Brother's Lament

Chapter 19: Bladesingers return

< The recommended song to listen to for a sense of the mood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViR2T-KVwTE >

One week had passed since Bladesingers return to Equestria, the dark pony remaining in the confines of the Everfree forest to regain his powers, destroying any creatures that attempted to attack him, making even the most deadly of creatures fear him, Manticores and Timber wolves shirked at his approach even Zecora feeling an unease growing in the forest as Nightmare Night approached and everypony was preparing for the celebration of Nightmare moons rise, the day they do not know as the day the war between the Lunar Republic and Solar Empire began one thousand years ago.

Celebrating it with costumes of ghouls and creatures of the dark with offerings of candy towards Nightmare Moon it was first time that Princess Luna would visit Ponyville since her return as Nightmare Moon.

As night fell over Equestria a dark unicorn figure made his way out of Everfree forest, clad in black plate armour with dark red eyes glowing out of the slits and mist billowing around his hooves. A tattered cloak flowed behind him, the hood pulled up to create shadows around the face as the light of the moon began to shine down on the world, he stared at the distant Ponyville as lights turned on and sounds of celebration reached his ears before his gaze turned to the city of Canterlot in the distance on the mountain side.

Drawing the broadsword that was strapped on his back beneath the cloak, he looked the blade over with narrowing eyes. The blade was pure black, and curved slightly with a single edge. It glowed a low red as the light of the moon touched its surface, the glow formed ghostly faces as it seeped from the surface of the blade confirming its apparent dark and gruesome origin.

Light whispers could be heard from the blade, like a thousand voices whispering at once, the handle was made from a white gold metal that contrasted against the black blade, sheathing the deadly weapon the figure made his way towards the small town, his figure becoming smaller as he walked before he was the size of a normal pony, his horn glowing a dark blue.

As he approached the town, he spotted a small group of mare’s making their way towards the gathering, some wearing classic costumes others wearing more…Adult costumes to attract stallions. One such earth pony mare of yellow coat and purple mane, who wore a costume of a succubus with bat like wings, horns and a suggestive outfit with fishnet stockings splintered off from the group “I’ll catch up with you guys I just need to adjust my stockings!” she called, making her way to a nearby street bench for ponies to relax, placing her forehooves on the bench she used her teeth to pull up her stockings, her peripheral vision spotting a dark armoured pony making his way down the street, mist slowly following in his wake, spotting the horn on his head she figured the mist was caused by a magic spell.

As the Unicorn stallion approached a hard wind blew past causing the mare to squeak in surprise as the hood of the stallion blew off to reveal a black coated, dark blue maned stallion with red eyes, who looked no older than twenty eight years old, he had a handsome face and a neutral expression but when he looked towards the blushing mare a gentle smile came to his face.

His horn glowed dark blue and she couldn’t help but feel a heat between her hind legs as she approached the stallion, a red blush growing on her cheeks as her eyes turned pink in colour. She approached the stallion who slowly lowered his head to kiss her and as their lips met, his dark blue magic seeped into her head and into her mind causing her great pain, moaning against his lips, her knee’s wanted to buckle but she forced herself to stand to hold the kiss with the stallion as she also felt a growing pleasure from the stallions touch, copies of her memories flowed into the stallions mind as he gained knowledge of this time periods common technology and current political and general events.

When the mare’s body couldn’t take it anymore she collapsed unconscious onto the ground, the dark stallion lifted her with his magic and placing her gently on the bench to be discovered by her friends later and continued his walk down the street, no memory of her encounter with him left in her mind.

***

“How you feeling lad about your first bodyguard assignment?” Asked Warsong as he looked at his young student Bass Rhythm who was dressed in the enchanted armour of the Lunar Guard along with his long sword at his waist “If anything this is a bit more of a breath of fresh air…Being a captain is hard work…I don’t think I’m cut out for it sir…” replied Bass Rhythm, Warsong shook his head and checked himself over as his bracers had covered him in armour and his sabre was sheathed at his waist “I’ll be coming down there with you. Though I’m going to be going into the Everfree forest…I need to investigate something.” Warsong turned and headed out of the room, making his way out of the palace towards a Pegasus drawn carriage.

Bass Rhythm sighed as he made his way towards the Princess’ quarters, knocking on the door before entering he arrived in time to watch several bats fly onto the princess to form a cloak “Planning to make an entrance? I’ll take a different carriage then, though Lightning Flicker and Cross Wind will be with you and I trust they’ll protect you until I arrive…Hopefully they won’t fly rough” Bass Rhythm said as Luna turned towards the Captain with a smile “Do not worry about us, we are counting on thy trusted stallions to fly recklessly as we wish to make an impressionable entrance. We also thank thee for being fine with us taking the single carriage while thee takes a different carriage.” Spoke the princess while adjusting the cloak of bats before she left her room with her bodyguard

“How is thee faring in thy duties as captain?” asked Luna as she looked down towards her coltfreind who looked down in embarrassment “I’m not faring so well…I don’t think you made the right choice in making me captain. I’m better off just being your bodyguard, there is more politics involved and I’m no politician.” Explained Bass Rhythm who kept his gaze away from Luna’s who simply frowned “We will take thy statement into consideration.”

Making their way out of the palace, Princess Luna stepped onto her personal carriage where Lightning flicker and Cross wind stood ready dressed in their Lunar guard armour, they took off when the princess was ready after pulling up her hood. Bass Rhythm watched them leave as a second carriage arrived, drawn by two more Lunar guard Pegasi their captain stepped into the carriage and it took off some distance away from Luna’s carriage, following its flight path.

***

Warsongs carriage flew above the ruins of old Canterlot, before landing gently to allow the warrior to step off, the Lunar guard Pegasi taking off once more back towards Canterlot, Warsong intended to meet with Luna and Bass Rhythm when he was done here in old Canterlot, he made his way towards the room where Nightmare moon was defeated. He kept his head bare for a better view of his surroundings as the wind whistled through the ruins he heard the faint sounds of a fillies laughter, a deep frown coming to his face he followed the sound towards its origin to find two young fillies playing among the ruins, one of them butter coloured with red mane and a red bow dressed as a witch while the other a white unicorn with swirling violet hair dressed as a robot.

Warsong donned his helmet as his grey eyes glowed from the slits and narrowed at the sight of the fillies “They’re brave to wander through the Everfree forest and reach this place…” he heard one of them speaking to her friend “It’s a mighty shame that Scootaloo isn’t joining us here to look for our cutie marks eh Sweetiebelle?” asked the butter coloured one to the unicorn who was clearly named Sweetiebelle “Well she’ll just have to make do without a cutie mark when we find our own marks Applebloom” said Sweetie Belle this caused Warsong to sigh before he stepped out from the shadows into the light “Hey what are you both doing here?” he asked causing the two young fillies to scream at the sudden appearance of a large armoured unicorn, to them it looked like a suit of armour came to life Warsong grimaced at the screams before removing his helmet.

“Could you both stop that!?” he almost yelled, barely containing his temper “Geez is this what it would have been like having kids?” he thought to himself as the two young fillies calmed down after he removed his helmet “I will ask again…What are you both doing here?” he asked as his eyes narrowed down at the two tiny ponies “W-w-we were just looking for our cutiemarks s-s-sir…” spoke Sweetiebelle who shivered at the sight of the stallions barely contained temper. Warsongs eye brow raised at the young unicorns statement “I’m not impressed…You both shouldn’t be here it’s dangerous” Warsong sighed as he turned to leave the area to make his way to where Nightmare moon was defeated “Come along you two I can’t leave you here, you may as well come with me and I’ll walk you back to Ponyville afterwards.”

The two fillies followed without complaint though Applebloom frowned at the large stallion “Ya’ll never told us what you were doing here?” she asked as Warsong looked over his shoulder towards her “I’m here looking for something…Or at least signs” Warsong answered as he entered the room, his nose and Sweetiebelles nose wrinkled at the smell of foul magic “Gross! What is that smell!?” said Sweetiebelle placing a hoof to her nose, Applebloom looked around confused “Ah don’t smell anything.” She said as she looked at her friend before looking up at Warsong who rubbed his nose with a hoof “You won’t smell it because of the magical residue, only Unicorns can smell it…I remember this smell…It was from the spell I cast long ago” Warsong frowned as he bared the smell and stepped into the room.

“The spell was recast in this room…Meaning Bladesinger has returned…” he looked towards the fillies with a fearful look in his eye, the young fillies frowned at him “Who is Bladesinger?” asked Sweetiebelle curiously as Warsong began to briskly make his way out of the room “He’s my brother…He intends to destroy Equestria…I have to stop him, get on my back girls” he said as he kneeled down to the little fillies could climb on “Now hang on tight alright?” He asked looking back at them as his helmet formed onto his head again, the two fillies stared in awe “That is so cool” said Applebloom before Warsong took off at a gallop.

***

Bladesinger walked the streets of Ponyville looking at the ponies enjoying the festivities, his red eyes narrowed at the peace around him, some mares glanced at him and whispered among themselves at the new stallion, spotting a purple mare dressed as Starswirl the bearded with a purple dragon dressed as a…Purple dragon Bladesinger couldn’t help but nod in approval of the mares costume of Starswirl the bearded “She even got the bells right” he whispered to himself before moving on towards a crowd who gathered towards a stage where a grey mare dressed as a clown with a circus afro.

“Thank you everypony, and welcome to the Nightmare night festival!” spoke Mayor mare Bladesingers frowned at the name of the holiday remembering this date as the day the war began and Nightmare moon rose to power.

“Now all the little ponies who have been out collecting sweets to follow our friend Zecora to hear the legend of Nightmare moon!” said the Mayor mare trying to be spooky Bladesinger shook his head and turned to leave.

“When did days of destruction and mayhem turn to days of celebration? Maybe these ponies need a reminder of the chaos that was war.” Whispered Bladesinger as he left the group and made his way towards the outskirts of town.

***

Lightning Flicker and Crosswind flew towards Ponyville at full speed as clouds brewed and swirled around them, Crosswind looked towards Flicker with concern who jerked his head back at the Princess.

“She’s putting on a show for the fillies and colts; she knows how to make an entrance, just try to look scary” Crosswind called over the whistle of the wind as they approached, thunder and lightning exploding around them as they approached the town. As they hovered above, Luna jumped out of the carriage, flaring her wings to slow her fall and as she landed she flicked the hood off her head as she smiled at the entrance she made.

Flicker looked towards Crosswind and jerked his head “We’re done here lets go meet up with the Captain” whispered Crosswind as they turned and flew off towards a different part of town to park the carriage.

***

Bass Rhythm stepped off the carriage, dismissing the Pegasus drivers who took off back towards Canterlot, it didn’t take long for him to spot the flying figures of Crosswind and Lightning Flicker make their descent with princess Luna’s carriage in tow, parking it neatly behind one of Ponyvilles buildings. Bass made his way over towards them but was met half way by the two Pegasus stallions “Everything look good before you left?” asked Bass Rhythm as the two Lunar guard stood to attention and saluted with their wings, Crosswind remaining as mute as ever while Lightning flicker spoke “Yes sir, we parked the carriage and request permission to visit the local boozer sir” Bass Rhythm raised an eyebrow

“Not while out on duty, but you can go enjoy the festivities.” Said Bass while the two Pegasus saluted once more and left the captain alone as he looked towards the Everfree forest to find any sign of his great uncle.

Out among the outskirts of the town Warsong burst out of the Everfree forest at a full gallop with two screaming fillies on his back, having been chased by timber wolves and much worse to the edge of the forest, the fillies  held on for dear life. Being a long-time soldier, Warsong wasn’t fatigued by the run and skidded to a halt as they left the forest, overlooking the town of Ponyville, Warsong squinted to see a bright flash of dark blue light on the distant hill on the other side of Ponyville, like a spell was being charged.

“You better get home girls…Things are going to be getting hectic around here.” He said lowering himself to let the fillies off before watching them gallop away, his horn began to glow and he teleported in a flash of light to the source of the magical.

Warsong appeared near the Bladesinger who seemed to be charging a spell to destroy Ponyville in a fel swoop “Stop right there brother” Warsong called as he drew his blade, Bladesinger’s horn stopped glowing as the dark stallion looked over his shoulder towards his brother “I’m surprised to find you in this time, I thought you would be old and grey by now, laying on your death bed.” Spoke Bladesinger as he pulled back his hood to look at his older brother “I petrified myself…To be awakened when you returned. I figured the dimension I sent you to wouldn’t age you normally” replied Warsong as his brother turned slowly towards him “That dimension you sent me too…Was worse than Tartarus itself!” Bladesinger yelled before drawing his broad sword and charging his brother, their swords clashing heavily over and over.

Bass Rhythm looked up towards the nearby hill at the tell-tale sound of shockwaves caused by enchanted blades that sounded like a rougher thunder than the thunder and lightning currently being caused by Princess Luna, seeing the distant shockwaves a realisation hit him that Bladesinger must have returned and is fighting Warsong right now, an idea coming to mind had him galloping for his old home where his Bass cannon remained stored in the basement.

Bucking the door down he noticed how dusty his old house was “I’ve gotta make a note to clean up here…” He said as he galloped at full speed down the stairs into his basement, using his magic to push old furniture and other boxes aside he found what he was looking for, a large black box with four small speakers along one side and a button on top, when the button was pushed the four small speakers would separate to show one large speaker as the cannon charged the problem that needed to be fixed with his bass cannon was the conversion of sound to energy matrix otherwise the bass cannon just made a lot of noise instead of a beam of concentrated energy. Using his magic he lifted the bass cannon with some difficulty

“I seriously need to work on my telekinesis strength some more…Warsong could rip out tree’s with his magic…I can barely lift a boulder.” He grimaced and took it upstairs as sweat began to form on his brow and a headache began to set in, lowering it at the front of his house he sighed and opened the back panel of the cannon to fix its matrix.

Lightning flicker and Crosswind quickly noticed the shockwaves while everypony else was busy with the visit from Princess Luna “We better find the captain” said Flicker as the two Pegasi took to the sky’s, finding Bass Rhythm quickly from high above, landing nearby they galloped over to their captain “I saw you guys I saw, I’m preparing my old bass cannon to help fight, I need you guys to help carry it so come on!” Bass Rhythm said as he closed the back of the cannon having fixed the matrix wiring by multi-tasking with his magic like Warsong taught him months ago. Galloping inside and grabbing some rope he tied the Bass cannon firmly to the strap loops on the Pegasi’s armour which was used for attaching a carriage “Alright lift her up!” Warsong watched as the two Pegasi’s rose into the air flapping their wings as they carried the heavy weapon before they drifted towards the fight.

Bass Rhythm galloped below them keeping up without too much trouble as they approached Bladesinger seemed to be getting the upper hoof with Warsong on the ground holding his sword in his hooves and holding his brothers sword back with his own as both swords were grinding against each other, sparks flying from Warsongs blade as it was white hot, loud whispering coming from Bladesingers sword as the owner was holding his blade with his hooves, pushing it against his brother’s blade “Warsong!” called Bass Rhythm as the Pegasi landed with the Bass cannon. Bladesinger was distracted for a millisecond by the other ponies arrival giving Warsong the chance he needed to get his back hooves beneath his brother and buck him off of him sending the dark warrior sprawling back as Warsong got to his hooves, firing beam of magic at his brother from his horn.

Bladesinger recovered and spun his blade like a buzz saw creating a shield against the beams, giving Bass Rhythm the chance he needed to aim the Bass cannon “Hey Grandfather!” yelled Bass Rhythm as he got Bladesingers attention who frowned deeply at the stallion “Let me introduce you to some Wubstep!” Bass Rhythm then slammed his hoof down on the button as the four speakers unfolded to reveal a larger speaker, red lightning coursing from the speakers as the cannon charged and fired, a large red beam firing from the cannon, loud techno playing from the cannon itself as sound was transferred into energy.

Bladesinger had milliseconds to turn his blade shield against the cannons beam, blocking it but was sent flying backwards from the impact, when he landed he skidded along the ground, his cloak becoming further tatters from the skidding, getting onto his hooves he glared back at the group of ponies with a deep dark vehemence before his horn glowed and he teleported away in a flash of light.

The Bass cannon stopped firing but music still played as it was functioning again after so long, Warsong covered his ears as he stared at the weapon with fearful eyes “I have never seen something so devastating that isn’t a spell…That contraption is more powerful than the cannons from the war…They didn’t dismantle the cannons…They only upgraded them.” Warsong said as he slowly limped towards Bass Rhythm and the others having taken injury during the fight “You ok uncle? You seem a bit disturbed…This is just my old Bass cannon I only use it in light shows firing up at the sky” said Bass frowning at his uncle who ran a hoof over the black box that had fired a red beam not even a minute ago “Where is Bladesinger headed?” Asked Bass as he placed a hoof on his uncle’s shoulder trying to break him out of his daydream.

Shaking his head Warsong looked towards where the stallion teleported from “We’ve defeated him for now…My guess is he’ll try to run and gather followers…We need to follow him and luckily I have a way of tracking him. Those beams I fired that hit his sword have placed a sort of undetectable beacon that only I can track, I can sense where he is or at least his general direction. I used it to track down a Lunar Republic spy once, she was really good looking though.” Warsong said as Bass frowned at him “So now what? We chase after him?” asked Bass to which Warsong nodded “Tomorrow though, I need to recuperate a bit, just you and me will go after him, it’ll give me a chance to train you more.” Warsong replied as they slowly made their way downhill, Lightning Flicker and Crosswind hovering above with the Bass Cannon in tow, spending the rest of the night enjoying the festivities, finding out that Luna had worked out a problem along with Twilight Sparkle.

“What did I miss?” asked Bass Rhythm as he approached his filly friend who was enjoying herself with one of the games “Not much Bass, I was able to work it out with Twilight Sparkle” she replied to which Bass looked surprised at her not using ‘We’ or ‘Our’ or the old dialect anymore.

“Where were you?” asked the Princess of the night, Bass Rhythm sighed and looked towards the ground “It’s a long story, me and Warsong will tell you later.” And with that the ponies of Ponyville enjoyed the rest of Nightmare night together.