//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 - ...I will fear no Evil... // Story: The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds // by Kamahido //------------------------------// Smirking, Sunset reaches out with her magic and presses a button on Raven’s desk. A series of flash-bangs go off blinding Arc and his friends. Taking the initiative, Celestia turns and bucks Arc with all her might. He drops the dagger and flies through an outer wall (yes, THROUGH a wall) into a tree outside. It falls over with a loud crash as Sunset blasts the exterior doors and looks down to Kane. “Outside! We need some room!” Nodding, the wolf runs outside as Celestia turns to the others whom are still trying to recover. Blinking forward, she grabs Twilight and Blinks back to where she was. Looking to Twilight now on her own back Celestia grits her teeth as she turns to the others. “You will never take my Twilight from me again! NEVER!” Aiming her horn upward, Celestia blasts the ceiling causing it to collapse as she Blinks past the debris up onto the roof and looks at the battle around them. Turning to the unconscious mare on her back she grimaces. “I have to get you somewhere safe, my dear! That… that human MANIAC won’t get you!” Spreading her wings, Celestia shakily glides to the ground. Her troops move to defend her as she lands and calls out orders. “Drive the invaders from our land and kill the traitors!” Emboldened by her presence and words, the troops rally and turn back toward Shining Armor’s forces. Spotting his sister on her back, the stallion frowns and draws his sword and shield as he calls out. “DON’T GIVE THEM AN INCH! LEAVE CELESTIA TO ME!” Blinking to the ground below, he charges forward. Grabbing a sword from a fallen soldier with her magic, Celestia holds it up to block the general’s strike. He continues slashing at her as he seethes with rage. “My sister! Give her BACK!” Celestia seethes. “Never! I won’t abandon her to a life of captivity!” The pair trade blows for a few moments before Shining Armor knocks the sword from Celestia’s magical field. Pointing his weapon at the monarch he grits his teeth silently. Celestia kicks a bit of dust up with her tail into the stallion’s face. He momentarily loses focus giving his opponent time to react. Grabbing his blade with her teeth Celestia dives at him. However before the crazed mare can connect with her target Arc Blinks between them, knocks the blade from her mouth with one hand and backhands her with the other. Falling to the ground, Celestia drops Twilight as she rolls across the grass. Getting quickly to her hooves she Blinks between Arc and her student as she takes up a battle ready stance. “Fool! I’ve been fighting since before you were a dirty thought in your father’s mind! What hope do you have against me?!” Arc points a finger at her defiantly. “That may be! But I’m not letting you have Twilight!” He glances at Shining Armor as the stallion hurries forward with his blade. “We can take her.” Shining Armor shakes his head. “I doubt that.” Celestia smirks. “Glad one of you is sensible.” Shining Armor seethes. “But that doesn’t mean I’m letting her go!” “Fine.” Her horn aglow, Celestia creates a powerful flashbang with her magic. Causing the entire battlefield to be covered with sensory overload the turns tail and runs toward the tree line. Squinting, Arc sees the general direction she flees in and grabs Shining Armors helmet to turn it. “She’s trying to get away!” Shining Armor grits his teeth. “Not happening!” As the stallion charges after her Gestal flies over to stand with Arc. “Go after her, Lord Arc! I will command the battle in your absence!” “Thanks!” Arc turns and calls out loudly. “All forces look to Lord Gestal for further orders! Fight on in my absence!” Running after the mare, the others emerge from the rubble of Light’s Hope’s Main Hall. Spotting Sunset Shimmer fighting her way past the other soldiers toward Arc running toward the edge of the forest, Ashe points a talon. “Lord Arc must be going after Celestia!” Hammer gasps. “Don’t let Diva regroup with Celestia!” Scootaloo nods as she picks up the Dagger of Eternal Slumber and puts it in her belt next to the guardanium one. “Right! Big Brother can’t take them both!” Charging forward, they hurry to block their enemy’s advance. Sereb outruns them all and runs toward the pair as he screams. “KANE!” Plowing into his brother, Sereb knocks Sunset out of the saddle. She Blinks to her feet as the others surround her. Ashe points her blade at her angrily. “Surrender, beast!” Ember shakes her head as she levels her spear. “Nah! That time has PASSED!” Ember lunges forward as Sunset draws her sword and shield from Kane’s side. Blocking the blows, she parries them and knocks Ember aside as Hammer fires. Raising her shield, the mare slowly pushes toward her assailant. However doing so makes her unable to see Ashe running toward her. Knocking the griffon away, she calls out. “NOW!” Scootaloo dives out from behind a fallen soldier as she holds the guardanium dagger in her hoof. Tossing it to Ember as she dive bombs the mare from the sky, the dragon slashes at Sunset as she channels her magic into the blade. Sunset has but a moment to put up her shield before the furious dragon cuts it in half. Blinking back, she gasps. “How?! That shield was pure…!” She is cut off as Kane is roughly thrown at her by a magical blow from Sereb. Knocking him away with a Telekinesis Spell Sunset seethes. “Get OFF, mongrel!” Kane gets to his feet as the others close in around the pair. “Forgive me, mistress.” Sunset tosses aside her ruined shield and takes up a battle ready stance. “We’re not done yet!” Charging at Hammer, the young woman begins firing at her. Sunset effortlessly dodges her shots with a number of well places Blinks and closes the distance between them. Just as she reaches Hammer though Scootaloo plows into the young woman knocking her aside. Sunset passes and does a 180 on her front hooves to again face the group as Kane returns to her side. Ember turns to Sereb. “Go and help Arc!” “But what about…?!” Hammer does not take her eyes of their opponent. “We’ll be fine! GO!” Sereb turns and runs away as Kane shakes his head in disgust. “He never understood the concept of holding his ground.” Scootaloo points a hoof angrily “And YOU don’t understand when you’ve lost!” Sunset smiles wickedly. “And we haven’t! Shall we continue?!” Ember brandishes her claws. “Let’s dance!” Hammer grins. “Hell yeah!” Meanwhile, Soarin watches the scene before them with the rest of the Bridge Crew. “That doesn’t look good.” Lemon Hearts looks over. “Sir?” Thunderlane grimaces. “Sunset Shimmer is facing the commander’s friends.” Moon Dancer gasps. “Alone?” Soarin shakes his head. “Her beast is with her.” Wrangler grins. “They’re both pretty powerful though. “ Auriel looks over from a chair nearby. “Should we send in reinforcements? I could…” Brightwing interrupts her. “Friend rest now! Not ready for killing time!” Soarin nods. “She’s right. You’re still too weak to be of help to them.” Auriel gasps. “But we have to do SOMETHING!” Soarin turns and looks to the comms. “And we will. Lemon Hearts, get me Engineering.” “Aye, sir. But who there is combat ready?” Thunderlane grins. “You’d be surprised.” A short time later the light clip clop of feet running across the metal deck is heard. Rose looks over the scene before her for a few moments before spotting Sunset Shimmer and her mount. Stepping back a few paces, she charges forward, jumps onto the railing, and uses it to launch herself at Kane as he raises a paw to slash at Hammer whom is lying on her back. Plowing into the beast the pair tumble head over heels eventually coming to a stop with Rose on top of him. Kane swings at her, but Rose effortlessly blocks his attack and counters with a fist to his face. “Lights out, beast!” Knocking Kane out, she jumps to her feet to stand with Ember whom is trading blows with Sunset. “How are we doing?!” Ember grunts as she blocks a strike with her spear. “Same as always!” Rose hops aside as Scootaloo passes to strike> “That bad?!” Hammer runs over to melee with her gun in hand. “Where have YOU been?!” Rose bats away piece of Sunset’s broken shield as it flies at her. “In Engineering helping keep the ship from blowing up during the operation.” Sunset groans angrily. “Can you PLEASE stop talking and just fight?!” Rose turns to the mare and points to herself. “Who, me?” “ALL OF YOU!” Ember grins toothily. “Gladly!” Lunging forward, Ember thrusts her weapon at Sunset whom casually jumps over her spear to land on top of it. Sliding down its surface, she hoof Ember in the face before using her momentum to give Hammer a quick jab in the gut. The wind knocked out of her, Hammer doubles over in pain. As she dives clear of the group Sunset shoots a magical blast at Rose whom takes it full force in the chest. As the android falls backwards Scootaloo charges forward with Arc’s guardanium dagger in her mouth. Sidestepping, Sunset extends a hoof to trip the filly. Dropping the dagger in the process, Sunset pulls it to herself with a Telekinesis Spell as she looks over the beaten group smugly. “Now that I have you all where I want you… wait… wasn’t there one more of…?” She is cut off as Ashe dives down from above. Crushed under the weight and force of the griffin, Sunset grunts as Ashe knocks the dagger out of her grasp and back over to Scootaloo before leaping off to join the others. “Come on, everyone! We have to fight her as a unit if we want to win here!” Hammer nods soberly. “Like my sisters and I did against Arc back on Earth.” Ember grins. “Yeah. And we just need something to tip the scales like I did back then.” Scootaloo points a hoof. “Rose?” “Me?” Hammer grimaces. “Yes, you.” Sunset scoffs. “The Hero of Light’s little tin slut is no match for me!” Blinking toward Rose, she materializes just in front of the android. Calling forth her L-Blade, Rose blocks the attack as Sunset Blinks away. Rose calls out to the others. “She isn’t really that tough to figure out.” Ember raises an eyebrow. “Are you nuts?!” Hammer frowns. “Yeah! Colonel Diva is the most powerful magic user I’ve ever seen! That and she’s a great fighter too!” Sunset grins slyly. “Glad to see you facing reality.” Rose steps forward. “That may be true. But I’ve now had time to study your battle tactics, and have found that you have a glaring weakness.” Sunset chuckles. “HA!” “Even your eyes and thought processes can’t be two places at once.” Charging forward, Rose closes the distance between them and swings her blade at the mare. Sunset Blinks behind Rose whom, without even turning her head, repositions her blade to block the strike heading for her the back of her neck. Grimacing, Sunset pulls her blade back to try again. However she is suddenly knocked aside as Scootaloo plows into her. Calling out to the others the filly grins. “She can’t attack more than one target at a time!” Ashe cries out. “Attack and retreat!” Taking flight, Ashe gets some air as Rose turns back to her opponent. As Sunset and Rose again trade blows, the android deftly positions her opponent directly into the path of Ashe as she flies down. Knocking Sunset across the battlefield, the mare crashes into one of The Equinox’s outriggers and falls to the ground. Getting to her feet as Rose dives forward to meet her, the mare swings her blade at the android. Ducking, the blade hits the outrigger causing Sunset to cry out in pain from the volume of the resulting clang of metal on metal. Taking the initiative, Ember takes flight and plows into Sunset. Knocking her to the ground some distance away, Ember throws her spear aside as she leaps onto the stunned mare. Slashing at her face with her claws Ember is able to cut into Sunset’s exposed head but once before she Blinks away. Reappearing some distance away, she puts a hoof to her face as the blood drips down her fur and onto the ground. Clearly furious, Sunset looks to Ember. “You… scaly… little… BIT…!” She is cut off as Rose reengages with her L-Blade. Sunset barely has enough time to bring up her sword as she struggles to maintain her footing. Rose calls out to the others. “Keep it up! She can’t fight OR cast spells if we can wear her down!” “I have plenty of fight left in me, whore!” Rose smiles. “My sensors say otherwise.” Sunset turns to Kane whom is coming around. “Get up you lazy mongrel and help me!” Ashe mutters under her breath. “Oh no you don’t!” Lunging at Kane she knocks him back before calling out to the others. “I’ll keep him busy! Everyone else take care of that banshee!” Sunset grunts angrily as Ashe reengages Kane. She steps back to avoid Rose’s blade as Scootaloo darts behind her and lies down on the ground. Tripping over the filly, Sunset falls over backwards as Ember capitalizes on her being momentarily off balance. “Got you!” Slashing at Sunset with her spear, she is able to partially cut through the mithril and meet the mare’s soft flesh underneath. Screaming out in pain, Sunset Blinks away and falls to her fetlocks as she glares at her wound angrily. Ember looks to her smugly. “I’m going to bleed you… slowly.” Scootaloo joins her as she pulls the knife from her belt. “We’ll help!” Rose grins wickedly. “I’d ask you to surrender, but I know that’s a waste of time.” Ashe flies by as Kane pursues her. “Call out if you need my help with that!” The beast roars angrily. “Get back here you wretch!” Ember looks to Sunset as she rubs her bloody claws together. “Now then… where were we?” Rose smirks. “I believe we were about to end this.” Screaming out angrily, Sunset stands and charges headfirst at the group. Stepping forward, Rose prepares to fight. As the furious mare lunges at her Rose recalls her L-Blade, kneels down, and plants a mighty fist in Sunset’s gut. She gasps as the force reverberates through her armor and leaves her momentarily stunned and gasping for breath. Seizing the opportunity, Rose grabs Sunset by the throat and throws her toward Ember. “My turn!” Smashing Sunset with the butt of her spear, she knocks her up into the aid toward Ashe. As the griffon spies Kane lunging at her from below, she allows him to pass before grabbing his tail. Swinging him around, she hits Sunset with her partner’s body which sends her careening back to the ground below. Spotting Scootaloo directly in her path, Sunset grins wickedly and holds her blade firmly. Preparing to strike her small target, Scootaloo holds up Arc’s guardanium dagger to deflect her attack. However as she approaches, Hammer fires a precision shot knocking Sunset’s blade out of her hoof. As she passes Scootaloo, the filly’s blade puts a sizable hole in Sunset’s side. Falling to the ground, Sunset rolls unceremoniously to a stop some distance away. Kane limps over to her as best he can. “Mistress!” Sunset groans as she puts a hoof over a heavily bleeding wound. “Pull… back.” Using the last of her strength, Sunset opens a dark portal before falling to the ground from fatigue and blood loss. Kane tosses her onto his back and charges toward the portal. Ember gasps. “STOP THEM!” Ashe and Ember fly at them but are unable to catch up to the pair as Kane leaps through the portal. Ember grits her teeth as she approaches the swirling energies. “OH NO YOU DON’T!” Gasping, Ashe flies over to Ember and wraps all four of her limbs around the dragon causing her to crash. Looking up, she spies the portal close only a handful of feet in front of her. Getting to her feet she glares at Ashe as the others rush over to them. “What did you do THAT for?!” “To save your life, idiot!” “We almost had her!” Rose shakes her head. “The goal was to take her out of the battle though.” Hammer grins. “Mission accomplished there!” Ember groans. “But we could have taken her out for GOOD!” Ashe chuckles. “We may yet have.” Scootaloo looks at the bloody dagger in her hooves. “Yeah. That was a lot of blood loss.” Hammer shrugs. “She’s not usually the one getting hurt though. But I have a hard time imagining we finished her off for good.” Rose looks around. “Agreed. However we have other matters to attend to now.” Ember nods. “Right! Let’s go find Arc, and…!” Hammer points to the battle raging all around them. “I think we’re needed here more though!” Scootaloo grimaces. “Things aren’t exactly finished here, after all.” Ashe nods. “I’ll go meet up with my father. It looks like he’s coordinating the battle from Lord Arc’s deck.” Rose calls forth her L-Blade. “Come now. We have foes to slay.” Ember seethes. “But what about…?!” “Big Brother will be fine. He’s got Shining Armor with him as well as Sereb.” Ashe sighs. “And he’ll call for help if need be.” Rose looks to Ember pleadingly. “Please remember that only he can face Princess Celestia anyways. We’d just be in the way.” Ember grits her teeth angrily but turns to follow the others as they head into the frya. “Fine. Let’s take care of this quickly so we can go after Arc though.” Rose nods. “Very well. But you should get that knife back to him, Scarlet Filly.” Looking down at the dagger in her belt, Scootaloo nods and heads toward the forest’s edge as she calls out. “I’ll be back with Big Brother as soon as I can!” Hammer grins. “Be careful though!” The others head back toward The Equinox together amidst the fighting all around them as Scootaloo runs off with her own mission.