Chapter 24: Shadow Play, Part 1
The book of Star Swirl's laid on a desk as it turned a few pages to show the story of how he and the other legendary ponies were gathered by a grayish Unicorn with moderate cerulean and arctic blue short mane and tail searched far and wide. He has recruited and gathered the heroes of Equestria such as Star Swirl the Bearded, Rockhoof, Flash Magnus, Mistmane, Mage Meadowbrook, and Somnambula. All of them were set out to protect and save the world from the forces of evil.
"The best elements within us can spread light and virtue, and I know ponies who represent them all – strength, bravery, healing, beauty, hope, and sorcery." Star Swirl's voice narrated. "Myself and these Pillars of Equestria were gathered together by another to maintain and share the light of these powerful ideals."
As the journey progressed for the Pillars' journey to defend the worlds, the young unicorn quickly stole six of their artifacts for his agenda. However, he was caught by them. They retook theirs while banished him for his treachery and betrayal.
"But we soon came to believe the pony who brought us together only wanted that power for himself." Star Swirl continued to narrate as the young unicorn slowly transformed into a large yet demonic shadowy unicorn-like monster. He roared wildly and darkly as he returned to destroy the world. The Pillars armed themselves for the greatest battle against the Pony of Shadows. "Cast out and alone, this power-mad pony turned to darkness to satisfy his thirst. Transformed into a Pony of Shadows, he returned for revenge – to extinguish the Pillars' light and rob the world of hope. To stop him, the Pillars and I must make a grave sacrifice. But we shall leave behind a seed in hopes that one day it will grow into a force to stand against the darkness for all time and a very special power that binds the seed together. We must now face the fiend with the only plan we have..."
Then we return back to reality as Sunburst holds the old journal in his magic. He and the rest of the Mane Sixteen were in the castle in Canterlot with the Royal Sisters sitting on their throne.
"...I only hope it will be enough." Sunburst finished narrating. "That's the last entry, and maybe Star Swirl's final words before he vanished."
Everypony gasped in shock and surprise at this.
*Main theme*
"I've always wondered what happened to Star Swirl." Princess Celestia said in relief and shock as she received the book from Sunburst. She then opened and looked at it, "This is quite a discovery, Sunburst."
Sunburst bowed humbly as Twilight approached.
"So it's genuine? You can verify that this journal really belonged to Star Swirl the Bearded?!" Twilight asked happily and excitedly with a flap of her wings.
"Indeed." Princess Luna nodded as she looked at the journal, "From the looks of it, the last thing he wrote before facing the Pony of Shadows."
"I can't believe it, guys." Jade said in amazement.
"Me neither, this book is very rare." Trini added excitedly.
"My mind is so blown!" Nyx added as well with an excited look.
"Uh... So, the Pony of Shadows was really real?" Rainbow Dash asked with a nervous look.
"It appears so," Princess Celestia replied.
"We never met the other Pillars, and we were too young to understand the danger they faced," Princess Luna said.
"Hold on a second now." Applejack spoke up, "All those legendary ponies were real, too? And they went off with Star Swirl to face the Pony of Shadows, and then none of them were ever heard from again?"
Sunburst nodded in reply.
"Uh, yeah. Weren't you listening?" Pinkie Pie asked in reply.
"I was wondering about that myself too." Sokka said.
"Me too, partner." Clay added with an impressed smile.
"But what happened to them all?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't know, Fluttershy." Nyx said to the yellow pegasus with suspicion. "But I'm sure there's some sort of explanation."
"They must have defeated the villain, since Equestria is still full of light and hope," Rarity replied.
"I'm not sure about that, Rarity." Chase said with a look of doubt. "That must've been when Zhao was taking over the world a thousand years ago."
"Hmmm. Good point, darling." Rarity said to Chase with a hum.
"But how? And where did they go?" Starlight asked.
"My Olde Ponish is a bit rusty, but I wonder if the answers can be found somewhere within the pages of this book," Princess Celestia said.
"Well, Chase and I just happen to be experts in Olde Ponish. I mean, we've practically memorized every ancient text about Starswirl there is!" Twilight replied as she bounced on her hooves excitedly and Spike smacked his face in annoyance.
"Seriously. All of them," Spike added annoyingly.
"Yeah, don't we know that?" Sunray said bluntly in agreement.
"Come on, guys." Nyx said to them sternly. "Don't be so annoyed."
"We have fond memories of our old teacher," Princess Luna said, giving the journal to Twilight. "If you could discover what happened to him, we would be most grateful."
Twilight eagerly took the journal.
"We'll get to the bottom of this soon enough, princesses." Chase said.
"Solving a thousands-year-old mystery could take forever!" Sunburst added. "Think of the research! The re-reading! The re-re-reading!"
He holds out a hoof bump for Spike as the baby dragon annoyingly acknowledges him.
"There he goes again. He's gone crazy over the books again." Sunray said with an annoyed groan.
"You might find you need help," Princess Celestia said.
"Luckily, she's got a whole bushel o' helpers right here," Applejack said.
"And we won't let you all down." Jade said with a smile.
"As long as all we have to do is keep an eye on the bookworms over here to not go fan pony over the stuff." Sunray added with a smirk, making Twilight and Sunburst glare at him offendedly as well as annoyance.
"Totally!" Rainbow Dash added, "Uh... how long will all this research take exactly?"
"Let's get this back to our library. I'm sure we'll figure out what happened in no time," Twilight said as she, Chase, and the others, including Starlight and Sunburst, walked out of the castle to head back to Ponyville with excited chatter.
But Chase was among those who weren't excited as he felt something strange about this.
(Scene changes)
Unknown to them, Zhao was watching everything from his orb as he smiled sinisterly. Kai was standing next to him.
"Typical that Sunburst managed to find it." Kai said with a glare.
"That may be true, Kai." Zhao said to him in slight agreement. "But we have destiny ahead of us if we want the pillars to return and Stygian in our possession. Now that we have them discovering Star Swirl's journal, we shall let those fools find the artifacts soon enough and things will go according to plan."
"As you command, my master." Kai acknowledges his master with a bow before he left to take care of business.
Zhao smirked deviously as his orb changed to Chase.
"Soon, Chase. You will be no more. All of the creatures and ponies in this world will finally bow to me now that your place will be with your grandfather's soon enough." Zhao said as he chuckled sinisterly.
(Scene changes)
In the Castle of Friendship, the candlelight suddenly fizzled as Spike replaced a used up candle with the new one. Spike yawned and looked up at Twilight and Chase.
"Figure it out yet, Twilight and Chase?" Spike asked the alicorn couple, who shook their heads in response with tired looks.
In fact, all of the others were tired for the past three days trying to find an answer.
Spike threw the used up candle into the waste bin full of used up candles. Sunburst was sleeping and making a snoring noise, but suddenly woke up after hearing a soft thud.
Sunburst then yelped and woke up with a scroll on his head.
"What did you figure out?" Sunburst asked tiredly.
Pinkie Pie gasped after she and Rarity, who was wearing her red glasses, woke up.
"You figured something out?" Pinkie asked eagerly.
Rarity then unappreciatively watched Pinkie Pie slurp the cupcake that was on her face. Fluttershy and Sokka then woke up.
"What is it?" Fluttershy asked.
"Did you find something, Twilight?" Sokka asked with a yawn of tiredness.
Nyx rubbed her eyes a bit tiredly.
"Have you found anything, Mommy?" Nyx asked tiredly.
Twilight sighed and shook her head.
"Nothing. I mean, Star Swirl was a genius, obviously. But forget Olde Ponish. There's parts where his hornwriting is like another language!" Twilight said as she pulls her eyelids down a bit and groaned in agitation.
"Yeah, and all of this is getting us nowhere by the minute." Chase said with a look of frustration. "If there's one thing I hate about research, it's that almost all of them never have the right secrets."
"I agree with you on that one, Chase." Sunray agreed with an irritated look from finding answers.
"Twilight, we've been studyin' and referencin' and cross-referencin' for 12 hours straight now," Applejack said.
"And so far we haven't found anythin' yet." Clay added in agreement.
"Yeah, Mom. I don't think I can last that much longer. I'm already tired." Nyx said as she yawned a bit.
"Ugh. I haven't spent this much time reading since the last Daring Do book came out," Rainbow Dash said.
"Yeah. I never even done that this long." Antonio admitted.
"Since when did you ever study at all?" Trini asked rhetorically.
"Ouch." Antonio cringed.
"Perhaps it is time to take a break. This mystery is over a thousand years old, after all. Another hour or two won't make a difference," Rarity added.
"Two hours?! We don't want to waste two seconds! We're close to an answer. We can feel it," Twilight replied.
Chase approached his wife.
"I know you want to find answers, honey." Chase said gently. "But I really think we should be patient to find them in some other way."
"Well, until you reach one, I need something in my belly." Sunray said as Starlight trotted over with tea.
"Yeah, we could all use a bite." Jade agreed.
"Good, because I'm already hungry too." Nyx said.
Starlight then picked up the book.
""Hearg sylfum se Ponhenge." What's that?" she asked, reading from the book.
"The Temple of Ponhenge?! You can read that?!" Twilight asked.
"The hornwriting's pretty sloppy, but it's nowhere near as bad as it looks," Starlight replied.
"Well, go on and read it." Jade beckoned her as Starlight nodded in reply and she kept on reading.
""Toward dol grimlic of Fola Firgenbeorg"?" Starlight translated.
""At the base of Foal Mountain"..." Sunburst said.
""User endemest scield"." Starlight concluded, causing Twilight and Chase to gasp in realization.
""Our last stand"." Chase and Twilight said in unison when they heard Spike yawn.
"Well, that sure sounds like a clue to me." Spike said as he then blew out the candle before falling asleep.
Sokka placed a book down on the table to show them a map of the place they were talking about.
"Is that the place?" Sokka asked.
"It is," Twilight confirmed, "And that's where we need to go."
"Then let's get going." Chase stated, as the group took the book and left the castle.
(Scene changes)
After some much needed relief from all the research, everyone arrived at Ponehenge.
"Wow." Nyx said in amazement. "Is this it, Mommy and Daddy?"
"This is it. Nyx. Ponhenge. I can't believe it," Twilight said to her daughter.
"This place looks like it's seen better days." Jade said as she noticed all the heavy bushes and vines surrounding the place.
Sunburst walked over to a rune where Rarity was standard, and then brushed off some dirt to see some carved symbols on it.
"I've never seen magical runes like these before! Have you guys?" Sunburst asked Twilight and Chase.
"Uh-uh," Twilight replied, walking around with the journal.
"I haven't." Chase replied back as well.
"I don't think anypony's seen any of this for a long time," Rainbow Dash said, straining to pull a vine off the rune, but fell into a bush."Whoa!"
Applejack gently tugged on Rainbow Dash's tail and helped pull her out of the bush.
"It'd take a whole team of ponies to clear away all this brush." Applejack said to the group.
As a rock clattered one rune, Fluttershy tried to place it back, but it fell off again.
"Even then, I'm not sure we'd find out what happened here over a thousand years ago," Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, I don't think anypony would know about this place." Sokka said in agreement with his wife.
"You're right. I suppose it was a long shot." Twilight said with a sigh.
"Twilight." Chase spoke to his wife gently. "Finding a whole set of ancient ruins is pretty impressive alone. You could write a paper on it."
"It's better than nothing." Jade agreed.
"I guess I hoped we'd get here and the mystery would just magically be explained." Twilight said, as she dropped Star Swirls' book at one of the rocks.
Suddenly the book started glowing, and Spike saw it.
"Uh... Twilight?" Spike asked, pointing at the book.
Twilight and Chase turned around and gasped in surprise, and the magic from the book started humming, and it flipped the pages until a magical holographic projection of Star Swirl appeared.
"What's going on?" Clay asked.
"I don't know." Sokka replied.
Twilight felt excited to meet her idol.
"Star Swirl!? I've... We've wanted to meet you our whole lives! We can't believe you're here!" Twilight said excitedly.
"He doesn't look all here." Antonio said, noticing his transparency.
"I don't think any of them are." Sunburst added.
Twilight and the rest saw holograms of the other Pillars appear, consisting of Flash Magnus with his shield, Mistmane with her flower, Somnambula with her blindfold, Mage Meadowbrook with her mask, and Rockhoof with his shovel.
"No way." Casey gasped.
Star Swirl conjured a spell from his horn, and summoned the Pony of Shadows from the stone table. The Pony of Shadows appeared laughing evilly.
"You summon me at your peril, Star Swirl! Once I defeat all of you, this realm will embrace the darkness as I did so long ago!" The Pony of Shadows mocked. The Pony of Shadows sprouted out his wings and then surrounded the Pillars with symbiotic vines, and wrapped them with it, until he laughed evilly again, "Drawing me here will only make me stronger. You will never defeat me!"
"We did not come here to defeat you," Star Swirl said.
They all saw the Pillars lightning up their relics and formed a gem shaped circle around the Pony of Shadows.
"What are you doing?!" The Pony of Shadows asked.
"We came... to contain you," Star Swirl said, and then the Pony of Shadows screamed in horror as he and the Pillars vanished into limbo.
"Well, you did ask for a magical explanation," Pinkie Pie said to Twilight, who looked shocked by it.
"Uh... what just happened?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"It looked like Star Swirl cast a spell that banished the Pony of Shadows," Starlight said.
"Of course! Powerful magic like that would leave an impression on this place. Bringing the book back here let us see what happened," Sunburst added.
"Which was what?" Applejack asked.
"Star Swirl and the rest of the Pillars sacrificed themselves to save Equestria," Twilight said, holding the journal close to her with a wing.
"Now we know how and why they disappeared, for the most part," Chase added, "Let's get back to Ponyville."
But just as they were about to walk back, Chase took one step and a cracking sound was heard beneath the group, making them freeze in place.
"Uh, guys. Is the ground cracking?" Sokka asked nervously.
Then all of a sudden, the ground shook as the group screamed in surprise as Chase fell in the middle of the giant crack. Suddenly, the crack created a hole and Chase fell into it as he screamed.
"Chase!" Twilight shouted in fear and concern as the others watched in horror for the alicorn stallion.
"Daddy!" Nyx shouted in horror for her father.
Chase screamed as he slid down the rocky tunnel before he flew into the air with a yelp and landed on the ground with a grunt as dust flew in the air.
The alicorn stallion groaned as he rubbed his aching head with his right hoof.
"Wow, that was some wild ride back there." Chase commented with a glare he sent at the tunnel.
"Chase! Are you okay down there?!" Twilight's voice came from the tunnel at the surface.
"I'm alright, Twilight!" Chase responded back to his wife's voice.
"Don't move, Chase!" Jade's voice came. "We'll try to reach you!"
With a nod, Chase began to get up before he looked around and saw something on the cave. He walked to it in interest as he placed a hoof on the cave wall. Then he felt his medallion glowing, making him look at it.
Suddenly, it shone on the cave wall as it showed paintings of the pillars and the younger unicorn, who became the Pony of Shadows. But not only them, there were also paintings of Zhao and his Quinkan army talking to the younger unicorn.
"Zhao and his Quinkan army?" Chase asked in awe and shock.
Then a painting glowed as a glowing red magical aura flowed out of the painting that showed Zhao and stood before Chase. Suddenly, it took the form of a being called a Bunyip.
The being had green, black, and orange clothing, his eyebrows were orange, white hair and beard. His beard was tied in two pigtails, and his eyes were pure white, meaning he was probably blind. He was also carrying a black wooden staff in his right hand.
Chase stepped back from the bunyip a bit in fear.
"Don't be afraid, Chase." The elder bunyip said in a deep yet wise tone with his left hand raised a bit. "I mean you no harm."
Chase dropped his fear and replaced it with a surprised look.
"How do you know my name?" Chase asked the Bunyip curiously, causing the being to chuckle in amusement.
"I know more than just your name. But allow me to introduce myself. I am Nandu Gili, the Bunyip elder." The Bunyip elder introduced.
"Pleasure to meet you." Chase acknowledged him as he looked around the cave paintings. "What is all of this?"
"I've been watching you, your family, and friends find the answers to Star Swirl The Bearded and the Pillars about fighting the Pony of Shadows." Nandu Gili answered grimly. "But the truth is that it was all a lie."
"What?!" Chase asked in shock.
"The Pony of Shadows never betrayed them, they betrayed him." Nandu Gili explained as Chase sat down and listened.
"But how?" Chase asked, wanting some answers.
"It's time you knew the whole truth." Nandu Gili said as he looked above him to show a painting of Stygian transforming into the Pony of Shadows by Zhao's powers.
Flashback
"Thousands of years ago, the Pony of Shadows had a different name…" Nandu Gili explained the origin. "Before he became the Pony of Shadows, he had a name - Stygian. It happened when his home was invaded by Zhao's pupils, the Dazzlings…"
"The Sirens?" Chase's voice asked in surprise.
"Yes." Nandu Gili said as he continued to narrate. Thousand years ago, Stygian packed up his stuffs and was about to leave his home. As he was climbing up the hill, he spotted and found the Dazzlings, in their Sirens' Form, were singing calmly and gently yet darkly. Their singing voices have hypnotized the ponies to argue and fight with each other. This scared and worried Stygian to run off and travel across the Equestrian Realm, hoping to find some heroes for saving his home. "As his home was invaded, Stygian traveled across the Equestrian Realm in search of both brave and wise ponies to help him fend off the monsters."
Stygian encountered and met the heroes - Rockhoof, Mage Meadowbrook, Flash Magnus, Somnambula, Mistmane, and Star Swirl the Bearded.
"And so together, they went and faced off the monsters, only Stygian remained behind." Nandu Gili continued to narrate as Stygian led the Pillars of Old Equestria to his home, where the six ponies, minus Stygian, all charged and battled against the Dazzlings.
Stygian remained behind to help and guide them on how they deal with the sea monsters. Meadowbrook and Mistmane protected and saved the citizens. Rockhoof covered and escorted them to safety while knocking some debris and blockades. Flash Magnus and Somnambula distracted and annoyed the Dazzlings to go angry and attacked them. They have worn and exhaust the sea monsters as much as they can do. Star Swirl quickly summoned and activated the portal for the Dazzlings to enter it. The portal closed down.
Ponies cheered wildly and happily for the Pillars of Equestria for saving their home from the monsters. While Stygian looked upset and disappointed that no one considered him a hero. Suddenly, his went wide as he rubbed his head and began to hear someone talking to him. It was none other than Zhao as he appeared before him as he looked at him while listening.
"Stygian was the only one who didn't get all of the glory. He may have been a scholar, but he was the one who brought the six ponies together to fight the Dazzlings until the pillars forgot about him. In fact, he was the true leader and a hero, not Star Swirl. After the battle, Stygian felt a telepathic connection between him and the Quinkan. Zhao spoke to him to either live with all of the loneliness he had or become a pillar just like the six ponies for a price." Nandu Gili continued to narrate.
(Scene changes)
At the temple of Ponhenge of what looked like it was normal from the previous look Chase found, it was in much better shape.
"Stygian went to Ponhenge to create his own copies of the pillars artifacts for not just him, but also for Zhao so that he could gain the power to bring Ragnarok for his glory. But then the pillars appeared and misjudged Stygian to be a thief that they thought he wanted the power all to himself. But they were wrong." Nandu Gili continued to narrate as Stygian placed the six artifacts around the six runes until the Pillars caught him red handed and mistook him for a thief to believe he only wanted their powers. Stygian tried to explain, but he was exiled and betrayed. "He tried to explain, but Star Swirl banished him with his mind clouded by pride and judgement."
(Scene changes)
A little while later, Stygian was in the Well of Shade where he was greeted by Zhao and his Quinkan army as the leader stood in front of him as he transferred his powers into the younger unicorn as his eyes became white. Then his eyes were fill of anger and hatred.
"When Stygian went to the Hollow Shades, Zhao transferred his powers into him, turning his heart just like the dark sky and brought him to the other side of the Netherworld." Nandu Gili continued.
(Scene changes)
At the Castle of Two Sisters, the Pillars had gathered around for a new mission when Stygian showed up and glared at them angrily as his eyes became black and transformed into the Pony of Shadows. The monster attacked the Pillars for his revenge. Then the Pillars and the Pony of Shadows disappeared without a trace. Watching them from the outside of the entrance, Nandu Gili witnessed this and feared the worst.
Flashback ended
"Those ponies that fought Stygian were sent in Limbo by using their magic to trap themselves there." Nandu Gili concluded as Chase was shocked and horrified. "I'm afraid all of this has been a misunderstanding for the Pillars to realize Zhao was the one who truly wanted the powers for himself."
"So all of this was nothing but a lie?" Chase asked in shock and anger. "Star Swirl thought Stygian was nothing more than a thief?!"
"Yes. Word grows that Zhao is trying to seek out Stygian to take control of him again." Nandu Gili said. "He must be stopped at all costs. It's up to you to find the artifacts before Zhao gets to Stygian, Chase. You have to bring the Pillars back so they can understand the error of their ways. Only you can stop the Quinkan threat once and for all."
Chase became worried and concerned.
"But won't that mean if we have to sacrifice the Elements of Harmony to stop Zhao?" Chase asked. "I mean if we bring back Stygian and the Pillars, there won't be any hope for the world."
"Not necessarily." Nandu Gili said with a shake of his head. "Only by using healing magic can cure one's heart of anger and hate. That somepony has to be you, Chase. Bring them back to help them realize their mistake. Do your best to defeat Zhao."
With that said, Nandu Gili faded away as Chase looked on. He looks at the ground with a look of thinking before he puts a determined look on his face.
"I'll do my best, Nandu Gili." Chase promised.
"Hey! Chase!" Sunray shouted as he came down to the scene once he saw his older brother. "Are you okay?"
"Sunray!" Chase said as he turned to his little brother with relief. "We need to get back to the others. They're not gonna believe what really happened to the Pillars and Stygian!"
Sunray became confused by this.
"Who?" Sunray asked with a puzzled look.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before the group made it back to Ponyville. They were currently inside the throne room in the Castle of Friendship. Chase had just given the full story of what he learned from Nandu Gili's tale about the whole truth of what happened to the Pillars and Stygian.
"They did what now?!" Applejack asked in shock.
"They just turned on him?!" Nyx asked in shock and anger.
"I can't believe them! How could they just do that?!" Rainbow asked furiously.
"And not to mention, he called Stygian a 'thief'! The nerve!" Pinkie added angrily.
"Agreed. To think that our beloved legendary heroes have turned out to be jerks," Rarity said angrily, "If it weren't for Stygian, they wouldn't become the team in the first place!"
"Yeah! They don't deserve to be heroes!" Sunray exclaimed in anger.
"But I still don't understand why Zhao would want their powers instead of Stygian." Jade said with concern as she turned to Chase. "Chase, are you sure that what you heard was true?"
"Yes." Chase confirmed his little sister's concern. "They used their magic to pull Stygian inside and trapped them all in Limbo."
"So they got stuck, too!" Applejack said.
"Star Swirl must have been really awful to do that to Stygian," Fluttershy replied.
"I still can't believe they misjudged him all those years!" Sokka said angrily.
"Calm down, Sokka." Chase said to his friend. "What we need to do is find a way to undo their mess so they can come back from Limbo."
"I suppose being trapped for all time with a super-duper bad guy in limbo might be okay if you were doing the limbo, but that's still pushing it," Pinkie Pie giggled.
"Not that kind of limbo, Pinkie," Chase said. "The thing is I think it's time to get them out, including Stygian."
Twilight and the others were shocked.
"Honey, you can't be serious." Twilight said, stunned by her husband's words.
"Yeah." Sunburst said with the same shocked look as he turned to Chase. "Chase, are you serious? You can save the most legendary ponies of all time?"
"If it's to find a way to make them understand their error and stop Zhao for good, then it's a risk we'll have to take." Chase confirmed firmly.
"I-I don't know. Opening portals between worlds didn't work out well for me. Are you sure it's safe?" Starlight asked Chase worriedly.
"First of all, you opened portals through time," Twilight said.
"Second of all, Star Swirl wrote the spell you used to do it. If he'd been here, he could have stopped it." Chase added as he looked through Star Swirl's journal and found no table of contents. "But instead, he was blinded by the truth and forgot to write about any table of contents. All we have to do is come up with a portal spell to bring all seven of them back."
"Equestria would be safer with them and Stygian in it. We have to save them if it means to show them they were wrong." Twilight finished.
"But you'd be savin' all the Pillars, right? A-And they disappeared ages ago," Applejack said.
"That's the thing about limbo. It isn't one place or another. It's in between, so time stands still. If we can pull them out, it'll be like they never left," Chase said.
"What can we do to help?" Spike asked.
"Is there something we can use to help?" Jade added.
"Could their artifacts be scatter across the world by now?" Nyx asked curiously as she looked at the map.
"I don't know, sweetie. But if I'm right, we need to find items that are connected to the Pillars in some way," Twilight said.
"You mean, like, stuff that belonged to them?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"How would we know what to look for? Or where?" Fluttershy asked.
"One of these places has to be where we could find the artifacts." Sokka added.
"Luckily, Star Swirl took a lot of notes," Twilight said, as she read the notes from the book. ""My compatriots are as varied as the realm itself and hail from every corner of our land, bringing with them artifacts and talismans of great power.""
A bright golden yellow magical glow began shimmering from above.
"Um, Twilight? Chase? What are you doing?" Starlight asked.
"We're not doing anything!" Twilight replied, as the glow revealed orbs consisting of the Pillars's artifacts.
"Rockhoof's shovel!" Applejack and Clay exclaimed.
"Flash Magnus' shield!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Mistmane's flower!" Rarity said.
"Meadowbrook's mask!" Fluttershy and Sokka added.
"And the blindfold Somnambula wore when she faced that nasty sphinx!" Pinkie Pie said.
"All of those artifacts are scattered in different locations." Jade said as she and the rest of her family looked at the map. "Look, Rockhoof's shovel is in his old village."
"Mistmane's flower is in her old town where she lived in." Trini added.
"Flash Mangus' shield is in the Dragon Lands." Sunray added as he saw the shield hovering above the Dragon Lands.
"Somnambula's blindfold is in the temple just a few miles away from her village." Antonio said in awe.
"And it looks like Mage Meadowbrook's mask is in Hayseed Swamp." Sokka added while looking at the location of the swamp.
"I guess we don't need to figure out who should get what," Twilight replied.
"Alright, we're gonna have to split up and search in teams." Chase said as he pointed at the members of the group. "Clay, you and Applejack. Sokka, you go with Fluttershy. Jade, Trini, you girls are with Rarity. Sunray, you go with Rainbow. And Antonio, you go with Pinkie."
The others saluted the alicorn master respectively.
"We won't let you down, big brother!" Jade said with a determined smile.
(Scene changes)
Somewhere by an archaeological dig site, a filly named Petunia Paleo motioned to something that was uncovered.
"Professor! It's a Mighty Helm headpiece! Maybe it belonged to Rockhoof himself!" Petunia Paleo.
"Legends don't wear helmets. This belonged to a real pony." The Professor answered.
Applejack came over with Clay,
"Oh, I can guarantee Rockhoof was as real as you and me." Applejack assured them.
"And I suppose that ravine was dug with his trusty shovel to save the village from an erupting volcano." The Professor said as she chuckled.
"You bet yer apples it was." Clay confirmed.
"I love old legends as much as anypony. But a pony strong enough to save a village from rushing lava with a shovel is... preposterous." the professor said skeptically.
One of the ponies who was picking at a boulder with a pickaxe shattered it, putting the other ponies in shock causing a giant boulder to roll right for the professor and the two kids she was with. Suddenly Applejack and Clay used their own strength to stop the boulder. They kicked it all the way over the site, before stretching their hooves like it was nothing.
The Professor was flabbergasted.
"I can't believe you two just did that. Y-You saved us!" The Professor said
"I bet if you told somepony else the story, it might sound..." she mimicked a gasp, "Preposterous." Applejack answered as Clay laughed at his wife's joke.
"Nice one, hon." Clay said as he kissed his wife on the cheek, making her giggle.
One of the ponies motioned to where the boulder was and revealed a passage way,
"Whoa. Check it." Clay gasped.
"I suppose some stories might be true..." The Professor admitted, as Applejack and Casey showed them the shovel they were looking for, as it began to glow, "And Rockhoof's appears to be one of them."
Clat and Applejack walked out.
"One artifact down, and four to go." Clay spoke to his wife.
"Let's hope the others aren't having any trouble with theirs." Applejack said.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Rarity, Jade, and Trini wandered into a yard where the garden was filled with thick plants.
"Where's a gardener when ya need one?" Trini asked.
"It's like a jungle in here.' Jade added.
"Wait, look." Rarity pointed to a single bloomed flower in a pot.
"All right, we found it," Jade reached to grab it, only for her hoof to get whacked by a gardening tool, "Ow!"
She cringed while holding her hoof.
Trini and Rarity looked at an old unicorn mare who was using her magic to levitate the garden tool.
"You keep those hooves to yourself, sonny! This place has been in my family for generations, and I'm not about to let some whippersnapper take the last good piece of it! Time was, ponies came from far and wide to see these gardens. But that flower's the only worthwhile thing left!" She told them like a cranky old mare.
Rarity and Jade looked around, until they gained the same idea.
"Don't be so sure about that, ma'am." Jade told her, as she and Rarity used their magic to do a little gardening.
Trini and the elder pony looked around the new refreshed garden feeling stupefied.
"Perhaps it just seemed like your gardens were worthless. But a little pruning can work wonders. Of course you will have to look after more than just one flower now." Rarity spoke up to the elder one.
The old pony smiled, with tears in her eyes.
"You've given me back my family's legacy. The flower you wanted seems like a fair trade for that." She said as she levitated the flower to them, as it began to glow.
"Thank you, ma'am. And trust me, your offer to us will may just help us help a lot more ponies." Jade explained, as they took their leave, with the elder pony looking confused by what Jade said.
(Scene changes)
Rainbow flew her way into the Dragon Lands with Spike holding onto her as Sunray used his magic to fly himself there. They were being escorted by Echo and his team after giving them an explanation.
"So you're saying one of the Pillar's artifacts are really here?" Sly asked Sunray in surprise.
"Yup." Sunray confirmed with a nod.
"And you need it to bring all six of them, including this unicorn named Stygian, back to our homeworld." Teejay said, following what Sunray told them a while back.
"Right." Sunray confirmed.
"I can't believe Flash Magnus' shield ended up in the Dragon Lands." Rainbow commented. She noticed Echo growled at her. She laughed uneasily, "No offense, Echo."
"Well. It's not our choice to have your artifact here, Rainbow Dash..." Echo said dryly, "You should be lucky that we're the only dragons that can help you navigate our customs."
"Don't forget about me. After all, I am the official Equestrian friendship ambassador to the dragons and changelings," Spike commented. He gasped as he pointed at the gorge's lava, "Check this out! Our favorite sport – gorge surfing!"
The ponies and even Echo and his team turned and looked at the lava fall. They found some dragons were surfing on the large stoned surfboard across the lava river and fall. The ponies along with Echo and his team landed on the ground from behind.
"Okay. That was awesome." Rainbow exclaimed happily.
The dragons yelped in surprise. They turned to their back and found ponies standing before them. They all showed annoyed faces to have ponies at their homeland.
"Dragon Lord Ember commanded us to make peace with ponies, but it doesn't mean you can surf in our spot." Billy the Orange Dragon commented dryly. Echo cleared his throat. He yelped as he saluted firmly to him, "General Echo! Officer on deck!"
The dragons quickly saluted at once.
"At ease." Echo said with a sigh as the dragons put their claws down. He continued, "Sorry to bother your fun. Official Equestrian friendship ambassador and his friends are here for some specific artifact. If you have seen it, then report to me at once."
"Are you serious?" Garble demanded as he entered the scene. The red dragon showed some minor bandages on his face from the last time he got pummeled by Thorax and Ember, "Why should we do something for them?"
Some dragons and even Spike snickered amusingly at Garble's injuries.
"For starters, you wouldn't want to end up like this for secretly working with Wuya to destroy the alliance." Echo said with a scoff.
Garble groaned as he showed and spun around the familiar shield on his tip of finger.
"Whatever. Stupid Dragon Lord Ember's boyfriend!" Garble said as he noticed Spike, who groaned in annoyance.
"I'm not her boyfriend! I'm her friend!" Spike said in irritation.
"Hey! That's an ancient pony artifact!" Rainbow said with a gasp.
Rainbow was about to grab the shield, she was blocked and thrown back by Garble.
"Hooves off my gorge board! I found it in the desert, and finders keepers." Garble said with a smirk.
"It isn't yours." Rainbow snapped in anger.
"Garble..." Echo snarled in anger while crossing his claws.
"Hey! It's mine! I found it first! I get to keep it! No one else, especially a pony like her, gets it!" Garble snapped in annoyance. He then showed amusement looks with a snicker, "But I might consider racing you for it."
POW!
Garble was sent flying into a rock pile by Sunray who punched him in the face. Garble got up and saw the unicorn stallion glaring at him. Then he used his magic to summon his elemental fire with a smirk.
This caused Garble to gulp in fear.
"Or I could just give it to you guys so Sunray won't turn me into Dragon Barbecue." Garble suggests weakly.
"Wise choice." Echo said with a smirk.
"Try and make sure he stays down for good," Spike jokes.
Rainbow took the shield with her as Spike hopped on her back. They and Sunray turned and headed off at once.
"Will do, Dragon Lord Ember's Boyfriend." Echo replied back with a chuckle.
Spike yelped.
"I am not her boyfriend! She and I are just friends." Spike snapped in irritation as Sunray chuckled.
"Keep telling yourself, Spikey-Wikey." Sunray said teasingly. "You and her might be getting married.
"Spike and Ember sitting on the tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! The perfect dragon couples!" Rainbow sang with a snicker, causing Spike to groan irritably.
"Knock it off!" Spike said in anger.
(Scene changes)
Fluttershy and Sokka arrived at Hayseed Swamp for getting the Meadowbrook's Mask. However, they have to help the shy pony with something important - moving the flash bees' hive.
Cattail used the Meadowbrook's Mask as distraction and disguise as queen to lure the flash bees away.
"Just remember not to turn away from them, Cattail. Flash bees can get pretty aggressive. I guess that's why none of the other bayou animals can get to the water." Fluttershy whispered as she and Sokka motioned to some small gators and snakes who wanted to get to the water.
"And we don't want them to get stung either." Sokka added as he gently patted one of the small alligator's head, causing the young reptile to let out a pur like growl to show he liked it.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for you to wear the mask that calms the bees?" Cattail spoke to Fluttershy and Sokka. "And couldn't Sokka try to guide them away?"
"I don't wanna get stung by bees. Reminds me of the time I had a hornet's nest near one of the training camps that attacked me." Sokka replied back with a shudder.
"Don't worry, honey." Fluttershy said to her husband gently with a smile. "As long as you are with me, you won't have to remember that."
"Thanks, sweetheart." Sokka said, kissing Fluttershy on the cheek as his wife giggled.
"Anyway, we would calm the bees…" Fluttershy said to Cattail as she flew up the tree to the hive, "if I didn't have to fly up here to move their hive. There!"
She placed it on another branch higher in the tree. Cattail jumped into the bush as the flash bees flew back up to their hive.
"Way to go, Fluttershy!" Sokka said with a smile. "Now the other bayou creatures can get to the water without the bees feeling threatened."
"You know, you both didn't have to help with this. I would've lent you the mask anyway." Cattail reminded the pegasus couple as he removed the mask.
"Don't worry." Sokka said.
"But we couldn't leave without helping." Fluttershy added as she accepted the mask that glowed.
(Scene changes)
Finally at the pyramid in Sonambula, Daring Do was with a few other ponies including Antonio.
"I don't think anypony can find anything in there." One of the ponies spoke up as he motioned to the green bubbling slime below them.
"I wouldn't give up hope just yet." Daring Do answered.
"What she said." Antonio agreed, as he was stepping on a foot pump.
Suddenly the slime started draining out and Pinkie popped out of the drain wearing a diving suit, and was holding something.
"This old blindfold was stuck in the drain." Pinkie said.
"Weren't you looking for a blindfold?" Daring asked.
"She's right, Pinkie." Antonio confirmed.
"Oh, yeah." Pinkie remembered, as the blindfold glowed.
"Well, we have what we came for. It's time to go." Antonio said, as he turned to Daring Do, "Thank you for helping us, Daring Do."
"Any friend of Rainbow Dash is worth helping." Daring stated.
Antonio smiled as he left with Pinkie Pie.
(Scene changes)
Back at Ponehenge, Twilight, Chase, Nyx, Sunburst, and Starlight were getting ready for the arrival of the Pillars.
"I can't believe we're gonna meet Starswirl the Bearded! You know, outside of our dreams," Twilight said to her husband, daughter, and Sunburst excitedly.
"Remember, Twilight. Keep it together." Chase reminded Twilight sternly, making her and Sunburst turn to him. "We're only doing this to help Star Swirl see the error of his ways, not to fan pony over him."
"Well, I think we have time for both." Twilight retorted with an annoyed look.
"No, we don't." Chase said in reply with a firm glare, causing Twilight to lean back in fear.
"You know, Chase. I agree for what you're going through on what Nandu Gili said, but I believe you're actually going through with it," Starlight said, after pulling a vine from a rune, and magically disintegrating it.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
"I'm all for pushing the envelope, obviously, but this is pretty out there for you and your husband, Twilight," Starlight said.
"What's "out there" about saving the most legendary ponies of all time from a thousands-year-old prison?" Sunburst asked.
"You mean like besides the fact Stygian was manipulated by the Quinkan?" Chase asked indignantly, causing Sunburst to flinch in realization as he nervously smiled at the alicorn stallion apologetically.
"I agree with you on that, Chase. Really, I do when you say it like that. Unless "the most legendary ponies of all time" knew what they were doing, and we shouldn't mess with it," Starlight said. "I mean, what if something else bad happened?"
"I'm sure Star Swirl and the Pillars did the best they could back then, but magic has come a long way. Mostly because of the work they did," Sunburst replied.
"And to show them they were wrong." Chase added with a glare, causing Sunburst to look agitated at being correct.
"That's true. And you guys did get your wings from finishing one of Star Swirl's spells, especially on getting married." Starlight said.
"Exactly," Twilight said while she and Chase unfolded one of their wings and remembered how they became alicorns.
"But then I messed with one and nearly destroyed the universe, so..." Starlight cut herself off.
"Look, Starlight. I know this is hard for you to take in. But if we have to take that chance of bringing Star Swirl, the Pillars, and Stygian back to help them sort this out, then we don't have another choice." Chase said before he added with a blunt look. "And I'm seriously regretting on following Nandu Gili's advice."
"Now you agree on this, huh?" Starlight asked with a dry look.
"Yeah, Daddy." Nyx agreed as she turned to her father with concern. "I'm not sure this is really the best idea ever."
"I know, but you gotta believe in me, guys. I'm only doing this to stop their feud they had long ago." Chase said in response.
"That's good news," Spike said as everypony returned with the artifacts.
"Otherwise, we'd have brought this shield for nothing," Rainbow Dash added as she held Flash's Shield, before placing it down before one of the rocks.
"I don't know, punching that dragon in the face was good enough." Sunray said.
"I hope you don't think you're the only one to find her artifact, because this here shovel says otherwise." Applejack placed Rockhoof's shovel in a spot.
"Score for us." Clay said, as he and Applejack high hoofed.
Rarity laughed, as she, Jade, and Trini returned with the flower.
"Honestly. Not everything is a competition. But Mistmane's flower is by far the most attractive of the artifacts." The fashion pony said as she placed the flower in its spot.
Pinkie returned with Antonio.
"You're just saying that because you didn't have to scuba dive in a pit of green slime to get yours!" Pinkie spoke.
"Better her than me." Antonio replied.
Fluttershy came back with Sokka with the mask on her head.
"Or move a flash beehive." Fluttershy spoke up.
"And it was a little difficult, but we managed to do it." Sokka added with a smile.
Jade walked up to Chase with an unsure look.
"Chase, are you sure it's a good idea?" Jade asked her older brother as he turned to her.
"Honestly, I really regret doing this, but we have to do something before Stygian falls into Zhao's control." Chase responded back.
"Good work, everyone. Let's do this!" Twilight said, as she put Star Swirls' book in its original spot.
Twilight, Sunburst, Starlight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio concentrated their unicorn magic onto the book. The book connected to the other artifacts forming a hexagon shape that levitated above them. In a flash of magic six ponies fell from the sky and landed by a pillar each. Each of the group grabbed one of the ponies before a rock almost crushed each of them.
Star Swirl opened his eyes and looked around.
"What... What has happened?" Star Swirl asked confusingly.
"It worked! We brought you back!" Twilight smiled.
"To where?" Star Swirl wondered.
"Well, sir, you and the others have been trapped in limbo for over a thousand years." Jade explained.
"But we figured out how to get you ho-" Twilight continued, but was cut off as Star Swirl began to panic.
"What?! No, no, no, no! You must undo what you've done!" Star Swirl said in panic.
"It's too late for that now." Chase said with a stern look as he gazed at the center with his family and friends following him.
"Is he coming back as well?" Trini asked her cousin with concern.
"Yup. Get ready, guys!" Chase said determinedly.
Suddenly appearing before them was the Pony of Shadows who laughed evilly.
"There he is!" Sunray shouted as the Elite Ninja glared at the villain, ready to get Stygian back.
(Scene changes)
However, Zhao watched everything from his orb with a sinister smirk. His plan now finally worked with the ponies finding the artifacts and bringing all six of the Pillars and the Pony of Shadows back.
"Finally, now the world will kneel before me. And those fools will be destroyed!" Zhao said as he laughed evilly.
To be continued…