Centuries sealed away
a place lost in time
shall emerge one day
to a world remade
Only two shall remain
the jackal
and the slain
-Vol III, book two of the Prophecies of Archmagus Fire Dancer
The ruined temple had an unusual grandeur to it, the like of which was rarely seen in Equestria. Perhaps that was why Shining Armor did not sense the danger until it was almost too late.
A sudden shadow passed over him. He did not spare a moment’s thought, jumping to the side as a titanic fist exploded lintel and capstone before embedding itself in the floor with a colossal crash. Bits of stone shot out, nicking his flank and narrowly missing his head.
He was already rolling to his hooves by the time the smaller chips and flakes of stone began to rain down. Amongst their patter, and the cloud of dust raised by the impact, Shining looked up to see a towering figure.
His eyes swept from grey-furred hocks to a mountain of a chest, and finally to a head crowned with two massive upraised horns. Orange eyes glowed through the dust, glaring down at him. Shining did not intend to linger long.
Shining started down the opposite direction at full gallop, gear slapping against his sides as he ran. He flew past rows of pillars, the ruins replete with a forest of stone columns to hold up a long-collapsed roof.
Suddenly the sun was blocked out by the body of the titan, the whole temple plunged into shadow in one thunderous stride.
Shining dodged left.
Another fist smashed down beside him, destroying what remained of a marble arcade. Within seconds the great arm swept towards him, snapping thick stone pillars like twigs. Shining dove under the crumbling archway before him, and kept running.
There was a courtyard in front of him, with what appeared to be the remains of a large fountain at its center. The bulk of the ruined temple was behind him now, as was the monster.
Thunder boomed and the ground shook as the creature stepped up onto the temple mount. A glance over his shoulder showed a giant black hoof crashing down on what was left of the structure. The monster was still moving towards him, its massive bulk slowly shifting like a landslide, with the unstoppable power of a moving mountain. There would not be time to take the stairs.
Shining ran for a cluster of outbuildings on the other side of the courtyard. He vaulted several flights of stairs on the way, as a sound like rolling thunder drew nearer and nearer behind him.
In times past, the structures before him might have been apartments for the ponies of the temple, but now they were nothing but shells of stone and crumbling mortar, open to the elements.
As he passed them, zigzagging among their carefully laid-out corridors, an open hand swept overhead, a great swat that ripped through the upper level of several buildings. A shower of dust and debris rained down, walls crumbling, the ground littered with chunks of brick and stone. But It was no matter— the cliff face was approaching fast, each stride of his legs bringing him closer and closer to the edge.
There was a moment of calm in his head, as focus narrowed to what was directly before him. He could feel his lungs burning, throat choked by the dust and arid air. He could hear his panting breath. He could feel the clumped strands of his mane whipping behind him. On each stride his vision bobbed, his neck outstretched and bent down with ears laid back for speed.
Though the monster roared behind him, he knew that he would make the edge. He prepared to push off with his hind legs as the open air beckoned.
He leapt with perfect form, front legs forward, back legs trailing behind. His stomach lurched as he began to fall. At that moment, with the ground far below, and the pale, cloudless blue sky above, he felt something he had not felt for a long time… he felt alive.