//------------------------------//
// Stage 5 Lower Hallway - Dungeons 
// Story: Castlevania: Harmony of the Night 
// by Velvet-Fresh 
//------------------------------//

	As Luna exited the door, she look around, with a small flare of her horn she illuminate the long corridors with light "as expected, the dungeons." he ears perk at the sounds creaking "of course..." she deadpans while pulling out her sword, watching as a few skeletal and undead lumber out the opened cells, burnishing knives, swords or clubs. "is this really all you got?" she asked in a bored tone, her question was answered by a inhumane growl and a loud metallic bang from one of the cells, jumping out was a  bulk skeletal pony wearing thick metal armor, helmet and equipped with a scimitar. "an undead paladin?" with a smirk "I take that back, this will be enjoyable after all" 
With a load cry, she lunge forward, easily cutting down the few unarmored undead foe in her way, she brought her sword up, blocking the paladin's strike in time "good reflexes, but not good enough" she kick it away and strike, scratching its armor and making it snarl at her and lunge forward, she jump up high, landing on its shoulder kicking him away, she slashed down cutting down another undead warrior behind the paladin, she rears back and face her armored foe in time to duck under its swipe, it snarled and heaves its metallic forhoof forward, punching her away. "Gah!  damned fiend, that hurt!" she growls back, rubbing her reddened snout.
The armored paladin lunged forward, swinging down but it missed, Luna swung true and slice through its armor and damaging it, she uses some of her magic to push the beast back. "Now begone." she jump forward, swiping her own sword diagonally upward cutting a deep gash in it's armor. Without any hesitation she slashes downward with a loud grunt cutting down the paladin finally, causing it to reel back before fire burst out the gashes in its armor before burning away into ashes. Grunting "well that's that..." she turn around, seeing 2 more paladins lumber out, using different weapons. She growls "Surely you jest.. the fates surely hate us..." she kick up dust from the old tiled floor before switching to her spear and with a battle cry ran forward to combat her opponents. 

Panting, the princess watch as a lone dented helmet clang to the floor, rolling to her feet. Sporting new cuts and bruises as she put her weapon away, taking a deep breath as she looks around and lean back on the wall "i.. hate.. the undead" she sighs in relief, trying to catch her breath. looking to the side, arching an eyebrow as something caught her eye inside one of the opened cells. Slowly she walk over, magically putting some debris pinning the cell door before entering and looking closely at the empty room. Seeing something sticking out the wall, she went over, trying to yank it free, straining herself as she tried to pull harder, frustrated she grab it with her hooves while still using magic and with a big heave she yanked it free, but not without causing herself to roll to the other wall with a yelp. Groaning as she sat up straight on her haunches, holding up whatever she pulled out, a wooden staff with an orb where she can feel some sort of enchantment from it. "Odd little thing, the spell matrix in the enchantment seems.. strong. I wonder what purpose it serves. Nevertheless, this is a new weapon, one i feel i'll be using soon enough" with that she strapped it on her back, alongside the spear, trotting out and heading down the hallway.

She stopped, sensing something coming from a small orb leaning near a wall, walking cautiously towards it, lifting a hoof near it. It sparked to life causing her to jolt in surprised but felt something calming, her body feels lighter as she looks down seeing magic flowing, healing some of her wounds, she feel better again. "i needed that.. why do i feel this is important? hmm.. it seem i can store my recent memory here." she smile and hold out both hooves and with that, store what she remembers of her adventure so far. The glow stop as she step back "I have a feeling this will be spread out in other parts of the castle.." she gives it one last look before looking at the door, with a soft inhale, and exhale. She stepped into it's thresholds and dissapear into the darkness of the room ahead.



As soon as she stepped into the room, she felt intense dark magic. Without hesitation she yank her sword and get into stance, only to stagger back in shock. Speecheless as she saw the figure standing in the middle staring right at her. The pony's fur hidden by the aura surronding her.. but there isn't no mistaking the mare standing with an evil glare. "Ap-applejack" Luna could only mutter as she stare in shock at the corrupted element of honesty. She could'nt react in time as the earth pony leap forward and within a second, Luna find a hind hoof connecting hard into her chest, causing a silent scream from her agape jaw before she flung back crashing into the wall, pulling herself out the small crater, falling down to her knee. Coughing out blood as she grunts, keeping an eye open "I .. i can't fight you!" raising her sword, blocking the punch with the flat of her blade pushing the cowpony away with a heave "Get back to your senses, please!" she quickly rolled out the way and run away distancing herself as Applejack smashed a hole into the floor.

=I can't fight back, I'll hurt her, worse I'll accidentally kill her and I can't end her that way. What can i Do?= she keeping her stance steady and in the defensive keeping a close eye. Blocking and evading the other mare's swipes, getting pushed back by one of her more stronger blows grunting. =W-wait, the staff!! I hope it does what I thought it do= with a swipe of her sword causing AJ to jump out of the way quickly swapping to the staff, with a spin she rush forward and swung, hitting the farm mare on the side as she then kick her away =I have to stun her first, whatever spell enchanted in the orb will work more efficient.= with a plan in mind she twirl the staff and stomp the floor "Come and face me ms Apple!"

The second round of their bout started intense, blow after blow causing loud smacking sounds and denting the floor or wall they hit. Luna had her share of bruises and cracked bones as blood trickle down her lips but she gritted her teeth in determination as she swung the staff. hitting Applejack again again in return, dodging and blocking her counter attacks, Applejack in turn blocked and ducked under her swings, receiving a hard hit or two as they trade blows, Luna didn't fair better receiving new cuts from near hits and making her stagger back when a solid hit connected but she stomp her hind hoof and swipe forward connecting hard to AJ's shoulder blade with her counter, seeing the effect she quickly follow up with a shoving kick pushing the possessed farmer away. She finished off with to hard swipes to the head, the second one using the orb. Applejack staggered back, head spinning as the aura around her flicker. "NOW!" Luna took the chance, stomp down as she points the orb right at the stunned opponent as she felt energy course through it, the aura surrounding applejack slowly arch and crackle only to flow straight into the orb. When the staff finished draining the last of the dark essence. Applejack could only groan out, blinking out a bruised eye before she cough out in pain before collapsing onto the floor. Unconscious but alive. Luna felt the energy as she simply let the floating orb fall down on her, absorbing it making her body heal slowly. With a twirl of the stave, she slams it onto the floor and stomp down on the concrete floor with a hoof.



Stage 5 Complete!