Friend or Foe?
The skies above were nothing but layers upon layers of grey, thick clouds. Their continuous cover leaving the land in a constant sense of despair. One would think it rained nonstop across the land as uncontrolled storms continued to plague the land of those below. Tenebris stared at the sky from his quarters balcony, saddened at the state of the land. However fitting the atmosphere was, it would lead to problems down the road if it wasn't taken care of soon. The war to the south had taken a turn for the worse, leaving few pegasi or unicorns that could regulate the weather where needed.
While lost in thought, a purple hoof slowly turning orange grabbed his shoulder. Tenebris brought one of his own black hooves to rest upon the one on his shoulder. With a sigh he closed his eyes and turned to nuzzle the figure beside him. The figure returned the gesture lovingly, knowing the troubles that plagued Tenebris' mind. "You should be resting, my love."
The mare giggled as she brought the hoof on the stallion's shoulder to her stomach, tenderly rubbing it. "I know, but just because I got a little one to worry about doesn't stop me from worrying about you." She rested her head in the crook of her lover's neck, enjoying his scent.
Tenebris smiled down at her, enjoying the embrace while he could. "Lux, I'll be fine. Once I leave to join our forces we will finally be able to stem the tide of demons and push them back to Tatarus." Gently, Tenebris pulled himself from Lux's side. He gave her a quick kiss, something that was enough to show his affection for her, before making his way out of their chambers. "I must depart soon, the demons have become to powerful for us to idly stand by."
Lux quickly hobbled to Tenebris before he could open the door, wrapping her wing and forelegs around him tightly. "Promise me you'll contact me daily? That telepathy spell shouldn't be to hard to perform to simply ensure me of your well being." She stared at him deeply, her eyes holding all the worry and pain she had at the thought of losing him before their baby was born.
Knowing a perfect way of easing her mind, Tenebris quickly turned and gave Lux a more passionate kiss. Almost immediately melting into the embrace, Lux found herself holding onto the lips of her stallion as if her life depended on it. However fate had other plans for three swift knocks were heard at the door. Slowly, the two parted as they both turned to answer the door. Upon opening it, the two of them were greeted by the Three Race Council, a council that was formed with the previous leaders of the three pony tribes.
Before them stood Commander Hurricane, Princess Platinum, and Chancellor Puddinghead, all of which were accompanied by a guard from each tribe. Hurricane was the first to take initiative, stepping forward and saluting to the duo. "My King, its time we departed. The reinforcements from the Zebrican Tribes, Minotaur Empire, and the Griffon Kingdom stand ready to assist in the war effort." The commander was dressed in a full suit of plate armor, however it was still relatively thin and light due to the need for pegasi. To her right stood Princess Platinum, fully clad in silver armor that seemed almost crystalline in nature. It was a form of mirror armor often found on unicorns, aiding in the defense against magic cast by others by almost reflecting it off of it. To her left stood Chancellor Puddinghead who wore nothing but the heaviest of plate armor available. If no pony knew who stood before them, they could easily assume he was just another earth pony soldier other than the strange chancellor himself.
Nodding towards the council, Tenebris quickly nuzzled and kissed Lux on the cheek, bidding her farewell as he joined them outside their room. "Do not worry, my love, I'll return soon enough." With a regretful sigh, they separated. The entire time the group made their way out of the Royal Chambers wing of the castle Tenebris could feel the worried gaze of his wife until they exited the hall through another set of guarded doors.
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Rain was gently cascading down the armored creatures below as they made their way through the mud and muck left from the constant downpour. In the front of the army, the first king of the newly found country of Equestria marched surrounded by a squad of the finest ponies around. Among this group were the council members of the Three Race Council and their respective bodyguard. They led the way for 10,000 troops, other creatures that knew what was at stake to the south of Equestria. The army itself composed of 2,000 Shamans and Warriors whose greatest strength came from their alchemy and ancient knowledge only Zebras seemed to have at their disposal. Only armed with a simple spear and tribal hide shield, they could easily be underestimated due to the lack of equipment or even armor. However few felt this way as the Zebrican Tribes had shown time and time again how skilled their Warriors were in combat and how deadly a simple alchemic powder from a Shaman could be. From the Minotaur Empire, 4,000 elite Chargers clad in heavy plate armor much like an earth pony marched forth with halberd in hand. Due to their great strength and bipedal nature, they could easily be a formidable force. The Chargers were mainly known for their ability to make a deadly charge into enemy lines with their halberds, and once engaged, easily switching to a long sword and shield to push the enemy back. The fact alone that they can wield a long sword with one hand is enough to incite fear to an untrained opponent.
However the most interesting addition to the army of reinforcements from neighboring nations were the Sky Guard of the Griffon Kingdom. The griffons were clad in thick leather armor, studded and covered with a thin layer of steal to add additional protection without risking too much mobility. They preferred to stay high in the skies and rain death down to their enemies below. Each of them carried dozens of small, yet deadly bolts, with which they fired from wrist mounted crossbows. The engineering of such devices was breath taking, and highly effective for bombarding an enemy from different angles. But this was not the only deadly aspect of the Sky Guard, they were also well trained with the use of dual sabers. Focusing their higher agility to the use of slicing weak points within an enemies defense. Though their sabers couldn't pierce heavier armor, they made up for it by effectively attacking joints and other weak points even the heaviest of armor had with a deadly precision.
They had been marching for a little over a day now, coming within a few hours march of the edge of the Everfree Forest. They still had two more weeks of marching before they reached the pony forces trying to hold the Hordes of Tatarus at bay. Tenebris' thoughts were plagued with how bad things were starting to turn for his forces to the south. Even though the ponies had been united for a few years now, they still struggled to effectively fight side by side. To easy was it yet for commanders and captains to stray from orders and take action with their respective command and race on their own. His expression slowly grimed as he thought to the steadily increasing casualties they suffered because of this. Already over 2,000 ponies had either died or become too injured to fight anytime soon. Though there was some silver lining to this whole ordeal, thanks to the guidance of the Three Pony Council's advisers, the river of casualties had slowed down to a gentle stream as the three races formed more integrated and mixed squads.
Remembering this removed the grimace on Tenebris' face, slowly replaced by a gentle smile as he felt pride for the progress of unity amongst his ponies. He only wished the strength of their union wasn't being reinforced by such a horrid threat. No pony spoke as they marched, the seriousness of the situation hanging over them. All that was heard was the clatter of metal as they continued onward.
However after a strong flash of light and what felt like an earthquake in the distance, everypony stopped and readied themselves. They all looked off into the trees ahead, where the phenomenon occured, slowly following silent commands to march onward. Tenebris kept his magic lit as he raised his wings away from the blades at his sides, keeping his senses alert for trouble. They continued slowly marching forward, preparing themselves for the worst possible scenario, but weren't prepared for what they came across. After marching for about thirty minutes or so, Tenebris raised his hoof for everypony to stop. Even for how well trained and disciplined they all were, whispers and shouts of both fear and confusion began to spread from those that could see what lie before them.
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I sense... fear, confusion, curiosity... What are these creatures, and why are there so many of them? Wait! I sense something else approaching, something filled with anger, something that wants nothing but to see everything burn...
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Tenebris couldn't even began to comprehend what he saw before him, an unnatural clearing had been created. Nothing remained but a strange substance that spread around for probably a hundred feet or more in a circle, covering the ground and rocks looking like a layer of flesh. But what was even more disturbing was what was in the center of the clearing. Sitting in the center was what appeared to be a cocoon of sorts, giving off a subtle yellow glow. Strange larvae of sorts seemed to be nesting around it, as if it was a presence of comfort or protection. It made sense given the countless cyst like bulges and spiked-like legs spread around the clearing. The cysts seemed to almost shake in sync as if a heartbeat was being shared amongst them. The giant crab legs sticking out of various spots in the ground simply moved with the gentle breeze blowing past.
"By the Sun..." Princess Platinum was the first to speak among the entourage, unable to take her eyes away from the sight before them. "Is this the work of Tatarus?"
Before anyone could give a possible answer, an almost giddy laugh erupted as Chancellor Puddinghead simply bounced his way into the clearing. "Hehehehheee! A new friend to aid us has arrived!" Everypony just watched in horror as the crazed stallion, seemingly unhindered by the heavy plate armor on his back, bounced past the first set of legs. It was as if they had eyes as they seemed to simply follow him with caution as he continued by unhindered. Other strange creatures began to appear and follow the mad stallion, they were similar to a stingray but without the tail and floating a few feet off the ground.
Commander Hurricane was the first to break out of their trance and began shouting at the Chancellor. "Get your arse back here right now Puddinghead, do you have a death wish!?!?" She continued to yell expletives at Puddinghead as he seamlessly bounced within a few feet of the cocoon in the center, ignoring the shouts of Hurricane and any others who thought they could dissuade him.
Suddenly everyone went silent as the cocoon began to glow brighter and brighter as it expanded, as if a pressure was building up from within.
Seeing the developing threat, Tenebris began shouting a warning. "Puddinghead get back, it's abo-" In a blink of an eye the cocoon was gone, leaving about twenty feet or so around it covered in a slimy substance. Those that did not follow out of curiosity continued their tasks of harvesting various minerals and crystals from the surrounding rocks. Puddinghead just gave himself a physics defying shake that traversed from his head to tail slowly, flinging the substance off as it went. Once he found himself presentable once again, he stretched a hoof forward as if expecting another to return a hoofshake with him.
As if on que from Puddinghead's action, a creature began to rise out of the base of the ruptured cocoon, the creatures around the clearing began to share a loud screech of some sort. It was as if they were cheering for the strange bipedal creature slowly standing in front of the Chancellor. Once it was on its feet, everypony began to take in its appearance; glowing yellow eyes with veins that seemed to be pushing against the skin leading away from them, two legs and arms much like the minotaur, it appeared to be wearing a strange suit of sorts that gave off an air of an military officer of sorts and stood at least two feet taller than Tenebris himself, however the strangest thing to note was the large growth on its back that was covered in both a bone-like chitin and more cysts like the ones around the clearing.
I sense no harmful intent from you creatures, so I will not harm you...
As the creature spoke, it's mouth remained closed, speaking not without it as the voice echoed within everyponies' minds. Slowly Tenebris began to approach the strange creature, signaling for everyone but Hurricane and Platinum to stay back. The creature continued to look at them with both curiosity and intrigue, making them all feel the powerful presence of it's mind. Once they stood before it, the being spoke once again, but this time to them only.
Why do you disturb my slumber? The creature began to step out of the cocoon, stopping once it was standing within a foot from them, it's hands clasped each other behind it.
"I am King Tenebris, we apologize for disturbing you but you appeared seemingly out of thing air in our path as we marched." Tenebris kept his voice as steady and relaxed as possible, trying to hide his growing fear and suspicion for the creature before them. "These three before you are advisers of mine, Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane, and... Chancellor Puddinghead." As he began to introduce the others, he paused in both confusion and annoyance when he came across Puddinghead riding one of the smaller creatures while a couple of the larvae curiously crawled on top of his back.
No pony else had the nerve to speak, fearing the creature before them. It just stood there, analyzing those around it, it's expression turning into one of amusement as it fell on Puddinghead's antics. It seems the creatures that follow me enjoy your presence. The creatures face turned to one of confusion as it returned it's gaze to King Tenebris. Its strange, I recognize these creatures but yet I don't...
Tenebris raised an eyebrow at that, confused just like the creature. "If they are attracted to you, what are you exactly? I don't mean to cause offense but I've never seen anything like you before." Now that they were closer to the creature, Tenebris could see that the creature was mostly different from what tied all of the other creatures around them together. Other than it's strange growth on the back, it seemed just as foreign to the other creatures as they did to it. Another thing that peeked his interest was the strange, metallic polearm hanging by a strap from it's shoulder.
The creature just stood there, staring through Tenebris as if it was deep in thought. I... do not know... It's face contorted in pain as it seemed to struggle to recall anything to memory. My memories... they feel fractured, scattered. It is as if something is stopping me from remembering anything. It's face then filled with sorrow and regret. I can't even recall what or who I am... But then it seemed the creature recalled something, it's face lighting up immediately. I can recall one thing, I am a man... a male, sadly that is all my mind will let me remember at the moment.
Before Tenebris could speak, the creature suddenly stiffened, before it spun to face behind it. Almost instantly, the strange legs in the ground began to pull themselves out of the ground. Everypony watched, frozen in place, as the crab like creatures with a sole massive leg sticking from there back made their way to the opposite end of the clearing. As they began to burrow into the ground once again, the larvae surrounding Puddinghead rushed to the ground around the cocoon. To everyponies horror, they surrounded themselves within their own cocoons, and within seconds an entirely new creature burst from their cocoons. They were covered in chitin-like armor, standing on four legs with two appendages with bones for blades on each end sprouting from their backs. Their mouths seemed they could tear a hole through the strongest plate armor. At least two dozen of the larvae turned into these vicious creatures as the rest tried to hide around the bursted cocoon in the center of the clearing.
It would seem a small army seeking our demise is almost upon us, ready your men Tenebris! The creature's growth than began to form a chitin and bone armor around him as he took the polearm from his back, pointing it towards the approaching enemies. The new beasts around him, nearly three times the average size of a pony, started to form a defensive pack around their apparent master. Cysts began to pop like the cocoons from earlier on the creatures back, causing more larvae to slither off him, as more cysts or rather cocoons began to form and develop even more larvae.
Shaking himself from the trance the sight before him had thrown him into, Tenebris turned towards his own troops. "Alright that's enough sight seeing, form a defensive line on me now!" Almost instantaneously, his army began to move into position around him, their military background showing how well they were trained and disciplined. As everypony was finishing their formation, a load bang came from their new ally.
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As the creature pulled the trigger on the rifle he had with him, he watched as one of the approaching enemies had their head pulled apart from the blast. He continued this act, taking as much of the advantage given to him as possible, the approaching enemies stopping in confusion for a minute as they tried to protect themselves with shields that could not stop the penetration of his sniper rifle. However the enemy only stood still long enough for him to pick off just over a dozen, immediately initiating a charge.
Slinging his rifle back onto his back, the creature extended a bone blade from each of his forearms, preparing to meat the oncoming charge with the other creatures that wished to protect him. Tenebris and his own forces had formed a formidable defensive line stretching into the forest around the clearing. Already hundreds of the large creatures the larvae around him had turned into were standing between the new threat and Tenebris' forces.
They are almost upon us, prepare to fight!
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As the first of the enemies came into view, Tenebris couldn't believe his eyes. A small demon army was charging them, something that shouldn't be happening unless the front to the south had been breached. The creature and it's minions stood before them, ready to take the brunt of the charge, or that is what Tenebris thought.
As soon as the first demon came close enough to the clearing, the legs buried in the ground began to attack them with deadly accuracy. Whether it was an impaling stab or a swing that left the body cut in half, the strange legs began decimating those it could. Once the demons were engaged by the first line of defense, the creatures sprouted from the larvae began charging forward with their master leading the charge. A terrifying screech was shared amongst the beasts, causing a lot of the demons to freeze in fear for a moment.
As soon as the two forces collided, the demons began to quickly loose numbers as the beasts used swarm tactics to quickly take down any demon that was unfortunate enough to not die to the initial defenses. Tenebris couldn't take his eyes off the sight, watching as the demons struggled to even take down a single beast before they lost twenty. Their master was doing even a greater number on them, slowly slashing his way with deadly precision towards the back of the enemy forces. He could see he was going after one of the larger demons in the back, one that could easily be assumed as the leader.
"Griffons, flank from the skies, Minotaur's charge their ranks, Zebras light their back line aflame!" Commander Hurricane's orders carried throughout the clearing. Its effect was immediate, Tenebris' army began to move into action as they joined the fray. With a mighty battle cry everypony charged forward, focusing on the demons that weren't being swarmed by the beasts around them. Within minutes, the beasts had torn apart half of the demon forces before Tenebris' own joined the fray.
"Platinum, Hurricane, Puddinghead, you're all with me! We're gonna give our new friend a hand reaching their leader." His commands were immediately followed as he led them to join their new found ally in his fight. They quickly formed up behind the creature, aiding it with their weapons and magic as it carved a path to the demon leader. Platinum was continuously sending spell after spell into the demons around us, a levitated scythe taking out any that got through the magical onslaught. While Platinum showed her prowess as a battle mage, Hurricane was a flurry of metal, the wingblades on her wings joining together with the onslaught of the dual foreleg mounted blades she wielded. Puddinghead was crushing or skewering any demon the others didn't kill, his halberd half warhammer being wielded with deadly earth pony strength. Tenebris stood amongst them, using his dual blades in his telekinesis to pick off stragglers as his horn continuously cast off defensive spells for the occasional projectile or offensive spell from the demons forces.
In what felt like minutes, the group had reached the back of the demons forces. The leader was already calling for a retreat, only a few hundred demons heard the order as thousands laid dead around them. The demons were routed, but with how deep they were into Equestrian territory they could not be allowed to escape. Using as much magic as he could muster, Tenebris created a wall of magic to stop the demon retreat. "No mercy! Show these demons what happens when they invade our lands!"
Rallying to Tenebris' voice, his forces gave a final battle cry and charge before finishing off the remaining demons as they tried to escape. As he watched the last demon fall, he looked for the creature who had shown to be an ally. He saw him standing over the ravaged remains of the Naga that was apparently the leader of the demon forces around them.
Making his way over to the creature, Tenebris held a smile as he stood before him. Reaching out a hoof towards the creature, Tenebris made up his mind. "I think we found a name for you, Amicus!"
Amicus looked over to Tenebris, his organic armor retreating back to the growth on his back. Stepping away from the Naga, he grabbed the outstretched hoof, giving it a firm handshake. I accept this name, and your friendship. The smile on Amicus' face was genuine and large.