While Rainbow Dash and I were dealing with the issue of group dynamics in Ponyville link the Royal Sisters were confronting something more horrific in my Equestria dreamscape.

Luna was certain that every remaining remnant of the Deception’s corruption had been purged from Applebloom, and an ongoing search of the Everfree Forest had yielded no signs of any taint from the Kingdom of Shadows. Still the Royal Sisters had concerns. They were very much in the dark about many of the principles that permitted the magic of the Lord of Shadows link to function at all. There were aspects of ancient unicorn magic in it, but much of its underlying structure was utterly alien to the sisters. The fashion in which spells formed and took effect had no current equivalent in unicorn magic. Even what ponies knew of dragon and griffin magic did not work like this, and bore no similarity to the chaos magic that Discord had wielded.

There was even debate amongst mages and scholars who were being allowed to study the available material into the exact pronunciation of many of the words. The words were not anagrams for known words in pony lore, and besides most unicorn magic required no pronunciation to cast a spell. The spell formed in the mind of the unicorn and then flowed out their alicorn. However based on eyewitness reports link incantations did play a pivotal role in the magic from the land of shadows.

Luna and Celestia, wanted to understand what exactly they were up against so if by some slight chance they were confronted with it again they might have a better defense against it. But how does one develop a defense against something you’ve never seen. As more dead-ends were found the Royal Sisters were confronted with the unpalatable reality. To see what this magic could do, somepony would have to try and perform one of spells/incantations, but which one and who would do it.

Over the next couple weeks there was much discussion surrounding whom, how, and where this would be attempted. Eventually the sisters decided that they would attempt one of the spells down in one of the containment chambers under Celestia’s academy. These chambers had some the most potent wards in all of Equestria, and had been constructed for exactly this kind of research. After much discussion they agreed that Luna would attempt the spell and Celestia would act as observer ready to intervene if things got out of control.

The next problem confronting the two alicorns was which incantation would be attempted? Eventually they settled on an incantation retrieved from the numerous bits of writing that had cluttered Applebloom’s walls when she had been possessed by the Deception. link The reasoning behind selecting it was due to some writing that seemed describe what the incantation was about.

“For those who want to see what lies ahead, peer into the mirror of infinity and see what lies beyond.”

This sounded like the best possible candidate for testing since none of the other incantations had any type notation attached to them.

So, early one evening when classes had been completed and all the students and staff left for the day the two sisters entered the academy and descended down the stairs to the containment chambers. As they passed various checkpoints doors were sealed and wards established to isolate the area from the outside world. Finally the two sisters entered the chamber and sealed the door behind them. Outside half dozen unicorn mages stood guard as additional defense.

As the sisters entered the room various lamps sprung to life one by one. The sisters took their positions on the chamber floor. As they did their horns began flashing and glowing as they cast wide spectrum protective spells upon themselves. Then Celestia looked at Luna and nodded her head. She could now begin the experiment.

Luna closed her eyes and began the spell/incantation. Based on Zecora’s observation, and what Applebloom could remember from her period of being possessed link Luna now attempted to correctly pronounce the words.

“Voktor ketral ezok kantu! Ishta zeta voktor rikor!” Line after line she said the incantation.

At first the Princess of the Moon struggled with the pronunciation of the words. She finished the ritual and opened her eyes. Nothing had happened. The indigo blue alicorn looked over at her big sister. Celestia shrugged her shoulders.

Luna attempted the ritual again changing the speed that she said the words, but still results were lacking. She then proceeded to try changing the pitch of her voice and emphasis on syllable, all with no success.

For the next half hour this went on, Luna trying different nuances of the words while Celestia looked on. Luna was slowly becoming frustrated with her lack of success; with a growing sense of frustration she closed her eyes and began again.

“Voktor ketral ezok kantu! Ishta zeta voktor rikor!” Suddenly she felt her alicorn begin to tingle. As she continued the recital the sensation grew.

“Kaza ektu kzahan kantua ika ika! Ezok kalla!” Luna found the words forming in her mouth now with greater confidence. Her voice rose in volume and it now echoed throughout the chamber.

“Lekta koraq! Lekta koraq! Lekta e-lizch! Lekta vortal!” Luna felt the room suddenly grow icy cold and horrible wind heavy with the stench death filled her nostrils. Then other voices joined hers, horrible, tortured voices. Luna’s eyes snapped open.

About ten feet in front her there was a swirling black vortex, boiling out of the vortex was a pulsating column of black tissue that towered over. A chaotic mass of tentacles, eyes flailed around the chamber. Along one side of it was a long slit mouth lined with sharp teeth. The mouth was chanting the same words as Luna was.

Like some hellish chorus faces would appear on the monstrosity screaming incoherently. They pulsated and rippled across the slimy, black surface. Suddenly one face erupted from top the entity like some great black serpent. It spied Luna and whipped around until it was eye to eye with her.

“TURN BACK WHILE YOU STILL CAN!” Screamed the face. “DO NOT GO FORWARD INTO THE MIRROR! SEEK NOT WHAT IT CAN SHOW! TURN BACK!”

Luna immediately stopped chanting, but as the last echoes of her voice fade she realized that someone else was chanting the ritual. In horror Luna recognized the voice.

Celestia was standing bathed in weird greenish light chanting the words of the ritual. Her eyes were filled with maniacal glee and violence, in a voice like shattering rock she spoke the words.

“VOKTOR EKTU LEKTA ISHTU KZAHAN KZAHN!” Thundered the Princess of the Sun.

“CELLY STOP IT!” Screamed Luna. Seeing that her older sister appeared to be oblivious to her cries Luna galloped up to her and reared up on hind legs and punched her in the face with a front hoof.

Celestia staggered under the blow and went silent. For several seconds the monstrosity remained then slowly faded away. Luna threw her front hooves around her sister’s neck and hugged her.

“Don’t go forward sis into the mirror!” Cried Luna. “Don’t seek what it can you show you! Don’t leave me!” Luna was now sobbing and shivering.

For several seconds Celestia was silent, and then with the warm, loving voice Luna found so dear she spoke.

“Thank you Lulu for saving me. I will not go forward into the mirror, thanks to you.” Slowly Celestia nuzzled her sister’s neck. Then pulled her head back and stared into her eyes.

“I think this line of inquiry should end. No matter what could be learned the risk is just too great. Besides I think we have a better idea what were up against now?”

Luna nodded her head. “Yes, I agree!”

Celestia massaged her jaw slowly with her right front hoof and shot Luna a wicked grin.

“You know that I am grateful for your intervention, but did you just enjoy hitting me like that?”

Luna blushed and looked at the far wall of the chamber.

“Maybe a little.” She said in a small voice.

The two sisters stared again at each other and then laughed.

To be continued.