//------------------------------// // Act 3 Chapter 21 // Story: Collision Code // by SSJRandomMaster //------------------------------// Act III: Collision of Wills Chapter 21: The Book’s Secret ------------------------------------------ It was positively baffling. No matter how many times they tried to think about it, it all kept coming back to Fluttershy’s story. And here the name of the boss was, as one of the book’s apparent owners before the society it belonged to vanished. Twilight and Corey sat in silence, the book still on the page with the name on it.   “Para Norma…” Twilight said, repeating the name several times more in her head, “It…it can’t be. It’s got to be just a coincidence.”   “Maybe,” Corey said, “But I’m not so sure about that kind of stuff anymore. After all, it wasn’t a coincidence that they all broke out after me and John came in…whoever this ‘Norma’ is, ‘Para’ or not, said it themselves.”   “It’s…” Twilight said. At that moment, she halted, going back in time through her memory. What was said during that revelation came flooding back to her.   “… I was a prisoner being held in Tartarus, as well. I was placed in a form of dimensional stasis; my imprisonment was intended to be eternal…” “It’s…” Corey repeated.   “…It’s not that…unlikely,” Twilight said finally, a hand going to her chin, “If the two are the same pony, that’d mean Norma was thousands of years old, which is plausible given what the leader told us.”   The two looked back to the book. What they’d seen in the book’s owners list seemed to back up Twilight’s new theory.   “And this ‘Para Norma’ was the last to own the book,” Twilight continued, “Or at least, they were the last name in the list of students…”   “There’s something fishy about all this,” Corey leaned back in the chair, letting out a sigh.   “Yes,” Twilight said, “But I think I know what my first step is. Maybe Princess Celestia knows something…”   As a piece of parchment slowly began to float over to her, followed shortly by several other items, Twilight began to compose her letter. Corey, meanwhile, turned back to the book. He probably wasn’t going to be known for thinking things through, but looking at everything around him now—the name in the book, the fact the leader “Norma” was sealed for a very long time before all this, the fact that runic magic disappeared long ago… maybe it all meant something.   Could it all be connected? thought Corey, looking over to Twilight scribbling away at the parchment, pausing only to think of what to say next, What do you think, Twilight? ------------------------------------------- Ever since they had first come together, saving the world from eternal night, the friends who made up the Elements of Harmony fell into a different routine in their lives. After that night, whenever a threat would rear its ugly head, they would band together and defeat it. After the dust had settled, they’d resume their lives as though nothing had happened. This occurred so often, it started to feel like they were stopping some crazy thing at least once a week. In time, it became second nature to them.   Recent events, however, had thrown that cycle for a loop. The stakes seemed far higher than anything they’d faced before, just as Princess Celestia had warned them at the outset. Currently, three prisoners of Tartarus had made themselves known. All three had been defeated, but one managed to escape. The other two had died the moment their leader, the one pulling all the strings, decided they were no longer needed. It appeared that no matter what they did, death was certain, and there would only be more of it in the future.   And because of this, even now that there was a moment of peace in Ponyville, no one could bring themselves to enjoy it. They knew it wouldn’t last, and they knew it would happen when they least expected it. And so, as the seconds ticked towards the next attack, there was only one thing they could bring themselves to do.   Prepare. ------------------------------------------- Sugarcube Corner had always been the local hotpot for ponies to gather and chat while enjoying some tasty treats. At this time of day, the bakery would usually be lively and buzzing with business. Now, they were lucky to see a customer once every few hours. With everything that had happened, ponies were now afraid to leave their own homes, only leaving if they had to. And unfortunately, sedating their sweet tooth didn’t fall under “must leave home”. But even if the ovens weren’t on, that didn’t mean that the local party pony didn’t have something cooking.   Down in the basement, Pinkie was hard at work, a table filled with several pieces for her latest creations. In her hands was a black box. On it was a speaker and to the side a large button.  On the very top of it was a metal antenna that stuck out of it. As she looked at the box she had a hopeful look in her eyes, her fingers crossed.   “Please work…” she said, pushing the button on the side, causing a short burst of static to come out. Moving it closer to her head, Pinkie took in a small breath, and spoke, “Testing.”   Almost immediately, another sound was heard.   “Testing.”   A large smile appeared on Pinkie’s face as she turned to the other side of the room, towards a stool where an exact replica of the box she was holding stood. Again, she pressed the button and let out a small squeal of victory, just so she could hear herself once again. She then quickly moved toward the other box and held both close to her chest.   “They work,” she said happily, “They finally work!”   Several failed attempts had finally lead to a success. In silence now, she looked down at her new creations. The idea came to her during their time in the Crystal Empire, and had been solidified once she’d heard Fluttershy’s story. There were far too many times where they were separated, unable to get into contact with one another. Their only means of instant contact was Spike, and even then it was a direct line to the Princess, not each other. But with these, that limitation was no longer an issue.   All thanks to these, Pinkie thought with a warm smile, These talky-boxes…which are big. And easy to see. And…kind of…heavy…   The more Pinkie stared at them, the more flaws she saw in them. Slowly, but surely, her smile began to fade away. With a heavy sigh, she put them down and turned away from them.   “Back to the drawing board…” ------------------------------------------- Rarity had always been one to keep herself busy with her business, either preparing dresses for her various clients, or working hard to create the next big thing in the fashion world. Today, there were no commissions, and she had no desire to create anything new. Right now, there was only one thing that was on her mind.   While she was away, Sweetie Belle had been in grave danger. Rarity was also haunted by the thought of what could have happened had Fluttershy not been around to save her. As of now, Sweetie Belle was back to living with their parents, something that they’d all agreed was safer for her.   Still, she couldn’t rest. Not only her sister, but all of her loved ones were in danger the longer this game went on. She may have proven that she can handle herself. She may have been capable of helping now more than ever. But to her, it just wasn’t enough. And it would never be enough until all of this was over. Though her magic had certainly improved, there was something else she was still lacking in. She planned to fix that, starting today.   A knock on her door drew Rarity’s attention. Without even looking at it, she had a good idea who it might be. Making her way to the front entrance, Rarity answered and saw the very pony she was waiting for.   “Hello, Applejack,” said Rarity as she stepped outside, “Thank you for agreeing to this.”   “With what we’re up against, I’d have offered sooner or later,” said Applejack. If one had asked Rarity who she believed was the strongest mare she’d ever met, the answer would come to nopony’s surprise. It was because of that very fact that rarity asked for the aid of that mare herself. Even if her magic had gotten better she knew that there might be a time where she’d have to rely on her own body. She had her doubts on how she’d fare when that time would come.   “This ain’t gonna be easy, and it will be messy,” said Applejack, “You prepared for that?” Even as the question left her mouth Rarity was already tying her hair into a bun. From the very start she’d known what to expect the moment she asked for help, and she wasn’t going to back down now.   “I’ll do whatever it takes.”   Applejack smiled proudly at her friend’s resolve. Beckoning her to follow, the two began to run. ------------------------------------------- She’d lived a life of comfort, doing everything she could to avoid conflict whenever possible. She’d preferred to help others, to heal, rather than do anything that could do harm to another. Because of this she was always known as the passive on: gentle, kind, a pony everyone could get along with. In a perfect world, this would be ideal, something that could ensure a pony lived a long, normal and happy life with friends. However, this world wasn’t perfect, and Fluttershy’s life wasn’t normal.   Though she’d continued to be who she was after becoming an element of Harmony, always the fearful one, but also filled with kindness. She always relied on her friends for strength during the darker times. But she’d learned just how weak she was because of it, and came to understand why that needed to change.   Which is why she was now standing on a cloud high in the sky, her hands to her knees as she panted heavily, dripping with sweat. Furthermore, she was not alone. In front of her stood Rainbow with her arms crossed, waiting.   “One more minute,” Rainbow informed her. That was how long she had left to rest. Fluttershy may not have asked for it, but the moment Rainbow decided that she would kick her into shape, Fluttershy did not hesitate to agree. Though she would never admit it, Fluttershy’s story shook her core more than it showed. In her eyes, Fluttershy was never really a fighter, and never believed that she’d need to be. But now they were left with no other options, everyone would have to fight in this game whether they liked it or not.   “Alright, break’s over,” said Rainbow shifting into a stance, “Just like before, give me everything you’ve got.”   Fluttershy took one final breath before standing up straight, getting into a ready stance herself. Within a few seconds she charged at Rainbow once more, throwing punch after punch when she was within range. Unsurprisingly, Rainbow had a speed advantage between the two, parrying every attempt Fluttershy made at her.   In truth, Fluttershy had little to no skill in combat. Her other side appeared to have a fair amount, however. Had her aggressive side been the one in control during this spar, the gap between the two may have been a lot smaller. But Fluttershy had her reasons for not resorting to it; the first was her desire not to turn her other side on her friends. The second was due to her own pride; she knew that if push came to shove in the next attack, her other side would have to take control. And if she did, Fluttershy wanted her to be in control of a body that was better equipped for the physical demand of what might come.   “C’mon, faster!” Rainbow demanded as she pushed forward, causing Fluttershy to step back. Fluttershy did just as she was told, willing her body to move faster than it was, beginning to feel the strain due to the still unhealed injuries. But still she pushed forward, ignoring her own limits as much as she could. Finally, though, her efforts Fluttershy managed something; finding a brief opening she took it and landed a solid punch to Rainbow’s side. Normally she wouldn’t be proud of hitting her friends, but given the circumstance she couldn’t help it. All her effort that day had finally paid off, and she managed to enjoy it…for about two seconds.   “Wha--!” Fluttershy yelped as she suddenly found herself being tossed over Rainbow’s shoulder and on her back. Lucky for her the clouds cushioned the fall, leaving nothing more than a minor irritation on her back from the impact.   “Huh, you hit harder than I thought,” Rainbow said with a smile, rubbing the slightly red mark on her cheek, “I think we can call it quits for today.”   Rainbow sat down next to her. Fluttershy was going to argue that she could still keep going, only to find that she could no longer bring her body to move.   “I can’t believe you do this to yourself on a regular basis,” said Fluttershy, enticing a chuckle from Rainbow.   “Yeah, it can be rough, but when you start to notice the results, you’ll see it’s worth it.” ------------------------------------------- Deep within unfamiliar territory, the skies blackened as a storm raged on. The torrential rain threatened to cause floods, the strong winds warned of tornados. The only source of light to be seen was from the strikes of lightning all around, and the hellfire before him. Within the undying flames stood a dragon of colossal proportions, his wings outstretched and piercing the skies. Any being to witness such a beast would surely crumble in fear. But there was one who stood before it with unflinching eyes.   “Who dares enter my domain?” the dragon’s voice boomed with tremendous force, causing the earth beneath their feet to quake. But even as the ground trembled beneath his feet, the intruder remained still, a smirk spreading across his face. Looking up into the purple abyss of the large dragon’s eyes, he pointed at his own chest and said:   “I am the one who traveled between worlds, the one who rose to the occasion against every foe,” As he spoke, he would take steps closer towards the massive dragon, no hesitation in any of his steps, “Through everything I’ve overcome I have grown strong… stronger than all my opponents, and stronger than you!” Finally stopping, he threw out his arm and pointed at the dragon, his form revealed as lightning struck near him.   “I am John, the dragon of legends!”   The other dragon let out a terrifying roar which shredded the ground beneath John’s feet, but he didn’t falter. Taking off into the sky, John soared as a record breaking speed towards his opponent.   “You shall become ash at my feet!” the dragon proclaimed as he let out a ball of purple flames. But John would not back down; instead, he charged straight towards the flames, cutting straight through it like a knife through butter. He would overcome this flame and his opponent, and nothing would stop him.   As he breached through the flame whose heat surpassed the very sun itself, he was met with the giant, insurmountable mass of…butterflies.   “Huh…?” John stopped midflight, confused as the butterflies flew around him. That wasn’t the only thing that was different. The sky had cleared, the battle-worn ground was now green, replaced by a lush forest. With a blank expression, John descended towards the ground, standing there for several seconds of confusion. Until finally the gears in his head clicked, and he facepalmed.   “Not funny!” he said, slightly annoyed. His words were soon met with a light-hearted chuckle as the air before him opened up and someone stepped through. The one who was behind this was no surprise to him as he now stood before Co-ruler of Equestria and temporary mentor, Princess Luna.   “You know,” she said, taking a seat on a large moss-covered rock, “Some ponies would think of such a situation to be a nightmare.”   “Yeah, well,” said John, “Dreams are about perception… you taught me that, if memory serves…” He was currently pouting that his rather action-packed dream was interrupted.   “I’ll gladly restart your dream,” Suddenly, Luna’s laid-back disposition changed to a serious one, “But first I have something to tell you.” John read the situation quickly, and readied himself for what she had to say.   “Recently I have begun to sense a disturbance, a small shift in magic that should not exist without my knowledge,” she said, “However, I cannot pinpoint where it began, or what might be the cause.” The uncertainty of this was clear on Luna’s face; she knew something was happening, but didn’t know what, and it frustrated her.   “Could they be making their next move?”   “It’s possible,” Luna rose from her seat and took several steps towards John, “My sister has kept me informed of what has occurred. The battles are growing fiercer, your enemy growing bolder. As of now there is no telling what they may do, or who may suffer. Are you prepared for what may come?”   Luna looked directly into John’s eyes. John didn’t blink, meeting Luna’s gaze.   “When we first met you asked me the same question, so my answer will also be the same. As long as I have the strength to stand, I will never back down. I will protect my friends, no matter what.” Luna smiled at John’s response, patting him on the head.   “You are as noble as they come,” she said, her palm and horn glowing as she activated her magic, “No wonder she dreams of you.”   With a flash of light, the world faded away, and John found himself catapulted back to the land of the awake. ------------------------------------------- The waterfall had once been a place of training for John. Now, it served as a place for him to find some peace. But his time of sleep finally ended when Luna left his dream. He was now wide awake. John stretched his body as he rose from the ground, his conversation with Luna still fresh in his head.   If that disturbance really is them, then we might be able to turn the tides here, John then took off into the sky, heading towards Ponyville. If this disturbance was a sign for an impending attack, then maybe this time they could finally be prepared.   “No matter who it is, we’ll be ready, and we will-“ John paused in this sentence, his eyes opening wide in shock and confusion as the last bit of his conversation with Luna returned to him.   …She!? ------------------------------------------- Dear Princess Twilight, As always, your diligence in study can bring the greatest of information to light. As you know, since the breakout occurred I have tasked myself with identifying the missing prisoners from Tartarus. Most of the captive criminals in there I have helped place there myself, insuring they would never harm anyone again. Yet, still I have no memory of anypony by the name you have discovered. However, somewhere in the back of my mind, I cannot shake the feeling that I have heard the name before. As though somewhere, somehow, the name had briefly reached my ears, only to be soon forgotten. Rest assured, I will dabble as deep into this as I possibly can get. Tartarus is a vast prison, one that has existed even before my own reign on Equestria. If this Norma has ever been imprisoned there, I will be sure to find out. Signed, Princess Celestia