"I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world." ~Louis Armstrong, excerpted from What a Wonderful World
Ashe fell through a dark hole that appeared out of nowhere. She landed with a loud thud, but it wasn't painful. Strangely, the floor was soft to her touch, it was also liquid. The room was pitch black, so she was unable to see anything at all. She ran her hoof through the floor. She felt the substance weigh heavily on her skin and fur. In fact, she felt like she herself was weighing heavier. Suddenly, the liquid quickly became icy cold, and froze her in place. Her bow remained sheathed beneath her cloak, but she had no reach to retrieve it. Then, a faint spotlight shone down on her, revealing Lissandra who stood in front of her. The ice was made of no ordinary water, it was made of darkness.
"My goodness! Ashe, are you alright?!" cried Lissandra with a hoof up to her chin.
"Lissandra! Thank the stars you're here! Help me out of this!"
"Of course dear sister!" she said, but what really creeped Ashe out was her venomous smile. "Just stay still for me."
Ashe grunted as she repeatedly attempted to pull herself out. With each tug, she felt her exhaustion taking over. Her breathing became slower, and soon her body ceased to work. The last thing she heard before the ice overwhelmed her, was Lissandra's cackle.
Ezreal's vision was obscured by the intense gale of the dune storm. Along with his fellows friends. Together, they treaded through the Shurima Desert. Although their vision was limited, it was possible to see the small monuments that passed by. Each had nopony living in them. They wore white bandanas to keep the sand from going into their mouths, one that Kennan refused to wear. Just yesterday, they left the capitol of Zebrica, and deeper into the Shurima Desert. They stayed that night in the middle of the dunes with a campfire, and then they left once more that morning. What confused them was that the sun was not out.
They took cover behind a tall ruined building that still had a wall standing up. They sat down in exhaustion, and rested there for awhile.
Ezreal sighed, "I think we're at the halfway point." he said.
"Oh? What makes you think that?" questioned a new voice.
"I trust my guts, like I have been my whole life!" Ezreal looked at Sivir with a proud grin. However, it wasn't Sivir. He screamed and jumped in fright.
"Relax, I'm your friend" said the new pony. She had a grey coat, and blonde mane, styled into a bonnet with her bangs hanging down along her cheeks. She was obviously not a Zebra. She too, wore a white bandana. Her cutiemark was concealed, for now.
"Wuh--What are you--Have you been following us?!" he stammered.
"She's been with us the whole time idiot." said Sivir,
"Since when?"
"Since we offered to take her to Urtistan."
"What?"
"She needed an escort, and we agreed to help..." she sighed, "...Idiot."
Ezreal sighed, and apologized to the new pony, "Sorry. I was concentrating on the path."
"It is alright, but please, proceed with your answer." she said.
"Okay... well..." he scratched the back of his head for details to elaborate on. "I call it a gut feeling, just my instincts telling me stuff."
"You can sense distance?"
"In a small way, yes."
Sivir scoffed, not believing a thing he said.
"Okay guys, let's get moving." Garen announced, "We want to make it there before midnight."
"Yes. Let's make haste." commented Lux. Kennan merely nodded and tagged behind Garen. Together, they got up and moved around the building, to continue their venture. Although the dune storm has calmed down just a bit, it was still a struggle to keep moving. For hours, they relented on. They needed a place to camp out because it was obvious that they can't make it through the night outside. Their thirst was dire, and the next town should be just around the corner, according to the new pony.
"Are you sure you're holding that map right?!" Sivir yelled to the new pony, "I see no signs of a town nearby!"
"What map?" she said. Everypony else stopped dead in their tracks, except Ezreal.
"She's right, it's just around the corner! Look!" he pointed to the small lone stone pillar pertruding upwards from the sand. It was sharp at the tip, and it had windows large enough for one stallion. However, it was not a large enough pillar to shelter 3 fillies.
"Okay, there's that." said Sivir.
"What happened to the rest of the town?" asked Lux.
"It's probably just ahead! Let's keep moving!"
Filled with curiousity, Kennan laid back while the group went ahead, and peeked through the window of the pillar. It was hollow.
He brought himself further in, and found that the pillar went deeper than the sand dunes. It was too dark to see the bottom. Using his magic, he held a ball of lightning on his left hoof as a lantern. Below, there was a much larger floor. Then he realized: he was on the roof of a temple. He dashed out of the window, but instead, he fell into the dark temple. He landed hard upon the granite floor. He rubbed his back, tending the likely bruise. Once again, he conjured a ball of lightning in his hoof, and took in the view before him. He was right when he assumed that he was in a temple... just not an ancient burial temple. Skulls and bones hung around the ceiling, and tombs scattered the floor. There were blood paintings all over the walls, in pictures alien to him.
"Kennan?!" resonated a voice from above, "Kennan, where are you?!"
"I'm down here!" he yelled.
"In the pillar?! What are you doing in there?!"
"I found the town!... It's underground!"
Shyvana awoke from a dreamless nap. It was rather really short, but it sufficed for now. She looked to Jarvan, who was shaking and shuddering. She observed that the fire was quenched and is no longer burning. She looked into the sky to see that the moon has risen higher. Whatever today was, it the longest night she has ever experienced. She had to agree, it was quite chilly. She was still in her dragon-form. Although her eyes ached for a longer rest, she had her attention set on Jarvan. Although she had saved him once already, she felt she needed to do another favour. She went over to him and rolled her right wing under him, and placed her left wing over him, acting like a blanket and bed.
"Thanks." he whispered. He indeed felt more cozy and comfortable on the skin of her wings.
"Don't mention it..." she warmly replied, "Or else I might become the one who drops you off the cliff."
"Thank you Shyvana."
She paused before she spoke, "You're lucky I was bluffing."
Soon they went back to sound sleep.
"Twilight! We gotta get outta here!" yelled Applejack, "It's gonna take too long to find 'er!"
"No! What if she's in trouble?!" she festered.
"I agree with Applejack on this one, Twilight. I'm afraid we'll get disintegrated before we even get to talk to Ashe." Rarity added. Twilight took the time to consider the options, and then she decided that Applejack and Rarity are right. Suddenly, a large blur of pink and pale yellow knocked them all over.
Everypony groaned in pain.
"Oh! I'm so sorry girls!" said Fluttershy, "I didn't see you there."
"It's alright-- wait, wasn't Rainbow Dash and Pinkie with you?!" yelled Twilight as she grabbed onto the tuff of Fluttershy's fur.
"Oh! They... um... I'm not sure."
Twilight facehoofed. "Alright, we're all going to go together and find them."
"Right!" they all said in unison.
Then Fluttershy interrupted politely, "Excuse me, but what about Queen Ashe and Sejuani?"
"That will have to wait for later. For now, we're going to save Canterlot!"
She panted in deep exhaustion. Never before has Kayle been in battle for so long. Worst part about it, is that they still come. At the very least, the barrages of purple blasts have ceased. She had lost count of her kills, and the numbers of her allies have diminished vastly.She dug her sword into the fallen behemoth, and rested her weight upon it. There were still void creatures beyond the eye can see,and she couldn't fight all of them alone. Suddenly from behind, a beam of blue light shone from the clouds. When it hit the ground, a bright but brief flash came from it. Luna in her full armour appeared, along with her full forces of lunar guards. Behind the castle was the moon that pierced the clouds and finally gave the land soft light.
They could see. They could fight.
Then as if their hopes couldn't be anymore renewed, the elements of harmony bearers appeared on top of the castle. They glowed faintly which gradually grew brighter... and brighter... and brighter until finally, they unleashed the powerful magic stored within.
The sky was lit with colours, with a flood of rainbow crashing down on the void creatures...
...but, there was one behemoth who was like no other. At that moment, it had no name. Later that day, they called the behemoth, Yoz'ara.
Yoz'ara had a beacon-like rod sticking out from his back. Quickly, Yoz'ara produced energy to power his beacon, making a massive eletrical pulse that affected everything in a 10km radius. It also negated all traces of the magic from the elements of harmony.
Everypony clenched their heads to ease the sudden migraine, but it proved to be impossible.
"I can't use my magic!" yelled one pony.
"Me neither!" cried another unicorn.
"What in tartarus happened?!"
It was apparent that Luna, Kayle, and the element bearers were also strained.
Then another new void behemoth, who was nicknamed Waterfall, sling-shotted itself right on top of Luna's army, and wiped them all out. Not a trace of blood nor body was left. Waterfall then fell apart into tiny pieces, and turned into a liquid substance, hence the name. The substance was gooey and sticky, yet non lethal nor had a smell. There were few survivors, which included Luna, Kayle, and some soldiers. As if it couldn't get any worse, the soldiers that Waterfall landed on submerged from the goo. Except, they were not on the good side.
Luna was still affected by the magnetic pulse that disabled her magic. She rose onto her legs, with tears welling from her eyes.
She muttered to herself, "May the moonlight grant me strength." She flew straight up, and let the moonlight bathe her as she created a shadow which loomed over the battlefield. The moon suddenly resonated a flash of light, likely as bright as the sun. As the light faded back into its normal state, Luna's eye's were still as bright. She looked down, then the castle, then at the incoming flying voidling creatures. She did not pay mind to them. As she reached both of her front hooves out across. She summoned two massive scyths on each fore-hooves at her will. With frightening speeds, she bounced between the flying voidlings, and cleanly sliced each one in half.
As long as she remained in the moonlight, she was granted great power.
Meanwhile...
"GAAH!!!!!!" Rarity and Twilight screamed as they were having troubles handling the magnitude of the pulse. They were relieved when they found Rainbow and Pinkie just in front of them. When they rose to the top of the castle, they felt as if everything will be alright. Harmony will find balance, harmony will cleanse the bad. Everypony else tried to keep Twilight and Rarity calm, as they descended from the castle roof and into the balcony.
"Wha--what do we do?!" cried Rainbow Dash.
"Ah dunno! We can't fight 'em!" said Applejack, "We gotta get out of here!"
"Where do we go?! We're surrounded!" yelled Fluttershy who was in tears.
"Please you gotta help us!" said Pinkie, "I'm talking to you ms author!"
(What?! Me?!)
"Yea you! DO SOMETHING!"
(WHA--how are you in my room?!)
She grunted in stress, seemingly going to give me another yelling. Should I tell her that they'll be alright? Or by telling her the truth?
"I'm waiting!"
(Okay okay! Fine!) I sighed. (You know Pinkie, this is the last time you do this again, you hear me?)
"No guarantees!" she gleefully chimmed.
I sighed once more. (Just watch the golden alicorn in front of the castle)
Curious, Pinkie leaned over the edge and did indeed spot the golden alicorn I was talking about.
Kayle took up her long sword, and charged once more, alone. She diced through small voidlings, she braised her blade into larger ones, and she crippled the even larger ones.
It was two against a whole horde. Luna was busy clearing the skies, while Kayle struggled to stay alive. Then she felt strength. Her magic finally came back. With renewed energy, she flew up into the air, and torched her blade with the flames of justice. She slashed down at incoming void creatures, beating them down as they easily fell. However, a beam of pure void energy pierced into her eyes. In front of her, levitated Malzahar.
"Quite a strong one you are." he said, "You will make a fine addition to the void."
"Not quite so strong you are." she said, "You will make a fine addition to history." She purged the impure forces from her body, and erected a impenetrable shield on herself. She shone bright orange, and she struck down at the purple robed unicorn. She was able to gnaw his belly, but he returned by pushing fragments of void energy to her, hitting her side. He then tapped into her mind, and killed her slowly from within her own mind.
"You dare defy me?" he said.
Just then, Luna dashed towards Malzahar faster than light from behind. He had two blades pierced through his body. He only laughed. Then in a flash, he disappeared. Luna approached Kayle and touched her forehead, providing relief from the terrible nightmares that ate her.
"Dear ally, art thou alright?" asked Luna.
"Yes, thanks to you." Kayle replied.
"Quite a formidable being you are. Pray-tell, art thou from here?"
"No, but i believe I am here to help cleanse evil from this world." she turned to the oncoming voidling army that had reached the castle.
"I liketh thee." Luna smiled, "Let us bring wrath to those who do not belong in this world."
"Yes, let's."
Waterfall reformed itself into its default state, and prepared to jump right onto the castle. Below Waterfall, was Luna's corrupted army. With ease, they were almost too easy for the duo. Whenever Luna was in trouble, Kayle would shield her, and energize her with even more speed.
Suddenly, the void army didn't look so large. They seemed to be doing great since the void army was thinning. Eventually, forcing the void to retreat without their commander.
Luna dropped to her knees from exhaustion, and it seemed that the moon was also tired. Kayle still held her fervour, and eradicated any strays within Canterlot.
The princess of night flew back to the castle, and cried as she laid her head on Celestia's unmoving body alone. She mourned and started blabbering regrets, hopeful that she'll return to life.
Although they held their grounds at Canterlot, they had no more soldiers nor the strength to repel another attack. Their casualties were estimated to be 90%.
Ryze stirred awake in his cot, but it wasn't his cot.
He suffered from a major headache, and deep exhaustion, confusing him further. He was confused about what happened, if he could remember what happened. Although his head was thorbbing with pain, he was more interested in the environment he was in. Everything was 5 times larger than anything usual in a pony's home; the bed was much too large for comfort, as well as the pillow and blanket.
Once his migraine calmed down, he took a better look around the room. Just as he suspected, they were abnormally large. There was a small window that let in soft moonlight. There was a wax candle flickering beside the bed, then nothing else. The walls were made of draftwood and ropes. In time, he knew his amnesia would wear off and he'll get his memories back.
Then, a booming voice sounded outside his door.
"Then how about you work than! Huh?!"
"You can't tell me what to do! You're just an idiotic and clumsy fool!" yelled another voice.
"Well thats very smart of you, to make the idiot do all the important work!"
"It wouldn't be so hard, if you weren't a stupid bitch!"
"You know what?" he said in a lower voice, "I'm out."
"You can't survive out there. You need me!"
"No I don't! It's you who needs me! I am tired of you and your shitty shack."
"Than at least get that disgusting pony out of my shack!"
"I will!"
A dragon barged in through the door, but he did not find Ryze in his bed. Even more angry, he searched the room more intricately. He was no where to be found.
"He's gone!" the dragon yelled.
"Good! Now get the fuck out!"
"I will!" the dragon stormed out the door, and to the exit. "Goodbye father." he slammed the door, causing the whole shack to shake.
Ryze sighed in relief as he rested against the outer walls. He managed to sneak past both dragons, and out the doors to outside. The shack was built beside the sandy white beach, along the shores of the crystal clear water. It's a surprise that the place wasn't a tourist area. Then that's when it hit him...
...where was the armour of Illitheas?
"Gah!" screamed Annie, "Stop it Maokai!" she fired balls of fire at him while she was backed to the end of the train. Unfortunately, Maokai was very resistant to magic. Veigar was knocked unconscious from the treant's mighty blow, as the little mage was slammed into the side of the train.
Because of that bite from the corrupted crow, Maokai lost his grip from himself, and lulled into corruption himself.
Strongheart yelled as she charged Maokai, to at least draw his attention from Annie. He turned to face Strongheart, and charged at her. She dodged to the left, making him run down the aisle. He had too much momentum to stop, so he slammed through the door and into the conductor compartment. The conducter was smashed into the bearings and levers of his own train, immediately dead with his whole body impaled and squished. Fiddlesticks gapped in surprise.
"HEY HEY MAOKAI!" he yelled, "What the fuck are you doing?!"
The twisted treant didn't reply, but instead swung his right arm. He slammed Fiddle to the side of the train. What neither of them knew was that the train was exceedingly getting faster, and there was a sharp turn incoming.
Fiddle unsheathed his scythe and slashed down. With stunning speed, Maokai dodged the sharp edge, and thrusted a blow with his other arm. The bigger arm. As Fiddle was once again slammed into the side, the train buckled side to side on the train tracks. Maokai opened his mouth as oozes of purple slop rolled out.
"You made me do this!" said Fiddle. He used his powers to pierce through Maokai's mind, and inject series of images that any being would fear, but he didn't even flinch.
With the apparant fact that corrupted treants have literally no fear, he struggled to unleash his crows.
However, Maokai pinned the scarecrow down, disabling any further action from him. The treant thrusted his mouth to Fiddle, wanting to bite his shoulder off. In doing so, he left Fiddle's left fore-leg open. With luck quick wits, he grasped his scythe and cutted off Maokai's right arm. He screamed in pain, allowing Fiddle to make one more move before he recovered. Fiddle stuck his scythe into Maokai's back, making him even angrier. He finally had room to summon his crows.
The bustling horde of crows pushed Maokai off of Fiddle. Now that he was vulnerable to Fiddle, he used his scythe to chop him into pieces. More specifically, Maokai's arms and legs. Satisfied, he called off his crows, and leaned down to speak to Maokai.
"What did you do to the fillies?" he said in a threatening tone. Maokai replied by attempting to bite Fiddle again. Luckily, his attempts were futile. Then he started to shake violently, very violently. Fiddle reacted by ending his life once and for all, but as he slashed down, Maokai's newly regrown arm stopped the scythe blade with his grasp. He ripped the scythe from Fiddle's hoof, and threw it behind him. Maokai once again pinned Fiddle down. He tried to bite down again with Fiddle's hooves struggling to shove him off.
He knew he couldn't hold much longer.
Suddenly, a searing void blade pierced through Maokai's head, thus dropping dead on top of Fiddle. He was trapped beneath the body of the huge treant, thanks to Kassadin.
"Thanks, but can you at least get him off of me?" said Fiddle.
"I appreciate your presence if you remained there." he replied. He pulled the conducter off the controls, and pulled the brakes as hard as he could.
As the train neared the sharp edge, leading into a cave, the brakes screeched and yearned. Luckily, the train was light. Unluckily, they were still moving at breakneck speeds.
Then Annie barged through the door. Without a word, she jumped out of the window, and walked to the front of the train. Despite the yells of Fiddle and Kassadin, commanding her to return, she lit her hooves on fire, and blew it on the tracks.
It wasn't hot enough to melt the tracks, but what she did was soften it. The iron of the train's wheels contacted the soft tracks, thus slowing down significantly. Thanks to physics, there was enough friction to barely make it below the max speed of the turn. The train proceeded into the dark caves of the mountainside.