Celestia looks down at Twilight after revealing that another mystic has become known and is believed to be some where in ponyville. Twilight's face turns to panic. Her mind spins trying to find something that she could do but then takes a deep breath to calm her self before looking back up to Celestia.
" What do you think we should do? If another mystic has shown themselves then a spree can't be far behind."
Celestia nods as Twilight finishes then says, " I know Twilight but what I need you to do is go get the Element Round and meet Luna and I in your throne room. We need to discuss this with everyone before anything else can be done." Celestia says softly to Twilight trying to down her worries. Twilight nods and flys out the window going quickly to Ponyville. Luna trots up to her sister watching Twilight as she flys, watching her slop down into the village below.
Luna mentions softly to her sister. " Should i gather the captains and Princess Cadence as well? Shining Armor and Flash Sentry should know whats going on in case an attack like last time occurs." Luna lays her ears flat then flicks them as if brushing off an burden.
Celestia only nods at Luna's suggestion sending her off to gather them. Her thoughts circle in her head as if she is under water being pelted with current after current but only one thought seemed to prick at her mind and heart. I hope we aren't to late
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As Twilight flies over the skies of ponyville her mind races with what has occurred. A new mystic after so many years! And what is it doing here? She shakes her head to focus on the task at hand. I need to find everyone, maybe i should start with Pinkie Pie. She flew over the village looking down at the hay roofed buildings as the warm sun bathed her wings with a warming glow. The cool wind breeze blowing through her mane and into her face as if trying to calm her worries of the immediate danger. She takes a deep breath trying to bury it but it just wont stop prickling her mind, however, before she knew it she was hovering over Sugar Cube corner. The most popular location for young fillies and even adults come to get all their sweets and goodies in Ponyville.
Hovering slowly down to the ground she looks into Pinkie Pie's window seeing if she is inside the pink room. Her pet alligator Gummy sits on her bed blinking blankly as she drops by the window but Pinkie was not inside. Twilight giggles after seeing Gummy open his mouth with his glistening gums where his teeth should be before shutting it with a snap. Twilight lands at the entrance watching as filly after filly trot out with cup cakes and candy of all different types. She smiles waving at them as they call her name in greeting before trotting into the store. As she trots in she looks around the store where several round tables are placed throughout with 6 round chairs at each table. With one breath Twilight smells the countless sweets, from cupcakes to candy and her favorite the shakes. I could use something to calm me down. Maybe just a small one. Twilight trots up to the counter where Mrs.Cake stands giving a little orange coated filly a cupcake with some oats sprinkled on it. She smiles at Mrs. Cake and nods her thanks as she trots over to the closet table to join her friends. Twilight trotted up as Mrs. Cake smiles saying in excitement " Princess Twilight! How you doing today?"
" I'm doing okay, I would be even better with one of your shakes." Twilight says with a smile
" Oh of course, wait one minute while i make it for you." Mrs. Cake says as she trots over grabbing a glass, oats and some ice cream. " I know your busy these days now that you have your castle and all. So you willing to give out some gossip?" She says as she places Twilight's glass into a mixer letting it blend all her ingredients into a soothing and frothy
" No kidding, Celestia has me doing a lot these days. Oh speaking of have you seen Pinkie Pie? I need to talk to her." Twilight says with a hungry eye on her shake as it blends. Mrs. Cake takes it out and slowly brings it over so not to spill it taking the bits from Twilight before opening the register. Mrs. Cake looks up and says, " Oh Pinkie Pie? She said she was going to be at Maud's for a couple days. She left yesterday so I guess she wont be back till at least a week or two."
Twilight sighs saying, " She really has bad timing to go on a family visit but i guess it cant be helped." She levitates her glass and takes a sip relaxing her shoulders and closing her eyes enjoying the soft and delicious taste of the shake. She smacks her lips together and sighs with relief, " Ahh that hit the spot. Thanks Mrs.Cake, say hi to Mr.Cake for me!" Twilight turns toward the front door walking out squinting her eyes to the sun shine. When her eyes adjust she spots FlutterShy, a light yellow coated pegasus with a pink mane while her cutie mark that rests on her flank are pink and green butterflys. Twilight smiles and trots over to her calling, " Hey FlutterShy!"
FlutterShy smiles and turns to face her saying in a soft voice almost as if she was whispering, " Hey Twilight, how are you today?"
" I'm doing okay, but I need you to come to the castle. Celestia has some important things to discuss with the round." Twilight offers FlutterShy a sip of her shake as she continues. " Do you by any chance know where RainbowDash, AppleJack and Rarity are?"
FlutterShy takes a hesitate sip before speaking in her soft tone, " Yea, they went to watch AppleBloom's school martial art practice. She invited me too but i don't like all the fighting." She says while rubbing her front right leg with her left one letting her mane to cover her right eye.
Twilight takes another sip of her shake before ushering FlutterShy towards the school, " We need to get them and head to the castle. We don't want to keep Celestia waiting for very long." They nod and run toward the school. Twilight drinks the rest of her shake before setting in on a outside table at SugarCube Corner.
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The school bell rings for the end of the day at PonyVille High School. Every pony begins flooding out of classes and into the halls talking and chatting with their friends and other classmates. Scootaloo, AppleBloom, Sweetie Belle and Fang walk out of Magics History. Fang walks next to AppleBloom and Scootaloo, while Sweetie Belle walks next to Apple Bloom.
AppleBloom nudges Fang, " This practice is going to be the last one before our first school tournament. I hope you're ready to sweat!"
"Oh and don't forget that our performance is in 3 weeks so make sure t mesmerize your song parts." SweetieBell says as the turn a right toward the gymnasium.
Fang chuckles and turns to the two mares, " Don't worry I will be ready for both clubs, so no reason to worry guys. Oh i almost forgot.." He turns to Scootaloo and smiles, " We still on for rollerblading after practice Scootaloo?"
Scootaloo turns her head and smiles, " You bet! I still can't believe that you have never roller bladed before. Every pony at our age should know that." She says with a teasing glint in her eye.
Fang laughs then rubs the back of his head a little embarrassed, " Yea you would think that right, but hey what can i say, parents just didn't think to teach me." As the quartet of friends walk and talk the gymnasium doors come into view. Fang hears whistles already being blown before they even got to the door. Pushing the door open with his right front hoof Fang sees the team practicing through out the gym. Looking over towards the middle of the court two colts were fighting in a mach match where the head coach gave scolds to them if they messed up , while on the right side weights and punching bags were placed and secured on the red mats under neath them. Toward the left side was the side coach running sprint drills up the left side of the bleachers. Wow this is far more then i expected.. Fang thought as they walked on the side lines toward the locker rooms. Scootaloo broke Fang's thoughts as she said, " Well we will be in the stands guys! Oh and your sister is here AppleBloom."
Sister? Fang looks up at the right stands and sees AppleJack. The orange coated mare with a long yellow mane roped into a pony tail with a red hair band sat in the bleachers with two other mares. The one to her left was a sky blue coat with a literal rainbow mane with a rebel style hair style. Scootaloo has her mane like that. Fang thought as he looks toward the mare on AppleJack's right who is white coated with a dark purple mane curled up and sparkling. Fang turns to AppleBloom as they get to the entrance to the colt locker room. " Hey AppleBloom who are the two mares next to your sister? I haven't seen them around."
" Oh the blue coated mare is RainbowDash and the other one is SweetieBell's sister Rarity. I asked them to come and watch the practice. You know to give tips and such." She says before waving at her sister with her hat in the air. Fang nods then looks back at them before heading into the locker room. He looked over his shoulder as the air began to die down to silence. He lets out a sigh before going to his locker spinning the lock to open it. The element round.. Out of all the ponys I could have befriended they had to be related to the round. Fang thought but shook his head as the locker door poped open. No, it doesn't matter if they know the round or not. It's all behind me. He slides on a sweat band on his forehead and legs before slipping a sweat absorber shirt and blue shorts on before shutting the locker to head out. " Alright, time to get sweaty!" He exclaims before trotting out of the locker room but with thoughts prickling his mind.
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Scootaloo heads up the stairs to the stands towards RainbowDash. " Hey RainbowDash!" She says as she goes and sits next to the mare.
RainbowDash turns saying, "Hey there kid, how you been doin?" She says as she gives Scootaloo a hoof bump.
Scootaloo smiles hoof bumping her, "I been doin good, got a couple zz's in Magic history class but still soaring through it like its nothin."
"That a pony, keep that up and you will be almost as cool as i am!" Rainbow says before laughing with Scootaloo as she pulls her in with her hoof giving her a nuggy.
" Your aren't a good influence Rainbow! She needs to pay more attention to her lessens." Says AppleJack as Sweetie Belle walks over to sit next to her sister giving her a hug
" Oh its no use darling, Rainbow is unscoldable" Says Rarity as she hugs Sweetie Belle fixing her hair with a brush.
" Got that right" Rainbow says chuckling.
Scootaloo laughs giving off a smile at the mares bickering before turning back to see Fang come out of the locker room in his blue sweat bands and grey sweat absorbing shirt and shorts. She watches him look over the gym before trotting over to the punching bag. He stands up on his hind legs before starting to punch the bag sending it bouncing back. He throws jabs to the sides of the bag before changing to quick kicks and repeating the process speeding up slowly. She watches him for what seems like hours before Rainbow's voice pierces her ears, " Hey.. Hey Scootaloo.. Scoot heeelloo" She says waving her hoof in front of her face making her jump and shake her head to clear her mind. She turns to Rainbow Dash stammering.
"s-sorry about that, I didn't realize you were trying to talk to me." Scootaloo says
RainbowDash looks at her then turns her head to look to where Scootaloo was facing and chuckles " Ooohh I see whats going on! Some pony has a crush." She says teasingly.
"N-no that's not it! I was just seeing if, um.." Scootaloo says nervously as her face starts getting red.
Rainbow smirks nudging her softly with her wing, " Hey its alright Scootaloo I was only playin, but seriously you should work on that. Colt's that good looking get taken real quick."
Scootaloo, who was thoroughly embarrassed hid her face in her wings but smiled as Rainbow Dash smiles at her. She reveals her face to see Swettie Belle standing in front of her with a stunned face. " You like Fang? You got to spill when that started." She says with a gossiped and excited face.
" It's not a big deal Sweetie Belle.." Scootaloo says as she looks away red in the face again but turns to face her shyly, " and since we first met him at Twilight's" She says before the whistle is blown and the coach turns and calls out, " Alright, Fang you're up for the skirmish!"
" Alright coach!" Fang calls back whipping off sweat that was dripping off his forehead before walking over to the center where another colt with a brown coat and black mane was waiting on his hind legs rocking back and forth in his stance. Scootaloo looked down at them as Fang stood up getting in his own stance with his hooves close together in what Scootaloo could see what looked like a "v" shaped form. The whistle blows and the brown coated colt lunges forward throwing a right jab but is quickly blocked by Fangs right hoof getting pushed aside letting Fang get three fast left jabs into the colts chest before he gets in close crosschecking the colt with his right shoulder across his chest making the colt fall over winded. The coach blows the whistle as Fang helps his sparring partner up with a hoof. The coach walks over and starts talking to the colt before doing some quick jabs towards Fangs arms then ribs. I guess that was a scold? Scootaloo thinks as the whistle is blown again to begin another spar. This time the colt gets a hit in on Fangs shoulder and rib but is quickly shut down by a quickly placed low kick by Fang. "Wow that colt is good!" Says Rainbow Dash," Whats his story Scootaloo?"
Scootaloo shrugs looking at Rainbow, " Honestly I don't know much about him. We never really talk about anything like that, but what I do know is that he is amazing! Oh wait he did mention that his father taught him how to fight the way he does." Scootaloo says.
" Ah that's cool." Rainbow says before looking over to see Twilight and FlutterShy, who nervously walks in after hearing the whistle blow again.
" There you girls are! I have been looking for you!" Says Twilight panting
" Whoa, slow down sugercube. Is something that matter?" Says AppleJack
Panting Twilight says," Celestia needs.. to talk to.. all of us.. come to the castle.. please" She says out of breath coughing some before clearing her throat.
" Okay, okay Twilight. We're comin" Rainbow said as the group of mares stood up and started trotting out. AppleJack stops and walks over to Applebloom who was doing the running drills and calls out to her, " Hey sis, sorry but somthin came up! See ya at home." AppleJack says waving back to Applebloom before following the others out of the gymnasium.
Scootaloo watches them go and tilts her head in confusion before turning to Sweetie Belle," I wonder what that was about. Twilight seemed to be in a really big rush to get them to the castle.
Sweetie Belle shrugs and brushes her mane that lies over her ear so it lays straight against her head, " Who knows,Twilight kinda over reacts when it comes to Princess Celestia."
Scootaloo nods and turns back to watching the practicing colts and mares. She sees Fang over by the weighs again lifting dumb bells with ease. He drops the one he was lifting and whips off the sweat on his forehead before looking up at her. Their eyes meet and he smiles waving to her before getting a water bottle, that is sitting next to him on the floor, and taking a long sip. Scootaloo smiles and waves back but as she watches Rainbow's words begin to prick at her mind, you should work on that before he gets taken. I wonder if he thinks the same of me? Maybe i'm just not the type he wants to be with? Scootaloo frowned but then smacks her hooves on her cheeks and smiles. I shouldn't think that way. If he doesn't like me then he doesn't its as simple as that, there is no reason to get all upset about it. Or is it..
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" So what is it that the Princess wants to talk to all of us about?" Asks Applejack towards Twilight as they walk through PonyVille's streets heading towards the castle.
" You could have told us sooner so I could wear something appropriate! I look so dreadful for a meeting with her" Whines Rarity who frantically looks into a mirror that levitates in front of her as she brushes her mane inattentively.
" Its something very important, but I can't tell you all out here in the open. I might cause unnecessary panic and fear." Twilight says as they near the castle.
" Oh my, is it really that scary?" FlutterShy says covering down some while looking over in every direction as if looking for some pony in a crowd.
" Celestia will explain when we get to the castle so lets hurry to the throne room." Says Twilight as she pushes open the doors to the castle. Trotting into the sparkling crystal building the mares head straight past the make shift check out counter where a out to lunch sign rests on the counter. The mares turn a left into a wide open hallway where two large crystal doors stand at the end of the hall. As they walk large windows with their adventures carved into them shine with sunlight making them sparkle with the colors of the rainbow as if walking through a kaleidoscope. Chandlers softly sway on the roof sparkling light blue with soft yellow flames that reflect off the clear garnet floors. As they approach the doors two royal guard pegasi stand guard. With a quick bow in greeting they open the doors where a large round table and six thrones rest in the middle of the room. Celestia and Luna stand at the edge and turn as the doors open nodding in greeting to the mares. Twilight trots up and bows her head before standing straight up saying, " Sorry, it took some time to find all of them."
Celestia nods with a small smile, " Its quite alright Twilight, we are still waiting on two others before we begin."
Twilight blinks in confusion as every pony funnels in and sits in their chairs around the table. Each chair has the mark of the Elements of Harmony; Kindness, Honestly, Laughter, Generosity and Loyalty. FlutterShy sits in the kindness chair next to AppleJack who sits down in her respected Honesty chair. While Rainbow Dash hovers around her Loyalty chair next to both Pinkie Pie, who isn't here at the moment, who would sit in Laughter's and Rarity who keenly sits down in Generosity. Twilight sits in her own chair before asking Celestia, " Who else is coming?"
Before she could reply the doors begin to open again and two guards walk in bowing their heads. " Sorry we're late Princess Celestia. The train got backed up a bit." Says none other then Shining armor, captain of the royal guard surrounding the area of Celestia and Luna's castle. The white coated stallion stands up straight showing off the golden armor with the blue star like crystal that rest on his chest piece. His cutie mark, being a blue shield with purple stars on it, is visible through a hole in the armor on his flank. He turns toward the door and ushers another pony in, " You know the meeting is under way! We are late as it is."
" Yea yea i know." Says another armored stallion none other named Flash Sentry, captain of the royal guard located in the Crystal empire. The yellow coated pegasus walks up next to Shining Armor and bows to Celestia letting his golden armor shine but allows his defined purple crystal shine on his chest plate.
Twilight bounds over to her brother and hugs him, " Hey big brother, I didn't know you were going to also come."
Shining Armor hugs his little sister but before he could respond Celestia says, " I don't mean to be rude Twilight but we need to get this meeting under way as soon as possible."
Twilight nods and goes to sit back in her chair. Shining Armor and Flash sentry sit down next to Celestia on either side and wait patently. Celestia pauses before speaking, " Now this meeting is over something that can cause massive panic and fear. What ever you hear during this meeting should never leave this room." She looks at every pony watching them nod slowly understanding. Celestia nods then nods to Luna who uses her magic to project a image on the round table of the Mystics. " These are images of a group of criminals that the royal guard, Luna and I have deemed as the Mystics. They were a group that had powerful magical capabilities that we have never seen before." Celestia nods to Luna who nods back and projects two pony 3 dimensional images of both the earth pony Rocket and the pegasus Raven. " The earth pony is named Rocket or "The Frozen Death" as our guards used to call him, is the Mystics leader.."
" Whoa wait, i thought you said that they had magic" Says Rainbow Dash who is leaning in her chair, " This is a earth pony like Applejack and Pinkie Pie"
Celestia nods but Luna responds, " Yes he is, but what makes the Mystics, well the Mystics is that even though they weren't unicorns they were still able to use magic freely"
Celestia glances at RainbowDash who is stunned to silence and sits up, "Thats not all the Mystics were able to use magic that not even normal unicorns could use. Rocket was able to use pure Ice sorcery magic without having the normal requirements to preform it, such as damp and cold air. He could use the ice magic in the hottest and driest of weather, but his magic isn't what made Rocket the danger he was. His hoof to hoof combat and use of his twin daggers is what made him the monster he was. Now the pegasus is named Raven or " The Reaper" as she dubbed herself, was able to use darkness magic but yet again she renamed it to Necromancy magic. She was able to conjure up weapons of darkness that she could use during battle. Her favorite weapon however was her battle scythe, which she was able to swing with her wings." Celestia pauses looking around the room. She could see every pony focused. Even Rainbow Dash wasn't taken her eyes and ears off the speech. Celestia continued, " Now I am telling you this because we have been tracking a movement of fires throughout the region. They have struck multiple cites and villages. At first we thought of it as nothing more then normal fires but soon after the third fire.." Celestia paused and closed her eyes before speaking again in a soft tone," The forth fire was set in a building where royal guardsmen were staying. All 7 of them were killed and since then more and more bodies have been piling up." Celestia takes a breath before opening her eyes again. " After we began to investigate we have had reports of a earth pony with blue flames coming out of his hooves fleeing the scenes of the fires, but what got us the most was that his eyes were glowing.. Which was the sign that he was a Mystic." FlutterShy made a peep and hid behind her chair shivering. " We have determined that the Mystic is now in this Village and the ponys could be in danger." Celestia says then steps back and walks over to a window that rests to the left of the table. Looking outside she stays in silence before coming back to the table and sitting down.
Celestia looks up at the mares and stallions and continues, " Before we go any further I need to define how dangerous this pony can be by telling you what the Mystics have done that we actually know of and its all summed up into these cold words." She pauses again then says, " Cold hearted murder.."