Chapter 11

“That was quite a sight to see,” I said, still reeling from the Pillars summoning Rokai.

“Indeed, it still baffles me, but Starswirl has always been a master of magic and spell casting,” Celestia said.

“War,” Starswirl answered Rokai bluntly while leading them away from Ponhenge. “In the past year, strange creatures have been appearing all over our lands and beyond. They can be killed by normal means but for each one we kill, a hundred more take its place and our resources are growing thin.”

“We have asked our allies for help but even that is not enough,” Stygian added with a sad look on his face.

“So, even a world like this is prone to war,” Rokai scoffed as Celestia and I followed the group. “What exactly do you want me to do about it?”

“You seem like the kind of veteran warrior, yes?” Starswirl said.

“I’ve wielded a blade since I was a lad, what’s your point?”

“My point being is our forces are embarrassingly outmatched. My companions and I have been on the front lines constantly. Shameful as it is to admit, we end up doing most of the fighting.”

“So on top of me fighting your war with you, you also want me to kick some greenhorns into shape?” Rokai rolled his eyes as he carried his sword over his shoulder. “I suppose it beats the shit out of my last job.”

“So you’ll do it?” Flash said.

“Sure, but that’ll cost extra,” Rokai grinned.

“Typical mercs, all about the coin,” Rockhoof scoffed.

“Not exactly the heroic type,” I said spitefully.

“He was indeed difficult to get used to, according to Starswirl’s writings.” Celestia used her magic and the memory changed again.

We were back at the castle and much of the interior was a little outdated-looking than back in the present. We were in some kind of training grounds with lines of soldiers standing at attention. Rokai stood off to the side while Flash Magnus and Starswirl addressed the troops.

“Listen up! From this moment on, this…human man will be your instructor,” Flash said, still a bit confused as to how he should address his new comrade. “He has seen more combat than any of you will in a lifetime. Listen to him, follow his orders and you may just survive this war.”

“SIR!” The recruits shouted in unison as Rokai took the stage and began examining his new recruits.

Rokai rolled his eyes and approached the group of recruits. He paced back and forth and glared at each one, making them nervous of his presence. I watched him stop and approach a young stallion as he got close to his face.

“Right or left, boy?” Rokai asked.

“I-I’m sorry?” The stallion said.

“Right…or left?” Rokai said in a low tone.

“L-Left?”

SMACK!

“Uhh…r-right?” The stallion stuttered before being smacked again.

The stallion lost his balance and fell down, making Rokai scoff irritably.

“Down after only two strikes from my hand? How disappointing.” Rokai watched the soldier stand back up, but I saw that he was on the verge of tears. “Pathetic…weak!” Rokai barked. “Downright makes me sick, looking at the lot of you! All I see are a bunch of crying babes, fresh off your mum’s teat! A bloody miracle you’ve lasted this long, and a damn shame to any who lost their lives had to die so soon! I was brought here to whip you sorry lot into shape, but it seems I’ve got my work cut out for me! You think I’m tough now? Too bad for you, this is me when I’m in a bloody good fucking mood! So until you can hold a sword properly, no one leaves these grounds unless I say so!”

“Gentlestalions, welcome to the Royal Legion.” Flash said before marching off with Starswirl to report to the royal council. “Rockhoof left this morning with a patrol, we had reports of more of those creatures near the east border.”

“Shades, that is what those creatures are called,” Starswirl said while keeping pace. “We need to find out how they are escaping Tartarus and stop them as soon as possible.”

As Starswirl and Flash left, Celestia changed the scene again.

“So those creatures are called Shades?” I asked and Celestia nodded as she used her magic.

“Sir Rokai’s arrival was an unexpected one for many, and the attacks from the Shades kept on increasing.” Celestia raised her arms as large spheres appeared out of thin air, each one showing a different event. There were some of Rokai training the recruits, him talking with Starswirl and the others from time to time, and most of the time just by himself. “During his stay, Sir Rokai was unwavering with his brutal training, but he soon was able to show results. Sir Rokai’s relationship with the Pillars weren’t always on good terms, but as time passed, slowly but surely, everypony began to grow on him.”

“Judging by these memories, it doesn’t look like he was much of a team player in return,” I said, crossing my arms. “He said it himself, he’s nothing but a merc doing this for profit.”

“True, but that wasn’t until he met my sister and I,” Celestia smiled as the scene changed to Rokai’s personal guest quarters.

I saw Rokai sitting at a desk and he was writing something down on a piece of paper. It wasn’t until there was a faint knock on the door that caught his attention.

“Who is it?” Rokai asked aloud while focusing on his writing.

There was another knocking, which seemed to irritate Rokai, making him stand up and trudge over to the door.

“I swear to hell, if this is another complaint about my training, I-!” Rokai swung the door open and saw no one.

He blinked until we both looked down to see two young fillies. One had pristine white fur and pink mane and tail. The other had far blue fur with light teal hair that twinkled like the stars. Both fillies were alicorns, dressed in fancy frilly dresses, as they looked up at Rokai with curiosity and he stared back in confusion.

“Who…are those two?” I said.

“Can you not tell?” Celestia teased. It took a few moments before the gears began to turn.

“You and Luna?” She nodded and my jaw went slack again.

How…cute. I thought to myself as I watched the memory play out.

“Uh…who’re you two tykes?” Rokai asked.

“I’m Tia and this is my baby sister Lulu,” young Celestia said as young Luna hid behind her. “Are you the alien everypony’s been talking about?” The little filly asked as I snickered and watched the scene.

“Uh…I ain’t no alien, lass, I’m a man.” Rokai shook his head and went to close the door. “This ain’t no place for wee girls like you, go to your mum and bother her.”

“Our mom is busy,” Little Tia replied when one of the maids came frantically running down the hall.

“There you are, your majesties! How many times must we tell you not to wander off?”

“Sorry.” The little filly smiled as the maid bowed to Rokai.

“I’m sorry the princesses troubled you, sir.”

“Wait. Princesses? These little tykes?” Rokai asked as he got a better look at the two foals.

“Indeed, their mother is the queen,” the maid said.

Once again, the gears in my head began to turn as Rokai shut the door and went back to his business.

“You have a mother?” I asked Celestia.

“Yes…she was a wonderful and loving mare, but we shall first focus on this memory before you see her.”

The memory changed and Rokai was back in the training grounds. I watched as he swung his sword like a pro, as the ponies watched him in awe. He held his sword with both hands and spun his body like a top. He then started switching his grip from his left hand to his right while keeping his feet planted on the ground with each step. The ponies watching him looked like they hadn’t seen such masterful swordsmanship like his before, even I was amazed at how talented he was. Celestia tapped my shoulder and she pointed to the entrance of the courtyard. A line of elite-looking guards came marching in and every pony immediately knelt down to their knees, making Rokai stop his swordplay.

In the middle of the surrounding elite guards was another taller mare. She had a veil covering her face, but I could see her mane and tail. They were both cherry red and looked smooth as silk. Her dress she wore, the crown on her head, and the jewellery she adorned just screamed royalty.

Rokai just stood there as the mare approached and the ponies around him looked like they were panicking that he wasn’t kneeling.

“What’s all this then?” Rokai asked bluntly. “Can you not see you lot are interrupting?”

“Sir Rokai, have some respect! You’re addressing Lady Faust herself! The Queen of Equestria!” A guard snapped just as Tia and Lulu appeared from behind the veiled mare.

“Hi mister alien!” Tia shouted happily, making some of the guards laugh.

“How many times do I gotta tell ya, I ain’t no alien!” Rokai snapped.

I laughed a little at him getting annoyed, until the veiled mare stepped forward. She was half a head taller than Rokai and stood with her hands cupped over the other in front of her. I couldn’t see her face, but I got a suspicion that she was trying to get a read on him.

“So, the Lady in charge herself makes an appearance, eh?” Rokai said nonchalantly as he slung his sword over his shoulder.

“Greetings, good sir, I am Queen Faust, ruler of Equestria. Starswirl has told me of how you plan to help us in these dark times,” the queen greeted, still hidden behind her veil.

“Aye, so long as I’m paid well enough,” Rokai shrugged.

“Luna, come say hi to the nice man,” Faust said as her youngest daughter walked out from behind.

“Ooh, I had forgotten how cute Lulu was back then!” Celestia squealed after seeing her baby sister.

I stared at Celestia and she managed to calm herself after realising how childish she sounded. Rokai looked down at the young lunar princess and I saw something I didn’t think I’d see. Rokai actually managed to crack a smile and he knelt down to be at eye level with her.

“So your name’s Luna?” Rokai said and Lulu nodded as she fidgeted nervously in place. “My my, that’s quite the pretty name you got there.”

“Thank you.” The little filly smiled back as Faust picked her up.

“We were just about to have tea, care to join us?” The queen offered.

“Tea?” Rokai stood back up and stroked his beard. “I suppose it would hurt.” The ponies all had looks of hopefulness that they were about to get a break. “As for you lot, I want five hundred sword swipes done by the time I get back!”

Or…maybe not.

They went to the castle gardens where a set of tea and snacks had been arranged and like the eager little filly she was, little Tia immediately asked for a slice of cake as the maids prepared her plate and poured her some tea.

“Now be careful, your highness, it’s hot,” the maid said.

“Yes ma’am,” Little Tia said

“I admit, I wasn’t expecting to be invited to drink tea with the Queen herself,” Rokai said as he set his sword aside and lounged on the chair. “But, I suppose it’s a nice change of pace from kicking those greenhorns around the practice field.”

“Despite my advisors’ protests, I did want to get to know our kingdom’s newest soldier,” Queen Faust said while fixing a cup for Lulu and herself. “I’m curious, what did you do before you were summoned to this world?”

I could tell there was a sudden change of attitude from Rokai as his face became serious. He leaned forward and leaned on the table with his elbows.

“I was a knight.” This perked the queen’s, her daughters, and the staff’s ears; including my own. “I served a king and queen for years. My family had served the royal family for generations.” Rokai grit his teeth as he looked more angry. “But I was accused of a crime against the crown I had not committed. I was excommunicated, my rank stripped, and my honor stained.” Rokai’s fists clenched. “I would have gone on a hate-filled hunt for those who betrayed me, but I couldn’t be bothered since the damage had already been done. What’s the point if no one had any faith in me and my name to begin with?”

“I’m sorry to have brought up such painful memories,” The queen apologised.

“Don’t.” Rokai raised his hand as he stared at Queen Faust as if he could see her eyes past her veil. “Don’t pity me, I don’t need nor want it. What’s done is done, no use weeping over it. I’ve made a better living as a hired blade anyway, free to do what I please without any limitations. That is, until I found myself in this fever dream of a world.”

“Yes, well, I never expected an otherworldly being to appear in Equestria, yet here we are,” she said back.

“Mommy, can we go play?” Tia asked her mother who affectionately nuzzled both her daughters.

“Of course, my dears, have fun.”

Rokai watched the young fillies run off with another small smile.

“You must be proud,” Rokai commented.

“I am. I feel so blessed to have them in my life.” Faust sighed as she watched her daughters play and laugh. “I don’t suppose you had family back home.”

Once again, Rokai’s mood changed. But instead of answering, he stood up from the table and left.

“Sir Rokai?” The queen called out for him but he didn’t answer and kept walking away.

“What’s his deal?” I wondered as Celestia made the memory change again.

“This was one of the rare moments Sir Rokai opened up about himself. Learning that he was once a knight, only to have been betrayed and cast out, was unexpected from somepony like him,” Celestia said. “Ever since that day, Rokai barely spoke to anypony and focused primarily on the preparations for the coming battle. That is, until one day.”

The environment around us changed to a wide open field. Rokai stood with Starswirl, Rockhoof, and Flash Magnus. Behind them was a battalion of pony soldiers, all armed and waiting for orders. I wondered what they were waiting for until I heard screeching noises from the other side. I looked to see a group of those Shade things charging from the distance. The sound of their monstrous cries sent chills along my skin, but Rokai barely looked perturbed.

“How many are there?” Rokai asked Starswirl, not looking at the wizard.

“Our scouts report at least five thousand strong,” Starswirl replied as the men began to panic.

“Five thousand?!”

“Can we face that many?!”

“Have courage, men!” Rockhoof shouted while raising his shovel up high. “This is what you trained for! Never forget, you are the shields of this kingdom and so long as we stand together our foes will not defeat us so easily!”

“Rockhoof is right! We all swore an oath to defend this kingdom, now is the time to fulfill that oath! FOR EQUESTRIA!” Flash Magnus cheered as he raised his spear and the men began to follow his lead and let out a battle cry that sounded across the field.

Before the troops could make any headway, Rokai slammed his boot in the dirt and went in a full sprint. He was much faster than I thought he’d be, even more so than the rest of the troops. I caught sight of his eyes as he charged. They were fierce and full of intense ferocity. Rokai reached back and unsheathed his sword from his back and gripped it with both hands. The Shades met him halfway and a few jumped at him. Rokai spun around and swung his sword, cleaving the Shades in two. The Shades seemed to have been taken off guard as Rokai hacked and slashed his way through the hoard. He sidestepped and twirled his sword then thrusted it to the side, impaling two Shades heads. Like an acrobat, Rokai jumped on top of a Shade and forward into the air with a flip. He plunged his sword straight into a Shade’s chest before pulling it out and killing more Shades. I could tear my gaze away at how unrelenting Rokai was against these demonic creatures. Starswirl and the others were also in awe of his skill as they caught up to him.

“Do not falter, men!” Rockhoof shouted as he held his large shovel up into the air. “LET US JOIN OUR COMRADE AND PUSH THE ENEMY BACK!”

“CHAAARGE!!” Flash roared as he led the charge.

What followed was a ferocious battle, no quarter was given and no mercy was shown as both sides inflicted heavy casualties on one another.

Only until the last shade was slain did the fighting stop and the men cheered in victory.

“What are you all cheering for?” Everyone stopped when they looked at Rokai. The man was giving them all a death glare as he pulled his sword out from a Shade and marched towards the nearest soldier, grabbed his chest plate, and hoisted him in the air. “What the bloody hell are you all so cheerful about?!” Rokai threw him down on the ground and looked around him. “Look at this…LOOK AT ALL OF THIS!” He gestured to the pony soldiers who lay dead on the field. “Brothers, husbands, maybe even fathers lay dead in this field, yet you all cheer! YOU’RE ALL STILL FUCKING WEAK! OTHERWISE, WE WOULDN’T HAVE LOST THIS MANY!”

“Hey, that’s enough lad,” Rockhoof said before he was suddenly pushed back.

“You know nothing…NOTHING!” Rokai snapped. “I want all the dead gathered and buried properly.” He scoffed harshly and stormed off. “Expect my training to be twice as difficult from here on out!”

“Hey…HEY!” Flash shouted as he stopped Rokai in his tracks. “What in Tartarus is your deal? We gave it all we had to win this fight!”

“Not enough apparently…” Rokai hissed before being sucker punched by Flash.

“Did you expect our soldiers to be invincible like you?! WAR HAS CASUALTIES! It’s a fact!”

Rokai chuckled darkly as he rubbed his chin before reeling back and slugging his fist straight across Flash’s chin, making me wince. The Pegasus stallion fell down as Rokai loomed over him.

“Don’t you dare lecture me about war, boy, I’ve seen things that will make you run back to your mum with shite in your trousers!” Rokai’s fists trembled with rage before he turned away again. “Don’t forget, it was you lot who brought me here. I didn’t ask to be part of this bloody war.”

“You think you’re the only one suffering then?” Rockhoof questioned as he got in his face and planted his shovel in the ground.

“I’ve buried hundreds-nay, THOUSANDS with this shovel when this war started and way before you came along! So trust me when I say I understand where you’re coming from…I had to bury me own kin…what was left of them.” The large stallion huffed while fighting back tears. “Me Ma, Pa, siblings…all gone…butchered like animals…I buried so many with this damn shovel that I’ve lost count! But unlike YOU…I don’t let that pain control me.”

With that being said, Rockhoof retrieved his shovel and helped Flash off the muddied ground as they told their men to carry out Rokai’s orders.

“What an asshole,” I said as I looked at Rokai with disappointment as Celestia changed the memory. “It’s one thing to bear the losses of your fellow soldiers, but taking it out on others is just wrong.”

“I agree with you, but this was the first war Equestria had to endure the most loss of life,” Celestia tried to say.

“That still doesn’t mean Rokai was right. I thought he’d be different from what I imagined him to be, guess I was wrong.” I shook my head.

Celestia sighed as the memory changed back and we were standing in the throne room. It looked different than what it was back in the present. The windows didn’t have murals on them and Faust sat on a single throne with her advisors surrounding her and discussing private matters.

“It had been over half a year since Sir Rokai’s arrival, and the war efforts against the Shades was slowly but surely coming to our favour. Reports of Sir Rokai’s actions had spread to the other kingdoms. There was talk of a summit being held, but there was another issue that had to be addressed.”

Suddenly, the doors swung open to reveal Flash and Rockhoof, both looking extremely pissed with Starswirl behind them.

“My friends, please! Be rational about this!” Starswirl pleaded.

“Your majesty, he’s out of control!” Flash snapped at the queen.

“Pardon?” Faust asked.

“It’s Rokai, your highness, he is overstepping his bounds,” Rockhoof said as the queen ordered her staff to clear the room. “He is pushing our troops way too hard and already we got a quarter of our recruits quitting their training regiment!”

“And he’s risking too many troops in one skirmish after the next, our army is spread too thin!” Flash added.

Faust raised her hand for their silence. “What do you propose I do? Should I address him in it?”

“That animal needs to be caged!” Flash proclaimed much to the shock of everyone present.

“Flash, do you hear yourself?!” Starswirl questioned.

“I’m sorry, Starswirl, but he is an uncontrollable beast! And if we’re not careful, he could turn his sword against us one day!”

“Now now.” Queen Faust stood up from her throne and slowly walked down the small staircase. “Perhaps I can convince him to change his ways?”

“Good luck with that, your highness, that human man is more mad than a rabid dog,” Rockhoof said as they followed her to the training grounds where Rokai was putting the recruits through the ringer.

“I said push through the pain!” Rokai barked as the recruits were doing push-ups. “I don’t bloody care if your arms feel like they’re gonna fall off! Let them! If they do, then you were never cut out for the front lines in the first place! And you!” Rokai pointed at a group swinging practice swords, their hands were scabbed and bloody from holding the handles too long and swinging them constantly. “I want a hundred more slashes! Double fucking time!”

“Sir Rokai, a word?” The queen said while the recruits kept training.

“Take a breather, men, you’ve earned it,” Flash used his authority as a superior officer to save the troops from dying of exhaustion, much to Rokai’s annoyance.

“What gives you the right to order around my men?” He glared at Flash.

“They’re MY men,” Flash snapped.

“Funny, they seem to be following my orders,” Rokai scoffed.

“Can he be an even bigger asshole?” I said bitterly?”

“It was a mistake ever bringing you here!” Flash barked.

“I agree, you all should be rotting in the ground as piles of Shade shite!” Rokai snapped back.

“You son of a-!”

“ENOUGH!!” Faust bellowed in a booming loud voice just as they were about to come to blows.

“Aw!” I covered my ears as they rang painfully. “What the hell was that?!”

“It’s just the royal Canterlot voice,” Celestia explained. “We alicorns have a unique decibel in our voices whenever we address our subjects or when we demand order.”

“And I thought megaphones were loud…” I said, rubbing my ears.

“You should keep a tighter leash on your dog, Queen, he’s all bark and no bite,” Rokai mocked.

Flash was about to go for another round, but Faust stopped him.

“Sir Rokai, walk with me,” Faust said calmly behind her veil.

Rokai scoffed as he walked with the queen and we followed. We followed them in silence until Rokai clicked his tongue every so often.

“You do realise you’re interfering with my job?” Rokai boldly questioned the queen.

“Yes,” the queen said plainly.

“Is there a reason you stopped me from training the recruits?” Rokai asked again.

“Yes,” she responded again when they came to a balcony overlooking the gardens. “I often come here when I feel overburdened. Being queen and mother is not an easy job.”

“Who says I’m overburdened?” Rokai scoffed. “If you hadn’t noticed, the war is slowly turning in our favor. We got the bastards on the run.”

“And you haven’t slept properly in days,” Faust replied while sitting down. “Sit.”

“I’ll stand, thank you.”

“That is a command from your queen,” she insisted.

“Who said you’re my queen?” Rokai shot back with a glare of his own. “I don’t remember swearing loyalty to you. I’m a hired blade, remember?”

“Just sit down.,” she insisted once more, sounding like a mother scolding her child.

“Bloody hell…fine.” Rokai slumped down next to the queen. “Happy?”

“Now…” Faust paused and suddenly made Rokai rest his head on her lap by using her magic.

“W-what the bloody hell are you doing?!” Rokai yelped as he tried to stand, but couldn’t move.

“Shh. Just relax,” The queen said while stroking his head like a child.

“Wow, what a twist,” I chuckled at Rokai’s struggles.

“As queen, and the first born alicorn, I have many abilities, one is to see into the dreams and memories of others.”

“Your point?” Rokai grumbled, looking like he didn’t want to admit that what he was enduring at the moment was very relaxing.

“I saw your past and I want you to know, you don’t have to hold onto that pain.” Faust said while looking down at him through her veil.

Rokai glared up at Faust. “Who the bloody hell gave you the right to poke in my head?!”

“Shhh,” she said while placing a finger on his mouth, still holding that motherly appearance. “I just want you to know that you can trust those around you. You can have good friends here, if you’ll allow it.”

“Tch! Friends…I have no friends, you all are just clients to me,” Rokai scoffed.

Faust would only continue to stroke his head and slowly, Rokai began to feel a sense of calm he seemed to not have felt in years.

“Wow, your mom really has a way with people,” I said.

“That is why she was beloved by any who met her,” Celestia smiled.

“Why…?” Rokai managed to say. “Why are you doing this? I treated old Starswirl and his companions like dirt, I’ve been working your men to the bone, and I’m probably doing more harm than good despite the accomplishments.”

“Which is why I’m doing this. You must remember you’re not alone in this fight,” Faust said in a warm voice that seemed to soothe him.

“I’ve been alone most of my life,” Rokai said. “My father was a knight, like I was, but he was injured and had to be let go. He wanted me to succeed where he failed and forced me to pick up a sword. My mother was always silent, never dared to question my father. I didn’t hate him, but the old bastard could’ve been more lenient. It’s not the fact I was betrayed that angers me, it’s the fact that my father tried so hard to mold me into the perfect soldier. Only to lose it all.” Rokai was silent for a few moments. “He died a broken man…”

“You are not your father, you can choose your own path,” Faust said to him. “You can start over. Make friends…possibly find a wife? I hear the mares have taken a shine to you.” The queen teased while pinching his cheek.

I snorted in amusement as Rokai managed to break out of her magical grasp and stand up. His back faced the queen and his shoulders were slumped.

“It’s too late for any of that. For my heart had withered away long ago,” he said in a low tone. The queen couldn’t see it, but I could see his eyes. How sad they looked as Rokai slowly walked away. “Please tell Starswirl and the others that I will be on leave for while. They may do as they please for their training in the meantime…”

Faust sighed in disappointment as he walked away and returned to her duties for the remainder of the day. The Pillars made a few adjustments to Rokai’s training regiment while making sure the soldiers weren’t slacking off.

The memory changed again and I contemplated all that I had seen this far.

“Rokai’s been through a lot,” I said, almost pitying him.

“Indeed, which begs the question, William, do all humans go through hardship where you come from?” Celestia asked.

“More than you’d think,” I said sombrely. “There’re plenty of humans back on Earth who deal with personal problems such as the ones Rokai had experienced.”

Me included… I thought to myself.

The scene changed to another open field where another battle was happening. The ponies were putting up a more decent fight, but I could tell they were having trouble pushing the Shades back. I looked around for Rokai, but I couldn’t see him anywhere. Only Starswirl, Rockhoof, and Somnambula were fighting alongside each other.

“We can’t keep this up!” Flash said as he fought two Shades with his spear. “We need reinforcements!”

“Starswirl is on his way! We need to hold them off until then!” Somnambula said as she fought with daggers. “Where is Sir Rokai?! He’s been gone for over a week!”

“He’s abandoned us!” Rockhoof barked angrily before sending a shade flying with his shovel.

“COME ON YA MANKY GOBSHITES!!” He shouted towards the enemy, making me laugh a little before we heard the sound of horns and distinct marching of armor plated boots.

“There! On the hill!” Asoldier shouted when an army of griffons appeared.

I was in shock and awe as I saw Rokai in front of the army of griffins. He stepped forward and unsheathed his sword and held it up high.

“ALL TROOPS!! CHARGE!!” Rokai bellowed.

“Holy hell!” I gasped as the griffins charged in, all at once.

The griffin backed up the ponies and completely overwhelmed the Shades. Rokai tore his way where Rockhoof and Somnambula were fighting. A Shade was about to get the drop on Rockhoof before Rokai jumped in and hacked its head off with his sword.

“Apologies for being late, lads!” Rokai joked.

“Well human, it’s about time!” Rockhoof said before he bashed in a Shade’s skull with a headbutt that even made Rokai flinch.

“Rokai, I got a squad pinned down on the eastern flank. If they don’t get backup soon, they’ll be wiped out!” Flash called out before having his pegasus squad form a spear wall.

“Ya heard that, Gallon?!” Rokai called out to a falcon griffin soldier. “Get your boys over there, double time!”

“Yes sir!” The soldier responded before taking off with a squad of soldiers to the eastern flank.

“I see you had some time to think,” Somnambula said with a smile as the reinforcements took positions around them.

“Get the wounded off the field!” A griffon captain ordered as his men began gathering the wounded soldiers.

“P-please…help…”A soldier that was just a few feet away from Rokai cried out. “I-I don’t wanna die!”

“Easy soldier, you’ll be fine,” Rokai said in a surprisingly caring manner before two pegasi carried him off.

“Sir Rokai!” A pegasus scout shouted as he flew down, completely covered in dried blood and dirt. “There’s some kind of creature going on a rampage out there! It’s not a Shade and none of our troops can get close enough to it!”

“Go! We’ll handle these lot!” Rockhoof shouted.

Rokai nodded and I watched him run through the battlefield. Celestia grabbed my shoulder and made us float into the air and follow him. In the distance, there were screams of anguish and pain as I saw bodies fly off in the air. What caused this was what could only be described as a monster. It was heavily armored with large horns sticking out the sides of its head, wielding a twin bladed spear, and had a sort of lanky build but was ver muscular at the same time. The monster was laughing maniacally as it slashed through the pony and griffin soldiers. I watched Rokai grit his teeth in anger as he readied his sword. Just before the monster could bring his spear down on a unicorn mare soldier, Rokai stepped in just in time to block the monster’s strike.

CLANG!!

The sound of metal clashing echoed around the area as the monster looked down at Rokai.

“Go!” Rokai ordered the mare. She nodded her head frantically and ran off. “Your fight is with me, demon!”

“Well well, a soldier with skill!” The demon spoke, sounding almost as if he were glad that Rokai blocked his attack. “I am Rakun of The Ten Legionnaires and Great General to his Dark Eminence. Speak your name, warrior, and let us do battle!”

“I am Rokai Stourmborne, third of my name! I have no title to my name, but I shall smite you and send you back to hell where you belong!” Rokai said as the two began to exchange blows.

Rakun was surprisingly agile as he twirled his spear with blinding speed and was able to keep Rokai on the defensive.

“YEES! Finally some sport!” The demon cackled like a madman before cutting Rokai’s cheek and booting him into the mud.

Rokai grunted and pushed himself out of the way before Rakun pierced his chest. Rokai sprang to his feet and clashed with the demon and pushed with all his might. Before Rakun could headbutt him, Rokai ducked down and kicked one of the demon’s legs. Rakun fell to his knees and Rokai reeled back and slammed his fist into Rakun’s helmet. The blow made Rakun fall to the ground but he jumped back up and twirled his spear in the air. Rokai charged forward once more and the two met each other head on.

Rokai adjusted his grip on his sword. He swung his sword to the side, pulling Rakun’s spear down with it so Rokai could swing his sword back and managed to slash Rakun across his chest. Black leaked from Rakun’s wound but he started cackling to himself.

“You think this amusing?” Rokai growled.

“Outstanding…” Rakun said with a disturbing grin as an even more sinister aura appeared around him.

“Now…I WON’T HOLD BACK!!”

Rokai barely had time to react as Rakun charged at him and Rokai managed to block it. The force nearly made Rokai fall backwards but he managed to keep his balance. Blow after blow, Rakun was relentless as Rokai was again left to defend himself. The demon managed to cut Rokai a little here and there, but it didn’t deter the man.

“Shit…that demon’s got him pinned!” I said, clenching my fists.

“Rrraaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!”

Rokai shouted out loud and pushed against Rakun. It was as if Rokai summoned every ounce of willpower to meet his opponent head on. The two breathed heavily as they were at a standstill, neither one looking like they were gonna back down. It wasn’t until Rokai grit his teeth and put all his weight on his right leg. He brought his knee up and right into Rakun’s gut. The brief stun was all Rokai needed to turn his sword around and make Rakun lose his grip a little on his spear. Rokai used the opportunity to swing his sword as hard as he could, straight across Rakun’s chest as he stepped past him. Black blood erupted from the demon as Rakun fell to his knees and Rokai wheezed to catch his breath.

“Holy shit! He did it!” I cheered. Rakun, however, was still cackling weakly as he dropped his spear. Shadowy wisps billowed from his body.

“Even after defeat, you still laugh?” Rokai managed to ask as he looked back at his defeated opponent over his shoulder.

“Outstanding…” Rakun said with his dying breath as his armor became an empty husk and the Shades slowly began to disappear.

As the Shades disappeared, Rokai nearly fell to the mud but managed to catch himself. The troops all stared at him, waiting for some kind of response. The rain fell from the sky as Rokai looked around. I watched, not blinking, as Rokai took a deep breath and raised his sword to the sky once more.

“THE DAY IS OURS!!” Rokai roared triumphantly.

The thundering of the soldiers’ cheers drowned out the rain and cleansed the soldiers of all the blood and dirt now staining their armor. Many who were wounded on the field had suddenly found the strength to stand and join in the celebration as they marched back towards Canterlot with their heads held high.

“This was still only the beginning,” Celestia said as I kept staring at Rokai. “Of how Rokai’s legacy came to fruition.”

Author's Note

His legend grows, and his actions witnessed. What else will William learn from this experience of Rokai’s ascension to greatness?

Hope you enjoyed!

~WurkyWilk has left the building…