"We're not even remotely safe yet!" Seclorum shouted as he urged the stampeding group of survivors along. The frenzied ponies galloped their way down the twisting granite corridors of the building, making their way outward from the heart of the place. They ascended steep stone stairs and approached the distant light of day ahead. "They're four times as fast as all of us combined! Don't even think about stopping!"
"Secchy!" Josho shouted from where he stood up ahead, covering a junction of hallways with his levitating weapon while he urged equines along. "Prowse and his niece are taking point with that boomstick of his! How's the rear?!"
"I'm the rear!" Seclorum growled, galloping closer within earshot. "Where's Arcshod?"
"Covering the middle along with Aatxe!" Josho said. "How many did we lose back there?"
"About five since the monsters burst through," Seclorum panted as he reached Josho's side. "Josho, old friend, I've never run into anything that's moved so fast—" As he said this, there was a disturbingly loud noise from far down the corridor. Seclorum flashed a terrified look behind. "They broke through the last barrier!"
"Damn!" Josho grumbled. "Where're Prowse's explosives?"
Bellesmith skidded to a stop and looked back, panting. "Th-the large Xonan has them!" She shifted the weight of "Eagle Eye" on her back. "Up ahead!"
"Dammit—Arcshod!" Seclorum hollered down the tunnel. "Get your tattooed flank here and bring the grenades! We gotta close up another corridor or something because—"
"They're already here!" Josho hollered, discharging his shotgun as punctuation to his shout.
"Ledo's sponge!" Seclorum twirled and fired two crossbolts at the rampaging wall of pegasi and purple. The undead mass of limbs, hooves, and teeth gnashed their way towards the helpless group. "We gotta hold 'em off so that the rest of the group can get out to safety!"
"Wait!" Belle exclaimed. "Then that means—"
"My life's been full of last stands, lady!" Josho snarled, firing constantly at the unstoppable wave. "I'm good and prepared."
"But—"
"Tell that lump of princess fluff on your back that he's alright." Josho gnashed his teeth, sweating. "I never had myself a kid... that I know of. But if one exists somewhere, I hope he's half as good as Eagle..."
"Josho..." Elma wheezed, his coat flashing stripes briefly. "Beloved. I-I feel..."
"Shhhh..." Belle backtrotted, misty-eyed. "It can't... it can't end like this—"
"Just take off, already!" Seclorum shouted, forcing the mare back with a blast of telekinesis. "Changeling or not, you don't wanna be at the biting end of these things!"
"Spark dammit!" Josho hollered, his eyes reflecting a sea of undead faces. "So dayum fast—"
Seclorum spun around. He flinched, for the shadows of the leaping pegasi were already upon him.
And just when they were within inches of snapping into the stallions' throats, they were viciously thrown back. The entire corridor lit up with manasparks. Even the ragged flesh covering the creatures' limbs caught fire as they rolled backwards with pained shrieks. The entire flock of undead was held back, at least for the moment.
Breathless, Seclorum and Josho turned—along with Belle—to see who or what was responsible. That's when they saw Lasairfion standing dead-center in the junction of corridors, channeling all of her masterful energy into the buckling wave of death. The regal unicorn gritted her teeth while her elaborate tattoos shimmered in a majestic pattern. Despite the strain of her exercise, she managed to speak succinctly out the corner of her muzzle: "S'lanna mela'thulien s'renna norrem hala'thrasta rekkhar hem'iliel threen." Her glowing eyes darted aside. "Arcshod, Xon-Nagu'n?"
Instantly, the stallion thundered over and bowed low. "Dreit, Lasairfion, Xon-Nagu'n?"
"Me'lasimnelien siul hasta k'raan."
"Dreit." Arcshod trotted forward and urged Belle towards the front of the group.
"I... uh..." Belle called back in mid-gallop. "I think she's providing us the window of opportunity to make our exit, gentlecolts!"
"But it's too risky!" Seclorum stammered, staring at the quivering manafield. "Prowse's ordinance should do the trick! Just hoof us over a grenade or two, big buddy, and we'll—"
Two enormous forelimbs gripped Seclorum and Josho. Arcshod's scowling face leaned in.
The massive stallion hissed: "The asses. It moves them. Yes?"
Josho and Seclorum only had to exchange glances once. "Dr-dreit." Kicking up dust, they galloped briskly after Bellesmith.
Lasairfion watched carefully amidst her mana-discharge. Once the ponies had galloped by—including Arcshod—she let loose a glorious shout. Her tattoos pulsed from flank to spine, and she fired her last reserve of energy into the corridor ceiling. A chunk of granite fell just in time to block the secondary charge of the purple oozing pegasi. The undead dealt with the latest blockade while the Xonan Princess turned tail and ran to join her royal subjects.
A title with only 4 words?
Heh well done Lasairfion.
Yay! Royals who do stuff!
4423936
Count again.
History has shown not to get in the way of a pissed princess pony, because they certainly know how to kick ass.
Solid work all around by Team Try-Not-To-Die. They are succeeding in their one goal.
4423953 I see 'Bloody' was added
I nominate Lasairfion for alicorn Princess of Tattoos!
weird that this chapter didn't show up in my updated favorites list.
aw well~ onward to reading!!!
Edit...
I believe that should be Seclorum instead of Josho. =/
Woah. Go princess.
There sure have been a lot of Eagle Eyes lately, haven't there?
4423970 Biker Princess Pony. That's what I can think of.
I think I can get to like THIS Lasairfion.
4423956
I fully expect that to be a chapter title by book's end.
Well, most of them are, at least...
4423902
I'll have to dig up counterpoints for that first point, but:
They aren't; this is how we found out about Elma, remember? She failed the blood test in the hold. I'm not sure, but it seemed like a changeling has to consciously focus on their blood in order to fake the blood check.
And seeing as there is zero evidence for Tchern's involvement or the presence of her brood? Yes, I do believe what we've been told about her.
I love it when a team comes together.
Especially when everyone is pulling their weight in protecting the group. Go Lasairfion!
Good old Queen Laser.
4424058 I dunno, it could work either way.
This is a Queen Lassie I can get behind. The changeling version was far too fond of sitting around. It's good to see the real deal isn't afraid of kicking the ass now and again.
Woop woop. Go Princess.
Funny thing, I know a brony that goes by "Dreit". I'll have to ask him if he had anything to do with Xona next time I see him.
Competence at its finest.
Wonder when the local vegetables are going to get back up. Wonder when they're finally gonna get out. Wonder if Rainbow will manage to stop the Flood. Wonder why there's a horse head in the ad below this textbox. I don't know. Hopefully we find the answers in the next few chapters.
hopefully they'll find a way to stop it for good soon
4425682
Exactly,Lead by example,not by right.
4424284 The more the better.
God damn, I hate catching up in this story. It just means that I have to wait so much longer until my next binge.
I shouted like a little girl when Roarke came back.
It also took me like eight chapters to realize they're fightin the Smooze. I'll never forgive myself for not recognizing that.
4425952
...oh no. No. NO NO NO NO NO NO N-
...deep breath.
Chryssi's brood do feed on misery, so Kera would make a good meal, as the intruder mentioned. But, please... she's been through enough.
"I won't let you have them!"
The powerful mage going all-out to save their companions is the most awesome cliché in the history of ever and I can't get enough of it. Holy hell, my head just saw the greatest movie scene I've had in quite a while.
And of course, obligatory
I only now realized that said awesome cliché is extremely underrepresented in actual film and cinema. Lots of that stuff in literature and animation, but hardly ever any life action stuff, or am I forgetting something here? My Skirts I need to see some of that now.
On another note, that's not very far.
4431323 It's the best part though.
And damn... I'm good.
4423953
Oh wow, I just now realized that every chapter has exactly five words.
And the previous stories all have exactly the same amount of words in their chapters based on the story's order in the series.
...Wow.
Dayum, princess...
And she couldn't have done this before now?
dammit, just realized, no one got the effing sword.
What is so special about Ledo's sponge?
Thank goodness for Lasairfion!
-Spirit
Arcshod fucking told them!
the asses...it moves them...YESs?!?!
I was expecting Lasairfion's death. I had a witticism prepared and everything.
A beautiful mare dies two deaths. Smooze is such an ugly way to go.
Well, there won't be any sacrificial last stands quite yet.
See, these tattooed creeps aren't all bad.
Ah, perfection again, Skirts. Perfection again.
Damn, nice job there Lasairfion! Cool to see that high rank also has a bit of badass in her. Hopefully everybody come out all right from this, because I'm starting to get really, really anxious. Especially Ebon after last chapter. My next semester of college starts in two days... so that may or may not have too bad an impact on how quickly I get through the rest of this stuff.
~SolidFire
I'm the bloody princess, mate.
Basically, I rule.
More hilarious than awesome, but excellent all aroud
09/16/2019
21:05 UTC
Arcshod, you are completely correct.
Also hell yeah! Snake Princess power is a go!