The collapse of the universe

by KRissCHu573


Dark Connections

Attention! Due to their slowed progress, this chapter is only about the two storylines outside of Equestria.





The collapse of the universe




Chapter 8: Dark Connections





The four aliens had already participated in three to four matches each, and right before the next one, Zeratul, Moradar and Aramanis were observing T’Nodan’s progress on his current one. This one took place in an abandoned mining village. As the champions and minions pushed their opponents through the streets, they took over tall pillars with magical crystals on top of them. The immortal and a green yordle woman, who carried a big hammer, were taking over one such pillar, which towered next to a bone yard.

All of a sudden a giant rock creature charged and rammed into the golden crablike construct, containing the protoss, tossing it into the nearby wall. With a worried look on her face, Poppy pushed herself harder on infusing the pillar’s crystal with a green beam of energy. As T’Nodan got up, he was snared by a big living tree. Malphite turned towards the Iron ambassador, and raised his boulder like fists. The immortal turned the upper part of his mechanical body, and shot off Maokai’s larger arm, escaping his grip.

(Slow motion turns on.) The Shard of the Monolith’s arms began to fall. Poppy looked with terror as the giant rock masses were about to crush her. Mid way through the fall, T’Nodan jumped sideways between the two, fired, and left two gaping holes in the torso and the head. (Slow motion turns off as Malphite’s dead body drops on the ground.)

The Twisted treant shook his head, in order to fix his blurred vision. As he managed to accomplish it, he saw that he was surrounded by several golden columns. A sudden movement caught his attention. The surrounded by a magical shield Poppy, climbed up in T’Nodan’s cannon, and he fired her at the living tree. The target couldn’t move from the green bullet’s way. With a single bash from the giant hammer, Maokai’s head flew clean off. With that done, they were with a pillar ahead than their opponents.

North from there, their teammates Kassadin, Jax and Twitch were battling with Varus, Irelia and Gragas for the pillar next to a windmill. After a barrel made a huge explosion, they saw how the gigantic crystal at the base to the west dissolved to pieces.

[VICTORY!/DEFFEAT!] The loud voice announced, confirming the win for the protoss’s team. All ten of them were returned to the Institute, and as they were heading outside from the summoning chamber, Jax and Twitch walked beside Gragas, then the Grandmaster at arms spoke.

“Nice match, you know what that means?”

“Mmmyes I do.” The Plague rat replied.

“Oh god no.” The large ginger bearded man sighted.

“Drinking ‘till you pass out!” The two yelled together. “And you’re paying.” They continued, as they both pointed at the Rabble rouser.

Kassadin passed by Zeratul, and both of them exchanged silent looks. When the Void walker was some distance away, the immortal stepped next to the dark templar, and spoke to him in his mind.

‘Is something troubling you Prelate?’

‘Something about that one sparks my curiosity.’ He replied.

‘I…do not understand?’ T’Nodan gave a confused look.

‘The energy of that which is known as the Void here reaps from him, but unlike Malzahar, his mind is not corrupted by it.’

‘Yes, I felt it as well. Most intriguing indeed. Would you have something done with him?’

‘Hmm, perhaps…When I glimpsed in his mind, I saw that he was on war terms with those foul creatures. If we aid him, he may exchange some valuable knowledge, hidden deep in his mind.’

Both of them turned around as the Curator of the sands cleared his throat.

“Am I interrupting something here?” The behemoth asked.

“Not in the slightest.” Zeratul replied as if nothing was really going on.

“I’m sorry for the trouble, but I am to escort the Prelate to our next match.” He turned to the immortal.

“Fine, if you say so. I’ll meet you later dark one.” He said.

After that, the trio parted in different directions.

‘Find Kassadin, and see if he would agree on a little allegiance.’ Zeratul instructed T’Nodan mentally.



--



“How’s that fit coming for ya?” Raynor asked the Prodigal explorer.

“It’s awesome!” Ezreal said as he pointed his cannon, build around his magic gauntlet, at a nearby wall. “Pulsefire Ezreal activated!” He smugly said.

“Pulsefire Ezreal? Really? That’s the best you could think of?” Blitzcrank laughed quietly.

“You gotta problem pall?” Ez’s glasses shined from the light, coming from the charging cannon, which was now pointed at the golem’s head.

“What’s going on here?” Leona came in.

She bore a silverishly metal armor, with a circlet, made from the same material. Her shield and sword were augmented like Pantheon’s gear.

“Nothing.” Blitzcrank raised his hands and continued. “I was just telling this guy, that if he was gonna pick a name, as a human being, he could put some more thought into it.”

“Oh is that so?” The wearing an energy suit explorer said, as the cannon glowed brighter.

“Whoa there. Let’s not cause any trouble.” Raynor tried to calm him down.

“How about I blast that bucket of yours, eh?” The fisty mage gave Blitz another threat.

In a moment of silence, Leona hit him in the back of the head. When he fell on his back, she said.

“Wow…Cate was right. That does relive stress.”

“Told ya!” The Piltover sheriff shouted from the other end of the armory.

She still wore her hat, but she also had special glasses, with thermal vision, sonar and a magnifying function. She also wore an energy suit with stripes of blue energy. Ezreal’s had a jetpack, not only a cannon, but hers did not have such extras. Instead it allowed her to cloak herself. Also, unlike the explorer’s suit, hers was tightly attached to her body. (Like a yoga suit.) She was checking her rifle, when Swann spoke to her.

“Nice gun you got there. But I don’t think someone with your profession could use it in the given situation.”

“You don’t have to worry.” She replied with a bit of a chuckle in her voice. Then she continued. “A sniper’s greatest tool…” She picked up the rifle. “…is precision…” She kneeled, aimed, and the rifle broke apart on the floor. “…and good equipment.” She sighted, quickly picked up the parts and put the gun back together.

The engineer chuckled.

“Perhaps you would like to try this out?”

His claw arm came from behind his back. In it he was holding another rifle, which was probably half the length longer of her old one. It had a thin throat, the barrel was two times wider than it. The scope was almost twelve inches long, with three inch in diameter red, glass targeting marks. In the middle of the scope there was some kind of a rotating button, and from underneath the barrel there was a laser pointer.

“The SR-KE mark 722. Uses up to a hundred 8 inch rounds, which can pierce through a roach’s skull and hide. The rotating ring is the scope’s zoom. Mix the fancy shades you’re wearing with it, and you can hit a fly from a two mile radius.” He proudly explained.

“Whoa.” She gasped with surprise. “Don’t mind if I get me one of these.”

“All yours. Once we touch down on the planet, look for Tosh. He’ll give you a casing with ammo.”

“By the way, where is Heimer?” Blitzcrank asked as Ezreal got up.

“He said he wanted to build himself a ride, so Swann gave him some schematics of ours and a factory to work in.” The commander answered.

“Wait what?!” The golem stepped forward quickly, and pushed the recovering Prodigal explorer on the ground, face first.

“OH COME ON!” He yelled.

“You gave that madman toys to play with? Big mistake my friend.” Blitz said to Jim, not bothering to notice the yelling mage on the floor.

“Why is that?” The man asked confusedly.


Heimer clapped his hands, grabbed a blowtorch and a wrench. Then he turned around, and began constructing. He twisted bolts, robotic arms put on parts to the construct. With the blowtorch he spoiled metal together. In several hours he stood still, turned off the torch, and with a loud sigh, he removed the sweat from his forehead, and grinned proudly in the darkness, where his creation stood.


“On second thought, don’t ask.” Blitzcrank avoided the question with a hand gesture.

“Sir.” Matt called from the bridge. “Come up, I think I’ve found your guy.”


The four champions, the commander and the engineer went up to the bridge. Matt, Pantheon and Stetman were already there. Soon after, Heimerdinger joined them. His hands and face, were covered with machine oil.

“What do you have for me captain?” Raynor asked.

“We’ve detected a protoss fleet, and we’re attempting to establish contact.”

[Preparing video transmition.] The adjutant said.

They looked into the holographic screen in front of them.

[Connection established.]

The image of a protoss, whose head was covered in a golden helmet, with blue energy lines.

“En Taro Tassadar James Raynor.” He greeted them.

“En Taro Tassadar Admiral Urun.” Jim returned the his words.

“How do you know of me?” The protoss asked.

“This may sound weird, but I saw you in a vision of the Overmind’s.” Was the reply.

“How did you come into knowledge of such a vision? You are not infested are you?”

“With all due respect Admiral, let’s not point fingers at who is infested and not. A close friend of mine, and I think that he is such to you as well, gave me a Khaydarin crystal, which contained this vision.”

“And who might that be?”

“Does the name Zeratul, ring any bells?”

“The Dark Prelate? Do you know where he is?”

“Not at the moment, but that isn’t why I called you.”

“Then what is the reason?” The protoss was getting somewhat annoyed.

“Swann, send him the tape.”

The engineer sent the tape they had found on the Dominion ship. The alien’s tone described the horrified expression, which the helmet hid.

“How could this be?”

“I know. I called you, because we need your help to save your people, who are still trapped, and to destroy the hybrid there.” Raynor said.

In several moments of thought, the protoss spoke.

“An acceptable alliance. I will send for the Dark Prelate Mohander and his fleet. Once we get the prisoners off world, they will destroy the planet, and everything on it. You helped the protoss people once, and you’re doing so again. It would be an honor to fight beside you James Raynor.”

“I’ll look forward to it Admiral.”

[End of transmition.]

The screen went off.

“Well boys, we have ourselves a date.” The commander turned to everyone on the bridge.

“Might I ask how a protoss admiral, you’ve never met, knows you?” Ezreal asked.

“I helped them evacuate their home world. I’m one of the most well known terrans to the protoss.” Was his reply.

Heimerdinger’s face was colored by a peculiar smile.

“What are you so happy about?” Caitlyn asked.

“I just can’t wait to use my creation.” He chuckled.

Everyone gave him confused looks.



--



Nasus was fighting off the piled up minions on top, pounding them with his siphoning strike. He was half way past the river, when a crocodile like creature pounced from it, and toppled the gold wearing jackal behemoth. The Curator of the sands dropped his staff, and was now flat on his back. He looked up, and met the zealously red gaze of Renekton, who raised his blade, preparing to thrust it into the chest of his victim.

“Goodbye…brother.” The Butcher of the sands said with a maniacal note in his tone, as he raised his blade higher.

The next moment his voice broke down, and small drops of blood poured down from a cut right underneath his throat. All of a sudden Zeratul showed up out of nowhere, with his fist put underneath the crocodilian head. The long energy blade stuck out from the reptile’s cranium. The protoss pulled back his arm, cutting Renekton’s jaw in two, securing himself a kill as the large body fell on the ground, with its blood spilling on the ground. He then reached down. Nasus took his hand, and the alien pulled him up.

“Thank you, I guess.” The jackal said.

“A peculiar creature that one.” The Prelate spoke. “If I didn’t know better I’d think he enjoyed the fact that he was about to kill his brother by blood.”

“It’s a long story.” The Curator replied, as he picked up his staff.

“One you have told me a number of times, even right now.”

The behemoth gave a confused look.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Your thoughts are no secret to me, knowledge keeper.” Zeratul slowly turned his eyes away from Renekton’s body, towards Nasus.

The jackal fell in deep thought, and after a moment, asked.

“What is the extend of your power over the mind dark one?”

“Depends. Why is it that you ask?”

“Could you do me a favor?”

Zeratul raised an eyebrow.


[An enemy turret has been destroyed.] The loud voice announced as Alistar rammed into the second mid turret.

He shook his head to remove the dust from it. When he opened his eyes, thorny vines immobilized him. A somewhat naked, red haired woman, covered by plants grinned smugly at him. She was about to summon a circle of thorns underneath him, but she jumped back to dodge a falling mass of green goo. Kog’Maw appeared from the brush, as the minotaur tore off his bindings. The purple bull charged, slammed the ground, tossing Zyra into the air. When she fell, she was swallowed by the Mouth of the Abbys. The rest of her team charged in. Nasus and Zeratul joined Kog and Alistar in the tussle with Renekton, Diana, Graves and Lulu. The fight was raging on. Bullets, goo and magic rays flew around, blades, fists and blunt objects were swung. Neither side could push, as the eight champions were caught in a back and forth dance.

Zyra respawned at the altar. The Rise of the thorns stepped out, and her leg was cut off. With anger in her eyes, she looked up to see how a green samurai slashed at their nexus. The battle on mid ceased, when the end of the match was announced. After everyone was summoned back, the ten split. The Butcher of the sands was subdued, shackled and returned to his cell, by the summoners.

Once he gave his report about his brother’s behavior, Nasus made sure to excuse himself and Zeratul from the Council’s attention. The two headed down a staircase, deep into the Institute. Every ten stairs there was a torch to light the way. Nothing could be heard, other than the Curator’s steps. The stealthy protoss moved without making a sound. In a few minutes, raged grunts and growls could be heard in the distance. They reached a large steel door, on its other side a room, with a cage inside.

Behind the bars, a set of red reptilian eyes followed them. Renekton was on his knees, with his head and hands shackled together in big cuffs, from enchanted wood, which were chained to the ground.

“Oh fresh meat, eh brother?” He asked maniacally. “I’ll gut you two open, feast upon your insides, and bathe in your blood as I enjoy the meal!” He began to describe the horrifying things he would do to them.

As the rambling of his brother continued, Nasus turned to the Dark Prelate.

“Can you help him?”

“I’ll do my best.” He returned with a calm voice.

The Curator opened the barred door of the cage. The crocodilian soul eater rampantly began to snap his jaws in their direction. Nasus grabbed his mouth, and pinned the dangerous jaws to the ground. Zeratul kneeled next to the struggling reptile, reached out his left hand, and touched his head. The templar closed his eyes, and did a motion, as if taking a deep breath. As he “exhaled”, his eyes opened, and greenishly-yellow energy began to reap from them, as he stared in Renekton’s. The Butcher groaned, and saw an image of a tsunami of fire, which headed in his way, hit him directly, and filled his being. Everything ended in a green flash, which transcended into darkness.

“Is he going to be alright?” Nasus asked, after he let go of his now unconscious brother.

“Give him a good night’s sleep, and he will be fine.” Zeratul replied, and got up.

“What exactly did you do to him?”

“I purified his mind, burned away, and then sucked his blistering rage into darkness.”

All the behemoth could do was look down on his brother. After a while, both of them went out, Nasus closed the barred gate, and the two left the soul eater to the cleansing dark.