//------------------------------// // 47 - Celestia: Celestial Movements // Story: Synch // by sunnypack //------------------------------// Celestia had heard of the major battle near Galloping Gorge and had rushed to assess the situation. All that was left though, had been broken trees, blasted away from an unknown magical source and flaming pits from whence a dragon’s breath had been cast. The wrecked battlefield had been the result of an intense contest of wills from multiple powerful beings. That it had happened so spontaneously and so quickly and ended so swiftly within Equestrian borders had perturbed Celestia. She could do nothing but send in teams to assess the situation and tell her what she already knew. Furthermore, worrying news had seeped into her telepathic link with Luna. Luna spoke of an unknown assailant that had attacked the human on the train towards the Crystal Empire. Unbeknownst to Celestia, information had been leaked as to whereabouts of the null being and a griffon had taken the opportunity to try and snatch him up. Unfortunately for the griffon, it seemed he had been kept deliberately in the dark and when trying to fly away with the null being, his wings had failed him, sending him plummeting to the rushing ground before he could recover. Luna had inspected the gristly remains but she had been unable to ascertain the griffon’s affiliation. Frustratingly, throughout the whole exchange, Celestia had to wait a couple of hours between each message. Though telepathic communication was useful, it still required some time to traverse the distance between the two linked parties. The message was definitely faster than letters but were not much faster than a pegasus could fly. The situation required a semblance of fast communication, but this was the best she could do, given the circumstances. She sent a final message to Luna to protect the human at all costs, while Celestia would dig up some more information behind the scenes. Celestia now had to operate under the assumption that the nobles and possibly most of Equestria now knew about the null being. She considered calling back the human but her plan had been sound from the start. Going to the Crystal Empire was his best bet for safety. Luna would just have to keep a closer eye on him. Celestia pondered just how many groups could possibly be interested in a null being. As unpleasant as it was, she forced to think in the hooves of her enemies. His uses were virtually limitless in the short run, however in the long run any being dependent on magic would suffer. Their best bet would be to transport him back to his own universe after his use and failing that he would probably be discarded to another universe without regard for his safety. It would be their problem. One by one she discounted his possible uses to her various nefarious arch nemeses. Chrysalis would have no use for a being that she could not control through her magic and despite the fact she could use him to get past shields, she could simply infiltrate other pony cities with less changeling security. Besides, she was too weakened from her recent endeavour to try again. Discord? No he was still in his statue and she doubted he would appreciate his own chaos magic leaking away. Celestia sighed as she considered the line of thoughts most humans would tag with qui bono? An urgent knock on her chamber doors interrupted Celestia from her musing. “Yes?” she called back, expecting a noble to be pestering her with information about the null being. A guard stepped in. “Your Majesty, there is a visitor for you…” he began nervously, eyes darting around but never quite meeting her gaze. Celestia fixed her gaze on her guard, her expression softening and she waved an encouraging hoof for him to continue. Her guard swallowed nervously. “It seems the dragoness’ name is Sharp and she requests an audience with you, your Majesty”, he choked out, obviously afraid. Celestia frowned. Where had she heard that name before? She gasped. No, it couldn't be! “Death Wing Sharp? The original necromancer? She’s alive?” she whispered, immediately getting to her hooves. Celestia shook her head as she brushed past her guard. No, Sharp was dead! She had enough honour not to be resurrected by sacrificing somepony in Equestria. The last time that Celestia had lain eyes on Death Wing Sharp, she had decimated Celestia's forces and had come a talon's width away from severing her jugular artery. Death Wing Sharp had warned Celestia to not interfere with necromancy and necromancy would keep out of soul magic in return. The battle had been won but the price had been high on both sides. Necromancy was a shade of what it once was and Celestia had withdrawn with a victory, though tarnished. She had been saddened but not disappointed that Sharp had passed away due to an End Flame. Celestia believed that necromancy corrupted and though she did not doubt Sharp's convictions and her values, she did not agree that her fellow necromancers would share the same view. But they did, at least in their time. Celestia had been thankful she were not required to intervene. Necromancy then faded into obscurity and Celestia had thought that it was no longer a problem. Until now, that is. Whether or not this was an imposter, Celestia had to speak with her. She entered the throne room and was greeted by a sight she thought she would never see again in her lifetime. Sharp stood wearily, some scales on her left shoulder blasted off, scars adorning the scales on the front of her chest and a murderous aura leaking from her very soul. Her powerful and ancient gaze swept through the ranks of guards that had cautiously positioned themselves around her and most guards unintentionally took a nervous step back. The force of Sharp’s gaze was like lightning in a dark and brewing storm. It struck Celestia with the intensity of a raging fire but with a depth of an ocean. Celestia tightened her stance and thrust her head forward. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Death Wing Sharp?” Celestia asked, somewhat frostily. A corner of Sharp’s mouth turned up in an amused grimace. The dance had begun. The dance of death.