private Family Matters (1x1)

[GoldieS 679]

Storm was taken back by her response. He thought it would be more of just not her brand of entertainment, but this? He looked genuinely confused by her comment. Quartz was equally unsure how to respond as well. 

"I don't get it..." Storm scratched his head. "Aren't you supposed to be hunting the red team leader though? Like... I saw you kill like a dozen ponies today... what's the difference?"

Quartz tilted her head in that confused dog like fashion. "You are a warrior, right? What does it matter what your prey looks like?"

 

Grim nodded in understanding, but neither of them had to go far. The moment they entered into the city proper, he was waiting for them. Not the Twin Tailed god, but the tall earth pony who had insulted Woody earlier. Behind him, the same retinue as before in addition to a small army of soldiers slowly growing as more and more showed up, easily outnumbering the small group Woody brought with him. 

Innocent civilians were screaming and yelling, trying to clear out the main street and running into the closest building. A few poked their heads out of windows, sporting hunting rifles, spears and bows. They were civilians, but they were prepared to help defend their home with the growing number of soldiers surrounding Grim and Woody. 

"Why are you here, demon!?" The earth pony shouted, still a little distance away, safely among his group of heroes mixed with the state troops. "I was willing to sign the cease fire, yet you invade my home? Tambelon is not your playground, leave!" 

He stomped his hoof for emphasis. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"The difference is if they can wield a weapon and if they can think logically. If not then they're not something I care to fight. That's that and you're not changing my mind..." Maple knew that she would be seen as weak by Storm and Quartz now but she didn't care both she and Woody both swore to never hurt animals not even when threatened by them since even big scary animals had a softer side and they both knew it, ponies did too but it was significantly harder.

 

"You know we gods don't quite like being insulted... Especially by the likes of those who believe in false prophets who sing salvation to those who hate chaos. Your mistake wasn't mocking me, no no. It was decided to believe in a god that has no place among the likes of my family. Bring him here... Prove your faith isn't misplaced..." Woody hummed something and picked up the earth pony with magic lifting him straight up then speaking loudly so everyone who saw him could hear him. "If this... twin-tailed god is real where is he? I mean I am here after all. Why would someone who hates chaos let me just waltz in here?"

[GoldieS 679]

"Psch..." Storm scoffed, waving his claws indifferently. "Fine... whatever... well, I'm gonna go find some moles and groundhogs holes. Oh! Can you go grab some cheese and stuff to go with them? Maybe some red cider too..." 

"Yah, we didn't get to fight like you..." Quartz replied with a smirk. "Why don't you go back to the village and grab some stuff and we'll meet you out in the fields?"

The two started walking down a path leading away from the small fighting pit and up the surrounding hill. A small, strange creature passed by them, but they didn't seem to notice it, or care at least. It didn't really give them any attention either, the little beast walking on to black toothpick legs. It was completely at odds with all the other creatures beating each other senseless around it. For that matter, it didn't fit in with the Wolf's followers at all. 

It wore a watery blue robe, kept together with stitches and patchwork repairs. In one of it's toothpick black arms it carried a stick with a lantern, blue flame swirling inside. Sticking out of the cowl of its robe was the dirty skull of some snouted creature for its head. Two ears poked out from the top of the cowl, both covered by more patchwork cloth. 

The tiny undead creature continued on its path, completely invisible to the warriors around it. Without hesitation, it stopped beside Maple, climbing up onto her back without so much as a word. 

 

The lord struggled as he began to rise in the air, panicking but trying to keep his demeanor. "H- he let you in here for one reason and one reason only!" The pony shouted. 

Many of his followers from earlier were present, standing behind (now below) him with weapons at the ready. Even the rabbit from before was sporting a rather large rifle, the ragtag group of Imperial adventurers in red and white colors ready for whatever came next. 

"SO THAT WE COULD KILL YOU!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. 

More fighters popped over the edges of the rooftops. They weren't the average soldiers. One group sporting various bows were deer rangers, the same kind one might find in the Everfree, draped in cloaks of grass and leaves with wooden armor. There was a blue dragon in gold armor, and more yet assorted adventurers and mercenaries. 

Grim merely gave a chuckle.

"We'd rather die than let you hurt a single innocent creature in this city!" Shouted the lord, quite unable to really back up his bravado himself. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple huffed as the two left, here she thought she'd made some friends but they left her due to her personal interest, she didn't blame them really and she suspected they'd be back soon anyways after she thought that she felt the thing climb up on her. "H... Hey! What do you think you're doing! Get off my back!" Maple attempted to shake the creature off, even going as far as to 'Punch' it with her wings should it have clung to her.

 

Woody saw the army and chuckled, After his last statement he looked shocked "Me?" He said with a hint of sarcasm "Why... I'd never hurt a soul. After all I've been particularly generous as compared to my 4 siblings of you go look at your guards by the gate they're all perfectly ok. You however... are not as innocent." His gaze pierced the Earth ponies very soul, the pony could Feel Woody judging him as if he was on trial. "You... Have given direct orders to you troop to kill my siblings followers... not only that but it's to protect the name of a god who's not even here... You should know that despite the mercy I tend to show ponies...  I have a side that's not as elegant... If you truly think you can kill me yourself then..." Woody paused and set the Lord down gently summoning a special blade near the Lord for him to use "Go on... try me." The blade was not trapped, in fact it had special properties that made it stronger against Woodland himself but he knew that so he knew how to avoid it.

[GoldieS 679]

The creature clung to Maple's back, though with some clear difficulty. He almost flung off on several occasions, but the little creature had certainly done something like that before. It was utterly silent though, and it oddly enough, barely weighed anything at all. In fact, if she had not seen him or felt his tiny little pointed hands, she might not have even noticed him. 

Some of the warriors gave her some odd looks. A few others tried to avoid looking, as if her actions were unusually cringe worthy. 

The little creature waited for Maple to calm down, clinging tightly with legs straddled around her back and arm wrapped halfway around her neck (neither were really long). 

"Hey!" Someone snapped. "Rematch!" 

It was the sphinx from before, the one she had just slayed. Despite just dying, she didn't look all that worse for ware, claymore slung across her back as she stood with a clearly aggressive stance staring at Maple from behind. The cat snarled, nose scrunched up and like the others, not even seeming to notice the little creature on Maple's back. 

 

The lord was just as surprised when Woody let him go as when he had picked him up. At first he was confused, looking between the blade and Woody with uncertainty, then suspicion. Still, he slowly and hesitantly picked up the sword. 

The rabbit creature from before, sporting a powder rifle reached out to stop him, along with protests from several more of his companions. He pushed them aside and stepped forward towards Woody, weapon at the ready. 

Grim watched with clear delight and interest. At the same instant, many of the chaos warriors began filling in behind him and Woody on the wide street. A few more city defenders showed up, filling in the gaps between the more elite looking groups. These were a ragged collection of civilians armed with whatever they could find, those that hadn't fled for their lives. 

Suddenly, but perhaps predictably, the lord charged Woody. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple growled angrily at the creature as she stopped trying to throw it off. She was looking at her own back, staring the creature down. When the sphinx challenged her again she didn't even notice she was too busy thinking about how she could get this undead creature off her... Maybe she could talk with it? "What are you doing..." She stated to the creature not looking away even for a second. To the Sphinx, it probably looked like Maple was either ignoring her or had gone completely insane.

 

When the lord ran at Woody sung but there was no effect on him until the Lord had cut Woody with the blade when he did the blade went through clean. However it had cut him into 2 pieces and both of those turned into a thick smoke, Woody froze time at that moment for everyone but himself and the lord, He was laughing after he had reappeared, "You missed..." The two clouds of smoke hardened and shaped themselves into blades. Woody willed the blades to slice the lord in the back and the blades obeyed him. "Just as reckless as you are hurtful..."

[GoldieS 679]

The creature merely stared back at her with its empty eye sockets and natural grin of a bony mouth. It didn't respond to her question, perhaps it couldn't. Or rather, it just didn't want to. Not that anyone else would know. 

The sphinx looked a little confused, tilting her head slightly as she sidestepped to try and stay in Maple's line of sight as she tried to look at the creature on her back. The cat clearly didn't see it. 

"What, it's not obvious?!" The sphinx snapped back at Maple, thinking the bat was addressing her. "Rematch, now! I wasn't ready last time!" 

She unholstered her claymore from her back, swinging it and leveling it towards Maple. At the same time, the undead robed tiny creature on Maple's back changed looked over to the sphinx, staring at her for a good while. Casually, he slid off of Maple's back and took a few steps forward. 

"I won't give you another chance to ready yourself bat!" The sphinx shouted. 

 

His followers gasped. The lord looked ashamed at his utter failure, something he should have expected. It was a foolish mistake, one he wouldn't have accepted form any of his comrades. Yet there he was, bloody with a sword in his back. 

"CHARGE!!" The rabbit creature shouted, firing her rifle at woody. 

The entire front line of soldiers fired their musekts into Woody and Grim, along with the chaos warriors behind them. After the first line fired, they crouched to reload while the second row fired. Once their weapons were discharged, a crowd of soldiers with pikes and spears leaped and charged between the gunners and rushed forward, swarming the street and shouting battle cries. They poured from the front, and the many side alleys and side streets. On the rooftops, the rangers, militia, and flyers began raining down fire as well, some jumping down into the fray. 

In an instant it was complete madness, the city defenders completely surrounding pockets of chaos warriors. Even grim seemed to be having some trouble fighting off the long spears and pikes being jabbed at him from all sides. 

The group of heroes who had accompanied the Lord charged for Woody and Woody alone, the rabbit creature riding atop one of the heavy troopers with his ornate sword. The mage cast a shield as they charged, trying to smash it into Woody. Other nameless warriors tried to surround Woody, though nervously, leveling their spears and swords as they moved in to attack. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple heard what the Sphinx said "I wasn't talking to you and I refuse a rematch. You were ready, you were just reckless. You didn't think ahead and only went off your basic attack plans rather than reacting to mine hence why my fangs sunk in to finish you. The outcome won't change so I'm not wasting my time... Though I have a question..." She pointed a hoof at the creature "You can see that... thing... right? If you can't then I might have a bigger problem..." Maple moved her back hoof, positioning herself to move out of the Sphinx's sword's reach since it was likely they'd swing it.

 

Woody was using various combinations of magic to narrowly, and confidently avoid the group's strikes. To anyone who couldn't sense magical energy it would give him the appearance of being untouchable, however, given he has shown off the magic already it wouldn't be hard to guess that's why he was dodging, his movements gave off a dance type movement that plus his singing was almost mesmerizing, He then shifted the ground below the fighters feet to throw them off balance.

[GoldieS 679]

The sphinx only got angrier at the assessment of her combat skills... or lack thereof. She growled for a moment, before looking at where Maple was pointing. She squinted, assuming the bat was referring to some kind of bug or something, before shaking her head in dismissal and growling once again. 

"Shut up!" She snapped. "Enough wasting my time, you're mine!" 

Meanwhile, the short creature looked at the sphinx, before looking at the ground in front of him and directly in between Maple and the cat. He took two steps back, stepped to the side, then looked back up at the sphinx. 

"You won't attack me? Then I'll start us off again!" She shouted, charging forward swinging her sword overhead. 

The undead creature held his stick out in front of him. Of course, the sphinx still didn't see it... she tumbled forward, sword flying off to the side in a spinning motion. She dove headfirst into the dirt. The little creature put his pointed hand up to his skeletal snout as if stifling a silent laugh, before casually waddling back over to Maple and climbing back onto her back. 

The sphinx looked up in shock and horror, cheeks red with embarrassment as her tumble drew the laughter of those still in the fighting pit. 

 

The group of fighters surrounding Woody among the crowd of warriors battling to the death, despite missing with every blow, fought ferociously as they could. One of them, an earth pony witch hunter in brown leathers and black straps slashed with two rapiers in dancing motions. The rabbit had a short-sword he used like a claymore, spinning and slicing with the best of them. A red and white banner knight tried bashing Woody with his shield. Finally, the mage trying to stay with them used a series of magical swords to dance around Woody in an attempt to keep him contained, but clearly failing in his efforts. 

Some the witch hunter and banner knight both weren't able to keep their footing. Still, the rabbit and mage maintained the attack on woody. They were desperate, but they weren't going to stop until they were dead or dying. 

The battle around them was just as one sided. While there weren't many warriors from the Wolf hanging around, especially after the order not to actually kill anyone, the place was flooded by the flashy war dancers of the Serpent, wearing scandalous and skimpy armors with black, pink, and purple colors. They were far more delighted by the prospect of the challenge, slicing off limbs and delivering horrific but survivable wounds. 

Just like grim, they had a sort of sadistic delight slicing apart their foes. There was no fear on their part, this was what they lived for. Nothing but an insane rage and lustful glee while they carved a path through the crowded streets of militia and state troops. 

Further up the street, the road rose up a hill towards the cathedral. More troops streamed down into the fray, but among them a row of cannons rolled into position. 

Edited December 12, 2017 by GoldieS

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Huh... Thanks." Maple whispered after witnessing the creature knock the sphinx away. She grinned at it having a bit of trust in it now. She turned away from the Sphinx, She needed to find others to face for now since her goal was to get others to want to beat her. She recalled what Storm said, her opponents wanted to be able to beat her in a duel but what if several fought her at once and she beat all of them? How to go about doing that she didn't know. After a bit of internal arguing, she agreed with herself that she should find a new opponent. Someone strong that could take a lot of hits for her and the group she was trying to assemble.

 

Woody was starting to bore of fighting so he decided to make it more interesting he jumped up after he had to create the opening for himself and landed on top of the knight's shield he lept into the air off it, after that he used polarity magic to causing the rabbit's blade to adjust heavily mid-swing and get driven into the mages side, Woody saw that it might've done more damage than he thought, but to him it looked rather survivable. After Woody knew that the mage would survive he commented on the attack as he landed on the other side of the knight "Hurting your own friends now?" He said with a chuckle.

[GoldieS 679]

The small undead creature, after climbing back up on Maple, didn't acknowledge or respond to her. For whatever reason, it all but ignored her, except for the purpose of riding atop her. 

On the other hand, the sphinx was to embarrassed to say anything as she began to stand up. She rushed over to her weapon, and despite Maple having turned her back to her, a clear sign of dismissal, the sphinx started towards the bat. Some of the other noticed, clearly interested to see if the sphinx would make such a dishonorable move. Her pride was already broken, so perhaps it wasn't much of a stretch. 

But, instead of striking form behind, the sphinx caught up to maple and tried to shove her aside to get her attention. Sword finally slung across her back, she glared at Maple. 

"How did you do that!?" She snapped. "You cheated somehow!" 

The cat began following Maple, wanted or not. Two other sphinx got up from their seats and trailed behind the two, the cat's friends no doubt, or perhaps other challengers. Both were violent looking claw fighters, no swords or shields, just armored forearms with claws. Brawlers. 

 

The rabbit and mage backed off, the rabbit now unable to even carry her weapon. She was horrified about hitting her companion, stuck between the decision to pull him back to tend his wounds or somehow continue fighting. She was broken by the move. 

However, the knight and witch hunter both recovered. And tried to press forward, the witch hunter thrusting his rapier forward in stabbing motions while the knight tried to shield him. 

Elsewhere, it looked like Woody's forces were winning, the Serpent's fighters taking up the majority of the group. They were clearly ready for the challenge of not killing Woody hat set forth. And yet, the muskets had backed off and disengaged from the fight, regrouping in formation up the hill just under the cannons. They were preparing to fire once again, this time with clear line of site over the entire crowd. 

But, the cannons fired first. An artillery officer made a gesture with his hoof. They fired all at once, booming and shattering windows as they hurled giant led balls into the crowd, indiscriminately barreling through some of their own fighters to get to the bulk of the chaos warriors. The first volley was devastating, leaving swaths of fallen warriors in its wake. It was already questionable if Woody's no kill order would work, but now deaths were guaranteed. 

The company of rifles leveled their weapons at Woody's troops, preparing to fire into the crowd. 

 

 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple felt uneasy, she had 3 fighters following her and one of which wanted to fight her again. She turned her head looking past the creature on her back, which it had been apparent to her couldn't be seen by others, "So... are you other 2 challenging me? I'm still up for more fighting... Just not fights how I know they'll end." Her hoof, instinctively, went to her side where her weapon was. Maple was ready for more should there be more.

 

Woody watched the cannonballs hit their own troops... He was slightly shocked that. They seemed to not care much for their own forces at all. Woody shouted to Grim. "Change of Rules! If they don't care about their troops we don't care either..." He glanced at the knight, looking him in the eyes before shouting "Killing is allowed." Woody however still didn't want to kill anyone himself. He did need a second to take care of the cannons. Buying that time was something else he'd have to come up with something.

[GoldieS 679]

The other two paused, glaring back at maple as she readied her weapon. The twins both tensed up, preparing for a fight, and clearly itching for one as they bared their fangs as well. The first sphinx, however, growled as she looked back at her companions before stepping in front of Maple's view. 

"You're going to fight me again! For real this time!" She stated aggressively. 

At the same instance Quartz was returning carrying a large sack over her shoulder. Storm was nowhere to be seen, but she smiled when she saw the scene of Maple apparently squaring off against the three warriors. Casually the diamond dog stepped beside the bat. 

"Hey, we're back. Storm ran into a... big gopher, so I'm holding onto his things till he gets back. Guess you got some sphinxes to follow you around eh?" She nudged Maple in a hearty friendly manner. "Now you just got to fight the biggest one around here... ah, but we weren't gone all that long, I'm pretty sure you still need rest..." 

 

Grim was up above duking it out with a dragon and several dozen flyers in the sky. He paused mid swing with a smirk before nodding in understanding. The undivided prince would have been fine either way, but he made a gesture with his claws to a sphinx angrily watching the fight from up on the walls. She was elated by the command, and wasted no time. The sphinx grabbed a horn from her belt and turned to face outside the wall to blow it. 

In an instant a flood of Wolf warriors poured over the wall and through the gate. Sphinxes, giant wolves, gnolls, all manner of terrible creature bursting through and slaughtering any defender still in the crowd as they pushed through to add to the undivided warriors and Serpent's deer and elegantly dressed warriors. The Wolf warriors were ruthlessly efficient, giving off loud obnoxious battle cries. 

Suddenly someone sent the knight Woody was fighting clear into the crowd. A large hulking gnoll stepped up beside Woody. He was an old beaten looking creature, mangy with no end of scars and torn ears. One eye was a milky white, and his dark grey fur was matted with dried blood stains. His armor was a dark rusted red, and he carried a bastard sword in both paws. 

"Master say help..." The gnoll grumbled, pointing a sword at Woody and scowling at the draconequus. 

With the added weight of the new fighters, the chaos army devoured the defenders in the crowd. Their line broke, with only one more volley from the rifles before they began to retreat. They, a few state troops, and the cannon crews were in a panicked retreat, running up the hill towards the cathedral where it was apparent more troops were mustering. 

A tall and regal looking stag, one abnormally beautiful for someone on the battlefield, gently navigated through the carnage to step beside Woody. He would have given even Equestrian super models a run for their money. 

"Ugh, no tact..." He sighed, rolling his eyes towards Woody. "Mother was certainly right, do you have any idea what your doing uncle?"

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"No... I'll rest after this fight... If you really want me to fight you... then we're changing it up... You 3 against me. You were before warned about the strength of us equestrians... Apparently, my example wasn't clear enough. I'll just go ahead and make it clearer. And make it with my time this time, Make it so I need some rest." Maple gestured to one of the actual area spaces before heading over to it, Doing her best to ignore the thing on her back hoping it didn't affect her combat performance. She would need to ask Quartz about it after this bout.

 

"Thank you," Woody said to the Gnoll not sure if he was helping him or challenging him.

Woodland watched the battle shift drastically smiling that he had managed to turn the tide with a single order, Sure he was going against his own morals but in the end it was a worthy cause. He knew well that sacrifices must be made at times, He was bettering Tartarus... at least for himself, he was.

He then looked at the Stag that had joined him and huffed "I do. That god isn't going to show unless we make him... just harming these people isn't going to work. If you've got a better plan then I'd love to hear it. If not then we press on." Woody was very convinced that his strategy was the best plan of action.

Edited December 17, 2017 by Maple Bat

[GoldieS 679]

The twins gave each other uncertain looks, before looking back at Maple and the other warrior. They both shook their heads no, as did the first warriors, though more vehemently. 

"That's not how it works!" She snapped. "You'll fight me, alone!" 

Though, the twins did step up. They were ready to fight too, but it didn't seem like they wanted to fight with the first sword wielding aggressor. There was some odd and confusing dynamic going on, and fortunately, Quartz was there to possibly explain. Maybe...

"Bah ah ha! You already lost, cat..." Quartz mocked. "She's said she's not interested in fighting a battle she knows she can win. The only way you could beat her is if you teamed up with someone else. So, you can either wait till you actually can beat her, or get lost!"

The sphinx's ears folded down in embarrassment. She lowered her aggressive stance and stepped aside, but remained near Maple and Quartz. The twins, however, stepped forward. It may not have been one on three, but the two on one still drew the attention of a lot of the fighters around the pit once again. They watched with a lot more interest. 

Quartz leaned in to whisper to Maple. "You're doing good but... you sure you don't need a break or something? I mean, you beat these two once and you got most of the cats here. But if you lose, they're not goanna fight you for a while, and most cat's don't like fighting over one on one. I'm pretty sure you already got a few of them to follow you..." 

She gestured to the sphinx she had soundle beaten, along with a few others watching in excitement nearby on the benches up the hill. They were less interested in the twins, and more interested in Maple, like they were... fans?

 

"Ah, what?" The stag responded incredulously. "And uhm, why exactly are you trying to make the Twin Tails angry?"

The gnoll grumbled something under his breath, poking Woody in the shoulder with one of his rusty swords. The hyena like creature was a massive beast. Not quite as big as grim, but imposing no less, twice the size of an average diamond dog. Along with his red rusty armor, golden jewelry and numerous bleached skulls and bones, he had a hide cap draped across his back. 

"Saba take over." The gnoll stated. "Grim not smart, sometimes loose."

The stag scoffed and shook his head no. "Ha! Funny, how about no. Why don't you go find a doorknob to lick, dog. Our uncle here has specific goals in mind. He doesn't want to conquer! No, he want's a friendly duel, right?"

He poked woody with his cloven hoof from the opposite side. "Please, allow me to take command here. Let grim or that dog do it and they'll kill everyone before the Twin Tails shows up. Me? I'm an expert at the theatrical, and I'll drag things out for you."

"No!" The gnoll snapped. "Pretty waste time! Only do for slave and money. I kill everything. Get done right!" 

While those two were arguing Grim had finished his duel in the air and was sitting on a house closer to the cathedral. The warriors hadn't charged yet, but were rallying down the street from the cathedral square where the defenders were gathering in huge numbers. Grim was patiently waiting for his own men to filter into the city, running around Woody and the other two to join their comrades. Many of the newer warriors were spreading out into the rest of the city, trying to surround the cathedral by battling stragglers in the streets, ransacking and burning houses for distraction. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

"Alright fine... Back at home I usually rested for only a few minutes between bouts with a longer one every so often... This isn't home, however... I guess I should thank you for that... What say you, That we go get some drinks hmm? I'm rather parched, myself. Not sure about you, however." Maple had tried to disarm the seemingly hostile situation she'd created and she knew that many diamonds dogs liked to unwind with a good drink.

 

"Well, you two the plan is that... Grim gets into a duel with the twin tails. When things start to go bad then my siblings will show up to help him, Since he's liked by all 4 of them...Am I being too optimistic? I mean My siblings do seem fairly nice, At least to those they like. Since Grim is liked by all of them that means that perhaps they will show up to take the Twin Tails. When they realize how strong they are together then I can talk them into uniting forces." There was an optimistic glow from woody as he turned to the stag "If I'm you uncle that makes you Sally's kid, Right? If you are... Then yea you can do it... Thank you, Saba, but if violence IS avoidable then I like those options better." He said with a polite glance and smile.

[GoldieS 679]

"Ha! That's what I'm talking about!" Quartz replied, starting off with Maple back towards the town. "We can watch some fights while we're there, heard there was a big one that just popped up out of nowhere down in the mortal world."

The three sphinxes, despite being dismissed from any duel, still followed Maple. They didn't look like they were going to be leaving any time soon. Fortunately, she was going for an activity that most around there enjoyed at a level equivalent to ripping each other apart. 

On the way back storm rejoined them, snatching his belongings and spoils from Quarts while rubbing his neck and giving off an embarrassed look. He glanced back at the string of sphinxes now following Maple and smirked. 

"Oh hey, you beat the twins too? Ha! Nice one." He commented. 

The creature on Maple's back held out its staff, and hit Storm on the back of the head. He cringed, angrily looking around in confusion for a moment before rubbing his head completely oblivious. 

"That gopher gave me a headache..." He commented while cringing to the apparent headache. "But you know, pretty sure I could have taken it if SOMEONE was helping me..." 

 

"The one an only my lovely uncle!" The stag replied in delight, clasping his cloven hooves together. He rubbed up against Woody, showing a great deal of affection. The gnoll, on the other hand, rose a brow and twitched one of his eyes. "Prince of debauchery and sinful delight! But, of course, you can call me Itsudatsu... Itsu for short." 

"Stall them for a little, clean this mess up, oh! I have such wonderful ideas for making this place looking a bit more presentable!" The stag beamed with excitement. "Oh Grim! Where's my kitty?"

He started off, prancing towards the front line as a group of pale creatures followed the colorful prince. Half of them appeared to have been shaven or bleached to a pale chalky white, ponies missing their fur but keeping their mains and tails. Some of the others had the privilege of keeping their fur and look, but wore scandalous and clearly ineffective sets of armor and tight clothing. 

The gnoll continued to grumble, lumbering away as he begrudgingly followed behind Itsu with his own retinue of heavy armored warriors and gladiators. 

"So that's your plan then?" Someone said from behind woody, his voice young, perhaps younger than Woody's. "To bad you've already lost. You just don't know it yet."

Standing behind him was an extremely tall unicorn, perhaps rivaling Luna or Cadence in height. He wore a set of red and white robes, heavy plates sitting over the robes around his torso, flank, and legs. His tail was wrapped and tied with an old thick cloth, concealing it, while his main was completely shaven off. The only part of him showing was his white head and top of his snout, most of his mouth being wrapped in that same cloth as his tail. His voice was slightly muffled by the cloth. Sparkling blue eyes glared at Woody. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple rolled her eyes "Well maybe if someone wasn't all bark, no bite..." She said jokingly. She chuckled since only she could see the thing that had actually caused the 'Headache'. This, however, reminded her of the thing on her back. She wasn't as concerned about it she actually trusted it... yet she still figured she should know what it is. "Quartz... There's something on my back... Some sort of undead thing. Small, Has a staff with a lantern and a blue flame inside it. I'm guessing you can't see it... I just... I would like to know what it is." Maple glanced at it as she spoke looking it over quickly.

 

Woody was internally celebrating when he heard the unicorn. Woody turned to face the unicorn that spoke with him, looking him over before turning away "And why is that? I can't help but wonder why it seems that everypony thinks I'm going to fail... So far the plan's working well. The only thing left is for that god to show... I mean Unless he already has." Woody faced the Unicorn, HE assumed to be the god, He, however, thought that it could be just a unicorn of no importance but better safe than sorry.

[GoldieS 679]

Storm continued to rub his forehead in pain as they continued back towards the little village. Quartz looked confused at Maple's question, giving her back a glance before scratching her head in confusion. 

"On your back? You mean like... something bugging you?" She didn't seem to understand what she was referring to. "Is that how equestrians say they got something on their chest, you know, like on your mind? Well, whatever it is, you just got to confront it head on! That's how everyone else around here deals with their problems."

It was fairly clear she had no idea what the bat was talking about. 

"A what now?" Quartz replied, rubbing his forhead. "And I don't bark!"

 

"Why? Because I have no interest in fighting your prince." He concluded harshly. "I'm here for you..." 

Suddenly the world shifted around them. Perhaps not teleportation, not in the traditional sense, it was as if they were on a moving train and the entire world shifted in one direction in the blink of an eye. Everything blurred for that brief moment, until they reached their destination. 

Woody now found himself in a Tartarian desert, the ceiling still high above. Columns of rock spiraled into the air all around them as they stood atop a plateau surrounded by endless snaking canyons. The terrain itself was a rusted red, just barely lit as if the world had entered twilight just before dusk casting shadows from an orange light somewhere in the distance. 

"For you and your family's crimes, I banish you to oblivion with your grandfather..." He stated darkly. 

The unicorn stamped his hoof on the earth, causing the ground to quake before spikes of glowing white light exploded all around Woody, curling inward like claws or fingers, each one thicker around than his own body. 

 

Edited December 19, 2017 by GoldieS

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple looked genuinely astonished that they didn't see, this confirmed her thoughts from earlier, only she could see the creature for some reason "I... Nevermind... I'll ask somepony else, you know somepony that knows a bit more about supernatural stuff than you two do... There's actually a creature on my back... But it seems you both can't see it." Maple again rolled her eyes at Storm. "And Storm, it's an expression... If you were honest in the claim about being the best fighter, which you boldly made before, then you wouldn't need my help."

 

Needless to say, Woody was shocked but reacted quickly He sung a sudden melody, Teleporting himself away from the spikes he only traveled a short distance. "It'll take more than that you know!" He shouted to the unicorn After a fast assessment of his opponent Woody conjured several dozen balls of flame, he fired the balls of flame, a few at a time, toward the unicorn. I've never seen such feats of magic Woody thought to himself My suspicions must've been correct if not... Then perhaps I may not see my plan succeed.

[GoldieS 679]

Storm merely gave a huff in response to Maple's explanation, while Quartz shrugged at not really being able to help with the 'supernatural' thing. 

"Just don't go crazy on us already... you've only been here like a day!" Quartz joked as they made their way through the village towards the giant lodge in the center. "Don't worry, some ale will make you better. Some real stuff that'll put hair on your chest! Or maybe make it all fall off..."

The inside of the lodge was one big open space with an open second level made 'safe' by some flimsy railing. In the center was a giant fire pit surrounded by stone bricks. Some kind of giant menacing looking fish thing roasting over the spit, with numerous other little spikes holding other slabs of meat hanging over the fire. It cast an orange glow across the hall. On the far side was the bar and rest of the open kitchen. Tables with stools were miscellaneously strewn about the room with no particular organization. 

Everyone was looking and staring in their direction when they entered, or rather, staring at the moving images on the large open space over the door. It was like a cinema theater, though where the images were coming from was not at all clear. It was a battle of some sort, taking place inside some giant city with red rooftops, and old buildings stacked atop more old buildings. 

The hall was watching with great curiosity and excitement, clamoring and shouting while laughing and enjoying their revelry. 

"Ha! Glad we could make a battle!" Storm replied with glee jumping at the first open table, just as a bubbly young mare stepped over to their table to offer drinks. 

 

The spikes smashed into the earth, causing it to shatter and explode into a shower of rubble, while cracking the surrounding landscape of the plateau. The 'unicorn' didn't move from his position as the fireballs hurled towards him, only twisting his snout in displeasure. The fireballs changed direction mid flight, turning around to come hurdling back towards Woody at the same speed and strength. 

"It seems I was grossly misinformed. Your brother warned me you were far more powerful than your other siblings, that I would be in peril if I faced you... not that I believed the master of lies..." The Twin Tails scoffed. 

Just as suddenly as his last attack, the very air around Woody started becoming thicker and thicker. No, it wasn't the air, the gravity was becoming heavier with every passing second. So much so the earth cracked with every step of the Twin Tails as he moved forward, somehow unaffected. 

"You are correct. I am the Twin Tailed Comet." He affirmed. "Go ahead, I saw you fighting. I know you can manipulate time itself. Do it."

 

 

 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

Maple enjoyed the change of scene, She'd been rather tense since she died the first time, however now she was in a safer and more casual area. Entering the lodge felt inviting and cozy rather than the prep for war feeling Maple had gotten from the outside surroundings, it was certainly a welcome change "So... What kinda drink they got here, could use something to help me unwind. I think you were right earlier... I might be going a bit crazy." After that comment Maple saw the 'screen' and started watching the battle "Huh... Where is that going on? Seems like you could see it better if you were there." Maple joked.

 

Woody saw his own fireballs coming back at him but he was too busy holding himself against the increasing gravity to defend himself the blasts torched him in a few places but overall he'd be alright. When The Twin Tails got closer to him he stopped time, with the same melody as before, Once time stopped, Woody sang a cold and sharp melody a spear of cold and sturdy ice formed into his paw and he threw it with all the strength he could muster, The tip of the spear hovered, inches from the other god's throat, halted in the timeline. He stared at that for a second and smiled. Woodland moved away and started to heal himself keeping time on pause. Despite having this ability the young draconequus was rather scared he'd never faced a being stronger than him aside from his own family but this time was very different if he lost... he wouldn't see his family again. Woody shook his head "He can't do anything... You're fine Woody... He's stalled in time... Even his energy..." He said to himself trying to relax while healing but he couldn't shake this uneasy feeling.

Edited December 20, 2017 by Maple Bat

[GoldieS 679]

The serving mare placed a mug of sweet smelling ale in front of Maple, giving her a coy little wink before moving on. Whatever it was, it was nothing like the bleach she'd chugged down earlier. In fact, it was downright delightful! A combination of soft vanilla and course fermented strawberry. Not to strong... but not exactly weak. Probably not a favorite around there. 

Storm slammed his mug on the table, causing a small bit to spill out as he held his head in one of his sets of claws. "Psch, yah, to bad we're DEAD!" He groused. 

"Definitely an Empire city." Quartz replied, squinting to get a good look. "Not sure where though..." 

"Ugh, it's Tambelon, dog." The sphinx stated, taking a seat at the table with Maple and the other two. "Hey, why's the witch king in charge!?"

From what they could tell, the battle had reached an intermission of sorts. While two thirds of the city had been wrecked and set on fire, the other third was being fiercely guarded by the defenders, an official professional looking group of red and white colored state troops. They had neither numbers, nor the sheer physique and iron of the attackers.

Many of the marauders were similar in appearance to the Wolf's fighters there in Valhalla, fighting with a similar zeal. Yet, there were a mix of others as well. Dark robed rangers and mages sneaking around and fighting in skirmishes on the rooftops, Pink, purple, and black skimpy armored dancers cutting their way through the enemies, and the white bandaged and robed 'healers' going about securing lifeless corpses, body parts, and injured friend and foe alike. 

The battle had paused at a plaza in front of a giant cathedral in the center of the city. A giant line of state troops stood in the path of the warriors, facing down one another but not quite moving forward. A stalemate. Atop one of the roofs behind the chaos line, a rather fey and clearly royal dear was speaking with a clearly angered giant griffon. 

 

Woody was right to feel uneasy. The ice spear he had constructed mere moments ago had turned entirely to fluid water, though it remained suspended in air still frozen in time. The space around the Twin Tails had become unimaginably hot, turning the very earth beneath him into a bright molten mass. He was staring at Woody, despite having moved since freezing time. 

While he hadn't fully countered Woody's spell, he had been prepared. Or at least, he was learning how to counter it. Somehow, he had managed to enter or match the frozen stream that woody had created in space and time, albeit barely. That, or he had protected himself from Woody's attempts. It was difficult to say. Either way, he was changing his method, learning to fight Woody, as they fought. There was no telling how many more times Woody could preform his time manipulation before the Twin Tails would learn to counteract it completely, if he hadn't already discovered how. 

[Maple Bat 3,568]

When Woody noticed the heat as he had half finished his healing, "B... bad... Ok uhh... I can just kill him myself. No magic." Well... that wasn't exactly true. Woody cloaked himself in an arctic cold aura, something that would let him get close the Twin Tails despite the heat. He also added a enchantment to his claws making them razor sharp. Woody ran at the Twin Tails and, sliced at his throat with his fangs, After which he was forced to let time resume, If he'd kept it up for much longer it would've been too taxing on his magical reserves, even in Tartarus, he couldn't draw power from around him while time was stopped as well.

 

After drinking the new brew Maple smiled, delighted. "Oh no, this is nice! Much nicer tasting than what you first gave to me storm..." Maple commented on it. She watched the fight for a while noticing something that was bugging her. "What's up with those fighters? Look at that armor... It's so... Little... Is that even effective armor? Well, It looks nice sure. It probably distracts your opponents... That's not something to lean back on however since it won't always work." Maple suddenly didn't know how she felt about the armor. IT had benefits, and it had downsides, Like the leather armor, she was wearing at the moment.

Edited December 21, 2017 by Maple Bat

[GoldieS 679]

"Of course not!" Storm snapped, slamming her fist on the table in anger. "It doesn't do a dang thing they're just a bunch of-"

The sphinx cut him off, growling. "They're just as stupid as they look! Just wasting everyone's time and getting in the way, those perverts and freaks!" 

"Those freaks are Serpent cultists." Quartz added. "Decadent, disgusting, zero honor. They torture, take slaves, and they mess around with everything. All they care about is filling their own sick fantasies, and they'll torment anyone in their way to do it."

They all pretty much spoke at once, and it prompted some snide and angry comments from other tables as well. It was universally understood among the lodge, at least it looked that way, that if someone wore the pink and purple colors on black they were the absolute worst. 

"Psch, they're the blasted idiots that I was telling you about earlier." Storm stated, once everyone had calmed down. "Plucked my feathers and skinned me, among other things... before I starved to death in one of their dungeons. Lucky to be here, they could have sacrificed me and I could have ended up in the Witch's realm."

The giant black and gold armored griffon had flown off in anger, after smashing some of his comrades into paste with a single strike. The stag, however, seemed amused as he took his place on the rooftop among who appeared to be his commanders. Still all of them had that decadent skimpy look. Elsewhere in the city they showed their colors, dragging civilians from their homes and toying with those unable to fight back, even drawing blood in some cases, without a care in the world. Even laughing and enjoying the added suffering. All while collecting as many as they  could to throw into caged wagons. 

Meanwhile, along side the Serpent warriors, the Wolf's warriors stood waiting for the call to charge the enemy in the plaza. They shouted and jeered, standing in a clear and separate formation from the Serpent's forces. They were ancy, armor bloody, just itching for a fight. They too were spread out in the city trying to surround the square. Unlike their Serpent counterparts, the Wolf's warriors, the same she sat with now, were slaying any living thing they came across without a second thought. It didn't matter if they were a soldier, civilian, injured, or just unable to fight altogether. 

The strange undead creature had dismounted Maple and stood beside the table, or slightly under it since he was quite a bit shorter. It was watching the scene too, and if its bony eye sockets were anything to go by, it was sad or ashamed. 

 

Once time resumed again, the Twin Tails coughed, spitting out blood. His wound was bleeding profusely, and was clearly a mortal wound as it spilled out onto the ground in huge quantities. With one eye closed in pain, he concentrated somewhat to mitigate the pain as the wound quickly sealed itself. 

"Perhaps... I deserve that..." He flinched once more, his blood blending in with the red fabric of his cloth beneath his armor plates. "Overconfidence is a slow and methodical killer."

He stood up straight, just as regal as before. "I may be a deity, but the pain helps to remind me the suffering of mortals. Why I can't allow you daemons to dominate them."

As he spoke, he shifted his scowl to something behind woody. His stalwart stance remained as for the first time in the fight, he began to channel his magic. Then came the familiar seductive fem fetal voice from behind Woody. 

"Did you forget we see through the eyes of our followers?" Salacious stated a little sarcastically. 

War merely huffed. "Grim counts for all of us. So... you know... your plan wasn't a secret, was it?"

Pest merely chuckled deeply. Though how exactly he planned to fight in his clearly over-sized state was a curious question. The only one missing was Shadows. 

"Aww, how cute, he thinks he can defeat us? Oh, oh! I call dibs on him after we strip away his power! I have so many fun things I want to do with him!" Salacious beamed with delight. 

"No way!" War shouted, growling at her sister as the two quite literally but heads and growled at one another. "I'm not letting an airhead take him, he's my trophy!"