Outside the path, amidst the shadows of the slender stone projections, strange shapes with glowing, red eyes flitted about, accompanied by the sounds of scurrying, slithering, the flapping of wings, and the occasional faint growls, moans, and mocking laughter.
"Khaa!" Kawed Breeks. "We have walked into the heart of darkness. We are but three against an army. If we live, this will make a most magnificent song to sing. But if we die there will be none to sing our praise."
"It is not the body we must fear," said flame-maned Epona, "but only the head. Without it's leader, this army of darkness will pose us no threat."
"So," Brightblade said, "that is the beast I am to slay, the one that threatens Ponyland."
"Yes, but the time has not yet come for you to worry yourself with that. Why do you not continue telling your tale?"
"We've got a problem," said Ramon.
Breeks was perched on the horn of the restored guardian statue I had battled to gain entrance to the inner chambers of the temple. "Kharr! Kerberus has followed us with his minions. They've the temple surrounded."
I remained calm. I looked out over the valley where Kerberus' wolves were assembled below the Temple of Light. "This will give me a chance to test the Warrior's Horn," I said. I stepped out of the columned outer chamber of the temple into sight of the wolves. Their baying escalated to vicious barking and growling, but they did not advance.
"Kerberus!" I called out, trying to sound confident. "If you are truly such a great warrior as your following would suggest, come forward and face me in single combat to determine my fate and the fate of my friends!"
The massed wolves parted and the large, dark form of Kerberus stepped forward in the gap. "My my pony, you seem to have grown a backbone since our last encounter. Are you sure you don't want the bird to fight me in your stead?"
"I have made my challenge and I will stand by it," I replied.
The wolf grinned, "It will take more then a new hat and loud words to defeat me."
I lowered the Horn, "Then I shall have to give you more."
I walked forward with confidence; Kerberus, poised to strike, bared his teeth and growled. As I neared my foe, the Warrior's Horn began to glow, the nearer I drew, the brighter it glowed. I could see in his eyes that Kerberus was unnerved a bit by this, but he stood firm, waiting until I was near enough; then he struck.
He through himself toward me with is jaws wide and his claws spread, but before he could touch me there was an explosion of light from the Horn. I felt nothing but Kerberus was thrown back. He landed with a thud but was unhurt and unwilling to give up. He charged me with a mighty growl. This time he did not attack me head on but swung around to attack from the side. I twisted my head around as he lunged, caught him with the horn, and flung him over my back. This time he landed with a rather pathetic sounding yip.
Some of Kerberus' followers were beginning to loose faith in their leader and were leaving the valley, and Kerberus was not blind to this. "Come back here you swine! Come back or I will hunt you down once I am finished with this pony! Hunt you down and make you suffer!" This only discouraged the wolves and more left.
I walked up to Kerberus and lowered the point of the Warrior's horn to his face. It glowed so brightly he had to avert his eyes. "You are beaten, Kerberus," I said. "Your pack has deserted you. There is no need to continue this."
Kerberus was silent for several moments. "Very well," he finally spoke. "You and your friends are free to go, I will cause you no trouble on your passage through the Pack Lands, but if any of you return, you will know my wrath."
All present knew the last part was only said to save face with his few remaining pack wolves, and they followed their leader off the field of battle with their tails tucked between their legs.
As the wolves disappeared in the distance, Breeks flew down from the temple and perched upon the Warrior's Horn. "Kraaaah!" he screeched. "You are truly the Warpony, friend Brightblade, just as I knew you were."
"Good job," said Ramon as he scurried down from the temple. "I was afraid you wouldn't make it at first, but that horn sure showed Kerberus a thing or two."
"Not just the horn," I told him. "Without a pure spirit to guide it, the horn is little more than a decoration. I do not know how I know this, but the power of the horn comes from it's wielder."
Breeks huffed and ruffled his feathers at that remark, but said nothing.
"What must we do?" asked the Warpony.