Fractured Darkness

Fractured Darkness
Chapter 14: The Embers of War

By: Major Frostwing

A burst of magic rocked my form as I felt something inside me come to life. I took a deep breath as I felt the magic invigorate me but it felt different than Jon's standard magic. Instead of his standard cold and angry magic this magic felt hot. Like an inferno of hate wrapping around me like a heavy blanket in the dead of winter. Still it was only a burst of magic and all it did was invigorate me momentarily. But it was a sign. Jon had found what he was looking for and that meant soon I would...

I shook my head to clear those thoughts as I looked over our battle plans for when they eventually attack. It was difficult to focus on the battle plans with Jon filling my thoughts. All this time with no contact and suddenly I feel his magic fill my very being. I just couldn't focus.

"Moon is everything alright?" Celestia asked as I was broken from my thoughts. I looked up to see everyone had their attention focused on me. I looked to each of my soldiers faces to only see worry in their eyes but their faces were passive. Celestia was openly concerned for me.

"I am alright just felt a surge of magic. I'm alright. We need to focus on the problem at hand." I said dismissing their stares with a casual wave of my hand. "Our main concern is where they are going to attack first and we need to be ready to mobilize at a moments notice. The problem is we need more info." I said pointing at the map. "There are several places they could attack first and we all know for a fact that they will not dare attack Canterlot." I slammed my finger down on the capital city as Celestia cocked an eyebrow at my assessment.

"Sir wouldn't it make more sense to attack the capital city and quickly claim victory?" Gravel pointed out as I nodded my head.

"Normally you would be correct in your assessment but there are several factors that tear apart this theory." I pointed out pointing at Celestia. "There is five alicorns currently in Canterlot and that is a lot of firepower to deal with. They also have spies in the council they they used to have Jon removed from power and sent us into hiding. Not to mention the biggest factor." I pointed out before smiling. "Everyone who attacks Canterlot loses. They will not dare attack Canterlot without a large enough force to contend with all those factors. They most likely will attack a different city or conquer the fringes of the country and work their way inward. They could also do an attack on several fronts and slowly choke Equestria to death. Every plan has risk when it comes to taking over a country let alone a super power." Celestia nodded her head.

"The problem is knowing where the attacks will come from." Celestia said as I nodded my head sagely.

"I want all of you to get your info gathers on this. If it is a report or a fucking food order I want to know what it is. Focus strictly on towns near our borders. We might only get one shot to mobilize against their attack and I want to hit them hard while they think they are invincible. I want our enemy to start tasting the fear of what our army can do." My captains saluted me as one. "Get on it." I ordered as they quickly filed out of the room to complete their orders. Now there was only Celestia and myself.

"Talk to me Moon. What was that?" Celestia demanded worriedly. I studied her face calmly seeing only a cold resolve in those eyes of hers that spoke of thousands of years of wisdom and could do nothing but sigh in defeat.

"It was Jon. He found what he was searching for and that can only spell disaster." I explained watching Celestia's shocked reaction to my words. "Something he unknowingly sealed away in his artifact has been revived and awoken in him." Celestia covered her forehead with her palm as she thought over the news I had just gave her.

"You mean to tell me that Jon. The being who is magically dead zoned. Has a Nightmare of his own?" Celestia asked as I nodded my head. "Do we know how strong this nightmare is or if it can even be controlled?"

"This is Jon we are talking about... The creature who not only tamed myself but has brought every demon and evil foe Equestria has faced to it's knees and killed them. His nightmare is fueled by something worse that his anger. It's more concentrated and a more focused emotion. Jon's hate is what fuels this Nightmare and Jon has the worst kind of hate constantly running through his very being."

"Self Hate." Celestia answered as a shudder racked her very core. "Jon's Nightmare could be more powerful than even..." Celestia trailed off as she looked at Me sadly.

"Than even myself. I am as powerful as I am due to Jon constantly keeping me well fueled with his emotions. But I only feed on his anger. It's a broad emotion which is why it is in such abundance but if his nightmare is fueled by hate specifically then we are well and truly fucked if Jon can't win. And judging by the fact that I felt a surge of this new magic it also stands that Jon has started generating his own magic based off of my own magical signature." I explained setting my head in my hands. "There has also never been a case of a creature having two Nightmares in it at the same time. The magical surge could flat out kill Jon and destroy his entire body and this planet with it."

"So what are we to do?" Celestia asked as I looked up at her uncertainly.

"If it comes down to it I will have to leave Jon forever. Jon is able to conquer anything thrown at him and I have taught him everything I could years ago. If it comes down to me or Jon I will gladly sacrifice myself for him. If it weren't for him... I would have died that day so many years ago." Celestia stood walking around the table to stand by me.

"I know when we first met it was horrible. My sister had fallen to your temptation and you turned her on not only her country but on her own sister. But the past is in the past. You have dedicated yourself to our cause and have kept Jon alive all these years. You have done everything in your power to protect what we all hold dear and for that you have my thanks." Celestia knelt wrapping her arms around me as she embraced me. "You are forgiven and are welcome. I may not understand the pain of what may happen but know that if it comes down to it you will have nothing to fear." I wrapped my own arms around Celestia as I felt something hot sting my eyes.

The next thing I knew I was openly sobbing into her shoulder.

The sounds of battle constantly tore through the silence that once permeated through the abyss of Jon's psyche. Explosions, gunfire, and the clash of blade made up the orchestra of destruction as two forces collided with reckless abandon.

"Come now Jon I know there is more to you than this. NOW STOP PLAYING AROUND!" Flare bellow as another explosion rocked the aether. Jon for his part had surrounded himself with a shield in time to avoid the deadly spell. He retaliated by throwing Umbra at Flare who easily deflected the blade with her own. Jon slammed his hands together before pulling them apart to reveal a mass of darkness housed in an unstable field of magic.

"YOU WANT SERIOUS! FINE DEAL WITH THIS SHIT!" Jon collapsed the sphere into an even smaller form before launching it straight towards Flare with blinding speed. "EAT SHIT AND DIE DICKHEAD! CATACLYSM!" Jon roared out as the sphere slammed into Flare's raised sword. Darkness once again claimed the world before an equal amount of magic exploded shoving back Jon's own spell.

"ARMAGEDDON!" Flare yelled out as the two spells cancelled each other out. Both Flare and Jon stood panting heavily from the amount of magic thrown out and the fight it self lasting as long as it had. "Are you ready to give up?" Flare asked barely able to hide the sheer exhaustion running through her body.

"Not on your life." Jon retorted back as he wasn't fairing any better.

"How about a break?" Flare suggested as Jon thought about it. "I mean it would be rather pathetic if one of us lost just because they passed out and was stabbed in their sleep." Jon nodded wordlessly as they both dismissed their weapons collapsing forward to rest.

"Can we not hold back next time?" Jon asked as Flare let out a single grunt of agreement. "Good we both should have already known what the other was capable of." Another grunt and Jon only sighed. "I'm gonna beat your ass next time."

"You are welcome to try asshole." Flare muttered out as they both let out chuckles.