An Equestrian Lifestream Corrupted and Manipulated

“Are you sure this is going to help, mister,” Twilight asked Cloud after regaining her composure. The group needed a way out of this mess and Cloud’s plan was the only viable solution available.

“Yes, we need to be ready to move as soon as it is finished,” Cloud reassured her. “…As for your parents…I’m sorry…this is what Sephiroth does. He takes everything in his lust for power.”

“…don’t worry about it. I’m fine,” Twilight lied but tried to keep her cool despite the pain in her heart at the loss. Right now she needed to make things right before they get worse. There would be a time to mourn but not right now.

Cloud stood ready for whatever possible pain he would feel from this. Closing his eyes, he waited for the Mane 6 to do what needed to be done. He saw the effects of the attack beforehand and knew it could release him from Sephiroth’s control by removing Jenova’s cells inside him.

With eyes turning white, Twilight and her friends used the elements of harmony on Cloud sending a rainbow of light to wash over him. They didn’t know for sure but, hopefully, no harm would come to him as it did to Vincent. On a positive note, they heard no noise coming from Cloud that would denote pain.

Cloud stood dead center in the middle of the rainbow light as it passed through him. For the first time in his life, all worries and regrets left his mind. It felt different. It felt almost like everything was going to be all right – even if it wasn’t. Cloud began to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. He now recognized the peace that existed in Aeris’s eyes. Everything really is going to be all right, he thought. Even if death comes, the life stream would be there to take him in. He would be able to see Zack, his friend, again. He would be able to see his mother – taken by Sephiroth.

When the elements of harmony came to a rest, the group ran to Cloud to make sure everything was ok. He assured them of his renewed confidence. With a lifelong weight lifted from his soul, Cloud made sure everyone present knew what they had to do. If they stuck with the plan, everything would turn out just fine. Tifa recognized this renewed confidence in Cloud almost immediately. For once, she felt relief that he might have finally let go of the guilt from the Nibelheim incident. It wasn’t his fault in any way but he carried it on his shoulders the same as those he cares about.

*****

Discord, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna did not notice the use of the elements of harmony outside of Ponyville. Their focus was on the one-winged man whose two raised hands seemed to command the entire planet – and possibly more.

Sephiroth, whose face was covered in shadow as he looked down upon the three, expressed no emotion. Instead he only slightly moved his two arms directed in opposite ends of the sky. His arms were twitching towards each other by a few centimeters each second. He continued this until both arms overlapped each other and the three noticed a change in lighting in the surrounding landscape. They also noticed that they weren’t able to see the mountains where Canterlot had just been demolished.

A smirk appeared on Sephiroth’s shadow covered face as he lowered his arms.

“Who wants to go first?” He said with a disturbing air of confidence.

“All those ponies in Canterlot! How dare you!!” Princess Celestia was furious with the man. She fired a magic blast at him and this time he easily deflected it with his sword. Even Luna took a shot which was also deflected with ease. Discord rubbed his chin with his eagle claw trying to comprehend the man’s scheme. It seemed very suspicious.

Princess Celestia was the first to take off into the air charging at the man with much anger in her heart. She only flew a feet before the man raised his right arm. In a circular motion, he moved the clouds above away revealing a blinding light that stopped Celestia in her flight. In addition, Discord and Luna covered their eyes from the blinding light.

Discord realized what the man had done right under their noses. He raced towards Celestia’s last known position hoping he wasn’t too late. However, he stopped when he heard the blood curling scream as Sephiroth came down on Princess Celestia without mercy. Discord struggled to see what had happened but could only make out a blur of two objects where smaller pieces fell from the first. The first object began falling to the ground. The second object flew right at him and he feared the worst.

The blur, however, passed him and headed toward the ground. Discord found it was easier to look down with the light to his back. He saw Sephiroth heading straight towards Princes Luna with incredible speed. Discord could now see so teleportation was a viable option. He teleported to Princess Luna’s side and tried to grab hold and pull her to safety.

He felt the sword pierce his left eagle’s claw. Worse yet, he saw her expression as the sword went through her entire body. Eyes that were so full of life began to dim and turn black. Her mouth hung open as if to express the pain but only a final breath escaped the lips. Looking up, he noticed the man a few inches from his face with a smile crossing his lips with a face still covered in shadow.

Discord, for once in his entire existence, felt scared. How was this man able to kill immortals? Maybe it wasn’t exactly death he delivered. It certainly didn’t feel like death happened upon the two he just witnessed. It felt more like they ceased to exist. Sephiroth pulled his sword out of the body and Discord’s claw to which he clutched it and felt blood streaming out.

More than anything, Discord felt the fear in his heart growing and not so much the pain in his claw. He began to marvel at the situation. He was the master of chaos and disharmony but this was something on a whole new level. It was something he was not ready to deal with. He staggered back a few steps in complete shock with eyes full of fear.

Sephiroth closed up the clouds in the sky still smiling at the draconequus being.

“I…um…ehh…” Discord mumbled. “…Isn’t this a little too far?”

“No,” Sephiroth replied.

Discord looked around now that he could rightly see and noticed Celestia’s body on the ground missing a head to match.

“’Tia. No…” Discord kept stumbling backwards. A few tears began to fill his eyes. “I never got to…”

The man began to walk toward Discord with his wing outstretched.

I should’ve seen it coming. I saw the signs, Discord thought. While we were busy watching the man, he was busy moving the sun and moon into an eclipse that we could not see beyond the blanket of clouds! He used it as a tactical advantage.

“…well, it has been a pleasure. But I really must be going,” Discord quickly said snapping his fingers and teleported somewhere safer.

Sephiroth snapped his fingers and the draconequus being came before him again confused. Sephiroth ran his blade straight through Discord who cried out in pain.

Pushing his blade deeper, Sephiroth came near to Discord’s ear. “A little secret between you and me. If I control the planet, I control you.”

*****

Cloud and his group had trouble moving towards Ponyville when a blinding light came from above. They couldn’t see two feet in front their eyes and had to wait it out. After the light went away, they traversed past the collapsed buildings to see the results of the battle. It was the worst nightmare they could have ever walked into.

Genesis, Weiss, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna, at first glance, looked to be murdered. Sephiroth was immediately recognized as he pulled his sword out of Discord who fell to the ground with lifeless eyes. The ponies were doing everything in their power to stop from having nervous breakdowns. They even turned away from the sight in order to make sure their sanity stayed intact. The Mane 6 didn’t want to go anywhere near the field so they stayed back and waited for their role in the plan. Tifa waited with them next to Hojo’s container.

Cadance rushed to Genesis to see if their plan had any chance of success. She lowered her horn to his back and recognized he was still showing weak signs of life. Cadance called over Twilight, who was very reluctant to enter the field. However, the Mane 6 knew they had to show courage and face the threat before them no matter the cost. They approached Cadance who pointed out Genesis’s wounds to Twilight. Twilight lowered her horn to his back and began the healing spell.

Cloud approached Sephiroth without any fear of him. It was the first time he never felt scared of the man – more specifically scared of the harm he brings to those he loves.

“Good to see you, Cloud.” Sephiroth turned to face Cloud. “Are you ready to accept my present?”

“Your sins stop here, Sephiroth. I won’t let you hurt any more innocent lives!” Cloud raised his sword ready to attack.

“When are you going to realize you’re nothing more than a puppet?” Sephiroth raised his right arm in a failed attempt to control Cloud. “I see you removed Jenova’s cells. That’s too bad.”

“Shut up, Sephiroth! Stop being a coward and raise your sword!” Cloud demanded.

“If you insist,” Sephiroth rushed at Cloud striking without mercy.

Cloud was able to defend against the attacks returning some of his own. Sephiroth was much more powerful and drove the fight to the opposite ends of Ponyville. He was surprised to find Cloud holding his own with little to no hesitation in his defense. Sephiroth preyed on this new confidence trying to taunt his opponent. However, Cloud gave Sephiroth no such satisfaction and resisted with every fiber in his being.

Genesis came back to life gasping for air. In a delirious state, he looked up and saw Cadance standing in front of him.

“Goddess…?” grunted Genesis still feeling pangs of pain.

“I need your help. Lend me your strength. You have a compassion and love I need that will be able to stop Sephiroth. Will you please give it to me?” inquired Cadance.

“…anything…for you…Goddess…” Genesis stretched his hand out to Cadance.

Cloud began to get the upper hand against Sephiroth. Cloud felt a deep desire within him to protect the ones he loves to which gave him much strength. At one point, Sephiroth made contact with Cloud on top of a broken roof and was knocked away into the air. Cloud took this opportunity and swirled his Fusion Sword above his head separating it into smaller sword pieces that surrounded Sephiroth.

With lightning speed, Cloud jumped between the pieces of the sword slashing at Sephiroth’s body delivering one final blow from above knocking Sephiroth to the ground. Sephiroth was on the ground not moving so Cloud approached his body. Unfortunately, Sephiroth retained consciousness, got up, and renewed the fight.

This time Sephiroth learned Cloud’s moves and got past them with ease. Finding an opening in Cloud’s offense, Sephiroth drove his sword through Cloud’s stomach. Cloud did not give Sephiroth the satisfaction of hearing a scream. Instead, he dropped his sword and gripped the one that was piercing him.

Cadance showed up in time to see this. The Mane 6 with Genesis, and Tifa with the container were not far behind. They knew they had to be quick as they were running out of time to execute the plan. It was their only means of salvation.