Chapter 1 - Waking Up (unedited)
Nero was brought to a little ravine 300 or some odd years ago by someone he called friend. In fact, it's because of her that he's in a stony prison.
This place, where it began all those years ago. Has stood unshaken by time as the years passed, until a lord of chaos; more commonly known as Discord flooded the forest with his twisted magic.
The forest was once known as Evergreen forest, it was home to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna until Discords chaotic nature wrapped its bony hands around the warm forest and turned it cold. Filled with sadness and entropy.
The royal sisters tried their best to contain the horrific magic that Discord imposed upon their home. Unfortunately their efforts were in vain because by the time they were ready to drive him back, their precious forest and castle were destroyed. And Discord flying away in the distance, giggling like a little girl while avoiding the waves of magic from the sisters. Magic that had no intentions on sparing your health, quite the opposite actually.
After his unflattering departure, both Princesses went to quick work with healing their beloved forest and home where they grew up.
The long agonizing hours of labor turned into days, and then weeks, months and lastly years. Despite their best efforts, the damage couldn't be undone; They stopped trying to fix the region and started looking elsewhere to call home as there was little point in trying to repair something that couldn't be fixed.
Both royal sisters; outraged and livid, gathered the elements of harmony and swore to each other that Discord will pay for his tyranny.
Discord roamed freely for a brief time and before long, he was cast to stone. Head held high and mouth wide open Guffawing to the heavens with a mismatch of limbs spread wide, as if welcoming any challenger that dared to challenge him.
History books were not too kind for the Chaotic Draconiquus. In fact, if you were to look for any information regarding Discord. All you would find is a general description of what he looked like, his mastery of chaos magic and what he's done to many ponies in regards of his cruel tomfoolery. What was left out however was his actions towards Greenwood forest.
In all honesty, there is no mortal alive today that knows about the historic forest and what the princesses sacrificed for it. The only beings that are aware are Celestia & Luna themselves, Discord and Nero (sorta).
Not much is known about the demonic hunter either other than that fact that he has a smartass mouth and he's really strong like REALLY strong, you really don't want to get on his bad side. According to legend, Nero had a nice side to him and he saved countless lives during the battle of the changelings.
Due to time passing, books and scrolls deteriorated; completely erasing any information about the already scarcely known young hunter. If a scholar truly wished to understand history from mere centuries ago, they would have to be a very powerful mage. Many scholars have tried various advanced magic techniques and nopony has ever managed to dig up any information about Nero, probably because there is no spell in existence that could rejuvenate dilapidated paper. Which would more often than not turn to ash even from the touch of a feather.
Lost in time and place, nopony would ever guess that the legendary Nero himself would be in the forest currently known as the Everfree.
Overlooking the small ravine filled with cracked stone, some broken glass and a funny smell. Nero stood tall, his sapphire orbs piercing the veil of moonlight shining upon his white haired head. Although you would never know due to the chalky white stone that he was imprisoned with, making it impossible to know for certain.
Nero being the impatient hunter that he is, was becoming increasingly desperate for freedom as time dragged its heavy boots. It was so bad that not even a year after his stony transformation, he went stir crazy after losing almost all patience that he had left. Even going as far as to pray to God despite not being a believer, the reply to his cries came in the form of bird droppings all over his chest and back. He didn't need a nose to know that he smelled appalling to say the least.
After year ten came and went; The only thing that could keep him even slightly sane, were the numerous thoughts of his best friend and lover; Kyrie.
This Auburn haired beauty was perfect to him in every way. Her personality, appearance, Hell; even the way she presented herself with decency was done gracefully. She could do the most mundane of tasks such as eating or sleeping but that didn't matter to Nero, it sent butterflies throughout his chest and made his heart skip a couple beats.
Because of the many years that have passed without smell, taste, touch or sleep. Nero has long forgotten the basic necessities of everyday life while screaming internal torment, wishing more than anything that he could eat once more; longing for that deep breath of crisp spring air to revitalize his dried out throat and lungs.
Out of all the things going through his head, there was one thing that he desired in his heart of hearts more than anything in the world. And that was Kyrie. Knowing that time has passed but never knowing quite how much time has passed, he pondered for many hours about things that could have happened. His marriage for instance, he pictured her in much vivid detail. From her face all the way to the dress she was wearing, including color and patterns. Nero personally fancied a simple white wedding gown with a ruby rose circlet resting atop her head. Why? because he saw no point to complicate things, his love for her was real and she didn't need to wear a specific outfit to be beautiful to him. He knew that the moment he first saw her, greeting him with that special smile of hers and waving.
And so, Nero awaited his freedom with a hopeful heart to see his beloved once again. Thinking of all the ways he could return back to the human world. Back to Kyrie.
Sadly this will never come to fruition for it is folly...
First Person POV
Drip
I don't care what anyone says, standing in one place for longer than five minutes sucks. Unfortunately for me I get to live the rock life...
Drip
Which means that I can't move, or smell, or sleep. Hell, I can't even move my damn eyes! Here's a suggestion, If you're going to turn somebody into a paralyzed vegetable. At least don't let him suffer! As much as I like nature, I would like to look at other things besides grass and the same tree that i've seen for the past 200 or more years. Lost count after year 204. Then the days went by much more faster after I stopped keeping track of time, not the greatest idea I know but at least I had Kyrie with me.
"Kyrie..."
Plink
I miss her so much...
If I think hard enough, I can still sorta feel her in my arms. Smell her sweet cherry scent. At least I think I do.
Honestly I wouldn't even BE in this situation right now if it weren't for that.... that bitch Celestia!
Deep within the pit of my stomach, a miasma of rage bursts throughout my mind. Clenching a subconscious fist, thoughts counting by the thousands of her death gave my demons plenty of fuel to carry on. Most of them ending with a sword to the throat or a bullet in the head.
"Celestia... you're gonna get what's coming to you, I swear!"
CRRAAAAAAACK!
During my self reflecting, I failed to notice that the weather changed drastically. Sunny and the occasional cloud or two turned into a full on thunderstorm. A storm which rage around me fiercely.
"Well at least I can get a shower now. It's been weeks since its rained anyway, might as well enjoy."
Two hours later
Second Person POV
As the storm raged onward, large pink clouds started swirling far in the sky before descending at a rapid unsteady pace towards the hunter. Who thought the clouds were weird enough, and now said clouds are spewing out chocolate milk.
Nero could swear that he heard the occasional laugh here and there during the rain, but he had no luck pinpointing its source. Thinking that he's losing it, he silenced his thoughts and chose to instead listen quietly with rapt attention. Training his ears to take in everything around him. The sounds of brittle leaves blowing in the wind, grass whipping back and forth and the loud booms of thunder that cast overhead were the only things he could hear for the longest time. At least until he heard that laughing again.
"I definitely heard that that time. Who the hell is crazy or stupid enough to mess around during a storm?"
Images of Dante; his uncle, holding a box of pizza in one hand and a strawberry milkshake in the other. Dancing while singing babyshark in the pouring rain, hair sticking to his face. Both food items getting drenched and becoming inedible.
"Heh heh heh, of course HE would. But that just makes him special. Damn Crazy bastard."
The boisterous laughter got much louder as a few clouds make their way to the ground. Nero could see it touching the ground, suddenly exploding and sending shards of pink fluff along the ground and even several feet around him.
What got his attention however was the Creature in front of him. He couldn't even tell what it was, just a mish mash of body parts varying from species to race.
Said creature continued laughing with its eyes closed, a large grin etched across his face.
"Yoohooo! I have returned my precious little ponies!" He sarcastically uttered. "Your new king is in need of a new throne stat! Celestias' fat behind has been sat there for far too long and unfortunately even a deep cleaning won't get that stain out!" Discord was used to the screams of terrified ponies, the squeals of little orphans and the shouts of angry soldiers so imagine his surprise when he found none of those things. Instead being met with silence and not a pony to be seen.
His mismatched red eyes looked around confused, not understanding why nopony was showering their new king with gifts, candy and virgin mares. Lifting his lion paw, he snaps his fingers. Summoning a tiny box full of infinite mysterious, otherwise known as Pandora's box.
"Hmm, why is nopony cheering for me? Actually, why isn't ANYPONY here?" His eagle talon and lion paw rummages through the box, idly pulling things out that should be possible. "No no no... this just wont do. Now where did I put that thing?" A squeaky doll gets pulled out and quickly tossed aside. Same thing with the rubber chicken after that.
After unloading dozens of random items, Including a blue whale (he had to use both hands and a leg for that). He took out a small device that beeped a couple times and inspected it with scrutiny.
"Well isn't that strange? I intended to make my entrance at ponyville but I guess I was a teeensy weeensy bit off, ah well; No matter!" his fingers snap and everything suddenly disappears, including the box and GPS.
"I shall make my appearance when they least expect it, might even teleport in some ponies house. Turn their candy into candy corn. Because who likes candy corn? Besides me of course bwahahaha!!!" He releases some magic into the sky, causing massive amounts of candy corn to rain down on them.
"Heh, what a jackass", Nero scoffed with annoyance and if he could he would roll his eyes. "Wonder what other surprises might come for me today?"
Nero fully expected this guy to go away and annoy somebody else, instead quite the opposite happened.
A furry brown ear twitches as if listening to something or someone and turned around, finally noticing the hunter in stone with a look of ire upon its face.
"Well well aren't YOU full of mirth today monkey boy. That wasn't very nice of you to say, I mean honestly. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth of yours you dirty ape?"
Nero was shocked immensely, how could this guy hear his thoughts word for word? He knew right then and there that he despised this creature greatly, his anger increasing the more this freak talked. Even more so when he flew up to the young mans face dressed like a 1950's soccer mom, red lipstick, eyelashes and everything.
"What's the matter hmm? Is the cat holding your tongue for ransom? Or are you over little ol' me?" The lord of chaos bats his long lashes at him, making a little kissy face. Much to the white haired demons annoyance.
"If you don't shut your goofy ass up, I'm going to take my fist and shove it up your ass and then i'll shoot you for good measure", Nero thought darkly before adding with a tone of ice; "Now get out of my face before you piss me off."
That should get his attention.
"Well I never!", Discord snaps his talon returning to his normal self with a poof of magic and turns around. Keeping his back to the hunter while crossing his arms with an indignant look upon his features. "And here I thought that even monkeys could be civil, but alas I was wrong! Oh that's such a shame... I would have liked to help you out of there but I guess not everypony likes freedom." He shook his head disappointedly, ear flicking slightly as he no doubt pushed the correct buttons.
Nero knew that the guy was most likely bullshitting him, however there was a small part of him that was curious.
"What are you talking about 'helping me out of here' for? It's not like you would be any help. Who are you anyway?" He inquired cautiously.
The Draconaquiis' eyes literally popped out of his head and rolled on the ground a few feet.
"Who? WHO AM I?! How could you not know who I am?!" he scooped up his eyes from the grass and polished them with his furry forearm before inserting the eyes back into their sockets with a loud POP.
Once his eyes realigned themselves, he continued.
"I am Discord the Lord and master of Chaos! God of War and son of Zue- Oh wait wrong franchise.", He shook his head before narrowing his eyes at the stony prisoner.
"And I'll have you know that I most CERTAINLY can help you out of there, but since you were just SO rude. I feel like you owe me an apology my dear boy."
Okay seriously, fuck this guy.
"How's this for an apology? Fuck yourself and choke on a meatstick at brokeback mountain. You cunt."
Being a lord of chaos and all, Discord anticipated an apology but instead got insulted again! And that is exactly why he's going to release the boy.
"You certainly do have a mouth on you, I have a little job to do and could use some shall we say.... assistance and it seems that YOU would be the perfect subject to help me with this riff raff." He explained with a teasing tone, mirth overflowing.
Betrayal and lies are what Nero knows best, especially since he's lived in the human world for a long time. Surrounded by thieves, rapists, murderers and just the worst kinds of people tend to make you a little bit more on guard compared to others. It's a good thing too because it's gotten Nero out of some shit that could have majorly screwed him over. He called it his personal sixth sense, while he's been able to get himself out of sticky situations before due to his sense. Never before has he been in a situation like this before, and never did he feel so off about such a thing. Unfortunately if he wanted his freedom then he would have to at least hear the guy out.
"Alright fine I'll bite, how can I help you out with YOUR problem? If you were this almighty God of Chaos then why would you ask for my sword? Couldn't you bother somebody else with your issues?" He asked with a hint of annoyance while crossing his metaphoric arms across his chest.
"I'm so glad you asked my boy!", Discord said ecstatically while flying up close to Nero. Talons clicking against the stone as he puts his arm around his shoulder. "You see, I have a certain...", He hums while searching for the correct word to use. Waving his paw around counterclockwise. "Hmmm complication I guess you could say that involves Princess Celestia and I dread to say it." He ends with an annoyed mutter. He leans in close to the mans ear and whispers. "The elements of Harmony." Just the sheer thought of those absurd elements gives him the willies.
"So... what you're saying is you want me to kill Celestia and the element bearers?" Nero questioned with slight annoyance.
Discord's eyes turn the size of dinner plates and his face turns pale. "O-oh dear heavens n-no!", He stammers and teleports back to the ground with a pop, and directly in the mans line of sight. "I simply want you to destroy the elements, not kill the ponies who hold them. After all I do have a reputation to uphold and I don't want an ape like you desecrating completely, I am the Lord of Chaos. Not the Lord of Death." He idly files his talons while speaking.
Ignoring the slight dig, Nero thinks for a moment before speaking. "Okay so let me get this straight, you want me to destroy the elements", he inquires only to be responded with a nod from the chaotic entity. "That I can do, but what does this have to do with the princess exactly?" The Draconiquus smiles gleefully at the question.
"That's just it, if you destroy the elements then Celestia will not be too happy about that. But what's even better is that she will never be able to turn anypony into stone ever again, and that includes you too my bipedal friend." Discord conjures up the elements and Celestia, promptly illustrating what would happen as he explains to the hunter. The magic show ends with the elements shattered and Celestia with steam coming out of her ears, her sister in a much similar state.
Nero thought about it over and over, he just couldn't believe what he was hearing. A second chance at being free, a chance to get back to her. Hell, a chance to crumble her world completely at the drop of a hat? To make her know the feeling of hopelessness and defeat? All this sounded too good to be true for the devil hunter. Usually Nero would ignore these types of offers because of how perfect they sounded but this? He absolutely HAD to be sure this wasn't a trick of some kind.
"Let's just say that I agree to this little deal, What exactly would that mean for me? A deal like this always comes with strings attached and I don't do well with strings included." Nero said with slight suspicion.
Discord just gave a hearty laugh.
"Ha! Oh don't you worry about strings..." He looked at the name engraved on the flat surface underneath the devils feet. "Nero", He continued. "I might be extremely chaotic and a bit nutty at times but I ALWAYS honor a deal despite what others may say." The Chaos lord ends with a humble little bow, eyes closed with his eagle talon behind his furry brown back.
Nero felt overwhelmingly suspicious about this but somewhere deep inside of his core, something was screaming for him to accept the offer. And he knew when to listen to himself and when NOT to. Plus he wanted more than anything to get back at Celestia for what she did, so it's a win-win.
"Alright Discord, I accept. But I'm going to say this first. If you do anything to screw me over or if you set me up, I WILL kill you. Nothing will ever stop me from pounding you into the ground until you're a puddle of your own paste. I will not stop hunting you down until you are dealt with, so don't fuck with me. Are we clear?" He says with an icy tone, even sounding similar to his father (although he doesn't know that).
Even the level headed Draconiquus swallowed the lump building in his throat after hearing that threat- no. That promise.
He nodded fervently and clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! Now let me get that for you my boy, Oh and enjoy your freedom! Mwahahahah!!" Snapping his fingers, he disappears with two talons crossing over one another. Luckily the hunter didn't notice.
"Thank god I don't have to hear his voice anymore, that shits annoying."
After waiting a few minutes, Nero was quickly noticing that nothing was happening. And that irritated him greatly.
"I fucking knew it! I knew I shouldn't have trusted him, and here I thought that I could be out of he- wait, what?"
Sounds of rock breaking apart reached his ears, but what he couldn't understand was why his entire body started to heat up. It wasn't just an overheated type of hot either, it was fire melting your blood hot and it was only getting worse.
Being too caught up with the burning, Nero failed to notice that tiny sapphire blue flames were flickering through the cracks of stone. Also failing to realize that the moons rays of light were focusing evermore onto him with each passing second.
Night's silence and tranquility comes to a staggering halt as screams of pain resonate throughout the forest. The moon brightens tenfold and shoots a beam of energy down onto an individual, further increasing the pained cries.
Feeling his body start to move centimeter by centimeter, Nero could feel impatience building faster than before; And so he pushes against the stone harder and harder, building more and more tension. Letting out a growl of frustration, he clenches his muscles and gives it everything he has. Millions of pieces of rock shatter everywhere and the white moon beam turns into a light blue one made of fire that shoots up into the sky. Causing parts of the sky to chip and shatter like a mirror.
Nero's devil bringer burns bright blue, thirsty for power.
And so the hunter takes his first breath of freedom.
Author's Note
Hello! I'm glad to bring you this story, especially since it's been a while since my last upload. Sorry about that! I can be very lazy and plus i've been putting if off for a while. Simply haven't been in the mood. Thankfully I was able to scrounge up some creativity with this chapter. YES I am completing this story, NO I don't know how often I will upload but rest assured this story isn't dying.
Chapter 2 - A Scared Princess (unedited)
Meanwhile in Canterlot Castle
The alabaster alicorn stood atop her balcony, staring off into the distance with her magenta colored orbs. Her prismatic mane flowing gently, as if a soft breeze was constantly blowing it. Horn alight with her lemon colored aura, she levitated the fragile little teacup; pursing her lips slightly and bringing the cup up to her lips. She takes a long, shuttering sip in hopes to calm her nerves even slightly. Unfortunately it doesn't work.
Placing the cup back down upon its saucer with a small 'tink'. The white furred pony began pacing back and forth with a troubled look upon her face.
It isn't everyday that Celestia let down her wall of royal status, it is quite uncommon for her to let down her mask and to truly be herself. This is one of those times. Her sister was the only other pony who could see through her façade, and Celestia knew it.
The clip clop rhythm of her hooves tapping against the marble floors did nothing to help alleviate her worry, in fact it only made her more anxious.
Her thoughts began to carry her away into a world of her own while she paced.
"I wonder how Twilight is doing, she hasn't send me a letter in a little over a week."
"Was I too harsh earlier when I said I wanted Chocolate cake instead of Vanilla? Poor mare, I must have made her so scared after asking her where her bakery was. She must have thought I would destroy her business."
"Have I been putting on a few extra pounds lately? My hindquarters seem to be expanding slightly, am I losing my mind?"
During the Princess's anxiety ridden thoughts, she didn't notice her bedroom door opening and closing. Celestia was so distracted by her thoughts that she couldn't even hear her name being called.
It was only when she accidentally trotted into a cobalt alicorn mare, that she snapped out of her thoughts with a tiny yelp of surprise; Tumbling onto the floor on her back ungracefully.
The ivory mare lifted her head and met the gaze of her younger sibling staring at her with a look that practically said "Are you kidding me?", Luna raised an eyebrow while continuing her glare.
"Greetings to you too sister, we did not realize that you and the floor were close friends. Is this of a platonic sort or is there something you failed to mention to us?" She finally said with a ghost of a smile.
A bright pink blush materializes over her cheeks and she picks herself up, "it is nothing of the sort sister, you just startled me is all." Celestia coughs lightly into a dainty hoof and puffs out her chest trying to look dignified. She fails as her fur puffs out slightly.
Knowing this, Luna tries very hard not to laugh at her sisters hilarity; She puts a hoof to her lips as the lightest of chuckles worm their way out of her. After that moment of lighthearted humor passes, her face changes from one of laughter to one of care and concern.
"Are thee alright dear sister?" Her eye color turns into a slightly lighter blue.
The elder sister smiles warmly, "Yes I am doing fine little sister, thank you for your concern. Truly, it means so much but im okay." She nuzzles her cheek affectionately only to be met with air as Luna took a step backward.
"Celestia..." Luna deadpanned.
Celestia felt a shiver run down her spine as she heard her own name called, she knew that her sister would never call her by her own name unless it was it was something serious, she was mad or that she wasn't believing her shit.
She got her answer soon enough.
"We are sisters, thou may be three years older than I, but we are not stupid...", the night princess poked her chest a few times with an accusatory hoof. "So do not think for one minute that we will believe the hogwash you are spewing from your lying mouth, we will not hear it. Give us the truth and nothing but the truth or shut the buck up." She finishes with a powerful glare.
Celestia's mouth dropped as she couldn't believe her ears, she could not believe that her sister said that to her but it didn't make it any less true.
Making sure to pick her jaw up from the floor it was resting on, she at least made an effort to seem apologetic.
"I'm sorry Luna," Her ears fold down cutely. "I should not have lied, I just don't want to worry you over my petty issues. You have enough to deal with during your nightly duties, you shouldn't hear about nonsense such as this." She tilts her head down towards the floor and stares at her own reflection, not even batting an eye to her sibling.
Both sisters could hear the crickets in the background as they stayed silent, after some time however; Luna was the first to break the silence with a soft sigh.
"Look at us sister." Luna said calmly.
Celestia flinched slightly, refusing to look at her and continue looking at the shiny marble ground.
The lunar princess lets out another sigh and trots up to her elder sibling, places a hoof underneath her chin and slowly lifts her head up to stare into her eyes once again.
"We are friends are we not?" She asks much to the confusion of Celestia who nods a little.
"And we are sisters yes?" Another nod.
"Sisters are friends and friends tell eachother about their problems no matter how little or large they are yes?" Celestia's eyes trace back down only to be interrupted by a firm shake from her sisters hoof.
"Answer the question sister." The sun princess swallows the small lump in the back of her throat and gives a bigger nod as she stares back into her sisters caring eyes.
Luna removes her hoof from her chin and begins gently stroking the prismatic mare by her mane. "No matter what you say sister, we will always love you and will offer you advice however we can. Do not be discouraged by the issues, be they petty or serious, we support you nonetheless because that's what good sisters do for one another." A few tears of liquid love flow slowly down Celestia's face before being wiped away with an azure frog.
"Th-thank you Luna, you're a wonderful sister. How could I have been blessed with you growing up I will never know." She gives a few sniffles before ending her sentence with a heartfelt smile.
"We wear our title with pride Celly." The sky princess smiles warmly and wraps her hoof around her sister's haunches. "Now tell us what is wrong? Please? Don't make us turn sentimental once more, as much as we enjoy it we do have a reputation to uphold." Both deities shared a laugh that they could feel in their core, turning the atmosphere into a joyous one unlike the sad and cold one from mere moments ago.
They basked in this warmth for as long as they could until reality hit them both once again, turning things more serious.
Locking the door with her magic with a gentle click, Luna slowly pulls back and makes her way over to her sisters bed; the bedsheets were bright and yellow with a large sun placed perfectly in the middle. The princess of the night sits down, wrinkling the sheets as she does but she could care less as her attention is set upon her sibling.
The alabaster mare slowly makes her way towards the window placed at the opposite end of the room, back to her sister. She stares at the lit up buildings and the light poles shining brightly in the streets below as well as the ponies cantering and laughing with one another with morose eyes.
Taking a deep breath she begins, "Twilight hasn't sent me a letter in a little over a week and I can't help but feel concern sister, that isn't like her. I do hope that she is alright." Luna hangs onto every word and tilts her head slightly. "I'm sure that young Sparkle is doing alright sis, she is likely entranced in some book of hers and simply lost track of time."
Shaking her head, she places a hoof on the frame and her mane waves around at a slight quickened pace. "That's just it Luna, Twilight never does anything like this; I am aware that she gets sidetracked and busy but she never goes this long without even saying 'hello' to me. Sometimes I can't help but think that she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore." She hangs her head feeling depressed.
The small groan of annoyance coming from the moon princesses throat makes itself known as she shifts against the bedsheets.
"Do you hear yourself right now sister? You can't possibly even consider that", Sighing; Luna facehoofs and shakes her head causing her starry midnight mane to blow and wave along with her. "Did you even think of the possibility that young Twilight is simply TOO busy to run to you every minute to say hello? That young mare has a life of her own; she takes care of that dragon of hers, she has friends to converse and have fun with, AND she has a library to run. A very busy life indeed." She explains, "And she's busy flaunting around that juicy flank of hers like she's some kind of prize ." She mutters.
Celestia's ear twitches slightly and turns her head to her, "What was that Luna?" she inquires.
"Nothing Sister." Luna coughs awkwardly and looks all over the place to avoid contact and rubs her hoof against her neck.
The older alicorn just lets out a small sigh and looks oncemore towards the sky, the moon shining brightly in the night sky and stars twinkling as bright as diamonds. Constellations smearing across the cerulean/black background.
"I know that Luna, I just can't help it. I care for Twilight very much and have known her since she was a small filly. She's like a daughter to me and it would break my heart if anything happened to her or if she hated me. I honestly don't know how I could live knowing that my only daughter despised me." Tears began making their way down the solar princesses face slowly.
Celestia could hear shuffling and groaning come from the wood and sheets of the bed as well as hooves approaching her until they stopped just behind her. She could feel herself losing control and as soon as she felt her sibling pull her into a hug.
"It's okay dear just let it out~" Luna spoke with such soft words that she could have been mistaken by an angel. That is when Celestia began bawling into her chest, tears streaming down her face a mile a minute.
The younger sibling could feel her heart clench in pain as she held her loved one dearly, rubbing the white mare's back and in between her wings while whispering sweet words to her. Celestia could do nothing but cry and cry as the stresses and worries kept pouring out of her, and Luna was unfortunately the napkin to dry her eyes.
Internally Luna wanted nothing more than to wipe the disgusting snot and tears matting her vibrant coat fur off and take one hundred showers in hopes of being pure once again but she bit her tongue and allowed Celestia to continue crying against her.
"The things I do for love..." She thought to herself as she for her sister to calm down.
As the minutes dragged by, Celestia let all of her woes out until she couldn't produce anymore tears. Pulling back and sniffling she magicked a wad of tissues and blew hard, sending all the gunk out and throwing it into the trash bin sitting next to her desk filled with papers and quills.
"Feeling better?" Her sister bit back her venomous words and decided to stick to small talk for the sake of not strangling Celestia.
Celestia nodded and took a deep breath, smiling once she let's it out. "Yes I'm feeling better, thank you Luna." She looked at her and let out a little snort before laughing hard and falling to her hindquarters, kicking her hooves and holding her sides.
Luna's normal soft, pristine, and perfectly brushed coat turned into something out of a horror movie. Snot, tears and whatever else caused her entire front to look matted and dried up like a raison. Luna wasn't happy and she could tell by the look on her face. And she thought it was hilarious!
"Yes yes laugh it up why don't you? After all I'm just standing here like a concubine of mucus and other undesirable stains." Luna said dully while narrowing her eyes. Her mane stopped moving and her eyes turned a shade darker but nothing other than that.
"I'm hehe so-hehe-sorhehehhe-ry-hehehe! It's j-just too fu-hehe-unny!" After laughing for what felt like hours for Celestia and eternity for Luna, the solar princess finally came down from her bout of giggles.
"Are thou done laughing at my torment?"
Celestia nods and offers an apologetic smile. "Yes Luna I'm done, although you may want to wash that out. It's not good for your coat."
"Dully noted sister..." Luna mutters slightly while rolling her eyes, drawling another few giggles out of her sister.
Despite the overwhelming disgust that she felt, she didn't show it but Luna couldn't help but smile inside because she knew she did the right thing. The right thing might be extremely difficult but it's often the best choice to make. Even if the results in the end were her being repulsed, it was worth it for her because her sister is feeling better. "I would do anything to protect her and to make her happy" she thought. "Even if that ends with me being in less than fortunate instances." She ended with a slight shake of her head as she noticed Celestia picking herself off the floor and giving her cheek a nuzzle, she reciprocated the notion and enjoyed every single moment. Enjoyed every little touch and rub that her sister gave her and gave it in return.
The moment was short lived however when both sisters heard the unmistakable shout of pain come to their ears. It game as practically a whisper to their ears as the voice spread across their brains like spiderwebs. They looked at one another confused. Pulling away from each other as they gazed across the horizon looking for that pained cry only to be met with an even louder one echoing through the air. Luna could feel very uneasy as the screams continued.
"Sister, what.... who is screaming such pain? It sounds so far away... what poor creature could endure such horrors?" Luna could feel the hairs all over her body raise as they continued listening.
"I... I don't know Luna... But.... we must help them", Celestia's face turned hard. "We MUST help them! We CAN'T leave our subjects to deal with such torturous agony." She used her bright yellow magic to open her glass balcony doors wide, allowing the moonlight to shine against the floors.
Spreading her wings wide Celestia ran towards the outdoor balcony with every intention to leap off the edge and race across the country if she had to in order to save the poor soul. Luna went alongside her clearly sharing her sentiment until stopping dead in her tracks, her eyes bugging out of her skull and her mouth open wide.
"Okay, if we get there fast enough we- Luna what's wrong? Why are you looking like that?" Luna was speechless and couldn't put into words what she was seeing but the only sound that came out of her mouth was "Hngggg...", Luna could do nothing but raise a shaky hoof and point it towards the sky.
Celestia could do nothing but stare in horror at what she was witnessing. A bright blue beam of light what shooting into the sky and at the spot the beam was aimed at, there was a large tear in the sky. Like someone shattered a piece of the sky like a piece of glass and leaving behind a pitch black spot. Both of them could see the piece falling into the everfree forest which is where the strange light seems to originate from.
Both deities stood there dumbly for a moment but to them it felt like forever. The solar princess shook her head, snapping herself out of her stupefied state of mind and immediately started writing a letter to her pupil.
"This isn't something we can do by our lonesome Luna, we need the elements for this. We can't handle an invasion to this extent, if Sombra was bad enough...." Dark thoughts and pained cries came to her brain as she couldn't stop thinking about the slaves he tortured mentally, emotionally... and sometimes physically.
"Yes... yes we agree with this... a piece of the sky breaking and falling? This is the work of something far greater than we thought." Luna dumbly nodded and started writing a letter of her own.
Once both sisters were done, they sent their letters to the recipients. Luna ran out the room without time to spare, not even looking back at Celestia as her hooves slammed against the tiles.
The elder sister was about to follow her younger sibling but her ear caught something that made her face go pale.
CELESTIAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
"That, that voice...... please don't let it be true. Please be wrong for once Tia!" Absolute terror filled her chest as she sprinted out the room with images of burning blue eyes and flowing white air filling her brain. A scaly devil arm and a sword big enough to split rock with ease.
The last thing her brain tortured her with was a single name that she was all too familiar with, and one that filled her with intense trepidation.
"Nero..."
Author's Note
I just felt like writing this all of the sudden, I couldn't get the ideas out of my head and I just couldn't pass the chance up. I spent over 3 to 4 hours writing this (slow I know but I'm doing the best I can, I'm not used to writing stories only reading them.) started a small draft the day before yesterday (roughly 600 words) and now it's just slightly passed 3k so I'm proud and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. See you in the next one
