An offer she can't refuse
What the heck is going on!?
I didn't want to take my eyes away from the creature standing before me, but something about this whole situation was... off. I could barely keep myself still. My hooves
were itchy and my body trembled as if I was about to be sentenced to death for all of the crimes I'd committed. I could only recall experiencing a somewhat similar feeling around-
"You have... nothing to... fear... little one." The thing didn't have a mouth, so I'm not entirely sure how it was speaking.
F-fear?
I stood my ground despite the intense urge to flee. Whatever it was, it could read me like a book and that put me at a disadvantage. I examined it closer, using a magnification spell to inspect its appearance more thoroughly. What I gathered in the scant seconds I had made absolutely no logical sense.
It was shaped like a pony... mostly. It stood like one too. Four legs. Neck and head. No wings or horn though. I couldn't even really say if it had eyes, its entire mass a constantly shifting jet-black substance.
"Not unless... you try... to... defy me," it hissed. Several sharp spikes jutted from its withers before shaking for a moment and then retracting back into what I was guessing was its torso.
"So, what? You think I'll just do whatever you want cause you're some kind of freak?" I licked my lips, both in trepidation and a little excitement. "You obviously don't know me very well." My horn sparkled with magical energy, ready to split this interloper in two at a moment's notice. "You're not the only monster around here." A smile crept its way onto my face.
"I know... enough," It replied calmly, though I could detect the irritation in its scratchy voice. "You enjoy... looking... down on... creatures... weaker than... you." Even when it wasn't talking the sound of its heavy breathing was enough to frazzle me.
"So you know a little about me. Big deal." I was forced to employ a false bravado. Its knowledge of me had thrown me off a bit, but I'd recovered quickly enough to still try and oppose it.
You're all weaker than me.
"I know... Luna and... her sister..." Its eyes -- or at least where its eyes should be -- began to glow crimson, narrowing into slits. "made you... look... a fool... and took... everything... from you."
I flinched, its words forcing me to take a shaky step back. With just that single statement, it was winning.
I have to take back the position of superiority or...
"S-so what? Congratulations. You know more about me than I thought," I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to retake the step I'd lost. "That doesn't make you stronger than me."
"Foolishness... Starlight... Glimmer," a long horn -- as long as Celestia's -- sprouted from its head. A sickly dark-green smog wrapped around the spire, swirling endlessly. "I came... to talk... not... embarrass you."
"Try it!" I growled, crouching into an offensive stance.
"Very well," It stalked toward me, not appearing concerned in the slightest... at least as far as I could tell.
Stupid blob monster.
"If you... can not... endure me... at my weakest... you aren't... worthy of... my gifts."
Gifts?
That didn't matter right now. The way it strode toward me made it abundantly clear things were about to get messy.
I couldn't fall into its rhythm. Letting an enemy dictate the pace of a scuffle could spell defeat. I didn't typically need to fight. My vast amount of mana had mostly been enough to overcome any creature that was foolish enough to threaten me or my town.
Other than two huge pains in my flank.
Sometimes, though... sometimes fighting was therapeutic for me. I needed it. So I got good at it.
Really good at it.
While my skills had proven to be useless against literal goddesses, they paid out dividends when used on any other creature.
The first steps were always the same. Analyze my enemy, then the situation, and finally my surroundings.
Time alter... double acceleration.
Reality slowed to a crawl, the monster's movement so hindered, it would take minutes for it to reach me. Time spells were draining and required a massive amount of mana, but the plethora of advantages they gave were worth the cost. One of the many benefits of just how powerful my sorcery had become over the years was that I could utilize time-based spells with relative ease.
Unfortunately, no matter how much time I had, I realized step one was a non-factor as soon as I began my assessment of the being before me.
No idea what this thing is capable of, -- or even what it really is -- so I guess step one is out of the question.
Thankfully, step two was a lot more simple.
It clearly wants to fight and I've no objections with that. Raven said ponies don't typically come all the way up here, so we probably won't be interrupted. I can cut loose. After all, I won't be the one in danger if somepony comes to check things out.
Step three was the most troublesome.
The area is way too small for normal mobility to be beneficial. I'll have to play the control game.
If absolutely necessary, I could teleport away. Whatever this thing was, there was no way it could stand against Celestia or Luna, so running to them was always an option as well. I couldn't say I wasn't a little curious though, and besides, I was no coward.
Something deep inside told me I wanted to hear what this thing had to say.
But...
My spell came to an end, reality back to normal.
"And if you can't entertain me..." I teleported everything not bolted down on the balcony inside the castle. "then you aren't worth my time."
I fired a line of mana directly at the entity's center of mass.
Thought so.
My attack passed straight through the monster, its body rippling around the point of impact, but the energy passing through with no resistance.
It's not flesh... obviously.
"A pathetic... attempt," it marched on, heading directly for me. "Surely... you didn't expect... such a... meager... attempt... to succeed."
"Nope!" I sent a pulse of mana into my horn, my initial projectile swinging around and coming back towards the blind spot of the creature.
Waste not, want not.
I transformed the beam into a thick mist, surrounding the monster with the spell. It stopped moving, not willing to risk walking into the trap I'd set.
"You would... resort... to petty tricks?" It may have been trying to act confident, but its lack of motion told me all I needed to know.
"Petty tricks that seem to be working," I laughed derisively at the frozen being. "What's wrong? Are you afraid?"
"Hardly..." Its withers began to writhe again, a pair of large limbs inching their way out of its back. Both looked slick and moved as if they were composed of liquid. I knew exactly what they were. With a single powerful flap of its newly formed wings my spell vanished.
Ooookay... plan b it is.
I loathed plan b.
"Such a... weak-"
I caught it within my telekinesis field as soon as it tried to start moving again. However, I was not utilizing a normal TK spell. My horn flared with energy, the turquoise hued pillar sending out sparks as I began to overcharge it.
Hate doing this...
I was definitely gonna have a migraine later. I lifted it into the air, -- both my magic field and the thing contained inside of it -- its shining red eyes still locked on me. It may have been a bit premature, but I wasn't about to take any chances. Not with this thing.
Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"Parlor tricks... performed by... a f-" its glowing eyes grew in size, turning into plate-sized spheres.
The mana around my horn churned and bubbled, the natural pleasant hue becoming just as green and ugly as the thing's before me. The new melody I was giving off was distorted and slow, thoroughly unpleasant compared to any unicorn and their typical song.
Time to go, M-
"WAIT!" it lifted its forelegs in front of itself, its sudden shout like hooves scraping against a chalkboard. It shouldn't have been able to move at all while it was restricted by my spell.
This thing is full of surprises.
I couldn't fight my curiosity. So I didn't...
"Why should I?" My dark mana began to flood the orb of magic in a liquefied state. In seconds the dark being would be completely submerged, and at the very least should lose consciousness.
If it even is conscious.
"I was... incorrect," it hissed as it looked down at the rising energy, though this time it sounded... much less aggressive and way more apologetic. "You are... worthy."
I stopped filling the sphere for a second, my magic going back to its normal turquoise.
Interesting... but not what I asked.
In an instant, the sphere was flooding again, -- my horn throbbing with even more dark mana than before -- but this time, it was filling much faster.
"Didn't ask what I was," I shrugged with a bored yawn. "You only have a couple seconds left. You really should be trying to escape... or praying to C-"
"I can... give you... what you... desire," it refused to move, refused to do anything but stare at me.
"And what pray tell, is it you think I desire?" I didn't change my tactics, continuing to push more mana into the ball of energy.
"Power..." a thin crimson line appeared on its face, curling into a cocky grin.
"Do I?" I smirked back at it with every bit of arrogance as it now displayed.
...D-do I?
I slowed the transfer of my mana, my confidence faltering as my smile dissipated.
What... what happened!?
...
M-MOM!?
S-Starlight... p-please... h-help... me...
I took a step back, my spell melting away as if it was suddenly made out of ice and that thing was Celestia.
"To control... power is... imperative," its hissing voice sounded like it was followed by cackling, but I couldn't tell for sure. "Without power... mortals cannot... control." Its hooves touched down on the balcony with a wet thunk.
Mom... please... please don't...
"Losing control... can lead to... such amusing things." It took a step toward me. "Pain..." It took another step. "Sorrow..." Another. "Dea-"
MOM!
"S-STOP!" I fell to my haunches, clutching my head as my horn mixed my normal mana and the darkness. The explosion of magic shot out in a wave, forcing the demon backwards a step but doing little else.
"Again... Starlight?" It was directly in front of me in a second, its face inches from mine.
"What do... what do you want!?" I tried to be biting, to be angry, but my heart was racing and I felt like I was going to throw up at any moment.
"I told you..." It lifted a dirty hoof to my chin, a moist disgusting thing. It stared into my eyes, a wave of fear passing through me. "I have... a proposition... for you." I couldn't pull away. I couldn't even move.
"Let go of me!" I glared back, grinding my teeth. I knew it could feel my jaw trembling. I knew it was in control, but I couldn't lose.
I can't. Not like this.
Its eyes narrowed yet again as it scrutinized me. "Very well," it smiled with a set of sharp red teeth before removing its hoof and taking a step back. "If you wish... to save... yourself... seek me out." It turned around, walking away ever so slowly.
I bit down. Hard. So hard I was sure my teeth would shatter. I couldn't stop shaking, couldn't stand to my hooves. I felt tears stinging at the corners of my eyes, but I wasn't sad. I was pissed.
Starlight! You can't let it leave! If it leaves now... It wins. You already lost to Celestia and Luna. You can't be this weak!
"WAIT!" I shouted, forcing myself to stand up in spite of my body's protests.
It stopped, looking over its shoulder at me. A wide condescending grin came to its face. "Why... should I?"
I bristled, biting my lip so hard I could taste blood. "What are you proposing?"
It turned to face me, its expression so smug, I wanted nothing more than to tear its head off.
"Be... my ally," it screeched. "Together... we can be... unstoppable."
Stronger than Celestia and Luna? I highly doubt that.
There was another question I wanted answered more than that. "To what end? What is your aim? What do you get out of this?"
"Not much..." it cackled in delight. "just Luna... and Celestia's heads... on a... platter."
I winced. "Not much?" I couldn't help but scoff at such an absurd desire. "You're delusional." I laughed at the psychotic being. "You're talking about killing goddesses as if that's even possib..."
The monster's smile grew wider and wider, dominating most of its face.
I-It can't be...
"What... what are you?" I shivered.
"Do you... truly... wish... to know?" Its exterior writhed and vibrated as it questioned me. "Once you... do... there will be no... going... back."
"I..." I hesitated. If this thing was after the princesses it had to be dangerous. I couldn't just walk away. "Tell me," I demanded.
"I am... of my... creator... Fate. I am... a spirit... of... the dark," its body morphed, shifting and twisting into... something else entirely. "I will... fulfill their desire... at any... cost."
Its "body" wiggled and rippled, black chunks of gunk falling from it to the ground making nauseating clacks. I had to do a double take when those same black hunks moved of their own accord and rejoined the larger core. I nearly vomited at the sight. I couldn't fathom what it was supposed to be physically. There were no limbs, or maybe there were so many I could not distinguish one from the other. There were no discernable features at all, just a wriggling mass of darkness that easily trumped me in size.
Calm down, Starlight. If it was trying to kill you it would've already made a move. It's just like any other whelp you've faced.
"So... you're just a pawn then?" It was half legitimate question half an attempt at ridiculing it to throw it off balance. Regardless of my intentions, the blob didn't seem to react at all.
"Of my... master... yes. I gladly... serve." It rumbled, possibly laughing, but I couldn't be sure. "They provide... all... I require," it spoke once its glee had passed.
"Then why do you need help against Celestia and Luna?" Again, another half authentic inquiry half taunt. "If this "master" of yours is so great, why dont they finish off the princesses themself?"
Before my brain could fully process, it was back to its pony-esque form, a displeased frown on its red mouth.
"The filth... have... their own... guardian," the "pony" growled. "My master... cannot operate... so plainly... without... repercussions."
A guardian?
"And this "guardian" of their's... it's stronger than they are?" I couldn't believe that was possible, not after what I'd seen they were capable of.
"It is... irrelevant," it said before explaining further. "Neither... my master... nor their... protector... may take... direct action... against mortals."
That... doesn't make sense.
"Celestia and Luna aren't mortals." I accidently said the thought out loud.
"They will... never perish... due to... natural means... but... their lives... can... be taken," the diabolical smile that came to its face was chilling.
"How... how can you be sure?" I pressed.
"I have... been... the catalyst... to do so... before." It cackled, a look of euphoria on its limited features.
"H-how?" From what I knew, it wasn't possible, but judging by the way it spoke, the way it carried itself... I wasn't so sure. "They're alive..." I whispered to myself.
"A question... beyond your... comprehension... Starlight... Glimmer," it narrowed its gaze on me. "And one... I will... gladly answer... when I... know... you are... trustworthy."
I stared at the monster, thoroughly annoyed. I still didn't know what it was. All of its answers had been smoke and mirrors.
A spirit of the dark? Yeah, I believe that.
It was probably the pet of some two-bit unicorn summoner that thought they were bigger than their britches. None of what it said added up, but if there was somepony -- or some thing -- out there that was trying to take down my mentors, I wanted to know about it.
"Hypothetically, say I do accept your offer..." I scowled at the very idea. "What does that entail for me?"
"I will inhabit your body," It said in a matter-of-fact tone, almost sounding... normal.
"Possession, huh?" A hollow giggle escaped my throat. "You're not exactly making that offer sound too enticing."
Just how many creatures has this thing...
I didn't want to know. I didn't even want to think about it.
"Think of it as... having a roommate," It snickered. For some reason, it was like my brain was growing accustomed to its speech, like I was beginning to have an easier time understanding it.
"Oh, you've got jokes?" I raised a curious brow. "Wouldn't have pegged... you for a comedian."
"You'll come to find I can be quite... pleasant, when I wish to be," it smiled... but not like all the times before. It was almost... kind. "I don't completely take control, Starlight. You would maintain your current consciousness... and I would be much like a... conscience."
...Why?
"Why... me?" I couldn't relax, couldn't get comfortable. It was still just a monster as far as I was concerned... and I knew just how dangerous I could be.
"I wasn't certain before, but..." It walked up to me, its size almost identical to the Sun Princess'. "You are strong. Why do you think that filth muzzled you?"
Muzzled me?
It smirked at my all too obvious reaction. "Instead of nurturing your power and aiding in your growth, she opted to force you to learn of..." It groaned as it shook its head, clearly disgusted. "Friendship."
"And you?" I had to look up to face it. "What would you teach me?"
Its face lit up... if that was even possible. "The fact that you have delved into the darkness yourself is... intriguing. Your skill in the dark arts is... acceptable, at best."
Acceptable?
"Acceptable!?" I sniggered in disbelief. "If I recall correctly, I had you on the ropes with that "acceptable" dark magic."
"Believe what pleases you, Starlight," it moved to pat me atop my head, but the glower on my face, coupled with the blaze of my horn, made it think otherwise. "So very feisty! How delightful!" It laughed. "With my guidance and power... you could rival Celestia herself."
My heart skipped a beat, my legs nearly giving out as my head lowered.
E-even-
"With my help, you could easily exercise the control you had over your town..." It gently cupped my chin with a hoof, raising my head. "On all of the creatures of Equestria."
My eyes shot open as I gaped into the monster's eyes.
It's... It's not lying?
"A-all... of Equestria?" I could barely get out the words.
"And even further beyond," it let go of me before turning from me.
I... That can't... H-how?
"I do not require an answer now. Think on my words, Starlight Glimmer." It slowly trudged away. "Together... we can do great things."
I stared stupidly at its retreating form, struggling to form a coherent thought.
"Call to me when you've made a decision, Starlight. I am always listening."
As its body began to transfigure into a billowing smoke, -- first its head and neck and then its limbs and torso -- I was able to find my voice.
"Who... who are you?"
"I have been referred to by many names," the cloud of darkness was already high in the sky. "I am particularly fond of... the Nightmare."
And then, it was gone.
Stats
Page generated in 0.021 seconds
Total duration
1,013 users online
1,260,305 hits today, 1,960,719 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Where the buck is UNGOC when anomalies actually need terminating? Every time they are not needed they show up anyway, but the second you got a thing that is just begging to be nuked into oblivion they are gone. As you can tell, I still despise the symbiote.
Why must you stop Glimmy? Don’t you want retribution? Glory? To sate your blood lust? Don’t pause, finish it, show no mercy. It disrespected you, it’s a cancer on this world and it must come to an end, and I’d rather we remove it now, than when the cancer is more throughly connected to the world around us. Yeah, this whole comment will be me venting about how much I hate the black goo monster thing, and I can’t wait, especially since I’ve been sick for like the past 5 days.
Welp. Guess I’ll have to make with an actual villain/antagonist. Sigh. (Sarcasm)
Love how they callback the line to hit just a bit closer to home. You sir know how to write stories that I like.
You got me in the first half of this chapter, not going to lie, hopefully she stays like this. You won’t believe how wonderful life seems once your favorite character doesn’t fall for an evil plot instantly after “reforming”.
The dark side of the force is a path away to many abilities, some considered to be unnatural. Yet, somehow you can do most of these “unnatural” abilities as a light side user if you put in enough practice.
I was so happy… and now the thing still gets her to consider.
Terrific chapter, practically everything was perfect. Now we need Trixie to fly in on an F-14 so that Glimmy could fall in love with her and she stays on the good side an we’re golden.
Also, good Godfather reference.
11767221
It needs to die.
Can Jedi do force lightning? Genuinely asking.
Funny you should mention Trixie...
Glim Glam, beware of Faustian pacts. They never work out in the end.
11767328
At least, not for the weaker party.
11767290
Yes, Jedi in-fact can use force lighting! Not all, but Master Plo-koon did create a Jedi variant of the power called “Electric Judgment”. Now this is likely only in Legends so take it with a grain of salt.
I also wanted to somehow fit “Look at how they massacred my
boymare” in, but forgot.11767906
Ah I see, I see. The Star Wars canon became messy after Disney took over and wiped most of the universe away.
Whatever narrative form this borrows from, it seems you have an excellent grasp of it, Hoof. Starlight's characterization is on point to the show canon, while being at the same time extended into new dramatic territory, so it's not hard to see why this story has become so popular. In addition, you take us deeper into her character type with a clear and convincing exhibition of her inner process, where she turns from bravado to submission to self-doubting with all the appropriate cueing. A secret weapon to your framing of events is the interjection of Starlight's thoughts, in the present tense, given against a recounted tale which might otherwise forfeit a little of the kick of an action/adventure.
Pretty tight stuff. You yourself seem to be like Starlight, with a well-spring of mana, having developed an aptitude from your good eye.
11771001
Such high praise coming from someone with your talent is unexpected. Thank you. It means so much.
And I can't lie, the Starlight comparison made me giddy. Lol.
It's the damn Sombra, isn't it?
11819428 That was a hasty thought, I need to learn to finish reading before commenting
Cursed creature out of Tartarus, you already have other ponies to torment, go away vile demon
11819428
How serendipitous.
Well, hello there! Yeah it's been a while but yesterday I watched Equestria Girls for the first time and it kinda renewed my interest in this story.
Great fight scene between Starlight and the Nightmare and I really appreciated how we got a glimpse into Starlight's past. The demon is not going to make Starlight letting go of her dark side easy, but a story needs conflict after all.
Very good chapter!
Reading on...
11853805
Whoa that's crazy. I still haven't watched the third one but Rainbow Rocks is my favorite MLP movie.
Thanks for reading.