Post by Mal on Oct 22, 2014 3:09:17 GMT -5
Schatten. There was a shimmer of the glass casing the grandfather clock in the royal library, staining the glass red as if a light had been cast upon it. The ripple of bloody colour continued across the floor as the wood of the clock turned stark black in the same rippling fashion. It was almost as if, somewhere in time and space, an exact reflection of this place was reaching out to touch it. A figure standing in front of the clock was the next thing to begin to ripple into existence: a tall, dark, and - depending on the eye of the beholder - handsome stallion... at least, he seemed to be mostly pony? The squared fanged snout and the batlike wings were a little peculiar, admittedly. The male frowned in concentration, with the glow of his horn finally phasing into view as he finally stepped from one world to the next. The stain of colour reaching across from his own world then vanished abruptly, and left the king standing there in a castle that was not his own. He looked down and stomped his hoof on the ground a few times as if to ensure the garish purple pile beneath him was indeed there, before he looked up and around. Now, to find out whose world he had stepped into...
Princess Night. The nights may not have been as busy for the younger alicorn as they were for her sister, the lunar princess was already feeling a little overwhelmed as of late. Next to her usual duties, occasionally putting up with Midnight's antics, shouldering some of Celestia's burden of parchment.. and, of course, the court she'd held a few nights ago. She had no patience for paperwork, and the rest of it.. she'd felt a need to escape social interactions already. So, in her need of escape, Luna decided to make her way through the castle's silent marble halls to the library, where she hoped she could lose herself in a good story for a while.
Schatten had apparently been blessed with the element of surprise, as the room proved empty of anypony to make a fuss over him suddenly appearing. He wandered further into the uninhabited room as his magic drew itself back from the exertion of getting here- his flowing mane suddenly fell flat against his head, and the glowing trail from the corners of his eyes wisped away into nothingness. Perhaps it was just as well, too, for the sound of hooves nearby caught the king's attention. He briefly considered staying as he was to greet whicever pony was about to walk through the doors, but swiftly opted for a disguise until he was certain of the nature of this new universe. One magical shimmer later the imposing alicorn tyrant was no more- instead his leathery wings were decorated in soft feathers and his tinted coat became a warmer grey-brown. His horn was disguised by the same phasing magic that had brought him here- sent out of phase just enough that it seemed as if it had never been there at all. There was little to be done about his eyes, however, even with his power- hopefully red wasn't too unusual for ponies in this land?
Princess Night finally stepped up to the library's grand double doors and paused, long enough to activate her magic. The doors swung slowly open before her touch and the dark-coated princess strode inside. Laid out before her were the many tall bookshelves: clean, orderly, and maybe a little dusty. A faint smile touched her lips at the sight and she began to wander among the aisles, searching for the section where fiction books were kept. If it had one. She knew this place to be full of books on magic and spells, history, geography.. really any bit of knowledge one would want to read on. But not about stories. Hmm. As Luna walked down another aisle and pondered this, it eventually registered in her vision that she was not alone in this library. There was a pegasus stallion here. He was tall, and if it hadn't been for the two that were brought to her during court those few nights ago, she would have been quite confused. Rather, the only thing she was confused about was that he was strangely unfamiliar and yet.. familiar. The only concrete fact was that she was certain she hadn't yet seen him in the castle before. Luna had stopped to consider what to do about this, but eventually opted for the polite option. After all, she was a princess, it was expected of her to engage with her subjects rather than ignore them. "Greetings. I gather you sought the peaceful embrace of the library as well?"
Schatten was a little taken aback by the one pony whom fate led across his path. Another alicorn..? A rather pretty one at that. Not one he'd ever seen in his world, though. Was this not a parallel dimension after all? Hmm... Hoping he had remembered to disguise his fangs as well as his wings, he'd then speak forth, "And to you." However, he was a little lost on how to respond to the question. How did a pony make small talk again? It's not like a tyrant king had any use for those skills, y'know... "I was seeking information," he continued at last, with conviction, "I am... new to this place. I fear I may be ignorant of key information. As any would think, what better place for information than a library?" There. That worked as an excuse, right?
Princess Night dipped her head a little to the returned greetings, offering a polite smile as the stranger expressed his lack of direction. "The library is indeed a good place to begin. I have come in search of stories, but I do not know if the palace's library has such a section for fiction." The princess said with a soft, even slightly embarrassed, laugh. "Although I do know the rest of it very well, having once sought certain subjects so I could catch up on what had transpired in my long absence. Pray tell, what information is it that you seek? I may be able to assist you in finding it."
Schatten had to stop and think again, as the strange alicorn offered to help. The kindness was vaguely sickening, but he could appreciate a willing source of information. "Anything you can tell me I can only assume would be of help. The rulers of this land, its culture, anything- I am as a blank canvas in need of a brush." Perhaps it was a bit forward to admit he didn't know such central information to the place he was presumably right in the heart of, but how many ponies were likely to connect not knowing such things to the fact he wasn't even of this world? He'd take his chances there just to get to the point sooner. Dragging out the charade seemed fruitless- the false appearance he'd assumed was only until he knew more about the world he now stood in, after all.
Princess Night was immediately intrigued by what the pegasus wished to know, and that information was a little revealing. So he was.. a foreigner? She would think that even a newcomer to Equestria would overhear some of it, but perhaps not if he didn't bother to waste traveling time talking to the citizens. Although, she'd never received a proper request for him to enter, nor could she understand why he was here at night, and unescorted by any of the guard. It was certainly strange.. unless Celestia somehow missed passing an alert of a newcomer along; it would have been unlike her if she did. The information he wanted was harmless enough, in any case. "We will not need to hunt for any books, then, for I can give you the answers you seek." Luna extended a wing to indicate herself as she continued. "I am Princess Luna, the bringer of the moon and night, and half of the diarch that rules Equestria. The land itself was founded by three different tribes of ponies..."
Schatten listened to the words the other spoke. Princess Luna, huh? And it sounded like there was another Princess too. Curious that they would opt to use that title instead of Queen? The added history lesson was a bit... much, he thought. But it was rather revealing of their culture, as he had desired to know. He had to try his best not to find the sappy tale of defeating hatred with friendship disgusting enough to make faces at. Well, at least he'd discerned the way this world worked! If nothing else, it had achieved that much, and to alight a whim to rain destruction upon it. "I see," was all he could think to say once the story was told. "That is quite a different tale to the one I could tell of my home." To put it lightly. "My gratitude for your time, Princess," he added with a polite nod. "Alas..."
Schatten took a step toward her. At that moment, the image of a horn flickered atop his head. "That will not be your title for much longer." His voice had changed suddenly, gaining back the gruff undertone that would likely trigger the familiarity in Luna's mind again. "For I am a King." He stomped one hoof down as his horn flickered in and out of view again. "And your world will kneel to me." Finally his horn phased fully back into existence, and in an instant his disguise was discarded. The feathers disguising his batlike wings were ejected all at once, creating an opportunity for him to push his wings forward at Luna and send the hail of shed feathers into her face. He'd use the distraction to charge his magic enough to swing his head - and by extension, his horn - and send a cutting blade of black energy to lash out at her.
Princess Night had finished the lesson with looking upon the pegasus with a hope he was satisfied with the information, and if there was anything more he wanted to know. She would happily divulge her knowledge to such an interested foreigner.. The princess began to dip her head in response to his thanks, and paused with an expression of polite puzzlement when he spoke again. The voice... that horn.. ! Luna's eyes widened when the realization hit her like icy cold water. It couldn't be! Not here! "You!" The princess managed to gasp, taking a step back in shock. She had to alert the castle! "Guards!" Luna called as loud as she could, short of the Royal Canterlot Voice, as she was assaulted by the cloud of shed feathers. She barely had time to react, another shout barely past her lips when she was struck. It had been cut off with her shriek of pain when she was sent back by the strike, tumbling twice across the violet carpet. Luna gritted her teeth and struggled to get her hooves back underneath her, despite the sharp pain of what was most likely an open wound. She wouldn't let that bastard get the best of her, let alone allow him to get to Celestia too!
Schatten scoffed as he felled the other alicorn in a single swing. How disappointing. The fact she'd called for guards was seemingly barely registered by him, as he kept his focus upon her alone. "You know me?" he questioned conversationally, as if he hadn't just attacked her. He then darted forward as she struggled to get up, and summoned a larger wave of pitch black magic. This time it aimed to serve as a bludgeon, swinging down toward the top of the other's head with great force- however, at the last second he feinted the magic away and curved it around to swing at the side of her face instead. Stay down, damn you.
Princess Night bared her teeth as she knelt upon one foreknee, the other hoof already set firm against the plush carpeting. "Thou art Sombra!" The lunar princess spat, pronouncing the name with disgust, although she was surprised that he didn't know this. She had many things to be confused about with Sombra's appearance, but no time to think on it now. Her horn lit with the blue glow of magic as she summoned forth a shield, long enough to defend herself from his second strike. "I believe you left your crown in our throne room!" Luna hissed, swinging her horn up and forward, shoving her barrier towards Sombra with hope of creating some distance between them.
Schatten let the dark magic dissipate as it bounced off her shield, and gave a 'hmph' noise. No matter. He smirked broadly as she spoke his name, though to be honest that raised more questions- why did she know his name? Was there another version of him running around in this world somewhere? He'd certainly never seen her before, himself. But there would be time to ponder that later. "Enough of these games." For now his horn began to glow brightly, taking on its twisted black, purple and green aura as he summoned forth stronger magic. So too did his eyes adopt the black and green, while the purple began to rise from his hair in a venomous mist. Red joined the unholy smoke rising from his mane and tail as his power set it in motion- not unlike Luna's own. As the barrier was shoved toward him he reared up to stomp his hooves down upon its curve and shatter it. He might next have bore down upon the princess herself, but the guards burst into the library at that very moment. Unfurling his fearsome wings with a faint smile toward Luna, he then turned an almost bored expression to the guards. "What a waste of perfectly good slaves," he mused just loud enough for Luna to hear. He then jolted into the air and swooped down toward them, intent upon landing in the middle of their huddle to confuse them. While some made to turn around to keep track of him, others got their weapons into position- but it was all for naught. Sombra lifted his snout into the air, and then arced his horn down to unleash the charged magic upon the unwitting guardponies. In a terrible display, a spinning circle of the same cutting energy he'd used on Luna began to swirl around Sombra. The guards were too restricted by the layout of the library to escape their grisly fate. Their shouts drew no reaction from the tyrant. Instead, he saw fit to regard Luna with the same expression- a silent yet obvious 'are you quite done wasting my time?'
Princess Night worked the rest of her hooves beneath her while Sombra busied himself with summoning forth more of his magic, and adopting that trademark glow. The change to his mane, however, was entirely new. Had he found new power somehow? Nevertheless, the lunar princess rose, shoving herself backwards as his hooves came crashing down through her weakened shield. She let it fall, preserving her magic for the battle- if her wound didn't slow her down anytime soon. The guards, having finally arrived on the scene, afforded her a little extra time. Luna caught Sombra's mutter, and anger barely had time to register before shock and horror swept it aside. Sombra had torn into the guard as easily as ripping paper! Luna bared her teeth then, flaring her wings as she focused her magic, forming a shimmering blue war axe. She wasted no time in shouting threats and took to the air. The princess swooped upon the fiend, bringing her axe around to bear and brought it swinging down towards him.
Schatten's smirk resumed as disposing of the pointless guards had evidently motivated her to take the fight a little more seriously. Good. As her weapon was revealed, he folded his wings inward and ducked swiftly to the side; he then shifted his weight onto his newly planted forehooves and struck out with a ferocious kick at the flat side of the descending princess' weapon. Who needed magic when you had melee that would work just as well? And, well, he kind of needed time to rebuild his magic after that last display of power... His own four hooves would just have to do for the moment.
Princess Night sounded an annoyed grunt as Sombra simply kicked her weapon aside. She slowed her descent with a flap of her wings, ignoring their brush against the bookcases as she leveled her axe's blades horizontally. With a twist of her head and glowing horn, she swung the weapon sideways, this time aiming for his legs.
Schatten's hooves bounced following the impact, leaving only one flank to be struck as he bounded forward on the momentum. He snarled his pain, staggering somewhat as he landed. Swiftly spinning around to face the princess, he flared his wings out again and bared his fangs at her. "Your determination is admirable," he conceded. "But it will not change the outcome of this encounter..." His horn began to glow again as his magic was called back into play, and the aura around his mane grew more intense. However, this time he opted to stand his ground and await her next move instead of making one of his own.
Princess Night drew her war axe back once she'd inflicted that bit of pain and held it before her as she hovered, wings beating the air. She glared down at him, baring her own teeth. "What makes you so certain you will overcome me?" The alicorn spat as she rid herself of her axe, the weapon shimmering as it faded from existence. Her horn remained alight, however, as she began to focus her power. "You are just a speck compared to greater fiends we have had to deal with!" Luna shouted and brought her horn down, releasing a beam of blue magic that she guided up the aisle towards Sombra.
Schatten snorted at the defiant princess. It was a waste, he thought, that an alicorn such as herself would choose to fight in vain for the powers of 'good'. "I know not how you recognise me, but your judgment of my power is sorely mistaken." A well timed remark, as he dug his hooves in to take the hit from her beam directly. He gritted his teeth to endure it with a pained growl; the magic threw up a cloud of dust, but that was swiftly dismissed with a bat - ha - of his wings. In his peripheral vision he caught sight of something hovering over the airborne lady, and opted to take hold of it unseen. After all his horn was already glowing from charging up power, so why would she suspect he was doing anything in particular with it? Seconds later, the rattling of steel and chain would be heard as the chandelier perched high upon the library's ceiling was set to knock Luna right out of the sky on its way to the ground.
Princess Night's spell had blasted Sombra solidly, but he bore it as though it were no more than a high wind; his comment was equally puzzling. The princess grunted with effort and a moment's time forced her to release the spell; bleeding out of a dark magic-inflicted wound wasn't doing her any favors, and she was quickly tiring. It looked like she would have to preserve her energy until help came.. if it did. For the time being, Luna mulled over the things that confused her so about Sombra while she waited for him to make the next move.. She tried to figure out what he'd be planning, but nothing seemed to leap out at her.. at least until she heard something. It was a split second of clinking metal, somewhere above? before the chandelier struck her. It sent Luna crashing towards the ground where she landed painfully, sprawled beneath the thing of metal, broken candle holders and their candles; some of them still ablaze.
Schatten was thankful for that little thing called adrenalin giving him the strength not to outwardly show that her beam had actually been more effective than she thought. Still riding that high-intensity brainwave, the shadow King moved toward the fallen princess and took hold of the colossal spread of steel atop her with his magic. With the collapsed frame soon held in an aura of his bubbling dark magic, he grunted with exertion as he made to curve the steel to properly entrap the ailing Luna within its cold and unforgiving embrace. Assuming he managed that much without her making to freedom somehow, he'd then take hold of the remaining candles and set them to the shelves either side of the improvised cage. This one was hardly worthy of a warrior's death from her display thus far.
Princess Night bit back pained whimpers as she lay beneath the chandelier; it wasn't just her shoulder aching now, but most of her body. She clenched her teeth as she slowly lifted her head to look up at Sombra, his approach prompting her to try to inch out from beneath the metal. When he had neared, she felt the chandelier shift, and for a moment, she dared hope he was going to lift it off of her! It was too good to be true, of course, as it seemed to settle on her, heavier than ever. Luna cursed him under her breath and considered trying to focus her magic.. Maybe she could get him talking. "Very.. well. You.. have me then. What is it that you want? Why you have come here?"
Schatten's tail flicked as she tried to engage him in conversation. "So now you desire to speak?" he jeered, not even turning to acknowledge her as he instead focused on making sure the fire would catch. How thoughtful of them to keep so many light paper scrolls and books around when he needed to light a fire. Once it did, he pushed at it with his magic to strengthen its intensity and then flapped his wings at it a few times to further its spread. "I owe nothing to you, other than thanks... for were it not for your misguided strategy, I might not have found such a grand scheme of entrance into your world." What? He directed a beam at the ceiling then, blasting a chunk clear from it - if it landed on Luna's cage, all the better - and then took some of the fire with him as he shot into the air to make his escape.
Princess Night bared her teeth at the other alicorn's jeering; now he was just rubbing salt in her wounds. And probably fire. "Had you had anything at all, you would have guarded it just as fiercely as I." The princess hissed and paused, her eyes widening somewhat. Her world? Did that.. mean... ? Her thoughts were interrupted as Sombra went from lighting the fires to blasting a hole in the ceiling. Luna shielded her face as dust, pebbles, and a few chunks rained down; the latter which fortunately missed her. She looked up again in time to see Sombra make his escape out of the library. For a moment, Luna was tempted to shout at his retreating back.. but she let it go. The lunar princess opted to start focusing what energy she could summon into her magic- she had to find a way out of here.
Schatten, meanwhile, began his onslaught almost immediately as smoke from the fire followed his exit and caught the attention of nearby guards. As they fell over their own hooves attempting to organise a response to the sudden threat, Sombra felt like he had forever to pick them off in turn with smaller - yet no less deadly - cutting magic attacks. However, only that first group would hold his attention. He had other places to be... and to burn. Still holding to the orbs of flame he'd taken from the library, he swooped down from the castle and glided with surprising majesty toward the unsuspecting town below. He strengthened the fire by his magic once more and then turned it upon the rooftops and facades of the buildings he raced over. So too would he rain destructive magic upon doorways to trap their occupants within. Canterlot was going to be a mess by the time he was done.
Princess Night gave herself some time to work up her power, at least as much as she could with the fires spreading across the library's precious books. Just the sight of them going up in flames pained her- some of those books had been in their old castle! Some of them probably even from Starswirl! The blue alicorn gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, her horn slowly adopting its faded blue glow. She briefly considered trying to lift the chandelier itself, but considering how Sombra seemed to have had a little difficulty, it wasn't an option for her. However, teleporting might be.. Luna focused upon the required spell, pouring what she could manage into it. The glow rose until, with a flash, she disappeared from underneath the chandelier. As it came down with a clang, now that it no longer had an alicorn to hold it up, Luna reappeared a short distance away in another flash, and sagged a little from the dizziness and intense heat of the flames. She could call it a success, once she got herself out of here and had the guards put out the fires.
Princess Night. The nights may not have been as busy for the younger alicorn as they were for her sister, the lunar princess was already feeling a little overwhelmed as of late. Next to her usual duties, occasionally putting up with Midnight's antics, shouldering some of Celestia's burden of parchment.. and, of course, the court she'd held a few nights ago. She had no patience for paperwork, and the rest of it.. she'd felt a need to escape social interactions already. So, in her need of escape, Luna decided to make her way through the castle's silent marble halls to the library, where she hoped she could lose herself in a good story for a while.
Schatten had apparently been blessed with the element of surprise, as the room proved empty of anypony to make a fuss over him suddenly appearing. He wandered further into the uninhabited room as his magic drew itself back from the exertion of getting here- his flowing mane suddenly fell flat against his head, and the glowing trail from the corners of his eyes wisped away into nothingness. Perhaps it was just as well, too, for the sound of hooves nearby caught the king's attention. He briefly considered staying as he was to greet whicever pony was about to walk through the doors, but swiftly opted for a disguise until he was certain of the nature of this new universe. One magical shimmer later the imposing alicorn tyrant was no more- instead his leathery wings were decorated in soft feathers and his tinted coat became a warmer grey-brown. His horn was disguised by the same phasing magic that had brought him here- sent out of phase just enough that it seemed as if it had never been there at all. There was little to be done about his eyes, however, even with his power- hopefully red wasn't too unusual for ponies in this land?
Princess Night finally stepped up to the library's grand double doors and paused, long enough to activate her magic. The doors swung slowly open before her touch and the dark-coated princess strode inside. Laid out before her were the many tall bookshelves: clean, orderly, and maybe a little dusty. A faint smile touched her lips at the sight and she began to wander among the aisles, searching for the section where fiction books were kept. If it had one. She knew this place to be full of books on magic and spells, history, geography.. really any bit of knowledge one would want to read on. But not about stories. Hmm. As Luna walked down another aisle and pondered this, it eventually registered in her vision that she was not alone in this library. There was a pegasus stallion here. He was tall, and if it hadn't been for the two that were brought to her during court those few nights ago, she would have been quite confused. Rather, the only thing she was confused about was that he was strangely unfamiliar and yet.. familiar. The only concrete fact was that she was certain she hadn't yet seen him in the castle before. Luna had stopped to consider what to do about this, but eventually opted for the polite option. After all, she was a princess, it was expected of her to engage with her subjects rather than ignore them. "Greetings. I gather you sought the peaceful embrace of the library as well?"
Schatten was a little taken aback by the one pony whom fate led across his path. Another alicorn..? A rather pretty one at that. Not one he'd ever seen in his world, though. Was this not a parallel dimension after all? Hmm... Hoping he had remembered to disguise his fangs as well as his wings, he'd then speak forth, "And to you." However, he was a little lost on how to respond to the question. How did a pony make small talk again? It's not like a tyrant king had any use for those skills, y'know... "I was seeking information," he continued at last, with conviction, "I am... new to this place. I fear I may be ignorant of key information. As any would think, what better place for information than a library?" There. That worked as an excuse, right?
Princess Night dipped her head a little to the returned greetings, offering a polite smile as the stranger expressed his lack of direction. "The library is indeed a good place to begin. I have come in search of stories, but I do not know if the palace's library has such a section for fiction." The princess said with a soft, even slightly embarrassed, laugh. "Although I do know the rest of it very well, having once sought certain subjects so I could catch up on what had transpired in my long absence. Pray tell, what information is it that you seek? I may be able to assist you in finding it."
Schatten had to stop and think again, as the strange alicorn offered to help. The kindness was vaguely sickening, but he could appreciate a willing source of information. "Anything you can tell me I can only assume would be of help. The rulers of this land, its culture, anything- I am as a blank canvas in need of a brush." Perhaps it was a bit forward to admit he didn't know such central information to the place he was presumably right in the heart of, but how many ponies were likely to connect not knowing such things to the fact he wasn't even of this world? He'd take his chances there just to get to the point sooner. Dragging out the charade seemed fruitless- the false appearance he'd assumed was only until he knew more about the world he now stood in, after all.
Princess Night was immediately intrigued by what the pegasus wished to know, and that information was a little revealing. So he was.. a foreigner? She would think that even a newcomer to Equestria would overhear some of it, but perhaps not if he didn't bother to waste traveling time talking to the citizens. Although, she'd never received a proper request for him to enter, nor could she understand why he was here at night, and unescorted by any of the guard. It was certainly strange.. unless Celestia somehow missed passing an alert of a newcomer along; it would have been unlike her if she did. The information he wanted was harmless enough, in any case. "We will not need to hunt for any books, then, for I can give you the answers you seek." Luna extended a wing to indicate herself as she continued. "I am Princess Luna, the bringer of the moon and night, and half of the diarch that rules Equestria. The land itself was founded by three different tribes of ponies..."
Schatten listened to the words the other spoke. Princess Luna, huh? And it sounded like there was another Princess too. Curious that they would opt to use that title instead of Queen? The added history lesson was a bit... much, he thought. But it was rather revealing of their culture, as he had desired to know. He had to try his best not to find the sappy tale of defeating hatred with friendship disgusting enough to make faces at. Well, at least he'd discerned the way this world worked! If nothing else, it had achieved that much, and to alight a whim to rain destruction upon it. "I see," was all he could think to say once the story was told. "That is quite a different tale to the one I could tell of my home." To put it lightly. "My gratitude for your time, Princess," he added with a polite nod. "Alas..."
Schatten took a step toward her. At that moment, the image of a horn flickered atop his head. "That will not be your title for much longer." His voice had changed suddenly, gaining back the gruff undertone that would likely trigger the familiarity in Luna's mind again. "For I am a King." He stomped one hoof down as his horn flickered in and out of view again. "And your world will kneel to me." Finally his horn phased fully back into existence, and in an instant his disguise was discarded. The feathers disguising his batlike wings were ejected all at once, creating an opportunity for him to push his wings forward at Luna and send the hail of shed feathers into her face. He'd use the distraction to charge his magic enough to swing his head - and by extension, his horn - and send a cutting blade of black energy to lash out at her.
Princess Night had finished the lesson with looking upon the pegasus with a hope he was satisfied with the information, and if there was anything more he wanted to know. She would happily divulge her knowledge to such an interested foreigner.. The princess began to dip her head in response to his thanks, and paused with an expression of polite puzzlement when he spoke again. The voice... that horn.. ! Luna's eyes widened when the realization hit her like icy cold water. It couldn't be! Not here! "You!" The princess managed to gasp, taking a step back in shock. She had to alert the castle! "Guards!" Luna called as loud as she could, short of the Royal Canterlot Voice, as she was assaulted by the cloud of shed feathers. She barely had time to react, another shout barely past her lips when she was struck. It had been cut off with her shriek of pain when she was sent back by the strike, tumbling twice across the violet carpet. Luna gritted her teeth and struggled to get her hooves back underneath her, despite the sharp pain of what was most likely an open wound. She wouldn't let that bastard get the best of her, let alone allow him to get to Celestia too!
Schatten scoffed as he felled the other alicorn in a single swing. How disappointing. The fact she'd called for guards was seemingly barely registered by him, as he kept his focus upon her alone. "You know me?" he questioned conversationally, as if he hadn't just attacked her. He then darted forward as she struggled to get up, and summoned a larger wave of pitch black magic. This time it aimed to serve as a bludgeon, swinging down toward the top of the other's head with great force- however, at the last second he feinted the magic away and curved it around to swing at the side of her face instead. Stay down, damn you.
Princess Night bared her teeth as she knelt upon one foreknee, the other hoof already set firm against the plush carpeting. "Thou art Sombra!" The lunar princess spat, pronouncing the name with disgust, although she was surprised that he didn't know this. She had many things to be confused about with Sombra's appearance, but no time to think on it now. Her horn lit with the blue glow of magic as she summoned forth a shield, long enough to defend herself from his second strike. "I believe you left your crown in our throne room!" Luna hissed, swinging her horn up and forward, shoving her barrier towards Sombra with hope of creating some distance between them.
Schatten let the dark magic dissipate as it bounced off her shield, and gave a 'hmph' noise. No matter. He smirked broadly as she spoke his name, though to be honest that raised more questions- why did she know his name? Was there another version of him running around in this world somewhere? He'd certainly never seen her before, himself. But there would be time to ponder that later. "Enough of these games." For now his horn began to glow brightly, taking on its twisted black, purple and green aura as he summoned forth stronger magic. So too did his eyes adopt the black and green, while the purple began to rise from his hair in a venomous mist. Red joined the unholy smoke rising from his mane and tail as his power set it in motion- not unlike Luna's own. As the barrier was shoved toward him he reared up to stomp his hooves down upon its curve and shatter it. He might next have bore down upon the princess herself, but the guards burst into the library at that very moment. Unfurling his fearsome wings with a faint smile toward Luna, he then turned an almost bored expression to the guards. "What a waste of perfectly good slaves," he mused just loud enough for Luna to hear. He then jolted into the air and swooped down toward them, intent upon landing in the middle of their huddle to confuse them. While some made to turn around to keep track of him, others got their weapons into position- but it was all for naught. Sombra lifted his snout into the air, and then arced his horn down to unleash the charged magic upon the unwitting guardponies. In a terrible display, a spinning circle of the same cutting energy he'd used on Luna began to swirl around Sombra. The guards were too restricted by the layout of the library to escape their grisly fate. Their shouts drew no reaction from the tyrant. Instead, he saw fit to regard Luna with the same expression- a silent yet obvious 'are you quite done wasting my time?'
Princess Night worked the rest of her hooves beneath her while Sombra busied himself with summoning forth more of his magic, and adopting that trademark glow. The change to his mane, however, was entirely new. Had he found new power somehow? Nevertheless, the lunar princess rose, shoving herself backwards as his hooves came crashing down through her weakened shield. She let it fall, preserving her magic for the battle- if her wound didn't slow her down anytime soon. The guards, having finally arrived on the scene, afforded her a little extra time. Luna caught Sombra's mutter, and anger barely had time to register before shock and horror swept it aside. Sombra had torn into the guard as easily as ripping paper! Luna bared her teeth then, flaring her wings as she focused her magic, forming a shimmering blue war axe. She wasted no time in shouting threats and took to the air. The princess swooped upon the fiend, bringing her axe around to bear and brought it swinging down towards him.
Schatten's smirk resumed as disposing of the pointless guards had evidently motivated her to take the fight a little more seriously. Good. As her weapon was revealed, he folded his wings inward and ducked swiftly to the side; he then shifted his weight onto his newly planted forehooves and struck out with a ferocious kick at the flat side of the descending princess' weapon. Who needed magic when you had melee that would work just as well? And, well, he kind of needed time to rebuild his magic after that last display of power... His own four hooves would just have to do for the moment.
Princess Night sounded an annoyed grunt as Sombra simply kicked her weapon aside. She slowed her descent with a flap of her wings, ignoring their brush against the bookcases as she leveled her axe's blades horizontally. With a twist of her head and glowing horn, she swung the weapon sideways, this time aiming for his legs.
Schatten's hooves bounced following the impact, leaving only one flank to be struck as he bounded forward on the momentum. He snarled his pain, staggering somewhat as he landed. Swiftly spinning around to face the princess, he flared his wings out again and bared his fangs at her. "Your determination is admirable," he conceded. "But it will not change the outcome of this encounter..." His horn began to glow again as his magic was called back into play, and the aura around his mane grew more intense. However, this time he opted to stand his ground and await her next move instead of making one of his own.
Princess Night drew her war axe back once she'd inflicted that bit of pain and held it before her as she hovered, wings beating the air. She glared down at him, baring her own teeth. "What makes you so certain you will overcome me?" The alicorn spat as she rid herself of her axe, the weapon shimmering as it faded from existence. Her horn remained alight, however, as she began to focus her power. "You are just a speck compared to greater fiends we have had to deal with!" Luna shouted and brought her horn down, releasing a beam of blue magic that she guided up the aisle towards Sombra.
Schatten snorted at the defiant princess. It was a waste, he thought, that an alicorn such as herself would choose to fight in vain for the powers of 'good'. "I know not how you recognise me, but your judgment of my power is sorely mistaken." A well timed remark, as he dug his hooves in to take the hit from her beam directly. He gritted his teeth to endure it with a pained growl; the magic threw up a cloud of dust, but that was swiftly dismissed with a bat - ha - of his wings. In his peripheral vision he caught sight of something hovering over the airborne lady, and opted to take hold of it unseen. After all his horn was already glowing from charging up power, so why would she suspect he was doing anything in particular with it? Seconds later, the rattling of steel and chain would be heard as the chandelier perched high upon the library's ceiling was set to knock Luna right out of the sky on its way to the ground.
Princess Night's spell had blasted Sombra solidly, but he bore it as though it were no more than a high wind; his comment was equally puzzling. The princess grunted with effort and a moment's time forced her to release the spell; bleeding out of a dark magic-inflicted wound wasn't doing her any favors, and she was quickly tiring. It looked like she would have to preserve her energy until help came.. if it did. For the time being, Luna mulled over the things that confused her so about Sombra while she waited for him to make the next move.. She tried to figure out what he'd be planning, but nothing seemed to leap out at her.. at least until she heard something. It was a split second of clinking metal, somewhere above? before the chandelier struck her. It sent Luna crashing towards the ground where she landed painfully, sprawled beneath the thing of metal, broken candle holders and their candles; some of them still ablaze.
Schatten was thankful for that little thing called adrenalin giving him the strength not to outwardly show that her beam had actually been more effective than she thought. Still riding that high-intensity brainwave, the shadow King moved toward the fallen princess and took hold of the colossal spread of steel atop her with his magic. With the collapsed frame soon held in an aura of his bubbling dark magic, he grunted with exertion as he made to curve the steel to properly entrap the ailing Luna within its cold and unforgiving embrace. Assuming he managed that much without her making to freedom somehow, he'd then take hold of the remaining candles and set them to the shelves either side of the improvised cage. This one was hardly worthy of a warrior's death from her display thus far.
Princess Night bit back pained whimpers as she lay beneath the chandelier; it wasn't just her shoulder aching now, but most of her body. She clenched her teeth as she slowly lifted her head to look up at Sombra, his approach prompting her to try to inch out from beneath the metal. When he had neared, she felt the chandelier shift, and for a moment, she dared hope he was going to lift it off of her! It was too good to be true, of course, as it seemed to settle on her, heavier than ever. Luna cursed him under her breath and considered trying to focus her magic.. Maybe she could get him talking. "Very.. well. You.. have me then. What is it that you want? Why you have come here?"
Schatten's tail flicked as she tried to engage him in conversation. "So now you desire to speak?" he jeered, not even turning to acknowledge her as he instead focused on making sure the fire would catch. How thoughtful of them to keep so many light paper scrolls and books around when he needed to light a fire. Once it did, he pushed at it with his magic to strengthen its intensity and then flapped his wings at it a few times to further its spread. "I owe nothing to you, other than thanks... for were it not for your misguided strategy, I might not have found such a grand scheme of entrance into your world." What? He directed a beam at the ceiling then, blasting a chunk clear from it - if it landed on Luna's cage, all the better - and then took some of the fire with him as he shot into the air to make his escape.
Princess Night bared her teeth at the other alicorn's jeering; now he was just rubbing salt in her wounds. And probably fire. "Had you had anything at all, you would have guarded it just as fiercely as I." The princess hissed and paused, her eyes widening somewhat. Her world? Did that.. mean... ? Her thoughts were interrupted as Sombra went from lighting the fires to blasting a hole in the ceiling. Luna shielded her face as dust, pebbles, and a few chunks rained down; the latter which fortunately missed her. She looked up again in time to see Sombra make his escape out of the library. For a moment, Luna was tempted to shout at his retreating back.. but she let it go. The lunar princess opted to start focusing what energy she could summon into her magic- she had to find a way out of here.
Schatten, meanwhile, began his onslaught almost immediately as smoke from the fire followed his exit and caught the attention of nearby guards. As they fell over their own hooves attempting to organise a response to the sudden threat, Sombra felt like he had forever to pick them off in turn with smaller - yet no less deadly - cutting magic attacks. However, only that first group would hold his attention. He had other places to be... and to burn. Still holding to the orbs of flame he'd taken from the library, he swooped down from the castle and glided with surprising majesty toward the unsuspecting town below. He strengthened the fire by his magic once more and then turned it upon the rooftops and facades of the buildings he raced over. So too would he rain destructive magic upon doorways to trap their occupants within. Canterlot was going to be a mess by the time he was done.
Princess Night gave herself some time to work up her power, at least as much as she could with the fires spreading across the library's precious books. Just the sight of them going up in flames pained her- some of those books had been in their old castle! Some of them probably even from Starswirl! The blue alicorn gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, her horn slowly adopting its faded blue glow. She briefly considered trying to lift the chandelier itself, but considering how Sombra seemed to have had a little difficulty, it wasn't an option for her. However, teleporting might be.. Luna focused upon the required spell, pouring what she could manage into it. The glow rose until, with a flash, she disappeared from underneath the chandelier. As it came down with a clang, now that it no longer had an alicorn to hold it up, Luna reappeared a short distance away in another flash, and sagged a little from the dizziness and intense heat of the flames. She could call it a success, once she got herself out of here and had the guards put out the fires.
End.