//------------------------------// // Chapter 9, Eschate Zumulus // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 2 -- Homecoming // by shysage //------------------------------// The group was up early, this was an important day. Everypony deeply wanted Princess Twilight back... They left early, not even eating anything. They thanked Dawn and were on their way. Even so, Summer told Dawn they expected to be back later with their Princess. The Fluttershy's led the way through the Everfree, the same path they had come out on the other day. They stopped briefly as Fluttershy called her cats and then BOTH Fluttershys fussed over all three of them for a few minutes. They were quickly again on the way to Zecora's hut, to Princess Twilight. They would be there soon. Princess Twilight had been up all night crying. What good was living when you couldn't have any visitors. That morning, Princess Twilight realized that this specific punishment was exactly Eschate Zumulus' doom for the remaining Princess of Equestria. Life held nothing any longer. She had nothing left. A thousand years of doom was still doom. She walked out of Zecora's hut, and headed for a place soon to be called Dethwell, a small clearing deeper into the Everfree Forest. It wasn't very far. Twilight walked to the middle of the clearing, and stood there motionless, thinking. She realized that if she carried through, there would be no turning back. She just felt so emptied... ...so... ...doomed... She didn't scream these words, she just shouted them. "Justice..." "Peace..." "Goodness..." ... ... She then said quietly... "Honesty..." "Laughter..." "Generosity..." "Loyalty..." "Kindness..." ... ... "Friendship..." ... ... And she could say no more. Princess Twilight began to cry... ... ... Princess Twilight remembered a day so far ago, that she read about again just the night before... She was trying to face a terrible monster... Alone... She remembered the pure joy at the approach of her five amazing friends... And she just then realized what she wanted... Princess Twilight wanted all her girls back... ... ... ... Then she suddenly felt the most amazing presence... Her Twin... Equestria Girls Twilight Sparkle was very close.... She wanted her Twin... She needed her Twin... ... ... ... ...But it was too late... ... ... ... Eschate Zumulus flew in and landed with a crash right in front of Princess Twilight. At four stories high, he had to look down substantially to even see Princess Twilight... He growled loudly "Who would dare to use the banished words in my realm..." ... ... Out of the forest, very close, at that exact instant, Twilight Sparkle and both Pinkie's screamed "PRINCESS TWILIGHT..." ... ... Princess Twilight turned to run towards the voice and screamed "SUMMER..." Eschate Zumulus simply batted Princess Twilight 30 feet to the side with one of his huge paws, gouging Princess Twilight's side deeply. Summer Rain, already in Phantom Alicorn form, flew into the clearing, only to watch Princess Twilight simply crumple over on the ground. Eschate Zumulus decided he was hungry, and lumbered over to eat this little pony. Another form landed quickly in his path. The Phantom Alicorn simply held out her right arm, held her fingers straight up and made a pushing motion with her palm. Eschate Zumulus tumbled backwards wildly, head over heels, for 150 feet. He got up and began to roar. Summer ran up to him and did it again. Eschate Zumulus again tumbled backwards again another 150 feet. Summer would not give Eschate Zumulus another chance to touch her precious Princess. Eschate Zumulus quickly stood up this time, and started casting some spell. Summer waved the back of her right hand at him, back-handing the full height of his body, knocking him over backwards to the ground. This interrupted his casting. Summer then made a gesture with her left hand, and quickly coated him with ice, locking him solid. Summer next coated him with fire, and his fur was soon burning all over. Eschate Zumulus roared out in pain. Summer formed her right hand into a cup shape, and quickly motioned a tight bowl shaped shield down over Eschate Zumulus, crushing his great girth tightly to the ground. Next she lifted the edge and threw in another fire-ball. The monster's flesh and bones were burning wildly. Summer threw in another. Eschate Zumulus couldn't scream, and couldn't move. Summer was angry now, this was taking way too long, she had to see to her Princess. Four more Fireballs were rapidly added under the shield, each separated by maybe 20 seconds. The seventh Fire-ball that she threw in quickly went out. Eschate Zumulus was no more. Summer formed her right hand into a fist, and punched Eschate Zumulus' remains some 20 feet into the ground. Summer then threw a fire-ball into the pit, and ran to her Princess. The cuts in Princess Twilight's side were deep, and bleeding fiercely. Rarity had used her magic to cut strips from her over-coat, and they were all taking turns trying to hold them over the three long gashes. Everypony was crying profusely, Princess Twilight was soaked with their tears. Summer was quickly bending over her sobbing... "Princess, we heard your cry, we are all here..." Summer said through her tears... It was all she could think of... Princess Twilight lifted her head and said feebly "Oh girls..." Her voice was higher that usual, she was in a lot of pain... She tried to continue... I realized that it was all of you I really wanted... I just realized it to la--" After a brief pause, she started to cry and said "I'm so sorry..." and she dropped her head into the grass and was silent. They were all weeping over her now, and Summer just joined them... "Princess, please don't leave us..." Summer said over and over through her tears... Summer's tears were dripping rapidly onto Princess Twilight, quickly rolling into one of the cuts in her side... ... ... ... The twelfth tear... ... ... .... From the twelfth true friend... ... ... ... Friendship is magic... ... ... ... Twelve ponies watched in amazement... ... ... ... In half a minute, the cuts on Princess Twilight's side rapidly healed, and were soon gone, and they simply pulled the blood stained rags away... Another half minute, their Princess opened her eyes again and said simply "Oh girls..." Equestria Girls Twilight Sparkle was not waiting. She pushed in, quickly lay her head down next to Princess Twilight's head, and started the Soul-Link, and rapidly and lovingly brought their Princess back to them. And everypony started sobbing deeply with joy. After a few minutes, both Twilights were sitting facing each other, head to head, hugging, weeping softly, surrounded by the familiar purple aura. Summer realized they would be a while, they had been apart for decades, and both carried a lot of pain as a result. Almost as one, the rest of the twins did the same -- sat down, head to head, hugged, and Soul-Linked. For that while, Summer just wept on Shysage's shoulder... Her precious Princess was alive...