Chapter 1
“By the gods let’s hope not….” Stampede whispered to himself
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Halfway Across the Planet
A tall bi-pedial creature was walking through the halls at a brisk pace, as if he was rushed
“Sir, you requested my audience?” The creature asked another, taller one that was clad in a silvery half-plate armor set.
“Yes, Primarch; I need you to take care of Rea’Deagias for awhile. It seems the Equestrian Pact has been broken…” The armored creature was sitting at a table oval in shape and about 12 feet in length.
“But my Prince, what do you mean, ‘I need you to take care a Rea’Deagias for awhile’? You are not thinking of leaving to Equestria are you?” The Primarch questioned with a hint of worry in his voice. “The humans of Rea’Deagias NEED you to guide them; they won’t listen to the Primarchs or Delegates milord! It will be total anarchy once you leave!”
“NO, Primarch I need to talk to the Sun Goddess. Her ponies have put themselves in more peril then they know of, the centaur have CROSSED THE LINE THIS TIME!” the prince roared while slamming his fist on the table. “It’s either I talk to the Sun Goddess, or Equestria will get attacked….AGAIN.” The prince rose from his seat and walked over to the Primarch and put his hand on his shoulder, “I need to let her know; it’s what Father would want me to do right now.”
With a sigh The Primarch knew he couldn't change the young ruler's mind, “Yes, of course milord; I will get the fastest Carriage ready, sir.”
“No, get the best suitable teleportation mage and a black magus ready, we’ll need them.” The Prince was sure to make this travel as quickly as possible. “And Primarch, tell the Delegates and your Council that War could be on the horizon; or even closer.”
With a nod the Primarch sped off to do his jobs, which left the prince alone again. “Mother, I hope Father’s sacrifice isn’t spat upon this day.” He said looking up to a large mural of a great white Alicorn with The Sun resting peacefully behind her.
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Everfree Forest Clearing
Stampede trotted back to the group with a look he only gave when it was time to get down to business.
“That look can’t be good…” Terra whispered to me, while pointing towards him. He had pulled the Kirin aside and seemed to be giving him orders, as Royal was nodding every so often.
“It never is.”I then turned to the group and half shouted, “It’s time to get suited up ladies and gentlecolts! Shit’s about to hit the proverbial air movement device!” After hearing this, the team scrambled to get their weapons\armor ready. I looked down silently cursing at myself for getting these young ponies into this…..
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Flashback
Royal Court Wizard’s Quarters
Approx. 36 Hours Before
“Come in!” Twilight called to her door. When I entered her face brightened with a smile. “Night, it’s so good to see you!” she said excitedly as she gave me a hug with her forelegs, as she released me she noticed my grim expression. “Honey, is everything okay?”
I looked up to her and said, “I don’t know Mother, I’m having one of those feelings I get when something bad is about to happen… Something seems off about the Everfree forest.” I turned to the window to look at the Everfree forest.
She simply cocked her head to the side and asked, “That’s happening again?” she then joined me at my side by the window, and sighed. “Son, you look just like your father when you’re like this.”
“Let’s not talk about him please…” I said looking at the ground. It’s safe to say my father hated me, and I in turn, hated him too; if he’s dead he deserved any horrible death that befell him. It didn’t help that we look almost exactly like save for a horn, and my last name is his last name. DARK ECHO his name still fills me with rage when it is mentioned or muttered in my presence.
“Sorry…” I heard my mother say beside me.
“No, its fine mom; but I would like to be dispatched to the Everfree with a squad of at least 4 more soldiers.” She then replied with something I didn’t want to hear. “Okay, you and the other ‘Descendents of Harmony’ will scout the Everfree.”
“No, not them; if they died it would solely be on your shoulders and besides I don’t want my closest friends in harm’s way.” I said almost emotionless. Last time I nearly died and the captain nearly died trying to save me.
After saying that, my mother and I heard a loud ‘ahem’ from behind us. “You ain’t goin’ nowhere if I can’t go!” Stampede sternly deadpanned from the open door.
Surprised, I tried to dissuade him from his decision, “Captain I can------“
“NOPE; I’M COMMIN’ WITH YA!” he interrupted, and I sighed in defeat.
“That goes for us too!” a dark teal unicorn mare said excitedly from behind Stampede, causing him to jump and say a few choice words under his breath. “I WAS DRAGGED HERE!” A red colored Pegasus cried out. Then everypony started coming through the doorway. I was beaten; in no way could I talk them out of it.
I sighed, “Okay guys you win, I know I can’t talk you guys out of it.” They all smiled at me, erm well except for Turbo, he just looked pissed to be woken up so early in the morning.
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Everfree Clearing
Present Time
“YO, EQUESTRIA TO NIGHT ECHO, IT WOULD BE NICE IF OUR FRIEND WASN’T SPACED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CELESTIA DAMNED BATTLE!” Turbo yelled at me, pulling me out of my daydream; I do that a bit too much.
“YUP, I’m here! WHAT’D I MISS! I shouted while pushing Turbo away from my face. I then looked around and then—
*WERT* An arrow flew by, only centimeters from my snout.
“HOLY SHIT!” I yelled falling back on my haunches, starting to panic. I quickly regained my composure, and decided to jump into the fray. I saw Captain Stampede nosedive a centaur and quickly cut him open, using a barrel roll to shake all of the blood out of his coat. I then saw that a group of Minotaur is quickly cornering Terra. “Oh HELL no; NOT the healer.” I sprinted over to her position, drew my sword and dived under a Minotaur while cuttting his left leg open, making him fall to the ground with a yelp of agony.
“Thanks Night….” Was all I heard before the adrenaline started taking over, after that I had blacked out. It wasn’t until the battle turned in their favor that I finally snapped out of the trance. I had somehow attacked a group of four 7 ft. tall Minotaur and managed to still be alive, most likely due to the fact that I had a healer right behind me the whole time probably throwing wards all over the place to keep me safe. Terra was out cold, again probably due to the fact that she most likely overexerted herself trying to keep my sorry arse alive. So I placed her on my back and ran to Julia, “Watch Terra, she passed ou------“was all I was able to get out before getting rammed by a Minotaur, and sent flying 10 feet away. “Still feels like getting hit by a freight train…” I dizzily muttered to myself while standing back up.
I looked at the behemoth, and it snorted, personally challenging me to a dual. “Okay big guy, I get your point.” And then it spoke in perfect equestrian, “I’m gonna maim ye fer killin’ mah brothers.” And then he pointed at the pile of bodies I had left from my little adrenaline induced escapade. “Oh, um....whoops?” I said shrugging at the monster. “Whoops, is right lil’ bitch, ya got lucky havin’ that whore behind ye last time.” He growled, and then he started to Sprint at me making the ground seemingly quake underneath; I tried my little diving trick again but only to be swatted away like a fly. I tried a couple more lunges, again only to be knocked back. He was starting to piss me off, I threw dirt up in his face only making him stumble a bit, but I was able to get a hit on him finally as I lunged at him and slashed. I turned around and saw him hunched over, "I did it." I said happily, then I heard the monster chuckle, "That all ye got, lil' runt? It takes more than that to kill a Minotaur." He then stood up, and batted me across the field the the flat side of his double axe. “Damn, what the hell are these guys made of?” I rhetorically muttered to myself, shaking away a possible mild concussion.
I tried to get up, but before I could get on all fours he grabbed me by the throat and held me in the air. I started to feel the effects of oxygen deprivation, my vision blurred, tunneled and while everything seemed to fade to black the beast exploded into a ball of fire, instantly dropping me and screaming in pain. I looked up about to tell Julia thanks, but to my surprise a large Bi-pedial creature in a black robe with red glowing eyes grabbed me with it's arm instead. ‘Wait, arm?’ I thought to myself; no way humans are here helping us, but before I could ask I was set down on the ground again and 3 other Minotaur were set aflame while trying to intercept us, as I watched them fall to a smoldering heap I saw, to my horror the captain get shot out of the sky by a stray Centaurian arrow. I instantly got up and ran to catch him, and I did but he was hit in the throat, I would have to act fast if I’m to keep him alive. “TERRA, GET THE FUCK OVER HERE!”
No response.
I then turn around and realized that she had passed out trying to keep me alive, “CELESTIA DAMNMIT NO!” I said whirling back around, I quickly set Stampede on my back, “Hold on Captain; don’t die on me now!” I shouted while running a top speed back to the chariot, hoping there would be an aid kit inside somewhere. I set him down outside of the chariot so I could look inside the now ravaged vehicle. After about 20 seconds of searching I found one! “Thank the gods!” I then ran back to Stampede, who was barely breathing and lying in a puddle of his own blood. “Don’t worry Captain, I’ve got a med kit right here.” I started to ‘patch him up’ but it was too late, he had lost too much blood. “DON’T DIE ON ME YOU OLD FOAL; please don’t die…..please…” I started to break down hysterically, and then it happened. He died. In. My. Forelegs. “No…. no…. oh ho ho nononono.” I said through sobs. That's when I snapped.
I stood up, scanned the area, and pinpointed his killer as he made his last mistake. He grinned at me. His fate was sealed; in a fit of rage I drew my sword and as fast as I could gallop I sped towards him while he was frantically shooting arrows at me, missing every time. (Or so I thought.) “YOU. WILL. DIE!” I roared. 30 feet away, 20 feet away, 10 feet away, then I leapt barreling into him with my sword pointed straight ahead of me. After that I blacked out, again.
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Canterlot Royal Infirmary
Approx. 10 hours after ‘Incident’
Night Echo’s Room
“I’ve never seen anything like it, the poor soul took 3 arrows to his front but he never stopped running at the Centaur.” A
masculine voice stated.
“Thanks we’ll take care of him from now on.” Another voice said, but this one was feminine.
“Alright, take care.” The same masculine voice from before said
“You too.” The feminine voice replied
At this point in time I realized that I couldn’t see, “Why can’t I see?!” I said starting to panic, and making my apparent nurse jump.
“Oh, you scared me; we can take the blindfold off now.” As she started to take the blindfold off I then asked, “Blindfold? Why did you need to blindfold me?” After saying this I heard her audibly sigh.“Don’t panic but-----“
Too late.
“PANIC, WHY WOULD I PANIC; WHY SHOULD I PANIC?!” I asked frantically.
“Whoa, settle down!" She yelled, and I did, "Um....because, you’re.....uh.....a human….” She muttered nervously.
“WHAT!”
A\N
Fixed alot in this chapter as well as added a bit more of a fight scene between the Minotaur and night.