//------------------------------// // Chapter III: Don't Trust Your Eyes // Story: The Legend of the Phantasm Kirin // by ObeliskTheOwl //------------------------------// Leviathan stood in the throne room, smoke rising from his mouth as he waited impatiently. Ripper hung from the ceiling, prowling as he hungered for blood. Titan observed the stained glass, particularly finding interest in the one with Spike. “They’ve got five more minutes before we hunt,” said Leviathan. “Titan, go get Neurotoxin.” Titan nodded as he walked off. As he left, the throne room doors opened. Twilight and the other elements had arrived. “So, this is the dead weight we get to tug around? I’d rather eat ‘em now.” Ripper plunged down in front of the ponies, extending his claws. Leviathan growled as he rushed forward, punching Ripper and sending the red dragon across the room. Approaching him, Leviathan grabbed Ripper by the neck, lifting him off the ground. “You lay a claw on any of them, and we lose the money. That was the deal, and I aim to keep my word. Even I know when not to kill. Control your bloodlust until the hunt.” Ripper nodded slightly, prompting Leviathan to put him down. Leviathan then turned his attention to the ponies. “Let’s make one thing clear. I’m the leader of this hunt. Any problems?” Nopony said a word. “We’re going to kill the beast, which also means you have to kill it if given the chance. I don’t care if you think it’s wrong. If you have the opportunity to rid the world of the bastard, go for it.” As Leviathan finished, Titan came into the room. Behind him, was Spike. “Hey everypony…” Twilight and the others let out a small gasp at the sight of Spike. His scales looked hardened, his spines were sharper, and he was riddled with scars. Green smoke emanated from the outer corners of his eyes. He began to tilt forward as he entered the room. “What have you done to Spike?” Twilight said as she rushed to catch him before he collapsed. Titan looked down at her, a stern look on his face. “We made him into the killer he was meant to be, and his name isn’t Spike anymore. His name is Neurotoxin.” Titan said, looking at Leviathan. “His name is Spike, not Neurotoxin. You can call him that, but we will address him as Spike,” Twilight said. Titan was about to talk back, but Leviathan stopped him. “Alright, enough with the name. We need to leave now. Ripper and Titan, go ahead into the Everfree and see if you can pick up anything on the Kirin. The rest of you, we search the mountains.” The mountains weren’t the best place for anypony to be at. Even though it was far from the Everfree forest, timber wolves still scoured the area, intent on finding a wayward traveler to gorge on. Fluttershy, though not as timid as before, still felt uneasy traveling to areas with feral animals. So Spike agreed to stay with her at all times. “The terrain is expansive, and sticking together would make finding the Kirin a treacherous process. So we need to split up into pairs of two.” Leviathan said as he inhaled to cool air. “But Princess Celestia said-“ Twilight began, but Leviathan cut her off with a growl. “I said we’re hunting this thing my way. Besides, if any of the groups find it, they can give a signal.” Leviathan glared at the lot of them. He still didn’t understand what power Celestia had to make these ponies obey her. He was confident that he could eviscerate the princess. Twilight was about to talk back, but a claw on her mouth silenced her. Spike had decided to step forward, standing on his hind legs. He returned the glare; eyes radiating like an emerald. Leviathan noticed and walked forward, stopping right in front of Spike. “Is there an issue, Neurotoxin? Do you forget who you obey on this hunt?” Spike shook his head, snarling before he spoke. “Princess Celestia said the elements need to stay together. You can split from the group and search on your own, but I won’t let you force them to obey you. What if we did listen to you and the Phantasm Kirin was here? Together, we make a formidable adversary to the Kirin, yet you are so bent on money, that you do not even acknowledge your own fear of the creature and your safety with this group.” Leviathan puffed smoke out of his nostrils. Spike extended his claws, ready to attack. “Hmph, suite yourselves. I plan on living through this experience. Go ahead and find the Kirin. I’ll be there to clean up after you fail,” said Leviathan, who turned and jump further into the mountainous area. Spike sighed as Leviathan disappeared from sight. “Spike, that was mighty fine of you to take a stand like that,” said Applejack. “You sure showed that hunter who’s boss.” “I must agree with Applejack, dear. That was a valiant action,” said Rarity. Spike blushed slightly. “Anyways, we should continue searching. Keep on your guard, no matter what,” said Spike. Everypony nodded. The search for the Phantasm Kirin had truly begun. “I’m telling you; we should kill the ponies now, including the princesses and the psycho hybrid thing.” “It’s a draconequus, and I have to say no. Leviathan said not to do anything, and I intend to stay on his good side.” “If you consider this a good side, but you gotta point. Last dragon to disobey a direct order got…” “The word Kill would be an extreme understatement.” Titan and Ripper conversed as they searched the Everfree. Ripper cleared foliage, leaving the large boulders and heavy objects to the wrecking power of Titan. As they continued to make their way through the dense forest, Ripper couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. From the time they entered till now, the rustling of leaves and the sworn sound of electricity created an uneasy feeling for Ripper. Contrasting, Titan never sensed a thing. “Titan, I don’t feel so safe here…” “It’s Everfree, Ripper. Everything here can make anyone feel like that. The problem is, you’re not just anyone, you’re a dragon, not to mention the least sane one. You crave blood, constantly putting yourself in danger to get a thrill.” “Fair enough.” “Of course it is. Now stop freaking out and keep looking.” “Alright then.” Ripper said with a toothy grin. “Damn ponies and their damn elements. I’m beginning to regret not taking Ripper up on that offer…” Leviathan searched, allowing nothing to stop him. He was going to find the Kirin, and kill it. Anything that moved in his sight would be dispatched. “I hope Ripper and Titan are having some luck, cause I can’t find a trace. No scent, no tracks, no thunderbolt marks; nothing at all. I don’t know why I even took this hunt. The Kirin only bothers the ponies, so it’s their problem, not mine. Besides, I still don’t know why they obey Celestia anyways.” Leviathan ranted, agitated that nothing belonging to the Phantasm Kirin showed up. He squinted up towards the sky. The sun was a little off noontime. Grunting, he continued his search. “Once I get my claws on the bastard, I’ll take great pleasure killing it slowly.” “I’d like to see you try, bounty hunter.” Leviathan stopped dead in his tracks. He whipped around, listening for the sound of the voice. He couldn’t pick up a scent. “WHERE ARE YOU? COME OUT HERE AND FIGHT, COWARD!” “I would gladly take up the opportunity to impale your smug mouth, but I’m not necessarily here.” “Damn Phantasm Kirin, using telepathy to make contact. ARE YOU AFRAID THAT I’LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB?” “Of course not, but I know you’re afraid.” “Me? Afraid? Leviathan fears nothing.” Leviathan’s volume dropped, realizing that no matter how loud he shouted, the Kirin wouldn’t come. “Not afraid? Don’t lie to yourself. Everyone has fear. The only question is, of what?” Azure mist began to rise from the rocks. Leviathan backed away, but his efforts were futile. The mist sped toward him, enveloping him. “You want to fight me? So be it. Though, it is quite pathetic.” The mist slowly raised him off the ground. “How is it pathetic that I want to kill you?” “Because-“ The mist began to cover Leviathan’s eyes. “Suicide is the coward’s way out.” “♪ Oh here we all are, travelling afar, on search for a thunder horsey!”- “Pinkie…” “♪ Here we all are, without a car, to set Equestria free!” – “Pinkie.” “♪ And when we find the Kirin, we’ll all be grinnin’, as we trap him in the stone!” – “PINKIE.” “♪ After the Kirin falls, we’ll shout a battle call, and go home and have a super-awesome-mega-funtime-best-cakefilled-astounding-astonishing-magnificent-breathtaking-hoofbusting-dragonriding-pink coloured party of the YEAR!” – “PINKIE!” “♪ And it’ll all start with eating Spike! ♫” “What.” Everyone but Pinkie and Spike face hoofed. When Pinkie broke into random musical songs, there was no stopping her. Plus, the song would make no sense at all. Through it all, Pinkie would have a large smile. “Can you repeat the last part, Pinkie? I couldn’t hear it over the FEAR FOR DEAR LIFE.” Spike was cowering behind Fluttershy. Pinkie laughed as she playfully swatted in the direction of Spike with her hoof. “Ah don’t think Pinkie meant it.” Applejack said, smiling a bit. “How do you know that? She’s Pinkie Pie! Anything can mean anything!” The girls all laughed at Spike’s little moment. After all the giggles were gone, the group continued to search. “Oh, how I wish this search would end. These rocks are poison to my hooves.” Rarity said, making sure not to step on any unwanted material. She still valued her appearance, even after all these years. Some ponies just never change. “I also wish this was over. At any moment, a timber wolf pack could pounce on us and…and…oh, I don’t want to think about it!” Fluttershy hid her face beneath her hair and covered everything with her wings. Spike sighed as he stood up and picked Fluttershy up, cradling her in his arms. Everyone let out an ‘Awww’, minus the Rainbow Dash. “Bleh, I don’t get why you guys can have these moments. I’m too awesome to even bother.” Rainbow Dash said, crossing her hooves while flying. “That’s not what I saw when you left Tank in Spike’s care during his gem situation years back.” Twilight smirked as an embarrassed Dash turned away. “We should keep searching,” said Rainbow, trying to draw attention away from her red face. Twilight nodded. She’d stop pestering Dash. For now. “Spike? Pick up anything?” Twilight asked as she and the group continued to look. “Nothing. No scent trail at all. Rainbow, anything up there?” Spike looked up. Rainbow Dash did a short fly over the immediate area. She returned, landing and shaking her head. “Nothing I can see,” said Rainbow as she sprawled out on the cold stone surface. “This is ridiculous! How can we find something that doesn’t leave anything behind?” “You stop using your eyes.” Twilight said, her horn glowing with magic. “What do you mean?” Spike asked skeptically. “Think about it. The Kirin can create realistic illusions, correct? What would stop it from messing with our minds and creating a false sense of surroundings?” Twilight touched the ground with her horn, sending a magical wave throughout the area. “I would agree, but the Kirin makes phantasms. The illusions show your darkest fear,” said Spike. ”That would be true, if that was the only definition for phantasm. It can also be a illusory mental image, known as a phantasma.” As Twilight finished her sentence, the landscape began to distort. Beside the group carved in the mountain lay a cave. “Where the hay did that cave come from? It wasn’t there last time Ah checked.” Applejack and the others looked at the cave, seeing nothing but darkness. “You mean it was there the whole time?” asked Fluttershy, finally revealing her face and coming out of Spike’s arms. “Yes. What we all failed to rememeber was that the Kirin can make illusions. We can’t trust sight to guide us to it,” said Twilight. “We should let Leviathan know we found it.” Spike said, approaching the mouth of the cave. “Oh, I wouldn’t go looking for him.” Everyone jumped, hearing the voice. “It’s the Kirin, but it’s not here. It’s using telepathy,” said Twilight. “Well done, Twilight. It seems you can see right through my deception. You cannot trust just your eyes.” “Why don’t you come out and fight? We can take you!” Rainbow Dash said, putting her hooves up in a combat position. The Kirin laughed. “My, my, aren’t we cocky? That’s exactly what the dragon said. Where is he now? Enter the cave and see for yourself.” Spike gulped. “Go ahead Spike, see what has become of a fellow dragon.” “Spike, you don’t have to do this. Leviathan wouldn’t do that for you,” said Twilight. “I don’t care if he wouldn’t do the same for me. He’s a dragon, and whether I like him or not, I won’t abandoned one of my kin,” said Spike, smoke floating from his nostrils. Opening his mouth, he let out a burst of emerald flames. The fire licked at the walls of the cave, illuminating the darkness, but only for a moment. “If you’re going, then we’ll come with you.” Twilight said, sparking her horn to create a source of steady light. Everyone went into the cave, except Fluttershy. “I think I should stay here and-EEK!” Fluttershy was grabbed by Pinkie. “C’mon silly! We need to stick together! Like frosting on cake! Mmm…cake.” “Pinkie, focus.” Spike said as the group moved onward into the cave. “We’ve been searching forever. FOREVER. I’m tired, I’m hungry, I need to take a sh-“ “Ripper!” “But I do!” “I don’t need to know that.” Titan followed behind Ripper as he slashed through the shrubbery. They had trudged through the dense Everfree Forest, but had found no sign of the Kirin. Titan suggested they head back, knowing that if they continued, there wouldn’t be an Everfree to search. Ripper agreed, and began to carve a way back. “I wonder if Leviathan and the meat had any luck finding the beast.” Ripper said, finally reaching the entrance of the forest. Titan gazed in the direction of the mountains. “We should head back to Canterlot. Leviathan can hold his own, and Neurotoxin is lethal as well.” “Can we get something to eat first? I’m starving!” Ripper said, patting his orange underbelly. The group had gone deep into the cave. It was a straightforward path, give or take a few obstacles. Twilight provide light behind the group, and Rarity lead the group with her light. Spike was at the front, ready to help should anything attack. Fluttershy hid behind Pinkie Pie, who was bouncing. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stayed with Twilight. “What do y’all think happened to the bounty hunter? Ah reckon that it can’t be good,” said Applejack. “Let’s place bets! I bet that-“ Pinkie started, but was stopped by Rainbow. “Pinkie, your Pinkie sense and your crazy predictions make this unfair. Nopony or dragon is making a bet.” Pinkie just smiled. As they ventured forth, sounds began to surface. Cracks of lightning, a fear-filled voice, and scratching echoed down the cave. Suddenly, Rarity stopped. Her light began to die down at the sight before her. Twilight stepped up, shining light onto the scene. Once proper visible, the entire group stepped back. “Is that…Leviathan?” Spike gazed at a heavily wounded onyx dragon. Leviathan lay against the wall, blood trickling from everywhere on his body. His claws had been torn out and he was stricken everywhere. Smoke rose from his chest, indicating he had been struck with lightning. He had a gaping hole in his right shoulder, meaning that he was impaled. However, he wasn’t dead. “We need to get him back to the castle!” Spike ran and draped Leviathan’s body over his shoulder. Twilight nodded as the group huddled. With Twilight’s horn aglow, the group raced against time as they teleported to the castle.