A Time Before

by Blue Turtle

Memories (Prt.4) Ch.22

A tender smile awoke Wind Song that day. Her parents? Her vision was blurry after all. Maybe she'd hit herself on the head? She and her friends settled down for the night near a half dead forest. She could easily see Celestia was uneasy being around the dead plants but she didn't say anything to her friend. But now something odd struck her. Where was she? There was a tremendous pain in her side as well as a headache that felt like it could split her head in two.
"Ugh.. Guys?" She said cautiously. She wasn't a hundred percent sure where she was with her foggy vision.
The snap of bones horrified the young pegasus.
"Who's there?!" She called out as loudly as she dared.
"Ah finally... My little Element of Mirth is awake..." The draconequus taunted. Horror filled her spirit quicker then she could blink.
"Discord! I should have known it was you!" Celestia hissed. Wind Song didn't notice but the alicorn was standing her ground right next to her fallen friend. Wind Song searched around for her other friends. Lily twitched on the ground soaked in her own blood. Nebula was trying to get Lily to move. Spark Shower's throat was torn open, Luna healing him the best she could. Rage boiled up in Wind Song. She rose up, Wind Song had never been so angry. Discord merely laughed.
"Tiny ponies you stand no chance without your precious kirin." Discord taunted again. Celestia glared deeply at Discord. It was a dark, demonic glare that could easily expose her true form if she showed any more. Discord swallowed uneasily. He's never seen an alicorn in it's true form and never wanted to. Wind Song felt her vision slowly return, but even then it became red

"Get up Lily! We need you!" Nebula said, shaking her friend's limp body. Nebula fared only slightly better. She was covered in scrapes and bruises.
"Don't die Spark Shower! I won't ever tease you again!" Luna cried out. She had dissolved into complete hysterics.

Wind Song became even angrier. She could feel the power of Mirth welling up inside her. With that Wind Song kicked off the ground and shot towards Discord. The crystal in her necklace glowed white and beam hit im. He roared in agony.
"Foolish girl! I will-" Discord said before a golden beam of magic hit him in the chest. Discord held his chest. They'd hit him twice. Wind Song curved around and returned to Celestia's side. Discord's 'hands' became enveloped with a red aura.
"You foolish ponies want to use magic? Then so will I!" Discord snickered. A large beam struck shot towards Celestia before the alicorn barely dodged. She was off balance. Perfect for Discord, He turned the beam towards her.

Celestia skidded across the ground. Small red sparks came out as she twitched.
Wind Song's expression quickly shifted from anger into horror.
"Your pretty Princess was no match for me without her dark powers! HA!" Discord said with delight. Wind Song turned to stare at him. She looked like a hunted animal. Something that had been chased and cornered. But Lily slowly walked up to her side, Nebula joined by her side. Luna trotted over.
"You honestly think in your condition any of you could use the Elements of Harmony?" Discord said, slightly fearfully. Could he be wrong?
"Of course not. But we'll stand by each other." Nebula said calmly.
"No matter what." Spark Shower said quietly. His newly healed neck was stilled covered in blood, and it still hurt. A lot. Lily chuckled.
"You don't get it do you Discord? You can beat us down but every time we get back up." Lily said with a smirk. Discord bit his lip. Celestia watched from behind them. Her tired purple eyes told them all they needed to know.
"You foolish creatures wouldn't say that if your precious alicorns weren't with you!" Discord said as confidently as he could. Which was not very much at all actually.
"That so huh?" Lily said, Shifting her weight.
"What if they were earth ponies then?" Lily said. Luna blinked. Discord laughed.
"Easily done." Discord snapped his finger and Luna and Celestia's horns and wings disappeared.
"Alright. Spark Shower? You're still pretty confident right now right?" Lily turned her head to ask. Spark Shower nodded with a smile. Discord blinked as anger began to well up. What was he doing? Why didn't he kill them yet?
Discord shot a spell at them but a wall of plants blocked it.
Levier?
Discord turned to see the kirin standing on top of the ledge glaring at him. Levier flew down and green spell hit him, sending him flying. He landed on his feet but only just. This gave time for the seven ponies to find a place to hide--however carrying somepony slightly bigger than you is no easy task when you're in excruciating pain to begin with.
"Fight me Discord!" Levier snapped. Discord blinked.
"You could not beat me in your strongest state. Are you truly foolish enough to fight me now?" Discord snickered.
"No. Not it's not foolishness. Those seven have reminded me what it means to be alive. The friendships you make and how you treat you friends." Levier shot at Discord.
"Oh hush" Discord snsaid, rolling is eyes.
He leapt towards Levier. The browned kirin shot a spell directly into his crocodilian leg. Discord yelped as a thorny plant curled around his torso and threw him into the ground. But truthfully Levier was running out of time. Celestia flew down to stand next to Levier. Hadn't Discord taken her wings and horn?
"Damn you Celestia! Did your friends give up their own power just for you?" Discord snapped.
"Yes. Nebula and Wind Song let me borrow their appendages." Celestia said calmly.
"Celestia." Levier said tiredly. The color seemed to drain out of her.
"Levier?" Celestia said, Hugging the kirin closely.
"Please forgive me." Celestia begged.
"That is exactly why i'm here." Levier said quietly. Discord rolled his eyes as plants quickly subdued him.
"Celestia. There is one last task I ask of you before I go. Do this and I will forgive you." Levier said calmly. But the lump in her throat grew.
"Okay." Celestia said, hugging Levier tightly.
"I want you take on the role of guarding the plants." Levier choked out. Celestia's eyes grew wide.
"Levier that's absurd. I can't do that!" Celestia questioned fearfully. Why was Levier saying this?
"Please Celestia. I don't have much time left. I... I'm going to sacrifice myself. As a mother should do for her children." Levier said, thinking back on what Galaxia had done.
"What? But it's my fault they're dead!" Celestia said in disbelief.
"No. It's my fault. I should've paid more attention to you. I should have protected you and Luna." Levier said. She couldn't cry. Not in front of the children. Celestia however was a different story. She wept in Levier's embrace.Levier pulled away, leaving Celestia on the ground to stare up at Levier.
"Do you accept?" Levier asked with the faintest hint of a smile.
"Y-yes.." Celestia said, tears rolled down her face onto the scorched earth.
"Thank you. Celestia." Levier said. Celestia returned her horn and wings to their owners.
"Now." Celestia said. The six ponies rushed up in front of her.
"One last thing before I go. Celestia." Levier said Her hooves were already glowing bright green. Wisps of her life force had already began to put live back into the soil.
"Both you and Luna make up the Element of Magic. You both possess this quality of Friendship. I trust that you will both use it wisely." Levier said as she turned away.
"But how? I almost killed everypony" Celestia cried out.
"Ah yes. But you did it because of your love." Levier said quietly. Celestia blinked, Luna pulled to her side. Discord struggled in the plants.
"No no no no! This can't be happening! I won't let you!" Discord roared.
The gems in their necklaces glowed. The seven rose up into the air. Discord began to free himself, but only just. A rainbow enveloped him, just like before. Light exploded everywhere. It was bright. Very bright. Discord became a stone statue, frozen in time. The light began to fade and the seven descended onto the ground. The last remnants of Luna and Celestia's glowing eyes disappeared. Their horn and wings were returned. Levier flew down. Almost 3/4 of her body glowed bright green.
"You've done well. Thank you... all of you." Levier said. In a brilliant display of power a beam of green light shot up into the sky. Rings of dark green magic circled around it. All this came from her body as her life force was sent into the land again. The seven ponies took a few steps back as a large tree took her place instead. Out of no where tall trees grew around them. Not quite as large as the one that had become of Levier. Bright green wisps of light flew around, finding a land to give life to. The softened ground still was mostly dirt, but it was soft and fertile once more. That was how it was everywhere. The fertile soil was perfect for planting again. Wind Song blinked and took in what had happened. Was Levier dead? All that was left was a tree- wait. No. There was a stature. The Kirin was up on two legs, in a magnificent pose. Wings of spread to broadcast her full size. The statue stood atop of a slab of rock with a magical enscripture.