//------------------------------// // Light Ch.8 // Story: A Time Before // by Blue Turtle //------------------------------// The creature laughed in between gasps of pain. It's horn glowed red and the sky turned pure black yet the sun was visible. The sun turned blood red and Celestia felt her magic waning. "I feel faint..." Celestia said softly and her friends rushed around the young mare. "Tia you gotta get up!" Luna said as Celestia crumbled under herself. The creature smirked, it's red eyes glowed in recognition. "Ah yes... my faithful daughter..." The creature said as it teleported to Celestia. Nebula jumped in front of Celestia and struck the creature in the head. The creature smirked at this though, ignoring the blow. Nebula ducked out of the way as Spark Shower seemed to dive out of no where, throwing himself willingly at the creature. The creature threw the pegasus off, throwing him into Lily. Lily caught Spark Shower and began to strike at the creature, but the creature had experience and dodged her attempts easily. Luna stood up in rage and shot a bolt of magic at the creature. A plant sprouted out of the ground and wrapped itself around the creature, pulling it underground. Celestia's eyes darted back and forth. Celestia rose up, breathing heavily. The creature sped out of the ground, the plant dead. Levier quickly however dropped down from the sky and rammed the creature into the ground. A large shock wave shook the ground, Celestia gathered her friends with her magic and flew out of the city, watching from afar the battle seemed to continue for what seemed like an eternity... ____________________________________________________________________________ Galaxia flew into the creature, assisting Levier. The green kirin flew up into the clouds as Galaxia showered shards of yellow and blue magic, as they hit the ground, Electricity jumped out of the broken shards. The creature was hit by several shards, only to heal itself easily. The creature sped towards the clouds, only to throw down a browning Levier. Levier hit the ground with a thump, her limp body turned brown with only a few small streaks of pale green. The battle raged on with Galaxia and the creature firing spells back and forth. Minutes turns into hours which turned into days. A full three days later and Galaxia was still fighting, though she was growing tired and quickly. The creature taunting her and often picking at Levier as the now brown kirin also continued to fight. Levier was struck in the side by the creature, the last bit of green completely gone. Levier went flying backwards, tumbling over and over. What was left of the castle fell onto her. Galaxia stared in terror as her friend disappeared under a pile of rubble. Galaxia's eyes glowed white and she became angry, tendrils of her magic lashing at the creature. The creature evaded these but only slightly, occasionally one wold strike it and it would roar in pain, a black tongue forked like a snake's hissing at Galaxia. The creature charged Galaxia, who reared back only to kick the creature, it stumbled backwards in a daze, Galaxia forced the tendrils of magic all at once to grab the creature. the creature struggled at hissed at Galaxia, it's blood red eyes resembling the pony she once knew. Galaxia's expression sunk once more, her glowing eyes filled with tears. "Neb-Nebulis?" Galaxia said in a shaky voice. The creature cracked another wicked smile and darkness consumed the tendrils until Galaxia finally let go and they dissipated. Galaxia took a few weak steps back, the creature laughed insanely, in between gasps. The creature stopped for a moment. "I'm going to enjoy killing you." It tilted it's head in amusement. Before Galaxia could move the creature sped into Galaxia, driving her across the sky. Celestia watched felt as though time had slowed, she held Luna close to her, directly under her wing. Wind Song watched as her eyes filled with horror, her friends and almost any pony within Equestria's face had gone pale. Galaxia and the creature shot across the sky, red pulses of magic waved through the sky. Galaxia fell into the ground, her limp body seemed to be broken like a doll that had been dropped with the roof. The creature landed and approached Galaxia, confidently smirking. Galaxia's mane and tail lost their magic as did all of her body. Little sparks of golden magic attempted to be fired out of her horn but to no avail. Galaxia watched the creature step closer to her, closing her eyes she waited for what felt like hours. Then a cry rung throughout her ears. "Mom get up!" Luna sobbed, tears pouring down her face. Celestia grabbed Luna, lowering her once more. Galaxia opened her eyes, they glowed white, Galaxia attempted to get up, only to have the creature push her down, but then Galaxia's body began to glow brightly, The creature stepped back. Galaxia rose up, her body became wispy with golden light, Her eyes glowed white yet white lines went down her face. She shot up, traveling across the sky in her wake the sy turned to normal, the blood red drained out of the sun. "No... no You can't! You're not that powerful!" The creature said in disbelief, shaking it's head like it was trying to wake up from a bad dream. "No. This is real." Levier said, though still brown she stepped out of the rubble. Levier's eyes glowed green and she became vibrate once more, flying towards Galaxia, she passed a portion of her magic to her. "Thank you Levier." Galaxia said, noticing a new limb replaced the one she lost. Galaxia spread her wings and sped towards the creature, it hissed in rage as it felt like it was being torn apart. Galaxia pushed the creature across the sky, darkness flowed out of the creature as Galaxia's body seemed to destroy the creature. Galaxia charged up her horn and fired at a spell at the creature, it was unable to barricade itself or even heal, so it felt the full force of her magic. The creature roared in agony, the sound nothing like that of a pony. Tendrils of light grabbed The creature and a portal to Tartarus opened up in the sky, the creature was thrown in, Galaxia fired a beam of light into the portal, then closed it. Galaxia flew down to Levier who returned to normal. Galaxia hugged Levier tightly. Cheers across Equestria grew as news of the fight spread. Other nations such as Griffania also cheered at this surprisingly. ____________________________________________________________________________ Galaxia stared at the destroyed city. her horn glowed and magic began rebuilding it easily. She still glowed brightly, illuminating the area around her. The new city would be named Canterlot. Celestia and Luna would rule here. Galaxia finished in a matter of days, where as it would most likely take years to rebuild it, the powerful alicorn knew what she had to do before she left. Celestia ran towards Galaxia, Luna only shortly behind her. Luna and Celestia hugged Galaxia tightly, refusing to let go. "I love both of you so much..." Galaxia said, her voice seemed to echo. "We love you too mom... more then you'll ever know." Celestia said as tears filled her eyes. Luna held onto Galaxia's forearm. "Levier gave you a new arm!" Luna said excitingly. "Yes..." Galaxia smiled as the kirin approached. "Mom... who was that?" Luna said looking at her glowing mother. "It was Nebulis..." Levier said speaking for Galaxia. "But Dad would never- Why?" Celestia said with tears streaming down her face. "A long time ago the spirit of chaos Discord cursed your father after we defeated him... Your father knew it'd be only a matter of time until he snapped..." Galaxia said as her voice began to shake. Luna and Celestia nodded. "So you'll rule Equestria by yourself?" Celestia said slowly. "No. I doubt I could ever rule by myself. You will in our place" Galaxia looked calmly at her daughters, who were shocked. "I will go to Tartarus and find your father, you two will rule over until we come back..." Galaxia stopped at the last part. "But what if you go crazy like Ventus?"Luna said worried. "As long as you two have love for me and your father, then we shall return." Galaxia looked at her daughters with a soft smiled. Luna and Celestia nodded and they let Levier hug Galaxia, probably one of her only friends for what would be the last time. "Take care of them while I'm gone." Galaxia said to Levier as the kirin hugged Galaxia tightly, tears traced down her face. "I promise." Levier said in a choked voice. Galaxia nodded and lifted her glowing wings, she flew into the air and opened a portal to Tartarus, shooting another beam into it, she cleared any evil that tried to slip into Equestria. Galaxia flew in, closing the portal she looked behind one last time and waved goodbye. ____________________________________________________________________________ A pitch black pony like creature sat in front of a pool of red water. A dead tree hung over the pool. t's tattered dark purple mane laid in a mess around the creature's face. The creature stared at the water, it's red eyes gazed into the water. Red writing glowed dimly on it's body. Tears streamed down the creature's face. It crumbled down and hid itself in it's hooves. It's wings laid out flat. "Ah yes King Nebulis... nice to see you again." A dark figure said looming over the creature. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH"