Chapter 5: Discord Returns.
Paladin walked into Zecora's house. It stood alone in the forest, a lonely little hut. "Afternoon Zecora." He said before placing some herbs she had requested that he get on one of the many benches that lay around her house. The house was filled with small bottles of varying colours and shapes. As well as this, there were several masks that Zecora had taken from her homeland.
"Good afternoon my dear friend. I see your leg is on the mend." Paladin glanced down at a long scar running down the length of his leg. That particular scar he had received recently, when he met Zecora. His mind flicked back, to that scene, that had occurred only a few days ago.
Paladin trotted down the path, his hooves making small thumps as they touched the dirt path. He heard the a low growl, and his hoofbeats stopped. I know that noise. It’s the growl of a manticore. Looking around slowly, Paladin waited for the attack. But it didn’t come. He listened again, hearing the growl ahead. “Must be out hunting, ah well, as long as it’s not me.” He said as he started to walk forward again. As he rounded the bend, his jaw dropped at the scene that confronted him.
There standing before him was an angry manticore, and a completely unfazed zebra. She stood there, watching the manticore, as if intrigued by it. “Um, do you need help?”
She turned to face him, a sly smile on her lips. “Not at all, I have this quite under control.”
“I ah, I hate to point this out, but that’s the growl it makes when it’s about to attack.”
She was still smiling. “I assure you, it is quite safe. In this, you can have faith.”
The manticore tensed, and Paladin leapt forward. He landed, spinning to face the manticore just as it’s claw came slamming down, slicing through Paladin’s foreleg. He slid backwards, coming to a stop next to the zebra. “Now would be a good time to leave.” She nodded, motioning for Paladin to follow her.
Just in case, Paladin threw up a shield. But the manticore had quickly lost interest in the two fleeing ponies, and had left in search of easier prey.
Paladin shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. He looked over his shoulder at the darkening clouds that hung over Ponyville.
"What's the matter, you seem disturbed. What is is it that you have heard?" Paladin shook his head.
"I don't know, but it's bad. Really bad."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Twilight looked out at the sky. For the past week, she had been sending letters to the princess, requesting that she revoke the banishment. Everyday she had got the same reply. A simple no. "Spike, send the letter."
Spike shook his head. "No, I refuse. I'm not sending another letter. You'll just get the same response."
Twilight turned sharply. "I don't care, send it again! I will convince her!" She has to say yes, she has to! The thunder rumbled ominously outside.
"I didn't know the pegasus were planning a storm." Spike remarked. Twilight shook her head.
"As far as I'm aware, they weren't."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Fluttershy was in her cottage, feeding her animals when the knock at the door came. She walked to the front door. "You know you shouldn't be-" She looked at the form of Discord.
"Surprise!" he said before tapping her on the forehead and turning her to stone, a look of confusion and horrifying fear frozen upon her face.
Discord turned with a satanic smirk on his face. "Now who's next?"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Rarity was designing a dress, inspired by the storm when she heard Sweetie Belle call out from downstairs. "Rarity! Somepony here to see you!"
Rarity was half down the stairs when she realized that Sweetie Belle was at a friend’s house. “What in the world-”
She took one more step and Discord appeared and in Sweetie Belle's voice said. "It's a special delivery." He tapped her on the forehead, turning her to stone, before teleporting to find the next pony.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Rainbow Dash was flying above the cloud layer, trying to work out where the storm had come from. Suddenly another pegasus burst through the clouds. "Do you have anything to tell me?" The pegasus nodded.
"Yes, sometimes when Chaos reigns, stone floats." Rainbow's face twisted in confusion.
"That doesn't make any sense. Who are you?" There was a sudden burst of light, and she found herself staring into the insane eyes of lord of chaos.
"Since when does Chaos make sense?" He tapped her on the forehead, turning her to stone. Instead of falling, the statue floated, sitting above the cloud layer as the Draqonequus teleported away.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Applejack was out in the storm, collecting some extra apples when Big Mac walked up to her. "Shouldn't you be inside?" Big Mac nodded.
"Eeyup."
"So are you going inside?"
"Nope."
"Why not?" Big Mac vanished and in his place was Discord.
"Because I have better things to be doing." He tapped her forehead and she turned to stone. "One to go." Discord muttered to himself before he teleported.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Pinkie was in her room, organizing another party when Discord teleported in. "You know I can't be bothered doing something impressive." He tapped her on the head. "Arrivederci." he said before teleporting to capture Twilight.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Twilight was frantic. Spike had sent the letter, but there had been no response. "Maybe she changed her mind." Spike shook his head. "You're being optimistic Twilight. She probably just isn't going to waste her time sending another letter."
"Or maybe, she knows that I'm awake and isn't going to send another letter because she knows that you're doomed." Discord’s voice echoed throughout the room.
Twilight spun, her horn already glowing. "Discord. What are you doing here?" She growled.
There was a small flash of light, and Discord appeared, feigning shock. "What? Didn't you miss me? I could destroy you right now, but my orders say otherwise."
He briskly waltzed over and tapped Twilight on the head. She collapsed, unconscious. Spike turned and started to back away. "You won't get away with this Discord."
"But I already have young dragon... I already have." He picked up Twilight and teleported. Spike turned and ran, heading for the one pony who he knew would help Twilight, without the benefit of a doubt, and his current place of residence, the Everfree Forest.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Twilight's eyes flickered open. As she surveyed her surroundings, she immediately she immediately began to wish they hadn't.
She wasn't sure where she was but it wasn't pretty. Fallen masonry lay beside her, the remains of what looked like a castle strewn around her, and shadows seemed to swirl over them. Nor was the pegasus that sat in front her. His coat was pitch-black and his eyes burned with a dark fire. His body was wrapped in baroque armor, that to Twilight appeared to constantly shift. She attempted to stand up, but found she couldn’t. Looking down, she was found she was bound by what looked like shadows, but were as hard and as cold as steel. "Ah, Twilight, you're awake. Good, it means I don't have to wake you. I don't think we've met before. I am Lord Chaos." At that precise moment lightning cracked across the sky.
"Nice trick. How'd you do that?"
Chaos laughed. "You seem a little over-confident, don't you think?"
Twilight shook her head. "No. I know my friends will save me soon enough."
With a flourish, Chaos stepped to one side, his huge form sliding away to revealing five statues, each one of her friends. Twilight gasped, shock running across her face. "You mean the friends I had Discord turn to stone? There is nopony left to save you. The only reason you're still alive is... Actually I'm not going to tell you why you're alive. Instead..." He walked over and tapped her on the head. Twilight felt her eyes grow heavy, Oh buck. She tried thought as she fought to keep her eyes open, but soon, darkness consumed her.
Chaos turned to Discord, who had stepped out of the shadows, as Chaos had conversed with Twilight. "Your usefulness had outlived itself, but I have one last task for you. You are to hunt down Paladin and kill him." Discord nodded and teleported away. Chaos shook his head. "If Paladin has unlocked his true potential then you won't stand a chance. If he hasn't then I won't have to worry anyway. It's win/win situation for me." He smiled and began to laugh softly.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Spike reached the edge of the Everfree Forest. He was panting hard but he wasn't done. Pausing for only a moment, he started running again, knowing he had to reach Paladin. Finally, he reached Zecora's hut and knocked on the door.
Paladin was handed a bowl of soup by Zecora. I wonder how Twilight is going. Suddenly, there was a banging at the door. He spun around. “Who would come out this far, especially at this time of night?” Zecora shrugged, her mouth full of soup. Paladin trotted over and opened the door. Before him, he saw a small dragon panting at his hooves. "Oh hey Spike, what are you doing out here?"
The exhausted dragon managed to stop panting long enough to weeze. "You have to come quick, Twilight's been kidnapped and Equestria in danger."
Paladin's eyes narrowed. "No."
Spike returned an incredulous look. “Say what now?”
"Why not? You need to help." Paladin stepped past him and out into the forest.
"Equestria doesn't need me.” Especially after all I’ve done. “Zecora, I'm going to be out for a while. Quite a while." He started walking, with Spike chasing after him.
"But Twilight?" Paladin kept walking.
"Twilight hates me." And before Spike could argue Paladin had left.
"But Twilight doesn't hate you. Quite the opposite..."
Paladin walked through the jungle. Over the past week he had become accustomed to it and now knew the location well enough to not get lost every time he wandered out. He tramped throughout the forest in an incredibly bad mood. Not only was he banished, but now Equestria was in danger. He sighed. Maybe I should've accepted Spike's offer. He continued through the jungle, looking for something, anything.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Chaos watched the whole thing from his secret location. "Interesting, not what I was expecting at all. Oh well." Chaos walked over to Twilight's prone body. "Do you hear that Twilight? He thinks you hate him. If only he could see the truth. Oh well more for fun for me."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Spike hurried back to the library. Got to send a letter to the princess. He finished the letter and sent it immediately.
Celestia was sitting in her chamber reading the letter Twilight had sent her. "Oh Twilight, how I would love to revoke my banishment. But I can't. I just can't." Suddenly a letter materialized in front of her. "What, a second letter? She must be wondering why I haven't sent a return letter." Celestia opened the letter.
Dear Princess,
I don't time for proper formalities now. It's imperative that you read this letter immediately. Twilight has been kidnapped by Discord and the other ponies are missing. But I don't think Discord is behind it. He said he had received orders. Also, I went to get Paladin, he refused to return and then he headed further into the forest. I have no idea what's going on, but I'll keep you informed.
Spike.
Celestia read the letter again, just to ensure her eyes weren't deceiving her. "Luna, come here please." Luna walked in, rubbing her eyes.
"Sis, it's like midday. Some of us sleep through the day."
"Not now Luna. I have a job for you. I need you to track down Paladin and bring him here. I think he's central to everything that has happened in the past weeks." Luna shook her head.
“Is everything ok, Tia? Why do we need Paladin here so suddenly?”
Celestia looked at the letter again before responding. “Paladin Amor is the only force in Equestria that can hope to hold this ancient evil at bay.”
"Well... alright then." She teleported, disappearing in a flash of dark blue light.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
As Celestia was reading the letter, Paladin was tracking further into the jungle. He came across a clearing, which for the most part, was sand, around which, there was a thin line of dirt that tracked around it. "Seems suspicious." He lifted a rock and placed it in the middle of the clearing. The rock sank instantly. "Hmm, quicksand, best not step in that." He skirted around the edge. He reached the other end and looked back. "Well that wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been." He turned back around, went to keep going and stopped.
A low growl echoed through the forest. Paladin looked around, as if he was expecting something to leap at him. Shrugging, he started to walk forward again, only to hear the growl again. Paladin stopped again. just as a manticore leapt out of the bush, but Paladin wasn’t fazed. "And there's a manticore. Well I haven't fought anything for a while and I'm in a bad mood. What the heck? Let's go!" He said, charging the manticore.
Paladin threw the manticore back. He heard a strange sound, followed by a scream. He put a shield up before turning around. Quite a scene greeted him. It was Princess Luna, stuck in the middle of the quicksand pit. She had a horrified look on her face.
Paladin raised an eyebrow. "Any particular reason you're sitting in the middle of a quicksand pit?" His voice was thick with sarcasm. Luna's expression changed to anger.
"I came here to collect you, not to get stuck." She flapped her wings, to no avail. "Why can't I fly out?"
Paladin chuckled. "That's Everfree quicksand. Magic doesn't work on when using it on yourself and flying just doesn't work. I'm afraid you need somepony else to help you."
Luna's eyes went wide. "You mean I'm totally stuck?" Paladin nodded. "So why aren't you helping me?"
"Because I have a manticore to fight." Paladin felt the shield he had raised shatter. He turned to see the manticore flying at him. "Oh this is going to hurt."
The manticore slammed into him, sending him sliding back. He looked over his shoulder. The quicksand was right next to his face.
He climbed up. "Ok I can't take one step back." He looked over his shoulder at Luna. She was up to her waist.
"Are you going to help me or not?"
Not bothering to look back, Paladin called over his shoulder. "I would, but I seem to have a small manticore problem." As he said this, the beast reared up and charged him again. Acting on reflex, Paladin stepped forward to meet the charge. Flicking his horn, a shield materialised in front of him. The manticore slid to a halt in front of the shield and growled at him. It swiped at the shield, but the shield held. Moving quickly, Paladin dropped the shield, ducked the manticore’s attack, and bucked it in the face.
The manticore stumbled backwards, then leapt forward again. “Ok, this has to end now.” Paladin said as his horn glowed, suspending the confused manticore in his blue magical aura. He walked up to the manticore, before noticing a small cut on one of it’s paws. "Ouch, that's a nasty cut you've got there." Paladin focused a little magic on the wound and healed it.
The manticore purred as Paladin released it. It sat down and promptly licked Paladin's face. "Alright, alright that's enough, I have a princess to save." He turned around. Luna was up to her neck.
"A little help please." He could hear the fear and panic in her voice.
"Don't worry. I've got you." He said soothingly. He concentrated and began to lift her. As she cleared the pit he smiled. "See, I told you I would protect you." He placed her on the bank. "Go to the library, I'll meet you there." She nodded and teleported away.
"Aren't you the gentlecolt?" Paladin spun. His voice was filled with hate.
"Discord. I hear you took Twilight from Ponyville." His eyes were filled with hate. "I will kill you!" Discord laughed.
"Really you're going to kill me? I doubt that very much." Paladin motioned at Discord. "What are you- oof." Discord fell forward, the manticore on his back. "You think such petty tricks can stop me?" He stood up, tossing the manticore away like it weighed no more than that of a ragdoll.
Discord found himself encased in a blue bubble. "You really think this will hold me?" The bubble disintegrated under another wave of dark magic.
"No, but it did let me get close enough to kick you in the head." Paladin ran up to Discord and did exactly that. Discord’s head snapped back. He stumbled back and both the manticore and Paladin started hitting him.
Hard.
The manticore’s claws left gouges in Discords flesh. Paladin was beating him, anywhere he could hit. Discord stood up and threw them both away. "Enough, you can't beat me!" Paladin smashed into a tree. His head was pounding worse than one of Vinyl Scratch’s sub-woofers, but it faded all away as he slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Why are you here?" Paladin turned around to windigo was almost totally fire. Only a few tiny patches of ice remained. The fog that had once shrouded this area was almost completely clear. "You should be out there, beating Discord. He isn't the second ancient evil."
"Well I got thrown into a tree, so that's why I'm here."
The windigo shook its head. "Wake up now!"
Paladin sighed and closed his eyes.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin eyes opened to find Discord staring at him. "Finally, you're awake." Discord spun around and began to walk away. "You are a lot like Twilight. Both overconfident, both smart yet useless. It's quite amusing really. She did put up less of a fight than you of course. And my orders concerning her were different. But listen to me rambling. You must be quite bored. Killing you should cheer you up, no?"
Paladin's body was trembling with rage. "You dare speak about Twilight like that? Oh, I am so going to kill you." Paladin stood up slowly, his head pounding from the impact. His eyes were burning with a icy fire. Discord turned around.
"Oh wow, this is new." Paladin motioned once again and the manticore leaped onto Discord, pinning him down. Paladin walked up to him and stared down. He raised a hoof and brought it down.
"No, actually I won't kill you. You're not worth the effort. I think that punishment should fit the crime." His eyes closed and his horn flared. "For the past week, I've been practicing a few new tricks. One of them is teleportation, and the other is this one.” Fierce winds picked up and pushed past the three of them, before coiling around a ball of blue energy. "Discord, for all of your crimes, I sentence you to all eternity within a place created out of your worst nightmares. As you once did to me." As Discord was pulled into the ball, recognition shone in his eyes.
"Hey, wait a minute! I remember you from Manehatten-" The rest of his sentence was cut off as he was pulled fully into the portal.
Paladin turned and faced a blackbird that was sitting on a tree branch nearby. Despite the destruction that lay around it, it sat completely still. Paladin could see that this was no ordinary bird. “So, you must be like, watching me. Not what you were expecting, was it?" He still had no idea who was behind all this, but he was going to find out. His horn flared and he was gone.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Chaos watched the entire fight. "Not what you were expecting, was it?" Chaos watched as Paladin teleported away. He turned, his rage barely covered. "He hasn't unlocked his powers, yet he still won. He's a lot stronger than I first thought, and he has learnt magic that I wouldn't have thought possible. He's becoming more and more like his father everyday." Chaos sat on the broken stone steps that lay at the entrance to his base and began to plan his next move.
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Paladin appeared in the library in a flash of blue light. Spike turned around, stunned. "I didn't know you could teleport. Would you care to explain why Princess Luna teleported in here covered in mud and now won't come out of one of the guest rooms?" Paladin shook his head.
"It's been a long week Spike. I had to learn some new magic. As for Luna, I'm not going to explain it to you, I'll go talk to her." And with that Paladin trotted off.
He came to the one room in the entire library with a closed door. He knocked and waited for a response. Almost immediately. "GO AWAY!" Paladin ignored this and knocked again. "I SAID, GO AWAY!"
"No, I won't." Paladin knocked a third time. The door swung open. "WHAT DO- oh it's you Paladin. Come inside then." The princess stepped to one side. Paladin strode inside and the slammed closed behind him. He spun and saw Luna's sad face. There were two distinct trails running down her face. Her body was covered in a drying layer of mud. "You need to take a bath, then I'll talk to you." He said bluntly. Luna nodded and went into the ensuite, closed the door behind her, and Paladin heard the bath water run. He sat on her bed and closed his eyes.
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"You're back here again?" The windigo was even more fire. Only a tiny patch of ice remained.
"Yes, I was wondering whether we could have another game of chess. I'd say we have fifteen minutes before Luna finishes her bath, so we'll have to play quick." The windigo nodded. The chess set appeared. Both ponies moved quickly, and the game became faster and faster. Each plan quickly created and then scrapped as their opponent countered. Tactic after tactic wasted and reused. The game went for ten minutes. "Stalemate. I guess we're equals then." The windigo nodded.
"Yes, and I think you should wake up. I think the princess is almost done." Paladin nodded and closed his eyes.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
His eyes flickered open. The princess wasn't out yet, but he could hear the water draining. She was probably drying herself. He looked at her armor, which was still covered in mud. He grabbed a cloth and started to clean it. As he finished the last piece, the crown, how did it get dirty? Luna opened the door. She was clean and instead of being the adult, she was the child form. She walked over to Paladin, and threw her arms around him. She began to sob, the tears running down her cheeks like lost diamonds, sparkling in the light. "Shh, it's ok." He said, trying to comfort her, but she just kept crying. He hugged her back. "It's ok, it's ok. You're safe now." Slowly, her tears stopped.
"I'm sorry Paladin, but that was so scary, I thought I was going to die." She started to cry again. Paladin began to sing softly.
"Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed
Drifting off to sleep
Exciting day behind you
Drifting off to sleep
Let the joy of dreamland find you
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed."
As Paladin sang Luna's body stopped shaking, her breathing evened out and she stopped crying. When he finished her breathing had slowed down, and he realized he had put her to sleep. Carefully, he lifted her off his body, placed her on the bed and placed the blanket on top. He then carefully crept out of the room and closed the door.
He crept back into the main room. Spike was waiting. "What did you just do?"
"Let's see. I convinced her to have a bath, cleaned her armor, calmed her down and then I put the princess of the night to sleep with a lullaby. So if you could be quiet that would great." Spike jaw dropped. Paladin didn't see this, as he had seen the same bird in the window again. "Watching again. I will find you."
"Who are you talking to?"
"Nopony, now is my stuff still in my room?" Spike nodded.
"Yeah, the doors open."
Paladin walked silently to his room. He walked inside. It was exactly how he had left it. In one of the corners sat his saddlebag. He checked the contents. A few loose bits, the Armor of the Night and his jacket. He put it back down and went out into the main hall.
Spike was still there. "I'm going to see Celestia. While I'm gone you are to let nopony see her. Even royal guards. Nopony." Spike nodded. Paladin turned and in a flash of blue light, was gone.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Celestia was, understandably, nervous. She hadn't heard anything from her sister or Paladin since she had left. A flash of blue light interrupted her thoughts. She turned, the smile on her face dying as she saw the furious face of Paladin.
"What right do you have? What right do you have to banish me and then just expect me to return and help you? What right do you have to send your own sister to a location with unknown dangers?" But Paladin's anger on the surface was nothing compared to the inferno that was burning within.
Celestia's expression changed to anger. "You presume too much! You think I had not considered the danger that I would be sending Luna into? As for rights, I have every right to banish you and summon you back." Paladin's anger erupted.
"To say danger is an understatement. She nearly died! If I had lost the fight both of us would've died. And then just after she left, Discord showed up to try to kill me. I barely defeated him. Your incompetence is astounding. You didn't even know Discord was roaming until Spike told you did you? You've spent too much time in the castle and not enough in the real world. Celestia, you are a fool."
Celestia's eyes went wide. "Discord tried to kill you..." Suddenly two guards rushed in. They detained Paladin, hoof-cuffing him. "Take him to the dungeons. He is an enemy of Equestria." Paladin eyes flashed from anger to happiness, then back to anger.
"So you know."
She gave a confused look. "What are you rambling about? The only thing I know is that you've changed. Get him out of my sight." She turned, her face perfectly calm, but on the inside, her mind was working overtime.
As they walked outside Paladin looked at the guards and whispered. "I'm sorry." The next instant his horn glowed and the guards were surrounded in a blue aura, before being tossed away like dolls. Paladin calmly strolled back into the chamber. "You'll regret this Celestia, mark my words." A flash of light later and Paladin was gone.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Spike was in the main room reading. "Agh, how long does it take to speak with the princess?"
"Well, when you insult her and she declares you an enemy of Equestria, it takes longer than one would expect." Spike looked over his shoulder, shock evident on his face.
"You what?"
"Yes indeed, what did you do?" Both of them spun to face a bleary-eyed Luna. "You insulted my sister, probably assaulted some guards and are now an enemy because?" Before he could answer there was a knock at the door. Spike stood up and answered the door. Outside stood a squad of guards.
"Yes, we're here to arrest a Mr. Amor." Paladin spun again.
"Sorry but I'm not going to, how do you put it? 'Come quietly'. Goodbye." Paladin charged at the guards, weaving through them and continuing, before galloping towards the Everfree forest. The guards went to follow.
"Wait, don't bother. He quite fast and knows the way through that forest better than any of us. There's no way you'll catch him."
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Chaos watched as Paladin fled the library. "Well now. That's not what I expected you to do at all. What's your game?" Twilight stirred behind him. "You can't wake yet I'm afraid. The grand finale has yet to occur."
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In truth, Paladin hadn't fled because he been afraid. He was following a hawk, which had followed the black bird back to its master. He was going straight for Chaos. He followed the hawk, dodging trees and bushes, deadly and less dangerous plants, till he came to an abandoned castle. He stared at the huge structure.
"The former castle of the princesses and where Nightmare moon had been defeated. Interesting place to choose." He handed a note to the hawk. "If you could take this to Spike or Luna. They'll know what to do from there." The hawk nodded and flew off. "Glad he understood my intent. Would've been better if I'd had Fluttershy."
Paladin approached the castle cautiously. There didn't appear to be anypony around. "Hmm, I wonder where he's hiding. Twilight!" Paladin went to her. She was unconscious but otherwise ok. "And I walked into a trap." Chaos walked out from behind one of the pillars.
"That's right. You walked right into the trap I set, without even a thought to your own safety.” Chaos sighed. “I suppose I could tell you my evil plot, but that would be stupid. Instead, I think it’s time to kill you." Shadows lashed from every corner of the room, all aimed at Paladin. He raised a shield and the shadows shattered on it. "Even if I can't hit you, I can still hit your friends." The shadows stopped attacking Paladin and instead aimed for the five statues that he had just noticed. Quickly, he raised a shield around them as well. The shadows began to bombard both shields and crack began to form.
Twilight stirred. Her eyes opened slowly and she moaned. "Twilight, you need to listen to me. You need to grab your friends and get out of here. I'll make a passage to them. Don't argue with me and don't try to come back this time." She looked at him sadly and nodded. As she ran Paladin called out. "Twilight, it's a bit late but I love you!"
Time slowed. All three of the shields shattered, and the shadows reached towards them. Paladin closed his eyes and opened them again. His anger peaked and deep within his body, he felt the energy grow.
His eyes flashed open, and a ball of blue magic expanded from his body. The magic destroyed the shadows, restored the castle and flung Chaos like a ragdoll. Twilight stopped and stared at the power Paladin was displaying. He motioned for her to go. She turned and ran. She reached the statues and turned. Tears formed in her eyes and then, in a flash of purple light she was gone.
His power left him him and left Paladin exposed. The shadows dived, slicing open a dozen wounds. Chaos walked slowly up to him. "And so the only obstacle that ever stood in my way shall fall." A huge wave of shadows rose up behind him. It was so large that it was as if the sun and moon never existed.
"That's a bit of overkill, don't you think?"
Chaos shook his head. "Your last attempt at humor. Not funny."
Paladin's horn flared. "Not trying to make you laugh." He teleported to just outside the castle walls before turning to flee, stumbling blindly through the jungle.
Chaos stood tall, and the shadows formed around him, taking the form of bloodhounds. "Hunt him down and kill him. Show no mercy." The bloodhounds raced of, following the scent of Paladin's blood.
Paladin stumbled through the forest, his blood streaming out of the many wounds that covered his body. He tripped over a root, and fell to his knees. "I have to make it to Zecora's house at least." He got back up and kept walking. Soon he was far away from the castle and close to the area where her house lay.
He stumbled again, and this time he didn't get up. He had lost too much blood, he was too far away for help and he could concentrate so no magic. His mind shut down and his rolled back in his head.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Oh, you're back again." Paladin's eyes opened to find the fiery pony staring at him. "You've lost a lot blood. You might actually die at this rate. Probably for the best if you wake soon. The shadow hounds are coming. I suppose if you fight them off you should be able to make it Zecora."
"How do you know all this? What are you?"
"I was a windigo. I don't know what I am now. As for how I know all this, my knowledge isn't bound to a mortal body. I suppose I could help you. This is your fight though, so I'll only slow the bleeding for you." Paladin closed his eyes.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin's eyes opened painfully. It was dark and starting to rain. The baying of the hounds echoed through the forest. He scrambled to his feet. His head was pounding, he began to stumble forward. As he entered the light from Zecora's house his head spun. "Finally somepony friendly." He reached the door and knocked.
It swung in, revealing Zecora, who was not at all in shock of his wounds. "Paladin, what's that sound? It sounds like a shadow hound. Come in quick, your wounds are grave. But clearly you are quite brave."
Paladin staggered in and the door slammed behind him. "To defeat a shadow hound, the light of sun must hit the ground." Paladin collapsed.
"So we just hide out here till daybreak?" Paladin closed his eyes. "I don't suppose you could do something about these wounds?" Paladins senses switched off and his world went black.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Paladin opened his eyes. He was in the real world. "I guess I was too tired to talk to him." Zecora looked up from her pot. "Ah good you awake. Unfortunately I have no cake. Your wounds have healed nicely. All twenty-three, stitched precisely. The hounds are gone. It's safe for you to go on."
Paladin got unsteadily to his feet. "Thank you Zecora for everything. Now, I have to get to Twilight, free our friends, track down a god-like being and then kill or defeat him. All the while ensuring nopony gets hurt... I'm so screwed."
Paladin pushed open the door and stepped outside. He began to walk a path that he knew would lead to death. Whether it was his own, he did not know.