//------------------------------// // Trust // Story: The Mighty Warrior of Epicness // by shinigamisparda //------------------------------// Luna charged forwards and stabbed at Calofisteri with her halberd, only for the strange creature to barely dodge the blow, taking the attack in the shoulder instead of the chest. She winced in pain but smiled soon afterwards. Luna felt pain and backed off. She was about to inspect her body when she saw an orb of… something leap from her to her opponent. She saw Calofisteri's wound heal, if only slightly. At the very least it stopped bleeding and the skin sealed up the wound. "Well, it seems you're quite strong after all, little Princess. Even Drain can only heal me so much from your blows," the strange creature complimented. "However, even the strongest can be broken. You just need to know how." She smiled and raised her hand, causing her orb to glow slightly. Luna screeched in pain as she suddenly found her body being assaulted by some sort of green slime. It felt like it was eating her skin before it became inert and fell off. Parts of her coat were missing and her skin was red. Luna fired a bolt of magic at her opponent, who flew up on her orb to dodge it. "Now now, no need to be so hasty. An old mare like you should take things slow," she taunted, raising her hand and casting another spell. "You dare insult my age?" Luna replied, taking to the skies. "I am far from… some old… what?" Luna felt her body ache as she struggled to maintain flight. She attacked with her short swords, but her movements were sluggish. Even still, she managed to strike her enemy across the chest, only for her once again to feel pain as another orb of what she could only guess was her own vitality leapt from her and got absorbed by her opponent, almost completely healing her paltry attack. Luna had no choice but to land and catch her breath. What is wrong with me? How can I already be so tired? If feels as if- Luna's thoughts stopped as she saw her reflection in one of her blades. Her face bore wrinkles and her ethereal mane and tail were somehow grayer. Even her coat looked to have aged. I'm old!? How!? When did-!? She stopped. She did it! She aged me! But how!? An age-changing spell is extremely advanced! Even my sister and I require some concentration to perform it! She then flinched as she saw her opponent raising her hand at her again. But's that's not an Equestrian spell, is it? It's one of the same kind Gilgamesh uses! She suddenly felt pain in her body again, this time more a persistent nagging feeling than a sharp but sudden one. "Oh my, old and poisoned? You are just making this too easy for me!" "'Poisoned?'" Luna coughed, covering her mouth with her hoof, only to gasp as saw blood on it. "I don't even need to do anything. You'll die on your own soon enough." "That's what you think," Luna retorted, gathering her magic for a spell to purge her body. "Oh no you don't." Calofisteri cast another spell on Luna. It looked like nothing happened until she attempted to cast the healing spell on herself. An invisible barrier shone and the spell bounced off her. "W-What?" "Now now, I can't have you healing yourself so quickly. It's rude to undo others work," she taunted before casting spells on herself. One caused her to glow red momentarily, and her movements quickened, allowing her to quickly cast another spell that caused her to temporarily glow yellow and her body seemed to radiate power. Luna decided to stop it and summoned lightning to crash down on her enemy. Calofisteri noticed her opponent gathering magic and quickly cast a different spell on herself. It was the same barrier that she cast on Luna, and it caused her lightning to disperse and fire in all directions. Luna screamed in pain as one of the bolts struck her, though thankfully the dispersal had weakened her spell's destructive force considerably. "Oh my, why did you have to interrupt me? Now I have to do this," she taunted as she cast another spell, this time on Luna. The spell reflected off her barrier and bounced back to Calofisteri, who approached to make sure she was close enough to be hit with the reflection. Her body temporarily glowed green and soon her wounds began to heal on their own, though admittedly at a slow pace. "There, now it's all set up. I can just enjoy watching you struggle now." "F-Fiend!" Luna shouted defiantly and struck her enemy across the face with her halberd, only for her once again to feel the pain of the Drain spell as it almost completely healed her enemy. I'm finished. I can't do anything. If I strike her with my weapons, she takes my energy from me. If I attack her with magic, it gets reflected back at me. If I try to heal myself it'll be bounced back at her. Just like how she reflected her own spell off… wait a minute. Luna began to realize that despite them both have the reflective barriers on them the spells only rebounded once instead of bouncing back and forth in a loop. It gave her a small spark of hope in her deflating spirit. If I try to heal myself she'll simply cast those afflictions again. I have to take her down first. Luna summoned her strength, both physical and magical, and charged her opponent. "Oh my, haven't you learned yet? Well come on then. Amuse me with your futile struggles." "How's this for 'futile'!?" she retorted. She reached into her saddlebag and threw the curved blade at her opponent, striking her in the shoulder as she attempted to dodge. She struggled through the pain of the Drain spell and stabbed her opponent in the chest with her halberd. She then cast her spell and summoned down lightning… on herself. Calofisteri realized too late what she was doing and even reflected took the full force of Luna's lightning on her body. She screamed and writhed in pain before falling off her orb. Luna panted for a moment before speaking. "I am Princess of the Night, co-ruler of Equestria. And I will not be defeated so easily," she proclaimed before rearing up on her hind legs and smashing the green orb under her forehooves. The result was instantaneous and Calofisteri screamed even louder than when she was struck with lightning, only to soon fall to her back. "This… is far… from over…" she wheezed out before falling limp. Her body began do disintegrate and soon there was no indication that she was ever there. Luna quickly summoned her magic and purged the poison from her body, relieved to find the barrier had been dispelled. She then summoned her magic and returned her age to normal, though she was still considerably exhausted. As she sheathed weapons and caught her breath she looked at the blade she had come to retrieve. It seems there are greater forces at play here. That settles it. It may have been my choice before, but now it seems there is no choice. Luna levitated the sword back into her saddlebag and took to the skies. Please, Gilgamesh. Please by the kind of creature I think you are. When I returned it was still night time. I looked up at the moon and I could see that barely an hour had passed. I sighed and looked at the gem in my armor. Kat. If only- I shook my head. No. I did everything I could. She admitted she made mistakes. She's doing what she can to fix them. Things will get better for her. I have to believe that. "GILGAMESH! I turned towards the direction the voice came from. Even if I couldn't see who said it I could tell who it was, even without the use of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Luna? What's she doing here? "GILGAMESH PLEASE ANSWER ME! I MUST SPEAK WITH YOU ON A MATTER OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE!" I was surprised to hear this, of course. For a moment I wondered if it was some kind of trick until I remembered that Luna doesn't try that kind of thing. Better see what she wants. I thought as I quickly jumped through the trees, finding her in a matter of minutes. "GILGAMESH! "Right here," I replied, catching her attention as I landed in front of her. She took a few steps back before regaining her composure. "What is it? I really didn't think you or your sister wanted anything to do with me." "Despite what you may think, your reaction to my sister's confession had a great impact on her. Even now she doubts if she did the right thing." I was honestly shocked to hear that. After what she told me I was certain she'd be overjoyed to never hear from me again. "I… never thought that would happen. I apolo-" "Please do not. You are not the only one who has made mistakes," she interrupted. "I suppose. Thank you for-" I stopped when I noticed the scuff marks on her armor and the parts of her coat that seemed to have been burned away. "Y-You're injured! What happened!?" "That was what I wished to discuss with you. Earlier tonight, when I was by myself, I was attacked by a creature I had never seen before. She had strange spells, ones that appeared to be similar to yours. I barely managed to defeat her and escape with my life. She called herself Calofisteri." "WHAT!?" I shouted. "So you do know her." "I… I know of her, but we've never met." So I was right. There is something going on here. And she tried to kill Luna! Damn it, I thought that I was the only one in danger! I gently yet firmly grabbed Luna's shoulders, surprising her with my physical contact. "Listen to me, Luna, if you encounter another one of these creatures don't try to fight them. Just run. Evacuate anyone who is in danger and just run. They have powers you don't understand, that you aren't prepared for. Some of them can even instantly kill you, no matter how strong you are. Please, promise me you won't fight them." She looked completely shocked at my words, but quickly recovered. "I am Princess of Equestria. It is my duty to protect my subjects," she replied firmly. "Luna, please! The last thing Equestria needs is a dead Princess! Please promise me!" I pleaded, shaking her as I did. She was about to respond when a glow caught her eye. Her expression turned to one of shock as she looked at my neck. "Is… is that-?" I followed her gaze and saw what had caught her attention. "The Equestrian Badge of Honor? Where did you obtain such a thing?" "I got it from… well, Princess Luna," I answered, causing her to look at me like I was insane. "Well, that is to say a different Princess Luna, one from another version of Equestria." She just looked at me. "What nonsense is this?" "I'm telling the truth. Remember back when that girl and I showed up at the Hearth's Warming play, how she said she was from another world? She wasn't kidding. There are a nearly infinite number of universes out there, including innumerable numbers of Equestrias. I was awarded this medallion by the Princess Luna of one of those other universes." Luna looked completely shocked to hear such a thing. "But… even if that were true, the Badge of Honor is something even many members of the Royal Guard go their entire careers without earning. What did you do to cause me-, or rather, this other version of me, to give you such a thing?" "I saved Ponyville from an invading force. Not alone, mind you, I had help from the Lunar Guard, the Elements, the other version of you, and another one like myself. A being who does not belong in Equestria." "What force could possibly want to attack Ponyville?" "I… I'm sorry, but I can't tell you," I replied, looking away from her. "It would break your heart to hear it." "If you don't tell me, I can't believe you," she firmly replied. I sighed. "It's a company that goes by the name Ellura. In that version of Equestria they've existed for more than one thousand years. They existed before Sombra, before Nightmare Moon. They are a company that makes many medicines, but in truth that's just a front. They're experimenting with a virus that mutates what it doesn't kill, and are foolishly attempting to use it to create some 'new world order.'" "Impossible! Celestia would never stand for such a thing!" "She does because she doesn't know about their misdeeds. Neither does most of the world. Even worse she believes them to be a great force for good, and they have gone to great lengths to maintain that image to her. For some reason she has some sort of deadly obsession with taking down Nemesis, the one like myself in that dimension, to the point that she'll believe anything Ellura tells her to take it down. Even believing that her own sister and the Elements, who know the truth, are somehow being hypnotized by him." "You… You lie!" she shouted in anger, only for her aggression to drain away when I looked back to her. "I wish I were. It pains me to think that any version of Celestia could be so blind." I could tell she could see I was being genuine. "This… other Ponyville. What state is it in now?" "Twilight managed to erect a barrier to keep Ellura out, but they've 'quarantined' the area to make sure no pony will see the truth. Part of the Lunar Guard, Princess Luna, and the Elements of Harmony have allied with Nemesis. Some of the Solar Guard, who were sent to aid Ellura's personal army but were captured, have seen the truth and have allied with them as well. All of Ponyville have steeled themselves to play the waiting game until Celestia finally decides to come down and fix the problem herself. Hopefully then they'll be able to show her the truth." "I see. If you defended Ponyville from such a threat it is no wonder I, or rather that other me, granted you that medallion." I nodded. "She trusted me. And now I want you to do the same. Please Luna, if you find another one of those creatures, do not engage them. Please promise me." She looked back to me before sighing. "Very well. I will do what I can to rescue my subjects without engaging them head on, should they appear. Am I to assume you will try to deal with them instead?" "Yes. With any luck they'll only go after me, but it helps to be prepared." "Actually, that brings me back to why I was looking for you. You see, Calofisteri did not attack me for no reason. She assaulted me because of this." She opened her saddlebag and levitated out a blade I knew all too well. "Ridill!?" I looked on in shock. For a moment nothing was said. I then quickly pulled out Prosperity's Guide and opened it. There was no mistaking it. "It's the real deal." I put the compass away. "Why would bring this to me?" "Because I needed to know the truth. I needed to know what kind of pony- what kind of being you are. Or at least, that is why I originally went to retrieve it. Now, I feel for the sake of Equestria, I may have no choice but to give this to you," she replied. For a moment neither of us said or did a thing. Then I reached out to grab my sword before she pulled it away. "But there is one last thing I need from you before I return this." She steeled her gaze. "Swear to me. Swear to me on everything you are, on everything you believe, that you will not bring pain and misery to Equestria, to all of Equis. Make me believe that you do not seek to bring the fires of war to these lands once again. Promise me." I stared at her, then at Ridill, before deciding how I should answer. "I'll do you one better," I said before unclipping my naginata. I held it at my side and I heard her gasp in surprise as I bowed my head and took a knee. "Princess Luna, Co-ruler of Equestria, Mistress of the Night, embodiment of the Moon and the Stars above. I swear to you, on my life and magic, on the very Winds of Freedom I so cherish, that should Equestria be threatened you need but call for me and I will come to its aid. Should its subjects be put in harm's way, I will wield my power to defend them." I looked up at her. "This, I swear to you." She looked at me completely shocked before shaking herself out of her stupor. "Very well. Rise, Gilgamesh." I did as I was told and stood up. "I will return this weapon to you, and will do what I can to convince my sister to return the others to you as well, or at the very least not to impede you progress. It will likely be difficult, but so long as you keep your promise I will do what I can to aid you." She levitated Ridill to me and I took it. It disappeared in a flash of light and I could feel its power enter my body. "I feel I should inform you, however, that not every one of your weapons is here. Though one is within our borders, which I believe you have already retrieved, the other five blades of your final form were given to the other nations across the ocean. Only they know where they are, and I'm afraid it may be difficult to convince them to give them back." I groaned but shook it off. "I understand. There is, however, one more thing you can do for me." I reached behind me and pulled out the folder Auric gave me. "These notes were sent by another one of us who was not meant to be in a version of Equestria. We refer to ourselves as 'Displaced.' He sent out notes to many of us so we might either leave or defend our respective universes. There are others like me who may not have received this information. I would appreciate it if you could commission someone to make copies of them and return them to me so I may give them to others. Also, they should be quite useful to us as well, seeing as the beings that are invading are from outside our universe." "I understand. I will see what can be done." She levitated the folder into her saddlebag before spreading her wings. "Gilgamesh, I thank you. Not only for your vow but for giving me something to believe in. I leave our subjects' safety in your hands while we are away." And with that she took off into the night sky. As I watched her fly off I felt something that I hadn't felt in a while: happiness. Not that happiness that comes from getting something you want, or even the thrill of a good fight. It was the feeling you get when, even if just for a moment, you felt everything was going to be alright. Everything would work out. I smiled as I placed the medallion back under my scarf and went out to find someplace to sleep. And then… well, sometimes you just feel like singing. "Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum. Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum. Princess Luna. Bring me a dream. Make her the cutest that I've ever seen. Give her two lips like roses and clover, and tell her that her lonesome nights are over. Luna. I'm so alone. Don't got nopony to call my own. Please turn on your magic beam. Princess Luna, bring me a dream."