//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Tombstone // by Fullmetal_Pony //------------------------------// Twilight and Tombstone went to Neighagara Falls for their honeymoon. During that time he taught her how to read, write, and speak dovahzul but he didn’t anticipate her being such fast learner and she had an almost complete comprehension of the language by the time they got back. As soon as they did get back Twilight dove right into the white book while Tombstone prepared for the ritual so they could have a foal of their very own. A week past by and the preparations were complete. Twilight decided to invite her friends and family to witness the occasion but didn’t give them any indication as to why they were showing up. Celestia was suspicious but decided to attend just to see what they were up to. When everypony arrived they gathered in the throne room and then Tombstone walked in. “Thank you all for coming. Before we get started we need to make a quick stop at the castle library to get Twilight.” “First why are we here?” said Celestia. “All in due time. Follow me.” They made it to the library and Twilight was just finishing up the last few pages of the white book. They entered and she closed the book. “Well what did you think of my work?” “It-it’s brilliant! This could change everything. It may even be more important than anything Star Swirl the Bearded wrote. The spells and the theories behind them. This could rewrite the very foundations of which magic it built upon.” “Well I wouldn’t go that far.” “Others have to know about this.” “No, I not ready to share my findings with any other pony yet.” Twilight let out a sigh. “Very well.” “Twilight what were you reading?” said Celestia. “She was reading my life’s work. Spells, theories, and everything else that I concocted over the last thousand years for regular magic is contained in that book.” Celestia looked skeptical. Tombstone then looked at Twilight. “Rek dreh ni frolok pah tol vreyviis.” “Waan rek vust etaak nii rek fund kos.” The others looked confused. “Sorry privet conversation. Now then follow us.” They were lead down a hallway until they come upon a set of doors. “Again me and Twilight appreciate you all coming here and I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re here. Today is a special day, for today we will bring a new life into this world. We’ve decided to have a foal.” The others were confused by this starring in silence for a moment before Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Woh-woh seriously, how? Twilight doesn’t even look pregnant and you’re dead, so how exactly does that work?” “You’re about to find out, behold!” Tombstone opened the doors and they made their way in, inside there was a large ritual circle with intricate words written in dovahzul and symbols. In the center of it was a large metal container with ingredients of some kind in it. “There is one more thing to do before we get started.” Tombstone used his magic to pluck a hair from himself and Twilight then placed it into the container. “Let’s being.” Tombstone touched the circle with his hooves and it lit up. The words and symbols began to move. “Zu'u faan voknau faal suleyk tol kos ahrk uth niin, ofan zey laas!” The circle grew brighter, the words and symbols blended together, and then a bright light with an explosion. All was silent as a thin smoke lingered in the room. *Cough* *Cough* “Did it work?” said Twilight. The room remained silent until they heard the sound of soft cries. Tombstone went over to have a look and smiled as he scooped up a newborn foal out of the container and held it in his foreleg. “It’s a colt and an…alicorn? Well dear it looks like he takes after you.” The colt had a black coat and a blue mane. Twilight walked over and smiled as she gazed upon her newborn son. Once the initial shock wore off the others began congratulating them. Velvet and Nightlight were happy to be grandparents. Celestia however refused to share in the moment. She simply turned around, walked out of the room, and teleported away. The others chose not to notice her leaving, except for Twilight who now after seeing Celestia just walk out like that stopped caring if she disapproved of her choices in life. “Oh-oh what are you going to name him?” said Pinkie. “We discussed that and we agreed that if it was a filly then Twilight could pick the name but since it’s a colt I get to choose. I shall call him Macabre.” The others weren’t too crazy about the name but went with it. A month later and time seemed to pass by slowly for Tombstone. After the birth of his son he began to worry about his family and just how safe they really were. Celestia wasn’t helping the situation either. Twilight told him that she had been asking questions and even brought up his phylactery as a topic. This got him thinking she was up to something and made a few trips to Canterlot in secret. He noticed a steadily increasing number of solar guards in the city and around the castle. He knew something was wrong. He just needed to talk to Celestia alone to ascertain the truth. Luckily there was going to be a royal summit in Canterlot soon. A week later they were at the summit and met up with the others. They were about to head into the conference room to conduct the meeting when Tombstone spoke up. “Celestia before we get started I would like a word with you, in private.” She was a little suspicious but agreed. “Very well.” They entered the room while the others waited outside and the doors closed. “Let’s make this quick. What do you want?” “Tell me, what are you plotting?” “What do you mean? I’m not plotting anything.” “Don’t lie to me! You may be able to fool others with that regal mask you wear but not me. You’re going to tell me what I want to know.” “And what might that be?” she said in a serious tone. “The truth!” Tombstone then cast a spell to invade her mind to find the information he needed. He found what he was looking for in her memories. He became instantly enraged and blasted Celestia with his magic sending her flying into a wall. The others heard a commotion. They burst into the room and saw Tombstone with a furious look on his face and Celestia against a wall recovering from having the wind knocked out of her. Luna fired a spell at Tombstone but he already put up a barrier separating them from the rest of the room. “Tombstone what are you doing?!” said Twilight. Tombstone either didn’t hear her or choose to ignore what she said. “You dare threaten my family with death! You bitch!” “What do you mean?” “Twilight Celestia has been plotting against us and seeks to destroy us.” Celestia tried to get up and retaliate but Tombstone lit his horn. Chains emerged from the wall behind her and coiled around her midsection, forelegs, neck, and horn cutting off her magic. She was then pulled back and held against the wall. “Don’t listen to him, he’s the enemy.” “Lies! Why don’t you tell them the truth? I looked at your memories, I know what I saw. If you won’t tell them then I’ll show them myself.” Tombstone then used his magic to project the memory he saw around the room. Captain Claymore entered the conference room of Canterlot Castle to meet with Celestia. Once seated she cast a sound proof barrier around them and locked the doors. “Thank you for meeting me here captain.” “Of course princess but why all the secrecy?” “Because what I’m about to share with you is completely confidential. I fear I may not even be able to trust my sister with what I’m about to say. You must swear not to tell anypony anything, understood.” “Yes your highness.” “Very good, let’s begin. The reason I’ve called you here is because something has to be done about Tombstone.” “I wasn’t aware he was still a threat.” “Don’t be fooled by his innocent act captain. I know he’s up to something and needs to die.” “What about his phylactery and Princess Twilight?” “Leave that to me. I’ll try to coax the location of his phylactery out of her and convince her to see reason. If I can’t and she’s too far gone then…as much as it pains me to do so she will have to join him in death, but not before I get his phylactery first.” “And their foal?” “That thing is an abomination. A twisted perversion of magic and nature. It has no place in our world and must be destroyed.” “But it’s still a foal.” “I will not run the risk of it growing up and trying to avenge its parents someday.” Claymore let out a sigh. “Very well, what do you need from me?” “I need you to increase recruitment for the guard. We’ll need all the ponies we can get to join the guard should the worst happen. I can’t institute a draft for no reason without it looking suspicious. The rest you leave to me.” “I’ll do what I can princess.” “Very good, and remember this conversation never happened.” The others were shocked by what they just saw. Luna couldn’t believe that her sister was capable of plotting to do such things but Twilight felt the most betrayed of all by what she was planning to do. “Tia is this true?” “Of course not. Luna who are you going to believe me or him?” “If you all still don’t believe me then a simple lie detection spell will solve this. Twilight if you would.” Twilight stepped closer to her and lit her horn about to cast the spell when… “Alright I confess it’s true. But I only was going to do it to protect Equestria. He’ll doom us all, can’t you see that?” “Enough!” Tombstone used his magic to summon his black book, opened it to the correct page, undid the chain around Celestia’s horn, and began to read. “Naal faal suleyk do vulom Zu'u faan voknau hi nu.” Celestia fired a spell at Tombstone but it redirected to the book. Then she realized she couldn’t stop the flow of magic leaving her horn. It was being absorbed into the book and she was helpless to do anything about it. After he finished the incantation the flow of magic stopped and he turned the book around so she could see. One page had the incantation while the other had a magic circle with Celestia’s cutie mark within it. Her eye’s when wide and she quickly looked at her flank, it was blank. “What did you do?!” “Isn’t it obvious? I’ve taken your magic and sealed it within the pages of this book. You won’t be harming anypony now.” Celestia felt a chill down her spine. Tombstone then retracted the chains back into the wall, releasing her. “You can’t do that!” “I just did, and maybe I’ll return it to you someday, if you’re good. Also just so you know if this book were to say be destroyed then your magic would be lost to you forever.” “But who will raise the sun? Also I’m sure ponies are going to notice that I’m missing my cutie mark and can’t use magic or even fly. What will ponies say when they find out what you’ve done?” “What do you think they’ll say when they find out what you planned to do? I’m sure you can find some way to get by without others knowing. As for the sun I’m sure me and Twilight can handle it.” “Twilight please.” “I’m sorry Celestia but you brought this upon yourself. We’re leaving.” “Luna, Cadence, Shining.” The others just looked away unsure of what to do. Twilight and Tombstone left and so did the others leaving Celestia to her own thoughts. I have no choice now. It’s time for plan B. After returning home Twilight finally let some tears loose. Tombstone went to comfort her and brought her into a hug. “I can’t believe Celestia could plot to do something like that, to just cast me aside and have not only you but me and Macabre killed as well.” “I can. It seems her hatred of me has made her delusional and paranoid.” “Tombstone I want to read the black book.” “Of course, and don’t worry I’m not going to let anything or anypony harm us or our son. Especially Celestia.”