Chapter 1: "Redemption and Rebel" (Edited)

"Twilight! You need to see this!" Pinkie shouts from down the wooden stairway of the Golden Oak Library.

The stairway lead into a room where I laid face first in a pile of paperwork. Pinkie's voice brought me out of my pleasant dream, a soft groan escaped my mouth.

"TWILIGHT!"

"Just a minute, Pinkie!" I shouted back at the pink earth pony.

I got up from the desk I was currently napping on before I realized I only finished most of my work. A frustrated groan escaped my lips. Not wasting too much time, I walked out to the staircase and looked down to find the energetic pony doing her usual.....pinkie things.

"What is it Pinkie?" I asked half asleep still.

She slightly frowned at my attitude before it being replaced with a smile again. "Great, you're up! Rarity has been looking for you. She said something about the new uniforms being made." Pinkie said.

My brain almost instantly recalled the need for a change in the wardrobe. The new uniforms were for the Royal Guard. Even the Wonderbolts were getting some different gear. Why you may ask? Well, the simple answer is the tension across Equis, and appearing to look more intimidating to other countries. For all anybeing knows, a world war is preparing to break loose at any possible moment now. My hand went straight to my eyes to clear any sleepiness that might still be there before I looked back at Pinkie Pie.

"Thanks Pinkie. I'll go see her right away."

Pinkie smiled bouncing on her hooves almost automatically before heading out the door. "You're weeelcome." She said.

With that, I made it down stairs. Then it hit me. I didn't wake up Spike, then I thought about how upset he would be if he had to wake up so early in the morning.

"I'll wake him up when I get back." I then left the Golden Oak Library to visit a certain unicorn.

It didn't take me long considering I knew the route to the Carousel Boutique like the back of my hand by now. Going to the boutique has been a frequent erron lately. But for today, I had to make at least one more visit to the fashion designer. I opened the door to the boutique to be greeted by the sound of some bells softly ringing above me. Rarity turned her head toward the disturbance recognizing me almost immediately.

She smiled my way. "I'm terribly sorry to wake you up so early in the morning, but I just had to at least get you up to critique my new designs. I just couldn't wait too long! After all, I believe it needs a princess credential on how good it is."

Oh, did I forget to mention I became a princess? It was about two years ago when the tensions really started to take off. The propaganda then was tamed compared to the hailstorm of hate coming our way now.

I smiled at her. "Of course Rarity." I inspect the uniforms to be surprised at the major quality put into the uniform's craftsponyship themselves.

I just stared in silent awe at the beautiful fabric a bit longer before testing out its strengths and weaknesses. It seemed to be magic resistant, stretchable, durable, blade resistant, and even surprisingly light weight for this type of material. No doubt, she has put countless hours of careful enchantments to enhance it giving the uniform a useful aspect for it.

I couldn't help a small smile to form on my face. Even in times of probabilities of war, Rarity knows how to bring joy and creativity into every design she makes.

"I say it's perfect for Royal Guard use. I'll have a letter sent to Celestia detailing the texture of your uniform." I said looking toward Rarity.

She squeed at my comment about to hug me before she recomposed herself. Rarity firmly shook my hand before saying how grateful she was.

Then I felt the air and atmosphere around us go slightly stiff. At first I ignored it; until the ground tremored underneath our hooves. Rarity immediately notice the shaking too looking at me with confusion plastered on her face.

"What's going on?" Rarity asked.

I stayed quiet before walking outside. It was just as I feared. The air around Ponyvile was distorted as the residents in the town panicked at the rumble. Then the sound of a wood splintering crack echoed throughout the town itself.

My eyes widen toward the center of the town. A slight crack in what appeared in reality seemed to form. I could feel the magic inside grow knowing instinctively that this magic didn't belong in Equis.

I ran up toward the growing crack in reality as my horn lit up. I thought of a spell before casting it at the crack hitting it dead on. However, the crack still creeped its way lower as the spell I casted harmlessly bounced off. I stared in absolute horror as the crack then begins to vibrate violently.

All of a sudden, the crack grew itself two feet longer in one vicious growth spurt causing a sound like an intense explosion to go off. A shockwave of strange energy followed after knocking most of the ponies it touched into things around them, myself included. I ended up landing flat on my back as I groaned in slight pain.

Once the shockwave erupted itself away from the town, the crack in reality calmed itself down emitting a strange bluish glow to its form now, and shortly after, the tremor stopped too. The aftermath of that shock didn't hurt anyone badly, but it definitely felt like a minor earthquake in magnitude.

I got up before directing my attention back on the strange crack in reality. This was not the first time such a phenomenon occurred. Gathering from my memories alone, there have been over two thousand reports of these strange 'cracks in reality itself'. Over five hundred of them being in Equestria alone. Princess Celestia, Luna, and the other leaders of Equis have sent search parties into these mysterious cracks, but none have returned from them. They broke up from contact as soon as they entered the cracks.

And to be honest, this is the first time I've seen such a phenomenon up close. I stared into the cracks themselves. It..... called out to me. I wanted to walk up to the crack and jump right in, but my fear froze me in place. Where will this crack take me if I follow in?

Before my mind could process more information, Rarity came running up behind me.

"Oh darling! I'm so glad you are safe--........What is that?" Rarity asked gesturing to the odd bluish crack in reality.

"I.....have no idea" I replied. There was not much to be said about this phenomenon; only that it was something that was obviously not from this world.

?????'s POV

The inviting cold void around me was thick almost reminding me of that dreadful pocket space called 'imprisonment'. However, this void of darkness was different. It seemed like it was just yesterday that I fell into a comatose-like sleep. I couldn't feel my outside surroundings too well either. Completely isolated from the world. I like it better like this. That way I don't hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it.

I shivered involuntarily at the sudden bonbardment of massive magic.... Strange magic. It felt almost familiar, but I knew deep down that reality was impossible...

My universe was completely erased from existence.

Reguardless, the magic flowed through as I felt my magic levels rise quicker than it has been doing so far in my comatose. I felt my consciousness rear its ugly head before I was immediately sucked away from the cold void....

I woke up. Finally being able to make the effort to move my body. The pain of not moving my body for awhile lingered still, so I did a test run.

I got up and stretched. It didn't help that I could hear and feel my bones seeming to break inside my body individually. I sighed relieved that it hasn't been too long.

Then I finally take the chance to observe my surroundings. I stared in confusion seeing nothing but endless darkness around me. I was pretty sure that I had awaken from my long 'nap'. I pinched myself just in case.

"Oh yeah. This is real."

I looked around even resorting to feeling my way around before I entered a pathway with a single torch hooked on the wall. Carefully, I take the torch off its holder and place it in my right hand. Further inspection suggested that the torch was an enhanced to forever burn in this state.

"Interesting, last time I checked, Equestria was not THIS advanced in the magic department yet."

Using the torch, I walk through the crystal hallways while the torch illuminated my surroundings better. At least I have a clear description now of my surroundings.

A half an hour into walking and searching areas I felt something rumble. I looked down at my innocent stomach turning in on itself. I sighed heavily giving my belly a light rub in sympathy.

"As expected, my stomach could give less than two shits about the situation."

I rolled my eyes continuing onward. Then my fur sat on edge of itself almost as if it realized the difference in temperature slightly dropping Something appeared off about these crystal hallways. More importantly, who put me down here?

I looked up at anything that might stick out as a potential threat. A plan beginning to form in my head. There was only one way to find out. I materialized Apocalypse, my giant black metal sword. I made the blade of the sword spin at an intense speed held firmly in my palm. So fast that the hand and Apocalypse itself looked like one long drill bit. I jumped on to the 'ceiling' before drilling through it. A smile slowly formed as I advance toward the surface.

To say I was taken by surprised was an understatement. I had dug through seven miles through crystal, rocks, and dirt, and I was still going. Usually normal ponies can't survive down this deep, but as you can tell I'm anything but a normal pony.

"That means that whoever did this wanted me dead in some form or fashion."

When I get back to the surface, I need to be careful who I talk to. Then my began to sense the sunlight through the dirt itself.

With one last push, I broke through the thin dirt. I landed on my hooves dematerializing Apocalypse. Now was the moment of truth. My confusion intensified as I looked around.

"Am I in Canterlot?"

To my surprise, I ended up in the very heart of Equestria: Canterlot. However, that's not my biggest concern. I thought about the massive earthquake and the amount of casualties that must have happened.

"Shit! Zecora!"

My horn automatically lit up before I teleported to a certain tree hut.

I reappeared in the Everfree. Clearly, I wasn't thinking straight as I ran through the forest remembering each tree and grass blade until I met a familiar tree hut.

Relief filled me walking up to the door knocking a few times. But my relief died off when nobody opened the door. Even more stranger was the door seem to be open. My instincts screamed danger as I materialized Apocalypse once again to life. I cautiously open the door further looking around in the room.

When I made sure nobody would attack me I advanced inside. My eyes widen looking at the interior to get a better look at everything. It looked like chaos. Furniture over turned, glass broken, book shelves turned over, almost like it was a struggle.

My heart rate quickened as I searched through the chaos. And to add to the horror, I saw what I feared the most. It was a corpse. Not just any corpse though.

I threw the shelf off of the corpse to get a better view before my eyes widen further. It was Zecora's corpse. It looked to be a week old. A face of pure fear was plastered on her face. I also noticed how she appeared to be stripped of her usual garments. My fist tightened as I pictured the entire scenario. Who or what would do something so vile to my wife? What would they gain by doing this?

"I couldn't even protect her."

You shall know loss and pain like no other, my son. For you will kill those you love with your own bare hands.

The bastard's voice rings in my head. I couldn't help a tear to slide down my cheek at that thought. This is the third time I loss something so precious to me. My body shakes involuntarily gritting my teeth. My sadness turns to anger.

I hate the world's cruel tricks and illusions. That whole year of fighting monsters and saving innocent lives for the sake of Equestria...... And this is what I get in return? Yet, a part of me knew that price. I was born into all worlds to suffer.

"You and I both know that this would happen, Shadow. Why not let loose? You know these pathetic ponies deserve it. They were no better than those-"

"Shut up!" I almost yelled at the top of my lungs. Atone's voice went silent."Shut up..... This was my fault alone. It won't happen again...... I'll make sure of that." I said to myself (specifically Atone).

I bend over closing her eyes, then I picked her body up from the rumble and head outside.

For hours I searched through the Everfree looking for a place to put her to peace. Then I saw the perfect place for a burial sight. It was an open space in the forest allowing the sunlight to gleam from the dark green canopy that covers the Everfree floor. I laid her body down before pulling a shovel from my hammer space.

I sighed testing the ground. It was soft and moist. I smiled at the irony of it all. I have lived for so long seeing what would either astonish or horrify ponies in many different ways. Yet, death seemed to always find its way to kill everyone around me.

I shoved the first shovel full of dirt out of the ground, then the next. I stopped counting after that. I dug until I got a good six feet into the ground itself. I teleport to the surface again fetching her corpse before carrying it to the edge and levitate it the rest of the way into the hole I made. Covering her body was easier than digging.

By the time I looked up it was about noonish in the Everfree. Out of respect, I teleported a gravestone marker and chiseled her full name on to it. I then stick it at the front of the grave positioning it toward the unearthed dirt.

I stand on the ground not far from the grave taking a second to look at my work.

Here lies Zecora Celean Zanmo....

The birds but the forest lightly chirped their happy tone around me. I on the other hand was not in the mood. I suddenly remembered something. I searched through my pockets. It wasn't long before I pulled out what I was looking for.

The item was a hand held size crystal. It was originally a bright white, but now it has a tint of black in the crystal fragments themselves. I smiled thinking of the memories swimming through my mind.

FLASHBACK

I laid on a hammock Just outside of the tree hut that Zecora called her home. I always wondered why she prefered that tree stump over a real house, but I never questioned her style of housing. It seemed rude to.

If one thing never changed about me it's that I loved resting quietly in a hammock listening to the environment around me. It always put me at peace. The birds chirped happily in the trees enjoying their morning and the few rays of sunshine hit my body in different angles warming it up.

I then heard the soft crunching of dead leaves behind me. I didn't have to get out of my comfort to know who that is. Zecora, my wife, walked up to me.

"What's with you and hammocks? I thought You didn't like nature." she asked.

I smiled. "I just like resting out here. Feeling the warm sunshine on my sk- fur. Nature is just peaceful when you don't think about the dangers of it." I replied back.

There was a silence between us as we listened to the semi-chaotic nature. I cracked an eye open to see Zecora looking around at the canopy of the forest.

"Just curious, what brought You out here?" I asked.

She looked down at me. "I wanted to give you something."

I sat up in the hammock looking her in the eye. "Really, what is it?"

Zecora gave me a small brown pouch. I graciously accept the gift and opened it. My curiosity grew seeing a hand sized clear white crystal with a tint of black in the crystal itself.

"This is the very same crystal I used on Atone to seal him with the combined power of my magic. This crystal keeps him from getting out of control,"

I didn't know what to say, but I was astonished by the little crystal wielding so much power. "Please, take care of it. You have more use for it then I will."

I smiled again nodding in agreement. "Of course. I'll take extra care of it. Just like I will always take care of you."

Zecora smiled back at me as I felt a warm feeling in my gut. Her smile just makes me feel happier about my entire life.....

FLASHBACK ENDS

I placed the crystal back in its pouch again before putting it back in my clothes. Reality returned to me, and so I decided to leave this place behind. I hastily exit the open clearing without a second thought.

Certainty gripped my mind as the pieces of evidence I gathered so far fit fairly together. Someon- or, more accurately, somepony wanted all traces of my existence gone...

And they will have hell to pay.

Atone's POV

I had to admire my counterpart for one thing, and that is his ability to tolerate bullshit. I so much don't have that gift. It didn't matter though. I was finally free from that aweful cold endless void. It made me almost glad to exist again.

That was beside the point though, I have a lot of shit to catch up with now, and it will only get worse if I don't do anything. I walked through Shadow's brain organizing a few things into place when I felt a dark presence return.

My spine almost visibly shook in my body at the thing that was behind me. I turned around to meet the last person I ever wanted to meet....

It was the entity: Darkness itself.

Confused? Don't be. Shadow and I are just the physical vessel for it. Nothing more. We are the only being capable of doing so too. It was even prophesied. Putting that aside, I didn't dare show fear toward it. No, I won't give this piece of shit the satisfaction.

I gave a nasty glare at the entity before hmphing. "Is that the best you can do? You know that's child's play for a being like me."

The entity gave a toothy grin at my disobedience before slightly chuckling. "Of course. I should have realized that a being like yourself could tolerate my presence with ease. It doesn't make you invincible though. Know your limits, Atone."

I didn't want to admit it, but the entity of Darkness was the most terrifying being I have ever encountered. Not even the Devil paled in comparison. However, I kept up my bravado as irritation appeared on my features.

"What the hell do you want, Darkness? We are kind of in a predicament with all of the new chaos Shadow is dealing with."

Darkness' playful expression immediately vaporized and was instead placed with a glare. "Since You put it like that, I'll just give you the short version.
Two different types of magics are mixing in one realm at once."

"What's so bad about that?"

He rolled his eyes. "Simple minded immortals. It's bad because different magics are not meant to coexist in one realm. It would tear space, time,
and reality apart."

"So basically having two different magics in one realm is really bad....... Then how do you stop a realm from not existing anymore!"

Darkness' playful expression returned. "That's a really good question. Unfortunately,
I'm not the one who solves physical creation shit. That job falls on your shoulders." It said walking away.

"Wait." I called out.

It stopped walking.

"Can you at least tell me a direction to go to?" I asked my irritation fading a bit away.

The entity stayed quiet for a moment. "You'll find out for yourself. Don't rush it. You'll do fine." It walked a bit further before pausing again. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention. That's not the only problem coming your way. Watch his back, Atone. Because no one else will give a damn."

Darkness vaporized into nothingness while I just stood their like an idiot. What the hell was he even referring to anyway?

Chapter 2: "Half Truth, Half Reality" (Edited)

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I didn't know where to start off now. I knew I was not safe in Ponyvile anymore judging by somepony murdering my wife, so staying in town is out of the question. But that's not what is leading me to Ponyvile to begin with. It's the fact that I sense a familiar magic around in this town. Matter of fact, I believe it's the same magic that helped my recovery.

I finally was able to get through the Everfree forest approaching the woods edge. Strangely, the magic intensified in volume.

"That doesn't feel right at all."

My pace hastened as I break through the neck of the woods. My run turns into a fast jog as I approach the town. I jogged by Fluttershy's cottage getting fond memories floating in my mind. It instantly drifted to the advanced magical torch in the crystal tunnel.

"Obviously, some things have changed. I might need to temporarily be someone else."

Then I remembered something very important. My magic didn't work in this world..... Or did it. I thought up a spell from my home world and with a snap of my fingers a zap apple appeared in my left hand, but just as quickly it vanished in thin air.

I sighed. "Well, at least it somewhat works. I'll just have to improvise."

I looked around for anything to cover myself with. Before I knew what was coming, I spot some rags cruelly discard into the trash in a nearby alleyway. The alleyway was designed just enough to prevent anypony from noticing me, or peering over my shoulder! Silently, I praised my slim amounts of luck before I grabbed the rags pulling a needle and thread from my hammer space swiftly getting to work.

The damn disguise took two hours of my life. Sure, nopony saw me, but I had to sit there and cross threads for two hours straight. It's a pain even for me. Anyway, I put on the makeshift jacket flipping the hood. I had on a relatively clever disguise. I walked in with little more trouble.

Ponyvile for the most part looked the same from my last experience.... Well, at least from the outside and construction perspective. Military technology however is a different story. The guards that were posted here have new shiny gray armor on their body which gave the clue it was some sort of steel material. Weapons in hand before were flimsy wooden handle spears, but now they're new standard issue are swords.... Which was only slightly better from their other choice. Mostly because they can effectively cut somepony down in close combat; that's if they properly know how to use it of course. I didn't pay the guards much mind though, so they were never bothered of my presence.

The source of the familiar magic in this town caused my fur to stand on edge. I walk down the road to my destination. Hopefully, it's nothing that will try to kill Equis, right?

My thoughts scattered when I heard a startled yelp. I manage to recompose myself just in time to save the mare from falling to the ground. When our eyes met I couldn't believe who it was.

Twilight Sparkle stared into my eyes for the longest time. I broke the silence by helping her to her feet, still saying nothing. Twilight seemed to be in a variety of emotions: from anger to confusion.

"You are alive.... But why did you come back now of all times?" she asked with a malice undertone.

I matched my own confusion with hers. "What do you mean, Twilight? I was trying to resupply my magic reserves."

Twilight looked ready to explode right there. "So you mean to tell me that it took five years to fill up your innate magic reserves?! Magic does not work like that. You should have been fully recovered in a week, yet you still didn't recover spiritually-"

The rest was muffled under my internal thought. I've been gone for five years and this world already looked a lot different on my first day existing in this new world. "-Now we are on the verge of war because of your battle with Hades!"

Wait, what? "Wait a minute, is Equestria seriously going into war?" I asked.

Twilight glared at me with hostile intent, but it somewhat vanished into hiding again. "We saw the whole thing, remember? Before you passed out, an event where the entire planet was effected by your initial battle with Hades. Due to two different magical powers colliding on Equis, it caused the physics to change slightly. Scientists couldn't figure out the phenomena until a year after the Worldquake happened. Whatever you did to Hades, his massive magical energy is radiating throughout the planet's mantle now. This is creating a sort of magical phenomenon on a very large scale. Now these cracks of reality keep on forming-"

"You mean a Spacetime Crack."

Twilight blinked owlishly at me. "You know what they are?"

I sighed heavily. "Twilight, look. I'm sorry for what has happened to Equis. It was caught in the cross fire of something that should have never existed here. But I promise you this, I will make sure that Equis and its inhabitants will stay safe from harms way, even if it kills me. If it's one thing that I keep is that I make sure to keep my word."

Twilight grew silent. ".....To start off your question, I have heard of these 'cracks in reality' before," I broke from the conversation looking at my surroundings carefully. "I can't talk here with you. I think it would be best if we carry the topic indoors."

Twilight's expression was strangely unreadable before a soft smile crossed her muzzle.

"Alright. But you owe me a big explanation for how you know about these 'Spacetime Cracks' you dub them." she said.

I smirked. "Sure thing. Your place?"

And with that we left to The Golden Oak Library. Although, I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy of her current behavior...

It didn't take long for us to get inside the library into her private reading quarters. I kind of wondered how and why this room even existed. I looked at Twilight before taking a seat down. She followed suit. I then noticed some key details I neglected to notice before: she has a pair of lavender wings.

"Since when did she became an alicorn!"

Thoughts aside, I took a deep breath to explain myself. "There is not much about the Spacetime Cracks I know about, but I do know that they are simple constructs made out of really unstable energy, concentrated into one area at once. It happened quite often on the planet I came from."

She remained collected. "So these cracks in reality called 'Spacetime Cracks' are really nothing about a result of concentrated magic?"

"Well, yes and no. The Spacetime Cracks are......gate ways to different realities."

Her confusion seem to grow under my answer then it hit her. "So it's like time travelling."

I chuckled at her comment. "No, much more than that. Time travelling is an entirely different topic. What I'm getting at is that they are kind of like......holes in current reality to different places. Kind of like short teleportation, however, there is one catch," she stared at me intently. "They tend to fade in and out of existence randomly. My guess is you sent ponies into the portal?"

"Prin- Celestia personally sent some ponies into the cracks to investigate what is in them." she said.

My face hardened in thought. "Hopefully they had the correct blood type make-up. I would hate to have some ponies exploding into a pile of bloody gore in the middle of transferring."

"I see. Hopefully they came back, right?" I asked carefully.

Twilight didn't seem pleased with my question. "To be honest, Nopony knows what happened to them. They never came back on the date they were due to come back."

My mind organized the information I received before smiling. "I'm sure they are fine."

"Yeeeah, I bet that they had died a long time ago."

"Why did you come into Ponyvile covered in rags anyway?" Twilight asked.

"I wasn't sure how I would be presented or what time it was. There is no such thing as being overly cautious anyway." I said.

"Well, then I'll just tell Celestia that-"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Twilight." I interrupted her.

She stared back at me in mild surprise. "And why not? You don't have anything to hide, right?"

"It's not that..... I just have my own reasons for not agreeing with you. Just for right now keep me and our interaction a secret," Twilight was awfully silent right now. "Please, I need to do something first before the world can be ready for me again."

"........You have a month before I announce this news to the public." She said finally.

Perfect for me though. I smiled slightly. "Thank you, you won't regret it."

And with that I took my leave from the library wearing my 'cloak' once more.

I followed the field of the familiar magic making many corners while I looked at the ponies around me. They didn't even seen to notice me which is perfectly fine. The signature of magical energy reached its peak in the middle of the town, so I followed it.

I was surprised to say the least seeing one of the biggest Spacetime Cracks in my lifetime. From my experience, the bigger the crack, the bigger and more powerful the reality is. Now, I know that makes no sense, but it has always proved to be true. I scanned the surrounding area of the crack to detect a fairly large amount of Royal Solar Guard soldiers, twenty two in all.

My surprise settled on annoyance as I rethought my plan. However, that was brought to a stop when I felt some sort of barrier fall upon the area. Not long after, a lengthy figure pops into existence swiftly turning the nearest guard into a bloody red stain on the ground. The momentarily startled guards gave the figure time to create sharp points of solid green energy hurled into ten more guards. Some didn't instantly die from being impaled. The remaining ten others regained themselves charging at the figure with there swords unsheathed. It seemed like a toothy grin revealed itself under the darkness as a long sword of his own popped into his hands. A mystical green aura surround it as it easily sliced through the first couple of guards.

I wasted no time in materializing Apocalypse charging at the figure myself. Just as I was about to come in contact, it seemed to somersault right over the guard he was previously fighting, avoiding my strike.

The figure seemed to grow bored of the remaining guards quickly. The guards had no more time left as they suddenly started melting into dying screams and piles of liquidated flesh and metal.

My face scrunched up in disgust. This guy had talent in magic and the blade. That much credit I'll give him, or her.

There was a brief pause in the atmosphere before the figure looked back at me. I could only see the yellow of its eyes revealing some type of madness that seem to consume the figure. The figure grinned before making a mad dash toward the Spacetime Crack. He was too quick for me to handicap him as he was absorbed into the crack.

"Damn it!"

The magic barrier put up a few moments ago began to flicker.
Questions floated in my head as I looked back at the destruction the figure caused. Whatever it was, I was not going to just simply let it roam into another reality. So without much further thought, I dive straight into the Spacetime Crack after the figure.

Just like old times.

Nightmare's POV

Nobles. The bane of my new existence. I simply have nothing more than pure hatred for their whiny pampered plots. I sometimes wonder how the royal sisters even handle such ponies. Nevertheless, they manage while I end up just wanting to punch their perfect teeth in.

I have no room to complain though, this year the royal sisters somehow was about to get the noble ponies to go with the new policy of upgrading the military. I would be happier if I didn't feel like a complete stranger on the throne.

Don't get me wrong, Luna talks to me personally, but I have literally no purpose in the throne room or power itself. Which leads me to my current life now: socializing with nobles and the Royal Sisters. Especially for meetings such as this one going on now.

I wasn't really paying to much detail into the meeting. It wasn't my job anyways to be appointed here. Why am I here then? My guess is for somepony to talk to, like Luna.

That didn't prevent me from getting bored in these meetings. So I decided to be adventuous and wondered through the halls of the castle this time. By now I knew every crack and cranny of the palace, but it was always nice to see the hard work and design put into the entire palace.

Nightmare...

My hooves froze in place at that voice in my head staring wide eyed in front of me. I looked around to see where the voice came from, but no sign of a pony could be found. I then got a glimpse of some form of a shadow near the closest hallway intersection. My curiosity overrode my rational side as I ran after the shadow. It just so happened to completely disappear around the corner before I was a second away from the intersection.

By the time I was able to see the other hallway the shadow seemed to disappear from sight. It was true until I spot a particular door to be open. I walked up to the open door to get better details.

The steel door was obviously meant to keep anything from coming inside, yet there was no sign of it being pried forcefully open. Instead, it looked in peak condition... And it was unlocked.

My nerves froze up getting a sudden chill crawling up my spine. There have been many rumors of these steel doors in the castle. All maids and servants of the palace tend to avoid these doors. Why? Simply because of one rumor. The myth states that if you enter the doors or even get caught touching one of them, then you would be immediately executed without reason or an explanation.

Now, these are just rumors, but ponies still took them quite seriously. Why wouldn't they? Ponies don't question the Princesses in any right. Not out of fear, but out of respect for their positions and power.

Nonetheless, I have no doubt if the rumors were true I would be immediately executed even though I am alicorn in status. I steal my nerves before entering into the dark hall below. I used my magic to silently close the steel door behind me.

Illumination wasn't a problem thanks to the everfire torches burning eternally throughout the tunnel. I picked one up before moving forward. It was awfully quiet down in the tunnel that it was impossible to not hear the soft clipping of my hooves on the stone. My senses didn't like the silence not one bit.

Nightmare.....

The voice was closer and I couldn't help but jump slightly at the sinister voice in my thoughts. Whatever it was it had me where it wanted me. So I searched my surroundings, almost erratically, to find the location of the voice to no avail.

"Show yourself fiend! The Mistress of the Night request you to reveal your true colors!" My response only echoed off the walls, but nothing more. I was completely frustrated at this point and wanted to go back to the safety of the Canterlot Castle hallways.

A scream of pure agony answered my call as I visibly recoiled in shock. I had not expected to hear such a cry from any pony... Maybe that shadow met its match....

I reguardless made my way through the tunnel to pinpoint the source of the cry. Making my way though the tunnel also somehow caused the temperature to rise with it. I barely noticed the difference however as I finally made it to the source, in a small room area. The screaming continued on even as I peeked around the corner through the open doorway.

My eyes widen in complete and utter shock and horror. My mind tried to make better sense of the scene only for its logic to fail.

The room was covered in torture tools with a giant furnace on the left side of it. In the middle of the room, however bound by her wrists, magic inhibator, and ankles in chains was Queen Chrysalis. Although, she did not seem to be in a healthy state, and have the attitude of a cold calculating ruler. That was her in just under six years ago. Now, she is nothing but a broken changling that was molded from tears pain and despair.

The mare that did the wicked deeds to the former bug queen was a different story altogether. The torturer has a cool blue coat with a simple pink mane. I couldn't determine anything beyond that with the stuff she wore, but I could tell the monster was taking pleasure in hurting the former queen.

Tear stained streaks had formed an almost permanent mark on Chrysalis cheeks. I could even tell the torture methods the torturer used has been slowly driving her to madness.

"I have to do something. This....torture has been going on for long enough."

My emotional side drove itself more magic into my body as my trusty blade appeared in my hand. It was a simple straight steel katana, but the blade was also my greatest weapon in close combat. I had to make this weapon secretly in order to prevent raising suspicion around for the public or nobles.

I skillfully charged at my intended target easily closing the gap between us before cutting the torturer's head clean off. The body manage to keep itself erected for a moment filling the room with an eerie silence. Not long after, the body toppled over with her respective head lying somewhere closeby. I sheathed my weapon before tending to my first priority: Chrysalis.

She stared at me with wide unfocused eyes as her mouth struggled to comprehend my presence. It caused her to peacefully pass out. I quickly went to work in freeing her from her bonds.

Why am I doing this? She is the evil Chrysalis that threatened to use the entire pony species as nothing but cattle.

Look where she is now. Utterly weakened and broken, yet you call this justice?

My mind was in conflict of all of this. It made no sense. Equestria is not the enemy, right? Why would the ponies do something so evil?

Evil is not born into a pony; they can only choose to be good or evil. Ignorance is the root and stem of all evil.

My inner voice was right with every word... If only Shadow was here... He would know what to do.

I felt a slight pain lingering in the depths of my heart for my friend. When I heard the news of his passing I was grief stricken. I always told myself that at least Shadow didn't die in pain, but it still drove a deep wound in my soul nonetheless...... I owed him my life. If it wasn't for his bravery and kindness I would still be in a mental institution. He saved my life, so I guess saving Chrysalis will make us even.

Once I took off all the chains, I took Chrysalis over my shoulder and carried her out of the room back into the tunnel I originally came from. I still needed to find a way out....

A deep chuckle echoed off the tunnel walls. I turned my head to the side to the strange new presence in the tunnel. I immediately realized that the same shadowy figure from before was standing in the shade of the torches naturally provided light. Its pearl white teeth stared down at me. The only thing that I could distinctly recognize through the shading was its crystalline red eyes.

"It seems like I found the perfect two hosts I have been looking for." It said licking its lips.

I needed a quick exit so I searched for anything I could find leverage over the strange figure. My horn lit up as a starry mist made itself known into existence. I wrapped the figure in a binding grip before hurling the figure further back into the tunnel path it came from. I wasted no time running slinging Chrysalis over top of me to immediately sprint in the opposite direction. A manical crackle of laughter could be heard echoing through the tunnels behind me.

Chapter 3: [S.Faze] "What The Hell Are Caribou" (Edited)

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The trip to the other side was as I predicted: disorienting. I currently laid face planting myself into the ground that I don't remember doing. Nonetheless, I got up from that embarrassing position turning myself over and decide to take in my new reality.

The first thing I registered was the cool salty breeze in the air. A few trees were here and there, but overall wasn't enough to block out the sunlight.

"That rules out the Everfree Forest."

I looked to my right to find an endless vast space of water and the sound of waves crushing themselves below my hooves confirming my second suspicions. I'm on a coastline. It was probably one of the reasons why I felt incredibly calm at the moment.

Reguardless, I picked myself up off the soft, wet sand. Another thought suddenly came to me. The reason why I went through the spacetime crack. I needed to find that guy that made its way through the crack. Whatever it was.

I walked off the coast into the woods area to search nearby. Nothing came up out of the norm by plain standards. I was slightly annoyed by it all. I couldn't just simply instantly get teleported to civilization. Nope. I had had to go to it. Jumping into the crack seemed more and more not possible the further I got lost in my surroundings. Then I caught a glimpse of a village just out of the edge of my vision.

Real civilization. Well, at least it's a good sign that I'm not on a barren planet. I approached the village for a closer look before I began to notice some drastic changes in this reality.

There was these bipedal elk people that stomped their way through the village's streets like a they own the place. Nothing seem to be wrong with this until I saw what they held with leashes around their necks.

Each elk person had a nude mare firmly secured to each leash. My anger slowly got the best of me, yet I showed no sign of such an emotion. It was too risky since I knew nothing of my surroundings. For all I know, this could be how this universe works. Two of the elk people spot me standing idly in the streets. They approached revealing a pair of sticks with different style of gems jammed on the top. My guess is they're wands of some sort. I didn't particularly care at this point.

They smirked with oozing confidence. "Looks like we missed one of the unicorns in this dump." one of the elk people proclaimed.

Any mare that was currently in ear shot seem to almost simultaneously direct their attention at me and the two approaching elk people.

My muzzle remained neutral as they both lit up their wands. "We don't need anymore stallions, so looks like we found something worth a few body part spares." the other elk person remarked.

An instant later, they froze me solid.

Third Person POV

To the horror of the mares in the Stalaville, the Caribou soldiers froze the silent unicorn for good in one of their wand spells. Nopony gets out of them before they suffocate, unfortunately, so he might as well have died.

Then the ice let out a violent crack noise. A long sliver of a crack running from the top of the frozen unicorn down toward about the middle of the ice surrounding him. The Caribou warriors backed up startled by the visible crack.

"What? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Did the ice just crack?" one of them asked the other Caribou.

The other one shrugged slightly gradually getting just as nervous as the first Caribou. Finally, the ice shattered to millions of fragments on the ground. Everyone currently watching the events unfold stared in shock, some in horror.

The black cutiemarkless unicorn chuckles softly before allowing a wide smile spreading across his facial features. He sighed his expression turning serious once again.

"Funny, I was expecting more of a magical challenge than simple brash ice. Although, I would say any other pony would have died from that spell. How much of a coward can you two be?"

The two Caribou warriors' fury grew as they charge up their wands again only this time the black unicorn vanished before their eyes in an instant.

One of the Caribou cry out in brief agony gurgling on his own blood. A long black blade pierced through his chest. The Caribou, standing beside his pierced brother in arms, could only stare in horror at the sight before him, eyes widen to pinpricks. Fear began to fester in his soul. Another dark chuckle escaped the black pony's muzzle. He still wore the same smile.

"I can smell your fear, little colt." he said.

The air froze like time stopped for a brief moment. The Caribou warrior soiled himself in his hide thong involuntarily. His body didn't move, but he didn't know why his body wouldn't obey him. The blade just as quickly pulled out of his comrade before swiftly taking his precious head from the rest of his body.

The black unicorn scuffed in disgust as he dematerialized his black blade into his hammer space. He sighed before walking forward once more. The mares around him didn't know what to think of this stallion. He proved to be a Caribou killer, but..... at the same time, he didn't seem to be interested in saving the village from King Dainn's rule...

Shadow's POV

I couldn't believe the nerve those elk people have. They think like a pair of mindless stem cells: so easy to read and predictable. I personally can not seem to fathom how they got the upperhand against the Equestrians. At any rate, I needed a clue.

I heard a pair of hoove steps coming my way so I blend myself into the space between two cottages.

"Did you hear that cry?"

"Yeah, that sounded like one of the slaves might have started to rebel against us."

"Fjandinn hestur."

They got out of ear shot after that. My assumptions seemed to be correct for once. It's some sort of outpost.

"Messing with this reality will have to wait. I need to gather more information."

I seemed to blend into the shadows being casted by the cottages as I approached a reassemble tent. I heard some voices and saw shadows of the elk people.

"This must be a gathering place for meetings."

"My humble grace, we should proceed on the next part of the plan. By my calculations, we don't have long before the Solar Guard storm the area to search." a gravelly voiced elk person said. I could tell he was old judging by the outline of his shadow.

"Your majesty, we should move on to conquer the badlands. That seems to be a good place to start. I heard about a good slut of a bug queen that ended up living there." another voice said only it was more youth in age with a hint of a high pitch.

"No, we need to focus on Canterlot! The more we waste our time on conquering outside boundaries, the more other nations are going to realize what is happening!" a different voice exclaimed. This time more of like a father strictly talking down his child.

The lead elk person sighed. "Relax my brothers, everything is going according to plan. All we need to do is shift some of the army to invade the Crystal Empire. Once that is conquered then it would make our world conquering all the more easier." he said. The voice was deep, calm and overall wise, but I could feel his intentions were not out of pure totalitarian impulse. It was like watching someone play chess from afar distance, and you know who is most likely going to win.

I scanned the group of elk people in my magic to be shocked of the results. These elk people were completely different than the two warrior weaklings I met moments before. They had serious magic on their side that was almost alicorn status strong. If they fight the alicorn sisters they have a high probability of winning with just raw power.

"How could they acquire that much power anyway? Their race does some sort of rune magic, but magic like this requires a large amount of sacrificing..... I wonder."

I knew what I needed to do now. My horn lit up as I vanished in thin air. But not before I memorized their scents.

I ended up reappearing at the sight where I killed the two warriors. I was coming around the corner to find the corpses when a couple warriors, that passed me earlier, were currently strangling a mare nearby. My presence startled them releasing the poor mare from their grip.

"What the- A unicorn stallion?..... Well-"

I didn't allow him to finish his sentence as I grabbed him by the throat at lightning speed wasting no more time in crashing his thyroid and trachea. I then dropped him on the ground watching him trying to breathe spasming relentlessly.

The other elk warrior's eyes widen in fear as a grin spread across my face. I loved the way he radiate fear like that. It made me almost reconsider becoming evil again....

I mentally shook that thought out of my head as I approached the other warrior. He stumbled on to the ground back crawling away from me. "G-G-Get away from me, y-you monster!" he called out.

I swore I saw in my peripheral vision many of the mares smirk sinisterly down on their captive. However, I held no remorse in my lifeless cold stare.

He shook involuntarily as I continued by grabbing a fist full of his chest fur.

"Have...mercy..." He whimpered with hints of pain lingering.

"Pathetic creatures like you make me wish there was still a realm devoted to sending creatures like you to the mind flayers," My grin widen further. "Unfortunately, that seems not possible right at the moment. Now for the next best thing."

My other hand morphed into a claw easily sinking itself into his chest while the elk person's eyes bulge. In another clean yank I took out his heart from his chest causing blood to spray everywhere, especially on my clothes. I dropped the now dead elk person's corpse dishonorably on the ground before discarding his heart to the same fate as well. It wasn't even worth eating his heart.

My attention focused back to the mare slaves. Some stared with the familiar wide eyed expressions while the others didn't look as impressed. One of my hands lit up in my magic causing the chains that held them there to break from the walls; along with destroying the collars around their necks.

Some of the mares immediately began seeing if they can free others while the rest stay in their current position to cry in happiness. It didn't matter too much to me though. I barely knew the mares to begin with and I'll probably forget about them just as quickly.

I was prepared to continue my original train of thought when someone stopped me with a hand that grabbed my thigh. It succeed in drawing my attention as I turned around to face the brave mare. She seemed to be no older than in her twenties, but I could tell she was very greatful for my 'heroic' actions.

"Wait, you never told us your name, kind stallion." She said softly. A small smile spread across my face as I shook my head resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

"Ponies and cliches seem to always be common concept in every universe."

"Shadow Faze." That was all I needed to say as I escaped the poor mare's grip.

I bent down over the corpse of the dead warriors before picking up their special wands in hand. The other two, that were my most recent kills, had poorly made short swords at their disposal. My hand lit up in my magic once more scanning the wands they wield. A memory flashed before eyes seconds later.

FLASHBACK

My home planet never had the most beautiful scenic areas in the universe, but it was always considered one of the dangerous to live on. It had some of the most vicious animals to ever exist in the universes which, consequently, made our people into one of the greatest adapters. All except for the bizarre weather that plagues the entire planet every so often. In this case, a huge lightning storm had came out of no where forcing me to take shelter in a nearby cave. The lightning strikes were bad enough to cause mini tremors through the earth.

Reguardless, I ignored the storm, deciding since I was going to be here a while, to explore the cave system while I'm in here. I walked deeper into the cave enterance snapping my fingers to spontaneously create a small white ball of fire above my head. It was bright enough to outline the inside of the cave, so I continued forward.

It was mostly just a normal cave and only ran a mile deep into the hill it ingrained itself into. I sighed in disappointment about to turn around when something caught my eye.

My focus sharpened brushing some of the loose rocks, caused by erosion and time, away before my eyes widen in surprise. I saw roughly drawn one of the ancient symbols used during the Age of Prosperity. I materialized a real brush and small chiseler digging my way carefully through tender rock.

A half an hour of carefully sculpting allowed me to get a bigger picture of the runes in the caves walls. I stared in amazement at the major discovery.

"I did it! I finally found an ancient tablet before the Great History Purge!"

My excitement died down a bit as I realized the tablet itself was too big and well embedded into the cave wall to be simply removed. So I pulled out my notepad to begin my sketching. Even though I had no idea what these runes mean, I am very sure they are some sort of spell.

Suddenly, the thunder rolled over with the loudest bang yet sending a sharp tremor through the ground. At that moment, I lost my balance for a second before I looked up beginning to see that the tunnel was about to collapse. I panicked looking at the ancient tablet again.

"Shit! Of course my bad luck had it out for me! I need to get out of here."

I scrambled to my feet dashing for the exit just in time to avoid the total collapse of the entire cave network. On the bright side, the lightning storm had quickly ended after that last strike.

My sigh was made known as I stared down at my notes of what I got lucky to sketch down. I grumbled angrily at myself sending the notepad to my hammer space...

FLASHBACK ENDS

I pulled the same notepad from long ago out of my hammer space to review the contents inside. I analyzed the runes edged into the wand before verifying the runes with my notes. The result was very surprising. The two written runes were too similar to be passed off as coincidence. I felt my blood boiled over at the thought of such vulgar creatures defiling these ancient spells to there own perverse ways. Obviously, they are tampering with a magic very similar to my universe's ancient magic. The question is, again: how did they obtain such powerful magic?

I collected one of the wands and my notes sending them into my hammer space once more. My instincts tingled automatically. I dashed to the right just before an explosion erupted where I once stood. I searched critically for the source of the explosion only to find out that it was magic related.

"Great, somebody is out to kill me now."

My stealth trend also ended as I heard everyone in the outpost getting riled up by the explosions. I groaned in annoyance. Another day, another foe.

Third Person POv

The Caribou warriors grabbed their swords and carried the remaining slaves that they captured into magically enhanced cages to prevent the slaves from escaping. Most of the Caribou were thoroughly peeved by the sudden alarm. Many didn't even know why the watch tower was lit to begin with, but they have an obligation to King Dainn to help conquer the pitiful Equestria into its true glory.

They stormed out releasing their own varying battle cries as they charged through the streets in search of these imposters. The sound of battle cries was soon replaced with some Caribou flying into the air shred to pieces. The Caribou then had focus their attention solely on one being. A black unicorn. He was a couple inches shorter than the average unicorn (6' 4") or a common Caribou warrior (6' 7"), but that didn't prevent the confident grin from leaving his muzzle.

The Caribou stared down at him amused, some even laughed at his size. "Wow, what a tiny stallion. I didn't think they could get any smaller." one random Caribou jeered.

The black unicorn's unwavering grin only slightly strained itself, however, his eyes told a different story altogether. It promised the cold embrace of death. He materialized Apocalypse in front of the Caribou. The stallion swiped his great sword diagonally forward faster than they could physically react. There was a brief pause before the front line suddenly became completely sliced in half, blood and gore went everywhere.

There was a long silence that rang through the street as the black unicorn seemed to be getting a kick out of the Caribou's shock. "Lesson one, carfaren, don't underestimate an enemy shorter than you. They would always have an agility advantage over you. But you should already know that tidbit." he said.

"Kill him!" one of the Caribou exclaimed ignoring his remark. The rest of the Caribou warriors charged forward to cut the black stallion down to size. However, they were not able to even give the unicorn a single scratch on him. Their unorganized attacks only strengthened the unicorn's ability in slicing more Caribou into piles of bloody meat and bone.

He smiled maniacally at the seven Caribou surrounding him before twirling his body around them like a circular saw cutting through their abdomens perfectly in half. They fell to the ground as the wizards of the Caribou draw their wands. Each one had a yellowish glow to them.

The stallion followed suit, allowing Apocalypse to produce a black fog to roll off it. The Caribou wizards launched their attack moments later straight toward the black unicorn. It combines itself together about to hit the stallion when his great sword just simply absorbed it.

"Now that I know it is made up of the same magic as my own," He started to say as the blade also glowed an erie black color. "I can use it to fuel my magic supplies."

The black stallion grinned wider whipping his blade to the side is the blade bend to the force he gave it. The blade morphed itself to the force causing it to stretch into a thinner, longer shape like a whip. The wizards realized too late before the morphed blade easily sliced through their necks like a whiplash.

The black unicorn spun the blade again slashing through the remainer of the Caribou into bloody ribbons. It was almost glorious seeing the pain spread across their faces. This place.....or reality..... He could really let loose his true skill... even if it was only for a fraction of a second.

Shadow's POV

Eventually, there was nothing left of the poor bastards. I looked to my right seeing that the remaining slaves were still cluelessly wondering around. "Follow me if you wish to live." I said.

Not long after, the pony prisoners followed my lead. I noticed a dock as I pointed a direction to them. Then I realized that the docks were under attack... by another force. It was definitely more technology advanced than I have seen on any other battleship. It had headcanons to steam powered rotators to a metal haul. No wind required!

Anyway, I saw on the ground how the crew members were all sorts of different races fighting against the elk people. I stopped one of the former slaves to ask her a question.

"What are those.....brown earth ponies, if you don't mind telling me?" I asked.

"They're Caribou, good sir." She said delighted that her hero asked her specifically.

"Thank you."

"Caribou? Seriously?! That's a synonym to the word 'elk'."

My little tamper aside, I allowed her to get back in the line as the crew seemed to have finished the remaining of the 'Caribou'. I didn't have any room to breathe before seeing, most likely the leader of the group, an electric blue pegasus covered in different shades of blue armor approach the former slaves.

It puzzled me slightly why he wore such armor, but I knew that I couldn't be seen in the immediate area. Not until I figure out who I'm truely looking for in this reality. I quickly put on a cloak to cover myself just as the blue armored pegasus locked eyes with me.

"Halt! Who are you!" he shouted at me.

I didn't give him much more thought as I blended with the crowd of former slaves and, eventually, silently teleported out of sight.

Third Person

"Sorry Captain. We couldn't find him." Sharla, the Griffin assassin, reported to Shocker Blitz.

Something didn't seem right with him though. It was way too easy of an extraction mission for the Caribou to be slacking off, unless-

Another of one his crew members rushed over to Shocker. "Captain! You got to see this!"

Shocker Blitz followed him to a section of the village seeing Caribou body parts and blood everywhere, and what was the most disturbing part of the blood bath was the terror plastered on each of their faces. "Did any of the crew members do this?" I asked.

"No sir, we believe the cloaked stallion did so before we were able to get here, sir. Whatever he was, he is dangerous."

Captain Shocker paused as a slight chill went up his spine, and it had nothing to do with the temperature. "Well, we have refugees to secure and bring back to Equestria. Forget about the guy." Shocker replied returning back to the War Hammer to get an accurate count of the refugees.

We were ready to sail again after a few moments of loading the 'passengers' up.

Shadow's POV

I watched on the cliff face seeing the technological advanced battleship sail off into the vast sea once more. Hopefully the former slaves would find peace with themselves.

Suddenly, I didn't feel like I was alone anymore. My reflexes saved me as a looked moments later to find that I had moved out of the way from meeting a sword strike from behind. It had took out a third of the cliff side in one single strike downward.

From the sword I trailed up to find the figure that made me decide my fate just a few hours ago. The spirit grinned manically while a chuckle escaped his lips.

"It's been way too long, Shadow Faze." He said his amusement turned immediately to burning rage.

Chapter 4: [N. Moon] "Into The Crystal Labyrinth." (Edited)

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Running.

That's all I have been doing for the past multiple hours. Running. Hiding. Listening. Repeat.

I needed to find a safe place from the....thing. I only saw it briefly, but it was an experience I could have lived without. Whatever that thing was it was definitely not equine in any nature. Could it be a deformed foal, perhaps. If so, then something bad must have happened to the colt.

Reguardless, I ran from it. I needed a safe house to recover. Luckily, I spotted a crack in the crystal walls just big enough to fit me inside. I immediately took it as I brought Chrysalis with me inside. The inside of the crack was more spacious then it seemed. It could have fit five alicorns nicely and have a little more breathing room to spare. I didn't have time to concentrate on the smaller details hearing the faint sounds of hooves clopping on the pavement.

My heart skipped a beat; eyes widening in growing fear. Here he comes.

A moment passed as the hoof steps gradually grew louder. I pressed myself and the unconscious Chrysalis away from the view of the crack in the wall. I could feel his presence pierce down on me, but I didn't dare allow myself to get caught by this thing. His presence drew itself closer scanning inside of the crack for the slightest of indications of my presence.

Another moment hung in the air before the being retracted its head from the crack and moved forward into the seemingly endless crystal tunnels. A relieved breath escaped me.

The adrenaline rush running inside me eventually faded away. I finally notice the entire inside of the crack. It reminded me of a small area or crevice that would be inside of a cave system. Damp, cold and dark.

I then heard a soft groan beside me. It brought back my attention, realizing that it was Chrysalis. She stirred herself awake momentarily searching her surroundings. Her gaze paused on me realizing who I was.

I covered her mouth before she could scream trying my best to tell her to keep her voice down. She eventually calmed down to gather up her bearings before I removed my hand from her muzzle.

"You are Princess Luna, right? Are you going to inflicted pain on me now?" Chrysalis asked still suspicious of me.

I looked at her raising my eyebrow slightly. "I was, but now I am solely Nightmare Moon. And no, I won't hurt you."

I swore I could hear a cave cricket in the distance. Chrysalis could only just stare at me in disbelief.

"That's not right. From what I remember, Nightmare Moon is Luna. Unless-" Her gears in her head spun thinking critically. "Did Shadow Faze have something to do with....you?"

"Yeah, kind of. But that's not important right at the moment. I found you down here below in the Canterlot dungeons.... being tortured." I finished.

Chrysalis just laid there not saying a word. She weakly shrugged. "I did go too far on the invasion..... But Celestia needed to be stopped." Chrysalis said finally..

"What do you mean?" I asked. "I don't remember Celestia doing anything with Changlings... I didn't know they existed until you invaded Canterlot."

A cruel, but also, sad smile replaced Chrysalis' pained expression before she chuckled. "Then let me educate you about your 'sister'," Chrysalis said sitting up straighter in the crevice room.

I didn't fully trust the bug queen, but I knew Celestia was hiding something from all of us. That was definitely a viable fact. I could tell in her eyes, when Celestia and I met again, that she was not who she said she was.

"Just after she banished you and her sister to the moon, she had a meeting with all of the world leaders at the time. It was a very strained time where nearby nations warred with each other constantly. Many of the nations capitalized on how weak Equestria had become. They were at the verge of wiping the country off the map. At the next meeting, she changed.... Celestia threatened world domination if the other countries didn't back off. She also capitalized on how she has full control of both the sun and moon. Ever since then the other countries haven't tried anything, but..... It didn't stop there."

I could only stare at her in silence as Chrysalis continued explaining.

"I should know, I saw it myself. Two hundred years later, she sent some of her Royal Guard members to 'scout' the area. They ended up contaminating our water sources. Many lings died because of Celestia. And this report came two days after the damage had already been done." She said full of venom toward the alicorn.

Many more questions arose in my head. It didn't make much sense why Celestia would attack the Changlings. "I'm...sorry to hear that. I'm not sure myself why Celestia would do such a terrible thing... I'll ask her myself."

Chrysalis grew quiet after my reply. Suddenly, I realized how cold the air felt. It was like the temperature abruptly stopped twenty extra degrees. I dared myself and peaked through the crack looking through the lit crystal tunnels. I then noticed something particularly strange about the whiteish crystals throughout the tunnels. Another set of colored crystals clashed with the whiteish crystals, but these new crystal shapes were a deep red. And the weirdest part was the red crystalizing walls were slowly growing further along the untainted walls, destroying any white crystals in its way to make more of itself. It was like the red crystals were alive.

"Chrysalis, we need to move. Now." I said with urgency.

Chrysalis was about to question my sudden change in moods when I hoisted her up on to my shoulder and ran back through the tunnels.

"Hey! Where are we going, Nightmare?" she asked not getting my quickened pace.

"Something is... in these tunnels. I don't know what it is, but I saw a colt chase me down to that crevice in the wall. I lost him, but I have a feeling he has something to do with the red crystal consuming the walls."

A chuckle echoed itself throughout the crystal tunnels. Both of our breaths somehow simultaneously stopped. Why did I fear that voice so much? I didn't fear Shadow when we first met, but this voice.... Maybe it's because the chuckle sound like the purest of all evils.

There you are, Nightmare....

I froze in place hearing my name being spoke by the creature. Chrysalis looked back at me with a concerned expression before getting herself off of me.

"I can walk on my own." She said.

I then heard hoof steps again approach me. "He's coming this way." I said.

I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible, but Chrysalis stopped me staring me down sternly. "Wait. We need to know what we are up against. We can't run forever anyway."

She made a good point, but that didn't help my primal instincts to calm down in the slightest. We didn't have to wait very long. The colt in question made himself visible in the light provided. I winced at his current state while Chrysalis gasped in shocked horror.

The colt obviously had a light green fur coat before the seemingly random insertions of the strange red crystal, just like on the crystal walls. He has a blue mane and piercing, crystal red eyes that stared intensely our way. One of his hands, covered completely in the red crystal, had deformed itself into a claw appendage. Half of his head was also covered in the red crystal, making him look like an almost crystallized looking zombie than anything else. Lastly, his teeth were not flat like a normal pony's teeth structure; they were sharpened roughly into points to tear into meat. It was coded in dried blood from previous invaders that dared to challenge him.

The colt seem to be amused by our reactions slowly walking closer.

"To think that I found two powerful beings down in these crystal tunnels is a blue moon for sure." The colt mumbled to himself.

"What do you want, colt. We're not here for your fun and games. How do you know Nightmare Moon by name?" Chrysalis asked.

The colt paused his approach thinking thoughtfully for a moment. "Hmmm, well, I do remember her being mentioned by the guards more than once..... I can also smell....a familiar scent on her....Shadow's scent." he said slowly making a face full of rage and promise of intense pain.

Nightmare's eyes widen in shock. That wasn't possible even by equine standards, an equine's scent lasts for about a day and a half. Which means his scent should have died off a long time ago. Besides, Shadow is dead, right?

"You have the wrong mare. He is no longer with us." I said.

His enraged expression turned stoic for a moment. Not long after, a face of great pleasure spread across his features chuckling like he was tickled by the information. "Well, that was unexpected. I didn't think he could die. I still require your bodies though. I need a good stable supply of energy after all." He continued his approach as Chrysalis and I now start taking steps back.

"Now that he's gone, regaining my true form will be easier than ever before." A dark undertone present in his voice.

That's when we realized how screwed we were. My horn lit up automatically using my magic to grab him to throw him away from us, but the magic dissipate against his body as soon as I touched him with said magic. My eyes widened in shock and fear slowly creeping closer at my futile attempt to distract him.

Chrysalis didn't say anything, but smiled in an unsettling way. "I would suggest you rephrase your comment, corpse." she said in a cold tone.

Before the colt could react, a piece of the crystal wall fell on top of him. We quickly sprinted in the opposite direction away from him. We could hear the colt shouting curse words in anger behind us.

Chrysalis and I didn't stop until we lost him once again through the crystal tunnels. I briefly leaned on the crystal wall to catch my breath again only glancing to my right to see Chrysalis doing the same.

"That was a little bit too close..." I commented.

Chrysalis didn't answer my remark right away. "We wouldn't have made it out alive if you hadn't distracted him." she said giving a toothy smile; the first true smile I've seen on her.

"Thanks." I replied.

We finally regained our running strength back after a short while. I then noticed an odd light just up ahead. It looked to be coming from the roof of the crystal tunnel.

"What's that light over there?" I asked.

Chrysalis glanced at the direction that I was looking at to see the strange light for herself. "Whatever did this was recent. They somehow drilled themselves out." Chrysalis said.

I then noticed the rubble gathered underneath the hole in the roof. I got closer before looking through the hole only to be temporary blinded by the sunlight, briefly shielding my stinging eyes.

"It appears to head straight up to the surface." I commented.

Chrysalis' ears perk up hopefully, but quickly returns to her previous neutral expression soon after. She takes a peak under the hole for herself only for a frown to appear. "It's too small to just simply fly out. We'll need a different route."

I was slightly disappointed, but almost knew it wasn't going to work anyway. Judging by the distance of the dig, it ran two miles straight up to the surface. A predatory roar could be heard in the direction we ran from as reality set itself back in. We continued our run through the tunnels shortly after.

"How is he able to.... keep on chasing us?" I said feeling like I ran a marathon. "I might have been running for a lot longer judging by how I lost a sense of distance after the final sprint forward."

"I'm not sure. No colt has..... this much energy. What kind of.... monster has this much ridiculous amount..... of energy?" Chrysalis rhetorically asked.

Both of us were panting heavily against the crystal wall once more, but I could feel a sense of dread set in my very soul. These tunnels seemed endless to the point that every tunnel looked identical to the other one. It was beginning to look pointless trying to find an exit.

My frustration built itself up in my chest with the sense of helplessness. I slammed my fist into the crystal, but instead of hearing a dull thud, the sound of solid concrete, I heard the sound of solid metal. My heart skipped a beat hearing the noise change, my horn lit up.

"What are you-" Chrysalis didn't get to finish before a part of the supposed crystal wall vanished as a steel door replaced the wall. There was a small silence between Chrysalis and me. My horn lit up again. It surrounded the entire steel door before ripping it off its hinges sending it flying behind me.

"Well, that's one way of doing it." Chrysalis said.

I ignored her comment heading deeper into the now open doorway. My horn lit up once more, emitting a soft blue light throughout the room inside. What was inside shocked me.

Chrysalis and I looked around the lit room seeing a few rows of metal dissecting tables. But what mildly disturbed me the most was the blood that coded itself on one particular metal table. I walked over to the bloody table to see something even more strange. A trail of bloody hoof steps marked itself on the floor underneath that same dissecting table.

Chrysalis looked back at me nervously. I continued to scan through the rows of metal tables. Tools were placed throughout the entire room, but I also noticed how some were scattered on the floor too. It didn't take me long to figure out why when I saw a couple corpses laying dead on the floor, covered in said blood. My eyes widened as I stepped backwards instinctively. Chrysalis saw the same thing I did promptly vomiting where she stood. I couldn't blame her though.

"Are you alright?" I asked Chrysalis.

She nodded back at me after she emptied her stomach completely. However, her face turned into fear as she stared behind me.

"What's wrong, Chrysalis?" I asked.

She didn't reply back right away when I felt a claw pierce through my shoulder. I yelped in pain bucking the thing behind me into the furthest wall. I immediately backed closer toward Chrysalis turning myself around to face the intruder, holding my injured shoulder in pain.

Chrysalis restrained herself looking around her surroundings to spot the thing that attacked me. I looked up to see the thing myself only for my fear to grow even more. It was one of the corpses from before.

Getting a better look of the corpse, however, I could see the same red crystal the colt was covered in all along this stallion's arms, torso, and one leg. It even covered his jawline, and piercing crystalline red eyes to match his infected body. Two crysal red claws replacing his previous hands. The corpse wore a tathered standard white scientist lab coat with a pair of broken goggles placed on top of his head.

The stallion kept his creepy grin. "Foolish mares. I am everywhere. You can't out run me," We were about to exit the room when another corpse, the other body earlier found, blocked the only known exit. We were forced back into a wall as the stallion corpse made its way. "You both have no idea what it's like to be me. Always hungry..... So very hungry."

The stallion rambled on, but I soon felt a spike of pain run through my injured shoulder. I yelped again in pain hitting the ground hard. Chrysalis said something, but I couldn't hear her over the ringing in my ears. I felt so tired like my life force was slowly drifting away...

FLASHBACK

I always rested on the edge of the cliff face overlooking Ponyvile. It was one of the only places that attracted me to this spot in the Everfree filled with terrible dangers every corner. It made me rethink of how much I took for granted when I originally thought that the moon and stars were the only things worth preserving.

My ears twitched hearing the sound of grass being stomped on. I turned around to be greeted by Shadow Faze's grin. A soft smile formed on my muzzle at his presence. He sat beside me staring at the clouds. My gaze focused back on the town once more.

There was a relative peaceful pause in the air before Shadow sighed. "What a beautiful sight to behold. I can see why you treasure this specific overview, Nightmare." he said.

I looked at him briefly before focusing my sight on the clouds above. Questions still buzzed in my head. "Shadow, tell me, what was your.... world like? Before you end up on this world." I asked cautiously.

The smile vanished for a brief second before recovering. "Well, I won't say it isn't as equally as beautiful compared to yours. It's just..... dangerous." he replied.

I could tell there was more he wanted to say besides those chosen words, but he refuse to add anything else. "All worlds have their own dangers, don't they?"

"Indeed, every world has it's own perks. However, living there is not recommended. It was truly a dog-eat-dog world, yet, I loved it all the same. I sometimes miss the planet....... It can't be helped anymore." Shadow said trailing off that thought.

I hesitated for a few more moments wanting to ask another burning question in my mind. "What about your own kind? What were they like?"

I could tell Shadow tensed at those words. His eyes harden for a brief minute before it passed like a leaf in the wind. "Well, my people.... were special since the very beginning. I was many things to my people, not anymore. But we were not the only ones...... There were many different beings. There were wars and bloodshed just for the genes that each race or species bore, but I was foolish young ma- stallion. I fought in these wars. Many civilian casualties and death. Experimentations on-" Shadow cut himself off regaining his thoughts before continuing. "All of my people were not all bad. As they say, after every storm, there is a rainbow. Together they made forces greater than anything the universes has ever created."

I leaned in further astonished by his little speech. "What force are you talking about?"

Shadow looked back into my eyes seeing my curiosity. He turned back to looking at the different shaped clouds hanging effortlessly in the blue sky. "The will. Every being has it. Some just don't use it. With it comes a power far stronger than any type of magic made."

"Stronger than magic? What does he mean?"

"I don't understand-"

He smiled tapping my shoulder once before getting up. "It's something that everybeing must learn for themselves when the time comes." He said heading back into the Everfree.

My mind chewed on his words trying to make sense of what he was saying. More importantly, why did he tell me anything at all?

FLASHBACK ENDS

My body ached and burned like a thousand of Celestia's suns lived in my one body. I couldn't move nor see, but I could now hear again. Chrysalis trying her best to call for help, begging to not get taken while I could also sense she was using her remaining magic to defend herself against the thing.

"A fine meal indeed. I can't wait to open-"

The stallion's voice stopped as I heard him roar in fresh pain. My body felt like it revived itself as I opened my eyes.

Third Person

Nightmare picked herself up from her laying down position, but this time a heavenly white aura surrounded her entire body. The red crystal that had infected itself on her shoulder started to crumble away as the heavenly light purged it out. The stallion corpse looked absolutely horrified at the new events before rage filled his heart.

"Damn that stallion. I should have known he would have told them the secret..... No matter.
She does not know how to use it to its full extent."

His eyes flash crimson red briefly as the red crystal wall extended itself out to try and encase Nightmare in itself. However, the mare swiftly sprinted out of its way before grabbing the frightened Chrysalis in her sprint for the exit. Nightmare then glowed brighter as she burst through the other corpse sending it into tons of pieces outward.

The stallion corpse fell over in more pain as his temper grew more out of control. Nightmare wasted no more time exiting the room. She then lit her horn in her magic, subconsciously mixing the mystical white aura with her magic. Chrysalis and her disappeared from the tunnels soon after.

The stallion corpse ran out of the room, too late, only being able to see a blast mark that indicated their departure. The stallion punched one of his red crystal claws into the tunnel wall making a new round imprint of said crystal wall. More of the red crystal spread through the white crystal while the stallion bellowed in anger. His roars minimized to a soft chuckle as he sat down on the cold hard crystal floor.

"No matter, I still have plenty of food at my disposal. However, I need to stamp out that Nightmare Moon. Shadow Faze taught her too much. I'll just have to incinerate her remains once I kill her."

The stallion corpse without another word walked off back into the endless amounts of crystal tunnels.

Chapter 5: [S. Faze] "Gods Are Killable"

View Online

I stared into those yellow psychotic eyes that showed just how truely far off the deep end he is. Discord, the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony, is an entirely new version of the proud jokester he once was. His most noticeable differences is a five scarred gashes that went over his left eye, making it look like a sick battle wound. This new look along with strange black runes on parts of his body only confused me, but I readied Apocalypse all the same.

"Discord. So you were the one to jump through the Spacetime Crack..." I said trailing off.

He smiled maniacally before snapping his fingers. Nothing happened though. I scanned the area in confusion before looking up above me.

"Ah shit!"

I raised my blade to protect myself as a meteor struck where I stood causing the entire cliff face to crumble into a huge crater.

However, the shield I casted ahead of time saved me from the more severe wounds. I waited for the debris to settle before escaping out of the new crater Discord's meteor made. I looked for Discord again only to find out he moved somewhere else.

I heard his infamous laughter seconds later that seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.

"Oh, how I missed causing you pain, Shadow.~ You've seem to forget who I am. I have been looking for you all over reality in every plane of existence imaginable for a rematch! And I come back to my home reality only to find out you were simply hiding... biding your time in solitude in a state that no one could hurt you in," Discord said coming back into existence circulating around me like a wolf examining his prey. "I'm glad you decided to follow me into the next world. Because, now I can kill you in a world unfamiliar by your touch."

I smiled at his words. "My touch, eh? You have forgotten yourself. I have been out of my element the moment I fell from the sky in your home world. You just gave me more room to infect more worlds with 'my touch'."

His eyes hardened as I could tell his anger was raising to new levels. "Then I'll.... just have to kill you here and now!"

Discord charged at me faster than the normal eyes could see. He pulled a single piece of his hair off his fur coat morphing it into a long scyph edged in colorless crystals. His scyph clashed with Apocalypse, seconds later, causing a few sparks in the process.

The area immediately became a war zone, his talon finger arm ripped open my left shoulder in the middle of battle. I grunted in discomfort as my fingers formed into claws dropping Apocalypse simultaneously. Discord swiped the scyph at me again only to be stopped by my clawed fingers. I smiled once more yanking the scyph forward before using my other claw to dig into his back.

He cried out in pain as he teleported himself and the scyph out of my grip. I grasped Apocalypse again seeing Discord stomp into the ground sending a magical shockwave through it before nearby trees ripped themselves out of the ground and charged at me.

I positioned Apocalypse in the opposite direction of the trees before charging at the walking trees. It didn't take long before the branches on said trees projected themselves toward me like wooden spears. Fortunately, my magic formed itself around my body preventing the wooden projectiles from penetrating my fur. I slashed the closest walking tree twice causing it to fall over into a series of chopped wood. The second and the third walking trees followed suit.

Once all walking trees were reduced to chopped wood, I redirected my focus on to Discord. Only I didn't really see Discord anywhere. I heard a series of chants above me. Seven Discords were lined up in a circle charging up this multicolored sphere in the center of them. Before I could react, the Discords finished the strange chant sending the sphere inbound on me. I made contact with the sphere before my vision turned white.

I felt weightless, but that feeling was soon replaced with a falling sensation. My vision cleared itself up revealing a red orange sky. Sounds of death lingering in the air. I looked below seeing nothing but the approaching ground. That wasn't the only thing that was heading my way though. I glanced to my right, but I didn't really think anything would be there since I figured I was in some kind of empty space. Boy was I wrong. My eyes widening in the first strain of fear since my near death fall experience from Canterlot. Nuclear missiles heading straight for me. Thousands of them. Some even piercing above the clouds.

My instincts kicked in as time seemed to slow itself down. I flipped over the first missle, barely touching it. Then, I grabbed onto the closest missile in my reach while making sure to avoid hitting any other.

Luckily, the missile didn't detonate as I was carried on the current missile storm forward. My confusion only got worse when I realized the missiles weren't directed at me. I took a look at the logo that were mended into said missiles: Long Live The Empire, Long Live Roam!.

The missiles' target then finally came into view. I couldn't help but feel gobstruck to what I was seeing. The missiles were heading directly for Canterlot.

"Dear mother of the Creator...."

Third Person

Celestia took off into the sky waiting for the incoming storm. All that was in her mind was her inner voice encouraging her to do the right thing. Most of her little ponies are safe in the StableTech bunkers placed throughout Equestria. Waiting for the impact of the missiles. She wasn't going to go out quietly either, not without taking down the main threat.

With newfound determination, Celestia charged at the swarm of Balefire bombs. Her magic popping a few out of existence. Unfortunately, there were still too many of them swarming the sky. The dread set into her realizing her situation was useless. She was going to die.

Celestia then heard a faint stallion scream. She looked for the source, and to her astonishment, found a black unicorn stallion hugging one of the missiles like his life depended on it.

"Fuck you Discord!!!" the black stallion yelled to the heavens.

His use of strong words made even Celestia flinch. But, nevertheless, she was focused back on the missiles. The stallion catch her eye again as the same stallion took out a white chalk drawing something on the missile. She popped a few more missiles out of existence.

They were getting too close to Canterlot, so she lit up her horn again in a last ditch effort to stop the Balefire bombs. Suddenly, all the Balefire bombs lit up in a black light before the missiles jerked themselves upward. Celestia just stood there speechless as the stallion rejoiced.

"Here I come Discord!" He said before him and the missiles disappeared into a black circular thing before it disappears as well.

"Well.... that was a different outcome then expected." she commented sighing softly to herself. "Now to organize the peace treaties in time before they launch another attack like that...."

Shadow's POV

The temporary portal sent me back to the original world I went into having a strong sensation that Discord was still there. However, I obviously didn't end up in the same place. My magic remarked the destination as I landed into a field of snow. And to worsen my luck, I was in the middle of a blizzard.

My hooves sank a couple feet into the snow itself establishing just how much snow there actually was. I got up after a few seconds before the bitter cold wind around me really affected my body.

I idolly shivered non-stop in this blasted blizzard! The portal closed itself as soon as I got my bearings in the new terrain. With nothing better to do, I marched forward into the endless flat valley of snow.

A few hours into the trek and it already felt like a frozen hell. I had no food, no water, and especially no clothing! I would kill right now to have a nice warm scarf wrapped around my neck right about now. The only thing keeping even me remotely warm and conscious is my naturally black fur, the perks to being a horse. Reguardless of my mental complainants, I was still out in the barren snow valley in a middle of a blizzard.

Then, I saw something different out in the white distance. It look to be some sort of grey colored area amongst the endless white. I decided it wouldn't hurt to look. It had to be better than freezing to death in the middle of a flat valley of snow, so I marched my way toward the grey area. My vision of the grey terrain became clearer making out the base of a canyon the closer we got to it.

My hopes and imaginary prayers seemed to be answered as I gladly took shelter in the strangely big canyon. It felt good having the cold wind off my back, but I could feel my body enter a tired state at the same time.

"Probably hypothermia talking."

I searched around for some sticks to burn. When I found none, I groaned in annoyance. I only had one more option left. I placed myself in between some rocks as I used my hands to cover the major heat spots on my body. At first, my body felt really cold from the contact, but it began to slowly warm me up. I sighed contently feeling myself drifting slowly to sleep.

Waking up to strange noises is not what I call a good wake up call. But it did its job as I was startled out of my sleep. I took in my surroundings only to remember my current spot. Gradually, I slipped out of the tight space into the the open canyon once more. I felt only the slightest presence of a gust of frigid air coming in, but what really surprised me was how much warmer the canyon felt. I looked to my left sniffing the air. It smelled of burning wood.

I hid behind some rocks at the canyon base before sticking my head out of my rock cover. The new intruders were surprising all anthromorphic zebra. However, there was something different about the group of zebra. They wore different styles of Roman themed armor with even standard Roman weapons during the current time period. What surprised me more was how many was in the canyon. Fortunately, almost all were fast asleep with the exception of a few zebra, one male; two female.

I wasn't really close enough to make out there conversation, but I could tell that they were enjoying each others company keeping post. Suddenly, my instincts went off pushing a equally abrupt rush of adrenaline. I looked up to find out why my body reacted the way it did. Caribou warriors above the canyon walls were desending silently down the said walls.

My mind rushed with conclusions so I decided the quickest solution. "The Caribou are attacking!" I shout toward the sleeping zebra soldiers.

As if the place was catching on fire the zebra guards standing watch alert their fellow brother and sisters causing a battle to occur between the two forces. Like a shadow, I slipped my way through the my train of thought more focused on killing Discord.

My concentration broke however when I heard a short female cry in one of the tents closest to me. I opened the flaps my sense of time slowing down almost to a stand still. In the room were two Caribou and a zebra mare. One Caribou warrior held the Mare down while the other was positioning himself to rape her. Anger clouded my vision as the shadow licked themselves around my fingertips before slithering quickly around both Caribou's necks.

The realization didn't sink in for the two bucks as I snapped their necks in the completely opposite direction. They fell limp as the zebra mare just stated in confusion at the mess I created. I realized then that this mare had a helmet shaped slightly different then the other zebra Roman soldiers. Making me think back to what the Centurions of Rome would look like.

I shifted back into the shadows before the Mare could comprehend my presence any further. A few of those Casino is bastards got in my way but my well developed claws made killing them so effortlessly.

Once again, I made it out of the canyon, but sadly the blizzard raged on. Seriously, does the blizzard ever slow down or stop here? The only noticeable difference was the gust was significantly slower than before. My horn came to life as I prepared to teleport to the one place I was familiar with: Canterlot.

With that in mind, my magic carried me through space.

Surprisingly, my magic didn't misbehave. But that didn't mean that I was going to jynx myself. I was brought back into reality feeling a rumble throughout the castle which helped me notice that I was currently in one of the castle hallways.

Wasting no more time, I head for the throne room. Many of my suspicions pointed to the castle to be under attack. And to my credit, I was right seeing the inside of the throne room for myself.

Many Caribou laid on more bodies of themselves. The throne room covered in blood and guts from many corpse ranging from Pony to Zebra to Caribou alike. What my main concern though was the fight I that was being displayed before me.

Four against one odds. The Caribou being less likely to win in statistically in this situation. The buck leading the Caribou group was definitely taller than the average Caribou height I have seen, yet he didn't over did his muscles making himself unrestricted by the flesh. He wore a golden bronze type of armor set that covered everything except his head exposing his antlers and light brown fur coat. He wore a regal golden crown with ancient runes coding all of his armor, even the crown itself making his magical signature stronger than normal. His choice of weapon was a war hammer also brimming with strange magic as well.

His opponents were no push-overs either. This world's Celestia wore a brilliant bright gold and white metal armor suit keeping most of her vital organs protected. She even wore a helmet with the emblem embedded into the piece of metal. Her choice of weapon was a sliver halberd licked with hot white flames she produced.

This world's Luna wore set of armor similar to Celestia's only it was customed to fit more tone down figure. It had the colors of midnight blue and black with a pearl white crescent emblem embedded into the central breast plate. She had an oddly similar scyph to the weapon Discord used against me not so long ago. Her helmet almost made her look like she appeared to be the Grim Reaper itself.

The next anthromorphic sapient being attacking the Caribou general person was a zebra stallion. He had strange markings engrained into his very skin aloe like they were branded on. They glowed white with power and determination as I examined them carefully. His said muscles were nothing short of buffed as well. His magical signature was also something to marvel about especially since Celestia and Luna were only just slightly less powerful magially compared to the zebra stallion. Almost like he was an equal for the royal sisters.

He wore equally bizarre armor pieces like he is a high Roman general, yet I knew somehow that he was nothing of that ranking. His gold and royal blue armor looked to have been decorated in said gold, and had had a few metal awards on the armor as well. Unfortunately, there were visible dents in the armor itself that made it hard to tell whether the design was extra armor or decor. His weapon was a four foot wide broad sword with ancient engravings written along inside the sword itself.

The last to face the Caribou in the room was Twilight Sparkle herself. She wore armor that was made for speed and durability against the enemy making her seem like a purple wolverine then anything else. Her star emblem could be found on her left shoulder showing itself proudly in view. Her armor gleamed a mixture between purple, lavender and black colors that made up her set of armor. The helmet Twilight wore just heightened the fact she was of royalty status, but honestly the whole set of armor made her look she tried too hard to intimidate her opponent. Lastly, her weapon of choice was a single saber with a purple blade instead of the standard grey color.

The zebra and the three alicorn were currently fighting against the Caribou leader, but somehow, the buck was winning. All of the mighty warriors were matching the Caribou blow from blow. The four eventually put space between the Caribou and them while the three alicorns in the room glared in defiance toward the Caribou leader. He thought it was funny laughing at the probably magically exhausted ponies and zebra.

"Well isn't this just sad. My god did well to choose a champion such as myself to rule over your tyrannical government." He gloated.

Celestia gave a hard stare into the power crazed buck's eyes. "Tell your god that you will never succeed in taking our lands. Equestria will not simply roll over for a tyrant such as yourself."

The Caribou's lips curled into a snarled just hearing the mare speak against him. I could tell he absolutely hated females; if his expression is anything to go by.

"Very funny slut. I just thought I heard you disrespect me and my vision. You'll be the first I break into my hooves. I'll make sure of it." He promised.

"You seem to have forgotten about me, Dainn." the zebra stallion said already behind him to deliver a blow.

The Caribou teleported out of the way before slugging the zebra with the war hammer sending him flying into the closest wall. The alicorns had the slightest bit of concern for the stallion, but they still held their gazes.

"Pathetic." The now named Caribou, Dainn, said.

And just like that, the alicorns go on a rampage after Dainn. Luna went to sever his right arm while Twilight went for his breast plate. Celestia came from the sky white flame licking her completely white eyes about ready to plunge her halberd into his very skull. With a single quick and effortlessly timed roll, the three alicorn princesses collided into each other.

While they were in that predicament, Dainn took the liberty to channel magic into his finger tips before unleashing a purple beam at the alicorns. They were caught in the blast evident by their pained screams. They were all then blast into the wall behind them onto a pile on each other. Their weapons unfortunately scattered along the floor out of reach.

The Caribou leader crudely smiles at his success before taking his first steps toward conquering the land. He walked over to them grabbing Celestia by her horn. She grit her teeth in more pain as he picked her up suspending her by her horn alone. The other two alicorns had no time to react as his other hand made some sort of rune on the wall without them noticing. It caused the floor to act alive entrapping their horns and keeping them both pinned to the floor.

"No, Tia!" Luna wailed.

Dainn scuffed at Luna's remark, but said nothing more while Celestia glares daggers into the leader's eyes. "Looks like I win. All of Equestria is now officially under my control. Which means that I get to choose what happens to you and your female subjects, Sun Slut."

Her eyes widened before Celestia tried to fight through the pain to claw him off her horn only for his grip to tighten even more. The pain was skull splitting causing her to see stars and her attempts to be made useless. Dainn dragged Celestia on the floor while she cursed at the Caribou pulling her along, however, the buck didn't seem to stop or care.

I watched this entire scene unfold before my glance focused on the zebra stallion. He didn't move, but my magic told me this mind control magic was slowly infecting his mind while I stood there idolly. My focus went back on Celestia as I saw the wooden tool they were about to use that had Celestia's horn stuck through the contraption's hole. Yet, it could as easily restrict her magic.

Her eyes went wide in realization before I decided to intervene. I blurred into the darkness I commanded physically going faster than light. The whole world seemed to slow down to nanoseconds speeding my way over to the chopping block. I pushed Dainn over while at the same time pulling Celestia out of the device. On the bright side, I stayed in my current time limit using that ability.

Unfortunately, the device clipped the tip of her horn as time resumed it's normal course. I caught Celestia in my embrace skidding on the floor to a short stop. She screamed in pain feeling the full force of the cut holding her tip of her horn trying to find a way to end the pain. My magic succeeded in pulling her hands from the horn eventually. I used my natural black colored magic to numb the pain while talking to her in a calm and relaxed manner.

Meanwhile, Dainn could not help but appear gobstruck by my sudden entrance and knowledge of magic. Once I manage to dull most of the pain, I gently put her to sleep with my magic. My horn lit up again placing the unconscious Sun princess beside her comrades. I could tell even the other two alicorns were surprised to see my presence.

I got up dusting my shoulders before eyeing the taller male, yet I did not waver under its gaze. I could feel my boiling hatred for the buck rise in the back of my mind, but I have learned many ways in taming this ugly beast long ago.

"You must be the leader of this Caribou species, I'm presuming." I said letting the tiniest amounts of my anger seep through my tone.

Dainn just looked at me slightly taken a back like he was aware my voiced hatred for him. However, he seem to recover about of his previous confidence a smirk forming aginst his muzzle. "Ah, a worthy opponent from my god? It's an honor to fight you then. I am God King Dainn of the Stonehoof-"

"Yeah, I'm bored. Get to the point. I don't have time to twiddle my thumbs here." I interrupted nonchalantly.

Anger was clear on his face as he drew his war hammer. "You're a cocky bastard, aren't you? Let's see how cocky you'll be after I knock out all of you teeth in!" Dainn proclaimed moving the war hammer toward my head.

I saw it coming, however, before stepping backwards. Apocalypse materialized in my hands soon after. Countering his strike, I slashed his left bisep making a fairly large wound. He cried out in pain retreating a nit to give distance. I couldn't help allow a smile to spread across my face.

"Who said I was being cocky?" I asked him.

The buck grit his teeth in anger before letting out a war cry. His body glowed with unholy amounts of magic. I could tell his magic reserves were expanding too. That doesn't mean I wasn't familiar with this type of magic though. I had spot the runes on his armor piece to make out the same ancient runes from my original universe. This magic was purely my universe's magic which explained why he was so much stronger than the current natives to Equis.

"No matter,
I'll just have to do this on his level."

I could feel the current magic struggling to break the world's seals on me. It took a lot of normal magic to finally pry it open. The rush of raw power filled my veins. An black substance liquid dripped off my body and limps like ink on the floor.

Dainn noticed this strange detail along side the alicorns while I approach the bastard. I smiled again but this time even bigger than before. "I would like to thank you though, Dainn. Now I can get some real practice in. It's been so long too."

The buck would have added on to what I said if a black spike jolts from the ground into Dainn's arm. His magic automatically broke the spike leaving it in his plugged wound. His war hammer glowed purple with power before he slammed it into the floor. A split second pause followed with a ground pillar to form underneath me. I easily avoid the attack before dashing straight at Dainn. I slash with Apocalypse again, but this time his war hammer collided with my weapon putting us into a stalemate.

"You are fighting me without any armor?! Are you mad! You first disgraced my pride. Then, you made me bleed from your sickening rituals, and now you mock my own power in front of my face?!" Dainn exclaimed breaking the stalemate before I went flying backwards.

Fortunately, I kept a footing on the floor skidding to a stop. His power turned to a dark purple color before his eyes changed to purple slivers, sharpened teeth and a fork tounge.

"Death is the only answer for such treason!" He declared dashing at lightning fast speeds toward me.

I smile unwavered. "Perfect. Just as I planned."

Suddenly, before Dainn could even slice open my precious neck, my rune activated underneath him freezing every muscle in his body like a paralysis spell. His eyes widen on shock before I moved around to his side sighing in disappointment.

"Honestly, Dainn, I was expecting more from a ruler like yourself. However, you treat my ancestors runes like they are playthings to explore. You say I disrespect you? You dishonored me and my ancestor's magic!"

I sharply elbowed my knee into Dainn with a force of a sound wave hearing the sickening sound of bone and flesh breaking under the pressure. I could briefly see tears streak Dainn's eyes in pure silent agony.

A sadistic smile crept my features before I chuckled sinisterly. "Sucks having the inability to move, does it?" I asked rhetorically.

The room went dead silent. Even the alicorns cringed in disgust at my brutal mental and physical abuse toward Dainn. But personally, I didn't care. My smile faltered remembering Discord's mismatched face of horror and my unsealing time limit causing me to automatically sigh.

"Well that's a pity, looks like I have no more further time to spare. Well, it was a pleasure working with you, Dainn. I'll see you in the Realm of Darkness." I said leaning inches from his paralysed face before I inhaled from my mouth.

A steady stream of a misty rainbow colored fog escaped his mouth before entering mine. I then could feel his emotions more clearly. Anger, Despair, Hatred, and Fear. Most of the other emotions were close to little or none at all.... Just how I like it.

I also felt my magic restore itself at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the emotions stopped coming shortly after I come to find out I have completely drained the buck of every emotion. I stopped my eating before my magic seal to reasserted itself causing the rune to slowly fade away. It didn't take long for Dainn's corpse to collapse on the broken floor.

The rune holding down the two alicorns also disappeared causing Luna to run to her unconscious sister while Twilight could only stare mouth agaped at me. I could see my usefulness was coming to an end, so I decided to tried to take my leave.

"Wait. When my sister awakes, who should we thank for rescuing our lives? Art thou wanting payment and glory?" Luna asked me.

That caused me to pause. A small smirk graced my lips before I turned to face the two alicorns. "I wish for no reward for my serves. I only desire to leave this world. We might meet against if the tide is right." I replied ominously before resuming my walk out of the castle.

Outside the castle was like a massacre. Many places were burned or destroyed from the non-stop fighting. I could still here the screaming of innocents and soldiers having at each other.

"Hear me out my countrystallion and mares! The Caribou King, Dainn, has been slain!" I heard Twilight proclaimed in her Canterlot voice.

I could also hear the faint cheering and continued the slaughter of the remaining Caribou. It hardly mattered right now. My thoughts were more concerned on the mismatched Spirit of Chaos. I materialized a dark cloak over me pulling the hood over my head before I resumed my casual walk.

"What happened to Discord?"

Chapter 6: [N. Moon] "What Will It Be"

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I don't remember much of what happened after teleporting. It was all blurry and pain was making it hard to stay awake. The outline blur of Chrysalis panicked above me. I may not know where I am, but I could feel the outside cold air indicating that we were above ground again. My only wish was to get out of the crystal catacombs unharmed.

Well, I guess that matters little now considering how I could possibly still be infected by that crystal thing. I thought I would fall unconscious, but before I could, Chrysalis splashed some cold liquid down on my face.

4:00 AM, Twilight's Castle

Twilight paced in the castle's library frantically mumbling to herself. Spike could clearly see how stressed she was at the moment. He figured it was her usual princess duties getting the best of her. Spike smiled warmly gathering up a breakfast tray walking into the library balancing the tray perfectly in his claw. He had set aside the dish for the princess before presenting the dish to Twilight.

Spike was the same green and purple drake he always has been, but during the pass five years the boy had changed physically and grown taller during those years. His arms picked up more muscle and tone to them while he stood at 4'6" now.

"Hey, Twilight. I made your morning pancakes." Spike said cheerfully trying to brighten her spirits.

"Thank you Spike." the Princess of Friendship replied in a somewhat quieter tone sitting herself down in a chair. She made no further attempt to eat the pancakes.

Spike sighed expecting this, so he set the tray on the coffee table next to the chair Twilight sat in. The drake knew when she is stressed out like this her attention gets too focused on the task at hoof. She tends to put the task even above her own well being. Spike set himself down in a chair close by to Twilight looking back at her with a tingle of worry lingering.

"At least try to fill your stomach, Twilight." Spike said sternly.

Twilight just pulled out a book, from a shelf nearby, in her magic like she didn't hear him. The drake sighed in defeat, in times like these it was best to let her tire herself out rather than convince her. He got up heading for the exit.

"Spike?" Twilight called out.

"Yes Twilight?" Spike asked turning back around to face the alicorn.

"What...did you think of Shadow,.... you know, before the Worldquake." Twilight asked the drake.

Spike wondered where that question came from, but he decided to not attempt to press the origins of such a question. "Well.... I thought he was a real nice stallion. I was a bit concerned that we still know next to nothing about him, but...... I just knew deep down that he wasn't going to do us harm. I know, it sounds weird."

Twilight couldn't believe what Spike was saying to her. And the strange thing was she felt the same way. The closest source that she could find on the stallion was based on a reports Nightmare Moon gave to her five years ago and the villain: Rufusdraco, yet there is more to this creature than his evil intentions. How did Twilight know this extra bit of intel? She overheard a conversation Shadow was having with Nightmare and Zecora when he was bedridden from severe injuries dealt by the same monster. The princess had a feeling Nightmare Moon was really close to the stallion. On that thought, she needed to get the time to visit Zecora sometime.

The connections between his past grew stronger when Lord Hades recognized Shadow as well. Somehow, Shadow is connected with these two major villains. Only a couple problems: Hades is dead and Rufusdraco hasn't been seen since those five years ago which leaves her nothing to research about Shadow. Twilight has even looked in every book in all the major libraries across Equestria to find something that even remotely relates to the Lord of Darkness. The only way to get information about him was to get it out of Shadow himself. He's tight lipped about anything involving his past and previous achievements though.

"I should have shortened his time more. He must have known how shocked I was to see him alive." Twilight thought to herself.

"So.....how are the Mintaurs of Minos with us?" Spike asked a bit more skittish than previously.

All the countries of Equis were paranoid by the Worldquake, even the ponies of Equestria. However, the Mintaurs were the first to blame the leaders of Equestria on causing such a natural disaster. Some words were said to each other at the World Meeting before the two countries became sort of rivals against each other. Now the King of the Mintaurs: Cloven Hammer, decided to make an embargo with his allies against Equestria. His allies, Japony and the Griffon Empire, supported him with the embargo. Twilight only knew because of the spies that the princesses sent to gather current information on Minos. At this rate, everyone was just holding their breath for all out war.

"It's not good. Cloven declared an embrago against Equestria. That is only driving everypony into fearing the worst is about to come." Twilight said.

Spike seemed even more worried before a sad expression took it's place. "If only Shadow was here. Maybe he could help calm everyone down and explain what happened. You said that he knows the most of what happened on that day." Spike said with a tinge of hope.

Twilight wanted to say the truth to him, but if word gets out then what little resistance holding Equestria back from going to war will be shattered instantly with a boost of misplaced confidence and possibly confusion. Honestly, Twilight thought they depended on Shadow too much back then over the years. They went as far as labeling him a hero of Equis at one point. The Princess of friendship could never understand what made that stallion so trustworthy in the first place. No pony ever earns everypony's trust and respect in under a year of murdering a few villains. But then again, Twilight knew the truth of the matter.

The Princess of Friendship gets up from the chair walking silently out of the library. She paused at the doorway remembering something.

"Oh. Set the pancakes in my room, Spike. I'll eat them when I get a chance." She said.

Spike happily did what was asked while Twilight head into the throne room. She sighed in frustration sitting on her throne chair. Twilight looked around the Friendship Map seeing all of her friends' separate thrones. A light glow of gold on her cutie mark broke her trance as her cutie mark insignia flew from her flank placing itself on the map in front of her.

Her confusion grew thinking this was a friendship call mission. However, the only mare's cutie mark to appear on the map was hers. She viewed the place her cutie mark swirled over. Twilight had never seen the mountain marked on the map before until now. The name of it appeared in her mind seconds later.

"Mt. Sheartop." Twilight said the name of the mountain out loud.

The golden light around her cutie mark glowed brighter for a few seconds before disappearing completely. Twilight sat on her throne a bit disoriented before getting up and calling Spike. The drake came as soon as he could hearing the urgency in her voice.

"There you are Spike. I need you to send some letters for me." she said frantically moving into different rooms to pack some things up for the trip.

Spike got nervous seeing her so active in what felt like forever. "To who?" He asked preparing a parchment and a scroll.

"Celestia. I need you to to write it down word from word."

5:00 AM Canterlot Castle

Celestial was just about to return to her chambers. Today had been high with tension making it a busy week for her. Nobles across Equis insulting each other and evidence of crimes flying everywhere created mayhem in the court system.

"The nobles are nothing but foalish bastards that don't understand the concept of having power."

It made her wonder what such ponies would do if they received total power. Celestia dreads to even think about the damage or state Equestria would be in. Regardless, taking a nap sound like a good idea at this point. Then a scroll engulfed in brief green fire lands on top of her king sized bed. She got a bit irritated and was going to simply read it later, but Twilight's seal imprinted on the scroll itself made her second guess herself.

Celestia walked over picking up the scroll before unraveling the message:

Dear Celestia,
I'm just imforming you that I won't be in contact for a few days. Given the sudden place that was brought to my attention. I could be close to something big going on which is why I'm sending you this letter.
Do you know of a mountain called Sheartop? The friendship map marked it, sending only me to investigate. If I caught you at a bad time than please ignore this.
Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia's mind flipped like a switch, all tiredness fading simultaneously. That name brought back memories... dark memories. But, for some reason, those memories were still quite foggy in her mind. Why was Celestia panicking? She had no idea why, but it feels like that place should have stayed a secret. If Twilight finds what is inside......

Maybe I'll have to kill her...

Celestia bolted out of the bedroom and down the hallway charging up her horn. Panic still plastered on her muzzle. A moment later, she teleported without a trace.

5:20 Unknown Valley

I really hated this. I'm not one to complain, but it pains me to say that I feel worse than the crud on gears. Whatever I did to Rufusdraco just so happen to hurt the bastard. That at least brought a smile to my face. It didn't change the fact though that I still feel abnormally tired.

Chrysalis sighed obviously annoyed. "Why in tartarus can't you get up? All of your wounds have been healed. You should be fine. They weren't that deep anyway." She said.

I felt too tired to come up with something smart to say. "It's not that, Chrysalis. My body is fine. That's not what is making me feel exhausted."

"Really, then what exactly is making you so tired?" She asked

I had to pause for a moment to find the right words. It's was kind of strange to say out loud, but it's like I used my innerself during that fight.

"I-I don't know. All I know is it felt like I used my own body to fight." I said.

Chrysalis looked at me like I was crazy for a brief second before sighing. "Well, whatever, it doesn't matter anyway now." Chrysalis said finally.

I looked around seeing that we were somewhere in a valley with lush green grass as far as I could see. I made an attempt to get up but failed. Chrysalis stepped in supporting my weight to carry me on one side.

"Thanks."

"It's the least I could do. No sane mare would have helped the Queen of Changlings." Chrysalis replied back with a secret small smile.

We marched forward in the valley searching for something to eat. I'll admit, I can not scavenge to save my life. However, I was lucky to have Chrysalis by my side showing me the ways of survival. We didn't get all of what we needed until the sun set to the west. It showed a sliver of its beauty radiating itself proudly even when about ready to be consumed in the darkness. Yet, it didn't last long as Celestia herself seem to finally put the celestial body to sleep. The moon arose in the sun's place radating brighter than ever before amongst the sky. A smile lit up on my face admiring the other celestial body greatly.

A tinge of jealousy burned in my chest, yet a solemnly ignored the feeling all together. Hatred was never the answer.

I looked back to Chrysalis who went ahead starting a fire that crackles cracked brightly into existence. She fed the fire some more sticks before keeping the fire at a manageable level. We sat beside each other in silence before I spoke first.

"Why didn't you use your magic to start the fire?" I asked the changling.

Chrysalis slightly shifted beside me. "I used the remaining amounts of magic I had to heal your wounds. I was able to snatch some off my tormentor over the time she was around me." I could almost feel the hatred for the mare coming off her as she spoke.

"You feed off of love to get magic, right?" I asked causing Chrysalis to tense up but nods. "I was thinking, maybe I could share some love with you. After all you'll have to be in peak shape for us to put up a fight." I said.

The changling grew quite allowing the embers to continue its soft crackles. Chrysalis got closer before directing my head toward her face. Before I could react, she pulled me into a deep kiss causing my eyes to widen in shock.

The shock didn't last long causing me to loosen up under her tounge war against me. However, her tounge seemed to be too much for me as shoved mine back into my throat. I couldn't help the moan from escaping my throat. Chrysalis smiled through the entire assault before breaking the kiss and rubbing my back.

I snapped out of my trance before glaring at Chrysalis dangerously. "Next time do that with a warning would you!" I scowled at her.

She didn't listen though. "Oh, Nightmare admit it. Your reaction was hot and on spot. You would think you had done this before." Chrysalis purred getting uncomfortably close while a blush spread across my face.

The changling laughed seeing my adorable expression. "No I do not!" I retorted back.

The night went on as we laughed and sometimes told a few daily life stories to each other. Our laughter and giggles died down eventually before Chrysalis looked back at me with a sense of nervousness.

"Hey Nightmare?"

"Yes?" I asked.

The changling sort of paused thinking about her answer carefully. "How exactly did you meet Shadow Faze? I've always wondered why you were kept alive even for what you did in the past. By all means you should have been ripped to sheds by the Elements of Harmony at least."

"Well, that's a loaded question. Where to begin," I said to myself before starting off. "The truth is Chrysalis that I was the wicked Nightmare Moon the ponies of Equestria feared at the time. Even Celestia was wary of my mighty power over her precious sun. Luna was my vessel to greatness. And I would have succeed too if it wasn't for Shadow intervening."

Flashback: Nightmare POV

I stood on the throne of the once beautiful castle made for the Princesses of Equestria. It was called the Castle of the Two Royal Sisters. "How original."

I couldn't help, but feel angry, so damn angry. Why did Celestia had to be the only one praised while I was left to be forgotten? She didn't even acknowledged my problems or the purpose of the diarchy system that was made! Uncle Nightgaze was right. This world is nothing but land fit for only the strongest. Nothing will stop me this time though. I'll make sure of that. No more slip-ups.

A set of hooves clattered on the broken tile heading straight for me. A lavender mare showed herself to me lit by the moonlight I provided. I couldn't help a confident smile to spread across my face as I chuckled darkly at the new intruder.

"So, you managed to find me? It's either that, or you just are really good at tracing down somepony's magical signature." I commented calmly making sure to keep my eyes on the stone elements around me.

However, the gaze of the lavender mare, that was filled with fright, turned into determination. She snorted sending some smoke from her nostrils before stomping the ground a few times.

At this point, I thought the mare lost it completely. She thought she could challenge me, the Queen of the Night?! "You're kidding. You're kidding, right?" I asked.

The mare didn't listen however running toward me. "So be it then."

I teleport my trusty close courters blade: Silent Night in my grasp. It was a flawless indigo sword that seem to shine like glass as if it was polished heavily with wax. However, the metal it was made out of only seem like the sword itself looked like that. In reality, the smoothness was a light coding as a result of magic buildup. And since I have been in the side moon for a thousand years, well, let's just say that that sword is very pent up. It made the weapon even more lethal than intented while giving it the ability to swing faster than normal swords could. I dashed at my opponent while her horn seem to light up.

However, the horn defused as fear set itself in overriding her determination. I didn't waste a heart beat going for the kill. I slashed downward.

All I remember next was a black figure blocking my path using its own black sword to raise above to protect the lavender unicorn mare. This caused both swords to collide with each other sending some sparks in the air. My eyes widen in absolute shock. This....pony moved so fast I couldn't register the speed.

My shock died a bit as I examined the pony closely. The figure appeared to be a black unicorn stallion. He wore a pair of torn shorts and a blood stained shirt that was also torn. I could also tell he was heavy injuries before, something fierce. I didn't know what though since it healed over itself. The last thing I was able to register was his dull red eyes. But something was very peculiar about them though. Unlike the other pony eyes his pupils seem to stay widen at all times. I couldn't meet his gaze her long feeling something strangely evil about them.

I brushed it aside though. The lavender mare stumbled moments later to the ground while the unicorn stallion and I clash blades together displaying each others skill in combat. Something primal rose inside of me though like nothing I felt before. And I couldn't control it either. My hatred for the bitch Celestia was absolute and raw, but this feeling...... Felt completely more....intoxicating than that.

Getting myself drunk on the renewed hatred, I grit my teeth as we fight each other in fierce combat. I could tell the advantage I had over the bastard, but I felt the need to vent a bit. "You dare intervene you filthy wrench! Do you know who I am?!" I bellowed out in his face.

A surge of raw power filled my body as I slashed downward on the defending black stallion. He dodged in time before I ripped the stone tile apart with that swing. Debris went everywhere while the stallion took this time to back off me.

"I am Nightmare Moon and nothing is going to stop me from taking Equestria as my own, bow to your Queen!" I added on dashing at him with new determination preparing my blade.

However, the stallion paused in place for a moment before something appeared in his eyes that didn't seem magical in any sense of the word.

"NO!" He yelled at me.

His tone and volume gave me pause to my charge. I even nervously stepped back a bit. "What's making me feel this way? He's just a worthless lowlife that barely can avoid my attacks. Why should I be afraid of this bastard?"

I was proved other wise as the stallion charged at me in a blinding speed, almost as fast as the dash a few moments ago. I tried to keep my blade up forcing me to go on the defensive. It was unreal. This cutiemarkless unicorn stallion was somehow able to match my power. It was clearly impossible unless he was an Element of Harmony. And yet here he is.

I could barely even notice that his sword was able to even cut into my armor. I started to panic inside. I began to hear the hoofsteps of other ponies coming this way so I charged up my horn in desperation striking the stone elements. Each elements shattered into pieces. The lavender mare's face would have been satisfying if it wasnt for the fact that this crazy skilled stallion was hot on my tail.

I tried pulling out of the situation, but the bastard body slammed me into the throne wall. While not hurt badly I was momentarily stunned by the force. He took the time to light up his horn and restraining me to the wall. My anger seethed even further, but I could not break out of these....dark tentacle things.

The lavender mare seem to regain her confidence back as she stood firmly against me. My eyes narrowed in rage. How dare she look at me like that!

"You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well, you are wrong because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!" the lavender mare exclaimed as her 'friends' make it up the flights of stairs to the throne room. "Applejack, Spirit of Honesty, Fluttershy, Spirit of Kindness, Pinkie Pie, Spirit of Laughter, Rarity, Spirit of Generosity, Rainbow Dash, Spirit of Loyalty, the spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you had!"

I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. I don't know what 'challenges' they spoke of, but I was no fool in the matter. These mares are starting to become a real nuisance. But I felt pretty confident. After all, I only count five Elements of Harmony.

"You still don't have the sixth element! The spark didn't work!" I retorted back struggling in the tentacle's grips.

"It did a different kind of spark," the lavender turns around to face her friends. "The spark ignited inside me when I realized..... you all are my friends."

And just like that I realized that this will be my demise. A bright light appeared seemingly out of nowhere before the last of the elements floated down to the lavender mare. A smile plaster itself on the mare's face while my hatred was starting to focus on this worthless mare.

"When the spark is ignited, it creates the sixth element.... the Element of Magic." the lavender mare continues on.

The light grew brighter before I was swarmed in a tornado of rainbow colors. I could feel the black unicorn stallion release me from his hold, but it was too late by then. I didn't want it to end like this. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

I thought it would be the end, but I thought quickly shooting a bit of myself out of the tornado using its wind to propel me out. The rest was a haze.

"That's just about what I remember from our first encounter." I finished with the story.

Chrysalis stared at me a bit shocked, but said nothing else. "That explains why you are still here today. But tell me, how were you friends with him? Judging by that experience, you wanted to get revenge on him."

"I did. For the longest time I wanted to teach the stallion his place in the world. So, I bait him out of his location, but he swallowed me inside of him. I was about to destroy and bend his mind to my whilm. Or so I thought." I said.

"What do you mean?" Chrysalis asked.

I sighed recalling the horrible experience like it happened yesterday. "Well, turns out he has a sort of alternative self living in his head.... And let me tell you, I'd rather feed myself to a hydra before being in a room with that psychopath. He....was in every sense the most evil thing I have faced. It wasn't until later that Luna saved us from his grasp."

There was a moment of silence between the both of us. The air seem to stiffen, but I was sure that Chrysalis got the message how bad his alternative self is. "I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through that. If he hurt you that badly then how are you still sane? Not even an alicorn can save the mentally ill." She asked.

I couldn't help the fond smile that spread across my face. "That's just the thing. I accepted that sad truth myself. I was sent to the Canterlot Insane Asylum for life. Somehow he found me and miraculously healed my mental illness. I still have the experience of the events, but...... it was like he understood my pain." Tears threaten to fall from my face, but I kept them back. "I never had somepony so caring for my wellbeing. It was something... unexpected."

"He does sound like a caring stallion that's for sure..... However, judging from my own experience, he is a serious soldier. He didn't hesitate to stab me behind my back." The changling shivered. "I still don't know why he left the decision up to Sunbutt."

She quickly fell quiet again. "Shadow Faze makes no sense at times. He came from another world, yet he won't tell anything detailed about his world. His morals are questionable at best and concerning at worse.... Too bad he isn't here anymore. He has too many question around him then answers." I said.

"Maybe."

I looked back at Chrysalis not believing her words, "What do you mean? He fell into a coma and died two years ago."

Chrysalis looked skeptical at me. "The stallion can survive being shot by a piece of metal to the heart. Yes, I heard about that incident. There is no way he could not be alive."

I sighed knowing it would come to this eventually. "He died from magic loss, Chrysalis. He loss too much magic for his body not to function anymore."

The reality really sunk into Chrysalis hearing the result of his death. Every beimg has a magical field, and without enough of its magic the pony, or creature, would die almost simultaneously (heart failure usually).

"I see.... I'm sorry for your loss." Chrysalis said a bit awkwardly, but I didn't really pay any mind to the apology.

"Yeah." I looked up at the sky once again admiring the stars that lit my beautiful night wondering what I was truely here for.

Celestia's Mind

Celestia woke up with start coming off the floor, or what she thought was the floor. In reality, there was nothing on all sides around her. Celestia grew used to seeing these colors of nothingness over time, but the cold that came with it always made her shiver.

She could feel another source of heat nearby, but she didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Celestia already knew her.

"How is the hunt going so far dear Celestia. The voice said almost spiteful in tone.

The Sun Princess' neutral expression turned sour hearing the voice. "Why don't you find something better to do then bother me."

The voice crackled with laughter before it died down. She could feel the heat getting closer to her before a hand touched her chin. Celestia didn't have time to think before the hand forced her to stare into piercing orange serpentine eyes.

Her flaming enraged mane waving eternally behind her head along with her tail. Her sharp white teeth could also be seen breaking into a crude smile. "You and I both know Celly that I have little patience for lazy progress. You know what you must do, or must your sister suffer again for you to fully understand?"

Her cruel words hit Celestia like a jackhammer. She knew what must be done, but her heart was torn in half by thinking of such an action. Celestia's eyes narrowed threatenly at the the monster in front of her, but all the mad mare did was chuckled happily. No matter what she did the monster wouldn't leave her, and Celestia knew her powers were nothing in the dream realm.

"Fine..... It shall be done." Celestia said tying to hold back the tears in her own mask of pain.

The monster grinned viciously down on her seeming to feed on Celestia's misery and pain. "I'll be waiting.~"

"Somepony- anypony, please, help me...."

Chapter 7: [S. Faze] "New Discoveries Are Accidents"

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Searching for the bastard turned out to be an even worse chore than before. Ever since he sent me into that other reality I haven't seen Discord since. Which means I'm stuck in this dimension until I can figure out how to escape. If I knew where my universe was this wouldn't be such a big deal. However, I am currently unfamiliar with this side of the multiverse, or whatever it's called.

I sighed my frown deepening. "Shit, my stupid curiosity and hero instincts got me into this mess. Of course this would have happened!"

I knew there was no use in complaining, but I figured it was better than doing nothing. "Hey, other me, ever thought about using my help." I heard Atone say in my head like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes stubbornly continuing my walk through the lands. "I don't need your help to get out of here. Besides, Spacetime cracks are everywhere on this side of the multiverse. Eventually another one to the Equis I'm familiar with will appear."

"True, but how much time will that take? Hours, months, maybe even years. You and I both know Spacetime cracks appear at random. Latching on to that hope is not going to get you out fast enough....." Atone seem to pause in thought before I could feel his trademark grin appear. "Perfect, I picked up a cave nearby that has enough magical radiation to teleport us. It's northwest; about a hundred clicks away from this spot." Atone eventually informed me.

My frown somewhat deepened by that analysis. However, it didn't seem like I had much choice when it came to trust right at the moment. "Got it."

I ran off in the direction Atone said to go. There was a few small problems mapping my way straight northwest, but overall it did not take long after to find what I was looking for. A solid structure of an enterance to a cave system was spotted in the middle of my line of sight. However, upon further speculation, it seemed much older than at first glance. I didn't mind it at all heading deeper inside.

As I walked, my horn lit up using a classic illumination spell. Anything living in the dark usually stayed away. Examining my surroundings further, I noticed that the cave system appeared to be normal enough in this world. Talking with myself seemed to be irrelevant at the moment.

Instead, my mind flashes back to the times I fought for my world's Equestria. It brought a smile to my face. That feeling quickly faded as uncertainty overpowered the happiness thinking up new scenarios. What if they find out about who I was before their hero? What if they tried to hunt me down? What if they shun me from society?

They were all quite real possibilities. After all, friends of mine usually end up dead.... and not from natural causes either.... My mind focused back to my surroundings before a faint outline of a building crossed my vision. I squint my eyes moving closer to the outline. However, seeing massive stone ruins was not what I expected to see though.

Rusted jewelry scattered the ground with broken clay and steel potries both with different ancient art styles forever broken into millions of pieces. Some of the furniture that was supposed to be in here had rotten through or snapped under its own weigh. Several tapestries were also hung among the walls of the ruins too. Some even had visible pictures woven into them. I let my illumination spell grow in light and volume giving me enough light to make out the symbol and tbe rest of the room.

The symbol itself was black in nature while the rest of the tapestry was faded red in color. The symbol looked like an open eye wirh a swirling vortex around said black eye. In the pupil of the eye was a different color altogether. It was a sinister dark purple letting any travelers know who sees this symbol to be wary of it.

My mind froze in place seeing the ancient symbol. It couldn't have been that close to this current era. Guilt swelled in my chest as I looked back at the worn out symbol in front of me. A part me hated that symbol of pure evil, yet I knew all along that some secrets eventually wouldn't stay secret anymore. I needed to focus my anger on something, however, I didn't throw a single fist in anger. I just stood there silently. I knew deep down in my black heart that my days of being a despicable king have long since past. I began to walk away further into the cave pinpointing the source of the magival radiation.

It didn't take me long to find the source of the energy Atone found. No living creature was anywhere to be found anyway. My natural scanners showed no life either. I paused entering into a more spaced out room. My eyes widen in awe seeing the sight before me.

A stable worm hole was opened in front of me shimmering in his infinitely bluish light whirring away. I looked around me seeing visible whole pieces of ancient art work done by the people before me, yet my relief grew to slight worry.

"If stable worm holes can be formed, then that means other species advanced enough to use them could eventually invade other realities with ease."

I maybe a heartless bastard on most days, but seeing any world suffering from an alien invasion would not be a great way to go. I walked up closer to the swirling vortex lightly touching my hand on the worm hole while lighting my horn. Immense magic flowed through me as my eyes blacked out into white.

When my vision settled I had a bird eye's view of the entire multiverse. My eyes widen further in shock seeing the sheer size it grew into in just a few eons and more. Definitely has gotten bigger than when I was first originally around. I floated around through the empty space before my abilites picked up on multiple unusual powers in many different universes. Each one varied in strength, power and skill. But, it didn't make it any less unsettling and intriguing.

I hovered over the stretch of the multiverse somewhat examining each of their soul strength. To my surprise, they were all very much intact which could only mean one thing for my analysis. I expand my search, but this time examined each of their base magics. And my prediction was right. Someone.....or rather, multiple somethings were purposefully messing with reality and destinies in some of the cruelest ways possible.

My anger spiked, but I quickly smothered the emotion to safe amounts. I'll need to address why gods of any kind would toy with mortal life like this. I paused thinking back to the last two realities I have been in already.

"Then again, some of these realities have a way to go beyond 'fucked up' in most gods' eyes. I'll keep this experience a side note for now. I'll run out of time soon if I don't get back to my reality."

With that in mind my vision went white once again. It took only a brief second for my magic to reconstructed itself before I stetched myself out causing a few popping sounds to happen. "Well, whatever the heck is going on with the universes now it'll have to wait a little bit." I said to myself.

My horn lit up once more before the blue worm hole flickered black briefly. Once the spell began to take affect I jumped into the worm hole.

5:39pm ???

Third Person

Twilight couldn't believe her own eyes when she saw the castle in front of her. The mysterious architecture had looked terrifying to put it in simple terms. Unnaturally dark grey clouds formed over the structure threatening the alicorn to make one false movement. But all the appearance did was enhance her driving instinct to run. The main source of her reaction was the castle structure felt....sinister in nature. She gulped autoably before getting closer to the structure. A stone path eventually exposed itself to her making it easier to track down the structure in the distance.

This Sheartop mountain didn't seem normal either compared to the rest of Equestria. It looked much too similar to the Everfree then she could have imagined. She wondered if parts of the forest expanded in different locations without nopony knowing. Whatever the case, the map called her here for a reason.

"This must be some type of friendship problem, right?" She rhetorically said to herself, more for reassurance. It didn't ease her mind any less however.

She was able to get to the giant double doors, that towered her about two feet higher than normal double doorways. Twilight stealed her nerves using her magic to open the double doorways by force. They obliged allowing her passage in. The aura of death and damnation grew stronger causing Twilight's fur to stand on end by the sudden apprihension feeling in the air.

She continued forward, however, her horn sparkles to life to provide some light in the area. Twilight analyzed the stone hallway for any threats, but she found no immediate threats present. The Princess of Friendship took several more steps inside. Once she was far enough inside, the double doors automatically shut themselves simultaneously.

Twilight's head whiplashed back figuring out the same conclusion. Her horn lit up in magic, but all the magic did was harmlessly bounce off of the steel door frames. She groaned in annoyance, but continued down the winding halls none the less.

Near Mt. Sheartop at the Castle

Celestia reappeared at the double doors paying that Twilight wasn't here. However, her spirtual tracking spell confirmed her presence inside the castle's walls. The previous threat made by the demon reared its ugly head again in her mind, but she shook it off quickly. Her horn lit up in her fiery flames before bursting like a flamethrower onto the steel double doors. Flames engulfed the wall for at least a few minutes later until she deactivate her fiery magic.

Once the smoke cleared, it revealed that her attack did almost nothing to the door frames. Celestia's eyes widen in shock.

"What? Nothing is that strong to the blazing sun's fiery rage."

"Indeed. Whoever built these doors were excellent craftsponies... For being such physically inferior than....us." the bitch in my head almost snarled.

"I do not need commentary in the background." I mentally replied back.

The figure in my head was about to retort back, but I went ahead and used my magic again on the double doors this time increasing the intensity of the fire. With a satisfying snap to the cast steel hinges the entire frame melted into a heap of molten metal shortly after. Celestia stepped inside somewhat satisfied she still had her touch. However, the sudden cold aura wrapped her warm body in a death grip causing her to involuntarily shiver. She had no idea why this castle was so dark and creepy, but it seemed almost alive in its own sense. Celestia dismissed the thought looking further into the castle to find Twilight.

6:00pm Sheartop Castle

Twilight walked into a room that had perplexing pictures on the interior walls. There were strange hieroglyphics on the walls that were unrecognizable for her to decipher them at the moment. She was about to walk back out of the castle before something shiny gold caught her eye. The sparkle of gold seemed to be a distance away from her, but nonetheless Twilight decided to follow the mysterious light.

As the Princess of Friendship approached the light she recognized some of the symbols on the wall. For a brief moment, she examined the familiar hieroglyphics.

The picture depicted ponies from all three tribes: Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies. But what really caught her off guard was the amount of Bat Ponies and Alicorns that were also depicted in the hieroglyphs.

"How were there so many Alicorns back then when there is only four known now?" Twilight thought to herself.

They all surrounded a large group of bipedal creatures made from the strench of darkness itself. In the middle of everything depicted was a single being. The picture only made out the piercing red eyes and the manical sawlike teeth smile from the black figure. It seemed to be telling the soldiers made out of darkness what to do pointing at the ponies.

She moved on to the next depiction on the wall to gasp in surprise. There was fire and bodies of ponies littered everywhere. The soldiers of darkness seemed to be gathering up the survivors of the fight while the figure in charge's smile never faltered from the depiction before.

Her heart pound in anticipation as she moved on to the next depiction. The five tribes all wore shackles of some sort, that connected to each other, all single filed in a straight line. Their faces of despair and loss of hope made the depiction unbearably real. The shackled ponies were being lead up into a labor camp as depicted. However, the figure in charge just simply took the grounds of their lands taking their resources and gold to its own personal collection. The figure turned it into an almost barren wasteland, almost void of life.

Twilight looked to the next depiction looking for more clues to find something unexpected. The same barren wasteland of slavery was there still, but an another bipedal creature radiated a strange light off him that caused the soldiers of darkness to kneel under its will covering their eyes almost like they were in agony. The ponies around the light figure praised the light being for some reason. She would have want to get more details, but the cracks in the wall prevented her from seeing the disfigured depiction of the light being to get a good picture of what it looked like.

Frustrated and confused Twilight continued on her way returned to following the strange golden sparkle again. Her mind automatically drifted back on the depictions she saw.

Twilight never knew about this part in Equestrian history. Many of the books in all the major libraries never told anything past Discord's reign over Equis. But the depictions on the walls looked much older than a few thousand years old. Her mind almost denied the notion of something being that old, but her logical side knew that the planet she lived on is much older than anyone would like to admit.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she finally made it to the room the golden light was in. The golden light continue its glow right in the middle of the room. Twilight had to squint to get a better picture, but what made the glowing was a jade colored sword. The blade was unique as in she has never seen anything like it. The handle of the sword was made out of a black kind of leather with a strange ember gem on the top of the hilt. The gem itself swirled in a sort of small vortex endlessly like time itself. It's blade looked long and straight while looking as green as a leaf. It seemed to be embedded into the stone of the room's floor not something that can be pulled out bu strength alone. Just looking at this mighty sword made her eyes instinctively close by the power it radiated, yet she could feel the sword call out for her.

So hesitantly, Twilight extended her hand out to grasp the sword. When her palm touched the sword, her vision became distorted until she blacked out.

The Sun Princess groaned in frustration. This quest turned out to be a lit harder than she expected it to be. All the tunnels and artifacts in the castle looked exactly the same making it difficult to figure out where to go. On top of that, Twilight's spiritual tracker signature dropped a while ago making it ten times harder to find her. Plus, it didn't feel right to be in this place. It was like something was watching her, but she couldn't tell what. The entire castle was stone cold silent making the creepy castle increasingly more foreboding.

Her instincts were now screaming to escape this dreadful place even though nothing has warranting such an action from an immediate threat. Celestia knew what she must do now.

"If I can't find her with my magic alone. Then I'll just have to burn myself through the castle walls to find her. Her magical signature must be blocked by the walls themselves."

Celestia's magic ignited into a burst of flames as they attempt to melt the wall in front of her apart. It seem to work for a couple of seconds before the castle walls seem to regenerate itself quicker than she could melt it. Her eyes widen in silent shock.

Those who bring judgement in my house will face justice.

Celestia barely had any time to react before a thick orange fog almost immediately rolled in throughout the hallways. Celestia coughed violently automatically using her hands to cover to. A thick wet substance coded her finger tips startling Celestia. She looking at what she coughed up instantly seeing it's blood, her blood. Her eyes widen further feeling her lungs enflaring from the inside. Her horn sparked again this them making a shield around herself. This seem to keep the orange fog at bay while she coughed up more blood on the stone cold floor. She laid on the floor for a while more before performing a healing spell mainly focused on her lungs.

"Where did that voice come from?" Her mind wondered, but more importantly, she couldn't help but also wonder how did the fog nullify her immortality so easily. Once she caught her breath, the sun princess continued through the hallways keeping her magical shield up to make sure the fog didn't come any closer to her.

Twilight felt strangely weightless almost like she was floating on a cloud in the sky. Yet, her vision didn't seem to be working right at the moment. All she could visibly see is a dull bright white underneath her eye lids. She tried to open her eyes, but something seemed to be preventing her from doing so.

Even without her sight to aid her, she could feel a presence around her. It was strong, inviting; almost like how Celestia's sun warm ray's of light just barely caressing her fur. It made her feel relaxed to the point where Twilight couldn't careless about her inability to open her eyes.

"I assume this is your first time speaking to a being with uncanny powers, child?" A smooth, deep masculine voice asked her.

At first, Twilight seemed confused about what he meant by that until it made sense to her. "Do you mean to tell me you are a god of sorts?" Twilight asked back a little nervous of what the mysterious stallion would say.

She could feel a smile break from just his presence alone while he chuckled slightly at the notion. "Perhaps. But nowadays, many beings across this universe don't need our interventions as much as before. However, the sword has choosen you specifically for a reason I can not fathom why. So to save us both some time, I'll answer one question you might have."

Once again, Twilight just lays there in blind silence clearly confused on what he was going on about, but the message was clear as Celestia's day The sword she had touched beforehoof had picked her for some reason. Which gave the scientist egghead a headache. Last time Twilight analyzed weapons of any kind, they can not have a true consciousness without some sort of soul fragment attracted to it.

Forcing herself off that train of thought she searched through what was most important to answering her thirst for knowledge; making a quick mental check list of her options. In her excitement, she had almost completely forgotten the reason she came to Sheartop Mountain to begin with.

"Yes. I do have one important question I would like answered. It involves a friend of mine," The Princess of Friendship took a deep breath before stealing her nerves again in front of this powerful being. (Even though she couldn't see him.) "Who was Shadow Faze before his life as the hero of Equis?"

There was a noticeable pregnant pause from the god that plucked her out of her realm. Twilight began to shift nervously in her blind state. Had her question angered the god? Instead:

"You mean Shadow Faze, as in Lord Calamity Dovostro, is alive?" The being said a bit taken aback by how his voice seemed to change just the slightest. Almost as if he was relieved. Before she could extend the conversation further, Twilight began to feel something pull her into a slow descend downward. "If I know him, then it would be better if he explains his reasons for himself, little one. Heed my warning though Twilight Sparkle, defend yourself well for his mere presence brings upon death and evil into the hearts of all ponykind."

With that warning fresh in her mind, the descend of falling down grew faster and soon became too much for the alicorn to bare when she finally passed out in midair.

Celestia had eventually grew tired of the castle's trickery before she took it upon herself to scorch the the entire building around her. Many walls were currently ignited ablaze while her darker side relished inwardly proud of her handiwork. Suddenly, a bright green light, intensely brighter than her sun, blinded her temporarily causing Celestia to reflexively raise her hand over her sensitive eyes.

A few moments passed as the bright green light formed into a beam that sent a tremor throughout the entire castle. The light and temor vanished just as quick as it appeared. Once Celestia regained her vision she dashed to the spot where the commotion had happened to find nothing left of the room itself. The only thing that made it clear that something had happened here was the gaping hole made in the stone ceiling. Her horn flickered to life again as she scanned for Twilight spiritual signature only to find out that Twilight was back in Canterlot.

"She was just here in the castle a moment ago. What happened?"

"That's something we'll surely find out, won't we?"

Celestia had to hide the grimace from her muzzle before her horn lit up again teleporting out of Mt. Sheartop castle's range.

A lone being observing from the side lines pulls up her cowl again concealing her flawless features back in the darkness before before using her large wings to fly away from sight.

Chapter 8: [S. Faze] "The Shadow In Us all"

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For the first time since I came to this new planet, I felt happy to be back in a familiar dimension. Only bad side to the entire experience was, to put it simply, I ended up face planting into the ground.

"Just lovely Lady Luck....."

I recovered relatively quickly, but I turned around just as fast seeing the portal still open. It wasn't long until black cracks quickly formed inside of the portal. Moments later, the entire structure shatters into nothingness again. I sighed glad that my plan had sort of worked.

I appeared to be in a forest with lush, weirdly shaped trees surrounding me. Old memories flooded in remembering my way through the massive forest. I remembered because this is the forest that I was trapped in the forest for a total of four days. I believe this forest was called the Everfree. What? Did I forget to mention I was a skilled survivalist?

Anyway, I slowly got bored of amusing myself when I realized the sun was about to set over the horizon judging by the sky turning an orange color And from my experience, this forest is at its worse during the night. My pace quickened through the thick forest as shadows blurred by me. A part of me wondered how long have I been gone? After all traveling through different realities always risks accidently warping time in the process, if done incorrectly.

My horn lit up realizing just now it was still there on my head....

"Shut up, Atone, that isn't funny." I said mainly to the bastard in my head before teleporting away.

I reappeared in the middle of a familiar garden of twisted bush maze of sorts. I looked around only to reel back in mild shock. A statue looked to have been blown to bits where it once stood. Upon further inspection, the shape appeared to be of draconequui shape which coild only be one possible being.

"This is obviously Discord's place before I almost died by 'magic loss'. The question is, why haven't the Princesses done something about this already?"

I felt each piece with my bare fingers, but no matter what I did I couldn't pick up a base source to trace. It was beyond frustrating.

Sighing in defeat, I dropped the discarded pieces before walking away. I used a little teleportation magic to make it out of the maze. I looked up at the castle before me barely even batting an eye. Taking a second long look at the Princess Castle, it kind of remind me of one of those overused cartoon castles you see in Camelot.

Nonetheless, I walked inside. I materialized a cloak over top of me, the one I wore the last time I was here, before sneaking carefully pass the guards in the castle. After all, I needed to keep my presence on a low profile. Eventually, I made it down a third hallway before my instincts sent a nasty shiver down my spine.

I had to take a few minutes to realize what just happened. "It was my universe's magic...." It did not help calm my nerves in the slightest though. I felt a familiar presence nearby suddenly appear causing me to jolt slightly in midair.

I materialized Apocalypse before approaching the presence I felt enter all of a sudden. I walk into the room weapon ready only to find Twilight laying sprawled out on one of the royal beds. I sighed in relief before dematerializing Apocalypse. I figured it was probably my paranoia that creeped in from being alone for so long.

I approached the unconscious Twilight checking her breath and vitals. She appeared to be unharmed, but what was really disurbing was the energy admitting off of her. It made me cringe in pain just touching the wisps.

"Don't think about it." I mentally chanted to myself ignoring the pain as I shook her awake.

She moaned in protest, but reguardless opened her eyes. "Where am I?" She asked.

I owlishly blinked at her wondering if she thought this was a dream. "This is real life, Twilight. Now wake up already." I replied. Her eyes immediately shot awake hearing my voice.

"Shadow?! What are you doing here?" She asked surprised at my appearance.

I scratched my head in thought bef ore shrugging. "Not sure exactly, but I got most of the travelling around out of my system again," My thoughts drifted to the scene of Zecora's corpse. "It's nothing important right now."

There was a long silence before Twilight continued. "Shadow. I know this is hard for you, but who were you before you ended up...in our world?" Twilight asked practically begging with her eyes alone.

Now, I have been debating this with myself for a while now. But then I remembered the promise I made to myself after my original imprisonment.

The truth can't hide forever, I must be that voice.

I sighed knowing what I had to do. "I'll tell you, Twilight, but first, you need to gather the rest of the girls. They all will need to hear this." I said. Twilight seemed to accept my answer getting up herself.

"Thank you Shadow." Twilight said smiling warmly at me.

She then walked out of the throne room my heart feeling somewhat lighter than before. I pulled up my cowl again beofre slipping out of the oalace unnoticed by the guards around me.

I end up going to Ponyvile in both dread and relief. Everypony around me seem to not notice my presence as much as they were curious about me wearing a cloak over myself. I head southeast away from the town. I ended up walking up to an abandoned shack just outside of Ponyvile. Wooden planks were nailed into all openings and the door to signify it not being in use. I used my magic to rip the nailed boards out of the house with ease.

Then I opened the door peaking in side only for silent and darkness to meet my vision. Place, my home in Equestria, looked to have been ransacked after my 'death'. A frown spread across my face thinking who would want to steal useless furniture.

I tapped into my power before snapping my fingers. Almost instantly, the house began recreating all the furniture it had lost. I smiled satisfied with my work seeing all my previous furniture being restored to its rightful glory.

With my furniture restored, I brushed off the dust and cobwebs with mu magic to make the place look at least a bit presentable. It didn't make the room any less old looking though. With an content sigh I promptly fixed myself in the closest lounge there was. Silence reigned in the room for a good few moments filling me with a sense of peace before somepony came knocking on my door.

I softly groaned getting out of my comfortable position walking up to the front door. "Who is it?" I asked through the door.

"Twilight." I heard the lavender alicorn respond back.

I twist the knob before opening it to reveal the visitors at my place. But I didn't have time to see before somethings yellow and pink bombarded my vision. I had to recover from the practical tackle while the two ponies cry on me. I inwardly cringed at the sight of crying biped ponies. It just didn't seem right to see on their faces.

I looked at the other beings present to see Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, and Twilight. They all seemed to get a bit of mixed feelings about my return. Some felt anger toward me while others resolution and relief. I couldn't help but smile at the interesting group of ponies before me, except for Twilight.

"Did I miss anything while I was gone?" I asked the entire group.

Many seemed stunned by my response so I elaborated: "I have been out cold for, what, five years? There must have been something big that happened while I was absent."

"That can be explained later, perhaps after your explation of your origins." Twilight suggested.

"Yeah, that's why I came here for." Rainbow said earning a fist into her left bisep by the farm pony. "What?"

I looked down at Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, which were pressed up against my chest before using my magic to pry them off of me. "Sorry Pinks and Flutters. I think we should take this conversation inside, yes?"

The two mentioned ponies blushed a light shade of crimson before Pinkie chuckled nervously in response. I motioned for the girls inside as they obliged my request. I checked outside one last time to make sure nopony was stalking about before shutting the door behind me.

Inside, the girls made themselves comfortable and had small conversations with each other while I sat myself down in my captain's chair. That is when all side conversations died in their throats.

"So, I'm sure you're all aware of when Hades declared me to be the Lord of Darkness before his untimely death by my hands." I began. They all nod in confirmation except Spike who looked really confused on what I was talking about.

I prepared myself for the next part of my explanation. "Well, he's not wrong in what he said about me. I have explained beforeha- hoof how I am not from this world. One of my many titles is the Lord of Darkness."

There was a long silence following that, but Rarity seem to have recovered the fastest. "We already know this, darling. What we want to know is how Hades knows you. Also, how did you know the creatures that he brought with him were called demons?"

I sighed knowing I couldn't get around the truth. "Because, Rarity, I have been fighting Hades and his demons for a long time. I eventually was able to figure out a demon's weaknesses. What I didn't expect was how determined they were to release him back into the mortal realm."

"Wait, wait, slow down. How long have you been fighting this guy and his thugs?" Rainbow asked trying to wrap her brain around this.

"For about... Three thousand years, I believe." I stated without hesitation.

All of the girl's mouth dropped. "Y-You're an Immortal?!" Twilight said flabbergasted.

"Hah! Told you he was an alien!" Pinkie Pie said a matter of factly. The girls ignored her however.

I frowned at the word they used to describe me. "I wouldn't go that far. Being immortal requires to hang out with other gods like me. However, I was rejected from that role. No, I don't have just three thousand years under my belt," I said getting uncomfortable about how they looked like they were about to worship the ground I walked. "I don't like to boast about my title or anything.... Not after what I did."

Curious looks were exchanged among the group as they all had one thought running through each of their heads. "What did ya do to be rejected from this 'God' status of yours?" Applejack asked.

I closed my eyes briefly before elaborating. "To put it mildly, I conquered the entire multiverse to do my own bidding."

There was an even longer silence from my statement, so I continued to press forward. "The multiverse was not a place filled with harmony and friendship at just about every corner way bcak when. Ideas and inventions were relatively new. Heck, at this time, the multiverse was wiped clean of its previous history. Death, violence, and slavery roamed ramped across just about every universe at the time. Long story short, I had a slight....problem with my psyche when I was growing up. I didn't have the best of.....caretakers either. Matter of fact, they relished my pain and misery."

I had to pause for a moment to let the terrifying memories pass out of my brain before I continued. "Anyway, at the time, I had finally had enough during my early years, so I barely escaped that life walking out into a whole new hell hole. In the end, I was simply too weak and inexperienced to survive for long. It wasn't until a little later on I required the power I needed to be rid of all the evil there was. I wanted to become a hero to the people of every world, but they all disgraced me for my good deeds," A dark glint in my eyes must have appeared as the girls and Spike seem to recoil slightly at my expression. "So I learned to say 'fuck them' and decided to take the whole multiverse with me. Ever since those years ago people refered to me as the Dark Lord of All Evil, ironic huh? Over the millions of years, I guess people forgot about that dark moment in the history of the entire multiverse. Not that I want them to remember such an event." I explained.

There was a mixture of feelings among the group, but one thing that they all had in common was they all didn't believe a word that I just said with a grain of salt. I expected them to go into denial. After all, they have been raised in an environment where such things were nothing more than terrible plot excuses introduced to cause the hero to intervene with 'saving' the land.

"As many people would say, ignorance is bliss, I guess."

Twilight turned her attention back on me with renewed interest. "How were you able to do that? If the 'multiverse', as you put it, were that chaotic and strange?"

I scrunch up my face temporarily in thought before looking at her again. "It's best if that was taken to my grave. Plus, I wouldn't want anymore master villains trying to attempt the same goal to get those ideas anyway."

"A-Are you still....evil?" Fluttershy stuttered just over a whisper.

I gently smiled. "No. Of course not. I wouldn't have saved Equestria from certain situations if I felt the need to be evil again. Evil is a choice Flutters. Nopony is ever born evil." Fluttershy seemed to be satisfied with my reply.

But I didn't have enough time before a certain pink pony blurred in a flash of pink straight at me before moving all around giving me only enough time to see her excited face.

"OOOOHIcan'tbelievethatimmortalsactuallyexistjustlikeinthelegendsbutthat'snotgoodsinceIhaveneverthrownanofficalWelcometotheMortalRealmpartyforanyimmortalbefore!" (OOOOH I can't believe that immortals actually exist just like in the legends but that's not good since I have never thrown an offical Welcome to the Mortal Realm party for any immortal before!) Pinkie said in one breathe. Sometimes this pink anthropomorphic horse really surprises me.

I teleported out of the chair and into the middle of the furniture that the group sat in while Rarity seem to be dealing with the pink frenzy. I sighed at the previous reactions. "Alright, now that's out of the way, what would be the ongoing problems that are happening in Equestria." I acquired bringing Twilight out of her spaced out trance.

"Oh, yeah, about that..."

Celestia ends up in the Canterlot Castle searching the hallways for her target. However, she was nowhere to be found, and worst of all her spiritual signature is gone as well. She could feel the demon inside her head going berserk trying to release her frustrations out into the world.

The Sun Princess resisted that urge though. No, it was not something worth getting upset over. What mattered now was how the negotiations were doing. If she ever finds Twilight again, she'll just get the information out of her mouth. The Princess was very confident that Twilight would obliged.

A green flame appeared over her head as it fell perfectly into her raised hand. The seal was of royalty and had a star shape on it with a sort of 'X' on the Star. Twilight Sparkle came to mind as she opened the letter.

Her eyes widened in shock and concern. Her worst fears had came true. "Shadow is still alive?!"

"Well, isn't this a nice update. At least going to the creepy castle wasn't a complete waste of time."

Celestia ignored the demon's idle thoughts before she made her way into the throne room. She just as she was about to grab something to write with the doors to the throne room opened again revealing a Royal Guard in the doorway.

"Your majesty, the nobels have all gathered at the summit. They are waiting for your final verdict about the World Summit condition being held tomorrow." The guard said.

I nod to him understanding what that ment. "Of course. I'll be right there to answer their questions."

With his request satisfied, the guard left the throne room. Then, Celestia got an idea. She quickly pulled out the quill and rolls of paper beginning to write a letter to her favorite princess.

"Well, that must have been painful to see unravel." I commented. Twilight had just finished explaining to me how much Equestria dug its own grave. The other countires seemed more than peeved at the events with Hades and I. But they didn't know the finer details of the true caus. Some of the countries irriationally blamed Equestria for all the death caused by the 'Worldquake', they call it, as a result.

Twilight nods in agreement before pinching her nose in annoyance. She must really hate dealing with the privileged. Who am I kidding, every being with common sense hates noblety for one stupidity or another. That doesn't mean that all of the nobles are rich pricks.

"Yes, and I'll have to attend to the twelfth World Summit meeting to talk again about this issue." She stated.

I sighed wishing I could just slaughter the idiots and be done with it. However, past experience warned me such actions only cause civil wars.....and cults.

"I see, well, that most definitely-" In the middle of my comment, a scroll appeared in front of Twilight which had the seal of the Equestrian diarchy on it.

Twilight picked up the scroll reading it to herself before shock written itself on her face. "What is it?" I asked.

"Princess Celestia knows you are alive and she has asked for you to attend the World Summit with her." She said finally.

However, my shock was not greater than my suspicion. Something wasnt right about that set up. How could she have known about me so soon? "Did you sent her a message about me?" I asked.

Twilight still looked shocked just for suggesting such an accusation. "Of course not! I maybe a princess and admire her a whole lot, but I still would have waited to tell her about you. I did promise to tell of your existence after a month went by."

My senses went on high alert. If she didn't sent that letter than who did? "It's fine, I'll deal with that when we meet her face to face. For right now though, I think I had enough excitement for one day." I said feeling quite tired at the moment.

The group finally disbursed after hearing what I had said only stop once each to say their good byes before heading back into their own houses. I trudged up the stairs over to the bedroom opening the door to see the inside of it. The room itself appeared to be untouched while I smiled happily at my belongings still being there. Even my bed was in mint condition when I left on that faithful day.

I sighed contently before resting my head on the pillow. It didn't take only for my mind to drift off to sleep.

I felt myself drifting in nothingness floating like gravity did not exist. This startled me to think clearly before my nerves felt like they were standing on edge.

"Who's keeping me awake this time? Atone, is this another one of your sick jokes?" I questioned the emptiness around me, however, he did not respond to me. My paranoia grew to greater heights.

Then I heard the soft sound of someone crying. My ars swiveled in the direction of the noise before I felt myself getting off of the.....floor? I looked down seeing a solid grey surface below me.

I didn't particularly cared at the moment though my body moving automatically on its own. I start my track on this new surface getting closer to the source of the noise. The closer I got, the more familiar it sounded.

"Shadow....Please, help me!" A female voice cried out in the darkness around me.

My heart nearly stopped altogether hearing her exotic voice torn up in fear. "Zecora!"

My pace dramatically increased before I saw her laying on the floor crawling away slowly positioning herself against a vertial grey wall. I looked quickly around the sort of room to see five grinning bastards looking down at Zecora with a hint of bloodlust and desire. The room was also equally a mess with broken wood and pottery scattered across the floor. My anger rose in an instant ignoring every rational thought in my head, so I charged at the bastards. However, an invisible wall prevented me from getting any closer to the scene promptly smacking me in the face.

I looked back at Zecora seeing several bloody wounds across her body and her tattered clothing. Her arms wrapped weakly around her chest while the guards grinned in delight.

"What should we do with her, Shine?" One of the guards asked the obvious leader.

"We'll need to burn the evidence and remove everything we can about the Hero, as ordered, but first, let's have some fun." The leader, Shine, replied. Sinister laughter rang out from the guards as they closed in on the zebra in front of them.

My vision became red while my inner self-control slipped at that moment. I felt the black substance code me while Zecora wails fueled my fury. The once strong invisible barrier cracked under my berserk onslaught. I didn't care about morals or rules at that point. I only cared about making the guards bleed and scream in agony.

The invisible barrier quickly shattered upon itself. I felt myself run on all fours gaining a speed advange before lounging at the five guards. I saw their eyes widen in absolute terror before the fresh taste of blood filled my mandible. It felt...right to feel the adrenaline running through my veins. Most of all, the blood that gushed into my mouth tasted just as good as a dehydrated being in the middle of a desert finding a spring.

I felt my reality slipping from that realm as I began to see a light.

I awoke feeling the moonlight cast down upon me, but to my surprise, I was no longer in bed anymore. I looked at my surroundings until my eyes laid upon a carcass in front of mes My eyes immediately widened before feeling my mouth with my fingers upon finding out that said fingers were now claws. Nonetheless, I removed the claw and examined it to see stains of dark red on it. I realized a little too late that it was blood.

I go up from my prone position before looking at the carcass in fear of harming a pony by accident. However, the carcass turned out to be a big black grizzly eyes widen in frozen fear. Half of the poor victim's neck was brutally torn from his body confirming his death.

I looked at myself just realising that I was walking on all fours. I quickly head to a nearby water source to examine myself in the moonlight. My worst fears were confirmed seeing as my beast form had been activated on accident. A dragon version of myself stared at me in the face. I had midnight black scales with silver horns and jagged teeth. My serpentine red eyes also seemed to stare straight into my soul with a murderous intent plastered inside of them.

I couldn't stand myself in this form, but the thoughts of my late wife pushed me to a level that was unbareable to stand causing old feelings to rise from me. Just the thought of what those bastards did to her made my blood boil. And I'm still not even close to finding out who might have ordered the attack on my wife. After all, I had made many enemies in the past.

"I can't lose myself again. At least not right now."

I closed my eyes forcibly willing myself to return to normal. I could feel my features dramatically change getting smaller and smaller. I wait a few seconds more, before opening my eyes, to find myself back in my pony form. I had also realized that my clothes were shredded during my transformation. I grumbled angerily and mentally curse myself for destroying my nice clothes.

To make matters worse, I looked at my house's condition only for a more vulgar word to escape my throat. A huge gaping hole in in the side of my bedroom where I had burst out of in my fit of pure rage. However, I was too tired to fix the wall now. So I carried myself back into my bedroom promptly collapsing onto it face first.

"Where's whiskey where you need it?"

I had to force myself to fall back into a dreamless sleep again.

Chapter 9: [N. Moon] "Foreign Lands are Lovely, Don't You Think"

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It might be a little bit too late to mention this, but we found out where we landed in. Whatever power I used to summon us out of the crystal maze with that...thing inside had somehow teleport us both in Zebrica.

To make matters worse, I am informed by Chrysalis that they speak an entirely different language which would make communicating extremely hard to do. And this all started way too early in the morning. My head pound in agony as I groaned. It slowly passed before I focused on my surroundings again. Chrysalis looked back at me concerned written on her face.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a minor headache." I reassured.

Chrysalis didn't seem to be too sure by that response, but she shrugged it off anyways. We were currently walking through a field of grass with rolling hills as far as the eye could see. The only visible landmark that prevented us from wondering aimlessly was a very worn out stone pathway leading off to somewhere.

"How far are we to the nearest place of civilization?" I asked Chrysalis.

Her thoughts seem to go elsewhere as her jagged horn lit up in a green glow. "Not far."

My hopes were brought up, but they were immediately crushed again remembering the language barrier.

"This was going to be a difficult first encounter."

I could see the first indications of civilization in the distance intersecting to the old stone path.

"I just hope that the zebras don't freak out."

Chieftain of Zobama 4:30 AM

"Sir, sir! There are ponies at the gate!" A messenger rushed into my hut screaming me awake.

Oh, how I hate early awakenings. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury or the time to complain right now. I groan steering myself up from my dreamless sleep. I slowly positioned myself over the ledge of my comfortable bed rubbing the sleepyness from my eyes.

"What do you mean 'Ponies are at the gate?'" I asked almost regretting I even respond to him.

"That's just it, sir. One is an alicorn of the ponies."

My blood seem to run cold at that statement causing me to wake almost instantly. A full blooded alicorn heading into this small village? That doesn't sound right to me. All alicorns that I have read about were royalty to the ponies, and they were basically individual power houses to boot their threats of hostile takeover, if it came to that. I got up before putting on my Chieftain attire quickly bolting out of the hut.

It didn't take long to get to the gate made out of thick logs cut down by the nearest forest. I could tell a heated argument was happening just outside of said gateway. Closed of by several of our warriors to prevent the strangers from strolling on in.

"What's going on here?" I called out to any of the guards listening.

One turned their attention to me before saluting to show respect. "I'm sorry you had to get involved in this chieftain, but it's starting to get out of hand. Gumpa is getting increasing violent with-"

The warrior didn't get to finish his sentence before the soldiers around him start insulting the two ponies that were causing the newest problem. This was getting ridiculous.

I pushed my way through the warriors before turning around to face all of them. "Silence!" The shear volume of my voice seem to be startling enough to make the warriors fall silent under my command. "Let us not resolve this with violence, my warriors. We have been striving for peace for many generations to come. Don't let a couple of ponies ruin our reputation." I continued on.

The warriors seem to understand my logic so I decided to focus on the source of the problem: the unicorn mare and the alicorn.

At first glance, it didn't seem like they come here for anything formal if the torn up clothing on their bodies had any indication to go by. Focusing more on the alicorn, I could tell it was not Princess Celestia nor Luna that graced my presence. Recalling the urban legends of Equestria lessons, I remembered that tale of the Eternal Night that seem to cause the entire world to briefly panick.

I gulped nervously seeing the real thing in front of me: Nightmare Moon. She appeared to be exactly what the legends described her as. The unicorn mare stepped up to me before speaking in our native tounge:

"Hello, Am I graced with the presence of the village chieftain?" she asked.

Taking a better look at the unicorn mare, she has a green coat with a lime green mane to add to her beautiful jaden eyes. She had a unique presence to her that made her trustworthy in my mind. The details didn't necessarily matter to me at the moment.

"Yes, I am. What business do you have with my village?" I replied.

The Nightmare Moon spoke in a different language that was hard for me to understand especially since she was going a rapid speed. The green unicorn, however, spoke back to the alicorn in the same language. Nightmare Moon's eyes seem to widen understanding what was being said to her. The unicorn focused her attention back on me.

"I'm sorry for the interruption, chieftain. My name is Smooth Deal. I am the ambassador for Equestria to represent our newest alicorn: Nightmare Moon," I tensed up the horrible stories still fresh in my mind. Smooth Deal seemed to see this adding: "I understand that she has gained a reputation throughout Equis as being an evil tyrant, but I can assure you that she is not that kind of pony anymore. Celestia herself approves her seat on the throne, although being closely watched. You have my word she will not cause or start any trouble against you and your zebra warriors."

I stood there stiff analyzing the situation. Being a small village didn't help matters as news like this didn't travel too fast. My mind dashed her word as nothing but lies to cover up Nightmare Moon's true intentions. My eyes narrowed at Smooth Deal, but she didn't falter smiling at me, inviting me in. I then sighed resting my suspicions.

"I'll take your word on that, Smooth Deal."

The warriors around me seemed a bit shocked I would believe ponies' word. But if one thing is true about them, then they are speaking the Great Spirit's honest truth.

She smiled at me. "May we come in then?"

I hesitantly nod my head ushering her in the gate. My warriors made room for the two ponies to come in. They carefully walked into the village. I could see the two ponies speaking in their native tounge to each other probably exchanging new information with each other, but that still didn't settle my nerves. They are ponies after all. I'll need to keep a close eye on each of them.

I couldn't believe it. Chrysalis managed to get us in. I was sure that my presence would have ended up escalating the fight into total war. Instead, they led us into the village and we settled into a relatively large hut.

I turned to Chrysalis, aka Smooth Deal, surprise clearly on my muzzle. "How did you get us in?" I asked.

Smooth Deal smirked lying back on her hay styled bed. "Let's just say that you are lucky to have me. Zebra folk are very superstitious in the paranormal. They don't take kindly to evil spirits either."

I raised an eyebrow at her not sure how to respond to that. "Do they see me as one?"

"Considering that you held the world into an almost eternal night state, I would say that is very accurate." Smooth Deal replied.

Chrysalis' comment made me wince. I had no idea my actions would effect other species on this planet. For that matter, I didn't remember even learning about any other species other then the ponies of Equestria. Was Luna really that clueless?

"Thanks Chrissy." I said politely.

Smooth Deal nearly froze at the nickname I gave her while I chuckled to her dismay. I felt like taking nap anyway, so I just ended up staring up at the roof of the hut wondering where we should go from here.

"Chrysalis, how many sapient species are there still around?" i asked staring at the domed room. I could hear Smooth Deal shuffle in her hay bed getting comfortable.

"How many? Too many to count. The ones I know of are Dragons, Griffins, Hippogriffs, Sea Ponies, Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies, Yaks, Changlings...... I guess you can say that Equis is filled with all sorts of life," she shifted again in the hay bed. "And maybe more species of all sorts of live outside of Equis too. Judging by how different Shadow Faze seems to be even though he is a unicorn."

"True."

I could feel Smooth Deal staring directly at me. We lied there in silence as my mind slowly drifted peacefully to sleep.

Screaming.

I woke up with a start and shiver running down my spine. I got out of bed realizing it was either night time still or too early in the morning. Either way, it was dark out. The scream came to mind. To my right, Chrysalis was still fast asleep. "Must be a heavy sleeper."

I opened the hut flap before noticing something was different about the village. It looked so erie in the dark. Not a soul stirred out from their huts.

Nightmare~

That voice. My eyes widened hearing it behind me. I sprinted forward avoiding something that was about to graze my back. Turning around, I saw something that would make zombies look good. A distorted blob of a red crystal substance was there in the moonlight. It had a deformed mouth and hollowed eyes staring back at me with malevolent intent.

I needed to wake her up. "How did you find me Rufusdraco?" I growled continuing to back up while to red crystal substance gaining ground to me.

It smirked. "So he wasn't ignorant in revealing the truth to you. Yes, I am Rufusdraco. The fabled crystal of red,"

"Fabled crystal of red?"

"But enough with the introductions. I've spent too much time in scheming to have you ruin my chance." The blob grew bigger before two claws shot out of the mass of melted red crystals. It smiled again preparing to end me.

A green beam of concentrated magic shot in the thing's back side being able to propel the creature over a few feet. Smooth Deal stood where the thing was staring at me.

"Come on!" She cried out.

We wasted no more time in running. The thing roared in anger now managing to wake up to residences in the village.

Surprisingly, they were ready for the attack. The guards fetch spears then a moments notice before setting up a defensive perimeter around the vile creature. Rufusdraco growled in annoyance looking at the feeble metal spears pointed his way. He touched one of the spear before it engulfed itself in red crystal. The guard dropped it in fright of its power stepping back.

"You vile creatures disgust me."

I looked to my left seeing the chieftain approach Rufusdraco. He had a sheathed sword on his right side. The creature seemed to be amused by this zebra's bravery giving its full attentuon to him. "Vile? I would say I am a cleanser of parasites living on the planet's back. I'm just the exterminator."

The Chieftain unsheathed his lengthy sword revealing a unholy white blade in the dark. It shined to the point it hurt to look. I heard the creature wailing in agony before the light dimmed to a bareable level making the smaller details known. The blade consisted of strange runes all over the blade itself with smaller runes coding its handle. The creature's hollowed eyes widen in what I could tell was fear.

"That magic is not possible in this world. Damn him!" Rufusdraco fumed in anger.

"The Great One blessed me with this blade to strike down vile evil such as you. Die with Grace, creature." The Chieftain said raising the blade.

He swiftly struck the creature with the blade as it screamed in agony before cracking in the golden light. "This....is not over.....zebra! I.....swear it!"

Rufusdraco easily then shattered into a thousand pieces before the red crystal substance disintegrated into nothing shortly after. I was relieved to know that the creature was finally gone.

"This is the third time I had to deal with this thing," he looked at me. "And it was after you of all beings."

"Y-You can speak Equine?!" Smooth Deal exclaimed shocked.

The cheftain smiled at her remark. "Of course. I have to in order to speak in political matters. You two are clearly not a threat though. The Great One spoke it so."

The villagers mummered to themselves in their own language about the Great One. I was confused though. "Who's this Great One you are talking about?"

The cheftain seem to be satisfied with my question. "Come, I have much to show you." Smooth Deal and I looked each other for a second before following the strange zebra into his hut.

Unlike the other huts in the village, his was easily the biggest and more spacious than other huts. He lead us to a table and gestured for us to sit. We obliged to his gesture. He sat across from us looking quizzically scanning our expressions.

"Now, to explain the Great One we'll need to go back before the Empire existed. Back when evil reigned surpeme."

We listened intently before he started. "Long ago, Equis was in a constant state of chaos and bloodshed. Everycreature hated each other and to make matters worse, the Dark Lord took advantage of this to enslave the entire planet to his whim."

"Wait, who is the Dark Lord?" Smooth Deal asked.

The zebra grimaced remembering the monster. "The Dark Lord was once a monster of true evil, destroying and enslaving any being that got in this way of universal domination. He is said to have been the devil before the devil himself. Even the most evil demons whimpered in fear at stallion's presence."

Happiness returned to him a second later. "However, his reign did not last forever. The Great One came. His light was so strong and pure not even the Dark Lord could withstand against it. The Great One drove him and his evil forces out of Equis for the Dark Lord never to return again. Til this day, the Great One's light protects those that follow him."

"If this Great One is that special, how come we have never heard of him before until now?" I asked intrigued in the new culture I am learning.

He sighed sadness taking hold of him. "Unfortunately, many beings of Equis as forgotten or has doubted or denied in the existence of the Great One. Even now, only a few Zebra tribes still believe in the Great One thanks to the development of the Empire up rise."

It made sense in a way. Last time I remembered, from the history books, the Emoire has been around for five hundred years and growing still. It even became a known superpower that has its own grip on the world of Equis. The Empire of Zebrica has been known to not be friendiest toward "outsiders" making it difficult for them to deal with foreign governments.

"Thankfully, this village is not apart of the Empire. Welcome to Zobama if I hadn't said it already." The cheftain said.

Smooth Deal eyes widened in surprise. "Zobama, the Village of the Forgotten Arts?"

"So you ponies haven't forgotten about our little village yet I see."

"Forgotten Arts? What Forgotten Arts is that implying?" I asked.

The cheftain didn't speak. Instead, he grabbed his sword before unsheathing it. The zebra closed his eyes before the runes lit up on the blade once more. The same golden light danced along the edge of the blade before it was expelled out of the metal object. It appeared as if it slithered out into the air itself.

However, unlike magic it had a calming aura to it causing my muscles reflexively to relax as the snake shaped golden light slithered around Smooth Deal and I. "The aura you feel is the foundation of every being's core. This is what drives every creature with mystical powers that any force ever created. The Great One blessed us with this gift and we use it for the good for everybeing."

I stayed silent watching the amazing display of this strange power, but strangely, it was familiar. It felt like the same energy that I used in the crystal labyrinth. My eyes widen in realization while the zebra chieftain smiled warmly.

"It seems like Nightmare Moon has unlocked this ability unconsciously. I can feel it radiating off your very essence."

"I....Well...." I didn't know what to say. The zebra's expression hardens.

"But it needs to get stronger. It is not powerful enough at the moment to destroy evil yet. With training it will get better."

"Are you....offering to teach me the forbidden arts?" I asked thoroughly shocked.

"Of course, not just anyone can unlock the gift like it is nothing. If I let you go without asking I wouldn't be a proper teacher of the forbidden arts now would I?"

"I suppose not..... I would like to study the forbidden arts with you." I said.

The zebra's expression brightens. "Excellent! You may call by my name Master Jullboi."

And so begins the day where my life becomes that more interesting.

Chapter 10: "A Dog-Eat-Dog World"

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For the first time in a while, I actually thought of myself back on my home planet cooking myself some food, chatting to myself, relaxing on the calm beaches of Agaustin. That thought soon came to pass hearing the alien chirping of birds on my opened window seal.

"Since when was that window opened?"

It clicked in my brain seeing the gaping hole in my house still there. It looked like a wild beast destroyed that half just to get to the second story. I groaned getting out of bed.

I used my magic to slowly regenerate the original structure of my house. Good thing I took the time to build this home myself. Before I knew it the hole in the wall was patched up like nothing ever happened to it. I did ended up feeling slightly drained because of sheer amount of magic it required though. Reguardless, I went down stairs getting myself a cup of coffee.

Coffee never let me down even when I felt like the shitiest being in the world. Drinking the delicious drink brought a small smile to my face. Three knocks came from the door, so I went to answer the call.

I opened it to find an old work partner at the doorstep. Agent Sweetie Drops (Bon Bon), stared back at me shocked in disbelief like she was seeing a ghost. I raised an eyebrow at her waiting for the reality to sink in.

"Are you alright, Bon Bon?" I asked somewhat concerned at how she stared at me.

She hugged me suddenly saying words so fast I couldn't understand what she was saying. Right, I haven't shown my face to the other ponies around here. I rubbed her back awkwardly whioe she explained how sad she felt hearing me pass on. It's kind of awkward since I'm in front of her in the flesh. I just hope this is not a reoccurring theme.

Once she finally got over my reappearance, Bon Bon let me go giving me a bright smile my way. "I'm fine now that you are here. You must have a story knowing you!"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Not really. I just kind of been in a magical coma for five years. Isn't today the day of the World Summit?"

Bon Bon gasped. "Oh, I forgot! I was sent to escort you to the meeting place of the World Leaders."

I figured that was the reason for her appearance. "Let's get going then. Don't want to be late. Let me get I few things real quick."

"Of course. I'll wait." She replied.

I went back inside to fetch a few things in the house before following Bon Bon to the World Summit meeting place.

International Meeting Central 7:25 AM

I wasn't too surprised to figure out that the rest of the sapient species on this planet, except for some rare exceptions of wild animals, were bipedal in naturally. I saw guards from Ponies to Zerbra to Yaks in there different countries. I even see a different group of ponies that looked more like bipedal horses with their shades of brown: Saddle Arabians.

"Talk about a cramped space of a planet."

When a stray guard laid their eyes on me, they would freeze in place carefully studying me of me turning feral right instantly. These soldiers had keen eyes.

Moving forward, Bon Bon and I finally made it through the hallway into the domed area. The round table inside that had about twenty-one seats in total. Only two of those seats were not filled.

Bon Bon guide me to the round table catching the attention of every diplomat inside.

"Attention Leaders of Equis, I would like to present: Shadow Faze, the Hero of Equestria and Equis' Champion." A guard near by spoke out.

The murmurs start spread in the room. I took my place to Celestia's left side sitting beside her. Princess Celestia glared with a hint of frustration behind its gaze, who sat in the direct middle of the round table.

I reckonized a few of the leaders, but most of them I learned from the records in the Canterlot library:

Emperor Razorbeak of the Griffin Empire, sat left from me, Queen Lapriza of the Diamond Dogs Kingdom, Prince Rutherford of Yakyakastan, Dragonlord Ember of the Dragon Kingdom, Empress Zafel of the Zebra Empire and her consort, Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire and her husband, Prince Shining Armor
The Saddle Arabia's rukers also Duke Azzam and Dutchess Fatina sat in the first half circle section of the round table.

Continuing from Shining Armor: Queen Dostan of the Deer Kingdom sat to his left, followed by King Thorax of the Changling Kingdom. Then the three Changling Hives (Not to be confused with the Changling Kingdom.) with their respective rulers: Queen Aracpora, Queen Celvic, and Queen Larvare. The one seat that remains empty today housed the fourth Changling Hive with Queen Chrysalis.

The last four were the first and only known Democratic nation on Equis: the Furry Republic which housed four representatives that ran the nation. Senator Hollowclaw III of the Wolves, Senator Fluffball of the Rabbits, Senator Slyvilla of the Foxes, and Senator Lybella of the Leopards.

I smiled awkwardly at all the leaders present before Celestia cleared her throat catching everyone's attention. "Let us officially begin the twenty-first world summit meeting. Our opening discussion is about relative news reguarding a newer threat. Empress Zafel, do you mind explaining what has required the attention of the world summit?"

All eyes fell on the Zebra ruler as her expression carried little room for her emotional baggage.

"Yes, I do have a small amount of information, Princess Celestia. This new threat is a creature of many faces. I don't know the particulars to the creature, but what I do know is that this creature lives off of other zebra like a parasite." Zafel said.

The unsettling visualization made most of the world leaders cringe in disgust. Apparently, this kind of villainary must be very rare on Equis.

"Now that the zebra tyrant mentioned it, yaks have been attack against their own for a while now. I suspected same creatuee is responsible!" Prince Rutherford blurted out.

Side conversations stirred up before Celestia placed her hand down on the table gathering most of the leader's attention. "Then a truce must be in order so that we can focus on-"

"And allow your Royal Guard members to surveillance my kingdom unchecked? Do you take us for fools, Celestia?" Emperor Razorbeak questioned folding his claws.

Celestia's eyes hardened visual hate being directed at the Emperor. It soon passed into a calm demeanor. "Of course not. I'm just suggesting we all join forces to stop this threat together. If we do so, then it would make it harder for the creature to do anymore damage then it already has."

"What an excellent idea, Princess!" Dutchess Fatina commented. Celestia gave a warm smile her way.

Slyvilla huffed. "It's a nice idea, Princess, but I think we should push more towards supplying each other with resources. That way, we can establish research facilities specifically examine to make cures from this creature."

I couldn't help but look back at the senator fox in amazment. She was able to come up with a solution like that in no time at all. I've only known of one other being with that kind of intelligence, but unfortunately, he sadly doesn't exist anymore. A wave of sudden sadness filled my head with more negative thoughts. The man was a villainous mad scientist, but his sinister reputation did little to conceal his love for exploring and discovering new techniques in the bioscience field. He was one of the few that I had no problem hanging out with once in a while. While I won't consider him as a friend, I did thought he was a nice 'evil' guy to talk to about the unknowns of the universe and how it works in impossible ways. I eventually shook myself out of my own despair to continue listening in.

Dostan's ears perk up. "I have facilities that could be of use for those resources. My kingdom has the finest mages stationed in the facilities, so they would be safe and in a controlled environment."

"Perfect! All we need is a piece of the creature." Fluffball said.

The Senators and Queen Dostan glaced toward the zebra and yak rulers.

"Yaks have no trouble with giving infected yaks to deer and Republic. As long yaks are treated fairly." Rutherford stated analysing their faces.

"Of course, you have my word, they will be cared for like our own citizens. Once our research of this cresture is done, we will cure the yaks back to normal." Slyvilla said.

A hint of a smile could be seen on the yaks buried face, but quickly turns stoic. I could tell Celestia was getting annoyed when they brushed off her idea.

"This deal sounds promising. How long will the research take to finalize?" Razorbeak asked.

"Well, the actual time is unknown since we have never seen this creature yet up close, but I can assume it would take seven months maximum." Dostan stated.

Hollowclaw leans into his chair more. "As long as we get some time to test out my skills against this creature, then I'm in."

"I would also like to provide assistance in researching this creature using my facilities of the Crystal Empire." Cadence announced.

"Plus, I can provide extre protection with my magic." Shining Armor added on.

Celestia seem to not disagree, but was not happy with her choice. "Excellent, I will provide the necessary equipment needed for the research." Slyvilla said.

"I suppose supplying the energy needed would help speed this process along. I'll make the arrangements when I get back to the hive." Queen Larvare stated.

The Zebra Empire, the Dragon Kingdom, the Changling Kingdom, and the ponies of Equestria joined in on the deal unfolding. All except Queen Lapriza, who wished to stay neutral in political matters, and the last two Changling hives.

I might have slept though some of the meeting.

"I don't know what you hope to gain in this, sister, but let us hope you made the right decision." Queen Celvic said skeptic of the other rulers around the table.

I would be too especially since opening massive resource trading could possibly make themselves vulnerable to attacks.

The last Hive Queen smirked. "While it is an interesting proposal, I would turn down this offer. I'll stay neutral in this matter." Queen Aracpora said.

"Very well then," Celestia said "eighteen of the twenty-one representatives of each nation has agreed to proceed with either provide resources to research this new creature, or house facilities for the research sessions. Any other worldwide news any of you have to update from last summons?"

Silence greeted the great halls in the meeting room. "Right then. Now it's time to prepare the feast."

I had no time to react when several portablle trays came out of the kitchen doors to greet the rulers of the world. I don't remember much else because it was just talking and dining to their hearts content.

While I was finishing my meal, Empress Zafel decide it was the right time to approach me.

"So your the infamous Shadow Faze that slayed Hades, right?" Zafel asked.

I gave her my full attention noticing her consort is not too far from her side. "Yes, I am, Empress Zafel. I see you have taken an interest in my accomplishments during my time in Equestria."

"Indeed. I was hoping if you could perhaps aid me in the combat field some time. Maybe even spar with each other." She suggested.

I had my suspicions with the rulers of the world. Working with nobles never really felt right with me anyways.

"That's a generous offer Empress Zafel, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. Maybe some other time." I replied.

She wore an apologetic smile to mask her emotions inside. "I see. Carry on with what you were doing then." Zefel left her consort trying to keep up.

I paid no further mind to the disruption and easily finished the meal deciding to just mingle with the rest of the crowd.

Fortunate for me, the conversation came to me as the Senators of the first Republic nation came up to meet me.

"My, my, he really does look like a charmer for a stallion." Lybella purred softly.

"Are you Shadow Faze?" Slyvilla said.

I looked back to see three of the four senators of the Republic up closer than before. Senator Slyvilla is a ruby red fox with a pearl white under belly. Her eyes shown like embers in charcoal.

Fluffball had aqua colored fur on her body with a white round tail. Her eyes shown like sapphires with her whispers being white as her tail and underbelly.

Lybella, unlike the other two flurries, had a more earthy look to her. She had brown fur with black spots, the same pattern with her tail as well. Her bright orange eyes had to same wave of feriousity has her personality as she licked her lips together. I could tell she was eying me analyzing my every movement carefully.

It kind of was unsettling to see.

"Yes, Senator Slyvilla, Fluffball, and Lybella I presume. Where is Senator Hollowclaw?"

"Oh him? Don't worry about him. He tends to get antsy when it comes to peaceful political issues."

"Ah," I sympathized with Hollowclaw to some degree always wanting to cut as few corners as possible to solve an issue. "To what do I owe the pleasure of speaking to you three ladies?"

"Is it true that you took out King Sombra singlehanded?" Fluffball asked.

I scratched my mane. "Well, I did mortally wound him before the 'purge' happened, so I guess I did."

"Quite," the leopard furry got uncomfortably close fluttering eyes. "Just so that we are on the same page, I am more than happy to bed with a stall-"

Senator Slyvilla swiftly yanked Lybella away from me a bit irritated by her antics. "Don't mind her. She tends to do that in a teasing manner."

"Sure didn't sound like a tease to me."

"Sorry to intrude, but can you tell us where you were born? It's just we have heard so little about who you are in general. I'm not too sure if I have ever seen a dark toned stallion before now. If I'm not mistaken, Equestrian stallions are technicolor in fur design." Fluffball points out.

"Well. You wouldn't be wrong with that observation. You see, I come from Northern Equestria, also known as the Highlands. Every pony that lives there are slightly different due to the harsh terrain in the mountains." I lied.

"Really, you used to live in bat pony territory?"

I didn't expect the rabbit senator to know the Equestrian territory so well. "Yes, I lived alone with my mother."

Slyvilla seemed to be contemplating to herself while Lybella seem to sense the mood of the conversation changing.

"Well, looks like we should be on our way, stud. Business to deal with in preperation for the new trade lines" The leopard senator beckoned the other two senators to leave with her. They followed her lead. "Come visit the Republic when you have the free time."

"Sure. I'll be sure to come by."

Once they were out of voice range, I turned around looking for Celestia. I eventaully found her and the meeting went by quick after that.

We left for Canterlot after the meeting came to a swift end. All three of us seem to be glad we didn't have to deal with the constant threat of war looming over us.

Later that evening, the Celestia summoned me to her chambers. I went without question to her throne seeing as she was currently busy with something. She seemed to be talking at an open window.

The sun princess noticed my presence as she turned around to face me.

"Ah, just in time," she said reaching into her desk to pull out a sealed scroll.

I raised an eyebrow at her a question already forming in my head.

"I nedd somepony to deliver this to Empress Zafel for me. Apparently, an antimagic zone has been effecting the kingdom for a while now."

I stood there silent trying to figure out her reasoning. It seemed too simple of a task tp do, but I am still technically apart of the Royal Guard. I took the scroll stuffing it in my pocket.

"I will do as you ask. I'll be back before you know it."

"I'm counting on you my little pony." She said earning a small tick in my jaw. I hated being called that.

I walked out silently reguardless of however not really in the mood for any games.

Princess Celestia stared at the window once more thinking of the different ways this could play out. The sounds of wings flapping stirred her from her thoughts as the cloaked humanoid figure with white wings float in front of the window seal.

Celestia's eyes quickly shift to orange serpentine eyes and her previous calm expression turned into one of mild hatred.

"What do want Jehoel. I told you once to stay out of my way, but here you are with the nerve of showing your face to me again." Celestia said coldly.

The angel said nothing in her defense only staring into the alicorn's eyes. Her silence didn't last long. "You have no chance in killing a foe this pure with sin. You will surely perish in the fiery depths of hell itself if you don't correct your ways." she said cryptically.

Celestia gritted her teeth angerily at the angel gripping the railing to the point the smooth marble began to decay under her touch.

"You underestimate me, Jehoel. I was created by the Creator himself to purge anything I touch. This monster will fall like the rest and so will this pathetic world for what they have done to me." She seethed.

The angel took a moment to hover before a sigh escaped her lips. "I have given you a choice now you will suffer the consequences for your own actions in due time. Wrath brings upon utter destruction."

Celestia lights her horn before shooting a beam of fire at the angel. Jehoel caught the fire in the palm of her hand before exhausting the flame by clenching her hand into a fist.

"You think your so powerful, do you? We'll see who sits on top when Heaven burns as hot as Hell."

Celestia shuts the window closed preventing any further conversation. "I fear she has fallen into madness, dear Creator." the angel said before flying high into the sky out of sight.

The trip to Zebrican Empire was truely a pain. It took me months of tracking, crossing seas, and getting lost just to reach this place. That was until I came upon into the Empire. It looked ancient, but fairly well built with Imperial Guards placed all around its boarder walls.

I walked through the open archway seeing different striped zebra pass through main stone road. Some zebra honestly looked startled I made it so far into their territory, but otherwise said nothing to me.

Pondering their expressions of my visit, I assumed they didn't think a 'Equestrian pony' would come out this far from their main land.

Two Imperial Guards stepped up to me before attempting to stop me. "Halt, pony."

I made my stance as less threatening as possible. "I'm apart of the Royal Guard, gentlestallions. I'm here to deliver a message to the Empress straight from Celestia herself."

The two guards looked at each other with concern realizating just how important this message was.

"Follow us then." One of the zebra guards said as we walked deeper into the Empire.

I mostly did not care for small talk, so I ignored most of the conversation the two guards said. And on top of all of this travelling I grew quite bored with myself.

"How can Heros withstand so much talking and walking all over the place. It's quite an annoyance."

I grimaced inward focusing back on the two guards. "How much further?" I said bluntly feeling like we have been walking for hours on end.

One of the guards looked over their shoulder. "Oh right, the Empress's castle is just up ahead. You can't miss it."

I thanked the guards as they went their own ways, muttering how strangely familiar the Empress's castle is to me. Maybe it was the design of the castle? The castle is dark midnight blue and gold color that made it appear misplaced out of the bland peasant homes surrounding it like a maze.

It stood several stories higher than the homes around it too giving the fortress a superior look toward the building. I sighed before entering the castle drawbridge, which happened to be open at this time.

I was stopped by another pair of guards with halberds crossing each other to block my path. I showed and explained my presence allowing me to offically enter into her domain.

The castle was not as complex as it appeared having only three hallways to walk through. I chose the middle hallway leading me into the throne room.

Empress Zafel sat in her seat of power glaring into space, almost thinking of something in the distance. Her thoughts were disturbed when I came in causing her to pause in the thought process. She sort of glared at me until she recognized me, slightly shocked of my presence.

"Oh, it's been a while since we met at the Summit. I did not expect you to come all this way." Zafel said pleased I took the journey.

"Well, I am unfamiliar with the rest of Equis, so I thought 'why not explore it more in depth'?"

"I see. Well, I suspect you would require some refreshments for your long trek to my homelands."

I thought upon it feeling my sleep deprived mind swirl the question around in my head. "Of course. That would be wonderful actually."

Zafel gave a small smile. "It's an honor to have the Hero of Equestria as my guest. Servant? Fetch me and my guest some food."

A zebra stallion in some type of exotic uniform nod furiously before retreating into the kitchen of the palace. I couldn't help but feel welcomed into the zebra lands. After all, Empress Zafel rules all of Zebrica, right?

"So tell me, Shadow Faze, why have you brought yourself all the way here for?" The Empress asked.

"I simply came here to deliver an important message. Apparently, their have been antimagic interferences going on cutting your lands from magic mail. So I'm the delivery colt for Celestia." I said gaining the Empress's interest.

"A message and an antimagical interference?"

I simply gave the zebra the bound up scroll as she opened it up to skim over the context inside. She didn't appear to react to the message badly. Instead, Zafel grew a unsettling neutral expression.

Once she read it all, Zarel glanced back up at me replacing her previous expression with a smile. "It seems to be nothing of importance right at the moment," she hglanced to her right seeing one of her servants call out the food to be ready. "Come, let us eat."

I came without question heading into the 'dinner room' pf the palace. My saliva could be bately contained sseing the vast amounts of varieties of different food. All look absolutely irresistible to any starving eye.

I wasted no time sitting myself at one of the mant seats before stuffing my face up with food. The empress seemed to get really amused of my actions before properly placing herself at the long table. "I hope the food is up to par with your standards?"

I couldn't speak back as I simply nod to her direction going back to my devouring. The Servant seemed to be pleased with my response.

Before I even realized it, I ate four full meals of food before me. Patting my stomach giving a satisfied smile with a sigh. Having to go without descent food really sucked, not to mention I had no clue how to survive in Zebrica if it came to my own survival.

My instincts flashed in alarm as I felt something tingle throughout my entire body. Utter confusion and panic filled my mind. What was happening to me?

"Whau....is....gawing on?" I could barely say feeling my jaw and tounge go numb.

It got to the point where I couldn't feel anything anymore. I tried moving my arms, my legs, anything, but all I got in response was nothing. I couldn't move.

My eyes widen. The empress slowly got up before crouching in front of me. Her smile became wicked in nature eyeing me up and down like she is seeing me for the first time.

"My, my, I didn't expect a mighty hero like you to fall for a simple trick like this. But I guess being extremely hungry gave you no room to question me anyways," she leaned into my ear, almost breathing calmly into it. "Your Princess grew tired of your interferences. She brought you here with the attempt to remove you."

Shock and horror coursed through my body trying to figure out why would one of the princesses want to get rid of me. Why get rid of their best ally?

Zafel snapped her fingers calling for her servants. They respond as four zebra servants enter the room. She smiled wide gesturing toward me. "Pick up this stallion, servants. He may still have some use."

The servants did as they were told while my eyes darted around to see what was happening. The empress smiled while a sudden shiver went through me. Her cold, calculating eyes spoke of curiosity and sinister glee. Which made me wonder what she had in mind for me.

At the same time, it felt like I already knew the answer and was just denying the fact all together.

"I wonder what offspring can you make for me?"

Chapter 11: "Breaking Point"

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The night was the perfect time to strike. The sliver glimmer in the air captured the light just well enough to make it detailed to see. Nightmare Moon sneaked passed the stationed sentries to get a better glimpse inside the fortress guarded by Zebra Imperials. She drew her straight reinforced steel katana as it glimmers in the moonlight hypnotically. It's partily why she nicknamed the blade Eclipse because of how easily it can distract its target with its fury strikes.

Nightmare took cover behind a corner of the wall as a Imperial zebra guard marched toward his perch. Once he was close enough, she used the force of impact the katana had to completely decapitate him. His body fell limp with the sudden loss of control.

She looked around to see if her attack alert anyone to find nopony had even noticed. Nightmare dragged the body out of view before jumping over the other side of the wall waiting in the night. It didn't take long for another presence to approach from the front gate.

"You're late. You should have got here two minutes ago." Moon said nonchalantly.

The zebra in consealing black clothes shrugged not really minding the tardiness. "At least I got here. Were the Imperial sentries tough for you to handle?" He asked.

"They were efficient enough. I didn't have to exert my will on them in order to kill them properly. Have you located the nest yet?"

The concealed zebra had a hidden smirk under the clothing. "Now that we're inside I can detect where it is. It's in the main castle, somewhere in the basement. For whatever reason it seems to be growing in power."

Nightmare looked horrified at that remark. That means a good chunk of that crystal bastard is in there. Her katana glowed a faint gold color before her smile returned.

"Lead the way then."

Shadow's POV

I watched as Zafel stride to my spot on the rich red bed sheets. She had me tied to the bedposts on my back. Unfortunately, the drug she gave me earlier didn't seem to be wearing off, nor did my magic seem to be working at the moment either.

She leaned forward nipping my ear while it twitched instinctively. If my stare could kill, then the zebra empress would already be dead. She softly moaned while I tried fighting the wanning drug.

"You're a fighter I'll give you that Shadow. Even now you are continuing to resist me." She backed away before carressing my muzzle. I tried using my horn magic only to be rewarded with a jolt of pain letting me know she took the liberty of restricting my magic. She even had a gag around my mouth to silence me. An evil smile spread across her face as she used some sort of magical chalk stick drawing something on my body.

"I'm sure you're familiar with runes judging how knowledgeable you are with most ancient things," I knew from experience that rune magic could be powerful given how much knowledge the person obtains. "I gathered enough ingredients to cast an enslavement spell."

My eyes widened in fear. "Ah, so you are familiar with our people's magic. You know as well as I do that zebras can't use magic like ponies do. So we have been studying a different kind of magic to suite our need to defend ourselves from the tyrannical ponies and their rulers. I'm sure you are aware how terrible the ponies are."

Zafel knelt beside me watching me closely with a fascination of my features. "The ponies haven't been kind to you either. They see you as a monster to be put down or restrained under control. They are afraid of you. Even the celestial sisters are weary of your power. Celestia made a terrible mistake of sending you my way though. She expected me to kill you where you stood."

I laid there in mild shock mauling over her words. Do they really consider me so much of a threat that they send me to another country to be rid of me?

"But, fortunately for you, my little Shadow, you'll have a new home to live in and never feel alone again. Then we can take our revenge together," I wasn't easily swayed because she continued to mark me with the enslavement spell. "I know what you'll do if I let you loose though. You don't like to be reined in by government, so think of the spell as insurance of your allegiance to the Empire."

I seethed through my gagged mouth desperately trying to at least move my arms. "Resisting will only make it more painful for you."

She finished the runes before repeating: "Use. Seize. Control."

The runes glowed under an ethereal light before pain shot directly into my brain. My screams were muffled by the gag. The spell tried its hardest to bend my mind to make me obey Zafel. Her beauty, her curves, her voice seemed almost heavenly in my tainted vision.

Really, Shadow? I'm disappointed in you. She has the God of all that is evil in her hands and you are not even putting everything into destroying her entire existence.

"I'll destroy everything.... I can't let myself loose control again. I don't have them with me to stop me if it gets bad enough."

So you would rather be her slave? I answered Atone with silence Then prove to her why we are feared. He growled in my mind.

Reluctantly, I let my rage go unhinged into my magic before my vision began to blotch into darkness.

Zafel smiled at her accomplishment. Finally, her toy will bend to her will. She thought briefly about the group of zebra who still believe in the old ways of their people. The Empress dismissed the thought letting them live for now will make there suffering much more satisfying. All she needed was her toy to be in her control only.

She walked up to him untying his binds from the bedposts. Letting his convulsing body lay limp on the bed. He was the key to enslaving the pony race to her will and her blood line. It would be a nice revenge considering what the bitch princesses did to her people.

"I'll make sure you will suffer for all eternity, Celestia. You'll be everyone's personal bitch." She couldn't help a smile to curve up her lips.

The convulsing stopped, but Shadow got up without saying a word. His eyes shot open revealing souless black holes that used to be eyes. An eerie darkness covered his fur body shattering the runes that covered his body. The Empress shrank back until she hit her back against the wall.

"Guards!" She shouted.

Several personal guards of the Empress burst into the room to assess the situation. Shadow didn't mind the extra company though smiling at their arrival.

His body shifted growing bigger with each passing second. A pair of leathery wings shout out of his back, his claws sharpened and grow longer. The jawline extended with his face his eyes turning more reptile. The small flat teeth he had turned carnivorous growing thicker and stronger to tear things apart. Five white horns shot out the back of his skull. Black shining scales formed replacing the fur on his ever-growing body. Growing bigger result him to grow into a quadrupedal posture to balance to weight evenly. His hands and feet expanded into claw palms for extra padding. The spine pushed inward before growing a singular line of spine spikes going down his entire spine. Finally, a thick spiny tail shot out under his pelvis curling at the end into a spade shape tip.

Zafel's pupils shrank at every transformation knowing exactly what he resembled: a dragon.

Shadow growled narrowing his eyes at the prey before him black fire licking his maw. Zafel sprinted to the exit pushing the fear frozen guards aside to make it out of his range. He breathed fire upon the unfortunate guard zebra instead.

Their deaths and screams motivate the Empress to move faster. The dragon roared before bursting out of the brick that once concealed his towering form. His body continued to grow in the moonlit streets of the Zebran Empire.

Nightmare's POV again

We continue down into the basement of the castle easily by passing the security. Master Jullboi had mentioned that the Empire had a tendency of underestimating the enemy. Either way, we were able to breach the lowest level of the castle close to the Royal Dungeon. The steel door had strange markings engraved into the metal with a single wooden blockage to safeguard the door.

The concealed zebra used his will to run over the engravings carefully. I watched seeing the markings glow individually at a time before all the light died out. "I disabled the runes for now. It will activate again shortly so let's get moving."

I nod lifting the wooden board aside before opening the steel door with my horn magic. The door easily unlocked opening into an empty dark space.

We walked in the room while I prepared a light ball spell to get a better view of my surroundings. I flinched seeing parts of the walls covered in the same red crystal from the Labyrinth. Only the slightly rush of wind could be heard choking out any other noise in the chamber.

"Well, we found the place." My companion said.

"So the Warriors of Will show themselves again in my presence." Rufusdraco's voice hissed into the room.

The crystals around us morphed into the walls before forming into a dragon head. It chuckled before expanding further into a dragon body to complete his dragon look. He stood as a bipedal before walking arnound us. We drew our weapons ready to fight back. He stared looking utterly bored.

"Interesting you want to kill me when there is something worse running wild around the world."

"Don't lie to us Rufusdraco. We know your plans. You tried to kill me so that it would be easier taking over the world for yourself, isn't it? The kinds of monster like yourself never change." I spat out.

Rufusdraco chuckled holding up a pointed claw into the air. He air drew a circle creating a red circle light in the air. "I do desire to conquer this planet, but that's more of a secondary mission after the main event happens. It wouldn't do me much good if I started conquering now."

"Then you shall fail in whatever plan you have, red demon." The zebra replied.

Rufusdraco smirk. "Cute. If only two you knew the truth."

Red crystal burst from the ground while we both dodged the pillars. I dashed to its right before slashing at Rufusdraco. The blade was covered in my will so it-

The blade deflected off Rufusdraco's hide before the monster punch me in the face. I landed a few feet away as my comrade kept him occupied. When the shock left I eventually stood back up. My companion got launched back into the wall.

The dragon turned his attention to me his crystal red eyes gleaming with glee. "I have forgotten how desperate you mortals are when faced with a true enemy. No wonder the gods enjoy toying with you mortals. It is fun watching the life leave from your body, but it's equally interesting seeing you come up with different ways of repressing yourselves."

I released a chain of attacks managing to chip his scales slightly while he didn't bother blocking. He smiled grabbing me by the neck raising me in the air while I accidently dropped my katana to try and break from his death grip.

"Even before the age of bipedal animals, everybeing always had an obsession of being on top, and look where it lead to," he pushed me into the ground breaking some rocks in the process. I pushed myself up trying to concentrate.

He grinned quickly grabbing my horn before coding it in red crystal. Pain shot through me as I collpased on the ground again. "How..... How are you...... so much stronger?"

Rufusdraco shrugged. "Practice, my dear. After all, I have nothing to fear from magic users, so I had centuries to prepare. Besides, you don't have enough to beat me in my current form. I just came here to talk, to you."

"Just kill me then if you plan on defiling me."

He laughed. "Little alicorn. There are worse things in this universe then rape and death. I don't do either unless I feel like getting my conscious dirty. No, you have potential that is being wasted on the Warriors of Will. Potential that could be used for a greater cause."

What does he mean wasted? What's wasteful on a power that has a chance of killing him?

"I don't understand." I said breathing slowly to calm myself.

"Of course you don't, dear. You're not looking at the bigger picture. The world hasn't gone wrong up until a certain black unicorn appeared out of nowhere."

My mind instantly went to Shadow, but he's died. He couldn't be alive after what Hades did to him.

"Shadow is not here anymore, and even if he was, he'd never be a nuisance to anything. If it wasn't for him-"

"Then you wouldn't be alive to tell the tale. That's what you were told anyway."

I couldn't tell what he was thinking so I played along. "How could I survive the Elements of Harmony without Shadow interfering?"

He smiled wider. "That's the mystery, isn't it? You see, this reality was never meant to happen."

He picked me up by my mane dragging me across the floor. I tried breaking free from his strong crystal grip. Rufusdraco grabbed my zebra comrade before slamming his face into the wall further breaking his nose.

A pained groaned escaped his lips before the dragon let him go to wallow in his own misery. "You see how fragile you creatures are? The people before your ancestors were able to handle that amount of force leaving nothing but a large bruise on their face," he picked me up to look at him eye level. "That same fragile bod structure is like how time and paradoxes are forged and formed. This alternative reality split when Equestria first formed. As history does though, it tends to repeat itself for better or for worse."

I glared at him using my hands to wrap around his scaly neck, but he didn't seem to flinch from the pressure. "Why do you insist on torturing me? I did nothing to you! Stop talking in circles, what is it that makes my existence happen!"

He chuckles. "Why, me, my dear."

My efforts of trying to kill him halted. What did he just say?

"What?"

He smirked confidence bleeding through it. "You're the future for the alicorns, the first of many that I plan to make. The art of creating new life is hard, but worth the risk. So far, I have succeed in four. I think you know which ones. All except one."

My eyes widen in realization. "You wanted the alicorn trait to mix into the gene pool."

"Precisely. After all, all of creation has a reason to exist."

I dosed off in thought wondering what my purpose really was. He smiled dropping me to the ground. "It would be disappointing to havw to kill my greatest creation, of course. Your purpose hasn't been forfilled yet either, so there is no point in being down here anymore."

I scrambled to my hooves. "Why did you create my kind for? Why!"

Rufusdraco smirked seeping into the floor rapidly. "Your purpose will be revealed in time."

I wanted more answers and ask mroe questions, but he and any trace of him was already gone when my comrade managed to wake up from his beating. My healing magic activated flowing through the zebra.

"Thanks," he finally said. "The bastard got away?"

"Yeah..... he did."

The castle rumbled before the zebra could respond spreading broken pieces of rubble crom the ceiling across the floor. We sheathed our weapons before rushing out of the room still feeling the shaking, but it subside over a short period of time.

"Do you have any idea what it could be?" I asked.

"Not the slightest, but I feel a different magical power coming from outside the castle walls."

We hustled faster until we break outside. Chaos unfolded around us as piles of flaming corpses and buildings were all around. The smell nearly was enough to puke, but I ignored the feelings forcing myself to deal with that later.

A roar pierced the night sky making us flinch on reflex. It was clear that the roar was of dragon origin. "Looks like the monster had a point. There is a bigger threat upon us."

The giant black dragon dart across the sky blazing fire down upon the citizens of the Empire indiscriminately. And yet the dragon seem so familiar to me...

"Let's put the immediate threat down then." I said.

We unsheathed our weapons rushing at the dragon. Our willed weapons glowed brighter being closer to the dragon. My comrade looked shocked at the weapons' reactions. "I've never seen my will do that before...."

The brief distraction gave the dragon enough time to locate our position before his eyes narrow dangerously. He growled baring his teeth before opening his maw at us. "Take cover!" I shout at the zebra.

We scrambled behind a nearby building just as his black flame torched the surrounding area. Once the flames stopped I peaked over to see nothing but scorched land in its both. The dragon flapped his mighty wings before landing right next to us swiping his claw down to crush us. I rolled out of the way while my partner dived forward to avoid the claw.

I used my katana and cleaved into his claw causing the mighty beast to retract his claw with me in tow. I thrusted the sword out of his claw using the momentum to jump off and stab the bastard in chest. The dragon roars in pain before craning his neck down directly at his chest. The blade was pulled out and I fell down just as the black flames lightly licked my back. The flames against his open wound caused the beast to cut his breath short burning himself.

I smiled facing the dragon again just as his tail smacked me through two buildings. Groaning in pain, I picked myself up seeing my comrade trying to aim at the weak spot I gave the dragon.

Once again, I picked myself up going back into action. The dragon seemed to slowly get faster the longer we battled it making us slowly go on the defensive. Then he said:

"Little weak insects. Nothing but mindless animals fighting there predator superiors. You will die for your arrogance, horses!" His eyes flashed black before an unseen force slammed into us making us fly back knocking the wind out of us both. He growled walking up to our prone bodies. "Weak, pathetic beings. Stupid mortals!"

Out of desperation, I decided to mix something together like I did before with Rufusdraco. I fix my horn magic with my will my body glowing golden feeling the energy flow through me. My eyes turned white before a pure white golden beam from my horn shot the dragon in the shoulder. The dragon roared in agony being thrown off his feet as he tried to defend himself from his oppressor.

"You shall not harm another creature again, dragon! Be gone!" My voice sounded like three different voice on the same wavelength strangely, but that wasn't important at the moment.

The dragon's agony continued until the dragon was knocked back and out of sight disappearing in the sky. The power I felt before began to fade before it was nothing. I felt so weak after releasing so much energy so I waddled off to my comrade's side helping me stand up.

The zebra smiled patting my back. "You did good, Nightmare. I don't know how you did it though."

"Yeah, I did..." I looked up at the beautiful night sky that Luna safeguards in her care. "Why was I not able to blast Rufusdraco like that in the basement?"

In a forest 15 minutes after the light show...

An unconscious Shadow laid in the dirt. Entangled in a forest that was unknown to him. But he was not alone in the woods. Several growls came out from the forest depths.

A group of hungry dark grey scaly wolves with serpentine eyes and teeth approached his defendless form, ten in all.

When they were close enough though a being interrupted their approach. They yelped and sprinting away trying escape with their lives, yet the creature snapped his fingers causing the serpent wolves to spontaneously conbust into piles of gore.

Discord, the Lord of Chaos, chuckled to himself revealing his accursed chimera body covered in the strange black runes. He hovered over to his downed prey licking his lips taking his time to scan the damage done to him.

Shadow's left shoulder was completely burned through leaving a massive hole in his side. There was cut marks all over his downed body that Discord sensed was made by willed weapons. His clothes were also torn apart during the battle seeing patches of redish blood and fur mix with the wet grass. Even through all the damage he was still alive breathing weak shallowed intakes of air.

"It seems that it was right. It's the perfect time strike Shadow down," a manical grin spread across his warped lips using his magic to make a seven foot long sword of raw metal into existence. He brought the sword back eyeing his limp form wearily. "Good ridence, child of the Darkness."

Just then his body convulses suddenly making Discord loose focus dropping the weapon out of his hands. Shadow's fur start to retract into his skin and his muzzle grew shorter than normal. The mane he has grew shorter and more directed to the skull of his body. Shadow's eyes grew smaller fitting his new shrunken eye sockets, and his ears grew smaller and closer to his jawline with fewer ear muscles attacted. His teeth turned naturally more jagged then his previous herbivore teeth. The body morphed more into a well defined musculine shape while his tail retracted back into his body forming his tail bone along with his horn going back into his skull. And finally feet replaced his hooves.

Discord's eyes widen in recognition of the body before him. "Dovostro..." The runes all over his body faded from its normal piercing black color. "What have I done to you?" He picked up Shadow's unconscious human body staring in silent horror at his body. Discord recovered his senses as he could feel the curse try to reassert itself back into his mind.

He set him down carefully snapping his fingers letting his magic fill his body. Shadow's body began to regenerate at a faster pace replacing his tissue slowly. He sadly smiled. "There, that should help you before you go." His magic then forms a ball of green magic before he makes a diagonal slash through time and space creating a green crack in time. Discord picked Shadow up and stood before the tear. "You're not strong enough to face the threat that is about to come. Learn from the original timeline, little brother. Hopefully you can stop what is to come. You're the universe's last hope, little bro."

He then tossed his unconscious body into the flow of time before Discord fell to his knees in pain. He quickly shut the gate way to the dimension before the runes returned to there original color. Discord looked around the area searching for Shadow. He growls in frustration.

"It would seem that the little paradox himself has disappeared yet again. Master is going to kill me."

He snapped his fingers teleporting out of existence leaving the forest exactly as he left it.

Chapter 12: "Dragons and Tapes and Lies, Oh My"

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Empress Zafel stared in mute horror at the mutual destruction the black dragon caused to her Empire. One dragon, and hundreds of thousands zebra citizens and soldiers died instantly in the attack. The only dragon that she has seen personally at all was Dragonlord Ember. Even then normal dragons like to stay to themselves then bother other people, unless they want some food. But the black dragon had an alien structure that made him look stronger, faster, and more muscular than the average dragons she has seen. And it came out from the one pony she didn't expect to turn dragon: Shadow Faze.

Even if this new version of a dragon came out of nowhere, and so sudden too, it made the Empress more wary of the dragons' power. What if the dragons start gaining a sense of wanderlust? The whole planet and its current number of species would be at risk of extinction on a global scale. A chill went through Zafel's spine before redirecting her focus to her soldiers. Some were helping citizens get out of the rubble others were scouting the wreckage for the injured or dead.

She sighed to herself walking off to find her General. The soldiers part way from her presence as she walked up to the General of the Imperial Guard: Sabra Glacier.

"How many are injured?" Zafel asked looking for the numbers.

"Too many, your highness. We're still counting the growing collateral damage that was brought upon that dragon, if you could call it that." Sabra replied.

"Yes, it appears the dragon attack might be linked with the Dragon Kingdom if proved other wise."

"A fair assumption. There is two people waiting to have a word with you, Empress," General Sabra said.

She paid little mind expecting some peasant's plead for their families. However, to her surprise, a zebra and an alicorn showed up dressed in the infamous tribal markings of a group called the Warriors of Will.

Zafel couldn't hold back a snort, to her dismay. "So it seems that even now the Warriors of Will are starting to influence other races in their black magic. What do you want before I have you both arrested for treason and trespassing the Empire's borders." She replied coldly.

To the couples credit, they didnt seem to mind her threat. "Our reason to be here is not unfounded, but it is still classified to your closure or anyone else at this moment." The zebra replied with a small smile. "We just came by to make sure everything is in order with your people."

Zafel leveled her gaze at the cloaked zebra. "Yes, my people are in good hands," a few of the Imperial Guards finally appear to arrest the couple of warriors. "and so will you two."

The zebra didn't reply as the alicorn lit up her horn, and in a flash the two had vanished from sight. Zafel cursed kicking over loose rubble. It seems like now the Empress can focus on reconstructing the capital.

Nightmare Moon

At least we escaped from the zebra Empress. The bad news, we got our ass kicked by Rufusdraco. The new information he gave me confirmed he had a hand in..... creating me, and a few others too. Question is, I don't know how or why though. He has no magic that I know of from our last encounter. Even if he did have magic it has rules that only creates life from pre-existing life forms. For that matter, he has no reason in creating me other than to punish himself in some twisted way.

Then again he is a villain, somepony to trust their word with a grain of salt. It still leaves so many questions.....

I looked around the Village of Zobama letting my companion run off to tell Master Jullboi what happened. I opened a nearby tent flap seeing Smooth Deal laying peacfully in bed. It didn't take long to wake her from her dreamscape, but it did upset her greatly to be interrupted from her beauty sleep.

"What's wrong, Nightmare? Did you kill him yet?" She asked me.

I shook my head my ears pinning themselves behind my skull. "No, I underestimated his strength, but..... Nevermind, we just need to go back to Equestria."

Smoothe Deal's eyes widen in surprise. "Are you nuts! We barely escaped from there. If you haven't forgotten, I was in there dungeons for quite a few years in agonizing pain," she shuttered. "I rather just forget Equestria even existed. Maybe then we would be left alone too."

I sighed. "Chrissy, I need to go back. The... monster did a confession that I need to know and see for myself. If I find out the reasons for what he did in the past maybe I can finally kill him for good this time."

Chrysalis paused for a moment before groaning and muttered something nasty under her breath. "Fine, fine, just as long as I don't have to reveal myself to those damned ponies."

"Don't worry. You'll be fine. Oh, which reminds me! We need to let Master Jullboi know we're going off."

"Yeah. Let's get this over with." We walked out of the home to meet up with Master Jullboi.

He was currently sipping on some freshly brewed tea in his home. He seemed to be aware of the two ponies arrival as he gestured for them to come in. They obliged sitting themselves in seats near his table.

"Master Jullboi, I nee-"

"Need not, child. For I was already informed by the Great One of your departure." Master Jullboi replied.

"This 'Great One' seems to be the nosy type of God to me." Smooth Deal muttered.

The zebra's ears twitched to her comment, but made no move to correct her. "I see. Well, then you know I have to go." I said.

He gave me an eased smile. "Of course you do, for you have a destiny that needs to be forfilled. I must warn you however of one important fact you must learn."

"What do you mean?"

"Your next opponent is strong and will not give up so easily. For she is on the same side as you allied yourself with, beware." He warned.

I bowed. "Thank you for your wisdom, Master Jullboi. I won't fail you or myself."

"I expect no less."

Chrysalis and I left the hut without another word. I looked up noticing that the moon was out on this day. Whatever threat I have to deal with next, I'll make sure that it doesn't hurt the rest of the world. But, what is the threat that I have to handle?

In a small clearing in uncharted lands of Equis

A giant red crystal blob sludges through the open grounds unprovoked. Of course it was since any creature with half a brain would stay clear of the dangerous parasite.

It left behind smaller pieces of itself in its path that wondered the expansion of the forest looking for anything useful to work on breaking down. The largest piece of the crystal halt in its tracks sensing a powerful disturbance happening nearby.

A certain draconequus appeared out of thin air looking absolutely livid at the red blob. Discord snort in obvious disapproval. "Did you really have to tell your creation all that? Do you realize what you have done! Because of you this entire operation could go up in a shit storm! Not that I mind the chaos, but... you know who will."

The draconequus staring daggers at the pile of red crystal. The crystal form a heavily deformed mouth and eyes before grinning to itself. "Relax, old friend, I know of what your.... Master wishes to do. Let me do my thing and you and your Master's plans can run smoothy too. I know how badly you want to grind my oldest creations to mesh for destroying your sis-"

Discord body lit up with immense chaotic power picking up the red blob as he watched the thing choke in the magic. "Don't. Mention. Her. Again. Celestia and Luna will get what's coming to them. There is no doubt about that, Rufus," his expression switched to one of great boredom before tossing the lump aside. "Now, on to the bigger picture, is the pieces in play?"

The blob made an arm to rub its throat of its previous assault. "Yes, they are in play. With luck this would discourage any other holy beings from interrupting with the progression."

Discord gave a toothy grin floating higher in the air. "Excellent!" Clapping his paw and talon together. "Keep up the good work, Rufus!" With that, the creature of chaos disappeared. Leaving a miserable, pissed off piece of Rufusdraco behind.

Chrysalis and I reached a clearing so that we could preform the spell required fpr our journey. Since we were both powerful magic users we had just enough magical energy to be able to return to Equestria without a problem. I looked Chrysalis still disguised as Smooth Deal seeing the edge of worry and paranoia creep into her mind.

I smiled placing a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be fine. I'll explain the situation and possibly find out more of what is going on around here."

She nod her thanks to me. My horn glows as so do hers before a bright sphere of light wrapped itself around the two ponies. We vanished a split second later.

We reappear in a matter of seconds in a field of grass. I took a look around seeing that we were located within sight of Mt. Canterhorn and a mile from Ponyvile. Pretty accurate for a 5,800 mile teleportation would-be journey. Either way, my magic was half way drained, and Chrysalis looked a bit tired herself contributing to trip.

Chrysalis suggested that we had into Ponyvile for any development of what was happening while I suggested we head straight into the Canterlot Palace and things went from there. Eventually, I gave into Chrissy's plan admitting my idea was more risky due to the Royal Guard might attempt to scan for changling activity if we approach out of the blue in the middle of the night.

Reluctantly, Chrysalis and I head into Ponyvile. I surveilled the area around me to catch a familiar cottage in sight. Shadow's old cottage still stood in the same place even after being unattended to for years. Surprisingly nothing seem to disturb the house, or deface the structure. Not even the usual busy decomposers that are almost all too eager to have a free meal were seen about.

I suggested we stayed there for the night until the sun raises again. Chrysalis agreed as we went inside. The floor boards creaked under the pressure of our hooves.

"The bedroom should be upstairs to the left. The bathroom is to the right hall if you need to use it." I replied.

Chrysalis dropped her 'Smooth Deal' disguise stretching closing the main door and locking it in her magic. "You seem to visit him a lot in your spare time."

I lightly blushed in embarrassment even thinking of Shadow like that. "No, I don't visit him that much. I just happen to come by every so often to talk about lessons, or any information at all really."

Chrysalis gave a sly smile. "I figured that would be your answer. I don't blame you, the stallion has an odd handsome charm to him that even makes me feel warm inside. Off to bed then?" I nod. "Good night then. I'll join you shortly after I'm done cleaning all this dirt off."

I allow her to move into the bathroom while I walk into the bedroom. Surprisingly, the bedroom was quite simple for being built by the mysterious stallion himself. The walls were a plain blue with two dressers and a closet spread out in the fairly big space. A double sized bed with just two pillows laid squarely on their respective sides. There was also only a single window illuminating the moon and stars in a perfect proportion that made the moonlit cast a light on to the bed making it easier to see the bed.

I sighed walking over to the bed discovering a coffee table to the right of it. I saw a few things of interest like a watch, a picture frame and an odd machine. I stared at the machine trying to figure out what it could have been used for.

Pulling the drawer out it revealed several odd square boxes with black stuff in the inside of them. They had two holes in the white rectangles with lining digits that seemed to look like it fit in the machine. There was also something written on the boxes as well. I picked up a white box reading the label it had: Note Log: Chrysalis. I hesitated seeing the title not sure what it could have on it.

I pressed the odd box into the jutting pieces that the machine had watching it fit perfectly. Then I saw some black buttons and one red button. I clicked on the red button as the machine whirled to life Shadow's voice booming from the box:

"Note Log number zero-zero-three. I didn't expect such a new threat to come out of the blue in the form of a shapeshifter of all things! Some days are just too interesting to not record. Anyway, yes, the queen bug herself is captured by the sun cu- I mean, Celestia. Maybe I should have taken the bug queen under my care instead of letting a child deal with these matters. Maybe I should have killed Chrysalis in a painless death. The results would have still been the same. Everything would go right back to normal! Something isn't right about this universe. It's like a sinking feeling in the back of my mind every time I'm alone with my own thoughts.

Something is keeping the 'order' in this place, but not letting this world progress on its own. My suspicion says that the bug queen could be behind this ploy, but it's way too secretive and cunning for her tastes. It's something bigger. I just need to find out what it is. I'll continue to play the 'hero' of this world until a solid answer comes to me. Shadow."

The machine stopped playing as the red piece shot back up again having emptied all that was in the tiny box. My mind in the meantime whirled in confusion. What was Shadow looking for? The world seemed fine to me and from what I knew of things are progressing in its current changing. I didn't really believe his whatever self-indulging theories he had, but my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted some answers to my questions.

I searched through the white flat boxes pulling out two I wanted to see the most. They were labeled: Note Log: Celestia and Note Log: Nightmare Moon/Luna.

I took out the previous box and replaced it with the box labeled with my name pressing the red button again.

"Note Log number zero-zero-two. Well, I should start off saying how I'm roped into this mess from my last entry. These weird ponies creatures almost worship me as some type of hero. Ironic, right? After being treated with the opposite end of the stick you would think I would be happy about it. I defeated a threat that is said to be 'powerful', but that poor creature.... It didn't stand a chance against me. I was weakened previously being surprised attacked by a band of these 'Timberwolves' they call them. Either way, Nightmare Moon was not hard to defeat through her constant gloating and emptying magic on my magic resilient body wasn't difficult at all. Mild annoyance though. I do hope not to meet her again as the 'tyrant' she claims to be. More for her safety than mine. Doesn't really matter now since she is supposedly 'dead'. Anyway, the topic is supposed be about Luna. After wittnessing the transformation with the supposed 'Elements of Harmony' I decided to secretively study these artifacts in my spare time. Little is known about them except that they are one of the few tools that brought the world together. Mainly the ponies together, or someone tampered with the history books. Despite what Luna went through turning into Nightmare Moon, she doesn't feel that same resentment she felt towards her sister so long ago anymore. Not even a little. Even when it's bascially happening again, she is a shadow of herself.

If my theory on her is true, my guess is that a piece of Luna's personality ended up in Nightmare Moon making her a thinking entity of sorts. And if that is true..... These 'Elements of Harmony' aren't what they appear to be. So far, I have come up with no more information. Maybe some of my adventures can provide me with clues to what this world is trying so desperately to hide. Shadow."

It cut off again while I just stared at the recording in shock and mild horror. Has Shadow really been trying to investigate all these things while trying to defend Equestria from certain doom all along? Now that I think about it, some of what he says makes sense. Me, developing my own being mysteriously. Something keeping the 'order' in the world. The more I think about it the more obvious it was to me. I never really liked those six stones of harmony. They seemed too...... precise in their punishments. I mean, turning Discord to stone; sending Luna and I to the moon?

And lastly, attempting to destroy just me. I pulled out the box tossing it back in the coffee table before placing the Celestia tape in. I pressed play.

"Note Log zero-zero-one. The first recording of these damned bipedal aliens. Never in my life did I think I would run into the mother of all titty bouncers, or meet furries, period. I swear, I should have let the thing dissolve me into nothing while I had the chance. Either way, I'm stuck in this damn dimension. For some reason, some of my powers are being restrained on this planet, and the atmosphere is not fly able. It's too wild to attempt space travel either. The only thing I can do is hope that those Element of what-its don't attempt to blast me with that personality splitting stone thing. It seemed easy enough to dodge though.

I'm just lucky no one seems to know who I was before my... readjustment placement. Or they are too dumb to write it down and learn from their ancestors. Either way, I don't have to worry past criminal charges. Eh, on to topic! This Celestia character is highly suspicious in my opinion and hers apparently too.

I mean, who calls themself a 'princess' when obviously she rules them like a Queen? That's very odd she would have them remember her as a princess of all things. In my world, Princesses and Princes don't get too much recognition or power to a country while the Queens and Kings get most of, if not, all the power they want. So what is the reason for being so modest if you can just call yourself a Queen, and no one would give two shits about the title?

Speaking of which, the 'anypony', 'nopony' business. I keep saying the 'anybody', 'no one', but apparently they have replacement words that exclude everything except themselves...... That's a new one. I've been on a lot of adventures in my lifetime and yet this is a first for even me too. That's xenophobia up past several degrees higher then Hitler!

Regardless, I'm stuck with xenophobic walking ponies that seem hellbent on degrading males. Ah, that reminds me," there was some shuffling in the machine before he seemed get what he was looking for. "I haven't touched on the noticeable misandry toward the males of the ponies. It was sutle first watching them interact with me, but it was confirmed later when they act increasingly hostile to me when I attempt to make my own decision against any mare's wishes.

Something needs to be done with that, but it seems this system, or society whatever, is ruled by two monarchies, well, one with real power. It still counts though; I feel bad for Luna becoming a figure head...... Right, the matter at hand: Celestia. Something about her just feels off. I've been trying to put distance between her and I. It always feels like something of.... foreign power is inside her body trying to conceal itself. Problem is that whatever is inside her can't hide from me, yet it doesn't seem to know who I really am either. The small things in life, and begrudgingly, Lady Luck."

He sighed in the machine. "I don't know, it just seems to me that so far this life sucks. I have no purpose to be here other then to be some white and blue horses' fucking puppet. Like that will ever happen. For right now, I'll just avoid contact from the diarchy as long as possible, and give them as little information as possible about me. I need stick to my reputation as the 'hero' after all. Hopefully, I don't need to stray from my persona. God help them if I do. Shadow."

Once the tape stopped rolling I just stared at the machine feeling lost inside. Was the Shadow I knew even really his real person, or his fake? Well, the recordings so far answered a few burning questions about him personally I had, but nothing that explained what Rufusdraco told me. I sighed rolling flat on the bed. Chrysalis walked back in the door in some type of night lingerie that I didn't feel like acknowledging.

She realized this and sat on the bed silently watching me curl up on the bed. Chrysalis frowned seeing my sour mood. "What's wrong, Nightmare?" She cooed bringing herself closer to me.

"I don't know. I thought I knew Shadow personally. It seemed like he has been hiding so many secrets to himself though. I don't get it. He could have told me about any one of these topics. He's just as much pony as anypony else here." I reasoned.

Chrysalis seemed to frown slightly at my speech. She shook her head and laid beside me. "Well, have you thought that maybe this stallion isn't interested in placing foreign burdens on a native of this country? He definitely doesn't talk like he has been on Equis all of his life. And maybe he hid his true feelings to protect himself and others from getting hurt. Imagine you being thrust into an another world full of completely, but similar, creatures to what you are familiar with and then they have all these little things trying to figure out the new 'alien' when he doesn't know if you would attempt to do science tests on him."

I was slient for a moment understanding Chrysalis' reasoning. "I see your point. I wouldn't want to be experimented on either, but he still could have told us about his findings."

Chrysalis shrugged. "From what I can tell, what's the point in knowing more than what you are familiar with? After all, I don't do much outside of what I already know, but there is no need to know more since there is no threat directed at me to require more information."

I glared at her. "It's not about needing the information. Shadow could have saved himself a lot of trouble just coming clean that he is not from this world, or that some of the villains of this world knows him personally for some reason. Holding all that anguish and pain for so long.....it drove me mad....."

I sat up as Chrissy tenderly rubs my back, sighing. "I haven't met the stallion in the best of circumstances, but I do know that his mind seems to work differently. It doesn't matter anyways since he is long gone from this world."

Something came to mind when she mentioned Shadow's death. About what Rufusdraco said.

"Actually, I think he is still alive."

Chrysalis looked startled, and somewhat disturbed, of this revelation. "H-How? No one can survive a sudden drain of all internal magic."

"Maybe he can. Like I said before he has survived a piercing of his heart without so much as blinking. I still need answers.... Chrysalis, do you know of anything about Rufusdraco that I don't already know of?" I asked.

She looked spaced out for a few minutes unsure how to respond. "To be honest, I've never heard of him until he was revealed by Shadow through the disguise of Sombra. Ever since then people have seen a sudden surge of this new villain. I have no doubt Celestia might know something though. She seems to be around when every major villain is around."

It also is possible that she might know nothing at all and revealing information for no purpose at all. Master Jullboi's warning comes back in mind. What did he mean by 'she is on the same side as you allied yourself with'?

Whatever the case, I needed to talk to Celestia. "Tommorrow, Chrissy, I'll talk to Celestia alone."

Chrysalis looked shell shocked and generally worried for me. "What?! But if she was informed of my escape from the dungeons..... you'll be suspected of treason!"

I shrugged. "Then let them think that. I still need to talk to Celestia alone. She would recognize you in disguise and that would definitely look bad on me for first impressions after so long of going missing."

Chrissy was silent for a while before sighing in defeat. "Fine. I'll just find something else to do." She grumbled tossing the covers on her. I giggled softly to myself imagining her cute pouting face underneath the pillow.

"Night, Chrissy."

"Night, Moon."

Well, not such a bad turnout after all.

Morning came easy enough as I prepare my bag to teleport off to the Canterlot Palace. I said my goodbye to Chrysalis before poofing in Canterlot. Getting in was surprisingly not that difficult seeing as I am still announced as apart of the royalty in Equestria. Especially since I am still technically Luna in a more mature sense.

I looked around ending up finding the throne room. I used my magic to pull the doors apart to reveal Sunbutt herself in all her regal glory.

She saw me cringing inwardly at my appearance of my dark blue armor. I slight difference from my light blue armor I originally had coming into this world, and a lot more intimidating than the first set too.

"So you have desided to show up after reported missing for a long while. Did you ran into some trouble?" Celestia asked in her usual motherly tone.

"You could say that I had a difficult time getting out of there. Is Luna well?"

She narrowed her eyes slightly suspecting something more from my request. "Yes, she is doing well enough."

I walked up further to Celestia watching the Royal Guards pay their respects toward me even though half of them seemed to be somewhat scared shitless of my appearance alone.

"I got questions during my rather long quest that only you seem to be able to answer. Do you mind if we speak more privately?"

She smiled. "Not at all. Right this way."

Celestia led me to a chamber not far from the throne room. We entered before Celestia shut the door with her magic. The sun princess motioned for me to sit in a chair already set in the room which I gladly accept the invitation. She followed suite to the other chair provided.

"What is it that you want to discuss, Nightmare?" She asked.

"Did you have any previous contact with a creature named.... Rufusdraco?" I asked.

Her eyes grew distant for a moment before realising I was standing there. "The name sounds... familiar, but I have no direct information on him. What's the name mean to you?"

Should I tell her the truth or a half-lie? The more I stood next to her, the more I felt a somewhat strangely strong sensation pulling me deep within my body. "What's this feeling mean?"

"Well, it's.... complicated."

Celestia silently stared at me with an uneasy gaze. Even now, the presence inside of her only grew due to my answer. Is this a hidden power of the sun she has? Or is this something entirely different? It probably doesn't matter anyway.

"I see. From what I know of, Rufusdraco is a creature that was there during the beginning of creation for the ponies. That's just one theory. There are many more, but there has only been only two ancient documents about him that I know of exist in Equestria. Besides that, the creature has been cleaned from records and magical disturbances for over thirty thousand years." She explained.

"Thirty thousand years?!" It was amazing that magic could even track anything back that far. Either way, it seems like Rufusdraco has been around for a long time. "Do you happen to have these documents?"

Celestia gave me a side glance. "I do, but those files are... confidential."

I thought hard seeing as Celestia didn't seem too fond of my sudden interest in the documents. "I see. It's fine if you don't lend me the scrolls."

Celestia stared back at me studying my every action for the slightest fault in my composure. Once she was satisfied with her findings she gave a small smile. "You can study all you wish in the Canterlot Archives for the information you seek. I'm sure we might have something to help you out."

"Of course, Princess, thank you for listening to me." I said not wanting to extend my visit.

I got up and took my leave. I head straight to the archives and dived immediately into the nearest bookshelf. My stubborn and yearning sense of curiosity and desperation for knowledge fueling me all night long.

It didn't surprise me that I zoned out reading a scroll on the floor. I rubbed my eyes adjusting to the darkness of the archives. "They must have thought nopony was in the archives anymore."

I stood up placing the scroll back on its shelf before walking to the center of the archives. It was quiet enough to hear the light clopping of my hoof steps and the sound of a soft ventilation sound coming from the roof of the library. The ancient stained glass windows helped fill the archives with illuminious moonlight making it slightly easier to see.

Recalling the exit from my memory, I went down the halls of books until I hit a wall. It's not the first time I picked the wrong hall. Sometimes transversing the archives is a lot more troublesome then it appears to be. Whoever built the archives got inspiration from the labyrinth garden just out side of the Royal Palace. Because of this it was wise to have a librarian who was more familiar with the archives to lead you to what you are looking for.

Which brought up a good point. Where did the librarian go? Flashbacks of the Crystal Labyrinth filled my mind. I lit my horn and attempt to do a teleportation spell, but it failed in midcast.

Oh right, the archives were protected from all magic and physical attacks due to its important information stored in here. It would take five full grown dragons to even put a small dent in the outer walls which wasn't a very good sign to me. I'm trapped.

My fear turned to self-frustration at falling asleep. I turned around to go back the way I came to retrace my steps keeping my cool. "I can't get angry now. I must rethink my previous pathways."

I went back into the center room. A dark figure sat on top of the tall hourglass that stood in the very center. The figure stared at me before jumping down. The landing was flawless as the figure approached me.

I reached for my waist to pull out the katana I usually keep to my side. Only I didn't feel the weapon in its sheath. The figure held the blade pointing it to my neck.

"You have been marked for death by the Night Stalker, Alicorn of Nightmares." The distinct feminine voice hissed in anger at me.

The blade went for my throat, but I was faster. I charged my will coding it to my fur. The result was my blade bouncing harnlessly off my body. I took advantage of her stunned position grabbed he by the throat and repeatedly punch her in the face. I delievered the final blow plowing her into the tile below. It made a crater shaped around her body.

I gave a toothy smile. "Now, you're going to tell me everything you know, and it better come out as the honest truth." I silently threaten giving a test squeeze of her throat to see if she heard me. She weakly nod to the threat.

"P-Princess Celestia sent me here to k-kill you."

My eyes widen in surprise. The princess of the sun sends an assassin to kill me. I growled. "What purpose does she have in trying to kill me, wench."

She silently breathes for a few seconds staring into my dark blue eyes. "I'm paid not to answer s-such sentiment questions. I just do my job."

I was tempted to kill her here and now before moving on to the next thing to do: confront Celestia. Then I remembered where I was again.

"Do you know how to find the archive exit?" I asked sharply. She nod. I let go of her. "Then lead me to the exit. No funny business, understand?"

"O-Of course, princess." She quickly bowed before hurrying to the exit. I trailed close behind her. I grew tired of being chased down in a cat-mouse game. It's about time to finish this game, and get real answers.

Shadow Faze
Main Stream World

It has been a long time since I felt pain this badly before. Not even getting torn up by those timberwovles felt this bad. What did I expect would have happened?

Regardless, the blast of will help me regain my rational mind again. Props for that I guess. I grunt pushing my body upwards. I look around seeing that I end up in a forest. Probably far away from the Empress' territory. Good enough for me.

That's when I noticed something. I felt shorter than normal.... And strangely colder.

I checked my hands seeing pale skin instead of of black fur. My eyes widened in disbelief. I checked the rest of my body and sure enough I was human shaped again.

Such a rare occasion deserved something special. I pondered on what to do until it hit me. I summoned some good old fashion strong booze, taking a nice big swig out of it. Now, poorly made alcohol can't survive past two hundred. But I'm not no ordinary buyer and seller of the booze trade. I've crafted my skills in alcohol making for a long time. Eventually, I made the first ever millennium year old booze in the universe, and it still tastes good. Suck on that, Murphy! Oh, I think I took too much of a drink out of it.

I shrugged. Slurring is temporary. My 'super hearing' didn't fail me as I heard some commotion happening to my left. With nothing better to do, and in a happy mood, I decided to go see what it was. My mood fell seeing a bipedal dragon beating the shit out of a collared mare.

The dragon was a least two feet taller than me covered in orange scales and painfully bright white teeth. Sapphire blue eyes and yellow spine scales. The mare appeared to be solid green, dark purple eyes, and a rusty orange mane.

"Just my luck."

"Hey, asshole. Could you stop being a dick and treat her with respect, would ya?" I said.

The dragon instantly locked eyes with me. They temporarily go wide before his eyes narrow. "You filthy arrogant human scum think you can beat the master rac-"

"I don't play the hero saves all shit. Either stop beating her up or I'll kick your teeth in and feed them through your liver." I interrupted him.

The mare seemed to be utterly shocked while the dragon snarled in rage. His claws expose themselves. "Gnats just don't know when to buzz off." He growled.

The dragon charged at me to some would be impressive speeds. Instead they appeared to me as him going at a snail's pace. My shadow claws formed before I grabbed the dragon's right leg, spun him around effortlessly before slamming him head first back into the ground. His body didn't move after that.

I walked over to the mare who trembled in fear from my display of power. My shadow claws dissipate before I snapped my fingers destroying the odd metal devices on her horn and neck. She grasped her neck in mild wonder at the revelation. She jolted to life seeming to remember something before running over to a unconscious woman. Wait.....

My mind froze. A female human.... on Equis..... In Zebrica.....

That didn't sound right to me. The woman laid limp on the ground lightly breathing in a steady pace. She had thick long black hair and was around two to three inches shorter than me. Her clothes were fairly torn like her mare partner's, but still wearable.

Regardless, I destroyed the metal collar that was clasped around her neck. Letting the pony and woman have there moment. She woke up as I suspected in understandable confusion.

"What.... happened?" The woman asked seeming to be completely lost. The mare just gave a hard stare. "Oh, well that makes sense. Who kill...... master......" She said in secret disgust.

And the woman can telepathically speak to ponies. Another bizzare thing to add to the list. "I'm the man that killed, what you call, your master."

Both females whipped there heads at me. I made a waving gesture at them. She seemed to be momentarily caught off guard before uncertainty replaced her expression. "Then that means-"

"You're free. I do not care what crazy tradition those scaly bastards, or humans have here. You can do what you want." I finished for her. The woman and mare looked shocked to say the least, but I barely noticed it. I turned around walking toward the open plains not bothering to turn back. "Have a nice life."

You may be wondering why I didn't jump on the chance to start a harem, or gain new friends in a likely long journey. Well, I've learned in my very long lifetime that socializing and keeping friends are two things that always horribly backfired on me.

Besides, they were both creatures of mortality too. They're even less likely to live as long as I can. I'm a loner, sue me. I made some decent ground tracking though the forests managing to figured out that I indeed end up in Africa, the real continent, mind you. Call it a super accurate hunch.

What clued me in was the fact that after walking a fair amount of jungle, I ended up in a sea of sand, otherwise known as the Sahara Desert. Because of my arsenal of spells and my neat personal pocket space, I didn't suffer too much from the blistering heat, however, a pair of adventurous followers seem to be at the breaking point about three hours in.

I sigh turning around to find the same two knuckleheads I expected to see. The woman and the mare we're near heat exhaustion, leaning against each other for support to catch up to me.

I teleported over to the pair materializing a pop up awning for some shade and two quarter sized water bottles. I gave them their respective drinks and watched them swig the water like they were a sponge. After they drank about two bottles each worth of water they seem to look hydrated enough for them to speak properly.

The mare recovered first seeing that they sat themselves in some chairs that I provided for them. She had a curious look on her that the woman seem to understand.

"She says you seem to have some sort of magic with you she has never seen before. Gem is wondering how did you obtained it." The woman translated.

I smiled still managing to keep a neutral expression. "The how and why is not important. I just obtain magic through years of hard work and discipline."

"She asked since it is unheard of for humans to develop magical power." The woman clarified.

"Oh, I see. Tell me, why exactly did you follow me," I leaned in my chair. "I did make myself clear that you were free to make your own decisions."

The mare and the woman looked at each other for a moment before the woman spoke up again. "You did, but we don't know where we are exactly. Besides, that jungle we were in was filled with some of the most dangerous animals to ever walk Earth. We wouldn't last out there for more than a hour if we were left alone."

I eyed her cryptically. "I see your point. I suppose you two can come along with me." They looked to be excited when I said that, but I ignore them dematerializing the pop up awning causing the two girls to squint from the sudden light invasion. "Alright. That's enough of a break time. We got a lot of ground to cover."

They got up while I dematerialize all the other things I pulled out from my personal space. We marched off back into the blistering hot sun.

Night rolled around quicker than I thought it would take. We did camp at a relative flat dune while I pulled out the chairs and firewood to burn. The woman was strangely chatty with the mare even though it looked like a one sided conversation to me with the mare making odd faces. Regardless, it was still enjoyable to them. They tried a few times to get me to talk, but I just answered with relatively short answers.

I also managed to learn there names: Magical Gem and Sarah Carter; guess whose who? Anyway, we sat around the small fire which I had place an enchantment on the wood to make it burn eternally until I said so, for now.

"Hey, Shadow?"

"Yeah?" I replied staring into the hungry flames bewitched by its dancing beauty.

"Why did you save Magical Gem? You could have just let us recieve our punishment by..... that dragon. Why save us?"

I looked away from the flames. "I have personal reasons. Anybeing that picks and bullies the weak, disabled, or enslaved are lower than scum to me. It doesn't matter who they are or what they are. I put them down faster than a demon could collect the soul."

The two females were silent the crackling of fire filled the air. Sarah jolt upright like someone just spoke. "Gem wants to know what your hometown was like."

I stared at them for the longest time a slight smile on my face. "I can honestly say that the small village wasn't perfect. But everyone there was nice and friendly toward me. No prejudgement. No man hunting. They genuinely cared for me like a family." The smile turned sour. "That was during my baby years. Eventually, good things never last. That small village was burned to the ground, I was told later on. My mother..... didn't survive." Sarah and Gem gasped in horror and saddness filled their hearts. "Don't pity me. What's done is done. Even my large amount of time warping spells couldn't change the out come. The fates decided that it was the best course of action.... Either that, or they wanted me to suffer."

"What about your father! Where was he?" Sarah asked.

I shrugged. "I never really had a father. He must have abandoned my mother when I was still in the womb. Either way, where I'm from things were brutal and hard to live in. One wrong step and you end up as someone's lunch, or worse." There was a brief silence again. "By the way, why is it that Magical Gem doesn't seem to talk?"

Gem shifted awkwardly. "Well, you see, that dragon.... forcefully silenced her because of her.... 'creative language'. She was able to learn to telepathically speak to me, in the end, it made me more valuable to him.... I guess it doesn't matter anymore." Sarah explained.

"Yeah... Well, get some sleep. I'll keep watch tonight." I said.

Gem gave me a flat stare. "Gem said that you do realize we are in the middle of a desert, right? There is nothing that lives in a desert."

I kept my attention on the dunes. "Trust me. Anything can survive in any kind of condition given the right conditions and temperatures."

They didn't seem to believe me which was fine since variety is what makes the world go round. I didn't feel tired strangely maybe it has something to do with returning to my original form. The two girls curled up in a tent that I provided beside a rock jutting out of the surface of sand. The night quickly turn into day. I probably zoned out for a little while.

I awaken my 'luggage' before continuing our steady pace forwards. The females seem to be strangely silent today for whatever reason. Through the returned blistering heat, we finally came across a wooden sign it read: Welcome to Cairo

"Cairo. Now that's a place I haven't been to in a long time." I commented.

"You can read the sign?" Sarah asked which seemed to also be Gem's thoughts too.

"Yeah. I can learn several languages at once. All I need is to hear it and see the written form of it, or feel the rhythm and/or pattern of the language. It depends on what the language is." I replied.

Gem and Sarah looked shocked to say the least of my abilities. I shrugged it off. "It doesn't matter how I understand it anyways," A sudden random thought crossed my mind as we walk. "Come to think of it, where do you two originate from?"

"England, for me. Gem came from Equestria or.... was Equestria." Sarah commented.

Now that had me intrigued. "Was? What happened to Equestria?"

Gem looked away in shame. Depression lookto be painted on her face. "Well, I was told three-hundred years ago there was a spontaneous war when the alicorn sister's rule was just beginning. The enemy invaders, the dragons, came into Equestria out of the blue from the Dragonlands attacking their borders. At the time, Equestria was at the beginning stages of their civilization. The three main pony species were still trying to work together for their country effectively. The dragon brutally forced their way into the capital and took down their government with ease. I heard a decade later they figured out how to make the ponies into their slaves."

That implied that Hearth's Warming Eve for them first began three centuries ago in this world while that same event happened around a millennium ago where I originally ended up. Space travelling is always so surreal to me. Especially since humans apparently exist here and not where I'm from. Weird.

"That sounds bad. Why hasn't other countries or species intervened to stop this?" I asked.

Sarah looked sad. "Several have. Most have failed or were brought under there rule. They call it the Great Dragon Empire."

This world's Persian Empire..... Or was it the Mongrels..... Whatever. They are a big empire now. "I see. Sounds like big trouble. Were the hum-, I mean, we were brought under the control of the Great Dragon Empire?"

"No, the humans' empires are far from under their control. They are on equal footing with the dragons." She said. That actually surprised me more then it should have been.

"If that is true how did you end up as one of these slaves?"

Sarah blushed a bit in embarrassmentt. "Well... I got lost in a forest that was..... different than from the ones I've been in. I mistaken a dragon for a pony and then got captured by them. Since they couldn't make me talk about any sensitive information they immediately put me through the slave market....And here I am now...."

"Sounds like you two have interesting lives. You two speak Egyptian?"

The mare gave a deadpanned stare while Sarah shook her head. I sighed. "Then I guess I'll have to do this."

I walked up to a sturdy looking merchent and managed to work out a deal with him that also got the girls in as a free ride as well. Apparently, Egypt's government secretly support the antislavery movement. I found it ironic given the history I knew about it beforehand.

Anyway, we were given a section in the back of the caravan and some food and water. Just enough for this week. From there, we waited as the caravan moved to life with a crackle of a whip against horse skin.

The trip was long and uneventful sadly. Only small talk was really what consumed most of our time in the caravan. I noticed the temperature getting easier to handle. But nothing more. The caravan dropped us off in Turkey. I paid him and motioned the girls to move with me. Turkey seemed to have a bit more variety in different species seeing some ponies and zebras wondering the streets. That didn't seem to calm my nerves though. A few people eye us wearily on the streets.

From what I heard before my world's 'disappearance', Turkey felt invaded when it came to outsiders, especially from the Americans. It made me wonder if they just tolerated outsiders only for their money. Of course, I'm not saying all Turkey people are like this, but it seems that the majority discreetly dislike foreigners. It seems to be a common theme amongst the human societies. The two girls seem to stick to me tighter watching the natives peer at them from a distance.

I shrugged ignoring their stares as we head for the capital of Turkey: Istanbul. How do I know where the city was even without looking at a map? Earth is one of the planets that I know really well. I've walked on just about every continent, every country and secretly fought in at least one of every countries' wars. But there are those rare times when I find places or see something that was not usually there before.

A group of men came forth out from the streets shadows. Six bulky tall men towered over me surrounding the three of us. Hunger and lust swirled within them and they each had crappy weapons that looked to be worn out pipes. A shorter middle aged man made himself known dressed in cleaner clothes. He had a pair of shades covering his eyes, and some gold assessories on him that was meant to be showy. He seem to casually look over me more intrigued in the two females beside me.

Now, when I cross into different countries I'm normally not bombarded by thugs given the intimidating aura I usually release when walking around. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option given I would scare away my companions along with them. I sighed knowing where this was going. Natives in the streets scurried away to avoid getting involved in the situation.

The leader of the group smiled at me straightening himself to appear taller. "I'm sure you're new around here, foreigner. You see, here, I rule these streets. Which means that you have to pay a toll for walking on my streets. That would be two-thousand dollars..."

"Sure, I got some chang-" One of the bulky men hit me on the head with the butt of his shotgun, but I just stood in place before I rubbed the back of my head. The thugs' fear could be sensed in the air. "You know, it's rude to hit an unarmed person so ruthlessly. Gem, Sarah cover your ears." I said.

The girls hesitantly did as I asked before I used my magic to take the shotgun out of his grip and whacking his head clean off his shoulders causing the gun to go off into another thug. The two bodies fell limp when all hell broke loose.

"Kill him." The leader simply replied.

The thugs snapped out of their funk as they bared their real weapons from their clothes: machine guns and AK-47s. Gem looked absolutely horrified while Sarah was ready to spring into action.

I grinned. "Pathetic. You pick on the weak with poorly made weapons like them? Did you not get enough blood action yet from me, or do you live for punishment?"

The leader seemed to blow a fuse. "How DARE you mock me?! Grab the women, boys. I got this asshole." He growled.

"As you wish, boss." One of the thugs said.

This guy was starting to piss me off. I snapped my fingers in mild annoyance summoning my most powerful copy. The copy of me was double my height with a toned body and a scar over his right eye. His slick back hair made, also, a huge difference between the two of us.

"Prototype. Crush the thugs for me, will you?" I said.

"Sure. This will take a second." Prototype replied cracking his knuckles. The nervous look on the leader and his thugs' faces gave me confidence this would be a short fight.

The silent tension broke as the thugs opened fire on Prototype. This distract me and the leader thug took advantage of this punch me in the jaw. He cried out in surprised pain.

I rubbed my jawline winding back my fist. I made a punching fist with all my might making a whirlwind that pushed the leader back into a brick wall, not making contact with his flesh.

He seemed to get knocked out in his daze. I turned back to find half of the thugs were on the ground suffering from broken bones and limbs while the other half was knocked out cold. Prototype walked up to me nodding in confirmation. "All are taken care of."

"Thank you, Proto. You can rest now." And with that said he disappeared in a flash of a light. The two girls stared at me in mute shock. "What? The thugs asked for it. It's not like I gave myself away."

The rest of the way through Istanbul was peaceful due to my display of power in the backstreets. What? It was the shortest and most effective way out of that city. The city is a literal barrier between continents. How else was I going to get through the country appearing as a foreigner?

Anyway, I made it out of Turkey into Greece. The girls occasionally bring up topics of the landmarks they have seen so far. It was fun up until a powerful magical signature made itself known.

"Ares." I growled out.

King Minos: the Leader of the proud race of Minotaurs sat on his throne that perched itself up in the throne room. Things have been a chaotic mess ever since the Worldquake. Nothing was going right and many of his subjects were dying from a crystal disease, that is so far incurable. He massaged his temple trying to relieve the migraine he currently obtained coming into contact with a victim with the disease.

Honestly, Minos felt very worn out today due to all that has been going on lately. And even though the pride of his people remains to keep them together; how long will it last? He sighed.

A draconic voice chuckled in the room alerting the King of its presence. "What do you want now, voice?" Minos asked getting real sick of the same voice in his head trying to get him to mess up.

"Oh, nothing, carry on as you were, King of Miotanus."

The minotaur king refused to take that answer standing up immediately. "No, I demand you tell me what's so funny! You have stayed in my castle for long enough!" He shouted at the walls.

The voice made a pause. Very well, the way you seem to handle impossible situations is kind of pathetic. And not attending the World Summit seemed to handicap you more than help. It's amazing how one's hubris can be their down fall."

King Minos was livid. How dare a puny voice in his head mock his reign! "So in other words, you think you can rule my kingdom better than I can myself?! No bull dares say such cowardly words in a far off bunker!. Show yourself, coward!"

"Ah, but I'm not hiding. Matter of fact, I'm in this room right now." The voice said.

Minos searched around the room seeing no sign of a cocky bull any where. "That's what you keep on saying, yet I don't see anything that resembles you."

He could practically feel the voice smirk. Two crystal red claw burst from his throne pinning the minotaur in his seat. A crystal dragon with piercing crystal eyes and black pupils suddenly morphed behind him.

The dragon grinned maliciously leaning closer to the Minos. "You see, that's where you are wrong, little minotaur..... I'm everywhere." The dragon attacked as King Minos screamed in agony.

Chapter 13: "When Titans' fall..."

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The God of War. It has been eons since his last encounter. None usually stand in Ares' path. Few did in vein, falling as another corpse that challege him. All except one being. The same being that entered his homelands: Shadow.

Ares' eyes narrow glancing at the two females behind him. "Wait, did you say Ares? He's real?!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Unfortunately, he is." Shadow murmured.

"I'm surprised you're even still standing, Demon. Given the thrashing that your greatest opponent did to you." Ares remarked.

Shadow didn't seem to care for his taunt. He slowly walked up to him. "Oh, you know the usual. I get faced with a worthy challenge until they crumble under my brute force. But let's not bore each other with details of past events. What do you want, Ares." Shadow replied.

Ares used a level stare at Shadow. "I didn't come down to quarrel with you, actually. I'm here to see how the war goes in Britain."

Sarah immediately seemed alarmed. "Oh no! The human Capital!" She walks in front of Shadow. "We need to get there, fast!"

"What's the rush? We will easily get there on time."

Ares laughed. I glared at him not seeing anything funny to the war god. "She means that the British Island is under attack, Demon. It's a splendid sight to see, so I decided to see the show for myself. Best battle in a long while if I do say so myself."

Shadow was surprised with his laxed behavior, but was now slightly worried of the unexpected world events. "Right, let's go then," I nod and so did the other two females. We walked off, but was stopped by Ares again.

The war god leaped forward toward Shadow's ear. "The Fate sisters said to tell you this if you do end up in our world again. 'The Sea of Destiny is stirring. The flames of vengence are burning. If you don't track down the red one, then your only chance of punishing the wrong will be gone.' Whatever that means." He leaned back and vanished into thin air.

I stared at the spot Ares dissappeared to wondering what the riddle meant. "Are you ready, Shadow? We don't have all day!" Sarah shouted impatient, or antsy, to get back to her homeland.

"Yeah, of course. Come close to me." The two girls questioned my thinking, but followed with it anyways. Shadow tapped into his inner magic reserves feeling it flow through me. A noticable flash went off teleporting the three beings off somewhere.

They reappeared but strangely, they felt weightless for a second. Then they hit the ground hard. The three tumbled down the incline at a rapid speed managing to avoid the more dangerous objects until they reached the bottom of the hill. They groaned in mild pain managing to pick themselves up off the ground.

"Isn't magic supposed to be safe?!" Sarah stated. Gem had the same thought too.

"Hehe, oops. I forgot to mention my magic has a tendacy to act up a bit." Shadow replied rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. Sarah seem to fume at his lack of valuable information. "The good news is that we made it to the English Channel."

The females turned around seeing the short sea blue waters and England on the other side. Gem looked exasperated at the water. "Yeah, she makes a good point. How would we be able to cross. The channel safely?" Sarah translated.

"Oh, that's easy," Shadow materialized several logs and ropes with cloth. He used his magic to build the materials into a makeshift boat in front of the ladies' eyes. "We make a boat."

He placed the makeshift boat in the sea sending ripples in the channel. He climbed up aboard as did the girls hesitant to trust a magic-made construct of anything now. Shadow used my hands to push us off shore into the channel. We managed to pick up a steady speed while Shadow used an enchantment to steer the course from the flowing currents down below.

Now that Shadow has some quality time to think about everything he has been through. His thoughts settled on Zecora, his lovely deceased wife. His nightmares, even now, go back to snippets of what exactly happened five years ago. The body looked so old, and they let the poor mare rot in her own home.

And there was nothing Shadow could do to stop the invaders.

But he stay strong for her. He promises to avenge her death, and by everything religious out there he will kill the prick who called the shots that night. Shadow was so focused on his thoughts he didn't notice that they had made it across the channel. They unload everyone before he docked the boat on the sandy shores.

In the distance, sounds of bombs and gunfire rang in the air. Sarah panicked rushing forward toward the city. "Sarah! Wait!" Shadow called out, but it fell on deaf ears. She continued to run off.

Shadow sighed deciding to chase after her. Gem followed desperate to not be left behind.

The stretch of land they ran was ridiculous! Whether Sarah somehow has a super speed of sorts Shadow would never know, but what he did know is his destination. London looked like a waging battleground. Craters of many sizes littered the streets, smaller flames and rubble scattered with clouds of debris everywhere. Parts of building had fallen apart under the assault of war sliding into broken streets. Corpses of both dragons and humans were also scattered throughout the ground and buildings.

The ground trembled a good while leaving Shadow momentarily unbalanced. Once it stopped they picked back up the pace. Adrenaline running through him. He heard Sarah scream which made the unicorn run faster.

In an instant, he summoned Apocalypse before throwing the great sword straight through a building. It hit a rock creature pinning it against the wall of a ruined building while Shadow checks up on Sarah. Luckily, she didn't look to be physically harmed. Gem rushed to Sarah's side as the monster of rock grunts pulling his blade from its chest.

Shadow turned around fury written in his eyes. How dare this monster try to kill an innocent being! The rock monster chuckled making a sick grin spread across its face. "Greatings, old friend. It's been a while, you know, after you blast my main body in Sombra. I don't find many beings able to resist my control too often."

Shadow's eyes widen before hardening sharply. He held his hand using his magic to call Apocalypse into his hands. "So you are still alive, Rufusdraco. I thought I already put you to rest. Well, I guess I'll have to finish the job here."

The rock monster actually giggled morphing its rock crystals into a more defined shape. A draconic form. "Interesting. You still believe I'm the same being all those years ago. No matter, death for both worlds is inevitable."

Without any warning the bipedal dragon blurred his way in front of Shadow. The momentary startle was all that Rufusdraco needed grabbing him by his arm and casually tossing him into several destroyed buildings. The Gem and Sarah looked flabbergasted at the holes that Shadow made on contact. Rufus laughed. "This would be entertaining to see you in action for once."

Nightmare Moon

Nightmare moon blasted herself into the throne room causing the sleeping guards of the Royal Guards to jolt upward in a panic. The Night Princess looked absolutely fed up with the being sitting on top of the golden chair.

Celestia smiled nonchalantly at Nightmare. "Now, Nightmare, we both know that you could have simply just opened the door like a normal pony." She claimed.

"It was locked from the inside, Celestia. Normal ponies don't lock themselves up in a room filled with Royal Guards."

"I understand your-"

"No! I will not stand for this any longer!" Nightmare used her magic to reveal the assassin that appeared in the Canterlot Library hanging by her magical might struggling to no avail to break free. "Normal ponies don't try to discreetly kill anypo- no, anybeing like it's no big deal! Who are you really, creature. I can feel your nasty presence inside her body."

Silence reigned in the throne room. Even the Royal Giards were stunned into silence.

Then, Celestia laughed, maniacally. "I guess it's about time I dropped all pretense here and now." She mused snapping her fingers.

The floor around Celestia began to crack and lose its lustful pearly look. Her eyes sharpen into orange slits, pupils black, and teeth sharpen to a fine point. The beautiful colored eternal rainbow mane and tail burst into raging orange flames.

Nightmare Moon takes a step back unsheathing her trusty a katana by her side. "I knew it. Celestia finally went mad with power."

Celestia ceased her crackling staring at her with a bored unpleasant glare. "Oh. I assure, you Lulu's sister is quite sane still. I just needed to borrow this outrageously tacky look to seize control."

The Mare, once on the Moon, stiffened at her declaration. "But- what?"

"I believe we haven't properly introduced yet." The flaming mare said. Three sets of dark grey wings shot out of her back with each the wing span of six feet. A mysterious aura seem to surround her as a hint of bloodlust danced in her eyes. "I am known officially as Apollyon, the Angel of Death."

The aura of death spiked around the flaming alicorn instantly killing many of the guards and plantlife inside. Nightmare fell to her knees instantly panting feeling the heavy weight in her chest. Apollyon's smirk faded into a disappointed grunt.

"It's a pity that you are an alicorn. You don't seem to have anything to naturally die from." Apollyon said walking up to Nightmare.

Nightmare forced herself up just as her weapon, a halberd made what looked to be gold, was yanked out of a small hand-size portal hole of sorts. "With you gone, I can finally move forward with my plans."

She grabbed Nightmare and thrust her death touch infused blade at her, and yet, Nightmare Moon's body hardened enough will to repel the weapon off her. The stunned shock was useful to Nightmare as she sucker punched Apollyon in the face straight through her throne.

Nightmare felt the heavy presence leave her almost instantly. She grinned picking up her katana again. "I've faced tougher creatures than you, Apollyon. Your big reveal will be your downfall!" She channeled her will into the blade turning it yellow like her body.

The will morphed around her creating individual details of what looked like steel plated armor leaving her head still exposed. Apollyon screamed and boost herself out of the rubble at Nightmare. She side stepped Apollyon swiftly cutting her left bicep.

The Death Angel grunt in pain flaring her wings to face Nightmare. "So it appears that you are more resilient than I thought. No matter," her fire magic flares up. "If I can't have the satisfaction of killing you myself than maybe the sun will!"

Blistering heat entered the room sending giant heatwaves throughout the palace. At this point everybeing was getting out of the castle as fast as they could. Unfortunately, Nightmare didn't have that luxury. She started to pant feeling the massive amount of sweat build up.

Apollyon laughed again. "Not so tough are you now? Good, die like the many who make up this dirt." She began charging a small ball of fire in one hand. "Feed me your delicious soul!"

She unleashed her attack easily melting the palace walls straight through. "That might be overkill, but I can't afford to have anyone hold me back now. It's rare to have an unguarded planet to rule over. I better put her soul to good- Uh. Where is h-"

Apollyon was instantly blast with a blast of pure will. She screamed in the agonizing pain being bathed in its power. Nightmare walked out from behind her eyes glowing white with power. "For the good of all Equis this is punishment, Apollyon, Angel of Death, for your sins."

The flaming alicorn's eyes widen knowing the voice all too well. This wasn't a being meant to be trifled with. "N-No, Great One. I beg you. Let-"

The abnormal will energy flared overpowering any light around them. The will pinned Apollyon down while she struggled to no avail. "I never said I would do the punishing directly, Death angel."

The glow in the eyes suddenly stopped leaving the surge in will energy remain. Nightmare owlishly looked around for a moment before seeing Apollyon's struggling form on the ground, pinned in will restraints. "Give Celestia's body back, you monster!"

"You really think that talking about it would make any- AAAAHHHHH!"

The Angel of Death screamed in pain before maniacally chuckling. "Keep on hurting her body. You'll speed her death a lot quicker for me." Nightmare instantly stopped the flow of will into her restrains letting the flaming alicorn chuckle away. She stood up rubbing the burnt marks tenderly. "You should see this, Nightmare. Your Celestia is taking the pain well. Luckily for us, she is not in control of this body. Let's finish this farce."

Nightmare's fists tighten shaking with rage. How dare she mock her. She effortlessly fully charged the katana with will letting it release massive spikes of energy. "Agreed, Apollyon. I'm sorry, Celestia, I can do nothing more then end you swiftly."

Apollyon grinned charging up her death touch and sun flames into a yellow baseball size. Both auras growing exponentially. Both attacks were unleashed upon the other. And the world went white.... for a while. The world slowly gained color again.

Nightmare Moon, having been drained of all extra energy into that last blast, fell on her knees relieved. That was until she heard a grunt of pain. Her eyes whipped in from of her seeing something she never thought possible. A minotaur monster stood where they had directed each of their blasts. The bull's aura spiked suddenly managing to contain the earlier blast into his body.

"K-King Minos..." Apollyon seemed to recognize.

The bull cheeky smiled spread across his lips. "Oh, he died a long time ago, Apolly. I thought 'Angel school' taught you better than that." He replied some of his skin half way breaks off to give way to red crystals jutting out. Nightmare Moon gasped. It was Rufusdraco, and he somehow took the full force of that attack.

The crystals glowed in a swirling amber and whitish color with in the red see-thorough crystalline. "Just what I needed. I thank you, Nightmare. This wouldn't be possible without your help." The bull monster half smiled at her.

"What are you talking about! What did you do, Rufusdraco!" Nightmare exclaimed.

He walked up to the weakened Apollyon. "Evolve, my dear. For the first time in millions of years I have surpassed my greatest weakness!" He grabbed her horn picking her up using pure muscle. She hissed in obvious pain trying to get his massive fist off it.

Nightmare readied her blade before dashing over to save her. She flexed her will shooting it out in large amounts of it only for the blasts to harmlessly absorb into the crystal. Her eyes widen in horror.

"Ah, I see you get it now. Your one advantage you had over me has helped me grow stronger than ever. I even obtained some magic to boot. Here, have some." He said snapping his fingers.

Three huge balls of fire rained down on Nightmare causing her to scream in agony from the burns. After a few seconds of burning he dissipate the flames letting her burnt body fall limp to the ground.

"I only regret that you could still be of some use to me. Oh well, I guess your purpose has been realized. You can die in peace." Gauntlets with sharp blade fingers formed on the monster minotaur's hands. His stomps shook the earth, only slightly, where he walked away. "Tell that righteous bastard what a good girl you were in helping me bend this planet to my will."

Nightmare seem to automatically close her eyes thinking of the crazy life she as had for the past five and a half years. All the friends she has made and lost. The moments of peace and being royalty coming to mind. The tribe of border-crazy zebras. All of those memories and hard work led to this moment. Let's make this count.

She opened her eyes again glaring defiantly at Rufusdraco. "Go to hell you body-shifting parasite." She croaked.

His pace stopped in mid-stomp. The minotaur turned back around pure rage engraved on his face while Apollyon shrieked in fear of his aura. He marched back toward the beaten Nightmare Moon. "The last one who called me a parasite is on my list-to-kill-instantly til this very day. I was going to let you go out in peace, but I think I changed my mind."

He raised his arm summoning a huge ball of blue fire over her. "Now, no mercy shall be spared to you for your insolence."

Nightmare prepared for the wave of pain about to come, but strangely it never came. She opened her eyes again to find the the fire ball was gone and in replace was a big hole of... nothing hanging in the air. A speeding ball of red crystal came tumbling out of the hole in pure terror.....

10 minutes earlier...

Rufusdraco laughed watching and using a single finger to deflect Apocalypse away from him like his sword was somehow plastic. While it was true that Shadow was indeed faster in some aspects right now he lacks the ability to cut the solid red crystal. Shadow puts all of his strength behind a heavy attack downward causing Rufusdraco to stumble on his back. Shadow then thrusts the blade on his stomach before he adjust his magic to extend the blade managing to pierce into the crystal. Rufusdraco wailed in pain biting and scratching to get back on top, all in vein.

"It's time to see if a mineral can bleed, eh?" The rock dragon froze in place suddenly slightly startling him. "Hey, what's up with the silent treatment?"

"Shadow, behind you!" Sarah shouted.

Shadow turned around before being stabbed directly in the chest. He spat out blood seeing a four times bigger version of Rufusdraco's finger claw pierced thorough his stomach like a skewer. "If you really thought that would stop me you should have known better." More crystals spread throughout in the wound digging deeper inside of him. He screams in agony trying to get the crystal to pull out of him. His vision blurred. "I should tell you something, you know, before you die, and all. I do recall visiting a certain zebra mare I had fun with." He said.

Shadow froze stunned by his words. "I possessed a few Royal Guards along my way into the Everfree for research when I stumble upon a female.... with your scent all over her. She fell for my kind words until she was tied up properly and.... well, tortured you can say for information about you. She died screaming your name to the top of her lungs. It was absolutely.... delicious." Rufusdraco leans in. "And I have to say she was very 'loyal' to you til her last breath. Quite a woman you picked up, huh?"

All of Shadow's senses seemed to shut off in his body like he was just dropped in the void itself. No emotion. No movement. No sounds. Just the emptiness and him. One thing still remained though. A boiling fire that spouts its way up into his body. He grabbed on to that 'feeling' not letting go. The image of the target clear in his mind.

Rufusdraco smirked seeing Shadow go speechless. That was until a black icky substance began to surround him. It spread across his body like an active virus on steroids. Rufusdraco immediately lets go of Shadow's body stepping back.

After a moment, settled in the crushing frightful aura pound into all realities itself around him. Rufusdraco steps back eyes unfocused at the vile.... thing before him.

Shadows body looked more like the Smooze than an actual structured being, with the exception of piercing red eyes and sharpened black teeth. More black liquid oozing from the eyes and mouth. It reached up and grabbed Rufusdraco. The giant crystal dragon bashes the Shadow sludge, but ended up getting more stuck into the substance seering into his nerves. His agonized cry was cut short after Shadow's liquid head bit into Rufus' head clean off. He swallowed the rest of the oversized crystal into its body as well.

The small Rufudraco, still lying on the ground managed to take Apocalypse out of him, saw the ugly transformation in mute horror. The creature leveled its gaze onto him causing Rufus to scream like a girl in fright, running at ridiculous speeds to get away. After a momentary pause, the black monster slowly formed back into a body.

Shadow pulled himself off the the pavement groaning softly. He pick himself off the floor. "I thought I would get more rage than that out.... That big version of him died too soon for my full wrath to begin."

The girls, in the background, just stare tensely trying to still comprehend, a moment ago, Shadow turning into a monster.

"Well, I should chase after that little runt version of him. I have a bone to pick." Shadow states.

He looks at the girls seeing them have mixed feelings about the transformation. Shadow frowned and sighed at their weariness. "Now you know why I don't bring companions..... They end up thinking the worst in me," He ran off. "Take care you too. Hope that we might never meet again."

It appeared that the battle between the dragons and humans were coming to an end seeing a butt load of dragons running, or flying away from the capital in the center. Shadow has only one dragon in mind: Rufusdraco.

Rufusdraco desperately searches the battleground for an escape from the pissed off human, but couldn't seem to shake him off his tail. In fact, he seemed to be gaining ground. His hands morph into black glowing claws, and the intent to kill in his eyes, pushed Rufus to continue his fast pace.

The red crystal dragon pulls out a clear crystal of sorts before turning a sharp corner to temperarily lose Shadow. "I must do this, other me. I have no other choice." He smashed the crystal on the ground opening a portal, of what seems to be nothing, he rushes toward the portal in a mad dash for survival. A blur of black appears beside him showing Shadow's pissed off face of rage.

"Rufusdraco!!!"

Luckily, Rufusdraco made it in the portal. "Oh, thank the higher power-" a tentacle of darkness had wrapped itself around his foot forcing him to turn around. The nightmarish image of a human face met him making him desperately push to the other side of the portal in a tumbling fashion.

The smaller dragon scampered to the monster bull's side. "Please, morph me into you, quick!" The dragon Rufus almost shouts at the bull.

The bull Rufus raised an eyebrow and a bit irritated at his sudden arrival. "What do you want? I'm trying to have a moment to myself here." The bull Rufus growled his patience growing thin.

"It's him. He's co-" The dragon Rufus could say before being smashed to pieces by Shadow himself coming out of the portal.

Nightmare and Apollyon's eyes widen at his unexpected entrance. His eyes spoke volumes of intense rage and bloodlust that was never seen beforehand.

He appeared to be back in his unicorn form with a brand new set of clothing. He wore a tuxedo that was dark grey and a red tie tucked into the suit, and a white undershirt to match the set. He kept Apocalypse slung on his right shoulder with one hand. An intense aura that wasn't there before came off of him in waves making it difficult for Nightmare and Apollyon to focus on him properly.

The pieces of the other Rufus seem to be incinerating into nothingness from his touch. "I'm done with your games, Rufusdraco. You took everything from me for the last time. And this time, there will be nothing that will save you from your fate."

Chapter 14: "... Gods Arise"/EPILOGUE

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"I'm done with your games, Rufusdraco. You took everything from me for the last time. And this time, there will be nothing that will save you from your fate."

Rufusdraco seem to carefully consider Shadow's words. But just out right burst into a fit of laughter. The determination in Shadow's eyes never wavering for a second.

"I'm honestly surprised you're still here. Shouldn't Nightmare have taken you out already? It is very difficult trying to kill the unkillable in its Beast form." The bull Rufusdraco remarked.

Shadow glanced at the down Nightmare Moon feeling the slightest bit of pity raise in him, but he crushed it with ease. "I don't need to take you on in my many forms to beat you," he materialized his trusty Apocalypse getting into a battle position. "I apparently don't even care what you have up your sleeve. You'll be a perfect example for my message in this known universe."

The bull's playful grin dropped hearing those words. He sighed annoyance graced his features. "Even now you size yourself up. I have been, and will always be, a perfect creature since the beginning of my existence, Dovostro. And no one will be able to change the fate of this world. Its fate has already been sealed! And I won't let an old enemy of mine ruin that chance!"

My horn magic lit as Shadow rushed toward him. "We shall see about that, old friend."

The bull Rufusdraco manifest his sword into existence after he was mere a foot away. Their blades clashed sending a mini shockwave around them. The palace structure vibrated underthe pressure still managing to hold itself together. The two battled it out in lethal combat.

Regardless of them being former enemies, Apollyon dragged the severely injured Nightmare Moon away from the battlegrounds. When they hit blades again, Shadow angled his blade parrying his opponents attack causing him to slip his careful composure. Shadow used this chance to slice Rufus' side. Rufusdraco roared in pain clutching his wound before giving himself room. He growled before snapping his fingers. Instantly, a horde of crystallized minotaurs appeared in the palace. "Feed my children! Let nothing stand in your way!" Rufus shouted at them.

They groaned before wildly charging at Shadow and the two alicorns. The bull Rufus took this time to flee. Shadow roared in rage at the crystal titan. How dare he just up and leave a perfect fight to the death like a coward!

He was not his priority now, so he snapped his fingers surrounding both Apollyon and Nightmare Moon in a protective barrier of magic. The horde harmlessly bounced off the powerful shield of magic while Shadow phased into it to confront them. Apollyon stood before him flinching under his unamused glare.

"I'll deal with you later." He quickly rushed to Nightmare's aid activating his powerful healing magic through his hands. The green energy effortlessly went through her body closing up and healing all burn and cuts. She groaned opening her eyes to stare into his. "Good, she's still alive." Shadow felt relief flood through him.

".....Shadow? Is that... you?" He smiled showing a winning grin before Nightmare cried into him, to Shadow's surprise.

Apollyon didn't exactly know this black unicorn, but her instincts told her this very powerful monster of a pony. Just his aura alone felt unimaginably crushing raw power against her will. Almost demanding respect around him. Apollyon didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

Shadow direct his attention back to the flaming alicorn analyzing her reflexes. "Seeing an Angel of Death and in a pony form on less? Rare indeed. Tell me little Apollyon, what do you think happens to tyrants who think they are better than everyone else?..... They get dethroned, and replaced with someone better or worse. And I think you don't want those naive spoiled nobles doing your job, do you?"

Apollyon winced. She has wittnessed through Celestia's mind eye what kind of ponies these greedy nobles were. Just imagining what could happen sent shivers down her spine. "No."

"Good, then you'll help me out." Both alicorns were floored with his statement.

"W-What?"

He gave her a stern look directing one hand pointing at Nightmare. "If you had noticed, Nightmare is in critical condition and I, for one, do not have time to continuously treat her wounds. We are the only support in his castle thanks to your little stunt you pulled. It gave Rufusdraco enough room to catch you both by surprise. You're coming to help clean this all up."

The crystallized minotaurs clawed at the forcefield desperately while Apollyon seemed to show a massive amount of guilt for her actions. Shadow sighed. He then summoned three copies of him into existence surprising the two mares. "Protect Nightmare no matter the cost."

They nod in agreement before Shadow exit the forcefield forcing his magic in his pointer finger and slashing the air in front of him. A slash of light cut through the minotaurs like butter. Apollyon took a few moments before following in step behind him. She knew she'll have to deal with the consequences later.

"Um, where do you think this Rufusdraco is?" Apollyon asked.

"Most likely in attempting to take the capital's treets becore advancing toward me. He may have ran, but he's still a blood thirsty brute when it comes down to it." Shadow snapped his fingers making both Apollyon and Shadow disappear.

They reappeared near a defensive line where the Royal Guards were getting slaughtered. Captain Shining Armor seem to be obtaining command at the moment, so Shadow walked up to him causing the poor captain to nearly jump out of his fur.

"Oh, Shadow, it's you. Wait, is that the Princess too?" Shining asked.

Shadow looks back briefly. "Ah, yes, it is. I'll explain once this is all over. Have you seen a giant Minotaur with a crown on his head anywhere?"

"A glimpse. He went east of here. That's how these damn mintoaurs got here to begin with."

The black unicorn nods. "Good, as a token of thanks I made something for you." Shining's ears perk up in interest.

Shadow wave his hand in the air just as a strange looking rapier sword appears in his hands. The rapier had a strange purple glow to it that had raw magic power radiating off it. The blade of the weapon had serval colors of purple running into the balde itself in an eternal state of being making it seem like the blade was made of raw energy. Shadow hands the sword to Shining Armor watching as the sword glow a brighter purple in Shining's magic.

"This sword is designed to your magical power specifically. Anything else it touches would cut its power by third-fourths once taken away from you. A small gift to you for your cooperation." The black unicorn simply replied.

Shining thanked him way longer than necessary before he went back to chasing after the bull king, followed by Apollyon.

After turning down another street corner, Shadow and Apollyon were able to catch king minotaur and Princess Luna in a one-on-one fight to the death. Luna appeared to be cut in various places, some were nasty gashes, while Rufusdraco seem to effortlessly regenerate from her cuts and slashes. It appears his antimagic ability was still active, even with the new magic in his body, seeing that Luna's magical attacks harmlessly gets absorbed into his body.

Rufusdraco gave a toothy smile at her struggle, but not before dodging a slash almost delivered by Shadow's Apocalypse. The king minotaur growled giving himself some space. Shadow changes into battle position, Apollyon entering the area.

"Apollyon, take care of Luna. I'll deal with crystal parasite over here." Rufus' temper spikes hearing the insult. He roars charging menacingly at the black unicorn.

Apollyon did as she was told before Shadow used Apocalypse to parry Rufus' downward strike. The ground below trembled from the impact. Shadow then kicked Rufus in the gut sending him through a nearby building.

"Found you, Rufusdraco. Now, finish what you started." Shadow said.

A bone chilling laugh rung out from the rubble. The bull proceeds to get out of the hole made in the building activating his massive amounts of stored of magic. "You don't seem to get what my plan is, do you, Dovostro? Fine, I'll spill a bit. Have you wondered why my magic has grown all of a sudden? What do you think would happened once I obtain more magical power?"

Shadow's eyes widen in realization. Rufusdraco smiled a sinister aura being released from his magic. "It seems you have realized your mistake in taking care of two lower beings than us. Think about it, Dovostro. With your hidden ability and my ever-consuming, destructive abilites, we can become more than gods! We can become the absolute form of ALL gods! Don't you crave to join the winning side for once? I can make that happen for you." Rufus replied seeing the confliction in the stallion's eyes.

He closed his eyes breathing in deeply before opening them again. "My time as the Multiversal King as ended long ago, Rufus. I didn't wish to have fought you, but..... That all changed when you murdered and broke the will of my wife! And for that, I will never forgive, never join, or fight with you! Now, I will say this once:...... go to hell, you backstabbing asshole!"

There was a short pause before Rufus seemed to have a flash of disappointment in his eyes. "I guess I expected too much." The bull literally blinked in and out of existence in front of Shadow give him enough time to teleport behind him to avoid his sword.

Shadow used the momentum to create more force behind Apocalypse slashing Rufus' back in almost a short blur motion. Rufus cried out in white hot pain feeling something eat him in his wounds. Rufusdraco turned around just in time to meet Shadow's fist crashing him through another building. Shadow dashed up toward the bull letting his magical aura freely come off himself in large waves. He twisted the magic into a single point in the tip of his sword seeing the downed king minotaur before him.

Rufus seem to smile again before spontaneously shooting a beam of flame magic with such power it blew Shadow out of the building and roughly down into the streets. Rufus teleports beside Shadow kicking him into a nearby fountain completely destroying the statue of Celestia. Shadow groaned in pain before picking himself up.

The king minotaur used this time to charge a beam of all magics he found into a rainbow ball of energy. "Ever heard of the 'Elements of Harmony', hmmm? Well, I figured out how to replicate there power a little while back. And guess what happens to creatures like yourself?" A single small beam zapped Shadow's shoulder causing the stallion to cry out in immense pain. He dropped Apocalypse clutching the singed hole in his flesh. Meanwhile, Luna, Apollyon, and any Royal Guard watching stared in horror. "Apparently, the elements would just completely annihilate your existence. Ironic, huh?"

Shadow growled in annoyance picking his blade back up. Rufus shrugged firing a few more short beams of harmony magic. The black unicorn did his best not to touch the rainbow energy beams, but it got to the point were he could no longer keep up with the assault of harmony magic. Rufusdraco laughed at his expense and agony.

The black unicorn, covered in singed holes still stood even after the barrage of magic. He used his sword to keep himself standing. This made the minotaur chuckle. "So you still think that you can beat me. That's just a pointless achievement," the harmonious ball of energy grew three times its size. "I thought you would show some gratitude for being allowed to join my ranks as my general, at least in my vision of conquest. After all, we did came from the same universe at one point. Regardless, it's only fitting you get a painful death before departure. Make sure to say hello to Zecora in hell for me. She did a real good job in the end."

The pain and anger mixed with each other in Shadow's mind, his head lowered. The giant beam of harmony magic blast down on the black unicorn to everyone's horror. Only the beam stopped after running into Shadow's hand. The impact shook the very earth once more causing the Shadow to make a crater in the ground, yet he didn't budge from his original spot.

"Your arrogance and superiority complex is your down fall, Rufus. Now you face my real terror," Shadow's neck snapped before a wild expression replaced his usually calm demeanor. All the pony quickly ran to find cover.

The black substance covered his hands seeming to suck all light it touched. Even coming into contact with the harmonious energy caused the rainbow to deteriorate at an accelerated rate. Rufusdraco's eyes widen in shock. To his knowledge, harmony magic was the purest form of order ever known, and his enemy effortlessly destroyed it, defying physics itself.

In his rage, Rufus launched a beam of dark, solar, and death magic combined into another beam blasting it down on Shadow with his other hand. However, Shadow just used his other hand to hold the beam in place. Rufusdraco roared in frustration and a hint of fear. The black unicorn gave a cruel smile before using his hands to combined the two beams. The result made a mininuclear explosion blasting anything in its path.

Once the dust settled five miles of buildings were completely gone leaving only rubble remains of the previous buildings. Luckily, any unicorn, or magic user used their left over magic to produce shields to avoid dying from the blast. The only being left was standing was Shadow who looked to have regenerated lost flesh from the blasts of harmonious energy. Rufus was won carrying burn marks from his own magic. The bull's mind caught up to recent event picking himself up and using his accelerated healing to any injuries on his body. "You fool. You thought that a little blast of magic could somehow slow me down? You must be more stupid then I thought previously."

In response, Shadow looked to have instant teleport into existence behind the crystalized bull running Apocalypse through Rufus. The sudden pain tore through the ancient crystal being. "No, you are mistaken if you think that I would finish this with magic. You are obviously immune to it. Let's see how long you last from the gift of the void." Shadow smirked a hint of complete madness behind the facade of calmness in his eyes.

Rufusdraco's eyes shrunk to pin pricks as the fear of true terror finally took its course. A black substance flood off Apocalypse directly into the bull. All Rufus could do was scream and wail in agony. His futile attempt to pull the blade off stopped when he realized that the black substance was now eating his hands. A sadistic grin formed on Shadow glaring all his hate into the skull of the creature before him. The black substance even manage to bring so much pain to him it brought tears to the bull's eyes. Shadow didn't seem care about his suffering. In fact, he seem to enjoy his pain.

It all end too soon as most of Rufusdraco's body was consumed by the black substance by now. Shadow's head snaps again seeing only sadness gleam in his eyes before the last bit of Rufus is dissolved in the black liquid. Its purpose finished, the substance retreated back into his skin and sword.

Stunned silence reigned the battlefield. Some stared in horror at the black unicorn, few in awe at his strength and abilities. He walked over to Apollyon who was anticipating what he planned to do with her.

Shadow's left hand suddenly glowed bright blue. "I'm sorry, Celestia, but this will hurt a bit."

His choice of words confused her until the hand was thrusted in her chest. To everpony's surprise, the hand phased right through the flesh before pulling back out glowing red sphere in his fist. The unusal features Celestia's body had before seem to vanish into nothingness leaving Celestia's original body in plain sight. In that instant, Celestia had passed out only for Princess Luna to save her from her fall. Luna teleported a blanket overtop of Celestia to cover her more private areas. She glared harshly at some of the guard's lustful gazes at her sister.

Shadow nod in approval. He then looks at the soul bringing it to his face. "If I catch you wondering this world again, I'll make sure that you end up like Rufusdraco except I'll use you to feed my own power. Do I make myself clear?"

The red soul blinked rapidly in response. Shadow gave a toothy smile in approval. "Oh. And don't forget to tell your angel buddies too. Some might know me if you have an interest in my origins or whatever." With that said, the black unicorn released the soul. The red soul waste no time in zipping straight into the heavens above. Shadow shook his head chuckling in amusement at the Death Angel's reaction.

Nightmare slowly got on her hooves realizing the worst of her wounds were healed by the black stallion himself. Shadow looked at the alicorn before she hugged him tight. He was momentarily surprised at how strong her grip as gotten and how more developed her muscles have grown.

After another tearful re-reunion of one of my dear friends, we decided to go back to Ponyvile for a little while. We head to my house for me to be met by a familiar fiend. Shadow stares at Queen Chrysalis fully expecting her to try and pierce his heart, but instead she greeted him with a warm welcome; No tricks, no magic deception.

During lunch, Nightmare filled the black unicorn in on what has been happening during Shadow's long absence. Whether Shadow enjoyed Chrysalis' presence, or just simply hated it was a mystery seeing he had a poker face during the entire conversation.

Anyway, when they finished there meal it was around sunset making the sky turn orange. Shadow looks at the window before a slight degree of sadness washed over him. He looked to Nightmare and Chrysalis who seem to realize his change in demeanor too.

"Starting today, I'll no longer guard nor have my presence here on Equis." He said.

This caused both of the mare's eyes to widen in shock. "Hey! You can't just randomly appear out of nowhere before disappearing again! Do you know how long moony has been 'mourning' for a miracle from you before you 'died'?!" Chrysalis exclaimed.

Shadow gave an even stare. "I am well aware, Chrysalis, but I have failed to mention why I'm choosing this path." The two mares impatiently wait for the black stallion to continue. "I stayed in my universe like a home base, once upon a long time ago. However, the longer I stayed the more dangerous it was for the people around me to live the next day. I ended up killing everything I know of with just a few words, or worse, tinker with something that wasn't supposed to happen causing the worst possible scenario to occur. I have the worst case of being unlucky. Very unlucky. That's why I have to be careful of what I do or say. Hell, I nearly destroyed your planet the first time! Do you think that was purely coincidental?"

Chrysalis seem to understand in mute shock at the situation he was in. Nightmare just seem to get depressed and sad at the news. Shadow stretches his arm to ruffle her mane. "Don't worry, I haven't scarred this world for good. Once I leave, your natural order of things will take over again." He reassured.

"But, what about the friends you made now? What about us?" Nightmare said almost desperately. "Don't you even care?"

Shadow softly smiles. "Of course I do. I just can't risk any of you getting hurt anymore. If one of my enemies was here who knows what else I would attract if I stay?" he gets close pulling something out of his space dimension thing before placing it in the palm of her held out hand. "I need you to do something for me before I depart, Nightmare. I need you to be its new hero. I need you to get stronger too. There are many bastards out there who love weak and defenseless planes of existence for themselves. I want you to promise me you will protect this planet for me."

There was a brief pause of Nightmare astonished face on full display. She hesitated before sighing in defeat. She gripped the medallion I gave her looking me square in the eyes. "I promise, Shadow. This world is in good hands."

"Remember your promise to me then when times are tough. I know it's a lot of responsibility, but I trust no other being to do it the right way." He said before getting up and walking out the door.

Chrysalis looked flabbergasted at Nightmare like she yanked a lollipop directly out of a baby's mouth. "So you're just going to let him walk away like that? No fuss after all you have been through?!"

Nightmare gave Chrysalis a hard stare before sighing heavily. "I know what I did was unlike me, but I've learned something over the years about Shadow. He sees, hears and feels things that normally no one takes notice in. He's a stallion of mystery that I don't think we have scratched the surface of. I want to help him, but I know I can't. Unlike most stallions I have seen he seems to hide his pain from the rest of the world, and until he opens those secrets they will stay secret. Chryssie, no matter what I do, I can't seem to reach him, so I'll do the next best thing for the being who saved my mind and took care of me when no one else would. Protect the world in his place."

The two looked at each other not sure what the future had in store for both of them. What was for certain is that they had to rebuild Equestria's government quickly or else the nobles take advantage of the situation at hoof.

Shadow

My heart felt too heavy to be a part of me right now. I had to lie to my friends here in this dimension. Why? Because the real reason is much darker. I've realized my mistake the first time after ending up in this universe through a space-time crack. I must leave this world behind if I want to spare it from the same fate mine went through.

I have killed many beings just for the sake of killing them, and for what? It got me no where except for more pain and suffering. Nothing can make up for my mistakes not even death. The death of Rufusdraco will be an everlasting scar in my mind. I utterly destroyed the other two beings that survived the destruction of my home universe. Sure, both Hades and Rufusdraco are psychopathic asshole they use other people for their own gain, but am I really any better? The crystallized minotaurs amd their king could have been saved if I had kept a leveled head. I didn't have to kill every demon I saw, and I could have just simply had the Elements of Harmony banish the Lord of Tartarus into stone, or another prison.

I was given plenty of choices to steer away from my old habits. To perform the right justice to my oldest enemies. And I chose revenge over justice.

You did this to yourself.

I wanted to cry to feel something other than the tiredness and dread of tommorrow. But I couldn't cry, not anymore. My tears have all but left me millions of years ago.

Maybe It's time for a change in scenery.

A smile forced its way on my lips. An endless amount of possibilities for fun to explore! I snapped my fingers making a pitch black oval hole appear before me. I stepped through awaiting the next quest.

EPILOGUE

DARKNESS

The silhouette of Darkness looks around the void in complete boredom. Yet, he didn't feel an urge to do actual work rise in him. Darkness glanced at the world Shadow used to reside in: Equis Planet 3797498947494748741- The number was way too long to even fully read in his mind. He didn't feel like reading a ridiculous number of all times anyway. He moved his hands gathering a cluster of nothingness deciding to form a mirror out of it.

Darkness effortlessly made a spectating mirror. It swirled with purple energy that would make most gods, and all mortals, go insane from a glance in it. He sighed before using a mere thought to direct his way through the various infinite amount of multiverses that existed. But he had no interest in all multiverses available. No, he was more interested in one small corner of the cosmos'.

Darkness stopped upon a world where a familiar being named Discord reside in a 'hidden' dimension in his own world seeming to be watching a figure through a portal of sorts. Darkness narrowed his eyes instantly causing the portal he made to zoom in on Discord's portal. He saw a particular tree-woman with wings walking on a flying wooden ship of sorts. Darkness took a few more seconds to admire the scene before instantly changing the universe view.

This time, he saw a certain quadrupled legged mare with a 'Pipbuck' on her right foreleg heading into a tower stretching above the cloud covered in the middle of a nuclear wasteland. Darkness knew even before she went into the building of her terrible fate, yet he could not feel sympathy or sadness for her situation. Just.... emptiness. He didn't seem all too upset when he automatically changed universe again.

This time, is a world where Dainn's rule was still alive and destroying themselves in pointless sexual activity against half dead mares and cows. To most, this would sicken them to such a degree they would act on the spot. Darkness, however, knew the out come about ready to be delivered to this version of Caribous. A black unicorn, in an anthro form, with a top hat and suit walked out of a forest with foot soldiers and mages by his side. They seem to be marching to a Caribou stronghold.

"Dainn's Caribou will fail. They always have."

The next world made him actually feel a tinge of.... curiosity? Darkness examined the world seeing it had a similar set up to the last world except there was a lich with..... rainbow magic.... seeming to be drinking himself almost half to death and freaking out the nearby ponies with his oddity of a greeting. Regardless, this human had the slimest of potential for the ancient being, but he quickly blurred passed that world too. He set his eyes on Shadow opening a suspended black hole in front of him. Darkness felt Shadow's pain and sadness flood him, yet the ancient being hardly seem to notice the feeling. Instead, he focused on Shadow's smile.

Darkness hummed to himself before closing the portal with his thoughts. "So the vessel chose to leave this world behind. An interesting turn of events, I say. You did well to secure the safety of this world. But what will become of you next? What path will you choose for yourself?"

The ancient being felt another disturbance all out from its world into a different one entirely again. That damn 'Merchant' never cease to piss him off. Even his bosses think they are unseen by their deeds.

"No evil deed goes unpunished."

The emotions he had began to fade seeing that this 'displaced' had a different feel than most did. One of raw power.

Darkness frowned trying to understand why the merchant and several other versions of him would give this individual so much power? It didn't matter because that 'displaced' wasn't his problem. Nothing in creation ever is his problem anyways.

"Well, looks like another game of poker is in order, it seems." he said to himself.

He made a deck of cards out of nothingness waiting for his opponents to step forward into his realm. Three hooded figures floated over to Darkness. The ancient being gave a small smile before materializing a card table and chairs into existence.

"Same bet as usual, I presume, Darkness?" the tallest hooded figure asked.

"Of course, where has Death 191 went off to?" Darkness asked the other Deaths.

"She kind of went off on her own since, you know, she's jobless and homeless after it came into her universe." the skinniest Death replied.

Darkness could relate in a way to the dread of not being able to find any purpose in your immortal life. So he shrugged off her absence. "Alright gentlemen, put up your wages."

The tall Death bet, of course, three somewhat tainted souls. The skinny Death had an interesting soul seeing it had enormous power which radiate off it like the soul could be from a God. And the last Death pulled out nice price to behold. A pure piece of Sentient Corruption in a divine sealed jar. Darkness smiled at the prizes up for grabs. He searched through his storage and materialized a rare kind of soul, since their's were also of high value as well: an archangel soul. The three Death's eyes literally bug out of their hoods in a comedic way seeing Darkness' prize.

"This is unexpected..."

"I'm definitely feeling lucky today."

The last Death stroked its nonexistent face like it had a beard on it.

"Well of course, my vessel has succeed in destroying another one of the Void's henchmen. Think of my prize as a feeling of gratitude for this turn of events. Regardless of my prize I would hardly lose to a bunch of second-rate Deaths."

The Deaths didn't seem amused by Darkness' infamous hubris streak he got play poker. But the Deaths knew how to counteract it.

"Right, and how many times have you lost to me? A hundred thousand times? A million?"

Darkness tsked at his record counting. "True, I have lost some times. I still have one hundred thirty million wins over all of you. You don't stand a chance against me."

The tall Death smirked. "We'll see."

Last Death nod and oddly had a huge sense of determination coming off the silent Death. Darkness shrugged handing the deck to a card dealer he made a second ago. Once the cards had been dealt the game began anew.

The Pony From The Sky

by RedtheDestroyer

Chapter 1: "Redemption and Rebel" (Edited)

Chapter 2: "Half Truth, Half Reality" (Edited)

Chapter 3: [S.Faze] "What The Hell Are Caribou" (Edited)

Chapter 4: [N. Moon] "Into The Crystal Labyrinth." (Edited)

Chapter 5: [S. Faze] "Gods Are Killable"

Chapter 6: [N. Moon] "What Will It Be"

Chapter 7: [S. Faze] "New Discoveries Are Accidents"

Chapter 8: [S. Faze] "The Shadow In Us all"

Chapter 9: [N. Moon] "Foreign Lands are Lovely, Don't You Think"

Chapter 10: "A Dog-Eat-Dog World"

Chapter 11: "Breaking Point"

Chapter 12: "Dragons and Tapes and Lies, Oh My"

Chapter 13: "When Titans' fall..."

Chapter 14: "... Gods Arise"/EPILOGUE