//------------------------------// // Life 4: Dragons of the Crimson Night - Part 2 // Story: Ponyville DxD // by Naughty_Ranko //------------------------------// Part 2 [Akeno is drawing the attention of their Queen. Their remaining Rook and Pawn have also last been sighted at the town center, although we can't confirm their next steps due to losing Gasper.] Gasper. While Buchou gives us an update on the current situation, I clench my fist. That half-vampire has always been afraid of other people. But he did well. He may have been defeated, but his ability to scout was invaluable for us today. [That's as much as we can do from this side. It's up to you three now, Asia, Xenovia, Ise. Make me proud.] “Yes, Buchou!” all three of us respond. I look over at Xenovia and give her a nod. Immediately she starts to move ahead silently through the wood to lead the way. After relocating our base, the three of us have crossed the river and made a beeline for the Everfree Forest. Covered by the dense vegetation, we've taken a path parallel to the river. It's a stealth approach towards the enemy base. “Let's go, Asia-chan,” I say, reaching my hand out to her. “Yes, Ise-san.” She grabs onto my hand with her delicate fingers. “Stay close to me. I'll protect you.” I have mixed feelings as I follow Xenovia. Bringing Asia wasn't my idea, but I can see why having a healer with us will be useful, seeing that we'll be cut off from support, even if our attack is a success. At any rate, I can't let anything happen to Asia. There's gotta be something that can take my mind off the grim situation. Then Xenovia squats down and signals us to halt. Woah! That skin-tight leather combat outfit is really something. Not only is it great to blend into the shadows, it also shows off her curves perfectly. “There they are,” she whispers. “Eh?” Turning my head, I can see past the treeline. We've really made it all the way here to the enemy base undetected. Let's see. I can see two of the ponies. A yellow pegasus and a blue one. That would be Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Looks like they're having a conversation. “Are you really alright with this?” Rainbow asks. Fluttershy nods. “Yes, this is the best way. I'm no longer allowed to heal and you've lost your weapon and armor in the fight. This way at least, we can still be useful.” I see. They must have gotten stuck with defending the base, because they would no longer be helpful at the front lines. But I wonder where Luna, where their [King] is. I had expected her to be here. “Hm, that's true. As much as I hate to admit it, we're not gonna be able to fight normally. At least we get to go out with a bang.” Rainbow looks at her friend with a mixture of compassion and sadness. It's a side of the brash flyer that's all new to me. “It's okay to be scared, you know.” Fluttershy holds one hoof up to her chest. “You know, that's the strange thing about all this. I'm not really afraid. I was terrified, going into this Game. But seeing Spike today, doing everything he can and more, it somehow gave me confidence.” “I know what you mean. He was so worried about not being helpful. But now it looks like he's turned out to be our most dependable player. Well, he's still not as awesome as me, but he's certainly going up on the radicalness and coolness scales.” “What's our plan?” I ask. Xenovia readies Ascalon and looks straight ahead. Looks like she's still not able to fully control Durandal, so she's using the holy sword I lent her. “Our primary goal is to get you that [Promotion]. I'll draw their attention. Then you can go and …” “Eh?” All of a sudden we find ourselves face to face with a golden and red bird, that seemingly came out of nowhere on silent wings, and landed on a branch in front of us. “What is that thing?” Xenovia asks. My eyes go wide as it cocks its head to look at me. Wait, I recognize that bird! I saw it at their base. “Crap!” Suddenly Philomena spreads her wings and a flash of light blinds me. It's so bright that it actually hurts. I can hear her wings flap as she flies off, squawking loudly as she goes. “We've been discovered. Charge!” “Wait, Xenovia!” Dammit, I can hear her crashing through the bushes towards the enemy. If I don't back her up, she's gonna be in trouble. So I also stand up and charge forward. “Ise-san!” I'd have preferred it, if Asia stayed hidden. But she's not letting go of my hand and blindly stumbles after me. We make a mad dash across the clearing towards the enemy base. My eyesight is slowly returning. Good. Now I can make out vague shapes. Xenovia seems to be a few steps ahead of me. Surprisingly she's spot on. “Ahh!” Swinging Ascalon high over her head, she then brings it down towards Fluttershy. “Guh!?” Suddenly something weird happens. Xenovia's hand is brought up short, the blade hovering inches in front of the pony. “Ah?” When my eyes meet hers, I can suddenly feel it. My whole body stops cold, and Asia behind me has also stopped running. What is this? “Good girl, Philomena,” Fluttershy compliments the bird that has perched itself on top of her head. “Thanks for the warning.” What is this weird ability? I can't stop looking into her eyes. This pony, who has always looked so frightened when around us, suddenly meets us with a steely gaze that has sealed all of our movements. Does she have a Sacred Gear? Is this the same as Gasper's [Forbidden Balor View]? “Kuh!” Xenovia grunts, trying with all her might to take that final step. Her whole body is shivering under the strain. So it's not like Fluttershy has stopped time. This has to be something different. The pony grits her teeth, and there's a bead of sweat standing on her forehead. So she must be straining to keep this up as well. “Ise, promote yourself to [Rook].” Looking at Xenovia from the corner of my eye, I ask: “Why [Rook]?” My instinct is always to promote myself to [Queen] in a situation like this. “Maybe the increased offense will allow you to break through this technique, whatever it is. We also don't know what that other one is up to, so more defense won't hurt.” I get it, but that makes me even more worried somehow. I can't see Rainbow Dash anywhere. She's right though. A balanced upgrade won't do me any good, since I'm no good at magic to begin with. But I can bring the increased offense and defense to bear in a fight. “[Promotion!] [Rook!]” It's the first time I'm taking on the powers of a [Rook] in an actual Rating Game. Such incredible strength is welling up inside me. Is this how much Koneko-chan feels all the time? “Nnnnnggghhh!!!” It's doing something, but despite the immense strength I'm using, I only manage to take a single step forward. “No good. It won't make a difference.” “You won't break through my Stare so easily,” Fluttershy says with determination in her quiet voice and redoubles her efforts. Feels like I'm being crushed by gravity itself. “I can't hold you forever, but I can hold you long enough to make sure she has enough time to pick up speed.” Then she smiles grimly. “Two pieces for three. That's a good trade.” I'm getting a really bad feeling. They are planning something after all. The girls must have noticed it, too. “I see,” Xenovia says. Then Ascalon suddenly vanishes from her hand, and I can feel the dragon-slayer sword return to my Boosted Gear. “If that's the case, I have no choice.” With a superhuman effort, she holds her hand out to the side. “Saint Peter. Saint Basil the Great. Saint Denis. Holy-mother Mary. Please hear my voice.” Wait, I've heard that chant before. Space is becoming distorted next to her and the hilt of a large sword, bound by chains, is sticking out of it. Xenovia is straining to lay a hand on it. “I … won't … let you.” Fluttershy. I'm starting to think that this demure and kind mare has the strongest will of them all, if she can compete with that of a holy-sword user like Xenovia. “In the names of the saints whom reside within this blade, I will release it. Durandal!” Screaming the name of her holy sword, she manages to touch it with one finger and the chains instantly break. Xenovia pulls the sword from the other dimension and instantly gets into a stance in front of Fluttershy, panting heavily. I see! Durandal's holy aura protected her once from the effects of Gasper's time barrier. The same must be true here. Even if she can't wield it at full power, the aura itself will be useful. She must be aware that she's been beaten, but Fluttershy nonetheless smiles in the face of certain doom. “I see.” Xenovia seems to have realized something. “I wasn't fast enough and I can only protect one.” Holding the sword in front of her, the golden aura swirls and condenses around it. Then it suddenly detaches and latches on to me, covering my whole body. “Ise, you'll have to go on without us.” Go on without you? What do you mean, Xenovia? Then something crashes down from the heavens between us. It's so fast that all I can see is a blue streak. The earth shakes violently upon impact and all of us are hit by an immense force. It's like we've suddenly been stuck in the middle of a tornado. The sound is, as if the earth itself is roaring at us with a deep voice and continuing to reverberate through the air. BOOOOOMMMM!!! “Ise-san!” Asia screams, and despite my best efforts, I can't hold on to her hand. Then a second shockwave hits me and sweeps me off my feet. My trait as a [Rook] and Durandal's holy aura protect me from major damage, but I can still feel the impact in my chest. It's as if someone pushed all the air out of my body. Flying through the air like a ragdoll, I can only see dust and utter destruction in front of my eyes. I can't see her anymore. I don't even know where up and down are. “Asia! ASIA!!!” The golden aura evaporates and I'm flung against a tree trunk with my back first, giving me a huge jolt. How fast was I going? The pain is mind-numbing, and it seems even worse, when I hit the water of the nearby stream. Feels like every bone in my body is broken. As the current turns me around and carries me off while I'm trying to hang on to consciousness, I can see what used to be Fluttershy's cottage, the enemy base. All that's there now, is a rainbow-colored mushroom cloud and utter destruction all around the impact zone. No! Asia! Xenovia! [Princess Luna's Knight and Bishop retire. Rias Gremory's Knight and Bishop retire.] Team Luna (members still active): 4 Princess Luna [King] Twilight Sparkle [Queen] Rainbow Dash [Knight] Fluttershy [Bishop] Rarity [Bishop] Applejack [Rook] Pinkie Pie [Rook] Spike [Pawn] Team Gremory (members still active): 3 Rias Gremory [King] Himejima Akeno [Queen] Kiba Yuuto [Knight] Xenovia [Knight] Asia Argento [Bishop] Gasper Vladi [Bishop] Toujou Koneko [Rook] Hyoudou Issei [Pawn]