Title:           Night Lord in Equestria part 9
Author:          churchwarden
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/YXMscine
First Edit:      Tuesday 1st of May 2012 09:20:05 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Tuesday 1st of May 2012 09:20:05 PM CDT

>Turning back to the ponies you speak in a low voice, “I know this is hard for you all, but we have to beat Discord. We can’t be safe while a Chaos Daemon is loose.”
>They had gathered around Scout’s body, some crying, some just staring. Blinky hovers just above the boy’s arm, nudging gently with his manipulator claw.
>”We can’t just leave him like this…” Twilight sniffled
>”We still have a job to do, Twilight.”
>The ponies don’t respond, still shocked at it all.
>Sighing, you walk over to them, and they make room for you around the bleeding corpse.
>Burial rites would have to wait until the battle was over. Making Scout’s body more dignified in death wouldn’t hurt, however.
>You kneel down and lay the boy’s arms across his chest, still clutching his shield and hammer. After removing your tusked helm, you place it over the boy’s neck to give some decency to his death. Dabbing your finger in some of the blood on his armor, you trace the Nostraman rune for peace on the forehead of the helmet.
>”Ivalistisha, son of the angel. May you be lifted up upon wings of glory, to soar with your father forevermore.”
>The xenos look up at you. Fluttershy smiles weakly, as does Twilight and Applejack, while Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash’s faces remain sad and mute.
>”We can bury him after we finish this, ponies. Now, let’s finish this.”
>”Right. Let’s put Discord down for good,” Pinkie growls
>”Let’s do this,” Rainbow agrees menacingly.
>”For Scout,” Applejack adds.
>”For Equestria!” Twilight calls with new-found strength in her voice.
>Leading the pack, you tramp towards the gardens, where the sounds of a magical duel are as intense as ever.
>Stepping outside, a massive detonation rocks the sky, a migraine bright blast of yellow energy fading in its wake.
>Raucous peals of laughter resound from Discord as a broken white pony falls from the sky.
>”No! Celestia!” Twilight screams.
>Surging ahead, you manage to catch the falling monarch before she hits the ground.
>Her wings are blackened, one half missing and oozing blood. Numerous burns and cuts mar her white coat. She’s been through hell, but she’s still alive.
>”DIE DISCORD! BURN IN HELL ONCE MORE!” Luna screams, coat black as the void, armor glinting in the light of the explosions all around.
>Bodies of Royal Guards litter the ground. It doesn’t look like many are breathing.
>The ponies sprint towards their fallen princess in your arms.
>”Oh no, oh no, no no no!” Twilight panics.
>”Don’t worry, she’s still alive, Twilight, now use that weapon and end this once and for all!”
>The daemon turns to you, keeping Luna at bay with contemptuous ease. “Ah, Chosen and the ponies at last! Looks like you managed to kill that idiotic Space Marine, didn’t you Chosen? Feel good to get back in the groove?” At this, Discord starts moonwalking his way toward you.
>”Girls, would you please deal with him?” You respond, a smug smile spreading across your face.
>”Gladly,” Twilight responds.
>Tahm ta finish this little chore,” Applejack adds.
>There’s that prickling in your gut again.
>Discord’s eyes widen at this as he faces you all again.
>”No, this can’t be happening! Not again!” He pleads.
>The 6 ponies hover in the air, their necklaces and eyes glowing bright.
>Rainbow magic wraps around Discord and he starts to get a bit stonier.
>”I will get you Chosen. One day I will come back and finish the job myself!” Discord promises.
>”I wait with bated breath,” you respond, giving him a power fisted one gun salute.
>With a thunk, the now statuesque Discord drives himself into the dirt, a menacing expression literally etched into his features.
>Celesita stirs weakly in your grip.   
>”Princess? Are you going to be ok?” Twilight inquires, no small amount of worry in her voice.
>The other girls look as concerned as Twilight sounds.
>”We’ve got to get her to a hospital,” Rainbow speaks up.
>”I’ll be fine, everyone, I just need to… lie down for a while…” Celestia croaks out.
>Luna staggers over towards your little group, no longer shaded so darkly.
>”We’ll both be fine, Tia, we won.” Says Luna, comforting her sister.
>Twilight and her friends say similar things to Celestia.
>”That’s… good. I just… I just need to sleep for a while…” With that Celstia closes her eyes.
>You feel for the veins in her throat, searching for a pulse.
>”Celetia? Celestia? Chosen, is she...?” Twilight queries, misty eyed.
>”She is tired, Twilight. It would take more than what Discord threw at her today to kill her. Now come on. Let’s get her to bed.” Luna remarks quietly, limping back towards the castle.
>Her horn glows, and the guards around her rise to their feet, wounds re-knitting, armor reforming.
>You still can’t help but feel a twisting in your stomach at such displays of warp magic.
>You follow Luna’s wounded form back into the castle and help get Celestia into her bed. Nurses and doctors are teleported in to tend to their leaders’ wounds.
>Twilight and the girls help the best they can, while you just stand back and watch.
>The battle was over.
>For now.