I stood up and walked towards the entrance of the cave. The patter of hooves behind me indicated Rainfall was doing the same.
Seeing the cave I wondered, how old is it exactly? This cave I used as cover has probably sat here for a long time. What is it waiting for? It sits still, and inanimate, serving no visible purpose. So why does it exist? What is the point of it?
What is the point of the columns of stone erupting from the ground and surrounding me? Do they sit here in order to force me outwards? Are they meant to shield me? Or do they simply serve no purpose at all?
Strange the thoughts that race through one’s mind when they edge towards the precipice of war. Suddenly, there is so much to cogitate, so much to take note of, so much to love. Yet, there is no time.
How foolish of us all to ignore the beauty in the universe until it is all we have left. How vapid and moronic of us to be oblivious to ground beneath our hooves, or the sky above our heads, or the trees lining the corners of our eyes! Perhaps if I prove adept enough to endure this trial I can bring a bit of this natural philosophy into my life.
Or perhaps I am just trying to justify a situation in which there is only chaos. After all, the idea of growth through adversity is rather controversial.
“Maybe we should start making history wait on us,” Rainfall offered in regards to my past statement.
Her interjection interrupted my methodology of thought. I gave her a grim smirk to indicate my understanding. “Remember, Rainfall, run, just run.” She just nodded along.
We reached the entrance of the cave without interruption. We walked out into the forest clearing to find nothing was askew. Excluding the horrid swathe of dread that shrouded Rainfall and I. There was a slight nip in the air, causing my breath to come out as vapor.
In that moment there was only the sights and sounds of the forest. The mutant trees stretching outwardly, attempting to grasp any being that crossed their path. The bushes whispered to each other, rustling, telling dark secrets that none would care to hear. The wind was screaming, spitting out hate and tortured words. Even the grass seemed different. It sat hunched over the ground in raggedy patches, struggling to keep itself upright.
There were the sounds of animals in the distance, hunting, stalking, and creeping. All of them were monstrosities, deemed unfit for Equestria by my sister and I. They brooded and begrudgingly adapted to their environment, taking any chance to cause trouble in Equestria.
Timber-wolves howled in the distance, their vociferate cries lashing through the trees and slowing to an echo upon reaching the clearing. The faint cackle of a cockatrice could be heard as it slunk its way through the shrubbery, each scale scraping together and merging seamlessly with it’s rooster-like head, and it’s mortal glare. Even the mighty basilisk, which in reality was no more than twelve hoof-lengths long, could be spotted by the trail of passionate venom, scorching everything in its path.
Not every thing here victimized the innocent however. Vivid and vibrant toucans filled the trees, gracing the air with their beauty and displacing the general aura of malevolence. Crickets chirped the songs of their people, drowning out every noise in the area. The sight of rabbits and bunnies, and chipmunks and monkeys was rather reassuring as well. I cannot let myself be fooled however. Here, everything is prey.
Several minutes passed with absolutely nothing happening. Then several more. Then more. It seemed this Paradise being may have just been feigning knowledge of our location in order to draw us out. For a moment it seemed like a joke. It all seemed like a very elaborate, savage bluff. Yes perhaps it was just a bluff.
“Princess, where is Paradise?” Rainfall’s voice was hardly a whisper. It reached out tentatively and was rather trepidatious.
I had no idea and was just as anxious as Rainfall. This spirit, Paradise- was it toying with us? Was it manifesting itself, or perhaps preparing some sort of enchantment? Either way, staying within the open grounds was not a wise idea.
“It is most likely formulating a battle plan while hiding, Rainfall. It is up against the Princess of the Moon after all!” My tone did not betray what I truly felt. Lying was easy, second-hand for me.
“You’re probably right, Princess,” Rainfall said.
Tis’ better to offer a lie and receive pardon, rather than offer nothing and receive perdition.
I could feel something, though. Something out of place. Something unusual. Something wrong. “Rainfall, run.” Whatever it was that was out there, it was gaining strength, and it was gaining it rapidly.
“But Princes-”
“RUN!!!” I amplified the ‘Royal Canterlot Voice’ ten-fold and unleashed it. I do not dare take my eyes off of the growing power-source.
I heard Rainfall utter a gasp and dash away, plowing through the woods. It was better she be absent for the events that were to follow. Whatever they would be. I knew I had read about a power similar to this one, but I cannot quite recall its name...
In the corner of my eye I see it. A draining spell being shot at me in the form of a beam. Paradise was trying to end this duel before it even began. This was no average draining beam, though. one was able to deduce that by simply looking at it. Draining spells are usually characterized by their luminescent blue coloration and corkscrew formation.
This particular one happened to feature the corkscrew form, but it was of a burgundy-red coloration. Emanating off the beam was a dark presence which took form in black bubbles. It was as if some kind of microscopic germ organism had wrapped itself around the beam billions of times. It was shooting at me at quite the speed as well.
Most ponies would dodge a drain spell and retaliate from a better position, but I had discovered a much better way to deal with these types of casters years ago.
I brought up a shield. It laid itself out in front of me in thick, layered scales of purple and midnight. If one were to look upon it from the outside it would most likely look like a plated crest, maybe even comparable to dragon hide.
The drainage spell kept on its path, intent upon smashing into my shield. I whispered a soft incantation and a thin line of crimson mist began to connect my shield to my horn. This lasted for a good second until the mist had drained out of my horn and dug itself into the shield.
A moment passed in silent anticipation. The only sound that pierced the Night now was the steady rhythm of the beam as it split the air around it. The corkscrew hit the shield with an unnecessary amount of force. The casing supporting the plated shield cracked, from each crack an impure glow emitted. If I had not planned for this moment I might have been afraid. Inevitably the shield burst, and with it the corkscrew beam.
A shade appeared a few yards in front of the mouth of the cave. It was the green spirit labeled as Paradise no doubt, but a red mist shrouded its translucent figure. The being appeared to be struggling against it, as it fizzled in and out of existence. Small bursts of dirt erupted from the ground near it, leaving clumps of misplaced flowers and grass lying about.
“Ugh, what... have you done!?” The creature slumped to the ground apparently distraught. It’s face was contorted in pain and malice.
“I laced my barrier spell with a corrupted speck of magic, poisoning the entirety of what you absorbed.” It seemed like I had already won this battle. What a pity, I might have gotten some joy out of a good spar.
“I see. You displaced the shield from yourself, breaking the link, yet still maintaining the barrier. An act like that would take tremendous power. Then to be able to corrupt the spell itself...remarkable. Rather tactical as well. Sending in a ‘poisoned pawn’ to lower the defenses was a masterful stroke. I shall so enjoy indulging in the facets of your pneuma.” Paradise spoke as if it hadn’t just absorbed poison. It spoke as if this was a game. A game that was just leading up to dinner.
This creature was devilish. It was a threat. It needed to be destroyed, obliterated, demolished, vaporized, atomized, annihilated, wrecked, devastated, exterminated, terminated, massacred, slaughtered, it needed to be killed; whatever this thing was it should not have existed.
Black roots erupted from the ground and wrapped around the creature. They were gnarled with the dirt and grime of centuries past, and they were backed by thorns, each one representing an aspect of harmony. I increase the pressure on the roots and they tighten around the form of the green necromancer, allowing the thorns to dig into its skin.
I cast an anti-teleportation barrier around the area, making sure to cut off its only possible escape route.
I focused the energy in my body to a singular point: my horn. Instantly a dark aura began to materialize around it. I could feel the power pulsating as it coursed through my body. Small bursts of wind stretched outwards from my hooves, pushing the grass further towards the ground with each ripple. The trees around me began to sway in the tracks of the vigor. My ears popped as the pressure intensified and gravity seemed to be the only thing immune to my concentration.
The wind battered my face and my eyes began to water as I struggled to keep them open. Even the stoic cave seemed to be bending to the power I was radiating. Dimensions seemed to fade away and my grasp on reality became dim as I slipped deeper into the realm of pure magic.
Finally I unleashed the energy in a condensed beam that scorched the ground and left steam in its wake. It ripped torrents through the air, sending shockwaves in every direction. Even if Rainfall didn’t reach Canterlot in time it was likely my sister felt the raw power I had just evinced in the name of Equestria.
The beam shined a brilliant shade of indigo with faint traces of black here and there. It flew in a straight line, intent on its target. A target which was splayed upon the ground, still struggling with the pain of the mist and the force of the vines. Each movement only caused the thorns to dig that much deeper, though.
The beam struck its intended target with a resounding BADA-BOOM! The vapor in the air seems to condensate, as a thick billow of fog appeared. I just laid on the ground for a moment, temporarily drained from the exertion. My mind was ablaze with thoughts of situational priority.
I get up slowly, unsure of my footing. It appears my legs didn’t become ash in the explosion. So that was nice. I allow myself a minute of rest before doing anything else. Then I cast a spell to clear the fog.
The sight that awaited me was...unexpected to say the least. The ground was ablaze. Flames shot forth from the edges of the clearing, stopping at the lining of the trees. Some grass that had been in the meadowy clearing was dead now, just dust in the wind. The ground itself has even been seared, silica-like glass had formed where there had once been calm, average dirt.
But that was not what truly surprised me. Not more than five meters away from me stood a pony. If you could even call it that. A disheveled and dismembered version of the Paradise projection stood before me, smiling maniacally and glaring at me with intense unblinking eyes.
Her flank and extremities had been scorched, a partial part of them burned away to reveal cracked bone and muscle. Her mane, which had been long and flowing was plucked and devoid of its previous sheen. What had once been a serene and beautiful spring-and-fall patterned fur and mane hung in loose clumps of root. Half of the mare’s face was cloaked by her drooping mane preventing me from seeing what lies in those twisted eyes. Paradise front right leg was...well I plainly don’t know how to describe it; the skin and fur were gone, all that lay there were the skeletal structure and muscles. Technically, it shouldn’t even work.
This...being...was managing to walk with just the singed remains of muscle and bone! The cutie mark it had worn earlier, had morphed as well. It had grown from its non-threatening plinth into a something more...something iniquitous and depraved. The symbol, the one we call a cutie-mark, had changed into that of a vine twisting itself around the silhouette of a screaming pony.
“Oh my...that was delightful. So much raw power. In a mortal no less! I think if I had not had an anchor I would have been decimated. Well, I shall not underestimate you again...Princess Luna, was it?” The being’s tone of voice was casual as if it had not just been blasted by a pressurized beam who’s power was comparable to the that of the sun.
This thing obviously wasn’t a pony. It was a creature from the Ether, not one that had been banished there. But what creature was it? Which of the ethereal beings was this one? Obviously it was a quite powerful one, but that was hardly a start. There was only one way to figure out what that thing was. I started to store power in my horn once again.
“What are you exactly? I can see you’re no pony, nor are you any beast that inhabits this land. Therefore you’re a being of the Ether. But what are you?” My voice was casual. I masked my emotions. My tone was serious, but perfectly calm. It did not bear the surprise that I felt towards Paradise’s condition.
The ‘thing’ took a momentary pause. “How do you know I’m not of this world?! What do you know of your past that could possibly exclude me from this world!?!” My only response was to reel back. How could this being possibly be from Equestria? It shared no qualities similar to the ponies of today. No this was trickery of some sort, it had to be. “Thats right, Luna! I was not grown from the pits of the Ether, no I was raised in the loam of this world. It bears the prints of my existence upon it. Just look at this forest, for example!”
“I see through your fabrication, abomination.”
“You seemed so powerful, so intelligent. Surely you did not get that way by being close-minded? I am this forest. I am what guides it, I am the presence in the trees, I am the wind which sends shivers up your spine and whispers in your ear, I am the grass that teases your hooves, I am the soil which absorbs your body upon death.”
That was even more absurd. This being was Paradise Grove? It simply was not possible. Although, that would explain why this place is so haunting and dreadful. It would have to be thought on later, though. I currently had to save Equestria.
“What you claim means little to me. You pose a threat to my world, Equestria, and my subjects. I suggest you prepare yourself, monster!” I felt confident enough in my ability, and I knew that my blast had some effect at least. This would give Rainfall the time she needed to run through the forest. Perhaps this would even buy Celestia enough time to gather the Elements of Harmony and rush to this location.
“Fine then, I suppose dinner can wait just a bit. Behold, Princess Luna of Equestria, the powers I, The Leech of the Planet, posses!”
It rushed at me, not even giving me a moment to breath. I casted a spell which teleported me directly above my opponent while leaving a duplicate in my place. It was a substitution spell. A very underused, and very unheard of spell. I had read about it in a book in the library called ‘Illusion and Delusion.”
My attacker didn’t seem to notice, giving me a chance to prepare my next spell. I started to gather my energy in a glacial beam when I receive a sudden and unexpected strike. I hurdle towards the ground, Dazed and Confused. I could see a long vine whip had emerged from the trees and smacked me.
I flip around midway through my collision course and create a platform. Another spell I learned in the library: from a book called ‘Alternatives to Flying.’ I landed on my hooves with a great collision, which caused me no end of pain. I leaned into the crash, however, in order to get a basis for my next move.
I leaned inwards and pushed off the platform, spreading my wings in the process, thus becoming a rocket. I mutter an incantation which is in theory supposed to strengthen your horn and sharpen it. It was some new-fangled charm that hadn’t been completely tested. I soared through the air aiming myself at the standing position of Paradise. As for the abomination, it just stood there watching me curiously as I folded my wings inward and dove towards her, prepared to impale her against my horn.
Then it waved a hoof idly, created a shielding of vines and other shrubbery from thin air, and yawned. I hardly had anytime to react. I cast the same platform spell as before, only I rubberized the base magic material this time, giving it a trampoline effect. I hit and soared upwards. My eyes were watering with the pressure of the wind.
Still I managed to create another rubberized plate from which to propel myself. I hit it and rocketed downwards towards the spot behind the vinery. Sure enough, the beast sat there, staring back at me. It was hard to make out the face of the beast from that height, but I could see that her expression was that of general amusement.
Once I got close enough she ported away (my earlier barrier had faded). Again I created a rubberized plate and sought out my target. This would continue on for several minutes. A tad boring, but it gave me a moment to think.
It was obvious that Paradise was just attempting to tire me out with constant back and forth. A plan began to formulate in my mind. Perhaps I could make use of a rather peculiar combat spell I had learned in the library. One I never really thought I would need. I gathered energy into a telekinetic field, preparing to unleash it on my opponent and myself.
I focused my eyes into narrowed slits, focused on Paradise, who was on the ground and staring up at me. Instantly I saw her smug expression change to one of curious apprehension. So my charm had worked. Her eyes were wide open at this point and staring into mine.
The spell I had cast was considered useless. It was powerful, but strange, so most ponies either forgot about it or cast it aside as pointless. It had shrunk into a state of non-existence over the past one-thousand years, especially. The spell, once cast, caused the caster and victim to both go into a state of mesmerization.
Now illusionary spells dabbling in mesmerization are not rare, in fact they are common-place in confrontations. They are, however, considerably weak. After all, you can’t really control another when they can match you for willpower or strength. But this charm was different, it was far more powerful, but at a price. It affected both the target and caster. So both the magician and the enemy would be brought into a state of conscious unconsciousness.
That was the reason most ponies disregarded the spell in formal duels. What use was a spell that made the caster to become a zombie? In this situation, however, it would prove quite useful. I was already on track to collide with the creature, and now it wouldn’t be able to avoid me nor I it.
I searched the features of the beings face in my hypnotic state, trying to delve into its mind. I could see the understanding in its eyes. Lurking just behind the pupils was an intelligent mind, capable of complex moves and gambits. I also felt curiosity emanating from it. And hunger, an unrelenting and voracious hunger.
The influx of energy from the telekinetic field drew the wind inwards. That might effect the weather in nearby areas. That could possibly lead weather teams to investigate, which could possibly lead to some kind of information being spread. That was just hopeful thinking, though. Nopony in their right mind would brave the dangers of Paradise Grove looking for the source of a weather disturbance.
Grove. Groves are basically tiny forests. Forest...forest, forest, forest. Trees are in forests. There are leaves on trees, right? I love leaves, especially in Fall. They fall to the ground and I step on them. They make such satisfying crunching noises, and the scent in the air just makes it all so extraordinarily gorgeous. Gorgeous, now there is a word that I love to hear. It has so many synonyms: Resplendent, spectacular, magnificent, sumptuous, opulent, superb, wonderful, grand...
My mind seems to be straying...funny, I had never expected to be hypnotized, especially not by means of my own magic. It proved rather difficult to focus when hypnotized, though I know not why. Wasn’t there something I was supposed to be focused on? Something of an urgent nature if I am to heed the yelling in the back of my skull.
Wait my mind is...I can feel something...something critical, crucial, serious, salient. Why am I using so many synonymous words? This thing was of an inescapable and grave nature. But what was it? What was so important that I have to...move?
Actually, where am I? Who am I? Wait, I know that. I am Luna. And I’m at the clearing, in front of the cave, in the woods, on my country, on the world, adjacent to my Moon. There was something else with me too. Something sour that didn’t belong.
A sharp impact brings me to my senses. I looked ahead and my eyes were just in front of the being, the creature, the monstrosity, the ‘thing.’ My horn hit exactly what I had been aiming aiming for. I had impaled her at the base of her horn and managed to strike into the cerebral cortex of the monster.
I gasped. There is always an initial shock after coming out of a comatose state of being, always. I stare into the lifeless sockets of the creature. It was dead, a husk bearing the image of personality. Yes, it was a dead being. A very, very dead being. Yet, something felt off.
Those eyes which had held so much knowledge upon last seeing them now looked so afraid. No, if there was one thing Paradise had not expressed it was fear. This was definitely some sort of trick. I extracted my horn from the body and jumped away just in time to watch it dissolve into a puddle of potentially harmful green semifluid matter.
I heard the clapping of hooves near me. I swirl around to find that the creature is clapping its green hooves together with its hind-legs crossed over its lap. It would almost look natural if the figure in question was not clapping with one burned hoof and one skeletal hoof, hovering over the ground unnaturally, glowing faintly, smirking in a maniacal manner which conveyed its rather grotesque intentions, and translucent. Completely normal besides all of that, though.
“That was quite the show. Your use of the ancient Mesmer, Franz Anton’s, spell was intriguing to say the least. If it had not been for my vast reserves of willed-energy and knowledge of hypnotism I would have been skewered. Odd word isn’t that one? Skewered...skewered, skewered, skewered, skewered, skewered, oh my, that is such a fun word to say! Perhaps I shall make you into a kabob in order to get a chance to repeat the word. Anyways let us get back to my original point. That was an impressive display-”
“How did you manage to substitute yourself!? If I remember correctly we were locked in a rather strenuous fit of back and forth.” My interruption appeared to irritate the spirit as it wore a mask of vexation.
“That was an impressive display that prompted me to rationally assess the situation. It was my hope that I could just defeat you through raw use of my power and regular dueling measures. It appears that, to my never-ending frustration, you are in possession of a brain. You’re a threat, a minimal one, but a threat nonetheless. Therefore, I am forced to try. So now it is my turn to tell you to prepare yourself Princess Luna. Vigilas! Or “on your guard!” to the Dragon People.”