Four armored griffons flew behind South Wind as they drew near the castle that King Sombra was rumored to be calling home. If what he had heard was true, then Twilight Sparkle was being held there, as well as possibly Discord.
“Sir, how do you intend to fight against Sombra?” one griffon asked.
“I don’t. We are going in there to rescue the unicorn. Our second priority is the draconequus. Killing Sombra or even confronting him is not a possibility. No one dies today, not if I can help it.” South answered.
The four griffons nodded to their leader as they prepared to go on their most dangerous mission ever. They had gone places that were under the control of ancient dragons and cleared the dragons out so that griffons or ponies could live there safely. They had fought in battles between different griffon villages. Yet never had they fought against something that lacked empathy to this point.
South Wind could faintly hear the sound of a scream coming from the castle as they sat on the cliffside, planning a course of attack. They were running low on time, either Twilight would die, or she would give into Sombra’s will. Truth be told, South was more fearful of her death than of her cooperating with him.
“Was that her?” a griffon asked.
“Yes, I believe so. We are running short on time before… the worst case scenario. Let us proceed quickly, but with caution.” South commanded.
The five griffons silently took to the air and flew toward the castle as quietly as possible. They entered through a window and started exploring. They were in two groups of two and South Wind was alone.
South flew down to the first floor and started to look for any signs of Twilight. He saw an empty cage that had a system that could push it up to the ceiling. It looked too suspicious for him not to investigate so he flew over and looked up. There were lines in the ceiling, just larger than the cage, like it was a trap door.
South tried pushing up on the panel, but it wouldn’t budge. In frustration he kicked it, breaking a hole in the center. From there he was able to chip away at it until he got through. Once he was on the other side, he found himself in a room with a black floor, ceiling, and walls. It was nearly impossible to see do to the fact that the only light was coming from the hole in the floor that he had just made. As his eyes adjusted, he was able to see a pony lying on the floor with chains holding her in place.
“Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?” he asked, approaching the body.
The worst thought ran through his mind like a broken record. “She’s dead.” it would repeat. “You were too late.”
“Please be all right…” he said to himself as he touched his claw to her neck to check for a pulse.
He sat there in silence, waiting for any signs from her, but there was nothing. She didn’t move, she didn’t breathe, and her heart didn’t beat. She was bruised and bloodied, he was too late.
“No!” he shouted loudly. “I won’t accept this!”
“Are you sure that this is where Twilight is supposed to be?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“This is where Vim said that the castle would be, and look, there’s a castle.” Spike answered.
“Can we go in there with you?” asked a filly.
“Sweetie Belle, you weren’t even supposed to come with us. How in the wide world of Equestria did you even get here?” Rarity asked her sister.
“We just snuck in the wagon that ya’ll were haulin’.” Apple Bloom answered.
“Yeah, Twilight helped us and we want to help her back.” Scootaloo added.
“That’s awesome that you’re willing to help and all, but…” Rainbow started.
“But it’s also mighty foolish. You could get yerselves hurt.” Applejack finished Rainbow’s thought.
“Why don’t you girls stay back here with me?” Fluttershy offered the Crusaders.
“Are you not planning to go in there? What about Twilight?” Rarity asked.
“I don’t think that I’ll be much good if there’s fighting involved.” Fluttershy answered.
“Don’t you want to help Twi?” Pinkie asked.
“Yes actually.” a voice answered from the sky. “But I need to know something. Have any of you seen a griffon in the immediate area?”
The group looked up and saw a griffon in battle armor. He had a large scar running down his wing; Spike couldn’t help but wonder how he could even fly with it. There were four more griffons with him, each one also wearing armor.
“Sorry for startling you, but I’m looking for my older brother, South Wind, who came here in search of Miss Sparkle.” the griffon stated. “I just realized, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Talon.”
“Well, my name is Spike, but I haven’t seen any griffons other than you.”
“He’s probably already inside. I only just got word of his leaving; he’s been gone for a few hours already.” Talon explained.
“Well, we were getting ready to head inside. I’m sure that we could probably work together. We are both looking for Twilight and I want to help you find your brother since he came all the way out here trying to find her tool.” Spike smiled.
“Any plan on how to get in there?” Talon asked.
“I was just intending to take the front door. What’s more unexpected than that?”
Spike suggested.
“Not very much…” Talon said hesitantly.
Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie stayed behind to make sure that the Crusaders wouldn’t get themselves into trouble. Fluttershy was right about the fact that she wouldn’t be terribly good for fighting and Pinkie was having trouble coping with the events. She would be able to protect Fluttershy a little, but she wouldn’t be much use inside the castle. One griffon stayed behind as some extra insurance.
Each of the ponies was partnered up with a griffon. Spike was with Talon, they would be searching the second floor, east wing. They quickly moved up to the second floor and began to make their way east. Eventually they reached a small room that had the door sealed. The underside of the door was blocked by a rag, keeping the light out of the room.
“How are we going to get inside there?” Talon asked as he tried to pry the door open with his claws.
“The key.” Spike answered.
There was a flash of light in Spike’s claw and a Keyblade appeared. He aimed it at the lock, but nothing happened.
“Is that a Keyblade?” Talon asked.
“Yeah, but I don’t know how to unlock the door with it.” Spike groaned.
“We griffons know a great deal about Keyblades. Aim it at the lock like you are and say ‘release’ to unlock anything in its way.” Talon informed Spike.
“Release!” Spike whispered, trying to avoid attracting any attention if Sombra was inside.
There was a clicking sound from the door as it was unlocked. Talon tried the door again and was able to open it. They could see a figure in the dark, lying on the ground mumbling in frustration.
“South!” Talon shouted.
“She’s gone…” South muttered quietly, ignoring Talon.
Spike recognized his eyes. They were glowing green, just like when Twilight was under the spell of Sombra’s illusion.
“She’s dead… I failed.” South rambled on.
“What do you mean she’s dead? Are you talking about the unicorn?” Talon was almost shouting.
“He can’t hear you.” Spike stated. “He’s under Sombra’s illusion, try shaking him or startling him.”
“South, wake up!” Talon grabbed his brother’s shoulders and shook him.
South Wind blinked a few times and stared in front of him. “Where’d she go? Where is Twilight?”
“It was a dream. One of Sombra’s favorite things to do. He wanted to make you think that she was dead, but I doubt that she is.” Spike explained.
“She’s not dead…” South whispered. “Then there isn’t much time. If Sombra did that to me, then that means that he is more likely than not, aware of our presence here. If we don’t hurry, we might really be too late.” His voice gave the impression of a quick recovery, but he was still shaking, he was still feeling the effects.
“You should watch this, it’s really quite funny.” Sombra laughed quietly.
“Just leave them alone.” Twilight pled weakly. She hadn’t been able to eat in at least a day, but she was starting to lose track of time because of the fact that she was being held captive.
“But it’s like watching rats squirm and try to escape as the cat plays with them before tearing them to pieces.” Sombra continued.
Twilight couldn’t find the strength to speak; she was too badly injured to too hungry. Sombra must have heard her stomach growl because he turned to her and used his magic to bring over a covered platter. He lifted the cover and showed her some amazing looking food. It was fancier than anything that she was used to; she didn’t even know the names of what she was looking at.
“Here, take some.” Sombra said coldly. “The only thing is, I’m not moving it any closer to you.”
They were still in the room where the only magic that worked was dark magic. She wouldn’t be able to eat unless she used the dark magic. Twilight shook her head slowly.
“You aren’t hungry then, oh well, more for me.” Sombra began to slowly eat the food that was scattered about the platter. “Oh, and one more thing…” Sombra used his magic to send a shockwave into Twilight’s body, creating pressure inside of her and causing her to drop to the floor. “Did you think that the little punishment that I gave you for freeing the Princess was it?”
Twilight opened her mouth to scream in pain as it felt like her insides were being crushed. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. She squirmed across the ground, trying anything that she could to make the pain stop.
“I don’t believe that your friends are as capable as you think they are. They aren’t even close to this room yet, I think that they just need a little shove in the right direction.” Sombra said, a tone of enjoyment in his voice.
Twilight could hear the framework of the castle shifting as it rearranged in a way that would lead everyone straight to them. He was leading them into a trap and it was her fault. If she had just cooperated, then maybe they could have lived longer.
“What do I…” Twilight tried to speak, “have to… do… to save them?”
“Fight them. That sounds like it would be very entertaining. Don’t debate it for too long though. It seems that Spike and your griffon friend will be arriving within the minute. I will only let them in one at a time, so that you don’t have as much time to think about it.” Sombra smiled sadistically.
He made a line in the stone floor, directing Twilight’s attention to it. Twilight thought that she understood his plan. If the pony reached the line, they would die. She had to hurt them before then.
Suddenly a face launched from the shadows of the doorway that Sombra had made when rearranging the castle. She wasn’t fast enough and a purple blast from Sombra’s horn killed South Wind. Spike followed shortly behind, but Twilight had time, she zapped him with a weak dark magic spell. It wasn’t meant to hurt, but to stun. There would be some pain, but it was the least that she could manage.
“Twi!” Spike cried out as he hit the floor. “What are you doing?”
“He left me with… no choice.” Twilight looked over at South and Spike’s eyes followed to the corpse.
“No…” Spike whispered.
“But yes.” Sombra laughed back. “One more step and you would have died too.”
Vim stood in a dark place, it felt cold. All she knew was the cold. There was no light, nothing but darkness and cold.
“Where am I?” Vim’s voice echoed through the emptiness.
She started walking, hoping to find some clue as to her whereabouts. The last thing the she could recall was going into a field to start her training to fight Sombra.
“Is this his doing? Did he send me here to keep me from fighting against him? Am I dead?” she had so many questions to ask.
“No, no, and no.” the answers came quickly. The voice that carried them sounded familiar, but Vim couldn’t quite place it.
“Who’s there?” Vim called out. “Show yourself!”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t recognize my voice. After all, the only time that you’ve ever heard it was after you had beaten my sister.” the voice answered.
“Princess Luna!” Vim gasped. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“Celestia told me why she didn’t fight back. It was because you reminded her of Twilight Sparkle. Now I am able to see that resemblance.” Luna replied.
“Sombra forced… No, I won’t make any more excuses for my actions. I was wrong to do what he said, to ever have believed in him. Please forgive me.”
“Of course. I only wish that you had seen your wrongs earlier.” Luna seemed to form before Vim from nothing.
“Where… where are we?” Vim asked.
“Your dreamscape. You must have fallen asleep while you were training.” Luna said her was voice soft and comforting.
“No! I can’t sleep! I don’t have time!” Vim started stressing.
“And what help would you be if you weren’t awake enough to fight? Even if you get all of that training in, you need to be awake when you fight him.” Luna put a wing over Vim and pulled her close.
“But what if I miss something? What if the fight starts without me?” Vim asked.
“The fight is far from now, but they need your help soon. One of the things about dreams though, is that hours are changed into seconds. Let me teach you how to control that darkness inside of you.”
“You’ll… teach me? After all that I have done?” Vim’s eyes streamed tears of joy.
“I have done worse, but I was forgiven. I wish for you to have that same opportunity. Let us begin.” Luna nodded with a smile as her horn lit up.
“Please… just… let them go.” Twilight begged.
“If you really wanted them to live, you would have cooperated.” Sombra smirked.
“If you really wanted to live, you would have run away when you had the chance.” a third voice entered the room.
“Celestia! I thought that Vim took care of you! That incompetent… Regardless, you won’t pose much of a threat.” Sombra growled.
“Twilight, your friends and nine of the ten griffons that came to rescue you are safe. I’m going to send you home. I will get you some guards and medical care.” Celestia assured Twilight.
Twilight was blinded by a brilliant yellow flash of light. When she was finally able to see again, she found herself resting on her own bed back in Ponyville.
Her head was throbbing. Her stomach ached from hunger. But she was home. She was resting in her own bed, and her friends were safe. She let out a struggled yawn through her bruised lungs.
“Twi!” Spike shouted, running up to Twilight’s bedside and hugging her.
Twilight winced as pressure was applied to her numerous injuries. “Hi Spike. I missed you…”
“Do you need anything before the guards get here?” Spike asked.
“Some food please. After I got Cadence out of there, Sombra wouldn’t give me anymore food. Some punishment, right?” she put on a weak false smile with a quiet laugh.
“Dandelion sandwiches coming up!” Spike said cheerfully as he hopped down the stairs.
Twilight rolled onto her side and looked at her wall. She was no longer on the cold stone ground; instead, she rested on a soft bed with a blanket keeping her warm. She was safe, but not everyone involved was as comfortable. South Wind had lost his life because she was too slow to save him.
Spike ran around the kitchen joyfully as he had finally been reunited with Twilight. He fixed some sandwiches for her, thinking about how nice it was to have her home again. There was no need for him to worry for her safety that night.
Spike slowly walked up the stairs toward his friend. He carried a plateful of sandwiches, more than enough for Twilight hopefully. When he finally made it up to the bed, he could hear a light snoring. Twilight had fallen asleep.
“Why wouldn’t she? After all she’s been through, she must have been exhausted.” Spike smiled, setting the sandwiches beside her bed.
Spike climbed into the window seal and sat down. He just wanted to make sure that she would be all right. That nopony would come in the night and take her or hurt her.
Soon a group of guards arrived to watch over Twilight. About half of the guard moved around the library, keeping an eye out for any signs of impending danger. Spike stayed awake for as long as he could, but he started drifting off.
Celestia stood in the Ponyville Town Hall discussing the protection of Twilight Sparkle with the mayor. They needed a way to guarantee her safety that would leave Celestia with enough guards to begin the hunt for Sombra. He had fled only seconds after Celestia had teleported Twilight from the castle.
“Mayor Mare, Seeing as you have spent most of your life in this town, where do you think the safest place to keep Twilight would be until all of this blows over?” Celestia asked.
“I believe that there is a tunnel system beneath the Town Hall. It would function like a maze, hopefully any unwanted guests would get lost in there.” the mayor suggested.
“How well can it be protected?”
“Well enough I should hope. I’m considering a specific room down there that only has three entrances. Each one is only wide enough for ponies to move in pairs. Six ponies guarding the tunnels and however many you can spare with Twilight in the room should do nicely.”
“All right. I will try to set you up properly for it. It would also be preferable if you were to take her friends in there as well, including Mist Valley and Eighth Note.” Celestia was distracted by the need for a plan to stop King Sombra, she needed to have to worry as little about this part as possible.
“I’ll do my best to protect her and her friends.” the mayor nodded before Celestia teleported from the room.
Celestia was back in her own castle in Canterlot. A doctor galloped over to her and began to reapply her bandages. It was best if the general population did not see her looking injured. She could give them hope as long as she looked like she could not be harmed. It was hard to do, but she had to for everypony who depended on her.
Luna could be heard in the next room over as she discussed a course of action with some of the more experienced members of the guard. Her end of the conversation was rather loud compared to the others. She had been under a great deal of stress during the recent days, and things hadn’t gotten much better before they would get a lot worse.
“General Ironwall, we don’t have time to do delay! If we are going to take Sombra, we are going to need to do so quickly!” Luna shouted, stamping her hoof against the table.
“I understand the sense of urgency, Princess Luna, but you must understand that if we go in there too hastily, we will have many more casualties.” The stout brown pony stated.
“Iron is correct Luna. We need a reliable plan; we want to avoid as much death as possible. At the same time, we need to end it in one move; otherwise Sombra is likely to retaliate on civilians.” Celestia joined in the conversation as she slowly approached a large chair that appeared as if it had a sun rising behind it.
“That’s why I think that we should be moving toward the Crystal Empire. If Sombra is going anywhere to develop his plan, it will be there. All we need to do is corner him and all that will be left to do is say ‘Checkmate’ and call it a game.” another pony at the table suggested.
“And how exactly, Knight, do you intend to corner a pony who could simply think about you dying, and make it happen?” Iron asked.
“Simple, stake a few pawns for the good of the rest of the board. Sacrifice is a part of every game of chess, my friend. A few pawns to take the king is a worthwhile sacrifice.” Knight explained.
“But was my idea not just thrown out due to the casualties that would occur?” Luna argued.
“I will be leading this group of pawns. I have two more who have already volunteered, one who is in Canterlot right now and another who will need a ride here.” Knight stated.
“You can’t just sacrifi-” Luna started to shout.
“How certain are you that this will work?” Celestia asked.
“I can get him there, but it’s up to you all to off that tyrant. My end is a certain success.” Knight said smugly.
“You cannot seriously be considering this? Sending three ponies to their deaths?” Luna couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“It has been a very long time, Sister, since we have seen war. Not long enough though, I still am aware of what it can take to… survive.” Celestia stated.
“What about what you used to say?”
To Luna, dying as bait was a wasted life, but dying in battle was different. A pony that died fighting for what they believed in was a hero who would always be remembered.
“I did not say that we would win, I said that we would survive. And with any luck, Sombra will not.”