Guardian

CHAPTER 18 – RECOIL

“I feel a disturbance.”

“A disturbance, my lord?”

“SILENCE, WORM!” A wave of golden magic incinerated the guard who responded to Terror's out-loud thinking. “I can't even think to myself without one of you vile creatures interrupting me. Would anyone else like to open their disgusting traps?” Terror glared out from atop Celestia's throne at the guards lining the walls of the room who stood in place, sweat pouring from their faces. They did not respond. “Good. Now as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted... Something does not feel right...” Terror sat back in the throne and rested his head on his hand. Closing his eyes and allowing his shadow magic to seep away from him and venture through the hall and outside, upwards into the sky, and sprout a pair of eyes.

“Ah...” he stated, “It appears that the wielders are not dead after all...” Looking south towards the Everfree Forest, Terror could see a chariot pulled by five pegasi. Inside of it were six ponies – the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, a dragon, and... “What is that thing...”

“We'll be at Canterlot in a few minutes,” Twilight huddled everyone together, “What's the plan?”

“Simple,” Eiza replied, “I eat some of that dragon to get my strength back, you guys cover me.”

“No, I mean after that.”

“Oh. You guys wait outside while I take Terror down.”

“You can't be serious. That's your plan?”

“Hey, I'm not one to be careful about things. Strategy's a pain in the butt.”

“What are we supposed to do while you're fighting Terror?” Rainbow Dash asked, “What if there's guards down there or something?”

“I don't know. You've all fought before, right? Just fight them off until I beat Terror.”

“How are we supposed to be certain that you'll even beat the guy?”

“You'd better not doubt me. I'm your only hope, silly.”

“Okay,” Twilight cut in, “I have a plan. Pinkie. You distract anything that tries to attack Eiza while he eats. Rainbow Dash and Applejack, you're the front-line fighters. Rarity, Spike, and I will stay back close to Eiza while Fluttershy stays high overhead and points out oncoming enemies.”

“You're preparing a bit too much,” Eiza stated with a raised eyebrow, “I'm pretty sure there aren't going to be any enemies.”

“We need to be prepared.”

“Oh, come on, Twilight. Terror disposes of everyone he doesn't need, and he doesn't need anyone. He's most certainly not going to have a bunch of guards defending him.”

The chariot, now a few hundred feet from Canterlot, suddenly began evasive maneuvers to dodge oncoming green magic. Swerving out of the way, Eiza braced himself on the chariot.

“What's goin' on?” Applejack shouted.

“Nevermind, Twilight, I guess you were right on this one!”

“We're going to make a rough landing!” One of the guards shouted back, “We'll touch down as close as we can get to that dragon's body! We'll try to give you some cover while you head in its direction!”

“Got it!” Twilight replied, “Everyone, get ready!”

The chariot neared the ground as it came close to the body of an enormous dragon, then the guards landed the object and screeched to a halt. Eiza bounded from the chariot and took a few strides before stopping in front of a huge army of shadowy insect-like creatures.

“What are these things? Bugs?”

“Changelings! But... Different...”

“They're made of shadows!” Rainbow Dash shouted, smashing through a large sum of the insect creatures, “Come on, lets keep moving!”

The group and guards continued through the army of shadowy creatures, punching and kicking a path through them until arriving at the corpse of the dragon. Eiza knelt down in front of the dragon's ribs.

“Hurry up and eat!” Twilight shouted back, “We don't have much time here!”

“Thank you for your sacrifice to me, noble creature.” Eiza peeled back a few scales on the monster and chomped down upon its hide, ripping ravenously at its body. In his half-starved state, the flesh was delicious, and so he had no trouble eating the chewy hide and muscle fibers of the dragon. Minutes passed by, the ponies battling furiously as the silver-haired man continued to feast.

“How much more are you gonna eat?” Rainbow Dash shouted back at Eiza as she kicked through two more shadows, “These things won't stop coming!”

“There's a whole group of them coming around the corner up north!” Fluttershy shouted from above, “And the east! Oh! The west too! Oh no... They have us surrounded!”

“Eiza, hurry it up!”

More minutes dragged by as the Emata continued to ravenously devour sustenance from the dragon's body. However, the ponies guarding him were becoming tired, whereas the shadows fighting them continued to swarm from all sides.

“Eiza you need to-” Rainbow Dash was cut off by a wave of green magic hitting her directly, sending her flying backwards and injuring her wing.

“Rainbow!” Applejack shouted in surprise before being hit as well.

“No!” Twilight rushed forward and stepped in front of the two, firing magic at the shadows as they came near. Rarity jumped forward and erected a barrier in front of the them as the shadows continued to encircle them.

“Dang it!” Rainbow Dash shouted, holding her wing in pain, “This isn't how I wanted this to go down!”

“Me neither,” Applejack added, “It's not fair at all.”

Rarity continued to strain against the multiple strikes upon the barrier before finally she could no longer hold it, dispersing the magic. Twilight gasped as a wall of magical attacks surged forth at the ponies...

A massive wall of yellow energy recoiled from behind the group, blowing away the green magic and dispersing the entirety of the shadows. Pinkie Pie, having been quickly enveloped by the shadows from the start, appeared some distance down the road as the shadows disappeared and dropped her, confused at her travel down the area. Twilight turned and looked back at Eiza, who lowered his hand.

“I'm full,” he said, licking dragon blood from his lips, “Everyone stay out here. I'll have this over soon.”

“Be careful,” Twilight replied, “He's dangerous.”

“So am I.” Eiza turned and began walking towards the castle.

“Eiza, wait!” Fluttershy jumped forward and took hold of the bottom of his hakama. Eiza looked down at the yellow pegasus.

“What is it, Fluttershy?”

“Please...” She began with teary eyes, “Don't die.”

“What?” Eiza chuckled, kneeling down in front of the pegasus. He placed a hand on top of her head. “Who says I'm gonna die?”

“I just don't want to see someone as nice as you get hurt... Please don't die, Eiza...”

Finding himself to be filled with a new resolve, Eiza stood up, his expression becoming more stern. He turned towards the double doors of the castle and took a few steps.

“Don't any of you worry about me...” He began. He looked back over his shoulder, stopping his steps towards the doors for a moment, “I'm invincible.”