Just (Be)Cause - Chapter 11

12

 

>The white princess jumps to her bed, tired.

>Her ruffled mane and her pale complexion betrayed what she was supposed to be.

>She glances here to there sometimes, just a precaution she picked up.

>It was almost a habit now; her paranoia was slowly sinking in.

>At least Luna wasn’t getting any better.

>Not after she sent her ‘surprise’.

>She snickers, and rouses herself to sleep.

>Before she roasts some of the assassins.

>Nice try, sis.

 

>Luna sits and watches the night.

>At least she had control over the moon.

>She senses some steps on the side, and in an instant, she sets it aflame.

>Some pony screams later, she smirks triumphantly.

>Nice try, Tia.

 

>You make your way through the frozen wonderland.

>Everfree.

>You eye the structure in the distance.

>Luna.

>You would need to get there first.

>Follow the moon, Anon.

>Not sure why, but it’s symbolic.

>You duck at the sound of marching ponies.

>You hide behind some minor shrubs, waiting for the army to pass.

>Or, you could sneak alongside with them.

>The latter seems like a plan.

 

>Celestia, with her mad grin looks over the map table.

>If she had to fight her sister again, then she will.

>Looks like Anon’s death had caused quite an effect on her.

>She was proud of her little Luna at one side…

>She motions a chess piece to its position.

>”Your move, Anon.” She whispers, tears slowly coming down.

 

>You shiftily jump between trees, avoiding sight.

>You feel for your wrist, getting three in your left, and four in your right.

>Good.

 

>You follow the legion, eventually seeing Luna’s stronghold under siege.

>You can hear the distinct roars of ponies falling to their deaths, as they try to climb the walls and the cliff of the mountain.

>Lucky for Luna, her fortification rested on top of a broken mountain, leaving a single, gigantic column of rock.

>This made a nice position for defense, but made it impossible for anypony to come out.

>The fortification was still some distance, and you still had to sneak through.

>You jump into an incoming hay pile, mounted on a cart.

>”Hey, you see that hay pile move?” a guard asks.

>”Don’t be daft, who would rustle a hay pile?” The other one replies.

>The two idiots nod and continue on.

>You’re surprised; you never thought the stuff you learned from Assassin’s Creed would work.

>Now, just to wait till the battlefield.

>Time for a nap.

 

>You wake at the screams of ponies and the force of the cart being flung away.

>You land few seconds later, the hay providing some soft landing.

>You peek your head out to see the fort’s gate right in front of you.

>You can see it is gigantic, like the road leading to it.

>On top, another brand of ponies are pouring boiling oil, or shooting crossbows at the ones below.

>Many are getting slaughtered, but some managed to bunker down on the nearby debris.

>Some even settle down, by digging down and using the excess dirt as cover.

>Then, you hear it.

>A golden flash appears in front of the gate, shielding any pony trapped under.

>Celestia.

>She lets out a giant blast of pure energy, destroying the gate, and the wall above and around it.

>She leads the men with her, constantly shielding them.

>You decide this is the time to head out.

>You take an alternative route, following the grassier side of the road to avoid any major confrontations.

>Some resting ponies tried to stop you, before they stopped breathing.

>You finally reach the wall.

>God, it is taller than what you expected.

>Without any hesitation, you start to climb it, finding any possible nooks on the wall.

>You suppose the game really did help you.

>Not even halfway through, you begin to tire.

>You focus onto the nub on your chest, the gift Chrysalis left you.

>If it can slow time, it could also make you fly, right?

>Nope.

>But you feel an extra amount of strength.

>You begin to climb, faster and faster.

>Then you get an urge to run.

>You plant your foot on the wall, and to your surprise, it cracks and dents inside.

>You smile.

>Fucking Alex Mercer.

 

>You run up the wall, jumping to catch the guards off-guard.

>You immediately slice through the three of them, continuing your path to Luna.

>You run down the wall’s stairs, reaching the crazed battlezone.

>Ponies were dying everywhere.

 

>But you are Anonymous.

>Everything is slow to you.

>You easily dodge, catch and deflect any incoming arrows.

>You slice through the guards, good or bad.

>A guard blocks your path, and you stab him in the eye.

>Two block your path.

>You jump, arms out stretched, turn, and slide.

>You easily run your knifes through their throats.

>You are getting annoyed, some pony even tried to shoot you.

>You push the incoming guard away.

 

>You are stopped by a spear aimed at you, an earth pony is holding.

>Then you realize you are surrounded by spears.

>You need an opening.

>They all attack at once, but one pony is too fast.

>He is not focused.

>Perfect.

 

>You take the mistake, and grab the spear tip.

>They are just too slow.

>You pull the weapon, propelling you forward.

>The spear tips miss you by an inch, before they go flying into each other’s chests.

>The only surviving pony is the one right behind you, and the one in front of you.

>The one behind you is still lunging forward.

>You side step, and you use your free arm to hit the spear from the side.

>The sudden impact sends the spear-pony sprawling.

>You quickly pull the spear in front of you, releasing it from the pony’s grip.

>You twist the spear, before stabbing the pony behind you.

>You kick the mouth of the pony to the front, stunning him.

>You mimic an overhead stabbing position, hands open.

>You quickly grab an arrow wheezing by.

>You smile and bring the arrow to the pony’s head.

>Brushing it off, you begin your progress once again-

 

>Impact.

>You hit some sort of a golden orb, transparent.

>In it, are several heavily armored ponies and-

>”Anonymous!” A voice notices you, with a gasp.

>Shit.

>The goddess looks to you in disbelief, eyeing you over and over.

>”Do I know you?” You ask, going back to your feet.

>She gasps loudly, before flinging you over the battlefield.

>You land on a pony, knocking him out immediately.

>Celestia hesitates, then retreats.

>The only sight you get is her staring at you, before teleporting away.

>Her forces follow soon after, when they realize their god is gone.

>You shrug and step back to your feet, before being surrounded by spears.

>Everywhere.

>”I suppose any of you gents know where Luna is?” You ask, smiling.

>A certain head pokes out of the highest balcony.

>It gasps, and disappears into the tower.

>A guard nudges a spear at you, and you bat it away, annoyed.

>”Hey, watch the point.” You say, pushing it away.

>It is shabby work, almost rushed.

>”Halt!” You hear another familiar voice.

>The guards move away, showing the Lunar princess.

>”Is that you, Anon?” Luna asks, moving up hesitantly.

>”Yes, and can you move the guards? I just might have to kill them.”

>The guards laugh at you.

>You feel for your wrist.

 

>Luna eyes this, and raises her hoof, eliciting silence.

>The guards back away, as the princess lunges at you.

>She gives you a wide hug.

>”Anonymous, I thought you were-“

>”Dead?”

>She nods, tears forming on her face.

>”I am, actually.” You say, smiling.

 

>Luna backs up from your touch, before firing a blast on energy to you.

>The aura shimmers around you.

>”Strange, you’re not a changeling.”

>The magic stops and glows on the center of the chest, radiating a green warning.

>Luna studies you for a second, before pointing to you;

>”Anonymous, take off your coat.”

>”Let me-“

>”Take. It. Off.”

>You frown and pull off the coat.

>The freezing winter winds hit you again, making you shiver.

>Huh, shivering.

>You haven’t had that in a while.

>You then take off the bandages, revealing a newly patched hole straight through your torso.

>Of course, Chrysalis’ broken horn is still there.

>”Is that a changeling horn?” She asks, pointing.

>”Long story.”

>Gods must love you; Luna does not question that part.

>”I can tell you are not under a changeling spell.”

>You shrug.

>”Follow me, Anonymous.”

>She heads back into the tower.

>You pick up and wear your coat again.

>You do as she says, passing the silenced guards.

>The tower itself isn’t exactly wide, at a word.

>It has basic chambers to house the men, a kitchen there, a stall here, and a long winding staircase.

>That’s about it.

>Through the slits on the walls, you can see the gate being rebuilt, the soldiers going back to their positions.

>”Thanks to your intervention, we managed to buy more time.” Luna speaks, going up the stairs.

>”You’re welcome?” You reply.

>”We are most grateful.”

>The two of you continue in silence, before reaching the top floor.

>It was more spacious, to begin with.

>There was a double bed on its far wall, a balcony to another, and a large map table in the center of the room.

>There were scrolls, notes, books sprawled everywhere.

>”So, this is where you live.” You say, picking up a book.

>You dust it off, eyeing its golden embroideries.

>”Close the door, Anonymous.” Luna commands you.

>”Can you wait for a minute, I’m-“

>”Close. The. Door.”

>You drop the book, and walk right over to the chamber door.

>You give it a nice push, and it closes.

>”There.” You say, admiring your skills as a door closer.

>Perhaps you could find a line of work in that expertise?

>As you turn, you are surprised by a sudden weight thrown at you.

>It’s Luna, what else.

>She coils her hooves around you tighter, almost choking your breath out.

>”I-I missed you so bad, Anonymous.” She whispers, tears forming around her eyes.

>Still shocked, you can only return with pats to her back.

>Then you put your arms around her as well, running your fingers through her soft coat.

>”I missed you too.” You say.

>She finally lets go, regaining composure.

>You fix your clothes, and smile to her.

 

>”So, what I miss?”

>With the look she is giving you, you can tell you’ll be up all night.

 

>Celestia paces around her room, muttering to herself.

>Shining Armor was annoyed.

>They almost had the enemy.

>Then, Celestia suddenly withdrew, leaving his strike force unprotected.

>Of course, he had no idea that you were there.

>”Princess?” He asks, slowly opening the door to her room.

>The great white Pegasus unicorn ignores him, still pacing her words with her hooves.

>It is almost rhythmical, Armor would have noticed it, if he weren’t so irked by the fact that the war probably lengthened to a few more weeks.

>Or a year, considering the opposing force recuperated and retreated.

>”Princess!”

>This gets Celestia’s attention, as she stares at her general with a blank look.

>”Shining Armor- what do you need?”

>Armor notices her once ethereal mane stopped its glow.

>It only flowed slowly, sending out a greyer hue.

>”Princess, I just-“

>”He was there.”

>”I- I’m afraid I don’t follow, who?”

>”He.”

 

>”Anonymous.”

 

>”Anonymous, where do you think you’re going?”

>You fix your coat, and prepare to meet the raging storm.

>”I need to go see Celestia. We need to end this war.”

>Luna is silent.

>You slip back into your hood.

>”You can come along, if you wish.”

>”No, I must stay here. My troops need me.”

>”Very well. Then I’ll be back.”

>”How will I know you’ll be back?”

>”Two weeks. Three, tops.”

>”Promise?”

>”Cross my heart, and hope to die.”

>You turn to face the lunar princess, who looks to you sadly.

>You give her a small smile, crossing your heart.

>She returns the gesture, crossing her chest with her hoof.

>You trod out into the snow.

 

>You’re hoping you didn’t jinx yourself this time.