> Life Bane > by JT > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Demands > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I walked into the throne room, his hooves clacking against the stone floor. I was a grey Pegasus,my mane, a simple blue with a black streak through it. My cutiemark was a storm cloud with fog surrounding it. I glanced around the room, taking in the grey floor, the brown walls were lined with golden flags depicting great victories in friendship. Several ponies occupied the side stands, each a look of disgust on their face. I smiled at that, they would soon crumble under my rule. I looked up to see Princess Celestia and Luna both look at him with their faces contorted in anger. I offered a toothy smile, then took the seat in the middle of the throne room. Celestia stood, her mane was a rainbow that flowed like water, she was pearl white, her eyes a magenta, with the sun on her flank. Luna was the exact opposite, her coat was a dark blue, and her eyes a lighter shade. Her mane swirled with stars. A picture of the moon rest upon her flank. "This court is now in session." Celestia's regal voice sounded throughout the room, bringing several whispering ponies attention to bear. She looked to me. I smiled again and motioned with my hoof to keep going. "Storm Blind, you are accused of high treason and conspiracy to Equestria. After discussing the evidence with my sister, we found you to be guilty on both accounts. You are hereby sentenced to life in the dungeons. What say you?" I smiled even larger, My white teeth reflecting in the sunlight. "Oh, What do I say hmmm? I say that right now, a creature indebted to me, is watching this whole scene play out, and at my signal, can kill everypony in this room, except for me." Celestia raised an eyebrow and giggled a little bit, obviously at my remark. "You do realize that this whole area is guarded by Royal guards, no Everfree creature can get through." I smiled, it was time to play the freaky card. "OH, he's not from the Everfree, or Equis for that matter. He hails from a planet, torn apart by war, and he is a powerful Warrior, and I think it is time I let him speak." I grabbed a small black box with an antennae attached to it, I pressede the small button on the side that said 'Talk' And began speaking. "Creature! You master commands you to speak! Show these foals that you exist!" The black box crackled to life, an ominous voice emanating from it. "Yes, Milord, what would you ask of me?" "I believe it is time for a demonstration. Kill one of the ponies to my right, say, Prince Blueblood, the flankhole deserves it actually." There was a long pause, the creature finally spoke, his voice unsure. "Milord, if I do this, I can return home, you will send me home?" Suddenly, the black box was levitated out of my hoof, and into Celestia's telikinetic grasp. She pressed the button just as I had, she clicked the button off again and looked towards me. "This creature merely wants to return to it's home. Yet you keep it here to do your bidding. It is not indebted, it is enslaved." She pressed the button again. "Creature! I know not where you hail from, but please, spare my nephew, and I will do everything in my power to return you home. What do you say?" There was a long pause, and I was unsure of how to respond to this. 'If she outbids me, the creature's loyalty will be swayed in her favor and it will kill me!' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celestia looked at the small box for a few seconds, before looking to Storm Blind. He seemed to be mulling something over, she smiled a little as his face turned pale, as if he realized something. Then, the box crackled and the creature's voice spoke again. "I accept, and as for you Milord, I have no more need for you." The next words caused Storm Blind to pale even more and cause his face to twist in fear. "Goodbye." Suddenly, the window to Celestia's left shattered, and Storm Blinds head exploded into bits of gore, brain matter coated the floor and his eyes rolled about within it. Celestia and everypony in the room vomited from the sight. "My name is Townsend, Ex-Militia sniper and Ex-Militia operative. I am at your service." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Townsend's POV I rose my head from my Titan's Sniper rifle, the fifteen foot barrel shining in the sunlight. I pulled the bolt back and watche the hundred twenty millimeter shell fall to the dirt, smoking. My Titan was custom made, a one of a kind. Stark Black with red optical sensors, a pilot liquid oxygen immersion system, and a forty millimeter revolver as a side arm. She was a beast. I had long since dubbed her, 'LifeBane.' A name many found fitting. She was stark black, a few lights here and there flashed a deep red. She resembled an artillery Titan, except that one of the rocket packs had been replaced with a satchel charge distributor, while the other launched a homing missile and the shield created a dome able to withstand Titan gunfire. A microfusion reactor and a protein moss plant ensured that both Titan and Pilot were always readily supplied with energy. A jetpack, able to reach low orbit, was mounted to the back. All in all. She was one hell of a machine. I stood, my Titan leaving gigantic footprints in the dirt. I radioed the Princess again. "Princess?" "Yes?" The answer was followed by some retching sounds, and the sound of something wet hitting the ground. "I can see a large garden, meet me there. Townsend out."