Tails of Sacrifice
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Chapter 10
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Battle of the Templars
Kyuubi gulped as drops of sweat slid down her face. She breathed heavily while feeling as if her heart was trying to escape her chest. Her forepaws trembled, barely keeping her standing. While fear wasn’t alien to her, she hadn’t felt this afraid since her first encounter with the three Timberwolves.
While she had seen this outcome as a high probability and steeled herself for it, no amount of preparation could prevent the fear from taking over.
Despite her instincts ordering her to run away, she remained in place. Despite her reactions telling her to avert her gaze and cover her face behind her forepaws, she kept staring at the battlefield, not moving an inch.
No, no, she would not cower while her comrades and friends fought for their lives. She would be like her student, Lily, and new friend, Flutterbold. She did not doubt that both mares would face down an adult dragon if it meant sticking up for her friends. Kyuubi would do nothing less.
And so she kept at it.
Her third tail was at work continuously, not for a moment ceasing to send magic into the spacious holy rune. At first, said rune was small as its concentrated magic fought to bring Luna out. But as Nightmare Moon remained mobile and even airborne, the kitsune had to change her strategy.
Kyuubi increased the size of the rune to cover the floor of the entire throne room as its magic reached even to the ceiling, affecting the alicorn no matter where she was. The downside was that it required far more magic and concentration to maintain. The purifying process also became much slower, turning it into a race against time.
Kyuubi took a step back and raised one forepaw defensively as a beam of magic started slicing the room with her in the line of fire. Two earth ponies bravely jumped in front of her while raising their towering anti-magical shields, deflecting the dark beam. The kitsune sighed, her chest saved from acquiring a massive bleeding cut.
After the elemental magic proved ineffective due to the presence of spirits and specialized staves and maces, the alicorn went for a magical beam. While less destructive than other offensive spells, it was still unleashed by an alicorn, giving it the force to pierce through walls and boulders, but this was where the enhanced shields came in.
Kyuubi resisted the urge to whimper as she gritted her teeth and lowered her paw. Her little Templars were the ones risking their lives, fighting on the frontline while believing in their cause. They fought alongside her and for her, against none other than an alicorn. How could she tremble in fear on the sideline when they fought directly?
Still, while ponies had high mobility and durability, she was quite a big and fragile target, unable to both evade and maintain her purifying spell. To make matters worse, Nightmare Moon had become aware of that and was wary of her purifying magic, targeting her more frequently. Kyuubi knew she could not hesitate even for a second since maintaining her spell was the key to victory. She had to have faith that her little Templars could protect her, even against the might of an alicorn.
Nightmare Moon flew into the air, evading a barrage of sharp icicles summoned from the mace with blue crystals. Her eyes were still closed. At least a fifth of the icicles shattered upon contact with the alicorn’s body. Kyuubi quickly noticed a thin blue aura surrounding the alicorn in response to damage, as if she had a little personal barrier that reinforced her body without her influence.
Another templar summoned a gust of wind from the staff with a green gem, which became far stronger with aid from Windy. Two pegasi started flying in a circle above the alicorn, summoning a little tornado of their own. Soon, wind from under and above combined, trapping the alicorn in a massive vortex. A rain of icicles started flying in a circle, repeatedly striking the trapped alicorn. The intense wind drowned out any cries of pain.
Even for the large kitsune, the windy spectacle was vast in her eyes. Teamwork between her brave little Templars brought forth such incredible power. If they used it against her, they would best her in a mere minute. So tiny and precious, yet so powerful. Ponies never cease to amaze me. Kyuubi narrowed her eyes and concentrated, shrinking the rune to send more of her magic into the tornado. The faster she could purify her, the less pain Nightmare would experience.
Then, a question was born in her mind. Would her holy magic awaken Luna, or would it purify Nightmare Moon away? After learning more about Nightmare and her sentience, Kyuubi had no intention of exorcising her. She wanted to bring Luna back and extinguish their mutual desire for vengeance. Not only did she need to endure this battle, but also keep a close eye on how her holy magic affected Nightmare Moon and pray for the best.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a powerful wave of shadowy magic dispersed the wind and icicles. The pegasi flapped their wings intensely, fighting against the pushing waves, while unicorns safeguarded themselves with bubbles of magic.
"Allow me to demonstrate what I learned during my exile!" Nightmare shouted as she wrapped her levitation around both pegasi, smashing them against each other and then against a wall. Yelps of pain and spreading cracks followed. Windy flew towards them, slowing their descent.
Kyuubi's magic started showing effects on Nightmare's bruised body as its black shade was giving up to blue. The distress and the struggle displayed on the princess' face showed her growing weakness. It became clear that the alicorn could not use her full power due to constant contact with the holy magic. Still, even weakened and asleep, she was a mighty force.
The earth spirit raised both of its hands, launching small rocks at a rapid pace, supported by the unicorn with his ice-summoning mace.
"I trained myself in hope for revenge or just out of boredom. Try to keep up, my skilled adversaries!" Nightmare said as her body turned into a fog. The stones and icicles went through her, splashing her black substance, which reformed without any injury, returning to her physical form.
A spirit made of electricity alongside one made of fire flew at the alicorn, sending flames and lightning. The alicorn summoned a defensive rounded bubble, blocking their attacks.
Kyuubi narrowed her eyes, noticing a little earth pony standing atop a boulder thrown by the earth spirit.
Lily!
Lily jumped from the boulder before it shattered against the barrier. She performed a somersault before delivering a kick against the black bubble. She didn't stop there as she landed on the shield, punching it repeatedly from above as drops of sweat fell off her face with each punch. Her hooves banged on the barrier as rapidly as a drum roll, each hoof strike capable of cracking stone. Unfortunately, it wasn't the barrier that started cracking, but her hooves instead. The mare didn't stop despite her injury.
Kyuubi ceased casting her spell as her purification stopped working due to the powerful barrier. After taking a few tired breaths, she sent some of her healing magic, healing everyone's injuries, mending Lily's hooves in the process. Unfortunately, healing at a long-range was more draining and slower than by physical contact.
Everyone else joined in a combined assault, striking the barrier with spells and melee weapons. The massive shield endured maces, knuckles, flames, storms, stones, and so much more. Yet, not a single crack. The walls and ceiling of the throne room were covered in holes and slashed marks caused by reflected beams, icicles, and intense wind.
"Zecora! Your powder!" Lily shouted with a commanding tone from the top of the indestructible bubble. "If we don't break her shield soon, the purifying will be completely undone!"
Kyuubi nodded, feeling pride in Lily's leadership and foresight. The alicorn was afraid of her purifying, putting everything into defense until the holy magic would vanish from her body.
"Let me help!" Rosey said as she levitated the zebra upward, who opened her saddlebag in advance.
"The same trick will not work twice," Nightmare declared as the barrier dispersed, while black fog emerged from it. It wrapped itself around the zebra's neck and limbs while covering the saddlebag in black flames.
"You stay away from Zecora!" Rosey shouted as she levitated the zebra down. She charged and jumped while levitating her melee weapons, trying to cut the mist as if it was a tentacle, with no effect.
With the help of wind magic, Lily ran towards the trapped zebra, punching against the fog. Black flames from the mist burned against Lily's fur while her punches accomplished nothing.
Nightmare Moon released Zecora, who gasped desperately in an attempt to grasp for air. A burned mark was present on her neck, forelegs, and belly.
The mist started dancing between strikes from Lily and Rosey, more than eager to leave burned marks on the battle-hardened earth pony. Nightmare ignored the unicorn, for now, deciding to put the arrogant youth in her place with more direct means.
Kyuubi resumed her purifying ritual, focusing on the elusive mist. For now, she had to focus on the task at paw, no matter how much as she wanted to heal the burns on her student's body.
"Neat trick, but if you think regular punches and kicks are all I’ve got, you're dead wrong!" Lily shouted as a blue aura formed on her left hoof while a silver aura on her right one. "There's way more to this earth pony!" Her freezing thrust froze part of the fog, while a holy punch caused a scream of pain to fill the room. A quick combo later, the black mist reformed into a battered alicorn.
"How did you...?!" Nightmare asked, caught off guard, while small stains of blue were present on her body. "You are no mere filly. What sort of being are you?!"
Lily grinned. "I am a student of the mighty kitsune, Kyuubi, blessed by her magic. I'm her monk. Her might is my might, and you're about to feel the full extent of it!" She leaped left and right, evading the armored hooves. She jumped forward as a beam of magic pierced the floor behind her. A quick punch in the armored chest caused ice to spread, covering the sleeping alicorn up to her neck.
Nightmare caught the filly with her levitation, keeping her restrained above the ground. A thin aura of magic appeared on the alicorn's side the moment Rosey's halberd and spear made contact with her, causing a few drops of blood to stain the rugged red carpet.
"Release Lily and surrender! Alicorn or not, slashing you feels very uncomfortable," Rosey commented as she displayed both of her weapons with an itty bit of blood at the sharp edges.
The alicorn jumped to the side to avoid the halberd, which hit the floor, yet failed to dodge a thrust from a spear that pierced chest armor. Failing to keep up with Rosey's attacks, she summoned a defensive barrier, blocking more strikes. In a moment of distraction, she didn't notice Lily slamming her hooves together, dispersing her magic. A moment later, an uppercut into her chin sent her flying. Just as the black mist had left burns on Lily's body before, the silver aura on Lily's hoof left a burn on the dark mare while changing the color of her fur to blue.
Kyuubi lowered her head, taking a curious look at the signs of vanishing possession. Lily's holy punch seemed to hasten the process. Still, her goal was to awaken Luna without destroying Nightmare Moon. Seeing an opening, she focused magic into her second tail, reaching deep into Nightmare's mind.
By mixing her holy magic and telepathy, the kitsune said, Luna, please, come back to us! We need you. Please help me calm Nightmare's anger.
Leave us be, thou vile beast!
Kyuubi blinked. She heard words of defiance. Not just heard, but also felt strong defiance deep inside Nightmare Moon. Something was not right. Still, if she reached Luna once, she could do it again. The more purified Nightmare was, the deeper she could get.
Nightmare spread her wings, hovering above the ground. As the spirits and the other Templars charged at her from two sides, she separated herself and two ponies within a massive bubble.
"Have at you, little champions!" said the sleeping alicorn, still affected by Kyuubi's magic coming from the floor, having access to only part of her power. She shot a beam of magic at Rosey, who parried it by crossing her two weapons. With the Templars locked away, Nightmare summoned a barrage of fireballs from above.
Lily summoned rocky armor as flames rained harmlessly upon her body.
Rosey stood on her rear hooves, leaping and dancing between the fireballs. She jumped to the right a few times while levitating both weapons towards the alicorn.
Lily jumped and wrapped her hooves around one of the levitated weapons while gathering fire and holy magic. As soon as the alicorn flew to the side, she jumped at her. With her fire punch, Lily pierced through the intense flame coming from the alicorn horn. She delivered a firm holy punch against the alicorn's cheek. Both Lily and Nightmare's fur became more scorched than before.
The earth pony looked at Nightmare Moon with narrowed eyes and gritted teeth, staring at her with the glare of a warrior a few meters above the ground. The transparent projection of an alicorn returned the glare with her own. Soon after, Rosey's halberd pulled the alicorn to the ground by her neck, slamming her against the damaged floor.
Nightmare Moon turned into mist, burning away Rosey's armor. The unicorn mare backflipped to evade, leaping backward to dodge further damage. “Look what you've done! My stylish and cool armor is ruined!”
Using wind magic, Lily flew at the mist and struck it with a holy kick, causing it to reform into flesh.
Lily yelped in pain when bolts of electricity went through her body but didn't back down. She had enough combat experience that intense electricity didn't break her resolve. She kicked both forelegs of her enemy, then punched Nightmare in the chest, sending her flying a few meters away.
Rosey stood firmly on her trembling legs as her barrier failed to stop some of the lightning. She returned the gesture by slamming both of her weapons against the alicorn's armor, ripping it apart with a few well-aimed strikes.
Kyuubi failed to see this spectacle as it happened under the massive dome. As her Templars couldn't break through, she approached and sank her teeth into it, causing cracks to spread and shatter the dome.
As Nightmare Moon was becoming weaker, Kyuubi sent another telepathic message deep into her mind. Luna. I beg you, wake up. Your sister, Princess Celestia, wants to see you again. She cares for you.
Thou shall not speak her name to me, not after what she has done to us. We hate her! Forgiveness may once have been possible, but after forcing centuries of isolation onto us?! Thou insult us by entertaining the very thought, filthy beast! Begone from our sight!
Kyuubi whimpered, her ears dropped. Could it be that their efforts were for nothing? No, she couldn't lose her resolve in this critical moment.
Sleeping Nightmare Moon struggled to stand on her trembling legs as she ended up surrounded, her body battered and burned and partially blue. Lily and Rosey didn't look any better. Zecora was hidden behind a pillar, earning her much needed rest.
"You are both excellent warriors who have far exceeded my expectations. Thank you for this glorious battle!"
Kyuubi focused on another mental message, but what came after caught her off guard.
We do not want to face our sister.
We do not want to awaken.
We can't lose Nightmare Moon.
We need her.
Thou must leave now or suffer!
Begone with thee!
She shall not lose!
We won’t let her lose!
Messages of defiance kept repeating themselves as Kyuubi felt a growing headache. Luna was fighting against her influence, rejecting the holy magic. If she had learned anything from this experience, it was that exorcising a possession became a hundred times harder when the host didn't want to be free.
Suddenly, Nightmare Moon became black from top to bottom. The alicorn opened her eyes, no longer asleep and capable of using her full power.
Kyuubi gasped. Her purifying magic no longer worked as Luna rejected its influence, aiding Nightmare in this battle with her willpower and magic.
She could only watch how the fire spirit and the water spirit ended up pushed into one another with telekinesis, greatly injuring each other in the process.
Nightmare levitated the earth golem upward, then smashed it into the electric spirit as both ended up trapped in a crater on the floor.
Two earth ponies jumped into Nightmare's way, trying to block a beam of magic directed at Kyuubi. Their shields broke into two pieces while both earth ponies fell to the floor, lying on their backs.
Kyuubi's eyes opened wide as she noticed holes in their melted armor and burned marks on their chests. She hastily unleashed healing magic to aid them, only to feel a burning sensation on her chest. She bent one forepaw, nearly collapsing while drops of her blood started falling to the floor.
"I am holding nothing back! Surrender!" Nightmare demanded as smoke was visible coming from her horn, her face was now covered in sweat, her breathing heavy.
"Kyuubi, no!" Lily jumped in front of her mentor and looked back at her in worry. "Please heal yourself. I will buy you time!" She turned around and charged at the alicorn.
Kyuubi nodded, pressing paw against the wound, healing the injury in her chest. A long-lasting painful whimper escaped her gritted teeth. The view of her friends hurting like that caused an aching in her heart. Her ears dropped at the sight of her precious Lily slammed through two pillars, then having her head smashed into the floor.
Rosey attacked the alicorn with her weapons, yet injuring Nightmare did little to stop her.
"I will be taking that," Nightmare said as her magic started fighting Rosey for control of the two weapons. "The unfortunate thing about the tools of war is that they can easily change owners. They can turn against their masters."
"That is where you're wrong!" Rosey said as she stood up on her trembling limbs and concentrated her magic.
Both weapons in Nightmare's possession started to glow and soon began blinding those around them. Nightmare Moon covered her head with her wings before her whole body went flying against a damaged pillar, leaving an alicorn shaped hole in it. After a moment to push the rubble away, Nightmare sent an annoyed glare at the High Templar.
"Each weapon has a special seal in them that only we know how to activate with quite explosive results. A precaution in case our tools got into the wrong hooves." Rosey wiped the blood from her cheek with her foreleg. "Now, would you kindly surrender?"
"N-never!"
Lily still lay unconscious in a crater on the floor. All the spirits except Windy were motionless as well, while the two earth ponies struggled to stand up and were in no shape to fight. Only Rosey, two unicorn Templars, and two pegasi remained in combat.
Kyuubi resumed her attempt to try and reach Luna, only to be rejected again. Her purifying proved useless against this princess, her fear coming to life. Nightmare Moon, please! Stop this. We don't need to fight. Just give us a chance.
"Silence!" Nightmare said as she flew into the air, evading spells from the unicorn Templars. "All or nothing! Let this next minute decide our fate!"
Kyuubi gulped as her body was raised above the floor, her six tons of weight captured in the blue aura. She yelped as her entire presence went flying upward, piercing the ceiling. She gritted her teeth, refusing to scream. Pupils in her eyes shrank as she descended towards the ground at great speed, unable to move a muscle. She felt her bones cracking as her body was now one meter deep in the floor, her chin included. Most of the ruined castle trembled from this powerful impact.
Feeling an ache in her every bone, she watched with tired eyes as her little Templars with Rosey in charge assaulted the alicorn. Nightmare Moon tried to push back but failed to keep up with the speed of the pegasi and was distracted by Windy's vortex. The alicorn ceased her aggression for the moment, hiding under a protective dome, trying to catch her breath.
Kyuubi didn't bother to heal herself as she felt her magic being at a dangerously low capacity. Her loyal Templars and friends started to smell appetizing, but nothing like the delicious alicorn meal before her. As for the battle itself, the alicorn's durability far surpassed what even Lily possessed, and her barriers were unbreachable without Zecora’s anti-magic powder. Her purifying spell also no longer worked due to Luna's rejection. How were they supposed to win?
"W-we can't g-give up!" Lily said as she limped on her injured legs, pushing herself to walk towards the dome.
Tears fell from Kyuubi's eyes as she watched her precious student in so much pain, still risking her life.
"Kyuubi, your teeth! You can break her shield!" Rosey said as she pressed her levitation and hooves against the black dome. Lily pressed her forelegs against it as well in an attempt to push it away.
Windy added her wind, and soon, the trio were pushing the dome towards the kitsune.
Kyuubi pulled her paws from the floor and pushed herself to sit as a hundred kilograms of the rubble fell from her fur. She wrapped both sides of the dome with her aching paws and opened her mouth, preparing her sharp teeth. With one swift crunch, she pierced the barrier as if it was a thin glass. Then, she felt a little bit of blood touch her tongue while her ears picked up a scream.
Filled with panic, Kyuubi withdrew her teeth and examined the alicorn held down with her massive paws, noticing a bleeding wound on her long neck. Then a realization struck her. In an attempt to break the barrier, she had accidentally bitten her opponent in the neck. She felt some of her reserves revitalize the moment she licked and gulped blood from her fangs while her body gained five centimeters of height.
No… No! Not again… I am sorry, I am so sorry! Kyuubi repeated as she looked at the restrained alicorn with puppy eyes as more tears fell down her cheeks. Please! I didn’t want this!
The alicorn wriggled for a moment but calmed down quickly, glancing at the kitsune, maintaining eye contact, her stern expression confused but not terrified. "Your teeth. For the second time, they have shattered my barrier like it was nothing. They pierced my flash when the teeth of a dragon would barely scratch it." She took a few slow breaths, her bruised face betraying exhaustion. "Why did you hold back when you had victory in your grasp?"
I told you I didn’t want this! I don't want to hurt you! I want to reunite Luna with her sister, and I want you all to live happily! I don't want war. I don't want to fight, nor bite you. I beg of you and Luna both, abandon your desires for vengeance.
Kyuubi knew she still had one spell left in her arsenal, her secret weapon, her last resort. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to use it. There had to be a different solution.
Nightmare raised an eyebrow. "I can see it now. You're a predator living among your prey. Not even the might of an alicorn is safe from your teeth, yet you deny your nature. Even in battle, you refuse to strike with full power." She sighed, her stern look now replaced with one of pity. "If you knew more about alicorn magic, you would understand how much you all have accomplished. You and your Templars did what an entire army wouldn't achieve."
I don't care about winning, nor the glory of besting an alicorn. All I want is your cooperation. We will bring Luna back somehow, I swear.
"You are such an innocent and gentle soul. I refuse to surrender, and I see you are too kind to grasp your victory at the cost of my life. As much as I hate to stain this glorious and honorable battle with a cowardly retreat, I see no point in continuing it."
What? Kyuubi asked, then felt the hooves of the battered alicorn wrestle against her aching paws. She pressed against her, refusing to let go, aided by the levitation of Rosey and the two unicorn Templars. Their efforts were all undone the moment Nightmare turned into mist, withdrawing through the hole in the ceiling. Both pegasi followed her against the priestess’ wishes.
Kyuubi collapsed, lying on her side. Her body and mind needed a break. As her cheek rested on the rugged carpet, she looked at the injured Templars. She summoned healing from her third tail as she stretched her paw towards her friends.
Lily nodded, limping towards the paw and pressing herself against it. Rosey and other Templars realized her intention and followed suit.
Kyuubi grit her teeth, using her weakened reserves as she restored her friends' health. The issue, however, was that the more durable the creature she tried to heal and the more injured it was, the more it drained her.
After aiding Zecora and the spirits on top of that, she could only lay and close her sleepy, hungry eyes.
"Kyuubi, are you okay?! Where does it hurt?" Lily asked as she sat in front of kitsune's closed eye while stroking her muzzle, her face filled with worry.
I'm f-fine. Just t-tired, Kyuubi responded. Taking any action in her weakened stage would endanger both her and those around her.
"Please rest. Leave Nightmare Moon to us," Lily ensured.
"Yes. Not to mention how tired Nightmare was. We don't need your help to catch that vengeful mare, so rest easy," Rosey declared.
“While a triumph we lack, Nightmare Moon we shall track. The next battle we see, we shall claim victory,” Zecora said.
D-don't bother.
"What, why?" Rosey asked, gasping.
Luna doesn't want to awaken. She rejected my magic.
“She rejected your magic? This outcome is tragic! This result we did not foresee, but we must press, it is not to be,” said Zecora.
"So you want to give up? Just like that?" Lily asked. "That’s not like you."
I’m not. We failed, but Twilight may yet succeed. For now, we must rest and recover our strength. We must be ready to aid Twilight and her friends if the situation calls for it.
Opening one eye, she saw Lily and Rosey look at each other in worry, then addressing Zecora, the spirits, and the Templars. There seemed to be a little arguing at first, but it didn't last long. As she saw nods of agreement, she said, Please rest with me. A moment later, Lily, Rosey, Zecora, and the rest of the Templars perched themselves against fur on her chin and belly. All except the spirits, who rested in other corners of the damaged throne room. Feeling her friends close, she closed her right eye and gave a deserved break to her tired mind.
"Wait, what about Fleetfoot and Snapshot?" Rosey asked, catching Lily's attention. "Didn't they go after the retreating alicorn?" Their words, however, failed to reach Kyuubi, who had lost consciousness, now resting in the land of dreams.