(^For those who haven't looked at my blog post.^)
The intermission is over! For anyone who hasn't yet you may want to check my two most recent blog posts. It will makes things later on a lot easier to explain. Hey Max! Hurry up the Carriage to Canterlot is here! Oh right. On with the story!
[The day of Max and Twilight's Wedding. Canterlot Castle, Grand Hall]
The day of the wedding between Princess Twilight Sparkle and Lord Maximillion had finally arrived. (These titles are completely based on Day 5's events.) As the two arrived at the alter all of Equestria held their breath. Strangely enough the pastor was none other than Dreton who had decided to channel Uriel for the occasion as Uriel is a true-to form angel. He wore a priests robe and his long blonde hair reached past his solders easily. Maximillion and Twilight simply received an approving nod from Uriel before he began the vows.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here in these hallowed halls to bind these two in holy matrimony under the blessings of the Sun and Moon. If there is any amongst you who would object to this union speak now or forever more hold your peace." Uriel waited for several seconds to make sure if any would object. He knew nopony here would but, he had to make sure. "Maximillion Fortner, do you take Lady Twilight Sparkle to be your undying light in the moonless night for as long as you both shall live?" Max Smiled at Twilight as he spoke. "I do." Uriel than turned to Twilight. "And do you Twilight Sparkle, take Lord Maximillion Fortner to be your guiding light in times of crises, in sickness and in health until the stars themselves die out?" Twilight couldn't help but, shed several tears as she spoke. "I do." Uriel stepped back and smiled at the two. The smile that spread across his face was genuine. As an angel he approved of Max's courage to marry the mare of his dreams. He felt the same with Twilight.
"Then by the power granted to me by the divine forces I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Uriel said as he used magic to vanish to where Dreton had channeled him. Max and Twilight couldn't help but do as the angel instructed and kiss. This caused the entire grand hall of the palace that had been turned into a make-shift chapel to burst into cheers. Even the Princesses Celestia and Luna couldn't help but cheer for the couple.
Twilight's friend all rushed over to congratulate her. Rarity even went so far as to say "Well Darling I would never have expected that you would have been the first in our circle of friends to both marry and have a foal." This statement causing Twilight to turn red in the face. This happy time would not last though as a shot from a crossbow could be heard across the chapel. The bolt hit Max in the right hind leg, barely missing some vitals. The bow-man wore a cloak of deepest black and it's form was different from a ponies or a human's for that matter. It was not until the assassin attempted to flee did anyone notice that it was in fact a Griffon. The Griffon stared at Rainbow Dash as she helped Max remove the bolt from his leg and shook it's head before flying off.
"Gilda? No way! She wouldn't... would she?" Was all Rainbow Dash could say as the Griffon's hood fell barely enough as she left the chapel that Dash could see what appeared to be her old friend's crest. Max managed to heal his wound with magic and looked to where the Griffin was before she fled. "Hope this works. I don't really have much practice with this one. Tracking Flames!" As he commanded the Nova sphere appeared and launched in the direction that Gilda*?* had fled. (This is because it could be a different Griffon and I'm not going to say if it was or not yet.)
The sphere followed the Griffon for some time finally stopping at an old ruin just outside of the Everfree forest. It's magic was designed to be used by Max to track and learn the reasons behind an attack. He could see what was transpiring through the sphere which aided in this. What Max didn't expect was to see his dark Doppelganger Gabriell standing at the ruins entrance. "Ah I see you've returned. Have you done as I asked?" Max projected the sound from the sphere so that the group could all hear the conversation, as Max lead them to the sphere's location.
"Yeah, I shot him. I didn't really want to but, I really need the bits I haven't eaten in two weeks. Attacking people in the back is way UN-cool." Rainbow Dash couldn't help but, fight back a few tears as she could no longer deny that her former friend had attempted to kill one of her new ones. "Ah excellent. You have served your part well and I no longer require your services." "So I get paid now? I really need the food." "No... you die." The group had arrived just as Gabriell had impaled Gilda on a massive spike of black magic. She served him loyally and he killed her in cold blood.
"Ah I see my guests have arrived. Oh and I have nothing to spare. Oh wait I do have a large surplus of DEATH!" Gabriell reached into his own chest and pulled a blood covered lance made from bones out of the hole. The sight of the way he summoned his weapons caused Rarity and Fluttershy to faint while Applejack and Rainbow Dash lost their lunches. Pinkie Pie couldn't help but, sit there and look shocked and afraid. She had never seen someone or somepony so brutally murdered in her entire life and she couldn't help but, feel that she could have done something to stop it. The feeling was mutual for Twilight.
Max on the other hand looked ready for battle. He summoned his sword from thin air using his magic and prepared for combat. "Girls, please stay back. If possible get Dreton and Herbert. I don't want any of you getting hurt. Besides Twilight, Solaris is probably up from her nap and needing to be fed." Max's voice was calm yet authoritative. He only looked back once to smile at Twilight and mouth "I'll be okay, trust me." With that the girls left Max and Gabe to their decisive battle.
[Boss Battle: 'The Dark Doppelganger' Gabriell]
Max used a spell to keep Gilda alive and cause her to regenerate slowly after Gabe was defeated, this gave Gabriell the first move which he quickly used, he spun the bone spear at Max in an attempt to knock him off guard and attack again. Max didn't allow Gabe's attack to go as Planed as he Charged up one of his Vulcan Spells. (These are what he uses in place of the Revolver he lost.) "Bullet Nova!" Max called as he released the spell several small sun-like projectiles where launched at Gabe causing him to go on the defensive. Max saw his chance and seized it. "You have not faced a flame with my strength before! Unyielding Blaze!" As Max used this spell his body burst into Flames and his sword separated into two swords. One was silver and gave off a gentle light while the other was red and was covered in Flames that burned like the sun.
(^For those who haven't looked at my blog post.^)
"If I said I was unimpressed. I would be telling a lie. But, Impressed and scared are completely different!" Gabe jumped over Max and struck him several times with his bone lance. Each hit causing Max to go slightly numb, as Max figured the lance must be poisoned and the flames were killing it soon after it was delivered. "Aw?! What's the matter? No more fight left in you? That's to bad. I wanted to have some more fun!" Gabe had finally stopped swinging his Lance as Max's body returned to normal from the lack of energy. The numb feeling becoming more prevalent in his body as he could barely lift his swords. Gabe leaned close to Max and whispered into his ear. "Maybe I could have fun with your wife and kid." Max's eyes seemed to be set ablaze at that statement.
"Gabe... if you EVER touch either of them. I swear you will regret ever choosing my body to steal." "Oh and what will you do? I've already beaten you once." Max suddenly vanished and appeared behind Gabe striking him several times with both weapons. "Fusion of Novas and Nocturnes! Dance of Death!" Max fused his twin swords into a massive sword of light and dark flames before hitting Gabe with an attack similar to the OmniSlash from Final Fantasy 7. This caused Gabe to collapse to the ground unable to move. "I guess... you win this one." Gabe said as he vanished in a puff of black smoke.
Max made sure to wait till he couldn't sense Gabe's energy before releasing his weapon. "Well... I guess he got me better than I thought. I can barely move. No Mana left to heal. All I have enough for is... Flare." Max fired a flare spell skyward that exploded over his position. The explosion seemed to be a beacon of some kind to any who saw it. "That spell... Max! Please be okay when I get there." Twilight said through tears as she left Solaris in Fluttershy's care. "Don't worry Twilight, I'll keep her safe while you go." Fluttershy said as Twilight sped off. Even at her young age Solaris could feel the immense energy coming from the site her father was. It made her uneasy. She curled up into Fluttershy's embrace trembling with worry.
Twilight reached Max and found him sitting up barely and covered in blood. She used a healing spell to prevent him from bleeding out and levitated him back to Canterlot. "Some honeymoon huh?" Max choked out that joke hoping to make Twilight feel better. "Next time you decide to fight alone. Remind me to not let you. I'm no slouch and I'm most certainly better at magic than you are. Besides every good warrior needs a healer right?" Twilight got a look from Max that seemed to say 'Your crazy... I love you so much' before he passed out from the pain he was feeling.
Twilight got Max back to Canterlot and the doctor said he would be fine after some rest. He had an extremely durable body and his magic seems to regenerate any damage he takes with time. Twilight was relieved to know her husband was alright and elected to stay at the hospital overnight when Gilda was brought in. She was barely alive but, she was giving of the same power as Max's healing magic. "Even when your at deaths door your still my hero. I'll be back with Solaris. You'll probably want to see her when you wake up." Twilight said to Max as he slept in the hospital bed, before heading off to find Fluttershy.
[A wise man once said. "The more things change, the more they stay the same." I hate that guy for being right. Skills obtained = Tracking Flames (Summons a ball of invisible solar rays that Max can follow, while also seeing and hearing what the sphere's target says and does.) Signal Flare(This spell is self explanatory.)]
Wow! That Gabe guy was a meanie meanie-pants! I hope we don't have to see him again. For his sake. Girls quite down. Solaris is trying to sleep. *The little filly stirs gently in her sleep.* sorry... *Fluttershy trots over and quietly presses the fade out button.*