Verve

Celestia ‘borrowed’ an axe from a curb-stomped Seraph, eying the sticky viscera clinging to the blade. A lull in the combat gave her enough time to ponder it, wondering just what it could be. Sap?... Regardless of this question, she shot a desperate eye to the wriggling mare, far, far in the sky.

It was nothing more than a faint orange dot amongst steel and billowing feathers, but she could see it - the distant earth pony broke her hold, crying out as she fell.

“Tempest! Vee! Do you trust me?” she screamed - hunking the axe as hard as she could into a sprinting brigand. It crashed into his plate - cleaving right through as her wings beat to lift her off.

“To the ends of the earth!” Tempest called, ducking out of the way of an impending axe swipe - spinning on her front legs to deliver a cuirass crushing buck. The crewmate went flying - falling axe caught by Tempest’s muzzle. She swung it onto her shoulder, lifting it much like she did Sun Song just a few days prior.

“Until tax season, Sun-fry! D’ohoho!” At some point during the fight, Vee found a mug of coffee, left resting on a rotten table. She kept it balanced on her head, much to the dismay of the winged defenders around. Any swing attempting to cleave her skull off of the shoulders would force her to duck. The cup floated in the air for a split second - before her neck arched back up, catching it precariously on her mane with a splash of the good stuff.

“Then I’ll be right back!” she called, blasting upwards with a powerful billow of her massive wings.

“What - hey!” Vee shouted after her - the distraction leading to a swing clipping through her Star Leather armor in a solid gash. Vee reeled in a grimace - lance swinging wildly to clatter against imposing steel. The offending Seraph fell back with a flash of wings - the disorganized soldier crashing into another man who stumbled a slash at Tempest. It simply bounced off of her Winter Iron Armor, failing to do much other than lead to a swift death on his part. All at the axe of the chipped-horn Commander.

Three of the remaining eight Seraphs took off after Celestia, leaving Vee and Tempest to fend for themselves. Surrounded, the duo panted in desperate gasps of air. The Purple pegasus was nearing her limit - the blood pooling from her chest dripping to the once polished marble tiles of the ruin beneath her.

There was a crash, as a massive, hulking Ascended burst through the door. Ten hooves tall, bald, and sporting a short brown beard - his dark eyes settled on the group. He bore no weapon, save the crack of his knuckles.

“Alright Vee,” Tempest broke between sucking breaths, “You distract the five little ones. I’ll take down the big one. Deal?”

“Will my corpse be a good distraction? D’oh… hoho!” Vee whispered, surprisingly calm despite the certainly mortal wound. She snatched the cold coffee from her head with a wing, taking a deep draw - before dropping the empty mug to the floor.

“That remains to be seen,” Tempest growled back, lowering her stance for balance.

“Cute little ponies, come to play?” The massive mountain of a Seraph laughed, giant gray wings flapping at the air. His voice seemed to carry a strong, foreign accent - even for a Seraph. Though Tempest had only met a few Yaks - it reminded her immediately of their rough and grumble nature. “Oarkin will play with you. Do not worry!”

Pumpkin tumbled helplessly from the air, shuffling her hoof through her hat in an attempt to find something to save her life. A few empty vials, a couple assorted herbs and roots - nothing. The wind snapped it from her hooves - the witchy topper trailing slowly after her tiny body.

The massive trees below quickly approached her flailing form, nothing but solid ground directly beneath to catch her.

Pumpkin wasn’t a religious type - very rarely any ponies were. But with the ground seconds away, she clasped her hooves and prayed - turning in the air to let her back meet the ground first. She didn’t want to see it coming. She couldn’t stand the thought of it. All she could do now was hope.

Celestia blazed through the air regardless of the burning heat of her magnificent wings, spinning out of the way of a sharp blast of Seraph magic. The bolt of amethyst flames crashed into a spire before her, shattering the gold point to slivers.

Bursting through the debris, the Seraphs were hot on her tail - but steadily falling behind as she had the advantage of magic empowered wings. She would fly up to lose them, but doing so would take valuable time, and achieve nothing. The flailing witch had mere seconds left before it was too late.

The green dragonhide vest across her torso, once a blessing - was now a curse. The Princess’s horn failed to seize her form, pink solar magic stuttering in flashes. Pumpkin turned in the air onto her back, approaching the massive, towering tree tops.

An aura of green magic caught her regal body, her own horn flashing to break the desperate grasp around her before it could seize her in the air. Another blast of yellow, sparkling lightning coursed through the sky - striking her wing.

She spun uncontrollable as the searing pain shot through her - righting herself before crashing through a section of old roof tiles. She was just hooves from the far outer wall, and she would be damned if this would stop her.

Her hindlegs kicked at the air, the crash enough to slow her down to the point a heavy shoulder could crash into her side. She went tumbling through the wind in a plume of feathers, yelping in pain - her back fast approaching the crumbled city’s stone barriers.

Helpless, she witnessed the deadly approach of the three Seraphs - axes brandishing, swinging to crash into her body as it met the stone barricade.

But not this day. Her weak magic flashed - body vanishing in a pink flare of light mere inches from the wall. The dogpile of ascended rammed into the heavy white stone, a trio of Seraphs tumbling to the grassy cobble far below. Aged sections of the rock collapsed after them, slamming into their broken forms and pinning them to their fates.

Arin swung Sun Song in an arc, the gold clattering against steel in a rain of sparks and solar magic. He wasn’t a great swordsman - but it hardly mattered. Without leadership, the Seraphs around struck seemingly without restraint, much to the passionate glee of a blood hungry former umbrum.

Umbra’s magic seized the hand of an invading Seraph, ripping him forward to impale him on her flashing, gleaming, emerald-swirling horn. A sick bliss coursed through her, as the fading life struggled in vain - crimson life spilling to the floor in gushes as she withdrew.

“Days of pain! Taunting! Beatings! Starvation! And this is all you have to show for it?!” she yelled, ripping the machete from the dead Ascended’s hand. She used it to clatter against an invading blade, her well trained body flashing forward in a wave of billowing shadows. Regardless of the starvation, the torture - she stood defiant. She did not break. And she would not submit.

“Come! Meet your death! Let me make corpses of the cowards I see before me!” she laughed, sinking the stolen sword through the exposed back of a brigand, who quickly crumbled before her. She slung the exploration tool out roughly in her green glow, spitting blood across her body.

In the fear she caused rippling through the soldier’s hearts, Arin managed to sink the tip of Sun Song straight through the torso of another Ascended. The blood boiled in the man’s chest, metal quickly turning red and glowing around his blade as he ripped it free of the now dead defender.

One Seraph attempted to flee - but Umbra’s coursing magic seized his chest in her spell, plucking him from the air and throwing him toward her blade. The crude machete slammed and gashed into his neck, a gurgle of blood following as the chipped blade crunched and stuck to bone.

“Yes! Yes! Let me revel in your misery! The oh-so-well deserved revenge!” she spat, dropping the corpse to the floor.

Okay, even Arin was a bit worried. He had never seen Umbra so… demented before. Then again, taking out weeks worth of pain and frustration on your captors seemed like a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

An axe meant to cleave into his broadside, but the Seraph keenly stepped out of the way of the armored brigand’s strike. And another saber found his still armored side, forcing him to grunt in frustration as it cut down into the mithril mail beneath the blue hide.

Umbra reeled upon seeing two of the last three Seraphs engage Arin at once - lunging her deadly horn into an exposed section of padding to the primary offender. Bolts of rage-fueled magic coursed and crashed into the quickly-fading Ascended’s organs, quickly tearing his insides to shreds.

The soldier fell into a twitching heap, before coming to a quiet stand still. Seeing his friend die on the spot, the massive great-axe wielder meant to flee - but Arin gave a deep gash into the Seraph’s wing, flames searing as it fell clean off.

The once twin-winged man crumbled to the floor, hands lacing over the freshly cauterized stub. Arin darted the length of Sun Song into his chest, ending him much the same as he did the other.

There was now one Seraph left - not including the surrendered, shaking husk, who struggled to pull himself over the railing before tumbling down to the mercy of the winds. He fell far - well beyond the edge of the world, as the potent magics ripped the feathers from his wings and sucked his form into the astral plane of magicless space.

The female Seraph dropped her sword, raising her hands in surrender. “P-Please, I submit! I yield!” she cried. Arin was about to accept this, and give her mercy - when Umbra seized her by the unguarded neck in arcane might and roughly twisted.

“Cowards… all of them, sniffling, mewling lambs to the slaughter.” She panted, soaking in blood. But she didn’t care. Her gaze turned back to the shocked Arin, who watched in a mixture of fear in awe.

Stepping quietly in front of him, she ripped him down by the neck of his vest with a hoof - locking her muzzle to his lips in a fiery kiss. Shocked, he dropped his blade with a clatter - the powerful Unicorn seizing total control. Her tongue swirled into his shocked maw, tasting faintly of spilled blood. Frozen to the spot, she held this kiss for several long moments - much to the total and overwhelming confusion of the former Inert clinging to her.

“I was wrong. You do know how to swoon a former Queen of my caliber,” she breathed, pulling from his now equally bloodstained mouth. He honestly had no idea what to think of that, recovering from the shock.

“Umbra, I-I’m spoken for, you-”

“I know.”

“Then… why?” He wiped the stains from his mouth, much to the mirth of the former umbrum.

“I was curious about my feelings towards you. Friend - or something more. This settles it, then. If your mind shifts from the one you call Love - consider me an option in the near, and distant, future. I am patient, after all. On more important matters…” She turned to the edge of the ship, peering over the land. “...Where are your allies? Are they not in danger?”

“Oh. Oh buck. Umbra, come with me - we’re very late.”

The Princess reappeared beyond the far wall, right under Pumpkin’s tumbling body. She caught her to her chest, the weight of the pony slamming into her with such intensity that the momentum carried her burnt body downwards - straight into the heavy brush below.

Rolling in the thick weeds and dense grass, the duo came to a halt in a pile of leaves and mud. Celestia was left gasping for fresh air, pinned beneath the trembling earth pony.

“P-Princess?!” she sparked, eyes lighting up to her hero - her savior, who raised a battered wing to drape over her form.

“Please, Pumpkin… at this point… just call me Tia, too. All of you are like family to me, after all… we’ve been through. Can’t let family… down.”

She ruffled the wind tossed mane of the little witch, giving a weak smile - before falling limp on the soft ground. Sucking in air to her lungs, recuperating from the intense exertion and magic drain.

“One moment, every-fry.” Vee panted, dragging her bag from her side - she fiddled around for several moments despite the confused glares of the Seraphs around, withdrawing a familiar thermos. Didn’t she lose that back in Driderhold?

“Aha! Still warm, I hope.” Uncapping it, she took a deep, heavy swig of the brew - humming in delight. “Ah yes, coffee does absolute wonders for blood loss.”

“Really?” one of the Seraphs asked, lowering his axe an inch in speculation. The soldier immediately on his left elbowed him hard in his leather armor, forcing him to grunt and snap back to attention.

“No. D’ohoho!”

At that, the five axes and machetes charged forward, slamming on the spot Vee just was. Just was, as in - no longer there. She popped back into existence a second later, standing on top of the gathered weapons - her wing stuffing the thermos back into her pack without complaint.

“I don’t suppose you’re all willing to take an ‘IOU’ instead of a fight today?” She smiled, dripping blood over their collected weapons. Immediately, the gaggle of Ascended each raised their deadly tools to lift her off - throwing the bumbling pegasus into the air. She winced, woozy - but fluttering tiredly on her well-groomed wings.

“Where are our fucking magic users?!” one of them grunted, billowing his pinions to strike at Vee - who keenly, if barely, dodged.

“They flew after the white one - we can handle this,” another spoke, Vee’s lance impaling him through the chest. She attempted to pull away, but it was much too difficult without proper leverage on the ground. Snarls of rage from the brigands around met her, as she was now effectively disarmed, bleeding, and on the verge of passing out.

Tempest fell back with a buck of her legs, as a heavy swing from Oarkin’s fists nearly took off her head. She flashed a bolt of chaotic lightning across his partially armored chest, currents ringing in an ocean-green nova. It fizzled out, the mountain of a challenger simply too powerful to be affected by unfocused magic - though it did leave his armor smouldering, and his beard slightly fizzled.

“You’re very quick for a small pony!” he laughed, long steps keeping pace with her. For his size, he was exceptionally fast. But the bigger they are, the harder they’ll fall - and she jumped to the air in a spinning kick of her hindleg to prove that.

The armored hoof soared and nearly struck his bearded jaw, but he was a bit too fast for the motion - and keenly stepped to the side. He caught her sailing leg as it whipped past, gripping it through the sturdy armor before whipping her body through the air. She flew hard into a nearby pillar, crumbling it to rock and dust. Bouncing across the floor, she heaved in fresh air, clawing to find purchase with a single hoof to lift herself up.

“A-And you’re… very strong, for a brute,” Tempest remarked, aching body shaking off the dust as she stood.

“Thank you. I spend a lot of time working on that. You must have done the same, small pony.” Oarkin smiled, looking over her ironclad form, spotting the blood coating her gear. “Do you need a break? I am strong, but not unfair. You fight hard. Many have died here today, because of you - and a fair fight is good for my soul.”

The Commander groaned, dusting dirt from her mane - and blinking away gravel. “Very much appreciated, Oarkin - but we both know only one of us will leave here alive. I wouldn’t offer you the same mercy.”

“Mm. True. I fight for honor, not blood or victory. Three hundred years, and I have yet to find one who could best me. I will give you a moment to breathe. Wind is good for the lungs. Then we fight, and when I win, I will bury you with the dignity a warrior deserves.”

“I don’t intend on losing. But if you insist.” She steadied herself, the Seraph crossing his arms as she recovered from the rather devastating blow. Several seconds passed, and she raised a hoof.

“Ready?” He smiled. Tempest nodded.

“As ever.”

The hulking mountain barreled down on her - aiming to crush the Commander beneath his giant, iron fists. A powerful swing down, and he just barely missed her lithe form. Even under all that heavy armor, she was agile - and neatly dodged in a short hop.

“As I said - quick for something so small,” he complimented, pulling his boulders of hands away from the now destroyed marble below - rolling his shoulders as the blood began to pump with adrenaline.

Tempest knew there was no reasonable way she could take down this walking giant. At best, she’d probably crack a bone, or leave a bruise - but without a weapon, she couldn’t do any lasting damage. Perhaps the way forward wasn’t violence, as much as she believed in her abilities.

He seemed smart. And as much ‘fun’ as it would be to make him crack the pillars around the hall - he may be more useful alive than crushed under rubble. Now, what would Twilight do in this situation?

“You know, you’re much too honorable to work with this lot.” She smiled, circling around him. Her powerful legs bucked at the floor - narrowly dodging a fast smash from the muscled giant. She made to land on his back - but a flash of his powerful wings billowed her in such reckless winds that she sailed right over him.

That’s when she noticed it. An ‘x’ of leather straps, keeping his sectioned plate together, revealed naught but a shirt underneath. A massive, glaring weak point in his armor. One she might be able to exploit, if he couldn’t be convinced.

“Oh? Why yes - I am aware! Their sneaky tactics aren’t agreeable. But it is work, and they are my people - if only by half.” He frowned, steps slowing to speak. “Why do you speak of them? Am I not entertaining to fight?”

“Oh no, you are - but even I think I’ll have a tough time breaking you,” she spoke, barreling out of the way of a winding punch - wincing as the fast strike acutely caught her back leg. She felt the armor give and crunch, the splintered metal gashing into her hindleg from the blow.

“Oarkin, I might have a better position for you - one of honor, of glory. If you’re willing to consider it?” She limped her way around the rubble, keeping her distance. The giant Seraph weighed her words, running his fingers through his black beard.

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, OARKIN! KILL HER! WE NEED YOUR HELP!” Screamed a significantly smaller Seraph, who did little to aid the situation. Vee roughly kicked him with a hoof - bouncing over the winded soldier. She whimpered, as her body began to protest the action. He glared back, weighing his options.

“Honor. Glory. These are things I hold dear, and of little value among the Seraph people. They only care for victory above all else, or old ways of monarchy and obedience. I am a simple Seraph, half born of the Southern Spears - but conscripted into this battle regardless. I find little fun in robbing crypts. Tell me, what do you offer, small pony?”

Finding a break in the combat, she visibly relaxed. “We’re here to save our friend, and head back to Canterlot - to take down a vile nightmare that has stolen the throne. If she’s left unchallenged in her might, the whole world could very well fall - and the Sun may never rise again. If this happens, all creatures will suffer an eternity of endless snow and moonlight.”

He paused to consider her words. “I have seen the odd magic seeping from the East. It gives me much worry, when the sun no longer rests, either. And why do you fight this? Coin? Shiny baubles?”

“No. We do it because… there’s still hope. Hope that we can end this nightmare before it’s too late, save the land - save the world. I…” She sat down at this point, breathing in. “Even I used to think it was impossible, alone. But with the friends I’ve made, the challenges I’ve faced… I believe it can be done.”

He smiled, uncrossing his massive tree-trunk sized arms to rest them on his hips. Laughing at the thought alone. “A very noble cause! Very well then. If it is a fight this Nightmare wants, it is a fight she will have! I have always wanted to be a hero.”

He turned to face the gathered Seraphs, who cornered Vee with their gleaming weapons. The pale pegasus tilted her muzzle up as the blades and axes pressed to her throat, ready to end her life. Despite all of this, she was smug - she could finally be at peace, knowing she made a change for the better in this world.

Oarkin approached them steadily from behind - his thundering steps making the gathered soldiers shrink.

“I am sorry, rude men. But I fight for a better cause now. Grave robbing and hurting innocent ponies is not what I want from life.” He smiled - grabbing the nearest Seraph in his hand by their throat. Immediately, he slammed the poor soldier through the nearest wall - the other Soldiers taking one look at the imposing tower before them.

Like the cowards they were, they turned tail and fled - Oarkin snatching their legs in a flash of his gray magic.

“You are all very cruel Seraphs. I am not sorry for what I will do, because you all deserve it for the mothers you made cry.”

“Wait, Oarkin - please, we can talk this-”

Smash-crunch. Within seconds of gruesome pulverising, the brigands lay dead beneath him. Slammed to the floor with such intensity that even their remains hardly twitched.

“Oho! That is wonderful for the feathers.” Vee blinked - collapsing to the floor as she clung desperately to life. Oarkin dusted his hands off - just as Arin and Umbra slowly fluttered to the marble. Needless to say, they saw everything - the proud Seraph looming above them with a smile.

“You! I have not seen your face. But I know your armor, or what is left.” He grinned, approaching as Arin set Umbra down - who eyed him with murderous intent. Regardless, he reached his hand down, grasping Arin’s smaller hand in his massive bear paws. Oarkin shook his arm gently, almost enough to crack bone - but restrained before it reached that point.

“I am Oarkin. I fight for honor, and glory. Your cause is a worthy one! I wish to pulp this Nightmare in my fists, it is worthy of my time, yes. You must be King Arin! A noble king indeed, to wish to turn the crown over to the Ravens of old. How does that go, please tell me - they were kind leaders.” His joyous, genuine grin beared down on the stunned Knight, who gave a nervous laugh. After shaking his nearly broken hand, of course.

“U-Uh… well, Oarkin, it went great. A few weeks ago, I crowned their next in line, had tea and cakes… then came back to this land, the land I love. Equestria,” he eventually managed to speak, much to the joy of the mountain.

“Yes! You are good news. I like you very much; you are kind! Do you have honor, as well? You do not hurt the weak?”

“Well, uh… I think so, yes. I’ve never cheated in a duel, I work to help those around me. I’ve made many friends and few enemies. I’ve done everything to make this world a little brighter, I think. As did the ponies around me.”

“Haha! Good! Good! I am happy already. And you, little pony - I am sorry for the pain the ugly men caused. I am… not good, with your language - it is my second! But know that I am deeply troubled by the way they hurt you. I would have come to feed you, and give company - but I was tasked with clearing the way into a crypt! Grave robbing has no honor. That, and I am too big to fit in most doors. I sleep outside because of this. The stars are good here in Equestria! Better than Erenorn - though I see no Arcanis Ring.”

That was entirely believable. He’d almost have to crawl to fit into a door - and the Arcanis Ring was currently hidden behind Luna’s Magic. A faint hope that a piece of her was still there.

“Hey, Tall-fry - if you get a minute, can you stop me from dying? No rush. It’s just very cold right now,” Vee spoke from the corner - snapping Arin from the moment. Immediately, he darted for her side - casting Antithesis across her fading form. Within seconds, life returned to her body, as she struggled to stand up. It only took a little help from Arin’s hand to bring the Purple to her hooves.

Just to be safe, he cast a wave of Resurgence across her body. In return, she gave him a wingpat - the soft feathers ruffling his simple brown hair.

“Good work, Tall-fry! Much better, hmhm.”

Tempest darted to Umbra’s side - giving a warm, blood-coated squeeze. “Thought I’d leave you to rot?” she spoke, as Umbra eventually found it in her to laugh.

“As a former villain would.” The renewed Unicorn hugged on tight, legs still a little shaky from all the adrenaline and lack of food.

“...Where’s Celestia and Pumpkin?” Arin eventually questioned, as the soft clatter of hooves on stone made their way up the road to meet them. Two sets, a Princess - and her dear friend.