twilight looked on worriedly. “...Ponyville?!” He mumbled in confusion, his expression slowly morphing into one of panic. “Well, how did I get... No! I don't wanna go! Please, Twilight, don't make me!” The unicorn hurriedly slammed the door shut as the dragon was about to burst into hysterics. “King Sombra’s dark magic,” Twilight stated solemnly. “A doorway that leads to your worst fear.” ‘And you only saw the tip of the iceberg, Sparkle-butt,’ Gilda thought sourly. “We were home,” Spike whimpered sadly. “You told me you didn't need me anymore. You were sending me away...” “A fear that will never come to pass,” Twilight reassured as she pulled the dragon into a hug “I'm never gonna send you away...” Her face filled with newfound confidence as her horn lit up with magic. “And I'm not gonna fail my test!” And with that statement, she fired a stream of pure energy into the door’s crystal. Gilda stared in shock as rainbow lights flooded the room. She was floored by a wash of emotions as the door swung open properly. Rage, confusion... and most importantly, shame. ‘Light magic...’ She thought numbly. ‘All it took was light magic... and instead I just kept ramming my head into that damn door...’  When she finally regained her wits, the door had slammed shut behind the triumphant duo. Snarling predatorily, she blasted a bolt of lightning at the crystal, darted to the door, kicked it inwards... And promptly pulled the door shut again, slamming her back against the wood as several black crystal spears protruded from the portal, nearly skewering her alive. “Oh yeah,” Gilda muttered to herself through her shellshock. “Sombra was one of the smart ponies. Makes sense he would make sure anybody following him wouldn’t get far...” Gilda peeled herself off the wood and clasped her talons together nervously. “Alright Gilda, let’s think, what the hell DO I DO!?!” She screamed as panic overtook her senses, the stairwell flooding with lightning as she was reduced to a nigh hysterical mess. -o- Iron Will growled under his breath as he stared out the castle’s window. Vitrum was reaching critical levels of unrest. Before his eyes, building after building was encroached upon by dark magic, the horizon flickered like a dying torch, and the crystal ponies were second away from panicking, despite the best efforts of the Elements. The minotaur snorted furiously as he turned away stomping along the castle’s corridors as he searched for his destination. He knew that sooner or later, something was going to give, and when it did, he was going to be ready. “Come on...” Iron Will muttered under his breath. “Hurry up...” -o- Twilight grinned enthusiastically as she approached the dais. There, floating above her, was the Crystal Heart. ‘Yes...’ She thought joyously. ‘So close... I’m so close...’ She set a hoof on the dais. And then all hell broke loose. WOOP! WOOP! Twilight flinched in shock as the floor was covered in shadows. Acting fast, Twilight jumped for the Crystal Heart, but before she could reach it, jagged spires of obsidian thrust out of the ground, cracking it as they emerged, and engulfing the tower in shadows. Twilight stared in horror as the Crystal Heart clattered to the ground outside of the crystalline barrier, Sombra’s evil laugh echoing around her. -o- Scholar was moving around in the faire when he came to a sudden halt. Slowly, he turned around and stared up at the tallest tower of the Crystal Empire. “There you are...” He breathed. -o- Trixie’s eyes snapped open as she scrambled to her hooves, her head orienting itself in the direction she knew the castle, and more importantly the Heart, was. “No!” Trixie gasped in horror. She quickly flung the apartment door open and galloped out. “This is not where it ends!” -o- Iron Will slid to a sudden halt, craning his head head back to stare at the ceiling. “The Heart!” He growled. Iron Will snorted furiously before taking off again at a breakneck pace. “Hurry...” He pleaded under his breath. “Hurry damn it!” -o- Gilda froze, all of her magic cutting off as she came back to her wits. With speeds only available to a predator, she snapped her eyes up and out of the hole she was in. “It was in the tower!” She snarled to herself. “Damn it, another subliminal barrier! Need to get there, I won’t lose,” Gilda clenched her beak in abject fury as she flared her wings, black lightning engulfing her being. “DO YOU HEAR ME!?” She screeched to the heavens as she flapped her wings, taking off and circling around and round up the stairs so as to avoid the wards still in the shaft proper. “WE WON’T LOSE!” -o- Twilight panted worriedly as she looked around. “The Heart! Where’s the Crystal-!” “Here!” Twilight snapped her head towards Spike’s voice as it circumvented the barrier. “It rolled over here when you dropped it!” The drake called out as he kept on his toes, doing whatever he could to keep from touching the evil crystals that were sprouting from the ground. Twilight caught sight of him through a crack in the walls. “Don’t move!” Spike swallowed heavily as more obsidian daggers erupted near his feet. “That’s not really an option, Twilight!” “You can move!” She amended, “Just not towards me!” Spike staggered back from the crystals, putting himself right next to the Heart. There was a flash of lavender light as Twilight teleported out of her confines, followed by a burst of black lightning returning her to her prison and slamming her into the walls. Twilight groaned as she rubbed her throbbing horn. “How could I have been so foolish!?” She lamented as she shoved her hooves against the wall. “I was just so eager to get it! It was like there was a voice egging me on! And when I saw what was going on outside... to everyone...” “You have to get out of there, Twilight!” Spike shouted desperately. “How else are we going to get out of here!?” Twilight whimpered as she looked out through a hole in her cell and watched as dark shadows swallowed building after building. “King Sombra is already attacking the Empire. He could reach the Crystal Ponies at any moment... reach Princess Cadance, my brother, my friends. There may not be enough time for me to find a way to escape!” Twilight darted her eyes left in right as she thought furiously. “But I have to be the one to get the Heart to Cadance! It’s my responsibility!” She redoubled her efforts at pushing at the walls, flinching as Scholar, Gilda, Trixie and Iron WIll materialized in her mind’s eye. “It’s my burden...” Spike bit his lip as he danced around the black spikes. Suddenly, his gaze fell on the Crystal Heart, lying helpless on the floor. It only took him an instant to reach a decision. “That’s where you’re wrong, Twilight,” he called out. “Spike?” “It’s not your burden anymore.” “What are you-” The unicorn gasped in shock as she caught sight of her number one assistant. Spike was standing on the edge of the tower, the Heart clutched tightly in his claws. “It’s mine.” “Spike, no! You can’t do this! I-!” Twilight lit her horn up as she tried to grab him. “I won’t let you be responsible for this!” “The feeling is mutual!” He shouted as he jumped just out of her range. “SPIKE!” Twilight screamed. That was all she was able to say before the entire tower was engulfed in a forest of obsidian. -o- Cadance gasped in pain as the last of her magic left her, sputtering out pathetically. She was forced to watch in horror as the blue horizon she had set up collapsed, giving way to a nightmarish burnt orange. Suddenly, she shuddered in fear as a dark, booming voice echoed across Vitrum. “My crystal slavesss...” ‘Bastard...’ Cadance thought through the pain. ‘If only... I had a bit more power... I will never... let you touch... my ponies...’ She grit her teeth as a booming laugh reverberated throughout the land. ‘Never... again...’ -o- Spike grunted as he clambered down the crystal parapets, instinctively shooting off bursts of green fire at emerging obsidian as he went. “Once... this... is over...” He grunted to himself, barely dodging a fate as a draconic shishkebab. “I’m getting a raise! Or, at the least, a salary! Dental! EEP!” He swallowed heavily as he nearly fell backwards off an edge. “Health insurance...” Chancing a glance downwards, Spike was thankfully rewarded with the sight of multiple ponies standing around on a balcony. “HEY!” He cried. He waved the Crystal Heart about giddily. “I have the Crystal Heart right here!” Suddenly, an infuriated roar shook the area. “THAT IS MINE!” Spike swallowed heavily as he began to dash down the winding crystal growth. “Not to self, don’t gloat until after the villain is go-WARGH!” He was driven out of his thoughts when a new set of shaking sent him completely off his feet and over the edge. To the dragon’s immense horror, the Crystal Heart flew out of his grasp during the commotion, plummeting directly below him. Spike paled in fear as he caught sight of where he was heading. Growing from the ground was a spire of black crystal, and standing proud upon the very top of the spire was Sombra, leering victoriously, as the Crystal Heart fell ever closer to his clutches, his fangs bared in a twisted grin of victory. ‘Nononono!’ Spike thought numbly as he grasped for the artifact. ‘It can’t end like this, it can’t!’ Suddenly, everything seemed to slow down, seconds elongating to eternities. Spike’s heartbeat pounded in his ears. Spike became aware of a crucial fact that had suddenly introduced itself: Princess Cadance, flying faster than Spike thought possible, mere inches away from the Heart, positioned to catch both it and him. Her grin was euphoric, filled with glee and hope and victory. Spike could only stare as joy blossomed within his chest. ‘We won...’ Then, out of nowhere, everything changed. “OBJECTION!” A black crystal shot from the direction of the ground, impacting with the Crystal Heart and sending the Crystal Heart flying high into the sky. Cadance was forced to come to a dead stop, flapping her wings furiously as she tried to stay aloft when Spike impacted with her back. The Alicorn stared in horror as her only hope was flung away. “How...” She breathed. Cadance snapped her head towards the ground, scanning the ground until she found... The princess’s breath hitched violently. “No...” -o- Scholar smirked as he met Cadance’s fearful eyes. “My turn, bitch.” His crystal-encased arm was pointed towards the sky, and it had changed drastically. Instead of a simple pillar, the crystals formed a cannon, runes running up and down the entire length and smoke flowing freely out of the barrel. “This, right here, right now, is our turnabout triumph.” -o- Cadance’s breathing became ragged as her magical exhaustion took ahold of her once anew. “We’ve been had....” She panted. Spike glanced at her in confusion. “What do you mean!?” “We’ll tell you what it means!” The two snapped their attention back towards the maliciously grinning Sombra. Or at least, the being that appeared to be Sombra. CRACK! All of a sudden, the dark unicorn shattered like glass, cracks spider-webbing across his entire being, before exploding in a shower of light and fragments. And what was left behind... “We played you all for chumps!!” Nix and Null chorused gleefully. “You...” Cadance seethed. “Us!” Nix squealed. “THEM!” Spike yelped. “Hi!” Null waved. It was the Golem Twins, blatantly floating before Cadance and Spike in all their unmasked glory. Nix was holding open the Lexicon De Arcana, and Null was grasping a huge black-and-red crystal war horn. “Hello Cadance!” Nix greeted as she snapped her hand out and snatched Spike off Cadance’s back by the nape of his neck. “And goodbye Cadance!” Null gloated. He feigned drawing a huge breath, brought the horn to where his lips would be, and pretended to blow. BUUUUUWOOOOOOH! Cadance was blasted by a veritable barrage of sound and magic, sending her flying back to the balcony from which she’d been flung. “CADANCE!” Spike shouted in panic. “Don’t worry!” Nix reassured. “She’s tough, she’ll live!” Her brother reassured. “But why didn’t you just blast me?” Spike demanded. The twins glanced at each other before shrugging. “You’re a dragon, not a pony!” “In our opinion, you’re neutral!” “Oh,” Spike blinked in shock. “Okay then... still, they’re my friends, I want to be with them. Can you get me down there?” “Oh... sorry...” “If that’s what you want.” “Thanks you- wait, what are you-!? Don’t kick the dragon! DON’T KICK THE GODDAMN-!” “FORE!” SLAM! “YEAAAAAAAARGH!” “Oooh, nice topspin!” “Myeah. Hey Nix.” “Yeah Null?” “Do you think that joke will ever get old?” “Mmmm... naaaaah!” -o- Rainbow scowled as she watched the Crystal Heart reach the apex of it’s arc. “Those damn traitors!” She snarled as she flared her wings. “O-oh dear!” Fluttershy stuttered as she hid behind her mane, silently cursing the fact that she was stone-cold sober. “R-rainbow Dash, what are you-?” “I’m getting that Heart!” “WAIT!” Shining Armor shouted. “Cadance! Get Cadance!” The pegasus widened her eyes before flapping her wings and intercepting the Alicorn before she could impact the walls. She wheeled around and handed the unconscious mare to her husband. Meanwhile, Rarity managed to just catch Spike with her magic. The dragon sighed in relief. “Thanks, Rarity.” “Not a problem, Spikey-Wikey!” Spike gave her a grin before scowling at Shining Armor. “Hey, what am I, chopped daisies!?” Shining Armor ignored him, cradled his wife’s head desperately. “Cadance, Cadance, open your eyes, please!” Cadance cracked an eyelid open staring at him listlessly for a second before her eyelids widened even further. “Shiny...” Shining Armor chuckled in relief. “Cadance, thank Celestia! Don’t speak...” “Shiny...” She groaned. “Behind you...” A sudden dark chuckling caused the ponies to whip their heads towards the balconies entrance. Iron Will towered above them, his lips set in a triumphant smirk. “Iron Will found the armory,” he said darkly. “And look at what he got.” The minotaur swung his arm around, displaying a huge bronze war club, almost seven feet long, two feet thick, and octagonal in shape. It’s entire length was studded with iron studs. “The impressive thing,” Iron Will continued. “About this piece is that it’s made to support earth magic,” his grin became sadistic. “Let’s test it out, shall we?” Before any of the ponies could react, Iron Will slammed his club into the floor. An explosive crash racked the balcony, cracks spider-webbing across the entire thing. Fluttershy shivered violently as she met Iron Will’s eyes. “Please...” She whimpered. Iron Will’s only response was to give her a final salute before slamming his hoof into the emaciated balcony. CRASH! The entire thing fell, sending the ponies tumbling towards the ground. Luckily, Fluttershy regained her wits and was able to help Rainbow Dash lower all her friends to the ground, along with several crystal pegasi that took the initiative and helped them. Shining Armor panted as he clutched his wife tightly. “Everybody alright?” The Elements all gave groans of acknowledgement. “I have an idea...” Spike mumbled. “Let’s not do that again...” SLAM! The ponies snapped around as Iron Will slammed into the ground, cracking the crystal beneath him. “That’s unfortunate,” he rumbled. “It would have been so much easier if someone had at least broken their legs.” Applejack bared her teeth as she took a steady stance. “Dash, get a move on and get the Heart, Ah’ll hold this varmint off!” Rainbow Dash nodded, crouched for take-off... And yelped as she whipped her hooves to her eyes. “GAGH!? WHAT THE TARTARUS!?” “That would be our doing!” Rarity groaned. “Oh dear, I suppose this was to be expected...” “Indeed!” There was a large explosion of fireworks and light as a pony stood on her hind-legs, her forehooves spread wide. “For what is an absolute victory without THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!?” “Buck your ‘Great and Powerful!’” Rainbow Dash snarled, rubbing furiously at her eyes. “What did you do to me!?” Trixie sighed as she fell back on her hooves. “Philistine. The Luminescent and Prodigious Trixie merely used her illusions to hamper your sense of sight. The untrained mind often has a hard time coping with viewing non-euclidean shapes, so it can be a tad disconcerting.” “After all,” the crowd of Crystal Ponies parted, letting Scholar walk through, his crystal arm slung around his neck. “We can’t have you interfering with our last operative.” “Traitor!” Shining Armor yelled, making to gallop at the human. He was halted by a massive blade appearing directly beneath his chin. “Sit your five-bit ass down,” Null growled, “Before I make change.” Shining Armor bored holes through him before reluctantly acquiescing. “Good pony!” Nix cooed as she petted his mane condescendingly. “So,” Applejack demanded as she eyed the golems warily, “Who’s this ‘last operative’ of yers?” All of a sudden, there was an explosion as a streak of black lightning erupted from the castle, shooting through the sky towards where the Crystal Heart was falling. “I retract the question,” Applejack muttered bitterly. Scholar smirked and held up three fingers, counting down. “Three, two, one...” “SCREEEEEE!” An ear-shattering screech sounded out, sweeping across Vitrum. Scholar smirked triumphantly as the black lightning started on it’s way back. The rest of his comrades made their ways towards him, standing at his side. Once the streak returned, the lightning dispersed, revealing Gilda’s smirking form hovering above her superior, the Crystal Heart clutched in her talons. She then proceeded to drop it before falling to the ground. Scholar snapped his crystal-encased arm up, pointing it straight towards the Heart. There was a flash of light and runes and then the crystals shifted and moved, flowing up and off of Scholar’s arm until they encapsulated the Heart, locking it in a cage of crystals and runes. Scholar’s smirk became truly triumphant, as he moved the cage in front of his body, staring predatorily at the heart. “Checkmate.”