Chapter Six

“You mean, of all of the 3 million people in this city, we wind up next to the guy we’re looking for?” Allen was quite incredulous.

Cadence smiled. “Obviously, Luna has been with you.”

Now in the comfort and privacy of the hotel room, Cadence had returned to her equine form. Not quite as large as the royal sisters, Princess Cadence would still stand about half a foot taller than the average pony. She turned to Tony.

“So, you were talking of a communication with Equestria...”

Tony turned to the teenagers’ backpacks. “Yeah, that Valiant guy gave us some enchanted headsets... earmuffs, actually.”

As he spoke, he triumphantly held up one of the devices in question. “OK, so, where is the ON button...?”

“No need, army boy. I can hear you,” replied Valiant. “Gotta say, you should consider starting a cell phone service. Not only are the international calls free, you can chat with your pastel colored horse friends for a low flat rate.”

“OK, we have contact. Would you mind letting Luna know we have the location of bad boy Banning? He’s in the room next door.,” said Tony, slightly miffed.

“What? I’m a courier now? Jeez, guys, I’d love to help but...”

Allen grabbed the muffs. “Seriously. Quit messing around. There isn’t exactly a job description for this sort of thing.”

“OK, OK. I’ll go get Twilight’s manservant-”

Twilight Sparkle’s muffled voice cut in sternly at that point. The Hotel occupants heard a noise that sounded like a certain orange head being smacked with a pillow.

Valiant finally returned. “Expect a reply soon.” Then the connection went quiet, except for a distant “I already said sorry!”.

Cadence laughed quietly. Tony shrugged. Allen looked worried. All three had nothing to do until further notice.

~~

Tony was teaching Allen and Cadence the finer points of cribbage when a blue glow filled the room, momentarily blinding all the occupants. When the light cleared, Princess Luna stood before them, fitted in a dark blue armor that covered her chest, hooves, and flank.

“Which room?”

Allen pointed to the right wall. “He’s behind there. We heard him enter last night, and the guy at the desk told Cadence that Banner hasn’t been in the lobby all morning. That guy really must have needed some sleep.”

Luna nodded. Turning to the wall, her horn was surrounded by a twinkling blue aura; all four beings were transported 45 feet south.

Septimus Banner lay before them on a couch, a bottle of sleeping pills in hand.

His eyes snapped open. They were glowing red.

”Luna... how we have missed thy Royal Highness.”

Luna glared down at the 20% creepier evil Banner. “Yfel. You hath gone too far!”

Banner floated into the air, replying in a spectral voice, ”Mōna. It has been long. Please, call me Evil. It is a wonderful modern name given to me by these snivelling human-things.”

Allen felt conflicted. He felt a seething, white-hot anger, as he saw within this... thing every bad thing that had befallen his life. His family’s divorce. His uncaring parents. Yet... he felt...

”A strange pull, yes?” Evil turned toward Allen. ”I know you well, my child. Despite your anger, do not forget that you have worked with me when I asked.”

Allen fell to his knees, screaming. The images flashing through his mind cut deeply. “Ugh... I didn’t mean to push Ryan... I meant to work on that project, I didn’t want them to fail...” Allen groaned.

Luna’s eyes began to glow. ”STOP THIS MADNESS. YOU ARE DONE.”

Banner/Evil turned back to Luna. “Oh, please. You may have your royal powers, but I am king here!”

Both acted as one. A spectral red light flashed forward, meeting a light-blue beam emanating from Luna. Both strained, increasing their power to all they had.

A flash, and darkness.

~~

Allen stood before a dark abyss. He knew the horrors that awaited him if he gazed down; but he could not stop himself. Stepping forward, he looked down.

The memories of a million million shattered and broken beings roared in the inferno deep below. As he looked, the swirling mass morphed into a pair of red eyes.

”Do you fear me, Allen?”

“I... I... Yes. I do.” Allen slumped.

”Do not. This is Evil; but Evil is not in the wrong. Tell me; has not the pain in your family made you stronger? Would you even be here if not driven forward by it? WHY DO YOU HATE WHAT YOU HAVE BATHED IN, TELL ME.” The eyes seemed to scream into Allen’s head.

“RGGGHHH! I know! But it still isn’t right! Pain like that should not exist! It ISN'T RIGHT!” Allen was on his knees, gripping his head.

”Allen, you are misguided. You, and your kind, are the abominations. We were here first. We have always been here.”

The images of misery, of pain, of darkness, morphed once again into a single thought: The beginning of order, of the Universe.

Allen saw the forces of darkness and harmony, fighting for control. Luna, and Celestia, and other beings of great power that Allen would never be able to fully describe, charged forward towards him. In their eyes burned a beautiful and terrible passion; a unified thought.

”DESTROY. They wished destruction on us. Is that not what you now seek to halt?”

“I... NO! I mean, yes! I...” Allen fell into the abyss.

He opened his mouth to scream, but now sound came forth. The swirling mass rushed to meet him. He closed his eyes, ready to be consumed. Then all was bathed in white.

~~

Allen was in the Ponyville Library. Tony, once again a white pegasus, gazed down at him from above, brow knit in worry.

“Tony... how did we get here?”

“Allen! You’re okay!” A worried looking Twilight came over at Tony’s beckoning hoof.

“Allen. How do you feel?” Twilight asked, anxiously.

“...Fine? Why shouldn’t I?” Allen was confused.

“You were moaning and screaming... things. Things I don’t think anypony would repeat lightly.”

“Really? Odd. I don’t remember doing that... I wonder what kind of a nightmare I was having?”

Seemingly mollified, Tony’s worried look relaxed. “Hey, you hungry?”