The Elements of Cacophony

"Okey dokey..." Tyro said, trying to pull himself together. "Right, yes...So. Stick to the plan. Flank him."

He stands his ground, keeping an eye on the bat pony as Nova lowers his head, smirking widely. He clutches his weapon in his teeth, looking to vanish into the background for the moment. Despite the large Cotton Candy Pan sitting above his head or the noise of the machine behind him. The clatter-clatter-pop-pop was a little hard to ignore.

Nova's wings seem to twitch, the creature's body settling down for a pounce.

And then he strikes.

Nightmare Nova's speed was almost impossible. The wings could launch the tall pony within a moment at very high speeds. Like a powerful cannon, the hooves of the Nightmare Bat slam into Darkness, pouncing on the pony with a mighty blow.

(Dice Rolls are Optional Here.)

The light of this place came from everywhere, but didn't have any kind of source for it. The place was lit, because it just was.

The dusty, quiet and empty land. Much like a moon. Remarkably like a moon.

In front of Nova, appeared a blot on the landscape. A sort of blackened, darkened area of the land that seemed...Ominously malicious. It was a shadow that seemed like it was staring back when you looked at it.

It was a presence all it's own. And it was just sitting there.

 

The incendiary shot slams against Nova's side, knocking him off of Darkness and turning his attention to Jackpot. He skips backwards from Darkness' sword swipes then circles back and around the hall very quickly to avoid Blade Runner's advance. He rounds up and darts in from up high to tackle Jackpot with a similar burst to speed. This time, it was back hooves first, looking to kick her back into her allies.

"Guys!" Tyro suddenly said, dropping the weapon in his mouth as he keeps watch for his moment to strike. "I think things became complicated now that the Entity has the Bat Pony! I'm not sure if I can just suck it up using this contraption, it's possible we have to separate the Bat Pony from the Entity. Twilight said they could do it using genuine emotions and feeling to help Nova fight off the parasite's hold but I don't know him at all and neither, I'd guess, do the rest of you."

Tyro un-clips the harness, laying the end of the hose on the floor.

"Complete guess, but we might have to try something more direct. And...Kinda stupid." He skips towards Blade. "Fancy your discipline up against that thing in a little mental battle?" Tyro asks, pointing towards Nova.

 

Tyro smirks at the big, sturdy stallion.

"Aww...It's so sweet to see you smile." He chuckles, the smirk turning into an energised and determined smile. "If we were possessed by the Entity, we could use our combined effort to force all of us free. Maybe give it a damn good kicking. There's even a chance having all of us would be initially draining. That could be our window of opportunity."

The smile wilts, as he sheepishly looks to Blade: "Although, I'm just regurgitating Twilight Sparkle's theory so it could be rubbish. Just make sure to look like your going down fighting. Don't pull all your punches."

He then darts straight for Nightmare Nova, flames flickering from between his teeth and he belches flame at him.

Nova wraps himself in his wings, Tyro's fire spreading across it harmlessly, it seemed. They gained a strange glamour that was prevalent whenever he moved. Perhaps this was a form of magic he was using to ensure a slick, slippery flight through the air. Nova also moves closer behind his cape, eventually swatting at the slender fox. The wing sweeps him to the side with a loud cackle.

As Tyro lands, he looks to Darkness.

"Hey!" He said to him. "There's no shame in failure here! Go big or go home!" And then he winks, hoping the message was clear. Enough...

He pulls himself to his paws. Again, he rushes Nightmare Nova, more flame erupting from his mouth while he charges. Surely, a trained knight would spot that Tyro was screwing up his attack. He was wasting an opportunity by telegraphing his attack with the showy flames. Tyro was supposed to be a skilled indirect fighter, using many tricks and traps to get one up on an opponent he couldn't simply whack over the head.

Why was he attacking so directly? Luna must have mentioned the pathetic physical abilities of the Kitsune at some point.

Of course, Nightmare Nova leaps into the air and effortlessly kicks Tyro across the body, sending him reeling to the ground.

While splayed on the floor, he winks at Darkness again and get's up.

The substance begins to expand. Encroaching upon the landscape within a few moments. It was like water saturating paper, except that this was soaking into the air. It cut out most of the light, leaving a gloomy disposition. Even the blotchy landscape was gone, instead now a marble floor that seemed to mirror a night sky this place didn't have with it's shining decadence.

Around him, a few more places cropped up around him like this. In one of them, he could have sworn he'd seen another Bat Pony. He could even here quiet murmuring. Even concern for him. Him in particular. They mentioned him showing signs of waking up. A few concerned voices bidding him to wake up from his dream.

 

Reality floods in at a staggering rate. There's barely any time before it fills the air, the warmth, the bat ponies around him.

One approaches him, blushing brightly.

"My King, your appointment is soon and you are not dressed. May I escort you to your quarters?" She asks, the other Bat Ponies watching him. There was a touch of awe to their eyes. He was something magnificent to them. Something of an icon. Something worthy of their respect and time. They shuffle out of his way, forming a path. "Please, sire. We cannot further law without you."

Nova cries out, staggering forwards over Tyro as he turns around. With...Something shed, most likely, but the first blow landed, Nightmare Nova scowls at Darkness.

"I bet you think your clever and agile for that little poke, don't you?" He sneers. "Well, I can always do this..."

And then Nova closes his wings around Tyro, who was underneath him. In the cocoon Nova had made, spoke and blackness was emerging from it.

"Come get me!" Tyro cries out from the wings, a few flashes of a glowing light from the wings to mix with the purple smoke. It slowly rolls over the folds of the wings for a few moments before being finally released and spread around with the force of the wind the wings made.

Just as Nightmare Tyro rose.

The fox was now far, far taller. And longer, like a large wolf. Almost as tall as Nova but far more slender. His nine tails are raised in a fan behind him as his thin, slitted eyes fall on Darkness, a smile spreading across his face. That then broke into a laugh. A long, callous laugh as the satin black fur of the fox shimmered with every malicious giggle. The long, vicious teeth bared.

"What's the word? Ah! 'Two can play at that game.' Let's see how many players I can add on my team." Tyro's maw opens, a burst of fire aimed straight for Nova.

Although, Nova sways a little, panting. It seemed that took a bit out of him, although, he was recovering quickly.

 

As Tyro used his innate speed and slenderness to slink around both attackers, Nightmare Nova is forced to raise his wings high. While Darkness' blow was hard, it didn't manage to unsettle Nova too badly.

Although, an open strike from Blade Runner resulted in the Bat Pony staggering to the side, his wings actually suffering a cut in them. He looks at the sore gash in his wing and snarls, taking to the air and remaining in the rafters, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Tyro pounces the weakened Jackpot, teeth bared as the shadowy black engulfs them both.

"Like picking off flies. Allow me to take better care of that body than you did."

Nova falters a little, still remaining in the air as a new cackle joins the chorus. Tyro was laughing with Nightmare Jackpot but it wasn't with the right amount of energy.


The Actual Jackpot was suddenly on a moon. The craters, the uninteresting landscape, the coldness. The only thing around was a Tyro, laying on the ground with paws over his ears, mumbling to himself.