The fight for Equestria

Published Edit: 05/17/15

The beeping continued its rhythm, following the heartbeat of the small foal in the bed. Twilight remained where she was, head tilted. Her gaze moved from the short horn on the forehead, to the wings on the back.

The door cracked open as Flash began to enter, Twilight moved back a step, but kept the blanket where she had it. Flash was followed by a doctor, a deep brown coated stallion with a white coat, covering him all the way back, even over his cutie mark.

“Ah, Princess, good to see you once again.” The doctor offered.

Twilight acknowledged with a nod before bringing their attention to the foal. “Flash, when you found the foal, did she have wings, AND a horn?”

Flash looked at the foal and nodded, “I’ll admit, I did not think much on it immediately, I had thought it best to have you and the doctors check for sure.”

“Well, I can assure you of a few things, Princess Sparkle.” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Just, call me Twilight, please?”

“As you wish, Twilight. Now, I would care to express a couple of things: First, this foal is a colt, not a fillie, as would be expected of an Alicorn. Second, His anatomy, as far as anypony can tell, is naturally similar to an Alicorn. The wings and horn are real, skin, tendon, muscle, bone structure, and even a vast amount of magical ability. One, that may even rival your own potential, Miss Twilight. However, as far as I can tell, from my knowledge of unicorns, his power is currently dormant. When he awakes, I hope to be able to run a few more tests, to see if the power will remain dormant, or if it will come forth in his later years.”

“Wait, later yeas? Doctor, what do you mean?”

“Twilight, I am not an expert in Alicorn physiology, but I do know foals. It is rare to find a foal born with,” The doctor paused, as if trying to find the correct word, or term. “restrictions. I have found some proof, when we began examinations, that... Well, he may not be completely normal for a pony, and even with Alicorn physiology. There are certain ponies that are born, extremely rare in all cases, who cannot be completely normal. He may have the appearance of an Alicorn, but I have doubts he really is. It may be that the horn, or wings may not work properly. My bet, and I mean no offense, is that the restrictions will be with his horn and any magic he has within him. I think he will grow up to be a fine pegasus, however, I have reason to believe his mentality may not be up to par with the rest of his body.”

“Okay, so, in your professional opinion he is not a complete Alicorn because of his restrictions? How does that make any sense, you even admitted he has magical ability that could rival my own.”

The doctor took a deep breath, before continuing further.

“Miss Sparkle, the reason I have these concerns and have come to this conclusion, is... Well, in the medical profession with many new unicorns coming in, we had a group recently progress some spells. We used one of these spells to see if we could look more into foals and ponies to find any possible issues. I used one of these spells, Cerebral Calibration. Not too fancy for a name of a spell, but this spell revealed to me that there is significant differences in the way his brain works and that of any other type of pony. And yes, Miss Sparkle, before you ask, I compared his results to many other foals we have here in the hospital. Despite the proof, we have yet to properly diagnose this.”

A nurse stuck here head in through the door before Twilight had a chance to ask anymore questions.

“Doctor, we need to see you in room three oh eight.”

“Ah, yes, Jenkins. I will be there to see to him. I am finished here anyways, I believe.” With that, the doctor turned his back to Twilight and Flash and left them in the room alone.

Her mouth hanging open, Twilight gaped at the spot the doctor had just been. She quickly closed it and shook her head a little.

“Well, that was different.” Flash offered in the absence of sound, aside from the continuing beeping of the heart monitor.

“I’m, not too sure, the doctor has this foals best interest at heart.” Twilight said with a raised eyebrow. There had been something about everything he had said that did not make much sense. Actually, if she were honest, none of it made any sense, from the foal appearing in her castle out of a portal, being a male Alicorn, and this doctor. No, there was definitely something about the doctor that rubbed her the wrong way.

“I think I want a second opinion.” She said, more to herself than to Flash.

“Who’s?”

“Mine, if it’s true there was this kind of advancement in medicine, I think it would be rather easy for a princess of magic and friendship to track down said spell and check it out myself.”

“Okay, but what are we going to do about him?” Flash asked, pointing to the bed with the foal.

“Well, we don’t know when he will wake up, and I really don’t trust this doctor.”

“Mother instincts kicking in? He’s not even your foal.” Flash responded at an utter fail of making a joke. Twilight turned and gave him a humorless look.

“Okay, I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I-I think I’ll just be quiet now. Though, I am curious who his parents are.”

“Yes, that is a good question. Do you think you can find out? I mean, a couple giving birth to an Alicorn should not be something easy to hide.”

“He has a name you know.” came a small voice from the bed.

Twilight and Flash both turned their heads as one to the small foal sitting up in the bed. His eyes were closed, tight, a hoof lightly rubbing a temple as if in pain.

“Oh, you’re awake. Um, hello, do... Do you know where you are, or remember who you are, or perhaps, who your parents are?” Twilight prompted.

The foal let out a small groan and stretched.

“I’m surprised I’m not in more pain, I could have sworn a ca-” He stopped mid sentence as his eyes opened and took in the sight before him.

“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked.

“You... You just talked. Your a horse, how can you talk, and why are you purple?” Twilight and Flash shared a look of confusion.

“Wait... Twilight?” The foal asked hesitantly.

“Uh, yes?” Twilight asked cautiously, “How do you know my name?”

“No... No way. You can’t be real.” The foals eyes were large discs, his pupils small pinpricks as he stared at her in disbelief.

“He has to know at least who you are because he recognizes you as the princess of friendship.” Flash leaned over and whispered.

“Y-You...” The foal went silent as he had began to point a hoof at her, when he looked at his hoof in complete disbelief, and even shock.

“My hand, my arm... Wha-?” He began to move about looking at his body, even throwing off the blanket. “Ahhh, where is my body? Where are my CLOTHES!?”

At this point Nurse Redheart had just entered and saw the foal awake, freaking out. Without hesitation she rushed over and pushed an emergence button on the wall summoning the doctor and other nurses.

It took only seconds for Redheart to move around to the other side of the bed and try to speak to the foal and calm him down. His screams of panic were louder than her soothing voice.

“I need you two to leave, the doctor and I can handle this situation.” Nurse Redheart said to Twilight and Flash.

Flash began to lead Twilight out of the room, and were pressed against the wall as the doctor re-entered the room followed by a couple of burly stallion s dressed in Nurse garb. They immediately relieved Redheart of trying to restrain the foal.

Flash urged Twilight, but she refused to move now. The doctor readied a needle in his magic, filling it with a liquid from a small glass container.

“Now, now, you will feel a small pinch, but it will only be for a moment.” The doctor calmly replied to the still straining foal.

“No! Not needles, I hate needles. Who are you, where am I? Get away from me! LET! ME! GO!” At that very moment his horn lit up with a bright light.

Twilight had to jump to the side, into Flash to avoid being hit by the doctor a he went flying back against the wall. One of the male nurses had also been sent flying through the curtain, tearing it from the rings holding it up, and into the wall on the opposite end of the room, missing being sent out the window.

Twilight spared a glance and saw the foal already closing his eyes, the adrenaline pushing the sedative through him faster. The needle sticking out of his hindquarters. Nurse redheart was busy stroking his red mane, hush him, and speaking softly into his ears, trying to keep him calm and not burn through the sedative.

A groan from near Twilight caught her attention. She looked to see the doctor crumpled on the floor, a little more than dazed. She wasn’t sure why, but it made her smile, she felt he somehow deserved what he got.

This day held something different, something new. For so long it had lain, feeding on what was dark. It had been there shortly before the time of these ponies, and knew it would remain after. So much new negative emotion, such delicacies, but it was not dainty as it in fact gorged itself on so much. Then, they came, the sisters, taking their strange new power and using it. Those delicacies began to flow from abundance, to so rare, it felt as if it would starve. There was also something more, a heat, something that burned him in his coldness, something he did not care for.

　 It settled itself as deep into the darkness as it could within the land of Equestria. It remained there in a near hibernation, taking what was available and trying to spread it over time.

A few centuries passed when it last awoke to the sweet taste of a growing malevolence. This was not a taste of small morsels; No it was something different. This, where it was so small it was held in check, but the power connected to it. Now this was indeed turning to an appetizing morsel. It tingled with magic, allowing the emotions to alter slightly, almost like adding spice, or seasoning to something bland you had become accustomed to.

Its sentience was as sharp as ever, but its body had lost substance and form in its loss of nourishment. No, it had not mattered, for, this magic allowed it to seek out the source. The closest thing it had ever known to delight came to fruition once it found the uneasiness between the two sisters. Even their magic that allowed them to put an end to its food had grown weaker.

It took its time, slowly drawing power in the darkness of the forest it had laid claim as its home, and find its way, again and again into the nearby castle. Night after night it returned, listening to the annoyance of the night sister. As it slowly gained more nourishment, some of its tricks and powers returned, yet it was still not enough to return its form, its body.

The shadows were like an old suit, so easy to slip itself into them again. Soon it was able to reach out to the sister of the night, softly speaking, coaxing her to speak, and share the burden of concerns.

Luna paid the voice no mind, at least at first, until she tried to offer suggestions to help their people. Her sister would take time to consider the ideas, but none would work as they eventually lead to greater problems. One tried to find wisdom in things, thinking of tomorrow, rather than immediate solutions. They would not lead their people to be able to find their own strength. Such quick solutions lead to apathy, laziness, and dependency on the sisters and their powers.

This promoted the small annoyances to frustrations, which brought forth the bitterness, and more. Swelling now, it would speak from the shadows, insisting that solutions and problems are one and the same. Sometimes focusing on the problem would bring about a solution. In time, its insistence paid off, as the night sister would pace in the absence of the light and her older sister.

This continued until it had found itself capable of doing much with this, magic. So, it went to the night sister, in her dreams and would leave presents of power, words, thoughts, and anything else it could to try and show more. It would be there in her darkest dreams, that were her darkest desires, twisted by it. It would help her bring the power from these nightmares.

During this time, others came another in a rise of power, also with magic, and emotions. But the power of this one was disgusting, the sister in the light seemed to be growing with her people in the day. It had to stop, it wanted to be free, so it began to go to the night sister more and more, slowly convincing her of betrayal.

Betrayal of family for power. The people gave her power over day and night. It worked until its efforts were close to paying off. The sisters confronted one another and the force of their battle brought forth so much negativity and magic, it had felt itself growing more. Its body was so close, something tangible, more powerful than its former body.

Its thoughts, plans, and manipulations crushed in a matter of moments. The elder sister took the old power from its hidden area, bringing it forth again, but instead of two, the sister used their peoples power with her own. She steeled herself and tore away at the nightmare that should have overpowered her and sent it, and the sister of the night away, to that desolate realm that she maintained. Stuck to chase back the sun, and the place she once knew as her home.

His body had been so close to returning. Best to return and see what else he could do. Perhaps if he used this, magic, he could find a way to sustain his self better in his hibernation, so the next chance would not take so long for his return. The forest he returned to seemed to teem with life he had not taken to before as it seemed so far below his desire. Perhaps, though, with his magic, and a few well made efforts, a seedling could take root, as the old Earth pony saying went.

So, he dug deep, planting the now dark and twisted seed of magic he had gotten from the sister of the night. Celestia took her leave not long afterwards, never even noticing the slow change of the Everfree Forest. The water, land, plants, and animals changed over time to strange odd, and at times, frightening versions of their previous selves.

Now, it felt nearly alive again as a sudden flood of raw and unimaginable negative emotion rolled over it.

No, not it anymore, He, Him, His; The memories were no longer hazy. Where ever this came from he wanted more, as it was so close.

He could sense how near the source was, and not just that, he also could sense that the sister of the night had returned. She was no longer a holder of the negativity, but with this new course to feed from, it did not matter.

There in this large building, a short distance from the forest, and there within, yes. If his body were whole again, he would certainly be salivating over this sumptuous morsel. Such a small form, but the body did not hold to the truth of what lay beneath. A mind and spirit that had been aged held so much raw emotion, and yes, even magic. It was so, delectable.

“What are you, and what do you want?” Echoed a voice.

He was taken a little aback, not expecting to be noticed. That which spoke, it was he, the one negativity came from, but there was something else. He stopped in darkness, but this was not a darkness he was accustomed to. Yes there was fear, loneliness, sorrow, and more, but for so much negative, there was also positive here.

As if a switch were thrown, he was accosted with light, so much light. His form of the shadows was exposed, shapeless, intangible, seeming more like living coiling smoke.

There before him was something he had never seen before. It stood on two legs, strange limbs emerged from its torso, a head. Skin like fallen snow, a short mane that was almost like fire, but failed to move. The eyes stared him down, behind them seemed a depthless knowledge that should not exist there.

Behind this strange creature were three forms. Two chained, and one between the two, very similar to that which stood before him but laid slumbering.

A disgusted look came across the things face.

“You are nothing more than a parasite.”

“Yes, and you have something that I want.”

　 “I am merely here as a connection to him. It is not my place to say whether you can do as you wish, or not, that resides solely with him.”

“Why is that? He slumbers, obviously weaker, why do you not control this?”

“That is not how it works. But my time has already run out.” The being seemed to vanish as the sleeping form stirred.

　 He decided to try and take the chained figure that was to his own left. It was strange, gray in color, it reminded him of one of the creatures from the Everfree forest, one called an ogre. The thick muscular body, squatted and chained, its face unchanging, a look of oblivious stupidity frozen in place.

The other seemed a stark contrast, though strong, it was coalesced in a light that came from itself, thin, and a serene calm.

As he reached it, the chains seemed to shift as he began to feel it slowly alter and drain into him slightly.

“Stop.” Came a commanding voice. The once sleeping being now came near. Though he resembled the other, the eyes were bright and youthful, but they did not hold the same intelligence as the other. Instead, there was a resilience and strength.

He was forced back from his prize, so close, but now he had to contend with this one.

“You do not belong here. Leave now.” He could taste the perceptible fear, but it was being doused, over ridden by the taste of something else. If he had a face he would no doubt be making a soured look, as the fear remained but seemed less than paltry.

The sound of chains straining caught both of their attention. The gray ogre struggled against the chains, as a few snapped under the strength, the being seemed to wince in pain.

“No, what are you doing?” The being said.

An internal struggle was just fine; taking advantage of the distraction, he shot forward, his smoky form enveloping the gray ogre, and vanished.

Celestia stopped dead in her tracks as she sensed a change from the Everfree forest. It felt like Nightmare Moon was returning, or the power, but no form. Quickly Celestia teleported to her sisters chambers, and was shocked to find the doors swinging open as Luna emerged, the same expression on her face.

　　“The Everfree forest?” Luna asked, wasting no time.

　 　“Yes, but take as many royal royal guards with you as you can, and scour the area as much as possible. I must check on Twilight and her friends.”

　　Luna wasted no time as she raced around her sister and through the Canterlot castle gathering all Flying guards she could. Then without hesitation she leapt from the nearest open balcony. HEr dark blue wings snapped open, the moment her body was no longer confined to the castle. Her mane flowing faster in the sudden catch of air, the small specks of light, representing the stars, all glistening with each billowing strand. Not far behind were all the nearby guards calling out to Luna, trying to make sense of things as they ask for her orders.

　 　Celestia turned to the throne room, she felt that armor would be beneficial if there was need for a battle. She hoped to be wrong, but the feeling she had in her mind said otherwise, and heart heart ached in agreement.

　　“Princess Celestia.” Came a voice from her right. She turned, seeing a guard galloping towards her, his horn alight with magic. The magic surrounded what seemed to be a scroll.

　　 ‘Strange,’ she thought, ‘Twilights letters are supposed to go straight to the throne room, and are incapable of being touched by anypony but I.’

　　As the guard neared, she used her own magic to take the scroll, unfurl it and read it. She saw it was from Flash Sentry and slowly read the letter.

　　‘That’s not possible.’ She thought, her brow furrowing slightly and she forced herself to re-read the letter again even slower, the significance of the words sinking in.

　　 Without another thought or order for the awaiting guard, Celestia rushed to the throne room still using her magick to hold the letter. Once there she immediately stopped at a stand with a stunning set of golden armor, the sun emblem, a copy of her own cutie mark, decorated with special gems and dust with spells not used since she and her sister youth.

　　She did not take long to dress, the armor still fitting snugly, yet comfortably to allow easy maneuverability both on the ground and in the air.

　　Once done, she too took off out an open balcony, spreading her wings. Her course only slightly differed from Luna’s as she made her way to Ponyville Hospital. Using a spell, Celestia flew faster, fast enough to make even Rainbow Dash envious.

　　Once she landed she ran in asking for Flash Sentry and Twilight Sparkle. She could sense they were near.

　 　“This way princess Celestia.” Came the voice of a guard. They made their way quickly to the designated room. The guard knocked on the door and called out.

　　“Sir, Princess Celestia just arrived and wants to speak to you and Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

　　Flash Sentry was first to emerge from the room, followed by a reluctant Twilight.

　　“Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked as she saw her former teacher dressed in battle armor.

　　“What is happening? I sensed something dangerous, are you okay?”

　 　As Twilight opened her mouth, there was a thunderous explosion that seemed to rock the very foundation of the Hospital. All three rushed into the room to see a gaping hole in the wall. A dark gray stallion stood there, with wings unfurled, red eyes, a black heart shaped cutie mark, laughing.

　　“Stop!” Celestia called out using her royal speaking voice.

　　This seemed to only get the stallion to laugh louder and harder before flapping his wings and taking off.

　 　Celestia was moving fast through the hole in the wall taking chase, but stopped as black bolts of lightning shot down around her. Where ever the lightning struck , the point of impact smoldered, turning black, with a hole that appeared melted.

　　Celestia threw up a defensive spell bubble, but even this did not seem to help as more lightning struck straight through it. The bubble popped without a sound, but the remnant of it fell to the ground in thick foul smelling ichor.

　　 Celestia had no choice but to take refuge back inside the room. Once the noise stopped, all three stepped out and saw no trace of the stallion.

　 　Inside, came the sounds of whimpering, as if from a  small child. The colt was cowering under his blanket, but the wings and cutie mark were now gone, as was the strange older look in his eyes.

　　With a sigh Celestia turned to Twilight.

“Twilight, take this foal, and come with me. I do not understand or know what is happening, but we must find out.” She said.