My Little Pony Champions of Justice

After receiving his letter from Princess Celestia, Valiant quickly departed for Canterlot, making his way through Ponyville and ignoring the usual greetings from his new neighbors.

"For the princess to summon me like this… It must be urgent."

The Unicorn thought to himself as he neared the station. Upon arrival Valiant sat on a bench, deep in thought wondering, what could have Celestia so worried that she simply could not wait for Twilight and her friends to return? As the train made its way up the mountain his thoughts were cut short. He felt an eerie presence on the train, one that he had not felt for some time since his journeys in Azeroth.

"This presence...I haven't felt it since...no impossible."

Valiant snapped back to reality as the train began to grind to a halt nearing the station. Within moments, he was off towards Canterlot Castle galloping as fast as his legs could carry him.

Meanwhile, in the royal throne room, the two sisters discussed the reason why Valiant had been called back.

"Are you sure we should be doing this sister?"

"Valiant was sent to this world for a reason Luna. I believe we may help him find it by sending him on this mission."

Celestia said to her sister with a reassuring smile. Luna knew her sister was wiser than she was, after ruling alone for a thousand years. Since that time, she had come to trust her sister’s judgement.

"Your Majesties. Valiant Charge has arrived."

"Excellent. Send him in."

The unicorn guards at the throne room entrance used their magic to open the door as Valiant marched in like any soldier would, before bowing in respect.

"Rise."

"You summoned me your majesties?"

"Yes. There is an urgent matter that has come to our attention, one we believe you can handle."

Luna said as she rose from her throne with her sister. Together, they lead Valiant to a map room that had a complete layout of all Equestria, both explored and unexplored.

"You'll find that Twilights castle has a similar map."

Celestia declared smiling while Valiant nodded, impressed by what he saw before noticing a dark purple glow overshadowing a large area of the Everfree Forest. For some strange reason, the look of that glow made him feel uneasy. The Two sisters noticed this.

"This is why we’ve summoned you Valiant."

"My sister and I had detected a large mass of dark magic emanating from deep within the Everfree Forest. With Twilight and her friends gone, you seem to be the best candidate for this particular mission."

"Why not send one of the guards?"

"None have ventured into the forest before, and after we heard about your encounter with the timber wolf well…"

Luna did not need to say any more as Valiant heard a small amount of praise in her voice. He looked at the map once more, noticing there were many settlements around the forest but none closer than Ponyville.

"How soon can I leave?"

"Whenever you're prepared."

With a quick nod Valiant was escorted by one of the guards out to the royal armory to select his equipment. To his surprise, they had quite the selection of weapons; from spears and swords, to axes and maces, followed by a variety of ranged weapons. However this was no surprise to him as he had seen such things back on Azeroth. Much of the armor he recognized, for it was of his own making.

The Door creaked open behind him, it was Master Hard Hammer he had come into the armory with a fresh set of gear to put on the racks.

"Well well! So ya live after all eh lad?"

"Master!"

The unicorn was glad to see the old earth pony still hard at work. After a brief hoof shake, Valiant helped his master stack the equipment, still trying to decide what he should use for his journey.

"I hear through the grape vine that the princess is sending ya to Everfree. Dangerous place that."

"It's true and it's the reason I'm here."

"What? Ya mean you didn't miss me nagging yer ear off day in and day out as we worked the forge?"

"Hilarious master..."

The unicorn said in an unamused manner while his master chuckled, placing the last helmet on the shelf.

"Come on lad! I got just the thing."

Dusting off his hooves Hard Hammer took Valiant to the armories backroom. There, Hard Hammer’s most secret projects were kept until they had were tested. The earth pony began rummaging through his pockets mumbling to himself as the young stallion spotted a small key falling to the ground.

"Uh master?"

He called to Hard Hammer holding up the key with his magic before the earth pony nodded in appreciation. Opening the door, Valiant saw a variety of unique weapons and armor, most—no doubt—deemed too dangerous by the sisters to use, for fear of them being turned against Equestria and its citizens. While Valiant marveled at his masters creations Hard Hammer began sorting through the shelves of his private workshop. He presented his apprentice with a vest made of pure Mithril.

"I made this while you were gone. Figure it'd keep ya from getting more of those."

Hard Hammer pointed out the scars on Valiants chest handing him the vest. At first, the young unicorn was overjoyed to receive such a gift but then he felt almost ashamed of taking it from his master.

"Y-You can't give me this."

"You've earned it lad."

Hard Hammer nodded in approval, making his apprentice smile as he fashioned the vest onto him. It felt completely weightless, almost like he wasn't even wearing armor. Hard Hammer then gave Valiant twin swords forged from the same metal, humbled by this offer Valiant bowed in respect strapping the blades to his side.

"Good luck lad, may the wisdom of the sisters be with ya."

The last thing Hard Hammer gave his apprentice was a help in the shape of a wolf’s head. It seemed fitting,Valiant had proven his strength against one after all. Valiant placed it on his head, looking more like a real soldier.

Celestia and Luna had arranged for an airship to drop him off at a small clearing near the area where the black magic was spreading. He was given a saddle bag with some rations and a map where the magic source had been marked.

"Just hover over the clearing! I'll drop down from there!"

Valiant shouted over the propellers of the ship as the captain saluted in approval.

"GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Valiant plummeted to the ground like a meteor, falling through space before using a magic bubble to soften the impact. A few birds in the trees followed by a few small animals scurried off. he than waved a hoof to the airship giving the all clear as it changed course heading back to Canterlot.

The forest seemed to give off an eerie presence as Valiant surveyed his surroundings, much of the animals in the area had fled due to his drop from the airship while others seemed rather curious at the pony’s arrival.

"Just like Duskwood. Silent, creepy and-"

SNAP!!

Valiant drew his twin blades facing about, ready to face whatever creature was stalking him. To his surprise and embarrassment, a bunny rabbit, followed by a group of others came scurrying out of the bushes.

"If Rainbow Dash saw this she'd never let me live it down."

He sighed to himself sheathing the swords before noticing the rabbits looked like they were running from something. Many more animals came rushing out of the brushes, crying out in a panic. Because of this, Valiant developed a pretty good idea of where he might find whatever was causing trouble in the forest. Following the path of the fleeing animals Valiant ventured deeper and deeper into the woods and came upon a section of the forest that had been completely devastated.

"What in Celestias name?"

Valiant saw that the trees had been sucked dry and that the soil and water had been tainted, killing many of the animals around it; including a large Manticore who, judging by the smell, had been dead for days. Valiant covered his nose when passing the corpse. He ventured further into the dead forest while, in the shadows of the dead trees, something had been stalking him.

The unicorn came to a stop at a small creek that had been unaffected by whatever dark magic had been infecting the forest. Taking off his helm, Valiant took out his flask for a refill while checking the map to see how far he had traveled. Oblivious to the fact that the creature that had been following him, crept closer and closer, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

Once his flask was refilled, Valiant placed his helmet back on, ready to resume his journey. Just then, he noticed the bushes rustling behind him. In the helmet’s reflection he saw it. Pretending not to notice, the unicorn fashioned his helm back on before grabbing his saddle bag and heading into a small patch of bushes opposite the shadow’s. It fallowed.

A hooded figure crept out of the shadows following the unicorns trail only to lose it in the bushes when out of nowhere one of Valiant’s blades came crashing down from a nearby tree as the figure leaped back using its own magic to draw a bow and arrow out from under its cloak.

"Nice reflexes."

Valiant said using his magic to retrieve the sword stuck in the ground. For a moment, the two stared down one another. Valiant sheathed his blade while the figure removed its hood revealing that he was none other than Shining Armor; Prince of the Crystal Empire and Twilights big brother.

"What the hay are you doing out here Shining?"

"Helping you of course."

Shining said in a casual manner putting away his bow and arrow.

"Does Celestia know about this?"

"Yes."

"Luna?"

"Yes."

"Your wife?"

"Yes."

"Your sister?"

"NO!! Whatever you do DON'T tell Twily! She'd ring my neck out for this!"

Shining Armor gave a small threatening tone pointing a hoof to Valiant’s chest.

"Whoa okay okay! Simmer down."

Valiant said placing both front hooves up in his defense before the two resumed traveling together. For a while, the destruction seemed to go deeper and deeper, more corpses of animals stinking up the forest. Valiant and Shining did their best to breath without gagging until Shining noticed a rather large hoof-print in the soil that seemed fresh.

"Hmm… looks like a wild boar...and a big one at that."

Shining armor said comparing the boars hoof print with his. Valiant began to analyze the area. Much of the dirt had been tilled with the boar’s tusks and the corpses of the animals all had rather large bite marks on their bodies and that is when a cold chill of realization hit him.

"Oh no..."

"What? what is it?"

ROOOAAARRRGGHHH!!!!!

A loud roar was heard as Valiant gritted his teeth and drew both blades in a hurry. He stepped in front of Shining Armor who was now starting to look a little worried.

"Arm yourself!!! This is a killing ground!!"

Valiant shouted as a boar larger than any Shining Armor had ever seen came crashing through the trees, frothing at the mouth. This boar was different, however. It's hide was covered with large spikes and its skin was as red as blood. It’s piercing yellow eyes filled with utter rage.

"What is that thing?!?"

"I'll explain later! INCOMING!!"

The boar reared up as it charged the two unicorns. Valiant crossed his blades halting the beast in its tracks while Shining fired off a few arrows into its side. It roared in anger as it shoved Valiant into the mud. Now, focused its gaze on Shining Armor and charged. Shining put up a magical shield. This protected him from the tusks, but not the force behind the boar’s charge. It rammed him into a tree.

"Okay....NOW I'M PISSED!!!"

Valiant shouted as his horn grew bright red. He retrieved his blades and launched a head on charge; distracting the beast away from Shining who was recovering from the impact.

RAAAARGH!!!

"YAAAGH!!!!"

This time Valiant defended with only one blade, halting the beasts charge. This allowed him to plunge the second right behind its shoulder as it howled in pain staggering back. Shining loosed three more arrows finishing it off. As the beast gave one last growl it fell into a pool of its own blood. The blood itself seemed to burn the very ground beneath it.

For a while both warriors took deep breaths. Valiant threw his helm to the ground Moments later and helped Shining Armor stand up. As he retrieved his blade Shining stared in disbelief at the beast but noticed that his friend was unfazed by the sight of this creature.

"You've seen this kind of beast before haven't you?"

"I have...but what is it even doing here in Equestria?"

"Let's get this thing back to Canterlot and find out."

The End.