Fade Away

“Back then, Hoofington had gone to Tartarus, other ponies with powers started showing up and it was my job to sort through it all…I tried to find out who had given me that package and why…Tartarus, even my best buddy, Shade turned his back on me to try and get powers of his own…but in the end, I found the stallion responsible: Tesla, he explained everything through a vision of the future…a beast is coming, a monster only I can defeat, provided that I am strong and ready to face him…a month later, I met Twilight Sparkle…she somehow knew all about the beast, in fact, she had come to help me prepare…she claimed her friend ‘The Doctor’ had worked on the Ray Sphere prototype and that he could amplify my powers…all I had to do was go with her down to Manehatten…I need those powers, the beast is coming…and I will be ready”

Celestia’s great sun hovered just on the horizon, setting, making way for her sister’s moon to ascend into the sky. The transition gave off a shade of orange to paint the land in it’s beauty. On the pier, there, proudly making ready for sail was a ship. The vessel was occupied by several ponies, either doctors or refugees but despite them all, everypony knew who the boat was intended for originally.

On the bow of the ship, stood a yellow coated pegasus colt, his hooves resting on the railing as his scarlet irises scanned the environment, witnessing he intoxicating view. The colt’s dark mane draped of his face as a small smirk drew across his muzzle, his wings calm and at his sides.

“Hey, Tex” a familiar voice called out from behind him accompanied by the sound of hoofsteps growing ever louder. Vortex didn’t answer and instead just acknowledged the blue stallion’s presence in silence, still gazing over the scenery.

“Brother, I gotta say, this Twilight Sparkle, first boat outta town, mare’s got some connections” Shade said.

“This is gonna be a short term visit, dude…” vortex said, turning his head to see his long time earth pony friend in his usual golden glasses of whom looked at him in confusion due to his reply “…we’re just gonna get in…I’m gonna get some new powers then we’re gonna come right  back” the pegasus stated, returning from his stance and taking a few steps towards the ship’s centre.

“C’mon, dude, we deserve a break, we’re going to Manehatt-”

“I need to be back here and ready when it shows up, Shade” Vortex cut his friend’s enthusiastic sentence, turning his body to make his point clear, looking him in the obscured eye.

“Trust me, Vortex, you will be ready…” that same soft voice consulted from behind the pegasus. He looked back to see a familiar lavender coated unicorn mare trot up towards the two colts.

“…Once you meet the doctor”

“Yeah, chill out, dude” commented the scratchy tone of a particular cyan pegasus. The element of loyalty herself  hovered over her purple companion, a cocky smile on her muzzle as she looked at the yellow stallion. Vortex opened his mouth to speak but got beaten to it.

“Work? Easy, Twi…when we get there, it’s gonna be about the three M’s, that’s Mede, Mares and Mechanical bolts” Shade said with a chuckle, gesturing with his hoof. Vortex chuckled as he leaned up against the vertical surface of a nearby wall, protruding from the deck. Twilight scoffed, Dash glared at Shade as he just grinned innocently.

“Gentlecolts, I don’t think you understand the scope of what is going on here” Twilight said, looking back between the two stallions before the unexpected happened. A loud bang caught everypony’s attention coupled with a faint red glow emitting from the centre of Hoofington. Twilight walked up to the bow’s railing, staring at the sight as pieces of exploding debris propelled into the sky before plummeting downwards. “What is going on?” she asked to nopony in particular.

Right above everypony’s heads in the centre of town, swirled an eerie, smoky cluster of red and black mist. The world around began to crumble as it spiked explosions, creating loud crackly banging sounds as it grew. In the middle of Hoofington stood the proud statue of Princess Celestia, it collapsed as the orb began to take coherent form.

The four equines watched in horror at the sight, eyes wide, mouths slightly agape. After a moment, Vortex took on a determined look.

“…No…no, no” he let out to himself, catching the attention of both Shade and Dash, they looked at him quizzically. “No, no” he continued before suddenly bursting off towards the side of ship, the two blue ponies, still watching”

“Hey!” Rainbow called out.

“NO!” Vortex yelled out before jumping off the railing. The yellow pegasus hit the wooden surface of the dock with a thud and shock, the ground quaked and sparked with cyan lightning, swarming his legs in the impact. He looked to his left as he got to his hooves, electricity lapping at his forelegs in the process.

“What are you doing!? This boat is leaving!” Twilight called out from the bow, just noticing the pegasus.

“Relax! I got time for this!” he called back with a slight grin before he off. Vortex galloped on the hard wooden dock towards the sight. To his right, he witnessed a second boat brutally bombarded in what could only be described as meteors. The ship was torn apart by the assault, mares and colt of variations leapt off for their own safety, Vortex witness several earth ponies plummet into the water, un aided by the surrounding pegasi that took to the sky, fleeing or the crafty teleporting unicorns. Nor himself. Despite the tragedy, he pressed on, finding a large gate, blocking the paths of many panicking ponies, some foals among the group.

Vortex raised a single hoof up, pointing it directly at the gate. A familiar surge rushed through his system before the same cyan lightning started to coat his hoof in it’s eerie blue glow. In an instant, the yellow stallion pulled his hoof back before lunging forward. A large bolt of blue energy propelled from the stallion’s foreleg, it struck the metal, causing it burst open, allowing the many screaming ponies further access to distance from the destruction. Vortex simply ran through the group, still set on his target.

“I can’t just sit here and watch, I gotta help!” Dash shouted, pointing a hoof to the advancing stallion, looking at the purple unicorn with a frustrated look.

“No, Rainbow” She said sternly.

“Yeah, Tex can handle himself in a fight” Shade commented with a grin. Dash let out a defeated sigh, still not content with what response she got but remained figuratively on the edge of her seat at the sight. It was then that they noticed the creature that towered above the buildings. It was big…really big, the entire structure seemed to be made up of scorching magma. The form closely resembled that of a pony, four legs stood to support the giant torso that was connected to the head by a long, thick neck. Due to the shape, it was notable to realise that it had the form of a stallion, a unicorn one at that, the horn protruded cryptically from the forehead of the monster. It’s eyes glowed a chaotic shade of orange that seemed to seep out towards the sides like a hazy mist, tailing on the outward side of each eye. It slowly rose to it’s full stature.

The yellow pegasus ran closer to the city only to slowly look up at the creature, his pace also slowing while his mouth hung agape and eyes widened in shock.

“The Beast!” Twilight yelled in terror. Her horn glowed her iconic light purple aura aswell as the colt’s phone did, still strapped to his chest. “Vortex, you have to stop him!” she said, her voice radiating through the speaker before her horn returned to it’s normal state. Dash and Shade both looked at her in confusion before hearing a familiar sparking sound, causing their attention to shift.

Vortex acted as soon as he was told. His right foreleg extended and recoiled back and forth, firing rocket upon rocket of cyan energy at the tall monster. The lightning struck it, causing it to glance over at the source. At that very moment, the two locked eyes for a split second and in that second, Vortex felt fear. The creature reached down to the earth for a moment before bolting up and throwing something…something big that was heading straight for the pegasus.

“Oh shit…” he let out, paralysed and gawking at the object that he deducted as the regal form of Celestia however broken in several places.

“GET OUTTA THERE BROTHER!!” Shade yelled out in anxiety. Wordlessly, the rainbow maned equine took off in the direction of the event, her signature trail being left behind.

“Rainbow!” Twilight called out in surprise but was ignored. Dash quickly accelerated towards the stallion specifically, goal in mind. The statue came ever closer, Vortex still watching it with shock before he heard a bazaar whistling sound. He turned to see the cyan pegasus bolting for his position. In a phase of panic, he acted. The stallion tackled Dash out of the way while she was just a few metres off the ground. At the very last second, he managed to jump out of the way however not accounting for the quake that was to follow. Vortex grabbed Dash protectively, the two collided to the ground as the mare yelped in surprise before they felt the full impact. The wood splinted and rippled above the tide and under the debris that pelted the surface with enough force to violently shake the pier.

Dash opened her eyes to find herself mostly unscathed, she breathed a brief sigh of relief before glancing to her side. There, lying with his face in the wood was the yellow stallion, his black and blue mane rugged and lazily draped over his closed his eyes. He was covered in lacerations from the splintering wood and debris, Dash, in a state of fear, rolled him over only to hear him wince and cry out in pain.

“ARGH! Buck! My Wing!” he yelled, looking over at his feathered appendage as did Dash, she grimaced at the sight of his broken limb as did he.

“C’mon, we gotta go!” she yelled, trying to get him to stand up with little avail. Dash lifted his foreleg over her shoulder before trying to get him to walk. That idea was short lived as they both noticed a massive shadow appearing over them. Their vision gazed upwards unbidden to see the terrifying sight. That same volcanic form of a unicorn stallion easily lifted the desecrated statue of Celestia with it’s front hooves, half the wharf was gone, it just stood there in the gap between the pier and the city. Fires raged out of control on the buildings that were still standing in the two of Hoofington. The beast simply tossed the structure into the water without a care with it’s giant forelegs before looking down at the pegasi with a blank yet angered glare.

“The beast…” Vortex let out, catching the mare’s attention, she looked at him in concern. The colt looked back at her before he let out a grunt, forcing his way out of the mare’s helpful embrace.

“Get outta here, Dash! Get back to the boat!”

“What!? No way am I leaving you here!” she retorted.

“Rainbow!” he yelled back defiantly, a death glare in his crimson eyes. The mare stared a moment before wordlessly taking flight, bolting towards the vessel. Vortex looked back up at the tall being with gritted teeth. “Tesla told me about you!! I’m not gonna let it HAPPEN!!” he shouted at the thing, bringing his hooves back as he reared u on his back legs. Lightning coiled around his forelegs for a second before he lunged them forward simultaneously, both times producing a large explosive orb of energy, bolting towards the creature. It roared in anger and probably pain but it was hard to tell, the creature opened it’s mouth only slightly, revealing gritted teeth of which were accompanied by a set of fangs. The beast suddenly began to move it’s large muscles albeit quite slowly. It’s tow front hooves swayed to the side, cupping together before a hazy, swirling mist of black and red formed within the creature’s hooves. Vortex didn’t let up his assault, he continued firing, bolt after powerful bolt of electricity hitting it’s large body with what looked like little effect. With an echoing grunt, the beast lifted a single hoof up, a large orb, glowing in it before it violently plummeted it downwards onto the stallion. Or so it would’ve hoped.

The pegasus barrel-rolled out of the way at the last second, the blast causing him to stumble slightly however, once he regained his position, he ached, whaled and winced in pain. He looked back at his still broken wing with a regretful look before turning back to his enemy. Vortex managed to get a direct head-shot, the beast roared in annoyance, shaking the pier in anger with his hooves. In a flash, it flared it’s shoulder accompanied by a burst escaping it’s form. Vortex was suddenly lifted off the ground, as if gravity had simply been turned off. The pegasus floated helplessly in the air, flightless and vulnerable, much to the advantage of the beast. It raised a single volcanic hoof, pointing it at the incapacitated colt, another burst emitted. The pegasus found himself being enveloped in some form of tractor beam projecting from the monster’s hoof. In a hope of escape, Vortex quickly extended both front hooves out to his sides, feeling the same serge course through him out to his hooves. The small currents of lightning propelled the stallion away from the attracting appendage, much to the further annoyance of the beast.

Vortex continued his assault on the monster, firing electrical rockets as fast and hard as he could, trying to incapacitate the creature. A singular bolt connected with the muzzle of the creature and to the astonishment of himself and the other three at the boat, the beast’s volcanic face broke apart on impact. The right side of it’s muzzle violently crumbled off it’s face, revealing the bright inside of the monster that looked like it consisted completely of lava. It roared in anger before suddenly, Vortex was sent back to the ground, he landed on his back hooves before rolling, hurting his wing while doing so. He winced as he crouched down on all fours before glancing back up at the beast, realisation dawning on him. The beast violently took both sides of the pier in it’s hooves and began to shake it with all it’s might. It jittered as it came off the support beams reaching down to ocean floor, Vortex staggered at the sudden movement although holding his ground. A familiar beeping emitted from his chest.

“NOW, GIVE HIM EVERYTHING YA GOT!!” Shade shouted through his phone. In an instant, Vortex reared up, lifting his front hooves to the sky before suddenly swinging them down with all his might. The sparking sound emitted for a split second, lightning quickly coiled around his limbs as the sky darkened. Out from the blackened atmosphere, large streams cyan lightning struck down on the beast. It howled in pain, staggering with hooves open. Vortex gritted his teeth, witnessing his work as he quickly became tired form the onslaught he both gave and got.

No thunder emitted from the storm, Vortex’s hooves remained charged despite having ended the assault. The beast simply sank into the ocean, it fight hoof being the last thing to enter the liquid abyss. The pegasus watched as it descended, a grin crossing his muzzle. The wood beneath his hooves splintered and broke suddenly, causing him remember where he was.

“WOO! good job, brother, better get back to the boat, pier’s breaking up!” Shade said through his phone. The pegasus quickly bolted back towards the vessel, his wing, forcing him to gallop.

“Nice work, Vortex…THAT was impressive” Twilight commented, bringing a smirk to the colt’s face. The yellow stallion continued to run on the crumbing surface, becoming ever closer to the ship.

“C’mon!” Dash called out form the boat.

“Jump, Dude!” Shade added. Vortex ran up a make-shift ramp before the entire the pier broke under his thunderous hooves. He leapt at the last second, his legs waved about frantically as he plummeted toward the bow. He paused in mid-air. A similar burst accompanied by that same sound emitted before he was suspended in the air. Confused, he fluttered his forelegs only to be cut off a second later by a large, firm hoof wrapping around his body.

There, protruding from the water’s surface was the same creature, it’s entire right side of it’s face, missing. It held Vortex in a vice grip with a blank expression, slowly lifting him up to his eyes.

“Argh…Alright C’MON! C’mon…” the yellow pegasus taunted, blasting the beast’s crumbled muzzle with relentlessness. It groaned and roared, wrapping it’s other hoof around the stallion and squeezing harder while he took the assault head on, literally. However the stalemate it was short lived. In one final moment, Vortex brought his hooves down, the sky blackened, lightning coiled around his body as the heaven struck down on the monster. It howled in the familiar painful tone as the storm obliterated what was left of it’s being. Vortex grunted, his crimson eyes clenched in the struggle to sustain himself while keeping up the pressure. In one final explosion, the beast released the pegasus as it was propelled backwards into the water, destroyed.  Vortex was left in the same state, plummeting towards the ocean with a broken wing, slowly slipping into unconsciousness.

“TEX, TEX!!” Shade called out as he watched his friend seep into the liquid. Rainbow Dash quickly bolted off the edge towards the stallion, Twilight and Shade watching with concern as she dived into the water.

“The beast had drained me, broken my powers…felt like the end…almost wish it was…”