Black Gates: Fallen

The two had managed to make it to the cathedral, and immediately they were beset upon by medics and soldiers. But, Arkantos refused to leave her side, escorting her to the small area that had been set up to take care of the wounded.

He laid he down on a makeshift bed, and immediately several medical officers rushed over.

She was given several potions and she felt a strange magic begin to wash over her body. Her pain was slowly beginning to fade, and she felt slightly better. Though something strange helped her out a bit more. Arkantos had taken hold of her hand and squeezed it gently.

It was several minutes before the medics rushed off to help others, though outside the walled in cathedral the sounds of the ever encroaching battle still raged on. For the two trapped in this hell together, it was still a moment of relief.

Twilight looked up and noticed that Arkantos was still crying, even if he was trying to hide it. “This is all my fault…” He shook his head. “I should’ve told you not to help… I shouldn’t have…”

“N-no. I did it without warning you… I wanted you to get better, to prove you weren’t evil.” Twilight said, reaching up and cupped his cheek.

He cupped her hand. “I’m not a good man, Twilight.” He sighed quietly.

“I don’t believe that.” She smiled softly, “You saved me. You were nearly breaking down over hurting me… even when it made sure I survived.” She tried to sit up.

“Twilight…” Arkantos sighed quietly, he put his hand gently on her stomach, trying to get her to stay down.

“No! Listen to me.” She pushed his hand away. “Nnn…” She swung her feet off the bed, finding it surprisingly easy. “Woooh…” Her head was swimming and Ark wrapped his arms around her, steadying her against his large body. “Thank you…” She blushed, resting against him.

“You need to watch yourself…” He laughed softly. It was an almost unconscious (heh) action, but one neither complained about, she found it so easy to her head in his neck. It was unlike anything she’d felt before, and she wanted to feel it outside of this nightmare. For a moment the world seemed to fade away.

Twilight sighed and closed her eyes. “Funny… if we weren’t already trapped in a dream, I could fall asleep right here.”

“We’ll have plenty of time to find out once we’re free right?” Ark chuckled.

“Yes, we will.” Twilight smiled.

“How’s the pain?” He asked, his warm hand gliding over the injury she’d received. The direction and length of the scar made it so as his fingers touched it, they just barely brushed her breast. He withdrew his hand.

“A bit better. It still hurts, but, at least I’m alive.” Twilight joked.

“It’s… something you’ll get used to.” Ark smiled, “Now… Let’s go get you so-”

“No… No, not right now.” She shook her head, resting against him. “Just… a few more minutes.”

Ark sighed and tightened his grip around her. “Gods above… I haven’t been this protective over anyone since m…” He trailed off for a moment. “Since my sister.”

Twilight reached up and cupped his cheek. “Save that for when we’re safe. Then I can honestly help you.” She smiled softly.

“No, no it’s fine. It was a few years ago now. Right now, you need to get out of here. I failed to make sure you didn’t get injured, but…”

“Shh.” Twilight scolded. “You didn’t fail. You couldn’t have stopped it. You saved my life, and now are willing to die to protect me. That’s above and beyond anything that any…” She stopped for a moment. “Anything that anyone would ever do after what you’ve been through… and what you were going to suffer through.”

She slowly stood up, now it was much easier. “Now, Arkantos, you and I are going to kick Nightmare’s sorry flank back to whatever hole she tried to climb out of to get at us.”

Ark smiled and stood up, “You’re damn right.”

“C’mon. Let’s get ready… she’s going to put up a fight. And we’re going to put up an even fiercer one.” Twilight hugged him for a moment. “Just you and me. Now, I need to get some actual armor on.”

“What do you mean, actual armor?” Ark asked curiously.

“You know… not a chainmail bikini… or just plate armor over my breasts.” Twilight explained.

“Strange… I’ve… never seen that before. That just sounds… wasteful.” Ark chuckled, leading her away from the medical area.

She noticed amongst the male soldiers and mages, there were woman. Other then having armor fitted to their forms, they were just as equipped as any of their male counterparts.

“Twilight, I want you to stick with magic.” Arkantos said.

“Why? I can use a wea-”

“You were sloppy, you pushed off like you were fencing and… well, that was a short sword. Not a rapier.” Ark explained. “When you used magic, it was fluid, perfect.” He complimented. “I’ve rarely seen such skill…” He motioned to the area around them. “And this… this is just one of many, many battles I’ve survived.”

Twilight grinned, “Thank you.”

“If we had the time… I’d train you.” He offered, “But right now… well, there’s no point in pretending. We have very, very little time until the enemy pushes at us.”

“Hey… since you’v-”

“I did. Until you.” Ark shot her a glance that told her everything.

“Right… I made it lucid…” Twilight nodded.

“And since you made the dream lucid I’ve been trying to change things, make things happen sooner… nothing. The battle’s going just the way it did before… except before, the sorcerer with me didn’t survive the conflict in the bar. He neglected to pick up a weapon. Right now, everything’s up in the air. I don’t even know if my Father’s forces are coming.” He explained. “So we HAVE to engage her before something else, anything else happens.”

Twilight nodded. “And…”

“If no reinforcements arrive… we’re on our own.” Arkantos said.

“I’ve fought her once. And since then I’ve only grown in knowledge and magical power.” Twilight said. “Though… we don’t have the Elements to stop her this time…”

“What are you talking about?” Ark glanced back. “I am an elementalist. All elemental magic is my specialty.”

Twilight laughed. “Remind me to tell you about the Elements of Harmony when we win. I think you’ll be surprised.”

“I do love a good story.” Ark chuckled as the two entered the makeshift armory.

"Then you'll adore mine."

Meanwhile:

Rarity, Shining, Luna, and now Cadance who had arrived incredibly quickly, were channeling magic into Twilight to try to boost her potential.

The other girls, save for Fluttershy, were still worried, but with Celestia and Luna’s plan being put into action, they knew there was a chance that she’d return to them.

“I…” Pinkie muttered quietly, her entire complexion uncharacteristically grey and somber.

“Damn it… why didn’t we stay with her?” Dash growled. “It’s…”

“No, don’t go blamin’ him. He ain’t here cause he wanted ta be.” AJ snapped. “We all know that.”

“No! It’s… a-as much as I hate to say it… Celestia’s fault. If…”

“She’s tryin ta protect us. She’s just…” Aj continued.

“Overprotective.” Dash sighed.

AJ nodded. “But, now she’s gonna try to make things right.”

Dash let out a long sigh.

“All we can do is wait.”

“Yeah… and that sucks.”

Somewhere nearby:

With a cabal of doctors, guards, and heavy weapons, just as a precaution for both if they failed, and if the human snapped underneath the increase in power, Celestia had begun to channel as much solar energy as she felt was safe into Arkantos.

They both had to survive, lest they both be lost. Celestia bit this fact back. She didn’t want to be right here. She wanted to be proven wrong, she didn’t want to kill him. As much as she hated humanity for taking somepony she held dear in the past, she couldn’t hate this one. He wasn’t with them, he already felt different.

He was drawing in extra energy, just passively, she took notice of it and fed even more into him. With each bit she gave him, she felt a bit more sure that he’d be able to withstand it.

“I don’t know who you truly are… I don’t know why you’re here.” Celestia muttered. “Please… bring her back. Bring her back and you can stay. Without her… without Twilight…” She sucked back a few tears. “We’re all doomed… I can’t lose another pony… not now, not like this.”

“Equestria can’t… Her friends can’t… I can’t lose Twilight.”