A Single Tear

by DarkAcolyte


A Tear for the Lost

"This is your last warning, scum. Leave or be terminated." Princess Celestia called out, her voice dripping with venom. I sighed and looked at the ground, then glanced back up. The Everfree Forest surrounded us. We stood in a dirty clearing with an old castle to my back. It's ruins creating a terrifying backdrop for our encounter.
"He doesn't want to start a war, Princess." My only companion, Rainbow Dash, spoke for me, since I am unable to speak their language. When the others still trusted me, I could communicate with them as well through our bonds, but those were shattered when they abandoned me. They fear me. They fear me because of what I could do. The only one who remains loyal is Rainbow Dash, perhaps because she sees something the others don't.
Again, Celestia began to speak, "But it is a war he shall get. He is too dangerous to remain in Equestria. I cannot allow my subjects' lives to be risked."
"But he's not hurting anypony!" This time it was a rainbow speaking on her own. "Just because he is powerful doesn't mean that he is going to go on a rampage and begin hurting ponies!"
Without a hint of sadness, Celestia began, "I'm sorry Rainbow, I truly am, but I will not stand idly by while this monster continues to live in my land. Twilight, if you'll do the honors."
With a determined look on her face, Twilight Sparkle stepped forward and ignited her horn. Again I sighed as she and her friends rose into the air, even Rainbow Dash, although she strongly opposed it. She fought against the pull, but the power of the Elements of Harmony was too great for her to defeat. As she rose up, tears fell down her cheeks. "I'm sorry" she thought to me.
"It will all be alright. I promise." I nodded in her direction, affirming my covenant. She continued to stare at me in sadness until the magic began to combine. A great rainbow was formed and arched into the sky. It dove at me, and I was surrounded by the light.
Celestia gave a heave of satisfaction once the beam hit me. If only she knew that her relief was for naught. I stood inside the vortex and calmed my mind. I fell into tune with the life around me, feeling the fear, anger, hatred, and sadness of the ponies. I also felt the squirrels who were fleeing, and the birds chirping loudly to each other. As I did so, the swirling tornado around began to slow and weaken. Soon, I held it in the palm of my hand, a ball of pure harmonic power. The look on Celestia's face was the same as the element bearers'. That of pure shock and disbelief. Although, Rainbow Dash had a proud smirk plastered on her face. She was oozing happiness.
I held the ball in my hand and faced my palm out towards the forest. Confused, the spectators stared at me as I released the energy in a great beam of light. It disintegrated several trees and burned dozens as it passed through the forest. The paths formed by the beam was black and charred, with burning shrubs and trunks making a perfectly circular hole in the forest.
Celestia growled in fury. "Guards. Take him. Show no mercy." Out of the forest emerged well over one hundred royal guards in heavy armor, lead by Princess Luna herself. She moved over to Celestia as the guards circled around me.
At once, the guards charged at me, staggering their runs as to not impale one another. Unbeknownst to them, a storm gathered overhead. The rain began to pour and made the ground slippery. Some guards began to slide while others remained on course. When the first reached me, I grabbed his pike and flipped it over my shoulder, launching the soldier into the mud. One by one, the guards fell, whether by being hit or by being launched. Although, none had perished.
This only seemed to further infuriate Celestia. "Sister, prepare for battle. We will destroy this beast once and for all." Celestia's horn shone bright as the power of the sun began to form itself around her body. Luna did the same, but less enthusiastically. As the magic finished, they stood there in full body armor, complete with various sharp objects along their appendages. Their legs had small blades running along the lower portion, and the front edges of their wings were lined in razor sharp blades. Their armor was a fearsome sight, but I remained unfazed and unmoving. I remained there in my simple robe, cloak, and mask.
Slowly, large weapons began to form in front of the sisters. A gleaming golden glaive for the solar princess, and a shining silver scythe for her sister. Celestia raised her weapon and stared at me, giving me the hardest glare I have ever seen. Madness and rage filled her eyes and her mouth formed a wicked sneer. "Today is the last you will see of this or any world, whelp. I hope you die suffering." She turned to the bearers of the elements of harmony, "Make space, for this will not be pretty."
Finally, she turned back to me and began slowly walking towards me. A black sword formed in my hand, and I held it in an upright defensive position. Then, I spoke again through Rainbow Dash. "So be it."
Celestia launched herself at me, soon followed by Luna. I managed to just evade their attacks by stepping to the side. Once they passed, I called upon my power and used the energy of the storm to form a lightning bolt and shot it at Celestia. She fell over and tumbled for several yards, but got up slowly, anger filling her body.
Luna, however, quickly recovered from her failed charge and began to slice at me with her various sharp edges. Slowly, I circled around her while evading her attacks. She struck at me from all angles, falling to strike at my legs and flying to slice at my neck. Piece by piece, I chopped away at her armor, expertly removing plates and hooks while she remained unaware.
Finally, I removed her helmet with a flying kick. She was afraid and shocked. I was about to strike again when I was knocked aside by Celestia. She continued to pound and slice at me while I evaded or parried everything I could. Cuts appeared all over our bodies and the princess's white coat stained red. After some time, I jumped away from the fray and stood back, gathering my strength. Celestia took this as an opportunity to strike with all her power. Her horn glowed a brilliant white and shone with the intensity of hundreds of suns. Meanwhile, Luna attempted to ambush me from behind. I engaged her, but once I saw the powerful magic that Celestia was releasing, I sprinted out of the way. Unfortunately, Luna was too oblivious and too slow to avoid the blast before it hit her full on.
The remaining princess let loose a primal scream that scared away even the most foolish and brave of the remaining wildlife and likely Fluttershy as well. Her eyes glowed with pure hatred. And she screamed at me, "I Will. Kill. YOU!" Again, she charged and swung at me with her blade. This time, though, she was too enraged to properly engage in combat.
I quickly disarmed her and knocked off her armor. I grabbed her head and held it in front of mine while I stared at her with sorrow. "Celestia, Celestia," I began in my native tongue, "it did not need to turn out this agh...!" I choked as her magic tightened around my throat. She dangled me in the air, laughing. I struggled and fought as she continued to gloat, but I then calmed myself. Again I felt the life around me, and I felt the hatred and insanity from Celestia along with sadness and fear from the others, not of my myself, but of... Celestia? With renewed strength, I allowed the magic to flow into me where I channeled it into my hands. Once I had gathered much of it, I pushed Celestia back to the steps of the old castle.
I picked up my sword along with hers and slowly began my walk towards her. Even now when she cannot even stand, she glares at me as though to kill me. I knelt beside her and stuck her blade in the ground. By now the guards were recovering and watching the spectacle.
I was breathing heavily as I put my blade's tip to her chest. In my native language, I whispered to her, "Now it is I who is truly sorry." As I stuck my blade in her heart, she continued to glare at me with hatred as she passed.
I turned to walk back to the others and, as I was walking I noticed something. It was a drop on the ground. Everything else had dried after Celestia's magic, but this remained. Then I realized, this is not rain but a single tear. My tear.