Harbinger took in a deep breath of the air, smiling as his breath misted as he exhaled. The fur along his spine stood on end not only from the cold but also from the energy the Advent gave off as the long-awaited, midnight hour of the Solstice approached.

“Your time has finally come, Mistress,” he said as he tore his gaze from the artifact to the massive stone slab when stood between him and his beloved patron.

’It has. For all of Drasil’s attempts to thwart our efforts, she could not stop me.’

Harbinger looked back at the hoofful of his mistress’s Bringers that remained and he felt a frown tug at his face. “Speaking of which, Mistress, the guardian relayed to me that one of the deer, and Celestia’s minions, have made it into the halls. Do they pose a threat?”

’They are a nuisance, nothing more. You have set more than enough traps to delay them from reaching here. And those you have with you will be enough should they make it.’

He looked back at the other four ponies, but his frown hadn’t lessened.

’Harbinger.’

He could’ve sworn he teeth chattered from the shiver that ran up his spine.

’With the Solstice almost upon us, our time is crucial. There will be no mistakes.’

Bowing until his snout touched the cold, stone floor, he replied, “Yes, my mistress.”

As he stood straighter, a part of him felt giddy. The moment he had been working towards for the past months was only minutes away; with his success, he’ll finally come face-to-face with the mysterious being who had promised him so much. The being who offered power to rival Celestia and Luna, and to make himself the most prominent pony in all of Equestria. Never again will others—other than his mistress—stand above him. He’ll finally have all the wealth, the power, and the influence he ever wanted; everypony in Equestria would know who, exactly, he was.

’Those that are fit to survive her blessings, that is,’ he thought, sneering up at the serpentine eye that dominated the mural that served as her prison door.

The part of him that was once the buisnesspony, Paycheck, might have been horrified by what was happening, however, that small bit was long lost to the glory of the Harbinger—and he wouldn’t miss it. Paycheck had been weak, pathetic. Enslaved to a mundane life of arguing with bureaucrats who demanded so much of him, and thought little of him in turn. He was nothing but a number, an asset that was used and discarded at their leisure.

’Never again.’

His ears flickered as the obsidian stone pulsated with a low-humming energy. He turned to see the stone beginning to glow with a faint light.

“Mistress, the Solstice is upon us,” he said, shuddering as the sensation of the stone’s energy reaching its peak.

’Don’t delay, Harbinger, once the stone is in place, begin the ritual.’ Though he couldn’t see it, he could feel her malicious grin through the door. ’How I’ve waited for this day.’

His own grin widened as the stone gave off a pulse of energy that had his ears ringing before it fell to the pedestal, as still as the stone it was made of.

’The hour is now! Begin!’

Gathering his magic around his horn, Harbinger lowered his head and began incanting in a low, dark tone. The four Bringers knelt around him, repeating the chant—the stone room echoing with the words taught to him in preparation for this day. His body shuddered as the energy rippled through him and through his horn. The resulting beam struck the mural, but it remained shut.

Smiling as the first part of the ritual was completed, he took up a new chant. In turn, the door to the prison taking on the glow the Advent once had. As the words left his mouth, his horn shone brighter—as did the door. Grunting as the magical energy threatened to tear him apart from the inside out, he glared at the door and shouted the final phrase.

As his words echoed throughout the stone chamber, all falling deathly silent, his eyes widened as the door remained closed. However, before he could begin his protest, the ground shifted and the dust fell free as the massive stone doors slowly—agonizingly so—began to open.

His triumphant grin vanished as he heard the other set of doors burst open.

“Close it! Close it! Close it!” the auburn-colored stallion shouted as he and the others slammed the exit door shut after them—cutting off the screeching of the remaining beetles he had sent to intercept them.

He whirled to see four ponies and a single doe warrior run into the room—individuals he remembered all too well. “You!” Harbinger snarled at them. “How dare you profane this glorious moment of my mistress?”

Sweating from their run, the ponies turned back to glare at him. “Sorry to ruin your little date, Harbinger,” the pegasus said. “But we’re about to kick your sorry flank so hard you’ll kiss Luna’s moon.”

Growling at her snark, he said, “Idiot nag! I’ll keep you alive long enough for my mistress to make you the first of her sacrifices.”

“There won’t be any sacrifices, Harbinger,” the earthpony said, tugging his adventurer’s hat lower. “I look forward to seeing what Princess Celestia does with you once she gets her hooves on you.”

The four Bringers gathered in front of him, and Harbinger’s ears laid back as the Gorgon said to him, ’Do not let them interfere! Until the doors are completely opened, they can still undo what you have done!”

“No!” he heard the doe shout, snapping his focus back to them. “He has already completed the ritual! We must stop him now!”

Gritting his teeth, he shouted to the Bringers. “I don’t care if all of you wind up spitted on the end of their blades! Buy. Us. Time!”

Even as the massive, bark-covered arm fell, the Elder closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging. ’Faith, I am sorry.’

He cried out as there was a flash of light before splinters and bark rained around him, followed by another howl from the creature. Looking up, his eyes widened and his breath caught as two winged beings hovered above him.

“Stand, White Tail Elder!” Celestia called, her regalia gleaming from the magic that surrounded her horn. “We will not let anyone else die today!”

“Princess Celestia?” he breathed before he felt something wrap around his lower leg. Looking down, he saw a splint form around his injured fetlock.

“We will not stand by any further,” Princess Luna said as her horn finished glowing, securing the splint around his leg. “Can you fight?”

Testing his injured leg to the ground, relief flooded through him as he found it would support his weight. “I can. But what are the two of you doing here? The Great Mother made it clear you were unwelcome.”

“It’s because of Drasil we are here,” Luna said as the three of them squared off as the Guardian recovered. “With her ill, we are here to aid the White Tail in their mission to stop the Gorgon.”

“We’re here unofficially,” Celestia said, giving him a faint wink and smile.

As much as he wanted to argue—as much as the memories of his former Elders screamed at him to send them away—the words Faithful Watcher spoke louder in his mind.

’The Great Mother shares her bounty with the world, but she is also cared for by the rains, the sun, and the earth as well. Thus, I think we should follow her example and spread our roots.’

He blew a sigh out and glanced at Luna as she asked, “What would you have us do?”

The Guardian groaned and charged at the three, raising its remaining arm at them.

“We end this.”

The three scattered as the Guardian slammed its fist to the ground, crushing what remained of its severed arm. Jumping aside, the Elder leveled another blast of energy that took the Guardian in the torso. It groaned and swiped at him only to take a blast from Celestia. Even as it turned its attention to her, Luna swooped in and landed a double kick to its side—the creature stumbling to keep upright.

As it regained its balance, the White Tail warriors rushed out, hurling spears at the creature. With another groan, the creature smashed a leg at them, scattering them. It stumbled again as Celestia and Luna blasted it in the back, tearing a chunk of torso away.

Thinking it was down, the Elder rushed ahead but skidded to a stop as he shouted, “Scatter!”

In time, numerous roots and vines erupted from the ground, snagging at anything that moved. A few deer were caught by the trashing foliage, but the Elder turned his magic to free his people from throwing them around. Even as he freed a few, he saw Luna swoop in and free the rest as the guardian turned its attention to Celestia.

“Elder White Tail, we don’t know the guardians as your people do,” she said as she levitated a doe to the ground. “How can we stop this thing?”

He looked back to see Celestia throw a barrier around herself as vines ensnared her. Unable to crush her, the vines tossed the princess away. Flaring out her wings, she caught herself mid-air and flew back at the monster with another energy beam.

A frown tugged at his lips. “The Guardians have always protected us through the years. Never once did we consider the fact that we would one day have to fight one.” As the Guardian uprooted a tree and hurled it at Celestia, the Elder looked the creature over. His eyes settled on a lodged spear in the knee joint of one of its legs.

“There.” He motioned to the spear. “If we take its joints out, it should collapse like any other creature.”

Luna followed his point and nodded, a determined frown spreading across her face. “Then we shall work together to end this creature.” She looked back at him. “As allies.”

He let a low sigh escape through his nose before he responded, “No. As friends.”

A small smile pulled at her lips before she took off, blasting at the creature to take its attention off of her sister.

“White Tail!” the Elder cried to his remaining warriors. “The princesses will keep the Corrupted’s attention. We must strike at its weak points, its leg joints!” He floated over a discarded spear before raising it above his head. “For our future! For the White Tail!”

With a chorus of battle shouts, the deer warriors rushed the giant creature. The Elder bounded ahead of them, his hooves churning the dirt underneath. “Princess Celestia!” he called.

Dodging a swipe of the Guardian, she turned to look at him.

“There!” He motioned to the Guardian’s leg where a spear remained lodged in its knee joint.

“Of course!” she yelled even as she pulled a twist to avoid another grab from the monster. Flying underneath the Guardian, she whirled and blasted at the spear. The resulting flare blasted the leg apart—sending splintered wood and thick sap about.

The Guardian groaned and stumbled but still struck it with its remaining arm, swatting Celestia out of the air.

“Sister!” Luna’s cry took a frantic pitch.

Even as Celestia hit the ground, the Elder could see the alicorn had surrounded herself with a protective nimbus and the hit had done little more than roughed her up.

“Beast!” Luna thundered, her mane billowing with her anger as she flew after the creature. Spiraling away from the Guardian’s attack, Luna shouted as she leveled another blast at the Guardian’s legs.

Another howl escaped the Guardian as a second leg fell away, the sickly sap dripping from the stump. Faltering in its step to remain balanced on two legs, it couldn’t reach the White Tail warriors as they hacked at another unprotected knee.

Seeing they had damaged it enough, the Elder bellowed, “Get clear!” as he collected his magic around his antlers.

The deer wasted no time in jumping away—even as the Guardian turned to swat at them—just in time for the Elder’s magic to sever the leg clean away.

The sound of heavy wood hitting the ground made even the Elder flinch as the Guardian flailed with its remaining arm. He turned as Celestia shouted, “Elder White Tail, now’s your chance!”

Gathering all of his energy, the Elder focused it into the spear he wielded. The light that shone from the simple weapon had the deer warriors looking away even as he bounded for the supine Guardian.

With a shout, the Elder lept and brought down the weapon into the face of the Guardian. Buried deep into a remaining eye socket, the released energy caused the Guardian to thrash.

Breathing heavily at his spent energy, the Elder looked into the one remaining eye the Guardian had before the creature lay still.

Stepping back, he lowered his head. “Rest now, and return to the Mother’s embrace,” he whispered to the fallen monster.

“Elder!” He heard his warriors take up his name in a cheer. Smiling, he lifted his head with a proud tilt. “Come, warriors of the White Tail! Our task is not yet complete! We must hurry to Faithful Watcher’s side and end the threat of the Gorgon once and for good!”

As his warriors rushed to gather discarded weapons, the Elder turned as the alicorn sisters approached him. A part of him was still angry at the very sight of them, but that part of him—that was more the memories of his previous elders—could not hold up to the pleased smiles of princesses.

“Princesses, I cannot thank you enough for your timely arrival,” he said, dipping his head to them. “I fear what the outcome of the battle would have been without the aid.”

“We are pleased to have helped,” Celestia said, shifting her wings to settle more comfortably on her sides. “I only wished we could have been here sooner.”

“Indeed so, sister,” Luna said before she looked back at the Elder. “But now we must hurry after the others before—”

Even as both sisters hissed, their eyes going wide, the Elder felt the chill in the air. An unnatural cold that sent deep shivers through his body.

“Oh no...” Luna gasped.

“Hurry! The ritual has started!” Celestia shouted.

“White Tail! Follow!” the Elder called as he, the princesses, and the deer galloped for the tunnel entrance.

Wanderer grit his teeth at the angered neighs of the four Bringers—Stone Hoof among them—as they charged. Even as Tourmaline set herself for a fight beside him, he knew that four on two odds weren’t in their favor.

He spared a glance back as Faith called his name. “Wanderer, we must begin the reversing ritual,” she said. “We are depending on you and Tourmaline to protect us so that we can complete the spell.”

“Got it.” He turned a glance at Tourmaline, a smirk pulling at his face despite the odds. “Shall we?”

She grinned back at him. “Lets.”

Running ahead, Wanderer shouted as he tackled a Bringer to the stone floor. Landing with a grunt, he kicked out at a second Bringer as he tried to rush him. His attacker stumbled away, but Wanderer grunted as his tackled opponent took the distraction to hit him across the barrel. Hissing from the blow, Wanderer blocked the next attack before slugging the offender across the muzzle.

Jumping clear of the dazed pony, Wanderer turned again as his other attacker ran after him. The two butted heads and Wanderer had to turn his head sharply as the Bringer tried to bite at him.

“Oh, so we’re biting now?” he growled as he shoulder rushed the pony away, bringing his hoof back for a punch. The Bringer dodged the attack and bucked at him.

A grin spread across Wanderer’s muzzle as the Bringer reacted just as he thought. Catching the offending legs, Wanderer stood on his own hind legs and hurled the pony at another Bringer chasing after Tourmaline.

His aim wasn’t quite as good as he’d hoped as the Bringer bounced across the floor, tripping up the other up who landed with a pained grunt.

“I’ll take it,” he said as he watched Tourmaline keeping ahead of the ground-based pony but dodging Stone Hoof as he chased after her.

As the gray pegasus pursued her into the air, Tourmaline flipped and reversed her momentum and kicked. Stone Hoof took the hit off his chest and reached up to grab her by the throat, lifting her up higher.

Wanderer’s panic was short-lived as Tourmaline flapped her wings to clear Stone’s reach before spinning and landing a kick into his side—sending the other pegasus into a tailspin.

Whirling as he heard the clopping of running hooves, Wanderer sucked in a breath as one of his earlier attackers lunged at him. Had it been months before, his attacker would have caught him and slammed him to the ground, however, after training with the White Tail for so long, he was never happier to see his reflexes clear him of the attack—the other pony catching only air. Before the pony could turn after him, Wanderer leveled a buck and kicked the pony bouncing across the room.

“You worthless dregs!” Harbinger shouted as his horn glowed fiercely, his magic pouring into the massive stone door. “End them! Now!”

Hissing as he saw another Bringer rush after his friends, Wanderer called out. “Tourmaline! Switch!”

“On my way!” she yelled before dodging a punch from Stone Hoof and flying for the charging pony.

Turning to intercept, Wanderer kicked out as Tourmaline whooshed past—kicking the pursuing Stone Hoof against the wall as she tackled the other pony to the floor.

T burly pegasus picked himself up, baring his teeth at him.

“Not gonna bother trying to talk sense into you, Stone,” Wanderer snarked. “You didn’t have much of a mind before you lost it.”

As Stone Hoof flew after him, Wanderer threw a foreleg up in a block as the heavy punch came in. Grunting as a flash of pain ran up his leg, Wanderer dodged the follow-up attack and put some distance between them.

“Forgot how unfairly strong you are,” Wanderer said past a wince, shaking his foreleg to clear the stinging numbness.

Stone Hoof said nothing as he charged again. This time Wanderer sidestepped and kicked out, only for his kick to meet the air as Stone whirled back at him. Rather than get into a brawl, Wanderer did his best to dodge or deflect the attacks of the pegasus. Despite it all, more than a few left his forelegs tingling or a scruff on his cheek.

“What—” he deflected another punch, “—does it take—” he countered with one of his own only for it to anger Stone further, “—to stop you?”

As Wanderer blocked another kick, he growled before sweeping Stone’s back legs out from under him. Stone landed with a grunt that only grew louder as Wanderer kicked him while he was down.

“Needing help?” he heard Tourmaline asked as she flew up to him.

Glancing over his shoulder at the down Bringers, he smirked at her. “Not bad.”

A grin pulled at her face before she set herself as Stone got back to his hooves. “He really doesn’t learn, does he?”

Wanderer faced the other stallion as he glared at them. “Which we’ll use to our advantage,” he said before a wicked smirk darted across his face. “Let’s play ball.”

She turned a raised eyebrow at him. “What?”

“Remember how we used to play ball in your dad’s yard when we were foals?” he asked, giving Stone a quick glance.

Her grin matched his as she caught on. “It was my favorite game.”

As Wanderer charged, he lowered his head as Stone flew after him. Trusting Tourmaline to be behind him, he dove under Stone Hoof—turning on his back as he did—and kicked the pegasus into the air. “Serve!”

She brought both front hooves down in a smash. “And spike!” Tourmaline cried, sending Stone careening into the stone floor. He grunted as he hit, groaning before laying still.

A giddy laugh escaped Wanderer as he and Tourmaline shared a triumphant cheer.

One that was interrupted as Tourmaline was blasted out of the air.

“Tourma—” he also grunted as a beam struck his side, sending him tumbling and hissing as his side burned.

“Worthless idiots!” Harbinger shouted as his horn blazed with sickly energy. “Must I do everything myself?”

Wanderer scrambled as another beam soared in, leaving a blast mark on the stone floor as he ran.

“I will not allow you to disrupt my Mistress’s victory! Not with it so close!” Harbinger shouted as he blasted at the two.

A yelp escaped Wanderer as he leaped over a beam—the energy sizzling his underfur as he managed to clear it. “You’re gonna wish you never crawled out of your hole when we’re done with you, Harbinger!” he countered as he picked up and kicked a loose piece of stone at the offending unicorn.

The brick exploded in a shower of dust and pebbles as Harbinger glared at him, but before he could say anything else, a booming voice erupted from the doorway. “Forget them, Harbinger! Stop the others!”

Wanderer’s blood ran cold as he looked at Trixie and the others, all three deep within their focus.

He shouted a warning to them, even as Harbinger blasted at them.

“No!” he shouted, knowing he wouldn’t be able to intercept in time.

Just before the beam struck, he saw Tourmaline jump in the way, taking the blast aimed at Trixie.

“Tourmaline!” Wanderer shouted as she soared across the room to land with a pained whimper.

“You son of a nag!” Wanderer screamed as he charged at Harbinger.

As the unicorn turned an ugly glare at his way, Wanderer hopped over another beam before he brought his hoof back for a punch. His eyes widened as his hoof met only air, swishing harmlessly just shy of Harbinger’s face.

Flailing around as he felt himself lifted higher into the air, he swore to himself. “How is this fair?”

“It never was,” Harbinger said before slamming him to the ground.

Groaning, he yelped as he felt himself lifted backup only to forcefully meet a wall. As Harbinger slung him around, he tried to turn to soften the blows, but no matter how he tried, Harbinger turned him enough to send another wave of pain through his body with each slam.

Shaking the dancing lights from his vision, Wanderer gasped as he saw the unicorn float him up to the ceiling—only to let him plummet to the stone floor. As he fell, Wanderer turned enough to hit the ground on his side, using the momentum to roll with the landing to avoid serious injury.

Before he could get to his hooves, however, he felt the unicorn stomp between his withers, pinning him to the ground.

“Maybe I should turn you,” Harbinger mused as he sneered down at him. “The Mistress will need new Bringers to share her blessings once she is free.”

“Kiss the underside of my hoof,” Wanderer growled, glaring up at the smug unicorn.

Wanderer and Harbinger both turned as Faith yelled a battle cry, hurling her spear at Harbinger.

The unicorn’s eyes widened and he threw a barrier up in time for the spear to shatter into pieces. That didn’t stop Faith from continuing her attack, using Harbinger’s flinch to land a kick on the unicorn’s unprotected side.

Growling like a feral animal, Harbinger glared back at her as she continued her charge. “Filthy savage! Lay down and perish like the rest of your people!”

“You will know the anguish you caused me!” the doe cried as she nimbly dodged an energy ray and lashed out with a punch.

As Harbinger growled and turned his head to dodge, Wanderer used the chance to latch on to his back legs. “Now, Faith!”

Caught off guard, Harbinger’s head snapped to the side as the doe’s punch landed. Before he could bring his magic to bear, the doe warrior slugged him again. “For everything you have taken from us—” her third punch staggered him, “—you will pay!”

Bringing her hoof back again, Harbinger growled and spat at her. A frightened gasp escaped her as she twisted—the sputum hissing as it dissolved the stone it struck.

Wanderer’s eyes widened at the spit turned acid. “Sweet Celestia…” he breathed before his visioned flashed as Harbinger kicked him. Stinging from the pain, Wanderer felt himself lifted into the air again. When his vision cleared he saw that both he and Faith had been caught in his magic.

“This is getting old!” he shouted as the two struggled to escape the magical grasp.

“Time to end—” his taunt came out as choked gurgles as Tourmaline jumped on him from behind, wrapping her forelegs around his neck.

“Get him!” she cried as she held on tighter as he tried to toss her, his magic fading.

As Wanderer landed on his hooves, he and Faith rushed back in.

“Harbinger!” shouted the massive voice of the Gorgon, shaking the dust loose from the ceiling.

His eyes glowed with a fierce, green light and his shout preceded the wave of magic that sent the three flying. Wanderer hit the ground but was able to catch himself. Tourmaline struck the wall, and slid to the ground, moaning. Faith hit the ground hard, a pained howl escaping her as she hit—Wanderer flinching as he saw her shoulder pop out of socket.

As the magic faded, Wanderer looked back to see Harbinger shake his head before his eyes reverted back to the green, serpentine orbs.

“End them!” the Gorgon boomed, and Wanderer looked at the door and felt his blood freeze. The door had partially split opened, enough so that he caught a glimpse of the monster’s face. A flat, hairless face glared back at him with green, serpentine eyes that practically glowed with malice. Where a mane should have been there was a writhing mass of hissing, spitting snakes.

“Sisters save us,” he breathed before he got back to his hooves. “I can’t let that thing get out.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Harbinger said before blasting at him again. Wanderer dodged the attack but couldn’t dodge the second blast.

Shaking from the magical shock, he looked up to see Harbinger approach him. “Any final words, colt?”

“Do your worst,” Wanderer growled, his legs still not responding to his call.

Collecting his magic, Harbinger never saw the form rush him from the side. Wanderer looked up to see a familiar navy-blue pony try to pin Harbinger to the floor.

“Get off your lazy flank, Wanderer,” Rogue growled at him.

“Rogue? What in the world?”

“I’ve owe Harbinger some payback,” the neon-blue earthpony said as he struggled to hold the thrashing Harbinger. “I don’t like being used as a puppet.”

“You and me both,” he muttered, getting back to his hooves. “Where’s Scarlet?”

“Here!” the pegasus called, as she carried over a ceramic jar. “Here, it’s my last one.”

He looked at the small jar a moment before Harbinger snarled a hateful hiss. “I have had enough of you!” Harbinger shouted, his horning glowing brightly again.

Diving to the floor, Wanderer cleared the release of energy that sent Rogue soaring across the room to knock Scarlet out of the air. He scrambled out of the way as Harbinger continued his attack, the unicorn’s gaze practically blazing with a manic rage.

Even with that, Wanderer shouted as a beam caught him in the flank. The burning sensation lasted long enough to be replaced with his back burning as Harbinger slammed him to the ground. Lying supine, he looked to see Harbinger standing over him.

“Noone left to save you now, colt,” the unicorn said.

As Harbinger inhaled, Wanderer grabbed the ceramic jar. “Chew on this.” Stuffing the jar into Harbinger’s maw, he uppercutted the unicorn’s jaw shut. Spraying the cure and ceramic bits in every direction.

Gurgling screams erupted from the unicorn, as glowing froth burst from his mouth. Retching uncontrollably, Harbinger collapsed to his knees as the magic of the cure wracked his body.

Getting to his hooves, Wanderer glared at the unicorn. His jaw aching from grinding his teeth, Wanderer walked over and slugged the retching Harbinger. Even as Harbinger slammed to the ground, Wanderer picked him back up and punched him again, and again.

“You!” he shouted past rage-gritted teeth. “Hurt my friends, your disease caused that manticore to hurt Tormod—” each point was accented with another punch, “—and you dared to hurt Tourmaline! I don’t care what happens to me, but the moment you laid a hoof on them, you went too far!”

With a flick of his foreleg, his hoofblade slide free. However, as Wanderer brought his leg back for a final blow, it held there, the tip of the wooden claw shaking.

’He deserves this! He has it coming! Why? Why am I stopping!’

He stared back at the dazed unicorn whose head rolled listlessly from the beating and the effects of the cure.

’After everything he did, he has this coming!’

Wanderer's jaw ached from gritted his teeth, squinting his eyes shut.

“I...I can’t…”

’He’ll hurt me, he’ll hurt my friends, he’ll hurt Tourmaline! Why can’t I do it?’

With a shout born of frustrated rage, Wanderer flicked the blade back into its sheath and settled on punching Harbinger one more time.

“I won’t. Be like him,” he said, barely above a whisper.

With a final glare at the weakly-struggling unicorn, Wanderer turned and ran to Tourmaline’s side as she finally managed to climb back to her hooves.

“You all right?” he asked, the pain from his burned flank starting to flare up.

Taking a shaky step forward, she nodded. “I will be. What about you?”

He glanced at the burns and scruffs to his coat before grimacing a smile at her. “I’m going to be feeling this tomorrow… and the day after.”

Before she could respond, the pained shout from Tormod had them both whirling to see him collapse, clutching at his injured shoulder—the magic from his horn fading.

“Tormod!” they shouted before clutching at their ears at the triumphant laugh from the Gorgon.

“We must begin the reversing ritual,” Faith said to Wanderer as Harbinger’s minions charged at them. “We are depending on you and Tourmaline to protect us while we can complete the spell.”

’This is it. The moment we’ve been preparing for months,’ Despite the verbal barb-trading between her friends and Harbinger, Trixie found she couldn’t begin to focus on the tirade. Ever since entering the cold mausoleum, the realization that they were here, after all this time, the gravity of the situation weighed down on her withers more than any stone from the Pie farm ever had.

“Got it,” Wanderer said to Faith—returning Trixie’s attention to the present—before he turned to face their attackers.

Biting her lip, she turned a worried look at Faith as the doe spoke to them. “We know what we must do. We cannot allow ourselves to stop the spell grandfather taught us for any reason. The three of us must share the burden of this spell if we are to succeed.”

“I understand,” she heard Tormod say. Turning to look at her fellow unicorn, Trixie saw the firm determination in his visage, but she could also see the worry in his eyes.

“I-I understand,” she said, unable to completely keep the nervousness from her tone.

Faith nodded grimly, even as the shouts of battle filled the vaulted chamber. “Come, friends, together.”

Turning to face the stone door as it continued its opening swing, Trixie closed her eyes, shoving that worried part of her into a corner of her mind and focused. Her horn took on its pinkish glow as her magic joined the red aura of Tormod’s and the pearl aura of Faith’s magic as their energies mixed.

Speaking the incantation with her friends, Trixie could feel their energies gather above them. In response, the sigil that had long held the door to the Gorgon’s prison appeared, halting the door’s outward swing.

The angered shout of the Gorgon shook dirt loose from the ceiling above, and Trixie looked to see the monster punch the sigil. As it landed, Trixie felt a jolt run down her spine, her magic straining to hold the sigil even as it brightened and forced the Gorgon back.

When Faith groaned, Trixie could see the sweat already forming on her friend’s coat. “Faith, are you all right?”

“I’m—” the doe gulped before standing straighter again. “—fine, friends. This is… much harder than when grandfather practiced with us. I-I… just don’t have the magical power you have.”

“You’re doing fine, Faith,” Tormod said, even as they grimaced when the Gorgon lashed out again with similar results. “It’s time for the next verse.”

Trixie shared a nod with Faith and she closed her eyes, chanting the next part of the spell. The sigil flashed again and the door started to turn inward.

That was until she felt the foul touch of Harbinger’s magic try to turn their efforts. The pale unicorn’s own horn glowing as he poured his own magic to counter their spell.

“You worthless dregs!” she heard him shout. “End them! Now!”

Trixie flinched as she saw one of the Bringers turn after them, the earthpony barrelling for them.

Even as she took a hesitant step back, her ear flicked as Tormod said, “Trust them, Trixie, they’ll protect us.”

Gritting her teeth, she let out a sigh as Tourmaline tackled the Bringer before he got far.

“Sweet Celestia, Trixie is a nervous wreck,” she said, turning her focus back upon her magic.

“We can do this, friends,” Faith said as the stubs on her scalp glowing brighter. “They lash out because they know they will fail.”

’Will we?’ Asked a fourth voice, a voice that froze Trixie’s blood. She looked at the door to see the hideous face of the Gorgon leering at them. ’Are you so certain of your victory, White Tail?’

Wanting nothing more than to turn and flee, Trixie shut her eyes to keep from seeing that awful gaze.

’Ah, so this is what Drasil and the Sisters sent to stop me? A single doe and four, unremarkable ponies? I am insulted that this is all they could throw at me.’

“You will not win!” Faith screamed in reply, telling Trixie that it wasn’t just her the Gorgon was speaking to. “We will lock you away forever for everything you have done!”

’And what is it have I done, doe?’ the Gorgon asked, a sneer making its way into her voice.

Faith glared hard at the doorway, and Trixie could see tears forming at the corner of her eyes. “You took away so many lives before their time. The creatures of the forest, my people, and countless others in the past! Do you know how many of my people I had to bury because of you?”

A foul chuckle escaped the Gorgon before she spoke, ’It is my purpose, doe. To end life. Just as it is Drasil’s to nurture it. There is—’

“Oh, don’t even try to play that card!” Tormod yelled, his horn continuing to hold its glow. “What Harbinger did wasn’t anything to keep some hypothetical balance. It was murder! You’re nothing but a beast who deserves to be locked away in her cage!”

The Gorgon growled within their minds before she bellowed out loud, “Forget them, Harbinger! Stop the others!”

Not daring to open her eyes to see what happened, Trixie could only cringe at the sound of Wanderer’s warning, followed by a pained whimper near her.

“Tourmaline,” she whispered, knowing the source of the whimper.

“You...” Tormod growled and Trixie dared a peek to see her fellow unicorn gritting his teeth in anger. She knew that as much as he wanted to run to his sister’s side, he knew he couldn’t stop his magic—they were depending on them.

With another chuckle, the Gorgon turned its attention back to Faith as battle shouts between Wanderer and Harbinger started all over again. ’But with you, doe, I feel there is something more personal to your animosity. Tell me, who was it?’

“Faith…” Tormod warned.

’A mate, perhaps? Were you close? No, that can’t be, your people don’t allow for such attachments. Too scared of death.’

Faith growled again, and Trixie could see her seething at the Gorgon. “We are not afraid of anything! Especially not you! Cease your taunting!”

’Yes, because your people are so proud.’

A wolf-like snarl escaped the doe as her hackles rose. “Stop talking!”

“Faith! She’s baiting you!” Trixie screamed as she felt the magical pressure start to build.

’Proudly stupid.’

Faith lifted her head and screamed, “I will not—” Her angered retort was cut off by a pained scream as the stubs on her head flashed and their magic fading away.

“Faith!” Trixie and Tormod cried before the both of them cringed as the burden of the spell that Faith carried weighed itself on them, causing them both to kneel from the strain.

The echoes of the Gorgon’s mocking laughter filled her head even as Faith turned to them, her expression wide with terror.

“Oh no! What have I done?” she cried.

Groaning, Trixie looked back at her friend. “It was what she was after, Faith. She wanted to disrupt your focus.”

“And she knew exactly what to say to do it,” Tormod said past gritted teeth, finally standing straighter again.

“I can cast the spell again,” Faith said, desperation thick in her tone as her bony nubs on her head started to glow, only to fade back out.

Tormod shook his head. “You know you can’t, Faith, the spell doesn’t work like that.”

“I...I…” Faith lowered her head, her ears drooping low.

Trixie looked to the side to see Wanderer struggle to escape Harbinger’s magical telekinesis, gritting her teeth as he was hurled around like a ragdoll.

“Faith, you can’t help us, but go help them. Wanderer and Tourmaline need you,” she said, cringing as the weight of their shared spell asserted itself once again, demanding her focus.

Scowling as she saw Wanderer slammed to the ground, Faith picked up her spear, turning another apologetic look their way. “I am sorry, friends.”

Trixie shared a nod with Tormod, even as Faith shouted a battle cry and hurled her spear at Harbinger.

“Can we do this, Tormod?” Trixie asked, even as sweat started to run down her face in rivers. “Are we enough to finish this spell on our own?”

“We don’t have a choice,” he said past gritted teeth. “If we’re not, we’re all in trouble.”

If she was being honest, it wasn’t the answer that she wanted to hear, however, Trixie knew he wasn’t wrong. Instead, her face twisted into a grimace as they spoke the next part of the sealing ritual. Unlike the spells she used every day of her life, the ritual was a magic of a different sort. The spoken word was as vital to focusing the magic as much as her horn was to channel her own power.

As the third verse finished, a moan slipped past her as the magical burden weighed upon her back anew. ’Ugh, I’d rather be carrying stones than this spell.’

’Is it too much, little pony?’

Trixie looked up once again to see the Gorgon leering at her, only this time, the door had swung open wider—revealing more of the spirit in her awful glory. Standing at three times the height of the deer Elder, the Gorgon’s torso was as hairless as her face. The ugly, scaly patches—all of them the green color of old copper—covered her torso in patches. Her forelegs ending in five clawed digits, and from what little Trixie could see of the Gorgon’s lower torso, it resembled a snake’s body.

It took everything Trixie had not to retch, swallowing back the acidic bile that welled up. “Sweet Sisters…”

“Don’t look, Trixie, just focus,” Tormod said, refusing to open his eyes and look himself. “It’s what she’s after.”

’Hmm, you seemed so sure of yourself earlier, male. Are you so quick to lose your confidence?’

A snort escaped Tormod. “You’re going to have to try harder than that. I’m not falling for your mind games.”

’But what of your friend here? The one quaking on her hooves? Does she have the same fortitude you pose?”

Aware of her shaking, Trixie forced herself to remain still, lifting her head at the Gorgon. “Trixie isn’t scared of you. She’s seen uglier things in garbage heaps in the alleys of Manehatten.”

The Gorgon’s laugh bellowed within the chamber. ’You’re a horrible liar, little pony. I see through your facade. You’re terrified. Afraid. As well as you should be.”

“T-Trixie is not scared!”

’Oh, but you are.’

Trixie’s ears flicked at Tormod’s growl. “Leave her alone!”

The Gorgon’s tone turned snide. ’Oh, protective of this one? How adorable. Are you her little white knight?’

Tormod finally opened his eyes to glare at the Gorgon. “Spirit or not, you’re no different from every other bully I’ve ever met in my life. All with the exact same mindset that you’re superior in some way. I despise those like you.”

’So full of venom. I’m almost jealous.’ The Gorgon’s sneer showed her poison-dripping fangs. ’Hmm… that scar on your shoulder. Looks like that might have been painful.’

Trixie’s growl joined Tormod’s before she said to him, “Come on, Tormod, the next verse.”

“Right,” he said, and the two started the next-to-final verse of their spell, their horns shining brightly as they chanted in unison.

’Still defiant? Let’s see how you like this.” Bringing back her arm, the Gorgon slammed it into the sigil that kept her in her prison, the magical symbol lighting up as she did so.

The unicorn pair groaned at the heavy hit, their magic flaring.

The Gorgon cackled as the weight of their spell fell upon them. ’What fun.

Standing straighter, Trixie said. “Tormod, are you all right?”

Hissing through clenched teeth, he nodded. “I am. I just need—”

His words were cut off as the Gorgon slammed against the sigil again, and Trixie could see the pain in her friend’s grimace.

“Tormod!”

“I-I’m not—”

Another slam, another cry. ’Oh, yes you are,’ the Gorgon said before she fully tackled into the sigil. The mark flared and hurled the Gorgon back.

Trixie nearly lost her focus as Tormod fell over, screaming in pain as he clutched at his shoulder. The burden of the spell falling on her shoulders alone, it was almost enough to floor her.

She heard her friends cry out, even as she struggled to hold the spell. Her teeth ached from grinding, the sweat lathered her coat. Yet somehow, she kept the spell going.

The Gorgon’s laughter echoed in the chamber. ’That wound of his made that all the more enjoyable,’ she said before she felt the Gorgon’s stare on her, sending chills down her spine. ’So, all that’s left is you, little pony. Breaking you will be so easy.’

A whimper escaped Trixie as she knelt, pouring her magic into holding the spell that threatened to give way. “Leave me… alone,” she whispered.

’So fragile. So worthless. Whatever made you think a nobody like you could ever stand up to me? You should have stayed home cowering like the pathetic gnat you are.’

Her ears laid back as tears rolled down her cheeks. “T-Trixie is not… worthless!”

’Oh, yes you are. And when I’m free, the whole world will know it. With you not having the power to complete the final verse of that spell, I’ll finally be free!’

Even as the Gorgon continued her gloating, speaking out loud to everyone, Trixie’s mind turned inward, to her safe place.

’What can I do? I’m going to fail and all of my friends are going to suffer. I can’t do this on my own, I can’t.. I can’t…

She dared to open her eyes, to see Wanderer, Tourmaline, Rogue, and Scarlet back away from the doorway the Gorgon began to reach through. Their panicked looks, the expressions of growing horror, all of it reasserted the grim reality she faced.

’My friends. What can I do?

Now is the time.

Trixie’s brow furrowed at the new voice. ’Hmm? Who’s there? Leave me alone!’

Now is the time. The time for you to choose, the strange, yet familiar voice said to her. That which you have been avoiding all this time. The time has come for you to choose, Trixie.

The shouting faded into the background, even as her magic continued to strain. ’What choice do I have? I’m going to fail, and my friends are going to suffer. All because I’m not good enough. Sweet Sisters, this is so hard.’

Choices in life usually are. But we must be strong enough to endure their consequences. You have always had that strength, that conviction. Now is the time for you to chose.

“Choose what?!” she cried out loud, the magic around her horn beginning to dim.

Will you be the one to let the Gorgon win, to ravage our world, or will you choose to be the one you were always destined to be?

“My destiny…”

What is it you always call yourself?

She squinted her eyes shut before it came to her. “The Great and Powerful Trixie.”

Are you?

Opening her violet irises to see her friends looking at each other helplessly, to see them look at her with pleading eyes.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie…”

Her gaze shifted to Tormod as he looked up at her. To see the fear in his eyes, it was unsettling, but there was also something else.

Hope.

’He’s looking at me like that.’

The voice didn’t answer.

Trixie lowered her head, her mind a chaotic mess.

’Am I the Great and Powerful Trixie?’

Images of all her shows in the past, the cheering fans, the awed faces came in a rush. She also saw the booing crowds and angry looks from her recent past.

’Trixie… is no longer the same pony she was. Not anymore.’

To see those cheering faces, the happy expressions on her friend's faces, brought a realization.

“I am the Great and Powerful Trixie,” she said before she looked up at the door to the Gorgon’s prison, just in time for her to see the spirit’s fearful expression.

“And Trixie is going to show you just how great and powerful she is!” Her voice echoed over the din of the chamber as she spoke the final verse of the spell. Her horning shining brightly, the magic swimming through her body as she felt it surge.

The Gorgon cried out in denial as Trixie’s eyes shone with white light as the sigil shone so brightly to illuminate the entire room.

“No! No, no, no, NOOOO!” The Gorgon cried as the sigil pulled her back into her cell. “I will not go back! I will not go back in there!”

The Gorgon tried to bring her magic to bear, but the sigil glowed brighter, dispelling any spell she attempted.

Frustrated to a fit, she turned her ire to Harbinger as he shakenly got to his hooves. “This is your fault! You failed me!”

The terror on his visage was a pure as new snow as she grabbed him and the two were pulled into the prison. “No! Please! Princess Celestia, Princess Luna! Save me!” he cried before the stone doors slammed shut on the two. The sigil fused into the door, and, with a violent crack, the serpentine eye that covered the door crumbled away—splitting further as it struck the floor. Leaving the chamber illuminated only by the wavering torches and the dimming light of Trixie’s magic.

“It-It’s done?” Faith stammered after a long moment of shock that fell over the chamber like a thick blanket.

“You did it, Trixie!” Wanderer shouted, even as he picked up Tourmaline in a happy whirl—the pegasus laughing with him.

“You saved us all,” Tormod said, standing painfully on three legs.

Panting from the exhausting ordeal, Trixie looked up at her friends and gave a weak smile. “Was there, ever any doubt?”

Author's Notes:

I remember coming back and reading this after stepping away from it for a week or so, gave me chills. So happy this piece is now out for everyone to read.

The conclusion and epilogue coming up next!