Chapter 18
Family Reunion.
High above Canterlot Chrysalis watched in horror as her Changeling forces were being stabbed, impaled and slaughtered right in front of her. She looked down to see a large grey mass rocketing towards her. She attempted to flee but found her exit blocked by the grey hybrid. She let out a cry of pain as Cross’s claw connected with her face, sending her down into the ground bellow. She quickly shook off the attack and took flight. As she rose above the building she saw the familiar emblems of the Scarlet Knights.
“Your own army, your own subjects! You monster!” Cross remained silent and flew towards the Queen with his glowing horn pointed right at her head. The Queen began to dodged volley after volley of spells that escaped the stallions horn. Cross’s eyes remained stagnant and unfeeling as he opened his mouth and created a wall of black flames that engulfed the Queen. She screamed in agony as her wings began to burn. The Queen felt her self falling down towards the ground.
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The mares looked in shock as they saw the apparition of the white stallion butler appear before them.
“Jeeves are you-” Celestia asked.
“Dead? Yes, during the assault on the mansion.” He said as he cleaned his monocle with a handkerchief. “It appears that he had to use his unholy gift.”
“What is that?” Twilight asked.
“When the Lord of the Crimson Knights die their soul, their powers and their minds are transferred to the next generation.” The ponies looked at him in surprise. “Cross has the collective strength, power and memories of all those who came before him. It’s a way of reincarnating the ideas and morals of the Crimson Knights.”
“Which are?”
“To protect this world from those that seek to harm it.”
“But Cross’s father-”
“His father was a madman who to achieve the impossible and Cross was forced to uphold the Crimson Knight code.”
“Is he that strong?” Celestia asked.
“Come now Celestia you’ve met his ancestors. All those stories you’ve herd about them, they aren’t stories their true. Those spirits are the same knights that fought along side you one thousand years ago when Sombra rose to power and the same knights that fought against Nightmare moon.” The ponies looked at him in surprise. “You should know how strong they are.”
“Why did he collect their souls?” She asked as she looked at Moon and Sombra who watched them with blank expressions on their faces.
“We kept them as insurance should you get out of hoof.” The sun goddess looked at him in surprise. “Power corrupts the individual and who has more power than you? We prayed it never came nor will come to that, but we will not hesitate to eliminate those who threaten this world.” The ponies looked at the ghost with shock present in their eyes.
“Could he really beat the Princess?” AJ asked.
“We’re talking about a stallion who’s absorbed the souls of ponies who have laid waste to entire armies and nations. Three hundred years ago his ancestor took on the Griffin Kings royal army all on her own, the same family that has stood as this worlds watchful guardian. Staying in the shadows and never accepting praise.” He said in a stern tone. “When Cross was seventeen he bested the Dragon King and most of his guard, even when the King scratched out his eye that stallion persevered and came out on top.”
“So that’s how he got that eye.” Rainbow said.
“Yes, as a reward for besting him in combat.”
“Why doesn’t he hang up the mantle and settle down?” Twilight asked.
“The world needs the Crimson Knights, to watch over it. That is their curse and the reason for which they exist.” Fluttershy was close to tears.
“Jeeves is correct.” The ponies looked around to see a jet black unicorn stallion ghost walk before them. “That has and always will be how the Crimson Knights live, alone and ready to die for the sake of the world.” He said as he walked forward.
“Who are you?” Fluttershy asked.
“Allow me to introduce, ‘The Black Death.’ Iron Shield. Cross’s father.” The ponies eyes narrowed on the stallion as he walked towards them.
“I see the inevitable has happened, what was it this time?” He asked as he looked at the butler.
“Changelings.”
“Figured.” He said as he let out a sigh. “She’ll never learn.” The yellow mare trotted up to him with rage in her eyes and tried to smack the stallion but hit nothing but mist. “Please don’t do that, it distorts my image.”
“This is all your fault! If Cross didn’t have to kill you then he wouldn’t be in this mess!” She yelled.
“I know and for what ever it’s worth, I’m sorry. I never wanted this for him, I tried to help him.” He said in a low tone.
“By killing dozens of innocent ponies?” Celestia barked.
“Did you ever think there was a reason? I tried to gain immortality so this burden would not fall to my son.” The ponies looked at him in shock. “You think I wanted to kill those ponies? NO! I did it for him in the hope that he could have a normal life, the life no Crimson Knight has had in over a thousand years! I wanted to see him be happy, grow old with somepony he cared for and have children of his own.” The mares retracted from the enraged stallion. “In the end I’m glad he stopped me. I went too far and went against everything the Crimson knights stood for.”
The doors burst open to see a giant black mass crash into the far wall. The large object slid on the ground leaving a massive green bloodstain in its wake. They looked in shock as they saw a large grey stallion with dragon wings and claws walk towards the battered Queen.
“Please mercy.” She begged. Cross grabber the Changelings face and began to squeeze.
“Never again.” He said as his pressure increased. Green blood was being squeezed out of the Queens head as the stallion increased his grip. Fluttershy watched in horror as she witnessed the large figure close in on the large insect. Fluttershy galloped over to him with tears in her eyes. The other five mares rushed to stop here but were held back by Celestia’s magic.
“STOP!” She yelled as she hugged the large stallion. Cross looked back at her with his dragon eye and saw tears flow down her cheeks. “Please, please stop.” Cross released his grip and turned around to face the mare who held her ground. Cross raised his right claw and wiped the tears away from her face.
“Let’s dry those tears.” He said as the mare wrapped him in a hug and cried. The other mares let out a sigh and lowered their elements. Cross’s dragon features disappeared while he retained his size. The injured Queen looked over and tried to limp away, she was stopped by the apparitions of Nightmare Moon and Sombra. “Now about you.” Cross said as he walked over to the Queen.
“Oh please, you wouldn’t dare hurt a former knight!” She yelled. The ponies looked at her in shock.
“You were exiled two hundred years ago and therefore hold no connection to me.” He said as he raised his hoof. The doors swung open to reveal a battered guard fall through opening. Celestia hurried over to him and helped him to his hooves.
“Your majesty.....news......from......the front.”
“Rest easy, what’s wrong?”
“Reinforcements, they’re closing in on the castle.” He said as he collapsed. Cross hurried over to the window to see the ghostly apparitions slowly being overrun by the massive hordes. Cross yelled out in frustration, he galloped over to Chrysalis and slammed his hoof on her throat.
“Call them off!”
“Never!” She yelled as the stallion slammed her head against the floor. The dark Queen slipped into unconsciousness. Cross turned to the two ghostly villains. “Moon, Sombra I need you two to buy me some time, this spell is gonna take a while.”
“Like we have a choice.” The dark Alicorn spat out as she and the dark unicorn trotted outside to face the horde.
“Jeeves make sure no changeling gets in here.” He said as the butler gave a nod.
“Sir may I ask something?” The grey stallion nodded. “Are you planning on summoning ‘her’ here?”
“Precisely.” The black unicorn glared at him.
“Are you insane? She’ll kill us all!” He yelled.
“Your one to talk about insanity.” He spat out in a cold tone.
“She is-”
“What we need to get out of this mess in one piece.” He said as his horn flared.
“I don’t approve of this!” He yelled. Cross stopped walking and looked back at the dark stallion with rage in his eyes.
“YOU DON’T APPROVE? I didn’t approve when you decided to go on a killing spree, but we all know how that turned out!” He said as a small cloud of smoke erupted from his mouth.
“I did it for-”
“Don’t give me that crap! You only cared about yourself that’s all you ever cared about! I saw that a long time ago.”
“Listen I-”
“NO, YOU LISTEN! I’ve been through hell and back thanks to you. Just imagine how mom would react if she saw you right now.” The black stallions harsh expression crumbled. “I finally understand why mom killed herself, so that she never had to see what you were becoming!” Cross yelled as tears began to form in his eyes. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to end a war.” He said as he wiped the tears from his face. Cross let out a deep sigh and his horn began to glow bright enough to rival the sun. The ponies felt a massive surge of power radiate from the stallion. Chrysalis felt the pulse and cringed back in horror, her Changeling army began to scream in pure fear as the light filled the room. Celestia opened her eyes to see a tall white Alicorn with dark red a hair and wearing golden armor. The Alicorn looked over at the mares and smiled. Celestia began to cry as the stranger wrapped her in a hug.
“M-Mother?” Celestia said as she could barely control the sobs.
“Oh, Tia. It’s been so long.” She said as a river of tears escaped her eyes.
