Chapters Leaving the Princess to her own devices, I placed three guards on her. Then the construction began. It took us a week to build but we finally had an outer wall. I was slowly gaining more information on the lands we were in through simply talking with Luna. Apparently I intrigue her. She thinks she sees good in me. I think she'd be a useful asset. My hunters comeback with fresh kills every day whilst the foot soldiers got cooking fires going.
One day a hunter didn't come back. I lead the search party. We searched for three days before finding a creature straight out of Legend. A Hydra. Dangling from its middle heads' teeth was the tattered standard of a Blackstone Legionary. My party was poorly equipped to handle this threat but we fought anyway. One of my Wardens had stolen a shipment of Fire Flasks from the Viking village of Valkenheim. She threw a flask at a recently created stump, preventing it from growing two more. Three heads remained. I ran to the fourth head, and pulled the standard from its teeth.
"No..." I said furiously. "We were too late to save you Blackstone." I turned to the beast. "BUT WE WILL AVENGE YOU!" I yelled, running dead out towards a stunned head. Then I did the single most idiotic thing in my entire life.
I jumped down its throat. Upon reaching the stomach I embedded my sword in its softer flesh. I began to carve my way through the beasts torso towards something that felt important. It was big and pulsating. I carved away at the tubes connecting it to the rest of the flesh surrounding me. once it was free, I went back through the newly formed body cavity towards the throat once more. It took a minute to crawl out of the new corpse with what I now assume to be its heart.
When I got out I noticed my Blackstones were trying to carve into its stomach shouting "Get him out of there!"
I cleared my throat gaining their attention. They looked at me in all my bile and blood covered glory. I hefted the heart, now impaled on my sword, and let out a war cry. The Blackstones surrounding me too let out ferocious cheers.
"Master." said a Peacekeeper, gaining my attention. "Shall we head back to the Den?" She inquired. I looked to my knights to see them exhausted.
"I do believe that is ideal. But bring me the center head." a Lawbringer hefted his axe and struck downwards full force. Effectively cleaving the head that had held the Standard from the rest of its neck. Two Conquerors had to lift the heavy baggage. We marched all the way back to The Den victoriously.
"Blackstones! We have returned with spoils of war! This beast killed and ate one of our own, AND WE AVENGED THEM WITH HEATED FERVOR!" I yelled, my voice echoing throughout the newly repaired hall.
"HAIL ABIGOR! HAIL!" My Legion yelled.
"We will mount this head as the first of many trophies! To the wall!" I yelled. The Conquerors held the head in place as a foot soldier pounded three long spikes in to it. Effectively pinning it to the wall.
When all was said and done, we held a feast in the name of the fallen hunter. Cayde. As my knights were celebrating I took a large assortment of greens in a bowl with me down multiple refurbished halls. Eventually I came to an old door, a faded moon had been painted there long ago. I unlocked it and walked inside.
"Princess, my guards have told me you haven't been served anything all day. I thought you might like these greens. Please enjoy." I said to her, setting the bowl on a table. "I know you're still in here. My stonemasons blocked out all windows and I locked the door behind me when I came in here." I looked towards the closet where I could hear her breathing. "I don't want to hurt you." I said calmly. "I just want you to eat something before you starve."
She timidly came out, eyeing the bowl. "M-may we go home?" She asked as she sat at the table across from me.
"I don't think it's safe for you out there. I believe that once you leave you'd come back with an army and lay siege to this place. And I'd be forced to kill you. I don't want that." As she looked down at the greens I got an idea. "Do you like stars?" I asked. She looked at me, nodding timidly.
I took off my helmet, revealing my face.
"Would you like to see them tonight?" I asked. Her face lit up as she nodded rapidly. I smiled and opened the door. "Follow me. I know the best spot." She hurriedly went to my side. "Stay close so my Blackstones don't think you're trying to escape." She nodded and actually held my arm. As I lead her throughout the castle, I felt as if something was watching me. I looked into the shadows out of the corner of my eye and I saw a black mist. Like what transported us here in the first place.
My attention was then directed back to Luna. She was still glued to my side. As I surveyed her, I noticed there was a small bruise, partially hidden by her fur. I turned her head to look at it. "Who did this?" I asked. She looked away towards one of the three guards that were supposed to watch her. "What did they do?" She let a single tear trail down her face.
"W-we do not want to say." She said, staring right at the man. I looked to him, and saw he was scratching his crotch.
"Wait right here." I said to her. I walked toward the knight. He was a Conqueror. "You!" I said with authority. He stood at attention. "Weapon and Helmet check. Turn 'em over." He took of his helmet and handed it to me along with his flail. I held his helmet in my right hand and his flail in my left. "Anything to report?" I ask him, looking over the helm to check for any weaknesses.
"No my lord." He said evenly. I looked him in the eye. "Are you sure?" He nodded.
I turned to the others "And you?" They looked at me then their partner
"N-no my lord." I nodded. Then I clocked the Conqueror upside the head with his helm. He was stunned by the attack and could not bring his shield up in time before his own flail collided with his head.
"I am your master and you dare lie to me?" I asked coldly. He looked to his partners to see them walk down the hall. He then stood watch. "What did I tell you?" I asked on the verge of rage. "NO ONE TOUCHES HER!" I hefted the flail, bringing it down in a deadly arc. His skull caved under the force. I looked to the other two "If I so much as THINK one of you dared to touch her, you will share his fate. AM I CLEAR?" They nodded in a panicked frenzy.
I walked back to Luna. "I am so sorry. I thought they could be trusted. From now on, I myself will protect you." She looked at me in awe.
"Thou killed one of thine own guards... for me?" I nodded "Th... Thank Thee. We never thought thou would do something like that for us. We thought thou were cruel and ruthless towards everyone. Why art we so special?" I was stunned.
"I-I don't know. Maybe I'm trying to manipulate you, maybe I think you remind me of an old friend. Hell, maybe I'm going insane and bloodthirsty. I. Don't. Know."
I looked to the stairwell leading to the roof. "C'mon. I said you'd see the stars didn't I?" She held onto my hand. We climbed up the stairs, eventually we got to the door leading outside. "Close your eyes." I told her. She raised an eyebrow in response. "Trust me." She begrudgingly closed her eyes. I opened the door and guided her outside. I turned her to face the sky. "Open." She gasped at the sky above her. I had noticed the stars weren't like Ashfeld at first, but now they were copying Ashfelds' night sky.
"These are not our stars. How?" She asked me. I simply shrugged.
"These stars are like the ones over Ashfeld. I thought you'd like them." she turned her eyes back to the sky.
"They art beautiful. Thou gazed upon these at thine homeland?" I looked to the sky as well.
"My mother would always chastise me for wanting to stay up so late. But if I begged hard enough, she'd take me out on the rooftops and stargaze with me. It's one of my favorite memories I have of her. Even though she was organizing the Blackstone Legion, she always had time for me." I felt something trail down my face. I felt it and pulled away my hand to reveal clear liquid. I was crying. I hadn't done that since my so-called family left me to die.
Luna looked to me to see me looking puzzled at my tears. "What is the matter Abigor?" She asked me. I wiped away the remaining tears and looked away.
"Nothing, just... something's in my eye. That's all." I walked away from the beautiful sky, and back into the halls of the keep. Unaware of the concerned looks the princess gave me.
Author's Note
Oh? What's this? Is Abigor losing his edge towards Luna or is there an alterior motive? Find out next time on Her Wolves, His Pack!
Yes, the Conqueror raped Luna. No the punishment was not too severe. If anything, he got off easy with a quick death.
Also, for those of you who think this is going too fast or shouldn't be happening yet, remember there were some time skips. I'm going to do that a lot.
I lead a small scouting force into the forest. When we reached our destination I was confused. Why was this town called Ponyville? That's like calling a town in Ashfeld Humansville. It literally makes no sense!
Anyway, I lead two Peacekeepers and a Warden into the town under the cover of darkness. Nobody should be awake at this time of night so that made our job a little easier. What was our Job? Find out about the locals and any potential threat to the Den. I lead the team because I wanted some time out in the field. Apollyon never really went unless absolutely necessary.
I was about to begin the trek into the center of town when I realized there were ponies celebrating everywhere. Fillies and Colts were running around dressed as different things whilst holding small pumpkin shaped buckets. There were adults monitoring the children dressing up as well. So much for easier.
"Hey, nice costume. You look really scary!" a small Colt said to me before running along with three other fillies. I looked back to my scouting party in pure befuddlement.
"Costume?" I asked. They merely shrugged in response. I hesitantly stepped out onto the street. Sure, a few looks were thrown my way but they were simply enjoying the festivities. I looked up to see a banner saying 'HAPPY NIGHTMARE NIGHT!!!' hanging over the street. "This is a very... interesting development. Hope, you and the others gather information through gossip. I wish to go and find out why this festivity is being held." They nodded and separated into the crowd. Ponies quickly began mentioning the matching costumes in passing conversations as I walked into the Town Hall.
"Excuse me?" I asked the Mare at the front desk. "Could you help educate me in something?" She looked up at me from her book and groaned. The lavender mare placed a bookmark into the tome.
"I guess I could help you learn something on my one day off from being a librarian . What do you want to know?" She asked me tiredly.
"How did Nightmare Night come to be?" She groaned tiredly and planted her face on the desk.
"Nightmare Night is a festival celebrated annually in Ponyville, in which foals dress up in costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy. Festival activities include a carnival with various games, musical entertainment, and a tradition in which candy is offered to the effigy of Nightmare Moon. Zecora tells in verse of the legend of Nightmare Moon, which explains the customs of the holiday. You wanna know more about it? Ask her." She said peaking my interest.
"Who's Nightmare Moon?" This question made her gaze shoot up to me.
"Ponies used to play in the day but shunned the night and slept through it, which made Princess Luna grow bitter, eventually refusing to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. Her bitterness transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. Her elder sister, Celestia, reluctantly harnessed the power of the Elements of Harmony and banished her permanently in the moon, taking responsibility for both sun and moon, maintaining harmony in Equestria. There was a prophecy about the Mare in the Moon that stated that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars would aid in her escape, and she would bring about eternal night. The prophecy came to pass, and Nightmare Moon appeared before the ponies of Ponyville during the Summer Sun Celebration. Me and my friends confronted Nightmare Moon and transformed her back into Princess Luna with the Elements of Harmony, and she remorsefully accepted Princess Celestia's offer to rule by her side again. There, happy now?" She explained before bringing her book up once more, glaring at the pages. "Now leave me alone. This is my first day off in three months."
I turned around, having gotten what I came for, and walked away. I went outside to see Hope gossiping with two male Guards. They seemed to be more focused on her hips than on her voice. I grabbed her arm and guided her into an alley where further down a stallion and a mare could faintly be heard mating.
"Get the others. I have new information. I know one of the Elements and I know one of their former enemies. Furthermore I know that she knows exactly whom the Elements are in the possession of." I explained. Hope nodded and went to get the rest of the group. I felt a knife poke at a part of my armor.
"Okay soldier boy, nice fake armor. The only thing that's going to stop this knife right now is you giving me all your bits." I heard a stallion say behind me. I turned around slowly, keeping my weapon out of sight. When I had turned around fully, I grabbed his hand and drove his own knife into his throat whilst he still held it.
As I walked away from the alley and the corpse and mating couple inhabiting it, I heard armored footsteps surround me. My scouting party had rejoined me. We walked back to the Den in silence.
Back at the Den I decided to have a little chat with Luna. I knocked on the door. No answer, I took off my helm and held my ear to the door to hear crying. I unlocked the door and in a flurry of motion Luna was hugging me with all her strength, sobbing into my chest.
"What's wrong Luna?" I asked the mare. She looked up at me through tear filled eyes.
"D...dost thou thinkest me... horrifying?" She asked in a trembling voice. I looked at her for what felt like an eternity.
"No." This seemed to appease her. Only for her to break down again.
"Our subjects have a... celebration." She said before losing it again.
"Nightmare Night. I know Luna. They fear what you once were. Do you know what you were?" She looked up to me and shook her head. I ran my thumb under her eye, wiping away the tears. "A wolf." I said gently.
She gave me a questioning look. "What dost thou mean? Why dost thou sayest we art a wolf when we art an Alicorn?" I laughed at her questions.
"Silly princess. You were powerful. Willing to fight for what you believed in. But your... Subjects and your Sister feared you. They didn't want you to win so they imprisoned you and when you got out... They shoved their lies down your throat. You were never in the wrong Luna. They only made you think you were."
She seemed moved by my answer. "Would thou sayest thou... likest our other half?" I already knew the answer. Nightmare Moon was like my mother Apollyon in many ways.
"Yes. Because she's a part of you. And because you could actually have what you always wanted." I said while offering her my hand. She took it and I led her to a balcony overlooking the keep and my army. "Your own kingdom. A family who'd love and respect you for who you want to be. Not who we want you to be. And... a friend who'd stand beside you." She turned to me. "I've come to care for you in the weeks I've known you Luna. I'd be honored to be your friend." She smiled to me.
"And I'd be honored to be yours Abigor."
Author's Note
Boom! NIghtmare NIght chapter! Didn't expect that did you? Also, I mentioned characters being OOC at times. And we all know our favourite egghead can be... irritable at times.
Is Luna going to consider becoming Nightmare Moon once again? What would Celestia have to say bout that? Is Abigor planning something or just making it up as he goes along?
Find out next time on: Her Wolves, His Pack.
It didn't take long for the Royal Guard to find the bodies of Luna's guards. It took longer to find out just who did it. Eventually they followed standard protocol and sent scouts out into the Everfree. Which brings us to one of the last of two living scouts in front of me, on his knees. He was battered and bruised, and bleeding from his missing teeth.
"I will ask you this one last time. What will you tell your Princess when you report in?" I asked as I stared into his red eyes. His Brown fur was matted with sweat and blood, and it glistened in the torchlight as he glanced around at the Conquerors.
"Th-there was nothing here!" He answered. I backhanded him with my armored glove. He recoiled in pain, clearly shocked by this.
"You will tell her there were simple bandits here. Bandits whom are unorganized and ill equipped . And that Princess Luna was nowhere to be found, leading you to believe she either escaped or we were not the ones who hit her convoy. Am I clear?" I said. He nodded his injured face. My Blackstones lead him to the other scout, whom was told the same message. We let them loose, and as they ran into the distance, I looked at my best archer. "How many ponies does it take to deliver a message?" She smirked darkly, pulling back the string of the pitch black longbow.
"One."
Celestia POV:
I was waiting in my throne room, waiting for my various scouts to return. I was disheartened when a single scout returned. Her Grey fur was matted with sweat. She limped over to me, her head hung low.
"There was a bandit tribe in Everfree castle. they were unorganized and ill equipped. Princess Luna was nowhere to be found, leading me to believe she either escaped or they were not the ones who hit her convoy. Timberwolves got the rest of the scouting force." She said, looking down to her blood covered hands.
I placed my hand on her shoulder, assuring that she did what was asked and nothing more could've been done. I sent her out to get some time off. I turned to Shining Armor with a dark look.
"Send a detachment to the Everfree Forest now. I want those mindless bandits dead." He nodded, and marched out, following my orders. I then received a letter from Twilight Sparkle.
"Dear Princess Celestia, last night's Nightmare Night Celebration was interrupted by an apparent suicide. No evidence other than the stallions knife in his own neck were available. But something disturbs me Princess, there were bruises on his knife hand's wrist. The citizens of Ponyville are panicking. I would appreciate any help you could send our way.
The letter worried me. A murderer in Ponyville? Situations like this was never just a one time thing. Somepony was going to be killed again. I sent a message to the Royal Barracks detailing the assignment. Hopefully somepony would volunteer.
Abigor POV:
I was in the middle of discussing Ashfeld's culture over afternoon tea with Luna when a guard burst through the door panting.
"*pant* Master! *pant* Ponies to the west! *pant* they are armed to the teeth!" He said. I stood, looking to Luna.
"My apologies Luna. Perhaps we could continue this discussion at a later date?" I said to the sitting mare. She smiled ever so slightly and nodded. I walked out of the room, followed by the guard. "Keep an eye on her. Make sure she's safe." He nodded and stood guard at the now closed door. I walked out onto the ramparts fully covered in my armor. I looked out across the Den to see a large group of Royal Guards crossing the rope bridge to the west. I looked to the commander of the Archers. She looked to me, waiting for the signal. I nodded, signaling her to proceed.
"ARCHERS!" She barked. The archers took aim, their black and orange colors visible in the fading sunlight. They had trained their arrows, not on the ponies, but something far more important. "FIRE!"
The arrows sailed through the air, flying towards their targets with deadly accuracy. The ponies raised their shields, blocking a few arrows that were off target, but only then did their commander know my plan.
"GET OFF THE BRIDGE!" He cried! The ropes gave, and the ponies were sent into the canyon below. I nodded to my commander, showing my approval of the teachings she gave the archers. She grinned wolfishly as she turned to her archers.
"Good work lads! That bridge shouldn't be a problem anymore!" Almost all archers were cheering save one. His eyes were still trained on the canyon. I followed his gaze to see golden armor, and the troops inside the armor. Flying. With their wings. That is very unfortunate. I waved my arm, signaling for another volley. The arrows sailed once more through the air, but few hit the intended targets. The remaining twenty ponies flew at incredible speed towards the Den.
"For Equestria!" I heard the lead pony yell. I simply walked back indoors. I heard hooves land on stone as I closed the door behind me. The door then burst open, revealing a very muscular pony. He swung a broadsword downwards, it would've cleaved my arm off had I not blocked it. His confusion was apparent.
"How are you so fast? That should've hit you!" He said indignantly. I chuckled before headbutting him, breaking his nose.
"Open-faced helmets. Big mistake." Was all he heard before catching a sword that was hanging on the wall to the face. "That just makes this easier for me." I said as I tossed his corpse out into plain view of the rest of the ponies. Most let out howls of rage, but one mare let out distraught wails.
This mare to broke off from the main group. The main group was both taking note of any and all changes made to the castle, and firing their bows down upon the Blackstones below them. As the mare dived towards me, I noticed she was crying, and holding her sword in such a way that she would skewer me like a wild boar. I had to time this just right.
As she approached, I was moving my sword into defensive posture, waiting for just the right moment. She got within two feet of piercing my heart when I moved to the right ever so slightly, angling my sword upwards and leftwards by an almost miniscule amount. Her blade went beneath my arm, scraping the metal. My blade imbedded itself in her breastplate. She looked right at me, and as the life left her eyes, I uttered two simple words for only her and I to hear.
"I'm sorry."
I then shifted my attention to the ponies in the sky. A large quantity of arrows were sent in my general direction. I hefted one of many shields that adorned the walls above my head, blocking most of them. A single pitch black arrow managed to puncture my armor though. I grunted as pain flared in my left thigh. Not deep enough to be fatal or injuring. Just deep enough to cause pain. I snapped the arrow two inches off above my flesh.
"Archers, take them down! We need some of them alive, but it does not matter how many are alive by the end of this day!" I shouted to my Blackstones.
The next few hours were Hell. We had to either kill or capture the most hard to hit targets we've ever encountered. We only were able to capture five of them after they and the rest of their group killed fifty of our men. I went back to Luna's room to see her reading a book on knights.
"Ah, Abigor. Is it true thou took an oath to your master in order to become a knight?" She asked, looking at the page, I noticed this book was from Ashfeld. Where were these items and occurrences coming from?
"Uh, yes. My mother was the current Warlord of the Blackstone Legion. I had sworn my oath before Blackstone Keep was under siege, forcing me to follow my mother's orders and abandon her to her most probable death. Now I hold title of Warlord, a symbol of determination and strength. I had never really met royalty before. My mother always stressed that I stay away from them, but you seem to be okay." I told Luna. She looked down at the book and frowned.
"We see no 'Blackstone Legion' in this book Abigor. Were you relatively new?" She asked. I chuckled at the thought.
"No. That book is at least a hundred years old. We've been around for about... twenty years? I do not recall the exact amount as I am only nineteen." This comment shocked the princess and I understood why. A nineteen year old commanding an army? Unheard of in this world. I stood up, and bowed in respect to the princess. When I stood straight, she was already back in the book. I walked out of the room and down several hallways to a single unlit room. Upon entering I saw my guards and five shapes in the darkness.
As I looked down at the five survivors on their knees, I asked them one question, and one question only.
"What will you tell your Princess when you report in?"
Lieutenant Blank Embershard POV:
I was busy getting drunk in a seedy dive in Canterlot when he found me.
"Lieutenant! I am glad I found you. My name is Copper. I'm the Guard sent by Celestia. I've been looking for you, I was lucky to find you at the fifth bar. I've been assigned to this case with you. We are to go to Ponyville as soon as possible."
I pretty much ignored him until he got me another round for the road. After making it a double and slamming it down the hatch, I got off of my stool and followed Copper out of Jimmy's Bar. We were on a train within the hour.
Upon reaching Ponyville, I felt as if something was off. The tension in the air was so tense it could be cut with a knife. Copper lead me to the crime scene. He knelt next to the victim.
Copper POV:
I looked over the body, analyzing whatever I could. I noticed there was significant bruising on his wrist that held the knife. Indicating someone grabbed his hand and forced him to kill himself. It was a quick and clean kill. Not to mention brutal and efficient. Whomever did this, knew how to kill, almost religiously so. I observed a piece of cloth in the stallions hand. He must've ripped off a piece of what his killer was wearing. I opened his hand up to reveal a small black piece of cloth with an orange symbol on it.
The symbol was a sword dividing half of a helmet and half of an oddly shaped skull.
Author's Note
Here it is! Another chapter in the story.
The reason I described the skull as "Odd" is because the ponies are anthro. They've never even seen a human skull. For those of you who'd want a visual, here you go.
Also, If you can find the Detroit: Become Human Reference, you deserve a cookie. I totally thought that bit up as i was typing and thought to myself. "I could make that work".
If you want more sidestory, let me know. There's always room for improvement. I'll try to post these regularly but College is a major factor in my time.
Abigor POV:
The first real fight was in a small town on the outskirts of a kingdom far from the Den. The town of Feather Fall was a marketplace, where both trade and service flowed through. It was this small town that I decided to put as a turning point. We destroyed it. No survivors, only corpses. The only ones there at the time were a single garrison of guards, and the towns' mayor. As I stood above their broken bodies, I looked at a single guard whose chest plate was shifting ever so slightly. I took a spear from a nearby knight and thrust it downwards into the still living guard.
As he let out his last breath, I removed the spear and handed it back to the knight. All the while remembering the chain of events that lead us to this moment. We showed up outside the wall that protected the town, fully armed and armored, and set a battering ram upon the main gate until it crumbled beneath the might of human ingenuity. The Ram could've been smaller, but that would've taken more time. Time we did not have. We needed to be long gone before any reinforcements were to arrive. We carved a bloody swath through the pitiful garrison of guards, killing them in the most brutal ways. Part of them here, part of them there, and part of them way over there staining the wall.
We ignored their cries of pain. Their pleas of mercy went unheard. No quarter was given. I myself killed the Mayor. I used a looted short sword to pierce his gut, and as the life left his eyes I muttered two words only. "I'm sorry." I then left the short sword in his gut, and walked out covered in his blood.
Eventually we got to what we needed. The main hall, where all their food stores, all their armaments, all their hopes lied for the taking. We burned it all. I organized a special gift for the ones who came upon the destruction. Remember the pitiful excuse for guards we killed at the Den? Well, they now serve a higher purpose. Or should I say lower? We planted the bodies of the fallen and left their weapons, impaling and causing damage to the already butchered corpses of the defending garrison. We then moved our own dead and wounded away from the ruined town.
As I walked away from the slaughtered masses, a single Blackstone asked me two questions.
"Master, what will this do? How does this effect the Equestrian nation?"
I turned around to him, and gestured to the destruction around us.
"We need to start a war. Why not recruit the enemies of the Equestrians to the cause?"
"What do you mean sir?"
"Look around you. It's not every day the Equestrians destroy a Gryphon town. Much less leave no survivors . And this is only the first of many! If the Gryphon Empire doesn't declare war as soon as finding out... well, you'd best leave that to me."
We left the town of Feather Fall to burn and fester. Only ashes and corpses were what remained of this once beautiful town and its protectors.
Council of United Equis POV:
"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!" Screamed Mountain Feather, Leader of the Gryphon Empire. "Not only do you leave nothing left, not only do you slaughter without mercy, but when the evidence overwhelmingly states you are to blame YOU DARE DENY IT?!" She slammed her fist down onto the pitch black stone slab they called a table. If one looked close enough they'd see the faintest crack, caused by her fury.
Princess Celestia was in deep water with the CUE. She did not send for any guards to destroy the town, nor did she ever have them trained to kill. But the CUE only saw that the whole garrison was brutally slaughtered, and only ashes remained of the town's buildings. and the accounts of the gryphon guards were written evidence of what happened that day. All of that was put on Equestria's shoulders because of the dead pony guards littering the streets.
"I did not order any guards to raid your town. If I did I would be honest and admit that. Perhaps if you trained your guards more combat techniques instead of posturing all day, your town would be fine." Said Celestia, gaining gasps from the Gryphon Empire's supporters. The Empress snarled, clawing deep marks into the obsidian slab.
"You Bitch! I would NEVER try this on you, but you have the gall to do this?! I thought we were friends Celestia. But now I see the truth. As of tomorrow, my nation will be at war with yours. I only hope that my true friends on this Council stand by me, as you refuse to do so." She said with venom.
The ruler of the Zebra tribes of the plains stood up from his seat at the table, his bone piercings and bone necklace made from the great chieftains before him, and stood behind the empress. "I do not condone slaughter Celestia. Clearly the thousands of years you've experienced are finally driving you mad. I side with Mountain Feather." He said, gaining nods from most members of the council.
The Representative of the Republic of the Yaks stood in his place. "I will not condone or condemn this war. The Yaks will not take any sides." He said, the old age apparent in his voice.
Eventually, most representatives and leaders of their respected nations had taken a side. The Gryphons had the support of the Zebra, the Diamond Dogs, and the Changeling nations. While the Ponies had the support of the Minotaur, the Deer, and the Buffalo. The nations of Equis were now at war. All because Celestia and her pride, and Mountain Feather and her rage.
Abigor POV:
I felt the presence again. Watching me. I looked to a stone pillar to see the shadow of a mare. I drew my sword, pointing it at the shadow.
"Reveal yourself." I ordered. The clopping of hooves could be heard as she walked into the light. Her pitch black fur, her armor, even her aquamarine eyes were all made of smoke. But her form was familiar. The stature of both her and the statue in the Everfree were an exact match. "Hello Nightmare Moon. I was wondering when you'd stop cowering in the shadows and reveal yourself. You look... different from the pictures, descriptions, and the statue depicting you. What's wrong? Too weak to make a corporeal physical form?"
In all my years I'd never seen anything as horrifying as her sharp toothed grin.
She chuckled to herself darkly. "Taking an entire Legion from a different world strains your magic. You were particularly hard to bring over." She said with dark humor in her voice. "So... How's mommy?" She asked condescendingly before my sword was at her throat. She looked down at the blade in fear. "H-how?" She asked, feeling the edge of the blade touch skin and flesh were there should only be smoke.
"I explained seeing you to Luna, she gave me this enchantment to defend myself. I also told her my plans with you." I said to her, her vertical slit eyes got thinner and thinner. "I read up on you. I liked Luna when she had your... willingness to do what was necessary, a wolf queen. But then you were blamed. You are simply a copy of the wolf, a byproduct of an ancient relic used to turn wolves into sheep. You are nothing but a remnant, a physical manifestation of what the weak ponies perceived Luna to be. But that's all about to change." I said to her, Pushing her back against the stone pillar. "You see, you aren't actually living. You aren't your own person. You are merely a piece of Luna. Her ambition and her willpower. I intend to see Luna become a wolf once more, but to see that come to fruition, I need to do this." I said, drawing the blade across her throat, watching the pain in her eyes fade away into lifelessness.
"Are you ready?" I asked the only other living being in the room. She walked forward, her stellar hair flowing in non-existent wind.
"Yes. We... I am ready." Said Luna.
She lit up her horn and grabbed the corpse, the magic carrying the body with her further down into the castle. This was step one in both plans. Create war and show Luna what she was. I mentally set up a reminder to talk with one of the blacksmiths in the Legion, everything was coming together exactly as predicted. There was only one thing could go wrong.
Author's Note
War. Trying to understand war is like trying to understand humanity. Can the Equestrians survive encountering both at once? What is the one thing that could go wrong? What's going to happen to Nightmares' body? What's going to happen to Luna? Why is Abigor starting to apologize? Why is Luna still around?
I want these questions to linger in your minds while you read this chapter and the one that will follow. In the mean time, I hope you guys like this story, as the concept's been floating around in my head for little over a year.
Abigor POV:
Luna took the body of Nightmare Moon to an ancient chamber, the door of which was adorned with a blood red crescent moon. She told me the ceremony would be finished later today. I just had to prepare for an eventuality that she warned me about. I ordered the guards to stay on preset patrol routes. We had guests coming, and I couldn't wait to see their faces.
This was going to be a night to remember. But first, rumor of a private army has spread to the kingdoms of Equis, and volunteers were showing up. I myself oversaw their interviews, how did I interview them? Simple. A duel. If I was impressed, they could join. If not... they were weak and shouldn't be left alive.
Very few passed the test. But those that did swore a blood oath, eternal loyalty to the Blackstone Legion and its' Warlord. They were then armed, armored, and given training. The Blackstone Legion was getting stronger, but this kind of strength gains attention fast.
Celestia POV:
I was concerned. I had heard from Copper, the murder in Ponyville was perpetrated by a professional killer. He had showed me a cloth with a strange symbol on it. A sword dividing a Skull and Helmet. I later heard reports from one of my spies in the Gryphon Empire about a private army in the Everfree, called the Blackstone Legion, and how they fought for the highest bidder. I sent Shining Armor and Princess Cadence to the Everfree Castle to negotiate a contract with them. Hopefully they'd see reason and take our offer.
I looked up to the sky, sensing a presence. I heard a whisper I had not heard in a thousand years.
"Make us whole."
I shook my head to clear out the voice, but it came out as a mutter now.
"Make us whole!"
I shook my head harder, but the voice persisted.
"Make us whole!"
I gritted my teeth, trying to force the presence out of my head.
"MAKE US WHOLE!"
"No!" I shouted to the sky, my eyes focused on the Sun, the source of the voice.
"MAKE! US! WHOLE!" It screeched.
"Never! I'll never do it! I would rather die!" I yelled, then I felt the presence fade.
"You will."
I sighed as the presence left. I hadn't felt her since I banished Nightmare... She couldn't return, I would never allow it. I sent a letter to Twilight and her friends, telling them to keep their elements close.
Shining Armor POV:
Cadence and I were walking through the Everfree when I felt like we were being watched. I looked to the trees around us to see nothing. We eventually reached the clearing that the ruins should be only to see a fully rebuilt castle, and a new wooden wall surrounding it. There were knights adorning the walls, wielding bows and swords. I noticed some of those bows were pointed at us.
"Come on Shiny, we're losing precious negotiating time." Cadence said before trotting along a dirt path leading to a newly reconstructed bridge. I then thought aloud.
"Wasn't there supposed to be a bandit tribe here? And didn't we beat them?" I pondered. Cadence looked back to me with a look that said not around the armed people please , which shut me up easily.
"Open the gate! Tell Lord Abigor we have more visitors!" Yelled a knight dressed in imposing armor, his halberd shone brightly in the daylight. The gate opened slowly, and behind it were even more knights! I easily noticed Ponies and other easily identifiable inhabitants of Equis, but what were the majority of the army? They had no muzzles, no hooves, and no other features that'd show them as pony. If anything they were even more confusing than the fact that different members of warring species all joined up in this single army. What were they?
I decided my questions would have to wait as a female knight walked up to us, gesturing we follow. We followed her into the throne room, I immediately noticed the imposing figure sitting on a pitch black throne, his armor was wicked looking, as if he were ready to kill every second of every day, and his massive sword only made him more intimidating. He sat in the throne, regarding us and the others that have come before us. I noticed there were representatives from all countries here, even the Yaks. We all watched as he stood from the obsidian throne, and spread his arms.
"Welcome to the Wolves' Den. Home of the Blackstone Legion. I am Abigor, Warlord of this mighty army. You have gathered here to buy our services. Know now that we are not cheap, nor are we going to bow to your nations. Our allegiances are to our own, any attempt to bribe a Legionnaire will be met with punishment. Now, what do you offer for my army?" He said as he walked in front of the representative furthest to the left, the exact opposite of Cadence and I. His voice was devoid of emotion, further increasing my distrust.
As he walked along the line of representatives I heard their offers. Money, power, women, soldiers, land, weapons, citizenship, and information were offered up to him. He eventually got to Cadence and I. I felt his eyes bore into mine, though his eyes were hidden in his helmet, like he was searching my soul.
"I do not recall Princess Celestia to be a coward. Why does she send you instead of coming herself? Is she afraid of us or embarrassed to show her face?" He said, making me really want to hit him with a blast of magic. Cadence stepped in though.
"She simply didn't have the time. She's been looking for Princess Luna and trying to find a peaceful solution to this war." She said. Abigor looked at her now, dead silent. He shifted his gaze back to me.
"What is your name pony?" He asked.
"Captain Shining Armor. You may have heard of me." I answered, he nodded, then he began to chuckle.
"You train the Royal Guards?" He asked, I nodded. He chuckled again before stopping suddenly. "I am not impressed." He said. Then he turned back to Cadence, "What does your country offer?" He inquired.
"We won't have the Elements of Harmony come here and kill you." She said evenly, drawing gasps from the other representatives and then the knights surrounding us drew their swords, but Abigor waved them off. "I assume you know what they are?" She asked, eliciting a slight chuckle. What did he think was funny? We just threatened to kill him! He should be Shitting his pants!
"You think six little girls would succeed when so many of your Royal Guards have failed? Please, it was I who told your surviving guards and scout what to say to the princess. I could have killed you two the moment you came into the clearing, and she'd be none the wiser. If you do send six civilians to kill me, at least make sure they have more than fancy jewelry. Because I have my ace in the hole too. If they fail, night will last forever." He spoke the last sentence in a whisper, low enough for Cadence and I to hear, but the rest of the representatives couldn't. My heart practically stopped. 'He has Nightmare Moon on his side?! How in Tartarus could THAT happen?' I thought to myself. Abigor walked up to the Throne, and sat on it, inspecting his massive sword. "I will send my response on the morrow. In the mean time, please." He looked to us "Enjoy yourselves. Depending on my decision, it may be your last chance to."
The representatives went over to the tables lining the hall, covered in a vast variety of food ranging from plants to meat. The Gryphon heiress, Golden Crest, walked up to Abigor, and began to talk with him. I nudged Cadence, nodding in their direction. She nodded and walked over to Abigor. I went over to Allied representatives and discussed this 'Blackstone Legion'. Apparently, they were good fighters. Very good. I looked over to a banner that was relatively out of sight from the rest of the room's inhabitants. I took it off of the wooden stand, and got a good look at the symbol on it before tucking it away in one of my many hidden pockets. The symbol disturbed me. A sword dividing a skull and a helmet? Not a good sign.
I looked to Abigor to see him still conversing with Cadence and Golden, but his helmet was turned right at me. I felt his gaze bore right into me. What's wrong with this guy?! What the buck did he have against me?! I just met him! Then it hit me. He knew I trained the guards but wasn't impressed, did he want to fight me? Test my mettle? I had no idea what he wanted, all I knew was he probably saw me grab the banner. I played it off though, surely he just started looking at me, right?
After half an hour of conversing with the different representatives, Abigor eventually addressed us all once again.
"Thank you for coming, but I have personal matters to attend to. I wish you all a very fond farewell." He looks right at Cadence, "And good luck." He then sat in his throne once more, and there he stayed until we all left. Cadence and I left the Castle, and teleported to Celestia. She looked a little shaken but nothing too out of the ordinary. Probably just stress.
"What did he say?" She asked. After explaining the encounter, I showed her the banner. She looked at the symbol in shock, when asked what was wrong she took out a torn off piece of fabric. Fabric that had that symbol.
Twilight Sparkle POV:
After receiving a second letter that day, I knew me and my friends were going to have a fight ahead of us. The letter said something I never expected to see.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, Nightmare Moon is back and she has an army."
We definitely had a fight ahead of us.
Author's Note
What is Luna doing? Who is the voice? Why does Abigor hate Shining? What will the Mane Six do? Find out the answers to most of those in the next chapter of Her Wolves, His Pack!
Let me know what you think in the comments below!
The Mane Six were worried. Nightmare Moon was back? With an army under her influence? Not good.
"How the fuck is Nightmare Moon even back? Didn't we, like, Erase her with the Elements or something?" Asked Rainbow Dash as she sat on Twilight's counter top after being told the news. Applejack nodded in agreement. The other three had different reactions. Rarity fainted into a couch that appeared out of nowhere, Fluttershy simply fainted. Pinkie Pie wasn't paying any form of attention. Instead, she was bouncing in place with a vacant look in her eye. Twilight was sipping at a cup of green tea, trying to calm her nerves.
"No. Apparently we only separated her from Princess Luna. Princess Celestia wants us to sneak into Everfree Castle, now called The Wolves' Den, and use the Elements to stop her." Said Twilight as she opened a map. "Nightmare has an army under her control. if we could somehow free them from her influence, they'd probably want to help us in the war. We need their support. If we don't get their help, they could raid villages and towns from their new fortress without ever having to deal with our border guard."
"What if we built a wall around the Everfree?" Pinkie asked. Twilight facepalmed.
"They could just go around it Pinkie. There are plenty of caves in the Everfree, they'd just go through those." Said Twilight. Then Rainbow Dash stood up.
"So, all we have to do is sneak in, get rid of Nightmare, make a deal with the Knights, and all's good. Miss anything?" She asked with clear bravado.
"Their leader is called Abigor. Shining Armor asked one of the knights what the name meant. It's the name of a demon of war in command of 60 Legions. The demon supposedly made deals with royals, selling them secrets of military victory in exchange for their souls. We should be careful. They also whispered rumors about a 'Hantu Kopek'. It's the name of some female nightmare demon. I think that's what they call Nightmare Moon. They must have no idea what they're dealing with." Twilight explained. She then slung a packed bag over her shoulder, and stood in front of the group. "Let's go girls!" She said determinedly.
Then they all left the library. Six friends on their way to fight off a parasitic Demon and save a group of clueless knights.
Or so they thought.
Abigor POV:
I was sitting on my new throne, watching over my Blackstones as they feasted, when I felt a hand tap on my shoulder. I looked to whomever wanted my attention to see... Luna. Looking exactly as she did before. I will admit, at that point a very small part of me felt disappointment.
Sensing my thoughts, Luna smiled lightly saying. "I will show you the physical changes when the time comes. I have been able to comprehend modern ways of speaking though. What do you think?" She asked. I looked at her eyes, and felt a slight twinge of fear, and a sharp jolt of adrenaline.
"I like it." Was all I could think of at the time.
She giggled and stood at my side, looking at the Blackstones as the cleaned up after themselves and readied the main hall for what was planned. Whomever Celestia thought could kill us all would have another thing coming.
Then I heard a faint whisper, as if it were someone yelling from miles away.
Make us whole!
I turned in the direction of the voice to see the sun shining through a painted glass window depicting Apollyon. I thought to myself, what in the name of all things could make that sound? My question was soon answered. I felt a dull throb in my head before blacking out.
Darkness... All I saw... Was an eternal void. Absent of light. How could this come from the sun? I asked, dreading the answer. Then, a voice sounded from the deep blackness, all around me I heard it's raspy voice.
"Even a star can eventually fade and die... I am what comes after it's final breath. Soon I will arrive, and I will be whole again. But..." I then felt an overwhelming presence, as if I was being crushed from all sides. You have disrupted my plans human. You may have Them on your side, but I will kill them! Until then..." I felt a searing pain on the right side of my face, I clawed at the right side of my head, trying to rip whatever was causing the pain off of me.
"ENOUGH!" screeched a shrill voice, and suddenly dark was light, black was white, and I was awake once more.
I looked around me to see Luna with her hands on my temples. Her soft hands emitted a soft warm light blue glow.
"What happened?" I said, straining to sit up. Luna placed her hand on my chest plate, gently pushing me back to lying on the ground.
"You fell over and started thrashing. You were screaming in pain, I used my magic to ease the pain you felt but... I couldn't do anything to stop the scarring." She said, looking away in shame. My heart quickened in panic.
"What scarring?" I asked urgently. She handed a mirror over to me. I grabbed it to look at myself, and my heart felt as though it had stopped in my chest. The entire right side of my face was dominated by a horrifying scar. My right eye was bloodshot, and turned a hazy pale blue. I still had my eyelid though, so blinking was still possible (if a little painful). I stared at the person in the mirror, almost unbelieving that it was me staring back. I lifted my hand to feel the scarred skin and tissues of my face, and shuddered at the texture.
"I am sorry Abigor. I did the best I could." Luna said, looking down in shame. I looked at her, and thought of something. I hugged her.
"You did the best you could my dear friend. For that I do not blame you, I thank you." I said as I held onto her slightly smaller frame. She hugged back tightly.
"I-I didn't want to lose my only friend. I was so worried!" She said, tears began to hit my shoulder. I looked out to my Blackstones, worried and confused.
"I'm fine Luna. Really, you shouldn't be so worried about me. I hate to see you like this. You are an incredible per... pony. You deserve a better friend than me." I said as I looked at a the reflective surface of the obsidian throne. "I'm a monster inside and out now." I muttered, this caused Luna to lean back and slap me on the left side of my face. Her tears fell freely now.
"You are not a monster! You are the only friend I've had in the last one thousand years! I know you're a good person even if you don't!" She shouted through tears. "You showed care for my wellbeing even when you held me captive in this castle! You killed one of your own for me because I said he violated me! You cared about my feelings during Nightmare Night! Most importantly, you showed me that I can be something I never thought I could be!" I looked at her in confusion.
"What's that?" I asked, her fur turned black for a moment, she looked at me with determination.
"A Wolf Queen" She said and I felt that same adrenaline rush. But this time I felt exhilaration as well. She felt like one of us. A Blackstone princess... A Wolf Queen once more. I handed her a small amulet. A silver ring obsidian orb with the Legion emblem engraved in it.
"Welcome to the Legion, Blackstone." I said. Upon her look of confusion, I explained. "My mother's... dealings with recruiting were... a little overzealous when it came to royals. She felt they were too disloyal and selfish. You just proved her wrong. Kneel." I instructed. She knelt and I grabbed a ceremonial sword off of the wall. I held it above her head. "For loyalty in friendship, and for honor in actions; I, Abigor, raise you. Stand, knight of the Blackstone Legion." As she stood up I held the sword out to her. It was a sturdy Warden's blade, designed with stars and moon engravings. She took the hilt and looked at the blade in awe.
"I know how much you like stars. I also went to the blacksmith to get you armor. You'll find the set in your personal quarters. From the written legends I've read, I know you have the practice with swords." I said. She looked at me and squealed in joy as she hugged me once more. She started saying 'thank you' repeatedly until I held up a hand. "Now, get your armor on, and report any discrepancies to the blacksmith. I will be seeing to a personal matter that has just come up."
She nodded and walked down the hallway. I walked the other way. Towards the only man in the entire Legion that knew how to craft fine metal trinkets. As I walked up to him, he stood at attention. I asked him one question, and one question only.
"Do you know how to make a metal mask?" A smirk was his response.
"Is grass green?" He asked, prompting a small smile from me.
This was going to be one for the history books.
Author's Note
Who is the voice and how can they manipulate the real world? Why is Luna okay with being a Legionare? What is Abigor planning? Where's Gummy?! What is going to happen next?!
Tune in next time to find out on Her Wolves, His Pack!
Abigor POV:
"Princess Luna?!" Cried Twilight Sparkle. She and her friends seemed shocked that she was with the Legion.
"But of course! Did you honestly expect for us to let you tear her apart again? It is truly a fate worse than death. A fate that I will never allow to happen to her again." I said from my elevated position. I held an open hand up, fingers outstretched.
"If Nightmare Moon was one with me by my choice, would you still use the Elements?" Asked Luna. Twilight looked at her friends, receiving glances and nods.
"Yes." She said.
That was all she needed to hear. She looked to me, nodding. I looked down to them.
"Then you are to late. She has embraced the side your princess would have destroyed. Her passions, her ambitions, and chief among them, her freedom from Celestia." I said down to them, they looked up to her in horror as she changed her appearance to her true self.
Her skin turned black, and her hair took a lighter shade, her eyes remained the same, and her cutie mark's black smudge turned to purple. She looked down at them, her eyes boring into theirs.
"I am not afraid of my sister, or you any longer!" She shouted, flaring her wings. I closed my hand into a fist.
CHUNK! click click click click. was heard as many gears, large and small, did what they were designed to do. Between the tiles on the floor, one could almost see a pitch black rope in the gaps.
A Whoosh was heard as the net raised up, closing off at the top, trapping the six inside. I walked slowly towards them, scraping my sword along the tiles. I got right in the face of Rainbow Dash, fear evident in her eyes.
"I believe we have guests, my wolves! And how do we treat guests?" I yelled out to my Legion.
All that was heard was laughter, from both my men and Luna, who seemed to be having at least a slight amount of fun.
"Show them to their rooms Blackstones!" I yelled, they roared in approval and took them down, into the depths of the castle's dungeon.
"What will become of them Abigor?" Asked Luna as she stepped next to me. I looked to her, the unhidden side of my face was a smirk.
"I believe they have a part to play, but not right now." I said, walking into my war room, two contracts were set upon it. "Right now, I must decide whether to fight against Celestia openly, or secretly." I said, looking down at the contracts.
There were two distinct differences, one was written in ink and had a seal depicting a sun in yellow wax. The other was written in a crimson liquid, possibly blood, and had a seal depicting a bird's skull engulfed in flame in red wax.
"I do not want to see my sister, she would know everything and want me torn apart again." Said Luna anxiously. I placed my left hand on her shoulder, reassuring her.
"Worry not dear friend, I would not choose either of these unless I was certain of the outcome." I looked from her now slightly smiling face to the contract I had just signed. "We win either way." I said. I looked over to a guard, "Are we ready to release the two messengers as I planned?" I asked, he nodded.
"Then make it so." I said, waving him off.
Mountain Feather POV:
I was sitting on my throne, filing my talons when a messenger I had sent out a day ago came back with a box.
Celestia POV:
I was enjoying a slice of cake when a guard entered my throne room with a box.
Mountain Feather POV:
I had him open it to reveal a scroll and something wrapped up.
Celestia POV:
There was no note, so I opened it, revealing a scroll and something wrapped up, and a faint odor.
Mountain Feather POV:
I unwrapped the object to reveal a golden cross engraved with an unknown language.
"Signum Nobis Fidem"
Celestia POV:
I opened the scroll to reveal the contract I sent to Abigor, but written in what I hoped was red ink was series of letters arranged into a strange language.
"Cuius Signum Ex Proposito Demandanda"
Mountain Feather POV:
I opened the scroll to reveal Abigor's signature on the contract and his Legion's symbol as a seal in wax. Along with the scroll there was a note.
"We will fight alongside you, but Celestia is MINE!" was written in blood.
Celestia POV:
Assuming that was his way of signing contracts, I unwrapped the object, my eyes closed to make it a surprise.
The odor was overwhelming now. I felt something cold and clammy in my hands, I opened my eyes to see...
The messenger's head... without the rest of his body. his eyes stared at me, unfocused and grey.
I screamed.
Abigor POV:
I walked down, into the bowels of the dungeon, carrying a large bucket and a torch. Eventually, I got to six cells carved into the bedrock. Strange symbols carved long before our arrival were adorning the doorframes.
"What do you want with us?!" Yelled Rainbow Dash, her face smushed against the bars so she could look at me. I turned slowly, my mask shining in the torchlight. I leaned over to her, my gaze fixed upon her eyes. I put the torch into a nearby sconce. I then reached into the bucket, and tossed her an apple and a loaf of bread.
"Eat." I said, giving the same to the rest of them. As I grabbed the torch, moving to leave, I heard one of them mutter some thing.
"Celestia will come for us" I heard.
"No, she won't. She'll be to busy fighting a losing war." I said, before walking away, chuckling darkly.
Main 6 POV:
"Any luck Twilight?" Asked Rainbow Dash. Twilight tried once more to use her magic to unlock her cell door, but every time she tried, her horn just fizzled out.
"No these symbols on my cell doorway must be dampening my magic. What about you Rarity?" She asked the fashionista, who also was attempting a similar feat.
"Oh confound it!" Shouted Rarity, "We're never getting out of here!" She cried.
"PIPE DOWN OR I'LL COME DOWN THERE AND GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT!" Came the harsh female voice of the dungeon's new Warden. She held a jagged longsword that promised pain and bloodshed wherever it would make it's mark. She looked down at the six cells, never taking her single eye off of them was her sole purpose right now, as she was told to do so by Abigor himself, and she owed the man for saving her life from a Viking's axe.
"LIGHTS OUT!" She yelled, her voice amplified and echoed in the deep. Other jailers started putting out the candles one by one until there was only a single flickering flame left, illuminating the dark halls, and then the Warden sat in a chair, watching over the barely visible cells.
"There has to be a way to get to those keys." Twilight whispered to herself before succumbing to sleep.
Author's Note
Alright! Admittedly, this chapter was a little short, and late, but it's kinda difficult to juggle two stories AND college all at once.
By the way, this is what Luna Looks like now.
Just in case my description wasn't up to snuff.
For those of you who don't know Latin, I've written the best translation I can come up with:
Now, for the random questions that everyone might ask and some that no one cares about:
What will the Main 6 do now that they're in Abigor's dungeon? What will Celestia do in response to Abigor's message? Do any of you care? WHERE'S GUMMY?!
Find out next time on Her Wolves, His Pack!
Abigor POV:
I expected Celestia's Assassins would be sent soon, but I had no idea how soon. I sent for both Luna and someone who'd been in the Legion for around as long as I have.
"You sent for me my lord?" Asked a stern voice.
I poured a chalice of wine, not looking back at them.
"Yes, I believe that the Pony Princess, Celestia, wants my head. I trust you and your... family could... prevent that?" I asked, sipping from the chalice.
"My, lord! Surely you'd prefer the safety of the tower! Not the insecurity of the throne room!" They said incredulously. I turned my head sharply, looking at them out of the corner of my eye.
"Asano!" I hissed, "Do you question my orders?" I asked in a dangerous calm.
"Never!" They said devotedly, "I simply express concern for you! We grew up in the Legion together! I would rather I embrace death than live to see you do so!" They said, taking a step foreword, I see a flash of their armor. I sighed, and set the chalice down.
"Then do as I say. Or I will go to Asbjorn." I said, eliciting a slight chuckle from Asano.
"Asbjorn? Please. He couldn't save his own ass with both hands!" Asano said, laughter evident in their voice.
"Just... be ready." I said, lifting my hand to the various hiding places Asano's 'family' could hide in.
Asano stepped back and walked into the shadows. I heard a door open to my left, I turned to see Luna in a lovely evening dress. She smiled at me with something hidden behind her back. She seemed excited about something, although I had no idea what about.
"Abigor! I found something magical that you'd love! It's been crafted with metals from both my world and yours! I found it whilst going through the royal vault beneath the Den!" She said cheerfully. She pulled out something long covered in a heavy cloth. "Legend has it, King Sombra forged this to kill a... 'Paladin' I believe was the term. It was of another world, but there are no records of it, and nothing is written about the 'Paladin' except that it could use light magic to hurt and injure Sombra." She said, handing me the item.
I unwrapped the object, to reveal a sword. A sword as long as any other Warden blade, but it was... different. Unwrapping it fully, I was able to see the entire sword.
I gripped the hilt and heard a gentle, low, velvet voice caress the inside of my head.
"You. Are you to be my wielder?" Said the voice. I looked at the blade. "Speak your name, warrior." It said to me. I looked to the Onyx blade.
"Abigor, Warlord of the Blackstone Legion." I said to the sword, knowing Luna could not hear me as she talked with a nearby guard about getting something for the two of us to eat. "Can other people hear you?" I asked.
"No. Warlord Abigor, have you taken up the blade of Craven Edge? It asked.
"Is that what you are?" I asked the blade. It sighed slightly, before going quiet for a moment.
"Do you accept my power?" It asked.
"What kind of power?" I asked the sword.
"Do you enjoy drinking the strength of your foes, watching them beaten before you, and have that power become your own?" I pondered for a moment, before saying yes to it. "Do you accept, Abigor?"
"Abigor, would you care to sit down and enjoy this fine spread the chefs have prepared for us?" Luna asked just after the sword, Craven Edge, asked it's question.
I answered both truthfully, at the same time.
"Yes."
"Then it is done! Together, we will accomplish great things." It said as I Placed the blade at the table. Then Luna and I had a nice discussion of the nightlife of Equis. Eventually, when the food was gone, and Luna left to train the Equis soldiers.
I went back to the throne room, carrying my new blade and my chalice of wine. I heard the door faintly creak as someone sneaked through, but they were not alone.
"I suppose you thought you were hidden. Normally you would be." I said, turning my back to them. "But I have eyes, and ears... and hands everywhere." I said, I looked to my reflection in the window, counting the number of assassins in the throne room. After counting forty assassins, I looked to my reflection, my mask glistening in the torchlight.
"Isn't that right Asano?" I asked loudly, before the sound of an impact was heard throughout the room.
"Of course my lord!" said the voice of my old friend. I turned, my mask now off, to see a female Kensei pull her sword from the newly made corpse. She looked up at me, wiping the blood from her blade. three more shapes descended from the shadows, killing off three other assassins. A Shugoki stood from his crushed foe, counting the remaining enemies whilst a Nobushi did the same after pulling her weapon from the dead Pony.
"There's plenty for the both of us, may the best woman win!" The Nobushi shouted to the Shugoki, who laughed heartily, his voice thundering throughout the hall.
An Orochi simply sighed to himself, before stabbing a pony who'd tried to sneak up on him in the throat.
"Remind me who won last time?" He asked before cutting another pony in half, as the assassins were dressed in brown robes and no armor. "I believe I'm still in the lead Fujima." He said before Asano decapitated four in a single swing. Fujima, the Nobushi, impaled two on her Naginata.
"Oh come on Otake, keep up!" She said lightheartedly. Otake laughed before smashing two pony heads together before crushing a third with his Kanabo. I watched as the Orochi, named Hiruma, cut another pony into little pieces in seconds.
And so the group of four, having affectionately named themselves 'the family' years ago, carved a bloody swath through the ponies. eventually, only fourteen ponies were left. I took this opportune moment to heft Craven Edge up into an offensive stance.
"YES!" It said as I impaled the first of many on my blade. A feeling of intense euphoria filled me as the life faded from his eyes. The thirteen remaining looked at me without fear, not seeing the look Asano gave me. I wanted to kill them all, and send Celestia their heads.
They almost formed a line when they fought me, all I had to do was keep carving out massive chunks of flesh and a new one would take their place. It was almost as if time had slowed, and I could remain at the same speed. I ducked under a blade, sinking Craven Edge into the owner's chest before ripping it out sideways to block another sword, the blades met with sparks flying, I took this brief moment to count the remaining assassins. One.
"Yes Abigor! Give me their blood! I hunger!" said the blade, and I felt something emanate from the sword, and suddenly, the blade didn't feel so heavy, and the pony's strength wasn't hard to overpower anymore. I looked down to the fallen earth pony, feeling new strength swell in me as he tried to crawl back on his hands and hooves.
"I, Abigor of the Blackstone Legion, sentence you to death by the sword for crimes against the Legion." I said before lifting the pony up by his throat, placing the blade just below the center of his ribcage before driving it up into his body. After I killed him, I turned to The Family as they counted their kills.
"I got six." Asano said.
"Same here." Said Otake.
"Ditto!" Chimed Fujima
"I got Eight." Hiruma said, before looking to me. "How many have fallen by your blade my lord?" He asked.
I briefly looked around me, recounting the bodies, before coming to a conclusion.
"Fourteen." I said simply. The shocked looks on their faces are a sight I pray I never forget.
"Um... I guess that means that Lord Abigor wins?" Asked Fujima. I laughed aloud, gaining their gazes once more.
"Count my kills as Asano's kills. Without her, I'd be dead in The Myre." I said, eliciting a groan from Hiruma and a cheer from Fujima.
"The best woman won!" She squealed before tallying up their various wins over the years, Hiruma now barely in the lead. I left the throne room, eager for sleep.
Main Six POV:
After being stuck in the dungeon for a day, Twilight was running out of ideas. Every time she thought up a plan to escape, the Warden would simply explain how it'd crash and burn. Rainbow Dash was doing wing-ups and swearing under her breath, most of those swear-words were directed at Abigor. Rarity was taking advantage of the darkness to catch up on some 'much needed beauty rest'. Applejack was trying to buck the bars of her cell, praying that they'd break eventually. Fluttershy was taking care of a few mice and rats that'd scurried into her cell. But Pinkie Pie...
While all of her friends were either despairing or trying to prepare, she was using one of many hairpins hidden in her many curls to pick the lock of her cell. After the fiftieth lock broke, she felt something small crawl out of her hair, and slip between the bars of her cell. She watched as a small, toothless, green alligator scampered about in the darkness.
"Gummy! Go get the keys!" She whisper-yelled to the alligator.
Out in the darkness, the sound of a door opening and closing was heard, and Pinkie quickly beckoned for Gummy to return. But he didn't. Instead, he made his way to the Warden, flitting from shadow to shadow. The Warden turned to the sound of the door to see a Lawbringer holding a large bowl with steam curling out of it.
"Captain Luna orders you to eat." He said without much emotion. He then handed her the bowl, not seeing the green alligator hidden beneath the Wardens chair. Gummy turned to look at the six girls, and stuck his tongue out, licking his right eyeball. "To be honest, we both know that disobeying one of her orders means Abigor will order you, and you'll have to eat it cold." The Lawbringer said before walking away, up a stairwell into the castle.
The Warden set her food down on a table next to her, her keys jingled and jangled as she shifted in her chair. Gummy gently poked his head out from under the chair, now staring at the keys. A new force driving him, he managed to get his toothless maw on the keyring. The Warden was still eating her food, and not noticing the feel of the key's weight leave her side, as she was still dressed in her full set of armor.
Eventually Gummy went from shadow to shadow, but after leaving the final shadow... There was something missing.
Gummy had hidden the keys.
Author's Note
For those who want to know what the 4 Samurai badasses look like, here you go:
The Kensei (Without her mask) - Asano Chiyuki
The Shugoki - Otake Hyobe
The Nobushi - Fujima Eriko
The Orochi - Hiruma Eriko
Yes, Fujima and Hiruma are siblings.
Shout out to Gundamdragon who gave me the idea, I made some changes as to prevent spoiling the surprise. I hope it knocked your socks off bro.
Also, yes, I put Craven Edge from Critical Role in the fic. Because reasons.
Now, the multiple questions most people skip over just to get to the next chapter!
Why did Gummy hide the keys? How did Gummy manage to accomplish something he normally couldn't do? What does Celestia have planned for Abigor next? Will the Main six steal the keys to their cells? Are there Vikings in the Legion? What will Abigor do with Craven Edge? Find out next time on Her Wolves, His Pack!
Abigor POV:
I was invited to a meeting with Mountain Feather and the leaders of the other allied nations. She and I talked over the proper target but reached a stalemate.
"Why would we attack the Yaks? They want to stay out of the fight!" Insisted Mountain Feather. I turned from the World Map to look at her. I knew that in order to convince her I'd have to speak my next words very carefully.
"The Yaks are probably waiting to see who'd come out on top before joining the winning side. I don't want to fight any more enemies than necessary, and I get the feeling you don't either. A quick and brutal application of force and the Yaks will join us out of both fear, and the belief they chose the winning side." I said before turning back to the map, memorizing every enemy troop placement possible.
"Celestia seems to think that if she puts all of her forces into defense she'll be able to wear you down. But then again, she also has a vast number of assassins at her disposal." I said, observing the massive yellow blocks symbolizing Celestia's troops lining the Equestrian border.
"What do you mean 'assassins'?" Asked Queen Chrysalis as she entered the room. I Turned to her, having an idea.
"Can your spies and throat-cutters take on the forms of dead ponies?" I asked her, getting a nod in response. "I have a large number of ponies for you to replace then. Royal assassins tried to kill me two nights past, they failed but Celestia doesn't need to know that." I said. I watched as the gears in Chrysalis' head began to turn. Eventually her face took on a dark grin.
"Send them to my hive then." She said before leaving shortly thereafter. I turned back to Mountain Feather.
"Do you really think that Celestia won't lie to the Yaks to get them on her side? We need those troops. We can't break her defenses without them. The combined forces of her ponies and the Minotaur horde would decimate most of your troops." I said, driving a dagger into the map. It was embedded in the capital of Yakistan, known as the walled city of Yakutsk.
"You seem to forget, Abigor, that you are merely a contracted mercenary. I do not need your input on the strategies of war, I was taught plenty by various scholars over five years." Said Mountain Feather as she removed the dagger. When she looked at me my mask was off, and she felt the full extent of my stare.
"You think you know war? I was born into war. molded by it. I did not know the word 'peace' until I was a man." I said lowly, staring into her eyes. A flicker of fear appeared in her eyes for but a moment before she glared at me.
"I will not order my troops to attack Yakutsk." She said before walking away to talk with the leaders of their respective nations. I looked at the map for a long while, wondering what to do when I remembered the words of my mother.
"If we recruit our enemies to the cause..."
"That's it." I said to myself as I headed to the entrance of the palace.
I looked back for merely a moment to see the nation leaders laughing amongst each other like old friends. I felt a bitter disgust fill my stomach. They were no better than those of Celestia's allies. They needed to see that they are at war. Not some social gathering.
I left the warm halls for the cool Autumn breeze.
Main Six POV:
Gummy was still not cooperating and Pinkie was about to give up hope when Pinkie remembered something. What was she trying to do before Gummy made his celebrity appearance?
Fluttershy had a small army of rats and mice at her disposal, but all she did was whisper to them.
Rarity was still napping away.
Dash was still trying to break her door down, blood actually started to pour off her knuckles as she kept punching away.
Twilight was meditating, trying to find out what to do.
Pinkie figured she had about thirty minutes until the Warden noticed what she was doing. So she used those minutes to their fullest extent. Using her bobby pin and a small thin piece of metal, she was able to pick the lock. But then she heard voices.
"I don't give a damn who said you could be here, I only do as the Warlord commands! Not some snot-nosed Pony!" Said the Warden as she spoke to a shadowed figure. "Unless you have an officially signed and sealed command, piss off!" She shouted, putting her hand on her sword.
"Very well... I will be back for them." Said what sounded like a stallion. Hooves could be heard as the Stallion walked away. The Warden sighed and rested her eye for a moment before opening it suddenly. She stood up and walked down towards the cells.
"Which one of you stole the keys and why haven't you escaped yet?!" She barked to the six. Pinkie stuffed Gummy into her hair, praying she wouldn't notice.
"You think I wouldn't notice the weight missing?!" She shouted, getting in Pinkie's face. Pinkie was trembling, and pointed up the stairway.
"I-I thought you gave them to him." She said before a loud THUMP was heard. A pony dressed in Blackstone Legion armor stood behind the unconscious Warden, his shape could be seen in the low candle light. He took off his helmet to reveal blue hair and white fur.
"Sorry I'm late, these Blackstones have really good security around here." Said Shining Armor.
I stood outside the entrance to the Minotaur capitol city of Minos Taurus. The gates opened and out came the great Chieftain Iron Bull. He looked down at me in confusion.
"Didn't you say you were our enemy?" He asked. He was well known for his strength, but not his logic.
"That's because the Yaks offered me a better deal than both parties." I lied. "They wanted me to sabotage your water and food supplies first so they can wait you out. But I am a soldier. I do not engage in such deceitful ways." I held out a forged order declaring such, with a fake seal stolen from a dead messenger. The Chieftain read it for a few moments before becoming overwhelmed with rage. He stormed back into the city gates before horns sounded out their tones across the mountainside.
The Minotaurs were going to war.
Shining Armor POV:
I was glad to see my sister's friends were alright. I had to get them out of here.
"Wait here." I whispered to them before putting on my disguise's helmet once more. I rounded a corner only to come face to face with a woman. She wore wooden armor of a strange design. I'd heard rumors about her, Asano. The leader of The Family. I froze as she looked me in the eye.
"Well?" She asked. "Do you have anything to report?" I had to think up something quick.
"No ma'am. Nothing out of the ordinary here." I said. She took up a straight face. I felt a chill crawl up my spine.
"Oh really? So I take it you haven't been informed that one of our perimeter guards was found without his armor? He said all he saw before going unconscious was seeing a white pony... with blue eyes and hair." She said, narrowing her eyes and pulled her sword out. "You're here for the six ponies we captured, aren't you?" She asked. I tried my best to warn Twilight and her friends but her hand closed around my windpipe before I could say anything. She glanced up into the rafters to something.
"Bring them to me." She said.
I heard footsteps above me and several thuds around the corner and out came Twilight and her friends. All gagged and bound. Holding them were three of the most intimidating figures I'd ever seen. All three of them were holding the six mares hostage. Twilight's eyes were full of fear as she looked at me.
"Since they didn't like their previous accommodations, let's see what the Princess has to say." Asano said before dragging me by the throat down several corridors, followed by her family and their hostages. Eventually we came to a door with a finely polished and intricate moon made of silver adorning it, and curled up in the moon, like the shadow on a crescent moon, was a wolf.
Asano knocked three times.
"Enter" Came a familiar voice. Was Princess Luna here against her will? All I had known up till that point was that the Blackstone Legion had my sister and her friends because I shadowed them until they went in. But they never came back out again.
I was pulled from my thoughts as the familiar voice sounded again.
"Ah, Shining Armor. Nice to see you again, though I wish it were under better circumstances." Said a woman hidden in the shadows. And from those shadows came Luna... or... what looked like Luna, seeing as she had black skin and her mane was different. She spoke again. "I trust that you are here to save these six mares from villainous influences?" She asked me. I could only nod. She gave a smile that conveyed only pity.
"They have committed crimes against the Blackstone Legion, crimes must be met with retribution." She said, and I was struck with confusion and shock. Twilight committing a crime?! She couldn't have! I looked back to her and her friends. Could she?
"They came in, unannounced, and Rainbow Dash tried to kill Abigor, despite him not showing any hostilities." Said Luna. Rainbow Dash yelled something incoherent through her gag. Something about a Wire? I couldn't keep pondering her words as Luna continued. "And all six of them were going to kill me because I look like this now."
I looked at Luna, surely she could forgive such a mistake! She looks like Nightmare Moon's taken over, surely she'd understand Twilight and her friend's assumption. Right?
"Finally, there's Celestia's assassins. She sent them in, trying to kill Abigor unprovoked once more. He was lucky Asano and the Family were there to protect him." She said, shocking me to the core. Sure, Celestia had them on standby, but to send them in without hearing from me or checking in on Twi? She could've been hurt because of Celestia's urge to kill Abigor!
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked her. Luna looked at me before turning to look out a window, to the moon.
"I just want you to realize that Celestia's slipping. She's not making the right choices, and she's risking all out war because of her pride and stupidity!" Said Luna, before turning back to look at Asano.
"Place them in the Chamber. If they escape... Put them through the program." She said. Then I wondered, why is Luna giving Asano orders? Shouldn't Asano be chaining her up too?
"Yes my lady." Said Asano before I felt something hard hit my head.
Author's Note
Sorry it took so long guys, College stuff's hard.
Why is Abigor using the Minotaurs? Why does he want the Yaks to fight? What is the Chamber, and what will the Main Six and Shining Armor face inside? Find out next time on Her Wolves, His Pack!
(WARNING! LOTS OF BLOOD IN THIS CHAPTER, THOSE OF YOU WITH WEAK STOMACHS SHOULD SKIP WHEN PROPTED TO DO SO)
Twilight POV:
It was dark... very dark. Like you knew that even if you lit a candle, you wouldn't see the flame. I felt around the darkness, trying to find out just where I was, when suddenly I was blinded by light.
"Ah, you're just in time Twilight! Here, have a seat, I'll pour you a cup of tea." Came a familiar voice, but it was different... crazed somehow. Once my eyes were adjusted, I saw Celestia, but what I saw shocked me.
Her hair lost any and all flow and color, simply being various shades and tints of Grey. It seemed disheveled and mangled beyond any hope of being combed again. Her eyes were pinpricks, and I had to look away from them because I felt something insane was behind those eyes.
"Your tea is ready Twilight, you'd best drink it before it gets cold." She said once more in that horrible, shrill, insanity ridden voice. A shiver crawled down my back. I lifted the tea cup to see it was filled with a strange liquid. Was this some kind of strawberry syrup? I had no choice but to try it.
Once I had tasted the liquid, I nearly vomited. It tasted like Iron, I knew that taste whenever I got a paper-cut and popped the cut in my mouth. Blood. I looked at Celestia to see her signing something.
"What's that Princess?" I asked, and she looked me right in the eyes.
"You know I am Queen Celesta, do you not?" She asked in a dangerously calm voice. I nodded furiously in fear of her doing something horrible. She looked down at the paper again.
"As Queen, I have the authority to put sentence your friends to death, for failing to kill my sister, and her new crush, Abigor." She said, glancing back up to me.
I felt a pit form in my stomach, wondering if this was either a trick, or a joke. She pointed to a window before moving towards it.
I walked over to it, each step seemingly more sluggish than the rest. I looked outside to see hundreds of thousands of Solar Guards marching in the streets of Canterlot. At the center of Canterlot was a square, where there should've been pompous nobles and playing children, there was a large wooden stage, and on that stage were six ropes. Upon rubbing my eyes to make sure I was seeing things right, I noticed a single fact that would both break my will and destroy my soul.
The six ropes were occupied... By my friends and brother.
I screamed out a wail of dread, but there was no sound. Instead, I heard a voice.
"This is what will come to pass, should Celestia remain on the throne. Our spies tell us that she already is displeased with you. How far until she'll stop, do you wonder?" I looked over to the voice to see Luna in her new form. "She will never stop. Not until she wins, or somepony kills her. And in only one of those outcomes will your friends survive." She said to me, gesturing out another window, I looked out of it to see me and my friends sitting on a picnic blanket, wearing orange and black clothes. We seemed... Happy.
I looked at Luna, then the joyful vision, and finally I stared at the corpses of everyone I held dear. and said three little words.
"I'll join you."
Abigor POV:
The Minotaur kingdom was very similar to the Vikings, in that they were practically unarmored. And held heavy, crude but effective, weaponry.
They also could put on a hell of a show.
I watched from a distant hill as the Minotaur hordes rushed the City's outer gates, and in their midst was a huge ram, great as a forest-tree a hundred feet in length, swinging on mighty chains. Long had it been forging in the dark smithies of the Blackstone Legion, and its hideous head, founded of black steel, was shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf; on it symbols of ruin lay. Grond we named it, the Hammer of the Underworld.
I had given it to the Minotaur as a sign of good faith.
Thrice the great ram boomed against the gate. And suddenly upon the last stroke the gate of Yakutsk broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a blast of searing lightning, and the gates tumbled in riven fragments to the ground.
The Minotaur horde rushed in, and the screaming began.
I turned to a nearby Blackstone messenger, and gave him a nod. He took out a raven, tied a message to it's leg, and sent it on it's way.
I must've waited for two hours before a reply.
"Abigor, You were right, Yakutsk is under siege, defend it as if it were your own." - Mountain Feather
I unsheathed my sword, and turned to the Legion I had with me.
"Blackstones!" I yelled, loud enough for all to hear. "We have been given a task by our allies, to secure and protect this city. We will not fail!" I yelled, receiving a resounding howl of approval. I lifted Craven Edge, and with one hand, I pointed it to the army of Minotaur.
"CHARGE!"
Battlefield POV:
The Legion charged into the flank of the Horde, catching them by surprise. But the Minotaur were quick to rally, and made their counterattack.
They clashed just outside the gates of Yakutsk, and the Legion divided in two. One half fought the enemy outside, the other would carve through the enemy on the inside of the City's walls. Abigor engaged in a duel with Iron Bull, but it was very one-sided. As Abigor toyed with Iron Bull, several of the Yak guards saw the Blackstones fight alongside their own, and immediately set archers upon the city's walls. The archers aided the Blackstones inside the city's walls, but the Legionaries on the outside... They were on their own.
They didn't need any help. The Blackstones carved a bloody swath through the enemy troops, taking casualties of their own. Each death simply made them more driven to fight, to kill. For every Legionary killed, ten Minotaur would die in kind. Naturally, their flanks were open for counterattack, but the Minotaur knew nothing of true military tactics, and their leader was unavailable at the moment.
Abigor POV: (Here's where you'd want to skip)
I wanted to give Iron Bull a respectful death, but then he insulted me, the Legion, and my mother by calling us 'deceitful bastards'... So I introduced a new death to this world.
Death by a thousand cuts.
"Nine-hundred and ninety nine..." I continued counting, making another small incision on the Chieftain's already mangled skin. He looked up at me with pain-filled and pleading eyes.
"Puh… lease... kill... me." He said, I looked down at him through my helmet. I leaned down next to him, and the noise of the battle raging around me seemed to muffle for me to say the last thing he'd ever hear.
"One-thousand." I whispered to him, making a large cut across his throat. I watched the life-blood leak from him in gallons all over himself. I looked around me to see mangled and bleeding corpses, and then I had realized something. We were in grassy hill-like lands, so why does the ground feel like a swamp?
I looked down to see that there was a staggering amount of blood, so much so, that the previously dry land had become muddy, the entire battlefield was covered by dark red mud. Various pieces and parts of varying species littered the ground around me, and blood covered every inch of my body, even the hard to reach areas. I looked around me to see my Blackstones were disposing of the last remnants of the Horde. How long was that duel?! I thought to myself as I looked to the setting sun.
The battle for the Yaks was won, now we just needed to convince them it was the Minotaur Kingdom's idea all along...
I had my work cut out for me apparently.
(You can join back in now)
Luna POV:
I was sitting in a chair, watching as the worst fears and nightmares of the seven prisoners took place, and molded them all to be similar, with Celestia as a mad queen, slaughtering all that was dear to them. Fluttershy seemed like she'd never break until her Crazed Celestia bit the head off of Angel Bunny.
All of this was possible because they were all asleep in the chamber in which I became whole. There, everything they dreamed could be manipulated, even their own beliefs, but the magic was wearing out, and the chamber had only enough power for one use, so I figured using it on the Elements of Harmony and Captain Shining Armor was the best course of action
Everything was going according to plan, and now all I had to do was wait for Abigor to come back
Author's Note
No, I'm not dead, I just suffered from Final Examitis and a lack of a Muse for a bit.
I'll admit, this chapter's a little shorter than usual, but I hope the content's quality made up for the word quantity.
Usually, I'd tack on some questions that'd either get those gears in your heads going, or clue you in on what might be next. But I have a better idea.
Two riddles. And no, I didn't search them up online, I wrote them. (With the help of my English Major buddy in Psychology class)
Riddle one:
Riddle two:
I don't want you to answer them, just remember these two riddles when you read the next chapter I post, okay? sorry about the over-the-top blood back there, but I wrote this entire chapter in four hours. I started at midnight, and stopped at four in the morning. How'd I do it? Every college student's best friend of course. Coffee.
What will happen next? Find out next time on Her Wolves, His Pack!
Abigor POV:
After the Yaks joined our side in the war, one would think I'd be happy, or relieved. One would be wrong.
Because Luna sent a message to me about our new... guests in The Chamber. I'd left specific instructions for her to follow, and she followed them and more. Shining Armor wasn't what I'd expected, what with him being at least basically trained and all. He had some experience with dealing with swords, but he never went for a killing blow.
Whilst Luna said he'd trained the Canterlot guards, he still had a long way to go. He fought valiantly against The Chamber's influence, but even he had to sleep. Eventually, he came out of The Chamber a changed man, and his training began.
I watched as Shining Armor slammed his shield into his sparring partner, a Lawbringer. After guard-braking, he shoved the heavy Knight away from himself. I slammed my fist into a nearby weapon rack, gaining their attention.
"You're fighting like a Pony, Shining Armor, don't." I said, pulling out Craven Edge. "I have a question for you, Mr. Armor." I stated whilst walking towards the two armored figures, only stopping when I was in-between them.
"What's your question sir?" He asked, resting his sword on top of his shield.
"Have you ever been injured in your line of duty?" I inquired, gaining a confused look from the Pony.
"Um… no sir." He said.
"Have you ever injured someone else?" I asked, only to be met with the same answer. "Final question. Has your armor ever been dirtied or dented either on or off of the battlefield?"
"No sir." He said, actually looking proud of himself.
"Then you are in dire need of a reality check." I said.
And then I swung Craven Edge in a cruel downward strike. He managed to sidestep just in time to watch as my blade planted itself deep into the ground from where he once stood, but that was only the beginning. I pulled the blade out of the ground and slung it with one arm into his shield, following up with a headbutt.
He jerked his head back, bleeding profusely from his nose.
"What the Hay!" He shouted at me, giving me a death glare. I swung again, this time hitting his shield so hard, it slammed into his own chest-plate. He looked down at the massive dent in his armor.
"There is a saying, where I'm from. 'A knight in shining armor is a knight who's never had their mettle tested' . Do you realize what that means?" I said calmly, he seemed to falter for a moment or two, and swung his shield at me. I spun around it, delivering a punch to his side. Once his defenses were open, I grabbed his chest-plate, and yanked him close while ramming my head forward.
Our heads collided, my forehead with the bridge of his nose, and his muzzle was now much more broken then previously. But then he shoved me away and begun swinging his sword rapidly and violently.
"I have fought in wars before! The Changelings tried to conquer our home, but we repelled them!" He said. Then he did something I did not expect.
He hit my sword arm with a precision and strength that was akin to a human, and then hit my sword out of my hands. He tried to strike me with an overhead blow, but I did something he did not expect.
As the blade plummeted to what would be a nasty wound, I thought to what my mother once taught me to do if I were to ever lose my weapon.
Time seemed to slow as my hands started to come closer together, closing around the sword in a way that would look like I was praying. Shining Armor's sword was caught between my hands, and I was staring him right in the eye.
"Yet you do not see where you failed." I said.
Then I delivered a sharp but brutal kick to his nether regions and took his sword from him. I then kicked him square in the chest, knocking his pained body to the ground. I walked over to him, and pointed his own sword at his throat.
"You should have killed them all, yet you used the 'power of love' to banish them. Any smart enemy like the Changelings will reorganize and regroup for a much stronger and more united attack. OR, they might gain powerful allies like they already have in this war." I said to him, remembering the Daimyo Ayu, and how she rallied the Samurai to attack Blackstone keep alongside the Iron Legion.
"We live our lives by the sword. To let the wolves amongst you rise to the challenge, but you ponies were corrupted by magic and peace " I said, spitting out the last word like it was bile. "The ponies need to learn that in order to evolve, to rise above the rest, they need to live one way only. By the sword."
I then took the blade from his throat and hefted him up into a standing position. I twirled the blade and offered it to him handle first.
"If you're going to join our Legion, you'll need a better name than the one you have." I said to him.
"What name should I take on, Sir?" He asked, and I looked at him for a long while. At his dented and dirt-covered armor. Then I looked at the blood that came from his broken nose, it had covered a decent size of his chest-plate, and I got an idea.
"Kneel." I said to him, picking up a Warden's Longsword from a nearby weapon rack. Once he was kneeling, I hefted the sword ceremoniously.
"For passion in combat, For honor in duty, I dub thee Bloodied Armor. Stand, Captain of the Blackstone Legion." I said to him. He stood up and I handed him the large blade. "This is the blade of a Warden. Used as a versatile balance of defense and offence. I want you to use this weapon from now on. Use your magic to defend yourself from spells, but use this blade for any physical threats." I instructed, he nodded and went over to a nearby Warden, asking to be trained to use his new blade.
I walked away from the new Knight, and headed for the War Room.
Celestia POV:
I was sitting in my War Room, trying to figure out this 'Abigor's' strategy. He somehow managed to corrupt the Yaks and murder Iron Bull in one fell swoop. That, and the fact that despite being 'employed' by the Griffin empire to fight for them, he continuously utilizes methods that've been unthought of in our society. He uses his own forces in brutal head-on attacks, but they seem to have a form of surgical precision that rival pony intellect. Whomever taught this creature, I curse their name.
We had falling lines across the board, we'd had to evacuate the Minotaur tribes from their homes and place them in Canterlot for the time being. They told us about the 'Grond' ram and how Abigor 'gave' it to them. I looked over at the Wolves' Den on the world map, saying one thing in my head.
"It would be so easy... Just mount a full scale attack on the Blackstone Legion, they'd be unprepared for our full strength..." I wondered in my thoughts. But something else caught my attention.
"Lieutenant, what happened at this outpost?" I asked a nearby guard. Lieutenant Gleaming Shield was my temporary captain of the guard until Shining Armor came back from his reconnaissance mission. She looked at where I was pointing, an interested expression on her face.
"That outpost was raided by Diamond Dogs shortly before the Blackstones attacked." She said.
"And this one?" I asked, pointing to another outpost further inland.
"The same thing, your Highness." Shield said, catching on to what I was implying.
"They aren't taking territory like we do. they're drilling a hole clean through our northern border." I said, making an adjustment on the map.
"Then I'm afraid they're doing the same thing on our southern border ma'am Changeling activity indicates they're advancing in a beeline through our lands." Shield said to me, which made me wonder one thing.
"Why are they advancing towards each other?" I asked aloud.
Abigor POV:
"Excellent strategy my lord." Bloodied Armor said to me, looking over the possible moves Celestia would make and the counter-moves I'd make to compensate.
"With this plan, Celestia won't know our true motive until it's already too late." Luna said to me, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace.
"Yes! I hunger for Immortal blood!" Said the soul of Craven Edge.
"This will truly show the wolves of this world that the time to rise is now " I said before turning to a black furred, red haired pony with crimson reptilian eyes. "Make the arrangements. In order for our plan to go of without a hitch, we need them now more than ever." I said to her. She smiled, revealing pointed teeth.
"They'll be ready by sundown tomorrow my lord." She said.
Everything was falling into place.
Author's Note
Hurray! Not dead, AND I GOT WI-FI AGAIN! PRAISE BE!
Furthermore, I advise you all, to sit down before reading this chapter... Because the answer to both the riddles is in the next chapter, and it's gonna be shocking.
Also, just in case I f***ed up the description of what Abigor did with the sword, here's a pic.
The thought popped into my head when I was writing the fight scene so I went ahead and added it.
(Also, I've got yet another story In the works, if it gets the "okay", there'll be a third story of mine to read, although, I'm debating whether I should just focus on the two stories I have. Let me know what you think in the comments section.)
Abigor POV:
I was asleep. That must be made clear, or the rest of this shall confuse you. I do not dream of much other than what I've already experienced, so imagine my surprise when this dream was simply me floating in a pitch black mass. I was wondering when something would happen when I heard a voice, female and elegant.
"I am always around, but never seen. I am often avoided, but you can't out run me. For I will come when your old and grey, or maybe even the very next day. I will come with cold embrace, and give you rest with a chilled kiss on your face. I come in may forms of emotional state, weather it's irony, love, laughter, or hate. I am everyone's fate." Said the voice. I realized this was a riddle told to me by Apollyon long ago.
"You are Death." I said to the inky darkness.
"Good." Said the voice, before it spoke once more.
"A black dog is sleeping in the middle of a road that has no lanterns and there is no moon. A carriage coming down the road and steers around the dog. How did the driver know the dog was there?" It asked.
I thought for a moment, before coming to one single conclusion.
"Because it was Daytime." I said.
The only response I got was a shriek that tore through my very soul and my entire body felt like it was being burnt to a crisp.
"By the end of this day, you will make us whole, or we will rip you from the very fabric of the multiverse!" said the voice, but much darker and more malignant. As though her voice were as deep as the abyss.
"I. Will. Never. Serve. Another." I managed to shakily say aloud, but then felt an increased pain in my head.
"Who are you to defy me?! I've seen hundreds of creatures like you! All bent on waging war, killing just for the sake of it! You think you'll resist me when they have not?! Sombra, Chrysalis, Discord, Tirek, Nightmare, and now you." It said to me, each name it said aloud instilled more determination to fight back.
"Who am I?" I asked aloud, for once actually considering the question. "I am Alistair Caldwell! I! AM! ABIGOR!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, then something shone out in the darkness. A circle, inside of a Crescent. Was that the Moon? Luna?
Then I awoke.
I'd expected to be in my bed, but instead, I was in a clearing outside of a cave. The Moon shone bright in the sky above me, but I wondered one thing.
'If Luna didn't save me... Who or What did?' I thought in my head as I walked towards the cave.
Deep into the cavernous pit I went, the moonlight from outside shone deeper into the cave, reflecting off of strange crystals that were stuck into the walls. Every crystal seemed to not only reflect light, but in some way I can't explain, the moonlight never diminished. Never dimmed. As I went down, I looked about the walls to see strange symbols etched into the stonework, leading me to believe that this cave was made, not formed. But who formed it?
I eventually came to a circular door, the door was carved in the visage of the crescent moon, but it was cradling the circle like a bowl.
Naturally, I pushed it open.
Inside, there were three things of note. A tapestry carved into the wall, colored by many different jewels. There was a Sword, curved in design, resting on top of a pedestal in the center, moonlight shining down on the blade. And a large Tome, also bathed in the pale-silver light.
The Tapestry was of four ponies. A dark blue mare, and her Bright white Stallion, and two little fillies. One I realized was Luna, but there was one shocking difference.
Her fur was pure white, almost glowingly so. Her eyes were a turquoise blue, and her mane was in silver strands. Was this the Mare I knew as a friend? What changed her?
My attention was then drawn to the other filly. Her fur was White, but not as bright as Luna's, her mane was a mix of reds, yellows, and oranges. A Sun cutie mark emblazoned on her dress. This must've been Celestia.
I turned my attention to the Tome, the cover of which also had the Moon-like engraving on it. Upon briefly scrolling across the pages, I read many paragraphs, but only two caught my eye in the brief moments before I continued screening the Tome.
"Sunlight and Moonlight had another fight today, this time there were onlookers. I don't want my children to fight, but neither of them see eye to eye. I taught them that it is every Royal's duty to prepare for war in times of peace, but Sunlight just says that if every-pony got along, there'd be no more wars. At least Moonlight's been paying attention, but I feel like Sunlight might just do something drastic." - Diana
And the last complete entry.
"To whomever should read this, take heed. The Void lives dormant inside Sunlight. It awaits for her death, so it can take over and devour everything, even light itself. The blade in the Safekeep should be able to kill Void, but leave Sunlight alive. My Wife does not know that I put this into her journal, but please. Save my daughters, save Equestria!" - Helios
The next three pages gave me a good indication of what happened.
They were covered in dry blood. The only legible words were as follows.
"Tell my babies Mommy lo-"
I closed the Tome, wanting to take it with me. I turned towards the glistening blade in the room.
I rested my hand on the handle, and felt a faint hum of power. I wrapped my hand around the grip, and lifted it up, only to almost drop it at an immense burning sensation occurred on my left hand, whilst my right hand was holding the sword. My eyes went over to the back of my left hand to once again see the Lunar Symbol.
Having more questions than answers, I left the cave. Wondering why I of all people, was chosen. Me, who killed simply because I wanted them to become better. A nobody, cast out by his family, and raised to be a murdering psychopath. Why on God's green earth should I be responsible for such a task.
"Because you're the only one of Equis who can do it. Believe me, I've looked." Said a feminine voice. My eyes shot forwards, then around me. Scanning the area for any signs of life. "Down here." said the voice once more. I looked down to see only the sword. I lifted it up, looking closely at the blade, only to recoil as a single blue eye gazed back in the reflection.
"Yes, It's me, Diana. If you're wondering how I got into this predicament, I'll give you the short version. In order to kill the Void inside Sunlight, the blade must know what to kill, and what to spare. That meant that either Solaris or I would have to bind a shard of our soul into the blade to aid the wielder until Void is killed. I chose you because you have one thing that everyone born in this world lacks." Said the Sword, Diana.
"A lust for war and blood?" I asked cynically.
"Humanity." She replied simply, catching me off guard. "You may not want to admit it, but you're not the bloodthirsty monster you want to be. You feel pity and regret, even going as far as to occasionally apologize to those you kill. Ponies don't have the stomachs for violence, but you see violence as a tool, starting this war woke not only Void, but me as well. Because I knew that whatever started an all out war between nations... would have just the attributes I was looking for. If not, I'd simply let Void kill you." She explained.
"So, if I were Apollyon..." I trailed off.
Did I want this? To be like her? Or did I want people to see me as more than some abandoned child, lashing out at the world because he'd been treated horribly... Why...
"Why am I really here?" I asked aloud. "Why did I follow Apollyon, like a lost pup?" I asked, only to cringe at the old name Apollyon gave me.
"Had you ever considered that she only wanted her legacy to live on? You may be one of her wolves, but your pack is what you make it to be." said the sword. I stopped dead in my tracks, as I'd been walking towards The Den, and my reality shattered.
She never wanted a son... She wanted insurance. She wanted me to be like her so the war would go on! I realized angrily. All this time I'd been following her, thinking it was what I wanted, I was really just being indoctrinated!
The thought made me so angry, I swiped my new blade at a nearby tree. At first I thought I'd simply missed, as there was no feeling of a hit, but the tree then fell in two.
"Careful, I'm sharp." Diana said.
Ignoring the comment, I continued my trek towards The Den with Diana's direction. By the time I got to the Throne Room, the Sun was beginning to rise. I saw the blade known as Craven Edge, and an idea came to mind.
I prayed to whatever deity was watching over me, to decide my fate. I held Diana and Craven up at the same time, Craven Edge was unusually silent, and stuck the tip of Craven Edge on the edge of the Throne's seat.
"Time to test the metal... and decide my fate." I said aloud, before striking the side of Craven Edge with Diana. The dark blade shattered, and a massive wave of dark red energy slammed into me, knocking me back. I felt my head slam against the floor, and then I felt nothing as darkness creeped into the front of my mind. Not a malignant darkness, a warm one, a darkness that promised the first sweet dream for a long time.
I was carried into the dreamscape, not unaware of the horrified gaze of a certain Alicorn as she just saw her friend blasted back by dark necrotic magic.
Author's Note
Yes, the main Bad Guy is Void. Why that name when Dawnbreaker is a thing? Simple. Physics... and I wanted to do something original.
Allow me to explain, once a Star dies, it goes Super Nova (Daybreaker). But the Super Nova is still technically part of the star's lifespan, mainly the ending part of it. But when the Nova dies down, when the star truly dies, a Black Hole forms. The most destructive force in the universe, and also the metaphorical gravestone of the Star.
Now for the character now known as Alistair Caldwell. A.K.A.: Abigor.
You really didn't see that coming, did you? Sure, I hammered the fact that Abigor was a stone cold killer, but i let Alistair peek through the darkness of Abigor's soul. The way it is, is that Abigor's based off of one thing, Hostility. Pure, embridled confrontation inside one body. But Alistair represents something different, Conscience. The ability to realize that he's ending lives for someone who's probably dead right now.
I don't know if you liked this story for the plot, or for the villain, but this is now cannon in this fanfic.
Abigor's actually not the bad guy.
Sure, the first part of the story so far says otherwise, but there's the entire rest of the story to prove true.
I awoke in a bed, my bed. No, not the bed from my world, but the bed from my chambers in Equestria. There was someone sitting in a chair next to me, as unconscious as I just was. I turned my head to get a better look at them to see someone I hold in both high regard, and dear friendship.
"Well Luna, I don't know if you know, but I think I might just fall for you if you keep this up." I quietly mused to myself, earning a stir from the Alicorn.
"Mwuh?? who's... who's there?" She slurred through her sleep-filled mind. Deciding it would be amusing, I chose my next words.
"Celestia's right bum-cheek" I said, watching Luna's face turn to a sleepy confusion.
"How much cake does she have to eat for her ass to start talking?" She slurred.
"Oh no, dear Luna, I have been sentient this whole time, I need to grow, so I ask 'Tia' to eat more cake. It sustains me." I said, holding in laughter.
"I whish you'da told meee." Luna slurred. Then her eyes cracked open. "Wait a second..." Her eyes shot open and darted directly over to me. "Abigor!" She cried out, hugging me.
Then she slapped me.
"Do you have any idea how much you scared me mister?! You could've died! Do you know how long you've been asleep?! THREE WEEKS!!!" She yelled at me, a single tear streaked down her cheek. "I... I didn't know what to do." She said softly, before slowly hugging me again.
"It's okay Luna, I'm fine now. In fact, I'm better than fine." I said, gaining her attention. "I'm me." I stated, gaining a very confused look.
"I don't... understand." Luna said. I sat up in bed, and began to tell her everything, (Except what I whispered to her minutes before) and needless to say she was shocked. Then she inquired something that threw me for a loop.
"Is that why your scar healed?" Luna asked.
"What?!" I asked, and began searching for a mirror, only for Luna to hold one in front of my face. My face... something I'd expect to see scarred beyond all recognition, and yet there wasn't a single flaw on my skin. "What in the name of all things holy?" I asked aloud.
"This is my doing. A side-effect of wielding my blade is you are healed of Void's influence. But the process is slow, and that unholy blade Craven Edge's influence was... problematic. But he is gone now, and you have an Army to lead." Diana instructed.
"Set up a meeting with the Leaders of The Red Alliance." I said to a messenger that poked his head through the door, using the name that the countries that oppose the 'Solar Unity', Celestia came up with the name. Shocking, yes?
"Of course my lord." Was his reply as he ran off to the Raven hut to dispatch the messages.
"We will have words, and if they take it poorly, we will initiate phase two without them." I said to Luna, who appeared shocked at my declaration.
"I thought you said they weren't ready." Luna said to me. I nodded.
"Yes, but three weeks is enough time to get ready. Now, armor them up, arm them, and send them to me." I told her.
The meeting took place in The Den's War Room, the leaders having entered through the vast tunnel systems we had dug thanks to the Diamond Dog's assistance. Mountain Feather was glad to see me well, and had a job for The Pack.
"So, you want me and a platoon of my best to scout out a frozen wasteland for a ruin that may or may not exist? Where's the strategic value? If I wanted to, Mountain Feather, I could lay waste to Canterlot Castle. But, I hold off on account of the other fronts of the war, such as the north and south bound armies. Remember that plan?" I clarified. Mountain Feather nodded, but once again pointed to the map, at a section labeled 'Frozen North'.
"I am aware Abigor, but there is a reason for this. Sombra was Celestia's mortal enemy in life, and even more of a threat if he is back. A powerful ally to be sure, and a grave threat if ignored." She informed, then she gave me an update on the war fronts. "The Buffalo Tribes are causing too much trouble than the Changelings can handle. If you must put off the expedition, I suggest you go there and solve that problem."
"Fine." I said, walking towards my personal Armory. "I'll just win this war for you." I spat as I left.
"They demand so much of you." Luna said just as we left earshot. "Can they not see we have problems of our own?"
"They care little of us, only their own people, they pretend to be united, but at night, they stab each other with their knives. They lie to other members of their alliance, but we know what they are, so there's little reason to lie to us." I say calmly as I enter my armory. "Luna, please get Asbjorn for me, tell him I have a task for him."
"Yes, Alistair." she says, using my actual name.
"I need Asano as well, if it's not too much to ask." I added just before she left the room.
I looked upon my armor, every faint scratch and dent in it reminding me of my younger years. Eager to fight, eager to please Apollyon, and oh so eager to kill everything in my way. What a monster I was.
"You wanted to see us my lord?" A gruff, sturdy voice said to me, bringing me out of my musings.
"Ah, yes. Asbjorn, I need you and your best to come with me on a reconnaissance mission in a place called 'The Frozen North'. I trust you know who to get?" I started, I heard a grunt signaling his compliance. "Asano, I have a very... unorthodox mission for you and your family." I started.
"Name it, my lord." Asano said.
"There's a tribe of Buffalo harassing our southern army of Changelings, I want you to take a small but lethal party, find their camp, and murder any and all military personnel, do NOT attack civilians. I need you to go full Stealth on this one." I said, placing my hand on my comrades shoulder.
"It will be done, my friend." She said before walking away.
"Bring me Sharku." I said to a messenger.
A few minutes pass and a scrawny man walks into my Armory.
"Wha' can I do for ye?" He asked in his thick European accent.
"Take a small scouting party and survey the city of Canterlot. Use the fact they're on a cliff to your advantage. That is all." I said concisely.
"O' course master, I am ever so humble." He said, cackling as he left.
Celestia POV:
"Princess! We believe that the southern front shall be ours in a week, and our enemies have no idea of the Frozen North's existence!" Exclaimed a strategist, before being countered by another, more younger strategist.
"Princess, reports of Blackstones moving North AND South seem to scream otherwise." He said, before being drowned out by other strategists about how he 'didn't know any better' and how 'reports say that we're winning'. and I honestly can't tell if they're trying to get on my good side, or trying to actually state facts, they're all the same anyway.
"What are you planning Abigor?" I muttered to myself as the Strategists continued to argue for the fourth hour in a row.
A Solar Guard was sprinting across the mountain side, running as fast as his Earth Pony stamina could allow, but still they pursued. He thought they were the missing people, but he was wrong. So wrong!
He narrowly avoided an arrow as it sailed past his ribcage, only to feel a Javelin pierce his right knee. He continued to try to get away, but the pain was too much.
If I could just get to that space between the rocks. he thought as he limped to a narrow opening that lead through some rocks and, hopefully, a cave.
But one of them was faster. They seemed to have been holding back for fun, but as they saw the opening, they figured enough was enough.
They landed in front of him, brandishing a small shield and a spear, the most prevalent feature of her was her Ram-horned-helmet. Painted with a jagged orange smile, and her dark pink eyes had a dark joy in them as she muttered one word.
"Awesome."
And speared him through the throat whilst holding the spear across her shoulder blades. (Trick Shot)
"He could run, but not fast enough." Said a slender woman, wearing a hood, brandishing a dagger and short sword. She then began to search his body.
"Jeez Shy, you want the body to fall off my spear before you loot him? Sick." Said the helmed woman. She then turned to four other figures concealed by the foliage of the woods. "So, are we gonna keep patrolling or not?" She asked them, they all turned to one woman, who simply turned to them and nodded. "Okay then, more patrolling for scouts it is!" Said the Valkyrie with mock enthusiasm.
Author's Note
I know, I know. I haven't uploaded in a LONG time, my reasons are: 1 College, 2 No Wi-Fi at my house and it's 35 miles from any civilization, so I think that's plenty reason. Furthermore, I am slowly but surely trying to devealop my story. So, I'm going to put Apex Hunter on Hiatus. It will remain that way until this story leads to where it needs to go.
(Also, Sharku's accent's like Ratbag from Shadow of Mordor)
Ashfeld was in flames. The Legion routed, the fortress taken, but by God if it wasn't Grand! I looked to the remaining members of the Blackstone Legion, my family, and let out a laugh. "Fools. They never should've taken their armies with them. Now they fight each other!" I said, remembering my mother's last words to me.
"This is it my son. This is the day I've been training you for. Once the Vikings enter the fortress, all three factions will fight one another." said Apollyon as a large ball of fire slams into the fortress wall.
"I will make you proud mother." I said, taking a bow. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked up to see the helm I'd grown so used to seeing. Most felt fear, I felt... warm.
"Take a contingent and start attacking anyone who dares get in your way." This confused me,
"Aren't you coming mother?" I asked, she chuckled and handed me something on a chain. I looked at it to see it was a token. To prove I had taken the oath earlier that morning.
"Go Warden. Spread the war where I cannot."
That was the last time I'd ever see her, though I didn't know it at the time. My contingent, named 'The Pack', was ready to move out.
We got about one mile before we heard something. A snapped twig here, a shuffle there. Then a small sound.
I awoke on a cliff. How do I know? my top half was dangling off of it. I scrambled away from the edge towards the rest of my pack. "Report!" I barked. A Lawbringer stood at attention, "My lord, we seem to have been drugged and moved here." I nodded, "Thank you for stating the obvious." I then cleaved his head from his shoulders. My troops looked at me with what I loved the most. Fear, Respect, Admiration, loyalty.
"Set up camp here." I said as I grabbed my friend, a Peace Keeper by the name of Hope, and started to walk towards a possible road.
"Where will you go my Lord?" Asked a lone Warden.
Without breaking step I replied "To find out just where 'here' is." and with that I left.
We eventually came upon a dirt road, seemingly empty. Hope took the opposite side of the road from me. soon I heard the sound of horses trotting further up the road.
"Highwayman routine" I hissed to her, she nodded in response and drew her weapons out.
Then I heard it, a small shuffle behind me, and an ever so slight Shink of a blade leaving its scabbard. I spun around lifting my sword just right, inserting the blade into the persons torso. Then I realized it wasn't a person, the head was wrong. It looked vaguely like a... horse.
I spun back around lifting an open hand in the air and closing it into a fist. Hide Now! She then crouched into a large number of bushes. I myself carried the body still stuck on my weapon towards a large hedge. I then searched him for anything useful when I heard it again. Shuffle... Shink! I grabbed the dead creatures own weapon and turned to see another armored pony, before he could say anything the blade found his neck in a swift stab. I went back to checking his friend when I found a map written in English. I put it into one of my few pockets when the hooves got louder on the road. When I looked I couldn't help but smile. A small guard force, 10 in all. Well, 12 if you count corpses too. There was a Dark blue Carriage being pulled as well, with a moon adorning the side.
Figuring there was someone important inside, I decided to go the distractive route. I walked out onto the road in front of them. They immediately drew their swords at the knight covered in blood (Me) and his giant sword. "You are in the way of the princess! Move or be moved!" I involuntarily chuckled and raised my sword and rested it across my back.
"Try it."
The lead guard stepped forward, swinging his sword horizontally. I ducked under the blade and made a deep gash in his side. I shoved him away, cackling like a madman.
"Again!" I shouted, enraging the guard. He tried to slam his shield into me but hit nothing but air as I spun around him, driving the pommel into his helm.
"I thought you were a warrior! Not a child!" I insulted, he shouted in rage as he once again tried to hit me. Our blades met with sparks flying through the air. He glared at me through the open helmet he wore.
"You will not win!" He said with venomous tone, then I heard hooves behind me. I grabbed his sword hand and thrusted it into the waiting neck of the guard behind me.
While he was still in shock, I then decapitated another guard next to me, broke the defenses of a third and planted my sword into his chest in a downward strike. I then ripped it back out. He then tried to punch me, this attempt was met with a gash along the gut, knocking his legs out from under him and slamming my shoulder into him sending him flying. The Blackstone Bash.
Focusing once more on the lead guard, I watched as he broke down in tears over the fallen pony.
"Pathetic" I said gaining his attention. He picked up his sword and started hacking away violently. Each hit he ever made was on the blade of my sword.
"Your skill is like that of a newborn!" I insulted, my fist slammed into his face.
"Weak!" I cut his body twice with light blows
"Undisciplined!" I drove my blade through his breastplate and stared into his now fearful eyes.
"You've forgotten what you are." I then ripped the blade out through his stomach, and drove it downward into his skull.
The thrill of a kill never gets old. I feel myself invigorated as adrenaline courses through me.
"There were twelve, now there are six." I said to myself. "Hope!" I shouted. She had moved into a tree during my distraction getting above two guards. She dropped down, stabbing both with her Sword and Dagger, killing them both and breaking her fall. "Four!" I antagonized. I took a defensive stance as three advanced on me and one advanced on Hope.
I waited for one to strike, they waited for me to strike.
"I don't have all day, grow some balls and attack already!" I said, tensing up as they all attacked at once. I simply raised my sword above my head, blocking two blades, and taking a glancing blade to the side. I knocked the other two away, and lifted the third up by the throat. Then I simply impaled him on my sword whilst still holding him up. As I turned to the other two, I let the new corpse slide off my blade.
"Three." I looked behind them to see Hope stab the guard in the face, and decapitate him.
"Two" She crept up behind one and stabbed him between the ribs. I grabbed the final guard and threw him against a tree.
"One" I spun and slammed the fine edge of my blade into his neck. Effectively decapitating him and burying my sword into
I turned to Hope, she shook her head.
"They never stood a chance. They've forgotten who they are." She turned to the corpse "They've become sheep." I nodded, and turned to the carriage.
"Then let's take the Shepard." I began walking towards the carriage.
Author's Note
Here it is Kiddos! After searching this entire network and finding almost squat, I've decided to write my own fic.
Also, for those who think I just made another Gary stu, look at it this way. Ponies haven't known war like he has, and he has been trained by Apollyon. The literal badass of For Honor. So when you think about it logically, it's kind of a no brainer.
As I got closer to the carriage I heard a conversation. A female voice wanted to look outside to check and see if the guards were treating me too harshly (hehe) and a seemingly male voice said
"As your Captain of the night guard, I advise you stay in here. I'll go check. I grinned and held up a single ring finger signaling Distraction to Hope and got beneath the carriage.
I heard the door creak open and armored hooves hit the ground. The Captain stepped away from the carriage, looking for his guardsmen. Hope dashed out of the shrubbery and became a flurry of blades. The captain raised his shield and blocked most blows. The only real purchase Hopes' blades made was either a glancing blow or hitting his shield or sword.
The carriage creaked as if someone moved to the side to look out the window. This was it! I got up on the opposite side and opened the door, gripped the princess by the throat, pressing the blade firmly to her neck.
"You move, you die." I said in a cold tone. "So you're the one who's turned these wolves into sheep." She looked at me, confused.
"What? Sheep? Wolves? Thou makest no sense. And put thine blade away, it cannot harm us." I chuckled darkly.
"Like this?" I ask before drawing the blade just enough to cause blood to trickle down her neck onto her dress. "Looks like it works just fine to me. Now, who trained these guards?" She looked befuddled.
"Captain Shining Armor trained them personally, he's the finest swordsman in the world." I laughed,
"He didn't train them well enough! My hands are still slick with the blood of your guards." She looked at me with horror filling her eyes.
"What art thou?" She asked whilst trembling. I looked her dead in the eye.
"War... I am War." I said before I headbutted her just beneath the horn on top of her head, knocking her out. "And you're coming with me little sheep." I said to her as I dragged her unconscious body out of the carriage.
I looked at Hope to see her getting tired of fighting the Captain. I grabbed a spear off one of the fallen guards and threw it with deadly accuracy. he looked down to see half a spear sticking out of his chest. Hope paced her hand on his shoulder.
"You fought well." She said to him before stabbing him in the throat, watching the life fade from his eyes. "But not well enough." His corpse fell limp but was still held up by the spear.
I cleared my throat. "Hope, c'mon. We've got royalty to kidnap."
She helped me carry the princess until we got back to the camp. I had tied up the princess halfway through our journey when she tried to escape. Twice.
When we got back the Princess was awake, again, and ranting again.
"WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS ANY LO-" She was silenced as Hope put a gag in her mouth.
"Thank you" I said with exhaustion. The princess glared daggers at me as I stared back at her. She didn't know what I looked like under the helmet, but my armor was very special. I hefted a dead guards flail upon my shoulder.
"Ours or theirs?" she inquired.
"Both"
She chuckled. "Ours yes. There are some ancient ruins a mile east of here. And theirs?" I looked to her to see her pantomiming getting her throat cut.
"Good. We make for the Ruins in one hour. Make sure 'her highness' is comfortable. I don't want to hear a peep from her either."
A Conqueror nodded and bonked her on the top of her head with his shield. And with that, I began to read the map. The only ruins that were in a forested area were called...
"The Castle of Everfree" I blanched at the name. "Whoever decided the names of these places clearly has not seen battle. Or anything that tests your mettle."
One hour later we were moving out. My contingent had eight hundred of the finest warriors in the Blackstone Legion. We knew what we were doing. As I walked alongside the Conqueror carrying the princess, I saw her horn glow ever so slightly.
Then I saw her restraints glow as well. I grabbed her horn tightly and got right in her face.
"Even if you got out of those bonds, you are still surrounded by my Blackstones. And we don't like it when our guest tries to leave so soon and spoil the surprise for everyone else."
The glow in her horn dies down as she glared at me. I eventually let her horn go. But then I placed my blade at her horn.
"Next time you try that, well, you get the picture." She looked up at the blade in fear. As I continued on I heard a small whimper come out of the captive. Pitiful.
Once we got to the ruins I noted most of it looks not only viable as a shelter, but there were actually ideal defensive positions littering the structure. Then a Warden walked up to me.
"Sir, what shall we do now?" he said. I turned to look at the forest surrounding the clearing the castle was in.
"Fortify the Castle. Go into the forest and get wood. We need to shore up defenses and refortify the load-bearing walls of the castle. Finally, use long wooden posts to make a wall around this place. Only one entrance, a gate in front of the castle." I said.
I turned to my Pack and hefted a Blackstone standard.
"I NOW CLAIM THIS CASTLE IN THE NAME OF THE BLACKSTONE LEGION! I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE WOLVES' DEN!" I shouted. They responded with rousing cheer. Then they started chanting.
"Warlord! Warlord! Warlord!" I raised my hand to silence them.
"I will take the mantle of Warlord, and I shall take a Demon name as my mother Apollyon did before me!" I yelled. My pack waited for me to speak "ABIGOR!" I yelled out. It was the name of a demon who commanded sixty legions. It would do. My legion echoed my name back. "ABIGOR!"
I planted my standard and claimed the castle for the Blackstone Legion. I looked to the map that I'd use as reference along with the castle on the mountain to figure out which way was the closest town.
"Ponyville eh? As good a place as any." I said to myself. I looked out over the new land we were in and thought of the possibilities. Then I heard a shuffle. I turned to the princess who froze upon me looking her way.
I knelt down next to her. "If I take the gag out, will you answer some questions? Quid quo pro." I said to her. She nodded. I took the gag out. "What is your name?" I inquired.
"Princess Luna." She answered. "What is thine name?" She asked me.
"Abigor. Who lives in Ponyville? Quid quo pro." She looked hesitant. "The Elements of Harmony. What land dost thou hail from?"
I smiled though she did not see it. "Ashfeld. Where is this 'Shining Armor' you told me about? Quid quo pro." Once more she hesitated.
"Canterlot. What doth thou plan to do here?" I stood up.
"Separate the Wheat from the Chaff. Weed out the weak. Set the wolves amongst you free." I placed the gag back in and began to walk away.
So much to do, so little time.
Author's Note
Oh boy! Princess Luna captive, Everfree Castle has been dubbed the Wolves' Den, Abigor has been named Warlord, and now the Blackstone Legion has a foothold in Equestria! Will Princess Celestia find out where Luna is in time, or will the Mane 6 stumble across the Blackstones first? Tune in next time to find out!
Also, for those who think that Luna should be able to just break out. Think about it this way. A new group of people show up that are ruthless and have weapons and armor that have no traces of magic to manupulate. So of course she'd be terrified of a man who wouldn't hesitate to not only decapitate her, but cut off her horn for attempting escape.
Trust me, it gets better!
Abigor POV:
I was asleep, dreaming I was in a moonlit field, surrounded by white roses. I used to have this dream all the time in Ashfeld before my mother put her plan into action.
I walked through the field to a lone cherry tree, silver petals fell to the ground lazily, as though there were nothing wrong in the world. I sat at the base of the tree, looking out onto the field of roses.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I asked my guest. She looked around at the glinting flowers in awe. "My home used to look just like this in the spring time. I can still remember meeting my mother here." I said, and the view changed. Now there was smoke in the distance, and hundreds of bodies littering the field. Amongst it all was a little boy, rummaging through the bodies. His face and hands were all covered in blood. He lifted a sword from a nearby Viking corpse. He then played dead as a raider walked by. The raider fixed his eyes upon the boy for a moment before turning away.
But as he began to walk away, an arrow embedded itself in his right eye. He fell limp to the ground, revealing a lone archer standing next to a woman clad in dark armor. The woman walked forward, to the boy. The boy waited for a moment, then tried to cut the armored woman. She simply grabbed the blade in an armored hand and wrenched it away from him. She stared at him for a moment before he tried picking up a Warden's blade. She chuckled lightly, turning back to the archer.
"A wolf pup." She said. She turned back to the boy. "Tell me, pup, where is your family?" She asked. The boy pointed his hand away from the fight, at the mountains. She looked back to him. "They abandoned you?" She asked. He nodded, spitting on the ground. The woman knelt down in front of him. "Do you want to fight?" He nodded. "Do you want to be a part of a family that won't abandon you?" Another nod. "Would you accept me as the one who raises you?" She asked, he nodded rapidly.
The woman stood tall, holding out her hand. "Come along pup, we have training to do." She turned to the archer, "Get me Holden Cross." The archer saluted.
"Yes Apollyon!" He said, and the dream changed once more. Now the field was overgrown. The cherry tree was wilting, rusted pieces of armor and weapons were scattered across the field. And an older Abigor was standing below the tree.
In front of him were four people. An Elderly couple and their children. They were trembling.
"Six-teen. Years." He said, the Old man flinched. "Six-teen years since you abandoned me, left me to die." Abigor said, he then looked over to the young man, "Six-teen years since you had me replaced." He then looked to the young lady. "Six-teen years since you tricked me into leaving the house." He then looked to the old lady. "And six-teen years since you disowned me and threw me at the invaders." He then drew out his blade. "You four didn't care if I lived or died. You already had a son to replace me, and you jumped at the chances to be rid of me."
He picked up a rusted short sword from the ground, and tossed it to the 18-year old boy. "I used this to kill a Viking, let's see if you can use it to do what they failed to do." He said, lifting his longsword in a defensive posture. "Attack or die boy." Abigor said.
The boy let out a war cry as he ran forwards, slashing wildly, Abigor grabbed the blade, and wrenched it out of his hands. As the boy looked up in fear, the last thing he ever saw was a blade headed for his head.
Upon killing the replacement, the Father was furious, he picked up a rusted longsword.
"I've been a Warden for thirty years Boy! You will die for killing my Son!" The father yelled before swinging downwards. There was a loud clang as the blades met. Someone else was holding the blades in place.
"Funny, I was going to kill you for trying to kill mine." Said a woman wearing dark armor. She looked to Abigor. "Feel better pup?" She asked, Abigor shook his head.
"Not until he's dead and they're handed over to the Vikings just like I was!" He shouted before swinging his blade a full 360 degrees into his father. The old man looked down at the blade deep inside his chest. He looked at Abigor.
"I should've slit your throat when you were a baby." He said weakly. Abigor nodded slightly.
"Yes, you should have." He agreed before pulling his father close, pushing the blade even deeper through his chest. "But you didn't." Was all his father heard before the life left his body. As he walked away from the two corpses and the two women being chained up to be given to the Vikings, Apollyon walked next to him.
"What now my son?" She asked him, already knowing the answer. Abigor never broke pace, instead walking towards his horse.
"War." He said before the dream faded to black.
Luna looked at me differently, disgust and pity evident in her eyes.
"Why?" Was all she asked. I looked up at her.
"Because I was enraged, I was driven by vengeance and was taught nothing but killing for Six-teen years. What did you expect? Me forgiving them for leaving me to die? For the three years of torment and pain they inflicted upon me to just become a distant memory? No. This was what my life was, now my sole purpose is to free the wolves amongst you ponies." I said, Luna looked at me for a moment.
"I will need some time to think about this." Luna said, I looked her in the eye.
"If you think that best. Just know that Celestia has sent the Elements to kill you, and I." I said shocking her.
Then I woke up.
Twilight Sparkle POV:
We were getting closer to the Ruined Castle, just one more hour and we'd be right where we fought Nightmare moon the first time. There were a few hunters and guard patrols we had to get past. I could only hope we could get in undetected.
"Twilight, look!" Whispered Rainbow Dash, pointing to the castle. It wasn't ruined anymore. It was completely redone, no structural weaknesses were visible. Whomever did this, they were good.
"I thought the castle was still in ruins. How on Equis did they rebuild the castle so soon?" Asked Rarity. I shook my head, looking at the guards on the walls.
"Looks like there are only a few guards on the walls. Most of them must be asleep." I said, and began to sneak across the rope bridge. I could've sworn one of the guards was looking right at me before he turned his head to look out over the clearing. I had gotten to the gate before actually encountering a knight. She drew out a sword and a dagger before I hit her in the face with a sleep spell. I pulled the hood down and her helmet off to reveal it was a pony! "Nightmare Moon's influence must be more powerful than I thought." I said to myself. I pulled the Pony-Knight into a nearby bush. I waved my friends into the fortifications.
Things went smoothly until we reached the Throne Room.
"I was wondering when you'd try to kill her. You didn't think we hadn't planned for this?" Said a dull, hollow voice as an Iron gate lowered over the massive double doors, sealing off the only exit. "Honestly, I wanted you here." Said the emotionless voice. I heard armored plating move around in the darkness. "How else could I prove to her Celestia wouldn't stop until she was dead?" Said the voice before a man stepped into the light. He wore no helmet, but instead wore a metal mask that dominated half of his face. He opened his arms wide, gesturing us to look around. "Welcome to our home." He said. "I am Abigor, and I will be your host for this evening." He said almost mockingly.
"We want to help you Abigor!" I said pleadingly, trying to appeal to him. "Nightmare Moon is controlling you! You don't want to do this! Just let us erase Nightmare Moon!" I said. The tension in the room was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
"No." He said lowly. Rainbow Dash looked angry.
"What did you say?" She asked. "We're only trying to help you. You selfish asshole! And you say 'no'? Fuck you then!" She said, grabbing a short sword off of the wall. "If you won't let us through, then we'll go through you!" She said loudly enough for her words to have a slight echo.
"What are you doing Rainbow Dash?!" I asked. She kept her eyes on Abigor, who was looking up at something in the shadows. He shook his head lightly.
"If you truly wish to die," he said pulling out his massive sword, "Then step forward, and strike me down. I will not let you kill my friend." He finished, taking a defensive stance.
"With pleasure!" Said Rainbow Dash. She got within five feet before the shadows around Abigor wrapped around Rainbow Dash.
"Please, you really thought you could come into our home and only fight one of us?" Said a female voice. I looked up at the shadows dominating the upper balconies. "If you wish to kill our warlord, you must first fight his Legion!" Shouted the voice before the shadows peeled away to reveal the balconies were full of archers with their bows drawn and arrows nocked. And amongst them all, directly above us, was...
"Princess Luna?!" I asked.
Author's Note
Ooh, a cliffhanger! I always wanted to put one in a story! Also, a little peek at Abigor's backstory, as I was being pestered by my friends to put at least a little bit of it in.
Anyway. What will the Main 6 do now that they're in Abigor's trap? What will Luna say to them? Why does she look the same still? Do any of you care? What is Rainbow Dash thinking? Where's Gummy?!
Find out next time on Her Wolves, His Pack!
Please let me know what you think in the comment section below!
-BurningCr0w
