Phantoms of the Truth

Chapter 17

The False Prophet part 1

*Location: Everfree Forest*

“Explain to me again why Sun Butt sent us out here?” Neckros asked for the third time as Blaze, Loki and Dark Oak groaned

“Alright fine! Just listen this time,” Blaze sighed in annoyance as he cleared his throat

“Celestia wants us to check out a strange magical reading she detected, it seemed to be… growing, or atleast that’s what she told me,” Blaze explained as he nodded, his eyes narrowed

“But even so she was acting rather ‘odd’ about the situation, normally she would send Sparks with us or something, but this just seems… off,” Loki added as the all thought for a moment

“It does seem likely that this power had her concerned, that is my analysis of the situation anyway,” Oak also responded

“Well I do believe we can get are answer now,” Neckros said as he pointed to the ruins up ahead, they were the same ones that Blaze, Twi and AJ used to travel to the Spirit Realm, but they were different

The black sky was now a misty purple and red, and an ominous glow came from a hole in the centre of the ruins. They all looked at each other as Blaze activated his armour and ran ahead, the others following suit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once inside they entered a massive chamber with moss and dust covering the walls and floor. The place was old, older than even the castle that the elements were found in. but what got their attention was the light from before. Or what emitted it.

It was, something, it stood or floated around 6 feet tall, it’s body was nothing but a mass of energy that roughly formed a body, it’s left arm was split into two, one of its shoulder and the other down to its legs, with uneven-razor claws. The other was a massive wing, purple energy flowed between the thin bones.

Its body was a purple-red colour and then it turned slowly to face them. It’s face however only had one thing placed on it, a massive, black eye.

“Who destroys the world? Their way of life?” it spoke, its voice echoed like the wind as it hovered there

“What and who are you?” Neckros asked as he looked unevenly at it

“Your maker? Or your destroyer? I wouldn’t know,” It spoke vaguely again as Neckros just backed up

“Ok, well he’s crazy, Blaze, you got this, you can speak crazy,” He said as he pushed Blaze forward slightly

“What’s your name?” Blaze asked coldly

“Seer,” It spoke calmly “You are Blaze Vector Hawk, element of Inspiration and an enigma of dimensions,” Seer explained carefully as Blaze’s eyes widened under his visor

“How did you know all that?!” Blaze asked quickly as it just stared at him, as it raised its massive arm

“Tick tock, time is such a gift, but like all gifts, it will be taken,” Seer spoke as it flew forwards and passed right through Blaze as he froze then yelled in pain, KAI’s voice echoing with his

“Systems’#’##’/.,’#’@ failing…/~’]’]#’##’ Er~~ror!” KAI sputtered out as the warnings went haywire as Blaze gripped his head in pain

“Well that’s enough bullshit for one city! Get him!” Loki yelled as they all attacked

Before Seer could react Neckros swung at his energy body, but his claws fazed right through him as he lazily swung an arm in its chest.

“Umm, this isn’t working!” He called before a massive claw impaled him as he actually gasped and was thrown against a nearby wall, his wound was slowly healing, but not as fast as it should “This could be a problem,”

Loki then tried as he went to block an attack but it fazed right through his arms as he tumbled back. He was going to use an energy attack but failed as Seer appeared beneath him and pulled him through the ground.

They both appeared as Loki coughed from the dirt but quickly blasted Seer in the face as he hovered back, dropped Loki as he saw the ripple from the attack slowly closing on Seer’s arm. Then I dawned on him.

“Blaze, Oak! I need you two to keep him busy, Neckros! Sonic boom time!” Loki called out as he grinned wider and vanished

Blaze slowly regained control, his body feeling weak but still useable as Oak joined him.

“Your vitals have dropped and your breathing is ragged, you need to rest for a bit, not doing so could result in death of up to 60%,” Oak explained as Blaze went to protest but fell to his knees

“Ok! Just be careful,” Blaze said in a huff as Oak ran ahead “Dammit, why am I so weak all of a sudden? This never happened before!”

Oak ran for Seer as it raised its wing and began to flap, causing massive energy waves to cut through the air at blinding speeds, luckily Oak jumped and rolled as he leaped up and brought his tail down on Seer, who’s shoulder arm fell limp on the ground as he flew away. Then the arm reappeared.

“You are not like the rest,” Seer commented as he dodged Oak’s attacks with ease “But you lack unpredictability,”

“Incorrect, I have simply been playing along,” He added as Seer stopped and looked around to see both Neckros and Loki charging an attack at wither side of him

“Ever heard of an Energy Boom?” Loki asked as he pulled his hands apart

“Because we gunna give you an example!” Neckros laughed as he did the same

“Keep believing you are the heroes, but I know what you all really are…” Seer trailed off as his wing rose and then he flew right through the roof and into the night sky, now clear once again

“Oh, come on! We just started!” Neckros shouted as he cancelled his attack, along with Loki

“Just what was he is the real question though?” Loki said before kicking a nearby pillar down “Stupid, energy, thing,”

“Blaze? Are you alright? what was that?” Serafin asked from his mind, she also sounded exhausted  

“I’m-I’m fine, my question is, what happened to us? I just froze, then the next thing we all felt was pain?” Blaze asked in worry as he knew him, KAI and Serafin were affected by the attack

“All systems seem fine now, maybe it was some sort of paralysis attack? Or even some sort of EMP,” KAI suggested as Blaze just shook his head

“No matter now, he gone, but right now we all need to get back to Celestia and the rest and tell them about ‘him’,” Blaze concluded as the rest agreed and decided to move out

But, just as they were leaving, Blaze caught a glimpse at one of the walls, it showed a group of shadows, all bowing to this golden being of light as it displayed a world above its head. Just what was it? Does it have something to do with Seer?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later…

After gathering the Mane 6, they all explained what they found and even what happened to Blaze, KAI and Serafin as they quickly wrote to Celestia that they would be resting up before arriving at Canternlot.

But something strange happened. She asked that they came immediately, and that it could not wait. They were all odded out by this but Loki shrugged and said ‘I have ‘Family’ matters to deal with so it would be best to do so, that and Lith would kill him if he missed out’. So, they all soon warped to the castle.

When they arrived, they saw Celestia sitting on her throne as she bore a frown and a steely glare as they all approached her. Something was off.

“Ah so you decided to join me, this is very urgent I assure you,” She said hastily

“Celestia, what’s going on? Do you know this ‘Seer’?” Twilight asked as she nodded

“Sadly, this is far worse than what I could have imagined, if he’s here, then I doubt even the elements could stop him,” she explained as Loki and Neckros looked at each other before laughing

“I doubt this ‘Seer’ will be a problem, I mean energy and sound attacks can cut him to shreds,” Neckros said as he sighed “You ponies really do worry to much,”

“Watch your mouth mister, she is the princess you know?” Applejack warned as he just blew a razzberry

“I think you forgot, I don’t give one, I only said I wouldn’t harm you all, not that I would respect you,” Neckros clarified as Blaze hit his leg “Soz,”

“Even so, I’m a Demi-God, and a Sin of your failures so I think we got this, I mean, you have me, a cyborg, another Goddess, and a Nightmare, what more could you ask for!?” Loki explained with a flick of his hat

“And you think that can stop him? You really are that blunt,” Celestia said with venom as everyone did a double take as she smirked “I guess I let that slip, my bad,”

“Umm, princess? What was that about?” Dash asked as she just smiled

“Looks like it isn’t the end just yet, is it Seer?” Blaze said in a angrier tone as the rest all turned to see the princess vanish and soon a more monstrous form took its place

“End? Does such a place exist? Does anyone even know of such a place?” He said as he glared at the group who were either scared or ready to attack “I know, because I feel from its grasp,”

“Why are you here!? And what did you do with the princess!?” Twilight demanded as he just kept his gaze on all of them

“She never existed, atleast after Blaze came here, ever since then I have hopped that once he found a way back home he would leave, but that was not the case, so I threw my knights at him, all fell, one by one, now I’m left to clean it all up,” Seer explained as he slowly hovered towards them

“I am the fallen God of Sight, and I will do what I must, to save this world,” He finished as he lunged at the group as they scattered

“Twilight! Get the rest and stay back, this isn’t like the last times we fought!” Blaze ordered as Dash quickly butted in

“Heck no! if we wanna help we-“

“DO WHAT I SAY NOW!!!” Blaze yelled, though his face was mostly covered he displayed nothing but fear as they went silent and fell back

“You guys all ready?” Blaze asked

“Do you even need to ask?” Loki quipped

“We’ll take him down!” Neckros cheered

“We’ve come this far,” Serafin added

“Exterminate!” Oak said simply as he nodded

“Ok then… Take him down!!!” Blaze yelled as they all followed suit

“You will all die here,” Seer warned as he turned his wing into another arm and unleased a barrage of attacks as they all dodged

Loki was the first to act as he vanished and appeared beside him as he used his Rapier and swung it horizontally as the swift move caused the air to go silent before half the Seer and wall behind him imploded from the force.

Quickly, Seer acted and blasted Loki in the chest multiple times as he stumbled and soon warped through him. Seer then took his two clawed hands and jabbed them through Loki’s skull as his body shook from the attack, then his body fell limp as he dropped his body.

“Shit!” They all yelled as he dropped like a rock

“One down,” Seer commented before blocking a blast of fire from Serafin

Serafin then charged her horn again and fired 5 fire balls at Seer but he simply knocked them away as she quickly blocked his attack from behind with her blaze rod shield. He then quickly phased into the ground as she leaped to avoid the attack but didn’t realize he had already appeared behind her.

He then tightened his grip on her as she tried to break free but was met with a powerful electrical shock that knocked her out also, he then quickly kicked her in the stomach as she flew towards the Mane 6.

Only Blaze and Neckros remained as he turned to face them, then he raised his arm.

*Devil’s Thorn*

“Evade!” Blaze quickly ordered as his arm split into hundreds of spikes as they pinned to the walls, floor and ceiling as Blaze quickly avoided them but was grazed in multiple areas.

Neckros however took the hits as they impaled him as he coughed.

“This could be more problematic, time to act,” He said silently as he disappeared

When the spikes vanished, Blaze ran towards Seer and swung violently at his body as they phased through his being. Then he smiled.

“Bingo,” He said calmly as the Seer’s body began ripple from the clanging of Blaze’s swords as he smashed them against each other “Now that I’m close enough I can really damage you!”

“You lured me in to take on my weakness?” He asked as his body extended and before Blaze could fly away the Seer latched onto his armour “How predictable,”

Blaze then cried out in pain as he felt his body, mind and soul being pulled as KAI went on the fritz and soon offline, then the cold air from the hole Loki made rushed in as his body flared from the agonizing pain, his armour had been ripped off.

Blaze fell in a heap as he saw the Seer’s body change and warp. Soon his hands grew more sharp and angular, his left foot also, but the right only had the back claw exposed. Pieces revealed the Seer, then the head had condensed and looked jagged, half the visor remained, the other show a blood-red eye glaring back.

“My physical form is finally back, now then,” He said before grabbed Blaze and pinning him against a wall “Time for you to suffer,”

“Do it… that won’t stop every other person I know from kicking your-“ Blaze started but was met with a kick to his gut as See dropped him

“You misunderstand, I’m not going to kill you, only make you suffer first,” He said as Blaze’s eyes widened

“NO, LOOK OUT!!!” He screamed but Seer was gone, then behind a certain one, a claw pierced their heart as they coughed up blood as Seer disappeared again

“PINKIE!!!” They all yelled in disbelief as she fell to the floor in a heap, blood pouring onto the floor

She slowly looked up, tears now in her eyes as she drew a shaky breath.

“So-sorry that I-I-I got in the w-way again,” She apologised as Blaze felt tears begin to form, just like the rest

“No! don’t you dare apologise! I won’t accept it!” Blaze snapped as she smiled happily

“Don’t worry, Blazey, I’ll be fine, just you see, everything…. Will… be… fine…” She responded before her last breath ceased

“No…,” Dash whispered as she looked away, as some of the other did also, Blaze however tried to get to his hooves

“I’ll kill you Seer! You hear me! I’ll kill-“He once again was interrupted from being kicked by him

“You think I’m the villain? If you just listened to yourself and quit this Hero business, your friend might still be alive, this is all on your hands, not mine,” Seer explained as he wiped the blood off his arm

“Now then… let me end your suffering and let this world be free once more,” Seer quoted as he raised his arm up

Blaze closed his eyes as he waited for his life to end, his power was gone, his friend was dead, and nothing could change that. What did happen was the feeling of his body being lifted as the wind flew passed him. So, he opened his eyes and saw Neckros, still injured carrying him, Loki and Serafin, Oak slowly followed as he blocked the attacks of Seer as he slowly followed.

“Ne…Neckros…” Blaze tried to call but he just kept his grin

“Only us and Skittles remain, the rest just up and defended us from some pesky bots that showed up, Pinkie…...” Neckros trailed off as Blaze’s gazed fell to the floor "I'm sorry,"

That made Blaze look up slightly, did he just say 'Sorry'? why? he didn't care about anyone of them, why?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They eventually reached the balcony of the tallest tower as he laid the rest down. Neckros then channelled his magic and opened a vortex below the balcony as he threw Serafin and Loki through, Oak followed as the rest were about to jump in before Blaze stopped.

“Dash! Come on!” He asked but she just smiled sadly at him

“I’m sorry, I can’t leave them,” She said as Blaze went to speak but she stopped him by kissing him before continuing “Good luck, you idiot,”

Then his eyes widened as she shoved him off the balcony with Neckros as the body of his Mrk II armour appeared and grabbed Dash by the throat, his last words echoed out.

“DASH!” then he was gone

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back on the balcony…

“Where did he go?” Seer asked calmly but got a smug grin as he threw her into a wall “You think just because that broken team is gone that you saved your hope? Hardly.”

Then more bots appeared, their armour was now a black with red highlights and looked slimmer.

“We have contained and separated the Elements, what now?” One asked as Seer glanced down towards the body of water below

“Looks like they leaped into the river down there, unlikely survivability, but the nightmare…” He trailed off before looking back “Gather a search party, sweep the city, village and river banks, even the Everfree, make sure they are dead,”

They saluted as they ran back down the tower. Seer however looked back at Dash, his eye never blinking.

“Now then, let’s see how long your spirit can last,” Seer spoke coldly, the night was his

To Be Continued…