The Artifact

by The Sumareian


The Drop

Sen focused on the task at hand as he opened a maintenance hatch on top of the airship. his Shadows suddenly bleed into existence behind him as he headed for the Command deck.

"Where to Sir?" asked Tempest grogily. The admiral still in her pajamas saluted her prince."Ponyville about one mile north if you would." Sen said with a determined look.

The ships magic pulse engines screamed to life flining the ship forward at supersonic speeds. Sen marveled at The Technology his nation posesed. but the sad reality of why it existed came to his mindWar. Its seems we fight to improve how we fight the next day and so on."Sen You forgot this." he looked at his friend Ingot seeing his mothers red sash. debate wormed trough his head to take her black sash or the red sash each a gift from his mother on her death bed. "I want you to wear it Ingot incase i dont make it theres no need for my mothers memory to die with me." Ingot stared at the sash for a moment. "Well guess what if you die youll have two angry mares to contend with." Ingot said wraping the sash around her neck."Aproching drop zone, lots of movement down there." Tempest called out. Sen went to the observers station. "Golems." Sen said gritting his teeth. He looked down at his greave the blade was crafted out of the strongest diamond the Blacksmiths could find, it bore the emblem of the pony who crafted it a hammer and anvil.

Sen opened the cargo bay door wind rushed into his face So this is it. all that searching all that pain heartache and saddness for this moment. He felt a hoof touch his shoulder Shadow sttod beside hi "We will fight with you my lord you are not alone." the silver eyed mare stood next to her charge."Yeah and know when you need it we'll be right there too>" Sen heard Tempest and Ingot call over the radio.

"This is song bird. Making drop now." Sen said as he lept out of the airship. Landing with a loud thud. The teeming mass of magical machines paused and looked at Sen.one of the abominations reered up and cried. Sen Let his blade prime in his greave. as the three shadow hooves bleed out of the darkness behind him each with their own blades. The ponies charged. each striking in unison at seperate targets These ones are weaker the in Nieghrobi. Sen thought as he jabbed his blade into the midsection of one of the machines.Spinning to avoid another attack Sen jabbed the machine in the back causing it to fall over Ghost was there to finish it off landing on its head. Fade the larger of the three Shadow hooves grabbed one of the machined in his mouth throwing it into another three golems charging from the cave. Just a Sen realized this Twin beams of raw magical power swept across the automatons ranks. Sen looked to the sky to see the princesses and a number of their Royal guard. Sen watched as the valiant royal gard picked at the still numerous mass of machines swarming out of the cave. "Charge!" Sen heard from behind as he saw more of the guards charge into the fray. Sen watched as many of the Foul machines were desroyed under the sheer might of the charge.Sen Shouted up to the Princessess "What brings you here." Luna enclined her head towards him "Real friends tend to drop in." Sens radio crackled "I like her." Ingot said.

"Shadow stay here with the princesses" Sen order his personal gaurdians to stay amongst the troops of Equestria.Aen entered the cave there was nothing but scilence.

Sen heard a voice "You what are You doing here." it was weak at first, But as Sen kept going deeper it became more and more potent. "Have you come to free me?" asked the voice of mare. "Wait its you!" The voice became many. Sen head started to ache as he pressed on "That not right why mortal what to you want from me." The voices demaned. "I want what ever we have to end said as he felt a magical shock wave blast into his face. Sens armor emitted a bright orange glow as his flank began to warm up. "Ahh I see you prepared for me." The voices said in boastful sarcasm.

Sen vision clouded he could see shadows moving molding them selves into ponies .but only one came into view "V..Vendetta." Sen said in shock. As the Familiar stallion turned to Sen He was struck by thousands of arrows."No!" Sen cried out as he tried to rush to his friend each step seiming to take him further and further away from his friend.Sen closed his eyes

He is dead there is nothing could do then or now. Sen motivated himself. His mind being release a little only to hear a strange growl. "Tell me what are you." Sen said with a righteous anger building in his heart." I told you I'm the lair and the cheat." Sen pondered this for a moment "Y... you are a spirit of chaos aren't you, Then that means ." Sen graspedthe igth of the situation he had heard of the return and defeat of Discord. but to think that her could be more then one being on near limitless power. Black clouds spread across the floor as Sen Entered a large cavern, A pedistel siting in the middle the ligth of some strange crystal glowing down upon the top. Sen looked around to see pods most of them broken and empty.He can grow those vile things What is he. "So you are the first mortal in SEVEN years to see me in my full glory. the smoke pulled towards the the pedistal forming into a bieng of pure confusion as faces and features appeared and disappeared as the creature leaned towards Sen. "I am Deception. greater spirit of chaos." The entity said in a myriad of voices.

Mortal release me from this trap Fletcher placed on me and i will bestow my blessing upon you. "No. You will do nothing but spread war and suffering through out the world." The spirit turned its hundreds of eyes upon the prince. "Like you have, like your father and his father before him." the spirit said in a coy tone." Those wars were different those wars were fought in self defence." Sen tried to defend his ancestors honor. "What about your attack of Nieghrobi. That was unprovoked you little mortal." Sens heart skipped a beat he was right the siege was unprovoked." If i could i would take it all back,if i knew what we would lose..." Sen trailed off thinking of his fallen comrade. "Yes....Yes....Your sadness gives me power as soon as Sen looked up the swirling cloud of Chaos had forced its way through the roof of the chamber sunlight bleed in as the chamber quickly flilled with dust. rocks collapsing around him.

Sen saw the entrance to the cave ahead but with a thud the stallion lost consciousnesses......