Author's Note
My first fanfic for MLP. Many of the themes throughout the story are Japanese, just so you know. Chapter 3 is being written; it should be done in about a week. Check out chapter 2 if you have the chance. Enjoy.
--rptr
The Night Slayer
The unfamiliar whirring sounds of the bustling city roared from outside. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the wooden walls.
Rarity's eyes fluttered open as she awoke from what had been an incredibly deep sleep. An air of unfamiliarity surrounded her but that invisible barrier suddenly broke as she realized that she was inside an abandoned wooden structure of some kind.
As she shakily rose to her hooves, the wooden boards clunked beneath her. Unsure of where she was and how she had gotten there, she decided to take a few shaky steps towards a large rectangular hole in the wall.
When she stepped out onto the structure's balcony, she was blinded by the morning light. But when her eyes finally adjusted to the intensity of the sun, what she saw utterly amazed her.
The sight that was laid out before her was covered in a layer of thick black smoke, making it difficult to depict the buildings as they sat there, leaning over one another fighting for the spotlight of the sun. Some kind of miniature moving contraptions were moving along the snaky roads at a fast pace, Rarity stared down and wondered what they might be.
The unfamiliar city appeared to be inhabited due to the creatures that she quickly identified as ponies roaming the ground and the skies. She wanted to find out where or perhaps even when she was, but first she needed to find a way to get down from the abandoned structure she was in.
She suddenly looked down at her hooves and realized that she was wearing a rather peculiar style of attire, one that she found rather interesting. Her clothes were undeniably fabulous but in a style she had never seen before.
A military green jacket covered her torso while a silky, see-through collar with spikes exceeded from it. A large, lavish, spiral patterned cloak was wrapped around the small of her back and hanged to one side. Latticed leather boots concealed her back hooves while the front had black lace cuffs that sat at the middle of her forelegs. A black lace choker was sitting around her neck and a miniature top hat adorned her head. She looked simply marvelous in a style she was not all familiar with. This was presumably the style of clothing that the locals must wear.
Rarity walked back inside and realized just how dusty and abandoned the place really was. She groaned in disgust at the state of her once perfectly shined hooves that were now covered in the repulsive filth.
She spotted a staircase and descended it, finding her way onto the streets of a foreign city.
The once pristine roads were now covered in the excess smoke of the city's main power source; coal. The buildings appeared to be shrouded in darkness; the absence of clean air and natural light was phenomenal. No ponies passed in what to be a back street, everything around her seemed to be ten shades darker.
The empty street was entirely abandoned, with much under appreciated courage she made her way down the broken alleyway. Not a sound was to be heard other than the repetitive clop of her hooves on the narrow, cobblestone streets.
She looked around to see if she could find anything familiar about the world that surrounded her, but to her luck she found nothing. A large, once regal archway stood before her as it lead out onto the Main Street. Here she was standing in the heart of a steam fueled city losing every bit of her dignity. She was absolutely filthy, her mane had lost its shape and she looked like a disgraced young pony standing on the side of the empty road.
It was as though the city had been tipped on its head, but the question still remained, where was she?
She took another look around to realize that the buildings were made of strong, reliable bricks and how steam seemed to come from every chimney, every road was smothered with oil. She spotted a newspaper stand and decided to enlighten herself on the date.
The local newspaper was known as the Canterlot Express but that's not what caught her off guard, it was the date at the top right hand corner of the front page; 17th of June 1820. Rarity simply stared at the newspaper in shock. She had somehow travelled hundreds of years into the future, which would explain quite a bit; but not only that but she was also in Canterlot, which only confused her more.
She walked away from the newspaper stand and made her way down the street, unsure of where she was going. She continued this route for quite awhile, remembering to take note of some landmarks along the way. With smoke filled skies ahead and no way of knowing of where she might end up, Rarity took in the sights around her.
Many hours had past and she found herself quite lost and hungry. Her stomach groaned in spite as she realized that the shops were long since abandoned in the filthy, litter filled streets. The moon rose high into the scorched black night sky. A chill ran down her spine as the cool night air rolled in, echoing the omniscient sounds of the back alleys of a once gleaming jewel of a city.
Without meaning to, Rarity found herself at the dead end of one Canterlot's most hostile neighborhoods. Her body shivered against the cold air, her heart raced, her fear of the darkness reignited a childhood fire.
"Hello?...Is...is anypony out here?" She called out nervously into the dark.
Noise erupted from behind her and she quickly turned around, gradually cornering herself into a corner. Suddenly, three large stallion like figures stood before her, grinning devilishly in the dark.
"Well, well, well, look at what we have here. Boys, I think we've found ourselves a little lost filly." snickered the middle stallion, who appeared to be the dominant leader.
"Yeah, look at her shiver in fear." chuckled the stallion to the left.
"Please, leave me alone. I mean no harm!" pleaded Rarity as she bumped into the back fence.
The three stallions gradually moved towards her, backing her into a inescapable trap. She stared up at them in fear as they kept their ground.
"Ah, don't worry darling, we won't hurt ya." insisted the middle stallion.
"Yeah, we wouldn't hurt a fly. Would we boys?"
"Nah, we sure wouldn't." they agreed, hunger in their eyes.
As they made advancements upon her, Rarity screamed, her cries echoing into the night. She only hoped somepony would save her, get her away from these ruffians.
"You get your hooves off of her!" called a familiar voice.
Within an instant a black figure swept in and stood before Rarity, shielding her from the three stallions who were utterly confused by this point.
"Or what?" asked the leader coolly.
"Or I'll kick your ass, that's what!' she stated triumphantly. She pulled out a set of daggers and armed herself ready for battle.
"Rainbo-" but before she could finish announcing the mare's name Rarity was quickly interrupted.
"The name's Night Slayer." the mysterious mare cut in.
"You're Night Slayer? Please, a little runt such as yourself couldn't take the three of us."
Two, large, mechanical wings sprouted from the mare's back. "Wanna bet?" determination in her eyes.
With that trademark phrase, the four ponies all launched into action. A series of lightly taken hits followed. As the mare took each stallion down, with style. Her daggers were used expertly, like she was an absolute pro. With every hit, she gave back even harder and even as a stallion came flying on top of her she managed to insure her own safety with a dodge roll and a dagger to the stallion's eye, blinding him.
As they fought, Rarity stayed back and out of the way. Watching them incessantly. It would seemed that Night Slayer liked to fight dirty, throwing a rounded punch to the jaw wherever possible. By the time the battle was over, the victorious stood high above them all. She stood proud as the heaving bodies of the defeated surrounded her. Her armor gleamed in the light of the moon, giving a tough edge to her already hardcore personality. She leaned down and whispered something into one of the stallion's ears.
"Go, tell everyone that these streets belong to Night Slayer now.' "Go! Get outta here you pathetic cowards!" She yelled, giving one of them a kick in the side.
The three stallions quickly got up and raced away into the night, their howls filling the night air.
"Sorry about that, they kind of needed showing who's boss.' The mare removed her helmet, revealing her rainbow colored mane. 'The name's Rainbow Dash."
Before she could even attempt at replying, Rarity embraced her friend into a hug. Relived to have finally found a familiar face in the dark, sinister streets of a city she didn't even know the name of up until just a few hours ago.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, it's so good to see you."
"Rarity? How did you get all the way out here?"
The pair returned to a normal stance as a confused Rainbow Dash stood staring back at her.
"Rainbow, my dear, did you not recognize me?"
"Well, not exactly. It was dark and you can't really see much with a helmet on."
"Oh, I see. Well, it's terribly hard to explain and I'm not sure here is the best place to be in any case."
"Yeah, you've got a point. It isn't safe out here, especially not for unicorns."
"What exactly do you mean by that anyhow?"
"I'll explain all that later. Now come on."
Rainbow Dash led Rarity on through the night, turning onto one dark alleyway after enough with utmost of caution. Unaware of what really lurked the narrow streets and murky corners but were certain that there was no way of been spotted with the thick fog that now covered the city, adding yet another layer to the grayscale picturesque.
"Where are we going?" Rarity spoke up after awhile.
"There is a secret entrance to our base not far from here, just trust me okay?"
Rarity had no other choice but to trust her. After all, without her, she would have been killed by now. She couldn't stand to think of the tormented things that they would have done to her if Rainbow Dash hadn't jumped in at the right moment. A picture of those hungry, demeaning eyes suddenly rose to her mind and Rarity's stomach churned. It sickened her to even think about it.
The sound of their hooves on the cobblestone streets filled the night as they raced through the streets, taking one turn after another before finally coming to a halt at what appeared to be the back entrance to a wine cellar.
"Here we are." announced the panting Pegasus who gave the door a good knock.
"Password?" called out a voice.
Rainbow Dash silently whispered the password into the crack and the doors swung open.
"You go first. I don't want to get in trouble for bringing a unicorn."
Before Rarity could even reply, she had been gently pushed down the slippery shoot that led to the wine cellar below. When she finally reached the bottom, she was met with a welcome of confused and somewhat outraged stares.
A Recollection of the Past
There were about 20 ponies in the cellar, all staring at her.
"What is SHE doing here?" Said a mare with chestnut-brown mane. She glared at the now sheepish-looking pony behind Rarity.
"Calm yourself, Felina." Said a gray stallion. "She couldn't be repelled from the truth forever."
"It's best to not know, and live a life of false bliss in the fantasy-land that we were all once part of..." Said Felina.
Fantasy world? What are they talking about...? Thought Rarity.
Just then, an older stallion stepped forward. "Hmph...I can tell by the look on your face, you're confused. Confused, but mystified. My name is Ohm. Let me tell you why you are here."
"First off," Said the older stallion, "You have been asleep for 1200 years."
"WHHAAAT?!"
"Hm. Yes, I expected that reaction. Nevertheless, it's the truth. There's no denying it."
"Then, how am I not DEAD?" Said Rarity. "I'm more than 15 times older than the average pony lifespan!"
"The stallion calmly replied, "While you slept, you went into a comatose-like state. Your body was completely inactive, lungs, heart, even brain. This allowed the preservation and long life of your body."
"B-B-But how am I--"
"Don't worry, your questions will be answered. Another stallion stepped forward, but said nothing.
"This is Thistle." Said Ohm. "He will inform you on what's been happening in the centuries that have passed." Thistle's most striking feature was a black eyepatch wrapped around his head.
"I wonder how he lost his eye..." Thought Rarity.
"Let me start at the beginning, at 620 A.D." Thistle had an unnaturally low, baritone voice. "There was...a massacre."
"Far to the west of Equestria, a soulless warlord rose to power. Using telepathy and mind control, he enslaved thousands of animals, who unknowingly created an empire equal in military to Princess Celestia herself.
Eventually, a number of ponies became hypnotized into serving the warlord. Celestia decided this had crossed the barrier. She sent a force of 200 to eliminate the threat. The Equestrian forces were met with 1600 unarmed, but hostile animals. The military had no choice but to retreat. Even unarmed, the opposing force was vicious, and there were a lot of them. Angered, Celestia sent 1500 soldiers to crush the warlord's army. She went with them, to slay the warlord herself.
The opposing force was defeated, but Celestia lost many warriors. 700 died that night. The remaining 800 stood idle while Celestia faced the warlord. She attacked with surprising power and speed. She directed a lighting bolt from her horn to his head, but it was narrowly dodged. When the bolt struck the ground, it exploded into an enormous blue shockwave that blew the warlord to the ground below him.
Bleeding profusely from his stomach where the shockwave had made contact, he drew a long katana from his belt. He slashed furiously at Celestia, narrowly missing her neck. She then morphed her left hoof into steel and blocked the next attack. With her right hoof, she created a blazing corona of fire which she drove through the warlord's heart. The warlord fell to his knees, then collapsed into the stone rubble. Celestia had won.
"YES!" Said Rarity. Thistle glared at her. "S-Sorry..."
Ahem...the warriors went home triumphant, and the warlord's body was left to rot on the battlefield. A day later, scavengers inspected the area of the battle, looking for expensive armor or riches. They saw that the body of the warlord had disappeared. Had someone stolen it? Or buried it in an unmarked grave? No, something much worse was happening. He was still alive.
"Rarity, I bet you're wondering how he survived with a giant hole in his heart. This was no ordinary human. He had no heart, no mind, no pain. He was surviving through dark magic."
He hid in the Spine Mountains. He was afraid. He knew he was no match for Celestia. He needed power. With his own katana, he cut off his right arm, laughing as he does it. He set the sword and the arm on a strange rune on the stone floor. He then said the words, "Watakushijishin no tamashī to yūgō suru watashi ni chikara o atae, kage o tsukuru." A strange black mist formed around the rune, comsuming the weapon and his severed arm. The sword and the arm consumed each other, and became one.
In the place of the objects was a katana much like the one the warlord had, but it was a dull black, like obsidian. It had a strange red aura around it. Another object was there--a metal arm. It had iron spikes shaped like shark fins along the forearm and the back of the hand. He took the medieval prosthetic from the stone floor and attached it where his arm was lost. With his other arm, he picked up the katana. He felt the power emanating from the weapon. It spoke to him.
"I am Kage no Ken, the shadow blade. I grant tremendous power, but there is a catch. You will know it soon enough. By summoning me, you have chosen to serve me. You shall now be known as Batōra."
My sole purpose is destruction. This will be the end of peace for Equestria," Batōra thought. "And the bitter end of Princess Celestia."
It was a gray day when Batōra attacked. Raindrops fell as the thunder rumbled through the hills. Blood spilled, many lives were lost. None could challenge Batōra. He sliced through the castle doors. There he was met with Princess Celestia's elite force.
I was in the front lines. With one large slash, he downed 12 of us. I was able to dodge the strike, but the wind from the slash was so sharp, it damaged my right eye. This wound makes me half blind, almost unable to fight. Batōra drove Kage no Ken into the marble flooring, and opened a large fissure that devoured the rest of the troops.
When he approached the throne room, he discovered Celestia was nowhere to be found. A single door stood on the left side of the throne. He stepped in, and entered a long, winding hallway. Pictures of strange writings and symbols littered the walls. At the end was a door, rusted, and seemingly unused in a very, very long time. The doorhandle had fallen off, leaving a gaping hole in the door. Batōra easily broke it down. In front of him was an old, large, decrepit room. It was lit by torches, with a large circle covering up most of the floor. Symbols were scattered throughout it.
"It's a rune..." He thought.
"Beautiful, isn't it."
Batōra whipped around to find Celestia standing behind him. She didn't attempt to attack; she was strangely calm.
"You saw the rune and the symbols in the corridor? They are specially designed to strengthen my powers and to weaken yours. I'm not surprised to see you. I knew you weren't dead; I sensed your life force. I knew that one day you would crawl back out of your little hidey-hole like the parasite you are. I'd like to prove my true power to you once again. Let's begin."
Batōra attacked first with Kage no Ken. Celestia jumped out of the way and landed on the opposite side of the room.
"Demon, face the elements' power!"
Celestia shot an enormous bolt of lightning at the ceiling, blowing the ceiling off the room and allowing rain to pour in. Celestia pulled the rain droplets together into the shape of lethal daggers and froze them. She attacked Batōra with the barrage of frozen knives. Batōra was quick enough to slice and block most of the weapons, but one found its way into his shoulder.
"AGH--AH!" He yanked the frozen knife out and crushed it with his metal claw with a vengeance. Kage no Ken had made him more vulnerable--that was the catch. He truly felt pain. Celestia did not let up in her attacks. She fired an orange ray of fiery magma at Batōra's chest. Without his consent, Kage no Ken created a massive orb of water to consume the heat ray.
"Did the sword attack on its own?" Thought Celestia.
In an attempt to imprison him, she took control of the earth element. She opened small fissures in the ground, but Batōra kept stepping out of the way too quickly enough. She used the rubble from the ceiling to trap him in a rock tomb. He broke free with tremendous force, scattering rocks and rubble everywhere. Celestia then tried another lightning attack. Batōra caught the bolt with his metal claw.
"What? How is he able to catch my magic? His hand should be incinerated!" Celestia thought.
He then discharged the bolt back at her. Celestia was able to dodge it, but what troubled her was the fact Batōra could put her own attacks against her. Batōra then did something more unpredictable--he grabbed the blade tip of his sword with his metal claw. He pressed the blade harder into the metal palm. Red sparks were flying from the collision. A purple orb of shadow formed between the sword and the claw. It then burst into hundreds of fragments. This attack...was unavoidable.
Celestia fell to the ground. The sword then attacked with an unknown force--it was black, but lined with scarlet red. It was neither a gas, nor a solid, nor a liquid. It wrapped around Celestia, strangled her. Somehow, Celestia couldn't fight it, like she was paralyzed. It consumed her, eating away at her like a corrosive acid. It was the manifestation of the prince of darkness himself. No one has the power to overcome Celestia except for her complete opposite. It was over."
"Wh...no...no, you can't be serious. Princess Celestia can't be..."
"I'm sorry, Rarity," Said Thistle. "This is confirmed by my own eyes. The princess you knew and loved is gone. All other ponies have died or went insane. We 17 are all that remain of our race."
