Astral Spectrum held his shock at bay. Had Silver made some dark pact? This was not normal by any means. Even more so the unicorn before rarely laughed. If it weren’t for his experience with the Nightmares and constant training with the Thestrals in their Umbramancy- after all such magic forced you to face your darkest demons and control their fear- his fur would have stood on end. And he would sooner prostrate himself before one of the fickle Gods than allow fear to control him.
His expression stayed neutral,” Do you wish to know of my real reason for seeking you out? I shall tell you my old friend, to make Equestria one again. For too long we’ve waged a war sparked by the petty needs of revenge among the wayward Elements. It is true I myself have pledged myself to Twilight Sparkle but at least she among the others has vision and ambition enough to bring Equestria back into the light.” He couldn’t help but smirk at that,” But she herself believes the alicorns are infallible. As for the others they need to be disposed of and this damned civil war ended. I hope that the Archmagister can see reason that equestrian has suffered from alicorn rule but if she cannot embrace the change Equestria needs then she will meet the blade as well. The Elements need to be brought to heel and their armies humbled.”
Spectrum cast an eye at the constructs in the room,” Already you have the makings of an army and with that horn now in your possession you will be quick to usher in a new era. My price is your word that I will live to see that era come to fruition. I will be honest with you, I’m dying. I’ve months to live. A debilitating disease has infected my body and no form of Restomancy or medicine can cure me. I want only to see Equestria whole and able to drive off the enemies that clamor at her borders. When that is done then you may bring the blade across my throat yourself.”
Spectrum regarded the unicorn before him. He had a feeling that there would be betrayal. He was a careful stallion and telling Silver that he was indeed dying was a gamble but a calculated one. It had its own advantage. More often than not an opponent thought to be too weak to fend off assassins was underestimated but where his body was failing him his mind and magic more than made up. Even though he doubted he could go against a God he was confident in his abilities to defend himself.
Spectrum resolve hardened,” These are my terms Silver Scalpel.”
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Red Sash stood with his guard at his back. Many were battered and exhausted. For most of the night wave after wave of these strange ponies had come through the illusion thick mists that threatened to choke Stalliongrad. Most slaves in the city had heard the call of the sirens and trotted aimlessly into the mist, as well as a few weak minded guards, never to return. More than likely they were dead, Red gathered. He had sent his fastest seraph to the capital to report the information. He only hoped they could hold the line. They could do he kept telling himself. After the last wave all had gone silent.
Beside him his lieutenant shivered,” It’s too quiet.”
He nodded, his steely eyes fixed forward. The waves had come in meticulous waves of twenty to thirty every thirty minutes without fail. They’d been waiting of the next wave for over an hour. It was nearly midnight and the moon above peaked through the vapors with a haunting yellow light. This only added to the creepy atmosphere. What were they planning?
Suddenly a tremor shook the ground followed by a bellow that would make the biggest dragon’s sound like a hatching’s squeak.
“Hold!” Red Sash shouted as his ponies began to panic. It’s a trick it has to be. “Hold!”
“Keep it together you ninnies!” his lieutenant barked. He couldn’t have been more proud of her.
Then they saw something coming through the mists. They all took a battle stance, ready to end the tall figure with a barrage of spell power. Red squinted to get a better look. The figure came to light. A tall white pony with dark blue hooves walked slowly toward them. From Red’s vantage he could see leather wrappings clinging to the pony’s form and a massive horn jutting from its head. It walked as though it was on an evening stroll. Red Sash didn’t like this. One. Bit.
Finally it stopped before them, its eyes shining despite being black as pitch. Sash’s eyes widened as he noticed the massive wings on the sleek pony’s back. It was one of the alicorns!
There was silence as it just stared ahead before grinning revealing a row of pearl white serrated teeth.
“Judgment be on ye fools!”
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Crashing lunged forward, his hoof connecting with the leading mare’s throat. She let out a strangled gurgle as her neck snapped from the force of the blow and sent her barreling into the soldiers behind her. His twin scimitars came free of their sheaths as the, what Crashing could only guess was the leader of this pathetic force, started barking orders as his own blade floated into the air.
A blinding slash from one blade ended one fool’s journey to skewer the ailcorn with a spear. The other found a throat as its caster began weaving a spell. Crashing saw the leader, a distinguished old buck but still in prime condition, lunged with a blade. Said blade met water as Crashing became a puddle of clear water. He moved quick as a viper after a field mouse and became corporal behind the stallion. The buck raised a thick shimmering barrier as two of Crashing’s silver tail hooks sought flesh. They clanged harmlessly against the barrier and the old buck dropped it and slashed out with his blade.
Crashing stumbled back as blood oozed from just above his muzzle. This one has some fight alright! He cackled madly and slashed down with both of his blades only to be blasted off his hooves by a telekinetic blast. Crashing flipped and landed on his hooves and skidded back, leaving deep gouges in the street. A few of the unicorns had put their magic together. The alicorn chuckled and licked some of the errant blood that flowed from the gash above his muzzle.
“My turn lads,” he summoned magic to his horn and unleashed a thin wave of water he collected from the air. He thanked Mother for Sunpearl’s incite to use mist as cover. Some ducked but a few unlucky wretches were beheaded. The old buck form before gathered magic to his own horn as he pulled up from a roll. Twin ethereal swords appeared and went sailing at the alicorn. Crashing yawned and shattered them with his own. The old blades had been made from the bones of twin sea dragons very useful for dealing with annoying constructs such as those.
Crashing pulled his arquebi out and lined up a shot. A shot rang out in the night and the old buck looked down at the hole that appeared in his chest in confusion. Blood started to flow, soaking his uniform shirt. He looked up at Crashing in shock. The alicorn smiled as the buck fell on his side. Silence filled the air until one of the soldiers screamed and charged Crashing only to get a hole through his head as well. I love these things. Crashing set to reloading the weapons as he flashed his blades out at the oncoming unicorns.
The death of their leader had sparked a fury in them and it made them reckless. Two throats were opened before another took a shot in the eye. Twin tendrils of water shot out and lifted a unicorn in the air. Crashing focused and a moment later, ripped the poor sod in two. It wasn’t to say he wasn’t suffering damage as well. Gashes, puncture wounds, and burns from magic bolts marred his fur but healed at an accelerated rate.
Crashing saw another hanging back, her horn glowing fiercely. Crashing aimed an arquebus and took the shot. He cursed as a barrier went up around her. He cursed and ripped the fool that had saved her life’s throat open with vengeful jaws. Blood filled his mouth and Crashing nearlt lost himself to the delicious taste of the fool’s life-blood. He ripped tendon and blood vessel free and swallowed greedily. Another fell to his searching jaws and whimpered as Crashing gave his neck a shake, snapping the soldier’s throat.
The limp body fell from his jaws and he looked to the moon a bellow ripping from his throat. Another roar answered his call and the earth trembled. Avur seemed hungry as well. It would be shame if he didn’t get his pound of flesh.no! Crashing dug deep and held his wrath at bay.
No…the message had been sent and the mages of Canterlot would know what transpired here. An army would be sent he was sure and when they arrived they would fill Avur’s belly. Inside his mind his Darkness raged for release but Crashing promised it would get its pound of flesh as well. The lesson was still to be learned and they would be taught.
Izurich,
JosephBelz,
Phase,
Letter Bee