Displaced: Fallen Kingdom

Felt like forever since he rested his head on an actual bed. So long in fact he actually didn’t want to leave it. Didn’t mean he wasn’t going to though. Sitting up Noah grunted as he stretched. Pulling himself from the bed he scratched his head and looked around. Remembering where he was and what he had done the day before. The message he had delivered and being invited to stay the night by Lucretia. ‘All that’s left to do is hope Lancelot can convince the other knights to see things the way she does.’ Picking himself up Noah started getting dressed. His pants were already on thankfully - he’d chosen to sleep in them the night before. All that was missing was his shirt and his jacket. Shirt was easy to find, jacket… that was another story. “Could have sworn that I left it on this chair, and where the hell are my boots?” The teen questioned as he looked around, his attention shifting from one place to the next. “Seriously I know they were in here somewhere…” He looked for a few more minutes before giving up, leaving the room Lucretia had given him for the night and started down the hall.

“Good morning.” Lucretia called out from the kitchen as she looked to see the teen walking into the room.

“Morning.”

“Looking for something?”

“My jacket and boots. Seems like I misplaced them.”

“You didn’t misplace them, I took them.” Lucretia stated as she drew the teens eyes. “They were dirty so I decided to clean them for you while you slept. I would have done your pants as well but you were still wearing them.”

“Oh… oh.” Noah scratched his head as he gave a sheepish grin. “Thanks I guess. So where~”

“Your jacket is resting on the counter, as for your boots; you’ll find them near the door.”

“Thanks.” Finding his jacket Noah looked it over for a moment before putting it on. Lucretia had done some sewing it seemed, couldn’t even find the tears it once had. As for his boots, he couldn’t make out a lick of grime on them.

“Would you like to stay for breakfast before you head out?”

“A bed, cleaning my clothes and now breakfast? If I didn’t no any better I’d think you were trying to get me to stay.” Noah remarked as he finished tying his boots up.

“Perhaps I am.” The young woman remarked as she set two plates on the table as Noah joined her. Now that he looked at it, the table had four seats. “I haven’t had company in a few days after all.”

“The rest of your family isn’t here?” Lucretia shook her head.

“My two sisters went out searching for supplies. As for my mother; she’s made a habit of staying out monster slaying. I was chosen to hold down the home front.” She noted as she looked towards her family shotgun.

“Really?” She nodded her head. “How long ago was that?”

“Four days now, although when mother goes out she usually stays out for at least a week slaying, as for my sisters… I worry for them.” Lucretia admitted. “They should be back by now. I understand it’s difficult to move around because of what lies outside, but four whole days…” The two ate in silence as Noah made a noise after a while.

“This is good.”

“I try.”

“If you want… I can go looking for them.” Noah muttered as he caught her attention.

“You don’t have to.”

“Consider it a thank you for the shelter and food.” Noah stated as he finished his plate and picked himself up. Grabbing his backpack and sword he set them in place. “Got a photo I can borrow?”

***

Back to the streets, back into a wrecked city. Noah didn’t fully care. Been spending enough time out here as it was. Returning to it after a night at a safe haven; that wasn’t that much of a surprise. “Strong family resemblance.” Noah thought as he looked at the photo of Lucretia and her sisters; one older, one younger. “Didn’t know any better I’d say they were triplets.” He set the photo away for a moment before closing his eyes, focusing he expanded his sense for a moment as he breathed. Raising his hand he held it out and letting the air around him twist and warp as he reached for something ethereal. Only when something reached back did he stop, opening his eyes as he found a ghost before him.

“You have called upon us.”

“I have.”

“Why?”

“I require your power to find somebody. Rather I need to find two.” Noah admitted as he retrieved the photo once more and showed it to the spirit.

“The Altera.”

“Two of the sisters have been missing for a couple days now. I want to find them.” The spirit didn’t say anything just shifting it’s form as it took the appearance of a phantom bird before flying off. Noah was right behind it, jogging after the phantom creature as it led him on. “I just hope they’re still out there in one piece.” That and he hoped he would make it out of this in one piece. So long as he didn’t run into any trouble he’d be fine.

Hearing something crash into the street across from him Noah groaned slightly as he came to a stop. Had to jinx it didn’t he? Noah questioned as he took a few steps back, focusing his gaze on the titan sized thing that was now picking itself up off the ground. “Ah, fuck you’re a big one…” The titan paid him little mind though instead turning its head backwards and growled. From behind it all Noah spotted were parts of silvery-white wings. The titan roared, forcing Noah to cover his ears as glass started to snap and shatter. Wasn’t sure what was trying to implode his brain first, the screaming or that putrid song that decided sing in his head.

Either case he knew one thing; those two were planning on duking it out, and he didn’t want to be around when Round 2 started. He ran, ran as fast as his legs could carry him away from the scene as he could as he heard things starting to break behind him as the two titans started to fight it out.

“Damn it why on earth did my generation have to be the one getting stuck with the fucking apocalypse? Why couldn’t it have been gran-dads or my grandkids?”

“Cause they got their own schedule to follow, and apparently our time just aligns perfectly.”

Hearing the voice in his head Noah couldn’t help sighing in relief. “Vivian.”

“Yeah, it’s me little brother. It’s good to hear you in my head again.”

“Same, where are you?”

“Queens, you close?

“Not even remotely.” Noah grumbled as he stared at his his guide for a moment, stopping only when his attention shifted to what was in front of him; three monsters, three demons. “I’m in the middle of Manhattan pulling a favor.” The three noticed him, and roared, charging as Noah muttered to himself.

“Noah… please tell me that wasn’t what I thought it sounded like.”

“Ok I won’t.” The first demon swung a type of sword that had been all but fused to its arm, Noah simply drew his sword and knocked it away before moving around to the second. It used it’s claws and he ducked underneath it. He rose, smashing it in the face with the butt of his sword before bring the weapon back and stabbed the other in the chest. To soft of a hit, barely punched through skin. Didn't matter though. Noah turned, twisting around as he rammed his elbow into one of the demon’s face before bringing his blade back he clashed it against another before ducking under a set of claws. He dropped to the floor and rolled, avoiding a stab in the face before stopping.

“Noah!”

“Busy!” Raising his leg he shot his foot out, kneeing a demon in the groin before raising his blade. Letting the falling demon impale itself on his weapon before releasing it. Weight and angle let the weapon dig into the ground, while still providing him enough room to maneuver and return to his feet. The third demon made themselves known, jumping at him with claws ready as he twitched one of his fingers. A phantom hand made of black caught the outstretched claw as he countered, decking the third in the throat. It gasped for breath and he circled around it, using it as a living shield that the other tore into to get at him. In the meantime; he snapped its neck before backing up, vaulting over a nearby car to put some distance between him and the last one only to find it ripping through the vehicle to get at him. He dodged the first hit, weaved out the way of the second, blocked the third with his arm and tackled it. Heavy as it was he still found the strength to push it back a few inches before he summoned another phantom hand that grabbed it’s leg and pulled, knocking the thing off balance and sending him overhead.

Letting go he rolled to his feet before making for his sword. The demon wasn’t going to let that happen though, latching onto the youths leg and sending him face first into the floor this time, it got to it’s feet, crawling on top of the teen and raised one of it’s claws. Noah countered with that same black hand, catching the downward thrust and held it’s wrist. His left arm changed slightly; the knuckle enlarging as he rammed his fist into the demon’s elbow. It screamed as it’s arm broke prying itself off the teen only for him to raise his leg and nutshot it like it’s companion. It went down and he forced his body up, wrapping his legs it’s chest and used his shadow hand to bring its other arm to him. A well placed armbar broke it’s other arm, and the scream grew louder while he let it go. Both arms useless he got to his feet, letting the the thing wander around before charging it. Both knees met it’s back as it stumbled forward before he grabbed it by its throat and pulled it back in an arch. Raising it up only to bring it back down, he smashed the back of it’s neck into his knee before taking a breath.

“Ok… I’m back.” Noah muttered as he got to his feet and retrieved his sword.

“Noah are you alright?”

“Yeah sis I’m fine, nothing I couldn’t handle.” He muttered before wiping the blood off his weapon. Returning it to his sheathe he looked at his hand and watched the knuckle return to average size. “What about you? You alright?”

“I’m not the one that just got in a fight.”

“Well that makes one of us.” He muttered as he looked around for his spirit guide. Finding it resting on a tree he ran after it, and like that it took off again. “What are you doing in Queens anyway?”

“I was visiting some friends when all of this happened. I’ve been staying with them ever since.”

“Any word from mom and dad yet?”

“I wish. I haven’t even been able to contact our brothers. I’ve tried the phones but the communication networks still dead.”

Noah just made a noise as he vaulted over a car. “Weren’t they trying to fix that months ago?”

“Trying yes, succeeding however that’s another story. If we had come out of hiding earlier and introduced Echolite to the world…”

“No point dwelling on could haves and should haves. Besides you know why the families stayed hidden in the first place just as well as I do.”

“Yeah I know… but still if had made effort of melding wor ith one we’d at least be able to .”

“Vivian? Vivian? Can you hear me? Sis?”

“No h? Ah?”

Noah actually flinched when some type of static ripped through his brain. And he held his head. “Ow!” Grunting Noah took a moment as he tried clearing his head for a moment. “What the… interference?” He pounded his head a few times as he tried clearing it. “That’s never happened before.” Turning his attention in a seemingly random direction Noah bit his lips and started to move, only to stop and look back in the direction he was originally going. “Focus Noah… you got something to do, and from the sound of it sis was fine before the line went dead. She’s fine.” He repeated that last part a few times before running off. “Sis is going to be fine…”

***

“I’m not going to be fine…” The teen muttered as he looked ahead, his attention slowly shifting to his spirit guide as he gave it a look. “Please tell me your joking with me.”

“We can not joke.”

“You’re telling me that the Altera sisters are in there…?”

“Indeed.”

“Fuck.” Noah grunted as he rubbed his head. “This is just what I need.” He told himself before looking back ahead, his eyes resting on what had once been the Metropolitan Museum. He said “what had once been” because as of now the building was warped, covered in some kind of demonic growth. Wasn’t even sure you could call it a building anymore. “I have to go into a fucking demon’s den to find the sisters.” He muttered as he looked at the picture one more time and grunted. “Sometimes I hate my luck you know that.” The avian disappeared into vapors as Noah stepped forward, grabbing his sword as he inhaled. For a brief moment his eyes changed, flashing scarlet before returning to normal. “Hopefully that’ll be enough.” If not he could always do some more later. That in mind though he forced the front door open. “What I’d give for a fucking save point right about now.”

To bad life wasn’t a video game.

Stepping inside the den he raised a hand to his mouth. Dead bodies were scattered here and there, chunks of discarded flesh and bone were stretched out and covering warped ground. Glass was broken and cases were smashed in. Looked like these people either died here or were dragged into the building and passed around for lunch. Noah resisted the urge to puke, choking the bile down as it started to rise. Seen stuff like this for months now, still wasn’t used to it yet. Still wasn’t used to the mess that got left behind.

‘Deep breaths… remember the breathing exercises that mom taught you…’ He breathed a few more times, inhaling the scent of rotting flesh before forcing himself to adjust. Soon as he was done did he step forward again, moving over the piles as he looked around. A den this size must have housed at least a few hundred daemons at a time. Question was where the hell were they? Upper floor? Out gathering more people? Wasn’t sure, didn’t matter in the end either. He wasn’t here to play demon slayer, he was here to pick up two girls. ‘Should be asking where they are.’ Pausing he looked to the side, where one of the other rooms were and stepped over. A bit of disbelief on his face as he found an overturned bus parked into the building. ‘How the hell did they pull that off?’ He looked back, his attention focused on the far wall to find nothing but moss and grime covering it.

Stepping over to the bus he jumped, climbing on top of it before looking inside. Empty; should have guessed. He shrugged scratching his head before jumping off. He made for another room, muttering something under his breath before pressing on. “Seriously where is everybody? “He questioned before heading upstairs.

“There’s no one here.” The teen muttered as he checked the second floor. The faint echoes of chanting reaching his ears as he frowned. “I’ve played way to many video games to know this doesn’t bode well.” Noah tightened his grip on his sword before remembering his breathing exercises. No daemons, no humans - least none that were alive anyway.

Third floor. Well he found everyone. Demons were pretty much everywhere and there were a crowd of people resting at the center. Some were crying, some were silent, but all of them were scared out of their minds and holding onto one another. They didn’t have the slightest clue what was going on, but he had an idea. “You know… despite how cliché it seems, I was not expecting demons to be into mass sacrifice.” His voice reached farther than he expected, causing a few of the demons to turn their heads as they took sight of the one that invaded their den. “I thought that was something only we humans did.” He muttered as he held his sword at the ready and summoned his phantom arm, wrapping it around his own right arm and stepped forward. “Well either case here we go… and like Ryan Reynolds senpai once said, maximum effort.”

“Mjehrlg imsgnznsl zeg hrl wgnjsli!” Several of the horde charged, rushing forward as they went after the teen. Noah thrust his phantom hand out watching as the limb stretched and grabbed a daemon by the leg before pulling, knocking them off balance. He stepped on it’s head a moment later, jumping into the crowd as he swung his sword. Metal met hides and claws tempered by hell’s fire, but that didn’t stop him in the slightest. He swung his blade upright before turning deflecting one blow before striking another. He twisted to avoid being hit before ducking, swinging his blade at the knees and dropped a few. He raised his free as the phantom claw grew, and it was either by magic, brute force or some combination of the two that he was able to latch onto one of the downed demons and swing them around. He bashed the demon into one of the others before letting go, bringing the phantom hand back to backhand another. Using his sword he blocked another daemon before ducking as another charged him. He grabbed their waist and flipped them over his back. Stomping on their face he blocked another attack as one grabbed his sword arm and pulled it back. He twisted in their direction and kneed their privates, wretching his arm free at the same time before taking their head. Soon as that was done he thrust his phantom arm out, this time creating a blast red liquid that caught fire a moment later.

The heat was nothing compared to what the daemons were accustomed to but that wasn’t the point, the point came after they were blinded for a moment. His blade stabbed through one’s mouth before he twisted it in an overhead swing, cutting their skull in half as he went low.

The group pressed their attack as Noah grunted. Turning, twisting and countering to the best of his ability before one of them caught his sword and pulled it from him. All he did was point his now free sword arm out and blasted them with a red telekinetic wave. They went flying as a few others went after him from behind and he turned on a dime. Dodging the first and grabbing the second by the wrist before throwing them over his shoulder. He brought his hands behind him and blasted the two with another telekinetic wave before bringing his hands up to block another. This one he twisted with him, turning them into a living shield as one tried to cut him open only to hit their comrade. When he let go he found another already on him grabbing onto him and holding him from behind him.

Three claws went for his torso as he pointed his phantom arm skyward and he disappeared. The arm stretching to the ceiling and taking him and his tag along with them. It bit into his shoulder as he screamed, stopping only when he dropped the two of them to the floor, back first and forced it to let go. He rolled over the demon getting to his feet as he thrust his free arm out and pulled at the air. His sword came to him a moment later as he held it at the ready.

“Hrni ejl rmi ieal znvrh nj hrla!”

“Veed!” The group didn’t stop coming after him, and he returned to swinging his blade through the crowd as he made his way towards whom he assumed was in charge. When that didn’t work he thrust his phantom hand out, letting it streak through the crowds to grab the demon by the face and bring it to him. He stabbed them in the mouth, before turning looking at the rest before rolling his shoulders. One hurt but he didn’t care all that much. Couldn’t risk focusing on it right now anyway, besides he healed.

“N nbb dgnjc zgea rni icpbb!”

“N mjh rni mgai!”

“N’bb fglmc rni hllhr!” More calls came out as he found himself forced into a circle. He panted for breath as he looked them over for.

“Fuck there sure are a lot of these guys…” Noah muttered as he glanced over to where the people once were. Good, he didn’t have to tell them to get lost. “That means it’s just me and you guys.” He noted a he separated his real arm from his shadow one and created a sphere of red liquid. His one didn’t burst into flame, in fact when he threw it the sphere exploded into a “flower” of scarlet crystals. He roared, charging in right after as he went back to hacking up the group, the actions making him appear more like a rabid animal than a human. His phantom arm reached for the ceiling, growing as it grabbed onto it, all before bringing it down on part of the group as he focused on the other half.

***

Equestria

“Do you think it’s ready?” Twilight was actually a bit nervous as she asked the question. Looking at her mentor as she seemed lost in thought. “I mean - it’s just that I never tried this kind of spell before so I was just…”

“It’s fine Twilight, I understand.” Coming from her thoughts Celestia gave her student a smile. “You’re just concerned that’s all. It’s not everyday we try finishing one of Starswirl’s spells.”

“Especially one that requires such interesting requirements.” Luna added as she focused on the summoning array. Something about it bothering her but she wouldn’t voice her thoughts on the subject. It wasn’t that she saw the spell as wrong or anything, it was more that something about the spell was… familiar. Yes, they had dug into as many old references as they could to complete Starswirl’s own, but what he used as a basis… that bothered her a bit. Her sister must have noticed it as well, this style of old magic, the makeup… ‘Why would you dig into that style of magic Starswirl?’ If the old stallion was still around perhaps he would be able to answer her. As for now though…

“So~ are we just going to stand here, or are we going to do this?” Rainbow Dash added her two bits in as she adjusted her Element of Harmony. Though they weren’t certain if they needed them, the six bearers had brought them upon request. They were going to create a hole in the dimensions and pull somepony through it. They were going to need all the magic they could spare at the moment.

“Yes, is everypony ready?” Celestia called out as all the mare’s stood at attention. “Then let’s bring our new guest from beyond the veil and…

“And hope we performed this correctly.” Celestia looked at her sister before nodding her head slightly.

“Yes, as my sister said, let’s hope we’ve done this correctly.” The taller princess muttered as she closed her eyes and started to focus. The rest of the group followed their example, though in the case of six their elements activated, stretching into a rainbow like thread of magic around their bearers before combining with that of the two princesses.

Luna sighed at the feeling, her magic properly melding with the elements had always been a pleasant experience, unlike the two times she was under her shadow’s influence. She just hoped the Elements wouldn’t respond to that lingering shadow, would turn the pleasant experience into one she hated. So far though, everything was going fine. There were no problems, her shadow was staying quiet and the elements were accepting what she brought forward.

“Here we go.”