Chapter 4. A mad pony in battle.
Today when the old pony entered the classroom, he found that all of the fillies were sitting silently and looking at him with eager eyes. He smiled, and wasted no time getting to the counter.
"... anyone in here who wants to hear the final chapter?" He teased them, and a blurry ocean of multi-coloured nods filled his vision.
Smilingly, he brought the candle on the desk closer to his book so he could see the fresh ink better, and began to read...
Canterlot seemed, to anyone outside the castle, to be fully normal. The evening was turning towards night, and most personal and staff of the castle had returned to their homes. The only ones left was the princess herself, her night-shift guards and the chef that was preparing their midnight meals. Along with a smaller army of about 80 demonys.
The process had been quick and devastating. The demonic ponies, having fed upon captured students from the academy or willing cult-member's magic for the past days, were slithering in the shadows and hiding in every spot of darkness.
They were silent, and eternally hungry. Every guard in the royal palace was a unicorn, to be able to wield their polearms and spears properly with their magic. And during the night there was far less of them than during daytime.
Easy prey.
One by one they were picked out and knocked out by the shadowy beasts, before they had their well-trained magic drained from them until they lost consciousness. Unaware of all this, Celestia sat on her throne and wrote the last letters for the day. Normal stuff, but she had to catch up with her piling work. She had spent several hours that day in the royal library, where only a hooffull few had access, to study about these demonys she had been warned about.
And while she had been unable to find much more about them than that they are creatures of norse mythology and theorised to be more ancient than even the ponies, there was little to read.
She felt tired though. Writing these letters was a dull pastime, it was the same kind of letters every day, every week of every year for hundreds of them. She yawned gracefully, a soft and hidden gesture, though she felt that she wanted little but to slack back in her throne and let loose a proper Canterlot-voice yawn.
She blinked. She never used to get this tired. This was abnormally boring and energy-wasting even for this kind of work.
Her mind was foggy, she was so tired... but why? What was... and who was that? Walking across the long, red carpet of her throne room was a giant pony, he reminded her of Alonso, but was far older...
"Pardon the intrusion, Celestia... but my children hunger so, I could not hold them back from sampling the frosting of their sought-for royal cupcake." He smirked. His accent was there, like Alonso's, but it was not as heavy. This pony had spent time with her own ones, adapted... And even though her body was begging for a rest, Celestia, in all the mental fog, put the pieces together and stood up, forcing her numb body to obey her!
"You are the one Alonso spoke of! The nord who's spread his ill magic amongst my children!" She attempted to sound more intimidating than she felt. Why was she this tired? What had he done to her? "What is your business here?! And what have you done to me?!" She demanded, calling for her magic to make a shield from whatever spell the old pony was using... but she found her horn fizzling, like a poor fuse...
"Me? Celestia, I would have thought your royal library would give your more information than this? Did it not tell you of what demonys do?" He chuckled. It turned out he had been pushing his plan with a lot of stress for nothing, he feared the wisdom of the library, but it turned out he had little to worry about. "They feed on magic, Celestia... They are creatures of markings and text, held together with the marks that binds their ritual... and you are sitting in a pile of them."
He casually gestured for the many scrolls and parchments surrounding the throne. Had they been hiding in her own mail?
As if to answer her inner question, several of the scrolls she had received during the day began to twist and turn, the very letters and marks on them bending into forms of tiny, tiny ponies, before leaping out of the paper-like materials and growing, as if they had leapt from a huge distant and came closer!
At the same time as the hidden ones broke free, the remaining ones that had been hiding in the shadows leapt forth as well! The guards that was by Celestia's side fell over, apparently having been knocked out secretly for a while and held up by these creatures... Celestia felt fear rise inside her, these creatures were unlike anything she had faced before, and that said quite a lot considering how long she had protected her country...
She was taken down, held down by the large number of text-bound energy-ponies. Their design was alien to her. The forms of ponies, but it was as if their skeleton was on the outside, made out of occult markings and texts, and their bodies of manifested magical energies... they all had four, and she had to admit, very beautiful eyes, all digging into her own...
Her magic was not responding, and she realized that they had not only drained her over a longer period of time, but also sucked magic out of the very air! Spells were useless against them, since they fed on it! Had she had the energy to call for a physical weapon, her skills with a blade could maybe have saved her, but in her current state...?
"Do not look so down, my dear. I wish no harm for your people. I only wish for a single thing... your magic."
The old norse-horse walked closer to Celestia, smiling calmly at her. "You see, I made a pact. If I can supply a smaller army of demonys with the energy they need to bring their master back, she will return my beloved to me... my wife, who died defending YOUR kingdom from these very creatures, but neither you nor your people knew of it. Thanked her. Felt my sorrow when she passed... So... In return for the life she gave to save all of you, is it not fitting that you give yours to return her to me?" He spoke with a broken, raspy voice. As if he was close to crying. Celestia was fighting to remain conscious, the creatures were draining her of everything, and only her rage kept her eyes open... and her ears...
Hooves. Heavy hooves against marvel. Running by the sound of it, and louder... The giant doors of the throne-room was blocking the sound, but suddenly it stopped. There was a heavy slam, and the doors vibrated. The many demonys and the elder pony turned to look at it, surprised. There was another slam, a heavier one, and one could hear the gigantic and solid doors give a faint creak... than there was silence.
"ALONS-Y!!!" Roared through the castle, the voice of an dragon carried the battle-shout with ear-deafening might!
The doors shattered! A giant pony burst through the ancient doors of solid marvel, shoulder first and with enough force to fly through the giant hole he had created! "Faaaatheeeer!!!" He roared in the air, before landing, glaring at the elder.
"DO you never give up, boy?! There is just so much your strength alone can do!!" The grey pony snarled, seemingly more annoyed over his son's never-ending spirit and attempts. Celestia felt a spark of hope, but her tired mind and the weight of the many demonic creatures made her realize the situation. Alonso must be aware of their magic-feeding...
"Tell me, son... what do you plan to do? Beat up a minor army of energy-sucking demony? Why are you here?!"
The trench-coat wearing giant smirked, panting some from his long run and the heavy beating on the door. His shoulder ached, threatening to pop loose from the abuse he had put on it. In front of him stood an army of well-fed foes, powered by the very magic of a goddess and ready to fight on the elder pony's command...
"Father... You ask me why...?" He straightened his back. "As a wise woman once told me... Because I love and care."
Cliff grit his flat teeth at his son. "Fool... your mother died with those words... do not DARE spit them in my face for your foolish errands! This alicorn is the key to her resurrection!"
"And when have they ever held their word?! What do you think'll happened?! They wish to summon their MASTER this this plane! She will not rest until she's destroyed all of Equestria and fed on every stallion, mare and filly!"
Alonso roared back, glaring at his father.
"What would I care for that?! By that time your mother and I will be far away, in lands the dark one is not concerned with! Had it not been for your mother they would have been dead anyway, so it is just fair! Them for her!"
Cliff snarled, his eyes watering up and his body shaking... He was so close... yet he felt worry...
"So tell me! What is the great champion, the grand hero of the mountains, the one and only Alonso Alons-y... What is he going to do than?!" He was worried. His son had stopped him before, never against odds like these... but still...
Alonso sighed.. "I can not cast magic. Not that it would save me. You robbed me of every crystal I had, so I can not power my trinkets or gadgets... I personally, have nothing in my arsenal that can best you. But you forget one thing... one pony.."
The giant smirked, and Cliff felt a shiver. He hated that look on his son's face. What pony? The whimpy unicorn?
"Oh what? That one unicorn who the demonys ignored because of his lousy magical resources? Are you going to bring a nerd to fight magic-eaters with MAGIC?! Have you gone completely mad?!" He felt more insulted than anything. His son was taunting him to the end, he had no plan, he had no item or machine to aid him this time! Empty threats!
Alonso made a movement with one of his hooves, throwing the long trench-coat to the side. On his back, cramped against him, was the smaller pony! The night-sky-coloured astronomer! Clinging to the fuzzy giant for all he was worth!
"Father, my trumph-card!" Crisp fell off and landed on the floor, the fear in his eyes could be seen for miles. Cliff laughed.
And behind him, the army of demonys had gathered, ready to attack on their summoners command, now that Celestia had little more to offer them but her very life-force. She was conscious, she heard and saw, but was unable to even formulate her own thoughts anymore. She could just observe and witness... feeling helpless.
Alonso stuffed a hoof into his saddlebags, pulling out a strange device that looked almost like a metallic bottle...
"Father... you robbed me of m'crystals... leaving me without our native power for our machines... but forgot something.
THEIR energies are very small, yet can fuel and run our machines with their natural magical energies..."
The giant kicked himself up to his hind-legs, standing tall like a monster and in the same movement lifting up the smaller Crisp, who could do little but give out a eep as he was elevated! With the other hand, Alonso held the bottle-like apparatus's bigger end to his father, showing the hole in it intended for crystals to power it.
Cliff looked at his son with confusion, but then a thought struck him. Then panic. He looked at the deep, crystal-shaped hole in the machine, and to the unicorn his son was holding. Unicorn... Horn! Their source of magic!
"Kill them!!" Cliff shouted, and the army of demony's rushed!
The tidal-wave of red-bound, arcane creatures swarmed towards the giant and his side-kick, and he grinned. Just as planned. He jammed the device onto the horn of Crisp, who felt the inner machines cramp around it. Standing on his hind legs, he held his companion with both front legs and hooves like a giant gun. And grinned.
"Fillies and gentlecolts... THIS, IS, MY, HEAD-CANNON!" He roared with a devilish grin, and aimed. The second after, a blinding blast filled the throne-room! Several of the marvellous windows flew into shards, the many flags waves ferociously and ripped in places, as the magic-powered lightning-blast shot through the giant room! The charging waves of demony's were all too close to eachother, and the electrical power spread through them all! Making them all cry in agony as the lightning made it impossible for them to control their gathered energies in the pain!
Shots of red beams of pure energies explored into an impossible firework! Striking everything in sight, and what was not alive was pulverized by the concentrated magical resources! Celestia was struck by several, and felt as if her heart had been stopped this entire time, but now kicked into life! Some of her energies had been restored! Alonso took a few blasts as well, and felt his muscles cramp in his body due to the energies that filled him. Crisp was hit once as well, which caused his own magic to explode as it was all already being sucked out of him!
The bottle-like device gave out a last blast from the red-hot tip, a blast powerful enough to fully vaporise the demonic creatures bindings, making it impossible for them to remain in this realm. The overload had broke the device, that now was smoking hot and fell off Crisp's horn, falling to the floor were it fizzled and began to burn in some places.
The throne-room was destroyed, utterly so. The demonys was little more then ink-stains here and there, and fizzling orbs of manifested arcane that was slowly consuming themselves into nothingness.
Celestia managed to force herself up on her legs with the little energy she had been given back, and look at the devastation of her once so beautiful throne room...
Crisp slowly opened his eyes. He felt sore all over, like if he had been training like mad for days and then fallen asleep, now his body was paying the price. He was laying in the most comfortable bed he had ever tried, and everything was virgin-white. The room was large and luxurious, fresh fruit and fine pastries on the table next to him along with bottles of the finest wine and spring water. He heard a strange noise though, and found that Alonso was resting in a awkward pose in a seemingly comfortable, if far too small couch.
"I am glad to see that you have awoken, my dear astronomer." Celestia's silken voice filled the room as she entered, looking tired, but otherwise no worse for the weather. She walked up to Crisp and bowed her head, making his near panic as he tried to bow, but his body would not allow him.
"Please, Crisp, do rest. You have done more for this kingdom than anyone could ask for a mortal pony. Had it not been for you, I dare not think what would have happened. You were nearly completely drained of your magic, before the boost of stolen magic overflowed you... Being both drained and then overcharged in such a short time took it's toll on your body, but you are not in any danger. Just extreme exhaustion. Please, any comfort my castle can offer is at your leisure."
Celestia bowed again, and smiled at him. "And once you have recovered, I will reward the two of you most gratefully."
An hour or so later, Alonso awoke. He was quite cheery to see his new-found friend awake and alive. Explaining that he felt so bad for the accidental overflow he had not planned for Crisp to get exposed too, that he had not left the room since the accident. Crisp could not help but feel humbled. Both the princess and this mad hunter were both caring so for him..
They both talked for a while, Alonso shared what he knew about the rebuilding of the throne room, that there was nothing to worry about. Unicorns were working to restore it to tip-top shape. He also explained the troublesome news that in the explosion of demony energies, his father had vanished. No-one had seen him, but soldiers were searching for him both on the ground and from the sky, he could not have gotten far without the help of his students, who all had been found unconscious in the prison. He had apparently turned on them and had the demonys suck them dry of magic...
And while the escape of Cliff was troublesome for Crisp, he felt at ease knowing that the kingdom was safe.
Alonso also informed him that there would not be any more summoning's for at least another year, as the alignment of the stars only give that effect that one time. That gave Crisp enough comfort to slide back to sleep with a smile.
A couple of days later, Crisp Scope was back on his hooves. He felt more energized than ever, in fact. Alonso joked about that it was possibly because he had never slept during the nights, but seriously explained that the extreme exposure to both magic drain and overcharge might have empowered the poor stargazer. Crisp did not mind though, he felt great!
The throne room looked as if nothing had happened. It was filled with ponies in fancy clothes and hairstyles from all over the kingdom. Barons, Ambassadors and those sharing royal blood, along with ponies from more casual positions and scholars. The celebration was about to start, and the cheering was making Crisp blush as he and the giant walked down the long, red carpet. Crisp himself was clad in a very traditional Equestrian suit, white with golden ropes and buttons keeping the attire together. His mane and tail had been cared for by the princess's private servants, while Alonso wore the same ragged trench coat as ever... Crisp had at least managed to make him NOT wear the hat while they entered.
They both reached the area in front of the stairs, and the cheering died now as Celestia was to speak.
"Ponies of Equestria... I wish to tell you all a tale. A short, a strange, but a true one nonetheless. A few days ago, this pony who's physical size is rivalled only by his courage, Alonso Alonsy, saved a subject of mine. Saved him from a threat unheard of in our lands. This pony, a wise stallion who's sharp mind noticed the signs years before any of us, is with us today. A star-gazer who's loyalty to his country is only rivalled by his self-sacrifice, Crisp Scope."
The audience cheered wildly for the both, and in the crowd Crisp could see his parents as well! His mother crying rivers of pride and his father holding a handkerchief beneath his giant moustache. He blushed brightly, and Celestia went on.
"These two ponies took it upon themselves to seek me out to warn us about an upcoming threat, a danger not heard of in our lands, as it originated in the distant north. A few of you may have heard of the legends of Demony and Angelus.
They are real." There was a gasp in the audience. "So real, in fact, that had these two heroes been but a few hours too late, Canterlot as we know it today would have fallen. Only hours after their warning, the enemy struck. Using powers even my wisest scholars and most ancient tomes were unaware of, and took the entire castle off guard due to this."
The was a murmur amongst the ponies, they had all seen the explosion in the throne-room, the glass shattering and heard the tales from either friends or family that worked as guards in the castle of what had happened.
"But the foe has been defeated. The threat, has not. The master of these demonic creatures has eluded our scouts and searches. Master Alons-y has informed me that it is not impossible that he will try again in Equestria, as we are a country rich on magic-users... Therefor I wish to warn you all about this. But, for now the enemy has been defeated! Heroes rose to face the challenge where I could not. Heroes that no-pony asked, but did so out of free will. For this, I bow."
Celestia stood up, and lowered her head and body to the two on the carpet. The entire audience bowed as well, and Crisp felt as if he REALLY could use some of that nerv-calming gum right now. The only thing that helped him stay in reality was that he now heard his mother crying loudly out of pride... oh mother..
"Please... master Alonso Alons-y. Would you step forth?" Celestia asked, and the giant obliged with a soft nod and his ever-calm smile. Stepping closer to the stairs, Celestia walked down them until she stood just in front of him.
"For your courage and actions, for saving Equestria though you share no duties or bounds to this land, I hereby grant you the title of Guardian. You have my full support at any time, should you need the air of my soldiers, scholars or library for your selfless work and unique abilities." With that she lifted a beautiful medal in solid gold from a nearby pillow with her magic, but when attempting to attach it to his trench coat, Alonso moved it slightly and brought forth the inside of it.
"All due respect, m'lady, but I ain't one to show off or flash such things." He smiled humbly, and Celestia giggled softy.
She attached it to the softer inside-cloth, and took another step closer, placing a thankful kiss on the nearly same-sized pony's forehead. A tradition that was still used in this time of Equestria.
"Now, would Crisp Scope please step forward?" She turned to the normal-sized pony with the white mane, who nodded nervously and walked with stiff legs to his princess. Alonso took a few steps back out of respect for his friend.
In the audience, the mother of the astronomer could be heard crying loudly again.
"Sir Crisp Scope. For your endless and hard work for both me and my academy in the subject of astronomy and it's effect on magic, and for your heroic patriotism to Equestria, for rising to warn us all and than joined into a fight against a foe and impossible odds... I grant you the title of Arch-scholar. I offer you the full support of my academy and private library for your studies in your field, and shall have a proper astronomy tower and telescope built in the town of where you resign."
Crisp nearly fainted then and there. A real astronomy tower? The thoughts in his mind swirled with the possibilities that opened up! How much further would he not be able to see with such resources? How many more galaxy's could he not explore with such a powerful scope?! He blinked as he realized that his mind had frozen him, and only the fact that Celestia was placing a beautiful medal on a golden chain around his neck snapped him out of it.
Celestia then bowed down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead as well, causing his dark-blue fur to turn more purple and red on his face. And in the audience he could hear his father yelling proudly: "That's my boy! Haha!"
The princess stepped back, as did Crisp to stand next to Alonso again.
"Guardian Alonso Alons-y. Arch-scholar Crisp Scope. Equestria as a whole is in your dept. Your have both my personal blessing, and gratefulness. And before I will give everyone in here a break from my speeches and let you enjoy the feasts... I would ask of you all to join me in a final cheer for these two heroes!"
And the cheers echoed. They say that even the ponies of Alonso's homeland to the north could hear it, and that the norse-horses stomped their large hooves against the mountains in pride over their son. It is said that the stars themselves sparked even brighter that night, so that they too would be able to cheer for their beloved gazer.
And while this ends the tale for now about Alonso Alons-y, and the friend he made in Equestria, the story has yet to go on...
The old pony closed the book, smiling at the children. He had not noticed that it had been far longer then the established hour, and most of the fillies parents had arrived, but stood silently in the background. Enjoying the sight of their children enchanted and in amaze over the story. As well as listening in to it themselves. There was quite a bit of clapping and cheering, and the old pony chuckled humbly.
He sat in by the window, making some final touches to his book by signing it and writing a thank to every single filly of the school for listening to it, and watched them walk home with their parents along the lit roads in the darkness.
It warmed his heard to see them play, interact scenes from his story, shouting "Alons-y!", and even some parents joining into the fun. Lifting their small ones up to have them act as the "head-cannon" to their shining glee.
He wiped a few tears. This was an authors joy. To see his work loved and adored. And he intended to keep the promise of writing more for these wonderful fillies.