Chapter Seven
Ay'therian stared at the country town, before glancing at the gathered combatants formed up behind him. Many of the mares were nervous, Spitfire trying to keep their spirits up. His Necron were standing ready, Immortals readying their gauss weapons and Lychguard ready to charge alongside their Phaeron. Next, were the awakened Triarchs joining this assault, who made even Ay'therian wary. After all, despite wearing his colors, these Triarchs were not part of Ay'therian's Dynasty, acting more as the Silent King's watchdogs… Making sure Ay'therian upheld the Necron's code of honor.
Even though that is the sole reason they were here, they continued to fight for the Phaeron, so long as he kept to the code. Ay'therain could not ignore their skills, either, Triarch Necrons being the most elite of their race. Though, even they had formed a bond with Celestia and Luna, the Triarch Praetorians being their instructors in martial combat, and they planned on rescuing their students from King Dainn's grasp. They were even entombed beneath the Castle of Two Sisters, to protect Ay'therian's most powerful weapon and be ready to defend the castle against any invaders.
"Do you understand the plan, Captain?" Ay'therian asked, grasping his war-scythe tightly.
Spitfire gave a respective bow of her head. "Yes, Phaeron Ay'therian. We will advance, draw out the Caribou forces, and then you will strike them once we have them distracted." She acknowledged, watching the Phaeron take a step back. "What of Daring Do?"
"She will advance alongside you, keeping the Spyders back until we advance." Ay'therian answered, before looking down at the mare. "Now, what can you tell me about the one in charge of this town? What am I to expect here?"
"We do not know the lord who oversees Ponyville, but he is considered the cruelest of them all… Starving the town's remaining residence, taking almost everything they need to survive, for himself, and he leaves them all with no protection… Not caring if Timberwolves attacked one of the nearby farms." Spitfire informed, gripping her sword tightly, Ay'therian glancing down at the mare. "He even refuses to leave Princess Twilight's castle, like he owns it… Only the Caribou can enter, and probably rape her majesty and the Elements." She looked back up at the Necron, this time with pleading eyes. "But, they have corrupted a noble Equestrian within that Castle… His name is Spike, once a baby dragon that had been charged to be Princess Twilight's assistant. The corrupted Crystal Heart had turned his people's curse of greed, which allows them to grow to enormous size, and made it a lust filled greed. None of this is his fault, either… He cannot control himself." Spitfire stepped towards the Phaeron, nodding to him. "If you see him on the battlefield, a decent sized drake with purple scales and green spines, I beg you not to kill him… After all, he is just a baby."
"I have heard enough, and will try to do as you asked, Captain. There may be something we can use to subdue him, but it will cause him much pain." Ay'therian used his war-scythe to push the mare forward. "Begin your advance. We will be right behind you." Spitfire gave a nod, relieved he is considering this, moving to give out orders for Luna's rebel forces. Though, when Daring Do started to walk past him, the Phaeron placed a hand on to her shoulder. "Wait a moment."
"Yes, my Phaeron?" Daring Do looked up at Ay'therian, who just returned the gaze. "How may I assist you?"
"Be careful out there." Were his only words, before Ay'therian lightly pushed Daring Do towards the advancing rebels… Shields bearing Lychguard blocking sight of him.
-Ponyville-
The rebels formed up just outside of the Everfree Forest, holding Equestria's banner high. Spitfire standing in the armor of a Royal Guard Captain, Daring Do standing next to her, like a representative from Ay'therian's Dynasty to oversee the Equestrian forces. Their appearance drew the local Caribou Garrison's attention, as they hoped, and watched two battalions' worth of Caribou Soldiers form up across form them. They were outnumbered by a more prepared fighting force, many mares starting to tremble, fearing of becoming their slaves again. However, Spitfire motioned for them to hold.
"We are Equestria's only fighting force, mares! Do not lose spirit!" Spitfire shouted, putting her shield forward, sword behind it. "Our allies have already done so much, let us prove we are worth their efforts!"
Former Guard ponies rushed forward, the mares readying their shields as well. Daring Do freed her whip, allowing its barbed length to coil at her hooves, watching the shield maidens prepare for battle and stood behind Spitfire. Those behind them also prepared for the battle to come, before the Caribou Archers readied their bows… Causing them to flinch, a Caribou Officer walking out in front of his men. "Isn't this sweet? A group of mares that think they can liberate a single town." He shouted, smirking at the rebels, arrogantly. "How kind of you to show up, my men and I thought we wouldn't get anymore slaves to play with… Since our Lord seems to be hoarding the better ones all to himself."
The mares glared at the Caribou, readying their weapons, as Spitfire braced her shield. She prepared to yell something defiantly at the officer, until another voice cut in. "Spike want!" The bellowing roar caused them to freeze, rocks shaking from heavy foot falls, as a purple and green drake was pulled by chains, within the Caribou ranks. The rebels started to tremble, and started to back away in fear of Twilight's, now crazed, assistant… His lust filled eyes scanning their ranks for only the best mares. "Spike… Wants… Now…"
Drool left Spike's maw of fangs, a serpent tongue licking some of it away. "Oh, yes… We had this here, I'm sure you already knew that" The officer, and his men, began to laugh at the trembling mares. "It is surprising how obedient this beast becomes, when we present him with a few pretty mares."
They all backed a few more steps, wondering when Ay'therian was planning to make his move. Even Daring Do faltered, at the sight of Spike, until she sensed something through her nanoscarab… (( watch?v=7z_vEuA3IK8)) It reminded her of Pincer and Heavy, but it moved much faster and through the ground beneath their feat. From what she could tell, there were three of these signatures, weaving around under the mares and in front of their ranks. Yet, she couldn't tell what they were exactly, or keeping up with their weaving movements.
"Heh, he's been a good boy, so we will let this beast have some fun." The officer pointed his sword towards the rebels. "They're all yours, beast! Have at them!"
"Spike want!" The Caribou released their hold on Spike, allowing the drake to charge forward! This caused the rebels to scream some, seeing him charge straight for their ranks… But, they still braced themselves, Royal Guards holding their ground. "Spike will have!" Spike reached towards their leaders, Spitfire and Daring Do going wide eyed as he targeted them.
"My Phaeron!"
At Daring Do's call, the ground burst open with a bone chilling screech deafening those around it, as a Canoptek Tomb Stalker leapt out! Its bladed mandibles snapping down on to Spike's exposed neck, forcing him to topple backwards. Without warning, two more leapt out of the ground, and quickly wrapped themselves around Spike's large frame. Their bladed appendages easily slicing into the drake's armored flesh, blood staining his scales.
Spike roared in agony, managing to rip the one ahold of his neck off, blood spraying out where the blades were, and throw it away… When it landed, Spike quickly unleashed a breath of fire towards it, while trying to remove the other two. The Tomb Stalker whipped its body into a curve, allowing Spike to incinerate the Caribou Soldiers behind it instead. This angered the drake, attempting to step forward, but one of the other Tomb Stalkers rammed a blade through his leg! Spike released another roar of agony, unable to prevent his fall forward.
The moment he landed, all three Tomb Stalkers were on him again… Only, this time, they managed to pin the drake down, one clamping down on to Spike's back and placed its mandibles on to the back of his head. Once Spike had been immobilized, their center eyes glowed brightly, before causing a red pulse to expand over Ponyville. Unknown to all, but Daring Do, the Tomb Stalkers had just activated their Gloom Prisms… The very thing breaking King Dainn's mind control over Equestrians.
"W-What!?" The Caribou Officer yelled, seeing Spike enter a daze, before his injuries forced the drake to pass out. "How is this even possible!?"
"Easy." Daring Do shouted, stepping out in front of the rebel line. "You all have just lost, my Phaeron has decided now will be his time to strike." She smirked, as glowing red eyes began to appear within the Everfree Forest. Daring Do then turned towards the forest, and bowed respectively.
"Kill that bitch! She is the reason those things are here, they may retreat if she's dead!" The officer yelled, one of their archers fired an arrow.
The arrow flew straight for Daring Do, as she turned around, wide eyed… Until a massive, metal, leg reached out and deflected the arrow! They all looked up, seeing a Triarch Stalker towering over the rebel ranks, its pilot staring down at his prey. He pushed the controls forward, his Stalker moving forward and began to open fire into the Caribou ranks! Four more Triarch Stalkers emerged from the Everfree Forest, uprooting what trees were in their way. But, this had only been the initial shock assault, Necron foot soldiers already marching out of their concealment. They began to also open fire on to their foes, Praetorians and Lychguard silently advancing towards the Caribou.
"This is our chance, mares! Forward!" Spitfire yelled, pointing her blade towards the Caribou, her rebels cheering before they began to advance.
Daring Do, on the other hand, simply watched them, trying to control her surprised breathing of nearly being killed. "I told you to be careful, Daring Do." The voice made her whip around, seeing Ay'therian towering over the mare. He just eyed Daring Do, before cupping her chin. "Now, what are you waiting for? This is your chance to reap revenge… Go, I will be watching over you." Ay'therian released her chin, motioning forward with his war-scythe. "None of the Caribou will dare strike at you."
"With pleasure, my Phaeron." Daring Do turned around, using her wings to jump into the air, having her whip snap to its full length. "Pincer!" Like a dutiful pet, the Canoptek Spyder soared up to Daring Do, allowing her on to its back. The mare took a braced stance, grasping the whip into her free hand as well, before Pincer shot forward. She rode the Canoptek Spyder like a hoverboard, allowing it to help her move across the battlefield. Soon, the mare's first target came into view, a Caribou Soldier that pinned a rebel slave in one of the town's many alleyways. "Oh, no you don't!" Daring Do snapped her whip forward, and latched it around the Caribou's neck. "You're coming with me, pal!"
Pincer zipped past the alleyway, giving Daring Do's catch no chance to react, before her whip yanked him behind them. Once they reached the primary Caribou battle line, Daring Do used her whip to throw said Caribou into one of his comrades… The stinger end snapping his neck, right after releasing.
Daring Do leapt off Pincer's back, spinning her whip around and used it to cut the legs out from under seven Caribou Soldiers, when she landed. With a smirk, seeing one of her targets approaching, Daring Do spun around and leapt over him, her whip wrapping around the Caribou Soldier's neck. After landing, she quickly grabbed the whip's length, glancing back at her catch. "Don't lose your… Head over me." She yanked her weapon down, the whip's barbed teeth ripping her opponent's head clean off! Blood spraying out of their neck.
The display had gained Ay'therian's undivided attention, Daring Do's brutality and skill impressing him. Though, when he caught the sight of her eyes half lidded, only for a moment, with a playful smirk through the Caribou's spraying blood… He felt a strange jolt near his metal hips. "What was that?" He thought, looking down… But, the Phaeron had to put those questions aside, seeing a Caribou Soldier heading straight for a distracted Daring Do.
Currently, the mare used her whip's length to physically choke a prone Caribou Soldier. They tried to stop her, reaching back and strike at the mare, but Daring Do stradled his back where it made such actions impossible. "How do you like it, huh? How do you bastards like being overpowered, and become powerless while another controls your life!?" She demanded, watching the Caribou's eyes glaze over, falling limp. With a smirk, Daring Do stood up, and turned around… And seeing another Caribou Soldier holding his weapon high, her own still on the corpse.
An X appeared across the Caribou Soldier's body, before red flames caused him to explode. Behind the corpse's charred remains, stood Ay'therian with his hand pointing towards where Daring Do's attacker once stood. Nother Caribou Soldier charged towards the Phaeron, only to be sliced in half by a fast-upper cut with his war-scythe. Quickly, Ay'therian leapt over to Daring Do, causing the mare to go down on to her knees and him tower over her frame, as more Caribou Soldiers charged towards the Phaeron. Without missing a beat, Ay'therian lifted his scythe up into the air and spun it, the blade turning into a solid red light. One hand went down, to keep Daring Do low, while his weapon tore their oncoming attackers apart.
The display made Daring Do become awestruck of Ay'therian's deadly skill, along with how much his current attack kept him distracted. Three Caribou Soldiers moved underneath the Phaeron's lethal spin, trying to get closer. "Oh, no you bastards don't." Daring Do tightened her grip on the whip, sliding forward and used it to trip them up… Causing each soldier to be thrown up into Ay'therian's awaiting war-scythe.
Lychguards quickly pushed in, their shields forward and moved to retrieve their Phaeron and Envoy. However, when they reached their charges, the Dynasty's elite came to a sudden halt and slammed their shields into the ground. This confused their foes, whom looked at each other, then to the wall of dispersion shields. After no movement came from the Lychguard, Caribou Soldiers charged towards them… Not knowing the mistake that had just been made.
Once the Caribou Soldiers were too close, they were suddenly met with opened shields and Praetorian Guards cleaving into their ranks! They moved through the slaughter like nothing Daring Do had ever seen from Necrons before. The Lychguard and Ay'therian were extremely lethal, but these Triarch Praetorians Guards were on a completely different level than them. Each swing of their war-scythes, or shot from their wrists and cleaving swords, were precise and expertly calculated. It did not take very long, until they had slaughtered the Caribou Soldiers and ended their dance of death.
-Friendship Castle-
Ay'therian and Daring Do stared up at the crystal formed castle in front of them, Lychguard and Praetorian Guard ensuring the area was clear. They had slayed what soldiers were posted, as guards, and made sure the battle moved away from their current location… Trying to lead their foe into a false sense of security. A Lychguard were posted on both sides of the door, awaiting their Phaeron's command.
"I wonder who this mysterious lord is…" Daring Do commented, staring at what was once the beacon of friendship. "Along with, who could be so cruel."
Ay'therian kept his gaze on the crystalized castle. "Only one way to find out." He simply stated, walking towards the door, Daring Do right behind him. The Lychguard pressed against each door, looking to their Phaeron. With a nod, they quickly shoved the doors open, not finding a single guard inside. "… Whoever he is, they either do not understand tactics or are extremely arrogant of his own martial forces."
Sounds of a mare moaning drew their attention, Lychguard and Praetorian quickly rushing down hallways, to make sure they were secured. Ay'therian and Daring Do, along with a small contingent of Lychguard and Praetorians, headed towards where the moans were coming from. Quietly, they stalked the castle's halls, Daring Do hovering above the Necrons, as they eyed different pictures involving a strange compass one would find on some pirate's treasure map, a few involving it and King Dainn's sigil. These strange compass images all looked familiar to Daring Do, but she could not seem to place where from.
T\Once they reached the door, leading into Twilight's map room, Lychguard formed up with their shields out front, facing the door. Ay'therian pushed past them, standing before the obstruction blocking their path. He swore to save this princess, personally, and planned to be the first one to breach. Red flames already sparked around the Phaeron's hand, as he lifted it up and took aim at the door. "Nothing denies the Necronty's revenge." The red flames shotout, instantly destroying what blocked their path and opened the way inside. Without hesitation, Ay'therian strode inside, but froze at the sight that welcomed him.
Each Element had been chained to their individual chair, pegasi with clipped wings and unicorn with a ring tied to her horn, all blind folded with a gag inside of their muzzles. At the center, had been both individuals the Necrons searched for, one bent forward on to the map table. Twilight's wings were clipped, ring tied to her ever growing horn, arms tied to the small of her back and white stains across the mare's body. Her breath began to slow, due to the action against Twilight coming to a sudden halt… Though, the one who performed such dark desires had been surprised by the sudden intrusion of these would-be liberators.
The white unicorn stallion stared at those who barged in on his private session, eyes wide. Though, Ay'therian's own unwavering gaze examined every detail before him, from the stallion's blonde hair, terror filled blue eyes, all the way down to his Caribou Royalty Regalia. An uncontrollable rage burned within the Phaeron's metal body, his eyes starting to glow brighter than before. What stood before him, what had control over Ponyvill, had been the lowest of scum to Necron. Those that they despised alongside their hated nemesis, the Eldar. Before anything could be said of this situation, the blazing rage within Ay'therian manifested into an echoing roar of pure, unbridled, rage.
"TRAITOR!" Ay'therian charged forward, war-scythe held out for a slicing strike, as the stallion tossed Twilight away and scrambled backwards. An aura of cold blooded murder choked the air around the Phaeron, his gaze locked on to the mortal before him.
Two, different, Necron hands shot forward and quickly grasped Aytherian by the shoulders, effectively stopping his rage induced charge. "No, Phaeron. Despite what this scum is, we must stay to our ways… End this, as tradition demands." A Praetorian Guard ordered, both Triarchs keeping Ay'therian still.
"You expect me to sully our sacred tradition, by allowing this traitor to take part in it!?" The Phaeron demanded, looking between the Praetorian addressing him and the trembling stallion. "You ask too much of me, Prae'tor!"
"Traitor, or not… This scum is still the local military's commander. By rite, he must be challenged!" The Praetorian named "Prae'tor" noted, as the Praetorian released their current captive. "You know our duty, keep to our code, Phaeron Ay'therian… Or force our hand in this matter."
Ay'therian stared at Prae'tor for a moment, before slamming his foot on to the ground, pacing back and forth, the decision obviously frustrating him. Prae'tor looked back at the stallion, tossing him a Caribou Soldier's sword. "What a-am I g-going to do w-with this?" He asked, looking down at the abandoned weapon, then to the Praetorian.
"Defend yourself with it." Prae'tor answered, Lychguard and Praetorians moving away. "What is your name, Equestrian?" The stallion did not reply, and only stared at them, trembling. "What. Is. Your. Name?" Prae'tor's repeated question sounded more like a demand this time around, yet he still did not answer.
"P-Prince Blueblood…" The Necrons looked back at Daring Do, who seemed both disgusted and shocked by this revelation. "His name is Prince Blueblood, adoptive nephew of Princess Celestia."
"He. Is. What!?" Ay'therian snarled, hands tightening around his war-scythe.
Prae'tor glanced at the enraged Phaeron, then back to the stallion. "Prince Blueblood, as leader of this martial force here, you are hereby challenged to a duel of honor with Phaeron Ay'therian the Reaper, Ruler of the Ay'therian Dynasty… For control of this territory, do you accept?"
"Wait, what!?" Blueblood looked between Prae'tor and Ay'therian, before focusing on the Praetorian again. "I am not fighting him! He would crush me, the moment we started!"
"Then, do you surrender?" Prae'tor asked.
"Yes, of course! I surrender! I surrender!" Blueblood repeated, holding his hands up in a pleading manner. "I do not wish to fight him, he can have Ponyville! This dirty peasant's town not being worth any of my time, or life!"
Prae'tor gave a nod, wlaking up to the Phaeron's left side. "Then, the Triarch shall not interfere with your judgement, Phaeron Ay'therian." The Praetorians opened ranks, clearing Ay'therian's way to Blueblood.
"And I have already decided his fate." Ay'therian strode up to the trembling Blueblood. "I was originally going to slay you, myself, scum..." The Phaeron grabbed hold of Blueblood by his collar, and held the stallion eye level to him. "But, I will not taint my blade with your foul blood." He threw Blueblood down, walking towards his Lychguard.
"W-What are you g-going to do w-with m-me?" Blueblood asked, moving away from the Necrons.
"What, you ask? That is quite simple, for scum like you?" Ay'therian snickered, glancing back at Blueblood and lifting his war-scythe up. "Give you to the Flayed Ones."
When his weapon came back down, causing a metallic echo to sound around them, a red portal opened and three ghoulish Necrons, who had bladed hands and wore bloody hides of Caribou Soldiers, leapt out! Blueblood shrieked at the sight of them, as the three Flayed Ones swarmed him, like the ghoulish horrors they resembled, and began to drag the stallion towards their portal. The scene of Blueblood being dragged towards some unknown dimension, where they planned to shred his body into bloody chunks and wear his flesh as cloaks, reminded Daring Do of some zombie horror movie she watched before all this began… His screams echoing in her ears, until the Flayed Ones dragged Blueblood into their portal. Ay'therian quickly closing it, before anymore could escape.
"Good riddance." Ay'therian walked towards the door. "Get those mares free, and see to them, brothers. Once the Princess has regained her strength, bring her to me… I have a siege to plan for." His Lychguard doing as they were instructed, the Praetorian only seeing to Twilight. However, Ay'therian stopped next to a horrified Daring Do, gently stroking her chin, but did not look at the mare… Standing off to her side. "Come, my dear… We have much to do."
Daring Do blinked, Ay'therian calling her 'my dear' breaking the terror's, of Flayed Ones possibly coming for her, hold over her. Quickly, she chased after the retreating Phaeron, hoping there was something she could do for him.