Chapter fifty two

In a dark corridor to the ruins, a sudden flash of light that would blind any and all that stare in to it for too long comes forth as two ponies in full armor appear from what seems out of nowhere. Thankfully for the most part, any enemies in the area are a little preoccupied at the moment to patrol every area of the once great castle. Flash shakes his head for a second, feeling the small meal that he had prior to this, coming back up his throat as he heaves over and lets out the results.

Shining takes some pity on the guard and pats him gently on the back while looking left and right for any that may have heard the spell being cast, “Yea… I had the same stomach sickness when I learned the Teleportation spell… Twilight hasn’t used that on ya yet?”

“Nope…” another stream comes up, before he wipes his lips with his fore hoof, “… well, not yet that is.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll live,” Shining chuckles a bit as the other guard recovers and they both head down the hallway. Thanks to the simple, but effective ‘distraction’ outside of the fighting going about. The two were able to get close enough to use Shining’s spell to get inside. Having orders already by the princesses’ to do two things.

One, they are to find the elements and remove them from the enemy’s possession. And two, Twilight is to be found and brought to safety. Though there is a minor problem… neither of the stallions know the castle at all, and are left more or less ducking and diving around corners to avoid groups of patrols that have been roaming around to search for a breach in the area.

“Any ideas where to start?” Flash whispers across a hallway.

“Not a clue, Twilight would probably be in the lower part of the castle, in a dungeon of some sort…” the captain thinks of what he would have done, “but, I haven’t a clue how to get there.”

“What about the Elements?”

“Well…” Shining tries to think of any possible place that they would be kept, “Center of the castle?”

Flash nods to him as they slowly walk down the hall, checking their corners and waiting for a few patrols to pass by before proceeding. It isn’t until they see another group coming their way from around a corner that they freeze where they are. The hallway is barren from the centuries of decay, without even an old plant pot to hide behind. Trying to think quick on his hooves, Shining looks up and motions Flash as he uses his wings to take off up in to the rafters.

While with a quick Spell the captain goes clear as glass, becoming invisible. Just in time to have the patrol walk around the corner to them, Shining tiptoes across to the side, as they start to walk by. Not seeing the guard above using his wings and legs to hold himself up, Flash pins himself to the wall to hold himself up without a sound from his wings. While the captain stands there motionless, holding his breath.

It being a castle that is in ruins, it’s believable that there would be quite a few pests walking about in the corners. Like right now, as a spider suspends itself above Armor, while it hangs from the thread. Lowing itself down from what looks like a straight shot to the ground, it somehow stops in midair. A curious thing to happen? It wonders, as it starts to walk around on whatever is holding it up now. Though while the eight legged pest remains clueless to what is happening. The captain is only left feeling each leg prick his coat as he starts to shake, finally the creepy feeling getting the better of him as he jumps up in to the air, blowing his cover.

“Agh! Get it off, get it off, get it off-f-f-f!” he yells almost like a filly. While the enemy troops snap around to see a pony standing there shaking in his suit. Shining finally catches the little nuisance, scurrying off of him as he sees the changelings darting towards him. “Oh drat…” he mutters, pulling out the sword.

Though as they draw closer to what would seem like a five on one match. The first two lead changelings are brought down in one move to the ground, as they catch a sword pinning their bodies now from a falling Flash from his perch. Yanking them out quickly, he counters a slash coming his way. While Shining, recovering from his little embarrassment, aides the guard. Mule kicking one in the face and causing him to stumble, before turning to another. Levitating him off of his hooves, and in one go, smashing the creature against the stone wall as its fluids paint it an odd shade of envy.

Both the ponies now taking to their individual targets. Though after his little stunt with the painting, Shining is caught off guard and catches a nick on his cheek while he and the enemy swing at the same time. Though while he is left with a small cut, the changeling is left with a slashed throat as he falls over to the ground gurgling. Flash meanwhile, has pulled his blade back for another go as he uses the two weapons to his advantage. Blocking with one and thrusting up in to the chest cavity with the other. It’s a relatively quick kill for them both, as they don’t want to waste too much time with this. Now left to only admire the handy work of their trade.

“What happened back there?” Flash has to ask, not seeing what caused Shining to lose his cool all of a sudden.

“I don’t like spiders that much…”

“What does that have to do with-?”

“Alrighty lets drop it shall we?” Shining tries to change the subject to something a little less embarrassing for him, “it won’t be long until they find these bodies now… let’s head out.”

Flash nods, making a mental note to bring that matter up with Twilight later now about her brother’s hatred for arachnids, “Understood Shining,” he responds as they push open a doorway to exit the sight of their work… “However, they may have heard-” … right in to the path of three dozen soldiers that had picked up the ruckus, and went to investigate. Both ponies halt their advance, as they freeze for a second, while the enemy party does the same. Slowly each and every one of the solid blue eyes before them, narrow their gaze down upon their targets in a death glare while they start to snarl at the two guards.

Flash leans over to his officer, “So-o-o-o…Any ideas cap?”

After a second of thinking it over, the captain shrugs his shoulders, “Eh… I got one…” Shining turns around and darts down the hall, Flash following quickly as the group chases them now.

“Get them!” they hear the changeling at the head call out to the others. As the close hoof steps from the creatures grow in volume as they draw near. The two slide around the corner as they get back up on their hooves and take back off, not even bothering to look behind them and see where they are with their pursuers.

“That, was your plan?” Flash calls out to Shining as they barrel down the hallway, now neck and neck with one another.

“You have to think on your hooves when in a position like that,” Shining answers, trying to justify his actions.

“So… retreat?”

“No… let’s call it a tactical back pedal.”

Flash is stumbled for a few seconds at that one, even forgetting what is behind him for a moment, “Shining, with the highest respect to your rank… Twilight isn’t the only one with a smart ass sense of humor.”

He starts to chuckle at the answer, “well she picked up a fair amount of it from me over the years.”

“I’ll blame the teacher then…” Flash snickers at him, as they run for their lives at the wailing commotion behind them at the moment.

Having to make up some sort of other escape plan at the time. Shining eyes a few pillars in front of them further down the hall as they run, charging up a spell he shoots at its base, blowing it out and causing it to collapse. Seeing their window closing fast. Both colts pick up even more speed as they run as fast as their hooves will carry them. Narrowly missing the marble pillar, while they ignore the several screams as it falls and crushes a few of its intended targets at the moment. Through the dust and debris though, the pair make it out of the area safe and sound for the moment, as hear the totting sounds of the angered left overs run down the halls towards them.

“They went this way!” a changeling yells out as the others follow.

Not ever deciding to check the old closet off to the side.

Flash and Shining, somehow, cram themselves inside the tight quarters. Now only mere inches from each other’s muzzles as they can feel the panting breaths escaping one another. While they take a moment or two to catch their breaths, make sure the coast is clear, and assess the situation.

“Well this is, awkward…” Flash tries to lighten the mood a bit, as the sounds of hooves against the tile fall in the distant.

“Actually, this isn’t the first time I’ve been in this position,” Shining reminds himself.

“What?”

“That, Flash… is a story for another day,” Shining tries to hide his stifled laughter, “let’s just say Cadance was pretty ticked, and alcohol was involved.”

“Isn’t it always though?” Flash grins.

“Well, have you ever heard of a good story start with a salad?”

“Not a chance,” Flash adds as they pile out of the closet, dusting themselves off and try to get their bearings, “Umm what would you say cap?”

“Naturally I haven’t a clue where to go, though part of me is saying to split up,” he catches a flicker in the guard’s ear at the suggestion, “cover more ground that way.”

“And naturally I would be opposed to this, simply because what happens if we run in to another group like that,” Flash brings up his point, but keeps the situation in mind all the same, “but time is of the essence.”

“I’ll go for the Elements of Harmony,” Shining looks to either side to see if they are still in the clear, “You, find my sister.”

“It will be done, Shining…” Flash nods to him. Hoof bumping one another like old pals for a second in their agreement, “if I hear more screaming, I know you either found more changelings, or more spiders…”

Shining shoots him a playful grin as he starts to walk off, “not cool Flash… not cool.”

With that they both head in the opposite direction, careful now to avoid any sort of conflict as it could affect them more now that there isn’t going to be any other pony there to back them up. Flash rolls around a wall and off behind a decorative plant pot that has been vacant of any life for quite some time now. Looking over it, he spots two more changelings walking and talking while they do their patrols it would seem, no idea that there is another listening in.

“What is with this whole Elements mess anyway?” one asks.

“The queen hopes to use them against Equestria, instead of the other way around.”

“And she needed that Sombra guy to help with this?”

“Well actually it think there is a little more to it than that to be honest here.”

“Then why keep that Equestrian princess locked up here, in the dungeon back there?” Flash listens tentatively after hearing what he can only assume is Twilight being mentioned, seeing as who else would it be.

“I don’t know, all part of their humiliation plan I guess…” They pass by without a hitch and never catch the guard running down the same path that they came from.

‘A dungeon… of course it had to be,’ Flash snickers to himself.

Thankful that something had turned out to be right at least while they arrived here. After making sure the area is clear for him, Sentry makes his way towards the flight of stairs that the two guards came out of. Passing down several flights, he finally reaches the guarded entrance of a large metal looking door, a single lock on it, and two burley changelings standing between him and his love.

A position that no pony would want to be in.

Flash darts around the corner to give some sort of surprise attack, though in reality he is making it up as he goes. Tossing one sword in to the foot of a guard, he lets out a yelp as the blade meets his flesh, pinning him to the ground, and putting him out of the fight for a moment. The other not having a clue what is going on and only fighting back the guard out of instinct.

Bringing up a greenish magical shield he blocks several strikes of the princess’s own blade against it as he holds the guard at bay. Though while there is a little distance between them, the changeling attempts to fire off a ray spell at Flash. Using the princess’s blade to block what he can of the enchantment.

Sentry knows that the best defense against a spell is one of his own, although that isn’t an option at the moment, metal will mostly just melt down as it absorbs the energy. However, much to Flash’s surprise, Twilight’s blade holds its own against the spell. Absorbing the heat created in strides as it starts to glow red hot. With a final parry, Sentry breaks the spell with a flick of the sword, and takes the changeling’s horn clean off.

“AGghh!” the creature yelps, feeling the magical appendage depart his crown. Before getting the same scorching blade to the neck. Dropping him quickly while his body is ignored further, Flash eyes the other that still stands there trying to remove the blade buried deep in his hoof.

“Please…” he tries to hold up the other hoof to try and reason with the guard, “Have some pity here, I am only a grunt. I only follow the orders I’m given.”

“What a coincidence?” Flash looks down at him with a smile, but not a shred of clemency in his eyes, before lifting the blade and almost cleaving the defenseless colt in half. Yanking the hot blade out and the one from his foot as well, the body falls off to the side as parts of it flop around from muscle contractions alone, “…So am I,” he sizes up the locks on the door.

Sticking both blades in the ground, he tries to think of a way in. Though after a second or two of looking about for something to pick it with, he comes up with a gruesome but none the less effective solution. Flash picks up the horn that he chopped off from one and uses the tip, running it around on the inside as he tries to set the tumblers and pins just right. After a minute or two of trying. It pops off, and the door slowly creeks open as he takes both swords in hoof and steps in, sighting the one that he has been looking for lying there on the ground, huddled up to only herself to give comfort.

The wonderful lavender coat still being just as lovely to him even with the crust of dirt, blood, and grime sticking to it. He slowly steps in, looking to make sure no other has followed him or is in there waiting. Before sheathing both swords.

“Twilight…”

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Shining meanwhile has been running about the old castle trying to find his own task. As much as he would have loved to play older brother and rescue his ‘baby sis’. The captain is pretty sure that Flash would get a better response from his sister rescuing him than he would. Leaning over top of a railing, Armor spots four guards standing there to cover an entrance. Propping himself up on the edge, he takes a deep breath before the leap of faith.

Using his magic to conjure up a shield on the bottom of his hooves, Shining crushes the first changeling without a problem, or even so much as a whimper. Leaving the other three, to turn around and see the pony standing there quite literally on their friend.

“You worthless snipe!” the higher ranking one of them calls Shining, each of them drawing out their swords.

“You’re going to get it, pony!”

“Listen guys I’ve already had an eventful day…” Armor dodges the first attack with a quick side step before delivering a spell of his own to the changeling’s temple, blowing out the other side now as brain matter follows. “…Can we just get on with this, I would like to finish up here already. I have a loving mare waiting for me at home, and she gets a certain special way when I get out of a fight,” he winks, taking his blade out as he watches the other two take a step back, “if you know what I mean…”

“Enough!” one bellows, lunging at Shining with the other in tow close behind him.

Although a quick teleportation spell saves him from the first one, the second ends up tackling Shining to the ground and knocks the sword clean out of his grasp. Producing a smaller dagger in the close space, the changeling tries to drive it in to his chest. Fighting back feverishly with one hoof, Shining reaches over to his side and grabs a brick from the dilapidated structure, cracking it right in to his skull with enough force to even hear the bone break as he tumbles off to the side.

Not even waiting to get up, Armor looks up from his point of view and catches the inverted view of the final changeling charging at him. Using his horn to lift up the sword, he quickly sends it over and careens it in to the legs of his opponent. Removing two hooves without the changeling even noticing it at first, he doubles back in pain as he flips end over end. Scrapping across the floor, leaving a bloody trail to his resting place.

Shining gets to his feet finally and waltzes over to the enemy still on the ground, “So… now that you’re not going anywhere,” he says casually, “how about you tell me where the Elements are?”

Replying with a swift spit to the face, Shining wipes it off before grabbing his sword and gently rides it down the creature’s chest, till it gets to the lower part of his groin. “Listen bub we can make this painful or quick, I have several ideas in store for you already that my own wife would probably turn as white as me if she knew,” he answers with his face just a monotone as his voice.

“I have nothing to tell you…” he fights through the pain and bites down on his tongue.

“Suit yourself…” digging the blade in to his privates, Shining watches the changeling squirm about like a larva underneath him. Bright green blood already pouring out from the very vascular area, as it drenches his snow coat, “this is going to make for a very poor story to tell, you know…” Shining manages to get across from the screams of the enemy below him.

“AGghh! Fine no more! I yield I yield!”

“Splendid,” Armors face turns right back in to a cheery smile once more, “now where are they?”

“In the… Throne room! Chrysalis is holding them!” he winces. Glad to feel the blade draw away from him as Shining wipes it clean on his own coat.

“Now was that so hard?” he looks back at the injured enemy to see a tremble in his jaw, and a crystal spike sticking out of his head from the ground. Shining backs away from the dead soldier, only to hear heavy footsteps behind him and snaps his own head about to see none other than the king himself walking out from the shadows.

“You really can’t get good help these days,” Sombra tuts.

Aiming his sword at the tyrant, Shining takes a step back, knowing full well what power he has to contend with now, “Well usually they kill themselves, I saw that myself from the one in my empire.”

“Yours? Well we’ll just have to see how long that title remains as such,” the king brings out his own sword in his grasp. Already having a stature that towers over the pure white unicorn, seeing him in full armor and wielding a sword and shield only adds to the terrifying nature of the king, “Though, I may keep your wife after we’re done… for a trophy,” Sombra closes the distance slowly between them.

“Thought you already had a special pony?”

“Chrysalis, yes… though who said we couldn’t spice things up?” The king remarks wickedly as he transforms in to his shadow form, snuffing out the lights of a few torches with a single gust of himself and leaving Shining Armor standing there to only hear his hisses and chuckles in the darkness.

“Well… shit.”

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“Flash?” the lavender mare peers up from her position to look at the blue eyes looking down at her. Graciously helping her up even with the heavy weights on her, the guard props her against himself for a moment as both wings of his extend around to embrace what they have missed for what seems like so long.

“The one and-”

“Not again!” Twilight snaps back from him and uses her strength to bring the chained together hooves up in to his gut. Sending the guard a few feet back on to the ground behind him as the mare leaps up to drive the weights in to his chest. “This is the second time you would have tried that on me your majesty!” she remarks, barely missing the guard as he rolls over to the opposite side and gets back to his feet.

“Your majesty? Twilight, it’s me!” he points to his chest, not seeing that his mare can have far more vigor in her step then he would have expected from one so studious. The alicorn steadies herself up on her bound legs, only to push back and land a tackle straight in to Sentry.

“Prove it then!” she readies another swing for him in the temple. Having to act rather quickly as he watches the blood lustful mare, Flash does the only thing he can think of after not being able to for the last couple of days. Tipping her over on to her own back, he pins her hooves against the floor, thankful that the weights can help restrain her. “Get… off of…Me!” she yells out in full rage at the supposed imposter.

Though not expecting to feel the next thing coming to her, as his warm lips meet hers, in this unnerving environment. The same emotions in Twilight’s gut conjure up in her once again at the true affection of love that she has so willingly embraced recently, after taking a much wanted chance with her guard. Now returning at the time when they were needed most and almost washing away the place around her, taking Twilight to a land of her own bliss. Flowing back in to the kiss is a wonderful thing for the guard to feel, as she presses back in to him. Mostly because of two things. One, he knows that she is safe with him now. And two, she won’t try and kill him.

Carefully pulling back from her, Flash watches her eyes slowly open as a result from the action, “Okay… that’s proof,” Twilight mutters.

“I sure hope so…” he grins playfully at her, rubbing his own gut, “hold still though…” she clenches her eyes together as she hears the chains drop from being cut with the blade.

Stumbling to her feet at first, it finally dawns on Twilight what she just did to him. Now caressing his form as she looks over to the impact points from the chain, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Chrysalis came in here earlier and disguised herself as you so I had to-”

“Dear…” Flash cuts her off mid rant.

“Yes?” she stops, looking at him to see the sweet smiling face of Sentry standing there, “Yeah… well, that can be for later… now probably isn’t the time.”

“Oh not at all…” he turns the decorative blade over to its rightful owner, as she takes it in hoof. Rather happy to be in contact with the blood drawer, as it curiously still radiates some heat to it, “…I believe that belongs to you… though somehow it managed to stop a spell. Usually magic will melt the blade itself,” Flash says with the utmost curiosity, looking over the blade.

“That would be Princess Luna,” Twilight nods as they start to head towards the exit, “she put an enchantment on it to block lower level spells being cast, like a shield. I just keep forgetting that little detail, because seldom have I ever needed to use it when I could always make my own protection spell… well-l-l-l-l,” she looks up at her horn, trying to even cast a simple illumination spell but still not getting anything but a migraine. “That is until now, Sombra put a spell on me so I can’t use magic… we’ll need to break it somehow.”

“That we will…” Flash peers around the corner to make sure no pony has heard any of the commotion going on, “… though for now, you might want to get accustomed to using your weapon as both sword, and shield,” the princess snickers at him and follows her coltfriend down the path, out of her prison.