02-06-2016, 05:09 PM
Chapter 25: Sacrificium
----
The heavy marching of hoofsteps was like thunder in the air, the sun was in the sky, yet somehow it's light felt dim. Gloomy. Princesses Celestia and Luna were at the front of their force, the younger princesses not far behind. The ponies were adorned in gold and or dark blue armor, pegasai flew overhead, just a bit behind the leaders, keeping their eyes out for any unexpected attacks. Twilight Sparkle shifted in dark purple armor, her helmet felt awkward to her, didn't help that whenever she moved she felt like she was banging trash can lids together. As a princess she was spared no expense, her armor was to protect her at all costs. Princess Cadence's armor was a deep red in color, so clean (at the moment) Twilight could see her own reflection in it. The sunlight glinted off Celestia's golden armor, making Twilight squint. She glanced behind her, a seemingly endless sea of ponies marching behind her, their faces blank, armor polished and weapons drawn. Ready for war.
The sloping hills lay before them just feet away, and they could see the castle...now covered in dark jagged crystals, making it look even larger than it already was. Green and blue fire flickered and hissed endlessly. Celestia flared her white feathered wings out in a brief command to halt, in an instant they all did. Aside from the wind there was not a sound, just the eerie stillness of a calm before a storm.
King Sombra marched out onto the balcony, his glowing eyes fixing the Equestrian forces with an icy glare, but the traces of a smile lingered on his lips. Beneath him, in the city, his own army awaited his command, equally as silent as Celestia's own. Sombra looked each of the four over, noting Nightmare Rarity's absence. He raised a dark brow at that, either she didn't care for the human at all or there was another legion on the way. If it was the second option then he was not worried, he had a plan, after all.
A moment more of heavy silence passed before Sombra gave the order.
"ATTACK!"
Celestia didn't even need to say it aloud, a single gesture was all it took, the armies charging steps was deafening, it may of well have been the only sound in the world. Battle screams rising in a terrifying chorus, Celestia's army dashing down the great hill, Sombra's rushing up to meet them halfway. Blades clashed, armored forms collided violently as the two legions met head on. Celestia and Luna sweeping through droves of ponies, blasting any enemy in their path, Twilight and Cadence stuck close together; back to back as they opened fire. Pegasus ponies swooped down, knocking opposing soldiers high into the air and sending them crashing hard to the earth or into nearby buildings.
King Sombra lept down from his balcony, a crystal structure springing forth from the ground for him to land on, laughing to himself he joined the battle, leaping down and crushing a pony beneath his hooves; letting loose with several blasts of dark magic the beams striking several attackers. An earth pony soldier swiped at his head with a sword, Sombra chuckled at his futile efforts moments before a crystal shot from the ground like a bullet and gored the pony through his midsection as he reared up on his back legs for another strike. Three more ponies met the same fate, skewered through, struggling to free themselves in a panicked bout to save their lives. The protruding ends slick with crimson blood.
Sombra grunted when a figure slammed into his body, lifting him up he tumbled across the ground roughly, to his credit he recovered by firmly digging his hooves into the dirt to effectively halt his momentum. He looked to see Cadence glowering at him, oh if looks could kill. He only smirked coldly, standing a bit taller as he sneered at her.
"Here for your husband?"
Princess Cadence retaliated by firing directly at him, Sombra sidestepped to avoid it and shot back , Cadence jumped into the air, her wings keeping her aloft she rained several more spells down on Sombra. He avoided them by lifting himself up to her level with a well aimed crystal, closing the distance between them in a flash. His jaws opened like a shark about to bite down on a helpless fish, had it not been for a blast destroying his crystalline perch he would have ripped the young princess' jugular out. King Sombra growled in frustration, seeing Celestia closing in as he fell. His curved horn glowed red and green, energy crackling free it separated into three bolts of dark magic, Celestia folded her wings over her front; a shield springing forth. The second the blasts made contact she fanned her wings out, the energy spiraling away harmlessly.
Sombra laughed as the two landed. "Always the defender Celestia, you never change. So tell me, where is Nightmare?"
Neither princess answered as they charged at him, his horn glowed and called a stray spear to him, it swung in a wide arc to keep them at bay. Following up with a shot to the chest that staggered Celestia, but did not topple her. Cadence ducked under a jab, with a yell she connected a punch to Sombra's jaw. He grunted as he was knocked off his hooves and winced as his side met the ground unceremoniously. He admitted he was surprised by Cadence's ferocity, she'd certainly learned a thing or two after becoming the successor to the Crystal Empire. But not good enough. With a snarl he lashed out with a strong kick to her midsection as she was rearing up, she groaned when she hit the ground, already feeling her body beginning to bruise. Celestia shielded her niece fiercely, her horn thrumming with power, casting a fiery glow upon her face.
"My business is with Nightmare, not any of you, at the moment. Now where is she?"
-----
Nightmare Rarity thought that the ponies of today were a pampered lot when it came to war. In a time when magic was at it's infancy, battles had been waged with sharp, cold blades and blood was spilled. Drenching the ground of which they died upon. It had been some time since she had used such weapons in battle, but it was a knowledge and experience that never truly left her. It began as a cloud smoke forming beside her, then in a burst a wicked battleaxe was in it's place. It's blades gleamed in the light of the sun, her hooves firm on the ground. She was practically encased in armor, gold in color, each plate shifting perfectly with her body. Gems encrusted in her helmet and a few in the shoulder region adding a unique beauty to such an ancient attire.
King Sombra wasn't foolish to think they'd come from one direction, sentries had been placed around the perimeter, but not enough. Their faces clearly showed their demoralization at the sheer number of shadowy, phantom like soldiers she had brought with her. Even in light, they were ghastly. Amorphous in shape, glowing eyes and monstrous faces.
Her horn glowed as she gestured towards them with her ax. "Let not a one escape," her command was obeyed instantly. Her mane whipping as several of her minions zipped by her at frightening speeds. Several guards charged at them, she noted how a few had those odd, cumbersome helmets on their heads. Mindlessly running at them.
She made short work of each of them.
Her ax swung so fast it was little more than a flash of cutting metal. One guard's head was removed as a result, a helmeted pony was bashed aside, another attacker's head was split in two by a downward swipe. Then the deadly weapon began spinning all around her, what few brave (or foolish enough) to remain backed away from her. Nightmare appeared as though she was within a fortress of dangerous metal, ready to kill whoever approached. As soon as it began, it ceased, still distracted she effortlessly ended their feeble existences. Taking satisfaction at the looks of fear and uncertainty that would not be their final expressions.
She inclined with her head for her subordinates to resume moving forward.
It was only a few more steps until they came upon the hill, leading down to the Empire itself. Battle raged. Nightmare Rarity turned her cold eyes on the western direction, smiling to herself as more of her forces came into view, awaiting her command.
-----
King Sombra's horn clashed with Princess Luna's, resembling the sound of tree branches clacking together. With a feral snarl he shoved her aside, the snarl turning into a grunt as Cadence launched herself at him, aggressively slamming her hooves into his chest. He slid back a few feet, but kept his bearings in tact. In the blink of an eye he generated another crystal spire to shield himself from a shot from the tip of Celestia's long horn. It shattered the black gem upon impact but it did it's job well. One on one wouldn't be impossible, but three against one? He wasn't going to push himself. Growling, another crystal burst from the ground, leaving a cloud of dust in it's wake, carrying him higher and higher. Teeth gritted in fury, Luna blasted the lower half of it, breaking it in two, but by that point Sombra simply sprung back onto the safety of the balcony where several guards awaited.
"Your Highness, look!"
When he did, his jaw dropped.
With a gesture of her ax, a trail of blood flying from it, Nightmare Rarity's forces swooped into action from the south and west. Hundreds of them! He had been expecting Nightmare to join the fray...but not with this much support! They'd be crushed in due time if something was not done.
Nightmare Rarity herself shifted into a formless blackish purple cloud, almost resembling a combination of smoke and shadow. She soared towards the opposing force, the momentum blowing several soldiers away. Nightmare quickly regained full form, magical lasers spouting from horn, any enemy in her sight was hit. If they weren't on the receiving end of her ax, of course. Blood sprayed in the air with every swipe, a punch from an armor hoof rendered a helmeted pony unconscious. A kick breaking a jaw, teeth littering the ground. She was a furious storm, her determination to reach Michael unmatched. For the first time, Sombra wondered if he might have made a mistake. Absently he gestured to his guards to fire some arrows at a few pegasai getting to close for his liking. Two evaded, others fell from the sky wounded or dead.
Silently he marched back into the confines of his castle. If she was that determined, she would reach him. If not, then he would admit he had severely overestimated her.
-----
The guards were irritated by the fact that rather than participate in the battle above, they were to remain in the drab dungeon to watch over the two prisoners. Nor were they fond of Shining Armor suddenly banging his hooves on the bars.
"Hey, we need help in here!"
"Keep banging those damn bars and I'll give you something to need help about," the bigger guard said gruffly, threateningly glaring the direction of the imprisoned pony.
"I'm serious! M-Michael, the h-hum-m-man just collapsed...he's not moving!"
The guard merely scowled. "You think we're falling for that? Piss off."
Shining's face only grew more frantic with worry, his brow creasing further as he looked behind him somewhere off in the cell.
"Please, he just started breathing real heavy, said something about chest pains and he just fell over. Please!" He begged, hooves clattering on the bars with his plea. The guards' ears flattened out at the loud noise, the bigger one's irritation turning to anger as he stomped over. Shining grunted in pain when he butted him back further into the cell with the blunt end of his spear.
"Shut up!" He shouted, peering into the cell. Sure enough, Michael was laying flat on his front, cheek meshed against the stone floor, still.
"Alright human, get up now!" No response. The other guard, tentatively, approached. "Didn't you hear me you hairless monkey? Get up!"
"I think we should go in-,"
"What?!"
"King Sombra needs him alive!"
"He might not later!"
"But what if he does you idiot!?" The other guard's voice rose an octave with that statement, "do you really want to be responsible for-,"
"Oh shut up!" The guard bellowed, huffing. Their voices still ringing in their ears he finally relented, taking out his big bronze colored keys he began unlocking the cell. The smaller guard went in first, pointing his spear at Shining Armor, commanding him to back up against the wall; to which he relented without hesitation. His eyes traveling to Michael and the big guard, and back to the smaller one pointing his spear at him.
"Alright human, you better hope this isn't some prank," he roughly prodded the blunt end of his weapon into Michael's side. The second harder than the last. "Get up!" He snapped, wishing he could just stick him with the blade and get it over with. But no reaction was given. Just silence and stillness. An air of something intense lingering in the cell itself now, as though the room itself knew what was to occur. Shining Armor flinched when the guard jabbed Michael in the back with the blade, not enough to illicit blood, but clearly not comfortable to be on the receiving end of either.
The guard raised a brow...perhaps the claims of illness weren't false, but he still wasn't wholly convinced. Quietly he rolled Michael over onto his back, peering at his dirtied face hard, watching for any signs of movement.
Suddenly, he felt a crushing and agonizing pressure at his throat and he couldn't breath. That's when he saw Michael's arms...the arms ending in hands. The hands of which were squeezing his throat. Michael's brown eyes had opened, and in them was a fury the likes of which the guard had never seen in another. His spear clattered to the ground and his eyes bulged and he desperately attempted to form words. To plead for mercy, for his comrade to notice, anything. Even a scream would suffice. The noises had alerted the other guard, the second he turned his head Shining knocked the weapon out of his hooves with a harsh jab before promptly tackling him.
Michael stood to his feet, hands still crushing the guard's neck for several seconds longer, seeing stars and his vision cloudy he was thrown savagely into the wall, helmet dislodged and falling noisily to the floor before he himself followed. But Michael was not done with him. In those moments the guard regretted his mistreatment of Michael, his participation in anything pertaining to King Sombra. Michael heaved him upwards, slamming him into the bars, and not missing a beat began bashing his skull into the bars repeatedly. Each clang and howl of pain echoing around the dungeon, Michael continued despite this. It was several more clangs later until he was satisfied, allowing the guard to drop limply to the ground. His face was one of pain, but Michael felt no pity.
Shining Armor watched as the human's breathing began to even out before he said anything, he wiped a spot of blood from the corner of his mouth where the guard had caught him with a glancing blow.
"Michael? You okay?"
"Yeah," he replied in a ragged voice, a great exhale puffing out as he stooped to pick up the keys. He jingled them together with a slight grin.
"Let's go."
----
The heavy marching of hoofsteps was like thunder in the air, the sun was in the sky, yet somehow it's light felt dim. Gloomy. Princesses Celestia and Luna were at the front of their force, the younger princesses not far behind. The ponies were adorned in gold and or dark blue armor, pegasai flew overhead, just a bit behind the leaders, keeping their eyes out for any unexpected attacks. Twilight Sparkle shifted in dark purple armor, her helmet felt awkward to her, didn't help that whenever she moved she felt like she was banging trash can lids together. As a princess she was spared no expense, her armor was to protect her at all costs. Princess Cadence's armor was a deep red in color, so clean (at the moment) Twilight could see her own reflection in it. The sunlight glinted off Celestia's golden armor, making Twilight squint. She glanced behind her, a seemingly endless sea of ponies marching behind her, their faces blank, armor polished and weapons drawn. Ready for war.
The sloping hills lay before them just feet away, and they could see the castle...now covered in dark jagged crystals, making it look even larger than it already was. Green and blue fire flickered and hissed endlessly. Celestia flared her white feathered wings out in a brief command to halt, in an instant they all did. Aside from the wind there was not a sound, just the eerie stillness of a calm before a storm.
King Sombra marched out onto the balcony, his glowing eyes fixing the Equestrian forces with an icy glare, but the traces of a smile lingered on his lips. Beneath him, in the city, his own army awaited his command, equally as silent as Celestia's own. Sombra looked each of the four over, noting Nightmare Rarity's absence. He raised a dark brow at that, either she didn't care for the human at all or there was another legion on the way. If it was the second option then he was not worried, he had a plan, after all.
A moment more of heavy silence passed before Sombra gave the order.
"ATTACK!"
Celestia didn't even need to say it aloud, a single gesture was all it took, the armies charging steps was deafening, it may of well have been the only sound in the world. Battle screams rising in a terrifying chorus, Celestia's army dashing down the great hill, Sombra's rushing up to meet them halfway. Blades clashed, armored forms collided violently as the two legions met head on. Celestia and Luna sweeping through droves of ponies, blasting any enemy in their path, Twilight and Cadence stuck close together; back to back as they opened fire. Pegasus ponies swooped down, knocking opposing soldiers high into the air and sending them crashing hard to the earth or into nearby buildings.
King Sombra lept down from his balcony, a crystal structure springing forth from the ground for him to land on, laughing to himself he joined the battle, leaping down and crushing a pony beneath his hooves; letting loose with several blasts of dark magic the beams striking several attackers. An earth pony soldier swiped at his head with a sword, Sombra chuckled at his futile efforts moments before a crystal shot from the ground like a bullet and gored the pony through his midsection as he reared up on his back legs for another strike. Three more ponies met the same fate, skewered through, struggling to free themselves in a panicked bout to save their lives. The protruding ends slick with crimson blood.
Sombra grunted when a figure slammed into his body, lifting him up he tumbled across the ground roughly, to his credit he recovered by firmly digging his hooves into the dirt to effectively halt his momentum. He looked to see Cadence glowering at him, oh if looks could kill. He only smirked coldly, standing a bit taller as he sneered at her.
"Here for your husband?"
Princess Cadence retaliated by firing directly at him, Sombra sidestepped to avoid it and shot back , Cadence jumped into the air, her wings keeping her aloft she rained several more spells down on Sombra. He avoided them by lifting himself up to her level with a well aimed crystal, closing the distance between them in a flash. His jaws opened like a shark about to bite down on a helpless fish, had it not been for a blast destroying his crystalline perch he would have ripped the young princess' jugular out. King Sombra growled in frustration, seeing Celestia closing in as he fell. His curved horn glowed red and green, energy crackling free it separated into three bolts of dark magic, Celestia folded her wings over her front; a shield springing forth. The second the blasts made contact she fanned her wings out, the energy spiraling away harmlessly.
Sombra laughed as the two landed. "Always the defender Celestia, you never change. So tell me, where is Nightmare?"
Neither princess answered as they charged at him, his horn glowed and called a stray spear to him, it swung in a wide arc to keep them at bay. Following up with a shot to the chest that staggered Celestia, but did not topple her. Cadence ducked under a jab, with a yell she connected a punch to Sombra's jaw. He grunted as he was knocked off his hooves and winced as his side met the ground unceremoniously. He admitted he was surprised by Cadence's ferocity, she'd certainly learned a thing or two after becoming the successor to the Crystal Empire. But not good enough. With a snarl he lashed out with a strong kick to her midsection as she was rearing up, she groaned when she hit the ground, already feeling her body beginning to bruise. Celestia shielded her niece fiercely, her horn thrumming with power, casting a fiery glow upon her face.
"My business is with Nightmare, not any of you, at the moment. Now where is she?"
-----
Nightmare Rarity thought that the ponies of today were a pampered lot when it came to war. In a time when magic was at it's infancy, battles had been waged with sharp, cold blades and blood was spilled. Drenching the ground of which they died upon. It had been some time since she had used such weapons in battle, but it was a knowledge and experience that never truly left her. It began as a cloud smoke forming beside her, then in a burst a wicked battleaxe was in it's place. It's blades gleamed in the light of the sun, her hooves firm on the ground. She was practically encased in armor, gold in color, each plate shifting perfectly with her body. Gems encrusted in her helmet and a few in the shoulder region adding a unique beauty to such an ancient attire.
King Sombra wasn't foolish to think they'd come from one direction, sentries had been placed around the perimeter, but not enough. Their faces clearly showed their demoralization at the sheer number of shadowy, phantom like soldiers she had brought with her. Even in light, they were ghastly. Amorphous in shape, glowing eyes and monstrous faces.
Her horn glowed as she gestured towards them with her ax. "Let not a one escape," her command was obeyed instantly. Her mane whipping as several of her minions zipped by her at frightening speeds. Several guards charged at them, she noted how a few had those odd, cumbersome helmets on their heads. Mindlessly running at them.
She made short work of each of them.
Her ax swung so fast it was little more than a flash of cutting metal. One guard's head was removed as a result, a helmeted pony was bashed aside, another attacker's head was split in two by a downward swipe. Then the deadly weapon began spinning all around her, what few brave (or foolish enough) to remain backed away from her. Nightmare appeared as though she was within a fortress of dangerous metal, ready to kill whoever approached. As soon as it began, it ceased, still distracted she effortlessly ended their feeble existences. Taking satisfaction at the looks of fear and uncertainty that would not be their final expressions.
She inclined with her head for her subordinates to resume moving forward.
It was only a few more steps until they came upon the hill, leading down to the Empire itself. Battle raged. Nightmare Rarity turned her cold eyes on the western direction, smiling to herself as more of her forces came into view, awaiting her command.
-----
King Sombra's horn clashed with Princess Luna's, resembling the sound of tree branches clacking together. With a feral snarl he shoved her aside, the snarl turning into a grunt as Cadence launched herself at him, aggressively slamming her hooves into his chest. He slid back a few feet, but kept his bearings in tact. In the blink of an eye he generated another crystal spire to shield himself from a shot from the tip of Celestia's long horn. It shattered the black gem upon impact but it did it's job well. One on one wouldn't be impossible, but three against one? He wasn't going to push himself. Growling, another crystal burst from the ground, leaving a cloud of dust in it's wake, carrying him higher and higher. Teeth gritted in fury, Luna blasted the lower half of it, breaking it in two, but by that point Sombra simply sprung back onto the safety of the balcony where several guards awaited.
"Your Highness, look!"
When he did, his jaw dropped.
With a gesture of her ax, a trail of blood flying from it, Nightmare Rarity's forces swooped into action from the south and west. Hundreds of them! He had been expecting Nightmare to join the fray...but not with this much support! They'd be crushed in due time if something was not done.
Nightmare Rarity herself shifted into a formless blackish purple cloud, almost resembling a combination of smoke and shadow. She soared towards the opposing force, the momentum blowing several soldiers away. Nightmare quickly regained full form, magical lasers spouting from horn, any enemy in her sight was hit. If they weren't on the receiving end of her ax, of course. Blood sprayed in the air with every swipe, a punch from an armor hoof rendered a helmeted pony unconscious. A kick breaking a jaw, teeth littering the ground. She was a furious storm, her determination to reach Michael unmatched. For the first time, Sombra wondered if he might have made a mistake. Absently he gestured to his guards to fire some arrows at a few pegasai getting to close for his liking. Two evaded, others fell from the sky wounded or dead.
Silently he marched back into the confines of his castle. If she was that determined, she would reach him. If not, then he would admit he had severely overestimated her.
-----
The guards were irritated by the fact that rather than participate in the battle above, they were to remain in the drab dungeon to watch over the two prisoners. Nor were they fond of Shining Armor suddenly banging his hooves on the bars.
"Hey, we need help in here!"
"Keep banging those damn bars and I'll give you something to need help about," the bigger guard said gruffly, threateningly glaring the direction of the imprisoned pony.
"I'm serious! M-Michael, the h-hum-m-man just collapsed...he's not moving!"
The guard merely scowled. "You think we're falling for that? Piss off."
Shining's face only grew more frantic with worry, his brow creasing further as he looked behind him somewhere off in the cell.
"Please, he just started breathing real heavy, said something about chest pains and he just fell over. Please!" He begged, hooves clattering on the bars with his plea. The guards' ears flattened out at the loud noise, the bigger one's irritation turning to anger as he stomped over. Shining grunted in pain when he butted him back further into the cell with the blunt end of his spear.
"Shut up!" He shouted, peering into the cell. Sure enough, Michael was laying flat on his front, cheek meshed against the stone floor, still.
"Alright human, get up now!" No response. The other guard, tentatively, approached. "Didn't you hear me you hairless monkey? Get up!"
"I think we should go in-,"
"What?!"
"King Sombra needs him alive!"
"He might not later!"
"But what if he does you idiot!?" The other guard's voice rose an octave with that statement, "do you really want to be responsible for-,"
"Oh shut up!" The guard bellowed, huffing. Their voices still ringing in their ears he finally relented, taking out his big bronze colored keys he began unlocking the cell. The smaller guard went in first, pointing his spear at Shining Armor, commanding him to back up against the wall; to which he relented without hesitation. His eyes traveling to Michael and the big guard, and back to the smaller one pointing his spear at him.
"Alright human, you better hope this isn't some prank," he roughly prodded the blunt end of his weapon into Michael's side. The second harder than the last. "Get up!" He snapped, wishing he could just stick him with the blade and get it over with. But no reaction was given. Just silence and stillness. An air of something intense lingering in the cell itself now, as though the room itself knew what was to occur. Shining Armor flinched when the guard jabbed Michael in the back with the blade, not enough to illicit blood, but clearly not comfortable to be on the receiving end of either.
The guard raised a brow...perhaps the claims of illness weren't false, but he still wasn't wholly convinced. Quietly he rolled Michael over onto his back, peering at his dirtied face hard, watching for any signs of movement.
Suddenly, he felt a crushing and agonizing pressure at his throat and he couldn't breath. That's when he saw Michael's arms...the arms ending in hands. The hands of which were squeezing his throat. Michael's brown eyes had opened, and in them was a fury the likes of which the guard had never seen in another. His spear clattered to the ground and his eyes bulged and he desperately attempted to form words. To plead for mercy, for his comrade to notice, anything. Even a scream would suffice. The noises had alerted the other guard, the second he turned his head Shining knocked the weapon out of his hooves with a harsh jab before promptly tackling him.
Michael stood to his feet, hands still crushing the guard's neck for several seconds longer, seeing stars and his vision cloudy he was thrown savagely into the wall, helmet dislodged and falling noisily to the floor before he himself followed. But Michael was not done with him. In those moments the guard regretted his mistreatment of Michael, his participation in anything pertaining to King Sombra. Michael heaved him upwards, slamming him into the bars, and not missing a beat began bashing his skull into the bars repeatedly. Each clang and howl of pain echoing around the dungeon, Michael continued despite this. It was several more clangs later until he was satisfied, allowing the guard to drop limply to the ground. His face was one of pain, but Michael felt no pity.
Shining Armor watched as the human's breathing began to even out before he said anything, he wiped a spot of blood from the corner of his mouth where the guard had caught him with a glancing blow.
"Michael? You okay?"
"Yeah," he replied in a ragged voice, a great exhale puffing out as he stooped to pick up the keys. He jingled them together with a slight grin.
"Let's go."