//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty Seven: Tears of a God // Story: Battle Ready // by D101 Reviews //------------------------------// Chapter Twenty Seven: Tears of a God Wrath's blade snickered off of Battle's as the two warriors stepped back and forth exchanging blows as fast as they could. Battle may have had more agility, but Wrath was running on pure rage now. The two were evenly matched. All it would take however would be one mistake. One slip up and either warrior could end up dead. A blade to Wrath's exposed core, or a swipe to Battle's mortal neck. Battle somersaulted over Wrath and elbowed him in the back, before ducking a swipe from Wrath. The Sin growled as he spun around and clamped his hand around Battle's throat and lifted him into the air. "You have been a thorn in my side for far too long," he hissed. "I shall enjoy extracting you and slaughtering your army. Then I will conquer your empire, followed by Equestria. And then, just to finish it off, I will kill your new friends!" He threw Battle bodily over his shoulder and into the burial chamber. Battle struck the hard ground and rolled several times over, coming to a rest at the foot of the black casket that Wrath had escaped from. He pushed himself to his hands and knees before coming to a crouch. He was quickly blasted off of his feet again by a bolt of magic from Wrath. Battle smacked into the casket and felt his head spin slightly as he tried to get to his feet. He wasn't weak. He wasn't weary. He wasn't in pain. He could handle whatever Wrath threw at him. "Still getting up I see?" Wrath chuckled. Battle growled and turned his head to Wrath, leaning on the casket. His eyes however were drawn to the form of Twilight beside him. She appeared sickly, tired, half-starved. In her slumber she twitched and moaned slightly, like she was having some kind of nightmare. From where Battle stood he could see a cut on Twilight's right shoulder. His eyes narrowed and turned to Wrath. "How dare you treat my fiends so shamefully?!" Battle growled. Wrath chuckled. "Does it disturb you?" Wrath asked. Battle's eyes glowed with the same red light in Wrath's. "You know," Battle hissed. "I've never really let loose in battle. I've always been too afraid. Even I don't know what I'm capable of when I get angry." His the red glow in Battle's eyes mixed with the silver of his magic. "Shall we find out?" Battle was in front of Wrath before he could comprehend what was going on. Battle's fist knocked Wrath backwards, sending him staggering. Battle didn't let up for a single moment, his movement's leaving blurry after images as he slammed his dagger into Wrath's shoulder. The Sin screamed in pain as he staggered again. "What are you?" he asked in agony. "I told you already!" Battle cried, wrist-blade emerging as it slashed Wrath's leg. "I am your death!" Wrath cried out in pain as he slashed blindly to find Battle, black blood flying. But Battle was no longer there, he was behind Wrath, his blades lashing in an 'X' across his back. Wrath roared as he was forced to his knees. Battle flipped over his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "I will enjoy this much more than I should," he growled, raising the blade of Dagger Swift. Wrath's eyes flashed black, sending Battle flying black. Wrath got to his and took several steps backwards. "Let's see how well you fair now?" Wrath panted. "Looks to me you're still broken beyond repair Wrath old boy," Battle snarled. "Not against me," Wrath smirked. "Against her." Battle turned just as a bolt of grey-scale light struck him the chest, sending him flying backwards again. He got swiftly to his feet, trying to understand who had attacked him. His eyes widened in horror and fury. Twilight was making her silent way through the burial chamber towards him, her eyes still closed but her face screwed up as if she were in some terrible dream. Battle turned to Wrath. "You coward," Battle snarled. "Fight your own damn battle's!" "What was it you said before?" Wrath snarled. "All's fair in love and war?" Battle growled as Twilight slowly stood in front of Wrath. She remained there, silent and still, waiting for Battle to move. Battle however was frozen. Wrath had just put him in an impossible position. He couldn't hurt Twilight. That was obvious, her friends and brother would never forgive him, if he wouldn't forgive himself. But then, he needed to get through and end Wrath once and for all. It all hinged on what he could do, and what he couldn't... what he would do and what he would never do... He lowered his arms to his side in defeat, closing his arms in shame. "Throwing in the towel?" Wrath chuckled. "Good call. Twilight my dear?" Another bolt of light sent Battle sprawling in the dirt with a cry of pain. Battle looked up at Twilight as she walked up to him, eyes still closed. Battle bowed his head in sorrow. Something glinted in the corner of his eye. He flicked his gaze over to it. It was the Element of Magic, lying at the feet of one of the still frozen warriors. His eyes widened. How had that gotten here? Battle smirked as he realized who the Element was lying in front of. Shining Armour. Cunning bastard. Battle looked back up at Twilight, smiling broadly. The light began to gather at the tip of Twilight's horn. Battle tensed, ready to move. Twilight unleashed her attack and Battle rolled, getting swiftly to his feet and running to Shining Armour. He bent low and scooped up Twilight's crown and kept on running, hearing Twilight's footsteps as she ran after him. Battle back flipped over her head. Before she had a chance to turn around, Battle raced up behind her and placed her crown upon her head. There was a blast of lilac light that swept Battle off of his feet. He landed in a heap for what felt like the hundredth time that minute. He shielded his eyes from the intense light that was nearly blinding. After a few moments the light faded and Battle lowered his hand. Twilight stood there, the black aura no longer enveloping her. Her eyes were open though slightly clouded. She looked at Battle for a moment, swaying severely. "Battle...?" she whispered before she began to fall, her eyes closing. Battle raced to her side and caught her softly, gently lowering her to the ground. Once he was certain she was safe, he turned his gaze back to Wrath. "Looks like you're all out of tricks," Battle snarled. Wrath took a step backwards. "Now-" he began to say but Battle had had enough. His fist collided with the side of Wrath's head. The Sin jerked with the punch. Battle's other hand came up and smashed him in the nose, sending him rocketing backwards. Battle kicked into his knee, sending Wrath into a crouch and as he moved, Battle's elbow came down on the back of his head. Wrath's roar was cut off as Battle grabbed his throat and forced his head up, Vindicta already poised for attack. "Praeparare in occursum Homicidium in Tartara!" Battle snarled as he stabbed the knife into Wrath's pulsating core. There was a screaming wail of shadows that burst forth from where Battle's blade struck. Wrath let out a high pitched scream of agony as blackness spurted over Battle's hand as he drove the blade in further, puncturing the very heart of Wrath's being. Battle's smile of vengeance was one straight out of a nightmare as he watched Wrath writhe in agony. Eventually Battle withdrew the blade from Wrath's heart and stepped back, allowing Wrath to lie down. Darkness pooled around Wrath as he lay in the dirt. He looked up at Battle, his red eyes changing to deep hazel, his white fur becoming a mustard yellow and his mane turning to a dark green. His Cutie Mark remained the same however, burning feebly against his cheek. Something dark leaked out of one of Wrath's eyes, something that wasn't blood. "You..." Wrath croaked, tears of darkness sliding from his eyes. "You have taken my life... and now you have taken my pride." Battle knelt by Wrath's side, feeling a strange sense of pity for the Sin. "To shed tears is not a sign of weakness," Battle said soothingly. "Even the proudest of warriors must show sorrow at some point." Wrath held up a hand to his face and felt the tears there. "How?" he croaked. "How did you win? How did you beat immortality?" "Simple," Battle replied. "Your goal was not to die. Mine was to live. That is why I won." Wrath looked confused. "Thoughout my whole life, I have found many things that I am willing to fight and to die for," Battle explained. "My family. My country. My empire. My brothers in arms. My goal was not to die so I could continue to fight for those causes." He turned his gaze back to the six mares from Ponyville. "But ever since I met them, something changed. They became important to me. More important than anything I had ever had before. They didn't give me another reason to die. They gave me my first reason to live. That's why I won Wrath. Unlike you, I had a reason to stay alive." Wrath nodded slowly, understanding at last. "I... never saw," he whispered. He looked to Battled. "I am afraid." "Fear means you are alive. Alive I think for the first time in many thousands of years." Wrath smiled sadly. "I... have missed this..." His eyes closed and his hand dropped. His shadow-flesh body began to disappear in drifts of darkness, until it was gone completely. Battle stood up, his ears picking up two, ghostly words. "Thank you..." Battle smiled slightly as he turned back to his men. The journey out of the labyrinth was shorter, and less threatening. Battle and the others walked, weary and worn but cheery. Shining carried a still unconscious Twilight with a piggyback but the other mares from Ponyville seemed okay. A little bruised but they were basking in the compliments given to them by the Generals. Battle for the most part stayed silent, revelling in one simple fact. It was over. All his fears and nightmares... they could be dismissed. He was free. Wrath was no more. No more would the Sin trouble him or his people. A giddy smile was plastered over his face as their group of twenty emerged into the final stretch of tunnel that led out of the tomb. "Better think of something to say Commander," Arson grunted. "I think they'll want to hear something good after this." Battle smiled slightly. He knew exactly what to say. They could hear talk coming from the end of the tunnel. Lots of ponies appeared to be waiting for them. Battle rolled his neck, stepping from 'war-mode' to a more relaxed Battle Ready. As soon as they emerged from the end of the tunnel there was a great cheer as the armies saw the return of their various monarchs. Battle was beset by a tide of Warhorse warriors who bore him onto their shoulders. He laughed as he saw their cheerful faces, spattered in blood but triumphant. Battle raised a hand to be heard. "Warriors of Warhorse!" he cried, still laughing. "I won't mince my words! I'll just say this: we WON!" The cheer was deafening as the army of Warhorse cried out in triumph, raising various weapons to the sky. A chant began to rise from the soldiers. "Hail Battle Ready! Slayer of Wrath!"