The mere name caused both ponies to freeze. The world itself seemed to stop, as if to gasp.
Baen shakily raised a hoof, “How do you know that name?”
Shining looked to the side as all eyes were on him, he started to sweat lightly.
“Well…the thing is….-“
Cadance stared lividly at her husband, “What did you do?”
Shining sighed and raised his hooves in a calming manner, “Just…hear me out.”
*
Several hours earlier.
Shining and his personal guards had been trekking for hours through the ice and snow. Morale was slightly skewed due to the weather biting at bare portions of the guards, in short, it was not pleasant. Shining gave a mild shiver when they reached the fissure, nodding to his troops; they spread out and began to comb the area. Shining on the other hoof gazed down into the black abyss before him, the chasm extended far below; he couldn’t even think there was a bottom. Shaking his head he turned from the fissure and raised his snow goggles, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. Then it struck. A loud whistling caused his ears to flick, then he turned, and the ground exploded. The unicorn was hurled from his hooves and he landed hard on his back. Warmth trailed from his brow as he tried to move. But his proximity to the explosion and the impact not only dazed the prince, but also resulted in some injuries from the projectile rocks. Just managing to crane his neck, he saw a large object the size of a boulder lodged in the ground. The thing was massive, a black steel ball of curved blades bonded to a sphere in a tight grouping. Running from the flail head was black infernal looking chain, into the sinister claws of a massive creature.
Images, screams, all of them blurred as Shining attempted to regain his senses and stand. But when he finally did it was too late. The battle had been lost, and the creature loomed over him, as big as the crystal palace itself. It’s voice boomed and resonated across the area.
“Flee back to your hole creature,” it spoke in a condescending fashion, “the lot of you virtuous warriors disgust me. Now make haste, fly back and tell them Olf’Ric comes with the mornings first light. And he brings oblivion.”
*
Baen was already turned away pondering; Twilight and Cadance on the other hoof were panicking.
Cadance was hugging Shining a little too hard, “This is terrible! We….we need to evacutate the citizens! Call in the Equestrian army, the seapony navy!”
Shining spoke through a great strain, “Honey…Breathe!”
Twilight was frantic, “I need to tell the girls…no, I need to tell them to tell the citizens! No! I need to call the princesses! Oh this is bad bad bad.”
Baen grit his teeth in annoyance and finally had it.
“SHUT Cadance and Twilight squeaked in unison as the barbarian sighed, “Sorry, but honestly, both of you just breathe and Cadance,” he pointed to Shining who was turning blue, “for Tieg’s sake, let HIM breathe.”
Cadance released the now coughing Shining Armor as both mares breathed deeply to calm themselves. Baen looked to the horizon, his eyes narrowed, for once the barbarian seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
‘This does not bode well. If Olf’Ric has indeed risen,’ Baen visibly tensed, ‘how long until…no. I’ve stopped them before they could even weaken Malachi’s seal. But is this indeed true? Or am I just a fool and I’ve overlooked a crucial detail….possibly.’
Twilight tapped Baen on the shoulder plate, “Baen?”
The barbarian broke his thought and stared at Twilight, “Yes?”
Twilight thought for a moment, “What exactly do you know about this demon?”
“As much as I knew of the others,” he shook his head, “as far as I am concerned, we’re going into this fight blind.”
Upon hearing this, Shining Armor lowered his gaze as Cadance went about giving orders to the guards to mobilize immediately and calmly handle the evacuation of her subjects. Baen nodded slowly and turned from the room and started toward the door much to Twilight’s surprise.
“Where are you going? We’re in the middle of a crisis here!”
“Relax Twi,” Baen reassured, “I’m just going to inspect possible vantage points.”
Before Twilight could object, Baen was out the door and it shut firmly behind him.
*
Baen stared down at the slowly emptying streets and shook his head, he was unsure. Unsure the evacuation or let alone the battle they will put up would even yield results. Regardless, he was steeling himself for what was to come. His gaze was unwavering when he glanced toward the tundra; he could feel it, a dark and sinister presence. It was watching…waiting to strike. Then he noticed it, down below on a balcony, Shining Armor was doing the same. Staring out onto the horizon, raising an eyebrow, Baen dropped from his perch and landed in front of Shining.
“GAH!” Shining fell backwards onto his back but quickly stood as Baen hopped onto the ground.
Baen glanced at Shining in mild confusion at the fact he was standing quite well, the bandages and his wounds both gone.
“Magic really is the best medicine isn’t it?”
Shining nodded with a small chuckle, “It also helps when your wife has magic kisses.”
Baen glanced at his friend and raised his eyebrow, “You seem troubled.”
Shining tried to give his best smile, “Is it really that obvious?”
Baen nodded, “What is it that troubles you my friend.”
Shining Armor turned from Baen and started walking with the barbarian following, “You know my sister and her friends have done amazing things right?”
Baen nodded as he tilted his head.
“Well Baen,” Shining walked into the throne room, “I’m not like them in the slightest. I mean yes, I want to keep Equestria safe and protect everypony. But in truth, I’m actually afraid,” he stared at his friend who became neutral in appearance, “Half the creatures, monsters, even villains in this land, fill me with fear. I mean, I was brainwashed by a bug and I was easily bested by Tirek whereas my sister and her friends barely get bested.”
Baen nodded as he allowed Shining to continue, “It’s just…I’m a prince, I should be courageous and fearless, but I’m not. I’m me, and the me I am can’t fight things like Nightmare Moon, Discord, and now this Olf’Ric thing,” Shining looked at Baen whose expression seemed to darken, “I think it’d be best if me and Cadance evacuated with our subject an-“
Baen’s armored hoof then smashed Shining in the jaw hurling him across the floor.
Shining rubbed his face as he stared in shock at the barbarian, “What are you doing?!”
Baen glared at Shining, “Fight me.”
“What?” Shining stood up, “I’m not going to fight you! You’re my friend!”
Baen narrowed his eyes, “Then I suppose you’ll be destroyed,” Baen unsheathed his axe and lunged at the stallion who erected a barrier.
Baen’s axe smashed the barrier like it was glass and bull tackled Shining through the main doors. Twilight, Cadance and one lone guard gasped in surprise as Shining rolled into a stand and knocked over a vase.
Twilight ran to her brother’s side as Cadance helped him up, “Shining, what happened?”
Baen’s armored hoof cracked the tile as he walked into the hall. Upon seeing his axe drawn and the look in his eyes, both mares realized the situation.
Twilight stood between the two, “Baen stop this right now!”
Baen snorted, “Move aside.”
Shining placed a hoof on Twilight and smiled weakly, “It’s fine, I can handle this,” he stood up and steadied his stance as he turned to the lone guard, “Private Sentry, fetch my sword.”
Both Flash and Cadance blinked in surprise.
“You can’t be serious Shiny,” Cadance looked at Baen, “using it on him? You could really hurt him.”
Shining narrowed his eyes, “I don’t think that will be much of a problem with him,” he then turned to Flash Sentry, “Private, my sword.”
Flash nodded and zipped away which Baen chuckled at, “Oh ho, what’s this? The prince knows how to use a sword eh?”
Shining stared at Baen evenly, “Not only do I know how to use it, I graduated top of my class in sword play and the academy. Why else do you think I got promoted,” Flash reappeared with a cloth covered bundle, “You should feel honored Baen, I only ever use this sword when in desperate need or when I find someone that I know can give me a challenge.”
Shining levitated the azure cloth covered bundle to him and swiftly revealed it. Levitating in mid-air was a sheathed long sword. The sheathe itself was white with gold patterns on it, the patterns depicted intertwining arcane lines, a circulatory system of the arcane one might say. The handle and cross guard were a pristine white, the handle grip was a black material. The cross guard resembled a pair of spread wings with the feathers tightly grouped; in the very center of the cross guard was an oval blue crystal that shined for a moment. Shining’s magic aura grasped the sheathe and the handle separately as he pulled. As the blade revealed itself, like a curtain rising on a show, the mares stared in surprise. The blade was made of pure blue crystal with a string of runes running up the center to the tip. The runes were snow white and gave off a soft glow when Shining fully drew it.
Baen pursed his lips and then smirked, “Heh, now this just got interesting.”
Shining narrowed his eyes and steadied his stance as he levitated the sword in front of him at the ready. Baen rushed him with his axe raised and brought it down like a guillotine; Shining’s sword caught the weapon in mid-swing with a loud clash of steel on crystal. Baen blinked in surprise as a surge of blue magic coursed through the blade lighting up the runes. In an instant, a surge of blue energy blasted Baen across the room and into a wall. Baen blinked the stars from his eyes and saw Shining had not moved from his spot. Growling, Baen engaged his Wrath aura and rushed the captain. What occurred next shocked all present.
Baen’s Wrath strengthened swings were countered with ease from Shining, whenever Baen’s sword made contact with Shining’s blade; it was like the barbarian was hitting a wall. He also took notice of the fact that every clash, the blade would pulse with blue magic and Shining wouldn’t be deterred. Baen’s slashes increased in volume and speed but he couldn’t move Shining at all. Baen could only stare in amazement as the stallion pushed him back, how could this possible? Shining brought the sword back and swiped, but when he did, the energy covered the blade and became solid. Baen tried to backflip over it, but the energy blade extended and nicked the wall. Shining glanced around for the barbarian whose hind hood came down hard on the unicorn’s head. Shining’s brain rattled from the impact as his focus broke, the sword clattering to the ground. Baen then planted his left forehoof to Shining’s chest and pressed the axe to Shining’s throat Baen’s gaze was burning holes into Shining’s eyes. Baen leaned closer, the axe didn’t move, Twilight and Cadance held their breaths.
Then Baen chuckled.
Baen shook his head, “You speak of fear, yet I see it in you,” Baen bopped the unicorn softly on the head, “the same fire I have.”
Shining croaked, “So this whole little duel of yours….”
“Was just my way of knocking some sense into you,” he smirked, “and a bit of a test to see if you were nothing more than talk. But you Sparkles, you have the fire in you. I see it in you and your sister.”
He let Shining stand and passed him his sword, “By the way, this blade, it’s quite…unique.”
Shining gave a half smile as he sheathed it, “Celestia assisted me in forging it when I was promoted,” he smiled at the sheathed weapon, “it’s odd though, whenever I use this sword….I feel more complete than ever before.”
Baen nodded, “it’s only common. When you forge your own weapon, you pour your heart, sweat, blood, and soul into it. It becomes a part of you, which makes it more fitting to name it,” he glanced at his axe, “I named mine.”
Twilight was greatly intrigued, “What did you name it if I may ask?”
“Blood Berry,” the ponies blinked, “It makes sense when you see it in action.”
Cadance nodded with pursed lips, “We’ll take your word for it.”
Twilight then narrowed her eyes, “Oh and before I forget, don’t expect to be let off for attacking my brother.”
Baen started to sweat but noticed Shining still staring at the sheathed weapon.
Shining smiled at his sword as Baen raised an eyebrow, “What did you name yours?”
Shining placed it against his throne and spoke only one word, “Caliburn.”