//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Into the League // by Seth Typofather //------------------------------// Running through the streets of Canterlot in the dead of night, a unicorn panted heavily while keeping an eye over his shoulder. It seemed that no matter how fast or far he ran, this creature was always a little bit closer. A mumbling echoed through the alleyways. “One, two, three, four, two, three four…” The creature’s appearance was of a lanky bipedal man, however with what seemed to be mechanical legs and a mechanical arm. It held a gun which it spun with grace and precision, the mechanical hand holding what appears to be a longer barrel. Taking aim, it shot, a thunderous sound crackling through the air. Under the mask, it grinned knowing it just hit its target’s leg to slow them down. “You can’t escape your final act. I, Jhin, shall make you perfect.” Taking a wrong turn, the unicorn finally hit a wall, his wound bleeding. Panting frantically for an exit, he saw none, only three walls and an entrance echoing with humming. Stepping into view, Jhin spun the gun and put it away. The unfortunate pony breathed heavily, his heartbeat quickening as Jhin strode with a sort of grace. “You shall make a particularly interesting piece of work, an art only deserving of my hands and devices to mould,” he chuckled, sadism lacing every word. Swinging a mechanical hand forth, the virtuoso threw a closed lotus blossom which attached to the pony’s chest. “I have risen from the filth and muck.” Jhin spun on his heel to face away, throwing the longer barrel behind him where it landed upright. The device clicked, petals opening slowly while spinning rapidly, the unicorn attempted pulling it off to no avail. “Take it off…take it off!!!” “I am the lotus blossom.” He threw a rose into the barrel perfectly. “Please! No!” “I…” The barrel blew the rose up into the air, petals and all floating gracefully. “NO-!” An explosion of blood-coated petals and petal shaped shrapnel blew everywhere, filling the air with a dark, serene peace. “…am beauty.” “So we’re dealing with a soul stealing ghost, a mountain troll, a serial killer, an ice witch and… what was the last one again?” Twilight scribbled down the names on a notebook, her brow furrowed. “We forgot his name,” Ashe replied sheepishly. “But without a doubt he is more dangerous." Teemo added, “Nasty guy.” Twilight stomped her hoof, seething. “Whatever the heck that was, I’m not letting it get away with trying to harvest the souls of my friends…!” “You might want to wait for Lucian first, he has a bone to pick with Thresh.” “Please tell me he’s an ally,” mumbled Rarity. “He has a habit of cold shouldering people, but he’s an ally,” Tryndamere answered, yawning. “I’m tired, g’night.” Getting up he threw himself into an empty bed much the the annoyance of all in the room. “You know, he’s right,” yawned Twilight, clambering into her bed. “I’d rather wake up fresh to talk about this with Celestia.” “You would be surprised how often my sister craves cake in the night,” Luna chuckled. Celestia scoffed, “Coming from ‘little miss cookie mix’?” “You two need new hobby,” suggested Braum, taking a sip of tea from the comically small cup. “Maybe find boyfriend?” “Believe me, they’ve tried,” said Cadence. “The last guy wasn’t very… ahem, eligible.” “All I suggested was roleplay…” mumbled the sovereign of the sun, her sister giggling. In between giggles, Luna added, “It involved a royal guard uniform and a very tight latex officer uniform.” “I think I’m gonna be sick…” Lucian grumbled under his breath, unheard over the laughing. “Do not worry, one day you will find the one, after all, you have good relationship with your sister. Not many can say that without- Little Arrow, manners.” Braum arched his eyebrow to the Poro who was scarfing down biscuits, it licked at the empty plate before looking up at the two sisters with button eyes and a purr. “Hah, with eyes like that who could begin to be mad at him?” “How do you even know what gender they are?” Enquired Celestia, cuddling the adorable ball of fluff. "Don't hog the affection, dear sister!" “They tell me,” he replied with a grin which raised his moustache. It was no surprise to Lucian, however the rest in the room found it odd he could communicate with such a newly discovered species in Equestria. “Your weapons though, they radiate some sort of magic.You don’t mind sharing what they do specifically?” Luna stared at the two human’s weapons, Braum’s shield resting by his side and Lucian’s guns placed to the side by his plate. “My guns were carved from a relic stone, they fire purifying bolts of light that destroy the evil it touches.” He pointed to one. “This one, it belonged to my wife before that bastard Thresh took her soul, one day I hope to use that very gun to free her and all the others he has trapped.” An awkward silence grew at the table as Luna chewed slowly on a biscuit. Braum broke the silence finally. “My shield is actually from door that was part of mountain prison, unbreakable. So I broke the mountain around it with my own two hands!” The strongman let out a hearty laugh. “My knuckles felt sore, but it was worth it to save little troll boy from starving in trap.” “So you’re a hero where you live?” Celestia asked with interest. He rested back in his seat, pondering the question. “I don’t like to, as you say, toot my own horn. But my time has come and gone like the years, I am only a hero to those in need. Not for fame, not for glory, but just to do the right thing to make someone’s life a little better.” Satisfied with his own answer, he leaned forward. “How old are you exactly?” Lucian asked. Braum counted on his fingers, mumbling numbers including moon calendars. It has been a long time since he had celebrated his own birthday, too busy travelling lands and helping Ashe with trying to settle disputes between the Avarosa and Winter’s Claw. His last birthday was during a meeting between Ashe and Sejuani, at least a week ago. “If memory serves correctly, a couple of centuries. Give or take.” “So that means you must be hundreds of years old… how are you not dying of old age?” Shining Armour finally spoke up. Sighing, Braum knew there was no hiding from the truth. “I am an Iceborn, an immortal warrior to serve some monsters called ‘Frozen Watchers’. I would rather die than serve them.” “How come you’ve never told Ashe?” Lucian enquired. “Some things should be best untold.” Clearing her throat, Celestia stood. “Now that we have the formalities out the way, a strange thing happened just this morning. Before I had to raise the sun, saw flaming prints in the grass. Flaming prints…and heard angry screaming.” “Oh boy…” Lucian grumbled, knowing who that sounded like. “You know what it is? My magical royal guard managed to track it down and capture the creature. Please, tell me if you do know it.” The sovereign of the sun nodded to her nearest guard who nodded in response. The guard left the room for what felt like an hour, the silence slowly being broken by the sound of roaring flames. Flickering orange light replaced the light of the candles which dissipated, throwing the room into darkness. A magical sphere floated in, held aloft by four royal unicorn guards. Inside the sphere sat a charred figure, sitting cross-legged and resting its arms on their knees. Various areas of the creature’s body glowed red, especially the top of the head. Raising its head, the monster inside grinned with an eruption of flames from their body. “More to cleanse…” Throwing his chair back, Lucian stood and aimed his guns. “Don’t move a damn inch, Brand.”