My Little Pony: A Race Against Time
Chapter 4 - And So It Begins
Author's Note: "My Little Pony" is owned by DHX and Hasbro.
Once they were inside the Crystal Castle, Casey began leading his friends to the "special room" that he had talked about.
"So, what exactly is inside that room?" Rainbow asked, looking at their new friend with curiosity.
"Just a little, um... tribute that the, ah, Crystal Ponies made for you all," replied Casey, who was trying his best not to sound nervous.
Twilight raised an eyebrow, and said, "It's not something like Spike's statue, is it?"
Casey chuckled, and shook his head. "No, it's... a little more different than that."
As they continued walking, Rainbow was having a strange feeling inside of herself, which Rarity took notice of.
"Having a stomach ache, darling, from all of that food you consumed?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head, saying, "No, it's not that. I just feel like... something bad is about to hap - whoa!"
The seven of them were now in front of a large door that resembled the star that Twilight had for a Cutie Mark.
Surrounding the star were carvings of the others' Cutie Marks, as well.
"Did you create all of this?" Applejack asked, as she looked at the well-made carving of her Cutie Mark. "I'm impressed!"
Casey blushed a little, and said, "Well, I didn't necessarily do all of it, but thanks anyway."
Pinkie Pie walked up to the door, looking all around it, and turned back to Casey. "So, how do we open it if there's not any doorknobs?"
"Well, Pinkie," explained Casey, who was still trying to remain cool. "That is where Twilight comes in."
Rainbow chuckled, and said, "I'm guessing that's why hers is the biggest."
Twilight frowned at her friend, and she replied, "That's probably just a coincidence... so, do I use my magic then?"
"Uh-huh," replied Casey, nodding his head. "And you'll see the surprise I was talking about."
So, while everyone took a few steps back, Twilight walked over to the front of the door, and began to activate her magic.
But while she was doing that, Casey began to feel more guilty about the fact that none of them knew what was going to happen once they entered the room.
Click! Ding!
Once she had finished, Twilight stepped back, and everyone watched as the star turned around a few times before splitting into two doors that opened sideways.
Maybe there's still a chance... thought Casey, who was looking at the necklace that Twilight had given him.
"Uh, hold up one second!"
The Mane Six all looked curiously at Casey, who walked over to stand in front of Twilight. "Maybe we should get Spike and Starlight to see this, as well?"
Twilight chuckled, and replied, "Uh, I think Spike has his own special tribute to admire."
"Plus, I'm pretty sure that Starlight is busy with Sunburst to even think about enjoying this."
Casey frowned after hearing that. Busy? Why would she be-
All of a sudden, his eyes went wide as he realized another part of his master's plan.
No, not him... he promised me that-
"Um, are you okay, Casey?" Fluttershy asked, noticing that he was also starting to turn pale.
Casey shook his head, and said, "Ok, this might sound crazy, but you all need to - ulp!"
He couldn't finish his sentence because a black tentacle had popped out from the room's shadows, and wrapped itself around Casey!
"Casey!" Twilight exclaimed, but before she could even help him, the tentacle quickly pulled the Earth Pony into the room.
She was about to go in, also, but Rarity cried, "Wait a minute, Twilight! We should probably alert Shining Armor or the guards about-"
"There's no time for that right now," replied a concerned Twilight. "We need to make sure he's okay!"
Before Rarity could say anything else, the alicorn princess ran into the room.
Then, at first, nopony did or said anything... until about a minute later when they heard Twilight cry out, "Girls, you might want to take a look at this!"
"Huh?" wondered the five ponies, as they slowly entered the room.
Wham!
All of a sudden, the doors closed themselves shut, and the lights turned on.
"What in tarnation is... all of... this..." Applejack couldn't figure out what to say next.
"Sweet Celestia... these are... absolutely gorgeous!" swooned Rairty, her eyes sparkling at the sight in front of her.
"Wow..." Fluttershy didn't know what else to say.
"This... is... awesome..." gasped a surprised Rainbow Dash.
Twilight, herself, was speechless at what was in front of her.
On the wall were five individual stained glass murals of Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.
There was also five stands that were usually meant for statues, except they weren't any...
Until Pinkie Pie stood on top of the stand that was in front of her mural, spinning around in a circle.
"Pinkie!" exclaimed Rairty. "Get down from there before you break something."
"What's there to break?" asked the pink pony, who was still spinning.
Before Rarity could give her response, a menacing voice appeared. "You're about to see for yourself."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A dark blast of energy appeared from above, and shot down at Pinkie Pie, who became engulfed in a giant ball of light.
"Pinkie Pie!" Twilight cried, trying to shield her eyes from the brightness.
When the bright light disappeared, everypony couldn't believe what they were seeing now.
Pinkie Pie was still on top of the stand, except now, she was an actual stone-made statue.
"No... Pinkie..." gasped Twilight, who felt like she was almost ready to cry.
A teary-eyed Fluttershy asked, "Is... s-she-"
"Dead? Of course not..."
Twilight and her friends turned around to see a cloaked pony, who was holding up a silver staff.
"But all of you are going to experience what she's going through right now..."
He then aimed the tip of the staff at Twilight, saying, "I'll be saving you for last, your Highness."
Rainbow Dash gritted his teeth, and she angrily yelled, "Hey! No one does that to my friend!"
"Dash, wait!" Twilight cried, but it was too late.
The winged pony charged towards the sinister newcomer, who responded by aiming his staff at her, trapping Rainbow inside of an energy ball.
"Let me out of this thing!" yelled an irritated Rainbow Dash.
Twilight and Rarity were about to use their own magic, but the cloaked pony said, "Do anything, and I'll make things a whole lot worse."
The two of them de-powered their horns, which was enough for the cloaked pony as he sent Rainbow towards one of the empty stands.
"Twilight, help-" cried Rainbow, but her sentence was cut off once she became engulfed in the bright energy ball, as well.
Boom!
"Two done..." laughed the cloaked pony, while the others were speechless at the sight of Rainbow Dash.
Just like Pinkie Pie, she was now turned to stone, and placed on the stand in front of her own mural.
"And four to go!"