Chapter 1 - Traitors in the Castle

Plink!

The young guard's eyes fluttered open.

Bink! Plink!

Only the memory of a bright light at the ending of his dream remained. "When did I fall asleep?" Looking at the ground, he noticed the grass he had been standing watch in had long became muddy.

'How long's it been raining?' He thought, looking at the dark clouds in the sky.

Plink! Bink! Plink!

As more rain struck his helmet, the young guard's horn flared creating a dome above him.

'Leave it to Canterlot to be so boring that rain and mud are the most exciting things to happen in a week.' Picking up his spear, the young guard started to pace the two monuments he was suppose to be watching. 'But I guess Canterlot's a nice place, if your a noble, a mage apprentice, or a guard.'

Making an about face, the guard started his march the other way. 'Though being a guard can still be lousy.' Ten paces back. Ten paces forth. Over and over. This was the young guard's night for the past three years.

An honor to some, but no pony came to the monuments at night, choosing to sleep - or some few work - during the night. Not that no pony was allowed to visit the monuments at night, it was just a rarity for any one to come.

The monuments had stood for nearly a thousand years, as a remembrance of the last alicorns. One monument for the alicorn of the day and the other of the night. So very few ponies prayed near the monuments any more, even during the day.

With the heavy storm clouds overhead, the guard couldn't star gaze to pass the slow moving time.

'It's night's like these that I wonder why I listened to my father and joined the guard like he did.' Looking at the nearby clock tower, the guard noticed it was only midnight. 'Still another four long hours.'

No sooner had he looked at the clock, the rain began to stop. Stopping his magic, the dome over his head disappeared.

"Magnificent aren't they?"

Hearing the unexpected voice behind him, the guard quickly spun around pointing his spear out of reflexes. Who he saw was an older unicorn stallion, his once black mane streaked gray with age, with a lighter brown coat. The older stallion was staring up at the two monuments, turning his head to the spear point, he released an amused chuckle.

Lowering his spear, the young guard couldn't believe he let himself be lost in thought to not notice someone approach. "Sorry, I didn't hear you approach."

"No problem." Smiling the older stallion turned back to the monuments. "But as I said, magnificent aren't they?"

"I suppose."

"It feels like centuries since I visited these two. Like visiting old family."

"You can visit them any day." the guard said, unsure of how to reply.

Laughing heartily, the older stallion turned to the guard. "Maybe, but then I'd have to worry about family squabbles." Still smiling he turned back to the monuments. "Well I must be leaving. It was nice talking to you, Mr. Aegis."

Shrugging, the guard turned back around. "You too, sir." But before he could continue his marching, something dawned on him. "Hey how'd you know my-" But when he turned back the older stallion was gone.

There stood no trace of the stallion, even the mud he had been standing in had no hoof prints. The only think out of place was a book under one of the stone monuments. Walking over, the guard picked up the book, "Book of Moon". No sooner had the words left his mouth, did the clouds part, and the moonlight shone on the book.

"Hey Crescent!" Another guard came waving at him, "Your shift's over."

Crescent turned to look at the clock tower again and sure enough it was four. "So it is." Crescent turned to the other guard.

"Something wrong? You look confused."

"No, I'm fine." Crescent scratched the back of his head. "The last few hours just flew by."

Leaving the other guard to his job, Crescent Aegis headed straight for the locker rooms to remove his armor and go home. Setting the Book of Moon down on the bench near his locker, Crescent began removing his armor. The white coat and blue mane of the royal guard's returning to his normal red coat with a red and blue mane.

"What's with the book, Cres?" When he turned around, Crescent saw his friend Druid Leaf looking at the book he had found. Druid's an earth pony with a tan coat and green mane and tail. Though a few years older then Crescent, Druid looks younger and acts even younger. "I mean, your brother's reading bigger books now ain't he?"

As he finished talking, Druid turned the book around, but it wasn't the book Crescent had found. '101 Nursery Rhymes?' Crescent thought, 'Books can't just change like that... can they?'

"Uh, yeah but... you never know, right." Crescent said giving a sheepish smile.

"What ever you say man." Laughing Druid tossed the book back on the bench. "Well I'm off to the bar, you wanna go?"

Sigh, "You mean, you want me to make sure you get home in one piece." It really wasn't a question, Crescent knew what Druid meant.

"Why that's an excellent idea." Druid said, framing innocents.

"You should feel ashamed, pulling a guilt trip on a friend."

"Only if it doesn't work."

"I have to be home to wake up my brother." Crescent said trying to get out of it.

"Not till seven."

"I-" Crescent tried, but couldn't think of another excuse, and reluctantly admitted defeat. "I hate you."

"Yay!" Druid jumped in the air for joy, then dragged Crescent out the door.

~~~

As Crescent sat in a booth at the bar all he could do was watch the clock. For nearly an hour and half, Crescent could do nothing to stop Druid from drinking and dancing with strange mares, and a couple stallions; though Crescent thought the stallions were from Druid's drinking.

Stretching out in the booth, Crescent kept hoping something more exciting would happen. It didn't take long till he got his wish. At one of the side exits, Crescent saw a scared looking earth pony mare being ushered out by two stallions that looked like they were up to no good. Once they were out the door, Crescent followed. Incase he was wrong, Crescent was a little hesitant at first, but as he went out the door, he heard the mare yelling for help.

Throwing caution to the wind, Crescent rushed to the mare and her attackers, with one pinning the mare to the brick wall of the tight alleyway.

"You know you guys shouldn't gang up on a lady." When the two attackers looked at him, Crescent noticed one was a pegasus and the one pinning the mare to the wall was an earth pony.

The large earth pony, motioned for the pegasus to handle Crescent, and turned back to the mare he had trapped.

In a matter of seconds so many things happened.

The pegasus' legs coiled.

Crescent flexed his wrists.

The pegasus's legs launched him at Crescent.

Two wooden weapons appeared in Crescent's hands.

The pegasus quickly closed the distance between him and Crescent.

Crescent's body twist, swinging all his weight into his weapon.

CRACK!

The pegasus lay in a pile of trash, unconscious.

The earth pony dropped the crying mare, turning to his friend with wide eyes. Slowly the earth pony turned to a smiling Crescent. But no sooner had he looked at him, did Crescent jump and begun a strong kick. But before the kick could finish, Crescent teleported to just in front of the earth pony. With the added force of his teleport, Crescent's kick sent the Earth pony barreling.

Bending down to face the crying mare, Crescent gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Miss-" She removed his hand out of fear. "My name is Crescent Aegis. The two who attacked you are out cold." The mare stopped her crying to look around then back at Crescent. "Would you like me to take you home, or call someone?"

Trying to stop herself from crying, proved too difficult for the mare, and instead she tried to speak through her crying, "My name's O-"

The back door was thrown open, and a worried white coated unicorn mare rushed outside. The unicorn saw her friend crying with some strange stallion beside her. Using her magic, the unicorn mare sent two music record flying towards the strange stallion.

Throwing his arms up, Crescent erected a shield to protect himself from the new attacker. As the records shattered against his shield, Crescent began to lower his shield, only to get punched in the nose, and knocked to the ground.

Before the unicorn mare could do more, the earth pony mare pulled her back, "Vinyl no!"

Vinyl was surprised when her friend helped up the stallion who Vinyl thought her attacker. But quick look at the two unconscious ponies, made Vinyl realise her mistake, and started laughing sheepishly.

"Sorry man. My bad."

"It's fine," Crescent rubbed his nose trying to ease the pain, "Gotta say though, nice punch."

"Yes, well my names Octavia Melody and that's Vinyl Scratch."

"I'm Crescent Aegis. So are you alright Miss Melody?"

"Oh please, call me Octavia. And yes I'm alright now."

"Well it was nice to meet you both, but I need to get going." Grabbing his wooden tonfas he had dropped when Vinyl punched him, Crescent magiced them away, and started to leave.

"Hey wait a minute, Cres." Vinyl said.

"Something wrong?" Crescent turned back around.

"Here." Vinyl held out two tickets, "These should get you in here for free. Call it an apology gift."

"Thanks. But the only reason I came today was because a friend dragged me here."

Crash!

The back door was flung open again, and a very drunk Druid Leaf stumbled out. "Cres, *Hic* Crescent!"

"Speak of the devil." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Crescent shook his head at his friend. "That would be my queue to leave. Druid's had a few two many."

"And it's wonderful!" or at least that's what Crescent thought Druid said.

Lifting Druid on his shoulder, Crescent made his way to Druid's house. All the way hoping he made it in time to get his brother to school.

~~~

Crescent made it home just before seven, and y the time he could actually go to sleep it was nearly nine. Nearly dragging himself to bed, he just knew he'd be out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

But it was not meant to be.

Finally giving in, Crescent opened his eye, and noticed a book on the desk near his bed. Sitting up, he grabbed the book.

'I thought I forgot this at the bar.' As he held the Book of Moon, Crescent finally got a good look at it. The Book of Moon's a large and thick book bound in a dark leather, with silver trim. As it's title says, a silver crescent shaped moon rested in the center of the cover. With the book being as big as it is, Crescent figured it was a grimoire.

The longer Crescent held the book the more he wanted to open it and read it. And it didn't take long till his curiosity got the better of him.

Yet much to his disappointment, as he flipped through the pages, Crescent found nothing. Every page in the Book of Moon were blank.

'Well at least I don't need to worry about the owner needing his grimoire.' Throwing the book back on his desk, Crescent laid back down on his bed.

And was out like a light.

~~~

Crescent awoke by rolling out of his bed, into a bed of grass. Between the jarring of falling out of bed and falling in grass, Crescent was quickly awake.

Looking around, Crescent couldn't figure out where he was or how he got here. Crescent's bed had seemed to magically appear on an island in the middle of a lake, under a canopy of large purple flowers. The moon hung high behind him, surrounded by countless stars. As Crescent looked at the land across the water, he saw a multitude of large dim glowing plants, and a waterfall.

Hoping to figure out where he was, Crescent walked towards the water. Before he could think of away across, other then teleporting, stones rose from the water creating a stepping stone bridge. Testing it first, Crescent made his way across the bridge. No soon had both his hooves touched the ground, the bridge sunk back into the water.

"Where on Equus am I?" There wasn't many clues for Crescent to figure out were he was, only a lake surrounded by mountains, and the large glowing plants. "I wish I paid more attention in geography." With no better plan, Crescent started walking towards one of the nearby cliffs, hoping to find something, anything, that could help him.

As Crescent made his way up the cliff, he could feel the ground getting steeper. Most of the walk Crescent had to watch his hoofs, for fear of falling from a wrong hoof placement. As he climbed higher Crescent began to feel winded and thought his climb would never end, and chanced a look to see how much farther he had to go, to find he wasn't alone.

At the top of the cliff stood a tall pony. With the moon right behind them Crescent couldn't tell much more about them, only that the silhouette was obviously female. Putting his head back down, Crescent moved faster to the top, invigorated by the thought of knowing where he was. At the top, Crescent finally got a good look at the mare. Though he could clearly see her, silhouette was still the best word he could think to describe her. Though she was shaped like a mare, she still looked like she was made out of a starry night sky, with her tail and mane floating in the wind.

"How are you here?" As she turned around, Crescent noticed where her eyes should be were two galaxy like swirls.

"I don't even know were here is."

She looked at him surprised, though how Crescent know how she felt was beyond him.

"You are in my dreamscape."

"Dreamscape?" Looking around Crescent still wasn't sure what to think. "You mean a dream. I thought that kind of magic was lost long ago."

"I am the last alive who can wield this power correctly, and have been imprisoned here for centuries. So I'll ask again, how did you get here?" Growing angrier by the minute, her voice began to drip venom.

"I told you, I don't know how I got here." Crescent began backing up for fear of this mares anger, "I looked in a book I found, and went to bed. When I awoke, I was here."

"So you admit to reading spells you have no knowledge of." The mare summoned a sword with a moon on the hilt. "Then before you become another Sombra, I will end it here." Wings spread were there appeared to not be a second earlier, and she flew towards Crescent.

Summoning a tower shield, Crescent just barely blocked her sword swing. Not expecting her attack to be blocked, the mare grew more angry. The more strikes Crescent blocked, the angrier the mare became. The angrier she became the harder she swung. And the harder the mare swung her sword, the farther back Crescent was pushed.

Finally, the mare flew back, with a combination of her strong wings and her magic, the mare rocketed towards Crescent. Preparing to withstand the attack, Crescent placed his hoof back for support, only for it to meet empty air. With being backed up to the edge of the cliff, and an angry mare wanting him dead; Crescent did the one thing he figured he would survive.

He jumped.

Zooming past were he was, the mare turned in the air, still determined to kill him. As she got closer, so did the water below the cliff.

Crescent kept hoping his plan would work. He knew it was crazy, one wrong move and he could die. But it was the best he could think of.

Just before the mare impaled him or he smacked into the water. Crescent teleported to the nearest shore line, leaving the mare to crash into the water. When he landed, he fell to his knees to catch his breath. But he didn't have long. With a loud roar, the mare erupted from the water.

Not wanting to make it easier on the mare, Crescent quickly ran into the flowers seeking refuge.

Crescent didn't have long to hide before the mare was close again. "Come now! It is useless to hide."

Crescent knew she was right, especially if this was her dream. He quickly came up with another plan. Summoning a spear, Crescent tied a vine he found to the spear and another to a tree. As the mare walked by were he was, Crescent used his magic to propel the spear through the mares legs and into a tree on the other side. As she fell, Crescent started summoning multiple crescent blades to pin her arms and legs.

As he finished pining her to the ground, Crescent couldn't seem to stand up straight. "Crap."

Using her magic, the mare dispelled all the weapons Crescent had summoned. Since she didn't have a horn to begin with, Crescent forget to stop her magic.

"It would appear you've used all your magic."

"I won't give up. Your gonna... gonna..." Crescent fell to one knee, and hung his head. 'I can't be out of energy, it must have been the teleporting.'

The mare started walking towards him, deciding to end it quickly.

'I need to win, I'm not about to die here.'

The mare got closer, but before she could get close enough to end it, a large two-handed sword appeared in the ground near Crescent. When Crescent looked up, the mare saw his eyes had change from that of a normal pony to that of a bat pony. The mare backed away a step, knowing all to well the power that was about to come forth.

Standing up, Crescent pulled the sword from the ground and held it at his side towards the mare. Thrusting it forward, Crescent yelled, "Darkness be with me!"

Not having enough time to move or act, the mare was pushed back by four orbs of shadow fire, into a rock. 'How can he have so much power after nearly fainting?' Looking over at were Crescent was, the mare noticed something, "Where'd he go?"

She didn't have long to wonder.

Lunging forward away form the rock at her back, the mare just barely missed the sword swing that cut the rock to pieces. Crescent launched himself forward, striking the hasty risen shield the mare had created. The shield easily broke stunning the mare. Incasing his hand in shadow fire, Crescent threw his hand forward, reaching for the mare's head.

The mare knew the spell Crescent was using, and knew she was bested. But Crescent's hand never made it to her. The magic poisoning, had drained the stallion now passed out at the mare's feet.

Releasing the breath she didn't know she was holding, the mare couldn't believe luck was on her side.

"You had better hope he isn't dead, Moonbutt." A chuckling stallion's voice came from behind the mare.

*sigh* "So much for luck."

~~~

When Crescent started to wake, he was very tired and very sore. Taking a lot of his minimal strength left, Crescent propped himself off the cot he found himself on.

"And here I thought you had died." The mare said, stoking a nearby fire.

Crescent tried to move again, but could only collapse back on the cot.

Jumping to Crescent's side, the mare made sue he was ok. "You should rest, the magic poisoning is still in effect."

"Why didn't you kill me in my sleep?"

"Somepony convinced me otherwise."

"Who?"

"He made me promise not to say. But that's not important. What I want to know is, who taught you to use that power."

Crescent clenched his teeth in pain trying to look at the mare, "What power?"

"You harnessed a dark power, one that shouldn't still be available."

"Nopony did. My fathers side of the family can hardly do levitation spells, and my mother is from a long line of Earth Ponies. I'm lucky I can do any kind of magic." Crescent couldn't help but chuckle only to wince in pain, "Though, as you can see, I'm not good at controlling it."

Thinking it over, the mare came to a decision. "Hold still." Standing above Crescent, the mare stretched her arms out above him.

"Like I have a choice."

"This'll hurt." Without giving Crescent a chance to respond, the mare sent her own magic into him, making him convulse in pain.

After five agonizingly slow minutes, the mare stopped her magic from going to Crescent. "No try to stand."

Much to his surprise, Crescent got up easily. "How did you...?"

"Another forgotten spell."

"So this mystery stallion" - Crescent stretched his muscles testing their soreness - "how did he convince you to not kill me?"

"What do you know of Nightmare Moon?"

Hesitantly Crescent said the first thing to come to mind. "It's just an old ponies tale. Isn't it?"

"So my sorry tale has been set as a legend." The mare chuckled lightly, "Not necessarily a bad thing. So how does the legend go?"

"If I remember right, a dark entity corrupted Luna, the alicorn of night. She fought against her sister, Celestia the alicorn of the sun, and in the end both were banished to their own celestial orbs."

"Basically. I was jealous of my sister for our subjects were awake during her day, while the ponies slept during my night. That jealousy attracted one of the nightmare legion to try and take my mind, eventually I relinquished control. In the end, sister had to use our weapon, the Elements of Harmony, and as a price shared my punishment."

"So if your Luna," Crescent remembered the fight they had earlier, "I think I did really good in you duel. But I still don't understand were I come in at."

"The Summer Sun Festival is coming up, on that day my sentence is finished, but my sister still has a few days. To free me or to even defeat Nightmare Moon, the Elements of Harmony must be reunited. Each of the seven elements have chosen avatars, they must be found to defeat nightmare.

"And this mystery stallion, as you call him, is convinced your the one who starts the chain of events that are about to unfold. Either it be for the good of everypony or everyponies downfall."

As that thought sunk in, Crescent just sat there, laughing.

"What is so funny?"

"The whole idea, it's just stupid." Crescent looked up at the moon, still high in the sky, "I mean I'm nopony special. If it was a prince or a famous hero, then maybe. But I'm just a guard, I'm practically canon-fodder."

"Do you truly believe that?"

"Yes."

There was a long pause between the two, Crescent unsure of what more to add, and Luna wanting to choose her words carefully.

"Why did you become a guard?" Luna said, breaking the silence.

"My talent is with summoning weapons and shields, I wanted to put that to use. To protect other ponies who can't protect themselves."

"So you would condemn them without taking action?"

"I-" Crescent wanted to snap back, but the words died in his thought. "But I'm just one stallion."

The silence resumed, neither knowing what to say.

"You fight a lot like I use to." Luna said, breaking the silence again.

"I still can't control my powers."

"Then let's make a deal. You at least hear me out about the Elements of Harmony and I will teach you to use your dark powers."

Crescent thought her proposal over. What did he have to loose?

"Alright."

"Good, but you'll be waking soon. I am connected to your Book of Moon, as it was once mine, and we can talk via the book."

"So how do I wake up?"

As Luna touched Crescent's forehead, his vision went white.

~~~

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Reaching his arm over, Crescent turned his alarm off. "Oh alarm clock, how I hate you."

Dragging himself out of bed, Crescent noticed the Book of Moon, and got an idea. Going over to the closet Crescent found his old spell book holder. Placing the Book of Moon in the holder, Crescent fastened it to his belt.

'Good morning, Crescent.' Came a voice.

Nearly jumping out of his skin, Crescent swore he had had a heart attack. "Holy shit!" Looking around his room, Crescent saw nopony, yet recognized the voice, "Luna."

'Hello, Crescent. I told you we could contact each other via the Book of Moon. As long as you touch the book we can talk.'

'So I see.'

~~~

'So does this mean you can hear all my thoughts?' Crescent and Luna had continued their mental conversation, while Crescent walked the streets of Canterlot.

'No only the ones you direct to me.'

'That's a relief. No offense Luna, but I'm not one for mind magic.'

'Crescent, may I ask a boon?'

'Sure.'

'May I also see through your eyes? I wish to see Equestria a thousand years after my banishment.'

'As long as I can still see.' Crescent's vision shifted a little, but other wise he had noticed nothing.

'Equestria has not changed much, though there are fewer armed civilians.'

'Civilians carried weapons back then?' Crescent never thought of the possibility of armed civilians.

'Some did. So were are we going?'

'To the school, I pick my brother up after his classes.'

'Where's the school at?'

'Up here on the corner.'

As they got closer a bell sounded, and not long after a multitude of fillies and colts came rushing out.

'So which one is...'

"Crescent!" A colt with a green coat and brown mane rushed towards Crescent, with his face covered in a big smile.

'Not much resemblance between the two if you, is there.' Luna said chuckling in Crescent's mind. Crescent began to wonder if he would ever get use to talking to Luna in his head.

'Not really, I look like our father, while Astral looks like our mother.'

"Hey, Astral. How was school?"

Astral's face quickly changed, "Boring as always." Astral looked down at Crescent's side and noticed the Book of Moon. "When'd you get that?"

"Just this morning. A requirement for my new martial arts instructor."

"But your already amazing."

'Aw, he's so cute.' Luna squealed in Crescent's mind. With him wishing she had done it quieter.

"There's always somepony better." Crescent said smiling at his brother.

~~~

Later that night, Luna led Crescent through Canterlot castle, saying it was his turn to uphold his end of the bargain.

'Luna, were are you taking me?'

'You'll see, turn left up here, and last door.' Crescent did what he was told, but as he reached the door there were voices.

"Are the preparations ready?" A mare's voice said.

"Nearly, most of the guards have willingly joined. The others required a little more coxing. And less then a dozen remain unaware." Another mare's voice called.

"Good we're almost ready for Nightmare's return tomorrow." The third voice was a stallion's

'I know that voice.' Crescent said.

'Who is it?'

'Hold on, I want to make sure first.' Very quietly, Crescent moved closer and looked the door's small window.

'It is.'

'Crescent, who is it?' When he wouldn't answer her, Luna started looking through his eyes again. Who she saw were two mares, a pegasus one with a white coat the other am earth pony with a black coat. But the stallion had a red coat, with a blue and white mane. 'Is that...?'

'Yes, my father. Dame it!' Without thinking, Crescent punched the wall next to the door. All three ponies in the room looked at the door.

'Run, Crescent.' The three started moving towards the door, 'Run!'

Short on time Crescent teleported to the floor below him.

'Alright, Luna, I believe you. Now what.' Crescent hurried down the hall hoping to not be seen.

'You need to find the Elements of Harmony, I believe they were last in the old Castle.'

'Alright, but I need to get my brother. I won't leave him here.'

'Go.'

As Crescent teleported again, his father came down the stairs looking for the pony who heard him earlier.

~~~

Arriving at his home, Crescent picked up a note he found on the door.

Today is the day we agreed that I would take,
Astral Warden. I know you are busy so I'm not mad.

Your Loving Mother,
Spirit Ward

'I forgot about that.'

'Your parent's aren't together?'

'No, they separated shortly after Astral was born.'

'Probably for the best that he's with his mother. With Nightmare coming, you never know what might happen.'

'Maybe. Well next stop the ancient castle.'

Chapter 2 - The Book Bearer

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"Long ago, there were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created harmony for all the land. The eldest used her alicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; while the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects.

"But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. Their subjects relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night.

"One fateful day, the younger alicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart attracted a monster of evil, transforming her into a creature of darkness: Nightmare Moon.

"Vowing that she would shroud the land in eternal night, the sisters fought. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her in the moon. But as punishment for using the Elements alone, the elder sister became imprisoned in the sun.

"With the fall of the regal sisters, their apprentices took on responsibility for both sun and moon, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since."

Closing the book he was reading, the teacher stood and looked out towards his large classroom full of students, making a mental list of all his students who were waking up. "Thus concludes this lesson on 'The Fall Of The Sun And Moon'." No sooner had he finished talking did the bell ring signaling the end of class. The teacher continued, louder to be heard over the stomping of his student's exit. "Please read the next three chapters on the rein of King Night Shield and Queen Golden Aurora, by Monday." As one of the last students rose from her chair, the teacher called to her, "Miss Sparkle, would you come here please."

The young purple unicorn mare looked at her teacher, countless scenarios going through her mind of what she could have done wrong. Grabbing her spell books and staff, Twilight Sparkle moved towards her teacher. Every step she took, a new scenario would come to mind.

'Did I fail the last test?'

'Did I forget an assignment?'

'He's not going to send me back to magic kindergarten is he?'

Nervously straitening her robes, she made it to her teacher, "Y-yes, Mr. Bedlam?" Her teacher Bedlam, was an older pony, his once black mane streaked gray with age. Yet his light brown coat was still all the same color.

Bedlam looked up from a stack of papers, "Miss Sparkle, I-" as Bedlam looked at her, he couldn't help but chuckle at Twilight. "My dear, by the look on your face... do you think your in trouble? My dear, you are a prodigy among unicorns, and my best student."

Looking away sheepishly, Twilight could feel a blush rising to her face from the praise.

While chuckling, Bedlam continued, "No my dear, I have a special project for you. As you know, in two days is the Summer Sun Festival. I was asked to direct this years festivities, but a sick friend has called me away. I'd like you to take my place."

Out of all the things Twilight thought her teacher would say, this was not one of them "Sir, I haven't celebrated the Summer Sun since I was a filly. I don't know all the rules." Twilight began to panic, and as she spoke Bedlam saw strands of her mane pop out of place.

"Twilight." she didn't hear him, "Twilight." She continued her ranting, "Twilight Sparkle!" Finally hearing him, Twilight stared wide eyed at Bedlam. Straitening her mane, Twilight smiled sheepishly, waiting for him to continue. "Thank you," Handing Twilight a stack of papers, "All I need you to do, is go to each station tomorrow afternoon and make sure everything's in order. Can you do that?"

Quickly looking over the papers, taking a deep breath, "Yes, Mr. Bedlam. You can count on me."

~~~

Late that night, Twilight sat in her private library at her home, having another of her all night reading sessions. While reading through the papers Bedlam had given her, Twilight had grown curious of the fight between the royal sisters on the first Summer Sun Festival. She started to find some inconsistencies, and when reading further found a prophecy.

"Upon the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in the escape of the Night Queen, and she will bring about everlasting night, upon the world. Soon thereafter, the stars will aid the Solar Empress, and the true fight of the cosmos will ensue. To restore the balance, a chosen of the gods, a child of both light and dark, will unite the fundamentals of harmony, and calm the heavens, before the storm."

Not believing what she had read, Twilight started going over the dates in her head. No matter how many times she went over the numbers, she came to the conclusion this would be the one thousandth annual Summer Sun Festival.

Twilight quickly moved to the next book she could find on the subject. "The are seven Elements of Harmony, yet only six are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Spirit, Honesty, and Loyalty. The seventh is said to appear when the first six are present, and the spark will ignite the-" As Twilight turned the page in her book, she found the pages destroyed by time. With a groan of frustration, Twilight began to go through her whole extensive library.

~~~

As the sun rose the next day, the sun shone through the curtains and into a young sleeping dragon's eye's. "Go away." he yelled at the sun, but as stubborn as dragons are, the young dragon had to relent and got up.

Passing the door to Twilight's library, he peered inside expecting to see Twilight asleep from a long night of reading. But instead, he saw all the shelves devoid of books and Twilight frantically searching through book after book, then throwing them in a pile.

"Twilight? What in Equestria are you doing?"

"Oh good your up, Spike. I need your help finding information on the Summer Sun Festival, the last alicorns, Nightmare Moon, or the Elements of Harmony."

All Spike could do was groan, "It's too early for this Twilight. I'm gonna go make breakfast, then I'll help."

"Alright Spike, but hurry back!" As she finished the book she was looking at, Twilight started to teeter on her feet feeling sleep trying to grab a hold of her. "No I can't, I can't-" Twilight collapsed in a pile of books, and was asleep before she touched the books.

~~~

Spike didn't know how long Twilight should sleep. But as he finished reorganizing the library, Spike glanced at the schedule Twilight had made last night.

"Twilight! Wake up!" Twilight did not even stir from her slumber, Spike got close to her ear and calmly stated, "Twilight, your late for your first appointment."

No sooner had Spike said those dreaded words, did Twilight's eye's snap open. "What!?" Jumping up Twilight grabbed her staff, spell book, and schedule, then pulled Spike by his arm out the door.

"How could you let me sleep all day, Spike?!" Twilight said looking over to her friend, while they rushed to the first stand Twilight was to inspect.

"Well I'm sorry." Spike retorted, trying to keep up with the rushing mare. "But when I came back to the library with your breakfast, you were out cold."

Rolling her eyes Twilight looked at her schedule, still running to make up for lost time, "Whatever, first up is food with Gaston, his store is just down the street. Come on."

~~~

As they finished the final thing on Twilights schedule, her and Spike slowly headed back home. With the third look of her schedule, she confirmed they had finished everything, and Twilight still had plenty of time to study before midnight, when she would learn if the prophecy was right or not.

"Twilight! Spike!" Glancing over they saw three unicorns mares, walking over to them, "We're going to a party Moondancer is having. You guys want to come."

"Oh sorry Twinkleshine, I didn't sleep much. But Spike can go."

"Sure, I'll go." The three mares grabbed Spikes arms and led him down the road.

"We'll be the most popular group, going with a big strong dragon." One of the mares said.

Spike wanted to protest to Twilight now, but he could not find his voice as his face turned red.

As Twilight returned home she notice a few stalls still open of the celebration tomorrow, one of these being a book stall that she just couldn't pass up.

Going over each book carefully to see if she already own them or not. As she finished something compelled her to look through them again. But this time she found a large grimoire, bound in leather, with an alicorn on the front. She found the name to be 'The Book of Globe'. Fully intrigued, and not believing that the book was being sold by a random stall, Twilight quickly picked up the book and went to pay for it.

"Ya got lil brother or sister?" the pony at the stall asked her, as she was getting the bits for her book.

"Excuse me?" Twilight couldn't understand what the stallion was talking about.

"Ah asked if ya had a lil brother or sister, since that there's a book for foals."

Glancing down at the book in her arms, Twilight noticed it was definitely for foals. 'Books don't just change there covers with out someponies magic... or can they?'

"Uh, that's right, a little brother." Twilight gave the stallion a sheepish smile, 'Not a total lie, Spike is younger.' She thought to herself.

"Ah thought so, here's your change miss." After getting her bits back, Twilight ran the rest of the way home. She still had to prepare of tomorrow in case the prophecy did come true.

At her home, Twilight again frantically searched for more information, but as the fated hour grew closer, Twilight had nothing to show for it. Glancing at her new book, Twilight noticed it had returned to looking like it did the first time she saw the book. Picking up the Book of Globe, Twilight started flipping through the pages, and found each one blank.

"I paid good bits for this, I should have looked inside the book first instead of hoping." Twilight rested her head on the table, glancing at the book.

Before her eyes writing was appearing, 'Fear not young filly, I'm not a waste of money.'

"Whoa!" jumping out of her seat, Twilight fell in the floor.

But when she got back up, Twilight noticed that a new line of text was written. 'You should be more careful. I offer you answers to the questions I see plaguing your mind. But please, do try to use them wisely.'

"What kind of book are you?" Twilight asked absentmindedly.

The book started to write more, 'Seriously? That's your question?'

"No! My first question is: Who are the regal sisters, Nightmare Moon, and the Elements of Harmony from a thousand years ago?"

'The royal sisters are the youngest of three children, sired by the first alicorn. Concord of the earth, Celestia of the sun, and Luna of the moon. Luna became consumed by one of the Nightmare legion, and unwillingly became the tyrant and killer Nightmare Moon. The Elements of Harmony, are seven crystals that each embody a fundamental of harmony. They each choose a bearer and when united are more powerful then the ancient alicorns.'

"What is the Nightmare legion?" Twilight couldn't believe she was talking to a book. Sure she had surrounded herself in her studies, but this was the first time she had talked to a book.

'The Nightmare legion are just one of the many corrupted races in Equus. And one of the first corrupted by Sin.'

Twilight sat there before the Book of Globe, massaging her temples. 'If any of this is to be believed, Nightmare Moon is to be freed by her banishment, tonight. She was stopped last time by her sister sacrificing herself to imprison both in the sun and moon. And he sister used these Elements of Harmony to defeat her.'

"How would somepony find the Elements of Harmony and their bearers?" Twilight was still unsure of how much of this she could believe, but she had always looked to her books to find the truth.

'The last known place of the elements was in the ancient castle in the Everfree Forest. If only one element is found, it can act like a beacon to the others, if the bearer holds it. As for the bearers, if one bearer holds another element, that element will find it's bearer.'

Before Twilight could ask her next question, the book started writing more, 'You may want to look outside.'

Puzzled, Twilight went to the window. She saw ponies celebrating, walking down the street, the moon and moving stars... 'Wait what?' Looking back to the moon, she saw four stars moving towards it. As the stars touched the moon the impression of the mare in the moon disappeared. With her ears pulled back to her head, Twilight rushed over to the Book of Globe, placing them in her bag along with her spell book, gabbed her staff, and rushed out her house.

Outside she heard a scream coming from the castle. In the castle she found a dark alicorn standing above the King and Queen. "Am I not royal enough now? Does my crown mean NOTHING!"

The alicorn walked out to the ponies watching, spreading her arms, "Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs? Does nopony know who I am?"

"I know who you are." Twilight said, pushing her way to the front. "You're the Mare in the Moon - Nightmare Moon!"

As Nightmare laughed, thunder boomed. "Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!" Everypony screamed, rushing outside and pushing Twilight down. But as the royal guards fought Nightmare, she cast a spell that brought the whole ceiling down.

As the ceiling came down, Twilight raised a hasty shield, 'I wish I'd practice more shields with Shining.' She thought, as spider-web cracks appeared on her shield.

From inside her bag, the Book of Globe began glowing. When Twilight finally noticed the glow, she was teleported away.

Appearing down the side of the mountain Canterlot was built into, Twilight found her new book, open with a new line of words. 'How can somepony so smart make such a stupid mistake?'

"We need to evacuate the city." Twilight yelled, preparing to teleport back, but as she looked up at Canterlot Castle, most of the towers crumbled.

'There's no time, she's at the castle now. You must find the Elements of Harmony, otherwise Equus is doomed!'

"But I'm just one unicorn. What can I do?"

'Oh my god! If your just going to role over and die, I clearly made a mistake in revealing myself to you.'

"I can't believe I'm arguing with a book. Fine, but I must go find Spike." As Twilight tried to stand, she found herself stuck to the ground.

'And I can't believe you refuse to listen. If you back you will die!' As if on cue, an explosion went off in Canterlot.

"But..."

'Look little filly, I know this is hard. But without the elements and their bearers, the world will forever be dark. How long do you think ponies can live without the sun.'

Finally, Twilight conceded defeat, "This must be done."

'Good,' the book released it's hold on Twilight 'I need to replenish my magic, after talking so long and teleporting so far.'

Twilight looked around and noticed the book had also brought her spell books, bag, and her staff. Grabbing her things Twilight looked at the map of Equestria she had in her bag and set off south to the town near the Everfree Forest, Ponyville.

~~~

"Defeating Canterlot was way too easy." Nightmare Moon said, laughing menacingly. Standing amongst the ruins of Canterlot Castle, Nightmare was surrounded by legions of bat ponies. "Yet I am still at risk if somepony finds the Elements of Harmony," Pointing to three of the many bat ponies, one a unicorn, one a pegasus, and the other an earth pony version, "You two, go to the old castle in the Everfree, and find the elements destroy them or bring them to me."

Smiling to herself, Nightmare started to give orders to the others, preparing for the upcoming battle against her sister.

~~~

As Twilight walked towards Ponyville, she couldn't help but think she should have exercised more. Stopping on occasion and the occasional teleport spell helped ease the burden on her hooves. On one of her stops, she heard a struggle from a little ways off.

Nearing the sound, Twilight crouched down to avoid detection, what she saw was two farm ponies and a filly being harassed by two other ponies with weapons. The larger of the farm ponies was unconscious and the other and the filly were tied up. Twilight wanted to walk away, not wanting to get involved, and yet she could not.

Thinking of a binding spell, Twilight sent the spell to one of the armed ponies. As he was bound in ropes the other looked back at Twilight, and aimed her weapon towards her. Thinking quick, Twilight swung her staff and rammed the end into the ground. As the staff touched the ground, a large fist rose from the ground underneath the attacker, sending her flying.

Slowly Twilight made her way to the farm ponies cutting them free.

"Thank the gods ya'll came when ya did, sugercube." And orange coated mare with a stetson hat said, then looked at her attackers, "No good varmints."

"It was no trouble." Twilight used her magic to wrap the two attackers together. "I wander what I should do with these two?"

"I think there's a bounty on them two varmints." Then surprised, the orange mare looked at Twilight, "Were are ma manners," She wiped her hands off on her pants and stuck her hand out, "I'm Applejack," pointing to the other two, "That there's Applebloom, and the one passed out is Big Macintosh."

Twilight took Applejack's hand, shaking it, "My name is Twilight Sparkle. What are you three doing out here?"

"We're on our way to Ponyville. Why are you out here alone and such."

"I am in fact heading to Ponyville too. Mind if I travel with you, there's strength in numbers after all."

"Least we can do. Ah'll even take you too the mayor, maybe there's still a bounty on those two."

The travel to Ponyville was short, but Twilight thought it would never end with Applebloom's questions on magic. Not that questions bugged Twilight, it was just no matter how much she explained the filly could not understand her.

At Town Hall, Twilight found there was indeed a bounty on the two she had captured.

"There you are miss Sparkle, 200 bits." After handing Twilight her bits, the Mayor leaned back in her chair. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Yes actually, I would like to know who to talk to, to arrange a guide to the old castle in the Everfree."

"My dear, the only ponies that would even consider it would be the druids, and they won't want you just walking up and asking. As for in town, I don't think that anyone would want to go there."

Twilight felt her ears drop, "Oh, well that's ok. I'm sure I'll be fine alone. Thank you Madam Mare." Walking out the door to the mayor's office, Twilight found Applejack had waited on her, looking up at the moon.

'What time is it? The sun should be up by now.' Twilight thought to herself. 'Is this Nightmare Moon's power?'

"Ah can't believe the sun ain't up yet. If it don't come up, ma apple won't grow." Looking over, Applejack noticed Twilight, "Did ya'll get what ya needed?"

"Not really." Twilight responded with a sign, "I got the bounty on those two, but I didn't learn anything that would help me."

"So what'd ya'll need help with?"

"I need to get to the Castle in the Everfree."

"Why would ya'll want to go to a place like that?"

Twilight wanted to tell her, she really did, "I don't think you'd believe me."

"Try me."

"YesterdayIfoundabookthattoldmethestoryofthethreealicornsinitwasaprophecyofthereturnoftwoandthedestructionitwouldcausetotheworldittoldmetodefeatthemIneedtheElementsofHarmonyandthattheywereintheCastleintheEverfreeForest." Noticing she was talking so fast Twilight took a deep breath to try to talk slower, "The Elements of Harmony are suppose to be the only way to defeat Nightmare Moon. And I need to get to the Castle to get them. Nightmare Moon is the reason the sun hasn't come up and I may never if she isn't defeated."

"Well uh... Twilight," Applejack was unsure of how to respond, and started to rub the back of her head, "Ah can't say as ah believe ya, but ah believe, ya'll believe it." Twilight didn't expect her too believe, but hearing it was still disheartening, "But if ya need somepony to lead ya'll to the castle, ah'll take you."

"Really?" Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing, instantly raising her spirits.

"Well yeah, ya'll helped me and ma kin." - Applejack began scratching the back of her head - "Ah need to repay ya somehow."

"Oh thank you, Applejack that's very kind of you-" But before Twilight could continue, her stomach loudly growled.

"Haha, tell ya what sugarcube. Ah'll take you to the castle, after we go by the farm for lunch."

"That sounds best." Twilight said with a sheepish laugh.

~~~

After a walk through Ponyville and a large orchard, Applejack brought Twilight to her home. Looking around the country home, Twilight couldn't help but think of the word 'basic'. From the brick fireplace to the patchwork quilts on the furniture, the house seemed like a simple country home.

Applejack motioned for Twilight to follow her into the other room. Nearly losing herself in the smells from the kitchen, Twilight almost missed something above the fireplace mantle. Above the fireplace, rested a large axe; the blade as big as Twilight's abdomen, while the whole thing was taller than her. Nearly all black except for the axe's blade and a orange gem shaped like an apple just behind it.

"Hey Applejack?" Twilight called, still looking at the axe.

Hearing Twilight, Applejack came back from the kitchen, "Need somethin' sugarcube?" But no sooner had she said it did Applejack know what Twilight wanted.

"Whose axe is this?" Twilight said, looking over at Applejack just long enough to make sure she was there.

Pulling her stetson down over her eyes, "That was ma granny's." Applejack said.

"Oh, is she here?"

Applejack took a deep breath, "Yeah she's here."

"Can I meet her?" Twilight said, turning towards Applejack with a smile.

Taking another deep breath, Applejack motioned Twilight to the window. "She's up on the hill." Looking out the window, Twilight saw three stones sticking out of the ground, and dreaded realization came to her.

Eyes wide, Twilight's hands flew up and covered her mouth, "Oh my gosh, Applejack. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, Twilight. Ya didn't know."

Twilight thought Applejack would say more but before she could, Applebloom called from the kitchen that lunch was ready.

~~~

Standing at the edge of the Everfree Forest, Twilight could help but feel like she was being watch. Sometimes she could see something out of the corner of her eye, but there was nothing when she looked.

"Ya'll ready?" Applejack snapped her fingers in front of Twilight, bringing her out of her thoughts.

Shaking her head, Twilight looked at her friend, "Yeah, sorry."

As the two walked into the forest, Twilight started to sink into her thoughts again. That had been the first time Applejack had spoken since they had left the apple farm, and Twilight was worried she had upset Applejack, not that Twilight would blame her.

As they followed the rarely used path, the trees started to get thicker and thicker, as the area just continued to get darker. Every so often, something would move in the brush, causing both mares to jump.

The soon reached a clearing, but as they got to the center three large creatures, two in front of them one behind, came out of the trees.

"Timberwolves." Applejack slowly drew a small hatchet at her side, "Are you ready for them?"

"It doesn't look like I have a choice." Twilight grabbed he staff, and started casting a spell. A triangle appeared under the one behind them creating a walled cage.

Applejack knew it wasn't the smartest action, but she felt the need to release some steam. Charging one of the timberwolves in front of her, Applejack kicked it in the chin and ran to the other striking it's head with her hatchet.

Twilight charged another spell this time striking the remaining timberwolves paws with poison barbs, anchoring them in place along with hurting them.

As Applejack went to strike the timberwolves again, she notice something was wrong with it's eyes. Instead of the normal illuminate green, their eye were more teal with black cat-like irises.

"Twilight!" Applejack dodged ones paw trying to hit her, then rolled over its back to escape the other's attack, "Somthin's wrong with em."

"What do you mean?" Twilight noticed the captured timberwolf was freed, and started to charge another spell. As the timberwolf got closer, Twilight's magic created a gust of wind, sending her attacker into the trees.

"Well just look at em -" Applejack kicked one of her attackers in the head "- there's somethin wrong with their eyes. Ah think they're under someponies control."

"Alright, then who's controlling them?"

Bursting from the ground, a earth bat pony appeared showing off his fang with a smile while giving the mares a salute. "Hello."

"How can an earth pony use magic?" Asked Applejack, unsure of how he was controlling the timberwolves.

Twilight wanted to know too, but neither mare had to wait long for an answer. As the stallion stomped his hoof, a column of dirt slammed into Applejack, sending her flying into a tree.

Rushing over, Twilight already had a healing spell in mind if the need arose. She was happy when it wasn't needed, all that had happened to Applejack was getting the wind knocked from her lungs.

"Applejack, -" Twilight helped her friend to her feet, "- he's a geomancer. Using magic amplified through his hooves, he manipulates the earth he stands at. Therefore-"

"Twilight, please speak normal Equestrian."

"*sigh* Were he stands depends on his attacks."

"What a smart filly." Stomping his hoof again, smaller pillars appeared trapping the two mares. "Well-" the bat pony leaned back to pop his spine, with an audible crack "- I think the timberwolves can handle things from here."

With a flash of light from her bag, the Book of Glob appeared in Twilights hand, already open and written.

'Read the spell, you fool!'

Below Twilight found lines of text. Hoping she was right, Twilight recited them like she would any new spell.

"O' Earthen warrior."
"Spirit of the ancient Globe!"
"Lend me the power of Stone."
"Τιτάν!"

As the spell finished, large boulders came rushing together creating a ball of stone. Everypony looked in shock and fear, as yellow lines began etching itself in the stone ball, till it exploded leaving only a tall monstrous being.

Looking back from what she had just created, Twilight saw new lines in the book, 'Behold the power of Titan! He will protect the book bearer."

The three timberwolves charged their new foe only to be batted aside with his hand.

"This might be fun." With a wicked grin, the bat pony dove into the ground.

Titan looked at his feet, then like a rocket his fist dove into the ground. Pulling his hand back, Titan had the bat pony in his fist.

"That could have gone better." He said, all the while trying to wiggle free, and growing more afraid the longer he was caught.

With a primal roar, Titan scared the pony in his grip even worse. Slowly tightening his grip, Titan began what he thought the book bearer had summoned him for.

"Titan, stop!"

Turning around, Titan saw two mares, one a purple unicorn, the other an orange earth pony. The unicorn began talking holding up his book.

"I am the book bearer,"- Twilight said using the words she was called earlier, and prying she wasn't about to make a mistake, -"and I command you to stand down."

Titan was confused, but the book bearer had spoken, slowly he releasing his grip on his prisoner, and watched him disappear below ground and scurry away. Bowing on one knee to the purple mare, Titan fell apart and left completely.

Looking back at her book, Twilight found another line. 'Your gonna regret that. Anyway once a day you can summon Titan, do not abuse the spell.'

"Twilight, ah want ya to explain just what ah've gotten ma self into."

Twilight didn't know what Applejack would say to everything, but as they continued on to the ancient castle she new that she couldn't blame her friend if she didn't want to get involved... If she could still call Applejack her friend.

Chapter 3 - There's Power in Words (Updated Original 4/18)

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Crescent flinched as an explosion went off behind him. "What was..." But the words died in his throat, as he looked towards the smoke bellowing from Canterlot.

'Nightmare has arrived.' Luna said in Crescent's head.

"Then we're short on time." Crescent said out-loud, finding it easier to talk out-loud to Luna.

'As a precautionary, I think we should start your training, in case she sends somepony to find the elements. So find a safe place and sleep.'

Looking around, Crescent found a cave nearby. Crescent had found that as he slept nothing disturbed him, though whether it was Luna's presence or something else, he had not figured out.

Closing his eyes, Crescent was instantly asleep. And back in Luna's dreamscape.

"Good evening, Crescent."

Looking over Crescent saw Luna, still looking like a night sky. "Hello, Luna." Crescent stretched his arms, wanting to make sure he was prepared for whatever Luna had planed, "So what's the first lesson?"

"Just a simple game." Using her magic, Luna lowered the moon. As the moon disappeared over the horizon, all the glowing plants dimmed and darkened completely, leaving a ball of light in Luna's hand the only light source.

"Find me, that's your first test. See how in-tune you are with the dark." With the last light source gone, Crescent found himself in complete darkness.

Crescent knew how to complete this test of Luna's. But he didn't know if he could. The first time his darker powers showed themselves it had been on a moonless night, and yet he could see perfectly.

Taking a step forward, Crescent bumped his knee on a rock he had sworn wasn't there before. "Damn!" Rubbing his knee, Crescent tried to relieve the pain.

"Come on now." Crescent heard Luna to his left.

"You need to be more careful." He heard her to his right.

"You never know what might just appear." Crescent felt Luna's breath on his ear. Whirling around, Crescent was met with empty air.

Crescent then heard Luna laughing from multiple locations, "So close."

'She's just trying to get to me,' Crescent thought, 'To bad it's working.'

Closing his eyes Crescent began to concentrate on his inner darkness. 'If I lose here, I won't be able to protect anyone. I don't know if I'm the one, but I won't take the chance.'

Opening his eyes again, Crescent thought the moon was back up, with how bright the dreamscape looked.

"I see you've got the hang of it. Good." Crescent noticed Luna at his side. "Now we can start something more... practical."

"Practical?"

"Exactly, now I want you to show me how you would summon something you've just found." With a flash of light, a black set of clothes appeared, "Can you summon these?" Luna asked tossing the clothes to Crescent.

"Not exactly," Catching the outfit, Crescent couldn't believe how heavy it was, "I have to study the weapon/armor that I wish to summon."

"Show me." Luna gestured for Crescent to sit in a chair she had just made in her dream.

"Alright," sitting down in the chair, Crescent saw that there was a crescent moon shape in the back. 'How fitting.' he thought.

"Not really much to show really," Crescent let his magic flow through the outfit making it glow slightly, "like the pony who made the weapon or armor, I need to see every knick, every hole, every detail to summon it properly." When he was done his magic receded back.

"Only problem is if I've done it right, the item goes away."

"And if you've done it wrong?"

"I get magic sent back to my horn, leaving me without my magic for a while." Taking a deep breath, Crescent tried summoning his new outfit, satisfyingly his new outfit appeared on him, fitting perfectly.

"Looks good." Luna said, admiring how well the clothes fit her new apprintance. "Now on to the next part of business. What is your favorite piece of equipment you can summon?"

Crescent didn't have to think long, and started summoning a large two handed sword. "Not a difficult decision."

Luna shrugged, "Alright, now let's see how you do, in a fight were we're not trying to kill each other." Luna said summoning her own sword.

"This might be fun." Crescent said, putting on a smile. Yet on the inside, Crescent knew this wouldn't end well for him.

~~~

"That's enough." Luna said, banishing her blade. At the end of their sparing, Luna had been struck a few times, but Crescent... If this wasn't a dream, he would need to be worried about his loss of blood.

Crescent started shaking, "Are you sure?" Crescent fell to his knee, "I think I can go a few more rounds." His other leg slipping, Crescent fell face first into the dirt. "Actually, Luna, do you think you have another healing spell in your arsenal?"

"Don't worry, when you wake up you'll be fine." Luna said, beginning to raise the moon again.

"Oh, awesome. So tell me, how long am I to kiss dirt?" But as his vision turned white, Crescent found his answer.

As Crescent awoke, he looked himself over, and found Luna was right. Has cuts had disappeared, and his body felt fine. But what Luna didn't tell him was how tired his mind would become.

"Note to self, buy some coffee." Groaning, Crescent continued on his way to the ancient castle.

~~~

'I can not believe how the castle has changed...' Luna said, looking through her apprentice's eyes.

"Don't tell me you thought it would be in perfect condition," Crescent answered back, "I mean, it has been abandoned for a thousand years."

'I know... it just pains me to see my home this way...'

"I'll try to hurry here, and maybe after all this is over we can fix it up."

'I'd like that.'

With the help of Luna's guidance, Crescent quickly found where the Element's were suppose to be held. Inside the room there wasn't much that stood-out except for a large planetarium-esc statue, holding six large orbs.

'That's what we're looking for.'

While getting them down, Crescent couldn't help but wander, "How are we suppose to find their bearers?"

'... Good question.'

"What?! You mean you don't have a plan?"

'Not really. It would be easier if we knew where to find one of the Element Bearers, then they could lead us to the next.'

"Well that's just great." Crescent said, his words laced with lethal amounts of sarcasm.

"Μιλάς για τον εαυτό σας?" A robed figure dropped from what was left of the roof onto a broken pillar. "Αυτό είναι εντάξει εγώ πάντα να μιλήσετε με τις φωνές."

"What did she say?"

'That was the old language.' Luna said, surprised that anypony even remembered, let alone spoke, the old language.

"And, I should be concerned why?" Before Luna could respond to him, Crescent lunged to the side as a large chuck of the demolished castle was flung towards him.

"Γιατί δεν θα μου απαντήσει Βιβλίο Ανώνυμες?" The robed figure sent out another volley of ruble from the castle. "Είναι δυνατόν να μην είναι αρκετά ισχυρή για να πολεμήσουν?"

Instead of dodging this one, Crescent summoned his sword slicing the stone in half.

'All magic is written in the old language. There's power in those words.' Luna finally said.

"Meaning?" Crescent asked, dodging another chunk of stone.

'Meaning, she's stronger when she talks.'

"Χέρι πάνω από το βιβλίο, μικρό πουλάρι, και το μόνο που μπορεί να επιβιώσει." The robed mare said pointing her finger at Crescent.

"Translation please." Crescent said, watching the mare expecting another attack.

'She wants my book. Or she says you'll die.' Luna said, not sure how her apprentice would react. She started to worry when Crescent's grip lessoned on his sword and he closed his eyes.

"I don't really like either option," Crescent placed his sword in the ground next to him.

The robed mare, gave a sly smile accepting Crescent's surrender. Walking over to Crescent, she reached her hand out to grab the Book of Moon. Just before she grabbed the book, the robed mare took another look at the eyes of the defeated, pathetic stallion before her.

Yet the stallion's eye, were no longer had the same defeated look. Instead the stallion's eyes had the same unyielding fury barely held at bay that the robed mare had only seen in her nightmare patron.

Before she could act, Crescent grabbed the mare's arm, "That does not mean I will just hand it over to you." Coating his other hand in darkness fire, Crescent slammed his fist into the mare's stomach sending her flying into one of the last standing walls, only to have it crumble on top of her.

"Had you worried, didn't I?"

'Yes you did, actually.'

Grabbing his sword out of the stone floor, Crescent made his way to the newly crumbled wall. "Well I'm not about to just hand over the book to anyone, especially when I noticed her eyes. She's a bat pony."

Just as Crescent was at the crumbled wall, the whole floor began to shake causing even some of the larger pieces of rubble to bounce across the floor. Shooting out of the rubble the mare hung in the air - her cloak torn to near non existence - with her arms held over her head.

"Κάψτε το ανελέητο θάλασσα της κόλασης!" As the last word left her mouth, the mare flung her hands out towards Crescent.

Luna didn't have any time anytime to warn Crescent of the incoming attack, lucky for Crescent, he noticed the fire spark with enough time to raise a very hasty shield.

Crescent started being pushed back from the force of the fire, with his heels pushing into the ground. Trying to think quick before he became barbequed was proving difficult with having to constantly rebuild his shield. When he finally got an idea planed out, Crescent could only hope he had enough energy to do it.

'Crescent! You can't do that.' Luna called in his head.

"That's right, -" Crescent gritted his teeth under the fire's force, "- tell me I can't do it." Crescent closed his eyes concentrating on his plan, "Then watch me try twice as hard, -" spider-web cracks started forming in his shield, "- just to prove you wrong!" The torrent of flames finally broke through the shield engulfing everything.

When the mare noticed her victim was gone, her smug look from before returned, "Όπως είναι η μοίρα εκείνων που πάνε ενάντια βασίλισσά μου."

Levitating herself back down, the mare made her way towards where Crescent was -hoping the book survived the flames. Yet what she found was just scorch marks. The mare couldn't help but feel her pride swell, if she could so easily create a flame that didn't even leave bones. She knew her queen would have liked to have the Book of Moon, but would be happy no one else could have it.

"Looking for something?"

The mare's eyes shot open, as a swift kick connected to her spine, sending her fling into the center stone monument.

Collapsing to one knee, Crescent started to taste copper. "Note to self, stop teleporting so far." Using more of his little remaining magic, Crescent propelled himself towards the mare.

Trying to stand, the mare found Crescent's bag full of the elements. Deciding it would be better to retreat, grabbing them she noticed Crescent flying towards her. Using her magic she teleported out.

Not making it in time, Crescent watched her disappear with the Elements of Harmony. Looking up at the monument, Crescent found he had missed one element when the mare had interrupted him. Taking the last element, Crescent ran after the fleeing mare.

~~~

"And that's when I met you." Twilight said to Applejack.

Ever since their encounter with the earth pony geomancer, Twilight had told Applejack everything that had happened the last few days. All-the-while, Applejack had listened and watched the ground.

"Ah'm sorry, Twilght, ah wish ah could help ya, but ah have ma family to think about."

"It's fine, after we arrive at the castle, you can leave and forget all about me."

"Twilight, ah-" They saw a pony rushing through the trees, "What was?" Then somepony ran into Applejack.

"Excuse me." He said then continued after the other pony. They would have left the two go, but Applejack noticed the stallion's eyes, and tackled him the ground.

"Hey get off! She's getting away!" Crescent yelled trying get the mare off him.

"Quiet, ya'll bat ponies are really getting annoying."

'I really shouldn't do this' Crescent thought to himself. Finally getting his arms free, Crescent shoved his arms up into Applejack's chest, with the added power of his dark fire, Applejack flew off him. As setting up was proven difficult for either pony, when Crescent got to his knees, he could not stop himself from coughing up blood.

'Crescent stop fighting!' Luna called in his head. But instead of answering his mentor, Crescent changed his eye's back to normal. With his dark power gone Crescent could do nothing but sit there trying not to coughing anymore.

Twilight and Applejack were ready for the bat pony in front of them to attack. But as they watched him cough and saw the blood, they couldn't help but feel pity.

"Well what have we here?" A bat pony hovered in the air before them , his wings beating silently. "Three lost ponies. Could these three be the ones that have been giving us trouble tonight?" A strong wind started to circle the three ponies on the ground, "I would say so." the wind grew stronger, making a wall around the three ponies.

"What in tarnation!" Applejack said, reaching for the walls of wind, and once again wondering what she had gotten herself into.

"I wouldn't touch the tornado walls, little pony." The bat pony called through the wind. "It'll rip you to shreds."

Applejack quickly withdrew her hand, not ready to test the bat pony's help.

'Crescent? Crescent are you ok?' Luna called.

'...No...' Crescent called back weakly.

'Crescent, I need you to-' Before Luna could continue, the ground opened up, making every pony in the vortex tumble down the walls of the hole.

A bat pony burst from the ground, revealing the geomancer from before. "How do you guys like my antlion trap?"

"You!" Twilight launched a ball of magic at the bat pony only for him to duck back under ground. Yet as the bat pony surfaced again, he had to go back under or have Applejack's hoof in his face.

When the geomancer disappeared, the bat pony in the vortex started jumping down to the grown making rocks fly at the three ponies inside the trap. "You can't escape!" As the bat pony jumped back into the air, the geomancer jumped around the ground attacking the two mares. Both bat ponies forgetting about the suffering stallion, still laying on the ground.

After attempting to avoid the two bat ponies' assault, Twilight's book started glowing. When she looked at it, the book, said 'Heal the other stallion you foal, he'll help.' Twilight wasn't sure, she herself had seen the dark power he had used against Applejack, but... her book hadn't lied yet.

'Crescent,' Luna called in his head, 'get up!'

'...I can't...'

'You need to recite a spell.'

'...I can't...' But as he said it, Crescent felt his pains ease, and the taste of blood disappear. Realizing what was happening, Crescent noticed the purple mare watching him as her spell finished. "Thanks." Crescent hardly recognized his voice, growing raspy from all his coughing.

'Ready Luna?'

'Repeat after me.'

Twilight watched the stallion stand, then grab a spell book from his waist and hold it out.

"O' Frozen queen."
"Spirit of the ancient Glacier!"
"Lend me the power of Diamond Dust."
"Σίβα!"

Crescent wasn't sure what to expect from the spell, but as large ice crystals started forming in the air, he thought he head the guy in the ground say, "Shit, another one!"

Once all the ice crystals formed, they rushed into the ground in front of Crescent, then unexpectedly shattered. When the crystals were gone, before all the collected ponies stood a tall, blue, snout-less mare.

'Hold the book out,' Luna said in Crescent's head, 'and tell Shiva what to do.'

Doing what he was told, Crescent pointed to the other two stallions, "Shiva attack them."

Shiva looked over her shoulder at the red stallion behind her. It had been so long since Luna had summoned her, she was surprised to find Luna had accepted an apprentice. Turning back away from the book bearer, Shiva swiped her arm, making the ground freeze solid.

When the earth bat pony noticed he couldn't go below ground anymore, he slowly backed towards the wall.

Diving back down to the ground, the pegasus bat grazed Shiva making her arm drip freezing water. When he tried to jump back up, Shiva caught him in a spinning twister of sharp ice crystals.

Setting her sights on the other stallion in front of her, Shiva snapped her fingers encasing him in ice. Flicking her wrist, Shiva sent the pegasus stallion flying towards his frozen companion. By the time they collided, both were frozen to the point the impact shattered them both. Turning around to her book bearer, the ice queen herself shattered.

Reattaching the Book of Moon to his side, Crescent tried to remember which way the crazy fire mare from before went.

'She's gone, Crescent. Nothing we can do now.' Luna said.

'Now what?'

'Not sure, but I'm curious about these two mares...'

"Excuse me?" Realizing he had spaced out, Crescent noticed the purple mare right next to him trying to get his attention; while the other one, wearing a sour face, was crossing her arms.

"Yes?"

"Ah! Hello there, my name is..." the purple mare started.

"Why are ya'll bat ponies fighting us?" The other said.

"I'm not a bat pony." Crescent pointed at his eyes for emphasis "As for why they're attacking you, I don't think you'd believe me, if I told you."

As he started to walk away, Crescent felt something move between his legs only to find the hatchet that was recently held by the orange mare embedded in the ground. Noticing how close he came to becoming a mare himself, Crescent felt his pupils shrink.

Slowly turning back around, Crescent tried to force a smile, "So where do I begin."

~~~

Ready to be ride of the Everfree forest, yet weary of more bat ponies, Crescent and the two mares quickly made their way back to Sweet Apple Acres. On the way Crescent and Twilight exchanged stories, all the while Applejack kept an accusing eye on her new stallion companion. Crescent had told the two mares his whole story, only leaving out about the part that he could talk to Luna via the Book of Moon.

As they neared the forest's edge, the three ponies started to hear odd chanting. "Ω Ευλογημένος Φωτιά! Καίω τον κόσμο σε ατελείωτες Hellfire σας!"

"What's that?"

"I believe you mean 'who', Applejack."

But Crescent knew, he knew all too well, he had felt the burning of those words. Quickly running towards the chanting, Crescent moved as fast as he could. Leaving the two mares staring and thinking, especially Applejack, that he was making a break for it; till Crescent turned around and yelled back, "Move your tails!"

While passing the charred stumps of ash, Crescent and Twilight didn't knew where they were running too, nor did they expect to. But Applejack couldn't even figure out were they were, even though she had lived most of her life in Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres.

As the chanting got louder, they finally saw a column of smoke over the hill. And when they were at the top of the hill, they found the smoke was coming from a barn surrounded by burning apple trees. Noticing the tears and anger coming from her friends eyes, Twilight grabbed her and Crescent, teleporting them closer to the barn.

Crescent was surprised Twilight could teleport three full grown ponies with out much strain, but the sight of the pyromaniac mare from the ancient castle coming out of the burning building quickly gained his attention. Holding fireballs in her hands, the mare walked out of the burning barn swaying her hips with a cocky smile, "Welcome to my barbeque."

Already knowing what the pyromaniac was planning, Crescent threw up a shield to protect himself and the two mares. Yet as the flames struck the shield, large cracks begin to form. Holding both arms up Crescent began to reinforce his shield, yet not fast enough to stop the cracks. With his last hope, he turned to Twilight, "Don't suppose you know a good shield spell?" The cracks grew larger, "Cause that would be greatt~ right now..." The hasty shield began to flicker, "A GOOD shield that is..."

Twilight, embarrassed from being caught off guard, took out her spell book and started to concentrate. Mere seconds later, a large dome formed over the three, dwarfing Crescent's crumbling shield.

Again Twilight surprised Crescent with her magic ability, especially with using so much magic without showing signs of mana poisoning. Summoning his sword, Crescent dropped what little was left of his shield.

'Don't use your darkness!' Luna cried in his head, almost desperate.

"You two, do what you can, just stay within the dome." Raising his sword, Crescent ran off to the side, drawing the, seemingly unrelenting, flames away from the mares.

"We have to do something!" Turning to Applejack, Twilight saw the tears in her friend's eyes, and saw the mourning in her tears. Twilight ran forward, readying her spell book. When her new spell was ready, a small ball of light shot out of Twilight's book at her target. As soon as the ball struck the pyromaniac's head, it exploded staggering its victim.

With the flames stopped, Crescent noticed the pyromaniac about to burn Twilight. Rushing forward, Crescent gave the pyromaniac a new problem, his sword. "Don't you dare," a sword swing and a dodge, "forget about," another swing, and the mare dodged again, "ME!" Calling to his inner darkness, Crescent's round pupils turned to slits. Dropping his sword, Crescent pushed his arms towards the mare, a large ball of darkness shot out at her, knocking her far away.

Quickly dismissing the darkness, Crescent's eyes returned to normal, only to have Luna cry out again, 'Crescent! Stop this at once!'

Giving a primal roar, Crescent spoke back to Luna aloud, "SHUT UPP~!!" Scooping up his sword, Crescent lunged at the stunned mare, letting his anger control his sword swings.

"Applebloom..." Applejack remembered a time while playing with her sister, tears slowing growing in her eyes...

"Big Macintosh..." She remembered working the orchard with her brother, tears growing faster...

Looking up at the farm she had always lived at, she noticed the battle before her. Twilight throwing more balls of light at the mare, to Crescent's furious sword swings, Applejack could not believe the chaos before her.

Between his sword strikes, the pyromaniac got a hit on Crescent, knocking him down. One of the few items Crescent had fell out of his bag rolling away...

With tears flowing free, Applejack saw Crescent fall. Tired of standing within the dome, Applejack ran forward, launching her hatchet towards the pyromaniac. Batting it aside, she paid the small hatchet no mind and turned her attention back to the stallion.

Running up to Twilight, Applejack nearly tripped on something. Looking down, she found her granny's axe covered is ash. Picking it up and removing the ash, she noticed something else nearby. A hand sized, perfectly round stone laid near her in a trail coming from Crescent. Not fully understanding it, Applejack felt a strong urge to pick it up, if nothing else to return it to Crescent latter.

Yet when she did pick it up, the world stopped, the three fighting ponies stopped moving, the ensuing fire froze.

Hear... Feel... Think... Blessed daughter of the crystal...

"What in tarnation?!" Looking around, Applejack could not see where the voice was coming from.

The stone in her hand started to glow orange, shrinking smaller till it was a golden armlet, with an orange gem in the shape of her cutie mark. Slowly at first, the armlet began to shake, then attached itself to Applejack wrist. She knew she should be worried, yet as the armlet attached itself to her, Applejack began to feel many things, yet fear was not one of them.

"Beloved daughter of Honesty." A mare said behind Applejack. Turning around, Applejack didn't find somepony like she thought she would. Behind her, stood a snow white silhouette of a mare. A long horn protruding from her head, wings stretched far to her sides, hair flowing in an ethereal wind. Applejack thought she was facing a ghost, she might as well have been...

"The blessings of Harmony have touched you my child. Though your family is gone, you mustn't give into despair. There are still those who still need your help." Holding out her hand towards Applejack, the mare glowed brighter then the sun. Shielding her eyes, Applejack looked away. When the light was gone, so too was the mare. As time started to move again, Applejack's grip on her granny's axe, no her axe, tightened.

Crescent couldn't believe he had given into his anger, he had learned long ago to not to. Yet here he was about to be burned alive, the burn on his chest growing more painful with each breathe.

As fast as Crescent felt the pyromaniac's flames starting to get hot, they stopped. Opening his clenched eyes, Crescent came face to blade with a large axe between him and the pyromaniac. Looking to the side, he saw a stunned Twilight and a very enraged Applejack, barreling towards her thrown axe, and her family's killer.

Noticing the angry mare herself, the pyromaniac tried to pull the axe free. Yet it was so far into the stone she could not move it, as if it had always been there. Noticing Applejack getting closer, and Twilight starting a new spell on the stallion, the pyromaniac did what she did best, "Ω ισχυρός Ifrit, να μου δώσει τη δύναμη να καίω εχθρούς μου!"

Applejack grabbed her axe, like it was a feather, and swung with all her might, "ARGH!"

"Ω ισχυρός Ifrit, να μου δώσει τη δύναμη να καίω εχθρούς μου! Hellfire!" Raising her hands high, a large ball of fire formed. She had long grown tired of this nonsense fight.

Jumping into the air, with her powerful legs from being an apple farmer and an earthpony, Applejack easily reached the top of the fireball. Swinging her axe down, Applejack's momentum sent her rocketing down cleaving the fireball, along with the pyromaniac's skull.

With Twilight's healing spell finally finished, Crescent rushed to catch Applejack's unconscious body. She had won the fight, yet Applejack's body was hardly recognizable, her clothes were burned away, as was her fur and some skin; some places only bone remained. "Twilight!" Crescent called, "Can you heal her?"

"I don't know..."

As Crescent laid Applejack down, Twilight furiously flipped through her spell book. Her eye's fell upon her Book of Globe's new written text, "Notice her new bracelet..." Twilight did, "She is the first Element of Harmony you two have found. She will heal quickly with that title... and yet could use some help."

This was the first time Crescent had noticed the book, 'Luna, she has one of the books...' he called in his head, then felt Luna look through his eyes.

'Yes, my brother's Book of Globe. And yet she is not as connected as we are...' Luna went oddly silent.

'Luna?'

'Please go to sleep soon Crescent. We must talk.' Then nothing, Luna wouldn't answer his calls.

Looking back to the two mares, Crescent found Twilight's spell finished, yet Applejack wasn't all healed.

"The spell can't heal her any more." Twilight said through pained breaths. Finally reaching her limits, mana poisoning was starting to set in.

Returning his gaze to Applejack, he found her completely healed, except her hands. Where here hands once were now only charred stumps remained. Yet another problem remained. Along with her hands, Applejacks clothes were still gone. Prying his eyes away was no small task, but Crescent got a blanket and covered Applejacks sleeping body.

"Why not get some rest. I'll stay up and watch over you both."

"That won't be nec-" But Twilight never got to finish before passing out.

'Poor girl,' Crescent thought, trying to reposition Twilight so she didn't wake up stiff, 'She must have never had to deal with mana poisoning.'

Taking some bandages, Crescent wrapped Applejacks arm nubs as carefully as he could. True to his word, Crescent stayed up to watch for more batponies. Occasionally watching the mares’ chests rise and fall to make sure both were sleeping properly.

When sleep had all but taken him, Crescent laid down himself, preparing himself for a long night of training with Luna.

'Oh how wrong you are, my apprentice...'

~~~

Awakening back in Luna's dreamscape, Crescent found Luna right in front of him.

Before he could utter a word, Luna smacked his face, sending him to the ground. "What was that-"

Using her magic, Luna created a large dark portal underneath her apprentice. Before Crescent could act, a large claw reached up from the portal and quickly dragged him through. Another portal appeared, spitting Crescent back out. After Crescent flew from the second portal, he flew out and struck a tree, were chains of Luna's magic bound him to it.

"Luna what are you doing?!"

Luna slowly walked towards him, to stand before him. Crescent still couldn't understand how he could tell Luna's emotions, yet in the swirling galaxies that made up Luna's eyes, he swore he could see tears of sadness and fear.

"Why?!" Luna screamed through a cracking voice, hitting Crescent's chest harder then she had wanted.

"Why didn't you listen to me?!" She pounded on his chest again.

"Luna? I don't-" Luna hit his chest again knocking the wind out of his lungs.

"Why didn't you stop using the darkness when I told you to?" She tried to say more, but her voice cracked too bad.

~~~

Crescent was the first to wake, yet was still exhausted as always after his meeting with Luna. Finding the two mares still asleep, Crescent picked up what he could of their hasty camp. Finding Applejack's axe thrown off to the side, Crescent brought it back and set it by its owner.

Most of the day had passed before Twilight had even begun to wake. Being the first time Twilight had been outside of Canterlot, she had yet to feel the effects mana poisoning.

"Ugh!" Twilight tied to sit up, but didn't make it far.

Crescent caught her as she fell, "Careful, as much magic as you used you shouldn't be doing much for awhile." Picking up a cup, Crescent held it up to Twilight's mouth.

Barely any of the drink touched Twilight's tongue before she spit it back, "What in Tartarus is that?!"

"It's called an ether. The Royal Guards use them to help with mana poisoning." Crescent tried to move the cup towards her again, but Twilight pushed it away, "Drink it and you'll feel better. Believe me, I know it has an acquired taste."

Finally taking the cup, Twilight quickly chugged the foul liquid. "Ugh, nothing that awful should be legal!" Looking towards Applejack, Twilight remembered the predicament they were in.

"She'll probably be out for a few days" Crescent said, following Twilight's line of sight.

'Highly doubtful,' Luna called, 'the Elements give their bearers un-natural abilities. Including healing. Sadly though her hands may still take centuries... though she won't live that long as she is.'

“Ugh, wha happen?”

All Crescent and Twilight could do was silently watch Applejack, as she leaned up, one arm holding the cover over her, and the other reaching up to scratch her head. Only for Applejack’s charred arm stub to bump into her head.

Eyes wide with shock, all Applejack could do was stare at her charred arm. Slowly stepping forward, Twilight wanted to comfort her friend. Yet when she crouched down near her friend, Applejack finally snapped and let out a loud scream of pure shock.

Reacting quickly, Crescent jumped forward wrapping one arm around Applejack, and the other over her mouth. “This is the last thing we need with all the bat ponies around.”

Pulling out her spell book, Twilight quickly put Applejack back to sleep. “That should hold for awhile.”
“’Should’? You don’t sound too sure.”

Looking at the ground, Twilight suddenly found playing with her robes more fascinating then the conversation. “Well… You know…”

“Well whatever.” Letting Applejack down, Crescent started gathering their gear.” We need to get back to town.”

“Oh… yeah.” Twilight said snapping out of her stupor.

Lifting Applejack on his back, Crescent started off towards where he hoped Ponyville was. With Twilight quickly following behind, still silently watching the ground.

Author's Notes:

Whoo! Updating again Anyway, in case any one wants to know what the pony speaking the old language was saying:

Old Language: Μιλάς για τον εαυτό σας?
English: Are you talking to yourself?

Old Language: Αυτό είναι εντάξει εγώ πάντα να μιλήσετε με τις φωνές.
English: That's ok I always talk to the voices.

Old Language: Γιατί δεν θα μου απαντήσει Βιβλίο Ανώνυμες?
English: Why won't you answer me Book Bearer?

Old Language: Είναι δυνατόν να μην είναι αρκετά ισχυρή για να πολεμήσουν?
English: Is it possible you aren't strong enough to fight?

Old Language: Χέρι πάνω από το βιβλίο, μικρό πουλάρι, και το μόνο που μπορεί να επιβιώσει.
English: Hand over the book, little foal, and you may just survive.

Old Language: Κάψτε το ανελέητο θάλασσα της κόλασης!
English: Burn in the merciless sea of hellfire!

Old Language: Όπως είναι η μοίρα εκείνων που πάνε ενάντια βασίλισσά μου.
English: As is the fate of those who go against my queen.

Old Language: Ω Ευλογημένος Φωτιά! Καίω τον κόσμο σε ατελείωτες Hellfire σας!
English: Oh Blessed Fire! Cremate the world in your endless Hellfire!

Old Language: Ω ισχυρός Ifrit, να μου δώσει τη δύναμη να καίω εχθρούς μου!
English: Oh Mighty Ifrit, give me the power to cremate my foes!

Old Language: Ω ισχυρός Ifrit, να μου δώσει τη δύναμη να καίω εχθρούς μου! Hellfire!
English: Oh Mighty Ifrit, give me the power to cremate my foes! Hellfire!

Don't worry I won't be using much of the old language in the story. BTW it's suppose to be Greek, if it's wrong blame Google Translate

The Druids

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“Come on, Crescent!” Twilight yelled behind her, “It’s getting away!”

“You try hurrying while carrying somepony.” Crescent was slower then the mare, making sure the blanket covering his passenger on his back wouldn’t fall down. “Why in the hell of it are we chasing this over-grown chicken anyway?”

“This is no chicken, Crescent. Just think of all the scientific discoveries we could make if we actually caught a wild Chocobo!”

“I’m thinking more of all the delusions you’ve already made.”

All day the two trudged on, sometime the only thing letting them know of the bird was a loud ‘Kweh!’ Multiple times Crescent had thought of heading a different direction from Twilight, only for Luna to tell him to stay with her.

It was late before Crescent came to a clearing with Twilight standing in the center. “I can’t hear it anymore. This is so frustrating!”

“Well then.” Crescent set his passenger down, “Maybe we should set up camp. And get Applejack some help.”

“I-” Twilight noticed her friend, and remembered the problems they currently had, “-r-right…”

With the camp set and Twilight’s magic keeping anything that would harm them at bay, everypony settled in for the night. Both hoping this would be their last night in the forest of Everfree.

~~~

Standing in a clearing, Luna watched her apprentice arrive “Ah good thou are here.”

“Yup, so what’s the lesson tonight?”

“Two lessons, to make up for yesterday.” Using her magic, Luna created multiple practice dummies around her, “I will show you a spell for striking anything, and anypony, around you.” Taking a deep breath and holding her hands close to her, Luna throws her hands out to her sides; Releasing a flashing wave a dark energy, breaking each practice dummy.

“There, now it’s your turn.” Using her magic, Luna created more dummies around Crescent. “Gather your magic, then release it with a push.”

Doing the same as Luna, Crescent released his magic, yet in a weaker fashion. Instead of destroying the targets, crescent only knocked them over. “Well it’s a start.” Luna said smiling.

Crescent returned the cocky smile, “I think I did good. New spell and all.”

“Hmm, yes. Maybe. Now then, next spell. And this one may well save your life.” Holding out a fist, Luna focused on her magic. When she opened her hand, a palm sized hexagonal disk floated around her hand. “This spell is called Shadowskin.” The disk started multiplying with all rotating around in front of Luna. “I want you to strike me.”

By now Crescent had gotten used to Luna’s… oddness, and decided to go with it. Summoning a spear with his magic, Crescent launched it towards his teacher. Luna just stood there, but one of the disks quickly moved to deflect the spear. And once it was done it went back to rotating.

“Well now, are you going to just stand there in awe, or are we going to spar?”

~~~

Crescent woke the next morning after another night of being face down in the dirt from sparing. Looking around he found he wasn’t the only one awake.

Silently sitting on her sleeping bag, Applejack stared off into the forest. “Mornin’ Crescent.” She said drawing Crescent out of his staring. “Yer an awfully heavy sleeper.”

“What do you mean?”

“When ah finally woke from Twilight’s spell, well lets just say Twilight may sleep fer awhile.” Applejack finally moved, turning her head toward her sleeping friend. With a face of shame on her face Crescent noticed. “Ah kinda woke up screamin’ again.”

“It’s understandable. I mean, you’ve woken up twice with your hands gone. That can be a harrowing experience, I’d say you weren’t a normal pony if you didn’t scream.”

“Maybe.” Curling up with her head resting on her knees, applejack stared at the ground.

“The fire is getting low.” With Twilight still sleeping, Crescent figured they’d be there awhile, “I’m gonna get some more fire wood.”

~~~

After finding an armful of firewood, Crescent started making his way back to camp. Or at least where he believed camp was. “Damn my since of direction.” The only thing giving him any idea he was heading the right way, was the few cut down saplings he had cut for the fire.

For a while, he had been hearing rustling in the brush, getting closer and closer. Crescent kept telling himself it was just a bunny or squirrel, yet Luna’s constant telling him he’s delusional kept him from believing that.

‘There are many more creatures in these woods young Crescent. Most more terrifying than a bunny.’

“Thank you, Luna.” Luna chuckled at the venom in Crescent’s voice, “Once again you have been the wind underneath your apprentices wings”

A low, deep throaty growl came from behind; making Crescent stop scared in his tracks.

‘Crescent-’

“Shut up, Luna!”

Slowly turning around, Crescent came face to face with a large purple snout that could only belong to one creature.

“Behemoth!” Crescent didn’t waste any time turning around and running away. “We’re gonna die, we are going to die.”

‘Oh Crescent, lighten up. I use to raise these little cuties.’

“Luna, theses are not cuties.” Weaving in and out of the trees, Crescent made his way back to camp, only to find his friends captive. Two more behemoths were in the clearing around his friends, along with a pony on top of one of the behemoths.

‘Luna, can I summon Shiva yet?’ Crescent asked, unsure of how to act.

‘Yes, but I wouldn’t try it. Hold my book up for the beasts to see.’

Crescent didn’t know what good it would do, but trusted Luna was sometimes right. Holding up the book, Crescent thought he saw a hint of surprise on the beasts’ face. But before he could think he was in the clear, something large and heavy hit his head, knocking Crescent to the ground.

Before he knew it, Crescent was tied to Twilight and Applejack and placed on top of a behemoth behind its rider.

“Oh… my… I hope my little critter friends didn’t hurt you too much” The rider said timidly.

“Nah, ah love bein’ hogtied and thrown on the back of a varmint.”

“Oh… ok.” The rider quietly turned her head back forward.

‘Crescent, don’t, panic.’

‘Oh, Luna. Why would I panic? I’m just TIED TO A GOD DAMN BEHEMOTH!’ Crescent called back in his mind, ‘Luna, what the hell do I do?’

‘Well what you do first is stop yelling. Just wait and watch what happens.’ Crescent began to feel Luna’s magic again, till he knew she was looking though his eyes again.

They rode for a while, both Applejack and Twilight struggling against their bonds while Crescent just sat there, till they came to a large tree. So far out into the Everfree that no light from Ponyville could be seen.

Standing up, the Behemoth’s rider revealed her wings, slowly floating to the tree she placed a hand on it and began chanting. From her hand, a glow started to move down the tree, slowly splitting the tree for everyone to walk through.

As they entered, the three tied up ponies noticed the well-developed village, all within the tree. Each house resting on a platform high off the ground and all connected by bridges and a lift and pulley system.

While two of the captives were shocked beyond words, the young scholar could hardly contain her enthusiasm. “The lost city of the Druids!”

‘Wow. Give an ant a hole, and it’ll build a colony. Guess the same can be said for some ponies.’ Luna called

The druids lead the ponies through their city till they came to a small hut within the tree. “Our leader is inside. You’ll need to talk to her.” Their druid guide turned towards the door to open it but turned back around, “I-if that’s ok with you.”

Inside the hut the walls where lined with jars, pots, and potion bottles. At the far end of the hut sat a large caldron leaking green smoke, with a zebra sitting on a stump beside it. “Hello my dear Fluttershy, yet something seems awry.”

“Y-yes, I brought these travelers that I found in the Everfree.” The yellow mare Fluttershy looks back at the three adventurers flanked by her behemoth friends. “My friends thought they should meet you…” She looked back at the druid leader with the same uncertain/shy look the zebra had seen many times from her top protégé.

The zebra looked towards the three tied up ponies, “My name is Zecora”- Walking towards them, magic started emanating from her hands, -“You have come here as a merry band. But it seem to me you need a hand.”

Kneeling down next to Applejack, Zecora took both Applejack’s arms and started working her magic. Applejack grumbled at Zecora, thinking her last words were a jab at Applejack’s unfortunate circumstance. The pain slowly eased from her arm nubs as Applejack slowly grew tired. Two zebra guards came and cut the three friends free and helped Applejack to stand. “Your friend must rest.” – the two guards carried the half asleep mare away, - “While the healing is to reach its peak, we shall speak.”

As soon as her hands were free Twilight began taking notes of anything and everything she could. Mumbling to herself the entire time.

“How can non unicorns use magic?” She asked Zecora, looking up from her notes.

“My magic comes from the all mother, yet our magics are not so different from one another.”

Crescent and Twilight regaled their stories to Zecora and her protégé Fluttershy.

“So that’s our story, do you think you can help us?” Twilight pleaded.

Zecora leaned back in her seat, and looked at the three ponies in the room.

“It’s nearly impossible for you to leave right now…” Fluttershy squeaked.

“But why? I thought the druids controlled the forest.” Crescent stepped forward.

“A necromancer keeps us trapped in a hold, our prison this forest of old.” Zecora spoke growing sad, “Killing our trees and our fruitful flowers, is the result of this plague for many hours.”

‘What if you took care of them?’ Luna asked.

“What if we took care of the necromancer?” The words left Crescent’s mouth before he could even realize.

“Hmm, destroying the work of our great planter, deep within the forest awaits the necromancer.”

“Then we’ll do it!” – Closing her note book, Twilight couldn’t believe her luck, - “This will be a great opportunity to observe the forbidden practice”

A smile on her face, Zecora motioned towards Fluttershy, “To show you the way, you shall take my protégé.”

The color quickly drained from the brightly colored pegasus. “B-but, Zecora… I’m not r-ready.” Pink mane drifts down to cover her eye, leaving only one shy eye starring at her mentor.

“You have come a long way. For I could never trust somepony more, I am so proud to be your mentor.”

“Your friend should be healed by morn, get some sleep and save what is warn.”

“I’ll show you where you can sleep.” Fluttershy lead the two ponies up long winding stairs and across bridges to a small hut. Inside were three beds, one with Applejack sleeping on one, multiple small animals run up to Fluttershy excited to see their friend. “Welcome to my humble home.” A smile growing on her face seeing her critter friends.

Twilight noticed her friend lying on the bed and walked towards her. Laying on her back, Applejack’s arms had been unwrapped. As if it were a unicorn making hands, Applejack’s hands were back but yet see through; almost good as new.

After making sure each of her animal friends had had a treat, Fluttershy got some extra pillows and blankets to make her own place to sleep.

“If it’s your house, you should take the bed. I’ll gladly sleep on the floor.” Crescent said grabbing the blankets in her arms.

“Oh no, I couldn’t let a guest sleep on the floor.”

“Well I insist.” Smiling all the time, Crescent made a makeshift bed on the floor and sat down on it, “See, it’s good enough for me.”

Fluttershy reluctantly took the last bed. Cuddling up on the bed with her critter friends, Fluttershy drifted off to sleep. With Twilight falling asleep after her furious note taking, Crescent was the last one awake.

‘Crescent, may we look around before bed?’

‘Uh, sure Luna. What are you wanting to see?’

‘I wish to see if there is any record of an old friend…’

~~~

Crescent wandered through the ancient druid city, down winding stairs, across rickety bridges. Crescent didn’t know what Luna was looking for, but with her seeing through his eyes he wasn’t too worried.

Walking through the firefly-lamp lit city, Crescent couldn’t help but noticed the careful eyes of the druid guards on him as he passed. The looks of curious bystanders couldn’t vex him, but the guard’s accusing eye certainly would. Following Luna’s suggestions, Crescent stood tall and kept his head high passing each guard in turn.

Walking around the city it was no wonder the druid’s city was lost, lock away in a large tree was an even larger community of druids that only wanted to be left alone with their nature.

At the end of the walkway rested the plaza. Surrounded by extra lamps, the plaza was the most well lit place Crescent had found since nightfall. Yet oddly enough, to Crescent’s surprise, there are no guards in sight. Among the firefly lamps different plants grew, their flowers glowing in the dim light of the twilight. Within the center of the plaza stood a large bronze statue of a stallion with vine’s meticulously growing up it. In one hand rested a large staff made of wood and with the other hand raised holding a skull. Carved into the bronze base was the name ‘Kalan’

“Since when do druids also use necromancy?” Crescent said, going back to his habit of talking to Luna aloud.

‘Not a druid… nor a necromancer before you ask. Kalan was both…’ Luna finally said in a somber tone.

“What?”

“Cres?” Came a voice from behind.

A tan coated stallion with an unkept green main and tail stood behind Crescent. A decorated loincloth around his waist and from it vine shoots sprout up his torso to make a vest of vines.

“Druid Leaf?” Tilting his head in confusion, Crescent couldn’t believe it.

With a burst a speed, Druid rushed forward to embrace his friend ligting him up in a hug nearly suffocating the unicorn under the earth ponies natural strength. “I thought I lost you to the Nightmare.”

“Well your gonna loose me to suffocation if you’re not careful.” Crescent managed to choke out.

“Oh” Setting his friend down, Druid couldn’t believe his luck, “Well how did you get away from Canterlot?”

“It’s a long story my friend, but why are you here? I mean, this is a lost city.”

“This is my home, I’m a druid. That’s why I was such a good medic in the guard.”

“… So did your parents have a weird sense of humor, naming a druid ‘Druid Leaf’?”

“Oh uh, that’s a fake name. Didn’t wanna take a change with my real name in the city. But I prefer my new name.” Wanting to change the subject, Druid looked behind Crescent to see the statue of Kalan. “Oh, so do you know of him?” He said pointing to the statue.

“Not really I just kinda stumbled upon it-” Crescent looked up at the towering statue, “-Could you tell me about him?”

“Um, never took you for a history conesuer. But Kalan was the first leader of the Πία, who were the survivors of the battle between the ancient royal sisters. The lived here within the Everfree. They followed a belief in something called the Balance… Whatever that is.”

As druid paused in his story Luna started in, ‘The Balance wasn’t just a belief, it was a way of life. It was the even distribution of Light and Dark, of Good and Evil. They believe that without one or the other the world would become stagnate and die. And yet, how did the Balance that my sister and I tried to keep fall in to myth…’ Slowly, Luna voice turned more somber from her reminiscing.

“So how did the … Πία… Change to become druids?”

“Uh, I believe the elders say the Πία society fell apart after a few centuries. Becoming the Druids and the Necromancers, one for good one for evil.”

‘I find that hard to believe’ Luna admitted.

“I find that hard to believe” Crescent said simultaneously.

“I don’t know Cres, to be honest I don’t understand how necromancers and druids were the same thing once either.”

“Not what I meant…” The red stallion said under his breath.

‘Neither one could be inherently good or evil. Not if they both followed the Balance.’

“Hey Crescent?”

Hearing his name brought him out of his train of thought, “Hmm?”

“I’m glad to know you made it out of Canterlot safely. But how did you find this place?”

“It’s a long story, I’ll explain it on the way back to where I’m staying.”

~~~

That morning, the four ponies got an early start to the necromancer’s lair. Crescent was over joyed that Luna had skipped the sleepless night lesson, letting him be well rested that morning. With the help of the druidic magic healing, Applejack was as strong as ever. Every so often one of the other ponies would catch Applejack looking at her hands and rubbing them together, almost like she could hardly believe they were gone yesterday.

It was easy to see Fluttershy wasn’t too sure about her new guide status for the group. She still couldn’t see why Zecora thought she could do this, but she refused to go home without trying. Twilight, being the ever studious scholar that she is, started reading a tome on necromancy to find a weakness. She had already read the book multiple times with no luck, but to learn everything in the book she would read it multiple times.

A dense fog began to set in as the group walked through the dark Everfree forest. The fog wasn’t doing anything for their moral, nor was the sound of whimpering coming from their guide.

“Don’t worry sugarcube-” Coming up behind fluttershy, Applejack placed a reassuring hand on her timid guide’s shoulder “-yer doing fine. Just try to relax.”

Looking at the orange mare, Fluttershy shyly looked away and spoke more assertively, “R-right.”

As they continued through the forest the trees started to become sparse as they came to a small clearing. Along the clearing the trees were withered and dieing. Through out the clearing rested infertile soil, restricting further growth than what few dead plants there was. The sun hung low in the sky giving off some light, but with the heavy fog the light was just dull and dreary sight to the group.

“I don’t like the look of this place,” Crescent summoned his sword from the ether “Be prepared incase of an attack.” Keeping close together the group hoped to watch out for an ambush.

The sound of shuffling suddenly came from all around them. “Uh, any of y’all see where that’s comin from?” Applejack took her axe off her back gripping it harder as the anticipation sat in.

A yellowed bone hand emerged from the ground near Fluttershy making her jump and squeak. The four travelers watched slack jawed as the hand pulled the rest of it’s bone frame from the ground, to stand in front of them. Looking at the four terrified faces starring back, the mold soaked skull’s maniacal grin opened, emitting an ear splitting scream signaling the rest of the skeletal army to burst from the ground and charge.

Acting fast, Twilight started chanting a spell to push back the advancing skeletons. As she finished, energy pulses moved the skeletons back giving the ponies room to move. Flipping through her spell book, Twilight found the perfect spell to help her friends. Casting her spell, a field of magenta covered the clearing. For every step the skeletons took, the field would stagger the skeletons slowing them down so the others could hit their foes.

Final Equestria

by Asch13

Chapter 1 - Traitors in the Castle

Chapter 2 - The Book Bearer

Chapter 3 - There's Power in Words (Updated Original 4/18)

The Druids