//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 "Redemption." 
// Story: The Force of Friendship (1. A New World) 
// by Bronysith 
//------------------------------//

		"Alexx it is so good to see you again." William said with a grin. "Cut the disguise William, let me see your real form here." Alexx replied. "Very well." William's disguise as Applejack began to disappear. His hooves began to turn a dark color, deteriorated in some spots. His mane became black, blacker than space itself. His fur looked more like a carapace instead of actual fur. A decayed horn appeared on his head. The only thing that did not change was his eyes, those horrible red eyes.

"I WAS RIGHT, A CHANGELING!" Twilight shouted. "So that is what this creature is called." William said with a grin. "Now WHERE IS APPLEJACK?!" Alexx demanded. "Oh she is safe." William said. Lighting up his horn, he produced a an image.  She was in some sort of dungeon. "ALEXX, TWILIGHT, ANYPONY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" She screamed in fear. "Don't worry, Alexx, she will have company." William said channeling even more energy into his horn, Alexx saw everypony around him in the library, vanish. His eyes widened in fear. He then looked at the image produced from William, they were all there.

"Enough William, they did nothing to you, I did nothing to you. YOU BETRAYED ME! You told the bounty hunters where I lived, and they killed my father." Alexx said, igniting his lightsaber. "Ah are you challenging me, Alexx." William said. "You have no right to call me Alexx, YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND!" He said with anger. "Fine I accept your challenge but. I am not comfortable fighting in this form. I shall fix that." William replied. A bright energy emitted from his horn and Alexx shielded his eyes with a hoof.

When he came to, he found he was surrounded by darkness. All he could see was the image of the dungeon where his friends were, and William standing in front of him, clenching his lightsaber with both hands. HANDS. Alexx wondered. Looking down he saw that his hooves were now hands again. I-I am back to normal? Alexx wondered. "Now to make this more interesting I shall give you another incentive to fight me." William said with a devilish grin. He lifted his hand towards the image of the dungeon. Alexx then began to notice water flowing in the dungeon. NO! He thought, fearful of losing his friends. "The only way to free them is to defeat me. In ten minutes the dungeon will overflow with water, and they will drown." William said with a laugh. "You always did like to fight dirty, WILLIAM!!" Alexx shouted as he charged towards William, and they locked blades. Staring each other down.

Thus began the longest ten minutes of Alexx's life. At first he was fighting for himself, for vengeance. He was tempted to call upon the dark side to crush William, but he saw how that scared Twilight. No. This is not for me. This is to protect the ones I love. He thought. I am not risking the dark side. Not again. He thought. Alexx broke pushed William away with the force. He immediately caught himself on two feet and sent a bolt of lightning towards Alexx. He blocked the blast with his lightsaber. The blast was incredibly powerful. It was like trying to hold a speeder in place as it was going on full speed. 

Alexx released one of his hands from the blade, and released his own bolt towards William. It was a direct hit. William winced back in pain, releasing his stream of lightning in the process. Before he could recover. Alexx was upon him. He attacked with an overhead strike. William parried it with his blade. As Alexx stumbled back, William attempted a riposte with a lunge at Alexx's ribcage. He noticed the attempt of a fatal strike, and used the force to grab a hold of William's neck. Suspending him in the air, Alexx began to strangle the life out of him. "Is that the best you can do?" William said with that evil grin. He broke free of Alexx's grip with ease. 

William then charged towards Alexx and attempted a sweeping blow towards his feet. Alexx jumped over it and over William. Again he attempted an overhead strike on William. He blocked it and then they exchanged blows. This is going nowhere real fast. Alexx thought. They locked blades once more. Alexx noticed that the water in the dungeon was about halfway full. Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash! Alexx began to worry as he saw that they were struggling to stay above the water. Alexx felt the darkness once more.

No. He thought. That was William's plan all along. To convert me to the dark side. He realized. The dark side has no power over me. Just as quickly as it began, the darkness inside of Alexx faded away. "Your plan has failed William." "What?" He said. "Your plan to turn me to the dark side. IT WILL NOT WORK!" He shouted. A light began to fill inside of Alexx. His hair began to turn to white. His eyes stayed the same. A bright energy began to emit from Alexx. Is this the power of the lightside? No it is the same energy that Kana had. Alexx realized. William began to struggle against Alexx. Alexx's strikes became swifter and fiercer. 

This must be the power that Kana was talking about. Alexx thought as he blasted William's lightsaber away. This is the strongest power in the universe. Before he could react, Alexx Impaled William in the chest. "What-what power is this?" William asked. "This is the power that is friendship." Alexx said. "You-you have become stronger Alexx." William's eyes began to change color. They were no longer red, but his original blue eyes. "I am sorry Alexx" A tear rolled down his cheek. "I wanted power. To be no longer pushed around. I forgot that friendship, is what gives true strength. To have the support of others, is what is great." William said. "I am sorry it had to end this way, my friend." Alexx said as a tear went down his cheek as well.

"Your friends shall be released back to the library. I am sorry for putting you through this." William said. "How do I get back?" Alexx asked, he noticed that the image of the dungeon was empty. His friends were safe now. Alexx removed the lightsaber from William's chest and caught him. William lifted a hand and made a portal through the force. "Go through there and you will be reunited with them at the library." He said. "William. Who is the one that trained you? Tempted you to the dark side." With William's last breath he said "Shadio." And he was gone.

Shadio?! You are the cause of all this. Alexx thought with anger, as he walked over to where he blasted William's lightsaber. He picked it up and put in on his belt. The reason my father was killed. My friend falling to the dark side. All of this just so you could find me in the gutters that day. To take me on as your apprentice. He thought. One year, one year this will all end. You shall leave me and my friends alone. As he walked to the portal he noticed William's corpse was gone. Leaving nothing but his clothing on the ground. 

Go with the force. My friend. Alexx thought. As he entered the portal he noticed he was turning back into a pony. His armor re-sized to fit him. He hunched onto all fours. His white hair was replaced by his mane. Which stayed white. His skin became a sapphire colored fur. Well it was nice while it lasted. I just wish I was human again for a much happier reason. He thought. The portal closed around him, a bright light flashed and he was back. "Alexx!" All of his friends said. "Everypony I am happy to see you are okay. I don't know what I would've done if I lost you."  Alexx said, tears flowing from his eyes. They all came up to him, and a big group hug occured. "It is not over yet. That was not it. I still have one more battle to fight. Then we can all live in peace." Alexx said. "Oh right you have that Kagth thing coming up in a year right?" Asked Rainbow Dash. "It is pronounced Kaggath and yes. But that is then. Please I alone should worry about that."

"But why alone should you worry about that? You silly filly." Pinkie Pie said. "That is right. As long as you have friends you should not have to be alone for anything." Said Twilight. "No matter where you go, you will always have us." Fluttershy commented. "Just do not stop being awesome, Alexx." Said Rainbow Dash. "Sugarcube, you can always rely on us." Applejack said. "That is right darling. You are never alone." Rarity said. "You guys are the best. Thank you." Alexx said with a tearful smile. I wish it could last like this forever. Alexx thought.

But it won't Stal.

Shadio? Alexx wondered.

-End Chapter 7