The Republican War: The Fall of Heaven's Spire

Time seemed to freeze as the obsidian blade caught the light. For one perfect moment, everything stood still - the falling bodies of my soldiers, the triumphant grins of the griffons, even the smoke hanging in the air.

The blade seemed to hum to life, taking on a blood red glow. It began to whisper into my ears. Softly it came but soon only increased in volume.

The sword's whispers became screams. Not screams of fear or pain - screams of joy. A thousand souls trapped in bloodstone, all crying out in dark ecstasy as their power flowed.

It screamed promises of power and victory. Promises of vengeance. Promises that would cost everything. The blade hummed in my magic, singing a song of blood and victory.

It wanted me to join its symphony. I could only squint at it in defiance. I felt my hooves start to tingle and my horn ached. It hungered for my magic, sucking up as much as it tainted magic could get a hold of.

I couldn’t drop it no matter what I did, my magic no longer responded. I felt it drain me, my joints felt tired. The strain of every reserve of magic be depleted. The love I’ve collected from the ponies for months, evaporated.

I had to do something. Something to stem the tide. I could think of nothing as its dark magic slithered its way into me. Taking a deep breath, I repeated a mantra that has kept me calm and stable for the last three months.

I am lieutenant colonel Cloaked Dagger. Acting commanding officer of the 82nd Crystal Brigade. I swore an oath to my kingdom, my soldiers and my people to serve until death. To serve as an acting beacon of hope. To serve those who couldn’t defend themselves. To serve the weak and forgotten. To be the ultimate force for harmony.

This blade is not my master. It will never control me. This magic is mine. It was built on the love and admiration of Equestria and its ponies. I felt my eyes twitch.

If it wants my love it can have it. I opened my reserve for it to enter, flooding its senses with love.

Slamming my hoof down to assert my control. I shoved more of my magic into it. Drowning its tainted magic with what was left of my love.

The blade held steady in my magic, now capable of movement by my mind. Its bright blood red glow, dimmed by my resistance, but still eager to serve annihilation.

I looked towards the door. The griffons finally entered. The charge failed to hold them back.

This will be their tomb.

I shook my head at the thought. I kept up my stream of love, The love so powerful as to change my once lime green magic pink. My muscles tensed at the amount of power I flowed to my horn just to keep its lust at bay.

I could see one griffon level his rifle at me as I raised my sword to challenge those who defy me.

His hammer fell, igniting the powder within his rifle. His grin of victory was short lived as the rifle in his claws violently exploded, sending metal shards of shrapnel. Its shards tear through his green uniform leaving stains of red.

I grinned as I let go of the magic that surrounded his rifle, letting out a held breath. His buddies were terrified at his violent outburst. Some even took his shrapnel and are now laying on the ground crying for a medic.

I widened my grin as I saw many of them now train their eyes on me. That’s right you bastards, all eyes on me.

In an instant several shots rang out towards me or more specifically where I was.

Jumping out of a griffon's shadow, I sliced straight up cutting the young chick in half. He didn’t even have enough time to scream.

Whirling the blade around, bringing the dark blade around in a vicious arc onto another victim. It sang as it sliced through the air and bit deep into griffon flesh. Blood splattered the marble floor. Screams echoed off the throne room walls. I moved in a frenzied dance of death.

All those who hid behind the broken pillars and the remnants of the ceiling were cut down with no mercy. Many tried to run out the door but none escaped as black fire blocked their way. I gleefully laughed at their fear, for once I took delight in their suffering. For all the pain and suffering they forced on us.

They deserve this.

Through blade or magic they fell. Many were unable to scream as they were cut or consumed in fire. I raised my sword to strike down one more time on this young griffon.

“Please! I surrender! Please!” He cried out. All he could do was beg and curl up against the wall, afraid of what awaits him. I grinned at his fear, ohh how it tasted ever so sweet.

So focused was I on savoring his terror that I missed the sound of approaching clawsteps. The white-hot pain of cold steel punching through my side brought me crashing back to reality. An older griffon soldier, now standing behind me with his bayonet buried deep in my flesh, had made his choice. With the pull of his trigger he fired, another sharp pain rippled through my side.

I screamed in pain and anger, How dare he!?

“RUN chick! Run from this shadow!” the griffon yelled out. I only grinned, the pain he caused me won’t go unpunished. My horn was set ablaze. Soon the brave little griffon was launched into the air with a sickening glee.

He screamed at his inevitable fate. I want him to feel the pain he caused me. It was as if every bone of his body snapped. His skin now weighs thousands of pounds as the gravity increased, slowly crushing him. He tried so desperately to flee but it was all helpless as soon his body fell silent.

I turned back to see nothing. The chick fled. My breathing was ragged and fast. I looked up to see the faces of my men, no longer did I see the respect they once gave me as terror was embedded on their faces.

Looking around, the griffon force sent to capture the castle now lays silent. Did I do this? Staring down at my wound I could see it was filled with black crystals. My hooves were no different as what was once a pristine grey fur were replaced with jagged black crystals. I could feel each crystal dig into my skin at every step.

I tried to step towards my stallions to reassure them but they backed up in fear of what I'd do. They leveled their rifles at me. I don’t blame them. This is my fault.

Shaking my head, I turned my head towards the wall.There are still griffons in my city and I can’t let them stay. Blowing the wall outwards, I lept outside.