Godly

Godly
Chapter 23: Gathering allies Part 1

I've healed Luna as best as I can, but I'm nearly out of mana and need to rest. I've closed her cuts, healed her bruises, and repaired most of her fractures, but her wings are still broken along with her left hind-leg.

Although there's nothing I can do to repair or regrow her horn. Unless I can make a new one with a specific alloy or material that'll react to her magic as Vulcan, she'll never cast a spell again.

Luna is currently sleeping with the aid of a little changeling venom to numb her pain.

"I knew Celestia was arrogant, but this is a new low for her," Chrysalis says as I change to Khepri and sigh.

"I don't know... She didn't have the look of a mad mare in her eyes when I looked at her. She seems... like a different person altogether now," I reply and sit down in the lobby of the Hospital.

"Different? How so?" she asks me confused.

"She looked calm but with a constant hatred bubbling beneath, This certainly isn't the Celestia we know," I tell her.

"So how will we deal with this? It sounds like she's now stronger than she was before," Chrysalis asks as she paces around the lobby.

I'm about to reply, but my eyes widen as I feel the moon trying to contact me. I change to Awilix and head outside as Suku jumps through the portal that opens behind me and follows.

I look up to the moon that's directly over head now, I didn't move it and Luna's in no condition to either. The moon glows brightly which lights up the land around us as a soft feminine voice speaks to me within my head.

"Help her, use this," she tells me as a bright pulse flashes from the moon. I then see something is hurtling down from it towards us.

"TAKE COVER!" I yell getting the ponies and changelings around us to head down into the hive.

After a few minutes, the object slams into the badlands about five miles out and causing a mild quake. We all wait for a few seconds while the moon's light returns to normal before moving back to its original orbit.

I look to the moon and try talking to it. "What was that?" I ask but I get no reply and the connection seems to be gone.

With a frown I sigh and change to Khepri before taking off with Chrysalis and Dragana who came out to see what was going on follow behind me.

It's takes us a while but we land on the edge of the crater caused by the hot chunk of rock smoking in the centre.

"What is it?" Chrysalis asks with worry.

"Not sure, but the moon said to use it to help her. I can only guess she meant Luna," I reply and just rest to still recover my mana before we do anything.

"How would a chunk of rock help Luna?" Chrysalis asks me sceptically.

"I don't know. Maybe regrow her horn? Make her a new horn with it? Or something else altogether," I reply and frown as I stare at the cooling rock.

Said rock being no bigger than a changeling.

We wait for a few hours as the rock cools off and the red glow dies down. During that time, Chrysalis, Dragana, and I discussed what to do next.

While the changelings will continue to build the city with more housing for the pony refugees, I'll be going out to the other races and gaining their alliance to counter Celestia's forces. No doubt she'll en-thrall more guards across her lands, perhaps even the other races if she can.

Once the rock is cool enough, I flutter down and grab it with my six legs, then heft it up and carry it back to the City.

I place it on the ground in front of the keep and take a good look at it, I see a crack in the stone with white light coming out of it. I change to Hercules and with my mace, tap it lightly enough to chip away at the rock until a small chunk of glowing stone is revealed.

"It's beautiful," Shyla says as she looks down at it.

"And how is a glowing rock supposed to help Luna?" Dragana asks frowning at the rock.

"As I said, I don't know. I'll have to experiment with it, maybe Luna will know what to do with it?" I reply and pick up the glowing rock with my left hand and bring it down to my room for safe keeping.

Now that everything is calmed down, we all head to bed and Chrysalis informs me that Metamorpha is now in a love pod recovering.

The next morning I head to the Hospital while most of the changelings from each hive get started on new housing, while some of the earth ponies who were farmers agree to help grow our crops. I walk into Luna's room to find her looking depressed as she lays still on the mossy bed.

"Morning, Luna. Feeling better?" I ask her.

"A bit... My leg and wings still hurt, but other than that, I'll live..." she replies glumly.

"Well... while you were sleeping, the moon sent us a gift to help you with," I tell her and change to Janus to open a portal to my room and retrieve the chuck of glowing rock.

Luna's eyes widen as she lifts her head up.

"It's a piece of moonstone!" she says. "The moon gave you this? To help me?" she asks with tears forming in her eyes.

"Yes, despite you controlling her, the moon wants to help you," I reply and set the moonstone next to her. "So, do you know how I can use this to repair your horn?" I ask her.

"There has been a case where a pony lost her horn when a spell backfired, but she got a crystal moulder to make her a new horn which she connected to the remains on her head and she was able to cast basic spells again... Maybe you could make a horn from this?" she replies with hope in her tone.

"I'll ask Crystal Blade if he knows how to make a horn. Might be able to help me with it," I say and send the moonstone back to my room. "But for now, I need to contact the other races and warn them of your sister. First though, let's finish healing you," I tell her and change to Aphrodite.

After an hour fixing her wings and leg, I change back to Janus and open a portal to Zebrica since I already have the location.

"Alright, just rest and relax, I'll get started on working with the moonstone when I return," I tell Luna making her nod and just rest on her bed.

I step through the portal next to the Communal Hut of Wanori. I change to He Bo as that is the god the zebras saw me the most as.

I move to the entrance to the hut and pull the cloth door aside. "Hello?" I say into the hut.

"Hmmm?" I hear an elderly stallion mutter before looking at me. "Oh, Pantheon. It is a pleasure to see you again," he says to me and waves me in with a hoof.

"Same, Elder Manata. But I come with bad news," I reply and enter the hut and lower my upper body closer to the ground.

"Bad news? Should I inform the other Elders?" he asks worried.

"Yes, as this will affect the world," I reply making his eyes widen.

I wait as he sends out others to find the elders. Meanwhile, I tell him about building a possible embassy in our city where they can send and store trade goods they wish to trade with not only us, but other races once I meet with them while waiting for me to open a portal for them, as well as gathering any news from other races.

He said he'd discuss it with the others first, but likes the idea.

The other elders arrive, even Mianya who still dislikes me. Once settled, I tell them about Celestia, Luna's condition, and what I saw in Canterlot. To say they were sceptical was an understatement, Mianya refused to believe Celestia would turn evil or cruel, so I changed to Janus and opened a portal to our Hospital to let Luna tell them herself.

I help Luna through as she's still feeling weak without her horn. Once through, I help her settle down on one of the cushions.

"It is true, Elders. My sister has lost herself to her anger and I may have died if Carl-" Luna explains but I lightly poke her to get her attention.

"I go by the name Pantheon now, Luna. You can call me Carl in a private setting," I whisper to her.

"Oh... If Pantheon did not rescue me and heal my wounds as best he could. Our guards are being controlled, and our subjects are being ruled with fear," she tells them sadly.

"I plan to get the help of all the races in subduing Celestia and her mind-controlled forces," I tell the elders. "Will you help us?" I ask them.

Mianya is staring at Luna in disbelief, or more precisely, her missing horn.

"This is grave news indeed... And what are we supposed to do against an alicorn gone mad?" Manata asks me.

"I, the Queens, Amore, Cadence, and Luna once we figure out how to repair her horn will face Celestia when it comes to it. We will just need help subduing her guards or civilians so we can focus on Celestia," I reply.

They all talk amongst themselves for a good ten minutes while I change to Ratatoskr and open my arms wide for Luna. I remember she wanted to hug me when she first saw me like this, I hope it will cheer her up just a little.

She faintly smiles and pulls me into a hug with her forehooves, gently nuzzling the top of my head with her chin.

The elders finally stop talking and turn to us, Mianya looking even more grumpy. "You have our support. If not for your help, we may have had to abandon our homeland. We can spare about eight-hundred of our warriors," Manata tells us.

"Thank you, we'll let you know when we're ready to subdue Celestia. Until then, get what you need for an embassy together and let us know when you want to build it next time I open a portal," I reply as Luna lets me go.

I step away from Luna and change to Janus, I then open a portal back to the Hospital to let Luna through so she can rest again.

"I'll open another portal within a week, goodbye," I say to the elders getting farewells in return. Even Mianya mutters a goodbye, most likely to Luna.

Once through, Luna lays on her bed again and I head out as Khepri to find information on the next closest race, probably the elks.

I find Chrysalis in her office along with Dragana and Shyla. "Well, the zebras will lend us eight-hundred warriors for when we attack," I tell them as I sit down in front of her desk.

"That's good, before you go to the next race, you should let Amore and Cadence know what has happened," she replies making me face-leg.

"Right, I forgot about that," I say and change back into Janus.

"Also let Cadence talk to Luna. I'm sure Luna could use the company," Chrysalis tells me and I nod as I make a portal to the Empire's throne room.

I float through making some ponies yelp at my appearance. "CARL! Willst thou stop doing tha!-" Cadence yells at me with a smile, but noticing my expression quickly wipes it off her face.

"Private room, now," I tell them and head to their private lounge.

The alicorns glance at each other before telling the ponies they'll be right back.

Once the room is locked and soundproofed, I speak up. "Luna is at Khepria and is badly hurt. I've healed all her wounds but I can't heal or regrow her shattered horn," I tell them making them gasp.

"What? Who harmed our aunt?" Cadence asks me.

"Celestia did," I reply making their eyes widen more.

"She wouldn't..." Amore says.

"She's different now. Mane and tail look like fire, molten rock regalia, black and orange slitted eyes, deathly calm yet behind her eyes untold anger. She beat Luna to near death and dumped her in the dungeons. I snuck in and portal'd her and over fifty ponies out to Khepria," I tell them.

"She... she gave in to a nightmare?" Amore asks shocked.

"What's a nightmare?" I ask her.

"Tis a being of the void plain. They sweet talk and make promises to their victims in exchange for something. We... We almost fell to one after our husband passed away, promising us a way to bring him back. But our dear Cadence kept us from falling to it," she tells me sadly.

"So she's no longer in control of her own body?" I ask with a frown.

"No, if she's really taken by a nightmare, then she's no longer in control of her actions," Amore replies with a frown of her own.

"I see. I already have the zebras support to subdue Celestia and her mind-controlled guards. I don't even have to ask for yours right?" I ask them.

"Of course not. We shall be there to free our aunt," Cadence replies firmly.

"Good. Now Cadence, please come with me and keep Luna company for a while, she's still weak and not very happy," I tell her making her look upset.

"I shall. Mayhap we canst mould a crystal horn for her," she replies, making me point my right index finger at her.

"Oh, the moon herself sent a piece of moonstone to help Luna with. Maybe we can turn that into a horn?" I ask them both.

"Well, depends if it will react to moulding like crystals do," Amore replies.

"Cadence can have a look at it later with Crystal Blade, but right now Luna is resting in our Hospital," I say and open a portal to Luna's Hospital room.

Cadence winces at the sight of Luna looking depressed on the bed. She walks through getting sad smile from Luna and I close the portal behind Cadence.

"Amore... Is it possible to free Celestia from this nightmare?" I ask her.

"Yes, with the help of the elements it should separate them, but the nightmare will still be dangerous as it could flee or try to possess another," she replies.

"Then we just trap or kill it before it can get away. Can anything harm a nightmare?" I then ask her.

"Well, positive emotions and thoughts can prevent it from possessing you. But I've never known one to be killed or physically harmed," she replies.

I raise an eyebrow as I ask her my next question. "If positive emotion can prevent them from taking you, what would a physical form of positive emotion do to them?"

"Thou art talking about the liquid love the changelings make?" she asks me and I nod in reply. "We art not sure, it could be toxic to them, or just a repellent," she tells me with a sigh.

"I'll send you a pod of liquid love, maybe you can infuse the love into some of your crystal weapons," I tell her and open a portal back to Khepria.

"We shall try, we thank thee for informing us of this... To think she gave in," Amore says sadly.

"We'll get her back, I still owe her a slap to the face for what she put the changelings through. The beating I gave her didn't count," I say and head through the portal.

I come out in Chrysalis' office to find the queens still here. "Cadence is with Luna to help her cheer up. So now we need to decide who to make contact with next," I say to the three of them as I sit down on thin air.

"I would like to see you bring the minotaurs to our side," Dragana says glancing at me.

"Does everyone agree?" I ask the other two.

"Having the strong minotaurs aid us would be a boon," Chrysalis says while Shyla merely nodded.

"Alright then. Dragana, I need you to point me in the direction of Minos," I tell her making her nod.

"Very well," she replies and we head up after Chrysalis bids me farewell with a kiss. "Minos is over there directly, just go straight and you'll reach it," Dragana tells me.

I change to Mercury and stretch my limbs. "Okay, Once I've got their trust, do you want me to make a portal for you to talk to them?" I ask her.

She frowns and shakes her head. "Not yet. The Stronghorn clan will most likely want my head once they find out about Tahway," she replies.

"Fair enough, but he brought it upon himself. Well then, wish me luck!" I say and before she could reply, I bolt off in the direction she pointed at.

To my eyes, I seem to have been running for hours, but to any other, it was mere minutes as I pass out of the badlands and into a flourishing plains with hills dotted about. Trees are spread out on the plains and bushes with and without berries beside them. I spot a couple of ponds and a lake before I make it to a village.

I keep my distance at first just to scope out the minotaurs. I see many of different sizes and colours, of mostly brown, grey, black, and white. Some even with patches of different colours.

They're wearing loincloths and bikini fur clothing, or nothing at all sometimes. Some are armed with spears and others with stone mauls or axes.

Their faces don't look exactly like a cow or bull, but similar to the ponies with their shorter muzzles, bigger eyes, and almost human like lips.

What surprises me the most, is that they have what seems to be tamed wolves following them around loyally. I spot troughs filled with various meats, most likely for the wolves.

A growl from behind me makes me turn my head around slowly to see three wolves snarling at me. Damn these guys are silent when they want to be.

"Erm... hi?" I say lamely making the middle one leap at me.

I quickly move out the way easily and sigh. "Come on fellas, I'm just here to talk with the minotaurs. Can't we be friends?" I ask them.

I'm shocked that they stop and look at each other before the middle one barks at the right who then bolts off to the village.

"You understand me?" I ask the apparent leader who narrows its eyes at me. "Huh, wasn't expecting that. Then again, Shyla's bear seems to be pretty smart," I say to myself and look to the village to see ten armed minotaur guys heading my way.

They arrive in a few minutes and glare at me. "What are you and what are you doing here?" the biggest one in thicker hide armour with bones attached asks me, well, more like demanded. He has deep brown fur with a few patches of lighter brown, his horns are black and about a foot and a half long. His eyes are green and he has a small bone through his nose.

"I am the god of the changelings and have come to warn you about Celestia and request your aid," I reply.

"A god? A tiny thing like you?" he says and snorts.

I frown and change to Hercules. Making the minotaurs get into a combative stance.

"Yes a god! Now then, I've come to help make the changelings and minotaurs friends and allies, even open trade between us," I reply and hold my mace over my shoulder. The minotaurs are only half a foot taller than me now.

"What is that thing he's holding made of?" one of the other males asks another.

"Not sure, it looks like really polished stone..." was his reply.

"And why should we trust the changelings? They take our people and steal their energy, you think we would allow them near our homes and loved ones! They have already taken my brother!" the leader tells me in a deep threatening tone.

"They only do that because of the lie Celestia spread about them. They have no choice, the other option is starvation. Would you allow your people to starve to death or take what you need from others to make sure they stay alive?" I ask him calmly.

"Celestia saw a changeling killing one of her ponies, and since then the changelings constantly attacked us," he tells me angrily.

"All Celestia saw was a changeling standing over a pony, we'll never know what happened to the pony as Celestia blasted the changeling without letting them explain what happened. Besides, I have three hives living together in a City we built. I provide all the love they feed from so they don't need to take others anymore. We even have ponies living in our City now as they fled from Celestia, who by the way, has been possessed by a nightmare," I reply a bit angrily as well.

"The sun alicorn has been possessed?" he asks with a snort. "I've heard enough of your lies. Leave now, and do not return!" he threatens me and readies his stone hammer.

I groan and change to Janus which puts the minotaurs on edge. "Fine, I'll prove it to you," I tell him and open a portal to the Hospital.

Luna and Cadence yelp at the portal's sudden appearance. "By the stars, you will give me a heart attack one day," Luna says looking better than the last time I saw her.

"Sorry, Luna. But I need you to help me convince these minotaurs that your sister has been possessed," I ask her making the minotaurs look at the alicorns in surprise. I didn't notice more of the villagers had come over to see what was going on.

"What magic is this?" a female with snow white fur and wearing a robe of hide and pouches on her hips asks while walking over to the portal and starts circling it. Her hair is a long light brown colour and goes down to the middle of her back. Her body looks different than the other minotaurs, smoother, curvy, and slender than the others muscular bodies.

"Whisper, stand back!" the leader I was talking to tells her.

She ignores his demand and walks right up to me and leans down to face me. I couldn't help but stare at the large pair of clothed breasts hanging in front of my face, they make Aphrodite's look like A or B cups in comparison.

I shake my head and look up into her golden brown eyes. "It is a portal allowing any who pass through it to travel instantly to another part of the world I have been to," I reply to her question.

"Can you teach this spell to others?" she asks me eagerly.

"I'm afraid not, as this is not a spell, but an ability only to the form I am now," I reply making her wilt slightly. "You can use magic?" I ask her with interest.

"Yes, I am one of the few who can harness mag-" she replies but is cut off by the Leader again.

"Whisper Wind! That thing is an enemy! Get away from it!" he tells her and forcefully pulls her away by her arm.

She glares at him and her small horns glow the same colour as her eyes, where the leader is lifted off the ground with an un-amused expression. "You know I hate it when you touch me!" she warns him angrily.

"Whisper, go back to the village now," he tells her in a stern and calm tone, but the frown on his face says he's angry.

"No! I'm tired of you telling me what to do, I am not yours to do with as you please!" she replies and narrows her eyes as sweat starts to form on her brow.

"Perhaps we should speak to them later..." Luna says looking uncomfortable on her hospital bed.

"We are to be bonded, Whisper! As your future mate, I'm telling you to go back!" the leader orders her.

She gasps as her horns glow flutters out and the Leader drops to the ground on his hooves. He then starts stomping over to her making her yelp and run behind me.

"I refuse to be your mate! How many times must I tell you!" she says to him.

"It's not your decision! The elders have chosen me to be your mate, now do as you're told!" he tells her making me frown.

"NO!" she says and then looks down at me with a thoughtful expression. "I claim this male as my mate!" she then says and picks me up into a hug, making me look surprised at her outburst. The others all gasp and the Leader is fuming mad now.

He snorts and glares at me before scuffing his hooves on the dirt. He then roars out and charges right at us making Whisper drop me in fright.

I change back to Hercules making my portal collapse. I drop my mace which sinks into the dirt a bit with a loud thud due to its weight and get ready to grab Mr Leader by the horns.

As soon as he reaches me, I grip both of his horns and slide back from the force of his run. I grunt as I dig my feet into the ground until we both finally stop after a good six metres.

"Alright, I've had enough," I tell him and with a roar of my own, I lift him off the ground and flip him over my head, I continue the momentum as I lean back and he slams back first into the ground.

He grunts from the impact as I let go and quickly stand back up.

"He bested Gareth," one of the minotaurs says in shock as everything goes silent.

I hear a roar behind me as Gareth gets back up. "I, Gareth Stronghorn! Will not accept this! I challenge you to Kargeth!" he yells at me enraged.

I look to Whisper who's standing nervously next to me. "What is Kargeth?" I ask her.

"It's a fight to the death..." she tells me sadly.

"Oh. Wait, did he say his name is Stronghorn?" I say and ask her in surprise.

"Yes, he's the leader of the Stronghorn Clan," she tells me.

"Aw, fuck me..." I say as I look at the fuming bull.