A new crisis

Chapter 7

The Creator

Moonsinger charged towards the mare, who was quick to recover from the initial shock of her arrival. Already she could see that she would not reach her in time. With a powerfull flap of her wings the white and green mare took flight, to dodge Moonsingers attack.

Storm Breeze could not believe it. Another Alicorn was attacking her, and a pretty powerfull and skilled one at that. The abomination and the vermin in this town had been no real challenge for her, nor her husband, despite them having barely seen any actual combat. She tried to outfly her, but was immideatly caught by a shield spell that manifested directly in front of her. Storm flew into it, unable to stop herself at such speeds. That one mistake was enough for the other mare to catch up to her. A hoof slammed right into her flank, shattering the shield and knocking the air out of her lungs.

Moonsinger had created a shield to stop the escaping Alicorn mare. It was a desperate attempt to stop her, but it had worked. Her opponent was now plummeting to the ground, not even screaming. Her training kicked in, and Moonsinger angled herself to face the ground, giving her wings a flap with all her might. Instantly breaking the sound barrier, she chased her target.

******

Diamond could still not believe her good eye. It definitly was Moonsinger. But how could that be? She herself had carried her corpse back to the garden of shadows, before returning to the Chrystal Empire. No matter how it was possible, she sure was thankfull for it. Had her old friend not shown up when she did, she would have died for sure. The pain in her lower body was still a problem, but it was already healing. Her Changeling physique was already kicking in. The rearranging flesh and chitine, was pretty uncomfortable, but she needed more Energy, if she wanted to get out of here. Usually she would wait for Moonsinger to finish the fight, an drag her away from here, but she wasn't taking that chance. Diamond could already tell that Moonsinger was lost in the fight. She would go all out and blast everything to bits if whatever came into her way. Moonsinger would never hurt her on purpose, but she was really into it by now. She was in the Zone, and that was when her old friend became something frightening.

******

Storm Breeze caught herself mid-fall, stabalizing herself in mid-air. She had been in only two actual battles against the rebels back then, but she had never fought against somepony who was actually trained in battle. Just as she tried to focus her vision, and find her opponent, another hoof slammed into her face with immense force. It broke her jaw, and didn't loose contact with her face, until she crashed into the ground. The impact created a strong shockwave, strong enough to throw destroy some nearby buildings, and blow their remains into all directions.

Moonsinger was panting, her hoof still in the Alicorns face. Her opponent was not fighting back at all. Either she was that weak, or actually scared of her. The later seemed to be the case, seeing as how she had tried to flee from her. Moonsinger was about tho deliver the final blow, when everything around her stopped. She was unable to move a single muscle, and even the dust particles in the air seemed to stand still. There was not a single sound. At first Moonsinger thought it was her opponents doing, but she aswell seemed to be frozen in time itself. It was then, that Moonsinger heard the soft and gentle female voice, from all directions.

"You really intend to kill Storm Breeze, my little Pony?"

"Who... Who are you?", Moonsinger stammered.

"I am the creator. It is from me you all come, and to me to whom all of you return after death, but you have yet to answer my question."

"No. I don't want to kill her, but they killed all the citizens..."

"You are assuming, my dear Moonsinger. Storm Breeze merely was looking for her children, who are being held captive by your mother. I ask you, what you would do, would somepony hold your daughter captive."

"I... I would...."

"Maybe you will listen to somepony, who you know, instead of an entitiy you have never heard anything about..."

Suddenly, as if stepping out of a thick mist, a grey coated Earthpony stallion with hazel colored eyes faded into view.

"It has been a long time, Cherry.", Bright Light said with a smile.

Moonsinger could not believe her eyes. What was her husband doing here? Why was he not in the garden?

"I died in the battle for Canterlot, Cherry. Our daughter grew up without either of her parents. Some parents we are, aren't we? We put her through the same thing we had to endure all those years ago.", he said with a smile.

"But... how can you be here then?"

"The creator has asked me to come and speak to you. I had hoped to meet you in Elysium,  but I soon found out your soul was trapped in the Artifact known as the Alicorn Stone. When it broke you were pulled towards their old kingdom, but you struggled against their will and so your reformed body plummeted into the Palimino desert."

"But why are you here?"

"You are doing something, that you should not. The creator is a kind Pony. Yet she wants those who have gone against her laws to be brough before her, to face her judgment. Storm Breeze however, is not one of them. Her corruption was forced on her. The crimes she has commited are minor, and she does not deserve to be curshed beneath your hooves. The creator wants to judge her aswell, but not in the same manner as the others. The stallion you killed, was her husband. He has already faced his sentence, and so will you the next time you die. I am sorry Cherry Scotch, but you are a criminal in the councils eyes. The creator is much more leniant, but the council will have all Alicorns in this world punished, once they come to Elysium. The creator has long been overruled, and her powers are weakening. That is why she wants to help you. There are problems in Elysium aswell, and the creator will need your help to sort them out. The Alicorns there are loyal to the council, since they think they only relay her orders. They are wrong, and the council prevents her from contacing them. Once the roubles in the mortal world are sorted out, and you have destroyed "the Source", all of you will loose your anchor in the mortal world. You will instantly be transported to Elysium as if you had died. The creator will do her best to hold her protective hoof over you, but you shall not commit any more crimes. Take Storm Breeze prisoner, if you have to, and reunite her with her children. Maybe that will earn you some points, not only with the council, but with her aswell.", Bright Light explained.

Moonsinger would have loved to interrupt him, but some power held her muzzle shut. She simply nodded. It was alot to take in, that was for sure, but she also knew that Bright would never lie to her. He had done so once in his lifetime, and the result had not been pretty when she had found out.

"I must be on my way then. The creators interference in this world will already not go unnoticed. Please be safe Cherry... I love you....", Bright whispered, before everything started moving again, and Moonsinger felt a single tear roll down her cheek.

The mare held her hooves up in front of her face, shivering like a frightend little filly.

"I am sorry. Your name is Storm Breeze, isn't it?", Moonsinger asked, much more calm now.

The mare nodded, her face still hidden behind her hooves.

"I am sorry about your husband, but I thought I wouldn't stand a chance against the both of you. If you give up now, I promise I wiill reunite you with your children."

Storm Breeze moved her hooves aside and looked into her attackers face. The brown mares face was covered with tears, and there was nothing left of the murderous fury she had seen in it earlier. She had hated Bladestorm, and she was not sorry for his fate. All she cared about, were her children. If surrendering to this mare ment she would see them again, and survive this day, then this was the logical option to take. She nodded her agreement. She was not willing to fight for a loosing cause. They had been defeated thousands of years ago, and Storm Breeze had no doubt they would be again. She wanted her children to grow up this time, and not be sealed away for all eternity.

******

Diamond finished her "meal". It tasted bad, and was somethings she had only ever heard about. She had never done it before, but consuming the last thoughts of a dying Pony had been the only possible way for her to heal fast enough to get out of Moonsingers way. The last emotions and thoughts, and even flashing memories of the dying Alicorn stallion would surely hurt to digest, but atleast she was completly healed now.... Diamond just hoped she would never have to do something like this again. It was mutulating and disrespecting a dying individual, and she hated herself for having done so. Farther down the road, she could see Moonsinger standing beside the white Alicorn mare she had fought earlier. Her friend had put a silencing spell on her horn and bound her wings. It looked like they had just made another prisoner....

Should she try to resist, Diamond would be sure to return the favor from earlier.

******

Stardancer was organizing their troops and rerouting some supplies to the cities on the southern edge of the garden. They would need their full potential there. If there was a conflict, then they had to be prepared. That was when she recieved a magical letter through the dragon by her side. The enchantment Celestia had placed on him was easy enough to replicate, if one knew what to do. So she had enchanted some parchements, so he would be able to recieve them when they were burned by a simple fire spell. Acting as a mailbox was certainly not entertaining for the little guy, and Stardancer was sorry for the discomfort, but it was necessary.

What the report said on the other hoof, was more then disturbing. One of the southern guards reported a massive surge of magical energy from the direction of Appleloosa. Also three immense magical auras were approaching from that direction. That could mean only one thing. The attack she was anticipating, was coming their was sooner then she had expected. With an irritated grunt, she made her way to the southern lines. If the attack was really starting, she wanted to know what their opponents were capable off. But there was something else that bothered her...

"If these really are scouts or an advance party, then what happend to Diamond?", she wondered.

******

Moonsinger was approaching the edge of the Everfree forest, Diamond and her prisoners some way behind her. As she set a hoof into the forest, a macial blast hit right in front of it. From the shadows she could sense several of her brothers and sisters. She had her reasons for going ahead of Diamond and Storm Breeze.

"Halt!", a male voice commanded.

"Is this the kind of reception one is to expect if one returns home?", Moonsinger asked with a snort.

"You are none of us. No patrol was sent to the south. The only one we are expecting, is the Changeling queen Diamond.", a female added.

Moonsinger had anticipated this, and had kind of anticipated this kind of reception. She was enjoying a little sarcasm, after being in that cursed Stone for that long. After her battle with Storm Breeze even that had come back to her,even so she wished she could forget it. Spreading her wings, she stepped further into the forest. Her Enforcers obviously needed a lesson.

Another blast came out of the darkness, but hit her face this time. She smirked. The one who had fired it, was surely a pretty young Unicorn, since it had not hurt her much.

"Enforcer! State your name!", she belowed. Sure, ranks were not really important in the garden, but if this was one of the Enforcers, he or she would be forced to answer. Even if it was out of courtesy alone.

"I'm Coldwing.", came a shaking female voice.

Moonsinger sighed. This bunch were mere recruits she guessed. For what it was worth, she actually recognized the name. Coldwing was Frostmanes daughter.

******

Stardance was observing the intruder from a safe vantage point. What she saw displeased her more then she could express. Stepping out of the darkness, into the clearing the intruder had just stepped into, she fought hard to supress her rage.

"That is not funny in the least Diamond. Now drop the act, or do you want to continue where we left off this morning?", she threatend, only to be met with a puzzled look.

"Mhmm... like a mirror. You sure have grown. I'm suprised you chose to ascent. Mothers idea?", the other brown Alicorn asked, eyeing her up and down.

"I said drop the act! Impersonating my dead mother is not the best way to earn any points with me!", she screamed, just as she saw two other figures step into the clearing. One of them being the Changeling queen.

"I am pretty sure I have taught you better then scream at your mother, Stardancer.", Moonsinger said with a frown.

"Mother... but.... b...but... HOW?!?", she asked, as she jumped onto her, wrapping her wings around her mother.

Monnsinger returned the embrace. She had missed Stardancer verry much. Only now could she relate to just how much her mother must have missed her, during her thousand year exile....

******

Luna had arrived at the Chrystal Empire with only a few difficulties. The guards at the border had tried to stop her, and she had to ruff them up a bit until they were willing to listen to her, but now they heeded her every word. The generals in the capital had not been too fond of her giving them orders, but they had, in the end, accepted that she had cut ties with Equestria long ago. The Changelings amongst them were pretty quick to believe her. They had a mental link to their queen afterall, and they were already preparing to move out. From the last conflict, Luna knew that these drones were weaker then Chrysalises drones, but they sure were nummerous. From the reports she was being flooded with, over two million of them lived scattered all over the Chrystal Empire, that had a population of ten million Ponies of it's own.

******

Twilight and Solar Flare were going through some ancient texts. The realization that she and her friends would have to leave this world, would they win this war was something that weight heavy on her mind.

"I am verry sorry I have not told you this beforehoof Twilight.", Solar appologized for the uptenth time.

"It's ok Solar... Some of these texts are talking about a reversion process. If we can just recreate it, then we could stay here in this world."

"This ritual is dangerous, and could kill you and all participants. Also... it was not created to revert a Pony who has willingly ascended. It was created to revert those who have been forced to do so. The freedom fighters never really completed it.", Solar explained, hating to destroy the other Alicorns hopes.

"But couldn't we just... you know... get rid of the rest of them, and keep the source? That way it would still anchor us here."

"The possibility of your corruption would always loom over you."

"What will happen to us if we go to Elysium?"

"Basicly it is not that much different from this world. The only thing you, and all other Alicorns in this world, will have to fear are the gates. Stepping through them will cleanse you. You will be cleansed of all negative emotions, and all negative desires. The problem is, that these have to go somewhere. So basicly you will be splitt in two. The Twilight Sparkle that only consists of positive emotions, will be allowed into Elysium. The other one will be thrown into what you know as the everlasting Tarterus....", Solar explained.

"That sounds kinda forcefull. What if I don't want to be splitt like that?"

"You have no choice. And believe me Twilight. It is not bad. I have done it countless times before I got corrupted. After stepping through, you will feel extremly relaxed, because you suddenly don't have to worry about anything."

"If you say so... I just don't feel comfortable to have some part of me being ripped away."

"Don't worry. It will not change who you are. Your personality will stay unstouched. Those who are evil to the bone, can never cross the gate."

******