Chapter 11.

An uncertain future

Princess Celestia, North Star, and Orthoptera flew across the Everfree forest. They soon came upon a broken castle. Orthoptera landed near the castle as North Star got off and Princess Celestia came close

She then said, “Were staying here?”

North Star then said, “It’s well fortified and we can keep a watch here until you raise the sun tomorrow.”  

She nods then the two enter the castle. Here they go the center throne room destroyed and in ruin. Here North Star went forward to the throne

He then said “This place I can feel the dark magic within it.”

Princess Celestia came forward then said “A powerful being lived here once, a pony or alicorn with great power.”

North Star then said, “Well we can definitely stay here the walls are secure and there’s only one entrance and that’s through the front gate so I suggest we set up a guard as well. I’ll take the first watch.”

Celestia then said, “Alright North Star I’ll try to get some sleep.”

She then laid down on the stone she then fell asleep and Orthoptera fell asleep right next to her.

North Star turned to the entrance and stands there for hours. Then he saw the  shadows flicker then he turned and saw a pony enter the hall

North star then shouted “Every pony get up!”

Princess Celestia woke and Orthoptera woke as well. North Star teleported near the door then the pony entered then as Celestia burst forward along with North Star. They all stopped then North Star saw the old silver unicorn with his long white beard and mane wearing a black cloak he took off his hood then North Star saw the old grey face and his aging blue eyes

North Star then said, “Master Silver Beard your alive?”  

He then said, “North star it has been too long.”

The two embrace then as they part North Star then said “master Silver beard this is Princess Celestia.”

She bows as he did then said, “Princess Celestia I am so glad to see you.”

She then said, “I am also glad to see you master Silver beard North Star told me so much about you.”

He then said, “I’m glad that he has; now that’s enough for introductions. Let’s settle down and I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

He lead the way and then as he walked to the center of the throne room. He then saw Orthoptera.

He then said, “Why is she here?”  

Orthoptera then said, “Well that is a way to introduce you?”

North Star sighed then said, “She’s here to help master. She was used by Necro and Abyss and wants to help get her revenge on top of that she knows where the tower is located.”

Silver Beard then said, “Alright then please sit down what I’m going to tell you are very important.”

The two sit down then he said, “North star the reason I have been gone for so long is because I have been investigating Abyss, ever since the attack on the tower I have been trying to find more information about him. What I found is most devastating Celestia he is the one who betrayed your mother and he allowed Tirek the centaur to destroy the first city of harmony. From there Abyss was banished but he broke the two sacred laws of magic one was the law of life to sacrifice a newborn unicorn to restore his power. The other the law of death selling your soul to a greater power he broke these two laws and condemned his soul to a never-ending punishment in Tartarus but he is right now the most powerful Alicorn alive.”

North Star then said, “So is there any way to destroy him?”

Then Silver Beard bowed his head then said, “From what I’ve discovered no. But North Star I have ventured far to the east to discover more.”

He stopped then said “Princess Celestia you went to the roof of the world. “

She nods then said “My sister and I traveled there that’s where we met Alpha.”

Silver Beard then said “That is where I discovered what I needed to do and why I returned.”

He then took out a small orb then said “North star Alpha told me to give you this. However, before I do what you see is only meant for you. She told me you can tell no pony what you see or the future will not be altered you have to find the power to defeat Abyss and you have to face him alone.”

North Star starred then he got up then said, “This is insane I can’t do this? I cannot face abyss alone."

Silver Beard then said “You have to it’s the reason you were given that mark that’s harmony’s sigil of life you have to face what Alpha has offered.”

North Star then said, “Who is this alpha?”

Silver beard then said “I don’t know she is a spirit she has no form as does her brother omega but I know that she and Harmony together forged the elements of harmony to sustain this world remember what I taught you this world affects others it’s the heart of existence.”

North Star then said “with what power then? The elements of harmony won’t work for me.”

Silver Beard then said, “No they won’t but you have the amulet of harmony her power now flows through you and you need another power to destroy abyss and save this world.”

North Star turned then said “what power?”

Grey beard then said “The power of chaos."

North Star shouted, “I will not sell my soul.”

Grey beard then said, “You don’t have too you can access his power and he will allow it. Alpha already confirmed his submission to the plan.”

Princess Celestia then said “North star I think you should at least try.”

North Star trotted back and forth for a second then said, “this is insane so if I touch that orb chaos the same chaos locked away in Tartars will allow me to borrow his power. But, he will want something in exchange?”

Silver beard then said, “You won’t need to give him anything. He is lending you his power to destroy abyss. He wants him dead as well.”

North Star starred at the orb then said “So even alpha said this?” Grey beard then said, “North Star if there was any other way I would tell you but I don’t.”

North Star swallowed then said, “What will happen? "

Silver beard then said, “I don’t know?”

Then every pony starred at North Star who was shaking then he said, “Alright give me the orb.”

Then Silver Beard placed the orb in North Star’s open hoof and everything flashed then North Star was gone.

North Star was now in front of a large mountain snow covered mountain then he saw the golden ball of light.

She then spoke “North star it is welcoming to see you I am Alpha.”

North Start then said, “Why bring me here?”  

She then said, “Harmony has told you of your purpose but I decided that it is time for me to reveal what you need to know. Remember what grey beard told you this information can never be revealed not even to Celestia or Luna.”

Then North Star shouted, “So everything about the elements of harmony are true then they were your creation?”

She then said, “Yes they were and Nova who calls himself Abyss and his friends should have ushered in the world of peace to pony kind but because of his betrayal evil was allowed to reenter the world. North Star you are the one who has to redirect the world in the right direction but you lost your way when you saved Lance’s life.”

North Star then said, “So your saying I was supposed to let him die?”

She then said, “Yes now motions of darkness are becoming stronger. But you have to understand now your friends are expendable the greater good is at stake.”

North Star then said “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do every choice I have made I thought was for the greater good I thought trusting in my friends was the right thing.”

Alpha then said, “It is you have to trust your friends to do their duty even if it leads to their deaths.”

North Star then said, “When I was in that situation I didn’t think I acted on instinct your saying if I was placed in a situation similar next time I have to let my friends die.”

Alpha then said, “North star you have to this isn’t just about single lives this world is in danger the free will of every pony is at stake.”

North star then said “Alright I understand but there is one thing I’m going to say next time I’m in a situation like the one I was in I won’t just save one or the other I’ll save both. I can’t accept the fact, that I have to sacrifice my friends or save the world you can’t have one without the other if I don’t have their backs to help me then what’s the point. Everything I do is to keep them alive to keep every pony of Equestria alive and I start by keeping the ones who fight with me alive. No I won’t accept that fact I will not fail in my friends or Celestia and Luna.”

` Alpha then said, “North star you know that what you say is not possible. Ponies will die on this journey there is little chance by the end most will be dead you have to accept that.”

North Star then said, “Alpha I can’t lose hope. I can’t just abandon the ponies I know or care about I know it’s selfish and I’m not saying putting their lives in front of Celestia’s and Luna’s I’m saying have faith in me. Put aside logic put aside fact if you know me you know I don’t back down I don’t fall back I will not accept that I will never accept that. And if they do die and if I do fail then I will make damn sure Equestria doesn’t fall either that’s my promise to you.”

Alpha then said “Alright North Star I cannot accept everything you’ve said for I cannot see an outcome where you will not suffer. However, you are here for one other reason you must enter the gates if Tartarus and accepts chaos’s power. Only with both the dark and the light can you hope to face Abyss.”

North star then said, I" accepted that the moment I touched your orb.”

She then said, “North star I’ll direct you to the gates of Tartarus and you must try to gain chaos’s power. North Star then said, “Alright then.”

      North Star then came upon the gates in the cave they opened and North Star went down with the spirit of Alpha guiding him. There laid Cerberus he roared at North Star but Alpha’s spirit soothed him and they passed through the gates. Upon entering North Star can see the rows of cells with demons and monsters locked away. It was a circular dark chamber with the cells lining the walls and in the middle of the room was a stone pedestal. Alpha leads North Star to the pedestal and then it dropped down slowly with the only light being Alpha’s spirit North Star couldn’t see much but he heard the roars and hisses of monsters they passed by. They soon came upon a cell with the label chaos. The cell was blocked with a heavy enchantment and his body was huge. He had a long mane made of flame and his eyes were a dark red his wings were leathery like a bat, and coat a dark black. He was frozen in solid rock and a spear was in the center his eyes were wide in pain but he spoke through North’ star’s mind.

Chaos then said,  “So the one who would restore order has come.”

North Star then said, “I have and I guess you already know why I came?”

He chuckled then said “yes I know I can feel your fears your friends deaths the destruction of Equestria your very life taken by me all of this I sense in you."

North Star then said, “But you should also know I would never sell my soul to you. If I do borrow your power, it will be to defeat Abyss and Necro nothing more and when I’m done I’m giving you power back to you”

Chaos then spoke, “North Star my power is what drives the Alicorn amulet and few can stop its possession. What makes you think that you can prevent me from complete taking over your body?”

North star then said “I believe I can stop abyss and Necro I can defeat them retrieve Luna and save my friends at the same time I have to keep believing that and face you every time I have to take in your power.” Chaos then said “Alright then but if you fight Abyss and die your soul is mine.”

North Star then said, “Deal.”

Then Chaos said, “You didn’t break the second law of magic so instead of a mark I’ll give you something else.” He then sent his I power into North star’s left eye socket there a new eye formed but for the iris the Alchemic symbol of the soul was forged into his eye a triangle with a cross connecting it. He screamed as he opened his new eye blood poured from the socket and North Star held it in place as he heard large sucking sounds as the veins healed and connected the eye to his brain. Then Chaos said, “My power will now be filtered through your body and with my sister’s power I hope you can defeat Abyss.”

North Star got up then said, “Like you care.”

Chaos laughed then said “I actually do I would rather have Harmony’s pawns destroy Abyss then have him take over.”

Then North Star turned away from Chaos’s gaze and the pedestal rose through the air. As the two left the dungeon following behind was Alpha they made it back to the snow covered mountain top.

Then Alpha said “North Star your power to want to do the impossible is reassuring but I cannot condone such action. In truth I’m leaving this world.”

North Star turned then said, “Who are you really?”

She then said, “I was once a Alicorn as was my brother Omega I was a princess the first Alicorn to raise the sun and keep the ponies in peace as my brother was the moon. However, my brother omega did not believe in free will he believed that the enslavement of all-specious was the key to a perfect world. So he influenced most of the make Alicorns  to turn against me which  started the first chaos war that war raged for thousands of years that destroyed our lands. The entire southern region; which is now known as the lost world, is what is left of the devastation. Soon my second in command, harmony and I forged the elements of harmony out of her will following six certain attributes magic, generosity, loyalty kindness joy and trust. Then we gave them to six Alicorns with my final gift, the elements of harmony were used to destroy Omega. His soul was sent to Tartarus. I kept his power into an orb and with his death; I gave my power into an orb and gave the orbs to my second in command Harmony along with my death. Even though I sustained my spirit here in this mountain but now I see my influence may have brought more pain then it has done good. Abyss was supposed to be the one who ushered a new era of peace for pony kind. But instead he will usher in the very will of my brother omega and send the world into eternal slavery one that will never be broken.”

North Star then said, “That’s why you’re so concerned on the decisions I make the choices I choose the friends that I have to allow to die. Everything is for this next generation of ponies to come use the elements of harmony and bring the peace abyss failed to bring. So in other words we are pawns in a larger game.”

Alpha then said “That was not my intention The elements of harmony were supposed to be tools the ponies wielding them were supposed to be the rulers the 6 founders could have been them but Celestia and Luna were still needed before that power can be achieved.”

North Star sighs then he said “Alpha I know you’re concerned that I will make the same mistake but I won’t. I cannot promise that I will succeed, I am fighting odds most would say were impossible to beat but I can’t give up either on my goal to save every pony. But, I promise you this I understand the gravity of this destiny and I know the road will be a hard one. Even if my friends die I won’t give up on my destiny and I will get back Luna from abyss and Necro.”

Alpha then said, “Just don’t forget what we spoke of this is the last time we will see each other.” North Star nods then said “I won’t”

North Star was back in the broken castle.

Then Princess Celestia said, “That was fast.”

North Star turned then said, “How long was I gone?”

Silver beard then said “Not more than a second.”

North Star turned to the three then they saw his eye.

Princess Celestia then said, “North star I cannot begin.”

North Star held up his right front hoof then said “Celestia its fine. “

Silver beard nods then said, “North Star we know you cannot speak of what Alpha told you but can you tell us can you defeat Abyss.”

North Star then said, “I’m going to practice using Chaos’s power every day until I fight Abyss, I have to learn to use chaos’s magic and sustain my soul at the same time.”

Princess Celestia then said “North star I have complete faith in you.”

Silver Beard strokes his beard then said, “We can begin right now if you want.”

North Star swallows then said “alright master Silver beard.”

Abyss was in his study writing a letter he finished then he teleported it with his magic.

Necro entered then said, “So what’s the next phase."

Abyss then said, “Canterlot will soon be under our control. I issued to the grand master of the order of the daggers to send every assassin to kill any Alicorn left in the northern regions.”

Necro then said, “You think they can do it?”

Abyss then said, “I have my full confidence in their abilities too bad Shade betrayed us. He could have been the one to lead this assault.”

Necro then said, “I heard he works for Princess Celestia and Luna now?"

Abyss then said, “They will all soon see the power of my will. I created the order of the daggers for this very reason. The Alicorns believe themselves the keepers of this world. I am going to show them how wrong they are how little their magic will protect them."

Necro then said, “From my intelligence Princess Celestia and North star are heading for us.”

Abyss then said, “Send out some of our other minions. The last fight drained me and if I am going to fight North Star again I am going to need more of Omega’s power. So delay them send out your wood mage the one who can summon timber wolves and Pyro.

Necro bows then said “anything else”

Abyss then said “Have them capture Princess Celestia alive but kill any pony along with her.”

As Necro left Abyss’s room who sat cross legged on the floor, then his eyes turned black and the omega symbol appeared inside his irises. Then his fur became even greyer some if it started to fall and in its place dark black scales started to appear then Abyss breathed in and then the power stopped and the black scales sunk back into his skin and his fur regrew.

Then Abyss got up and said “Power comes with sacrifice.”

Next Chapter: chapter 12 shadow of guilt Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 21 Minutes