//------------------------------// // Archies Final Stand // Story: Archlight, but call me Archie. // by Stonemonarch //------------------------------// Have you ever had the feeling of being hopeless, like no matter what you do, everything just seems to blow up in your face. Well being stuck in this cage with hardly any food, plus, I'm all alone, I;m surprised I haven't gone completely insane although King Sombra seems to have everything going for him. The party was supposed to be the night I actually became closer to Roseluck, but I skipped morning debriefing and I couldn't guard that castle for the day. King Sombra got in, switched my body with his, with some weird magic, and Celestia knows what happened to everypony else. More than likely they were turned into slaves, or worse. I sighed and fell asleep. Of course I could be killed anytime. When I woke up, I wasn't in a cage anymore, I was facing a giant black gate with ancient markings, but on thing I recognized from a scroll of ancient Equestria, well before the three tribes of ponies came together. Whatever that land was called. It read "Only a unicorn who can harness the power within thyself, can truly open this door and possibly save everyone around them." It was my only hope in any means of escaping, I had to try and open the door with my magic, although the true to yourself part doesn't help. So, I omitted a blue light out of my horn, trying so hard to open the gate, I saw little light. Then, it slammed shut and I fall onto my back. The amount of force behind that gate was immense. It hurt to get up, but I had to keep trying, I tried once more, this time it didn't even open, but it did however still delivered the same amount of force, now I couldn't feel my hooves. "What does it take?" I laid on the ground, I think I shed a few tears, until I felt a presence, It was a apparition of Shining Armor, then along next to him came Princess Cadence, Mist, then Carrot Top, Cloudchaser as well. Until another presence made it self known by standing in front of me and scruffing my hair. I recognized that playful pat, I looked up and it was Roseluck. Her apparition nodded at me and I stood up. I took a few deep breaths and looked at the apparitions along side me. I dug to the deepest emotions of my heart and launched a spell that practically destroyed the gate. The light was blinding I almost couldn't see anymore, until I ran in. I woke up to the sound of metal hitting the ground, I had destroyed the cage and the door to the outside. I was amazed by more power and ran out the corridor, I looked out the window, and it was terrible. The Crystal Empire had been turned into a quarry of mining, crystals being scavenged. Then I saw King Sombra at the top of the Castle, I vowed I would restore this kingdom back to what it once was. Although, I had to get through him first. First things first I have to find everypony, the more help the better. I started off by running around the castle, I came to a door that marked prisoners. Of course it was locked but I didn't care, I started running at it, crashing through it and breaking it down. There were four cages. "Archie!" "Archlight!" "Thank Celestia you found us." "Archie, hurry and get us out of these cages!" it was Shining Armor, Mist, Cloudchaser and Carrot Top. "Alright guys, stand back." I tried the spell again and all four cages exploded and I had freed them from them. "Wait, wheres Roseluck or Cadence?" "They were taken to another prisoner room, but I feel those are near the top of the castle, that's where King Sombra and his army are." well It's a good thing I've gotten help from them. First, we needed a map of the castle, luckily for us, there were a few of Sombra's goons coming around the corridor, one had a map on him. Oddly, we couldn't kill them, they more of vanished into a dark mist, eventually I just guess they were just Sombra magic. "Alright, so we are here, and King Sombra is at the top of the castle, here. Shining Armor, do you know of any secret way for us to get to the top of the castle?" Shining Armor, had already opened up a hatch on the wall. About the size of a regular stallion so all of us could fit in. First, me, Shining Armor, and Mist got in, then behind us came Carrot Top and Cloudchaser. Of course we came to the end we saw one giant cage, it held Roseluck in tears, and Cadence trying to calm her down. Then I saw King Sombra, out on the balcony. The balcony was guarded by two of his minions. I dropped down quietly and came up to the cage. "Roseluck!" I had to keep quiet so I yelled in a whisper. She heard me and then she instantly got up and ran to me. I think she had the same feeling, she wanted to break down the cage and hug me to no end. "Archie what are you doing her-" "I'll explain later, but please you have to keep quiet and stay strong for me, ok?" I held her hoof to comfort he for a while. I saw Shining Armor and Mist, already taking out the two minions but before I knew, King Sombra struck them down. That's when I wanted to hurt him, he struck the two friends I've had in my entire life. That was until a few goons surrounded me and I was beaten down. I was completely on the ground still having them attacking me, that was until one thing happened. I heard a scream that felt like it was from before. It sounded like Roselucks screaming but it sounded as if it was muffled and then was let out later. That was when I exploded of blue light and my eyes were a deep blue color, his minions vanished. I looked exactly at Sombra and gave him the coldest stare. That was once I noticed I broke my glasses. Sombra's eyes turned a neon red, I got a shiver up my spine. "Sombra, it's time you met your end, and stopped wreaking havoc over the land. I will be the one to end you this time." "Well then, if you do believe you can defeat me then come on then!" he yelled this with a deep voice and we vanished into a dark room, only lit by a single light. We clashed horns and hooves, he struck me in the stomach, and I rammed him onto his back. "Your a foolish person to be fighting a evil force like me." he took a swing at me but I dodged it, although it grazed my shoulder and it gave me a huge cut. "It's time to end this." he lifted his horn and as soon as he started striking, I remembered the gates force. I rammed him straight in the stomach with my horn. He yelled with agony and screaming, no. He vanished and his horn fell on the ground, it had a small ring around it. I picked it up and smashed it to pieces, the Crystal Empire was restoring, minions vanishing, the giant quarry turning back into a lovely city. Then, I was back on the ground in the Castle. We did it, we beat King Sombra, he was finally gone. Although, I felt this should've been someone else's job maybe six mares or something, I don't know. Although I was happy. A few hours passed, I was bandaged up and we were all back at the party. Although I didn't expect what Shining Armor was about to do. "Archie, your fired." normally I would've went crazy and started yelling. But, I felt good and nodded at him turning in my uniform, my helmet, and my badge. Roseluck walked to my side and nodded at me. "Thank you Shining Armor, I'm going to miss being a guard, if you ever need anything, just come look for me in Ponyville." that was when Mist came up to me and hugged me, not as tightly as usual. I can tell she was crying because, she never hugged me that emotionally. "Mist, you can always visit me in Ponyville, thank you for being my best friend." She stopped hugging me and handed me my broken glasses she had repaired. "Thanks, Mist, please continue your dream of Wonderbolts and Castle Guard." Shining Armor and her both hugged me. Two of my best friends I had to say goodbye to. Although, I wished they could of came with me, they had to stay and continue their job. I had to live my life, in Ponyville, with Roseluck. I guess I couldn't of been happier. We left the castle at night, on the train Roseluck was already asleep. I kissed her on her head and fell asleep with her. A train caterer walked by the door before I fell asleep. She winked at me and a flash of silver hair ran by. I chuckled at that fact and fell asleep, with Roseluck. Ponyville was going to be my new home now.