Scar of Eridanus [not without our scars au]
*“Not Without Our Scars” *AU
Focus Character: https://www.deviantart.com/xaneyraccoon/art/AU-Twilight-Sparkle-865036610Eridanus [Twilight Sparkle]
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Her hooves clicked loudly as she paced through the library, Spike tossing another amethyst into his mouth as he watched the alicorn mutter to herself. “You really need to chill out, Twi. You’re going to burn a whole into the floor.” Eridanus paused, scoffing as she sat on one of the log chairs around the table. She messed with her mane as she nervously looked out the window. “Tirek has surely discovered that another princess exists, and my earlier fiasco with raising the sun has surely tipped him off.”
“Yeah, that was a disaster.” Eridanus glared, chugging through her nose as she blasted the bowl of gems the dragon had been reaching into, the gems scattering and hitting the ground with a sharp thud. Spike gasped and returned the glare, thumping his fist on the table before moving to clean up the now shattered bowl and mess of gems. “Alright, I get it, I was rude. You better fix the sky before you cause even more problems.” He grumbled out, the alicorn tilting her head in confusion. “Fix the sky?” She looked to the window and snorted out a choked sound of surprise.
She raced out of the library, freezing as the darkness enveloped her. The sky was covered in a thick veil of black and yet she could still make out the surrounding Ponyville as if it was broad daylight. A faint pink glow highlighted the environment, Eridanus raised her head with flattened ears and wide eyes at the sight before her. Her horn sparked and feathers seemed to crackle with raw magic at the wave of fear that ran over her. “What is that-”
A nearly blinding sphere of magic was slowly falling over Ponyville, crackling and sizzling with untamed magic. A long, electrifying tail showed that it was falling from Canterlot, fading as it got closer to its target. “Tirek knows… He knows… and he’s going to destroy Ponyville!” Without thinking, her wings were already carrying her up into the warm air, allowing it to momentarily push her back before she began beating against the flow of magic that shock waved out. Spike stepped out of the library to see a purple blur fly towards what would surely be the end of pony kind if it was allowed to hit the town.
Her whole body tingled, ever nerve coming alive and fur bristling at what was the accumulation of hundreds of ponies’ magic in a single concentrated blast. It became harder and harder to fight the current, wings beginning to burn at the extreme exertion the closer and closer Eridanus got. Her eyes watered, chest heaving, horn engulfed in a magic shield to protect it from the immense aura. She could make out the faint screams and panic of the population below, the fleeing ponies and creatures little more than background noise as she focused on her target.
She could hear it now, the buzzing, the whirring, the rumbling, and worst of all, the crackling. Auras mixed and touched, sizzling violently before bouncing off and colliding with another within the impermeable barrier forcing them to stay in such a close, deliberate proximity. A few felt familiar, likely those of former classmates or even family. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes before flying away with wind into the void behind her.
The power became more and more intimidating as she neared, her own magic, as well as that of the other alicorns, flared to life in retaliation. Her mane suddenly felt lighter, wings stretching and gliding easily through the waves of magic like a hot knife through butter. She dropped down, beating upwards to put herself between the sphere and the town she called home below. Eridanus braced for impact, turning her underbelly to the sky and spreading her wings for more surface area.
Her breath left her as it made contact with the thin aura around her body, the sphere responding with violent crackling and shocks. She struggled to breath momentarily as the sheer density of magic caused her to panic. A muffled call from below drew attention, catching the familiar, if not blurry, forms of her friends. Although she couldn’t make out exactly who was speaking or what they were saying, having them there brought her a sense of strength, a warm feeling spreading across her chest. She chuffed and turned back to the sphere, face scrunching into a look of focus.
Eridanus closed her eyes and allowed her body to relax, allowing the barely contained alicorn magic run wild. Celestia’s magic was smooth in its movement, like a soft blanket sliding off satin sheets, coiling around her and fanning outwards. Luna’s was sharper like the teeth of a timberwolf, snapping against flying sparks and bolts that came from the sphere, holding onto her as if it would fly away. Cadence’s hummed and thumped like a heart, comforting and steady against the irregular waves that flew at her. Her own magic flew free, less controlled than the older alicorns’ but more refined, calculated. It aimed towards the base of the bolts, cutting them out before they could fire as Luna’s dealt with the left over sparks. She allowed her eyes to open, smiling as she glanced down.
“It’s not enough…” The sphere was still falling, albeit much slower, and dangerously close to colliding with Ponyville based on now she could make out the faces of her friends much more easily. They seemed pained, likely they could feel the magic radiating as it drew near. “I can’t do it…” As if a switch was flipped, the magic redrew back into Eridanus as tears fell consistently, leaving a heavy stream down her face as the sphere pressed closer. “I’m not enough…” Her eyes closed and she allowed her the aura to consume her, the world disappearing before her.

• Nothing but darkness.*
• “Eri- Twi- Twilight Sparkle!”* “Whose there?” “That’s not important! You have a job to do, you have to keep trying.” “What’s the point? It’s not enough…” “You’re so close, Eridanus. You just need a little more oomph!” “I don’t have more “oomph”! I gave it everything I had and it’s not enough… I’m not enough, I’m not a princess, I’m not worthy of being an alicorn. I wish I never got these wings, I can’t live up to what is expected of me…”
  Eridanus yelped, paining erupting against her cheek as if she was slapped. Her eyes flew wide open as she looked around, finding no other pony and her own aura still protecting her from any harmful effects of the sphere. Her ear twitched at a distant call, gaze flicking down to hazily gaze at her friends. A watery smile grew across her muzzle as she could finally make out what they were shouting. Pinkie Pie was shouting through a megaphone, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy cheering alongside her. Applejack and Rarity stomped side by side, cheering as well. “Come one Twilight, you can do it! For Equestria!” Her ears twitched as she heard the voice call out again. “There’s your oomph, little spark. Now, get your head in the game and give it all you got! For Harmony!”
  The purple alicorn nodded to nobody, gaze narrowing into a glare as she relaxed her body again. “For Equestria…” The borrowed alicorn magic flared to life once more, feeling more powerful and renewed, for now it had it a higher purpose. “For Harmony…” Eridanus allowed her magic to collide with sphere, no longer merely focused on holding it back, fully intent on attacking it head on. The magic fizzled and sparked brilliantly, growing wilder and wilder with each wave of magic that collided. Eridanus glanced back, a wide smile breaking out.
  ** “For my friends…”**
  A new magic pulsed through her, strong and heavy, dancing along every hair and feather, a deep strumming coming around her horn. This magic was familiar yet foreign, like an old friend from your foalhood that you were catching up with. It didn’t hum, slide, bite, or beat. It merely… existed… like a new light, consistent, never flickering or pulsing. Present, powerful, and bright. The sphere fought against the empowered auras, becoming shrouded in a white mist. Although magic still sparked around it, the majority of the magic was contained.
  It started to condense, pressing in all sides, making the sphere smaller and smaller. Finally, it cracked under the pressure, erupting in a violent wave of raw magic. Auras flew and scattered, snapping at Eridanus and smacking her out of the air, sending her flying to the ground. A bright flash of light filled the sky as the magic was freed of its confines, fizzling and scattering like fireworks before vanishing, presumably returning to Tirek or to their original owners. The soft blue of midday began to return, the inky black giving way to the sunlight.
  Eridanus groaned as she made impact with the ground, the fleeting euphoria that had come from the magic giving way to the bruises and pain. Her wings felt heavy, unable to move them. A quick glance confirmed her fears. They were broken, bent in places they shouldn’t be, feathers charred and patchy, showing skin and burns in some places. She heaved a low grumble, falling back to the ground and closing her eyes. The voice came again.
• “You did well little spark. The immediate threat is gone but another approaches. Rise and stand with your fellow elements. They need you, you give them strength, that oomph that they gave you. I will be with you little spark, when you need me, but for now I must retreat and prepare for the true fight.”*
  Eridanus almost called out for the voice as it faded, instead giving a shout when a certain pink pony collided with her. Her eyes opened to see all of her friends scolding the now sobbing Pinkie and checking on her. She laughs and nods, tears rolling down her face. Her friends pulled her feet, freezing momentarily as a quake of magic thrummed across the land. She turned to Canterlot, the epicenter. She could distantly make out Rainbow’s voice as the pegasus muttered “Those are going to need amputating…. I don’t think they can be saved…” The injured alicorn chuffed through her noise, gaze hardening as she raised her head proudly.
  “Tirek will be coming soon…” Eridanus stood facing the capitol, sensing the magic from there. She felt a weight press against her shoulder, flinching as her wing was slightly touched. She turned to see Fluttershy staring at her with hopeful eyes. “We’ll face him together.” Rarity nodded from behind her, Pinkie bounding to the other side of Eridanus followed by Rainbow Dash and Applejack. The six of them stood side by side, bracing themselves for whatever comes.
  This battle was a far from over.