Chapter 13 - ...of the Shadow of Death...
As the wail intensifies, a black orb forms at the end of the cannon. With one final button-press by the crew the orb is launched overhead and toward the barrier before them. The force knocks back all ground forces both friendly and hostile as the magical projectile slams into the barrier. A good sized hole opens but quickly begins to shrink as Arc turns to the others.
“Gather round!”
They quickly do so as he charges up his magic. With a final grunt Arc Blinks them all through the now exposed front doors of Light’s Hope just before the barrier reforms. Shining Armor grins and calls out.
“General Shining Armor to the Griffon Kingdom forces. Our team is in. You may begin your offensive.”
He turns to look at the sky as innumerable griffons take flight from the ships overhead and careen down toward the enemy. Joining the Equestrian vanguard, they aid the Earth Ponies in holding back the enemy’s advance with Gestal and Ghaleon in the lead.
“Let none pass!”
Ghaleon grins as he slams into an enemy soldier. “No mercy!”
Turning to the Unicorns, Shining Armor calls out new orders.
“All Unicorns pick targets ahead of our forces and fire at will! We have to buy time for the infiltration party!”
They nod and begin firing magical blasts as Shining Armor looks to the base and muses to himself.
“Be careful in there. All of you.”
Meanwhile, Arc and his friends reappear in the Main Hall of Light’s Hope. However none of them speak as they look around them. Innumerable Royal Guards lie all around the room unmoving. Massive amounts of blood covers their armor, the floor, and even the walls. Eventually Arc grits his teeth and turns to the others.
“Check for signs of life in here.”
They fan out and examine the guards one at a time. Ember calls out.
“I’ve got nothing over here.”
Ashe sighs. “Same.”
Sereb growls. “The scent of Kane is on them!”
Twilight sighs as she steps away from a body. “But… but why would they DO this to them?”
Arc frowns. “I wonder that myself.”
“Big Brother, I have an idea.”
Hammer looks over. “You have something?”
“Just a bit of an experiment really. But I need one of these guard’s armor removed and them on their back first.”
Rolling a dead guard over, Arc removes the stallion’s armor and tosses it aside. Scootaloo pulls the stallion’s eyelid back and looks at his pupils. Putting her head to his chest she listens intently.
“No heartbeat and he’s not breathing.”
Ashe rolls her eyes. “I could have told you that.”
Ember frowns. “What exactly are you looking for, Scarlet Filly?”
“Answers. He’s cool to the touch but I wonder just how much so.”
Turning to Arc, she continues.
“Can I see your knife, Big Brother?”
Drawing the guardanium knife Arc gives it to her. Turning back to the dead guard, Scootaloo plunges it into their belly and slices it open. Ashe gasps.
“What are you DOING?!”
Hammer puts a hand on her shoulder. “Trust her.”
Twilight nods as she turns away. “Y-yes.”
Scootaloo cuts through the skin, fat, and muscles of the stallion. Arc steps forward and removes his gauntlet as he kneels down. Reaching inside the body he sighs.
“Very warm.”
Ember raises an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Sereb growls as he looks around. “That he was killed very recently.”
Twilight gasps. “But the real question now is ‘why’.”
Ashe grimaces. “Right. Killing your Honor Guards is like cutting your own lifeline while hanging off a cliff with two broken wings.”
Scootaloo looks down the corridor. “Let’s see if we can get the shield down.”
Ember grins as she holds her spear tightly. “Good idea. Then we can get reinforcements.”
Arc stands and motions for the others to follow him. “This way. The controls are in my office.”
Leading the way, Arc silently walks the familiar halls with the others. More bodies line the corridor but do not require any verification to determine their life signs. Eventually they come to the War Room. Arc turns to the others.
“My office is in a room beyond this door.”
Ashe steps forward. “So, let’s go.”
Hammer holds out an arm. “Hold your horses!”
Twilight frowns. “Really?”
“Sorry princess.”
Ember points a claw. “It’s likely that’s where Decimus is.”
Scootaloo grins wickedly. “And Princess Celestia too if we’re lucky.”
Ashe pulls her sword and shield. “Gaston… he and his allies will pay for this massacre!”
Sereb growls. “Along with my brother and his misguided rider!”
Arc puts his hands on the doors and turns back. “Everyone ready?”
They nod. Taking a deep breath, Arc pushes the doors open wide. Finding the furniture pushed to the side of the room, he spots Decimus and Gaston standing in front of Princess Celestia whom is chained unceremoniously to the floor and not moving. Twilight gasps and moves to rush forward. Seeing her intention Arc grabs her by the tail and pulls her back.
“Twilight, NO!”
Decimus grins wickedly. “Welcome, Hero of Light Arc. It’s been a long time.”
Arc seethes. “Not long enough, you MONSTER!”
Ember points a spear at him. “Release the princess and come quietly!”
Ashe nods as she takes up a battle ready stance. “Do so and we may yet show mercy!”
Sereb snarls. “That or resist. Please… resist.”
Scootaloo steps forward calmly. “Captain Decimus.”
Decimus smiles at her. “Scarlet Filly. I had heard rumors that you were working with these fools, but I did not believe them.”
“As you can see it’s true.”
“Why though? You have so much more potential.”
“Because it was just the right thing to do.”
Decimus shakes his head. “I see that Arc’s idealism has rubbed off on you, little one. You could have been something far greater than I one day.”
Ember narrows her eyes. “She still will be!”
Sereb bares his teeth. “Indeed. But you will not live to see it.”
Gaston chuckles. “Now, now. No need for further violence.”
Arc nods soberly. “Agreed. So just turn Princess Celestia over to us and surrender.”
Decimus shakes his head. “It’s not nearly that simple.”
Hammer levels her gun at Decimus. “Oh believe me, it is.”
Gaston motions to the unconscious mare chained to the floor with his talon. “We still need her to maintain control over this land.”
Decimus shrugs. “There are other avenues we could take, of course. But this is the simplest one.”
Twilight points a hoof. “Release my friend, Decimus! That’s a direct order!”
“An order from a junior princess to the Hero of Light amounts to little more than dust.”
Ashe seethes. “That goes for you too, Gaston! Stop this at once!”
“Oh, believe me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Ember spreads her wings. “You will. Straight into a BOX!”
She lunges at Gaston, spear at the ready. Ashe joins her in going after the griffon traitor as Decimus laughs and turns to Scootaloo.
“Let’s make this interesting, eh?”
Holding up a hoof, he casts a dark spell. A barrier shoots out from his body and pushes Arc and company away. However it allows Scootaloo and Celestia to pass through and remain inside. She turns to run to the perimeter but finds herself trapped inside. Arc calls out angrily.
“DECIMUS!!!”
Twilight pounds on the barrier with her hooves. “LET HER GO!”
Decimus smiles wickedly. “Oh, believe me I will. After I’m done with her.”
Sereb roars. “MONSTER! SHE’S JUST A FILLY!”
Decimus turns to Scootaloo. “Now then… shall we dance, my dear?”
Scootaloo nods soberly. “You know what… yes.”
She reaches into her cloak and pulls out the guardanium knife as she mutters to herself.
“Good thing I didn’t give this back yet.”
Decimus chuckles. “An appropriate weapon for one such as you.”
“Scarlet Filly!”
“Yes, Big Brother?”
Arc clenches a fist. “Kick his ass.”
Scootaloo grins under her cloak. “Oh believe me, I will.”
Decimus pulls a small knife and charges toward the filly. She dodges nimbly as the stallion turns back to her.
“Very good, my dear! Use that agility against a foe of superior size and strength!”
Scootaloo grimaces as she mutters to herself again. “That’s about all I can do right now.”
Arc turns to Ashe and Ember. “You two need a hand with…?!”
He is cut off as Ember pins Gaston to the wall with her spear. Ashe lunges forward and buries her own blade deep in his chest. Gasping, his body goes limp as Ember retrieves her weapon to allow the body to fall unceremoniously to the floor as she grins wickedly.
“THAT was for what you did to Arc, scum!”
Ashe nods angrily. “And the Griffon Kingdom, you pig!”
They return to Arc and Sereb’s side as Twilight kneels down next to Celestia from outside the barrier and speaks words of encouragement to her.
“Don’t worry, Princess Celestia. We’ll be out of here soon enough.”
Decimus knocks Scootaloo against the barrier with a well-placed buck to the face. She falls to the floor and does not rise. Sereb grits his teeth.
“Get up, little one!”
Arc pounds a gauntlet on the barrier. “Don’t give up! You can beat him!”
Decimus shakes his head as he walks over to the fallen figure. He smiles wickedly as he speaks.
“Young fool. You could have been great… if not for the company you kept.”
He turns to Arc and smiles as he raises his knife. Arc gasps.
“NO!”
Bringing the blade down with all his might, he hears it clang loudly. Feeling his knife hit the hard floor beneath, he looks down to see an empty robe. A split second later a splitting pain rips through his gut. Looking down Decimus spies a growing pool of blood. Smiling weakly, he falls on top of Scootaloo and mutters.
“Well… done… my dear. Well don… indeed.”
The barrier falls as Arc along with the others rush in to help. Shoving Decimus’ body off of her Arc falls to his knees over top of the stallion and glares at him.
“Decimus! I need to know something!”
“What could you possibly…?”
“Tell me… why did Sunset Shimmer blow up those buildings in Manehattan?!”
Decimus smiles weakly. “So you figured it out, huh?”
Arc grabs the stallion by the front of his leather armor. “TELL ME!!!”
Decimus chuckles. “Very well. We needed to put all the pieces in the right places.”
“What are you TALKING about?!”
“This whole plan… is one big game. Like chess really.”
Arc growls. “A… game?”
Ember moves to step forward but Ashe holds out a talon. Turning to the griffin Ember sees her shake her head silently as Decimus continues.
“Unlike you, fool, we look at the larger picture. For you see, if Equestria is to be saved… certain sacrifices must be made.”
“Sacrifices?!”
“For the greater good. By letting a few go, a much larger number will be…”
Arc cries out angrily as he slams Decimus down on the floor. “LETTING A FEW GO?!”
Decimus gasps through the pain. “Y-yes. Don’t you see? It’s completely logical to…”
“To cast off those whom aren’t necessary?!”
“Something like that, yes. Everypony is expendable when it all comes down to it.”
“Mares and stallions?!”
“Yes.”
“And… fillies?!”
Decimus frowns. “What are you…?”
He is cut off as a blow from Arc’s fist catches his jaw. Blood flows from his mouth as several teeth fall out.
“Does that hurt, Decimus?!”
“Yes, it hurts!”
Arc does it again before standing up and grabbing Decimus’ rear hoof. With a mighty grunt he throws the stallion against a wall. A smear of blood flows down the new mahogany paneling as Decimus lays on the floor writing in pain. He looks up as Arc walks over to him.
“Just end it already.”
Arc frowns. “Not yet.”
“What?”
“I have something to share with you.”
Grabbing Decimus by a rear hoof, Arc slams him against the floor over and over again. The stallion cries out in agony with every blow. Eventually Arc lets go of the hoof and kneels down beside the bruised and bloodied stallion. Grabbing him by the back of his mane, Arc raises Decimus’ head and slams it into the floor yet again. Pushing the stallion over to lie on his back as several more teeth fall to the floor, Arc kneels down over him. Reaching for his ring he pulls something out and holds it up. Decimus looks at it, confused.
“What… is…?”
Arc grits his teeth. “A teddy beat that a filly gave me after I dug her out from under the bodies of her dead parents.”
Levitating it to float in front of Decimus’ face, Arc continues.
“You… you took away… EVERYTHING from her! An entire family was snuffed out right in front of me! And all because you… HAD A PLAN!”
Standing, Arc kicks the stallion in the side. Gasping, Decimus rolls over onto his belly and cries out in agony as several ribs protrude from his side. Walking over to him, Arc sits down on Decimus’ backside. He screams out in pain as the broken ribs cut into his flesh again. Grabbing the stallion’s mane, Arc pulls his head back until Decimus’ eyes gaze into his.
“Listen, Decimus. I know that as soon as I kill you you’re going to somehow come right back.”
Gagging in what Arc assumes is a ‘yes’, he continues.
“So I want you to know one thing before I finish you off again. I don’t care how long it takes. I don’t care how many times I have to kill you. And I REALLY don’t care about your stupid plans! But the moment that I figure out just how to make you stay dead, well… let’s just say that you won’t be able to hide forever. And when I find you, it will just be you and me. No allies. No plans. No escape for you.”
Arc looks into the stallion’s eyes for a few moments silently before continuing.
“Now… I’d like to share something else with you, Decimus.”
Standing, Arc looks around the room at all the fancy new furniture. Turning to Scootaloo he levitates the bear over to her before returning to his task. Raising his hands, Arc calls out to the others.
“Everyone go stand in front of Celestia.”
They do so as the furniture lifts off the floor one piece at a time. One by one he slams them into the floor causing the desks, chairs, tables, bookshelves, and other pieces of furniture to be reduced to mangled piles of debris. As the last chair is destroyed, Arc raises his hands again as he levitates what’s left of the furniture to float high overhead. Stepping back, he pulls all the debris into a ball overhead. Slowly maneuvering it over Decimus, Arc calls out to him one last time.
“Do us both a favor. Don’t come back this time.”
Turning his hands downward, Arc opens his palms. Decimus cries out as the debris falls all around him, stabbing, crushing, and burying him under a massive pile. Arc walks over to the mountain of wood and looks down at it before speaking.
“Now you know… now you know how Toola Roola and her parents felt. But unlike her… you die alone.
Returning to the others, Arc looks down at Scootaloo as she holds out the teddy bear to him.
“Are you okay?”
Scootaloo nods soberly. “Yes, Big Brother.”
Ashe grins approvingly as she looks at the filly. “That really was an impressive move.”
“It was just a split second decision I had to make After all, at that point I really had nothing else to lose.”
Ember looks to the pile of wood. “That’s the end of Decimus.”
Sereb nods with a smile. “Again, I might add.”
Ashe turns to Twilight. “Think he’ll come back again?”
“If he’s smart, he won’t.”
Arc frowns. “We’re not that lucky.”
Ashe motions to the office door.
“Just one last thing to do.”
Ember grins. “Let the reinforcements in?”
“I was referring to the finality of saving the princess here.”
Sereb chuckles. “Both are important, yes.”
Hammer clutches her gun nervously. “Just a minute!”
Scootaloo raises an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“There could still be trouble behind that door. We shouldn’t let our guard down yet.”
Arc nods. “Agreed. Let’s go in there carefully and together.”
Twilight holds up a key. “I’ll get Princess Celestia out of these chains now. The key was on a shelf Arc ripped off the wall.”
Ember shrugs. “Fine. We’ll be right back.”
Arc cautiously opens the door. Stepping inside he slowly looks around with the others. Seeing nothing out of place they head for the desk. He presses the button and they look outside to see the barrier fall. Ashe breathes a sigh of relief.
“I’m certainly glad this is over.”
Hammer chuckles as she puts her gun on her shoulder. “With the griffon’s help and their leaders dead I’m guessing our forces won’t have much trouble finishing off the enemy.”
Ember grins. “They should be in here any time now.
Sereb smiles. “We should help Princess Twilight carry her mentor out then.”
Scootaloo nods as she turns around. “Agreed. I’m sure she doesn’t want anypony seeing her like…”
The filly stops dead in her tracks. Looking back into the War Room they spot a terrible sight. Twilight lies on the floor unconscious in front of the now unshackled Celestia. As they hurry over to her, Arc reaches his friend first.
“Twilight!”
Scootaloo gasps. “What happened?!”
“No idea!”
Sereb growls as he looks around. “I didn’t hear anyone out here while we entered the office momentarily!”
Hammer again levels her weapon as her eyes dart around the room. “Well, something sure did… SOMETHING!”
Ember points a claw. “I blame Ashe!”
“I was next to you the whole time!”
Scootaloo nods as she hurries to stand between the pair. “That she was. We all were.”
Arc moves to pick Twilight up. “Maybe she just fainted, or something. She didn’t exactly get much sleep earlier. Let’s get her back to The Equinox and to the Infirmary for some…”
He is cut off as Celestia suddenly jumps up and physically knocks Arc back. He falls to the floor with Twilight in his arms as Ember and Sereb move to cover him. Hammer levels her gun at the alicorn before them.
“Easy there, princess.”
Ember cautiously steps forward. “Remember me? It’s Ember!”
Celestia sneers at them as Arc carefully stands. Looking him over she speaks.
“Ah, Twilight’s little stooges. You’re finally here.”
Arc frowns as he motions to the mare still in his arms. “Look, I don’t know what you’re problem is, but we need to get Twilight some help.”
Scootaloo nods. “You too, Princess Celestia.”
Ashe motions to the corridor. “Please come with us, your highness. I’m sure Lord Arc’s staff can render aid to you after…”
Celestia laughs. “Fools! You can’t see what’s right in front of you!”
Ember shrugs. “Uh… someone in need of a nice meal and a hot bath?”
“Not exactly. Observe.”
Her horn aglow, Celestia casts a strange spell. Her skin blackens as her body transforms. Arc and company take a step back instinctively as Arc mutters.
“What… the heck…?!”
Ashe gasps. “Princess?”
The creature before them looks down her nose at the griffon before her. “That’s QUEEN to you, whelp!”
Hammer grits her teeth. “What… ARE you?!”
“Ah, yes. Where ARE my manners? You may address me as Queen Chrysalis.”
Ember grimaces. “Chrysalis?!”
Arc clenches a fist. “The leader of the changelings.”
Chrysalis grins wickedly. “Very good, simpleton. You’re not as useless as you first appear.”
Scootaloo points an accusatory hoof. “What did you do to Princess Twilight?!”
“Just a bit of an herbal poison. She’s fine.”
Sereb growls. “Lies! I smell nothing on the air!”
Chrysalis scoffs. “Odorless and tasteless, fool. Even to you. Which is why I chose it for this application.”
Arc glares at her. “Chose it?!”
“I knew you would come, Hero of Light. And roughly whom you would bring with you.”
She looks to Ashe before continuing.
“Well… she was a bit of a surprise. Friends close and enemies closer?”
Arc grits his teeth. “Fine, whatever! You baited me here! Why?! And where’s Celestia?!”
Chrysalis rolls her eyes. “If I were you I’d be more concerned with the safety of yourself and those you foolishly brought to guard you. As you know, she isn’t too fond of your kind.”
She looks Arc over from head to toe before continuing.
“As for why I’m here, well… I simply wanted to meet you myself. Face… to face.”
“But why?!”
“To ascertain whether or not the reports concerning you were correct.”
Ember frowns. “Reports?!”
Chrysalis nods. “You and your little pet, the Scarlet Filly, made a shambles of my plans in Vanhoover AND the Crystal Empire.”
Hammer grins. “So much for that, eh?”
Chrysalis laughs wickedly. “Young fool. Do you EVER look deeper?!”
“Huh?”
“That which you know is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Our plans reach much, MUCH deeper.”
Ember looks around instinctively. “Our?!”
“The Council of Shadows.”
Sereb growls. “You joined them?!”
“Yes, indeed. They needed my forces and I needed… well… it’s not important.”
Hammer points her gun at the queen. “So much for that though!”
“Oh?”
Ember levels her spear at the queen. “Yeah! We’ve got you!”
Chrysalis chuckles. “Do you now?”
Sereb growls. “We are many, and you are but one!”
“Are you so sure of that?”
Arc looks around. “Well, I don’t see anyone coming to your rescue.”
Chrysalis scoffs. “Hero of Light, you of all creatures should be able to see that which is right in front of you. Well… proverbially.”
Scootaloo groans. “Stop talking in riddles!”
Ashe points her sword. “Yes! Just say what it is you mean!”
“Very well. What you are looking for is in what you call the ‘Main Hall’. Best hurry there and get it. Oh, but before you go, I have a bit of a gift for you.”
She opens her mouth to expose a forked tongue. Making a hissing sound, she spits a nasty green liquid at Arc. It lands on his gauntlet as he holds it up to protect Twilight. Laughing, her horn glows as she transforms into a hummingbird. Hammer shoots at her as she flies away, but misses.
“Damn! She’s too fast!”
Ember groans. “And too small!”
“What now, Big Brother?!”
Arc looks down at the mare in his arms. “Head back to The Equinox to get Twilight some help.”
Sereb growls. “Then let us be off!”
Arc holds out a gauntlet to open a portal. But nothing happens.
“What the heck?!”
Ashe looks at the slime on his gauntlet. “That green residue. It’s blocking your enchantment?”
Ember sighs. “Must be.”
Hammer points toward the door. “Then let’s just make a run for the ship!”
Scootaloo grins. “Right! We’ll cover you and Princess Twilight, Big Brother!”
Sereb growls. “And that surprise in the Main Hall?”
Arc looks down at Twilight’s unconscious form. “We don’t have a choice.”
Hammer points to a window. “How about we just jump outside?”
Ember groans. “The windows aren’t glass.”
Arc nods. “Right. Something else really strong. Pretty much unbreakable.”
He looks down at the mare in his arms before heading for the door.
“We have to risk it. Come on.”
The others form a perimeter around Arc as they head down the corridor. Coming to the Main Hall they see a dark portal opening in the center of the room. Ember frowns.
“Great. What now?”
Hammer grips her gun tightly. “Trouble.”
Approaching it, they stop as something steps through. Sereb growls menacingly at those whom come forth.
“Brother!”
Arc grits his teeth. “Sunset Shimmer!”
The pair wordlessly approach the group with the mare riding her steed. Both are clad in enchanted armor from head to toe. Sunset laughs as she looks to Arc.
“And now it is complete.”
“What is, Diva?!”
Sunset waves a hoof dismissively. “Ah, ah, ah. That’s Sunset Shimmer at the moment.”
Ember points her spear at the pair. “Call yourself whatever you want, witch! Start talking!”
Hammer closes one eye as she aims. “Yeah! Unless you want me to fill you full of holes!”
Her horn aglow, Sunset pulls Hammer’s gun from her hands to herself. Opening a dark portal she tosses it through before speaking.
“You were saying?”
Arc frowns and turns to Sereb. Putting Twilight on his back he turns to Hammer, pulls the magic gun from his ring, and hands it to her.
“Hold onto this one.”
“Thanks.”
Turning back to Sunset, Arc steps forward as she smiles at them patronizingly.
“Look at all of you. The rabble playing ‘soldiers’.”
Sereb growls. “Our HEROES just bested Decimus and his minion!”
Sunset scoffs. “Muzzle your dog, human.”
Sereb growls and takes a step forward. Arc holds out a hand and motions for him to stop as he addresses the mare before him.
“Sunset Shimmer… it’s over.”
Sunset giggles. “Is it now?”
Scootaloo nods as she motions to the windows. “Yes! We can see your forces outside dwindling!”
“So it would seem.”
Ashe grins. “This is the part where you surrender.”
Ember nods. “Before we’re forced to do something YOU’LL regret!”
Sereb growls. “That goes for you as well, brother.”
Kane bares his teeth. “You would do well to surrender, Sereb. Perhaps my mistress will be lenient.”
Sunset rolls her eyes. “Not likely. But go ahead anyways. After all, everypony here is merely an unwanted guest in our facility.”
Sereb sneers. “YOUR facility?!”
Scootaloo stomps a hoof. “We’re the liberators here!”
Ember grins. “I think we’re more like exterminators right now.”
Hammer smirks. “Right. Pest removal at the very least.”
Sunset shakes her head dismissively. “Think what you want, peons. But at the very least you should bring your complaints before our leader.”
Ember grimaces. “Fine! Bring the Dark One out here and we’ll tell him to his face!”
Hammer nods with conviction. “Or General Mustang!”
“Very well.”
Her horn aglow, Sunset opens a portal. As it stabilizes a large pony walks out with a flowing mane. Arc clenches a fist angrily.
“Princess Celestia.”
Celestia eyes him soberly as she speaks. “The false Hero of Light.”
Looking around the room at the innumerable dead bodies lying motionless on the floor she frowns before continuing.
“I see that your murderous ways have yet to be sated.”
Ashe gasps. “What?! But… but princess…!”
“Lady Ashe? What are you doing with this traitor?!”
“He’s not a…!”
Sunset points a hoof at Sereb. “Princess! He has Twilight!”
“WHAT?!”
Looking past Arc, she spies Twilight lying on Sereb’s back. Gritting her teeth, her mane ignites into blue flames as pure rage drips from her words.
“Give… Twilight… BACK!!!”
Ember groans. “We’re trying to get her some help!”
Sunset grits her teeth. “Lies! They’re trying to kidnap her again!”
“Release my student and surrender yourselves to my forces. I’ll hold you here in my facility until…”
Arc interrupts her. “Princess Celestia. I will talk now and you will listen.”
He pauses before continuing.
“You along with Decimus, Gaston, and others have led Equestria to the brink of ruin. However, my forces have nearly broken through your lines. Light’s Hope is all but ours again. It’s over.”
Celestia smirks. “So certain of that, are you?”
“Only one of us wanted this fight, Celestia. Let it end here and now.”
“You call for peace only when it suits your needs, little human.”
She looks around at the innumerable dead Royal Guards around the room before continuing.
“But you’re eager enough to kill those whom resist.”
Scootaloo shakes her head. “We didn’t do this though!”
Ember grips her spear tightly. “Arc should have killed you back in town when he had the chance.”
Celestia scoffs. “How rude, Ember. Perhaps I should have kept you as a whelpling. Then maybe you would have learned some manners. After all, you’re a trespasser in my facility.”
Sereb seethes. “Your facility?! You taint this place… WITH YOUR FILTH!”
Arc yells at the top of his lungs. “ENOUGH!”
His words reverberate through the hall as all present are silent. Eventually Arc speaks again as he looks Celestia in the eye.
“You and Decimus put the torch to Ponyville. But I failed those whom called it home. Those whom lost everything to the all-consuming flames.”
He reaches for his ring and pulls out the Dagger of Eternal Slumbers. Pointing it at Celestia, Arc continues.
“I will not make that mistake again. Surrender… or die.”
Scootaloo grimaces. “Please listen to him, Princess Celestia. You can’t escape from what happened.”
Hammer grins. “Right. We’ve won this time.”
Nodding soberly, Celestia slowly approaches Arc until she stands but a few feet in front of him. Looking him in the eye she speaks slowly but evenly.
“You’ve won… NOTHING!”
Stats
Page generated in 0.146 seconds
Total duration
985 users online
1,812,170 hits today, 2,280,440 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
oh man did i enjoy decimus beating.
what the fuck is wrong with celestia, how can someone be so delusional.
decimus breainwashing no doubt
11358489
Unfortunately between her grudge and whatever happened when the military kidnapped her she has closed her ears to those that care. And it doesn't help that she long ago closed her heart off from those who wish to be closed to her. I wish that she would see the light but at this point I don't know if it is even possible.
11358489
That event was actually made SIGNIFICANTLY more violent after I originally wrote it. Changes included bringing out the teddy bear as well as the method by which Decimus was killed. It was meant as an 'avenging' of that little filly. 
Arc enjoyed it too.
Consider it from Celestia's view. When she arrived all she saw was Arc and company facing off against Sunset and Kane surrounded by her own dead troops. From what she's been told (and already 'knows' about humans) it an easy deduction to believe that Arc was responsible for their deaths. The unconscious Twilight (whom appeared to be captured) was just the icing on the cake for her.
I also forget to link the picture of Arc receiving the bear for reference. This has now been fixed.
Celestia has an unbreakable bias against humans likely due to the Council of Shadows using Mercs or Changling 5th to just keep showing her ever worst occurances, as Chrysalis just looks at ponies as food, so she can search for the absolute worst ultra rare monsters in humanity, and then get her average drones to carry out those actions without any qualms, because, well, cats play with their food to learn. why should they care about what the food thinks?
11358513
yes making everything look like that is the chessgame decimus was talking about ore was that chrissy....
but what irks me in hindsight, does the truesight enchantment just not work on changeling desguises.
ore did none conveniently had one
11358790
Arc's helmet's Truesight Enchantment does work on Changlelings whom are disguised. However Chrysalis is much more powerful than her drones, so it is ineffective against her. That's why Arc couldn't see through her masquerading as Celestia.
11358950
no wonder Chrysalis has such an ego
Please tell me he is foing to show off his grandfathers hologram or at least the rainbow will kick some much needed since int oa gifgantic white cake flank!_!