//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: End of Loyalty // by SteffaniStar //------------------------------// "Fluttershy!?" Fluttershy's scream froze her friends' blood. They reacted in less than a second, and what they saw, was the scene from their worst nightmares. When they turned their heads, they saw a black mist forming just mere meters in front of them. It was ghostly looking, bit sparkling, but it was darker than the night itself. It was darkness, covering half of the ground they were standing on, circling around them. Its presence, and its evil soul was scaring them to their bones. They didn't know what it was, or how it got there. Was that just a prank? Some funny magical spells unicorns wanted to prank them with? Maybe it were just some school ponies that tried to practise for their show or something? But they soon found out that it wasn't just a prank. Oh, it was so very real, and they didn't know in what danger they were in. Twilight quickly reacted. She didn't wait a moment. That black mist reminded her of Sombra, and she immieiately thought it was him, seeking revenge. She didn't know how can he return, because he was destroyed by the Crystal Heart's spell but she didn't have time to think about that. She needed to protect her friends, and was all it mattered. She pushed over all of her sadness from earlier, and boosted all her anger to her horn. Her horn glowed with bright purple aura and she prepared for the magic blast and magic shield. She prepared the spells and fired off. The light from her horn grew lighter and lighter, but instead of a powerful magic blast, she shot a few tiny sparkles, little drops of magic. "What?! Why doesn't my magic work?! What did you do?!" Twilight screamed. She was confused, and her fear began to grow. She couldn't protect herself nor her friends, and Sombra has returned. He will likely try to take over Equestria once again, and she couldn't let that happen. She looked at her friends, their faces were also painted with fear. She knew that was Sombra's weapon-fear. Our deepest fears. It was also the most powerful weapon because the fear is the most difficult to defeat. You freeze, you scream, you sweat, you panic, you try to run but nothing works. She spread her large alicorn wings, covering their friends behind them, trying to protect them, but how could just a few feathers defeat him? One thing that was strangely odd for Twilight was the question-why would Sombra go straight to her? Well, the Crystal Empire is under the Crystal Heart's spell, but why didn't he go straight to Canterlot, to Celestia and Luna? Maybe he is too weak, and he needs to gain more strenght so he could even think of overthrowing them, so he would naturally go to Twilight. That has to be it. Sombra has returned. It was no time to lose. "You were defeated once, and you will be defeated once again, Sombra! You won't win this time! The Crystal Empire has fallen once, it will not fall again!" Twilight screamed at the shadow, but it swiftly moved around them, like a predator trying to hunt his prey. Twilight's words were soon followed by a maniac laugh, and evil eyes peeking from the darknes. But, surprise, surprise, that wasn't Sombra. The eyes weren't like the ones Sombra had. They were dark blue, like the night, with a burning red flame in the middle, burning as white as the sun, followed by a trace of dark grey, almost identical black sparkly mist. Just the look that creature gave them ran chills through their bodies. They recognized a dark black horn with the red blade at the top. The creature spreaded its huge black sharp wings with the sharp blades at the ends, hurting anything that would stand close to them. Its mane was a floating red flame which burned their eyes just by looking at it. As they looked in horror, fear taking their voices away, the creature formed its shape, wiping away the rest of the mist like dust. Behind it, an army of black unicorns, similar to this alicorn, was forming. Creature gave them a smile, revealing its sharp teeth. They looked as if one move could trigger them, and they would ride into destruction, killing anything and leaving nothing behind but a lifeless wasteland. They were trapped. They couldn't just fight it, it is too powerful. Twilight's thoughts that raced through her mind were shortly cut off by the deep, raspy voice. It was coming from that creature. "Oh, my dear, sorry to disappoint you, but I am not King Sombra. I am the one who will free the banished ones" Moment later, black mist caught them, and they blacked out. ---------------------------------------------------- Canterlot was peaceful that day, but the streets were busy, as usual. The ponies were joyfully chatting, visiting shops, looking around and enjoying themselves in the nice sunny day. Celestia's sun was shining all over Canterlot, there was not a single cloud at the sky. While others were rushing their way or just eating some cake in the many shops of Canterlot, Celestia was calmly sitting on her throne, which she shared with her beloved young sister, princess Luna. She was signing some of the papers on her desk and enjoying in the beautiful view through the large windows. Luna has been flying and chatting with ponies in Canterlot for a few hours, and Celestia knew she should be back soon, so she waited for her patiently. She decided to take a short break and go for a walk through the long hallways. As she was looking over the large windows, each one of them brought a memory to her, another saved day. She saw Discord first. She remembered when she and Luna first found the Tree of Harmony, the Elements, and her faitful student, now a princess, Twilight Sparkle and her brave friends. She walked over to Sombra. She remembered giving Twilight the test, and how Spike saved the Empire. That moment she knew, her student was ready. One more saved day that could've been a total destruction of Equestria. Then, she walked to the one where Nightmare Moon was. It brought her a bit more bad memories of Luna's jealousy, but how she was now-she truly changed. She was different than she was before. She no longer was that evil jealousy spirit, she was now just her younger sister she, and everypony else, adored so much. Then, she reached the end of the hallway. There was nothing but a plain window, with few black cracks. She knew very well why it was plain. Twilight used to ask her that a lot, but she just told her she didn't like its position and it was broken couple of times, so she eventually left it like that, but both Celestia and Luna knew why it was plain. It was the villain Ceelstia didn't want to remember, nor had its reminder, because it brought so many destruction, anger and sorrow. It was the villain that could not be destroyed, only pernamently kept away, because its power grew larger an larger every single day. Celestia turned her head, trying to look away from it, but she couldn't erase the memories of it. She turned around to walk back to her throne room, but then, out of nowhere, she heard a whisper. She quickly turned around, but there was nothing. She thought it was all in her head, so she kept going, comforting herself, but she knew very well it wasn't just "nothing". "Well, well, look who's here" she heard a whisper. She immieiately recognized who that was, but she just remained quiet. The only thing she could do now is hope Luna will be here soon to end this nightmare, but this nightmare will never end. And it was all her fault. "The great and wise and powerful Celestia. Oh, boy, it's been a long time" the voice was deep, a bit raspy, but Celestia knew what that was. She didn't move the slightest. She started preparing for the river of insults and lies that will soon flow. Luna, please come home, Celestia thought, hoping that her sister might hear her, but Luna was the Princess of the night and dreams, not thoughts. "Powerful? I don't think so" Celestia's rage grew as she was looking around, trying to find the shadow, the mist, but they were hiding very well. It was very easy to find them. They have remained hidden for centuries. "Oh, right. She can never handle the problem herself. She always sends her little, so called "friends" to do all the dirty work. While they fight for their lives, she eats!" Celestia put her hooves around her ears not to hear the whispers, but they only grew louder. It was all in her head, it was all in her head, it was all in head... "She doesn't even know their names, yet she pretends to love them" It's not true, it's not true, Celestia thought. She was very weak when it came to taking insults. She was very kind and wise, but she could stand very long when somepony was mocking her. "The only thing she knows is get the frickin' "magic stuff that shoots rainbows" and POW! The villain is turned into a flower for the next thousand years" "If she just payed a bit more attention to Luna, she could've saved her from the deep depression and loneliness!" "Stop!" Celestia begged, but the whispers now turned to screams. "I bet she doesn't even care for her student! Nor her friends who are ready to die for her, yet she didn't even say them a frickin' "Thank you"! You owe them your life AND your kingdom!" "Stop! Please!" Celestia now started crying. Unfortunately, all that they were saying was truth, the hard truth she couldn't hide or deny anymore. "I like this one: "Are you feeling lonely again, my sister?" She has been on the moon for a thousand years, what do you expect!" it screamed, soon followed by a maniac laughter. "I bet she can't even protect her "friends" nor her kingdom! She never could and she never will!" "STOP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Celestia now sobbed, clutched on the floor, begging for it to stop. Minutes later, her sister Luna finally came, and she was shocked when she saw her sister sobbing. She dropped all the bags with things she bought and ran to her. She hugged her tightly, comforting her and humming a soft lullaby their parents sang them when they were little. "Is everything okay, my sister?" Luna asked. She was very worried because she has never seen her sister like that. Celestia only whispered a few words. "It's back" Luna knew what her sister was reffering to. She knew what horrible lies they must've told her, and jugding by the state her sister is in, it must've been something about her or Twilight's friends. She was always sensitive when it came to talk about that topics, especially Luna's past and her banishment. They swiftly ran back to the throne room, loudly opening the door and telling the guards to leave them alone. Luna quickly took a quell and a scroll and started writing to Twilight and her friends. Celestia calmed herself down, hugging Luna tightly. "They said all those horrible things to me... I thought I went insane..." Luna was comforting her, singing her a lullaby. She sent the scroll and waited. ------- Luna started rising her moon, and the calming night fell, but still no words from Twilight. Luna has already suggested to check on them, but Celestia forbidden. She was too scared and she hated to admit that to her sister. "You really think she will respond?" a maniac laughter was heard. Luna tried to cover her sister, but she knew it was worthless. The force they are fighting against was far too strong. "You really think you will see her ever again?" Celestia was now in shock. She should've let Luna check on them. It's too late now. They have already captured them. Tears started to roll down her cheecks once again. "What did you do with them! Let them go!" Luna angrily shouted. "Well, isn't it our "beloved" princess Luna. Well, I don't really have time for the games now, so I'm going to cut to the chase now-we got all five of them, and I want to know where is the sixth!" There was still hope. One of them was left. They need to go to Ponyville right now. "She is in Las Pegasus. Now, please, leave us alone!" Luna raged at them, and Celestia pretended to be in shock. "Luna, how could you..." "You're bigger coward than your sister!" the whispers then disappeared. Luna and Celestia quickly flew to Ponyville. They didn't have much time. As they were asking around Ponyville, waking up the ponies, some of them told they saw Rainbow Dash just a moment ago flying. She is always up late. The princesses found her immieiately. Rainbow couldn't even say a word because Luna cut her off with a few short words. "We need your help"