//------------------------------// // The End to the Begining // Story: The Bass Falls // by Okami1197 //------------------------------// Nightmare jumped over Lucifer's blade as she brought her own down onto his head, "Well done." Lucifer said, "To think that you have only been in that body for four days, and you are moving like you were born with it." he then looked away from Nightmare and watched one of the female angels train with a spear. Nightmare smiles at the complement before she dusts her dress off, "Lucifer," she said getting his attention from angel, "Fighting is not really all that hard. I just have to change somethings because of how this body moves." she explained. "That still don't explain how you can move like that." he responded as he once again watches the angel. "Why don't you go and talk to her?" Nightmare asked. Lucifer looked at her, "Because, she is a Valkyrie. They do not find love, because it affects how they are on the battlefield." "I don't see how that is a bad thing." Nightmare responded, "I personally will fight harder because of the ones I love. I would try to finish the fight faster without making unnecessary risks." she looks at the Palace that she has slowly started to call home, "But the result depends on the feelings of the one that is loved by the warrior." "Those are wise words." Lucifer said with a smile, "Go and spend time with the King." "Tell me what she says." Nightmare said quickly before she ran towards the Palace before Lucifer could respond. Lucifer's face was red as he looked at the Valkyrie and sighed. ***** I sat on my throne, which I hated, and listened to some gryphon dignitary who just happened to have seen the city, "You see," the dignitary said, "With Equestria out the way all other nations could flourish, yours included. So why not let those shadow men destroy them and take the land for yourself." he finished. Man I fucking hate this. I sighed, "Now you see the problem is that," I started as Nightmare strolled into the room with a big smile. She walked up and sat next to me, "I have made a deal with Princess Celestia already, and it involves me and my soldiers protecting them once we arrive." the dignitary did not look happy about that. "But how can you have already made a deal with her?!" he yelled, "You have not even been formally announced as a nation." I stood up and spread my wings, "I have because it was Celestia who took me in when I arrived on this world! I have because they are fighting this war because of me! Now LEAVE!" I yelled causing him to slide back, "I do not want to see any gryphon dignitaries in my city until Equestria has been secured!" I finished and he ran out the room. "That could have gone better." Nightmare said from on side of me, "But things like this were a common thing in the old days before I took over Luna." "Really?" I asked as I sat down. "Yeah, the Gryphons as a whole do not like ponies, or at least Celestia. They do not like that she will drain other nations of resources if the need came about. She would not ask for trade she would just take." she explained. Our thrones are close enough for me to put my arm around Nightmare. I pulled her into a sudden hug, then let go leaving my arm behind her, "Contrary to how most think of Luna she is actually the nicer of the two." "I had noticed that. Luna actually listened even though she made it obvious that she didn't like me, but apparently she never did like humans." I said as I fully relaxed. "Who told you that lie?" Nightmare asked. "Luna." I responded causing Nightmare to laugh, "What?" "Luna didn't hate humans, she loved them. She was actually in a relationship with one before the war. She would always dream of him if she could sleep next to him." Nightmare responded. "Really? I guess that I don't know what is true or not, but I don't care. I am happy here with you." I said causing Nightmare to lean over and kiss me on the cheek. Michael walks into the room looking a little irritated, "Why did I hear a gryphon contemplating starting a WAR with us?" "Well he was kind of asking us to betray Celestia and join an alliance with the gryphons and such." I responded nonchalantly. "At least you paid attention a little, but that does not mean you should have done what you did!" Michael almost yelled. Man is he pissed. I look at Michael in the eyes, "I honestly don't care. If any of the nations of this world remember the humans they will not risk a war with us saying that Equestria can't save them." I said my voice getting a little deeper and my eyes slightly turning brown, "I have a promise to uphold and I will do that. If it means that I have to piss of a few countries to do so than so be it let them get pissed." I slam both hands into my face and I hold them there for a few minutes trying to calm down. When I moved my hands, my eyes were back to normal, "Was that all you needed Michael?" He looked at me, "Yes that is all." I stood up, "Then you and Lucifer take care of any other dignitaries that come in today. I don't know if the next one will leave if they try to get me to break my promise." I walked past Michael and went to the stairs leading up. I climbed up to the fourth floor and walked down the hall to a set of large double doors. I pushed them open and walked in. Zalphite was resting in a small bed by the window. I walk over to my large bed and sit down. Not long after I sat Nightmare came in. "John…" she started looking at me. She looked scared and hurt, "What happened to you? You were so kind." "Im sorry you saw that. I was just getting so mad. I don't know why everyone thinks it is ok for someone to just up and break promises they made." I responded as my magic flared a little but nothing happened that I could see, "I mean from what I have been told this is suppose to be a world of happiness and friendship, but it seems like only the ponies and me care about that." my magic flares again as I collapse into a sobbing heap on the ground. Nightmare walks over to me slowly and sits beside me. She pulls me into an embrace and just holds me as I cry. Running could be heard outside my room before someone knocked, "My King and Queen!" Lucifer yelled from the other side the door, "Something has happened!" "Then take care of it!" I yelled back, "I am in no mood to deal with anything." I said quietly so only Nightmare could hear me. "But Sir," he started again, "All of our ships are back to working condition! It seems someone with a large mana pool used a low level restoration spell on them!" Lucifer finished. I grabbed the door with my magic and pulled it open, "My Lord what is wrong?" he asked as soon as he saw me. "You ask what is wrong but as soon as I tell you, you will try to scold be just like Michael!" I yelled at him, "I don't see why I can't lead in a way that will not destroy my personal morals! We are supposed to be the ones who help keep others safe not sit by and let our oldest ally die for something that was caused by me!" "King John I will have a word with Michael." Lucifer said, "I just want you to know that I am grateful that you are trying to stay true to yourself. That is what we need. We need a king who will not stray from his beliefs if there is another way to do things." Lucifer left the room and closed the door behind him. "John.." Nightmare said, "I hope that we make it to Celestia in time. I may not like her but I do not wish to see Equestria fall from the beast that are attacking." I rap my arms around Nightmare and pull her closer as I start to relax, "So do I." I looked out the window and watched as airships filled the sky, "I just hope that we are fast enough." I started to think for a moment, "Nightmare how fast did Lucifer tell you those airships could get to Equestria without the city slowing them down?" "Just under three days from where we found the city why?" Nightmare responds. "Because we are going ahead of the city with half the fleet. The rest will meet us there in three days time." I quickly get up and run to the mannequin that is holding my armor. The armor was a basic set of heavy plate for the chest. The arms had light plate armor along with the legs. Instead of a helmet I had a hooded cloak and crown. Next to the mannequin was my Katana and some throwing knives. I put on my armor and place my weapons in their proper places and walked to the closet before Nightmare stopped me. "So what about me?" she asked with an innocent smile. "You have this." I opened the closet to reveal a midnight blue set of light armor with twin swords on a table next to it, "I hope you like it." She pulled me in and kissed me, "I love it and you." she said before she started to put her armor on. "Love you too. I will meet you at the Shadow Wolf." I walked out the room and ignored Michael as he tried to stop me. I walked out the palace and started for the dock that holds my ship. After a decent walk I arrived at the ship to see that it is now fully staffed by both angels and demons. I walk into the ship and went to the bridge. "King John!" all the angels and demons on the bridge yelled as they saluted. "At ease. Send a message to the Valkyries and have them meet on the deck after we leave port, and send word to half the fleet that they are to form up on this ship. We are leaving for Equestria." I ordered before everyone scrambled to carry them out. I left the bridge and went on deck and waited for a little while before Nightmare landed in front of me, "How does it fit?" "It fits perfectly." she responded happily. "Good. Shadow Wolf, set course for the capital of Equestria. Wait until half the fleet has joined then accelerate to full speed." the Shadow Wolf detached itself from the dock and started moving away from the city. Not long after we left the docks about twenty female angels with spears landed before me. One of them walked up before bowing, "I am Freya, leader of the Valkyries." "Freya I thank you for your services to this point as the leader of you elite team but I will have to ask you to relinquish your position." I order drawing looks from every Valkyrie on the deck, "Your Queen shall be leading you from this moment forth until we see fit to return you to command." all the Valkyries sighed in unison, "Now, for this mission I want all of you to stay as close to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of Equestria. If they die then us being on that battle field is for nothing." "Yes, King John!" they all yelled. I looked at Nightmare, "I know you don't like Celestia, but without her and her sister there is no hope for Equestria. So please keep them alive." "As you wish my love." Nightmare responded before she turned to the Valkyries, "Alright now I want all of you to meet me over there so that way we can get familiar with each other." she pointed towards the bow of the ship, right as it jolted forward signifying and increase of speed, "We have only a few hours if that so lets get started." she ordered as I walked away. ***** "Where is he?" Luna asked as she parried a sword that was headed for Celestia. "I don't know but we won't last much longer. Ponyville is almost completely destroyed." Celestia responded as she became a cyclone of death spinning her sword killing all who got close. She sent out a burst of magic that turned all the creatures around them to ash, "That should give us a small breather." Celestia walked over to the map inside the circle of chairs in Twilight's castle, "I just hope that sending Twilight and her friends to the secret chamber of our old castle was a good idea." "It was. They do not need to know the darkness that is war. Especially Fluttershy. She would never be the same." Luna responded as she walked up behind Celestia. A guard ran into the room, "Princesses the fleet has been destroyed. There is no known survivors." "Order the retreat. Me and my sister will slow them down." Celestia said with a sigh as the guard ran out. "How many do you think managed to escape the slaughter?" Luna asked. "Not enough." Celestia responded as she walked out the castle fallowed by Luna, "Be ready to fall this time. Let us give our subjects the time they need to say by to their families." Celestia ran forward with her swords and started to cut down her opponents. Luna shed a tear as she to joined the fight. The two alicorns both sent spells through their enemies as they also engaged others in close quarters with others. The sisters were quickly surrounded by the dark creatures, "I don't think that we can go any farther sister." "I agree." Luna said before a purple dome appeared around them as a large number of hooves could be heard hitting the ground. There was a sudden clash of metal as the Equestrian guard re-entered the fight. For a moment they were making good headway. The guard managed to push towards Celestia and Luna. Leading the charge was Prince Shinning Armor. At his side was a very pissed Princess Cadence who was using wingblades to make short work of any who got close. "It seems that our Niece is in charge." Celestia joked as they watched Cadence tear through the enemy. "Princess Celestia, Princess Luna." Shinning said as he got close, "Me and Cadence got here as soon as we could." "Not a moment to soon." Luna responded, "Now may me join you in fighting for our country?" "Lets show them the power of our ponies." Celestia said as Shinning dropped the shield and they all ran into the fight. Over head none noticed the large number of airships arriving, "All forces drop and engage. I repeat drop and engage." I ordered as angels and demons jump off their ships and fly to the battle bellow. I watch my forces fall to the battle below from the bridge. I scan the field and I see Luna and Celestia, "Valkyries! Form up on me." I ordered before I walked out the bridge and onto the deck. Nightmare and the Valkyries are waiting for me, "I have spotted both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. You are to follow me to them and stay at their side until told otherwise." after a chorus of 'Yes Sir' I walked over to the edge of the deck, "Lets get started then." I dived off the ship followed by the Valkyries. I flared my wings and flew towards Celestia and Luna. I grabbed a magic gem, "I want all vanguard forces pushing the enemy back so we can establish a base of operations." I ordered into the gem. I closed my wings and rolled when I hit the ground. I stood up next to Luna, "Did you guys miss me?" I asked jokingly. "John!" Luna yelled, "Thank the maker you are here." Nightmare landed next to me, "Luna it has been some time." "John we lost almost everything." Celestia said as a tear formed under her eye, "Those beast destroyed the country that we have built." "Celestia. Luna." I said, "I cannot stay and talk. I am leaving Nightmare and the Valkyries to watch over you." I said before running towards the battle. I drew my sword and jumped over the ponies in front of me. As soon as I landed I spun and clashed swords with one of the creatures. I jumped back a few feet causing it to stumble before I shot forward and stabbed it in the chest. I let go of my Katana and threw four of my throwing knives into approaching creatures. I pull my sword from the dead body as I continued forward. Every enemy I passed ignored me, almost like they were ordered to let me pass. "So the weak human finally shows his face." a deep voice said as one of the creatures faces me. This one has a bow on his back and a great sword in his hand, "I enjoyed killing the female's body. Her soul makes a great trophy." he laughs, "What you don't believe me?" he pulls a snow white gem from his side, "This is her soul. I have tortured it a great deal since the day I took her from you." "John!" I hear Angelle's voice call, "Please help me!" I start to feed magic into my sword as I approach the creature, "Give me that gem." I growled. The creature shook his head before putting it back on his side, "Then DIE!" I yell as I charge forward. I start swinging my sword wildly. He just jumped, ducked, and sidestepped all my swings. "Such anger. You will never hit me like that." he mocked as he continued to dodge, "You know I think I will take your soul and torture it also." I stopped swinging and just looked at him panting, "Never." I growl before I push more magic into my sword melting the blade. I threw the hilt to the side and used my magic to make a sword of solid magic. "You know that you will never win. Your magic is to weak." he said with a smile as he approached me. He raised his sword and brought it down. I tried to block it but my magic sword shattered and his just kept going. "KING JOHN!" I hear two voices call as I let darkness take me. ***** Lucifer and Michael land side by side weapons draw, "Fowl beast leave the King alone." Michael said. "Michael the voice of reason. To what do I owe the pleasure?" the creature said. "None now be gone." Lucifer responded as he flared his magic and quickly started to roast the creature, "Michael, that beast had a soul gem on it. It is full and it appears that the soul is intact." "Show it to the king once he heals. I'll take him to the Shadow Wolf. You lead our troops." Michael ordered as he picked John up and flew to the Shadow Wolf. Lucifer looked at the battle and smiled, "It has been to long since I have let my blade taste blood." he said before he drew a large red claymore "Marcet sine adversario virtus" he charges into the fight lighting his blade with unholy black flames. The battle went on for hours, the Equestrians finally making headway with the help of the two great armies. Having pushed their enemies back Celestia and Luna board the Shadow Wolf. Lucifer is leading them to the medical ward on the ship, "I know that you two don't exactly agree with our king but cut him some slack alright. Being the perfect balance of angelic and demonic his power is stunted. While he can become a great warrior he will never be able to use advanced magic. He can do the basics but not much more." Lucifer explained as they walked through the ship. "So why did you let him do what he did?" Celestia asked. "Well he didn't really give us a chance to voice our opinion on the matter. Being who he is makes him a little head strong but he will be a great leader and ally because of it." Michael answered as they reached the medical ward, "Now don't pester him alright. He is still recovering from the fight." Michael let them into the room. Luna looked at John's sleeping form, "To think that he has went from being just a refugee to being the leader of the world's strongest military force." she said as she sat next to his bed, "I can't believe I treated him so poorly when we met just because of what happened all those years ago." "Sister relax. If he would have resented you do you think that he would have came back to save us?" Celestia asked as she sat next to her sister. "You know that the Gryphons tried to have him leave you for dead right." Nightmare said causing the two alicorns to jump, "It was his kindness and his determination to keep the promise he made to you Celestia that gave him the strength to refuse them." "Nightmare what did you do to gain his trust?" Luna asked with traces of hate in her voice. "One I saved him from death and two he saved me from an execution. I didn't earn his trust he just gave me a chance to do good." she responded as she touched John's face, "But even with all your preaching about friendship, you wouldn't give me that chance Celestia. You could only think about what I did in the past. I was alone in that castle for years and you didn’t even consider the fact that I could have changed." "I'm sorry." Celestia responded with a defeated tone, "I was letting my anger blind me." "I understand all to well. I accept your apology. Now may I have a moment alone with my soon to be husband." she said quietly as a tear slowly drifted down her cheek. Luna and Celestia looked at her then quietly left the room, "Why did you have to be so rash?" she asked starting to sob, "I finally find someone who actually values me and you go and almost get yourself killed why?" Nightmare pulls John into a hug as she cries into his chest. Freya slowly walked into the room, "My Queen," she started softly, "The troops want to know what orders you have for them." Nightmare turned to Freya, "Tell them to push forward and destroy the enemy. Use any means to remove their threat to this world." she growled, "And if they ask why, tell them that those beast almost took their king from them." Freya bowed, "Yes my Queen." she left the room. Nightmare crawled into John's bed and just laid next to him. She stayed there for hours, waiting for him to wake up. Slowly sleep started to take her. ***** Feeling started to return to my body. Below me was something soft and next to me was something warm. I started to feel the breathing of whatever is next to me and I started to try and open my eyes. The light of the room was blinding. I slowly turn my head to the side and see Nightmare lying next to me. Her eyes are puffy and her nose is red, 'Was she crying?' I think to myself. I lift my arm that she is not on top of and rub her cheek in hopes of waking her. She slowly starts to wake and looks at me, "Hey there." I say weekly. "You’re an idiot." she says bluntly before slapping me softly, "But I still love you." she then kisses me, "We need to get to the bridge. I don't know how long we have been out but I do know that there has been progress in the war." "Are you sure that it is ok to move me?" I ask a little uneasy about the thought of moving so soon. "Yes I am now lets get you out the bed." she slides out the bed and slowly helps me sit up, "Don't try to move to quickly alright." I nod as I put my legs over the side of the bed. I noticed that surprisingly I am in a pair of blue jeans and a plain maroon t-shirt. Nightmare put my arm over her shoulder as she pulled me to my feet, "We will go slow alright." "Yeah. Lets just get out of here. I hate hospitals." I say as we start to walk out the room. The walk to the bridge was long and painful but I didn't say anything. When we got to the bridge Lucifer and Michael were watching the reconstruction of Ponyville, "Michael. Lucifer." I said to get their attention, "What is the status of the war?" Lucifer steps forward, "Well we pushed them back to the old Equestria boarder once Queen Moon gave us the go ahead to use all we had to fight them. We have lost almost half the fleet due to them using the ships as large bombs to destroy large amounts of our enemy." "On top of that, Eden as arrived and is currently sitting above Canterlot. The fleet that was guarding it has been mobilized to finish what our initial attack force started. Total loses on our side look to be almost half of both Angel and Demon populations. They will probably fall to about twenty-five percent for both Angels and demons by the end. We will no longer be the strongest military, we will still hold the technological advantage." Michael finished. "How long till the war is over?" I ask, really not liking the loses we are taking. "I would say about two to three days." Lucifer answered, "But that does not include the time it would take us to find the families who managed to hide from their attackers." "So long as they are found I don't care." I say getting a glare from Michael, "I only want to see this war over with. Then we will us what little resources we have to help Celestia and Luna restore their country to a stable point, then we can lick our wounds and rebuild ourselves. We are strong enough to keep going, they are not." I finished before I started to limp to my chair. "That is very kind of you John." Celestia says as she walks into the bridge, "It takes a great man to do what you have done. Many would not have lead their troops like you did. No matter how dangerous it was, it seems as though you would go before you would send your army." "I thank you for the compliment Celestia, but doing what I did only means that I care for those I rule. I would never ask them to do something I would not do myself." I say with a slight smile. "But you see John," Luna said as she walked up next to Celestia, "While what you said is true, not many would do it. Long ago we were the same way, but after my fall I didn't trust myself to be on the battlefield again. You pushed Celestia in the direction that we went. Your words caused us to take up our weapons and actually defend our ponies." "Luna. Celestia," Nightmare started, "I am sorry for the pain that I caused all those years ago. I don't even remember why I took the name Nightmare Moon." she looks down at me, "But I think that it is time that I am called a name more fitting for me." "Well what name do you have in mind?" I ask. "Well I was thinking something like Tsuki. It flows better than Nightmare Moon don't you think." she responds. "I think that Tsuki is an amazing name." I turned my attention back to Celestia and Luna, "What plans do you have for rebuilding your country?" "That is actually why we are here." Celestia said, "We were hoping that Eden could be placed within our boarders and used as an Equestrian city in a way. You and Tsuki will keep your place as the King and Queen, but we will rule the country as a joint effort. This way we can restore both of our countries at the same time." "So you want to rule as a council instead of just being the Princesses of your country. That is a bold move but a much needed one. This way we can each focus on one aspect of rebuilding the country." I respond, "But which City shall be the capital of our joint country?" "I feel like Ponyville will suffice, once it is rebuilt that is." Luna said with a smile. Celestia nodded in agreement, "That was the most welcoming of the towns before it was destroyed." "I think that would be a grand idea." Tsuki said, "Ponyville? I do not know of that one." "That is the town you made your appearance at. It is also where the elements of harmony live, well lived." Celestia answered. "Oh," Tsuki slumped a little, "I guess that they won't be happy to see me then." "They will come around. Just don't give them a reason to be scared of you, and just remember that the town does not care for titles. All are equals there." Luna reassured. "Lets move on." I said pulling them from their conversation, "We need to figure out how we will even begin to do this. How will we secure our boarders? My army is almost completely gone. Equestria's population has been nearly wiped out. Yes we do still have soldiers but how can we justify the amount of land that we have?" Celestia and Luna look at me, both looked at me with surprise, "I didn't think you were a politician on your world." Celestia said. "I wasn't. I just paid attention to world events and what leaders did with their country. I could probably point out revolutions before they happen in some countries." I stated, "But I will not act like a god and use my knowledge to force other countries into action. I will help when asked but I will not force anything." I looked at the three rulers in front of me then to Michael and Lucifer, "I need you two to start on organizing the reconstruction of any major cities including Ponyville. I will find a suitable location to have Eden rest on the ground so all may see it. I will not have anyone thinking that we are better than them." Michael and Lucifer saluted and left, "So how shall we proceed Celestia and Luna? We have a nation to rebuild." The two alicorns stared at me, "First we would have to request a meeting of the Council of Nations, so that they can be updated on the status of Equestria and Purgatory." Celestia said, "But I do not know how long that will take." "Is there any laws against me going to each kingdom and personally request that the leader joins us for a meeting of sorts?" I ask. Celestia and Luna look at each other and shake their heads. "There is no laws stopping you from doing such a thing." Luna responded. "Alright then. Set course for the Gryphon kingdom." I ordered. The Shadow Wolf lurches suddenly as it carries out my order.