They felt only a few things. They could feel the souls of one another; they could vaguely feel the great heat around them, though they were protected from the scorching flames that surrounded them; but most importantly they could feel what bound them. They could feel their prison, their cells, keeping them in place and keeping them away from the world. They had asked for this, they had wanted this to happen; after the great tragedy that they failed to stop how could they not?
Most of them did not keep track of time, only two of them did. The first was the powerful sorcerer among their ranks, he kept track of time as it kept his mind sharp and ready to unleash any and every spell he knew at a moment’s notice. The second was their leader, the one who they would follow to Tartarus and back, the one who they would slay gods for if they were commanded; it was him who kept track of every second that passed not because he wished to keep his mind sharp or to keep himself from going mad or even to stave off boredom but because the imprisonment he asked for was not enough penance for him. He tormented himself by counting the seconds since he was imprisoned, since he had failed, since he had willing left her to serve his punishment.
They knew every moment he thought of her, how he had pledged everything to her, how he devoted himself to everything she was and desired…
And they knew how every moment he thought of how he had failed her…
They all tried at some point or another to console him, trying to lift his darkened spirits to bring a smile to his lips if even for but a moment, but every attempt they made either failed or was ignored. The kindest among them still tried even to this day. She tried and tried to make his sadness and again and again her attempts had no success. It pained them all to see her fail and pained them further to know he suffered.
However for a brief moment it seemed as if something had grabbed his attention and a feeling of hope came from him only to disappear with even greater speed, replaced with a feeling of foolishness.
A faint whisper touched them all. Was it…? Nay, it couldn’t be.
The whisper came again, slightly louder and clearer this time. Their leader had seemed to stop breathing. It was impossible, he thought.
I am here.
The voice was older and held a motherly tone foreign to them but they knew that voice.
I am here!
It was no longer a whisper speaking to them. The voice sounded as if it was crying.
I am here!
She was here… she had returned for them…
I need you… please, I need you all…
It was as if a switch had been flipped. The sorrow and despair they had all felt had left them and was replaced with readiness, resolve, devotion and love.
Their leader reached out.
They could feel her soul fill with happiness and hope as their leader spoke to her.
We are here.
We are ready.
We do as thou command.
We are thy will.
We art thy blade of wrath.
We art thy shield of love.
We art thy scale of justice.
We art thy hammer of vengeance.
We art thy strength, thy wisdom, thy cunning, thy fire, thy shadow and thy light.
Our steel is tempered and sharp.
Our minds are clear and ready.
Our faith in thou is unfaltering.
We answer thy call with steel, with spell, with fire and with holy light.
We stand ever ready.
We are thy Guard.
We are the Princess Guard.
They spoke as one at the final part and they could feel her love wash over them as she pulled their cells out of the great fires of the sun. The seven orbs that held them circled around their princess and goddess, four them large enough to hold a single pony, one was as big as her, another one even larger and one smaller than the rest.
It’s time. Be ready.
There was steel in her voice, a tone they knew only all too well, they did not know where she would take them but they knew what to expect.
Suddenly the princess and the orbs took off through the vacuum of space and down to the planet below. Faster and faster they went as they approached the planet passing through its atmosphere and rushing past clouds. Faster and faster they went tearing through the sky wind streaking by them. And then suddenly, they stopped. Sight and sound returned to their leader, though it was not his own. He had blessed to see through his goddess’s eyes and feel what she did as she hovered in the sky.
And the sights and sounds were as he expected. It could be summed up in one word.
War.
He saw ponies being quickly pushed back by their enemies. He saw minotaurs with massive axes, hammers and swords cleaving through the lines of ponies, he witnessed griffons swooping down from the skies to slice into ponies in the middle ranks with halberds and spears to further weaken the already quickly falling troops.
But what set the fire of righteous fury in his heart alight was the sight of dragons raining down fire on the troops and their lesser kin of wyverns and drakes at the sides of the pony lines using claws and fangs upon any who tried to retreat.
Give me advice. Tell me where who should be sent.
Nightborne and Umbra Bark are to cut down the savage minotaurs!
The moment he had finished the orb as large as the princess shot forward and crashed into the minotaur lines. A mad laugh and barking could be heard ever so faintly.
Burning Heart! Soothing Silence! Clip wings of the foul griffons and burn their flesh!
Two of the pony-size spheres shot toward the griffons that were flying through the air. Moments later griffons were falling and being burning alive.
Arion Adonis! Rend the souls of the dragon kin!
Another pony-sized sphere shot to the ground and the leader watched as arcs of blue shot out and crashed into the wyverns and drakes at the sides of the pony lines.
Through the princess’s eyes he saw cliff close to where the dragons rained down their fire from the skies.
Make the dragons feel the touch of dirt, Calm Sight.
The orb that was larger than the princess shot towards the cliff and the leader smiled as what looked like lances soared through
the air and struck the dragons’ wings and they were brought to the ground with tremendous roars.
Soft Heart, do as you always do. Give rest and mending the wounded and dying.
The smallest orb went off to many wounded ponies lay, their wounds no doubt giving them great pain, but instead of rocketing off with the force and speed of the others this one left calmly and gently, yet swiftly, floated down to its destination.
Only one orb remained by the princess’s side now. Golden light washed over her body from her horn as the she and the remaining orb flew towards the dragons. The leader’s senses returned to his own body after being blessed to see the through his goddess’s eyes. The golden orb around him began to fall away as he was able to see and hear the world for the first time in ages.
The golden armor that covered him head to hoof shone brilliantly in the sunlight. The spear clutched in hooves shone just as brilliantly, its tip gleaming and ready to spill the blood of his goddess’s enemies. His eyes flickered over to his princess. He smiled at the sight of the glow that covered her a moment ago dissipated and his princess was left in golden armor that was covered with intricately woven designs and long strips of white cloth that flutter in the wind behind her as her powerful wings flapped and continued to send her ever forward as her magic let him stay with her.
She looked at him smiling, “As always, my Grand Radiance.”
Grand Radiance nodded back, a smile hidden by his helm, “As always.”
They dove toward the ground, the two of them aiming for the closest dragon that had a massive hole in one of its wings keeping it grounded. The princess’s horn lit up with golden light as lightning crackled along the head of Grand Radiance’s spear.
Magic and steel pierced the dragon’s head as lightning shot into the dragon’s brain leaving it burned and charred. Grand Radiance jumped off the dragon to the ground as the princess hovered above him. The other dragons around them turned and snarled at them as they saw their fallen comrade. Grand Radiance raised his spear high into the air and three words echoed across the battlefield.
“PRAISE THE SUN!!!”