//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 - Answered Call // Story: A Warrior's Calling // by Valiant_Daybreak //------------------------------// Chapter 13 - Answered Call The town of Ponyville should have been in disarray. There should have been screaming, running and general chaos, but the streets were surprisingly still. Perhaps they knew it would have been pointless, that the battle was already won… perhaps it was overwhelming presence of the changeling guards threatening to punish any who stepped out of the ring encircling town square that kept them in line... perhaps still they knew that they’re last hopes lay with the solitary figure, lying crumpled on the ground in the very center of that circle. Eyeing the guards carefully, a small filly crept over to where he lay. Nuzzling his cheek, she whispered, “Please wake up!” in desperation, before being dragged back into the center of the circle by her frightened mother. Valiant Daybreak groaned, slowly opening his eyes and taking in the circle of ponies around him. “What…” he mumbled, before remembering what had happened earlier. He stood to his feet, prompting the notice of the changeling guards. As Valiant watched, one of them walked to the side of the circle opposite him, where a changeling alicorn stood. “My Lord,” the guard said, “He is awake.” “Excellent,” said a voice that sent shivers down the backs of everypony present. Turning around, the alicorn stared at Valiant. After a moment, he asked, “Why Brother, do you not recognize me? Have you forgotten your own brother as you have forgotten the rest of your people?” A look of shock crossed Valiant’s face. “N… Nightshade?” he asked. The Black Prince snarled. “The name Nightshade Moonbeam is no longer mine! I left that weak name behind when the useless emotion you call love was ripped out of me. I am now known as Nefaris, The Black Prince!” Valiant’s emotions ran wild. Part of him wanted to kill his brother for what he had done… yet… another part still loved him… He is still my brother… I must try to reason with him… The conflicting emotions brought tears to his eyes. Blinking them back, he asked, “Why… Why brother? Why did you kill our father? Why have you invaded this peaceful land?” “Silence!” Nefaris roared, baring his pointed teeth in anger. “You always thought you were better than me brother! Admit it! You were the older, I the younger! You were to be king, while I was to be prince! You were always lording yourself over me!” “No brother… I never thought I was…” “Lies! You took everything, leaving nothing behind! The throne, the adoration of the public, even Father and Mother's lo…” Nefaris balked momentarily, before regained composure of himself, the evil grin returning swiftly to his face. “I am simply returning the favor. Everything you have ever cared about… I will claim for myself. Unless, of course, you think you can best me in combat?” Valiant, desperate to avoid conflict, tried one last attempt to reason with his brother. “Please… Violence will solve nothing…” “Spoken like a true coward!" Nefaris interrupted. "Do you refuse? What say you I give you a little incentive?” Nefaris nodded to his lieutenant, who shouted an order to his troops. Six changeling mages stepped forward, each with a sphere of pure magic, red as crimson, levitating in their magical grips. Valiant gasped. “No…” At the center of each sphere sat one of his friends. Twilight was trying every spell she knew to break free, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash kicked at the spheres, trying to weaken the magical energies. Pinkie Pie, not surprisingly, was poking the shield, laughing as the energy tickled her for trying to escape. Rarity and Splatter Shell sat in the center of their respective spheres, watching Valiant with intensely confident eyes. Finally, Valiant turned his eyes to the pony he could hardly bare to look at. As he locked eyes with Fluttershy, he sensed the fear that showed on the outside, but also… complete confidence. Confidence that, now that he was there, everything would be alright. With her confidence surging through him, Valiant stepped towards his brother. “I accept your challenge, Nefaris. I will not allow you to harm my friends!” Nefaris laughed. “Oh yes! You and your ‘precious friendship!’ I forgot how much ponies from here worshiped that idiotic ideal.” Nefaris tossed Valiant his weapons, who caught them and immediately levied them in a ready stance. “Standard dualing rules, brother?” he asked. Nefaris grinned, evilly baring his pointy teeth. “I think that shall do nicely.” The two combatants launched themselves forward, their near opposite colored furs clashing brilliantly in the darkness of the night. Sparks flew from their blades as they connected, lighting up the night sky with their light. The Black Prince struck a vicious blow at Valiant’s head, but he sidestepped and parried, bringing his sword back in a quick thrust. Laughing, the Prince jumped out of the way, bringing his blade back in a downward slice. For ten minutes the former brothers fought, until it became obvious one was slowing. Valiant tried hard to maintain his momentum, but slowly felt himself being forced back towards the edge of the circle. The surrounding ponies could only watch in horror, as Nefaris suddenly disarmed his opponent and, with a sickening blow to the side of the head, sent him flying back across the circle. As Valiant struggled to stand, Nefaris was already on him, pushing him to the ground again and gloating over his fallen, broken body. Valiant looked towards the sky. It was late when they ambushed us… surely it must almost be… “What? Waiting for you ‘precious Princess Celestia’ to raise the sun?” Nefaris gloated. “I’m afraid she is a bit busy fending off the legion of changelings I sent into the city!” “N… no…” “Yes! I do not think she will be able to save you… Face it brother, you have been bested!” With his only hope for victory dashed, Valiant’s strength finally gave out. He collapsed fully on the ground, and was quickly surrounded by a magical bubble. Nefaris began to laugh, quietly at first, but louder and louder as his wicked mirth grew. “I won! I WON! Face it brother, you are merely second best!” A wicked gleam came into his eyes. “Now… who should I rip the love out of first?” “… No…” “Hmm…” Nefaris walked over to Rainbow Dash. “She seems feisty… She might make a good soldier…” “Brother…” Ignoring his plea, Nefaris walked over to Twilight. “However… she is an excellent magician… within a few years, she could be my head mage…” “Please…” “No…” Nefaris said, walking over to Fluttershy’s bubble, who backed away from him with fear in her eyes. “Perhaps this one?” “Brother!" Valiant shouted, his desperation plainly evident. "Please! For all that is good and pure in the world! Do not do this! I am sorry for always seeming better than you! I am sorry for being the first-born! But if you have any mercy left…” Nefaris smiled. “Ah… so this is the one you care about most is it? Very well then… Thank you for making my choice easy…” He turned to Fluttershy and, grinning, said, “Hmm… You will make a very beautiful changeling… Perhaps I shall make you my personal servant…” “NO!” Valiant yelled. Energy emanated from his body, bursting the barrier as if it were made of paper. “I refuse to let you harm her! You shall not touch a hair on her head… Because… I promised… but… even more than that…” He took a deep breath, before shouting at the top of his lungs, “Because I love her!” As he shouted those words, his horn began to glow a brilliant, blinding white. Slowly, a sliver of light began to appear on the horizon. Nefaris looked on in shock as Valiant raised the sun to the highest point in the sky, beating the moon down from its previous position. “That… That’s impossible! Only the Princess of the Sun can…” “You are wrong Nightshade, about everything! Love is not trivial… it is the most powerful force in the universe. Without it, I am merely Valiant Daybreak… With it I realize my full potential… I am… The Prince of the Dawn!” Nefaris growled and lunged at Valiant, who stepped out of the way and immediately summoned his weapons back to himself. Parrying his brother’s next rage filled swing, he slipped his sword underneath his brother’s and, calmly, with almost no apparent force at all, broke it in two. Nefaris collapsed on the ground, staring at Valiant in fear. Valiant paused in front of him and calmly sheathed his sword. With compassion in his voice, he said, “Brother… Please come back to me… No matter what you have done… I still love you.” Tears dripped from the Black Prince’s face. “I… I cannot… not after what I have done…” Valiant knelt on the ground, looking straight into his face. Softly, he said, “Brother… I forgive you.” A brilliant light enveloped Valiant and his brother, quickly spreading through the town of ponyville and eventually covering the entire continent of Equestria. When it faded, the Black Prince was gone, and in his place sat a small, shivering, blue alicorn. “Do… Do you truly mean that?” he asked. Beginning to cry himself, Valiant answered, “With all my heart.” Tears ran down his face as he embraced his brother, overjoyed to have him back. The town sat in stunned silence for a moment, before erupting into cheers. Releasing his brother, Valiant turned around, noticing for the first time that the remaining changelings had returned to their normal form and the spheres holding his friends had dissipated, spilling them onto the ground. He ran to Fluttershy, grabbing her in a smothering embrace. As they looked into each other’s eyes, she whispered, “I love you…” Joy overflowed throughout his whole body, as he replied, “I love you too.” Author's Comments Forgiveness really is the best policy isn't it? Pardon my sappiness, but I am a big fan of cheese. There's just one chapter and the epilogue remaining to post... Time to wrap up some loose ends!