The planet Equis has existed peacfully for thousands of years. But a strange and nightmarish visitor named Galagus may end up changing that.
After hundreds of thousands of years, the planet Equis has finally been visited by extraterrestrial life. Galagus; the lone surviving Galagian has been brought to the surface and is trapped there by the planet's natural magic field. He soon befriends the locales and as per the usual, antics ensue.
The vaguely humanoid skeletal form of Galagus hung silently in place far above Equis, his piercing red eyes focused hard on the daily ritual of two beings; one a tall and regal alicorn with pristine coat of white and a mane of flowing color, the other a shorter alicorn with a coat of midnight violet and a flowing mane of serene purple. He had often come to this spot to watch and observe the creatures that called the planet their home, finding great comfort in things as simple as the laughter of the young, and the small gestures the creatures made towards one another to show their affection and care. He had never set foot on Equis's surface, and never wished to do so. He knew what a cultural shock his existance would be to the oblivious masses below.
Celestia's horn ceased it's radiant glow as her sun sank quietly into the night, and Luna's luminous moon took it's place in the starry sky above. She retired to her chamber as soon as she had finished her duty, and curled up beside the warm fire that had long burned within the fireplace built for it, resting her body and finding great comfort in things as simple as the gentle crackling of the fire, and the soft pillow she so contently rested upon.
Luna completed her job of bringing the moon into the sky, and had begun the short flight back to her chamber as her sister had earlier in the night when something struck her as odd. High above where she had hovered, among the glittering expanse of stars was a pair of red lights she had never seen before. Her curiosity peaked, she reached out and touched the lights with her magic, the horn above her brow glowing with a purple aura as she did so.
Galagus could not move. He had finally been discovered, and looked upon the purple alicorn as her horn lit up and it's magic found its way to him. "Shit, I was really starting to enjoy this. Damn these eyes and their accursed glow!" the frustrated man cursed into the void as he turned away from the planet and started to move away. Galagus sighed inaudibly, "At least I know I won't be around long enough to screw the place up." He was already in transit away from Equis as the magic grabbed him and began hauling him back towards it. "OH SHIT, I forgot about that!" panics the skeletal being as he speeds into the atmosphere, his body enveloped in the purple aura of Luna's magic.
Luna struggled to keep her telekinetic grip on the entity, sweat rapidly accumulating on her dusky brow as she magically pulled it towards her. "What is this?" She pondered internally, the foreign object entering the atmosphere and severely increasing in weight and mass. "By the stars and sky!"
The gravitational and magical field of Equis violently dragged downwards on Galagus's dense body, breaking Luna's grip on his form and sending him thundering towards the surface at a frightening speed. "I guess I have no choice, though I hope the crater isn't too large" He mused, not taking notice of Celestia rising into the air and taking hold of him, her magic bolstered by her curious sister.
Celestia strained to catch the heavy being and slow its fall, her horn lighting up the air around her as she did so. "Sister, what is this thing you've brought down from the sky?" The older alicorn queried.
Before the smaller alicorn could reply, a loud series of clicks, screeches, grunts, and metallic growls fill their ears. The sounds cease for a moment and a new voice entertains their confusion. Galagus mentally kicks himself for not speaking their language. "Next time, open with something they can understand." He reiterates himself now speaking in the tongue of his onlookers. "Be silenced, royal ones. I am but a wayward visitor pulled to thee by way of your magic." the sisters do not release him from their hold, Luna being the first to respond to the strange creature they had just come upon. "Nay. We wish to know why you are here and who or what you truly are." She demands warily. "If you want to know these things, I require freedom from these bonds you so sternly hold me with. If you do not release me then I will see fit to release myself." Galagus warns, his voice becoming more serious. Celestia looks at the entity quizzically. "Surely you understand that we cannot yet do that. If we are to release you, we must know your alignment and intention. At the very least, we need your name and race." The telekinetic magic lowers him to the ground, but keeps him rooted in place. Galagus shrugs his heavy shoulders and begins to explain. "My name is Galagus Mostri Otti Reltrek the ninth, but you may call me Galagus. I am the last remaining Galagian in existence, and thusly have taken the name of the first Galagian to honor my home and heritage. Before you intervened, I had been watching your planet and finding its inhabitants quite pleasant in their mannerisms. I wish you and your subjects no harm but if you provide me reason to...." Celestia interrupts Galagus with a shout. "Do not treat us as though we are lesser beings Galagian, these ponies are our beloved ones and we shall not allow you to threaten their livelihood!" Her voice booms into the night air as she glares at Galagus with steadfast resolve, but is cut off by the monstrously loud laugh of the creature she had directed her ire to.
Galagus laughed long and hard. "Well, I'm soooory princess!" Galagus apologizes with sarcastic humility as He shrugs off the magic holding him in place and lumbers towards the two sisters, "I didn't mean to make you maaaad, please don't destroy me! he mocks, his eyes changing from a dull red glow to a bright flaming emerald. Luna rushes to her sister's side and casts a shielding spell around them both. "He's Preparing a spell sister!" She warns, her horn flaring with magic as her shield reaches maximum strength. "Please Galagus, we have no quarrel with you or your people!" Galagus's voice thunders louder than the mightiest dragon and echoes far more than the deepest cave, his skull radiating a green glow. "DARETH THEE TO SHOUT UNTO MINE EARS AS IF THY WORD IS OF MINE MASTER? IF THOU WISHES'T TO BE HELD ESTEEM'D, THEN BOW THINE HEADS HUMBLY AND BEHOLD A TRUE RULER!" Celestia tenses up and prepares to dodge a magic missle or thrown Boulder, but is once more perplexed by the being as the light in his eyes fades to matt grey and he continues to yell, albeit much quieter. "Luna, keep your magic focused!" Galagus recites the incantation to a foreign spell. "RAGE STYLE; ELDRITCH FLAME CANNON!" The Galagian then throws his head back and opens his mouth wide, making way for a great column of fiery emerald light to roar out from within him. The beam continues rising into the sky, grazing the moon and creating a new mark on it as it continues on and fades into the cold vacuum of space. Luna's shield flickers and weakens, her magic becoming strained from heavy resistance. "Tia, this dark creation is not of our realm or any realm I can recall!" She shouts over the deafening howl of the powerful spell. Galagus closes his mouth and his eyes return to their mundane red glow as he ends the display. "I apologize for my rudeness, but please, if I am to be a guest here I expect to be treated as an equal to you, I really don't mean any harm, but let it be known that patronization will not be tolerated on any level." Celestia blinks and cocks her head. "So be it. Come, we have much to discuss."
Twilight Sparkle was the star student of princess Celestia herself, and later became the element of magic and the princess of friendship. Her magical prowess allowed her to engage in conflicts with such forces as Tirek, King Sombra, Queen Chrysalis, and even Discord. But in all her years of nigh obsessive studying and traveling around Equestria, she'd never once seen or heard something like what her former teacher had written about in this letter.
The letter, like all other letters she'd sent and received from Celestia, was penned on simple parchment, sealed with the royal seal, and arrived in a small puff of fire through her assistant Spike.
Unlike most letters however, this one told her that her and the other elements of harmony were needed in canterlot as soon as possible. This slightly worried the purple mare, for when the princess called for the presence of the elements in such a manner in the past, it had usually meant that some old evil had returned to wreak havoc on Equestria, or a crisis was imminent. Nonetheless, Twilight was determined to do whatever was needed of her to the best of her abilities and knew that she could count on her friends to do the same.
Once everypony had settled in their seats, Rainbow Dash started her usual flapping about the cabin of the train, openly wondering what the princess could need from them. "Ooh, do you think it's a secret mission? Like, with cool gadgets and stuff? That would be awesome!" She rambled, her curiosity clearly overriding her boredom.
Applejack chuckled to herself and turned to Rarity, who was intently brushing her mane. "Knowin Rarity, she'd probably make them outfits look all pretty like." She joked. Rarity's ears perk up and she places her mirror and brush back into her suitcase. "Well, it's not my fault I can't stand looking like an uncultured ruffian." She replied to the farmer, earning a burst of laughter from Rainbow Dash and a soft giggle from Fluttershy. "Twilight, what ever does the princess requires of us? I'm sure we're all dying to know." The white mare asked, everypony nodding in agreement.
Twilight levitates out the letter princess Celestia had sent. "I don't know, all it says is that we are needed there, and that it's important. I just hope it's not something like Tirek." She answers with a shrug.
"Only time will tell I suppose." Fluttershy says in her soft and quiet voice.
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Galagus looks back and forth from Luna to the gilded dining chair that the regal sisters had led him to and back again, his voice almost pleading. "Are you sure it's not gonna break when I sit down Princess? I mean no disrespect to you or your sister, but those chairs really don't seem up to the task." He warns, nudging the furnishing with a tentative hand.
Taking her seat at the head of the table, Celestia pulls Galagus's away from the table with her magic and motions for him to do the same. "I assure you, these have endured the use of larger patrons than yourself." She tells him casually.
Galagus shrugs his shoulders and sits down carefully, but is caught off guard by the sturdiness of the furnishing. "Impressive your highnesses, I truly didn't think they'd be able to hold my weight." He says with raised eyebrows and a tone of true astonishment.
Six mares enter the dining room, their conversations abruptly ending as they all come to a sudden stop in the doorway, the purple alicorn at the front of the group stopping and causing the ponies behind her to bump into one another
One mare, an orange pony with a hat on comments almost immediately. "Twilight what in tarnation is the hold up?" She drawls with a southern accent, trying and failing to see what had caused her friend to stop.
Twilight's ears and fold back and she starts backing up, allowing her entourage to get a glimpse of the strange monster looming in the doorway. "W-what is that?" She asks with as much courage as she could muster, the other five mares gathered behind her echoing the question.
The warm voice of her former mentor supplies an unexpected answer. "Do not worry my little ponies, he is a guest of ours. Please, come and join us at the table." Celestia informs them calmly.
Still quietly intimidated, five mares carefully move around the lumbering form of Galagus and take their seats at the table, not meeting the gaze of the being, one still too unnerved to enter the room.
Galagus doesn't move or make a sound, sensing great fear and shyness in the small yellow Pegasus cowering outside. The door begins to slide closed, but is halted by a powerful metal hand. "It's okay little one, I will not hurt you or your friends. My name is Galagus, and I am not of this world." He hums softly to the Pegasus, taking care not to startle her.
"Um hi t-there my n-name is Fluttershy." She whispers, barely audible to the untrained ear.
Stepping outside, Galagus bends down on one knee and holds his hand out to the nervous pony. "Fluttershy? That's a very nice name. People of my planet seldom had such wonderful names, so it is my pleasure to meet you Fluttershy."
Reluctantly, Fluttershy moves into the dining area and takes a seat next to rarity. "There we go, gotta be sure I don't make them afraid of me. This planet's magic is bothersome, it seems as though I won't be able to leave without at least four-fifty-eighting my current power. I suppose I should get comfortable and make sure they are too. I'm gonna be here a while."
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The sounds of clinking silverware and muffled chewing fills the silence as the gathered ponies dine on fresh greens and elegant teas. All except Galagus, who just looks at his food solemnly earning some weird looks from the eight ponies around him. "Forgive my lack of manners everyone but, well, I don't eat. I hate to be rude, but I'm afraid it's not something I can do." He explains with shrugged shoulders.
"Why not?" A squeaky voice chimes in, followed by worried glances and a dusty sigh from the large extraterrestrial.
Galagus reaches out to the princesses telepathically, finding that their minds allow the connection quite easily. "Your highnesses, seeing as how they seem to be so fundamentally different from one another, I wish to interact with these six one at a time."
Celestia replies smoothly, with very little effort. "That would be for the best. Carry on Galagus."
Rising from his chair, Galagus motions for the pink pony to follow him outside.
Chapter 2; Pinkie accidentally castes a forbidden spell
Pinkie Pie bounces out of her seat and speeds over to Galagus, her pink mane never losing it's fluffy shape. "Okie Dokie."
Galagus lumbers to the doors and holds one open for the pony, who quickly hops through the doorway and into the empty hall. "My name is Galagus, of the planet Galagium. I am the last Galagian in existence, and took this name in its honor," he offers a hand to the pink pony. "I am simply a visitor to your world, and mean no harm to your creed or country."
Pinkie Pie immediately grabs the hand and shakes it vigorously, a smile stretching across her face. "Hi my name is Pinke Pie, nice to meet you! do you like parties? I looove parties! I should throw you a welcome to the planet party! With cake!" She said, her words having very little pause between them.
Galagus is silent for a moment, speaking simply. "Do you like surprises?" He asks.
"Oh my goodness I looove surprises! Except the bad ones, like avalanches or earthquakes! But surprises are usually fun when I make them!" Pinkie gushes.
"I have a surprise for you, watch this." Galagus falls backwards and vanishes into a puff of black smoke upon contact with the floor. Reappearing behind the pink pony, he tilts his head back and opens his mouth, sparks and confetti exploding from it and into the air, covering the pink pony in small streamers and confetti.
"Whoaaaah that was so awesome! Teach me how to do that!" She pleads.
Bending down and joking scratches a short line of symbols into the marble floor, knowing that no pony could possibly read or comprehend the language. "Read this aloud and it should work." He chuckles slightly at the thought.
"Qui Fiik Druul Fen Nesh't Kodaach," She says slowly. "What does that mean?"
Galagus falls to his knees and holds the back of his head tightly. "NI OJEEK CAV NOR SOTRUUL HELL!" Rising from his knees, he looks at the pink pony with wrathful eyes. "HOW DO YOU READ THESE WORDS?"
Pinkie Pie's ears fold back and she looks at the ground sheepishly, her voice softer than before. "I'm S-sorry. I d-didn't know it was bad." She said. The large entity shrugs off the ebbing sting of the agonizing incantation and kneels to the pony's level. "It's alright, you did not know. You simply did as I said to do, so I am to blame." He admits.
She brightens for a moment, but struggles to meet his gaze. "What did that do?" she asks, curiosity finally overriding her cautious hesitation.
"Little one, that was an ancient and horrible spell classified as a short curse. A short curse works as well and as powerfully as a normal curse, but only for a very brief moment. More specifically, that curse was called blink of death; a short curse that causes pain worse than the most torturous death for only a blink of an eye." Galagus explains with a sigh.
The pink earth pony cocks her head and gestures at Galagus with a hoof. "But why do you Know so much about these bad things, if they are so super bad?" She ponders to him aloud.
Galagus adopts a faraway stare. "Because I invented them pinkie." He answers sorrowfully.
"Why?" She persists. The metal man looks over his shoulder at the small equine and points at the stained glass depicting the defeat of Nightmare Moon. "That pony there, she was a bad pony correct?" He asks her.
Pinkie thinks for a moment and produces the expected answer. "Yeah, but she wasn't completely bad. She's a good pony again!" She replies.
Galagus continues. "Imagine if, when you used those gems,"
"Elements of Harmony." She corrects quickly.
"Right. So imagine if when you used the elements of harmony, that bad pony didn't turn good again. Imagine if she was twice as bad, and the elements were useless."
"That would be really reaaally bad."
The heavy being pats pinkie's head as lightly as possible and finishes his explanation. "Your magic users would likely work day and night on spells to defeat her, likely turning to some rather dark magic to end her reign. On my planet, I was once a proud and powerful king among men," he pauses. "But an old friend who'd delved too deeply into the darker arts returned with a monsterous army and waged savage war against me and my people. In the end, I sacrificed my very soul to bring the accursed legions to their knees." He informs her.
"That's sad." She concludes, turning towards the large doors.
"I suppose you should be heading back to dinner," Galagus says. "Send one of your friends out, I'll be here."
The large door swings closed slowly, and the soft tapping of hooves signals a twilight's entrance. "Galagus, was it?" She asks, her gaze turning to Galagus.
"Yes, mage. I assume you wish to discuss my origins and my magic?" He queries, boredom in his voice. Twilight hesitates to answer. "How did you know I can cast magic?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. Galagus looks down at her. "When you cast magic or are near magic, you feel a sort of hum correct?"
"I suppose yeah." She replies. Breathing in a deep, dusty breathe Galagus exhales a dense cloud of smoke with little streams of flowing color dancing in it. "Magic is like water, a fluid if you will. When you cast a spell, it flows between the source and the target. When you stop casting, the water between the source and target falls and splashes. I can see the splashes without assistance. When a magic user is nearby, they are basically soaked with magic." He explains. Twilight's eyes light up. "That's incredible! You must know so much about magic that we have no way to discover!"
"Can your mages manipulate atoms?" Galagus asks, curious. The lavender alicorn frowns. "Atoms?" Galagus mentally kicks himself. "Of course they can't you dolt! They can't even see magic residue, why would they be able to magically split atoms?" He blinks. "Never mind, must be a Galagian thing. You should go back inside before dinner gets cold, and send out that blue lesbian friend of yours, the one with the wings." "Er..I'm not sure Dash is....okay thanks bye!"