The next day…
I woke up in my bed; see Rainbow and Trixie cuddled up with me. I smiled and waited for a few minutes before they began to wake up. When they did, I looked down on them and smiled.
“Hello ladies. Did you love the night?”
They nodded. Trixie had the expression like she just came out of the most wonderful dream in her life. Rainbow was similar and I mentally smirked, still seeing that I had not lost my touch. We began to get up and took a shower together. When we finished, we began to put on clothes. Trixie wore something similar to the Dark Apprentice’s outfit. Rainbow wore militia armor and I wore my Darth Revan armor, but without the hood and mask. We went outside and see a large battalion of Vamponies and we see Twilight among them. She was wearing her newly made armor that I crafted for her and the other vamponies wore armor similar the Skyrim Vampire armor. But the color of each armor was a rank in the army. The black armor made them out to be soldiers who specializes in melee and close combat. The Grey armor made them out to be mages who specializes in lightning magic and their traditional Vampiric Drain. And those who wore red armor were battle mages who specialized in both melee and close combat along with their magical skills of Vampiric Drain. Our battalion armor was 600, not counting Twilight. There were an equal number of 200 for each warrior, mage, and battle mage. I got on the stage and looked down to the group.
“My fellow brethren; I called you all here because an ancient enemy of ours has returned. Havoc the Unholy has awoke from his imprisonment in Tartarus!” The was a lot of growls in the crowd. The name of their ancient enemy was, indeed, still fresh in their memory. “But this time, we will bring an end to him. Forever!” There was a bunch of cheering “To secure our victory, we must make sure he receives NO reinforcements to break him out of the pit of chaos! To achieve this, I have called forth you all to help me make sure he doesn’t! Our scouts have reported that his unholy spells, the Reanimation Spell, has spread all across Equestria. Now, the souls of the dead are now bounded to his will until Havoc is defeated once again! Ghouls under his command are running amok under his control. We have to slaughter them like the dogs they are until there is no more left to come to the Unholy Tyrant’s beckoning call!” They all cheered; including Twilight, Trixie, and Rainbow. “You all know your squads! Group up and spread across Equestria, leave no signs of Havoc’s so called ‘army’!”
The vamponies cheered and grouped up. Once they grouped up, they went to a MAAT (The new gunships created by the Phantom Consortium), and took off, looking for Havoc’s undead army.
When there was one MAAT left, I grouped up with my group. There was Trixie, Rainbow, me, Twilight, and six troops left; 2 warriors, 2 mages, and 2 Battle Mages.
“Alright, let’s go hunt down some Ghouls and Lichs.”
They nodded and we went to the gunship. I was the pilot, my two gunners were both battle mages. We took off, out of the shield, and went to search the land of Equestria.
Five minutes later…
Twilight replied “I still can’t believe that you are Danny’s new apprentice. What happened to Brutwilight Sharple?”
“She completed her training but unlike Dusk, she took off to rejoin Team Insanity, leaving Danny like it was nothing. So, when Charming was training Moondancer, I was left with no one. But then, it was Danny who found me and began to train me as his new apprentice. While my training is almost complete, when I became one of his mates, I vowed to never leave him like Sharple did.” Trixie explained to Twilight with a smile.
Twilight replied “I see… Well, good luck then, Trixie. I’ll bet Danny is very happy to have you by his side.”
Rainbow asked “Hey Twilight, are you feeling lonely without Charming to hold and protect you?”
Twilight looks down to the ground and sighs.
Twilight began to say “When I married Charming, I felt so ready for anything but there were times when I felt like I was holding him back. I felt like I was always the damsel in need for his help and there was nothing I could do to help him. To be perfectly honest… I felt weak and pathetic to help Charming.” Then she looked up to them and smiled “But when I became a Vampony Lord by complete accident, I began to think that it was destiny was granting my long waited wish to actually grow strong and powerful. So strong and powerful that I could protect and help Charming in his battles.”
They smiled warmly and I, who had recorded the whole speech, took the recording and placed it on a disk. I began to receive a transmission and opened it, revealing Charming.
“What’s up brother?”
Charming replied “I’m at the frontier at the Crystal Empire, we’ve spotted a large battalion of 700 Scourge Troops coming this way. We could use some tactical information.”
“The horrifying Undead army, called the Scourge, consists of thousands of walking corpses, disembodied spirits, damned mortal ponies and insidious extra-dimensional entities. The Scourge was created by the Burning Legion for the sole purpose of sowing terror across the world in anticipation of the Legion's inevitable invasion. The Undead was formally ruled by Ner'zhul, the Lich King, who lords over the icy realm of Northrend from his frozen throne. Ner'zhul commanded the terrible plague of undeath, which he sends ever southward into Lordaeron. As the plague encroaches on the southlands, more and more ponies fall prey to Ner'zhul's mental control and life-draining sickness every day. In this way, Ner'zhul has swelled the ranks of the already considerable Scourge. The Undead employ necromantic magics and the elemental powers of the cold north against their enemies. That is what the way; before Arthas took control and Ner’zhul became Arthas’s adviser. I’ll have to look it up later.”
“Do you know their forces?” Charming asked.
“I have some files of them. Give me the images.”
A group of undead bio scanned figures appeared. There was the Ghoul, Crypt Fiend, Meat Wagon, Abomination, Obsidian Statue, and Necromancer.
Charming asked “Well?”
“Alright. I’ll tell you all about them. First is the Ghoul.”
“Ghouls are the basic warriors of the Undead Scourge. These lumbering, rotting corpses were once Zombies that have made the final transition into true 'undeath'. Ghouls have great stamina and revel in combat with living beings. Ghouls are ravenous cannibals who can regenerate their wounds by eating the flesh of fallen warriors.”
Charming had the look like he was going to barf “Oh Celestia… That is just sickening…”
“Next is the Crypt Fiend. Crypt Fiends are large, mummified creatures who appear to be a genetic cross between minotaurs and spiders. Their lower bodies are supported by six spindly arachnid limbs and their heavily bandaged torsos are minotaur in form, without horns though. The cunning Crypt Fiends were once the lords of the ancient spider kingdom of Azjol-Nerub that spanned the entirety of Northrend in ancient times. However, the Crypt Fiends' power base was destroyed by the Lich King, Ner'zhul, when he and his undead Scourge took control of the frozen continent. Now the Crypt Fiends command their spider underlings in the name of their master, Ner'zhul. These aberrant creatures are capable of summoning swarms of vile insects and projecting web-like strands to incapacitate and harm their enemies.”
Charming groaned “Oh great, spiders… why does it have to be spiders?”
“That is the least of your worries. One of the strangest and most dire tools utilized by the undead Scourge is the dreaded Meat Wagon. This rickety contraption is used to collect and store recently slain corpses from the field of battle. At any time, corpses can be pulled from the Meat Wagon and raised into undead warriors. The Meat Wagon can also 'fling' diseased corpses at enemy units by use of a crude catapult device. An invaluable support vehicle for the Scourge, the Meat Wagon strikes fear and woe into the hearts of even the most resolute defenders. Also, they make wonderful siege tanks against buildings and bases.”
“Wow… so we were to be hit by diseased corpses. That is not the most terrifying thing I have seen yet.” Charming said.
“That is not it yet. The twisted, mutilated bodies of the Abominations are comprised of multiple dead limbs and body parts from various corpses. These enormous warriors love to carve flesh and tear their enemies apart. The slow moving and slow-witted Abominations constantly drip blood behind them and smell like a disease ridden slaughterhouse. They carry large cleavers into combat and wield various sickle-bladed hooks on their disproportionate limbs.”
That sent a shiver down Charming’s spine.
Charming replied, sounding at the edge of barfing “Even more sickening… the Scourge are so ruthless.”
“Fortified statue that can regenerate the health and mana of nearby friendly units. Can research Destroyer Form. Believed to be gifts granted by Ner'zhul, the Obsidian Statues are often used as figureheads at the forefront of many Undead armies, inspiring awe and fear in the enemy ranks. Nothing can prepare the enemy for what this unfathomable statue could become. Attacks land and air forces. And to add to it is it’s Destroyer form. Large flying creature that must consume magic to sustain its mana. Breaking free of the obsidian stone that holds them, these monstrous creatures roar into battle, swallowing magic to feed their insatiable hunger as they move between battles and rain destruction down upon their foes. Has Spell Immunity. Attacks land and air units. In this form, the Destroyer works very well against Spell Casters like Unicorns.”
Charming rolled his eyes “Oh great, an enemy with anti-spell caster creatures that can act like Tirek…”
“And the last one is the one that normally turns the tide of the battle; The Necromancer. Though they retained their Ponity after making a pact with death, Necromancers became the most terrifying agents of the Scourge. These dark, insidious ponies were once thought to be aspiring geniuses by the Magocracy of Equestria. However, their insatiable lust to delve into the secrets of the dark arts drove them to forsake their very souls. Ner'zhul, the Lich King, granted these malevolent sorcerers true power over the dead in exchange for their loyalty and obedience. The shadowy Necromancers have the power to command various types of Undead and even spread the foul undead plague as well. They have the ability to raise the dead into Skeleton Warriors and Mages.”
“You are right; they are the turning point of a battle.” Charming nodded, understanding their role.
“Yes, but each army has a commander. So there has to be a commander of this battalion.”
That was when I see a pony appear on the transmission.
Pony Soldier saluted to Charming and reported “My King, we have spotted a leader. He looks like a skeleton-looking earth pony.”
The image was put on the screen and I could see it.
“Oh yes, A Death Knight.”
Charming looked at me “You know anything about these ‘Death Knights’?”
“Death Knights were once virtuous defenders of Ponity. However, once the Paladin ranks were disbanded by the failing Alliance, many of these holy warriors traveled to the quarantined lands to ease the suffering of those left within the plague-ridden colonies. Though the Paladins were immune to disease of any kind, they were persecuted by the general populace who believed that they had been infected by the foul plague. A small band of Paladins, embittered by society's cruelty, traveled north to find the plague's source. These renegade Paladins succumbed to bitter hatred over the course of their grueling quest. When they finally reached Ner'zhul's icy fortress in Northrend they had become dark and brooding. The Lich King offered them untold power in exchange for their services and loyalty. The weary, vengeful warriors accepted his dark pact, and although they retained their ponity, their twisted souls were bound to his evil will for all time. Bestowed with black, vampiric Runeblades, Death Knights serve as the Scourge's mightiest generals.”
Charming put a hoof on his chin and began to think “So, Arthas is using Death Knights to lead his armies.”
“He has about only three Death Knights left, as were the others were murdered back during the Battle of the Frozen Throne. To the appearance of this one, I would guess his name is Lord Darkhallow.”
Charming asked “Anything should I know about him?”
“He was a Paladin formerly known as Malak the Avenger. Malak was a war hero back then and when his final battle came, instead of killing him, Arthas; who was a Death Knight back then, turned him into a Death Knight as well. His new name; Lord Darkhallow, and his new legion was well famous for slaughtering bases. During the Battle of the Frozen Throne, most of his legion was wiped out by Celestia’s army and the Alliance’s remnants. No doubt he went into hiding with some other Death Knights and waited for their master to return. Now, when the newly Lich King Arthas, he and the survivors came out of hiding and returned to their master’s side. Darkhallow was well known for leading assaults. His favorites the Abominations as his warriors so his legion was known for destroying enemy legions.”
“So, he prefers to lead assaults with his army…” Charming said his thoughts outloud.
“That’s not all. The Runeblades act like a Lightsaber, so it won’t be easy to defeat him. All of the Death Knights have a common powers and abilities. The first one is known as “Death Coil”. This attack is able to heal undead and can kill severely damaged living. The next one is known as “Death Pact”. It heals the Death Knight while giving him a buff in his strength but at the cost of an undead creature. The more powerful the creature, the better heal and strength the Death Knight gets. The next one is known as “Unholy Aura”. This aura can increase speed and regeneration for both the Death Knight and his nearby undead minions. And finally, a Death Knight’s ultimate power, “Animate Dead”. This power raises six dead bodies. The power raises up the most powerful body. Also, this power makes the animated body invulnerable. So, it’s useless to fight them. The best course of action is to run, since this power does have a time limit.”
Charming nodded.
Charming replied with a smile “Thanks for the information brother. I’m glad to have you as my brother.”
I nodded and smiled.
“See you later. Oh, and I’ll have to give you something.”
Before Charming could ask what it was, I ended the transmission. I began to receive dark magic sources and knew it was Havoc’s spell in work again. I alter course in hopes of intercepting that force before it can go anywhere.
