Equis Art Online

As the train rolled slowly into the station, a few ponies were starting to notice the stormclouds that were gathering. As the group and the ponies woke up, they walked out onto the platform. By this time, it had begun to rain heavily. Several ponies were now ducking inside, and Asuna had to chant a water resistance spell to keep the group from being soaked. As they walked into the train station, they were greeted by Celestia, Luna, Armor, and Cadance, who had a nice reunion with Twilight.

"You sleep alright? You looked pretty torn up when I last saw you." Armor said to Asuna, who shrugged.

"Nothing a good night's rest won't fix. To answer your question, I slept fine."

"Sounds good, Asuna, was it?" Cadance asked.

"Yes. How'd you know my name?"

"Twi sent us a letter with a list of your names, just so we could skip introductions." Armor said, and Asuna nodded, seeing the point. Aries turned to Celestia.

"Those storm clouds don't look friendly. Seems like a hurricane's brewing to me. And trust me, IRL, we live in a rather storm-prone nation."

"The Pegasi can handle it. They usually are able to control the storm clouds..." Celestia started, but at that moment, a Pegasi pony in blue clothing flew in, followed by two others in similar clothing.

"Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot. What happened?" Celestia asked, shocked The ponies's uniforms were drenched, and they looked rather winded.

"Those clouds. We couldn't move them at all. It's like they didn't exist. Whenever we got close to them, the winds intensified. Almost like they were alive!" the lead one said, taking off her glasses, revealing a bright orange coat and red hair.

"Interesting..." Luna said, then the winds intensified, and Aries sped towards the window for a better look. The group of ponies and fairies then heard an audible screech over the gale, like metal on a chalkboard.

"What's that?" Fluttershy stammered.

"TORNADO! Headed right for us!" Aries yelled. As the ponies hid, the group stayed in the open. Asuna chanted resistance spells, and as the buffs took effect, the Tornado reached the city limits. Then, Silica cried out.

"IT's GROWING ARMS!"

And sure enough, two separate cyclones formed and quickly turned into skeletal, wind-covered limbs. Then, a massive vortex appeared in the front of the tornado, and what looked like a jagged mouth and eyes appeared, gleaming obsidian black. It opened its mouth and roared a deafening screech. Then, the cyclone exploded around half-way up, revealing a skeleton like body, with two tornadoes for legs. As the storm started to intensify, it reached the train station, and grasping the roof, pulled it clean off. Roaring at the group, it raised its hand, ready to crush them. Twilight shot a bolt of magic at it, but it simply dissipated due to the sheer power of the winds. Kirito growled, and summoning his two longswords, sped outside, followed by the group. Staying inside the station, Sinon readied her bow while Asuna readied her sword in one hand and her staff in the other. As the group prepared themselves, three HP bars and a boss marker appeared, followed by a name.

THE THOUSAND WINDS

As the ponies gasped at the boss, it roared once again. Kirito growled and he began to charge straight at it, readying a fire sword skill. The boss scowled and drew in a deep breath. It exhaled, sending a massive vortex of air towards him. Kirito was thrown backwards, sending him through the window. Leafa yelled and charged at the boss, slicing a gash straight across the boss's face. It recoiled in shock, and seizing the chance, Klein, Silica, and Lisbeth charged as well. Silica leaped off the wall of the train station, then she sliced clean down the boss's front. Lisbeth charged a sword skill and slammed her mace straight into the boss's right arm, impaling it in the process. Klein jumped and slashed straight down the boss's left arm, cutting a huge gash. The boss roared, its first HP bar depleted. Yui then cried out form her perch on Asuna's shoulder.

"Cyclone storm attack in three seconds!"

Kirito growled.

"Two!"

The group readied themselves.

"One!"

The Thousand Winds sucked in a huge breath.

"ZERO!"

The boss exhaled violently, causing a massive vortex of air to speed straight towards the train station. Celestia shot a pillar of light into the sky, and a shield came up, only to be smashed to pieces by the attack. As the building collapsed, Kirito and the others stood in shock, only to hear a "pop!" and the ponies, Yui, Sinon, and Asuna were standing outside, with a severely exhausted Twilight.

"Did she just teleport them out?" Aries said while he braced his sword against the boss's right fist, which was about to crush him.

"Yep." Twilight gasped out before she collapsed. Armor and Cadance's horns glowed, and the wreckage formed into a U-shaped wall. Armor yelled over the din.

"She's fine! Kill that thing!"

Kirito gave Armor a thumbs-up, and he smiled.

"With pleasure."

As the group charged again, the boss roared, and sent two separate tornadoes hurtling towards them. Kirito, leading the group, slashed through them, and continued to charge. Readying his left longsword, he cloaked it in flame and thrusted it several times, before slashing a horizontal cut deep into the boss's body. Then, channeling a second skill, he jumped up and slashed down the boss's spine. As it roared in Agony, it raised its hands above its head, and a huge vortex appeared. Then, lowering it like a cannon, aimed it at the fairy swordsmen. Growling, a horizontal blast of air sent the group flying backwards, dealing severe damage to them. Then, a stream of fire arrows impaled themselves in the boss's forehead. Sinon charged and jumped, climbing the boss's rib-cage like a ladder. Leaping to the nape of the boss's neck, she readied an Ice arrow. Shooting it straight through, she leaped up and over the boss's head, landing next to Kirito. The boss roared as the ice surrounding the wound exploded, dealing massive damage and draining the second health bar. Kirito looked to the group, and yelled.

"Hit it now! Hit it as hard as you can!"

As the group charged, Asuna drew her sword and sped towards the group. Leaping, she drove her blade straight through the Wind's face. Pulling it out and spinning at the same time, she split the boss's face in two, followed by a cone of yellow energy enveloping the boss. Leaping back, she watched as Silica drove her dagger three times in successive thrusts into the boss's legs. As the boss toppled, Leafa slashed five times, followed by a large thrust that impaled the boss's spine. As it tried to stand up, Lisbeth dove in from above and slammed her charged mace deep into the crack generated by Leafa's thrust. Roaring louder than it did before, it tried to stand up again, only to have three repeated slashes from Klein's katana carve themselves deep. As the boss reached the last sliver of health, Aries rushed forward suddenly, and jumped into the air. Then, he began to slash, carve, and gouge with blasts of wind echoing the damage. Then, he dived and drove his sword straight into the crippled boss. As the boss roared even louder, Aries twisted his sword and pulled up and out, slicing the spine in two. As the boss's last sliver of health disappeared, it disintegrated into the familiar blue and green particles. Then, the clouds began to clear, and the message of CONGRATULATIONS! appeared, the group celebrated;. Klein stormed his way over to Aries, who was sheathing his longsword.

"What the hell was that?" Klein said, drawing the ponies's and the group's attention. Aries sighed.

"Do I really have to explain? That, my friends, was my most powerful Original Sword Skill, Wind's Edict."

"Wind's Edict?" Klein said, stammering.

"Yep. Long story abut how I did it."

"That had to be AT LEAST 7 hits! That was INCREDIBLE!" Silica said, and Pina crowed approvingly.

"9, actually." he said sheepishly.

"Regardless, that was impressive. So, what now?" he said, turning to the ponies that were walking up.

"We head to the palace for the conference. I think the nobles are now EVEN MORE in debt to you." Celestia said, and the fairies laughed, along with the group. As they departed, a familiar face watched from a castle window. A white lab coat complemented his tan coat and black hair. He smiled at the familiar faces of the group.

"Guess we'll be meeting sooner than I thought, Asuna and Kirito." he smiled, then he walked off the balcony and towards the conference room.