Ponies of Autumn Dusk: A Ponyfinder Tale
Chapter One: The Academy of Blades
“Ponies were created out of Light and Dark. We cannot choose to be one or the other, only varying shades of Grey.”
Night.
Chilly caresses of wind moved against my flanks and neck, as the stars twinkled brightly against the darkened sky. Night was something that I had hardly experienced unlike normal ponies, for my home was the caves. The paved road beneath my hooves was alien as were the ponies to the left and right of me. I had been the only leatherwing that joined Sun Queen Radiance’s newly built Academy of Kind Blades; or rather my family had been one of only a handful of “tribes” to be hear the goddess’s proposal.
The Everglow Empire was still fresh and young under the ruling of the Sun Queen a lovely white Alicorn with a mane and tail that glowed as ever-burning flames of oranges and gold. The Queen had brought many races under her benevolent wings and just 6 years ago leatherwing’s became a new addition to the fledgling empire under one condition. Most leatherwings enjoyed living in solitude until finding a mate in the labyrinthine caverns we knew as home. Thus, the Empire only sent ponies to speak to leatherwings at the orders of Queen Radiance.
………………………………………..
I remembered Radiance’s only student with two royal guard ponies trotted tentatively into our cave, eyes peering into the inky blackness of the caverns. The student was unicorn, an illustrious candy apple red coat with pastel wavy pink mane and tail with small chains of gold spider-webbing through both. Her cutie mark showed two sticks of crisscrossed cinnamon with a gold star at the center. The two guards, both earth ponies were white with cropped gold manes. Their armor was silver with gold piping at its edges and a brilliant orange sun emblem emblazoned on their chests.
“I am Queen Radiance’s student and personal envoy,” the unicorn mare said smiling softly, the falling sun back lighting the newcomers just inside the cave entrance. “I have traveled to all peaceful leatherwings asking for any to come and become a student in the Queen’s newly created Academy. My Father and Mother wings unfurled silently allowing them to glide to the floor, landing softly before our guests. The unicorn hardly seemed phased but her guards jumped back, startled, too shocked to draw their swords from the sheaths at their sides. A soft pinkish glow illuminated the unicorn’s horn, a scroll floated from her saddle bag and unfurled. “Amber Grace,” she said looking towards my mother who nodded “and you’re Thunder Cross,” my father hardly blinked.
Waiting on the ceiling my twin brother and eye glanced to each other, wings readied to swoop down if we were needed. We knew of these ponies those that lived under open skies, the ‘dangerous outside world’ my mother loved to warn, with its overly bright sun and wide open spaces. Not that I believed these constant teachings that were always repeated when I was a filly. Instead, I yearned to stretch my wings and soar under Princess Nightshade’s glorious moon and stars.
“My name is Cinnamon Crisp, pleased to make your acquaintance.” She smiled sweetly and gave a curtsy with her fore-hooves. She looked back to the scroll that floated just before her muzzle. “The academy is open to those seeking a life of adventure and mercenary, but taught lessons of empathy, diplomacy, and trouble solving interspersed with survival, swordplay, tactics, and magic. The greatest teachers in the capital, Viljatown, will also teach geography, Everglow history, and many other subjects.” She paused, eyes widening, her silent gasp. My brother had flown down to lounge cat-like on a rock overlooking the group. He grinned widely, showing off his abnormally short fangs.
“I’d like to joi-“He started, only for me to cut him off, landing before him. Leatherwing ponies lived and died in caverns like mine leaving only when struck by wanderlust or driven by more unfortunate circumstances. It was a life of silence and dull slate stone walls, and the hunting trips around the caverns. I, on the other hand, loved sneaking out of the caverns at twilight and spending the night outside.
While I had only met a merchant pony, I loved watching the nightly bustle of the nearby city of Port Manehart. The sweet smell of cherry trees blooming in the spring and bearing fruit in summer, gliding over the ocean strait and occasionally seeing the rare sea ponies launch out of the water to catch the fish they had driven skyward. I wanted to see more, travel, but I knew that would never happen even though I was a grown mare living in my own part of the mountain. My mother didn’t know about all my nightly escapades and, I remembered, painfully the punishments from when she had discovered a few occasions. This was a dream, no; this was a wish in fulfillment. Crisp had recovered from her momentary shock.
“Full of surprises, you leatherwing ponies. These must be your children,” she looked between the both of us then to my parents. “So rare to have twins” I heard whispered under her breath.”
“Why does the queen need us?” My mother spoke up, her voice was incredulous, and obviously we never got guests.
“Because, Queen Radiance has a dream, one of raising generations of warriors, wizards, clerics, and other specialized ponies would seek to make the world a better place, not just become rich or to live without purpose.” Crisp signed as she bid the guards to stand watch outside the cave, it was nighttime, soft cricket chirps and the sweet evening breeze drifted in.
“Much against the advice of those around her,” Crisp continued with me hanging on every word. “Radiance quietly instructed all the teachers that she wants instilled a strong value of good over that of law, as unfavorable that is in some upper class circles of Viljatown. Let the adventurers turn against her, I remember the queen saying or any other unjust ruler, as long as they did it for the benefit of all of Everglow and its inhabitants.” Hopping down onto the stone floor I trotted back towards a tight grouping of stalagmites, feeling all eyes upon me. My left hoof pushed a large stone aside, and used my left wing’s thumb claw to lift my saddle bags out of the secret stash and placed them on my back, walking back to the group.
“I’m going,” I nodded matter-o-factly. Turning to my parents, “I have always been different, leaving the caves to explore and watching from afar a strange world just out of my hooves…” Sheepishly, I pawed one of my fore-hooves against the stone. “I was never destined for a life here, in these Caverns, thus I’m going.” I could see my mother’s eyes narrow and my brother’s face twisted in a silent snarl. “Alabaster Ice you know nothing of the lands and seas beyond these caverns.” Alabaster growled lowly, his eyes burning into me.
“You have no right!” The guard ponies tensed as they glanced over their shoulders, Crisp had a soft glow around her horn. Alabaster jumped down from his pedestal. “How can you make such a decision?!” He demanded. “How can you even think to deny me that chance?” His breast was puffed up, his wings flared, and his cat slit eyes were sliver thin.” I stood, trying to look calm and collected, or as much as I could standing a head shorter than the abnormally tall pony.
“Alabaster,” I murmured, “I deny you nothing, but the Academy is a place for ponies that are empathetic and willing to make this new empire a better place or at least endeavor to. You dear brother, would rather find amusement in toying with the cave fox bats than make a quick kill for your meal. That is not empathy, that sadism. You are naïve with a brash disposition that would get the better of you in most situations” I finished simply, not daring break eye contact with my brother. He glared daggers at me, and then with a hard thrust of his wings he swooped back into the darkness of the caverns. My mother and father glanced at me, disdain and pride tumultuously swimming between their eyes. Sighing, my father clapped his hoof on my shoulder.
“You are a young mare now Viridian Sky,” He said, calm and kind. “I cannot bind you here, this is your choice,” lowering his voice, “and while I agree about your brother’s… disposition, he is also entitled to his choice.” Crisp looked hopefully towards me and I nodded to her. “I wish to go to the Queen’s academy and I’m ready to leave whenever you need me to.” Crisp tucked the scroll away into her saddlebags and with her magic drew out a copper pin and attached it to my saddle bags, marking me an initiate.
“Viridian Sky,” Crisp said looking at me, “are you ready to see the Everglow Capital?” I gave a nervous smile, and looked back to my mother and father, waving a wing in parting. Dad warmly smiled and Mom… she just looked cold, an icy feeling chilled my blood, making me shiver.
………………………………………..
A Stallion bumped into my shoulder, startling me from my memories. I heard a haughty huff as my fiery ruby eyes fell upon a regal all black unicorn with a large fire encircling three blue stars for a cutie mark. His main and tail were a vibrant cobalt blue, edged and highlighted by a royal purple. Upon his back sat a charcoal grey saddlebag with a pair of gemstones spires embroidered into the fabric.
“Hello,” I greeted kindly. “I apologize for bumping into you. I’m Viridian Sky.” A small smile tugged across my muzzle. The stallion looked me up and down, sizing me up before shaking his mane, cantering a bit further ahead of me and engaging a silver mare in conversation. A mint blue earth pony mare moved aside me, her bobbed navy colored main and tail streaked with orange and sky blue highlights.
“That’s Cobalt Fyre,” She said before noticing my returned blank look. “Of the noble Fyre family?” the mare tried. “He’s the prince of the Crystal Mountains and the son of King Emerald Fyrestorm. They’re one of the most prestigious royal families in Everglow ever since the Battle at Broken Bones five years ago.” She face hoofed and laughed. “Oh where are my manners” she gushed and bubbled. “I’m Blitz Blues and you’re…you’re a bat pony!” She finished in a sing-songy voice. I winced slightly not used to such attention. “I’ve never met a bat pony!” she chirped gleefully skipping next to me. After the exclamation, Blitz bombarded me with questions all about my race, home, and habits. It was too much to answer all at once. Her final question stopped the barrage of extra-fast speech and was one slow enough to understand. “What’s your name?!”
“My name is Viridian Sky and it’s nice to meet you.” I laughed softly, relaxing with my new acquaintance as we conversed. Forty ponies were in this large moving group following the roads towards Viljatown and the academy. Royal earth pony guards led and followed the group on the ground as pegasi soared above us with the winged pony initiates.
“Blitz,” I nickered looking back to her but the mare’s eyes were wide and fixated at the growing dawn horizon. To my shock, a large pony…no, Alicorn, soared up into the air her horn glowing brilliantly. Her warm smile widening while the sun began to glide above the horizon and shower the land with a brilliant light, most ponies about me murmured and chatted excitedly.
“Queen Radiance,” Blitz said slowly in awe, my gaze drifted to the group of ponies looking trotting ahead of me. There was one pony not looking up… Cobalt instead he seemed deeply ingrained large and somewhat ancient tome. I balked at him, this was our queen…and goddess, the first time many ponies had seen her, and he was reading? As if sensing my gaze, Cobalt looked back, his eyes meeting mine. He looked a bit perturbed at me, his book and horn glowing ocean blue.
“Welcome my little ponies,” a lovely velvet voice sounded above us as we reached a large glittering marble wall and large stone doors of a fortress like building that rested on the eastern side of the capital. It was a twin to the royal castle at the center of Viljatown. “Welcome,” she said again cheerily, “To my Academy!” Her magic opened the doors, it was like walking into a dragon’s horde chamber, I had never seen such lovely colors and….
“Radiance’s light….” My mind and muzzle were at a loss for words.
Author's Note
This based upon the Ponyfinder game that my husband and friends are playing. Constructive criticism is welcome and I'm going to update it as we play. My character is Viridian Sky, my husband is Colbalt Fyre, and our friends are Blitz Blues and a Esper ( griffin character who will show up later). Please enjoy!
Ponies of Autumn Dusk: A Ponyfinder Tale
Chapter Two: A Fyrestorm of Personality
Author's Note
Besides the intro quote, words in Italics are Viridian's thoughts.
Chapter Two: A Fyrestorm of Personality
“We can never judge the lives of others, because each pony knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.” –Paul Coelhon
Color.
The whole courtyard gardens were shimmering light reflected like through a prism with a cacophony of rainbow color dancing in the gardens on all manner of amazing surfaces and sights. My eyes grew wide and my mind stagnated, there was so much, no, too much to focus on all at once. Plants larger than the queen herself reached high into the sky, reaching for the life giving rays of the sun. The canopy of the gardens broke apart light and shade, mixing and shading the colors about other trees, foliage, and the stream running off to our right.
All of the stunned and excited ponies about me cantered right into the buildings main entryway stretching into a long corridor, an expanse of polished opalescent marble walls and ceilings. Gold leaf covered statues of the Queen in regal, compassionate stances we placed throughtout half hall's length before lovely painted mosaics and murals took over the wall. The ceiling too swirled with a near tangible magic, displaying the lovely sunny morning with an azure sky and cotton white clouds.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, Blitz, hardly able to contain herself, galloped about our fellow pony students reading all of the different brass plaques sitting on pedestals describing the events memorialized in our young empire’s history. The other ponies were too dazzled at the grand corridor, their hooves moving forward without thought.
Passing one of the floor to ceiling windows, I glanced at it and my reflection stared back. I had always admired my luck gaining my fathers lovely coat of snowy white fur, I had prided myself in brushing when I got the chance. My brother had fashioned a brush from the a jaw bone and a comb from a rib cage of one of the cave creatures we hunted for sustenance. It was one of the few gifts he had given me, making it an irreplaceable treasure. I examined my mane, soft and slight shiny cerulean blue with small streaks of white that was parted so my long bangs curled over the right side of my face. The rest of it spilled my left shoulder only contained by a small black band that near the base of my mane. My tail, the same colors as my mane, fell in soft wavy length cropped two hooves height away from the ground.
"Stop staring Viri," Blitz teased "Ponies are going to think your vain." I yelped, cantering back to her side, softly banishing the mental image she had conjured. A whistle escaped my friends muzzle,drawing my honey gold hues to the life like sculptures, from one of Radiance raising a topaz jeweled sun to her smiling benevolently down on all races of ponies; unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies, leatherwings, and sea ponies. All of the smaller pony statues looking back up with pure joy and cheer sculpted across their faces and into their body language.
“No zebras,” Snickered a lavender mare with an amethyst and white main and tail, Apple Lance. The stallion she was speaking to, Party Ribbon, laughed heartily
“Not anymore,” he pointed a hoof at the final statue. “because of the mortal king.”
I couldn’t help myself, I had to look, and I’d never heard a mortal king… I’d never heard of any ruler that wasn’t an Alicorn. Way to go I chided myself, you should have done your homework, bought more books and newspapers on your nightly escapades. Annoyed, flicking my tail, I headed towards the stature Party Ribbon had pointed. A few steps away I noticed that Cobalt standing silent and still, a storm of emotion crackling behind his eyes as he looked up at the statue of the mortal king. His expression betraying pride and something bordering anger, following his gaze I drank in the sight.
A tall slate grey stallion, a unicorn, wearing crystalline plated armor and a centurions helm that half hid a battle frazzled charcoal and sapphire mane. His tail was bound to up tightly with crimson ribbon ending in a sizable mace head. A ball of metal with menacing spikes that, much to my shock, had included chucks of meat and striped foreleg bits still impaled onto those spikes. Cobalt stiffened realizing my proximity to him and the statue but his expression softened at me noticing my obviously racing mind.
“Don’t worry,” He said impassively, “you need not fear his wrath, my father’s heroism in the war saved the lives of thousands of ponies. He faced down the lich leading of the Tribe of Bones. It was one of his proudest moments and at the instance of Queen Radiance, this was made to honor here in the capital while being given kingship over the Crystal Mountain Empire. ” Cobalt had just a hint of a smile when I glanced back to the king’s statue, the eyes were glowing fiery emerald gems, a chill ran down my spine, it felt as though they were looking right at me, his muzzle open in a silent scream of fury defiantly . His forelegs were off the ground, rearing, and a large menacing crystal scythe magically floated above his head, ready to strike. On the statues base laid a zebra covered in tribal grasses and fetishes with a strange wooden animal mask the creature’s face staring up in terror at the King.
“He looks like a fierce warrior,” I replied, not really knowing what else to say. Cobalt looked at me, brow raised, giving me a ‘you have no idea’ look. Holding out a hoof, I tried again to introduce myself. “I’m Viridian Sky and I hail from the Mountains of the Heavens.” Cobalt looked at me then to my raised hoof, slowly he raised his own and shook my hoof.
“Pleasure to meet you, Viridian.” He said with a regal air about him.
“Just call her Viri!” Blitz butted in suddenly throwing her forelegs around Cobalt and my neck. “She’s just a bit of a silly, shy and….” She snickered, biting her lip until she burst out laughing, “Just a bit BATTY!” She let us go to finish the fits of giggles on the ground. Cobalt was brushing his shoulders and saddle bags off indignantly, I guessed he was upset for being hugged and interrupted. Still, he waited for the bubbly mare to finish and regain her hooves before looking back to me.
“As I was saying…I am Prince Cobalt Fyre of the noble Fyre Family, Guardians of the Northern Reaches of Everglow and Lords of Winter.”
“That’s a long name.” And, considering Cobalt was a prince, he seemed like a normal pony…at least as normal as any other pony I’d met so far in the empire aside from Blitz, she was eccentric and hyper yet that was what made her endearing. “Can I just call you Cobalt?” He paused and thought, finally nodding to me.
“Coby!” Blitz jumped up cheering until Cobalt caught the pony in his magic and levitated her over to him bringing them muzzle to muzzle, eyes narrowed sharply.
“No! You’re lucky that I’m allowing even the informality of Cobalt…no cutesy nicknames. Whatever Viridian allows is her business but such silliness is something I won’t tolerate. Are we clear?” He queried, looking at Blitz sternly. The mare was silent her face blank, muzzle hanging open slightly, her body seemingly deflated.
“Okies!” She said instantly bubbly and smiling widely again. “But I still want group hug rights,” She grinned slyly in attempt to barter waggling her hoof at Cobalt who face hoofed and sighed, unamused he floated Blitz onto the ground adding a few hooves distance before dissipating his telekinetic magic.
“Fine,” he groused, “Just give me a forewarn-” Blitz squeaked happily going to hug him until a lash of blue magic burst like a balloon and Cobalt appeared at my side, leaving Blitz just hugging air. Chuckling softly, I decided that I liked this unicorn no matter how serious he tried to be. “Come on Viridian, Blitz,” he trotted forward realizing that ponies were at the end of the corridor.
“Students,” a magically enhanced mare’s voice boomed, snapping all attention to another burst of rose colored magic as a Unicorn, Earth, and Pegasi pony trio appeared in the center of the group. Everypony backed up as they took in the newcomers. The Unicorn, a heavily scarred coral colored mare with a vanilla mane glared at the group, her right eye milky blue that betrayed her blindness. Her cutie mark of a rose, its petals all shaped like blades. “This is it…these are the ponies we’re supposed to mold the heralds of Radiance and defenders of the greater good?!” She scoffed and shook her head. The Pegasi flew up and assessed from above and nodded his assent to the Unicorn… then his eyes fell on Cobalt, Blitz, and I. I could see amusement in his violet eyes, the tan pegasi gliding to hover above us.
“We’ve got two royals and a bat pony, want me to handle them Rosy Petals?” he called to the Unicorn.
“Don’t be too mean Thunderlane,” She replied in a chiding motherly tone. Cobalt just stood, annoyance twitching above his brow before opening his muzzle to give his royal name and titles. Blitz waved cheerily and then introduced herself giving a grand sweeping bow before adding. “Official administrative aid and counsel pony for Princess Luminance, at your service!” I couldn’t understand how that pony smiled so much, I’m sure her face had to hurt… then again, she probably had years of practice the voice in the back of my head mused.
“You didn’t tell me you were royalty,” I whispered to Blitz, she just shrugged.
“You didn’t ask silly filly,” Cobalt and I groaned in unison as Thunderlane placed a hoof over his muzzle to stifle his laugh.
“And you are?” The pegasi continued, looking at me expectantly. I shrunk slightly wishing that I could soar up to the ceiling and cling behind the archways to hide. I could tell that these older ponies had to be some of the teachers or mentors and this was their moment to size us up and see who had potential and who was going to drag their hooves and take the easy way. Not wanting to make a bad impression to both the teachers and all my fellow students I tried, a bit uneasily, to stand and look as royal and noble as Cobalt when he spoke.
I introduced myself and puffed out my chest, not daring to break eye contact with the Thunderlane. His eyes lingered at mine for a few moments more before addressing the my friends and I. “Just cause your royalty or a rare race of pony doesn’t make you special, nor does it warrant you special treatment” Turning to Cobalt and Blitz he added “Your titles have been taken into account and your rooms will be furnished with what your titles a lot within Academy rules.” Thunderlane soared back over to the other teachers, nodding to them.
“I am Dark Draft, one of your three combat instructors.” The earth pony spoke up sounding like gravel grinding apart. The earth pony stallion, heavily built two heads taller than all of us, bucked his rear hooves into the large oak doors. They burst open sounding like a snap of thunder as sunlight radiated inwards blinding me momentarily. It was bright…too bright, I thought my wing flipping my bag open. I turned my head to Cobalt, lights dancing in my eyes, flashing each time I blinked.
“Cobalt, can you levitate my sun lenses on my face please.” I heard no response but soon cold steel glasses with darkened lenses floated onto my muzzle, shading my eyes from the suns harsh light. “Thank you!” I felt relief washing over me as I sighed and reoriented myself. Leatherwings like myself were perfectly fine in daylight but our eyes could only take its dawn and dusk rays. Having extra sensitive eyesight was going in a daylight oriented world was going to be different. Dark Draft nickered softly at the whispers that began to float from the group.
“Welcome to your first test.” An expansive grin stretched his muzzle. “Now run!” He bellowed, Thunderlane soaring behind us all and pushing us to gallop out into the light.
“Stay with me,” Cobalt yelled over the cacophony of hooves. We had all galloped into an arena, a sandy floor beneath our hooves and a tall marble wall encircling the grandiose coliseum. How were we supposed to fight if we have no weapons?
“Get ready Students,” I heard Rosy Petals voice boom the open sky above being covered in a magical force field, my guess for keeping in the pegasi and me. Dark Draft and Thunderlane were standing in the closest spectator stands two stories above us. “Let the test begin.” The whole group of ponies was lost, standing about and waiting for something to happen when a manticore burst into the arena in a magical crackle. I had only learned of these beasts from myMagical, Mysterious, and Murderous Monsters of Everglow book.
The beast stood three ponies high with a muscular body of a sandy colored lion with a rusty colored mane. Sharp fangs and claws came to bear as the manticore roared, its black veiny bat wings flaring. Then there was its rusty red scorpion tail that held a nasty poison that stated with paralysis and after time or repeated stings could lead to a comatose state or death. Though this manticore’s stinger was augmented, I hoped to spare us the painful and eventually fatal poison. “Your first test,” Rosy chimed, “take down this manticore with only your wits and raw talent or skill. Finally no healing potions all other items you have brought are free game. Impress us ponies and know that your Queen watches!”
“Fuck that!” A pony yelled galloping as his wings flapped strongly, he shot into the air only for the manticore to be hot on his tail. “Somepony HELP ME!” He screamed, voice echoing off the walls. I tossed my saddlebags aside, taking flight with the pegasi. Below I could hear Cobalt shouting over trying to be heard over other screaming ponies and the manticore's bellowing. Returning my attention the pursuit of the manticore, the pegasi who had tried to get away was now falling back to the earth, going limp in mid wing flap as his head turned to look behind him and a tortured expression on his face.
I realized with a pang of sadness that he was Party Ribbon. Moments before he splattered into the sands, Apple Lance, his compatriot grabbed him and flew him towards a Candy Cane colored pony below with a caduceus for a cutie mark. The knot in my throat loosening for a moment until the manticore stopped suddenly, spinning about and striking out with claws, fangs, and tail.
I saw the ponies ahead turn to fly back but I sped forward, slamming into the creature's chest with my hooves its claws raking across my sides drawing blood and staining my snowy white coat. "It got another one, with its poison" one of the pegasi spat loudly as the creature fell back, another two pegasi out of the fight, I thought bitterly one more wounded, one more to help the only medical pony and I was fairing no better with my blood loss. Down below ponies that had brought weapons brandished them in fury of waiting, unicorns that had the ability tried to grab the manticore with telekinesis, hit it with elemental spells, or anything that they could. Everypony was desperate to help and fight. Cobalt had conjured orbs of flame, magically blasting as Blitz held a longsword in her teeth a snarl on her face and her body tensed, it was then that an epiphany hit me.
"Cobalt," I yelled, "Get the unicorns ready to hold this fucker down and blast him when it hit the sands. Blitz have all the ponies with weapons get ready to use them and those without go help the wounded and medical ponies." Both nodded. "The pegasi and I are gonna drive him into the ground!" I looked back and the pegasi nodded. "Just follow my lead."
We watched the manticore right itself and stopping it from smashing into the Colosseum wall, it snarled furiously, but instead of coming after me and the other pegasi it turned eyes to the others and swooped off on a strafing run. Things are already not going to plan? Come on! "Let's go," I shouted pulling my wings to my sides and falling fast after our target, we needed to end this before a pony lost their life. How could Radiance; a kind, loving, and compassionate Queen condone this?!
The manticore flew through a group of ponies snatching one in its claws, slicing up its shoulders and stinging another limp into the sand. Still valiantly others slashed with swords, daggers and any manner of weapon they had. Cobalt levitated a group of brilliant ruby and sapphire crystal shards into the air then all of them slammed together forming into a crystal great spear, he shouted at the creature drawing the beasts attention and hurled the spear the tip coalescing buring blue flames. I cheered watching the weapon strike home in the manticore's breast, its fur singeing and a strangling cry echoed out hurting my ears. "Just a few more seconds," I whispered seeing Blitz cut the creature's Achilles tendons with her blade and buck hard sending it flying up into the air.
"Now's your chance !" Blitz screamed. With the manticore moving towards us I waited until the last second, spinning to slam my rear hooves into its face. The other pegasi doing the same as we slammed the creature back into the ground creating a bone crunching Snap! Landing, we watched the others descend upon it each striking damaging or fatal blows until the carcass before them sat unmoving.
"Back up everypony." Cobalt commanding stepping before the corpse, his horn glowed weapon coming free with a squelch from corpse's chest. Once the weapon was just crystals and placed back in his saddlebags, he set the body aflame. Many of the ponies cheered, others just stood there a bit in shock. Blitz walked over to me, her teeth still gripping her long sword but her expression was of utter confusion.
"ei phought ew aww gawt hert." she said before dropping her weapon to speak more understandably, pointing to my coat and the then to injured ponies. "I thought you all got hurt?" It was as if she were far away speaking to me through thick fabric. This had been my real fight for my life, first time spilling blood and killing not in the pursuit of food. The first time for many of us, I surmised noting that half the ponies looked like I felt. Ponies aren't supposed to kill with no reason. A test,. I growled to myself. was not a reason.
"You're right my little pony," A honey sweet voice said behind me, whipping around wings flared wide and my own fangs bared. I looked upon source of the voice, and instantly fell silent my words strangled in my throat.
"Queen Radiance, Goddess of the Sun and Queen of Everglow." Cobalt said calmly where my voice had failed and trotted to stand on my right, levitating my saddlebags on my back and magically dusting sand of them. I just stood there, my hooves frozen in place. He then gave a royal bow a much more controlled one than I had seen Blitz give earlier.
"Your Majesty," I heard Blitz say as she stood to my left.
"What..." I heard myself say, my body trembling. "What did you say?!" Radiance smiled, she was more gorgeous in front of me than any book or glimpse from far away betrayed.
"I said, You're right my little pony." She nodded thoughtfully to herself. "Ponies are not supposed to kill without reason but you had a greater reason than my instructors just telling you to do so, isn't that right?"
