//------------------------------// // Crystal Clear // Story: Do Our Sins Define Us? // by Theorange11 //------------------------------// "Twilight, are you sure we're not lost?," asked Rainbow Dash. Following up on Twilight's hunch about the events back in the library, the Mane 6 had traveled to the Crystal Caverns to investigate. Although the others had been somewhat skeptical at first, there was no denying that there was an unnatural flow of magic that only increased in intensity as they neared the caverns. "Yes Rainbow Dash, I am certain we are not lost," replied Twilight. "When Cadence and I were trapped in these caves, we had to explore quite a bit in order to find an exit." Twilight and her friends had been searching for something, anything that could explain the strange events that had occurred not long ago. How is Trixie connected with this? "If we're not lost, then how come we haven't found anything yet?," questioned Rarity. "Don't be such a grumpyhead," said Pinkie enthusiastically. "Even if we haven't found anything in the caverns, everything is so shiny." Pinkie proceeded to bounce over to an outcropping green crystal, staring at it as it glimmered. "We just have to keep searching," asserted Twilight. There has to be something here, thought Twilight. "Magic lightning did not carve a picture on my floor by coincidence." The others moaned, but kept following. However, Pinkie just kept observing the outcropping crystal. Then, something caught Pinkie's eye. She pressed her hooves to the crystal, and it budged slightly. "Hey this thing is loose!," Pinkie exclaimed, and she proceeded to begin pulling on the crystal. A sharp crack rang out as the crystal shifted from Pinkies pulling, causing Twilight and the others to walk over to the crystal. " That sure is mighty strange," said Applejack, studying the crystal, which now shone with a faint glow. (RUMBLE!!!) (RUMBLE!!!) The cavern floor began to shake beneath the hooves of the ponies, causing Fluttershy to lose her footing, and Spike to fall off of his spot on Rarity's back. "Pinkie Pie, what did you d-aghhhhhhhh!," Twilight's demand was cut short as the floor opened beneath them, and she and her friends found themselves sliding down a long crystalline tube into the darkness below. "WOOOOHOOOO!," shouted Pinkie. They landed together in a pile after a descent lasting several minutes. Pinkie kept her excited smile, while Fluttershy seemed to have been traumatized by the whole incident. Twilight moaned, and rubbed her head as she began to regain her senses. Well, that was unexpected. She rose to her hooves to see Rainbow Dash and Applejack staring at something, frozen in......fear? She followed their gazes, and her draw dropped in shock at what she saw. Standing before them were two huge crystalline figures, one blue, and one a dark pink, both wielding massive spears. The figures appeared to be guarding a large door at the far end of the massive cavern where they had landed. the other ponies began to stir, and soon, their gazes were also locked on the scene before them. "Are...are they dangerous?," asked Fluttershy, peaking over Rainbow's back from where she had taken cover upon seeing the strange beings. "I don't think they are," stated Twilight as she studied the crystal creatures. The massive beings had made no aggressive displays towards the ponies, and appeared to be simply observing them with their strange, featureless crystal faces. Those spears are no toys though. " The only exit I can see is that door, so maybe if we just ignore them and go through, they won't bother us. " "It does seem to be our only option," added Rarity. After the group convinced Fluttershy that her life was in no immediate danger, they began to walk across the cavern. However, as they neared the door, the crystal giants crossed their spears. "HALT!," the beings shouted in unison. The Mane 6 did just that, freezing in their steps. Twilight took notice of the fact that one of the beings, the pink one, spoke in a female voice. " To pass this door and know what is inside to see---," began the blue one. " A princess, element of harmony, or the keeper you must be!," finished the pink one. Well, we are certainly elements of harmony, thought Twilight. However, before Twilight could, inform the crystal giants of their status, Pinkie Pie shot forward. "What ARE you?", Pinkie asked curiously. " Do you eat ponies?" "Why are so sh-mmmph!" Pinkie's chain of questions was cut off as Applejack placed a hoof over Pinkie's mouth. The giant's merely stared, and remained quiet, with their spears crossed. Twilight stepped forward to break the silence. "Do you have names?", Twilight inquired politely, noticing that she was engulfed by the shadows of the crystal giants. "The first keeper neglected to give either of us a name--", began the pink one. "We do not require them for our duties, so him we do not blame," finished the blue one. "So your duty is to guard what's behind that door?", questioned Twilight. Interesting "Yes", the giants stated in unison. By this point, most of Twilight's companions, with the exception of Fluttershy, had replaced their fear with curiosity, and had stepped forward to observe the guardians. "who is this....Keeper you spoke of?", questioned Rarity. "The Keeper is....the Keeper", stated the blue giant, clearly confused at the question. " There is no other way to describe her", finished the pink one. Very helpful... thought Twilight sarcastically. "Well, we ARE elements of harmony, and their's only one door", stated Rainbow Dash impatiently ."So can we pass through?" Suddenly, the eyes of the giants began to glow, and a ring of energy surrounded the Mane Six. It flashed blue once, and disappeared. "Go forward Elements of Harmony!", the giants boomed in unison as they stepped aside, "But prepare youself for what you shall see!" Finally!, thought Twilight, as she and her friends trotted forwards. THUNK!!! "AHHHHHH!!!" Twilight turned to see the spears of the two giants embedd themselves into the cold floor before Rarity, causing the white pony to collapse backwards in fear, and Spike to fall yelling from her back.