Celestia was walking in a large grassy meadow near ponyville. She was enjoying the flowers and the many creatures that were bouncing, flying and calmly walking. She had sat down to listen to the birds sing, feeling her sun gently beat down on her neck and back, the wind slightly blowing. For the first time in two thousand years, Celestia could relax.
Then everything changed.
The grass started to die, it turned black and brown around Celestia's hooves. She stepped back in shock, reeling at the sudden change around her.
The Animals began to flee and cry out in pain, their painful squeals of pain filled the air, piercing Celestia's ears. She covered her ears with her hooves trying to block out the terrible noise.
The sky turned blood red, the sun became sickly looking, only giving off a soft red light that seemed to be waning. She could feel the sun’s sadness, its hurt. It was as much alive as she was and very connected.
Shadows began to cover the land. Killing everything they touched. Celestia tried to fly away from the shadows, her wings beating the stale air rapidly, pushing it back and forth, but eventually they reached her. The shadows reached up from the ground and wrapped themselves around her body, effectively chaining her to the ground, and swarmed around her. She could feel the corruption seep in through her mouth, eyes and ears. It crept through her body killing whatever bodily tissue it touched. She could feel it start to rip apart her soul and feast upon it. She screamed.
Then she woke up.
Mortals and their dreams... sometimes I wonder why I even bother looking. Their nightmares are depressing and their fantasies are beyond reason... Then again, so am I.
Celestia woke up screaming, she jumped up form her bed entangling herself in the covers. She thrashed about knocking over a dresser and breaking her mirror. She slowly began to come back to her senses, the sense of panic beginning to go away. She calmly pulled herself out of the mess of bedspreads and broken glass. She frowned at the mess she made, her horn glowed and the mess disappeared. The bed was made, the mirror was fixed and the dresser was in its rightful place. Celestia stood in the dark room for a moment before walking to her balcony window. She stared out into the night, wanting to get a glimpse of Manehattan on such a clear night. Luna really has done a nice job tonight.
Something was off. The lights on the Empire State Building were going out one by one at first, then they started going out in groups until there was a dark shape in the middle of a mass of stars. Celestia felt something in the pit of her stomach, something was wrong. The Empire State Building's lights never went out.
She did not know what her nightmare was, she did not know it was not simply a manifestation of her mind, but a warning, no matter how inconvenient or vague it was.
Celestia started walking backwards, her hooves creating soft clopping sounds as they struck marble, lifting several meters into the air as the sudden rush of wind, and the loud slam of her bedroom door being thrown open. It even scared the life out of me... if any at all. Celestia calmed as her sister started rambling about a letter from the mayor of Manehattan. "...He spoke of screams coming from the Empire State Building, everyone they sent to investigate the sound has not come back and he fears the worst." Luna paused,"I fear we may be under attack sister."
Celestia's calculating mind went to work. "Luna, ready a squadron of Pegasi Guardsponies and send them to Manehattan. Have them report back as fast as they can as to what the situation is."
"Sister... I want to go with them, whatever the threat is, I want to be able to identify it myself." Celestia opened her mouth to say no, but stopped. Luna was no longer a child, she was powerful again, almost standing as tall as Celestia with the same ethereal mane, only filled with stars instead of every color of the sunrise.
"Do what you feel is best Luna, I trust your judgement."
Little did Celestia know that was the smartest thing she had ever said in her 5000 year lifespan.
********
Luna was dressing in her battledress, something she had not done in over 2000 years, in the First Age Of Strife. (But that is a different story for a different time, and requires a History lesson. I hate History lessons.) She levitated the first half of the breastplate up to her chest, then connected the second half from behind, they made a soft clicking noise as the cool blue metal met with its other half. Luna all the while pondering the threat.
Could it be the Griffons again? No, they learned their lesson 2000 years ago. Luna smirked, We kicked their tails back into the mountains in a hurry. Maybe its Aquella? We haven’t heard anything from them in a while. Luna’s eyes went wide, Maybe its the Techno Union! She bit her lower lip at the implication of such a thing. Luna’s thoughts were interrupted by a Royal Guard entering her room. “Princess Luna? 8th Recon is ready to to move at your command.
“Tell them I will be ready to take off in 5 minutes.” The Guard nodded and Luna was alone with her thoughts once again. Its not as if the Techno-Geeks would attack on the opposite side of the Country anyway. Luna lifted her helmet out of its rack, the blue metal held her reflection. What it reflected was a worried princess with the weight of an entire city, no... a Kingdom on her shoulders, but lucky for her, she did not have to do it alone. Luna closed her eyes and using her magic, lifted the helmet onto her head. She opened her eyes, and walked out the door to go save her people.
******
Luna had to slow down in order for the Pegasi to keep up with her, even at half her top speed the Guards were struggling (mind you the 8th Recon was the fastest Guard Pegasi Unit in Equestria) Luna was aware of this but maintained half speed, any slower and she would go insane. Soon enough however, they were at the city limits of Manehattan, the sight was not pretty.
How fortunate for this story that I was already going that way.
There were hundreds of ponies fleeing the city, screaming and crying like animals, trying to run away from an invisible enemy that was striking them down. But the strangest thing happened.
They got back up, however their bodies did not contain the correct souls. I was sweeping those up in my arms, their ghostly, transparent faces looking upon the carnage with sadness as I swept through the city, picking up their loved ones.
Luna was about as shocked as they were, she could not see what was killing her subjects. Her horn glowed as she cast a spell that would lighten the area. What she saw shocked her further.
It wasn’t an enemy in armor, nor did they have weapons, or even tangible bodies. They were shadows, black and misshapen, that were killing ponies. Luna flew further away from them as she realized what they were. No! It can’t be them! They can’t be here! Oh no I have to warn Celestia! And almost as if they could read her thoughts, (I’m still not entirely sure that they couldn't) looked up at her, hundreds of them turned their gaze on Luna. And she ran, she was completely oblivious to what the 8th Recon was doing, they were attempting to help evacuate the populace, but they too fell victim to the shadows. Not that they could have escaped them in the first place.
Luna kept flying away, as fast as she could, but still the Shadows gained on her, not quickly, slowly, but fast enough to where she would be within their grasp in seconds.
Luna being the “athletic” one of the two sisters, pulled an aerial maneuver that Celestia wished she could perform, while at the same time blasting the Shadows with a ball of magical energy, making all but a few of them burst into shreds of darkness that quickly turned into nothing.
Luna flew faster than she has ever before in her life, it took an hour to reach Manehattan at half of her top speed, it took her 10 minutes during this trip.
*****
Celestia had just nestled back into bed, calm with the thought of Luna making sure everything was alright.
“I’m sure Luna will have the issue solved before sunrise.” She closed her eyes and spoke softly, “I am sure of-” and then Luna went straight through the balcony door, sending glass flying in every direction and throwing the pane against the opposite wall.
Poor Celestia, she had just gotten relaxed, and had just learned that her Kingdom was under attack by Chaos.
Celestia stared in disbelief at the panting, wide eyed, panicked Luna, “You are completely sure of this?”
“I am as sure as the Moon raises at Night, and the Stars twinkle in the sky. They were shades, a Chaotic creation, they were killing and possessing in that order.”
“Discord!” Celestia flew out the window and straight into the Garden, only to see the Draconeques still encased in stone with a silly expression stuck on his face.
Luna landed next to Celestia, staring at the statue. "But how? He hasn't released anything, how did Shade's get into our world without him?"
Its simple really, I "planted" the seeds of corruption before those 6 ponies encased me in stone again.
Celestia and Luna both jumped as they heard Discord's mocking voice in their heads. I'm not stupid, I knew that at one point in time or another that Twilight Sparkle would have found a way to "un-corrupt" her silly friends. What is more interesting is how she managed to un-corrupt herself, now that I did not see coming. But I have a feeling you had something to do with it, Celestia.
"You knew you would eventually fail, so you made sure that it was't forever?"
And here I thought you were the smarter of the two Luna, yes I did exactly that, and as soon as those shades reach me, I will be able to escape, and take my revenge. It won't be dancing Buffalos or chocolate rain. I will make sure it rains ACID ON YOU ACCURS-
Celestia and Luna both flew away from the statue before Discord could start his rant.
"Luna, ready the Army, call all reserve battalions in Coltstantinople, ready the defenses of that city, if they cut us off from the ocean we are doomed."
"What are you going to do sister?"
"I am going to call the Bearers, and have them resurrect a friend of ours."
"You mean..."
"Yes, I do."
Oh this is starting to get so EXCITING don't you think so? I can't wait to tell you the rest of the story. Feedback of any kind is appreciated. You know if anyone actually GETS this far.
Twilight was woken abruptly by the sound of Spike belching out a message. She had grown quite accustomed to the sound, and reacted with a calm demeanor. She yawned and climbed out of bed, then giggled at what she saw. The little purple and green, fire breathing lizard hadn't even woken up, and the scroll was perched perilously on his chest, rising and falling with his breathing. She gently lifted the scroll emblazoned with the Royal Seal. Its kind of early for a message princess. I'll read it in the morning. She was about to put the scroll away when she noticed the "Urgent Message" symbol on the binding red ribbon, Twilight opened the the letter and read its contents.
My Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle,
You and your friend's presence is required in Canterlot effective immediately. They have all be sent letters magically and should be reading them, as you read this. There is a great crisis at hand, and I am afraid it involves Chaos once more. Gather what you need for a long journey, you will be leaving almost as soon as you arrive.
P.S. Bring the Elements
Your Mentor and Friend, Princess Celestia.
Twilight began packing her things, namely a brush, parchment , a quill, and of course her pretty little tiara. She floated it in front of her, staring into the representation of her Cutie Mark, the purple gem shined even in the dull light, the gold metal a cool temperature no matter its surroundings. How could chaos break out again without Discord? If my calculations are correct, it will take him another 2000 years to break away from the stone. Twilight wrote a note for Spike, telling him where she was going, and that she would not be back for at least a week. As soon as she put the quill down her entire world disappeared in a flash of white, then darkness filled it for a few seconds.
Twilight's world came exploding back into her vision, replaced with her mentor's study, and 7 more ponies. Her friends, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and the still sleeping Rainbow Dash. (I really don't like her)
"Good, you are all here," she paused. "RAINBOW DASH, WAKE UP NOW." Rainbow Dash shot straight up into the air, or should I say the ceiling, putting a crack in the ancient marble.
Ouch.
She fell back down to the ground, stars floating about her head wildly, her eyes floated about in her head like the gray and yellow Pegasus. She shook herself back to normalcy and took a look around the room, with everyone staring at her she asked; "Hey how did we get to Canterlot?" Celestia rolled her eyes at the not so bright Pegasus, well as long as you are talking about her wits, being every single color of the rainbow and then some makes you rather bright.
"You will need to awaken an old friend of mind using your elements. This particular infestation of Chaos cannot simply be cleansed by a magical rainbow and requires someone of equal power to Luna and I." Celestia stared at the six ponies, as if daring them to ask questions. "You will be escorted by 4 Pegasi guards, one of them being Emerald, Luna's personal Guard. "
"In addition, 2 unicorns will be with you, Corporal Mason, and Captain Mohandas." Twilight's eyes went wide and she smiled with delight.
Mohandas was a friend, the personal guardian of Twilight Sparkle while she lived at the castle, more often than not when Twilight was little, she would find ways to outsmart and escape the old pony, often resulting in elaborate games of hide and sneak which eventually ended up in a tie. When Twilight moved to Ponyville, she promised him that they would have their tiebreaker the next time she visited Canterlot for personal time.
"Princess, can you tell us where we are going?" Celestia was a bit nicer to her student, but it was comparable to a biting wind, than an arctic sea.
"You and your escort will be going to Mount Armonia..." Celestia stop, remembering who she was, and who she was talking to. She might never see most of Twilight's friends... or even Twilight herself ever again, yet she was talking them as if they were soldiers, not friends. " You my faithful student, will be going to Mount Armonia to find the being with the power to help us take on chaos...It is on the border with the Dread Lands." Celestia winced at the look Rainbow Dash was giving her.
"You mean the Dread Lands filled with dangerous creatures twelve times the size of a pony that sometimes cross into Equestrian land? Who can rip apart entire squadrons of Pegasi?" Everyone looked at Rainbow Dash with a shocked look. "What? I have flown near border before, I saw one of those big monsters take out an entire Pegasus Company. It was horrible." She sucked in a breath of air. "It had like 3 heads, one was like a Manticore's, a Dragon, and a Buffalo, and its tail was a freakin snake! It had bat wings and its body wa-"
Rarity interrupted, "OKAY! Rainbow we get it! It looked positively ghastly and did ghastly things." Celestia raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash, then gave her the "I approve look."
"You will be leaving shortly, and even though I feel like I have been saying this quite often as of late... The fate of the World is resting on your backs my little ponies. You cannot fail"
Luna spoke up. "If you do, what you saw with Discord would not the half of it, you think it might mean more Buffaloes in tutus and Chocolate rain with Cotton candy clouds," She glanced at Pinkie Pie, she heard the stories about how reluctant the pink party pony was to trap Discord again, "It will be death and destruction, the land will die and will likely stay that way. Not only that but we will become their trophies, the first world to truly fall to Chaos."
"The thought that the Elements alone can save us this time would be ignorant. We are not talking about a single being, there is an entire army of creatures who love Chaos, just like Discord. They have no physical being in this world, and must take control of ponies, by ripping the soul out and replacing it with their own." She looked down to the floor, a solemn expression played across her face. "It is also likely that they would only possess the viable soldiers... a relatively quick way to die compared to what they do to those who are not."
"They... They kill the old ponies and the young ones?"
"I'm afraid so pinkie pie, they torture the ones who cannot fight to death."
"Princess Luna... If you may, can you tell us where they attacked first?" Rarity stared pleadingly at her, hoping it was not Fillydelphia, she had friends in that city, very close ones she could call family."
"No Rarity, they attacked Manehattan." Luna shifted her eyes toward Applejack, her sorrow was apparent, Applejack's Aunt and Uncle Orange lived in Manehattan, they are dead not doubt about it, I carried their souls off before I came here.
"Last time I saw mah relatives... They were tellin me how much they love me, tryin' ta get me to stay with them in Manehattan just a little while longer. But I was so dead set on going back tah Ponyville I didn't think about their feelings... I never even told em I love em." Applejack had tears welling up in her green eyes, she blinked making them fall away towards the red carpet. The salty water made dark red spots appear, and seemed to make a resounding thud as they made contact with the floor, Rarity put a hoof around Applejack's shoulder.
"Princess Celestia..." Twilight looked at Applejack, "do we have a plan to defeat Chaos?"
"Take a note Twilight."
This is why you humans are better at war, you try to make sure no one is listening to your secret plans.
A shade was on the other side of the room, it was lurking in the shadows cast by the tall bookshelves. It hurried into the next set of shadows closet to where Celestia was. It listened to their plan.
"...Take the main jet stream north for 90 miles then you will split off and head due west, it will be the tallest mountain on the border, so you can't miss it. At the top of the mountain there will be a very small entrance, barely large enough for Captain Mohandas to fit through...." that was all the shade needed to hear. It disregarded stealth and shot off towards the door. Luna noticed it and shot off like a rocket, firing a ball of energy at the shade, missing it.... but blowing a huge hole in the wall, and knocking the door way off it hinges. "Luna! what are you doing?!" Luna ignored Celestia and sped into the hole, galloping after the shade. It darted along the red carpet floors, with every five feet behind it a crater, or many craters caused by Luna's excessive power use. The shade tried to outrun Luna by dodging through a window and going down the side of the castle. Luna's horn glowed she began to teleport.
But she was stopped. She opened her eyes only to see she was suspended in a glow of a light yellow levitation spell. "Luna! What are you doing? You are de-"
"SISTER!!! LET ME GO NOW!! IT WILL GET AWAY!" Luna struggled against the magic.
"What will get away?"
"THE SHADE! There was a shade! It heard everything!" Celestia dropped Luna as the panicked words came out of her mouth.
"What have I done..." Celestia dropped to her knees and stared at the window where the shade had surely gone. A forlorn expression was on her face. Then it grew determined. "Our plan is unchanged. You all need to leave now." Celestia spoke out loud to noise of 10 hooves running up to her. "Luna, tell the escort we are leaving now."
"Princess..."
"There is no time at all Twilight, go to the south take off ramp, now."
"But..."
"NOW!"
*******
Heheheh...Oh that Celestia gets sooo upset sometimes. Hurry back little shade, and make sure you bring your friends."
********************
Within an hour the shade was back in Manehattan, the largest city in Equestria had become a nightmare. There was gore all over the streets, bodies of ponies were strung up on poles and buildings, their dull hollow eyes stared blankly at the street or the sky, some of them no longer had eyes. As one got close, they could see that the bodies were not adults that were simply discarded, no.
They were all Foals.
Foals did not have strength, they did not have the power to be soldiers. The whole reason for possession was so that the shades could operate machines and weapons. So that they could fight against soldiers that would not be caught off guard like the citizens of Manehattan were. Foals had no place in an army, and for that they were slaughtered. Most of them had not even found out what their special talent was, most were murdered by their possessed parents, the last things their living eyes had seen were the crazed expressions of their supposed guardians.
The shade slithered past the Carnage, looking at his brothers who had already possessed ponies of their choosing. He was not allowed to take a host until he had gotten information. It may have almost killed him, but it was better than being an intangible ghost. He increased his speed as he neared the Empire State Building, it was covered with a large black chain snaking along it side, from the top of the spire, all the way down to the floor where it was chaining the device let chaos into this world, chained to the ground.
It was a large sort of machine, it had two magical rippers on it, like a hand with 3 fingers that were all very sharp, but intangible nonetheless due to being magical in nature. It worked by driving its claws into the fabric of reality, and ripping it open. Think of a giant tear in the sky, right above the Empire State Building, you could stare right into the depths of the Chaos Realm. Quite terrifying.
The shade collapsed back into the ground and shot up the side of the building, he went halfway up then slid himself into the building though a broken window, and into the corner office that served as the Chaos leader's operations command. The Master Shade had possessed the body of the Mayor of Manehattan, and it was a fitting choice, the mayor was a former Royal Guardspony, a master Unicorn who used to protect Celestia. But no matter how strong he was, he was not strong enough to resist the Master Shade, was now a puppet.
He spoke with a thin raspy voice that seemed scar the air."Soooo litttllle shaaade. Whaaat do you haaave to repoooort?
"They aaare moving the cursed Elements to aaaa Mountaaaaain caalled Aaarmoniaaa. They seemed to waaant to waake someone with immense power."
"Aaaand Whaaat doo they plaan to uuse that power for?"
"To defeaaat our Aaarmy sir."
"Dooo you know whaat route they aaree taaaking litttlleee one?"
"Yes. They will be taaaking a jetstreaaam north until they begin to see a mountaaaaain range."
"Taake a laaance, Iiinterceept theem at that mountaaain raaange....Your hoost is tied uup in the neext rooom."
The shade shot off through the door. There was a wild scream that rent the air, and another soul was left for me to sweep up.
"Sooon Diiscooord, We wiilll releaaase you. Sooon indeed."
**********
Rainbow Dash was bored, like really bored. Mason wasn't letting her out of the carriage to fly, and she had already taken 3 naps.She was sitting at her head and looked over at the unicorn, his eyes halfway closed, staring at her. He was a dark gray color, charcoal if you will, with a completely black mane. He had Maroon eyes and was rather skinny. Rainbow stared back at him, determined to make their little stare-off some sort of competition. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie both observed them. "I bet Mason is going to win"
"Oh I'd rather not take sides. They are both nice ponies."
Rainbow stared at Mason with maroon eyes, intent on winning.
He stared back, his eyes clearly displaying the amount of care he has. None.
Rainbow's eye started watering, and she blinked. Mason smiled and blinked himself.
"I win."
"pffft Who said it was a contest?"
"You didn't have to, but clearly I won."
"Whatever..." Rainbow moved to sit down on her rump, the blood was beginning to run to her head, and it was beginning to feel like a bloated balloon. She stared at the window, longing to fly in the fabled jet stream the most restricted Airway in Equestria, it was a current of air that flowed faster than any other winds in the world, a Pegasus could easily reach Rainboom speeds in it, and here Rainbow was, unable to fly. She imagined the wind rushing past her mane, the vapor cone beginning to form around her hooves and the with a loud bang.
The carriage was hit by something very solid, going very fast. Suddenly the Pegasi Guards pulling the Carriage went into evasive maneuvers. "Mason! I don't care what you say! I am going out there!" A sense of duty permeated about Rainbow, not a want of enjoyment. Mason nodded and opened the carriage door, Rainbow Dash flung herself out, extending her wings, letting the air catch her, and she began to fly.
Rainbow halted herself midair, she observed what was attacking them, lots and lots of Pegasi, with devilish looks and some wielding crude weapons. They were chasing down the Guardsponies, some going after her carriage, a lot more going after Twilight's. Rainbow thought about how helpless Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were and shot off in the direction of the ponies attacking her carriage, hitting them with the force behind her wings, the bulk of them were sent off course. One of the Pegasi guards from her carriage broke off and started fighting midair with two Chaos Ponies.
He was spectacular. He drew his sword in his teeth, doing a combat roll to avoid one of the Chaos ponies while simultaneously striking down at its back, severing its spine and killing it instantly. He barreled into the second one, sending it reeling, he then darted forward and gorged the pony in the chest causing it to fall dead to the ground below.
Rainbow flew next to him. "Nice moves! Whe-"
"Talk AFTER we get away, or kill these things!" he bellowed. Rainbow nodded and charged forward head on into a group of Chaos ponies, knocking some unconscious, a Chaos Pony flew up in her face and swung with his makeshift ax. Rainbow ducked under the blow, she was too quick to kill with weapons. She threw a kick into his chest and knocked him out of the fight as well.
Rainbow looked in the direction of Twilight's carriage while she flew towards the Pegasi Guard who was fighting 7 of the corrupted creatures alone. And saw something purple glowing from the window.
I recognize that spell.. She immediately started flying away from Twilight, making a loop to grab the Guard.
"Now what are you doing?!"
"Saving your tail!"
*****
We are under attack. Of course we are under attack, nothing ever goes right! Twilight shot another bolt of purple magical energy at a group of Chaos Ponies that flew too close, the spell chained across them covering them with purple streaks of electricity, killing all of them.
All Applejack could do was sit in the carriage, she was no good in an aerial fight, seeing as she does not have wings, or a horn. While Rarity was using her light spell to blind the Chaos ponies, usually sending them comically flying headlong into each other, or into the sights of Twilight Sparkle. The Pegasi Guards were doing their best to avoid the Chaos ponies but were beginning to tire and were getting injuries from the few monsters that did get close enough.This isn't going to end well if I don't do something! Twilight racked her brain for anymore combat spells she learned.
Combat spells were indeed taught to Unicorns, but the chances of having to use them were a million to one, so the professors rarely reinforced their study, and never quizzed on it. Twilight had been one of the smart few who did in fact study combat spells. She remembered that she had one, powerful combat spell that was taught to her by Princess Celestia herself. She had once practiced it with Rainbow Dash, seeing if the "Fastest Flyer in Equestria" could fly against it.
She couldn't.
Twilight began firing up the spell, her horn was glowing a bright purple color, the first energy level for spells. She poured even more energy into her horn, a second layer of magic formed across her purple horn. But Chaos was beginning to close in without the Purple Unicorns lightning scaring them away. They began swooping in just as Twilight finished forming the last energy level. And released the spell.
There was a large explosion, akin to the Sonic Rainboom that sent every Chaos Pegasus into the ground, spiraling into the air unconscious, and the ones too close to be affected ran away in fear, fleeing back to Manehattan. Twilight slumped back into her seat, panting. The exertion from the spell had burnt her out.
"Note....to...self...Practice this... spell more... often." And with that Twilight Sparkle passed out.
