Greetings, Twilight.
I am grateful that Cozy Glow's sinister plan was foiled. To think a pony so young could go so far as to attempt to remove magic from our world in search of power...
Be that as it may, I sincerely fear that it may have long reaching consequences...
High above Equus, as spheres of magic returned to their homes after the mad plans of a demented filly were ended, some failed to fade back into the world.
Magic is a fundamental part of our world, to tamper with it may have grave consequences...
One of the spheres of magic drifting high above began to crackle with chaotic lightning, its form growing darker and blacker. It finally began to slowly drift down to the world below like a snowflake that had finally became too heavy.
My findings are showing erratic spikes in certain areas. I'm concerned that not all the magic has restored stably.
Drifting down to the ground, past the skyscrapers of Manehatten, the little tainted ball of magic found its way to the Central Park Zoo. It drifted through the bars and landed on the head of a slumbering Manticore, fading into its skin with a dark ripple.
This unstable, wild magic is unpredictable. While it is too early to be certain...
The hybrid beast's eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing a crimson red and narrowing into a ferocious glare.
I fear Cozy Glow's mad plan may have had far deeper consequences than she intended or we could imagine...
===
Twilight Sparkle looked down at the letter for a few moments at her desk in the School of Friendship's office. “...This isn't good...”
“What isn't good?” asked Starlight Glimmer, her graduated student entering with a pile of forms in her telekinesis.
“Starswirl's studies indicate that Cozy Glow's plan may have caused a huge spike in wild magic...” the Princess of Friendship explained, worry etched on her face.
Spike tapped his chin from the nearby file cabinet where he was handling a mound of paperwork. “So is that bad?”
“It's impossible to tell,” Twilight replied, grabbing books off her shelves in her telekinesis and looking through them. “Wild magic is called that because it's incredibly unpredictable. Everfree Forest is completely full of it, and from the sound of it these levels might be unprecedented. There's no telling what might happen...”
“Geeze, that crazy little filly really made a mess, didn't she?” the little drake asked.
“That's an understatement...So I take it we're canceling the field trip to Manehatten tomorrow then?” Starlight asked, starting to help look through the books.
Twilight blinked for a moment...then facehoofed. “I totally forgot about that! We went through all the trouble of getting their families' permission for the trip...” Having to get signatures from all over the world from multiple different species, some of which had their own written languages, had been far from easy. Especially when it came to Grandpa Gruff (the more she found out about that little griffon's home life, the more she felt sorry for him). The Princess opened a map of Equestria and looked it over. “Cozy Glow's plan used the school as the nexus of her spell...The students might actually be safer far away in Manehatten. I'll stay here and analyze the situation to report to the Princesses, I'll send a dragon mail if I find anything...I just hope we can find a way to solve this without a disaster...”
===
Night Shift, a black furred unicorn with a white mane and tail, walked through Central Park close to midnight. Some days he wished he had been a 'night' unicorn like many people expected hearing his name. This was one of them.
“Come on, it's just a big kitten...” he muttered, trying to reassure himself.
Being part of the Park Enforcement Patrol had never been exactly the safest of all jobs. That went without saying when your job was to keep every creature safe in the parks of one of the most densely populated cities in Equestria. But most of the time that didn't include an escaped Manticore from the Central Park Zoo that made even the fully grown stallion look tiny in comparison to it. Granted, the ponies at the zoo had said the creature, named Geryon, had never caused any trouble and should be fairly docile, but the fact his cage had been found torn wide open didn't invite confidence in that assumption.
Still, Night Shift had a tranquilizer crossbow and could always teleport away if things got too out of hoof. Besides, if Geryon wasn't recaptured, it'd disrupt business at one of the city's biggest attractions, and that's not something his bosses would be happy about in the slightest. So despite his misgivings, he continued to search the park in the dead of the night for the big Manticore.
It decidedly didn't help that there was barely a sound in the entire park. Not even the nocturnal wild life. While expected considering late night visitors were kept away due to the potential danger, it still put him on edge.
“Normally I like it when this place is quiet, but this just doesn't feel right...” Night Shift muttered, continuing his patrol and keeping his eyes open.
Suddenly, the unicorn caught sight of something moving out of the corner of his eye. Spinning around he it was already gone. Turning around slowly, trying to get a bead on it, he saw a dark shadow dash through the trees. A big shadow. He quickly drew his tranquilizer crossbow and took aim. “Geryon? That you big guy?”
He heard the wind of the thing's movement behind him and spun, firing a bolt...and hitting a tree. As he reloaded, he felt the ground shudder as something landed behind him. He spun around, finding two red glowing eyes gazing back at him. Far wider apart than one would expect.
Night Shift took aim with his crossbow...only for the creature to rise up...and up...and up. He took a step backwards as the creature finally rose to it's full height. Reaching the canopy of the trees.
===
In the depths of Everfree, the Tree of Harmony set in its cave and began to spark and glow. A glimmering approximation of Princess Twilight manifested on one of the branches, concern appearing on the entity's face. Or at least as much as possible given its alien nature.
“It has begun...the First Beast has come into being...” the entity said. “...I must begin preparations...”
===
“Alright, everycreature,” Applejack said as the group departed the train in Manehattan. “Stay close, Manehattan is a big place and we don't want ya tah get lost...”
Ever excitable Silverstream walked off the train and gasped with her typical excitement. “What are those?!” she exclaimed, looking up at the towering buildings.
“Skyscrapers,” Rainbow Dash answered with a smirk.
“They're so huge!”
“Eh, I've seen dragons almost as big as that...but guess it's kinda cool,” Smolder commented with a smirk.
“Oh darling, it's more than 'kinda cool!' There's a lot of history behind this place,” Rarity replied with a smile she said as the group began walking into the city. “For example, right down that street there is the Manhattan branch of the Rover Street Market. The Rover Street Market in the Gritish Isles was ranked the second best store in the world. They sell both high fashion, young creations, and street wear.”
As the Bearer of Generosity kept going over the history of a fashion store, Gallus leaned over to Smolder. “Who knew talking about fashion history would turn Professor Rarity into Principle Twilight,” he whispered to the dragoness with a chuckle and a joking elbow.
Smolder, who'd been listening closer to Rarity than one would otherwise expect, gave a chuckle. “Yeah...”
“I've been here before with my family, we went to Carny Island together,” Sandbar replied. “This place is awesome.”
“Yona likes city! But Yona wishes it were colder!” Yona replied, sweating and trying to find some shade, only to give a smile as Fluttershy held a fan up she'd brought with her for just this occasion. “Thank you!”
“You're quite welcome,” Fluttershy replied with her usual sweetness.
Ocellus gave a smile. “Manehatten is actually a very fascinating place. I've been studying it since this was announced! Did you know that Central Park is the first landscaped park in an Equestrian city? It looks natural, but it was actually constructed completely by ponies!”
“Amazin' what creatures can do when they work together, huh?” asked Applejack with a smirk.
The Young Six nodded and continued following through the city. As they walked, Gallus blinked, eyes glowing with a magenta aura briefly. He groaned, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes.
“You okay, dude?” asked Sandbar, turning back to look at him.
The griffon gave a shrug. “Yeah, just felt a little weird for a second. Probably the glare off the buildings...”
===
Twilight rubbed her eyes, looking over the books on wild magic once more...then rubbed her horn due to the forming headache from the many scanning spells she'd been casting in her attempts to figure out this problem.
“Are you okay, Twilight?” asked Spike, flying over with more books.
“I'm fine...but I have to figure out what's going on with this wild magic or it could cause a disaster...” muttered the Princess of Friendship.
“I know, but if you wear yourself too much you won't be able to help anyone,” her trusted assistant replied, landing on her back.
“Thanks for worrying about me, Spike, but-” Twilight continued...then felt a now familiar sensation on her flank and looked back to find her Cutie Mark glowing. “Maybe the Tree has some idea of what's going on...”
With one quick teleportation spell, the two were in the throne room with the crystalline magic map in its center that had guided them on many adventures now. Twilight raised an eyebrow as noticed both the location of the floating mark and the mark next to hers. “It wants me to go to its chamber...with...”
“Me it would appear,” said a wizened old voice at the door.
“Starswirl!” the Princess of Friendship shouted, rushing over to the stallion she'd spent a large part of her life studying religiously.
The older unicorn nodded, levitating his robe up to show his glowing Cutie Mark. “It appears the Tree of Harmony has need for you and I...”
The two's eyes suddenly lit up briefly with a magenta aura, leaving them rubbing their heads for a moment.
“...We should hurry...”
===
“What do you mean Central Park is closed?” asked Rarity, understandably enraged. “We reserved time at the zoo!”
“Sorry, ma'am. A Manticore escaped the other night and has become aggressive. We can't let anypony...I mean anycreature in until it's recaptured...” said the police officer standing at the entrance. “For your own safety.”
“A Manticore's on the loose? Maybe I can help,” Fluttershy replied, worry on her face as Applejack started talking to Rarity about something. “An animal like that might be scared and upset thanks to all the noise of the big city. I'm an animal expert.”
“Sorry, ma'am, we've got our own animal experts we're paying to do it,” replied the police stallion, before giving a grateful smile. “But we appreciate it. If we need help, you'd be on the short list.”
Rarity gave an irritated sigh, stepping back with Applejack. “Sorry students, it seems we won't be able to get into the zoo today...”
She frowned at the predicted disappointed mutters and groans.
“But me and Applejack have an idea instead: we know a lovely little theater nearby called the Midsummer Theater, we can easily get free tickets,” the fashionista replied. “So come along...”
As the group lead the way, Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy, noting her worried expression. “You okay, Shy?”
“I know that Manticore from when I've visited the zoo before. His name's Geryon and he's a big sweetheart...” muttered the pegasus, feeling a growing sense of unease. “Something's very wrong here for him to act like that...”
“Well given how things normally go, we're probably going to end up having to solve it anyway if it does end up going that wrong...just kinda how things go,” the Wonderbolt replied with an encouraging smile.
===
“The Tree of Harmony doesn't normally call us here,” Twilight explained as they arrived at the Castle of the Two Sisters. “With the wild magic phenomena happening, it can't be a coincidence.”
“My thoughts exactly...” muttered the old unicorn. “Coincidences are rarely just coincidences, especially in a world such as ours.”
The two entered the cave housing one of the most powerful artifacts in the entire land cautiously. After all, for all they knew it might have been calling them to save it from something else.
“Welcome to my cave, Twilight and father...”
Twilight blinked, looking around the chamber as they came up to the giant crystalline Tree. “Was that my voice?”
“Indeed. I hope you do not mind. Your form seemed like a logical basis for my manifestation...”
With a flash, the Tree's avatar appeared in front of them. It looked unblinking towards Starswirl, seeming to pause for a moment to completely take him in. “It is good to meet you, father.”
“Father?” Starswirl asked, noting the alien way the manifestation spoke. Then again, what would one expect from a sapient tree?
“You and the other Pillars of Old Equestria watered my seed with your virtues and sparked the beginning of my growth,” the avatar replied. “By the common definition of the term, you and the other Pillars are my parents...Sadly, while there is much I would like to say to one of my creators, there is no time.”
“So you're the Tree of Harmony?!” Twilight asked, eyes going wide as she looked over the glowing, sparkling manifestation of herself.
“Correct. I have grown and changed, and recently gained the ability to create a manifestation of myself,” the Tree explained. “I know you have many questions, but this situation is becoming more dire as the moments pass.”
The Princess of Friendship had her mouth open her mouth to ask a million questions in the space of five minutes, only to be forced to close it. “...What's happening?”
“As you know, Cozy Glow's plan has created massive amounts of wild magic all over Equestria,” the Tree explained, looking up as its magic created an illusion of the magic orbs high in the sky. “As time goes by, this wild magic will become more and more unstable, chaotic. Eventually, it will fall to the ground, and its effect on living creatures will be incredibly violent and destructive...”
The two mages watched as one of the floating spheres turned black and floated down to the ground...where it suddenly erupted into a pillar of chaotic energy that gradually shaped itself into a massive beast, towering over a projected city.
“They will become gigantic creatures and destroy everything in their path.”
“I believe looking at recent movies that Flash Magnus seems to adore, such a creature would be called a 'Kaiju'...” Starswirl stated, narrowing his eyes. “Something like that could cause untold havoc...and if there will be more than one...”
“How can we stop this?!” Twilight asked, understandably beginning to panic as she looked to her doppelganger.
“I am afraid it has already begun...the First Beast has already been born...” said the avatar.
===
Manehatten's animal control surrounded Clovedere Castle Castle in Central Park, looking up at the impressive monument.
“If the report is right, how could it be hiding inside this place?” asked one of the officers, an Earth Pony stallion named Dogcatcher, the group having followed tracking dogs and their griffon members to the castle by scent.
“Eh, poor guy was scared half to death, probably exaggerated, no way a Manticore could grow that big overnight,” a unicorn mare leading the team named Wild Fang (her wild mane and tail supporting that name) replied...before a shout nearby called their attention.
Following it, they began to note the ground seemed somewhat more irregular than any of them remembered from their many visits in the past. Finally, turning the corner around the castle, they found a huge hole in the ground next to it, concealed from the air by trees, but far, far larger than any common Manticore could create.
“Or maybe not...” Wild Fang muttered, looking at the hole in wide-eyed shock.
“...That hole is even bigger than the report said he should be...” Dogcatcher replied, examining it closer.
“...I think this just got out of our league...” the wild-haired pony replied, putting the team's safety first. “Pull back and call the guard, we're not equipped for this.”
The rest of the team could only nod, preparing to back off and secure the area for better equipped groups to deal with the situation...only to find the ground trembling beneath their hooves, beginning to rise up. Chaotic magic erupted out of the ground like twisted lightning around them.
“Unicorns! Grab everybody and teleport out of here!” yelled Wild Fang, grabbing Dogcatcher and a few others and teleporting away. Arriving at the edge of the park she quickly did a head count and noticed three of the team hadn't teleported. Looking back, she noticed a young unicorn stallion, a new recruit, struggling with the teleportation, leaving himself and the other two stranded as the ground erupted upwards with more chaotic lightning. Teleporting back quickly, Wild Fang grabbed them, having to reach out and catch an Earth Pony officer from falling off the new rising ground. “Hang on, rookie!” she yelled before just managing to teleport back right as chaotic lightning burst out of the ground they'd been standing on.
Wild Fang, panting from exertion, fell to her haunches.
“You okay?” Dogcatcher asked, putting a hoof on her shoulder.
“Yeah...just tired...” the mare replied...before looking back as the castle and the surrounding area for about one hundred meters began rising up and breaking apart. “...That's not good...run!”
In a massive eruption of rock and the shattered remains of the castle, something gigantic burst free from the earth.
Nearby, the School of Friendship students screamed as their teachers jumped in front of them at the sudden blast.
“What the hay is going on?!” Applejack asked, looking over as the massive plume of dust rose into the air, far too close for comfort.
“I'll fly up and look!” Rainbow Dash called, the pegasus soaring skywards and looking down on Central Park as ponies and other creatures quite understandably panicked and ran for their lives.
Everything went silent as an unearthly growl radiated outwards from the plume, two gigantic red eyes snapping open and glaring outwards at the city. Two gargantuan wings resembling a Manticore's spread out impossibly far before flapping and sending a sudden gust of wind that would've sent a less skilled Pegasus than Rainbow flying head over heels over even at this distance.
The dust clearing, the First Beast finally came into clear view.
At its base body, it resembled a Manticore, but twisted and corrupted. Its exoskeleton now extended up its back all the way to its head, with three large, backwards curving spines erupting from between its shoulders. Another spike on each front shoulder and its horns having become more devilish and made of the same chitin as its armor. All four paws and ankles replaced by gauntlets of exoskeleton. It's long, crimson scorpion's tail still ended in a stinger, but it was now more dramatically curved and fierce. However, it was the size that took everycreature off guard. Standing on all fours, it was still taller than many of the surrounding buildings, over one hundred meters long. So large Smolder imagined many dragons would struggle to match its size.
“...Geryon?” asked Fluttershy, eyes wide in shock at the friendly Manticore she'd seen many times at the zoo.
“...Okay, no pony panic! Maybe he's friendly!” Pinkie Pie called.
Geryon reared his head back and let out an earth shaking roar before his stringer arched up over his back, crackling with violet chaotic energy. A beam of destructive magic erupted out, swinging across the park in front of him and leaving a glowing violet trench before explosions rivaling himself in size erupted into the air, the group feeling the ground rattle beneath their feet even at that great distance. Chaotic lightning crackled around his wings before arching off and plunging the thankfully evacuated park into more titanic blasts. Within moments the beautiful centerpiece of Manehattan was a blazing inferno.
Rarity quickly huddled the understandably terrified students together, covering them with herself. “He's not friendly!”
“Alright, now we can panic...”
Rainbow Dash saw civilians still running away from the gigantic beast. Geryon seemed to notice at the same time and took aim with his stinger, energy building. The pegasus gave a resolute glare. “No time to panic! There's still ponies down there!” she yelled, taking off as fast as she could go and gathering the group of civilians on her back the moment Geryon's beam reduced that portion of the street to blazing rubble. She continued through the streets around the park, picking up as many on her back as she could manage like a blue streak and depositing them with her friends at a safe distance before flying back in to try and rescue more.
“Come on, gang! She can't rescue all those ponies by herself!” Applejack shouted, producing her rope and rushing off with the rest of the Mane Six and Starlight in tow.
“...Should we do something?” Ocellus asked, shuddering at the chaos that suddenly unfolded. The previously bustling city now thrown into panic as ponies screamed and tried to escape by any means necessary as Geryon continued his assault.
“Not sure what we can do...” Smolder muttered, before looking out at the panicked crowds and giant monster attack. A normal dragon would probably just leave them to whatever happens... “...But we won't know if we don't try. Come on!”
Gallus nodded, likewise not being a normal Griffon. “Come on everycreature!” he called, the other students outside the Young Six nodding along with them.
===
“If this is true, we're going to need to borrow the Elements of Harmony,” Twilight replied to the manifestation.
“I am afraid that while the Elements are capable of defeating the First Beast, they are not an ideal solution,” the Tree replied. “There is no telling when these creatures will appear or where. If for any reason one of you six are separated from the rest, there would be no means of countering them before massive damage has already been done...something must be created that can fight them on even footing and lure them from populated areas until they can be purified. As well as weaken them so that process can be done safely.”
“That's a good point, but what could do such a thing barring a dragon of Torch's size and caliber?” asked Starswirl, looking back over the projection.
“We will create something that can...” replied the Tree, holding out a hoof as a massive flash of light went off, forcing the two to cover their eyes. When it faded, they looked and found her holding a small crystal shaped like an egg, the Element of Magic's crest emblazoned on it. “I have been experimenting with something since this threat came to my attention.”
“The strange sensation we experienced earlier I surmise?” asked Starswirl, looking the strange object over.
“Correct. As I was watered and grown by the Pillar's virtues, so too can something else be. This crystal egg can be fed by the light of your connections to the Element of Magic, and Gallus' as well, to birth a Guardian Beast to defend Equestria from these wild magic creatures...however, there is an additional requirement...”
Twilight took the egg in her magic and blinked. “What's that?”
“I cannot simply create a 'Kaiju' as Starswirl put it whole cloth from nothing. The egg will also require a piece of the First Beast to grant it the basic biology to sustain itself at the necessary size...”
“Then we'd best get a move on and find Gallus and this 'First Beast,'” Starswirl stated, now dead serious. “Where is it?”
“It is currently attacking the city of Manehattan...” the Tree replied.
Twilight's eyes widened as her irises shrunk to pinpricks. “...The field-trip!”
===
General Shield Strike, a gray furred mountain of a pegasus with a golden mane and tail, Cutie Mark shield with the same coloration, sat in his office. His day was doing what it was after every single crisis: doing lots of paperwork. The Bearers and other heroes handled actually taking down villains, somepony had to handle the paperwork. The annoying, boring paperwork. Still, at least unlike Sombra and Chrysalis, Cozy Glow was safely confined to Tartarus. Despite some complaints of Cerberus leaving his post, that place had an extremely good track record for keeping its prisoners incarcerated. Tirek was the only escapee in a thousand years.
There were also complaints about putting a filly down there. Ponies tended to forget that Cozy Glow was a criminal mastermind and child prodigy who'd intentionally desired to erase magic from the world (which would be incredibly catastrophic for many, many reasons) and nearly succeeded. In the time they'd had her in captivity she'd nearly sweet talked several guards into letting her loose, and not for incompetence on their part. Of course Tirek was her mentor, so what else would you expect? There were some creatures who the only rational way to lock them up was inside a place they couldn't talk their way out of.
While it was normally some time before the next crisis, his mentor Shining Armor had made one thing abundantly clear when training him: never tempt fate. Chrysalis was still out there somewhere, and Equestria had a very strong habit of throwing a new disaster your way at the drop of a hat.
Almost on cue at that thought, alarms blared in the base and the general jumped to his hooves, rushing out the door without a moment's thought. Seeing soldiers running down the same direction as himself, sped up to keep pace with them. “What's going on, Sergeant Fire Starter?!”
The soldier, a white pony with a fiery mane and tail, Cutie Mark under the armor an inferno, looked back. Fire Starter was a bit of an oddball in a lot of ways, but he was a good guard. Even if he had a habit of lighting himself on fire. Not on accident, on purpose. Shield Strike would be more concerned if he also didn't have fire proofing magic and if it weren't quite effective a trick in a fight. No one really had a good strategy for fighting someone who was on fire given how rare of a situation that was. “Word is some giant monster is attacking Manehattan, sir!”
Giant monster. That narrowed it down, at least a little bit. “Dragon? Roc? Kraken?”
“No, sir. Reports say it's a giant Manticore! Thing has already destroyed a most of Central Park!”
That was a new one.
As the soldiers filed in for briefing, Shield Strike looked to the technician preparing for the take off. “Get everypony the high grade armor! We'll need it!”
Magic was a wonderful thing. Even with armor, getting hit by a dragon would normally be a death sentence, but with the right enchantments, you got a magical shield that protected from conventional damage. You weren't invincible, but it'd saved those guards that got blasted by Nightmare Moon at the Summer Sun Celebration from serious injury, and turned a hit from a dragon from 'death' to 'a rough landing.' You still didn't want to take a direct hit, but it might just save your life.
===
Rainbow Dash grabbed another group of civilians, banking up to avoid another beam from Geryon...only for two to lose their grip and fall. The Wonderbolt gave a gasp, preparing to bank back to catch the falling ponies...only for Gallus, Silverstream, and a few pegasi students to fly up, grabbing falling ponies and joining her.
“Don't worry, we've gotcha!” Gallus called, the students flying up.
Ocellus transformed into her bugbear form so she and Smolder could pick up as many ponies as possible to help get them out of harm's way while Sandbar rode on Yona's back with several Earth Pony students and helped ponies climb on as she bulldozed her way through rubble and debris.
“Good job kids!” the cyan pegasus called with a proud smile.
“You did teach us top help everypony, what else would we do?” Silverstream asked.
Meanwhile, Applejack panted as she ran back to drop off more civilians as Starlight landed with a large group in her telekinesis. “Got some more...” she started, then cringed as Geryon roared and turned, taking aim at a building with his stinger. “But no way everypony's getting' out of here if he's bored tearin' up the park!”
“STOP!”
Geryon's eyes crossed to see Fluttershy flying right in front of him, eyes locked in the Stare.
“Geryon! I don't know what's happening, but this isn't you! Stop this!” Fluttershy pleaded as everypony's eyes widened at where she was.
Geryon...paused. For a few moments the glowing red faded back to normal eyes and he gave a whimper.
The cream color pegasus gave a grasp. “What's that?”
The giant beast whimpered something else...but before anything else could happen, he roared out in agony, paws clutching his head as he crackled with chaotic energy.
“Geryon! Fight it!” Fluttershy pleaded, reaching out to try to touch him, but his eyes each larger than herself snapped open to reveal them once more glowing blood red. With a roar he raised a massive paw to swipe her with deadly intent.
Fluttershy tried to escape, but was too slow...until a flash of magic saw Starlight appear behind her, grabbing her and teleporting her to safety, the paw slashing through the side of a building like butter.
“Are you okay?!” Starlight asked as they appeared on another building.
The pegasus had to quickly settle herself down, understandably hyperventilating. “Y-Yes, but he's not!”
“What?”
Fluttershy turned back as Geryon roared to the heavens, energy crackling about his form as he towered above them like ants. “...Something's wrong with him, he doesn't want to do this! He said something's making him!”
“But what? What turns a Manticore into a giant monster and sends it on a rampage?!” the unicorn questioned...then facehoofed. “We live in Equestria, that barely narrows anything down...” She then saw Geryon begin slashing into the building again, hearing ponies screaming. “...Well whatever it is, we need to keep him busy or ponies are getting hurt or worse! Keep saving civilians!”
Starlight teleported and reappeared in front of the creature's face. “Sorry Geryon!” she yelled, letting loose a massive magical beam directly in his face. The blast didn't even make he flinch, only roar in rage and swipe at her. The unicorn grabbed herself in her telekinesis and flew to evade, having to recover from being sent spiraling from the wind of his claw's passing. She caught herself quickly before rapidly firing magical beams at him. “Come on big guy, follow me!”
The monster turned, forcing her to dodge another swipe (this time getting further away to avoid being sent spinning) as she slowly lead Geryon back into the ruined park. After dodging several swipes, her eyes widened as his tail shot up, crackling with energy. She put up a shield as the violet energy beam was unleashed right at her. Starlight strained, quickly sweating as the beam sent her and her barrier back several hundred meters. The barrier barely lasted a few seconds before it began cracking, forcing her to teleport away at the last second.
Reappearing nearby, she quickly had to fire a massive beam to use her own recoil to cancel out the sheer momentum the beam had given her. “That was close...” she muttered, before giving a scream as she had to dodge a pounce that shook the earth and sent a massive explosion of rock into the air as it shook several city blocks. She nigh instantly had to weave and dodge to evade bolts of wing lightning that blew away what little was left of the park around her, the heat forcing a shield spell to protect her from getting third degree burns.
“Alright, let's try this!” the unicorn exclaimed, charging up her magic and creating a sphere of light she threw in his face. As it collided with his face, the sphere exploded in a blast of hypnotic light. The creature's eyes briefly glazed over and he stopped his rampage...but before she could give an order, his eyes crackled with red chaotic energy and shattered the spell, roaring and sending her flying back head over heels. As she caught herself, she just barely dodged a tail beam in time.
“Okay, that didn't work...let's try brute force,” Starlight muttered before she charged up and put as much force as she could into a gigantic energy beam point blank in Geryon's face.
The creature roared in pain and flinched back...but only as much as a pinprick might hurt a pony, after which he quickly recovered and forced her to dodge a swipe through the attack or be bisected.
Starlight looked down at his paws and flew down to dodge a bite, quickly firing rapid-fire beams. The massive claws were quickly encased in purple crystal...for only a few moments before it easily broke free in a rain of glimmering shards and nearly swiped her out of the air. Teleporting several times, she got distance and kept letting loose as powerful of spell blasts as she could, managing to make Geryon flinch but failing to do much more than that.
This continued for several minutes until Starlight began panting, sweating heavily while the monster had received next to no damage. The mare looked around, seeing her friends and students still getting civilians away from the rampaging monster alongside police and rescue workers...
Starlight took a deep breath and put as much power as she could into her horn and let it loose full blast at Geryon, who retaliated with his stringer beam. The two energy blasts collided...and Starlight's began to swiftly be overpowered, no matter how much she strained and pushed back against it. It finally completely overtook her beam, Starlight closing her eyes as the purple beam engulfed her vision...
Only to feel nothing. Had she been vaporized?
Opening her eyes, she found herself in Rainbow Dash's hooves, the mare's tail burned half way off and still smoking but flying her swiftly away.
“T-Thanks Rainbow...”
“No problem! What are friends for?!” Rainbow Dash asked with a smirk.
Starlight smiled...then promptly passed out from the sheer strain.
To Be Continued.