[Prequel to Lost.] Two years after the events of ‘Lost’ Twilight discovers a tome detailing a different account on how King Sombra was defeated.
Prequel to Lost. (Some chapters are set in the present and others in the past)
It’s been two years since Fluttershy became Lost in the Everfree forest and was rescued by the human mage Grendel, curious to know more about humans beyond what Fluttershy told her. Twilight Sparkle decides to visit the Royal Archives in Canterlot but each trips goes without success. On one of her visits however, she is shown by the Royal Archives Scribe, Quill Pen, a secret room that contains an old tome. As she reads it she discovers that not only have there been humans in Equestria before, but what she and every pony knew about the rise and fall of King Sombra…
...Was wrong
(Cover art done by me.) (Thank you to Cirrus_Brony for his editing.)
Twilight hummed to herself as she walked along the stony pathway that led up to the gates of the Palace. On her back was her saddle bags almost bursting out with an assortment of quills, ink pots, blank scrolls and note books. She was also carrying another bag that contained a packed lunch made for her by Spike, Twilight had made this trip before, and to Spike it was simply like any other excursion to Canterlot.
Twilight was planning to stay in Canterlot with her brother and sister in law for a couple of days to do some research in the Royal Archives, which was the largest collection of information regarding everything known in Equestria. Spike had asked her the first time when she made the trip why she was going with all the equipment she packed if it was just to see her sibling; she had simply said to him each time that it was just to visit her brother. In more recent times when Spike had asked again she replied that she was also visiting Cadence, who had just returned to Canterlot from her honeymoon with Shining, and wanted to be ready for anything. She continued to give excuses like these avoiding giving Spike a proper answer
Spike would give up after continually getting the same reply and would leave her to it; her friends knew about her visits to Canterlot as Twilight would ask them to keep an eye on Spike, Owlicious and the library while she was gone. Unlike Spike they hadn’t questioned why she would over pack each time, simply accepting her unusually packing as just normal Twilight. The only one who knew what she was doing was Fluttershy; Twilight had been visiting Fluttershy on and off in the following months when she had been Lost within the Everfree forest. She had been taking notes and asking questions about her saviour, the human mage Grendel Emeric and of his world. Each time she had made the trip she did stay with her brother and sister in law but she spent a considerable amount of her free time there in the Archives researching anything she could find on humans, sadly however each time the trip had been unfruitful.
Some ponies would give up after doing this routine after a year or so but not Twilight; even though she couldn’t find anything each time she had still found some interesting things within the Archives. From time to time if the Princesses were around she would ask them if they knew of any books or tomes that may contain the information she desired, sadly though they didn’t. She got the feeling that they were hiding something, but it didn’t deter her though, she knew the Archives were far too large for the Princesses to possibly know every book and tome in there.
“Back again Miss Sparkle?” The guard at the gate smiled at her.
“That’s right Sergeant.” Twilight replied smiling.
The guard had gotten used to Twilight’s trips to Canterlot and enjoyed the small conversations she had with him, it was nice to have somepony to talk to when you were on guard duty. After their conversation the guard opened the gate and the two bid farewell to one another, Twilight continued up the path and into the Palace, she decided that she would go and see if Princess Celestia was around before greeting her siblings. Heading up to the main throne room passing by the familiar faces of guards and servants, the one who was guarding the door frowned slightly as she approached him.
“I’m sorry Miss Sparkle, if you were planning on visiting the Princess today I’m afraid she’s away on business in Manehattan at the moment.”
Twilight frowned at this but smiled back at the guard and thanked him for telling her.
’Oh well, I can still go see Cadence and Shining’ She thought to herself as she left to go find the two.
She thanked the guard once more and headed off down the hall, she wasn’t downhearted about the Princess not being there after all, she was the Princess. Turning a corner she smiled seeing a familiar stallion that was with two guards seeming to be issuing orders, he stopped when he saw Twilight and grinned dismissing the other two before quickly trotting over to her and giving her an affectionate hug.
“Hey Twily.”
“Hey Shiny.” She replied with a giggle returning the hug.
“Back again for another research trip?”
“Mhm.”
“Gee and here’s me thinking you’re here to actually see me and Cadence.” Shining said with a goofy pout.
Twilight giggled and playfully pushed him with her hoof as he let out a chuckle.
“Oh shush, you know I’m only here to visit you out of pity.”
“Pity eh?” Shining grinned as he pulled her into a playful headlock. “I’ll show you pity!”
Twilight giggled as he began to gently ruffle her mane shouting protests in between her giggles, she felt Shinning suddenly stop and saw him levitating above her slightly confused. He then let out a surprised yelp as his mane suddenly started to ruffle itself.
“Pick on somepony your own size.” A female voice giggled.
Twilight turned to see Princess Cadence step out of a nearby room her horn glowing, they both giggled as Shining was gently placed back on the ground grumbling and trying to sort his mane out.
“Cadence!” Twilight cried running up to the alicorn.
Cadence smiled and embraced her little sister, the three set off to let Twilight place her belongings in the room she would be sleeping in. The three sat down for a cup of tea and to chat about how each of them were doing. Being the first time she had seen them since returning from their honeymoon she began asking them all about it and if they had fun, naturally the two had to shy away from some of the more…explicit things that had taken place during their honeymoon. They showed Twilight several photographs including one of Shining being buried in the sand up to his head, Twilight had found it most amusing to see the next photo with Cadence evilly sticking a freezing cold ice cream on Shining’s head. The two mares began to laugh as a disgruntled looking Shining scowled at the two who only began to giggle more, they settled down when a knock on the door gained their attention.
“Enter.” Shining called out.
A Pegasus guard entered and gave a salute to Shining who in return have a salute back, Shining motioned for the guard to be at ease and then allowed him to speak.
“Message from the Princess Captain, she wishes for you and Princess Cadence to join her in Manehattan as soon as possible.”
Shining nodded as the guard turned and left before frowning with a sigh.
“Sorry Twily-” he began.
“It’s ok Shiny, I can always see you two tomorrow anyway and besides. I have some research to be doing.” Twilight smiled up at him.
“We’ll make sure to make time for a dinner together when we get back, Ok Twilight?” Cadence said nuzzling her gently.
“Ok, take care you two.”
Twilight gave the two another hug as they left to get ready to depart for Manehattan, Twilight was a little upset that she had only spent a small portion of the morning with them and would have to wait till tomorrow. But she knew that being Royalty and the Captain of the guard sometimes meant things would crop up; smiling as she waved them off in their carriage she trotted back to her room and began to check she had everything she needed for her researching.
“Ok let’s see…quills? Check…blank scrolls? Check” she muttered to herself as she levitating the mentioned items into the air.
Satisfied she had everything, she re-equipped her saddle bags and headed off towards the Royal Archives, the part of the Archives she needed to get to wasn’t located in the normal wing where she had once gone to as a filly. No the place she was going to today was the last wing she needed to fully explore that had gone neglected by her in the past couple of years, The Discordian Era wing. To most ponies who knew their history this was the time when Discord, the embodiment of chaos itself, ruled Equestria before being defeated by the two Princesses as well as the years that followed.
The wing however also contained details about the Crystal Empire and its harsh ruled King Sombra who rose to power some point during the era, which lasted until the Equestrian Reneighssance. As she descended the winding stairs that led to the wing, she passed by a mare balancing several books on her back and levitating a few more beside her. She smiled when she saw Twilight coming.
“Oh hello Miss Sparkle, what brings you all the way down here?”
“Hello Feather Scroll.” She replied. “I’m just doing my research again.”
“Ah I see, well the head scribe is in the wing today so if you need any help give him a shout.” Feather Scroll replied as she headed up the stairs past Twilight.
Twilight thanked her and headed towards the wings large doors, with a strong push the doors opened with a loud creak and groan. She slowly entered looking around the wing at taking in the sheer amount of books that were before her, she had seen the sheer amount before in all of the others wings but every time she came to a new wing. Her reaction remained the same. A chesty chuckle followed by a cough brought her out of her trance like state.
“Well, well, well, back again eh Miss Sparkle?”
Twilight turned round to see the desk with a very elderly looking unicorn stallion sitting down smiling at her at a desk, his coat was a light grey and he had a pure white mane. His large circle spectacles comfortably sat upon his nose as he shakily and slowly got up and walked over to her, giving her a cheeky grin which one would normally see on a young colt.
“Back again for more research on this mysterious creature? The one you never tell me about?” Quill Pen grinned as Twilight giggled slightly embarrassed.
“Yes I am Quill Pen.” She replied with a smile.
“Well then, would you like any help?”
“No thank you, I should be ok…” she trailed off; she had never truly told Quill Pen over the years what it was she was actually looking for, so she decided to ask him. “But I was wondering, do you have any books on a creature called ‘human’.”
Twilight was surprised to see Quill Pen’s cock his eyebrow.
“Oh? And why do you wish to know about these, ‘humans’ as you call them?”
“Well…It’s a long story; let’s just say I know a friend who claims she saw one.” She replied rubbing her leg with a hoof. “Is that the reason why you have been coming here to the Archives all this time?” he asked with his brow still cocked.
“Yes it has been…I would have said to you earlier but I know the notion sounds silly and with what-“ She was interrupted by Quill Pen giving a soft chuckle.
“My dear Twilight…how long have we known each other?”
“Since I was a filly but-“
“And have I ever considered you to be ‘silly’?”
“Well no but-“
“Then it is not a silly notion.” He smiled.
Twilight smiled back and was about to ask him if he did in fact have any books before he raised his hoof slowly stopping her.
“However regarding any books on ‘humans’…”he stopped to look around, there were a couple of other ponies there as well as a couple of guards. He let a smile creep across his face as he leant over and whispered into Twilight’s ear. “Follow me.”
Twilight blinked a couple of times as she watched him slowly walk away, however her curiosity was at an all-time high and she began to follow him. They walked deeper and deeper into the wing, walking past several bookshelves containing books that seemed to age more and more as they progressed deeper into the wing. They eventually came to a wall right near the back of the wing and Quill Pen looked around before walking to the left and pulling on a torch that was fixed to the wall. Twilight heard a mechanical whirring sound and stepped back, slightly confused. She gasped as a small doorway opened inwards into the wall revealing a small dimly lit corridor, Quill Pen entered and she quietly followed. She looked back to see the door closing again with a soft groan, she was a little unsure what was going on but was brought out of her thoughts at the sound of Quill Pen coughing.
Quill Pen opened the door at the end of the corridor revealing a surprisingly well lit room; inside Twilight saw there were three tables which had an old map of Equestria on it. From looking at it she deduced it was drawn up from towards the end of the Discordian Era, looking around more she noticed a glass cabinet in the centre of the room. Inside resting on a fine purple silk cloth was a fairly large tome, from the look of it she could tell it was old, really old. The cover was a plain light brown with a simple title written on the cover.
“Revelations of the Past?” she said to herself.
“Yes.” Quill Pen said. “It was written by my ancestor, Ink Quill. Around the time the Discord era ended.”
Twilight didn’t respond, she merely nodded not taking her eyes of the tome as Quill Pen continued.
“When the Princesses first begun to rule Equestria, they had many ponies who had a passion for the pursuit of knowledge hired as Royal Scribes. Much like I am one today as well as many others, now, the modern day scribes tend to keep an eye on the Archives. Making sure all the textures are kept in good order and what not but back then, there was so much that wasn’t recorded due to the chaos Discord had caused.”
Quill Pen walked over to the cabinet and smiled to Twilight before continuing.
“When Ink Quill became a scribe, Discord had already been defeated and peace and harmony was slowly being restored to Equestria. This is where the scribes began to start the proper accounting of the world’s knowledge and begun to store it in what later became the Royal Archives. As you know far to the north in the Crystal Empire its ruler, King Sombra had been mistreating his subjects for many years and the Princesses decided to free them and restore peace to the Empire.”
Twilight nodded, she knew the story as did anyone who had read a history book. King Sombra was defeated by the Elements of Harmony wielded by the two Princesses.
“Well, that story is wrong.” Quill Pen said turning to her.
Twilight tilted her head confused.
“I’m sorry…did you just say that…the story is wrong?”
“Indeed I did Miss Sparkle.”
“But how I-“she was interrupted by another raised hoof from Quill Pen.
“Originally King Sombra never ruled the Empire from the start; he ruled a kingdom that was further to the north in the mountains. He had planned to invade the Empire but was hesitant because he knew of the Elements power and was afraid of a quick defeat, so he did something nopony would ever believe possible.”
Quill Pen turned back to the tome, pausing for a moment before turning his gaze back to Twilight who was staring at him hanging on to his every word.
“But I’m sure you’d like to read it for yourself.” He smiled as he opened the lid of the cabinet.
Twilight was at a loss for words, she couldn’t truly believe that this tome, the only one of its kinda had the only true knowledge of what happened in the Crystal Empire. She looked up at Quill Pen her face etched with questions, questions he had the answers to.
“But…but does the Princess-“
“She’s aware of the books existence, she and Luna along with everyone in my family who have run the Archives since Ink Quill know of it. It’s a guarded secret we keep.”
“But why? Why doesn’t any other pony know about it? Why lie and keep it at all!” she replied a hint of annoyance and betrayal in her voice.
“Because the Princesses made a promise, she promised to a certain friend of hers she would not reveal the real truth of King Sombra and the Crystal Empire for the sake of Equestria’s safety. But they asked Ink Quill to write this tome as a simple way of remembering their friend’s great deed.”
“But wouldn’t other ponies have written things down?” Twilight asked.
“Ah, that was her first problem. However Celestia cast a spell that over the years made the ponies of Equestria forget the original version and supplemented the one you know now, save for a few.”
Twilight frowned at this; she didn’t particularly take it well that not only had the Princesses lied to all of the ponies in Equestria. But they hadn’t trusted her with the secret either.
“I can sense you feel betrayed a little?”
Twilight simply nodded as Quill Pen chuckled at her.
“When my father retired and I became the head scribe of the archives, Princess Celestia came to visit me. She and along with my father told me all about the tome and its room and why it was there, at first like you I was sceptical but when I myself read it. I could understand her reasons.”
He placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder and smiled.
“She came to me one day after your fifth visit to the archives and said to me, if I saw you were truly serious about your research into humans. You would be allowed to see this tome.”
“But it’s been nearly two years Quill Pen! I’ve been very serious about my research, why has it taken this long?” Twilight asked him a little annoyed.
“I…may have forgotten about it in my old age…” he replied giving a weak chuckle.
Twilight groaned and shook her head but couldn’t help but smile; Quill Pen began to leave the room and turned around before leaving Twilight in the room.
“Now, any further questions you need answering you can find within the book. If you need anything let me know, oh and Twilight.”
Twilight turned to face him.
“Please respect the Princesses’ wish and keep your knowledge of the tome a secret.”
“Of course Quill Pen…thank you.” Twilight smiled back at him.
Quill Pen smiled as he left her in the room, carefully opening the secret door and closing before returning to his desk. Twilight carefully levitated the book out of its display case and opened it up to the first page and began to read.
‘Revelations of the Past’
Chapter I
My name is Ink Quill, by Royal decree of Princess Celestia I have been tasked with the documentation of the event that has become known as ‘The Crystal War’ in this tome which I have named ‘Revelations of the Past’.
We begin with the arrival of a letter addressed to the two Princesses that had arrived from the most northern watch tower, regarding some reports about the mountains to the north of the Crystal Empire…
Princess Celestia sighed to herself, it had been a long busy day and not to mention and irritating one. She had been spending the good portion of the morning listening to the politicians and various governors argue about the boundaries of Equestria, some wanted it to remain as it is and focus on internal affairs whilst the others wanted to expand on foreign affairs. Either way it had given her a headache, she was glad when she got a moment to herself in the early afternoon and decided to take some tea. This plan however had also gone astray.
She was called into an emergency meeting along with her sister with the ambassador to the Griffin Kingdom regarding territory boundaries, something she knew would happen sooner or later. During Discords rule he had taken a small portion of Griffon territory to spread his chaos in, and now that he had been defeated naturally the Griffon’s wanted it back. She sighed as the debate droned on in front of her, to her left sat Luna who also was trying her hardest to not show her boredom as the Griffon ambassador and the Pony minister of foreign affairs argued.
“It was out land first, you HAVE to give it back!” the ambassador shouted.
“We know that but we have to sort out some affairs first!” the minister barked back.
“What is there to sort out? You didn’t own the land beforehand!”
“Yes ambassador but as I’ve been TRYING to tell you, under Discord’s rule the land was lived in by our citizens. We need to sort out where to re-locate them!”
Celestia sighed and slammed her hoof on the table hard, her patience had run out and the two bickering politicians were getting to her.
“ENOUGH! We shall take a break then discuss this further, perhaps then you two can act like civilised ponies then.” She bellowed glaring at the two.
The two muttered there replies before bowing to the Princesses and leaving the room, as the door closed both Celestia and Luna let out a large sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness that’s over for now…” Luna said.
Celestia nodded back as she and her sister left the room heading towards the balcony, on the way they were greeted by a servant and asked to be brought some tea. The servant nodded and quickly trotted away to fetch the beverage as the two Princesses opened the glass doors and took a seat overlooking the gardens. The view was always soothing to the pair, it was one of the few places within the palace where they could relax and find some peace. It had been ten years since the fall of Discord, and the Princesses where still in the process of re-building the Kingdom. They had gotten several things accomplished such as the forming of a military to strengthen their defence as well as rebuilding the towns and cities that had been wrecked or destroyed during his reign.
There was still much to get done and the two rulers had pretty much been busy non-stop since there ascension, it was a rare thing to have a break such as the one they were enjoying. They heard a small knock as the servant returned with a trolley adjourned with tea and cakes.
Luna chuckled watching her sisters eyes light up at the sight of the cakes, thanking the servant who bowed and left the two alone. They poured one another a cup of tea and selected their choice in cake and began to converse with one another, before they were interrupted again by a knock. At first annoyed they realised who it was and smiled as they beckoned him to enter, the unicorn bowed as he entered through the door.
He had a light grey coat with a messy black mane and a pair of spectacles balancing on his nose, his cutie mark, a quill dripping ink into an inkpot, was covered by a long dark blue cloak which had the Princesses emblems emblazed upon it. Holding the cloak down was a saddlebag bursting with scrolls quills and a couple of books, Celestia and Luna giggled when he stumbled on part of his cloak. Coughing and blushing slightly he composed himself and bowed.
“You asked for me your Majesties?” Ink Quill said with a bow.
“Yes Ink Quill, we have need of your services. And for what seems the one thousandth time, call us by our names, not titles.” Celestia replied giggling.
“Of course Celestia my apologies, what do you require?”
“As you know, we have been slowly re-building this land to its former glory to a place where peace and harmony come together once more.” She paused to sip some tea. “To do this we need to archive all of the knowledge of the land to help better ourselves in the future, which is where you come in my faithful scribe.”
“Celestia?”
“Currently, we are building a large Archive to store all these records, we wish for you to oversee its work as head scribe.” Luna finished with a smile.
“Thank you Luna, I’m honoured.” Ink Quill smiled with a bow.
The two offered him a cup of tea and he smiled accepting it, levitating the cup to him as well as taking out one of the books in his bag. He began to tell them about his ideas for the archives and for other various libraries they could build in the kingdom, the two smiled and listened to him fondly. Out of all the royal staff, they were very fond of Ink Quill. He didn’t see them as his rulers though he needed reminding he could call them by their names, he saw them as equals and they had found friendship and reliability in him. They were interrupted by a light knock on the door and all three turned to see who it was, appearing from behind the door was a unicorn servant.
“Come in.” Luna called.
The servant entered and placed the letter on the trolley and bowed before taking his leave, Celestia levitated the letter up and scanned the contents whilst sipping her tea. She let out a long sigh and closed her eyes, rubbing her head with a hoof. Luna placed a comforting wing on her sister and looked at her.
“Tia? Is everything ok?”
“No not really Lu-Lu, but when is it ever?” Celestia sighed sipping some more tea.
“What’s the matter?” Ink Quill asked.
“It’s just a report from one of the northern watch posts near the Crystal Empire; apparently the Empire is a little concerned regarding reports of movement coming from within the mountain kingdom.”
“You mean Sombra’s Kingdom?” he said sipping some tea and scribbling some notes in his book.
Celestia nodded as the three sipped their tea pausing for a moment taking in the surrounding sound of the gardens, the only sound they could hear was the light breeze of the wind and the sounds of birds nearby.
“But…what does it mean though? Could Sombra be amassing an army?” Luna said breaking the silence.
“I doubt it…he’s a good ally to us and the Empire and not foolish enough to try anything THAT stupid. And if he is it wouldn’t surprise me, after all aren’t we re-building our army?” Celestia replied offering Luna some cake.
“Thank you.” She nibbled cake before continuing.” I suppose that’s true, he probably is just trying to strengthen his own borders after all; Equestria wasn’t the only ones to suffer under Discords rule. And Sombra fought valiantly alongside the Empire to keep Discords minions of chaos at bay.”
“Indeed, but I wonder why the Empire is getting concerned, after all their military overshadows Sombra’s anyway. That and like you said Lu-Lu, there allies who are both helping each other rebuild.”
There was another pause as the three looked over the gardens once more, pouring each other another cup of tea and closing their eyes to hear the sounds of the world around them again. Even though they had been discussing more affairs that they had specifically come outside to get away from and relax. Both Sisters had still enjoyed the company of one another, and were enjoying listening to the sounds of nature.
“Still…” Celestia said after a while. “Maybe we should send some ponies to the Empire, to show them we are at least listening to them. After all it could be nothing they are worried about and if we send some ponies, we are showing we care for our allies.”
“What about Sombra? Should we send some ponies to his Kingdom and see what is going on.” Luna added.
“Hmmm…yes that’s a good idea Lu-Lu; it also avoids Sombra thinking we are doing deals behind his back with the Empire. I will send a letter to Sombra and Krustallos stating we will be sending some ponies to see how they are progressing in the new age.”
Luna smiled, she was still getting used to being a ruler and it wasn’t very often she had given a good suggestion to her sister who had done the majority of ruling. It wasn’t from lack of ability to do so; Luna was still young in Alicorn years and was nervous about being a ruler at her age. Celestia, being the eldest did what most elder siblings would do, took control of the majority of things allowing Luna to ease into her role at an easy pace.
“If you’d like Celestia, I could go to the Empire as well. It might help with reassuring them as well as allow me to collect information for the archives.” Ink Quill suggested.
“That’s an excellent idea Ink Quill.” Celestia smiled at him. “You best go and get ready, I’ll be sending the ponies tomorrow.”
“Right-o!” he started “I’m going to need a lot of ink and scrolls…oh and books plenty of blank books maybe a few dozen new quills?” he muttered as he left the Princesses alone.
They couldn’t help giggling at Ink Quills quiet ramblings; it was one of the things they liked about him. The two continued to talk about other things sharing a few jokes with one another; they were interrupted by a knock on the glass door. They looked to see another servant this time a mare looking a little nervous, they beckoned her to enter and she did giving a bow before talking.
“P-princess? The G-griffon ambassador and the m-minister are-“before she could finish the Princesses hear raised voices behind her.
“I don’t care if it’s ‘your land’ we still have a duty to our citizens to help them re locate!”
“You’ve had plenty of time to do that you snob of a pony!”
“What did you call me you feather brain?”
They both loudly sighed shaking their heads.
“Best resume the meeting Lu-Lu, doesn’t seem we will be able to take a break any longer.” Celestia said with a slight titter.
Luna only sighed again nodding as the two proceeded back into the meeting room, the servant bowed as they passed her and proceeded to clear away the tea and plates on the trolley before pushing it back to the kitchens. The two bickering males stopped momentarily to bow as the Princesses entered but soon began to squabble again, their mouths where suddenly where enveloped in a magical aura. They looked over to see Celestia’s horn glowing and a serious scowl on her face.
“Ok gentlecolts…let’s try this AGAIN but this time, in a civilised tone hmm?”
“I am telling you my liege, any attack now would be most unwise.”
Sombra let out a frustrated groan as he looked down upon the map that lay on the table in the room he was in, to his left was his Captain Dark Light, a dark grey Pegasus with yellow eyes and a black mane who wore dark grey battle armour and to his right and owner of the voice, his royal advisor and tactician. Dream Weaver, a pure white unicorn with cold ice blue eyes wrapped up in a black cloak and hood.
“I know we are at…a slight disadvantage.” Sombra began
“Slight being an understatement...” Dark Light muttered under his breath.
Sombra shot him a glare before turning his attention back to the map.
“But we need to expand, urgently and I don’t have to remind you the ponies are getting restless.” He finished. Dark Light and Dream Waver both nodded, although on the face of things least as far as Equestria and the Empire where concerned. The Mountain Kingdom was faring well in the dawn of the new age, having a prosperous trading relationship with both nearby Kingdoms. However this was a façade, the kingdom during the later years of Discords rule had been in a state of civil war due to the current king’s corruption by Discord. Sombra, former advisor to the king had led one of the three factions fighting for control of the throne with the other being Dream Weaver and the King Soul flare. At some point during the civil war, Sombra and Dream Weaver had met in secret and forged an alliance. Dream Weavers faction was nearly defeated by Soul Flare and he agreed to Sombra’s rule and he would be made the chief advisor, together their armies united and routed Soul Flare and imprisoned him. Soul Flare escaped however revealing himself to be one of Discord’s commanders, Entropy.
The ponies rejoiced for Sombra usurping the tone however, the war had taken its toll on the kingdom. They were running low in money and to make things worse, Discord was still in power and proved a dangerous threat with his army of chaos. Desperate to secure his position and keep his people safe, Sombra formed an alliance with Emperor Krustallos of the Crystal Empire allowing the Empire to temporarily take control of his forces in order to repel the chaos.
At first this worked tremendously, both Sombra and Krustallos fought side by side in battle repelling the chaos army from their respected domains. However Sombra began to get more and more power hungry with every victory he achieved and although he kept it hidden, he pondered Krustallos may of known. It was around the time of the intervention of Celestia and Luna that Sombra made his name famous to all corners of Equestria, using magic which after the war became forbidden, he single headedly wiped out the feared commander of Discord’s army Entropy and his army at the great divide between the artic north and Equestria’s borders.
With Discord defeated a triple alliance was formed between the three nations and Sombra was officially recognised as the new ruler for the Mountain Kingdom, however during the celebrations Celestia and Luna could sense something was different about Sombra. Although many ponies had been saying what an honourable and good leader he was, they couldn’t help something sinister behind his blue eyes. As the celebrations died down and Sombra bid fare well to the two Princesses and Krustallos, he watched them leave a slow soft smirk forming on his face. As they all disappeared from sight he closed his eyes and re-opened them again revealing his now red and green eyes.
Ever since the end of the Discord era the mountain kingdom had been getting more and more restless, Sombra poured more of his attention into the re-forming of his army which had to be done in secret less the other nations caught wind of it. He also had to keep an illusion spell up in public to mask his eyes, for the past ten years Sombra had slowly but surely created a large and disciplined military whilst simultaneously keeping up the façade of a peaceful nation. This had sadly had a knock on effect and soon his subjects began to become corrupted like there king and were beginning to become restless. They knew of the army and wanted their king to expand their kingdom. Sombra slightly feared a second civil war if he didn’t do something soon, normally he would of gladly gone to war against the Empire to claim territory had it been Discord still in charge. That however was not the case.
With the two princesses ruling Equestria, Sombra had to tread carefully, he knew about the power the elements and what they could do and that is what he feared most. He knew if he attacked the Empire then Equestria would surely aid them in repelling the mountain kingdom, and Sombra had no intention of being turned to stone like Discord either. He let out a large sigh sitting back into his throne.
Dream Weaver pondered over the map on the table, making several calculations whilst tapping his hoof to his mouth. He pondered and pondered trying to think of ways that the elements couldn’t be used against them, groaning in frustration coming with no real solution he back hoofed the small miniatures resting on the map and began pacing. Dark Light stood still watching him with a blank emotionless expression; he wasn’t trained to think like a strategist like Dream Weaver, he was trained to kill anything that stood in his Kings way. But even he had trouble thinking of a way that a strictly military could do that would prevent the use of the elements, he let his mind trail off as Dream Weaver muttered. Sombra closed his eyes deep in thought, trying to come up with a plan to begin his campaign. Could he try planting a spy to steal the elements? Maybe research into counter sells? Dream Weaver muttered something which made Sombra open one eye watching his advisor pace back and forth.
“If only there was a blasted way to counter the elements!” Dream Weaver growled slamming his hoofs on the table. “But they are linked to everything on the damn planet, nothing can stop their power.”
Sombra opened his eyes wide and slowly began to grin baring his teeth, why hadn’t he thought about it before hand? He had read about it in the past, it was the perfect solution!
“Then we shall summon something not from our world…” Sombra said startling Dream Weaver and Dark Light.
“What did you say my liege?” Dream Weaver asked.
“We summon a creature to us, it can be done can it not?”
“Yes sire, but no pony has even tried it, how would we even attempt it?”
Sombra’s grin grew darker as he let out a loud echoing dark chuckle walking over to the table.
“Because my dear advisor, during the reign of the imposter King Soul Flare. I discovered an old book deep within our archives that contains such a spell.”
Dream Weavers face changed from confusion and doubt to one that matched his Kings; Sombra led the two down the stairs and towards the basement where the older records of the mountain Kingdom resided. Using his magic to open the magically sealed lock, the three entered the dark room.
“This is a separate room that only the one who rules this kingdom can open, in here contains many spells and enchantments thought to of been long forgotten.”
“Then how did you know about this room beforehand sire?”
“Before ‘Soul Flare’ took the throne I was advisor to his ‘father’ King Rock Heart, he once showed me this room during his rule.”
Dream Weaver nodded levitating a book over to him, Dark light looked around the room still bearing his blank emotionless face. Sombra turned to Dream Weaver when he had heard his advisor let out a loud gasp.
“S-sire? These spells….there dark magic.”
Sombra stopped turning around to look at him, he knew that dark magic whether it was necromancy or shadow magic was forbidden. When the Princesses had taken the rule of Equestria, they along with Krustallos and Sombra had agreed that they would forbid the four kinds of dark magic, only two schools of it had any form of text left which was shadow magic and necromancy. He had secretly kept the tomes secret much like his predecessor Rock Heart.
“And? Is that going to be a problem Dream Weaver?”
Sombra nodded to Dark Light who in response nodded and slowly went to go for his sword, should Dream Weaver suddenly freak out and try to escape. The fact Dream Weaver knew of the existence of the spells was enough for Sombra to warrant his death, he soon smiled though as Dream Weaver began to laugh slowly at first before the volume of it increased.
“Problem? Oh no sire…in fact, I can see the Empire now in flames with your banner blowing from the tallest tower!” Dream Weaver cackled almost manically.
Sombra nodded contently as Dark Light stopped going for his sword, he valued the loyalty the two before him gave to him, it reassured him.
“How long will it take for you to prepare the ritual, Dream Weaver?” Sombra simply replied.
Dream Weaver looked up from the book he was looking through and around the room, tapping his chin he grinned at Sombra.
“It will be ready by tomorrow your highness…”
“Good, I will let you get to work Dream Weaver.”
Dream Weaver bowed as Sombra left the room followed by Dark Light leaving the advisor to his preparations. Sombra was greeted by a messenger who bowed and levitated a scroll up to him.
“This came for you an hour ago sir, it’s from Canterlot.”
“Canterlot? What one earth do the Princesses want…” he said as the guard left and read the scroll.
He growled in slight annoyance crumpling up the scroll before incinerating it, Dark Light walked up beside him. “Is everything alight my King?”
“The Princesses are sending an envoy to see how our kingdom is doing, they’ll be here tomorrow.” Sombra replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“I see Sir, how would you like the guard to respond?” Dark Light asked him.
Sombra paused for a moment to think, he didn’t know why the Princesses where sending the envoy and saw it as a waste of time. He also didn’t want the envoy to know of his military expansion or the ritual that would be taking place on the same day, letting his thoughts wonder for a moment he was brought out of it by Dark Light’s voice.
“Sir?”
“Treat them as you normally would Captain, greet them offer them hospitality the works. Keep them away from the barracks and my throne room at all cost, we will….deal with them in the evening.” He replied to Dark Light with a dark smile.
Dark Light saluted him before heading towards the barracks, Sombra slowly made his way to a balcony nearby to look over his kingdom. From where he stood he looked to the south seeing the Empire just in the distance and began to chuckle to himself.
“Soon my little Crystal Ponies…soon you and your precious Empire will be all mine.”
Ink Quill shivered and his teeth were chattering, he sat inside a carriage wrapped up in a blanket sitting next to a couple of the other scribes that were accompanying him. He looked out of the window watching as the snow blew about in the wind like dancers before mumbling to himself and sneezing loudly followed by a sniffle. He had remained in silence for most of the trip to the Empire whilst the other scribes had been chatting away. It wasn’t from rudeness, he had sensed a strange magical energy the moment they had entered the borders of the Empire and Sombra’s Kingdom. He couldn’t place his hoof on it and it was bothering him so, it didn’t feel like dark magic but at the same time it didn’t feel like light magic either. He had given up trying to work out what it was after an hour or so, cursing the cold for his lack of an answer and sneezed again.
“How long till we bloody get there?” he grumbled.
“Nearly there sir about half an hour or so, look you can see the walls from here.” One of the scribes said pointing his hoof out of the window behind Ink Quill.
Ink Quill popped his head out of the window trying to ignore the bitter sting of the cold and couldn’t help but let out a gasp of awe at the sight, it was his first visit to the Empire and he couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before him. The walls of the city were of a beautiful blue crystal that shone as if the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly, behind it were several tall structures entirely made from natural forming crystals that seemed touched the skyline and in the dead centre of his vision. The Crystal Palace, even from his perspective he could tell that the building was huge, bigger than the others and far more impressive. Its white structure was as pure as the snow that fell around the city and just like the walls and buildings; it shone brightly and proudly amidst the gloom of the clouds above it.
Just ahead of the wall, they were nearing two natural formed purple crystals that stood tall in the ground. Between the two where three crystals floating in perfect balance with one another, as they passed under them Ink Quill could hear the soft humming that emanated from them. As a unicorn he could feel the magical power that radiated from them, it felt warm inside him despite the bitter winter wind blowing about him.
“The Crystal Empire…such a beautiful place.” He softly said to himself.
The carriage came to a stop at the gates and they were greeted by a pair of guards.
“Welcome to the Crystal Empire, please state your name and business.” The guard on the left calmly said.
“My name is Ink Quill; I am the head scribe of Equestria here on business for Princess Celestia and Luna regarding this scroll.” He levitated a scroll to the guard who scanned over it.
“Ah yes, the Emperor has been expecting you, you may proceed.” The guard saluted him before turning to the gates. “Open the gate!” he cried out.
Ink Quill heard somepony respond and the gates slowly creaked and opened up. He stared in awe at the engravings the gate had, it was depicting what he could gather was a brief history of the Empire. As it finally opened the carriage proceeded to enter the vast city. They headed down a fairly busy street which reminded Ink Quill a lot of Canterlot’s market street, the various shops and stalls that were set up where a welcoming site to him. He watched as the citizens, all crystal coated which was something he found amazing, went about their daily lives. Some even stopped to watch the carriage go by curious to its purpose, Ink Quill smiled when he saw a few fillies that were clearly out on a school trip watching and began waving frantically at the carriage. Ink Quill and the other scribes couldn’t help chuckling and waving back to them. The journey didn’t last long which surprised him given the sheer size he thought the city was.
The carriage came to a stop outside of the palace and Ink Quill and the other scribes got out and along with the two guards that came with them, were greeted by several guards who formed two lines opposite one another and saluted as Emperor Krustallos and Empress Amemond descended the stairs that led up to the main doors. Ink Quill and the other ponies with him all bowed to the royal figures who smiled down on them.
“Come now there’s no need to bow.” Krustallos chuckled.
Ink Quill smiled as he rose, he hadn’t met Krustallos before but was already beginning to like him. He reminded him slightly of Celestia and Luna; the royal pair led the group of ponies into the palace and through one of the many hallways. Ink Quill took in the beautiful architecture and artwork that adorned the walls of the hallway as they came into a large dining hall.
“We can discuss business during dinner, come you must be hungry.” Krustallos smiled as he and his wife took their seats.
Ink Quill and his companions took their respected seats and the meal soon began, servants walking around the table pouring re-fills and taking away plates. A small band was playing a variety of string and wind instruments quietly; Ink Quill enjoyed the sounds as it somehow complimented the meal.
“I must thank Celestia and Luna for taking this matter seriously, I know it seems odd to request help in a matter that may not seem like much.” Krustallos said.
“Not at all, we take any problems our allies and friends seriously.” Ink Quill smiled back. “And we will do our best to help you.”
Krustallos smiled as he wiped his mouth delicately with a napkin.
“That is good to hear Master Quill, now to the matter at hoof…” Krustallos began.
As the meal continued, Ink Quill and the other scribes sat in silence listening to Krustallos. He explained that although the rumours and reports saying Sombra was indeed building an army, that wasn’t what was bothering him so much, it was the fact in the ten years since Discords defeat he had seen less and less of Sombra or anypony from his kingdom save for a few merchants during the height of the trading seasons. He had sent envoys now and again to the kingdom and each had failed to gain an audience with the king, having to deal with his shady looking advisor Dream Weaver. The other thing which had been bothering him as well as others was the change of magical energy coming from the kingdom, Ink Quill nodded. He told Krustallos he had noted the strange feeling that was coming from the north the moment they came within view of the kingdoms foremost outpost, he also told him of the other envoy that was heading to the Kingdom to which Krustallos nodded understanding Celestia and Luna’s reasons.
The meal came to a finish and Krustallos had a servant show the scribes and Ink Quill their respective rooms as well as telling them that as long as they were there, they had free access to the palace and its facilities. Thanking him Ink Quill retired to his room to write a letter to the two Princesses.
Celestia and Luna were on their balcony once more enjoying another break from another court meeting; they had received a scroll bearing their seal prior to the meeting and had only just gotten a moment to read it. They had hoped its contents would bear good news to lighten their spirits; it did so and even more. The two Princesses were giggling over the contents of the scroll like a pair of fillies.
Dear Celestia and Luna, By Starswirl’s beard it is bloody freezing! I knew the Empire was located in the north but how is it even possible to be THIS cold? I can’t feel my hooves and my teeth have only just stopped chattering. Anyway enough about me complaining about the weather, our envoy arrived just over two hours ago and Emperor Krustallos and Empress Amemond welcomed us warmly and even had a little celebration for us. It was quite nice actually and oh the food they serve, I was expecting it to be cold or something but my goodness it was delicious. Kind of reminded me of my mother’s cooking…
ANYWAY getting off topic here, The Emperor kindly allowed me access to his archives as well as free roam of the palace and so far from what I have seen I can happily say that everything is perfect here. It kind of reminds me of Equestria, the ponies seem to be very content with their rulers and the land itself, despite a freezing cold, is prosperous. I’m going to be turning in early today I think, as much as I’d love to explore of the palace more today I do miss the warmth of a bed…
I will report more to you tomorrow.
You’re faithful Scribe.
Ink Quill.
“I wonder if Ink Quill hears himself sometimes.” Luna asked between giggles.
“He’d be too busy mumbling about the shape of potatoes or something to notice.” Celestia replied.
They both paused for a moment at Celestia’s remark before they both burst into a round of laughing; as the laughing died down they heard a knock on the glass door and returned to the meeting they had taken a break from still giggling softly to one another.
“Well it’s nice to hear the Emperor is doing fine and welcomed the envoy with a warm welcome.” Luna said taking her seat.
“Quite, let’s hope the other envoy reports back soon, and then we can put this business behind us knowing both kingdoms are fine.” Celestia replied.
The two smiled before turning their attention back to the slowly re-filling room of nobles, politicians and other ponies who had returned from the meetings break.
“My Lord King Sombra the great bids thee welcome.” Dark Light said as he saluted the descending scribe.
“Thank you Captain, I hope his majesty is faring well?” the scribe said as he adjusted his glasses.
“Quite so, I apologise for him being unable to welcome you personally. He is currently in court with several nobles over a domestic issue, he has however instructed me to give you a tour of the palace and show you to your quarters.” Dark Light replied.
“That is quite alright and completely understandable, and I thank you Captain.”
Dark Light and two other guards led the scribe and his companions into the Palace, the scribes began to chatter to one another marvelling at the architecture impressed with the Palace being built into the cliff. The scribe who had addressed Dark Light, Feather Scroll, was conversing with him.
“So, when will his majesty be able to meet with us?”
“Soon if all goes according to plan, the nobles can sometimes be quite troublesome.”
Feather Scroll nodded knowing full well how nobles could be, after the tour of the palace Dark Light had led the group to their rooms and bid them farewell. As the scribes entered their room and began to settle themselves Dark Light turned to the two guards that had accompanied him.
“Keep an eye on them, they are not allowed to enter the throne room or King Sombra’s vault.”
“Sir!” they both saluted in unison.
Dark Light nodded and left the two guards heading towards the throne room, a slight smirk adorning his face. As he entered the room he found that there were several guards guarding the entrances to the throne room, the windows had also been closed off with curtains and the room was kept alight by a few candles. In the centre of the throne room was Dream Weaver, he was levitating a paint brush that had been dipped in white paint and was etching out markings into the floor of the throne room. Dark Light watched him for a moment; Dream Weaver had already drawn a fairly large circle which had a second smaller one inside of that, in between the two circles was writing in a language Dark Light couldn’t understand. Surrounding the larger outer circle where several small circles that each had a candle situated in the middle of it, each one linked to the main outer circle by a jagged line.
Dream Weaver took a step back to scan over the book carefully to make sure he hadn’t missed anything before going back to marking out a strange symbol in the centre of the two circles, to Dark Light it looked like an upside triangle with three arrows pointing inward, as he watched Dream Weaver he noticed a bowl being levitated over by him and placed in the centre of the triangle. Dark Light’s eyes widened a bit as Dream Weaver took out a small dagger and cut his leg, levitating a small amount of blood into the small bowl in front of him before wrapping the cut in a bandage. Dark Light slowly turned away from the scene to face the throne and Sombra who was watching Dream Weaver with great interest before giving him a deep bow.
“The visitors are unaware of anything my Lord.”
“Good…good, I want you to remain here Captain when we do this. I want your soldiers ready for anything…and I mean anything.” Sombra replied.
“As you wish Sire.”
Dark Light left the room and headed briskly towards the barracks to get reinforcements leaving Dream Weaver and Sombra alone in the room, Dream Weaver hadn’t heard Dark Light entering rather he had been too busy sorting out everything he needed to make the summoning work. He had read that if even a single item or inscription was out of place then the results would be…dire.
He carefully finished placing a candle in what appeared to be a circle with three spikes sticking out at specific angels and levitated a book over to him, flipping through the pages squinting his eyes as he muttered to himself reading over the page. Nodding in satisfaction he turned round and bowed to Sombra.
“My Lord…it is ready.”
“Excellent Dream Weaver excellent.” Sombra replied as he got off his throne. “When the Captain returns…we shall begin.”
“My Lord, I want you to know I mean no disrespect when I say this and I only have your best interests in mind but. Are you absolutely positive you wish to do this?” Dream Weaver asked him.
“Yes dear advisor I do, I appreciate your concerns but we don’t have much of a choice either way. And who knows, today the Empire…tomorrow Equestria and then…the world.” He chuckled darkly.
Luna had closed her eyes tightly during the meeting and had let out a loud wince of pain, the nobles and politicians stopped what they were doing and looked towards their ruler with looks of confusion and concern. Celestia draped one wing over Luna and then turned to the crowd.
“This meeting is adjourned until further notice.” She said in a serious tone.
The crowd all murmured replies of understanding and bowed before exiting, still concerned why the Princess had suddenly cried out in pain, as the room emptied leaving the two princesses alone with the guards.
“Please…leave us be.”
The guards bowed and then also took their leave leaving the two alone, Celestia turned to her sister and gave her a soft nuzzle.
“Lu-Lu…are you ok?” Celestia asked worriedly.
Luna whimpered and looked up at her sister her face etched in fear.
“Tia…I felt something…a great evil…”
“Whatever do you mean Lu-Lu?”
“I’m not sure…I just felt some dark presence make itself known to me, I could hear this voice in my head. It was deep and dark and powerful, full of hatred and malice and it…it just laughed.” She buried her face into Celestia’s neck. “It then said…This world will burn.”
Celestia looked at her sister with great concern, she was unsure why she hadn’t had the same feeling but knew her sister wouldn’t lie about something as serious as what she had said. But she needed to be one hundred percent certain Luna was being truly honest, she embraced her in a hug and softly stroked her mane before pulling her off her to look at her face to face.
“Lu-Lu…I need to make sure, are you positive you felt something and aren’t lying to me.”
“How could you even suggest that Tia? Why would I lie about something like this? I know I felt something and I know it’s real!” Luna replied angrily.
Celestia looked deep into her eyes and knew she was telling the truth and re embraced her gently.
“I’m sorry Lu-Lu, I had to make sure…”
“It’s ok Tia…I’m sorry I snapped at you.” Luna replied “That wasn’t the worst part though Tia…”
“What do you mean Lu-Lu?” Celestia replied.
Luna removed her ace from her neck to look at her sister face to face; Celestia saw the fear that was in Luna eyes. “The presence I felt…It came from the north.”
The room was deathly silent, on the throne sat king Sombra and to his right was Dark Light. In the centre of the room only the candles that had been lit by Dream Weaver provided any source of light for the room, Dream Weaver himself was in the centre of the room hovering the book he had used to create the markings on the floor beside him, surrounding him were several heavily armoured guards all ready to confront anything if something wrong happened. Dream Weaver turned his head to Sombra who gave him a nod of approval before turning back to the book moving it in front of him.
“With this blood, given willingly by one who wishes to speak with the dark forces, I request your presence!” Dream Weaver began lighting his horn.
As his horn glowed the colour changed from his usual white aura to a dark red one just as the bowl began to slowly rattle making the blood slosh about; a wind crept into the room from nowhere and began to whistle around the bowl slowly lifting it up into the air, the guards took a step back slightly as the wind held the bowl in the air and began to spin it in a circle.
“Take this offering, take this offering as a sign of good will and reveal yourselves to us!”
The bowl began to rapidly spin as the wind suddenly blew out the candles that surrounded the circles leaving only dream Weaver’s glowing horn as the only light source in the room; the guards muttered to themselves quietly and looked around panicked but where silenced by Dark Light.
“Calm yourselves!” he barked at them.
They all stopped and turned the focus again to the dark centre trying to focus on the circle to see if there was anything inside of it, the room was silent once more as the wind that was blowing previously seemed to suddenly stop. Dream Weaver; bit his lip nervously before carrying on.
“Dark ones…hear my plea…on this day and at this time, please…reveal yourselves to us!”
As soon as the words had left his mouth a loud boom roared throughout the room as the candles suddenly exploded with light, huge jets of fire roaring up into the celling illuminating the whole room. Several guards fell to the floor in pure surprise, the bowl that had previously been in the centre had vanished; in its place was a small swirling ball of dark shadows. Dream Weavers eyes widened and he dropped the book taking a couple of steps back, Sombra on the other hand was grinning watching as the ball violently swirled faster and faster before taking on the form of what appeared to be a head of a strange creature. Two red eyes burst from the shadows in a loud roar that erupted from the shadow rattled the room as the flames died down to that of normal candle fire.
“WHO DARES SUMMON ME!?”
The voice roared thought the room entering into the ears of everyone present and shaking them to the core, all the guards save Dark Light trembled at the mighty voice. Dream Weaver fell to his rump shaking with fear as the shadow glared at him angrily only to see Sombra step in front of him undeterred.
“I am King Sombra and you will treat with me.”
The shadow growled at him before laughing, the laugh even worse than his voice shaking the room once more sending fear into the hearts of all those around it excluding Sombra. Even Dark Light was feeling intimidated by the monstrosity in the room unable to take his eyes of it.
“FOOLISH MORTAL, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”
There was a pause as Sombra remained in his stance glaring back at the shadow unable to give a response the shadow answered for him.
“I AM J’SKAAR, THE GOD OF DARK MAGIC AND I DEMAND TO KNOW WHY YOU HAVE DARED SUMMON ME?”
Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise and fear, Sombra took a step back. He was expecting to have a great warrior or some form of creature to appear before him but not a God, he regained his stand and growled back at him.
“I, King Sombra of the Mountain Kingdoms, have summoned you here to request your assistance in battle!”
“AND WHY SHOULD I, A POWERFUL GOD OF UNSPEAKABLE EVIL, GRANT YOU WHAT YOU WISH MORTAL!” J’skaar roared back at him.
Sombra paused for a moment before a smirk etched on his face and he took another step towards the shadow letting out a dark laugh.
“Because I want to claim this world and everything on it, I want to look out over the land knowing its mine and nopony could ever take it from me.” Sombra started before looking directly into the God’s eyes. “I want to spread my dark magic to all four corners of this world and bring it to its knees.”
Everyone in the room was silent as Sombra seemed to have a stare off with the God, neither one of them breaking their gaze. J’skaar began to slowly chuckle before letting out a roaring dark laugh that echoed around the room.
“YES MORTAL…I CAN SEE THE LUST FOR POWER IN YOUR EYES; YOU HAVE INDEED SUMMONED ME FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AS I TO SHARE IN A LUST FOR POWER.” J’skaar started. “HOWEVER, AS LAID DOWN BY MY BRETHREN GODS IN THE BEGINNING, I CANNOT PERSONALLY ASSIST YOU IN YOUR DILEMA LESS I FACE THE WRATH OF MY BRETHREN AND BE CONDEMNED TO OBLIVION.”
“What do you mean you can’t assist me?! What kind of a God are you!” Sombra shouted angrily at him.
J’skaar saw the look of anger and disappointment upon Sombra’s face and began to laugh again much to the irritation of Sombra.
“FOOLISH MORTAL, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU PERSONALLY…BUT…I CAN STILL OFFER YOU SOMETHING AS GOOD.”
“What do you mean something as good?” Sombra asked.
“SWEAR YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO ME MORTAL, AND I WILL GRANT YOU THE ASSISTANCE AND POWER THAT YOU SEEK.”
Sombra paused again as he looked up at the swirling shadow for a moment, he wasn’t too sure about the offer this God was seemingly offering him. But his desire to see the Empire and indeed the entire world under his rule was to strong, he let a grin form on his face and he nodded to J’skaar.
“I, King Sombra, do hereby swear my allegiance to you J’skaar.” Sombra bowed to him.
“VERY WELL MORTAL, I WILL GRANT YOU MY FAVOUR…PRAY YOU DON’T DISAPPOINT ME.”
The wind picked up again swirling around the shadows deforming it back to the original ball of shadows from before, the candles burst into flames once more as the room roared and shook violently. The shadow congealed on the floor slowly forming into something, it let out a roar of pain as the shadows began to solidify, Sombra’s smile was broken when a light invaded the room and he saw the scribes from Equestria standing in the now open doorway a look of horror on their faces, the guards that were meant to of been guarding the door hadn’t noticed them as they were to transfixed on the shadow in the room. Sombra looked directly at the head of the scribes who looked back with a look of disbelief.
“What have you done King Sombra?!” Feather Scroll shouted as he and the other scribes approached him.
“SEIZE THEM!” Sombra roared.
The guards snapped out of their trance like states and surrounded the scribes, before they could do anything though, a shadow shot out and grabbed Feather Scroll by his neck hoisting him up into the air and strangling him. A sickening crunch was heard as his neck snapped an his body was thrown across the room slamming into the wall and falling into a heap, the other scribes cried out in panic and tried to flee the room only to have the shadow surround and trapping them. It lifted into the air holding the scribes in a ball. Their panicked cries where muffled as the ball began to get smaller and smaller until several crunches were heard and the screams stopped, the ball retracted back to where it originated in the centre of the room leaving no trace of the scribes.
Everyone turned their attention to the centre of the room to see a bipedal creature standing there, draped in black robes and a hood that concealed the majority of its face. All that could be seen was a sick twisted grin as the shadow formed back into what appeared to be a hoof with five digits on it; it took a few steps forwards past the shaken guards and stood in front of Sombra.
“My Lord and Master J’skaar has sent me to aid you, mighty King Sombra…I am yours to command.” The creature spoke with a strangely calm and mature voice.
“What is your name?” Sombra replied.
The creature grinned before kneeling down on one knee and bowing to him.
“I…am Malaskaar, Dark Mage and loyal servant of J’skaar, the solution to your problems...”
Celestia tossed and turned in her sleep whimpering softly, her covers were wrapped around her as if she was hugging a small child. Her lip quivered as sweat covered her, her usually neat mane was messy and wild from the constant turning.
Celestia ran down the dark hallway, her hooves echoing in the room with each step she took. She came to a stop in the middle of the hallway looking around; all her surroundings were a dark grey and the shadows darker than normal seemingly pitch black.
‘Where am I?’ Celestia thought to herself.
She wondered slowly down the hallway trying to figure out where she was, it reminded her of the palace hallways but she could tell from the structuring of some of the pillars and windows it wasn’t her palace. She walked to a window and looked outside but couldn’t see anything, only total darkness; she turned her head to the end of the hallway to look at the large doors. Cautiously she advanced closer towards it, her hooves making louder echoes with each step; she came to the doors and looked up. They seemed a lot larger then she thought, making her feel like a filly again, biting her lip she slowly raised her hoof to the door and pushed it open.
The large doors creaked as they slowly opened up into a pitch black room, nervously; she took a tentative step inside. No sooner than when her hoof made contact with the stone floor did several candles ignite in the centre of the room producing the only colour so far in this strange place. The light revealed a strange pattern on the floor involving circles, arrows and strange writing.
Swallowing and against her better judgement telling her to go back, she entered further into the dimly lit room approaching the circle. She now noticed the large throne and her eyes widened in recognition of who it belonged to.
“Sombra?”
Her words came out like a whisper as she heard a wind blowing past her, snapping her head to the middle of the room once more she gasped watching the wind whip up the shadows in the room into the centre of the circle. She watched her eyes wide as the shadows formed into what looked like a large head with twin red eyes.
‘What in Tartarus is that?!’
She backed away slightly as a booming laugh filled the room, she cried out in surprise as the laugh filled her with pure dread and fear before watching the shadow reform itself into something smaller. The figure formed into a bipedal creature in dark robes and hood and it rose up, standing at a height rivalling hers, it slowly approached her, its footsteps making no noise. It came to a stop a fair few feet away from her before suddenly appearing directly in front of her and grabbing her throat clenching tightly on it. She gasped for breath and her body struggled to move, she looked at its face, seeing only a twisted evil grin looking back at her. Just as she was about to fade into unconsciousness and darkness take her, it whispered something to her before laughing.
Celestia woke with a quick scream and sat bolt upright from her bed panting heavily, her eyes were wide as the doors to her room burst open and several guards burst into the room followed shortly by Princess Luna.
“Your majesty are you alright?” One of the guards asked.
She nodded and looked to Luna who immediately went to her side and embraced her in a hug; she softly stroked her back as the guards searched the room for anything out of the ordinary.
“Guards…can you leave us please?”
“I’m afraid not Princess, not until me I am satisfied there is nothing in this room that threatens your sister.” The same guard replied.
“It’s fine…please leave.”
“But Princess.-“
He was interrupted by an angry glare from Luna and he lowered his ears before bowing and taking his leave, he was followed shortly by the other guards and left Luna alone in the room with Celestia. Luna levitated over a glass of water from a nearby table and offered it to Celestia who took it thankfully and slowly drank the whole glass.
“Now Tia…what’s wrong?” she asked.
“I…I had a nightmare Luna, I was in a dark hallway devoid of any bright colour just an abysmal grey. Every step I took just echoed around me, I couldn’t see out of the windows.” She paused to regain her composure. “I then entered pitch black room that suddenly lit up in the middle the moment I stepped inside; as I looked around I saw a throne and recognised it as King Sombra’s.”
“What on earth were you doing inside of king Sombra’s palace?” Luna asked her.
“I don’t know Lu-Lu…it got worse though.”
Celestia closed her eyes her ears flattening slightly, Luna frowned slightly and gave Celestia an affectionate nuzzle letting her carry on.
“When...when I said Sombra’s name the wind picked up, it dragged the shadows into the centre of the circle and they began to form. Oh Lu-Lu…those eyes, they’ll haunt me for a long time…”
“It’s ok Tia…it was just a nightmare, nothing else.” Luna said reassuringly.
“I know Lu-Lu but…what happened after that, I’m not so sure it was a nightmare more of a warning or revelation on something that’s happened.”
“What do you mean Tia?” Luna asked.
“Well…the shadow laughed before forming into something smaller, a creature on two legs. It came towards me and began to choke me, just before I passed out it said.” She looked Luna directly in the face. “This world will burn.”
Luna’s eyes widened in shock.
“You’re joking…tell me your joking Tia this isn’t funny!”
“I’m not Lu-Lu…and after that experience, I’m worried for the envoy we sent to Sombra’s Kingdom. Tomorrow I will try and speak with Feather Scroll to see how he and the other scribes are; I’ll then let Ink Quill know what is going on depending on if I get a reply form Feather Scroll.”
“I’ll send Ink Quill a scroll in a minute Tia…for now try and get some rest, I’ll protect your dreams from anything malicious now.” Luna smiled giving Celestia a cuddle.
“But it’s night time, you need to -“she was cut off by Luna’s hoof to her mouth.
“No buts Tia now go to sleep; we will go to the Empire tomorrow morning.” She giggled at her.
Celestia huffed and gave in, lying back down on her bed closing her eyes softly she quickly fell back into a deep slumber. Luna sat beside her with a smile before looking out of the window letting a frown of worry fall on her face.
‘I hope Feather Scroll and the others are safe…’ she thought to herself.
Ink Quill wondered the halls of the Crystal Palace quietly, he couldn’t sleep for some reason and decided to take a walk to try and tire him out. After some time he came to a stop near some doors that led out of the palace and onto a balcony, he saw the Empress and Emperor sitting there looking up at the night sky, deciding to leave them be he turned to walk away only to walk directly into a pillar. Hearing the noise the Emperor turned round and smiled before beckoning Ink Quill to come outside, slightly embarrassed Ink Quill opened the door and gave a bow.
“Master Quill what did I say about bowing?” Krustallos said with a grin.
“Sorry your highness…natural reaction I suppose, and please just Ink Quill. I feel weird being addressed like that.” Ink Quill replied with a smile.
“Very well, come join us won’t you?”
“Thank you.”
Ink Quill took a seat next to them and looked over the balcony and gasped at the sight, the crystal buildings of the city glistening slightly in the moonlight. Ink Quill hadn’t noticed the skies had cleared up after he had arrived and couldn’t believe the sight he was seeing, it was simply beautiful and it took his breath away. It seemed that the Empire kept pulling out new ways to further and further impress him; he could see why ponies would speak highly of the Empire despite it being located in what was frankly a frozen wasteland. Amemond saw his jaw drop and giggled lightly. “Careful you don’t remain like that Ink Quill, the cold might freeze it that way.” She giggled.
Ink Quill blushed trying to regain his composure causing both monarchs to laugh; Krustallos place a reassuring hoof on his back and smiled.
“Don’t be to embarrassed Ink Quill; the sight of the city at night is indeed a remarkable one. You’re not the first visitor to marvel at its spectacle.”
“It truly is a wonder to behold…we have nothing like this back in Equestria, not to say we don’t have spectacles of our own I mean the view from Canterlot is pretty amazing.”
“Quite so, I remember when me and Amemond first visited your Princesses after the fall of Discord and had our breaths taken away of the sight Canterlot sees on a daily basis, but that is to be expected from a city so high up a mountainside.” Krustallos chuckled.
“Now boys, don’t start a ‘which city is best’ competition. Remember your ages.” Amemond giggled giving Krustallos a playful push with her hoof.
The three laughed amongst one another, they began to talk about how the day had gone and what Ink Quill was planning on doing involving the archives of the empire to which both Krustallos and Amemond agreed upon. After a while they fell into silence to enjoy the night sky ignoring the cold the night brought with it, Ink Quill smiled to himself as he watched the city below him. Several lights still shone out of buildings and some ponies still wondered the streets heading for home, he felt at peace at the scene before him.
“You know your highnesses…you remind me a lot of my rulers.” He said out of the blue.
“Oh?” Amemond replied.
“Nothing bad I assure you, it’s just you both are in touch with your people and aren’t all ‘I’m a ruler therefore I’m superior’.” Ink Quill dramatically waves his forelegs in the air earning a chuckle from the two. “It’s…nice to see that I think.”
Krustallos and Amemond smiled at this, they offered him some tea and he politely thanked them taking a sip. A slight hum suddenly happened before a poof of smoke appeared in front of Ink Quill and a scroll appeared, curiously he took it in his magic noticing it bore Luna’s seal rather than Celestia and opened it.
“Huh, it’s from Princess Luna…”
Krustallos and Amemond watched with curiosity as Ink Quill scanned through the scroll muttering to himself now and again, he frowned slightly as he finished reading the scroll then looked out towards the mountains where Sombra’s kingdom was in deep thought. He didn’t hear Krustallos calling his name until he felt him poke his side with a hoof, both he and Amemond were looking at him with a mixture of confusion, curiosity and slight concern.
“Is everything alight Ink Quill?” He asked him.
“Honestly your majesty…I don’t know, here, you need to read this to.” Ink Quill replied levitating the scroll over to him. Krustallos held the scroll between him and his wife and began to scan its contents.
Dear Ink Quill,
I am sorry to trouble you at this hour but I thought it be in your best interest to know some…developments that have happened. Earlier in the day I had a sudden feeling of terrible evil come over me, and I heard a voice telling me that ‘This world will burn’. What worried me so was the fact I felt this evil coming from the north, naturally I would have told you straight away but because Celestia didn’t feel anything we decided it best not to however. I have just recently found Celestia in a panicked state after suffering from a terrible nightmare and in this nightmare she had a vision, a vision from Sombra’s kingdom and was told by a strange creature the same thing I had heard earlier.
Me and Celestia and now greatly concerned at these events coupled with no reports from Feather Scroll or the other scribes that had departed to Sombra’s kingdom, please take great care in the north and please tell Emperor Krustallos and Empress Amemond at your earliest possible chance. Something is happening in the north of what we do not know; we have decided we will come to the Empire first thing in the morning to discuss this further.
Your Princess and dear friend,
Princess Luna.
Krustallo’s eyes widened upon reading about the vision and the dream, he looked from Ink Quill to his wife then to the mountains and sighed.
“Maybe the Princesses are right, maybe something is going on with Sombra’s domain…it would explain the change in energy coming from his realm.”
“Do you think we should send somepony to check on this Feather Scroll tomorrow dear?” Amemond asked him finishing reading the scroll.
“That might be a good idea…we should wait for the Princesses to-“
He was cut off by a loud boom that resonated from the mountains; the ground shook slightly as a sudden feeling of dread filled the three ponies’ bodies. Looking to the mountain they saw dark clouds forming above it, huge lightning bolts crackled from within as the thunder boomed loudly, they watched in surprise and awe as the clouds grew and grew. All three suddenly feel a strange energy fill them and cried in slight pain at the intrusion. Ink Quill buckled over holding his head and just as quickly as it came, it stopped.
As the three regained themselves they looked to the mountains in shock then looked to one another, a guard came bursting through the door panting heavily.
“Your majesties are you alright?” He said between pants.
“Yes were fine, what I want to know is what the blazes that was! Send some guards to the town closest to the mountain Kingdom and find out what is going on.” Krustallos replied.
“Sir!” The guard saluted before turning and leaving.
Celestia awoke with a startled yelp as the ground shook around them; she hadn’t heard the boom that resonated in the distance by Luna had. They both then suddenly felt the same wave of energy they both had felt in their vision and nightmare wash over them and caused them both to wince in slight pain, and like beforehand, as quick as it happened. It stopped.
“What on Equis was that?” Luna cried out.
Celestia didn’t get a chance to answer as the door burst open and the same group of guards from earlier filled the room.
“Princesses, are you alright? There was a boom and-“Luna interrupted him with the raising of her hoof.
“We are quite fine Captain.”
“Very well Princess, what would you have us do? Some of the nobles are confused as to what just happened.”
“Tell them me and my sister are working on it, tell them as well we are departing for the Crystal Empire immediately rather than in the morning.” Celestia said sitting up in her bed.
“Yes your highness.” The captain saluted before he and the other guards left the room.
“Tia, are you sure?” Luna asked worriedly.
“Yes Lu-Lu, we cannot ignore this. Now go and get ready.”
“Ok Tia, I’ll write a scroll and let Ink Quill know we are coming.”
Celestia nodded as Luna left the room, she got up from her bed and walked to the window looking towards the north.
A group of pegasi guards were flying in the sky away from the Crystal Empire and towards the Mountain Kingdoms; they came closer and closer to the edge of the Empires borders and the furthest town, they entered a strange fog that covered the area before them. They were undeterred however as this was the kind of fog they had expected to come across further into the north they went.
“So…what do you reckon that boom was then lads?” One of them called out.
“Dunno, could be nothing?” Another replied.
“No way, didn’t you feel the ground shake? Gotta be something big.” One at the back called out.
“Quiet you three! Were here on a mission not to gossip, keep your wits about you and your eyes peeled!” The leader of the group shouted.
“Sir.” All the pegasi replied in unison.
As they flew through the fog, a wave of uneasiness came over the Captain as they progressed. He couldn’t put his hoof on it as he was used to flying through dense fog, he spotted in the distance an opening in the fog.
“Ok, were approaching the end of the fog, be on your guard!” He called back.
As the group came out of the fog they nearly came to a complete halt in surprise at what they saw, the town, or what was left of it lay before them. Buildings were still smouldering with a few fires still going, rubble lay everywhere but that wasn’t what caused the guards discomfort. All over the town lay the bodies of ponies of every race, blood splattered most of the ground staining the snow red.
“By the ancestors…” The captain whispered as he and the others came down from the sky and lanced just on the outskirts of the town. “Be careful…who or what did this could still be here.”
The guards nodded and readied their weapons as they slowly entered the town, a couple of the guards retched from the stench that invaded their nostrils. Looking down at each body holding back the impending vomit that was forming inside them, each body had a look of pure fear and panic permanently etched onto their faces. As they entered further and further into the town towards the centre they heard the soft crying of a young filly, now alert to possible survivors they quickly made their way to the centre, stopping to see a small unicorn filly looking down at two bodies.
“Mummy…Daddy, get up! Please…I don’t like this game, wake up!” she cried nudging the body of a male unicorn with her head.
The other guard’s hearts sank at this display, turning their heads away not wanting to see it. The Captain slowly approached the filly removing his helmet; the filly became aware of him and backed up standing by the bodies of her parents tears in her eyes.
“S-stay away, leave my mummy and daddy alone!”
“Easy little one…I’m not going to hurt you.”
“C-can you help my mummy and daddy up…they told me to hide when these bad ponies came a-and when it was quiet I c-came out and they were lying on the floor.” She sniffled at him.
The captain frowned looking at the bodies of her parents then back at the filly, her eyes were red from her tears and her mane was messy.
“What’s your name little one?” He asked her.
“S-Songflower.” She replied.
“I’m Captain Fleet Wing, of the Royal Guards.” He smiled back at her, avoiding her question.
“Can you help my mummy and daddy?” she asked again sniffling.
Fleet Wing looked away; he had told ponies before that loved ones had passed away beforehand. He had never however had to tell a filly that both her parents were dead and there was nothing he could do for them. He was about to tell her when one of the other guards suddenly cried out.
“CAPTAIN WATCH OUT!”
Fleet Wing looked up to see a large shadow making its way rapidly towards them, quickly he grabbed Songflower and used his wings to blow himself backwards just as the shadow swiped where he was. Flying back to the other guards who had their weapons raised up, all around them the shadows of the buildings and of the dead bodies moves and manifested in a circle around them, red eyes protruding from them. The shadows vaguely resembled ponies all brandishing weapons similar to the guards only made of shadows, Captain Fleet Wing looked left and right trying to find an opening, he knew they were heavily outnumbered and he had a filly that needed to be rescued.
“Orders sir?” One of the guards asked.
“We make a break for the capital; we need to alert the Emperor we are under attack.” Fleet Wing replied.
“Well…well…well, if it isn’t my old ‘friend´ Fleet Wing…” A voice said from within the shadows.
They all looked to where it had come from to see the shadows part and an armoured guard step out smirking at them, Fleet Wing’s eyes widened as he recognised him and immediately glared angrily at him.
“What the hell are you doing here Dark Light!” he barked at him.
Dark Light laughed at him as he came closer and closer, Fleet Wing noticed his eyes had become a crimson red and slit.
“This world belongs to my Lord King Sombra…you won’t leave this place alive.” He smirked at him.
“We’ll see about that Dark Light, I’ll see you hang for this!”
Dark Light laughed again at him as a cry of pain came from behind Fleet Wing, shooting a glance back his eyes widened as two of the guards were hoisted in the air by their necks gasping for breath as a strange shadow manifested from the ground where they stood. The remaining guards lept back in surprise watching as the two guards being held in the air struggled for their freedom, a crunch came from their necks as their bodies suddenly stiffened then went limp, dropping the bodies on the floor the shadow formed into a bipedal creature who laughed darkly.
“You see Fleet Wing…” Dark Light began. “My Lord has been blessed with the favour of a powerful deity…you won’t survive the oncoming fire, surrender now and I will end your life quickly.”
“Go to Tartarus Dark Light!”
“Very well…kill them.” Dark Light said as he backed away from Fleet Wing.
The bipedal creature suddenly lunged for one of the guards drawing a sword out of the air and plunging it deep within his chest, leaving a look of surprise on his face as he fell to the floor. The remaining guards drew their weapons and charged at the creature having their sword blows blocked by it. It pushed them back and raised its arm up sticking its hand up and shooting a sudden burst of lightning that struck the two directly, they both cried out in pain as their bodies fell to the ground smoke rising from them. One of them tried to raise his head up but was greeted by the creature brining its foot down with tremendous force and speed crushing it instantly, blood sprayed everywhere causing the filly to scream in terror and cling to Fleet Wing’s neck.
Fleet Wing gritted his teeth and backed away from the creature, the shadows surrounding him did not move content in letting this…thing kill for them. He quickly looked around for a means of escape but couldn’t see one; he shot up into the air only to stop when the shadows quickly blocked his path forcing him to re-land. Cursing under his breath as the creature advanced on him slowly he raised his own sword ready to die defending the small filly, he was surprised to see the creature simply stand there a smug grin coming from under his hood. It waved its hand towards part of the shadows and they departed revealing an opening.
“Go…warn your Empire…” the creature spoke calmly to him.
Taking the opportunity, Fleet Wing shot off as fast as he could, carrying the filly close to his chest as he raced towards the capital. The creature watched him as his sword vanished into thin air and Dark Light walked up to him.
“Why did you let him go Malaskaar?” He asked with a hint of annoyance.
“Because Captain…in my experience, having the enemy know you’re coming makes the fight…the bloodshed…the sacrifice more…satisfying.” He replied before letting out a dark laugh.
Fleet Wing flew as fast as he could; clinging to his neck wrapped in his front leg was Songflower. She hadn’t opened her eyes once since leaving her home town from fear. Fleet Wing held her tighter to him cursing under his breath. He was going to make sure she was safe no matter what happened, as he came closer and closer to the capital he became more and more aware of his own personal fatigue. He didn’t even notice his altitude was slowly decreasing as he flew over the city walls, as he came closer to the palace he was only a few meters off the ground and a massing of guards was forming confused as to why the captain was on his own and carrying a filly, though some had suspicions.
Fleet Wing landed on the ground hard and collapsed onto his side still clinging to Songflower, guards rushed over to help him onto his hooves. A female guard who Fleet Wing recognised as lieutenant Star Blast and his second in command took Songflower from his grasp and gently held her. Fleet Wing allowed her to do so because Star Blast was a mother of two, as he stood up he looked up to see the Emperor and Empress descending the stairs of the palace a look of concern on their faces followed by Ink Quill.
“Captain Fleet Wing, what happened are you alright? Where are the rest of your soldiers?” Krustallos asked him.
“Dead…there all dead my lord.” Fleet Wing answered softly.
“What do you mean dead, how?”
“We were attacked…by King Sombra’s army.” Fleet Wing raised his head wearily.
Krustallos and Amemond looked at him in disbelief along with the other guards, each one not wanting it to be true.
“That’s not all my Lord…Dark Light…he was accompanied by...” Fleet Wing paused for a moment lowering his head reliving the shock of his men cut down in mere seconds.
“By what Captain!?” Krustallos shouted.
“Please Fleet Wing…what was accompanying him…” Amemond asked with a softly seeing Fleet Wing flinch at her husband’s tone.
“A monster…it walked on two legs and could control the shadows and lightning…it cut them down in seconds, but it allowed me to go free.” Fleet Wing choked back a sob. “Why me…I should have been able to save them but I failed.”
“Guards, take Captain Fleet Wing and the young filly to the infirmary. They need to be looked after.” Amemond ordered.
The surrounding guards saluted as some of them helped Song Flower and the sobbing Fleet Wing towards the infirmary leaving a few behind, Krustallos turned to the rest of the remaining guards.
“Send messages to all our outposts and towns at the far corners of the Empire and alert them to the invasion and to report back immediately, we need to know where we have been hit, how large an army we are dealing with and more importantly. We need to know what the hell it is Sombra has created!”
The few guards saluted and took off to the barracks in order to send messenger birds to the outposts and towns near the borders of the Empire, as they left Krustallos turned to Ink Quill.
“Master Ink Quill, contact your rulers. Tell them what is going on and that I need their help as soon as possible.”
“Of course your highness.” Ink Quill bowed and took off to his quarters to write a message to Celestia and Luna.
Krustallos took a few steps forwards looking towards the horizon lost in thought; he felt the hoof of his wife on his shoulder and turned to her. She gave him a reassuring smile to which he returned it before returning his gaze back to the horizon.
A line of unicorn soldiers numbering only about twenty five were behind a makeshift blockade made of furniture, benches and whatever could be used firing magic beams into the oncoming shadow. Behind the line of soldiers was another fifteen hurriedly trying to guide the fleeing civilians to transportation out of the town, an armoured Pegasi on top a building cried out raising his hoof into the air looking towards the shadow, he turned to a soldier beside him with a nod then to the barricade.
“HOLD THEM BACK, DON’T LET THEM BREAK PAST THE WALL!” The armoured Pegasi cried out. “CROSSBOWS AT THE READY!”
Along the rooftops of several homes, dozens of earth and pegasi ponies aimed their crossbows towards the shadows which were beginning to form into the shapes of ponies. He then suddenly lowered his hoof quickly pointing to the approaching ponies, the soldier next to him turned to the crossbow ponies and screamed.
“FIRE!”
The sounds of crossbows being fired filled the air as the enchanted bolts screamed towards the shadows, as the bolts came closer and closer to their targets the bolts began to glow as the enchantments kicked in. Several explosions filled the air as the bolts detonated one after the other; bodies of ponies some of them missing their limbs flew in several directions as cries of sudden pain rang out, the advancing army burst through the smoke getting closer and closer to the barricade more of them being cut down by the bolts of magic being fired from the unicorns. The solider raised his hoof up and lowered it again.
“FIRE!” He shouted again.
Again the sounds of crossbow bolts screeched through the air towards the advancing ponies before once again detonating sending more bodies and limbs off in different directions, as more and more ponies burst through the shadows the pegasi soldier became more worried as his eyes widened at the sheer number of soldiers charging them.
“FIRE AT WILL!” He cried out.
The ponies using crossbows began to fire rapidly as quickly as they could, their determined front now cracking under the sheer size of the army still heading towards them. Explosions and cries rang out as bolts of steel and magic shot into the army, despite this effort more and more ponies kept charging towards them. This made most of the soldiers lose their resolve and backup in fear.
“WE’RE NOT EVEN MAKING A DENT!” One cried out dropping his crossbow in panic.
“DO NOT GIVE INTO FEAR! WE ARE SOLDIERS OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE, WE MUST FIGHT!” The Pegasi cried out to his men.
Almost upon them, the army cried out raising their swords up ready to strike as the barricade came closer and closer. The pegasi drew his own sword ready to go down fighting, just as he was about to issue an order there was an explosion directly in front of the barricade that sent several parts of it into the air as well as taking out a few of the unicorns behind it. His eyes widened at the sudden attack looking around for the source, nodding to his second in command he drew his sword.
“SWORDS AT THE READY! PREPARE FOR CLOSE COMBAT, IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR-“
He was cut off suddenly; the unicorn standing beside him felt a splash on her face turning to where here commanding officer was she fell back in shock and fear. Were he had been standing was a bipedal creature holding a now bloodied sword standing over the headless body of her commanding officer, it slowly turned to face her and begun to advance. She scrambled back to her hooves and drew her sword charging at the creature, it easily blocked the attack grabbing the unicorn by the horn and hoisting her into the air. She struggled to break free, the grip on her horn tightened. She could feel her magic energy being drained from it and she cried out in pain, panting as she struggled to remain conscious she gave a look to her left seeing the barricade being overrun by the advancing army cutting down any in their way. She felt tears form in her eyes when she heard the screams of the civilians behind her knowing that they had been overrun as well and gritted her teeth hearing their pleas for mercy go unanswered.
She looked up at the creature holding her by the horn and stared into its eyes, her eyes widened once more as she fixated on them. They were cold and empty, she could see a great darkness behind them as well as a great magical power, but for some reason she could see something else but wasn’t sure what it was. She cried out in pain as it threw her to the ground roughly her armour clanging loudly as she struggled to stand up but collapsed again, the creature slowly advanced towards her a twisted smirk on its face.
“Why…why are you doing this?” she said coughing up a little blood.
She got her reply in the form of the creature raising a hand up and shooting a large chain of lightning bolts into her, she screamed in agony as she writhed about violently. Eventually the lightning stopped and smoke rose from her charred body, wincing in pain she struggled to lift her head and slowly began to shakily. She heard the creature let out a dark chuckle.
“Persistent...aren’t we.” Malaskaar said coldly.
“G-go to Tartarus…demon!” she spat at him.
He smirked once more and shot another burst of lightning at her causing her to scream out again as the lightning coursed through her body, flailing to the ground again unmoving the creature walked over to her body and chuckled to himself. Kneeling to the corpse he placed his hand on it slowly and closed his eyes and inhaled, exhaling his eyes shone bright white and he stood up opening his hands out to the now ruined town.
“My Lord J’skaar, I give the souls of these heathens who resisted you. Let their souls satisfy you and bless me your loyal servant with the power to continue to carry out your will.” He shouted loudly.
The soldiers that had accompanied looked up at him slightly confused by his sudden outburst, they soon became slightly alarmed when they noticed the bodies of the townsfolk and soldiers glow with a soft white light. They watched in awe as the white glow left the bodies and rose up into the air collecting into a small swirling ball in front of Malaskaar, as the ball solidified in front of him Malaskaar he opened his mouth gagging slightly. Malaskaar’s eyes shone brighter as a shadowed hand emerged from his throat out of his mouth and grabbed the ball firmly, it then retracted back into his mouth sending Malaskaar to his knee panting heavily. A soldier flew up and landed next to him.
“My Lord, are you ok?” He asked him.
“Yes soldier…I’m fine.”
“Forgive me Sir but…what was that?”
Malaskaar turned to scowl at him as if the pegasi had asked him an offensive question, he then noticed all the soldiers looking up confusedly at him and he let out a loud chuckle.
“Sacrifice my dear Comet Shine…sacrifice to our Dark Lord.”
Comet Shine nodded, he along with every other soldier in Sombra’s army were ordered to swear their loyalties to J’skaar and to Malaskaar who was acting as his physical manifestation. Malaskaar stood back up and turned to the soldiers with a smirk.
“Waste no time with idle trophies, leave the dead. We make our way to the capital to join with Captain Dark Light’s forces!” He ordered.
A chorus of ‘Yes Sir’ filled the air as the army began to mobilize itself for the march ahead; Malaskaar dissolved into shadows and reappeared on the ground followed by the pegasi. His cloak billowing behind him as the wind began to pick up and snow began to fall around them.
I apologise for the formality of this scroll but this is a serious matter, approximately two hours ago there was a loud explosion like thunder that came from the north of the Empire. The Emperor sent a small attachment of soldiers to investigate what had happened, an hour later only one returned, the Captain Fleet Wing. He was carrying a small filly and he described what he saw.
I’m sorry to inform you that King Sombra has invaded the Crystal Empire and begun a war with the Empire, but I’m afraid that’s not the worst part. The Captain and the small filly both described of a bipedal creature that could manipulate shadows and the element of lightning, I fear that Sombra has used forbidden magic to summon a warrior to his cause. Emperor Krustallos has asked that you and Luna come to the capital immediately and bring whatever aid you can.
You’re faithful Scribe,
Ink Quill.
Celestia sat in silence on her throne as she re-read over the scroll that had materialized beside her, when it had appeared she had smiled recognising Ink Quill’s seal and happily opened it hoping to receive some good news in the wake of her boring meetings. However upon reading it her face had dropped almost immediately and she had requested that her sister to be summoned at once to a servant.
‘No…this can’t be true…why now…why has he done this?’ She thought to herself.
She closed her eyes lowering the scroll down as the doors opened and Luna entered the room, she quickly went over to her sister and placed a wing around her pulling her into a reassuring hug upon seeing Celestia looking concerned and upset.
“Tia, what on earth is the matter?” She asked.
Celestia didn’t answer; she looked up to her sister with a sad expression and levitated the scroll over to Luna. Luna took it in her own magic and began to read it carefully, as she progressed through the scroll her eyes widened and she gasped.
“By the ancestors…What do we do Tia?”
Celestia looked out of the window in thought and closed her eyes; she didn’t want to bring her kingdom into another war so soon after the war with Discord. It wasn’t fair to them at all, however, if King Sombra had only invaded by his own forces she could easily avoid having to be dragged into conflict herself or even be able to try a peaceful negotiation between Sombra and Krustallos. But if Ink Quill was correct and Sombra had indeed summoned a creature to fight for him, then she and Luna needed to act, and act fast. Celestia turned away from the window and looked at one of the guards in the room with her.
“Ready our chariot, and send Captain Steel Hoof to me at once!” She ordered.
The guard saluted before taking off on his orders, Celestia let out a sigh before sitting down on a nearby sofa that lay beside the wall and closed her eyes. Luna walked over to her slowly giving her a reassuring nuzzle and a soft smile; Celestia opened her eyes and smiled back softly. A few moments passed before there was soft knock on the throne room door, the two sisters turned their attention to the door to see a dark brown unicorn stallion wearing traditional gold guard armour at the door.
“You called for me your highness?” He asked Celestia giving her a bow.
“I did Captain, and sadly on matters most dire…"
Celestia beckoned him to enter the room; he removed his helmet with his magic and levitated beside him as he entered. Celestia rose from the sofa towards the window with Luna and Steel Hoof following behind her, she lowered her head before letting out a sigh and raising it up to the window. Steel Hoof remained in silence as Celestia turned her head to meet his gaze.
“I’m afraid Captain that the peace we have had for the past ten years…has ended.”
“Princess?”
“King Sombra has attacked the Crystal Empire and now both Kingdoms are engaged in war.” She continued.
“I see, and with respect Princess. What does this have to do with Equestria?” Steel Hoof asked her.
Celestia levitated over the scroll she had received from Ink Quill over to Steel Hoof, he took it slightly confused and began to read over it. He cocked a brow as he came to about half way down the scroll, he looked up to Celestia and then to Luna.
“My apologies but, what does he mean by ‘summoned’?” Steel Hoof asked them.
“It means Sombra has done the unthinkable…and we need to intervene before it’s too late.” Luna replied.
“Are you sure your highness? The citizens are still getting over the war with Discord…”
“We’re quite sure Captain, I fear Sombra will not stop with the Empire and then turn his attention to Equestria. We need to stop him now before he can do this.” Celestia said.
Steel Hoof paused for a moment and looked down at the floor; he didn’t want to go to war again so soon. He had a loving wife and a young colt that was approaching his ninth birthday and he didn’t want to be separated from them by war, however he knew the Princess was right. They need to nip the threat of Sombra now or face war within the Kingdom; he looked up at Celestia and saluted her.
“What are my orders then Princess?”
“Prepare the soldiers; with any luck we may not need them.” Celestia replied.
“What do you mean Princess?” Steel Hoof asked her.
Celestia looked to Luna who knew what she was saying before returning her gaze to Steel Hoof, Steel Hoof then realised what she meant and nodded.
“Very well Princess, I will make the required preparations.”
Steel Hoof bowed once more before hurrying off towards the barracks leaving the two alone, Celestia looked outside of the window again towards the north. Luna joined beside her and placed a reassuring wing over her sister.
“Everything will be fine Tia…”
“I hope so Lu-Lu, we just need to put our faith into the elements.”
A knock on the door caught their attention and standing there was another guard who bowed to them.
“Captain Steel Hoof requested me to inform you the troops are ready and are awaiting your command.”
“Thank you.” Celestia replied.
She and Luna walked out of the throne room following the guard who led them out into the courtyard, as they walked servants and visitors to the palace all stopped to watch was going on. The only sounds being made was the sound of Celestia’s, Luna’s and the guard’s hooves connecting with the floor as they walked. They eventually came to the barracks, taking their place on the small balcony that overlooked the barracks they looked over the soldiers who had gathered down there. Steel Hoof approached the two and saluted.
“I’ve sent messages to other outposts telling them to await your instructions your highness.”
“Thank you Captain.” Celestia nodded to him before turning back to look over the soldiers. “My loyal soldiers, I’m afraid I come with troubling news. In the early hours of this morning, a loud boom echoed throughout the land which I’m sure a lot of you hear.”
She paused for a moment watching some of the soldiers nod or make other motions of acknowledgement before she continues.
“I received not to long ago a scroll from my dear friend Ink Quill who I sent not too long ago to the Crystal Empire, I’m afraid to say the scroll confirmed my worst fears. King Sombra has invaded the Crystal Empire and the Emperor has requested our assistance.”
There were murmurings between several of the soldiers who were not sure how to take the news, one soldier stepped forward out of the crowd.
“Your highness, is this true? Is it not a simple misunderstanding?” He asked.
“I wish it were my dear soldier, however it is true.” She replied as another soldier stepped forward.
“With respect Princess, why does this concern us?” She asked her.
Celestia paused again hearing the soldiers all murmur between one another in agreement before they looked up for answers.
“I will not lie to you.” She started. “King Sombra has used dark magic and summoned a creature to aid in his campaign, me and my sister fear that in time King Sombra will turn his sights on our own borders. Both I and my sister and Captain Steel Hoof have agreed that we must act now and prevent the forces of Sombra to reach our borders.”
The soldiers made gestures of understanding from nodding to one another before looking up at the Princesses again.
“But fear not my brave soldiers, I do not think it will come to war between Equestria and the Mountain Kingdom. If diplomacy fails then we shall be forced to use the Elements to put a stop to this before it escalates further.” Celestia finished.
The soldiers all stood to attention as Celestia looked over to Steel Hoof who gave her a salute.
“We will leave in one hour, alert the outposts to send the forces to the northern watch tower. That’s where we will meet before continuing to the capital; hopefully we will arrive before Sombra arrives.”
“Yes your highness.” Steel Hoof replied before taking off.
Celestia and Luna walked towards the landing zone where their chariot awaited them, before they came closer though Celestia turned to Luna.
“Lu-Lu…can you please send Ink Quill a message. Tell him that we are on our way, Krustallos will not be in this fight alone.”
“Of course Tia.” Luna replied as she went off to write the scroll out.
Krustallos walked back and forth in his throne room impatiently, all the messengers he had sent to his outposts and towns had left hours ago but he had not heard a reply from any other them. Sighing to himself he looked outside of the window watching as the soldiers ran about preparing the city for inevitable attack, the civilians were being ushered to the palace and towards the Crystal Caves to remain until the conflict was over.
‘At least some of my subjects can be saved…’ He thought to himself.
The door the throne room opened and Fleet Wing stepped in despite the protesting of the guards stationed there, Krustallos turned to look at him confused as to why he was here.
“My Lord, I want to help with the defence.”
“Are you sure Fleet Wing?”
“I was unable to save my squad…I want to get vengeance for them. They wouldn’t want me to be moping about the infirmary all day long.” Fleet Wing replied with a determined gaze.
“Very well Captain…you may return to duty.” Krustallos smiled.
Fleet Wing gave a salute before taking off to help the other soldier prepare, on the way he went past Amemond who smiled to him as she entered the throne room. Krustallos smiled to his wife and greeted her with a hug.
“I never thought it would come to this…” He whispered.
“Neither did I my dear, but it has happened and we need to be strong, for our subjects.” Amemond replied.
Krustallos sighed before smiling at her and exchanging a kiss with her, they both turned to leave the throne room to address their soldiers and saw Ink Quill in the doorway levitating a scroll, a smile on his face.
“I have some good news your majesties.” He said.
“Do we have to say it every time Ink Quill, just Krustallos and Amemond.” Amemond said with a giggle as Krustallos chuckled.
“My apologies, but you need to see this. Some light in the darkness it seems.” He replied as levitated the scroll over to Krustallos.
Krustallos took the scroll and began to read it, a smile soon following on his face as he let out a sigh of relief. “Dear?” Amemond asked.
“It’s from the Princesses; Equestria is coming to our aid.” Krustallos replied turning to his wife with a smile.
Amemond smiled back and was about to reply before a soldier burst into the throne room clearly out of breath, his eyes were wide open as sweat fell from his brow.
“My Lord…we have a problem!” He said between pants.
“What is it soldier, what’s happened?” Krustallos asked with concern.
“One of the scouts made it back sir…its King Sombra’s army.” He panted.
“What, what about his army? Speak!” Krustallos shouted.
“What about his army my dear soldier?” Amemond quickly added softly to try and reassure the soldier.
As the soldier was about to reply there was a loud boom from outside, like thunder but deeper and louder. All in the throne room turned to the window in surprise, Krustallos quickly ran out to the balcony to see what had happened and his eyes shot open in shock and fear. In the distance looming towards them was a large shadow heading to the capital, to the shadows far left there was a second shadow now forming and heading to the capital as well as to the far right of the original shadow.
Below in the courtyard the soldiers began to panic slightly ushering in the civilians quickly unsure as to what was going on, Krustallos bit his lip glaring at the shadows and cursing Sombra’s name under his breath. He turned to the guard that had recovered from his running.
“Send word to the soldiers, ready the ballistas and have the soldiers ready to defend. And I want every unicorn able to cast protective shield spells to remain in the courtyard for my orders!”
“Yes my lord.” The soldier replied before taking off.
Krustallos turned his gaze back to the oncoming shadows as Amemond and Ink Quill joined him on either side of him.
“No…it’s too soon, how is this even possible?” Amemond asked looking to her husband for answers.
“I…I don’t know.” Krustallos replied quietly. “I need to go, the soldiers need me.”
“I know…” Amemond whispered.
Amemond and Krustallos kissed each other gently and hugged one another; Krustallos gently rubbed the side of her stomach and looked to her seeing tears forming in Amemond’s eyes. Ink Quill realised that Amemond was pregnant; Krustallos turned his attention to Ink Quill a mixture of emotions on his face.
“Ink Quill…please, I want you to protect my wife and foal. Do whatever it takes to keep them from harm….please…I beg of you.”
“I will give my life to keep them alive Krustallos…” Ink Quill replied with a smile and bowed.
Krustallos called for the four guards that guarded the throne room to come over, he ordered them to obey Ink Quill’s command and to protect him and his wife at all cost, they saluted as Krustallos left the throne room heading to the courtyard. Ink Quill saw Amemond hold back a sob and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Your highness…we need to get to the caves.” One of the guards said.
Amemond nodded smiling at Ink Quill and followed him and the guards out of the throne room and down the stairs to join with the other civilians being ushered into the Crystal Caves.
On top a small rock covered in snow, King Sombra stood over his army as it made its way towards the capital of the Crystal Empire, he watched as to his left a second shadow began to advance on the city as well as to his right. Smirking to himself as Dream Weaver came up beside him levitating the summoning book beside him; they were soon joined by Dark Light who was accompanied by two guards. A short time passed with only the sounds of hooves marching through snow being made and the cold wind blowing about, a shadow began to form next to Sombra and Malaskaar rose up and solidified a twisted grin on his face.
“We are ready my Lord…” he said bowing to Sombra.
“Excellent Malaskaar…excellent, Dark Light…send word to the soldiers, do not stop the attack until the city is taken.” He paused to look at Dark Light. “Kill the soldiers...I want the civilians alive…”
“Yes my Lord.” Dark Light replied with a bow before leaving with the tow other guards.
“Soon this world will burn in the glorious fire of our master J’skaar…” Malaskaar said before slowly laughing. Sombra chuckled along with him before he broke into a twisted laugh turning his gaze to the city and his army advancing towards it.
The battle for total control of the Crystal Empire…was about to begin.
Silence…that was what greeted the Royal Equestrian Army as they crossed the border between Equestria and The Crystal Empire. The Princesses had sensed something was wrong when they crossed over the border; Celestia raised her right wing up flaring it out fully signalling the marching army to come to a halt. Something was wrong, they could both feel it and as much as they needed to hurry to the aid of the Emperor, they needed to determine just where Sombra’s main forces where.
Nearby lay a town, the last one in the Empire before travellers would cross over into Equestria. Celestia could see a small group of soldiers coming over with a look of relief on them.
“Princesses! Thank the ancestors you’ve finally arrived!” The leader called out and gave them a bow.
“What’s the situation soldier?” Celestia replied.
Luna and Steel Hoof came up beside Celestia and both of them remained quiet for the time being, they had seen Celestia like this before. It was the look of a veteran of combat and a fierce leader
“Honestly Princess, were in the dark here. We received the Emperor’s warning about King Sombra yesterday and gave the messenger a report on what we had seen or heard which luckily there was nothing out of the ordinary, after he had left to return we began to set up defences and such.”
He indicated to several barricades which had a dozen or so soldiers on each one before carrying on.
“Since then we have been waiting for our orders, the mayors already ordered the civilians to pack and prepare to be evacuated in the worst case scenario, but like I said. It’s been a day and we haven’t received anything else, we sent out two messengers who have yet to return. Some of us want to return to the capital to assist whilst the others think we should remain here to defend our town, either way we don’t really know what to do.”
Celestia looked around in thought before turning her gaze back to the soldier in front of her.
“What is your name and rank soldier?”
“Sergeant Night Flight your highness.”
“Well Night Flight, I think the best thing right now is for my forces to use your town as a base for the time being. I need more intelligence before I can risk sending them in, do you have any recent maps of the land?” She asked him.
“Yes your highness, there’s not enough room in the town for all of your forces though.”
“That’s fine; they can erect a campsite beside the town. It’ll be easier for them to move on a moment’s notice.”
Night Flight nodded and then led the Princesses towards the town, Celestia beckoned over Steel Hoof over to her.
“Captain, go tell the soldiers to make camp on the eastern side of the town and await further instructions. For the time being they can be at ease.”
“Yes Princess.” He replied and went over to the waiting army.
Celestia and Luna followed Night Light into the town as the army began to build a camp outside of the town; the town itself was a pleasant one that reminded her of Canterlot. It was busy and everywhere she looked ponies where going about their business, she was saddened to see that the majority of them had concerned and worried expressions as they went about brought on from the confusion and uncertainty of the current events.
“Tell me Night Flight, what is the name of this town.” Luna asked him.
“Whitewall your majesty.” Night Flight replied
“It’s a beautiful name.” she smiled.
“I’ve lived here all my life and wouldn’t dream of leaving, my families been here for generations and hopefully, my foals and their foals will continue to live here.” He said to her with fondness.
As Luna and Night Flight began to talk more, Celestia smiled. She had noticed Night Flight relaxing a bit more simply from having a conversation with Luna about his home, she let them talk as she began to look around the town as they walked to the centre.
She noted several soldiers running around in carrying sandbags and other things to and from places, it saddened her to see ponies in this state. Battle and war were obviously terrible but sometimes waiting for a battle to actually happen could be just as bad, they were led to the town centre where the town hall stood. She could tell it was the town hall from the large clock tower that loomed over and stood up tall and proud.
Outside the main doors at the top of stairs that led to them was a red coated stallion with a slightly darker red mane talking to some soldiers, both Celestia and Luna could see from his messy mane and the shadows forming under his eyes that he hadn’t slept properly. As the three approached he excused himself and quickly ran down the stairs bowing before the monarchs, he turned to Night Flight and dismissed him letting him get back to his duties.
“I’m glad to finally see somepony that can help me shed light on everything your highness.” He said.
“I wish our visit was under different circumstances…”She sighed replying with a smile.
“Likewise, my name is Red Watch, the Mayor of Whitewall.” He replied back to her.
Red Watch led the Princesses back up the stairs and into the town hall, once inside Celestia and Luna watched as several ponies ran around hard at work much like the town hall in Canterlot. He led them down the hallway and into a large building where a large map was resting, around the table was a couple of soldiers discussing between one another and pointing at parts of the map. They stopped when they saw the Princesses and immediately saluted them, they nodded in response.
“So what is all this Mayor?” Luna asked him indicating the map.
“Please, you don’t need to call me Mayor.” He smiled to her.
“Very well Red Watch.” Luna replied with her own smile.
“And the map is to allow us to plan strategies, ones for if we need to evacuate the civilians and ones for when the inevitable battle happens.” He said as he walked up to the table. “Princesses this is my Captain of the guard Silver Wing.”
A Pegasus with a back mane and a pure white coat removed her helmet and bowed to the Princesses who smiled.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance Captain.” Celestia said to her. “Red Watch I think it will be best to have this room be the base of operations, and I would ask to have control of your forces for the time being.”
“Of course your highness, I don’t have any experience in military affairs anyway. You’re more than welcome to use them as you see fit.” He turned to Silver Wing. “I want you to do whatever the Princesses ask of you; our Empire and town depend on it.”
“Yes Mayor.” She saluted him.
“If you will excuse me your majesties, I have things I need to attend to.” He said turning back to the Princesses. “Not at all Red Watch, thank you for your help.” Celestia replied.
Red Watch bowed to both Celestia and Luna before leaving the room, where he was quickly ambushed by a couple of ponies carrying clipboards and bombarding him with questions to which he let out a frustrated sigh, Celestia and Luna shared a small chuckle knowing the feeling Red Watch was going through as a leader. They noticed the doors open and Steel Hoof came in walking past the Mayor and up to the room they were in; he gave them a salute and joined them.
“Welcome Captain, I trust the others are settling in well for the time being?” Celestia asked him.
“Yes your majesty, the soldiers have started setting up a campsite as you ordered.”
“Excellent, Captain Steel Hoof this is Captain Silver Wing, she is the Captain of Whitehall’s guards.”
Steel Hoof looked over to Silver Wing and they both gave each other a salute, they both caught one another looking into the eyes of the other and felt something stir within them and their mouths opened slightly, Celestia saw this and held back a giggle knowing what the look was. Steel Hoof then removed his helmet and turned his attention to the map. “Is this a map of the town?” He asked.
“Yes, we’ve marked out locations where we need to move the civilians if the worst comes to light.” Silver Wing replied pointing at several locations on the map.
“I see…and what if the attack comes from the south?”
“Well…it’s highly unlikely they would.” She replied.
“It very well could happen; you need to cover every possible escape route Captain. This isn’t a bandit raid or anything this is war.”
“I know that Captain, but they wouldn’t attack from their because the southern part of the town is facing Equestria. They’d have to go around the town in order to reach it, it’s completely pointless!” Silver Wing said a little annoyed.
“Perhaps, but this is war, you have to remember the enemy could do anything.” Steel Hoof insisted.
“But I’m saying it’s pointless! They’d lose the element of surprise for one thing because we would see them!” She said slamming a hoof into the table.
“And I’m saying that you cannot be too careful in war! You need an exit strategy in case the enemy DOES attack from the south!” Steel Hoof countered slamming his own hoof into the table.
“BOTH OF YOU ENOUGH!” Luna roared at them slamming two hooves into the table denting it visibly.
Both Captains jumped in their armour and fell silent, but giving each other a hard cold stare.
“Thank you sister…” Celestia said giving Luna a quick ‘Control your temper’ glare before continuing. “You two are going to have to get along with one another, so stop arguing like a couple of foals.”
“Yes ma’am.” They both said in unison.
“Now, in the meantime, I’d like you both to form a small joint Equestrian and Crystal Empire recon team to scout out ahead towards the capital. Based on what intelligence they bring back is how we will act, is that understood?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Good, off you go then.”
The two Captains saluted her once more before giving each other another glare and walking off out of the building side by side in silence.
“I think they’re both infatuated with one another Lu-Lu.” Celestia said giggling.
“They would go together perfectly, there both stubborn.” Luna giggled.
A large blue dome covered the entire capital, as the centre of the city had a beam of magic shooting up casting the dome, at the start of the beam was Krustallos in bright shining golden armour. His horn was glowing and casting the shield up, surrounding him in a circle were a dozen unicorns who were casting their respective magic onto him giving him power.
“INCOMING!” A soldier cried.
A large ball of shadows launched downwards onto the dome slamming into it hard followed by four other balls, the attacks happened soon after Sombra’s army had surrounded the capital. At first the soldiers were sent in but couldn’t get through the dome Krustallos erected over the city, for the past few hours something had been throwing large balls of shadows at the dome in an attempt to break it, Krustallos had guessed it was the summoned creature throwing the shadows. From time to time the shadows were accompanied by other projectiles such as ballistas and stone, although none had succeeded in breaking down the dome.
Krustallos and the unicorns winced with each hit trying their best to keep the shield up; the unicorns took turns in shifts to give the Emperor extra power and had been doing so since the previous day. Krustallos on the other hand had been awake since casting the shield and hadn’t rested once, the soldiers could see he was beginning to strain under the pressure and at one point advised him to allow the unicorns to take over. He had refused to do so stating that as the ruler it was his job to protect his subjects, what had bothered Krustallos more though was the tactics at which Sombra was using. He had fought alongside the King in the past and knew all of his tactics; this however was not one of them. It was like a game of cat and mouse, with the capital being the mouse and Sombra being the cat, but this wasn’t Sombra’s doing. Krustallos came to the conclusion that whatever it was Sombra had summoned, this was its doing.
He cursed the creature, although simple the tactic it was highly effective. Surround the enemy and then slowly wear them down using only basic attacks in a constant barrage, and it was beginning to show. There had been a couple of times when Krustallos could feel his power being almost drained; he thanked his ancestors the power of the crystal heart was still going strong. It was a symbol of his right to rule handed down to him from his father who received it from his father, a magical crystal in the shape of a heart that usually sat in the throne room above the thrones however, Krustallos had removed it and given it to his wife to keep it safe in the Crystal Cavern. Krustallos and Amemond, being the rulers where the only ones who could tap into its extraordinary power, although not the Elements, it was still a powerful relic. And the last line of defence for the Empire, if the worst would come to bear, Krustallos would destroy the heart and absorb its power and use his body to channel it and destroy Sombra’s army but sacrificing himself in the process.
He looked up gritting his teeth watching the balls of shadows slam into the dome causing a few cracks which healed over as quickly as they formed.
“Is this all King Sombra has?” A soldier nearby laughed. “He is truly weaker than I thought!”
Krustallos grunted with annoyance, he recognised the soldier who said it. It was a new recruit, only been in the army for just under four years and hadn’t seen any true combat.
“Quiet private!” Fleet Wing barked and he landed on the ground. “Sombra hasn’t even begun trying yet!”
“W-what do you mean sir?” The soldier said slightly shaken.
Fleet Wing looked at Krustallos then towards the dome and growled slightly.
“He’s toying with us…were trapped and he knows it, he’s taking his time to wipe us out.”
The soldier’s eyes widened as he tried to think of a way to disprove the Captain and convince himself this was the full force of Sombra’s army that was attacking them, not just a small part of it.
“T-that can’t be t-true sir! We out number them we could j-just-“he was cut off by a stern look Fleet Wing gave him.
“Whilst we do usually out number them…they have cut us off from our other outposts and towns where the other forces of the army reside, leaving us highly outnumbered ourselves. They also have the advantage of being able to flank us, that and we still don’t even know how strong his forces are. For all we know that creature he summoned wasn’t the only thing he summoned, the balls of shadow are proof of that.”
The soldier remained silent until Fleet Wing ordered him to assist one of the ballista units, he watched the soldier run off before turning back to Krustallos.
“My Lord…I hate to admit it but, we can’t hold out like this forever, without the other outposts and towns soldiers aiding ours we only have around two hundred forces in the city.”
“I k-know Captain.” Krustallos grunted. “It was l-lucky that Ink Quill was able to send f-for reinforcements before Sombra put that b-blasted spell over us preventing any form of communications being sent.”
Fleet Wing nodded in agreement, literally just after Ink Quill had sent a scroll to Princess Celestia and Luna there was a major shockwave that tore through the city. Although no one was hurt from it when Krustallos asked Ink Quill to send another scroll, the scroll would not teleport and neither would any scroll that was destined to be sent to other outposts or towns calling for immediate aid, the spell had cut off any communication from the outside world.
“We j-just need to hold out till the reinforcement’s g-get here.” Krustallos continued. “Do we have any m-more Intel on how many there is Captain?”
“Yes my Lord, from initial reports before we were surrounded it appears that at first glance we were wrong on the size of the enemy. A lot of the enemy seem to be literally shadows, the scouts on the walls report that the shadows shift from solid forms of ponies to nothing but shadows. My guess is that the creature I encountered at Layfall is generating them.” Krustallos nodded as Fleet Wing continued.
“Shock Wave was brought these reports and he concurs that the majority of the enemy, at least the forces that are attacking, are magically enchanted shadows.”
Krustallos closed his eyes in thought at this; Shock Wave was his advisor and head of all magic related items and such within the Crystal Empire. If Shock Wave was certain the shadows were magically created then Krustallos believed him, only thing left to do was to wait.
Sombra sat on a makeshift throne in his large tent that sat in the centre of a mini town made of other tents which housed Sombra’s real forces, he taped the side of the throne impatiently as he rested his head on his other hoof. He had tasked Malaskaar with his army as well as the army of shadows to take this city quickly much to Malaskaar’s annoyance. However reports from Dark Light who was also on the front lines suggested Malaskaar wasn’t doing as he was commanded, so Sombra sent a messenger to bring Malaskaar before him to explain his actions.
It had been a good three hours since he had sent the messenger and his patience was beginning to wear thin, growling to himself he then slammed his hoof into the throne startling the guards nearby.
“WHERE IN TATURUS IS MALASKAAR!” he roared out.
“I’m here your majesty.” Sombra turned to the tents opening as Malaskaar strode in his face etched with clear annoyance followed by Dark Light. “And may I ask why you have summoned me back to the camp? I was enjoying myself and-“
“SILENCE!” Sombra interrupted him “Would you care to explain to me WHY you are not following orders?”
“I am following orders King Sombra.” Malaskaar replied crossing his arms.
Sombra growled as he gritted his teeth at the mage.
“You haven’t, tell me. If you are following orders then why has it come to my attention you haven’t taken or even properly attempted to take the damn city yet?”
Malaskaar chuckled lightly giving Sombra an amused smirk.
“Because like I said my King, I’m following orders just not yours.”
Sombra felt his eye twitch with annoyance as Malaskaar continued.
“I’m following orders that go beyond you my King…”
Sombra paused as he felt his anger subsiding slightly; he knew Malaskaar was referring to J’skaar.
“Pray tell me then, what has our Dark Lord ordered you to do?” Sombra asked leaning back into his throne.
“Our Lord J’skaar wants the enemy to know fear; he wants them to feel trapped and isolated as the promise of hope and rescue slowly diminishes from their minds.”
To further his point, Malaskaar held his hand up that was cradling a ball of fire. Sombra watched as he slowly closed his hand and extinguished the fire, realising it was a symbol of hope being removed.
“That…and the feeling of taking a soul that is bathed in fear is so…delicious…” Malaskaar grinned as he finished.
“We don’t want them all dead Malaskaar, I can’t rule the dead.” Sombra snorted at him.
“Of course my liege, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Sombra sighed as he rubbed his head with his hoof and closed his eyes; the room was filled with an eerie silence as Malaskaar waited for Sombra to say something to him. Finally Sombra opened his eyes and looked to him.
“Very well…if it is what he wants, carry on with your attack. But I want that city soon Malaskaar, and preferably before reinforcements from Equestria arrive. I know that they have been alerted to what is going on.”
Malaskaar nodded and bowed to Sombra before turning and taking his leave, Dark Light waited for a moment after Malaskaar left and walked over to Sombra.
“My Lord…is it really the best thing to allow him command? The soldiers are slightly terrified of him and what would happen if they disobeyed him or J’skaar.”
“No…it’s not the best thing, but if he is able to stop the elements of harmony being used against us. Then we will have to bear it for the time being.”
The city was silent; all the civilians had been ushered into the Crystal Caves with some guards to protect them. All that remained in the city was the remainder of Crystal Army; Krustallos had been keeping the shield over the city up for nearly two days and was close to exhaustion. Fleet Wing could see this and began to get worried, new problems were occurring with every minute that passed. How long can the shield be kept up? Will the reinforcements arrive in time? Did they have enough provisions for the civilians and the soldiers? And how long would they last? He sighed as he looked out over the quiet city, he hated it.
The reason it was quiet save for movements of soldiers and the low hum of magic being used was the shadow balls had stopped being fired, it confused Fleet Wing and he had ordered all the soldiers to be alert for anything. The ballistas had proven to be of use against the shadows forming around the city walls after Fleet wing ordered them to be heavily enchanted with a light spell that would explode on impact, and for the time being it had worked. After the explosions happened the soldiers reported the shadows became displaced and some vanished, annoyingly though they would regenerate after a while and Fleet Wing suspected it was the creatures doing.
However since the shadow balls had stopped, the soldiers noted that the ballista shots were doing some good as the shadows stopped forming. Leading Fleet Wing to believe the creature was losing its power much like a unicorn would start to lose power after continually using it, he wanted to use this opportunity to send out a scout or two to try and find out where the reinforcements but he wasn’t sure if they could make it before the shadows caught them. He flew down from the palace balcony and landed near to were Krustallos was who looked up weakly and tried to give him a reassuring smile.
“They will come your highness.” Fleet Wing simply said.
“I know Fleet Wing…I know-“Krustallos stopped suddenly and cried out in pain along with the ring of unicorns around him as a loud boom echoed.
“My lord!” Fleet Wing cried as the soldiers nearby rushed over.
“T-the barrier!” Krustallos cried back looking up.
As he did the guards around him looked up and gasped seeing a large crack in the barrier and a large mass of shadow above it with two red lights glaring down at them, before they could react the shadow reared up and slammed down hard against the barrier cracking it further causing the Emperor and the unicorns around him more pain. The soldiers began to panic as Fleet Wing took a few steps back, Krustallos’s eyes widened in fear.
“No…I-impossible, nothing can b-break the Crystal Hearts power…” he whispered.
The shadow once more reared up and slammed into the barrier obliterating it with a loud crash causing the barrier to phase out, Krustallos fell to the ground along with the other unicorns as the shadow mass disappeared revealing Sombra’s forces charging at the city. Shadow balls once more began to launch and head to the city; the Crystal forces operating the ballistas snapped out of their sudden shock and quickly retaliated with their ballistas and magic beams. As the ballistas shot down the shadow balls one was missed and it crashed into the city market district exploding on impact, but instead of leaving debris it materialised into shadow ponies that immediately began to charge and attack the stunned soldiers nearby.
More and more shadow balls fell onto the city revealing shadow ponies who also engaged in combat with the soldiers who began to snap out of their shocked states, Krustallos shakily got to his legs and along with the unicorns around began to fire magic into the shadows. The cries of ponies rang out all around him as they were slowly pushed back to the palace, he saw the real forces of Sombra behind the shadows advancing and killing soldiers who had managed to avoid the shadows onslaught. He watched in horror as the ballistas one by one came under attack from shadow and pony alike and cursed Sombra’s name, he watched as the soldiers where beginning to be overwhelmed after the shock of the barrier being destroyed so suddenly and the sheer power of the forces attacking them.
“HOLD THEM BACK!” Fleet Wing cried out as he sliced a shadow in half with his sword.
Fleet wing turned round to see a soldier running towards him panting.
“SIR! THE ENEMY COMMANDER IS-"
The soldier was interrupted by a quick clean slice, he had the time to blink and look down to see blood trickling from his neck before he collapsed in a heap to the ground his head falling from his neck. Behind him holding a sword that was dripping with blood was Dark Light who had a dark grin on his face.
“Fleet Wing…it’s good to see you again.” He smirked as he stepped over the body of the soldier.
Fleet Wing didn’t reply with words, he lunged at Dark Light with his sword who blocked it and began to laugh at him. “Is that anyway to treat an old friend?” Dark Light said with a grin.
“Shut it Dark Light, you’re going to pay for this!” Fleet Wing growled at him.
“Is that so?” A voice said.
Fleet Wing narrowly avoided the second blade that crashed into the ground where he was just standing; he looked up with a grunt to see the bipedal creature standing there next to Dark Light wielding his sword. The creature grinned at Fleet Wing and his blade crackled with a few bolts of lightning.
“You!”
“Ah I remember you…the one from that town, how lovely to see you again. Shame it will be the last time.” Malaskaar replied with a smirk.
As Malaskaar and Dark Light approached Fleet Wing who readied his sword for an attack, a beam of magic shot into Malaskaar sending him back and tumbling to the floor. Fleet Wing used this moment to launch himself once more at Dark Light who was caught off guard and stumbled backwards; Malaskaar rose up growling to see Krustallos standing beside Fleet Wing levitating a sword in front of him.
“I am going to kill you for what you have done demon!” Krustallos roared out.
Malaskaar recognised the unicorn as the Emperor and gave a large almost crazed grin as he dusted himself down and re-summoned his sword gripping it in his hand.
Celestia and Luna stood in the war room along with Mayor Red Watch looking over a new map that had been placed on the table, it showed the capital in a fair amount of detail and the three were discussing plans after sending one of the Mayor’s aides as a messenger to fetch the Captains from the temporary camp.
It had been an hour since the Pegasus squad Celestia sent to the north had been returned and from what they told her it wasn’t looking too good for the capital, the squad were intercepted by a mass of darkened clouds that concealed several Pegasus soldiers from Sombra’s army. After a short fight and defeating the enemy miraculously with no casualties, however one managed to get away and the squad quickly returned back to Whitewall to inform the Princesses how far Sombra’s army had advanced.
“This is most troubling…” Red Watch began. “If the scouts were unable to get anywhere near the capital we have to assume Sombra has already reached it.”
“I agree, which means we need to act fast.” Celestia replied.
“But how Celestia? What strategy do we use?” Luna asked.
“I’m not sure Luna; we shall wait for the captains to return before we continue. Speaking of which, they're taking their time aren’t they?”
Steel Hoof let out a satisfied groan as he rolled over panting heavily; Silver Wing looked over to him with an equally exhausted expression which turned into a grin as she panted.
“So…still think…your better….then me…Steel Hoof?” she said between pants.
Steel hoof snorted and got up sorting out his mane which had become messy from the pairs activities, shortly after being dismissed by the Princesses they had made their way to the campsite and into the tent that had been set up for Captain Steel Hoof, when the messenger arrives they had begun discussing strategies, that’s when they began to argue more.
“You incompetent moron! That plan has so many drawbacks I lost count!” Steel Hoof bellowed.
“Moron? MORON?!” Silver Wing snorted. “A retarded colt like you wouldn’t know a competent plan if it bit you in the flanks!”
“I have more military experience with planning strategies then you will ever have you white coated harlot!”
“Who do you think you’re calling a harlot you son of an ass!” Silver Wing roared as she stormed up to Steel Hoof her face inches from his.
The two glared into one another’s eyes each one filling with a heated hatred for the other; they stared for what seemed to be hours before they suddenly locked lips together and fiercely kissing each other. Steel Hoof fell onto his back pulling her down with him as they continued to kiss their tongues wrestling for domination; they broke the kiss panting heavily as a strand of saliva connected their tongues together and looked into each other’s eyes.
“You’re a strange mare you know that?” Steel Hoof smirked up at her.
“You know you love it, now shut up.” Silver Wing smirked back at him as she bit his lower lip.
The two quickly straightened themselves out and equipped both their respective armours on before leaving the tent both having the same scowl as when they entered in hopes to pretend nothing happened, however when they were out of visual sight, a couple of soldiers who had been sitting near a campfire slowly broke into a grin before snickering amongst themselves.
“Never thought I’d hear the Captain say that.” One said.
“Yeah, wait till we tell the Lieutenant! He’s gunna love this!” another replied.
The pair broke into fits of laughing as the two Captains left the campsite and into the town itself, they walked side by side in silence heading towards the town hall before Steel Hoof spoke up.
“So uhm…that back there…was that a onetime thing or…?” he trailed off his question with a blush and looked to Silver Wing, a light blush also forming on her cheeks.
“What are you suggesting Captain Steel Hoof?” She asked him.
“Well…I was wondering that after all of…we this.” He did a sweep in front of him with his hoof indicating the situation that was happening in the Empire. “We could…I don’t know…get a drink or-“
“Yes…I’d like that…” she interrupted with a smile.
Steel Hoof returned the smile before the two regained themselves and made their way into the town hall and into the war room, each giving a salute to the Princesses and the Mayor. The Mayor quickly excused himself when an aide came in with several forms for him to look over leaving the others to discuss plans.
“Glad you could finally join us Captains.” Luna said.
“Indeed your highness, apologies for not returning as soon as possible, the uh…messenger got lost within the camp.” Steel Hoof lied.
“Oh?” Celestia began. “Is that so?”
“Y-yes your majesty.” Silver Wing replied.
Celestia and Luna both looked at the two Captains with suspicion making the two feel nervous, they then both caught sight of Celestia and Luna smirking before they returned their gaze to the map on the table.
“They know…” Steel Hoof and Silver Wing both thought.
“Anyway, we need to discuss a strategy with you two, as you know recently the scouts sent north to try and see what is going on returned early after being ambushed. What they told us suggests that Sombra’s forces have already made it to the capital, and we have no idea if the capital still stands or has been taken either way we need to move now.” Celestia said.
Steel Hoof and Silver Wing looked down at the map in thought each one scanning it to try and think of an idea, Steel Hoof rubbed his chin with a hoof and formulated a plan in his mind.
“Is it possible for us to deliver a surprise attack at all?” he asked.
“I doubt it.” Silver Wing replied. “After the scouts returned I would assume Sombra would be expecting an attack of any sorts, and we don’t really have the element of surprise anymore.”
“Good point…Princess, would it be possible to just use the Elements of Harmony on his armies?” Steel Hoof asked Celestia.
“Yes, but the problem there Captain is that the Elements require a lot of magical energy to use and as such me and my sister only have enough energy to use the Elements power for two shots. If Sombra or the creature aren’t with the army, we wouldn’t be able to stop either him or the creature there and then.” Celestia replied.
“I see…” Steel Hoof nodded.
There was a pause as all four looked over the map each one trying to think of a plan quickly; Luna closed her eyes and focused her magic, she opened her eyes and she was above the capital of the crystal Empire in a ghost like form. She gasped silently as she saw the majority of the city covered in shadows with just the palace being seen, she came closer to the palace she saw a Pegasus wearing the armour of the Empire gripping a sword in his hoof glaring at a Pegasus that stood in front of him. Her attention quickly changed to a figure she knew well, Emperor Krustallos, who was wearing his battle armour and looked worn down.
He was standing next to the Pegasus and in front of him was a bipedal creature which Luna instantly recognised as being the creature Sombra had summoned as she had never seen anything like it before in her life, they were talking but she couldn’t hear any sound coming from them. Just as Luna could feel the spell wearing off the creature gripped a blade tightly in its hand which crackled with what appeared to be lightning, it spoke again but no sound left its mouth. The world began to darken her eyes closing as the spell wore off, she shot her eyes open and was back in the warm room of Whitehall. She blinked a couple of times before noticing everyone was looking at her slightly concerned.
“Luna…are you ok?” Celestia asked her.
“I’m fine…I just used a spell to see what was going on in the capital.” Luna replied as Celestia face hoofed. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that…” Celestia grumbled.
Luna giggled at her before turning to look at the two captains then back at her sister.
“I have an idea as well, why don’t we meet them head on?” She said.
“What do you mean Princess?” Silver Wing asked.
“From the spell I saw that the capital has already been attacked, Sombra isn’t there but that creature is and he is about to engage in combat with Krustallos.”
Silver Wing and Steel Hoof nodded as Luna continued.
“Whilst our forces battle Sombra’s main forces, me and my sister can take a small group of soldiers and enter the city un-detected and liberate it. I don’t think Sombra is at the front of the battle either, I think he has this creature doing the work for him for, with this plan we could take out the creature and then be able to focus our efforts on just Sombra.” Luna said, tapping the map with her hoof to show where the forces could march to.
“That’s a risky plan Luna…” Celestia started. “There’s no guarantee it will even work.”
“We have to try sister; the Crystal Empire depends on us.”
Celestia paused for a moment; they didn’t have enough time to fully plan a proper strategy given what the scouts had reported and now with what Luna revealed from her spell. Time wasn’t on their side and they needed to do something, as much as it was a risk Celestia decided that Luna’s idea was the right choice.
“Ok, we’ll go with your plan Luna. Steel Hoof, Silver Wing, Luna, myself and a small group of soldiers will enter the city from here.” She pointed to an area of the map near the eastern gate. “Meanwhile, Lieutenant Blue Fire will lead the main part of the forces on an offensive here. “She pointed to the opposite side from where she first pointed.
Luna and the two captains nodded as Celestia continued.
“From there we will rendezvous with Krustallos and use the Elements on the creature, after that we will attack the rear of Sombra’s forces and push them back and if all goes according to plan we will use the Elements to defeat him.” Celestia finished.
“I don’t know Princess…it still seems risky.” Steel Hoof said.
“I know captain, but we don’t have much time to come up with anything better. Go tell the soldiers to move out, we leave immediately.”
“Yes your majesty!” Steel Hoof saluted before heading off.
All across the capital the sounds of metal against metal and the cries of soldiers echoed throughout the city, several buildings where a blaze as the black smoke billowed into the air above the city fusing into the already existing shadows that blanketed the majority of the city. At first the defenders had been nearly overwhelmed losing all but one of the ballistas when the barrier came down, but they had managed to bring the advance of Sombra’s forces to a slow pace and in some parts of the city they had brought it to a complete standstill.
Much to the surprise of the defenders and the invaders, a small amount of soldiers from another part of the Empire had broken through the outer ranks of Sombra’s army from the western side of the city, catching them off-guard and managing to reclaim the western part of the city from the invaders. This gave the defenders a morale boost and rallied behind the reinforcements and charged towards the palace to aid their ruler.
Krustallos was locked in combat with Malaskaar and was beginning to feel exhaustion take him, he blocked an attack from Malaskaar and shot a beam of magic towards him, Malaskaar ducked as it shot overhead and swivelled his body round delivering a kick to his side. Krustallos grunted in pain and quickly retaliated by bringing his sword down suddenly on Malaskaar, not having any time to react to the sudden attack, Malaskaar’s eyes widened as the blade struck into his neck and down his torso slicing through him like butter. His body fell to the ground in two halves as Krustallos panted a smirk on his face, it was short lived as his eyes widened as the two halves of Malaskaar’s body suddenly dissolved into shadows and he spun round just in time to see Malaskaar lunge from a shadow his blade poised and aiming at Krustallos’s neck.
He quickly brought his blade up to block Malaskaar’s attack but was only able to divert its direction, he cried out in pain as the blade caught him in the neck slightly. Malaskaar landed on the ground before phasing into the shadows again laughing manically.
“Come on your majesty, I thought you’d put up more of a challenge then this!” He laughed at him.
“At least I am no coward demon! Come out of the shadows and fight me like a stallion!” Krustallos retorted.
“What’s the matter? I thought you were Krustallos, champion of the Crystal Empire, destroyer of Chaos! Turns out you’re just a whining little brat who can’t handle a challenge!” Malaskaar taunted him, his voice seeming to echo all around Krustallos.
“Shut up!” Krustallos barked looking in all directions.
Suddenly Malaskaar shot from the shadows and sliced into Krustallos’s back leg sending him onto his knee in pain as Malaskaar phased into the shadows again.
“It seems my Lord Sombra was wrong about everything, you aren’t the strong leader I was told about and your pathetic excuse for an Empire is a disgrace.” Malaskaar’s voice again resonated around Krustallos. “Perhaps I won’t kill you yet…I believe I still need to have the pleasure of meeting your wife don’t I?”
Malaskaar’s laugh echoed around Krustallos who gritted his teeth, there was no way in Tartarus that he was going to allow this demon to go anywhere near his wife and unborn foal.
“ENOUGH!” Krustallos cried and his horn was enveloped in a bright aura.
The area around him was suddenly engulfed in a bright white light that blasted away the shadows exposing the columns of the palace surrounding him, this exposed Malaskaar’s hiding spot startling the mage who was caught off guard and before he could react, Krustallos shot his sword at him. Malaskaar’s eyes widened as the blade sunk into his chest piercing one of his lungs. He cried angrily in pain as the blade imbedded itself into the wall behind him keeping him stuck there, he could feel a magical energy course through his body from the sword cutting off his magic. He coughed up some blood chuckling to himself as Krustallos panted and began to head towards him.
“Not…bad…not bad…at all.” Malaskaar said with a grin.
“I’m going to enjoy this demon…” Krustallos said with venom in his voice.
As he came closer his horn glowed and a sword made form magical energy formed in front of him, he raised it up and brought it down to join his sword in Malaskaar’s chest sinking straight into his heart. Malaskaar’s eyes widened as he gritted his teeth, blood began to pour from his wounds as his body began to feel limp. Krustallos cancelled the spell causing the energy sword to disappear and pulled the other sword from the body with his magic; Malaskaar fell to his knees before sliding to his side in a heap his blood forming a pool around him
“Burn in Tartarus demon…”Krustallos said.
Krustallos turned around to assist Fleet Wing when he noticed in the corner of his eye the body glowing white, his eyes widened and before he could react the body exploded in a brilliant white light that shot him across the ground and into the opposite column hard. The column cracked from the impact as well as Krustallos’s armour, he cried out in pain as he felt several of his bones break from the impact. He fell to the ground in a heap and tried to stand up but his legs gave way, he heard Malaskaar’s laugh echo around him and looked up to see Malaskaar phase out of the wall and grin almost dementedly at Krustallos.
“My my…falling for another trick again, you really do disappoint me Krustallos…but…credit where it’s due, I haven’t had this much fun in years, thank you for entertaining me.”
He looked around to see the approaching reinforcements and smirked, he raised his hand up and a barrier shot up surrounding the palace trapping Krustallos, Dark Light, Fleet Wing and Malaskaar inside it.
“There…we don’t want anyone to interrupt us now do we?” he said panting slightly.
His eyes widened a bit as he tilted his head to the right just as a beam of magic shot past him ripping into his hood slightly and shooting into the barrier, he turned back to see Krustallos who had managed to stand back up grunting in pain and levitating his sword up again.
“Now that’s more like it…but I grow tired of this now, no more games…Its time I ended this.” He smirked as his right arm began to glow a bright blue.
‘My energy is nearly depleted…I need to hurry up and finish this before my power is drained.’ He thought to himself.
“Now…now comes the fun part.” He chuckled as he advanced to Krustallos.
Fleet Wing grunted as he blocked a blow from Dark Light, both pegasi where high in the sky by the palace darting to and fro striking each other with their swords trying to outmanoeuvre one another. Dark Light spun round and hovered for a moment as he smirked at him.
“Come on Fleet Wing, you’re supposed to be the best swordspony in the Empire. Or did you lie to me all those years ago?”
Fleet Wing growled and shot at Dark Light, in response Dark Light brought his sword up to block the attack and just as Fleet Wing was about to bring his sword down he suddenly dropped a bit in altitude, this caught Fleet Wing off guard who missed with his sword and Dark Light rammed up into Fleet Wing’s chest with his head suddenly winding him and sending him towards the ground, Fleet Wing coughed and gasped for air as he tumbled downwards, he caught his breath again and stopped himself mid fall before launching himself upwards in anger towards Dark Light who also launched himself downwards towards Fleet Wing.
The two swung their swords again which clanged loudly as they shot past one another, they quickly turned around and launched at each other again. As they came closer Fleet Wing smirked and suddenly veered to the right and catching Dark Light off guard this time, he swung his sword and cut into Dark Light’s neck causing him to cry out in pain.
“You bastard, you’ll pay for that!” He growled.
Fleet Wing smirked as he hovered below him; Dark Light cried out in anger and shot towards him. Fleet Wing braced himself and veered out of the way of Dark Light and again clipped him on his neck with his blade, Dark Light stumbled in the air as he grabbed his neck in pain and anger. He looked up at Fleet Wing as blood dripped down his neck; Fleet Wing smirked back at him and readied his sword for another attack. He momentarily gazed downwards passed Dark Light and saw Krustallos at the moment when Malaskaar sliced into his leg, gritting his teeth he shot down suddenly past Dark Light and headed to Krustallos’s side, as he came closer to the ground he heard Dark Light behind him.
“Get back here coward! Your fight is with me!”
Fleet Wing looked back and was thankful that he did, the second he looked back he saw Dark Light inches away from him with his blade. The speed that Dark Light had shot at him startled Fleet Wing but he quickly gained his bearings gain and deflected the blow of the sword, Dark Light spun to the right from the strength behind Fleet Wing’s blow and hovered facing him with a growl.
Fleet Wing brought his blade up and waited for the right moment to strike, he quickly shot a glance down to see if Krustallos was alright when he saw the body of Malaskaar explode sending Krustallos into a column. The explosion caused Dark Light to glance towards it as well which gave Fleet Wing his chance; using every muscle in his wings he launched himself at Dark Light and sliced into him cutting one of his wings off. Dark Light screamed in agony but was immediately cut off as Fleet Wing brought his hind legs up and kicked down against Dark Light hard sending him towards the ground with speed.
The scream caught Malaskaar’s attention and he looked up just in time to see Dark Light shooting towards him, he lept to his left rolling out of the way as Dark Light crashed into the ground with a slight crack his sword clanging nearby. The roll caused the blue energy around his arm to disappear and he shakily got up to his feet panting heavily, he cast his eyes left and right noticing that the shadows enveloping the city where disappearing slowly.
‘Dammit…I don’t have enough energy to keep the shadow army summoned or perform the sacrifice…looks like I’ll just have to kill him the-‘
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a kick to his side and was sent across the floor rolling ton a heap and grunting with pain, he looked up to see Fleet Wing on the ground panting heavily in front of Krustallos his sword raised in a defensive position.
“You…won’t have him…demon!” Fleet Wing spat at him.
“You creatures are more irritating then I thought.” Malaskaar said as he spat some blood out of his mouth.
A loud sound like glass being shattered rang through the area, Malaskaar looked up to see his barrier falling to pieces and then saw a group of ponies rushing towards him. He cursed under his breath when he recognised two of them from the description Sombra had given him; they were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
“FOR THE PRINCESSES, FOR EQUESTRIA AND FOR THE EMPIRE!”
The cries rang out throughout the snow covered plains as the joint might of the Equestrian army and the Crystal Empire forces that were stationed at Whitehall charged down the hill leading towards the capital of the Crystal Empire, thanks to a cloaking spell that Celestia had used on them Sombra’s armies had not noticed them and were taken completely off guard by the sudden charge and the sheer size of the forces coming towards them. The main thing that stood out for the Equestrians and the others were the lack of numbers they were expecting, the other thing that stood out was the lack of manipulated shadows that they had been briefed about.
Un-deterred by this though they charged down the hill getting closer and closer to Sombra’s forces who quickly formed a defensive wall with soldiers welding pikes in the front and crossbowponies at the back.
“FIRE!” A black coated stallion cried from behind the pikeponies.
A series of shots were fired from the crossbows that sailed over the front lines and towards the charging soldiers, thuds and cries of sudden pain rang out over the sound of war cries as several bodies fell into the ground as the bolts hit their targets, but still they charged.
“FIRE AGAIN!” the stallion bellowed.
Again a wave of bolts shot over the front line and into the charging soldiers, cries rang out as more soldiers were quickly silence as death took them, but still they charged. The ponies at the front began to panic slightly; they had been trained and trained for nearly five years for precisely this moment but now that they were staring directly at the charging forces their will was about to break. The sheer size of the force charging towards coupled with the fact the other half of the army were in the capital as well as the shadows had all but faded didn’t help their moral much either.
“FIRE AT WILL” the stallion shouted his eyes widening a bit.
A series of frantic shots were fired in rapid succession as the will of the soldiers finally collapsed, the bolts as with the first two times met their targets sending more ponies to their deaths but still they charged. Several of the soldiers with pikes dropped them in panic and tried to flee but got caught up in the soldiers behind them, a loud cry rang out as the charging Equestrian-Crystal forces slammed into the wall of ponies and carried on charging, hacking and slicing all who stood in their way.
From another hilltop on the opposite side of the city stood Princess Celestia and Luna along with Captain Steel Hoof and Silver Wing and several of the best soldiers in the Equestrian army, they watched as the main bulk of the army charged into the surprised forces of Sombra with deadly efficiency. Celestia had ordered her small squad to wait until the time to perform the sneak attack was when Sombra’s army was distracted, she watched as a majority of the forces in the city and the ones surrounding it moved to aid those on the outside being attacked.
‘May the ancestors watch over you my brave ponies…’ Celestia thought sadly.
“Princess?” Steel Hoof spoke softly to her. “I think the time has come.”
“Yes Captain, let us liberate the city and destroy this monster Sombra has summoned.” She turned to the group behind her. “Move out!”
The soldiers saluted and Celestia along with the soldiers, Luna and the two Captains made their way to what remained of the eastern gate of the city under the same spell she had used on the main forces.
On the southern side of the plains outside the city, war cries echoed out along with the sounds of steel upon steel and the sounds of ponies screaming and being cut down. Slowly but surely the Equestrian-Crystal forces advanced their way through the Sombra forces and towards the city, the commanding officers who had been left to command the forces in the place of Steel Hoof and Silver Wing noticed the approaching reinforcements coming from around and through the city gate, just as they had hoped for.
“DO NOT GIVE IN! WE MUST KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE PRINCESSES AND FOR THE EMPIRE!” Lieutenant Blue Fire shouted.
The cry boosted the morale of the soldiers as they continued the attack undeterred by the reinforcements, the wave of soldiers that arrived from the city managed to slow the advancement of the Equestrian-Crystal forces to a near standstill.
‘I hope the Princesses got in ok.’ He thought as he blocked a sword blow.
The infiltration group led by the Princesses made their way in through the gate and into the city, what greeted them made them more determined to end Sombra’s campaign. The once beautiful crystal buildings that once gleamed perfectly when the sunlight hit them just right were in near ruins with some being completely destroyed, fire and smoke bellowed from the buildings that filled the once clear sky with thick black clouds that were nearly as bad as the shadows that assaulted the city.
They took to moving in the side streets rather than the main road to avoid detection, as they went by they saw bodies of soldiers from both the Crystal Empire and Sombra’s army lay in the streets mutilated and in piles; Celestia bit her lip with sorrow as she looked at the corpses as the squad made its way through the ruined streets.
‘Such pointless death…I can’t see any civilians though…I hope they are ok.’ She thought to herself.
Luna felt her eyes tear up at the sight, she had hated the last war with Discord and hated to see so many dead and felt her heart crush under the weight of her emotions. Celestia saw this and placed a reassuring wing on her and gave her a soft smile, Luna returned it and wiped a tear away with a hoof. Silver Wing quickly trotted ahead upon seeing a body she recognized, it was a light blue coated earth stallion that had three spears embedded in him as well as several wounds upon his neck, legs and face. Surrounding his body were at least thirty soldiers from Sombra’s army, upon seeing this she felt her eyes water up from a mixture of sadness and pride, a small smile formed on her lips.
“Are you ok?” Steel Hoof asked her as he came over concernedly.
“Y-yeah…just…” she wiped her tears away before continuing. “He’s my older brother…I kinda figured he may not be alive but…I’m glad he took all these bastards down with him, he wasn’t called ‘The Tank’ for nothing.” She chuckled softly at the last part.
Steel Hoof brought her into a tight embrace and rubbed her back softly as she buried her face into his chest, a short time passed and he felt Celestia rest her hoof on his shoulder gently reminding him they needed to carry on. He nodded and Silver Wing went over to the body of her brother and gently closed his eyelids with a smile before re-joining the squad.
They rounded a corner of the street and entered the main street that led to the palace; luckily the distraction caused by the main bulk of the army charging from the hilltop had distracted Sombra’s forces from the part of the city they were in. They began to head towards the palace when there was a loud explosion that caused the ground to rumble, the squad looked up to see smoke coming from the palace.
“TO THE PALACE, NOW!” Celestia cried out.
As the came closer a barrier suddenly appeared covering the palace, they saw several Crystal soldiers closing in on the palace. Celestia and Luna they then suddenly felt the presences of a powerful magic coming from within the barrier and recognised it as being Krustallos’s as well as the summoned creature.
The group charged towards the palace quickly, the sound of their hooves on the cobblestone road attracted the attention of the soldiers who gotten their first and looked relived to see them. With each step the sisters could feel both energies near depletion with the one they knew belonging to Krustallos fading faster and faster.
‘Oh please let us reach him in time!’ Celestia thought as they came closer.
As they came to the barrier Celestia and Luna let out a joint blast from their horns that were soon followed by both unicorns from the infiltration squad and the Crystal soldiers around the barrier, the barrier which was being cast with little energy shattered with ease from the blast and phased out, the Princesses and the soldiers quickly charged into the fray.
Malaskaar cursed again and before he could react a blast hit him in the chest sending him into a column and trapping him there, he grunted in pain as he fought against the magic restraints holding him there but to no avail.
‘Dammit! Because I still have the shadow summoning spell in effect I can’t break free!’ He cursed internally.
“NOW LUNA!” Celestia shouted.
Malaskaar looked up his eyes widened in panic as he watched six amulets materialize out of thing air and surround the two princesses; he could sense a powerful magic coming from them.
‘These must be the Elements of Harmony Sombra told me about…’
The elements glowed brightly and connected to one another with a rainbow before the Princesses eyes shot open wide glowing a magnificent bright white and the rainbow beam shot towards Malaskaar, he roared out one last time fighting against his bonds and managed to raise his hand up.
There was a second and louder explosion as the princesses and soldiers were sent backwards, the Princesses managed to stop themselves from flying back to far and skidded before looking up. Where they had just fired the beam was a billowing cloud of rubble and couldn’t sense the presence of the creature, the two panted heavily having used just over half their magical energies to fire the beam and smiled to one another.
The soldiers slowly came over cautiously with Fleet Wing landing beside the Emperor to check he was alive along with the other Crystal soldiers.
“It’s…done Tia…” Luna panted smiling.
“Princess!” Fleet Wing shouted. “The Emperor’s alive but his pulse is weak!”
“Good…now we can-“
She stopped mid-sentence as a low chuckle sent shivers up her spine, she turned slowly along with the others her eyes widening in shock as the laughing grew louder and louder before turning into a full on demented and crazed laugh.
“So…that’s the elements power….pity…was expecting something more than that.”
“No….t-that’s impossible.” Celestia whispered.
The smoke slowly faded away revealing Malaskaar standing in front of a now destroyed column, his robes were all but destroyed the rags clung to his upper torso and his trousers remained mostly intact. He panted heavily with his arm up right and smoking, his body was covered in burns and cuts and blood trickled from his mouth as he looked up with a smirk. Celestia suddenly felt a dark energy fill her mind, it was coming from the creature but the creature seemed to be unaware of it. It sent a wave of fear over her entire body; it was nothing like she had ever felt before. It was pure evil and filled with malice and hatred.
Everyone stood there frozen in shock, they had witnessed a creature take the full power of the elements and remained virtually unscathed, Malaskaar slowly walked over to the unconscious body of Dark Light grunting with every step, he slowly picked the body up under his arm and turned to face them.
‘I’m nearly spent…forcing me to use my Lord J’skaar’s shadow protection spell…well played Princesses…well played…'
He grunted and spat out a ball of blood, a horn echoed throughout the city followed by several others. He grinned to the still dumbfounded ponies in front of him and closed his eyes; his body began to dissolve into shadows as the wind blew around him, before his head vanished he opened his eyes one last time.
As the Elements hit Malaskaar the shadows attacking the main bulk of the Equestrian-Crystal forces suddenly vanished, Sombra’s forces began to panic and several horns filled the skies signalling a full scale retreat. The Equestrian-Crystal forces gave a small chase as the forces fled toward the north before stopping.
“MAKE SAFE THE CITY!” Lieutenant Blue Fire cried out.
The army began to quickly converge on the city determined to drive out any threat that dared remain within it.
As the soldiers guarded a perimeter around the palace, several ponies were attending to the Emperor’s wounds as well as others who were wounded. Celestia and Luna remained silent still in complete and utter disbelief at what had just happened.
“How…” Luna finally said breaking the silence. “How did he survive? Not even Discord could survive that blast.”
“I don’t know Luna…I just don’t know.” Celestia replied almost whispering.
“Maybe…maybe a second hit will work? He looked like he was on the verge of exhaustion.” Luna said.
“No…it won’t work, you didn’t feel it Luna…there was a second energy behind his and a much darker one, almost like…a Gods power.” Celestia replied.
She looked up into the sky in thought; the smoke had nearly vanished after several unicorns used their magic to drench the fires. The overall casualties of the Equestrian forces were surprisingly low from the battle, but she put this down to the successful charge that had taken Sombra’s forces off guard. What bothered her so much was how the elements had barely touched the creature, she knew that they had done damage to it which was present from the ripped clothes and burns it had sustained but the beam was intended to turn it into stone. Her mind then thought about the presence she had felt and she shivered again.
‘What on earth was that I felt? What evil is really behind this?’ She questioned in her mind. ‘Why didn’t the elements work…?’
‘Perhaps I can shed some light on the situation.’ a voice spoke inside her head.
Her eyes widened at the voice in shock, she didn’t feel afraid though as it spoke calmly and with a sense of peace within its tone. Still she was cautious as to who it was,
‘Who are you?’ she questioned it.
She got no answer and sighed slightly; suddenly she felt a new magical presence in the area and turned round to where Krustallos lay. Suddenly the ponies around him gasped in shock as his body levitated up off the ground a few feet and a white light enveloped him, the wounds he sustained slowly faded and he stood back up and smiled to the crowd.
“My lord?” Fleet Wing spoke cautiously.
Krustallos’s eyes opened but instead of his normal blue eyes they were completely black, he smiled again at the crowd before replying.
“Hmm? Oh forgive me…I’m afraid the one called Krustallos is sleeping.”
The reply was not Krustallos voice rather a foreign one, it was booming but sounded calm and peaceful to the ears of the ponies, Celestia immediately recognised the voice as the one she heard inside her head. She quickly lit her horn up and charged a spell pointing it at the possessed body of Krustallos.
“WHO ARE YOU? SPEAK!” she roared at it.
Krustallos smiled at her and raised a hoof and Celestia felt her charged magic disappear startling her, she looked at him in disbelief as he spoke again.
“Please Princess Celestia…I mean you no harm, I have healed the one you call Krustallos and restored his energy as a sign of good will so I may speak with you.”
Again the voice was calming to her; she began to feel relaxed as Luna walked up beside her confusion on her face. Krustallos smiled again as he gave a polite bow to the Princesses.
“I’m afraid I don’t have much time; please allow me to formally introduce myself.” He started. “I am the God of Magic…you may call me…Varlos.”
By now the sounds of the battle had seemingly finished, against my protest and the guards Empress Amemond insisted she go and see what was going on. We gave in eventually and escorted her out of the caves and back onto the surface. When we arrived we saw that Princess Celestia and Luna had arrived with reinforcements and were beside Emperor Krustallos who was lying on the floor. Empress Amemond and I began to imagine the worse but before we could reach him, his body was engulfed in a bright light and a different voice spoke in its place. Princess Celestia immediately began to ready a spell at him but the voice spoke again and I felt a sense of serenity as it spoke. Whatever had taken over his body referred to himself as Varlos, the God of Magic.
Everypony was speechless at this statement, nopony said a word except for The Princess who asked the entity called Varlos if could return Krustallos’s body to him, to which he complied. That’s when we approached the Princesses and Emperor who immediately ran to his wife…
“The God of Magic?” Twilight said softly to herself.
“Indeed, that part confused me slightly as well.” Quill Pen said as he entered.
Twilight turned round and saw he was carrying a tray with a mug of what appeared to be tea and a sandwich; he placed it down on one of the nearby tables and smiled. Twilight forgot she hadn’t brought her lunch with her, and realised how hungry she was when her stomach rumbled. She blushed from embarrassment as Quill Pen let out a chuckle.
“S-sorry…I’m not sure how long I’ve been reading this.” She said.
“It’s nearly nine o’clock Twilight, I came up to see if you were feeling hungry.” He nodded towards the sandwich. “Oh wow…didn’t think that much time had passed…”
“You’re welcome to stay in here for the night if you want to continue reading.” Quill Pen smiled at her. “I know how much you used to do late night studying.”
Twilight smiled back at him and nodded, she knew her brother and sister-in-law wouldn’t be back in Canterlot until the afternoon so she had plenty of time to finish off the tome and speak to Celestia regarding it.
“Thank you Quill Pen.” She said to him.
“I’ll be back with some sleeping gear for you in a moment.” He turned and left the room.
Twilight nodded and returned her attention to the tome, she carefully levitated the mug of tea to her lips and sipped gently before placing it back on the tray, she did the same with the sandwich making sure not to get any crumbs on the tome.
The flames in the city had been put out; all that remained was smoke that slowly evaporated into the sky above the city. It has been an hour since the retreat of Sombra’s forces and the shock of the Elements failing had passed, now that the city was currently under control, the attention was quickly returned to the possessed body of Krustallos. Celestia was the first to speak.
“May…May you return Krustallo’s body to him?” She asked.
“Hmm? Oh yes my apologies, he should be fit as a fiddle.” Varlos replied.
There was a bright light as Krustallos was lifted a little into the air and he closed his eyes, everyone around him shielded their eyes from the light before it faded. Krustallos blinked looking around his surroundings with confusion.
“Where…am I?” He asked before realisation hit him. “What happened? Where’s Sombra’s army? Where’s that demon gone!?” He cried looking around.
“Please my love…calm down.” A soothing voice said.
The group turned around to see Amemond and Ink Quill along with an assortment of guards coming towards them, the Crystal Heart around her neck.
“Amemond…” Krustallos whispered before running over to her and embracing her tightly. “But how… he nearly killed me.” Krustallos looked up and asked Celestia.
Before she could answer, there was a bright light again that forced them to once more shield their eyes. When the light faded they were greeted by a creature that looked the same as the one they had fought, unlike the other though this one was slightly taller. It was slightly faded and was wearing completely grey robes that hid his arms and a grey cloak billowed behind him. From under his hood they could see two ancient blue eyes that looked like they held a vast amount of knowledge, the likes of which Celestia and the others would never see, his face was mostly covered by a large stone grey beard that came down to his waist line. A tattered old leather strap was slung over his left shoulder down to his right hip and hanging from it was a large battered tome. In his right hand he wielded an ancient looking wooden staff that was radiating with magical energy, he smiled to him as they stared open mouthed at him.
“Because Emperor Krustallos…the Princesses arrived to prevent him killing you, and I healed you up before you could pass into the void.” Varlos spoke calmly.
“W-who are you?” Krustallos gasped.
“He said his name was Varlos…the God of Magic.” Luna replied, her eyes never leaving Varlos.
“God of Magic?” Krustallos said.
“Indeed, but what are you waiting for Krustallos?”
“What?”
“I believe you owe the Princesses a thanks for saving you.” Varlos said.
“U-uhm Y-yes, thank you Princesses.” Krustallos said as he bowed to the Princesses.
Amemond, Celestia and Luna resisted the urge to giggle themselves.
“And?”
“And?” “Don’t you have something to say to me?” Varlos raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
Krustallos blinked for a moment unsure as to what Varlos meant; behind him Celestia and Luna were struggling to suppress their giggling. Amemond came up beside him and whispered to him.
“You need to thank him for healing you up dear…”
“OH! T-thank you Varlos.” He quickly said and bowed.
Varlos chuckled as he walked over and gave a pat to the Krustallos’s back.
“Not a problem my dear boy, now… I assume you all have questions to which I have the answers.” He raised a hand up as Celestia was about to ask him something. “But first I need to tell you I don’t have a lot of time…this plain is tricky to manifest into properly so I shall explain everything as best as I can.”
They all nodded and Celestia took a step forward.
“Could you please start with exactly what are you, and why are you here?”
“Very well, that is a fair request” He smiled. “To answer your question, I am as who I said. Varlos, the God of Magic and as to why I am here well, I’m here to help tilt the odds in your favour.”
“Tilt the odds?”
“Yes, you are surprised your Elements failed upon hitting Malaskaar-“
“Is that who the creature was? Malaskaar? How did they fail?” Luna interrupted him.
“Indeed, he is a human mage from the land of Cyrium, a world that exists not in this dimensional plain. He didn’t arrive here by choice however, you see, he follows the deity J’skaar, the one who protected him against the Elements and is the Dark God of Magic and…sadly my younger sibling.”
The pony’s mouths fell open staring at him as he continued to talk.
“In the beginning of everything in our world there was only one God, Xerillien. He created life on Cyrium and choose several mortals to become Gods of various things such as nature, magic etc. I and my younger brother were chosen to represent all that was magic however, when I suggested granting the gift of Magic to the mortal races he disagreed. And when I and Xerillien did grant them the gift, my brother denounced our creator and fell into darkness. He sadly wasn’t the only God who fell into darkness as he was followed by several others."
He stopped as he looked upwards in thought and then sighed.
“After that, Xerillien disappeared and to this day we haven’t a clue where his is…but that’s a story for another time back to the matter at hand. Malaskaar was once a follower of mine who in a time of peril was forced to use a forbidden magic associated with J’skaar, Soul magic, and succumbed to his temptation and became a dark mage.”
He looked down again as he continued.
“Along with many others who followed the fallen Gods, he started a war amongst the other citizens of Cyrium which became known as The War of White pass as most of the fighting took place in a frozen bit of land known as the White Pass. My followers initially did not want to get involved within the conflict but were forced to by the Emperor of Altori due to Malaskaar being their responsibility, after ten years of fighting they pushed the army back and Malaskaar suddenly disappeared without a trace. They were unsure as to where he had gone but I knew otherwise, J’skaar had pulled him into the void.”
He looked to the ponies with a look of anger on his face.
“And as such, when this Sombra character somehow managed to summon the avatar of J’skaar from the void, he sent Malaskaar to do his bidding in your world. And this Sombra is being played for a fool.”
“What do you mean by that?” Celestia said being the only one to speak up during Varlos’s speaking.
“This world of yours…it is rich in a pure magic that is only rivalled by the creator himself, my guess is J’skaar also has noticed this and is most likely using Malaskaar to make sure he can claim your world and take the magic from it.”
“That doesn’t explain why he is using Sombra.” Luna frowned.
“J’skaar enjoys tormenting others, he most likely promised Sombra this world in return for something else, like you’re Elements. When Malaskaar has the elements he will return to the void and J’skaar will burn this world and everything on it and take the magic from it.”
All of the ponies stared at him in utter shock, the realisation that they were up against a God and his pawn hit them hard. The soldiers began to mutter amongst themselves slightly shaken, there was a long silence before Ink Quill stepped forward and asked the question on all of their minds.
“P-please my Lord, you n-need to calm down!” Dream Weaver squeaked.
“Calm down? CALM DOWN!?” Sombra roared.
Dream Weaver ducked as the table Sombra had been using to hold the map of the capital was thrown violently in his direction, the table ripped through the tents wall and crashed into the ground outside startling several soldiers nearby. Sombra roared again as he continued to pace, in his tent was himself, Dream Weaver, two soldiers who were very nervous, a nurse and Malaskaar who was being attended by the nurse.
“He’s right your highness you need to calm down, planning anything with your mind in the state it’s in is foolish.” Malaskaar calmly said.
Malaskaar moved his head to the right just as a chair shot past him startling the nurse and like the table ripped through the tent and outside, Malaskaar let out a chuckle as Sombra continued to pace.
“Don’t you DARE tell me to calm down Malaskaar! This is your fault!” Sombra shouted at him.
Malaskaar simply scoffed as he gave a quick thank you to the nurse who quickly left, he turned his gaze back to Sombra and rose up.
“I hardly see how it was my fault, had I gone with your plan in the first place our Lord J’skaar would have been…less then pleased.”
“To Tartarus with you and to Tartarus with-”
Sombra was interrupted as a hand suddenly wrapped around his neck and lifted him into the air, he let out a startled choke as the two soldiers ran to his aide, they were stopped as shadows wrapped around them and held them in place. Malaskaar looked Sombra directly in his eyes; Sombra saw they had turned completely black.
“Be careful mortal…You are beginning to try my patience.” Malaskaar spoke, but with a booming voice spoke one Sombra recognised.
“Y-yes Lord J’skaar.” He choked.
Malaskaar dropped Sombra and released the grip on his soldiers; he smirked at the sight of Dream Weaver shaking with fear and continued.
“Good…Good…I don’t have much time so listen close Sombra, my servant was forced to use my favour to protect himself from a fairly powerful magic, I want you to capture this power and give it to me. I have plans for it elsewhere…also it appears my…actions have attracted some unwanted attention.”
“What do you mean by unwanted attention?” Sombra asked him.
“You shall see soon enough, I must go now…I will cast my favour on you in the hopes you succeed and get me what I want, oh and Sombra…should you fail…I will drag your soul into the darkest and deepest parts of Oblivion for all eternity…don’t disappoint me again.”
As he finished, Malaskaar’s eyes returned to his normal brown colour, he panted a little bit as Sombra walked over to his makeshift throne before stopping.
“We move in one hour’s time.”
“I-is that wise my lord?” Dream Weaver began. “It will take our forces two hours just to reach the capital.”
“We need to move now, otherwise the Equestrian and Crystal forces will have a chance to recover and fortify themselves.” Sombra replied.
“But who will lead the army? Captain Dark Light is dead.” Dream Weaver asked.
Sombra looked away slightly, the Captains death hit him a little harder then he originally thought. To him and Dream Weaver, Dark Light had died from his severe wounds he had suffered in battle with Fleet Wing. When Malaskaar had brought back his body Sombra was furious that he had been slain but was thankful he had brought the body back, what Sombra and Dream Weaver didn’t know was how he actually died.
Dark Light groaned in pain as he opened his eyes slowly, he winced as he felt the dull throbbing where his wing used to be. He looked up to see he was lying in the snow a fair good distance from the capital, he could see the army retreating in the distance and turned round and saw Malaskaar sitting on a rock with his eyes closed.
“What…what happened?” Dark Light asked.
There was a short silence before Malaskaar answered him.
“You had your wing cut off fighting that Pegasus you call Fleet Wing…” Malaskaar replied, Dark Light could hear the venom in his voice.
“I…see, why am I still alive then…surely I would of died from the blood loss?” He asked.
Dark Light then noticed the nub where his wing was had dried blood covering it; he was puzzled at the sight.
“Because I healed you up…” Malaskaar grunted as he stood up. “I don’t want you to miss this…”
Dark Light felt his neck tighten as Malaskaar grabbed him roughly by the neck and slammed him into the rock; Dark Light cried out in pain and looked at the mage with confusion and anger.
“What are you doing?!” He barked at him.
“You honestly think I care about you, or about Sombra?” Malaskaar chuckled darkly.
“W-what?” Dark Light stuttered.
“You think J’skaar will just allow your kind to remain in this world? A world rich in pure magic?”
Dark Light’s eyes widened as Malaskaar continued.
“Once he is finished toying with Sombra, he is going to raze this world and take its magic.”
“You c-can’t do this!” Dark Light cried.
His answer was the tightening of his throat, Malaskaar’s face was etched with anger but what scared Dark Light more were his eyes, they were black.
“I can do whatever I want mortal; you interrupted the sacrifice to me…for that you will take its place, and once I am done toying with your King…this world will burn.”
The voice was deeper and darker; Dark Light recognised it as the voice of J’skaar. Before he could say anything he felt a sharp pain from his neck and Malaskaar quickly pulled his hand back, what came after was unimaginable pain. Dark Light felt like his insides had been ripped out of his body and was still alive, he watched as a blue energy was gripped in Malaskaar’s hand in the basic shape of a pony, the world began to fade as Dark Light passed into the void.
“You heard my Dream Weaver…I will show the Emperor and the Princesses I am not a coward hiding behind his armies, Malaskaar are you ready to battle?”
“I’m afraid not my Lord…I nearly used up all of my power in the first attack and need time to rest.”
Sombra growled and cursed himself internally; he turned to one of the soldiers.
“Go tell the soldiers to be ready to move by first light.”
“Yes my lord.” He replied and left.
“You better not fail this time Malaskaar…I doubt our Lord will be happy if you-“
“We…fail.” Malaskaar interrupted. “I won’t be the only one who will incur his wrath.”
Sombra let out a low growl as Malaskaar left the tent; he sat on his throne as Dream Weaver walked up beside him.
“Something the matter my Lord?” He asked him.
“Every time Malaskaar speaks…I can’t shake something is off about him, like I shouldn’t turn my back on him.”
“In what way my Lord?”
“I…don’t know how to explain it, it’s almost as if.” Sombra stopped to think for a moment before sighing. “It’s nothing forget it, head back to the Kingdom Dream Weaver. I’m counting on you to keep managing things whilst I am gone.” “Of course my Lord.” Dream Weaver bowed before leaving the tent.
Everyone was silent, only the wind blowing around the remaining columns of the palace could be heard. They were all watching as Ink Quill finished scribbling out with chalk inscriptions in the centre of the columns, he was being careful to draw them out exactly as Varlos has had said.
“I will lend you one of my followers, one who wishes to redeem himself for what he believes is his fault. He will tell you what he wishes to be redeemed of if he so wishes, he is expecting your summoning. This is the best I can do I’m afraid, I wish you all the best of luck and may the creator be with you.”
Varlos’s words still echoed in their heads even after his shade had disappeared, he had granted the Princesses a spell to summon a follower of his to their world to help them fight against Malaskaar and Sombra. Ink Quill was trusted by Varlos with a page that contained the summoning spell with instructions on how to draw out the circle needed for the ritual, satisfied he had done it correctly he turned to the Princesses and nodded.
“Tia…should we really do this?” Luna asked nervously.
“I don’t think we have much of a choice Lu-Lu…we don’t have the power to stop a God or his servant, we must put our faith in Varlos and hope that this follower will help us.” Celestia replied.
Luna reluctantly nodded her head in agreement and took a step back, behind them was Krustallos and several soldiers ready for anything and behind that was Amemond still holding the crystal heart, she had refused to leave her husband’s side once more and he reluctantly allowed her to stay.
“Is everypony ready?” Celestia asked as she eyed everyone in attendance.
She was replied with a row of nodding heads and weapons being readied in case something went wrong, she closed her eyes along with Luna and their horns began to glow brightly. They began to mutter under their breaths in a different language to that of Equestrian, they weren’t entirely sure what the words meant as Varlos implanted the spell into their minds so they wouldn’t have a problem making a mistake in the summoning.
Their horns shone brighter and brighter and a windswept around them blowing everyone’s manes about as it began to concentrate into a ball around their horns, the circle and inscriptions began to glow as well and engulfed the entire area in a large bright light that blinded everyone temporarily. The sound of wind rushing past at great speed filled their ears before a sound that sounded like a wall being blown apart echoed around them, as quickly as the bright light shone it suddenly disappeared, the Princesses horns dimmed down and they opened their eyes panting heavily.
They all looked to the centre of the circle to see a bipedal creature on one knee looking down, no one moved and there was a long pause before Luna spoke up.
“Did…did it work?” She asked.
“Yes, yes it did. I understand you need my help?” The creature replied as it slowly stood up.
“Yes…who are you?” Luna replied.
“My name is Turil Tailclaw, devoted follower of Varlos and I am here to…”
Turil stopped as he stood up and removed his hood revealing his face, like Malaskaar he looked fairly young and had short brown hair with a matching short beard, his eyes were an emerald green and he was wearing dark green robes that were very similar to Malaskaar’s save for a few things. On his belt were two pouches and on his chest a single strap, he looked at the ponies in front of him and blinked a couple of times.
“…Help you, I’m sorry but where are you? I can see your mounts but-“
“We are NOT mounts!” Luna cried blushing at what she thought was an insult; Celestia tried her best not to giggle.
Turil stared at her with his mouth agape, he was expecting the people to summon him to be well…people, not horses. He blinked again and grinned.
“Talking horses…that’s new, then again the Templars have those pegasi mounts who can talk…and I suppose there are the dragons as well. “Turil continued to mutter to himself. “Can’t say I haven’t seen stranger, given the Kinrai and the Dunwor…this could be very interesting.”
Celestia couldn’t help but smile watching Turil mutter to himself and stroking his beard, Turil seemed to be quite entertaining and she couldn’t sense any evil within him unlike Malaskaar. She also found it amusing he managed to annoy Luna that quickly.
“What are you talking about? And it’s ponies.” Celestia asked him.
“It’s nothing, now…Varlos said I was needed here but he didn’t really say why.”
“We need help defeating Sombra and his servant Malaskaar; we will gladly pay you-“Celestia was interrupted by Turil raising his hand up.
“Did you say Malaskaar?” His voice was cold.
“Yes…will you help us?” Luna said softly concerned at his sudden change in tone.
There was a long pause before Turil replied again, he walked over to Celestia and Luna who were now side by side and placed a hand on each of them and looked at the pair with a soft smile on his face.
“I will gladly die for your world to stop that monster for what he has done to my home…and to yours…”
Turil sat at the desk and sighed; he put down the quill in its pot and rubbed his eyes roughly before letting out a loud yawn. He was sitting in a fairly dim lit room that had several bookcases around it, each one almost bursting with old books and tomes. On the desk in front of him was a few more books as well as what appeared to be maps of the land, the one directly in front of him had scribbles all over with circles and crosses dotting it. Turil pushed back from the desk, the chair making an echo as it scrapped along the stone floor and rubbed his eyes once more.
“This is bloody hopeless…” He muttered.
“What is?” A voice replied.
Turil looked to the door way and saw another man with long brown hair and a matching beard leaning on the frame; he smiled and shook his head.
“It’s nothing Grendel, just the tiredness settling in that’s all.” Turil said.
“Don’t give me that, you’ve spent the last four days during private study doing well….Varlos knows what.” Grendel said as he came into the room.
“I mean it…it’s nothing.” Turil insisted trying to hide the maps.
Grendel quickly grabbed one of the maps and scanned it over, he raised his eyebrow and sighed handing it back to Turil.
“Turil…I know it’s important to you but…you have to face facts, Malaskaar is dead.”
“I know what the reports say Grendel, we were there when it happened…but I can still sense his energy.”
Grendel sighed and sat in the chair opposite; pulling out a pipe from a pouch in his belt he placed some brown leaves into it before igniting the tip of his finger and lighting the pipe. He took a few puffs and blew out some smoke before speaking.
“Alright…I’ll humour you, what’ve you got this time?” Grendel smirked.
“I went to the Cliffside last week, to check for magical residual energy.” Turil started taking a seat. “Take a guess at what I found.”
“Nothing?” Grendel asked blowing out smoke.
Turil smirked and pulled out a shard from this robe, Grendel’s eyes widened and nearly dropped the pipe from his mouth.
“No…is that…what I think it is?” He asked in a whisper.
“A Void shard…yes.” Turil replied.
“Incredible…” Grendel muttered.
“It gets better…and worse.”
“How so?”
“It’s been nearly emptied of its magical reserve…” Turil said passing the shard to Grendel.
Grendel picked up the shard and closed his eyes; he could feel the faint energy of what was left in the shard, as well as another energy. One he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“He used it didn’t he…he went into the void to J’skaar.” Grendel asked handing him the shard back.
“Yes…Malaskaar is dead in this world, but alive somewhere else. And I intend to find out where he is and finish him…”
“No it’s too dangerous Turil; you need to tell the council this.” Grendel protested.
“I can’t Grendel you know why!” Turil barked standing up.
“But trying that kind of level of magic is forbidden!” Grendel argued.
Turil gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, suddenly an idea came to his mind and he unclenched his fists.
“Fine…your right, I’ll talk to the council in the morning.” Turil said.
“Alright…” Grendel replied somewhat suspicious. “Let’s go see if we can grab some mead and dinner before we head off to bed.”
Turil nodded and the two packed up before heading out of the room and down the long halls towards the food hall.
As the twin moons of Cyrium shone down on the land, all was quiet in the temple as most of the mages slept with the odd one or two still up and about studying. Grendel rolled in his bed a soft snore leaving his lips as he slept, across from him in the opposite bed was Turil who lay on his back. Turil opened his eyes slowly and peered over to where Grendel lay, after waiting in silence for a few minutes and being satisfied that he was asleep. Turil sat up and carefully made his way out of the room, taking a glance back at Grendel.
“Forgive me my friend…I need to do this.” He said softly before leaving.
Turil silently walked the halls of the temple; his hood over his head as he made his way to the far end of the temple, walking past the many torches still lit that shone onto the tapestries that hung from the walls depicting moments of the history of Cyrium and of the council. He kept walking progressing further and further down the hallways till he was somewhere he knew there would be no one to disturb him.
The shrine to Varlos.
Looking around one last time to make sure no one was around, he pushed the large wooden doors open, eliciting a low groan as they opened. Stepping inside he lowered his hood and bowed, as was customary to do so when entering the shrine, the shrine was made up of two large twin torches that stood in front of a large statue of Varlos. In front of the statue was a small altar with a few books, some plants and an incense stick. As he slowly approached the shrine he could feel the air change slightly, kneeling in front of the statue he pulled out the shard, levitating it in front of him. He focused all of his power into the shard to draw out its remaining energy, grunting in slight pain he closed his eyes.
When he reopened his eyes, the entire room was completely light. Turil could feel the sheer magical energy flowing around him; he looked around before placing the shard back into his pouch and standing up. He began to walk forwards, his footsteps echoing with each step.
“So this is the void…” he muttered to himself. “Kinda figured it would be…darker.”
“Yes…I’ve heard that one before.” A booming voice said behind him.
Turil spun on the spot, alarmed at the booming voice and his eyes widened at who he saw, standing in front of him was a tall man wearing grey robes and had a long beard.
Varlos himself.
“M-my lord…” Turil stuttered before bowing as low as he could.
Varlos chuckled before lifting Turil’s chin up, the God smiled down at him with his old eyes and lifted his arm up pointing behind him and began to walk. Turil watched him for a moment before realising what he meant and quickly strode up beside him and walked alongside Varlos, for a while the two walked in utter silence, their footsteps being the only sound made.
“Why did you come here Turil Tailclaw?” Varlos said breaking the silence.
“To…to find Malaskaar and-“
“Please boy, don’t lie to me.” Varlos interrupted.
“But I’m not-“
“Turil…” Varlos stopped and turned his gaze upwards. “You can’t lie to a God…now…the reason?”
Turil was silent for a while; his mind was racing trying to find an excuse, any excuse, to tell Varlos. He knew though he wouldn’t be able to and finally let out a loud sigh.
“Because I have to fix the mistake I made…I have to destroy Malaskaar…because he’s my responsibility…” Turil said. Varlos smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing Turil to look up at the God.
“Turil Tailclaw, are you willing to do whatever it takes? Willing to do whatever I say to achieve that goal?” Varlos asked him.
“I’m willing to sacrifice myself to save the lives of thousands if it means destroying that monster.” Turil replied without missing a beat.
“Then…Turil Tailclaw…I have an important quest for you…”
Turil snapped out of his trance and blinked a couple of times; he was sitting around a large table along with Princess Celestia and Luna, Emperor Krustallos and Empress Amemond and both Captains of the guard as well as Ink Quill. On the table was a large map that covered the entire Empire as well as the Mountain Kingdom, on the map were several ‘markers’ indicating the locations of each kingdoms forces, although the majority of the markers although that markers for Sombra’s forces weren’t accurately placed as they had no idea if he was in his own Kingdom or in a camp somewhere. Scouts had been dispatched to try and locate them and they were still waiting for the response, so the meeting was mainly about possible tactics to be used on Sombra and tactics Sombra might use.
“Hmm? Oh sorry was miles away, you were saying your highness?” Turil said looking up.
“I wanted to asked your opinion on what we should do, seeing as you seem to know this Malaskaar.” Krustallos replied.
“Know him?” Turil chuckled. “Oh I know him…and what he’s done.”
“What do you mean?” Luna asked him.
“I’ve fought battles against him before.” He replied.
“So what do we do?” Amemond said.
Turil pulled out a pipe from his pouch; he placed some form of brown leaf into it before igniting the top of his right index finger and lighting the pipe, taking a few puffs from it he leant back into his chair, blowing large smoke rings upwards as he continued
“Well…if Malaskaar was as depleted as you make him out he was, he won’t be able to fight for at least a day. Maybe two.”
“Then surely this is our chance to strike back? Take the fight to Sombra.” Steel Hoof suggested.
“At the moment that isn’t a wise idea, we have no idea where his forces are exactly and we still need to come up with a full proof strategy that won’t get us routed.” Celestia replied.
“Not to mention knowing Malaskaar, he probably has backup plans in place for moments such as these…and the last thing we need to do is trigger one of them.” Turil sighed.
“Speaking from experience Master Tailclaw?” Ink Quill asked him.
“Aye…it was about two years ago, we had finally managed to route the majority of the Black Knight’s forces during the War between the Templars and the Black Knights. Malaskaar had joined them under the instructions of J’skaar and had led a large portion of the army into battle, but he was defeated at the walls of Ordiria near the Dwarven kingdom of Belagrim by forces led by myself, and my friend Grendel Emeric.” Turil paused as memories of that battle came back into his mind and chuckled. “Malaskaar never saw that one coming.”
“What do you mean by that?” Silver Wing said.
“Well…it wasn’t the greatest strategy we had at the time.” Turil admitted. “We knew Malaskaar planned on attacking the White Tower in order to reach the temple where the Elder Council resided.”
“Who are the Elder Council?” Celestia asked.
“They’re the leaders of the council of mages, individuals like myself who want to learn the art of magic.” Turil replied. “Sadly…not all mages are good, Malaskaar is such an example.”
Celestia nodded, she was getting more and more interested in Turil’s world and was dying to ask him questions about Cyrium. However she knew she would have to wait until another time, she mentally noted to ask him later on.
“Anyway, at the time the Dwarves had refused to take part in the war but allowed us to set up a campsite in the mountains overlooking the plain that led to the ocean. It wasn’t long before Malaskaar arrived with fewer forces then we had originally expected, so…Grendel and I decided to act as a decoy and draw their fire to allow our forces to flank them.” Turil explained. “At the time we didn’t pay attention to it, but Malaskaar was acting different.”
“In what way?” Luna asked.
“Well…in previous battles he was usually leading the charge or at least providing support, in this battle he sort of did nothing…when our main bulk suddenly attacked his he seemed to panic and fled.”
“Coward.” Krustallos scoffed with a smirk.
“That’s what we thought at first.” Turil said. “However, recently I learned why he ran.”
Turil paused to blow some more smoke from his pipe, he thanked a servant who placed a goblet on the table for him and he took sip of it before continuing.
“He was protecting this.”
He pulled out form his robes the void shard; the others stared at it with confusion and curiosity. Luna levitated it towards her using her magic and examined it.
“What is it?” Ink Quill asked.
“A Void shard.” Turil replied.
“Void Shard?” Amemond said.
“Aye, an ancient and rare magical artefact said to be from the shield of Xerillien the creator. It’s a tool used by the first mages to travel to and from the Void plains to speak with the Gods, but after the War of the Gods they seemed to disappear form existence…until now.”
“So…is this how Malaskaar got here?” Amemond asked him.
“Aye…when we cornered Malaskaar at the cliffs of Baladour not to far from where the battle had happened, we attacked him and sent him falling over the edge to his death. Only, we never found the body.”
“Well he clearly was alive.” Krustallos snorted.
“Indeed, however at the time we merely agreed he had been swept under the waves and drowned. But when I found the shard…it confirmed my feelings of him being alive.” Turil said.
“So…when he fell of the Cliffside, he used the shard and teleported himself into the void?” Celestia asked.
Turil nodded in reply.
“I see…” Celestia murmured.
The room was quiet for a while, no one speaking up. Turil looked at the faces of everyone at the table, then noticed Luna being poured a drink into a goblet and an idea formed in his head.
“I must say though…” Turil chuckled. “When Varlos sent me here…wasn’t expecting to a world ruled by ponies.”
“Is that a problem?” Luna asked.
“Course not; it’s rather interesting to be honest.” Turil gave a mischievous smirk.
Luna raised an eyebrow suspiciously before levitating her goblet up to her lips; Turil grinned and pointed his finger at her goblet. The water suddenly burst from it like a hose drenching her face and mane. Luna gave a shriek in surprise, falling of her chair with a clatter.
Steel Hoof’s jaw dropped as Krustallos’s eyes widened, Amemond rolled her eyes as did Silver Wing. Celestia tried her best to stifle her giggles as Turil smirked; Luna got up and glared at Turil.
“DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!” she bellowed.
“Well…yes.” Turil snickered.
“THIS IS NO TIME FOR GAMES TAILCLAW!” Luna shrieked. “WHY I-“
“Now now Lu-Lu.” Turil said. “You can get me back later on.”
Luna scowled at him as Celestia tried not to giggle again, Krustallos sighed and rubbed his head in frustration.
“Can you please take this seriously Master Tailclaw?” He asked.
“I am your highness.” Turil replied.
“So why the games then?” Krustallos asked him.
Turil leant back and looked up a frown on his face.
“I learned long ago…if you can’t have a laugh every now and again…there isn’t much to life.” He said.
Celestia could sense that there was more to what he said then he was letting on, she could feel some hidden pain behind it but wasn’t sure if she should press him as to what.
“Interesting philosophy that may be, but can you please focus on the problem at hoof?” Krustallos asked.
Turil nodded and took another sip from his goblet.
“Very well, do you have any suggestions then Master Tailclaw?”
Turil stroked his chin for a moment in thought, his eyes scanned over the map as he calculated different ideas in his head. “Well…for the time being there isn’t much we can do, not until we get the reports back from the scouts.” He replied.
“I agree.” Steel Hoof said. “Without those reports we would be flying blind.”
“Then might I suggest we break until then? And have our forces rest up before reading ourselves either for advancing or an attack?” Amemond suggested.
“Agreed.” Celestia said nodding her head.
Luna, Turil, Krustallos and the two Captains all nodded in agreement. They all got up from the table and headed towards the exit, just as Turil was about to leave Celestia placed a hoof on his shoulder.
“Turil…may I speak with you in private?” She asked him.
“Of course your majesty.”
“Please, call me Celestia.” She smiled at him.
The two headed towards the balcony as Luna watched Turil, a mischievous grin forming on her face as she quickly galloped away, a soft chuckle leaving her lips.
The two stood in silence as they overlooked the city, the fires had all been put out by this time and only the faint rising smoke that drifted into the air was what remained of them. The civilians were still inside the caverns and all they could see was the forces of Equestria and the Empire sorting out the dead and the wounded, Turil was the one who broke the silence.
“It’s a beautiful place this…” He said. “It’s a shame Grendel isn’t here to help, he would if he could.”
“Tell me about him.” Celestia smiled.
“Grendel’s my best friend, more like a brother to me. We joined the council of mages together and were paired up with the same Master, Master Ballarus.” Turil chuckled to himself. “We used to wind him up so much…poor old bastard, probably wasn’t nice of the Elders to pair a four hundred year old mage with two twenty year old students.”
Celestia’s eyes widened at the mention of how old Ballarus was; only the Alicorns and the Draconequuses could live to such ages in Equestria.
“Do all of your kind live to that age?” She asked.
“No, only the Elves, Dwarves, and the Dragore can really, they can live for a thousand years or so. I don’t know how it works in your world, but in Cyrium anyone can use magic. However it takes literally years to fully master and perfect it, so long in fact that the first Elder council were granted the longevity spell by Varlos to cast on anyone who was truly devoted to the study of magic. That’s how mages live for as long as they do.” Turil sighed softly. “Sadly though, J’skaar does the same for his followers…that’s why you can have evil mages who are very old.”
Celestia nodded as she quietly listened as Turil carried on.
“But anyway, Grendel and I are inseparable.” He paused and chuckled realising what he just said. “Well not so much at the moment but you get the idea.”
Celestia giggled as he carried on, he talked about what he looked like and what they got up to on their adventures during their studies. He took great pleasure in talking about how one time, whilst out camping in a forest to study certain elements of earth magic. He and Grendel had drunk a few pints to much mead and in order to extinguish the camps fire, Grendel had cast a high level wind spell on it which nearly drained his energy. Celestia and Turil laughed for a few minutes at that story before quietening down and looking over the city again, for a while they remained in silence till Celestia broke it.
“Why?” She asked.
“Why what?”
“Why are you helping us?” She said turning to look at him.
Turil kept his gaze on the city and shrugged his shoulders.
“Because I’ve fought Malaskaar before and-“
“Please Turil…you can trust me.” Celestia interrupted with a hoof on his shoulder.
Turil looked at her and met her eyes, she smiled at him reassuringly and he sighed, leaning on the edge of the balcony looking over the city again.
“Because…he wasn’t always evil…before that he was…” Turil paused for a brief moment, as if he was holding something back. “He was one of my best friends.”
Celestia’s eyes widened as she looked at him, Turil sighed and continued.
“He joined the council a few years after me and Grendel did, he was assigned to our Master and we all soon became firm friends. He was a great man you know? Always up for a prank and could drink so much he could put a dwarf to shame.” Turil chuckled.
He looked up at the sun in the sky and sighed softly.
“But then it all changed…during an ambush by the Black Knights. We were heading to the Atheleon forest when we were jumped by a squad of Black Knights, Master Ballarus had ordered us not to go to the forest but we disobeyed and went anyway. We fled deeper into the forest, but we were ambushed again by another squad that was waiting for us. We fought bravely but during the battle, I was nearly killed…and Malaskaar…well.”
Turil let out another sigh, clenching his fists as he closed his eyes tightly. Celestia placed her hoof on his shoulder again reassuringly.
“He used a forbidden art of magic…soul magic…in order to save me.” Turil continued. “Soul magic is forbidden because it falls directly into J’skaar’s domain…after he wiped out the Knights…he began to change ever so slightly afterwards. Me and Grendel never said anything to our Master until it was too late, one night Malaskaar just left the temple and we didn’t see him again till the war broke out…with Malaskaar as one of the commanders…but he had also changed, he was no longer my friend…just a monster.”
Celestia gave Turil’s head gently nuzzle of affection as Turil felt his eyes become watery, the two stood in silence again before Turil stood fully upright and bowed to her.
“Thank you Tia…it felt good to get that off my chest.”
“Not a problem Turil…thank you for trusting me enough to share it.” Celestia replied before leaning to his ear. “And don’t let Luna catch you calling me Tia, she will be livid.”
“Tough, old Lu-Lu will have to learn to share that name.” Turil chuckled.
Celestia giggled as Turil entered the room from earlier as Celestia continued to look over the city, suddenly there was a loud crash and she heard Turil cry out in alarm. She quickly rushed in to find Turil on the floor with a bucket on his head and his upper body drenched, Luna was giggling madly as she pointed a hoof at Turil.
“REVENGE IS SWEET IS IT NOT TAILCLAW?!” She shouted.
“Oh…it’s on.” Turil grinned.
Celestia sighed but smiled as Turil chased the giggling Luna out of the room and down the hallways, confusing many of the guards and servants who were around them.
‘I think those two will get along fine…if they don’t kill each other first.’ Celestia thought.
It had been three days since Malaskaar had returned to the camp to re-join with the main bulk of Sombra’s forces, during this time he had been regaining his energy slowly and surely as well as planning strategies. Sombra had initially been angry that Malaskaar was delaying the attack but soon was silenced when Malaskaar told him it was under J’skaar’s orders; truthfully it was because Malaskaar had found it was taking longer for his magical energy to return to him.
He was currently sat cross legged in the middle of his tent, around him was a red circle that was created from blood and in four points forming a cross where four candles dimly lit, being the only source of light in the tent. He was muttering softly under his breath without pause and his eyes were closed, the candles suddenly snuffed out and the tent was plunged into darkness.
After a few moments, the area was suddenly engulfed in a bright light. As the light died down and he opened his eyes, Malaskaar found himself in an area of pure white. Standing up he bowed low as a large black smog began to form in front of him.
“My Lord…” Malaskaar said.
The black smog continued to form, letting out a loud roar as it finished forming. The humanoid figure stood taller than Malaskaar, by several feet. As the shadows danced around it, it lowered a hood on its head, revealing the skull of a human with two piercing red eyes. Two large curved horns on its head added another couple of feet to the creature’s height; it glared down at the form of Malaskaar and growled.
“What is it servant?” J’skaar’s booming voice said.
“I’ve felt something… different about this place, could it be that-”
“Yes…” J’skaar interrupted. “It appears my foolish older brother has brought someone to this world in order to stop me.” J’skaar paused to chuckle. “But no matter, he will die like the rest of these vermin.”
“What must I do my Lord?” Malaskaar asked bowing again.
“Find this champion… and eliminate him, then… eliminate the forces that oppose me.”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser my Lord, if we gathered information on just exactly who has been summoned? I cannot recognise this energy I feel and for all I know it could be one of the Elders. And even with your favour, an Elder with the power of Varlos behind him may prove too much.”
J’skaar paused for a moment in thought before he let out an irritated hiss.
“Agreed, once you have found out who this champion is, I am entrusting you with your decision on the matter… don’t disappoint me again.”
Malaskaar nodded as he felt his energy returning back to full strength, a gift from J’skaar.
“And Sombra?” He asked.
J’skaar chuckled deeply, the laugh echoing the area around them.
“When I have these Elements of Harmony in my grasp and this world on its knees…kill him.”
Malaskaar smirked and bowed for the final time.
“It will be done my Lord…”
No sooner had he spoken the worlds, Malaskaar closed his eyes and the area went black and back into the tent. He reopened his eyes and slowly stood up and walked out of the tent, he made his way across the camp, soldiers and other ponies present moving to get out of his way. Malaskaar strode through the camp with his hands behind his back and head lowered, so only his chin and smirk was viewable. The camp itself was huge and split into several sections, the overall combined size easily rivalling the size of Canterlot, and the Equestrians had yet to find it.
The reason why its location was unknown to the Equestrians and the Empire was because of the never ending snowstorm that covered it, almost blinding its location to anyone unless they were several feet away from it. He came to the tent of King Sombra and ignored the guards and parted the curtains, he gave a bow before looking up at Sombra sitting on his makeshift throne. To Sombra’s right was Dream Weaver, looking over a map on a table who looked up as Malaskaar entered.
“Yes Malaskaar?” Sombra asked.
“I have news from Lord J’skaar.” He replied.
“Oh? And what news is that?” Sombra raised his eyebrow.
“It appears that Varlos the false God of magic has brought someone to Equestria … a champion if you will.”
“What do you mean a champion?”
“I mean, someone from my world is now in Equestria… to who it is I don’t know… their energy seems… familiar though.” Malaskaar replied.
Sombra was slightly alarmed by this and leant back against the throne glaring down at the mage.
“And, pray tell, do we do about it?” He asked him.
Malaskaar stroked his chin and walked over to the map and Dream Weaver, Dream Weaver watched him with caution as Malaskaar looked over the map wrapping his fingers on the table.
“Firstly, we need to gather as much information as we can on just who has been brought here. Then from that we can-“ He was interrupted as a worn out guard burst into the tent.
“MY LORD! We’ve captured two scouts from the Equestrian forces!”
Sombra smirked and descended from the throne.
“Excellent…have you begun interrogating them?”
“Not yet your Highness.”
“Very good, you’re dismissed.” He replied raising a leg up.
The guard saluted and exited the tent; Sombra began to head out with Dream Weaver following close behind him, leaving Malaskaar in the tent.
King Sombra made his way quickly across the campsite, being followed closely by Dream Weaver and several guards. As he made his way past, everyone stopped in order to bow or salute to Sombra as he went by. They soon came to a fairly small tent situated near the top right side of the camp which was surrounded by guards; they all saluted as Sombra entered the tent.
Inside the tent were two pegasi, a mare and stallion, each tied to a chair. Their amour had been left on save for their helmets which rested on a table nearby, they both had blood on their fur but no indications of serious wounds, the blood seemingly coming from minor injuries during their capture. As Sombra entered they looked up and scowled at the king.
“So… “The stallion started. “His almighty highness has finally graced our presence? Hey Wind Rider, we should consider ourselves honoured with-“
The stallion was interrupted by a sharp back hoof to his face, managing to knock a couple of his teeth out of his mouth. He cried out and coughed some blood before scowling at Sombra once more.
“Speak when spoken to worm…” Sombra growled.
The stallion spat a glob of blood out at Sombra’s foot; looking into the King’s eyes he gave a defiant smirk as Sombra continued.
“You will tell me what your plans are…and of this creature that has been brought from Cyrium to fight against me.”
“I’d rather fuck a manticore then tell you anything, scum.” The stallion spat back.
Sombra chuckled and lifted the stallions chin up with a hoof and smirked at him, as his eyes looked directly into the stallions.
“Your loyalty is noted and commended…but just how long can you last before I break you?”
Malaskaar muttered under his breath as he continued to formulate battle tactics in his mind, something was bothering him too much and he was unable to fully focus on anything. Cursing to himself, he quickly exited the tent and decided to go for a walk to clear his thought. As he walked throughout the camp with ponies all around him doing their best not to meet his gaze and to get out of his way, he walked past a heavily guarded tent and heard the unmistakeable voice of Sombra sounding rather angry as well as the sounds of someone being smacked about.
“TALK DAMN YOU!” Sombra roared.
“B-BITE ME!” A reply came.
Malaskaar sighed and headed towards the tent, the guards around the entrance saluted to him as he entered. Inside was Dream Weaver who was near the entrance of the tent, in the middle was the two captive scouts, the stallion looking like he had gone twenty rounds with a mace.
Sombra was walking in a circle around them looking furious, a visible vein throbbing in his head as he snarled at the stallion. He noticed Malaskaar and sneered.
“What do you want Malaskaar?”
“I see the…’interrogation’ is going very well.” Malaskaar said sarcastically.
Sombra snarled at him and walked straight up to Malaskaar, pressing his face near to his.
“If you think you can do better, go right ahead!”
Sombra then exited the tent followed quickly by Dream Weaver, muttering under his breath. When they were alone Malaskaar slowly turned his attention to the two captives and a wicked grin formed on his face.
“Leave us.” He said to the two guards in the room without averting his gaze.
The two guards saluted nervously and exited the tent, the stallion and mare looked at Malaskaar with utter fear but tried their best not to show it on their faces.
“I’m not telling you shit demon!” The stallion spat out with a defiant smirk.
As soon as he had said the words, Malaskaar drew his sword quickly and stuck it straight into the stallion’s throat, receiving a cry of pain and surprise. He pulled the sword out as the stallion’s head went limp and blood began to pour from the puncture wound and form on the ground below, the mare looked to her fallen comrade with fear and then to the human who was chuckling to himself.
“You don’t need to tell me anything…” Malaskaar smirked kicking the body of the stallion to the ground with the chair. “I have ways of extracting what I want…”
He slowly turned his attention to the mare and he raised a hand up which began to dance with shadows, the mare struggled violently against her binds trying to break free as Malaskaar approached her.
“N-NO PLEASE!” she begged.
“Shh shh…it will soon be all over… just relax and enjoy the pain.” Malaskaar replied with a dark chuckle. He placed his hand on the Wind Rider’s head and she instantly began to scream in utter pain as the shadows engulfed her head and began to swirl, she once more violently struggled against her binds her cries being muffled by the shadows. Malaskaar closed his eyes as he began to search her mind.
‘Now…tell me your secrets…’ Malaskaar said inside her heads.
Wind Rider screamed louder and louder as his magic coursed through her brain reading every little detail it could find, after searching for a few minutes, Malaskaar opened his eyes in alarm when he found what he was looking for. The scout had indeed met the other mage that had been summoned to Equestria by Varlos and Malaskaar was angry, the one who had forced him into the void and ultimately defeated him back in Cyrium.
Turil Tailclaw.
Malaskaar growled and he violently pulled his hand back, cancelling the spell. He looked at his hand which was smoking lightly then to the limp frame of Wind Rider, whose fur and flesh on her head had been burned off, a sick smelling smoke rising from what was left of it. Malaskaar turned around without a word and exited the tent, as he stepped out he was greeted by Sombra, Dream Weaver and several guards staring at him wide eyed with a hint of fear. Even Sombra was a little afraid of him, given the magical energy he had felt.
“So.” Sombra asked trying to remain composed “Do you have the information you needed?”
“Indeed your highness, we must prepare to move out immediately.” Malaskaar replied.
“Why is that? Who has been brought here to aid my enemies? “Sombra demanded.
Malaskaar smirked, sending a chill down the guard’s spines.
“An old friend of mine…someone…who I have unfinished business with.”
Turil lay in his bed looking up at the ceiling, he couldn’t sleep, not that it really bothered him too much. One of the perks of the longevity spell was that mages could go a few days without sleep every now and again and he was used to nights where he simply couldn’t drift off.
With a grunt he got up and headed out of his room, raising his hood over his head. He walked down the dimly lit hallways passing by guards silently who watched him with caution.
‘Figures they’d be suspicious, not that I blame them after what Malaskaar has done.’ He thought to himself.
He continued to walk through the halls before finding himself on a balcony that overlooked the city; he let out a sigh as he looked up the moon in thought. Several hours ago the scouts had returned after two unsuccessful days of searching with the news of where Sombra’s forces were based, however two of the scouts had been capture. When it was suggested by one of the scouts that they mount a daring raid to rescue their comrades, Turil had dismissed it as an honourable but foolish idea. He knew how Malaskaar worked and had lost many close friends and allies during the Templar and Black Knight war after they had been captured; the scouts had angrily shouted abuse at Turil. Calling him a coward and a monster, he didn’t let it bother him though, he understood their anger.
What did bother him though was he knew Malaskaar would have gotten information regarding Turil’s arrival and would immediately be preparing to move out; the scouts had been unable to fully find the location of Sombra’s forces but had managed to narrow down the possible location.
He leant on the balcony and looked up at the moon high in the night sky; he had been in many battles before in Cyrium and knew the feeling of waiting on the eve of one. Although no indication showed that Sombra was on the move, Turil could feel it in his gut that the following day. Sombra and Malaskaar would arrive with their army.
Krustallos had suggested along with Celestia, Amemond and the two captains that the armies should move out to meet Sombra’s, stating that Sombra would most likely now be leading the main bulk of his army after its first failure.
Turil had strongly advised against the notion, stating that Malaskaar would have by now formulated a strategy that would counter any strategy that the alliance made in terms of an offensive, Krustallos said that he didn’t know that but Turil pointed out that Malaskaar would always think one step ahead of his enemies. He explained that Malaskaar would conjure up a force to hold in reserve and wait for the main bulk of the alliance’s forces to move far enough from the city and would rush the city and what little forces remained to protect it.
Instead Turil suggested a defensive plan, whilst Celestia, Luna and Krustallos kept Sombra busy, Turil and the two captains would battle against Malaskaar and attempt to divide Sombra’s army in order to weaken the power of J’skaar’s favour.
Reluctantly, they had all agreed to this and the meeting had been dismissed. The rest of the day as well as the majority of the evening had been spent reinforcing areas around the city that had been damaged such as the ballistas. Turil had spent a good portion of the first day teaching the vast majority of unicorn soldiers, as well as Krustallos, a powerful shield spell he had developed many years ago whilst out in the wilds in Cyrium.
This had served to ease most of the soldiers as well as warm up to the human, some changing their suspicious views on him to that of friendlier views. Turil has also found himself becoming friendly with Ink Quill, having great discussions on literature and exchanging ideas and views on each other’s worlds. He had also noted that Ink Quill always carried a large tome with him into which he would scribble things now and again, whenever Turil had inquired Ink Quill would simply say it was personal research but Turil knew he was lying. He didn’t press the matter however and instead chose to simply enjoy the company.
Surprising everyone as well, Turil had really gotten along well with Luna. Although at first she was furious with him, Luna found that Turil had the same level of childish humour as she had. In the three days since Turil’s arrival, he had managed to find time to spend with Luna and no one was more pleased about this then Celestia. Most ponies or diplomats since the fall of Discord usually didn’t pay much attention to Luna because they viewed her as the lesser ruler, but Turil was different.
Celestia had also come to call Turil a friend ever since she and he had spoken on that first day, he couldn’t explain it but he was able to simply talk to her about things that he usually wouldn’t have shared with anyone apart from Grendel and Ballarus. He was brought out of his thoughts by a voice behind him.
“It’s a lovely night is it not?” He heard Luna say.
He looked behind him to see Luna and Celestia standing in the doorway leading back into the palace, he turned back to the moon and smiled.
“Aye…that it is, kind of reminds me of the nights in Cyrium when we would sit under the two moons and study.” Turil replied.
Celestia and Luna smiled as they stood either side of him and looked up at the moon; they remained in silence for a while before Turil spoke up.
“You two should go and get some sleep, it’s late.” He said.
“Ok.” Luna started. “But first.”
Turil turned to look at her and felt her wrap her right front leg around him in a tight embrace, he stood there for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around her neck.
“Thank you for everything Rilly.” She said.
“Rilly…really?” Turil smirked at her.
“Well if you’re going to insist on using our nicknames for each other, then you must suffer your own.” Luna replied sticking her tongue out.
Turil chuckled as Luna headed back inside the palace giggling, leaving him and Celestia alone, he leant back on the balcony and smiled.
“I never thanked you for what you’ve done.” Celestia said.
“It’s nothing, I’m not going to let Malaskaar-“
“No…not for that.” Celestia interrupted. “Although that is appreciated.”
“Then what?”
“For being Lu-Lu’s friend.” She said with a smile.
Turil raised his eyebrow again at her confused, she explained to Turil that because she is the younger of the sisters most ponies tend to ignore her and because she is royalty, she doesn’t have that many friends other than her sister and Ink Quill.
“Your kind is missing out then.” Turk grinned. “Lu-Lu’s a right laugh.”
They both shared a laugh before silence fell over the two, Celestia then spoke up.
“I’d better go get some rest, you coming?”
“Not really feeling tired, besides, I’d like to be alone for the moment to gather my thoughts.”
“I understand…and may our ancestors watch over us tomorrow…” Celestia replied to which Turil nodded. “Good night…Rilly.”
Celestia giggled as she entered the palace again leaving Turil on his own, he chuckled and turned around to look over the city again.
As the first rays of the morning sun pierced through the thick, snow filled clouds in the sky, the sound of the campsite just be heard over the whistling of the wind. Everywhere you would look, soldiers dashed about pulling down tents and extinguishing miniature camp fires, each soldier arming themselves as well as donning on their respective armours. As they began to form their ranks, Malaskaar stood on top of the small hill that overlooked the campsite looking to the south towards the capital of the Empire.
His cloak billowed behind him as the harsh cold winter wind blew around him, he squinted his eyes as he began to channel his magic around his body, taking long, deep breaths. He closed his eyes as he leant his head back, he didn’t hear the sounds of hoof steps approaching him until one of them coughed.
Malaskaar turned round to see two soldiers clad in their armour ready for battle, he recognised one of them as Comet Shine, one of the soldiers who was placed directly under his command during the first strike and who had now been promoted to Captain to replace Dark Light. He liked Comet Shine a lot more than the others, primarily because Comet was extremely obedient and had not once shown fear or disloyalty towards Malaskaar, Sombra and J’skaar. In the end though, Comet would have to die like the rest of the world’s inhabitants, he had played with the notion of sparing Comet Shine in order to make him a thrall.
“My Lord, King Sombra asks for your presence whilst addressing the soldiers.” Comet Shine said with a salute.
“Very well…let us go.” Malaskaar replied as he followed the two back into the camp.
As they made their way through the ranks, the full force of Sombra’s forces were on display all wearing the armour of the Kingdom which was a dark grey colour. At the head of the army on a medium sized boulder was Sombra himself and two guards, he was looking in the direction of the capital as his cape softly blew about behind him.
“Are you ready Malaskaar?” Sombra asked him without averting his gaze.
“I am your highness.” He replied.
Sombra smirked as he slowly turned round to face his army; the plan was simple but would be effective. The whole army was to be split into three divisions, Sombra was to lead the main bulk in a slightly risky move directly at the capital head on, and on the left flank of the main forces would be Comet Shine and his ponies.
Malaskaar has a unit of ten unicorns aiding him; he didn’t require a large unit as he would be summoning up the shadows once again to assist all three sections as well as his own personal soldiers, the unicorns were mainly there to keep an eye on him for Sombra which he had sussed but didn’t let on. He was to follow up behind Sombra and attack the Empire from the right flank after they had been attacked the Sombra’s and Comet’s forces taking them by surprise.
Sombra cleared his throat before looking from right to left slowly at his forces, as his gaze passed over them they all saluted when they met his eyes.
“Soldiers! You have shown time and time again your loyalty, your bravery and your courage. You and you alone defeated the God of Chaos and his armies.” As he spoke he walked left and right slowly. “Even now I can see it in your eyes, the determination that would turn even the bravest soldiers into nervous wrecks; you are this world’s finest soldiers!”
The army gave out a roar and raised their weapons up as Sombra continued.
“And on this morning, you shall prove yourselves once more! We will take what is rightfully ours! To long have the Crystal Empire mocked us with its riches; to long have the Equestrians mocked us with their so called peace. But no more! Today, we show them, nay the world! That we are the rightful rulers of this world, ARE YOU WITH ME!?”
The army roared out louder than before as various battle cries rang out across the ranks.
“Then my loyal soldiers, march to war, and to victory!” Sombra cried out.
A loud roar rang out for a final time as the army began its long march to the capital, even with the ground covered in thick snow the sounds of marching were very loud. Sombra turned to Comet Shine and saluted him; Comet saluted back and took off to join up with his soldiers. Sombra then turned to Malaskaar and nodded to him, Malaskaar gave him a bow before disappearing into the shadows. Sombra then began to descend from the boulder and began to march with his soldiers.
Chapter XI: Battle for the Empire Part 1- A Fallen Leader.
Chapter XI: Battle for the Empire Part 1- A Fallen Leader.
“I don’t think I ever had such a restless night, I remember my father telling me about the feeling of waiting on the edge of a battle that was about to begin. I along with her highness Empress Amemond had made our way back into the Crystal Caverns to wait who would win, Amemond was worrying about her husband and I felt useless on how to console her.
I had gotten up during the middle of night unable to sleep, looking back at it now I remember just looking over the crowds of civilians who were asleep together, it greatly saddened me.”
Twilight paused where she was; she let out a tired yawn and rubbed her eyes with her hoof. She knew it was late and probably was already late evening and contemplated going to bed, however the book was keeping her from wanting to leave.
It saddened her reading about war in this way, most of the modern history books that were used in schools didn’t go into too much detail like this tome was doing, even her own library didn’t have books on the war with Discord or Sombra in this detail.
In fact the more she thought about it, she had only ever really read a few books in her time from the Royal Archive that depicted war and even they weren’t as detailed as this. She shrugged it off as simply this being one of the few tomes in Equestria that was written exactly around the time of the war, letting out one last yawn she went back to reading, quite happy to go on through the night.
One thing Turil could note about that morning was that it was cold, very cold, and colder then he would have liked it to be. He was sitting on the roof Crystal Palace looking out towards the East, where he was told Sombra’s forces retreated, with a cold thoughtful stare. In his mouth was a pipe that smoke was slowly rising from and mingling with the sky, every now and again his face lit up from the burning tobaccos inside it.
His knees were up to his chest and his arms dangled lazing over his knees, clutching in his left hand was a long wooden staff that had an ice blue crystal at the end that was helped by small branches that wove around it from the staff. Turil had lost count of the hours he had been sitting there by himself in silence, just watching and waiting.
The cold morning wind roughly blew against his hidden face trying to push down his hood as he watched the sun slowly raise, below him he noticed Celestia standing on a balcony, her horn glowing. Curiously he watched her before looking back up to the rising dun, it took him a few moments to put two and two together before realising she was the one raising the sun. He knew from legends that the two Gods Lonoss and Soloss raised the sun and two moons back in Cyrium, but because so little existed about the two Gods most people just ignored their supposed existence.
But this, this was real; Turil could only imagine the true power Celestia actually had hidden inside. He smiled to himself and decided not to disturb her any further, taking the pipe from his mouth to blow out a large amount of smoke he felt something stir around him, a different energy.
Raising an eyebrow as he placed the pipe back into his mouth, he closed his eyes as he raised his head back up towards the east.
‘What are you planning Malaskaar?’ He thought to himself.
He blew out another large amount of smoke before opening his eyes again, without averting his gaze he placed the pipe back into his mouth and spoke calm.
“Yes Luna?”
Luna stopped in her tracks; she was a few metres behind Turil and had been silently approaching him planning to surprise him and pouted. She carried on walking over to him and sat on her rump next to him.
“What’re you doing up here anyway?” She asked him.
“Waiting.” He replied.
Luna nodded, knowing that he was probably feeling slightly nervous about the upcoming battle. They both watched the sun.
“So I take it you raise the moon?” He asked her keeping his gaze set.
“Yes, how did you know?” She replied looking at him.
“I felt Tia casting a powerful spell and just put two and two together.” He shrugged. “And logically I just assume you were the one who raises the moon.”
“That obvious?” She asked to which he nodded.
The two sat there for a while in silence as they continued to watch over the city, during the past three days great care had been taken into rebuilding the equipment that had been damaged such as the ballistas. During the time, there had been an increase in troop count as several towns that still remained free from Sombra had sent what little resources and soldiers they could to the capital.
Turil had calculated that with the amount of soldiers they had, they would be evenly matched against Sombra, if it wasn’t for Malaskaar yet. He had only briefly mentioned what Malaskaar would most likely do to the others which was he would raise his own personal army to aid Sombra’s, one thing he didn’t tell them for fear of causing doubt of victory was another summon Malaskaar might end up doing. He could sense Luna shivering beside him, but something told him it wasn’t the cold.
“Lu-Lu…are you afraid?”
Luna looked at him puzzled by his sudden question, looking away sharply she raised her head high.
“O-of course not, it’s just a bit cold up here that’s all.” She claimed.
“Lu-Lu don’t lie to me…” Turil said softly, his gaze never moving.
Luna was quiet again before she lowered her head and ears, letting out a soft sigh.
“Yes...” She whispered. “I know I’ve fought battles before…but I still feel scared…scared of what might happen to Equestria if we lose, at least Discord didn’t want to destroy all of us…”
They were both silent once more before Turil softly wrapped his right arm around her pulling her into an embrace, Luna widened her eyes before she gently rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, a few tears in the corner of her eyes as he gently rubbed her side.
“Never forget that fear Lu-Lu…it’s what makes you human…well in your case Pony.” He chuckled along with Luna’s giggle. “That’s something Malaskaar won’t ever take from you.”
Luna smiled softly as she continued to rest her head on his shoulder, Turil smiled down at her and rested his head on hers looking back to the East. The wind whipped around them and Luna shivered slightly, Turil wrapped his cloak around Luna to keep her warm as she sighed in content, he let his mind drift off as his pipe hung lazily out of his mouth, the smoke slowly drifting into the sky.
He was regretting not telling the others one other tactic Malaskaar might employ if all else should fail, one tactic he wanted to never see again. A tactic that lurked in the darkest pits of Turil’s greatest nightmares, Turil shook the memory out of his head from the last time he had faced that creature and grunted as he stood up, Luna soon joined him and they suddenly heard the sound of a horn ringing throughout the area. A horn belonging to a Crystal scout.
“We’d better get down there.” Turil said.
Luna nodded in agreement as they both headed back into the Crystal Palace from where they came from and began to head off to meet up with the others.
Celestia sighed as she finished raising the sun, happy with her work she turned around and headed back inside the palace oblivious to the human watching her. As she wondered throughout the halls she let her mind wander off in though as she passed by the various guards and servants rushing around in a mild panic, she was so caught up in her thoughts that she failed to spot Ink Quill coming towards her and walked straight into him, he hadn’t noticed Celestia because he was levitating a large brown tome in front of him into which he was scribbling away.
“O-oh Celestia I’m so sorry I wasn’t paying attention.” Ink Quill apologised as he began to pick up the various items he’d drop.
“It’s fine Ink Quill; I wasn’t watching where I was going either.” She replied with a smile.
Ink Quill looked up at her and noticed her expression and tilted his head.
“Something the matter Celestia?” He started before nervously chuckling. “Aside from the obvious.”
“It’s nothing really Ink Quill, nothing I should burden you with.”
“Tia…” He placed a reassuring hoof on her leg. “You can talk to me.”
Celestia smiled back and nodded, she led him into one of the nearest rooms and checked to see if it was clear. The room was empty and appeared to be a small study of sorts, with a few bookcases as well as a couple of chairs and a desk. She closed the door and let out a deep sigh as she sat in one of the chairs.
“I’m just worried…worried what might happen if we should fail.” She sighed.
“Tia, you shouldn’t be thinking like that…”
“But I can’t help it Ink…what happens if we do lose? Will-”
“If.” Ink Quill interrupted.
“Pardon? “
“That’s exactly it Tia, if.” He replied. “Everypony has confidence in you and Luna. You two were able to defeated Discord along with Krustallos, and I also have confidence in Turil. Everypony is behind you all the way.”
Celestia smiled and gently pulled him into a gentle hug to which he hugged her back.
“Thank you Ink Quill…I needed to hear that.” She said softly.
“No problem Tia.” Ink Quill grinned at her.
They were interrupted by the sound of a horn ringing; they both recognised it as belonging to a Crystal Scout.
“We should go see what it is about.” Ink Quill said.
“I agree.” Celestia nodded.
They both exited the room and headed to meet the scout in the courtyard, as they walked briskly through the palace they bumped into Luna and Turil and they all carried on outside into the courtyard where Krustallos was already waiting along with the two captains.
“M-my lord.” The scout saluted panting, clearly out of breath.
“Report.” Krustallos said saluting back.
“The enemy made camp to the east Sire, a good three hours away.”
“That’s good, now we can plan to-“
“That’s not all my lord.” The scout interrupted. “Wind Rider and High Flyer got captured by the enemy, and I think they’re on the move.”
Krustallos cursed under his breath as Turil stepped up to the scout.
“When was this?” He asked him.
“About two hour’s sir.” The scout replied.
“That doesn’t give us long.” Turil muttered. “Your highness, we need to prepare immediately for an attack.”
“But shouldn’t we just meet them? Take the fight to them?” A nearby soldier asked.
“That would risk us being flanked; it’s much easier to fight them from a fortified area.”
“I agree.” Celestia said.
Krustallos nodded and turned to his men and raised a hoof up and pointing to them.
“You heard the man! Get to your stations immediately, all unicorns must report to the palace and be ready to cast the shield spell!” He barked.
“SIR YES SIR!” The soldiers replied in unison.
Krustallos watched as the soldiers began to run about, orders being barked as they all began to prepare for the incoming attack. The ballistas were loaded and ammunition brought up to them and crossbow ponies began to dot along the walls readying their weapons, unicorns began to form a circle around the perimeter of the palace ready for the command to raise the shield. He turned to Turil who was looking up at the sky lost in his thoughts, suddenly Turil turned around and headed back into the palace.
“Where’re you going?” Luna asked him concernedly.
“To get ready.” Turil replied before disappearing into the Palace.
Luna looked to Celestia who merely shook her head and began to head off to give orders to her own soldiers; Luna sighed as she looked up at the sky and frowned, her sister’s sun shining down upon the city. She was thankful that there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the pegasi of the Empire had gone out of their way to clear the clouds the previous day and a spell had been cast to prevent the clouds naturally forming overhead so the sun could shine, allowing for easier sight of the enemy without worrying about snow filled clouds darkening the sky. She gave another sigh, shaking her head as she began to follow her sister.
The city was completely quiet; the only sound that could be heard was the quiet whistle of the wind as it whipped around the city. Everywhere you looked soldiers stood at attention with faces mixed with determination, anticipation and slight fear, Krustallos stood behind the circle of unicorns looking towards the east, his helmet levitating by his side. In front of the circle was hundreds of soldiers, all waiting for orders.
Beside him were Luna and Celestia, each of them wearing their own respective armour. Celestia’s was golden coloured that reflected the sun, her cutie mark emblazed on the chest and sides. Luna’s armour resembled her sister’s; aside from the colour which was a dark blue and had her cutie mark where Celestia had hers. Beside the two sisters were the two captains each of them wearing their countries armour and had a stern expression on their faces, they were waiting for Turil to show up when they heard the sounds of footsteps softly approaching them along with a soft clanking of metal and a light tapping.
Luna and Celestia turned round and were surprised to see Turil approaching them wearing a different attire; he no longer was wearing his normal robes. Instead his legs were covered by a grey skirt that ran down to the ground and had a sash dangling from his waist covered in strange rune like markings, his entire torso was covered in a silver armour that was covered in indented rune markings and emblazed with a strange symbol of an open hand with an eye in the centre, they remembered that this was the symbol of Varlos. His head was covered by a matching grey hood and a face mask that covered his mouth and nose, leaving only his eyes visible. In his right hands was his staff, the blue crystal on the top glowing a light blue, it made a soft tap as it touched the ground as he walked.
“Turil?” Luna said as the others turned to look at him, each surprised as the sisters.
“Yes?” He replied walking in front of them and resting his staff on the ground.
“Where did you get that armour?” She asked him.
“You think I’m going to fight in just robes?” He replied looking at her with a chuckle.
“That doesn’t answer my question.” She deadpanned at him.
Turil chuckled again giving her a wink.
“Secret.”
Luna rolled her eyes and groaned in frustration, Celestia tried to stifle her giggles as Turil took a few steps forward. The sudden sound of a horn blaring rang throughout the valley making everyone look to the east immediately, in the distance they could see approaching them a large black mass, as it started to get closer they could make out row upon row of soldiers. Behind some of the row were large siege weapons, as the soldiers began to make a circle around the city, just behind the siege weapons being pulled by two snow wolves on a chariot was their ruler. King Sombra.
“My lord.” He said looking to Krustallos. “You should say something.”
Krustallos nodded and stood beside him, clearing his throat his horn glowing and casting a simple spell to project his voice to the soldiers.
“My loyal soldiers and soldiers of Equestria, today we fight for the sake of the Empire, nay the sake of the entire world! Beyond our walls lies an enemy the likes we have never seen before!”
He walked left and right slowly as he spoke.
“I will not lie to you, this battle will be bloody and we are outnumbered. But do not let this falter your bravery! You battled together against the very God of Chaos himself and remained strong; you together managed to achieve victory after victory in odds worse than this one. I would gladly entrust the safety of this Empire, the Kingdom and of the entire world in each and every one of your hooves.”
He stopped walking and turned himself so he was facing forwards again, none of the soldiers were looking at him but he could tell they were indeed listening to him.
“The God of magic Varlos is with us, on this day, we WILL be victorious! Stay strong and may our ancestors watch over us, for the Empire! For Equestria! FOR FREEDOM!”
All of the soldiers in complete unison roared out, raising their hooves and weapons up as shouts repeating the last of Krustallos’s speech rang throughout the city. Krustallos then levitated his helmet onto his head and turned to Turil. “Are you ready Turil?” Krustallos asked him.
“I am you highness.” He replied.
Krustallos nodded and took to steps forwards and his horn began to glow.
“RAISE THE SHIELD!” He barked.
At once, the horns of the unicorns in the circle began to glow bright and a pillar of magic shot up from the tip of the palace before arching out and covering the city in a light blue shield. Krustallos looked to Captain Silver Wing who saluted and took off with Steel Hoof, Silver Wing landed beside a bunch of ballistas as Steel Hoof landed near a bunch of ponies wielding crossbows. They each shouted orders and the soldiers manning the ballistas began to load them as they crossbow ponies began to load their crossbows.
Turil closed his eyes and focused his magic, getting a feel of the surrounding area as a loud boom echoed across the shield. Looking up there was a large cloud of smoke rising from where one of Sombra’s catapults had launched what appeared to be a flaming ball of stone, the shield however showed no signs of damage.
“ORDERS MA’AM?” A ballista soldier shouted.
“ALL BALISTAS, RETURN FIRE! AIM FOR THE CATAPULTS!” Silver wing barked.
All around the city, the sound of ballistas firing filled the city as their projectiles shot out. Turil had enabled the shield spell to allow projectiles to be shot from within it, allowing the ballistas to attack without having to lower the shield. As the ballistas fired, Turil could see Sombra’s forces brace themselves as the projectiles impacted. He noticed that specifically over the catapults there was an invisible shield that whilst not as powerful as the one covering the city, was still providing some form of protection over the catapults, no doubt Malaskaar’s doing.
Turil looked around beyond the walls of the city trying to pin point the location of Malaskaar, he figured that Sombra had him in reserve and was close by if the catapults were receiving protection from the ballista fire. Each time a stone collided with the shield the ring of unicorns would grit their teeth and let out a grunt or two as they focused on keeping it up, Turil looked to Celestia and Luna and nodded.
The nodded back to him and along with a few of their own guard headed towards the east gate, ready to take on anypony that managed to break through the shield. As the stones crashed down on the shield, there was an almighty boom that sounded like thunder and the shield began to crack, Turil looked up in alarm and saw a large pillar of shadows looming over the shield. He cursed and closed his eyes and began to chant under his breath.
Krustallos growled in pain as the magic on the horns of him and the unicorns began to falter, he closed his eyes and began to draw power from the Crystal Heart, using it to channel more energy into himself and the ring of unicorns. As the pillar of shadows came down once more and causing another large crack in the shield, Turil suddenly opened his eyes with a cry in a different tongue and pointed his staff up into the sky.
The end of it shone brightly and a beam of pure white light shot out from it and straight into the shadow pillar, causing it to screech in pain. The shadow began to retreat back to its origin, to the south of the city by the baseline of the mountains. The soldiers saw looming towards them at great speed a vast cloud of swirling shadows adorned with hundreds of red eyes, each one filled with the lust for blood. The very appearance of the shadows sending a fearful chill down their spines, a unicorn guard grunted in pain as the shield refused to fix the cracks in it.
“Sir the s-shield! It w-won’t fix itself s-something is blocking it!” he cried out.
Turil muttered under his breath and turned to Krustallos.
“It’s Malaskaar; he’s interfering with my magic.” He said.
“Will the shield hold?” Krustallos asked him gritting his teeth.
“At this rate no, just focus on dealing with Sombra, Malaskaar is my responsibility.” Turil replied.
Krustallos nodded as he and the other unicorns focused on keep what was left of the shield up, Turil cursed himself for failing to realise that Malaskaar had probably expected this kind of strategy and had devised a counter-spell to deal with the shield. He quickly made a run for the south gate and drew out his sword with his free hand, raising it up into the air.
“TO THE SOUTH GATE!” He cried.
Dozens of soldiers quickly snapped themselves out of their stares and followed after Turil, lining up with sword and spear ponies at the front and crossbow ponies covering the back, crossbows loaded and charged with explosive magic pointing to the gate.
The shield was suddenly swarmed with the shadows as they slowly made their way over it, a few cracks appearing in it. The gates began to make loud banging noises as something tried to break through, Turil raised his sword up above his head, the blade swirling with frost as he pointed his staff which was glowing fiercely towards the gate, and he noticed the concerned looks on the soldier’s faces and shouted to them.
“You are soldiers of the Empire, of Equestria. Whatever comes through those gates you will hold your ground!”
As soon as he said those words the shield shattered and southern gates burst open , sending one of them completely off its hinges, the soldier’s eyes widened and Turil gritted his teeth. Large hulking bipedal creatures, a head taller than Turil wearing pure black armour greeted them; each one had an emblem that was similar to that of Varlos’s but instead of an open hand with an eye on it, they had a hand that was curled slightly with rotting flesh dangling from it and a demonic slit eye in the centre. Each armoured creature wielded a large black blade that easily matched the length of a full grown stallion, what put the guards off more was the fact each suit of armour was held together by swirling shadows.
“Black Knights.” Turil spat in disgust.
The walking abominations let out a demonic roar as they began to advance towards the line, Turil shouted a command and the crossbow bolts shot over the heads of the spear and swords ponies and slamming into the armour of the knights and exploding on contact. The first few fell to the ground destroyed but the rest kept advancing, clambering over the ones that had fallen and swinging their blades in a mad frenzy.
“FOR THE EMPIRE!” A Crystal soldier cried out.
The line of spear and sword ponies let out a cry as they charged the walking abominations only for most of them to be cut down before they could even swing their respective weapons, limbs and heads being cut from their bodies. Some managed to make a connection though and their magic imbued weapons sunk in cancelling the magic around the armour causing the shadows to dispel and the armour pieces fall to the ground in a large clutter.
Turil twirled his blade and blocked a blow from above and rammed his staff into the chest of the Knight, blasting it apart instantly. He quickly span round and blocked another blow from a sword and swung his staff in the air, slamming it down and sending a shock wave of frost magic outwards destroying four knights. He quickly looked up and shot a blast of magic from the staff into another knight just as the knight was about to bring a sword down on a female soldier, the soldier thanked him and quickly came over to him going back to back with him.
“Any suggestions sir?” The soldier asked.
“Keep them from getting to the palace!” Turil shouted as his blade went through the helmet of a knight. “And try not to die either.”
“No shit sir!” The mare grinned as she drove her spear through the chest of another knight.
Sombra stood upon his chariot watching the battle, a dark smile on his face. He had ordered his forces to assault the city once Malaskaar had destroyed their shield and had commanded that no prisoners with the exception of the Princesses, Emperor Krustallos, Empress Amemond and the human adding them. As he watched his soldier’s assault the eastern gate of the city and destroy it, he got off the chariot and headed towards the city. Behind him were the soldiers that made up his royal guard, some of the best soldiers in his army.
“It’s only a matter of time…”
He chuckled as he levitated his helmet over his head and drew his sword before he and his personal guard being slowly consumed by shadows before vanishing.
She shot her magic at an approaching Pegasus who immediately disintegrated as soon as the bolt hit it; she quickly ducked an incoming bolt and shot another blast of magic into the advancing army. Beside her Luna was blasting her own magic into the enemy as the two captains swung their blades taking down two soldiers.
“IS THIS ALL YOU’VE GOT?!”
Steel Hoof roared with laughter as he blocked two blades aimed for his head and pushed them back, using his wings he shot towards the two soldiers and rapidly swung his blade twice, taking each of their heads off in a clean swing. “How can you be enjoying yourself?!” Silver Wing cried in irritation.
When the shields had fallen, she had rushed to assist the Princesses and the Captain after another Captain had relived her of manning the units on the ballistas. Since then Steel Hoof seemed to be enjoying himself too much for her liking.
“Well why not? They’re nothing but a bunch of foals!” He shouted in reply as his blade sunk into another Pegasus.
“You’re impossible!”
She barked as she blocked an incoming attack, being pushed back to back with him. He laughed at her as he quickly dipped to her left and stabbed the soldier attacking her dropping him instantly.
“You’re cute when you’re annoyed you know that?” He grinned at her.
“Steel Hoof I swear to the sun if we survive this I’m kicking your flank!”
She growled as her blade swung down on an incoming attacker who blocked it, Steel Hoof let out a roar as he charged along with several others at another wave of incoming soldiers. Celestia, Luna and several unicorns gave them covering fire as their magic blasted over their heads and into the front line of incoming attackers.
“Sister do you get the feeling this is to easy?” Luna shouted out.
“I do, something doesn’t feel right!” Celestia replied. “We haven’t seen either Malaskaar or Sombra yet!”
Celestia was beginning to get worried, although the attackers had destroyed the shield and broken through the eastern gate, she couldn’t tell from where they were if Malaskaar or Sombra himself had actually breached the city and something was blocking her from sensing Turil or Krustallos let alone Sombra or Malaskaar.
“Should we fall back to the palace?” Luna called out as she blasted another soldier with her magic.
Celestia bit her lip, on one hoof she wanted to fall back to see if Krustallos or Turil were in any danger and needed help, but on the other hoof she knew she needed to prevent the army in front of her didn’t make it to the palace and subsequently to the crystal caverns where the civilians were.
“No! We stay and hold them off!” Celestia replied.
She stamped her hoof and began to charge her magic, in response three unicorn guards immediately brought up a shield around her to protect her as she began to charge. Luna began to volley her magic over the front lines of Sombra’s forces into the ones coming from behind, the balls of energy exploding as they came into contact with their target.
“Gladly!” Steel Hoof laughed as he cut down another soldier.
Silver Wing could only let out a loud groan of annoyance as they began to slowly push back Sombra’s forces.
Turil panted as he pulled his sword from the chest of another knight; so far the allied forces had been locked in a stalemate with the Knights but where slowly being pushed backwards as the waves kept coming, though few in numbers. The bodies of Crystal and Equestrian soldiers littered the streets among the piles of black amour, he looked up as a fresh wave charged in through the gates and he groaned in frustration.
“Getting tired are we sir?” she smirked.
Turil chuckled as the mare beside him panted; she had removed her helmet revealing her purple mane and grey fur. At first Turil hadn’t noticed she was a bat pony, one of Luna’s personal soldiers until she had launched herself upwards to avoid a sword blow. The two had been fighting side by side for an hour taking down the Knights as they charged; Turil had sustained an injury when one of the blades cut into his leg. It didn’t bother him to much as the knight in question was now gone, bits of it in different sections of the street, behind him were what remained of their soldiers.
The vast majority had been killed trying to push the knights back out of the city to no avail, what bothered Turil the most was that Malaskaar had yet to reveal himself and he was beginning to worry. He couldn’t sense Krustallos or the Princesses and knew Malaskaar was behind it, he needed to deal with these knights fast and decided to use some of his remaining energy to do just that. Then he and his soldiers could focus on helping the others.
“Not in the slightest Shadow Heart.” He replied panting softly, smirking under his mask. “Get behind me.”
Shadow Heart nodded and jumped behind him as Turil dropped his sword and staff, both disappearing the second they left his hands and he began to chant under his breath as the Knights charged them. The remaining soldiers were about to charge when Turil suddenly lifted his head, his eyes and hands glowing white.
He let out a battle cry as he pushed his hands forwards, sending a huge blast of energy towards the charging knights sending them flying backwards at speed, crashing into the ones behind them. Not wasting anytime, he quickly ran towards them and jumped into the air as ice and snow formed from the ground rising rapidly up to him and providing him with a platform on which to land on. He lowered his right hand and brought it across to his left side before pushing out wards with his left, the wind began to howl as it formed around his arm and towards the black knights who were starting to get up.
The knights stumbled about as the wind wrapped around each of them and lifted them up into the air, Turil then raised is right arm level with the other and clenched his hand into a tight fist. The second he did this then the wind froze instantly, crushing the remaining knights into nothing more than a crumpled heap of dented armour.
Turil panted heavily and swayed almost falling off his pillar, Shadow Heart quickly flew up and caught him, helping him down to the ground. The other soldiers quickly gathered around him cheering him but were stopped as he raised a hand to silence them.
“Save…your cheering for later soldiers, w-were not done yet.” He grunted as he stood up, re-summoning his staff to use for support.
As he got up, he felt a sudden burst of energy fill him up, as did the others. He looked back to the palace to see a brilliant white light glowing where he had last seen Krustallos, he could also feel a different energy forming near to Krustallos, one that wasn’t friendly. Turil muttered under his breath before turning to his soldiers.
“Fall back to the palace; I think Krustallos is in danger.” He ordered.
“That’s the least of your troubles Tailclaw!” A dark voice roared.
Turil’s eyes widened and his head snapped in the direction of the voice, only to have a column of shadows slam into him and throw him down the street crashing into one of the buildings, destroying the wall.
Shadow Heart and the others backed up, their own eyes wide in fear as they watched a new figure form from the shadows. Some of them instantly recognised who it was and a couple soldiers dropped their weapons in fear.
Malaskaar chuckled darkly as he fully formed, like Turil he was wearing a ground length skirt and had amour on his torso and hands, the only difference being the symbol on his chest and the colour which was a pure midnight black. A sick twisted grin was etched on his face, which was the only part of his head visible. Unlike Turil, Malaskaar had a large demonic skull like helmet with two large cured horns that added an extra foot to his height, the eye sockets were pitch black save for two red glowing dots that stared into the souls of the soldiers.
In one hand was his blade, crackling with lightning and in the other, a staff of dark brown wood that at the top twisted around an aged looking skull with its jaw missing, blue flames dancing from its eye sockets.
He kept laughing as he slowly made his way towards the soldiers. In response they began to back up, unsure as to what to do. One soldier lost his nerve and charged at him, his sword raised high with his magic only to be struck across the side of his head by the staff followed by the down swing of his sword, killing him instantly.
“A brave fool….but a fool none the less.” Malaskaar sneered.
“Orders, Ma’am?” A soldier asked Shadow Heart, who was the next ranking officer after Turil.
Shadow Heart didn’t hear him; she was staring up at Malaskaar frozen with fear. Malaskaar looked down at her and his grin grew and he began to advance on her. Shadow Heart could feel his eyes looking into her, exploring her soul and she felt sick and terrified.
“MA’AM, ORDERS!?” The soldier asked again shouting.
Again Shadow Heart didn’t respond, her bottom lip quivered as she started to back up, what she didn’t know was that she was under a curse from Malaskaar and couldn’t look away from his eyes. All she could see was the emptiness inside and the total hopelessness of everything that the alliance was trying, she was on the verge of break down in tears.
Suddenly, a blast of snow rocketed past her slamming into Malaskaar and sending him backwards fast, his body slammed into the ground before bouncing and slamming again and bouncing one last time before crashing into the city wall and through it and out. Shadow Heart shook her head snapping herself out of the trance like state and along with the others, looked behind her.
Turil was standing from where he had crashed into the wall of the building, his arm raised. He quickly ran over to the group as Shadow Heart looked away.
“Sir I’m sorry, I-I just froze and-.”
“It’s alright Shadow Heart, you were under a curse.” Turil interrupted her, placing a reassuring hand on her back before addressing the others. “Fall back to the palace and help the others, I’ll stay here.”
“Sir?” One of them said confused.
Turil looked to where Malaskaar had been blasted and began to walk to it.
Krustallos grunted in pain, when the shield fell he felt a lot of his energy being sapped instantly by something and was struggling to keep going. He was channelling the energy from the Crystal Heart through his own energy and into the unicorns to keep their magic up and into the earth and pegasi to keep their energy up within the city as best he could, it was a tactic he had hoped not to have to do because of the amount of strain it did to his own body as well as the Crystal Heart itself.
But he didn’t have the luxury to complain. His soldiers needed him, his subjects needed him, his wife and foal needed him and he would do whatever it took to protect them. He let out a loud roar as his horn flared up brightly, his magic shot out across the city and entering the bodies of his allies.
As he continued to fill his allies with energy, he failed to sense or see the shadows forming behind him and the ring of unicorns. It was only when one of the unicorns noticed something out of the corner of his eye and yelled did he turn around.
Sombra roared as he swung his blade down, narrowly missing Krustallos and slamming into the ground cracking it. Sombra’s guard cried out as they charged the ring of unicorns, taking them completely by surprise and killing several of them before they had a chance to draw their swords.
Krustallos could only watch in horror as his guard were slaughtered, the ones quick enough to react only just managing to keep Sombra’s guards off them. He began to try and help but was grabbed by Sombra’s magic and thrown violently to the ground, crying out in pain and coughing up blood.
“You and I are going to settle this…once and for all…my old friend…” Sombra chuckled as he raised his sword up.
“I will send you to Tartarus for this Sombra, you and that demon of yours!” Krustallos said as he spat out a glob of blood and raised his sword up.
“We shall see…” Sombra replied.
The two unicorns charged at one another letting out a ferocious cry, their blades swinging down and colliding with one another with a loud clang. Sombra’s horn lit up and he blasted a beam of magic that hit Krustallos and sent him into a column. Krustallos cried out in pain and shakily got back onto his hooves before dodging a swing from Sombra’s sword catching him off guard; he quickly swung his blade and cut into Sombra’s cheek.
Sombra growled in anger as blood dripped from the gash to his cheek, Krustallos smirked at him as his blade hovered in front of him, fresh blood dripping from it. Sombra roared out as he charged Krustallos and swung his sword violently at him; Krustallos brought his sword up and blocked the blow, sparks flying from the blades as they shook violently trying to push past the other.
“You can’t win Krustallos! Your Empire will be mine!” Sombra roared at him.
Krustallos gritted his teeth and with all his strength, pushed Sombra back before beginning his own offensive. Sombra blocked blow after blow chuckling to himself as the Emperor was clearly beginning to run out of energy.
“What’s the matter? Getting tired?” Sombra taunted.
Krustallos panted as he struggled to keep his blade up, he was about to collapse and he knew it. But he wasn’t going to go down without taking Sombra with him, closing his eyes he began to focus his remaining magic into the blade of his sword which began to hum.
Sombra, oblivious to the sword, chuckled again and charged at him raising his own sword. Just as Sombra went to swing, Krustallos opened his eyes which were now pure white and swung his blade quicker than Sombra could react.
Krustallos’s blade slammed into Sombra’s and sent it flying at an angle into the sky, cancelling out the magic that was holding it in the air. Sombra’s eyes widened as Krustallos brought his blade into Sombra by the flat of it, smacking him straight into a column cracking it. Sombra cried out in pain as he fell to the floor and growled up at Krustallos, blood leaking from his mouth.
“It’s over Sombra…” Krustallos said raising his sword.
“Yes it is my old friend….FOR YOU!”
Before Krustallos could react, Sombra’s blade slammed straight into his back through his armour. Krustallos chocked loudly as his eyes widened and returned to normal, he stumbled backwards slightly as everything around him began to blur, and the only sound he could hear was his heavy breathing.
“Impossible…” Krustallos spluttered.
Krustallos felt as if time had slowed down as he fell to his side; he crashed into the floor as blood leaked down his armour and into a pool on the floor, his sword clanging to the ground. Sombra slowly rose up laughing darkly as he pulled his sword out with his magic and began to walk off.
“Weakling…” He muttered.
As he walked away he heard a hum and turned round. Only to then suddenly let out a roar of pain as Krustallos’s blade sunk into his chest, he hissed as he fell to one of his knees as two of his guards rushed to his aide.
“My lord!” One cried.
They began to pull him away as Sombra began to shout curse after curse at Krustallos, struggling against the grip of his guards as Krustallos looked form where he lay, softly cursing to himself.
“Missed his vitals…forgive me…my subjects…Amemond…forgive me…”
He whispered as he let out his final breath as a small group of his soldiers broke from combat and ran to him, the wind blowing softly over his body as the light in his eyes faded.
Chapter XII: Battle for the Empire Part 2 - Not without sacrifice.
Chapter XII: Battle for the Empire Part 2 - Not without sacrifice.
The caverns beneath the city shook, causing small bits of stone to fall from the ceiling onto a simple shield some unicorn guards had erected over the civilians. They could all hear the muffled sounds of explosion after explosion coming from far above the caverns, causing the young foals to cling closer to their mother’s in fear, whimpering as the noises scared them.
Ink Quill lay nearby to where Amemond and a few guards were, scribbling away into his tome. Now and again he would look up from his work and scan the civilian crowds, watching as servants dashed through the crowds offering water and food to those who needed it and trying their best to keep the morale up for everypony in there. He cast his gaze to the other side of him to where Amemond was and frowned, he could clearly tell from her expression that she was in a troubled state of mind. A maid placed a glass of water beside him and he thanked her, then looked to the glass and to Amemond and got up and begun to head over to her.
Amemond had her eyes closed; resting beside her on a small podium that was brought down from the palace was the Crystal Heart, glowing softly as she channelled its energy. Like Krustallos, she had the power to channel the energy within it, as well as add energy to the Crystal. She had been slowly channelling the positive energy of the civilians through herself and into the heart, but she could feel their hope slowly diminishing with each passing minute.
“Amemond? Are you alright?” Ink Quill asked.
She looked up to see him coming over to her, levitating the glass in front of her with a smile.
“Y-yes I’m fine…thank you Ink Quill.” She replied, levitating the glass up to sip from it.
Ink Quill looked up at the ceiling as another boom thudded above them sending more pieces of stone falling onto the shield and rolling off it.
“I wonder how everypony is doing?” He said.
“There’re fine.” Amemond replied, looking to the heart. “I can feel the unity the soldiers have…there’re determined to win.”
She smiled to herself, the feeling she got from the civilians and the soldiers was overwhelming. When Sombra had first attacked the city, she could feel their doubts about a victory but now, now the feeling was of determination.
Suddenly, the Heart shone a bright red startling everyone in the cave as it was illuminated. It began to violently shake in place before falling off the podium; Ink Quill quickly caught it with his magic before it could hit the floor. Amemond watched in horror her eyes widening, Ink Quill was puzzled by her reaction as well as everypony who was in the caverns. As the heart returned to its normal colour, tears began to form in her eyes as she shook her head softly.
“No….no he...he can’t be…” She whispered.
“Amemond?” Ink Quill asked, levitating the heart back onto the podium.
“MY LADY!” A guard shouted.
The pair looked up to the pathway that lead out of the caverns to see a worn out unicorn guard panting, his armour was dented in several places and he had several gashes and was also missing his helmet, his mane messy and wet with sweat.
“It’s…it’s his highness…” He said softly.
Before another word could be spoken, Amemond suddenly got up and ran out of the door, much to the protests of the guards. Ink Quill quickly got up and ran after her followed closely by several of the guards from the cavern.
“Please… please ancestor’s no.” she panted as she ran.
Steel Hoof cried out with a slightly deranged laugh as he swung his sword in an arc, cutting the front leg of the unicorn he was fighting who cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor, blood gushing from his wound. He flicked his blade sending spats of blood onto the ground before charging at another enemy who was currently fighting Silver Wing, she grunted as she blocked the incoming blade with hers. Just as Steel Hoof got to her, she pushed back and plunged the blade into the attacker’s neck killing her instantly.
“Not bad Captain.” Steel Hoof said with a smirk.
“Shame I can’t say the same about you.” She playfully smirked back.
An earth stallion with a spear lunged for Steel Hoof who jumped back and ended up being back to back with Silver Wing, a second attack wielding two swords in his magic lunged for Silver Wing who deflected one and began to block the other.
“If your referring to earlier when you saved my flank-“
“Twice.” She interrupted driving her sword down.
“No.” He grunted and sliced the spear in half. “That incident with that unicorn that, that doesn’t count.”
“Uhuh sure it doesn’t, so you don’t want me to…how did you put it?” She swung her blade and sliced across the unicorns face. “Buck me sideways?”
“He caught me off guard that’s all!” Steel Hoof muttered. “And who said I didn’t want you to do that to me later?” He grinned.
Silver Wing chuckled as she finished off her attacker by launching up and over him before slicing the back of his neck, just below where his helmet stopped. Just as she was about to charge another, she Steel Hoof and the other soldiers in their squad felt themselves filling up with energy feeling their stamina returning to them. Steel Hoof and some of the Equestrians with them looked confused by Silver Wing and the Crystal soldiers knew exactly what it was.
“We have the Emperor’s blessing! We cannot fail!” Silver Wing cried out to a roar of approval.
“Then let us not waste it!” Steel Hoof added with a grin before he and the others re-charged Sombra’s incoming forces.
Luna panted as she shot another blast of magic from her horn, disintegrating the pegasi who had lunged at her, nearby Celestia was also panting slightly as she swung a sword made of solar energy that sliced through a startled unicorn’s blade.
“By the ancestors, how many more are there?!” Luna cried.
They had been holding back the main bulk of Sombra’s forces for the past three hours now, and slowly had been pushing them back. Steel Hoof and Silver Wing had since split from the main group in order to try and flank the forces near the southern gate, which did appear to be working. They had since then been blasting blasts of magic over and over taking out any who were unable to get out of the way in time, this gave the ground forces of unicorns, pegasi and earth soldiers a chance to perform small hit and runs.
They would charge into the damaged lines, do as much damage as they could with their spears, swords and magic before falling back with a cover of crossbow bolts and magic, whilst slightly tiring, the strategy was working perfectly.
“Keep going Luna, we can win this!” Celestia replied.
“But sister we haven’t seen Sombra or Malaskaar at-“
She stopped mid-sentence as she and the others felt a wave of energy hit them, taking a glance back Celestia and Luna saw a bright light coming from the palace and knew exactly what it was, as did the Crystal soldiers with them. As the soldiers cheered and began to carry on the attack, the two Princesses suddenly felt a different energy coming from the city, one they recognised immediately.
“No…how did he breach us without us knowing!?” Celestia cried.
“It must be the Dark God’s doing!” Luna replied.
“Sergeant! Send word to the Captains and tell them to hold off the enemy for as long as possible! Sombra has breached the defences and the Emperor is in danger!” Celestia shouted to a nearby soldier.
The soldier in question saluted and took off flying as quick as he could along with two others, Celestia then ordered the rest of her soldiers, save for her personal guard, to remain and assist the captains before she and Luna took off flying for the palace at speed.
Amemond quickly ran after the guard who was leading her, she felt her eyes watering up as she came closer and closer to where they were treating the wounded. She kept telling herself that it wasn’t true, it couldn’t be. But the Crystal Heart only turns the colour of red when something happens to one of the rulers, all Crystal ponies knew this and it could only mean one thing.
Krustallos was dead.
She burst into the room followed closely by Ink Quill and the guards and stared in horror at the scene before her, everywhere she looked were the bodies of the dead and dying, groaning in pain as medical unicorns dashed back and forth trying to see each individual and treating their wounds.
Amemond walked slowly between the wounded looking at each and every one of them with a saddened expression, it pained her to see her subjects in such a state and it hurt more when several of the soldiers noticed her and despite their injuries raised their hooves in salute to her. She tried her best to hold herself together but as she walked to the end of the large room, she felt her front completely shatter at the body lying down surrounded by four guards.
“No…no no no….oh please ancestors NO!” She cried as she ran to the body.
She nuzzled into Krustallo’s cheek as she broke down, sobbing loudly not caring who heard her. She wrapped her hooves around his neck and clung to him as her tears flowed from her eyes, staining her cheeks and his fur.
Ink Quill came up behind her and was going to place a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, but pulled away at the last moment and took a few steps back; he lowered his head as the guards removed their helmets and lowered their heads in silence and remained silent to allow the Empress a chance to grieve while she could.
Malaskaar growled as he got up the snow falling off his armour, he turned around and quickly re-summoned his staff and sword and began to run back to the city, only to stop as Turil rose over the wall being supported by a column of ice and lunged for him. He barely had time to react before Turil lept off the ice column which immediately shot into the ground narrowly missing Malaskaar and sending snow and earth into the air, Malaskaar rolled out of the way and looked up. He raised his staff up and a blast of lightning shot out that crackled in the air, Turil, who was still in mid-air, brought his hands up and a thin shield formed around him as the lightning hit him exploding on contact. He tumbled through the smoke and engulfed his hand in flames before blast a pillar of fire at Malaskaar.
Malaskaar swung his staff up and slammed it into the ground, sending shadows upwards forming a wall that absorbed the fire and shot it straight back at Turil. Turil’s eyes widened as the flames collided with him as he crashed into the snow, tumbling into a heap. He quickly extinguished the flames, his hood slightly destroyed and smoke rose from his body, Malaskaar laughed and gave him an evil smirk.
“I can’t believe you forgot I can re direct your attacks…you pathetic weakling.” He taunted.
Turil growled as he pulled his staff from the air and twirled it in both hands before pointing it at Malaskaar and ballasting another pillar of flames at him. Malaskaar brought his right hand up and swung it n an arc, as he did a wave of shadows deflected the flames sending them at an angle into the sky. As the shadows vanished Turil was face to face with Malaskaar and his sword engulfed in frost and fire, Turil swung his sword aiming for Malaskaar’s head, but narrowly missed as Malaskaar pushed himself backwards, instead slicing through one of the horns on his helmet. Malaskaar’s magic tried to form a shield as the blade struck but as the blade struck there was an explosion that sent both Turil and Malaskaar flying in opposite directions with speed. Cursing, Malaskaar slowly raised to his feet looking to where Turil had now gotten up.
“Give it up Tailclaw, you underestimate my power, you always have!” Malaskaar shouted.
“You’ll pay for what you’ve done traitor! Not just for the lives you took in Cyrium but all the pain you have caused in this world!” Turil shouted back.
“Pain?” Malaskaar began to chuckle darkly before breaking into a full on dark laugh. “I haven’t even begun to show these vermin the MEANING of the word pain!”
“And I won’t let you.” Turil growled.
Turil then launched himself at Malaskaar using a blast of air from his hands and quickly brought his sword down at him, Malaskaar blocked it and placed his palm to Turil’s chest and blasted him back with shadows sending Turil up into the air, he then closed his fist making the shadows envelop Turil and threw him towards the city fast, making the shadows let go of him.
Turil flew through the air and brought up a defensive shield just as he crashed straight into a building going through the wall and out the other before crashing into another and cracking it. He slid down it and tumbled to the street; just before he collided with it a pillar of frost caught him and gently lowered him down. He summoned his staff back and began to head to the gate again, being approached by several unicorns and pegasi who were alerted to his presence form the crash. He twirled his staff around and shot a pillar of fire into the group startling them and setting them all ablaze, they cried out in pain as they dropped to the floor trying to put the flames out but to no avail.
Turil ran past their bodies and rounded the corner to come face to face with the eastern gate again; Malaskaar was standing in the gate way approaching him laughing as the shadows danced around him. Growling Turil began to shoot one after the other, fire bolts from his staff and frost bolts from his hand towards Malaskaar who had begun running at him, Malaskaar would fade into shadows and out of them quickly narrowly avoiding the blasts of magic until he came close enough to Turil and lept into the air.
Holding his blade with both hands and the blade pointing down he let out a loud cry as he came down on Turil and narrowly missed him, his blade sinking into the ground with a boom. Turil used this opportunity and gripped his staff in both hands and swung it round, the end glowing a bright red and it collided with the back of Malaskaar’s back and exploded, the spell infused explosion sent Malaskaar shooting forwards and crashing into the ground bouncing along it and into a building and straight through it, coming out near the palace. He got up slowly and coughed up a glob of blood and growled, wiping his chin with his gauntlet.
“I’m going to enjoy ripping you apart Tailclaw!” He barked.
“I’d like to see you try.” Turil replied behind him suddenly.
Malaskaar spun round in surprise just in time to see Turil bring his hands up that were glowing white and slam them into his chest, a blast of ice shooting form them launching him up slightly and freezing him, silence his startled cry. Turil panted softly as he looked at the frozen form of Malaskaar, a confused and angry expression etched on his face.
He began to chant under his breath as his hands engulfed themselves in a blue fire when a crossbow bolt shot past him and embedded itself into the ice causing him to stop the spell, he turned round to see a bunch of Sombra’s forces charging him as well as Shadow Heart and the others fighting another bunch. His eyes widened as he saw Krustallos leaning over the form of Sombra and a blade fall from the sky into his back, Turil then sprinted towards the soldiers coming to him, sword in one hand and staff in the other.
He swung his staff and cracked the skull of one of the soldiers as his sword decapitated another, he then slammed the staff into the ground and the earth shot up sending the rest of the soldiers in different directions screaming and he carried on running. The Emperor needed him, and it wasn’t like Malaskaar was going anywhere anytime soon.
“Shit! We can’t keep this up much longer!” Steel Hoof cried out as he blocked another attack.
Seemingly from nowhere, fresh waves of reinforcements had arrived amongst them were crossbow wielders and were now pushing the defenders back. Silver Wing and Steel Hoof were side by side slowly moving backwards and blocking incoming attacks, around them the other soldiers were struggling to keep the advancing enemy at bay.
As they battled more and more bolts and magic blasts shot over head from both sides as each tried to remove the others supporting unit, there was a massive explosion that came from near the palace which caused the two captains to look back and see a building that was near the palace explode into nothing as something shot through it.
“We need to fall back!” Silver Wing cried.
“Negative! We need to hold the line!” Steel Hoof shouted back.
He swung his blade and blocked a sword aiming for his head as Silver Wing sliced into the neck of a charging spear soldier.
“There isn’t a line left! Stop being a stubborn son of an ass and fall back, we need to regroup!”
Steel Hoof gritted his teeth and inhaled, he knew she was right. If they had stayed their then they would get wiped out pretty soon and it would have been for nothing, reluctantly he shoved back an attacker before shouting.
“ALL UNITS, FALL BACK TO THE PALACE!”
All the soldiers began to slowly make their way back towards the palace, being given covering fire as they did. Silver Wing then began to fall back followed by Steel Hoof and several others, as she ran past the soldiers giving cover fire she looked back to see Steel Hoof and the other guards that were with them standing there.
“What are you waiting for?! Come on!” She cried.
“I’m sorry Silver…I’ll buy you some time now go!” He replied and nodded to two guards near her.
“STEEL HOOF NO!” She cried as she was pulled back by the two guards.
“I love you…” Steel Hoof said to her with a smile.
He then roared out with the others and charged at the line of advancing soldiers, the covering fire diminishing as they began to retreat. Silver Wing felt tears falling down her cheeks as she struggled to break free and join Steel Hoof, the last thing she saw before turning a corner was him clashing blades with an enemy.
Celestia and Luna arrived at the palace just after hearing an explosion nearby and seeing Turil fall to the ground, only to quickly get up and engage in combat with Malaskaar. Their eyes widened as Krustallos lay on the floor, blood pouring around him and Sombra being led away by some of his own guard.
“NO!” Luna cried and charged at Sombra.
“SISTER, WAIT!” Celestia shouted.
Sombra turned to look and growled, his horn began to glow and his blade shot out from Krustallos’s body and headed straight for Luna. Time began to slow down as Luna watched the blade come towards her body, she suddenly felt something shove her and she tumbled to the ground as the sword missed her and crashed into the ground. She looked up to see Turil standing over her clutching her and panting.
“Should be more careful then that Lu-Lu.” He smirked under his mask.
“Thank you Rilly…” She smiled at him.
Turil rose up and turned to face Sombra who growled at him, Sombra noticed several Crystal soldiers trying to move Krustallos’s body and pointed his hoof to them, some of his guard charging them. Before they could get to them a wall of ice cracked through the earth blocking them off, they turned to see Turil with his hand up and scowling at him.
“You fight is with us Sombra…” he said to him.
“You can’t win human…I WILL be victorious! Lord J’skaar-“
“Will fail; fail like he always has done.” Turil interrupted him. “I defeated his forces before and I will do it again, surrender to the alliance Sombra and you will be spared.” He said calmly. “As much as you don’t deserve it…” He finished with a mutter.
“You are brave human…I’ll give you that.” Sombra chuckled. “But you are foolish to think you can defeat me. “
Turil looked to his left to see Celestia stand beside him then to his right, to see Luna and Shadow Heart by his side and he smirked to Sombra hearing the other soldiers behind them led by Silver Wing.
“Last chance Sombra, surrender for your crimes.” Celestia said to him.
“Army or not…you must realise, you are doomed.” Sombra snarled.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Turil replied summoning his staff.
There was a low rumble that got everyone’s attention followed by a low growl. They looked to where Malaskaar was encased in ice to see it glow before exploding in a shock wave of red followed by a dark roar.
“YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT TAILCLAW!” Malaskaar roared. “I’LL RAIZE THIS CITY TO THE GROUND!”
Malaskaar then vanished into shadows and reappeared on a nearby building and the shadows began to swirl around him, forming into floating runic shapes. Turil’s eyes widened as he watched the shadows swirl, realising what spell he was casting.
“Everyone! You deal with Sombra! I need to kill Malaskaar now!” Turil said turning to the others. “Or else it will be too late.” “What do you mean?” Luna asked.
“He’s trying to summon his titan, Buboarsan.” Turil replied before taking off.
Celestia nodded, she didn’t like the sound of that and turned to face Sombra. Sombra growled and charged at Celestia and Luna using the shadows to propel himself on a platform, they jumped out of the way in time as he shot past them. The soldiers on the ground charged into the oncoming wave of Sombra’s forces, Silver Wing felt tears falling down her cheek as she began to hack down anyone foolish to get in her way, knowing that Steel Hoof had died to buy them the time to get back to help the Princesses.
Celestia and Luna took flight into the sky as Sombra growled at them, a pillar of shadows holding him up.
“You cannot win Celestia, I have a power far greater than you can ever imagine on my side!”
He blasted a pure dark beam of magic suddenly at Celestia, knowing that it would disintegrate her into nothing. However she shot a pure white beam that deflected it and she smirked at him.
“You’re not the only one who has the power of a God behind them Sombra.”
He let out a frustrated roar and lunged for them, summoning up a sword of shadows. He swung his sword at Celestia who brought her own one of light up and blocked it, Luna summoned a blade and swung for Sombra who ducked and quickly bucked her in the chest sending her flying. Celestia was shocked at how fast Sombra could move and blasted a beam of magic at him that sent him backwards, he growled in anger and shot a beam of magic at her which she swopped down to avoid soon re-joined at her side by Luna.
“We need to use the elements Luna.” Celestia said.
“How? He’s moving too fast and we only have enough energy for two shots.” Luna replied.
Sombra began to charge his magic as several shadows swarmed towards the two, taking the forms of ponies wielding shadow weapons.
“We need to wait for the right moment.” Celestia grunted as she blasted a shadow away. “And pray Turil can stop Malaskaar.”
Turil roared out as he summoned a large amount of his magic and shot a combination of flames and frost and cast it at Malaskaar, it was deflected by a large shield that had formed around Malaskaar as he was beginning his spell. Turil cursed and dodged backwards on the swirling frost that was holding him in the air as a doppelganger of Malaskaar slashed where he was with a shadow sword, the doppelganger was like Malaskaar in every sense except it was completely made of shadows and couldn’t use magic that well. Malaskaar had several different versions of this spell that divided each of his known spells into each doppelganger and would use them as diversions or for defence when he needed to summon something that required his utmost attention.
As he continued to chant, below on the ground a ring of red appeared with three smaller rings in the centre and runes began to appear slowly in-between the rings. Turil knew he was running out of time, if Buboarsan was summoned into the city then all hope would be truly lost. The last time Buboarsan had been summoned was during first battle of the war between the Black Knights and the Templars, it had taken five days of nonstop fighting to bring the monster down and send it back into the void and by then Malaskaar had been able to retreat with his forces, and the prisoners he had captured.
As Turil dodged another blow form the doppelganger, an idea formed in his head, one that was very risky and required a large amount of energy of which he knew he didn’t have. It was then he remembered what the princesses wielded, the Elements.
He cast a quick glance to see Luna and Celestia locked in combat with a swarm of shadows and Sombra, as he looked back to Malaskaar he cried out in pain as the doppelganger appeared in front of him and sunk the shadow blade into his shoulder. Turil could feel the blade draining his magic and he swayed on his pillar of frost and fell to his knee temporarily stunned as the doppelganger went to give the final blow, Turil looked up at the doppelganger gritting his teeth and holding his shoulder, hearing Malaskaar laugh.
“I told you…you are weak Tailclaw…”
Malaskaar laughed as the first ring on the summoning circle began to glow, as Turil waited for the blow he heard a cry from his right side and saw Shadow Heart charging at the doppelganger with speed. The doppelganger was caught off guard as Shadow Heart slashed the head of it off, dispelling it. Turil slowly stood up and grunted in pain as she hovered by his side.
“Are you all right Sir?” She asked.
“I’m fine, just a scratch now-”
He was interrupted as a shadow hand grabbed Shadow Heart around the neck suddenly choking her, Malaskaar growled in anger and slammed her into the ground leaving her body unmoving.
“NO!” Turil cried out.
He felt the stun effect wear off and immediately rushed to Shadow Heart, he landed beside her and checked her pulse and let out a sigh of relief. She was still breathing, just.
“S…sir?” She mumbled.
“Easy…its ok I got you.” Turil replied casting a healing spell over her.
“I’m s-sorry…”
“You saved my life, there’s no need to be sorry.” Turil smiled.
Two Crystal pegasi nearby saw Turil and shadow Heart and came over, carefully and quickly carrying her away and towards the palace.
“So pathetic….having to be saved by a horse.” Malaskaar taunted.
Turil gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
“I’ll kill you Malaskaar!” He roared.
“I’m waiting…” Malaskaar smirked at him.
Turil was about to launch himself at him when he saw the second ring glow, the ground violently shook once as a low roar rumbled from the ring. Cursing he turned tail and launched himself towards the Princesses.
“That’s right Tailclaw…you run like the cowardly dog you are.” Malaskaar chuckled as he turned his attention back to the ring.
Celestia grunted in pain as a shadow blade sliced into her neck, blood leaking from her wound as she blasted the attacker with her magic. She gritted her teeth as the shadows dance around her, waiting for the next one to lunge at her. Luna was back to back with her and panting, her magic was running low and she was struggling to keep her wings flapping. She had several cuts around her body where the armour didn’t protect her and her eyes were half close, she was watching the shadows carefully like Celestia waiting for the next one to attack.
“DIE!” Sombra roared.
Luna turned in alarm to her right to see Sombra burst through the shadows, sword held high. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the impact of the blade, unable to react quickly enough due to her low energy. She opened them again when she heard Sombra roar out in pain and saw Turil floating beside her, being held up by frost magic and Sombra backing out of the shadows, a fresh gash to his neck.
“Rilly…” she whispered.
“Eyes open girl, can’t protect you all the time.” Turil smirked.
“Why are you here Turil? I thought you were fighting Malaskaar?” Celestia asked.
“I was.” Turil replied blasting away a large section of the shadows. “But I can’t get near him and he’s about to finish his summoning.”
“Then why are you here?!” Celestia asked again a little alarmed, destroying another shadow soldier.
“Do you trust me?” He asked her.
“What?”
“Do you trust me!?” He repeated.
“Well yes we both do-“
“Then fire the Elements at me.” Turil interrupted her.
“WHAT?!” Luna and Celestia both shouted in unison.
Turil grunted as he summoned his staff and dispelled the shadows around them suddenly, making a clear shot available and revealing a surprised Sombra.
“JUST DO IT!” He roared.
They reluctantly closed their eyes and re-opened them, both glowing white and surrounded by the Elements. Turil moved in front of the two and stuck his arms out and braced himself for the impact, it was going to hurt, a lot.
As the Elements surrounded the two princesses and began to connect to one another by a rainbow, Sombra roared and lunged for Turil, his sword poised ready to strike. He was suddenly knocked back by a blast of magic as the princesses shot a rainbow beam into Turil who cried out in pain and began to absorb the power.
He quickly lunged forwards towards Malaskaar at speed who looked up in time to see Turil destroy his shield with a blast of white flames which impacted on his chest, grabbing him and pulling into the ground below, slamming him where the summoning ring was formed. As Malaskaar cried out in pain, the ring suddenly vanished and a pained roar rumbled under it before fading away.
Turil landed in front of him and brought his arm up and using the elements power, he summoned a medium purple orb that formed in his hand; Malaskaar began to back up in fear and suddenly felt himself being pulled towards Turil.
“It’s over Malaskaar; I’ve decided to take you back to Cyrium to face justice. I think the Inquisitors will have a lot of fun with your mind.” Turil spoke calmly.
“I-impossible!” Malaskaar stuttered. “How are you able to summon a sealing orb? Only the elders know how!”
Sombra roared out as the blast of energy stunned him, sending him backwards with force. He managed to stop himself and groaned as he groggily shook his head.
“NOW LUNA!” Celestia cried.
Sombra looked up just to see a rainbow beam slam into him causing him to cry out in pain and thrash, he tried to move but the beam was to powerful and he felt his body dissolving.
“IT’S WORKING SISTER!” Luna shouted.
Sombra roared out in pain as he turned completely black and exploded into shadows silencing his cries, Celestia and Luna struggled to stay in the sky panting with a relived smile on their faces. Suddenly city began to shake violently and a low rumble caught their attentions, they looked on in horror as a swirling mass of shadows began to engulf it from the north side. Soldiers of both sides began to scramble to the exits of the city in blind fear and panic, some being engulfed by the shadows as it swallowed the city.
“By the ancestors…” Luna whispered.
“It’s a curse…” Celestia whispered to herself, her eyes tearing up.
As the wind began to pick up pulling Malaskaar closer and closer towards Turil, he suddenly began to laugh confusing Turil. He then pulled out a scroll from his robes and Turil’s eyes widened, it was a curse scroll.
“IF I GO, THEN SO DOES THIS CITY!” Malaskaar laughed.
Before Turil could react, Malaskaar ripped the scroll open and uttered the curse, he raised his hand up and a stream of black shadows shot out towards the north. He let go of the ground and hurtling towards the orb.
“This isn’t over.” He growled.
Turil watched as Malaskaar disappeared into the orb, he heard a low rumble as the city shook and launched himself onto a roof and watched in anger as the shadows began to engulf the city, already a quarter of it had been taken by the shadows with no way to save it. He began to try and summon his magic to repel the shadow but cried out in pain as the power of the elements inside him faded, he fell to the floor in agony as most of his armour and robes where gone, disintegrated into nothing and the majority of his skin covered in burns. He fell onto his back unable to move, the orb rolling from his grasp as smoke rose from him, and he could head the sounds of the shadows getting closer and chuckled to himself.
“Not…one of my greatest ideas…” He chuckled with a cough.
He closed his eyes waiting for the shadows to take him, not hearing the sounds of wings flapping that were getting closer and closer before blacking out.
Amemond and Ink Quill were walking back towards the Crystal Caverns alone, she had convinced the guards to let her go alone wanting some time to herself, but Ink Quill had insisted that he go with her, she had agreed knowing that it was probably for the best to have someone she was friends with walk her back.
As they walked back the palace began to rumble and the foundations shook, they both stumbled trying to stand upright and looked out of a window to see the approaching shadows. Ink Quill’s eyes widened in alarm.
“We need to get to the caverns now!” He said.
“There’s not time.” She softly said. “You go…I’ll be fine.”
“But Amemond-“
Ink Quill was cut off as Amemond cast a teleportation spell on him and he vanished, she knew that the shadows would take over the city quicker then she could try and teleport the civilians out and lowered her head. She let her mind drift to thoughts of her husband, of times before the war. She knew it was cowardly to do nothing to try and save her other subjects, but she knew there was no time, she knew she had failed.
She pointed down at the city where Turil was laying; they had been trying to find him in time before the shadows had engulfed the city. Silver Wing and several other pegasi had been helping other soldiers escape the oncoming shadows.
“GO! I’LL GET HIM!” Luna shouted and shot towards him.
Celestia watched as the shadows got closer and closer to his body, she felt her energy failing and struggled to stay in the air. She felt tears fall down her cheeks as she flew out of the city towards the ground, closing her eyes as she collapsed to the ground, panting softly.
Luna groaned in pain as she flapped her wings hard, coming closer and closer to where Turil lay.
‘Almost…Almost.’ She thought to herself.
She hovered over him and choked back a sob, tears forming in her eyes as she saw the effect of the elements power on someone who wasn’t supposed to be able to use them. She was unsure if he was alive or not until he coughed and groaned.
“Thank the ancestors…” she whispered to herself.
Having not enough magical energy to lift Turil into the air, she gently wrapped her hooves around him and carried him into the sky and out the city, not paying any attention to the orb that was lying nearby. As she flew over the city wall she looked back to see the shadows race past her and finish engulfing the city, she landed by Celestia and gently placed Turil down who was immediately seen to by two unicorns who began to cast a healing spell over him.
She and Celestia watched with tears in their eyes as the city was completely engulfed in shadows, they both gasped as the shadows vanished, leaving nothing where it stood. The city was completely gone, not a single trace of it was left.
Many of the soldiers who got out in time stared in disbelief, some falling to the ground and others breaking down crying, knowing that they have lost loved ones. Even the crystal caverns had vanished, neither one of the princesses being able to sense the energies of any of the civilians or Amemond. Luna laid down beside Turil’s body and nuzzled his cheek chocking back another sob.
“He knew something like this would happen to him…didn’t he?” Luna softly asked Celestia, giving her a look from the corner of her eye.
Celestia only nodded in reply, lowering her head.
“You stupid…stupid…”
Luna raised her hoof to hit Turil but struggled to finish talking and began to sob softly, nuzzling Turil’s cheek again as the unicorns kept the healing spell up, Celestia struggled herself to hold back her tears as the sounds of despair filled the area.
Turil’s eyes shot open as he found himself lying in a vast area of pure white, he recognised it as being the void and looked around him. He saw Varlos standing nearby with a smile on his face.
“M-my lord!” Turil said stumbling to his feet and bowing.
Varlos chuckled as he walked over and clapped him on the back.
“I’m very proud of you Turil Tailclaw…you’ve done well indeed.”
“But my lord…it’s my fault the city was cursed…if I hadn’t-“
“But you did, and now it’s done. You needn’t dwell on what if’s my boy…relish in the salvation you brought this world.”
“But I can feel something is wrong…something bad.” He looked up into Varlos’s face. “Something bad is going to happen…isn’t it?”
Varlos sighed as he began to walk, quickly being followed by Turil.
“Yes I’m afraid so, although King Sombra has been defeated and Malaskaar trapped, they will return.”
Turil’s jaw dropped as he stared at him in disbelief.
“But…but how?” Turil asked him.
“J’skaar.” Varlos started. “He placed a spell over the pair of them at the moment of their demise; he took the soul of Sombra into the void and placed a counter curse on the city, but not before I was able to intervene somewhat.”
“So what does that mean my lord?” Turil said.
“It means young Tailclaw, J’skaar cannot return to interfere in this world for a while, until he breaks the protection spell I placed over it.” Varlos replied.
“How long can you hold it though?” Turil asked with concern. “I don’t want to see this world fall.”
“Neither do I young Tailclaw, and sadly J’skaar won’t give up so easily on a world rich with magic. It could take him two hundred years or even a thousand, but mark my words I will do everything I can to prevent his return.”
“And what about me? Am I to return to Cyrium now?”
“Not yet.” Varlos said with a smile. “Time in this world runs faster than in Cyrium, for every ten years in Cyrium, twenty has passed here. You need to return to Cyrium as to not age too quickly and be unable to help them again and besides…”
Varlos grinned at Turil patting him on the back.
“I gathered you’d like to remain a while longer in order to be with your new friends before you go, which is whenever you want to go.”
Varlos opened his palm flat and a void shard appeared in it, he handed it to Turil with a smile.
“Use that to transport yourself back when you are ready.”
“Thank you my lord…” Turil replied with a smile. “But what am I going to tell them? About Sombra and Malaskaar?”
“Tell them the truth, they need to hear it and be ready for it…”
As he spoke Turil felt himself fading out of the void, a sign he was waking up.”
“Remember what I said young Tailclaw…” Varlos said, the last words becoming fainter as Turil woke up.
Turil groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, trying to sit up he felt a sharp stab of pain shoot through his body and he sharply inhaled through his teeth. He looked down at his body to see where he was and saw he was lying in a bed, covered almost from head to toe in bandages. Grunting in pain again as he forced himself up, he swung his legs slowly over the edge of the bed and stumbled to his feet. He noticed his bag on the bedside table and opened it curiously, noticing the small shard Varlos had given to him in the void was there.
He held his left arm on his stomach as he wandered to the window and looked out of it, he was in a town but unsure where. He could see ponies outside going about their business as well as several Equestrian and Crystal soldiers walking around, Turil turned around and headed for the exit and opened the door with a creak stepping out into the hallway. He slowly made his way down the hallway grunting with each step as his footsteps made the floor creak, as he came out of the hallway into a room he looked u to see Princess Celestia and Luna looking over a table with a map on it, beside them was Captain Silver Wing, Ink Quill and a red stallion of who he hadn’t seen before. All of them had a sorrowful looking expression on their faces.
“I think it’s for the best your highness…without our leaders or a capital…we might as well become part of Equestria in order to protect ourselves from bandit raids and any remaining forces of Sombra’s” The stallion said.
“I don’t think you have to worry too much about that.” Celestia began. “Most of his forces were either taken by the shadows or surrendered to us when we escaped the city.”
The stallion nodded and began to walk out of the room; he looked up and saw Turil leaning on the door frame panting softly.
“Oh you’re awake!” He said and smiled, walking over to him and extending his hoof. “My name is Mayor Red Watch and-“
“RILLY!” Luna interrupted him and tackled Turil in a tight hug.
Turil cried out in pain as Luna held him tightly and nuzzled his neck, she let go of him and nervously chuckled to herself as he leant on the wall groaning.
“Sorry…” She said sheepishly.
“It’s fine…it’s good to see you to Lu-Lu…where am I though and how long have I been out?” Turil asked.
“You’re in the city of Whitewall my lord, and you’ve been out for at least a month now.” Red Watch replied.
“Please just Turil.” He replied. “How did I get here? What happened, it’s all a bit of a blur after you used the elements on me…” He asked trailing off.
Luna looked away as did Red Watch and Silver Wing; Celestia slowly walked over and placed a hoof on his shoulder before sighing.
“We were able to destroy Sombra…but Malaskaar cast the entire of the capital into shadows…the capital is no more.” She said.
Turil stared at her as the memories came flooding back, he held his head with his right hand and gritted his teeth, grunting n pain.
“IF I GO, THEN SO DOES THIS CITY!” Malaskaar laughed.
Turil watched in shock as Malaskaar ripped open the scroll and cast the curse into the air, before letting go of the ground and allowing himself to fly into the sealing orb.
“This isn’t over.” He growled.
He launched himself onto the roof and watched as the shadows began to engulf the city, growling in anger. He tried to summon more power but found himself unable to and fell to the floor in agony before he blacked out from the pain.
“No…I was…I was to slow I could have stopped him.” Turil muttered stumbling backwards. “This is my fault…”
“Not, it’s not your fault Turil; you did the best you could. No one could have predicted Malaskaar would do that…not even you.” Celestia said reassuringly.
“How many?” Turil asked.
“How many what?” Celestia replied.
“How many survived?” He asked softly.
Celestia paused for a moment before letting out another sigh.
“Around two hundred Equestrian soldiers, one hundred and ninety Crystal soldiers and about sixty of Sombra’s forces who surrendered to us and are being guarded in the camp outside the city.”
“And Shadow Heart? Steel Hoof?” He asked.
Celestia shook her head as her ears lowered; Turil gritted his teeth and sighed before leaning against the wall.
“Turil…I-“Celestia began.
Turil interrupted her by walking back down the hallway with a clenched fist; she looked to Red Watch and Luna not sure as to what to do. Luna walked past Celestia heading towards where Turil went.
Turil leant against the window looking out of it deep in thought; he didn’t hear Luna gently knock on the door as she entered the room.
“Rilly?” She said softly. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t care what you or Tia say…this IS my fault…if I hadn’t decided to go to the forest that day with Grendel and Malaskaar…then he wouldn’t have become what he was, and your world wouldn’t have suffered.” He replied.
“Yes Tia told me what happened…” She said walking over to him.
He felt her wing drape over him and usher him towards the bed, he sat down as did she, her wing still over him.
“You really shouldn’t blame yourself for this Turil…” Luna started. “I’ve fought battles before, there never truly is a winner, and each side must sacrifice.”
“I know…it’s just, I had the power right there and then to kill him. I decided instead to trap him in a sealing orb to take him back with me and face justice at the hands of the inquisition…but that only gave him a chance to perform the curse.” Turil replied leaning downwards.
“Rilly look at me.” Luna said.
Turil didn’t shift his gaze, keeping it on the floor until Luna lifted his chin up with her hoof and smiled at him.
“In the month we’ve been here, the line of ponies wanting to meet you and give their thanks to you has never stopped. Every day more and more would come to see if you were awake and alright, they see you as a hero and all understand you did what you could…” Luna smiled at him.
He thought for a moment and let out a defeated sigh before smiling; he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. Luna smiled and returned the embrace and closing her eyes.
“Thank you Lu-Lu…I needed to hear that.” He said letting her go.
“It’s the least I can do Rilly.” She smiled and nuzzled his neck.
‘I need to tell them what Varlos said…’ Turil thought.
“But there’s one more thing that you and Tia need to know…something the others don’t need to hear.” Turil said with a sigh.
“What’s that?” Luna asked him.
“Go get Tia first…it’s important.”
Luna nodded to him and slowly slid off the bed heading back into the main part of the building, Turil watched her go before letting out a deep sigh and resting his face in his hand.
‘This is going to crush them…’ He thought to himself.
Celestia paced back and forth in the war room being watched by Red Watch and Silver Wing, her face was etched with worry and concern as she waited for either Luna or Turil to return into the room or even both of them. At the sound of hooves on floorboards got louder, she looked up to see Luna coming out of the hallway.
“Lu-Lu is he alright?” She asked with concern.
“He is Tia…but he says he needs to tell us something.” Luna replied.
Celestia nodded and began to walk over to Luna followed by Red Watch and Silver Wing; Luna raised her hoof up at them and frowned.
“He said it was only for mine and Celestia’s ears.” She said.
“What why?” Silver Wing asked confusedly.
“I don’t know, it’s just what he said.” Luna replied.
Silver Wing snorted and headed out of the building to inspect the troops, Red Watch merely shrugged and returned to sorting out bits of papers that were on a desk nearby as the two Princesses walked back down the hallway to the room where Turil was.
Turil looked up when he heard the sounds of hooves on the floorboards begin to increase in volume; he smiled to Celestia and Luna as they came into the room.
“Can you close the door Tia?” He asked her.
“Of course.” She used her magic to close the door. “Now what’s this all about?”
Turil got up from the bed and wandered to the window looking out of it, he was quiet for a few moments before he addressed the two of them, never moving his gaze.
“Do you know how curses work?” He asked the two.
“Well yes, curses work by the caster causing great damage to another whilst at the same time giving up something of theirs in return.” Celestia replied.
Turil nodded as he continued.
“And did you know they can be broken?”
“Again yes, but…if your referring to Malaskaar, he can’t. He’s trapped within the capital inside that orb.”
Celestia had been told this by Turil on one of the days when he briefly regained consciousness, she had asked him what happened to Malaskaar and he told her that he sealed him away just before the curse was made. Turil said nothing, only turning to them with a saddened expression on his face and slowly nodding his head.
“But he can’t!” Luna replied in confusion. “We destroyed Sombra ourselves!”
“You didn’t fully destroy him…” Turil started. “When I was unconscious I spoke to Varlos, he told me that at the moment when you destroyed him, J’skaar took Sombra’s soul into the void in order to save him and return him. Varlos also said that J’skaar also placed a counter curse over the city to bring it back along with Malaskaar.”
“Then how come he hasn’t done it yet?” Celestia asked.
“Because Varlos placed a protection spell around your world, J’skaar cannot intervene in this world until he breaks it.”
“And how long will that take?” Celestia asked with concern in her voice.
“I don’t know…hundreds of years maybe a thousand…” Turil sighed as he hanged his head. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s not your fault Rilly…” Luna said walking over and nuzzling his neck.
“And what about you?” Celestia asked quietly. “Will you stay here and help us when they return?”
Turil turned to look at both of them and smiled.
“I don’t know how long I will live before they return…but I will be here to protect your world from them when the time comes.”
“You have to go back to Cyrium…don’t you?” Luna said softly her eyes beginning to water.
“Yes I do…” He started
Turil grinned and bopped her on the nose startling her.
“But not just yet.”
----------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Turil breathed softly as he slept in his bed, he rolled over and murmured to himself and failed to hear the female giggle coming from the doorway. Luna giggled quietly to herself as she levitated a bucket of water above her and slowly floated it over Turil’s head.
She slowly began to tip the bucket over his head, a mischievous grin on her face. Just as she fully tipped it letting the water splashed up, Turil shot his hand up and diverted it in a ninety degree angle towards her. To startled to move, Luna screamed as the cold water came splashing all over her face drenching her, she stumbled backwards and fell onto her rump blinking in confusion. As she coughed and spluttered, Turil leant up in the bed and began to laugh loudly, much to the annoyance of the scowling Luna.
“Nice try Lu-Lu but you have to get up pretty earlier in the morning to fool old Tailclaw.” He smirked at her.
Luna glared at him and got back to her hooves as Celestia came round the corner, obviously alerted to Luna’s scream a looking concerned which quickly changed to her holding back a fit of giggles as Luna scowled at her.
“It’s not funny Tia!” Luna whined.
“I beg to differ.” Celestia giggled.
The three of them made their way to the dining area in order to have breakfast, Turil had been living in Whitewall for the past five months as he gradually recovered from his wounds whilst helping out the ponies with diplomatic duties such as helping the towns and cities that wanted to become part of Equestria due to the loss of the capital of the Empire as well as the majority of the military forces. During his time he had been spending a lot of time playing pranks with Luna and teaming up with her to prank Celestia and others, both bonding further and becoming very close friends. Turil had also spent a great deal of time teaching Ink Quill about Cyrium, the different cultures and races as well as the different forms of governments and his adventures.
But as they ate their food and Luna and Celestia chatted to one another, Turil was feeling down, he knew that today would be a heart-breaking one of the two sisters. Not because of the fact he had chosen that day to return to Cyrium, but because of the request he was going to ask of the sisters, a request that would change the very history of their world. As they finished, Celestia suggested going for a walk around the town, Luna and Turil nodded in agreement and followed after her, Turil using his staff to help him walk. During their stay, Celestia had now and again gone back to Canterlot in Equestria to check up on everything that was going on their whilst assisting Luna and Turil with the relocation of the refugees form the Empire as well as the towns and cities that wanted to join them.
As they walked, Turil remained mostly quiet as he began to wonder how he would break the news to them; the two sisters must have picked up on this as they both turned to him as they entered the town square with looks of concern on their faces.
“Rilly is everything ok?” Luna asked him.
“Hmm what?” Turil replied as he came out of his thoughts.
Turil paused for a moment before sighing and nodding.
“Aye…but its best I tell you and Ink Quill in private.” He replied.
“Why?” Luna asked.
“Because I need to ask you something, something very important.” He simply said.
The sisters left it at that, opting to wait until later that day to find out what he meant. The rest of the day was spent as it normal was, helping out the Mayor with sorting out transportation documents, playing games with each other and general discussion. It was all in all a nice normal relaxing day.
As Celestia began to lower the sun in order of Luna to raise the moon, Turil knew the time was now. He led Celestia, Luna and Ink Quill out of the city. They walked for what seemed like hours until Turil was satisfied with the distance and turned to face the three.
“As you three know…I need to return to Cyrium at some point…and that time is now I’m afraid.” He said.
Celestia’s ears dropped as she frowned as did Ink Quill, Luna’s eyes began to water up as her lip quivered slightly.
“But…can’t you stay a bit longer?” Luna asked him taking a step forward.
Turil felt his own eyes water slightly and looked away.
“I wish I could Lu-Lu…I really do…which makes this next bit hard.”
“What do you mean?” Ink Quill asked him.
“I need you to use the elements of harmony to erase all knowledge of myself, Malaskaar, Varlos and J’skaar as well as how the war actually went.” He said looking directly at them.
“What….?” Celestia whispered. “Why?!”
Luna choked back a sob as she heard the words; unable to truly believe he had spoken them.
“You three can remain the only ponies in this world who knows what really happened…I ask this because there are forces in Cyrium that are far more evil and powerful then Malaskaar; I fear that the curiosity of a pony could lead to them opening a rift between our worlds, giving an opportunity for a greater evil to invade your world…an evil I wouldn’t be able to stop.”
He paused to look at them, tears in the corners of his own eyes his own words causing him pain.
“Please…Change it so Sombra was defeated by you two wielding the elements or something, I don’t want the risk of the existence of my world knowing of yours and possibly leading to your world’s demise.”
“B-but you don’t know that!” Luna cried.
“You all know what I’m saying is true…it’s for the best.
“But….but…” Luna chocked.
Celestia lowered her head as silent tears flowed down her cheeks, she knew he was right. His existence in their world could lead to an over curious unicorn from accidently bringing another dark force, weather it was a single creature or hundreds, into their world and possible destroy it. Casting the spell was indeed possible but Celestia didn’t want to do it, she wanted Turil to be remembered by everypony as a hero, a hero from another world who risked his life to save them. But in her heart…she knew he was right.
Luna began to sob uncontrollably, she could understand him having to go back to Cyrium but the thought of not being able to talk to anyone other than Celestia about his existence if they cast the spell was too much for her. Aside from her sister and Ink Quill, he was her only friend, someone who treated her not as a princess, but as a friend and she didn’t want to lose that. She felt something wrap around her and opened her eyes to see Turil hugging her tightly, feeling his tears on her own fur.
“I’m sorry Lu-Lu…but you know I’m right…”
She buried her face into his neck and sobbed wrapping her front legs around him returning the embrace, she hated the fact that he was indeed right, it was for the best. She wrapped her front legs tighter around him as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
“Ok…” she whispered.
They broke the hug as Luna sniffled and Turil wiped his eyes with his sleeve, he looked at the three of them and nodded. Celestia nodded back as Turil took out the void shard he was given by Varlos and began to draw the power from it, the three ponies watched as a ring appeared around his body on the ground and shine a bright white.
“Oh and another thing, take this to remember me by.” He said and tossed a pouch to them with a grin.
Luna caught it in her magic and opened it up, revealing the contents to be a strange looking plant. They looked to Turil in confusion who chuckled back at them.
“Thistlesung leaf…finest smoking tobacco in the Southern Kingdom.”
They all chuckled softly as Luna sniffled; they had always wondered what the name of the plant he smoked was called. Luna levitated the pouch over her head so it dangled on her neck, she watched as Turil began to slowly fade out.
“Oh and one last thing…you will see me again Lu-Lu…I promise…good bye my friends…I will never forget you…”
“And we will never forget you or what you have done for us Turil Tailclaw…thank you.” Celestia smiled as she sniffled.
“Goodbye Turil…it was a pleasure and an honour meeting you.” Ink Quill said with a smile and a salute.
Turil chuckled and gave him a salute back before looking to Luna who had tears streaming down her face again.
“Goodbye Lu-Lu…” Turil smiled at her.
“Goodbye Rilly…I won’t forget you…” She said with a sniff.
Turil smiled softly as he fully disappeared, the ring vanishing leaving the three ponies alone in the snow. Luna softly sobbed as Celestia wrapped a wing around her supportively, she looked to Ink Quill who nodded back and began to head back to the city. Tomorrow they would cast the spell, to honour Turil’s last request, to honour their friend and saviour.
I had never seen the Princesses that upset before in my entire life, especially Princess Luna. She had spent a large amount of time alone silently grieving over Turil, out of the three of us she was the one who took his departure the hardest. When she and Turil had been around one another everypony could see how happy they were and how much fun they had together as friends, it warmed everyponies hearts and it crushed Princess Celestia and myself to see her in so much pain.
The day after Turil returned to Cyrium, the Princesses honoured his request and in secret cast a large scale illusion spell using the elements of harmony that subtly filled the minds of everypony that was involved with the war itself, from civilians to soldiers, with the illusion the King Sombra and his forces had been defeated by the Royal Equestrian army, the Crystal forces and the Princesses with the elements before letting the illusion spread over the land.
There were some aspects that they kept to the original story; everypony still knew that Emperor Krustallos was slain in battle with King Sombra. They removed all traces as best they could of the involvement of Turil and Malaskaar with their Gods of Magic, leaving behind only us three with the memories of them.
That is why I wrote this tome, I had been writing it from the very beginning of my journey to the Crystal Empire from the day the Princesses received that letter from the Emperor about his suspicions of King Sombra. It didn’t take Princess Celestia and Luna long to find out about my tome, but I explained that I wanted to have something written down that preserved the memory of Turil and all he did for Equestria, the Empire and for the world. The Princesses agreed to the idea and it was decreed that the tome remain in a secret room within the Royal Canterlot Archives, with my family guarding it as the head scribes from my death till the end of our days.
As I finish writing this, I can’t help but think on what Turil said to us, about the inevitable return of Malaskaar and King Sombra. Will I be alive still when it happened? Or will my descendants have to bear witness to it? All I know is, we will be ready.
Written in the memory of Turil Tailclaw.
Champion of Equestria and Hero of the Crystal War.
We will never truly be able to repay him for what he did.
Twilight stared at the last page; the corners of her eyes were slightly wet from a small collection of tears that had formed whilst reading the last few pages of the tome. She gently closed the tome and used her left hoof to wipe her eyes, using her magic she levitated the tome from the table and back into its original resting place.
“So it is true…everything Fluttershy told me about Grendel Emeric…and of his world is true.” She whispered.
“Yes it is my faithful student.”
Twilight turned round to see Princess Celestia standing in the doorway that led into the room and smiling softly at her, Twilight trotted up to her and gave her a warm hug to which Celestia returned.
“Do you understand why I never told you Twilight?” Celestia asked.
Twilight looked at her confused and stuttered slightly which made Celestia giggle softly.
“Quill Pen told me you felt somewhat betrayed.”
“I did Princess…but I understand why though…it is really true? That Sombra and Malaskaar will return?” She asked Celestia looking up at her.
Celestia frowned and looked over to the tome, seemingly studying it before returning her gaze back to Twilight.
“If you had asked me that five hundred years ago I would of said yes, if you had asked me that a hundred years ago I would have been somewhat doubtful…but when Grendel arrived in Equestria and saved Fluttershy’s life, I got a glimpse of his and Turil’s world when I was searching for his energy…and now I know for certain that Sombra and Malaskaar will return…and soon.”
“What do you mean soon? How soon is soon?” Twilight asked with concern.
“It’s too early to say I’m afraid Twilight…but I can sense a disturbance in the energy that surrounds the whole of our world.”
Celestia began to walk out of the library followed by Twilight, they walked past the rows upon rows of books passing by several ponies who had come down to the Archives to read and were shocked to see the Princess, not sure on how they didn’t notice her enter earlier and bowed in respect. They passed the desk were Quill Pen was sitting, stamping away at several books when he looked up to see them and smiled, giving them a nod.
“Princess…wait a second.” Twilight said.
Celestia turned round to watch as Twilight walked up to Quill Pen and wrapped her front legs around his neck, giving him a gentle hug.
“Thank you for showing me that tome Quill Pen…” she whispered.
Quill Pen chuckled as he returned the hug, smiling softly to himself.
“Not at all Miss Sparkle…I’m glad you finally have your answer.” He looked up to Celestia and grinned. “She’s a great student Celestia; don’t you be losing her now you hear?”
“I promise I won’t Quill Pen.” Celestia chuckled.
Twilight said good bye to Quill Pen as she and Celestia left the Archives and ascended the stairway up to the palace, as they came to the top and began to walk down the hallways together alone, Twilight looked up at Celestia.
“Princess…what do I do now? I mean, I was the only one Fluttershy told the whole truth to so that makes me and her the only ponies beside you, Princess Luna and Quill Pen who know of the existence of Cyrium.” She asked.
“Twilight, I must ask you one thing first. Please promise me you will not talk to anypony about what you have found out, you may speak with Fluttershy about it as she already knows a bit about Turil and Grendel’s world, but no pony else.” Celestia asked her.
“I promise Princess.” Twilight promised.
“I know you won’t let me down.” Celestia smiled at her. “As for what to do…I’m afraid there isn’t much we can do but wait, I’ve already begun to prepare the soldiers for the inevitable march to the north. Your brother and the other soldiers are unaware of what I’m preparing them for; they simply think it’s just a routine drill.”
Twilight giggled along with Celestia, Shining wasn't always the brightest tool in the bunch with certain things.
“Princess…If I may make a suggestion.” Twilight started.
“What is that my student?” Celestia asked her.
“I think I should tell the others, since we wield the elements now I think they should be made aware of what I’ve learned. In case Sombra and Malaskaar do return during our lifetime.” Twilight said.
Celestia didn’t reply straight away, she stopped walking and looked out of the window in thought as she contemplated on what Twilight said to her. She didn’t really want more ponies then necessary to know of the existence of Cyrium, but she had to agree that Twilight’s idea was a good one.
The bearers of the elements should be made aware of the existence of a possible threat and besides one of the bearers already knows of Cyrium’s existence.
“I have to agree with you on that Twilight; it would indeed make more sense for the other bearers to know of the existence of Cyrium as well as the potential threat of the return of Sombra and Malaskaar. But I’m trusting you to only tell them Twilight, no pony else.” She replied.
“I won’t Princess, you can count on me.” Twilight replied with a determined smile.
Celestia smiled at Twilight and gave her an affectionate nuzzle to her cheek, as they continued to walk down the hallway they came across Shining Armour and Princess Cadence.
“Hey Twily!” Shining grinned. “I see Princess Celestia had to drag you away from the Archives again.”
Twilight giggled as she and her brother shared an affectionate hug before giving Cadence once.
“Did you learn anything new?” Cadence asked her.
Twilight looked to Celestia and giggled, Celestia herself giggling as Shining and Cadence looked at the pair in confusion.
Far to the north of Equestria, past the border with the old Empire something was stirring. A black shadow crept through the long abandoned hallways of the old palace of the Mountain Kingdom, the soft sound of hooves being made on the stone floor that echoed all around the hallways. The shadow pushed open an ancient door that groaned as it was pushed open; it walked past the dusty skeletons of ponies long since passed, some wearing the old armour of the King of the Mountains.
The shadow seemed to stare at some of the skeletons for a while before it looked towards the ruins of an old throne, covered in layers of thick dust and cobwebs. The shadow turned around and walked back down the hallways, once more filling the once silent hallways with the soft sound of hooves on stone floor.
It came out of the ruined palace to a balcony it once stood upon a thousand years ago, to green and red eyes appeared on the shadow along with two thing glowing purple wisps. As the shadow began to fully form into a solid form, it let out a low chuckle before looking towards where the capital of the Crystal Empire once stood.
