//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Clash of Blades // Story: All Hail the Overlord // by TheAncientPolitzanian //------------------------------// Sombra stood before the Magic Mirror leading to the world his beloved Celestia inhabited. The cool air of the Canterlot dungeons chilled him to the bone. He couldn't help but shudder. How would his former lover react to him? Now that he was a slave to the Overlord. He glanced over his shoulder at the swarm of Changelings that stood ready for battle. The Swarm wore no armor, and held an array of weapons like Axes, swords and spears. 'What else could I expect? The Overlord has given me initiates to essentially invade Canterlot,' he thought. He looked back to the mirror again. The Initiates were buzzing and hissing. They were clearly getting impatient. "The chance to spill blood and earn our rank has been presented to us and he is making us stand here?" Sombra heard one of them say. With a frown Sombra slowly unsheathed his Great Axe. Sombra could clearly see it through the dark Purple hue his magical levitation cast upon it. It was black, with a green gem placed in its pommel. Spikes indiscriminately covered the back of the blade. Clearly so the Axe could serve as a makeshift billhook should the need arise. Sombra could still remember the conversation he had with the Overlord when he was given it. "I see that you have not been killing any of the Inferior Ponies we have encountered in our battles. It is beginning to look as though you have lost faith in our cause." Thorax said as he sat at a wooden table within a tent, a map of Equestria spread out across it half of Equestia colored Crimson while the other half was a Yellow-goldish hue, with a small fraction in the North east being silvery grey. Across from the table was Sombra who was flanked on either side by two of Thorax's Royal guard each holding a halberd. "Of course not my lord. It's just that-" Sombra started before he was cut off by Thorax. "Cease the formalities, Sombra. I am not Overlord yet," Thorax said as he levitated over a black teapot and two tea cups. "No, but you will crowned as such when we bring Griffonstone to its knees. I am just preparing myself for the occasion," Sombra said as he took the cup Thorax offered him after Thorax had finished pouring it. Thorax chuckled slightly. It was a dark and menacing, as to be expected of the future Overlord. "But, you still haven't answered the question," The soon-to-be Overlord said before setting down the teacup after a small sip. His flaming eyes then locked with Sombra's. "Why are you not killing our enemies?" Sombra gulped. He needed a better excuse then, 'I refuse to take another life, no matter how evil I get.' "I.... don't have a weapon?" he slowly said. 'The Overlord did not react well to that.' Sombra thought back. Sure he had given him this axe, but not before embedding it into Sombra's chest. It still hurt sometimes. Sombra couldn't put this off any longer. The Overlord saw everything his Changeling's saw. Sombra raised his Axe. "Though the Mirror Soldiers!" he yelled. "ALL HAIL THE OVERLORD!!! LET EQUESTRIA BURN!!!!" The Initiates roared in return before they began charging through the Mirror. After the last one had entered Sombra gulped before he too stepped through. The large Crimson changeling fought on even when Pharynx changed into the massive six legged monster he was so fond of and charged directly into him, knocking him back into a pillar. The Crimson changeling emerged from the pile of rubble created by the collapsing pillar with a roar and looked at Pharynx. The two squared off before they both charged at each other. The rest of the Changeling being since incapacitated or wounded by the onslaught of the Crimson Changelings rage. Trixie looked on at the battle, focusing on the monstrous form Pharynx had taken. Throught the fighting with the Crimson Changeling, Pharynx had not let a single of the Changelings die. 'He really has changed.' she thought with a smile. The battle began with a massive Strike from the Crimson Changeling witch resulted in a large chink being formed in Pharynx's chitinous armor. Pharynx had to take his regular form again. 'This guys strikes are way to strong. I'll have to keep from getting hit.' he said to himself as he dodged a downward strike which cracked the flagstones below. Pharynx jumped back and picked up the other armored changeling's sword and aimed the tip at the Crimson Changeling who was panting slightly and stared at him. "WHY WON'T YOU JUST DIE!!!" The Crimson Changeling roared before jumping into the air and bringing both blades down wards towards Pharynx's neck. Pharynx jumped to the side and swung his sword which sliced into the Crimson changelings back. The Changeling roared in pain and swung his sword backwards at Pharynx. Pharynx tried to block it and the two blades hit. Pharynx was propelled backwards through the air and hit the ground a couple meters back. He landed on his back. Many of the party goers nearby gasped at this as Pharynx slowly pulled himself up. He looked at the Crimson Changeling closing in on him. The Crimson Changeling raised his sword into the air and prepared to bring it down on Pharynx's head before the blade was struck with a purple energy beam which sent it flying backwards where it stabbed into the ground. The Crimson changeling looked back with at the sword before looking forwards with a snarl to see shining armor rush into the battle ground with several Canterlot guard. Shining armor stood next to Pharynx and helped him up before he drew his sword as well. The Crowd looking in on the fight cheered at this The two best warriors of Equestria and the Changeling Kingdom were gonna be facing down against this Crimson Monster, and there was no doubt about this that the two Warriors would win. Twilight and the other members of the Elements of Harmony raced to the Area where the battle was going on and parted their way through the Crowd to see what was going on. They arrived just in time to see Shining armor and Pharynx charge the Crimson Changeling who replied by ripping his second sword out of the ground with his magic and roaring in defiance at the two. Pharynx arrived first and when the Crimson changeling swung his sword at him Pharynx dropped down and slid forwards tripping him. The Changeling fell down face first. And Shining prepared to plunge his blade into the Changeling's exposed head but before he could the changeling rose into and upright position using his forelegs and jumped into the air landing behind Shining and swung his blade at Shining. Shining lowered into a crouch just in time to dodge the blade but it did take a few hairs off the tip of his helmet's plume. Shining rose his blade and cut the Changeling again across the chest. The changeling stumbled back and Pharynx jumped at Shining's side and the two swung at the Changeling in tandem. The Changeling rose his blades and blocked both strikes and began to fight them both off using a different sword for each of the warriors. The Two were clearly being pushed to their limits and Pharynx was doing the worse of the two due to being already wounded. Suddenly between blade strikes the Crimson changeling's clawed hoof grabbed Pharynx by the head and lifted him into the air. Pharynx was unprepared for this and didn't have enough time to even react before he was slammed by the face into the ground by the head. Pharynx was knocked unconscious by this and a crack formed in the ground with a small pool of Cyan blood slowly pooling beneath his head. The Crowd gasped as this allowed the Crimson Changeling to focus all his attention on Shining. Both of the Changeling's blades began to strike at Shining as he slowly backed up while blocking swings. The three blades then struck each other and Shining tried his best to hold them together as he gritted his teeth with sweat trickled down his forehead. The Changeling with a smile brought his head backwards before head butting Shining Armor as hard as he could. Shining was knocked to the ground by this strike equally as unconscious as Pharynx. The Changeling threw his head back and Laughed. The room was quiet as the gathered crowd stared on in abject horror and shock. This ended with a massive crack as Ember smashed a large stone statue on the back of the changelings head. The Changeling stumbled forwards before he turned around to look at her. His swords clambered to the ground as his flaming eyes extinguished and he fell to the ground with a clatter.