Thi’s POV
We descended the steps, my arc pistol at the ready. We were careful as we walked further, my mind assuming that the griffon had laid out traps along the way. When we reached the bottom, I groaned at the sight of rocks blocking the way.
“Either Galm caused this or all the fighting from the two blocked it off.” I said. Cloudchaser rubbed her chin.
“If it was the latter, wouldn’t Galm just punch through it with that gauntlet?” She asked. Flitter crossed her forelegs in thought.
“I doubt he’d want to risk collapsing the tunnel in on himself.” She replied. Scribble nodded.
“Both good assumptions. And since this tunnel is narrow and has only one way in and out, he must have a hidden passage.” Scribble said, feeling the wall with his hoof. I darted my eyes in thought. With my magic, I took out the purple crystal. The rune was going crazy, probably due to the events above. I tilted the crystal this way and that. I have no clue how I can follow this, but I feel that using it could potentially help us out. I then levitated it to Scribble and gave a serious look.
“You can make out what it says, right? It only helped me find the queen.” I stated, hoping that I played it off. Scribble took it and rubbed his chin as he studied it. He waved the crystal around before stopping back up the steps.
“Good idea, Thi. Hercules’s gauntlet is filled with ancient magic. We got a stable reading.” He said. I somehow felt smarter than usual and surprisingly happy. Which baffled me. Ignoring the thoughts, I followed Scribble with the sisters in tow. We made our way back up the stairs, only for Scribble to stop and face a wall. I looked and saw, as I expected, the red insignia I saw earlier. I beamed.
“Knew something was off about that!” I stated. My friends looked at me and I quickly cleared my throat. “I mean uhh… I did see it on the way in here. I would have thought more about it if you guys weren’t in trouble.” I said. “Though, now that we are on the matter, if Galm escaped through a secret passage, wouldn’t this be a switch or something?” I asked as I brushed my hoof over the insignia and it glowed dimly. Scribble tilted his head slightly.
“If that’s the case, then it should respond to something… but what?” He asked more to himself. I tried to rack my brain as my friends proceeded to search around the insignia. I pulled my hoof away and the glow vanished. I boredly put my hoof on it again. Maybe something pops out for my friends while they search? Eventually, I sighed.
“I haven’t got a single idea of what-“ I blinked and stepped back as the wall in front of me began to crackle and slide apart, brick by brick. My friends grouped up as a new passageway appeared. Flitter smiled.
“Putting that archeologist mind to work!” She teased. I didn’t say anything as the two filed in. Scribble pat my shoulder and walked past me. I furrowed my expression and studied my hoof. I was starting to have a bad feeling about something. Putting the thought aside, I stepped in and followed my friends. We ended up in a hallway that led down a dark passage. I used a simple light spell at the tip of my horn to light the way.
What felt like a good five minutes of traversal ended us at the foot of a door. I reached with my magic and pushed the door open, entering into a room. The dim lighting and dusty cobwebs gave us an intimidating atmosphere. We entered cautiously into the room and began looking around. The Visar couldn’t have stopped here. I studied the walls and paintings as we searched. It dawned on me.
“Huh… I didn’t think the Roam Tunnels expanded this far out.” I said as I looked to see hieroglyphs on the walls. There were even depictions of what looked to be a society that had prospered here. As I moved along the wall, I spotted what appeared to be a retelling of a war.
Cloudchaser and Flitter studied the painting on a vase. Cloudchaser then looked up and gasped.
“Uhh, guys? Is it me, or does that look like Visar Galm?” She asked. I trotted over to them and looked at to what she was staring at. Sure enough, there was a griffon painted on the wall, dressed in different purple attire and headdress. He was holding up a strange relic up to a grinning serpent like creature. I understood this perfectly.
“So… The Visar sold his soul to a primordial being for immortality. There is a relic that binds his soul to this realm and every decade, he needs the blood and souls of creatures of any kind to keep his immortality going.” I pointed to what looked to be a sacrificial ritual with the relic over the griffon’s head. I pointed to the next painting. “He was Xerxes’s advisor long before his assassination.” Scribble’s eyes narrowed.
“That was several thousand years ago…” he stated. I nodded and pointed at the relic.
“My best bet is that the griffon has the relic on him right now. The Underworld was meant as a way for himself to retain it.” I hummed as my eyes followed the story. “Says here that due to his dealings with a god, he doomed Roam to a history of death and a curse upon the royalties that take power upon the throne.” Cloudchaser growled.
“How low can one creature go?” She stated. I looked at her.
“We need to destroy that relic somehow.” I called upon Excalibat, surprising my friends as I shouldered it.
“Thi?” Flitter began. I realized that I haven’t specifically explained how I was able to do this. I smirked.
“Let’s just say I can keep up better now.” I replied. I then held out my bat. “As for what I have in mind…” Scribble nodded.
“It’s the only sense we have. But if we are to follow through with it, we need to find The Visar.” He said, holding up the crystal. He waved it around before locking onto the wall. He clicked his tongue. “Better start looking.” I grinned.
“Step back. Time to end this path of history.” I readied myself before waving my bat over head with my magic. The eye flared up in green fire. With a heavy swing, several bolts of fire sailed out and exploded into the wall all the way through. On the other side of the wall we could make out another room. We stepped in and quickly cantered out into the room. It looked to be bunker of some kind. And lucky us, I spied a griffon groaning and pushing away heavy debris. I aimed my bat at him.
“Nowhere to run now, Galm! Your several thousand-year reign on Roam ends here!” I exclaimed. The Visar growled and deftly back punched a rock pinning his wing and shattering it.
“Annoying pests… How did you get in here?!” He exclaimed. I tapped my horn.
“Dumb luck.” I replied as my friends readied themselves. The Visar narrowed his eyes.
“Impossible. Unless that dumb luck has any ties to The Circle then-“ He froze and eyed my bat. He then grinned and began to chuckle, escalating into a gleeful laugh. “Such dumb luck indeed… so… what blood do you hold…?” He licked his beak. I shuddered and frowned.
“The only thing on the menu is your beak against my bat. And whatever relic you have on you keeping you to this mortal realm.” I replied. The Visar laughed again before clutching his robe.
“You were able to understand my story on the wall? Just who are you, Thi Billet? No wonder the Triad are searching for you.” He grinned. Cloudchaser smacked her hooves together.
“Enough games, Galm! Give yourself up for the name of Equestria and her allied Roam!” She stated. The griffon waved a wing dismissively.
“A little too early to think that, little filly. There is nothing keeping me from taking the throne now. All candidates, blood related or not, have been officially dealt with.” He said, making a motion across his neck. Flitter glared at him.
“And what do you plan to do now that you have it?” She asked coldly. The Visar shrugged casually.
“Plan my vengeance against the gods that wronged me.” He replied. Scribble arched a brow.
“Wronged you? How is asking for immortality wrong to you?” He asked. I nodded.
“Immortality is villain ideal number one. Just waiting for the monologue.” I grinned. The Visar sighed.
“Of course, the grand hero in both stories, villains to one another. More to the point, I did ask for immortality. It was the serpent’s promise of something more that I chose this path.” He said. I exchanged looks with my friends.
“Ouroboros?” I asked. The Visar smiled.
“But of course, being Equestria’s Champion’s companions, you would all be familiar with the World Serpent. I’ll make it short. He promised me everlasting influence so that I may lead the next generations of kings or queens to shape Roam into a nation of power and ideology. No more should we have to abide by the very words that created Roam. A single idea to shape and carve how we choose to.” He boredly flourished his claw. “Could you believe what was taken away out of the forefather’s very words? Lost to time itself. But it was because Roam was dead set on this one idea is where we are still to this very day. Only with some changes here and there.”
I shouldered my bat and shook my head.
“That still doesn’t excuse you of imprisoning creatures for your blood sacrifices. No matter how you look at it, being immortal won’t get you anywhere in life. Riches, power, pleasure and surplus of food and drinks are just second thoughts in the grand scheme of it. Are you really that corrupt to continue the cycle of bloodshed?” I asked.
“Yes.” He replied without skipping a beat. “I’ve already tainted myself with immortality. What more can I do aside from cursing the throne for several thousands of years? Start a war. Create a cult. Go on an adventure. Accumulate my place in history’s darkest and brightest moments. Conquer the world? A foal’s dream at best. The universe? That is too much to manage.” He then smirked. “To have fun? That sounds a bit more manageable.”
“You’re doing all of this for fun?!” Flitter exclaimed, appalled by the idea.
“To a degree. My duties as the guidance to the throne has been getting in the way of it. I grew tired and therefore must thank you, Thi Billet, for breaking my shackles so I may continue to do what I must. My next thing on the list to do is take the throne and see how long I can rule. Oh, and if the assassins try anything?” He lifted up some of his neck feathers. We saw an ugly scar all the way across the neck. “Let’s just say, their compatriots before have learned the hard way.”
The area began to shake. Galm glanced up at the ceiling.
“Sounds like those two are having fun. I envy them. Unless…” His eyes fell upon me. He clutched his robe once again, but this time, he ripped it off of him and threw it aside. I winced at the sight. So many scars along the griffon. Feathers tufted and fur matted. He clenched his prosthetic and it crackled with lightning. Hercules’s gauntlet glowing through the rust. “You want to make my day brighter.” Scribble stood next to me, making me arch a brow quizzically. Flitter and Cloudchaser floated above us, raring to go.
I smirked and with my magic, unclipped my arc holsters and held them up to Flitter. She took them in her hooves and returned a questioning look. I motioned for her to put it on while I levitated a sword over to Cloudchaser. The mare took it in her teeth and readied herself.
Scribble was the first to move. He clapped his hooves together, crushing a rock as the magical powder washed over his hooves. I twirled my bat and hopped to the side, the sisters separating right as Scribble flung out bolts of fire. The Visar dodged one bolt then deflected another with his prosthetic into the ceiling. Sunlight began to pour into the room. The Visar snapped his talons, charging his lightning before throwing it out. Scribble was quick and dove out of the way.
I sprang forward and swung my bat down. The griffon swiftly avoided it. I continued my swinging, the griffon casually avoiding my attacks. Realizing that he was backing himself into a wall, I flicked my head down and conjured a spring, backflipping away and swinging my bat to launch a bolt of fire that crashed into the sand at the claws of the griffon. With the sand kicked up, The Visar covered his face with a claw. Flitter fired a couple of shots into the cloud. However, The Visar was quicker than I thought.
He swiftly avoided the arc bullets and rushed Scribble. The stallion was unable to react in time as the griffon back clawed him hard across the muzzle with his real claw. As the stallion went rolling, Cloudchaser attempted an axe buck that The Visar moved back to avoid. The pegasus mare flapped her wings and chambered a couple of bucks at the griffon before resorting to grabbing in her teeth a sword from a knocked over armor set and began slashing away. She got a few good hits in, however The Visar grabbed her hind leg with a claw and bringing her around and over him, he slammed her down into the ground, knocking the sword and wind out of her.
The Visar saw me coming as he caught the blade and twirled it before blocking my bat. Our weapons clashed with each swing we made, dodging and ducking to cover our openings. I decided to play a little dirty. I made a strike that the Visar attempted to grab, only for me to vanish my bat. Leaving himself confused and open, I spun around and delivered a hard buck with both my hinds legs into the beak of griffon.
He stumbled back and screeched angrily. This time, we were on the defensive. I yelped, avoiding the griffon swing at me with the sword. I called my bat to block and deflect the blows. The bad thing about going against a griffon is the size difference. He swiped a claw at me and I felt my cheek get scratched, causing me to stumble back and wince in pain. I had no time to nurse it at all as I quickly had to spring myself away from the griffon bounding once to reach me and stabbed the sword into the ground.
Flitter fired three shots, pelting the griffon on the side. Galm winced, but he turned to face us. My eyes widened, seeing the arc bullets be pushed out from his body and the holes being cauterized. Flitter spat the pistol into the holster and looked at me with worry.
“Yes, I know. Never bring a gun to an immortal fight.” I depressingly said. I need to raid a Triad base or two to find better weapons against situations like this. The Visar rolled his neck before bringing his prosthetic back and slammed it into the ground. The ground shook, causing Scribble and I to lose balance. I saw the griffon rip a chunk out of the ground and heave it at us. I tackled Scribble out of the way in time while the sisters flew around and attacked The Visar.
Flitter grabbed hold of a vase and chucked it over the griffon while Cloudchaser distracted him. The vase shattered and the griffon quickly spun around and swiped at Flitter. The mare was quick to avoid him, leaving Cloudchaser to follow up with several punches and kicks in and out of the griffon retaliating. I helped Scribble up and he crushed a rock at the same time. The ground kicked up sand and dust, blinding the area.
The griffon unfurled his wings, swishing away the dust. He brushed Flitter, allowing him to quickly lash out his prosthetic and slug Flitter in the stomach. The mare flew back into the ceiling and landed on the ground unconscious.
“Flitter!” Cloudchaser called out. I rushed forward at the griffon while Scribble rushed over to Flitter. The Visar smirked and deftly avoided both me and Cloudchaser. Eventually, The Visar back clawed me with his prosthetic and I felt the wind leave me. Crashing into a table full of old books and rags, I gasped for breath, unable to move properly. I looked over, seeing Cloudchaser hold her own. The black belt showed surprising skill against a griffon, almost as if she’s gone against them before.
The Visar was beginning to show annoyance at the pegasus, unable to properly get a hit on her. I should start taking martial arts as well. My badass style needs to be more badass. Pushing aside an on-the-spot idea, I rolled off the clutter, coughing and painfully trying to push myself up. Cloudchaser zipped around the Visar, delivering a hefty buck to the back of the griffon’s head. There was a sickening crunch as I saw the head of Galm roll down and sag. The griffon stumbled forward, his head lolling. Cloudchaser grit her teeth in horror as the griffon spun around and cracked his head back into place.
Rolling his neck, he glared at the pegasus. He clenched his prosthetic, Cloudchaser already on the move. However, the griffon rose his balled prosthetic and upon unclenching his talons, the lightning sparked around him and shot out like a tesla coil. Cloudchaser was unfortunately caught in a few of the sparks, knocking her out of the air like a fly. I grit my teeth and swore under my breath.
‘Come on, legs! Move, dammit!’ I grunted and shakily stood up. The Visar was quick to move onto Cloudchaser. The pegasus mare balled up and covered herself as the griffon screeched and began mauling her with his talons, even pecking at her wings. Tufts of feathers flittered about. Scribble crushed a rock and tossed out lightning at the griffon, striking him in the chest. Finally getting my second wind, I twirled my bat and shot two bolts of fire. The Visar was struck on his good claw and side.
He screeched in pain and backed away, nursing his claw. He shakily looked at his claw, the claw red and beginning to bleed. His eyes widened in shock.
“What… what is this… feeling…?” He began. Scribble rushed over to Cloudchaser and pulled her back. Flitter had gotten her second wind and cradled her wounded sister while Scribble tended to her quickly. I cantered over to my friends and stood in front of them, bat at the ready. The Visar looked at me and then at the bat. “That magic… But I thought only he…” His beak quivered. “To wield such magic… is not dumb luck…” I shouldered my bat and smirked.
“What’s the matter? Can’t handle Badass Magic?” I nodded to his wound. “Looked like it really stung. Good to know that if an immortal bleeds, they can still be killed.” The griffon flexed his claw, utterly dumbfounded.
“Kill… me…? No… no no no…” His look was starting to become maniacal. He shakily looked to his side. A nice burn on his fur, grotesquely masking the color. “I still… have so much left to do…” Cloudchaser managed to push herself up, part of Scribble’s coat used as bandages.
“Face it, Galm. You picked the wrong time to throw your immortality around.” She rasped. The Visar looked at us, his eyes dilated in a panic. He then clutched his chest and with his prosthetic crackling with lightning, he threw his balled prosthetic claw up and a heavy amount of sand exploded into the room. I shielded myself, seeing the silhouette of the griffon take flight through the hole. I looked down and pulled myself out of flack high sand. This isn’t good.
“We’ll be buried alive! Scribble!” I shouted. Somehow, I figured the stallion already had a plan. He quickly rushed over, pulling us along as we huddled directly under the hole, the sand hitting us heavily. However, he had crushed a smooth stone under his hoof and all of a sudden, we were barreling upwards through the hole. We stayed close as we eventually broke through to the surface. We came to a stop as the sand was quickly turning into a funnel around our pillar.
We looked around, trying to spy where the griffon could have gone. It wasn’t long until we heard a loud screech and something big dive bombing towards us. I grit my teeth and held onto Scribble as I flicked my head down, sending all of us up into the air. The sisters used their Wonderbolt talents to quickly soar around us while I bounced me and Scribble to a rocky hill. The pillar we were just on shattered but not completely as with his prosthetic, Galm held up a chunk of the pillar and heaved it at us.
I couldn’t react in time as my worry was getting Scribble some breathing room so he could think of more ideas. In an amazing blur of lilac, the sisters soared at the pillar and rapidly swirled around it in a blur. They flew away from it once they had slowed its’ momentum and it crashed into the side of the rocky mountain. Flitter quickly flew over to me and passed me my holsters.
“I’m going to support sis as best I can. Cover us if we can’t react.” She said. I held the holsters in my magic as I watched Flitter meet with her sister to face Galm. Scribble winced as he leaned against me. He didn’t escape the underground unharmed. Yet, he was slightly grinning.
“They always wanted to pull their weight more…” He rasped. I couldn’t help but grin before ripping off my sleeve on my denim jacket and wrapping up his wound. I hummed before removing my jacket and passing it to him.
“Use what you can with it to tend to yourself. We are counting on you to think of a better idea.” I stated as I then clipped my holsters onto me. Scribble chuckled softly.
“Don’t expect too much. I’m running on steam here.” He replied. I turned and flicked my head down, bouncing up to meet the sisters. I landed on a conjured platform and readied my bat. Galm eyed all three of us.
“If I had known that ancient magic such as that abomination exists, I would have executed everything quickly…” He growled. He then made a motion, inhaling and exhaling before flexing his claws. “No matter. I may bleed but it will not stop me. Only delay the inevitable.” Cloudchaser pointed at him.
“Last chance, Galm! Turn yourself in! There is always room for second chances!” She stated. Galm began to laugh.
“Where do you think you are, Equestrian? Are you trying to follow the Princess of Friendship’s ideals? That’s no better than what Roam was built upon.” He replied.
“It doesn’t have to be this way!” Flitter chimed in. The griffon sighed and shook his head.
“The time for talking is over. Roam will be birthed into a new generation! Not even Princess Celestia herself could prevent it!” He marveled. “Now. Be so kind and die.” He rose his balled prosthetic into the air, the gauntlet glowing and crackled with wild lightning. I waved my bat in the air, letting the fire burn brightly in the eye before swinging it. The sisters broke apart and rushed at Galm from both angles. The griffon kicked off the air and avoided the two, twirling in a display of finesse before punching in Flitter’s direction, launching the lightning at her.
Flitter quickly dove under the strike while Cloudchaser flew back around and charged Galm with outstretched hooves. However, the griffon spun around, catching Cloudchaser by the head and brought her along before heaving her. I gasped and quickly bounded on my springs, aiming my horn. My magic laced together to form a net, catching Cloudchaser. The pegasus mare shook her head and gave me a small salute before kicking off to the air again.
I whipped out my arc pistol as Galm focused his attention on Flitter and began lashing out at her. The mare did her best to avoid the griffon, yet her side was slashed by a swipe, leaving her vulnerable to a follow up, which Galm took full advantage of. His prosthetic crackled to life and he punched Flitter hard across the face. The pegasus went crashing down into the sand.
“You’ll pay for that!!” Cloudchaser roared angrily. I grit my teeth and bounded down to where Flitter is, seeing Cloudchaser clash with the griffon. Lightning sparked wildly around them as I reached the mare. I rolled the pegasus over and she coughed, looking bruised and battered.
“Hold on, Flitter. I’ll get you to Scribble.” I stated as I proceeded to help her up. She pulled away from me, rasping for breath.
“I’m… fine… help… her…” She gasped. She didn’t look fine. Was a wing supposed to bend like that? She looked like she had a dislocated hind leg as well. For once in my life, I hesitated. I looked up to see Cloudchaser exchanging punches with Galm, the griffon unhappy with the fact she was able to get several good hits in and he barely got any. I looked over to where Scribble was, seeing him start to trek down the rocky hill quickly to our direction. I laid Flitter carefully down.
“Just hang in there. Scribble is on his way.” I told her. I stood up and sprang upwards, making my way to the clashing. Cloudchaser locked herself in with the griffon, baring her teeth at him angrily. I sprang around to the back of the griffon and let myself be carried with the momentum, aiming towards Galm. I rose my bat high overhead in my magic, aimed to strike. Cloudchaser gave Galm a couple of good slugs in the chest and face before bucking away from him.
Just in time as my bat made a heavy, wooden smack over the griffon’s head, something that would have shattered the skull of any normal creature. Galm slouched forward, tumbling through the air as I caught myself in my net. We watched the griffon tumble further down, anticipating the heavy crash into the sand. However, the griffon recovered and shook his daze. He clutched his chest, looking pained. I narrowed my eyes, seeing a slight glow coming from his chest.
“Bastard ate his relic.” I stated to Cloudchaser without taking my eyes off him. Cloudchaser wiped blood from her muzzle and spat before responding.
“Thought I felt something hitting him there.” She asked. Galm pat his chest, looking a bit relieved, yet worried. I nodded.
“If I can get a good hit in with a firebolt from Excalibat, we might have a chance at stopping him.” I told her as I stood up, wincing and rolling my neck. Cloudchaser smacked her hooves together.
“I’ll disarm him of the gauntlet. That’ll open him up.” She said. I smirked and readied myself.
“Good idea.” I replied. I had to admit, I still had my doubts when Fie picked them even though they have shown how capable they can be working together. I guess we all had the same idea after Hoofington. I can count on these two one hundred percent now. Galm seemed to snap out of his thoughts before flying up to face us. I smirked. “Starting to sweat there, Visar. Realizing something?” Galm flexed his prosthetic.
“Nothing that is too concerning, I assure you.” He balled his prosthetic and it crackled with lightning. I had an idea. I gave Cloudchaser a glance and a nod, which she then smirked herself in response. I quickly whipped out my arc pistol and popped a few shots at him, having fully spent the clip. The griffon held up his prosthetic, shielding his chest from the bullets. That was enough for Cloudchaser to quickly fly towards Galm and feint an attack. Galm fell for it. He swung his prosthetic, only for the mare to twist her body and wrapped her forelegs around the prosthetic.
Galm reacted a little slowly as Cloudchaser bucked him clean across the beak, using the momentum to flip herself over the limb bringing it behind Galm and exposing his chest. She wrestled with the griffon over the prosthetic, Cloudchaser being zapped a few times. But she grit her teeth and bared it. No holding back. I waved my bat over my head and with a heavy swing, several bolts of fire homed in on the griffon.
Cloudchaser yanked the griffon still and faced the bolts, his eyes widening. I grit my teeth, seeing the bolts explode upon contact with the griffon. Did she get away?? My eyes started scanning around the burning ball in the air. The fire quickly vanished, leaving smoke. I saw something fly away from the smoke, seeing Cloudchaser victoriously smiling with a glowing gauntlet in her hooves. I let out an excitable cheer, only to gasp as another thing flew out of the smoke. Before I knew it, I felt something heavy and sharp close around my neck.
I gasped for breath, batting my hoof at the metallic prosthetic that held me. I dropped my bat (it vanishing into flames as I did) and struggled to break free. Through one eye, I saw a murderous glare of a griffon meeting mine. His limb began to crackle with electricity. I then felt a sharp pain throughout my entire body causing me to stiffen and scream in agony.
“Thi!!” I heard Cloudchaser call out. My vision began to blur. When the pain subsided, I slumped. My ears were ringing and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. The griffon screeched loudly at me as he held me up high. Everything went to black.
Quiet Fire’s POV
Cloudchaser dove and soared towards Thi. However, I was a bit quicker. In a fiery blur, I caught Thi and soared high into the air. I came to a stop, hovering in the air and looking down at Thi worriedly. She was unconscious, but still breathing. I then shot an angry glare at Galm, who seemed beaten and bloodied, but still kicking. Cloudchaser smiled in relief as she flew towards me. Galm tried to move, but whatever he did made him unable to do so as the griffon clutched his chest.
“Fie, Visar Galm is an immortal and his relic that keeps him going is in his chest. He used the Underworld as a means to replenish his immortality. We managed to whittle him down a bit, but only physical magic can work against him. I managed to yank the gauntlet off of him.” Cloudchaser said. I studied her and felt my blood boil. As amazing as she is still able to fly and smile, her entire body was slashed and bloodied in some areas, her bandages loose and cut as well. I turned around.
“Lean on my back.” I said. Cloudchaser arched a brow quizzically at me. “Trust me. You look like hell.” I gave her a small smile. Cloudchaser returned it with relief. She leaned onto me and I floated down, spying Scribble rushing over before carrying Thi on his back. My eyes widened as I saw Flitter almost as a mummy with her wings splinted, torso and forehead wrapped up. Scribble looked a bit beaten himself and exhausted, but still able to move around. Cloudchaser limped over to Flitter and the two sisters smiled at each other. I then turned back around and kicked off the ground.
Galm was sweating beads. His feathers seeming to fall off with every flap of his wings. He looked at me as I leveled with him and he chuckled.
“And thus, the demon rises from her blood feast to face the one she truly was hungry for.” He stated. “But a demon is no match for the will of an immortal.” I studied the griffon a bit more. His chest was glowing and dimming like a heartbeat. The air around us got colder as Steel descended down to us, shouldering her battle axe.
“This is a long time coming.” Steel said, shifting her axe into a readied position. I called upon my halberd and aimed it at Galm.
“Give up, Galm. You failed. King Leo is dead and the Underworld has been liberated.” I stated. “Your biggest mistake was dealing with the Triad for the sake of keeping yourself going. Should have backed out of the deal when they traded us off to you.” Galm rasped a laugh, coughing.
“What makes you think… the Triad had any right to how we handled ourselves? They’ve been using us for centuries. All the war talks have been a front to spread their influence further.” He coughed up blood, taking a moment to wipe his beak. “Roam would have been mine without their influence… but I see now I should have acted on the investigations…” He looked at his shaky claws. “Centuries upon centuries of steering Roam from a single idea… should this nation fall to nothingness?” I sighed and lowered my halberd.
“I am probably going to regret this, but do you really care about the nation that you would imprison ponies, assassinate kings and queens, lived through so many eras and purposefully made ties with the very nation that is dooming our realm?” I asked. Galm glared at me.
“I care not of what the creatures of Roam demand it to be. I care to strive away from what it was created upon. Derail a one-track nation. In my claws, I would have brought Roam out of the scorched sands and ashes into a new light. No kings or queens could handle that kind of responsibility. They would just listen to the words of fools and ancestry.” He held out his prosthetic limb and clenched his talons, sparking electricity. “It was fun to crush the follies of imbeciles. I would have fun paving the way to my glorious Roam. I would have fun standing amongst the gods and rubbing it in their incestuous faces that a lowly creature granted eternal life has bested them in their own game.”
There was a sudden laughter around us. Galm looked around. In front of us, a swirl of fire formed into a spectral alicorn, grinning with fangs visible at the griffon.
I like your spunk! The gods must suffer in their own makings! Crush each and everyone of them! Show them you are the only one who can keep this miserable existence on the correct path! Her gleeful look then turned to a glower. Is not something one should desire on a battery. You are unfit to even waste the time of taking the first steps among the stars. She cackled. But perhaps you deserve something a little more suited to that idea. A pacifier, perhaps? I know Tenebres won’t miss the one out of the thousands she has.
Galm was dumbfounded. A swirl of ice formed next to the Din, Shiva sharing a stoic expression.
This has been a long time coming, chicken. You underestimated my vessel and I for too long. Sister, I desire the first strike. She said.
Screw you! You’ll pull your punches! I’ll leave the scraps to you! Din snapped. Shiva hummed.
Perhaps we should pick a half of the chicken and go from there. She suggested. Din spat.
That takes the fun out of it! Keep your ideas to yourself! She retorted. I frowned.
“How about both of you shut up and let us do the talking?” I suggested in annoyance. The two sisters looked at each other and Din frowned. “Thank you.” I floated in between them and met Galm’s dumbfounded gaze. “Well, what were you expecting? Din to be a wise and levelheaded being whose control over fire should outweigh the mastership of even a fire alicorn? Or that Shiva to be a cold and cruel being of ice who deserved to be locked away in order to control her?”
Galm lowered his gaze to me. I aimed my halberd’s tip directly at his chest, the point kissing the relic inside. “Cease your ambition and stand down. We should be working together to prevent anymore bloodshed. The Triad certainly won’t work with you to prevent Roam from going off path. They yearn for it. They would want nothing more than the ancient magic and resources Roam has. What’s to say their main goal isn’t the total control and annexation of Roam and Zebrica? The way I see it, even with all that immortality, even you won’t be able to stop the Triad.”
I motioned with my head to my friends below us. “You experienced first hoof.” Galm was silent. I kept my halberd aimed at his chest as I waited for an answer. Galm is not the best creature for Roam in the slightest. But with the powers that run Roam are unavailable, I have to get through to something. Equestria needs all the help it can get. I heard Din hum with a detestable grin. Galm seemed to eventually snap out of whatever stupor he was in.
His expression turning into a glower once more.
“You mock my idea… the very thing that will ensure Roam to be my kingdom.” He gripped my halberd with his prosthetic and squeezed, as if he was trying to shatter the blade. Unfortunately, the gift of the serpent isn’t easily breakable, even by an immortal. “You spit on all I have done… all I have worked for… countless generations… centuries… wars and modernization… you would repeat Hoofington, wouldn’t you?” That struck a nerve with me.
“This isn’t about Hoofington, Galm! Answer for your crimes and be done with it! We’ve given you plenty of chances!” I retorted with a growl. Galm began to laugh a little brokenly.
“You who are blessed by the stars are asking me to atone for my crimes? To have Roam atone for its’ negligence? I am Roam.” He gripped the blade with his bloodied real claw, the blood trickling down the blade. “I… will bring my kingdom into the light. The nation will prosper with ideas. I refuse to lose to single minded simpletons… to decide Roam’s fate…” He was surprisingly strong as he shifted my halberd and brought me forward, my horn digging into his forehead as he glared at me. “Mark my words, Demon. You are beneath Roam. And there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it. Not the king. Not the whore of a queen. Not the blood to the throne. And definitely, not a damned World Serpent can do anything about it. Roam is above all.”
I was then hit with a blast of warm air, ice and fire flowing through me and striking Galm all the way through his chest. I looked on, disturbed by the maniacal grin Galm had as his world, his Roam, crumbled to ruins. The griffon tumbled downward towards the sand.
You flew too high, chicken. Din smirked while Shiva looked bored. There was a crash as I turned away, bowing my head sadly. Din rolled her eyes. Get over it, vessel. He was beyond reasoning the moment he started spouting that nonsense. You know full well the consequences of what I would do to those who boast so much about the domain of the stars. Shiva started scanning the sky as she chimed.
I agree with my sister. But onto another point. If you killed the king, did you manage to see anything that could dictate where our eldest’s power was derived from? She asked curiously as Steel floated over to us. Din blinked a bit before shrugging. I looked to Shiva.
“King Leo mentioned there is a facility in the Zebra Lands that might tell us a bit more about it. Maybe a little more than that from the sounds of it.” I explained. Shiva nodded.
Very well. Shall we be off? She asked. I shook my head.
“I have unfinished business here. We’ll meet you guys there.” I replied. Shiva nodded as Din could care less about what was being said. Shiva disappeared into Steel, the minotaur eyeing me.
“Could use the vacation.” She stated simply. I arched a questioning brow before she turned around and kicked off the sky, breaking the sound barrier further away before vanishing. Din groaned.
i can’t believe I have to tolerate my sister. I was so looking forward to crushing her skull under my hooves. She stated. I then faced her with concern.
“Do you truly think you can do everything by yourself, Din?” I asked. Din snorted.
Shouldn’t matter to you what I think. All you need to know is that mine and my sister’s goals have aligned. When it is over, I’m going to show her not to test me with that serpent’s power. She replied. I rubbed the back of my head.
“You really don’t trust anybody, do you? You really do feel like the whole world is against you.” I stated. Din met my expression seriously, walking towards me.
Perhaps it says a little something about you, doesn’t it? She said simply before vanishing inside of me. I was speechless. Am I really unable to fully trust everypony around me? That doesn’t make sense. I trust my friends. I shook my head and smacked my cheeks.
‘Get it together, Fie. You need to tend to your friends.’ I turned around and began to float towards them. I narrowed my eyes as I saw several parked metal behemoths around my friends and plenty of armed zebra around them. I frowned. ‘What now?’