Chapters Initiation
The wind whipped trough Taliels hair, with it a slight salty odor from the sea. "This is the last sunrise before my whole life changes." he said to himself as he leaned away from the guard rails on the balcony connected to his room. He looked at his rather spartan room, everything was bare save for the armor stand which held his his hunting armor and bow. He walked towards it knowing that he would be wearing this armor.
He picked up his glove its soft worn leather, he turned it to look at the metal token that started the wrist guard he looked and saw his clans emblem. along with his families coat of arms. a wolf howling towards a black moon. Taliel looked at the carvings underneath the wolf. Taliel rider and master of Ember the fourth pup. He remembered his companion he turned his head towards his bed. At the foot of the bed lay Ember, her snow white coat only broken by the black marking on her forehead, the markings shifting every couple seconds.
Taliel turned back to his armor as he prepared for the day he would become a full fledged member of his clan. As he put his glove on his hands he paused and looked at his forearm, the black tattoo that spanned the gap between his wrist and elbow was his mark, the mark that made him different from his entire family. "Son, it is almost time for the hunt." His father called out from behind the fabric that covered the door way. "Yes father we will be ready shortly." he called back as he pointed his hand to Ember. the tattoo on his arm started glowing. he nudged his hand up to the side causing a small gust of wind to ruffle Embers fur.
She jumped with a yelp, as she head darted around the room. he couldn't help but laugh a little. The wolfs eyes finally setting on him she stared stalking forward.
" Oh come on Ember, that was just some harmless air." Taliel smiled as his familiar took an annoyed nibble at his leg. He laughed once more as she looked up at him as if nothing happened. her tail wagging, Taliel reached into his pocket to produce a small piece of dried deer meat.
"Ah..Ah..Ah. First things first." He said raising a finger to his pet. She rolled her eyes as she trotted of to her kennel, and returned a minute later a black leather harness strapped to her chest. "Good girl." He tossed the treat. Rolling your eyes that's new. he thought as he put on the rest of his armor. As he finished adjusting his gloves he grabbed his bow he looked at it is smooth black wood, he smiled at the fact that this bow had been with him since he was but three years old.That was seventeen years ago the same year I got Ember. He looked to his companion she yawned at him.
"Brother, wouldn't want you to miss your own induction into the clan." Vidrain burst into his room. Taliel looked at his brother, it was almost like staring in a mirror save for the fact that his brothers eyes were a bright yellow, when compared to his intense violet. "Weren't you late to yours brother, because of that maid servant." he snickered. "Hey, just because Humans are starting to become a minority in our society doesn't make it a taboo or anything." his brother shrugged. "And besides You were the only one to find out."
"Me and the grand elder, you remember what he said right?" Taliel looked at his brother his face contorting to memory. "Humans and the Indri cant mix because cross breeding and blah blah blah..." Vidrian looked to his brother, almost as if the previous exchange had never happened. "Brother good luck, and remember aim for the heart." he glanced at Ember. "And Ember keep him safe okay." She looked at Vidrian and nodded. "Smart pup there, one day she'll make a fine mount.... when she gets big enough that is."
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"Taliel O'Carish of house black forest. you stand where your ancestors have stood centuries before, on the first step of your duty as a member of the great clans." the grand elder announced to the gathering crowd in the courtyard. Ember shifted on her paws she looked nervous. Taliel whistled quietly drawing the attention of the nervous wolf back to him. "Do you Taliel wish to be part of the clan? To know no enemy accept for the ruinous powers of the taint?" the elder turned to him.
"Yes." Taliel looked at the crowd his father smiled back, his mother shed a single tear of joy. "Taliel of house Black forest your task is simple you must hunt and kill a creature of the taint, or never return." The elder placed a quiver of arrows in his hands. " With these arrows I will strike down the great foe." Taliel swore a glimmer of determination in his eye.
"Then go Pathfinder and stem the tide." the crowd all shouted as he started off to the wilderness. The forest just outside the small hamlet surrounding him.
Ember looked around sniffing the air. "Let me guess you smell another wolf." Taliel said as he watched the pup sit down and start to array her ears. he knelt down drawing an arrow. "What is it." he glanced around. Only three hours into the forest and we found one, this doesn't make sense. he thought as Ember started to paw at the ground. a low growl coming from her.
"Damnit Ember, what are you doing." Taliel said as he finally noticed that all the birds were silent. his mark on his arm started to throb with a unfamiliar tingle. A strange almost guttural cry filled the air. "Shit, Ember come her girl." he snapped his fingers to the wolf, who started to dig more frantically.
All was silent Ember had paused looking to her master, Taliel had drawn his bow, the mark on his arm started to glow a faint blue. "Ember get in my pack." he whispered as he glanced around. A rustling in the bush snapped both their attentions at once. A massive paw appeared from the bush, the flesh that held it together was grey and rancid, a blue pus oozed out from a strange sphincter on its leg.
Ember looked at the foul thing as it stepped out. So its a razorback. Taliel thought seeing the dripping spikes all over its body. It snarled and looked around its eyes resting on Taliel. His bow now pointed at the creatures face, he drew what power he could to form a swirling orb of air behind the arrow.
Aim for the heart, but if you must kill the bloody thing put an arrow right in between its eyes. He remembered his father telling that to his brother before his first hunt.
There was a brief pause. Time seemed to have made an exception as they looked eyes beast and man locked in a struggle for survival. Ember looked in between the two the beast towering over the duo.
Taliel was the first to move as he released the arrow. it struck the beast in the eye, as it reared back in pain several of its spine shot towards him. sticking in his leg and arm he felt the fire of a thousand forges enter his veins. he pulled out the spine closest to his heart its sickly green toxin dripping out of the end. He glanced up to the creature who was recovering. he focused all the power he could into his now free hand, as he gripped the bow in his left. Ember sprang on the beast biting and clawing at its face, it staggered back on its hind legs.
One chance before this poison... Shit. his vision started to blur as he stood a swirling orb of air in his hand. Each step seeming to weigh him down. The beast grabbed Ember and tossed her to the ground, Taliel stepped in front of the creature. "Nobody tosses my wolf." He panted as he forced the orb into the creatures chest, blasting both of them back
A wave of blue light filled Taliels vision as the creature cried out in pain. He was blasted back. the last thing he saw was the creature being swallowed by the light, it expanded and started to pull him towards it. he yelled as the orb sucked him into its gaping maw.
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Celestia looked over the foyer, numerous palace workers milling about. All preparing for the grand galloping gala, she sighed remembering the this would be Twilight's first one, she only hoped it wouldn't end up being a disaster, and after what happened last year with the griffon ambassador. she shuddered at the thought.
"Sister does something bother thou?" Luna placing a hoof on her shoulder. Celestia perked up trying her best to put on her confident face.
"No Luna , it's just that..." she trailed off as she saw one of the waiter ponies trip over himself. " I...I hope that nothing worse could happen today." Luna looked at her sister a little perplexed.
"Does thou not celebrate this gala every year, tis nothing more then nerves." She nudged her sister reassuringly. She looked at her sister, she was right every year even before the Nightmare Moon incident they had hosted the gala. Come on Celestia you lead one of the greatest kingdoms in the history of ponykind you can host a disasterproof gala.
"Sister, we must inform thee that we wont be present for the festivities, some of this modern pony culture still befuddles us, and we still must commence with the studying." Luna backed away from her sister slightly.
Both of them knew that she needed to grasp all the social changes since her banishment, like the fact that dueling for entertainment was now frowned upon. Celestia still needed to write those guards an apology letter.All she could do was give her sister the don't worry about it smile.
"Then we are off, we must find out the purpose of theses vestments called socks, we shall see thou in the morn sister." Luna flew up the stairs excitedly. Celestia giggled at her sisters enthusiasm, turning to look out the window that overlooked the palace gardens, she sighed hopping that nothing could ruin her prized pupils first gala. Suddenly a blue flash lit the sky just outside the city, she glanced around wondering if anypony had seen it. Doesn't look like anypony saw it.
She looked back to where the flash had originated. Reaching out with her magic she tried to sense what was happening, she saw a small crater near the middle was what looked like a dog, and two strange creatures, as she focused on one she saw it had two legs and looked armed with some sort of projectile weapon.
The other some type of twisted lion if she could guess right though the spines on its body got her to wondering if that was what it really was. The spined creature started to move, pushing her mind even further she tried to communicate with it, he efforts were met by some form of nonsensical babbling and hisses,though malice and rage seemed to drip from is every thought.
She pulled out of its mind refocusing back on the crater the spined creature scampered off into the forest. She reached into the mind of the other strange creature, he was unconscious she knew this because his thoughts were eerily silent. Delving into its memories she saw the spined creature attack him and his smaller companion, and a strange blue orb swallowing them. 'Wake up.' she projected her thoughts to the creature who started to stir.
"Princess... Princess." Celestia was snapped out of her trance when one of her servants jabbed her in the side, She turned her head to the grey stallion he shrank back slightly. "Princess the guest are arriving." he whimpered.
Celestia looked to the door to see some of the noble and rich ponies start to enter the foyer. And so it begins. she thought as the first few ponies started to form a line to be greeted by the princess. she tossed on her best friendly face she could.
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'Wake up.'
Taliel felt his whole body ache as he cracked his eyes, he tried to process what happened, remembering the beast he perked up pulling a dagger from his boot. though something told him the foul creature was long gone.
'Good your awake now I must ask you something What are you?' Taliel looked around for the source of the voice, it sounded too calm. He saw nothing around him except for the smoldering crater he had awoken in and a small lump of white stained with blotches of grey and red.
"Ember!" he shouted as he threw his dagger to the ground, as he staggered to his pet wolf. He fell to his knees next to her, her breathing was shallow, Taliel reached out to stroke her side, she lifted her head weakly and tried to smile at her master. "It's alright girl, you'll be fine I promise." he glanced around trying to find a familiar landmark, but he paused when he saw the lights of the city.
'I asked you a question. What are you?' the voice asked again this time a little more sternly. "I am Taliel O'Carish of the house black forest.member of the Indiri people " he looked around. Where the hell is that voice coming from? he wondered as he started to look for his pack.
"Come on Ember I got to put you in my pack for a little bit okay." He picked up the wounded wolf and gently deposited her in his pack her head poking out of the open top. she whimpered slightly as she tried to make herself comfortable in his pack. The city should have someone who can help. he thought as he started to walk to the city.
As he started to the city the voice came back. 'Sneak through the city and go to the palace, you cant miss it it's the really large building overlooking the city.'
Taliel took stock of what he had." So seven deer nuggets... make that six." he said as he offered one to Ember. "My bow with.... fifty arrows, two daggers and my water bladder." He looked at the trees their thick branches able to hold his weight, he pulled out his dagger and dug into the bark as he started to climb.
I think I'll take the high road into the city. he thought as he started to jump and swing from branch to branch as he headed towards the city....
The Flight to the Palace.
"Come on, the flash came from over here." Bastion called out to his partner. Where were those pegisi when you need them. He and his small team had been trudging through the forest for twenty minutes and had yet to reach the source of the blue flash. "Theres movement in the trees." Whiterun shouted out.
Taliel looked at the creatures from above they reminded him of the beasts of burden he saw the humans use. Equines what are they doing out here without humans and what is with the colors? He wondered when one of them raised its leg and pointed at him. and called out to the others.
Taliel panicked drawing his bow, ready to silence the creature, he knew it could draw the attention of the razorback. He aimed for the heart preparing to kill the equine but he paused he saw this as an opportunity, instead of killing it injure it so that it will call upon the others for aid and he could slip away. he adjusted his aim slightly aiming instead for the creatures leg. Right in the joint it will be sufficiently injured enough to need the aid of the others. He released the arrow, it ripped through the air at a break neck speed and pierced the creatures leg. It cried up screaming in agony.
"Oh Celestia my knee, I'll never adventure again." The stallion cried out the arrow in his knee planted firmly in his leg. "Whiterun it's okay we'll get you fixed up in no time." Bastion ran to his fellow guardspony, inspecting the injury.
"You think you can walk buddy?"he looked at his partner. "Bastion if I don't make it tell my son that I used to an adventurer... Before I took this arrow to the... Knee." The white stallion started to sob uncontrollably.
Taliel looked at the now sobbing creature its companion seeming to engrossed in helping it up to notice him slip away. He looked back to Ember her breathing was now heavy, almost labored. "It's alright girl I'll get you fixed right up." He whispered to his pet. she managed a weak whimper in response.
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Celestia smiled and greeted the party goes for what seemed like ages, she looked out to the still growing line of ponies that saw it necessary to meet and greet her.
"Princess is everything okay?" Twilight asked. Celestia paused for a brief moment. trying to cook up a reason to seem distracted. "Yes, Twilight I'm fine, though I was wondering if you would be a dear and fetch me one of those tasty finger sandwiches from the buffet table, that would be lovely." she already that that would work, Twilight was to reliable for that to fail.
As she saw her faithful student head away she started to worry about what she had seen in the crater.What did he mean by Indiri? What was that creature and where did it go? she had to know she reopened the mental condit she made with the strange being named Taliel. What a strange name. she wanted to meet this being and find out if he was a friend or a threat to her subjects.
'Taliel can you hear me?' she knew her spell would be weaker because she had to still greet the ponies who had lined up in front of her. 'You there what ever you are tell me why are there so many equines about?' his voice was ringed with confusion.
'I can explain that later, there will be a lot of explanation on both our parts but before that I need you to get to me.' he told him. 'Where then I just got into the city and there is what looks like some celebration but a lot roaming equines....'
She lost focus for a moment when she heard Twilight return she levitated a small finger sandwich towards her, she acknowledged the gesture and grabbed it with her magic bringing it to her mouth to take a small bite out of it. Why cant this gala end a little early. she pleaded in her mind.
'Head to the palace its the large building with all the lights and decorum and the ...Equines.' she told the visitor.
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Taliel looked over the grounds of the palace he couldn't believe how irresponsible the humans were letting their horses simply wander around like nothing was wrong, and that strange one who seemed to call him out in the forest. he sighed he knew time wasn't on his side Ember wasn't getting any better and he wondered if she would make it past the next day, "Damn razorback filth." he spat out angrily as he tried to find a way into the palace without alerting these strange equines.
He looked around the gardens were always an option, though he saw what he guessed was a equine with wings trying to trap something, he couldn't help but laugh a little at the crude traps it made and accidently backfired on it. he looked down there was only one other equine that seemed to be raking leaves. this was his chance. he jumped down near the the edge of the garden, as he slipped behind a near by bush he watched as the the equine near the traps got more and more upset and started charging furiously around scattering a large number of small animals out of their hiding places.
Ember wiggled a little either out of fear or discomfort at what he was the equine laughing hysterically. she corralled the creatures to a large door this was his chance as the equine headed towards the door he dashed to the an ornate pillar adjacent to the building , as he rapidly scaled it he heard a sudden commotion.
Glancing back he saw several equines running out in terror. "Halt, identify thy self." Taliel paused. How could somebody have seen me? The only thing I've seen here are theses equines. he turned around to see a dark blue equine staring him down intently its wings splayed out in a threatening manner.
He jumped back drawing his bow and notching a single arrow. but before he could line up his mark his bow was ripped from his hand by some strange glow. That very similar glow wrapped around his left arm and lifted him up into the air. He drew upon his own powers as he saw the strange equine approach its mane flowing in some unknown wind.
He looked at the creature its horn glowing with the same shimmer that held him in the air. He pointed his fingers at the creatures horn as he released a torrent of wind knocking the equine back just slightly. it released its grip on his arm, landing he pulled his dagger from out of his boot readying it for combat.
He glanced back to the equine its eyes looked half focused on him, he glanced around trying to find an adequate escape route. "Taliel?" he paused Did that just... talk?! he stared at the talking equine before him. "Did you ... just.. Talk?" he gasped a little shocked.
"Yes, indeed we did speak." the equine nodded. "My name is Princess Luna co-ruler of Equestria." he paused, trying to remember the protocol for meeting royalty. "Uhh... I'm Taliel, pathfinder of house Black forest. along with my companion Ember." he placed his right hand to his chest to show his families seal. " Greetings to you then. Come our sister wished for thou to meet in her chambers."
"Halt, prithee me one request?" Taliel placed his pack to his feet and opened the top, Ember flinched in the sudden rush of cold air but could only manage a whimper. "My companion was injured and I fear she wont make it past the sunrise." He turned to Luna hoping she could do something. "We uhh... Are not certain we can help... But we most defiantly will try." She sounded nervous as she lit up her horn and surrounded the wounded pup with her magic. "We only know but the most basic healing spells." She sent several sparks towards Ember, who began to whimper in discomfort.
"Its okay girl ... here , its okay your going to be fine." Taliel stroked her as he feed her a dried deer nugget. He wasn't sure if he was soothing Ember or himself. "Is this thy companion pathfinder?" Taliel nodded to the princess, a lone tear rolling down his cheek.
"Please there is no need for lamentations. Your familiar has only superficial injures nothing that cant be fixed for the most part." Luna placed her hoof one his shoulder. "I will need to see a animal doctor for her injuries are not what I worry about." he stood up Ember curled up in his arms, she glanced around weakly, her eyes resting on the princess.
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"Taliel, so what your telling me is and let me get this straight. That creature , that got away can corrupt anything that gets near it." Celestia paced pass him, Taliel could tell she was worried, as they all should be. "Yes, but it will only corrupt those touched by magic at first then everything or pony else." He struggled with the last part. He had learned that both Luna and her were the controllers of both day and night, as well as the rulers of a nation populated mostly by ponies.
"Sister thou didst inform him that all creatures here are magical correct?" Taliel paused and stared at Luna in horror. "All of them?... Then, By the Rider we have little time to waste." He sprang from the couch and started for his bow. "What do you mean, you said it will take time to spread." the sun goddess looked at him. "Yes I did but this scourge beast can infect numerous beings at once, and it can track the magic inside of untainted ones. This city is nothing more then a flame to moths."
Both princesses looked to each other hen back to him. "What can we do then Taliel, to defend ourselves?" He stood up and walked to the window. "The same thing my people are doing.... We fight. Every.. pony, must defend your homes and loved ones." He looked out hopelessly over the city.What am I saying they are not warriors, they are but artisans and simple..folk. He lifted his head glaring to the forest. "You said it ran away from the city?" Taliel turned to face Celestia.
"Yes from what i could tell it looked injured and fled." She nodded. "Then we need to prepare this city immediately. For all we know there are now dozens of those things running amok out there." He glanced down to Ember who was resting on a pillow sleeping. "And I need to get her to a doctor." he pointed to Ember as he reached into his pocket to produce one of the spines the razorback had hit him with. its smooth black chitinous shell the small venom sack at the end, he marveled at how light it was.
"We must prepare, but we cant cause a panic, assemble your best warriors. Swear them to secrecy and.... Be ready to see some of them fall." Taliel looked to the princesses. "I'm going to be blunt, I can make no promises that will be enough."
"Taliel has thou studied the surrounding countryside like our sister requested?" Taliel focused on ignoring Luna voice, as he tried to draw more and more power to the small orb of air he had formed underneath himself.
She had been doing these check ins for the last three days while Ember was at they called "The vet.". Sighing Taliel started to dispel the swirling orb of air underneath him, he knew he would be a little drained after using his power for so long. Joric his old tutor, would constantly remind him of that fact."Remember, your power is like a muscle, it gets tired , and with use it will tire you."
The door to the apartment the princesses had so generously given him opened. Luna stood in the gap, her eyes locked onto him. "Hello, Luna how do you fair this afternoon?" she looked at Taliel with a hint of confusion. "Doth thou jest? It is almost sunrise."
"So it is." he said as he looked out the window the moon slowly setting in the northwest. "Go in peace. Sweet Lady of the Night." he whispered to himself as his gaze was still locked on the moon.
"Lady of the Night?" Luna looked with befuddlement at her guest. Taliel smiled, as he stood up his brown shirt damp with sweat. "Hath though been exercising?" she asked. as he stretched his back a much need pops coming from his spine.
"The Lady of the Night is Atri, goddess of the home and defense." he stated as he made his way to a basket and removed his shirt. " She watches over my people every day without falter, and if one of us is to see her leave, we must bid her farewell until she returns again." He looked longingly at the moon.
"Taliel there is no need to despair, thou has been protected, thy foal creature that accompanied you could hath slain thee." she smiled. Taliel moved across the room to a drawer and produced another brown shirt, this one with three holes in it.
"Princess surly you didn't come here for simple small talk, yes?" He smiled as he walked to the couch to lean over the map spread on the small coffee table before him.
"Actually, I did Indeed come for this talk of small, if thou wouldst indulge me?" she shrank slightly. Is she afraid on me or something? Taliel raised his head. "Indeed I wouldst Indulge, fair princess." Taliel almost forgot how lonely it was for the noble children he met when he was younger, no real friends, no sense of childlike innocence. part of him was happy that his father left the nobility to join his mothers lesser house.
"What would wish to speak to me about?" he said offering a seat. The princess hesitated for a second, Maybe she isn't used to this much kindness, or at least hasn't seen it in sometime. He stood from the couch. "Please princess if you would." he bowed gesturing his hand to the nearby cushion. "I, will prepare some tea."
"Thank you, thought the tea will not be required." She stated almost with a stern commanding tone. "As you wish mi lady." Taliel waited for Luna to sit on the couch before sitting down again next to her. he waited for her to make the first move, or at least that's what his father had taught him to do, the few silent seconds turned to minutes.
"Taliel, tell us. Why do you have the company of Ember?" She asked as she levitated his right hand glove his families seal now in perfect view. A crescent moon with the silhouette of Graybane the Elder wolf, his red eyes burning against the blackness. several intricate runes were carved into the gap underneath Graybanes chin.
"My family are what for lack of a better term are wolf riders, Ember is but one of a special breed of wolves that grows to be the size of three equines, or about the size of you and your sister combined." he reached for the glove but was stopped by the all to familiar numbness his mark forced on his body.
"Wolf Riders. doth thou mount them to ride into battle?" Luna turned her head her starry mane washing over the back of the couch. Taliel simply nodded.
"Luna, If I may ask something. I've seen who you shrink away from the servants in the palace, Why is that?" His question was met with silence. " I see wel-"
"It's because... They fear us or at least a part of us." She placed the glove back down. "The Nightmare we were. The pain and suffering we caused." a single tear slid down her cheek.
"Princess, for what it means it is in the past, we cant live in the past and hope to redeem ourselves through self imposed misery and regret." Taliel said sagely, remembering his tutor Joric once more. "We cant live in the past because we wont be ready for the challenges of the future."
" Thou attempt to impart wisdom that is already known to us. But it still wont change the fact that they fear us." Luna stood from the couch, now visibly upset. "Then you give them a reason love you." Taliel placed his hand on the princesses wing. "Make then love you for who you are trying to become, not what you were. Sins of the past can only be cleansed with repentance Luna. Its up to you to take that first step."
And with that Luna trotted away, back into the palace a wave of sadness following her. "Joric, I sometimes wonder if you taught me this for me or others." he whispered looking back to his bow.
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The hay bale took another arrow this one slicing through to the wooden wall behind it. Focus don't let your emotions dictate your shot. "Damn, damn, damn." Taliel let three more arrows zip to the target each missing their mark.
"You seem upset." Taliel paused he didnt recognize the voice that came from behind him. he spun around a single arrow draw ready to strike.
"Whoa whoa whoa... Easy there, the names Hearths Fyre. Princess Celestia sent me to make sure you were comfortable." The mare raised her hooves to defend her face, her electric blue mane was a stark contrast to her soft red coat. "Tell her I'm fine, but was curious as to what is wrong with her sister." Taliel relaxed placing the arrow back into his quiver.
"Will do sir." She started to shrink away."Just let me know if..if you need anything." The mare called out from the hallway.
Taliel sighed, it was already late afternoon and something was bothering him.
"You hear it don't you the whispers, they fear you hate you, why not leave them to face the taint on their own." The voice was raspy almost as if the words were being hissed into his ear. "No I swore an oath no matter where I stand so long as the taint exists I will fight." "Then you will die along with these morsels, you cant stop the us we are everywhere everything, we are you." The voice continued to hiss. "No, You may be the reason I'm marked, but so long as I draw breath I will stand against you. So what if these equines fear me, I will stop you even if I make an enemy of them. "
"So be it. you seek death, and death will come for you." the voice growled. "Tell him I'll be waiting."
"Taliel, who is thou speaking to?" Luna emerged from the hallway. "The Taint its spreading faster then I thought." Taliel walked to the the moon goddess. "Fyre, I need you." he shouted down the hallway. Several seconds passed before the mare galloped back frantically.
"Yes what do you need." she panted almost as if she had run from the other side of the palace grounds. "Tell Celestia, that me and Luna are going out for a walk." He turned his head to Luna already knowing what she would say. "We need to talk about something."
"B.. But I have to raise the moon and... and uhhh." She stammered nervously. Taliel raised his hand " Oh and please see if you can get one hundred arrows like this one." He reached into his quiver and pulled out a sturdy arrow with a serrated bi-dent point. both ponies looked in awe for a second at the arrow. "That will be all, thank you." he placed the arrow in front of the servant pony and started to walk towards the palace gardens. "Luna, are you coming?"
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"Luna this city, I don't know if you have ever bothered looking at it, it's beautiful." Taliel shifted slightly on the stone shingles of the central tower. He looked to the dark blue mare a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"The last time we saw this city, twas thrown into chaos and calamity in our wake." Luna looked down to a small plot near the city center none of the lights and torches burned there. "Twas our doing, we caused thy innocent ponies suffering."
"Luna, what happened?" Taliel scooted closer to the sulking princess. "We happened, thou ask as if thy is equal to mine sister, why?" She glared angrily to him. Taliel smiled. "Because, I see no reason to fear you." Taliel looked at the plot of darkness near the town center. Something moved on the nearby rooftops before falling into into the darkness ."Oh,no."
"Twhat is it?" Taliel reached for the dagger in his boot. "Luna, I need you to fly me over there, now." Taliel looked frantically at the princess.
"What madness hath come over thou Taliel?" Taliel looked at the princess his gaze less frenzied and now more stern. "Luna. Now." Taliel was gripped in a silvery blue aura as Luna lifted off the roof with a mighty gust of wind. Pulling him with her.
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"Right there, right there." Taliel shouted as Luna released him from her grip, "Go back to the palace, be as many guard as you can and have them set up a perimeter." he stood up surveying his surroundings, there were tomb stones everywhere. "Taliel, thine enemy wouldn't attack hollowed grounds wouldst they?" Luna asked as she landed gently next to him. "No they would use grounds like these to...."
The both paused, the sickly scent of decaying flesh filled the air. "Raise an army." Taliel said as a ghastly screech filled the air. Just then several hooves burst from the ground swarms of small black and blue beetles crawled from the loose flesh. "Luna go I can hold them off until you get help. "What, are these foul monstrosities." Taliel looked as one of the corpses dragged itself out of the ground its body covered in glowing blue pustules, as well as razor sharp spines sprouting out of its back. "This is the Taint, Princess. Spread by a carrier no less."
One of the stumbling ponies lunged at Taliel, he side stepped and dug his dagger into the creatures head, before twisting and violently yanking it out. "Luna, Things here are about to get real messy. Go. Get some guard, we cant let this spread to the rest of Canterlot." He yelled as he punched into anothers rib-cage with his dagger. Luna spread her winds ant lifted of the ground.
"Hey maggot bait over here." someone shouted several of the creatures were blasted apart by a burst of yellow light. "Whiterun on your left." Taliel paused .Survivors. Taliel charged towards the clearing.
In the heart of the clearing stood a lone mausoleum surrounded by the dead. Two ponies were valiantly defending the entrance where the cries of a child echoed. Taliel looked in horror as more and more dead kept coming, slowly but steadily pushing the two into the mausoleum. Taliel reversed his grip of the dagger. as he brought as much power he could into a swirling blade of wind in front of him. the dead all paused and turned their heads to him.
"I'am Taliel O'Carish of house Black forest. Die Tainted scum." He hissed as he slashed with his newly created wind sword. A blast of wind tossed all of the dead in a clear line from where he stood to the mausoleums entrance. He dashed for the entrance, the only thing standing between him and the survivors was the slowly recovering mass of the dead. He drew another burst of power this one blasted downward launching him into the air.
He landed with a thud on the mausoleums roof. before rolling down and falling at the entrance.He picked his head up to see two ponies cowering inside the structure from what he could tell a mother and child. As Taliel tried to regain his footing , he was struck viciously in the side by one of the two defenders, his blue eyes burning Taliel, in hate and determination.
"Please, I came to help." Taliel hoped that was all he need to say, as he glanced back to the other stallion boldly blasting the creatures back. "What are you?" the stallion raised his hoof to Taliels throat , some contraption that held a blade mere seconds from ending his life.
"Whiterun. could use a little help here." the other shouted. The stallion glanced between Taliel and his companion before charging back out to the fray. Taliel picked himself up he grabbed his dagger once more.
Taliel started towards the entrance, he never noticed the sound of buzzing. Each step he crunched several small beetles. a few fluttered through the air. He got to the door the two guards still holding the horde at bay.
"Get back both of you, now." Taliel felt something he has never felt before, his body tingled the ground around him surged with energy. Taliel smiled "Lets see what you got." his breath condensed before him. The two stallions ran past him as the air suddenly cooled.
"You are but one, we are many, you cannot hope to destroy us." came the voice in an angry hiss. Taliel looked to the moon.
"NO HE IS NOT ALONE. " A blinding light crashed in the middle of the teeming mass of the dead, Luna stood in the middle of the blast. "Lady, thank you for protecting the innocent from this filth." he glanced back at the four ponies the stallions stared in shock at Luna.
A swarm of insects filled the clearing. "Luna, be careful, there's a carrier somewh-." Taliel was knocked to his back. He looked at the creatures face. Where its eyes should have been sat two spines each dripping with a sickly blue pus. The creature opened its mouth a small swarm of beetles crawled out. Its hot breath bringing with it the stench of decay and blood. Taliel struggled to free his hand, as the creature reared up to bit into his throat. he managed to free his right hand, as the creature seemed to momentarily vomit more insects into the air. One chance here I go He winced as a chill ran through his arm, only to build up in his palm.
Taliel placed his hand on the the creatures chest, he felt the swarming hive move underneath the creatures skin. "Die." Taliel forced the energy he felt in his body to manifest a massive spike of ice jutted out off the beasts spine. The swarm in the air froze as the lost coherency with their host.
The beast was coated in a layer of ice. "May the taint be cleansed from your soul, child of Culi." Taliel closed his eyes in a moment of silence , Before digging his dagger into the beasts head.
"Taliel, art thou okay?" Taliel felt her silver blue aura wrap around him. Luna Lifted him to his feet, her coat was slicked in the blue pus of the horde.
"Princess Luna. Thank you." He looked to the mausoleum where a foal burst out and galloped towards Luna before hugging her leg.
Even in so much violence and fear, love finds a way. Taliel smiled at the scene. He especially liked the surprised look on Lunas face. "Told you Luna, give them a reason to love you and they will. And I guess ending a zombie apocalypse before it started was a bonus." He turned around to the other three ponies near the mausoleum "Come on, if there were any more we would have already taken care of them."
"Princess Luna." the three ponies bowed. Both Taliel and Luna shared a glance. "Please, brave ser arise."
"Corporal Bastion Stonewall, and Corporal Whiterun Snowtrot." Both of the stallions saluted. before saying. "Reporting for duty, ma'am." Taliel walked over to the frozen beast. Before digging out his dagger. He looked at the creature, ignoring the ponies and their conversation. He looked at its sharp teeth is claws. A predator, hit in the eyes so sight may have been primary for it or...
"Luna, what is this creature?" Taliel called out, as he firmly ripped his dagger out of its head. "Tis difficult to tell but we think this creature a... Manticore." The ponies exchanged nervous glances. "A Manticore made it into the city?" Whiterun trotted up to the frozen carcass .
"Yes, but not a regular one. this one bore the Taint." Taliel gathered his magic in his hand to destroy the tainted creatures body. "Wait, what taint. Princess, whats going on." the gray unicorn spoke up.
"If you give me the time. I'll explain everything." Taliel said as he sent a tempest of slicing air into the carcass. Before it fell to the ground in small bits.
"Luna, thanks I owe you one." Taliel smiled as he started to dash for the palace. "No Taliel, tis I who owes you one." She smiled watching him scale the nearby buildings.
"Taliel, wake up." He opened his eyes to utter blackness, he knew that he was still asleep, but something was different he could fell it. "That voice, I've heard it before." he looked around the sudden scent of sage and honey filling his nose, This smell. no it cant be shes dead. Taliel turned his head to see the one person who he had lost.
"Don't tell me you forgot your grandmother." she said jokingly. Taliel took a step towards his grandmother. "But you died, trying to save me... This is impossible." he looked numbly at his arm it was shorter his grandmother now starting to tower over him.
" You forgot one thing pup." She gently brushed her hand across his cheek. the mark on her left arm shining with near unlimited power."I will always be alive. right here." She placed her hand on his chest.
The void rushed away from the pair, the warm rush of air carried with it the harsh stench of burning wood and flesh. Taliel looked around, numerous villagers ran to and fro trying to put out the blaze in the hamlet.
"Whats happening, Grandma." Taliel looked as people were either engulfed in flames or knocked down by the collapsing buildings. "You don't remember this night? the night everything changed for you." Taliel heart froze in his chest. No, no, no.
"No, Grandmother I cant see you do it, not again." He grabbed her dress, she proceeded to stare coldly at the death and destruction around her. "No, I had to if it wasn't me it would have been you. You were a smart child you knew that it was our blood that could turn this tide of destruction back."
"I cant lose you again. Please." He pleaded. She looked down to him and patted him on the head. "Sometimes the only way to save the ones you care about is to hurt them." he froze as she pulled a dagger out of her sleeve, and brought it to her left arm just below her wrist.
"Sometimes, that pain is the only thing that brings those you love together. Tell me pup do you remember what I told you about people?"
Taliel looked sullenly at the ground. "That sometimes it takes a madman to do the right thing, not because they have the power, but because they aren't afraid to put it all on the line to help those they care about."
He looked up, as he watched in horror as she slit her wrist, and raised it to the sky.Her blood slowly dripping to the ground.
"Remember what I told you." Her face contorted with pain as her mark burned a bright crimson. " Your power is your gift and you should us it to help everyone you can."
Taliel looked as his grandmother created a series of intricate runes and wards around herself. Then she smiled, as a blinding white light engulfed her. The air rippled with power as a loud crack shattered the cobblestone near Taliel. The mark on his arm burned setting his blood afire with pain.....
"Taliel, are you okay. I heard yelling and I..." Taliel tried to focus his vision was blurred and his arm throbbed in waves of dull pain. "Taliel your bleeding." he glanced up to see a blur of blue and red. A coppery stench filled his nostrils, as he attempted to sit up.
"Here take this, oh I knew I should have got the princess." Hearths Fyre gently placed a rag on his nose. "Come on Fyre join the royal staff, it will be simple just a little cleaning ..." She mumbled as she trotted to the window. Opening it the sound of cheers and celebration echoed in the distance.
"Fyre. Whats going on?" Taliel asked weakly as he sat up.
****************************************************
"Today is a day for celebration, for I Princess Celestia of Equestria." Did I just rhyme that time? Celestia paused knowing that her announcement would be met with both cheers and complaints. "Have, negotiated with Lord Regal of Sumareia to build an embassy here in Canterlot." the ponies gathered before her cheered, though she wasn't sure why, seeing as the already strong relationship with the Sumareians could not improve anymore then it already had.
"Thusly our little ponies , we shall host a glorious celebration in the name of peace and harmony!" Luna blurted out. Only to be meet with the blast of confetti cannons and fireworks as the milling crowd of ponies cheered.
"Sister, one of your researchers uncovered something important, we will oversee the festivities in thy absence." She whispered into her sisters ear.
With a curt nod and a simultaneous blast from the confetti cannon She blinked away to her chambers. She paused when she saw Taliel leaning raggedly at her door, the two guardsponies seeming to have abandoned their post.
She entered her room to see Taliel leaning in the doorway, his eyes sunken and his very breathing was racked with effort.
"Taliel whats going on? Are you hurt?" she watched as her guest shambled forward a near by cushion.
"I'm fine, this happens to me every so often. Manciric backwash, of all things." he let out a weak laugh.
"Manciric backwash?" Celestia levitated a small glass of water from her desk to Taliel, who ravenously drank from it.
"The mark is a blessing and a curse in many ways, it gives you power to protect those you love, but in order to unleash the full might of your power it need something more.... A sacrifice." Taliel sat himself down on Celestias bed. "Each one of the scattered communities has at the most two bearers of the mark, two sacrificial lambs to sate the hunger of the taint, they say that when you suffer from one that your time is coming to an end." He looked up to the princesses.
"So your going to die. No not if I can help it yo-"
"I don't have the power to stop the taint that has infected this world, but I do regardless of what you say have a duty to destroy this, I brought it here and I will be the one to destroy it." he snapped.
"But we know we can stop them. Taliel you don't have to do this on your own, there has to be another way then what your proposing." She watched as Taliel stood up and shambled to the window.
"Sadly Princess, I fear they may already be preparing to take the city." He smiled at the group of celebrating ponies in the courtyard. "They aren't prepared for the destruction the taint will bring. The pain the agony the suffering they will feel seeing everything they love being swept away."
"Your wrong Taliel. Believe it or not we have been pushed to the brink before, but there was one thing that got us all through it. Hope. Hope that we would overcome our hardships, hope that we would grow from this dark period in our lives. Hope that we would one day be truly happy." Taliel flinched at her statement.
"Hope.... Princess, you must understand there is no hope for us. From the day you were born to the day we die its all been about survival, for us life was a hardship a weight we must carry." Taliel turned to Celestia slowly walking towards her.
"And this mark, affords me and no one from my world happiness, its because of people like me this taint exists in the first place." he stared the into her eyes angrily. "Your world is to... to full of hope to survive the onslaught." he fumed before shambling out the princesses chambers.
The princess sighed heavily, before glancing over to her desk. A single scroll was resting in her inbox. She trotted over to it and grasped it with her magic preparing to separate the wax emblem that was pressed on it. She paused momentarily to see that indeed the seal of the Magistrate of Magical Research.
Undoing the seal she looked over the letter that was written by the chief repository officer.
Dear Princess Celestia,
The research team form the Magistrate have made an world shattering discovery. At the site we have located several fragments of a unknown metal that seem to hum with magical energies. Sadly however the magical energy we are detecting from the fragments is similar to Dr. Pulse's xeno wave magic like that of the blue sand in Sumareia , however this magical wavelength is radiating outward at a surprising rate literally filling the air and surrounding area with a sort of anti magical bubble. Several of the unicorns on staff have reported headaches and nausea while moving and testing equipment. But that is not what prompted this letter, enclosed are two other scrolls in a undecipherable text, one having what looks like a stamp made from some sort of mana crystal.
Magistrate repository chief Book Smarts.
P.S We have also received strange reports of twisted creatures around the camp.
**************************************************************
"Taliel, you have visitors, something about saying thank you."
Taliel looked up to the door. There standing next to Hearths Fyre were two stallions a mare and a foal. He waved them in each one of the ponies trotted in looking around in sheer awe at how bare the room was.
"What can I do you for today?" Taliel smiled at the group of ponies before him, his mind still racing with his argument with Celestia.
"We just wanted to say thank you for your help the other night." the grey stallion started." Without you and the princess I'm fairly certain we wouldn't be able to see our families ever again." the entire group save for the foal nodded in solemn agreement
"Thank you mister for saving me and my mommy from those monsters." the foal spring forward and hugged him.
"Now, now Neptune, calm down." The mare placed a hoof gently on her child. "We still haven't given him our thank you present." she smiled as she used her magic to pick up a crudely wrapped package, and place it in Taliels hand.
He glanced down at the package its thick brown paper seem to be hastily crumbled around something small and surprisingly light.
"Open it mister." Neptune bounced up and down excitedly, as the two guards smiled and shared a hearty laugh.
Taliel opened the the small package its crumpled brown paper revealing a smooth polished wooden trinket, he looked up at the group then back down. Then it dawned on him it was supposed to be a pony, he smiled to the the mother and daughter.
"Thank you very much all of you." He smiled, as he reached into his tunic to pull out his necklace. He smiled at the small black orb the dangled from it, he saw his reflection in it, his purple eyes staring back, his grandmothers eyes. He undid the leather cord and delicately tying the carving next to his grandmothers last gift to him, the day before her death.
"I'll keep this gift close, always."
He could hear his grandmother humming in the background, the hauntingly sweet melody of Atris Blessing.'Let the homes of those who show love to thee become your home.'
"Book of the Lunar Harvest twenty nine, nine." he whispered to himself. " Home...."
"I'm sorry what was that?" Taliel paused and looked at the white stallion a clearly perplexed look on his face.
"It was something my grandmother... used to quote." He nodded towards Whiterun.
"Well, what are we waiting for. Cider anypony?" His partner smiled and placed two jugs of Apple family cider on a nearby table.
The door creaked open drawing the attention of everyone in the room. As it swung open Celestia regally trotted inside and placed a set of scrolls next to him.
"Taliel, I believe you have a message." She glanced to the group of ponies in the room.
"These are the ponies me and Luna saved in the cemetery the other night." Taliel stated as he unfurled the scroll and began to read it.
"So what does it say?" The filly asked exitedly.
As Taliel read on his expression soured, he hastily grabbed the other scroll and held it to the light.
"By the gods, a Deygoth has appeared." Taliel looked around to the group of confused ponies, before resting his eyes on Celestia. "Princess, where is Ember?"
"Princess we need to move, get everyone off the streets lock down this city now." Taliel stormed through the palace. Each step was wrought with purpose and worry. He turned the corner before pausing at the armory doors.
"Taliel, why are you so upset?" Celestia asked as she watched him kick open the doors.
"That, creature that came with me....Stupid, I should have seen it earlier." He angrily grabbed a rack of spears and threw it to the ground. He fumed momentarily as he started to sift through the armory.
"Taliel, what about it what should you have seen?" Celestia looked down the hall were several guards were rushing to investigate the commotion.
"That, thing was a prime strain... once it taints enough life it evolves into a creature capable of destroying armies.... A Deygoth."
'Its to late morsel,we have already begun our march on the city you and every living being shall join us.'
"Get out of my head!" Taliel shouted. as he looked back to the princess, he felt weak his arm throbbed and he could taste a sickeningly familiar coppery taste in his mouth. "Princess, get everyone out of the city, now."
"Princess, we heard yelling and..." Taliel looked up to see three stallions in front of Celestia their spears leveled and ready to strike. "Halt right there you foul creature." The leader bellowed.
Taliel smiled darkly as he notched and arrow in his bow. "You, fools you would fight me when everything you love... is about to be destroyed." He looked at the guards.Then into Celestias eyes, he didn't see the fear of a god but something else.
"Stand down Claymore." She said calmly.
"But princess he is armed." Claymore glanced back at his ruler, Celestia nodded to him.
"Its okay, he's been here for a couple of weeks now."
"Lower your weapons, everypony." Claymore glanced to Taliel as he relaxed and placed the arrow back into its quiver.
"Claymore. Get this entire city ready for an attack." Taliel said sternly as he opened a chest and began to rummage through it.
"An attack, from what?" Claymore looked to Taliel.
As Taliel prepared to explain what they were about to face the castle was rocked by a loud explosion. Dust started to crumble from the roof.
"Princess have your guards get every last pony out of this city now, A Deygoth is here and that means this city will be lost." Taliel glanced over to the door as the two guards that were in his room pushed past there fellows.
"Corporal Bastion Stonewall at your service sir." The grey stallion and his partner saluted Taliel.
"You helped us in a jam, and its time to return the favor." Whiterun smiled as he hefted several spears.
"Theres one last thing we are forgetting if we are going to have a chance." Taliel looked to a nearby window and blasted his wind at it until it buckled and shattered. "Good, she should be able to hear this." he produced a small whistle made out of whales tooth and blew into it.
********************************************************************
In the Equestrian zoo, veterinary clinic Embers ears perked as the sound of her masters call penetrated the thick cement walls. Glaceing quickly she saw none of the smaller equines that had imprisoned her for the last three weeks.
She stood to her paws, she still wasn't all to used to her new size or the now smaller equines poking and prodding her with there "vaccinations" she turned her head to the metal bars that separated her from freedom. She was strong enough to break them, and she knew it.
She threw her new found weight against the bars. Again and again each time creaking slightly. With one final effort she threw herself into the bars again, to be rewarded with the loud clanging of the bars in her wake.
The cacophony of her escape prompted the other creatures to cry out and roar in response. Ember raised her head and howled out, silencing the din. She charged through the wooden doors to freedom and her master....
*********************************************************************
"Die, damn you." Taliel hissed as he shoot another arrow into the lumbering beasts head."Go, I'll hold him off." Taliel called out to the princess and her guards. It wheezed a sick blue fog as it trudged forward. Taliel glanced down to his feet where Whiteruns spear sat.
"Hey ugly." Taliel smiled as he kicked the spear up and caught it in his right hand. With all his might he hurled the spear into the beasts chest. The creature stumbled back slightly before placing its paws on the spear and snapping it in half.
'You are but one pathetic warrior against an army. What could you hope to accomplish by saving these creatures.'
Taliel heard a unmistakable growl come from behind the creature. The lumbering abomination stopped its slow march to him and turned around. On its back sat the many twisted and mutated creatures it had absorbed to form itself. Taliel stole a quick glance back, only to be met by the the princesses stern gaze.
"Hey, I'm not the one hopping here, but that doesn't mean I don't have a duty to fulfill." Taliel said to the voice.
"Ember...." He snapped his attention back to the beast, as it slowly marched away from him. "Get him girl." he smiled darkly. As he watched the massive white canine barrel into the creature, and promptly tear open the creatures chest cavity. She ravenously torn into the creature, or what was left of it as a thick cloud of blue fog bled from the wound.
Taliel waited for the sounds of struggling to stop. As the fog cleared he saw Ember towering over the quivering mass of twisted flesh.
"So... That escalated quickly." Bastion said as he trotted over to Taliel. "And this I presume is your.. pet?" he looked at the massive wolf the thick blue pus of the creatures tainted wounds dripping from her paws. Taliel simply nodded.
"Is it dead." Whiterun poked his head out from behind his partner. "I mean, your welcome for the spear. Without it I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have gone down." He puffed out his chest and stood triumphantly.
"Sister, we heard an explosion. Is thou ...." Taliel glanced behind Ember to see Luna staring in sheer horror.
"Luna. I'm fine, we were on our way to get you when this thing showed up." Celestia stated calmly to her sister as she started to delicately step around Ember.
"I hate to interrupt here but Princess we need to organize some sort of counter attack now." Claymore stated as another explosion rocked the palace.
'It is to late fool we have arrived, this city burns tonight.'
Taliel paused in horror as a loud cry filed the air. "By the gods. They truly do have a Deygoth." Taliel looked at the ponies around him. "It is to late, all we can do now is run and live." he stated numbly as he walked over to Ember.
"Taliel, tis this the warrior we saw save, those ponies not a month ago?" Taliel paused. "Tis this the warrior who charged headlong at me whilst in combat?" he turned his head only to be met with Lunas face mere inches from his own. "Thou hath given up so easily, twat about your duty, to vanquish these foul creatures. what abo-"
Luna paused as she saw Taliel pull out his necklace, and pinched the only trinket he had from his grandmother. "Luna. There was one braver them me, I'm sorry but I don't have the strength she did." He looked out to the window as parts of the nearby forest started to ignite with a deep blue fire.
"Sometimes it takes a madman to do the right thing, not because they have the power, but because they aren't afraid to put it all on the line to help those they care about." Taliel felt a gentle hand brush past his shoulder."This isn't there fight pup, we cant let it become theirs you and I both know we cant." Taliel looked at the black orb he felt the sadness the seeing his grandmother die, the loneliness, the emptiness he felt in the years since her sacrifice."Come pup,we were the only ones who could stop this." Taliel glanced at Ember she stared at him her eyes filled with sadness, then a flash of something else. "Even If this world forgets what you did for them, know that you did this so that they wouldn't see thier homes shattered and destroyed." Taliel stared deeper in Embers eyes then it flashed again.....
"Hope."
Taliel turned to the ponies gathered around him.
"Celestia, Luna. Get as many ponies as you can off the street. You three tell the other guards how to take them down." Taliel turned to Ember and hopped on her back. "This ends tonight with either the destruction of this city.... or...."
Taliel looked to the window once more a bolt of blood red lightning landed in the city. He watched as the sky darkened blotting out the sun. He saw the teeming mass of Tainted creatures marching to the city.
"Come on Ember we got some work to do." Taliel drew his bow, and gently nudged his mount in the side...
"Move! Get out of the way." Taliel shouted as Ember tore down the streets in a full sprint. Taliel watched as the panicked ponies narrowly avoided him, and his occasional potshots. He paused seeing three of the creatures cornered a group of ponies.
Taliel drew three arrows from his quiver and drew his bow. "Hey, pick on someone your own size." He called to the tainted trio. before letting his arrows fly. Each arrow piercing the creatures hearts.
'You think that you can save this city. Fool here I am a god perfection given form you have no hope of stopping me.'
"Taliel. We have this square secure get to the forest." Taliel turned to see the two stallions charge into another beast.
***************************************************
"It's okay everypony, remain calm." Celestia looked to the nobles of her court each of whom were either curled up and rocking back and fourth in fear or were shouting at one another.
"Be still!" Everypony stared at Luna who was fuming slightly. "Our sister is speaking." She turned her head back to her sister.
"Yes, we need to gather any and all available guards and get everypony to the palace immediately."
"Princess where is Captain Shining Armour?" One of the nobles asked.
"He's currently away on royal business, And he left me in charge." Claymore stepped forward.
"And who are you?"
"I am Staff Sergeant Claymore Swingblade. Current commanding officer of the Royal guard of Canterlot. Now if you would stop bickering the Princess has a plan." The veteran looked to the other guards in the throne room.
"We need to get as many ponies as we can to the catacombs beneath the city. Claymore you take the market districts and get everypony underground."
"Yes ma'am." The grey stallion saluted before pointing to one of his fellow guards. "Corvus your with me. Lets move." Celestia watched as he charged out of the throne room.
"Corporal Heart, head north with whoever can find and secure the train depot." The mare in question simply nodded as she disappeared into the shadows.
"What about me your highness." Came a voice from behind the throne.
"Major Hearths Fyre of the Sumareian special task forces, reporting for duty."
"Your a part of the STF?" one of the nobles stepped forward his face clearly covered in shock.
**************************************************
Taliel looked to the tree line the blue flames roaring with the hunger of a thousand savage beasts.
'So it all ends here, or at least for morsel.'
"Big talk for a god who's to afraid to face one mortal."Taliel shouted defiantly. As his words hung in the air, he felt a sickly wet chill in the air. Drawing his bow, he felt his mark begin to tingle with twisted waves of power.
Taliel jumped back just in time to see the spot where he stood become a crackling black scorch mark. Taliel looked to the bright flames now surrounding him like a pack of wolves waiting for the kill. Ember growled as she backed closer to her master.
"Ember." he raised his hand and placed it on her side. Her massive frame seeming to relax slightly at his touch.
"Go."
He stared his lifelong companion in the eye, a hint of betrayal spread across her face.
"Go, get to the Princesses help them defend the city." Taliel said.
Almost immediately the wolf howled to the heavens, her master soon followed suit. She glanced back to him and charged forward through the flames towards the city.
'Now then, we can continue this fight, without the filthy mongrel.'
Taliel watched as the fires in front of him parted, filling the air with the putrid stench of burning and decaying flesh. The flames seemed to dull slightly as a large serpent like mass slithered into the clearing. its scales reflecting the light of the flames, it's sickly wet back had numerous spines protruding the length of its body. Taliel looked into the beasts face. there he saw what was left of the creature he encountered in the forest, a chunk of its skull was missing from where he hit it with his wind.
"Deygoth, I am Taliel O'Carish of House blackforest. You have spread your taint to this world, and as the sole Indiri warrior here. I must slay you." Taliel drew his bow and began to focus his magic at the tip of his trident arrows.
'Fool. One cannot hope to kill me I am the taint, its vast legions are me my will is manifest. I can manipulate this worlds magical energies. I have ascended from that pitiful shell you encountered me in. I am a god incarnate.'
Taliel let loose his arrow watching it as it pierced the creatures scale before exploding in a massive burst of wind. The tainted beast cried out as more red lightning began to strike the ground around Taliel. each sending out an wave of shrapnel as the ground was turned to glass and then blasted outward.
Taliel rolled away from a stray bolt before he felt the sharp electric wave of pain tear through his body, his mark began to burn his flesh. But in the pain Taliel felt something. As he fell to the ground he looked at the beast of his nightmares, its twisted body slowly inching towards him to give the final blow.
"Get up pup."
Taliels body strained as he attempted to will himself into movement, each and every cell in his body screaming out in pain. He managed to crane his neck towards the creatures face. Its lone eye serving as a hub for hundreds upon hundreds of reptilian pupils narrowing in on him, ready for the sheer primal joy of the kill.
The beast opened its maw its hot sticky breath filled his vision then a spark of red, then more and more all forming around a glowing orb of raw power. Taliel watched as it began to glow brighter.
Grandmother, I've been waiting for this moment ever since you died. To be back at your side. your little pup.
He raised his hand to the mass of energy waiting for its final burst the one that would end his life.
"No, think of your mother and father, your brothers, Joric, the clan and Ember. Move child move now."
Taliel watched as his world was filled with the blinding red light, he felt the beam touch his hand. Its power surging through his body, but instead of the the final and abrupt pain of death he felt something more, warmth and power. The barrage of energy stopped as the beast reared back to roar in victory.
Taliel tried to move, his body's pain seemed forgotten. he numbly glanced to his right arm. Where is was normally a charcoal black line from his elbow to wrist had changed. Instead of its typical black color it glowed a brilliant orange. It pulsed with the warmth of a fire.
Taliel rose to his feet, his body felt stronger lighter, he could fell magic radiating from the ground beneath him, he reached for his dagger. Its normally cold black metal vibrated at his touch singing in his hand.
"Hey, were not finished yet." He shouted. He felt his heart beat each beat coursing with renewed energy. Taliel felt the world around him disappear, before nothing more the the beast and the infinite void.
The beast opened its mouth once more sending a burning red arc of energy to him. Taliel raised his hand, he felt a wave of power surge through his body, he felt stronger. Taliel started to laugh hysterically as he step closer to the beast.
" Looks like your not the only one any more." He smiled darkly as he pointed his finger at the beast and slashing the dagger across his wrist.
The vibrant orange glow of Taliel's mark grew crimson. Taliel saw the memories of his ancestors, all those who had performed the sacrifice before him. He felt a intense burning in his mark as it drew all his magical power into it. Taliel saw ancient runes illuminate his vision.
"A madman would do anything for those he loves."
He watched his vision blur as he saw the runes freeze in the air.
************************************************
"Now" Hearths Fyre shouted to the sisters. She felt the pull of gravity as she was dropped into the clearing. She wrapped herself in a magical bubble.
Remember your training, make the bubble strong but malleable.
As the surrounding orb of magical energy shattered at her land, she knew she only had seconds to do this. She charged forward, each millisecond seeming to drag on for hours, the only noise she heard was the thunderous roar of her heart as she pulled out the inhibitor cuffs.
This has to work, this just has to.
Her vision dimmed as her body finally felt the effect of Taliels magic it clouded her leylines and started a dull throbbing in her head. But she knew she couldn't give in, though nothing in her training prepared her for a near total magical cut off.She lifted the cuffs with her right fore leg, she knew that she just needed a little more time. Thats all she needed. she flashed back to what her drill sergeant used to constantly shout to her. "You quit, and so help me I'll make you wish you never been born."
She felt the cuff skim over his wrist, she knew that if she quit now everypony in the world would pay for her mistake, she tried to will her hoof down so that it would lock on to him.
All I need is one...one piece of metal to save the world.
Time seemed to pause, it was a scene of three. Fyre looked into his eyes gone was the dark violet and white of his eyes, instead they glowed with a bright crimson hate of a time long past. opposite them stood the beast born of only the most twisted minds nightmares could conjure up. Its lone eye piercing her soul with its ravenous gaze.
Click.
And with that one sound time resumed is infinite march forward. Fyres momentum, long forgotten to the mare sent her and Taliel tumbling to the ground. She felt a massive ripple in the air, her limbs started to grow numb, she knew this feeling.
"Oh screw me sideways." She groaned as she slammed her face into the ground.
A several sparks cracked as the air became a maelstrom of pure magic filled the air. Fyre felt her body grow numb, then she felt as if she were on fire while in a icy lake. Then her vision began to fade.
The detonation of the raw magic caused a small singularity, as Fyre looked at the gaping maw in the leylines she felt the tingle of someponies magic envelope her, as she lost consciousness she saw the singularity swallow the twisted creature, its ear splitting death cries the only noise piercing the chaos. Then her world turned black.....
You think me defeated mortal, only a fool could believe that.
Taliel gasped as his lungs sucked in the rancid air. He was still in the clearing still alive, he looked to his right, there stood Luna, here sharp gaze burning into him.
"Twas a foolish thing you did, trying to sacrifice thy self." Taliel saw a flash of pain in her eyes.
He looked at the princess finally noticing the blue heap behind her. he opened his mouth to speak, only to be met with a searing pain in his throat, that then spread through out his body.
"Luna, he did what anyone of us would do, especially to protect those he cares about. What would, Barricade say if he saw you right now." Luna shrank slightly at her sisters words, almost as if that pony had once been in a similar circumstance.
"He didn't say anything, he just.... just... smiled." Luna stepped away as her eyes began to water, she began to sob softly her sister now coming to comfort her.
Taliel tried to move his body, each and every tendon and muscle sending him a new wave of pain.
Get up. He tried to will himself to at least sit up right, his only successful movement was his right arm, he felt the stress of gravity pull at his wrist, he turned his head and saw a lone metal shackle. He tried to call upon the power of his mark, only to feel the a dull vibration come from the restraint.
"It's an inhibitor cuff, Taliel. It absorbs any and all magical energy before it manifests itself in the world. Fyre put that on you, just before you were about to make your blood sacrifice."
He felt a set of forelegs hook under his arm and begin dragging him to a nearby tree. He looked once again at the mare who saved his life.
"We certainly cut it pretty close there didn't we." Fyre said as she weakly raised her head, and glanced over to him.
Tailel nodded to her, and attempted to smile. Several other ponies each with a arm band with a red cross on it milled about the area, one paused and tried to help the mare up.
"No, don't worry about me, its just a little magical paralysis, I'll be up and at'em in no time." The mare weakly kicked her hindlegs, showing the medic she would be okay.
"You know Taliel, when I got assigned to Equestria by my superiors. I thought the worst that would happen is some type of cupcake riot, but no first you show up then these crazy creatures led by whatever that was invade the city and its up to, yours truly to save the day." She smiled triumphantly at her involvement in saving the world.
"Thanks..... Fyre." Taliel felt his throat burn with every word, he didn't show his pain however, as he surveyed the clearing, the royal sisters were now directing efforts to put out any stray fires that weren't extinguished by the vortex he made with his interrupted stream of magic.
"Careful now, you were pretty beat up when we arrived." one of the medic ponies a mare, offered him a canteen of water.
He opened his mouth knowing he couldn't raise his arms to grab the canteen she gently poured some water into his open mouth. He swallowed down, three solid mouthfuls before he started to cough, his throat no longer burned from it apparent dryness, and he began to feel the pain in his body dissipate.
"Hey whats that thing." one of the ponies shouted as a dark orb materialized in the crater. It sent out arcs of electricity as it grew larger and larger.
Taliel looked for his bow it lay intact next to one arrow. He looked back to the orb seeing a dripping claw cracked its surface, the stench of decay filled the air. Taliel knew what that claw belonged to and he wasn't going to give it another chance to destroy this world, so long as he drew breath. He rolled to his stomach and began to claw his way towards his bow.
"I Taliel O'Carrish of house blackforest do solemnly swear to fight and destroy the taint where ever it manifests,to protect those who cant protect themselves to serve as a unifier of humans and indiri. No matter their house or status." recited his oath to his clan.
He reached for the dark piece of wood, it felt lighter in his hands, he took the arrow inspecting its trident tip. He forced himself to his knees, the surrounding ponies backing away in fear of the growing snarling maw. Taliel notched the arrow, and pulled it back.
He looked to his right wrist as he began to draw power from his mark. The cuff vibrated, he needed more he focused.
"Taliel what are you doing! Get out of there." He heard Fyre shout over the rising wind.
"With this bow, and blade I swear my life to stemming the tide of evil..." He glanced back at the ponies and rested his eyes momentarily on Luna. "To protect those of any realm of land."
"I submit myself to the service of all, be they big or small. I submit to the shunning of my ancestors and gods." Taliel tensed and prepared to set the arrow loose. He felt his magic begin to flow as he heard a small crack come from his wrist.
He stared into the vortex, just on the other side was the Deygoth clawing its way back to this world. Rage, souring the air around it he knew it wouldn't stop until either it or him was slain. He felt the tingle of magic grip his shoulder and elbow he was a yellow aura surround his bow, it grew heavy in his hand, yet he still held it poised to let the arrow fly.
"I'am a Pathfinder of the the indiri peoples. I with my mark cast you foul tainted one to the pits of hell!" He hissed as he let the arrow loose the cuff on his wrist shattering as he poured his entire being into propelling the shot, which tore through the air in a blinding crack of light and noise.
**************************************************
Celestias ears rang, as she slowly got back to her hooves, her vision blurred, all she could see was grey shapes moving at the edge of her vision.
So much raw magical power. she thought as the air around her tingled, she had only know this feeling once before, After she used the elements on Luna, on any other pony, she knew they would have suffered from the overflow in some way.
"The.... others." Celestia forced a healing spell on herself, her head throbbing from exertion,as if the magic in the air was polluted by something.
She looked for Luna. Unlike her, she was knocked unconscious by the blast her starry mane laying still in the dust. She took in her surroundings, all around were rescue ponies all knocked unconscious from Taliels shot.
"Taliel?!" she jumped slightly staring back to where he stood not moments ago, there was nothing, save for his bow and a few shards of the inhibitor cuff. She reached out with her magic hoping to at least fell a hint of him anywhere, he was gone.
"Sister.... What happened?" Luna shakily rose to her hooves as she cast a similar healing spell on her head.
"He's gone Luna. Taliel is gone." Celestia felt her shoulders grow heavy. "He's another one we couldn't save."
Both sisters looked back to his bow, Celestia felt a single tear fall across her cheek.
"He was brave, a hero in our world and his, tis a shame that like many he couldn't reap the fruits of his sacrifice." Luna said mournfully, as she bowed her head in silence. "Goodbye friend may thy journey to the afterlife be a peaceful one."
"Luna, he sacrificed himself to save not only us but our world. His journey will be a peaceful one."
*******************************************
In the the dense woods of Blackforest an old man carefully walked into a clearing, pausing as he looked at a small crater. the air around it still crackling with numerous magical energies.
He removed his hood, and glanced about, hoping that no one would bee witness to his act.
"Taliel, if you are indeed lost to us, then give me the chance to try and find you." he reached out his hand a a intricate staff materialized in the air. "Besides kid, your parents would kill me if I didn't try to get you back."
"I'm Joric of clan Dresphal, seeker of the lost." he smiled, he was doing what Taliel did before doing something foolish.
With that the old man slammed his staff into the center of crater, the blinding light of the small magical cataclysm he was enveloped in a blinding white light......
THE END.
