Chapter 4: Traveler in the Dark: The Summoning.
…
Proceeding in silence Twilight and Luna slowly weaved their way deeper into the Everfree Forest, approaching ever closer to its tainted black core. Surrounding the forest was a barrier of trees that stood straight, tall, and proud. They were as healthy a wooden brown and leafy green as any other of their kind to be found around Equestria. From a respectable distance this shield of foliage gave the forest an appearance that didn't seem all that frightening. It was nothing more than a dirty trick that the forest employed to welcome unwary souls. Any pony unfamiliar to Everfree might think it was a tempting spot for a lazy afternoon picnic or a peaceful site to enjoy a good book under a beautiful blue sky. That was all just a facade, a mask, an elaborate ruse to hide the dangers of the forest from casual passersby. Penetrating past the inviting exterior the forest was a corrupted abomination where of the laws of nature did not always apply. Where a wide host of all manner of hideous beasts and ruthless predators stalked and hunted amidst the fouled vegetation.
Flora, from the mightiest tree to the simplest grass, were all twisted decrepit shadows that looked wet and rotten, covered with a disgusting sheen like a layer of slime. Everything seemed inexplicably alive yet frozen in silence and surrounded by a vile aura as if possessed by a horrendous evil that was delightfully laughing at the pair of equine intruders that dared to trespass into its lair. Low hanging branches groaned and moved about chaotically with their only source of locomotion being a hot wind blowing through the forest like a great invisible serpent. Dancing in the wind the branches were like clawed hands reaching with undisguised contempt for the living. Wanting to grab the ponies, wanting to tear skin from bones, but only succeed in slowing the ponies down slightly when the fingers happened to become tangled in their manes. Apart from the whistle of the wind through the treetops, the forest was completely silent. Not a single animal uttered so much as a howl or grunt, however that was normal. The only time a creature dared to announce its presence or show its face in Everfree was when it entertained carnivorous desires.
As the two ponies continued to explore deeper and deeper Twilight became more conscious of a sweet putrid smell that was building in the air around them, a foul stench akin to hot curdled milk. It had started off as an occasional annoyance traveling along the wind, now it was saturating the air in an attempt to try and choke them out. Twilight raised a hoof to her nose and shut her mouth tight. Even then she could still sense it forcing itself into her body through her very pores. It made her feel so unclean that she decided a long hot soak in the bathtub would be priority one when she got home. She'd even use the special bathing salts that Rarity had given her as a birthday gift. She had only been this deep into Everfree once before, but knew that this stench hadn't been here at the time. She looked to check on how Luna was holding up, however the alicorn acted as if she was oblivious to everything around her or it simply didn't worry her.
Twilight regretted not remembering to drag Spike along by his scaly tail for this little adventure. She knew that he, more than likely, would have chickened out at the idea of traveling this far into the darkest depths of the Everfree, but it might've helped delude herself into believing that she was far braver than she felt right now. At the very least it would've been nice for a good laugh at his expense in the meantime. At this moment he was probably still partying his little dragon heart out at the festival, stuffing his face full of delights and dancing to the techno music. The last she'd seen of him was in the company of Pinkie Pie. The mischievous pair was about to pull off a rather messy prank on Applejack. A trick that involved the employment of several cherry bombs that were hidden inside a triple chocolate-fudge apple cake with whipped cream and, the coup-de-grace, a single maraschino cherry on top. Assuming Spike survived Applejack's bronco buster beat down he wouldn't be in any shape to assist anyway.
Twilight knew that she'd have to eventually get around to having a serious talk with Spike about this prank business. Pranks were a practice she very much discouraged, especially in her friends. After all, he was her faithful little helper at the library and it simply would not do for her to have to keep one eye on the little bugger whenever she wanted to study for fear of some random tomfoolery heading her way. There was enough of that already going around courtesy of Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. Those two mares were infamous for their love of high jinks, jokes, and overall adolescent mischief. Speaking of which..,
"Luna, I was wondering if I could ask you a question?" After inquiring Twilight sneezed something fierce in order to get the stench out of her system.
"Bless you. I'll try to answer as best as I can. I can't promise you'll like it." Luna was strangely reassuring despite the negative connotation.
"Well, I have some friends that are stuck in Canterlot and have been since this morning. I was wondering, I don't mean to impose," Twilight raised her hooves in defense, "but if you could help me find them I would be grateful." Asking favors from royalty was something that Twilight felt extremely awkward doing. Even as Celestia's star pupil she was very much worried that she could overextend her unique privileges and cause offense. Luna just stared at her, making her fear that she might have indeed offended the moon princess. At least until Luna allowed a nervous snigger to escape like a popped balloon.
"Sorry, I was expecting a very different question." She shook the laugh away, "You need not worry about that, I would consider it a pleasure to help your friends. You have already helped me a great deal just by being here." The two exchanged smiles, grateful to be of help to one another.
"Who are you thinking of?" Luna asked.
"Well, there's Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash. They went to Canterlot to sell some wares before the festival began. I'm pretty sure you've met both of them before."
"I do remember Big Macintosh," Luna nodded in affirmation, "big red stallion, apple farmer, and quite a handsome fellow if my memory sill works. You know," Luna gave a sly grin, "if my situation was a little better off I'd defiantly go chasing after that fine a..ahem." Luna excused herself noticing a curious sidelong glance from Twilight. "It shouldn't be a problem getting him permission to leave Canterlot. Unfortunately it won't be so easy for Rainbow Dash. I'm afraid she was arrested earlier today."
"What!" Twilight's voice took a sharp upturn for the shrill upon hearing the news. Halting in her tracks she turned towards Luna half expecting it to be a joke. It was just a joke, wasn't it?
"How? Why? What in Equestria did she do?" Twilight blubbered.
"She assaulted several of the castle guards and they were forced to put her to sleep." Luna calmly summarized, "That's not the worst part, though. I lost two hundred bits betting on her in that fight."
"Your kidding!"
"Your right, it was 300 bits." Luna sat down to think about it.
"But,"
"No, no, it was defiantly 200 bits and one of my bridles too, how embarrassing. That pair was especially popular with the stallions at the night club."
"Lunaaa!" The mental image in Twilight's head caused all her blood to rush to her face. She wasn't sure which seemed more surreal. Rainbow Dash chained to a prison wall or Luna entertaining stallions in a very un-princess like manner. Nope, it was defiantly the latter.
"I'm joking," Twilight's look of petrified embarrassment and shock only made Luna laugh harder, "your friend is fine. She'll be cooling her head for a night in the dungeon, but she's otherwise unharmed. I doubt she'll try that little stunt again in the near future, but," Luna stopped laughing, "seriously though I'm still short 200 coins over this whole debacle."
Twilight just gaped at the princess. It was true that she didn't know Luna all that well, but she'd never expect the princess to have such a perverted sense of humor. As if reading her mind Luna broke out into another fresh wave of laughter.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend. Big sis always did say I was bad with my naughty little jokes."
"Oh, it's ok," said Twilight beginning to recover from her embarrassment and still unsure of what just happened. It was refreshing to see Luna with her mane down, but the two of them were still smack dab in the middle of the Everfree and this wasn't the best environment to have a casual heart to heart.
"Would you like me to sing instead?" Luna abruptly changed the subject feeling guilty over putting Twilight in such and awkward situation.
"You sing?" Luna was indeed full of surprises tonight.
"Oh yes, I'm very good at it. I used to sing all the time before, well, you know."
"Um, could this wait until later?" Twilight was eager to continue on their journey and a song would only delay them further. The silence made her very nervous and that didn't take into account the horrible smell. She still couldn't understand how Luna wasn't affected at all.
"You haven't heard me." Luna protested before she took a deep breath and started to sing. She chose a patter song that originated from a comic opera she'd once enjoyed as a foal. For this occasion, however, she had added in her own lyrics.
I am the very model of a Princess Luna-tarian.
I have information Sciences, on Magic, and Equestrian.
I know the mares and seas and I quote the names historical
From Babylon, to regolith, and craters categorical
I have mastered learning on all matters of Astronomy.
I know the moon and stars and of their orbital velocity.
I'm at my very best when the sun is clear out of sight
And I whistle to the tune of 'Twinkle Little Star' all the night
Luna finished and glanced towards Twilight expectantly.
"You've been talking to Pinkie haven't you?" Twilight could see clearly that this was a symptom of exposure to high levels of Pinkemania.
"We've exchanged a couple of letters, yes." Luna admitted without hesitation or concern, "She once told me that, 'when in doubt, sing it out,' or something like that."
The Alicorn princess' overly friendly demeanor and confidence was infectious. Twilight felt her tensions ease as the two of them continued on their way through the forest. The fear of Everfree was now a distant memory and even the smell receded. They talked eagerly about all manner of things from sleepovers, to friendship, and daily life in Canterlot and Ponyville. Luna even began to share stories of her childhood growing up with Celestia.
"There was this one time," Luna began giggling like a school foal, "When Celestia got hit with skunk spray and somepony suggested we use tomato juice to wash the smell out."
"Did you?"
"Ooh yes, a whole bathtub full."
…
Before they knew it Twilight and Luna arrived at their destination near the center of the Everfree. Clearing past a tall shrub they approached the gates of an ancient stone castle that violently emerged from the forest bed like an obstinate mountain that refused to yield to the combined wiles of nature and erosion. In terms of architecture and design the castle was very similar to the one in Canterlot, if a bit smaller in scale. That was not unusual since it once served as the personal sanctuary of the two princesses in ages past. The friendly atmosphere shared between the two ponies began to retreat as they crossed the portcullis into the sanctuary.
Luna continued to lead as they traveled the abandoned hallways of the castle. Twilight was taken aback at how different the place had become in the year since her last visit. The forlorn building had fallen further into disrepair over that single short period of time than in the millennium since its abandonment following Celestia's victory over Nightmare Moon. What had once been clean from any sort of encroaching plant life or entropy was now replaced with unrestraint wilderness.
Grass grew in-between the cracks in the cobbled stone floor, vines invaded through the broken windows and snaked along the floor amongst the glass shards. The majestic rugs and tapestries now hung in tattered shreds and there was a sharp musty smell, like an old attic. Twilight wondered if her removal of the Elements of Harmony had something to do with it. She could easily reason that it was the Elements that had shielded the castle from Everfree and now that the Elements were gone the forest had been given free rein. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before everything here would disappear, possibly in less than a single generation.
The idea gripped Twilight tightly with a profound sense of loss. There was so much history here, so many lives had touched this place, and now it was fated to vanish off the face of Equestria, lost in silence to the unstoppable march of time. As bad as it made Twilight feel she knew it must be worse for Luna.
…
Luna gently traced a hoof along the empty walls trying to feel for the pulse of life that she had once known. The hoof prints of family and friends that lay behind the grime that encrusted the walls. Her face was a mask of grim neutrality as she felt it clearly, it was here, but it only existed in her memories. She knew now that this place was just a dead husk now.
"Luna, are you alright?" Twilight asked from behind her.
"I'll be fine." She replied knowing that it was just another lie, one more to add to the pile. Luna hesitated, biting her lip when the tears began to gather in the corner of her eyes. This place brought back so many precious memories of her life before she messed everything up, before she grew jealous and hateful of her sister. It was a cruel reminder of all the terrible things she'd committed in the past. She wanted to forget, to move on, but the memories clung like tumors. Would Equestria ever be able to forgive her even though her big sister and Twilight had? Now the tears flowed freely down her cheeks like a gentle salty rain. She couldn't find forgiveness in herself with the knowledge that it was not the passage of time that destroyed this place. It had been her
Her fault,
Her responsibility.
She could feel her heart break and she did not know how to put the pieces back together.
"I'm sorry for acting this way." Luna tore her sight from the empty wall and hung her head in shame.
"For what? You haven't done anything wrong." Twilight's voice was full of concern. Luna wondered if Twilight would be so friendly if she knew the whole truth.
"I can't help it. This place is a part of me. We are both a thousand years obsolete. Maybe it would be best if we were to vanish from Equestria forever. Big sis doesn't need me anyway."
"How can you say such a thing?" Twilight was horrified at such inconsiderate words. "Celestia was so happy when you came back….she wanted you to come back, to be free of Nightmare Moon, and if she lost you again….I don't even want to think about what it would do to her." Twilight nuzzled against Luna in a gesture that spoke of pure friendship. "It's alright Luna, we can get through this together."
To Twilight it felt weird, unnatural even, to embrace the princess in such a fashion, but Twilight knew she'd only make things worse if she held back. She stroked Luna's mane to try and reassure her, to calm her fear. The Princess' mane felt soft and silky under her touch and in the light of the moon it reflected a flawless shine with the combined sparkle of a million points of exquisite light. It reminded her of the endless field of stars in the night sky.
"Come on, we are almost there." Twilight said confidently helping the princess up.
"Thank you," Luna truly meant it and smiled, "It makes me happy to know that I have your friendship. I would also like to have your trust and it's time I told you a little more about this book and why I brought you here." Luna spoke carefully in a measured pitch so as not to cause her unicorn companion any more worry. "Hmm," Luna was unsure exactly how to begin.
"I know that things have gotten out of hoof after it was stolen." Twilight said knowing it was an abrupt interruption, but she wanted, needed, to know what this was all about. "For that matter what exactly is a Marker? I've been thinking about it all day and I suspect it involves more than a simple book."
"Twilight, I would love to tell you everything, but big sis would hate me if I needlessly endangered her most beloved and favorite pupil." Luna admonished.
"Just because I'm Celestia's pupil does not mean I need special treatment."
"Not so, because I know big sis planned on telling you the truth about everything when she decided that you were truly ready. I would not dare to step on her hooves in this matter."
"What kind of things?" Twilight could not withhold her curiosity.
"Nice try," Luna deadpanned.
"Well, can't blame a pony for trying." Twilight grinned knowing her little ploy had failed.
"What I can say that on the outside it looks as normal as any other book you could find in a library. However, if a pony were to read it they would see a sequence of mathematical formulae, blueprints, and philosophical meanderings. A lesser mind would be driven mad. Only a pony of sufficient intelligence and learning can hope to decipher it."
"Mathematical formula and blueprints?" Twilight intoned, understanding dawning upon her, "Are you saying it's a guide to building a Marker?"
"Yes," Luna said gravely, "The Marker is an artifact of great power and influence and that book is the key to building a new one. Celestia and I hadn't even ascended the throne when the original Marker was discovered below the Everfree Forest." Luna gazed out a window taking in the sight of the forest and the gentle lights of Ponyville visible on the horizon. "It was black. Black and glowing with symbols, symbols which whispered to me…." Luna choked because she feared saying far too much too soon. "I can safely say that only three ponies have ever read that book and survived the madness; the author, Celestia, and myself."
"The book was only stolen this morning. I'm sure they have not had time to build it yet." Now Twilight was even more infused with zeal and alarm. As well read as she considered herself to be there was no record she'd come across that even hinted at just how long the two princesses had been in power. No mortal pony had any memory of the epic timescale that Luna only hinted at. Just how long and deep did this rabbit hole go?
…
The two ponies ascended the stairs and entered into a large antechamber at the top of the castle. It was in similar disarray as the rest of the castle, yet despite the overgrowth Twilight easily recognized this room. It was here that the Elements of Harmony had once been stored, magical weapons waiting patiently for somepony to claim the power for their own. This was the place where the fateful confrontation with Nightmare Moon had occurred.
Luna purposefully approached the statue where the Elemental orbs had once rested. The statue was carved from crystal and shaped into something that resembled a bare five-branched tree with each 'branch' curling upwards and ending in a bowl shape. The bowls once held the Elemental orbs, but now stood empty except for a small amount of water at the bottom. Without warning Luna gave one powerful backwards kick and broke the statue at the base. A second swift kick finished the job and sent the stone structure flying forcefully into the opposite wall where it shattered into a thousand fragments.
"Was that necessary?" Twilight wasn't entirely sure, but it seemed as if Luna really enjoyed doing that. Twilight grew increasingly concerned that Luna's emotional health was dangerously unbalanced. In the hour or two since both of them had started on this journey Luna had run the proverbial emotional gauntlet. She was all over the place expressing emotions that had begun at nervousness, traveled to naughty, then silly, and then joyful. Before ending in sadness, depression, and finally ending on anger.
"Nevermind! It's useless now and besides what we want is right below us."
At the place where the statue had broken from its foundation was a tiny box shaped depression in the floor. At the center of the depression was a tiny hole. Luna kneeled down before it and carefully inserted her horn down the hole while mumbled a few words. Twilight could feel the casting of a magical spell, yet was unfamiliar with exactly what kind of spell. After a few tentative seconds there was the sound of a lock being keyed. Twilight felt the floor beneath her vibrate with the movement of some long dormant machinery. The weathered gears creaked and protested over their rude awakening.
"Steady yourself." Was all the warning Luna could give before there was a flash of magical energy that surrounded them. The ground below their hooves seemed to dissolve and they fell into the darkness beneath them. The vertigo didn't last long before their hooves touched down on solid ground again. It happened so fast that Twilight had not realized it was happening until it was already over.
"Where are we?" Twilight asked while inspecting this new environment. They had been transported from the Sanctuary antechamber into a large and spacious cavern. Twilight had done a lot of research on old Equestrian technology and magic and recognized what they had just gone through was called a 'transportation plate,' which served as a quick and convenient means of near instantaneous teleportation from one location to another predetermined destination. The advantages of such a device were that the teleportation worked across vast distances and that the user did not need to be in the line of sight to their destination, unlike the simple spell Twilight had used on multiple occasions. It was not that much of a surprise to find such a device in the Sanctuary, but to have it still in working condition after all these years was amazing. Especially since the knowledge to create and maintain such devices was an art form lost in ages past.
"These are the old mines, below Everfree." Luna now spoke with no hint of emotion or concern, only purpose. "Generations of ponies worked here to extract the materials needed to build Canterlot. No living creature has been down here for ages." Strangely Luna seemed to put special emphasis on 'living.'
"None of the books I've ever read mentioned mines and tunnels below the forest."
"That's not surprising. I did say there were far more surprises then just the Elements."
…
The mineshaft elevator descended down the subterranean tunnel at break-neck speed. Twilight wondered if this is what it felt like when Rainbow Dash attempted a sonic rain-boom maneuver. There was no source of light in these tunnels so Twilight was forced to cast a light spell. Her horn glowed magnificently and even then the darkness was too thick. It was so oppressive she couldn't see much outside her immediate area. Worse yet, even with the spell she could not determine how far down they were going.
The walls of the shaft were featureless subterranean dirt only interrupted by the pair of elevator tracks and the occasional floor landing. The elevator abruptly began to slow down in its decent before coming to a sudden stop at what seemed to be the lowest level. The door that greeted them was so old and rusted that to even call it a door would be like describing a slice of swiss cheese as an impenetrable bank vault. The only other highlight was the number forty-two stenciled on in faded yellow spray paint.
The tunnel behind the door was bigger than Twilight had anticipated. It was tall and wide enough to fit her house inside, with a generous amount of room to spare. The tunnel was lined on either side by equidistant metallic ribs that Twilight presumed held the tunnel up and prevented it from collapsing. In between the ribs were veins of silver, gold, and various gems that had been exposed, but never collected. Twilight placed a couple of the more loose gems in her saddlebags positive that Spike would appreciate her efforts later.
The packed dirt ground was littered with countless puddles of soupy goo laid out all over the place. Passing too close to a puddle allowed Twilight to make out the same rotten stench she's experienced before in the forest. There was no wind in this pace and apart from the sound of their hooves; there was only a deathly silence. It didn't last for long as Twilight could began to notice a scratching sound that had begun to follow them from behind shortly after entering the tunnel. Whenever she stopped to check on it, the sound stopped. When she started to move again the scratching would wait awhile and then come back. Luna still didn't seem bothered by any of this. It made Twilight wonder if her own fear was playing tricks on her.
It was hard to judge the passage of time in this place, but after what felt like an hour of a nonstop linear progression the cave suddenly opened up to reveal a great cylindrical room. Stairs and catwalks were built into the sides of the room and ascended upwards at an indeterminate distance. The magical lights from the ponies were sufficient to illuminate the curved wall that surrounded them on all sides, but there was no way to glimpse at how high the ceiling went.
Luna stepped upon a raised circular platform that occupied most of the ground area in the room before she motioning that Twilight should follow her. Twilight place a hesitant hoof upon the altar, unsure of what Luna intended to do. Twilight didn't know why she called it an alter, but there was something in the air, something sacrosanct and horrific about this place. She couldn't put her hoof on the exact reason why until she took a closer look at the platform. Its polished onyx like surface showed an uninterrupted pattern of symbols carved into its surface. Some she recognized from the image of the Marker, but most were unfamiliar. Twilight wanted to study these symbols and everything about this room, but in her haste to follow Luna she had forgotten all of her writing supplies back at home.
Luna, on the other hoof, was well prepared. Retrieving a scroll from one of her saddlebags she opened it and began to read. She nodded her head in satisfaction before telekinetically handing the scroll over to Twilight.
"What am I suppose to do with this?" Twilight asked skeptically as she accepted the document. The scroll was written in old Equestrian, a language Twilight had been studying, but had not fully mastered. She couldn't read most of it apart from an occasional word or two. It was clearly a magical scroll of great power; she didn't have to be able to understand the writing to know that. Twilight could feel a higher concentration of magical energy radiating from it.
"Don't worry about the words," Luna seemed to sense Twilight's confusion, "concentrate on the magical flow instead."
Twilight held the scroll in her hooves and closed her eyes. She moved her horn closer to the scroll until she touched it directly as she concentrated on the weave of magical energies. It was not a single spell, rather a combination of multiple spells mixed together. Some were simple, others complex, some she knew, and many she did not. She recognized a teleportation spell right off the cuff, but the actual destination she could not ascertain. There was also a telekinetic spell and a mind-control spell; both were highly unusual magics too be used in conjunction with teleportation. The further she tried to explore this intriguing case the more she heard whispers in her head.
Twilight is here….shhhhh….
Isaaaac….
….the traveler in the dark….
"Well?" Luna said breaking Twilight's concentration. Twilight looked to the princess who seemed brimming with anticipation.
"If I had to guess, then, um," Twilight delayed to give herself more time to think it over. Teleportation, telekinesis, and mind control all used together in a spell so complex that she couldn't wrap her mind around it; what did it mean? Then like a bolt from the blue she realized what it was and it was the mind-control spell that was the key.
"It's a summoning spell." Twilight's answer birthed a smile on Luna's young face. "You're going to summon somepony or something into Equestria and control it for your own purposes."
"Exactly," Luna confirmed, "I'll be brief since we do need to get back home before daybreak. The threat of somepony making a new Marker is such a terrible possibility that we need to prepare for the worse. However, General Starsword is dragging his hooves about following proper procedures and protocols in training new soldiers. So big sis and I consulted an old friend of ours and he told us about a weapon we could summon to help bring this matter, hopefully, to an early and peaceful conclusion."
"A weapon?" Twilight was dubious, "Would a weapon require the use of mind-control?"
"Yes, a caster that brings forth items of power uses mind-control to link themselves to the item so that only they may use it. Not unlike the Elements of Harmony"
"Shouldn't the Elements of Harmony be able to help?"
"I'm sure they can. Yet, the elements may not be enough." Luna indicated the scroll in Twilight's hooves. "That spell was written by Celestia and I with help from our friend and I want you to cast it and bring that weapon back to Equestria."
"Why me? Don't you have more experience than I do in this kind of magic."
"Yes, but understand that after a millennium of imprisonment in the moon my power is far too weak. Besides somepony needs to stay and protect you from danger." Twilight was about to raise more concerns, but Luna didn't allow to her speak.
"Twilight, we don't have time to argue. Please trust me." Twilight wanted to trust Luna. No! She DID trust Luna and she'd come too far to back out now. Besides, she did not want to disappoint her new friend.
"Ok I'll do it." She said, resolute.
"Thank you Twilight." Luna bowed her head in gratitude. "I should warn you that once you cast the spell you will need to hold onto it with all your might and only dispel it when you have the weapon in your hooves." Luna dismounted from the alter and walked to the entrance she and Twilight had arrived through. Turning back to Twilight, Luna remembering one final detail.
"Oh, and one more thing, be wary of shadows."
…
Twilight stood at the center of the platform while holding the scroll before her. She closed her eyes before touching the scroll with her horn, feeling for the magic. Instead of passively observing it this time she reached out with her own magical talents and united the two of them together as one. The intermingling of these separate flows required the utmost levels of concentration on maintaining a state of balance. If one flow grew too powerful over the other then she risked the spell backfiring, which could have dangerous, even deadly, consequences. The Element of Magic manifested itself upon her head in the form of a golden tiara with a magenta tourmaline shaped like a star similar to her cutie-mark. Her eyes shot open, pupils disappeared under the intense projection of a bright white light. The whole of the chamber became illuminated in this light as the growing magical energies bathed the alter in currents of ether. Twilight felt herself being lifted beyond the veil of reality before emerging into a world that only existed in the darkest depths of space and time.
…
Twilight was thrown like a piece of detritus from the pillar of light and landed hard upon a dirt ground behind some jagged rock formations. She laid upon the ground for a few precious seconds while her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
Shaking from fright Twilight cautiously peered out from behind the serrated rock she had arrived at. Apart from the glow of the summoning spell on her horn, everything was illuminated by a dim and sickly yellowish-green light originating from a source she could not determine, as there was no sun or moon in the sky or even a simple lamp or candle present. She was on some barren wasteland of an island surrounded on all sides by an infinite expanse. Everything looked and felt real enough yet it shifted and distorted as if made of reflections in a fog of empty shadows. Not to say there was much too see here. The most significant features were large rocks seemingly placed at random locations, but there was something else in here, she could sense it. She felt like she was being watched. That there were others in this place, but there was no scratching noise, no oppressive smell, and the whispers in her head were silent.
In an abrupt flash of blood red light she witnessed the emergence of the colossal visage of a Marker towering over her like some demonic overlord. It was standing far away on the other end of the island, yet its massive size allowed somehow still allowed it to tower above her and everything else in this forbidden place.
Its unnatural light pierced through the shadows with a rapid pulse, like a heartbeat. She seemed unable to focus upon it terrible form, her eyes slipping off its skin, unable to focus. The image was clear in her mind, however, at the top its narrow twin spires, nearly touching, twisting around each other like two poisonous snakes embattled in eternity. Its surface covered with the same glowing symbols she'd seen a few times before.
"Twilight," a voice spoke out from the darkness. Twilight spun to face this new threat, a scream dying in her throat with a pathetic squeal. An elderly Pegasus was sitting behind her, his skin a faded purple and mane a weathered grey. Twilight gaped, recognition spreading over her face in a disbelieving stare.
"Pa..Pappy?" She gasped. She wanted to believe it, but it was impossible.
"Tiny Twilight, my dear granddaughter," he whispered in concern, his arms held open invitingly.
Luna's warning echoed in her ears, Twilight understood that what she was seeing was not her grandfather. He had suddenly, but quietly, passed away many years ago in his sleep. She remembered crying for days after the funeral fondly remembering the times he let her ride on his back high above the clouds. Yet here he was, his warm blue eyes twinkling like stars with a reflection of sadness and concern.
Her logical mind hesitated, but she couldn't help herself. Against her best judgment she threw her arms around him in a loving embrace, hugging him close.
"I've missed you so much." The tears came easily. She nuzzled close to him listening to his gentle breathing and feeling his strong arms close around her.
"Tiny Twilight, why are you here my sweet child. You're not supposed to be here. You shouldn't be here." He held her close in that special way only a loving grandparent could. "I did not wish to see you suffer."
"Pappy, what is this place? Why are you here?"
"Leave now. Please!" He suddenly pushed her back at arm's length, his face reflecting the pain from having to break the embrace. "There is very little time, this place will soon be destroyed and you along with it. Don't use the weapon! It will only save your world so it can destroy it."
"I don't understand." Twilight shrank under his intense glare and scolding speech. Grandfather had never once before raised his voice at her in such hateful anger or held her so roughly.
"Don't sacrifice yourself to the Marker's plans!" He screamed.
Twisting forcefully to her left Twilight broke free from his grasp and retreated back a few steps before turning to confront him or the evil that claimed to be him. Grandfather Sparkle was gone, vanished back into the darkness where he had come from. In his place the dark mist began to move in a circular pattern, slowly at first then gaining purposeful speed. Bits of the swirling vortex began to break off, falling away in random directions.
Wherever these slivers of shadow landed they began to grow in size. They twisted, morphed, and collapsed in upon themselves, slowly assuming pony forms. Twilight backed away in horror as these shadow ponies gazed upon her with blood red eyes that held no emotion or soul, only the desire to consume. Twilight didn't wait for the shadows to attack. She turned tail and ran as fast as her hooves could carry her. She drove forward not bother to try and see if she was being followed, her panic serving as a focusing lens for her desire to reach a place of safety. Behind her erupted a harsh mare's voice screaming in a shrill fit of uncontrollable rage that shattered the silence like a million shards of glass.
"YOU SHALL NOT TAKE HIM FROM US! WE….ARE….WHOLE!" The voice overflowed with hatred and disgust, which seemed to enter Twilight's ears and tear at her brain. It was the sound of something unholy and it was trapped inside this place with her, hungry for her.
Twilight was ready to take her Grandfather's advice and break her hold on the spell when the air was again filled with a familiar throb of red light. Without realizing it she had run all the way to the opposite side of the island and now found herself standing before the Red Marker as it rose endlessly into oblivion, far beyond her sight. She was close enough to touch it and sensed that this was more of a transparent image projected from some unknown and hidden source. She could clearly see her reflection upon its flawless exterior, so it also acted like a mirror too.
Mere inches from the Marker, Twilight could discern an object suspended within it's being. Something instinctual told her that this was the object that she had come here to retrieve. Not really a weapon, as she though it to be, more like a suit of armor that she had never witnessed before or could have conceived of in her wildest dreams. It was not made of gold or shaped for ornate appearances or ceremonial traditions like the uniforms used by the guard ponies in Canterlot. This armor was made to completely cover the user from head to hoof in uninterrupted segments of padding and protection. The helmet had three slits for the wearer to see out of, the chest was covered in metallic plates and ribs to protect the major organs, and all four limbs were completely sealed with a combination of thick, yet flexible, material with metal plating attached at key points to provide maximum protection to the muscles against attacks from the side. Overall the suit was made to appear sleek and smooth, like a polished stone. It seemed as if any violent blow would simply slide off its shell.
However, this suit was made to for a creature that was foreign to her. Judging solely on the body structure it was apparent that the creature meant to wear it possessed four limbs as well, but would only use two of them to carry itself vertically, standing nearly twice as tall as the biggest stallion she knew. The creature would also sport unusually broad shoulders with the other two limbs, the arms, ending in hands with five articulate fingers each. Spike was the only individual she could think of that could wear such a contraption, but he only had four fingers on each hand, was way too short, and sported a tail that this armor didn't seem to account for.
Twilight instinctively reached out with a single hoof, it passed unimpeded through the image of the Marker and touched the suit. As soon as she made contact she saw flashes of memories appear in her mind's eye. They were memories belonging to somepony else. Twilight saw images of a bipedal creature, encased in the armor, fighting against vile monstrosities spawned from the nightmares of only the most depraved psychopaths. Scenes of unrestrained violence, death, and destruction that stretched across cities of impressive gothic architecture, churches of colorful stained glass, a school where the children had been slaughtered, and reaching into the deepest void of space where even the stars refused to shine. A place where no hope remained.
No dreams.
No future.
No life.
Only dead space.
She felt herself drifting in emptiness, an abyss deeper than any ocean. She clutched the armor tightly as her only means of support. Was this the weapon that Celestia and Luna sought? It was too terrible to comprehend; it had no place in Equestria. Something inside her felt only despair and she wept openly.
As she felt the cold lifeless suit press tighter against her skin she experienced an astonishing feeling of calm confidence and renewed hope. As bad as things seemed now something inside her said that this was not the end. That only as long as she continued to fight, refusing to surrender, refusing to bow down, then the darkness could be defeated. She had done it once before, she could do it again.
…
Twilight awoke upon the alter and felt the firm touch of stone on her side. She didn't know when she had released the spell, that didn't matter, the dream was over and she was back in reality.
"Oh no," She heard Luna gasp, rushing to her side, "Something is wrong!"
Twilight opened her eyes to look at the armored suit she continued to hold close to her body. It was just as impressive as before, but now it had changed. Its shape had shifted, transformed, and now could easily fit a pony her size. The armor began to move of its own free will under her grasp and she heard a groan of pain escape from it
"Holy crap that hurt." The armor spoke in a gruff male voice.
…
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I had a lot of trouble writing this chapter. It was not due to writers block, but rather dissatisfaction with the flow of the story. Also it was difficult to write a personality for Luna since she is such an underrepresented character in MLP so far. BTW, the song she sings is a based upon the 'Modern Major General' song from Gilbert and Sullivan's comedy opera 'The Pirates of Penzance'
"My Little Pony: FiM" is copyrighted Hasbro and Lauren Faust.
"Dead Space" is copyrighted EA games and Visceral.