The Black Angel

I was just confused… Nobody in my life up to that point said those particular words in that order to me… And I repeat, nobody… “I just don’t know what to do or say now… Other than you do better not be joking…” I replied.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” He asked. His voice was cracking, he wasn’t in a good emotional state… Neither was I.

“Let’s just get out of here…” I threw in, and we both jumped into the dark portal, which appeared just where Kelonth’s body was. We soon found ourselves back at the entrance to the village.

“What will you do now?” He asked.

“I don’t know… We need to talk in private… Let’s just go home…” I replied.

“You go ahead, I’ll give them the crystals and go too,” He noted. We went opposite ways, and met up later in his back room. “Omnis?”

“Hmmm?”

“Good thing you left as soon as you did,” He exclaimed.

“Why?” I wondered.

“The villagers said they don’t want to see you ever again,”

“Some people just don’t know what they want…” I commented.

“Yeah… Truth be told, I think they’re just scared…” He replied. “Anyway, you wanted to talk, so…”

“Yeah…” I cleared my throat, and continued. “Adrian, I think you’re a good man… I’m not sure how much I should trust you, if I even should… The fact that you just always know everything makes no sense to me, and I just don’t know where to put it…” I said. He just sat there patiently, waiting for me to finish my dialogue. “It’s just a little too much for me to take in… You must understand… Everything you showed me. What you told me… But there’s also the responsibility on my shoulders… Both as the General most know me as, and… The Necromancer, as you called me a while ago,”

“I’m sorry I put you through all of this…” He replied. “I knew it will be just too much… Your parent’s passed just days ago too… You should take some time to process all these things what happened…” He continued.

“Maybe you’re right… You know, I think it would be best if we didn’t meet for few days… I need to think, you know…”

“Before you go, uh… Hang on, it should be around somewhere…” He said as I reached for the doorknob, and began scrambling on his desk, soon handing me a familiar looking scroll of paper. “It fell out of your clothes when you got to the machine. I finished it,” He exclaimed.

“Thanks,” I replied, putting away the scroll. He silently nodded, and without a word, I left. As expected of me, I went back to the castle, where I met up with Walgarus and Kalin.

“Hey Omnis, I haven’t seen you in a while,” Walgarus exclaimed.

“I can’t say any different,” I replied. “Kalin, how are things?” I Asked.

“I can’t complain. The locals accepted us, we have a house, the kids are happy,” She replied.

“That’s all what matters…” I replied.

“Are you okay? You don’t look good…” Walgarus asked.

“I’m fine, I just need some sleep, that’s all ...” I lied.

“Oh, then it’s best we don’t hold you back. We’ll see you another time then,” Kalin threw in. I just nodded and went to my room, where I laid on my bed, and slept for a while. Until I woke up in the middle of the night, that is. The sound of something shattering woke me up. I prepared my pistol and silencer, put my mask on, and left my room. I kept the pistol ready, finger above the trigger, weapon pointing at the ground, while moving in a quick sneak, soon running into one of the patrolling guards, a colt.

“Name and rank! Now!” He yelled, flashing his magic light at me. I just took the mask off. “Oh, what brings you here, ma’am?” He asked.

“I heard something fragile break, there might be an intruder around,” I explained.

“Should I come with you, or return to patrol?” He asked.

“Keep going, I’ll check the rest of the castle,” I replied.

“As you say,” He said, and walked on, soon seeing a few blood stains on the carpet. I crouched to examine it, it was fresh, since it covered my fingers as I reached into it. Should be nearby… I slowed down my pace and checked behind each curtain, around the corners, and even the support beams above, but found no trace. Well, can’t find them, better go back… Since I couldn’t find anyone, I returned to my room, but on the way there I caught a glimpse of the curtain moving oddly. The windows were closed, and it was waving back and forth.

I slowly approached it, trigger ready, flashlight on. “Come out, and explain yourself!” I instructed the figure. A Human came out slowly with her hands up, in one she held a pistol, but by the barrel, the grip pointing sideways. Her clothing was in no way similar to what the guards wore. “Put the weapon on the ground, and kick it over,” She did as told to. I stepped one foot on the pistol to assure it stays there. “Lie down on your stomach, and put your hands behind your back,” I said once again. She knelt down, then lied down as asked to. Still having the bag on my belt from way back when we got the basic training, I produced some quick binders from it, and used that to fix her hands together. “You’re under arrest for the suspicion of trespassing, you will answer to the sisters tomorrow. Do you have anything to say now?” She didn’t say anything, so I took her back to my room, where I hit her in the back of the head, knocking her out long enough for the sisters to awaken. Usually they were at the throne room by 9 am, but we were there by 8:55, to make sure they get busy.

“Ah, Omnis, it’s been a while,” Celestia said after noticing us.

“It was, now, this woman was caught trespassing last night…” I replied.

“Ah?” Luna threw in.

“Had she had any weapons?” Asked Celestia.

“Only this,” I replied, and threw her the confiscated pistol, which she caught with her magic.

“What’s this?” Luna asked, standing aside her sister.

“It’s a Steyr M1912, 9mm bullets, 8 bullet per clip, max firing range 50 meters, or 160 feet,” I explained. How I knew that? I didn’t, Itrix did… “What’s her sentence?” I asked.

“Are you sure she was trespassing?” Celestia asked.

“She’s not wearing a military uniform. She refused to identify herself as well. She must be punished, she was walking around with a firearm without authorization,” I explained.

“Well… What do you suggest?” Asked the same mare.

“You know what? I’ll take these decisions from you in the future…” I replied.

“Do as you think it’s best,” Luna threw back.

“Dick…” Muttered the prisoner.

I hit her in the leg with my night stick, causing her to fall on her knees, then pressed her head downward. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you clearly,” I replied.

“You dick!” She yelled.

“Your mouth is big, but if I were to set you free, you would rather run…” I exclaimed, calling her a coward.

“Wanna bet?” She asked in return. I took my plated gloves off, and with those, the blades too, then set her free. The first thing she did was turn around and swing, but I blocked. We threw a good number of punches and kicks, I was surprised at her endurance… Until she decided to pull a knife. When she swung that at me, I ducked, lifted her with my right shoulder, closed my right arm around her waist, and took off running at one of the windows, in front of which I stopped just in time for the velocity to take her through the panes, sending her crashing down several meters to her death.

“That was…” Celestia tried to say something in surprise.

“Impressive…” Luna continued, saving her sister’s sentence.

I swiped the blood off my mouth with a hand, resting myself on my knees with the other. “Persistent mother fu… Right…” I said to myself. “You might be wondering why I killed her…” They nodded briefly. “Was it not obvious? If you enter a fist fight, you either win or lose. You can’t just start using weapons…” I explained, catching my breath. Just as I was about to look out at my fallen opponent, the doors opened. Four soldiers came in, escorting someone else. They left him inside, since they saw me inside. “You mother fu-”

“A-A-Ah, Omnis… Not quite appropriate in front of the sisters, don’t you think?” He asked.

“You sack of crap. What do you want?” I asked.

“To talk is all I desire…” He replied.

“Make it quick…”

“Omnis? Who is this?” Celestia wondered.

“Somebody you should avoid,” I replied. “He’s responsible for the smuggling to Arabia, and the death of my parents…” I continued.

“Not to mention Ishtar’s attack all those years ago…” He continued. “Oh, Celestia, Luna,” He said to get their attention for sure. “You should’ve seen your parent’s faces when I shot them…” He began to laugh, confessing most his crimes.

Needless to say, he angered the sisters, who could barely keep themselves back, knowing their magic would’ve done nothing. “Omnis?” Luna asked.

“Yes?”

“Could you send a bullet into the face of this… What did you call him? Mother Fucker?” She asked.

“Oh, I wish… It’s not that easy…” I replied, firing a few at him. Some sort of field absorbed the bullets.

“Now, that I certainly got your attention… I know you want me dead, so here’s the truth… Omnis, you, and you alone must defeat all 131 of my champions, in whom my power rests… Harvest their souls, absorb as much as you can, because once they all are slain, you will be able to truly hurt me…” He explained, and threw my gloves back to me.

“Why are you telling us this?” Celestia wondered, still upset.

“I warn you, however… Should you slay them all, their might will join mine, making me an even worthier adversary…” He replied. “Will you still ‘Hunt me down’?”

“You bet your ass I will…” I replied while putting the plated gloves back on.

“Good… Beware of those around you. From now, not only you can absorb souls. Your targets might as well do the same to you, so think twice before engaging them in battle,” He continued.

“Your game, my rules.” I replied.

“As you think. Let our game begin…” He exclaimed, and vanished.

“Let’s move on, like this hadn’t happened. The targets may or may not know I’m coming for them, and they just as may or may not attack first. Either way, I’m the only one who should feel threatened. Now, I must go,” I said to them, and left to find one of the Lieutenants.

“Ma’am?” She wondered.

“Easy. I need you to pass on the orders to your sub ordinates, and tell them to do the same,” I replied.

“Understood,”

“This only applies to those patrolling outside the castle. From now on, usage of firearms are forbidden. Only in the act of self defense is it authorized to use lethal force,” I explained.

“Is that all? Ma’am?”

“In addition, city guards are to submit their primary firearms until further notice. Their sidearm must prove well enough to handle most cases, should violence be required,” I continued.

“Yes, ma’am. The orders will be live in around 3 hours,” She assured me.

“Good, now go,” I replied, and we both went our ways. Things were calm for a long time, until pressure began to build up between the town guards and citizens… Yeah, the ponies though that we’re slowly taking over. Needless to say, the sisters themselves confirmed otherwise to assure them all, but it wasn’t enough. Over the past weeks small brawls broke out between the sides, but nobody… Or nopony… Got seriously injured… Aside that one colt who started it all, had had his ass killed… You see, he was the one who started the whole thing between the two sides, and in the end, the crowd he provoked against us trampled him to death one day… I guess you can learn from his mistake, huh? As for Adrian… I haven’t seen or heard from him since then. None the less, I was worried for him, since I gave him his life back the day I left him behind, even tho I should’ve told him about it. The main reason I was worried for him was the fact that ponies began attacking human citizens. On one particular day the same Lieutenant came up to me.

“Ma’am,” She said, saluting.

“Lieutenant?” I asked.

“The ponies are furious still, we fear the might injure Humans severely…”

“What do you suggest?” I asked.

“Evacuate all non-military personnel,”

“To where?”

“Either into the barracks, or back to home,”

“Send word to the troops, tell the citizens to pack their things and prepare to leave for an unknown amount of time,”

“Right away,”

“And if any of the troops decide not to come back, they will answer to me for it,” I continued.

“As you say, ma’am,” She replied, and left. I did the same thing, and headed to the barracks to see how long the food supplies would last the guards. However, before I could do that one of the soldiers approached me, sandbag in his hand, which he put down while we talked.

“Ma’am, ma’am, for a second,” He said.

“Yes, Private?”

“He set up the barricades as General Walgarus suggested them, have you got us new objectives ma’am?”

“Good work, next time he may want to discuss the barricades with me first… Nothing new, go on,” I replied. He left rght away, while I headed for Adrian’s store. Before I left the castle I put away all my weapons into the other world, except for the night stick in my pocket, and blades on the glove. Both were hidden well enough not to be noticed by the naked eye. As I turned the corner to the main entrance of the castle both sides froze at my presence. The gate slid open for me to pass, and even the crowd silently gave way to me without conflict. I walked up to his door and knocked.

“Go away!” Said a familiar voice.

“Are you sure?” I asked, so he could tell who I was. The door burst open and he pulled me in, shutting the door right away.

“What are you doing in here?” He asked.

“I’m here to get you out… Human citizens are scheduled to leave tomorrow morning back home, permanently,” I replied.

“No! No! I’m not leaving!” He said back.

“Adrian, you must listen to me… I gave your life back, and I can’t play around with someone living or dying a lot… Next time something gets you, you WILL die, no second chance,” I warned him.

“I am NOT leaving this place behind, Omnis. Do as you may, I build all this up from the ground, and am not willing to lose it,” He explained.

“You can make this somewhere else, and even bigger, and better…” I tried reasoning with him.

“Not going to happen, Omnis. If you’re here to convince me to leave, you should be the one doing it instead,” He replied, standing by the door, hand on handle. I didn’t want any conflicts between the two of us, so I did approach the door.

“You could just go through the portal down there, and stay there for a while… You would be safe there too, and there’s no way the crowd would find it…” I came up with the option.

“Now THAT might be an option I’m willing to agree with…” He replied.

“You gave me a phone earlier, it has your number in it, I can give you a call when it’s safe,” I assured him.

“Okay, that’s a better idea. I’ll pack a few things to bring and will go there right away,” He said back.

“But promise me, you will not come back until I tell you to…” He nodded with a grin, and opened the door for me.

“It’s best you leave, before somepony wants their ass kicked,” He said with a grin.

I nodded with the same grin and left, hearing the door being locked behind me. I headed back to the castle, and called an immediate meeting for the higher ranks, both Pony and Human. It was about noon when the meeting could finally begin. It consisted of the sisters, a the Pony Generals, including Walgarus, a Colonel of mine, two Lieutenants, and myself.

“So, Omnis, what would you have us gather here for?” Asked Luna.

“Gentlemen, ladies,” I said at first. “I’m here to announce, that I, General Omnis must break the promise I and my ancestors made to Queen Galaxia and King Cosmos,” I continued. Everybody stared in confusion. “As you may or may not know, we promised to keep the land safe. But seeing recent events, I have come to only one peaceful conclusion…”

“That is?” Walgarus wondered.

“We’re pulling out,” I replied.

“What?!” Asked the Colonel. “Your pardon?” I asked about his intrusion.

“With all respect ma’am, I believe that is bullshit,” He replied.

“Please elaborate your reasoning, Colonel,” I said back.

“There must be another way to restore peace… We could find the instigators, an-”

“And what? You think they would cooperate with us?” I asked, scold in my tone.

“What about the Pony guards?” He wondered.

“As if they wouldn’t think we forced the to do it…” I replied. “You are a loyal and wise man, I must admit… But never, ever question your superior… Especially in this kind of manner,” I explained.

Itrix said all the sudden. She continued.

I let them out the same way I would summon the dead, and they stood by my side. My sub ordinates reached for their sidearms, but I called them off. “I hope you know who these are,” I said. “Now, Itrix?” I asked.

“Right…” She muttered. “My idea is not much, but a simple suggestion…” She continued.

“That is?” Celestia pondered.

“I could use my powers to move our home in the wastelands to a position more nearby. Granted, I will need to alter everybody’s memories about it,” She explained.

“And how would that help?” Altamir asked.

“Well, if we’re closer by, they could just tell us if they need our help, and we can drop by,” She replied.

“Good point…” Altamir noted.

“The problem is, I believe since we are no longer welcome in Canterlot, or Equestria in general, I suggest Ponies, aside messengers, diplomats, or the sisters themselves would be prohibited from entry,”

Silence reigned in the room for a while. We all were waiting for someone else’s opinion. “I suggest that’s a clear agreement on both sides…” I threw in to break the silence.

“Right, I shall give word to the guards to begin spreading the news to the population, so that your leaving may go down in peace,” Said another General.

“I’ll dispatch a few of ours to make sure it stays peaceful,” Said Walgarus.

I nodded, then looked at the Lieutenants. “You two inform the guards, gather them all in full equipment,” I said to them, then looked at the Colonel. “As for you, well… You and I will have a conversation about your remark later on…” I warned him. He leaned back in his chair and sighed.

“Yes...Ma’am…” He said with an unhappy tone.

“So, what of us now?” Asked Altamir.

“You get to stay temporarily. You have the brawn, she has the brain we might need in the future,” I replied.

“It’s kind of weird being flesh once again…” Altamir noted. “Anyone in for some practice to shake the rust off?” He asked. The Colonel gladly raised his hand. “Let’s go, hand to hand,” Altamir replied with a grin. Before they left, I gave Altamir my night stick, and stopped the Colonel.

“Teach him how to use this, and you’ll go free with your comment, capiche?” I asked while leaning close, so no one else would hear. He silently nodded, and I let them go. After the meeting ended we all went to tend to our tasks.

Soon came the time of our leave to our new home. The armed guards walked in line on the very sides, fingers above the trigger, while the civilians walked with their belongings on the inside, Itrix and Altamir in the front, leading the way. The Pony guards stood in line to secure us way out, holding back those who might have any ideas. There was a rough 10 meters between the crowd and our lines, when a Pony broke through the line. 5 of my gunmen took aim from the walls, as we were near the end.

“Return behind the line!” One of the yelled, while the mare kept running.

“Last warning! Stop or we shoot!” Yelled another. The mare slowed down, but kept on coming our way. I was at the end of the line, to make sure everybody made it out. Some of my men remained until the end on the town walls, they demanded they finish their last shift.

Unfortunately, the mare kept coming, so I had to warn her myself. “I won’t warn you, I will shoot,” I said to her, as she stared down the barrel, still galloping toward us. I knew if I were to shoot her, hell would break loose, so I knocked her back with the stock instead, causing her to fall back. The last of the civilians made it out of the city, but I stayed behind, and watched the remaining guards bid farewell to the next shift, as they always greeted one another each day. I saw a few do so by a hoof-knuckle bump, some with a single salute, and few with a straight out embrace. It saddened me to see them unhappy, but it had to happen. The last of the guards came up to me and waited for my word. “Ready to go? Everybody here?” I asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” One of them said.

“Well then, go after the others, I’ll join soon,” I said to them, as Moonlight, Walgarus, Kalin, and the sisters made their way toward me.

“I’ll see you soon,” Moonlight said with a grin.

Walgarus and Kalin came somewhat closer, and Kalin gave me a piece of paper. “Read it when you’re home,” She said.

“You too,” Walgarus said to me as well. I nodded in slight confusion, and put it away.

“We’re thankful for what you did for us until now,” Celestia said.

“We wish you the best in the future,” Luna continued.

“You know you can call on us, we’ll be nearby,” I assured them. “The day I came here I only wanted to do well, and prove to my parents what I’m worth. I didn’t care about anything but my task… But now I’m proud to know I gathered friends like you. We will meet soon, I promise,” I said to them all, and waved farewell. They did the same, and I rejoined the others. Very soon we arrived. Luckily, all of us found a place to stay. I allowed Altamir and Itrix to stay in the same place I lived, Itrix joined the research team, while Altamir agreed to help train the new troops who chose to join by their own will. At last, I could lay my head to rest, knowing only the targets are left for me to worry about.

[End of Chapter 6]