Just another soldier
Chapter(?) 1: Aegis
Twilight was taking a risk. A risk that she could actually outsmart Nightmare Moon, the Mare who is literally over one thousand years old and capable of destroying her in one fatal blow. Her magic surpassed even her mentor and Mother figure Princess Celestia! It was a low chance, very unlikely that she would get her plan to succeed. She took a deep breath in, solemnly determined to take on the rather suicidal task. Hunching over she glared venomously as Nightmare Moon who simply looked amused. Twilight scuffed her hoof on the ground, as if to challenge the Lunar Princess. Nightmare Moon lost the amused look on her face, which turned to quickly became annoyance, doubt and disbelief as well.
"You're kidding. You're kidding, right?" She then sighed and looked at Twilight with a deadpan expression. Her answer came in the form of Twilight channeling magic through her horn, illuminating the dark ruins with a lavender colored glow. "I suppose not." She barely acknowledged. Not that Twilight blamed her, she was a simple unicorn about to pretty much kill herself trying to go against one of the most powerful forces in all of Equestria.
It was then Twilight lunged forward, sprinting at Luna who sat there for a second, as if pondering to accept the Unicorn's challenge. Shrugging since she didn't believe she had anything to lose, she charged forward herself, intending on ending this silly game! The Unicorn's horn glow got even brighter.
It seemed the closer the two got from their respective original positions, Twilight's horn kept getting brighter and brighter.
'What are you planning?...' The 'Soon to be Princess of Equestria' wondered. She narrowed her eyes as she got almost right at the little pony, ready to knock her into next week. The glow was irritating and harsh, that had to be a powerful spell. But it didn't seem likely. But there was only one spell that would be simple, yet cost that much magic to use. Just as stated before, it was simple. But effective.
Movement Blinking. It was a spell that allowed the caster to 'blink' from distance to distance at the cost of some serious magic. And it'd take someone dedicated to magic to even learn how to do it properly. If the pony before her survived, she'd have to take her as an apprentice! But then as she thought about the spell that was about to be used, her mind kicked into high gear.
Eyes widening in realization she sought to swing out her hoof and hopefully interrupt the Lavender pony's concentration. Alas, it was too late.
Twilight had waited, at just the right moment, mere milliseconds before the hoof contacted her face, she had vanished in a flash of stunning magic. The thing with teleporting is everypony who was near you with the teleport would be dizzy for a a few seconds. The magic forcing the caster to move from one place to another effected it's surroundings my warping reality for a split second to vanish somewhere else. At least, that's how it was with Movement Blinking.
Nightmare Moon, like every other Pony would was rendered helpless for a second, blinking to gather her bearings. In that time, Twilight had time to recover from her disorienting blink, which took her a single shake of the head. He ran a hoof down the left side of her mane rather unpleased at the sensation. The good news was that her plan had actually worked against all odds, somehow. Hunching over, she looked down.
Before her sat the Elements of Harmony, the sole remnants of the past that sealed Nightmare Moon away in her own ironic prison. Whispering a short and silent prayer to Celestia she gritted her teeth as she felt the magic drain rush upon her. Taking a deep breath she leaned further down, closing her eyes in concentration.
"Just one spark..." Twilight whispered with hope in her voice, she needed this to work. Or all would be lost! Her horn lit up once more, she concentrated as hard as she could. "Come on! Come on!" She pleaded with the stones, desperately hoping for them to work.
Groaning Nightmare Moon finally recovered from the rather sudden teleport of Twilight, her gaze snapped to the pony trying to stop her, using the power of the stones, her one weakness at this point in time. She glared hatefully at Twilight, preparing to send her to oblivion. In a swirl of frighteningly powerful malevolent feeling dark magic, a tornado swooped up Nightmare Moon and threw her right before Twilight and the stoned versions of the element of harmony. A twinge of fear appeared in her heart. If the elements worked she would be back on the cold, dark, desolate rock. Rotting for all of eternity. It took all the will power she had not to just start outright shivering in fear at the thought. She held her breath and prepared to attack Twilight before it could be done.
"No!" Nightmare Moon growled out, it sounded more scared than anything else.
Twilight looked up in her own fear, locking gazes with Nightmare Moon. This was cut off as suddenly the Elements suddenly started generating magical static electricity. They flashed brightly, then with a jolt of lightning sent a bolt out at Twilight, shocking her painfully.
"Argh!" Twilight was sent spiraling through the air, doing so many flips that an gymnastic athlete would be proud. Spinning out of control, she was in a crash course and wasn't even aware.
CRACK!
Twilight's back was emitting a sickening crack, or was it her back? As she had impacted with whatever was behind her, it had made a rather violent sound. Agony shot up her spine as she was still in mid-air, with whatever hitting her from behind still standing before collapsed from her magically added temporary weight. With a gasp her eyes widened as she flew further breaking whatever was originally behind her. As she flew by where it once was, she could see it was a pillar, a stone pillar that was now in pieces as she broke through it truly the force exerted to push through something that hard had to be tremendous! She had realized this before even seeing the now broken stone though. She clenched her eyes shut as she didn't stop going. She plowed right through it, and flew onto yet another pillar.
THUNK!
That was the sound of Twilight contacting with the pillar and finally stopping with a pained gasp for air. She slumped down slowly, gliding down the pillar with tired and pained eyes. Upon finally reaching the ground, slumped against the pillar she coughed harshly, sending a spray of blood on the floor. She weakly opened her eyes to see if the job had been done, glancing to where the Elements floated softly, a hopeful smile bloomed on her face, thinking that she had saved everypony.
Nightmare Moon's eyes were wide with fear, the Elements floated before her, taunting her before they would send her back to the cold moon without a thought behind it, even if they were fabled to be sentient. Memories of the desolate rock forced it's way back into her head. Fear overtook her, she began shaking in place, terrified. Memories of her sister also coming into mind. Luna dearly missed her sister, but was overcome by hatred, jealously had wormed it's way into her heart. Nightmare Moon began to hyperventilate, pupils shrinking into pin pricks. A few tears started to build in her eyes. Then quickly clenched them shut, not wanting to see it happen. The tears rolled from her eyes and onto her cheeks.
Would she never be able to obtain vengeance? She would return to the empty rock once more, nothing had changed. But this time she was sent back by a random pony? Not even anypony she knew.
Was it all over?
It proved not to be, as the stones did nothing but float in the air before Nightmare Moon. The Mare in question slowly stopped quivering before the rocks, Glancing up, they did nothing at all. they fell back to the ground with an unceremonious 'thunk!'. They let out a single crackle of lightening before dying out. Nightmare Moon furrowed her brows. Twilight looked horrified, her jaw gave in to surprise and hung open. The Dark Mare poked the stones. Nightmare Moon then blinked.
Once.
Then twice.
A smile etched it's way onto her muzzle, it started faint, but slowly spread it's way into a grin where she let out a small chuckle, an expression Twilight couldn't make out was on the bigger Mare's face.
"W-Where's the sixth element!?" Twilight whimpered out, truly afraid for her life now. Nightmare Moon merely continued to chuckle, then it turned into full out relieved laughter, which then evolved into cackling. Rearing up on her hind hooves she brought them back down with vengeance. The elements flew a few inches in the air before exploding in a shower of glass. Twilight could do nothing but watch helplessly, a few tears of her own rolling down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, giving in.
"I'm sorry everypony..." Twilight whispered out regretfully. She couldn't save them despite her best efforts. In the end, it was all for nothing.
Nightmare Moon laughed even harder than before. The cackle grew so loud it could probably be heard from a mile away.
"You almost had me for a second...I thought it was back to the moon for another thousand years..." Nightmare Moon sneered. "But now that I know I didn't lose...You lose." She scowled at Twilight deeply, what was once terror had been shifted into hatred. She would not waste the opportunity that she had been given. She leaned down toward the cowering Twilight Sparkle.
"The night will last forever..." Nightmare Moon whispered to her, insanity rearing it's ugly head. It could be seen clear in the evil Mare's eyes. Twilight's ears flattened onto her head. Nightmare's horn began to glow brightly, a sword was suddenly pulled from the floor beside her. Her gaze was locked on Twilight, clearly planning on ending it all.
It was sudden, no one would have even noticed it had it not flashed brightly. In front of the thousand year old mare, was a guard like the one's she had dispatched earlier easily enough.
THUNK!
Nightmare moon reared back on her back hooves, bringing her front hooves to her snout, wincing. Glaring down she looked at her offender. Who all in all looked just like every other royal guard out there. He had just slugged her!
"YOU ARROGANT FOOL! PREPARE TO BE VAPOR-" Nightmare's rant was cut off as the guard in question stole the sword from her loose magical grip, he slashed at her with the floating sword to cut her. It was all for naught though as she merely teleported away without much effort on her part. The ever stoic guard levitated the sword to his mouth, where his teeth clamped onto the handle.
"Dust, my favorite flavor." The guard grumbled under his breath sarcastically, Twilight was still in shock she was alive. And thankful the guard had saved her in a nick of time. The golden clad pony's gaze drifted to where his target had vanished off to. Once he spotted her, he picked up her scowling face.
"You insolent..." He had to admit, she looked absolutely murderous. His half-lidded emotionless gaze now drifted to the pony on the ground behind him who was injured.
Twilight flinched at his gaze, it wasn't like the normal guards. Theirs had always seemed serious and strict, this guard seemed to have an empty look in his eyes. Not depressed, but simply detached and uncaring.
"I'm not too familiar with healing magic..." He started slowly. And apparently finished as well as he didn't say anything else and turned back to his opponent. First rule of fighting, never turn your back. But he knew she was simply too far away. He scuffed his hoof upon the ground passively. Not really trying to be intimidating. A snort echoed across the from the other mare.
"You think- YOU a guard can take me? How foalish are you!?" Nightmare Moon demanded glaring at him. He didn't even bother trying to give her a retort. Well, he had one answer.
"Nope."
Nightmare Moon blinked rapidly.
"...Then, why are you even bothering?" She asked with a puzzled expression. The guard said nothing else, his horn lit up with golden magic. He lunged at her with a blinding speed empowered by magic slashing at her with the sword in his mouth. Nightmare Moon simply laughed and stepped out the way of the speedy attack. She had years of experience on her side.
"You are nothing more than a joke." She taunted the guard, who like most, did not take the more than obvious bait to lose his cool. He just kept slashing at her, which she repeatedly dodged, the Unicorn's horn was still lit for some reason. Nightmare's movement overtime became sluggish as she somehow was growing tired, it was then she figured out why the Unicorn seemed to be getting faster and her slower.
"You're draining my magic aren't you?" She muttered at him accusingly, she didn't know a spell that drained magic though. So it was rather unsettling. Well, there was ONE spell. It was used when objects had too much magical energy in them, a simple spell to make sure the object in question didn't overload. But somehow he was using it in a much more complex manner, and in combat no less. "Aren't we a smart one?"
She wasted no more time dodging the guards attack and went on the offensive without mercy. As he slashed once more at her she leaned back this time instead of completely avoiding it. She cocked her hoof back and swung it at the Unicorn Guard, easily with enough force to shatter all his bones in on go. She expected to see a broken guard crumple to the ground dead at her hooves. But for some reason her hoof went right through the guard, like he wasn't even there.
"What!?" She roared angrily. "How did you even do that!?" She scowled at the pony who sat there with the same non-moving expression. She searched her head for a spell, anything that could do such a thing. But she came up with nothing-
No wait, there was one spell. What is it with these ponies and using simple to use spells and evolving them against her!? This time is was the walk through wall spell! Allowing the caster to slip through surfaces since they became intangible. But it had never worked for going through another pony! Yet it was done right before her very eyes! Nightmare snorted agitated.
"You're proving to be quite the annoyance." The guard stared at her, blankly. Before he turned tail and ran to Twilight at random. Nightmare blinked once more. "What is he even..." She cut herself off as her eyes widened.
He had picked up the stone remains of the pillar Twilight crashed through, and was hovering them quite menacingly. With the same blank face as before he lunged the rocks at her at a great enough speed to crush her if she was hit. This forced her to teleport out of the way of the incoming projectiles. In this time he had already greatly exhausted his magic, but trudged to the lavender pony. His horn glowed once more. For a second it looked like nothing had happened. She had almost gave up, while he looked like he was still trying to healing her with the basic spell. The golden light had slowly melded into a soothing shade of turquoise green, where dew's of magic dropped onto Twilight, seeping into her skin.
Twilight blinked as the pain faded, and she could now move her hooves again. As well as her whole body. And it felt like all her magic was back too!
"I-I thought you said you weren't good at healing magic." She stuttered out. He shook his head. Clearly denying it. "Basic healing magic taken to the extreme." He explained with gritted teeth.
"I'm not." With that he collapsed before her, magic depleted. Now useless. He kept the sword in his deadly teeth grip. "Run." He said. It wasn't asking, he was stating it, like it was the only thing to do, it was a fact. The same for a mission complete, as all guard's knew. Twilight hesitated, then shook her head.
"No, I can't leave you." Twilight told him. She could never run away when he had just pretty much given up his life to help her. The guard stared at her.
"Fool." He said nothing else. Struggling, slowly forcing his way back on his hooves. Twilight slowly have him a hoof, helping him up. Twilight smiled. She hadn't let him, not good.
"Probably." She admitted. But she knew she was doing the right thing.
"How touching. Now you both can die." Nightmare Moon stood before them, a furious expression upon her. Twilight swallowed nervously but stood her ground. Preparing a spell that could teleport them away if needed.
"Twilight where are you!?" Twilight blinked hearing Pinkie from down the hallway, a smile slowly grew on her face. She wasn't alone anymore. At least, not counting the beaten guard before her. It was then that she heard all her friends calling for her in a worried tone, each one of them.
It all clicked together, it all made sense now. Her eyes widened drastically as her mouth hung open. A tiny spark appeared in her eyes, not too far off from look of the lightning the sent her flying. Twilight spun her head to Nightmare Moon with a smile of determination etched on. Her friends would help aid her.
The Guard suddenly found himself in the embrace of Twilight. To his credit he maintained his ever blank expression and droopy emotionless eyes.
"I would like to be let go of please."
Twilight ignored him at the moment, starting off her rant to Nightmare Moon. Which he completely zoned out of due to the magical exhaustion he was suffering. He was actually surprised he could move. And even more surprised he didn't get a nose bleed- Oh no wait there we go.
His head hung as he passed out in Twilight's caring hooves.
Aegis's POV
"Is he gonna be okay?" No, be quiet so I can be. I'm trying to sleep and you aren't helping. Please shut your trap.
"I believe so, with a little rest he'll be back at full health in no time." That voice...I know that voice!
I was up and on my hooves before my eyes had even opened with a respectful salute.
"Scout Aegis Barrier reporting for duty, sir!" I bellowed out in a gravel tone respecting the one I was supposed to be serving. Before me sat Princess Celestia, benevolent as ever, standing tall over everypony with a motherly smile on her face.
"At ease soldier." The Princess told me, for some reason looking surprised. Was it my instant leap to obey her? Regardless, I relaxed my muscles as I was told, but remained vigilant and stoic. One can never know when a sneak attack could happen. "I was going to tell you to state your name and rank, but you beat me to it." The Princess chuckled amused. I merely stood there with the blank face as always.
"Hey! You're woke now!" I was suddenly aware of the circle of mares surrounding me. Yeah, that's good for the anxiety. The exclamation came from the Lavender Unicorn, ever faithful student of Princess Celestia. I never took my eyes off the Princess.
"Yes." I simply replied. Not much else to say. Mission successful. Celestia frowned for a brief moment. I was surprised though I didn't show it. After all she never seemed to be troubled. But as quick as it came, it left. Replaced by the smile she always wore.
"I heard you saved my student, I thank you for your timely rescue Aegis. Had you not showed up Twilight would have been slain by my sister..." Everypony looked solemn for a split second before regaining their smiles.
"Thank you Princess, but I was doing my job." I stated rather plainly, it was true. I was there and I did my job. Just as I was trained to do. The Princess nodded.
"How do you feel?" She questioned with a worried look on her face. That was a good question. How did I feel? Pausing for a moment, the adrenaline of the Princess being before me depleted, leaving me feeling like crap. I slumped slightly.
"I've been better." Princess's ever flowing mane just seemed to be poked at by the Pink Pony beside her. She looked bedazzled. I retrained myself from barking out a command for her to stop touching the Princess. Said Princess didn't even looked bothered, just amused. With a shake of her head the Princess glanced at me curiously.
"What made you come over to these ruins? Something would have had to caught your attention to bring you here." I nodded my head in consent with her. I had to stop from making a creepy joke about being able to smell her shampoo from anywhere in Equestria.
"The Guards were, and probably are still running around like chickens with their heads cut off ( I gained a wince and a small whimper from the pink maned insecure looking one.) searching for you high and low. The more elite guards of the newbies including myself decided instead of Ponyville, we would search Everfree Forest. It seemed like a more likely place for the Mare of the Night to hide you at. It was at this point where the other guards and I split up. After several flashes of magical energy and insane laughter I was alerted to their position and immediately stepped on the scene." I informed her with a quick explanation of the situation at hoof. Princess Celestia nodded very slowly as if still taking in the information.
"I see..." The Princess seemed to roll this over in her head. "Well at this point there's no need for a written debriefing. Therefore you are excused from filing a report. Plus you need proper rest. I'm shocked you're still standing when you're currently suffering magic exhaustion and magical backlash." If I weren't supposed to always be stoic I would have blinked. I wouldn't have guessed I was suffering backlash. Magical Backlash is when you use too many powerful spells, more than you can actually handle. I hadn't been using my magic to fight anymore, I was using the immense amount of energy I had sapped from Nightmare Moon. Speaking of, what happened to her? Apparently the Princess could see the slight questioning in my eyes, she smiled.
"You're probably wondering what became of my sister aren't you?" More surprises. Yay. I nodded to the immortal sun goddess. Who stepped out the way, moving her glorious wing which revealed a small Alicorn under her. Said Alicorn grinned at me nervously.
"Hi." She said sheepishly. I nodded to her. If the Princess had cleared her, she was obviously okay. I wasn't going to question her. Princess Celestia raised a brow at my unchanging face.
"Truly dedicated for just a scout aren't we?" She asked amused. I forced my aching body to move into a saluting position.
"It's an honor to serve you Princess, there's no greater joy than doing so." It was a practiced thing with the whole guard. It was our reply for the low chance that she ever did thank us for something. A smile- no, a sly smirk slithered onto her face.
"Well, you'll be serving from here for awhile, in Ponyville that is. You're in no condition to travel all the way back to Canterlot." Buck.
"I'll be fine Princess, nothing I can't handle." I bellowed out, as if to prove my point. Which did nothing but hurt me in the long run. Ow, my aching everything. The Princess shook her head.
"By my decree, you shall be staying here in Ponyville with no questions asked. You will report to the hospital where you shall rest until I summon you back to Canterlot, understood?" She commanded in an authoritative voice. Now wearing a blank expression herself. The air grew colder around me as she lost her motherly nature and put herself in the royal commanding cold tone. I bit my tongue, silencing any protest I was going to build up. It would only lead me to banishment, or latrine duty.
"Crystal." I obeyed without question, the mares around me looked slightly put off by the Princess actually demanding something. They thankfully remained quiet as they were. Princess Celestia regained her caring smile, motherly nature returning. Not that it mattered to me, I remained the same, on the outside anyhow. On the inside I was fuming, I had to remember I was nothing but a pawn for her. I had forgotten that in her presence and paid for it. A small bubble of hatred grew in my stomach before I viciously squashed it with no mercy. That small bubble was more than enough to see, it was a split second but everypony in the room looked shocked, including the Princess who had a sad frown. Before she covered it back up with that same smile that didn't seem to bother me before, but now irked me.
"I know you're upset with my harsh tone and behavior, but you have to understand that you need to me completely healthy and you shouldn't take any risk." She explained softly to me with a sigh. Suddenly two medical Ponies had me in their grip and had gently placed me in a stretcher, I couldn't even feel my body. With a heave both earth ponies carried me off, where I sat stoic as ever. The future was bleak in my opinion. It felt like I had been demoted. The medical ponies were seemingly headed out of Everfree, at least with the direction we were going. Glancing back up before the ruins were completely out of sight, I saw all of the Ponies previously standing around me staring at me as I was carried away. They all looked sad for whatever reason. With a grunt I laid back on the stretcher as the two Ponies carrying me glanced down warningly. I snorted, accepting my fate and closed my eyes. A quick rest would do.
I knew nothing but darkness in a split second.
Celestia watched as the drained guard was carried away by the ponies she had requested came in before Aegis had awoken. She looked deeply troubled, the others had gone around searching for the guards to tell them to come back on her orders. The only one being an exception being Twilight Sparkle, her ever faithful student.
"Tell me Twilight, what did you think of our friend Aegis Barrier?" Celestia asked with a small frown upon her usually smiling face. Twilight's gaze was moved to her mentor. Where she closed her eyes thoughtfully.
"I think he was a nice pony. Detached but still very nice. Rough around the edges but seemingly loyal. A bit on the creepy side with the way his eyes are always drooped like that though. All over all a good pony." She admitted with a small smile. Princess Celestia nodded with her consent, but still frowning. The pony was now considered one of her best friends in her new small circle.
"You're right, that's what I was thinking too. But there is another thing I didn't like though, my faithful student." Twilight turned to her mentor with a obedient look upon her face, yet pondering. As if waiting the command to breath even.
"What's that?" Twilight questioned. Celestia licked her slightly dry lips. Furrowing a brow.
"I've never seen any creature with that much hatred, except the dark Unicorn Sombra..." Celestia muttered. Twilight sighed heavily and glanced back out at the direction the guard had been taken in. She didn't know who that was, but she wasn't wanting to find out.
"I hope everything will be okay..." Twilight said sadly. Celestia nodded.
"As do I my faithful student. As do I..." Celestia began to trot off, going to go search for everypony including the guards. From the corner of her vision she had spotted something in the ceiling. And two red glowing with no emotion. As if just watching. She could easily tell who they are. They're always watching. They must have arrived after she was leaving, for she would have sensed them before that.