//------------------------------// // Scorched Hearts Ch.16 // Story: A Time Before // by Blue Turtle //------------------------------// The Sun stood at it's peek; Mid morning. But it had been doing so for two days now. The sky was a mixture of reds and oranges. The Sun illuminated the land for what seemed like an eternity for some ponies. Levier has a few streaks of brown in her and her eyes showed her desperate fatigue; She needed to stay awake but she needed to sleep. Hundreds of miles away a fiery demon rocketed across the sky. Celestia had deteriorated since yesterday; Now her whole body had cracks in it. She donned a new set of armor to cover herself up. Especially her face. Her wings became fire not long after the Sun had been up all night. Celestia landed and the ground underneath her shriveled up. Grass around her browned. Celestia looked around. At least they aren't on fire. Celestia thought. She remembered when she landed the first time Everything around her burst into flames. "Monster!" A pony screamed before dashing off. Celestia hissed under her breath knowing no pony could hear her now. The flames were volatile as they were loud. Celestia sighed and looked up to the sky. "My beautiful Sun. I think the day suits this land better. I'll ask Luna when I get her back. Maybe we could have the day be a bit longer in the Summer and a bit shorter in the winter to balance it out." Celestia said, walking. Flying was fast and all but she loved to see the world around her burn. Celestia walked near a village only to be met by a battalion of soldiers. Sent by Levier most likely. I will punish her later... Celestia angrily thought as they took their battle positions. "Seize her! Do not let her except!" The leader shouted. Celestia scowled at them. Not that they knew that though. The soldiers charged forward, Weapons raised. Celestia's horn flashed and a spell knocked them back. This is too easy. Celestia said, parrying a spear. Rage filled her. They're attacking me?! How could Levier order to do such a thing! This whole area will suffer because of her! Celestia thought angrily. Celestia raised her horn and in a flash they were dead. Not just the soldiers, Everything. The whole area was just gone. The remnants of houses were left and the charred bodies of ponies. ________________________________________________________________________________ Levier sat quietly on her Throne. "Miss! Celestia... has completely destroyed six large towns... there was nothing anypony could do to stop it..." One mare in the crowd said. Hundreds of scorched ponies flooded the room. "Miss please! Our homes have been destroyed, Our lively hoods! You have to stop that... That thing!" A stallion shouted. Hundreds of ponies were yelling and screaming at her, crying out for help. Levier tried to speak but the amount of ponies talking and crying at once was overwhelming. "Silence!" A guard yelled. The crowd hushed. "Ehem. We will donate any and all resources necessary to those who have lost their homes in the on going tragedy. For now however you will all be kept in the homes outside of Canterlot. These homes will be temporary until you can all find a place to live." Levier said calmly. The crowd seemed to blink in unison. "Now. You will all be directed to the outskirts of Canterlot. You will regularly be given food and clothes money. Spend it wisely. You won't be given any extra if you gamble it away." Levier said, Her voice a bit shaky. She had been becoming less and less vibrate. It was hot. Really hot. Though the pegasi were trying their best to keep the plants healthy that did not stop certain plants from not faring well. The ground was already becoming brown and the trees seemed to lose their color.And nothing could be done. Only Ventus (Who is long dead and sealed) could stop such widespread drought. And she wanted to help to. She wanted to save the ponies and her plants. But both would suffer if she tried to do so. Levier thought and thought about what she could do. She poured over her vast knowledge but came to the same conclusion over and over again. She didn't want to resort to such a thing. She couldn't; She'd just hurt everypony again. Levier shook her head. The crowd was long gone. She had drifted off again. "Grr I can't be sleeping at a time like this!" Levier hissed. She got up. She walked down to a mural made of flat crystal. A pure white pony with blood red eyes was caught up in a shower of light; Four kirin and two alicorns had shot the beams forward. The female alicorn representing magic. "Aurinko! You demon! You did it again! You cursed another soul! And all because of the supposed power you gave Discord! You made him be able to corrupt others just as you do yourself! Your sneaky words only hurt! You do not help beings you hurt them! Get that through your skull!" Levier yelled in between tears. "You corrupted Ventus! The very bringer of peace! You monster you ruined everything and now you're doing it again!" Levier shouted. But the stone wall just stood there, silent. Levier huffed and raised her hoof to punch the wall. Her eyes were blood red again. She looked at the crystal wall and it reflected herself. She looked like a monster in the mirror like crystal. Her blood red eyes glowed softly against the darkened walls of the castle. Her mane was messy, probably from being so stressed. Levier looked at herself. The Monster in the mirror was her. No pony brought it on. Just her. Just the sad little kirin who wanted to do so much But failed to do because of what she must Levier felt ashamed. The green kirin could do so much but failed to do so. It hurt to breath, It hurt to think. Levier rubbed her temples. The blood red in her eyes pulled back and she was back to normal. She frowned slightly, her lip quivering. She got up. "No more sitting around waiting. If I complete what I must I will be able to save this world's plants. No matter the cost I must do so. It will take for ever to do so... I may even die in the process. But I must." Levier said to herself. She bit her lip and turned around. She walked briskly away. It was time for her to do some actual work. Levier raised her wings and flew out the window. her determined face masked how truly afraid she was. She had to face Radiant Malevolence. She had to face Celestia. ________________________________________________________________________________ Celestia landed under the shade of a mountain. The world behind her was scorched, the charred remains of trees stood up like blackened needles poking out of the ground for giants to step on. The large mountain contained one cliff. On that cliff stood a Draconequus. Wrapped his paw were chains. He tugged on them and a small blue alicorn came forward. She was bloody and bruised. The flames coming from the armored mare erupted in anger. "Give her back." The alicorn said. It's voice clanged inside the armor but sounded so different from the kind and soft voice Luna knew. "I would never do such a thing!" Discord taunted. "You beast..." The alicorn hissed under it's helmet. "Monster?! Practice what you preach deary! I'm not the one burning down and destroying cities and towns here Celestia." Discord taunted once more. Her name oozed out of his mouth smoothly. "It's your fault for forcing me. GIVE ME LUNA." Celestia shouted. The eyes holes in the amor lit up and before Discord could blink Celestia kicked him in the jaw. It cracked and Discord jumped, backing bring Luna back with him. Luna winced in pain. She stared at her sister in terror This...T-This isn't Tia! She'd never become that thing! Luna thought. She looked up to Discord and saw the terrified look on his face. The flaming demon took a step forward. Luna could feel the burning heat from only 60 feet away. It was like being on top the chef's oven. Lun wanted to run far far away but the chains wouldn't let her. They bonded her to Discord. "Tia... I know you're mad but.. You gotta stop! Please!" Luna cried out. But it was too late. Run far far away Little one Stay away from me I'll burn you up I'll hunt down every single one Who hurt you But that doesn't I won't stop. Stay far far away little one I'm sorry I hurt you little one Please forgive me for what I've done Scorched the flowers and your heart. Celestia took another step forward. Discord took one back. Luna was dragged along with him. The helmet's eye holes seemed to have two bright dots glowing within them. Discord bit his lip. "If it's a fight you want then it's a fight you get" Discord said confidently. Discord lept forward but the creature just stepped out of the way. Discord attempted to attack again. This time faster than before. But the creature just threw him off. Luna was dragged along. Thrown around like a rag doll. Discord grumbled under his breath and stood up. The flaming mare extended it's wings of fire. They seemed to be more like that of a butterfly however. Discord jumped back and glared at the mare. "You're good. Better than that fool Levier but-" Discord said before getting kicked in the neck. He coughed and jumped back. The armored mare glared at him. "Ugh... You just won't let me talk will y-" Discord said before the flaming mare hit him again. This time he teleported behind her, only to punch the golden armor. It clanged, the metallic sound resonating. But Celestia did not move whatsoever. She turned her head to face him. Discord jumped back before a powerful belt of fire hit him. Luna cowered on the ground. The draconequus gritted his teeth in anger. He pulled Luna forward, The tiny blue alicorn came forward with him. "You may be able to hit me, but what about your own sister?" Discord taunted. He smirked as the tall alicorn charged forward. DIscord gripped onto the chains and threw Luna at the tall alicorn. The light in it's helmet went out as it dodged the small princess. The tall alicorn jumped back and glared at Discord. The eye holes had lit up again, this time however they seemed redder. As this happened it seemed more and more the sky turned into the color of fire; A mixture of reds and oranges that stood out brilliantly. Discord's eyes narrowed and he lifted his wings. He shot up into the sky, carrying Luna with him. The tall alicorn flew up with him, only taking seconds to catch up. Discord's expression told Luna everything. He was both afraid yet not. A mixture of anger and fear. But not quite. It was a emotion hard to place. Is it fear? Or is it amazement? Luna thought. She herself was afraid. "Curses!Of all the things she has to be fast and strong?!" Discord said angrily. He climbed higher and higher into the air, only to have the tall alicorn chase after him. It chased after him with ease. Discord however seemed to be having a tough time shaking the tall alicorn off. An idea popped into his head however. He turned at a 45 degree angle. But it was no use as the tall alicorn just cut the corner with him. It even gained more speed, It's fiery wings just pushed the air around them a bit more. This doesn't make any sense! I'm Discord, spirit of Chaos! I shouldn't be having so much trouble! Discord thought angrily. He turned around and kicked the tall alicorn in the face, sending it backwards. AHA! That's it! It isn't quite as strong in the air! Discord though as a smirk spread across his face. The fiery alicorn shook it's head and the light in its eye holes went out. It seem surprised for a moment. Discord swung Luna into the tall alicorn. It tried to dodge but was still disoriented from being kicked in the head. It didn't help it's own armor made everything worse. Luna cried out in agony; Not only was the tall alicorn extremely hot but it was also hard as a stone. The tall alicorn's horn glowed red and the three other spines lit up as well. A crimson red aura surrounded them and a spell shot at Discord. Discord dodged it but only slightly. Discord flew forward, dragging little Luna with him. The tall alicorn flew above him while Discord brought Luna closer to him. Luna looked up to her angry sister and cried. It hurt to be near her; The air was already hot. It stung the cuts and bruises she had and her bones ached from slamming into the tall alicorn. ________________________________________________________________________ Levier looked up the red and orange sky.She was brown and skinny but not quite skin and bones yet. It had been six days of nothing but day and the air had grown hot. Food and water were coming in short supply. Everything seemed to be just brown. "Miss... You need to get something to drink. Please eat or do something" An advisor said, looking at the skinny mare. "I don't have time for that. It's been a full six days of sun and we're running out of food and water!" Levier snapped. The advisor sighed. "Anyways I have that information you requested; Discord and Celestia have been fighting for five days now. You were correct." He said calmly. Levier sighed. "Sorry. I guess we all get cranky when we haven't eaten in awhile." Levier said. He hollow cheeks and tired eyes made no pony feel any better about the situation. Levier looked out the large glass windows. The once beautiful grass was brown and tough. The trees were no better looking with their orange and brown leaves. It was pitiful really; The once vibrant flora becoming dull. Levier hated to see the plants in such a sorry state. "Miss. I have one question before I go home; You gather your life force from the plants right?" The advisor asked quietly. Levier looked at him; Her somber eyes told him everything.