Defense of a New World

As their blades clashed Venrus just smiled. This new fighter was strong judging by how much force he was able to put into a dash strike. Plus, just by looking at him, Venrus could see Shining's mana pool was very extensive thanks to his mana sight.

Shining caught Venrus' smile and growled "What are you smiling for monster?"

"I be smilin' because a fighter wid some real talent decided to finally face me." Venrus then disappeared popping up right behind Shining, slashing him acrossed the back. The blow pushed Shining forward and threw him to the ground while Venrus just stood their waging a finger. "Ya got a mighty fine weapon and some descent armor but ya don't have any real combat experience."

Shining roared and charged bringing his sword down in an over head swing but Venrus just knocked the blow to the side and slashed Shining acrossed the back again. "Yer too wrapped up in yer anger boy and will get you killed on da battle field. Ya need to calm yerself and come at me with yer best otherwise dis fight wont be any fun."

"You think this is fun! You have dark magic in you, I can feel it from here. We are trying to stop you and help by taking it away because it is illegal. You fight us and kill and hurt many of the guard and you think this is fun?" Shining began to channel his magic into his sword.

"Ah but ya see dere in lies the problem, I'm not from dis world. I was sent here and have no idea how or why. So let me ask ya what makes ya think I would know yer laws and customs. Where I'm from dark magic is used by dose dat want to. We fight monsters from da wilds, dragons from da mountains, both demons and angles from both heaven and hell. When we weren't doing dose we were helping villages by completing quests dey gave us for gold and supplies. Our lives were a daily struggle against others like us just to survive. In a world like dat it was power equaled strength and with strength ya lived. Dere were no rules, ya did what ya had to so ya could survive. In a world like dat it's hard to stay sane so I became a fighter. I live for it and I stood at the top with my brodas and sistas as one of the strongest guilds in da land. So yes I find dis very amusing."

Twilight had told them that he was from a different world but Shining could not believe it and now here he is talking about a life so harsh one could and would do anything to live another day. Shining felt bad and could not fathom what such a life could lead to but here it was a different story and he had to uphold the law.

"Be that as it may you are in our land now and we do not allow the use of dark magic here, it is forbidden with good reason. Just stand down and let use help you. If not then we must do this the hard way. "Shining leveled his sword at Venrus once more the blade now pulsing with power.

"Ya can not free me from dis burden even if though I want to be free from it. So we fight and let the victor decide what is right and wrong." Venrus sighed and then vanished.

Shining threw up a force field and Venrus' strike hit it instead, and much to his surprise the strike left a grove in the shield. Shining then shot a blast through the shield at Venrus only to watch as he used his cape to block the attack. The magic used from his failed attack hung in the air till it was drawn into Venrus' cape. "How are you able to do this, my shields are the strongest in the land besides the Princesses and that was a fifth tier magic blast."

"My blade is call Mountain Heart, it was forged by a master smith wid da very metal dat forms around da heart of a dead titan class metal dragon. I also made runes and had dem laid into da blade as it was forged making it very strong against magic. My armor is made from dragon bone and scales making it very strong against physical blows. Da purple cloth ya see was made from arcane shrouds taken from Fallen Angles and infused wid Mana Wraith dust. Doing dis makes it resistant to tier six and lower magic and if it does get hit by dem it blocks da spell and absorbs da mana used adding it to my own mana pool." Venrus stated as he and Shining traded blows.

"That is impossible, there are no spells higher then tier six!" Shining teleported behind Venrus and slashed him acrossed his back making him howl in pain.

Venrus quickly rolled forward to avoid Shining's next blow and turned to him. "Oh really den it looks like I got da upper hand. Here let me show ya some tier eight magic."

Shining quickly threw up his city protection spell and condensed it around himself. " I will call your bluff Venrus this is my city shielding spell that I can hold for days while it is being attack and I condensed it making it many times stronger."

Venrus just gave a deep throated laugh. "Triple Maximize Magic! Reality Slash!" A harsh magical aura formed around him till it was all pushed into his hand. He then he swung it, sending a wave of pure magic at Shining.

Shining held his ground believing this to be an act but he was not ready for when the attack passed right threw his shield as if it was wet paper. The attack ripped threw his left shoulder and pauldron and then out the back of the shield with the same resistance, none. Shining dropped to the ground screaming as his pauldron fell away and blood gushed into the air from the wound.

Venrus walked over to Shining and knelt down. "Ya see boy dere are dings out dere in the world even ya don't know. Magic levels go all da way up to tier ten and dere are even some very rare Super tier magic spells I know. Plus dere are things beyond dose. World Class items! Dings so powerful dey change da reality of the world wid dere use."

Shining stabbed Venrus in the gut and looked up to him with pure rage as his eyes glowed white. "Well then I guess I better kill you before you can use such things."

Venrus jumped away and looked to Shining as he stood up, his wound closing as he did. "Heal!" Placing his hand over his gut closing his own wound. "Dat was a dirty trick boy but dat's fine if ya want to play dat way lets play."

Shining teleported next to Venrus and slashed at him but he teleported away. Shining looked for Venrus and found him next to the castle walls.

"Greater Speed Up! Greater Agility Up! Strength Up! Dark Punishment!" Venrus flashed blue, green, red, and then a dark aura formed around him. "Lets go whelp."

The battle was on and it was a fierce thing to behold. The warriors teleported about slashing and clashing their blades. The only way anypony could tell where they were was because of the sparks and shock waves that were being sent out as they did so. Powerful and mighty spells were being traded from both sides and it took the three Princesses present to hold up a shield strong enough to not let the innocent get caught up in the furry that was raging before their eyes. Venrus was a master on the battle field, using everything in his book to combat Shining Armor even going as far as to use very potent dark magic. His every movement was as graceful as it was precise.

Though Shining did not have Venrus' years of battle experience he was doing great against his foe. The harsh training and dedication was what lead him to be Captain of the Royal Guard, but now thanks to his rage shift he was able to match Venrus blow for blow both physical and magic. Shining's magic was now even able to get threw Venrus' defenses thanks to the added power. Though there was a problem, from the moment Shining landed his first hit against Venrus, the dark aura that was around him moved to Shining and now every time Shining scores a hit he receives the same.

Shining's rage was finally pushed far enough to were he was able to break the dark aura. Though he nearly lost his life twice to the Hell Fire Venrus had released which still burned on as they kept fighting. The fierce battle had gone on for awhile now. Venrus used a light spell to blind everypony, when the light faded it was apparent that he and Shining had healed themselves though they still looked horrible and exhausted . Deep cuts and gashes riddled their forms, as well as burns and all manner of other wounds caused by the spells they were using. But now, just before the sun was to begin to set, Shining had done it. In a stupid and desperate move Shining had let Venrus pierce his side and took hold of his blade. Before anything else could be done Shining slashed him acrossed the chest and released the pent up magic in his blade leaving a gaping wound on his foe.

Venrus sat on his knees as blood pored from his wound and Shining stood there panting looking upon the greatest foe he ever faced. "Any....last words.....be....before I end this." Shining then lifted his blade high into the air as he tried to catch his breath.

Barb was trashing and screaming like a mad mare trying to get free. Everypony watched on as Venrus coughed up a huge amount of blood as he spoke. "By our pact I call on ya to save my life!"

Shining looked at him in confusion lowering his sword. "We hold no pact."

Venrus just picked up his bow and it shrank to its smaller from. "With my blood I break yer seals and wid my flesh I play yer host! Wid a clear mind and a dying heart I beg for yer mercy and forgiveness as I give way to possession!" Venrus then raised the bow high and thrust it into his chest.

Shining jumped back and everypony gasped at this, everypony but Barb. She cried out and let loose a magical blast throwing Rainbow Dash and Applejack off her. She ran to the edge of the shield and cried out. Then their shock turned to fear as Venrus began to laugh like a mad stallion, all the while coughing up blood. "May the moon have mercy on your souls!" Shining went to strike the finishing blow but stopped and had to flee as the hell fire that lingered on the field was drawn into Venrus. His form quickly consumed by the dark and unforgiving flame.

A deep and terrible voice filled the air with a dark and wicked laugh as the flames danced and pulsed wildly. Then they grew and began to take form. The flames looked to be a great wolf that stood on its hind legs twice as tell as Shining himself. Though the tail looked to be like that of a serpent and horns spouted from its head. The flaming form lifted its head and laughed into the air with the same terrible bone chilling laugh they heard before. The flames then began to fall and fly away into the air looking like black rose petals revealing flesh and bone.

True to the flaming visage granted to them, this was a true monster that stood before them. Fur darker then the night covered its form. A long black serpent like tail with a blade at the end whipped wildly behind it. Long lanky arms were lifted into the air as it roared and one great green eye could be seen on its face. Darkness fell from the beast in waves and a sickly miasma filled the air as it breathed. Hell Fire ran off the top of its head and down its back like a mane. The same flames sat on its shoulders, wrists and ankles as well. It turned and looked to the ponies and they knew that the thing that now stood before them was a true beast of the darkness, a monster from the pits themselves.

A deep baritone voice rumbled from its chest as it spoke in a voice that was Venrus' mixed with whatever this thing was. "I thank you all for your help." it bowed to them moving one of its lanky arms over its chest. "In all the years since that fool found my bow and made the pact with me he has never used his dark powers I granted him more then he has today unless he was fighting a dragon on his own. He has never once in his life ever aloud me out and now after all these years he finally lets me out to play. So again I thank you."

Celestia could not stand it, this beast of darkness mocked and thanked them. "How are you here foul creature, your kind should be locked in the pits where you belong. Where is Venrus and what have you done to him."

"Me, I have done nothing." The creature put a hand on its chest and gave a look of being hurt. "It is you that drove him to set me free. He has done nothing but help you and be as friendly as possible. You attack and call him monster just because of what I did to him."

"Speak plainly you abomination!" Luna roared.

"I am Eligos the great demon general, guardian of the Forbidden City and keeper of the hell flame. I am Venrus and Venrus is me. Though I am sure the little draconian girl can tell you what is going on. After all her and Venrus have been getting really close what with him being her teacher and what not." Eligos stated pointing at Barb.

"Barb what does this creature mean you know why it's here?" Celestia walked over and put a hand on Barb's shoulder to get her attention, but never took her eyes off the monster as it moved its body about.

"What that thing is deals with why Venrus is blind and has dark magic. We have gotten very close because of all the time he spends teaching me and I got him to tell me what happened. Venrus lost his wife and daughters to a horrible accident and swore never to let another fall while he had the power to do something about it. Well one day while exploring a cave with his brothers they ran into a dragon. They tried to reason with it and leave but it attacked. No matter what they did they could not hurt it because it was corrupted by demonic magic. Only the power of a stronger demon or angle could harm the beast. When all hope seemed lost and they were about to meet their end. Venrus was thrown into the dragons hoard. Where he found...."

"Me!" Everypony turn to Eligos. "You see I made my way to the surface world once and was attacked and imprisoned in that bow by mortals. The dragon killed them took me and threatened to hold me forever if I did not teach it my ways so it could become stronger. While they fought the dragon I did all I could to call out to them but nothing worked. Then he landed on me. I told him I could give him the power needed to slay the beast and save his family, all it would cost him was his eyes." He lifted a hand to his face covering his eye and laughing to the heavens. "He took my deal and I flooded him with my power ripping his vision from him and told him he could never have them back till he found a way to truly free me from my prison. Ever since then he has made it his personal mission to wipe dragons from the face of existence. You know he actually hates me and the gift I gave him. He never uses them unless he has to or he's fighting a dragon. Yet here you all are calling a hero to millions a monster, and criminal just because he holds me." Everypony gasped "Oh yes that's right, Venrus is innocent. The only thing dark about him is me and now you have caused him to give his body up to me so I can save him."

Before anything else could be done a young earth pony guard rushed the demon and with his great sword slashed its side. The blade stopped moving once it was half way into the demons side. Then to their horror hell fire burst from the wound and it began to close forcing the blade back out. Eligos looked to the young guard and smiled sadistically "Stupid mortal you don't have the power to kill me!" Then he smack him with the back of his hand, just a simple smack. It destroyed the side of the guards helm and sent him flying where he impacted the castle wall head first with a sickening crunching sound.

Eligos then looked around the battle field and his great eye landed on Shining Armor. "So your the mortal that wounded my charge so? I must commend you boy, Venrus has never had to use possession against a mortal before, let alone this stage two form. Well done , well done indeed!" He clapped his hands and smiled sweetly at Shining. Then his expression took a dark turn "So for that you will be the next to die!" Before Shining could so much as blink Eligos was behind him. He slashed at Shining's armored back, tearing it to pieces as he sent him flying.

Shining hit the ground some yards away, rolling to a stop. Eligos slowly approached him as he tried to stand. Before the demon took his fourth step the ten remaining guards jumped between them. Eligos just smirked "Leave children I have no business with you. Just him and the fools that ordered this attack. Stand aside and I will spare you." The guards said nothing but stood their ground. "Fine! He will hate me more for this but I will end you since you wish to die so badly." Eligos held his hands out to the side and a ball of hell fire formed in each hand. " Crimson-black rage, king of shadow realms though I abandon the laws of nature. I am the shadow of destruction incarnate, in accordance with the principles of all creation let the blade of darkness descend unto me! Hell Fire Cannon!" Balls of hell fire continued to form as he spoke till an arch went from one hand to the other. Thrusting his hands forward all the fire merged into one large ball, then blasted forward into a beam. It hit home throwing up a lot of dust and once it settled only burned husks remained.

Eligos walked over and picked up the former Captain of the Guard as he spoke. "You will pay for this and Venrus will be put to the executioner's axe for his part in this."

He just smiled at Shining "Well then its a good thing I'm going to kill you all then, isn't it?"

Twilight, try as she might, could not get threw the force field made by Celestia and Luna. All she could do is watch as her brother was held in the air by his mane as the sun set behind them giving a shadowy view of what was to come. Eligos let Shining fall only to impale him on his arm threw the chest. Twilight screamed in pain and rage as her brother screamed, coughing up blood as it gushed out in a torrent around the demons arm. Then his form went limp, Eligos looked to the ponies and threw Shining at them blood splattering on the force field once he hit it.

His lifeless form landed in front of Twilight. As she looked into his lifeless eyes she could not help by cry out "What have I done?" Then she heard Eligos laughing and she looked to the demon in pure rage. "NO, What have you done!" A pulse of magic was sent out from her as she screamed shattering the barrier. She rose into the air magic forces swirled around her and with a mighty scream she unleashed a beam of pure white hot magic.

"So your next then?" Eligos lifted his hand as it was coated in dark flames "Spell Break!" He swung his hand just as the beam was to reach him. Once his hand met the beam they fought for control till the beam froze mid air. Dark cracks raced from where his hand was up to Twilight's horn and he smirked. The beam began to shatter and fall to the ground like glass and then he spoke "Dark Punishment!" All the shards of Twilight's spell formed into a ball of dark magic and slammed into her. Knocking her from the air as she screamed.

Celestia and Luna ran to her only to find her well as she began to sit up. Luna pulled Twilight close and held her, but they saw a crack running down the length of Twilights horn making the use of magic impossible till it was healed. Celestia let loose a beam of her own as she roared "You will pay for harming my student!"

Eligos was ready for this and loosed another Hell Fire Cannon. The two beams fought for power but then Luna fired her beam as well, screaming "You will pay for harming my love!" Very quickly their two beams together began to push back Eligos'.

"Blood Call!" very quickly all the blood from the battle field pooled into an orb in Eligos' hand "Power Drain!" The blood ran into the demon making it grow a bit and then he poured more power into his spell halting the Princesses beam. "Ya know there's a romance in darkness, it draws out ones curiosity and beckons a desire to taste the unknown. I will now show you that darkness!"

Eligos's beam began to push the Princesses back and they did the one thing they have not done since they fought Discord without the Elements of Harmony. They called upon the power of their forces of nature giving them greater strength. It took the Princesses no time to over power the demon. Once his beam was push back he bellowed "I'll be back, you haven't seen the last of me!" then he blew up flaming embers drifted in the air.

As the smoke from the explosion settled a groan was heard. Everypony turned to see Venrus sitting in the hole caused by the blast with his armor torn apart. As the Princesses readied another blast barb quickly threw herself onto him making him groan more as she hugged him tightly. "Barb get away from him, he is dangerous!" Twilight howled.

"No, you all are trying to kill an innocent man that has done no wrong! I will not stand for it!" Green flames covered her hands as she began to heal his wounds that the demon did not.

"He killed our brother does that mean nothing to you?" Twilight screamed.

"Of course it does but you left him no choice in the matter. Had you sat down and talked with him you would know that. Besides Venrus can fix this." Barb looked to him questionably "Can't you?"

"Aye I can but I need all da bodies and injured in one place and da missing limbs will need to be reattached first." Venrus heaved as he struggled to form words.

Celestia stepped forward drawing her claymore. "We will not allow you to turn them into undead, that is no life!"

Venrus rose to his feet and roared "I don't know necromancy. What I intend to do is fix yer mess. I will not have the blood of countless innocent on my hands because of yer foully."

"Barb move away from him now!" Luna drew her scythe.

"No if you intend to harm him further you will have to hurt me too." Barb stood next to Venrus and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"Then so be it! I will not suffer this monster to live!" Everypony looked to her in shock as she readied a beam. Hi in the sky Luna's moon sat, darkened by her anger. With out anypony seeing it all the darkness pulled into one spot and fired a beam down to earth. The beam hit not but two feet away from Luna. Everypony looked to see the beam coming from her moon and was shocked. "It is not possible I did not do that!"

"No, ya didn't, I did." Venrus held out a small black orb and it slowly turn white as the darkness faded from the moon. "Dis is da Dark Moon Jewel. When da moon is at its darkest I can fire it as a beam of pure dark magic danks to this world class item." Venrus looked to them with pleading eyes and in a sad voice spoke "please let me fix this I don't want deir blood on my hands I can help dem."

"Please mom let him do this. Enough blood has been spilt because you all acted without first knowing what was truly going on." Barb look to Celestia.

"Fine I will do as he asks but if I sense anything wrong I will end him and wipe your mind of everything from when you first met." Celestia then began to voice her commands. All the while Venrus was talking to Barb with his back turned to everypony else.

Not long after, all the injured were on one side of the ravaged land and the dead with their missing limbs reattached on the other. Venrus slowly walked over to them and reached into the dark fog like so many times before and drew out two staffs. The first he pushed into the ground looked to be an extremely old tree branch and gave off a green energy. The other was made of light crystal and had a huge wing on the top as it gave off a soft golden glow. "Dis is da branch of an elder tree, it can heal any wound received regardless of how bad it is." He pointed to the first staff. "And dis is da Staff of Revival, given to dose whom have done a great service for da Angle of Death himself. Forged from Heaven Crystal and one of Deaths wings."

Venrus then took both staffs in his hands and began to pour the last of his mana into them. A dome of green and golden light soon covered the area. Those that were injured were soon fully healed and those that were dead soon began to rise. Shining armor was the last to rise and once he did the dome disappeared. Everypony looked on in awe at the sight before them and then heard a thump. They turned to see Venrus passed out on the ground. "Sees him this instant!" Luna Bellowed.

"No!" Barb yelled getting to Venrus first and taking him into her arms. "I will not let you have him!" She quickly pulled out a stone and smashed it on the ground. Behind them a portal appeared and they all new where it led because of the horrible screaming coming from it.

Barb quickly walked into it with Venrus before anypony could get to them and the portal closed. Twilight and Shining both bore a face of sadness. While Celestia felt like she had lost her daughter. "Shining Armor how do you feel?"

Shining began to move around "I feel fine, tired but fine."

"I say we should take those artifacts in for study to see if their power can be replicated." Luna said.

"I'm awful sorry Princess but that wont be happenin'." Applejack stated while pointing. Where the staffs stood there was only a small sapling left and the other was fading out of existence.

Luna growled in anger "Fine then what are our loses."

The guard quickly looked around before one spoke "There is only one Princess the young pegasus that was shattered after being turned to ice. His name was Storm Race."

Everypony felt bad not only had they hurt and misjudged Venrus without getting all the facts, but he had beat them at their own game going as far as to save the lives of all whom was forced against him. And now because of them a young stallion was cut down in the prime of his life and they had lost not just one of their own but a potential ally that shown he could do the impossible.

"AAAHHHHH! I can't take this. Not only did he get away but he showed us up. In the end he was not even at fault for what he is and now I feel like crap." Rainbow stood there panting.

"Better?" Pinkie asked as she gave her friend a hug.

"Yes, I am. But now there is something I want to know." She turned to Twilight and Luna whom were holding each other. "When did you two hook up?"

Both the Princesses grew a mighty blush before teleporting away. The girls gave chase and the guard slowly left leaving a very stunned Shining Armor and Celestia by themselves. Celestia was the first to recover and patted Shining on the back. "Go home to your wife Shining and rest. I'm sure she will want to hear the news."

"You know we will need to do something about this. We were wrong and have hurt someone powerful enough to rival any of you. He could turn out to be the tipping point in any war be it with or agents us. Plus he has family and servants that are just like him." Shining stated as he looked around the once lush garden.

"Yes, I know. But we must give them time. I'm sure one day he will forgive us but I fear I have lost my daughter for good." Before anything else could be said Celestia teleported way.

Shining sighed and began to walk to the train station.

Deep within the Everfree Forest Barb and Venrus were dropped into the Keeps throne room. Soon everyone cam rushing over asking what happened. Barb explained as best she could and soon order was restored by Darthus. They took Venrus to his room to rest after Darthus forced him to drink a healing potion. His daughters and Darthus were the only ones present as Barb explained everything to them. Once she was done she and his daughters crawled into bed and held him close. Darthus left to explain what happened to the rest of the staff.

To say they were pissed would be an understatement, some were even calling for a siege on the city for what was done to their master. Darthus however would not let them do a thing until Venrus was awake and gave them orders. The only thing he allowed was the Keeps defenses to be brought online and everyone dressed in their armor with guard patrols to take shifts.