//------------------------------//
// Peacemaker, Bring Them Peace 
// Story: Decretum 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Sixty Six: Peacemaker, Bring Them Peace
~BlackRoseRaven

Celestia looked tiredly across the library as Discord and Discombobulation began to slap at each other like foals again, the two Draconequus cursing at one other until Discord managed to grab Discombobulation's wooden prosthetic and yank hard on it.
Thanks to the harness straps, it didn't come off, but it it did twist awkwardly, and Discombobulation glared as Discord blew a loud raspberry at him, before they both winced when Celestia said dryly: “It is well-within my power to turn you both to stone for a period of time, and I will be more than glad to do it unless you behave.”
“Spoilsport.” Discord muttered, and then he sniffed and reached up to rub moodily at his muzzle, complaining: “Besides, the puppy started it!”
“Stop calling me that, I am no more a puppy now than you are a big dog.” Discombobulation retorted, and Discord glared at him before Bob rose his hand as a rolled up newspaper appeared in it before he slapped the whole-but-powerless Draconequus across the face, Discord stumbling backwards even as Discombobulation calmly glanced over at the ivory winged unicorn. “But I do apologize, Celestia. Discord is simply a makebate.”
“Don't call me synonyms or compare me to words used for touching yourself.” Discord retorted, and when Celestia narrowed her eyes at him, he cleared his throat and leaned awkwardly away. The two Draconequus traded looks after a moment, and then Discombobulation carefully slipped the newspaper under one arm, crossed his upper limbs, and then firmly nodded before he vanished from sight with a loud popping sound.
Discord hurriedly covered his eyes with both lion paw and eagle talon, and Celestia looked at him for a few moments before she simply shook her head and returned her eyes to the papers in front of her. She absently began to sort through them, and Discord slowly spread his digits to peer through his hands at her, watching as she began to jot figures down in a notebook before he dropped his upper limbs and asked moodily: “Why exactly am I here again?”
“To assist Freya, I believe, although I see you haven't been doing much of that, chaos entity.” Odin said dryly, and Discord winced and flailed a bit at the air as the once-god stepped calmly out of the corridor with a cup of tea held in one hand, leaning on the walking stick in his other. He looked moodily over at Discord, then the falcon-headed being slowly made his way over to the table where Celestia was sitting, and he gently put the cup down in front of her as he added quietly: “Although you do seem like you could do with a distraction, Freya.”
“I'm fine, Odin... but thank you.” Celestia replied softly, glancing up at the once-god and giving a small smile before she sighed a little, turning her eyes back to the papers spread out in front of her and shaking her head slowly. “I just... need to find something to keep my mind occupied for the moment. Otherwise...”
“I understand.” Odin carefully pulled a seat back and sat down with a grunt, putting his walking stick aside before he glanced up at Discord as the Draconequus grumbled and skulked his way across the room. “Why don't you go out?”
“Oh yes, and risk running into a demon, smelly and angry Nibelung, or one of the countless insufferable ponies out there who seem to think they can make best friends forever with me? Not likely.” Discord replied grumpily, and Celestia sighed tiredly, looking at him meditatively. “Don't get me wrong, I'm glad not to be imprisoned or petrified or dead, but I can't quite say this is all that great a life, either. I mean, so far the most fun I've had was throwing water balloons at a few ponies. And then I had to run away. Running away is much more tiring than I remember it being.”
The Draconequus paused, then he grumbled and turned to peer suspiciously out the window, adding moodily: “It's so nice here. I hate it. And I can't even give up and kill myself because puppy's around and that would just look bad if I turned myself to stone without at least giving him a wedgie or something.”
Celestia shook her head slowly, and Discord broke off into muttering to himself as Odin turned his eyes to the ivory mare, saying quietly: “If you wish to return to Canterlot...”
“No, no... no.” Celestia shook her head quickly, pushing through the papers on her desk so she could look quietly down at the letter she'd received only a few hours earlier, in the late afternoon: from Twilight Sparkle, saying that Luna had finally woken up. It was good news... and it meant that Scrivener was likely recovering, too, and would likely be awake sooner rather than later. And once they were both awake, Celestia planned to have them transferred here, to Ponyville. “I want to see them but I'm... I'm afraid I'll walk in and begin lecturing them with how frustrated and worried I've been. That's the last thing either of them need right now.”
“I don't know about that. Brynhild always seems to find your lectures somehow reassuring.” Odin said softly, and Celestia smiled after a moment, nodding slowly before she glanced down as the falcon-headed entity rose a hand and squeezed her shoulder slowly. “It's alright, Freya. We'll make sure to both reward them a little and punish them a little, but all for the same reason: to help them. To let them know they are not alone.”
Celestia sighed quietly, nodding slowly before Discord mumbled something, and Celestia frowned a bit as she looked up before the Draconequus glowered over his shoulder at them, asking wryly: “So after they've almost died, you're going to say nice things to them and also that you're oh so very upset with them, huh? And ponies in your world really thought that I was the one responsible for making everyone miserable? You must all be dumber than I thought.”
Celestia glared at the Draconequus as Odin looked up sourly, and Discord winced before he hurriedly scrambled over to the door, saying awkwardly: “Actually, it's a very nice night, so an evening walk might just be in order. If puppy shows up tell him I said bark-bark-meow.”
With that, Discord yanked the door open and ran out into the night, and Celestia sighed before she flicked her horn to close the door as Odin shook his head slowly and wondered moodily whether or not his old habit of killing first, asking questions later had been entirely wrong after all.

The moon shimmered in the sky, half-veiled by a few thick wisps of cloud rolling slowly through the dark night air high above. Stars glimmered quietly, and the night was still and quiet, not even the Phooka stirring. It was well past midnight, but long before morning: the perfect, darkest hour.
Lamps shimmered in the streets of Ponyville, but they cast little light, and every home was dim, every business dark except for the rare lamp's glow here and there: shining from a window in Sugar Cube Corners, glimmering quietly from behind the closed curtains of the library, shimmering out between the shuttered engineering lab windows. Almost everyone was asleep: ponies and Nibelung both tucked into beds and cots and corners and homes and everywhere else they could find a little bit of shuteye.
A few guards were on patrol, but more than one of them felt the soporific effects of the shrouding, dark embrace of the night. And more, some of them felt relaxed: Luna and Scrivener weren't in town, after all, but Celestia and Odin were both here.
But at the edge of the Everfree Forest, there was a small group that was very much awake. A group of strange-shaped creatures were gathered around what looked like a Pegasus, who was smiling softly to herself as she sat on her haunches, gazing almost lovingly out at the little village. Black, tight-fitting armor covered most of her body, made of fiberglass and a thick, cloth-like material insulated with heavy mesh, but all four of her lower legs were shielded by what looked like gorgeously-decorated manacles set just above sharpened black hooves. Her wings were free of the armor, furled tightly at her sides: their golden feathers revealed the beautiful color of her coat.
Her sea-green eyes all but glowed, a single long pink bang spilling down one side of her face and flowing over her shoulders in a smooth waterfall. She was pretty, almost delicate looking as she smiled with what seemed like tender and honest affection, murmuring in a soft, gentle voice: “It's so pretty. They must be very strong to have killed Beauty, though... so we mustn't be unprepared. My friends... you all know your duties, don't you? I'm very certain that you do, but it would be unprofessional for me to check.”
The group of silent, metallic beings nodded, and the Pegasus smiled lovingly before she closed her eyes and rose a front hoof, bowing her head as she said softly: “Cacophony, Resonance, Symphony, move in directly. Cherub and Decay, sweep in from the flank. I'll give you all enough time to get started, then come in myself to help clean up.”
There were brisk nods from the five creatures and rumbles of both agreement and excitement, and then the the Pegasus looked calmly up and said lovingly: “I'm very glad, my friends. I'm glad the Clockwork King told me to bring all of you with me, to show Clockwork World's true might. Now go: spread serenity and rest to every single villager in that town. Free them all of life's despair. Lay them all down to sleep.”
The five gleaming ponies nodded and saluted sharply, then turned and bolted into the field, two almost vanishing as three charged straight for the gate, and the Pegasus smiled as she slowly rose her head, closing her eyes and exhaling loudly as she rolled her shoulders and then calmly began to walk forwards, gazing up at the stars above and murmuring: “It's such a pretty night... can you hear me, Angel? Mommy hopes that you can... I'm so delighted to be doing the honored work of the Clockwork King in this world...”
She sighed in relaxation... then glanced ahead with a smile as a massive explosion went up, an alarm beginning to blare throughout Ponyville as screams and yells rose through the night before she laughed quietly and shook her head slowly. “I suppose I should slow my pace a little, shouldn't I, Angel? Otherwise I'm going to get there before they even have a chance to get started...”
She smiled, gazing up and closing her eyes as she sighed again, the sound of the howls and alarms like music to her ears... and all throughout Ponyville, guards, soldiers, and Starlit Knights were scrambling to their hooves, Celestia's blood running cold in her veins as Discord looked wildly back and forth, then grabbed his head and winced, shouting: “It wasn't me! Oh Loki, I don't like when there's madness like this and it's not me causing it!”
Odin hurried out of the corridor, the falcon-headed entity grimacing as he looked at Celestia, and she nodded curtly to him before hurrying past the once-god as he strode quickly towards the library window. Before he could reach it, however, Discombobulation appeared with a stagger and a curse, his prosthetic arm missing. He winced as he grabbed automatically at his shoulder, then he looked back and forth before his eyes locked on Odin, saying sharply: “Clockwork World. Clockwork Ponies. And the water defense system only succeeded in making them wet and angry. I would now direly love to flee since I feel I've done my good deed for the day, but unfortunately I feel a very deep connection to this town and am afraid it looks as though you're going to need all hands, hooves, and everything else you can find on deck. Assuming, of course, this ship doesn't sink before the crew wakes up.”
Odin nodded quickly, and the falcon-headed entity closed his eyes before he said curtly: “Our first order of business is to gather our forces together and prepare to engage. If we panic and allow the enemy to control the battlefield, we will lose. Send up a signal, something that will guide them to gathering here!”
Discombobulation nodded back, then the Draconequus hurried out the library door, gritting his teeth before he snapped his fingers as an idea struck, and a massive, neon green arrow appeared high in the air, pointing straight down at the square. It was an obvious sign that would likely attract Clockwork World as well... but with any luck, there would be more friends than foes gathered within the next few minutes, and they would be ready to counterattack.
As the one-armed Draconequus turned and hurried back inside – and past a scared Discord who was half-hiding behind the door – Celestia came quickly back down the hall, already dressed in her full golden plate and with Tyrfing all but glowing on her back, the ivory equine asking Odin sharply: “Orders?”
Odin looked surprised, but he spoke clearly and decisively, as if he had expected the question: “I need you to hold position in the square, Freya, and gather your forces. I will see about calling for help from any allies in the area, and you will marshal and prepare our warriors for engagement. We must gather information as well, however, and this would be best done-”
“With our allies of the night... and lacking them...” Celestia glanced over at Discombobulation, saying quietly but seriously: “I do not desire to ask this of you, friend, but...”
“Oh, don't insult me, Celestia. I may be a coward, but unfortunately I also do have some pride.” Discombobulation smiled wryly after a moment, shaking his head slowly as Discord looked up, perplexed. “It's a very difficult combination to balance. It means that now I must insist you allow me to go ahead and scout out our opposition even though I may also wet myself at some point trying to spy on these monstrosities.”
“Why are you risking your life for them? Why not just steal one of your stupid lines, then run away and simply vanish?” Discord asked incredulously, and the one-armed Draconequus gave him a mild look. “This is not what we learned in Ginnungagap, this is not what-”
“And that is why you fail.” Discombobulation interrupted, reaching up and firmly poking Discord's nose, and the pony-headed Draconequus winced backwards before the one-armed chimerical creature stepped quickly away and then bowed deeply, vanishing in a burst of smoke.
Celestia only let herself regard this for a moment before she and Odin traded a look and a brief nod, and Odin turned to head towards the corridor as Celestia headed quickly outside, grimacing at not just the sound of the alarm, but another explosion that ripped through the air with enough power to drown out the klaxon for a moment. She kept her eyes towards this, judging the distance and the power that must have backed the blast even as her senses tingled, and without looking up she said calmly as two Pegasi landed behind her: “Rainbow Dash, Soarin', I need you both to scout around Ponyville as quickly as possible, then return here with all the information you have gathered. Discombobulation is already taking a closer look but an aerial view may tell us any details he may miss... scan the outer edge of Ponyville as well. I need to know what we're up against.”
“Got it!” Rainbow Dash said immediately, Soarin' still looking surprised before he hurried into the air after the pale-blue stallion, and the two flew high before turning and quickly shooting off in opposite directions. Celestia only spared a single quick glance upwards after the two Pegasi before she shook her head and looked forwards, only her amethyst eyes betraying her relief as other ponies began to hurriedly gather in the main square in varying states of readiness and awareness.
“I do not believe the timing of this attack is a coincidence!” Celestia called clearly over her shoulder as she continued to keep her focus ahead, praying that the soldiers and Nibelung guards already in the battle would be able to hold off the Clockwork Ponies for just a little longer, knowing the key to victory against these powerhouses was in their preparation and strategy. “They must know that Luna and Scrivener are absent... they are trying to destroy Ponyville either because they think it has no protectors or because they simply wish to make us all suffer! My friends, it's time for us to show Clockwork World that each and every one of us are prepared to do whatever it takes to stop them!”
Yells of agreement rose up in response as Celestia surveyed the group behind her: Applejack, Big Mac, Sleipnir, Pinkamena, Spike and Rarity and many others... including not only soldiers and Nibelung, but demons, Nightmares, even Phooka. Celestia smiled grimly at this gathering, then she looked ahead and gritted her teeth as Discombobulation appeared beside her, staggering once and grimacing as he clutched at his shoulder as he snapped: “Misdirection! Three in the front, but two assassins coming in from the side!”
Celestia gritted her teeth: the flanking ambush had to be dealt with quickly, but they couldn't just ignore the enemies making a direct assault against them, either: whether they served as a distraction or not, they were doing much more than simply making noise. “Only two, you said?”
Discombobulation nodded as a moment later, Rainbow Dash and Soarin' touched down, and the pale-blue Pegasus said sharply: “Soldiers in front are being butchered by at least three Clockwork monsters and Soarin' says he saw-”
“Two more flanking in from the side?” Celestia asked sharply, and Rainbow Dash nodded and grimaced before Celestia nodded shortly back, closing her eyes and thinking rapidly.
“This is ridiculous.” commented Discord, and Celestia shot a dark look towards the library when the Draconequus poked his head out with a wince. “Do you guys wanna just go out for ice cream, say, at Canterlot, instead? I think that's a swell idea. Then we can all get ice cream and maybe, oh, I don't know, not die?”
“Hey, you! Toothy!” Cowlick's voice shouted, and Discord looked up with a wince before Cowlick jerked her head at him with a growl. “Baroness, I'm taking your assistant to help me grab up some stuff. I need Soarin' and Ross and Greece to come with me, that cool?”
“Go, and take Rarity as well; Discombobulation, Spike, Applejack, I need all of you to come with me to intercept the assassins. Sleipnir, Pinkamena, take the rest of the group and defend against the main assault!” Celestia ordered quickly, and the group nodded, Sleipnir running forwards with a wry grin and slapping a front hoof against Celestia's as he passed, older sister hesitating for a moment before she turned and ran quickly towards the alley, calling over her shoulder: “We need to move fast!”
The others nodded sharply, Discombobulation and Spike sprinting behind them as Applejack hurried to Celestia's side, the two ponies keeping a short lead as the goldenrod mare asked sharply, loosely-braided mane blowing back in the wind: “Are you sure we can handle this, Princess? If there's two of them-”
“If they're flanking to ambush, it means they're likely lighter-armored and looking to avoid confrontation. Better to keep our group small and hit them hard, and let the others take down the heavy assault monsters: in the worst case scenario we'll hold them off as long as possible so that the others can arrive to finish the task.” Celestia replied calmly, her eyes focused forwards, and Applejack nodded nervously before they ran out onto a wide city street... only to be greeted by a loud thudding sound and an object flying at them at high speeds.
Immediately, Discombobulation was in front of them with a tennis racket, smacking the round object in a high arc: it exploded in midair with a loud bang, releasing a noxious cloud that Celestia winced at the sight of as Applejack flinched, then snarled and shouted at the metallic ponies down the road: “And who the hell do you think you are?”
“Cherub.” answered a green unicorn: her mane had been shaved and shaped into long strings of white and gray, and her eyes glowed with amber malevolence. She was slender and tall, protected only by a thick black bodysuit, at least half a dozen knives sheathed over her back and large, blood-rusted sawblades and razor-discs locked into place over her hips and shoulders, half-shield and all-weapon.
“Decay.” whispered the second figure: an emaciated earth pony, coat devoid of color and mane dead white with a few clinging curls of gray, hanging in tatters around her features, weakly curling here and there. Needles and spikes stood out of her shoulders and along her back, made of both metal and bone, and there was some kind of large, cylindrical weapon strapped to one of her forelegs, with a thick tube feeding back and into her side... then out the other side of her body to curl upwards and into a heavy box on her lower back.
“For the Clockwork King!” they announced together, their voices gaining strength before Decay rose her forelimb, and it released a poisonous flash and a loud bang as it fired off another grenade at them. This time, however, Celestia flicked her horn, hammering the explosive projectile with telekinesis and launching it back between the Clockwork Ponies.
It exploded with a bang and a burst of toxic fog... but a moment later, Cherub came springing out of the poisonous mist, charging forwards as her horn glowed and the knives on her back took on the same silvery luminescence, quickly yanking themselves free of their holsters before they shot like darts towards Celestia, one after the other.
Celestia flicked her horn with a grimace, creating a barrier of magical force that the knives buried into one after the other, her eyes widening in surprise at the cracks that rapidly spread through the shielding before Cherub flicked her own horn downwards, and the sawblades over her shoulders tore free and whickered through the air towards the winged unicorn. Celestia snarled and leapt back, flicking her horn out as the blades shattered through the magical shield, shards of energy and glinting knives flying in all directions before both deadly cutting blades were repelled by blasts of flame that formed quickly into a pair of golden swords.
Cherub narrowed her eyes as both her knives and her still-spinning sawblades shot into the air and drew back, hovering ominously around her... and meanwhile, Applejack was trying to close with Decay, the mare charging forwards with Discombobulation hurrying along behind her as the Clockwork Pony fired grenades at them. Some they dodged, trying to stay well clear of the gusts of poisonous mist that each explosion released, and others Discombobulation slapped away with whatever he could conjure up at the time.
Applejack grinned as they drew in close... then Discombobulation seized her by the back of the neck and hauled her off her hooves, the Draconequus staggering backwards when Decay dropped her raised limb and vomited a thick, awful stream of acid at them. It missed, thankfully splattering only over the street and eating rapidly into the dirt before Applejack shouted: “Gimme a boost!”
Discombobulation grinned wryly at this, and then he tossed the earth pony mare lightly upwards before swinging his arm forwards, and Applejack felt his arm strike against her rear hooves, letting the momentum carry her ahead before she kicked off as hard as she could at the last moment. Discombobulation was almost knocked backwards, and Applejack shot forwards like a rocket to slam into Decay's face with both front hooves, sending the Clockwork Pony staggering.
The goldenrod mare grunted in effort as she shoved down as hard as she could, her rear hooves swinging down to hit the ground almost painfully before she managed to shove Decay's head down... only for the monstrosity to lever its foreleg up and fire a grenade into Applejack's stomach. It exploded in a blast of force and poison smog, knocking the earth pony flying backwards, and she crashed onto her back, gagging and coughing violently as she spasmed, the wind knocked out of her and her eyes already reddening and swelling from the poisons that had washed over her.
As Decay hauled herself back to her hooves, Cherub was baring forwards against Celestia, her six knives lashing wildly around her in a vicious cyclone as Celestia snarled and flicked her horn back and forth, guiding her three gleaming golden swords in quick parries against the flurry of attacks. Still, cuts dotted her face and scarred her armor, and she was only glad that the sawblades were floating at the Clockwork unicorn's side as if forgotten... or more likely, as if the Clockwork Pony could only control so many weapons at once with telekinesis.
And then the six knives suddenly drew back, forming a straight line side-by-side between Celestia and Cherub: a moment later, both sawblades whickered forwards towards Celestia's face, and the ivory winged unicorn cursed as she swung two of her golden swords out into these before spinning the third in a rapid windmill in front of herself as the knives shot at her one after the other, deflecting and knocking away blade after blade even as two managed to ricochet past and cut open both her scalp and her cheek.
Then the six knives launched themselves up into the air all around her, and Celestia's eyes widened before the daggers shot downwards: Celestia managed to deflect the three aimed at her face and neck and breast, but the other three struck her in the flank and along her back, ripping through her golden armor and making her snarl before the knives buried in her began to burrow deeper as the sawblades started to spin in again-
The weapons stuttered in their telekinetic grip as Spike ran in and slammed a broken two-by-four he had found into the back of Cherub's head. The Clockwork Pony was knocked staggering... before she screamed when Celestia flicked her horn forwards, sending her three golden swords burying into the monster's breast before the Baroness flicked her horn savagely downwards, and Tyrfing yanked itself off her back to smash down in a savage rending blow that ripped into Cherub's back and knocked the Clockwork Pony to a flat, broken sprawl.
Celestia spat to the side, then her eyes were drawn sharply upwards at the sound of an explosion and a scream, staring with shock as Applejack was knocked flying from another grenade. Discombobulation winced, then tried to hurry over to her... but Decay quickly shot another grenade into the ground between them, sending up a pall of poison mist before she leaned forwards and vomited another stream of acid towards the Draconequus, and he leapt backwards with a curse as a bit of it splattered over his leg, immediately beginning to steam and eat into his flesh with a terrible reek of rot.
The ivory winged unicorn began to step forwards as Spike turned, the Baroness's weapons drawing back... and on the ground, Cherub's eyes and horn flashed before the Clockwork Pony leapt to her hooves, arching her back and releasing a pulse of telekinetic force that knocked Spike flying and sent Celestia skidding backwards with a hiss of pain as the knives still buried in her tore themselves free. The monstrosity was bleeding heavily, but it didn't even seem to register the massive wound, features still emotionless even as her eyes burned with rage, her sawblades and knives floating eerily through the air around her before she dropped back on her haunches.
Celestia leaned forwards, gritting her own teeth as Tyrfing and her three swords gleamed in the air in front of her, and Spike slowly picked himself up, staring in shock as Cherub flicked her head forwards. Her horn glowed as her string-like mane lengthened and shivered, rising up like snakes before flicking over her shoulder and slamming down into the ground in front of her, each strand thinning slightly as Celestia frowned... and then the Clockwork Pony reached her hooves forwards, closing her eyes as she began to play the strands of her anchored mane like a harp, each string giving a vibrating, melancholic note as the blades protecting her hips tore themselves free and joined the other weapons floating in the air as they pulsed with unnatural light.
The ivory winged unicorn's eyes widened... and then the flurry of blades and daggers shot forwards, slashing and ripping in a violent storm all around her as the Clockwork Pony continued to play her miserable tune. Celestia howled in pain, Tyrfing almost falling from her grip as her three short swords spun around her and parried and blocked as many blows coming in towards her as she could, but the weapons, the sawblades, the enormous razors were moving with awful, unnatural grace, spinning and ripping and tearing against her armor and any exposed flesh they could find.
Spike ran forwards, but without even looking up, the Clockwork Pony altered the melody slightly, hitting a stream of higher notes: the result was the sawblades shooting out of the mess of blades whirring around Celestia to snap towards the dragon, and Spike yelped as he ducked under one that shot at his neck before he flung himself over the second when it tried to cut through one of his legs. He hit the ground on his stomach, then rolled quickly to the side when both blades shot down at his exposed back.
They tore only into the earth before they spun violently, churning up soil as they ripped themselves free and flung themselves towards the dragon again as he shoved himself to his feet, and Spike cursed as one tore past and ripped a shallow wound into his side, the other just nicking his shoulder. Both began to spin around and towards him again, but before they could strike, Celestia roared and snapped her horn upwards, unleashing a shockwave and a blast of golden flames from her body that knocked the weapons harrying her flying away.
Both sawblades stuttered in the air, one dropping dead and the other beginning to fall harmlessly before Spike leapt forwards with a wince, seizing it with a claw and cursing in pain as the sharp, almost-barbed edges cut against his palm. He staggered forwards, then half-spun and threw the blade like a discus just as Cherub began to pick up her melody again, and the Clockwork Pony looked up too late, eyes widening in surprise as the sawblade shot at her.
It tore through the strings of her mane before hitting her in the chest, and she hissed in disbelief: not at the shallow wound in her body, but as her hooves stuttered, suddenly missing more than half of her harp. Then she looked up in shock as Celestia charged forwards, covered in cuts and wounds, and the Clockwork Pony clawed madly at her harp... except her hooves struck only the air as she looked down stupidly before Tyrfing lashed out; the first slice severed the rest of the strings of mane and built up momentum... so the second lash forwards beheaded the Clockwork Pony in one mighty rend.
Cherub was knocked backwards in a dead sprawl, body hitting the ground first... head landing several feet away a few moments later, a stunned, stupid look on her face. Decay looked up at this, her blank eyes filling with emotion for a moment... and Applejack snarled, using the second of distraction to stagger forwards even as she continued to gag and cough, yanking up a fallen dagger from the ground before leaping forwards and stabbing it savagely down and into the tubing feeding out of the Clockwork Pony's body and into its cannon-armed foreleg.
Decay staggered to the side with a howl, swinging its foreleg out and knocking Applejack backwards before it began to stumble back and forth as the tube, blocked by the knife pierced through it, started to bulge obscenely. It clawed at itself, eyes bulging as its rotten jaws opened in a wheezing cry... and then the side of its body exploded in a gush of blood and acid and toxic smoke, the tube ripping free in a sizzle of electricity as it howled in misery.
It slumped, gargling in pain as poison and blood poured out of its wounded side, several broken chunks of metal following as Discombobulation stared in horror and Applejack gagged and coughed, then Decay managed to snarl and began to drag herself forwards a few paces before her head dropped and vomited a stream of both blood and acid, her mouth and features steaming as her body shuddered violently before the Clockwork Pony fell forwards into its own ichors, eyes rolling up in its head as it twitched once in the flickering light of the burning homes.
Applejack continued to wheeze and retch, clutching at her stomach as she convulsed weakly once, and Celestia gritted her teeth as she shook herself out before ordering sharply: “Spike, take Applejack to safety! Discombobulation-”
“In for a penny, in for a pound.” Discombobulation smiled wryly, turning and following as Celestia spun around and ran back towards the central square, the Draconequus breathing hard as he clutched at his own body and muttered: “Although Discord is right, you know. All this running around is hard work.”
Celestia smiled grimly as Tyrfing and her blades shimmered through the air around her, pacing herself to try and conserve her energy and knowing she had to have faith in her compatriots, her friends, her family. Just like she knew to trust in Spike despite his fearful call to her, not looking over her shoulder as she hurried onwards with the chaos entity by her side.
They reached the library square just as Cowlick and Discord did, and the earth pony engineer whistled loudly at them. Her lever-action rifle was over her back and satchels hung from either side of her gemstone-vested body, while Discord was carrying something large and heavy, looking exhausted but terrified out of his mind as Celestia and Discombobulation both halted.
“Discord, hand it over to him! Bob, you figure out it! Celestia, let's not waste our time here!” Cowlick grinned widely, and Celestia nodded curtly once, turning to fall into pace beside the engineer as they headed in the direction of the battle: easy to find not just because of the sounds and roars, but the burning light spilling up from the fires that were spreading from home to home like a beacon of horror in the night.
Discord, meanwhile, staggered towards Discombobulation, and the one-armed Draconequus frowned at the cloth-wrapped bundle before Discord rudely thew the large, heavy object on the ground. It clanked beneath its wrapping, and the pony-headed chaos entity said disgustedly: “Here you go, action figure puppy. Your new accessory just came in.”
“You're so charming, big dog, this was why it was always such a pleasure to mush under your leadership.” Discombobulation retorted sourly as he leaned down, pulling the blanket away... and then his eyes widened in surprise before he whistled slowly. “And usually you have to do an annoying side-quest to find your ultimate weapon. Hello there, Premium Heart.”
Then the Draconequus winced and glanced up as an explosion rocked the air, grimacing as Discord grabbed at his mismatched horns in vexation... and Celestia snarled as she reached the battlefield in time to see what had caused the blast, looking back and forth in horror at the damage that had been done.
Homes had been reduced to rubble, and fifty feet away, the walls, guard tower and gates had all been torn into pieces. Flames licked greedily over houses, but the sheer state of ruin and the ripped-up earth and deep craters that dotted the area was keeping the fires contained for now... but it didn't look like a village. It looked like a battlefield that had seen months of magical warfare between goliaths and monsters.
There were dead bodies strewn through the wreckage: soldier, civilian... child. Celestia snarled as she leaned forwards, her eyes blazing with righteous fury as Cowlick cursed in disbelief, watching in horror as a full-demon Pinkamena charged in... only to be smashed away like a toy by a hard swing of what looked like a massive double-bass modified into some kind of awful weapon.
It was being wielded by a gray Clockwork Pony with dark eyes and metal plating covering her forelegs, thick black tubing sticking out of her shoulders and down her limbs. A white collar and bowtie rested around her neck, and several quivers hung on either side of her body, filled with blades shaped almost like curved French violin bows. But it was her weapon that made her terrifying: the monstrous double bass that was almost the size of her, with an enormous, heavy bridge and steel string, thick iron links of chain extending from the end of the grip and feeding to an axle fused into the pony's back, but the bottom with a pair of wide arms extending from a base that had small, jutting spikes to anchor it in place. The Clockwork Pony slung this around with ease as she reared back, catching it by a large handle hidden on the bottom of the double bass as she dexterously pulled one of the bow-blades free from a quiver and fed it into a slot in the bottom of the weapon.
The arms on either side of the ballista-bass flexed, and the blade shot out of the weapon and slammed into a Nibelung, ripping straight through him to smash into the wall of a burning home beyond and punching a hole through the building. Then the Clockwork Pony glanced calmly up as a shout from Sleipnir echoed through the air, and a large wagon was flung in towards her...
The second Clockwork Pony was beside her almost immediately, the stallion swinging both his front hooves upwards and into the wagon, and it was blown apart in a ripple of force and explosive sound before he dropped forwards and slammed both front hooves into the earth. There was another terrible, massive rumble, and the earth exploded upwards in a line of spikes and shrapnel that tore in a straight line towards Sleipnir, who cursed and leapt out of the way at the last moment as the chestnut Clockwork Pony calmly rose itself up. The dark metal over its lower legs gleamed as its smiled thinly beneath the spiked helm that protected its skull, matching the dark armor that shielded its upper body as visible chestnut hide stretched and billowed over its visible stomach and sides.
Then the third swung a foreleg out, and ivory blades snapped free from around its lower limb, lashing viciously outwards on long, silver strings of steel that unraveled itself violently from a set of spools built into its shoulders. The blades managed to just catch Soarin' as he threw himself backwards in midair, ripping across the front of his body and knocking him from the sky with a yell of shock more than pain before he crashed down in a pile of hay. Then the strings rapidly reeled themselves in, the blades snapping back into place around the Clockwork Pony's limb as the golden pipes and steel tubes sticking out along its back sang and groaned.
He shook his ragged silver mane out, falling into position with the other silent Clockwork Ponies, and Celestia stepped forwards and shouted clearly, gathering the attention of those still on their hooves: “Prepare to charge!”
“Sister, 'twill not work!” Sleipnir replied incredulously, but Celestia ignored him as she dropped forwards, readying herself as her eyes rapidly analyzed the situation. But before Sleipnir could continue, the double-bass-wielding Clockwork Pony reared back slightly and slammed her weapon into the ground, anchoring it on its base as she pulled a bow free and began to drag it viciously back and forth across the strings.
The sound it produced was horrifying, blocking out all possible conversation except for screams of pain and Celestia flinched even as her eyes locked on the weapon and saw a nameplate engraved on the front of it: 'Cacophony.' A fitting name for this monster, as she flicked her horn downwards to launch a fireball at the group... but it was easily intercepted as the second pony stepped forwards and swung a hoof up to release a blast of rumbling sound and force that canceled out her attack, as she noted that it too had a name engraved over its armor: 'Resonance.'
And then the last stepped forwards, swinging a hoof up and outwards as the blades snapped off its limb and shot towards her on the deadly steel string, but Celestia leapt backwards with a wince as she swung her short swords out in a quick, vicious arc that severed the blades from the wire.
The Clockwork Pony reared back in shock as the steel wire hurriedly retracted, half-turning at the same time, and Celestia caught a glimpse of the name embossed over its flank: 'Symphony.' Then she gritted her teeth when Resonance stepped forwards and slammed a hoof into the ground, sending a shockwave ripping through the earth towards her before she leapt smoothly into the air as she shouted: “Now!”
The horrendous wailing of Cacophony's instrument drowned her out, but Sleipnir understood all the same as he ran forwards... and Resonance turned too little, too late before a hoof hooked under him and smashed into the Clockwork Pony's stomach, knocking him flying away with a howl. Cacophony's eyes widened, and she immediately spun, swinging her bass at Sleipnir, but the vine-maned stallion grinned and blocked the swing with both forelegs, cursing in pain and surprise as he was still knocked skidding a few feet to sprawl on his back. “What strength! Oh, the fun we shall have indeed!”
Symphony was snarling, beginning to bring a hoof back as the spools on its shoulders whirred... but before it could, Pinkamena appeared in a burst of dark smoke beside the Clockwork Pony, seizing into one of its legs and yanking it to the side to fling it into the air. Celestia gritted her teeth, preparing a spell.. .but before she could unleash it, Rainbow Dash shot forwards and smashed in a blur of speed into Symphony, forcibly carrying the Clockwork Pony backwards as it howled in surprise before he dove downwards and smashed it into the ground in a vicious tackle-slam.
Cacophony began to swing her bass around to attempt to crush Pinkamena, but Celestia flicked her horn sharply downwards, sending a golden fireball rocketing towards the Clockwork Pony. Immediately, the bass-wielding mare dropped her instrument weapon to hide behind it as Pinkamena lunged away with a snort from the explosion of golden fire that went up, the demon rushing towards Rainbow and Symphony as she shouted over her shoulder: “Don't expect me to thank you, Princess Sunshine!”
Cacophony was rattled by the blast and Sleipnir took the chance to lunge forwards and smash her across the face with a hoof, sending her flying to the side and skidding violently some ten feet away, as Celestia shouted: “Sleipnir and I have this one dealt with!”
Cowlick immediately nodded sharply and ran by, yelling orders to those she recognized as others ran to help Rainbow Dash and Pinkamena. Sleipnir, meanwhile, was charging in towards Cacophony... but the Clockwork Pony leveled her bass up and fired a blade from it, and the vine-mane stallion winced as he was forced to drop low to avoid the attack before Cacophony leapt to her hooves and swung the bass around in a savage overhead crush.
Celestia shot down as she flicked her horn to the side, and Tyrfing whickered through the air to smash into the weaponized instrument, enormous sword grinding against double-bass ballista before Celestia shouted as she dropped to the ground and reared back, putting all the strength she could into a hard telekinetic shove that finally knocked Cacophony backwards.
The Clockwork Pony dropped the bridge of the bass to snag the chain, and she whipped the weapon around her like a flail, driving both Sleipnir and Celestia back before she snapped the instrument backwards. It landed in the ground beside her, anchoring with a loud crunch into the street as Sleipnir ran forwards, then cursed when Cacophony drew one of the bow-blades and snapped it briskly across his face to stumble him before she quickly began to play jagged notes across the instrument.
This close, it was agonizing, driving both Celestia and Sleipnir backwards with yells of shock and pain, the notes ripping through their minds as Tyrfing fell to the ground and blood burst from one of Sleipnir's ears... and then a blast of lightning shot from the sky, hammering into Cacophony and stunning her with a cry of surprise and pain, electricity jolting up and down the strings of her instrument before several of them snapped from being superheated.
She looked up with a snarl as Sleipnir and Celestia looked over their shoulders in surprise at the sight of Odin, the falcon headed once-god leaning calmly on his cane with one hand raised. He looked calm and vital and alive as he lowered his gloved hand, and Cacophony stepped forwards before roaring as she slung the double-bass at him... but Odin easily swung his cane out, smashing the weapon away before it could strike him.
As it flew skywards in a wide arc, Cacophony leapt backwards and yanked hard on the chain, jerking it down to catch it by the handle on the bottom as she slung a blade into place and fired it off at the once-god. And even Celestia couldn't help but stare when Odin's free hand shot up and caught the blade, shaking his head once before electricity sizzled along the thin metal missile, and he flung it hard back at Cacophony.
It slammed into the Clockwork Pony's skull, her head lashing backwards as she dropped her double-bass to the ground, and she fell forwards to lean on this for a moment, staring stupidly at the ground, the blade sticking out between her eyes as she struggled to look up at it for a few seconds. Then, as blood began to flow down her features, her eyes rolled up in her head before Cacophony collapsed forwards in a dead sprawl, instrument weapon tumbling forwards with a clang.
“Go help your friends, Sleipnir.” Odin instructed calmly, and Sleipnir grinned after a moment before he nodded sharply and turned, spinning to charge across the battlefield as the once-god turned his eye to Celestia, smiling a little after a moment as she flicked her horn to lift Tyrfing back into the air. “I still have some life left in these old bones yet, Freya. Come, we need to finish this as quickly as possible.”
It was what the others were trying to do with their own opponents, but the Clockwork Ponies were tough: Pinkamena was snarling, covered in blood and bruises, her eyes glowing and massive teeth glinting as her mane writhed. One ashen wing had been broken, and even in her demonic Devourer shape, she was taking a serious beating.
Rainbow Dash was hovering beside her, breathing hard: he was fast and agile enough to maneuver past most of the monster's attacks, but all he'd managed to do was bend some of the pipes sticking out of Symphony's back out of place and batter the monster into a state of anger. Symphony was still going strong: even with the help of Big Mac and others, the Clockwork Pony just kept lashing the steel wire into them.. and those it managed to tangle up...
Rainbow breathed hard... then he stared in horror as Symphony stepped forwards and swung a hoof out suddenly, the blades snapping off its foreleg and extending as it grinned, the wire shooting straight towards him before Pinkamena leapt forwards and swung one of her wings out. The blades seized around this, and the demon howled in agony before the blades and wire ripped backwards, tearing the appendage completely off as Rainbow looked down at her in shock as the demon staggered to the side, then set herself and snarled, rasping: “Pay. Goddamn. Attention.”
“You... you...” Rainbow stared in shock as Symphony's wires and blades snapped to the side before retracting quickly, sending out a spray of blood and feathers and torn wing pieces as the Clockwork Pony laughed. Then the pale-blue Pegasus snarled and nodded, saying sharply: “You got enough in you for one more attack?”
“Let's get him, colts!” Pinkamena roared in response, and the demon charged forwards, snarling in fury and joined by Big Mac, Apple Bloom, Soarin', and others.
Symphony lashed a front hoof out, steel wire cracking and snapping through the air, driving back some of the attackers... but Big Mac and Pinkamena both ignored the wires lashing against their bodies even as they stumbled, and Soarin' cursed as he leapt upwards, flying just over the attack before Symphony lashed his other foreleg out, blades snapping off it and ripping through the air on their steel strings, and this time Pinkamena and Big Mac were both knocked crashing backwards as Soarin' was forced to hurriedly back off as well, or risk getting tangled in the wire.
Symphony's hooves snapped up again, wires lashing forwards, raising and twisting as if they had a life of their own before it frowned as a whistling built in the air... and it looked up a moment too late before a rainbow blur smashed down into the creature, releasing a shockwave of light and sound as Symphony howled in agony, chunks of piping and steel tube exploding off its back as it was crushed by the tremendous force. Rainbow Dash was knocked crashing backwards himself from the recoil, the Pegasus yelling in both pain and triumph as he clutched at several broken chunks of shrapnel stuck in his body before he hit the ground and bounced backwards several times, rolling to a halt with a curse and a wheeze.
Ponies and Nibelung both stared in shock at the sight, and Pinkamena grinned despite herself... before Symphony screamed in fury, and even the demon staggered backwards in shock as the Clockwork Pony hauled itself back to its hooves despite the clear, ugly break in its back. Somehow, it still managed to support itself as chunks of pipe and steel fell from it before it lashed both hooves forwards, steel wire whickering out towards Rainbow Dash's horrified face-
 Steel wire wrapped around a steel limb, and metal blades clanged uselessly off metal as the loose ends of deadly string were caught in a black-gloved hand. All gathered could only stare in shock at the sight of Discombobulation as he leaned forwards with a cold smile, several large leather straps securely holding a large, steep cusp in place over his shoulder, and a new prosthetic arm in place: one made entirely from metal and ending in a bladed, oversized complex claw, the new, polished silver of the limb glinting. Then he quickly spun both his flesh and blood arm and the synthetic one, the metal limb moving as easily as real arm and Symphony looking down in surprise as his front legs were tangled quickly in his own steel wire before the Clockwork Pony could realize what was happening, and then the Draconequus said calmly, a monocle glinting around his eye as he raised his gaze to lock with Symphony's: “I highly recommend pissing yourself... followed by a round of praying to your impotent god.”
Symphony's eyes widened before the Clockwork Pony tried to lurch backwards and pull free... and Discombobulation gritted his teeth as he yanked his hand and claw out to either side, pulling the steel wire taut around Symphony's forelegs before they were both shredded apart. The Clockwork Pony reared with a howl of agony, blood and dark bile spilling from the severed limbs as he staggered away in horror... and then the Clockwork Pony slowly collapsed backwards as steel cabling snapped and fell to the ground, gargling once as he crashed down on his broken back.
Discombobulation straightened, dropping the steel cable and wincing a bit as he looked down at the bleeding cuts torn through the dark material of the glove as he shook his metallic arm absently, and then he glowered at Pinkamena when she chuckled and asked wryly: “Since when did you become a killer?”
“I didn't. It's still alive.” Discombobulation glanced moodily at the Clockwork Pony, and Pinkamena snorted before the Draconequus added meditatively as he flicked his monocle away: “Besides. I have no problem with smashing electronics.”
Then the Draconequus winced and glanced up at the sound of a thunderous explosion, as in the distance, Resonance slammed his hooves into the ground and sent out a shockwave, keeping the ponies fighting him at bay. His armor was mangled and dented, however, and the Clockwork Pony was snarling back and forth before it howled in agony when Cowlick fired a round into its helmeted head that exploded on contact, denting in the steel helm and blinding it as it half-fell forwards and grabbed wildly at it features.
Sleipnir charged immediately, and Resonance looked up with a snarl before rearing back... but before he could smash his hooves into the ground, Sleipnir's own hoof swung up under his chin and knocked him crashing onto his back. The Clockwork Pony winced as its hooves swung down automatically to try and catch itself... and the result was a powerful blast wave that knocked Sleipnir backwards with a grunt of surprise, but also ripped through Resonance's own body, the Clockwork Pony howling in agony and writhing wildly on its back as blood burst up from its jaws.
It hurriedly pushed itself up with a snarl... and then its eyes widened as Scarlet Sage flew forwards and swung both rear hooves down in a savage kick into its features, smashing its head back as it howled in agony and blood burst upwards, splattering over the Pegasus. She grimaced, her eyes beginning to glow with red light even as she dropped down and slammed a hoof into its face... but Resonance retaliated immediately, punching her viciously and knocking her flying with a gargle to crash down on her back.
The Clockwork Pony began to sit back up... and then it frowned and reached slowly up, touching its chest before it gargled, then arched its back and convulsed once as Scarlet Sage looked up, breathing hard as blood dripped from her mouth before she spat to the side and whispered: “I don't like to use my powers to hurt people... but for you, I'll make an exception.”
Resonance snarled at her, then grabbed its chest and twitched violently before it leaned forwards, vomiting blood. It gargled again, falling back on its haunches before it slowly collapsed onto its back as crimson fluid spilled up out of its mouth as the blood vessels inside its throat tore open. Finally, it went limp, gasping weakly as ponies and Nibelung looked down at the monstrosity in shock as Scarlet Sage collapsed and coughed from the exertion of her powers... and then quiet laughter filled the air before a soft voice murmured: “Poor Resonance... well, you tried your hardest, and that's all that matters. Look how many you put to sleep...”
All eyes turned upwards as the ponies gathered, watching as a Pegasus strode calmly through the wreckage with a soft, compassionate smile on her features. And Fluttershy, standing with Nirvana from where she had been helping to pull survivors clear of the battlefield and treat their wounds, couldn't help but whimper in horror: it looked exactly like her... or rather, the her that Sol Seraph had envisioned.
The golden Clockwork Pony smiled over them all, her black armor gleaming, fearless of the gathered ponies, Nibelung, and others. She looked at them with warmth, and compassion in her eyes... horrifying emotions as she fearlessly approached Resonance and looked down at him almost tenderly before saying softly: “Sleep now.”
She rose a hoof, and a blade sprang free from the armlet before she stabbed this down into the Clockwork Pony's throat and tore to the side, and Resonance gargled once before his eyes rolled up into his head as the armored Pegasus smiled lovingly. Fluttershy whimpered and staggered backwards as Nirvana and the Phooka leaned forwards, snarling, and slowly, the Clockwork Pony looked towards them before she murmured softly: “Oh, I see... you still haven't accepted the truth, understood the ways of the world... but I apologize, my friends. I haven't introduced myself.
“I am Prudence, Bringer of Peace. I'm in charge of keeping order in Decretum... and I'm usually only sent in to deal with particularly troublesome worlds. You must all be so very strong or very lucky to have lasted this long... but I can see from how well you handled the Orchestra that it's true strength, and not just fortune's favor.” Prudence bowed her head forwards, with the same calm, gentle, honest smile. “I'm very honored to be here. I'm very glad to be here, friends. So much so, as a matter of fact, that I would like to invite some of you to join us... or to implore you to please, please... let me lay you gently to sleep. There's no need to make any of this harder than it has to be, and you all look so tired, so hurt...”
“I am afraid we will have to deny your generous offer, Prudence.” Odin said calmly as he strode forwards, carrying his walking stick by the neck as the falcon-headed once god grimaced at the Clockwork Pony, who frowned up at him: not with anger, but with what looked like concern. “Perhaps instead, you should take a message back to your Prophet and your Clockwork King for us, and tell them they should be careful what they disturb: some stones are better left unturned.”
Prudence only smiled in return, however, saying gently: “I am not a messenger, I'm afraid. And my duty here is very clear... if you won't do this peacefully, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to use force... but don't worry. I will be as fast, and as gentle, as I possibly can. I'm not here on a mission of destruction: I'm here on a mission of mercy.”
There was a ripple through the crowd at this, and then a shout as a pony ran forwards with a snarl, frayed nerves getting the better of the soldier... and without a twitch, still calmly smiling, Prudence lashed a hoof up and out as a blade sprang from the vambrace locked around her leg, slashing neatly through the pony's throat before her hoof seized him by the mane and crushed him face-first into the ground. She slowly ground her hoof down into this, bone cracking and crunching loudly beneath her step as she said softly: “Don't be afraid, children. There's no need to rush... now, let me give each and every last one of you sleep, and comfort... and peace.”
She launched herself suddenly forwards, spreading her wings and flapping them once to give herself an additional boost as she shot for Odin... but Sleipnir was in front of her in a moment, snarling and swinging out a hoof. Prudence was graceful as well as fast, however, easily twisting to the side before slamming a headbutt into Sleipnir's face and knocking him stumbling. Her hoof whipped up, lightning fast, and it was only instinct that saved the vine-maned pony as he jerked his head to the side, the blade that sprang out from the Clockwork Pony's bracer cutting only a thin gash against the side of his neck before she tore the blade backwards, grinding the knife edge against the wound before she swung both hooves up to box Sleipnir's ears and temples.
He staggered backwards, stunned, and Prudence rose her front hooves as a second blade sprung out of the other bracer before she laid into his face and breast with a series of vicious slashes, cutting back and forth and making him howl and stagger hurriedly backwards before Pinkamena snarled and tried to tackle the Clockwork Pony from the side. Prudence easily leapt into the air, however, neatly rolling her body sideways smoothly overtop the demon before slamming both front hooves down into Pinkamena's spine, burying her blades through the demon's back and making her scream as she was driven to the ground.
Pinkie Pie yelled from where she had been half-hiding with Fluttershy, running in desperately to try and jump on Prudence's back, but without looking around the Clockwork Pony kicked a hoof back, slamming it into Pinkie's stomach before there was a burst of blood and the wicked hiss of a hidden blade plunging up into soft flesh.
Prudence began to pull to the side, meaning to disembowel the bright pink pony... and then Sleipnir's hoof smashed into her face, knocking the Clockwork Pony in an arc through the air. Pinkamena gasped in pain before she collapsed forwards as Pinkie Pie was knocked backwards from the force of the Clockwork Pony being launched, but the blade only twisted slightly as it ripped free, leaving her with a painful but not lethal wound as she whimpered and clutched at her stomach.
Sleipnir roared like a wounded animal as he leapt over his wife and darted past Pinkie Pie, charging straight at Prudence as the Clockwork Pony let herself freefall backwards before flipping at the last moment, landing neatly on her hooves and smiling despite the large bruise already forming under her jaw. Her eyes flicked to the side as she noted Celestia charging in just behind her brother, and when Sleipnir dove at her, Prudence dropped low and swung a hoof up, driving one of her spring-blades into Sleipnir's chest before she leapt upwards and caught the massive earth pony like he was a stuffed toy, half-spinning and slamming him straight down into the ground face-first with a sickening crack.
He gargled and bounced once, collapsing on his back like a bag of bricks as Celestia snarled and drew Tyrfing back... but like liquid, Prudence was already moving, leaping backwards and wrapping her rear legs tightly around Celestia's throat in the instant of vulnerability her sword was drawing back before the Clockwork Pony twisted her entire body hard. The ivory equine was slammed down on her side, her swords falling from the air with her concentration interrupted by the shock of the blow before Prudence half-rolled to raise a hoof and stab it savagely downwards towards Celestia's throat.
Spring-blade was met by a swing of a cane, and Prudence's foreleg was knocked back from the force of it before a moccasin slammed into the Clockwork Pony's face and knocked her away from Celestia and crashing onto her back. Prudence shook herself briskly out, then looked slowly up as Odin stepped forwards in front of Celestia and Sleipnir, cane held at the ready like a sword as he said quietly: “Keep your claws off them, scavenger.”
“I'm only trying to help.” Prudence replied with a smile, and then she flapped her wings, launching herself into the air and shooting straight towards Odin. She speared both short spring-blades forwards, and Odin swept his cane up to parry the double stab easily before he flicked his wrist gracefully and swung the cane down to block a kick from Prudence's rear hooves when blades sprung from the silver manacles around her lower legs.
The Clockwork Pony began to slash in with the front blades, but Odin was faster, stepping into a punch that knocked her backwards and out of the air. Prudence flipped gracefully, landing on her hooves and digging the blades into the ground to halt her from skidding further before she leapt forwards, flapping her wings once to propel herself back up to head level with the once-god, making short, vicious slashes at his blind side, but all the same Odin warded her off, fencing rapidly against her with his cane.
Then Prudence's eyes widened in surprise when Odin suddenly stepped backwards instead of parrying a mauling slash of her blades, and she tipped forwards from the force of the attack before Odin seized her by the head with his free hand and grunted as he slammed her face-first into the street. It knocked the sense from the Clockwork Pony even as she tried to get her hooves beneath her, before Odin's foot hooked just under her throat and booted her lightly into the air in front of him, and his cane whickered out to slam across her face with all the force the once-god could muster, knocking Prudence crashing bonelessly backwards.
She hit the ground and skidded over the street to a halt, Odin breathing hard as he rubbed slowly at his chest before shaking himself briskly out... and then Prudence slowly sat up as the blades retracted automatically into their bracers, smiling despite the large, cane-shaped welt across her features and the blood spilling down from one of her ears and an eye, saying gently: “You've very skilled. I apologize for underestimating you because of your age. Thank you for this challenge you present.”
Odin only grunted, readying himself again before Prudence flapped her wings slowly, lifting herself into the air calmly and rolling her head on her shoulders... and then she darted suddenly, viciously forwards as she flicked her limbs, blades springing from her bracers again as she began to swing one straight at Odin's face, lightning-fast.
The once-god parried the attack... and with terrible, awful grace, Prudence allowed her entire body to twist with the parry, kicking both rear legs up and swinging them in a lashing double-kick across Odin's face, slicing open his features as he stumbled backwards with a wince of shock. And then Prudence flapped her wings, half-flipping her body as she dove downwards and slammed one forehoof against Odin's leg and the other against the once-god's stomach, spring blades ripping into his flesh as the Clockwork Pony anchored herself against his body before kicking both rear hooves up to rip her blades into his throat and face.
Celestia screamed her denial from beside Sleipnir's unconscious form, leaping to her hooves in horror as Odin staggered backwards, but Prudence yanked her front hooves back before pounding a lethal tattoo over the once-god's stomach and lower body, smiling calmly the entire time as her thin, short blades ripped through the once-god's body again, again and again, even as Odin began to fall. And just before he hit the ground, she kicked off him savagely with all four hooves, neatly launching herself into a short flip and landing smoothly as Odin bounced once against the ground before he skidded backwards, choking on his own blood.
Prudence turned with her terrible, gentle smile, surveying the broken body of the once-god before she swung a hoof down... but it was halted by another hoof, Prudence looking up with a frown as Fluttershy trembled and shook her head weakly, staring across at her, holding Prudence's hoof in place as she whispered: “No. Don't.”
“It's okay. I'm bringing peace. Don't you understand? I'm making everything alright...” Prudence replied softly, smiling through the blood dripping off her body, and then she pulled free and easily swung her hoof out. The blade sliced across Fluttershy's cheek, and the Pegasus trembled, but didn't move, only shaking her head, pleading silently with the Clockwork Pony before Prudence said softly: “Very well. Then I'll teach you.”
Prudence swung a hoof in, and Fluttershy staggered backwards, avoiding it as she shot a desperate look over her shoulder at Celestia. And Celestia understood everything in that look, resisting every instinct in her body, everything that screamed at her to charge as Prudence leapt after Fluttershy... and Fluttershy led the Clockwork Pony quickly away from Odin's fallen form.
Celestia ran to Odin, not looking up even as a cry of pain tore through the air when Fluttershy was tackled backwards. The Clockwork Pony loomed over her, smiling, before Prudence leaned suddenly backwards, and a bullet uselessly whizzed past her before she reached down and swept up a large rock, half-turning and flinging it hard towards Cowlick, who had a moment to stare blankly before the lights went out as the large stone struck squarely into her skull.
Big Mac charged in next, but Prudence simply rolled, dragging Fluttershy up to throw her hard into the crimson stallion, and he winced and skidded to a halt as he caught her before Prudence leapt forwards and smashed Fluttershy across the skull, knocking her to the ground before the Clockwork Pony's blades tore back and forth over the stallion's face, Big Mac cursing in pain before Prudence smiled and thrusted viciously upwards, ripping a deep cut up his cheek and through one of his eyes. Big Mac howled in pain, and then Prudence leaned forwards and headbutted him savagely, knocking him crashing limply backwards as she said gently: “It's going to be okay, don't worry.”
She leaned back for a moment... and then cursed when Fluttershy slammed both rear hooves into her stomach, knocking her back a step before the Pegasus scrambled backwards. Prudence looked down at her with disappointment for a moment, and then lunged forwards, stabbing her blade fiercely downwards... only for Nirvana to slip between them, the Phooka hissing in agony as the blades ripped through his smoky form before he howled in misery, but refused to move, as the Clockwork Pony began to rip and slash her blades through his form, sending up bursts of smoke and steam as she said softly: “Don't worry. I plan to save even your kind... in time.”
She slammed both hooves down into Nirvana's spine, knocking the Phooka flat before she stabbed a blade towards the back of his head, but it was deflected when Fluttershy swung a hoof up, hitting her foreleg before the Pegasus leapt forwards, tackling the Clockwork Pony backwards. They rolled once, and then Prudence threw her off before pouncing towards the Pegasus, slamming her back-down to the ground before she swung her hooves down... and they were blocked as tears leaked from Fluttershy's eyes, her teeth grit as she shouted: “Please! Please just stop!”
Prudence only frowned as she laid in with a flurry of blows... but again and again, Fluttershy blocked the attacks, sustaining only shallow wounds over her forelimbs before Prudence knocked the Pegasus' legs wide, then stabbed savagely down into her body just beneath her collarbone. Fluttershy cried out, grabbing the Clockwork Pony's forelimb as the blade twisted slowly, and Prudence leaned down, asking softly: “I don't understand. What is this resistance?”
“I didn't want to hurt you... but you remind me so much of my mother, of everything she tried to make me into... it makes me remember all the things I tried so hard to forget...” Fluttershy whispered... and then she twisted suddenly and savagely, and even as she cried out in agony as it forced the blade buried in her body to twist, Prudence's foreleg loudly snapped at the elbow as the Pegasus cried out through her tears: “But I'll do anything to protect my friends!”
Prudence flinched backwards and yanked hurriedly away before Fluttershy scrambled up to her hooves... only for the Clockwork Pony to leap forwards to renew the attack, slashing viciously at the Pegasus. Fluttershy managed to stagger sideways, but it wasn't enough, as Prudence's blade ripped into the base of her wing... and then tore through it, severing the appendage completely as Fluttershy staggered to the side with a scream of pain.
The Clockwork Pony began to turn, ready to finish the job... and Tyrfing smashed down into her shoulder, ripping deep into her body and knocking her backwards as Celestia leapt forwards and shouted furiously: “Enough!”
Her three short swords ripped upwards in a frenzy, slashing back and forth across Prudence as the Clockwork Pony howled in pain, Tyrfing tearing back to slap the flat of the blade cruelly across her features as the smaller swords twisted around her. Prudence was unable to ward the attacks off or even keep herself moving with her leg broken and one of her wings now hanging uselessly, all her grace and mobility lost as the short blades tore her armor to shreds and heavy Tyrfing smashed back and forth across her body and skull, leaving massive wounds.
Finally, the short swords thrusted forwards, all three piercing deep into Prudence's breast before Tyrfing whirled around into a cruel smash, hitting with the flat instead of the edge to send the Clockwork Pony bonelessly crashing backwards. She hit the earth hard, bouncing once before rolling several times and ending up in a broken sprawl on her front, trembling and bleeding from countless wounds as Celestia breathed hard, tears leaking from her glowing amethyst eyes before she snarled when Prudence laughed weakly.
Slowly, the Clockwork Pony sat up, smiling before she reached up and brushed several broken plates of fiberglass armor off her breast. She shook her head slowly, tears of blood spilling from her eyes before she whispered: “You really are... so strong. So loving... so good to each other. Yes, yes... come, my friends, you have honored me... now, let's all find peace together. Let's all go to Heaven...”
Slowly, Prudence pulled the front of her ripped-apart armor and vest open... and Celestia stared in horror at the naked flesh beneath, interlaced and embedded with terrible tubes, a broken, cracked heartbeat monitor, and gemstones that were sizzling with electricity. Instinct told her what it was, what Prudence was, as the Clockwork Pony smiled benevolently before she reached up and grasped her own blood-smeared features, saying tenderly: “Thank you, for helping me find peace. Now let me do the same for all of you.”
With that, Prudence twisted viciously and snapped her own neck, and the monitor on her chest beeped loudly several times as Celestia stared in horror... before she was shoved out of the way as Odin ran forwards, bleeding from the wounds she hadn't had the time to heal, leaping towards the dying monster and seizing Prudence's corpse before he looked skywards and then simply vanished.
And Celestia cried out in misery and denial as a massive, terrible explosion echoed through the night sky, hammering through the entire world as high above, a massive flare of hellfire and lightning erupted. Fire and embers hailed down from the scorched night air as Celestia screamed again, and all present stared up in horror, in disbelief, in misery, at the sight of the final sacrifice of a soul who had been more noble in his quasi-mortality than he had ever been as a god.