//------------------------------// // Fighting In the Streets of Canterlot // Story: The Guardian // by InsaneBatPony //------------------------------// Sections 4 and 5 are simultaneous Luna walked down the halls of Canterlot Castle, staring fervently at the path before her. The previous night's happenings had caused her to have an almost sleepless day and had slept through part of the night. She had left Volos to his own devices in her room while she contemplated how to introduce him properly and hopefully without one of the Elements trying to kill him again. She rounded a corner and nodded to the patrolling guard. Luna's face fell when she passed him and she sighed heavily. She could not bear to think of the consequences of Volos losing control again, especially after the threats that came from Celestia's own mouth. She came to the door leading to the main balcony. She stepped through the large golden doors and stood by the rail of the overlook. Her mind raced and strained, trying to deal with the many events that have occurred. Her eyes roamed the city of Canterlot and let her gaze fall upon the few lights that emanated from the city's Club District. She took heart in the fact that some of the ponies partook in the night life. It gave her something to take joy in after her return to the world. She looked up to the canvas that was her night sky and admired the work she had done, forming a smile upon her face. She placed her front hooves onto the railing and cocked her rear legs down. Spreading her wings she pushed off the ground, launching herself into the crisp night air. The breeze whipped through her astral mane and she laughed with joy. She pumped her wings, increasing her speed. She soared through the air and reached out into the stars' essence with her magic. The stars felt like tiny beats of the heart she caressed them and held them tenderly. She turned and flipped, performing many aerial tricks. The stars followed her horn, painting the sky with new patterns and shapes. The ponies that were in the clubs below had begun to file out of the establishments as the night was nearing its inevitable end. They all stopped and looked up to see the stars racing across the sky, the laughter of the Princess drawing their eyes skyward. They watched in amazement as Luna painted the sky with the glowing lights and created one of the greatest light shows they had ever witnessed. Luna opened her eyes and looked up into the sky, her sky. "This is mine! The stars are mine and the darkened sky is my canvas to use as I please!" she laughed into the air, pure joy swelling in her heart. Luna reveled in the freedom she was experiencing in that moment. The air calmed her nerves, the stars cleared her mind and the moon hung like a spot light, illuminating the Princess as though she were on a stage. She continued to fly and feel the air in her mane and the wind on her face. She turned and went back to the overlook that hung above the city. Her hooves touched down and she folded her wings to her side. She sat on her haunches, panting. She set her eyes to the stars and looked at the many random designs and shapes that were now there. The smile never left her face as she looked out upon them. She lay on her back and chuckled, feeling like a filly again. She remembered the joy she felt her first time painting the sky when she became Princess of the Night. The stress from the previous months had dwindled and she felt truly happy for the first time in a long time. 2 The sun was now rising and Luna trotted along to her chambers for a long rest after her night sky entertainment. As she went along the tiles began to appear cracked and in some cases shattered. Her eyes widened and her pace quickened. She followed the tiles at a brisk pace until she had come to the hospital wing of the castle. Luna's internal alarm was ringing wildly. The trail had led her to Fluttershy's room, where the pegasus was recovering from her extensive surgical procedures. Luna stopped when she heard the door to the room open and saw Volos duck under the doorway and stand stone still, moving his head to each side. She shot behind one of the many pillars that supported the structure of the castle and waited for him to leave; her breathing quick and shallow until she held it in altogether. She heard Volos whine and heard his metal boots stomping down the corridor in the opposite direction of how she had come. She let out her long held breath and relaxed her tensed muscles. Luna came out from behind the pillar and went up to the door of Fluttershy's room. The door was cracked open and she could hear a faint sound coming from inside the room. She pushed the door open, emitting a creaking noise from it. The noise from Luna's silver shoes reverberated in the empty room. The other five Elements had gone sometime earlier, leaving Fluttershy alone. The monitor was beeping at an increased rate, muffling the sound of Fluttershy's quiet whimpers. Luna rushed over to her bedside and checked her over. Fluttershy was shaking and had her eyes squeezed shut, making them water. "Fluttershy are you alright? What happened?" "P... P... P....Princess?" Fluttershy whimpered. "Yes, it's me. What happened?" "It's here. That monster that broke my house and hurt all of my animal friends," she cried. "Did he do anything to you?" She shook her head slowly, still quivering. Luna grasped Fluttershy's hoof in her own and squeezed it lightly. "It will be fine Fluttershy. He won't hurt you again, I promise." Fluttershy let go of Luna's hoof and put down to her side. She was still whimpering and her tears still fell down her face. "He won't hurt you. I will not allow him to do so. You have nothing more to fear." "But... But...?" she tried, her voice shaky and barely audible. She grasped the blanket in her magic and moved it to Fluttershy's neck, draping it over her body "Rest." Luna lit up her horn and cast a sleeping spell on Fluttershy, who drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Luna left the now sleeping pegasus and went back to her room, hoping Volos had gone back as well. 3 Celestia sat on her throne, listening to the noble who was ranting in front of her. "Princess, something is out and about in the city that must be found and stopped before it hurts something or worse," he said in a refined yet prideful tone. "I understand your concern. However, there is nothing that you need to be afraid of Mr. Shine. Everything is well in-hoof, I assure you," Celestia told him in her regal tone. "I hope so Princess. I dread to think what would happen if something really was out there." "Nothing is out there, Mr. Shine. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?" "Yes, Princess," he said, making Celestia cock an eyebrow. "If nothing is out there in the city, than what made that dreadful noise?" "It was nothing more than a door being replaced. One of the workers dropped it and it slid on the floor, nothing more," she lied quickly, hoping to make this noble be quiet. The noble scoffed. "Indeed?" he asked. "Fine, I will accept that answer for now Princess but if something else turns up that says otherwise. I will be back." The noble stormed out of the throne room, making stomping sounds down the corridor. Celestia sighed and relaxed, letting her body slide down into her throne. "Is there anypony else?" The guard beside her nodded his head. "Thank goodness," she sighed. She got up from her throne and was walking out of the large room, about to take a much needed break. She was halfway out the door when she noticed a dark blue figure dashing around and realized that it was Luna. She called out to her, which made her stop running but she began to jog in place. Celestia walked up to Luna and noticed the highly worried expression on her face. She placed a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "Luna, calm down. What's happened?" she asked, in her regal tone. "Volos is gone!" Celestia's face fell. "What?" she asked flatly. Luna looked down. "I told you to keep an eye on him!" she shouted. Luna shied away from her elder sister. "Do you know where he's gone?" Luna shook her head. Celestia's anger began to well up until it hit a breaking point. "SON OF A WHORSE!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, but still not on the level of her Royal Canterlot Voice, turning away from Luna. Celestia refocused her attention on her younger sister. "Dammit Luna! I asked you to watch him!" Luna was on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. Celestia growled a little and eventually calmed herself down. "We need to find him before he causes too much havoc. Do you know where he might go?" Luna shook her head. "Great!" she yelled sarcastically. "I'll go into the city; you stay here and look for him in the castle. Have the Elements help you find him if they can." Luna nodded slowly, still reeling from the verbal punishment. "Good. Get moving!" she shouted, taking off for the balcony and flew off into the city. 4 Guards were running in all directions in the streets, almost causing a mass panic. They were issuing residents into their homes and urging them to stay inside. Shopkeepers pulled down the shades and locked their doors while stand owners quickly gathered their things, dropping most of their possessions on the road. Every time a guard laid eyes on the creature before them, they would steel themselves but as the creature neared, they would run away. Volos walked slowly down the roads of the large city, looking at every street sign and store name he could see. He turned his attention back to the path before him and watched all of the residents run in terror and trip over one another to escape. He whined and continued on his way, ignoring the pandemonium in front of him. He felt something impact his lower back and stopped; turning his attention to the unicorn behind him. A shaking pony stood behind him holding three rocks in his magic. Volos studied the shaking unicorn for a moment. He wore a monocle and a tuxedo shirt. Volos turned away from the pony and kept walking until he felt another impact on his back. He stopped again and turned around, emitting a low throaty growl, making the unicorn back up slightly at the sound. "Do not turn your back to me monster!" he yelled, using a formal and refined tone. Volos remained silent and continued his low growl. "Leave you big stupid beast! Go back to the bowels of hell!" At hearing this challenge, Volos turned around completely and stomped, making the ground shake. The unicorn stumbled around and fell to the ground. Volos neared his fallen target as a skinny, almost unhealthily so, unicorn ran out from behind a downed table and stood in front of the fallen unicorn. Volos reached out and shoved her aside, making her topple over herself and land in the dirt. He grasped the other unicorn's neck, constricting his windpipe, and lifted him to eye level. The unicorn had a look of absolute terror in his eyes as he struggled for breath. Volos growled and threw him aside, making him crash through a table and some chairs. He went on his way. 5 Celestia was flying over the city when she heard commotion coming from one of the shopping districts. She quickened her pace and came to a halt, hovering over a deserted street and a pile of turned-over tables, and litter. She scanned the streets for her quarry and found him walking slowly along the streets, into a mass panic and screaming ponies. As she descended to the ground she saw a unicorn start to throw rocks at Volos. She couldn't make out what was being said, but she knew the unicorn very well. "Fancy Pants?" she murmured. She watched as he confronted Volos and was swiftly defeated by the large cyborg. She watched Volos stomp away and leave both of the unicorns to their fates. Her anger swelled again and she dive bombed the street, smashing full force into the concrete in front of Volos, cutting him off. Volos stopped and stared at the Solar Princess. She had a very serious look on her face, laced with rage. "That's enough! I demand you come quietly or I will take you by force!" she declared. Volos growled and took a fighting stance. Celestia recoiled slightly, remembering her first time taking him on one on one, but she had no choice. She ignited her horn and wrapped him in a golden aura. Volos began to thrash around, trying to break free of the magical grip. Celestia threw him to the ground, making him look at the sky above but still held him in her magic. Volos fought against the strain of the aura around his body, trying to force his way out. Celestia strained as she tried to keep him down, but threw him into the air. Her magic held firm as she increased his descending velocity, making him plummet instead of fall. She felt the ground shake as Volos made impact with the stone street and she released her magical grip on him. She looked at the large black colored mass that was now inside of a small crater. Volos was on his back and was not moving. Celestia inched her way closer to him, her horn still lit with a magical charge. The onlookers, who had hidden in their homes or shops, were now coming out of their hiding places. "Stay back!" she shouted, causing any and all onlookers freeze. "Go back indoors, it's not over yet," she warned. The onlookers slowly went back into their hiding places, clearing the streets once again. She put out a hoof and poked Volos' foot. She did it once again and still he did not move. She went up to his torso and went to poke him again. She stopped when she noticed that his heart and lungs were still operating beneath his rib cage. She intensified the magic store in her horn and put a hoof out again. Volos' eyes lit quickly and he shot out a hand, grabbing Celestia's foreleg and pulling her close, catching her by surprise. His head smashed into her chest plate, leaving a large dent and knocking the wind out of her, despite the strong metal. She stumbled backwards while Volos got to his feet. Volos saw that Celestia's horn had dimmed some, but not completely. He quickly closed the distance and unleashed a round of punches and back fists to her face, causing bones to crack and blood to spill from her nose and mouth until she fell to the ground. Celestia staggered to her feet and gained an uneasy balance. Her eyes could not focus and her vision was blurry. Shaking her head and regaining some focus, she focused her magic again and let out a quick flash of electricity. The bolt missed Volos completely and she readied another shot. Volos reached out and grasped Celestia's horn with his massive hand. She discharged all of the magic she had stored up in her horn and let it travel through her behemoth sized opponent. The electricity arced throughout Volos' body and he fell to one knee, letting go of Celestia's horn. He stayed on his knee and Celestia looked at him with disdain. She lit her horn again, ready to take him down. High Electrical Discharge Detected... Redirecting... Volos' arms popped and sizzled from the massive amount of heat that was generated from the attack. Celestia looked down at him, finally ready to destroy him and drag his dismembered body back to the castle. She was building up the last of the power required when she felt something grasp her neck, closing her windpipe and breaking her concentration. She looked at Volos, who still was on his knee, but his hand had shot up and grabbed her. Electricity arced down his arm and into her body. She recognized it as her previous attack, her mind becoming cloudy from the intensity of the electricity that she had unleashed. Volos straightened and launched his free hand into her shoulder, making the bone shatter. He did not release his grip on her however and threw her, face-first, into the ground. Using the momentum from the throw, he twisted his body and lifted up a leg, bringing it over Celestia's body. Celestia rolled as Volos' boot came smashing down, leaving a large hole in the street. She quickly got to her feet, ignoring her shattered bone. She tried to charge her horn once again but a shadow over took her form and blocked her sight. Volos brought his arms down upon Celestia in much the same way as he had when he fought Twilight, using them as metal whips. Celestia felt impact after impact, shattering her bones and cutting skin. She could not defend herself. Volos' onslaught did not relent and he swept one arm into her legs, making her trip while breaking one of them. Celestia screamed as she was knocked from her hooves and grabbed by the horn and neck. Volos spun her around, twisting on his own feet. She felt herself get thrown into the side of a building and fell in a heap to the ground. She focused through her bloodied eyes, her vision being tinted red from the blood that was running over them, and watched Volos walk closer to her. She lifted her head, only to see Volos reel back an arm and send it flying toward her. Volos' fist impacted Celestia's jaw once again and sent her head recoiling into the wall, leaving a dent in the shape of her head. Her body fell limply to the ground, as blood leaked onto the marble white street below her. Volos growled for moment before turning it into a light whine. Studying her broken body, he noticed blood escaping from her cuts and her jaw hung limply close to her neck while her tongue stuck out of her mouth, resting on the ground. He took a quick step backwards and turned away from the mutilated body of the Princess and walked away from the scene at a rapid pace, the blood dripping from his knuckles.