Elements of Disharmony 20

Writing Log

>It was strange talking to what amounted to a pony version of yourself.
>You explained to him what you were trying to do after he caught you trying to mislead him.
>From what you could gather from those around you, he should have been eager to see AEther whisked away to die somewhere else.
>He was surprisingly resistant to the notion however.
>"So you have found a way around the bloating pain?"
>He set his tea cup down as you discussed the finer points of Necromancy.
"Indeed, it's less consuming the soul and storing it, more you dissolve it's essence."
>Humming in thought, pony-you simply nodded.
>"Well, I would be willing to lend you our champion on one condition."
>You nod.
"Deal with the Vampire Lord, for without him his progeny shall be easier to clear out, correct?"
>Mortal-Pony-You nods with a smirk
>You know that smirk.
>You miss that smirk.
"So tell me why you want Vampire hearts."
>He freezes, for a fraction of a second, his smirk faltering
>Suck it, imposter.
>Lich: 1
>You: Take a cock
"Oh yes, I remember now, they're a vital component in Nether-Wraith summoning, aren't they? And what would you of all things want with a Nether-Wraith?"
>You have him on the defensive now, perhaps not wise, but he has the cards, and you need him to be covering his own tracks rather than trying to uncover yours.
>You already know why he wants them, and it's not for just a boost to his battlefield summoning abilities.
>"The fact that it benefits me at all is secondary to the objective. Do this, and the crisis will be averted, and I will ensure your request fulfilled."
>How diplomatic.
"Then we have an accord."
>With a nod, he completes the bargain, giving you exactly what you wanted.
>Best yet, your Vampiric Knight would return at your whim, making this impossibly easy.
>Oh, how you loved playing both sides of the board.
>You allows the shadows to swallow you, and fall into the Nether.
>This world's nether, so drenched in sorrow and hopelessness, has created a paradise of wraiths and damned souls.
>As you enter the shadow-realm proper, the various denizens recoil, fleeing from you... Save a select few who have only grown more powerful in this constant horror, and remember you from your first visit months ago.
>Those ones know what is good for them, and kneel as you pass.
>You find the imprint of your vampiric thrall easily enough, his undead nature makes him that much easier to locate.
>You push your way back in to reality as younger Wraiths begin to surround you, curious and hungry.
>You emerge into reality once more in a smokey, dark corner of a ballroom, a large number of ponies dancing and engaging one another with a class not seen outside of Canterlot.
>You decide on a small change of garb, this tattered robe, though once-flawless, just won't do.
>As you step from the shadows, pure black cloak and robes taking the place of your brilliant red and silver Rarity-designed dress robes.
>It takes a while for the Vamponies to notice you, so self-centered are they that the fail to notice the skeleton walking right through the crowd.
>A few glare at you
>Some raise eyebrows
>Others smirk at you.
>Only one reacts as she should, cowering and backing away as you draw closer, bee-lining for her.
>"M-m-m-Great Master! Y-Y-You've returned! Heheh..."
>You stop, the green pony pushed back against a wall, shrinking from you.
"Yes, it would appear I have. Now where is he."
>She blushes deeply.
>That's unexpected, she's still alive, perhaps a thrall?
>No... An emissary. A voice. That seems like Lyra's style.
>"I am here, Lich."
>You turn and face your once-lieutenant.
>The sword he held towards you was more than enough to speak for him.
>Lyra stealthily crawled away, as the vamponies began to form a ring around the two of you.
"I give you unlife, power, and you repay me like this?"
>"Yes. You took my soul, now I'm taking yours."
>You laugh sinisterly, your voice echoing through the shadows
"Insolent pup, I will end you qui-"
>Faster than anything you have seen before, he has rammed the longsword through your chest.
>That was impossibly fast.
>This was not according to plan.
>How had he managed to attain Ancient Vampire status so quickly?
>You don't bother trying to predict his movements, his motivation, his methods
>He was moving too fast, and was to strong.
>Every ounce of your elemental power comes to bare, and you unleash a shockwave of fire and ice.
>He flips away, landing nimbly, and returning to the offense.
>Prediction was impossible; preparation was not.
>A cone of fire flies from your chest, catching him unawares and singing him.
>He takes a step back, shielding himself from the blast, and you press your momentary advantage.
>You raise your hands, and unleash a torrent of fire and lightning, pressing down upon him with every bit of your power.
>Crush him now, do it swiftly, and do it clean.
>You had no time for further disruptions, the plan was at the most critical stage.
>As you let up with the lightning to try and finish him, he takes the opening and literally flies to the left, stabbing forwards.
>It only has to nick a rib to send your aim off and cause you to back away, and the scene replays in reverse.
>Slash after slash after slash....
>His blade-work was impeccable, and a thing of beauty...
>You had to last a little longer, find a pattern. He was too quick to simply crush through magical might alone.
>Left, up, right, down, left...
>He was repeating the same figure in the air every seventh stroke.
>At the right moment, as he ends his last pattern, you muster your power, and lash out with your shadow.
>Mid-swipe, he aborts his attack and shifts, avoiding the attack.
>Expected.
>You swing your hands to the left, a spray of acid turning to a corrosive mist before you.
>He takes to the air, hovering above you, sword poised to strike from your skull to your feet.
>Unexpected.
>His blade meets only tile, as you fade into the darkness, having enough energy to protect yourself from the acid and fade into its shadow.
>You glance down at your body from within the nether.
>You're missing half your ribs, and a femur is cut in half.
>And now, there's a Wraith directly behind you, trying to devour you.
>Instead of deal with it, you do the logical thing.
>Ripping open the membrane, you dodge, and the Wraith tumbles into reality.
>Stepping back, the weaker, hungrier wraiths converge, wrestling their way through as quickly as they can.
>With a rough shove, you send them tumbling through, before returning yourself.
>Phasing rapidly in and out of the darkness, the wraiths are too agile for a mortal enemy to engage.
>The knight, in conjuncture with his armor and unnatural speed, deflects, counters, or takes without noticing, every blow.
>Amazing, you dis your job perfectly.
>Now, you just had to kill your should-have-been lieutenant.
>Your had a plan.
>A risky one, one that you wouldn't even try if time was not of the essence...
>Fire forms in the center of your outstretched palm.
>Pulling back, you hurl the orb at your enemy, the sphere growing larger and larger before impacting in an explosion of Magma.
>With a cry of pain, finally, you land a substantial hit.
>Perhaps your plan would be unneeded?
>A blizzard of sharp icicles slam into his position as a biting gale of cold wind freezes the magma, and he as well.
>With a fluid motion, chaining this final spell, you prepare to destroy him utterly with a searing spear of flame.
>As you level your palm, he breaks free.
>Your shot goes wide as he slams into you, sending you to the floor.
>Grabbing your skull, he puts his forehead inches from yours, eye to eyesocket.
>"You took my life from me."
>He's glaring at you, nothing but hate in those eyes.
>"Now, I will take yours."
>He grits his teeth, and begins to squeeze on your skull.
>Then you begin to laugh.
>He watches, his face a mask of horror, as he removes his hands and steps off of you, before falling to his knees.
>Your shadow engulfs his own, and through it you puppet his actions with a thought.
>And you keep laughing.
"You idiot child, to think you could really defeat me. How pathetic. You have outlived your usefulness."
>You turn, and begin to walk away.
"Kill yourself."
>Wordlessly, he brings his blade up, and with a single swipe, decapitates himself.
>With a scream of hate and rage through the nether, his body falls to dust, before that too blows away into nothingness.
>Dead, for good this time.
>You now had only to fetch your errant task-boy.
Pausing, you turn back to the Vampony court, now staring at you in total fear.
>You say only one thing, before teleporting to Canterlot to receive your prize.
"Boo."

>With a flash of white light, you arrive in the war-room of Canterlot.
>As expected, there stands Chroni-pony, along with the twin princesses and, as you requested, AEther.
"Well well well."
>Slowly, you move forwards.
"Did you like my little treat? Oh, don't look so confused, like an uprising of the undead has no connection to the Lich that promised you would regret double-crossing him."
>With a low chuckle, you fix your eyes on Mortal-Chronicler.
"Our deal is fulfilled. I will have what I desire."
>"Indeed you will, the princesses, understanding the situation-"
>"Have consented, on one condition;"
>Celestia glares at you, but when your gaze turns to her, you can see a shiver run down her spine.
>"You will bring him back to us. Alive."
>You nod, though you fume within.
>You really had wanted to kill this one...
"Then the contract is sealed."
>You look to AEther, who looks to be soldiering on, despite his dread.
"Come, you have some new friends to meet. And, one old one, I think."
>You laugh darkly.
>Hopefully, Sorcerer and Thief were still fighting.
>It would be entertaining to toss AEther into their dogpile.