//------------------------------// // Nine - Opened // Story: The Eternal Storm 2 - Eternally Devoid // by TDarkchylde //------------------------------// Eternally Devoid - Chapter 9 - Opened "Abre los ojos..." The rainbow beam stopped just inches shy of Nightmare Discord's horns. Trixie halted as soon as she heard the three words Nightmare Discord had spoken, as had Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Just three simple words, but they were all that were needed to turn the tide. Her horn began to glow with a sickening blackness, independent of the Element of Magic tiara she wore. "What in the hay?" Applejack asked as she looked on. "...I knew it... I knew she'd betray us!" Scootaloo said through clenched teeth. Fluttershy, for her part, simply whimpered. "What is the meaning of this?" Celestia asked, dumbfounded. She had rushed into the ruined palace after the Element Bearers once she felt Luna's panic over the telepathic link. "...Forgive this mare..." Trixie began, "...she has no choice in the matter. She has never had any choice... she is just property of the true ruler of Equestria, the Nightmare... the threat you pose must be ended..." Her horn glowed more as the rainbow beam turned back on Applejack, Fluttershy and Scootaloo. The three mares screamed as the power of Harmony's manifestation struck them, corrupted by three of its bearers. Celestia did the only things she could think to do as the three legitimate Element Bearers were in trouble. Even she couldn't block the full force of the Elements, but she did try to throw up a shield anyway. As well, the Element necklaces and tiara disappeared, teleported far away. As the beam ceased, Scootaloo and Fluttershy collapsed. The shield had spared them from banishment and their lives as well, but they were still too badly hurt to keep going. Applejack, however, only fell to one knee. Her Earth Pony constitution had allowed her to endure it better. "...How... how could y'all..." Applejack asked, struggling to remain conscious. "Oh... you mean those two, right?" Nightmare Discord asked as he knelt down and stroked Rarity and Pinkie's manes. "These two aren't your friends, Applejack. They never were. They were just a failsafe in case Trixie proved to be more of a nuisance than I had anticipated. They're just two unfortunate ponies who were in the wrong place at the wrong time." "Please, Nightmare... stop being so modest! You're going to make me smile myself into early wrinkles," the fake Rarity said. The fake Pinkie just laughed, then said, "Surprise! I bet none of you saw that coming... oh, wait... two of you didn't! You're knocked out colder than ice cream!" Nightmare Discord then looked over to Celestia. "...And don't think I didn't see that little stunt you pulled with the Elements, Princess. There is no place in Equestria you can hide them that I can't reach. I'll get them and destroy them before any more of your little ponies try to be heroes." "They wouldn't be trying, fiend..." Celestia said as she tried to fire off another spell... ...However, just as Celestia's horn began to glow, Trixie's glowed as well. "This mare cannot allow you to interfere any more, Princess," she said flatly. She countered Celestia's attempt to cast with ease. Nightmare Discord laughed as he sat back down in his throne. "Isn't it grand? Personally, I like her better this way. 'Great and Powerful Trixie' this, 'Great and Powerful Trixie' that, blah blah blah. Don't you agree that she is much more pleasant without a name?" "...You're even sicker now than you ever were, Discord..." Celestia said defiantly. Her attempt to teleport the remaining Element Bearers back to Canterlot had failed. She was sure that the Nightmare's continued influence was amplifying Trixie's magic enough to allow it to counter hers with ease. Desperate, she used the one remaining spell she had in her arsenal... the still-active telepathic link to Luna. "Sister... we have been betrayed. We were being played for fools all along. I have sent the Elements to a safe place that only you know well. You are Equestria's last chance. We have failed here." "What's this?" Nightmare Discord said as he sensed the ongoing magic. "A telepathic link spell between you and your precious sister?" Trixie's horn began to glow again, but Discord held his paw in front of her. "No, my pet. Don't disrupt it," he said as he smiled sickly and his eyes started glowing. He forced his way into the link. "...I want her to watch." "Princess!" Applejack cried out. As she tried to move to shield her ruler, however... her body finally succumbed to the punishment it had endured. Everything went to black for her as her body hit the ground with a thud. ..:://=||=\\::.. Luna was sweating and breathing heavily as Nightmare Discord forced his way into her and Celestia's private mental link. "What... what are you going to do to my sister?!" she thought frantically. "Rest assured, little Luna... I'm not going to turn her to stone or force her to become a Nightmare version of herself. I have the best prize of all in Discord, after all," Nightmare Discord responded, not just projecting to Luna, but to all of the ponies near her. "Of course, if you give yourself back over to me, I might spare her some of the more creative punishments I have in mind." "...Not that you'll be permitted to serve under me for long, mind you. When I erase reality, you'll be erased as well," he continued, this time only to Luna. "You know this, though. We would have been the only entity to survive Eternal Night, after all." "Rooted?" Rarity asked as she walked closer to Luna. "Do you honestly think I'd agree to that?!" Luna said out loud, still visibly in agony. "Honestly, no. Still, I felt like making the offer." Nightmare Discord replied. The snap of talons could be heard, and the telepathic link not only expanded to include images, being seen through Celestia's eyes... it was spread to all of the ponies nearby. Vinyl, Sweetie Belle, Pinkamena and Rarity all were to bear witness to the goings on in the ancient palace. The very first thing they were forced to witness was Nightmare Discord snapping his talons again. Scootaloo was lifted up off of the ground and forced back into consciousness. "Wake up, little Loyalty wannabe... you're on," Nightmare Discord said. Scootaloo howled in pain as her body was held fast by a field of solid magic. It didn't help that it was crushing her already injured wing. Worse... she couldn't even pass out from the pain. Nightmare Discord was forcing her to remain awake through all of it. Then the image went away. "Oh dear... camera outage. We can't have that," Nightmare Discord said as his talons snapped again and the visual came back. "What the...?" Celestia asked as her body was forced back against a wall and bound to it. She tried to shut her eyes again, but she couldn't. "Discord... what did you..." "I can't have you shutting down the feed on me like that, Celestia, so I gave you no choice but to watch the proceedings," Nightmare Discord responded. "In other words, your eyelids are gone. Do watch carefully, little ponies..." He closed his paw. Scootaloo screamed more as her entire body was being twisted, contorted and crushed. She was in so much agony she couldn't even form words. "What shall I turn you into, hm? Perhaps a chicken?" The change that Celestia, and the others through her, were forced to witness was not instantaneous, nor was it painless. Scootaloo's body was twisted and crushed even more, her mind rewritten... until floating in the air was a small white hen. The worst part of it all is that she was still painfully aware of all that was happening to her, and now she didn't even have a means to express herself. "...Or perhaps I should revive the dodo species from extinction for a little while..." The hen Scootaloo was changed into clucked frantically as the changes began again. When they finished, an orange dodo was left in her place. "Actually... this isn't really that fun. Away with you." He snapped his talons once more. In a flash, Scootaloo was gone. "...Which of your friends shall I pick next?" "Monster!" Pinkamena screamed. "Where are you? Where are you so I can come and kill you?!" "Oh, a feisty one..." Nightmare Discord taunted. "You're no threat to me, but I don't even think I'll give you the satisfaction of even making the attempt. I tire of this game." With another snap, Fluttershy and Applejack were gone as well. Rarity broke down in the middle of the road and started to weep. Sweetie Belle and Vinyl were huddled up inside of the wagon, clinging to each other, scared out of their minds. Luna just sighed, defeated. The images stopped coming in as another snap was heard over the link. "Rest assured, I'll come for you when I feel like it... but for now, I'd like my privacy. Besides, it must be torture not knowing what is becoming of your beloved Princess Celestia..." Nightmare Discord said. The link was severed after that. Pinkamena screamed loud enough that if there were still a Canterlot, the ponies there would have heard it clearly. Her sanity was barely there at that point... she was screaming, trying to vent all of the rage, hate and pain she felt, if only so she could think. She reared up on her hind legs before trying to break into a sprint. Fortunately, Luna's magic held her fast. "Wait... I know you want to go after Discord. Believe me, there is nothing I would like to do more than to rip his smug face off and shove it down his throat... but we need a plan first. We need the Elements." "...And just who are you to be giving me orders?" Pinkamena seethed. "In my sister's stead, I am the ruler of all Equestria and always Princess of the Night... and don't you forget that." Luna said as she got right up in the psychotic earth pony's face. She turned and walked to the carriage, dragging a struggling Pinkamena along with her. "Rarity, come here please," she said as her horn started glowing. Just as Rarity gathered herself and got over to the carriage, it and everypony in it disappeared in a flash of deep blue light. ..:://=||=\\::.. Celestia screamed as she found herself wrapped in Nightmare Discord's magic. Her body wasn't being harmed... her mind, however, was a different story. "Oh dear... such a tormented soul... first imprisoning me in stone, then banishing me... so many regrets. I know they're hurting you," Nightmare Discord said as he twirled a strand of her mane with one of his talons. "I think I may have found the best revenge... you may thank the showmare over there for what's about to happen." "...This mare is pleased that Nightmare is pleased," the mentally broken showmare responded. "...Did I ask you to speak?" Nightmare Discord snapped. He turned back to a quaking and screaming Celestia. "As for you... let's do a little rewrite, shall we?" ..:://=||=\\::.. Apple Bloom and Spike woke up as Luna and the others appeared. "What the... Princess? Did you... wait, is that Pinkie Pie and Rarity?" Spike said, confused. "It is indeed... you were deceived," Luna said, sighing. "Quickly... alert the palace medics. Both of them have suffered extensive mental damage." Spike didn't need to be told twice. He flew down the hallway as quickly as his wings would carry him. Pinkamena was still struggling mightily against the Princess's magic, still screaming. She would scream the rage and pain out, then when she stopped to take a breath, her mind would fill with them once more. "Forgive me..." Luna said as she reared up and bucked the pink mare in the head with both of her rear hooves. Pinkamena slumped to the floor with an almost relieved look upon her face. For the first time in well over a day, she would have a little peace. Hopefully. "Princess?" Apple Bloom asked. "Did you have to go an' do that?" "Sadly, yes... it was getting tiring trying to restrain her," Luna explained as she walked over to the carriage door. Sweetie Belle and Vinyl Scratch were still huddled tightly together within. "P-p-please don't hurt us..." Sweetie Belle said, frightened by the Princess poking her head inside. Luna tried to crack a smile for their benefit. "That is not my intent at all, young one... I simply..." Her eyes widened as she saw Twilight Sparkle, or rather her petrified body. "...Found what I was looking for. All is not lost!" She took the statue within her magic and set it down on the palace floor. This occurred with the most unfortunate of timing as Spike returned with a pair of medics and an orderly in tow. "No..." he said, falling to the ground and landing on his knees. "Princess... is that...?" Luna nodded sadly. "Indeed. Trapped within this statue is Twilight Sparkle... and if we can't free her quickly, all of Equestria may be lost. I need to go to my study and retrieve a book of ancient spells... perhaps one of them will be enough for the task." As the orderly dragged Pinkamena to a room, the two medics walked with Rarity to the back. Luna turned and departed to her study. ..:://=||=\\::.. "...What is your command, my Lord?" the white mare asked, kneeling at Nightmare Discord's feet as Trixie and the Pinkie and Rarity doppelgangers couldn't help but chuckle softly. "The traitor who seeks to stop my rightful rule has been found." Nightmare Discord said, admiring his handiwork. "She is holed up in the Ruins of Canterlot. She has opposed me for the last time, Corona... you know what must be done." "Your divine will shall be done," the fiery-maned mare said as she stood. She was dressed in full battle regalia, complete with a long and slender blade strapped to her side. "She has dishonored us all... especially myself with her defiance. You shall have her head, and I shall deliver it personally." She turned and leaped into the air, flying towards what remained of the Equestrian capital. Nightmare Discord settled into his throne and snapped his talons. A crystal ball appeared before him, with the white mare in view within it as she flew off. "This should be good for one last laugh," he said as he watched it intently. He conjured a giant bag of popcorn and flipped a kernel into his mouth. ..:://=||=\\::.. As Luna reached the study, she made a beeline to one of the shelves... finding the one specific book she needed. As she opened it, however... within it were the five Element of Harmony necklaces and the tiara of the Element of Magic. "Sister... while I commend you for finding a crafty hiding place... this was a priceless book, and the only one with the spell I needed!" She was so exhausted that she couldn't fly into a rage - instead, she shed a single tear into the book. As the tear struck the Elements, they began to glow brightly. Within seconds, they turned into points of light. One flew off into the horizon towards Ponyville, while the rest streaked towards the throne room. "What in Mother and Father's name...?" Luna asked, blinking and rubbing her eyes. In her magical grasp was her book, completely intact. ..:://=||=\\::.. Big Macintosh sighed as he was awakened by a bright light. "Nurse... did the..." he tried to say as he opened his eyes... and was immediately blinded. He covered them with his hoof. "Nurse! Help!" There was a single point of light hovering over the bed of Rainbow Dash. She was still comatose. Then a voice rang out... a beautiful, harmonious voice. "Rainbow Dash... Bearer of Loyalty... You are needed. Open your eyes." Rainbow opened her eyes. They were glowing with a radiant white light, the same as the point of light, which turned into the Element of Loyalty necklace. "Wha... what's going on?" The necklace wrapped itself around her neck and a warm light enveloped her body. Scratches and scrapes disappeared and bones reset themselves. Her internal organs that suffered damage were mending themselves. Even the equilibrium damage she had suffered previously was healing. She nervously tested a limb, and there was no pain... no sign of any injury at all. She tested another limb and it felt the same. She arched her back, flared her wings... everything felt like it did years before... before she had ever heard of a Nightmare. Nurse Redheart came running into the room and was shocked, to say the least. "Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow nodded to the nurse. Her entire body was still glowing slightly. "...I think I got better. Something's wrong. I need to go to Canterlot. I don't know how I know these things... but I gotta fly." Redheart blinked. "This is unheard of, even with intense healing magics... I can't just..." "Nurse..." It was Big Macintosh. "You gotta let her go. Ah don't know what's goin' on, but this is a miracle, an' it wouldn't be happenin' fer no reason. Please." Redheart sighed and nodded as she started to undo the pulleys holding Rainbow Dash's limbs up. She sent for an orderly, who proceeded to enter and slice away the casts. Rainbow jumped out of bed once she was able and the last cast was cut away. As she landed, there was no pain. "I don't get it... the Element spoke to me..." "Just hurry," Big Macintosh said. "Don't think about it, just hurry. Yer friends need you. AJ needs you." Rainbow nodded to Big Macintosh and Nurse Redheart as she opened a nearby window. "I just hope I'm not too late..." She glided out of the window, then with a single flap of her wings, she was up to speed... and then some as a sonic boom could be heard a moment later in the distance. Macintosh laughed. "With speed like that, Ah don't think you could be late for anythin'..." ..:://=||=\\::.. Back at the castle, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were suddenly finding themselves face to face with Element of Harmony necklaces. "Apple Bloom... you are needed," a voice said. It sounded a little like her sister, but much wiser. "...But what am Ah s'posed to do? Ah'm not an Element holder..." she said, trembling. "You are now..." the voice said as the Element of Honesty became visible. "You speak with sincerity in your heart and you tell the ponies around you exactly what they need to hear. They may not want to hear it, it might hurt them in the short term... but it always helps them in the end. Accept the Element of Honesty... please." At the same time, inside of the wagon, Sweetie Belle was facing the Element of Kindness. "Sweetie Belle... sister of the Bearer of Generosity... you are needed as well," said a kind and soft voice that carried its own kind of power. "Your songs are gentle and soothing... your melodies soften hardened spirits. Accept the Element of Kindness." "...I'm not kind..." Sweetie said, crying, remembering all of the times that she and Rarity used to argue when they were younger. "I hurt my sister..." "That may have been true in the past, but your heart is in your singing, and there is no malice in those words, only a passionate and kind soul behind them. Please. You are worthy. Accept it..." the voice said. Both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom nodded and the Element necklaces each appeared around their necks. ..:://=||=\\::.. Rarity was facing her own element, Generosity. "Such a shame, dear Rarity..." a voice said. It was youthful, kind... almost like Sweetie Belle's at a time long since past. "You did not need to see what you saw... you have had so much taken from you." "Peanut butter..." Rarity said, softly. "Allow me to give something to you," the voice said. "Allow me to give you the strength you need in this trying time." Rarity nodded, a tear escaping her eye as the Element of Generosity appeared around her neck. "Thank..." She blinked. The word she actually meant to say finally came out of her mouth. "...Thank you..." She hopped down from the bed and slowly started to make her way back to the throne room. ..:://=||=\\::.. Pinkamena screamed inside of a magically padded room. "LUNA!!! DISCORD!!! NIGHTMARE!!! I don't care, I'LL KILL YOU ALL! YOUR NUMBERS ARE ALL UP!" Ethereal laughter could be heard inside of the room. "...What's so funny..." Pinkamena shouted, growling loudly. "You're overreacting, Pinkie... do you think your friends would want you to end up like this?" a voice asked as a bright light filled the room. "My friends are gone..." Pinkamena said, her anger subsiding only for a moment as sadness welled up within her soul. "Twilight's a statue... Rarity's lost her mind... Applejack and Fluttershy may be gone... I don't even know what happened to Rainbow Dash, and the Princess... Celestia... she might be..." "Well, sadness is a much healthier response..." the voice said. "But you're wrong on a couple of counts there... Rarity's going to be fine. Rainbow Dash is on her way... and you still have two other friends out there waiting for you. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sure don't want to see you like that..." Pinkamena stood silent, tears filling her eyes. "Dashie's okay... Rarity's better?" "Yes. Now, would you like to help Twilight as well?" the voice asked. "Of course... but how?" Pinkamena asked, looking up to the light. The light started to coalesce into the Element of Laughter. "Let Laughter back into your heart. It's the best cure for sadness and anger that there is, remember?" "But..." "No buts, Pinkie. Go save your friends, then throw a party and celebrate. There's still time to get them all back." Pinkie sighed as her mane went back into its poofy state and her demeanor lightened. "You had me at 'party.' Let's go!" The Element of Laughter appeared around her neck. Though the damage was done, healing was starting to begin. In a burst of magic, it teleported her into the throne room... ..:://=||=\\::.. A short time later, the four Bearers of the Elements of Harmony stood assembled near the statue of Twilight Sparkle as Luna prepared a spell. Her horn began to glow, as did the statue. There was an intense magical pressure in the air for a few moments, then... nothing. It cracked in a couple of places, but Twilight was not yet restored. Fortunately for all involved, Vinyl and Spike had already went back into the Palace's VIP wing. "That was the last of the spells..." Luna said in disbelief. "This transformation is just way too powerful for me to dispel..." The Guards present perked as a sound could be heard at the doors. As they opened, a blinding flash of light filled the room and a lone pegasus walked inside. The others looked on as the pegasus started to come into view. "How?" Apple Bloom said. "You almost died!" "Huh... is that...?" Sweetie Belle said in amazement. She saw it, but she couldn't believe it. "My heavens..." Rarity said. "You... you look stunning!" "Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh!" Pinkie said, bouncing happily, stealing the pegasus's own typical gushing reaction. Walking towards the four and the Princess was one Rainbow Dash, fully healed. Fully healed. Her body was still glowing from the aftereffects of the Element of Loyalty's mending spells. "In the flesh! You were expecting somepony else to come save you?" she said with a lighthearted arrogance. Luna looked on in amazement. "Truly, the Elements are capable of wondrous things..." She began to think. "Perhaps they could help us with our current crisis?" "What cri... oh no..." Rainbow said as she saw her friend, or rather what was left of her after Nightmare Discord's magic struck her. "Twilight... how? What could have done this? And where are the others... why are Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle wearing Applejack and Fluttershy's Elements? What happened?" "It is a long story..." Luna began before she was interrupted by the palace doors exploding inward. "LUNA, BETRAYER OF LORD DISCORD'S DOMINION, PREPARE TO MEET YOUR FATE!" a mare's voice cried out from within the dust. Most notably... she was using the Royal Canterlot Voice. "What the hay?" Apple Bloom asked, turning away. "Sweetie, Rarity, get Twilight out of here quickly... all of you, run!" Luna said as she began to realize the gravity of the situation. The two unicorns quickly complied, lifting Twilight's prone form with their magic. The others quickly followed. "Dear sister... what did he do to you?" Luna asked the figure. "...You do not even recognize me? You're delusional!" the white mare cried as she stepped forward out of the dust. She was a white alicorn, heavily armored and armed with a formidable blade. Where her mane once gently flowed with pastel rainbow-like colors, there was nothing there now but raging flames. "I am General Corona, leader of Lord Discord's conquering army! You have been tried and found guilty of treason and other dishonorable acts... and the sentence is death!" She drew her blade with her magic. "Do me one last favor before I carry out the sentence... try to die with some honor. Defend yourself!" She jumped into the air and charged toward her sister...