CHAPTER SEVEN

After they finished with the trees of Illusions, the seven ponies continued their long and treacherous trek through the trees to the probable location of the Elementae Harmonae. A sound could be heard in the distance, like sobbing. As they got closer, the sobbing got louder and louder, and with it the sound of rushing water. Eventually, they broke to a clearing, and visible was a raging river in front of them, with no bridge. "Now what?" asked Pinkamena, a light touch of smugness filling her voice. "We'll have to find another way across," was Mica's stoic response. By now, the sobbing was clear to hear, and was starting to grate on Markon's nerves. They headed upriver, and were startled to find a purple river-serpent. It was sobbing into the river.

"What th- why is that beast crying?" asked Applejack. The serpent seemed to hear, and turned to them. "Well, I don't know, I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this tacky little cloud of red smoke just whisked past me, and tore half of my beloved moustache, clean off! And now I look simply horrid!" was all he spoke before turning back to the water and continuing to sob in extravagant sorrow.

"Y'all are kiddin' me. That's what all the fuss is about?" demanded Applejack, a slightly angry tone accenting her speech. The serpent stopped, and turned back to her. "Ah lost mah family before Ah was ten, and y'all are whinin' about a mustache?" The tears stopped coming out of the serpent's eyes, and he said "But...but...but..." "But nothing! If Ah can endure mah family's death, you can endure losin' your fethin' mustache! Grow up, galdernit!"

The river-serpent bowed his head in embarrassment. "Now, git outta here, y'all. 'n' don't come back none, y'hear?" He nodded his head, and dived back into the river, swimming downstream. Before long, the river had settled, and the group were able to pass.

Prince Blueblood looked across the battlefield the city had turned into. No more than ten metres away, one of the Nightmare Moons was waiting for him. She was clapping her front hooves on the ground. "Bravely done, mortal. But your battle is at an end. Surrender and your life may be spared." He raised his swords in defiance. "I will never surrender. Death will be far better than a thousand years in yourrule. Equustodes, for the Princess! BRING DOWN THE UNBELIEVER!"

The unicorns charged. Nightmare Moon laughed, and summoned up the swords and axes her fallen had wielded. Swirling them around in a cloud of weaponry, she advanced towards the charging loyalists. They raised their swords to parry the swinging attacks, but were brought down one by one. Regardless of their losses, they kept going, until at last Prince Blueblood was facing her. "The spirits of the ponies you murdered strengthen me, beast." His swords whirling, parrying, breaking the weapons Nightmare Moon brought against him, he kept moving through towards her. But he left an opening, and just as she was about to bring the axe down upon him and end his defiant last stand, she stopped. "You...bastard. You tried to get the Elementae, you bastard! Cultists, finish him! I have more important matters to deal with." She disappeared into a cloud of purple smoke, meeting up with another over the city, before roaring away to the Everfree Forest.

Prince Blueblood stood up again, shakily. He was tired. Around him the other survivors, less than a hundred of the original thousand, stood up too. The cultists were charging at them, screaming battlecries and showing no care for any wounded of theirs in their mad rush. "Equustodes...today we die. Die well!" He raised his swords one last time, and screamed defiance in the enemies' faces.