Twilight yelped as a beam of magic struck her in the chest. She stumbled back into a bookcase, sending a cloud layer of dirt up.

"Twilight!" Rainbow Dash zipped over to her. Twilight panted, feeling the wind knocked out of her. Furious, Rainbow Dash turned her gaze back to the green Unicorn. "What did you do?"

"Nothing harmful, yet. I just hit her with a spell that temporarily leeches her magical capabilities."

Twilight coughed, struggling to stand. She winced, having to lean against Rainbow Dash. "Why are you doing this?"

"For what it's worth, I really am sorry." Clover tsked, but the smirk on her face clearly showed her enjoyment.

A green bubble appeared around Twilight and Rainbow Dash. It crackled with magical energy. Twilight fired a beam into the dome, to no effect. Clover still watched them casually, only shaking her head in mild disappointment.

"It's a shame that it had to be your brother, Rainbow Dash. Starswirl is a creatively unique individual. That's just how life goes."

"You had better tell me what's going on, you barf-haired mule!" Rainbow Dash growled.

Clover shrugged, as if to say, What can you do?

"The Great One only had a brief glimpse into you, Twilight. But believe me, he is impressed. That is a great feat. I mean, Master of the Elements of Harmony? That sure caught me off-guard, I'll tell you that much. Regardless, I think the Mage and I will find a way to manage without you."

"What do you mean?" Twilight shouted. "Starswirl the Bearded?"

"Who do you think brought me back?" Clover grinned innocently.

Twilight felt her blood run cold. "I don't believe it."

"Believe what?" Rainbow Dash stomped, getting fed up with being one step behind.

"You said it yourself, Twilight." Clover said. Twilight found a rising urge to knock her pearly whites out. Smile after that, you old bat! "Why do you think nopony has been able to find the Mage's last resting place?"

Twilight glared daggers. "But what do you need Starswirl for? He doesn't have anything to do with... whatever dark witchcraft you've cooked up."

Clover almost gaped at her in disbelief. "Really? You still haven't figured it out?" She was met with two silent glares. She sighed, shaking her head. "The Mage couldn't live forever. Nopony outruns Death. But, Death can be escaped.

"You see, that's why he raised me. When shipwrecked ponies began to settle here, I helped start a village. The Mage predicted his host would be born on the isle of his end. All I had to do was wait.

"Oh, it was pure destiny. A silver Unicorn, with unbelievable potential, born from a half-blood. He even has his eyes." Clover smiled, her voice filled with drunken adoration. "Oh yes. The spirit of Starswirl the Bearded will be reborn."

"You're delusional!" Twilight shook her head.

"Maybe," Clover sighed. "Getting right back into the thick of life after centuries of lying around doing nothing can do that to you." A golden aura flashed over her horn. "Well, I'm sorry about all this, but I really can't let you escape from this cave. If I'm going to fully bring the Great Mage back, I can't afford to have you trying anything undesirable... Shame about all the books though."

"I'm gonna kick your teeth down your throat, you ghoul!" Rainbow Dash pounced into the glimmering force field, receiving a scalding burn for her effort.

Clover chuckled, shaking her head as if Rainbow Dash was a mere filly throwing a temper tantrum. "Sorry again, girls!" She shot several blasts of magic into the roof, causing it to rumble as rubble dropped down. "Sweet dreams!"

She teleported in a golden flash, disappearing along with the shield trapping the two mares. They made a beeline for the door. The carvern dropped in on them before they even came close. The ponies shrieked as the rocks descended on them, silencing their screams.

~~~

"Hey there, Starswirl."

Starswirl looked up. Through the tiny slit, he could see the honey-colored eyes of the only other Unicorn on the island.

"Hi, Clover." He mumbled softly.

"Don't look so blue, Starswirl." He could hear Clover smiling. "You don't have to be afraid anymore."

Starswirl looked up in confusion. "Did Macaroni find a way to stop what's happening? Or did the new pony find something in the Old Hermit's Cave?"

"Something like that."

Starswirl sighed, and gave a short, incredulous laugh. "I can’t believe it. Does that mean it's over? Can I come out now?"

"Yes, Starswirl," Clover purred in smoothly cloaked joy. With a screech and a grinding, the door was pulled open. "It's all over."

~~~

Rainbow Dash trembled, clutching her hooves over her head. The giant rocks never hit her. Rainbow Dash gasped slightly when she felt something hot and wet dripping onto her mane.

"Twilight... are we alive?"

"D-Don’t... move."

Rainbow Dash twisted her head upwards. A dim violet light overhead illuminated Twilight standing over her protectively. Twilight’s horn was aglow, and a thin shield held up the rocks inches from them. Tears dribbled from Twilight’s eyes, which were clenched shut.

Twilight’s knees buckled, as if carrying a stack of lead bars on her back. Her hooves slid, and soon she was pushed down against Rainbow. Twilight groaned in effort, short breaths coming between teeth burning from the pressure of being locked together. Even though she focused all of her magic on maintaining the feeble force field, the pink glow began to dim as the corners shrunk gradually.

Rainbow Dash gulped. "Oh Celestia."