//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: War in Equestria: The Tale of Bright Blade // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// Chapter 14: Warriors of Harmony As Rainbow Dash hovered next to Bright Blade she called in to Twilight, who answered back in a kind of exacerbated tone. “Oh what now, what in the wide, wide world of Equestria is it now!?” “Would you believe me if I said that me and Bright Blade are staring at a seventy foot tall Hydra?” asked Rainbow Dash. Its razor sharp claws raked the ground with every step, its trunk slithered across the ground sweeping away the Daemoni to the sides of it. Moss green scales, and four heads with dingy yellow eyes. Bright Blade and Rainbow Dash came to a startling realization, they recognized this hydra. “It’s the hydra from Froggy Bottom Bog,” they said in unison. “I know I didn’t hear what I just heard! Cause that’s impossible,” said Applejack over the Iris Caller. “Well we’re starring right at it,” commented Bright Blade. -RRRRRRRAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHSSSSSSSS!!!- “Hold up something’s happening!” Each of the hydra’s heads let out roaring hisses, its skin started to rip open, revealing something worse underneath. The hydra then grew two hind legs; its tail elongated and became whip like. Scales turning black with striped striations of its original moss green scales. Long snouts and four long dripping fangs, along with yellow slits and red eyes, the hydra had somehow evolved into a dark and corrupted version of itself. “What. Is. THAT!?” shouted Rainbow. “Something that I’m about to get rid of,” claimed Bright Blade. Before Bright Blade could take off Rainbow Dash got in front of him, holding out her forelegs, and blocking his path. “Whoa, whoa, hold on there! Did you just see that thing change, there’s no way I’m letting you go fight that thing on your own,” said Rainbow Dash. “If that hydra gets any closer it’ll tear through the army! Besides you, Applejack, and Twilight are still recovering from the fight earlier and right now I’m our best option to beat this thing!” Don’t remind me, I know I’m exhausted, but after all those attacks you used back there… “Fine, but I’m flying recon, I’ll give you a bird’s eye view of what’s happening, deal!?” Rainbow Dash saw that Bright Blade was hesitating, probably trying to figure a way to convince her to stay behind, “If not I’m attacking that thing with you, your choice!” With a frustrated grunt Bright Blade nodded and agreed to the ladder of his two choices. There was a small crystal that resembled the Iris Caller that the others were using on the armor around Bright Blade’s neck, he then tapped it and gave a heavy sigh. “Bright Blade to Twilight and Applejack, we’re going in!” Before any protests could be spoken Rainbow Dash and Bright Blade zoomed towards the hydra. Rainbow Dash broke off, ascending high above to watch the action. Bright Blade went in. Two of the four heads snapped at Bright Blade as he flew by, the third head tried to sink its large fangs into him. But he barrel rolled at the last moment and used his sword to slash its face. The hydra began to bleed violet blood, but as soon as Bright Blade finished his attack the cut healed within seconds. No way, it healed itself, thought Rainbow Dash. Bright Blade seemed to notice, so then circled around gaining some distance from the hydra. “Rainbow, I don’t think my normal attacks are going to work,” said Bright Blade. “That huge thing isn’t going to go down as easily as those Daemoni,” commented Rainbow Dash. “Then I’ll up the ante, believe me I’m not going to enjoy what I’m about to do!” The transmission cut off, Rainbow Dash blinked for a second and Bright Blade disappeared. Her eyes scanned the area, but couldn’t find a trace. A bright streak of light then cut through one of the hydra’s heads. The remaining heads let out a pained roaring screech in place of the severed head. It almost frustrated Rainbow how fast Bright Blade was, during the Siege she was impressed by his strength, but more with his speed. During the attack on Canterlot she once again witnessed a display of his great speed when Bright Blade cut down many Daemoni, and now it was the same thing. Even when she tried not to blink she still couldn’t track his movements. “Definitely gotta race him one of these days,” she said to herself. The severed hydra head fell to the ground with a loud thud, violet blood spewing from the neck wound. Rainbow wasn’t a fan of hydras, but even she gulped and rubbed her neck. Bright Blade reappeared a few feet away from the hydra, ready to strike again. Then something happened, the severed stub began coil and churn, stretching the raw skin. All of sudden two new hydra heads broke out, making for a total of five hydra heads. “What in the hay!!?” The far right hydra head followed Bright Blade, then opened its mouth and spat out a long lime green liquid stream at him. Bright Blade quickly pulled up missing the stream. The lime green liquid fell on the ground melting a large canyon like crevice. “This thing spits acid now too!?” Rainbow Dash tapped her Caller, “Bright Blade, I think you should pull out of there, that thing spits acid,” shouted Rainbow. “I know, I know! Don’t worry there’s something else I’m going to try!” Bright Blade flew out far away, and then circled around heading straight at the hydra. What is that fool colt think he’s doing!? A magic circle formed in front of Bright Blade, sword still in his teeth. Rainbow Dash knew what was coming. Bright enacted his Shooting Star Strike, one hundred comet lights flying fast at the hydra. From its five heads the hydra released multiple streams of acid, the comet lights avoided the attack, weaving in, out, and around them all. The lights pierced through the hydra’s body at different points, some in its body, some at its legs, the rest were aimed at the heads and necks of the beast. The lights recombined into the armored alicorn as the hydra’s headless body fell to the ground, violet blood staining the ground beneath it. Several seconds past as Rainbow Dash hovered speechless, she then flew down to Bright Blade who was panting hard. “You okay BB?” “I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” said Bright Blade. “Man that was insane, I like to see it get back up after that,” said Rainbow Dash. One of the hydra’s claws twitched. The cyan pegasus and golden alicorn starred in disbelief. Then it happened again, this time both its foreleg claws and its hind leg claws. The headless body then rose up, its wounds quickly healing, erasing any trace of Bright Blade’s earlier attack. From the severed stubs burst forth multiple heads at once. “Ten…Ten hydra heads…!” “This is a total cluster –!” Before Rainbow Dash could finish her sentence one of the ten hydra heads caught sight of them. It reared back and released a plume of thick purple smoke their way. Everything happened fast, Rainbow Dash was pushed out of the way of the incoming purple smoke. When she turned around all Rainbow Dash could do was watch helplessly as Bright Blade was consumed by the purple smoke. “BRIGHT BLADE!!!” Rainbow yelled. Her head darted up down, right left, looking for any sign of her friend. At last Bright Blade broke out of the plume, flying fast away from the hydra. Rainbow Dash came up beside him, worried that something maybe wrong, she also noticed that his magic sword had vanished, most likely having been recalled to its mysterious unknown hiding place. “Bright Blade talk to me, are you alright!?” “What are you talking about…never felt…better…” Bright Blade’s wings stopped flapping; his eyes began to roll into the back of his head, ending up with him descending into a free fall. Rainbow flew beating her wings fast and hard, trying to catch up with him before he fell to the ground. With a quick swoop Rainbow Dash was able to catch him underneath his forelegs. “Bright Blade can you hear me!? Bright Blade please answer me, BRIGHT BLADE!!!” there was no response; Rainbow Dash could hear ragged breathing coming from his mouth, like he was gasping for air. Don’t worry BB, you just hang in there! I’m sure Twilight can help, she’ll fix you up in no time, Rainbow continued to tell this to herself over and over again, almost reciting it like a prayer. “Is it me or did that hydra just grow ten heads,” asked Applejack, not trusting her own eyes. She and Twilight were waiting about halfway from where Rainbow Dash and Bright Blade were engaging the hydra. They had seen flashes of light, which they associated with Bright Blade’s attacks, but grew restless and anxious at seeing the hydra getting up after each attack. “This isn’t good. Neither Rainbow Dash or Bright Blade have called in yet,” pacing back and forth Twilight stamped her hoof. “That’s it I’m calling her!” Twilight was about to tap the Iris Caller, but stopped after hearing the terrified gasps of Applejack. “What’s wrong, you okay Applejack!?” “No I’m not, look up!” Applejack pointed her hoof to the sky above. Twilight followed her gaze and saw Rainbow Dash carrying something. No somepony! Rainbow Dash seemed exhausted, she finally stopped flapping her wings, allowing her weight and momentum to carry them to the ground. “TWILIGHT,” shouted Rainbow. Twilight used her telekinesis to slow their descent. They were coming in fast and Twilight was having difficulty slowing her down, especially since Rainbow was carrying Bright Blade. The two ponies continued to fall towards them, like incoming catapult ordinance, covering a few feet per second. STOP ALREADY!!! Putting everything she could muster into her telekinetic grip Twilight was able stop Rainbow Dash and Bright Blade from crash landing into the ground. She then lowered them both to the ground gently, where Rainbow Dash let go of Bright and rolled to the side, panting hard, trying to catch her breath. “Nice catch…Twi,” Rainbow managed. “What in tarnation happened to y’all!?” asked Applejack. “Hydra…can’t be killed…purple smoke cloud…BB saved me,” said Rainbow Dash in-between pants. Twilight looked him over, Bright Blade was shivering, unresponsive, eyes shut, sweating, and his breathing had become shallow and ragged. Twilight was scared, she didn’t know what to do, or what was afflicting him. Applejack quickly rushed to Bright Blade, on a hunch, she sniffed the air around Bright Blade. After a few inhales Applejack quickly backed up and snorted, “Oh that’s not good! That there’s poison, strong stuff too,” said Applejack. “Poison, are you sure!?” asked Twilight. “Oh I’m sure, my cousin Apple Dandy knows a doctor who collects venom from snakes, spiders, and all kinds of other critters. Anyways I remember him tellin’ us that poison has a unique smell to it, especially snake poison,” Applejack titled her head towards the hydra stomping its way towards the army in the distance. Rainbow had finally got enough air in her lungs to finally speak in full sentences. “So what do we do, he needs help!” Rainbow Dash got up and faced the lavender unicorn, “Twilight there’s gotta be something you can do, don’t you have some spell that can heal him!?” “I-I’ll try…!” Twilight put her horn at Bright’s head, trying with all her might to conjure any spell in her repertoire that would heal the young warrior. Unfortunately the previous battles had made her use a lot of her magical energy; even Twilight’s reserves were tapped out. I can’t…I don’t have enough power! Twilight was cursing herself for not planning properly, due to all these unforeseen developments, the unpredictability of war was truly overwhelming even for the most organized of ponies. “Not enough power…I’m sorry,” said Twilight, almost on the edge of tears. “No…” whispered Rainbow Dash. As if answering Applejack, Bright Blade began to glow. The energy grew, glowing brighter and brighter, it then gathered at the tip of Bright Blade’s horn. He lifted his head, when Bright Blade opened his eyes they were glowing with power, his horn then released the ball of light. It soared higher and higher into the sky till it finally burst. Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash all watched in awe as the ball had transformed into a shining golden star. When they looked back at Bright Blade he was back on the ground, unconscious. “What was that? You all saw that right,” asked Rainbow Dash. “Yeah, but do you see that!?” Twilight pointed to the horizon where the Ft. Avalon army was. Six lights each a different color streaked across the sky. They then started to arch downwards towards their location. “Let’s get out of here,” shouted Rainbow Dash. None of them had time to run. The six lights fell upon them, the three friends had shut their eyes, not knowing if this was an attack and that death had come for them. Twilight was the first to open her eyes and was shocked by the sight that was before her. “Pinkie Pie…Fluttershy…Rarity!?” Indeed it was true; three of Twilight’s friends, the ones who had decided to not to fight and do what they could outside the battlefield, were now standing before her. “Rarity,” gasped Fluttershy. “Rainbow Dash!?” “Wha-what is the meaning of this, how did we get to his dreadful place,” asked Rarity, severely confused. “Okay this is weird, one minute I was throwing a birthday party and now I’m out here,” said Pinkie Pie. “Uh girls I think there’s something else that’s odd about this situation here, look,” Applejack pointed to her neck, hanging from which was the necklace of the Element of Honesty. Immediately Twilight brought her hoof up to touch her head, but was blocked my something metal, something that radiated power, the tiara of the Element of Magic. Twilight looked around and saw that the others also had their Element necklaces. Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, Generosity, and Honesty! All the Elements are here, but how can that be, my Element tiara should be in my saddlebag back at the fort, this doesn’t make any sense, thought Twilight. “Oh my goodness, what happened to Bright Blade,” asked Fluttershy worried, having seen him on the ground unmoving. “He’s been poisoned, and I don’t have enough power to heal him, if I can at all,” said Twilight. Rarity looked to Bright Blade, with a serious look on her face she stepped forward and looked to Twilight. “I know such spells aren’t my forte, but tell me what I must do and I will cast the spell,” said Rarity. -RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSS!!!- The six mares all turned in dismay as the evil corrupted hydra came stomping towards them, only a couple of yards away. Each of its ten heads began rear back, Rainbow Dash recognized this action and tried to warn her friends, but it was too late. All ten heads released streams of venomous acid towards their prey, combining into a deluge of burning liquid death. They all huddled together, fearing the end, but at that moment the golden star that was shining in the sky fell to the ground. The golden light surrounded the six mares, creating a force field that disintegrated the acid and threw the hydra a few yards away, sending it slamming down hard on its back. Within the force field a transformation was taking place. The jewels on their Elements radiated with power, enveloping them, forming to them. With their eyes closed the young mares allowed the power to seep into their very soul. Then all at once the force field collapsed, it sounded like thunder, but with the chiming of a ringing bell mixed in, as if heralding the coming of something. When the light cleared what stood upon the battlefield were, not the bearers of the Elements, but the warriors of the Elements. Twilight’s Mage Corp. armor had given way to something new. The armor was golden, like the others, but on her head the tiara hand changed from its normal form. It wrapped around her head and drooped down a little so that the violet-pink six pointed star crystal cutie mark sitting in the middle of her forehead embedded in the tiara. On her hooves were golden horseshoes, similar to Princess Celestia’s. A blue cape flapped in the wind behind her trimmed in sparkling silver. When Twilight opened her eyes she gasped at the sight of the new armor, as well as the rush of power and renewed vigor. “What’s-what’s going on!?” Fluttershy’s armor was different as well. On her armored flanks and shoulders were milky blue pearl orbs, the modest golden horseshoes also had a milky blue pearl studded to the outsides of them. On Fluttershy’s chest was her pink butterfly crystal cutie mark embedded into the armor, on her head was a golden head plate with a ninth pearl, the plate allowed her mane to flow freely under it and behind it. The armor had large enough holes that allowed her free movement of her wings. “Oh my, what is this armor!? What happened to all of us!?” Rainbow Dash’s armor was similar Fluttershy’s, differences being that she had a helmet that allowed her multicolored mane to form a plume, with two lightning bolt horns placed behind the slots where her ears poked through. The crescent blades on her horseshoes were now golden, and retractable. But the biggest change was that Dash’s wings had somehow become crystalline, the light that passed through them gave off a spectrum of sparkling rainbow colors as she flapped them, odd as it was she could move them as easily as her old wings. They didn’t even feel heavy. “This is totally weird, but at the same time strangely awesome!” Rarity’s armor was the same as Twilight’s, but had no cape. Instead five different jewels hovered around her waist, in a circular rotation. A tiara was draped behind her horn, giving her horn a sparkling appearance. “I dare say, this…this…this is…quite dazzling,” said Rarity. Applejack had somehow reacquired her Stetson cowpony hat, her orange crystal apple cutie mark on her chest plate. Her shields were gone, in place of golden horseshoes that came up about halfway up on both her hind and forelegs, with vertical V shaped lines going down them both. “Land sakes!” she exclaimed. Pinkie Pie had a cape drawn over her right foreleg attached at the shoulder. Her curly, fluffy mane was circled by a golden headband that tried to reign in her mane, to no effect. Her horseshoes had a wispy, whimsical pattern, befitting the pink party pony. Pinkie looked herself over and gave an approving smile. “Not to appear unladylike, but…WHAT IN THE WIDE WORLD OF EQUESTRIA JUST HAPPENED TO US!!!?” asked Rarity. “I think the Elements protected us,” said Fluttershy. “Not so much for Bright Blade,” said Rainbow Dash. The armored cyan pegasus leaned down inspecting a now younger Bright Blade. “He’s still shivering and I think his breathings gotten worse!” “I can perform the spell to heal him, the Elements restored my power,” said Twilight. “I think ya better hurry it up there surgarcube, cause that hydra’s coming back for round two,” said Applejack. The hydra had got its second wind, rising up, with a burning gaze of anger directed at them from all ten heads. The creature attacked with its acid venom once again, this time the stream seemed stronger and more powerful than the last one. To Twilight all the events happened in slow motion, she quickly positioned herself between the venom acid and her friends, it was an instinctual reaction, she didn’t even know how she was going to stop it. What was I thinking; even my strongest barrier spell won’t be enough to block that! ‘Trust in yourself Twilight Sparkle, you are the Element of Magic…’ Who’s that, who’s there, asked Twilight within her mind. ‘Look to the unseen…to the unseen…’ To the unseen, how can I look to something that can’t be seen!? As if to answer her request Twilight’s eyes were opened up to the vast magical network that ran through everything around her. It was a beautiful sight before her, magical energy freely flowing like serene water all around her, in the air, the ground, as well as the hydra and her friends. Far away she could feel the savage life energy of the Daemoni, the horned ones stuck out the most due to their magical abilities. Far behind her she felt the combined life energy of the Fort Avalon army. Now I understand this is the unseen, the mana network! The more she stared into the vast, immenseness of the mana network her mind began to open up. Something began to form in her mind, a memory, no not so much a memory, it was something she knew but didn’t know. Her mouth started to move forming words. “Protegat antiquorum spiritus, Maximo AEGIS!!!” Twilight’s horn glowed with intense magical power, she watched as the mana in the air around them took shape. A giant ornate shield formed in front of them, eighty feet tall and sixty feet wide. A magic circle with Twilight’s cutie mark floated in the center of the shield, rotating, with rune markings on the inner and outer perimeter. The acid venom slammed against the shield, Twilight showed no signs of struggle, in fact she felt great. Normally something like this would drain her power, but thanks to her new powers she barely felt it. She knew Bright Blade still needed help, but she was afraid her new spell would fail her if she lost focus. “I can’t move from here, I can’t risk my spell falling apart,” said Twilight, keeping her sights on the hydra that kept spitting its venom at them. Rarity hurried to Bright Blade, then looked to Twilight. “Then tell me how perform the spell, I will heal him,” declared Rarity. ‘As you wish mylady…’ “Who said that,” asked Rarity. Just then, one of her gemstones, yellow in color, broke off from its revolving orbit around Rarity’s body and floated three feet above Bright Blade. “Topaze…” The bottom part of the gem fired four different smaller parts of itself that stuck themselves in the ground, creating a perfect square around him. The four shards then created beams of light that connected each of them together, finishing with the original piece that hovered in the air, forming a perfect pyramid. The others looked at Rarity in amazement; even Twilight sneaked a quick glance to see what was happening. Somehow Rarity could sense Bright Blade’s condition, his ragged breathing, fever, and pain. Then it started to fade away, it was then she understood what was happening, the Topaze was healing Bright Blade. “It’s alright everypony, he’s going to be alright,” said Rarity with relief in her voice. “Yeah, but are we,” said Rainbow Dash, as she pointed a hoof towards the regrouped forces of the Daemoni. “So what are we waiting fer,” said Applejack with a battlelust smile. Twilight watched as Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood to her left, while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy stood to her right. She glanced to the left and right, a confident smile formed arching across her face. Twilight took a strong step forward and held her head up high. “Alright girls are you ready!?” They all nodded, “FORMATION!!!” Through a miracle by the Elements of Harmony Twilight and her friends have been gifted with special powers and armor, but can their new abilities change the course of this battle!?