//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Battle against Empress Shimmer, part 2 // Story: The Adventures of Sunlight Blaze: The Multiverse Quest, Volume 1. // by Justafanfictioner //------------------------------// Sunlight was running in the middle of Canterlot, all while avoiding the demonic Sunset’s attacks. “Is she playing with me? Said Sunlight. What a sadist, that one. And i can’t fight while carrying those two with me. I wish i could still create clones of myself.” Meanwhile, the battle raging between Daybreak Celestia and Battle-Armored Chrysalis, and between Nightmare Luna and Love Empress Cadence was reaching his peak. Their clash was creating so much magic energy that both the Changelings and Crystals soldiers were paralyzed by the sheer intensity of it. As for the fighters, they were feeling exhausted. “I told you magic doesn’t work against me while i’m wearing my battle armor, said Chrysalis. Wait...why am i feeling so dizzy all of a sudden. I feel so tired, when did it became so hot around here?” Daybreaker smiled. Chrysalis removed her battle armor and threw it away. “That’s better” she said She started fighting even harden, with faster, more powerful attacks, and so did Daybreaker. Then, suddenly, Chrysalis collapsed and fell on the ground. Celestia turned back to her base form and immobilized her opponent with magic chains. On Luna’s side, she reverted back to her base form and was barely standing up. “Useless, Useless, Useless!!! Said Cadance. You’ll never match the Crystal Heart’s power!!” Shining suddenly appeared between them. “You freed me from Chrysalis’ mind control back at our wedding, remember? He asked. Well, i’ll return the favor...” Shining Armor kissed Cadance passionately and shortly after, started making out in front of everyone. The view shifted to Celestia, Chrysalis, Luna, the Changelings and the Crystal guards, with expressions going from arousal to embarrassment. “Shining, she said. We can’t do that there!! Everyone can watch us!!” “Then Let them enjoy” he answered. Celestia sighed and casted a soundproof, reflecting dome to hide the two. Meanwhile, Moonlight and Tirek were still duking it out. None of them were showing signs of exhaustion and Luna was getting bored. “Okay, this is getting dumb, said Moonlight. I’ve played with you long enough.” Moonlight appeared in front of Tirek and put a curse on him at the moment he hit him. He activated the curse and Tirek’s stolen magic left his body. “You mean, you could have ended this fight whenever you wanted?” asked Tirek. “Yes, answered Moonlight. This is a technique i developped specially to counter you.” Moonlight immobilized Tirek with another curse and left. “I’ll send someone for you, he said. Don’t worry.” “Wait! He said. Take me with you!!!” Moonlight looked at him with a doubtful expression. “No thanks, said Moonlight. I know nothing about you, why would i take the risk to take you with us?” Tirek sighed. “I’m an independant mercenary, he said. I work for whoever’s willing to pay me. Sunset Shimmer paid me big money to defend her against anyone other than Sunlight who would enter the castle. But you beat me, i failed to achieve my contract.” “Why working as a mercenary, though?” asked Luna. “Money, answered Tirek. I’m doing this job for money.” “You’re not just doing this for the money, said Moonlight. Could it be you want to prove yourself to someone?” “My Father, said Tirek. That old fart doesn’t see worth in my person. To him, i’m nothing but a hinder, a deadweight. I want to prove him otherwise. And so, if i can contribute to the Kingdom’s well-being by supporting it’s economy, i’m sure my father will change it’s opinion of me. I chose the job of mercenary because it was the most fitting job for someone like me. I am morally grey and wanted some quick bucks. To tell you the truth, i already gained the respect of my father long ago” “And you continued to work as a merc because you liked it, said Moonlight. You realized you were born for this work, so, i’m proposing you a contract. I’ll hire you as my right-hand man. Your job will be to protect me and fight for me if needed.” “I can get behind that, said Tirek. By respect for you, i won’t ask much about the payment and i’ll only charge for the time i’m fighting for you.” “How about 50 bucks a day? Said Moonlight. That will be your base salary per day when you’re not working. And how much you contribute to the success of a mission will determine the overall pay you’ll get. If you take down a big enemy, you’ll be rewarded handsomly.” “I like that, said Tirek. Very well, i accept those conditions...” “One last, said Moonlight. To avoid you betraying me, I’ll put a curse on the contract. If you break it, the consequences will be terrible for you. But don’t worry, when i’ll be sure and certain that you’ll be a trustworthy ally and a loyal friend to me, i’ll break the curse on the contract.” “You want to befriend me? Asked Tirek. Eh, i won’t make it easy for you, pal. But i’m looking forward to work for you.” Moonlight undid the paralysis curse on Tirek’s arms and made him sign the contract with his blood. When it was done, he dispelled completely the paralyzing curse. “I might be your employer, now, said Moonlight. But please, address me formally by my name. And i promise you that i care about those fighting on my side. I’m not just going to let you do all the work, i’ll take part in it too. I’ll fight by your side, Tirek, and you’ll fight by mine.” “Hum, can you buff me a little? Asked Tirek. Please?” Moonlight gave Tirek an artifact he was keeping for years. “I made this specially for you, he said. This is a device that change your physical and magic power depending on how much magic you want to release from it. I’ll link to your magic signature. I’m sure you’re familiar with it, since it’s Centaur technology.” Tirek linked with the artifact and immediately tried it. He turned the little wheel on the device and got enough magic from it to regain his standard physique. “Much better, he said. Does this thing have a limit?” “Yes, said Moonlight. That device contain a limited amount of magic energy. It work based on a magic transfer mecanism. The higher the setting, the more magic is transfered in your body and the bigger you become. You can of course revert back to a weaker state by lowering the setting. The max setting on this thing give you the magic power 3 Alicorns, but can only be used for a limited time, have a cooldown before you can use it again and revert you back to your weakest state. So chose the right moment to use the maximum output.” “And you crafted this? Said Tirek. The best artisans of my Kingdom were unable to make one, yet, you did it. With that, i won’t have to drain the magic of others to gain power. I hated using this kind of magic, to be honest.” Meanwhile, Sunlight arrived inside ponyville, having been able to dupe Devil Sunset away. He explained to the mane 6 and his sister about what happened to this world’s Sunlight and Sunset and that her evil counterpart was heading straight for him. He also told them he was the Sunlight from another universe, and so did his sister and Luna. “I hope you help her get on the right path when she wakes up, said Sunset. She’ll be confused and need all the help she can get from the experts in friendship. Especially since her brother is dead.” “Count on me, said Twilight. Despite what she did to me and the others, i’m ready to give her a second chance. As the princess of Friendship, i can’t ignore a broken soul seeking the light of friendship.” “About him, he’s not dead!! Said Moonlight, who arrived by a portal. Well, he is, but only temporary.” “I knew it, said Sunlight. You place a curse on him, didn’t ya?” “Of course i did, said Moonlight. I’m always one step ahead of you. Also, i brought in a new companion to help us in our future missions.” “I’m deeply sorry for the things i’ve done, said Tirek. But i signed a contract and had to stick to it.” “He’s a mercenary, said Luna. Moonlight was able to hire him” “Well, he’s going to be a nice addition to the team, said Sunlight. Knowing you, i assume you have him under control.” Their counterparts started waking up. Moonlight activated the second effect of the immortality curse he casted on the other Sunlight beforehand. As such, they woke up almost at the same time. “The plan worked perfectly, said Sunlight to Moonlight with a smile. I knew my death would cause Sunset to have a mental struggle strong enough to force the evil in her to leave her body. But i also wanted to live. Moonlight told me about a spell of his that can keep someone in a dead state for a certain period. It activated seconds before my heart stopped beating and saved my life. I was able to recover my magic energy in the meantime.” Sunset smacked him in the face, tears in her eyes. Then hugged him hard. “You idiot!! She said. Don’t you do something like this again. Still, i’m glad you’re alive. Thank you, Moonlight, and you too, Sunlight. And i presume you are me from another universe, right?” “Yes, said Sunset. And like you, i was also evil in the past, but this mare right here showed me the way to redemption. Well, the one in my universe. What i’m saying is that she will guide you toward redemption.” Celestia and Luna joined the group, coming from the sky. “Why did you gave me your magic, though? Asked Ashen to Sunlight. If you knew you were going to come back to life later?” “As a thank you, answered Sunlight. You’ll need them more than me, because where i’m going, i won’t need magic.” Ashen smiled. “You’ll return to the human world, he said. What about you, Sunset?” “I’ll join him once i’ve paid my debt to Equestria, she answered. I have a long way in front of me before the people respect me again, do i?” “Yep, answered the other Sunset. But it will all be worth it at the end! Trust me...” “We’ll handle the rest ourselves, said Sunlight. You’ve done a lot for us, and you have all our gratitude.” Ashen and his friends, including Tirek, disappeared gradually. Before they completely vanished, Sunlight and the others waved one last time. Ashen smiled and closed his eyes. They reappeared inside Discord’s house. “That took longer than two chapter, this time, said Discord. But yet again, you saved the day...and made a new friend, i see.” “Okay, i won’t even ask, said Tirek. This is the Discord from your universe, i imagine?” “That’s exact, said Discord. Unlike the Tirek in my world, you seem like a nice guy.” “What happened to him?” asked Tirek. “Got his ass beaten twice by the same opponents, answered Sunlight. And with the same magic spell.” “I took the liberty to bring a friend of yours, Moonlight” said Discord. Sombra showed up, smiling. “What’s up, boss?” he asked. “Nothing out of the ordinary, answered Moonlight. Just saving universes.” “Back in my world, said Sombra to Tirek, Me and your counterpart are friends. I’m hoping we can get buddy-buddy as well. You seem way more polite and refined than him.” “Well, that’s both reassuring and sad to hear, said Tirek. To think i’m one of the rare Tireks to be reasonnable in the multiverse...” “So, what is our next mission?” asked Sunlight. “Cosmos, answered Discord. In the universe i’m going to send you, she returned and forced me into serving her by using Fluttershy to keep me in line. She conquered Equestria and educed all her opponents to either stone statues, innofensive creatures or slavery, while i just stood powerless. Taking her down is not going to be easy. As i am the personification of Chaos, she’s the personification of Malice. She have powers similar to me, and can do pretty much anything i can do. You see, in this universe, she was turned into a stone statue instead of being sent to the stars. Once she got free of her prison, she immediately went on a rampage.” “A perfect mission to finish this volume, said Sunlight. We could use Grogar’s bell, but if she got you under her control, she’ll probably use you as a shield. Using the Elements of Harmony is also out of the equation. Our options are limited, but we’ll find a way to save the world.” “We need all the help we can get on this mission, said Moonlight. And a good plan of attack.”