//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Xenxus! // Story: My Little Pony: The Element of Time // by Thunderwing250 //------------------------------// Suddenly, the shrieking stopped and even the Windegos were silent until the stillness of the air was shattered by a horrible roar. Everypony turned to a bright light shining down the hall. In sudden fear, the Windegos vanished into thin air. Though the other ponies felt relief, Doctor Hooves began to shake with terror. Even The Archivist looked shaken. “I know that roar, when I hear it,” the stallion said. “Madame Archi…” Twilight paused, seeing the Archivist was in fear. “We need to get out, now!” Twilight and her friends were confused. “What is it?” Rarity asked. “Is it another dragon?” Fluttershy whispered. “No… it’s Xenxus,” both the Archivist and Doctor Hooves said. “He's far too powerful for us,” Doctor Hooves continued. “RUN! NOW!!!” the Archivist shouted. They needed no further prodding. The ponies took off as fast as they could, racing back towards the entrance as fast as they could. Despite this, strange, booming steps followed them up. Twilight, once again, felt deeply confused. She had no idea what was occurring nor who Xenxus was. She ran to the Archivist. “Who’s this Xenxus?” she asked. “Xenxus is an Alicorn.” The Archivist said. “Khaoios’ brother. But Archivist, I thought he was locked away in Tartarus with his other brother?” Doctor Hooves said. “Apparently not. It appears that he had escaped but the question is, how?” the Archivist replied. The sound grew louder and louder, as the group approached a bridge. Not looking back, they raced across the rotten bridge after spotting light ahead. As they continued, the Archivist turned to check back over her shoulder. She saw a strange, pale form, equine, with a long head and pale eyes emerge from the darkness to let out a thunderous road. Soon enough, the group saw the exit but as they reached it, Rainbow Dash, being the fastest among them, slammed straight into a barrier that blocked their way. Applejack hurried to pull her to her hooves, and Twilight charged ahead, her horn lighting up with magic. The Archivist joined her, and after a few long, painful seconds, the barrier collapsed. They broke out into the fresh air, but there was little relief to be had. Hurriedly, with no time to get the wingless ponies to safety and not enough power to teleport everypony after such an exertion, they ducked behind some rocks to hide. “Shhhhh…” Twilight said. Xenxus prowled up from the cave, heralded by the terrible noise his hooves made. Twilight hesitantly peeked out from behind the rock, but she was too afraid to move to get much look at him. All she could see was that he was sickly pale and very, very large. “I can smell you… I can hear you… I can sense your fear…” Xenxus said, his voice low and slithery. “Come out, come out, where ever you are… little ponies.” The Archivist and Doctor Hooves remained as calm as possible, trying to keep the others quiet and calm. As Xenxus paced and the ponies shivered, Rainbow Dash grimaced and gritted her teeth. She nudged Twilight with her elbow and clapped her hooves together as if punching. Twilight hurriedly shook her head. Rainbow Dash looked at the others. Fluttershy, especially was barely holding it together. Taking a deep breath, before anypony could stop her, Rainbow Dash flew up to confront the beast. She regretted it immediately. Xenxus had a towering figure, like an alicorn with both wings and a long horn on his head, but his face was long, almost reptilian and skull-like, and as his jaws parted, she could see dozens and dozens of sharp teeth. His wings were naked, moth-like and veiny. His eyes were pale pink, and though they didn't follow her, he began to sneer. Before she could flee, he knocked her to the ground and stepped on her tail. “Not so fast, my little pegasus,” Xenxus said. Rainbow Dash tried to break free, but there was no way. Hurriedly, Twilight and the others jumped from their hiding place, much to the dismay of the Archivist. “Now you listen here, you oversized, shark-faced varmint, you let our friend go, or else--” Applejack was interrupted. “Or else what? What horrifying power will you use to defeat me, cur?” Xenxus growled. The Archivist cringed. She got out from behind the rocks and stood with the others. “I suggest you take this matter seriously, Xenxus. Release the pony and you will not be harmed,” The Archivist asserted. Xenxus turned his head, and his eyes widened with surprise. “Well, well, well... If it isn’t the witch, Madame Archivist and the good doctor, Hooves,” Xenxus teased. “Let her go!” Twilight yelled. Xenxus was silent for the moment and exhaled. “As you wish,” Xenxus replied, before using his wings to blow Twilight and her friends towards a rock. Twilight wasn't sure about her friends, but she bonked her head hard on the stone. Dazed, she struggled to get up. Xenxus turned to the group. “You ponies have no idea who I am. Do you?” he said. Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “Yes! You’re Xenxus, the youngest of the Bronco-Titans. And there's nothing but evil inside your heart.” “Ah... Interesting that you’ve learned about me. I’m guessing the witch told you a lot about me… and how I am the deadliest of my brothers. Yet, I must ask, how is that dear, Princess Luna? Has the princess of the night identified her own nightmare?” Xenxus growled. Twilight’s horn began to glow. “That's none of your business, you monster!” Twilight yelled. Xenxus examined Twilight’s anger for a short moment, his ears lifting. Her outburst made him grin. “A monster you say?” Xenxus replied, revealing his deadly and venomous fangs. “I am beyond that of a monster, but more of a deadly serpent.” Twilight couldn’t answer. “Intriguing. I must ask, what is it you truly fear, my dear Twilight Sparkle? The destruction of Equestria, the fall of your Princesses, the annihilation of your friends?” The Archivist tried to hold down Twilight, but she fought back to stop him. “No! You leave them out!” Twilight charged, only to get thrown by the wind from a beat of Xenxus's huge wings. Creating a huge cloud of dust, Twilight tumbled back. Her friends struggled to get up through the wind and the ponies hurried to Twilight’s aid. Rarity reached her first and helped her up. “Are you okay, darling?” she asked. “Yeah. I’m fine,” Twilight rudely replied. Assisting Twilight, everypony looked around and noticed Xenxus had vanished, as if he disappeared into thin air. “Where in the heck did he go?” Applejack demanded. “There's no way to know for sure,” The Archivist said. “He's able to travel at incredible speeds.” Twilight's eyes went wide and she looked at her friends with worry. “He mentioned Princess Luna! He might have gone to Canterlot,” she said. “We need to get back there as fast as we can.” “I could probably use my Sonic Rainboom to help me at least get there fast to check in,” Rainbow Dash said. “Nopony's faster than me!” “Remember, Rainbow Dash, Xenxus is no pony. He travels at the speed of a crashing meteor,” Doctor Hooves commented. “Unfortunately, even you would not be able to outpace him if he reached full speed. However, if he is traveling, knowing his aptitude for stealth, keeping himself low-key along his way will certainly slow him down.” Rainbow Dash pouted. “And you shouldn't go alone,” Fluttershy said quietly. “It's too dangerous.” “Fine, fine,” Rainbow Dash said. “But then what do we do to stop this freaky guy?” “From what I remember the only thing that stopped Xenxus was the Element of Time. That was because slowing down time greatly weakens Xenxus, especially when it comes to speed. In addition, the major advantage we have over him besides the Element of Time is daylight. Xenxus is nocturnal and at the same time, he’s half blind. Revealing himself in the light will blind him completely, losing his focus. But for now, we can only depend on the Element of Time,” The Archivist said. “He's too clever to allow himself to be caught out in daylight.” “So our only hope to stop him is the Element of Time? Great, where is it?” Applejack asked. “That’s the problem. After the princess used the Element of Time, she was turned to stone and the Element itself disappeared. The only one who knows its true location is its creator,” Doctor Hooves continued, turning to look at Twilight. “The same Alicorn you saw at your castle.” “Timaeus,” Twilight concluded. “Yes,” Doctor Hooves replied. “Like me, you can communicate with them telepathically, which I will teach you at a later time.” The Archivist said. Understanding what both Doctor Hooves and The Archivist said, Twilight began to feel pressured, but knew with her friends at her side, they would overcome Xenxus’ power. She sigh. “Okay then. Let’s save Equestria” Twilight spoke. Her friends cheered for her, while Doctor Hooves and the Archivist both smiled. Together, they all hurried back to Canterlot.