//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Celestia's Nightmare // Story: Mare of the Void // by Eclipse Guardian //------------------------------// Mare of the Void Chapter 3: Celestia's Nightmare “Get them into the caves. Quickly!” Princess Celestia panted as her remaining guard ponies guided the Canterlot citizens deep into the caves of the Canterhorn. “But Your Highness, what about you?” Asked Shining Armour, the captain of Celestia's Day Guard and Princess Cadence's groom-to be. “I don't have time to explain Captain Armour.” Celestia bit her lip as she heard the sound of loud rumbling to the west of Canterlot. 'Void will find us soon. I must buy them time to escape.' Another rumble to the east made itself known. “Go! Get my subjects to safety!” Once the last of the ponies were inside the cave Celestia telekinetically sent Shining, Cadence and the last few guards after them. “Forgive me.” She charged her horn with solar magic. “Princess Celestia! You can't-!” Shining's retort was cut off as Celestia blasted the mountain side and caused a rock slide to cover the entrance to the cave. The Princess closed her eyes and waited. One step. Two. Three. Four. Five... “And where have your precioussss ponies gone, Alicorn?” Celestia gazed forward into the blood-red eyes of her age old adversary. She felt a shiver of terror grip her like a vice as the giant form of Void towered over her. “That's none of your concern creature.” She hissed in anticipation. “Oh? That's too bad, we were looking forward to them becoming a part of Us.” Void grinned cruelly showing its razor-sharp teeth. “Without Our failed Seed by your sssside, you can't possibly stop Us from taking you as one of Us.” It sighed loudly. “I have just one question for you, Void.” “Do you now?” It gave her a curious look. Celestia braced herself, asking what this abomination did to her student was at the forefront of her mind. But she knew she didn't need to ask, this time it was personal. “...Do you know what happens when a star dies?” She asked. Void frowned slightly, then continued smiling. “No, what does happen Alicorn?” Celestia steadied her breath as she raised her horn skyward. With her magic, Celestia banished the clouds away and forced her Sun to reach its apex in the sky. 'I hope She doesn't cause too much damage.' Reaching deep within her soul Celestia found her, and waited as she felt the temperature around body rising. “It goes SUPERNOVA!!” Screaming at the top of her lungs, Celestia's mane and tail burst into flames, her crown melted into molten gold then reformed into a new one. This crown had two large golden dragon-like horns sitting just behind Celestia's ears, where there was once one purple jewel sat five new ones encircling her brow. Golden chain-like beads wrapped around her neck followed by a new peytral embedded with five more purple gems. Four golden hoof cuffs solidified around her hooves, inlaid with even more jewels. Void drew back slightly at the sight of the fiery alicorn. “So you've given into your own darknesssss.” It laughed silently. Celestia opened her eyes slowly-which were now slitted like a dragon's-a small fire glowing behind her pupils. “I am Nightmare Star.” The eldrich horror's eyes widened with glee. “You hold none of Our power, but you hold within you a Nightmare. Interesting.” The newly christened Nightmare Star curled her lips in disgust. “Do not mock me beast! I am nothing like that false Nightmare you created within my sister!” Her horn lit with fiery wrath and unleashed a very powerful blast of super-heated plasma upon the dark Eternal. Void raised an arm to block the beam, which the plasma cut through like butter. The beam obliterated half of Void's face upon contact which caused it to let out a blood curdling roar. Nightmare Star flew overhead with her horn wreathed with flames, her mouth curled in hatred. “You will pay for your insolence! Turning both my dear sister and my favoured student into your playthings!! This day will be your last!! Under MY flaming star!!” Tendrils of all sizes rose into the air as Void's head and arms vanished into its formless body. “Harming Us will cosssst you more than your ssssoul! We shall enjoy wrenching your power away and using it to burn your body into ash!!” The mass lashed at her with its tendrils. Nightmare Star nimbly avoided the tendrils as they reached for her. “Child's play.” She charged her horn again than unleashed another beam of plasma. Darkness surrounded the nightmarish alicorn on all sides as her beam failed to hit the creature. “Tch.” She quickly teleported away from the mass of Void. Magic gathered around her horn as the glowed even brighter causing the air around Canterlot to grow hotter. Void' head reappeared from the mass grinning. “Try again.” It felt its limbs and movements becoming slower as it attempted to move. A large red magic circle below Voidras' form burst into existence. “What's this?” Red strands gripped at its flowing body. Balls of plasma fired from Nightmare Star's horn striking Void. “How's this monster?” The eldrich horror continued to smile. 'Why is it still grinning!?' She growled internally. Void delighted in the solar alicorn's expression of anger and utter hatred. “Such darknessssss...” It purred. It raised its right arm and swung it at Nightmare Star. The alicorn raised a shield but it shattered on impact with the crystalline arm, sending her into the roof of a nearby house with a painful thud. Energy gathered in Void's maw, once done it sent a sphere of darkness directly to where the mare landed. The explosion decimated the building much to Void's excitement. A laugh erupted from above it where Nightmare Star hovered with her own grin. “Is that all you have? Ventus Solaris!” Waves of super-heated energy burned into Void's' limbs. Void snapped out of its bonds and bull rushed Nightmare into another house which in turn burst into flames soon after. Nightmare Star minimized most of the damage with a quick teleport. “Void is getting stronger? How?” A claw reached for her out from the burning wreckage. “Damn!” Summoning a lance made of solar fire, Nightmare launched it straight into Void's arm with all her might. Unfortunately, the weapon was deflected by a stray tendril as more moved in to grab her. “No!” Void rose up to its supposed full height and leveled a glare at the solar princess. Opening its maw, it it dangled Nightmare Star over its head planning to swallow her whole. “Good attempt, but time's up for you Celestia. We are starving due to being trapped below for several millennia, you and your Alicorn soul will do nicely.” Nightmare Star struggled within Void's grasp, angry at herself for failing once again to stop it for good. 'I can't fall here!' Her horn flared angrily as her magic began to turn the city of Canterlot into a burning inferno. 'I can't lose to this thing!' She let out a desperate scream. “So pitiful, Equine. You and your sister are the last Alicorns in existence, devouring you will be a pleasure.” Before Nightmare Star could break free Void lunged forward and ate her as she screamed once more. “TWILIGHT!” Void let out a silent laugh as the sun dimmed and the temperature lowered drastically. “Sssso delicioussss.” It hissed in delight. “Now who's next?” As the sky darkened Luna cried in despair as she held a large pale lavender mare in her hooves. “My sister-” She sniffled. “-has fallen...i-it can't be.” More tears came to her eyes. “How did this all happen? That monster was never that strong before, Twilight!” She buried her muzzle into the warm of the pony before her. “I don't know Luna.” Twilight cringed internally as her base emotions were muted by Void's powerful magic. “Celestia was a strong mare at heart.” “Why do you talk as if you don't care about my sister's demise!?” Luna screamed at her. “She was your mentor!” Twilight looked away. “Was my mentor, Luna. She's not anymore.” She said in a emotionless voice. “Twilight Sparkle! How could you say that!” Luna tightened her grip around the pony as she bawled her eyes out. “M-my sister is...is...is...” She shut her eyes tight as despair and grief took over. “...I will not let Celestia die in vain Luna.” The Mare of the Void vowed as she stepped outside and left Luna to her own devices. The Lunar Princess opened her eyes as Twilight left and gazed down at pale mare in her arms. “Void is a monster that spreads darkness like a plague. It has taken away my only sister, corrupted my first real friend in over a thousand years and has harmed my dear daughter.” Her horn lit up in anger as her glamour faded away revealing her midnight black coat and draconic eyes. “It will pay dearly for this! Together my daughter, Silent Dusk. Void will be burn in Tartarus!!” Luna yelled as the pony in her hooves awoke into the waking world.