//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 - The Fallen Stars // Story: For Whom the Twilight Falls // by iAmSiNnEr //------------------------------// For Whom the Twilight Falls Cowritten by iAmSiNnEr and Meowofy Chapter 13 - The Fallen Stars The train puttered slowly towards Ponyville, Tirek glancing out the window every once in a while. Foolishness, a voice echoed in his mind. We should return home, and defend our lands with Father. Why should we assist the ponies? “Prince Tirek?” A nervous voice broke his line of thought. “We’re about to arrive at Ponyville.” Tirek turned his attention to the reddish-black changeling who had just spoken.  Aethina, if he recalled correctly. “Good,” he said emotionlessly. “Are my crates secure?” “Your mana crystals are secure,” Aethina confirmed. “We’ll unload them once we arrive. They’re wrapped in a lot of bubble wrap, they won’t break.” “Very well. Now—” Tirek never finished his sentence as the train screeched to a halt, carriages crumpling and breaking apart as something hit the locomotive with force rivaling that of a meteor. Tirek was thrown against the wall of his carriage, his form slumping as he hit his head against it. As he blearily looked up with a darkening vision, he saw two enormous, glittering bears roaring at the sky, having materialized onto the train and crushing it beneath their paws. One was three times larger than the other, and it broke away from the smaller one, charging toward Ponyville in the distance. The smaller one, however, remained, lowering his nose to sniff at the train. Tirek struggled to push himself to his hooves, even as black spots made themselves known in his vision.  Then a dark-red aura bobbed a crate to his hooves, and dropped it there. He turned to see the source of the magic, a broken Aethina whose carapace had been cracked and destroyed from the force at which she had impacted the wall. Now only did Tirek realize the shimmering red behind him was a cushioning spell cast by Aethina. She had saved him at the cost of her own protection. “Go…” the changeling breathed as the light in her eyes dimmed. “Do not worry…about me…I will be born again…as another…Long…live…Queen…Chrysalis…” then her head lolled to the side, and the changeling known as Aethina took her final breath. Tirek hadn’t known Aethina for long. But she had saved his life. And he would be damned if he could not repay her sacrifice as he would with the others that had presumably taken their last breaths operating the train.  He broke open the crate to reveal several dozen glimmering dark red crystals. An orange glow built on his horns as he breathed in, absorbing the magic that was stored in the crystals. Almost immediately, he felt his energy return, his form swelling as he broke through the roof, and he bellowed his rage at the bear made of stars. The Ursa Minor turned to him, and in its eyes, he saw nothing but darkness. It roared at him, before charging toward him. Therefore Tirek did the only logical thing he could think of. He punched the Ursa Minor in the face. “Monster alert!” “Gather up!” “Sir, what do we do?” Flash Sentry gazed at the giant bear made of stars barrelling towards them. It was of even greater size than the hydra he had faced with Ponyville. Even then, he had injured one of his eyes. “Pray,” he said with a resigned tone. “That’s all we can do.” Then as the bear neared within a kilometer of the town, Flash’s eyes widened as he saw a purple shape drop from above, roaring a challenge as it slammed down onto the bear. A dragon! “Evacuate the town!” Luna popped into existence beside him, her eyes wide. “The dragons and changelings will handle this, but Ponyville needs to be evacuated!” Flash shook his head. “I know it does logically, but us Ponyvillians are stubborn. Show us what to do, and we’ll fight with you. This is our town, and we’re not losing it to some kind of eldritch beast from the stars.” Luna pursed her lips. “I don’t have the authority to give you orders, so I can’t stop you. But we do need all the help we can get.” Even as she said it, Spike was bodily slammed aside, the Ursa Major digging its claws into Spike, breaking scales as it did so. Spike roared in pain, before breathing fire upon the beast, sending it stumbling back, although none the worse for wear. “It’s impervious to most attacks,” Luna explained. “I’ll need your ponies to try and distract it, we’re working on a containment ring to seal it in. Chryssy’s gone to mobilize her changelings, so we’re currently trying to slow it down before it hits Ponyville. The dragons are too small to fight it except for Sir Spike, and Dragon Lord Ember is calling for reinforcements.” “So we’re in a temporary pickle, then?” Flash Sentry gave a silvery grin. “Fear not, I’ve been many of pickles myself! PONYVILLE, MUSTER UP! RUN DISTRACTION SEQUENCES!” The pegasi in the air saluted, and the earth ponies on the ground nodded and ran off toward where Spike was doing battle with the Ursa Major. Meanwhile, the unicorns remained, their horns alit and ready to protect Ponyville. “I’ll teleport us,” Luna said. “Hold on tight.” Flash nodded, and the two ponies disappeared in a flash of light. Tirek straightened up, his form even larger now as he loomed over the now defeated Ursa Minor, who was making pitiful noises of pain as the centaur knelt down to examine the creature. After Tirek had stunned it with the punch, it was foal’s play to absorb its magic, and once he had done so, it had been reduced to a lowly bear cub. “Hmph,” he snorted. “Barely a challenge. Go. Run, little one. You are no threat to me. Not anymore. But your mother…” He looked off into the distance where Spike was fighting the Ursa Major—and losing. “She’s a threat,” he cracked his knuckles. “And I will take her magic too.” He stomped off, leaving the bear cub in the wreckage of the train. As he did so, the changeling swarm emerged from the forest behind, Chrysalis at the lead as she tried her best to organize them with Pharynx.  “No, Aunt Carapace…” Chrysalis’s voice was getting tired. “We can’t do what you’re suggesting.” Carapace snorted. “Your leadership skills are abysmal, niece. Let me lead.” “Well, you can lead if you want to,” Chrysalis snapped. “I certainly didn’t ask for this. Oh, that’s right, I’m the only one who can listen to the whole hive, because it chose me!” Carapace drew her lips back. “Fine. But when we enter battle, General Pharynx will lead. He has the experience. You don’t. And plus, you’re too valuable to let into the fight.” Chrysalis let out a resigned sigh. “Whatever it takes to get you out of my mane, aunt. Please, just…I’m Queen now, whether you like it or not. I…I have duties to do. We don’t have time to argue. I’ll stay back if that’s what makes you happy.” “Good,” Carapace relented, then her expression softened. “I’m sorry if I’m being harsh. You need to learn to be a good Queen - my sister would have wanted that. Stay safe, niece. We’ll be back soon.” Chrysalis could only look as the hive flittered forwards to the fight, while she landed on the top of the wrecked train. Then she heard the pitiful mewl, and she turned to see the bear cub poking its head out of a train carriage. Chrysalis flitted down to the bear cub, cautiously peering at it as it shrank from her gaze. “Don’t be afraid,” she called softly. “I’m a friend.” The cub poked its head out from behind the broken carriage it had been hiding behind, before sniffing the air. After it apparently detected no threats, it slowly made its way over to Chrysalis, trudging through the debris. Then Chrysalis noticed the green ooze sticking to the bottom of its paw, leaving behind green pawprints. Her heart sank. “Oh, Aethina…” she recognized the ooze. It was the blood of a changeling. Moreover, if she was correct, this was the same carriage that was transporting Aethina and Prince Tirek to Ponyville. “You lived well. We will remember you.” The bear cub reached her, and she knelt down to ruffle its head. She gazed at the green ooze sadly, before lighting her horn. She would see Aethina’s final moments, as was her duty as Queen. Her eyes shut as her horn cast the spell, and all went dark. Forgive me, my Queen. Aethina’s magic shoved Tirek out of the way, before she cast the cushioning spell. Then a giant paw came down, and all went black. “Go. Do not…worry…about…me.” Chrysalis opened her eyes, staring at the bear cub currently nuzzling itself in her hold, apparently comfortable to snuggle there. As her eyes raked over the cub, she noticed the star patterns all over its fur, and they seemed to twinkle in the weak light of the rising moon. “You,” she breathed. “The Ursa Minor.” The cub mewled, turning its head to look at her. And her heart melted.  “You couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Chrysalis murmured as she ran her hooves through the cub’s fur, gently petting it. “Not when Midnight controlled you and your mother. You deserve better. You’re one of the Star Beasts.” The cub didn’t answer, but its shining eyes told Chrysalis all she needed to hear. “Aethina served the hive till the very end,” she said softly. “There can be no higher honor for her. We shall remember her. And as for you…” Chrysalis looked down at the Ursa Minor. “Let’s get you back to your mom, shall we?” “Well,” she looked at the raging battle in the distance. Was that…a giant Tirek? “As soon as they manage to get her out of Midnight’s control.” The battle took place just a bit off Sweet Apple Acres, and it was a mess. Spike had attempted to wrestle the Ursa Major, but to no avail as the Star Beast just slammed her paws into his face, knocking him unconscious. The changelings had swarmed her, but she snorted angrily as she swatted as many as she could out of the air, as if they were nothing but a nuisance. Then the Ursa Major looked up as she heard Tirek’s angry battle cry, a bellow of rage.  She snorted, before charging him. Tirek’s horns glowed, blasting a ray of magic at her, but she simply absorbed the blast, before slamming her body into him, continuing to charge forwards, carrying the stunned centaur with her.  Then she faceplanted into a giant shield the unicorns were casting, their horns alit and powering their spell. The shield cracked, and beads of perspiration flowed down the unicorn’s muzzles, but the shield held firm as more magic flowed into it, reinforcing the barrier.  “HOLD!” Flash’s voice carried across the field. “DRAGONS, NOW!” A dozen dragons slammed into the Ursa Major, grappling for a hold on the Star Beast, and their combined weight began to wear her down as she bellowed and roared. Tirek dusted himself off, before stomping over to her. His horns glowed as he attempted to absorb her magic, but frowned when nothing happened.  “I can’t absorb her magic!” Tirek growled. “Something’s—” Then several things happened at once. The ground began to rumble, as if hundreds of creatures were heading their way. Strike that. Hundreds of creatures were headed their way. Yaks and centaurs were galloping across the land along with griffons and hippogriffs soaring through the sky. The yaks stopped a distance away as they began to jump on the spot, shaking the ground, and throwing the Ursa Major off balance. The storm clouds flashed, followed by a giant thunderbolt striking at the Ursa Major. The centaurs all together charged the Ursa Major, even as the unicorns led by Luna started casting a spell together, a large net beginning to form in the sky. The pegasi, led by Celestia, had gathered a giant tornado that was headed their way, ready to stop the Star Beast. Then when everything hit the Ursa Major, she bellowed as she went down, the net dropping directly on top of her, ensnaring her paws.  The gathered creatures cheered. But victory was not be had, the Ursa Major’s eyes glowing a deep black, before she seemingly had a boost of strength, ripping through the net. The dragons went flying, thrown back by the force of her movement, while the centaurs stumbled and scattered as she stomped.  Then she breathed in. Tirek stumbled, his horns glowing now. His eyes widened as he began to shrink, magic being dragged from his horns and into the Ursa Major’s mouth. Luna and Celestia both gaped at the sight. It was nothing they had ever seen before. Tirek tried in vain to claw back the magic he was losing, but it was to no avail as the Ursa Major held her ground while the creatures pummeled her with attacks. Nothing worked.  Then once all of the Ursa Minor’s magic had been taken from Tirek, the Ursa Major swatted at him, but just in time, Luna was able to teleport beside him before teleporting both of them out. She roared to the sky, a seemingly unstoppable force. Then she pawed at the ground, ready to charge once more. Until a clear and recognizable voice could be heard. “STOP!” Chrysalis called as she flew up to the Ursa Major, her wings fluttering and struggling to balance against the dying thunderstorm and tornado. “Chryssy!” Luna shouted, her voice filled with fear, then she stopped in her tracks as she saw what Chrysalis was carrying. Chrysalis was holding a bear cub. And then the world went silent as the Ursa Major turned her attention onto the changeling queen. “I believe this is your child,” Chrysalis said softly. “I found him. I treated him well. Please, stop your anger. Midnight is controlling you. You are greater than this. Nobler than this. You guided many sailors, and many creatures as they traveled the lands, helping us on our path. This was not your purpose. You are beautiful, and you are grand. You are not a weapon to be used.” The Ursa Major snorted, but her eyes were locked on the bear cub. “You can have him back,” Chrysalis smiled. “He’s your cub.” The Ursa Major made a rumbling noise, as if struggling against something. Then her pitch-black eyes brightened, purple returning to it as she gazed at her cub. The Ursa Minor mewled, recognizing his mother finally. The Ursa Major breathed out, causing Chrysalis to yelp in surprise as the cub in her hooves began to grow. She let go of the Ursa Minor hurriedly, and by the time he crashed to the ground, he was full-sized once more, mewling as he nuzzled against his mother. The Ursa Major turned her gaze onto Chrysalis, then a deep rumbling noise came from her throat. “She’s saying thank you,” Discord supplied, suddenly floating beside Chrysalis. The changeling queen didn’t even jump this time, getting used to the draconequus’s antics. “She says she had no choice. But she thanks you for freeing her from the demon’s control. She thanks your kindness, for not hurting her cub.” The Ursa Major dipped her head, before she and the Ursa Minor dissipated into glittering stars, returning to the sky once more. And if you listened carefully, you could hear the scream of rage from a mad alicorn. Then the world cheered. As Midnight screamed in rage on the balcony, her magic scrabbling in vain to recall the Ursas, another event was happening in her vault. One of the orbs was glowing a bright green.