//------------------------------// // Living to a Prayer // Story: Macintosh of Arabia // by Crisis_Vyper //------------------------------// "I do not think that it is affected by the Jezzail...." "Amanar, of course not. But still, what is a Gallu trying to...."Before the stallion could complete his sentence, the mare taps her hoof on his shoulder. "W....what......is a....Gallu?" The fear in her voice is faint but ever present. He wants to empathize with her, but his fear of all of them being found out at this rock formation by the ghūls is suppressed by the desire to protect those under his charge. Fortunately for them the foal is blissfully asleep, making their concealment much easier. The stallion takes a deep breath before answering her. "A Gallu.....is a sorcerer that hauls the souls of the unfortunate into the underworld, and replacing the hole that was ripped out with with a demonic minion of theirs. That possessed husk is called a ghūl, a being whose sustenance of its own presence in the material world is through the consumption of the living. In a way, it is similar to necromancy but at the same time it is not like necromancy as continuous control is needed before the monsters could devour to sustain themselves. That is how we stopped them just now . Though, to be honest I always consider it to be fairy tale and it is a tale my mother told me to keep me from sneaking out at night to get some midnight treats." The stallion chuckled a little, but not for long. "But, Milord......don't you think that the Gallu is a little too large? And those steps that the Gallu made is just too quiet, like those of a griffon. They do not sound equine." The Janissary whispered, his whispers reminding them that they need to keep their presence hidden. "Yes, the size of that bloody bastard is a little too large for something that can wield magical incantations as those. Even those Equestrian princesses are not that large." I would agree that my size is not my best attribute. The bone-chilling voice cause a great amount of alarm among Abu Hamza, Lily Petal and Amanar and they immediately bolted from under the rock formation that they are hiding under towards the desert where the light of the moon is able to illuminate their surroundings. From the shadows, the figure appears and as it walks out towards their location and its dominating presence is enough to cause everyone to have cold sweat to flow from their bodies. I will have to admit, it has been a while since a mortal managed to hurt me. Congratulations......the last one that managed did not manage to live to tell the tale. To everyone's horror, the figure's broken mask revealed something that defies their understanding. The most obvious feature that sets it apart from all other creature is its eye. Within its eye, there are several golden pupils which defies logic each one contracting and pulsing in its own accord. The skin of the figure is fair, almost alabaster while its facial feature is similar to that of an ape, but it is much more beautiful, while its jet black mane flows in the wind. However despite its unnatural looks, it is divinely beautiful with an unearthly, unnatural and disturbing beauty. As its forefeet steps forward, the others could see that instead of hooves, it has paws like those of a desert lion.As the robes at the figure's back loosen up, the figure unfolds its raven-black pinions which glistened under the moonlight. Ah.....you saw my face, didn't you. "You.....you are a...." Abu Hamza could not voice out his horror. Amanar and Lily Petal is now looking at the unnatural creature before them, not believing what they have just seen. It seems that my kind is now a myth among the people of this world. Truly my appearance is not something your mortal minds could comprehend. It is truly exhilarating to see the horror on your faces.The figure slowly walks forward to Lily Petal and gave her a sinister and playful look. Within moments the sound of the jezzail firing is heard, and a flash of crimson appear at the left of the monster before dissapearing. Amanar's scream echoes through the night, and the Janissary is now breathing laboriously on the ground in the pool of his own blood. You are lucky the first time, don't think that you can......However, the figure immediately notices a sliver of silver from the periphery of its eyes and jumped back. As it finally has its full vision, it could see the stallion spinning in the air with its scimitar before falling down on the ground. "Well, this one is no luck my Shesepankh Gallu." The expression of the figure is now scowling in anger and disgust at the stallion. The Sheikh afforded himself a satisfied smirk before he gets up to aim his sword at the figure. Very interesting, mortal. What is your name? "Sheikh Abu Hamza bin Mohammad Hishamudin of the Remal al-Sahra Al-Khayl clan, The Custodian of Al-Barna. And yourself, foul abomination? So that my tales of slaying a monster shall pass on in legends immemorable." The figure chuckled hysterically at the stallion before complying. I am Set, the Violator of the Mortal Realms, Harbinger of The Storms and Overlord of Disorder and slayer of the foolish mortal before me. Suddenly several red lightning bolts rained upon the Sheikh blasting the ground asunder. However the Sheikh has dodged several of the lightning bolts to close in on the figure calling itself Set.However the blows of the Sheikh is being reflected back to him and the Sheikh is forced to dodge his own scimitar blows. The Sheikh immediately breaks off from the shesepankh and both of them are now looking at each other intently. I must say, that for a mortal, you are not bad at all. I like feisty ones like yourself. The situation is grim for the Sheikh, for he know that this creature before him is leagues beyond his ability. Not to mention that for some reason, the name of the creature is quite familiar to his ears. Nonetheless, there are times to think about myths and legends and there are time where survival is the only thing that mattered. Abu Hamza is uncertain as to how he could get out of this matter unscathed. Too bad that even that time, the one that hurt me had help from some spellcasting friends of his. You do not even have a chance to get to me, especially with your Janissary friend bleeding to death. I wanted to laugh at your hopelessness, but I think I should end this. Suddenly the stallion felt his heart is in a tightening vice, and his screams of unbearable pain could not escape his mouth. Shiekh Abu Hamza immediately noticed that there is a crimson glow at his chest, and as he held his chest in pain he could only assume the worst. How does it feel like to have such pain in your heart? I will slowly let you suffer for this. You and your Janissary over there. How beautiful life could have been if you were not forced in this circumstance, but that is why I have to thank you for choosing this path where you are now suffering. As the lights of Sheikh Abu Hamza's vision slowly fades away, he could only wonder if he could explain things to his maker about how he failed. It was then that he heard something Against the snares of demons, Against everyone who meditates injury to me, whether far or near, whether few or with many. Please guide my protection upon those that needs it. Immediately a Jezzail fire could be heard, and suddenly the vice-like grip upon his heart is gone. Abu Hamza gasped for air and as his vision returns he notices that the being's flank is belching smoke, and its attention is now focused at the direction where Amanar was lying. Seizing the chance, the stallion immediately swings his scimitar upwards and the resistance of the blade slicing though the flesh confirmed that the slash is successful. The monster jumped back, realizing that it was hurt. However, as the Sheikh watches the wound from his blade is mending itself. To the Sheikh's surprise, the wound from the jezzail is still smoking and it appears that black ichor is still dripping from the wounds from its flank. Wondering what did Amanar do to warrant such a mortal wound, the stallion turned around to see that the wielder of the jezzail is not his trusted Janissary. It seems that the blood of Asar is still my bane, and those prayers too......very well done my dear, very sneaky. You will pay for this transgression.....I will make sure of it. Suddenly, the figure dissapears in a puff of crimson smoke before reappearing beside the mare. With a swipe of its paws, the figure managed to draw blood from the mare and tore apart one of the mare's wings. The mare's scream snaps the Sheikh into action and immediately he charges the figure with all his might. Remembering what he heard as the mare fired, he started to mutter several incantations of holy prayer as he galloped towards the monster. No corruption shall blemish our world, no immatricial fiend shall be spared. No malevolent spirit will oppose us, no creation of sin shall survive. No unholy deed shall go unpunished, all blasphemous acts shall be atoned. No spawn of misrule avoid us, all are banished to the void. Nothing shall evade our cleansing fire. Everything that the Sheikh sees and perceive are slowed down, and as he watches Lily Petal falling down upon the ground his heart became more and more pained by the exertion upon his body. His muscle aches and protests in pain, but he kempt on moving. He notices the droplets of blood from the paw swipe raining down upon him and the sands below, but they are of little consequence to him as he continued on whispering his prayers. Heavenly blessings are laid upon us, Though sorceries shall be against us, no witchcraft will bring our doom. Though spell or incarnation blocks us, Ishta shall see us victorious. No hex can overcome our determination, our resolve is strong as steel. Sigils and wards watch over us, prayers shall serve as our guide. As the stallion swings his blade upwards, the figure's attention is slowly turning from the mare to him. The glow surrounding the monster's body is slowly glowing brighter and brighter, and the Sheikh knew that he got only one chance to deal a mortal blow at the being.s However, the smirking stare of the monster only serve to tell the Sheikh that his efforts is for naught. It was then that the smirking eye turned into a fearful surprise. The Sheikh saw in this slowing time that his Janissary had grabbed on to the leg of the monster, and immediately the Sheikh decided that this will be the last straw. "There is much darkness awaiting us, yet Ishta lights our path. No despicable trickery will thwart us, no damnation shall bring us low. Though mere mortals in His service, everlasting shall be our true duty. With undaunted courage we shall prevail, We are the Divine Blade!!!!!!!" His blade glowed with a blueish turquoise light and the blade meets its mark once more slicing upwards from the chest of the being to the temple of its head. The creature immediately dissipated in a crimson flash and smoke and the Sheikh slams down on the ground at the same time as the mare. The cries of her child propels the mortally injured mother to crawl to her child with her slowly dissipating strength. Resisting the desire to lay down and rest, the stallion stabs his sword into the sand and pullled himself up. It was then that he saw the extent of the damage that was dealt to the mare. Not only was her wing torn from her body, but the lacerations and the wounds are deep enough that Sheikh Abu Hamza knew that it had hit several vital organs. "Lily, stop! You need to stay still, your wounds are....." The stallion tried to keep her down to her, but he knew that his words fell to deaf ears. It is said that when one is travelling to the other realm, their senses are dulled save that which is the most important to them at the moment. The Sheikh could not help but to shed a tear as he saw the pony slowly crawled to her child. Despite his wounds, Amanar got up and walked towards the mare. Understanding what is going on, Abu Hamza and Amanar lifted her up and brought her closer to her child despite their weakened strength. As they slowly lay the mother next to her child, their body gave way and they could only watch as the mare gently caresses her child and looked at her child with loving eyes, even as the life in her eyes are slowly fading away. The Janissary saw the truly heart-wrenching sight before his eyes and unable to stomach the situation, he turned away. The Sheikh however could not look away. As he watched, the crying of the foal only made it worse. With her dying breath, her soft and slowly fading voice sings a lullaby for her foal. Hush now little baby, you're loved by all you know You'll never lose your comfort, no matter where you go. There ain't no call to worry, so don't you cry or fret. A mother's love won't leave you, No matter where I am. To the Sheikh's amazement, the foal started to calm down and for once as a Sheikh, he shed a tear. A tribute for a mother, whose undying love for her child persevered even as she was passing on to the next realm. The light of life within the mare's eyes was finally gone, put out by the darkness that is death. The Sheikh fell down upon his knees, and dropped his scimitar on the desert floor. He had failed to keep the mare alive, but the failure of not protecting her is amplified by an emotion that he never felt before. His heart was torn asunder by the great loss before his eyes. The stallion could only open his mouth and gasped in pain as he kneeled down, for the pain in his heart was so much that the voice of his wail could not escape from him. A few months later....... Ah Seng is having a very bad business run these days in his curio shop in Shanghay, for these days no pony in their right mind would want to buy mysterious artefacts with mysterious powers with a mysterious past anymore. Ever since that incident in Equestria about how a pony by the name of Trixie have used such an artifact to take over Ponyville, things have soured badly. It does not help that it is a dark and stormy night to make things worse. It was then that the chimes from the door heralded the entry of two mysterious hooded figure. Even though he is not fond of mysterious figures, but then his store thrives on mysterious things that could be of interest to these mysterious figures. "Nǐ hǎo, wǒ néng wéi nǐ zuò ma?" No reply from these figures. They must not speak Shanghaynese. "Herro, how help you?" Ah Seng said in his best Equestrian. Immediately the two figures turned around, and Ah Seng knew that he got some customers. "You rike ritrre jade box?" Immediately one of the hooded figure points towards a dark orb that is in display. Ah Seng immediately surmised that they are interested in something powerful. The shopkeeper identifies it as the "Mysterious Item from Saddle Arabia with A Mysterious Past" that was given to his grandfather by a mysterious figure from Saddle Arabia with the tale that it was a tool used by the founder of Saddle Arabia to unite the nation or something. Ah Seng is quite hazy about that as his grandfather did not tell him the story frequently enough to remember it by heart. "Ah y "Mystelious Item from Saddre Alabia with A Mystelious Past". Very mystelious item-leh." One of the figures pulled down his hood and Ah Seng is now looking at a light brown Sadddle Arabian horse wearing a clothed headdress. To Ah Seng, Saddle Arabians tend to be very annoying customers as they think that they can buy everything as long as they have the money. Of course, in Ah Seng's store, there is another pre-requisite to get the items in the store .Of course, his grandfather did told Ah Seng that no matter what happens, this item should not be sold to anyone unless they are the 'Chosen One'. How this 'Chosen One' is chosen is unknown to Ah Seng, but this is part of his business of mysterious items to not know a lot about anything he sells. "This item no serr. You no Chosen." It was then that the mysterious figure took out what looks like an amulet with finely crafted iconography and soon enough both the item and the orb glowed with a blue-ish turquoise light. To Ah Seng's knowledge, he thinks that doing that to the item is a fair enough requirement for getting the item. Not to mention that the companion threw a big bag of bits at his counter. "Would you rike that gift-wrapped?" The curio shop owner said with a smile on his face. Before the Sheikh could even reply, the curio owner have already started gift-wrapping the artifact. "Milord, what are you planning?" The companion asked the Sheikh as the curio owner gift -wraps the artifact with glee. "Amanar, this will be the first of many things. It is a chess gambit against time, and I intend to win it." Sheikh Abu Hamza said as he watches the rainy night skies above. The pieces needed to create a peaceful Saddle Arable is slowly being collected from around the world by Sheikh Abu Hamza, in loving memory of the one that desires peace the most. Still he would need to get the position of Emir to truly set his plans into place as he knew that the enemies from within that wanted the fall of world is still out there. He will not let the monster destroy the world and also destroy the peace that Lily Petal so desire for her child. This prayer for the living must be fulfilled.