Dark crystal bit at her, but all it took was a little power to push it away. Her mind still raced, trying to catch up with what the buck was happening and why.
Daybreaker had done something, and now not only was her Garden being bombarded, but giant Timberwolves forced their way in.
Everything moved too fast to react to. So she did the only thing she could and raised a shield and fed it more than enough power to keep everything out.
Now, with a whole fraction of a second to think, she replayed her memories. Twilight has been angry. She was set on healing her friends, and then…
Why?
She was almost tempted to let one of Twilight's wolves take a bite of her.
"Why?" She screamed at Daybreaker.
"You know why."
"Just answer me."
With a growl, Daybreaker snapped back. "Your stupid rules."
My rules? The voice in her head was small and timid. Not a single part of her wanted to accept it, but she knew the truth.
Rule Four: Immediate Elimination of Non-Controlled Caster utilising magic from list Onyx.
Twilight was always meant to be hers, almost meant to be above reproach. An oversight? She asked herself, her mental voice wavering with just a touch of hysteria.
In the physical world, Twilight's now skeletal form righted itself. Magic blazed off her in billowing flames. Fire of an ilk very different from Celestia's own. This fire hungered. This fire would burn anything and everything, even space itself, if intense enough.
Twilight was truly outstanding, her finest creation, her most capable student. Celestia smiled fondly, even as she hated what she had to do.
"Daybreaker, disregard rule four. Just stop her. Alive… if you can."
Daybreaker sent most of her attention to the physical world as Celestia stomped on the ground. Her hooves pressed deep into the soft soil of her Garden. An effort of will reshaped her Bastion, weaponising it.
Golden blades burst from the ground as vines of spiked chains swamped over the wooden invaders. Despite the restrains the wooden constructs struggled on, but it was fruitless.
Celestia surveyed the aftermath of the invasion. It had been a good attempt, but she had not named herself Celestia Sol Invictus, The Eternal Queen, for nothing.
She glared at the largest wolf. It must have taken Twilight weeks to make this many. "It would seem she needs to learn restraint…" Did she truly become so fearful of me?
It was obvious what her student had done now. An intrusion into her Garden as a distraction to wrest at least some control of the incoming magic. Twilight had formed the crystal armour under her flesh to protect what was most important and use the properties of the crystal to redirect the attack right back at her.
If only I could give you a good grade and call this a test. Somehow, she had to subdue Twilight without killing her… with her crystal-wrapped bones that would be a razor's edge. On one side, weak enough to be reflected. On the other, utter destruction.
The battle in the physical world was all sound and fury. Twilight's berserker frenzy almost bested Daybreaker's well-honed skill. If I let Daybreaker end her, it would be over in an instant…
Between dodging the sporadic projectiles still bombarding her Bastion, Celestia had enough time to regard the damage the last few seconds had caused to her nation. Magama and wildfires replaced rolling grass and trees. In this distance, even the mountant she called home had a hole bored through it, and molten rock spilt from the wound.
The Blight and now this… what will the world…
It was then the most ridiculous sight she had seen in an age broke into her Bastion. A massive golden hammer waddled in. It took her a moment to notice what carried it. A little terry cloth plush toy of herself, a technicolour fluffy wig and a glowing red nose stuck on the end of its muzzle.
"Discord, I am not in the mood for your jokes… Remove your creation."
"Not to burst your bubble, dear, but that is not one of mine."
She turned to glare at the draconequus that dared invade her Bastion, only to be hit by a tidal wave of ice cream. This was not just a mental projection, not just a concept. No, a Equestria games sized pool of physical ice cream slammed into her Bastion.
Her senses swam, and she shivered. The unexpected matter made her nauseous and out of balance.
"Ohh, soul freeze," Discord mocked as, with a shriek, the little thing swung its oversized weapon.
Celestia's mane lit, and she glared with enough fire the ice cream vaporised. She raised a hoof, and the hammer stopped dead. "I am not amused."
An impact slammed into her. She looked down to see a long black spear had punched through her barrel and into the ground.
The cold magic that seeped into her was familiar. Fear and rage burnt through her, but it did nothing to stop the descending nightmare. "No!"
Luna… Her strength fled from her hooves. Only the spear through her kept her from falling.
"Discord", Daybreaker's roar sounded more like a whisper to Celestia's failing senses.
The last words she heard before the darkness claimed her was Discord impersonating a kindly father. "Nice outfit. Come on, little one, you don't deserve to die here."