The Black Sun

The Star Fragment

In an observatory just outside of Equestria, a young male, and yet scrawny, Diamond Dog with light grey fur, indigo eyes with glasses, a sky blue blazer with dark blue highlights and white trim with a red tie that has a star design in the middle and a white shirt, is looking at the night sky through the telescope, talking to himself. “Space. Countless stars twinkle, and they’re are so many with planets, that the excitement of finding a new star with a planet that could be teaming with life is never-ending,” he then takes out a picture of when he was a pup, with his grandfather.

“Grandfather, you new this,” suddenly, one of his instruments begins to beep as it flashes red, catching his attention. “Ah! It’ here! It’s arrived at last!” He said as he moves the giant telescope towards the anomaly the instrument detected and looks through, to see a meteor heading toward the planet.

“Ah, I can’t believe it. I finally found it! There it is, the new Star Fragment!” He said as he looks away from the telescope for a brief moment.

==================================================================

In Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle’s daughter Andromeda is busy reading on the subject of time travel, reading about the potential consequences. “I thought you were through with time travel?” Twilight asked as she walks into Andromeda’s work room. “And I thought I told you to put Orion to bed?”

“I did, mom,” Andromeda said as she puts the book down. “I’d figured I might as well learn as much as I--” however, they were distracted from their conversation when they suddenly detected a massive surge of magic, so powerful it almost felt like a physical blow to their horns. The shock of it knocked them to the floor. “Did you feel that?” Andromeda asked.

“I did,” Twilight said as she gets up. “Go check on Orion. I need to find the Advanced Spell Craft and Magical Phenomena book, then get some paper and a quill. I need to send the Princess a letter.” Twilight said as Andromeda goes upstairs to her brother’s room, praying to Celestia that everything’s all right.

==================================================================

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie is merrily humming her Cupcakes Song as she withdrew a fresh batch of the titular treats from the oven. She took them to the counter to apply some icing, her mind wandering as it often did. At the moment, she was wondering what her kids would say when she would give them a ‘Six-Months-Before-Your-Birthdays-Cupcake-Cake-Surprise. How would Cherry and Berry react? I bet they would love it!

Suddenly a powerful shudder ran up her spine as her Pinkie Sense went into overdrive. Her entire body shook with the force of the sensation, her spine twisting like a pretzel before she spun around in a circle like a miniature pink tornado. Finally, she plopped down on the ground, the spinning leaving her dizzy. Pinkie shook her head, trying to clear it. What was that?

She hadn’t felt a Pinkie Sense like that at all, and when a new Pinkie Sense suddenly surprised her, it usually means trouble of the worst kind. She looked at the cupcakes on the counter that had miraculously survived her seizure, but the colorful confections no longer appealed to her. She just didn't want to bake anymore, which is shocking to even her.

==================================================================

Princess Celestia was in a terribly boring meeting about the wages of weather ponies in Hoofington when she felt it. A wave of magic, stronger than anything anypony other than even herself or her sister could manage. But this wasn’t magic, that much she could tell. This strange magic was ... different. The Princess raised a hoof to stop the mayor of Hoofington. “I’m sorry, Parchment Paper, but I’m going to have to cut our meeting short.

Something has just come up. Please, put any further concerns you have in writing and have them delivered to my secretary. I’ll be sure to give them due consideration.” She ignored the mare’s protests as she nearly bolted from the room. It took her less than a minute to arrive at Luna’s room.

The younger Alicorn was waiting for her with a nerves look on her face. “You felt it too, didn’t you, Tia?” She asked. “That was different.”

“Oh, I felt it all right.” Celestia assured her, having a look of concern across her face. “I don’t know where it came from, but...” She was interrupted as a scroll materialized in a flash of magenta light before her. “Ah, sweet, dutiful Twilight. She and her family must have felt it as well. Let’s see what they have discovered.” She levitated the scroll up and opened it.

==================================================================

At some ancient ruins in the thick Mexicolt jungle, a Unicorn wearing a grey cloak that covers most of his body including his face, with all that can be made out from his face is his nose and his eyes, although they are covered blue goggles, is standing on top of the ruins, looking up toward the night sky. “When a dazzling and majestic glow lights up the Earth from the heavens, a new Star Fragment will arrive and awaken a great power,” he said as he gets onto his hind legs and spreads his arms. “That time has come at last!” He said as he sees the meteor enter the planet's atmosphere as it seems to be heading straight towards his location. “Star Fragment, hear me, give that great power to our BLACK SUN!” The mysteries Unicorn demanded, when, suddenly, the Star Fragment splits into 10 pieces of light, shocking him into saying, “Huh?”

==================================================================

“No way,” the Diamond Dog said as he sees the Star Fragment explode, when he notices one of the 10 pieces heading right for him! “AH!” He screamed as the light enters his observatory, filling the room he was in with so much light, that he can’t see for a moment. When it’s over, he’s on the ground, visibly shaken by the ordeal.

==================================================================

In Mexicolt, the hooded Unicorn sees a pice of the Star Fragment crashes down not far away, but the resulting impact is so strong that a dome of light can be seen. “Ah, what on Earth is going on here?” He asked as the light disappears. “Johannes!” He called, as an Earth Pony stallion from Saddle Arabia appears behind him. He’s wearing a large white cap with a yellow cross-like symbol covering most of his dark spiky hair and his right eye, along with a silver chain-like necklace and a white cloak with yellow symbols like on his cap with brown boots, but his most striking feature are his wide yellow eyes with feline pupils.

“Track down the locations of all the scattered fragments,” the hooded Unicorn said, to which Johannes nods as he disappears. “Hmmm ... Oh well. Now it’s just a matter of time until Nemesis is revived.”

==================================================================

In Ponyville, Andromeda walks into her brother's room, and sees that Orion is looking out the window. “You and mom felt it too, that surge of magic?” He asked as Andromeda heads to the window, and looks at the night sky also.

“We did. Mom wanted me to check on you,” Andromeda said as she sits down next to her baby brother. “I’m just glad your safe for now,” she said as she gets up, when the two notice a light outside. “What the?” She managed to say as the light enters the room and hits her, filling the room with blinding light.

When the light disappears, Orion quickly gets out of bed and runs to his sister when he sees her on the floor, shaken by the experience just now. “Andromeda! Are you okay?” He asked, not sure he wanted to find out.

“I’m fine.” Andromeda said as she looks over to Orion, when she sees the look of shock on his face. “What is it?”

“You might want to look in the mirror.” Orion said. Andromeda, not entirely sure why Orion is all freaked out now, goes to the closes mirror she can find, and gasps. Her eyes are now sparkling like the night sky, almost as if that light change her. “What the ... What?” Andromeda asked as the sparkling disappears. “How is that possible?” A completely stunned Andromeda asked as her brother holds her hoof.

“Do you think we should tell mom?”

“Just go back to bed and get some sleep for now.” Andromeda said as she leaves the room. “We’ll tell her in the morning.”

==================================================================

The next morning, Twilight, is making breakfast for Andromeda and Orion, their favorite, moon flower pancakes with sweet apple tree syrup. Smelling the pancakes, Andromeda and Orion trot down into the kitchen, where they immediately sit, forks and knifes in hoof. “Good to see you two are all better now.” Twilight said as she levitates some pancakes to the two, who notice that their father is gone.

“Where’s dad?” Orion asked.

“He had to go to Manehattan with some friends last night.” Twilight said as she takes a seat. “He’ll be back in a few days. So, Orion, did you feel anything strange last night?”

“I did, and then this light fell from the sky and hit Andromeda, and after the light disappeared, Andromeda’s eyes were sparkling.” Orion said, slightly shocking his mother. A moment later, a scroll materialized before them. The letter dropped out of the air a moment later, and Twilight had to use a quick bit of magic to keep it from landing on top of the syrup-drenched pancakes.

“That was close.” Twilight said as she opens the letter and reads it’s contents.

“What does it say?” Andromeda asked.

“Is it about that surge of magic last night?” Orion added.

“Well, whatever it was last night, not even Celestia and Luna know.” Twilight said, slightly stunning the two. “But she is gonna try to solve it, whatever it was,” and with that, the three began to eat the pancakes, till they hear a knocking at the library door.

“I’ll get it!” Orion said. Before his sister or mother could protest, he has already eaten his pancakes and is running over to the door and opens it, and sees Rarity, Radiance, Pinkie Pie, the Pie twins, Applejack, Bismarck, Bucky, Fluttershy, Peach Cobbler, Flora, Rainbow Dash and Tempest at the door. “Guys? What is it?” Orion asked as she heads outside, followed by his sister, while Twilight was busy cleaning the mess in the kitchen Orion left.

“Well, Pinkie Pie and Radiance have a really bad feeling last night.” Tempest said.

“Exactly!” Rarity said. “Last night, we were coming up with some new designs for the coming summer, when Radiance's horn lit up, and then we felt this strange and powerful magic with my horn.”

“And I had this really weird Pinkie Sense, like when Fluttershy was in Froggy Bottom Bog, but it felt like it was trying to tell me that something either really good or really bad has happened!”

“We felt the same thing, and so did the Princesses,” Andromeda said. “It can’t just be a coincidence,” she said as Tempest lands next to her, who sees an arrow flying at her.

“Get down!” Tempest said as he takes Andromeda out-of-the-way, when Twilight walks out of the doorway.

“Guys, whats going on--” she began to say, only for the arrow to barely hit Twilight as it impales into the library.

“MOM!” Both Andromeda and Orion cried as Twilight collapses to the ground, breathing heavy as her friends rush to her aid.

“Oh dear, Twilight! Are you all right?” Rarity asked.

“Who would do something that!?!” Andromeda asked, enraged that someone nearly killed her mother, when she notices something odd about the arrow. “Hey, something’s attach to it,” she said when she finds a not tied to the arrow, which she takes off.

“What is it?” Flora asked.

“Let’s see. ‘Andromeda Sparkle, you are mine, meet me by the lake near the Everfree Forest.’” Andromeda read.

“Oh great, another hotshot unicorn who want's to challenge you.” Orion said as Twilight gets back up.

“Ever since you and your team won the World Duel Championships IX, unicorns from all around the world have wanted to defeat you, wanting the title of champion.” Twilight said.

“Well, if he want’s to pick a fight, he’s got one!” Andromeda said as she heads toward the lake in question, followed by her friends and family.

“Andromeda, hold on, we don’t even know who this guy is!” Tempest said as they all go after her.

==================================================================

Later in Everfree Forest, Andromeda and her friends and family are waiting by the shore, where Andromeda has lost her patience with her challenger, something that rarely happens. “There’s nopony here! No fair! Where is my challenger?”

“Yo' know whut, guys?” Bucky began to say. “Isn’t it weird thet a challenge letter came not long af'er th' whole time travel incident.”

“I noticed.” Tempest said. “This guy must have spied on Andromeda for a while now.” He said as Andromeda continues her little tantrum.

“Who do you think the challenger is?” Radiance asked.

“This guy sure has some nerve sending a challenge and then showing up late! Come on out I say!” Andromeda screamed, when the group suddenly begin to hear a creaking sound on the water, scaring Flora, Fluttershy, and the Pie twins into holding onto each other out of fear.

“What’s that?” Cherry asked as her mother tries to comfort her.

“Don’t know, it’s a creepy sound,” Flora said, when they see a shape beginning to form in the fog on the lake, what looks like a young unicorn stallion around Andromeda’s age standing on a boat, with a minotaur rowing it. “Hey, someone’s coming,” Flora said, making Andromeda growl in anger as the two in the fog become more visible. She sees that the unicorn is quite muscular, similar to Tempest. He also has a dark green mane that spikes high above his head along with a ponytail that drapes behind his head, while his coat is a brilliant azure. He also has sharp light green lion-like eyes that have long scars shaped like cross going across them and is wearing a green coat with ripped-off sleeves. His cutie mark is a tornado.

“Huh, you?” Andromeda said, recognizing the challenger.

“Sorry I’m late, Andromeda Sparkle.” The azure and green unicorn said, clearly visible to the others now, who also recognize him.

“Leone Lulamoon.” Andromeda said.

“Trixie’s son?” Tempest said.

“It was Leone?” Bismarck said.

“Bummer.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders all said.

“What do you mean ‘bummer’?” The brown minotaur that has a big build with a large stomach, short purple hair that is covered by a white beanie hat that has a red bull's skull on it and a red and black jacket with red strip on both the front side that is zipped on his torso, asked as he stops rowing and gets up, only for him to get off balanced and fall into the water. He quickly gets back to the surface and grabs onto the boat. “Hey there, Andromeda. So now, I hope you haven’t forgotten about your duel with Leone at the World Duel Championships IX. Have you, huh?” He said as he pushes the boat the rest of the way to shore.

“What does he mean?” Rarity asked.

“I know.” Orion said. “Team Star Swirl, which consisted of Andromeda, our cousin Sagittario, Tempest, Bismarck, Firestorm, Yu as a sub member, and me with Radiance as support members did win the overall team battle against Team Wild Fang during the quarter finals.”

“But Andromeda and Leone tied in a double knockout during their match.” Tempest added.

“You just got lucky, Andromeda.” Leone said. “Stop bragging that you’re number 1.”

“What?”

“The deal is,” Leone said as he jumps off the boat, and lands just feet away from Andromeda, “that I, Leone Lulamoon, will now defeat you!”

“It’s not like Andromeda’s been bragging, really.” Tempest said.

“She’s been quiet humble, ah reckon.” Bismarck added.

“In her own way.” Radiance said.

“Enough talk!” The minotaur, whose name is Taurus, said. “You guys just watch, this will rock!”

Andromeda then chuckles a little. “Okay, Leone, we’ll duel. Since you nearly hurt my mom, I need some payback. So bring it on whenever, pal.”

“I guess those two never change their attitude to each other, do they?” Berry said.

“It’s like things are back to normal.” Twilight said. “But don’t do anything stupid, Andromeda!”

“We don’t have any walls or rules out here.” Leone pointed out. “This entire area is our arena. Let’s use the whole space, Andromeda.”

“Sounds good to me.” Andromeda said.

“Let’s do this!” Leone said as he runs, followed by Andromeda, as their duel begins. “Hey, this time you’re going down, hear me!” Leone said as he prepares his signature spell as his horn glows green. “Lion Gale Force Wall!” He yelled as he casts the spell, causing a tornado to appear, sucking up the sand on the beach, temporally blinding Andromeda.

“Watch this. Leone trained really hard to improve the true Lion Gale Force Wall, making it into a completely new spell.” Taurus said to the others as they do their best to keep up. “It’s the new true Lion Gale Force Wall Version 2: Wall of Sandstorm!”

“The new true ... sandstorm?” Peach Cobbler asked.

“Guys, look.” Twilight said while pointing toward the tornado. “Leone is using the tornado to swirl up the sand on the beach. Andromeda, be careful, that sand twister is stronger than any wall of wind he’s made before!”

“Ha! Andromeda, I’m gonna smash you into beach sand!” Leone said as he moves the twister towards Andromeda, who has to teleport away several feet just to avoid the sand.

“That’s it!” Andromeda said as she charges a blast and fires, but the tornado somehow redirects the blast toward some boulders, destroying them. “Say what?”

“The tornado was able to redirect Andromeda’s blast?” A stunned Orion said.

“Yeah! All right! Good job, Leone pal!” Taurus cheered.

“I’m not done!” Leone said as he moves his tornado toward the broken boulders, and hurls the pieces toward Andromeda, who has to create a shield to protect herself.

“Seriously!?” Andromeda asked as he shield cracks a little.

“Keep it up, Leone buddy!” Taurus cheered.

“Andromeda!” Both Orion, Twilight and Tempest shouted, worried for her safety.

“That’s a cheesy move.” Radiance said.

“Usin' busted rocks sure is low.” Bismarck added.

“Why not try using your own power for a change.” Rainbow Dash said, getting an annoyed look from Taurus.

“Enough!” Taurus nearly yelled.

“A lion hunts fiercely.” Leone pointed out. “I told you already. This isn’t some well-mannered stadium or coliseum with a ton of rules, this is the wild, get me?” Leone said as his assault of rock and sand ceases on Andromeda. “It’s a competition to see who can survive.”

“Are you telling me that’s why you pick this location?” Andromeda said as she lowers her shield.

“That’s right, Andi.” Leone said. “Luring your pry somewhere that gives you an advantage is the best way to hunt. This is how the wild lion battles. This is how I battle too!”

“Yes, I know that’s how you fight, Leone. I still remember the first time we meet when we were foals all those years ago,” Andromeda said, remembering the meeting all to well. “That’s when our rivalry first began. So now, just like my mom did when she first meet yours, I won’t let myself loose,” she said as she moves to the right position to get ride of the tornado. “I know what to do now,” Andromeda said as she charges up another blast and prepares to fire.

“Sis, what are you doing, he’ll just deflect it again!” Orion called out.

“Don’t worry. I can use this wilderness setting as a weapon too,” Andromeda said as she fires at the right spot on the tornado, which deflects the laser toward a tree, knocking it down onto the tornado, making it dissipate.

“What!?” Leone said as Andromeda’s friends and family cheer, while Taurus looks on in shock.

“Awesome!” Tempest shouted. “That was so cool, Andromeda.”

“She made him deflect the blast on purpose to knock down that tree to get rid of the tornado.” Twilight said.

“Huh, I didn't see that coming.” Leone said, when he notices that Andromeda’s gone. “Where did she go?”

“Over here!” Andromeda said as she heads into the swamp. “Catch me if you can.” She said as she disappears into the brush.

“Come back here!” Leone said as he and the others go after Andromeda, who’s going by some standing boulders, which Leone knocks down, causing a domino effect, causing the standing boulders to fall toward Andromeda.

“Andromeda, look out!” Tempest yelled as a boulder’s about to fall on her, but she manages to teleport a few feet away from where the boulder landed.

“Ha! That’s no big deal!” Leone said as the others try their best to avoid any debris, who see Andromeda and Leone hurl rocks at each other with their magic, sending more debris their way.

“This is quickly getting out of hand!” Pinkie Pie said.

“And I was just gonna ask Andromeda out, too!” Tempest said under his breath, making sure the others won’t hear him.

“You're as good as always, Leone.” Andromeda said as they head deeper into the swamp.

“Say that while you can, Andromeda. I’m gonna settle things once and for all.”

“I don’t think so,” Andromeda said as she quickly blasts the ground Leone was on, and sends him hurtling into a bog.

“Nuts!” Leone said as Andromeda teleports into a tree and prepares to finish this duel.

“Finish it, sis!” Orion cheered.

“Yeah, plus, Leone’s stuck, he kin’t use his signature spell in thet thick water.” Bucky added.

“This should end it.” Flora said as Andromeda charges a knockout spell, and fires it at Leone.

“Not quiet yet!” Leone yelled as he charges his spell, and creates a cyclone of water, blocking the blast.

“Huh?” Andromeda and her friends and family all said.

“Yeah!” Taurus said. “This is Leone’s new new spell. New True Lion Gale Force Wall Version 2.5! Storm of -- No, Wall of Water ... Um?”

“Aw, just call them all ‘Lion Gale Force Wall.’” A slightly annoyed Peach Cobbler said.

“The name doesn't matter.” Leone said inside the cyclone of water as he stops the spell in it’s tracks. Andromeda, fed up with this duel, decides to cut through the tornado, but as she lands, Leone is gone.

“What? Where’s Leone?” Andromeda asked, not noticing that she’s starting to sink into the black water.

“Looking for me?” Leone said, now out of the water, with a clear shot at Andromeda.

“Huh?”

“Whoa, Leone muss haf teleported outta th' tornado when Andromeda dived in,” Applejack said as she and the others look on in awe, especially Taurus.

“Whoa! That's Leone for ya, kids!” Taurus said.

“Now Leone will probably brag about beating Andromeda.” Twilight said as Leon points toward Andromeda.

“Well, well, it looks like chasing me into the swamp has backfired,” Leone mocked. “Andromeda, it is for the sole purpose of defeating you that I continue to grow stronger. Today, more than yesterday, tomorrow, more than today. As you are now, can you fight against this?” Leone said, making Andromeda growl in anger. “I am the wild king of beasts, I do not allow my prey to escape!”

“You’ve got her now, Leone pal!” Taurus cheered.

“This is starting to get dangerous for Andromeda!” Tempest said as he tries to fly to Andromeda to help her, but Bismarck stops him.

“This hyar is Andromeda’s fight, Tempest. She'd wan’t yo' t'stay out of it,” Bismarck said, causing the reluctant Tempest to land on the ground, and hope for the best.

“You sure did put up a good fight, Andromeda.” Leone said as he charges another spell.

“You did good yourself, Leone. You really are my strongest and bravest rival,” Andromeda began to say. “However, it doesn't matter,” Andromeda said as a yellow glow encases her. “I will not lose. I don’t like to lose. If you become stronger, then I’ll become stronger than you ARE!”

“Why do I get the feeling that something bad is about to happen?” Orion said as the two charge up a blast.

“Forget it! This is the end!” Leone said as a green glow encases him as he prepares to fire along with Andromeda.

“I will not lose!” Andromeda said as the two fire, with the resulting impact being so powerful, that a small explosion happens, blinding everyone as something miraculous happens to Leone and Andromeda.

When the smoke clears, Tempest, Twilight and her son Orion, along with Taurus are the first the see that something has happened. “Andromeda?” Tempest, Twilight and Orion said at the same time.

“Leone, pal?” Taurus said, when they see something completely shocking. Andromeda has gained wings, and her cutie mark has change from the Andromeda galaxy to the constellation Andromeda, while Leone has also gained wings and his cutie mark has changed to the constellation Leo, but he also now has fangs like a lion, while his mane has turned into something like a lion's mane.

“Huh?!” A completely stunned Andromeda said when she notices her new wings.

“What that heck!?” Leon asked when three bone claws, a foot long each, extend from one of his hoofs.

The entire group than gasps at the sight. “They ... they turned into Alicorns!” A shocked Radiance said.

“And Leone has turned into a lion-colt thing!” The Pie twins said at the same time.

“And their cutie marks changed!” Tempest added.

“How can that be?” Twilight asked.

“What’s going on?” Taurus asked as Orion runs up to his sister, both happy and scared at the same time.

“Awesome! This is so awesome Andromeda!” Orion said as he, Andromeda and Leone leave the now dried pond of water.

“I agree with you on that, Orion!” Leone said, slightly surprising the two siblings as the others follow them. “Andromeda, I have no idea what just happened to us, but I don’t care. I dig it!” Leone said as he extends claws from both of his front hoofs and slices and dices some trees in his way, opening up a path to an open field.

“Leone, buddy!” Taurus called out as he and the others follow Andromeda and Leone.

“Let’s go, Andromeda. Showdown!” Leone said as he charges another blast.

“Yeah!” Andromeda said as she does the same thing, but not before she get’s Orion a safe distance. The two rivals than fire at each other again, this time the explosion is so large that it can be seen for miles. Once the smoke clears, the group see that Twilight had managed to create a shield around them, protecting them from the blast.

“Andromeda!” All of Andromeda’s friends and family shouted.

“You okay, Leone? How did the showdown end?” Taurus asked as the smoke clears, where they see the two on the ground, having used up all their strength.

“Andromeda!”

“Leone, pal!” They yelled as they run to their aid.

==================================================================

Meanwhile, just outside of Equestria at an airport, the Diamond Dog from the observatory, now carrying a leather bag on his back, is running toward the blimp that’s heading for Canterlot. “I have to hurry. I have to tell Celestia and Luna about this right away.” He said as he runs for the blimp. Suddenly, the Saddle Arabian earth pony from earlier appears behind him as a black ally cat walks up to him from behind, where he pets the little thing, planning on how to stop the Diamond Dog once he arrives at the capital of Equestria.