//------------------------------// // Grand Finale Part Two // Story: Ace of Hearts // by blowngasket //------------------------------// Chapter 28: Grand Finale Part Two The normally peaceful sky above Ponyville had suddenly become loud with the clanging of metal on metal. The wind seemed to avoid the area, as if to avoid being sliced itself as blurs repeatedly struck at one another in a typhoon of rage and fury. There were a few spectators to the scene, but they all hid a great distance from the actual clash, fearful that they would get dragged into the hurricane. Even Rainbow, who had been managing to back away slightly, had a hard time keeping up with the fight. The Wonderbolts, as awesome and amazing as they were, they were nothing but nearly excellent fliers to her at this point. This was what could be considered the pinnacle of flying to her. The control, the speed, dexterity, grace, and straight out ferocity. It had none of those fancy maneuvers, no little tricks, it was nothing like she has ever witnessed. It would have been stunning, how the lack of such moves could make flight so much more fantastic, had the fight not been about her. She wasn't weak, not by a long shot. But when compared to these two, Ark and the dark clothed man, she would get torn apart by the gales they were generating. She hated feeling useless and helpless, but for now all she could do was watch. As fast as this seemed to the ones watching it, Ark and his foe might have well been fighting in slow motion. Obviously cut from different cloth, they were processing near inhuman amounts of information all within milliseconds. The currents in the air, the currents in which they were creating themselves. The slight turns, the quick responses and even the gust of their opponents as they went past them. Ark watched carefully, reading the mild twitches of his opponents’ wings, giving him the sign to move out of the way. The other one, reading his opponents movements as he preemptively went to avoid him, also did the minor adjustment to strike his opponent. To them, it was a complicated struggle to get ground, to control the field of advantage while staying adrift in the eye of the storm. To everyone else, it was another clash as the two blurs struck at each other, neither with any give or take. They backed away, both catching their breaths, staring each other intensity. They both knew that the moment either of them looked away, the opposite would go in for the kill, so there they both hovered, wings beating to keep each other leveled. "You...prototype..." The other man said, grinning. "I can see why Dante sent me after you specifically." "You talk too much..." Ark responded, little caring in his voice. He kept himself at the ready. "As cool and collected as ever, I see. Hey! Girlie!" The dark robed person yelled, though not losing eye contact for a second. Rainbow knew it was her being spoken two, but easily had reserves about conversing with the lunatic that wasn't staying with her. "Don't play stupid, I know you can hear me!" "For a reaper, you talk way too much..." Ark said, his eyes narrowing more each time this other man spoke. "As if you're one to talk. Bailing out, stealing our secrets...and giving them to the princess in some sort of sudden guilt trip. You’re lucky our boss is reasonable, but not that much. Does your sister know she is under constant surveillance, making sure that when she travels at night, she doesn't get abducted...?” Ark, calm as he is, started shaking at the mention of his sibling. "Really, it would be easy. The amount of protection is so lacking...I can easily take out the guards...sneak up behind her, and gently...oh so gently carve away her soft fle..." "I WILL SLAUGHTER YOU!" Ark cried out, immediately on the reaper. Rainbow gasped, watching Ark turn into a murderous bullet, flying straight into him. The sound of metal on metal once again echoed throughout the air, the force of Ark's attack actually pushing Rainbow back several inches. His rage sent shivers through Rainbow's spine, and most likely those watching. The sturdy dam which held back most of his emotions, finally gave way to the threat against his family, sending Ark into a violent frenzy. He swung repeatedly, each attack meant to kill. This foe, though looking slightly distressed from the pressure of the attacks, and having to block them to live, smiled. "Anarchy of the Wrath." He commented, smiling. "Now it is finally getting interesting! Show me that ferocity that made you a legend!" Ark, needless to say, intended to do exactly that. With a fierce kick that caught him out of nowhere, Ark sent the reaper flying through the air, taking only a few seconds to stabilize and return into position, grinning. "Anarchy, it's funny really. You were never one to be tied down by any group, even those that made you who you are today." Ark wasn't listening at this point, he made his charge, screaming loudly as he barreled towards his opponent. He made the attempted at his foes life, thrusting his dagger straight at the reaper's chest. It never connected though, unlike the solid straight thrown that smashed him in the face. Ark wasn't able to comprehend what was happening, only the bright lights slowly turning off. "ARK!" Rainbow yelled out, calling out to the unconscious man as he started to plummet. She quickly made a dash for him, but was stopped this time by the other man himself. "Let him fall, he was useless anyways...could have become so much stronger..." He said regretfully, almost looking sad if his smile wasn't so twisted. "Who the hell are you?!" Rainbow asked, backing away, nervous as she lost sight of Ark. "A hired killer. To be fair, when we learned the target, we offered to do it for free as long as I got to take him out. I am Havoc of the Envy." Havoc bowed courteously. Rainbow wasn't going to sit here and let this man ruin her life, nor was she going to continue to sit around and do nothing. With a surprising kick, she struck Havoc right in the face, causing him to reel back, clutching his nose. He glared at her, more than infuriated, but managed to take a deep breath and keep his calm. This calm came at a price, as Rainbow wasn't going to wait for him to recover. Another swift kick to the stomach sent him back. "What the hell is your problem?!" "You obviously aren't the brains...do you really think I would let myself get kidnapped?!" Rainbow yelled, donning a fighting stance. "You can't kill me, but I am definitely willing to kick the crap out of you." "Well this is a pleasant surprise. Alright..." Havoc put his knife into it’s sheathe and donned a stance of his own. Rainbow had to trust in Ark returning. She didn't think she would win against someone like this, but if he was to return she had to buy some time for him to recover. Remembering the feeling of fighting Perry, she knew better than to attack recklessly, so she stood her ground and waited for him to make the first move. He attacked, a quick burst of speed from his wings sent him flying at her, aiming for her stomach. Using her wing strength, she pushed the punch out of the way along with pushing her to his side, countering with a punch of her own. He wasn't caught off guard that easily though, and managed to move his head out of the way of the attack. She wanted to back off at this point, but this was an advantageous spot. She continued to attack, throwing punch after punch and kick after kick, forcing Havoc on the defensive. He was admittedly shocked. Sure her attacks weren't as strong, but she was really fast. He had to put all of his energy into blocking at this point and wait for her to tire out. If a single hit landed, she might start landing the rest as well. ---------- ---------- --------- So many regrets...so much that he would have changed if things were different. There would have easily been another way. A better way to support his family through hard times. It was innocent enough. A group looking for winged humans and a large sum of cash to be experimented on. His sick mother, his sister...they could both be happy, and all he had to do was become a guinea pig for some company. He was still young, so how would he have known better. Why would he have known that drug had a ninety nine percent chance of killing him, and how would anyone have known that he would survive. They were shocked to say the least. Magic didn't work, alternate potions to aid in the survival only seemed to kill the patient faster, but the desire for this boy to not die, because he wanted to help his family, pulled him through the agonizing pain as his body chemistry was altered, his muscles surging with energy, and his mind forever altered. He should have died that day, no one the wiser, but he survived, the first living prototype for the reaper project. Over the months afterwards, he became stronger and faster, though he had a hard time controlling his violent tendencies. He never liked losing control, but it was hard to deny how good it felt, to let every worry go. He could have left anytime, they initially said, though the income he received for staying not only saved his mother, but allowed his family to live a good life. The only catch was that he was to never see them again. The rumor spread, and his family was under the impression that the bits they received monthly at the time were a life insurance fund, and that he was dead. It was a good plan for the group that got to keep him. His blood samples were used in the making of a more complete enhancement formula, raising the success of survival significantly, allowing them to use trained fighters instead of cash starved suckers. The reaper project became a success, the company selling him off for missions. He did what was asked, and his family continued to live blissfully unaware of his current existence. Until he finally snapped. All it takes is that one moment, where you're about to do something you know is wrong, and you're enjoying it. The target was a young child, an effort to make a statement to the parents. Even worse, he almost did the job. Standing over that bed, his blade in his hand, inches away from the neck of the peacefully sleeping child. Something stopped him, that clawing conscience that had been buried away beneath poor choices, drugs, and darkness, finally made it back into the light. Anarchy couldn't do it. He had let the simplicity of his life get to him, almost turning him into the nighttime monsters in the stories that his mother used to read to him. They boy started to stir, opening his eyes, and getting out of bed to close is opened window, shivering from the night breeze, and none the wiser. He needed to do the right thing. Flying like a madman straight into the Castle at Canterlot. The night guard surrounded him as he quickly came to a halt in front of Princess Luna, who handled the sudden entrance quite well considering he was armed and definitely dangerous. She gave him the permission to speak, though every guard had a spear at his throat regardless. He told her the entire story, about his family, the money, the research, and the company in general. She calmly took everything in strides, and had him escorted to the dungeons, not wanting to exhume him from his crimes. All he wanted in return was to make sure that his family would be kept safe, knowing full well that his actions today would most likely mean retaliation. Luna smiled, nodding, giving him her promise. It wasn't long, a few days at the most, sitting idly in the dungeon. It gave him time to recompose himself, to come to terms with who he was now. He knew he didn't want to be like that anymore. He wanted to repent for his actions. His thinking made him unaware of the two standing outside the cell. He finally snapped back into reality when he noticed the two talking amongst themselves. One being Princess Celestia herself, and the other an odd blue robed figure. It was then that Anarchy became Ark, the silent protector of Equestria. He was barely a member when he was called out on a mission, to his hometown. He didn't want to go, the chance of being noticed bothered him. He wanted to say no, but he knew that for every life he has taken, he was to protect another, until he could finally let go. He couldn't let go...not yet. He had barely started down the proper path. His eye's quickly shot open, darting around nervously as his wings started to flutter quickly, though something was clearly blocking them. It was then he realized that he was no longer falling, but hovering. He nervously turned his head, eyes widening as he discovered the reason for his safety. "Are you ok, mister?" The soft yet bubbly voice asked. Ark was unable to speak, though he had a near infinite amount of things to say. "I am glad I didn't goof, this time." Ark simply nodded and broke off the grip, taking flight himself. "T...Thanks..." Ark said, with everything he wanted to say, all the words he had repressed, he wasn't actually ready for this. "We have been watching you." She pointed to all the spectators around the area. Though Ark had a hard time seeing them, he could tell that many were watching the fight. He snapped back to attention, remembering Havoc. "Rainbow is holding him off. You gotta save her, I can tell that man is a bad person!" "I will, I promise." Ark said. He started towards the fight, taking only a second to glance back, before moving forward. "I promise, Ditzy." He said quietly, giving a slight wave to the blond haired woman who had saved him, possibly in more ways than one just now. Ditzy hovered where she was, a small tear falling from her face. She didn't know why she was crying, but for some reason, helping that man brought back memories she had nearly forgotten. Even so, she smiled, wishing him all the luck she could never seem to grasp. ---------- ---------- ---------- "Damnit, woman!" Havoc had been on the defensive for minutes now, waiting for Rainbow to slow down even for a bit. She looked tired, but her pace never seemed to slow. "Freakin bitch!" Havoc was agitated, almost looking forward to that solid opening. Rainbow, on the other hand, knew her actions were for show. She was on the verge of passing out, knowing that the moment she was done it was over. Her hope had stared to vanish, and she was finally at her last straw, both her arms and legs felt like they were in an inferno. She slipped, finally creating the opening that Havoc was desperately waiting for. He made his attack, sending his fist straight for her head. She watched in slow motion as her time was over, and she could only hope she did well enough. Her question had been answered, as the punch never struck her. Havoc looked around, puzzled. He didn't hit anything. She was gone. "You...idiot...you could have gotten him..." Rainbow said, panting as Ark set her down on a surrounding cloud. "I know..." Ark said, looking down at the exhausted Rainbow. "Promises come first though." It was just a second but it left her in a state of shock, watching Ark fly away afterwards. Her look was an odd twist of confusion mixed in with a hint of happiness. "Did he...smile?" she said to herself as Ark flew off towards Havoc. "I gotta say, that was impressive, even for you. The dramatic timing was great as well." Havoc said, staring down Ark. He knew that Ark would come back after he was done, so why waste more energy. Besides, that scuff with Rainbow really did wear him down. Blocking all of those attacks for that long, he was sure he was pretty bruised up by now. Not to say Ark was any better for the wear. He had been knocked out a few times, so trying to not act disoriented was a task. "What not going to talk to me anymore." Ark stayed silent. Havoc was skilled at getting into people's heads, and he was pretty much falling for his game the entire time. "Fine, I'll go talk to that sister of yours." Ark remained silent, staring Havoc down, completely unflinching. "Too good fo..." Ark's strike was fast and precise. Had Havoc not moved, the knife in his shoulder would most likely be in his heart. Ark quickly pulled out, spinning the knife into an inverted position, and proceeded to strike at Havoc furiously, attempting to slice him into pieces. Havoc barely had time to react. Pulling out his blade, he blocked each strike, the rapid contact of metal on metal crying out into the night sky. "Maelstrom." Ark's wings started to flutter, though he managed to maintain the same pace with his blade. He stared to circle around his opponent, getting faster and faster. Havoc realized it, but it was too late. The speed Ark was maintaining made it impossible to escape. His room for movement was becoming more limited and Ark was only going to get faster. It was a terrifying feeling, something that Havoc could help but lavish himself him. He had never been this terrified in his life, and he loved it. He was going to die one of the most glorious deaths imaginable. To be caught in a storms wrath, whisked away by the deadly slicing winds. He started to laugh loudly, getting louder and louder until it was instantly silenced. The outside of the whirl starting to form looked like a blur to those who watched. They couldn't see what was going on inside, only assuming that it wasn't good. They started to hear laughter from the inside, resonating in a terrifying way through their minds. Everyone watching jumped back in surprise when the laughter suddenly stopped and the whirl suddenly turned dark red, yet still in full swing. The red cyclone continued for a full minute, before it let up, the contents finally spilling out, falling to the ground in a crimson cascade. The one still hovering there, was covered in the same contents as what has fallen to the ground. Ark looked over towards Rainbow's cloud and slowly made his way over, taking the time to wipe his knife clean and sheathing it beforehand. ---------- ---------- ---------- Rainbow shuddered in terror as a red figure landed on the cloud, slightly staining it. She knew who it was, but it was still a not a pleasant sight to behold. "You...you're well..." "Since you got mad the last time, I'll ask. Can I use your shower?" Ark said, little concern for being covered in blood. "Sure, but I swear if you better make sure you don't stain anything! I suck at cleaning as is!" Rainbow said, trying to calm herself down with a bit of humor. "Sure..." Ark said quietly, nodding. "If you're still tired I can help you get back..." "NO! No no I can handle it!" Rainbow yelled, smiling awkwardly. "Are you sure?" Ark asked. Rainbow, being tired as she was, didn't feel like getting covered in blood as well. It was bad enough staring at him, almost like the first time they met. Ark looked at her, before looking at himself. "...oh..." Rainbow nodded, chuckling nervously. "Well...I honestly can't say I expected anything less from ya, so don't worry about it. At least I'm not like the others." Rainbow said, thankful for her lack of squeamishness. She started to laugh, only imagining everyone else's reaction to seeing this. "Also, I think you drew in a crowd, so we should probably split." Ark looked around at everyone staring at him, most in fright, but some actually cheering him on. "That is a good idea."