Chapter 16 F: Forgotten Past (part 2.3) {5}
Night Shadow vs. Jack
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The group walked down the dark hallways until they reached the next room of battle. They all looked around in astonishment, noticing that the room wasn't a room at all. It was a large, circular stone elevator that was probably thousands of years old with waterfalls surrounding the entire floor. The ground was made of ancient stone marked with strange, rune like writing. Night Shadow, being curious, looked over the edge of the circular stone to see a huge pool of water about a hundred feet beneath them.
"This...is just beautiful…" Night Shadow commented, looking around. "But where is the keeper of the floor?"
"Before the birth of Celestia, a normal pony was born with remarkable skill and talent. She attracted thousands to witness her abilities. You see, she had a liking towards metal and sharp objects. She was well trained, skilled in kendo as well as Iaido. When the king of equines, right before Equestria was named, found this young mare's talent to be special, he had her enlisted in the army. He told her that she could slay thousands with her remarkable techniques, making magic seem pointless.
But she disagreed. She told the king that she was no weapon as he perceived her to be. She was a normal earth pony born like any other with special talents. She told him that if she were to kill, she would not kill for him...or anybody else. She would kill in honor to those that deserved it.
So, the king founded her response remarkable, and made her captain of his army. He told her that someday in the future, his lineage will bestow her family a great fortune when they need it the most. So, on that day, she trained his soldiers to be remarkable swordsmen, and even told them the meaning of their blades and armor. She was the first swordspony in history.
She took down the ancient Discordian army Discord's uncle led by herself...but died on the battlefield after it. That mare...was my mother. And I...am her living legacy." Jack said, looking at each of them with his blade drawn, clutched tightly in his mouth.
His presence was unknown since he appeared behind them with remarkable speed. The stone embedded in his blade glowed as he swung his blade, cutting the part of the ground that held up the others, forcing them to land on the stone platform.
Jack quickly leaped onto the center of the platform and turned to them as they got up from the ground. Stepping on a circular slab, the platform began shaking as water burst out from the rocky walls, filling up the water below and causing it to rise.
"You are my enemy. All that oppose Blue or Celestia herself and threatens their life and all of pony kind shall be slay by my blade. If I fail...then hopefully I failed on time. If you are not fast enough to take me down, this platform will be submerged into the water and you will drown. Magic can't help you for this water drains all type of magic, making even an alicorn powerless. There are four slabs, both shaped as squares, if you hit the right one, the platform will extend up, buying you time."
"Well, this place is quite impressive." Night Shadow complimented. "Do you wish to fight us all or just one?"
Jack scoffed before speaking.
"It does not matter, you will have to cooperate if you want to live and get out of here. Do not waste time, for I will not give you a single second!" He yelled, dashing forward swinging his blade deadly towards Night Shadow. Time slowed down as the blade was clearly seen cutting through air itself, revealing the powerful steel strength to slice through even bone swiftly if the opponent was not quick enough to dodge.
Night Shadow's eyes dilated as he ducked under the blade, keeping up with Jack's speed. He could say that Blue's training paid off, but this guy made fast appear slow because the others had no idea what just happened. One second ago two ponies were just looking at each other, now they were attacking each other at speed they couldn't even keep up with. Eventually, Night Shadow flipped out of Jack's reach, landing near his allies.
"This guy is way too fast for you guys and magic won't work here according to him...I have to fight him alone. So don't get in the way." Night Shadow ordered.
Jack sheathed his blade, but gripped the handle with his teeth, ready to launch out a vicious Iaido style attack. He narrowed his eyes and ran in zig-zag patterns before appearing on the side, launching another swing that carved through the air perfectly.
"Do not waste your time talking!" He yelled as his blade unsheathed during its swing, ready to cut through bone.
Once again, the pony dodged the attack. But for some reason, he saw something in Jack that prevented him from attacking back. Dodge after dodge and swing after swing, it became obvious that Night Shadow wasn't even trying to fight back, and he just didn't know why.
Jack grew frustrated from the trite being played by Night Shadow and turned his attention on the group. He was done playing fair for he had toss away his honor long ago since he joined Blue's mission to bring pure destruction upon the world. He sheathed his blade after one more swing, keeping his Iaido stance steady, and dashed forward towards the other, swinging his blade in a 180 degree motion, after unsheathing it again. His mission was to kill them, and he will do so without toying or wasting time like the others.
That's when Night Shadow grabbed his tail and yanked him back, grabbing his sword and holding it in place so he couldn't budge.
"Are all of Blue's soldiers cowards and tricksters. I thought you would be different, but you're just as deceitful as the others." He said, throwing Jack back into the center of the arena. "They have fought their battles, It's my turn to fight, so stop with the stupidity."
Jack sheathed his blade and prepared to strike before he looked down the ledge, watching the water reaching 25 feet up, close to filling the area. He knew once the water touches them it will zap away their energy. The last time he touched was when he was colt and Celestia's mother brought in a pot full of it for a magical lesson. He closed his eyes and soon reopened them, only glare at Night Shadow. He truly did not understand the meaning of war. There was no fairness. There was no honor. Everything was to be done to survive.
"We will soon die here. You, you think I am equated with those bastards. No, I serve Celestia and will give my life to her so that she may see her mother's sun once again." He declared, starting to walk in a zig-zag pattern as the gemstone began glowing brightly. "You act as if things should go your way, but not all the time, child. You are young and naive. War...war is never fair. You must kill to survive and all you've been doing is wasting time with dodging and not attacking. I even gave you an opening, you did not take it. If I wanted to, I will kill your friends for not attempting to assist you. I supposed you think I still have honor?"
He stopped as his tone grew grim
"I lost it once you and Blue were born into this world. I lost it when this war even began. I lost everything except one thing...my faith towards the mare I swore protection since she was filly." He sheathed his blade before unsheathing it fast, appearing behind Night Shadow.
"This is where you will understand...no one is going to do things your way. You must do whatever it takes to survive and succeed in your mission." He said as the tip of his blade dripped with blood.
A large horizontal slash appeared on Night Shadow's chest as blood slowly began to leak out, but before the unicorn had any chance to react, Jack bucked him against a pillar where a square slab slid out.
'Celestia, I know you will be angry at me. I know you will never forgive me. But I had no choice. I had to break that promise made many years ago. I am sorry my princess. Jack thought, readying his blade and glaring at the others.
The gemstone on the blade continued to glow, cloaking itself in green aura that started to burn the ground beneath him.
"We will all die here for your foolishness." He stated, looking at the injured Night Shadow.
Night Shadow slowly stood up and sighed deeply, putting pressure onto his wounds to stop the bleeding. He cracked his neck and regained his composure.
"The only thing I know is war...I was born into it and I want it to end. If I must kill once more to save this world then so be it." Night Shadow declared.
Night Shadow took one step forward before launching into the air and flipping over the swordspony. He landed behind him but quickly jumped back as Jack attempted to slice him in half. He needed to get that sword from his opponent or get an opening. Either way, performing more stunts and tricks to dodge would quickly drain his energy, he needed to act soon.
"Fujin!" Jack yelled, launching a barrage of slash attacks.
Each swing cut through the wind, creating a void that eliminated the oxygen around him. He kept a careful eye on Night Shadow, before launching a powerful swing that sliced the ground, embedding a large cut into the earth. The last swing sent a powerful invisible blade beam that cut through the ground, heading straight towards Night Shadow.
It missed by an inch but sent the unicorn sliding back, almost falling off the ledge. The water was rising higher, almost close to touching ledges. The gemstone stopped glowing as Jack sheathed his blade and got back into his Iaido stance, ready to counter and move on a swift attack.
The red pony started to run towards Jack in a diagonal pattern until he took a hard turn away from him, rolled around his hooves and tripped him with a ground attack. Night Shadow quickly went for the blade, trying to grab it with his hooves. But as soon as his hooves touched the blade, it burnt him and stuck to the ground. Jack got up from the ground and glared back at him without emotion.
"Oh course it's enchanted, why would it not be!" Night Shadow yelled in frustration.
Night Shadow was then punched onto his back by the swordspony's orange hoof. Jack casually grabbed the blade on the ground and threw it into the air, catching it in his mouth as it fell back down. Without wasting another second, Jack trusted his blade at Night Shadow, but the blade was caught in Night Shadow's hooves and redirected to stab the ground only a couple of inches away from his face.
"Only I can wield this blade you insolent foal." Jack said, pressing down as he glared angrily at Night Shadow. "Your friends could be making time in trying to extend this platform before it's too late, instead they are watching us like naive children, waiting for the fight to end before death takes them without mercy."
Night Shadow kicked Jack in the stomach as he was pinned to the ground. He then quickly flipped Jack over him and onto his back before performing a backward kip up and landing on top of Jack.
"Guys, press the slabs on the walls as they pop out! It should keep the water down!" He ordered, avoiding a jab from the stallion below.
Jack gritted his teeth before he flipped Night Shadow off of him and quickly readied his blade, holding it tightly with his hooves and bringing it down. Night Shadow rolled out the way quickly before the sharp metal pierced through the stone floor and soon swung through the rock, almost decapitating him if he had not rolled back. Jack sheathed his blade, going back to his Iaido stance before released a powerful swing, cutting through the air with his now unsheathed blade. Night Shadow ducked and swung his hoof, but it was caught in a lock by Jack's right hoof as he spat his sword out and caught it with his left.
Night Shadow flipped himself back, managing to suplex Jack into the ground, causing him to cough out spit and groan in pain before being pinned down by the stallion that swung his hoof down. It was caught, however, and countered as Jack flipped him back and landed on top, bringing his blade down.
Night Shadow moved his head to the side, causing the blade to pierce through the ground, inches from his face before he bucked Jack off and got up from the ground. One square slab was fitted into a pillar by Callidus, causing the platform to rise up instead of making the water cease its flow.
It only rose up a hundred feet higher before stopping as more water burst out from the walls, increasing the rising water below. Jack sheathed his blade and prepared himself for Night Shadow next move.
"You will either be slain by my blade or drown along with your friends."
"Not likely to happen." Night Shadow remarked, dashing right him.
Jack readied his blade as if he was about to knock Night Shadow out of a baseball park. Just before Night Shadow reached his target, he abruptly stopped and allowed Jack's swing almost slice through his neck before slamming his elbow into Jack's chest. The swordspony was stunned but no where near done. He grabbed Night Shadow's elbow and flipped him over his back, slamming him into the ground. What he didn't expect was for Night Shadow to pull him down with him and onto his body. Keeping his blade as close to him as possible to prevent a surprise attack, Night Shadow tried to knock it out of his hooves, attempting to even out the odds.
Eventually, Night Shadow did grab the blade, but went through a huge burning pain that traveled into his very soul. Through effort and agony, he ripped the blade out of his hooves and tossed it aside. This achievement would not come without sacrifice though because as soon as Night Shadow turned to face Jack, he was punched right into the stomach and jabbed in the throat, forcing him to choke and grab his stomach in pain.
Jack grew frustrated as he made his way towards his blade while Night Shadow was stunned. Picking the sword up and sheathing it, he turned to Night Shadow and began walking towards him with a deathly glare. He picking up his pace, running towards him before unsheathing his blade and swinging it. Night Shadow muttered out a curse before falling back, dodging the swing and rolling to the side as Jack swung the blade down. The unicorn made a run for it before rolling out the way from another swing that carved through the ground, sending sparks around. Night Shadow managed to gain his breath and moved to the side from Jack's swing, but was taken back when Jack thrusted his sword, stabbing through his left foreleg.
He cried out in pain before being bucked to the side. Looking up, he gasped when Jack came from the air, bringing his blade down. He rolled to the side and rammed his bleeding shoulder into Jack, sending him to the side.
Jack regained his footing and shook his sword, causing blood to fly off his blade. It glinted, revealing no traces of blood before being sheathed into the scabbard.
'The more I get hit, the harder it is to fight Blue.' Night Shadow thought, breathing painfully through his breaths as pain still continue to burn throughout his body.
"You hope to end this war, but you do not realize that you are only increasing it. You're making it bigger than anypony can imagine. Blue is going to simply spread it, you are going to induce it, and someday...someday...Celestia will finally end it. She will finally end the suffering you and Blue put the world under. This insurrection shall end. Harmony...will stand."
Night Shadow managed to get up from the ground, glaring at Jack. The swordspony readied his blade, holding the handle tight and dashing forward. The unicorn quickly leaped back, dodging the cutting the metal that cut through the air, but had no chance to avoid the crushing blow of Jack's right hoof that sent him rolling to the side.
"You don't seem like you chose to do this, almost like you were forced into this madness to begin with?" Night Shadow said, before coughing out small specks of blood.
Jack responded with an angry yell, running towards him with his blade sheathed in the scabbard. Night Shadow fell back and used his right foreleg as his last shield defense as the swordpony unsheathed his blade and swung.
"I chose this in order to put an end to it!" Jack yelled as his sharp metal came crashing down.
Night Shadow waited to feel the bones in him get hacked away, but instead he only heard the sound of metal clashing against metal. His eyes slowly opened from the darkness that concealed his vision and revealed Sapphirine holding her ground against the powerful opponent. She used her gun, hoping it would be enough to hold the soldier back, but she was mistaken by the powerful metal's sharpness. The sword came through; tearing away the steel her weapon was made of and was sent back into Night Shadow after getting grazed in the cheek.
"Are you okay?" Night Shadow asked, holding her close as they watched Jack glare at them with malice and contempt as he walked towards them, sheathing his blade back in the scabbard.
"Y-yeah...Callidus found the other piece with Mico. They are about to insert it in." She said, struggling up to her own hooves.
"He cut you." Night Shadow muttered.
"It's nothing." She stated, glaring at Jack. "Just like him."
Jack stopped, staring at her shock before gritting his teeth.
"He was something, but now…he's nothing, like the rest of the soldiers in Herus' army. He had a meaning, but now it is gone…forever." She said, before being tackled to the side by Night Shadow after Jack appeared in front of her with his blade drawn.
"You're making him angry. I told you I will handle this." Night Shadow said, but he was silenced by her stern glare before getting up to her hooves.
"You did say that, but you were going to be cut down by him if I didn't save you. I was watching you from the sidelines, you were holding back. I understand that doing something like that is either taunting or risk-taking, but you should not hold back against him. You should already see it in his eyes…he's gone. The only thing keeping him stable is his belief that Celestia will succeed if he simply eliminates us all and Blue too."
"I…I don't know what you mean." Night Shadow said, looking at Jack for a few seconds before staring back at Sapphirine.
"This pony was a victim of war, something you should sympathize with. Blue did something that was unforgivable to him. I can see that for sure, but also Herus and his army. We are the enemies too you know. We took down probably his friends, brothers, and those he cared for and the only thing he can protect now is Celestia…even if it means doing this…working for Blue." She said as Jack slowly turned to them, staring coldly at her. "So don't hold back, Night Shadow. He wouldn't for you. His objective is to kill us and he will do so in any matter."
Jack began running towards them, sheathing his blade, but holding onto the handle tightly. Sapphirine and Night Shadow prepared themselves for one of his attacks, but the unicorn was in deep thought. What Sapphirine said was true. Jack was a victim like him and many others. But he was a victim taken away by the cold grips of war. His mind was gone, but his body was intact. The only thing worth fighting for was for a princess he knew he will never see again.
However, Sapphirine missed out one important thing the stallion noticed. Jack mentioned ending the insurrection and that Celestia bringing harmony upon the world. The swordspony did not glorify, but explained that she was to be the final hope for many ponies. She was special to him and he would die for her in any way. He was a loyal royal guard and his status, no matter how cruel it may be, would never change. His death will be a powerful or perhaps honorable memorabilia for Celestia to remember. It was...memorable.
He decided to listen to Sapphirine's advice and not hold back. Preparing himself for combat as the stallion approached.
"Sapphirine…I know I said this before and it almost cost me my life…but…let me handle him alone again. I…I can do this."
The mare remained silent for a few seconds before nodding her head.
"You better not let us down…I am sure Blue won't like it." She said, smirking back at him.
She dashed off to assist the others on searching for the last piece to ascending the platform from the tainted choking waters below.
"I understand now." Night Shadow muttered as Jack unsheathed his blade quickly and swung it. The stallion ducked, managing to dodge the fast cutting metal and grabbed Jack's stomach, performing a suplex. Night Shadow rolled back and backed away from the stunned swordspony before getting into Blue's signature CQC stance.
"You don't understand anything!" Jack yelled as he got up from the ground and swung his blade forward, dashing straight towards Night Shadow. The unicorn managed to spin out of the way before wrapping his right foreleg around the soldier's neck and flipped him onto the ground hard, cracking the rocky surface. Jack spat out his blade and coughed out blood before getting on the ground.
"I may not know you on most levels, but I understand your position in this now. It makes a lot of sense and I pity you for it." He said, moving side to side backwards after Jack quickly picked up his blade and began swinging it at Night Shadow.
The red unicorn quickly ducked from the swing, grabbing Jack's hoof and moving behind him in a lock. Night Shadow gripped Jack's foreleg, making sure it was around his neck as he struggle to break free. The unicorn then flipped him over, sending the swordspony rolling back before crashing into a pillar that caused Fillia from behind it to jump and fall back.
"We can't find the last piece!" Fillia yelled before backing away when Jack got up from the ground, sheathing his blade.
Night Shadow gasped before running towards the swordspony and tackled him before he had a chance to unsheathe his blade and strike the mare. The two both flew off the platform and fell onto a flat surface of rocks close to the edge.
Jack got up from the ground and swung his blade downward. Night Shadow quickly rolled to the side, dodging the cutting metal that carved through the rocky surface before thrusting forward towards him. The red stallion managed to get onto his hooves and swing his right hoof, pushing aside Jack's hoof and flipping him over after grabbing his right foreleg. Jack stabbed his blade into the rocky surface, using it to stop his sliding from falling off the rock. He looked down and saw the rising waters almost reaching up to him before looking up, seeing Night Shadow leap onto rock to rock, leaving him behind.
Jack scoffed and begin chasing after him, using the rocks as a ladder to escape the rising water. During this, Elegit just inserted the next piece into the pillar's slot as Callidus did the same. Fillia looked around with Sapphirine for the last piece, but none one could find it. The pillar didn't rise when the other pieces were inserted, and time was running out.
"Where could this last piece be at? We found the ones that fell out of the pillars, but the last one is missing." Elegit said.
"It isn't missing, it's just around here somewhere. Just think for a second, we checked the pillars, behind them and on the sides. It has to be somewhere no one would expect." Tremor said, beginning to grow frustrated.
"We have to hurry, the water is almost approaching!" Sapphirine warned, staring down the ledge.
She soon paused and noticed a strange object on top of a rock almost close to being swallowed up by the rising water.
"I…I think I found it!" She called.
Rushing to her side, Mico stared down and shook his head.
"That's crazy, if you head down there and try to get it, the water will get you for sure. There has to be another way!" He said.
"One of us has to do this." Tremor said, walking beside him.
The two remained silent along with the others as they stared at each other. Then, without them noticing until it was too late, Sapphirine rushed past Filia and leaped down. Time began to slow down for the group as they stared in shock, a few moving to the ledge as they watched the mare slowly fall down, heading straight towards the water where the rock was slowly being taken in by its rising surface.
When time returned to its normal pace, Sapphirine missed her jump and plunged into the water. She rushed towards the surface, grabbing the stone before feeling the strange water begin to zap away her energy, causing her to feel an immense amount of pain as her body was being pulled down into the water's merciless depths. She held onto the stone, reaching her hoof up towards the light as she struggled to swim up.
But her body was too weak, her muscles became heavy and slow, and her breath was close to giving out. The mare knew panicking would surely increase her chances in dying for sure if she did not reach the surface for air. She paused and looked left and right, spotting the rocky ledges and quickly grabbed them, using one hoof to hold the last stone object.
"S-she just jumped, she's going to drown!" Tremor panicked.
"We've got to save her!" Fillia said, preparing to jump, only to be stopped by Mico.
"You'll drown too. Look!" He said.
Mico then pointed down, spotting Sapphirine emerging out of the rough waters holding onto the rocks while climbing up.
"I will go get her, hang on!" He yelled, leaping off the platform and landing on a giant rock.
Acting quickly, he jumped down from rock to rock until he reached her. Once he did, the rock suddenly started to shake violently, almost knocking him off the edge. Looking straight down, his eyes widened as he spotted the rising waters almost reaching back up to Sapphirine. Time was of essence as her life was on the line. He continued down, being careful not to fall and end up like her or possibly worse. Leaping one more time down, he landed on the rock Sapphirine managed to get up to and picked her up before looking down at the rising water. "You okay?" He asked, looking at the drained mare.
"We have to get out of here." She said, as she held tight onto Mico's coat, painting. His wings opened as he then flew her back up to the platform and landed next to the others, setting her down. Sapphirine suddenly vomited onto the ground, beginning to hallucinate.
"Are you okay?" Callidus asked.
"I'll be fine..." She breathed out in pain, handing Filia the stone object.
Filia quickly ran to the last pillar, only to stumble and fall once the platform shook. She groaned before looking up, but once she did, her eyes widened in shock when she saw a long stone walkway up ahead where Jack and Night Shadow fighting.
"Filia, we don't have enough time!" Tremor yelled, getting the mare's attention.
"S-sorry!" She said, before rushing to the pillar.
She inserted the stone object into the empty slot and felt the platform shook before rising up. "W-we did it!" She shouted in joy, but her joy was swept away when a large creature flew straight up, shadowing over the others.
"What the…?" Tremor paused once a dragon hovered over them once the platform stopped. Riding on the dragon was a kirin with white eyes and black armor.
"W-who is that?" Mico questioned.
"It isn't Blue's lackeys, I'm sure of that." Callidus said.
"Guardian?" Legio guessed.
"Is it a threat?" Filia asked, backing away.
The massive dark, undead dragon started to dissolve into energy, slowly sinking into the scales of the dragon/pony hybrid that landed on the ground, glaring at the group.
"I don't think it wants us to proceed forward." Legio said, readying himself.
"Of course, wasn't that clear once we entered into this damn place." Mico said, standing in front of the injured Sapphirine.
Night Shadow moved side to side, dodging the fast strikes from Jack's cutting sword that cut clean through the strong stone work on the walkway. It was straight and difficult to move further to the right or left. The only thing Night Shadow was capable of doing was backing away and dodging the thrusts and swings from Jack's attacks.
When he caught glimpse of the undead kirin, he panicked and wanted to help the others, only to be distracted from the strong cutting blade. Jack was not going to let him go so easily. The leader hoped his teammates were capable of handling the undead guardian without him as he struggled to stay his ground against the powerful swordspony.
When Jack swung downwards, Night Shadow quickly moved to the left, dodging the blade and flipping the pony behind him, bucking him to the side. Jack regained his footing before deflecting two throwing knives. He was startled when Night Shadow ran up to him and swung a knife clutched in his mouth. It collided against the metal. But the moment hit collided with the sharp metal, his knife was chipped. The red unicorn was startled, surprise that his knife had no way in at least pushing him back with force.
The unicorn moved to the right, dodging the incoming blade that thrust forward, almost impaling him. Night Shadow dropped his broken knife and tackled Jack back, smashing him against the stone rail. Jack gritted his teeth in pain before hitting Night Shadow's back with the handle of the blade and kicking him back.
The stallion fell back before rolling to the side when Jack stabbed the blade into the ground. Night Shadow scoffed and bucked Jack to the ground before grabbing his broken knife and turning towards him, ready to stab into the stallion. But he was countered by Jakc's right hoof, caused him to spit out the knife and slide back. When Night Shadow struggled to get back up from the ground, he spat out blood and glared at Jack who sheathed his blade.
Jack gripped the handle tightly with his teeth and with a powerful swing; he dashed forward and swung it. Night Shadow ducked quickly dodging the blade before he swung his left hoof, smashing it against Jack's jaw that caused him to fly back and land hard on the rocky ground. The walkway began shaking once lightning flew by, smashing against the side. Night Shadow looked down and saw his teammates fighting off the kirin pony. He was glad they were managing to fend off against the dead guard while also being glad they stopped the water from rising below.
"The loyal guard who died for her king is fighting against your comrades." Jack said, struggling up from the ground, using his sword as leverage.
"Guard?" Night Shadow questioned, looking at Jack confused.
"That is the first of kirins. The first to be discriminated, looked down upon, consider an abomination to life, and worse of all…treated like a monster from both dragons and ponies. However, the king saw differently. He saw potential in that hybrid. That kirin is named Ereka. She's a legend amongst many guards in many kingdoms. Her loyalty is what rulers expect their knights to be. She proved that no matter what breed you may be, it does not change your loyalty to the kingdom you serve, to the ruler you follow, and to the home you sworn to protect. That home she resided in is what Celestia will surely rule in the future." He said, readying his blade after sheathing it in his scabbard.
"I…know you care for Celestia much more than the others. You honestly are one of those die hard knights that will kill themselves for her, but…" Night Shadow equipped his broken knife and readied himself, "I am going to change everything. I am going to take down Blue, her, and I'm sure you know who is next on my list?" He said, breathing slowly, trying to regain his breath.
"I…can't stop you from viewing her so greatly, but I can stop you from trying to take me and my team down. I am going to kill you here and now." He said in a stern tone. "I hope you understand."
Jack did not answer; instead, he closed his eyes and frowned. This was a battle clearly to the death as he made it to be. The swordspony began sliding back his right hind-leg and positioned his body into a comfortable stance to run and swing his blade like before. Night Shadow noticed the same stance and readied himself.
"My princess…I cometh thee hour!" Jack yelled, running towards Night Shadow.
Night Shadow gritted his teeth as he held the blade tightly in his mouth. He was caught off guard once Jack sliced the platform in half, causing the stallion to panic as he slid down. He looked up, seeing Jack appear in midair, bringing his blade down with a deafening war cry before crashing the steel into the rock and sliding it further down, heading towards him.
"Damn it!" He cried out, leaping off.
The jump was far and painfully rough once he landed on a bulged rock on the walls. He had no time, however, once Jack came from the side, dragging his blade against the wall and leaving behind a large trail of smoke and rocky debris. Night Shadow blocked the fast strike from Jack's blade, but it cost his knife's life once it was sliced in half, sending him further back, crashing into rocks before falling onto the platform.
"W-when did he gain this much strength?" He coughed out.
Looking up, he gasped, seeing Jack roaring as he brought down his blade from the sky and slamming it into the ground, cutting downwards towards him. Night Shadow flipped off, dodging it, before grabbing Jack's hind-leg and slamming him into the rocky wall. The red unicorn landed on top of a rock, just inches from the water and breathed an out a sigh of a relief after balancing himself from falling into the water.
Jack spat out blood before landing on a precipice section of the rocky walls, glaring angrily down at Night Shadow. The two clutched their weapons tightly, preparing for their attacks. When Jack leaped down and lashed out powerful swings, Night Shadow dodged and unleash his own attack with the broken knife. Jack moved to the right once Night Shadow thrusted and swung his blade, cutting through the air with a powerful force.
The red unicorn leaped onto a rock, moving upwards towards the platform before dodging Jack's blade that pierced through the surface. Night Shadow quickly ducked under a thrust, but was hoofed to the side, almost falling off the ledge before back flipping onto his hooves and leaping onto the last rock, grabbing the ledge. He pulled himself up quickly and rolled forward from a devastating slash from Jack's blade after the swordspony leaped into the air and came down upon him.
The swordspony landed on the platform and saw the kirin known as Ereka knocked off the ledge by Callidus' hoof. He figured they managed to fend themselves off from the guard, but they had to surely worry about him once he eliminated Night Shadow. Looking back at the unicorn ahead of him, he gritted his teeth and ran towards him.
"There's no giving up with you is there!" Night Shadow groaned in aggravation before slipping back.
His eyes widened at the sudden realization of his mistake as Jack took the opportunity perfectly and swung his blade hard and forward with a powerful dash.
Time slowed down for the stallion as he spat out his knife and quickly grabbed it with his right hoof. When Jack got closer, Night Shadow had no time to avoid the cold, sharp, painful metal slicing through his chest horizontally. Blood rushed out from the large wound, but before Night Shadow cried out in pain and Jack had any opportunity to thrust his blade, the unicorn quickly swung his broken knife, slashing the side of Jack's stomach.
The two both fell onto the ground, covered in their own blood while gritting their teeth in pain. Night Shadow released a painful yell when he felt the searing pain course through his body. Blood poured out of his body as he tried to stand, warning him that what he was doing was making things worse for him. Jack was suffering the same as he struggled to stand on his fours, wielding his blade in his mouth.
The group stared in horror and shock as their captain and powerful foe stood up glaring at each other down, wielding their blades in their mouths. This was simply a draw if they called it in, but they knew better that there had to be only one winner in this fight. Sapphirine bit her lower lip, horrified at the sight of Night Shadow struggling to stand through all the pain accumulating in his body at a mass rate from the open wound.
"You…used a broken knife to make me lose this much blood…damn brat." He breathed out angrily, but behind his angry words was tone of respect causing Night Shadow to look at him surprised. "I…I will kill you all until I no longer can breathe." He stated, as his eyes struggled staying open. "This wound…is nothing!" He yelled, running towards Night Shadow, only to collapse onto the ground roughly, dropping his blade to the side.
The others remained silent staring at the struggling swordspony that coughed out blood.
"I will end this war…I will save Celestia…I will save my family…and I will…save this world!" He breathed out, pushing himself up from the ground.
"S-stop it." Sapphirine muttered, watching the painful display going on.
Night Shadow only stared at Jack shocked as the stallion picked up his blade weakly, and began limping towards him with a powerful intent to kill him in his eyes. The sight before him froze the stallion in place. Painful memories flashed before him each step the swordspony made, but each flashback was stronger than the other.
"Stop it!" Sapphirine said, raising her tone.
"I will end it!"
"Stop it!" She began yelling, causing the others except Night Shadow and Jack to look at her.
"You will die here!"
"Please…just stop it!" She began crying out as the sight became too much.
She understood the stallion was lost, but his death did not had to be delayed so painfully. She stared at Night Shadow, hoping he could end this suffering, but the stallion remained still almost as if he was catatonic.
"Every pony I've lost…will be avenged. Every innocent life I swore to protect…will be safe. Celestia…will never feel threaten by monsters like you-monsters that must be put down immediately for their atrocious and barbarity!" He breathed out before coughing out blood and falling onto the ground.
"Please, just stop it! Stop it! You're only hurting yourself even further!"
Jack ignored the mare, getting up from the ground and pushing himself further towards Night Shadow. Once he finally gotten close to Night Shadow, he swung his bloody right hoof, but it was not strong enough to faze the stallion as it missed and fell to the ground. Night Shadow quickly reacted once Jack fell forward and plunged his broken knife into the stallion's chest, holding the dying guard in his hooves as he set him lightly on the ground.
The red unicorn looked down at the still guard, breathing slowly while staring straight at the darkness of the ceiling. Night did not speak, made any changes to his shocked reaction, or let go of the dying guard. Sapphirine slowly cried, relieved that the suffering Jack was going through was finally put to an end. The others turned their attention to the right spotting a walkway sliding out from the wall while a large stone door opened revealing a bright light up ahead.
When the walkway connected with the platform, another from the other side as well. Night Shadow finally returned back to his world staring at the walkway to his right, feeling Blue's presence up ahead. That was where he had to go to end this, but before he did anything, he had to turn his attention to Jack.
Shutting his eyes and letting go of the dead swordspony, he got up from the ground and started limping towards his sword, only to collapse onto the ground. He gritted his teeth and pressed his hooves against his bleeding wound while the others quickly approached him. Sapphirine went by his side while Legio and Filia attended to his injury. Filia used the last potion she took from Cantata's lab and forced Night Shadow drink it down slowly as Legio balance him to take down the green healing liquid.
"He's dead." Tremor said, looking over at Jack's corpse, before looking at Night Shadow.
The red unicorn's wound stopped bleeding, but was still opened. Sapphirine quickly took out the last wrap of bandages and wrapped around his chest before looking at the bright light.
"The Element…it's in that blade's handle. Right now, take it and leave." Night Shadow said after getting up onto his hooves after the bandage was wrapped.
He began walking towards the walkway that led to where Blue resided. He was stopped once Sapphirine went to his side and rested her right hoof on his shoulder.
"A-are you sure you wanna go through this?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" He asked, looking at her confused.
"You know what I mean. When you go…you can't come back until you win. That means…you have to kill Blue." She said in a worry tone.
Night Shadow frowned and turned his head towards the bright light.
"Blue put himself in this position as well as I. It is my duty to take him down before he turns this world into nothing more than a wasteland." He said.
"It does not matter." She stated causing Night Shadow to look at her surprise. "What matters is how it's going to be settled. You're going in there alone and Blue is powerful. You'll surely let your feelings get in your way and I am sure Blue will use that to his advantage!"
"Sapphirine…there will be a moment my feelings will get in the way, but…I won't let them get in the way of my objective. I will handle them right before we fight. All I want to know from Blue is why he's doing this. I need to know what's his true objective is." He said, glaring ahead at the light again.
"What if it isn't you would expect?" She asked, causing the stallion to lower his eyes and frown.
"Then I don't know. I think I'm supposed to know."
The group remained quiet after Legio removed the stone from the blade's handle and gave it to Callidus. When Callidus took the blade, he turned his attention to his leader and broke the silence. "Then go and end this." He said.
Night Shadow turned around to him and quickly caught the blade that was tossed at him.
"You toss it without it being in its scabbard!" He panicked.
The stallion scoffed
"You can deal with it."
Sapphirine nodded her head before looking at Night Shadow.
"Go then."
Night Shadow turned to her and then the others before smiling softly. Mico slid the scabbard to Jack's blade to the red unicorn. Quickly sheathing it and holding the side in his mouth, he gave them each a nod and turned around towards the bright light.
"Thanks." He muttered, before moving on towards it.
"You better not die!" Callidus yelled.
"Yeah, or we will go into the afterlife and beat you up!" Filia yelled.
"That's impossible." Legio said, looking at the mare.
"Don't be a buzzkill." She said, glaring at him.
"Night Shadow." Sapphirine muttered, before slowly shaking her head. "Y-you better come back alive!" She yelled. "You better not disappoint us! And you better not disappoint Blue!" She yelled.
Night Shadow stopped just at the bright light and looked back at her with a soft smile. "Don't worry…I won't." He said, causing the others to smile back at him. "Take the elements, unlock their power and end this war once and for all. I will return...I promise…"
Their leader was ready for the final battle. When Night Shadow entered into the bright light, everything blinded him. He didn't know where he was going but he did not stop. He continued until he felt some strange gentle warmth surround him. It felt good, but suddenly…it reminded him of something he could not remember, but was there somewhere in his head?
Then silence overtook the sound in the air until it was swept away by the calm voice of his ex-comrade.
'Welcome Home…Night Shadow.'