I do not own any of the shows, movies, or games in this fanfic.
Chapter Twenty Eight: The Twins
Pound Cake let out a cry when he found himself in an unknown world. His wings flittered at his side as he looked around. There was a thick mist and there was no pony with him.
"Pinkeh." he spoke his lower lip quivering. "PINKEH!"
Flying up into the air he flew forward searching for the one who normally watches him and his sister. He was getting scared, at first he thought he was going to make it out until he hit a wall. Falling down the baby pegasus began to cry. A wall began to crumble in front of him until something picked him up. The beige colt squirmed in the grasp until he felt something brush through his mane. Looking up he saw a strange creature staring ahead. Frowning, the colt looked ahead as well as he was carried up to the wall. He placed a hoof against it watching it crumble causing him to giggle. The strange creature moved forward into the dark cave walls that caused the baby to whimper.
"Don't worry, it's safe." the being whispered holding him close before the scene glitched to a forest. "See?"
Pound looked around for a bit seeing nothing dangerous or scary. He squirmed for a moment before letting out a squeal of surprise when he saw a large white tree surrounded by a field of golden flowers. He managed to squirm out of the grasp of the creature before flying over to the tree. There were words that he didn't understand but somehow did that appeared on the trunk.
"One brings chaos but never lies.
One brings harmony but hides the truth.
One protects but never chooses.
Whom do you follow?"
Looking around the beige colt saw symbols appearing in the air: One of a tree, the second of a familiar draconequus, and the last a crystalline heart. They had appeared from some flames, and that distracted Pound Cake until he heard a familiar voice. "They just keep getting younger and younger aren't they?"
"It shouldn't matter how young they are, as long as they have a strong mind." another voice spoke. "We should keep this simple though."
"He's so cute." a voice came from the Heart as the baby pegasus flew around in circles. He paused for a moment before flying towards Discord, the Spirit of Chaos looked surprised. They had never seen a colt this young take their test before so they weren't sure if this was innate traits or the birth of their own persona. Reaching out a claw Discord was surprised when the small pony gave him a happy hug mumbling. "Discord!"
"Well, I have to go... Pound Cake." the mischief making said as the baby pulled back with a frown. "But don't you worry, you will see me again."
The Spirit vanished within red flame as the hyper active colt fell back into embrace of the strange being. It moved forward as quickly as possible passing through another path through trees. Pound Cake frowned again, he really didn't like to be carried. It wasn't that he felt unsafe with the strange creature, but he wanted to explore.
The next area they came was just like the first one, a clearing in the middle of a forest. This time instead of a tree there was a large stone. Again there were words etched upon the surface, something that he both could and could not understand.
"Cunning skill which will always find a way to last
A powerful body that endures forever
A wise mind that will never fail you
Which do you value and use?"
Tilting his head to the side the small colt saw symbols appear in the air. Once again he managed to squirm his way out of the grip and fly towards the symbol of the large hammer. Whenever these questions appeared it always felt to him that he knew the answer. A pathway appeared from the symbol he touched and they were off again. The third area felt different to the baby. He wasn't sure why until the words appeared in the air.
" There comes a time when your mind will focus on those you love
Your family
Your friends
Or your beloved
Which of these do you think of the most?"
Pound Cake let out a squeal when he saw his family appear, there were some other ponies but he didn't care. He flew towards them as fast as he could but the moment he touched them they vanished into a green flame. The young baby began to cry and didn't mind it as much when he was picked up. He buried his face into the nook between the shoulder and the neck of the strange creature.
"It's going to be alright, you will see them again. I promise." the being whispered to him as they moved on through the trees. They soon came out on a brightly lit field. There was a sign nearby with the next task. Pound Cake didn't want to look at it so the stranger read.
" O traveller choose a path to tread.
One leads to great adventure and reward.
One leads to knowledge where great secrets are stored.
The last leads to peace where you can rest."
Looking up for a moment the colt saw the large mountain and reached out for it. The strange being nodded before heading in that direction. The beige foal took note that it had the same mane color as he. Tilting his head to the side the small pegasus curled up ready for a nap. There was a small chuckle from the other while he was carried. They began to hum a lullaby under their breath before starting to climb. When they reached the top the strange creature entered a nearby cave, there was an audible sigh before they moved forward.
Arcane was confused, one moment a foal that Pinkie Pie had brought him fell asleep. It would have been fine if it wasn't for the fact that it was the exact same time all the Pegasi were taking their tests. Time always slowed during that moment and the Ancient Spirit could meet to contemplate their next move. Sky flew down to talk to him but before he could a familiar chill wafted through the air.
"We should have never went down there." Seed mumbled looking at his friends. "The world is in more chaos than we know."
"We hadn't known what finding that place did. Now, we must do our best to protect the world from it." Sky replied bringing his friend into a hug. Pumpkin Cake just squirmed a bit.
"Pinkeh." she cried walking around in the mist sniffling a few times she had run into a wall and her horn hurt. Looking around the baby cried once more before something caught her attention. It was blue, see through, and had only appeared for a second. Backing away and trying to use her magic to find it Pumpkin touched the wall feeling it crumble beneath her. This caused her to tumble back and back away in fear. A cloaked figure stood before her causing the unicorn to whimper catching it's attention. The strange being bent down and studied her for a bit before the floating hands picked her up. The baby unicorn squirmed as it spoke to her in a strange tongue. It walked forward taking her deeper into the darkness.
Pumpkin shivered as she was carried, the corridors were pristine with things on the walls lighting up. It wasn't cold but it still sent chills down her spine. Soon she found herself at the base of a tree roots popping up from the ground. The creature reached out and touched the tree with a hand. She didn't get a good look at it because the being was speaking and this time she could understand it.
"One brings chaos but never lies.
One brings harmony but hides the truth.
One protects but never chooses.
Whom do you follow?"
Three doorways glowed as symbols appeared through flames. She did recognize one from Pinkie Pie's drawings, if she remembered correctly this was a Discord. They began to speak the Discord was the first to do so. "Another foal? Well if they think she is ready."
"This was not meant for the young." the tree that appeared glowed it's voice warped. "She will be in serious danger."
"Oh since when do you care?" the draconequus sneered and the two began arguing causing the foal to whimper. A calmer voice spoke. "I'm sorry they do that a lot. I am the Crystal Heart, I represent Love and... Courage. Can you two stop. Something is wrong. Harmonia? Discord?"
The two spirits didn't hear the third, a turquoise heart made from crystal. It went silent for a moment before a light shot out from it getting between the two causing them to turn their attention to it. Again it decided to speak. "Have you noticed anything unusual?"
"Besides a filly being here in this dangerous world?" the tree, Harmonia, growled earning another whimper from the young unicorn earning a sigh from the Heart as it replied. "This should be the child's test correct? Even such a young thing must have seen places. So why is this place more suited for... a prison."
"You're right." Discord said getting tense as he looked around. "I'm sensing another presence, but I can't seem to focus on it. No spirits of this realm can possible enter another's test."
"They can." Harmonia sighed its branches shaking. "The ones who were with the first six. Then the fragments with the three fillies."
"Something is happening with this realm. The barrier, the wall has weakened. Child you must chose, I am sorry we cannot give you an explanation but we must go back to the ones we were made from." Crystal told Pumpkin who began to cry. "Trust your instincts, which one do you feel that you can trust most, out of us three."
The filly wanted to just find her brother as she was set down onto the ground. She moved forward on unsteady legs before looking behind her finding the way back was gone. Sniffling she looked at the three of them before heading towards Discord. She looked up at him her blue eyes full of tears as he reached down and patted her on the head. They all vanished in flames but the one where Discord stood was open. Once again she was picked up by the creature's magic, as they moved forward. She tried not to look at it, she was curious about it but was always held far enough away so she couldn't get a closer look. It remained in the shadows but from what she could tell the voice was male.
They were heading down another hallway just like the last. The next room they came to contained a stone. Again the creature touched it talking once again.
"Cunning skill which will always find a way to last
A powerful body that endures forever
A wise mind that will never fail you
Which do you value and use?"
Three symbols appeared again but they didn't speak nor move. Confused the filly looked at the creature who was just watching her once again. Frowning she looked around and with a huff looked for the one that just attracted her attention. It was the book, the other two were fine but the book seemed to interest her more. She was set down once again as she moved towards it curiously, her hand reached out and touched the surface before it vanished allowing her to move on.
Once again she was lifted into the air and was pretty much dragged along as the figure moved ahead. Once in a while it would glance at her when she sniffled but otherwise didn't even acknowledge her. The third area was like the other two, dark except for the area in the middle. Lights were flickering on above them as words appeared in a light. The creature spoke talking slowly and clearly as if to allow her understand.
" There comes a time when your mind will focus on those you love
Your family
Your friends
Or your beloved
Which of these do you think of the most?"
When images flickered in front of her she didn't even wait to be put down. Using her magic she levitated herself quickly to the image of her family. Though let out a cry as they vanished before her. She didn't even resist as she was lifted by the magic she was crying so much. She missed them and she didn't even know where she was, she let out a start yelp when something stroked her mane. Looking around she saw the strange being closer to her but not enough that she could see him clearly enough. This was also something that vexed her, not being able to see him. Her blues eyes were soon torn away as she saw a field in front of her though it did glitch to an underground realm. A sign was resting nearby, the strange stallion once again began to read after placing the strange hoof against the wood.
" O traveller choose a path to tread.
One leads to great adventure and reward.
One leads to knowledge where great secrets are stored.
The last leads to peace where you can rest."
Pumpkin was starting to wonder if the creature was just using her to navigate through this place. Though as she looked at the three places she stopped when she saw the building. Buildings meant ponies and ponies meant they might now where her mommy and daddy were. Squirming to try and move in the direction she just frowned when she was dragged along by the magic.
Discord was just floating along in the the chaotic space, it was his own Wonderland of disaster. He was just about to go to his daily tea with Fluttershy when the sensation of being whole again rushed through him. 'How odd.' he thought knowing that the only time that happened is if something was wrong in the... Discord curled into himself as memories flashed through his mind. Every single thing that happened in there, every detail. The conversations were interesting to say the least but the latest memory was what caught his attention.
"Mr. Discord?" a voice asked as he turned towards the red stag he had dragged into this dimension to warn him when he was summoned. "The Spirit of Harmony and Wisdom is calling for you."
"Yes, I will be there right away." the draconequus mumbled before vanishing leaving the confused elk standing there. Shrugging the golden eyed creature settled down its form changing as it read a book upside down.
When Discord arrived at the Tree of Harmony he could tell that there was a mass test still going on with the way nothing moved. His normally sarcastic personality was gone as the Tree spoke. "It has happened to you as well. This is most troubling."
"It was bound to happened." the Crystal Heart spoke as a light appeared causing the Spirit of Chaos to glance towards it. "We were using a realm accessible to all realms and dimensions."
"We do not know they exist." the wise being retorted, that was when Discord coughed. "What is it?"
"Let me just point out that the elk I have in my services comes from another dimension and so did the spirits that are now with your chosen mares." Discord pointed out and he felt irritation radiate from the normally distant spirit. "Also the fact that the flowers are appearing outside of the Underworld."
"They have not spread to the Crystal Empire." Crystal said hesitation in its voice. "Could this be an isolated incident?"
"No, the fact that two foals are in the Core Realm without protection, that their test's appearance makes no sense, the feeling of something in the realm with them, and the fact that the Flower of the Underworld is making its appearance is no coincidence." Harmonia replied its voice troubled.
"How were our creators sure that this world was dead in the first place?" Discord asked as the wind began to blow once again. "The tests are done."
"Stay vigilant, any more signs that the creature, that was released, has made an appearance we must be ready." the Spirit of Wisdom and Harmony told them before the two others vanished.
