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// Entry Seven: Defiance 
// Story: Blood Runs Cold 
// by Philosophical Tree 
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        By the time I had returned from the Hall of Undoing, the mental barrier I had set up was back in place. Inside, I was formulating a plan, calculating every last detail down to the point where the final bolt would hit flesh, and the death of my adversary would come. It was a great plan, and I was more than pleased with myself at the time. But outwardly, I was cold, stoic, and I refused to so much as look at Luna as she came to see me. I was still very bitter towards her, for calling off the search, for letting me down. I felt justified. I felt right.

So it was that I brushed past her, before she could utter so much as a complete sentence. I could hear her stuttering behind me as I left, her confusion laced in the words she tried to make. It pleased me, for some dark motive, that I caused her to do so. But that was not my objective at the time. My objective lay deep within Canterlot Castle. In a place few have seen, and fewer still are granted access. 

My hooves padded down the steps that would lead me to my destination, and as I descended, I felt my sanity, my emotions, descend with me. I felt a dark road lay before me, one filled with blood and tears, one which would leave me victorious or dead. And yet I strode on, and did not look back. Even when Luna pushed into my mind, and tried to bring reason to my madness, I refused to so much as humor her words. I wanted it. I wanted madness. I thought it could bring me release, bring me peace. 

It was in this state of mind I arrived at the Lunar Forge. It was a place of reverence to the night, a place of deep magic and strong steel. It was a place I was familiar with. In the time I had spent under Luna’s training, she had brought me here on numerous occasions. It was here that I learned the art of smithing. It was here I forged the crossbow that I had lost to Insidious. And it was here that the dark road began.

The room itself was a work of wonder. Set near the far wall was a large forge, complete with tons of metals and coals to work with, still as clean as it was the day it had been placed there. Near that was a small anvil. It was in almost pristine condition, due to magical enchantment. The wall to my left was a large, glass window, enchanted so that one could only see out. It was this that window that gave the room it’s beautiful, blue glow in the light of Luna’s moon. 

Set before the window was a large pool of water. As the weapons crafted here needed to be cooled, sometimes several at a time, this pool had always been of great necessity. To my right were large shelves, loaded with weapon molds and the necessary materials to create them. Near that was several tables and desks, used to create new blueprints. It was the perfect forge. 

Striding over to one of the tables, I sealed the door behind me, making sure that the forge’s enchanted lock - one that had never been breached - was in place before removing the scrolls from my side and laying them out on the table. Both the strange weapons lay before me in the light of the moon, with details on their design, and how they functioned. Glancing them over, I pulled another parchment from it’s place, took up a quill, and began to draw.

The design had to be flawless, and only something that I could use. Therefore, it had to be enchanted. But no simple enchantment would do. I had thought that my magical powers could be lost if I carried out the proper enchantment I needed, so I cast that aside as the quill flowed beneath my grasp. As limited as my magic was, I needed it, so losing it wasn’t an option. So I began to toss other ideas about. The one I settled one was more concept than fact, but it was my best chance. The hard part was carrying it out.

As my design came into life on the parchment before me, implementing both of the other weapons with my personal weapon choice into a flawless instrument of death, I began to plan. I needed to pour a great deal of my magic into the weapon in order for this to work, but I was willing to go as far as my limits would allow. Even if this took nights, I would make this weapon come to be. It was the only thing my mind would focus on. 

At last, I held up the parchment, satisfied with the design. Sure, there were a few corrections, and I was no artist, but what needed to be done was clear. How everything fit together, how everything was made, was explained simply and plainly. It was time to begin my work. 

I strode over to the forge and glanced inside, checking to see if the coal was fresh. It was, so I called upon the same spell I had used in the ruin to light the fires I would need. It took a deal of work, but soon enough, the coals were burning, heating to the point where they could melt normal steel. But I wasn’t working with average steel. 

There’s a reason why this forge was used by so few. The enchantments surrounding it are there to keep the pony smithing safe as they work with one of the rarest metals in Equestria. The metal was recovered from a titanic cavern that lay beneath the Crystal Empire, filled to the brim with gemstones and this metal. It’s harder than anything I’ve ever seen, and the princesses have armor and weapons made for them from this metal. And the Lunar Forge is the only place in all of Equestria where it can be smithed.

It’s known among ponykind as Star Steel, as most believe it came from the heavens. However, it was not like true starlight steel, which was recovered whenever one of Luna’s stars came crashing down to Equis. No, this was ore from the earth beneath their hooves. The true name of the metal is something only the princesses knew, but Luna had divulged the information to me one evening. It’s heard of in legends and stories, but few knew that mithril actually exists. And I was about to forge the greatest crossbow the world had ever seen.

Of course, aside from the mithril ore, I needed molds for the parts and silver for the bolts. Some of these were there, and so I immediately set about getting the silver ready for molding while I worked on creating the molds for the crossbow. It wasn’t unduly hard to work with these molds, as they were enchanted to work in cohesion with thoughts, but it took more time than I had anticipated, and soon I had to turn away from the molds to deal with the silver. The forge was set to a heat higher than any normal smith’s, so any metal smelted faster than normal. 

As I poured the silver, I pondered over how hard what I was doing was for some ponies. I had enchanted molds for the bolts, so that when the metal cooled and hardened, the bolt was ready for use. Most ponies had to take the time to hammer and shape the metal to sharpness in order for it to be used. It felt a little wrong, but I didn’t complain. It was saving me time, which I needed.

The last bolt mold filled and cooling, I hurriedly gathered the mithril I would need and got it into the forge so I could continue working on the crossbow molds. There were so many small and intricate parts that needed to be made, and so much magic to be poured into the molds themselves in order to further my goal. It took some time to finish them, but I got it done before the mithril was ready. This gave me some time to formulate the spell that I needed.

Luna had taught me years ago that it was possible to make a living weapon. It sounded weird at first, but she explained that the weapon wasn’t alive per se, but instead it reacts to the way it’s used, changing it’s appearance or even it’s power based on your actions. Sometimes it’ll even stop working or, in the case of a blade, stay your hoof with its own magic when it knows you’re in the wrong. I didn’t believe her at first, but she showed me how it was done. It doesn’t work all of the time, but when it does, the result is impressive.

I stopped myself, frowning in disgust that I had started thinking about the princess and her role in my life. I hadn’t forgiven her for what I thought she did to me, so I was still bitter. The fact that I had to rely on her memory made me even more disgruntled. Shaking it off, I went to check on the mithril. It was ready. So the process began. 

I poured the mithril into each mold, some of them small and intricate, others large and without much flair to them. Each one had its purpose in the whole of the weapon, and each one had to be perfect. It was straining to fill so many molds, as the bucket holding the mithril was very heavy, but I pulled it off. Setting the bucket down as the last drop settled in the mold, I turned and check the bolts. The silver had set and they were ready. Pulling the molds apart and taking the bolts out, I gently laid them in the pool. There was some hissing and steam, but it quickly faded. 

I pulled them out and laid them out to dry before turning my focus back to the mithril. It set much faster than you would expect, and time was of the essence. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite ready, so I had nothing better to do but count my bolts. A total of seventy shots lay before me, sharp and gleaming bright. It pleased me that so many could be made in such a short time. It meant that I never really had to worry about running out, no matter how many I used.

I sat, twirling one of the bolts with my magic, still waiting for the mithril to cool. Memories of past visits to the place were drawn out in the silence. I forced them back, as every single one involved the one pony I was growing to hate. I knew that it was wrong, I knew that I was being foolish, was being self-righteous. But I couldn’t stop myself from hating her. I kept telling myself that she was responsible, somehow. 

At last, the mithril was ready. I opened all the molds and, after they took a quick dip in the pool, laid the parts before me. There were so many, but they were perfect. The casing of the bow impressed me the most. The intricate patterns I had unintentionally woven into the metal gave it a certain elegance that most weapons lacked. This was to be no ordinary tool. This was, in my mind, to be a weapon of legend.

The process began. Not only was I assembling the weapon, putting each small part in it’s proper place and making sure that it functioned as it was made too, I was filling each part with a bit of my magic. Each part of the weapon had to have an indwelling connection to me in order for this to work. It was strenuous, to say the least. My magic wasn’t all that strong without Luna, and pouring bit by bit away made it harder to place all the parts in order. But I pushed through. I had to do this.

I had to stop numerous times to take breaks, panting heavily from the mental strain that it placed upon me. Using this kind of magic was no easy feat, and for a unicorn of my ability, it was all the more difficult. The amount of magic that left my body with each spell was dangerous, but I pressed on carefully, making sure that I never overdid the spells. Doing so could have rendered me permanently without magic, and the weapon useless to me.

It was with relief that I wiped my brow some time later, smiling down at the wonder I had created. Glowing in the light of the moon, brighter than any jewel, gold, or silver, was a crossbow. But no ordinary crossbow. This was one that could only be wielded by a unicorn, and one that bore a connection to myself. It was a fusion of magic and technology in a way none had seen. 

The crossbow was sleek, about a hoof and a half long with elegant curvature of the lath, or bow part. The drawstring itself was of mithril wire, almost unbreakable and enchanted with elasticity. But this is where the similarities end. Instead of a nock for the bolt that attached to the drawstring, instead there was a revolving chamber, cut through with eight rests. Seven would hold the bolts, five to a rest. These were spaced around the outer edge. The eighth, in the center, connected to the nock and drawstring, making for a simple reload. There were smooth, enchanted sliding plates in each rest, moving out of the way to drop the bolt into position after each shot.

The reloading system was made all the more simple by what was under the lath on the stock of the crossbow. A small grip rested there, in a groove that led almost to the release. By pumping this grip back to front, the nock would be reset, and a new bolt would be loaded with little to no hassle. A true marvel of engineering. And this from the unicorn who couldn’t cast a simple fireball.

Engraved along the sides of the stock were graceful patterns, along with lettering that I couldn’t read, but knew what it said. As Luna’s magic and knowledge of the ancient script from the temple had faded, I wrote down the name I gave the weapon. Pleased with the appearance in the old script, I had ensured that it was engraved onto the side.

Defiance.

Smiling at the outward appearance, I reached out with my magic and felt the weapon, seeking out a small flicker, a flame of life. Not true life, like what I possessed, but a sentience nevertheless. I sought out the enchantments making the weapon aware and adaptable.

And there it was. I could feel it. It was just a small flicker, but the moment my magic touched it, it flared into true life. Lifting it into the air, I tested the weight, feeling the enchantment morphing the weapon’s appearance beneath my grip. As I watched, the shimmering, silver glow was replaced with a beautiful, familiar, soft golden hue, intertwined with streaks of black, blue and violet. It had taken the two most familiar to me and implanted them into itself. Breeze and Luna had been accepted by it. I smiled, loading the weapon and placing the rest of the bolts in the pouches I wore.

The door to the Lunar Forge flew open. It was the first time in all of recorded history that anything had ever breached the doors. And if something had that power, it was obviously a threat. I swiveled about, bringing the weapon to bear, only to find myself face to face with the one pony I didn’t want to see. Luna stared wide eyed at the crossbow.

“What... have you done?” Her voice wasn’t cold or angry. Instead, I sensed wonder and concern therein. She was both impressed by my craftsmanship, and afraid of it. I couldn’t help but feel a little smug. That was two birds with one stone there. I decided to humor her.

“The ruins held one last secret. Blueprints. The weapons they held were useless to me, but I found that certain elements could be implemented onto my preferred weapon. Thus,” I gestured to the crossbow. “I built her. I built Defiance.” Luna nodded, taking the weapon from my grip. I didn’t want to let it go, but she was much stronger. Plus, unlike me, she wasn’t likely to turn the weapon on me. 

“It’s alive... we can feel it,” She mused, running a hoof along the lath. “This is most wonderous. We taught you well, it seems.” A small smile played at her lips, and even though I didn’t want to admit it, she was right. She had taught me what I knew about smithing. And my skill, apparently, impressed her.

She levitated the weapon back to me, and I took it quickly. The feeling of being seperated from it wasn’t one I liked. She was still smiling softly.

“What dost thou plan to do with this new instrument?” She inquired. I frowned, unsure of how to continue. She hadn’t moved from her place in front of the door, and teleportation didn’t work down in the forge. If I told her of my plans, she would most certainly try to stop me. But I wasn’t very good at lying, and she knew me too well. I had no choice.

“I’m going to kill him.” Luna’s smile vanished, replaced by a severe look. She shook her head.

“Thou will do no such thing. Thou art not in thy right mind, and we know it. There is something else at work inside thy mind, Shade, even if thou does not feel it. Your thoughts are addled by it, and it is causing you to do and say things that you do not mean. Think hard, Shade. This is not the foal we found in the forest all those years ago.”

“No,” I snarled back, adamant in my rage. Her words rang true, but I wouldn’t listen. “I’m not. I’m what you forged me into! I am the result, the culmination of all your training and care! I am your weapon, your sword against the vampony threat! I am nothing more than a soldier to you, another hunter to be discarded or killed, and you know it!” With each sentence, my voice rose in volume, reaching the point where I rivaled Luna on a very mild Royal Canterlot Voice tirade. “I am nothing to you! I am nothing but a shell of my former self! I never wanted for my life! I never wanted to kill for a living! I never wanted for my wife, my family, to be killed, to be taken from me! I never wanted any of this! And it’s because of you!”

“YOU WILL BE SILENT.” Her words rang out in the room. They were a command, one I could not refuse, filled with power and authority. Immediately I closed my mouth, my mind racing and waging a war inside, fighting for control of my emotions. I couldn’t read Luna’s expression, but it wasn’t a friendly one at all. She was mad as Tartarus.

“You dare to insult us like this, Shade? You dare to believe that we do not regard you in the highest of thought? You believe that we care so little for you that we have not seen the damage we have done to you? You are the closest thing to a son that we have ever known, and it pains us to no end that we are responsible for your hardships in no small amount. But that does not change the present. That does not change here.

“You are in great pain. We cannot allow you to leave this place in your present state of mind. You will do more harm to yourself and those around you than you will to the enemy. You will not leave our sight until we can extricate whatever it is that is plaguing your mind with these thoughts.” Luna closed her mouth, the echoes of her voice ringing in my ears. But for all it was worth, her words had lost meaning to me. My mind was fighting my judgment, and I wouldn’t let her stand in my way. So I did the only thing I could think of.

I aimed Defiance right between her eyes.

“Stand aside. Now.” I growled. The look on Luna’s face was one of complete shock. She hadn’t expected me to retaliate like this, and now I had her at a disadvantage. “You, nor Celestia, nor any force in all Equestria will stop me. Now get out of the way, or I will not hesitate. I need to put her through her paces. You’d make an excellent practice shot.” I couldn’t tell what Luna was thinking at that moment. Her face seemed blank, until it contorted into a look of unbridled rage. 

“How dare you. How dare you threaten us like this? Ponies have been killed for lesser acts.” I scoffed at her words, Defiance never wavering for a second.

“I don’t care. Get out of my way. You refuse to do what is necessary. All you do is abandon hope. I’m going to do what I can. And if you won't help me, then I want nothing more to do with you. Now move.” Luna opened her mouth, ready to give a retort, but she closed it again. Sighing, she dropped her head. I paused in wonder. This wasn’t what I had expected.

She seemed to resign herself. I could sense she had lost her will to fight. No, not that. She saw no point in reasoning with me anymore. She felt I was too far gone for her to save. And, I sensed, she felt like she had lost more than just a friend. She had lost something far greater. At least, that’s what I thought. Whatever the case, she stepped aside.

“Shade... please don’t do this. We want to help you.” She reached out to me, trying to bring me to her, to call me away from my mission. I wouldn’t have it.

“When I return, it will either be as a victor... or not at all.” With that, I strode out of the forge, past three Lunar Guard that I hadn’t noticed before, and away. Once I felt my magic become strong enough, I teleported away into the night.

Later I found out that two of those guards had been given orders to keep tabs on me, for Luna’s sake.

The third had gone to Celestia.