Celestia and her Spirits seemed to disappear abruptly in a flash of light, the shield on the ground vanishing with her. In a split second, her own song drifted across the clearing, as if time had expanded to encompass its slow, reverent melody.

Embrace the Elements
Without fear, without pretense
Trust in what your hearts believe
Once gained, the power cannot leave.

The power's source is within you
Strike, my little ponies, swift and true.

Time contracted abruptly again; Celestia reappeared in front of Aqua, Hero in front of Kanji, and Dizzy in front of Chell. Celestia raised a golden shield in front of each of them, but if the shields failed, she intended for each of them to fall before the bearers they protected did.