//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Few, The Proud // by IC1s5 //------------------------------// The gremlins were dancing. They were circling a fire, trophies of their latest raid laid at the foot of their king. So far their ambitions were very small: a few farming implements and a barrel of mead. A small forest creature was roasting over a spit. The king pried off large chunks and ate them. The songs the gremlins were singing were without melody or rhytm, but they were still in his honour, the wisest king gremlins ever had. Rock and Shining crept slowly to the rim of the ravine. Fortunately there had been no sentries, or any indication that the gremlins were afraid of being discovered. “So,” Rock asked, “how are we doing this?” “Carefully,” Shining said. They crept down from the rim of the gully on their stomachs. “Yeah, I think we’ve been trying that all day. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but I don’t think its working.” Point taken, Shining thought. Half of what he was doing was instinctive, what he had learned in books plus his best guesses as to how to handle the situation. “Am I doing well? By 36th standards, I mean?” Shining asked. For the first time in Rock’s career he had to look into the eyes of his commanding officer and assure him that he was doing the right thing. It was a very unique experience. The gremlin king laughed as he downed a bucket of mead. Some of the smaller gremlins whined and pranced around his side, and he sent them off with a mighty back hoof. “I think you’re doing all right, for the situation,” Rock said. “I mean, the situation isn’t great.” “It’s the worst you’ve been through?” Shining asked. “Absolutely not,” Rock laughed. “I’ve been in bad situations, not stupid ones.” The gremlins cheered. They danced to music created by pounding on overturned buckets and empty barrels. A small pile of powdered Fool’s Iron was being dumped on the ground; a couple of gremlins playfully rolled in it. Slinking away in disgrace would only allow them to grow stronger. “I think it’s a little late to desert now,” Rock said. “We’re in now, all the way.” “I was afraid of that,” Shining said. He peered in closer: he had noticed something. Some of the dust around the gremlin’s horns had become duller, less sparkly. The gremlins either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Chances were they could replenish their supply later---this was a window of opportunity, narrow as it was. “I think some of its worn off.” Shining nodded. “This might be easier than we think.” “I believe that’s the attitude that’s gotten us into this mess,” Rock said. “Good thing its one that’s going to get us out.” Shining had a mischievous smile on his face. Rock returned it. There were worse ponies to be stuck with when facing a poorly contrived suicide mission. “Ah, screw it, let’s just kick tail,” Rock said. He grasped a rock and held it up. Shining nodded, telekinetically giving it a mighty blast. It was aimed squarely at the horn of a nearby gremlin. The creature froze for a moment after impact, keeling over to one side. The other gremlins froze and looked back in the direction from which the stone had flown. Shining and Rock stood to their full light, trying to look as intimidating as possible. Okay, the best the could do was to look less ridiculous. The gremlin horde growled, and then stampeded after them bellowing their war cry. Shining aimed carefully for the gremlins that were covered in the least amount of Fool’s Iron: a couple fell into sleep, others just stood dazed. Rock’s hooves flew and in an instant he had three down. Not a bad start. Three down, a small mob to go. Rock made progress fighting his way through them, Shining behind him to take down the vulnerable ones. It took a lot of energy to counter Fool’s Iron. A gremlin grabbed him from behind, knocking him down. His horn was practically dripping with Fool’s Iron. Shining braced for the inevitable assault, clenching his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. Instead, for several precious seconds, there was nothing. The gremlin fell down, falling instantly into unconsciousness. Shining noticed a providential rock tumble at his feet. “Where did that come from?” Rock asked. “Up here!” “Luminous?” “Right behind you,” he called. He was at the rim, standing proudly. “Appreciate your enthusiasm, but this is totally not the time!” Shining yelled. “Thundering was well enough to take Golden Rod, and…” Luminous narrowly missed being brained by a rock. He returned fire with a paralysis spell: his attacker had only enough Fool’s Iron on him to slow him down, but with a well aimed hoof Rock knocked him back. “I can’t just leave you behind!” Luminous kicked a rock into the air, blasting it at the gremlin king. A smaller gremlin leapt and took the shot for him. The king was alone on the field---but he was the king. He hadn’t had the chance to exert himself. “I’m a generous man. Let’s just leave your actions as ‘horribly misguided,’ shall we?” Two dozen gremlins lay on the ground, some moaning, the rest unconscious. The three cadets stood in line facing the king. The king stood there, watching them pant and wheeze. He was inhaling slowly, saving his energy for the fight. “This is going to be interesting,” Rock said. “Let’s have our resident prodigy send him home, Luminous said. “Right?” Luminous looked back at Shining with worried eyes. Shining was supposed to be the magic prodigy, after all. “I need a moment,” Shining said. “I don’t feel strong enough.” “Oh, great,” Rock said. “We can hold him off if we coordinate,” Luminous said. The gremlin king smiled widely as he savoured their confusion. Rock gritted his teeth as he prepared for the fight of his life. Luminous stood ready as well. “I hope we can hold him off,” Luminous quietly added. “Hang on,” Shining said. He felt the magic return, gradually. Nowhere near enough to be a threat to the gremlin king, but he did have a plan---a stupid plan, but a plan. “Do something about the Fool’s Iron!” Rock and Luminous looked at each other, shrugged, and ran in opposite directions around the gremlin king. Both of them hurled rocks at the horn of the gremlin king, trying to knock off as much of the Fool’s Iron as possible. It was difficult and inefficient---what Shining needed was a way to overwhelm the limited protection the dust offered. “I’ve got an idea,” Shining said. “Great,” Rock said. “Let’s hear it.” “Luminous,” Shining said. “You remember what we did on the playing field?” Luminous nodded. His stomach began to sink as he remembered the occasion, and he became more afraid of Shining that of the gremlin king. “Well…how do you feel about trying again? It‘s something big to ask of you, I know, but we‘re not exactly replete with options here.” “Not terribly good,” Luminous said, “but if that’s what it would take…” Shining levitated Luminous off the ground. Luminous sighed, hoping that his career in the guard wouldn’t consist entirely of this. He was slowly beginning to accept that his fate may be to die this night, but did it have to be so…unconventional? “Are you kidding me?” Rock yelled. “Luminous, trying a basic shield charge.” “What?” Luminous yelled. “Do it!” “What for?” “We can overwhelm the Fool’s Iron by concentrating our energies on a point blank burst,” Shining explained, realizing even he had difficult accepting what he was proposing. He imagined a second Shining standing just beside him, frowning in anger and confusion. “Oh, this is just rich,” the king laughed. “You really are the stupidest ponies I’ve had the displeasure of encountering!” Reckless and foolhardy? Perhaps. Stupid? Luminous made his decision in a heartbeat. None of them said anything. Shining gritted his teeth, concentrating on precise aiming. Luminous breathed slowly, making his peace with the universe. All right: he came here to make a difference. He just wish it went differently. “Luminous?” Shining called. Luminous nodded: at least this a novel way to leave this world. He gave Shining a nod. “I’m ready,” he called. “For princess and country, I’m ready.” “Build up the best shield charge that you can.” Luminous closed his eyes. Around him he could feel a shield growing. He focused on making it the strongest shield he could manage. The king roared and charged at them. Shining aimed carefully and let Luminous fly. Luminous discharged his shield within inches of the gremlin king’s face. For a moment the light was blinding. Eventually sight was restored to their eyes. The king stopped laughing. He noticed his knees had begun to fail him. He tottered over and collapsed on his right side. Within a minute he was sawing logs. Luminous trotted on for a couple of paces. “Victory!” he shouted before he collapsed in exhaustion. Shining sagged to his knees. “I hereby declare this situation contained.” “I concur,” Rock said. He staggered over to Shining and they both gave a mighty hoof bump. So mighty, in fact, it appeared to wake up the king. “Oh come on!” Shining moaned. “Use the paralysis spell, or something!” “I don’t even know if magic is going to work! I mean, if he can shrug that off, what else can he endure?” Rock steeled himself for the fight. The king was still unsteady, and this would work in his favour. He began to run. He met the king halfway with a mighty kick to his horn, which disoriented him. The king staggered back, finding the ground beneath his feet was becoming treacherous. He began to fall backwards, and was unable to arrest the movement. The king tumbled down a mine shaft half concealed by branches and leaves. He roared as he fell to unknowable depths; his voice eventually was as silent as the blackness he had fallen into. “Did I…” “Yes,” Shining said. Shining crept over to Luminous, tossing him over his shoulder. Rock stood for a moment, stunned. “Well? Come on, I can only carry one of you.” The three staggered away feeling victorious and very, very tired.