//------------------------------// // The King Meets // Story: Cronus is King // by fanficlover 1 //------------------------------// Ch 17 The ruins, as the name entitled, ruins. The floors were littered with holes that lead to dark, unknown pits below the castle’s foundation, the banners that still hung were in tatters, and many of the entrances and doors to rooms were sealed closed by fallen debris. That didn’t stop me though as I simply went forward. Considering all that had happened, it was unlikely that whatever had taken the trio, and placed such a beast to guard this place, would feel the need to hide in their own home/base.  Checking every room I could, I began my search upstairs but still no captured ponies to be found. I was beginning to become angry and was almost tempted to start breaking down some of the still standing supports and make everything come crashing down. I didn’t though, because I was sure that both Twilight and Rainbow Dash would be crushed under it all (I honestly wasn’t sure about Pinkie Pie and I felt I become even less sure the more I knew her). ‘Ok, so i looked all over down here and all of the upstairs. That either means I missed a room or the rooms are hidden and I was wrong.’ not remembering what I was wearing, I started wiping the front of my helmet to try and alleviate some of the mental stress. Realizing this I quickly put my hand down and started my search once again, though this time to be much more careful as I looked. That became moot though as after only a few steps, the floor was no longer under me, having broken from my weight. The fall was surprisingly uneventful as it only lasted a few minutes before reaching the bottom, just long enough to re-orientate myself before landing. And by landing, I meant falling face first into the stone floor with an oomph. “Ow. Note to self number two: work on my falling.” Dusting myself off, I found myself in what appeared to be a hallway of some sort with one end looking like it lead upwards with a broken staircase, and the other end with a closed door and lights seeming to come from behind it. For some reason the darkness from above did not seem to reach all the way to the bottom as it was actually quite bright down here from the sun still above. Not even considering jumping back up an option after finding a new location in the castle, I slowly crept forward, making sure not to make any sound as I slowly opened the door a crack, into the room. Looking through the Crack, I became speechless from what I saw. Not only were Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash somehow captured, but multiple ponies had been captured as well. Three others to be exact, enough to start but not enough to cause panic if anyone noticed their missing. It looked to be a family of a mother and father and one child (I can’t tell the genders apart without hearing their voices, sue me). What was truly horrify and the main cause of my breathlessness was the fact that each of the ponies who had been captured had been encased in dark black cocoons that looked to be made from the same stuff as the serpent monster that had been guarding the place, each with tubes coming out from the top leading to a set of strange looking armor. “Oh please don’t tell me this is some kind of life syphoning ritual or something.” “Magic actually.” “Oh that’s better, wait what- OOF” I was launched back through the door before I could turn to see who had spoken. The force was enough to crack the stone wall and create an imprint for my body to nest in while I groaned in pain. “Hm, I was expecting a little more from someone who could defeat my Shadow Snake.” By this point, I had gained enough sense to look to who had attacked me. The person- or rather -pony in question was some kind of black mist like creature with vampire like feature and a wispy back half of her body. It was strange to look at but I couldn’t help but stare. Needing to focus became priority though as I quickly remembered her sneak attack. “I prefer Shadow Serpent to be honest.” She became surprised by my unexpected response, which allowed me to begin pulling myself from the wall with only slight amounts of debris coming of with every tug. Her surprise didn’t seem to last long though, as a chuckle came from her throat. “I’ll take that under advisement then when I make an army of them. For now though, I would prefer it if you would leave now.” “What, you aren’t going to attack and try to deal with me now?” I was free by now, but the strange pony spirit, made no move to get closer, instead she simply put one of her hooves on the pods and looked to caress it. “What would be the point in that. I would still win even with my power weakened as it is, and even if you tried to leave and warn ponies about me, no one would believe you.” “I take it your some kind of villain then? Just so you know, I only got here a few days ago so  little background info would be nice.” “Oh my, after all this time and a new displaced appears, that is just lovely. Well then, my name is Nightmare Moon, and I am hardly a villain rather I am the sovereign ruler of Equestria simply wishing to reclaim what is rightfully mine.” “Ruler? So what, are you like the queen before Celestia and Luna?” She shook her head no. “Not exactly, you could say i’m one side of the same coin.” “One half? Oh I get it now, your that evil dark half Twilight was telling me about that was created by some jerk before being defeated by the Elements of Harmony.” She seemed to grow angry at that before looking to calm herself. “I was not defeated. Rather I was separated. And I was not created, I simply existed much like Luna herself.” “No you were created, that’s what Twilight said, and i’m leaning to believe her more than you.” Nightmare Moon said nothing as she pursed her lips before sighing. “That is typical of Celestia. Always wanting to sweep everything under the rug and make it all better. Well, to break the news to you, I was not created by some silly displaced trick, rather I was unleashed and finally open to let Luna and I do what we always wanted.” She gained a deadly smile which showed off her pointed teeth. “I really must thank that displaced if I ever find him. In fact, after I get my body back, I’ll see if his statue isn’t around somewhere and make him the first in my personal collection. “How about no.” I sprung forward, not aiming for the vapor body of Nightmare Moon but rather to what must have been her armor which must acting as the catalyst for her rebirth. The plan was stopped though as a wave of unseen force slammed into my flying body and sent me backwards into the walls of the room once more. I groaned in pain again but was much faster to pull myself free. Having not seen what had hit me, I quickly turned the dial of the dual gashat. Kamen Rider Chronicle ‘If I can’t get past her by being fast, then I just need to do this my way and end all of this now.’ I pressed the A and B button but no announcement came nor did Nightmare appear to be stopped “What the?” Nightmare began laughing in a surprisingly melodramatic way before stopping. “You think by using dark magic in my own domain, you could defeat me? Far from it. The only thing you have done is give me the chance I need to end your pathetic life.” At saying that, my entire body seemed to lift off, as though being held by unseen force now, and some form or force started to surround my body binding my limbs to my side and began to squeeze. I couldn’t believe it, Kamen Rider Cronus, one of the strongest Kamen Rider in Ex-aid, was being defeated by some Alicorn ghost. I struggled as hard as I could but the pressure didn’t let up. I couldn’t move my hands to change form or use and energy item. All in all, I was screwed unless I did something. Not caring what, I tried to focus on every power I knew that I had which caused all the gashacon weapons to fall to the ground in a clutter and my body finally leaving the unknown grasp. With the little time I had just gained from my half-forgotten ability to teleport, I quickly turned the dial again. Kamen Rider Harmony Breathing easier now, I found that I was now in the foyer where I had started my search for the others. “Don’t think you can get away that easily.” Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out Mighty Action X and pressed the trigger causing the transformation projection to appear. Load out Change: Action X Like before, my body became covered in the pink armor and the Breaker MK: 2 was attached to my wrist ready to smash something. With my a weapon in had now, I felt much more confidant. “Let’s try that again.”