Chapter Twelve: The End to a true Nightmare.
I awoke to a searing pain in my head letting out a yelp as I sat up in bed and clutched my head with boy my hooves, it felt as if some one was stabbing my skull with a Burning Knife, the pain was soon replaced by a beckoning song, this Assassination incident was beginning to feel like a ruse, and in truth a hatched plan for me.
"Ugh...I guess it's time to go." I said to myself as I stepped out of bed stretching and Popping my Wings back and neck I quickly walked off towards the door, grabbing my Change of clothes a Light Chain mail undershirt, with Black Leather vest, a Sheath for my dagger attached to the front just beneath the arm, a Hood attached to the vest with my Dark Veil enchantment, and a set of holes on the back for my wings, pulling up my hood and sliding the Ornate blade I owned into its Sheath, I slid my hoof through the grip and pulled open my door walking out into the Decorated halls of Canterlot.
I walked down the hall towards the large balcony connected to the stairs that lead into the Courtyard, I would be not be flying there, Id be using the Spell I learned recently, I had deemed it the Silver Commit.
Upon arriving at the balcony I saw, Celestia, Luna, and Cadence waiting for me.
"Ah...Here he is now." I overheard Celestia say as Luna nodded.
"So I was expected, I was hoping not to have to say Goodbye, I always hate Goodbyes.." I said as I reached them.
"It is not Goodbye, it is merely, a Departure." Luna replied wittingly flashing me a grin, I returned it.
"I shall hope to be back within the next Week or so, being as I will be stopping to rest a bit after a while." I added as they nodded in return.
"So everything is in order?" Cadence asked me, I replied with a nod.
"Then Off you go." Celestia said with a smile.
"Indeed off I go, I suggest standing back however, Unless you wish to be pulled with me." I said as I took a stance, they did not understand but stood back and entered the Courtyard.
I began to focus on the spell and channeling it my horn surrounded with Silvery aura, the Air around me began to ripple as Electricity began to form the White streaks bouncing off the shield and spinning around me, Pointing my horn forward towards the sky and the direction of the Changeling Kingdom I released the spell all the energy build up forming in a Ball in front of me, I backed up the orb floating and Ran straight forward Flaying out my wings as I did so, when my Horn made contact the Orb burst sending a Wave of force visible as a Bright white light outward as I was launched forward as a Commit my wings making me look like a Soaring Dragon through the sky, anyone who saw me would see a star streaking through the air with two Large burning wings at its sides, I would be there in a few days if I keep this up.
-PoV Change, Nightmare Moon.-
"So the Prince comes...He seemed Suitable...but now...I have second thoughts, the Anger I felt within him...appears to be gone, Has he mastered his Emotions?, is he no longer worth the Effort?" Nightmare said to no one in particular.
"No...I will not let all this work go to waste, He may have mastery over his emotions, but it does not change that he is still a fit Mate, I will not lose this time, I will not start again!' Nightmare yelled slamming a hoof down on the side of her throne, at least The Throne she had taken from the Changeling Queen's ruins.
"I will just have to work with what I have, perhaps he will find me Suitable as well..." She said to herself as she Waved away the spell that showed the Prince in his Commit form, She hoped that when he came, she would be ready, What ever force brought her here, it was certainly involving him, There was the possibility...that he was as the Prophecy foretold, the Prince of Nightmares...
_-PoV Change, Kegan-Three Days of Travel later-
Upon reaching the Ruins of the Kingdom I once Lived in, I released the energy holding me to my spell, the Commit burst and the magic Seeped back into my body, flaring out my wings I slowly descended to the ground and landed, folding my wings back to my sides I looked around the ruins, eyeing the Carnage that had been caused, Many Changelings that had not made it out of the Rubble now lie dead crushed or unrecognizable by the eye, Necks Limbs or even torsos twisted and broken in jaunty angles, It was indeed the remains of a Changeling apocalypse, Before long any spirits of the Swarm who held onto this place will be up and haunting it as if they still lived, Eternal protectors of the Swarms heart and Home.
Before long I was able to reach the remains of what Nightmare called 'The Spire', In reality it was the remains of Mil'Shacrik, The Throne room's tower, Noting this I figured she would be waiting on the throne, so I walked on down the halls of the Tower and up the stairs till I reached the door just outside the Throne room entrance, I saw that the ceiling had partially collapsed to the door would not open, But that would not stop me.
Gathering my energy I began to be surrounded by a silvery aura, letting out a roar I released the pent of energy in a Curved blast that sliced straight through the door in a diagonal form, walking back and running forward I leaped and slammed into the Door the two halves bursting apart as I rolled through and into the Throne room.
the door splintered and fell apart behind me when I stood up, looking towards the throne I saw my query, there sat Nightmare Moon, but she was not in the armor I was familiar with, she was rather in what looked like the Undergarments a mare would wear under a dress...
"You have called, So I have come." I yelled from the opposite side of the throne room.
"So you have, Prince..." Nightmare replied.
"What is it you wanted that was so dire I arrive here?" I asked as I slowly approached the throne room.
"Straight to the point then?, Very well. I recently arrived here from another dimension of sorts, However, in my dimension the Heart of Arana, was gone when I went to retrieve it, That led me to a Portal within its Chamber, Following the Portal brought me here, but the reason I know it is an alternate Dimension, is because Right now, the Changeling Empire is the most powerful nations in the World." She replied as she Stood up and walked towards me, we met face to face at the Center of the Throne room.
"That does not answer my question." I said plainly
"I beckoned you here, because I knew you would answer, Because there is a Prophecy that still exists in this world, one Your mother never thought to reveal to you." She replied.
"A prophecy?" I asked inquisitively.
"Yes, He who holds the Heart of Arana, will be bathed in the Light of the Moon, He who takes up its Mantle, will wield Darkness Eternal, Reign over the Nightmare Realm, Protector of the Dreams, He who Wields the Heart for justice and Peace, will be Eternal in the Realm of Nightmares." She spoke as if she had heard the Prophecy many times, it was awkward being as, I now understood what the Amulet was, the Heart of Arana, or Heart of the Moon, This was a game changer, and if this Prophecy was correct then...I could walk the Nightmare realm.
"Do you know how to test this Prophecy?" I asked staring at her my curiosity getting the better of me, I knew this might be a bad idea, but right now I was too interested to care.
"Yes...You must walk the Nightmare realm." She replied with a grin."You do not know how do you?" She asked as she took a seat in front of me.
"No I don't, and I wish I did right now.." I replied as I looked at her taking a seat as well.
"Then I will show you, Take my hoofs in yours." Nightmare said a hint of Authority in her voice.
Taking her hooves in my own She began giving me Directions on how to gain entry, "Empty your mind of all Inner Turmoil, all conflict must pass, Empty your anger, release the hatred with in you." She commanded as I followed what she did We began to glow with a bright Black aura, if it was even possible to do that, before long the air around us began to ripple, the world practically shattered from the immense power that radiated from us when we entered the realm.
I landed hard hitting something and bouncing off only to Land on my wing and the Pain was even more immense, I heard my wing Snap in two as I continued to roll and finally hit the floor, shortly after I began to Lose my sight, I was blackening out, I could feel my blood slid down the side of my mouth, I started to hear foot prints as I began to fade, they picked up till they reached me, the last thing I remember seeing Black hooves stepping in front of me before I blacked out.
I awoke, this time in a Dimly lit room, I scanned the area, the room was ornately decorated, Symbols of the Moon on banners hanging from the wall, It reminded me of Luna's Quarters, a cracking of the door followed by a sliver of White light being Shadowed by the head of a mare, the door opened wider and Nightmare stepped in, a Roll of bandages in her mouth and a jar filled with a strange glowing paste.
She slowly and cautiously approached me, it seemed like she was scared to approach me, It made me laugh silently, she reached the side of the bed, I simply acted as if I was asleep, Once she was close enough I opened my eyes and stared right at her, She didn't notice for a bit but she looked towards my face and her eyes widened.
"Care to explain, What you might be doing?" I asked staring her in the eyes.
Her surprise quickly faded as she shot me a glare.
"I'm the one mending that Broken wing of yours, Ungrateful Whelp." Nightmare replied.
"Broken...Wing?" I asked as I looked to my side and saw one of my Wings Bound with bandages.
"Yes a Broken Wing, Don't you recall the spill you had when we came in?" She asked as I peered at her.
Thinking back to before when I had arrived I remember Hitting my Chest and Landing on my wing.
"I also set Your ribs." She cooed staring at me fondly, any sense of Anger now extinguished.
Looking down at my chest It was tightly wrapped in Bandages, I still tasted Blood in my mouth.
"Why did you help me?" I asked looking at her curiously.
"Because, The fact you were able to come here, I'll be it shakily, Only proves my theory, and that means, the Prophecy is real." She replied as she sat down next to the bed.
It kinda Wierded me out, she had such a Hungry look in her eyes, she kept, I guess you could say Inspecting me.
"Turn over, I need to re bandage that wing.." She said through half closed eyes, naturally I turned over laying on my stomach, She began to work tentatively unwrapping the bandages, She began to rub the strange paste like salve on it, where she quickly re wrapped the break and I felt a tingling sensation on my other wing, Looking over my shoulder to see what it was, I almost yelped in surprise, Nightmare sat there Nibbling on the tip of my wing.
"What're you doing!" I asked staring at her wide eyed.
"Trying to figure out your Soft spots." She replied blankly releasing my wing from her mouth.
"Why?" I asked as I folded my wing to my side.
"You seemed...tense, I meant no harm by it, I figured If I found the right spots, I could help you relax." She replied.
I understood where she was getting at, I was stressed, but that gave her no right to do as she did, Only then something clicked in my head, Why was I stressed? I had no reason to be, I had accepted I was the last of my kind, I had accepted it was my duty to fulfill this prophecy, and Yet...I knew not all of the Prophecy, Only what Nightmare had told me, and that meant...She was hiding something.
"Nightmare...Tell me the Whole prophecy.." I said staring at her as I rose from my Laying position.
"I did...*She hesitated*..The Whole prophecy.." She replied staring at me innocently.
"I can smell your emotions, You're lying!" I exclaimed staring her down, She bit her lip and began to sweat, I continued to pin her under my intense stare.
I summoned up a strength I had no idea I had, the room darkened even more so as my form began to ripple, my mane became a bright white shining flame as my silver eyes glowed intensely, the bandages on my wing fell away as I spread them, the Bone I had broken no longer hurt as it slowly slid back in place with an audible Click, as if part of a puzzle piece, I rose from the bed, my power radiated from me, It felt...rejuvenating, Nightmare had backed away she was cowering in a corner fear and terror in her eyes as my form changed, Letting loose a roar that shook the very foundations of the building within, it carried itself on the Nightmare winds that spread through these lands.
Standing now at the Balcony of the top tower to this massive fortress, it was overgrown with Weeds and massive thorn roots stretched and punctured the walls, I watched now as the Army of Nightmarish Creatures surged forward in Portals I had not opened, I understood this to be the Portals summoned by Nightmare Moon, I had leached the Information from her, and I now had to undo the work she had done, Spreading my wings I Leaped from the tower, my Armor materializing on me, the Closed faced Helmet of a Dragon style skull, and the black and silver chain mail and plating, upon reaching the portal I instantly materialized into Equestria, Now I under stood the Prophecy, the part Nightmare had neglected to tell me, 'He who takes on the Burden of Prince, Must Also take on the Burden of the World.' I had not known the True sacrifice I would have to make, It is good I had a back up plan...My Line would Continue, I may bring honor to my family name now, but my Son...will bring an honor of his own, Sapphire...The Egg you sacrificed will Live...Even if you died...All will remember you as they remember me.
"And So it begins.." I said to myself as I began my descent towards the Center of the Ruins, I would have to use the amplifier if I would make this plan work.
Walking inside the Dormant building and using my magic to light the torches I ran my hoof over the Complex machine, it slowly groaned to life the sounds of Machine and Flesh working together at my presence, Climbing up and into the Seat I entered in the command and range, All in Equestria would see this event, they would know what transpired, with my luck they might never see the nightmare creatures within the lands, but I know...I feel it...the Princesses..are watching.
"Do you hear me now Spirits of the Nightmare realm!" I yelled my voice amplifying from the Magic and machine to the ears thousands of miles out.
"You walk the land of the Living! the true of heart! You will not turn these lands into the dread wastes you walk upon! now Return! to the Lands of the Free!" I added as I began to charge up my spell, this would demand the Ultimate sacrifice, my very being would be that sacrifice, This ritual was known as the Banishment, Or the 'Never ending Exile' I would be imprisoned in a casing of Magic that would consume the building and many thing around me to send the Dark forbidden magics of the Nightmare creatures back to the lands they came from, Nightmare included...would be banished, and all would know Peace...for a time.
I began to gather even more energy, Daring even to drain it from the air itself the ground began to crack and water boil, Lightning arched off my body connecting to different places and things, Letting out a Primal roar I released the hurricane of pent of energy, I poured everything I had into it, My emotions, Hatred Anger...grief, Happiness, memories, Everything was brought into this one spell.
The Energy exploded from within the Changeling Ruin, in a wide Orb it expanded and consumed all in its path any Nightmare was sucked into its Wrath, it quickly burst sending a Shock-wave out that shook the very planet to its core, the Energy returned and sealed me away in a crystalline formation, Forever the Black crystal would pulse and preserve my body, I can only hope that Nah'Grakin was able to get far enough away to avoid the events that would Transpire, and bring back the Genetic designs I had given him.
-PoV Change, Celestia-
I watched in shock as the energy raised high in the sky beyond the shielded borders of Equestria, the shock-wave released after practically shattered the barrier itself, Kegan...One we would never see again, a Prince who had over all been broken, still had the heart to sacrifice himself for the better of everyone, this would be a day of Celebration for a Hero...and a Day of morning for a friend.
(Hey guys I know I haven't been posting in a long while, as many of you if you had read it may have seen the story chapter I released for Wings of Vengeance the story that I will begin on after I do some things. I have so much planned out for this new story, but I plan on taking it slow and with my own time, School has been conflicting with my time management and so has many other things, so Postings will not be as fast but I assure you, I will be posting, on another note I would like to give a big thanks to some people who helped me out during this story, these people would be as listed, 'Shadowsythe22', 'Scotticus012276', 'WaNnAbe-Viny15cratch', '1TroubleSomeGuy', and Lastly You guys as a whole, the fact you responded and gave me feed back on the story only drove me further to work on it, I thank you all as friends and hope we will collaborate more so soon, In fact I'll be hosting an OC collection soon, I plan on posting a chapter or something and will expect all of the recruitments to be through PM's not Reviews, Anyway, I hope to see you reading again soon on Wings of Vengeance, - Kegan.