“It’s really them!” Derpy said proudly. “Nearly six years of looking and I found them. WHAH WHOO!”
“So you did,” Dante replied. “And as promised, your much deserved reward.”
The three watched as Dante reached for something in the shadows from which he came. Derpy was happily flying around Dante’s head, nearly crashing into him several times in her giggly state. Once Dante brought his claw back into the light, it revealed a large box. Derpy screamed with excitement when she cast her cross-eyed gaze at it. Darting to the box she wrapped her hooves around it as best she could.
“You’re the BEST, Dante!” Derpy said, smiling from ear to ear.
“I would have never found them if not for your special mind, Derpy,” Dante said, patting her on the head. “You gave Omnipotent’s creation another chance.”
“Omni-who?” Battleaxe asked, staring at the strange scene before him.
“Forgive me, Battleaxe, I often fail to remember that nopony knows that name anymore,” Dante said.
“You know who I am?!” Battleaxe exclaimed.
“Yes, I know nearly everything that has happened in both histories of ‘Equestria’, as your kind call it now.” Dante replied. Placing the box on the ground with Derpy still attached to it.
“Don’t fill us with talk, dragon…” Greatsword growled. “I would see you dead as soon as I take another step.”
“Such violence spoken by one with such a gentle heart,” Dante said, shaking his head. “What do you truly know of dragons, Greatsword?”
“I know that they are a scourge that should be cleansed from Equestria,” Greatsword replied. “Their greed and lust for blood and destruction shames the very beauty of the land.”
“You know well of how dragons are NOW Greatsword,” Dante scoffed. “But NOTHING of what dragons USED to be…”
“How dragons USED to be?” Greatsword asked.
“Yes,” Dante said “what they were like before the spell was cast and history began anew.”
“Spell to remake history?” Greatsword said. “That sounds impossible for anypony to do.”
“Impossible for all but him…” Dante said looking at the three. “You all must know the story, so that you may understand the gravity of the situation…”
Dante told them the tale of the creation of Equestria. He told them about Omnipotent, his family, his friends, how he and his allies defeated the most ancient and powerful of all evils with the weapons he created and of how Omnipotent cast the most powerful spell of all time in hopes to save all creation. The three were speechless, they couldn’t believe half the things that Dante spoke of, but it was all truth.
“So, Discord was a ‘GOOD’ good guy?” Battleaxe said.
“He was called Onus back then,” Dante said shaking his head. “I remember his decent into madness. I tried to bring him back with reason but he, like all other things, had forgotten everything. His chaos magic he once used for good made him the monster he is now known as.”
“AND Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are a little over six thousand years old?” Battleaxe asked.
Dante nodded, “I was at their birthing, as a good friend should be for an expectant father.”
“Damn little bro,” Battleaxe said, patting Warhammer on the back. “I knew the Princess Luna was a cougar, but THAT is one hell of an age gap.” Warhammer rolled his eyes and covered his face with his hoof.
“How do YOU remember, dragon?” Greatsword questioned. “If everypony forgot then how do YOU still remember everything?”
“My name is Dante…” Dante said rather angered at Greatsword’s indifference. “And I remember because I was the only being with the WILL to fight.” Dante rose to his hind legs and outstretched his torn wings. “As the embodiment of will itself I had to remember incase Destruction returned.”
“Destruction?” Battleaxe asked, “Who’s Destruction?”
“Do you not listen when I talk, Battleaxe?” Dante said covering his face with his claw. “Destruction is the ultimate evil, he is unlike any other enemy that your kind has ever faced. Destruction wishes nothing more than to inniolate Equestria, if he is not stopped none will remain.”
“You like to repeat yourself, don’t you?” Battleaxe said smiling.
“YOU are too much like Discord…” Dante replied.
“Well, one could assume that given he IS the element of duty…” a voice said in the shadows. “They should bear several personality traits.”
“Who said that?” Battleaxe said looking around.
“Oh, forgive my manners, we don’t have company that much,” A silvery unicorn with a blue mane and light blue eyes floated down towards the three. “I’m Guilty Spark, one of the monitors for this instillation.”
“ONE of them?” Greatsword asked.
“Why, yes,” Guilty Spark said. “The others shall make their presence known momentarily.” Two pegasi flew into the light. “Ah here they are,” Spark said. “The light grey pegasi with the orange eyes and blue mane is Event Horizon, and the light purple one with the orange mane and red eyes is Sun Screech.”
“Hi,” Event Horizon said. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He landed just feet from the three. “We’ve all heard so much about you.”
“Pleasure to be of your acquaintance…” Sun Screech said. “It’s not often that I meet the saviors of the world.”
“Then what exactly does Derpy do around here?” Battleaxe asked.
“She doesn’t touch anything,” Event Horizon said. “But her brain waves somehow operate differently than anypony else, so when everypony forgot you she could still remember. Dante was very lucky that he found her.”
“What’s in the box?” Battleaxe asked.
“I beg your pardon?” Spark said.
“What’s in the BOX?!” Battleaxe yelled sarcastically, hoping they heard him that time.
“Derpy’s reward…” Sun Screech answered. “For all her years of service she just wanted one thing.”
“And that would be?” Battleaxe asked.
“MUFFINS!” Derpy yelled excitedly opening the box, but the muffins were massive, “PONY SIZED MUFFINS! Just what I always wanted!”
“Really?” Battleaxe asked raising his eyebrow.
“I know she deserves far more,” Dante said. “But it’s all she asked for, not to mention I spent a great deal of my treasures to put her through college.”
“A generous dragon?” Greatsword scoffed. “Now I’ve seen everything.”
“Forsake your hate, Greatsword…” Dante said. “Dragons were once a proud and noble race, we had honor, then they let themselves fall into greed and war-mongering after Omnipotent’s spell.”
Dante stepped into the shadows and used his flame to light up the entire area. It revealed a base of sorts, telescopes, dials, meters and potions of all kinds were placed about the ‘pony area’, while a giant pile of treasures sat not far from it. Dante’s treasure, he seemed to have no use for it other than to purchase things for his ponies.
“You seem to give a lot.” Battleaxe said. “You rarely hear about this much kindness, even from a pony.”
“There are still a few dragons like me, Battleaxe,” Dante said, “While in Ponyville did you not meet my son?”
“What?” Battleaxe said, “YOU have a son?”
“The one they call Spike,” Dante answered. “He is my son, I made his egg from my own flesh, only one with a great deal of magic would be able to hatch him,” Dante paused to look into a large pool of water, “and the pony who could perform such a feet would have a pure guardian to keep them safe if evil came to them.”
“I think Greatsword kinda put your ‘guardian’ in his place when they first met.” Battleaxe said.
“There is a difference between Spike and Greatsword,” Dante said, “Greatsword has already unlocked his forgotten power, Spike has yet to learn of his.”
“Forgotten power?” Greatsword asked. “What do you mean drag-“
“You mind calling him by his real name bro?” Battleaxe said, nudging him brother on the shoulder. “I’d rather have him NOT pissed off at us.”
“I mean, Dante?” he corredted
“The forgotten power that lies in all of you,” Dante said. “The three of you represent the most powerful thing in all creation.”
“Harmony?” Battleaxe asked. “I thought there were six pieces to that, and they’ve already taken.”
“No,” Dante said shaking his head. “And it’s not love either, just to avoid the same thing from being said again.”
“Again?” Battleaxe asked.
“I had this conversation long ago,” Dante answered. “Anyway, you represent honor, and its three components, Duty, Will and the most powerful, Sacrifice.”
“Who’s who?” Battleaxe asked.
“That shouldn’t be a question, Battleaxe,” Dante said smiling. “You yourself have proven that you’re sense of DUTY is unrivaled.” he cast his gaze to Warhammer. “And you, Warhammer, for one with so much power, you always hold back. It takes a great deal of WILL to contain such power without unleashing it on others.” Then Dante cast his emerald eyes on Greatsword, “and you Greatsword, you will give everything and more to keep what you love safe, much like the original bearer of your element.”
“The original bearer?” Greatsword asked
“You bear the element of sacrifice, Greatsword,” Dante said. “Omnipotent would be proud to see a pony like you wield his element.”
“I am no god…” Greatsword growled. “I do not deserve to be compared to the one you describe, let alone allow our names be in the same sentence.”
“That may be true,” Dante said. “But you will do what he did without second thought. You would give everything and more to keep what you love safe, even if you knew it would mean your death.”
“If I die then those I love will only die after me,” Greatsword said back. “I can’t save them, I will fail.”
“Bro…” Battleaxe said. “Are you telling us that you’re giving up?” Greatsword looked away from the group, fighting back a tear. “Out of everypony I have ever known,” Battleaxe said, “I thought… I thought that YOU would never break, YOU never showed any weakness.”
“I had to,” Greatsword said. “All of us would have given up months ago if I had shown you that I had broken a long time ago.” Greatsword walked away from all them, leaving them in disbelief. “I’m sorry Dante, but you must find another, another capable of saving those he loves.”
Greatsword ran off to the entrance of the cave, Battleaxe close behind him. Warhammer tried to follow them but he was stopped by Dante. “Let them go,” he said. “I believe that his words will reach Greatsword’s ears better than yours this time.” Warhammer nodded and watched the two vanish into the darkness of the cave.
Greatsword finally reached the cave’s entrance, which was somewhere in the Crystal Mountain range. He stretched his wings and began to fly away, only to be stopped by silver colored magic. “WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!” Battleaxe yelled.
“I don’t know yet,” Greatsword said, struggling in Battleaxe’s hold. “But when I do I won’t tell you where!”
“Bro, come on!” Battleaxe said. “Are you listening to yourself?! You’ve NEVER ran from a fight, hell you even STARTED a few fights! What’s with you?!”
“Like YOU care about me!” Greatsword yelled breaking free of the spell and striking Battleaxe across the face. “You were always more concerned with how many mares you could get in bed!”
“That was the OLD me!” Battleaxe said punching Greatsword in the gut then his face. “I’ve CHANGED, and so have you, but not for the better!” He kicked Greatsword in the chest, sending him into the nearby wall.
Greatsword recovered in time to see Battleaxe charging him. Without hesitation, Greatsword uppercuted Battleaxe hard enough to break a normal pony’s jaw. “I don’t want to see anypony else die because of me!” he yelled, watching his brother hit the ground. “No matter what I do to keep them alive, I’m the reason they DIE!” Greatsword kicked Battleaxe in the gut as he tried to return to his hooves.
Greatsword tried to fly off, but Battleaxe grabbed him by the hoof and slammed him into the hard rocky surface. “You CAN’T just leave,” he shouted. “We NEED you!” Battleaxe jumped on Greatsword’s back and put him in a headlock. “I NEED you!”
Greatsword elbowed Battleaxe in the gut, causing him to let go. “I can’t live like this anymore!” Greatsword yelled punching Battleaxe. “You’ve NEVER lost anything you LOVE!” he continued to hit Battleaxe, screaming in rage with every blow.
The two exchanged blows for a short time, releasing all the rage they had locked away on one another. Then Greatsword struck Battleaxe hard enough to make him stagger, but he didn’t relent. He continued to swing away at Battleaxe, who now wasn’t even fighting back. By the time Greatsword had stopped, Battleaxe was almost unrecognizable, his eyes were nearly swelled shut and his face was covered in deep wounds. Battleaxe looked to his brother, who was standing over him, breathing heavily in his rage.
“B-but I’m afraid I will now…” Battleaxe said coughing up blood. “I don’t want to lose what I love…” a tear mixed with blood fell from Battleaxe’s eye, falling to the ground with silence.
“What?” Greatsword said stepping back from his battered brother. With his head now clear he finally saw what he had did to Battleaxe, the sight made him sick.
“I LOVE somepony,” Battleaxe said. “I don’t want to lose her…” Battleaxe wiped away some blood and tears away from his face, only to have them quickly be replaced by more.
“My own brother…” Greatsword said tearing up. “Celestia, what have I done?” he took Battleaxe in his embrace. Letting tears fall that should have fallen long ago.
“Greatsword…” Battleaxe said. “I know that I’ve never felt what you have, but now that I know what it feels like to be in love, I’m terrified of what will happen if I lose it.” he pushed Greatsword away to look him square in the eye. “And I can’t keep her safe without you.”
“I think we both need to talk to Warhammer,” Greatsword said smiling. “If anypony can help us, it will be him.” Greatsword placed his hoof on Battleaxe’s shoulder. “Come on Battleaxe,” he said. “My place is with those I love, and they need me now more than ever.”