Rain was sitting upright in bed when Navaja walked in. Her burns, mostly superficial, had been magically healed. Her eyes had been mostly healed as well, but the thick glasses she wore made it clear that there had been permanent damage. Her horn, almost impossible to heal with magic alone, was wrapped tightly in gauze. Heavily drugged, she didn't notice that she had company.
"Thanks." He quickly shot up while still on guard. "Anything else I should know?" he asked as he moved up.
*After a little while of gathering his strength and energies Rep seemed to jolt as the power now ran through him and he vanished with a small gust of wind and reappeared high above the future battlefield. He opened his mouth and spoke a single word as small distortions appeared to orbit him briefly. "Ma'at" After the word was spoken, the symbol for it glimmers into effect in front of each of the warriors that had gathered, before forming a shield and fading quickly. Shortly after, a larger version of the symbol appeared at the edge of the clear land and a shield shimmered into effect around the battlefield except for a single path leading from the North into the clearing. This was a shield of Order, Balance, and somehow a portion of Peace. As this occurred Rep seemed to jolt again as the power coursed from him to enact the shielding and summoning of the concept, and Rep vanished from the sky, only to reappear in the bar, almost completely drained of strength for now, as he does not have the full power and strength of the Council.*
Navaja cleared his throat. "Rain. I wanted to come see you." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Dusty made his way over to the newly arrived Princesses, bowing to them. "Princess Luna. Princess Celestia. I'm glad you're here. There is something I will urgently need your help with." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Try learning." Azrael launched a quick jab at Blacky's nose. ~~~~~~~~~~~ "You okay, dude?" Maya asked Rep, seeing him reappear dead tired.
Rep: Not very good. Even with my power and skills that I've developed, summoning the pure essence of a concept is exhausting. Very very exhausting. (Starts falling asleep)
Rep: No I can't. I need to be ready for the battle. Just need to hold out until the Council gets here. Something this big, they would not be able to see it and ignore it. When they get here, then my full power will most likely be returned...I hope...zzz (actually falls asleep)
Maya shrugged. She'd wake him up in a few. He wouldn't be any good in a battle this sleepy, after all.
Rain looked up groggily, her drug-clouded brain taking a few moments to recognize the pony in the room with her. When it did, she smiled. "Navaja. Hi. How are you?" ***************************************************************************** Celestia nodded. "Skydust, correct? What do you need?" ***************************************************************************** The party planner, a hyperactive pink mare known to everypony in Ponyville, had promised to 'Make it the best birthday apocalypse battle concert party EVER,' and was currently in the process of setting up to do just that. Among the military tents, catapults, and ballista, a number of refreshment tents had been erected. Near the bar itself, the stage where Raven had performed was being prepared for Fauststien's arrival. Silver had leveraged his vast wealth and influence, and hired every caterer within a hundred miles to bring enough food for several armies.
"I've been better," Navaja replied. "Likely severely concussed, and I remember little from the battle. How about you?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dusty stood himself back up. "When the snake god is close enough, the catapults you see by the bar are going to fling a powerful stockpile of bombs, yielding a blast of approximately 630 kilotons. This will no little to Apophis himself, but will devastate the army he brings along. When these bombs are launched, I am to raise a shield around the bar and the camps to protect everypony from the initial blast. However, I cannot make a shield strong enough on my own. I'll need your help."
Rain sighed. "I don't know. They've got me pumped so full of sedatives and painkillers that I can't hardly feel a thing." She pointed to the gauze on her head. "This is the worst part, though. I can't help Flair with my horn busted." ******************************************************************************** Celestia nodded. "Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance will be here once they are certain the Crystal Empire is safe. They will assist with the shield."
Navaja's heart clearly slipped a beat. "Rain. I'm sorry. I don't think Flair..." ~~~~~~~~~ "Excellent. Thank you, your highness. One more thing: I would make sure nopony looks directly at the blast, lest they suffer permanent eye damage."
Rain's eyes widened as she remembered, once again, what the doctors had told her a dozen times already. "Oh. Right. He's gone." ***************************************************************** Celestia rummaged around her pack for something. "Oh, I think they'll be able to..." She slipped on a pair of shades. "...deal with it."
"Si..." Navaja nodded. "Lo siento." ~~~~~~~~~~ Dusty paused momentarily, thinking of an appropriate response. "...Yeah."
Rain nodded. "It's fine. I'm fine. He saved me. Probably saved the ship, too." Her eyes narrowed. "Did we at least get the bastard that did it?" ************************************************************** Celestia turned. "My sister and I will be discussing strategy with Silver Crescent and the leaders of the other armies. You are welcome to join us."
"I believe we did," Navaja replied, getting closer and sitting next to her bed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Of course, Princess." Dusty followed alongside Celestia. "May I request that my wife join, as well? The initial bombing was her idea."
He quickly managed to block the attack, but the force caused him to wince slightly. "Seems like it's going okay... I guess."
He fell into Az's grasp with a small grunt, but continued to think on his hooves by attempting to buck back into his legs.
Unfortunately, the only sure-fire way to escape a grapple by Azrael is to not get grabbed to begin with. Azrael stood up briefly on his hind legs, yanking Blackened closer into his hold, wrapping a foreleg around his neck, and giving him an End of Days right onto the dirt before rolling back to his hooves.
