Entering at the castle proper, she slow down to a crawl pace as she look around "Its been far too long i have been to this place.." she looks around basking in nostalgia and memories, walking slowly as she stop and inspect the broken stained glassed window, shattered and cracked she look at it sadly as she saw visions of good times of herself and her sister playing out in the open field, she could see the ghosts of her past self as she ran around laughing joyously as she play games with elder sister. Giving a content sigh she look up at the moon "Sister.. do thou really forgave me for my sins?" she asked to no one in particular. Closing her eyes in thought as she let other memories play in her head. Not even looking as she swipe her sword back, facing the shattered skeletal warrior that had tried sneaking up behind her "Fool, you think you can ambush me?" she smirk as the bone pieces burst into flames, letting herself absorb the small essence her opponent gave out.
She raised her blade in ready stance, eying the small unit of undead warrior trying to surround her "thou dare to interrupt my reminisce? Fools.. we shall send ye back to the neatherrealms!" she let out a battle cry as she lunge forward and slashing at a warrior, side stepping and parrying an attack from his companion, she heard a snarl and ducked in time to avoid an arrow shot at her from an skeletal archer, she jumped kicked a spear wielding foe and slice down cutting the archer in half. She harrumphs as she casually slice another one near it "Hardly worth my time." she dust off her shoulder as she cuts a skeleton's head off, as it rolls onto the floor she walk towards it and gives it a swift kick causing it to fly out the gap in the wall. Chuckling "may aswell give that hoofball a try when this is all over." she smirked.as she continue on her journey down the main hallway.
Her sword at hoof, she walked down the hall with her eyes closed, passing every broken window or cracked pillars every so often she gives off a slash cutting down any foe that she came across as she kept herself in deep thought. A single nagging question caused her to stop in her tracks, opening an eye as she look up at the large doorway infront of her leading to the old throne room, voicing out the question "Sister.. where are thou?" she reached over to try the door to see it won't budge. "Huh?" she tried pushing it and pulling it with some more effort, grunting in frustration "How do they even lock these darn things?!" she groans giving the door a light kick before she walked away mumbling olden time curses under her breath as she search the other rooms in the first floor entrance hallway leading to the throne room, avoiding the stairs as she decided to investigate the upper floors later. Opening door after door, she stop to gawk at the scene infront of her after opening one particular door, seeing a group of zomponies playing cards casually, though upon noticing her they drop what they're doing and casually groans and get back to their normal zombie ways causing the lunar princess to sweatdrop, not even bothering; she slam the door before they even can shuffle towards her she sighs as and shook her head as she continue her search for the key.
Opening a door to a large room she noticed some more zombis but what caught her eye is the treasure chest at the other end of the room she grinned, looking around she spot a suit of armor holding a spear near the room she pluck the spear off the armor, giving it a good twirl as she stab a zombie in the head with a strong thrust, heaving the spear off decapitating her foe she kick the head off the tip and nod in approval and grin smugly as the other zombies try charging her."Come on you foul smelling ingrates!" she shout as she twirls the spear, striking at a zombie with a swooping slice to its leg as she then smack another zombie with the other end of her new weapon.Impaling a zombie she heaves it up and with a shout she tossed the zombie off crashing to it's companion, she raised the weapon and shove it down at the two downed zombies ending them. Panting heavily after the battle, she ran a hoof along the spear "You're a keeper.." she grinned to herself as she slips it onto her back and unsheathe her sword before trotting toward the chest. "Here we go!" she give her sword a spin tossing into the air as she grabs it she twist around and give the top of the chest a smack opening it "Didn't believe that actually worked? Heh.. my blade is truly the key to my troubles" she gives a smug grin before levitating something out the chest "speaking of keys.." she dangle a key ring infront of her, with only one key in it "This'll do i suppose." she pockets it as she then exits the room
Trotting in a quick pace backtracking towards the throne room once again, taking out the key and quickly unlocking the door and simply pushed it open with her foot, pocketing the key again she trot in, looking around "It's been so long.. " looking towards the thrones, seeing her sister and her's she noticed something odd "Hmm, somepony patched up my banner.. that's nice of them." she head over to the thrones, mainly her old one as she trace a hoof on it, smiling as she reminisce on old memories once again. "Tia, i hope you are well.. i have yet fully atone for what i have done too you, but I will keep working hard dear sister.. wherever you are." she sense immediate danger and roll to the side only to watch as her throne explode into rubble she huffs "AH COME ON!!" she grunt in anger and face her opponent. Floating there is a unicorn skeleton, surrounded by an imense magic aura as it's purple cloak flow, the bells on it's hat chimes as it descents to face the lunar princess .. wait.. Bells?
"By mother's mane... Master.. Starswirl" the old grand mage only stare at her with it's empty eyes, hoof glowing purple as it ready to throw another attack, while Luna fought her tears back "Master... time to go back to your rest.."
The resurrected sorcerer launch a magic orb attack, causing a mark in the spot she once stood, Luna swung her sword only for it to be blocked by an outstretched hoof covered in magic from the dead unicorn. The skeletal mage only look straight at Luna as it's horn glow sickly green preparing for a spell to blast her but she reacted quickly by bucking him away and slash down striking him and interrupting his spell. She quickly skids back getting into a defensive position. "HAH!" she kicks on the floor creating a small dust to flutter infront of the skeleton, knowing it won't blind the undead but distract it long enough for her to lunge forward driving her spear ripping through his cape and piercing a bone or two before she yanks out and swipes as Starswirl backs away avoiding the next attack. Launching herself forward, swiping the spear down with a battle cry only for it to be blocked by a barrier spell she push harder with gritted teeth "Master Starswirl, It's me Luna! I don't know if your soul is still in there somewhere but please.. snap out of it!" she tried to reach out but the skeletal mage said nothing as it pushes back.
Starswirl's jaw open as it chatters it teeth before blowing Luna away with a magic burst, she manage to land on her feet but skid back a few feet before she regained her balance "Rest in Peace Master Starswirl!" she runs at him with a battle cry, stabbing the spear forward, getting caught in his magic arrow before it can reach his skull, she only smirk "gotcha.." she uses her free hand to grab and swing her sword, slicing the horn off, interrupting the spell as she drove the spear forward skewering it through the forehead of the skull... She could only watch as green magic filters out of the body before the bones crumbles infront of her and turn to dust, his namesake hat and cape flew down covering his remains. "Rest well, old friend.." she could only stare at his cloak only to snatch it up "i'll keep ahold of this if you dont mind" she shift her eyes side to side with a gleeful grin she unhook the old traveler's cloak she wore, placing it into her magic hammerspace before she clapse the purple star cloak on letting it flow back draping her back and wings. With a clap of her hooves "I will avenge you master, no being should have disturb your resting place!" she proclaims as she trots out the throne room heading for the stairs absorbing the orb that Starswirl's defeat had made.
"For I Am Princess Luna!" she shout her name out with a hoof stretched out in determination.
Stage 3 Complete!