Base of Chimera Plateau, the next day
Archaon growled at his servants, the Chaos Warband he had gathered ready for slaughter. Before they could get to the mountain, however, a force of Pony soldiers blocked the way, spears and magic at the ready.
“Another seeks to bring me to my knees! Another seeks to strike me down, like he is some pathetic hero! Does he think his pathetic army will defeat me?! Or my followers?!” The Everchosen bellowed, to which his followers cried out taunts and hated curses towards the pony army in front of them. “Come, my Swords of Chaos, let us show this weakling Would-Be Hero what I do to heroes! He will see why I am the Lord of the End Times, why I am the Everchosen, and why I will wield the Slayer of Kings!” Rising chorus’s of bloodlust and hatred boomed from the Chaos Horde, echoes of their war cries heard even in the southern realms.
“For Chaos!!!” They cried in unison.
Meanwhile, on the pony front
Sword Blazer stood in front of his army, made up of both trained soldiers from his own regiment, as well as fresh and eager recruits who were picked up along the way. While they had only been taught basic training in how to use their spears, every able pony was needed for the chaotic hordes in front of them. Sword turned to his army.
“Brothers and Sisters!” He yelled, gathering their attention. “Today we bring low the armies of Chaos, and the tyrant Archaon! I am certain all of you have heard of his vile sorcery, as well as what he does to those who fall before him!” Many ponies began muttering to those nearby, nervous. “But today his evil ends! We will crush his armies, and lay low the bastard himself!” The ponies cheered, their morale rising at this speech. “For our homes! For our families! For Equestria!” The ponies all repeated the battle cry, before Sword turned towards the enemy in front of his forces. Just then, a chilling battle cry roared across the battlefield.
“For Chaos!!!!”
“Charge!” Sword yelled, drawing his weapon and rushing towards the Forces of Chaos. He felt rather than heard his ponies following behind him, their hooves shaking the ground below them in their charge.
When they had almost met with the foe, the ponies lowered their spears, impaling many of the frontal abominations that once were called ponies. The battle was on.
Archaon was at the forefront of the army, his shield having broken most of the spears thrusted at him. His sword flashed, cutting the pony in front of him in two, the armor being cleaved through with some resistance, but still utterly futile due to Archaon’s brute strength. He blocked a floating sword aimed for his head, before glancing at where it had come from. Growling, he let loose a massive fireball, burning past many ponies and his own chaos spawn as it smashed into the unicorn that had been using the blade.
Before he could turn, a hammer smashed into his side, knocking him to the ground. Glancing up, he saw that a Pegasus floated over him, the rather small Warhammer in its hooves poised to smash into Archaon’s head.
The Everchosen raised his shield, blocking the death blow, before he stabbed the pegasus with his blade. He glanced to the left to see the Daemon he had bound to his will slicing through anypony who got close enough to feel the wrath of his wings.
“Archaon! You shall meet your doom this day!” A voice yelled, and Archaon turned his head to stare down the leader of the pony army.
“Pathetic worm, you won't even scratch my armor, let alone defeat me!” Archaon growled, stepping forward. “I am the Anointed, the Everchosen of the Dark Gods! What could a weakling equine like you ever do?!” He leapt forward, bringing his blade down on the pony’s head. Before it could connect, however, the blade was stopped by a barrier formed between the two. Archaon stared down at the pony before him, noticing the glowing horn on his head.
“I will stop you!” The unicorn growled, a blast of magic smashing into Archaon, pushing him back. “You will not even get the chance to steal the Slayer of Kings!” He raised his sword, the blade glowing with archaic runes. “I am Sword Blazer, and I shall be your end!”
The Everchosen laughed, stepping back towards him as the runes etched into his helmet glowed. "You believe yourself adequate enough to defeat me?! I have butchered much more powerful opponents while I was young! What hope could you and your pitiful magic have against He who is chosen by the Dark Gods?!” He charged forth, smashing into Sword Blazer as the battle raged around them. Unseen to Sword Blazer, a large portion of his army had broken off, terrified by the foul creatures they had fought. Archaon’s Sorcerer sat in the back, bringing down flaming death upon the foe, or strengthening the Chaos Army.
“If you think you can defeat me, then you shall burn for your arrogance.” Archaon growled, his sword impaling a pony who had tried to attack him. He marched towards Sword Blazer, flames erupting from his blade. “I will take great joy in watching you suffer!”He brought his blade screeching towards Sword, only to be barely blocked by the magic-infused sword the Commander used. Using his magic, Sword pulled a spear from the ground, lost by a dead pony, and thrusted it into Archaon’s leg.
The Everchosen grunted, blood dripping out of the wound. With his focus slackened, Sword pulled his blade away from Archaon’s, and stabbing it into his gut. The Everchosen roared, smashing his blade into Blazer’s side, the blade shaving off his left legs. His sword lost it’s glow as Blazer’s focus shattered, him screaming in pain. Archaon lifted his sword again, rage literally blazing from the orange orbs that were Archaon’s eyes.
“You will die!” Archaon roared, his blade running straight through Sword Blazer’s chest, the flames from his sword catching onto Blazer’s fur. The poor unicorn burst into flames, his screams crying out across the battlefield as his body burned with blazing fire. Archaon removed the sword in his gut, looking at it with a harsh glare before putting it in his shield for now. He looked across the battlefield, noticing the ponies had routed.
The death cries of Sword Blazer had completely broken what little morale they had left. As they ran for their lives, Archaon’s army, their minds filled with bloodlust, chased after them, cutting down any who couldn't run fast enough. Archaon watched them flee, even as his blood slowly dripped out of the gash in his armor, before his body began to heal itself with dark magics. His sorcerer slowly trotted towards him.
“My lord, shall we make for Chimera Plateau?” He asked, his gaze trailing towards the mountain looming before them.
“Yes, Sorcerer. No simple wound shall keep me from my prize. Gather them up and have them begin the march to the top.” Archaon growled, gesturing to his horde, which was currently sacrificing some of the captured soldiers, while others began eating them.
“Yes, my lord. When do we make the trip to the southern nations?” The sorcerer asked as Archaon turned and began stomping towards the mountain, ripping out the spear in his leg.
“Once we finish up here.” Archaon growled. The sorcerer grinned.
“As you wish, my lord.”
Three hours later
“Go, my followers! Bring ruin and slaughter to the enemy!” Archaon roared, his blade biting into the hide of another Chimera. True to the name and legend, the climb up the mountain was filled with a multitude of chimera. The hated beasts had scored a large tally on Archaon’s army, and they were hardly halfway up the mountain. At this rate, the only one who would reach the top was Archaon.
The Everchosen ducked under a clawed swipe from another chimera, raising his blade and severing the claw from its leg. The creature roared, it's scorpion tail swinging forward in an attempt to impale Archaon. He blocked the tail with his shield, before delivering the death blow by stabbing it in the head. The creature fell to the ground in a heap as Archaon turned to look at his army. They were being butchered by the chimeras, the beasts killing at average five of Archaon’s troops before falling.
The Everchosen rushed into the fray, his sword separating a chimera’s head from its torso as it lunged at him. The battle continued on like this for a while, until the chimeras pulled back, leaving the exhausted army be for the time being. Archaon looked at his forces again, before coming to a decision.
“My servants!” He roared, earning their attention, “This battle has been fought long and hard, but we even now run low on you meatbags!”They looked to each other in confusion. “That is why I want all but my Chosen to return to the ground below. I want you to find another town and to capture any and all ponies you can find for my return.” The warriors nodded, before Archaon began pointing at select soldiers who had made names for themselves in this climb and the battle previously.
After about five minutes of this, Archaon resumed the climb, along with a mere thirty of his Chosen, as well as the Daemon.
As they climbed, one of the Chosen walked closer to Archaon.
“M-my lord?” The earth pony asked, and Archaon’s gaze turned to him.
“Speak, Chosen. Do not waste my time with your stuttering.”
“Y-yes, my lord. I merely wished to know why, when we were getting slaughtered when we were at full strength, why you sent all but thirty of us back down the mountain?” The Chosen asked, looking at Archaon in fear.
“It is because only you thirty are truly worthy to climb this mountain.” Archaon growled, "Only you thirty have shown true promise to the Dark Gods. And should you survive the rest of the climb, you will have earned your places by my side. And only the greatest of you will become my Exalted, a champion of the Dark Gods!” Archaon raised his sword high in the air, and the Chosen cheered.
Spirits high once again, the Chosen marched, beating back the chimeras that assaulted them. During that fight, five of the Chosen died, their corpses forgotten by their brethren in the quest for glory.
As they neared the top, only ten remained.
Archaon bashed his shield into the chimera before him, staggering it as he brought his blade down on it. The creature staggered, before collapsing under his blade. Archaon glanced to his troops, seeing that they had quickly dealt with the other four chimeras. Nodding in satisfaction, he continued climbing, the rocky path soon turning to stone stairs. As Archaon reached the top, a condescending voice called down.
“You finally made it. I was wondering when I would get to meet you.” The snake-like creature said, it's body curled around a sword. It raised its lion’s paw in greeting. “Welcome, ‘Everchosen’. I am Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony!” The creature, now identified as Discord, said, snapping his chicken-like claws. A barrier formed around the two, sealing off Archaon’s Chosen from the summit.
“So, are you another fool who wishes to challenge me?” Archaon asked, drawing his blade. The odd creature chuckled, suddenly appearing on Archaon’s shoulder.
“Well, I wouldn't call myself a fool, but I am challenging you. After all, I ruled this land before you showed up. There can only be one Chaotic being here, and that's me!” Discord said disappearing in a flash of light, only to reappear in front of Archaon, wearing what looked like armor made from some sort of brown board. He raised the obviously fake sword towards Archaon. “Now, en garde, as the locals say.”
Archaon struck first, charging Discord with his blade, aiming to stab him and end this quickly. However, The Spirit of Chaos vanished once again, replaced by a strange looking pillow with an image of a female on it. Archaon’s blade ripped through it, and Discord’s voice cried out.
“Oh no! You just stabbed Mai Waifu! We were to be married tomorrow!” Discord reappeared, tears in his eyes as he cuddled the large pillow. Archaon growled.
“You dare mock me so?! I shall tear you apart and feed your entrails to the chimeras!”He roared, releasing a fireball. The burning ball slammed directly into Discord, but when the smoke vanished, he was still there, only with ridiculously poofed up hair.
“Oh come on! Do you know how long it took me to get my hair all ready for today?” Discord asked in mock anger. “It took me seconds! Entire seconds! And now look at what you have done! That's it, time out corner for you!” Discord snapped his fingers, the summit suddenly turned into white walls, with Archaon sitting in a chair staring at a wall.
The Everchosen roared, fire burning away the room, before staring down at Discord. Enough games, vermin! I shall end this!” He thrust forward, his blade barely managing to connect with the Spirit of Chaos’s body, but still doing enough damage to hurt him.
“Yeeeooowch!” Discord jumped, smoke flowing from his rear, before he ran over to a conveniently placed bucket of water. He sat down in it, the fire being snuffed out. “Oooh, that's much better.” He glared at Archaon. “Okay, fine. We will do this the old fashioned way!”
Purple smoke burst from his body, enveloping the entire area in purple fog. When it finally dissipated, where once the chimera-like Spirit of Chaos once stood, now stood a beast even worse than him. Two large wings sprouted from its hunched back, with a bird head as its face. Claws gripped onto a large staff, while its clawed legs stuck into the ground. Archaon’s eyes widened as he realized what he was truly facing: a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch.
“Now then, Archaon, I hate to use this form, but it's the easiest way to deal with you.” The Greater Daemon said, it's voice seemingly coming from all around Archaon. “It's nothing personal, but it's still pretty personal.” Discord raised his staff, arcane energy forming around it. Before Archaon could blink, a wave of immaterial energy blasted into him, knocking him to the floor after ramming past something.
As Discord stood above him, ready to strike the final blow, Archaon grabbed his sword, before stabbing Discord in the side. The Daemon gasped, dropping its staff as it clutched the wounded side.
“Wh-when did you grab the Slayer of Kings??” It asked, jumping back. Archaon glanced at the blade in his hand, and saw that it was indeed the Slayer of Kings. Archaon got back up, stepping forward and pointing the blade at Discord, the flames burning around it almost as bright as a sun.
“Remember this, Daemon. I am The Everchosen! No foe, not even a Greater Daemon, can stop me! I am he who wields the Slayer of Kings, and this world shall bow before me!”
“Rrrgh! I will get my revenge next time! Your too much of a bother as it is!” Discord growled, before disappearing in a flash of light. Archaon sighed, lowering the blade, and sheathing it. The barrier fell, and Archaon’s Chosen ran towards him.
“My lord, have you retrieved the Slayer of Kings?” The one from before asked.
“Of course I have!” Archaon barked, “I am the Everchosen! Nothing could stop me from my victory!”
“Of course, my lord!” The Chosen nodded. “Shall we return to the base of the mountain? I am certain the rest of your horde has gathered quite the collection of prisoners.”
“Yes.” Archaon nodded, stepping towards the steps.
A few hours later
“My followers!” Archaon yelled, standing upon a large outcropping in the terrain, allowing him to stand above the entire camp. “The battle for Chimera Plateau, while costly, was a success!”He drew his blade, pointing it towards the sky. “Hear me, world! I am Archaon, Everchosen of the Dark Gods, Lord of the End Times, and he who wields the Slayer of Kings!” He roared, earning cheers from the horde. "You may try to stop me with your weakling armies, but in the end, you will all fall before my wrath! I come for all! I shall not discriminate in my slaughter!” He stabbed the blade into the ground. "Let the End Times begin!!”
“BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!” His horde yelled.