On Wings Of Black And White

The giant orb of darkness simply stared down at the three ponies, as if it were…thinking, yet its crimson pupil left all three of them stricken with a cold shiver.

No one moved, not an inch, the only noise being the flapping of wings and the howl of the wind. Starburst shuffled her feet and lowered her head, horn glimmering with a pink light.

“How do we deal with this thing?” Rainbow Dash questioned; eyes fixated on the creature.

Before her question could be answered, the cosmic black thing hurled a beam of black and red energy at them. Gael yelped and rammed Starburst’s cloud of the way, dropping down below the blast himself. The creature became surrounded by a gentle red flame, its hum sounding through the air once more.

COSMIC BEING

“That was vicious!” Starburst hissed “You OK, Gael!?”

Gael hovered back up to the cloud, rolling his neck “Yeah, that wasn’t something you want to stare down the barrel of.”

“Heh, well, at least it’ll be a good fight!” Rainbow Dash scoffed before blasting towards the creature, the shockwave ripping through the air. Followed by a trail of colour, Rainbow Dash spiralled and weaved through the many blasts the creature sent her way, which went careening past her, now heading straight for Gael and Starburst. In an instant, a bubble-like shield appeared before the pair, the blasts of energy exploding into wild, crimson bursts against it.

“EEYAH!” Rainbow Dash yelled out as she spun over, ramming her hind hooves into the creature’s eye. It let out a horrid, otherworldly shriek as another shockwave tore through the air, sending Rainbow Dash flying away. The creature began to writhe about, its circular shape warping and contorting into uneven, almost impossible shapes.

Rainbow Dash looped back around to the other two, a hoof on her chest “Down in one! No need to thank me!”

Before Gael or Starburst could get a word out in response, the creature suddenly let out another bellow, its eye opening back up once more to reveal pure red with a singular black dot in the middle of it all. It immediately roared once more and unleashed a barrage of black energy towards the ponies.

“Time to go to work, then.” Starburst flicked her head, responding to the barrage with her own onslaught of magical blasts, matching the creature shot for shot with the collisions resulting in an enormous smokescreen between them, yet each shot countered each other perfectly, leaving Gael and Rainbow Dash to stare mouths agape at the clash. Gael glanced to his old friend as the smell of sulphur filled the air, she didn’t even have the slightest hint of worry in her eyes, they were only filled with fire.

“Well, this party’s getting crazy!” Rainbow Dash spread her wings “Let’s rock!”

She and Gael dashed off, leaving Starburst to clash with the creature, her cloak billowing in the wind.

Gael and Rainbow Dash arched around the blue pegasus’ house, the smoke beginning to fall to the ground below as they did. Gael was the first to make an approach, only for a gaping hole to open up in the creature’s side, sending him right through it. He screeched to a halt and turned back to look up just as Rainbow Dash was sent flying through it as well. They exchanged a glance before dashing back up to the creature, once again being sent flying through a suddenly materialized hole.

An idea then flashed into Rainbow Dash’s mind “UP THE ANTE, STARBURST!” She shouted over the constant, air-rupturing explosions “WE NEED HIM TOTALLY DISTRACTED…I THINK!”

Starburst’s body sparkled with magic, followed by the individual shots being turned into a spinning combination of beams of pink and purple. The creature responded in kind, the smoke slowly parting to reveal each beam spinning in perfect tandem, slowly inching closer together until they unified into one colossal beam of darkness on one side and magic on the other. Starburst’s expression remained steadfast, baring her teeth as she dug her hooves into the cloud.

“That should do it!” Gael smirked, speeding off once more. Rainbow Dash instead glanced to the distance, a devilish smirk forming. She zoomed off into the horizon, vanishing in only seconds. Gael then came hurtling back with a crack of thunder. As he slammed into the creature with a mighty force, this time no hole opened up, instead the being groaned and strained, yet kept its focus square on its clash with Starburst. Gael continued to push further in, now pushing the creature’s dark being through itself, stretching it like it were rubber.

“Come on…!” Gael hissed through clenched teeth, the creature’s beam shaking and stuttering as the pegasus forced its own body through it.

Finally, Gael completely forced his way through the creature with a popping sound that sounded like it was from beyond this realm - its beam disappeared in an instant. Starburst fell to one leg, gasping for breath the moment the clash disappeared. Dark astral energy poured from the rough, gaping hole in the creature’s side, Gael grinning to himself as he saw the creature begin to writhe and shriek once more.

It was then that a thunderous, yet distant explosion caught everyone’s attention. The horizon was filled with a full spectrum of colour, covering the land in pure rainbow, lesser clouds being obliterated as the shockwave tore through Equestria.

A streak of rainbow came hurtling over Ponyville and straight through the writhing creature, splattering it into a dozen pieces. Starburst was quick to regain her footing, another large beam of pink magic erupting forth from her horn, consuming the shattered remains of the creature in a blinding light. The creature shrieked and roared from within the beam until it was reduced to naught but cinders.

Starburst’s eruption of magic faded into thin air with a high-pitched whine, leaving the unicorn to fall flat onto the cloud, panting for breath. Gael was quick to return as the rainbow light vanished, sunlight returning from the sky.

“We get it?” Starburst questioned.

“We got it.” Gael nodded in reply.

“That’s good.” Starburst smiled, grunting as she pushed herself back upright “Augh, I’ve never had to hold that spell for so long.”

Gael chuckled as he lightly jabbed Starburst “Hey, you looked like you were more dedicated to that than I’ve ever seen you. You really are something else when your blood starts pumping.”

The streak of rainbow returned from the horizon, coming to a halt right beside the two ponies, revealing Rainbow Dash “How was THAT!?” She bellowed, laughing proudly “Fastest flier in Equestria, bar none!”

Starburst and Gael sighed in unison.

“Well, that’s that issue dealt with.” Starburst shook her head, putting her mane back in position “Will you help us with dealing with the comet?”

“A promise is a promise!” Rainbow Dash smiled “I’ll be there!”

“Ah, thank you, Rainbow Dash.” Starburst replied, then looked to Gael “Now, can you get me down? It’s kinda cold up here.”

Castle of Friendship, just a few moments earlier…

“So, those are real wings, and that’s a real tail…” Twilight said, Mysteeri sitting with her arms and legs crossed as she listened to Twilight “And there’s another thing, about that…suit.”

Mysteeri raised an eyebrow “What of it?”

“It isn’t just a suit anymore; it’s quite literally become your…coat.” Twilight said, gesturing to the pitch-black covering on Mysteeri’s body “Look closer.”

Mysteeri raised her arm to get a closer look at the black that covered her, now seeing slight ruffles and traces of thin…fur all over it. Any attempt to grip it was met with nothing, not even the elasticity it usually had. Mysteeri immediately dropped it, putting a hand on her chin “That explains why it felt like my hands were starting to go numb at night…”

“If my calcul-“ Twilight was interrupted by a tremendous boom hitting the castle, sending books and other loose objects flying off whatever they were perched upon, the alicorn herself being sent lurching forward, yet the feeling of the floor never hit her face, instead finding Mysteeri suddenly right in front of her, holding her by the chest. Twilight stumbled back and shook her head rapidly as a prismatic light filled the room, gazing around in wonder as the room was illuminated.

“You good?” Mysteeri asked as she stood up herself, her stiff legs struggling to get her upright.

“I am. Thank you.” Twilight said “But…by Starswirl’s beard, what did Rainbow Dash do this time?”

There was a slight ruffle from under Mysteeri’s hair, the human approaching the window “There’s your answer.” She pointed to the distant home of the responsible pegasus, seeing a large, swirling beam of magic fading into the air “…Looks like things got violent. Guess some of the creatures are more ballsy than others.”

“That beam was definitely Starburst.” Twilight commented, “She may seem a little awkward at times, but wow does she put on a show when she’s in the mood.”

Mysteeri chuckled as she returned to her seat, idly watching the many colours covering the room which were now slowly fading “Hopefully I get to see a full display of that, then.” She looked down to her transformed body “Now - about the suit’s…change.”

“Uh huh?” Twilight hummed, trotting back up to Mysteeri “What of it?”

“How long until this spreads?” Mysteeri asked, holding up her hand.

Twilight shook her head “I can’t give you a proper time, to be honest, but considering the rate I saw your wings and tail growing, if you can get out of here on the same day as Hungaar’s closest approach, the transformation shouldn’t…” She suddenly trailed off, Mysteeri leaning forward, head tilted.

“Twilight?” She quizzed “Shouldn’t be what?”

“Permanent.”

Mysteeri slowly retracted back into the seat at the word, tapping her fingers against the arm as she let out a sigh “Fuck…”

“And on top of that – reality around you is unstable.” Twilight added, Mysteeri’s eyes going wide at the mention.

“How do you know that?” The witch asked, briefly glancing away before looking back to the alicorn. Sure, she knew that the fabric of reality itself was…shaky where she was from, but for it to follow her? Surely that wasn’t possible “Perhaps that’s why Luna…” She hummed to herself, thinking back to Luna’s warning prior.

“Some of my magic was reacting strangely around you – it’s an extremely small area, practically precisely an inch off you, but I’ve only seen my magic react the way it did once before. If your transformation were to somehow complete before the day of closest approach, unless you did something crazy, you wouldn’t be able to leave. I think.” Twilight said, her and Mysteeri keeping a firm gaze on each other as the alicorn spoke.

Mysteeri broke it by looking down to her wrists and placing her left hand on the gold bracelet that covered it, muttering to herself before Twilight spoke up once more.

“And I know the purpose of those, too.”

What kind of tests did she run? Sure, Mysteeri had only been asleep for thirty minutes, but to find out the purpose of the bracelets that easily?

“…Limiters.” Mysteeri sighed “Yeah, I’m…not entirely human.”

Twilight looked to the bracelets again “Why do you need limiters?”

“It’s…complicated. Complicated to the point where not even I nor my…boss know why I need them. I just had this awakening of incredible power one time and they barely even managed to get these on me before I blew myself up.” Mysteeri examined the bracelets as she spoke, shrugging “They don’t normally look like this, nor do I usually wear this, but yeah.”

“Wow – to think Starburst summoned someone as strong as you with such ease.” Twilight smiled “Speaking of Starburst, I imagine that means Rainbow Dash knows about your plan now.”

Mysteeri crossed her arms and nodded “More than likely. So that’s…” She began to mutter to herself again before raising her voice back up to its usual level “Four down, two to go.”

“Rarity and Pinkie, that would be!” Twilight levitated a picture of herself and the other elements of harmony over to Mysteeri, who held it between her fingers. There were two ponies she knew she didn’t recognise, a white unicorn and a bright pink earth pony. Simple enough.

The witch handed the picture back to Twilight “Hopefully things won’t have to get loud.” She said, summoning one of her pistols to her hand “At least they still work.”

A brief moment of silence fell upon the two as they thought, Twilight opening her mouth to speak only to immediately close it, shaking her head.

“So like…what kinda books you got in here?” Mysteeri finally spoke, to which Twilight’s face lit up with glee.

Underneath Rainbow Dash’s house

“Ahh…solid ground.” Starburst sighed as Gael set her down “Thank you, Rainbow Dash. We didn’t intend to get ourselves into a fight.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled and flicked her mane back “Don’t worry about it, really. Haven’t moved that fast in ages, though!”

Gael glanced up to Rainbow Dash’s house, staring at the spot their battle had taken place. Something still felt…off about it, a gut feeling, maybe, but he couldn’t place his hoof on what it was. Shaking his head, he looked to the girls “So, you’ll be able to help Starburst out with her plan?”

“Can do!” Rainbow Dash nodded “Where’s the gathering point?”

“Twilight’s Castle – in three days.” Starburst said, “If anything else shows up, could you let us know?”

“I’ll be over in a flash.” Rainbow Dash smiled, extending her hoof. Starburst blinked in surprise at the gesture before extending her own, shaking it with Rainbow Dash’s “See ya round!” Rainbow Dash took off into the air, leaving a sparkling trail of rainbows behind her.

“Quite high energy, isn’t she?” Gael asked, to which Starburst nodded “Say, where’s Mysteeri, anyway?”

Starburst’s eyes went wide again “Oh shit I didn’t tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

“Mysteeri is…changing.” Starburst slowly spoke, looking about awkwardly “She’s grown wings and a tail – and her legs have changed, too.”

“Overnight?” Gael replied, bewildered “That’s impossible, nobody just…transforms. Hell, I’ve never even heard of transformation actually happening!”

Starburst sighed “Neither had I – but Mysteeri isn’t from here, remember? I left her with Twilight, she should know some more things by now.”

Back at Twilight’s Castle

“How bizarre…” Mysteeri mused “It’s the exact same as back home, word for word.” In her hand was a book entitled ‘A Collection of William Bridle.’ “This should be impossible; our universes are too far apart for any correlations to exist.”

For once in her life, Twilight was absolutely lost. She’d read that book a handful of times, sure, but all this talk about universal correlations, distance and similarities was where her knowledge ended. She just stared at the witch as she muttered out the same poem over and over.

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand and a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.” Mysteeri snapped the book shut “I don’t get it, why, of all things, is Blake a constant?”

“I’m…afraid I don’t know what you mean.” Twilight said, taking a sip from her tea “Universal constants? You lost me when you started talking about that kind of stuff.”

Mysteeri hummed “The closer two universes are, the more likely that there will be duplicates of things in them. There’s essentially another version of me in the universe I’m living in, but this universe and mine are so far apart that, well, it’s hard to explain why things change so much, but a world of ponies having the same poetry as my world, that should be downright impossible.”

“That does sound quite strange.” Twilight nodded, “I wonder if there’s another you here, too?”

“Doubt it.” Mysteeri shrugged “Gael and Starburst should be coming back to tell us about their scuffle by now.”

As if on cue, Starburst burst the door to the library open, followed shortly by a more casual Gael “Oh thank Celestia you guys are still here.” Starburst said between pants for breath.

“You seriously ran all the way here?” Mysteeri asked, pushing herself out of the chair and onto her feet “Couldn’t let Gael carry you?”

“I offered, but apparently it’s embarrassing.” Gael smirked, only for Starburst to buck him in the chest, sending him flying back out the room.

“Well, look, we have Rainbow Dash in on the plan.” Starburst shot the dazed Gael a glare before turning to the other two “So, what’s the uh…diagnosis?”

Before Twilight could start speaking, Mysteeri immediately began herself, crossing her arms as she began “The distance between our universes is having an effect on me, whilst normally any changes to me would be instant, it would seem my universe’s unstable reality has followed me here, resulting in the slower transformation, which I imagine some of my magic has been staving off, hence why I only transform further while asleep.”

“Uh huh…” Starburst nodded “How long until you fully transform?”

“Four days.” Twilight finally interjected, “If we can send her home on the same day as Hungaar’s closest approach, the transformation should be reversed. If not…”

Mysteeri tutted before finishing Twilight’s sentence “If not, I’m trapped here unless I do ‘something crazy.’ But the only crazy thing I can think of…” She raised her arms, showing her gold bracelets “involves these.”

“Well…hopefully it doesn’t come to that.” Starburst said, “And hopefully nothing finds a way to speed up your change.”

“Don’t jinx it…” Gael groaned as he walked back in, a hoof on his head “Man, you hit like a truck…”

Mysteeri gave Gael a brief glance, the pegasus noticing the stare, to which Mysteeri immediately looked away “So…that only leaves two. Rarity and Pinkie Pie, was it?”

“Mhm.” Twilight nodded “You should be able to find Rarity at her boutique, but for Pinkie…”

“What, what about her?” Starburst questioned.

“SURPRIIIIISE!” The pony in question burst out of a nearby hole with a suitable onslaught of confetti and party streamers, to which Mysteeri let out a very cat-like shriek and shot several times her own height into the air.

“She usually finds you.”