After our confrontation with Duke Chivalrous I returned to my quarters with Stalwart at my side. I had a duel to prepare for, after all. Morning had departed my company to negotiate with Magus Topaz in the hopes that she could prevent the duel before it happened. Likely ‘twas a doomed venture, as Chivalrous would never seek to compromise. An opportunity to kill, maim, or humiliate me in a duel no doubt pleased his base tastes, even if he had to get a proxy to do most of the actual work. ‘Twas possible Morning might be able to get Topaz to decline becoming Chivalrous’ champion, if unlikely. Topaz needed Chivalrous’ political support, and she would appear weak to her other supporters if she failed to aid an ally who so desperately needed her now. Even if Morning did manage to convince Topaz not to take part in the duel, ‘twould no doubt come at a great cost. Topaz was ever the political opportunist, and if I had to guess, would demand that Morning join her against Mother in the conclave. That could have terrible consequences for the balance of power.
So I worked to don mine armor for a duel that I did not truly desire. I would gladly have fought Chivalrous; he could not have hoped to withstand mine attacks, and it would have been extremely satisfying to show him the error of his ways. Dueling Topaz was a very different prospect, however. While we were political enemies, I did not personally despise her. True, she was a consummate schemer, but I could hardly claim Mother or even I were any better. Certainly Mother had used unsavory tactics to gain an advantage over her political enemies over the years, even if they were for the betterment of Equestria. What is more, Topaz was a much more dangerous opponent. As a senior combat magus with ambitions to become an archmagus, she was not one to casually enter combat with.
“Thou shouldst be more careful about issuing challenges,” Corva chided. “Especially somepony as important as a duke. Most powerful nobles have somepony they can call upon to duel on their behalf.”
“So I am aware,” I grumbled. “I just did not think ‘twas the case with Duke Line. Not after the way he backed down last time.”
“The situation has changed,” Corva pointed out. “Instead of Chivalrous merely making a fool out of himself by diving too deep into his cups, now the whole conclave is up for grabs. Thou art quite possibly the key to Topaz’s ascension to archmagus if she plays her cards right.”
“So I am aware,” I repeated. I sighed mentally as I checked to make sure my armor was fitted right. “But there is little I can do but fight this duel and try and win it.”
Corvo's voice became harsher. “Trying is not acceptable, only victory. Thy life is on the line. If Topaz can become archmagus by leaving thee bleeding and broken on the dueling field, she will do so.”
I huffed. “‘Tis far easier to say I need to win than to actually achieve victory. Doubly so against a foe as capable as Topaz.”
“Indeed.” There was a moment’s pause before Corva spoke more carefully. “Thou shouldst take mine offer.”
I froze as she reminded me of her offer for power. “This again.”
“This again because thou dost continue to throw thyself into great mortal peril,” Corva chided. “If thou art going to keep fighting foes such as Moonwatch and Topaz then thou needst my power. That is not an opinion, that is a fact. Thou wert fortunate in thy battle with Moonwatch, and only a fool depends on fortune to carry them through a battle.”
“‘Twould also be foolish for me to trust a spirit that I do not fully know,” I stated.
Corva was slow in replying. “I only wish to aid thee, Midnight. ‘Twould wound me terribly to see thee perish. Please, accept my power. The price is small, and thou needst it. ‘Tis better than anything thou wilt get from that fey or anyone else, and where some might seek to trick thee I will stand by my promise. My power will let thee beat Topaz, as well as any other foe thou might face.”
I thought carefully about the proposal. She was right that I could use greater power, but the risks of making a bargain with her were significant. If I could but see the results of mine actions before making decisions then things would be so much easier.
My ruminations on how I should respond to Corva were interrupted when the door slammed open. Mother stormed into our quarters and glared at me. “And why art thou armoring thyself?”
“I am about to engage in a duel,” I told her. “Armor is very useful to keeping myself from being wounded as mine opponent seeks to spill my lifeblood upon the dueling ground.”
Mother scoffed. “Thou shalt be doing no such thing.”
I frowned at her tone. “Unless Morning can negotiate peace 'tween me and Chivalrous, I will be.”
“Hardly.” Mother tossed her mane. “If it comes to that, I will see to Topaz.”
My frown deepened. “And what do you mean by that?”
“I will stand as thy champion in the duel, obviously,” she told me. “I can hardly allow my daughter and heir to get herself killed in some poorly conceived duel.”
I bit back mine intended first response and instead tried to reason with her. “Mother, that would embarrass me in front of the other magi. Nopony would respect me, mine honor, or my word if I came running to you. I would be like those young noblings whom you always mock for crying to their parents whenever they are embarrassed. Does my pride and standing mean nothing to you?”
“It would save thy life,” she said without a hint of give. “Topaz has decades of experience o'er thee. Better wounded pride than...”
So that was it. Once again Mother had no confidence in me, as seemed to be so often the case these days. I turned from her as I went about putting on my cloak. “I can defeat her.”
Mother slammed her hooves down on a nearby desk, making me jerk back. “THOU ART MY DAUGHTER!”
Silence reigned ‘tween us, and my heart raced in reaction to Mother’s outburst. Rarely had she subjected me to so much of her ire, and ‘twas unpleasant in the extreme, but deep down I knew I could not submit to her. If I did so then she would always use such tactics to bully me into compliance, just as she had in the past. I drew myself up to face her, as uncomfortable as it was to meet that fierce gaze when ‘twas directed at me. “Am I not a magus? Am I not to fight mine own battles? Am I to take the insults of that cretin without comment and let him intimidate me with other magi?”
“Hardly. As I said, I will deal with him and Topaz.”
“I have not declared you as my champion,” I told her.
“Easily amended.” Mother unraveled a scroll and placed it on the desk. She waved me over, and I looked at what had been written. As expected, it stated that Mother would be my champion for the duel. All that it required was my signature, for which Mother offered me a quill.
Something burned within my chest as I scowled down at that letter. Signing it felt like an admission of defeat, and how Mother did not think I could see to my own affairs. “Do you think so little of me?”
Mother stepped closer to me, invading my space as she lorded her superior height to loom over me. “Sign. Now.”
I met her eyes, my decision having been made. “No.”
Mother’s eyes narrowed and when she spoke ‘twas with the absolute iron tone of a pony who expected to be obeyed without question. “That was not a request. Thou art my daughter, and thou wilt do as I command.”
“Or what?” I demanded, my throat dry and heart thumping as I did all I could to keep from trembling in the face of the mare who had been my master for my entire life. A fiery and stalwart titan whom loomed over all that I knew.
Mother glowered at me and subjected me to an oppressive silence, and every second that passed made that silence all the more terrible. For that silence promised many awful consequences should I not give in to her desires here and now.
My first instinct to that unbending will was to bow to Mother and her demands, as I had done so many times in the past. After all, I had always thought of Mother as wiser than me, stronger, and more experienced. Why should I not do what she said? Especially when the consequences for defying her could be quite terrible? Certainly doing so now could result in disaster. I was not at all certain I could beat Topaz in a straight fight such as the one I was now forced to wage. ‘Twould be so much easier to let Mother take my place. She was arguably the best duelist in all of Equestria, having won many duels over the course of her career. In some ways ‘twould be wiser to let her take over for me. ‘Twould be a far smaller risk to myself, and more likely to result in victory.
I took that letter and levitated it ‘tween us—and set it on fire. Mother’s eyes widened at the display of open defiance. When I spoke ‘twas with all the resolution I could bring to bear. “I am going to duel Magus Topaz. You can support me in this or you can not. That is your choice. But either way, I am going to fight and I am going to win. Whatever it takes.”
Mother’s teeth showed as she scowled. “Or she will kill thee. She has decades more experience, is a veteran of the Lunar Rebellion, and strong in her magic. Never once did the Rebels breach the section of the wall she held, and she has since gone on to deal with several threats to Equestria.”
My course set, I did not allow myself to be intimidated in this. “I remember hearing tales of a fierce young magus who with determination and skill beat several magi more experienced than herself at a conclave, and made her name known to all.”
Mother’s response was to give me a gaze she normally reserved for somepony she intended to slay. It seemed she was not amused by me bringing up her history to use against her.
I knew not what might have transpired ‘tween us had not the door opened. Morning entered the room, a frown of weariness on her face. “I regret that...” She trailed off when she saw the standoff ‘tween us. No doubt she sensed the unpleasant miasma coming off our auras.
“Morning, I take it negotiations did not go well?” I asked, feeling stiff as I did so.
“Thy report, magus,” Mother said with equal stiffness.
Morning frowned at the both of us, but she did not opt to pursue what had fallen ‘tween us. “I am afraid mine efforts to negotiate ‘tween you were for naught. Topaz refuses to stand aside, and Line will not accept anything less than a duel to the death.”
I tilted my head. “To the death? Surely this does not merit such a harsh measure. At the very least I would have thought Topaz would have negotiated for the option of submission. ‘Tis her head on the line in this, and this is not her fight.”
Morning let out a long sigh. “I am sure I could negotiate that if she were the only one. However, Line demands your blood, and she seems unwilling to break faith with him.” (1)
1. This was likely because Duke Chivalrous was a cornerstone supporter of Topaz. Chivalrous had ran through the accumulated favors of his house and gotten several sizeable loans that would be quite difficult for his house to pay off so that he could buy support for Topaz. This made him a rather crucial ally for the conclave, though several historians have argued that Topaz was working to shift away from her dependance on Chivalrous; she was courting a number of influential magi from within Sunbeam’s faction, such as Morning and Midnight (whom had been seen quarreling with her mother), suggesting she was seeking for a coalition that would let her rule without the troubling influence of the duke. This would make sense, considering Chivalrous’ wealth and influence would have been burned up by the end of the conclave, significantly reducing his value to her as an ally.
So that was the way of things. Chivalrous intended to use Topaz to do what he could not accomplish himself: kill me. “The coward. He would risk the life of another, but refuses to risk the shedding of his own blood for vengeance.”
Mother’s eyes burned with hatred as she ground her teeth together. “If he thinks his blood shall go unshed...”
“He stands little chance of defeating thee in direct battle, Midnight. Appointing a stronger champion is ... prudent.” Morning shook her head as she went to the liquor cabinet to get a drink. “And Topaz seems confident in her ability to defeat thee. She said she would only turn down a duel if thou surrenders to her custody, answer all her questions in full, and apologize to Chivalrous for thine insults.”
I snorted. “Those things will never happen. Though now I wonder who is playing who 'tween them. Does Topaz need Chivalrous so badly she would kill for him and put her life on the line? Or is Topaz merely using Chivalrous to gain an opportunity to harm Mother? Mayhaps they are indeed such close allies that Topaz has no regrets about this?”
“Doubtless she sees an advantage to be gained from thy destruction.” Mother glowered at me out of the corner of her eyes. “Which is why we should seek other, far more efficient answers. ‘Tis only foolishness to play into her hooves. I would not be surprised if Topaz became far more compliant and willing to negotiate if ‘twas me she faced on the opposite end of the dueling circle.” A vicious smile spread across her lips. “And if she does decide to face me in battle then I will show her the flaw in her arrogance and for daring to try and harm my daughter.”
I glowered right back at Mother. “And as I have told you, you are not going to be my champion.”
Morning cleared her throat before another argument could break out. “Perhaps we could discuss strategy, then?”
I took a steadying breath. “That would be productive, aye.”
Mother took a seat opposite of me and crossed her legs over her chest. “Then by all means, Midnight, share thy plans.”
Her condescending tone set me on edge, but I forced down my growing cholor. I needed a clear mind, for if I was to be honest, I had no plans for how to win other than some generalities. But ‘twould not do to say that to Mother. “My plan will be to go on the attack immediately to seize the initiative, and seek to end the contest quickly before she can recover. She might not expect me to be so aggressive when I am less experienced.”
“Or she will expect exactly that because thou art young and thus impetuous,” Mother countered.
“What do you know of her skills and talents?” Morning asked as she poured herself a drink.
“What attack spells will be most effective?” Mother demanded as she piled on questions before I could answer. “How is she likely to defend against thy blows? How will she strike at thee in kind?”
“I know she is a skilled geomancer, and that she fought in the Siege of Canterlot,” I said. “I would think my usual attack spells would be best to use since I am most familiar with them.
No doubt she will use the geomancy that she is most familiar with. Which means I should expected to be attacked with stone, sand, and mud. 'Tis possible she might use enchanted gems as well.”
“Specifics!” Mother barked.
Mine ire grew. “There is only so specific I can get when I have never seen Topaz fight. That is among the reasons why I have trained with you, so that I can beat a wide range of opponents no matter what they might throw at me. One cannot be ready for everything, but must adapt on the battlefield, as you yourself told me.”
“Aye, but this is application,” Mother said dismissively. “Though I suppose I should be glad thou wilt at least remember one of my lessons.”
I huffed as I double checked to make sure all mine equipment was where it should be. “I am about to enter a duel to the death. Can you not belittle me just this once? I am tired of it, and this is not the time for it.”
“Then perhaps thou shouldst not act in a manner worthy of belittlement.”
The words stung me deeply, and I was on the verge of losing my cholor despite myself when Morning stepped in. She placed a hoof on my shoulder while giving Mother a meaningful look. “I think perhaps ‘twould be best if Midnight and I spoke in private.”
Mother eyes narrowed and her words were as icy as a grinding glacier. “Fine. Go, then. Slay thyself in this mad endeavour, if thou must. I shall shed no tears for thee.” She stormed her way to the door and then slammed it hard enough to shake everything in the room. The both of us winced at Mother’s departure.
So that was that then. I may have just had the last conversation I would ever have with Mother, and ‘twas a bitter argument. She thought me nothing more than a fool who wanted to get herself killed when all I had wanted was her support and wisdom as I went into a fight for my very life.
“W-what...” My voice cracked and I wiped mine eyes. I told myself I would not cry. Such was beneath the dignity of a magus. It took several attempts before I could voice my question through a tight throat. “What was it you wished to discuss?”
Morning embraced me, and I hugged her right back as though she were a lifeboat in the middle of the sea. “I am sorry, Midnight,” she murmured as she rubbed my back.
I sniffled and fought a losing battle to maintain my dignity. “F-for what?”
“For what you suffered.” Morning sighed as she held me. “Sunbeam...” She shook her head.
I rested my head on her shoulder. “Is it wrong that I wish for her to be proud of me?”
“Not at all,” she assured me. “Just as it is not wrong for her to worry for thy safety... Albeit, she could express it more kindly.”
My ear flicked. “I am not sure she knows how.” My shoulders hunched. “Part of me wishes to let her be my champion. Likely she would have a much easier time dueling Topaz than myself, but... I fear she would never respect me if I allowed it. That she would always see me as that weak little filly who needed saving all those years ago.”
To my surprise, Morning chuckled softly. “Midnight, she will always want to protect you, regardless of how accomplished you become. It is simply a matter of a mother's instincts.
With good fortune thou wilt understand that well someday.”
I frowned but decided not to argue the point, for I had grown utterly weary of fighting. Still, an idea plagued my thoughts that I had not dared speak in Mother’s presence. “Am I being foolish here? Matters happened so quickly with Chivalrous; I did not think he would maneuver things so that Topaz would duel on his behalf. But now it seems I must duel her, and I see no way out of this without giving up my pride and making myself seem a fool.”
“Dueling an archmagus candidate is undeniably fraught with peril,” Morning said, “and many would say that living without pride is better than dying with it.”
“And what if giving up my pride also denies me mine ambitions?” I asked. “How will ponies see me if I withdraw? Will they think me a coward? A fool? A weakling?”
Morning nodded. “That would be the counterpoint, yes. And I am sure the same applies to allowing thy mother to fight this battle for thee.”
“Those were some of my fears, aye.” My shoulders sagged. “What worth am I to anypony if I always go running to Mother whenever trouble brews? When somepony like Duke Chivalrous can intimidate me? Who would put their confidence in me, or vote for me as archmagus? Ponies wish for their archmagi to be strong, confident, resolute, and capable, and they will remember the day I surrendered to the likes of Chivalrous.”
“Aye, I understand.” She stroked my mane. “Though perhaps a duel to the death against a superior foe is a poor time to assert thine independence.”
“Then it seems my folly was not properly planning how and when to assert it.” I shook my head. “In any event, I now have to dig myself out of this hole.”
Morning focused a stern gaze on me. “And I will fully support thine efforts to win ... so long as you can win. One thing thy mother and I both agree on, the odds are badly against thee as it stands.”
“So both of you insist.” I scratched the side of my head and tried to think of how to beat a magus as skilled as Topaz. It was difficult when I had only heard rumors of how she fought, and I had so few options to tilt the odds in my favor due to the nature of a duel. I could hardly call on allies to even the odds, or avoid her until ‘twas more tactically advantageous to attack her. ‘Twould be a one-on-one, head-on clash, and there was no way to change that. “I see no easy way to gain victory, but then again, our greatest works rarely are simple or easy.”
“Yes.” Morning took a deep breath before sipping from her cup. “I would ask a boon of thee. Let me become thy second for this.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You would be my second when Topaz is your friend?”
Morning stared into her drink before replying. “Gleaming might be a friend, but she is not a daughter. And I wish for one last chance to try and prevent you two from dueling one another.” (2)
2. It was traditional for the duelist’s second to attempt to resolve a conflict between two duelists in an amicable manner. Since conflicts between duelists were often so personal, it helped to have third parties in the form of seconds try and negotiate to a middle ground that the duelists themselves might not see, or were unable to bring themselves to on their own. Many a duel was aborted thanks to the efforts of level-headed seconds.
“I could hardly deny you such a boon,” I told her. “You have done so much for me.”
“My thanks.” She wrapped a leg around my shoulders. “Be careful, Midnight.”
“I assure you, I have no intention of dying.” I wrapped her in a hug, it brought me comfort to do so. “However great the odds against me.”
Morning hugged me back, holding me close as though afraid she would lose me. “Tell me you have a plan.”
“I have a plan,” I lied.
The duel could not be delayed forever. Once I finished putting on mine arms and armor I made my way to the dueling field where an official ring had been set up within the clearing of the castle grounds. The rain had been made to stop over the castle courtyard, and the ground dried with magic for the dozens of distinguished individuals who would be watching the duel. At least I would not be made to fight in the rain and mud, whatever else happened.
A dozen ward stones had been set up in a wide circle, each designed to prevent any magic cast inside the circle from escaping and hurting any onlookers or damaging the castle itself. A good thing too, when the courtyard was filled with ponies who wished to watch. Dozens of fellow magi, guardponies, nobles, castle staff, and others had gathered to see the mare who would be archmagus and the daughter of the Grand Vizier battle one another.
Stalwart had followed in my wake, ever faithful even if he had little place in this duel. I recognized many within the crowd, such as Emeraude and Nova Flash. Mother stood near the edge of the circle, an imperious air about her. Whatever she thought was hidden behind an indifferent mask. Next to her was Subtle, whom I had asked to make sure Mother would not attempt to do something like break one of my legs while I was not looking so that she might take my place in the duel. Mother was certainly capable of such a scheme, though I was less sure Subtle would actually follow my command if it came down to it. Mother and Her Highness had assigned her to me, after all. I could not say for certain where her loyalties lay. All I could do at the end of the day was hope that everything would turn out for the best, somehow.
When Morning and I reached the circle we found Magus Topaz and Duke Chivalrous waiting for us. Topaz was standing still, stoic-faced as she watched us approach, while in contrast Chivalrous smirked, his eagerness radiating. We stopped in front of them and addressed them formally. “Magus Gleaming Topaz. Duke.”
“Gleaming,” Morning said with a brittle smile.
Topaz inclined her head ever so slightly. “Morning, Midnight. It is not too late to withdraw from this.”
I shrugged. “No doubt, but 'tis the terms of that withdrawal I am concerned with.”
Chivalrous grinned with evil intent, clearly enjoying this as venomous words all but drooled from his lips. “Apologize, and ask for mercy. Nicely.”
Mine eye twitched at the idea of apologizing to this lowly creature before me. “For ambushing us and accusing me of crimes for which I am innocent? I think not.”
Chivalrous placed a hoof on the hilt of his blade. “Then justice for both thy crimes and thy mother's shall begin this day.”
I scoffed at the suggestion. “Fine, let us drop the pretense for this duel. This is not about what happened here in Fillydelphia, but what happened in the Line Manor during the Lunar Rebellion, where thy family showed themselves to be the traitors they are. Or were, since they are dead. This is nothing more than a petty attempt at revenge for their deaths at my mother's hooves.”
Chivalrous’ grip on his sword tightened as he glared balefully at me. “This is justice, for her murders and thine. I only regret it took so long for it to come into being.”
Morning focused her attention on Topaz. “Gleaming, surely you cannot want to be party to this? I know you, you would not wish to sully yourself by consorting with the names of traitors. Please, do not allow yourself be used as a tool for revenge by a pony who does not deserve your loyalty.”
Gleaming’s features remained stony in the face of these pleas. “I gave my word to stand as his champion. I can hardly abandon an ally now.”
Morning’s eyes narrowed as they flicked to the duke. “Even one so loathsome?”
“And how many allies will I have left if I turn against the duke?” Topaz asked.
“How many will you keep having such an ally?” I countered, but Topaz did not answer. It seemed she was determined to be Chivalrous’ champion despite all the reasons against it. Though whether ‘twas out of a sense of obligation to an ally or naked political ambition I could not say. A pity, ‘twould have been to my advantage to drive a wedge ‘tween them. The duke might even have backed down entirely without his formidable ally to protect him.
Sensing the mood in the air, Morning said, “If the duel must proceed, let us at least chose more moderate terms.”
Topaz nodded ever so slightly. “I would be glad to—“
“No!” Chivalrous roared over her as he stomped a hoof. “Thou ask for mercy?! What mercy did Sunbeam Sparkle show to my family when she butchered them in their home? No. The blood of my murdered kin cries out for vengeance, and I will settle for nothing less!”
Sensing an opportunity, I focused my attention on Topaz. “He is using you, Magus. He does not even attempt to hide it. Do you wish to shed blood for the cause of traitors?”
“No,” Topaz admitted, the slightly hint of doubt showing itself through her stony mask. “Yield, and let us end this without blood.”
“If you are not dueling to avenge a family of traitors, then what are you fighting for?” I demanded. “If this is about the investigation into Tempus' murder, then you can speak with my mother, who is your superior. We hardly need to fight over such a matter.” Sensing now might be the time to give a bit, I said, “I might even be convinced to bring you into Mother’s confidence so that any misunderstandings might be corrected.”
“Neigh, do not be taken in by her silken words, for she but weaves a web to confuse you,” Chivalrous pleaded. “Tempus is merely the latest in a long line of murders thy mother and her thrice-damned spawn will face justice for. Thou merely seekest to cover up thy foul deeds.”
Topaz’s face remained expressionless, but her voice came out with a touch of annoyance. “Just apologize to Chivalrous so we can put this matter behind us and focus on catching the killer.”
My ear twitched. “Exactly what am I to apologize for? The fact Chivalrous is a lowly coward who hides behind better ponies, a drunkard from which no cask is safe, and a venomed-tongued liar for whom all promises are to be broken? The fact that to call him a half-wit would give him too much credit, or a fool a terrible injustice to the jesters of the world? That he is worthy of nothing but scorn? That he is a boil upon the nobility? That his character is so low he would be rejected by Tartarus? How about that the mere sight of him makes me sick, and ‘twould only improve my life if we were better strangers?”
Chivalrous’ face took on different shades of red as I listed off my well-earned insults, and the grip on his sword tightened to the point he risked breaking the handle. “Kill her. Slowly and painfully.”
“A brave thing to say while hiding behind another,” I mocked. I was well past caring what Chivalrous thought. He had insulted and threatened me, Mother, and Morning, as well as others I care for. I was not apologizing to him and allow him to lord that over me for the rest of my life.
“We will have our duel,” Topaz said grimly. “If need be, it shall be to the death, though I will accept thy surrender at any time.”
Chivalrous blinked and then glared at Topaz. “You—”
Topaz cut him off with a voice of granite. “I will support your cause, as I gave my word I would stand as your champion. But I will not cut down a beaten, unresisting mare.”
A wave of relief washed over me. I had dearly hoped we could avoid a duel that demanded death. Though death was certainly still a possibility, especially in a duel ‘tween magi. ‘Twas difficult to submit when having the flesh burned from one’s bones. Still, I was not about to reject the offer of moderation. “That is quite honorable of you, Magus. Especially in comparison to Chivalrous, whom would only beat an unresisting mare. But in any event, I find those terms more acceptable.”
Morning let out a relieved sigh. “At least we can avoid needless death.”
Chivalrous in turn was virtually quivering with anger. “You dare...”
“Far more daring than thee, coward,” I sneered. “Though that is perhaps for the best. If I were to beat thee I fear I would infect my hooves.”
Chivalrous turned his back to me with a great flourish. “I will enjoy teaching thee thy place once Gleaming destroys thee.”
“First she has to defeat me,” I told him. “So until then, how about thou go findest a cup to drown thyself in?”
Chivalrous snarled and stomped off to leave the rest of us to get on with the duel.
Morning took me aside to whisper to me. “Midnight ... if thou must yield to save thine own life, do so.”
I frowned, knowing I was not going to like this discussion. “I am hardly suicidal.”
“But thou art extremely proud and stubborn,” she cautioned.
I let out a huff. “As you said, I inherited those traits from Mother.”
Morning ears wilted. “Be careful. Thou hast but one life, do not spend it poorly.” At that she left me to face Topaz, whom had not moved from the spot from which we had spoken.
“Are you ready to begin?” Topaz asked, widening her stance to better let her cast her geomancy.
“I am.”
I wasted no time going on the attack in an attempt to overwhelm her in the opening moments of the duel. A flurry of ice shards and small fireballs flew towards Topaz, but she was ready for the attack. She stomped a hoof and a solid slab of stone shot up from the ground to intercept it. The fire and ice slammed into the solid stone, resulting in cracks forming and chunks of stone blowing off, but for the most part, it stood firm.
Then the slab was hurtling towards me with a roar of stone grating against dirt. In reply, I created my own solid barrier of ice to intercept the stone. The two forces collided and sent stone and ice flying all about the dueling circle. I did not waste time admiring the destructive forces clashing, instead throwing a great fireball in an arc intended for Topaz’s head. She saw the attack coming and the ground moved as a wave of sand shot up to intercept and smother the fireball.
“I see you learned your mother's spells,” Topaz called out. “A pity they are a poor choice against stone and earth.”
“She was quite insistent about it.” I scowled, for she was right. Geomancy was well known for its defensive properties, and for being devastating on the attack. While mine own attacks were nothing to balk at, the earth and stone she used was harder than the ice once conjured, and easily absorbed the heat of my pyromancy. I was at a disadvantage right from the start of this battle.
Before I could come up with any alternative to penetrate her defenses, Topaz sent a foot-high rippling wave of stone my way. Changing tactics, I created a dozen illusionary copies of myself and sent them running in every possible direction. If I could confuse her and make her guess which direction I was coming from I might be able to sneak in an attack. But to my surprise, the wave of earth kept coming right at me instead of following any of my copies. I cursed as I realized she must have been using a tremorsense spell to keep track of me. ‘Twas a favored spell amongst geomancers facing other spellcasters due to how it could negate the effectiveness of illusions.
I rushed to create another ice barrier ‘tween me and the rolling earth, but the earth wave quickly pushed its way under the ice and then tossed it up and over itself without losing much if any speed. It was faster than me, and the dueling circle was not large enough for me to keep running forever. The earth wave knocked my hooves right out from under me and sent me tumbling to the ground.
Topaz gave me no time to recover before launching a stream of sand at me. I created a shield, which cracked when hundreds of pounds of sand slammed into it. Still, it held, and I went on the attack by launching more ice and fire at my opponent. But once again she brought up a slab of stone to intercept my attacks. I attempted to break through the barrier through brute force, and shards of stone were chipped or blown off the wall. But all Topaz had to do was bring up more stone to solidify her defenses and keep me at bay. I was quickly expending my magical reserves to no appreciable effect on my opponent at all. She could wait behind that wall until I ran of magic to fight.
If I was going to win I needed to bypass her defenses. I could not use brute force to achieve victory, nor illusion or invisibility to trick her, and I was not fast enough to slip in a blow before she got her defenses up. An alternative sprang to mind, and I got to work initiating my plan. I started creating a mist that permeated the field in a thick fog.
Pity that Topaz was not content to stand back and allow me to do as I wished. Neither did the fog obstruct her ability to attack me, for suddenly the ground gave way beneath me to reveal a sinkhole that swallowed me up. I had just barely landed when the top of the sinkhole sealed back up, leaving me in complete darkness. Sensing what was about to happen next, I ignited my horn and started creating walls of ice all about me. I had not done so a moment too soon, before the earth around me started compressing around me to crush me to death. The ice initially held, but cracks immediately started showing from the immense weight bearing down on it. If I did not act now, this sinkhole would be my grave.
Having time for little else, I opted for brute force and shot a blast of raw kinetic force above me that blew the earth above me to pieces. Not wasting a moment, I used the heat I had stored up to create a blast of hot air that then shot me up and out of the hole. But before I could fully emerge, the stone under me closed around my rear hoof and snagged me. My forward momentum ceased with a jerk, and I slammed down to the ground, leaving me stunned with pain.
“You can yield at any time,” Topaz called out. Even through the mist I could tell she was hardly looking the least bit perturbed from being in this duel. Damnation, she was not even breathing hard from the battle!
I on the other hoof was breathing heavily, and sweat drenched my coat from my recent efforts. I had been on defense the entire battle and it was showing. Still I was not ready to submit. “I am not defeated yet.”
Topaz stomped a hoof and a pillar of stone shot up under me, and before I could react, slammed right into my belly. The impact knocked the breath out of my lungs, and my leg that was still trapped was nearly dislocated when I was suddenly wrenched up. Chains of stone formed out of the pillar to wrap around my limbs, and I coughed in great pain as I was held fast on top of the pillar.
“Surrender,” Topaz called out. “‘Tis over.”
I coughed several times, the pain and the stone crushing my body making it difficult to catch my breath. But I forced myself to reply to her demand for surrender. “I beg ... to disagree.”
I had been unable to breach Topaz’s defenses or trick her. Thus I needed a different method to defeat her. Namely by bypassing her defenses, and I had already done so. The mist I had cast was not to obstruct my opponent’s vision, but to add enough moisture to the air to allow me to use my cyromancy from within her defenses.
Several spears of ice formed right next to Topaz and struck before she could react. They sliced into her from different angles. Part of me regretted having to attempt to slay her, but she was far too dangerous of a foe for me to do any less.
A hushed silence descended over the courtyard when my final blow landed. I was too weakened from the pummeling I had received to easily move. ‘Twas merely a relief for it to be over—until I realized something was wrong. Topaz had not fallen after being smited. Was she still alive, if badly wounded? Mayhaps she was merely in shock from being punctured multiple times and had not reacted. Slowly the mist dispersed to reveal Topaz in full to me. She had indeed been struck by my spears, but no blood ran from her wounds. Instead of appearing shocked or in pain, Topaz stood resolute with her perpetually stoic expression.
The reasons for her lack of concern became evident as the ice spears fell from her body with clumps of sand and stone stuck to their tips. The holes in Topaz’s earth armor were quickly sealed up with additional earth, and the veil hiding the armor to start with reasserted itself, making it appear as though ‘twas nothing but flesh and bone standing before me, instead of a mare covered in a layer of sand and stone. That must have been why she had hardly moved or seemed so stoic during our last conversation. Her armor restricted her movements and facial expressions, but still I had been fooled by her veil.
“Clever, but futile,” Topaz condemned me as the crushing realization that my gambit had failed washed over me. And where my plan to defeat her had failed, mine opponent was far from done. I tried to cast a spell to free myself from the stone shackles holding me still, but then sand and stone started swirling around me. It enveloped me and started squeezing me tight enough to threaten to crush me. Soon I was within a solid sphere of earth, with only my head being unencased, and Topaz lifted me into the air. I was at her mercy, defeated, with no means to defend myself from this assault.
“Thrice I say and done,” Topaz declared. “Yield.”
I was back in Corva’s ceilingless library. The stars and the moon cast the room in a pale light, and the shadows were long. Disorientation caused me to blinked in confusion. It took me a few moments to remember that I had just been in a duel with Topaz. Had I lost consciousness? I did not remember doing so, but then would I have?
“We must speak,” Corva demanded from behind me.
I turned to find Corva standing over me and looking down with her penetrating black orbs.
“How am I here?” I asked, looking about the library. “I was just facing Topaz.”
“I have pulled thy consciousness into the Dreamscape,” Corva explained. “I have compressed time here so that we can speak here while a mere moment passes in the material world. Though I warn thee, we still do not have forever for thee to make a decision.”
I frowned. “And what decision would that be?”
“Thou art beaten.” Corva waved a wing, and an illusion of me being suspended in stone by Topaz and the onlooking crowd appeared. “And will shortly die unless thou wouldst yield.”
I thought of mine options, considering what spells I could cast, the situation I was in, Topaz’s offensive and defensive spells. Mine ears wilted when I could not come up with a solution. Even if I used my magic to break out of the predicament I was in ‘twould only leave me drained, and in an even worse condition to continue the fight. ‘Twould merely delay the inevitable, a battle of attrition would eventually result in but one terrible final conclusion, and so I scrapped my hoof along the floor in reaction.
“It seems I cannot beat her.” ‘Twas a bitter admission. My pride had driven me into a fight I could not hope to win. But what stung even more was that my power had been insufficient for the task. Despite all my studying, training, and experience, Topaz had defeated me handily. Those facts were utterly crushing to my spirit, and I felt like the most lowly of creatures right then.
Corva shook her head. “Thou canst not beat her as thou art... But as thou couldst be? Easily.”
I tilted my head. “What dost thou mean?”
“I can make thee greater.” Corva extended a hoof to me. “Accept my deal, and thou wilt have the ability to win this duel.”
I frowned as my wariness became armed. “And mayhaps I should yield, as Morning said I should do. For I know not the results of making a deal with thee.”
Corva’s wings snapped out. “Aye, thou couldst yield. Abandon all pride and give Chivalrous the pleasure of seeing thee ask for mercy.”
I seethed at the thought, for ‘twas not an inviting one no matter how I looked upon it.
Noting that I was thinking over the matter, Corva spoke with a calm and rational manner. “Thou hast three paths before thee: The first is to die here, to have thy life be a bright spark in the darkness snuffed out before it could truly shine in the world. Such a choice would be a terrible waste of thy potential and all thou couldst do in the world. The second is to yield to thine enemies. Thou wilt live with this defeat always hanging over thy head and have them bring it up to humiliate thee. This is the path of moderation and irrelevancy, for if thou choose defeat here thou wilt always live in thy mother’s shadow, never rising to the heights of power that could be thine own. Always will thy mother look at thee with disdain and condemnation for daring to think thou couldst take up a task she felt only herself worthy of. All the world shall look upon thee as an unworthy child.”
My frown deepened as I considered her words. That future was not one I desired. But... “And the third option is to accept thine offer for power, naturally.”
Corva nodded. “With mine aid and power thou wilt be able to crush Magus Topaz and any enemy thou face. Any goal thou desires will be within thy reach.”
“That does not mean 'tis wise to make a deal with thee.” I paced between the bookshelves as I thought carefully. “Is thy deal the same as before?”
Corva smiled. “Aye. An hour of thy time every day, or seven hours a week in exchange for my power—enough to defeat the enemy before thee, and many others besides.”
“And no tricks? No hidden traps?” I asked, carefully watching her for lies.
Corva shook her head. “Would I do such a thing to thee, my friend? Have I not earned thy trust?”
A clever spirit might very well take the time and effort to earn my trust only to betray me at an opportune moment. Still, Corva’s offer seemed harmless enough, all things considered. If she really wished to aid me... “Thou hast, but I still must be wary.”
“As is only prudent.” Corva placed a hoof over her heart. “I would no sooner harm thee than I would myself.”
I closed mine eyes as I tried to think carefully. At the heart of it, the matter was simple: accept defeat or accept Corva’s offer and the consequences that came with that decision. Naturally I needed to be cautious. Corva might merely be tricking me, or there might be hidden consequences to making a deal with her. Even as the deal stood I would forever need to give Corva a portion of my time for the rest of my life.
Though as I thought about it, the consequences for rejecting her offer would also be terrible. My fortunes might never recover from such a notable defeat in front of so many distinguished ponies. It might even damage Mother’s designs for the conclave. Defeating me would make Topaz more attractive to many of our fellow magi, and simultaneously embarrass Mother. ‘Twould also make me seem like a willful and foolish child who knew not when to let others fight for her or when to let a matter of pride drop. Such could result in Daylight losing the election, and ‘twould be my fault, as well as all that followed from such a humiliating defeat.
What was more, what was I to do against threats such as Moonwatch and Hidden Facts, or other ponies with ambitions that would upend mine own? There were other ponies in Equestria near Topaz in strength. What of the brewing war with Gryphonia? Could I really content myself with merely with what power I had in face of my home being invaded? Would I just find myself before Corva within a couple of months, humbled and realizing I should have taken her deal sooner? Only this time ‘twould not be only a matter of the conclave, but a greater threat to Equestria. Would I not seem even more foolish if I took the deal then? If I was to take the deal, it had to be now or never. There was no going back on this decision once made, either way.
I remembered one of Mother’s lessons: power is inherently neutral. Whatever form it took, ‘twas was neither good or evil, moral or immoral. What mattered was how its wielder used it. While some argued that power was corrupting, Mother argued that this was untrue. For power does not corrupt, neigh, what it does is make you more of what you are. It enables a person to do as they will, whether for good or ill. Those with evil humors will use their power to enrich themselves, feed their vices, and harm those under their power, while a person with a noble spirit would enrich those around them and spread harmony.
The power Corva offered was neither good or evil, ‘twas merely a matter of what I would do with it and the burden I would have to place on my shoulders to have it. For there was another lesson Mother gave me about power: power always comes with chains. Power does not exist in a vacuum, for it must always be maintained to be held. A rich merchant must always make more money lest they eventually be driven to poverty, and a noble house must protect properties and make alliances with other houses for fear of being made irrelevant. Princess Celestia, the most powerful pony in all of Equestria, had more chains on herself than anypony in the realm. She must simultaneously protect her lands and wealth, maintain the loyalty of her armies, and keep her people content lest she risk being overthrown. Her failure to maintain that balance had nearly cost her everything during the Lunar Rebellion.
So Corva’s offer of power came with chains; that could not be avoided. The question was whether I thought I could bear the weight of those chains. Was their weight worth the power I would gain to do as I wished, to defeat mine enemies and aid those I would help? At the end of the day I could not deny that I sought power. Anypony who sought to become an archmagus did so. And seeking that power would bind me, one way or another. That was the nature of the world. In the end, I made my decision and sealed my fate.
“I accept thy deal.”
Corva smiled. “Excellent.” Black shadowy tendrils of magic flickered into being around her. “Now swear it so that we might be bound together.”
I stood tall as the raw stuff of magic flowed around us. Pages of shelves rustled and the stone and timber around us groaned as the stars above us flickered with power. “In exchange for thy power, I will give thee seven hours a week for the rest of my days. I, Magus Midnight Sparkle, so swear by my magic, and the moon and stars. Let it be done.”
“Then we are in accord.” The tendrils rippled towards me, the lines they drew in the air asymmetrical as they approached me, and then stopped just short of me as they paused for a moment. Then abruptly they plunged into my chest and straight into my heart like a mass of icy daggers as cold as the pitiless and endless winter of the Frozen Wastes. That merciless cold spread through my veins, making me gasp with a nearly indescribable sensation that tingled my every sense as it flowed through me. “Now ... destroy thine enemy.”
Power flowed through me, and for the first time in my life I felt alive. Where before the world had always seemed to be cast forever with a filter of grey and dull, now everything seemed so vibrant, exciting, and fresh, as though the world had instantly been cast from the depths of winter to the full bloom of spring. My heart started racing, the packed earth I had been entombed in smelling raw of freshly tilled soil, and the words of a dozen hushed conversations from around the circle came to my ears crisp and clear. As Corva’s magic flowed through my veins like an ice-cold river, the pains and injuries acquired during my fight with Topaz faded to no more than a dull ache, and my muscles bulged again the earth holding me still.
“Yield?” I answered Topaz. “But I am only getting started.”
With fresh magic I warped my shadow to wrap around my body, and then with effort, pushed outwards. The sphere of sand and stone exploded as I broke free of the prison, and I fell to the ground with clumps of earth falling all about me.
Topaz blinked in surprise at this sudden turn in the battle. “What? Where did you...?”
I smiled widely, and Topaz twitched even under the cover of her armor. “‘Tis only polite to warn you that you are not going to enjoy this.” My horn ignited, but instead of glowing with the ice blue aura it usually did, it shone teal with arcs of ice blue and black lighting up across its length.
Topaz took a step back. “Thy magic...”
Tendrils of shadow streaked towards her, and Topaz threw up another stone wall in response. She might as well not have bothered. The shadow merely flowed over and around the barrier, grasping for her. Topaz’s eyes widened and she threw great waves of sand that intercepted the shadows. There was a great crashing roar as columns of sand and shadow collided with one another.
“What hast thou done?!” Topaz demanded as she watched her sand eventually be smothered by my shadows and crushed out of existence. She tossed a pair of gemstones out of her bags and they exploded into light, destroying the shadows as they reached out to grab her.
I rolled my neck as I tried to get used to the new sense of vibrancy I was going through. “Surpassed you, of course.”
Topaz snarled and stomped a hoof that sent several boulders flying towards me. I threw a trio of large chunks of ice to intercept the boulders and used flickering shadows to knock the rest aside well before they could smite me. Then, with the stored heat I had gathered I threw a great fireball at Topaz. Abandoning her defense of stone walls, Topaz once again stomped the ground, but this time she shot up into the air as a flat rock emerged beneath her hooves. It carried her up to safety just in time for the fireball to explode and blow apart the stone walls she had erected thus far.
I tilted my head as the stone continued to float in the air. “I am curious though.” I stepped into the shadow of a nearby deflected boulder and reemerged from within Topaz’s shoulder so that I could speak with her directly. “Exactly how much damage thy earth armor can withstand? Shall we put it to the test?”
Topaz’s head jerked to see me behind her and her eyes widened. To her credit, ‘twas barely half a second later before she was back on the attack. Several rock spikes shot up at my chest, but I had a shield up in time to block them, and they shattered upon impact.
“My turn.” Enjoying the flow of raw magical power, I fired a beam of teal energy right into Topaz’s flank. The force of the blast struck her rock armor and sent her flying from her platform. She plummeted to the ground, and her armor cracked in several places on impact. Without her magic keeping her platform in the air it fell as well, though I cast a simple levitation spell to allow me to float to the ground without issue. Topaz in turn groaned and shifted as she tried to regain her senses, though the cracks in her armor sealed themselves, I noted.
“What is the matter, Topaz?” I asked. “You seem to be struggling all of a sudden.” I created more shadow tendrils to whip at her. Topaz create a hole in the ground right next to her and she rolled into it. A moment later it closed up, and my tendrils cracked against the ground where she had just been.
“Running now then? Fine, let us play this game.” ‘Twas plain enough to see what she was up to. She was going to use this moment as an opportunity to both recover from my attacks and take back the initiative. No doubt she sought to attack me from hiding. Clever, but not unsurmountable. Within my memory I found new spells that Corva had placed there, and I used them.
I cast a spell on myself that made me nearly impossible to detect with magic and dulled people’s ability to sense me with normal senses as well. Next, a shadow duplicate of myself formed and started walking forward. Unlike my previous illusions, this shadow copy was detectable by Topaz’s tremorsense. I then closed mine eyes and concentrated.
As I suspected would happen, a rocky pillar shot up from beneath the duplicate and pierced it, causing it to dissipate as it was destroyed. I felt a flicker of Topaz’s magic from under the ground, but I was unable to track her just yet. She was on the move underground, making it difficult to triangulate her position. So I created yet more shadow duplicates and had them move about randomly within the dueling circle. This time there was a tremor in the ground that made spikes shoot up from all about the dueling ring, smiting my duplicates, and I was forced to put up a shield due to the widespread nature of the attack.
But now Topaz had used enough magic to allow me to detect her. Feeling her about three meters below the surface, I fired a blast of freezing magic into the ground. The ground crackled as it was frozen, and I then lifted the frozen chunk of dirt up with my telekinesis with Topaz inside.
“Now then, I believe you were intending to do something along these lines to me?” I began crushing with my telekinesis. From within the frozen dirt I felt Topaz resisting me, using her geomancy to push back out. ‘Twas a contest of raw will and magic, and one I was slowly winning as the dirt started being compacted.
I was on the verge of victory when something struck me in the back of the head and caused my world to flash with pain. I fell face first into the dirt and I dropped Topaz and her frozen tomb. I blinked as bright dots flashed over my vision, and my hoof instinctively went to the back of my head. My hoof immediately felt wet after I did so and it came back covered in blood. Mine eyes flicked to something lying right next to me: a rock.
A rock.
She had thrown a rock at me?!
A terrible burning built up within my chest as I felt a tremble of rage run through my body. I was going to destroy Gleaming Topaz. Utterly, completely, and for all time.
As though summoned by my o’erwhelming desire to ruin her, Topaz broke free from her prison. Chunks of frozen earth exploded outwards, but Topaz caught them with her magic and sent it all flying at me. All pretense of restraining herself was now gone as she put all her might into defeating me. But I knew all too well how to stop rocks from being thrown at me. I created a domed shield in time to block the attack. There was a series of loud booms as the rocks smacked against my shield, but it held.
“I am done playing!” I called out, launching another barrage of ice and fire.
Topaz did not dare test her defenses against mine attack, and instead dropped beneath the earth to dodge my attack. Though by now I had a feeling for her little trick, and was following her underground by sensing for her magic. Knowing it had worked last time, I fired a freezebeam where she sat underground. But instead of sitting still she streamed towards me with surprising speed, and my freezebeam missed.
Topaz burst from the earth right underneath me, her hoof covered with a large chunk of rock as she punched at my gut. She would have smote me but for a strange sensation that fell over me. Mine enemy was moving slowly. Neigh, that was not it; she was moving slowly in comparison to how fast I was perceiving her and now able to react. I created a block of ice on mine own hoof and struck down. Mine ice impacted her rock with a reasonating crack as the block was blown to pieces. But though my blow had been stopped, Topaz was thrown off balance by the force of the collision.
I took the opportunity to fire a stream of blue fire right into her face. Topaz brought up her stone fist to block the fire, and while the fist, along with much of the stone armor around her arm was blown away, she remained unharmed. She charged me, intent on tackling me and bearing me to the ground. But still she was moving slowly, and I fell upon the training Stalwart had so painstakingly given me. While I was far from a master at the martial arts, I at least knew the basics to defending myself.
I deflected one of Topaz’s arms to the side while stepping inside her guard. I slammed my right hoof right into her chest, and to my surprise, the blow cracked her armor and sent stone splinters flying as Topaz was lifted off her hooves. A momentary flash of surprise showed on Topaz’s face as she was sent spinning backwards until she hit the ground with enough momentum to send her into a painful tumble.
That should not have been possible, part of me realized. I was not a large mare—far from it, and Topaz was stocky and well-built. But I had smacked her back as though she were a mere toy. Was this yet another one of Corva’s gifts? I had thought merely my magic would be augmented, but that was not so.
“Thou art as thou shouldst be,” Corva explained. “Now crush her once and for all.”
I wished to ask Corva for more information, but now was not the time to dwell on the exact nature of my new abilities. Now I needed to strike while I held the advantage. First I created a sheet of ice below Topaz to keep her from retreating into the earth yet again. Next I prepared another orb of blue fire with which to smite her.
Seeing what I was about to do, Topaz brought up multiple layers of stone walls to protect herself. I decided to put those defenses to the test. My fireball streaked forward to explode against the first wall, blowing it up and sending splinters of rock flying in all directions. Next I sent several shards of ice to break apart the next layer, and then blasted the remaining layers with a beam of pure magical energy. A warhammer made of shadows formed next to me, and I brought it down on Topaz time and again. Her armor cracked and then broke, and then I brought down the hammer a final time to finish the fight. Only when the warhammer struck her she shattered into dozens of pieces of stone, instead of the bloody visera and bone shards as I expected.
For a precious moment I was befuddled.
An illusion? No.
Animated stone?
A decoy?
A simulacrum!
A trap!
Where was—
Topaz burst from the earth beneath and behind me, stabbing an obsidian knife at my ribs. Instinctively I swung a hoof to try and intercept her, but her blade sliced through mine armor and into my flesh. That is as far as it got. My hoof snapped to catch her by the pastern and blocked her from pushing the knife any closer to my lung and heart. If not for my newly augmented speed and strength, I would have been slain.
Topaz roared and slammed her free hoof into the hilt of the knife and threw her entire body’s weight into pushing the knife in my beating heart. But I held her at bay. It felt as though I were struggling against the efforts of a small child, and slowly I pushed her back.
Topaz grunted as she was pushed back, her body quivering from the struggle. “I do not know what you have done to gain so much power, but you need more than that to beat an archmagus.”
“Then 'tis fortunate that I am not facing one.” I snapped out a trio of cold iron darts and threw them at Topaz. At such short range she could not dodge them, and they cut into her stone armor. Not deep enough to cause any serious damage, but Topaz did wince as they cut into flesh. Topaz stomped a hoof and a pillar of stone shot up towards my chest, but with my newfound speed I dodged to the side.
My horn crackled with electricity as I prepared a lightning bolt. A ghost of a smirk showed itself on Topaz’s face, for no doubt she thought I was about to make a mistake and fire into her stone armor. An attack she could easily ground out without hurting her, but I was not aiming at her armor. Neigh, I was aiming for the iron darts poking out of her chest. The lightning bolt struck home, and Topaz spasmed wildly as electricity coursed through her body. Sensing the decisive moment had come, I fired a final freezebeam. The beam struck her dead on and ice formed over sections of her armor as she was frozen in place, turning her armor into a prison.
“I am Midnight Sparkle the Raven Queen!” I roared. “And I am your ruination!”
I created a half-dozen shadow tendrils which lashed out at Topaz from every direction. They snapped and whipped against her with a unending flurry of blows. Topaz tried to sink back into the earth to escape, but a fresh pair of tendrils streaked out to grab her and hold her fast. Under the unrelenting onslaught her stone armor cracked, broke, and then shattered—along with Topaz herself. By the time I was done Topaz was broken, her body covered by bruises, her face swelling and her lip cut, and her eyes dull as she bordered on unconsciousness.
My breath was heavy as I stood over my defeated enemy, and my smile spread at the sight of her. I said but one word. “Bow.”
My shadows moved her body, and while some part of her tried resisting me yet, ‘twas a hopeless effort. She bowed.
From deep within my chest a chuckle grew until it burst out as uproarious laughter that echoed all throughout the courtyard as I claimed victory.