Arcane Shadow (extended)
Chapter 9: Acruta Lao D'nor
Previous Chapter Next ChapterHoards of monsters suddenly attacked the Crystal Kingdom, spreading panic and terror among the ponies. Guards fruitlessly tried holding off the enemy forces and were either hurt badly or killed on the spot. Pegasus wings were broken willy-nilly as Unicorn magic was made useless thanks to Syphon and Dispel. Enemy magic was being flung like bullets in a war-zone. Many ponies tried seeking refuge in the Palace, only to find it was overcrowded with such monstrosities consisting of Wasps, Golems, Eyes, and the occasional Slime.
"What are these things?!" Shouted one pony, who was running from some Furry Slimes.
"They killed a guard!" Caterwauled another as he was being stung to death by giant yellow bees.
"Someone save us!" Cried a third mare, who literally used her body to protect her filly.
A Beholder had six guards ensnared in its tentacles as three more ran away on hoof, their wings broken beyond repair.
Ancient Eyes were firing spells like Drain and Syphon on the unicorn forces to halt their magic.
More Golems, all of the dark variety, were busy wrecking homes into rubble.
"Miss Natalie!" Cried Guard A as he ran into the overcrowded throne room.
"Can't you see we're a bit busy?!" Natalie screamed, firing Fire, Ice, and Thunder at hoards of giant insects.
"Beholder!" Shouted Guard B.
Natalie in that very instant dropped her Nirvana. She stood there with a soulless look in her eyes as that one word seemed to paralyze her.
Time seemed to freeze.
The enemy forces took no notice, save for one.
A Red Wasp attacked her, which knocked her out of her trance...and straight into a wall.
Matt was already comatose.
NoLegs had sword and shield in nonexistent paw, bravely standing up to the monsters with a cowering Cadence and frightened Shining Armor behind him. He was hissing fiercely, acutely aware that it did not in any way faze the insects, eyeballs, Slimes and golems running amok.
The cat found himself surrounded. He was doomed, as were Cadence and Shining.
Natalie got up from the wall she was smashed into, her hair covering her face as a ghastly white aura encased her form. Her Nirvana came to her hand as soon as she held it out. Her long, scarlet hair began flailing about as if in a breeze directed upwards from underneath her.
"What is she doing?!" Caterwauled Guard C, who was already cowering.
Natalie slowly rose her head up, and her eyes were glowing a soul-breaking white. The aura around her intensified as though it were made of fire. Her face literally darkened because of the glow emanating from where her eyes were.
"She's pissed! We're gonna die!!" Yelled Guard A, who had no idea what he was talking about.
"YOU." Natalie hissed as she threw a Fire at a Golem, who shattered right then and there.
"DO." She continued, flinging an Ice at a whole hoard of Wasps, which froze and fell. They shattered upon impact with the ground. White wings made of the same aura sprouted from her back, and there were four in total.
"We're doomed!" Wailed Guard B, his hooves hiding his face.
"NOT." Natalie scowled as she hit three Ancient Eyes with one Thunder. The wings grew larger than those of Celestia.
"MESS." She yelled as another Golem who came rushing at her was sent flying with a whack of her staff. Her aura was becoming brighter.
"I knew you well!" Shouted Guard C, who was crying at this point.
"WITH MY FRIENDS!" Natalie bellowed, bringing her arms to her face and then flinging them to her sides as a white light encased all of the Crystal Mountains. It shot a solitary white-gold beam into the sky which reached space. It expanded into a rectangular shape, with the top becoming reminiscent of a cross with runic writing scrawled on it. The wings flared from behind this cross, making it look angelically holy.
The monsters were wiped clean from the mountain.
Murdered ponies, as well as Matt, were revived.
The white aura literally repaired what had been destroyed...and then suddenly ceased. The cross suddenly vanished.
"Are we dead?" Asked Guard A, who was afraid to open his eyes.
"No." Shining Armor answered, his eyes wide with shock.
"We're very much alive..." Cadence cooed.
NoLegs meowed.
Matt started stirring, and then sat up resting most of his weight on his left arm while hoisting himself with his right. "I'm OK!" He said with pained glee.
Guard B looked up and saw the wings go back into Natalie's body as she levitated down as gently as a feather. She landed on her knees first before falling to the ground on her face. Her hair fluttered around her body, spreading out in a way resembling a Phoenix.
____
Lance and Anna were resuming their little trek to Canterlot when everyone came to a halt.
"What is that?!" Shouted Rainbow as she pointed to a white sphere off in the distance. It shot a beam into the sky.
"Someone pissed Natalie off." Anna answered.
"Huh?" Asked Twilight. "What is she doing?"
"She's in Overdrive." Lance remarked. "Remember what we told you? Yeah, that right there is her Genesis, my fine friends."
"Really?" Rainbow said, puzzled.
"Yeah. It hurts enemies and revives the fallen. I even seen it repair a house or two in the process!" Lance stated.
"She's always pissed when she uses it." Anna huffed. "But who made her that mad?"
"I dunno. But we better head to Canterlot if we're to find out." Rainbow nodded, hovering beside the Mighty Oak.
"Let's rest first. Damn wasps tired us out." Lance objected.
That night, they set up camp in the Valkyrie. Who'd rob that behemoth?
Next Chapter: The Party's Back Together Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 32 MinutesAuthor's Notes:
Don't fuck with Natz when she hits Overdrive.
She can use any spell then!