Honored Above All Else
Chapter 10
By Honored Service
“ I'm just getting better!” I dove under a tiger as it ripped through the air over my head with a roar. I turned the rifle in my hand and fired it one handed into the back of the jungle predator. It went down without a sound.
No this just feels way too easy. Not that I'm going to say we haven’t gotten better at fighting, but this? This isn’t fighting, this is a slaughter.
“Fighting, slaughter, same difference.” I let the rifle fall to my side on the sling and take out my pistol and knife while using my arm bracer to fend off a bone breaking bite from a lion. The knife ended up in its neck while the pistol was trained on a jaguar jumping down from a ledge that traveled along the top of the room.
BANG
Cat down.
More of the ferocious felines had joined the battle through the holes in the roof and open doorways, but their numbers were slowly diminishing as my rifle got hotter. I was down another mag, bringing me to only sixty rounds left for my primary weapon. That would become a problem in the future. The lion dove at me after recovering from the backhand delivered by my arm bracer, a swift slice with the knife and follow up shot with the pistol insured he stayed down.
No, this feels like a trick or a that we could be walking into-
“Not now Nightmare! A little busy to discuss this.” I spun around while dropping to my knees and shoved the knife forward, catching a bobcat square in its chest as it leapt at my throat. I brought the pistol up and fired six rounds into three rushing cheetahs. So far they had been the hardest to track and kill because of the speed of which they moved around the room. But they sure aren't faster than a 9mm round hitting them head on.
“Okay so maybe this is getting easy, but I think that’s because we are just badass partners as we go along.” Flames exploded around me, hurling another jaguar backwards as it attempted to sneak up on me. “You don’t feel our kickass-ness?” I asked as I as I sheathed the knife and holstered the pistol. The few remaining jungle cats took off out the door as the fire slowly reseeded around me.
Okay I’ll admit that we have been improving.
“Exactly, now let’s find out what is going on in this ancient ruin.” I approached the group of still tied up ponies, most of who were shaking in fear as I approached. One of them, a purple and blue mare with a lab coat, shrieked as I got closer.
“Please don’t hurt us!” She screamed out as I kneeled down in front of her.
“Relax. I'm here to help you. I’m a member of the Equestrian Honor Guard, and I'm here to save y’all.” I untied the ropes binding them together and helped undo the ones wrapped around their legs and wings.
“Now before you escape, what exactly is supposed to be in the ruins that has Ahuizotl so excited?” I asked, while removing the final binds from the last pony explorer.
“This was an ancient temple that is said to hold an artifact of immense power. An ancient weapon of some sorts. We were looking to uncover it and use its magic to help create a shield system for cities against natural disasters.” The purple mare rattled off so fast, I had a hard time keeping up with her.
“Well I can imagine that Ahuizotl isn’t thinking the same thing.” I stood up and pointed the group of still shaking ponies in the right direction to get out of the ruins.
“Well I like weapons.”
I like powerful thing.
“It’s a perfect match; let’s go get ‘em!”
I charged to the stairs leading down into the depths of the ruins. “Maybe charging widely down there isn’t the best idea.”
No really? Let’s take this slowly and cautiously.
“Fine, but only for you Nightmare.” I shoulder the rifle and drop the empty mag to ground, and feed a new magazine into the rifle. The first round slides into the chamber, “Alright, let’s go dungeon diving!”
I took a tentative step forward onto the stairs and jumped back immediately as the place I put my foot was pressure plate. A giant spear shot forward and planted itself on the wall next to me. I gulped and looked down to see the wooden shaft sticking out between my legs, barely clipping my pants by a few centimeters.
Wow, that was either really lucky, or it’s a good thing you aren't bigger.
“Fuck off.” I broke the spear end off and continued down the stairs. “Dick.” I mumbled under my breath as I reached the end of the stairs and looked left and right. Two different hallways. I was about to take the right one, when I noticed a blue hair near the left one. I bent over and picked it up.
“Now I wonder which way the giant pussy cat went.” I noticed every few feet; there would be another long blue hair. “Ahuizotl must be shedding or something.”
Or it could be a-
“No why would he want to trap me? He knows nothing about me.” I ducked under a massive axe that was impaled on the stone wall. I tried not to think about the skeleton lying under the blade, but I looked anyway at it. Its head was cleanly severed from the body. It was unicorn pony who must have been exploring here a long time ago.
“Looks like they lost their-“
Nope, I don’t want to hear it.
“Fine. Be a stick in the mud.”
I will be, because than at least I don’t have to listen to these lame puns.
“Whatever.” I continued following the blue hairs down the dim stone hallway. Nightmare’s night vision was helping a lot, I could only imagine what it would be like without his help.
Look over there.
I stepped out into a large room. A massive sundial was in the center of it, and a certain blue cat monster thing was standing at its center messing with a small dial.
“Hey fur ball!” I screamed at Ahuizotl and fired one round at him. He leapt into the air releasing a loud screech as he dove for cover behind a fallen pillar.
Couldn’t have tried being sneaky or anything? No just run in screaming and shooting, because that always seems to work.
“Well I mean most of the time it does.” I squeeze the trigger and dropped more rounds downrange at Ahuizotl’s hiding spot as I try to flank around his position. Or just scare him off, whichever comes first.
“You'll never get the treasure human! It’s all mine!” Ahuizotl hollered above the gunfire before leaping over the pillar and sprinting towards the exit. At the doorway, he rears his hind legs back and lashes out delivering a kick to the stone archway above the door.
I slowly lower my rifle as I watch the only exit into this room collapse into a pile of rocks and stones.
Well this sucks.
“I guess you could say this is a ro-“
Please don’t.
“This is a rocky situation we’re in.” I shrug as the Nightmare gives a loud sigh in my head. “Get it? Because the door caved in and it’s covered in rocks.”
I get it, it’s just not funny.
“Whatever, I think it’s funny.” I looked around the room and noticed we were indeed trapped in here. Sure to eventually die of dehydration or starvation, or going insane from having to talk to Nightmare forever.
I move over to the sundial that Ahuizotl had been tampering with. Although it wasn’t a sundial, it was some kind of puzzle dial. It had shapes that were made of squiggles and lines crisscrossing in different directions. It was made of three wheels that turned against each other.
“Okay Nightmare, do your stuff.” I crossed my arms and stared at the stone turn table.
Excuse me?
“You know? Solve this thing please.” I pointed an arm out motioning to the puzzle.
And why do you think I can solve it?
“Well I'm the muscle and the tactical maneuverer, and I always just assumed that you were smart with the whole evil bad guy thing. Evil villain stereotype.”
Fine. I’ll see what I can do.
“Awesome.”
I stood of to the side facing the dial while the Nightmare hummed inside of my head trying to piece together the puzzle that sat before us. I began to turn my head to look for something to do while the Nightmare did his thing.
I need you stay still and keep facing the dial. If you move I can’t see it. Remember? I'm in here using your eyes. Dumbass.
“Sorry, momentary slip up, no need to be a jerk about it.” I cross my arms and continue to stare at the stone puzzle. God this is boring. I thought Nightmare would have this figured out already. But it’s been like… five minutes!? God I hate not doing anything.
“Alright, this is taking too long!” I spring forward and begin to spin the dial in random directions, trying to get the lines and shapes to line up in a shape or something.
STOP! You could set off a-
There came a large crash and rumble from behind me, I froze in place with my hands still clutching the dial.
Booby-trap. Why do I even bother?
“Well that didn’t go exactly as I planned.” I turned around and watched as a large slab of stone crashed forward sending a gust of air blowing over me. When the dust settled I noticed that a perfectly square door had been opened behind us. “Hey Nightmare?”
What?
“What’s booby-trap spelled backwards?” I smirked as I unslung the rifle and moved into position next to the new exit.
Do we really have time for this?
“Its party boob.” I chuckled as I leaned into the new hallway and swung the rifle left to right sweeping the area for anything that wanted to slow me down. Certainly Ahuizotl had planned on me getting out… and then leading him straight to the treasure, where he would surly go on a rant about this being his plan all along and then fighting me to the death over the weapon or treasure.
I swear you really have the maturity of a foal. How are you allowed to be a guard?
“Because I'm awesome and I can do this.” I threw the rifle into the air and dropped forward, ripping my pistol out of its holster as I slid on my knees, grabbing the failing rifle and spinning around while standing up at the same time. “Wow that actually worked.” I whispered to myself as I moved down the hall, holding the rifle and pistol out in front of me as I moved around corners and fallen pillars.
Let’s just get out of here. I really don’t like this place. And that cat thing is going to be waiting for us somewhere.
“Yeah, I'm counting on that.”
At least you’re learning.
“Hey… name three times when I walked into a trap.” I stopped and angrily holstered my pistol and dropped the rifle to my side.
Um hello? This whole thing is a damn trap!
“Well that may be true, but an awesome weapon at the end of this is totally worth it.” I pushed some rotting vines out of the way as I stepped around another corner of this never ending hallway.
STOP!
“But I didn’t even say anything.”
No you idiot, look down.
“What is it- oh.” In the spot I was about to set my foot down was a raised stone tile. I could hardly see it. “Wow, good spot Nightmare.” I carefully stepped over the tile and passed through this section of the hallway without setting anything off.
I feel something. Something with lots of magic.
“So what? Now you can just feel magical things from a distance?” I said while slamming my shoulder against a large stone that was blocking the path ahead of us. I grunted as I tried to budge the stone. I finally began to get the rock moving and it rolled forward and crashed down, sending up a billow of dust in my face, invoking a massive coughing fit.
The dust finally settled and I wiped some dust induced tears from my eyes. I stared in disbelief at what was at the center of the room in front of me.
Or I can just see it. But yes I can, and that baby has some magic in it.
Resting on a stone pedestal up twenty feet of stairs was a sword. But not just any sword, the most amazingly bad ass weapon I had ever laid eyes on. Sorry M16A2, you kick ass, but you're not a red and gold sword crafted of what looked like rubies and solid gold. The sword had a golden blade, with a red center running along the blade made of hundreds of sparkling rubies. The handle was wrapped in brown material with a large blue emerald on the hilt. The blade was about three feet long and had a very slight curve to it resembling a weird cross between a medieval short sword and a Japanese samurai sword. Truly beautiful.
“Oh daddy.” I slowly stumbled up the stairs towards the heart stopping, jaw dropping, mind blowing, and awesome weapon. The sword almost seemed to be calling out to be to take it and wield it into combat, slaying my enemies with its ungodly power.
Okay now let’s take this slowly, it could be trapped.Actually you know what, it is trapped.
“So shiny, got to have it.” I extended my hand out about to grasp the handle and hold the sword in my hand, when a flash of blue leapt in front of me and knocked me backwards off the raised platform.
I hit the ground hard enough to knock the wind out of me. I gasped for air as I stood up and looked up. Standing tall on top of the pyramid of stairs was Ahuizotl, holding my sword in his tail hand thing. He pointed a claw at me and laughed.
“Thanks for clearing the way here human. I'm glad I didn’t kill you.” He rubbed a paw across his chest as if he planned this whole thing from the beginning.
“Like you would have stood a chance!” I screamed at him. My hands hand curled into fists, with smoke slowly trailing off of them. Nightmare was pissed too.
I let the Nightmare take control of my hands, and spread his fire through them. I unleashed a wave of intense fire at Ahuizotl as he laughed at me. He dropped down, just barely avoiding the full blast, but not quickly enough as the hair all along his back was singed black.
“Ha.” I said through gritted teeth, as I climbed the stairs towards the recovering creature. “Now I’ll show you why you should have killed me.” I unsheathed my knife and dashed up the last few stairs and leapt into the air arching towards the blue cat.
Ahuizotl gave a loud meow and rolled away as I came down, planting the knife in the stone. “Sorry, but I got to run human.” He said while slowly easing his way around towards the door leading out of the chamber.
Oh he wasn’t going anywhere with my sword!
Get a running start towards that collapsed pillar, and throw your arms behind you, I’ll give him a surprise.
Nightmare was actually going to help? He must want us to own that sword too.
“Alright, I'm counting on you bud.” I sheath the knife and sprint towards the exit behind the fleeing feline. I swerve right heading straight towards a collapsed pillar that was lying on top of a jagged stone, making a makeshift ramp. Oh night mare you clever bastard.
Jump NOW!
I vaulted myself off the top of the stone pillar, while throwing my hands behind me. I felt the fire start in my hands, but was totally unprepared for the burst of flames the rocketed me forward through the air so fast that I actually passed right by Ahuizotl. Flaying through the air I grabbed the top of the stone door and flipped down landing in front of Ahuizotl as he screeched to a halt.
I cracked and evil smile at him as the fire slowly rose up my arms, consuming the entire length of them. “Well Ahuizotl, looks like you’re here to stay.” I could see the fear in his eyes as I moved closer to the cat. Then he remembered he had a super weapon in his rear tail hand thing. Seriously what the fuck is that thing.
He slashed at me with the blade, and as it came down I saw what looked like blue flashes shooting from the tip of it. I dove backwards as it crashed into the stone floor. Sparks shot off in every direction from the point of impact.
“It seems the tables have turned human. I may kill you yet.” Ahuizotl laughed and began another assault with the golden weapon.
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“So is this how you got that other sword on your back?” Rarity pointed a hoof at the other hilt beside the Diamond Dog sword.
“Oh, yeah.” The human easily removed the gold and red blade from the scabbard on his back and showed the group of ponies the second sword that caused them all to gasp at its equally appealing beauty. Honored reached over his head and with his left hand drew the Diamond Dog blade, showing off both of the amazingly crafted swords to the ponies.
“When my rifle ran out of ammunition, these bad boys became my number one and two weapons.” The human sheathed them with ease and smiled to the ponies. “And they look really cool in the middle of a battlefield. No enemy seems to want to fight me when I’m wielding them.”
“I could see how they would impose some kind of mental threat.” Luna tapped a hoof to her chin. “And you are a creature that is never seen, and is now host to an ancient evil that can cause you to catch fire and fly apparently. So I would expect the enemy to be a little afraid of you.” Princess Luna smiled innocently.
“Yes, that’s what I meant.” The human sat back into his chair and rubbed his chin. “Although I wonder what happened to that blue fuzz ball.”
“You mean Ahuizotl is still alive?!” Rainbow Dash bolted upright in her chair, spilling a few cups of tea everywhere.
“Well I mean maybe.” Honored shifted uncomfortably in his seat, as the pegasus stared him down. “Listen; let me finish this part of the story before you get all upset.”
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I dodged another swift upper cut from Ahuizotl. “Shit!” I felt the electric blade rip through another section of my once beautiful duster. Now it was just becoming rags. This is why I cant have nice things.
How about you put away that little butter knife,
“Hey, Bad Bertha is a-“
Yes, I'm sure she’s a powerful knife, but this is a sword fight!
“Oh yeah.” I stopped running from the sword wielding cat, and reached over my head to the handle of the sword strapped to my backpack. Thank you Diamond Dogs. I drew the diamond sword out just in time to stop a downward slash that Ahuizotl delivered, trying to split me in half.
“Now it’s even.” I smiled at the blue feline.
“Not quite.” He smiled back and sucker punched me in the cut with a free paw. Oh yeah, I forget about his other limbs.
I doubled back as he gave a quick chop at my head, which easily deflected. He may have a ancient super sword, but he has no training in sword combat. But I do.
I nimbly dodged another attack and weaved my way through his sloppy attacks and got in close to his body. I blocked another swing and delivered a sideways gash along Ahuizotl’s side.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Ahuizotl jumped backwards as ruby red blood dripped out onto the stone floor. He back peddled to the stone stair pyramid and began climbing back towards the top.
He’s gaining the high ground!
“You underestimate my power!” I yell, charging up the stairs, swinging my sword around as I reach the top. I deflected blow after blow from the desperate cat. I was slowly but surely pushing the mythic creature back towards the edge of the pyramid. Ahuizotl hit the edge and stumbled, turning his head he looked back at the drop below.
And for that second, I had my opening. I ducked around his sword and slashed sideways.
SHINK
His tail hand thingy fell towards the ground, the golden sword traveling down with it. I reached out and grabbed the sword out of midair and spun around placing the swords in an X on Ahuizotl’s neck. He gulped looking at me with true fear in his eyes.
Come on, end him and lets go.
I was about to close the blades and end Ahuizotl’s life, just as he had planned on doing to me when I heard a growl and spun around just in time to dodge a pouncing tiger.
“Shit!” I dropped onto my back and held both swords up as the tiger passed overhead, slicing its belly along the blades. It stumbled and fell off the platform, where it landed with a sickening thump on the stone floor down below.
I got up and turned back around to finish of Ahuizotl, but all I saw was a blue blur disappearing through the door.
“Well damn it.”
You should have killed him when you had the chance.
“I always kill the bad guy, at least this is a nice change of pace.” I sheathed the Diamond Dog blade and found a golden sheath lying near the pillar where the sword had been resting. “And now I'm a full bad ass. Wouldn’t you agree Nightmare?”
Meh, I'm sure if I had total control I could make it better.
“Don’t start this again.” I said while walking through the exit and back out the never ending hallways to the entrance of the ruins. “Let’s just hope that some of those explorer ponies are still nearby so we can get directions.”
Of course you think of that now.
“Always trying to put me down, Nightmare. But it isn’t going to work.”
Well then, please explain to me where we are going.
“I’ll find the exit. Shut up.”