//------------------------------// // Fight for The Crystal: Part 9 // Story: The Cursed Prodigy and The Three Special-Grades // by I Ate Appiness //------------------------------// A Gaping hole tore itself open in the hearts of the remaining Ambassadors; the crunch and snap of bones, along with drips of stray blood coming from the curse's long rows of inner teeth, confirmed a reality they did not want to accept. The evening moonlight drew close, but the prevailing dread of it all drew closer. Smolder clawed her way forward, her weakened chest beating harder than ever before. Each time she pulled and each time she grunted, a gargle of blood escaped from her lips. She furrowed her brows and bared her fangs, seemingly all she could muster. She would've gotten further had it not been for Ocellus's fear-induced interference. Smolder swiped at the pastel hooves holding her back, her enfeebled state only amounting to a strained shove that could be considered a gentle placement of the claws. "L-let me go, Ocellus!" Smolder gargled, her eyes piercing Ocellus's own. "I'll KILL it!" This reaction only drives Ocellus to pull the dragon back further. "No! We need to retreat! We-" A guttural scream tore through the stagnant air as Yona's tears flowed freely, her shoulders collapsing as she gave in to gravity, her head digging into the ground. Silverstream tried to pull Yona up, but her weight proved to be much more than she only could handle. "Yona!" Silverstream called through her tear-filled eyes, her breath shaky. "W-we have to go! We need to run!" All the commotion drew the monster's attention. Its head shot up from its recently finished meal, red painting its maws as its stomach still had room for five more. Lunging forward, the curse trucked straight for them, its thousand hooves trudging along its side like wheels on a train, its mass shaking the ground. Gallus dived forward in front of Silverstream and Yona, a mock attempt to protect them. The centipede opened its maws as the five stared into its cavernous void, a welcomed escape from all the torment they'd experienced so far. They knew better than this, of course. Sandbar's sacrifice will not be in vain. But it isn't like any of them could dodge it in time; their injuries acted as invisible shackles binding them down. Right as its warm breath and razor-sharp teeth threatened to encapsulate the bunch, a brilliant light turquoise ray zoomed pierced the monster at its side, the same side where the open wound was still fresh. The magic beam penetrated the flesh, deep past its organs, and erupted on the other side of its insectoid body, causing the beast to bellow a sound of pure, unadulterated agony that sent shivers down their spines even as their ears threatened to burst. As if fueled by the monster's pain, the turquoise beam intensified, its properties blossoming like a magical flower. Its force grew exponentially, lifting the writhing creature off the ground. Then, with a sickening crack that echoed across the desolate landscape, the monstrous centipede-stag split in two. Both halves of its body disintegrate into embers as its ashes flow into the wind. The five, their gazes locked on the disintegrating horror, slowly turned towards the source of the salvation. Starlight Glimmer stood atop a jagged chunk of what might have been a building. Her mane and the bandage around her neck and head flowed gently in the wind while her horn crackled with magic. "Headmare Starlight!" Silverstream called, relief washed over her. Starlight teleported to their side in a blink of magic, worry plastered across her face. Her horn lit up once more, enveloping the lot in a warm glow. To their surprise, the pain racking their bodies subsided. "Is everyone alright!?" Starlight questioned, examining the wounds on each student. "What were you lot thinking!? Had it not been for the guards telling me that you six disappeared, you guys would've gotten eaten!" The glow atop her head grew brighter, stopping any bleeding they might have incurred. "Wait, shouldn't there be six of you?... Where's Sandbar?" All of them, except for the grieving Yona, froze at the mention of the name. One by one, fresh tears begin to flow down. Silverstream hugged Yona so she wouldn't be alone as she wept. Ocellus broke down into whimpers in Smolder's arms, and Gallus sat by himself, tears dripping onto the dry dust below him. None could answer her question, but judging by their reaction, it had already been answered. The raw emotion on their faces spoke volumes. "No... This can't..." She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, turning away from the group as if to collect herself. When she opened them again, her voice, though shaky, was firm. "This place isn't safe, and the cold is growing close." she declared. "I'll get all of you to safety. Come on, follow me." Under the Crystal Castle, the once grand, open arches welcomed to the public were now filled with an imposing barricade. Massive crystals had been strategically fused together, forming an impenetrable wall. This stoic barrier served as the last line of defence, shielding the bustling heart of the Crystal Empire from the turmoil brewing from outside and Protecting the populace from the foreign threat, but that very protection is being challenged as two Special Grades continue their duel within the safe confines of the castle, the crystal ponies squeezed together like sardines all around, not one daring to go near either of them. Yuta threw a volley of punches towards Usowamoto, his fist only managing to graze their cheek before two portals opened before him. A blast of frigid air would hurl him back from one portal while another unleashed a torrent of flames, forcing him on the defensive. The combined heat and gale sent him hurling back with several burns on his arms as he brought them up to shield his face. Skittering to a halt, Yuta was just about to barrel towards the curse. But several miniature portals forced him to reconsider. Swivelling, he ran to a fallen guard nearby and snatched up the shield by their side. Yuta raised it before himself, braced for the onslaught. Heavy jets of saltwater erupted from the portals, crashing against the shield with a loud hiss. It did quite a good job, deflecting the jets for a few seconds before the jets of water sliced through the metal. Rewinding back, Yuta hurled what remains of the shield he had at Usowamoto, which was quickly dealt with with a portal summoning in front of them. Sending the piece of metal elsewhere. An almost bored expression settled on Usowamoto's face as they flicked their wrist dismissively. "Seriously?" they drawled, their voice a mocking lilt. "Why not use your cursed technique? The blood manipulating one? Or the voice commands...? Actually, now that I think about it, what is your technique? How come you can have more than one?" Yuta didn't respond. Instead, he lunged for another shield lying abandoned on the ground. But the instant his hand grasped the cool metal, another jet of saltwater erupted from a nearby portal. Reacting on pure instinct, he slammed the shield up, the familiar hiss of deflected water filling the chamber. However, something felt different this time. As he braced himself against the onslaught, a subtle shift in the air caught his attention. Usowamoto dragged the portal's angle off to the side, and the water laser shifted in direction and off the shield. Yuta was confused, but when he turned around, he realised what they were aiming for: the crystal ponies standing behind him. Flaring the curse energy in his arms, he flowed it through the shield and shifted it upward. The odd angle caused the pressure of the saltwater to spread awkwardly along the groves of the shield. Spraying it harmlessly upward and raining down behind him and onto the crystal ponies. Yuta peaked his eyes above the shield, the vapour coming off the shield slightly clouding his furrowed brows. "Leave them out of it." He scowled, standing up straight. "This is between you and me." "Finally talking, huh?" Usowamoto raised both arms in the air, their hands balled into fists and their exposed teeth forming a crooked smile. "Well, that's too bad!!" Slamming them into the ground. The impact resonated through the chamber, and multiple portals ripped open around them in response. A swarm of grotesque lesser curses materialised from the swirling vortexes, drawn to the battlefield by Usowamoto's call. Yuta's eyes grew wide as the curses began to attack the bystanders. Gritting his teeth, he charged at the nearest curse and slammed the shield into its side, the cursed energy coursing through his arms amplifying the impact. The creature screeched in fury, momentarily stunned. Yuta didn't hesitate - severing the creature's head in a clean spray of inky black ichor. Turning on his heel, Yuta spotted a tiger-like curse, its maw dripping with saliva, lunging towards a terrified colt huddled behind its mother. Yuta flung the shield like a deadly discus in a blur of motion. It spun through the air before connecting with a resounding clang on the curse's head. The creature yelped in pain, disoriented. Without waiting to see the shield land, Yuta launched himself forward, catching it mid-air and slamming it back down onto the tiger with enough force to crater the ground where he landed. Dashing forward, he slid under a curse and scooped a young stallion, trembling with fear, between two gnashing jaws. Pulling up the shield, he had the piece of metal wedge between two giant canines before giving a swift right kick to the side of the curse's face. Sending it flying to a nearby wall. Resuming sprinting, he spotted a hawk curse with a mare in its beak. He propelled himself towards the wall with a burst of speed, using it as a springboard to launch himself skyward and onto the flying curse. With a grunt, Yuta slammed the shield down onto the creature's head. The beak holding the mare suddenly forced upward as the curse disintegrated into ash. Simultaneously, he hooked his arm holding the shield underneath the mare's belly. Landing back amongst the terrified ponies, Yuta deposited the stallion and the mare with an exhale, barely taking a moment to catch his breath. But before he could even formulate his next move, a swirling portal materialised right beside him, and a fist greeted him by punching him square in the face. "You're the kind that would want to minimise casualty, aren't you, sorcerer!?" Usowamoto asked rhetorically. "Then watch them die as you're stuck dealing with me!" Usowamoto didn't wait for a response as they went for another punch. Yuta held up his shield defensively, readying for another attack. But the portal opening beside him says otherwise, as the fist erupts from the swirling vortex, punching him in the jaw. The world tilted on its axis as searing pain ripped through his face. Yuta stumbled back, the shield clattering to the floor with a metallic clang and a dribble of blood flowed freely from his lips. The curse sent another fist flying forward. Its arm was enveloped in the portal as it reappeared to gut-punch Yuta at his side. The human doubled over, clutching his side, his breath hitching in his throat. Before he could even consider rising, several miniature portals materialised behind his head, and a pungent smell, unmistakably saltwater, flooded his senses. Yuta launched himself backwards in a desperate dodge. The ground erupted in a spray of dust and crystal shards as jets of water slammed into the spot where he had been standing just a fraction of a second ago. A chorus of panicked screams shattered the tense standoff. High-pitched cries of terror screeched in the air – the terrified pleas of the Crystal Ponies were the most prominent noise in the room. Yuta wiped the blood from his mouth; he didn't need to see it to know what was happening. With his attention forced on Usowamoto, there was no one to protect them and exorcise the curses. Usowamoto cupped both their ears, drinking in the sight and humming to themself. "The smell of fear is high, isn't it lovely?" Turning to Yuta, they cracked a smile. "So, what are you going to do now? The more you engage in a fight with me, the more ponies are gonna die. On the other hand, if you choose to save them, then I'll just keep getting in your way." Usowamoto tapped their temple with a pointed finger, "Think hard, sorcerer." Yuta stood still, his eyes unreadable. But then, a shift. The air grew heavy, the very atmosphere thickening with a palpable pressure. The malignant energy that had crackled around Yuta intensified, a dark tide rising to meet the cresting wave of his emotions. Even the curses turned their attention to the sorcerer, sensing the momentous change. All eyes were on him now, and what he did next would decide the battle's outcome. Then, his cursed energy recedes, leaving only the cool air to fill the space. "Huh...?" Was all Usowamoto got out before Yuta interrupted him with raised arms. Pulling his hands up, Yuta presented an open palm accompanied by a fist, and the mudra of Dakini was displayed. "『Domain Expansion』" "SHIT!!" Usowamoto yelled, staggering back, desperately booming a portal open. Yuta used this to his advantage as he rushed forward. He'd closed the distance in a heartbeat, his fist already connecting with the curse's face. The force of the blow sent the cursed spirit flying backwards, a spray of crimson mist erupting from their mouth. "Rika!!" Yuta commanded, summoning the spectral black and white cursed apparition behind Usowamoto, binding them in her strong hands. "Why hasn't the domain formed yet?" The curse thought as Yuta closed the distance again, delivering a wave of punches and kicks. "Ah, I get it." A punch socked their face to the left, knocking out a tooth. "A fake out." Rika finished by slamming them down and flinging them across the room. Yuta used this opportunity to reach into the abyss of Rika's shadow to retrieve another katana. Brandishing the blade, he pointed forward and sprinted to the flying curse. "Rika! Protect the ponies from the curses and exorcise all of them!!" Yuta commanded. "Okay~!" As Rika worked on dispatching nearby curses, Yuta flung his sword at the curse. The sword sang through the air and pierced Usowamoto in the abdomen, pinning them against the crystal wall. Usowamoto tried to pull themself free of the blade, but it didn't budge. However, that was the least of their worries as Yuta leapt at them, his fist surging with overwhelming amounts of cursed energy. A tremor ran through the structure that resonated to the top of the castle, shaking the terrified ponies huddled together under Rika's protection. The crystal wall where Usowamoto had been pinned shattered with a deafening explosion, exposing an opening to the outside for the remaining survivors huddled under the Crystal Castle's protection. The tremor soon subsided, leaving behind an unsettling silence broken only by the ragged gasps of the crystal ponies huddled together. Yuta fell back onto the ground, his fist still throbbing from the bone-shattering impact. He reached for his discarded katana, the weapon's weight a grounding presence in the sudden stillness. "That gave me quite a scare," Usowamoto huffed, stepping out from a swirling portal that had materialised behind the sorcerer. Though pinned by the debris of the shattered crystal wall, they seemed almost unharmed. Their left arm was a mangled mess, a gaping wound where flesh and bone should be, and a jagged tear marred their torso, but they moved fine. With a pulse of cursed energy from the spirit, their arm was as good as new. "Honestly, I should've seen that one coming. I knew you wouldn't put those innocent ponies in your domain. And yet, I still fell for it." They chuckled, staring at Yuta, who only stared at them back, his eyes apathetically cold. Usowamoto took a step forward, the tap of the soles of their feet echoing all around them. Strange, as usually there'd be screaming to drown out the noise of their footstep. With each step forward, Yuta didn’t seem to budge, he didn’t even seem worried at all. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue- Hrk!?” Suddenly, a blade pierced their chest from behind. Unlike the katana that Yuta was holding, this was thick and broad. Befitting of a prince. Turning their head around, Usowamoto met the intense, furious gaze of Shining Armor, his protective gear dusted and dirtied from battle damage, the blade handle in his mouth wrinkled under the pressure of Shining's teeth as he snarled at the curse. "Y-you're Twilight's brother, correct?" Usowamoto rasped. "Do NOT speak of my family so lightly, you filthy vermin!!" Pulling the blade in a downward motion, Shining dislodged and severed the blade from Usowamoto's body, leaving a gaping gash running along the back of their body. Pointing his horn at the curse, Shining prepares to cast a spell. Usowamoto tried to boom a portal in front of themselves to escape, but a human hand grabbing their face stopped their plans as Yuta drove the curse closer to Shining. Blue flames erupted from Shining's horn, a torrent of magical power aimed directly at the gaping wound inflicted by his blade. Usowamoto let out a blood-curdling scream, the sound echoing through the chamber as the flames seared their insides. Yuta gritted his teeth, the stench of burning flesh filling his nostrils, but he held his ground. The heat radiating from Shining's magical fire was tangible, scorching the air and licking at Yuta's exposed skin even though he held Usowamoto at arm's length. A sizzling sound filled the air as the edges of his fingers, caught in the periphery of the flames, began to smoke faintly through the grime of battle. The heat intensified for a few agonising seconds before Shining, with a grunt of exertion, relented his attack. The magical fire sputtered and died, leaving behind a thick cloud of smoke that hung in the air. Yuta, his lungs burning, stumbled back, releasing Usowamoto from his iron grip. Usowamoto barely had a moment to catch their breath before the chamber shuddered. A colossal fist from above slammed itself onto them, the impact causing their body to bounce off the ground, their eyes going white from the blow. Rika slammed into the curse repeatedly before grabbing them mid-air, dragging them across the floor, and tossing Usowamoto back to Yuta. With a powerful kick aimed at Usowamoto's chest, he sent them flying across the room. Shining Armor was already in motion. His horn glowed with magical energy as he caught the airborne curse in a telekinetic grip, slamming them back down onto the ground with a bone-jarring thud. Usowamoto, finally overwhelmed by the relentless assault, let out a shriek of frustration. They scrambled back, eyes darting around the room in search of his three assailants. Yet another detail caught their eye. The curses they had summoned were all gone, only leaving behind small billows of smoke spread all across the safe zone, Rika having dealt with them in minutes. Seizing this momentary lapse in their defence, the three charged from all angles. With the deck stacked against the curse, Usowamoto smashed their fist into the ground, their face twisted in fury as a flash of swirling darkness surfaced directly beneath them. Before anyone could react, the portal expanded far beyond just themselves. The portal swallowed the radius of all four combatants as they pulled them down into the inky void. In the opulent throne room of the Crystal Castle's upper floors, Princess Cadance was at a loss. Soot stained her once pristine coat, the intricate embroidery of her gown singed and torn. Dust clung to her once magnificent mane, now askew and frizzled from the heat of battle. Her breath was unsteady, and so was her stance with her horn pointed at the pony across the room. Sombra. "You've gotten stronger since our last meeting, Princess," he mused, his voice dripping with a honeyed malice. "How's the empire in my absence?" Sombra turned to the balcony, his eyes lingering on the destruction everywhere. "Not doing too good, I presume?" "How are you alive!?" Cadance spat, "Twilight and her friends should've erased you all those years ago!" Sombra chuckles, "You know, Princess. Negativity is a very strong emotion, what you think was once vanquished can still haunt the minds of the modern pony til this day." He took a few steps forward, eyes glowing in imminent danger. "Fear, despair, discord - these emotions create a potent fuel and a wellspring of power. And when the right catalyst arrives…" He trailed off, a cruel smile twisting his muzzle. "Reincarnation of cursed flesh is all so possible, it's such a fascinating process, really." Cadance flared her wings defiantly, and her horn cackled a pink lightening over the sooted black. "Then I'll vanquish you again!" "Oh," Sombra countered, his laughter echoing with sadistic glee. "I'd like to see you try!" His words were cut short by a sudden tear in the fabric of reality above them. A swirling vortex of black ripped open the very air, spewing forth four figures who landed with resounding thuds on the polished marble floor and depositing four new faces into the mix: a stallion clad in gold armour, a boy in white and black, and two cursed spirits. Sombra scowled at this, annoyance clear on his features. "You're way too early, Usowamoto."