"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
The group stood looking at a very visible Clover the Clever. Her overall colors however were dull and void of brightness that was in everyone else present. She stared back at them for a few seconds before turning to Russel.
"This is the reason why we're here, I did not see that one coming. You've been pretty busy lately doing all sorts of things I gather," Rob said shocked to see all of this.
"Yeah, well like I said before, not sleeping free's a lot of time up to get things done. A person can get a lot done in one year," Russel said bringing to light the gravity of how much is possible without the need to sleep.
"Is there a reason why thee hath brought other ponies here? We do believe We asked thee to keep this event between us," Clover said with little bit of annoyance present in her voice.
"Weeeelll, I kind of had to, Princess Celestia pulled the diplomacy card on me. She told me to tell her where the portal led, or else consequences and such. So were you able to complete the formula," Russel asked with little clue to anypony else on what he was talking about.
"Yes, now all we need thee to do is to go prepare the rest and everything will be good to go. Thou can get started at any time," Clover finished as she turned to look at the group that was still staring. "Are they going to have strokes or something?"
"No, I think they're more shocked than anything right now. Come everyone, let go inside so we are not standing out in the open. Clover lead on," Russel said as the pony in question turned around and headed inside. Russel was first followed by the princesses and the rest of the party. When the group walked in they immediately noticed how barren the small building was. It had a desk with a chair and a bench nearby that sat next to a small coffee table.
There was a fire place but it looked like it hadn't been used ever. The rest of the house was empty.
"How could somepony live in such a drab and deserted house if you can even call it that?," Rarity asked since she saw the place as an eyesore.
"Everything in this place is barren, Limbo is not meant to be pretty. It represents a way station to the afterlife, that's it. We needed to do our research in peace anyways. Not to mention that even if your a ghost like them they still treat you with little respect. Most of them are angry and want to return to resolve their issues with whom or whatever they may be with," Clover explained.
"I guess I can see why you are are by yourself than with the other ghost ponies if they treat you like that," Applejack said with not much else to input.
"Why have you not moved on Clover? I thought when you passed you were content and happy with how your life went," Celestia asked with a touch of concern to her voice.
"We know, and when we got here we thought that too. However before we were about to pass on, we had stray thoughts about what Equestria would look like. We thought about what would happen to the country after we're gone. Thats when another thought came to mind. We made the mistake of never having children in life. By the time we had the capability to it was to late, we were already to old.
When we finally arrived here we thought, would we be remembered," Clover said a little saddened if her expression said anything.
"Of course you are, you are written down in the history books as one of the most influential unicorns to ever exist. You are told about in children stories and even some of Starswirls greatest works. Your celebrated in the Hearths Warming Eve festivals held every year thanks to your efforts. If you ever had doubts you can put them to rest," Celestia said as she consoled the spirit of one of her oldest friends.
"Thank you for your words of reinforcement princess, but we're taking a do-over. We're going to do what we were to short sighted to do during our first life. Thats why he's creating us a new body. Once we've done what we wanted to do, we will live to be old again but this time happy and peacefully content. Most ponies don't get that chance and we do. we're going to take it," the mint green and white unicorn said with enthusiasm.
"I'm still finding this all hard to believe even though I can see it with my own eyes. Ghosts aren't suppose to exist. Science says this shouldn't even be possible," Twilight said out loud. She was not comfortable with this. It was one thing when science couldn't figure out Pinkie Pie or her Pinkie Sense. She was eventually able to except that, but now this.
This was frustrating her to no end, yet at the same time she couldn't have been more excited. The fact that she was able to meet one of the two ponies who played a part in creating the Elements of Harmony. This was an amazing opportunity to see Clover the Clever in action.
"Well I'd get use to it if i was you. I've learned in life that science cant explain everything nor should it be able to. Some things your simple suppose to take on faith. Know that anything that can happened no mater how unlikely, is possible. That includes the supernatural, now Clover where is the sigil you said you prepared," Russel asked? Clover walked to the middle of the room and stomped on the ground as hard as she could.
A bunch of dust flew up in the air and a very intricate and large sigil was revealed underneath. Everyone saw the intricate line work and symbols that made up the sigil. It definitely looked like it took a lot of effort and time to make it.
"The sigil has always been here, its the safest place we can think of. We spent several years designing and putting this all together. This couldn't have been crafted better even if Starswirl the Bearded were here to do it himself.
"Do you know for a fact that it will work," Russel asked as he had never tried anything like this. It was one thing to do to himself what he did and he had help at that time. Bringing a living creature back from the dead he'd imagine was going to be much harder than that.
"Starswirl trained us well, we know it will work. Do thee have the necessary amount of magic for the spell? That's all you need be concerned with," Clover stated wondering if he did.
"Well we're both about to find out, everypony stand back. Clover I'm going to need some of your magical essence to bind with the spell," Russel said as he held out his clawed hand. Clover walked over and put her hoof on it and light began to warp from it and into Russel. He waved her away and after she was out of the circle, he slammed his hands onto the ground. The whole room shook as light began to emanate from the circle and then the whole sigil lit up. Every word on the sigil spelled out the spell that was written.
Energy crackled all around him as it began to build. The whole room felt alive with power as it got more intense. The light started to grow and brighten even more with the magical power being fueled into it. It grew to such intensity's that the other ponies could hardly see anything after a certain point. The spell peaked and then electricity began arching across the sigil into the middle of it. It did this a few more times before the power flowed to the center of the circle and began forming a body.
Once the body was formed to a proper setting, the energy pulsed outwards and burst before dissipating. When they were able to look again a ponequin looking body stood there motionless. It was of an earth ponies body decent. It had a mane and tail but the whole body was colorless and had no discernible features. It was completely blank and for all intents and purposes, an empty vessel waiting to be filled.
"We had our doubts but thou actually did it. It looks great, this will work nicely. Clover walked over to the body and begin drawing a symbol on the forehead. After it was complete she touched it and it light up before sucking her spirit into the body through the mouth. Once the body was filled, it began taking the color and characteristics of Clover the Clever. Her eye color down to the colors of her mane and tail was transmuted into the body. The only difference was that there was no horn and the symbol on her head was there.
Other then that it looked exactly like her.
"The similarities are uncanny, I think it looks like it fits perfectly. How do you feel," Russel asked as the others took notice of her new form.
"It feels strange having no horn but at least the sigil should keep us inside this body. Wouldn't want any other spirits taking it from us. Speaking of which, we need to get out of here. The other spirits surely saw the light show thou made. We think we should move out quickly to avoid being here when they show up. Let make haste," Clover said as everypony ran through the back door over to the tree lines and took a short cut back to the way they came.
Sure enough they could see a bunch of spirits coming down another path that led from the ghost town to Clovers house. They had a bunch of dead looks in their eye like there was no emotion in them other than anger. As the group got out of the area, they ran through side way paths and passages to make sure they weren't followed. After about an hour of this they finally made it back to the portal and were relieved to find the immediate area safe to be in. The ponies and humans one by one walked through the portal until it was just Russel and Clover remaining.
"Now don't forget the stipulations of our deal. You may have given me all the knowledge you posses on dark magic but I still don't trust you. plus I don't need the princesses knowing that I helped you, that would ruin everything I have worked so hard to build here. Once you are through, you go as far away from the castle as possible. You may have a new body but even without your horn, someone may still be able to recognize you. Go to a place you feel where you would be least likely to draw attention to yourself.
I don't need to remind you that what we are doing is dangerous not to mention could get me in a lot of problems. I swear if you even cause one iota of trouble and bring heat on me as a result of bringing you back. We will be seeing each other again and I will end your existence where the Elements of Harmony did not. Do you understand," Russel asked as he gave a stern look. Clovers closed her eye and opened them again only the original look was replaced for only a moment before changing back. The eyes themselves were translucent blue with teal irises and reptilian like slit pupils.
"Did anypony ever tell you, you look sexy when your angry and threatening. Calm down, I remember what you said you would do so you don't need to go threatening me with your powers. Don't worry, I wont cause any problems for you. Don't act surprised but I know we will be seeing each other again one day, and it will be under much different circumstances than you may think. Goodbye for now Russel I cant wait to see you again, she said as she began laughing menacingly. Her visage took on the look of her true nature if only for a second.
Nightmare Moons ethereal self shown through and was laughing along with her physical one. It disappeared soon after as she stepped through the portal. Russel felt creeped out every time he was around her but he knew that her knowledge was integral to his ultimate goal. She may have been inherently evil but her knowledge was necessary to his goals. No matter how much he felt it was a bad idea, he needed to hold up his end of the bargain. His personal honor would not allow him to break a deal or promise, it just wasn't in his nature to.
He always kept his word, and now he was almost ready to do what he planned to from the moment he got to Equestria. Finally, with the powers of both regular and dark magic at his control he would soon have Immortality. All he needed was a few more pieces of the armor and he would be ready. Russel looked at the realm of Limbo one last time and said something he was relieved to say.
"I'm glad that for once I can say that I will never have to worry about dying. Russel shuddered at the mention of dying because contrary to what he told his friends, he actually did fear something. The one thing he feared most was dying. Most of all he feared dying without learning everything that he possibly could about the universe. He loved learning so much, he craved knowledge. He wanted to see what it all had to offer a living being.
Maybe one day he would find the secret to ascending to an ethereal state without the need for dying. Until then he would do everything in his power not to die, and he came to terms with that long ago. With that Russel stepped through the portal knowing that he would soon not have those worries, and that gave him some comfort. As soon as he made it through he waved his hand over the image and it returned to its original state. After that they spent some time getting Clover/Nightmare Moon prepared for travel and said their goodbyes. He assumed she told them that she want to journey off somewhere until she found a place to settle down.
After a long winded speech from Twilight saying she was sad not being able to learn from her, the group said goodbye and went inside. That left Russel to watch as she traveled further and further away until she was no longer visible. He hoped and prayed he would never have to deal with her again.