//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Final // Story: A New Life; An Old Demon // by dragovin08 //------------------------------// Standing eagerly to battle each other Aeon was finally going to face an old demon. The crowd of ponies looked at Aeon seeing that he was there to protect them. Shoeshine stood in awe to see that he really was going to stand up for the ponies. Princess Cadence was helping Shining Armor up looking at Aeon who was wet from the pouring rain. "They're not part of this. This battle is between you and me." A flash from the lightning outside struck as the rain kept on pouring. "I thought you ran like the coward you are." "I'm not running any more cause I'm not going to let you hurt them and I'll do it die trying," Aeon stood in a stance ready to fight. "Well then if you're so willing to protect them, then die with them!" The gargoyle king flew at Aeon grabbing him by the neck and tossing him into a pillar," Your efforts are foolish and wasted on trash like them!" Aeon got to his feet still ready to fight," They're not trash you are!" He charged at the gargoyle king using his shield as a ram to slam him into the wall. The king tried to strike but Aeon struck again with his shield making his hand miss Aeon's head. Yet the gargoyle king wouldn't let himself be defeated so easily. Reaching behind Aeon with his wings, he used their claws and penetrated Aeon's back. He swung Aeon towards the ceiling throwing him like a ball. He hit the ceiling with such force that it felt like his almost snapped in half. As he fell back down the gargoyle king slammed his stone fist into Aeon's stomach basically knocking every once of breath out of his body, then tossing him towards where Celestia's throne is. The king leaped to the disoriented Aeon to finish this meager little quarrel. He landed on top of Aeon with his stone hand glowing prepared to give the final blow. Yet in his time in the arena Aeon developed how to recover from powerful and disorienting hits. As the gargoyle king came down to strike Aeon's chest, out of a quick reaction he grabbed the king's hand. Even though the king didn't hit Aeon's chest, he was still slowly draining the life force from Aeon and he knew his strength overpowered Aeon's so it was only a matter of time until he gave out. Aeon was trying to use his tail to reach for his sword just so he could still have a fighting chance since he could feel his arms becoming weak. Yet out of the corner of his eye the king saw Aeon's tail almost touching his sword but it wasn't enough to grab it. Bending his legs back Aeon kicked the gargoyle king off; now he felt weak from what the king drained out of him. The gargoyle king smiled seeing that Aeon was in a weaker state, knowing this was his chance to give the killing blow. He decided this time to not drain Aeon but crush him with his powerful strength. As Aeon was struggling to get to his feet, the king grabbed Aeon by the head and slammed him into the ground using every bit of strength he had to finish the zenthian. Now Aeon laid still. The gargoyle king looked around seeing all the ponies and stallions were in fear now that the one trying to protect them has now fallen," Your efforts were wasteful boy, you fought a war you knew you couldn't win and yet you insisted on taking a stand." Shoeshine had tears in her eyes seeing that the one she loved was now laying still not giving a single sign of life. The gargoyle king took a few steps forward towards the throne raising his arms in victory," Now shall we shall begi...!" With his guard down Aeon rammed him from behind into the throne, he raised his shield stabbing it into the gargoyle king's back. Though the penetration was little the king still felt the pain of his blood running out of his body. The gargoyle king spread his wings back knocking Aeon off his back. As he got to his feet he turned around and grabbed Aeon's shield with his stone hand trying to crush his arm. "I will not!" Aeon could see the king's arm glowing causing his shield to rust and become weak," Be defeated by a piece of waste like you!" With his strength he crushed Aeon's shield, then struck him in the chest sending him flying backwards towards the door. Aeon was on the ground unable to get up since though he was trying to, the gargoyle king starting walking to Aeon. "Don't you see. You can't win no matter how skilled or determined you are, for your efforts are worthless," Shining Armor rammed into the gargoyle king's side knocking him over but he quickly went to his feet," You really want to die." Shining Armor stood ready to fight even though he knew he stood no chance against the gargoyle king," To protect my love Cadence and Equestria then yes." He smiled," Very well then." "Hey, pick on someone your own size," Aeon was slowly forcing himself to his feet," For if I go down, you're going down with me." "You just don't give up," The gargoyle king flew towards Aeon laying a strike that knocked him out of the castle doors and into the pouring rain. Aeon immediately landed on his feet still ready to fight, all the king did was chuckle and struck Aeon again sending crashing into one of the buildings. Twilight ran outside casting a spell freezing the gargoyle king in his tracks. The king tried to move but couldn't and this began to anger him. Twilight began to feel his power was increasing and she couldn't hold him back much longer. He broke from the spells grasp turning towards Twilight furious with her interference. He stormed towards with the intent of her death by his hand. Aeon lifted himself up seeing that the king was heading towards the ponies now, the sight did not sink in for he didn't want his friends to die. He became enraged and lunged towards the king tackling him down. Spike was inside the castle grabbing Aeon's sword, after pulling it from the floor he ran with to where the fight was taking part. The king's minions watched as they waited to see who would be victorious. Aeon struck the gargoyle king behind his head then running his claws down his wings so the king can't fly. The gargoyle king wrapped his tail around Aeon's neck throwing him off. The king got to his feet and looked at Aeon, his back was hunched over with his arms dangling and one of his eyes was a blank grey color. The king smiled out of amusement," Now things are looking good now." Aeon roared at the king charging full speed at him, he swung and the king dodged it sending a strike at Aeon. Yet Aeon blocked it, grabbing the king's hand he threw him over his shoulder. The king was amazed at how fast Aeon was now and was going to see what else he had in store. Trying to smash the king's head with his foot, the king grabbed it and got to his feet dangling Aeon. He tossed Aeon up and struck him knocking Aeon away from his reach. "Is that all you've got?" The king laughed hysterically, "You may have to put up a good fight but this fight has lasted too long and now it's time for the finishing act." The king's hand began to glow an intense red to kill Aeon quickly. Aeon eyes went back to normal and he saw Spike with his sword. He grabbed his sword out of Spike's hand and got to his feet. Pointing his sword at the king he stood ready to continue fighting. "That won't do you any good," The king said. Swiping his sword the king dodged it but that's what he wanted. Then he slashed his claws digging into the king's stomach and finishing it off by running the sword through the king's chest. The gargoyle king fell to his knees," So this is what it's like to feel life slip away, such an odd feeling to feel my own blood running out of my body." "Now you know the taste of death." "I know you zenthain, I know your past, you maybe have protected them from us but can you protect them from yourself?" The gargoyle king breathed his last breath and slipped into death's hands, yet his dying words struck Aeon. He turned and saw the gargoyles flying away in fear from seeing their king now defeated. Aeon took the sword out of the king's lifeless body, the king's blood began to melt the blade leaving only the hilt. Just like the other gargoyles the king's body turned into ash, to be forgotten with time. "Now my people can be laid to rest, now they can find peace," Aeon quietly said to himself. All the ponies came out of the castle to rejoice in victory, to praise Aeon as a hero. Yet he did not feel like a hero, he felt as only he fought more to survive than protect. Princess Celestia walked up in front of Aeon," Thank you for protecting us foreigner," She praised him. "you're welcome I guess," He didn't feel like he accomplished anything at a grand scale," But I don't feel like I accomplished anything heroic." "you have by protecting us." Aeon turned and looked at Shoeshine, smiling slightly," Maybe I have gained something," He began walking towards her. In front of Shoeshine, he came down to his knees, putting his hand on the side of her face. He smiled and she smiled back, a single tear ran down her cheek. Rubbing the tear with his thumb," You won't have to shed tears anymore." She nodded," I know because you're here now." "Yes," Aeon got up to his feet," Now let's go back." As every pony in Ponyville began to head back home, Twilight asked Aeon something. "What are going to do here?" "I don't know, but I'll find something." In Ponyville Pinkie Pie threw a big party to celebrate the victory, but Aeon wasn't ready to celebrate just yet. With his parents locket and a small toy boat, he set it into the water letting the boat sail off with it. "Now you both can see the world," He smiled. With the hilt of his sword in hand, he dropped it into the water. He looked up from the water and saw life was back and he knew his peoples' spirits was within those green leaves. Aeon smiled and went back into Ponyville ready to merry make. The old demons defeated and a new life has begun.