//------------------------------// // Backup // Story: A Good Share of Worlds // by Sea Pony //------------------------------// Everytime I tried to get closer to Solana she would swing her sword and send me back away with a gust of wind. I must admit I underestimated her. I though she was just a bully that only attacked the weaks. but with the power she had showed she could probably stand toe to toe with the gods. Which made me question one thing. Where was she during the second great war of the gods? I can't believe The Council would not use such an important asset in their ranks. No matter what I threw at her she could repel it. Ice spikes? Check, spiritual orbs? Check, high pressure water jets? Check. At this point it was a battle to determine who would run out of magic first. And since she had just showed a way to heal herself and replenish her magic, things weren't in my favor. Solana smirked. ''So this is the legendary hero who defeated Gaia? Was Gaia that weak of a Elder Goddess? Or did you lose so much skill in these last fifty years that you can't even face regular knights anymore?'' ''As much as I hate to say it you're much stronger than the regular knights and you know it.'' The Rito smirked smugly at the praise. ''Thank you and I have to admit for a simple Fake Goddess You're not half bad I haven't been this much on the defensive since Kira died. But that's enough praise for a dirty criminal like you, let's finish this.'' Another gust of wind enveloped Solana and when it stopped she had a second katana. ''I never been much for defense. I always was a offense kind of girl let's see how long you survive against my dual sword techniques.'' The tone of the battle changed immediatly. Her wind attacks became weaker than before. but what she lacked in power she more than made up with her speed. I could barely see her sword move before it hit me. I had to transform my body into water more times than I had ever had to before. If I was against a stupid opponent I might have been able to fool them into thinking I was invulnerable and that I could evade every damages because my body was made of water. But I was sure she knew better, changing your whole body took a enormous amount of magic. If it continue at this rate I won't have any mana left in a single minute. I didn't wanted to admit it. But she was too strong. I thought that apart from the Elder Gods Infinitus was the strongest being in the world. But clearly she was stronger. And sure I had defeat Gaia who was much stronger than Solana but I had to make a soul trade to beat her and I wasn't ready to die a second time. I still had my sister to save. ''Any last words, Guardian Goddess?'' She didn't wait for a response to charge at me. She charged at me with the intention to deliver the finishing blow. But just before she could reach me a bright light engulfed her. I had to shield my eyes. When the light disappeared Solana was gone. The only sign that she was ever here was a few loose feathers. I looked around the sky, searching for where she could have gone and was only met with a empty sky. ''... What happened?'' I asked very confused by the events. - - - - - Inside the Veil at the same time Solana was about to deliver the final blow but she stopped cold. In front of her was not the pony she had fought for the last few minutes. Instead standing in front of her was Queen Zelda. ''No! Why did you teleport me I was about to kill that filthy criminal!'' Zelda crossed her arms with neutral expression that didn't betray any emotion. ''Sorry but the empire decided to remove any knights left in Equis and let the locals handle the problem. The gate to Equis will be closed until the threat is gone.'' Solana was enraged. ''Did you just left a terrorist rampaging throught Griffonia?!'' ''Do not blame me I voted against it. But the other Emperors felt it was too dangerous to have the terrorist this close to the multiverse. They want to contain the damages.'' Solana growled in response. ''This is why the empire will never replace The Council it's just a bunch of buffoons who act for their self interests!'' Solana sighed and looked back at Zelda with a calmer expression. ''So what now? Do you want me to return to New Hyrule?'' Solana asked clearly not entranced by the idea. ''Do what you will.'' Zelda responded. ''I know you cutted all tie to our world. I was only tasked with retrieving you because I am the closest thing to a superior you have, which is not saying much.'' And with that Queen Zelda Tetra Hyrule walked away leaving a very frustarted Rito behind. - - - - - Leaf arrived at the limits of Griffonstone before he could see the devastation he could arleady smell it. The smell of burning wood filled the air all around him. Leaf feared what he would see when he finally arrived in the city. Fortunately when he arrived he didn't have to see the horrors of charred corpses in the streets. The streets were all empty and apart from the sound of burning there wasnt a sound in the city. Leaf sighed in relief it seemed like the citizens had the time to escape before Phoenix attacked. But as he listen he could hear the sound of battle in the distance. As fast as he could he flew in direction of the sound. When he arrived in the center of the town he stopped cold. The griffins army was fighting against Phoenix but they were clearly at a disadvantage. But this wasn't what made him stop. What shocked him was the sadistic expression on his beloved Meek Sky's face. He knew that this was not her that this was Phoenix taking control of her. But just the fact that this monster putted such a ugly expression on the normally angelic face of his love made his blood boil. The griffins took heavy damages more than half of their soldiers were either dead or too injured to continue fighting. The captain seeing this did his best to preserve his men. ''Retreat! Let's take every injured with us and regroup at the castle!'' The remaining soldiers did just as ordered. But Phoenix flew after them. She was about to attacked one of the griffins carrying a injured soldier when Leaf appeared in front of her. The griffin looked at the changeling with a baffled expression. ''Go! I'm handling her!'' Leaf screamed, the griffin still confused nodded and flew away. Leaf turned back to Phoenix who was laughing at the development. ''Eh eh eh, that's rich Meek Sky little husband handling me? Do you have any idea what you're dealing with right now? You're just as weak as my pathetic vessel you're no match for me!'' ''Stop talking as if you were superior to any of us! You're just a leech with a overgrown ego!'' Leaf spatted back. Phoenix snickered. ''I'm just a leech am I? Then let's see what is stronger the leech or the fly.'' The fire in her mane and tail intensified and she dashed in direction of Leaf. Leaf took the appearance of Phoenix. When she punched he punched, when she threw a fireball he threw one in return, when she charged head first with a coat of flamme dancing around herself so did he. If anyone was watching they would have believed that a insane pyromaniac was fighting a giant mirror. Phoenix flew back panting. ''Don't think you have any advantage. I know how your mimicking powers work, you might be able to copy my abilities, but you wil never surpass the original!'' Leaf smirked in response. ''Eh eh eh, luckily for me you're not the original either you're just stealing Meek Sky powers.'' ''Maybe I am but I still have the advantage. You're too soft hearted you wouldn't dare really hurting your wife even if I am controlling her. I on the other end have no reasons to show any restraints.'' The battle raged on for a long time. Leaf could use any power in the universe but he lacked the power to use them at their full potential and Phoenix as arroguant as she was could not control Meek Sky as well as she like to pretend to. The two of them was left panting. Both of them still had magic to spare. But it was clear that the battle would only lead to a stalemate. ''I didn't expect you to fight so hard against your wife. But no matter, this fight is almost over.'' Before Leaf could ask what she was rambling about, the sun suddenly poke out of the clouds. and the flammes in Phoenix mane and tail intensified. ''Let me tell you another advantage natural elementals have, we can heal and recharge our magic when in contact with our element. For us fire elementalists sunlight is enough to replenish our magic. You on the other hand you're just a copy you don't have that advantage. Do you understand what situation you're in? As long as I have the sun I can fight forever while your reserves of magic will only diminish with time.'' ''Well there a easy solution for that then.'' I replied sudenly appearing beside Leaf. The changeling seemed very surprised but relieved that I was here. But before he could voice his relief he looked up in the sky in awe. The sunlight that had appeared vanished and was covered by black clouds all over the sky. As soon as the clouds stopped moving a downpour fell across the battlefield. ''How did you do that?'' Leaf asked. ''Clouds are made of water. even at this distance a experienced water elementalist like me can control them. But now is not the time for small talk. Leak have you tried dousing the flammes of Phoenix?'' The changeling nodded. ''Yes but no matter how much water I poured on her the flammes won't extinguish. I don't know why but Phoenix has a lot more control than usual.'' ''I was afraid of that.'' I said Leaf look confused and I explained. ''Look everyone know that Phoenix is like a parasite that inhabit Meek Sky soul but have you ever stopped to consider what Phoenix could actually be?'' Leaf was shocked to learn that he never actually thought about it. Maybe because he was so used to weirdness that at this point he just saw it as a part of Equestria. ''I guess I never thought about it so what is she?'' ''Phoenix is a shard of life.'' ''What?! But aren't shards of life suppose to be a force of good?!'' Leaf looked at me with a baffled expression. ''The shards are a part of Author and as benevolent as Author is even he has his dark side. Meek Sky was unlucky enough to be stuck with one. To be honest Meek Sky case is a rare one normally a shard will take a entire body to themself. But Phoenix shard is weaker than most so it needed a counterpart. My sister is a lot stronger than she look. It might be weaker than the others but this is still a shard of life for her to be able to fight for this long is a miracle in itself. But I think it finally became too much for her.'' ''So what do we do? She can't go on like this and if the rampage continue the Empire might put the blame on Meek Sky.'' Leaf said with worry clear in his voice. I took a deep breath and said the hardest thing I ever had to say in my life. ''We need to kill her.''