//------------------------------// // S2EP15 Monsters // Story: Discovering Friendship // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// Shining Armor let out a slow breath, his mana swirling about him in preparation. A circle spread out around him as his mana built up more and more, several runes carved into the air around him while his entire being was aglow with magical power. He had always done his best to be a proper soldier, to do as ordered, to obey his Princess, but as he watched a figure march into Celamont he began to question all he had thought to be true. "Captain..." "I know, keep the people safe. I'll maintain our position here." he interrupted his Lieutenant. She let out a sigh and squeezed his shoulder, turning to shout orders while Shining raised his hands, letting his magic flare outward and expand, forming a large barrier over all of Celamont. Celestia had claimed her battle might very well destroy the city itself, if she managed to contain it. Shining just hoped he was up to the task of containing a pair of Gods. Vinyl whistled as a barrier was slammed over all of Celamont. "This magic..." Nexus growled under his breath. "That'd be Celestia's Captain. Shining Armor, the Aegis of Celamont. Weird that he'd wait for us to get into Celamont before raising it..." Vinyl murmured, still hidden in her armor. "The City...it's empty," Twilight managed to say, leaning against the Vampire, her eye flickering again. "You're right..." "Then Celestia means to fight me head on," Nyx mumbled, continuing the march forward. "Kid, you don't have to do this," Vinyl spoke up, placing a hand on her shoulder. Nyx hung her head, letting out a shuddering breath. "I really do have to do this. If not me, then who else? Only a monster can fight a monster," Nyx chuckled weakly. "Look kid, I feel that on a deep level, trust me, but there's always another way...Look, how about this, lemme go in ahead of you and if she doesn't listen to reason, then you two can duke it out in some fancy royal duel, loser bends knee blah blah blah, deal?" Vinyl offered. "My queen, I...!" Nexus began, Nyx holding up her hand to silence him. "I have so many memories, so many attempts at trying to talk to Celestia and here we all are today. But maybe she'll listen to one of her own. You'll have your chance to speak to her, but when she refuses, she and I shall fight, is that fair?" Nyx asked. Vinyl gulped and gave a gentle nod. "Good, then let us continue onward. I would prefer to settle things peacefully, but I fear she will not stand for that," "Only one way to find out. This shield keeps us locked in, but that means we can take the scenic route, everyone hold on to your lunch," Vinyl ordered, surrounding them in her magic. Before anyone could react she had snatched them in her teleport, stopping right at the doors to Celestia's throne room. "Alright, showtime," Vinyl mumbled under her breath, throwing out her arms and letting her magic slam the massive double doors open. Celestia stood her ground before her throne as Vinyl marched toward her. Had the vampire fallen prey to Nightmares Bewitching? Was such a thing even possible? Celestia was more than aware that the vampires had no love for her. Had she pushed Vinyl too far and the vampire had simply turned sides? If that were true, the Enchantment would've sapped her magic, and from her display with the doors, she was of her own mind and still loyal to her. Vinyl knelt before her for a moment before standing upright and taking a slow breath. She knew Vinyl had a few choice words for her, but it seemed she planned to set aside her anger for a moment. "Princess, I'm begging ya, don't do this," Vinyl said suddenly, holding out her arms and standing between them. "Many times I have failed to act and look at where I am now," "If you fight her, you're on your own," Vinyl warned, hanging her head. "I am more than aware of this, too long have I put off this battle," Celestia sighed as she marched down from her throne. "So you intend to fight, rather than speak? You haven't changed at all," Nyx scoffed, marching forward. Celestia was caught off guard for a moment. The body and voice were that of Nightmare, but the way she spoke and stood was different. "Is that you child?" Celestia asked, lowering her sword slightly. "Does it change anything if it is? Nightmare Moon and I are one and the same. That's why you intended to kill me before I could become a threat to you, when I was just an innocent harmless child!" Nyx yelled, her mana flaring around her. "I...I...Yes, I meant to be rid of you. And if I had done so we would not be here now about to cross blades for the fate of my people," Celestia argued. "YOUR PEOPLE?! YOU DARE MAKE THAT CLAIM?! How many of them know the real you, huh? How many of them know just how low you would fall to keep the throne? How many of them did you trample across, running to safety?" Nyx lowered her head, shaking and clenching her fists. "HOW MANY OF THEM DID YOU ABANDON LIKE YOU ABANDONED ME?!" she demanded. Celestia was speechless. "You don't deserve their love or praise. You don't deserve that throne," Nyx continued, a pair of daggers forming in her hands. "You don't deserve to live," "No no no no no! Nyx don't!" Twilight yelled, willing her body to react, to do something, anything! "Leave her be Sparkle, you have other things to worry about," Magic pointed out. Twilight huffed in frustration, her magic looping in on itself and going back to work on the lock. "I can't just sit here! Nyx might have Nightmare's memories, but she's still a child! MY CHILD!" Twilight yelled, peeling away another layer of the lock. "You aren't just sitting here, you are doing what very few mortals can't claim. You are solving Platinum's Puzzle," Magic grinned. Twilight faltered for a moment, glancing at the grinning woman. "P-Platinum's Puzzle? The unsolvable Riddle? The unpickable lock? The Mages Mindwarper?!" She listed off. "It does go by many names, but yes, the one and the same. And yet here you are, solving it, picking it, and your mind seems rather intact, for the most part," Magic seemed to tease. "It's supposed to be impossible..." "Didn't I say earlier?" Magic asked, leaning in close. "You Sparkle's always find a way," Pinkie stood still, clenching her fists and letting out a squeak as a shiver ran through her body. "Girls...She's here, and she brought Twilight," Pinkie murmured, leaning against the wall. "Whoa, ya'll alright Pinks?" Applejack helped the Gaian to her feet, letting her lean against her. "Guess I haven't really recovered yet, hehe..." she giggled weakly, Chaos sparking around her body. "Don't overdo it Pinkie, we need you, but we can't have you falling apart on us. How else are we gonna smile?" Rainbow pointed out. Pinkie shook her head and pointed her thumb behind her. "The throne room, we gotta move fast," "What about Celamont's Teleportation Protection?" Rarity argued gently. "In case of a threat like this, the Aegis would've been released, meaning all the inner defenses are disabled," Fluttershy spoke up. "Again, we're talking later. Let's do this girls!" Spell Nexus chuckled to himself from the shadows as his Queen drew her blades. All was going perfectly to plan. And then in a bright flash of light, so many of his plans came crumbling down. There standing between Celestia and his Queen was that damned Captain Commander. "My Queen! He will not spare you nor show mercy!" Nexus yelled quickly. "Why would anyone show a monster mercy?" his queen Scoffed, twirling her daggers and preparing to fight. Spell Nexus grit his teeth. He could attempt to assist his Queen, but this was a battle between Gods, and despite his power and wisdom, he was but a lowly mortal. Spike let out a sigh as he stared down Nightmare Nyx. "Why would anyone show a monster mercy?" Nyx scoffed, twirling her daggers. Spike chuckled softly and crossed his arms. "You'd be fairly surprised how many monsters are out there Nyx," Spike smiled inside his armor. "How do you know my name?!" she demanded, pointing a dagger at him. Spike walked forward slowly, his armor glowing as it began to fade away. "Boss no!" Vinyl yelled, but it was too late. The dragon-kin tilted his head to the side as he looked up at a shocked Nyx. She shook, struggling to keep her grip on her daggers. "I'm not gonna fight you Nyx, I'm here to protect you, remember?" he asked softly, leaping backwards from a bolt of magic. "W-Why are you wearing that armor Spike? Why didn't you bring me in?" Nyx whispered. "Because I'm a real monster Nyx. You're an innocent kid," Spike answered without hesitating. "You're not a monster! You...You rescued me, ran from home, left everything behind j-just to save me and...and here you are...defending Celestia..." Nyx sank to her knees, trying to process everything. Spike knelt down in front of her, the next bolt flung at him being deflected by Vinyl. "I've had it with your shit," she growled, mana swirling about her body. "Capture them alive Lieutenant. They are friends of our friend after all," Spike ordered. "What are you going to do to them? T-To me?" Nyx asked, blinking as Spike hugged her. "Nothing Nyx, we're not doing anything to you or them. This is Nightmare's doing, not yours, and we're gonna find a way to fix it," he answered. Nyx grit her teeth, a dagger forming in her hand. Spike gasped as Celestia's magic formed a bubble around him, knocking Nyx away. "We should thank you dragon. The child's mind was rather strong, confused as she is now we can finally take our rightful place," Nightmare breathed, rolling her shoulders. Vinyl leapt at her from behind, Nightmare rolling her eyes and slamming a wing into the vampire, sending her flying through the wall behind her. "Now, shall we dance Knight? Or will you step aside and allow me to face my sister?" Nightmare growled. Spike let out a sigh, slowly tucking his hands into his pockets, all the emotion draining from his face. His body relaxed and a thin coat of scales appearing across his skin. "You intend to fight a God? You are either very brave or very stupid," Nightmare laughed, flinging a bolt at him, Spike's tail slashing through the bolt with ease. Vinyl groaned as she climbed her way out of the rubble. "Oh shit...Hey! Nexus! I don't like you and you don't like me, but if you wanna survive to see tomorrow, now's the time to run!" Vinyl yelled. "What nonsense are you spouting?! No one can stand up to our Queen..." Nexus froze as Nightmare flew past him and through the wall. Spike stood where she had been just moments ago. "I won't kill you Nyx, but I refuse to let Nightmare keep control. If I have to, I'll start breaking bones," Spike warned. Nightmare roared as she rushed toward him, daggers drawn. She slammed the dagger down into his shoulder, eyes wide as the mystic blade shattered against the thin layer of scales. "Is that the best you can do?" Spike growled, a pair of horns forming atop his head. He hopped up and spun, slamming his leg into Nightmares shoulder, sending her soaring once more. Spell Nexus stared in shock as time and again the dragon-kin knocked the Nightmare away with what seemed to be relative ease. "You there! Explain this madness!" Nexus demanded of Vinyl. She let out a sigh. "That right there, is my Boss, and that's his Battle Mode. He's serious about this fight. It's funny, last time he did this was against a God of Death," Vinyl chuckled. "Lies! A Beastkin can't be that powerful!" Nexus growled, turning his gaze back to the battle. "That's not any Beastkin pal, that's The Dragon of Celamont," Vinyl scoffed, standing beside him, her mana swirling around them slowly. "The Child was right sister! This soldier of yours is just another poor soul you've dragged into your cowardice! Your inability to face your mistakes! JUST ANOTHER LIFE YOU'VE RUINED!" Nightmare yelled. Celestia lowered her head. "Stand down Captain," Celestia ordered. Spike paused, his scales fading and his hands slipping out of his pockets. "Yes Princess, I understand," Spike replied, stepping aside. "Really? A little goading is all it takes for you to break? How simple minded you are Celestia," Nightmare mumbled. "Nyx, this is your last chance to take back control. Because when Nightmare kills Celestia, I am going to kill you," Spike warned. Nightmare stared at him, shuddering at the look in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself, screaming while her magic flared around her. The madness came to a grinding halt as Twilight wrapped her arms around Nightmare. The Magian was panting heavily, her own magic sparking painfully around her form. She opened her eyes and smiled. "It's okay Nyx...You don't have to fight anymore," "M-Mom?"