"Seems like she has her priorities set then..." Ocean said with a smile on her face. "Looks like we're on the home stretch now. Let's not get sloppy when we deal with her then and we should all live to see the already great future ahead of us. Now, let's celebrate!" Ocean replied back to the three royals before looking at the army cheering in delight. As the army and the Princesses went onwards, Ocean noticed Midnight standing perfectly still as ranks of soldiers went past him. Midnight was looking at the ground, something was apparently wrong with him. Ocean looked concerned about their old friend, he had not been acting like himself since the incident with Summer and the small Juggernaut raid. Crimson walked besides his wife and stood nearby his friends and the Royals. "Go on ahead, i''ll catch up with all of you later." he gestured. When the others left towards the majestic city, Crimson and Midnight remained behind in their lonesome remaining in their fixed position. "Tell me what's wrong?" (Going to write Midnight's response on the next post, it's very long)
While the army marched into the city, Silver and Holly rounded up the Vanhoover orphans than had come with them. He watched as a group of Changelings led them away to the part of city that had been taken over by the Hive. With the delivery complete, Silver flew straight to the palace, where he found the Crystal Princess and the bearers of the Elements busily tearing down and burning the Phoenix Queen's banners. Nightmare Moon sat on the throne, watching their vandalism with an amused smile. Though the war was still far from over, it brought Silver Crescent no small amount of joy to finally see the Dark Princess in her rightful place.
"Also, When I was with Silver here and I was busy on the in the Archives searching for the whole ring manual. I noticed a shelf labelled Future and Present military devices. I feel thats where will find the blueprints. If they havent destroyed them already." Robin continued to talk about the Archives location. Revealing it to be about a couple of meters below the castle Library. With the only access being either through the Castle Library's east wing or via Celestia's personal chambers.
"She's most likely destroyed all of the folders Robin. Any valuable information, especially about her whereabouts and her super weapon are gone. However, she's left everything else intact, such as normal novels and history books." Crimson said standing nearby him. "The Night Princess is finally in her rightful place, and i cannot imagine a greater honor to to serve at her side alongside my friends." (I want to continue with Venquis and eventually get him to rejoin NM, Silver, Robin and so forth, but cant due to [MENTION=5915]Dreamer[/MENTION] being away.)
(Sorry. Pokemon. And school. Actually no... just pokemon >.> So what is currently going on?) Tricorna stood, staring at the guarded facility. "Enough waiting." Her voice seemed to echo with an almost mechanical tone. "I say we charge in there and get this over and done with. Action shall be taken." Sparks of electricity visibly spiked from the sides of her eyes with each word, and the ground in a small circle around each of her hooves seemed to slowly become charred. "I will give you one chance to make the first move, because I believe you will get more out of murdering these fools than I will."
While the Changeling and Republic armies celebrated the capture of Canterlot, Silver Crescent moved swiftly through the city's sewer system, activating dozens of shield generating crystals that he and his first team of Night Guards had hidden more than a century earlier. When he was done, he returned to the palace. Ignoring Rarity's comment about how "icky" he smelled, he flew up to the ceiling above the throne and placed a final crystal into a small hollow. He could hear surprised cries coming from outside as a magical barrier covered the entire city. He smiled, and left to find a shower. Canterlot was safe from Celestia's new toy. Even if she managed to weaken it with her solar beam, he was confident that it could be recharged much faster than her super-weapon.
Crimson and Midnight, deciding to take their talk into the palace sat down on a couch to discuss why Midnight had not been acting like himself. When they got comfortable, they began to speak. “Alright. Tell me what’s up....” Midnight sighed heavily before speaking. “I was thinking about something, that something being Dark Plague. If I was to die, then how would the future see me then. Would they see me as the son of the Phoenix Queen, who inherited her dark side? A kind and polite prince who helped lead Equestria into future peace and prosperity? Or simply as the monster that controls me, the genocidal conqueror that is Plague?” Midnight said. “I’m happier that I’m fighting for what is right as my normal self, not as this monster. I just want my monster to finally be silenced. If HE manages to take control of me again, then what then? What if I cannot regain myself?” Midnight then looked deep into Crimson’s eyes. “The next time he decides to appear, I don’t think I would regain control ever again. Ever. What happened with the Solar Flare, Summer Breeze...it scared me. Seeing the sparks of life in her eyes flicking off like a candle, the shocked faces nearby of my friends and fellow Republic soldiers. I barely took control again as it was. I don’t rely on my power that Plague has, he’s simply there. If this happens again, who knows exactly what he would do next. Destroy Equestria, then the Republic. He’s likely to kill Celestia. He'll break my control, regardless of the power of control over him, unaware that her death would mean his death as well unless he can find a way to survive. If he ever regains power, I want one of my friends to perform something unthinkable to me.” “Crimson. If Plague turns after defeating Celestia or takes control before we face against her. Kill me, Plague cannot survive without my physical form or before he takes control.” Crimson, saddened at his friend’s order simply nodded. “It shall be done Midnight. Hope this helped take a load of your mind.” Something rare happened, Midnight smiled for the first time since Summer’s near death at the camp. He then laughed at his friends statement slightly before looking at him, the smile still evident on his face. “Well. Might as well help my wife, Ms.Sparkle as you know her, take down these blasted decorations. I’ll see you later.” Midnight said, getting up and flying over to NM and the rest of the Mane Six. Crimson looked over at the group, sharing the same smile that Midnight had before getting up and traveling downstairs.
Silver Crescent tapped lightly on the fourth wall, and spoke to someone that nopony else in the room even knew existed. "Hey, [MENTION=2470]Quill Inkwell[/MENTION]? We're getting close to the end here, so I'm going to need your help. Remember the thing with the Rings of Downfall? Well, I gave Star Shimmer the Ring of Crystals, and I haven't seen or heard from her since. I need you to have her put the ring on Celestia's horn. After she does, you can either have her rejoin the RP, or just write her out. Either way, I need that ring in place as soon as possible."
As the rest were celebrating Robin was on redecoration team. He walked past Crimson, Midnight and Silver carrying a bunch of Paint cans and brushes with his magic along with a bunch of other ponies. "Alright team, i want some ponies to help redecorate and clear out Celestia's room as well as the east wing. The rest go and do the west wing and try to make Luna's room extravagant again." He then carried on as a messenger came in announcing that the banners have been unfurled straight down the main high street and from the castle towers.
Celestia's Blitzkrieg, upon discovering that Canterlot is officially off limits changed their objectives. The individual that Celestia had apparently sent to deal with Republic attackers had never made his plan official, most likely binding time until he can strike. Instead of attacking towards the South, towards the Republic, the army advanced to the North west, out of Canterlot's radar to wipe out the Republic and deliver it's death blow. Celestia's biggest army since the Crystal Empire attack, numbering over three million soldiers advanced. With Equestria's military commander remaining with Celestia during her final days, the attack was led by a resurrected Alicorn who also wore a mask, Monarch. With the Alicorn now pledging full allegiance to Equestria, it was merely the cherry on top for the lightning war. Considering the highly weakened state of the Republic, the blitzkrieg would only last a couple days unless high resistance is encountered. For many Republic civilians, they were going to be in the fight for their lives. For the Alicorn, it was Tuesday. (Yep. That last line was a reference to "that" movie.)
(Sorry, [MENTION=2470]Quill Inkwell[/MENTION].) Silver Crescent had just left the barracks when a messenger approached him. "Sir, we have just received word that the Phoenix Queen was attacked by an unknown Crystal Pony. The details are sketchy, but it has been confirmed that a second ring was placed on her horn." Silver sighed with relief. "It must have been Star Shimmer. What happened to her?" "Nopony knows. She may have been killed or captured, or she may have somehow escaped. Either way, she succeeded in placing the ring."
Celestia looked at the rings on her horn, now she had another problem to deal with. Knowing these objects as the Rings of Power, she knew she had no choice but to deal with their effects. Once she found Star Shimmer, she had her captured and brought to her demanding the removal of the ring. After Star refused and spat onto her eye, she had her immobilized after a brutal beating until she was rendered unconscious. Simpily killing her on the spot was a kindness, so she decided to take measures to her own hooves. Within an hour, a stage was set up in the main room of the bunker after the chairs and tables were moved. Huge banners of the Phoenix Queen and posters of the Empire adorned the entire room, with a huge banner of the infamous sun symbol sitting perfectly in the center of the stage. Star, still unconscious had been tied by her legs and forced to sit in a knelled position. Soon, a recording device of the event was positioned to document the entire event, and to also broadcast the entire event to the whole world. Star Shimmer was going to be executed infront of the world, and Celestia is making everypony watch. Within the next hour, the screen was soon presented in every city from Equestria held territory all the way down 4,000 miles to the Crystal City. Even nations such as the Griffons and the Zebra were made to witness it, including the Ryborians. The screen was displayed in the throne room, but also several smaller ones in different areas of the city. (Sorry [MENTION=2470]Quill Inkwell[/MENTION]. Star is basically dead unless you make a last minute intervention. Also [MENTION=5915]Dreamer[/MENTION], i'm thinking of wrapping up the Ardelan sequence of the story unless you are not able to post between now and Friday. I promise you guys right now, the Final Battle is really close.)
For the first time since his arrival in the homeland, the Ryborian's eyes lit up like pilot lights. He was pleased with the news, but also with the opportunity of the first attack. To Venquis, taking back his homeland was one thing, but killing the bastards responsible for so much despair, genocide and the simple action of insulting the gods took everything he hated about Equestria under a dictatorship up to eleven. He dropped his bowl and took out Moonsaber, which the symbols on the sword immediately turned blue. "I'll take the entire courtyard myself, make yourself at home inside." The Eriborian remarked in his typical style of humor, but also had a cold murderous tone to his voice. With that, he launched himself at the courtyard. By the time the Flares, even realized what had just happened, or what even closed that much distance within the span of a few seconds, almost all of them were dead. Venquis, while enjoying his method for taking fifty Equestrian lives for every Ryborian killed, did not prove himself to be a madman like what Celestia was becoming according to apparent news reports about her and this super weapon. He was throwing the finest of Equestria's military, soliders whom created the fear of the Empire and enforcing the Phoenix Queen's eternal rule, were being tossed around like toy cars in a hurricane. Venquis literally picked one up above him with his hooves, and broke his spine after sending him down onto his kee. It was a one pony massacre. By the time the battle finished, five hundred remained dead within the time-span of half a minute. He was reminding Equestria why the Ryborians were the most feared race in all of creation. Fathers of civilization, Templar's of Divine Knowledge, Peace & Judgement. Ryborian culture and society had been the dominant feature in every major culture for over 50,000 years. Without their intervention, some races would still be living under tribal conditions. Venquis reminded Equestria why they were the most powerful race in history, with their ludicrous kill/death ratio in many of their wars. Why their military, their soldiers, their weaponry and armor.The Spell-Swords organization, the Crimson Roses, even the fear of the title 'Eriborian'. Everything that made a Ryborian who they were, he taught to his enemies through spell-sword. Celestia failed critically in one aspect of the war. NEVER ANGER THE RYBORIANS. After Ardelan, Venquis and the Ryborian legions will obliterate the Equestrian Empire and perform exactly what his race did during the Black War. Ensure Equestria never becomes a threat to them ever again.
Tricorna, sparks striking from under-hoof with each step, walked through the massacre as Venquis systematically killed each of the flares. One of the bodies flew towards her, but was repelled by the sheer static energy coming off of her. She entered the building's front door and the small number I guards who were within died to only a flash of light. Each was no more than dust before the actual sound echoed within the room, shaking the lights. No natural thunder could compare to the sound. A spark flew up into one of the light fixtures. Tricorna laying out a mental map of the facility. "10 stories of experiments... It's a shame it's not going to matter how many floors this is. Base sat, writing on a paper his life story. He was about half-way done when he ran out of ink an switched to a pencil. The lights flickered momentarily as thunder shook the building. "It's about time... I had almost gotten my hopes up that Celestia would be gone before they attacked." He sighed and went back to writing. He had only one story left to write down, and he was determined to finish it before they showed up, and killed him.
Robin was out on the streets after he heard news that the final move on the chess board of war was going to occur... And his time checkmate will go to them. He arrived at the royal courtyard, breaking the stone that sealed the mausoleum that would of been his, Ocean's and Crimsons resting place. He broke open his coffin taking out heavy armour in the colours of the Solar empire and a bow of gold and etched with ancient runic symbols. These were the tools of destruction he was buried and revived with, Royal artifacts from 150 years ago for Robin to serve Celestia with. Only this time they're to do Luna's bidding.
With two Rings in place, Celestia was slowly losing her power. Silver Crescent knew that it still wasn't enough. Until her magic was drained completely, she was essentially immortal. It was time for another attack on the Phoenix Queen. He knew that it would not be as easy as it was the first time. She knew what he was trying to accomplish, and she would be ready. He asked Cricket and Blackout to meet him at the city gate. He also sent messages to Robin and Ocean, asking them to come, as well.
The Eriborian soon found himself besides Tricorna as he looked at the surroundings of the facility. "We should split up to take different floors. I take odd floors, you take even floors. That should help us cover more ground and conduct a more through search. We should meet together on the tenth floor due to the likelyhood that it is the main chamber." Venquis then put Moonsaber away into it's scabbard. "I'll use my hooves for this, no need for Moonsaber to get dirty." ---------------------------------------------- Images flickered into life across all of the major cities, exactly like what happened with the threat to the camp with the tortured solider. Celestia stood on a stage, standing besides an awoken Star Shimmer and two Elites nearby standing in formation around Celestia. Soon, Celestia began to speak in a surprisingly calm voice. “To those participating in the Blitzkrieg on the Republic, it is time to reveal yourselves to your enemies. Wipe them out....all of them.” She said before focusing on the matter of hand. "My fellow Equestrians. As your leader, I encourage you from time to time, and always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. If you're unconvinced that a particular plan of action I've decided is the wisest, tell me so, but allow me to convince you and I promise you right here and now, enemies and traitors to the Empire will be dealt with harshly. Standing besides me is Star Shimmer, one of Princess Luna's merry band of misfits that seem to fight 'for a better cause'. You see my children, when you misbehave. You will be punished. But when you threaten everything the Empire holds dear, well... that's something on another level." Celestia drew out her weapon that was created exclusively for her, a majestic and beautiful looking golden sword that sparked with fire like electricity. The sheer power coming from the weapon was immense, enough to cause the camera to fizz when it was drawn out. “The price you pay for plotting to destroy the empire is, I collect your bucking head. Look at camera one more time Star, look into the afterlife. Look into what your pathetic Parson would have thought of this moment. I would have had him executed first, but it looks like my Flares did their job correctly. I, Celestia of Equestria, Phoenix Queen of Equestria and all of her provinces and colonies, sentence you to die. ” The two Flares then walked towards and pushed Star downwards onto a board, holding her already cuffed knees and left her there. Celestia brought the blade down on Star’s bare neck. There was an eruption of blood as the head came free with a single swing. Celestia raised her hooves to the sky, blood dripping down her face. She felt the cheers of the loyal members of the Empire shake her entire body. For the first time since her assault on the Crystal Empire, Celestia was happy. “CELESTIA!” She roared her voice deafening and harsh. Every member inside of the bunker drew their weapons and thrust them to the ceiling. “EXULTE!” They roared back, their combined voices shaking the stage. “CELESTIA!!” Celestia bellowed, her voice louder than before and her sword thrust higher “EXULTE!!!” The members of Celestia’s bunker screamed before the video cut off. ------------------------------------------ Ocean soon received Silver's message and headed towards the city gate. It was time to take Celestia down another notch. She knew about the difficulty that was presented against her, but still took the risk.
"Good idea. I'll see you shortly." The ground in a circle beneath Tricorna suddenly was charred to dust and she fell down onto floor 2. She started down a dark hallway and was assaulted with the smell of sulfur. "Research into replicating brother Obsidian's weapon. Pathetic." A large blast of electricity flowed from her sides and up the walls down both sides of the hallway. "That was easy. Nothing worth keeping on this floor. Off we go." She ran off down the hallway in the direction of the elevator.
Robin received Silvers message as soon as ponyly possible. He arrived in the gear that he recently took from the mausoleum.
