//------------------------------//
// Invasion of the Astrals 
// Story: Starfall 
// by Gonenowsorry 
//------------------------------//


Invasion of the Astrals

“Come on, Twilight!  Please wake up!” pleaded Spike.  Twilight opened her eyes.  She looked up at her assistant, who looked more distressed than she had ever seen him.
“Wha-Spike?  What is it?”
“Thank Goodness you're awake!  There's these things running around, and they're wrecking up Ponyville!”
Twilight was trying to focus her thoughts.  “What are you talking about, Spike?  What's wrecking up Ponyville?”
“I've never seen anything like them before.  They look like ponies made out of light or something.”
A cold terror gripped Twilight's chest.  She stepped off of the bed before noticing an entire wall of the library was missing.  Strewn about were burning pieces of wood and charred books.
“Where did these things come from, Spike?”
Spike hesitated.  “Um, Twilight?  They came from you.”
The terror in her chest turned to panic.  “Come on!  We've got to go help Ponyville!”
Spike jumped on to Twilight's back as she sprinted out into Ponyville.
The entire town was in chaos.  Many of the buildings were on fire, including Sugarcube Corner and the Carousel Boutique.  Floating about the city were the star ponies, just as they had looked in the dream.  Some were flying into buildings, demolishing walls and setting them ablaze.  Other were chasing after ponies, who were fleeing in horror.  At least one star pony was using some kind of magic to rip the roads up for no logical reason.
“What are we going to do?” asked Spike, clearly shaken.
“I...I don't know Spike.  Maybe some water would cool them down...”
Twilight noticed a wheel barrow nearby, and used her magic to move it to the stream that ran through Ponyville.  She filled the barrow with water, and flung it towards a star pony.  It dodged with incredible speed.
Suddenly, several star ponies dropped what they had been doing and ran towards Twilight.  They began to charge...
“TWILIGHT!” screamed Spike.
This time, they had definitely impacted her.  Twilight felt herself leave the ground before slamming into a building 20 yards away.
Two things pained Twilight greatly.  First, there was a searing burn where the star ponies had rammed her.  Second, she felt a crack in one of her hind legs, which was now throbbing painfully.
Twilight looked up to see they were coming at her again.  She tried to stand, to flee, but slumpt back down as soon as she tried to put weight on her leg.  She tried to teleport, but couldn't concentrate.  There wouldn't be an escape.  The red eyes of a star pony looked into Twilight's, then it began charging.
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”
This was a different voice, one that resonated with power.  Suddenly, a great dark pony dropped from the sky, crushing the charging star pony beneath her hooves.  A heavy aura of magic filled the air as she chanted something quietly.  Suddenly, a dark web blasted out of her horn, ensnaring three of the star ponies.  They struggled, but the web shrank and hardened.  The star ponies flared brightly for a moment, then crumbled into ash.
“Princess Luna!” cried Twilight.  The alicorn turned her head towards Twilight.
“Twilight Sparkle,” responded the Princess.  “There is no time to waste, we must get the subjects to safety before this entire village is incinerated.”
“But what are they?”
“There is no time!  Quickly, you must get up!”
“I...I can't,” said Twilight, looking at her back leg.
“You are injured,” observed Princess Luna.  “Allow me to help you.”  The Princess pointed her horn towards Twilight's leg.  A healing sensation washed over it, but the pain didn't disappear entirely.
“I have done what I can to mend your leg.  I am sorry, but you will have to endure the pain for the time being.  I have also warded you against the damaging heat of the enemy."
“Thank you, Princess.”
“Thank me by saving my subjects from the astrals, Twilight Sparkle.”
In the distance, Twilight heard a familiar scream.
“Rarity!” she yelled.
“Go to her, Twilight!  But be warned, if the astrals sense you utilizing magic, it will enrage them.”
Twilight nodded and dashed off towards the Carousel Boutique.  Her heart sank like a stone when she saw how ferocious the fire had become.  She reared her legs and kicked down the door.  The heat was intense within the dress shop.  Fabric was burning everywhere.  All of Rarity's beautiful dresses were gone.  And that wouldn't mean anything if Twilight couldn't find Rarity.  She heard the scream again, and followed it into the kitchen.
Two star ponies, or astrals as the Princess had called them, were cornering Rarity.  A blue light engulfed plates, chairs, and even pieces of food as Rarity telekinetically hurled them at her assailants.
“Wait, Rarity!”  yelled Twilight.  The astrals took a charging stance.  She had to do something...
A table surrounded in magenta light slammed down upon them.
“Run, Rarity!” screamed Twilight.  “Get out of here!”
“Twilight!  But my shop!  My home...”
“Can be rebuilt!  You can't!”
The table smoldered and split open.  The astrals rose from the debris, eyes dead set on Twilight.
Suddenly, water pipes burst through the walls, encased in a Twilight's magenta aura.  Water shot out into the kitchen, spraying right into the astrals.  Steam hissed as the astrals let out a terribly cry.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Rarity and Twilight fled the shop together.  Once they were outside, Twilight took assessment of the situation.  Princess Luna was in the town center, still battling against the astrals.  She hoped they were not overwhelming her.  In the skies, the pegasi were evacuating everypony they could find.  Among them was Rainbow Dash, who swept down when she saw Twilight and Rarity.
“Thank Goodness, you guys are alright!” said a relieved Rainbow Dash.
“For the most part,” said Twilight.  The pain in her leg still persisted, and she noticed just how visible the burn in her coat was.
“You guys gotta get outta here!” demanded Rainbow Dash.  “Everypony's evacuating to Sweet Apple Acres.”
“What about Ponyville?” asked Rarity.  “Surely we can still save our home!”
“I dunno,” said Rainbow Dash.  “Luna's keeping as many of them busy as she can.  She's tough alright, but so are those things.”
“So we're here,” started Rarity, “But what about the others?  I can only assume Applejack is still at the orchard, but what about Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy?”
“We got Pinkie out just in the nick of time,” said Rainbow Dash.  “The rest of the Cake family too.  As for Fluttershy, poor girl's terrified but safe for now.  I think she's most worried about the animals.”
Rarity turned towards Twilight.  “Come on, darling.  We need to meet up with the others.”
“You go on ahead,” said Twilight.  “There's something I have to do.”
“Twilight, what are talking about?” asked Rainbow Dash, but it was too late.  With a pop, Twilight had teleported away.



Art Used:  http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=twilight+sparkle+on+fire#/d48785d