Friendship is Magic

“You want me to fight you?”  I held up a finger and shook it in her direction. “Fighting is never the answer.”

Luna scoffed. “Words of a coward.  Very well, if you do not wish to begin, I will!”  She raised her glowing hands above her head. “Animae Infernorum!”

The bolt raced towards me.  I didn't know what to do.  I hadn't really read any of the book that Celeste had given me, just what few pages she had managed to translate.  I glanced back at Pinkie, who was still out cold in the dirt.  I could leap to safety but I would leave her defenseless.  I couldn't do that.

Instinctively, I threw up my hands in a warding gesture.  A shield appeared before me, transparent but with a glowing outline.  It was covered in cryptic runes and the same ancient text that was scrawled on the pages of the book.

Luna's attack broke against the shield.

I had done that?  Now I understood.  After speaking with Celeste, I read through a few of the passages she managed to translate in the short time since she had sent me the book.  I had figured out a few of the spells but nothing that would really be effective against such a powerful opponent.

Luna crossed her arms and stared down at me, “I don't care for fighting you in your current state.  I will give you a favor.  I will allow you to attack me but, I will not defend myself in any way, shape, or form.”

This sounded too good to be true, “Seriously?  That's pretty arrogant of you.”

Luna smirked again.  She was pretty good at those. “I will allow you only one attack.  Choose wisely or the consequences may be...severe.”  She gave a pointed look at Pinkie.

I caught her meaning.  If I failed to take her out, Pinkie would suffer.  I couldn't...wouldn't...allow that to happen.  I had only one shot at this.

I remembered something from the book.  There was one passage, towards the end, that Celeste had translated.  It described an attack that couldn't be defended against and was more powerful than anything Luna had at her disposal.  I had only one shot at this and this spell was my best shot.  There was only one question though.

Did I have the power to cast such a spell?

I dug down as deep as I could, gathering every bit of energy I had.  I could feel my power building as I turned my concentration to the spell.  I took a deep breath and and made my heartfelt plea.

Please, Elements of Harmony, for the safety of my friend, my family, and my life, help me.

My power exploded as the magic of the Elements gathered around me.  My head began to pound, just like when I had first tapped my magic, right after my first meeting with Celestia.  I could feel my muscles tighten, straining to push all of my energy, my emotion, my magic into the spell.

“What is this?”  I heard Luna whisper in awe.

It all became so clear.  My magic was connected to my emotions.  The more love I felt for others, the more powerful I became.  I sought to protect my family and Pinkie and my power had grown.  The other Elements had added themselves to mine and I knew, with their addition, I could perform the spell.

“Amicitia Magica!” I cried, throwing out my hands.

I heard Luna scream as the multicolored beam enveloped her, destroying her paralysis spell.  The roar of the magic was deafening and it drained away my energy.  I had put everything I had into the spell and, now, it was gone.

My armor disappeared, my magic no longer enough to sustain it, and I collapsed to my knees, utterly spent.  I stared at the pillar of smoke and dust that rose from where the spell had struck.

“I...I...I did it.” I panted.

I ran a hand through my hair, pushing my sweat-soaked bangs out of my eyes.  I was drenched and my white uniform blouse clung to me, covered in dirt and grime.  I looked like I had been through war, which, technically, I had been.  My stomach churned as I tried to push myself back to my feet, but my shaky legs refused to take my weight.

Then I heard it, coming from the pillar of smoke and dust.  A low, dark, chuckle.

Luna emerged with a terrible sneer plastered on her face, completely unscathed.

My heart stopped.  No.  No, it wasn't possible.  That had been a direct hit with the most powerful spell I had.  The most powerful spell there was.  She should have been completely annihilated but there wasn't a mark on her.

“Child, what you just did was utter foolishness.”

“How?”  I managed weakly.  “How did you...manage...to walk away...from that?  It's...not...possible.”

Luna scoffed, “I don't know how you managed to learn that spell but you didn't quite understand it.  For such a spell to work, you need the other five Bearers.  As it was, your energy was the only contributor.”

“But, I felt the other energies come to me.”

“Only to cast the spell.  In order to sustain that level of power, you need the others.”

I nearly collapsed. “So tired.”

“A side effect.  That casting took most of your power.  Also, because you were the only caster, you lost your transformation.  You are now completely defenseless, naked against my power.”  She raised a hand, which began to glow with magical energy, “Goodbye, Bearer of Harmony.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Luna paused and lowered her hand. “Very well.  I will tell you.  It is because of Celestia.”

“Celestia?”

“A person who knows all about the nation of Equestria told me that, in my past life as an Alicorn, Celestia locked me away on that world's moon.  She locked away her own sister out of spite.  She sought to take my power from me and, when she failed, locked me away.”

I shook my head. “No!  Celestia would never do such a thing!”

“It's true, girl.  Your mentor is a monster.”

“Never!  She would never do that without a good reason.  Even if she did, that was in a past life.  Why are you taking your revenge on us?”

“Because the person who told me all of this told me that Equestria is currently in chaos because of a great battle that occurred there.  This prompted Celestia to send the soul of all of the inhabitants of that world to this one along with the Elements of Harmony so that the future Equestria could be returned to it's former glory and all who lived there, if they wished, could return to their world.”

“I don't understand.  You're saying that there are people living here that are originally from there?”

“Indeed.  What's more, they are all living right here in this city.  Wonderfully convenient, I will take my revenge on them all.  I will slaughter Celestia's precious subjects while she is powerless to stop me.  And you, Element Bearer, all of you, will be the first to feel my wrath.”

“No!  I will not allow it!”

I found the strength to launch myself backwards in surprise as Celestia appeared before me.  She shone with a blinding brilliance as she spread her wings and crouched defensively, protecting Pinkie and I.

“I'm sorry I'm late, Twilight.  You've done well in my stead.  Your magic broke through the barrier that was keeping me from coming to your aid.  See to your friend.  I can handle this from here.”

Luna leaned back and crossed her arms. “So, the great and powerful Celestia finally appears.  Tell me, why have you appeared in your old form?”

“You said that your problems with me are from before.  Let us settle this as we were before.”

Celestia launched herself at Luna, who stood motionless and made no move to defend herself.  The moment the two impacted, they vanished.

“Twilight!”

I turned.  Celeste vaulted over the low brick wall that surrounded the park and charged to me, skidding to a stop and dropping to her knees on the other side of Pinkie.  She carefully examined the girl, gently pressing on various parts of Pinkie's body, while I looked on.

“Is she okay?” I asked.

“I think so.  It doesn't look like she has any broken bones.”  She turned her attention to me. “Are you hurt?”

I shook my head.  I had a few scrapes and bruises but I wasn't in any real pain.  Celeste opened her arms, gesturing for me to come to her.  We embraced over Pinkie's prone form and I felt her hands begin to run over my back and sides, performing a physical examination.  I immediately pushed out of the embrace.

“I said I was okay.”

Celeste nodded and slipped her arms beneath Pinkie.  Her muscles tightened as she lifted my friend up, cradling her.  “She's heavier than she looks.”

“I can help,” I offered.

“No, I've got her.  C'mon, Twilie.  Let's go home.”

I nodded and followed my sister back to the apartment.

x----x

“Now that we are alone, sister, tell me who poisoned your mind with these lies.”

“Lies?  It is the truth or do you deny having me exiled to the moon of Equestria for a thousand years?”

Celestia sighed, “What I remember are the good times we had on Equestria.  The Summer Sun Celebration, Nightmare Night, pranking the guards and the games we used to play as fillies.  Did they not tell you about those things?”

Luna inhaled shakily and wiped a tear from her eye before she stomped a forehoof.  “Shut up!”

“I cannot tell you how much this hurts me.  Your rage and hatred have blinded you.  I wanted nothing more than to have my sister back but that has been denied to me.  I cannot allow you to hurt Twilight or any other person.  I must stop you.”

The tip of her horn glowing, Celestia charged at Luna.  She dodged, launching a beam of magic at Celestia, striking her in the back of the head.  Celestia fell, groaning, and rolled onto her side.  Luna was instantly on top of her, slamming her ribs with her silver-shod hooves.

Celestia rolled onto her back and caught a kick from Luna at her left flank, shattering her leg.

This is too easy, Luna thought to herself.  The stories I was told about her was that she was a supreme being, all powerful.  I have defeated her with no effort.

That was when Luna noticed Celestia's flank.

“You don't have a cutie mark.  You are not the true Celestia, only a spirit fragment.”

Celestia chuckled weakly, “You were as easily fooled as the original.”

“You were a distraction so that the true Celestia could whisk the Element Bearers to safety.”  She smirked, “It doesn't matter.  I know where they live.”

Celestia shook her head. “Yes, she did take Twilight to safety.  Then she returned to deal with you.”

“What?”

Luna immediately left the astral plane and rushed back to her physical body.  She slowly opened her eyes.  The sun was blinding.  She ran her hands over the soft sand beneath her body and sat upright.  Beautiful azure ocean gently lapped at the sand.  This was not Ponyville.  This was nowhere near Ponyville.

She jumped to her feet and turned, looking back at the lush tropical jungle behind her.  No, this was nowhere near Ponyville.

“Celestia,” she growled.

x----x

“Why did you choose me for this,” I wailed, “I'm not a fighter.  I'm just a kid.”

“I didn't choose you.  Believe me, I felt terrible when I discovered that you were an Element Bearer.”  Celeste sighed and sat down on my bed. “At least, when Discord appears in five years, I won't feel nearly as terrible.”

“Who's Discord?”

“That is the name of the creature that will threaten the Earth on the December eclipse.  I discovered that a comet will pass on the same day and these two events will weaken Discord's prison, allowing his essence to pass into this world.”

I stared at her dubiously. “Only his essence?  Then, what's the problem?”

She fixed me with a stare that chilled my core.  “Oh, you have no idea.  Every being that absorbs any of his essence will mutate into a creature whose only desire is to spread chaos.  It will be the end of everything.”  She tucked her hands between her knees and rocked slightly.  I had never before seen her this frightened. “It was my intention to reunite the six Element Bearers and train you without you having to transform.  Luna's appearance and interference has changed everything.  You were forced to transform and, even though he's locked away in another dimension, Discord felt it.  He knows about you now, Twilight, and he'll send his agents for the Elements.”

“Agents?”  Celeste's fear was contagious.  “What about Luna?  What if she comes back?”

“I sent her away.  She's on a remote island on the other side of the world.  She won't be coming back for a very long time.  Unfortunately, neither will I.”

I blinked. “What?”

“To keep Luna away from Ponyville, I had to cast a spell to lock her onto that island.  For the spell to work, I have to stay away as well.”

“But, what about the training?  What about explaining everything to Pinkie and the other Elements?”

“I'm going to need you to do that for me.  I'll help you where I can but it will have to be done remotely, over the computer.  I cannot come back here.”

“For how long?”

“A year.  Less if Luna finds a way out of the spell on her own.”

I stared down at Pinkie, who's head was resting in my lap.

“You'll be fine.”  Celeste said, “You have Pinkie to help you, and it's only a matter of time before you find the other four Elements.”

“I wish you could stay.”

She knelt on the floor next to me and pulled me into an embrace. “It won't be so bad.  We'll talk online and you'll have friends.  The time will pass before you know it.”

“Christmas won't be the same without you.”

“I know, but this is for the best.  Besides, Shining will be back and I heard he has a girlfriend.”

I sat up, shocked.  “Where did you hear that?”  Granted, I didn't have the relationship with Shining that I had with her but he still kept me up-to-date with his life.

“Mom told me.”  She confessed. “She told me this girl's very cute and smart and funny.  You'll like her.”  She kissed my forehead when I didn't respond. “I have to go now.  Remember, I can't come back if the spell is to continue working.  Take care of Spike and don't forget to give Pinkie her jewel and tell her everything.”

“What if she doesn't believe me?”

Celeste smiled, “I have a feeling she will.”

And, with those words, she flickered and vanished.

My attention returned to the girl resting in my lap.  My friend, the first I've ever had, hummed gently as she rested.  I didn't know how I was going to do this, but I knew it wasn't going to be easy.  At least, I had Pinkie to help me.

Something damp trickled along my thigh.  I looked closely and saw a line of saliva running my leg to my knee.

I let out an involuntary scream, startling my brother awake but not disturbing Pinkie in the slightest.  “She's drooling on me!  Ewww!”

The next day, I took Pinkie down to the most out-of-the-way place I knew of.  We sat by a lake in the park, screened by bushes, as I explained everything that had happened the night before.  “And so,” I concluded, “You have special abilities and you have the responsibility of helping me in protecting this city and this world.”  I pulled the balloon-shaped jewel from my pocket and handed it to her.

“Okay.”  Pinkie drawled, closely examining the gem.

My shoulders slumped. “You don't believe a word that I said, do you?”

Pinkie laughed, “Of course I do.  Why would you lie to me?  This is just a lot to process.  How were you able to transform?”

“It wasn't easy,” I admitted.  “You were in danger and I had to protect you.  If I had to explain it I'd say-”

“Twilight, look, I'm transforming!”

I turned.  Pinkie was enveloped in a blue aura.  Three balloons, like a tattoo, appeared on each of her thighs, visible at the hem of her shorts.  Two bracelets, like mine but blue, appeared at her wrists while a helm, without the unicorn horn, covered her head.

“How?”

She shrugged, “Dunno.  I just wanted to.”

She dipped her fingers into the water and came up with some of the liquid.  It held it's shape in a sphere and hovered a few inches above her palm. “Oh cool, I can control water.”

“How?”

She began so exert her control, splitting the sphere into several and swinging them around her body.  She gestured and the water froze, encasing her in ice up to her shoulders.  “C-c-cool.  I can f-f-f-freeze water.  Th-this is awesome.”

I stared without comprehending.  “How?”

x----x

“You've won the battle, Celestia, but my victory is inevitable.  You think your Bearers are safe.  You're wrong.  I may not be able to leave this island but I can still send others to do my bidding.”

“There you are, Princess.  Your disappearance frightened us all,” a masculine voice behind her said.

Luna spun to the source of the voice. “You?  What are you doing here?  Perhaps your mistress misunderstood when I said I didn't want to see her again.”

“You forget that my mistress cared for you when you were a child.  When no other would bother with you.”

“She was only using me!”

“So resentful.  Anyways, she worries and ordered us at your bidding, should you need us.”

Luna raised her hand and prepared her magic to attack.  “Leave or your mistress will lose her faithful pet.”

“Peace, Princess, it is not my intention to interfere with your business but I have some information that may prove to be useful.”

“Go on.”

“Your power isn't even at half of it's original strength.  Do you know anything of the night of the Red Moon.  Or, more specifically, Nightmare Moon?”

Luna cocked her head.  “Nightmare...Moon?”