//------------------------------//
// XXXVII 
// Story: Baen of Equestria 
// by CrypticMetaphor 
//------------------------------//

	The palace of Griffonia was immense in size; some might say it rivaled Canterlot Castle, though one thing it lacked was that of its more old time look.  Compared to Canterlot Castle which changed with the times, the Palace of Griffonia had retained its old stone work and Dark Age design; rumours were that the royal family were suckers for the classics.  One of the many great features of the old castle was its main chamber, where all council, meetings, and decrees were performed.  The chamber was immense; many tapestries hung from the walls and stained glass windows cast a multi-colored cascade of light on all that sat within its majesty.  The Equestrian delegates and Lord Hyperion seated themselves on large high backed chairs, before them was a massive round table with a section taken out of the center.

“Alright, now that we are all seated,” Lord Hyperion folded his talons on the table, “Tell me sir Baen-“

“Baen, your highness,” the barbarian interjected quickly.

“Right.  So Baen, tell me about this threat that has come upon my kingdom.”

Baen leaned back and shut his eyes as all eyes fell on him, “Just know this my lord, the threat and sickness are one and the same.”

Hyperion tilted his head as Luna became somber, “How so?”

Baen looked to a window, “A creature, a demon known as Yol’Gin, has most likely emerged within your kingdom,” he then stared straight into Hyperion’s eyes, “trust me when I say these creatures are not the kind to be taken likely.”

Hyperion thought on this for a moment, “A demon?  But those creatures are nothing more than fables, things in scriptures of old.”

Twilight shook her head, “With all due respect your lordship, I’ve seen and fought one of these demons.  They’re as real as Pinkie’s addiction to chocolate mousse.”

Pinkie Pie looked up from a bowl of the confection in question with confusion.

Baen hid a snicker and returned his focus to Hyperion, “Twilight speaks the truth.  These demons are as real as you and I, and we must be cautious.  Though I have fought and vanquished one,” Twilight fixed him with a mild glare, “with…minimal damage, their abilities remain a mystery to me.”

Luna looked to the side in mild disappoint, “Blast, then how are we to know how to counter him?”

Baen placed his front hooves on the table deep in thought.  Only for Rarity to clear her throat, everypony turned their head in surprise.

“I realize I’m not a mare of battle,” Rarity raised a hoof, “But I do have an eye for detail, for example, do you not find it odd that this sickness only stayed in one portion of the city when it emerged?”

Hyperion tapped his chin, “Hrm…that is true.  When the sickness began it didn’t spread as fast as most sicknesses do, it stayed focused around that section of the city we trapped it in.  Even before the barrier was put up….if I had to hazard a guess….”

Baen blinked, “Yol’Gin is residing somewhere in that district,” he glanced to Rarity with a bright smile, “Rarity you’re a genius!”
Rarity smiled and bounced her mane, “Well there is a brain underneath this lady after all.”

Twilight nodded, “Nice job Rarity.”

Luna stamped her hoof, “Well we know what must be done now!  We must send out a team to venture forth into the Quarantine Zone to vanquish this evil and end this disease!  Faust knows we must act soon before a disaster occurs far worse than this.”

*

While a decision was being made at the palace, at the docks, another ship from Ponyville arrived carrying a small grouping of ponies.

“EW!  It smells like rotten fish!”

Some more pleasant than others….

Cheerilee glanced down at Diamond Tiara who had a clothespin on her nose, “Well that’s because Diamond Tiara, we’re at the Griffonia docks,” she escorted the school ponies of the ship and gestured around, “Now, can anypony tell me what the main export of Griffonia is and who sells it best?”

Feather Weight raised a hoof, “Fish?”

Cheerilee nodded and pointed at the pleased colt, “Correct Feather Weight.  But who sells them best?”

Applebloom raised a hoof next, “Yes Applebloom?”

“Uhm…Fishmothers?”

Several of the students snickered, but Cheerilee gave a warm smile, “Actually Applebloom, it’s pronounced, Fish Mongers.  But yes, Griffonia is known for its fish trading to the more meat eating and at times for unique dishes.”

As Cheerilee escorted her class through the streets she glanced at the condition of everything.  Miss Cheerilee had planned the trip to Griffonia for quite some time, but when she heard about its current condition she was less than thrilled.  But none the less, she gave her students the run down on safety and to stay close and in a group.  Soon they reached the intersection where the quarantine zone was, and stopped.  Before them was a small unit of guards, and a few familiar faces which brought a smile to her face.

“Twilight,” she approached as the group fell in step with their teacher gawking at the buildings, “It’s good to see you, but why are you all here?”

Twilight blinked in surprise, “I’d ask you the same question,” She then noticed the group, “Oh, a field trip.  How are you enjoying the sights?”

The school ponies voiced their answers but stopped when they all noticed the force field.

Cheerilee looked at the field, “I assume whatever is causing the emergency I was told of is behind here?”

“Indeed it is.”

Cheerilee turned her head and smiled as Baen stood beside her, “Oh, Baen, afternoon.”

“To you as well,” Baen glanced to Luna who joined him, “Are you ready?”

Luna nodded, “Let’s end this sickness.”

Twilight’s horn glowed and a shimmering field encompassed the three ponies, “All we have to do is stay inside this field.  It should keep out any nasty pathogens.  I also took the liberty of casting a masking enchantment to keep us hidden.”

Twilight then glanced at Cheerilee, “I’d suggest heading to the palace.  It’s safer there, plus,” she whispered in Cheerilee’s ear, “My friends and Lord Hyperion could give you a tour and take some of the stress off of you.”

Cheerilee gave her a half smile then nodded, “Come on class, our next stop is the Griffonia Palace.”

The children voiced their excitement and made their way to the castle.  Twilight nodded to Baen and Luna and the three lone ponies entered the field.

*

Baen, Twilight, and Luna all gazed around in shock.  The infected denizens of the quarantine zone all lumbered aimlessly, staring into space.  Twilight stared at a unicorn who tripped over a lone cart wheel, then stood like nothing happened and continued on.

“It’s almost like they're robots,” Twilight blinked, “from those comic books Spike reads.”

Baen shook his head, “No.  Look at the way they move.  True they have no set course, but they are aware of their surroundings,” he steadily approached a griffon that opened a door and looked inside sniffing the air; “they hunt and move with a sole purpose.”

Luna looked about disgusted, “I assume this purpose is quite dark indeed.”

Baen nodded and noted drag marks, “Most likely they are seeking out uninfected to infect.”

Twilight placed a hoof to her mouth, “That’s horrible.”

“Trust me Twilight;” Baen looked to his friend and place a calming hoof on her, “back in my time, this thing happened more often than you think.”

Luna glanced down one street and noticed something, “Sir Baen, you say they hunt for uninfected.”

“Yes?”

Luna nodded toward the street, “What do you make of this?”

Twilight and Baen caught up to the princess and gazed down the street.  The street in itself before the incident was known as ‘Nature’s Walk’.  It was lined with cherry blossom trees that were always in bloom, flowers in pots were placed with ever so much care along the road, almost like fragment lanterns that would guide those to the public park.  Currently however, the trees were anything but healthy.  The bark was rotten and decayed, bubbles of mutated wood sprung up like tumours and the leaves were dead on the many malformed branches.  The flowers were dead and were much worse for wear.  This twisted trail lead straight toward the now dark and unwelcoming entrance into the park.  The metal border gate rusted and twisted.

Baen narrowed his eyes, “He’s in there.”

Twilight turned fully, “What’s our plan of engagement?”

Baen glanced at the two mares, “You both stay here, I refuse to let any harm come to my friends and for that matter, the crown I now live under.”

Luna smiled warmly, “Though I am sure your chivalrous intentions are appreciated, I am afraid I cannot allow such rash action to be taken.”

“Likewise,” Twilight started forward, “We are coming with you and that’s the end of that.”

Baen shook his head and mumbled, “Mares,” he then fell in step with the two mares, “But stay close and don’t make a move until I say.”

Luna nodded, “Got it.”

As the ponies ventured further, they eventually entered the park itself.  They noticed the further they went, the more the local flora seemed to darken, twist, and die.  Truly this dark force was one not to be taken likely.  Soon they reached an opening and gazed on in horror at the being known as Yol’Gin, he sat cross legged in a lake that was most likely used by the ducks that took residence.  But the birds had long since departed the now forsaken place.  The water was dark and murky and the yellow demon stared straight ahead.

Luna gagged, “He is more hideous than I had imagined.”

“How do we fight something like that?  He’s even larger than Rath’Gor.”

Baen glanced around and noted the lack of infected, “Hm.”

Yol’Gin’s head perked slightly as he tilted it to the right, then the left.

Luna narrowed her eyes, “What’s it doing?”

Yol’Gin’s head then snapped around and stared directly at the cloaked ponies as they jumped back.

Baen looked at Twilight who lowered the masking enchantment but kept up the field, “Yol’Gin!  Your terror ends today!”

Yol’Gin tilted his head at him curiously then glanced back at where he was staring originally.

“I think he’s ignoring you Sir Baen,” Luna pointed out flatly.

Twilight tilted her head, “But why is he staring over there….”

Baen was equally puzzled, “There’s nothing of interest over there…unless….,” Baen looked over to Twilight and asked quickly, “What is in that general direction?”

Twilight thought of their position in the city, “The Palace.”

Baen turned to Luna then Twilight, “Have either of you noticed the severe lack of infected in the streets as well as around here?  Isn’t this district supposed to be heavy with tourists and citizens?  Where did they all go?”

Twilight’s eyes widened in horror, “Oh no…”

A loud crack was heard.  Then another.  All three ponies turned their heads and beheld a frightening sight.  A series of cracks were spreading up along the barrier, and they were branching out.

Twilight’s eyes widened, “The reason the virus was spreading, it wasn’t for survival.”

Luna growled, “It was to build an army!”

Yol’Gin then cackled as the barrier shattered like an eggshell being thrown against a wall.

*

The screams that followed reached the ears of many.  They heralded the shattering of the barrier, the only safety the civilians and guests had from the horrible sickness.  Hyperion was informed immediately of the barrier’s failure and was taking the necessary precautions to ensure the survival of his subjects.

“Captain, take as many of your troops down to the city, push back the infected and get as many of the civilians, tourists, EVERYONE on boats and out of the city!”

“Yes your highness, I’ll leave a contingent to guard the castle and lock it down,” the captain took flight as did many other griffon guards.

Hyperion turned to one of the guards, “Are the elements and the one known as Cheerilee with the young ones?”

The guard nodded, “Yes your highness.”

“Good, ensure they are well taken care of,” Hyperion glanced toward the quarantine zone with a grave expression, “Princesses, Baen, please hurry.”

*

Baen and the two princesses stood at the ready as Yol’Gin stood to his full height, towering over the three ponies.  His head well above the tree line as he glared down at the ponies.  Though it was hard to tell since he lacked eyes, Yol’Gin tilted his head once again, and then he raised his right hand.  A blast of bone like shards bombarded the barrier like deadly hail and the barrier shattered.  Baen, Twilight, and Luna were sent flying from the blast as Yol’Gin trembled.

“Keh heh heh.”

Luna stood tall as Twilight and Baen started to regain their senses, “Monster!  You face me this day!”

Luna took flight and let loose a focused beam from her horn which dragged up Yol’Gin’s body.  The yellow demon swiped at the princess, but Luna dodged easily, looping around each swipe and burning more magic into the demon.  Yol’Gin continued his swipes and was met with the same result each time.

Luna was well out of Yol’Gin’s arm reach as she flapped proudly, “Vile beast, you might have been strong in your world,” Yol’Gin was slowly glancing from side to side, “but in this day and age, we Equestrian’s will not fa-“

Yol’Gin reached down where he stood and hurled a helping of the contaminated water at the lunar princess.  Luna acting quickly surged into the sky and avoided most of it, but some of the droplets hit her legs and a few hit her wings.

Luna scoffed, “Ha! Is that all you have to offer meAAAAAAH!”

Luna screamed loudly as the water burned her fur and then the skin underneath.  Steam steadily rose into the sky as Luna plummeted toward the earth, Twilight just catching her before she made impact.

“Baen!  What’s wrong with her?”

Baen examined the wounds….and the sores that were beginning to spread.

“It seems Yol’Gin himself is a living repository of disease and plague,” he shook his head, “whatever is in that water is eating away at her.  We must defeat Yol’Gin as soon as possible.”

Twilight looked with worry at her friend, “But Baen, if that’s the case, you can’t even touch him!”

Baen stopped as Twilight explained, “Look at the surface of his body, that strange flesh on it as well, if you so much as touch him you could get infected with Faust knows what!  Or worse…”

Baen looked to the side, “Hrm.  Twilight, take care of Luna, I’ll figure something out.”

Glancing up, Baen saw Yol’Gin heading toward town.  Each footfall shook and cracked the ground, snorting, he gave chase.

*

Rainbow Dash and the girls were on the wall of the castle glancing down at the infected being pushed back by the griffon forces.  Applejack however was gazing at the horizon at the approaching demon.

“Shoot, he’s a big one,” she whistled.

Rainbow yanked the binoculars from Applejack and looked through, “Do you see Baen anywh- WAIT!  I see him!”

Fluttershy looked through them next, “What’s he doing?”

Pinkie Pie appeared with a long telescope, “It looks like he’s…chucking wood at the demon?”

*

Baen had to think on his hooves in order to fight Yol’Gin, so he had to improvise until he could think of something else.  At the moment he was hurling pieces of carts and logs at the demon, which was doing nothing except annoying the towering beast.

Baen grit his teeth, “Damn it, there has to be something I can do.”  

Yol’Gin stepped onto the crossroads and looked from side to side, his gaze settling on the castle.  The creature sensing the healthy sparks of life began its advance toward the palace.  Baen looked from side to side frantically.  Glancing up, he steeled himself as a risky plan took shape.

“There’s no choice now….,” he inhaled to steady himself but then saw Twilight appear with a steadily worsening Luna.

Twilight was frantic, “Baen, tell me you have a plan.  Anything!”

Baen nodded, “I do…take Luna inside the palace and seal the doors again.  No matter what happens, do NOT open them again.”
“W-what are you going to use?”

Baen’s expression became grim, “I’m going to use Ruination.  Twilight, if I lose control,” his voice was hard as the axe on his back, “Stop me.”

Twilight was about to speak but nodded, in a flash, she was gone with Luna.

Baen stared at Yol’Gin, and then threw his axe.  The blade flew through the air and buried itself in Yol’Gin’s right horn.  The demon froze, and then slowly turned around.  A moan like growl escaped the creature as it faced Baen in anger.

“Yeah that’s right,” Baen shut his eyes as he felt his Wrath aura, but then he reached deeper and grasped the full heat, “I’m right here.”

Baen then let loose an unnatural roar as his Wrath aura took on the appearance of the Ruination aura.  Baen’s armor began to heat up, and then it spread.  Soon, the barbarian was gone, and what remained was the same being that fought Krieger Kongen that rainy day within the forest.  Baen’s armored hoof scraped the dirt, and then with a crack of air being destroyed, he bounded straight at Yol’Gin and leapt through the air.  In a blink, Baen’s hind hoof smashed into Yol’Gin’s chest resulting in the creature toppling like a tower being torn down.  

Yol’Gin roared and backhanded Baen into a building, quickly standing, the demon smashed its mighty fist into the open hole to squash the insect that dared stop his work.  The whole building began to crumble, but then Yol’Gin roared in anger and pain.  His hand flew into the sky as greenish pus-like blood splattered the ground.  Baen leapt from the wreckage and buried his armored hooves into the creature’s eyes, and stared to slash at its face with his helmet’s horns.  Yol’Gin’s remaining hand came up and swatted at the pony.  But Baen leapt onto the back of the hand and ran up the demon’s shoulder digging his helmet horns into the armor, when he reached the demon’s shoulder; he slashed hard with his head.  The arm dropped with a crash as more blood stained the street.  Baen landed on the ground, his glowing red eye burning holes into the creature.

“Keh”

Baen tilted his head slightly but then yelled in pain as his armor burned.  His very being burned with rage and an almost acidic feeling on his skin, the barbarian thrashed as he was then stepped on.  Yol’Gin had taken the lapse in Baen’s stance and managed to stand.  Yol’Gin then roared as Baen burst from underneath the demons armor, roaring like the demon he fought.  Then the barbarian collapsed, his armor sizzling as Yol’Gin cackled.

“KEH HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Baen looked up as a loud organic explosion was heard.  From the stump at Yol’Gin’s shoulder and wrist, a mass of black slimly tentacles erupted forth.  The tentacles writhed then constricted around each other forming a hand and an arm complete with a hand.  Green ooze slithered down the tentacles as Yol’Gin grasped the pony in his hand and smashed him into the ground.  The sizzling intensified as Yol’Gin stared at Baen for a moment before slamming him back down into the ground.  His laugh rang out as he continued to slam the slowly growing limp barbarian into the ground.  With each slam, pieces of Baen’s armor flew off and soon, his Ruination deactivated.  Baen trembled as Yol’Gin held him before his pit like eyes.  Baen could only groan as Yol’Gin breathed a purple cloud onto the barbarian.

Yol’Gin then deposited the barbarian like a piece of litter onto the ground.  The barbarian choking and writhing on the ground, blood coming from his mouth and nose, Baen could feel it.  He was dying.

Yol’Gin was unchallenged.

*

The ponies and gryphons could only watch on in sorrow as the barbarian slowly succumbed to whatever disease he had been afflicted with.  Cheerilee could only shake her head in disbelief, and looked around trying to figure something out, anything.  But then she noticed it.

“One, two, three…,” Cheerilee counted off the heads of her students then gasped, “No.”

She looked down and saw the three fillies out front at the gate….yelling at the massive demon.

*

“AND YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A BULLY!”

“YEAH!”

Scootaloo’s wings hummed hard, “And…and….get lost before we get our cutie marks in demon slaying!”

Yol’Gin looked down at the CMC only for Cheerilee to run outside, “GIRLS ARE YOU CRAZY!?!  GET INSIDE THIS INSTANT!!”

Sweetie Belle turned her head, “Oh, we are in big trouble.”

Applebloom’s ears flattened as she heard the snorting of her older sister as well as a few other ponies approaching, “Worse, we’re doomed.”

The girls and Cheerilee stopped when they noticed something.  Behind Yol’Gin, Baen was dragging himself up the stairs, bleeding from his skin.  Panting, his eyes glazed over, he collapsed.  Yol’Gin laughed as he then reached down and plucked the CMC from the ground.

Applejack, Rarity and Dash screamed as one, “NOOO!”

Yol’Gin stared at the whimpering and tear streaked faces of the fillies, “Keh heheheheheheh.”

Cheerilee was frozen as everypony around her yelled.  Everything sounded muffled.  Her eyes went to her three screaming students, her hopefully not dead friend, and the screams.  The screams wouldn’t stop.  But then she started to feel something deep down….something she had felt before.  But this time, it was growing.  The heat slowly spread from her core and seethed through her whole body like a wave, she started to breathe fast, her heart beating a mile a minute.  Her vision sharpened as the air started to heat up around her.

Twilight looked at the school teacher, “C-Cheerilee?  Are you alright?”

Cheerilee then threw her head to the heavens and yelled.  But this yell sounded familiar, she had heard it many times before.  Then, a massive rose red aura flared up around her like a wild fire and burned brightly.  Cheerilee’s now glowing red irises glared daggers at the demon that halted its stride one final time.  Cheerilee then wrenched a flag pole from the concrete and hurled it straight through Yol’Gin’s stomach.  Yol’Gin stumbled as Cheerilee ran and leapt through the air delivering a swift kick to Yol’Gin’s neck, the armor cracking and shattering.  More black tentacles writhed within as Yol’Gin fell.  Cheerilee started to run up the demon’s face toward the horns.  She let loose another roar and leapt between the horns, grabbing the axe on the pass.

“DIE MONSTER!”

Yol’Gin turned his head and four massive tentacles ruptured from his back and plowed Cheerilee through several buildings.  Yol’Gin’s tentacles writhed in the air as he stood tall.  His attention turned to the castle once more…only for him to yell in agony.  Cheerilee was latched onto a tentacle and was hacking away at it as she ran up the slimy appendage.  She then kicked off from the chopped limb and into the sky.  She gripped the axe firmly in her fore hooves and became a spinning mid-air buzz saw of Wrath!

Yol’Gin could only look up as the teacher turned warrior shredded her way through the beast.  Flesh, ooze, and blood flew and splattered on every surface until she touched solid ground again and stood tall.  The two massive halves falling like great trees.  When they touched down, the armor and flesh sizzled and foamed and started to melt.  The remains slithering and staining the streets until barely any leftovers remained.  Inside, Luna’s injuries started to heal as the demonic infection was purged, inhaling with a calmed smile.

Cheerilee wobbled as her Wrath aura turned off, she leaned against Baen’s axe, “And remember….violence is never the answer…., what happened?”

All the students were in awe.

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo emerged from a pile of melting flesh and gagged as their sisters and friend scolded them.
Twilight was staring at Baen who was regaining his breathing rhythm, “That was reckless and stupid!”

Baen slowly nodded, but gasped when Twilight hugged him, tears in her eyes, “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

Baen smiled warmly and hugged her back as he looked up at Cheerilee, “Impressive job Cheerilee, you truly have inherited our spirit.”

Cheerilee shook her head, “Trust me; I don’t intend to have a relapse.”

Baen then shakily stood as Hyperion approached with Luna, “Astounding!  I must commend you on this day’s victory.  After the clean-up is taken care of, WE FEAST!”  

Cheers rang up…then Cheerilee fell over and started snoring