“Dark magic.” Both Keepers spun around to scan the darkness about. Harmony could tell that it was powerful and oddly familiar. Hopefully, they had enough strength to take it on alone. He could teleport them away but the problem that may only delay the coming battle and would also weaken him unnecessarily.
“Can you see anyone or anything He of Hourglass?”
“I’m seeing a dark movement like the waves of the sea.” He wanted to put out a light to get a better look but felt it was best to let He of Harmony to take the lead.
“Waves of the sea?” There were several things that could move like that. At least it wasn’t shadowlings otherwise he was sure He of Hourglass would have reported seeing yellow eyes. A flashing glint in the darkness caught his attention “Did you see that?”
“Yes, it’s hard to tell for sure with the black whatever but I do believe it’s from a battleaxe.”
That got him thinking. A battleaxe? hmmm… could it be? If so, why stay here for so long? It was not long before he got the confirmation it was the minotaur and inklings that massacred the Migration. The minotaur grinned as he stopped a little ways away. The dark magic he felt was definitely was Sombra’s. So far it meant that it was less likely the minotaur was working for the ‘Dark One.’
He of Hourglass eyed the mass of inklings. My guess is that the dragons didn’t used their magic and relied too much on their claws, fangs, and fire. Magic it is then.
“You take the inklings the minotaur is mine.” He of Hourglass growled in agreement.
The minotaur bellowed out a war cry. Harmony and He of Hourglass answered with their own.
Harmony ran forward summoning his sword as he jumped over the inklings. The minotaur rose his battle axe in answer. Sparks flew as the two weapons slammed into each other.
Meanwhile He of Hourglass started off by sending of a stream of flame at the first wave. Several of the inklings ran off screaming covered in flame and setting other inklings on fire. He of Hourglass didn't let up though as he slammed his hand to the ground. The ground rippled outward like it was water. Many of the inklings fell backwards before being trampled to death by the rush of their “comrades.”
He of Hourglass roared in pain and grabbed a inkling that was attacking his back. Okay, this is going to be harder than I thought… Unfortunately while his attention was on the inkling that was attacking him from behind a dozen more pounced from the front. With a roar his sparks rushed outward in a sphere flinging the mass off of him.
He wiped his snout clearing it of the blood dripping down from a cut. They just keep coming and will if He of Harmony can’t take out that minotaur. I wish I could help more but I have less experience than him. For now, I guess, it’s once more into the breach. With that he gave a roar of challenge and the inkling swarm complied.
Harmony never saw the reason for naming swords… swords were tools not beings. That did not stop people from trying to give his sword a name. He of the Flight even once tried… He of the Flight…
A splash of sparks pulled Harmony out of his musings. He was in a middle of a life and death battle and here he was thinking about sword names of all things. He knew better than to drift off. He of the Flight’s death is really affecting me it seems. Harmony thought as he parried another swing.
“Dragonssssss…. Crystallssss” The minotaur licked his lips tasting the blood dripping down his face.
“Sombra!” Harmony went wide eyed in momentary shock before his he narrowed them in anger. “So you finally decided to come out.”
“Thatsss king, peasssant.”
That was enough to send the raging alicron over the edge. His anger was already high from the fact that the minotaur had killed He of the Flight but to find out that the minotaur was being controlled by the dark unicorn and not just his dark magic.
I AM HARMONY THE ALICORN KEEPER OF HARMONY! DRAGON ACOLYTE! CREATOR OF THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY. GUARDIAN OF THE CRYSTAL HEART!
I WAS KING OF THE LANDS OF EQUESTRIA LONG BEFORE YOU GRANDFATHER WAS A GLEAM IN HIS GRANDFATHER'S EYE! I PUT YOUR ANCESTOR ON THE THRONE OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE! YOU ARE BUT A FOALISH COLT BENT ON PETTY VENGEANCE!
“Harmony! Don’t over do it…” The rest of what He of Hourglass yelled out was overpower by a roar of a dragon on a warpath. Wind whipped around him pulling up dust and small rocks. When the wind dropped enough for him to see what he saw shocked him to the core. There in the center of the vortex was He of Harmony. His mane and tail were no longer hair but a fire of rainbow colors. This was different than before. What was more as another roar issued from the alicorn He of Hourglass swore he saw a dragon in place of the alicorn for a flash.
NOW YOU WILL FACE THE FULL WRATH OF HARMONY! AND THIS TIME YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE JUSTICE!
With his eyes glowing is power Harmony’s sword was joined by five others.
He of Hourglass jaw dropped. Was this the full power of the Alicorn Keeper of Harmony without his harmony magic!? His eyes had a hard time following the movements of the battle. It was as if Harmony had become a blur. The spectre known as Sombra somehow manage to keep up. A rumble below tore his attention away from the battle momentarily. He jumped back as a black crystal shot out of the ground. Dark magic in the form of crystals!? He could see now how this ‘Sombra’ could escape justice.
He of Hourglass sat down as with Sombra too busy with He of Harmony the inklings had disappeared. He could do his part is making sure that this dark magic user met his final end. He hadn’t gotten a chance yet to figure out how his harmony magic work but now seem like the perfect time.
Sombra was a warrior as well as the minotaur and that meant Harmony had to fight with everything he had. Harmony managed to catch subtle hints of hesitation on the part of the minotaur. So he’s fighting from within… Good. Then I won't let up either! He smirked as he pushed forward sparks flying off of his swords.
Harmony deflected the battle axe with two of the swords while simultaneously trying to swipe at his gut with two others. The sword suddenly clattered to the ground. Harmony was momentarily surprised that there was a wall of dark crystal protecting the minotaur’s side. Right... forgot this is Sombra…
Harmony picked up his swords as Sombra counter attacked with his now freed battle axe. Harmony brought his two remaining swords as a cross to slow down the descent of the axe. His front hooves dug into the ground as he slowly lost ground as the axe slowly pushed the swords down.
The ground suddenly glowed with purple green and golden light shattering every dark crystal. This stunned both for a moment giving them both time to regroup. The glow dimmed but remained.
Sombra angrily spat. “You may hassss sssstop my cryssstals for now but I ssssshall win thissss either way…”
“That’s where you are wrong Sombra. I have been studying that amulet that is tethering you to this world and is allowing you to possess the minotaur.” Harmony smiled at seeing a slight hint of fear. “I now know how to remove it! Without that you lose you hold on that body.”
That got a bigger reaction out of Sombra. The teeth of the minotaur ground in rage. Harmony laughed. “I’ll teach you a lessson in pain likesss you never knew alisscorn.”
“Wrong. Take a look.”
Sombra for once was confused. “Where issss…”
“The sixth sword? Look behind you. I’ll let you.”
Sombra turned around and what he saw made even his cold heart freeze. The mentioned sword was resting on the neck of the minotaur and but what made it worse was the fact that the sword was holding up the amulet. “How?!”
“Same as always. You always managed to become hyper focused at the wrong time.” Without another word Harmony sliced the amulet off. It along with the minotaur clattered to the ground. Harmony poured light magic into his hoof and smashed the amulet. He took the shattered pieces at flung it far into the air with his magic. “He of Hourglass hit it with a flame mixed with harmony magic.”
The dragon complied engulfing the amelet with a golden flame. Both could hear the screams of Sombra as he and the amulet faded into the ether and even though Sombra was never coming back it still sent chills up both of the Keepers to hear his screams of pain and defiance.
Harmony took the unconscious minotaur and sat him against a boulder. He lit a fire nearby and patiently waited. After a few moment the minotaur stirred. Harmony sighed in relief. It appeared that Sombra didn’t damage the body too much and neither did the fight. Although he figured that he was not going to be going anywhere for a bit.
“Your name young bull.” He asked once he saw that he was awake enough to talk.
“Aonghus. Third son of Óengus of the Broken Horn tribe.” He tried getting up but his legs gave out.
“Easy… easy…” Harmony gently pushed the minotaur back into a sitting position.
“I failed…” He couldn’t face he savior he just couldn't. “I am a shame to myself, my father, my tribe, my people…”
“No Aonghus. It was I that failed you. I was unable to fully stop Sombra, twice…”
Aonghus shook his head slowly. He was not going to let the Alicorn Keeper take the shame that was rightfully his. “Keeper… I did not have the streng... the strength to fight him. I have brought shame to myself and my tribe.”
He of Hourglass grumbled he was really getting annoyed at the stubbornness of the minotaur. “Sombra was extremely strong in power and hate. In the end he lost because you fought back giving He of Harmony an opening.”
“No…” Harmony saw the movement from He of Hourglass’ claws, “don’t. He needs to heal without magic intervention it’s the way of his people.”
Harmony coughed a bit. Buck! He could feel it coming as he quickly cast the counterspell. For a moment he thought it would be enough before he retched. Vast amounts of ash and bile poured out of his mouth. His vision began to blur.
“I told you not to over do it!”
Harmony only smiled at the panicking dragon as his vision faded away. Just like Discord...
He of Hourglass’ wings sprouted outward. In one arm he grabbed the chest the other a passed out alicorn. He took off in a sprint pumping his wings as he went.
Aonghus could hear the sounds of something approaching. He didn’t have the strength to move much less defend himself. His whole body ached and groaned. Being possessed by a crazy unicorn spirit bent on revenge on all dragons would take a toll on anyone. He pooled all of his remaining strength and managed to pull his battleaxe onto his lap.
“I can’t believe how weak they were…” A cruel voice echoed in the darkness. Aonghus searched but his eyes would see nothing. A primal fear creeped into his mind. He was in extreme danger.
“I didn’t care for He of the Flight or the Migration, but it was free food. And you took that away from me…”
“Who... Who are you?”
“Oh, I will tell you my name…” A body slammed right in front of the fire nearly blowing it out. It was a white and yellow dragon whelp. Aonghus’ eyes went wide. “Right before I kill you I want you to know who killed you. I hope you can still scream. A lot.”
Golden Heart could faintly make out a roar mixed with a scream. He slowly closed his eyes. It seems that I was right. The dragon's eyes flung opened as he pushed himself forward, faster. All that matter now was He of Harmony who he could feel with his magic was fading. Come on don’t you die on me, Harmonious Knight, brother.