04-06-2017, 12:12 AM
The Pale Moors were a curious place, it simultaneously resembled a number of places she knew, and yet felt so foreign. There were foreboding places in Equestria. A number of forests were large, ominous and full of dangerous creatures, but those tended to be full to too much life rather than not enough. Those occurred by the plant-growing too thick, and the creatures being too large and territorial. There were territories which were more barren, such as frozen North or the badlands, but there the ambience came from the almost complete lack of life.
The Pale Moors somehow managed both. Life was evident, from the various carrion feeders that could be seen when one was watching carefully, to the cries of distant creatures, natural or unnatural. But there was a profound sense of...desolation, Celestia might say if she were trying to put a word to it. This place seemed opposed to life, even despite the presence of creatures inhabiting it. Perhaps it was the colours, or the lack of sun. This was the only plane she'd seen without one, or without even a central feature such as the Nexus' fountain.
The environment would cause Celestia mild discomfort at most. She wasn't going to be scared away by a little darkness and cold, not after what she had faced in the past. When Revan asked her how she was faring, she smiled back at him. “I have faced much worse than this, you need not worry about me.”
Revan caught signs of the other primes in the area, and suggested meeting up with them. Celestia also felt this to be the most sensible course of action. “Yes,” she agreed, “gathering will help us coordinate our efforts, and curb the chance of accidentally injuring each other.”
Revan asked Sombra about his earlier behavior, still a little hurt by it if his tone was any indication. Celestia was tempted to offer an explanation, that Sombra was never much for friends, preferring to think of people as tools from what she knew of him. She held her tongue however, as that was an issue which could wait until they were out of the immediate danger. Sombra provided an answer anyways, much to Celestia's surprise, and stated that he was trying to avoid being a distraction, seeing how Revan trusted Celestia and wanted to avoid a dispute. Yet again a surprising sentiment to come from one such as him.
They moved on, and Sombra hung back while Revan took the lead, wanting a conversation. He wanted to forget his and Celestia's mutual history, at least for the purposes of completing their current task, and though his wording was a little unclear it seemed he wanted her to say the same. Celestia regarded Sombra for a moment once he'd finished, wondering about any hidden meanings in what he said, before finally replying. “My stance remains unchanged. I will assist those who would protect the innocent, prevent harm and help those in need, and I will oppose those who desire to do the opposite. Strictly speaking, I never wished harm upon you. For as long as you are committed to this task of removing a greater threat, you are my ally.”
Speaking of, not moments after Sombra and Celestia finished their conversation did an example of this greater threat appear. A large creature, apparently concealed by the fog, came crashing down ahead of the three of the. It was a four armed biped, with a pair of wings and covered with an inky black substance which periodically dripped off. Where the droplets landed, they sizzled and smoked and the ground was left pockmarked.
And of course, after suggesting Celestia take to the air Sombra summoned his scythe and charged straight at it.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of another skirmish could be heard. Presumably that was the other group of primes, but the trio would need to deal with the current threat before they could concern themselves with their errant compatriots.
Sombra's suggestion was sensible enough, from the air she could more easily observe and assist her allies, and so Celestia wasted no time getting airborne. “Careful!” she called out, as Sombra began hacking away at it with his scythe, spreading droplets of what covered the creature around. “its 'skin' is toxic!” As she spoke, she readied her own attack. With the creature so distracted by the frontal assault, she had plenty of time to charge and aim, and second later she released a flaming ball of rock aimed behind the creature. When the ball had almost touched the ground it exploded, the flame and fire piercing and burning the creature's back, exposed limbs, and most importantly its wings. By perforating those, Celestia hoped to render them unusable and keep it grounded, which would thus limit its options to flee or pursue. Meanwhile, Sombra would be protected from the attack by the creature's own bulk.
Celestia continued to circle overhead, lining up another attack. If the creature wound back to strike one of her allies, she would fire a ray of heat at which ever of its limbs it extended in preparation. If not, the ray would be aimed at its head instead, hoping to blind the creature. Either way, her next priority was disrupting its ability to attack them.
The Pale Moors somehow managed both. Life was evident, from the various carrion feeders that could be seen when one was watching carefully, to the cries of distant creatures, natural or unnatural. But there was a profound sense of...desolation, Celestia might say if she were trying to put a word to it. This place seemed opposed to life, even despite the presence of creatures inhabiting it. Perhaps it was the colours, or the lack of sun. This was the only plane she'd seen without one, or without even a central feature such as the Nexus' fountain.
The environment would cause Celestia mild discomfort at most. She wasn't going to be scared away by a little darkness and cold, not after what she had faced in the past. When Revan asked her how she was faring, she smiled back at him. “I have faced much worse than this, you need not worry about me.”
Revan caught signs of the other primes in the area, and suggested meeting up with them. Celestia also felt this to be the most sensible course of action. “Yes,” she agreed, “gathering will help us coordinate our efforts, and curb the chance of accidentally injuring each other.”
Revan asked Sombra about his earlier behavior, still a little hurt by it if his tone was any indication. Celestia was tempted to offer an explanation, that Sombra was never much for friends, preferring to think of people as tools from what she knew of him. She held her tongue however, as that was an issue which could wait until they were out of the immediate danger. Sombra provided an answer anyways, much to Celestia's surprise, and stated that he was trying to avoid being a distraction, seeing how Revan trusted Celestia and wanted to avoid a dispute. Yet again a surprising sentiment to come from one such as him.
They moved on, and Sombra hung back while Revan took the lead, wanting a conversation. He wanted to forget his and Celestia's mutual history, at least for the purposes of completing their current task, and though his wording was a little unclear it seemed he wanted her to say the same. Celestia regarded Sombra for a moment once he'd finished, wondering about any hidden meanings in what he said, before finally replying. “My stance remains unchanged. I will assist those who would protect the innocent, prevent harm and help those in need, and I will oppose those who desire to do the opposite. Strictly speaking, I never wished harm upon you. For as long as you are committed to this task of removing a greater threat, you are my ally.”
---
Speaking of, not moments after Sombra and Celestia finished their conversation did an example of this greater threat appear. A large creature, apparently concealed by the fog, came crashing down ahead of the three of the. It was a four armed biped, with a pair of wings and covered with an inky black substance which periodically dripped off. Where the droplets landed, they sizzled and smoked and the ground was left pockmarked.
And of course, after suggesting Celestia take to the air Sombra summoned his scythe and charged straight at it.
Somewhere in the distance, the sound of another skirmish could be heard. Presumably that was the other group of primes, but the trio would need to deal with the current threat before they could concern themselves with their errant compatriots.
Sombra's suggestion was sensible enough, from the air she could more easily observe and assist her allies, and so Celestia wasted no time getting airborne. “Careful!” she called out, as Sombra began hacking away at it with his scythe, spreading droplets of what covered the creature around. “its 'skin' is toxic!” As she spoke, she readied her own attack. With the creature so distracted by the frontal assault, she had plenty of time to charge and aim, and second later she released a flaming ball of rock aimed behind the creature. When the ball had almost touched the ground it exploded, the flame and fire piercing and burning the creature's back, exposed limbs, and most importantly its wings. By perforating those, Celestia hoped to render them unusable and keep it grounded, which would thus limit its options to flee or pursue. Meanwhile, Sombra would be protected from the attack by the creature's own bulk.
Celestia continued to circle overhead, lining up another attack. If the creature wound back to strike one of her allies, she would fire a ray of heat at which ever of its limbs it extended in preparation. If not, the ray would be aimed at its head instead, hoping to blind the creature. Either way, her next priority was disrupting its ability to attack them.
Quote:Combat word count is 350.
Because it's taken me so long I decided to handle my entry and the combat with a single post, divided at the dashes.