Dusk of Peace

Dusk of Peace

Chapter 10

Archmage Arcane Heart waited patiently upon her podium. The High Magi had left to attend to other pressing matters. Omni paced the room, his patience wearing thin.

"Calm yourself, Omnimental. They will arrive in due time." she assured.

"That's not what I'm worried about." he replied, still pacing.

"Then what troubles you?"

"It's....I....What if they all meet each other again and the bad blood boils over. There will be fighting and yelling and...." Omni spoke quickly.

Arcane Heart smiled a bit and suppressed a small laugh.

"Now, now young mage. This is a place of non-hostility, it has been kept that way for centuries, the rulers would dare not spoil the sanctity." she calmly explained. Omni stopped pacing and nodded, but perked up when he heard the sound of teleportation from the portal. A guardian trotted into the room and stopped before the Archmage.

"Archmage, the leaders and their champions are assembled in the lobby, should I send them up?" he asked.

"Yes, send for them, we have much to cover." she answered. The guardian bowed and went through the portal again. Omni shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts before the former warriors entered.

"Be calm, Omni. Speak what must be spoken and silence what must not." the Archmage uttered. The portal enlarged and through it came the rulers and warriors they had selected. Each had a grave face, partly because of the serious tone of this summon and partly for the recent wounds caused by the battle royale. Hooves clomped and plodded on the hard floor, echoing endlessly through the room.

Each kingdom kept with their people, and stayed clear of the others. Omni steeled his nerves and scanned them, until he caught a glimpse of his prominent enemy of the Bleak Coliseum. Chromacia returned his glance with a cold stare, which made him turn quickly to another pony. The leaders who caught him staring did the same, and in turn discouraged him from looking out at the crowd.

The room became silent as the arrivals waited for the Archmage to address them.

"Esteemed rulers of the great kingdoms, I have summoned you for an urgent and important purpose. A purpose that involves our newly revived fear and enemy, Flameberge." she started with a strong voice. Some of the leaders shivered inside at the mention of Flameberge.

"It has taken time, but we have come up with a hopeful solution to save us from his torment." she paused.

Omni caught Chromacia's gaze again, she had not relented her cold stare. He turned again, instead looking out the windows. She snorted, annoyed at the nerve of her former opponent.

"There are relics of older times that may still exist and they hold the key to sealing Flameberge. As you know, however, relics of the time of the first kings were sealed in treacherous places so that those with evil in their hearts could not obtain them. Seeing that finding them will be a long and arduous journey, it will take more than my choosen mage, Omni, to handle the task. That is were you all come in."

The ponies looked among each other, surprised and perhaps terrified at the news.

"You said that these relics might exist, so they may not even be around anymore?!" asked Stormhoof, which rewarded him a nasty glare from Valiant.

"Correct, but it is our only hope to pray that they are there." Arcane Heart answered. Most of the ponies where skeptical at the decision to undertake such a chance.

"It is the only chance we have to combat Flameberge's return. So, I for one will go with the ideal for the recovery of the relics." Valiant stepped foward.

"And I as well. If only to protect our most sacred of landmarks." Ashwood joined.

"Do not count us out of this fight. The people of Avextrix will lend aid to this quest." Plainsstalker neighed. Wavecrasher fidgeted nervously, unsure whether he should aid or reject the journey.

"And what of you, Wavecrasher? Yay, or nay?" Arcane Heart asked. The others stared at the flustered steward, making him all the more nervous.

"Y...yay...Tridonstris will aid this journey..." he hesitantly answered. The Archmage nodded slightly and looked upon all them.

"Now, as for those who will undertake this geas," she started, "how do you plea?"

It was a tense few seconds, but Thunder Runner was first to step forward.

"I'm in so long as my fellow Tridonstrians will join me." he stated.

"Right, I'll go then." answered Gamer Masquerade.

"Me too." said Game Chaser.

"Don't forget me you guys!" Crystal Charmer added.

Stormhoof darted from the side of Irontail and stomped his hoof on the floor.

"I'll join too! I don't want these guys to have all the fun." he entered, causing Irontail to chuckle in good taste. Wanderer stepped up from behind Plainsstalker and avoided Eaglemane.

"I will go as well. In order to show my good faith." he joined in. Eaglemane scowled, but noticed his leader's unapproving glare and disguised his disapproval.

Arcane Heart glanced at the Fornestrian princess, awaiting her decision. Chromacia looked down at the floor, but came back up and stepped forward slowly.

"Even though I loathe to leave the forests I call home, I humbly accept this quest, on behalf of my people." she answered.

"Well, what do you think Omni. Will you join your once enemies in this quest now as accomplices." the Archmage questioned. Omni looked across the room, seeing the suspenseful faces of the volunteers.

"I will join them." he answered. A few smiles crossed the faces of the ponies.

"Very well then, it is decided. The quest for the relics will take place. And you all should have a name should you not?" Arcane Heart added. They looked among themselves, and it seemed that they all agreed in their minds unanimously.

"We will be the 'Discoverers'." Chromacia spoke. At that moment it seemed that all the pent up aggression and fiery grudges disappeared. For once in a long time there was a small peace amongst the ponies.