> Ekre'als' equestrian adventure. > by RC > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 1 prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Queen Twilight Sparkle began her daily ritual, opening the balcony doors to view her kingdom and see the smiling faces of her subjects. As she exited the doors she saw an old friend, and her daughter’s personal guard, sitting on the roof of the observatory watching the sunrise. She had to admit, it looked quite nice. The way the glass reflected the colors of the dawn, the sparkle of the crystals, the shadow blocking out the sun… … Wait, shadow blocking out the sun? “Ekre’Al! Get cadence, I’ll hold whatever this is off!” shouted twilight as the guard ran to gather his charge and flee to the bunker outside the kingdom. As he fled twilight gathers her battle robes, to fight for her kingdom. “So the warrior queen raises to arms after a promise of peace,” Said the shadow as it began to take shape. “Fitting. A liar’s promise broken on a falling throne to a just king for a new dawn. A dawn of DARKNESS!” He began to weave a spell matrix around him, a spell like none the queen had ever seen before. For this spell seemed to absorb light and spread darkness. As he charged his spell, twilight release her conjuration spell, a bow of pure mana forming in her trained hands. An arrow of magenta magic flew forth towards the heart of the evil king as the battle began. A shield of darkness blocked the arrow as a similar bow of black released an arrow of shadow back. The arrow missed due to his lack of training but the deed was done, she had been distracted and let her guard down for an unexpected attack. He released a spell to change her once fair body to that of a youth, her memories to that of a newborn, and her past to that of nonexistence. A spell where her right to rule was stripped from her and bound to her very core. The guard had seen this as he returned to retrieve his liege, and upon seeing this occur he sped forth and gathered the youth he once called master, and love, to bring her back. “I know not what you are, beast, nor why you attacked our home. But I will bring a revenge of a thousand suns down upon you.” Said Ekre’Al as he turned away the young filly in his arms “it may not be today, nor tomorrow, but before the day of reckoning, you shall fall by my blade. “WULD NAH KEST!” he shouted as the wind blew him past the horizon. “I await your return, fool, I await your return.” said the bastard son of a bastard son, Sombra del represado. “I beg for your aid, your majesties, your sister has fallen and her kingdom is at risk of falling.” Said the bowed knight as he spoke to the royal sister of day and night, in their castle. Upon a cry from mi amore cadenza, he turned to see that twilight was beginning to stir. Ekre’Al rushed to the crib next to cadence to check on twilight as he had the whole trip to the castle of two sisters. While he picked up the foal to hold her till she was at ease again. The scene made both sisters smile as they came to a grim decision. “Sir Ekre’Al, we will aid thy kingdom, but you must let us care for our sister, it is our right to protect her as she did us.” Said, Luna, as Celestia nodded. “She cared for us. Now it’s our turn to care and help her.” Agreed Celestia. As Luna called the guard to help regain the crystal empire and its citizens, and bring the beast who did an unspeakable deed to the loved elder sister, Celestia began to look through her books and spells of healing while calling upon the other races to give aid to help her protect the land should the worst occur. “We cannot help, this spell has her in a trance that is beyond even our reach or the arts.” Said Bena-Tighre, the queen of the flutter ponies, “Whatever did this to your sister has done great damage to her, she shall not awaken for a great many years if the spell is as I believe. But do not fret, her very life-force seems to keep her fed and she will keep herself alive. After all the three of you have done for us, it feels like we haven’t done enough to help you.” A conversation of the same has been said since the start of the day. Since the creatures had begun to try and heal the eldest of the royal sisters, the same sisters who helped and protected the land from the tyranny of discord. The same sisters who brought the day, night, and the emotions of the world. > 2 in the begining > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, turn back the clock a bit here, so you’ve probably heard about those convention goers who end up missing, eh? Well I was one of them. I had seen a new necklace to go along with the set I had, a fairy ridding a jackalope over a crescent moon, so I decided to buy it. After I put it on I thought someone spoke behind me but when I turned I was in a tundra forest. At first I had forgotten who I was but after looking for a river or pond and finding one I saw just what I was, and once I had my memories changed. Looking back at me from the water was a wood elf, a scar on his left cheek, white hair neatly braided, a knotted goatee, and a backpack. I had notice it but I didn’t look in it, so I decide to. What was inside surprised me. There was some minor health potions, some basic leather armor, a few spell books (including the bound bow! Squeeeee! YES!), some Mana potions, and an iron sword. So the stuff I always try to start a quest with. All I was missing was a- Quest start: finding civilization Never mind. “Hi” shouted someone behind me. I turned around but all I saw was kid with weird wings. Wait, a kid with… Screw it, just roll with it “Hello, who are- wait, WHAT are you?” I said as it grinned and flew with wings way too small for its body. “My name is Rain Chaser. What are you? Who are you?” said the black winged Pegasus. “HEY BROTHER! I FOND SOMETHING COOL!” “Who are you talking to? And my name is Ekre’Al, I’m a wood elf and you still didn’t answer my question, what you ar-“ “GET AWAY FROM HIM” another voice yelled as a ball of fire flew past my face “you OK, bro?” said a buff kid who ran between me and that youth he seemed to have patches of scales on his skin “What are you doing, he’s the thing I wanted to show you, dragon! He is nice and seems lost.” Said Rain “If I may before something inter-“smack “Ow.” I said while I held my nose “Brother!” whined Rain Chaser “stop hitting my friend.” “You don’t know what this thing is or what it wants! How can it be your friend?” asked ‘dragon’ as he stood between rain and me. “If you would let me talk.” I began as I stopped his fist from hitting my face again “I would be willing to answer those questions and all the rest you have.” I let his fist go and sat down, motioning them to sit as well. They had once Rain convinced Dragon to calm down, I began to explain my tale “I am an adventurer who found himself in a new world with seemingly new creatures. My name is Ekre’Al, I am a wood elf. As I was saying to you brother before getting hit me in the face 3 times. I will get you back for that by the way. Anyway, it all started when Mi'aiq the liar, a merchant, sold me a new necklace, enchanted with a transformation charm, it can turn in to one of three weapons, I usually use the bow or one of the three swords.” As I said this I noticed I had 6 necklaces around my neck, I recognized all of them but at the same time I didn’t. “Wait, how did I get six? I could of sworn I only bought the one.” As I looked at them I started to feel an enchantment on some of them. “So you claim you don’t know how you got them but they look well worn. Any idea how you got them?” asked Rain as he began to look at them way to close for me. “Rain, can you back up a bit? You’re kind of in my personal space.” I said as dragon grabbed rain by the back of his neck. As dragon moved back to his seat with rain in his grip I noticed something, the necklace that rain was holding began to glow. I decided to try something. “I’m a try something, this may be stupid but it’s defiantly gonna be interesting.” As I said this I brought my hand to the charm and thought of my Mana flowing in to it, all of a sudden there was a light and I felt heavier was holding a sword unlike I’ve ever held before. I asked for a mirror or something to reflect my image back to me and it was rain who responded first, by holding a mirror with shadows. “Um… how can you see?” asked dragon while I looked at the mirror and saw why he asked it. Where my head should have been there was a giant metal pyramid, on my back there seem to be a giant sword I had never seen before. I had no shirt, was covered in scars and blood, and I was wearing rags around my legs. I turned to rain and said “I feel like a nightmare come to life” > 3 there was a word > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It seems that my charms are enchanted to alter my form to become stronger, faster, harder, or more powerful." I said after trying the other charms. "so it seems that now I'm very versatile. so, you said that we should head to your village?" "That would be the best idea, her highness the queen would probably like to talk to you." said rain as he and dragon stood up and stretched. "we better hurry cause with the way the dark is coming night will be here soon and we don't want to be here after dark." said dragon as he started along a road under the trees toward a glow. "wait, why is there a glow? we'ed better hurry." As we ran I noticed that rain and dragon were slower than me unless rain flew and dragon used his shadow board, it looked like a black version of the hoverboard in back to the future. Once we approached the village we saw the glow was from a fire in the center where a mass of corpses had been piled. In a rage I griped a different necklace, this one shaped like the nights' edge, and found myself looking like a hero. I began to massacre all the bipedal avian's I saw. Rain began to shadow jump from foe to foe as his shadows coalesced into bladed gauntlets. Dragon began to breathe fire upon them while absorbing the flame from the pyre and the corpses. Both fought like devils along side me. After an hour the army who Attacked where gone and the survivors, trapped in a building that had begun to collapse, where freed as best as they could be. We found the village leaders and their daughters. Solaris, the father, had tried to fight back but his skills were not good enough to save his wife, Artemis, but as he was inside the building, he shielded his youngest daughter as a beam fell. Not long for life, he called upon Rain, Dragon, and their sisters, Ice, and Shadow, as they came he asked if they would care for his daughter's and the village as though they were the most important item created. They accepted and I was called upon by Solaris. "You, a stranger, risked your life for a place you had never been to. And were willing to save us from the Gryphon army, as such, I ask you to be a protector of the village and my eldest daughter." He said before breaking into a fit of coughs "please, protect my daughter to the last breath, I beg of you stranger, protect her like she was your own." "I will, sir. I swear on my bow and on my blades, I will protect her." I replied. "T- Th- thank you." With this, he passed on. The burials commenced that night, long after the town began to weep for its loss. The following weeks saw the town rebuild and the three daughters, Twilight, Celestia, and Luna, began to act somewhat normal. Well normal as three girls who just lost their family could be. But they each seemed to have something they really liked at the time. twilight, was enamored with the magic she would see, Celestia couldn't stop feeling the patterns of the blankets and caps she had, and luna loved colors. 10 years after "Father," cried twilight as she ran to Dragon's room, me in hot pursuit to watch over her, "My back is hurting!" "Twilight, would you calm down?" Started Dragon as his wife, I don't trust that look she has, began to walk towards the window and look over the town, " I'm sure that it's nothing, let me see." The Dragon looked closely at twilight's back and saw that her naturally strong magic was beginning to condense upon her sides, not unlike Rains wings. "It seems you are looking quite like your uncle, you Mana is creating wings upon your back, but I am stumped as to how, seeing as you are an Atherial, not an Arial." "Maybe she and her sister are destined for greatness," I said looking fondly at my 12-year-old charge. six months later I knew I shouldn't have trusted that woman, ever since the incident where twilight gained her wings and Celestia and Luna as well, she became distant, only speaking to Dragon, and finally, after half a year, I find why. She started to trick Dragon into thinking that Twilight and her sister where daemons, and I had to escape with them before that woman and her mob caught up with us. Garbing my runic charm I activated my speed and agility to escape with my charges, one in each arm and one upon my back. A week prior Shadow told me that her mentor, Clover the clever, had an extra room if ever the need be for us to stay. She always had that keen timing. Luckily I keep that letter a secret from banshee, Dragons wife, so that was where I was headed. > 4 and that word > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After going for a week to the tower clover and shadow owned moving at night and hiding during the day. we finally arrived at our destination. the first thing I did was take Twilight, Celestia, and Luna to the bath and let them clean themselves while I spoke to shadow. "Shade, how have you been?" I started, wishing that the basic icebreaker would stop her from trying to read what I was talking about before I was ready to talk. it didn't work. "Cut to the chase. you came here looking less like the heroes you are and more like a thief that needs to hide. what happened." Shade said. "Your brother is being driven by his bride to do as instructed and this is leading to some major trouble. she wants to kill the 'impurities' that are Twilight, Celestia, and Luna. I need your help to get away from her long enough to free and talk some truth into Dragon. Rain is keeping him back for now, but he doesn't want to make Dragon mad at him." I explain in hushed tones to keep any unwanted ears from hearing the conversation. as we spoke I began to walk towards a map of the known lands and was happy to notice the overlay of the claimed lands. "Do you think we could clear out the wendigo's and make a safe place to the north with Ice's help?" "We could, but I don't think that the few of us could make a place there that would last until this blows over. much less pass that," said Shade as we studied the map. "well, we aren't gonna be doing all the work by ourselves, I've heard that ice has some golems under her. not to mention the natives I've learned that are over their," I say as I glance towards one corner of the room where a frozen spider is clinging to a web of snow, "isn't that right ice? and when are you gonna come out and talk to us rather than try and see what we were gonna ask before?" After I said that the spider dropped to the floor and went off to a different point as the window opened and a wraith-like figure floated in through the window. it wasn't a moment later that the main doors opened and a still wet Twilight, Celestia, and a fluffy and adorable mad luna came rushing into the room. "Girls! stop running around and trailing water everywhere. come on, let's go get you dry as your aunts talk and clean the floor before it freezes into ice." I say as I pick them up and take them into the bathroom to dry off and warm up from the cold of ice's opening the window. as I'm busy drying the girls off and stopping them from being so fluffy Ice and Shade are busy talking about their plan for our path north and on what we plan to do. > 5 is live > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Shade spoke to clover about our plan to go exploring ice and I were busy working on two new charms for me and gathering the gear for our trip together. we crafted the charms from antarctic silver and arctic gold. it surprised me very much to hear that ice was basically living as a hermit because of how she appeared to the others. The charm made from antarctic silver was made to resemble a bloody handprint. The one made from arctic gold was pressed like a white tiger The hand print allowed me to don the shadow garb of the dark brotherhood and would allow me to gain the perks of the ancient armor of the assassin. granting my bow more power and the ability to fade from sight as I move stealthily. The tiger changes me into the white mighty morphing power ranger with his gear and the ability to summon the white tiger 'zord. this form grants me a boosted awareness and agility alongside a substantial speed boost. After ice and i finished gathering our gear we began to get everyone together to travel to the ice-bound mountains of the frozen north. the trip was mostly uneventful, save our encounter with a pack of daemons of frost. Shade told us that Clover told her that they were Wendigo's, which made me laugh and say they are called frost wraiths back home. a Wendigo, or Wintigo as i had learned them, was a much more deadly beast that i pray we should never come across. We passed the pack of Wendigo easily with a wide girth before moving on. once we had passed a ways we found something and i nearly had a heart attack. a Wendigo pup had been left to die because he was a runt. upon seeing him Twilight ran up to it and began to see what had caused it to be left behind. as she worried over it i noticed a change in it as shade and ice both attempted to get twilight away from it. it had begun to change color from a light and faded grey-blue to a light pink-purple with yellow corona bordering it. "Twilight, what are you doing? it's a wild beast. You cant just go up to a wild beast like that." Shade was saying to Twilight as I walked up behind her to the pup. "Shade, look at this." i say as i pet the Wendigo "she seams to of changed from being shown a small amount of kindness. perhaps a mutation in this one caused her to adapt to what emotions are near her as a form of survival." as i finish the pup breaks my grip and begins to try and get to twilight but Ice encases it in a shell of ice. "Look, it was trying to attack twilight!" she says as I walk over. I tap the ice shattering it. "I would look again Ice," i say as the pup licks twilight happily and twilight starts to laugh in surprise and joy. at this point, Tia and Luna joined her next to the pup. it sniffs at them and yip's happily. "besides, it looks like it imprinted on Twilight anyway, so even if we let it go, it would follow us. and if we hurt it, it would still follow us but instead of being happy or passive it would retaliate against those who had hurt it." Ice stares and starts to mutter as we continue on the way, our new companion, who twilight decided to name life, decided to scout around us for any threats. and I'm glad he did, because it meant we didn't have to fight the Tizheruk, Ymir, or Amarok that we passed. the only thing that slipped past life was a Qiqirn, but it was swiftly dispatched by shouting its name at it, as is the only set way to get away from one of those large hounds. later we arrived at a location that seamed to be perfect. a valley surrounded by tall mountains to block the storms, a lot of open lands for farms, and a deep cave with a pool at the bottom with water so clear you can see clear to the bottom, with fish that shined like crystal. "This is it," starts Ice. "A place we can call home," said shade. "Some were that we can live free happily, and away from danger," I said. "A place where we can have fun in the crystal clear sun, " said, Celestia. "With clear skies to watch the beautiful night," said Luna. "And large enough for us to need for little and want for naught." said Twilight. "Our own crystal empire," we all said as one, naming our home after the shining mountains wich looked to be made of crystal in the late day light, as our own personal empire of hope. > 6 years later > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --*-- 6 years after the locating and founding of the crystal empire --*-- As I stood atop the roof of the home we had made I stared out at the fields where many who had been forced from their homes gathered before me, wandering and trying to create a town center before our house. They also were attempting to create farmlands and reservoirs for the river in case of storms or other situations. Not to mention all they had done in turning some of the plains between the mountains into a sustaining plot of farmland that was beginning to flourish. I realize when one looks to me with a look of hope that they found our home as a refuge for themselves. I had heard muttering about how "a stallion who could breathe flames, and a mare with eyes as dark as sin" had been leading a crusade across the land in hopes of "cleansing the impure from this world of peace between the true races of eques." I hoped I was wrong about who were said to lead it... I heard a voice close to me while I was thinking about what was happening. I turned and saw Twilight alongside 'Tia and Lulu. In the background, I saw Shade's shadow from the window and Ice was trying not to fall. With a slight laugh and a small smile, I walked to ice and helped her balance before I returned to my resting place, Twilight and Luna came to my sides and 'Tia sat beside luna, her wing wrapped protectively around her younger sister. "Girls, we came here as an escape, and it seems we became an outpost of hope." I start, as I continue to look over the land I rest my hand on twilights haunches, "We need to show them that we won't let the light of hope fade or fall." "Do you think we can keep that true?" asked Luna curiously, attempting to get her back scratched with my free hand. "We can try, little moon. We can try." --*-- 7 years later, third person pov. --*-- "Sir, we have built a suitable border around the farmlands should they attempt to come from that direction, the fortifications in the north are also well built to withstand the assault when they come. Our trap spells are set alongside the volatile vials of calm-ness the alchemists created. currently, our greatest threat is the elder drake they awoke and bound to attack us." said Primus Pilus, Hic Manere "Good, my herald, we cannot underestimate them, they have conquered most of this continent and killed too many to let live unpunished." Legatus Propraetor Ekre'Al said while overlooking the map of their home. "We will need to create some defensive fortifications upon the mountains, lest we allow our enemy to trap us within our own peaceful home." he continued. "Sir." saluted Hic before he went off to speak with the engineers of those who lived here. After the legionnaire left, Ekre'Al walked back to his study where he tried to calm down and relax, his former friends would be arriving at the gates of the town to "cleanse the filth that lies in these soon to be beautiful streets". He wondered how Dragon could have fallen so hard that every word out of that witches mouth was the undisputed truth to him. He wondered what had happened to Rain, that changed him from the carefree youth he was to the slayer he was now known as. Through all this, a song returned to his mind, from a life he had lost in a time before. As he thought about it, he continued to walk. He walked to his one true refuge, the roof of the central palace, and the most fortified location in the valley. As he reclined there, he heard some familiar steps come towards him, but he didn't open his eyes or look at who had come. No, instead he began to sing. "The stars are very beautiful above the palace walls, they shine with equal splendor still above far humbler halls. I watch them through my windows, but there bright entrancing glow, reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago. The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow, I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow. But once I took the crown I had been schooled and breed, I found it weighs heavy on the heart though light upon the head. Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least, a true king knows his people fed before he sits to feast. The good king knows his people safe before he takes his rest, thinks twice and thrice and yet again before he makes request. For they are all my children, all, that I swore to defend, it is my duty to become both king and trusted friend. And of my children, high and low, from beggar to above, the dearest are my herald's who return my care with love. The dearest are my heralds, swift to spring to my command, who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand. That land and people first have needs that I may not deny, so I must send my dearest friends to danger and to die. A friend, a love, a child, it matters not I know indeed, that I should sacrifice them all if there should be a need. They know and they forgive me, doing more than I require, with willing minds and loving hearts, they go and grasp the fire. These tears that burn my eyes are the tears a king can't shed. the tears I weep in silence as I mourn my heralds dead. Oh gods that dwell above the stars, if you can hear my cry, and if you have compassion, let me send no more to die." As he sung twilight sat beside him resting her head on his arm as a sign of comfort to the one she loves, while he began to weep over the travesty that was soon to begin. > 7 first conflict > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --*-- 3 moths later --*-- I stood before my army as our enemies began to send their hoards at our border, I saw the brave mares and stallions who I have trained and bonded with for years. The time had finally come for our stand against the crusade, and for us to spread the light of hope across the land. I began my speech to my army, to my family, to my friends. "It's time, my brothers and sisters. our foes have come to lay claim upon our home as though it was theirs from the beginning. but we will not let them claim our home. we will not let them conquer our families, and we will not let them murder our friends and families any longer, for we fight with strong wills and empty hearts. If it is our time, then there is no stopping it. But if it is not! then let us fight with no fear. "We stand as a family in arms and in hope. We will no give in to those who would sooner see us killed because we were born or raised differently, no. We will survive and we will protect those of us who can not. We are the last line of defense of hope, now will we fail? NO! Will our victory be sung of for ages to pass? YES! Will we die hunted and alone? NO! will we ensure that if it is our time we will take at least as many of them with us as they have taken from us? YES! "Now my brothers, to arms! ANOD TO BATTLE FOR OUR CRYSTAL EMPIRE!" "YEAH!" As the armies gathered before the gate a fowl sound could be heard, a sound that strikes fear into the hearts of all mortals. the scream of an elder dragon. "I will face the drake, my friends, ensure that no cur get passed us!" I shout as the gates begin to break. The gates broke with a mighty groan as the dragon charged towards us, I raced to meet it shooting it with my bow until I came close enough to face it with the weapon I carried at all times, a war hammer the likes of wich the imperials had never seen, a hammer made of ice and stone. "Lot Dovha Wo Los Us Zu'u, Zu'u Kriist Wah Bolaav Hi Fin Praan Hi Paar Zeim. Vukein Krif Voth Nid Tiraaz.1" I shouted to him "Mey, Zu'u Fen Krii Hi Med Zu'u Kiraan Pah Us Hi.2" The dragon shouted back. "Mu Fen Kuraav, Lot Dovah Do Fin Sizaan.3" I shouted as we began to fight. through the battle, a sound began to spring as we fought, a song from the training we held. With the battle cadence set, we traded blows and attacks as though we danced. a slash from his arms was dogged with a roll before I retaliated with a swipe at his knee. he countered with a back step and a shout of "Ag Liiv Feim4" that almost touched the wood handle of my hammer. deciding that to allow this dragon his voice would cause a detrimental effect on the battle. I shouted to him "Nahlot Gro Vul5" after wich the dragon begins to trash about while blinded and muted. seeing this as the time to kill him, I slipped close and broke his spine then impaled his skull through the small point on the back where his skull meets his spine. With the dragon dead, I rush towards the front lines, bow drawn and my charm at the ready. I would take down or stun our foes to allow our forces to kill or dispatch them as we continued to fight off the invading army. then I felt a presence behind me. I roll to the left as the assailant swings towards me from his left. I activated the charm I held and donned the clothes of I had made with the help of Ice and upgraded with the help of Shade. "You NevEr cHanGe dO yoU ekRe'aL. evEn wIth The DemOns PosSesIon StiLl aFecTinG yoU, doN't wOrrY, thEy wIll Be dElt WitH soOn eNouGh" said the bloody ripper of the crusade, Rain Chaser. "It is too bad we are foe's, I recall luna held a soft spot for you. But you had to fall under the spell of the siren your brother married, didn't you?" I replied as I prepared for what might be the longest and hardest fight of my life.