//------------------------------// // Intervention // Story: The Exiled Angel // by Bigshot232 //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Branches and leafs of trees flew past as Raguel made his way through the forest. It felt great to feel the air whip through his hair and feathers again. Seeing as he now had some time to himself, he thought to reflect what he had learnt so far before meeting up with Spike again. His first thoughts were of the land so far. Magic was noticeably present, stronger than that of Midguard, but nowhere near that of the quantity of the sorcerer’s realm. There also seemed to be more than one sentient life form, the ponies and dragons. There were Unicorns, Pegasus and Earth ponies. Spike had mentioned some form of monarch as well. His thoughts drifted to the entities he had met so far. Applejack was rather friendly and a hard worker. Twilight seemed rather reluctant with the little time he saw her. Spike spoke of how Twilight was very powerful for a Unicorn, with the smarts to back it up. Finally thinking of Spike, he thought how different the little dragon was to the rest of his kind. Though only a hatchling he hasn't shown any of the evil tendencies like most dragons. He wasn't greedy or territorial, he had even offered him a place to stay only having just met him. Very un-dragon like, but in a good way. Raguel began to smile to himself. A rare sight indeed to have such a kind soul within a dragon, a race that disappeared long from the sanctums sight. However something had been nagging at the back of his head, a mere whisper at first but had now grown to a noticeable shout. The forest was silent. The angel’s smile started to fade as he looked around the passing trees along his path. The forest that he had past not too long ago, a forest full of life and vibrancy now layed dormant. 'That’s odd...' He thought. The noise, the song of the woods was gone, like something scared them off. Perhaps now he was nearing the edge to the barrens was the reason why they had gone or the sudden rush of his presence had startled them. He was close now, there wasn't any need to worry. "Egh! Let me go!" Raguel slowed his run. 'What was that? It sounded... familiar.' Cautiously the angel approached toward the edge of the forest, trying to remain as quite as possible so more of the conversation could be heard. "He'll be much easier than her." This voice was totally new, but sounded deep with alot of gruff in the way it spoke. Raguel could see the light outside the forest. Inching his way closer to the edge and the source of this... bizarre conversation. "Fine bring him back, he'll be less annoying anyway." This voice was also new. It was a bit higher pitched than the last, but spoke with as much gruff as before. Now at the edge the angel crouched behind a nearby bush. In the distance three figures stood with their backs to him. The one on the far left was short and had a light tan coat. The middle one's was grey while the far right one was slightly darker. They all seemed to hunch, using their longer forelegs to prop themselves up with their stubby hind legs. Their tails were short, wads of fur sticking out everywhere at the tip of the tail. Finally they all wore jackets stuffed with a verity of gems, but while the ones on the sides wore a grey jacket, the one in the middle had a red one instead. Curious, the angel noticed the largest of the lot was holding something just out of view at arms length. 'Could these be another sentient life forms or...' "No! Somepony, anypony, HELP!" That voice, it was coming from were these creatures were standing. They started walking away, the big one finally showing what he had been holding. Being held upside down by the tail was Spike flailing his arms about desperately trying to break free. Raguel's body moved on it's own as he saw the terrified little dragon, angry that these creature were forcefully taking him away. He vaulted over the bush, flaring his wings out as he entered the open. "Hey!" He shouted, gaining the attention of Spike and his captors, "Drop him, now!" The creatures didn't seem to share the same reactions that Raguel received from the dragon or ponies from around here; rather they shared the look of pure annoyance. "Raguel run, tell everypony the diamond dogs ha--" Spike shouted back before being shaken about muddling his words. 'Dogs eh? This place is full of surprises' the middle one looked the angel from top to bottom before breaking out into a laugh. "And what are you supposed to be?" "I am Raguel," He stated as if residing an oath, "I am the angel of Justice, defender of the defenseless. Relinquish the dragon now or face my judgment." The seriousness in Raguel face was intense, his statue large and his wings fully open. Spike was in awe by the grand display, mouthing 'wow' in silence. The effect was clearly not the same for the dogs. "Ha ha, Justice? Heh heh judgment?" It was in hysterics, the others joining in. How could he by himself do that to them when it was three against one? Regaining their composure, the middle one looked to the others, snatching Spike's tail from the larger of the two. "Spot, Fido, get rid of him." They both nodded, Spot putting down a small pile of jewels he was carrying next to the one in the red jacket before joining Fido as they walked slowly to Raguel. They looked strong, but strength wasn't everything. Raguel smirked to himself, folding his arms. "Suit yourself." Spot broke into a sprint towards the angel. Raguel placed a hand on top of the little dog’s head as he vaulted over spinning his body round as he extended his leg. It connected with Fido's face knocking him off balance. Turning round quickly Raguel grabbed Spots short tail hoisting him into the air, twirling him around as he let out a small yelp of pain. With great force the angel flung him straight at the dog holding Spike, striking the mutt in the gut from the airborne pooch. Fido regaining his balance opened his arms, catching Raguel in a bear hug from behind. Quickly the angel reached up to Fido's face, puling on it as he threw the mutt over his head towards the other dogs. Spike was sitting there in complete bemusement after being freed from the dogs grasp, watching as Raguel dealt with his captors. Raguel knew if Spike didn't move he might be captured again, he had to get him to move. "Run Spike, get out of here," He called out to the little dragon. Snapping out of his stupor, he nodded getting to his feet and running into the woods with no sign of injury before disappearing from sight. Looking back at the pile of mutts, Raguel let out a hearty laugh while folding up his arms again, a touch of smugness on his face, 'Man that felt good.' Fido was the first to scramble free from the pile while trying to pull the supposed leader to his feet looking rather apologetic. "Sorry Rover", he spoke softly as Rover swatted Fido's paw away in agitation. "Enough!" He shrieked, dusting himself off as he looked back in Raguel direction. Growling slightly, Rover got onto all fours arching his back before stretching out his head to the sky with a mighty howl. The howl was loud, bouncing off the surrounding mountains and forest all around the barrened landscape. The echo faded as Rover mimicked Raquel’s pose in folding his arms, an evil grin spreading across his face. The ground started to rumble. It was soft at first but slowly grew in magnitude. The ground beneath the angel softened and before he could react a large brown diamond dog burst from beneath him, holding Raguel tight in his arms restricting the angels arms to his sides. The mutt was as large as Fido, but was adorned in amour with spikes on the shoulder pads. But the rumbling didn't stop. One by one armored diamond dogs burst from the earth, each one similar to the one holding Raguel in place. There were five, then ten, more and more popping from the ground surrounding the angel. Twenty, twenty five, they just kept coming. Soon the rumbling subsided as thirty armoured diamond dogs stood all facing Raguel, Rover laughing off in the distance closing the gap. Fighting two was simply enough, five would be tricky and ten would be difficult, but thirty? A very real sense of danger loomed over Raguel's mind. He was heavily outnumbered, worse, he was trapped and at the mercy of Rover and his gang of thugs. He knew if he didn't do something quick, things could get ugly, and the dogs were ugly enough already. He had no choice, he closed his eyes and started to concentrate. "You," Rover started to speak,” You think you beat us!" His voice slowly growing into a shriek, "Try and take our jewels!" His heckling slowly faded, the noises of the world dissipating as Raguel’s concentration grew. The energy within grew in intensity, flowing through every fiber of his being. His mind grew sharper, his muscles thicker, and his resolve stronger. As his valves opened he became aware of another beings flow. Rover must have come close enough that Raguel was feeling the dogs flow with his own. "I said last words," Rover whispered only an inch from the angels face. Raguel looked straight at Rover, slowly opening his eyes, once again in their golden colour. "This won't end well." In a blink of an eye, Raguel hoisted his captor onto his back and jumped into the air, landing with the dog on the ground releasing him. "Get him!" Rover shrieked as he faded back into the crowd of armored mongrels. Getting up quickly, Raguel back flips landing on top of an armored dog behind him, cupping his hands over its eyes. Seeing the angel, one of the dogs throws a punch only for Raguel to jump and have the blow strike the mutt playing piggy back. Descending back into the mob, Raguel crouches, executing a spinning kick knocking four other dogs surrounding him. A dog from the front charges, claws primed and ready, but Raguel somersaults over, grabbing the dog’s head with both hands. With his built momentum he flings diamond dog into one of its comrades, as he exists the flip before lunging at another dog. The armored mutt attempts to grab the angel, but he is too quick. Sliding between its stubby hind legs then forcing it onto it's stomach. Using his enhanced strength, Raguel rips the back plating of amour like tin foil and wraps it around the legs of the downed dog incapacitating it. Looking up he could see the rest of the dogs, their faces betraying them as they watched the feat. 'Time for the end game'. Feeling his muscles tense up, he rocketed off towards the mass gathering, a smirk on his face. Ploughing through the group, Raguel moved intricately from opponent to opponent as he delivered blow after blow. Cries of pain filled the air as Raguel made his way to Rover, bends of sweat trickling down his muzzle. Leaping into the air Raguel readied a kick squarely aimed at the diamond dog gang leader. Rover was able to dodge the kick, the angel sticking the ground kicking up a cloud of dirt where he landed. Turning round, Raguel flared his wings open. With a mighty flap, a gust of wind blew the remaining armored dogs off their feet, all except Rover who along stood. Breathing a calming breath, Raguel folded his wings back and let his arms drop to his sides, his eyes looking intently at the lone leader. Rover breathing was erratic and quick, his eyes wide as looked from his goons back to the angel noting any lack of tiredness. Anger growing within him, he pointed a claw at Raguel while shaking the other in the air. "YOU!" Rover bellowed, "You will pay for this!" The angel simply folded his arms, the smirk growing into a smile, he had won and there was nothing any of them could... "Raguel! Behind you!" 'Spike? Here? Did he get,' "Ugh!" Fido had managed to sneak up behind the angel and lock him in a hold, lifting Raguel off his feet. His arms couldn't move, his wings couldn't open and his legs flayed about as he was taken by surprise. Taking the opportunity Rover leapt towards the stricken angel reading his claws. "You will pay!" He shrieked. With a swipe of his claws, he strikes the angel in the chest. "Leave him alone!" Spike shouted as he ran behind Fido. Before Rover could get another attack in, the little dragon propped himself up on his tail, drilling away on Fido's tail. With a yelp, Fido releases the angel who promptly delivers an elbow to his snout. Now free, Raguel grabs Rover by the collar hoisting him into the air with one hand, his other clenched into a fist ready for the next blow. "W-wait, please," Rover pleaded with both paws trying to hold himself up on the appendage holding his collar. Raguel stood there, motionless as the wind gently flapped through his robes. He stared intently, looking deep within Rovers eyes as the dogs continued to shift. It was clear as day that Rover was terrified of the angel and so he should be. With the leaders pleas heard, Raguel drops the leader unceremoniously to the ground. "Leave," was all Raguel stated in a calm manner. Rover scurried away. With their leader defeated the rest of the diamond dogs retreated down their holes, pulling any other comrade that couldn't move with them. Rover, Fido and Spot crammed down the same hole before erecting a large mound of dirt filling the entrance, trying to put as much distance with the angel as possible. * * * Spike got off his back shaking his head. After his little attack on Fido, he flew through the air a few feet when Raguel struck the large dog. Looking around there were no dogs in sight, just mounds of dirt where the dogs had appeared from the ground. At the mound directly in front, he gasped in amazement at the sight before him. On the pile of dirt, Raguel stood on top, his wings slightly opened, the wind gently blowing through his hair. His eye's back to their blue shade as he took in the battlefield before looking at the little dragon. The sun was behind the angel, casting beams of light around his figure, piercing through the bristles of his feathers, while white doves flew from behind and into the forest. Seeing the area was clear of danger, Raguel started walking towards Spike, his mouth was still agape as the angel squatted in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You alright?" Raguel asked, but Spike remained slack jawed. The silence was long till Raguel chuckled light heartedly. "That was very brave what you did Spike, thank you." The complement seemed to snap him out of his stupor as he quickly raised his arms beaming. "That. Was. Amazing!" he exclaimed. "No worries," The angel started looking around, "We better get going." Raguel got up and walked towards the forest, picking up a pile of gems in his arms on the way before looking back, "Come on Spike." Nodding his head Spike followed, catching up to the angel as they made their way to the forest. As they passed the threshold of the woods, a small rolled up parchment lay next to a passing bush, unnoticed as the two continued back to Ponyville. * * * "Worthless welp..." ... "He holds a great power within him, he could be useful" "Lord Diagon?" ... "My apologies ambassador, my mind is elsewhere, you were saying?" "You know why I'm here, has everything been arranged?" "Yes, my kin will be of no trouble." "Jolly good, then our meeting for today is concluded. I will deliver my report swiftly." ... SLAM* "Our time draws near, soon no one will stop us."