Book 1 - The Behemoth came to Canterlot

by Equimorto


Falling Apart

As she was falling backwards to avoid Nightmare Moon's attack, Twilight found another mare falling at her side. "What's the plan?" Starshine asked her, in her usual disconnectedly cheerful tone.
Twilight gave a very sudden, strong beat with her wings, pushing herself straight skyward. "Incapacitate her or get her to stay still long enough for me to fire at her," she said to Starshine, who'd merely appeared at her side again at the top of her ascent. "Alternatively, if I miss her, push her into the radius by force afterwards."
"Got it!" Once again Starshine disappeared and reappeared to follow Twilight as she teleported herself on the complete opposite side of Nightmare Moon, behind her on the ground next to the crater, just in time to avoid a torrent of magic aimed at her that tore through the sky.
Twilight tentatively aimed again, but it was no use, as in just a moment Nightmare Moon spun around and began to rain down spears on her, forcing her to run around the crater and then take a hard turn into it, shielding herself for what she couldn't dodge. Her barrier was easily broken through however, and she almost immediately teleported away.
But there were no more buildings for her to hide in, and once she reappeared amidst rubble she knew it would only take seconds for Nightmare Moon to come onto her again, just a moment longer than it'd take to spot her. Thankfully for her, Starshine stepped in. While Nightmare Moon turned to Twilight's direction, she appeared at her side and unleashed a sudden blast of magic wide enough to envelop her whole body.
It left a considerable crater where it struck the ground, wide enough for a pony to lie comfortably inside of. Yet the beam did not survive for long. Seemingly not having moved from her position despite being struck in full, Nightmare Moon fired a shot of her own while inside the blast, one that sent Starshine flying backwards. More than that, the single deep blue beam had left a wound on the alicorn's body, and blood trailed behind her as she was hurled in an arching trajectory through the sky.
That had not been enough for Twilight to take proper aim yet. However, Starshine did not let Nightmare Moon switch her attention back, as she caught herself mid fall and righted herself, then fired again from her horn. The magic beam, slimmer that time, slid over Nightmare Moon's body like water over a stone, seemingly harmless to the alicorn. That established, Starshine teleported herself upwards to dodge a barrage of spears and bolts and instead manifested more physical means of attempting to harm the alicorn.
Large, rough crystal cones the size of train wagons came into being at her sides, encircled by swirling runes. A moment to take aim, and the first shot forward faster than an arrow.
It didn't reach Nightmare Moon. It crumbled before even getting close, shattered by the sheer aura of her presence. The second, reinforced by magic, fared better, but only until Nightmare Moon shot at it directly and pulverised it. Keeping up the pace Starshine shot forward a third, even faster, even more reinforced.
Twilight lined up her hoof with her eyes with her target. Nightmare Moon's horn shone again, and it was clear the incoming crystal wouldn't be enough to make her move yet. Holding her breath, Twilight fired.