Twilight Sparkle, The Castle of the Two Sisters, Nightfall...
The stillness of the air was broken only by the sound of my hoofsteps falling upon the cold stone floor. I walked onto the dias, before the pedestal which once held the Elements of Harmony. I regarded the now empty pedestal with a blankness, and sat down on my haunches, just letting my thoughts run free... 'Calm down. It's only been a few hours... A few hours. That's more than enough time to get to a secluded area and murder her... NO! She's still alive. Nopony would be foolish enough to kill one of the bearers... But what if she is...' I had a sinking feeling as worries once again flooded my mind, as they had been off and on since...
'What would happen if she's dead, hmm? The elements wouldn't work until you could find a new bearer, and even then... It might not work.' A solemn expression replaced my previous blank one, 'I... I should be able to figure out how to make them work without... Six bearers... If... If that becomes necessary... Right?'
The sinking feeling became worse. 'I'll have a better chance of figuring out how to make them work without all the bearers if I get started on it sooner... Maybe... Maybe I'll learn something else about them while I'm at it...' I took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. "Okay, I'm going to need a plan for the worst case scenario..." Dozens of scenarios started playing out through my mind, each one getting progressively worse than the last one.
I started to feel weak in my legs as the scenarios got worse, each of my friends... Dying... 'NO! Get a hold of yourself. You won't make a good leader if you're paralyzed by fear, nor will you be able to rescue her or protect them...' I looked at my hooves and the stone floor beneath them, trying to think of something else, anything else but... That...
'The cold!' It suddenly hit me, it was a rather cold night. It wasn't helped by the fact that it was raining.
After a few seconds, I felt a particularly cold sensation going down my muzzle, then saw a drop of water fall onto the floor. I blinked rapidly several times, and my vision blurred. I lifted a hoof to my eye, and wiped away the moisture, then repeated it with my other eye. I looked at my damp hoof, and then at the sky.
It wasn't raining. 'I'm crying...' I half-heartedly laughed at myself. 'Here I am, calling both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna foals, yet I'm the one crying...' I lightly laughed again, weakening until it died in my chest.
I looked back up at the pedestal with my eyes, then turned my head upwards. I made a decision. I would go to the Tree of Harmony, and take the Elements from it, even if I had to rip them from the Tree... 'For safekeeping...' I told myself. Then I would study them, and prepare for the worst possible outcome.
I slowly stood, gaining my resolve as I did so. Once I was to my hooves, I channeled magic into my horn and teleported into the cave beneath the castle.
One moment, I was standing on a cracked stone floor, surrounded by crumbling stone walls. The next, there was a flash of purple light, and I was standing inside a dark cave, illuminated only by the light coming from the Tree of Harmony, and the Elements. I had appeared a short distance from the Tree.
Even after having seen the tree many times before... The sight of it still took my breath away. I slowly stepped forwards, one hoof after the other. I stopped within touching distance of the tree, and reached out with my hoof, placing it gently on the trunk. I could feel the magic coursing through the living crystal... 'So much power... The Tree must have fully recharged it's magic reserves during the short time that it has had the Elements back...'
I took a step back, and lit my horn, channeling magic into it, preparing to fight the tree if needed. My heart rate was increasing as I stood there, thinking about the Tree, and the Elements. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled.
I reached out with my magic, and gently tugged on the Elements, hoping that the Tree and the Elements would recognize the familiar magic, and not resist my magic. The crystalline structure around each of the Elements slowly receded, freeing the Elements from the Tree. I carefully levitated the Elements down. I regarded each gem as I took it from it's spot in the tree, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Kindness...
I paused when it came time to retrieve Loyalty. My magic briefly faltered, and the other Elements fell for a second before I caught them. I looked at the gem with solemnity, and then gently pulled it from the tree. I brought the gem down, and held it in front of my face. As I looked at it, I started feeling a gnawing worry growing in the pit of my stomach.
I clenched my eyes closed and teleported the Elements, except for Loyalty and Magic into a pocket dimension. I lifted a hoof, and turned it upwards, then gently set the gem on my hoof. I found myself staring at the red gem, despite the current task at hoof. I slowly turned my head towards the Element at the center of the Tree, Magic, yet my eyes remained resting on my hoof.
I blinked, and forced myself to look at my Element, then gently pulled it from the Tree. I levitated it down in front of me, and regarded it momentarily, then sighed, and teleported both Elements into the pocket dimension.
I turned around, and faced the exit. A feeling of relief washed over me as I started walking towards the cave opening. 'When I get back, I'll see if they've found anything yet, and then I'll examine the Elements.' A thought briefly crossed my mind, almost like a whisper, 'And the Void Crystal...' I frowned and shook my head, 'No, I made a promise.'
Drip
I paused, and turned my head towards the source of the sound, and caught sight of a small pool of water on the floor. Despite the distance, I could see the rippling of waves upon the otherwise still surface. Something about the pool gave me pause, I felt almost drawn towards it. I slowly turned towards it, and approached it.
I walked over it and looked down at it. The pool of water was very shallow, it's surface was highly reflective. That gave me pause, I stuck my head towards it, and was greeted by my reflection. I felt a tingle of worry in the back of my mind, but brushed it off. The reflection was my own, yet I couldn't deny the growing fear in the back of my mind.
I blinked, and felt my heart skip a beat. I reeled back from the image that had replaced my reflection. Magenta dragon-slit eyes, a flowing, dark indigo mane with purple and pink stripes... I took a step back, and the image mirrored me. I slowly lifted a hoof out over the pool, the image reflected this, but the hoof was much darker than mine. I looked back at my hoof, it was still as I remembered it, then blinked.
The reflection in the pool had disappeared, to be replaced by a true reflection of myself. I lifted a hoof to my regalia, making sure it was still there. Upon feeling the warmth of the crystal, I felt a little bit more secure, but it did not completely vanquish my worries. I looked back towards the Tree, expecting it to have changed during the brief period of time in which I had not looked at it.
The Tree was the same. Nothing bad had happened to it, it wasn't under attack by vines, nor was it dying. That helped calm my nerves further. I took a breath and exhaled, 'Just my imagination...' I turned back towards the cave opening, and began to quickly head outside, back into the cool of the night, away from the relative safety and comfort of the cave, and into the cold, dark, and restless Everfree Forest.
'At night. Alone.' The thoughts hit me like a brick wall, giving me pause. The Everfree was dangerous at the best of times, and this was far from the best of times... I swallowed a growing lump in my throat, and spread my wings. Immediately my sides were assaulted by the chill of the forest's night air, but it would be an easy price to pay compared to attempting to teleport into a busy area at long range, or possibly getting attacked by one of the Everfree's countless dangerous creatures that lurked in the night as I traveled through the forest.
Twilight Sparkle, The Castle of Friendship, Later...
I folded my wings back to my body as I landed, stepping forwards as I did so. The two guards at the door saluted me without breaking their stoic expressions, I nodded at them, and they lowered their hooves back to the ground. I walked to the door and opened it with my magic, then quietly entered. Despite the late hour, there were ponies moving out, completing tasks or delivering reports, or just patrolling the castle's many hallways.
I silently closed the door with my magic, and looked around for somepony who could give me an idea of any new developments during my absence. None of the ponies in the immediate area looked like they might know anything other than what they were taking care of at the moment. I clenched my jaw, shook my head, and started walking towards the west stairwell. I needed to find out if anything had happened that needed my attention, or if they had found anything. Afterwards what I would do would depend on if anything had happened...
As I approached the hallway leading to the west stairwell, the guard I passed saluted me. I acknowledged them with a nod and continued on, not stopping until reaching the large crystalline double doors granting access to the stairs. I slowed as I approached the doors, and lit my horn to open the doors when they were opened from the other side. Spitfire walked out, her steps were slow, and she looked weary. Despite her tired appearance, her uniform was in pristine condition, neither a wrinkle nor a bar out of place on the general's uniform.
She immediately perked up when she saw me, smiling weakly and bowing her head deeply. "Princess..." She rose from the bow, her smile had shifted into a more stern, and concerned expression, "Where were you? The guards sent with you said you went off on your own into the Everfree. The last thing we need is for something to happen to you, Princess."
I sighed. "I'm fine. I was just at the Castle of the Two Sisters. I even flew back to avoid walking through the forest at night."
Spitfire frowned, "That old castle? What were you doing out there in the middle of the Everfree without guards?"
"I was retrieving the Elements of Harmony. And I'm pretty sure I can handle a couple of timberwolves..." I spread my wings and pointed a hoof towards my horn to emphasize my point.
Spitfire sighed, "It's not the timberwolves I'm concerned about, Princess. There are other far worse things lurking in that forest."
"I'll keep that in mind." I replied in an even tone. "Anything to report?" Any hope that had been growing in my chest as I asked that question was crushed when she shook her head.
"Nothing good, Princess. A patrol was found dead near the edge of the Everfree. They had signs of hoof to hoof combat, along with magic damage, and something else. We have medical examiners taking a look at them now. Their bodies were still warm when we found them, but we didn't find any clues as to the identities of the aggressors."
I let my wings hang loose from my body, they fell to the floor, and I brushed my mane back with a hoof. 'Okay... It's not that bad... One patrol dead... That's only... Eight ponies...' I shook my head and sighed. 'And it's all my fault... No... I couldn't have done anything about that... Right?' I pulled my wings back to my body, turned and started walking away, "If you find anything, I will be in my lab."
"Yes Princess." Spitfire replied.
I opened the door to my lab, and silently shut it behind me, not even bothering to illuminate the dark room that I had entered. I knew from memory where the chair and desk were, and skillfully avoided any objects that could have posed a danger to me from walking in the dark. I reached out with a hoof, and felt around for the chair. When I found it, I pulled it out and then sat on it, resting my forehooves on the desk.
I inhaled and exhaled, then lit my horn, bathing the room in a pale purple glow, and recalled the Elements from the pocket dimension. I caught the Elements in my magic, and gently lowered them to the table, with the exception of the Element of Magic. I levitated the Star in front of my muzzle, then looked down at my regalia, and withdrew the crystal from it. I levitated the two gems side by side, they looked identical. Completely identical.
Every single angle, every line, every point, it all looked exactly the same to my eyes. The only exception was that the crystal from my regalia glowed with an inner light, displaying my magic held within it for all to see. The Element of Harmony looked dull and empty by comparison. I frowned, and cast a spell to examine the molecular make ups of both crystals, down to the placement of the atoms. The spell would tell me how similar the two crystals were.
The spell completed in a flash of light, I frowned. The molecular make ups were the same... The position was different of course, but they were, for all intents and purposes, identical. 'So the spell to fabricate crystals works properly... And the Elements are likely all perfect crystals too...' I rubbed my chin with a hoof.
'How do you work?' I closed my eyes and channeled more magic into my horn, preparing to examine the Element of Magic for any clues as to how it worked. The spell faltered and I opened my eyes, the Element of Magic was surrounded by a light purple barrier. I blinked at the interesting development. 'It resisted my examination of it...' I frowned.
I placed the crystal from my regalia down, and fitted the Element of Magic into it. It fit perfectly. I inhaled deeply, then slowly exhaled, and closed my eyes. I drew upon my magic, and called forth the magic of the Element of Magic. It came freely to me, flooding over my body, and intertwining with my own magic. I opened my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. 'It still works for me...' I looked at the other Elements, then at my own.
The Element of Magic glowed pink, while the others were inert, I felt my mouth turn upwards into a smile, 'Maybe one Element bearer would be enough to defend Equestria from evil...' I paused for a minute to contemplate what that could mean, then my eyes fell upon the other Elements, namely, the Element of Loyalty. The smile left my face.
I reached out with my left hoof, and pulled the Element towards me, then picked it up in my magic. I closed my eyes, and tried to access it's magic. Nothing happened. I opened my eyes, and felt a tingle of happiness, 'She must still be alive.' I smiled, then frowned as another thought occurred to me, 'Or I can't use it because I'm not it's bearer... Or because I don't represent loyalty...'
I stood up, and pulled the Element of Magic out of my regalia, and replaced it with the other crystal. Then I lifted a hoof to my chest, inhaled deeply, then extended my hoof outwards as I exhaled. "She. Is. Not. Dead." I stamped my hoof down, punctuating each word as I spoke. "Nopony would be foolish enough to kill one of the bearers..."
I stood still for several seconds, then grabbed the Elements in my magic and placed them back into the pocket dimension. I waited in silence for a few seconds, 'It's been a long day. I... I should get some rest.' I had been gone for a hours, and the night was well underway. Despite the... Excitement of the day, tomorrow would be still happen, whether I was prepared for it or not.
I teleported into my room. I started to walk towards my bed, but paused after only one step. I slowly turned my head towards the ponnyquin, and regarded the armor resting upon it. I lit my horn with magic, illuminating the room with a pale glow, turned and walked towards my armor. I paused just in front of it, and rested my hoof on the chest plate. The chill of the metal seeped into my hoof, sending a slight shiver down my spine.
I slowly pulled my hoof back and lowered it to the floor. I suddenly shuddered as the image from the mirror came back to my mind, this time wearing armor. This armor. I closed my eyes, and walked over to the mirror, pulling the armor off as I did so. Once I stood in front of the mirror, I took off my regalia and began placing the armor on myself.
I could feel the strength of the armor, and the magic imbued into the steel. It sent a tingly feeling down my spine. I starred at the reflection in the mirror, almost daring it to change. I blinked. Nothing changed.
I sighed, lowered my head and pulled the helmet off with my magic, then placed it back on the ponnyquin.