//------------------------------// // She's a Man Eater // Story: The Equestrian Omni-Knight // by Azure5555 //------------------------------// Another day another problem. After sending Zidane on his way and after taking a more direct route back to Ponyville I thought it best to just forgo sleep for once. I look at the cold face of the moon, hoping it’s denizens could see my seething disappointment. *AROOO* My wolf’s howl is joined by the great cacophony of the Everfree. But something caught my attention. (An interloper! It mocks us! It knows! It runs...she runs…) To my wild surprise, a pitch black timber wolf escapes the Everfree. A teal glow shining from it’s tight woven body. If I didn’t know better… “How ya doin!?” I shadow step to the front of my target, startling her to a full stop. “Yip! Uh...Um..woof?” A cruel smile escapes my lips as I knock the “wolf” out with a quick chop. -Basement- The changeling before me was unconscious, bound, and gagged. I was in full Dracopyre, looking as menacing as I possibly could. I tickle her nose with the fluff of my tail and will her awake. Her fearful expression was something else. Her teal eyes widened at the various sights and she began to scream in absolute muffled terror when she saw the giant skeleton behind me. Then her eyes found me. She could see that my mouth was dripping with drool, my incredibly long tongue tracing my muzzle with anticipation. She squirmed...a lot. I mean a lot! She became frantic the more I closed the distance between us, I made damn sure she got a good look at my teeth. She couldn't take much more as I put my face before hers and locked eyes with her before finally whispering with as much decadence as I could possibly muster: “Tell me what you want.” She tried to speak through her gag in confused fear. I lean farther into her, my muzzle reaching her ear. “Tell me...what. You. Want.” I accentuated each word with a small peck. I bit away the cloth in her mouth and let her speak. “I...want love...I need love…” She said through her fear. “All you had to do was ask.” Her limp and tired body lie in my arms as I kick my backdoor open. “Veral! We have a late night guest! Prep the bath while I tidy up the guest room!” “On it!” Replied my phantasmal friend. I meet Veral at the doorway as her eyes go wide. “A changeling! We haven't seen one of those since…” “Yeah. You know the drill, love. Nothing but. Nothing less.” The bath house was modeled like a dome, magical runes inlaid on the floors kept the water at a warm and pleasing temperature. I lay my charge upon the tempered ceramic flooring. Turned around, and promptly left. Not even a step out of the entrance and the flat of an ax slammed into the back of my head. “What happened to her?” Asked Veral. I slowly turned to face her in shame. “I...I let the beast influence me. I toyed with her like an animal would their prey.” “Oh God, is she-” “No! No heaven forbid. She isn't, I didn't...I knocked her out yes but…” Veral gave a hard sigh and shook her head. “I'll call when I'm done, we’ll talk once she's in bed.” It didn't take very long for Veral to call. The guest bed was a brand new mattress scaled to fit a person my size to ensure maximum comfort. The insectoid was laid out, and covered. Her chitin shined in the dim light as I left the room. Veral was in the kitchen, Berry’s special mix on the table. “You’ve been neglecting your breathing exercises, haven't you.” “Yes, I...I killed someone Vi. He was a monster that would have ended the lives of innocents and I snapped his neck. I didn't even flinch…” I immediately down the drink to steady my growing nerves. “I wanted to tear some punk limb from limb because he insulted me...because he insulted history… And then there's the poor girl who I bound and gagged to appease my own sick mind...I’m letting the beast run wild and I know I-" An ax gently tapped my forehead. “Breathe.” And I did. And I cried. And I breathed again. I remember hugging. There was definitely some hugging. “Vi, I’ll be back. I need to check on someone.” “Promise not to kill anyone?” “You know I can't make that promise.” The town was stunningly beautiful under the moon's light. Each gem coated building gleamed with a soft radiance that could almost be called romantic. But I wasn't awake to gawk at the town, I needed to see the incubator. I needed to get into the basement. Golden Oaks seemed to take on more of it's namesake as it shone with its amber coating. ‘I’ll have to ask Fluttershy how she tamed the Diamond Dogs later.’ My body becomes shadow as I slink through the door, crawl past the living room, and right into the basement. Reforming, I look upon the statue that once held me prisoner for so very long. I reach out my hand and place it upon the sword. -Midnight Dream Scape- Midnight stood stoic, almost as if she didn't care for my presence. “Welcome, my knight. Have you come to test your mettle against your queen?” “And a fine hello to you too. I just came to check up on you is all. How much of your body has formed?” That was a horribly worded question. "At this rate your pitiful home will fall before long." Replied the nightmare spirit. "Show me." Midnight thus began to drop her armor, her body had been a mass of spacial blue. Stars and shadow made up at least eighty seven percent of her form. Two completed feet, a shoulder, and an eye made the rest of her. "Don't rush it. Akriloth is a teddy bear compared to most everything else. It's not like we're fighting Carnax." In a flash, Midnight is once again armored, a rapier in hand. "Kneel." Her wings unfurled and intimidating, beat with strength as she flew closer and closer... 'Three...two...one.' "Trap Shot!" A back flip catches my opponent as I pummel her with a vicious set of kicks. "Tornado kick!" A spinning kick knocks her out of my personal space. "That all you got Midnight?" "Hardly. Hiyah!" Driving her blade into the ground caused an eruption of similar blades to rupture from the ground. "Shit, nope, uh uh, GAH! Watch where you point that thing!" Narrowly escaping I summon blades of my own as great blades of light once again pin my opponent to the ground. "Burst!" Fire consumed Midnight, skulls floating away as the fire subsided. "See I have tricks too." "Indeed, rescuing my lesser half shall prove no challenge. Til our next meeting, my Knight." -Library: Basement- *GASP* "Shit! Ah mother of all that is good and holy!" My heart was beating at an incredible rate, my mind was reeling from immense pain, and the word DANGER kept blinking on my arm. The world was spinning, my breath became heavy...as the world fell down. -Dreamscape- I fell through endless darkness, silence my only companion... The crack of a metal whip sliced the air. Some aerial ballet kept all of my limbs where they belonged. "This is starting to become a regular thing...OH DEAR!" A large metal blade nearly slammed itself into my crotch, but thankfully I managed to parry the offending metal with some of my own, my tuning blade actually managing to bend the metal. I landed on my feet and was once again met with silence. "Gettin real tired of this bull-I smell fire." The world changed, bits of fire fell from the sky, and I found myself upon a plateau surrounded by a hellish horizon. “I know this place. So...how’d you find me?” I ask to no one in particular as void flesh covered my body in thick armor from head to toe. [https://postimg.org/image/t90lxaae5/] (Your Armor, Sword, and Shield synergize) “Easy, I just followed the darkness in your heart.” An Ominous voice said. “Oh ho, you’ll find it isn’t just darkness floating in there.” I say with a mocking chuckle. “There may be more, but your stunt in Griffinstone says otherwise.” “True, I can be a bit of a demon, but if it means taking Celestia down, then I see no harm in allowing my darkness to carve a brighter future. But enough of this, show yourself.” “As you wish.” A pillar of darkness came crashing down, when the darkness subsided a feral looking beast stood there. “Pfft, if I had a nickle. Your little Garland trick was funny by the way, but I’d suggest tactics with a bit more speed and precision and not some overgrown greatsword.” “Hmm. So, you wish to overthrow your world's Princess Celestia. We have a Common goal then.” The beast named Chaos said as he just floated there “My methods are nothing like yours, unlike you I actually understand the concept of that you’re named after, but yes. Celestia is a blight on the world, as are her nobles. She goes down, and the world moves on as it should have so very long ago…” A memory screen begins to float by as I attempt to destroy it before my “guest” can look into it. “My what do we have here.” Chaos said as he took the screen in his claws “You put that down or crush it, I won’t ask twice.” “Ah. War is a beautiful thing.” as a warzone played “Hmph, my troops were nothing more than mine workers, but damn if they weren’t good on the battlefield. Very few casualties, most of our deaths were just me going in haphazardly. Until she chose her pride over her own sister…” The memory ended as a blinding rainbow light filled the world. The only remnant of the memory was a pony, trapped in stone. “She missed, but something tells me she wanted to. You have far more in common with her than you do me,” Anger flooded my mind, the world once again reformed into Chaos’ hellish dimension. “I’m guessing the only reason you’re here is because your witch is salty about her dog getting slaughtered.” “That’s one way of putting it, but yes.” “And I’m guessing she wants revenge in some way shape or form?” I say objectively. “You read my mind.” I lift my finger, words forming in my mind. I open my mouth to tell him off, but then a wicked grin splits my face… “How much would you say she hates Celestia?” I ask, the grin still plastered on my now un-armored face. “Seeing as she lost to her last time around. I say a lot. Why?” Chaos asked “Would you say Ultimecia is a fan of destruction of property?” “Umm. Yes she's from time to time.” Chaos answered with a raised eyebrow “You see, I like balance. Your operation...isn’t at all balanced,” I will a memory screen into existence. “Your rogue’s gallery are buffoons. One is an actual clown and two have ties to the light...so I propose a trade. Services rendered, for information. I mean, you’ll still lose, but at least it’ll make your “Lover’s Quarrel” A little more interesting. Plus, I’ve already offered my services to your opposition, and like I said, I like balance.” Chaos begins to lift a claw to the memory, only for it to disappear at his touch.  “Interesting.. What do you want in return.” “For one solid memory? You see, I need to rescue Princess Luna and a Zebra. A mission like this is twofold, distraction and subterfuge. I need Ultimecia to agree to causing as much damage to Canterlot as she possibly can as slowly as she possibly can while I find my hostages. Deal?” “A little more chaos ah… Deal.” Chaos's said with a smile ‘Hmm...what to give him...A look into his own mind...or a look into Cosmos’...got it, Cosmos back up plan with the crystals.’ I will the memory into existence once again and compress it, and charge it with a timed Destruction Burst. “Here, this memory opens when my mission is complete. Open it before then, it blows up in your face. An experienced spellcaster like say the clown tries to open it, it blows up in their face. My mission gets completed? The memory opens and the magic charge disappears.” “Interesting. She will be meeting you at that tree Library...thing.” “Oh God...Twilight will bombard her with questions...or Spike will try to kill her...or Rainbow shows up and they both try to kill her…You wicked beast.” I can’t help but crack a small grin. “Hope you get there fast then.” “Sure sure...now before I wake up and sever this link...Chaos works exactly the way you think it does...in that it doesn’t. But I’m sure you already knew that, being named after it and all. Heck, maybe you and I can go one on one once I get my full powers back, you know, for balance’s sake.”  “I look forward to battling you.” “I look forward to kicking your ass…” The landscape fades, the cruel laughter of my guest the only sound as I wake from my haunted dream. I wake up to the sound of battle, Mother Sparkle runs to me...speaking words of worry: “Gah! That was our only copy of Alchemical Gastronomy! It was the only book ever written by Clover the Clever and Chancellor Pudding Head! Rainbow stop! AAAHHH!! You just demolished the full encyclopedia of “Monsters of the Everfree! Do EITHER of you know how much a set like that is worth!!” Screamed a growingly frustrated Twilight. “And we’d be able to care if we could get this sodding witch to stand long enough to hit!!” Screamed an annoyed Spike. A blast of fire accentuated the growing tension. ‘Looks like I was right...and I still couldn’t stop it. Oh joy.’ I think to myself. I take my time in climbing the stairs of the basement, laughter and destruction the only sounds to be heard. The livingroom was a wreck, tattered and scorched books lay strewn across the floor, slash and burn marks covered the interior of the library. Watching the carnage was a frantic Twilight Sparkle, huddling as many books as she could under a protective barrier. In the middle stood Spike in full dragon, Rainbow with her blade in her mouth, and Ultimecia who did nothing but float around a bit. No doubt choosing to toy with her opponents rather than outright killing them. “Oh good, Pebbles decided to take a nap in the basement.” Said Spike with a fair amount of snark. “Awesome! You can use that new “Guyver” thing to take down “Ultrecia” or whatever her name is!” Shouted Rainbow. “What, the pony and overgrown  lizard can't handle me?” Ultimecia said in mocking tone. “Sodding witches, I almost miss vampire slaying.” Said Spike, firing another bolt of fire from his lance...only to strike another book. “GAAAH!!!! THAT! IS! IT! I AM THE ONE AND ONLY!!” Screamed Twilight as the entirety of the library was drained of all it’s magic. Rainbow’s wings buckled into her as she fell on a pile of books, Spike’s armor disappeared as he reverted back to his baby form and Ultimecia fell flat on her back, her magic gone and unable to sustain her flight. I didn’t lose much...as I didn’t have much to lose. Twilight, began to pant as time itself began to shift around her. “Okay...Can we...CALMLY...hoh...give me a second…” Twilight pooled the gathered magic as an orb began to form on her horn. “Master? Could you?” She said as she pointed a hoof to the gathered magic. I gently retrieved the orb and pocketed it in my inventory. I look at the now rising Ultimecia. “Chaos sent you?” I ask. “Why yes he did. Said something of giving Celestia what's coming for her.” She said as she dusted herself off “Good, I hope you’re ready then, we leave in an hour. Twilight, where’s Cadence?” “She left for-” Twilight was cut off by an angered Rainbow. “ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GOING TO WORK WITH HER!!??” “...Yes. Ultimecia, any objections?” I ask. “As long as I get to see Celestia bow before me then there are no objections...For now.” “You don’t get to kill her, that honor belongs to another, and even if you do...Nah, forget it. Just don’t do it, Twilight?” “Badlands,” Stated Twilight. “She went to fight back Akriloth. Forty Vizalain ponies are with her, so I wouldn’t worry.” “So long as she gets back in one piece, Spike, Rainbow, we need to be alone. Luna needs this to work.” The dragon and pegasus left the library, one cursing his new home, the other nipping her rage in the bud. Twilight began to reorganize the room, placing the table back to it’s normal resting place, a map unfurling upon it. “Master?” Said Twilight, with curiosity. “Our objective is this mountainous region here. None of the blueprints detail anything past the old crystal mines. Ultimecia, your objective is here,” I say while pointing at central Canterlot. “Any questions so far?” I ask. “What do you want me to do exactly?” Ultimecia asked . “I need you to destroy as much of the town as you want. I only ask that you keep living casualties to a minimum and to be slow about your destruction. Now, getting in will be quite easy, getting out will probably be our only hurdle. Twilight, start packing for a one day trip.” My student rises and leaves in silence. I pull a vial of joke potion from my inventory and hand it to Ultimecia. “Drink this.” I say. “Why?” she said as she examines the vial “It’ll amuse me.” I say with a blank face. “...Not unless tell you tell me what it does ‘Cloud'.” “Funny, it’ll turn you into a pony. This will get us in.” “... Hope that my power stays.” She said as she drank the vial. A blinding glow surrounded her, when it subsided a grey coated unicorn with an hourglass with black wings as her cutie mark stood were Ultimecia was. “Perfect, you actually LOOK like a noble. That should get you into the castle a lot easier than it will me,” I pull out the antidote vials and place them on the table. “Well, this should be fun,” I chug my own vial as it’s effects changed me into my pony form. “Never gonna get used to that.” Twilight came back down, a small saddle pack bouncing at her side. “Everypony ready?” She said. “I suppose.” Ultimecia said with a hint of regality, still floating in the air “Let’s head to the train and go over our plans.” Said Twilight. Nodding, I followed her out the door, the vials floating into her pack as Ultimecia trailed after us. The town was gleaming as it did the night before, the trot to the train had been uneventful except for the creeping sensation of being followed… ‘Meh, I’ll worry about that later.’ The station itself was empty, no doubt because of the recent assault against the train. The only pony seen was the conductor himself. “Well, fancy a ride? Nopony seems to want to travel, who can blame em.” He said. “Kind of meaningless to take the entire thing for just three passengers.” I say with curiosity. “Heh, she’s not our only transport,” The old conductor went into a stall and various gears began to clank and whir to life. The tracks parted and lowered and after a few moments they rose once again with a smaller train car. “Turner built er, she can fit ten ponies at max and runs at twice the speed of the old girl. Where we headed?” “Canterlot, we have business.” “Make yourselves at home, this’ll be a fun trip…” “Ladies first.” I say with a slight bow. Ultimecia just rolled her eye's and walked on too the train. Twilight quickly followed, a bounce in her step as she surveyed the inner workings of the vehicle. The conductor soon followed and ushered me inside. It was a small transport vehicle, lined with gears and very few windows. The creeping sensation once again returned, and before the hatch could close, a pie slammed into my face and dropped me to the ground. “Bleh, mmm...raspberry...Okay…” The gears whirred to life as the car began to move. At the point of the train sat the conductor, turning knobs and pulling levers as he began to speak into a microphone. “Sir Jing to Canter, Sir Jing to Canter, is anypony on the line?” A metallic sound blared from the controls. “Sir Jing!? We haven’t heard from you in months! You’re lucky I was here to receive your call.” “Oh come on! You’re one of the Pactagonal Knight's!?” I yell. “Jing? Do you have company?” Said the pony on the line. “The hero if you can believe it, we have some cargo headed for Canter, can you clear the tracks?” “I’ll have Sir Vey on the job, Captain Shining will be glad to see you.” The coms clicked off as Jing turned in his chair to face us. “We’ll arrive in less than an hour or so, Twilight, it’s good to see you in good health.” “Thanks Jing, sorry about my master, being trapped in stone for fifteen hundred years will loosen a few screws.” Said Twilight with a chuckle. “A few to many if you ask me” Ultimecia mumbled “Hey! I heard that!! You’re just mad cuz I used some of those loose screws to drive into your worthless dog…” I say rather harshly. “He was not worthless at all!” Ultimecia yelled “Play nice or neither of you get to be human again.” Said Twilight sternly. “Yes mom...So...you never mentioned the knights.” I say. “You never asked, Sir Jing, how long?” “Just a few more minutes, gonna see your folks, or that girl you like spending so much time with?” “JING!!” Cried Twilight with an incredible blush. “We’ll be heading for the castle, Celestia has hell to pay.” I say angrily. “Careful hero, the knights are with you and all, but the rest if the military will arrest you on the spot,” The car came to a full stop and we were greeted by two tan colored earth ponies. One had a pair of adjustable goggles, almost like binoculars, and the other had slit eyes and scales strewn about his body like that of a lizard or dragon. The knights shared kind words amongst themselves “Thank you for riding Sir Jing Rails, we hope you voyage was enjoyable! Vey, Pent, get them to the castle,” The ponies beckoned us out as we were lead to a small elevator. “Good luck you three, the Knights will lead you to the castle, you’ll be on your own from there!” Cried Jing. The elevator was rather large, most likely used for hauling equipment and the like. Pent had been the first to break our awkward silence. “So, what’s Twilight Sparkle doing with a prisoner and a noble mare?” “We’re here to rescue a few ponies from an underground facility here in Canterlot.” Said Twilight. “TWI! You can’t just divulge sensitive information to royal knights! What if they work for the ponies that kidnapped our ponies in the first place!!??” “What? Us? If you haven’t figured it out we aren’t actually from around these parts,” Stated Vey. The doors opened and we exited into what looked like barracks for soldiers. “We don’t have the same loyalty to the crown as most others and as such we do our digging far more frequently. Go see Celestia, say your hellos, ask for your rooms. One of ours will have left you a package. Do what we can’t and bring them down.” The trip to the courtroom was uneventful for the most part. Between the “Noble mare” and Celestia’s protege, no guard or noble paid me mind. ‘So why am I still being followed?’ “Tell me something “Hero”, do you have any way to change me back to my former self or am I left as I am?” Asked Ultimecia. “Well geez now that you mention it-Hey I think I see the throne room!” I laugh hysterically as the chronomancer does little more than huff. I hear a faint exchange of words and the shifting of vials as I knock on the golden doors. The doors push inward, before us were several ponies in single file and spears at my throat. “Halt! State your business!” “I'm here to plow your mother.” The stunned face of the guards was worth the wicked crack of an armored hoof on my head. “Ack! My hoof! Seize him!” Screamed the injured guard. As they charged, the gathering crowd and princess looked on in wonderment, awe, and fear as the guards began to float aimlessly, flailing in futility at their current situation. “Hmph, maybe you AREN'T a hero,” Said Ultimecia as she made her grand entrance. “Will none among you attend to me?” The room exploded as every eligible bachelor raced to the mare in an attempt to woo her. Twilight and I made our way to Celestia. “Princess,” I stated stated with a bow. “I hope we aren't intruding.” “Hardly, distractions like these give me a reason NOT to do my job. I was hoping to see you and I'm so glad you brought Twilight! But do tell me of the mystery mare, is she perhaps a “special somepony?” “No! No, no, she's a fellow magister. Twi, could you and Ultima let the guards down.” With a pop, the magic holding the crowd burst and dropped the group down. Twilight hugged her mentor and began to walk back to the entrance. “I'm so glad to see Twilight making new friends. But tell me, how long will the three of you be staying?” “The night, maybe you could give us a room or two?” I ask. “I have just the thing. Daisy, escort our esteemed guests to one of our “Comfort” rooms.” “Right away your highness.” Stated a gray, blindfolded mare with an impeccable brown mane. We managed to pry the nobility off of Ultimecia long enough to have our guide lead us to our quarters. That was where I begged the question: “You’re not actually blind are you?” she responded: “And I’m not actually taking you to Celestia’s comfort suite,” Her blindfold flew off of her in an unknown wind as she spoke. “Miss Leading, general to the Lunar Guard. I pray you know of the corruption in Canter?” She questioned. “Ooh corruption. I do so enjoy the sound of that.” Replied Ultimecia. “Even if it’s Celestia herself?” I say in tune with Leading.   “Hmph, maybe not as much.” Stated Ultimecia coldly. Leading knocked twice on a grandfather clock adorned with a crescent moon, opening, the resulting path lead us to a small chamber. The room had a few bookcases, a cabinet and a wooden table with a folder atop it. “Leading...Miss Leading...it feels like I should know that name…” I whisper. Leading responded in kind.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKC1AnRAWqk) “Oh holy shit...how deep does this rabbit hole go…” “Far enough my lord. How shall we proceed?” “Lord?” questioned Twilight and Ultimecia. “First off,” I say while going through the folder in front of me. “Don’t call me lord. I’m no one’s ruler. Second, we rescue our prisoners. Leading, take Ultimecia to town so she can begin. Me and Twilight will do our part and rendezvous at her observatory.” “As you command my liege.” Without another word the walls opened up and Leading left with Ultimecia. “Ready Twi?” “As I’ll ever be.” Canterlot Business The day was beautiful to say the least. The sun was shining, birds were singing, a lovely mare stood unbothered by the posh nobility surrounding her. So unbothered in fact that no pony realised the lovely mare had vanished in a puff of smoke... At the drop of a vial did the chronomancer rise. “Now where to begin?” Ultimecia asked as she looked around seeing ponies, mainly Unicorns trotting around doing what needed to be done. “Ah.” She said as she saw mint colored unicorn. With a snap off her fingers a human with short black hair wearing glasses appeared in front off the unicorn. “Oh. My. Celestia!! A human!!” The pony yelled getting everyone to look at the human. “Interesting.” Ultimecia said before snapping her fingers again summoning some Gremlins and Bombs. “Go, cause some havoc….And try not harm anyone.” She said getting a nod from the Gremlins as they ran the streets knocking everything over and the Bomb's set fire to some off the houses, some had even exploded. “Ha ha..Hi.” The mint unicorn said staring at Ultimecia. “Hi...What do you want!?” Ultimecia yelled “I’ve never seen a human up close before, of course there is the hero but you're like the second one ever!” She said with a big smile “And your point?” “Can you turn me into a human? Please!?” Lyra asked...begged...pleaded...groveled. Other words having to do with sad puppy dog eyes. “NOT MY CABBAGES!!” Ultimecia heard somepony scream and  decided not to answer  her as she teleported away. She landed a few blocks away near what looked to be a Library. “Now then.” She said snapping her fingers summoning even more Gremlins and Bombs. “So can you do it with your magic?” Ultimecia turned around and saw the pony from before with the biggest smile she ever did loathe to see. “Ack. You are not going to leave me alone until I do?” Ultimecia asked getting a nod from Lyra. “Fine. But it may not be “exactly” human.” She said. Snapping her fingers she turned Lyra into a mint colored Miqo'te, a feline humanoid race. “Oh my Celestia.” Lyra said as she looked over herself. “Happy? Now run along I have other things to do.” Ultimecia said ushering the feline out before teleporting again. She landed in the castle garden where she spotted someone familiar. “Why hello you. Fancy meeting you here.” She said as she walked around a statue, the statue of one self proclaimed “Lord of Chaos”.