Duel. A word which carried quite a bit of weight. Hailed above all other forms of combat as a true test of an individual's skill. A lifetime of training boiled down to but a few fateful moments of clashing arms. In the end, only one could claim victory, their opponent swept away by the sands of time.
Lotus wondered how many such events would follow in the hours and days ahead. She was nestled in the middle of an intimidating force, easily numbering in the thousands. Crimson banners were plentiful among the host, proudly displaying the emblem of the Windrider line. A mighty tornado, ready to sweep away all foes. And its fury was being directed at one enemy in particular.
At their current pace, their forces would reach the gates of Uma by nightfall. Bloodshed of such scale during Mother Moon's reign would be a sure-fire way to anger Her, so the army would rest. With the first rays of dawn, the battle would commence. Their victory was all but assured. What mattered now was how many would fall to achieve it.
She glanced once more at the riders galloping beside her, each a noble of some renown and power, united once again under House Windrider after the sudden disappearance of the feared sorcerer. She only truly regarded a handful among them, those who had remained loyal despite all odds. Those were the ones to keep close.
And then there was Tenno Windrider. His pristine, decorated armour, passed down from parent to child for generations, hid his ageing features remarkably well. But even though his gaze was determined, she could tell questions similar to her own troubled his mind. As one of the nobles continued to prattle on, father and daughter met gazes. He smiled, the sort of timid, reassuring smile that had always been able to ease her concerns. And no matter how grim the immediate future might have seemed, the smile's magic worked again.
Hours passed uneventfully until finally, the walls of Uma could be seen in the distance. The final obstacle in their path was the mighty river Amagawa, which coiled through the land like a mighty snake. Only a few bridges, located miles apart, would allow them to cross its deep, ferocious waters. Night drew closer, so time was of the essence if the force was to be rested come morning.
It was then that a pony from the vanguard came rushing through the ranks, straight towards the emperor and his retinue. From a distance, he shouted:
"Lord Windrider!"
He reached them in but a few moments, panting. Tenno asked:
"What is it, soldier?"
"There... there is a samurai on the bridge, my Lord. He claims he has unfinished business with..."
"Me," Lotus spoke up.
"Yes, Lady Windrider."
She turned to her father:
"It is Razor, the samurai in Kabuto's service."
Tenno frowned, then asked the messenger:
"And he demands a duel?"
"Yes, my Lord. One watched over by Mother Moon."
"A ploy," a loyalist noble commented, "Kabuto is trying to buy time, so he sends his lackey to stall."
"Surely, we do not intend to fall for it?" called out another.
Tenno looked Lotus in the eyes. He knew that look. That gaze of fierce determination she always had when her heart called for action. When her curiosity had called her to explore the land during the night. When her courage had demanded training to become a full-fledged samurai. When her wanderlust had made her lust for foreign lands. He knew she would have followed his judgement, no matter what he said. But he knew better than to try and quench the fire in her soul. After but a moment of deliberation, he said:
"We must. This duel is a matter of honour. Ignoring honour would undermine what Neighpon is built upon. We shall have to seek one of the other bridges," he turned to the messenger, "soldier, Cherry Petal was assigned to your scout group, correct?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Tell her to remain at the bridge, she shall oversee the duel. The rest of the vanguard is to scout the other river crossings without delay."
"It shall be done."
As the messenger galloped away, the emperor looked at his only heiress. The proud visage of a ruler was replaced by the concerned gaze of a loving parent. He leaned in closer and whispered:
"Promise me you will be careful, dearest Lotus."
"Careful as always, father."
"Hah, that does not bode well."
She tried to contain a chuckle, to no avail. Tenno nodded and they parted ways, though both still headed for a fateful battle.
The bridge was a simple, wooden, but sturdy construction. Wide enough for two loaded carts to pass side by side, it was most certainly not the most ideal crossing for an army. It was, however, a fairly appropriate setting for a duel. The Amagawa River roared below, dozens of stones bursting just above the surface of the water. The rapids those formations created were rather infamous, as many unfortunate, or thrill-seeking souls had met their end there. Uma could be seen faintly in the distance.
And then there was the unicorn.
She greeted Cherry almost absent-mindedly, her gaze locked with Razor's.
The other samurai sat roughly in the middle of the bridge, utterly calm, unfazed. She mimicked him and made her way to the centre and sat down. The two continued to stare, a light breeze moving through the air.
Finally, Razor spoke:
“A nice day, is it not?”
“Indeed. I’d prefer if it was meant for frolicking, rather than bloodshed.”
“Fate is cruel, sometimes,” he glanced sideways, at the mighty river below, “much too often, as of late.”
“May I ask something?”
“Of course.”
“Why is your family honour-bound to Kabuto?”
Razor blinked, then took a deep breath:
“A matter of our ancestors. My great grandfather swore an oath of fealty to his. The Kabuto line had been grand back then. I imagine at least Kabuto’s line was immensely pleased that a unicorn was miraculously born within mine. Dulled the disappointment when the young lord grew up into a sly worm.”
“The love you hold for your lord is simply breath-taking.”
“Heh, it is a tumultuous alliance, to be sure. It will be over today, one way or another. The lord has lost his skeletal pet and with it, most of his allies.”
“And yet, many will still die. Pointlessly.”
“Such is the nature of these games.”
A few moments passed in silence. Lotus then asked one last question:
“Razor?”
“Yes, Lady Windrider?”
“May I know the name of my opponent?”
Their eyes met once more, gentle pink and dark blue:
“Kouki. Of house Tensei.”
“It is an honour, Ser Tensei.”
For what little remained of the day, the two samurai sat in silence.
As soon as the sun vanished, they rose and scanned the night sky. A few rebellious clouds were trying to hide her, but Mother Moon shone brightly down upon the land. In unison, the two drew their blades.
Razor’s draconic katana and Moonblade met in the air as the two samurai gazed up at the queen of the night sky and, in unison, uttered an ancient incantation:
“Mother Moon, bless our arms. May the finest among us triumph on this night.”
They bowed to each other, turned away and took exactly seven steps. Afterwards, they met gazes. The wind howled as both warriors brought their magic to bear. In the blink of an eye, they clashed, the tell-tale clang of their blades travelling for quite a distance.
Usually, such duels were decided swiftly, even if the final blow did not land for some time. One combatant showed themselves as the superior, forcing their foe on the defensive with only a slim chance at counterattack, at best.
These two were different. Evenly matched, the two unicorns engaged in a deadly dance, switching from offence to defence at a moment’s notice. They dashed around the bridge at incredible speeds, clashing and disengaging with a violent rhythm. Whenever they met, magic erupted from their blades, while the wind roared past in a shockwave.
Razor suddenly gained the advantage. He dashed to the side and struck. Though she blocked it, the force of the blow sent Lotus flying past the bridge’s railing and beyond. Cherry gasped and the jade samurai walked to the edge. Lotus stood there on a single hind leg, balancing expertly on one of the sharp rocks under the bridge. The crimson samurai looked up with a smirk:
“Sorry to disappoint, but I refuse to bathe when you are watching like that.”
“Heh,” Kouki dropped down and landed on a similar pair of stones, “not even if I join you?”
“Especially not!”
Their dance continued just a few feet above the rapids. They jumped from stone to stone, meeting in the air before landing precariously on the rocks once more. Lotus struck faster this time. Bidding the wind to carry her, she shot through the air, mere inches above the raging river, and slashed towards the heavens. Razor was launched high, then came crashing down onto the bridge.
He rose to his feet momentarily, just in time to see Lady Windrider join him on solid ground. A few strands of green hair fell onto the bridge shortly afterwards. A bit too close for comfort.
The wind died down for a few moments as the two warriors took deep, long breaths.
An ordinary duel would have been long over. Several swings wasted early on could decide the victor.
This was no ordinary duel.
The wind picked up again, howling like never before, as the two readied their katanas. Their muscles, their gazes unyielding like steel. With a final exhale, they charged, bathed in moonlight.
Not even Cherry could follow it clearly as they zipped across the bridge in the blink of an eye. But her ears could hear it. Or, more precisely, could not hear it. The scraping of metal on metal.
The wind died again. The combatants stood with their backs turned to the other, breathing once again. Razor let out a grunt. Lotus inspected Moonblade and, with her magic, wiped the crimson nectar along its edge.
A chuckle sounded behind her, accompanied by the tell-tale sound of a blade entering its sheath. Her opponent commented:
“And so it is settled,” she turned and looked over his wound. Long, but shallow, running along his entire side. A hair’s width deeper and he would have been disembowelled. Currently, it would only become a scar. A calculated cut, “and yet I still draw breath.”
“I repaid my debt from earlier. A life for a life.”
“Heheh, and proved your worth at the same time. A brilliant display of swordsmanship, I must say.”
Cherry Petal dashed across the bridge, coming to a halt in front of Lotus. She opened her mouth to speak, perhaps to say a word of congratulations in a snide manner. Her expression turned to one of shock as her face was suddenly bathed in light. Lotus turned around.
Uma stood in the distance, bathed in light. It took a good few seconds for the distant echo of something akin to a thunder crack to reach their location. Smoke rose into the air. The kunoichi finally shouted:
“Uma! It’s on fire!”
“But who… what…”
“That coward,” they turned to Razor. His glare was cold as ice, “scorched earth. He will burn it all down to buy time for his escape.”
Cherry took a step back as Lotus emitted something vaguely reminiscent of a predatory growl. The wind already gathering around her, she commanded in a stern, but calm voice, passed down through generations of the Windrider line:
“Cherry, with me. That bastard is not getting away.”
“Not in a lifetime, Lady Windrider!”
The two rushed off, side by side, leaving the defeated swordsman alone. He watched them rush towards the horizon, contemplating.
The wind rose around his hooves.
The fire spread quickly between Uma’s mostly wooden buildings. Despite this, slowly but surely, it was brought back under control. The sheer number of ponies aiding these efforts helped. Royal crimson and Kabuto jade marched side-by-side, handing each other buckets and escorting civilians to safety. As if they had never been divided in the first place.
She yearned to aid with their efforts, but her quarry was elsewhere. Uma had three main gates. Only the western and eastern ones could have been used by the coward to make his escape. Cherry had chosen east, Lotus west.
The samurai galloped along the cobblestone path, her senses scanning for any sign of ambush. Instead, they picked up the sound of a carriage and at least six sets of hooves. Even when fleeing, the fool could not forsake his amenities.
A few more turns and they were in sight. Four jade guards shouted orders and rode to meet her, while the two pulling the carriage accelerated. He would not get away that easily. The guards were scattered as the tidal wave crashed into them, casting them aside like twigs. The wind rushed forward and forced the cart to halt. The samurai looked at the two in the front, simple servants by the looks of it, and spoke:
“Flee now and no harm shall come to you.”
They took her up on her generous offer. Slowly, she approached the carriage, blade drawn. As she got closer, she could hear a slow, mocking clop of hooves, followed by a smug, cocksure voice:
“Congratulations on your duel, Lady Windrider.”
Slowly, Lord Kabuto stepped out into the open. A tall, fierce looking stallion, he was slightly pudgy, but nowhere near to the extremes the frequent jokes about him would have lead one to believe. A sky-blue coat was accompanied by a mane as white as clouds, wrapped up in a set of elegant, violet robes. His eyes were two green emeralds which seemed to pierce through her soul. Lotus spat back:
“I have no need for your empty words, coward.”
“Such disrespect. Perhaps I should not expect more from a Windrider.”
“Watch your tongue,” her blade dangled inches away from his face, though he remained unfazed, “or I may feel inclined to relieve you of its burden.”
“Och, but how would I then get through my fair and honest farce of a trial? Please, Lady Windrider, we are wasting time here. You have your prize.”
“You do not qualify as much, I…”
A rustling came from behind her. She turned just in time to see one of the guards lunging forth with his weapon. Expertly, she stepped to the side and slammed her opponent aside. When she turned back, however, she gasped.
Kabuto held a short dagger in his teeth and was drawing closer, the metal aimed for her neck. She reacted as fast as she could, the world around her seemed to move in slow motion. Her attempted parry was perhaps just a bit too slow, even her fine blade cumbersome compared to the nimble dagger.
And then, Kabuto screamed in agony. A crimson rain erupted from his neck as a long, finely crafted blade drove its entire length through it, pinning the coward against the carriage in the process. The blade’s hilt, fashioned into the shape of a dragon, seemed to bite down on the lord’s neck.
As the stallion whimpered on the ground, a figure in jade armour emerged from the undergrowth. The dark blue stallion’s gaze was locked on his master for a few moments, before turning to Lotus. Deathly silence ensued as the Lord’s last breath left his lips.
Lotus took a few steps towards Kouki, and bowed slightly:
“It would seem I am once again in your debt, Ser Tensei.”
“No,” he said, removing his helmet and armour with his magic, “that was all for me.”
The gardens of Uma’s royal palace were always a welcome sight. Complete with a calm pond and a few stereotypical cherry trees, it was an especially beautiful sight when the plants blossomed and the wind carried their petals far and wide. There was still some time until that, however.
The posted guards bowed to her as she entered, her usual armour replaced by a comfortable kimono. Her black mane, allowed to grow for a bit too long, was tied into a stylish bun. Pink eyes darted across the area and finally rested upon the lone figure sitting at the base of one of the trees. With her magic, she levitated a pair of trays, filled with a decent selection of foods, and made her way towards the tree.
Kouki regarded her with a single glance, but otherwise remained silent as he kept staring up at the moon, partially obstructed by clouds. It would rain soon. She placed the tray in front of him, then sat down next to him with her own. He did not even move. Lotus looked at him and said:
“I was told you refuse to eat.”
He sighed and looked down at the tray, the small ring attached to the base of his horn reflecting the moonlight:
“I see no reason to do so, Lady Windrider.”
“Since when is dying from starvation considered a fitting way to go?”
“Do I deserve anything more? A warrior who slew his own lord? In the heat of the moment, it seemed like the right thing to do, but in hindsight?”
“You slew a coward and a traitor.”
“One who I was sworn to protect,” they met gazes, “whose life was placed in my hooves. No matter how many times my mind tries to excuse the act, its gravity remains. I may be a hero in the eyes of some, but to others, I am the worst of traitors.”
Insects buzzed nearby as Lotus’s horn started glowing:
“Truthfully, I understand your point of view. My point still stands. Starvation is no way for a warrior to pass,” from her kimono, she retrieved a short blade in an ornate, decorated scabbard and placed it down on the ground, next to his tray, “definitely not for a samurai.”
His dark blue eyes locked onto the blade, then at her once he felt her magic brush against the base of his horn. The ring which had restrained his magic fell to the ground. He took a deep breath and said:
“I thank you for thi-“
“But,” she interjected, “before you make your choice, know that there is another option.”
“I cannot see wha-“
“I have taken the liberty of talking to many of the nobles and Emperor Windrider on your behalf. They have agreed to grant you a chance at regaining your lost honour. An act of penance.”
His eyes seemed to flash at the prospect:
“And what would this entail?”
“It is all quite straightforward. As soon Neighpon is restored to some semblance of order, I fully intend to return to my travels once again. Due to past experiences, however, my father has demanded that I take a worthwhile bodyguard with me. Despite being a capable fighter myself, I can understand his concerns,” she stared into his eyes, “further, a proper noble should have a bodyguard, even for only symbolic purposes. And I would argue there is no finer warrior in Neighpon for the job than yourself.”
Kouki blinked several times:
“This… this is not quite what I had in mind when you said penance.”
“Are you implying that protecting the only heiress to the throne is not a task of sufficient importance?!”
“No, no, I merely-“
“Then do not waste your breath, Ser Tensei. Reach for the blade, or for your chopsticks.”
Kouki looked down at the tray, then at the ceremonial blade, then at her. Seconds passed like years, but Lotus frowned when his magic gripped the blade. He unsheathed it and twirled it in the air for a few moments like toy, before finally turning it towards himself. When the blade moved again, Lotus closed her eyes.
She only opened them again when she heard a loud, almost deliberate munching. She stared wide-eyed, several tears streaming down the sides of her muzzle, as Razor ate a few impaled pieces of seaweed from the blade, dipped in wasabi paste. He glanced at her mischievously:
“I never was a fan of chopsticks.”
“You idiot,” several guards streamed into the room just in time to see Lotus deliver a kick with her hind leg, the prisoner grunting in response, “I legitimately thought you were going to go through with it!”
The guards shared knowing looks and vacated the garden once again.
“Ugh, I suppose I did deserve that, Lady Windrider.”
“You suppose?! Here I was, concocting a plan to get you to… och, horseapples!”
“Horseapples?”
“It’s a pseudo-curse word they use in the west.”
“Heh, adorable, somewhat.”
“Seeing as you have made your choice, I hereby grant you permission to address me simply as Lotus when in an informal setting.”
“You may continue to address me however you seem fit, La… Lotus.”
“Very well, then, Kouki. Enjoy your meal, you fiend.”
He dug into his tray with renewed vigour, while she ate calmly next to him, eating her fill before resting her chopsticks. He glanced at her tray in an almost predatory manner and said:
“If I may be so bold, could I perhaps,” with a smile, she pushed her tray towards him, “t-thank you. I am suddenly starving.”
She tried to stiffen a chuckle, to no avail. Her amusement proved contagious, as the two of them quickly devolved into intense, heartfelt laughter. After finally managing to calm down, they stared up at the clouded moon. The swordsmare said:
“You know, I love these kinds of nights.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. While the moon’s light is always a welcome companion, on nights like this one, you can just camp outside and fall asleep easily,” she scooted closer and leaned against his warmth, “all you have to do is find a good place to lie down.”
“L-lady Windrider?”
Seeing his calm, collected visage suddenly break as he became flustered was simply precious.
“Kouki, this is still an informal setting. Furthermore, you have already chosen penance. I will have you know I can be very demanding and tonight, I feel like sleeping right here. It is your sworn duty to protect me.”
He chuckled:
“I’m not sure who is protecting who at this point.”
“That might just mean it’s mutual.”
Without another word, she closed her eyes, listening to his quickened heartbeat. Her own heart skipped a few beats when he leaned against her, as well, before they both calmed down and drifted into dreamland together.
Somewhere within that realm, Mother Moon briefly looked over her many subjects, paying special respect to those in the far east. Their dreams were much less troubled than in the past several months. With a smile, she moved on to quell what nightmares remained, so that her children of the night could finally rest.