Chapter 7:

Reclaiming The Temple - Part 3:

True Alicorn Power

After they've entered through the second gates, Twilight, Spike and the two Princesses stop by more of the rainbow-colored crystals that Twilight and Spike saw earlier during their search. Wanting to know what they are, Twilight turned to the Royal Sisters and asked them her question.

"Celestia, Luna. What are these crystals?" Twilight asked, pointing to the crystals.

"These are Rainbow Gems, Twilight. They are a gift from our ancestors," Celestia explained.

"Really? What kind of gift?" Twilight asked, raising a brow.

"A gift that speaks across generations of Alicorns…," Luna replied.

"...A gift that empowers with the spirits of the past…," Celestia added.

"...And strengthens our magic with the wisdom of the ages," the two Sisters finished together.

"I feel more powerful already," Twilight said with a smile on her face. Now that she thought about it, she did feel more powerful after smashing the crystals.

"Well, then be our guest and take the gems' power, Twilight. You deserve it," Celestia offered.

Twilight turned her attention to the crystal and then did the same moves and techniques she used on the first crystal. And like last time, the crystal became small pieces, and they surged into her body again, making Twilight feel more powerful than she ever was before. Then the four continued on their trek to the temple.

But as they continued on their way, however, Celestia and Luna heard a familiar sound coming from one of the walls and had a look of fear on their faces.

"Did you hear that, Luna?" Celestia asked her sister, hoping she wasn't the only one who heard that sound.

"I'm afraid so, Sister," Luna replied, having the same bad feeling.

"What is it?" Twilight asked, turning to the two sisters.

"Exactly what we feared," Luna replied as she and Celestia stopped and had second thoughts.

"Look, Twilight. Perhaps it's best we all turn back," Celestia suggested as she and Luna began walking back with defeat and guilt.

Twilight, however, was shocked, "Wait, what!? After coming this far?" She asked.

"If this door is closed, it means there are intruders behind. It's how the temple protects itself," Celestia explained.

"Yeah, not very reliable when you're on the other side too, does it?" Spike said, scratching the back of his head.

"So what are you saying?" Twilight asked the royal sisters.

"What Celestia is saying is that the only way the door will open…," Luna replied.

"Don't Say It!" Spike begged.

"...Is if the intruders are kicked out of there," Twilight finished as she sets out to find those intruders.

"Didn't I just say, don't say it," Spike complained, following behind her.

Twilight then used her magic to knock one pillar onto the next pillar, which started a domino effect on the other pillars until they reached the wall, revealing a hidden cave and inside it, an Ape Creature, who was standing near it, ran away deeper into the cave after realizing he'd been spotted.

Now knowing where the intruders are hiding, Twilight and Spike entered the caverns and followed the Ape Creature through the cave until they found their hideout and where the other soldiers were hiding and waiting. Taking actions, Twilight and Spike worked together to take them down.

Twilight was using her strengthened magic and aerial skills, while Spike was flying around firing green fireballs at their enemies. But, just when they thought they've defeated them, a giant Ape Creature hollered his commands and two smaller ones burst out of the walls. But Twilight and Spike didn't back down for one bit. Twilight used her abilities on one ape creature and Spike spouted fire on the other and the two ape creatures were blasted out of existence.

Twilight and Spike then jumped and entered the caves as they suddenly ran into the big Ape Commander. Twilight whacked, kicked, and zapped him, knocking off his armor until he finally trembled and collapsed in defeat.

Twilight and Spike exited the cave and saw that below them are two guards sleeping next to a barrel of dynamite and one soldier in the tunnel being on the lookout. Twilight puts on another smirk, for she had another idea up her sleeves and turned to Spike.

"Spike, you think you could light up that thing?" Twilight whispered, pointing Spike to the dynamite barrel next to the guards.

"Like you gotta asked," Spike replied, getting what she was thinking with a sly smirk.

Flying down quietly and stealthily, Spike then tipped-toed until he finally made it to the string that's connected to the dynamite and lit it up with his fire breath. As the fuse makes its way to the barrel, Spike quickly flies back to Twilight, and the two turned away, covering their ears until…

3…

2…

1…

BOOM!

The Dynamite exploded, sending the two sleeping guards and the lookout flying into the walls face first, knocking them out.

Thinking their job is done and that all the intruders are out, Twilight and Spike hoof/claw-bumped and exited their way out of the cave and back to where Celestia and Luna were waiting for them down below.

But as Twilight glided down and landed, she saw that Celestia and Luna looked at the cave and followed their example, only for her to see that appearing from the cave were soldiers of the Dark Army of all sizes, 3 small grunts, 2 medium-sized captains and 1 big commander, hooting and hollering. Twilight's eyes widened with terror and shock at their numbers, how did she and Spike missed them? Celestia and Luna then came in front of her and stood tall, in defense.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Celestia and Luna. Well, guess what you two? We nabbed your guardian pals." The commander taunted the Royal Sisters as they glared at him, "But you two manage to slip out of our grasp…until now that is…," the Ape Commander said, narrowing his eyes.

"Stand back, Twilight." Celestia said to Twilight moving her wing in front of Twilight, "And let my Sister and I show you what Alicorns like us trained in the ancient ways can do," Celestia ordered as Twilight did what she was told and moved out of the way.

The Ape Commander started hollering and snarling his commands as Celestia and Luna let out huge lasers of magic into the air, which then launched yellow and dark blue magic meteors into the air and fell onto the ground, exploding near their enemies, scattering them.

Celestia whacked one soldier away with her horn and into the commander while Luna knocked the other with the flap of her wings, knocking him into the other soldier who was recovering.

The Commander was running towards them, ready to take his shot, until Celestia gave him one kick to the face with her back hoof and he fell onto the ground. Shaking his head, the Commander got up and ran back.

Twilight and Spike were watching the battle unfold with shock and amazement.

"Whoa, the princess got some moves," Spike commented, doing some shadow-boxing.

"Yeah, they sure do," Twilight agreed, nodding her head as they continued to watch.

The Commander ran towards Celestia, only to face-plant right into a yellow magic shield that came out of nowhere, courtesy of Celestia, and then suddenly tossed into the air by a swing from Luna. The Commander came down and landed on his two soldiers as Celestia and Luna stalked towards them, waiting for them to make their next move.

The Commander and his two soldiers recovered as the Commander began hooting and hollering his commands to them and they all charged at the two sisters in unison. Suddenly, Celestia and Luna nodded to each other and hunched down with their heads downs. Twilight and Spike's eyes widened, thinking they might get killed. But Celestia and Luna opened their glowing white eyes and when the Ape Creatures were about to bring down their weapons…

Celestia and Luna then neighed loudly and used their magic together to create the biggest, strongest, yet powerful magic burst ever as their enemies' eyes widened with fright and were suddenly blasted away and turned into stone as they immediately crumbled into nothing but small crystals.

After their enemies were defeated, Celestia lowered her head and exhales softly, which Luna noticed as she helped to steady her sister.

Concerned for her well-being, Twilight and Spike approached them as Luna helped her sister.

"Are you okay, Celestia?" Twilight said in concern as Celestia was finally stable again.

"I'm fine, Twilight. As an Alicorn ages, it takes longer to recover from a Fury Attack," Celestia replied as she and Luna started walking towards the next gate.

"You two were incredible back there. Can you teach me how to do that move?" Twilight asked eagerly, hoping to learn that technique Celestia called a "Fury Attack".

"Patience, Twilight. Soon enough you'll learn all we have to teach," Luna assured her.

"But right now, you must fight!" She then gestured to the gates as they opened in front of them.

"Will do!" Twilight saluted with her wing as she entered, ready to finish what needs to be done.