Heart Souls: The Loss of Harmony

Another day has passed, and the ponies of Appleoosa have gotten used to having the royal knights around.

With that, they were able to get information.

"We do not know you." The townspony reply to their name.

They are forgotten, feared, and shunned.

But they didn't waver; they continued their promise. To follow the princess and serve her people.

" We should leave for Canterlot. Get more answers."

" You heard the people of Appleoosa! They don't know us! We were supposed to be dead already!"

" And yet we are alive. There is purpose for this! Let us find the answer together." The first knight voiced out.

" We are the royal knights! We made a vow! If you dare abandon, then leave your sigil; your soul. We have rested enough, and this stagnancy is the cause of our discord. Tomorrow we leave for Canterlot, we've helped enough already, freed them from the curse. And if we do not stop the demon, our cause here would be not. Now sharpen your sword and shine your armors, if you have time for bicker and rumors." The soft-spoken knight scolded everyone.

They left the building and began their business; some would talk with citizens, and some would be on their own to meditate.

The two, on the other hand, would be alone in a room.

"I'm sorry for giving the burden to you." The first knight spoke.

" It must be done; the knights of this generation know not of unity. Which earth ponies are great at."

"I fear these urges of ours are not normal. I fear the worst for us. For all of us."

" They may not be normal, perhaps uncontrollable." The soft-spoken knight would grab his face and look deeply into his eyes.

" But this is true. Do you believe me? And yours. Is it true?" She questioned his intent.

He pondered and thought hard about his answer. And a kiss he gave. "Yes, to all of it."

Their day would be cut short as a disturbance from outside would be heard.

Panic and distress from the streets. Civilians are running, while fellow knights help and aid their escape.

The two prepared their weapons and also rushed to aid their fellow knights.

" What seems to be the commotion?"

One of the knights would respond to the first's question.

" We are being attacked by rhinos."

" What's that?" The soft-spoken knight asked.

"It's big, made of armor, and has a giant horn."

And right on que, one would ram through a building. It towers over the buildings it crushes.

Not only that, it began absorbing essence and began eating the rubble of wood from the buildings.

" Why aid when we can kill!" The soft-spoken knight charged into battle, leaving everyone behind and right in front of the rhino's face.

She quickly stabbed the center of the rhino's head and failed.

The sword could not penetrate its skin, and the recoil would cause her pain.

"Damn, it's hard!"
The rhino would retaliate and try to smash her with its horn, but with no avail.

She could easily avoid and back away from the beast.

" Milady, are you alright!" The first knight has finally caught up to her.

" The enemy is heavily armored!" She replied.

" Then the eyes, perhaps!" They looked at its head, and there were none.

They checked any holes, may it be ears or noses, anything that is soft or could penetrate its armor. Nothing. Only it's mouth is it's hole.

" This beast knows only to devour! Who made such monstrosity!?"

" Then perhaps a piercing spell! Anyone who knows lightning magic!"

No answer was given.

They were stuck on what they had, and to the rhino, they only had sticks and stones against a beast like them.

"Retreat!" one of the knights shouted.

" Who dares command my army!" The soft-spoken knight yelled furiously.

" Milady, there is a time for the traitor. We have pressing matters."

The rhinos continue to rampage, and the knights are helpless against them.

The joints are well shut; not even a fly could pass through its gaps.

It has no eyes, ears, nose, or any sort of hole except its mouth, and that place can chew rock and buildings.

Then what's its purpose? How can it move?

The first knight would head towards the knight who had a detection spell.

" Quickly use your detection magic!"

The panicked knight could only follow his orders and tumble a bit as she prepared her spell.

" Guard her!"
As soon as she began casting her spell, a sudden shift happened with the rhinos. It began targeting her.

"Milady, grab her! She will aid us!"
The soft-spoken knight quickly grabbed her before the rhinos could trample her. The rest were able to dodge the rampaging rhinos.

" Leader! Someone's controlling the rhinos!" She quickly pointed in the direction of the mountain, south of Appleoosa.

" Then we kill it. Guide me." She flew as fast as she could while carrying the detective knight, up the mountains.

The first knight would notice this and feel unease.

He wished to order some pegasi to join in, but it seems everyone is busy.

" I must not leave her."

__________

Slash!
A bipedal goat's head would be sliced up, and its essence would be eaten by the soft-spoken knight.

" Did I kill the right one?" She asked the detective knight.

As she checks with her magic, the bond this goat has with the rhino begins to disappear.

" I think we did it." The mares gave a high five for their victory.

And from a distance, someone claps along.

" Incredible! Marvelous! Such speed! Murderous intent!"

The mares became cautious about their unknown audience.

And there Gallus stands, his arms wide open, in a welcoming position.

"Ladies! I am Gallus, the warlord of the south, the pillager of cities and roses."

" A talker, I see?" The soft-spoken knight belittled the warlord.

" Feisty, I can deal with that."

Clang!
Her sword was supposed to strike Gallus, but instead a shield blocked her sword, deflecting it and putting her out of balance.

A whip would crack and strangle the soft-spoken knight.

" Your lord was not finished with his speech."

She began dragging the
Knight towards her, but the detective knight would cast a fireball on Silver Stream.

She was forced to let go of her prey and back away.

" Thanks."

" Well, I'll be dead if I let them have you."
She began casting more—a barrage of fire balls.

"Ohoho, this one is good too! She can make it rain fire!" Gallus goofed around, not taking this fight seriously.

He'd dodge, parry, and block the fire balls with his spear while the soft-spoken knight charged towards Silver Stream.

Her whips were hard to read and dodge, making it hard for the knight to close in on the dancer.

As the fight took its course, the knight's rage grew, their mane began to emit purple flames, and their hooves sparked with fire, their breath ablaze.

The mages fire starts to get intense and bigger, while the soft-spoken knight blinds them with her speed.

The husband and wife see that they're being pushed back by these two knights.

" It's time to get serious, honey."

Gallus threw his spear right through the fireball, hitting the mage at her shoulders and breaking her shoulder bones. While the dancer brought out two whips, catching the knight off guard, she ended up getting tangled and captured by Silver Stream.

The mage could not keep her senses and ends up fainting, unconscious on the ground.

Gallus took his spear off of her and carried her at his back.

" You will be saved, and you too little pony, I shall tame you."

A blade was swung at the warlord; his reaction was fast enough to barely dodging it, and blood dripped at his neck.

He was forced to drop the mage and quickly back off to his wife's side. A knife was flunged towards Gallus as a follow-up.
Gallus stood his ground to protect his wife, who was at his back.

That was all a ruse to free the soft-spoken knight.

The whip would be cut off by the first knight, who saved his lady.

" Did you miss me?"