//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: 'Amirat Alzzalam // Story: Twilily Saga: Past, Present, Or Damnation // by Lighttone GryphonStar //------------------------------// Twilight trembled as she was facing the impossible. An umbrum. A species that was said to had gone extinct long ago. And yet here an umbrum stood. Selena Moondie had a knife like horn, the stretched cheeks and smoke like flesh, just as the legend said. She looked just like an umbrum. Selena Moondie took a step forward, and Twilight took a step back. Selena Moondie took another step and Twilight backed away more. Selena Moondie smiled at Twilight, she could sense the fear growing. “What is wrong? Do you not like the impossible?” Selena Moondie held up her strange-looking chain blades. “Yes, I am an umbrum. You could call me that last of them, but I prefer a different title, given to me by my grandfather.” She giggled with joy as she screamed, “Princess of Massacres!” She sent out another shockwave of dark magic in all directions. But in particular, wrapping tightly around Twilight. Suddenly Twilight felt blood pouring out of her mouth. She looked in confusion at Selena Moondie, for her eyes widened in horror as she saw the image of her own heart in Selena Moondie’s hand, still beating. She waved her head back and forth and looked again and the image was gone. Were her eyes playing tricks on her? Or was simply the fear getting to her? She had fought mythical beings before, this was no different. Right? Twilight slowly shook free from her trembling fear and stood ready as the dark magic dispersed. She looked to the kopises in her hands that had been thrown to her. She tightened her grip on them. If indeed Selena Moondie was an umbrum, Twilight would need all the power she could get. “How are you an umbrum?” she questioned. “They are all dead. And those wings, umbrums don’t have those.” Selena Moondie’s blade-wings turned inward until they were in front of her face. “Oh these. They are just a gift from my grandfather.” “So the umbrums serve Grogar?” Twilight questioned as she held up the kopises. “Well yes and no. Most of them served Sombra, while the rest served Grogar. They worshiped him like a god, and Sombra was his messenger.” “That doesn’t matter. The umbrums are dead,” ‘F’ spoke. “Which means you are undead.” “I prefer vampire if you will. Another gift from my grandfather. But yes, I have been dead since I was a child.” Selena Moondie’s smile grew big and darker as she licked her fangs. “But enough talk. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, Twilily.” Twilight’s eyes widened at that word, but before she could question it, Selena Moondie charged at her head on. The two flew across the demolished city as their attacks clashed. Twilight swung left, Selena Moondie span around the attack with her wings. Twilight had to quickly block as Selena Moondie strange looking chain blades wrapped quickly around her gut spinning like a chainsaw. She barely stopped the attack from shredding her guts open by holding it back with the kopises on both sides as they continued to fly around the area. Twilight couldn’t fly and hold back the attack at the same time so Selena Moondie took full control of the flight. She flew Twilight through several ruined buildings, Twilight’s leaning and quickly firing with her horn just barely saving her from several close calls. Twilight could not let this keep going. She had to take back control of this fight, or she might just lose. No, there was no might about it as the strange looking chain blades moved closer, if she didn’t figure out something soon, death would be the only option. As the two fought, Starlight looked in confusion. Her mind was racing on what Twilight and Selena Moondie had been talking about and the name Grogar, but why? Had she heard the name beforehand? She felt like she knew the name from somewhere but where? However, she had to stop her train of thought as Cult Race appeared right in front of her, and spoke, “Hmm, maybe I was wrong about you.” Cult Race grabbed her by the throat and held her up once more. “Quite frankly, you are too slow to be--” She kicked him in the face, stopping his words. He grabbed her leg and in an instant, snapped it in his hand. Starlight screamed in agony as she struggled. Twilight heard the scream and her decision was made. She pulled what she could and quickly teleported over to Starlight, just before the strange looking chain blades could slice her in half. Without even thinking she appeared behind Cult Race and took his head clean off. Cult Race dropped Starlight as he fell to the ground, seemingly dead. Twilight pulled Starlight up, pulling her arm over her shoulder. “Come on, I have to get you to safety.” Twilight looked to a small building that still stood, just barely. “Over there.” “You aren’t going anywhere!!” Selena Moondie screamed as she charged at them with her blade-wings aimed right at them. They looked right at her. There was no way they could dodge her in this position. There was no time for another teleport. Suddenly ‘F’ jumped in front of them and caught Selena Moondie’s attack through his shoulders. “Get your friend out of here.” ‘F’ spoke with almost a growl. Listening to his words, they quickly ran for it. However, they were soon stopped as a headless Cult Race jumped in front of them. “How? I just killed you?” Twilight questioned. He lifted up his hand and waved his finger back and forth, then both Twilight and Starlight shock as magic surged around the torn flesh. Muscle tissue, bones, and skin slowly reformed before their eyes. “That would have killed a normal pony. But I am no mere normal pony, I am a doppelganger. The first one.” He pointed to the now revealed mandible jaws that looked like the teeth of changelings yet different. “Doppelganger, what is tha--” “Hey Cult Race, don’t even think about killing Twilily.” Selena Moondie interrupted as she ripped her blade-wings out of ‘F’'s shoulders. “She is my prey.” “Really. And what about the other mare?” he questioned. Twilight had no time for this. She swung her kopises and sent a wave of magic. Cult Race jumped back and over it as it passed. “Does it look like I care about some random mare?” Selena Moondie questioned. “Really?” Cult Race seemed to be making no sense to Selena Moondie. This even confused the rest of them. “No, I have no idea what you are talking about!” she yelled at him as she charged forward. ‘F’ again stopped her advance with a fury of movements. Selena Moondie looked in confusion. She couldn’t figure out how this old creature was still standing after how she stabbed him. Twilight seeing her chance teleported herself and Starlight to a far off pile of rubble that still stood. Selena Moondie was getting really annoyed that this creature wouldn't get out her way. ‘F’ coughed up red dust as he launched his own attack. Selena Moondie smiled as she dodged. She could smell the blood that he was coughing up, “Oh you are old, very old.” ‘F’ smiled, “You have no idea.” His body charged with large amounts of magic. Selena Moondie jumped back upon sensing the power. She wasn’t afraid of the amount, but from the form. “What are you?” she questioned. “Oh that simple. You are an undead umbrum, while I am an undead draconequus.”  He threw off his covering, showing his draconequus like body. ****** Once out of the sight of the enemy, Twilight casted a chameleon shield spell over them to hide under. Now in a safe place, Twilight looked over Starlight’s broken leg. “What are you even doing here, Twilight?” Starlight finally questioned. “Well, saving your ass.” Twilight looked around for a brace. Seeing a stick, she used her magic to bring it into the shield spell. “Bite down on this.” “What?” “Look, we are too far for them to hear us talking. That doesn’t mean they can’t hear you screaming.” Twilight floated the stick up to Starlight’s face. Starlight quickly realized what Twilight was planning to do. Taking the stick into her mouth, she bit down hard. Twilight placed her hands onto the broken leg and quickly snapped the bone back in place. Starlight winced and screamed on the inside as the pain filled her body. It was excruciatingly painful, but it needed to be done. After a moment Starlight let go of the stick and Twilight took it back in her magical grasp. Using a few strips of clothing Twilight tied the stick to Starlight's leg. Twilight sat Starlight up slowly but was stopped upon Starlight slapping her on the face. “You have done enough. Why are you even here? Why are you wearing that disguise?” Twilight punched Starlight in the gut, “Because thanks to your little time altering, I went through more than a year of hell.” “Time altering. I haven't been able to do any time altering yet.” Starlight pulled out the time traveling spell. “This damn thing malfunctioned and landed me in the wrong time.” “What?” Twilight grabbed the scroll and looked it over. Indeed the coordinates it had been set to was the Rainboom event. And they were now here in this timeline. Twilight scanned the spell and found no malfunction with it at all. However, she did sense an altering to the spell. “Wait, Starlight this spell didn’t malfunction. This spell was al--” “Altered. Indeed, but by who?” Cult Race interrupted Twilight. Twilight jumped upon hearing him. They both looked up to him as he stood at the top of the rubble. He could hear them. HE COULD SEE THEM! Twilight quickly moved Starlight out of the way as Cult Race jumped down with bone knives in hand. He headed straight for Twilight. She barely had enough time to block his attack with her kopises. “You know who altered the spell, don’t you?” Twilight pushed him back with another magical wave. Cult Race crashed into a wall. He stepped out of the wall like the attack was nothing. “Oh yes, that signature is so familiar--” He was stopped as Starlight shot a large attack of strange magic. This punched him through the wall and sent him several meters away. Twilight looked in shock to Starlight. “That was light magic. How do you know light magic?” Twilight stopped herself as she saw Starlight fall to the ground out cold. “Starlight,” she ran over to her. “How much magic did you put into that spell?” It was at that moment she noticed a huge gash on Starlight’s back. Starlight had been bleeding out the entire time. Twilight looked to see Cult Race slowly getting back up. She pulled Starlight over her back and quickly ran out of there. However, she was stopped upon seeing Selena Moondie land from the sky and toss ‘F’ to the ground like a piece of trash. She had somehow defeated him. “You aren’t going anywhere Twilily. You are staying right here.” Selena Moondie moved in. “What is it with that name you keep calling me?” Twilight questioned as she tried to think of a way out of there. “Oh that's right, you don’t know yet. Well let me fill you in Twilily M--” Suddenly Selena Moondie was interrupted as the ground shook and the sky darkened. “Oh looks like my grandfather's mission is complete.” They all looked up to see the Sun and Moon unite in an eclipse. Twilight and ‘F’ knew what was happening all too well. Seeing his chance ‘F’ jumped and shot a large blast of magic at Cult Race knocking him back further. Seeing what he was doing, Twilight instantly formed a plan. She dropped Starlight and tackled Selena Moondie. Once she had her, Twilight teleported Selena Moondie far from the area. They reappeared near the Castle of the Two Sisters as Celestia and Nightmare Moon were fighting. “What are you doing?” Selena Moondie questioned. “You see, the best thing about being from the future is I know how Celestia and Nightmare Moon's fight went, to a T.” On that Twilight teleported Selena Moondie again and threw her into a random blast at the right time that was shot off by the other battle. Teleporting again she threw her into another blast and another blast. “I may not have enough magic left to stop you. But they do.” Each blast burned more of Selena Moondie, until finally Celestia and Nightmare Moon’s battle was over and Twilight threw her to the ground hard and long enough for her to surge of her own magical attack. Crossing the kopises she concentrated magic into them and swung them out, in doing so creating a new move. “Dual Crescent Moons.” Selena Moondie tried to block but the blast shattered her strange-looking chain blades as the attack hit her head on and burned the remaining parts of her to a crisp. After it was over, Twilight fell to the ground, the final part of that battle had taken more out of her then she thought. She knew she wouldn't try that again. She gathered barely enough strength left for one more teleport. She arrived back at the spot where Starlight was and crashed back down. Indeed that final part had taken a lot more than she expected. She looked around only to see that ‘F’ and Cult Race were gone. She didn’t have time to question where they were. She only hoped that ‘F’ would be fine. She crawled over to Starlight, who was still out cold. Once she reached her, she herself finally lost consciousness. The two laid there quietly as the wind blew over them. It was almost like they were dead. The only things betraying that was the slight breaths that could be heard. As the two laid there, ‘F’ watched from on top of the rubble. He looked to see in the distance several guards that were heading toward their position. He looked back to Twilight and Starlight. Soon, Realta appeared behind him. “Hello, ‘F’ is it now?” Realta questioned. “Hello old friend. I left my message and set things into place.” “Indeed, I saw that. But what is it you are really after?” ‘F’ kept his eyes on Twilight, “I’m after the stallion who took everything from me. I am after the one who destroyed everything I helped build. I’m sorry I lied to Twilight. I’m sorry I had to keep lying to them both. They were never meant to go through this, I needed somepony to take me into the past. But I must face the ‘Greatest Evil’ on my own.” Realta held up his hand up and then placed it on ‘F’’s shoulder. He saw ‘F’’s future, what ‘F’ had planned. “You do know what this will cost you right?" “Indeed, it will cost me everything at once and then….. nothing at all.” On that Realta left as ‘F’ continued to looked outward as tears formed in his eyes. He could see Canterlot in the distance. He looked toward a cliff edge almost remembering the last time he saw it. Suddenly he felt the tears finally break loose. This surprised him as his blood had long turned to dust as well his other liquids, yet after all this time he still had tears. His left shoulder stump of an arm ached as he spoke his final words before leaving, “It’s stronger than God yet weaker than the Devil, you can run from it as far as you want, but you never defeat it until you face it. That is the Greatest Evil.” ****** <1,000 years ago> In the ashes of the castle, a lone creature sat on a rock. He wondered why did this happen to him? Why was he chosen for this power? What did his Lord do to him? His mind raced and raced. Soon he began to sing, My lord almighty. You know I am a righteous stallion. Loyal to serve and justly proud. My lord almighty. You know I’m not much more than the pathetically weak and feeble crowd. He held up his left hand to the sky. Then tell me, my lord. Why did you choose me above any other? Why you want to give me this power? I’m worthless and yet she chose me above them, is this why you are here for me this hour? Throwing his arm back as flames shot from it. Like fire in the pire. This fire is my skin. The burning desire to protect her from sin. At that he lite everything around him into flames as he danced around the ruins over and over. It’s not your fault, I know what and who to blame. It was the dark king who set this rage aflame. It’s not my fault, or her's that your plan was never true to stand. It’s was him and Luna too. They both banished you from this land. At that, he held his hands in a prayer. Protect me, my lord. Give me the power to stop all her enemies. Every single one of them that must be. Destroy the dark king, and let him taste the fire of Tartarus. Or else let me burn him alive and completely gone on my own. At that he fell to the ground, hearing his lord’s words and feeling his lord’s power. Suddenly a guard ran into the flaming ruins asking why this was happening. Without warning Sunfire’s tail stretched out like taffy and wrapped around his body, pulling him closer. “What has happened?” Sunfire spoke normally. “Fires are consuming everyth--” “I KNOW THE FIRE IS CONSUMING EVERYTHING! I AM THE FIRE!” he interrupted him. “Now what about the wedding?” “The wedding wasn't stopped. Celestia failed, Luna united with Sombra against us.” At that, he just laughed and laughed aloud. He could hear his Lord continue, only now he was speaking through Sunfire's own mouth. Singing with the most hateful voice, “Wish granted. I will give the power to protect Celestia. I will give a greater power than that of an alicorn.” On that, the guard Sunfire was holding burst into flames, as Sunfire fell to the ground. Without warning all the flames surrounded him and engulfed him, transforming him into something else altogether. Sunfire sang once more as his body ached in pain as his whole body alter in shape and form. Hellfire, dark desire. I will protect her and all her enemies will burn. Even if it’s from her own family that will burn. The flames grew to gigantic size and consumed all including Sunfire. Soon the castle and even the great city of New Shangri-La was consumed. The flame began to rebuild the city in a new form as they became solid. They became his new city, his new castle. Standing in the center of the new castle was the new Sunfire. My God have mercy on them. My God have mercy on me. For I will protect her, IN THE NAME OF MY LORD!! IN THE NAME OF MY GOD!!!! ****** Celestia woke up on the grounds near her castle. She did not know yet what had happened there. All she remembered was the fight at the Crystal Empire. She grabbed her head as she rose. It was throbbing from the hit that Nightmare had gave her. Soon guards in strange armor walked up to her. “Oh good, the King will be happy to see you alive.” She looked with confusion to them. These were not her guards at all. These guards wore red and yellow fiery like armor. It reminded her of Sunfire. But why? She wondered. Suddenly her mind came upon the thought. “Sunfire!” Without even thinking on it, or even looking around, she teleported away. If she had stopped and looked she would have seen how different the castle looked. It stood twice as tall as before. Fire shaped pillars stood at each corner. The castle had several towers like originally, but each one now had sculptures of one of the five great birds. Five towers, the first had a raven the bird of death, the tower opposite to that one had a crow the bird of life. The tower next to that one had an eagle the bird of wisdom and the tower opposite to that one had a condor the bird of knowledge. The center one. The tower that stood above all others had a phoenix the king of birds. ****** Celestia landed in the throne room. She span around as she found her footing. Her eyes widened on how different the inside looked. It was majestic. Hues of red and yellow lined the walls and floor. “Celestia you’re back.” She jumped at that voice, yet as she turned towards the direction of it’s owner, her mouth fell agape and her heart practically stopped. She saw several guards standing by a throne. A new throne sitting beside her’s in the shape of a glowing teal flame. Sitting in the throne was a yellow alicorn stallion with a flowing firelike mane. The mane had stripes of red, yellow and teal. He wore shining silver and teal suit of armor. On the lower half of his arms were black braces that had orange lines on them and red writing. However, among all the things that were different, she was most stopped at the face. That all too familiar face. She couldn’t believe it. Before she even had time to question on whether what she was seeing was real, he ran off his throne and embraced her. He stood taller than her now by at least a foot. She tried to deny what she was seeing here. There was no way. This couldn’t be him. There was no way he could ascend without her help. She was always told that it required the power of an alicorn or the elements to do what was before her. This was impossible. Fear came over her as the doubt flowed in. Sunfire could feel her trembling. Was it fear or confusion, he did not know. He took her hands in his and dancing her around the throne room. He looked to his guards. They understood immediately and left. He looked to Celestia with kindness in his eyes. He could see the fear in her. She wanted to know how he became like this. But at the same, she was still in shock from the early battles at the Crystal Empire. Her mind was swimming back and forth. He wanted the swimming to stop. He wanted her to be happy. He sang once more. Celestia my dear. Please don’t shed a tear. For I will always be here. This is my declare. And all will be fair. For I am still your protector. And I am still your defender. For that is my vow and this is my claim. This is how and it will always be the same. So please don’t shed a tear. For I will always be right here. Celestia could see the truth in his eyes. And yet there was something else there. She couldn't place it. Her grip on his hands tightened as they dance. She sang as well. So you claim to be him and that is it. So where is the proof of his comite? Yes he was always there. And yes he was always fair. But are you the same? Is this what you claim? For the stallion I knew was kind and true to his belief. For the stallion I knew was always my cofadon and relief. I could say what needed to be said and he would listen. So here is it. The truth is I have failed in my mission. Luna has turned against me. For she has abandoned me. I am utterly alone. He could see the fear growing again in her eyes. The fear was spreading all over her. He couldn't take it anymore. He stopped the dance and placed his right hand over her cheek. You are not alone. So please don’t fear. Please don’t shed a tear. For I will always be here. That will always be clear. For this is how it should have been. From here, this is how it should end. I am king of this new castle and I need a queen. So I give to you all that is and can be seen. For this is my will when I ascended. Through the will of my commanded. For no other mare shall be by my side-- Celestia stopped the song from going any further by placing her own hand on his cheek. She could see the truth in his eyes. She could not deny what was burning in her mind anymore. She pulled him down and met his lips. Their mouths twisted back and forth and the kiss deepened. ****** <1,000 years later> Thousands of miles away strange looking creature with a stone condor helmet was just barely exiting an ancient tower of silver and gold, holding two strange eye-like gems in his right hand. One was red the other was blue. He looked out to the sky as he walked away from the tower. Taking out an ancient map, he looked it over twice as he placed it on the ground. Soon a strange looking bug-like serpent creature slowly slivered out of his sleeve. The creature spoke with the most hate filled tongue as he looked over the map as well, “Hmm, the Heart is there and the Eyes were here, so the Mind must be here.” He pointed to a spot on the map. “My lord,” spoke the masked one, “What of Grogar? His message said that he might not make it to Teampaill Na BhFlaitheas in time with remaining bodies.” “Then I guess the amount we already have there will have to do.” The serpent rose up to the masked one face and looked at him over closely. “Do not worry, my loyal messenger. Soon the power to change fate shall be mine.” Suddenly Cult Race landed in front of them, “Oh good, I thought I would have missed you.” The serpent turned his head toward Cult Race and smiled, “Is the mare dead?” “Unfortunately no. But we have other problems.” This angered the serpent greatly, “You are growing more useless by the day. Now, what is the problem?” “We have an uninvited guest who is determined to stop you. He calls your messenger the Greatest Evil.” These words angered the masked one now, but only for a moment as he laughed aloud soon afterward. “Only one creature in all creation would call me the Greatest Evil.” He raised his left sleeve upwards. “I hear your challenge Lost Student of Celestia. The only quarrel now is if you are going to reclaim this left arm of your’s. And return to the God you once served so loyally.” He looked up at the left sleeve as it fell revealing a black bug-like claw with thousands of orange little bug legs that went from the elbow down, and very distinct yellow fur just above it. ******