Chaos Rising
Prologue: Alicorn's Lament

Sequel to 'How the Mighty can Fall'
Josh has been tricked, and now he's on the run. But help comes from the most unusual places, and pretty soon a two creature feud has become something neither could have expected...

The sound of hooves rang through the old corridor, echoing back and forth. Celestia and Luna walked down it, checking that nopony else had disobeyed their order to see what was down the abandoned section of the castle.
"You're sure she was down here?" Luna asked her sister, looking back towards the door at the other end.

"Positive. I checked on the gem not last week." Celestia replied confidently.
She looked at the door, then back down the corridor.
"Why did we make this corridor so impractical? For a siege I mean."

"To impress the ambassadors." Luna said pointedly. "It's easy to clean, all the same."
The younger princess opened the door with her magic, looking around carefully.
"Sun? We know you're here. Show yourself."

"Oh, so now you see me as a valid companion."
The two alicorns watched as a figure in armour formed in front of them. A female human in gold armour. Celestia nudged Luna and pointed to a line drawn on the ground. The human snorted.
"What, can't you even speak of the thing that holds me in while I am within ears reach?"

"It was not appropriate to talk of." Celestia snapped. "And you caused this yourself."

"I caused nothing of either of your actions. Do not pin your own folly on my chest." The human replied coolly. "So how can I help the pair of you?"

"Tell us where Moon's vessel is right now." Luna instructed Sun. She looked at the pony and shrugged.

"Where it has been for the last few years, right where you left it."

Celestia shook her head. "I think that she was with another, who is currently on his way north. It can't be there."

Sun crossed her arms and smirked. "So naive Celestia. The vessel is still there. That does not mean Moon is."

"Cut the crap and tell us where Moon is!" Luna yelled. Celestia stepped back, shocked. Sun nodded to Luna.

"Much better. Moon is currently about three hours travel, flying, from the old unicorn castle."

"How?" Sun turned to Celestia again.

"Because she has made a Bond. Luckily, the other has not agreed the full terms, so she must leave his body soon."

"She can do that?" Luna asked frowning.

"Apparently. Well, it is Moon, she probably hasn't even told him about the bond yet." Sun commented offhandedly. "I doubt she'll even tell him exactly what she's doing until the last second of tricking him into agreeing."

Celestia gulped. "Moon bonding with a human... That's not going to be good. We have to stop it, even if he does end up surviving the initial attack."

"Especially if he's become a werepyre. That will be very bad for us indeed." Luna commented. "Thank you for your help Sun."

"Please bear in mind," The spirit commented as the two ponies went to leave, "That the only reason I'm helping you is because I know EXACTLY what needs to happen, and EXACTLY who needs to do it."

"I know." Celestia replied, smirking. "That's why neither of us will deal the final blow."
She slammed the door, leaving the room dark but for the glow of the spirits armour and a yellow gem behind her.

"I know." Sun replied quietly, fading away. "That's exactly what I want you to do."

On the northern borders of Equestria, Josh bounded over a rocky precipice, Moon clinging onto his back. The werepyre had been getting used to his new body, preparing for the inevitable fight. Leaping over a wide chasm, he spread his wings, spinning sideways to avoid the edge of a cliff face.

"I'm gonna be sick."

Of course, SOMEONE had to object to his methods.

"If you dislike this, why don't you hide in something?" Josh sighed, spinning back to the right angle. Moon smacked him across the back of his head.

"Well, if there was anything that was appropriate nearby, then yes. But there isn't."

"Then quit whining."
Josh landed on the other side of the chasm, hitting the ground running. As he rounded a corner, his target came into view. The ancient unicorn castle.
Completely frozen over.
"The hell!" Josh yelled, sprinting up towards the looming structure. "That isn't possible!"

Moon sat up gaping. "I don't get it, how could an entire castle-"

The pair stopped silent as a chilling sound drifted down to them. Josh looked up, backing towards the chasm. The sky was a maelstrom of black clouds, spinning around the castle, dotted with the occasional moving white speck. Some of them were moving down. Josh growled, sprinting forwards at full pelt.
"Windigoes. Of course."

Moon shielded her eyes with her hand, watching the spirits move across the sky.
"Why the castle? Surely if there are that many, then they could spread?"

"Probably." Josh grunted, skidding to a stop at the door of the castle. "Maybe Celestia's behind it."

"Or Luna." Moon muttered, tapping the door nervously. "Or perhaps the Elements are causing the Windigoes to form from their impurities."

"Or just maybe they want to be here!"

Josh stepped back from the door, suddenly wrenched open. Moon gaped.

"Discord!"

The draconequus nodded, then looked back up at the sky. "The Windigoes are getting closer. I'd get inside quick if I were you."

"And what would you do in my situation?" Josh asked, glaring at the mishmash of creatures in front of him.

"Listen to the creature of chaos advising you about creatures of chaos."

"Good enough for me!" Josh yelled, grabbing Moon by the back of her cloak. "Let's go!"

The trio (Or rather, Josh) rushed inside, one Windigo slamming against the now shut door. It wailed at the sky.

Down in the nearby town, the inhabitants shivered. Something big was ahoof, and if the castle was involved...

One thing was certain. What happened next could decide the fate of Equestria.
Forever.