Her Guardian Within the Shadow

Chapter Thirty-Three

Both Night Claw and Swift Blade breathed heavily, the two Night Guards were forced to remain on a defensive position. They couldn’t risk a chance that Night Reaper getting a strike on them with either his scythe or a fist, the Twisted Astartes’ strength far greater than normal and extremely lethal to their current forms.

“We’ll have to transform… Soon.” Swift Blade said, looking at Night Claw. “If we’re going to win this.”

Night Claw nodded to his Battle Brother, in agreement. “Y-Yeah, I know… We need to lead him away from all this before that, though.” He said, looking at the other Night Guard. “We can’t risk causing too much of a scene or somepony finding out who we really are.” Swift Blade nodded, before sounds of heavy foot falls filled their ears.

“I’m still here you know!!” Night Reaper roared, leaping into the air with his scythe ready to strike. The two Night Guards scattered, Night Claw going one way while Swift Blade going the other, just before the scythe dug into the ground. The twisted Astartes began to laugh at their reaction, ripping his scythe from the ground. “What’s wrong, Night Guard? Afraid to get close? Afraid I’ll break every bone in your pathetic little bodies?” He asked them, looking at the two stallions one by one. “Why not even the playing field? Transform, show this world your real selves instead of continuing this farce?” Night Reaper stabbed the scythe into the ground looking at them. “It isn’t fun torturing the two of you, if there is no challenge behind it.”

“You want a challenge? I’ll give you one!” Swift Blade yelled, readying his blade and charging the twisted Astartes.

“Swift Blade, no!” Night Claw yelled, opening his wings and soaring straight for Night Reaper. He knew that tactic, it was a taunt. Any real blademaster would, proud of their skill, would have fallen for it.

Night Reaper grinned behind his helmet, readying his scythe for the two Night Guards. “Got you.” He muttered, before turning to face Night Claw first! He tossed the scythe up, grabbing the butt of his weapon, and gave it a wide side swing.

This forced the Terror Guard to break his own attack, having to fly upwards and away from the side swiping attack. “Too close!” His mind yelled, right after the scythe blade cut a few hairs off of his tail’s end. But his mind went straight into a panic, as he watched the next action in slow motion.

Night Reaper, using the momentum of his war scythe, slowly turned to face the still oncoming Swift Blade. The twisted Astartes balling his gauntleted hand into a fist, while bringing it to his right shoulder guard. Allowing his scythe to slow him down, forcing all the momentum into his left arm, Night Reaper swung his fist out! “This is pay back, whelp!” With that, he allowed his fist to go and right into Swift Blade’s side! Night Claw heard the crunch and crack of bones breaking, even as the blademaster was sent flying into the ground and slammed right into a tree!

“Swift Blade!” Night Claw yelled, redirecting his flight straight to the fallen Night Guard. Quickly landing, and checking up on his comrade. “Swift Blade, are you alright?” He said, seeing the deep, dark, fist-mark bruise on the stallion’s left side from Night Reaper’s hammer like strike.

The stallion coughed up blood, allowing it to splatter on to the grass in front of him, as he groaned in sheer pain. “Bastard… Got me.” He growled, trying to move but had a sharp pain explode throughout his body. “I don’t know… How many bones I just broke from that stunt.”

“You just rest, Swift Blade.” Night Claw slowly turned to face the advancing Astartes, who was simply walking with his scythe across his back, and flared both wings out. “I’ll try and hold him off, until help arrives.”

Swift Blade lifted his head, weakly, off the ground. “Are you an idiot!? We can’t take him like that, together. What makes you think you can do it alone!” He retorted, glaring at the younger Night Guard. “Leave me, go get our brothers, and return here. I’ll be fine!”

“You know I can hear the lie in that statement, right?” Night Claw chuckled, as his spread his hooves and got into a battle stance. “Besides, it was normal for one of us to do such things in the past, but not now… We’ve been reborn and allowed a new path. This time, we won’t leave our brothers to die for an advantage.”

His sentimental statement caused Night Reaper to laugh, while he approached the two Night Guards. “Really? Don’t want to abandon your brothers anymore? How Ludacris!” He bellowed, stopping just two meters from the two of them. “Are you wanting to die with him, for your silly ideals, weakling?” Night Reaper swung his scythe around. “If so, I’ll be happy to oblige.”

“I’m not going to die this day, imposter… Though, I’m not going to abandon one of my brothers, either!” Night Claw snapped, allowing his wing blades to shine a bit in his stance. The Night Guard bared his fangs at the twisted Astartes, ready to combat his foe with everything he had left.

Night Reaper slowly pulled his scythe back, laughing as he does so. “Oh, I beg to differ, whelp…. Now, time for you to-AGH!” A blast of navy blue magic slammed square into Night Reaper’s helmet, causing it to be incased in the same colored flames! The twisted Astartes was forced to back off to the side, keeping his scythe in one hand while the other tried to extinguish the flames covering his helmet. “Who is it this time!?” He glared, looking at the newest additions to the fight, and let out an almost bestial growl.

Night Claw and Swift Blade turned to their right, to see who caused the attack, and smirked at the ones they saw…. Standing off to the side, wearing their armor and in a stoic stance, were the remaining members of the active Command Squad. War Sage, Soul Hunter, Sky Spear, and Diamond Arrow; all four members ready to fight, while the medical stallion’s horn was glowing a navy blue color and signified that he was the one who burned Night Reaper’s helmet. “Sorry we’re late, brothers… It took us a bit of time to get our armor on and get here.” Soul Hunter said, as they began to slowly approach.

“I don’t know what took you three so long, I flew all the way here from the Wonderbolts’ Headquarters, after putting my armor on.” Sky Spear grinned, spear in hoof. “Though, it is good to see we weren’t too late this time.”

“Agreed.” War Sage said, his heavy foot falls creating hoofprints in the ground, and lowered his head. “Shall we dispose of this imposter and get our brothers to safety?”

“Let’s, honorable War Sage.” Diamond Arrow said, summoning his crossbow constructs, and loaded them. “I do not wish to make Miss Rarity wait any longer than she has too.”

War Sage nodded. “Soul Hunter, see to our fallen brother, while we deal with this one.” With that, the older stallion took a quick stance, and exploded forward! His hooves kicking up dirt. “Charge!”

“Ave Dominus Nox!” The other three yelled, Diamond Arrow firing volley after volley of diamond crafted arrows, Sky spear flying up and quickly going straight into a wailing dive bomb, while Soul Hunter rushed to both Night Claw and Swift Blade.

Night Reaper quickly readied his scythe. “You think, just because there are more of you, there is a chance of victory!?” He suddenly charged straight for War Sage, readying to strike him while the diamond arrows merely made his steps a bit slow, due to the recoil of their strikes. “I’ll prove how foolish that is!”

When the twisted Astartes swung his scythe, War Sage quickly dodged to the right before it could hit him. While Night Reaper tried to rip his weapon from the ground, the Night Guard Earth Pony quickly turned around and gave him a powerful buck to the side! This caused Night Reaper to stutter step away from him, trying to regain his balance. “Better look up, whelp!” The sudden yell allowed him to do just that, just before Sky Spear actually flew in and rammed his spear straight into Night Reaper’s left shoulder joint! The spear was able to bite in, but wasn’t strong enough to actually cut through the ceramite armor protecting the weak meat beneath. “Damnit…” He growled, before opening his wings and back off, just before his opponent could actually retaliate with a devastating punch.

While the others distracted Night Reaper, Soul Hunter rushed up to Night Claw and Swift Blade. “What happened?” He simply asked, a green aura appearing around his long horn.

“Swift Blade was struck by the imposter’s fist, by what I heard, several bones were broken.” Night Claw repeated, while the medical pony scanned the injured stallion.

Soul Hunter gave a nod, as the scan completed. “Three fractured ribs, six fully broken. A bit of internal bleeding and it seems his spine was ruptured a bit.” He calculated, as his horn turned into a deep shade of navy blue. “I’ll fix him up, but it’ll take time for it to heal… Think you can help the others, while I see to our brother?” Night Claw nodded, before rushing off to help fight Night Reaper, Soul Hunter turning his attention back to the injured stallion.

The deep shade of navy blue magic slowly made its way to Swift Blade, incasing him within a healing aura. The stallion smirked, slightly looking up at the medical Night Guard. “Having to fix me up again… Huh… Talos?” He stated, making Soul Hunter go wide eyed.

“And who are you, brother? So I may know who it was that helped protect young Xeron.” He asked him, holding the spell, feeling the ribs slowly reconnect to each other and fuse back.

Swift Blade let out a pained laugh, laying his head back into the grass. “Forgotten my voice already, thought you’d remember the wit though.” He said, causing Soul Hunter to raise an eyebrow. “It’s me, brother…. Xarl.”

That statement, the answer itself, made Soul Hunter go wide eyed. A determined look suddenly appeared within his face, as he gritted his teeth. “I’m not going to lose you, this time, Xarl.” He muttered, making the other stallion smirk, while pushing his healing magic to its limits. “Not again.”

“Good… Dying sucks.” Swift Blade chuckled, allowing his old time friend handle things from there.

-With the others-

War Sage rammed square into Night Reaper, sending him stumbling back, before both Sky Spear and Night Claw quickly flew in and struck against the ceramite… The two still unable to actually piece the heavy plated armor. When it seemed like the twisted Astartes was preparing to attack, Diamond Arrow quickly jumped in front of the group, and unleashed several volleys of diamond crafted arrows to keep him back.

“Talk about a serious pain in the ass.” Sky Spear growled, floating down to War Sage with Night Claw. “We can’t pierce his ceramite armor in our current forms.”

“The exact problem both Swift Blade and I were having trouble with… We can’t risk being seen doing it.” Night Claw said, landing on to the ground, still breathing a bit heavy. Unlike the others, he had been trying his best to fight Night Reaper prior to their current situation, but relieved he could take minor breathers between attacks, now that it was four on one, instead of two on one.

War Sage prepared for another charge. “By now, he’s probably already figured out our rotation, which means I don’t think my next charge will work.”

The two bat ponies nodded, as Diamond Arrow backed up to them while still sending volleys of diamond arrows right at Night Reaper. “And I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” The unicorn stated, feeling exhausted at how many arrows he’s already created, destroyed, recreated, and destroyed again.

At that moment, while they were trying to figure a way of handling it, a lavender bolt shot up into the sky, and exploded! Those at the current battlefield, looked up, as the explosion soon turned into a thick lavender dome… The stallions looked towards where it came from, and saw Twilight, with Scootaloo, her friends, and Trixie; standing there. Even as the barrier fell down behind them, the mares continued to watch. “Night Guard! Permission granted, strike terror in our foe!” She called out, smiling at them and giving the chance they needed, since none could see what was happening within the barrier. “So says, Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

“Yes Princess!” The four fighting Night Guards all yelled, backing up together. “We Stand in Midnight Clad!” They called together, a flash of bright light appearing, before the four transformed into their Night Lord forms… Standing in a four-man squad version, instead of a five. “Our Claws Forever Red!” However, to everypony’s surprise, Xeron was wearing a Night Lord’s version of the Corvus Power Armor, with Lightning Claws, instead of his old armor.

Night Reaper, realizing he was now outnumbered and out gunned, tried to retreat away from the four, as the charged for him, and swung the scythe at the barrier…. Unfortunately, for him, the barrier remained strong while only giving Twilight a slight twinge of pain. In moments, the four Astartes pounced on to the twisted one. Mercutian using his Heavy Bolter to break down his armor’s protective layer. Jago and Xeron slashing him back and ripping the armor clean off completely. Malcharion then charged forward, in his Terminator Armor, and slammed square into Night Reaper! The twisted Astartes letting out a pain filled groan, as he was taken straight to the ground… Having a massive boot slammed on to his exposed midsection.

“Prepare to die, whelp.” Malcharion said, as he readied his combi-bolter.

“War-Sage, wait!” Xeron called out, landing next to the Terminator and stopped him. “Bind him… I have questions, and he will answer them. However, not here.”

The Terminator looked at him, before nodding. “Of course, brother.” He ripped off some chain on his armor, and removed his boot from the twisted Astartes. While Jago took the war scythe from him, Malcharion forced Night Reaper off of the ground, and used the chain to bind his arms. “You’re not going to get away, or break free, imposter.”

Night Reaper could only grumble, beaten by the four Night Lords, while the mares all ran over to them… Fluttershy and Trixie rushing over to Soul Hunter and Swift Blade. “Swift! Please, tell Trixie you’re alright?” The show mare was frantic, seeing the blood he had coughed up and the fact that the medical stallion was straining to heal him.

Swift Blade couldn’t help but laugh at her worry. “I-I’ll be fine, Trixie… Just got careless, and paid for it.” He looked up at her. “Don’t worry, the brother here is one of the best, he’ll have me back on my hooves soon enough.” Swift Blade gave Soul Hunter a quick glance, who simply nodded.

Trixie gave a sigh of relief. “Trixie thinks you’re the biggest idiot in all of Equestria, for scaring her like that… Especially when she is carrying your foal.” That statement actually caused Soul Hunter’s concentration to waver, in shock, for a second while Swift Blade gave a pained laugh at his reaction.

“Do not worry, Trixie, Soul is one of the greatest Doctors in Equestria.” Fluttershy smiled, looking up at the stallion who smiled back at her.

Trixie gave a nod, before a question came to her mind. “His form, makes Trixie wonder.” She looks over at the four giants, who were securing the twisted Astartes for transportation to Twilight’s Castle. “Is he like...”

“The other Night Lords?” Swift Blade finished, for her, adding what to call his brothers. “Yes, along with myself… That is our real form.” Trixie looked back at the stallion and simply sat down.

“Which would be much easier for me to heal you, if you were in your form… Seeing how our genetic enhancement would allow us to automatically start healing.” Soul Hunter nodding, glaring at Swift Blade.

“What can I say?” Swift Blade smiled up at the stallion. “I like seeing you struggle a little bit, brother.” Soul Hunter groaned and shook his head.

Fluttershy smiled at the brotherly actions between the two, before she looked at Trixie and noticed she wasn’t having a freak out session about all this. “Trixie? You’re… Taking this better than I expected.”

Trixie looked at the normally shy mare, that seems to gain a bit of confidence while near Soul Hunter, and smiled. “How should Trixie react? After all, she finds out that her stallion, and father of her foal, is a powerful warrior and unique compared to any other pony else! This makes her even more proud.”

For some odd reason, Soul Hunter got a very bad feeling about that statement… Oh, if he only knew.

-Friendship Castle, Next Day-

Night Reaper had been chained up by the Night Lords, in a dark room of the castle where they closed off for any form of training or…. Night Lord interrogations. The five Night Guard Commanders were standing before him, all in their Night Lord forms. The twisted Astartes, even more so with his armor torn completely, only had a loin cloth covering his body while the chains rubbed his flesh raw with each movement. “So… Brothers, what do you intend to do with me?” He simply laughed, tilting his head. “I do wonder, if any of you have the guts to do anything, truly.”

“You’re not our brother, Imposter.” Jago growled, feeling a bit sick how such a creature considers itself one of them.

“The only reason why we haven’t mutilated and killed you by now, is because we still have questions for you.” Soul Hunter said, resting a hand over Aurum’s hilt.

The Prophet’s statement caused Night Reaper to laugh, shaking his head. “Like I would answer anything you ask of me!” He looked up at them, a twisted grin on his face.

“If you won’t answer their questions, how about answering some of mine.” A venom-like voice whispered, as heavier foot falls followed. Night Reaper’s eyes widen, in fear, as the dreaded Lord of the Night walked forward, with Twilight next to him. “My dearest, soon to be, daughter-in-law called me in to help.”

“I-I-I s-still won’t answer any of your questions, Lord.” Night Reaper said, that natural Night Lords urge trying to come back up, but the twisted Astartes pushed it down. “E-Even if you t-torture me.”

Konrad Cruze just looked at him, placing both claws at the small of his back. “Alright… Twilight?” The Primarch looked down at the Princess, who looked up at him. “I’ll allow you to go first, and ask your own questions… Remember what I taught you on how to deal with his kind?”

The Princess nodded, walking over to the twisted Astartes. “My question is… If Night Claw hadn’t told her to leave, would you have harmed Scootaloo?” She simply asked.

Night Reaper tried lunging forward, the group preparing to strike him down, but the chains stopped him… Allowing the twisted Astartes to stare Twilight in the face. “Of course I would have… I would have mutilated her small body, to the point you wouldn’t have been able to tell it was her, then leave her puny remains at your door step.”

Twilight nodded, hearing the truth behind his twisted words, while she walked over to Mercutian. “I see… Why did you attack Night Claw and Scootaloo?” She asked.

“I have my own reasons… Ones I will not tell you.” Night Reaper denied.

Twilight gave another nod, before looking up at the Havoc. “Diamond, may I have your gladius, please?” She kindly asked, the Havoc looking at his brothers, who simply nodded. Mercutian then reached down to his boot, and pulled out the gladius, handing it to Twilight.

“Be careful, I’ve kept it nicely sharpened.” He warned, Twilight nodding at the warning.

“Thank you, Diamond. I’ll be careful.” The Princess took the jagged gladius in her magic, and walked back towards the twisted Astartes. “I ask again, why did you attack?”

“I will not-AAAH!!!!” Night Reaper suddenly cried out in agony, as Twilight rammed the gladius into his shoulder! Slowly sawing the blade down his exposed flesh, and carved out a piece. The Princess slowly backed away from the blood pouring on to the floor, pulling the knife out so his injury could clot up.

“Please don’t deny my questions… Lord Night Haunter has already told me what to do with your kind, and how to get the answers out.” Twilight said, glaring at the twisted Astartes. “You put my daughter in danger, even admitted to mutilating her, if given the chance.” She placed the gladius’ tip under Night Reaper’s chin and forced him to look at her despite the anguish he was feeling. “Never underestimate what a mother is willing to do, for their child.”

Night Reaper grinned at her. “You can do what you like… But I will not-GAAAH!!!” Twilight had quickly pulled the gladius up, and rammed it into his black right eye, and carved the dark eye from his skull. When she placed it over his left, Night Reaper shook his head. “Ok! Ok! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”

Twilight smiled, lowering the gladius down and hovering it back to Mercutian, who took it while still shocked, like the others, and sheathed it back into the sheath on the side of his boot. The chambers echoed with Konrad Cruze’s whispered laugh, who found the display amusing. “Well done, Twilight! You have learned well from my sons!” He complimented her.

Twilight nodding to him. “Again, he put my daughter in danger, and I will stop at nothing to find out why.” She simply stated, eyeing the twisted, whimpering, Astartes. “Now, tell me what I want to know, or I’ll do something far worse than use a gladius… I know a few spells that could make your entire world a nightmare.” She growled, as Night Reaper tried his best to stay away from the angry mare.

“S-She reminds me of Brutalight!” Night Reaper thought, before nodding. “O-Ok… I attacked because I couldn’t stand him.” He motioned to Night Claw, standing in the Corvus Armor. “Before I was almost destroyed, we attacked your world. But another stepped in, one more powerful than your princesses, and stopped it all. He ended what we had done, reversed the damage, and made you all forget what had happened… But I couldn’t let it lie down, I wanted my revenge. The blood owed to me by my Twilight, who came here to destroy all of you.” His attention went back to Twilight, who just continued to watch him, carefully. “That is why I attacked… Though, I wouldn’t have been able to, had it not been for this foolish Chaos Lord out for revenge.”

This confused the group, who all looked at one another. Xeron stepped forward, staying near Twilight. “Who is this Chaos Lord?” He simply asked, allowing his lightning claws to come out… Showing that he was willing to rip off a limb or two, just to get the answer.

Night Reaper grinned up at Xeron, giving a dark laugh. “You should know him, Xeron… After all, he made it possible for you to come here.” This caused the Terror Guard to step back, he knew who the twisted Astartes spoke of. “Did you really think… You could escape your fate? Did you really think… With your body disappearing, he wouldn’t hunt down where you went? You betrayed him, and he wanted his revenge... Oh, the lengths one would go, for such a simple and foolish attempt.”

The group looked at Xeron, who held his Lightning Claws up, ready to strike Night Reaper down. “Did you make a deal with that bastard, to show him the way in exchange for this chance!?” He demanded, the twisted Astartes remaining silent, smiling. “Answer me!” His claws sparked to life, making Night Reaper flinch at the brightness.

“Yes… The one who reversed our attack, and erased your memory, couldn’t truly destroy me.” Night Reaper answered, looking up at him. “I simply waited in the warp, using one of those Warp Raptors to help keep me alive. That is.” He chuckled a bit, tilting his head. “Until I came across his ship and told him of this place.”

Xeron placed a claw under Night Reaper’s chin, the energy burning his flesh, and made him look up at his beaked helmet. “How did he get here? It is impossible for him to do such a thing.”

Night Reaper let out a bit of a laugh. “Who said here? There are two versions of this world, isn’t there? And we cannot forget that our universe is filled with powerful entities, willing to give so much for a… Price.” The comment shocked both Twilight and Xeron, causing the two look at one another.

“We need to leave… Now.” Xeron said, Twilight nodding.

“What should we do with this filth?” Jago asked, eyeing Night Reaper.

“Have two Atramentar watch him, there is something far more important for us to handle… We need to leave.” Xeron said, Jago quickly transforming into Sky Spear, and went to search for what was requested. “Twilight and I will go ahead, the rest of you can come once the Atramentar arrive.” They all nodded, while Twilight and he left. The Terror Guard was almost in a hysteria… After all this time, after around twenty years, his past had returned. It has come for him, once more. Almost like fate coming full turn, something he should have done all that time ago. “I am coming for you… Lord Grathor.”