The Black Sun

The God of Mercury

“Humph!” They heard from the volcano. “Lets see now, the conditions are equal, right?” Cetus asked inside the mouth of the volcano. “In that case!” Suddenly, a geyser of steam and boiling hot water erupts from the volcano, with Cetus, accompanied by what appears to be a sea serpent, comes out and lands in front of the two, glowing a sea blue, along with the serpent, which disappears as Cetus draws in the water from the atmosphere.

“So, from here on it will be decided, by the difference in the power of the magic user, is that right? You're a little foal who hasn't even fully master his own power yet,” Cetus pointed out as he creates some weapons made of ice from the water.

“Oh yeah?” A clearly angry Leone said as the others arrive.

“Come, I will show you the difference between you and I.” Cetus said to Leone.

“Ha! I can’t wait,” Leone sarcastically said. “Prepare yourself, Cetus! I’m gonna tear you apart!” Leone shouted as he and Cetus charge at each other. Leone extends his claws out, but Cetus stops Leone dead in his tracks, creating a lot of energy, releasing a powerful wind down the mountain, with the others in its path.

“Leone, pal!” A frantic Taurus called out.

“We need to be careful!” Andromeda said as she, Flora, and Bismarck hold onto their siblings.

“Amazing,” Anubis said as he shields his eyes from the wind created. “So this is what a battle between Legendary Warriors is like. Fantastic.”

“I’m gonna send you flying, Cetus!” Leone shouted as he creates a tornado and sends it toward Cetus, but the blue changeling doesn't even flinch. “Huh? Whats this!? My attacks aren't working!”

“Humph! You may have made yourself an alicorn, but you've reach the limit of your power,” Cetus said as he draws in a large amount of water from the clouds above. “Time to kiss your butt goodbye!” Suddenly, Cetus is encased by a blue glow that forms the sea serpent, which charges at Leone along with the water. When it hits, it’s total chaos.

“Leone!” Andromeda called out.

“Hang in there!” Taurus said as an explosion happens. When the smoke clears, the group see that Leone is now on the ground, groaning in pain. “Leone!” Taurus cried as he runs toward his friend and picks him up, seeing that he’s now unconscious. “Speak to me, Leone. Please, wake up.”

“Unbelievable,” a completely socked Flora said. “Leone’s power increased so much, but he still lost.”

“Hey, your name is Cetus, right?” Andromeda called out to the blue changeling king.

“What’s up? Your name’s Andromeda, right?” Cetus said as his ice sword and axe disintegrate into steam. “You wanna be next?”

“Just listen to us,” Andromeda pleaded. “Except for Leone here, we didn’t come here to fight you.”

“My power freaks you out, is that it? Huh?” Cetus asked.

“That’s not true,” Andromeda said. “But now’s not the time to have a fight with you.”

“We are desperately in need of the power that you posses, understand?” Anubis added. “Please, lend us your strength,” Anubis said, making Cetus stare at him in confusion. “Even as we now speak, somewhere on this Earth, there are evil people. People who are attempting to use the new Star Fragment to awaken the God of Destruction, Nemesis.”

“Did you say ‘Star Fragment’?” Cetus asked.

“Yes, sir,” Anubis answered. “As if it feared it’s power falling into the hands of evil, the Star Fragment split into 10 pieces and scattered across the globe before reaching the ground. In order to entrust that power to the Legendary Warriors who will fight the villains intending to bring about the revival of the Black Sun, Nemesis.”

“Cetus, you were chosen as one of those warriors,” Andromeda said. “That is why a piece of the Star Fragment came to you. It was that power that change you to the way you are now.”

“What?” Cetus asked as he looks at his flank, seeing the constellation Cetus on it, something that a changeling can normally get by changing into a pony or horse, but not by discovering a special talent like them. “The power of the Star Fragment did this to me?”

“That’s right,” Anubis said, thinking that Cetus is believing them. “Things like that are the marks of a Legendary Warrior, for sure. I beg of you, please join us to fight those who would use the fragment for evil,” Anubis finished, which is followed by a few moments of silence from Cetus. “Cetus, please!”

“Humph! Ha-ha-ha!” Cetus began to laugh, confusing the group.

“What gives?” Tempest asked.

“What a story pal!” Cetus said when he stops. “The thing that change me was my very own power! Who would believe that fragment nonsense?”

“It’s not nonsense!” Taurus said. “Both Leone and Andromeda also posses the power of the Star Fragment!”

“Please, believe us,” Andromeda implored as she stretches out her wings and shows Cetus her new cutie mark. “I was basically reborn as well!”

“Huh?” A slightly confused Cetus said. “Makes no difference.”

“Huh?”

“A Star Fragment, some god called Nemesis? Even if all of this is actually true, what does it got to do with me, pal?” Cetus asked.

“The evildoers are sure to come after the power you hold in your hand,” Anubis pointed out.

“If they git their han's on th' power of th' Star Fragment, its trouble,” Bismarck added.

“If Nemesis is revived, it will be too late, for us,” Radiance said.

“Andromeda!” Cetus suddenly said. “What is that horn on your head and the wings on your back for? Decoration?” Cetus asked as he forms a sword and shield made of pure ice. “If you call yourself a real warrior, try to make me listen to you.”

“Cetus?” Andromeda asked as her friends all gasp in fear and surprise.

“Not now,” a worried Anubis said.

“I guess there’s no choice,” Andromeda said as she conjures up a sword for her to use. “If I win, you will corporate, hear me?”

“Humph! It’s a deal,” Cetus said as he prepares to fight.

“I’m scared,” Sala said as she holds onto Radiance.

“We just have to be brave, Sala. It looks like their gonna have to battle after all,” Radiance said.

“Ready to rock, Andromeda?” Cetus asked.

“Let’s go, Cetus,” Andromeda said as the others take cover behind some rocks. The two Legendary Warriors then charge at each other, both of them glowing yellow for Andromeda and blue for Cetus. When they clash blades with each other, the force is so great, that light shoots up into the sky, while at the same time, it creates a powerful wind that knocks down those who didn’t have a good hold on the ground.

“Go get him, Miss Andromeda!” Anubis cheered as Andromeda and Cetus jump back a few feet, while fire burst out of the mountain...

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

...While the villagers down below scream in fear as they see the fire from the mountain. “The volcano god is angry,” the chief said.

“It must because those magic users came here,” a resident assumed.

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

“Huh?” Sala’s father said when he notices the fire coming from the mountain. He quickly goes to the room where Andromeda and her friends are supposed to be in, and sees that their gone. “Your have got to be kidding me.”

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

Up on the mountain, Andromeda and Cetus continue to clash, sending sparks flying. Cetus then suddenly sends a gush of water at Andromeda, sending her flying a few feet. “You changelings are as strong as they say, Cetus, even if you are a blue one,” Andromeda said. “But I don’t care. I won’t back down from this, or any, fight,” Andromeda said as a yellow glow encases her, surprising Cetus. She then fires a blast at Cetus, which forces him to retreat back a few feet.

“All right! Nice shot, Andromeda!” Taurus cheered as Cetus regains his composure.

“I see now,” Cetus said. “I can certainly feel a power in you that a regular alicorn shouldn't have. Don’t care,” Cetus said as he creates both a double-bladed sword from the one he already had, and a spear.

“Andromeda, watch out!” Orion called out.

“Can you still match me, even with this!” Cetus yelled as he throws the spear at Andromeda, which quickly glows a sea blue as the sea serpent reappears, heading straight toward Andromeda. When it hits, it creates a powerful explosion, sending Andromeda back several feet.

“Andromeda!” Tempest whispered, wanting nothing more but to help her, but can’t. “What was that incredible power just now?”

“I have no idea!” Orion said as Andromeda gets up, while Cetus laughs.

“What’s this? This is the power of the Emperor of the Sea coming!” Cetus yelled as his sword glows a sea blue as he charges toward Andromeda, who is barley able to hold him off, the sword she conjured beginning to brake.

I don’t believe it! Andromeda thought to herself. I feel like I’m fighting the sea, with a sea monster waiting below, she thought before she’s thrown back several feet, beginning to panic.

“Calm down, Miss Andromeda!” Anubis called out. “You also have an elemental power! The power to control the air around you!”

“Say what?” Andromeda asked.

“Anubis is right!” Orion added. “You’ll be able to counter Cetus if you create something made of air!”

“I can what!?” Andromeda asked. “Is that true?”

“This is it!” Cetus yelled out as he creates a spear again, and throws it toward Andromeda, the same thing happening again.

“By Celestia!” Andromeda said. “I have no choice now. I have to try,” she said as she throws a punch, which somehow throws the spear back into the volcano.

“What!?” A shocked Cetus said.

“Whoa!” The others all said.

“Awesome!” Andromeda said as she throws another punch at Cetus, with the air blast so powerful, it sends him back several yards. “Laugh now, Cetus,” Andromeda said as she does a downward movement, creating a giant blade of air. Cetus ducks out-of-the-way, while the blade of air slices a giant boulder in half.

“Andromeda is now delivering all kinds of attacks in a row,” a surprised Radiance said.

“Right. Even thet Cetus changeling won’t be able t'stan' that kind of constant punishment,” Bismarck added.

“Aw, cool,” Orion said. “Get him, Andromeda! I can’t believe she has that kind of power!”

“Yeah, me either,” Andromeda said.

“‘That kind of power’ you say.” Cetus suddenly said in a mocking tone. “Andromeda, I expected more,” Cetus said as he creates a shield around himself made of ice.

“Huh? Cetus went to the defensive?” Anubis asked.

“What’s he thinking?” Peach asked.

“He knows he has no hope of winnin' eff'n he clashes head on wif Andromeda,” Bismarck said.

“A changeling has actually taken a defensive stance?” Flora asked.

“I think there’s more, guys,” Tempest said, as Cetus smiles.

“That’s not gonna work!” Andromeda said as she fixes her sword and charges at Cetus, but when her sword hits his shield, it just bounces off, without leaving so much as a scratch. “What? I’ll try again,” Andromeda said as she charges toward the shield again with more force, only for the same thing to happen again. “What’s going on?”

“I’m disappointed in you, Andromeda,” Cetus said, getting Andromeda’s attention. “Did you really think you could face me, when you obviously don’t even know your own power, yet.”

“Uh, is that so?” Andromeda asked.

“Just watch and lean, Andromeda. I will show you the true power of the King of Blue Changelings. Here it comes, so buckle up.” Cetus said.

Cue dramatic music, Cherry thought to herself.

“So, how about it?” Cetus continued. “If you think you can finish it, go ahead.”

What is that powerful force? Andromeda thought to herself. Just what is Cetus planing to do? Andromeda thought as she and Cetus have a stare down, while the others, with a recently awake Leone, watch on in shock and fear. “All I do know is that I can’t quit this fight. I got to believe in myself,” Andromeda said as she charges toward Cetus again.

“Foolish,” Cetus simply said as his ice shield just causes Andromeda’s attack to bounce off.

“What now?” Andromeda asked.

“How is Cetus’ shield able t'do thet?” Bucky asked.

“I know what’s going on,” Leone said as he gets up.

“You do?” Radiance asked.

“Yeah,” Leone answered. “Cetus wen’t into a defensive position on purpose, so he can get Andromeda in a false sense of security. And since all changelings have the ability to take the power of others and make it their own, whenever Andromeda attacks, Cetus absorbed it so he can use it against her.”

“So that’s what Cetus is up too. I knew it!” Tempest said.

“Not good,” Orion added. “Run away, sis!”

“Looks like this is as far as you can go,” Cetus noted. “And yet you non-shapeshifters still don’t know what you need to about your magic,” Cetus said as he creates a tornado of steam around him.

“What!?” Andromeda asked.

“You shouldn't count on the power of your magic!” Cetus said as the sea serpent reappears above Cetus, as the volcano erupts smoke and fire. “Special move: Sea Emperor Supreme Flight!” Suddenly, the ground below Andromeda explodes due to the sudden expansion of water, and an explosion happens, blinding everyone on the island for a few moments. Once the smoke clears, everyone slowly opens their eyes, when Orion and Tempest shout.

“Andromeda!” They screamed when they see her on the ground, unconscious.

“MUWAHAHAHA!” Cetus laughed. “You say you want to borrow my strength, give me a call when you have something to offer me in return,” Cetus said as he takes his leave, while the others, except for Leone, Taurus, and Anubis, who is staring at Cetus as he walks away.

“Ah! It can’t end like this,” Anubis said though his gritted teeth.

“Can you hear us?” Orion asked his sister.

“Speak to us, Andromeda,” Radiance said.

“Come on, your tougher than this,” Tempest added.

“But what do we do about the Star Fragment,” Anubis said, still glaring at Cetus. “The evil ones will get it,” Anubis than tears off a piece of the harden lava he’s on, and runs after Cetus. “Wait, stop right there!” Anubis yelled out, getting everyone’s attention. “We need your power,” Anubis said as he stops a few feet behind Cetus, “if you insist on walking away from us, than I will fight you,” Anubis said as he holds onto the broken rock like it’s a weapon, shocking the others.

“What!?” Bismarck said.

“Anubis vs. Cetus?” Peach added.

“He’s nuts,” Taurus said as Leone growls, while Cetus turns his head toward Anubis.

“And just who are you?” Cetus asked.

“That doesn't really matter,” a clearly shaking Anubis said. “If I defeat you, you will lend us your strength, is that right?”

“Humph,” Cetus simply said with a smile as he turns toward Anubis.

“Come on, fight me,” Anubis nearly shouted.

“Don’t be a fool, Anubis!” Radiance said.

“Yo' saw th' fight jest now, didn’t yo'?” Bismarck asked.

“If Leone and Andromeda couldn't defeat him, then it’s impossible for someone like you!” Taurus added. “Don’t act crazy, pal!”

“I don’t have any other choice, now,” Anubis said. “If this can prevent the revival of Nemesis, I’ll fight.”

“Your way out of your league, greyhound, and it’s past your bedtime,” Cetus said, pushing Anubis over the edge as he charges at Cetus, screaming. Unfortunately, Cetus sends a blast of water at Anubis, sending him back several feet, causing the group to gasp in fear. “I warned you,” Cetus said.

“It’s -- it’s not over,” Anubis said as he grabs for his makeshift weapon as he weakly gets up.

“Hmm?”

“As long as I can stand on my own, I’ll give it my all!” Anubis said as he charges at Cetus again, but gets another blast of water from Cetus, sending him back further this time.

“Anubis!” Everyone who could or cared (not counting Andromeda and Leone) screamed.

“It's not over,” Anubis said as he gets back up.

“Stop now,” Tempest said.

“That’s enough!” Radiance added. “Anubis, we all understand how you feel.”

“I can’t stop now,” Anubis said, remembering what his grandfather said to him.

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

“The Star Fragment must not fall into the hands of evil. When the time comes, you must take the lead to ensure their evil ambitions are crushed completely, understand?” Anubis’s grandfather said as he places a paw on a young Anubis’s head and rubs it.

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

“The future of the world is at stake here today,” Anubis said as he glares at Cetus. “I must not let myself lose! I cannot!” Anubis nearly yelled. Cetus then sends another blast of water at Anubis, but he manages to stand his ground this time, all the while still able to hold onto the broken rock he’s carrying. “I will never give up! Never!”

“Anubis, no,” Radiance said.

“Fine then, if you really want to get yourself destroyed,” Cetus said as he forms a spar. “As you wish, I will send you to your doom!” Cetus said as he throws the spear at Anubis, with the sea serpent reappearing around it.

“Look out!”

“Run for it, Anubis!” Berry and Cherry yelled out.

“I will not give up!” Anubis said as an indigo glow incases him. As the spear, and sea serpent, hits, indigo light enters Anubis, and explodes out of him as he screams, while a powerful wind sends the spear into the volcano. Suddenly, Anubis’s fur changes from light gray to a deep black, while his broken rock turns into a scepter with a gold ring, with a pyramid in the center with an eye, and has four gold spikes hanging from it.

“Anubis’s fur color and his broken rock!” A completely shocked Tempest tried to say.

“They changed?” An equally shocked Radiance added.

“What does that mean?” Taurus asked as the indigo glow becomes like a fire around Anubis, only it’s not hurting him.

“I know,” Andromeda said as she gets up.

“Andromeda?” Tempest asked.

“The Star Fragment split into 10 points of light and there are 10 Legendary Warriors,” Andromeda said. “And Anubis heard the voice of the Star Fragment inside one of those 10 lights.”

“Oh, man!” Orion said, catching on to what Andromeda is saying. “Then that means...”

“There’s no doubt about it,” Andromeda said with a smile. “Anubis is a Legendary Warrior, too.”

Cetus then smiles at Anubis’s sudden change. “I’m gonna enjoy this!” He said as he recreates the sea serpent.

“I won’t lose!” Anubis said as he somehow fires a magic blast at Cetus, stunning everyone.

“Did Anubis just use magic?!” A completely shocked Andromeda asked.

“Hmmm, interesting,” Cetus said as Anubis charges at him, screaming. “Now you're talking!” Cetus said as he has the sea serpent breath water at Anubis, sending him back yards before he lands hard.

He tries to get up, but is just too tired now. “Anubis!” Tempest called out as he and the others run to Anubis’s aid. Once there, Cherry helps Anubis sit up a bit.

“Just relax, buddy,” Cherry said.

“ Anubis, yo' were chosen by th' Star Fragment, too,” Bismarck added.

“I ... I was?”

“Humph! Now I see,” Cetus said, getting everyone’s attention. “It looks like that story of yours isn’t a lie after all.”

“What?” Everyone asked. “Join us then, Cetus,” Andromeda said.

“Don’t be ridicules,” Cetus said, confusing the group. “A new Star Fragment, huh? The Black Sun, too? Very cool. So, in order for me to rise to even greater heights myself, I will take control of it all with my own hand!”

“What!?” The entire group asked as Cetus leaves, laughing evilly. “You don’t get it, Cetus!” Andromeda called out, but Cetus ignores her.

“So, Cetus is going try to find the remaining Legendary Warriors all on his own, just to take their power.” Radiance said.

“Those bugs are just a total menace, no matter what color they are!” Leone growled.

“Cetus!” Andromeda growled in a whisper.