On Wings Of Black And White

The shady monster was sent reeling back by the impact between it and its foes, its yellow eyes glaring at the human and the alicorn with vehemence. Mysteeri cracked her knuckles as she stared right back at the beast, purple lightning crackling around her.

PUPPET PONY

“Do you have a plan of attack?” Twilight asked, prepping an incantation at her horn.

“I have a plan.” Mysteeri said as she adopted a fighting stance “Attack.”

Before Twilight could say a word to disagree, Mysteeri charged forward with ferocious speed, slamming her fist into the dark creature’s face, the resounding THWACK echoing throughout the valley. The monster hissed as it put its puppet’s hoof to its cheek, responding to Mysteeri’s taunting smirk with an equally powerful headbutt directly into her stomach.

Mysteeri huffed as she came to a complete stop, Twilight flying into the fray from underneath her while blasting the creature with bolts of magical energy, the impacts on their foe shimmered like fireworks as the monster bellowed out under their force. Mysteeri smirked and dashed around to the monster’s back, igniting herself with a pink flame and ramming her full weight into the beast’s back, sending them hurtling through the ravine toward the rapids below.

The beast’s wings suddenly turned into giant claws that grabbed Mysteeri and forced her under it as the rapid descent continued, pinning the witch’s arms to her side, they struggled against each other’s strength as the floor continued to approach. Mysteeri’s hair then went alight with a lavender glow, firing thin streams of pure energy from the many points her wild style had, piercing through the beast’s chest.

With a tremendous screech, the beast slammed Mysteeri into the a hard, cold boulder that jutted out of the rapids – seemingly cackling to itself as it pulled back to prepare another blow before being rammed into the water by Twilight, the princess holding out her hoof to Mysteeri as their foe struggled in the waters below.

“…Thanks.” Mysteeri grunted as Twilight pulled her from the indent she had made on the rock.

“Your plan could have used a bit more thought.” Twilight quipped before the beast burst out from under the waves, its claws wings grabbing its foes and smashing them full force into the canyon’s walls “This thing’s vicious…!” Twilight growled, unleashing a pulse of magic that forced the beast back, Mysteeri groaning as she dropped to one knee. The shadowy beast charged for Twilight once more as she prepared to fire another blast of magic at it.

BANG!

The beast was sent tumbling out of the air and face first into the mud below as a powerful blast like thunder echoed throughout the walls of the canyon. Twilight’s gaze was taken by a large hole that had been torn through the wing of the beast, looking to Mysteeri to see her holding a sizable black as night firearm in her left hand, as she stood upright another one appeared in her right hand, though this one was a vibrant silver.

“You don’t see those every day.” Twilight mused, landing beside Mysteeri as their opponent staggered back up itself.

“Custom made.” Mysteeri replied, keeping the guns trained on the beast “Midnight and Moonrise.” She motioned with the black and silver guns respectively “To be honest, I’m surprised I could summon them…thought universal interference would get in the way.”

“Well, no time to think about that now.” Twilight’s horn went alight with magic as their foe began marching towards them once more, a menacing growl emanating from within it. It quickly turned to standoff between the fighters, Mysteeri remaining steadfast with her pistols aimed square at the beast, Twilight with magic swirling around her horn whilst the beast continued to growl at them.

“Hey, princess.” Mysteeri whispered “Think you can use your magic to get to that guy?” She gestured to the victim of their opponent, still as limp as he was when the fight started.

Twilight hummed as she put a hoof to her chin “It’s worth a try…I’m going to need an opening, though.”

Mysteeri spun the guns in her hands, finishing with aiming them skyward “One opening, coming right up.” A large gust of wind blasted through the canyon as Mysteeri broke into a full charge, slamming Moonrise’s barrel into the side of the beast’s face, not even giving it a second to recover before delivering a deadly kick into its chin, sending it flying onto its back, leaping into the air with a purple flame around her.

The beast’s look of shock quickly turned to rage as Mysteeri came back down, kicking its hooves up as Mysteeri got close with tremendous force, a sickening CRACK reverberating off the stone walls as hoof met bone. The force of the kick was strong enough to bring the beast back to its feet in an instant as Mysteeri slammed back into the ground, Moonrise vanishing into thin air as she clutched her left arm.

Twilight flinched at the sight of Mysteeri continuing to hold her arm as she stood back up, a storm of different colours swirling around her horn now “It’s almost ready, Mysteeri, just a little longer!”

Mysteeri nodded, releasing her arm and summoning Moonrise back into her hand. Before she could return fire to the beast, it broke into a mad dash for her. The pistols vanished completely as Mysteeri brought her arms up and braced for the impact, sliding back in the mud as the beast rammed into her. She grabbed onto each side of its face as she came to a stop, their burning eyes meeting mere inches away from each other as they pushed their might against each other.

The beast suddenly wrenched its head upward, forcing Mysteeri’s guard wide open. Shock covering her face, Mysteeri was forced into the mud with a hoof on her chest. The beast leaned down, breathing as if it was laughing at the witch. It lit up with a white glow, Mysteeri baring her fangs in response.

Just as the beast threw its head back down, it was blasted by a wave purple magic, sending it careening into the mud itself. Twilight immediately sprinted over to Mysteeri as she stood “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Mysteeri!” She yelped as she helped the witch balance “I didn’t realise it was so powerful!”

“…I don’t understand.” Mysteeri said flatly.

“Huh?”

“…It’s clearly here from the comet, but – the fact it was able to read me so quickly…” She trailed off, muttering to herself eventually. Twilight looked to the now limp, shadowy monster. Just as she considered approaching it, it suddenly burst out of the pony’s body, revealing its true form like that of a void itself, still taking the form of a pony-like creature, it shrieked at the two victors before flying off, fading from view as it approached the faint comet against the bright blue sky.

Twilight then turned her attention to the pony it left behind, completely unharmed from the fight. Wings suddenly appeared on his sides “It must have been trying to disguise itself.” She thought aloud “But it can only change a pony’s race…hmm…” She hummed as she looked to Mysteeri, still holding her arm “Are you going to be OK?”

“Yeah…” Mysteeri nodded, releasing her arm “Hurts like hell, but it’s not broken.”

“Ugh…” The Pegasus groaned as he stirred, slowly opening his eyes “Huh!?” He bolted to his feet, eyes darting around “Where am I!?” He froze when he noticed Twilight standing across from him “Gah!” He immediately went into a bow “Princess Twilight!”

“Um…at ease, sir.” Twilight gingerly gestured with her hoof, the Pegasus standing upright “I take it you don’t remember how you got here?”

The Pegasus cleared his throat, his voice turning gentle “No, Princess Twilight, I’m afraid I don’t. I was simply observing the comet when I passed out…and now I’m here.”

“So it possessed him simply by eyesight.” Mysteeri crossed her arms.

“What’s your name, sir?” Twilight asked.

“Gael Force, Princess.” Gael nodded his head “It’s an honour to be speaking with you.”

“Charming fella, ain’t ya?” Mysteeri put her hands on her head, only to scowl upon realising she was covered in mud.

“Oh, hello.” Gael responded with another nod “I don’t believe, we’ve…” He looked Mysteeri up and down “…met.”

“You don’t need to worry about her appearance.” Twilight said, “We do need to know about your…encounter, though.”

“Encounter?” Gael questioned; head tilted.

Mysteeri stepped forward “This probably isn’t the best place to discuss things. Can barely hear myself think over the rapids.” She glanced to the rushing water, then back to the ponies.

Twilight nodded “Mister Force, would you be willing to discuss this back at Ponyville?”

Gael nodded “Of course, Princess Twilight. Although I still don’t know what you mean by encounter…”

Ponyville, some time later…

Mysteeri, Gael and Twilight were sat outside Café Hay, with Mysteeri now back in her cat form and sitting on the table near Twilight, Gael had the most perplexed expression on his face as Twilight recounted the fight.

“…Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t recall anything to do with a fight.” Gael shook his head “But the mention of the comet, I do have something I can tell you about that.”

“You do!?” Twilight’s face lit up “Please, tell us everything you can!”

Mysteeri just sat in silence.

“Well, it was very early this morning…”

5:27AM, Cloudsdale

Gael excitedly dashed out onto his balcony; his gaze so fixated on the comet in the sky above that he bumped into the railing. Quickly regaining his balance, he reached back through the door and pulled out a mounted camera, already pointed to the heavens.

After some adjustment, the Pegasus smirked “Perfect.” He nodded his head, inches away from pressing the button when a cold chill blew through the air. Gael immediately backed up from the camera, glancing around into the night sky. An odd feeling of pressure fell upon him, as if there were eyes boring into his soul from every direction.

The Pegasus shrunk away from the balcony, carefully backing up inside until he was frozen to the spot by a being of pure darkness slamming onto the railing of his balcony, opening two bright yellow eyes that drilled straight through him, the Pegasus unable to move a muscle as the creature took on a large pony-like form, slowly approaching him.

An almighty screech could be heard all throughout Cloudsdale that dawn, jolting many a pony out of their sleep in the waning hours of the sun.

Ponyville, Present

“And you don’t remember a thing after that?” Mysteeri asked, “Nothing at all, no dream-like state? The next thing you know, you were awake in the canyon?”

Gael nodded “Yep – the next thing I knew, I was face down in the dirt with you two standing nearby.”

“I see…” Twilight nodded “Well, thank you for your time-“

“GAEL!?”

Starburst’s voice pierced the air, Mysteeri leaping so far into the air she went straight off the table. Gael turned around to see Starburst making a dash straight for them, sliding to a halt mere inches away from crashing into them “I haven’t seen you in forever, where’d you go!?”

“C-Cloudsdale, you never thought to visit?” Gael stammered.

“I don’t know the spell to walk on clouds, Gael, I was so busy with university you were meant to come visit me, remember?” Starburst spoke so quickly it was hard to even pick up on what she was saying.

Mysteeri grumbled as she jumped back onto the table “At least you’re looking better.”

Starburst looked to Mysteeri and Twilight, the princess giving her a friendly wave “O-Oh. Sorry, I haven’t seen Gael in so long I didn’t notice you sitting there.”

“You still have that cloak I gave you at least.” Gael chuckled, observing the pristine condition it was in “You really took care of it, huh?”

“Of course, I would!” Starburst nudged Gael’s chest with her hoof “I’d never let my best friend’s Hearth’s Warming gift get damaged!” She took another look to Twilight and Mysteeri “So, ah, what were you guys talking about?”

“Gael was possessed by the black creatures.” Mysteeri said flatly.

“What!?” Starburst shrieked, Mysteeri recoiling with flattened ears. Starburst cleared her throat “Sorry…what happened?”

“Gael says he was going to take some pictures of the comet, only for this black creature to show up and possess him. It must have been sent to find Mysteeri after she took out those monsters last night. At least, that’s what I think.” Twilight explained, Starburst’s gaze quickly shifting between her and Gael “We had to fight it, and when we drove it off, Gael came to. He doesn’t remember anything between being possessed and waking up.”

“I just hope it doesn’t take another try.” Starburst shook her head “Do you have any idea where it went?”

“Nope.” Mysteeri replied “It flew off but the moment it got close to the comet, it vanished. Considering how far away the comet really is,” she looked up to the sky, only to see the comet hidden behind a large cloud “…that shouldn’t be entirely possible without some kind of teleportation. If they’re coming from the comet itself.” Yawning as she lay down, the cat tilted her head as she looked back to Starburst “How long were you out for?”

“I woke up just a few hours ago. Since you were gone, I thought you’d gone out to take care of some things yourself.” Starburst said, Mysteeri quietly nodding as she spoke “So, I went to find Fluttershy to talk to her about the comet issue.”

“Oh!” Twilight happily exclaimed “What did she say?”

“Well, her…boyfriend? Some…weird dragon-looking guy.”

“That would be Discord.” Twilight smiled.

“That’s Discord!?” Starburst’s eyes went wide “Well, ah, anyway, he said that whatever forces had been woken up by the arrival of the comet, he could feel them, too. Fluttershy also said that she had seen a lot of strange-looking animals amongst the trees, which may have been some of the comet’s creatures watching her.”

“They’ve already got a bead on the others, huh? Hopefully we’re not too slow.” Mysteeri shook her head “It feels weird, though.”

“What does?” Gael asked.

“I’m so used to fighting my way through problems, whenever I have to do something in these major events I end up getting involved with, I always end up fighting someone or something in order for things to proceed…it just feels weird for things to work out through talking.” Mysteeri mused, absent mindedly waving one of her paws about as she spoke.

Starburst chuckled “You must come from a pretty crazy place, then, huh?”

“I guess you could say that.” Mysteeri shrugged, letting out the slightest of giggles herself.

“Fluttershy’s always been a kind soul, it’s good to hear she understood the problem.” Twilight spoke “But that part about the comet’s effects being able to be felt by Discord, I can only hope this isn’t more powerful than we’re thinking.”

“Yeah.” Starburst nodded “If things get too out of hands, then I fear that we may end up with people who I don’t want involved…”

Mysteeri interrupted “Hey, you summoned me for a reason, didn’tcha?”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Starburst nodded “I’m sure you’re hiding a whole wealth of power from us even now!”

“Right, well,” Gael said as he got off his seat “I best be heading back to Cloudsdale. Everypony is probably wondering where I am.”

“That would be best.” Starburst replied, “Don’t go letting yourself get possessed again!”

Gael laughed, a hoof on his chest “I wouldn’t count on that happening again!” He spread his wings and took to the air, waving to the group as he took off into the sky.

“We have enough time to see if we can get another one of the Elements to help us out today, Mysteeri.” Starburst turned back to her and Twilight “I was thinking we could go and find…Applebuck?”

“Applejack.” Twilight corrected her “You know where Sweet Apple Acres is, right?”

“Mhm.” Starburst nodded “I may be bad with names, but I’m not that bad with locations!”

Mysteeri hopped over Starburst’s head and onto her back “You wanna come with, Twilight?”

Twilight shook her head “Sorry, the rest of my day is pretty full. I had some time off now, but my schedule is filled to bursting until night. But if you two need anything, though, then I’m sure Starburst wouldn’t forget where my castle is!”

Starburst playfully rolled her eyes in response “Yeah, yeah, I know.” She waved her friend goodbye and began walking back through town. Mysteeri gently raised her paw as Twilight waved them farewell in return.