Chapter Ten
Purity of Light
It was strange how the cold didn't seem to be nibbling as much as it had. It was strange how the snow stop whipping in their faces and eyes. It was strange how the wind just seem to gently blow through their manes instead of tearing through them. It was strange how the deep blanket of snow pushed aside and dare not impede their movements. Maybe it wasn't so strange…
They were surrounded by spirits after all.
The songbird spirits flapped their wings which blew the snow aside. The little woodland creature spirits stomped and shoveled the snow to clear a path. Together they made the journey to Maylin's home much easier. It was still cold, but not nearly as bitterly cold as before. Of course Rarity's scarves were helping stave off the cold.
The mood had certainly picked up since the arrival of their little spirit friends. Their happy dances and gleeful noises put a smile on every pony's face. Spike would playfully chase them around. Pinkie would join it with giggles and laughter. Fluttershy hummed gently with the song of the birds. Applejack helped out with clearing the path. She felt like she should help since the wispy beings were working so hard. Rarity was surprisingly quiet. She was just too enamored with the hypnotic scene of the spirits flying and swimming through the air. Sure she would be inspired for a new line of clothing. Rainbow, though awed like the others, just didn't seem as appreciative.
She looked longingly at the bird spirits as they flew through the air. Twilight could tell that she was frustrated be not being about to fly. Flying was her life and now all she could do was slowly trot along with the rest of them. There wasn't anything that Twilight could do for her at the moment. She didn't fully understand the bond between Qilin and spirit… or the bond she seemed to have with the Golden Oak Tree spirit. She could ask Maylin, but there seemed to be something weighing on her mind.
Fluttershy seemed to notice too, "Are you alright Maylin?"
She weakly smiled, "I am… conflicted Miss Fluttershy."
"'bout what?" Applejack was listening.
Maylin sighed, "I am happy that our little friends are helping us and that you all can see them… but I worry for them," she looked at the diligently working spirits.
"Why?" Twilight didn't see anything wrong with them.
Not that she would know what to look for.
Talking quietly, she signed once more, "I worry that they will use all their qi and have no protection from corruption. If that were to happen," she sniffled, "I would feel terrible. I would not want to the reason for their fall into darkness."
"Um... what's qi?" Applejack asked what every pony was thinking.
"It is energy… that is the simplest explanation," Maylin thought for a moment, "A Spirit uses their qi to bring life to the land and protect it from threats. Like we Qilin, Spirits are attuned to seasons and elements. Spirits must rest when it is not their season. If they awaken during a season that is not their own, they use much qi. When it is gone, darkness fills them. That is when they become dark Spirits," she looked and smiled at the playful spirits, "They used much energy to save us. I fear for them and wish they would return to their slumber and regain their strength… but," she signed, "they refuse…"
Applejack and Twilight looked to one. They didn't know that their new little friends were risking so much to help them. They're guilt would be unbearable if anything happened to them.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Twilight asked.
Maylin thought for a moment, then an idea seemed to come to her, "There may be one way… but I am unsure if it will work…"
"What?" Twilight asked.
"Well…," Maylin still seemed unsure, "Spirits can bond themselves to Qilin… that is how we are able to use magic… or if a Spirit wishes to help us… The Great Tree Spirit of the Golden Oak has bonded herself to you," she indicated up to Twilight's crown, "You two now share aura and qi. She is able to walk upon the land, though it is not her season."
Twilight looked up to her crown of orchids. She remembered how when the Gold Oak Tree spirit disappeared into her crown. Did that mean that she had bonded to Twilight? Now that she thought about it, she did feel something… different. She couldn't explain what the feeling was or why she felt like that.
But maybe…, she started to concentrate on the feeling.
It started slowly… deep inside her mind. It was like all her knowledge that she accumulated over the years blossomed forth into one brilliant thought. It wasn't overwhelming… it was gentle like babbling brook or the wispy kiss of a spring breeze. It warmed the mind like a cozy fire in the middle of winter. But it was sturdy like the trunk of an oak tree.
Twilight just let the little blossom bloom until it became a radiant flower. She could feel the magic beginning to build in her horn. Unleashing the rising energy, she formed the spell into something that would help the gang get through the snow.
"Get out of the way!" she warned them.
Every pony, dragon, Qilin and spirit cleared the way as Twilight's spell burst forward. The snow in front of them blew aside as if a massive plow just came through. It swept clear a path that looked like it went on for miles and miles. The power in her horn finally seemed to wane… no… just recede back into the blossom she felt inside her mind.
"Whoa…," was the only thing that was coming out of every ponies' mouth.
"That was amazing!" Spike was finally able to speak.
"I didn't know you could do that," Applejack looked to her in astonishment.
Twilight looked at her magically carved path, "I didn't know I could either."
It was such a perfectly dug pathway. Some of her best work… when it came to snow removal. Looking down at the exposed ground, she could see that the grass underneath was long dormant and brown. At least now they knew there was ground under their hooves.
"Thank you," Maylin whispered as she bowed her head.
The little spirits came around her and started to cheer for her. She couldn't understand them, but she got the gist.
"It was nothing," Twilight tried to hide her blushing cheeks.
The cheering creatures soon stopped. Their turned their attention to something out across the frozen tundra. Twilight followed their stare, but couldn't see anything. Looking to Maylin, she wanted to ask what was wrong. Maylin too was looking long into the distance. Her ears were flicking back and forth, then suddenly tucked down tight to her head.
"We must flee… the Dark Spirits have sensed us!" Maylin was trembling, "Run my little friends!" she hurried the creatures along, "Hide!"
They quickly ran in all directions; fleeing to wherever they could.
The howling of a thousand creatures filled the air. They moaned and shrieked and wailed. They couldn't be seen, but their oppressive presence could be felt. It was like back on the boat. Sharp, dark claws started to rake across the pure white snow. Slowly it appeared. It was like the shadow that attacked them earlier. This time however, Twilight could clearly see what was coming.
She looked back at her friends… they could see it too.
"What is that?" Rainbow Dash wasn't sure what she was looking.
"OH MY!" Fluttershy hid behind Applejack.
"That is one of the ugliest beast I've ever seen," Rarity was disgusted by the dark being.
"Maybe it just wants to be our friend," Pinkie Pie started to approach it, but Maylin quickly stepped in front of her.
"No Miss Pinkie," Maylin warned, "This Spirit is not a well. It will attack as the one before. We must flee before more show up."
"There's only one," Rainbow snorted, "We can take it!" she jumped at the dark being.
"RAINBOW! NO!" Twilight wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
Rainbow sailed toward the shadowy creature. She let out a loud battle cry that didn't seem to impress the dark spirit. It only laughed at her as she drew close. Her hooves were about to make contact with it when it let out an ear piercing scream. It came with such force that it sent Rainbow flying back into a bank of snow. They all ran to her to see if she was okay.
She shook her head, "Whoa… that thing has a pair of lungs…," she slowly pulled herself from the snow.
"It was once a Spirit of the Wind," Maylin kept her eyes on the spirit, "It may have forgotten itself… but it is still powerful…"
"What can we do!?" Fluttershy was nearly in tears.
Before any pony could answer, more howling filled the air. Several more shadows started to loom nearby. They crawled and drifted closer to them. They laughed and snarled at the frightened ponies.
"I'm going to try my Fail-Safe spell again," Twilight whispered to the others, "It may not stop them, but it does seem to slow them down. Every pony make a run for it."
"We're not leaving you behind," Rarity protested.
Twilight smiled, "Don't worry… I'll be right behind you girls. Applejack… take Spike with you," she loaded Spike onto Applejack's back.
"But Twilight…," he didn't want to leave her side.
"It will be okay Spike…," she smiled, "I'll be right behind you. I promise."
They looked to one another, unsure if it was the best plan. But what other plan did they have? Twilight seemed to be the only one that could use her magic. Though it was not completely effective, it was the only bit of magic that they had.
"Ready?" Twilight started to build the spell in her horn, "On three…
They all nodded in agreement.
"One…," she could feel the blossom opening up in her mind, "Two," the power started to fill her, "THREE!" it burst forward in a ray of light.
A brilliant ray of light illuminated the snowy landscape. The dark spirits hesitated as the light from Twilight's horn rushed towards them. The light engulfed them and they let forth a terrible scream. They froze and twitched as the light consumed them.
Twilight checked to make sure the others had made a run for it. They had passed the paralyzed with no issues and now it was her turn. He spell started to fade as did the light. The dark ones fell to the ground, twisting and writhing as the one did when she first used the spell. The shadow seemed to falter and hints of white started to show. Part of her wanted to see what would emerge, but her mind said for her to run. Still… she wanted to know what was underneath the cloak of darkness.
"MISS TWILIGHT!" she heard Maylin yell, "Please hurry! They are regaining their strength!"
She shook her head. Her curiosity would have to wait. Right now she had to hoof it out of there. She ran past the dark creatures and nearly was to her waiting friends. They would all have to start running soon if they were going to get away from the dark ones. She still wonder though… aboard the boat… that light that sent the dark spirit away… though she never saw it leave… it just seemed to disappeared…
Where did that light come from? Rarity doesn't know any kind of spells like that… and Pinkie Pie and Maylin were the only ones in that general area… Maylin claims that she doesn't know magic… or at lease how to control it… Then what happened that caused the spirit go? All sorts of questions started to run through her head.
"TWILIGHT!" every pony and Spike yelled.
"Huh?" she didn't realized that she had stopped all together.
Something cold wrapped around her hind leg and pulled her back. She tried to right herself, but it soon felt like something was holding her down. All she could do was turn her head enough to see was what restraining her. The dark spirits had taken hold of her limbs and wings. One of them was hovering over her with menacing grimace. It reached out with clawed digits towards the crown of orchids that sat on her head. She struggled to get from underneath them, but all was futile.
"TWILIGHT!" her friends started to run towards her.
One of the larger, four legged shadows reared up and slammed its sharp claws into the ground. Great walls of frozen earth rose up around them; creating a massive wall of earth and ice. Twilight could hear the girls calling out for her, but she could yell back. It was like her voice had become frozen.
The dark spirits turned their attention back Twilight and once again reached for her crown. Twilight once more tried again to free herself. She tried summon the magic she had found within herself, but it felt suppressed… like something was holding it tightly. All she could manage to do was make a small spark of light. The dark creatures just laughed at her vain attempt.
Just as their claws were about to rip the crown from her head, something jumped over the tall wall. It landed lightly in the snow. Looking up, Twilight could see that it was tall and slender figure that shimmered with a green sheen.
"MAYLIN!" Twilight was happy to see her.
Bowing her head lowly, she spoke in a quiet voice, "I am sorry for all that you have endured once gentle Spirits of the land. But you must stop in your destructive way. Please release the Princess. She can help us… she can help you…," she looked up at them with tearful eyes, "She can awaken the sleeping Sakura Princess… she will help bring balance back to our lands…"
The dark ones hissed and growled at her kind words. The ones that weren't holding Twilight started to crawl and pull themselves closer to Maylin. Twilight wanted to yell for her to run, but her voice was still frozen. Maylin was trembling and solid tears were running down her face. She was frightened and maybe too scared to move, but she swallowed hard and spoke again.
"Please," she said in a more stern voice, "Leave the Princess be. Allow us to heal this land. Sleep Spirits of the Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. Sleep and await the day when you can roam the land as you once were!" she seemed to find a bit of courage, "Let her go Spirits!" she was nearly yelling, "I will not let you harm my friend!"
There was a tiny spark at the end of her antler. It didn't look like much, but it was growing. The little blossom that had nestled itself next to Maylin's ear was starting to glow as well. The snow started to swirl around her hooves as the energy continued to build. It was just like on the boat… that bright light that burned away the darkness.
That was it… Twilight could remember now. The light on the boat. It purged the darkness and what came from it was the whitest of doves… that light had come from Maylin… and now she was calling for it again.
The dark creatures must have sensed the growing power within Maylin. They all suddenly leapt at her at once. The light from her antler intensified with their approach. It suddenly burst forth and wrapped around the spirits. They tried with all their might to escape the light, but their struggles proved useless. Twilight was able to finally stand, though she felt a little weak after being restrained so harshly. The light had almost fully surrounded the hostile spirits, when it seemed to waver.
Looking to Maylin, Twilight could see that she was starting to lose her concentration. The dark spirit were starting to pull themselves out of the binding light. Twilight couldn't let that happen. She quickly ran over to Maylin. She didn't know what she could do for Maylin, but she would do whatever she could.
"Maylin," she whispered, "I know you can do this. I'm here for you… we're all here for you," she thought of all her friends, "Just concentrate. I know you can do this. Remember what I taught you about magic… it comes from within… you just have to believe in yourself," she took hold of Maylin's hooves, "I know you can do this."
It was like a surge of energy flowed between the two. Twilight couldn't be sure if she was giving energy to Maylin or if it was the other way around. Either way, she could feeling the light growing stronger. The spirits could no longer escape and disappeared under the dazzling light. The walls around them started to shatter under the force of the light. It was bright, but Twilight didn't feel the need to close her eyes. She just gently placed her forehead to Maylin's. She just let the energy flow between the two of them.
The light started to fade and retreat back into Maylin's antler. Looking around, Twilight no longer saw the dark spirits. Instead there laid creatures of the woods and air and water. They slowly arose and shook themselves of the remaining shadows that clung to them.
"Maylin," Twilight was so excited to see that the spirits had been purified, "You did it! You did it," she turned back to her, "… Maylin? Maylin… are you alright…?"
Maylin didn't answer. Her eyes were barely open. Falling forward, Twilight caught her.
"Maylin!?" she tried to arouse her, but Maylin didn't stir.
"TWILIGHT! MAYLIN!" Spike yelled as he ran through the still crumbling walls, "Where are you?"
"Over here!" she let them know where they were.
They ran up to where Twilight and Maylin. They started asked a thousand times if they were alright, but Twilight couldn't answer for sure. She wasn't sure if Maylin was alright or not.
"Where did all those dark critters go?" Applejack noticed that the shadowy figures were gone, "And when did these critters get here?"
"I think…," Twilight looked to Maylin, "I think she purified them… or something…"
Before any pony could ask another question, the sound of heavy steps echoed over the frozen tundra. And they sounded like they were growing closer.
"Now what?" Rainbow Dash was rearing for a fight, though she didn't fair too well the first time around.
They just stood there… not sure what was coming…