The Journey Through Magellan's Maze
A Tale of a Great Warrior
Passed down generation to generation through the Flash Family were a set of claws that allowed flexible and agile fighting with all four legs rather then just two. These claws are made with an extremely rare alloy which has the magical ability to control the elements. Depending on the soul of the wearer, they can either wield the dusts of the earth, the furious flames of fire, the frigid frosts of ice, or the howling bouts of wind, or even the colossal power of the oceans waves. The rarest of all is the devastating force of thunder. They were appropriately nicknamed the "Elemental Claws" by those who have survived it's awesome power. The one most famous for his mastery of the claws was the ancestor of Sword Flash, Thunder Flash. Fast as a streak of lightning, with a voice that roared like thunder, his mastery of the Claws was unprecedented, for his soul possessed the powers. His strikes met with a clap of thunder and a
In a time of war eons before Sword Flash was born, in a valley long forgotten, there was a battle of epic proportions. The ERA was holding the valley from a horde of feral ponies.
"HOLD THE LINE! DON'T LET THEM BREAK THROUGH!"
"THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM! THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK THROUGH!"
"WHERE THE HELL ARE THE REINFORCEMENTS THEY SENT?"
"GENERAL!"
"WHAT IS IT COLONEL?"
"LOOK TO THE WEST! WHO THE HELL IS THAT?"
Those were the last words the colonel uttered before he met his demise from a bolt from an enemy crossbow although the General looked behind him to see a lone black pegasus with a white streak along his body with a set of claws on all four of his feet, electricity sparking from them as he readied for battle.
The lone pegasus was Thunder Flash of the well known Flash family. Many were prominent business ponies, with some being high ranking military and political officials. Although they all had one thing in common, they had a knack for battle no matter what occupation they have. He landed along the edge of the valley and looked across the battlefield.
No words were spoken by Thunder Flash as he looked upon the carnage wreaked by the savages attacking his brothers, he saw the many a corpse of his fellow pony fall into pools of blood that have stained the valley a dark crimson. He felt a righteous fury well inside his soul as he ascended into the dark grey sky then another sight have unleashed the fury inside the revered warrior, it was a dragon snaking his way through the sky, it was Sorrow's Harbinger, a vile creature that will stop at nothing to torture his victim.
"Thunder Flash..... I thought you would not show. I am sorry to announce to you, that you are too late. My army has already killed many of your brothers. Do not try to resist, it will only result in your death and all your precious friends.", the words of the vile dragon echoed through his mind, although this seemed to straighten the edge of his pure mind even more.
"This may result in the death of me, but it will not result in the death of all I hold dear vile dragon! By Celestia's blade I will destroy your army and end you once and for all! Prepare to feel my fury Sorrow Harbinger!" With that, his fury was unleashed and he shined like a streak of lightning, in a blind rage he catapults himself into the horde of savage ponies as they surround him to kill him. Once comes within arms reach, his eyes shine like the stars as he swings to the closest pony to him, instantly vaporizing him in a flash of light and a clap of thunder to disband the horde. Before the horde could rise and recover from such a blast, Thunder Flash bolts around the group hacking and slashing at the ponies before him, some ponies threw down their weapons and retreated only to be greeted by a fiery death as Sorrow Harbinger accepted no retreat.
Thunder Flash fought ferociously for a long while until he heard a couple of very large ponies roar at him from far off.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! WE'LL PUT YOUR HEAD ON A SPIKE!"
"WE'LL RIP YA GUTS RIGHT OUT YA THROAT!"
Thunder Flash assumed his fighting stance waiting for the right moment to strike, "Closer..... closer...closer." When they were within inches of him, he bolted right between the two then dashed by one of the big ponies and raked him across the flank with his back left claw then proceeded to spin around and land a thundering blow to the throat of his partner, the large blue pony then fell to the earth with a loud thud killed instantly from the devastating attack, his partner let out a thundering roar of anger as he blindly attacked Thunder, he managed to hit the side of his face with a thundering blow, sending him spinning through the air and into the rock wall of the gulch, the impact caused him to cough up blood, as he left the wall, he left an imprint of himself from his blood soaked fur on the rock wall, he pulled himself off the rock wall and said to himself, "I'm going to die here. Heh... I had a feeling it would end this way..." He knew he had many broken bones, and he knew he would not get out of this battle alive. He let out a roar and ascended, disregarding the extreme pain shooting through his body, he cringed as he hunted for the dragon, a billowing flame from seemingly nowhere strikes the flank of Thunder Flash off guard, he races to a location to hide from the assault of flames, he extinguished the flame from his now charred backside, he paid no heed to the pain as he saw the vile creature snaking through the sky. A fire erupted in Thunder as his mane and tail turned to flowing electricity, disbanding streaks of lightning and causing claps of thunder before calming down.
Sorrow's Harbinger is a dragon who is slightly larger then the dragon in the lone mountain just west of Ponyville, his voice deep and menacing. He wears a helmet of bone, has many scars from battle, and has gauntlets of gold on all four legs. Along his very strong tail are golden spikes, at the tip of the tail, viscous spines protrude from the tail of the monster.
His body is covered in strange jungle like patterns of red and grey, his legs the darkest red of his whole being, stained with the blood of his foes. Around the front left arm of the beast seems to be some sort of charm from the forests far beyond the Everfree.
Sorrow's Harbinger wields terrible psychic abilities that make his victim see the most mentally tormenting thing they can think of. Many times, he puts the image of his torture being done to the loved ones of his unfortunate victim. Nopony has escaped from him without severe trauma, physical, mental, or both.
********
Back at Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna was watching the battle unfold as her sister was rounding the troops to help Thunder Flash. Before she could even get a word out, Luna burst through the door and shouted, "Do not send the soldiers there! There's already a mysterious pony there fighting the dragon! Although he is fighting no ordinary dragon, it is the vile Sorrow's Harbinger!"
The soldiers remained at attention, as Celestia roared to them, "General, you and your troops set up defenses in the city!, Dismissed!"
"YOU HEARD THE PRINCESS! NOW GO GO GO!", the soldier ponies ran out of the castle and set up defenses in the city just in case the dragon came for the city.
********
"You are a powerful warrior yes, but one must wonder... how could a simple pegasus wield such power over lightning and thunder? It must certainly be the work of dark magic. Hmm... no matter, for you will not live to see the light of day."
"I know I'm not getting out of here alive, but I will stop you!", Thunder roared to the dragon.
"Once I am done with you, I will destroy Canterlot, your family, friends, and all else you hold dear, although this will not be a painless death. It will be the worst moments of your miserable life."
"I can promise this death will be extremely painful for you dragon. My claws will sink into your body and end your miserable existence."
The dragon snarled and bared his teeth, "I will snap your spine and set you ablaze before I am done with you, puny pony." Sorrows Harbinger brought his tail down at a ferocious speed, with Thunder Flash evading the attack at the last second and counters with several quick slashes to the chest, sending sparks of electricity and scales falling to the ground, the dragon reeled back, "You certainly are a quick little thing, I will promise to make your families deaths extra painful just for you. They shall join you in Tartarus!", he swiped his claws at Thunder and lands a blow on him sending him spinning out of control, then smashes him down to earth making a small crater, the impact causes Thunder to cough blood onto the already blood soaked ground.
"Aahhhhhh!!!!! I will end you Sorrows Harbinger! You will be slain by my hoof!", he rose off of the ground then he made a bold offensive toward the head of the massive dragon and sinks his front right claw into the left eye of the evil dragon, "FEEL THE WRATH OF THE ELEMENTAL CLAWS!", he released a jolt of electricity through the claws.
The dragon roars and snakes around in the air and covers his now blinded eye, "You insolent fool! You will die by my hand! You do not know the meaning of suffering!" He looks over the horizon and sees some soldiers galloping over, some of the ERA have set up catapults along the ridges of the valley and have started firing boulders at him, he tries to grab Thunder, but he evades and slashes at his neck and wrists leaving many wounds, Sorrows Harbinger grabs Thunder off guard after the barrage of blows from his claws, he puts him in between two fingers and slowly starts to break the spine, Thunder screams in agony as his spine is slowly shattered, he is then thrown to the ground with extreme force, blood splatters around his body as he writhes in agony on the valley floor, a stone strikes Sorrows Harbinger in his face, he leaves firing a plume of fire down onto Thunder as he flies away. Some soldier ponies and Princess Celestia run up to the crater he now lays motionless in, his soul leaves his body and appears to Princess Celestia.
"Take the claws and give them to my great grandson. His name will be Sword Flash. Only he can stop Sorrow's Harbinger, these images were shown to me before my death for reasons I do not know. Also, as my final wish, only my family, our closest friends, and the Princesses are to attend the funeral services." He gave a salute before his soul faded away like dust in the wind, Celestia held back tears as she shakily told the soldiers,
"Take him to the castle, and tell the Royal Guard to prepare my carriage. I will return to the castle momentarily."
The captain bowed and replied to Celestia, "As you wish milady. His body shall be escorted to the castle and your carriage prepared."
"Dissmissed...", Celestia softly said.
"Aye Princess." With that, they picked up his body and carried it back to the castle.
Princess Celestia ran her hoof through the blood soaked soil as tears streamed down her face. She called a few others and instructed them, "Go to the castle, get the claws off of the pony's body, and give them to my smith to have a case fashioned for delivery."
"Yes milady." The two left for the castle and Celestia slowly started to walk back toward the castle, taking flight eventually, she was met with the captain of the Celestial Guard.
He removed his helmet, bowed and stated to the Princess, "Your carriage is ready milady, the claws have also been placed in a case which has already been placed in your carriage. I have spared my best men to escort you."
She looked down to him, wiped her face and replied, "Thank you, you and your men can now switch out with the Lunar Guard. The four escorts will be exchanged with Lunar Guard." She looked at the four escorts standing at attention by her carriage, "Guards, you are dismissed. The Lunar Guard shall escort me."
"As you wish milady." The guards left in formation back to the barracks, and four Lunar Guard have replaced them at her carriage.
"Where do you need to go Princess?" Asked the sergeant of her escort.
"Escort my carriage to the Flash estate. I bear grim news for them.", she tried to restrain the tears in her eyes as she entered her carriage and closed the door.
The Lunar Guard started moving her carriage toward the Flash Estate.
Her carriage pulled in front of the mansion some time later, one of the Lunar Guard knocked on the door and one of the housekeepers knocked on the door.
"Excuse me ma'am but is the wife of a Thunder Flash available?"
"I'm terribly sorry, she is having a bath at the moment. What is it you need?"
"Princess Celestia requests her presence, she bears news."
The housekeeper opened the large double doors and allowed them to walk in, "Of course, come in and make yourselves comfortable. I'll go fetch some tea, would you like some Princess?"
"Yes please, thank you."
"You are very welcome milady." She gave a quick bow and headed toward the kitchen to fetch some tea. About 10 minutes later she comes back with a pot of tea, saucer, teacup, and some sugar cubes. "Sugar if her majesty wants any."
"Thank you. Do you think she is done with her bath?"
"I'll go check. I'll be right back Princess."
As she goes upstairs, the door to the bathroom opens and Mrs. Flash walks out with her bath robe.
"Excuse me Miss Flash, but Princess Celestia requests your presence in the guest room."
Her eyes widened, "Princess Celestia is in my home?"
The housekeeper nodded and replied, "Yes milady. She bears news."
"Go and tell her I will be right down, I must brush my mane." She bolted back into the bathroom and started to brush her mane.
The housekeeper walks down the stairs to the guest room to the Princess and her guards. She gave a slight bow as she said to her, "She will be right down milady, she is just freshening up a bit."
The Princess sips her tea and nods, "Thank you, carry on."
********
About five minutes later, Miss Flash walks down the stairs toward the guest room and sits on one of the sofas in the room across the Princess.
"You requested me Princess?"
"I did Miss Flash. Although before I begin, you must take these and stow them."
"Well what on earth do you mean Princess?"
Princess Celestia told one of the guards to fetch the case from her carriage, he saluted and trotted out and about a minute later walked back in with an ornate case. The guard set it down and opened the case.
Celestia looked at Miss Flash and remarked, "These must look familiar to you, do they not?"
Miss Flash looked at the claws in disbelief, "These are my husbands! He never separates from them! They've been handed down all the way from his great grandfather! What has happened to my husband? Did it involve that battle over in the valley?"
"I'm sorry to say Miss Flash, but your husband is dead.", she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Tears welled up in Miss Flash's eyes as she takes in what she just heard, "H-how? What happened to him? I-I-I-" She broke out sobbing from the loss of her husband, one of the kids came into the room,
"Mommy what's wrong? Are you ok?"
With Miss Flash unable to get the words out, Celestia said to the little one, "Do you have any brothers or sisters? If so, could you please get them? I need to tell you something."
The little colt looked at the princess, "Ok Princess." He ran off looking for his little sister. "Little sister! Little sister! Princess Celestia is here!"
A little later the colt came back with a little filly, they sat down next to their mother as Celestia broke the news to them.
The colt just sat there, unmoving, he eventually said to the Princess, "He's dead, but how did he die?" He hugged his little sister, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Your father, he was slain by a dragon. One known as Sorrow's Harbinger. He brutally murdered your father after he came to the rescue of my soldiers. He sacrificed himself for the city. His dying wishes were that his claws be handed down only to one named Sword Flash, and that only his family, their closest friends, and the Princesses attend the services. He may not have been in the military, but he sure saved many lives." Celestia showed them what the dragon looked like.
The colt looked Celestia straight in the eyes, then looked away as tears streamed down his face.
"Princess Luna and I extend our deepest sorrow to your loss. You will be escorted to the castle tomorrow for the services. I will have my personal carriage ready for you tomorrow at noon."
The colt could barely choke out a thanks as he hugged his little sister and mother.
Princess Celestia said to the guards, "Let us leave. We need to leave them alone for now."
"Yes milady. Thank you for your time, we extend out deepest condolences." The Princess boarded her carriage and left with her guards leaving the family to grieve.
********
The carriage and escort arrived at noon like clockwork, Miss Flash, her son and daughter were dressed for the funeral at the castle, behind them, they could see their friends being pulled along in carriages behind them to the castle.
"GUARds, PREPARE FOR FLIGHT."
That's the sound of the sergeant calling in the Tomb Guards to be ready for the sonic boom salute. This salute is only done for the greatest heroes of Equestria. The sergeant gave the command and the pegusii took flight secquentially performing sonic booms in memory of the fallen hero. The Guards whispered to Miss Flash and her kids, "Please come with me, we will escort you back to your home."
Between sobs, Miss Flash managed to utter a thanks to the Guards.
"It's alright ma'am. No need to thank us, we should be thanking your family for all they have done."
Miss Flash couldn't get any words out, but she nodded to show she heard them and climbed back into the carriage.
A large gathering has formed outside the castle wondering what happened. Celestia showed in the sky a portrait of Thunder Flash, "This is Thunder Flash. Some of you may know him and his family, others may not. Yesterday, he sacrificed himself against the dragon Sorrow's Harbinger. He was just a normal pony, but he felt the need to sacrifice one for the good of many. The dragon may not have been destroyed, he did show the dragon that we are not to be trifled with. That is why we shall put a monument in his honor."
A few ponies started to clap, eventually the entire crowd was clapping with approval, then the carriage left the castle back to the Flash estate. A great hero to Equestria has now been laid to rest.
*******
Sword looked at his uncle wide eyed, "Wow! He took on the dragon himself? And he said I'm the only one who can defeat him? I don't think I can even get half the skill he had with the claws!"
"Oh I'm sure that you can surpass him. Although you might want to start a little early."
"Well then lets head home and get them! I don't want to disappoint him!"
Before they could leave, some of the Celestial Guard walked up to him and his uncle, "Excuse me Sword Flash. You are requested at the castle for an audience with Princess Celestia."
Sword looked at the guard, he was only a little smaller him, "Alright, I'll go now."
"Alright Mr. Flash. Just take off with us and we'll head back to the castle."
Sword spread his wings and took off with the Celestial Guard toward the castle.
"I'm pretty sure someone told you what happened, and what you are to do right?"
"My uncle told me the story. That is, if we're on the same page."
"We are Sword. You are right on topic with what she has called you for."
"Alright. Lets just hurry up to the castle."
"As you wish." Then they all gained speed as they headed for the castle, assuming a V-formation around Sword.
They landed in the main courtyard as Princess Celestia walked out.
"As always, your timing is perfect. Thank you guards, return to your post."
"Aye milady." They gave a bow and flew away.
Sword slowly walked towards the Princess so he does not stir attention then looks her in the eye. "I believe I know why you brought me here."
