The Tale of Angelfire

The Tale of Angelfire Vol. IV

Setting foot into this "Everfree Forest" Angelfire cautiously began to hunt for her prey. After traveling entire days within the forest finding little to eat she began to suspect that she had found yet another dead end. But, as the light faded a light glow could be seen, a small camp. Silently approaching she realized she had found her foe, placed all around a fire were an assortment of tents & sitting in front of the flame, their occupants. A macabre of unicorns in dark robes all sat conversing about any matter of things, from new spells to the weather. One pony, in general, piqued her interest, a grey haired earth pony with a snow white mane & ghastly, serpentine eyes, now fuelled by the discovery of her parent’s killer Angelfire drew the rusty blade she had obtained in her travels & charged the mass of dark sorcerers.

Angelfire stood dumbfounded, she had only heard the term “Necromancer” once before & if memory serves it was a term for those who summon the dead. The two ponies stared at each other for sometime, the necromancer seeming to be more fearful of Angelfire than she was of him, the black haired pony moved slightly but has followed by the other’s blade.

“Um, you mind lowering the sword a little?” the necromancer cautiously asked, “’Cus I’m not too comfortable here.”

“You’re a necromancer?” Angelfire finally queried.

“Y-yes,” the earth pony answered weary of Angelfire, “to you that is. We are called necromancers, Rathmians, & grave robbers, among other names.”

“You will die here servant of evil!” Angelfire declared having heard enough.

The armor clad unicorn lunged at the frightened earth pony only to have her attack parried by a small, ivory-like dagger appearing out of, what seemed to be the necromancer’s side. Again & again she struck at her opponent each time having been stopped by his own weapon. Growing impatient Angelfire drew upon her magical power & summoned an ethereal hammer sending it hurtling toward her foe. The earth pony, seeing the threat muttered a few words beneath his breath &, in an instant, a wall of ivory, no, not ivory but bone, rose to block the attack.

“I am no servant of evil!” the earth pony cried between attacks, “”Will you just listen!” Shortly after the words left his mouth he began to mutter another phrase & soon Angelfire felt all her strength leave her body. She fell heavily on the ground & then blacked out.

Before any of the ponies could react Angelfire rushed into the group cleaving her way through the crowd to reach her target, she refused to let him evade her any longer. Pony after pony fell before her blade until the mysterious earth pony finally took notice; he muttered a phase & a large spear of a smooth, white material formed in mid-air & flew, as if shot from a catapult, toward her. Angelfire dodged the missile just in time to see it soar past her & plant itself in the head of one of the unicorns behind her. As Angelfire was about to deal a deathly blow to the strange earth pony he raised his hoof & the same green glow escaped. Angelfire was thrown across the encampment & landed with a muffled crack on one of the tents. Trying to rise she realized the crack was her rear left leg breaking. The earth pony continued to throw her around the camp with but a wave of his hoof until finally she landed at his feet, blood flowing from many cuts all across her body. Angelfire ached all over & could barely stay conscious; she looked up at her assailant with disgust & spat blood at his hooves.

“I…will…find you,” Angelfire vowed between painful breaths, “& when that day comes…I…will…kill you”

Raising his hoof to point between Angelfire’s eyes the pony said, “I’m looking forward to it.”

As the final word escaped his mouth the green light returned in full, all Angelfire could see was the intense emerald swirls of magic then, black. As time passed in the Everfree forest Angelfire’s figure sat unmoving, regardless of the years passing by, unchanged throughout the centuries. The sisters of day & night rose to power, the grand betrayal of the lunar princess came & was left to legend, the town of Ponyville was established, & no one knew of the ancient secret hidden within the forest. Then something changed, with the return of Nightmare Moon ancient powers began to stir once more. The magic preserving her throughout the ages became undone & Angelfire’s weakened form was released from its prison of time. Slowly & weakly the bloodied unicorn rose & began to trek off into the forest awaiting death. But, as fate would have it, the battered pony came upon the edge of the forest near a large settlement. She then collapsed & as she began to fade into unconsciousness Angelfire could see several figures come running from the town towards her.

Angelfire awoke in a small tent lit by a single lantern. She rose wondering where she was; as she began to stand she realized that she was stripped of her armor, weapons, & wings. She began to frantically search for them but could find her missing equipment nowhere. The chocolate unicorn exited the tent in order to search for them outside & realized that the tent itself was not hers, she looked back & the same for the lantern & mattress. She then fully emerged from the tent & saw that she was still in the camp of the so called necromancer. She saw the pony in question sitting in front of a larger fire than before & next to him lie her missing gear, with no alternative she prepared to confront the sorcerer. But, as she approached he turned to face her now with less caution in his eyes.

“Ah, you’re awake,” he said casually, “I was wondering when you would come to.” The strange pony seemed genuinely concerned for her & that both comforted & worried Angelfire.

“Who are you?” asked the curious unicorn, “why are you here?”

“I am a servant of the balance, a follower of Rathma, a necromancer & I came here because I sensed I had to.” Angelfire didn’t understand & felt she never would but the sorcerer clearly felt something just as she had. “I might inquire as to why you are here.”
“I came in search of answers,” the paladin retorted quite bluntly, “I was born in the nearby village & came here following a trail that some very dangerous ponies left behind.”

“How could you possibly have been born here? That village has been but a pile of ash for centuries.” The sorcerer replied.

“It’s a very long story,” Angelfire answered, with some pain in her voice, “I don’t think you would like to hear it.”

“I’ve got time,” the necromancer replied indicating her to sit beside him. Angelfire moved to the opposite end of the fire as the earth pony & told her long tale, the Rathmian listened at first confused but seeming to realize some deeper truth behind her fate. When her tale was done she looked to the necromancer to hear some response & was greeted by a look attempting to make sense of the story he was just told.

“It would seem,” the Rathmian finally replied, “that you were the victim of a modified preservation spell.”

“Modified?” questioned Angelfire, “what does it normally do?”

“Well,” he began, “the original version of the spell was meant to preserve ones heart & blood after death, but the one used on you preserved your entire being. Most puzzling if I might add.” The necromancer scratched his chin & then proceeded to sharpen his dagger.

“Do you know anything of the necromancer who killed my parents?” Angelfire asked, “Surely if you both are necromancers…” “Now hold on,” the Rathmian interjected, “We necromancers have no idea how great our numbers are. Besides, thanks to your kind I’m not even sure if he is still alive.”

“Unicorns?” Angelfire questioned, stunned by the answer she was given.

“No, paladins,” the sorcerer quickly replied, “Your kind has hunted us to the brink of extinction ever since the beginning of the princesses’ reign.”

Angelfire was stunned; the sudden realization that she was not Princess Celestia’s only paladin coupled with the realization that the other paladins had been hunting the necromancers for so long had all but overwhelmed her. She stared wide-eyed at the Rathmian with no idea what to do.

“Why? Why are you hunted?” Angelfire could hardly believe any of it.

“Because in order to maintain the balance we must aid the forces of light and darkness, we cannot simply defeat one or the other.” The sorcerer replied sternly, “There must always be a balance.”

“I see,” said the paladin, “I was sent on a mission by Princess Celestia herself to ensure the destruction of all evil in Equestria, & hearing your story I have decided that the Rathmians are not among them. Will you help me complete my task?”

The necromancer looked up as she asked the question & saw deep sincerity in her eyes, “I am grateful you understand & I will help you, but if it’s annihilation you were tasked with, I will have to stop you at some point.” The paladin saw an underlying truth to his words; he would indeed turn on her after she had reduced the darkness to a certain point.

“You are certainly free to try,” Angelfire replied jokingly, “Now, can I have my equipment back?”

“Of course,” the earth pony replied & handed the chocolate unicorn her gear, the weightlessness showing only a fraction of the magic sewn into the metal plates.

The pair then began to become better acquainted & told stories of their lives; in that time Angelfire learned that her new partner’s name was Valcion. For several days they shared their knowledge & wares with each other while deciding on the best course of action; they decided to seek council from the sage in Ponyville. They trekked through the forest for several more days to reach the town. After a long journey the pair had finally reached their destination. They approached the small cabin with caution, unsure of what lurked within; the only stories Angelfire had heard were that an old hermit lived here but one can never be too careful. Angelfire knocked on the aged door; the two ponies could hear it resound all through the cabin. Then, they could hear slow foot steps up a flight of stairs crossing the room to the door, the two waiting could hear a muffled phrase resembling, “I never get visitors,” & with a loud creak it opened. The two ponies were shocked to find, not an aged hermit but a young, muscular pegasus.

“Can I help you?” asked the pegasus, “Or are you just here as a prank.” The end phrase had a hint of frustration in it.

“We were wondering if you could help us,” Angelfire asked still shocked to see a very young pony in the doorway.

The pegasus sighed, “Despite what you may have heard I am in no way qualified to marry the two of you,” he answered quite bluntly.

Angelfire was dumbstruck & turned to hide her, now red, face, “Oh that’s a shame isn’t it darling we were so hoping you could help us,” Valcion chimed in with almost genuine sorrow in his voice which was greeted by an armored hoof landing hard in his jaw.

Regaining her composure Angelfire said, “Disregard him, it’s been a long time since he met somepony new. Now, we have much to ask of you so may we come in please?”

“I’m not that kind of pegasus either,” he replied again very bluntly, “So you’ll have to take your coin elsewhere,”

Once again the unicorn blushed, this time feeling the heat in her cheeks greater than before, “Please, we have a dire mission to accomplish so if you would be so kind as to listen.”

The pegasus gestured for them to enter & they complied. He set up two simple chairs across from nice, padded recliner. they each took a seat & Angelfire took in mind her surroundings; it was a small log cabin with sparse furniture, a simple, yet clean mattress lie next to a small window pointed at Ponyville, there were dust bunnies & cob webs everywhere & a small door which appeared to lead to a stair well, there was also a very small kitchen in another corner of the house. She then turned her attention to her host; a young pegasus, about as young as she was in appearance, with light tan fur & a dull blue mane, he also bore a deep blue mark on his right eye reaching from his forehead, running below his eye & circling around to his hair-line just behind his ear. His cutie mark was of a winged sword which, if her studies in Canterlot had taught Angelfire anything, meant that he was destined to be a great warrior.

“So what brings you here?” the pegasus asked leaning back in his recliner.

“I was given a mission by Princess Celestia to eliminate the evil in Equestria,” Angelfire replied cautiously, “My name is Angelfire, Paladin of Celestia”

“Quite a title,” the pegasus said, his voice lightening a bit, “Though your mission does sound to be of great importance how does it concern me, or him for that matter?” he pointed at the Rathmian.

“I’m hired help, minus the pay,” Valcion chuckled, “I am aiding her to remove most of the evil, I am Valcion, and I am a Rathmian.”

“Ah, you’re a necromancer. Well aren’t you a mismatched pair,” their host laughed, “& you, you should have quite a long journey ahead of you.” Angelfire could hear a deep bitterness in his words, dark memories stirred beneath his calm demeanor.

“Will you aid us?” Angelfire asked having heard enough of their joking.

“Tell me this, oh great paladin, what brought you here? I doubt it was to ask me to join your ‘holy crusade,’ so what was it,” the pegasus questioned, his words cutting right to the point.

“We came to see if you could give us council…” Angelfire began but was cut off by the pegasus’ hoof

“Because I was supposed to be an old hermit who no one wants to be around,” he interjected rage welling behind his words.

“Well it would have been easier to deter the rumors should you have at least gone into town once a while!” the chocolate pony almost yelled, she had had enough of the pegasus’ shifting moods.

Her words seemed to unlock a heavily suppressed memory in the tan pony for he had no response. Sorrow danced across his eyes along with long dormant rage. “I will help you only if you can grant me this one favor,” he finally replied struggling to control his emotions, “tell me why you are undertaking this quest, & don’t say ‘because Celestia wills it’ like so many other paladins would.” His words cut deep into Angelfire’s own dark past nearly sending her into an unstable state like the pegasus before her. Calling upon her magic, just enough to not warrant her horn to begin glowing, Angelfire tapped into the pegasus’ memories; she saw death, loss, pain, fear, & rage, the paladin concealed a shocked look from the blaring similarities between the two’s pasts. She then saw, through his eyes, a house ablaze, with the feeling of great loss, she realized that the house was his & he had probably lost his family to the blaze, she also saw many a savage pony slaughtering random citizens in the frozen streets.

“I can sense that you have lost your family to some form of evil & I can say I know your pain, I saw my father be torn apart by a mindless horde of undead,” she retorted with deadly calm, “I witnessed my mother be strangled to death & then her corpse explode in front of my eyes.” The room was silent, the pegasus stared openmouthed at the paladin. “Have you ever felt you mother’s blood on your face pegasus? I am one millennia old, I was frozen in time within that very forest,” Angelfire pointed out a window to the Everfree forest without shifting her deadly gaze even an inch, “all of it caused by one of his, “the moved her hoof to point at Valcion, “ilk.”

“That is quite the story,” the pegasus replied quietly, a stunned look on his face, “given the circumstances it would seem I have no choice but to accept.”

Angelfire’s mood softened, she had gained another ally in her fight against evil &, hopefully, some insight into where she might look for her foes. “Now, might I inquire as to what your name is?” she asked remaining calm, but without the bite behind her words.

“My name is Skyblade,” after a short pause he added, “the barbarian.”