The Shadow of Equestria
Chapter 16
Can't Stop Me Now!
With my spear in hand, I readied myself for combat. I knew that this fight was not in my favor, but this was the only way to get them off my back for a period of time.
As I waited, I watched as Luna began to lead the foals out of the school and as far away from me as she could. I smiled. She may have saved them, but they'll remember what happened here for the rest of their lives. As the last of the foals fled the school, I turned my attention to the now emerged Agliss, who looked like he was going to explode.
"I thought that maybe you could change Zhane. I thought that maybe if you knew that humans are an extinct race in Equestria that maybe you would have dropped your hostile attitude and help make our race proud. That you could finally help the ponies of Equestria know us as a wise and kind hearted race. However, you've broken that thought and more. I've heard murmurs of hate and spite towards humans all because of your actions in Canterlot alone. Imagine what the ponies of Equestria will think once they catch wind of this incident. Innocents slaughtered, a village destroyed, its youth traumatized. You are giving humanity a bad reputation."
Agliss proceed to close in the gap between him and I.
"Maybe I should have killed you when we first met. I could sense the dark magic in you; something that was far stronger than you had control over. My thoughts were clouded with second chances and redemption, blinding me from your own personality. So now, I look out over this town and realize the mistake I made. I realize that the only I can do is break you and lock you away in the deepest, darkest hellhole I can find. There, maybe, just maybe, your attitude with change for the better."
He then proceeded to pull his sword from the holster that rested on his back. Now with a weapon in hand, Agliss readied himself for the fight but at that point, I had to give some input myself.
"You think that I'm going to let you take me in again." I said smiling. "That won't be happening Agliss because this time, I know how to use my magic."
"That magic has corrupted your mind! No human is fit to wield it!" yelled Agliss.
"My mind was corrupted way before I was able to use this magic. But I learned how to control it and that's all that matters." I replied.
"I doubt you have grown in skill since you were incarcerated in Canterlot." said Agliss in a vicious voice.
"It's not that I grew in skill, it's the fact that I learned what's holding me back. My imagination."
"I doubt that." said Agliss as he nodded slightly.
Two seconds passed and a loud clank sound echoed from behind my head. I smiled.
"You see." I said. "Your partner has a tendency of disappearing and becoming a huge pain in my ass. When I saw that he wasn't with you, I made this to protect myself."
I pointed my thumb behind me where a large purplish barrier flickered into existence as it kept the sword aimed for me at bay.
"Hmmmmm." I said as I rubbed my chin. "Now that I think about it, I could probably do this as well."
A sudden shift in the barrier caused it to start moving towards Yamato in hopes of encasing him within. Moving quickly, the Captain jumped away and quickly returned to his partners side.
"Now, if we're done with talking, I would love to get to the action." I said as I lifted my spear.
Agliss growled slightly before charging straight to me. I smiled as I held my spear forward, preparing to stop his charge. With a quick look to my left, I noticed that Yamato had closed the gap as well and was approaching fast. I back pedaled until both men were now in front of me and I began to fire bolts of magic. The bolts proved useless as a majority were blocked or deflected while the rest missed. I frowned as I prepared another barrier to block the attack. By that time, Agliss and Yamato had gotten close enough to strike. Their blades were stopped by my barrier before they could go any further.
I smiled as the two soldiers were halted in their tracks. However, my happiness was short lived as I watched Yamato disappear before my very eyes.
"Time for a lesson on magic Zhane." said Agliss as he continued to hold his sword against the barrier. "In our human society, magic was broken up into two types, Traditional and Elemental. During my time, Elemental magic was dying out and leading the way for Traditional magic to become dominant. However, a group of families came together and formed an organization to prevent the dying out of Elemental magic. To do that, they took each element and assigned it to the founding families Because of their efforts, by the time I enlisted in the Army, Elemental magic was as common as Traditional. Yamato's family was one of the families that helped form the Organization and because of that, they were entrusted with the element of Wind."
Agliss ended his long winded story as a loud whoosh came from behind. As I looked back, I saw Yamato preparing to swing his sword. In a panic, I rolled to the side in hopes that the blade would miss. Fortunately, it did and I now had some room to breathe. I had to think of something quickly, a plan to help me win.
"What is your next course of action?" asked Umbra.
'I was just trying to decide what to do.' I replied. 'I'm afraid that they are way too strong for me to fight with my magic.'
"Why not try to trick them?" asked Umbra. "Make them fall into a trap that you have laid."
'I don't think that they will fall for any tricks of mine. This might turn out bad for me.'
"Nonsense, just wait for an opening to attack. If you continue to leave yourself open like you just did, they will take the bait."
I remained silent as I began to think of a way to coax the two into a trap. I looked towards the school house and saw the Luna was now overlooking the fight. That meant that the foals were safe. I thought about using Luna as bait but I quickly shot that plan down. I looked back at Agliss and noticed that he and Yamato had began to charge again. To counter, I put up another barrier and waited for them to strike it. That's when an excellent plan popped into my mind, all I'd have to do is wait for Yamato to disappear again.
After a few moments, the two swords hit my barrier again and Yamato vanished. I knew that I had a few seconds until he reappeared so I quickly turned my spear around and waited. Not even three seconds later, the whoosh came from behind. I took this as the sign to thrust my spear. So as soon as the whoosh hit my eardrums, my spear went back. A loud wet grunt was the next thing I heard. This made me smile.
"Looks like I got one." I said as I turned to see Yamato on the other end of my spear. I turned back to see Agliss still standing on the other side of my barrier with his eyes wide.
"You should see the look on your face Agliss." I said. "I bet it hurts knowing that your friend is dying at the edge of my spear."
"Put him down or I will end you." Agliss said in a threatening voice.
"As you wish." I said in a mocking tone as I let the spear go and watched as Yamato's body fell to the ground. After the body hit the ground I smiled.
"You have two choices Agliss. You can let me go and save your partner or you can continue your assault and watch as your friend dies before you."
"Like I would let you go." said Agliss.
Instead of answering, I held my hand up, palm forward, and began to form a bolt in my hand.
"Like I said, it's your choice."
Agliss looked at me then at Yamato. He stayed silent for several moments before ultimately making his choice. He removed his sword from my barrier and backed away.
"The next time we meet, I will not hesitate to kill you." said Agliss.
"I doubt that." I replied with a smile as I began to back away from the body and into the forest, barrier still up. The moment that Agliss approached Yamato's body was the moment that I bolted off into the forest, running as far away as I could. With Agliss no longer in sight, Umbra congratulated me.
"I have to admit, you came up with that plan rather quickly. I didn't think that Agliss would let you go like that."
'Neither did I.' I replied. 'Now, were can I go from here?'
"Hmmm, You could go to the Badlands. It's only a couple days from here and it is outside Equestria's rule. Meaning that you would be safe for a while."
'What do you mean by a while? Wouldn't I be safe as long as I stayed there?'
"The Minotaurs, Changelings, and several variations of Constellation Beasts. If my memory serves correct, the Minotaurs are not allies with Equestria, the Changelings keep to themselves, and the Constellation Beasts will not attack unless disturbed."
'I guess it's decided then.' I said as I began to follow Umbra's directions.
"Is he going to make it?" asked Luna as Agliss tended to Yamato's wound.
"He should, the wound was not deep enough to puncture anything important."
"What about Zhane?" asked Luna.
Agliss sighed.
"I don't know where he'll go. He's learning how to control his magic. We need to continue to track him because the longer he's out here the more this will happen."
Agliss paused.
"I think it would be best to inform Celestia of what has happened and tell her to strengthen the guard in every city and village. I don't want this to happen again. As for Yamato; we must take him back to the castle to heal. If I must, I will go after Zhane myself."
Here's Chapter 16 for everypony. Enjoy!
Sorry for not uploading a chapter last week. I was sick and couldn't concentrate long enough to write a chapter. On top of that, a freak snow storm hit my area and caused several power outrages. I also apologize for the short chapter after a week without an upload.
No need to worry though, I'm back in action and here with some good news.
I've decided that the progression of TSOE is too slow for my taste so next week, I'll be releasing two chapters. One Monday and one Thursday. This two release week will help me decide if I'll continue to do it.
Remember to vote on the poll on my profile. The topic is What do you guys want to see more of in the future?
See everypony next Monday!