//------------------------------// // Chp. 12 - Thundercrash // Story: Indomitable // by Slendy //------------------------------// |I really don't want to go in there| Of all the numerous attempts on my life over the months I've been stuck in the magical land of Equestria, none, and I mean none of those times can compare to what awaited me next. After Yui's insistence, I was. moderately, dragged by my sister and Yui to face the front of Twilight's Libary |Zen Amadeus| Oh no, she used my full name like Mom does, eyeing me critically. |Understand, I'm not pleased with how Twilight used us in her little experiments, but she, along with her friends, have taken considerable care of us and now that our predicament is open they've started treating us with just as much respect, but with the added awareness of our sentience| I sighed, pinching my nose. |I get that, but... you know I hate...| She giggled, hopping up into my arms with a cute smile |I know you're protective, but you know we can take care of ourselves| Summer leaned in to pat my head softly, kinda odd given the size difference between us, but just as always, she had my nerves relaxed again. |You've been through alot, Zen, so please, just give her a chance, as we have| "Even though I'm only getting part of this conversation, just so you know I'm not entirely satisfied with Twilight's actions, but she's shown remorse for what she's done, give her a chance," Even Yui was on board, patting my leg with her wing, then proceeded to shove me forward, Summer hopping down next to me. "Now go and make up with her." |I feel that should be her first, but fine, for you guys atleast| Giving in to their peer pressure I pushing the door open and bit the inside of my cheek. This would take some time, and I don't fully trust this chick at all, but if they're willing to hear her out I'll be neutral and do the same. After all, these ponies can be too forgiving at times |Ah-hah! So you finally showed up!| I have made a terrible mistake. Swiftly turning on my heel I was met with the door, my paw sliding down the surface as I tried to refrain from groaning loudly. Swinging back around I spotted the smug grin written on Taka's face... as she was wearing a small, Glaceon-sized blazer in the style of a certain lawyer. |We can get this underway!| |You seem oddly happy for the girl who hated this chick as much as I?| My mirthless tone was not lost, and she merely dusted the blazer with a paw With a sparkle in her eye she added,|Well you see I thought given the situation and the fact it's you on the chopping block, as usual, I decided to dig down memory lane and requested this little piece from Rarity, and now, I am both stylish, and ready to taunt you mercilessly| While the others only ever heard her name, she was laughing maniacally Leaning down to my sister I put a paw between us. |She's isn't carrying a child anymore so I can punch her, right?| My smile fell at the sight of her stern gaze. |Fiiine, let's get this over with -- Let the record show, I'm doing this solely for Yui's reputation as a Treasurer Hunter!| A paw raised I sat down with my legs cross next to the grateful smile under a light-blue hood Sitting ahead of me was the first person, or pony, to have ever struck a cord the wrong way in so long, I don't think I've felt this unperturbed for another in months. But now here I am attempting to hear out her 'sorry', as though words will always share the same sentimental as actions. I understand that in most cases words are an impacting creation of any living thing but when it involves my friends and family, and one at fault had hurt them, that was a large bridge to cross and mere words aren't what I was looking for. "Zen...?" Her voice withdrew my contemplation. Holding my frown, I began "Where should we start, eh?" My callous tone had her flinch, and a nudge to my side realigned my thoughts. "Okay, right-right, I could categorize every little detail for your listening pleasure but I lack the time and care, so let me be blunt, I don't like you, what you did to my family... that's not something kind words can solve." "...Of course." She murmured "So, lay it on me," I motioned for her to take the stage, the rest listening with intensity thickening between us, a line that I swore not even the Monsters I've faced could compare With a heavy breath, Twilight answered. "I will be truthful, that was my intention, to try and formulate my apology through words, even though your actions before made me aware you may not listen, I understand that," She spoke softly, carefully treading with her words. "I will say I'm sorry, but, I also was given clarity on your... mentality toward those you love." I froze in my spot Not a word or thought slipped by, and I felt all eyes were on me. "It was Summer who told me, albeit shakily," |I can't write well with paws| She patted them together, but I was still letting the words sink in "She told me about someone you trusted deeply, and who changed you--" "Stop," I kept my thoughts like my words low, eyes closed. "Just... don't. Maybe in time I can talk about this, I know recently I let go of the guilt but that's still not enough to make it easier to talk of," I leveled my scarlet gaze with her. "I'm alright with others knowing, just... sensitive about Rika." With a clear nod from the unicorn, she continued. The social minefield safely evaded our little meeting continued, and man did I ever appreciate the lengths Spike goes to for the best cup of tea this side of Equestria, how I've missed the sweet nectar of pancakes but this, hehe, does put a smile on my face. *Rumble... Rumble...* |Oh great, the rain, typical| Taka interrupted bitterly, eyes drawn to the dark clouds rolling in. |Didn't Dash say somethin' about it Not raining today? Ugh, wet coat is not fun coat| My sister raised her paw. |I too agree with this, what a pain| It wasn't raining? A thunderstorm? Strange, it was sunny on the way over unless the weather's schedule changes frequently? No that's not right, Taka just said there was no rain today, so she would have expected the thunderstorm without making a remark. My brow deepened considerably at the news, and I felt it, something stirring in my chest told me this was wrong, very wrong. "Zen?" Yui's eyes saw mine and reflected my growing worry, her own darkening under her hood. "What is it? Zen, is something..." "Stay inside," I got up with haste toward the doorway, feeling the earth tremble from the same, eerie disturbance, my aura was flaring like crazy, so much so it was a little nauseating. There was an aura nearby and a powerful one, something raging with the might of that storm brewing overhead. I shot a paw back, staring down at the one-winged pony. "Not this time, keep them here too." Yui stood her ground, snorting. "As if I'm going to let you go it alone, we've handled situations like this before." |Not another Monster, come oooon, the last one was only a day ago!| Taka cried out while flopping onto her back There wasn't time for this. "Yui, please!" My raised attitude caught her by surprise, I guess my head's still not quite as it is right now. "I... I don't want to see you get hurt." Her eyes swam with emotions that changed to frequently to pinpoint, but the chaos and confusion in her soul was apparent. Lifting a hoof, she tapped my leg. "And I don't want to see the same thing happen to you; We're a team... partners," Again with those big eyes, defiant and... I couldn't look away at all, it was as though her own aura overshadowed mine Smiling warily I bumped my fist to her awaiting wing, that confident smirk made my body flow with energy, without a word the two of us were off into the howling wind, and the sounds of panic and discord throughout Ponyville. There was an energy in the air, a tingling sensation in the back of my neck, shivers flowing across my fur, whatever it was, it howled like the hurricane above, ferocious and approaching with hatred. By the time we arrived at the scene, ponies were running back to their homes or simply in a panic to find anything to hide in or below. Yui stood by, her hoof rubbing the dirt under her, at the large footprints that sank into the soil. "Something big by the depth of the prints... and very close." Ominous warning aside I found something of glowing interest on a nearby stand. Plucking from a fruit stand I found a small bug with a vibrant blue abdomen, my arm's fur standing on end from the buzz I received, the bug flying off into the sky only to be greeted by several more. Strange, luminescent bugs dotted the dark skies like fireflies, all gathering to the next street over, it was then my heart sank as I motioned for Yui to follow closely. It couldn't be... "It's... standing right behind us, ain't it?" We immediately bounced forward, Yui staying behind me as the Monster snorted sharply, standing proudly only a few meters away, and the very air in my throat buzzed as those bugs gathered in swarms behind the beast's fur. It was a quadrupedal monster with superficially lupine features. It had highly developed limbs, sharp fangs, and claws. Its forelegs are extremely powerful and could land one brutal blow if I got too close. Despite its hulking size, this creature was extremely agile and is able to perform many impressive maneuvers. The spikes on its body fanned upward, as though to gather the bugs, bolts of blue lightning crashing down around it, the Monster unleashing the howl of an apex. I faced down the Thunder Wolf Wyvern... "Zinogre... Yui-!" My cry alerted the wyvern into lunging with a flip as I grabbed the mare and dove for the roof above, bolts of lightning rippled through the earth as it slowly wiggled off its back, the thunderbugs gathering in clusters. "Go and help any ponies still evacuating the area, don't let anyone get close!" I hadn't the time to argue risks with her now, not while the heavens tore apart, unleashing pure power that slammed into buildings and roads under a mighty howl The once grey day turned to a pale orange under roaring flames, myself leaping down to drawing my Bone Rush, grasping the staff hesitantly as the sensory appendages on my head stuck out, a light blue outline radiating across my fur. "I'm shutting your rift down," Spinning the staff to rest behind me, I channeled an Aura Sphere into my left paw. "Come get me." Complying, the fanged wyvern pressed its right paw down, performing a helix spin through the air as I flew back from the tail, lobbing the energy blast to knock Zinogre back to the ground, he howled again and now the plates on his back rose with a massive current of lightning striking his form, he had gained enough power already? Two could play that game, lifting a paw I allowed my aura to dip into my anger, four swords aligned my form and my strength soared, alongside a flurry of white light as I flew past the monster, striking fast with my bo-staff. The sudden backlash forced Zinogre into flipping its backend left, then right, discharging four spheres of lightning that pulled me away from another attack, while one struck my shoulder, the lightning singeing my fur. Spinning myself I dove over a frantic charge, the backswing of my staff clipped his mandible, diverting his course into a flaming building that it promptly demolished. I am so sorry for the workers that have to fix this place after me. Through the rubble, I heard a roar, then a paw carve into the ground, a torrent of thunder tearing across both the pavement and me as my Quick Guard shattered under my fall. "Ow... okay, that's new." Or I just have short-term memory for his move-set. Rolling back onto my feet I kicked up my staff and flung it like a spear, the polearm bouncing off his horns as I raised a fistful of ice to shatter against the imposing monster, the wave of frost blinding its right side for multiple kicks to the head, my body diving over a claw swipe as I retaliated with a resounded Force Palm to the jaw, hearing a crack and the creature tumble into a wall with a pained whine In streaks of light blue strobes, Zinogre wailed from the sudden, sporadic attacks that I just stared dumbly at, flexing my hands since I hadn't actually retaliated yet. "Wait... that aura--" With a powerful backflip, Taka's Iron Tail swiped under the wyvern's chin, disorientating the beast for me while she sat down next to me with a smirk. |Taka! I appreciate the help, but--| Her tail whipped up to me, eyes colder than her ice |If you think for a second I'm sitting this one out while my best friend gets himself hurt then your dead wrong| She growled, turning around as I pressed my fists together, ice frosting over my claws. |Summer's worried too, but you and I both know ice is far more effective against It| I couldn't rebuttal that, with a half-chuckle, the storm struck down on Zinogre, the Thunderbugs overcharging its body once more. |Fair, then let's do it| Zinogre lunged high, body plummeting to unleash a torrent of lightning at our dodge, rolling onto its hindlegs and repeating the rolling-slam against me, then to Taka, herself diving off a nearby wall and over the thunder puppy, unleashing a hail of ice shards to chip away at the scales and fur. With a paw to the floor, it performed a helix spin, smashing the ground with a wave of electricity that forced me to guard, only then for the body to tower over me, paw curved. |Oh no--| The paw burrowed against mine, shattering the frost while my muscles strained from the tingling sensation attacking my nerves. My body's steel bones were the only reason I was alive. Twisting at the hip to my left, paws sharp with silver as I grabbed Zinogre by the horn and threw the snarling beast through the ground. |Twin Sphere| Diving back with a twirl over the swoop of the tail both aura blasts blinded the wyvern, its body doubling over in the ground as a cursed howl from the storm nipped at my fur The frost gathered in numerous spots across Zinogre, slowing its movements. He refused to relent, howling heavily while the lightning continued to rain from the heavens, striking buildings and tear apart the ground, the flames that continued to burn only made me more uncomfortable, my paws shifting away from any large flames. Not the time for this, Zen, focus, if you don't find a way to put this Wyvern down this town's gonna be razed. |Double team!| Taka's suggestion was well received with a smile between us, Zinogre snarled, head low, and horns poised. At the point between safety and those horns we parted to either side, Metal Claw and an Iron tail crashing into its shins, bringing the beast to a pained stop as we hopped up and over a sudden spin, the two of us diving back down with our attacks in unison, both metal appendages breaking two of its scaly flaps, releasing a static shock and several Thunderbugs that zapped us. Zinogre swiped at Taka, her body conjuring ice spikes to assault the limb while she blurred from my vision, forelimbs, and forehead crashing against the wyvern and effortlessly evading the stray bolts of lightning it summoned from above. Taking this advantage I rolled away from a short charge, performing a handstand over the tail and brining down both arms for a Cross Chop to the nape, locking Zinogre in place for a resounding crack atop its skull from Taka's Extreme kick and my Bone staff connecting to a horn, tossing the Wyvern into some of the flaming wreckage. |Don't let him recover!| I waved, rushing with the staff behind me while the Glaceon galloped next to me, the air surrounding her growing increasingly colder. Zinogre shook his head, whining from the loss of the horn, but within those electric blue eyes, rage boiled over and a low, malicious growl gurgled in its throat [Yui's POV] That lightning from overhead has caused far more chaos than I could possibly imagine. And Zen... he knew what these monsters were capable of, so just how deadly can they get? Are their ones that could raze the whole country? Could their bodies block out the sun? Turn sunny days into the night? "Not the time for this, Yui, focus." Scolding my rampant thoughts, I galloped to a group of evacuating Ponies, homes razed as Unicorns fought back the fires with Pegasi, Rainbow Dash among them Wrapping the lower half of my cloak across my muzzle I pushed forward, the glaring heat and ash blown by the wind made it difficult to see, but I managed to reach a small alleyway, pairs of frightened eyes watching me. Waving my wing I ushered them forward. "Come on, the wind's blowing South, so you need to head North, but do not go East, that's where the monster is!" I beckoned them out, standing between foals and the roaring flames several meters behind me. Many ran in the direction I yelled them to go, others moving slowly as to avoid the flames and working Ponies. I just hope Zen can handle this alone... "Hey, Yui!" I jumped, spotting Twilight dashing toward me, or until my ears flicked to the snap and sputter of wood and flames "Head's up!" I dived, tackling her backward as a mound of flaming thatch landed behind me, singeing my tail. Meanwhile, Twilight watched me with grateful eyes as I clambered off her. "You okay?" "Yeah -- Hold on, I thought you were with Zen?" She pointed a hoof at me "Kir...!" Something jumped in atop my back, startling me Behind Twilight, a large torrent of water struck the flames, smothering them with wet towels too. Standing atop me was Asher, multiples of him tossing wet blankets with some telekinetic power onto the flames, aiding to clear the air of smoke and hazards, while Merry shot from a nearby building, spilling charred wood now drenched as she guided tow Ponies out, coughing while she dusted her palms off. "T-Thank you!" The stallion said before stepping away from the fire, Merry just smiled and bowed her head, muscles relaxing as she... she glowed!? In a flurry of white and shimmers of a rainbow in between, her body grew in length, when the mote of light broke apart again, the flames on the roofs and some stalls were drowned out by a downpour from a completely isolated sector of the storm above, the rain forcing many to cheer with the relief they had the storm on their side now, even while the lightning continued at an alarming rate. "Froa... kie!" Merry looked pleased. Her frame still retaining a light blue but with a dark blue marking on her head, forming a three-pointed mark down her upper back. Merry's eyes protrude slightly from the top of her head and each has a backward-facing spike above it. The bubbles were now a scarf, her hands dark blue and circular fingers and toes. "Frogadier!" Merry lifted her hands with a bright smile "Woah...!" That was... amazing!! How did she do that? Was that what some of them went through!? So cool! Twilight on the other hoof dragged one down her face, a clear expression of exasperation "Great! Fantastic...!" Beside me, Merry shrugged, patting the mare on the back. "Don't patronize me." "Come on, girls -- and Asher," He narrowed his eyes at me when I hid my smile. "We're not done yet, and there's still plenty of chaos to sort out." "Right, I already have the rest of my friends doing what they can to stem the spread of the fires, but with all these lightning strikes we can't keep it up for long." Twilight murmured, while Merry tapped out snouts, smiling smugly before pointing to the rainfall, then to herself. "What about it -- Don't tell me you can control the weather too!?" She looked as though she was on the verge of an aneurism, while Merry shrugged a nod "Twi," She looked to me, as I tried not to look at her with a dumb smile. "My closest friend is a bipedal wolf with soul powers and has fought a moving boulder, what is basically a ninja panther, a wolf-snake-squirrel, a monster with a corrosive tail, and now a giant wolf that can conjure a lightning storm." Her jaw unhinged for a moment but didn't look to have an answer as Merry shut it for her. *....Rumble... Rumble!!* Vibrations tore across the town, and in the distance, a blinding torrent of light broke through the black smoke and storms, transforming the vast darkness into light. A roar unlike any other rippling through my ears and I felt an odd mixture of fear and a rush of adrenaline at the faint familiarity of the howl. [Zen's POV] With a deafening warcry, bolts tore into the earth, Taka ducking and rolling to evade the stray bolts as I deflected them with my bo staff, swatting those that strayed my path toward the overcharged wyvern. Zinogre snarled, slamming its paw to discharge a wall of lightning, I swung through the blue current, the shadow flung over me as a tail swiped my back, throwing me aside as a hail of ice shards struck the appendage, my feet bouncing off the wall and back into the fray, swiping left then dragging the tip of the staff in a spiral across the mid-section and over the chin. Landing my arms reached high, the impact of jaws clamped down on the staff that hissed under the strain, my knees bent to try and stabilize my footing, even as Zinogre dragged himself forward, my heels digging further into the ground as I cried out in rage to hold steady, even as the abrasion of the rock dug into my feet. This wyvern wasn't backing down for a moment, even with our advantage of ice not once had it given us time to press any advantage, even while it was exhausted. However, it had very little Thunderbugs now, so this was the last of its charged state. I let my aura dissolve the staff, my paws to the ground quickly to slide under its stomach and away from the feet as I felt the swipe of its arm over me. Pushing back with my paws I lunged high. From below a wave of lightning tore apart the ground, Zinogre's tail swatting me from the air, Quick Guard shattered. The force tossing me back, thankfully, under Taka's massive hail of snow, the harsh wind and combined snowfall were brief but it smothered some of the flames and slowed Zinogre down further, our combined ailments proving to be too much strain for the wyvern. |Get in there, idiot!|Her metallic tail swung from the left, catching my feet with a surge in my velocity coned with a black and white veil, it was a push but I simultaneously activated Nasty Plot and Quick Attack, while both my fists overflowed with a scarlet light, my vision was slowing and details became detailed, from the subtle shades of yellow and blue along Zinogre's coat to the faint buzz of Thunderbugs dancing across its white mane, weaving between locks |...Heh, Close Combat!| Reality sped up and my right hook collided with its jaw, diverting the horn and claws that now dug through the soil in vain to slow its tumble, my fist twisting the skin and muscle to allow my fist to sink further into the cheek. One more hit and it's through! The left eye lost its spark, and the pupil locked to mine, the eyelid narrowed He howled once again, and my whole body rocketed with electricity, the bolts ejected my arm, throwing me across the dirt and into the side of a stall now lay to ruins. From across a large plank, I caught the glimpse of Zinogre coming to face a large wall of ice, the strain on Taka's face was evident of this as blue bolts dug through the ice that continuously formed between us, I'd move, but my arms twitched slightly so movement was slow. *Crunch-crack-crack* |Grah!!| No!! The claw swipe tore a wave of lightning through the ice, and in turn, across Taka's small frame that collided with a stall, her ice wall having disintegrated under Zinogre's superior strength. She wasn't getting up, and she wasn't moving, I could smell the putrid stench of blood from here, through ash and dust A pin dropped, the echo rebound in my head a few times as I froze, peering down at my paws that trembled ceaselessly under the rolling thunder and the low growls of the wyvern, it made bile trickle through my throat, and now I lowered my head, just as Zinogre turned to retaliate. My palms starting to bleed under my knuckles. My heartbeat raced in my ears, and I hated it, how copper tickled my tongue from me accidentally biting my cheek. This mutt... this Goddamn mutt...! There was something building in my throat, like copper but far less bitter, with a tingly sensation or warmth of a hot drink. A rising tide swaying in my stomach as Zinogre body slam missed me, having already leapt high above its form, higher than even Zinogre could leap, the view was dark, and all color dissolved into black and white, the only consistent tone was that of a spark of blue snaking across my muzzle with a highlight of purple. Motes of those two colors crackling across the sky as the formed around my fangs, the wind screaming in my ears. "𝙷𝚢𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚖!!" To encompass Zinogre's own deafening cry mine tore from my throat, as a downpour of pure energy rippled through the sky, slamming down atop the monster with a hum that electrified the air, from any unaware, it may have been a dragon's cry that drowned out Zinogre's, dirt and stone tore and jagged from the impact as I landed, the last ghosts of my attack whisked away from my bared teeth. |And stay| A loud, almost sorrowful rumble tore apart the clouds, the sunlight piercing through to illuminate Zinogre, body smoked and fur singed from the attack, his body lying stomach up. The tongue hung out of its shredded snout, not a sound or sign of life remained in its body, and from the faint glow under my neck, its rift had, in turn, been closed. Taking in rather heavy and uneven breaths, someone's fingers snapped me back to reality, and to the severity a couple of meters away. |Taka!| I shoved through dust and debris, throwing aside a few planks and stones to reveal the small, light-blue Pokemon underneath, the rotten stench of blood that dripped from her forehead scared me into reading my paws, concentrating all my strength to stand for her. |Come on, Taka, you're like, the strongest person ever, so get up... come on you asshole, get up!| Life Dew dripped across her forehead, my left paw flicking the droplets of life onto her frame, scratches, and bruises softly fading back to a normal, smooth texture on her fur. This will work, it will work! Biting my lip, I noted her aura remained, albeit with a flicker. *Boop* I retracted my snout, her tail having poked it as she cracked an eye open, smirking weakly. |Why do you keep calling out your attacks?| This was enough for me to chuckle with relief flooding my breath, the two of us slumped against the wall of a house, hearing voices and hooves approaching as I flicked her temple. |Ack! Okay, yeah... I deserved that| |Now we're even| I muttered, closing my eyes to finally earn some rest. |To answer your question, it sounds cool, no?| |For an anime-obsessed guy like you? Sure| She muttered |Slice-of-Life-Romance-lover-says-what?| That earned a flick of her tail, her head slumped against my stomach as I slumped against the wall further |Touche| To Be Continued...