-Princess Ember-
“Why isn't he here!?” I’ll have to apologise to the troops later...I wasn't in the best of moods.
“My liege, the weapon is refusing the call of the dragon soul, and he has...help.” A younger soldier stated as he nursed his arm.
'Help he says. As if I didn't already know.’ I thought to myself. “His keeper. Find some way to separate her from him and I can persuade him to aid our...cause.” 'First Akriloth...then that disgusting pony…’
I was thrown from my musings and dreams of righteous vengeance however by the sound of shuffling and sniffing.
A strange looking creature arrived and looked straight up at me, the way it looked reminded me of the wolven ancients to the north, except this one had red, green, and grey fur. What surprised me even more was when it changed shape, becoming taller and more like that of a minotaur. His face was hidden inside of his hood.
“So, you’re the one affecting my friend?” the mysterious person asked as he reached back to pull out his sword.
“You will show your respect knave!” Yelled the soldier next to me. “Guards! Seize him!” Yet no one came.
“It seems I’ll have to handle this myself,” With a wave of the staff I commandeered the soldier and willed him into a fighting stance. “Before I end your miserable existence I’d like to know your name.” I stated plainly.
The man couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement. “Knave? You know nothing.” the man said as he pulled out a reflective shield. “If you want my name, you’ll need to earn it.” he taunted.
‘Keep a cool head...no need to rush.‘ I dashed to his left whilst my soldier dashed right. My intent was to aim low while my puppet went high. I didn’t expect him to block my swing so effortlessly. I staggered away as my puppet was knocked unconscious, the pommel of the swordsman’s blade was apparently strong enough to do so.
“Well...that just isn’t fair.” I whispered as I finally managed to right myself. The warrior swirled his blade once, looking ready for anything. “I will not be humiliated twice!” I fueled my growing rage into the crystal of my staff and attempted to once more will that ‘Hero’ to my side. “I am your master, and you shall do as I say!!”
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed ahold of my staff, causing ice to quickly race up my weapon and incase it. “Pay more attention to the fight!” He said in a serious voice.
I yelped and breathed out a plume of fire, only to lose my balance once again and fall flat on my back. “Oh by Bahamut’s name! This is just like fighting Cinder all over again! If you’re going to kill me then do it already. I have nothing to lose…”
“Except your redemption.” the man said as he took away my staff. “I’m not here to kill you, Ember. I’m only here to stop your madness, I’m a hero, not a villain.”
I couldn’t help but sneer at his comment. “You and I have very different definitions of ‘hero’. Although my brother would agree with you no doubt, and as for my redemption,” I managed to get back on my feet and dust myself off. “I can only achieve such a thing only after I have taken the hero for myself. You see he has something that belongs to me,”
I flared my wings and began to meditate. “I’m not stopping til I have that blade in my claws again.” I rushed him again, only to stop midway and duck, narrowly missing a swing of his blade. I then vaguely remember something that accursed hero did to me. I grasped the swordsman’s arm and slithered my way up to his head and locked my legs onto his neck and pulled him downwards, slamming his back into the ground.
I backed away and caught my breath ‘That was invigorating! He really fought in this manner!?’
The man got up, a little winded but still going despite the attack. “You’ll have to do better than that, Dragon Lord Ember, but first before we continue..” he said as he placed the staff into his pouch, it suddenly shrunk in size as he put it in. “We don’t need that being damaged.” he said before focusing his attention on me.
“I’ll only end up ripping it from your cold dead hands.” I exclaim. ‘This will be embarrassing, but if it worked for the hero, it will work for me.’ With another calming breath I begun to move in a dance, my knees rising into the air in rhythm one after the other as I waved my arms forward, one palm open as it hung outstretched as the other covered my chest half closed.
“Your move swordsman.” I called. He said nothing at first, I noticed a strange gleam in his eyes, but nothing else out of the ordinary. He stretched his sword aloft as wind and ice start to flow from the hilt to the top of the tip.
“That would've worked if your body actually had anything I liked.” He said before leaping at me, but I dodged to my left, he suddenly rolled behind me and made a slash at my wings, I suddenly felt them stiffen and get cold.
“Y-yyou the-thi-think a li-li-little cold will…” I couldn’t stop shivering, I was starting to drop my stance. I needed to focus...I…blacked out from the sensation, heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber. But before I fully embraced the darkness, I heard the swordsmen speak one last time.
“If you knew what I was capable of, you would wish you were fighting the other ‘Hero’” He said before I fell unconscious.
HP: 1853 of 2600
MP: 0 of 940
SP: 286 of 1100
Weaknesses: Ice, Water
Resists: Earth, Energy, Fire
Princess Ember of the Dragonlands, wants nothing more than to be worthy of the Omni-Blade
-The Spire’s Point: Witherbone-
Deep within the largest cave atop the mountain spire, a bone white and black striped dragon began to pace as he argued with his “King”.
“Lord Akriloth please! They have the Elements of Harmony! Your presence is needed upon the battlefield.”
The mighty dragon scoffed at the twig before him. “Yes, these trinkets of friendship and unity. Meaningless jewels not even fit for a horde.” The mighty dragon checked once again upon his own shining red jewel.
“Whatever fate brought me here gave you to me once more...I shall see your birth with my own eyes this time my young one.”
Wither could only throw his hands into the air in annoyance. “This is why I don’t have eggs...this is why…”
-Mainland: Crusaders-
A massive amalgam of wood and steel barreled through the town upon burning wheels. Dragons both big and small found themselves crushed by the unstoppable engine of DOOM.
“Sweetie! How’s are structur’l ‘ntegrity?” Applebloom called from the engine chamber.
“We’re stable, but those rusted bolts aren’t gonna hold much longer!” Sweetie Belle cried from outside a wall of the vehicle. Opening a hatch, the unicorn went to check on Scootaloo.
“How are the engines?” She asked with worry.
Taking her eyes off the controls of the vehicle for a split second, Scootaloo huffed out an answer.
“She keeps overheating! Either we shell out for some actual coolant, or we replace the thing entirely,” The pegasus went back to her controls, once again focused. “Mana cores’ll cost us all our collective hides though...and I’m not about to-”
A single pop resounded within the vehicle. An iron bolt had snapped, causing several plates and barriers to come undone as the beast itself began to tilt, crash, and burn.
The trio had been left unharmed...but they were now also left vulnerable to a group of very hungry beasts...
-Hero-
I rushed through the corridors and caves, all fours gunning to the signal I felt. “LINK! You better not be dead!!” I yelled as I finally caught his scent. Barrelling into the room I rolled onto my knees and saw...a downed armored dragon...and Link hefting an unconscious Ember in the same golden armor she wore when she fought me. “Hey! You’re not dead!” I exclaimed happily.”
“I’ve been Link for twenty four years, I doubt I’d lose to her.” Link said with a grin.
“Ha! Elf man has eighteen years on you! Now that’s embarrassing!” Exclaimed Serenity.
“Be nice, Azure has accomplished much in only two years.” Luna stated in my defense.
“If you call pissing off a fifteen year old Celestia an accomplishment that is,” I retorted in self deprecation. “So, sleeping beauty almost had me for a meatshield with use of a Dragon Amulet, where is it?” I ask
“Reach into my pouch and just think of a purple staff with a gem.” Link said as he couldn’t pull it out himself, he was busy carrying the dragoness.
With a nod I reached into his pouch and pulled out the rather long purple staff. It’s focus point was a large red gem that had that millennium old dragon blood smell. “Omni-Systems, scan the gem.”
[Scanning…] A virtual screen popped up and displayed an image of the staff, and an image of a Dragon Amulet.
[Ninety three percent match]
“Yeah, that shouldn’t be here. Link, hold onto this, and back away real quick,” I deposit the staff back into the pouch, watching as it shrunk and entered Link’s pouch. “Equipping the Giga Drill Bit!” Link backed away just like I told him.
“What are you doing?” Link asked.
A crimson metal box appeared on my arm as a golden drill jut forward. “I need fresh air! All this dirt and dust is killer on my sinuses!” The digging tool begins to glow with green energy as I aim it at a wall. “Anybody want to say it?” I ask.
“Ah fuck yeah!” Shouted Serenity as she merged with the spinning drill. “Giga...Drill...BREAKER!!” in a blast of shadow and spiritual energy I shot straight through the cave wall and straight out into open air!
“Woohoo! Sweet sweet fresh air!” Looking up, I see that the tip of the mountain was really just a few meters away and I facepalmed. “I can’t do that again...can I?”
“Ya blew it dumbass, on the bright side we can carry everybody up.” Serenity stated as she pat my head.
“A bit of a rash choice there, Azure. You or I may have gotten rid of most of the dragons, but that doesn’t mean we got them all, you might of drawn some attention there.” Link pointed out as he was walking out of the entrance I made.
“Oh thanks a lot Murphy!” I cried as three heavily armored dragons flew up to meet us. They all carried elemental dragon blades and their armor was very reminiscent of…”You wouldn’t happen to be Dracomancers would you?” I asked.
A pure white dragonness offered her claw to me. “I am Feather of Lord Cyrus’ personal guard, we came to assist,” To her left was a brown scaled dragon and her right was a white scale. “These are Numb and Skull, don’t let their names fool you, they are quite intelligent.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence chief.” The white scaled dragon snarked.
“Behave Skull, no doubt the hero and his companions are tired from this fight.” Stated the brown scaled dragon.
I blinked for a bit...and then gave a few small nods. “We have a prisoner of war we’d like for you to deal with,” I say. “Link, hand over Ember.” The Hylian nodded, he looks over to the white dragoness and walks over to her. He lifts Ember up toward her.
With care, Ember was moved from Link to feather’s arms. “Pray tell did the sister of our Lord manage her way here? And for what purpose?” Asked Feather.
“She wanted my body for her personal gain,” Feather now sported a very noticeable blush as Numb and Skull did their best to stifle their laughter. “As for how she got here...Link, you fought her, she say anything?”
“All she revealed was that she wanted your Omni Blade.” Link said as he crossed his arms. “My Wide Angle ability didn’t reveal much either.”
The dracomancers seemed to gasp and freeze at the mention of the blade. “But, only the great hero of the dragonlands may wield the bla-” Feather cut her words short as I pulled out the Omni-Blade in it’s original form only to revert it into it’s new golden state. “You...then that would mean...but you can’t be more than…” Feather devolved into a mess of incoherent babble as Skull grabbed her shoulders and began to lead her back to Ponyville.
“I’ll take the chief back to Lord Cyrus, Numb, help the hero and his companion up the mountain.” Skull said as he and Feather flew away.
“What will you do with her?” Link asked me.
“Not my jurisdiction. Cyrus will settle this with their father, whoever he is, and that's that.” I reply.
“Don't want an international incident on your hands?” Serenity asked.
“Oh ha ha.”
Link crossed his arms as silence fell upon the group. The hylian was waiting patiently.
“Numb, I'd suggest you head back to town. Link, grab my arm, we're going up from here.”
Of course before Link could act, Numb had found it hilarious to shove his Earth element Dragon Blade into my abdomen. My non-existent Shadow covered abdomen.
“By the gods...grr, by order of the new dragonlord, you will stand down and allow yourself-” A sickening clang resounded through the cave as the Megaton Hammer knocked Numb out of the sky.
“And now Ember has spies. Today is just great.”
Link hoisted his hammer onto his right shoulder. “Can today get any worse?” he asked with a sigh.
Serenity groaned and looked at me with a questioning look.
“Hey he said it not me! Besides the point, we can finish this now, so no more surprises, no more flash mobs, no more out of the blue left field shenanigans. Serenity, help Link fly up seeing as how he's the only one here without wings,”
The Shadow pony gave a small chuckle as she left my body and started to float in front of Link.
“And NO funny business!” I added.
“Fine! Strictly business!” She relented as she solidified into a black metal helmet shaped after herself and a black tunic with wings. “There, now put me on!”
Link held up a leather gloved hand. “No need.” He said before putting the hammer away into his pouch. He pulls out a beautiful ocarina and begins to play a melody that had only six notes. Suddenly, white wings sprouted from Link’s back.
“Okay, nevermind, he's got the song of soaring…”
“Use your friend since she’s currently in that form at the moment.” Link suggested before giving his wide angelic wings a flap, slowly descending from the ground. “Top of the mountain, right?” he asked.
“Top of the mountain. Luna, you good?” I ask the pair.
“This is quite possibly the most uncomfortable I've ever been!” I hear Luna's voice echo from the helmet.
“Serenity, revert and give Luna full control,” I say as I pull out the Galaxy Star Spear and toss it into the air. The solid helm and tunic once again become Shadow as the inky mass flies into the air and grasps the two headed spear.
“I hope you still remember how to use that.”
Luna sticks her tongue out at me as I shake my head and unfurl my own wings.
Taking point, I lead us straight into the gaping mouth of the cavern Akriloth called home. The heat was something else...the air had the taste of wet tin and whatever glands I still had started to soak through my remaining scale and fur.
Taking a breath, I equipped myself accordingly. “That's MUCH better. Everyone good?”
When I looked at Link, I noticed he was wearing a red-colored tunic, I also noticed glowing white and yellow feathers scattered all over the ground. Link glanced around the area before he went searching through his pouches.
“Hopefully this isn’t the fire orb powered version of Akriloth” he said as he took out his megaton hammer and equipped the bow and arrow. “Here, if he’s anything similar to Volvagia, this weapon should crack his scales easily.” Link said as he held it toward me.
“You're letting me use the Megaton…?” My hand shakily grasped the handle of the unruly beast. A single tear fell from my eye as I gave the instrument of destruction three quick swings. The air parted from the force and size and I could only stare in awe. “THIS IS THE GREATEST THING TO EVER EXIST IN THE HISTORY OF EVERYTHING!!”
“You are this world’s hero after all, it's only fitting that you have the means to deal the final blow.” Link said with a smile before directing his attention toward deeper into the lair of the beast.
I was filled with an immense joy at these words and I guess I couldn't help myself as I started to skip forward unto what would undoubtedly be my untimely demise as I started to sing.
“We're taking a stand, we're taking a vow, this is the place, the moment is now! This is our golden opp-or-tun-i-ty!! The wishing star belongs...to-”
I felt a bony claw graze the tip of my neck ever so slightly, and with a quickness, the offending offender met the face of my newly acquired mallet of DOOM.
“CROSS COUNTER!!” I yelled as the pearly white body of what looked like a gangly dragon soared past Luna and Link at what I could only assume to be ludicrous speed if the checkered black and white contrail was anything to go by.
“Did...he just go to plaid?” Luna asked in worry and confusion.
“You know, I'm really glad you were able to slip outta the castle for movie night.” I said, hefting the hammer upon my shoulder.
“And I'm glad you heroes are so easily distracted.” Said an ominous, gravely, echoey voice from behind my back. “It's much too difficult to find intelligent henchman these days.”
Luna readied herself for battle as black fire burned upon her fetlocks, and I turned around to take a good gander at Akriloth's ugly chiseled face.
“It wouldn’t be wise to underestimate us.” Link warned as the tip of his arrow gleamed with glacial energy.
Now, the original Battleon made him look tiny. He was not so tiny here. There's towering behemoth...and then there was whatever Akriloth was.
The beast of a dragon chuckled as he began to build a massive amount of fire in the back of his throat as he swiped his left claw in a wide swing.
I went high, Luna caught and rode Akriloth's arm, Link leaped high into the air to avoid the claw-swoop. Taking aim, he let loose the ice magic-powered arrow at the dragon’s face.
A large mass of ice began to form on the bridge of the dragon's nose, which was quickly smashed by Luna's flailing body as he swung his arm to his face.
Without skipping a beat, I willed the FDB out of my inventory and hurled it right into the monster's chest. Of course this had the added effect of forcing Akriloth to expel an incredibly dense plume of face melting fire down upon us.
Luna wasn't anywhere in the blast radius, but I had no time to work up a suitable defense for Link and myself...the fire would end up consuming us...Until it didn't.
Link had his hand held out with a strange diamond barrier forming us, it quickly dropped as swift as it had appeared. Taking this moment, he released another ice-shot at Akriloth.
Severely weakened, the dragon struggled to so much as even touch his now encased shoulder.
“This...YOU!! You shouldn't even have this blade...I REFUSE TO BE SLAIN THIS WAY AGAIN.” Akriloth roared as the cave began to shake and rise in temperature. Primal marks of fire began to form haphazardly as he fought his injuries.
[WARNING, TEMPORAL SHIFT]
“The hell does that mean!?” I screamed as I dodged falling debris. “No you know what! Screw this! Moonpie, take Link and fly far and fast. I'M ENDING THIS!”
From the shadows Luna rose, as she took Link by the scruff of his tunic and bailed out of the cave.
The raging fire dragon took notice and launched a ball of fiery death at the pair, only for me to slam said meteor of destruction right back at him. Now reeling, I took one last breath as I pooled ALL of the Mana I had (even the bare amount keeping me alive) and charged an Ultima right into the big shiny beat stick of the Megaton FUCK MOTHERING HAMMER™!
As my body fell deeper into ruin as I charged forward, Akriloth tried and failed to keep me from his now degrading body. My mythical mallet of dragon slaying majesty (Did I mention how much I loved this thing?) landed face first unto the pommel of the FDB and all the room was filled with green. Glorious, death dealing green.