History is not always kind to those who are recorded within it. The winners always tell the tale. History can be wrong. Ponies can be erased and forgotten. Feelings can cloud the judgment of even the highest beings, and all who stand below.
The snow storm was howling and unrelenting as it covered the land in more and more snow by the hour, making any travel hard to complete without suffering from its chilling embrace. Yet there was one who was pushing through it. His hooves sank into the deep snow and his cloak blew and thrashed in the icy wind. Most of the journey the stallion was holding his hood down with one hoof to fend off the bite of the cold from his face. Despite how much it was slowing him down he chose to walk through the snow on three legs. Even after all his efforts he was still cold and could tell he would not last much longer in this weather. Pushing himself forward he was driven by a much higher calling then his own or just about any other pony in the land. And as he looked up to spot the flickering light of a town cloaked in the snow a smile spread across his muzzle. “Finally, I hope for her sake the others are here with their parts.”
Snow crunched under his hooves as he stepped through the towns gates looking around at each building to find his destination. Something moved in front of him in the gray fog of the snow storm causing the pony to stop and look up at the taller figure. Keeping his hood pulled down a griffon approached him.The griffin’s feathers lifted and rustled as he stood uncovered to the storms wrath. “You ponies can’t handle the cold of these mountains very well can you, and in a storm no less.”
With a weak smile the stallion looks around to be sure no other being was around. “It is quite cold in Griffonstone this time of year with winter in full force. But where else can silver glow through the night on top the mountain gold?” the griffon leans his head back slowly shaking it from side to side as his face becomes riddled with fear.
“So it’s come to pass then? Like Luna thought it would all those years ago?”
“It has, the others are here right?”
Nodding, the griffon points over his shoulder with one thumb to a building. “Just around the corner there. Come on, you need to warm up.” with that the stallion nods and follows the griffon to the meeting point. “So you must have your component then? The second part of this operation?” with a nod the stallion taps a hoof to his chest creating a metallic clank with his shoes.
“It was never far from me ever since the time she gave it to me”
With a nod the two finally make it to a building nessled between two others in the snow. The wooden sign was fluttering in the wind and snow, swatting the side of the building as it was blown. Grabbing the large iron handle in his claws the griffon pulls open the door with a sharp tug to clear the built up snow and ushers the cloaked stallion inside. “I need to make contact with a friend before I can join all of you. But continue, we don’t have time to spare if the sister finds out.”
After a nod the creature pushes the door closed and the nearly frostbitten stallion finally let go of his hood to see the other two with him in the building. One was a unicorn mare clad in midnight blue robes and small thin glasses resting on her muzzle. Closing the book she was reading the Unicorn pushes up her glasses to properly see the new addition to the group. Revealing the silver crest of the moon on her robe’s clasp as she rest the book down. “Finally made it? Well, given the weather making its way through, bet that helped you slip out unseen right?”
“It’s good to see you made it Whisper Shade, without the best spell weaver this would be a most troubling endeavor indeed.” His voice was ragged from breathing in so much snow and ice from the storm just beyond the doors behind him. Looking to the other pony in the room who was examining his hoof blades, he sees a small sheathed sword strapped to the side of his armor.The armor was little to speak of being made up of small plates spaced apart all over his form, but it could be seen that the configuration was as such to protect from any small frontal attack. As his leathery wings spread out to stretch, it showed off the small parts of steel on the leading edge of his wings as well. Looking down he spots the blade talons attached to his hooves. Along with the dark purple color of this guard gear and the silver crest on his breast plate, this was one of the shock tropes stealth guards. “And you must be Rose Bloom? I have not seen you much after that day. I trust that is the sword you got from her highness as well?”
The threstral nodded back to the cloaked stallion as his hoof blades snapped back into their sheathes with little more than a faint click. “Damn right I’m here when I’m called. But do you really even need to ask? Shit, You where there right next to me when Princess Luna gave it to me and gave you that armor you never seem to take off.Ain’t that right Mr. Lunas gift to this land?” with a grin a spark of magical electricity runs down the talon blades on Roses hooves as he tilts his head to mock the still cloaked figure.
Pulling back the hood and doffing his cloak he shakes his head causing the heavy plate steel armor to clank and scrape. From head to tail and wing tip to wing tip the second bat pony in the room was clad in navy blue armor covered in silver rune inlays that streaked all around the thick metal plates that encased him. Even his bat wings where completely covered in blue plates. Movement of his wings was easily possible for him but flight had been sacrificed for shielding wings. “You know I’m nothing of the sort, it’s not my fault the princess of the moon picked me to guard her all those times and left you in the rafters to kill at a wave of her hoof. As I recall you seamed to stop lots of attackers before I even had to step in, and you loved it. But that’s not important. I have urgent word that I’m sure you are wondering why we are all here this night in griffon territory.”
“Yes I’m quite surprised we were called so suddenly, Nova Light. And why did we have to use my friend’s home? Leopold had to miss a trip for this.” The unicorn looked back to her book then to the others in the room. “We all saw the moon not a night ago. Along with us being summoned here? It can’t be true can it? Is it truly happening?” Both the unicorn and the bat pony look to Nova with worry in their eyes.
“Yes, it’s true, and Princess Luna was right.” Reaching for a small book under his left wing he opens it up, makes a note with the quill and ink held within, and then flips pages as he takes a heavy step forward to read his notes. Nova stands tall with glassy eyes behind his helm as he speaks up. “Princess Celestia has gone mad with greed and has usurped her own sister! Our Princess Luna is now currently sealed within her own moon leaving Celestia to gain all the power to rule both night and day unabated. We of the castle guard are told Luna was corrupted by dark magic and turned into a being called Nightmare moon. Luna was so angry with not being loved and respected by her subjects that she transformed into a monster that wanted nothing but eternal night! Celestia called upon the Elements of Harmony to banish her into the moon and save us from her wrath, but we, her closest three know better.” Nova’s eyes flashed with a bit of rage as he continued to elaborate. “Luna obviously new how much we, her guard, loved her and so to the ponies of our land. The Elements of Harmony cannot be used by one pony alone as it took both alicorns to use them to rid us of Discord’s tyranny. Along with Princess Luna herself bestowing empowering gifts to us so long ago predicting this exact event. We have no time to spare as the eldest is possibly on her way now if luck is not on our side this night.” Snapping the journal shut, Nova stepped back to let the others know he was finished explaining the events. The two others looked to one another, Rose was starting to get mad and Wisper was tearing up more and more. Wiping away her tears and looking back to nova she spoke up.
“So this is operation Lunar blade correct?” Nova nods his head as he stuffs his journal back under his wing, and the unicorn pushes up her glasses. “Well, Then I have delicate work to get done. Nova, I will need your cuirass and both front sabatons.” Spinning around and looking to Blossom she points to the sword at his side. “That blade on your side is the jump sword correct? Set that down next to the parts of armor” with a nod Rose lifts his wing to pull the khopesh blade from its sheath. The blade was a brilliant silver with a black line just before the blades cutting edge. After setting the strange looking blade down he steps closer to Whisper to help pull off the heavy breast plate from Nova.
Slipping the leather straps free underneath the plates and gently setting down the front piece to the armor reveals Nova’s matted silver fur underneath. “Ok tell me again,” Rose chimes in as Nova slumps under the heft of his armor and its toll on him suddenly. “Why was this steel trap and my sword needed for this operation? Looking at the moon it looks like that’s where our princess is held. What is magic repelling armor and a teleporting blade going to do?”
Wisper looks to Nova and Nova nods for her to explain as she works his greaves off. Rolling her eyes the unicorn takes a breath. “This armor, stores magic in great amounts to aid in movement for the user. Otherwise even a strong pony like Nova would be incredibly slow. But what it’s known for is how when a spell is cast at it the magic inside the armor will become distorted and burst forth in the afflicting spells direction and overpower it, essentially repelling or canceling it.” Nova pulls off the greaves and with access to more straps he pulls the front sabatons free. Picking them up Wisper stets them next to the sword. “As for the jump sword? Well it has an enchantment on it that allows it to cut through space as well as flesh. When you swing that steel it cuts into the fabric of space and pokes out of the other side of that cloth, like a pin on a cloak. The blade disappears and appears some four feet in front of the hilt. Hence giving a three foot blade the reach of a seven foot blade, and a psychological aspect to scare attackers.” With that the spell caster pulls out a quill and some copper colored ink in a glass jar. Retrieving her tome with her magic from before and flipping through the pages she starts to write on the inside of the armor.
Now too busy to explain any further Nova falls back onto his haunches as his armor appears to dull. “Now she will mess with the spells of the two to bind and inter twine them.” Looking to Rose he pulls of his helm and sets it down to let his short green mane free. “Using the properties of the armor to drive the spell of the jumping blade into overdrive so the holes its cuts will no longer seal up instantly after a swing. Instead it will cut holes that will stay open and one could trot through. Along with giving it range and a tremendous burst of turbulent magic to disrupt spells hit.” Rolling his shoulders out Nova takes the time to work out some knots in his limbs before the hard part would start.
Leaning back onto a nearby wall in the small home Rose nods a bit. “Ok so we point this thing at the moon and disrupt the seal holding the princess. Is that all?” with a shake of his head Nova looks over Whisper’s shoulder to watch her work. As she writes down runes in what looks like liquid copper it shimmers and sets into the steel changing to a silver just like the ones on the outside of the plates.
Finishing her work on the parts of armor she now turns her attention to the blade on her left. Picking it up and holding the blade in the crock of her pastern. The spell weaver draws it near and her horn glows white as she whispers into the hilt as if it was able to hear her, strangely no pony could hear any words being spoken, let alone any sound. “It would be nice if it was so simple but it’s not so.” Nova pipes up again. “There is some magic mumbo jumbo I care not to understand that dictates only a few places this can be done. One is the top of Canterlot mountain, obviously that’s far too close to the one who would stop us.Next is up toward the Chrystal Empire, but with the new king acting a little odd we cannot risk that move. So that leaves us here in Griffonstone.” Reaching over to his newly enhanced gear he starts to re attach it and Rose, of course, steps forward to help him pull straps tight and latch them shut.
Just as the two threstrals finish putting the breast plate back on the door is swung wide open allowing the flurry of ice outside to badge in the warm home. The griffon from before rushes inside then slams it shut. “We have a problem! A guard saw you walk into town Wisper! You know any random Pony is more than ok around here but not a Night Guard spell slinger! Griffons know that where there is one of you there is always more and they have sent word to Princess Celestia as to the meaning of this.” Rushing around he pulls all the shutters closed. His wings spread wide as he looks back to the three ponies. “You need to get out of her now! The guards are all looking house to house for any pony out of place.” The three look to one another, Rose growls at Whisper
“Don’t you know how to be covert or anything about stealth? Stars above even the walking wall was able to get here unseen!” he points to Nova with an outstretched hoof.
“Oh come on I’m a scholar! He was under the cover of that big storm I avoided! You can’t blame me for blowing my cover! I had no help.” Wisper stomps her hoof as she takes a step toward Rose.
“Both of you need to shut up! We need to go! NOW!” The threstral pulls his helmet back on and pushes the two away from the door and in that moment there is a knock on its exterior. All four occupants looked to the door and froze.Looking back the griffon adding them shoos them away and steps toward the door to open it.
Looking to one another the three ponies now realize there is no way out of this home without making a sound. Opening the door the griffon pokes his head out to see who it was. “Holy feathers guys, what in the land are you doing this late in the middle of a storm? Do you know what time it is?” Any window shattering would be heard by those at the door and there was no back door they could get too without being seen from the cracked open door. Wisper looks to the khopesh she was holding. Eyes growing wide with a plan she holds it up and points to Nova who instantly picks up on the plan. The mage tosses the blade to the armored threstral who catches it with a loud clank. Rose puts a hoof to his face and wonders why his fellow night guards where so crappy at being silent.
“What was that?” one griffon guard points out.
“Hmm? Oh it must be the roof from all this snow. Big storm after all.” The friendly griffon smiles shyly.
“That was metal not wood. Who is in there?” the guard start to push their way in and the allied griffon pushes them back as he now tries to shut the door.
“GO NOW! FREE LUNA! Return harmo-“*shulk* only Wisper winced as a blade extended from between the griffons wings letting blood gush onto his fur. Nova turns and slashes at the air between them and the wall to the back of the home. With a blue streak and a flash from his armor there was now a portal leading outside the building and onto the mountainside. Turning away from their griffon friend the two dash through the hole in reality only to realize one was missing. Wisper Shade was reaching out for the injured griffon as if to try and pull him along to safety. Within a moment of time Rose lunged forward over Wisper to land right in front of her. Landing on his front hooves and keeping his rear hooves up the trooper placed them to Whispers chest and bucked her back into the portal. Just before momentum was lost he gave another thrust before his hooves lifted and he flew backwards to follow Whisper. Just as the guard ripped the sword free of the griffon’s body spilling blood all over the floor and dropping him to the ground.
The three had been thrown onto the mountain side with some force and only Rose landed on his feet. Quickly looking back Whisper makes a dash back toward the portal in vain. “Leopold!” as the portal ripples and seals the three now see their ally kicked aside as guards swarm into the room a moment before the gateway snaps shut. Now instead of looking into a warm home the three ponies where now looking down at a distant town as the storm started to clear allowing them to see the lights of the village they were just in a moment ago.Frozen for a second and still reaching out, Wisper Looks back to the other two and the unicorn grits her teeth as tears froze to her face “We could have saved him! Why did we run?” glaring at Rose she snaps “HELL I KNOW YOU COULD HAVE KILLED THEM IN A HEART BEAT! ALL OF THEM!!” with a huff the stallion looks to the leader and Nova turns his head to look away.
As nova slid the sword between his side and wings he looked toward Wisper “Leopold was helping us for a greater purpose and he knew that.” turning away his armor dulled a little and he started to trudge through the snow up the mountain. “Let his death not be in vain and may it be the last sacrifice this night.” Rose stayed silent and opted to follow the iron clad pony.
Gritting her teeth whisper continued “Are you kidding me?! How are you two so cold?” pointing back to the town she just about shouts at the two threstrals. “You asked my only griffon friend to help out and told him it was a low risk job. He just had to offer his home for a night and that’s all. But now I lost him because of us! Leopold is dead!”
“Because of us?!” Nova whips his head around as his ears pop up and he steps toward the unicorn. “NO, you don’t get it! He did not give his life because of us! He was killed because Celestia had to have all the power and send our princess, her own sister into the moon! He was in danger because you did not THINK to use a stealth spell to not be seen! You know you are a high value target. Any one worth their salt will know If you are alone there are more in hiding somewhere!” Taking another step and processing his armored head right onto Whisper’s muzzle. “Don’t forget who drew attention to us knowing full well what was at stake! We are here to save the Princess of the night! You are not a killer like the two of us and that’s why we can keep walking. You know that too, dam it! For Fuck sake you should know everything! Why do you think you are always helping Luna with matters of spells and history? Now step up scribe! We have a higher calling then to keep our allies alive when time is not on our side! Now move!” Turning his back he continues his trudge up the mountain past Rose. After a moment of biting her lip the unicorn begrudgingly follows and Rose follows suit. The sudden realization of what was going on sunk into Whisper’s head as it hung low. This was unlike a desk job, this was the field, this was combat, and this was an operation to save more than just one or two lives.
Halfway between the town and the summit all three of the night guards were out of breath, none of them where trained for this so Wisper was not feeling too bad about stopping to take a break, again. Her horn started to glow as to did her cloak, its edges glowed a brilliant red before fading to orange then all light disappeared. “Hay, that reminds me, Wisper.” Rose pokes at her with one of the talon blades on his hoof. “I’m sure you know I need to charge my talons for what little protection I have, mind helping me out with that? Ya know a bat pony can’t do a lick of magic.” After letting the heat of her magical cloak sink into her hide the unicorn looks over her shoulder and nods with a weak smile. Holding up his retracting steel talons the mage points her horn to the metal and a spark arcs as she uses her magic to charge the enchanted weapons. A faint red glow flickers over the bat pony as a weak spell does what it can. “Oh man that’s not much but boy does it take the bite out of the cold up here.” At that moment something hits the ground with a startling clang.
Wisper jumps about ten feet and Rose just looks to the side un-phased. The two see a pile of steel that was Nova. With a bit of a chuckle Wisper continues to charge Roses weapons. “Using that blade will deplete your armor of all its mana stored. It will take me more time but I can charge that as we walk. Until then-” Wisper giggles a bit more. “Take a break ok?” Wisper could hardly see Nova’s gold eyes glowing faintly from inside the helm as he looked away.
“I slipped and there is snow working in. could you hurry?” with a nod Wisper finishes and trots over to the encumbered threstral. She stops for a moment and taps her hoof to her chin, contemplating her next move. After a shrug and a grin the unicorn walks over and kicks Nova’s hermit and steps back. “The hell you scrawny prick! What was that about?!”
“Good, that may work, keep making me mad ok? It makes this work better.” Looking back to Rose who was sporting a shocked look she glances a Nova and shrugs.
His eyes dart up to the mage as he slowly pulls himself back onto his hooves. “Insult you? Got no need, you’re good at making yourself look bad with how much you mess up anything other than book work.” Stepping forward he extends one steel clad wing and pokes the cloak. “I was reluctant to even take you on this operation but Luna was set for you to be here and I have no clue why! You cry the moment blood is shed and you can’t hold any kind of weapon without cutting yourself!” Whisper’s ears slowly lay back as she tilts her head.
“What? But you said I could sling spells so well I had no need to carry any sword.”
Pushing the unicorn back with his extended wing Wisper stumbles back and falls onto her back exposing her mud brown coat to Nova as her cloak falls to the ground at her back. “Had to say something to make you happy, otherwise you would just sulk and fume.” Walking forward he stands over the mage and lowered his head to let the weight of the armor push down on Wisper’s head. “You are unfit for anything outside of a library. The fact Luna and I put up with you is beyond my reasoning.”
“Ok, ok that’s enough!” Wisper grits her teeth and glares back towards Nova as crimson mana starts to burn from her eyes. Wincing from the over flow of magic she places a hoof to Nova’s armor and more sanguine mana flows from Wisper into The enchanted armor, charging it in a matter of a few seconds. After a moment the blood magic fades and the armor is left fully charged and more as it glistens and almost glows in the snow. “Princesses Luna’s bitch never thought I could do that did ya.” With a pop Wisper teleported herself out from under Nova and back on her hooves just next to him. With a face of surprise that could not be seen under his helm, Nova stares at the wizard. “Thanks for that Nova, Primal magic is super powerful, but stars above it’s hard to control. Can’t think about using it, need to feel it instead. A shame it’s hard to use and it corrupts easily seeing as it works with emotions. But that little bit should have filled you up right?” Blinking, the pony nods as it’s confirmed by some small runes inside the helm that told him how much power he had.
“That and more, that’s some strong stuff. Thanks Wisper, I think I know a bit more about this old kind of magic now.” With a nod the three continues their trek up the mountain side to the summit.
Wisper looks toward Nova from over her shoulder and nods a little “It’s all good old buddy. I know ya did not mean any of it anyhow. But it still kinda stung.”
As the three continue to walk nova just nods looking off toward Canterlot. The three had broken through the clouds of the storm now below them and a star was shimmering near the silloet of the unicorn city in the far distance.Pulling his head back to look forward as he walked a thought sparked in his head. “Wisper! What time is it?” something was amiss, bit did it matter?
The mage snaps to and looks up at the moon and all around her to the stars. “I will guess it’s just about midnight?” pulling out her pocket watch she nods with a grin. “Close, about three till.”
Looking up he spots what looks like the summit just ahead. “It’s all going to plan, midnight is when we use that blade according to her highness.” With a happy grin the knight looks back to the city in the distance. “You lose Celes…” the star near the city was bigger than it was a moment ago, and brighter. His eyes shrank as he froze in place causing Rose and Wisper to bump into him.
“ya freeze up again old guy?”
“What? He should be charged just fine. Besides you know he can move even if he has no power.”
“Rose! Wisper! Shut up we may have a problem!” unlatching one wing from its folded position he points out to the star with the wing tip. “Rose, detect! On the double!”
With a nod and a bit of a confused look he extends his talons and waves then in the air producing a faint blue wave. There was a sharp pop and the threstral rubs the side of his head. Suddenly looking back to the others after rubbing the side of his head he starts to sweat. “Overloaded the detection spell! That’s Celestia! MOVE, RUN!” Wisper froze in fear as Rose and Nova bolded forward to the summit. “If she is kicking out that much power she does not care who sees! I think she is going to use all her power to stop us and fast!”
“You think I don’t know that?!” Nova barks back. “Wisper! Class seven defense barrier! Defend everything incoming from that point! Use absorption, use Primal, use anything! I give clearance to break any law that holds you back. Fuck, use dark magic if it holds her back just for a moment!!!” spreading his steel clad wings Nova starts the chant Wisper had told him long ago but pauses for a moment. “Rose! I know you can’t do much but I need you to divine distance! Let us know how far she is!” with a nod Rose makes another wave and a green wave is made. But as for Wisper she was frozen, over powered already by the aura she could feel emanating from the fast approaching princess of the sun.
“I- I can’t” Whisper mumbled taking a shaky step back. “Nothing can stop that.”
“I can’t detect her speed! It’s just too fast. Moon and stares she is going to be on top of us in less than 30 seconds!” Rose abandons the spell and steps between his college and the oncoming commit. “Hurry up Nova, one shot.” The bat ponies’ talon blades extend as he rears back on his hind legs. “Show her Luna’s Guard are not to be crossed.” He hissed.
“Wisper! Where is that barrier?!” lifting his wings higher the runes on his armor start to glow bright and steam starts to waft off his armor.
Wisper shakes her head and looks to the others. Tears in her eyes fearing the worse red mana gushes forth to create a barrier in the sky between the approaching princess and her friends. Now panting and wincing from pain she continues to write runes in the air with one hoof causing magic circles to begin cladding the glowing shield. “Class five, no, s-six…” gritting her teeth more she presses on giving it her all, the real fear of death fulling her magic. “Seven!”
Nova lifts the blade in his mouth and looks up to the moon high in the sky. “Luna above give me strength to fulfill this task and set you free of your binds.” now lifted the blade starts to shimmer and crackle as the armors stored magic fills its structure.
“Brace for contact!” Rose shouts right as the comet of light that was Celestia illuminates the three and in a powerful wing beat stops her in midair.
“You will stop” the princess of the sun whispers as she lifts up her horn. Dropping her head toward the three an immaculate light erupts forth like that of a solar flare.
Whisper’s eyes shrink at the light and fear in her heart, closing her eyes shut to press out one final trick her eyes turn blood red and purple smoke bursts forth from the corners of her eye sockets. “Class eight!” three more magic circles suddenly appear in front of the shield and extend to intercept the blast of magic. Opening her eyes just in time to see the outcome, the unicorn’s heart stopped and times slowed. Nova had just started to move the khopesh blade and there was a point of light at its tip. But it was nothing compared to Celestias blast that was instantly tearing right through all the circles and shattering the shell they were reinforcing. In a flash it made contact to its target and exploded with such a force Wisper was thrown at least 30 feet back down the path. Rolling over and quickly turning to where her friends had stood she was shocked to see that the last 20 feet of the summit was gone! “no, N-NO! NOVA! ROSE!!” scrambling to her feet and dashing towards the crater the unicorn stopped suddenly as something fell to her left.
The snow instantly melted away from the glowing red shock talon and a charred hoof held within. A few more parts rained down and Whisper could only look around at the charred, burnt parts of her fallen brethren. Shaking her head the mare stumbles backwards sobbing. “no, no, no , no.” Only looking up to watch as princess Celestia herself lands in front of her, an intense rage and sorrow filled the royal eyes of the alicorn before her. “Wisper Shade! I expected better, from one of Lunas best! For crimes against the ponies of equestria, you are hereby sentenced.” Shaking her head the mare pleaded for her life but it fell on deaf ears. With a flash from the princesses horn, Whisper’s hooves started to harden and crack. Closing her eyes she tried to jump back but it was pointless as her flesh and bone turned to stone, solidifying her in a position that looked like she was holding a flag instead of jumping away for her life. The color faded from her cape as it blew in the wind but soon followed suit. A cold, lifeless statue now stood where Luna’s most valued wizard had once been. Wiping a tear from her cheek the princess looks around the altered summit. “Rose Bloom, you always did charge head long for what you thought was right. And Nova Light,” the princes looked back toward the moon and she started to cry again for the second time that night. “I knew you cared but I hoped not this much, guess I’m still the fool”
*cough, cough*
Slowly Nova’s eyes blink open inside his helmet. “Shit!” lying flat on his back he coughs again, this time he can feel the blood drip down his muzzle. Grunting he roles himself over only to hear the sound of snow cracking underneath him. Pulling one hoof out from under him he puts it onto the ground to get up but something cracks and the ground under him gives way into the small cavern below. “waaa! No!”*SNAP, CLANGGGG~* “GGyyyaaaa!” curling up he holds his back left leg that was now bending far out of position. Coughing up more and more blood from yelling the blood now starts to leak out of his armor and drip onto the frozen stone he was laying on. Clenching his eyes in pain the stallion hisses in agony. As the sharp pain all over him calms down he slowly opens his eyes. “Did we make it Rose, Rose?” looking back up through the hole he had fallen through the stallion sees the moon just over head outside in the night sky. Princess Luna’s likeness was still in its cratered surface. “No” he whispered to himself. Rolling back over to his hooves, slowly he tries again to stand. Slowly getting up on three hooves the knight looks around for his friends. “Wisper Shade? Rose Bloom? Anypony?” gritting his teeth the defeated guard takes a step only to trip in his heavy armor, stumbling he slams into the cave wall and slides down to the ground. Nova takes time to look himself over to see how bad he was and he was not happy at all at his own condition. Both wings where shattered and only held together by the armor itself, feeling the warm liquid spreading inside and dripping from the armors barrel he was guessing one was completely torn off. His back left hoof was broken and it was not hard to guess that his ribs where broken as well. Coughing up blood was making him think that he had punctured a lung and it was filling up with blood to top it all off.
Unclasping his helmet and letting his head fall so the helmet could fall free with the help of gravity and roll across the floor. He watches as it came to rest right next to the khopesh jumping blade. With a small chuckle he spits out more blood. Looking up and down the cave he was able to see the opening just around a bend to his left. Shifting himself to pull out his book that was thankfully still in its pouch under his left wing. After opening it to the back and tearing a blank page out he withdraws the small quill from inside to write a note. Finding the small vile of ink broken helped as he works with what was still dripping out. It was slow and painful but he finished the note just in time. Holding the note in his hoof he let the book and quill fall to the floor. The tired stallion leaned his head back onto the cold cave wall.
“I failed, I’m not going to make it Princess Luna. I know this is it and even still I wish I could have seen you one last time before you continued to walk on your immortal path. Is this the price for failing a mission?” the threstral coughs up more blood, staining his teeth solid red. “Losing my team again? My friends?” gritting his teeth now as his words become more gargled and softer. “May the next soul to carry this burden get farther then me.” more coughing and blood is now constantly dripping from the side of his mouth. “Please have mercy on my soul to Tartarus your Highness, my Princess.”
“My love.”
The haggard coughing stops echoing threw the cave and silence returns.
Author's Note
Well this is the test story I did to see if I could make things a little more interesting. Again no need to read my other story to read this one. It works as a stand alone but it's ending will be odd.