//------------------------------// // The Final Battle // Story: Archangel's Adventure // by SabreXio //------------------------------// I was in a dead run toward the waypoint provided by my assistant. I knew that Twilight was in trouble and I was determined to keep her safe. As I made my way, I analyzed the data and determined the exact position Twilight was in: she was inside one of the outer towers on the top level. "Why can't they ever be on the bottom floor?" I complained sarcastically As I approached the tower, I prepped my grappling spike, boosting its launch power to the max. I stopped at the wall and caught my breath for a few seconds before looking up the wall for a suitable entrance using my telescopic vision. After a few seconds of scanning, I found my point of entry: directly up the wall from me was a large stained-glass window, and even better was the crenellations on the tower's roof provided me with a suitable grapple point. I raised my arm and fired my spike which flew straight up and embedded in the hard stone, extending its teeth after impact for a better grip. I redirected power to the cable retracting motor and began to ascend the tower quickly reaching my destination. As I peered through the stained glass window, I could see Twilight trying to do something to a set of six spherical stones, which I assume are the Elements of Harmony, with her magic. That's when I saw a dark pony twice Twilight's size wearing an ornate helmet and chest plate of dark metal. That must be her, Nightmare Moon. She appeared out of a purple mist with a flash of light and was looming over Twilight, saying something, most likely threats. I had to act...now. "Guardian, patch me through your speakers." I radioed Guardian "Done." "Girls, it's me, Archangel. I found Twilight and the elements, but Nightmare Moon is here to" I told them "Follow Guardian and get here as soon as you can." "We are inbound, Captain." "Good, see you here" I planted my boots firmly against the glass, giving myself plenty of power to push off. I activated my helmet to block the glass flechettes that were about to rain down, I took a deep breathe and pushed back as hard as I could. As I swung out, I kept my eyes squarely on my target: Nightmare Moon. I swung back and made contact with the glass, shattering it. I detached from my cable and hit the ground with a roll, standing up and running headlong into a completely paralyzed Nightmare Moon. I dropped my shoulder and blasted full force into the evil pony, sending her sprawling into the far wall with a sickening smash. I positioned myself between Twilight and Nightmare, shield at the ready, never taking my eyes off the latter. "Pick on someone your own size, Jackass!" I shouted as I clanked the bottom of my shield on the floor. "C-Captain?!" said Twilight in amazement, "How did you...?" "It's what I do, remember?" I replied, "Are you ok?" "Yes, I'm fine," Twilight replied recovering her composure "Good. Do you think you can make the Elements work?" "I don't know," Twilight admitted, "But I have an idea" "Do whatever you need to do," I said drawing my axe "I'll hold Nightmare off" As soon as I mentioned her name, Nightmare regained her senses. "How DARE you attack me!" she thundered "You will pay for that" "And you will pay for attacking my friends," I shot back, "or did you forget about the cliff, the Mantacore, and the Timberwolves?" Nightmare looked at me oddly, like she didn't quite understand what she was looking at. "Who are you?" She asked "I am Captain Archangel," I proclaimed, "And I'm here to put an end to this" Nightmare Moon laughed mockingly at my statement "You can't be serious, warrior," she said unimpressed, "I am one of the most powerful magical beings known to pony kind, and you are just one...whatever you are" I just shook my head and laughed causing her to look at me in confusion "What is so funny" "You obviously have no idea who you are dealing with" I said, making sure I was clear "You don't scare me. Your magic doesn't scare me, and I highly doubt the two together will scare me either." I activated my remaining minigun which swiveled into position, drawing another confused stare from Nightmare. "Fabricate ammunition: FMJ" I commanded Fabricating 5.56X45 mm full metal jacket ammunition I aimed the gun at the wall next to Nightmare and unleashed a 30 round burst. She jumped away, clearly having no idea what just happened. "Impressed?" I asked "Your abilities are impressive but now it's my turn." she declared charging her horn. She reared her head back and then snapped it forward, sending a bolt of light at me. I threw up my shield which blocked the energy: Titanium, gotta love it. I fired back with a stream of lead. As she ran to dodge it, I followed her, drawing a line of bullet holes along the wall. she ran behind a pillar, but she never came out the other side. "What's the matter Nightmare?" I taunted looking around for the villain, "You scared?" I heard a noise behind me. I turned to see a pile of glass and brass casings rising into the air enveloped in a dark blue aura. I was confused why they were floating, until they snapped into pointing at Twilight. "Oh no you don't!" I exclaimed as I jumped between the unicorn and the projectiles, deflecting the shards with my armor and shield. Then, I felt a burst of energy as Nightmare fired a bolt severing my gun from its mount, landing with a crash on the hard stone floor. "GAHH, What the..." I exclaimed in shock, falling to one knee "Captain!" Twilight panicked as she ran to my side, "Are you ok?" "Yeah" I confirmed as I stood back up "Keep working with the Elements. Don't worry about me" I charged at Nightmare with my axe drawn, and my shield ready. I slashed at the unicorn pegesus making her dodge and weave much faster than I thought she could, until I surprised her with a shield bash that sent her into a pillar. She recovered and attempted to stomp on top of me which I deflected with my shield, striking out with my axe, hammering her chest plate. she staggered a bit but recovered and fired three quick magic bolts: one struck my greave and left a burn mark, another made contact with my helmet but glanced off the adamantium reinforcement, the last struck my shoulder and knocked off my shoulder guard. I returned with a series of slashes and shield swipes. I realized this was getting me nowhere, so I decided to break out my secret weapon. "Your CQC isn't bad, but this has gone on long enough." I declared, "Time to end this" I opened the cover on my power cell and began the process. Charging Lapotron Cannon With a loud hum, my precious crystal began stockpiling energy, glowing a brilliant Rainbow Dash cerulean. This new development caused a wave of shock to wash over Nightmare when she realized the gravity of the situation. Then I heard voices. "They're up here" "Giddy-up everypony" "Reinforcements have arrived" "You lose, Nightmare" I said as my friends arrived through the entrance. "No...NO, I will not be defeated!" then Nightmare transformed into mist and entered my power cell chamber causing my power levels to fluctuate wildly. I could hear the energy arcing over my armor and metal parts, my body flailing in response to the sudden spikes and dips in power. I fell to my knees. I could see the ponies all looking on in shock as I was torn apart from the inside by Nightmare. Power systems unstable, activating safeguards With that my systems cut the connections to my Emerald, and I fell flat on the ground, as Nightmare shot from my systems toward Twilight. "Twilight, MOVE!" was the last thing I remember saying before I lost consciousness. "Cap.... .. you ..ed me?" "Captain ..n .ou he.r me?" I was awoken by a voice in static "Guardian?" I asked "That you?" "Affirmative" he replied "I have stablized your systems, but the power fluctuation damaged your power cell. It will no longer recharge and is currently stablized at 37% capacity" "Perfect" I said with equal parts relief and dread. I could hear Nightmare Moon threatening my friends behind me. "You ponies have been a thorn in my side for far too long" she stated "and now it's time to fix that" Guardian told me Nightmare was storing energy, for what I assumed was a magic attack to 'fix' the problem. With all my strength, I immediately pushed myself up and drew my shield. As Nightmare prepared to unleash her attack, I dashed in front of the mares intercepting the beam. After a few seconds, the attack stopped leaving my shield scorched but intact. "I don't think so" I declared "Captain! Y-you're ok!" exclaimed Twilight "Hey, don't back up..." I began "Don't back down" Twilight finished creating a warm feeling in me "But..but that's not possible" stammered Nightmare in disbelief "you should be dead" "While my friends are in danger, I will never be stopped." I proclaimed proudly. Nightmare shook her head and regained her composure. "That is irrelevent. The Elements of Harmony are no more" she said gesturing with her hoof to the gravel on the floor. "I don't care" I said "I will never let you hurt my friends" which I punctuated by stomping my armored boot on the ground. "You just don't get it, warrior" she said triumphantly, rage building in me like a tightening spring "you have lost" Then Twilight perked up and walked around me "No, Nightmare" she challenged "It's YOU who doesn't understand. You think the Elements of Harmony can be destroyed just like that?" punctuated, stamping her hoof on the stone floor "Well you're wrong" She continued "Because the Elements of Harmony are right here" "What?" both Nightmare Moon and I asked. Twilight turned to Applejack "Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the Spirit of Honesty." As Twilight spoke, some of the stone shards levitated and began orbiting Applejack. Twilight turned to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, who tamed the Mantacore with her compassion, represents the spirit of kindness" Again, more shards began orbiting the pegesus, eliciting a squeak of surprise. Twilight looked over to Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of laughter" More shards, and a giggle from the puffy pony. Twilight addressed Rarity. "Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the element of generosity" Shards again. Twilight turned to Rainbow. "Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire, represents the spirit of loyalty" More shards orbited the pegesus. Then Twilight looked up at me. "And Captain Archangel, who willingly risked life and limb to protect his friends, represents the Spirit of Courage" Now there were shards orbiting around me. What's going on? Twilight turned back to Nightmare. "The spirits of these ponies and this soldier got us through every challenge you threw at us" Nightmare laughed "You still don't have the seventh element" she pointed out "the spark didn't work" I hate when the enemy has a point "But it did! A different kind of spark" she began as she turned toward us "I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you, and when I realized just how far you were willing to go for me. The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are...my friends! You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the spark that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the seventh element: the element of magic!" At that point, the shards began glowing and spinning faster and the seven of us began to levitate off of the ground. A sphere of energy appeared above us and in a blinding flash, the shards converged on each of us. I could feel a power run through every vein and circuit in my body, then another blinding flash of light. When the dust cleared, we were all back on the ground. Well, actually, I had been dropped on the ground again, everyone else had been placed there gently. "Ow" I said as I stood up "Oh, my head" said Rainbow holding a hoof to her temple. "Everypony okay?" asked Applejack An excited squeal was heard from Rarity. "Oh Rarity" said Fluttershy "It's beautiful" "I know" Rarity said admiring her tail which had magically reappeared "I will never part with it again" "No" Fluttershy corrected "Your necklace. It looks just like your Cutie Mark" She was right. Each of the ponies was now wearing a golden necklace with a crystal design in the shape of their respective cutie marks. "Aw yeah" said Rainbow holding her ruby lightning bolt "Look at mine, look at mine" Said Pinkie happily bouncing around with her new blue opal balloon "Wow, you guys look awesome" I said. All the ponies began staring at me "What?" I asked "Captain, look at your armor" pointed out Rarity I looked down and saw what she meant. The panel that covered my power cell was now surrounded by a slowly spinning golden gear, gleaming against the light of my dying power cell. I looked further and saw that the golden gear was repeated on the outer part of my upper arms, the back of my hands, and according to Applejack, the pupil in my optic unit had been replaced with the same shape. "Wow." I said in disbelief "This is amazing" "Gee, Twilight! I thought you were just spoutin' a lot of hooey, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship" said Applejack "Indeed you do." said a new voice I grabbed my axe and deployed my shield, which was also emblazoned with the gear, and got ready to fight this new threat. "Show yourself!" I called out. Then through a window I hadn't busted through, a tall pegesus unicorn with a pure white coat, a perpetually flowing mane and tail of four pastel colors, and wearing golden...uh...I guess shoes is the best way to describe them, a golden necklace and a crown. "Identify yourself!" I ordered "Captain!" hissed Twilight from behind me "What are you doing!? That's Princess Celestia!" I looked to my friends, who were all bowing in front of the regal creature. I felt a metal hoof on my shoulder and turned to see the owner. "At ease, Captain" she said in a soft, soothing voice "I mean you and your friends no harm" I panicked a little at the mistake I had just made. "Y-your majesty" I stuttered as I backed away and snapped to attention "I meant no disrespect, I..." A soft chuckle came from the Princess "It's fine, Captain," she said calming me a bit "I understand your concern" By this time the ponies had risen from their bow and had gathered around the Princess. She addressed her student. "Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student" she said "I knew you could do it" "Wait, you said it was just an old pony tale" I heard Twilight say but I was too busy to hear the rest. I heard a sound from behind us and fearing Nightmare Moon may still be a threat I moved to investigate. Sure enough, I saw a Nightmare Moon, but something was different. She was half her normal size and lacked the armor she had been wearing. Regardless, she was still a threat so I drew my axe and reported my findings to the Princess. "Uh, Your Highness" I said "You may want to see this" I heard the sound of wings and hooves as the princess and ponies all gathered around. "Princess Luna" she began as she addressed the small unicorn pegesus "It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister" "Sister?" we all said in shock "Will you accept my friendship?" asked Celestia "I'm so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister" answered Luna as she hugged her sister "I've missed you, too" Then I heard someone blow their nose and say: "Hey you know what this calls for?"