//------------------------------// // Boss Battle // Story: Lady Rarity // by Aegis Steelshield //------------------------------// Having freed the prisoners, our hunter makes his way to the center chamber... The Hunter slipped in to the massive chamber after finishing off the remaining guards. He took a second to look for an ambush, before checking his remaining supplies. 'One grappling bolt... A vial of holy water... Rock... And a stolen sword. This might be hard.' He thought to himself as he stepped out of the shadows. "Approach me, Child of the Night Empress," came a voice from the throne, "Come and meet your death." "I will not be the one to die this night, monster," the Hunter retorted, "Tell me your name." "I am he who walks in the shadows, he who drinks the stars, he who commands the winds... I AM JAGGED BLADE, NIGHT'S BANE!" Geez Rarity... Do you really have to shout? Sorry... As Steelshield approached the throne, he saw the stallion who sat upon it. He had a pale blue coat and looked older, with a graying beard to match his flowing silver hair. On his flank there where two serrated daggers crossed over a small buckler. One of his wings was covered in scars. "Night's Bane, huh? Let's see how you deal with the Night's Blade!" With that, Steelshield threw himself at the vampire lord. Jagged Blade was quick to roll out of the way of Steelshield's sword strike, before drawing his own blades and launching himself into the air. An instant later, the Hunter joined him. They passed each other several times, aiming their strikes at the other's wings. Time and again, they missed their target, before Jagged Blade threw one of his daggers. It served as the distraction he needed to stab his other blade into the sensitive flesh below the base of the wing. As he fell to the floor, Steelshield let out a death rattle. Seconds passed as Jagged Blade hovered twenty feet in the air. "I refuse to fall for that simple illusion." "It was worth a try," said the Hunter climbed to his feet, bringing his injured wing to his side, "To be honest, after all this buildup, I'd be ashamed if you did." Jagged Blade lowered himself to the Hunter's level, "Regardless of your illusion, I will fight with honor. Tell me, Night's Blade, how did you learn of this place?" "One of your feeding parties let it slip as I strangled the life out of them." "Lies. The only party we've sent came back with full numbers." What a twist~ "I will not fall for your treachery, monster." "Monster? Monster!? I've done nothing but provide for my kind! You've done nothing but hunt us!" He screamed as he blocked strike after strike from the injured hunter. He smiled as his nose caught a new scent. "You should check your sources," he said with a smirk as he launched a quick strike at Steelshield's injured side. Steelshield moved to block it, and was too slow. The blade carved a new wound above the wing, and Steelshield dropped his sword. An instant later, a dagger was held to his throat. "Your blood will taste delicious. It's been too long since I've feed on one of her hunters." "And it will be a while yet." Steelshield winced as he chucked the stone at the vampire's face, using the distraction to look for anything useful. Seeing something above them, he readied his body for the counter attack, their blades clanging together. That doesn't work. Excuse me? Blocking a blade doesn't work like that. Blade on blade does nothing but damage the sword, and is hard to pull off. But it certainly makes for good theatrics, no? Steelshield put everything he had into his strikes, forcing the lord back. Sensing it was time, he deflected a quick strike, before reaching into his cloak. Expecting a stone, Jagged Blade moved to deflect it. The vial shattered with a hiss, and the vampire screamed as it's flesh burned. There was a clang from above as the failed assassin destroyed the chain attaching the chandelier to the ceiling above them. Steelshield rolled out of the way as the vampire was crushed. A few tense seconds passed as they waited to see if the beast would rise again. Seeing that it wouldn't, Steelshield approached the broken and twitching body, pulling his amulet into view. "You... You've been played for a fool, mortal. We were both pawns..." The dying thing coughed up a bit of blood, "You're nothing but a puppet..." "Burn for your sins, monster." The amulet glowed briefly as the vampire turned to ash, and Steelshield turned to Pineapple Cake, "You should of went to the town." They heard commotion coming from the next room, before a small unicorn entered the room, "Another three guards down brother. We must go." Pineapple turned to his sister, "Just a moment, Cupcake. He's hurt." "It's not that bad," he grumbled, agitation on his voice, "We need to leave before more arrive. Now." Steelshield had made only a few steps before the adrenaline from the fight wore off, and he was overcome by pain.