12-12-2015, 03:10 PM
Chapter 19: Preparations
----
"What the hell was that back there?" I asked as we walked into the bedroom we currently occupied, shutting the door behind me a bit loudly and causing me to cringe somewhat from the unexpected noise. Nightmare Rarity looked at the tickets to the gala or whatever, the sunlight silhouetting her body, her long flowing tail flicked slightly. A ghostly trail of shadow flourishing from the tips of hair for a few seconds.
"What was what?"
"You know what. Antagonizing them like that," I said. I wasn't sure why I was upset, but I felt it sitting in the pit of my gut like a fiery stone.
"What were you expecting? I'm not their friend, nor will I ever be," she glanced over at me, a casual expression on her face. "Remember who you're dealing with," was all she added. I just sighed in exasperation, looking away from her and making my way towards a desk aimlessly, briefly spotting a distorted reflection of myself in the floor when my eyes just fixed on the dark brown desk itself. Sleek and shiny, certainly made out of actual wood. My fingers tapped on the surface absently, my ears registering the sound of her hooves approaching me. Her beautiful voice reaching out to me once more.
"Why are you so upset?" Her tone was gentler this time, somehow I just felt a hoof linger over my back before she decided to actually touch me.
"I guess I just want them to...like you."
"Well, not everyone will like me Michael. Many will and still will hate me, either because of what I have done in the past or for the simple sake of the fact I am me."
Nightmare was right, of course. A sound resonate truth marked each word from her mouth that touched my heart.
"Though I'll concede I should have taken your feelings into more consideration," she rested her chin on my shoulder, her lips close to my neck.
"I'm sorry too...I just have a protective streak, apparently."
"So I can tell. I noted you had a less than pleased response to Spike's glares."
"Spike-oh, the dragon," I thought to myself, smiling and turning around to face her. Our noses nearly touching. "That I didn't, was it that obvious?"
"Only to me," she replied with a small grin. Already she knew me well enough to gauge my unspoken reactions and emotions, I prided myself for having a strong hold over most of what I felt. Nightmare's horn still glowed a sapphire hue as I gently took the two tickets in my hand.
"So, want to be my date?" I asked, chuckling as I knew what the answer was going to be. Nightmare Rarity gave me a mock taken aback look, laying a black hoof on her chest.
"Why Michael, are you asking me out!?"
"Yes."
Her look become a surprisingly seductive one, eyes half lidded, a little smile; and leaning in towards me slowly and a foreleg wrapping around my waist.
"Of course I will," she whispered just seconds before our lips locked once more. Fortunately we were not interrupted this time.
-----
The chambers beneath the castle were dark, and seemed all the gloomier since King Sombra's surprising return. The cold air chilled the guards and the prisoner they led down the steps. The prisoner was obviously terrified, but did not struggle, he knew there was no point in trying to escape. The chains rattled with every step he took, his head lowered miserably. The guards stood tall, the bottom of their speaks tapping the old stone steps as they gradually came around to the bottom.
King Sombra's back was turned and his wicked curved horn glowed with dark energy, the sound of...tools clinking and working could be faintly heard. Both the guards and the prisoner were surprised by this, they hadn't known what to expect, but they hadn't expected this. Sombra's left ear twitched as he acknowledged the sound of their approach, keeping his focused aimed on his creation. The number of his loyalists were considerable, but in harsh reality they amounted to little more than hundreds. He had long since reached the conclusion he needed a vast army to begin his true conquest. And now he had a way.
The prisoner whimpered fearfully, at last attempting to flee, only to have the guards roughly pull him back. His body landing clumsily and a grunt of pain escaping him.
"Should've gotten leg shackles," one of the two mumbled.
"After this," the guard gasped when Sombra spoke in his deep voice, worrying for his safety. All three flinched when a loud "CLACK" resonated throughout the ominous cavern, it seemed to carry on forever in the vast and unseen reaches of the otherwise silent area. He turned to them, his cruel red eyes glowing with a malicious anticipation as a...helmet of all things levitated up. It was a menacing one, eye holes reminiscent of a vacant glare, the mouth piece resembled a vent more than anything else. The false mane adorning the head was obviously styled after King Sombra's own, and two little red horns rested on the forehead. Glinting spikes jutted from the throat.
The prisoner thrashed wildly, frantically begging "No" and "Please" but he may as well have been pleading to a deaf stallion as the terrifying object was unceremoniously placed over his head. Instantly the prisoner went rigid and silent. A steady hum rising from the helmet that now obscured his true visage, the eye holes lit up a sickly green, revealing the dark magic that powered it. The guards backed away, stunned by this device. Sombra's horn glowed as he freed the pony, not in the slightest bit worried about being assaulted or the prisoner running for his freedom.
"Soldier, can you hear me?"
A simple, stiff nod answered Sombra's inquiry. The Crystal Empire's ruler stood a bit taller, his eyes shining with a sadistic triumph.
"Tell me, who do you serve?"
"You," the voice that came from the mouth piece was distorted, deep and metallic nature. "And only you your Highness."
"Excellent," King Sombra looked over at the two guards, who's faces still bore the expression of shock and fear. They could hardly process what they had seen. King Sombra had just built a mind control device! How they did not know, nor did they want to.
"Beginning rounding up as many of the crystal ponies as you can, I will mass produce these helmets," he was satisfied to see them frantically nod and bolt up the stairs, one of them stumbling and his chin bashing onto one of the steps, but at that moment fear overcame pain and he was quickly on his armored hooves again and running like a demon from Tartarus itself was chasing him. King Sombra's heart pounded in his chest as his horn lit up again, he could not yet bask in the glory of his achievement just yet. He had much work to do.
-----
Nightmare Rarity felt as though she had been away from the moon for quite sometime, though logically this was false. Either way it felt nice to be home, in her domain once more instead the overly happy mind numbing waste that was Ponyville. Her long horn glowed as the doors to her closet were thrust open. As a Queen her closet was immense, rows of fine clothing, some of them ancient, lined the deep midnight blue walls. Mostly dresses and other formal attire. She rarely wore clothing, few ponies really did anyway. Wordlessly she scanned the many pieces of clothing, not satisfied with any. Some she hung back up, others she tossed outside the closet itself to be discarded later, finding them unflattering or distasteful.
A fine eyebrow arched slightly as she observed a white dress. Obviously form fitting, revealing her shoulders and a shape obviously styled like a diamond left an opening to expose her chest. A set of matching shoes that laced around her back legs, each with a priceless sapphire embedded in them lay in the space beneath where the dress was hung; including a matching tiara tiara and tight necklace. Foreleg bracelets and metal guarders adorned with lunar symbols, perfectly carved into the metal. She found herself smiling, it was certainly a beautiful dress, but definitely not formal gala appropriate. She could just imagine him, red faced and flustered at the sight of her wearing it.
"Maybe one day," Nightmare chuckled at the thought and hung the dress back up before continuing her search for a dress she deemed worthy for such an event. She scoffed scornfully at a puffy, lacy dress that was an atrocious shade of pink and flung it out onto the small pile of dresses she planned to get rid of. And perhaps punishing whoever thought buying her that dress was a good idea would be much deserved.
She gave an exasperated sigh, a hoof tapped the ground in frustration. Brushing a lock of her lovely mane of her eye she gave another huff and spoke aloud.
"I'm going to have make something?!" The Grand Galloping Gala was only less than five days away. But she quickly found confidence swelling in her chest.
"Challenged accepted."
Author's Note:
This'll be the last update of the story until sometime after Christmas. Working in retail around holidays sucks, so consider this an early gift. There will be at least one more writing, but either way, I hope you enjoy this one. Though given that it's been literal months since this was even acknowledged is an update like this even necessary?
----
"What the hell was that back there?" I asked as we walked into the bedroom we currently occupied, shutting the door behind me a bit loudly and causing me to cringe somewhat from the unexpected noise. Nightmare Rarity looked at the tickets to the gala or whatever, the sunlight silhouetting her body, her long flowing tail flicked slightly. A ghostly trail of shadow flourishing from the tips of hair for a few seconds.
"What was what?"
"You know what. Antagonizing them like that," I said. I wasn't sure why I was upset, but I felt it sitting in the pit of my gut like a fiery stone.
"What were you expecting? I'm not their friend, nor will I ever be," she glanced over at me, a casual expression on her face. "Remember who you're dealing with," was all she added. I just sighed in exasperation, looking away from her and making my way towards a desk aimlessly, briefly spotting a distorted reflection of myself in the floor when my eyes just fixed on the dark brown desk itself. Sleek and shiny, certainly made out of actual wood. My fingers tapped on the surface absently, my ears registering the sound of her hooves approaching me. Her beautiful voice reaching out to me once more.
"Why are you so upset?" Her tone was gentler this time, somehow I just felt a hoof linger over my back before she decided to actually touch me.
"I guess I just want them to...like you."
"Well, not everyone will like me Michael. Many will and still will hate me, either because of what I have done in the past or for the simple sake of the fact I am me."
Nightmare was right, of course. A sound resonate truth marked each word from her mouth that touched my heart.
"Though I'll concede I should have taken your feelings into more consideration," she rested her chin on my shoulder, her lips close to my neck.
"I'm sorry too...I just have a protective streak, apparently."
"So I can tell. I noted you had a less than pleased response to Spike's glares."
"Spike-oh, the dragon," I thought to myself, smiling and turning around to face her. Our noses nearly touching. "That I didn't, was it that obvious?"
"Only to me," she replied with a small grin. Already she knew me well enough to gauge my unspoken reactions and emotions, I prided myself for having a strong hold over most of what I felt. Nightmare's horn still glowed a sapphire hue as I gently took the two tickets in my hand.
"So, want to be my date?" I asked, chuckling as I knew what the answer was going to be. Nightmare Rarity gave me a mock taken aback look, laying a black hoof on her chest.
"Why Michael, are you asking me out!?"
"Yes."
Her look become a surprisingly seductive one, eyes half lidded, a little smile; and leaning in towards me slowly and a foreleg wrapping around my waist.
"Of course I will," she whispered just seconds before our lips locked once more. Fortunately we were not interrupted this time.
-----
The chambers beneath the castle were dark, and seemed all the gloomier since King Sombra's surprising return. The cold air chilled the guards and the prisoner they led down the steps. The prisoner was obviously terrified, but did not struggle, he knew there was no point in trying to escape. The chains rattled with every step he took, his head lowered miserably. The guards stood tall, the bottom of their speaks tapping the old stone steps as they gradually came around to the bottom.
King Sombra's back was turned and his wicked curved horn glowed with dark energy, the sound of...tools clinking and working could be faintly heard. Both the guards and the prisoner were surprised by this, they hadn't known what to expect, but they hadn't expected this. Sombra's left ear twitched as he acknowledged the sound of their approach, keeping his focused aimed on his creation. The number of his loyalists were considerable, but in harsh reality they amounted to little more than hundreds. He had long since reached the conclusion he needed a vast army to begin his true conquest. And now he had a way.
The prisoner whimpered fearfully, at last attempting to flee, only to have the guards roughly pull him back. His body landing clumsily and a grunt of pain escaping him.
"Should've gotten leg shackles," one of the two mumbled.
"After this," the guard gasped when Sombra spoke in his deep voice, worrying for his safety. All three flinched when a loud "CLACK" resonated throughout the ominous cavern, it seemed to carry on forever in the vast and unseen reaches of the otherwise silent area. He turned to them, his cruel red eyes glowing with a malicious anticipation as a...helmet of all things levitated up. It was a menacing one, eye holes reminiscent of a vacant glare, the mouth piece resembled a vent more than anything else. The false mane adorning the head was obviously styled after King Sombra's own, and two little red horns rested on the forehead. Glinting spikes jutted from the throat.
The prisoner thrashed wildly, frantically begging "No" and "Please" but he may as well have been pleading to a deaf stallion as the terrifying object was unceremoniously placed over his head. Instantly the prisoner went rigid and silent. A steady hum rising from the helmet that now obscured his true visage, the eye holes lit up a sickly green, revealing the dark magic that powered it. The guards backed away, stunned by this device. Sombra's horn glowed as he freed the pony, not in the slightest bit worried about being assaulted or the prisoner running for his freedom.
"Soldier, can you hear me?"
A simple, stiff nod answered Sombra's inquiry. The Crystal Empire's ruler stood a bit taller, his eyes shining with a sadistic triumph.
"Tell me, who do you serve?"
"You," the voice that came from the mouth piece was distorted, deep and metallic nature. "And only you your Highness."
"Excellent," King Sombra looked over at the two guards, who's faces still bore the expression of shock and fear. They could hardly process what they had seen. King Sombra had just built a mind control device! How they did not know, nor did they want to.
"Beginning rounding up as many of the crystal ponies as you can, I will mass produce these helmets," he was satisfied to see them frantically nod and bolt up the stairs, one of them stumbling and his chin bashing onto one of the steps, but at that moment fear overcame pain and he was quickly on his armored hooves again and running like a demon from Tartarus itself was chasing him. King Sombra's heart pounded in his chest as his horn lit up again, he could not yet bask in the glory of his achievement just yet. He had much work to do.
-----
Nightmare Rarity felt as though she had been away from the moon for quite sometime, though logically this was false. Either way it felt nice to be home, in her domain once more instead the overly happy mind numbing waste that was Ponyville. Her long horn glowed as the doors to her closet were thrust open. As a Queen her closet was immense, rows of fine clothing, some of them ancient, lined the deep midnight blue walls. Mostly dresses and other formal attire. She rarely wore clothing, few ponies really did anyway. Wordlessly she scanned the many pieces of clothing, not satisfied with any. Some she hung back up, others she tossed outside the closet itself to be discarded later, finding them unflattering or distasteful.
A fine eyebrow arched slightly as she observed a white dress. Obviously form fitting, revealing her shoulders and a shape obviously styled like a diamond left an opening to expose her chest. A set of matching shoes that laced around her back legs, each with a priceless sapphire embedded in them lay in the space beneath where the dress was hung; including a matching tiara tiara and tight necklace. Foreleg bracelets and metal guarders adorned with lunar symbols, perfectly carved into the metal. She found herself smiling, it was certainly a beautiful dress, but definitely not formal gala appropriate. She could just imagine him, red faced and flustered at the sight of her wearing it.
"Maybe one day," Nightmare chuckled at the thought and hung the dress back up before continuing her search for a dress she deemed worthy for such an event. She scoffed scornfully at a puffy, lacy dress that was an atrocious shade of pink and flung it out onto the small pile of dresses she planned to get rid of. And perhaps punishing whoever thought buying her that dress was a good idea would be much deserved.
She gave an exasperated sigh, a hoof tapped the ground in frustration. Brushing a lock of her lovely mane of her eye she gave another huff and spoke aloud.
"I'm going to have make something?!" The Grand Galloping Gala was only less than five days away. But she quickly found confidence swelling in her chest.
"Challenged accepted."
Author's Note:
This'll be the last update of the story until sometime after Christmas. Working in retail around holidays sucks, so consider this an early gift. There will be at least one more writing, but either way, I hope you enjoy this one. Though given that it's been literal months since this was even acknowledged is an update like this even necessary?