//------------------------------// // The Gardens // Story: In the Mist // by NightDancer //------------------------------// This may be fun, interesting enough indeed. I stepped further into the bomb filled storage space. The air was stale, dust around me. In front of me shelves mounted on the wall were occupied with what I assumed were grenades. In ancient times the leading race, the Craftians, used such explosive power as an advantage on the battle field. They were round, and all were painted red, with what I cannot tell. I stared at a symbol in front of me, it shown a pony gasping for air with green smoke floating all around the figure. To cruel. I kept looking. Explosive, Concussive Blast... Each grenade was fitted with a comically morbid figure of a pony suffering from the certain type of grenade. I look to the corner of the room after grabbing two grenades that wore an emblem of a pony crippled on the floor seemingly from a loud noise. In the corner there laid a box filled to the brim with red sticks wearing long wicks hanging from the top of them. Bingo. Finally, something I was familiar with. This was going to be a fun game. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Guards! I want every entry and exit heavily guarded, after we all have our positions move in and track down this creature! I want him alive. Once you have located the creature alert me with the buzz signal." I command strongly, giving orders to my officers. They nod and a flurry of activity emits through the whole castle. Thanking the Gods that Tia was a heavy sleeper. I readied myself and walked into the castle, prepared for this game of hide and seek to end. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I could feel the guards getting closer and closer, they were calling out where they were, signaling to each other. Each time moving in closer and closer around me. I ravished the hallways, the rooms, the corridors. Punching holes into the brick walls and sliding in pieces of dynamite. Swiftly lighting the wick with my magic, running away quickly, rinse, repeat. The wicks were rather long. I was guessing they were used for demolition and not combat. However they would still work if only provided a distraction for the guards as they had dins to snuff out the wicks of the dynamite. I raced on the cobblestone floors into the dining hall, and believe me, it was a piece of artwork. Crafted with the most skilled hands, or hooves, probably the whole kingdom. Hours of handiwork, on the tiniest of details. The walls, painted with gold and silver, blossomed with designs of flowers and stars and universes. Almost impossible to describe the beauty. Statues all around, looking as if they would take a lifetime to carve... and seconds to destroy. I let out a malicious laugh. Echoing throughout the whole room, it's dome shaped ceiling carrying out my bellows of laughter throughout the castle. I planted a few sticks of dynamite into the statues of the glorified horses after I cut the wicks to be short. I sent a large shockwave in the whole room pulsing power as it bounced around the large room, as a large echo that cracked the crescent moon and sun symbols on the walls and ceiling to crumble down into dust. "THERE IT IS! CHARGE!" The entry to the dining hall had a squad of about eight unicorns wielding iron spears, they came crashing after me. I looked about the room, and seeing my work was practically done, I dashed out a door which led to beautiful gardens outside. I felt the rushing power, I felt everything that was happening. I loved it all. I quickly raced through the garden, dodging all the bushes and plants as the thorns scraped against my body. In the distance I could hear the explosions and screams of agony. It was a lot to take in, it felt strange, good even. Through it all I began to understand more and more. Power seethed through my body. Without realizing it I was standing still, frozen. Suddenly a large body of weighted armor hit me from behind, taking me down to the ground. I felt the cold iron blade on the back of my neck. "Don't move, I'll take your life." A voice laced with venom shot to my ears. This was too perfect, this was so good. *LOOK BEHIND YOU* "Wha-?" Confused with the power of my 'voice', the pure white stallion startled himself back a little bit, but just enough. I quickly brought my arm up to his horn, grabbing it harshly bringing the rest of his head down to the ground with frightening speeds. A sickening crunch and the stallion was out. I took the knife out of his hooves, and looked back towards the castle. As well as sensing the force field in front of me. I need to stop. A overpowering drowsiness taking me over, I fazed through the ground below me and fell through the ground. I felt the darkness around me, the only thing comforting me was the cold. I peacefully partook in sleep. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Princess, explosions lead to the dining hall, we believe he has escaped into the garden." A well fashioned guard reported to her princess. "Officer Night Shine, block off the garden with all of our shadow elites. Rouse up Celestia and the royal guard, I fear we may need a hoof with something such as this." "Yes princess." With that Night Shine flew off to carry out her commander's wishes. Princess Luna looked up to the night sky, and once again lit her horn with a powerful spell, focusing all her will searching for anything out of the ordinary. "Bloody foals.." Nothing was out of the ordinary. After her third time using the spell, she knew now this was something far out of the blue. Knowing of the fight ahead, she went into the armory to equip herself for what was to come. Inside the armory there were two royal blacksmiths for which forged the best iron, gold, silver, and bronze in all the kingdom. Two humble and scruffy looking ponies, Anvil and Hammer. They were the princesses personal outfitters when it came down to the dark age arts. "So. What may I do for ya' Princess?" Anvil with a sly face asked Luna. He wore a leather apron and a rather crude helmet, or rather, metal hat. The hat resembled a fedora, yet it was forged from copper. "I need a full suit of gold, if I may ask. I'll put the feather spell on it myself, you won't have to worry about anything besides making it." Luna recommended graciously. "That'll be eleven thousand bits! Thank ya' for your purchase." Hammer piped up from behind the counter, holding a clip board seemingly calculating numbers. Though he was instead sketching Luna's figure. "Of course." Luna replied. Even so they were her personal smiths, they still did business as any other blacksmith would. Every suit of armor was crafted upon request, and would be custom. It would take any other skilled pony three days to create such fine works of art. Though it merely took Anvil and Hammer a couple of minutes. Watching them blaze the metal and take it out of the fire, forming it and put it back into the fire again was like a fine dance. They seemed to be blessed by Gods greater than Celestia and Luna themselves, to be able to possess such a great gift. They both worked in sync to each others thoughts, crafting small pieces of the armor at a time and placing them onto a Luna shaped mannequin, finding the right form and shape. Their strong muscles bulged and they hit the red hot metal with all their strength, pounding the soft gold into shapes. "So it's going to be a magical duel I'm guessing?" Anvil asked Luna. Attempting small talk "Is there any other way to duel?." Luna coyly replied, "With this armor it will be hard for my enemy's magic to break through." She said with a competitive grin. "Well, you do look your best in gold if I do say so myself." Hammer stated rather sheepishly, a hint of red on his dark grey coat. Luna snickered. "Oh well look who's bashful today!" Luna replied batting her eyelashes jokingly at Hammer, only making him more flustered. "Well, your armor is ready, get it while it's hot!" Anvil announced to Luna, who looked impressed with the outcome. With beautiful gold the armor was fitted onto the mannequin with the contrast of red colored led lining the gold. "Indeed, though, maybe I will wait a couple of minutes." Luna said while gazing at the beautiful yet still steaming hot armor. That was one beat up mannequin... "Ah, princess! Speaking of the fight and all, whom are you facing? All I keep hearing is some nonsense about a creature. I've heard the explosions, it's quite the mischievous type of fellow eh'?" Hammer confronted Luna, curious about the subject "It's actually, something more. Or should I say, someone. The creature is what I know a human. A sentient being. Indeed I say he has a tall standing figure. He can control magic of what I can tell through his eyes. Whenever they start glowing, it's the same as if my horn would be glowing. His power is greater than many unicorns I have ever seen. It may even match my own, but I am going to stop him. He will be brought to justice." Luna says with a serious tone, a determined look in her eyes. "We will do anything we can to aid you princess." Anvil reassured her. A solemn look on his face. "I know you will." Luna replied with a soft smile gracing her lips. Luna waited as they chatted for a some time. Luna enjoyed the talk she was having with her friends. There, in the moment, was no pressure. Merely talking as her worries were almost forgotten. Though as soon as the armor cooled she went inside a small area for changing, and equipped herself with her heavy gold suit. Luna sent power into her horn, weaving a spell that would carry the weight of any burden. She poured her weaved magic into her armor making it light as a feather. While wearing the armor a drastic change was felt, she stood up taller, straighter. Gazing at herself in the mirror she admired once more the handiwork of her smiths. No, even greater. Her friends. She respected them greatly, and was glad they were there for her. With a friendly goodbye she left the armory and went to see if Celestia was ready. "Celestia, shall we begin?" Luna asked a rather disgruntled Celestia. For she was dressed in the same attire as Luna, though she wore silver plating that seemed to glow a burning sensation. "Yes sister, let us get on with it. I have been informed, let us kick rump." Luna nods to Celestia and they march off to the gardens. Luna chuckling by her side.