For the first time in over a millennia, The magic of Harmony began to gather in the depths of the underworld...
In sequence the necklaces began to glow brightly raising the ponies from the floor, Twilight's own tiara began to glow brightly. At once all six mares opened their eyes unleashing the awesome power of the elements of harmony. The lights shot upward curving back down into a rainbow that wrapped around the statues erupting into a rainbow tornado that shot right back up to the ceiling, smaller debris getting pushed aside as it spun tightly around the stone figures infusing them with energy. It only lasted a few moments before the tornado died away. The element wielders landing once more on the floor, a little shaky.
All at once the stone faded away, color returning to the former statues in a sudden rush. A collection of gasps and coughs echoed through the ruins, the six ponies taking their first breath in ages. Swords clattered to the floor, mixing with the rattle of bones as the monstrous alicorn began to move.
"Free..." a dark voice hissed from the skeletal monstrosity, curious yet elated.
"Did... did the ritual fail?" the male earth pony spoke staring up to the monster weak but unflinching, his soft tone carrying a quiet strength. The moment of quiet was cut by the ringing of powerful magic as both princesses set to bind the skeletal alicorn in place getting a low growl of surprise. It's red eyes flashed with anger.
"You..." it hissed struggling against the power bind. "Erg, Usurpers! Unhand me!" it's horn crackled with energy but it was suppressed by a concerted effort from Celestia.
"We have Ajora contained for the moment," The sun princess grunted keeping her focus on the thrashing beast, matching her own magic flares to counter Ajora's attempts to free itself.
"Make Haste friends and retrieve the others, I am uncertain how long we can hold this beast." Luna commanded glaring hotly at the alicorn in question, the elements immediately snapping to attention and rushing forward to help the recently revived.
"Is that... little Lulu?" Muttered the female earth pony staring wide at the moon princess.
"Up and at'em sugercube, we need to get you out of here." Applejack's voice seemed to break her from her chance, the farmer bent low and pulled one of the mare's forelegs over her shoulder slowly helping her to her hooves.
"Y-Yes, of course... Thank you." the well dressed mare did her best to hobble away from the magical tug of war but her eyes kept wandering back to the two princesses, confusion marring her features. Her male counterpart waved away the assistance, insisting the others needed the help more. It took him a moment to steady himself but he managed to stumble along behind Applejack.
The elder pegasus had somehow managed to re-sheath his massive blade by the time the girls reached him. As sturdy as he seemed to be the moment he tried to take a step he faltered, caught by pair of warm bodies on either side of him, a cyan wing over top his back to help stead him.
"Careful! You're too wibbly wobbly to be walking on you own." Pinkie chided cheerfully.
"Yeah, just take it slow and we'll get you out of here." Dash assured him, guiding them away.
"Well, I'm not one to argue with pretty mares." he said with a jovial, if weak, chuckle. Pinkie's bubbly giggle joined in a moment later while Dash rolled her eyes.
"Just keep your hooves where they belong old man." her rebuttal only brought a larger bout of laughter from the stallion. His unicorn companion looked onto the bound Ajora with the slightest of smiles.
"Perhaps there are yet gods that still listen..."
"Um Miss? It's really not safe over here." Fluttershy's muttered tone was barely audible of the evil sorcerers struggles. The unicorn looked over to the pegasus, causing her to flinch.
"What did you sa-" she paused eyes focusing on the element of kindness. "Is that..." she reached out a hoof immediately began to lose her balance. But Fluttershy was there to catch the warrior supportive despite her soft voice.
"Careful, you've been asleep for a long time. This way." she began to gently urge the unicorn forward, to which she complied, leaving her sword stuck upright in the stone, her horn not responding her her command to retrieve it.
"I am unused to such weakness...my Apologies Miss,"
"Fluttershy. No worries, a short rest and you'll be fine" she assured her charge and they slowly slipped away from the danger zone.
Rarity and Twilight approached the final two, the female unicorn glaring hotly at the trapped monster, while her male companion was seemingly doing everything in his power just to remain upright.
"Fire and Brimstone! Never again will I have a more open strike on the beast and my damn horn refuses to respond." She growled in a harsh tone. Biting onto the hilt of her massive blade she seemed to want to take matters in a more physical direction.
"Now Melody, you know that blade wasn't made for mouth wielding."
"dhis iz our besfth chanth!" She insisted, mouth still around the hilt. She groaned loudly trying(unsuccessfully) to lift the blade from it's furrow in the stone floor. A Purple aura surrounded unicorn and blade lifting them clear from the ground. 'Melody' spat the hilt free in surprise "What in blazes?"
"That won't be necessary." Twilight explained calmly, "We'll be handling it from here."
"Yes dear, you've done more then your fair share." Rarity chimed in offering the stallion a reassuring smile. He returned it before uttering an explosive sigh of relief.
"Oh thank goodness. I have had MORE then enough war and demons for one lifetime."
"Your in luck darling, we're fresh out of both at the moment." she carefully helped him from the field while his female companion did her best warrior's pout in Twilight's aura.
Ajora looked frantically from side to side, desperately trying to make sense of the myriad events happening at once. Insight flashed in his glowing eyes and his struggles ceased. Both princesses held their bindings firm watching the skeletal alicorn carefully for any sign of resistance.
"It seems it hath been some time since we last met welps," the chattering of bones was eerily off sink with it's deep, malevolent voice. "You have grown." he stated firmly, the last syllable trailing through the stale air. Neither Luna nor Celestia responded. The skeleton clenched it's jaw in annoyance. Turning it's gaze to the ponies slowly leaving the battle site. "I see you have a new batch followers and yet you returned... nostalgic for your old toys Child?" he hissed, enjoying the tightening of Celestia's shoulders.
"You leave the princesses alone ya bag of bones!" Dash shook a hoof before she was quieted by her friends.
"Royalty?" Ajora raised a bony brow. "My my... Perhaps we are not so different after all..."
"We are nothing like you!" Luna exclaimed with a grimace
"Luna." Celestia's voice was firm, if a bit strained. The moon princess regained her composure bring her face to a neutral mask once more. At that the beast began to laugh, sending a cold chill down the spines of all ponies present. The only one unphased the the male earth pony who took a step forward glaring defiantly before he was urged back. "Girls," Celestia began. "Get ready." The elements of harmony stepped forward, preparing to gather the powers of their artifacts once more.
Ajora's bony form creaked audibly trying to step away from the semi-circle of mares but the princess magic held it firm. "Such a short reunion and you already wish it over." The beast rumbled strangely calm. "Such poor hostesses. Very well I shall let myself out then." it added with a malicious grin.
"You are going nowhere Ajora." Celestia's voice thundered as her magic held strong. "Girls."
"Yes Princess." Twilight nodded to her friends and they begin to focus, their elements filling with the powers of harmony once more. Ajora merely grinned, it's glowing eyes flashing brightly, several claws bursting up from the ground below. The clawed fro purchase and began to pulled creatures of a sickly green pallor began to pull themselves from the ground.
"Demons!" The earth stallion tried to move forward but stumbled, limbs still numb. "Curse this weakness..." The braided unicorn rested a hoof on his shoulder, eyes forward as the elements reached full power. "Sterling?"
"Kite, you have nothing to fear. Those mares wield the harmonic auracite." she gained a grim smile. "Ajora's struggles are for naught." The six ancient warriors watched as a rainbow beam cascaded from the floating mares passing through the risen demons and scattering their dust to the wind.
"What?! such power!" Ajora's eyes widened in fear it's horn lighting up before being engulfed in a tornado of color and magic. "Not again! NOOOOOooooooo..." As soon as it started the magical onslaught had ended, a cloud of old dust and dispelled demons hung in the air obscuring the results of the impressive display.
"Is it truly over?" The earth pony mare asked softly clutching her tattered dress between her forehooves. The dust parted to reveal an odd site. Instead of grotesque skeletal statue there was... nothing. Merely dust and echos.
"Where'd old bony go?" Rainbow dash looked around confused.
"Did we send it to that moon?" Pinkie asked cocking her head, Luna frowned.
"No, Ajora's foul presence has not touched the moon... but it is gone." the moon princess finished with certainty.
"Ajora is no more..." Celestia gave a relieved sigh before looking to friends, old and new, and smiled. The ancient warriors visibly relaxed while Twilight and her friends exchanged smiles.
"Hmph, That was certainly a lot more flashy then I remember." The elder pegasus commented with a wry smile. "Admittedly with more of... feminine touch."
"Say what you will Cirrus but I would gladly have worn the most frilly of dress saddles if our battles would have been but a fraction less life threatening." The unarmored unicorn muttered watching the display in awe getting a laugh from the older stallion along with some of the others. His female companion on the other hoof snorted, hoof resting on her massive blade.
"You are hardly an ambassador of stallionhood as it stands Flintlock. I see not how a few frills would make a difference."
"Words as sharp as your blade, yet I seem to detect a bit of jealousy in your voice. Watching our mighty foe defeated with such ease..." he offered with a small grin as Melody snorted saying nothing in reply, eyes turning away from the new barers. An awkward silence slowly settled in with the reality of the current situation. Element barers, old and new, looked across to each other unsure what to do. Even Celestia, for which this day couldn't have gone any better, was at a lost. Fortunately her sister was not one to let silence reign.
"Some introduction are due, but mayhaps it best to save those until we hath left this foul place."
"Yes, I think we have spent more then enough time in Tartarus."
"You don't gotta tell me twice." Applejack chimed in, clearly relieved their trek into the underworld was at it's end.
"Yes," 'Kite' agreed. "The atmosphere is not exactly ideal for friendly tidings." he looked back to his companions. "Is everypony able enough for travel?" a wave of confirmation came from the warriors, only the earth pony mare seemed unsure.
"But brother, what about Eight?" she asked softly turning her gaze to the depowered automation. "We can't just leave him here..."
"Him?" Twilight muttered confused. A brilliant yellow aura lifting the pony shaped heap of metal from the ground ended any possible debate.
"No worries Serenade, it would hardly be fair to leave such a loyal guardian behind after all his hard work." Celestia smiled, horn glowing softly in the dim light.
"Thank you Celly. You really have grown so much." The dress clad mare said with a soft smile. "In more then just the obvious ways." her hoof masking a dainty giggle.
"Yes... It's been a very long time..." Celestia's smile was a little forced, 'Serenade' nodded returning a small sad smile.
"I'm beginning to get that feeling."