> AΣ ∆ Alpha Sigma Blade
>  by KukriRyuTsukino
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Can I Figure Out What Is Going On?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Atlanta, Georgia, United States - Earth
    Johnny Carmichael grimaced, his deep auburn hair streaked with gold and copper as it fell into his wild, untamed dark aquamarine eyes. He glanced down at the dark red and white helmet, its back able to close to form the well-known ponytail of the Maverick Hunter known as Zero. His skin was naturally a pale bronze rather than Zero’s usual paler skin tone, which he much preferred over Zero’s natural tone. He exhaled, the white gloves rasping over the dense plastic he’d used 3D printing to create the helm of the costume. The bracers on his forearm were molded plastic, though the attachments that could slide out to form the Z-Buster were layered metal, specifically 10-65 carbon steel commonly used for swords, though he’d worked it so it could slide into place from slits within the bracer, forming the end and barrel of the energy cannon for the Buster. 

He exhaled as he tugged on the leather thong he’d looped into a half hitch knot with part over and underneath his hair as he looped it through the molded gorget, or throat guard, as he lifted the helmet before sliding it over his head, the back sliding down in segments before clicking into place. He had managed to find a very skilled technician that could work metal and plastic into an armor that acted almost like Batman’s Arkham suit in that it fits smoothly into one connected piece. He exhaled as the suit wasn’t all that light, though he was only a few days away from his seventeenth birthday and knew what he could handle. The bronzed accents on the armor contrasted well against the white and darker tone of candy red which had been layered over the deep Show Stopper red he’d chosen from Sherwin-Williams. 

He stepped out of the changing room, his weighted boots clicking softly, almost like the metallic footfalls most connected a Reploid with. His gaze slid around the roughly four thousand various people, most in varied costumes for this Comic-con, though he, personally, was more interested in some of the fan gear or potentially a few games. Johnny, beneath the costume, wore a deep auburn, almost crimson, tee shirt underneath a dark copper vest and black pants with red sandals and pale gray tabi socks. He smirked ever so slightly, twisting the trigger on the right hand so the Z-Buster protracted into position, the coiled LED lights glowing a pale golden color as it clicked into place before he retracted it into its concealed position. He knew some might claim he possessed a ‘concealed weapon’, though all it was was a hardened plastic tube with dark gray spray paint on the end while a string of coiled LEDs provided the glow; the hardest part, at least for him,was making sure it didn’t get stuck.

He moved, walking with softly clanking footfalls, the bronzed lead weights in the heels and outside of his feet clicking in their sheaths. The hardest part about making them had been heating the lead enough to bronze it with a flywheel yet not melt it to the point of being molten. His gaze slid along various stands before pausing momentarily at the sight of a Resident Evil 4 shop cosplayer. He had heard vague rumors of people vanishing after buying things from a similar cosplayer, but he saw little that interested him at that particular stand.


“Unfortunate that there aren’t any Mavericks to fight, eh, Zero?” he commented in a raspy yet smooth voice.

“Hn… I’m not interested in banter. If you have anything remotely interesting, show it. From what I see… your things aren’t interesting in the least,” Johnny said in a disinterested tone, sounding eerily like the actual Maverick Hunter.

“From what I see, you are missing your Saber, amongst a few other small trinkets that I may have,” the cosplayer wheedled.

Johnny’s eyebrow rose slightly, absently noticing the guy's cloak was a deep navy and he never let down his hood. “Doubtful that you would have anything resembling it. And I have no desire to carry around a cheap lightsaber knockoff,” he said with a dry tone as he crossed his arms.

“How can you be so sure? Perhaps a closer look might peak your interest?”the man said with amusement, smirking. 

Johnny snorted, rolling his eyes as he took a couple of steps closer before his eyebrow rose a bit, noticing models of the Biometal Models Z, X, H, F, L, P, and A all hovering over what he suspected were electromagnets. He hummed slightly, though he didn’t pause beyond a cursory glance. “What about this Z-Saber you claim to have?” he said dryly, glancing at the man, who smirked, his eyes twinkling slightly.

    The cosplayer pulled out a case roughly two feet and three inches in length. Johnny’s eyebrow twitched as the man opened it, revealing… a pale gray hilt with a dark copper ring around the base of the hilt and rounded off butt; it appeared the salesman had the hilt right, though he saw no blade. The salesman lifted the hilt before twisting it as a segmented yellow topaz blade slid out, igniting a warm golden color. He tilted his head, his gaze scanning the blade, which he gauged to be slightly under eighteen inches. The man spun it skillfully before offering the hilt. 

“It’s up to you if you want it,” the man said with a faint smirk.

 “Hmmm,” Johnny hummed, taking the hilt; it was surprisingly balanced, he noted, as he held it loosely before holding it with two fingers slightly under where the blade extended from, finding it would balance very easily. “Layered a yellow topaz and clear quartz crystal?” he said thoughtfully.

    “True, with a three-millimeter-thick layer of mineral oil between so it would not slide and crack against itself,” the salesman said with a small smirk. “Not many would notice the subtle clarity beneath the slight cloudiness of the topaz,” he complimented.

    “The clarity of the LED in the hilt gives away the layering effect, though it’s well hidden, admittedly,” Johnny said wryly, amused. 

    “$320?” the salesman offered. 

    “$225,” Johnny replied with a straight face.

“$300,” the salesman deadpanned.

$240,” Johnny said dryly.

“$270,” the salesman countered.

“$245,” Johnny deadpanned.

“$265, and I’ll throw in the Biometals, plus the Durga Glaive, Vega Hanger, Bashou Fan, and Kaiser Knuckle,” the salesman deadpanned.

    “Hmmm, fine. Leaves me enough for lunch, anyway,” Johnny said dryly, rolling his shoulders as he took the proffered case with the Biometals in it. 

    “What lunch?” the salesman quipped as he smirked a bit as he saw the young man’s eyes glaze over as swirling light flickered, then consumed him in a matter of seconds, the reddish gold dust glittering as it scattered over the ground, quickly scattered by the various people walking around.


Next Chapter, Johnny ‘Zero’ Carmichael awakens in Equestria extremely confused, Disoriented, and hungry.

> In The Far Flung Future...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


54XX North-Central Unicorn Range
   A male unicorn pony with dark persian blue eyes and a pale golden gamboge coat with two treasure keys behind a treasure chest exhaled, his gaze scanning the rocky terrain before a minor tremor kicked up from the unicorn and earth pony mining ponies that were assisting with his official search; it was suspected that there were other laboratories than what had been found, though few of those laboratories had been searched by other than search drones. He glanced at the worker ponies, whose right forelegs were covered by gauntlets that doubled as either drills or low powered jackhammers as they did not wish to damage anything discovered.

  Gallant True grimaced as a rocky surface slid free, dropping to the rocky ground and splintering; he knew several of the dozen or so drones he had with their group were also guard-sentry drones. However, there were also a trio of Equestrian Guard ponies for Princess Celestia herself; he knew that most ponies were unaware that Celestia sought out technological advances not only for ponykind’s gain, but also to keep it from those who might modify said technology found on Equestrian land for potential war efforts.

His eyes widened slightly as a dull reflection flared from the sunlight as the clouds shifted. He noticed a dark red and brighter crimson streak beneath something a deep coppery gold, though he couldn’t tell precisely what it was. Most anthropologists did know that technology, and by extension, those who may have created it, such as the mythological human, existed, as it wasn’t that odd to find said technology around though most ponies preferred to stick to crystal charged magitech that, for the most part, converted solar energy into magical energy which was then used to power various things such as refrigerators, lights, heating water, cooking meals, and for some of the more… common small vehicles such as gliding hoverboards or drift scooters.

What caught his attention, however, was a small dark gray attached case to the top of the capsule, though what was within it, he had no idea. He exhaled as the guardsponies arrived, very aware that they would start working to extract whatever had been discovered. He exhaled softly, thinking how his niece, who was a fledgling archaeologist and treasure seeker like himself, would be very interested in this.

He noticed a flicker of light as the unicorns employed magic to slide the dust and debris free, revealing the broad, almost seven and a half foot tall capsule around three feet wide; he wasn’t sure what metal it was made of, but he did notice that the magic seemed to both slide off and absorb into the metal somehow, which didn’t make much sense at all to him, anyway, as most of the time either metal tended to absorb magic and, by extension, channel it, or deflect and block magical energies.

A gust of steam caught his attention as one of the horizontal lines forming the top of the combined Z and mingled, smaller X flared a bright golden color over the dully reflective cover that looked like a rounded oval at the top and somewhat of a rounded rectangle near the bottom. The rounded elliptical lens over the opening of the capsule slid open, the X splitting on one side before it slid apart, steam and smoke pouring forth. He blinked as he saw a bright bluish-green glow in the form of two eyes flare to life along with a triangular blue gemstone shimmering above it.

His eyes widened fractionally, cocking his head as an armored humanoid form stumbled out, its golden edged white boots clattering on the rocks before the armored black shorts showed through the steam and smoke. The bluish-green glow faded to show dark aquamarine-teal eyes that were obviously dazed and extremely confused.

He focused his magic through his horn as the armored young woman staggered before falling, almost sprawling amongst the rocks, some being quite sharp, he had noticed, as they had slid free. She groaned, gagging as she seemed disoriented, though he noticed the case falling free as a rock hit the top of the capsule.


<<<<<<<< Reboot in Progress >>>>>>>>

 2%.... 14%... 36%... 55%.... 74%... 88%... Error…. 

Memory Cells damaged --- Must Find Onyx Armor to restore

Armor Uplink Detected -- can seal Armored Reploid Form into NanoCore to blend into populace

Kenshō Armor Detected -- Wind Manipulation and Air Thrusters

Tōshō Armor Detected -- Fire Manipulation and Enhanced Close Combat capabilities

Yōshō Armor Detected -- Water Manipulation, Ice Manipulation, and Enhanced Water Combat capabilities

Inshō Armor Detected -- Shadow Manipulation, Purification, and Enhanced Stealth Capabilities 

Astral Armor Detected -- Copy Technique, Enhanced Ranged Combat capabilities and Dual Plasma Pistols active

Johnny’s eyes flickered open, his gaze flickering along the semi-transparent screens that flickered in front of his eyes for several seconds before he felt the odd paralysis that had overcome him fading as he felt tingling rush over his body before a blinding glare flared in his face, unaware yet that he was no longer male… but female. 





He grimaced, staggering out of the capsule, which to him, as he glanced momentarily around, reminded him oddly of a cross between the Capsule only vaguely shown in Megaman X4 and the Kryptonian Capsule shown in CW’s Supergirl, but on a larger, if at the same time tighter scale. He heard the metallic footfalls as he felt his weight shift, noticing his armor felt… unbalanced… as if it wasn’t quite on right. He felt something catch him before he spotted the odd small horse with its horn glowing. When did equines have horns? he wondered uncertainly.

She blinked for a moment, the HUD displaying instinctively.

Species --- Unicorn


Capabilities -- Magic Use, Enhanced Reflexes


Name -- Unknown, Inquiry Advised


Skills -- Unknown

Johnny winced as he felt something slap hard into the back of his head with a metallic clunk before he blinked a few times, managing to get his feet beneath him before he turned a bit, spotting the case with the Biometals. He opened the case, noticing the Biometal Z model flaring almost immediately with crimson light before it shot up and hit her full in the chest before he felt an odd heated tingling surging through his body before he was launched backwards several yards as her Reploid Form was replaced by her new human form… sprawled flat on her face with her messy wild auburn-gold hair.

Gallant Truth, alongside one of the guard ponies, noticed the case clicking shut as the girl slammed hard into the ground after a nasty, uncontrolled somersault; she obviously didn’t expect such a thing, he noted. He grimaced as the odd form twitched a few times before going still, though he didn’t miss the guard pony casting a diagnostic spell to check the health of the young woman.

“We will transport the capsule, case, and the unsub to Canterlot for processing. No doubt they will be useful,” one of the guards ponies muttered gruffly. Unlike the others, he had a distinct militaristic bearing.
> Unforeseen Discoveries
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



In Transit to Canterlot City - Airship Eternal Skies

Johnny Alexis groaned, her dark amethyst eyes fluttering as she sat up, disoriented in the bunk. She found herself wearing a pale cyan blouse over baggy dark tan pants; she was barefoot. She swung her legs over the side of the bunk, dizzy as she coughed before clearing her throat. Her gaze slid around the rather plain bunk room, seeing only a small writing desk and the bunk which hung from dark olive green and copper ropes. Her eyes widened slightly at the polished silver of a mirror reflecting her form. 

“What in the fuck?!?!” she barked, startled. She cocked her head in confusion before sighing, looking away out of the window. “It would be just my luck to end up as a genderbent Zero…. though they never really specified in the series whether Zero was originally male or female. It is just generally assumed he was male,” she muttered, grimacing.

She groaned as she tilted her head, soft pops of tense tendons the only sign of anything really bothering her. She ran her hands through messy dark golden auburn hair. She suspected that the case holding the Biometals was somewhere else, though that would require her exploring this place. From the hum, she assumed it was a plane, which would be simple to explore if it was a cargo plane. Unless it wasn’t, in which case it might be a bit harder. She shot a look outside, trying to see what sort of transport it was. The rolling land and trees were pleasant and appeared quite free, though her eyes spotted something interesting…. an airship much like that of the Hindenburg. She exhaled softly, as that gave her a hint of what sort of transport she was in, though she had never ridden in an airship, therefore she had little knowledge of how the interior was designed. She did know one very critical fact: never light a match within the balloon of one nor puncture it as from what she recalled, hydrogen was highly explosive. 

However, there was one thing she wasn’t certain of in this particular case: was it actually hydrogen within the balloon for this particular airship? It could have been helium, which fortunately was an inert gas when it came to explosions. She giggled at that thought if a leak happened in here whilst the balloon was filled with helium. 

“That would be funny… hearing everyone speaking with squeaky voices,” she snickered. She paused at a thought. “Wait a second… unicorns… airships… I can’t shake the feeling there’s something I’m missing,” she muttered, tapping her chin in thought. There was something nagging at the former male’s thoughts, but he couldn’t quite remember what it was.

“Apparently, at least part of my mind has some cyber enhancements, which if corrupted, would explain why my memories are fragmented. The question is, what sorts of enhancements do I have?” she murmured, unaware of the ability she could already access.

She exhaled softly, her eyes half closed as she concentrated, not noticing silvery scales much like those of a snake or dragon forming over her skin as the nanites reacted within her body, forming a shell of armor over her hands, forearms, and wrists. She could feel her skin tingling as she opened her eyes, blinking as she saw the change. A smirk crossed her face at the change. 

“Could be useful in hand to hand combat, I suppose, though…. huh,” she said softly, noticing what appeared to be a small rounded trigger underneath her wrist. She tilted her wrist in a snapping motion, a streamer of pale golden slime hardening into thin tendrils not unlike arachnid webbing that clung to the wall. 

“I have a feeling this will be fun,” she murmured with a smirk. She tilted her head as the silvery scales smoothed out into a bodysuit before it spread over her arms and upper torso, failing to notice that it effectively shredded the likely used outfit in the process. She felt the mild tingling sensation over her back and sides before it enclosed her upper body before sliding down her hips and down over her legs. A smirk crossed her face as she knew this would be useful. “Hmmm, what to call me like this… maybe Therapho? I mean, these nanites seem to allow me to manipulate them freely, so a secondary form could be quite useful,” she murmured. She looked closely, noticing that there were miniscule barbs, likely no more than a few millimeters, upon the tips and pads of her fingers. She tilted her head, her gaze scanning down the bodysuit, noticing the light hood over her shoulders before she rolled her shoulders.

(For reference, it looks similar to the Black Sacrament Armor, Female - Winter. For the individual parts of the armor... Look Here.)

A small smirk crossed her face as she noticed the amber-gold tone to her sight, unaware her gaze was shielded by a dull nonreflective amber-silver covering her face and temples with pale golden amber eyes. The mask melded with the mask covering her face forming slightly curving upper fangs while most of the suit was a dull gray with amber undertones. 

She tilted her head, noticing that the mask seemed to have scanning capabilities, noting that the window slid down before she did just that, sliding the window down, a gust of air almost pushing her back for a few seconds before she grinned, rolling her shoulders before she pushed off, vaulting through the window in a fluid motion, tilting her head slightly so she could see before she flicked her wrists, the webbing firing out before clinging to the edges of the window as she tugged herself to the side of the airship, clinging to the wood and metal easily. “This is fun!!! I can see why a certain Spider enjoys moving around with it!!” she giggled as she tilted her head, hearing a barely audible click before a gasp followed. She guessed someone had come to check on her, so she crawled military style upward before she slid into a vent, fortunately cutting off the worst of the winds.

She smirked as she crawled stealthily, noticing that few in the hallways of the airship thought to look upward; she suspected her suit had dampening properties to make it more difficult for unicorns to sense her. She did notice one that was armored lightly with a light gray coat and a moderate sapphire blue mane streaked with dark pthalo blue and moderate cerulean. He looked nervous and unsure. 


Name - Unknown, Inquiry Advised


Race - Unicorn


Skills - Barrier Glyphs and Defensive Magicks

She hummed softly, thinking about what the readout had said. “Curious that the scanners cannot identify them, though it does make sense… they aren’t Human nor are they Reploids. That isn’t to say that some, potentially dangerous…. Mavericks… don’t exist, however,” she thought. She blinked, noticing a city that seemed unstable to her, clinging to the side of a mountain, however, there were many other airships that seemed to fly and land there.


Location Detected 


City Name - Unknown


Patriarchal or Matriarchal - Unknown


Number of Civilians - Unknown


That data had her cautious as she wasn’t sure how to react. She quickly made her way along the ceiling, noticing a wheel she recognized as a ship’s wheel, guessing it signaled the bridge, which was the most likely location of the case holding the Biometals. She slipped quietly and carefully along the ceiling before noticing the case in question on a desk near the ship’s wheel, which made her grin. “Just what we’re looking for,” she thought as she crawled close to the case before snagging it with a web before reeling it in and touching it to the small of her back where it attached itself as if glued. 

“Where’s the case at? Who took it?” a gruff militaristic pony snapped.

“Hmmm, I don’t know where it could be… maybe with the only one who can most likely use it?” she quipped nonchalantly, amused as everyone abruptly panicked, obviously startled by the unexpected voice. She did notice that several of the unicorns aimed barely visible tendrils of light she deduced were almost like laser pointers at her, however, obviously wary. “Thought you could take what doesn’t belong to you? I mean, really. If they don’t react to you, you ain’t gonna be able to use them,” she deadpanned, crouching nonchalantly on the ceiling as if it were the floor. Almost the same moment, the pony she’d caught a glimpse of skidded in, panting hard before staring at her with confusion. 

“Wh-what is that?” he stuttered.

“What’s what? I mean, I wake up here… nobody asks me how I feel, nobody checks on me… though I’m kinda starving, frankly,” came her dry, amused reply. The mask retracted, revealing the deep emerald-aquamarine irises and lightly tanned skin as well as the messy dark auburn hair falling in wild, untamed waves.

“Ugh… still getting used to that. It was why I always held my hair back…. though I can’t quite remember why,” she sighed, blowing a lock of hair out of her eyes. She shifted her weight, somersaulting to land in a crouch as her hair fell down to the middle of her back. She didn’t miss that they had slowed and was slowly drifting lower. She noticed, out of the corner of her eye as ropes were cast downward. 

She glanced at the unicorn pony with the light gray coat and moderate sapphire blue mane streaked with dark pthalo blue and moderate cerulean. She cocked her head with a small smile, amused as he blushed. She tilted her head, noticing the dark sapphire blue shield with a magenta starburst topped by a trio of small cerulean stars on his flank beneath what seemed to be copper or bronze armor. She hummed in thought, thinking. “If that’s either bronze or copper, the former would be better defensively, but I see many gaps that would leave him incapacitated, underneath his legs, just beneath the rib cage and what would pass for his lower back, I suppose. Not to mention his abdomen which is completely exposed,” she mused. “Could layer it with fabric and a layer of ceramic to increase defense, maybe fine mesh,” she thought. Her father had been military while her mother had been a seamstress. It meant more than a little of what knowledge she had been passed from them to her.
> Greetings and Annoyances
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canterlot City, Equestria #2651914




Johnny Alexis Carmichael sighed softly as they landed, though she was cautious at the military pony’s glare; he likely assumed that the case was his by right of discovery, despite the fact she’d found it first. She mingled amongst the crowd, feeling a dull tingling along her skin, unaware that the body armor she was wearing was pulsing with a dull red aura before it flared brightly, blinding her as well as more than a few nearby ponies. 

“Shit,” he muttered before blinking. “Hmmm, that bears curiosity. Apparently, I can shift between male and female forms, though I’m still somewhat creeped out by miniature ponies. Meh… I… eh?” he muttered, pausing as he could ‘see’ a tendril of bright golden light radiating skyward and, surprisingly, growing closer. The lens over his right eye retracted, telling him that it was only visible through the lenses he was seeing through. “Hmm,” he murmured. 

“How did you do that? Change forms like that?” he heard the pony he’d observed before murmur softly. 

“No idea, honestly. Memories are fragmented. I remember waking up, apparently in the side of a mountain… before that… other than my name… it’s blanker than a field after a heavy snowfall before any footprints,” he said dryly. 

“Hoofprints, you mean,” the pony corrected.

“Hoofprints, footprints… what does it matter what you walk on?” he deadpanned, shrugging nonchalantly.

“Name’s Lieutenant Shining Armor,” the pony said, introducing himself as he chuckled, supposing the odd creature had a point.

“Johnathan Alexis Carmichael, as far as I know, civilian,” he said dryly, shrugging.

Johnny let his gaze scan around before his eyes landed on the source of the golden beam of light. The mask retracted to merely glasses around his eyes, the dark amethyst edging around the golden amber lenses. “I believe that belongs to me,” he said quietly.

The pony with the spring greenish gray coat and dark gray mane snorted, glaring at them. “Nonsense. Upper Crust and I purchased this…. trinket…. fairly. There is nothing special about it,” the unicorn pony scoffed, the white sweater rustling slightly in the breeze over his green and white jersey.

“Truly, Jet Set, what are these ruffians accosting us for?” the female of the pair snorted, her cream-colored shirt and pale pink sweater almost identical to her husband’s. 

“That pair of weapons is known as the Bashou Fan,” Johnny said dryly, cocking an eyebrow.

“Prove it, you hairless…. midget minotaur,” Upper Crust scoffed. Her eyes widened when he picked up the dagger “trinkets” before pressing a small trigger on the hilt and flicking it, the blade extending into a razor-sharp fan as energy flared over the blades of the fan in a glowing golden orange aura almost like flames.

She was mildly startled when she saw his irises flare a pale green as he vaulted back sharply a good twenty-five hoofpaces, landing in a low crouch. Her eyes narrowed slightly as he shifted with almost predatory fluidity, the movements hypnotic.

She frowned slightly as she cocked her head, noticing tints of a beautiful deep amethyst light flickering over the fans before her husband fired a stunning spell at the creature. To her surprise the creature twisted the fans, the aura catching and bouncing it between both fans several times before launching it back at her husband, hitting the ground a few hoofbeats in front of him in a blast of dust as he folded the fans in smoothly in a fluid, practiced motion. Jet Set gagged at the dust, his hoof swiping at the dust before he blinked, confused at the creature’s empty hands.

Upper Crust blinked as she hadn’t taken her eyes off the creature, yet the dagger-fans had apparently vanished; he wore a feminine blouse whose sleeves were far too short to hide anything up, barely brushing his biceps. “As to what I am…. It isn’t a midget minotaur. I’m human,” his tone was dry and sarcastic, mildly irritated.

“Everyone knows humans are myths,” Jet Set sneered. 

“Where I came from, pegasi and unicorns were myths. For example, one myth is that a woman cursed by a god whom could petrify with her gaze and killed by a hero birthed a winged horse from her blood… called Pegasus,” Alexander said dryly. “Supposedly, unicorns are meant to be pure creatures…. Though in your case… I’d say a pure arsehole,” he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. He did notice Shining Armor snickering, obviously catching his muttered comment through the unicorns clearly didn’t pay attention. 

He turned away, unaware that the fans had merged with the nanites composing his bodysuit of ‘clothing’. He allowed the group of military pegasi to lead the way towards the somewhat imposing palace, though he didn’t miss the opportunity to let his gaze scan around with mild interest, though he didn’t fail to notice that most of the other ponies stared at him with confusion and mild disgust.

He exhaled softly as he walked fairly quickly, moving fluidly with loping strides, not surprised that the ponies, despite being smaller and having shorter legs, were fairly easily able to keep up with him. He glanced at Shining Armor who smirked slightly, obviously liking the challenge. “Nobles?” he deadpanned.

Shining shrugged. “We’re kinda stuck with them,” he sighed.

“They’re idiots,” Alexander quipped, drawing a snort of laughter from several of the ponies, including Shining Armor.

“There are some decent ones, though, granted, not that many, unfortunately,” Shining amended. “Though I do agree that most of them are idiots. I just don’t say so…. to their faces,” he said with amusement.

Alexander snickered before sliding to a stop, his eyes widening slightly. He saw, at the top of a sweeping, if shallowly angled staircase, at least four palaces, or so he guessed. One had at least six towers that he could see, another had two, and a third had a single. “Damn. Never saw a palace before… well… not this style of the palace. It looks somewhat vaguely Arabian to me, though the only other palace I saw was…. a decidedly different style to this,” he commented wryly. He did notice the hedge maze as well as a very strange statue near the opening to it. It seemed to be a mishmash of body parts sloppily thrown together. However, what did catch his eye, strangely, was what was beneath it: a thick capsule with three slowly rotating spheres; he recognized it as a ‘full health’ capsule, though he couldn’t remember why it seemed familiar. 

He did notice that it was well hidden beneath a layer of smoky quartz and marble, however. He didn’t comment on it, though, rather, focusing more on the broad palace before he cocked his head, thinking. “Who would need this place?” he said thoughtfully.

“The Princess, Her Majesty Celestia, you trash,” one guard snapped. 

“If I’m such ‘trash’ as you put it, why was I escorted here rather than left wherever I was? Hmmm? Seems your ego is about as big as your balls… and if you keep pushing me, I’ll be more than happy to shrink them quite painfully,” came Alexis’ sharp reply, a shimmering luminous golden red aura flickering around him as he shifted to his female form, a sadistic grin growing on her face.

Shining snickered, seeing the guard shrink back with a nervous look. “Though…. what you should wonder is what I would use to do it… maybe a salad fork? Or a sewing needle? Or… maybe something chilled to the point where it burns on contact? Or better…. something that might explode on contact? Hmmm, I wonder what sort of reaction sodium metal would have with blood. I know it explodes quite violently with water… of course, going by human knowledge, the blood is roughly eighty percent water… for ponies… with large balls and small brains… I’d worry that I wouldn’t just take their balls…. but more… vital things with them,” the young woman continued, her tone thoughtful before turning innocent as she tilted her head with a shy look as Shining cringed slightly as the look in her eyes held a hint of the dangerous sadist for those whom she really disliked or outright hated.

She cocked her head, a small smirk crossing her face as she let out a giggle. “Maybe you should consider that before opening your big mouth,” she said with amusement. She stepped closer to the palace, the doors opening unbidden as it was clear they were expected. She wasn’t sure if the stiffness in her back and shoulders was from nervousness from this ‘Princess Celestia’ or something else but dismissed it as nerves.
> Rising Dawn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canterlot City, Equestria #2651914

Johnny Alex Carmichael cocked his head as he took two quick strides as he noticed the railing before he smirked slightly. “Ever seen someone defy gravity?” he quipped.

“Huh?” Shining Armor said in confusion. “Nobody can defy gravity,” he said with confusion.

“Really? Then I shouldn’t be able to get up that railing…. without using the steps,” he said with amusement as he rolled his shoulders before he pushed off, unaware that his body was passively absorbing Equestrian Magic, hence, he could strengthen his body and manipulate his aura in a stronger state than that of even Master Shaolin monks. The bodysuit he wore enhanced these talents. Barely visible nickel sized gaps in his palms appeared to be repulsor sensors. 

They widened into small sapphire openings before a deep silvery blue aura flared, reacting almost like jets and shoving him at high speed up the railing though he shot almost twenty yards further on before he tumbled with the landing, feeling dizzy from the abrupt acceleration.

“How’d you do that?” Shining Armor said with confusion as he galloped up to him.

“Do what?” Johnny said with confusion, not understanding. He didn’t realize that his armor had thickened in response to his impact before thinning again. 

“Fly without wings!! I mean, it’s obvious you don’t have wings,” Shining commented.

“Actually, if you think about it scientifically, if you have the right shape of something and enough thrust behind it, it’s entirely possible anything could fly… though I wouldn’t advise flying into space without any sort of protection… it would make the fluids like blood and such in the body react rather… violently,” he said wryly, shrugging.

Shining laughed at that. “You sound like Twily, talking like that,” he said fondly, his gaze flicking towards the castle for a moment.

“Personally, I know about science… a fair bit, but I was always more interested in the terrestrial sciences than the astronomical kind… admittedly, I love admiring a good night sky. It’s rather relaxing. Although admittedly… there are always chemicals that react violently with water. Hell, even something as simple as table salt can if given the proper… preparation. My personal favorite… is dry ice… frozen carbon dioxide,” Johnny said with a grin.

“What’s so fun about it?” he said in confusion as the other ponies caught up. 

“It can be summed up in four words: sealed bottle, water, boom,” Johnny said with a chuckle, smirking.

“Eh?” Shining muttered, confused further. 

“Dry ice, or frozen carbon dioxide…. essentially the primary gas you exhale, is one of the few elements that sublimate straight from a solid to a gas. Water accelerates said process. Stick it in a sealed bottle… it will eventually blow the bottle apart,” he clarified.

Shining shrugged. “I never paid that much attention in science,” he admitted.

“It takes a particular kind to enjoy Chemistry. Personally, I preferred a more…. explosive approach. For example, chlorine by itself is a lethal gas, while sodium alone is a metal that reacts highly explosively with water. Take a guess on what the are combined as sodium chloride,” Johnny said with a snicker. He grunted slightly as one of the military ponies shoved him from behind. “Baka,” he said dryly, cocking an eyebrow as he snorted as he walked towards the palace, cautious as he didn’t know what to expect.

“I have no clue,” Shining said wryly. Alexis smirked, almost seeing question marks floating above the stallion's head.

“Table salt, the very kind you put on eggs, fries, and in a variety of other things, like cakes,” Alexis said nonchalantly. He snickered at the multiple thuds he heard, glancing over his shoulder as quite a few of the military ponies, as well as the self-proclaimed 'nobles', were rising to their hooves.

He hummed softly, looking around as he exhaled softly, simply enjoying the breeze for a few minutes. He glanced up at the towers, tempted to see what kind of view was visible from the top.

He glanced at his hands before he noticed the rounded circles before they irised open, exposing what made him vaguely think of a single word, though he couldn't remember why it seemed familiar or where he'd heard the term.

"Extremis," he muttered under his breath.
> Meeting Royalty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canterlot City, The Celestial Palace - Equestria #2651915

     Johnny’s jaw dropped, startled as he spotted the palace before he saw the broad, golden and bronzed doors open to reveal a tall, slightly under seven-foot tall winged unicorn with a mane that made him offhandedly think of the aurora borealis. He felt the slight tingling as the repulsor apertures closed, absently noticing the sensation in the back of his mind.

He felt a tingling warmth push his jaw shut as he saw the winged unicorn smile warmly, noticing a swirling golden yellow aura around her horn before he glanced down, noticing a slight golden sheen as the aura of magical energy she’d manipulated to close his mouth faded away. He cocked an eyebrow, not noticing the ruby aura growing around his right forearm and wrist before it became Zero’s armored form. Almost immediately, a holographic screen shimmered to life.


Name of City - Unknown


Matriarchal or Patriarchal - Matriarchal


Number of Civilians - Unknown 



 was what came up upon the screen. “Well, that doesn’t help much, does it?” he muttered dryly, shaking his head as he noticed the screen dismiss before the armored gauntlet also dismissed, reverting to the silvery white of the bodysuit which he noticed receded into a shorter bodysuit much like that of a surfer’s wetsuit in summer, shorts that stopped at his knees, and a short vest; it was only then that he noticed that he had a black bodysuit on beneath it.

“So, what precisely are you? You are not a pony, clearly,” the winged unicorn said.

“Human, though where I came from, equines aren’t able to speak, nor are they half as attractive as you are,” Johnny said wryly, smirking slightly. One of the guards swatted him hard across the back, which hurt, but more annoyed him. As he turned his head, he noticed the spear shaft dropping lower towards his knees before he lifted and stomped suddenly, not only catching, but breaking the shaft. 

“Flattering, though I do not like that my guards seem to feel you are being disrespectful. It is quite refreshing for somepony to act as I am merely another pony rather than royalty,” the winged unicorn remarked.

“I wouldn’t know about being royalty, but I could see how that would be exhausting… and annoying… asshole nobles with their heads up their arses,” Johnny said bluntly, rolling his eyes.

The winged unicorn, or more precisely, an Alicorn, laughed warmly. “I have thought the same more than once, but there are things that they can do that I cannot without it demanding too much of my attention and time,” she said wryly.

Johnny sighed softly. He looked skyward, covering his gaze with one hand to keep the excessive sun from his eyes. 
“I have a Celebration to plan, though it is not for another month,” the Alicorn said wryly.

“You’re this… Princess Celestia... the dumbass referred to?” Johnny said dryly, blocking the swipe of the dark golden yellow spear blade at his face with one hand before shooting a glare at the guard, keenly aware of the guard’s dislike, nay… borderline hatred... of him.

“Guilty as charged. Who are you, may I ask?” Celestia said with a small smirk, chuckling.

“Johnny Alexis Carmichael,” Johnny said wryly.

“Johnny, I assume, is short for Jonathan,” she commented.

Johnny nodded. “Though… ever since waking up… wherever here is… not only are my memories fragmented… something really strange happened to me earlier,” he commented wryly. 

“Such as?” Celestia said with curiosity.

“Namely the fact that I awoke on that airship as a woman…. which obviously I’m not at the moment,” he said wryly. He sighed softly, shaking his head in mild confusion.

“We will find that out in due time, I suspect, Jonathan. Until then, follow me with Lieutenant Shining Armor,” Celestia commanded in a gentle, warm tone.

Johnny exhaled as he shivered, more keenly aware, with the fact that his bodysuit had retracted into shorts and a vest, that he had quite a lot of dirt and mud on his body. 

“You might want a bath, to get rid of that,” Shining Armor muttered wryly, smirking.

“I will have one prepared for both of you, as you both need one, though I could use one as well,” Celestia remarked with amusement, looking back at them. She found it rather amusing that the ‘human’ blushed deeply at that. ‘Hmmm, he’s intelligent. Seems willing to learn, though…. he seems to be in discomfort, for some reason. I can feel magic gathering around him,’ she noted.

Johnny winced, feeling the aching pain in his back and shoulders increasing before he heard a dull ripping sound as pain erupted through his body, unaware a hot bluish white aura flared around him before fading as two broad six foot wings of prismatic copper upon the lower outer feathers whilst the feathers on the undersides of the wings were a beautiful opalescent cream color. The tops of his wings were a rich reddish golden tone like a strawberry dipped in honey. Unfortunately, the wings also dripped in a all too familiar crimson liquid critical to life.
Celestia frowned slightly, spotting the blood. She cast a cleansing spell upon the floor as well as a barrier spell to catch any additional blood; perhaps her scientists would be able to look over the blood to see if there were any magical aspects to it. Fortunately, it was only a very slight drain upon her very formidable magical reserves. 

She sighed softly, calling upon a maid to escort Lieutenant Shining Armor to one of the many bathrooms and to wait upon him; they would be escorted to the throne room afterwards. She personally escorted the human to a bathroom, not quite as extravagant as her own personal bath chamber, but likely far more extravagant than he was likely familiar with, from how his eyes went wide and he stared, looking around the room.

“From your reaction, you are not used to such… extravagance,” Celestia remarked in amusement as she slid her hoofcaps off to leave her pale golden hooves only a shade or two darker than her alabaster fur bared.

“Nope. Seen pictures of similar. Never thought I’d actively see such things, but then… winged unicorns…” he sighed.

“Alicorn, actually. That is the term for me,” Celestia corrected gently, noticing him swaying slightly. “Your wings are throwing off your balance, yes? I do not mind helping you get used to them,” she said gently, a small smile crossing her muzzle.

“You’re royalty. Why would you help an utter stranger?” Johnny said with a grimace as he felt her hoof, soft, yet firm, against the lower middle part of his back. The wings connected from his shoulder blades to the upper middle part of his back.

“Why wouldn’t I? You need the help and you deserve to be treated with hospitality,” Celestia countered with a playful smile. She saw him jump slightly as she ignited her horn, using a telekinesis spell to start the water flowing into the broad tub before adding lemon and citrus scented bubble bath to it as well as a lavender bath bomb to make the water more relaxing for him.

Johnny watched the golden yellow aura manipulating things before he glanced at the Alicorn Princess from the corner of his eye. He could feel the air far more keenly at the moment, though he didn’t notice the ever so slight glow coming from the case at the small of his back.

The Princess, however, noticed a small tingling itch on her foreleg and hoof where she was supporting the human which made her tilt her head, noticing a slightly green glow coming from the case before his hand covered it and removed it, the case rattling softly at his touch.

“Eh? Strange… Why is it vibrating?” he muttered before flicking it open before a greenish comet shot out, hitting him hard in the chest before his eyes flared a deep emerald green. Almost the moment he felt the impact with his chest, he slid back several feet, almost into the vanity behind them though his hands instinctively flashed out, a gust of emerald tinted air stopping him cold.

“Kenshō Armor designated ‘Harpuia’ active, merging with Blade Armor designated ‘Zero’,” he murmured, his voice a low, monotonous tone.

The glow faded from his eyes as he stumbled forward, looking disoriented, Celestia noted as she shed her hoofcaps, chestplate and crown.

He felt gentle hooves catch him before he felt the tingling heat of her magical energy touching him before, unintentionally, the armor retracted leaving him rather…. bared to her gaze. 

He heard her giggle before he felt heat wash over him as his eyes fluttered open to see her watching him with an amused look. “Would you prefer my assistance, or not?” she queried with a small smirk.

“I… don’t know… if I can move… so…. Yes… I would prefer assistance,” he admitted shyly whilst breathing heavily. 

“All right, Jonathan,” Celestia said with a small motherly smile. “Although, you may wish to… hide that,” she remarked with a teasing tone.

He looked down before his blush turned everything from his collarbones up a rich shade of red. “Ah…. I… can’t. It just… kinda hangs there,” he said shyly, blushing deeply.

Her eyebrow rose before she shrugged, levitating him over the tub before lowering him down into it. She giggled as he inhaled sharply, his eyes widening before he sighed softly. “You’ve never preened yourself, have you?” she remarked with amusement.

“Eh? You… do that? I thought only birds do that,” Johnny replied in confusion.

“Oh, no, I do it, as do many, many pegasi… and so will you,”  she giggled.

“I know nothing about that at all,” he said shyly.

“That can wait until after we get good and clean, yes?” she teased.

“We?” he echoed in confusion.

“You don’t expect me to pass up a nice, hot bubbly bath, do you? Besides, think of it as a way for us to bond, my little human,” Celestia quipped with a giggle. She had heard of a unicorn filly who had great magical potential, Shining Armor’s younger sister, if she recalled correctly. It would be roughly a year before she was old enough to attempt joining her School for Gifted Unicorns.

She smirked as he looked nervous as she stepped into the tub before lowering herself into the warm, almost hot water. She noticed with interest that he seemed to enjoy the heat and warmth. 

“So, you recall nothing before…. awakening?” she said gently. 

“Not much. I remember my name… that I apparently have… multiple armor forms I can use… and, I’m assuming this… but I think with every armor I gain… I may potentially recall fragments of my past before. As it is… I remember very little, so I’m, pardon the pun, a ‘clean slate’,” he said shyly.

He saw the Alicorn Princess giggle. “Not yet, but you will be soon, and you’ll enjoy me cleaning you, I’m certain,” she said playfully, making him blush deeply.

He saw the soft fluffy washcloth levitate in a warm golden aura as he noticed a bottle of something a pale golden white pour onto it before the cloth dunked beneath the water before resurfacing and rubbing itself together as a white lather formed within seconds. He was struck by the scents of spices and a scent that made him think of sunflowers for some reason. He blinked as he heard the water shift as he saw the Princess approaching with a playful look on her face. He jumped slightly as the washcloth massaged gently over his shoulder as he felt a gentle pressure on it before he glanced down, seeing the Princess’ foreleg supporting the washcloth. He shivered as she manipulated it, massaging it against his skin as he felt the muscles that had been tense with nervousness and caution relaxing as he felt her washing his chest and shoulders before he felt it slide down his arms which he had his biceps and elbows resting against the side of the tub before he shivered as he noticed how close she was to him as she ran the washcloth over the other arm before he felt it slide over his throat and behind his ears.

“Have to be thorough and wash behind the little foal’s ears,” he heard her murmur in amusement. He inhaled sharply as he felt her brush her cheek against his, noticing how soft her fur was, almost like silk. He felt her hooves brush through his hair before she wrapped her fetlock and cannon around his shoulders in what he realized was a hug. He hugged her tentatively back, shivering slightly as he felt her lightly tugging him away from the side of the tub before he let her turn him so his back was to her, his wings folded awkwardly against his shoulders as he felt them open as her hoof brushed down his spine, sending chills rushing through his body at high speed. 

Most embarrassingly, a very particular part of his body ‘below the belt’ grew very visibly stiff and hard. He felt her nuzzling his wings, kinda surprised how he could feel the water brushing along each and every feather as he felt the feathers shifting gently before she retreated, hearing a soft hum of thoughtfulness. “What is it?” he said with uncertainty.

“You have interesting color tones with your wings. They are a rich golden red, which is unique and rare. Though I have to admit that the undersides are an interesting color as well. Do you know if they will shift color with these… armors?” Celestia said, nuzzling one of his wings which made him inhale sharply as he shivered. 

“No idea. For all I know, it could just be the ‘default’ color, as Zero’s armor is red,” he said softly. 

“Hmmm. I suppose. I have not seen these… armors, so I do not know. For now, however, I’m going to wash your hair and back. I think you’ll like me washing your wings, as I’m quite gentle with those,” she said with a small playful smile.

He shivered as he heard the soft pop of a shampoo bottle, turning his head to blink in surprise at what appeared to be a surprisingly modern shampoo bottle. He cocked his head, but paused, his eyes drifting half shut as he felt the cool liquid of the shampoo before he felt Celestia’s hooves lightly running through his hair and massaging his scalp.

He inhaled softly as he smelled the fragrances of fresh peaches, the slightly acrid scent of lemons, and the fresh scent of apples along with the scent of lavender and cream. Admittedly, he had no memories of things similar to this, but it was immensely relaxing. 

“You do not find this awkward, do you?” he heard her murmur. 

“Not really. It is…. unique, I will admit as I don’t have any memories of anything like this, as I doubt anyone could say they’ve bathed with an Alicorn Princess,” he replied shyly as he shivered slightly, feeling the lather running down his back as he heard the soft trickle of water as Celestia rinsed his hair before he took a slow breath. He knew the areas where the wings had come from his back was sore and itchy, like the skin had thickened. 

“Hmmmm, it seems like your wings, when they came out, tore through the muscle, though I notice they regenerated quickly and thicker and stronger, likely to make flight easier. They are sore, however, yes?” he heard her voice murmur gently.

“Aye. Feels like a dull toothache all over my upper back and shoulders,” he said softly.

She giggled a bit before he felt her hooves brush his wings closer to his back before he inhaled sharply in surprise as the dull aching faded as she lightly pressed a few points on his shoulders and back. “Pressure points?” he said softly.

“You know about them? I wasn’t sure humans knew about them,” Celestia said with interest.

“Humans know about pressure points and nerve clusters that can either be used to dull pain or create it. Some nerve clusters, if struck in certain ways, can render somepony unconscious immediately,” he said softly, turning his head as he saw her picking up the washcloth again before adding more soap to it, rubbing it between her hooves. He noticed that her tail and hair was drooping slightly, most likely from the heat and steam from the bath, but their color was only a few shades darker from their pale pastel tones.

He jolted slightly as he felt the cloth brush over his shoulders before gliding between his wings before he inhaled sharply, shivering as he felt his cock harden almost immediately as her hoof brushed the cloth in small circles over his skin before he felt the cloth glide back up on the skin just beneath his wings before he exhaled slowly. His eyes slid almost closed before he inhaled sharply as he felt a very strange, relaxing sensation. 

He turned his head to see bubbles trickling between the feathers before he felt the intense tingling sensations as she used what he was almost sure was a sprayer to rinse away the lather from the soap. “Damn, that feels so strange…. like pins and needles but stronger,” he murmured wryly, hearing her giggle in response.

“Think of what it’ll be like when you fly,” she teased, amused. She nudged him to stand a bit, noticing with mild interest that he was around six to seven inches shorter than herself as she saw his lower body exposed to mid thigh.

She let the cloth glide down over his hips and thighs before feeling him shiver as she stepped closer to him before she let the cloth slide around his thighs to the back before he took a deep breath as she washed the back of his thighs and ass, giggling as he jumped slightly. She smirked slightly, the corners of her mouth curling upward. 

He shivered as he felt the cloth brush between his thighs as he felt Celestia push her head beneath his arm as she grinned before he saw her glance downward, seeing him aroused.

She giggled a bit as she manipulated the washcloth to wash his manhood as well, noticing with amusement as it twitched. “Have you ever been with a mare?” she quipped. She laughed at the fact as his face went red, almost as red as the feathers of his wings.

“N-no, and it won’t be simply for…. pleasure. I’d prefer to fall in love with somepony…. Ugh…. still feels weird saying ‘somepony’ instead of ‘someone’,” he said with embarrassment.

Celestia hummed as she nuzzled his chest and side before the cloth slid into the water with a splash as she helped him turn to face her. “I won’t make you sleep with anypony, even myself. Admittedly, it will take time to get used to these, though I can help you get used to them over time,” she said warmly.

“I’m sure it would take time to adjust for obvious reasons. For example, where I came from, there were Princesses… but none with…. well… magic like you have,” Alexis remarked, frowning slightly; he knew this fact, yet…. He couldn’t remember where he’d heard it.

“Hmmm, so it seems you do remember some fragments of your world, am I getting that right? Oh well, with time, I’m sure, you’ll remember more. If not, you are more than welcome to make a new life here, with us,” Celestia said warmly as he sat down in the water, rinsing himself off.

“I guess so. I can’t shake the feeling I’m here for a reason. That something from the past… this past…. is still around. What it is, I couldn’t say… even if I tried… but the Biometals…. are imparting this… sense to me,” he said slowly, meeting her gaze, though he noticed she was washing herself, humming softly.

He hummed softly, thinking as he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Celestia watching him. “Bit for your thoughts?” she commented.

He blinked, distracted. “Just thinking. I always had a memory for music… and martial arts. Though I couldn’t read sheet music worth a damn. It was more…. a blend of muscle memory and instinct, though the eidetic memory helped with that,” he said wryly, his tone soft as he saw her crouching down in the water so the water washed over her back and sides.

“If I had to say my personal top three musicians would have been Tom Petty, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and George Thorogood. Bands, though…. I can think of quite a few. Top, though…. would likely be Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Journey, and Foreigner,” he said wryly. He noticed Celestia’s eyebrow rising as he got the sense he didn’t know whom he was referring to. “Stevie Ray and George Thorogood have somewhat similar sounds as both of them have heavy blues-based riffs, but some of the others are more… fun,” he said with a slight smirk.

“Maybe we’ll be able to visit a recording studio, as there is one here in Canterlot as well as Manehattan,” she commented with interest. 

“If you have an acoustic guitar, I can do one after we get out,” Alexis replied with a smirk. That made the Solar Diarch’s eyebrow rise with interest.

“And it will not be by one of these… bands you have mentioned?” she said with a thoughtful tone.

“Admittedly, there are some songs by similar bands that use acoustics, known as ‘unplugged’ songs or more often as ‘ballads’. The one I’m thinking of, though…. is neither. It’s a country song with a slower feel to it, but does tell a story behind it,” he said wryly.

She hummed thoughtfully. “You have piqued my interest, Alexis… though why do you not go by Jonathan?” she said thoughtfully. 

Alexis blinked, shrugging after a moment. “Alexis…. could be used either as a male name or female name. So… if I’m able to shift between forms, why not use the same name for both?” he said thoughtfully as he sighed softly. 

Shortly afterward, they got out of the bath, Celestia draining it, though he did notice she levitated a sphere of it and dropped it out of one of the windows with a small playful smirk. An outraged yell soon followed as she snickered. “I get the feeling you like a practical joke every now and then, right?” he commented.

Celestia shrugged as she watched him dry himself off before wrapping the towel around his hips. “You never know when a good prank livens things up,” she quipped. He snickered in return.

“True,” he acknowledged.
> Spirit of The Music
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Streets of Canterlot City, Equestria #2651915

   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Alexis cocked an eyebrow, glancing down at himself as Celestia had gotten him a pale goldenrod vest with scarlet edging with a dark goldenrod interior over a dark gray plain v-neck shirt. “I assume you had tailors make this, hai?” he said thoughtfully as he glanced at the golden bronze baggy Arabian style pants and darker copper sandals.

Celestia only smirked, her eyebrow rising slightly though she was quiet, not giving any sign either way.

He rolled his eyes, sighing softly. “Of course, you’d be a lovable troll, eh?” he sighed. He felt the vest tighten slightly before he blinked, seeing his wings flaring out behind him a few times in a nearby mirror, lifting him a few inches off the floor before settling his feet on the floor as they settled snugly against his shoulders.

He was mildly surprised to see her guiding him towards a nearby balcony before he noticed how low the Sun was. “I can never decide which I like more, a good sunrise and sunset…. or the night sky. Both have their own unique beauty,” he said softly.

He noticed Celestia looking away for a few moments before she took a deep breath, her horn igniting in a warm golden glow before the Sun slowly set before he blinked as the Moon slowly rose, assuming that it was like on Earth. He wasn’t sure why that came to mind, though clearly, it was different here. 

“Are… you able to use magic? Are humans able to?” her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

“To my knowledge, humans are able to influence energy… but like what you did, projecting actual energy that can manipulate their surroundings? Not to my knowledge. Though since arriving here… It appears I can, to some extent, though I know next to nothing of it in its use if that’s what you’re asking,” Alexis replied.

She hummed thoughtfully. “I think you and I should spend a night on the town,” she commented with a small smile. “And you can show me some of this music you know,” she said with a small smirk.

Alexis shrugged. He heard a squeal of surprise before something a light shade of purple, specifically mulberry, shot past him before skidding to a stop. It was a much smaller Unicorn pony, with a dark blue and magenta streaked mane and tail and deep amethyst eyes as she stared up at Celestia. “I’m going to be a strong unicorn one day, don’t you think?” she said in a slightly squeaky, excited voice.

“I’m sure you will, little one. I must admit, I was rather surprised to see she got away from you, Cadence,” Celestia commented.

The younger mare, whom he noted with mild surprise was also an Alicorn, had streaks of pale goldenrod, moderate rose and violet in her mane with light purple eyes as she was breathing hard. “Sorry. She got away from me,” she said wryly, grimacing as she sighed softly. He was amused by her surprised look before she tilted her head, staring at him.

He inhaled softly, feeling an odd tingling itch over his wings, unaware that the tingling was because a very thin layer of metal was sheathing his wings and feathers, though he did notice Celestia looking up with a mildly surprised look on her face. He glanced over his shoulders, noticing the feathers seemed much more reflective suddenly. 

He blinked, seeing the filly staring up at him when he turned his head back, her gaze inquisitive and surprisingly cunning. “How did you do that? Can anypony like you do that?” she started asking before he crouched, touching her lips before she paused, looking down at his fingers. 

“It’s a trick I can do, though I don’t think anyone else can do it. And to my knowledge, there aren’t any others like me,” he said softly. “Though I do know of another trick I can do you might like, though we can’t do it here,” he murmured, seeing her eyes light up with interest and excitement.

“Cady, can we see his trick? I really, really want to see it,” the filly said with excitement.

Cadence giggled, cocking her head with a small smile. “If he doesn’t mind us tagging along, I don’t see why not, though we do have to get back to the house, remember, Twilight?” she said with a small smile.

Alexis got the feeling that Twilight kept Cadence’s life very interesting and exciting. “I don’t see why not. We can get a meal on the way, check out this recording studio Princess Celestia mentioned, then escort you two home. I suspect you’ll be quite surprised,” he said with a small indulgent smile.

“Do humans get Cutie Marks? What're those funny marks on your arms? They look like dragons,” Twilight said rapidly, almost running her words together from excitement.

“To my knowledge? No, and these are birthmarks I’ve had for as long as I can remember, and they are Dragons… specifically Chinese dragons that denote, traditionally, good luck, benevolence, much like Celestia, and strength,” he remarked with mild amusement. He usually kept his birthmarks hidden, as the dragons glittered in the moonlight, the silvery purple one on his right arm coiled around his forearm with its amber eyes and the reddish gold one with its bright emerald eyes coiled around his left forearm.

He exhaled softly, looking out over the balcony. “I’ll be honest, I have no idea if I’d even be able to fly. I do know that, for humans, it’s impossible for unaided flight especially with wings like these,” he said wryly, his wings flexing with the slightest musical ringing tone like a windchime. “But clearly, here…. it is not like on Earth. Therefore, it is entirely possible that what I know of flight could be entirely different,” he said quietly.

“You don’t have flight?” Cadence said curiously. 

“We do. Let me put it this way, we went from hang glider style planes to supersonic planes in the space of forty-two years… the fastest plane known can go nine times the speed of sound,” Alexis said in a deadpan tone.

He saw the eyes of the trio of ponies widen in surprise and, he thought, awe, though he couldn’t be certain. He shrugged nonchalantly before he turned away, looking out at the night sky, his eyes drifting half closed as he stepped onto the balcony a few feet from Celestia.

Celestia drew in a sharp breath as he bent his legs, her eyes narrowing. Her eyes and magical senses noticed the air swirling around his feet, the air seemingly eagerly responding to his desires. She was mildly startled when he shoved off suddenly, shooting high into the sky before his wings flared out, shoving him higher before he hovered in the air, his wings beating steadily. She smirked as Cadence gasped, surprised before Twilight whooped in joy and sounding quite impressed.

Alexis felt his wings flapping steadily, though he had the strong sense the very wind itself was speaking to him, almost guiding him. His eyes widened slightly as both Celestia and Cadence took flight as well, the small mulberry filly on Cadence’s back. He half turned, feeling himself drifting in the breeze before he blinked, looking over the city below. 

Celestia laughed as she saw his awestruck face. “Enjoying the view?” she teased.

“Damn. It almost makes me wonder what the view from the top of the mountain is. Though…. I do notice the village to the southeast, if the moon rises in the east, aye?” Alexis sighed, cocking his head at the distant village.

“It does, which I assume it does for your… home… as well?” Celestia said carefully.

“Aye. Only two known planets in our star system move retrograde, that is, west to east. One is the closest planet, the other is much more distant,” Alexis said quietly. Ever since ‘Harpuia’ had merged with him, he could not only feel her presence, but also remember a bit more of his previous life to waking here in ‘Equestria’, as he’d recalled some of the guards calling it.

He shrugged at her unsure look, though she smiled faintly as she tilted her head towards a tall five-story building that was rounded on the top couple of stories. “Starlight Hoof Records is right there,” she said warmly. 

Alexis nodded slightly before he dove towards the ground before touching down roughly half a block from the record building. He half turned as he saw Cadence and Twilight, accompanied by Princess Celestia, touched down several yards away. He did notice that there were few wandering ponies around that didn’t really seem to notice them, which was just as well, in his own opinion.

He noticed more than a few restaurants, most small shops, though several that he noticed looked like both meal and dessert shops. Those, he mused, would be decent. He didn’t miss how Celestia glanced at a particular doughnut shop with what he almost thought was a longing look.

“So, you are a musician? Were you any good?” Twilight said excitedly. 

Alexis shrugged in reply. “If you mean a paid musician? No, though I would like to think I’m decent. Never tried writing a song, though,” he said wryly, half turning to face them.

“Though here…. the songs I know would be utterly new to everyone, I’m sure,” he thought aloud. A small smirk crossed his face at the thought, as he was fairly certain that was a talent he could put to good use.

“What sort of songs were you thinking of doing? Huh, huh, huh?” the little filly said, bouncing with every ‘huh’ she said excitedly on her hooves.

“That would spoil the surprise, Twily,” Alexis teased, tapping her nose.

Twilight pouted, puffing her cheeks out. “I’m fourteen, you know, and that’s the nickname my brother uses,” she mumbled.

“Oh? Hmmm, never had any siblings myself, that I can remember, anyway,” Alexis teased as he turned away. “I do have at least four in mind. All have very… very… different sounds to them, I can say that much,” he said wryly, tilting his head as he looked over his shoulder at the young filly. 

“I’m sure I can speak for all three of us that you have very much piqued our interest, yes?” Celestia said with amusement. Cadence and Twilight both nodded, the latter bouncing on her hooves a bit as if she couldn’t resist the urge to move and do something.

Celestia led the way into the recording building, not that surprised that very few ponies were awake although one, in particular, was a particular older filly, he guessed probably three or four years older than Twilight; she had the Cutie Mark of a bridged pair of eighth notes. Her mane was deep shades of cerulean and sapphire blue with some ultramarine tones. Her tail was roughly half again as long as Twilight’s.

He didn’t recognize the young mare, though he suspected Twilight did as she bounded up to the mare and hugged her suddenly. His eyebrow rose slightly, a small smirk crossing his face. Cadence chuckled, while Celestia hummed softly, sounding amused. 

“So, whazzup? Never thought you'd be interested in mingling with common musicians, Princess, even if my DJ career is kinda floundering,” the young mare said bluntly.

“What style of music you go for?” Alexis said with mild interest.

“Dubstep. Gotta have music somepony can dance to,” the mare replied matter of factly.

Alexis hummed. “Never really listened to dubstep myself, frankly. But I do recall music that'll probably blow your mind,” he said wryly with a challenging note near the end, making the mare snort. 

“I'll believe that when I hear it. Name's Vinyl, by the way,” she said with a smirk.

He smirked slightly as the young mare whom he guessed to be around two or three years, five at most, older than Twilight, led them towards a series of recording rooms.

“Which one were you going to start with?” Twilight gushed excitedly.

“Hmmm, I think I know a good one,” Alexis said with a smirk.

He cocked an eyebrow as the door swung open on a pale cyan aura before he glanced at the young mare who still hadn't removed her deep amethyst glasses.

He blinked as in swirls of emerald and ruby lights, a slightly tanned if shaggy blond haired guy with dark green eyes smirked as the pale deep emerald haired young woman with dark rose eyes simply stood at military attention.

Alexis noticed that the blond guy wore deep red clothing with pale golden accents, whilst the young woman wore deep green, almost a forest green, with dark gray accents.

“Zero… Harpuia?” he said cautiously, to which the guy smirked wider, shrugging nonchalantly, as the woman nodded slightly. “Well, that does confirm if you’re a guy, Zero,” he deadpanned, smirking as Zero rolled his eyes.

“Idiot. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were X,” Zero muttered.

“Nope, though I can assure you, I hope to gain your respect… you and the others… just as he did,” Alexis said dryly.

Harpuia tilted her head. “We will see,” she murmured in a soft, lyrical monotone.

“What song were you thinking of starting with?” Vinyl’s voice said with a smirk, noticing the light flickered red as she spoke. 

Alexis smirked slightly. “Something a bit slower before I go for the heavier sounds,” he commented with an amused edge to his voice.

He inhaled deeply, noticing out of the corner of his eye Zero going for a bass guitar, while Harpuia settled herself behind the drums. He took a soft exhalation as he picked up a nearby acoustic guitar before letting his fingers glide over the strings.


 


He grinned slightly at Celestia’s jaw-dropping in surprise as Twilight’s eyes widened at the same time Vinyl grinned while Cadence glanced at Celestia, appearing highly amused. “How about something with a bit more…. bite to it?” he quipped, smirking.





“When you think it’s time to give up… watch for The Light,” Alexis quipped, smirking. He could tell Cadence and Twilight were having fun, while Celestia was interested, and Vinyl was fairly bouncing on her hooves with a huge grin.





He saw Celestia grin at that one, bobbing her head steadily as she seemed to like that song. Vinyl was grinning broadly, as if they were recording the music. “I really don’t care if you’re recording this, Vinyl,” he deadpanned, shrugging nonchalantly.





He shrugged as he cleared his throat. “You gotta have more than that, dude!! Come on!!” Vinyl cheered.

“Oh, I have plenty more. But certain little fillies do need sleep,” Alexis chuckled, cocking his head as Twilight was bouncing on her hooves and humming softly, though he could tell she was tired from how she was fighting to keep her eyes open.

“Let’s get something in our guts, then get them home, eh, Princess?” he quipped, noticing out of the corner of his eye Zero vanishing in a gust of crimson-tinted air as Harpuia did the same in an emerald-tinted gust of air, though he felt a tingle between his shoulder blades when she vanished.

“Get something in our guts?” Cadence giggled. Alexis shrugged nonchalantly.

“You know, feed our faces, fill our bellies, stuff our maws, or whatever other expressions you prefer,” Alexis quipped. 

Twilight let out a sleepy giggle before Alexis lifted her in his arms, amusing both of the older mares before he tickled her, making her laugh far louder, making Vinyl snicker.

“I got a feeling if you do get a Cutie Mark, it’ll be music related. I haven’t seen talent like that in… ever,” Vinyl remarked. “Maybe we can come up with something together,” she said with a chuckle. 

“Only one way to find out, ya ken?” Alexis snickered.

“Ya ken? What does that mean?” Twilight’s curious, somewhat sleepy voice said.

“It’s an Irish quip that means ‘ya know’, essentially, though I can’t remember if it’s a verbal tic or something. Could be, for all I know,” he said wryly. 

“It’s kinda cute, though if you think that makes me attracted to you,” Cadence remarked.

“I won’t say you aren’t attractive, but I prefer to know someone before I think of being attracted to them… physically or otherwise. Admittedly, I could see you as a close friend,” Alexis remarked as they walked through Canterlot’s streets after exiting the recording studio.

He let his gaze slide along the buildings, though he was still carrying Twilight, who wasn’t all that heavy, he noticed, though he didn’t really care to think how heavy she was. She was, however, more than light enough he could carry her for an extended period with ease.

He hummed softly, lost in thought as he let Celestia lead the way, though he cocked an eyebrow as she turned towards a small restaurant across from the doughnut parlor he’d noticed earlier. 

“You seem distracted. Need me to take Twilight if she’s getting too heavy?” Cadence remarked with amusement.

“Just lost in thought as there’s one song in particular I was thinking of, but the opening of it is remarkably challenging. Never could quite master the opening of it, though the rest of it is fairly easy compared to it,” Alexis replied with a soft sigh.

“Is it one we’ve heard?” Celestia said softly, pausing.

“No. I doubt it, though I wouldn’t be too shocked if there were similar versions of music I’m familiar with here,” he quipped.

“Oh? Why?” Celestia said with amusement.

“Because if there’s one thing that’s true… it’s that music can portray emotions that are otherwise difficult to show sometimes. If one is truly talented, music can show a side of themselves that can even surprise them. Me… to my knowledge, I’m not that talented… at least that I can remember,” Alexis sighed, glancing up at the moon, noticing the odd discoloration, but assuming it was merely how the craters shaped themselves into an equine head.

"Who is this sibling Celestia mentioned? Somehow, I get the sense something she regrets is connected to the answer," he thought.
> Hungers and Passions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canterlot City, Equestria #2651915

--------------------------------------------------------


Alexis sighed softly as Celestia turned into the small shop, noticing she glanced longingly at the doughnut shop before he smirked. “Have a sweet tooth, Tia?” he teased, amused as the Princess jumped in surprise before she blushed.

“Few know of that particular nickname… specifically… a sibling,” she said softly, her tone reminiscent. “But yes,” she finished.

He noticed that she didn’t say who that sibling was, nor did the press for that information. He shrugged. “I don’t think I had any siblings that I can recall, though I could certainly see you three as siblings,” he murmured. He felt Cadence press against him almost as if she were hugging him as he felt Celestia’s wing brush his back, his wings shifting in response.

“I’m pretty sure we’d like that,” Cadence’s voice was soft, amused. 

“You know, you’re going to have to learn how to use those wings. Since they’re pegasus wings, they have their own unique magic, though that being…. Harpuia, I think you called her…. may help with that, I think,” Celestia said softly. She sounded like she was thinking aloud, though he got the feeling that she knew of ponies that could help him in that as well.

“You say that like wings can do something with the wind,” Alexis said quietly as he slid into a booth, letting Twilight settle next to him. She seemed rather sleepy before he smirked slightly, catching Cadence’s eye who smirked in return as he tilted his head before he blew an obnoxious raspberry on Twilight’s barrel, making her eyes snap open as she squealed in surprise as Cadence laughed. Celestia, however, laughed more softly and demurely.

"How do you know they can't?" Celestia quipped with a small, playful smirk.

“What was that for?” Twilight said sleepily.

“You do want to eat dinner, don’t you? After all, the last thing we need is a hungry filly,” Alexis quipped, amused as he tickled Twilight, making Cadence smirk as Twilight squirmed and laughed. She suspected he would get along well with Shining Armor, unaware they’d already met.

Twilight squirmed before she pushed against the human’s chest, slipping out of his arms into the seat near him. “Meanie,” she mumbled.

“I’m more playful than mean. At least to those I like. Those I don’t like…. well, if they’re smart, they won’t antagonize those I like or myself. Otherwise… well, let’s just say I can be inventive,” Alexis quipped with a nonchalant shrug.

“Oh, ho, so you’re a prankster?” Celestia said with amusement.

“I can be, though, on a body, there are places that can be either pleasurable… or painful. Someone antagonizes me, I can make it painful. If they’re a close friend, pleasurable. At least I’m not a masochist or sadist, getting off on pain or causing pain to others. It just… doesn’t interest me,” he said wryly, shrugging as if it mattered little. 

Celestia hummed softly, thinking, though what she could have been thinking about, he wasn’t sure. He noticed a waiter approaching out of the corner of his eye.

“What would be your order? Oh, Princess…. It will be an…” the waiter sputtered, looking surprised at Celestia’s presence.

“I am merely another pony seeking a good meal at the moment, if you will. I do not care much for my position unless I am in the palace,” Celestia said with a slight smile.

“I believe I would want a hayburger with fries, as would my charge,” Cadence said smoothly and kindly.

“I would prefer a double hayburger, with fries,” Celestia said gently.

“I’ll have the same,” Alexis said mildly, amused as the waiter gave a start, apparently surprised. “Hey, it’s better to be noticed than not. Lord knows I dealt with that enough in the past,” he said wryly, blinking as that comment escaped almost reflexively, yet he could feel absolute certainty it was true.

Admittedly, he was curious as to what a ‘hayburger’ was, though. Hopefully, it didn’t have any actual hay within it, as a human couldn’t digest that particular grain directly to his knowledge. He was unaware that the nanites that had merged with his body did allow him to digest such grains, absorbing the nutrients fairly easily.

He cocked his head as his gaze drifted lazily around, his eyes narrowing fractionally as he noticed a mare in the corner near a piano, her hooves very lightly touching the keys as very low, soft music played.


 Soft background music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZkfEEl5Y4Y


From the fact that few ponies reacted to it, they didn’t recognize the tune, though he immediately did. He frowned fractionally, as he knew the original song was about the hardships of a childhood where the singer wasn’t very appreciated. He had the sense this pony was feeling something similar, though he got the sense she was extremely lonely.

Celestia’s eyes were on the human, though her ears swiveled upon catching the soft music, her gaze following to the mare, whom she didn’t immediately recognize. Her eyes narrowed for an instant before she heard the hoofbeats of the Earth Pony waiter, noticing with mild surprise that the human looked troubled.

“Originally, that particular song was about being unappreciated, though it could refer to during one’s childhood or during a relationship, through which it would be in that mare’s case, I don’t know,” he said softly, noticing that even as her ears swiveled, his ears twitched slightly. She noticed the subtle crystalline tones of the ‘birthmarks’ he had, as he’d called them. She had to wonder if there were something similar to Crystal Ponies where he had come from, though she doubted he would recall clearly that detail.

She also noticed what appeared to be a slight silvery sheen to his skin, it was barely noticeable, but as close as she was to him, it was pretty noticeable, though she had to admit that he looked quite attractive in the clothes she’d commissioned for him. 

She giggled at his look of surprise as the food slid in front of him before she used her magic to set the food in front of their companions. “I must admit that I have never heard of the type of music you were playing. Where did you learn it?” she remarked with amusement.

“Honestly? I can’t remember. Must have heard it somewhere, I guess,” her human companion commented distractedly, sounding lost in thought. 

Alexis exhaled softly, rolling his shoulders as his wings shifted agitatedly. The ‘hayburger’ looked almost like a turkey burger, to him. He tried it and found it a bit grainy, but the flavor was almost like turkey with a hint of pepper, at least to his palate.

He didn’t mind the flavor so much, as he preferred the spiciness of it, though he was almost certain there wasn’t any meat in it, which didn’t make much difference to him. He glanced at the other ponies around, noticing more than a few of them were staring at him, though they tried to be discreet about it. He frankly didn’t care if anyone stared at him.

He ate slowly and carefully, his gaze flickering between Cadence and Twilight before flickering momentarily to Princess Celestia. He felt an odd tingling sensation between his shoulder blades as he got the sensation time slowed down before his eyes widened fractionally, their dark aquamarine color deepening to a dark emerald before his arm flashed out, the magical bolt of energy hitting his palm as the silvery nanite fluid hardened instinctively, forming a dense gauntlet over his hand and forearm, the energy crackling with a soft whining purr as his eyes narrowed, the dark reddish purple and silver gauntlet pausing just beneath his elbow, the black glove evident as Zero’s usual glove was a deep cream tone. His hand clenched abruptly, the energy being consumed into the dark metal as the faintest, barely visible flickers of pale mauve light seemed to flicker beneath his skin momentarily as he shook his hand a bit. 

Celestia blinked as she spotted the flicker of cloak for just an instant in the dim moonlight before she noticed their human companion rubbing his head with his gauntleted hand before she cocked an eyebrow, noticing thin grooves on the back of the gauntlet as the slightly thicker metal shone ever so slightly. His irises had deepened to an almost ruby tone as his tone, barely above a whisper murmured very softly, his tone breathy.

“Inshō Armor designated ‘Phantom’, active. Recharge cycle imminent in sixty-five standard minutes,” he whispered; had she not been listening closely, she might not have heard it. 

“What precisely do you mean?” Celestia murmured before she was distracted by a rather loud belch coming from a surprisingly small filly, which made her giggle, amused as Twilight seemed utterly embarrassed and confused.

Alexis blinked, cocking an eyebrow, amused. “Let me guess, you ate your food but didn’t try exhaling between bites, did you? That tends to build up gas inside ya… which does need to come out somehow,” he teased, chuckling as Twilight pouted. 

“But how would it come out?” Twilight said innocently.

“Hmmm, one would be a good, strong belch… the other,” Alexis mused idly, before a loud, raucous flatulent fart escaped. He cocked an eyebrow at Cadence, who wasn’t meeting his eyes with a look that seemed far too innocent.

“Would be that,” he deadpanned, Twilight giggling in response. Celestia snickered, amused as most of the ponies seemed confused where the fart had come from, which he didn’t mind at all.

“Shall we pay?” Cadence said with a slightly shy smile.

Celestia smirked slightly. “We already did,” she quipped, glancing at the small pouch of embroidered fabric on the table. 

Cadence sighed softly, but smiled as Alexis slid out of the booth, Twilight sliding out after him, followed by Cadence herself as her aunt slid out of the other side. 

“I have a feeling you’re going to be looking for whoever fired that blast at you, aren’t you?” the human commented.

“Their magic was a deep, almost liquid, cerulean, moving almost as if the light were more like a liquid rather than energy. Very distinctive. No doubt it’d be easy to trace,” Celestia murmured softly, close to Alexis as her wing brushed his as his fluttered. Her gaze flickered to Twilight, the faintest edge of golden fire entering the Alicorn Princess’ soft deep lavender irises. “But threatening an innocent filly….” she murmured.

“Pisses you off. The idea of threatening a child… or a foal… pisses me off something nasty… like Nightmare,” Alexis finished. He saw her stiffen as if that particular word bothered her.

“Phantom gave me more memories… there was a virus at one point… Zero was immune to it, but it tended to infect and, to some extent…. make the darker desires of others more…. noticeable. It was known as the Nightmare Virus,” Alexis said softly.

“A disease? That is… what infected her?” Celestia whispered, her tone worried.

“Only one was immune in a similar way to Zero… only because he corrupted the Virus itself…. made them subservient to him,” Alexis murmured.

“Who was he?” Celestia whispered softly.

“Sigma,” Alexis muttered. He glanced at Celestia, whose eyes were narrowed slightly; had he not seen her kinder nature, he might not have been able to tell she was troubled and a bit annoyed.

“If Sigma shows himself…. I’m going to stomp a mudhole in his ass and walk it so dry, it’ll make a desert look inviting,” he sighed, hearing Celestia giggle in response.

His eyes drifted half closed before snapping open as ruby and amethyst flames flared over his body as it shifted into the Inshō Armor. He gained black gloves, dark purple gauntlets over the backs of his hands and forearms with a thin trio of blade gaps as well as dark gray armor over his upper arms and thighs, a dark purplish black armored vest and dark grayish black chestplate, armored black greaves and dark purple boots with a thin reddish amethyst ring around the bottoms of the boots. The helm was a compact helmet with a thinner silver mask around the eyes and upper cheeks, his ruby eyes narrowed fractionally as he cocked his head, the dark red scarf rustling in the breeze as his hand drifted slowly before pulling out a trio of thin quartered sapphire discs with silvery rings around the edges, barely noticeable gaps quartering the rings.

“We’re being watched, and not by anyone friendly,” Phantom Alexis murmured, hearing a low, odd rustle that made him think almost of leather jackets in the breeze, but multiplied by around two dozen.

“Strange that the Lunar Guard would be out in such force,” Celestia murmured, her eyes flickering to the rooftops, where glinting slitted golden, emerald, aquamarine, ruby, teal, and amethyst eyes were staring at them.

“Not if there’s a threat, such as from that,” one soft, sibilant voice murmured. 

“If you’re referring to me, then I’m as much a threat as a silent fart…. only dangerous in an enclosed room. Here? I could care less about attacking or hurting anyone. If anything, I’d much rather avoid it. Frankly, the most dangerous thing I might do… is tickle someone like… this,” Alexis quipped, his gaze flickering to the third shadow staring at them with dark amethyst eyes as the eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to Twilight before tickling her, the filly screaming momentarily in surprise before the scream dissolved into laughter as she’d been almost asleep.

Celestia noticed the bodies of the Lunar Guard tensing at the scream before they seemed almost confused at the laughter as nobody laughed when hurt, unless somepony was either enjoying the pain or they were far more dangerous than they appeared.

She heard numerous huffs. Her ears also caught a few muttered comments like “Somepony is a damn idiot.” and “That egotistical asshole is going to regret wasting our time,” which made her smirk slightly as she half turned. “I believe you can handle the punishment of whomever took up your time, I’m certain,” she said warmly, almost lazily.

He glanced up, seeing a flash of fanged teeth before the rustling increased in pitch as forms shot off the rooftop before he snickered. “I have a feeling someone may regret annoying them,” Alexis quipped. 

Celestia smirked as she half turned, trotting into the doughnut shop. “Oh, I’m very sure they will,” she replied with amusement.

Alexis cocked an eyebrow slightly as he shrugged fractionally, following Celestia and noticing Cadence, carrying Twilight on her back, was as well. He inhaled deeply as he caught the fresh scents of sweet rolls and doughnuts. He exhaled softly. “I can’t remember the last time I had a doughnut,” he murmured.

“That will change, as long as you’re with me,” Celestia quipped, smirking. “Two eclairs, please, Joe,” she said warmly, “and whatever they desire as well,” she finished.

“Eh?” Alexis said with mild surprise. “Hmm. I’m leaning towards… a glazed chocolate doughnut and a s’mores doughnut,” he said thoughtfully. He saw Twilight spring to her hooves, looking extremely interested. 

“S’mores doughnut?” she said with widened eyes. “IwantoneIwantoneIwantone,” she chanted rapidly, making Cadence snicker as his eyebrow rose slightly. 

“You want three? I’m pretty sure one is enough for you, Twilight,” he teased, smirking as Cadence snorted a laugh as Twilight blinked, then giggled.

“I did say I want one, not three,” she said resolutely, her ears lying back on her head before she blinked, cocking her head a couple of times, apparently realizing what she’d said. 

Cadence giggled as Twilight tilted her head almost like a confused puppy. Celestia giggled a bit.

“Then you have to think before you speak. I understand the excitement, but if you let it get away from you and react without thinking, it can leave you open to both good things and bad. It’s always possible for somepony to take advantage of you either for better or worse. From what memories I have…. in my personal case, it was more the latter than the former,” he said, blinking as he noticed the small plates hovering in a warm golden aura from Celestia’s magic as Cadence ordered a strawberry doughnut with vanilla frosting and chocolate sprinkles.

He hummed softly, his hand rising before his eyes widened fractionally, startled as a deep ruby aura flickered before engulfing the doughnuts he’d selected. Celestia inhaled sharply. 

“I thought you said you could not manipulate magical energies?” she said with surprise and caution.

“No human can… but here? It appears the magic saturates everything…. and I do mean everything, myself included. It would explain why I gained wings… unless it responds to intent and desire,” Alexis said quietly, thinking aloud. Even as he spoke, he focused, thinking before, to his mild surprise, a tri-bladed glaive materialized, glowing with a dull amethyst aura before it dissolved into mist, fading into the ruby aura before he tilted his head. “Interesting. It does respond to intent,” he said thoughtfully.

“Would… I be able to gain wings… like that?” Twilight said hesitantly as a tentative pale mulberry aura flickered around the plate with a single s’more doughnut upon it.

“Somehow, I have a feeling you’d have enough concentration to manifest wings in such a manner, but even now, I can feel a minor drain, so it likely has a fair drain on whatever magical energy you have depending on how long you use it,” Alexis commented.

“Hmmm, you’re quite intelligent, you know, and correct. Direct mana manifestation is tricky, but possible. It can, however, be draining when held for extended periods, so it is wisest to do so for short periods of time,” Celestia said with amusement.

Alexis saw Celestia tilt her head close to Twilight. “Though I have a feeling both you and he are just as intelligent. Admittedly, I am tempted to see which is more intelligent,” she murmured conspiratorially.

“In what, magical strength, or common sense? Pretty sure one has the edge in the former, while the other has the edge in the latter,” Alexis quipped.
Twilight pouted, thinking they weren’t talking about her.

“I know next to nothing about magic, while I have a feeling this little one…. Could well have potential that rivals say… you,” Alexis said wryly, ruffling Twilight’s mane, making Cadence giggle. 

Twilight pouted, but blushed a bit. Celestia smirked slightly. “I’m well aware of the potential she has. I must wonder what sort of potential she has, however, as I have yet to see it,” Celestia quipped, smirking fractionally.

“Give it time, she’ll grow in ways nobody expects, I’m sure,” he commented, making Twilight grin a bit, amused but very shy.

“How can you be sure?” Twilight said shyly before she bit into the doughnut, shuddering in surprise at the flavor, her eyes half closing as she shivered before her eyes fluttered open a bit. “Whoa,” she murmured in surprise.

Cadence was giggling while Celestia was smirking. Alexis chuckled. “Pretty sure she had a foodgasm,” he teased, smirking slightly. “Though admittedly, I have to admit I’m curious how they taste myself,” he deadpanned, tilting his head as he bit into the chocolate glazed doughnut. His eyes widened slightly as he shivered, his wings rustling softly.

“Huh, that’s pretty damn good,” he commented.

“Now you see why I enjoy them, when I can,” Celestia quipped with a soft smile bordering a smirk.

He shrugged, smirking slightly. Cadence noticed with interest that his wings were sheathed in dark amethyst metal that glinted in the moonlight. Each and every feather glinted like sparkling gemstones, catching the moonlight before she cocked her head, hearing a metallic clunk before her ears twitched, her eyes widening fractionally as she noticed a creature not unlike their companion, though she got the sense that this one was nowhere near as friendly. 

She focused a stunning spell into her horn, ready to react. It wore dark blue pants, dull olive green leggings, and bluish black boots, while its upper body was sheathed in what was clearly dark gray body armor. What caught her attention, however, was the strange weapon in its grasp.

Her eyes widened fractionally as a faint reddish yellow glow grew in the opening of the weapon before it fired two bursts of light at herself and Celestia. She blinked as she heard a rasping snap before the bursts detonated into sparks as she spotted a blur of amethyst and black before she saw three sets of three gaping slashes over its chest and abdomen forming a ‘V’ over its chest with a horizontal slash across its abdomen. She blinked as Alexis straightened before she heard a whining as it slid into two halves before it detonated in a fireball in the middle of the street. It was then that she noticed the thin and faintly glowing sets of three blades extending from the backs of his hands. The glow over the blades was a pale pastel silver.

“Bitch, please…. if that was supposed to be something, I’d expect more than one assault drone,” Phantom muttered, his voice cool and almost emotionless.

“We’ll eat on the move, now. We have to get Cadence and Twilight back to their home safely,” Alexis said quietly.

They made their ways quietly through the streets, his gaze scanning cautiously around before his ears twitched as his eyes narrowed fractionally, the tips of those claw blades protruding from his gauntlets. He heard a low buzzing sound before he smirked fractionally, noticing Spitfire gliding lower towards them. He cocked an eyebrow slightly as he twisted his wrists palms up so the blades fully retracted to barely visible tips that looked more like ornamental diamonds embedded in the dark metal.

“‘Sup, darling?” he drawled, making Cadence and Celestia snicker as the young Wonderbolt stumbled upon her landing.

“You do know you could show a bit of respect. I worked hard to get to where I am,” Spitfire said dryly.

“I could, though I don’t know what a Wonderbolt does, that and you’re cute when you’re flustered,” Alexis quipped, teasing her. Cadence was trying to hide a grin and barely succeeding as she found this highly amusing as the young Wonderbolt blushed deeply.

“Q-quit embarrassing me!!” Spitfire said suddenly, her wings tucked against her shoulders and barrel.

Alexis chuckled. “You're radiating a kind of You can Look, But Don't Touch aura at the moment, and yeah, that is a song reference,” he quipped with a smirk.

“What song would have that sort of title?” Spitfire muttered, curiosity in her voice.

“A song about someone buying intimacy, though while I liked the song, I didn’t like the message behind the song,” Alexis deadpanned, shrugging.

Spitfire snorted, as did Cadence. He could tell neither liked that concept. 

As they walked quietly, he glanced back up at the moon, his ruby eyes narrowing ever so slightly for a few seconds. For just an instant, he sensed the dark malice, though it was more of a focused hatred is not that it was focused on him so much as someone near him. His gaze for just an instant flicked to Celestia, who didn’t seem to notice as she bit into one of the eclairs she’d ordered. ‘Call me crazy, but if it’s directed at her….. It won’t touch her,’ he thought.

He took a deep breath before cocking an eyebrow, thinking. “One thing that’s common with everything sentient… is that we all make mistakes. The real question, however, isn’t whether or not we make mistakes, but whether we learn from our mistakes,” he murmured.

“Very well said,” Celestia commented thoughtfully with mild amusement.

“In my mind, the most dangerous things one can embrace are hatred, gluttony, envy, and pride,” he murmured thoughtfully. “Hatred clouds the mind like a thick fog as well does gluttony with its constant desire for more. Envy… it is like a snake, slithering into one’s mind while pride… is the most dangerous, as it makes it to where one refuses to acknowledge their own shortcomings,” he murmured.

He didn’t notice Celestia’s ears lying back at his murmurs, as the last two could refer to Celestia herself. However, Celestia did not feel pride in her mistakes, especially regarding Luna, her sister. She felt more regret than anything.

“We all feel regrets, even if we don’t recall them consciously,” he murmured softly, lost in thought as he couldn’t remember what bothered him.

It wasn't long afterward that they bid Cadence and Twilight a good night before making their way back towards the palace.

“I have a request of you, Alexis, ” Celestia said quietly.
> A New Destiny Pt I of II
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Front Palace Entrance, Canterlot City Equestria #2651915

Alexis cocked an eyebrow at Celestia’s tone. It was almost shy and nervous, unless he was mistaken. He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing fractionally.

“What is it that you desire? I’ll admit that I want to know just what I’m capable of,” he said quietly. 

“I want to teach a student, one who has great potential. I see that potential in both you and Twilight, so it is possible that you will be learning together,” Celestia said softly, a small smile crossing her face.

“Hmmm, okay. I’ll admit that I want to learn more about this world, and learning under you would allow me to do that, and discover, potentially, what Sigma wants. I have a gut feeling that they’re intertwined,” Alexis commented. He had a feeling that Sigma had found a way to remain hidden in plain sight.

“Who is Sigma? You claimed he was some sort of sentient virus,” Celestia said softly. 

Alexis inhaled slowly as his armor’s aura shifted from a deep amethyst to a warm ruby tone, revealing Zero’s armor before his eyes opened, revealing deep emerald eyes.

“He was an honorable Reploid, once. He was one of the first to encounter the original Zero, unaware that there was a virus contained within Zero’s pod and Zero himself. Zero was the only one that was not only immune to it, but grew stronger from it, though it cost him mentally as the stronger he got from the original ‘Zero Virus’, the weaker his morals and kinder nature became until he was a ruthless assassin. However, Sigma, surprisingly, was semi-immune… until we found out later that he wasn’t just immune to it… he merged with it… altered it to benefit him. It became the ‘Sigma Virus’ which became well known for creating what was known as Mavericks. Reploids that would rampage beyond their given programs, putting innocents in danger,” Zero’s monotone voice spoke in a low voice.

“That is troubling. It sounds almost like Dark Magic Corruption,” Celestia murmured.

“There’s a possibility they are connected, but we can’t be sure,” Alexis said quietly, shaking his head slightly. 

“It’s also possible that the force they know as ‘magic’ could be bio-energy manipulation of some sort,” he heard Harpuia murmur in his mind.

“Possible, I suppose, though I won’t guess further without evidence,” he thought back.

He noticed Celestia’s ears twitching as if she could hear his thoughts. “Can you hear me, Celestia?” he thought. He smirked slightly as he noticed her alabaster cheeks darken with a red tint, confirming his suspicion.

“I don’t mind that you have telepathic talents, but there are some thoughts that we do prefer to keep to ourselves. And sometimes, body language can reveal secrets our thoughts do not,” he commented aloud, seeing Celestia wince as he called her out on that ability, which from what he guessed seemed to be a passive rather than conscious gift.

“I thought…. that you would not like the fact that we… have passive telepathy, so I neglected to mention it,” she admitted.

“Meh, as long as you keep it to surface thoughts, I don’t mind it at all,” he said wryly, shrugging.

Celestia sighed softly, walking towards the palace, which he didn’t mind at all. He exhaled as he focused, dismissing Zero’s armor so it reverted to a dull silvery white bodysuit before he rolled his shoulders, his wings rustling against his shoulders, though they were sheathed in a light, impact resistant, layer of metal.

“Let’s get some rest, Princess,” he said quietly. He blinked, his hand dropping to his belt before pulling free a badge no larger than a golf ball in radius.





“Hmmmm. Could be useful… If you need the Gale of Justice or the Fangs of the Shadows by your side, call upon the Blade of Light ‘Aeta Zero’. Those who walk the path of darkness and hatred, I will punish with agony and pain,” he whispered, his hand tilting so the badge fell into a rift of swirling darkness before it was spat back into his hand as the Void Rift sealed itself. He exhaled softly, unsure why he even did that, though he simply hung the badge as a belt buckle, not noticing the belt buckle shimmered as the belt became a warm golden orange.

He sighed softly, rolling his shoulders before he walked quickly towards the Palace, thinking about Celestia’s offer.

He had to admit that he was curious what sorts of advantages he would get, though it didn’t really matter that much to him, if he was honest.

“We will talk about the potential benefits of your new position in the morning, I think,” Celestia said gently as she nudged him gently towards the stairs towards the wing he recalled his own room was. 

“It’s interesting that Zero and Harpuia seem to be able to project themselves out of my body… I’m thinking they are able to gather a physical shell of dense magic mimicking their spirit forms,” he thought. 

“It is quite a likely theory, My Student,” he heard Celestia’s voice whisper in his mind, though he heard her giggle as he jumped in surprise as she was a few yards behind him.

“Just curious, but do they have football here? It’s a sport that’s rather competitive, but it could be used to make sure your Guards are easily able to move in any direction if the need arose,” he commented.

“I do not believe so, though I have never heard of such a game. What sort of game is it?” Celestia commented with interest.

She blinked as he yawned as he shivered slightly. “Go on, we both need our rest, I think,” she giggled.


------------------------------







-----------------------------


  As Alexis turned over, he yelped at the sudden sunlight streaming into his eyes, though at the same time, he felt an odd rush of energy flooding his body. ‘Ugh… never was a morning person, but that hasn’t changed. Seems I can bolster my body’s own energy with whatever energy this… bodysuit… absorbs… which seems to be solar radiation,’ he thought tiredly.

He wasn’t sure what time it was, though he absently tried to figure that out. “It is Nine Fifteen Standard Time, Sir,” Harpuia murmured in his mind. He blinked a couple of times, caught off guard. “So, you, Zero, and Phantom are active. That leaves Fenrir, X, Axl, and Leviathan dormant for the time being,” he muttered dryly. “Yes, Sir,” came her monotone reply. 

He suspected that each of the Biometals had a particular element linked to them. He knew Harpuia was linked to the element of Wind, though he wasn’t sure about Zero or Phantom. He could guess, though.

He was a bit startled to see a mare with pale sea green fur, a deep glittering sapphire mane that fell in messy waves over her shoulders and a pair of deep amethyst eyes. She dropped down before jumping in surprise, her wings flaring out in surprise as he noticed the steaming bath before he smirked as she yelped more in embarrassment as she landed and slipped into the bath herself. “Fortunate that you don’t have clothes on, otherwise it’d be even more embarrassing, I think,” he commented with amusement.

“And this isn’t embarrassing?!?” the mare said with an annoyed look. 

“Cute, maybe, and probably relaxing for you as I get the feeling from how you were shifting a bit on your hooves you seemed tense… like you don’t often get a chance to relax,” Alexis commented, a small smirk crossing his face as he wore a dull gray tank top and black shorts that stopped just above mid-thigh while being barefoot. 

The mare blushed. “Ah… I’ll admit I probably don’t get as much chance to relax as I might like,” she said shyly. “I’m… Flètanpèt,” she said shyly, a hint of a Creole accent in her voice.

Alexis tilted his head thoughtfully. “Flètanpèt, that’s a beautiful name,” he commented, amused as the mare blushed again, almost falling into the bathtub again as she looked away as he pronounced her name ‘Flea-tan-pea’ with the ‘T’ at the end silent. 

He noticed the unsure look on her face before he slid into the bath near her, though all he did was run his fingers through her mane, amused as she shivered before very noticeably calming around him. “Just relax. You want me to wash your mane for you?” he said softly, his tone gentle.

She blushed deeply. “Ah… ah… I can… I can get it,” she said shyly. 

“I don’t mind… whoa there,” Alexis said quietly, catching her hoof as she almost tumbled into the deeper part of the bath as she reached for what he guessed was shampoo or conditioner though he didn’t really pay attention to precisely how she did so. 

He found her blush rather cute, though he tried to let her relax despite her clear nervousness. “I won't take advantage of you, if that's what you think,” he said quietly.

“It just feels…” she started.

“Awkward? I'm sure it does. After all, I didn't expect anypony to actually run a bath for me. But then again, I've never been in a royal palace before either,” he admitted, a bit amused to hear the mare giggle. 

“You're not from around here, are you?” Flètanpèt quipped as she turned around with a generous dollop of shampoo in her hooves as she noticed him sinking a bit lower in the water so that only his neck was noticeable above the bubbles.

“Is it that obvious?” Alexis muttered, a bit surprised to feel hooves running through his unruly hair.

“Pretty much. I’ll admit that I’ve never seen anypony like you,” she murmured with mild amusement. 

He shrugged, sighing softly as he felt his wings rustling before she blinked, giggling as he felt her hoof lightly brush against his upper back just above where his wings were.

“How did you get these?” she murmured shyly. 

“No idea. I do have a theory on it, however,” he said shyly as he let his eyes drift closed as he felt her hoof running through his hair as he could feel the heat coursing through his body from the water’s heat.

His eyes snapped open as he felt her hooves brush over his shoulders before massaging into his skin before he groaned softly, his eyes drifting half shut. “You sure you don’t work at a spa or something?” he said softly. 

She giggled in an amused tone. “Actually, I do, but it’s not a public spa. It’s primarily for very select members,” she said with amusement.


“There’s one song that has been stuck in my head as it was intended for veterans of wars,” he murmured. 

“I’m not very familiar with music, unfortunately,” his companion said softly as he shivered, feeling his wings flex as he felt her hooves massaging his back, the tense muscles relaxing.

“It's okay, as at one point, I was more an admirer of musical talent, never really trying it for myself. Though I can genuinely say it gave me even more respect for musicians, as whilst most people who go to concerts simply see that part of the action… they never see the challenges of practicing or of songwriting,” he said softly.

He shivered as he felt her hooves slide along the upper edge of his wings, heat coiling low in his belly at the feeling. He knew he was kneeling in a ready seiza stance with his wings half unfurled which gave her easier access to them. He knew the pony’s name was translatable to ‘Storm Lily’ in Haitian Creole, though he couldn’t explain how he knew that even to himself. It felt almost instinctive, which implied that he was intelligent even without the assistance of the Biometals or whatever else he’d gained upon arriving here.

His eyes drifted almost closed as he felt her hooves brushing over his wings, seemingly, he assumed, checking over his wings before he felt her hooves slide down his back between his wings, sending chills rushing through his body as he gasped before he felt her hooves massaging the middle and lower part of his back. He half leaned forward as his eyes drifted half closed before he heard her voice murmur something. 

“...ur…. ver. Can…. ou… ear me? You can turn over if you like,” he heard her say. He inhaled deeply, shivering as he sighed softly, turning over so he was mostly floating on his back, not realizing that his cock was very much obvious and quite stiff. 

She giggled before he yelped slightly, his awareness sharpening as he realized she’d brushed her hoof over his cock. “Now, I can get the rest of your body, then… you can get mine,” she giggled. He cocked an eyebrow at her sultry tone before he smirked slightly.

“Oh? Would you prefer me to wash you slowly or quickly?” he quipped, teasing her.

“Wh-what?” she spluttered. 

“Do… you… want… me… to… wash… you… quickly… or… slowly?” he drawled, teasing Flètanpèt.

“S-slowly is fine,” Flètanpèt said shyly, blushing as she looked away as he let his wings fold in tight against his shoulders, letting himself float upright before he smirked a bit as he hugged the mare close. 

“You’re so damn adorable, you know? I could definitely see you as a little sister,” he teased.

“How old are you?” she deadpanned. “I’m seventeen and a half,” she said dryly.

“Before I got here… seventeen,” he deadpanned, a bit nervous when she smirked.

“Aaaaaaw… I got a little brother,” Flètanpèt teased, letting her hoof scrub against his skull in an obvious noogie.

“Hmmm, meh. Doesn’t make much difference to me. I was an only child, anyway,” Alexis deadpanned. He blinked, a bit caught off guard, though at the same time, certain it was true.

The mare smirked, amused. “Not anymore, ‘lexie,” she quipped, amused. He rolled his eyes in return. He cocked an eyebrow as she let the smirk widen as he noticed her wing flicking towards a bottle that said ‘Fur conditioner’ before a few feathers wrapped around it almost like fingers.

He blinked in surprise, a bit surprised at what she did. “Huh, didn’t expect that,” he deadpanned. 

He let his eyes drop before he ducked beneath the water, feeling the water rinse away most of the lather on his body and wings. He surfaced, brushing the dark auburn and golden copper streaked hair out of his eyes as it was saturated.

He gasped softly, shivering as he felt a hoof press firmly but gently against his chest before massaging over his skin, the sensation sending chills rushing through his body. He took a deep breath, half leaning against the edge of the tub before he saw Flètanpèt smirk before she slid closer, feeling her rear legs straddle over his thigh as she placed the other forehoof and started to massage his chest and shoulders with both forehooves as he felt her lean her head against his shoulder as he felt her mane brush against his shoulder and upper arm as she massaged his skin.

His eyes drifted half closed as he inhaled deeply, sighing as he felt her massaging his shoulders and upper arms. “You have a relaxing presence, you know,” she sighed, shivering as he felt her hooves brush underneath his arms, the sensation highly ticklish.

“Hmmm, I wouldn’t know about that,” he said softly as he shivered, feeling her hooves run down his sides before she smirked.

“Well, I’m telling you now, ti frè,” she quipped. 

“Little brother,” he heard Phantom whisper. “I have a feeling that will be a handy trick and thanks for the assistance,” he thought back. He heard Phantom grunt in return.

“Well, tanpèt sè,” he quipped, chuckling a bit, amused as she blushed deeply. “You’re pretty adorable,” he teased. 

He shivered slightly as she kept washing his upper body as she snickered. “You’re silly, you know?” she quipped. 

He rolled his eyes as he sighed softly, his eyes drifting half closed before he heard a firm knock on the door.

His eyes snapped open, their color becoming a deep amber as the sclera turned a rich onyx tone as he felt something surge up within him as he saw everything shift into shades of pale blue and gold before he noticed the pure golden white aura on the other side of the door, noticing that everything that should have been impossible to see through was more in outlines of themselves. “Interesting, a sensory talent,” he mused.

“That seems to be unique to you,” he heard Zero remark thoughtfully. 

“Interesting,” he heard Celestia murmur with amusement. “Though I was curious why one of the maids hadn’t come back,” she commented.

He noted that Flètanpèt didn’t react to Celestia’s psychic voice as she kept washing his arms and abdomen. “She kinda fell into the bath and has unofficially adopted me as a ‘younger brother’ in her words,” he murmured. He noticed a shift in Celestia’s Aura, getting a sense of embarrassment. “I don’t think it’ll be too much longer before we’re out, Princess, unless you want to join us,” he teased. He noticed her Aura shift again before her form abruptly winked out and vanished. 

He blinked a few times, his eyes deepening to a soft, crystalline aquamarine-teal as he shivered, gasping as he felt Flètanpèt shuddering against him though he did notice that she was panting and smelled salt. “What’s wrong?” 

Flètanpèt looked up at his concerned tone, blushing slightly. “Nothing,” she said hastily, looking embarrassed.

“You’re like me, aren’t you? Alone in the world,” he murmured, seeing her wince almost immediately. “Well, you’re not alone anymore, tanpèt sè,” he said softly, hugging her as he slid deeper into the water, letting it rinse away the lather. “Now, to wash you down so you’re more relaxed,” he said quietly, his tone firm as he let her slide down a bit into a shallow area of the bath.


He started off wetting down her head and mane telling her to close her eyes. She did right away to my pleasure, so my fingers gingerly worked the water into her head and mane. With the sprayer head in one hand I used the other to massage the water into her neck, shoulders and each front leg, and then worked on her back and wings. She sighed at his ministrations and began to relax. 

Now soaking down her haunches and rump was going to be interesting. His fingers worked their way into her coat around each of her cutie marks which looked like a ceramic jug within a rounded bowl, both swirled with pale purple and dark goldenrod, which she moaned slightly. She even whined slightly when his fingers left to soak her tail.

The fun part was going to start as the massage part of her wash he was going to do during the soap down phase. After taking the shampoo he put a good measure of it on her head, mane and back to start off with then put it on the shelf next to him. Now using both hands he gently massaged her head working the soap into her mane.

“Relax yourself completely and let all your worries fade away while listening to the soft soothing sound of my voice.” Flètanpèt sighed and relaxed under his hands. Going from her head and mane to her neck, he worked the soap into her coat while using massage techniques. Her back came next and she reacted with a soft low moan when the space between her wings were done. Speaking of that he grabbed the soap after getting her back done and soaped down her wings cautiously as he didn’t really know what he was doing that well. He was careful here and just soaped it down while straightening her feathers.

He used the sprayer to rinse her body off thoroughly, dragging his fingers through her fur as he felt her shivering before she moaned softly, her eyes fluttering open. “By Celestia… you could rival anything I or my coworkers could do with those….” she said, pausing. 

“Fingers, ane-chan,” Alexis quipped, teasing the mare.

“Yeah, those,” Flètanpèt sighed, shaking herself.

“Though admittedly, I’ve never had a massage like what you did, so it was a new experience for both of us,” he quipped.

“In more ways than one, since I’ve never bathed with a stallion,” Flètanpèt mumbled.

“Eh? What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you,” Alexis said with mild concern.

“It’s nothing,” Flètanpèt said shyly as she tapped a button with a hoof, the heated water swirling down the drain before she smirked, making the human cautious. She grabbed the sprayer before firing it, the water spraying out icy cold as she giggled.

Alexis yelped in surprise before he shuddered, his eyes snapping open as he groaned. He sighed softly as Flètanpèt smirked as she cut off the flow of water. He saw her eyes widen as her gaze dropped before he glanced down, wincing as she saw his manhood, which fortunately wasn’t stiff and aroused, though it wasn’t exactly small compared to most humans.

“Now, how are we going to dry off?” she said half jokingly. She saw her new sibling smirk before his hand flashed out, two towels shooting from the shelf before one landed in his hand before the other spread out, covering all but her tail as she looked surprised.

“I don’t know, you tell me,” Alexis quipped teasingly. He snickered as the mare shook her head, the towel flipping back over her neck, cocking her head as her amethyst eyes narrowed.

“Here I thought I was the only prankster,” she deadpanned. Alexis snorted at that as he started drying himself off as he settled on the edge of the bathtub.

“Trust me, hun. There are always pranksters… the real question isn’t necessarily if there’s a prankster, but when you’re going to end up pranked,” he deadpanned, smirking.

She smirked before shrugging. He let his gaze drop, focusing on drying himself to give her some semblance of privacy. He exhaled as he pressed both palms to the side of the tub before doing a backwards shoulder roll, landing in a fluid crouch, not realizing that the nanites formed into a pair of dark gray and silver shorts and pale gray tank top as he was instinctively thinking of clothes. 

He saw Flètanpèt’s eyes widen as his wings flapped a couple of times before settling on his shoulders. 

“How do you use magic? Most with wings are Pegasi and they use their wings primarily for Air or Weather Magick,” she said curiously. 

“Pretty sure that’s the thing. My magic seems to flow throughout my body, not just focusing in one area, like my wings. It’s almost like it has a secondary circulatory system within my body, though I can’t be certain of that,” Alexis commented wryly. 

“Somehow, that makes an odd sort of sense. You think it’s the same with somepony like me?” she said shyly.

“It’d make sense, really. I mean, it’s most likely that the only reason certain groups of ponies, like you… the Unicorns… the… ‘normal’...” he said wryly, pausing. 

“Earth ponies are the ones you’re thinking of. Pegasi, Unicorns, and Earth ponies,” she teased. 

“Yeah, them. It would make sense that certain parts of your bodies would be developed physically, like wings, or the body… or, and I’m assuming, the mind, as well. If magic can enhance certain parts of the body, then why not focus it to certain parts to do different things? Heck, for all we know, that could be how you can pick up things despite lacking fingers, just like now,” Alexis deadpanned, tilting his head as Flètanpèt’s eyes dipped to where she was holding the towel, where it seemed to cling to her hoof despite no real physical reason to do so.

“It would make sense that it’s almost instinctive for ponies to create a ‘gluing’ tactic with their hooves to pick up or hold items, if I had to put it into words,” he commented.

He saw her blink, cocking her head as she looked thoughtful. “That makes a strange sort of sense, now that I think about it. I wonder why most ponies never even think about it,” she said thoughtfully.

“Because it’s most likely learned early on, most likely as a toddler or newborn, if I’m right. It becomes instinctive to the point where it’s like, say, breathing, or your heart pumping blood through your body. You don’t even realize you’re doing it despite the action itself apparently having no… well… at least from my perspective, possible way of actually happening. I mean, it looks to me like it’s being held with fingers, despite the fact that you have no fingers, technically speaking, so it’s most likely an extension of your natural Aura as an attractive force like magnets, only in this case, your hoof is one end of the magnet, and the object you’re holding is the opposite end of the other magnet,” he said wryly. 

She shrugged, though he got the sense she only understood half of what he’d said, which made some sense.

He half turned, hearing her move around, but not really paying attention to it. “Something tells me that it’s going to be interesting the next few months,” he muttered.
> Shocks and Surprises of his New Destiny {II of II}
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dawn Palace Hall, Canterlot City Equestria #2651915

Alexis exhaled softly, dressed in a similar outfit from the previous day. It was a deep sapphire pair of baggy pants that had fairly large pockets whilst he wore his belt around his hips with his Token acting as the Belt Buckle. He wore a dark cream, almost pale coffee, undershirt with a cream and pale golden edged vest he had cinched shut over it. 

He took a deep breath before he felt his bare and calves covered by deep metallic crimson boots and shin guards. He had left his surrogate adopted sister resting as she’d seemed extremely relaxed after the bath, almost catatonic. 

“No doubt that I kinda embarrassed Princess Celestia, either that or she’s busy. If that’s the case, I should try…. training. If Sigma is around, we can’t run the risk of fighting him and not knowing what we’re doing,” he muttered. He knew the spectral forms of the Reploids linked to him likely agreed.

He smirked slightly as he noticed a nearby balcony before he darted quickly towards it, hearing hoofbeats growing louder before he vaulted over the railing, somersaulting as his hand reared back, golden red digital flames flaring up before his hand snapped across, a ring of ruby lights  flaring forming a screen of energy before he dropped through it, landing in Zero’s armor with a heavy crunch. He heard a gasp before he glanced to the side, seeing Princess Celestia looking mildly startled.

“You just leaped from a fourth story balcony, roughly forty five feet off the ground,” she murmured in mild shock. 

“Meh, where’s the fun in taking the stairs? Too boring, in my opinion,” he quipped back, making her laugh as he straightened.

“You do have a point. The stairs are okay for gathering one’s thoughts, yet…. If you want to just forget… no better way than flight,” Celestia teased. 

“That or a good, long, steady run. I can never really decide which I prefer more, the night, a good sunrise, or a good sunset. They all have appeal of different sorts, much like a good long soaking bath, a bubble bath, or a shower in comparison,” Alexis said wryly. He noticed the thoughtful look Celestia gained.

“What is the longest steady run you’ve done?” she said curiously.

“Hmmmm. I’m not sure. Only one way to find out, though. I assume you have some sort of course,” was his reply. 

Celestia smirked, chuckling. “Perhaps I do, though I will admit that it is rather… fun,” she quipped.

She half turned, glancing from side to side. “Only those elite amongst the Guard know of this. Young Shining Armor is in training to be the upcoming Captain of the Guard, hence why he is not here. He has as much potential as you do, though I must admit that you seem to be instinctively familiar with the aspects of physically enhancing your body with magical energy,” she commented. 

“I’ve been thinking back to a comment Shining made when we were on our way here from where the airship landed… he claimed that I somehow propelled myself up the railing rather than running up it as I’d intended. It seems that I can focus the nanites within my body into different forms and, if I’m right, even store weapons within them, hence why I lack the Z-Saber at the moment,” he said thoughtfully. 

“Z-Saber?” Celestia echoed blankly. In reply, his hand flicked out, silvery liquid forming into the hilt of a blade before a golden red energy blade of a little over a foot an inch or two shot out, crackling softly with small, luminous arcs of golden flame.

“This. It is Zero’s standard weapon, though as I seem to have the BioMetals of the others, I can access their weapons as well, if I’m right,” Alexis said thoughtfully. 

“I assume that they are ranged, as well?” Celestia commented.

“Harpuia’s weapons are mid to long ranged, as are Phantom’s, though I think the latter is more of a close to mid ranged combatant primarily,” Alexis commented, noticing a hidden doorway opening in the wall where the running path seeming curved into the wall. “Nice disguise. Disguise it as the wall, when in fact, there’s much more behind it when most would assume it is merely an area to turn around,” he commented with interest.

Celestia smiled, then laughed softly. “Quite cunning, aren’t you?” she teased.

Alexis shrugged wryly as he focused, the armor dispelling in tendrils of ruby light and flames, leaving him in the clothes he guessed Celestia had had laid out for him, revealing he was barefoot.

“Do you not need hoofwear?” Celestia said curiously. 

“Footwear? Meh, I can use the nanites to form them if need be. What sort of course is in there?” Alexis said with a shrug.

“Rather challenging, although I do not know what you would be used to,” she teased with a playful smirk.
Alexis cocked an eyebrow, amused. “Oh? Let’s see it,” he quipped, chuckling. He let Celestia lead the way before his eyebrow rose, seeing the course as it looked like halfpipes turned at a thirty degree angle as well as ramps, jumps, and dips of varied heights as well as staircases and balancing rails as well as vaulting jumps before he tilted his head, noticing quite a few of what appeared to be sprayers for water and streams that emptied into pools.

“What do you think?” Celestia quipped. 

“Quite impressive. Looks like it challenges every part of the body,” he said with interest.

He hummed softly, thoughtful. “It’s going to be a challenge to complete, it appears,” he said wryly, rolling his shoulders as he snorted a soft laugh as Celestia trotted regally down onto the stairs onto the course. He took two steps before vaulting off, somersaulting before landing in a low crouch and rolling through the landing.

“You willing to race? Or are you scared?” Celestia teased. 

Alexis smirked, chuckling. “Are you? After all, it’s no fun if you run the course alone, unless you’re doing a ‘time trial’, though I have to admit that I am curious which of the BioMetals I have access to are the fastest… though… I do wonder if I can mimic a particular move from another armored individual,” he said his tone amused before shifting to thoughtful near the end. “I doubt I would use a tactic like the Morph Ball, if I can even mimic it… though it’s more likely I’d be a MBB,” he thought wryly. 

“MBB?” he heard Zero mutter in his mind, sounding confused.

“Morph Bowling Ball. My ass ain’t that small,” he quipped, before hearing a facepalm.

“Idiot,” he heard Phantom mutter dryly.

“What fun is life if you can’t laugh at yourself?” he chuckled, amused as he bent his legs. He suspected how he’d employ it would more be along the lines of a more armored shoulder roll than as Samus Aran might employ her Morph Ball. As he focused, lightly armored shoulder pads formed over his shoulders and upper back, enclosing the tops of his shoulders and shoulder blades.

He noticed Celestia smirking out of the corner of his eye. “Let’s roll,” he quipped, smirking as he rolled his shoulders, half crouching before he shoved off as Celestia shot forward before he vaulted up the stairs, skipping every other one before he leaped off, managing to keep his balance on the rolling log, glancing momentarily over to see Celestia managing to keep her balance as well before rolling over on her side before regaining her hooves. 

“Whew,” she huffed. 

“Nice recovery,” Alexis praised, amused. He paused, half turning before an impish smirk crossed his face. “What would really be a challenge… would be doing that on your hands… or… forehooves, I think the word would be?” he said carefully. He saw Celestia grin as if she found that idea hilarious. 

“Seems you have a prankster streak in you as well, don’t you, my dear Student?” Celestia chuckled. 

Alexis shrugged, smirking. “It’s fairly easy if you expect it or know the course well, as I’m certain you do, but doing it in an unexpected way puts a challenge on it that nobody sees coming,” he said wryly, turning back to the course before darting ahead, amused as he heard Celestia’s sharp gasp as if she were surprised, though he was almost certain it was feigned.

He smirked as he heard her hooves galloping steadily before he pushed off the trampoline, catching the first rail of the tilting monkey bars. He noticed immediately that some of the rungs were missing, though he also noticed that there were two separate sets of bars. “Hmmm, this looks interesting,” he murmured, swinging from one to  the next, a bit surprised to see Celestia pulling slightly ahead, swinging smoothly from one foreleg to the other before swinging for a moment; it was then that he noticed the vest that covered her wings, making it so she couldn’t employ them. 

“Probably wants more of a physical challenge,” he thought curiously. He caught the final bar, then swung, catching the next set of bars before swinging himself to the next, then skipping one before he attempted to swing to the pad where Celestia stood, watching. He only realized when he let go he did so too early before he grunted, the impact of his hamstrings and lower back somersaulting him backwards into the pool. 

“Felt like cooling off, ‘Lexie?” Celestia quipped, giggling as he surfaced.

Alexis shivered as he managed to pull himself out of the pool onto the pad with a bit of help from Celestia. “Do you always have the water cold in here?” he said with a clearing of his throat.

“No, but you could consider it added motivation,” Celestia said with a smirk that made him get the sense she wasn’t telling quite everything.

“That tends to happen when one gets a little heated competition,” he quipped, to which an amused Celestia stuck her tongue out playfully.

He saw her shift her weight before he started forward quickly, hearing Celestia gasp in surprise as he vaulted across the bouncy platforms which were at most half again the size of Celestia's hooves and slightly smaller than his own feet, spinning on the last one before pausing his leap for just a second as he noticed a slight bluish glow before he shot backward and upward in a Dash Jump as he just managed to spin, sliding along the tilted curve before he noticed his feet were gliding along on a slight cushion of glowing pale bluish green air as he pushed off with the balls of his feet before he cut the flow as he planted both feet and shoved off powerfully in a stalled somersault and caught the hanging bar. 

“Damn…” he managed.

He rolled his shoulders, his eyes drifting half closed before his muscles flexed, his muscles and core tightening before releasing with the intense power of a coiled spring before he jerked free the bar, then set it higher, repeating the motion several rapid times.

He heard the clacking repeating before he noticed Celestia smirking next to him as he caught the next rail, which he noticed was set on an incline that would swing him down onto a cargo net. 

“Over, or under?” Celestia quipped before he saw her sliding down the incline before launching into the net and quickly scrambling up and over before he smirked, snapping his hips forward which sent the rail sliding down before he slid swiftly underneath the net in a few quick shimmies and grabs as he saw Celestia pause, turning to look back up before he saw her blink, noticing he wasn’t at the top of the sliding rails before his hand swatted her flank, amused as she jerked in surprise, looking down where he sat before he rolled to his feet. 

“Under, myself. Faster than rolling over, though I can’t shake the feeling I’ve seen a similar course before somewhere,” he said wryly. He sighed softly as he half closed his eyes as he rolled his shoulders.

He smirked slightly as he rolled his shoulders again before he pushed off, sliding momentarily down the short slope before he shot up the sharply curving wall, his fingertips grazing the edge of the top of the warped wall before he heard Celestia’s hooves pounding quickly as he slid back down before he felt the energy cut off from his feet, providing him with more traction. “Just what I need at the moment. Speed is useful, but in this case, traction is more useful,” he thought before he twisted, pushing off quickly, amused as Celestia yelped in surprise as he all but shoved her up and over the wall, amused as she tumbled down the lightly sloping ramp into the pool below as he pulled himself up and over the wall, crouching as he snickered, seeing the soaked Princess push herself out of the pool. 

“Did I cool that competitive streak down any, hime?” he teased, unintentionally using the Japanese suffix for ‘Princess’ to tease Celestia further. 

Celestia smirked as she shook herself, deliberately getting him soaked all over again. “What competitive streak?” she quipped as she turned, lightly swatting her student across the chest before he pushed off, catching one set of rings on the set of hooks which they’d have to swing from one to the next using the rings, though the second and third sets went at both downward, then back upward angles, the last sharper than the first, which was a gently rising angle. She jumped onto the opposing set of rails, swinging from one to the next, although it was possible to skip one or two with each swing, though she found it more challenging to do each and every hook. She heard her student grunt as she heard a thud before she glanced his direction, seeing him lying half on, half off the mat before he rolled onto it before she blinked, seeing a deep silvery blue aura flickering around him, levitating him to his feet before he exhaled, blinking as if surprised.

“Hmmm, self levitation tends to be a bit tricky, but you seem to pull it off fairly well,” she remarked as she swung off the rings onto the padded mat. “Some of the guards dubbed this the Spider Crawl,” she remarked thoughtfully. It was two walls which one had to press both forelegs and rear legs and shift weight from one to the other to move forward.

Alexis cocked his head, noticing there were sections that had rotating brushes almost like those in a car wash, though he suspected that was more to distract than anything. He glanced at Celestia, seeing her smirking slightly as if she knew something he didn’t. He cocked his head, his irises glowing a warm emerald-aquamarine. Looking closely, every ‘bristle’ of the brushes were soft microfibre cloths. He cocked an eyebrow slightly, his gaze flicking to Celestia again before he darted forward, pushing off before pressing both his feet and hands to the walls before tucking his legs forward, and snapping them outward a couple of feet further down the wall before tightening his core and leaning forward sharply, catching the walls with his hands a second time. 

What caught him off guard, however, was that the ‘brushes’ were soaked with warm water, a very noticeable difference to the colder water of the pools. He shuddered slightly as one ran right down his back, though what caught his attention almost immediately were the suds that slid down his arms, trying to make his grip and balance more difficult. He cocked an eyebrow as he glanced back at Celestia, certain she’d known about this before he gasped, surprised as the one right behind it did the same to his front, making him shudder as the ‘brushes’ felt surprisingly good on his body. He cocked an eyebrow as he managed to push past it before he noticed the last few feet of the Spider Crawl was, in fact, a ramp… with three of those rotating brushes in close proximity to one another. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was pranking me… probably expecting me to slide headfirst…. Though I won’t say it isn’t tempting,” he thought, managing to catch the edge of the ramp before he heard Celestia giggling as if she too enjoyed the brushes as he just saw her sliding beneath the first brush as she tossed her head, her saturated mane glittering subtly in the light of the tunnel. He glanced up, seeing that it was open to the outside air, though he had to wonder how ponies hadn’t yet noticed the course from the outside as he pulled himself onto the ramp… and the suds coating himself and his clothes almost immediately sent him sliding down into the brushes. He shivered, feeling his clothes almost immediately become saturated with the warm water and whatever detergent or soap was on the brushes as he kept his eyes closed as he felt the brushes massaging almost every inch of his body… and he did mean every inch, even places he knew normally didn’t get anything there. He gasped as he was dumped out onto his back, essentially a pile of soap suds before he managed to roll over as he saw a second, somewhat larger pile of suds slide out before he saw Celestia’s head poke out of the suds, which ran down her mane and face before she laughed. 

“Refreshing, isn’t it?” she giggled.

He shook his head, managing to shake off most of the foamy suds from his face. “A bit, though I have to admit that that was… interesting… for an ending,” he admitted. He saw Celestia grinning before she yelped in surprise as the platform dumped them abruptly down a long, winding ramp, landing them into another pool… this time of steaming warm water. He was mildly confused before he spotted Cadence demurely letting go of a handle and cord, a small, playful smirk crossing her face. 

“Did I do that?” Cadence said with a straight face.
> Now, the First Lesson Is...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hot Spring Tub hid beneath Canterlot Castle, Canterlot City Equestria #2651915

Celestia snickered as she rolled about in the pool rather ungracefully as Alexis snorted before diving beneath the water, coming up fortunately free of the suds, though they did spread across the surface of the pool making it look more like a bubble bath.

“Want me to join you two?” Cadence teased.

Alexis’ jaw dropped in both confusion and surprise. “Huh?” he said dumbly.

“If you like, Niece,” Celestia said with amusement.

It was only then that Alexis noticed that Cadence, as she shifted, also had wings. “I seem to be missing obvious details in my distraction,” he thought wryly before he yelped in surprise as Cadence leaped in, bumping him with her shoulder and laughing as he tumbled into the water. He sighed softly beneath the surface, getting a distinct sense of something but it was distant and momentary before he pushed off the bottom of the four-foot deep pool, surfacing in seconds.

Celestia laughed as Cadence reared back, feigning surprise as Alexis burst from the water. She smirked as she tilted her head, seeing him sigh softly, though she did notice the amber contacts that apparently kept the suds out of his eyes as she settled in the pool with a soft hum.

“Do you know how to reach for your magic? I could feel it tingling over my fur as we did the course, though it felt… unrefined, I suppose the word is,” she commented.

“Nope. I do notice how… I suppose it’s like a tingling burn… seems to crawl over my body sometimes. It feels different from the nanites, which is more like a cool rush of air, if I had to put it into words,” he commented.

“That is your magic. Try to find where it originates, where your core is,” she coached gently.

“Okay, I guess. Though I have to admit that I have no idea what I would use magic for,” he sighed, shrugging as he half closed his eyes, though she noticed the water seemed to stir around him, as if trying to get his attention.
“If you would like my assistance, I do know how to help guide you, though it may feel…. Invasive, mentally speaking,” Celestia offered.

Cadence blinked as Alexis opened his eyes, the water still swirling like a living mass around him.

“How can it be invasive if there’s next to nothing there?” was his deadpan response, which made her laugh despite his tone being almost serious.

Celestia smirked a bit, appearing amused. “Well, by the time we’re done, there’ll be plenty there, right?” she teased, chuckling.

She saw him glance down at the water, which calmed almost immediately. That caught her attention, as it intrigued her as Elemental Magic was rare, especially in more than one element, and Alexis had already revealed affinities in Light Magic, Shadow Magic, and now, potential evidence of Water Magic.

Contrary to assumptions, especially untrained assumptions, Shadow Magic was not associated with the more dangerous Dark Magic or its counterpart, Corruptive Dark Magick. Shadow Magic primarily manipulated the ambient shadows around oneself and could, to some extent, be formed as weapons or, to most users, mid to close ranged weapons.

Alexis tilted his head, his eyes drifting half-lidded as he rolled his shoulders. He saw the golden aura fire swirl around Celestia’s horn as she approached, moving slowly and carefully before her horn lightly touched his head.

To Cadence’s perspective, they were engulfed in a golden prismatic aura, which intrigued her as she knew her adoptive aunt’s magic was the deep golden aura through the prismatic aura wasn’t hers.

In Alexis’ mind —
Celestial blinked in mild surprise, finding her new student’s Mindscape was that of a beach with a forest behind and to her left flank and a small ocean to her right shoulder. Ahead, she could see what looked like a Neighponese Dojo. She noticed what appeared to be a crystal and golden pyramid surrounded by blue and silver spires beyond the ocean.

“Interesting,” she murmured thoughtfully. She could hear the clashing of metal in the Dojo and chose to investigate mainly from curiosity.

Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing the same duo she’d seen join her student in the music studio. The auburn-blond male of the duo clashed with the darker bloody auburn haired male’s weapons, the latter being her student, shimmering reddish gold katana against the other’s folded tessen, a faint bluish aura flickering over the weapons.

“You have to focus. With weapons like the Bashou Fan, my Zeta Saber, and the Kaiser Knuckle, fluidity makes their use easier and stronger. Plus whatever ambient magic we seem to be absorbing can potentially unlock techniques none of us know,” the auburn-blond said dryly.

“Obviously, Zero. Unlike you and the others, though, I don’t have those moves instinctive yet, but,” her student retorted as a small orb grew between the contact points of their weapons before detonating with a dull thump that Celestia felt in her chest.

Clearly, Zero didn’t expect it as it tossed him back and away as her student slid back a few feet. She smirked as that was a very particular Deflection Spell intended towards physical attacks. She noticed the aura was growing into a deeper, richer blue until it was a light ultramarine blue streaked with flickers of teal and pale cyan.

“Celestia-himè,” her student said in a formal tone, the unfamiliar suffix catching her attention as it sounded almost Neighponese, yet wasn’t. “Or should I say Celestia-sensei? Due to you being my teacher in Magic?” he quipped as he stepped closer.

“Or maybe you’d prefer something more… intimate and personal? Kaa-chan?” he murmured in her ear. She felt the heat in her muzzle and cheeks immediately as she did know that word.

Alexis’ POV
I noticed Princess Celestia stepping back, blushing deeply and not meeting my gaze at first. A small smirk crossed my face. “Something wrong, Kaa-chan?” I half tease.

She cleared her throat as Harpuia approached, her deep green vest contrasting with her coppery gold shirt and deep bronze pants tucked into dark green boots. Her dark sea green eyes and dark teal hair was a much more noticeable contrast, especially with her slightly tanned skin.

“Celestia-taichō clearly has lessons of her own to teach you,” Harpuia deadpanned. I rolled my eyes, snorting softly as I turned to face Celestia.

“What precisely was that term? Taichō?” Celestia said softly in her gentle, motherly tone.

I cocked my head, thinking. I could vaguely recall it. “I think it means ‘captain’ or ‘superior’, but I’m not certain. ‘Sensei’, I know, means ‘teacher’,” I said slowly, a bit careful with my words as I saw Celestia turning before exiting the mental Dojo.

Yeah, I’m well aware this is my Mindscape, deal with it, idjits.

I cocked an eyebrow as I notice Celestia near a pile of sand, several fist sized spheres of sand slowly rotating around her with a faint pale goldenrod aura flickering around them almost like a flame over the silica particles.

“Do you think you can do this? Just with one sphere of sand? You have to focus, feel the flow of your magic from your core throughout your body,” she said, confusing me a bit.

I inhaled softly, closing my eyes, unaware as I felt that familiar tingling sensation, warmth tingling over my skin before I opened them, a bit surprised to see a faint ultramarine blue aura with swirls and streaks of pale cyan blue flickering over my skin. I could feel the tingling warmth, like hot chocolate on a cold night, if I had to put the sensation into words.

I saw Celestia smile more broadly as I tentatively extended a hand, pushing the flow of energy through my fingertips before a ring of ultramarine light flickered before condensing as the sand gathered itself into a ball and shakily levitated.

“You could say this can work as a control exercise. When you can levitate one with ease, add another and so on. I do have an idea for one that could get you used to manipulating the magick in finer ways, though this will work as a way to get used to using your Magick and practice. I do not mind helping you out in the evenings and early mornings…. If you wish,” she said.

“You seem… tentative in your words. You’re thinking about my comment earlier, aren’t you? If I’m honest, it was only mildly teasing, though… I won’t say I haven’t thought about it. I mean… you’re as caring as any parent, which unfortunately due to whatever happened to land me here… I have no memories of that sort of thing,” I sighed.

I stiffened slightly, surprised as I felt the heat of Celestia’s Magick touch me before I felt her body press against my own before her wing enfolded around me in a obvious hug.

“You will after this. If I have my way, I will adopt you, although I will admit that I’ve never had a foal of my own,” she said softly.

“Well, I can say that I wouldn’t be a bratty ‘foal’... which I assume is a child, hai?” I said softly, getting a nod against my shoulder and back in reply. “And I wouldn’t use being a Royal as any sort of excuse. If I make a mistake, I’ll own up to it and take the consequences of the error. Besides… I… like… being around you. The course, admittedly, was challenging and fun… and… well… Cadence strikes me much like an older sister type,” I said softly, gaining a laugh from Celestia.

I could feel our presence fading from my Mindscape, though I felt the tingle of sleepy awareness along with a chill down my back as I blinked several times, becoming aware of the heat of the pool as I saw Celestia backing away. I glanced down at my soaked clothes before shedding the vest and undershirt, leaving my upper body bare before I exhaled softly.

End 1st Person POV


Cadence giggled as the mingled aura faded away from the human before he shed his soaked clothes, at least on his upper body. Admittedly, he did look as attractive, in his own way, as any stallion. She did, however, notice that both he and Celestia seemed to be content, at the moment, to soak in the hot water. She glanced at her aunt. They had found that they were, in fact, distantly related, much like an annoying brat of a prince. She felt her lips curl as she didn’t like Blueblood as most other ponies seemed to feel the same as her, save for those whom the so-called Prince used as ‘cohorts’ whom she suspected used the Prince in their own ways.

She trotted to a nearby shelf, which held bottles of cleansers for coat, mane, skin, and whatever else they well felt like using when bathing. She noticed their human friend seemed to be simply relaxing.

She did notice the faint ultramarine aura swirling around him well as the slight pale cyan streaks, guessing whatever exercise her aunt had imparted to him in his mind, he was employing in that moment.

She hummed thoughtfully as she hooked a fetlock around one of the bottles of mingled mane wash and conditioner before trotting towards the resident human. She was mildly surprised to see him open one eye and watch her, the aura fading away as she noticed the tiniest glint of silver before it turned to a pale amber as lenses formed in his eyes as the other opened. She noticed that they covered his eyes, yet didn’t seem to impede his sight at all.

”Do you mind if... ?” she said in a gentle tone, gaining a shrug in reply.


”Go ahead, Cadence-onēsan,” Alexis said softly as he sat up so his toned chest was visible above the water amongst the bubbles. She giggled slightly.

”Maybe all three of us can do that course together sometime. I’ve only done it once or twice, and it’s challenging,” she admitted.

”I’m fine with that. I have to admit the rotating brushes made for an interesting ending... though this is just as good,” he said with a slight smirk though she could tell he was a bit playful.

She hummed softly as she poured a generous dollop of the cleanser over his head before using her hooves to scrub it into a rich lather before she noticed Celestia watching with amusement before she scooped up the fur wash before she smirked as the Solar Princess poured some over his shoulders and chest, making him inhale in surprise as he looked up at her with a surprised, and unless she was mistaken, embarrassed look. She laughed a bit as they washed his body, though she did notice that Celestia was very gentle around his throat and face, though she did notice he didn’t react when the lather did drip into his eyes, confirming her suspicion that whatever the lenses were kept soap out of his eyes.

”Interesting talent,” she mused thoughtfully.
> Tremors and Encounters
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dawn Palace Hall, Canterlot City Equestria #2651915


Alexis took a deep breath as he rolled his shoulders before his eyes drifted half-lidded as he was surrounded by no less than eight guards, most of whom held onto training spears and swords in either hooves, fetlocks, or magical grips. He held the deactivated Durga Glaive in his grasp as he'd challenged himself to three training missions -




Acquire no more than four hits upon myself.



Defeat all guards



Successful completion of second mission without sight.




He felt rather than saw his eyes covered by a light blocking screen, rendering him essentially blind. Outwardly, his eyes were a dull gray with glowing rings where his irises were, however, he saw nothing as he was training his senses.



His ears twitched as he shifted his weight, his head panning instinctively although he could see nothing. He held a bundle of lathes lashed together with two loops of paracord which wouldn't draw blood, but most certainly would leave welts from good strikes. He knew that despite his greater height, he'd found writings of emotivores known as Changelings that, some of whom could take very unnatural sizes and forms. Some were even cannibalistic of others. He knew the majority of ponies were between four and five feet in height, with Princesses being a good six and half or seven feet tall. 



He let his feet slide, almost drifting, over the packed soil of their training ring before he flicked his wrist, corkscrewing his blade almost like a boa constrictor around the other's blade, hearing the stifled yelping groan before he heard the thud as they'd agreed that if a strike was in a lethal location such as the neck, that the one hit was instantly 'dead' although he'd purposely aimed low and right for the guard's shoulder, which whilst likely painful, was not 'fatal' for the exercise, though had it been a real combat scenario with lethal blows, he'd have aimed for a decapitating blow. Even so, the blow in a lethal strike scenario would have most certainly been disabling and, with time, fatal.



Even so, he held back his strength, as they'd found his body was constantly absorbing very slight amounts of the ambient magic of his surroundings. Fortunately, he was unable to absorb it from others, unlike a certain power hungry centaur. He deflected the blow from one pony upward, feeling and hearing the sharp clack of training blades before he flicked it before he heard exaggerated choking sounds before dual thumps sounded. He knew the blows weren't fatal, more than likely more surprising.



He rolled, just evading a heavier training blade he heard whistling over his shoulder and head. 'Smart. I never said they couldn't get weapons without my seeing them that they could specialize in, only that I would be using only the training '"sword" whilst blind fighting,' he noted.



He pushed off suddenly at the next slash of the heavier blade before somersaulting and dropping an axe kick on the guard's cranium, hearing the dull clanging ring before he shifted his hips before letting his leg snap out, catching the flat of a training blade as his ears twitched as he heard the resonant clang of the training blade striking armor. He could tell from the choked cry of surprise it was not his armor but another's.



He heard the thud as well as panting before he felt the hit on his forearm as he spun at the stinging impact before his forearm caught the guard in the side of the head whom he'd deflected. 



He leaned back, flicking both legs out as he balanced on one hand before twisting his hips into an aerial twisting flare as he pushed off the ground, catching both guards in the chest and shoulder from the coughing cry and yelp of "my shoulder!" as he landed in a low push up before pushing himself up onto his feet as he felt the air distort beneath him. "Nice reaction speed, there," he commented as he tucked in, falling back before pistoning out both legs he heard the loud crunch as the training spear gave way. 



"I give, I give," he heard as he closed his eyes, breathing hard as he felt the distracting sensation before his eyes opened carefully, light blinding him for a few seconds. 



It was then that he felt it. A tremor shuddering through the ground before his eyes narrowed as he kipped up onto his feet, his body igniting as it shifted into his female form. Alexis wasn't quite sure why it felt more… natural… to her. 



Her eyes narrowed. "Get them back to the barracks and hydrated. I'm going to check with the Princess. I doubt that's the first tremor," she barked sharply.



She grabbed his own jug of water, draining a third of it before she set off at a run towards the Palace. She flexed her shoulders, her wings flaring out before she launched into the air, just missing the blue cloaked individual whom had Displaced her. 



"What is it that draws me to you? It's not the 'I want to kick your ass' vibe I get from Dante… it's closer to what I get from Nero… him and that brat of his Kyrie," the cloaked individual muttered, a single pale blue eye shimmering in the dimly lit alley. "Protective…. though it seems as if those of our bloodline are drawn to dealing with demonkyn," he sighed before he drew something beneath his cloak, a glowing rift consuming him moments later. 







Alexis shifted her weight as she swooped in, rolling into the Day Hall as she saw Princess Celestia as well as roughly thirty so-called 'Nobles'. The only decent ones were the young Fancy Pants and the Fleur Heiress. Most of the Nobles, she noted, were currently panicking or trying to request the most idiotic things.



"Lord Gold Leaf, the idea of tearing down an orphanage is the stupidest thing I've ever heard… and for a fucking pool? Here's an idea: you adopt every single one of said orphans in that orphanage you want torn down, you get the pool… otherwise, you can do two things right this second," Alexis barked sharply, her wings half curled in agitation.



"And what is that, you beast?" Lord Gold Leaf snapped huffily. "And why would I adopt orphan trash… urk?" he started before he was cut off as Alexis not only grabbed his throat, but lifted him several inches off the ground.



"Because some of those orphans are survivors of families who made it possible to keep your Noble Redwood Tree shoved up your ass, you fucker… and if you won't adopt them… shut the fuck up and sit your five Bit ass down before I make change by pulling that Redwood out of your ass and beating you with it," Alexis growled as arcs of bright purplish blue electricity edged with ebony flickered over her skin, killing intent leaking out of her voice.



She saw, out of the corner of her eye, both Fancy Pants and the Fleur Heiress giggling as she could see Princess Celestia fighting back a grin. She let the idiotic Noble go, his flank thumping on the ground. "Boo," she whispered as her gaze shifted to the other Nobles. In less than two minutes, save for the Guards in the room, only herself, the Fleur Heiress, Fancy Pants,  and Princess Celestia were left in the broad chamber.



Both of the young Nobles were fighting back laughter before the Heiress lost the fight as she broke into laughter as Celestia smirked slowly before she laughed a bit.



"Pardon my bluntness… but have you noticed the tremors? And also, what is their source?" Alexis commented. Her eyebrow rose as she saw a wistful look cross Celestia's face as if something about her actions brought up memories. She shivered before shaking her head.



"Unfortunately, I do not know the source of those tremors… but the most likely location would be the Canterlot Mines," she said after a moment. 



"Then I'm going to check it out," Alexis deadpanned. 



"Alone?" Celestia said in mild surprise. 



A small, playful smirk crosses Alexis' face. "I'm never alone, you know that," she quipped.



Celestia exhaled softly as Alexis' armor shimmered before hardening. Her eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. 







Celestia tapped a trigger before turning it ninety degrees, an alcove rotating a few yards to her right. 







Alexis blinked before chuckling. "I'm guessing that you used the suggestion of the blood samples to scan the users? Making it so that the hostiles can't use it against us?" she commented. 



Celestia smirked. "Of course, using the blood samples drawn from physical exams, after all… there's ways to fool the eye… but not what flows within the body. Even if…" she started before pausing at a surge of magic…. though it felt slightly different from her own.



The surge caused Alexis' armor to ignite a bright golden orange as she inhaled sharply as her armor shifted. She gritted her teeth. 







"Shut up, Fefnir… unless you want me to come in there and kick your ass in a far more humiliating way than Zero did… or Leviathan did," she grumbled. She winced before exhaling. "Ugh… I can already tell he's going to be an asshole," she grumbled as she rolled her shoulders.



She tilted the cannon Fefnir gained her, a small smirk crossing her face before she tilted it, holstering it behind her, trigger down. [color=cc5801]"I'll be back," she commented before stepping into the teleport pad, vanishing in a gust of reddish copper light.


A couple of blocks away from the eastern Mine Entrance….

Fefnir materialized just feet from the back of the dead end alleyway. She rolled her shoulders as she stepped out of the alley, her gaze scanning around before her eyes narrowed upon seeing hostile threats.






"Looks like nine hostiles. Pantheon, ranged models," she muttered before she focused as water surged over her armored body, altering her armor into Leviathan's.







"Ooooh… nice, Leviathan. Mmmm," she hummed as she blushed momentarily as she sounded rather horny unintentionally.



She blinked with mild interest as her hand dipped, finding something unexpected as she shrank Leviathan's spear before holstering it over her shoulder before pulling out the weapon.







"Mmmm… this is going to be fun," she purred before she pushed off, finding Leviathan's mobility and agility made the Pantheon Reploids unable to hit her. Her hardened water slugs hit as hard as plasma shots… and punched through the Pantheons with ease.



As she moved deeper, she activated her lance, a soft reddish pink glow radiating outward before she came across a rather unexpected sight: a nude young woman with blood trickling from a minor cut on her throat just shy of her trachea and numerous bruises.



Alexis noticed numerous tattoos that did not seem natural. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to check on the young woman as she spotted numerous Pantheons, both long range 'Blaster' Pantheon Reploids as well as closer ranged 'Spear' Pantheon Reploids, one hand replaced with a five inch long electrified spike, approaching.



"Hostile numbers? Now," she muttered. 



"Thirty five," came the low reply from Phantom.



"Hmmm… I have an idea… Leviathan… Dai Daikon Sandanjū," Alexis murmured softly. She heard Zero inhale sharply in surprise, likely realizing the reference to his birth Clan. 



As they focused elemental energy into the tip of the Lance, water streamed into an inch diameter orb that swiftly shifted from clear water to a four inch diameter rippling, glowing blue sphere before she released it, two dozen smaller orbs acting like a cross between .50 caliber bullets in speed and impact as well as buckshot. Explosions of dust, shards of saturated metal, and sparks exploded from several tunnels.



She saw a thicker blast of dust follow from two of the tunnels as muffled explosions followed. She crouched, concentrating the remaining water into a swirling barrier that caught the dust, shielding herself and whom she realized was apparently a double of Twilight, though she'd heard the young filly was in her first of six semesters in Celestia's School of Gifted Unicorns, which frankly, to her, was a rather stupid name.



She let the barrier drop, the mud sliding away from them. "Twilight? Wake up," she murmured quietly.



Ash-Twilight's eyes fluttered, a soft groan escaping her. She felt a light touch on her throat before she felt an odd simultaneously chilly and warm sensation.



Alexis grimaced, focusing as she was far from skilled in healing magic, though she could heal through Elemental Magic, curiously. Thus far, however, she could reliably heal small injuries and stimulate quicker healing.



“Ashley..” Twilight groaned out as she reached for the dagger embedded in her arm



Alexis blinked before her eyes narrowed before she gently caught the older Twilight's wrist before she tugged free the dagger, tilting it curiously.





 Twilight hissed in pain before clamping her hand over the open wound



Alexis noticed her hand clamped over the injury before her eyes narrowed fractionally, glowing a luminous bluish purple before her hand rose as she focused her energy, the glowing light pulsing a blend of pale cerulean and slightly lavender at the edges as water streamed from a nearby small waterfall. The energy flowed over the injury, slowly but steadily healing it with a cooling sensation.



Twilight’s pain filled face eased with the healing of her injury. “Thank you..” Twilight whispered out



Alexis chuckled. "It's no problem. Although I don't know an Ashley. Admittedly, it's much like my name… could be inclined either way," she commented. "Though I still need to find out the source of those tremors… I rather doubt it's an accident… seems way too coincidental," she muttered. 



Soon Twilight began to shiver from the cold mines and the lack of clothing. “I don’t suppose you have something to wear, do you?” 



Alexis cocked her head before focusing as silvery metal flowed, soon darkening into a lightly armored leotard. "Best I can do at the moment," she commented with a cock of her head.






“Dear Faust,” Twilight said, slightly mortified. “This looks like something Cadance would wear” 



Alexis shrugged. "I wouldn't know," she commented. 



“Where am I?” Twilight asked trying not to feel embarrassed by her current attire. 



"Canterlot Mines. Though from the look of it, you hit the ground pretty hard… and worse, on the rocks. Come to think of it, I've never been down here… though clearly you're not the same Twilight as I know. She's a few months into her first semester in that School Celestia runs… though between you and me, 'School of Gifted Unicorns' seems a bit overly exclusive. I mean, I'm not a unicorn, yet I can likely employ Magic that most unicorns would have difficulty with," she commented.



“A few months?” Twilight questioned before putting a hand to her chin. “Does that mean interrupting the incantation of the Text sent us back in time?” 



Alexis cocked an eyebrow at that. "I rather doubt that. From the residue I'm picking up from Phantom… the vibrations are foreign… so it's more than likely not the Equestria you know. For example, the stained glass windows in the Palace show Celestia, Luna, and Vrachnás fighting Discord. Sadly, I cannot say much of my past… as I don't have conscious access to it," she sighed.



“You’re a Displaced,” Twilight guessed. “like that Monkey tailed creature,” Twilight then went to stand but still found herself too weak to do so. “I suppose that's better than the Alternative,” she exhaled softly. 



Alexis helped Twilight to her feet before cocking her head. "The alternative being whomever tried to cut your throat, right?" she deadpanned rather bluntly.



“That and being sent to Hell, having my blood drained, then having my flesh peeled away to create a book that will end the world,”



Alexis cocked her head, a nagging memory surfacing. "The Necronomicon… so Ashley is…. Ash Williams," she said carefully, trying to keep hold of the memories though they faded moments later.



“You know Ashley?” Twilight asked.



"No… it's strange. It's like a ghost of a memory… but I've already lost it again," Alexis admitted with a grimace. "It's almost like reading off something, yet you can't quite remember everything about it… only parts," she sighed. They were cut off by a much stronger tremor. Clearly, they were closer to whom or whatever was causing it.



“We need to leave,” Twilight said, flaring her magic covering them both before, in a burst of magic, they both were gone from the mines.


-------



Twilight and Alexis appeared before Celestia who was sitting atop her throne. Immediately, Twilight glared at the princess upon seeing her. A glare that did not go unnoticed by anyone



"Not the same Celestia, whom I'm guessing has not been tolerant," Alexis deadpanned, swatting Twilight's temple lightly as she dismissed Leviathan's armor in a spray of water.



“No,” Twilight answered. “She blames my bodyguard for unleashing demons onto my world and refuses to admit our mistake,” she sighed, exasperated.



"Sounds like she needs a good ass kicking… or a good fucking," a different voice purred. The speaker was a pale, crimson haired woman with reddish violet eyes wearing rather ragged and slutty clothing.



“Probably needs both,” A voice called out



Turning Twilight grew excited only to frown when she saw Ash in chains. “Is there ever going to be a moment where you aren’t in Chains, Ashley?”



“Hey Don’t blame me, blame the guards” Ash said in defense. “I fell in Ponyville, and the next thing I know, I’m on my way here in a cage with Chains around my body” Ash looked down then up over the Princess’s current attire. “Looking good, Princess,” Ash said with a smirk



Embarrassed, Twilight tried to cover herself only to use Alexis to hide her body. 



Alexis sighed softly. "Is he always an idiot who talks before he thinks?" she murmured to Twilight.



“He does,” Twilight said with a blush. “But I wouldn’t ask him to change,”



Alexis shrugged before stepping closer to the cage containing the Deadite Hunter. "Obviously, interrupting whatever you did landed you here and…. eh?" she started before a ruby aura flared up over the exit and the windows before her eyes narrowed. "Ugh… demons," she sighed. "Nevan… let's rock!!" she barked as the pale woman laughed before her form was engulfed in bright purple lightning as she shot at Alexis.







“Holy. Hell.” Ash said as his eyes shifted to the Sharingan eyes.



Alexis caught the electrified spear before twisting on the balls of her feet, revealing Nevan's Devil Arm form as she impaled one Hell Sloth through the chest. "Ooops… hope that hurt," she commented before she strummed a sharp riff that made the demon shudder as electricity  surged over its body as it turned into a glassy statue.







From inside his cage, Ash forced his eyes to shift in his mangekyou sharingan, with it he engulfed the other demon in a everburning black flame. However Ash had to soon shut his eyes from the strain.



"Don't strain yourself, boyo… you'll need your sight to deal with the Bug Bitch," Nevan purred teasingly through Alexis, spinning as Alexis felt her influence fade to a waiting strength.



“Why am I not surprised?” Ash said, using his Sharingan to burn the locks on his cage.



"From what I've found, Nevan can 'read' recent events from the minds of others. Something to do with the electricity in their minds," Alexis deadpanned as more Hell Sloths emerged from dark rifts.



“Then you should know there is no way to extinguish those flames,” Ash said kicking open the cage door and the black flames engulfed it reducing it to molten metal



"Actually, I don't care to… though Nevan doesn't always share with me what she reads from others," Alexis quipped.



A small smirk crossed her mind as she could feel Nevan whispering, guiding her fingers.







She absently noticed the shadowy bats that formed, blocking shots of acidic slime as electricity danced between them before they shot at the demons, inflicting Shadow and Electric damage to the demonkyn. "I would call them ugly, but that implies that there are attractive demonkyn… and those are few and far between," Alexis commented wryly. 








Everfree Forest

Zecora sighed softly, watching Princess Celestia sleep. "What reason would you have to open a portal? Is this a portent of potential doom of all? Unlikely, I think, but bathing her would be wise, as she does rather stink," she murmured quietly with a small smirk.



She did suspect that this was not the Princess Celestia in the distant city of Canterlot. Though the concept of 'alternate selves' was rather foreign to most ponies. She, however, knew of the concept.



She was able to contact one or two other versions of herself, which had proven quite… interesting to say the least. "It appears to the market I must go, to prevent my stores of fruit and vegetables from running low," she sighed.

> Reunions and Battles
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dawn Palace Hall, Canterlot City Equestria #2651915


Alexis rolled her shoulders as she twisted in a pirouette, decapitating a Hell Sloth before she saw the barrier of the doorway glow a hot reddish orange before shattering into burning shards as the seal combusted before two gunshots rang out as a Hell Sloth dropped behind both Alexis and Twilight, a smoking hole in their foreheads as their bodies charred and disintegrated with a stench of brimstone, which smelled much like charcoal burning with Liquid Ass dumped on it.







"Is this a party anyone can join, or what?" a cocky drawl commented lazily.



Alexis stared at the newcomer, her head cocked as Nevan took her human form. 



"Dante. You know Enzo simply gloated having you in his pocket, though simply abandoning us? How cruel," Nevan commented dramatically. "I dunno what happened to Pandora, Gilgamesh, or Artemis…. though I do know our little 'lexie picked up Beowulf and I… doubt she knew initially what we were. Though I do know Beowulf certainly enjoyed you polishing him," she purred, draping her arms over Alexis' shoulders and resting her chin over Alexis' shoulder.



"Our connection built up gradually, Nevan, as you well know…. but damn if it didn't have people grinning. Hell, the only reason I remember as much as I do is this seductive pain in the ass. And Beowulf told me about Virgil," Alexis sighed, rolling her eyes. "Speaking of Dante, where is he? I need to kick him in the balls for fucking with my head," she commented in a far too sweet tone that promised danger and pain.



 Dante grimaced as he shrugged. "I don't know where he is," he commented wryly. He genuinely didn't know what drew Virgil to the one before him before he blinked in mild surprise as a blade he'd never seen before was drawn from thin air. It felt like the now Devil Blade Sparda that had merged with his Rebellion…. and the Yamato, Virgil's personal Devil Arm. However, it felt…. stronger. He noticed what seemed to be a sapphire and ruby crystal fused into the base of the blade. His head cocked as his gaze slid up the ruby steel blade, the pure Lunar Silver edge of the blade glowing faintly.







"Aèviternùs is like your Rebellion and Yamato," Alexis' voice was low and soft. "Had it as long as I can recall," she whispered. She didn't know where it came from, but knew it felt like an extension of herself.



"Speaking of, I have to find the source of those tremors… if they increase in intensity and magnitude, they'll put the city at risk," she deadpanned as her gaze shifted to Ash's Twilight, ignoring the demonic sigils fading away. "Something I'd much prefer to prevent," she sighed as she shifted Aèviternùs, letting the blade cling as if glued to her back.



“Hey Dante,” Ash said, getting the man’s attention. “Mind lending Ebony and Ivory to a man with no weapon?”



"Cute, but I doubt he's gonna do that with his 'babies'," Alexis drawled with a small smirk, seeing Nevan smirk out of the corner of her eye. "However," she paused as she let her hands slide behind her as her Extremis nanites formed two weapons.









"What about these?" she quipped, pulling them, seemingly lazily from behind her. She smirked at Dante's wide eyed reaction. She knew a 'WTF?' face when she saw it.



“They’ll work,” Ash said taking the weapons and stepping in front of Twilight



"Where exactly are you from?" Celestia questioned gently.



"Best guess on my part is a different Equestria where different events occurred. After all, I'm pretty certain that Reploids aren't in your Equestria, aye?" Alexis deadpanned. "Though I think the Guards should apologize to Ash… unless they want to be my training partners," she commented sweetly.



She suspected it likely surprised both the Elder Twilight and Ash as the guards did indeed start apologizing for the rather rough treatment. It was rather obvious they didn't want to be 'training partners'.



“As much as it angers me, he’s been called alot of hurtful things though it doesn’t bother him” Twilight said, sneaking a side glare at the princess. “All of which comes from my Celestia,”



"Whom, I'd well wager she's somewhere… if she's half as protective of you as Tia is of ours. And it may not bother him, but it does make us look bad as you're essentially guests here…. though… I'm pretty sure I saw your car… or at least part of it… down in the mines. Saw a pretty sodden pile of sediment and what looked like a headlight," she commented nonchalantly. "Though if your Celestia does show up… I'm going to humble her ass… and I won't be nice about it," she finished. Most of the guards in the throne room gained both a relieved and nervous look as most of them had trained at least once or twice with her.



“Wait, what?! Ash shouted. “Someone’s going to fix that car”



“Is his ‘car’ really that important?” Alexis’ Celestia asked



Twilight, however, turned to Celestia, still holding her glare. “He’s threatened my brother and a couple of guards with death over it,” she grumbled.



"Seems you can at least humble a room," a cool voice deadpanned before a blue cloaked individual was leaning against the wall before, just as swiftly, a eruption of bright golden amber sparks detonated as a glowing blue katana blade blocked the blast as the unknown male straightened.





"Virgil… you won't be saying that in a moment…. as I'm going to humble you," Alexis' voice was icy cold and terrifyingly calm. Even as she fired off another shot, Virgil moved. The eruption of sparks was sudden before, just as swiftly, she shifted her weight, her leg snapping up before the thud had Virgil's eyes widening.



Dante blinked in surprise before he guffawed as Virgil dropped to one knee. "I thought you were kidding when you said you were going to do," he started.



"The only reason that I'm not putting a bullet between your eyes…" Alexis said in a whisper before she pulled free a photo that made both Dante's and Virgil's eyes widen.





 "Is that… most of my memories are missing… but I know that picture was important… I found it not long after my father went to the hospital," she said as she let the photo fall from her fingers, not noticing the look between the brothers as she turned away.



Virgil, however, was shocked at that photo. Supposedly, the night their mother had been murdered… and their father taken by Mundus to Hell… that photo had burned like everything else. Clearly, it had not…. which made him wonder what he'd felt from her that had drawn his attention. It also implied that their Father had survived that night. It didn't, however, show how he'd survived nor what followed.



"So we have another reason to go down to the Mines…. though I do hope that those Pantheon Drones stay in pieces… even if they do make good target practice," Alexis sighed. Her gut feeling was that they would not, though.



Her head tilted in thought, not noticing how Celestia came closer to Ash's Twilight before hugging her. 



"If Alexis doesn't humble my counterpart, I will do so personally. She clearly has abused your trust in her and, I suspect, doesn't realize that just like everypony else, she, just like myself, is flawed…." Celestia murmured. "But even if she casts aside that arrogance, she will have much to do to regain your trust," she sighed. "Ah… what was that phrase?" she commented to Alexis.



"She believes her own hype… that is, she thinks she's perfect. Nobody is perfect… even so-called 'gods'," Alexis sighed. 



“Yeah that sounds like Sun Butt to a T,” Ash said.



Alexis smirked as she rolled her shoulders. "I'm gonna head back into the Mines. And whatever is creating those…" she sighed as a tremor cut her off, "tremors will stop… one way or another… and if it's a Maverick… it'll be eliminated," she finished.



As Alexis left for the mines, Ash turned to the princess and gave a slight bow. “Princess,” Ash said, lifting his head. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, can I ask for a free room as well as a change of clothes for my Princess?” 



Hearing Ash call her ‘his princess’ brought a massive blush on her face. 



Celestia chuckled. "I see no problem with that." 



 “Thank you Princess Celestia” Ash said as Celestia motioned one of the guards to lead the way before Ash stopped. “Oh and be forewarned, some of the changelings from our Equestria as well as their queen made it to yours as well, they are stronger, faster, and hold no mercy when killing anyone,” he warned.



Celestia's eyes narrowed ever so slightly before she nodded. "Considering the training that Alexis has been putting our Guard through as well as Lieutenant Shining Armor… she may expect our Guard to be weak-willed and scared of threats… heh. She will not like the surprise," she commented. 



“That’s comforting,” Ash said, still feeling uneasy.



Celestia smirked slightly before flicking a small silvery disc at Ash. "If the threat is as dangerous as I suspect in the Mines, that will allow you to use the teleporter stations three times… and fortunately, all it will take to bind it to you is two drops of blood. A way to keep hostile threats from realizing we are far more prepared than they know," she commented. 



Ash caught the disk before thanking the princess, following the guard Twilight couldn’t help but notice Ash’s uneasy aura.



“Something troubles you Ashley” Twilight said, causing Ash to exhale. “Please tell me.”



“Well unlike last time it isn’t about my foolish friend” Ash said to the Princess. “I’m more worried about the changeling queen, what if she takes over this Chrysalis' hive or worse, they join forces?”



“That...is actually a dangerous thought” Twilight said as the Guards stopped in front of door before motioning them inside



“We shall be around later to bring you and your princess a fresh change of clothes” the Guards said before closing the doors behind us.








Once inside Twilight covered herself with the comforter on the bed, with her face red Twilight looked towards Ash as he set the two guns down before looking back at her.



“Please don’t look at me like this,” Twilight said trying to cover herself



“Why?” Ash asked with a pure smile. “You look beautiful no matter what you wear,”



As he saw Twilight’s redding face, Ash immediately realized what he said. “Shit, sorry that was out of line,”



“N..No, it wasn’t,” Twilight assured with a slight smile. “It’s just, nopony has ever called me beautiful before”



“I’m shocked,” Ash said leaning against the door. “Someone like you is never called Beautiful, since you outclass the princesses themselves in that regard, especially in personality.”



Twilight blushed hard hearing the human’s compliment, but found herself unable to thank him when they heard a knock on the door. Opening the door Ash was met with a Guard holding a bundle of clothes



“This is for the Princess,” The Guard says, handing the clothes to the human. “Oh, and we have received word that your companion has arrived”



Hearing this Ash froze before looking towards the guard. “What did you say?”



“Your companion, she arrived just half an hour ago, said she wished to reunite with you,” the Guard said. 



A soft clearing of a throat distracted the guard. The human slipped out of the shadows, seemingly blending from them. "From your reaction, I suspect that this companion may not be quite as trusted as she claims," the male said, a sheathed reverse blade katana at his hip. His hair was long and straight as well as a dark brown with ebony and violet tips. His eyes were a piercing amethyst and he had two facial scars… an 'X' on his left cheek and a much fainter scar just over his right eye.



He wore a dark purple kimono edged with black and dark burgundy hakama pants with traditional black tabi and dark purple sandals. Upon his back was a single kanji in crimson: 幻



In truth… this was, in truth, the Human Avatar of the Biometal P - Phantom. His gaze was upon Ash, not shifting to Twilight.



“Afraid she isn’t,” Ash said with no remorse on his former friend. “She knocked me out and tried to hand Twilight over to the Changeling Queen.”



The former Battosai tilted his head. "Betrayal is never easily taken, willingly or otherwise. Though I suspect that there are things you do not know," he deadpanned before pausing, his head turning slightly towards the southwest, his eyes narrowing. "Did you encounter a Maverick? A wolf? Alexis is in combat with him at present," he commented bluntly. "She does not know that I am awake," he sighed moments later.



“I fought against a wolf with the power of Ice,” Ash said with a sneer, his eyes unintentionally shifting to his Sharingan. “I took his hand by using my Mangekyou Sharingan.”



"His hand was replaced with an electromagnetic mace with cryonic cannon capabilities," the Avatar deadpanned dryly. 



“Great,” Ash groaned. “The last thing I need is a rematch with him” The Demon hunter looked at the Avatar before speaking. “Do whatever you want with Sam, I do not want to see her right now.”



“Ashley, she’s still your friend,” Twilight said, trying to calm him down. “You can’t exactly shut her out.”



“Watch me,” Ash said angrily only to shrink back realizing he just raised his voice to the Princess. “I’m sorry, Twilight,” he said apologetically.



"Make her earn your trust back. Obviously, it will not be easy for her… though I wouldn't put it past Mavericks to use control chips… they make one essentially a prisoner in their own bodies," Phantom said grimly. 



“Remove it then,” Ash ordered the Avatar. “If need be completely destroy her body, she has the powers of Sam from Evil Dead: Regeneration.” Ash explained. “Meaning even if her body is destroyed she will come back to life.”



Phantom's eyebrow rose slightly before snorting. "That implies that I know what you are referring to," he deadpanned before a metallic echoing crashing boom sounded, making him blink. "Eh? Although I cannot, unfortunately, harm anyone, as my body at present is little more than a hard light projection," he murmured cautiously. 



“Just keep her away from me,” Ash said simply his eyes still holding anger



Moments later, a bright eruption of deep purple flames erupted in the distance, the guard yelling as a far stronger tremor occurred but lasted only a couple of seconds.



“What the fuck was that!?” Ash shouted.



“Probably one of the tremors Alexis was talking about,” Twilight said, taking the clothes from the human.



Ash began to grow uneasy before his eyes begin to dart around warily. Reaching behind his back, Ash pulled one of his guns from his waist before shoving it into Twilight’s chest.







“Stay here,” Ash said, pulling out his other gun before running from the room. “Shoot anything that isn’t me.”



Phantom blinked a couple of times as if realizing something. "From what I just received, it appears Alexis successfully defeated the Maverick… using, surprisingly, my old style…. in a way even I never considered," he commented wryly to Twilight.



With that, Ash shut the door before looking towards the guards. “Guard this door, nothing gets in,” Ash ordered before running to the Canterlot Mines.




 



Queen Imago sneered at the arrogant, bloody Changeling whom claimed herself to be a Queen… and not just any Queen, but her daughter, whom was a young Soldier with Queen potential. "Why should I put my Children under your hoof?" she sneered warily.



“Because between the Two of us, I am the stronger” Chrysalis said as her horn glowed, causing some of her injuries to begin to heal. “Under my rule I can make them stronger with the aid of my demonic spawn” Chrysalis smiled looking at the Changeling Queen. “Join and help and all of Equestria will be yours as all of my Equestria will be mine”



"Who says she needs your demons? She has mine," an ominous, deep voice murmured quietly, a miasma of dark green energy crawling along from the shadows. "Yours are biological in nature. Mine… are far more lethal to their victims… because even in death… they are mine," the deep voice murmured.



“What if I could promise you a creature immune to all forms of ailments and injuries,” Chrysalis said before grinning. “Even Death”



A slight chuckle escaped the cloaked speaker. "I am already beyond Death, as are those who are mine. I outlasted those foolish Maverick Hunters… despite the fact they destroyed naught more than mere shells of my body," he said quietly, a single malicious dark lapis eye glowing, staring at Chrysalis. 



Chrysalis stared down the Maverick before grinning. “This creature is friends with a hunter who’s protecting something I need, I could use said creature to take out any problems you are having as well”



The cloaked figure laughed softly as he rolled his shoulders. "As we speak, one of mine is destabilizing their precious mountainside capital city… and you had assistance from two others of mine and failed despite having the Marked Unicorn in your hands," he commented dryly.



“I had anticipated the Hunter to show up to rescue the unicorn,” Admitted the Changeling Queen. “What I had not expected was him being accompanied by the strongest princess who despises him.”



“I need that Unicorn, she’s the key to opening the bridge between my world and theirs” Chrysalis said before looking at both the maverick and the changeling. “Help me and I shall give you anything you desire”



Heavy footfalls sounded as the Maverick revealed himself… as none other than the deadly Viral Hunter Sigma himself.





"I can smell the Kandarian on you… they will betray you," Sigma growled, cocking his head. "What use is ruling a dead world? For that is what the Kandarian end up creating," he continued.



Queen Imago cocked an eyebrow as she knew little of unnatural power. "You claim that you are stronger, yet I doubt you could even defeat me…. without using demonic gifts… only your natural abilities," she said flatly. 



“Traversing Worlds is no easy feat, it leaves one weak” Chrysalis admitted. “But even in this state, I could take you, ‘Mother’” Chrysalis said. “After all, the Hive grows stronger with every queen” 



"Perhaps you could take your mother, nymph, but I am not she," Imago barked. She knew, as did any 'ling, that calling another Changeling a 'nymph' was highly insulting and implied weakness and an inability to be useful to the Hive.






As Alexis stepped out of the teleport gateway, her gaze scanned around before she spotted the Pantheon Drones. She knew it was a couple of blocks to the entrance of the Mines. She blinked once, then twice as another tremor occurred. "Fuck me… Sigma's already active… and if we're right… he's trying to strike at our morale in the nastiest way possible… by going after the one place few, if any, have attacked successfully, if my studies are correct," she muttered with a grimace. 



"Tia, you hear me? The tremors are intended to weaken the city… if not destroy it," she relayed to Celestia,  who frowned slightly as she heard through the earpiece. She summoned the Bashou Fans as she approached, noticing it was the quintet of ranged Patheon Drones that picked up on her presence first before the close ranged 'Spear' Drones realized her presence as she started deflecting their shots at her back at themselves before she twisted, focusing the redirected blasts along the edges of the fans so the energy released as thin cutting arcs of energy that sheared through the Drones.



Her ears twitched as she twisted, her eyes widening fractionally at the six inch claws penetrating the cobblestones. She cocked her head. "Wolfang Blizzard, a Class B Maverick, Ice Element, Specialized Technique - Ice Shot" Zero relayed.



"Always did like wolves, though this one seems a bit… rabid," she commented nonchalantly. 







She did note that one hand, contrary to the description Zero had relayed, was a frozen mace. It also appeared recently acquired. 'Most likely, if recently acquired, he won't have a combat strategy with it,' she considered.



Her eyes narrowed as her feet spread slowly apart, never noticing how her clothes shifted into a slim combat armor before the mask closed over her mouth and nose.







"Puny human… you are no match for a Reploid," Wolfang growled. Frigid fog caused the cobblestones to fracture from the abrupt Arctic chill in the late summer, early fall warmth.



"I would say you can say that after I kick your ass… but I rather doubt there'll be much left afterwards, bitch," she drawled. Her eyes narrowed as crystalline lenses not unlike ski goggles formed, her irises glowing slightly as she could feel the slow trickle of adrenaline. She was fairly sure Phantom was keeping her adrenaline to the point where she was ready, but not jumpy.



Wolfang apparently didn't like the insult and lashed out with the mace head, the weapon slashing out on an electromagnetic 'chain' before she pushed off, somersaulting as she saw the blade on her left arm raise and flatten out before the narrow barb in the middle shone a soft golden amber color before she fired off several energy arrows that sent sparks from the Maverick's body.



Her eyes narrowed as her arm reared back as her back thrusters fired off,  launching her at high speed at the Maverick before she formed the Kaiser Knuckle, a bluish purple aura tipped with ebony surging before she drove both fists into the Maverick's lower chest before her arms pistoned out in rapid strikes. 



Shockwaves surged through the air from the blows before she shifted her weight into a shoulder throw before the Maverick let out a snarling groan with the blow. She barely managed to evade the mace from crushing her lower legs but was still tagged on her right leg, flipping her before she managed to twist with the impact before she gasped with the impact with the ground on her right shoulder and back. She rolled swiftly, her eyes widening slightly as the claws drove into the cobblestones before he snarled before she fired the thrusters, evading the uprooted frozen cobblestones as they shattered. "Where is that other human? I'm going to freeze his heart in his chest for taking…"



"Your balls?" Alexis said cheekily, her tone nonchalant and deadpan. She ducked under a swing from the mace before she saw the tips of the blades extend before a glow built up before a frigid beam of energy lanced out, a thick wall of ice blocking the entrance to the Mines.



"Great, thanks for that, Viktor… I could really use the cooling, asshole," Alexis grumbled as Wolfang started swinging the mace around, forcing her to evade. She was, fortunately, able to avoid damage from his enraged swings. The same, unfortunately, could not be said of nearby walls and the street. Her eyes narrowed, hardening as she could feel the slightest stirring in her mind. "Stay still, you little…" Wolfang grunted.



She instinctively shifted Aèviternìus from her back to her side as she landed, clearing her mind as her feet slid slightly apart. Her eyes deepened in color from a warm ultramarine to an almost icy indigo-amethyst. Her voice was the barest whisper as she shifted her weight into a gliding half step as she drew the demon blade, an explosion of sparks erupting as Wolfang brought down the mace at her skull before, in the instant after employing the Ryūshōsen, she followed it with the Ryūtsuisen. 



She saw the Maverick's eyes widen as the mace head split, the metallic cracking boom from her strikes following seconds later as the lupine Maverick was hurled several yards back before she focused as she pushed off, unaware of the demonic blade in her grasp igniting in a brilliant bluish white flame as she instinctively employed the Danchien technique. 



Her form seemed to blur instantaneously from in front of to behind Wolfang who growled before pausing as an arc of white hot flames bisected his torso no less than five times. "E-eh?" he managed as his eyes widened slightly as the flames spread across his shell in vivid cracks as it shattered, revealing the true form within the mechanical shell.







However, Wolfang's true form, even, was only seen for a matter of seconds before his form exploded violently in a massive amethyst explosion as Alexis sheathed Aèviternìus, never noticing the tendrils of blizzard blue demonic power being dragged into the blade.



Alexis winced, glancing down at herself, noticing that she had numerous bruises and cuts. She grimaced as she noticed the damage to the area, the shallow but smoldering crater rather obvious. The numerous cracks, craters, and fissures didn't help. She focused, the armor changing to cover her injuries.





She felt another tremor rumble beneath her feet as her eyes narrowed as she rolled her shoulders before she focused as she cocked her head, noticing a gleam before she drove her fist down into the stones. 



Her eyebrow rose upon noticing a passageway beneath the cobblestones. She cocked her head. "If Tia knew about this, she'd have said so," she murmurs. She slipped into the passageway, sliding through before dropping into a chamber. 





What immediately drew her eye were two boots her HUD identified as the Onyx Boots.





Her head tilted as she noticed the alcove beneath where she'd entered, wary.






She took a deep breath as she paused near the Onyx Boots as her gaze slid to the alcove before she touched the boots which disintegrated into streamers of obsidian light edged with navy before she felt the sensation of a door unlocking in her mind as memories surged forth as her head pounded unmercifully as the boots merged with her armor, the obsidian, navy, and midnight blue metal merging with her cream and dull silver armor in a very noticeable contrast.



"Bloody hell… that's a fucking migraine," she groaned. She gritted her teeth as memories surged through her mind. It was then that she heard two drawling voices that she immediately recognized as she turned, seeing two twelve foot golems guarding a heavy stone door she noted held a bar that said 'Surface Exit to Crystal Mines'. 







Her eyes narrowed as she rolled her head, despite the pounding of her head. "I suppose you aren't going to just let me pass, boys?" she sighed. "'Cause at the moment, my head is pounding like metal being beaten in a blacksmith's forge… fuck," she deadpanned.

> Discoveries and Seismic Stoppage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Forgotten Mine Exit, Canterlot City Equestria #2651915

Alexis stared at the two golems, but more precisely, the demonic blades within the grasp of the golems. Her eyes narrowed fractionally as she saw their mouths open as she pushed off with inhuman speed, letting the hidden tags slip into her hands.





A small smirk crossed her face as she slapped no less than two tags on each of the golems' arms as well as tags on the shoulders. She didn't know where they came from, but she noticed arcs of bluish silver electricity arcing, clashing with pale bluish aquamarine and reddish orange electricity.





She slapped different tags on the chest and backs of the golems as she saw the golems stagger, able to walk drunkenly. 'Intriguing, the backlash of blocking their energy flow has a similar effect of the equivalent of being extremely drunk,' she noted with mild interest. 



A slight smirk crossed her lips as she felt how light she was at the moment. She glanced at her wrists and calves, noticing a slight glow even as it faded into a peculiar marking no larger than a Kennedy half dollar that faded away even as she noticed it, feeling the heaviness return. The only reason she noticed it now was because she'd felt the lack of it. She knew it wasn't herself manipulating the energy which felt similar to magic, yet… somehow… if she had to put it into words… more grounded. 






Within her mindscape, Zero cocked his head. She had chakra reserves, though at the present moment, it was just enough to activate and deactivate her Fūinjutsu he'd given her. He had a sneaking suspicion that there was more that he didn't know about Alexis. Though he did notice that her magic could act much like chakra, albeit denser chakra.



Alexis noticed the demonic blades grumbling. "You know, I could activate the other tags if you aren't willing to listen. I mean, Dante would be quite interested to know his old Devil Arms are showing up here. I mean, a Level Two explosive tag may only have the explosive force of a few sticks of dynamite each, but two in close quarters between your shoulder blades and over the equivalent of where hearts would be? That's going to have some heavy impact, boys… and I rather doubt you'd want to do an impromptu impersonation of pinballs in a pinball machine, eh?" she commented. 



"You have a much more dangerous mindset than Dante did," a slightly high pitched demonic drawl commented.



"Are you trying to make me blush, Rudra? Or just distract me so I don't blow your asses up?" Alexis deadpanned, her gaze shifting to Agni for a moment.



"For some reason, whatever energy you pushed through those… sigils… is directly blocking our manipulation of these golem bodies," Agni growled.



"They're Paralysis Seals… Level One. Though the fact that I pushed my magic through them and it's blocking your use implies an opposing energy frequency," she commented thoughtfully. She noticed glowing rings where the energies were clashing before her eyebrows rose slightly. "Drop away from those golems, now!!" she snapped. 



Her eyes widened slightly as the hands immediately opened, the demonic blades hitting the ground before, with an echoing detonation, both golems blew apart.








On street level, a dull thump not unlike a bass drum sounded before a plume of dust erupted from the fractured street close to thirty five feet in the air.



Numerous ponies, Royal Guards amongst them, saw the plume of dust blast skyward. A particular young Lieutenant within the Royal Guard saw it and the heavily fractured street. 



"What could have caused this?" he muttered under his breath. 



"A Class-B Maverick with a grudge," a feminine voice giggled. 



He jumped in surprise, seeing a young woman with short azure hair brushing just below her shoulders and deep blue eyes smirking as she leaned against his table, watching him with a sidelong glance. She wore a dark blue sarong over mid-thigh length swimming shorts and a navy bikini top over B-cup breasts.



It was Leviathan's Avatar, whom she'd once been. She had, of course, gone on to be a genius researcher and marine biologist. Admittedly, unlike her close friends, she'd been offered to guide someone on a path that only Usagi and her bloodline had once walked. Unlike the other Avatars of the Biometals, she retained much more of her memories as both whom she'd been before… and whom she became after The Offer. 



She knew Phantom had pushed his body too far at one point before he accepted The Offer, but she suspected that Alexis would turn his old style into a truly Godly style of combat. She tilted her head thoughtfully. 



A soft breath escaped her as she shrugged slightly. She noticed the teleport gate activating as the dust plume began to settle.









Alexis coughed unnecessarily as her facial armor had activated, the lenses a pale gray a shade or two darker than the rest of her 'baseline armor'.







"Fuck me sideways… okay… so Alicorn Magic and Demonic Energy tends to clash rather… explosively. Definitely gonna remember that fact. Makes lighting a fart look like lighting a firecracker to a stick of dynamite, now that I think about it," she commented before noticing the doors the twin Devil Arms had been guarding had been blown open, revealing a dumbwaiter.



"Wait," she heard. "Yes, wait," came the slightly growled response. 



She half turned, seeing the duo impaled in the ground. "I'll take you with me on one condition: if you don't have anything helpful to say, keep yer yaps shut, ya ken?" she said coolly. Her eyebrow rose slightly as she saw both blades shiver slightly as if they noticed something about her they hadn't with Dante. "Wouldn't surprise me if Vergil nicked ya idjits just to challenge me," she drawled thoughtfully, thinking aloud, missing how the demonic blades traded startled glances, unaware how close to the truth she unknowingly was.



She blinked, realizing she recalled things that had been blocked before infusing the Onyx Boots with her Extremis nanites. "We agree," Agni grumbled. "We certainly do," Rudra said quickly.



She took a deep breath, focusing as chains shot from the undersides of her wrists, coiling around the hilts of both demonic blades before retracting them, sending both flipping and spinning through the air before she snagged them both.







Shining saw another human with an odd weapon dart out of the teleportation gate before he stumbled rather comedically over the fractured street before staring up at the frozen over entrance to the Mines before he paused before, with a series of rattling thuds that quickly faded away, he abruptly dropped out of sight.



Alexis cocked an eyebrow at the sudden rattling before Ash shot out of the steep passageway and tumbled over the ground in the chamber as she paused. "Nice of you to drop in," she commented nonchalantly. 



“Ha Ha Ha” Ash laughed sarcastically as he rose to his feet. “Blow it out your exhaust port, android”



Ash turned his gaze upwards before cracking his neck with a satisfying pop. “So I’m just gonna take a guess from the Ice above that you came across the ice wolf”



Alexis nodded as her facial armor retracted into the collar. "Aye. That rabid mutt tried to brain me… or freeze me as a damn freeze pop or something. I kinda gave him the splits… much like that mace of his… though him blowing up in my face kinda knocked me on my ass. Though I did find out that unlike the Reploids the others recall whom were all mechanical… these Mavericks seem to be cybernetic shells with demonic cores. That… and it appears that Magic and Demonic energy kinda… react explosively," she sighed. "Considering these two idiots had golem bodies… and the seals I had charged with my magic reacted with their demonic energy… and kinda blew up like dynamite," she sighed.



"You have a demonic stink," Agni grumbled, his red demonic blade radiating embers. "The scent clings to him, but is not his natural scent," Rudra observed.



"You two point out the obvious… Deadites are corpses possessed by Kandarian Demons," she drawled, rolling her eyes. "And just 'cause I have advanced cybernetic nanotech armor, doesn't make me an 'android', Seven of Nine," she deadpanned, cocking an eyebrow. "Now… let's find your car and the source of those tremors," she said coolly, hanging Rudra and Agni over her shoulders like a certain Spartan Ghost.



"Well I know for a fact it landed with me in Sweet Apple Acres" Ash said as he followed Alexis out of the room. "Think you'll be able to fix it?"



Alexis shrugged. "It seems that the more pieces of the Onyx Armor I find, the more my memories return from before I was Displaced… and sadly, most of my memories are utter shit… at least when I lived with those wankers that claimed they were my family," she sighed. "Though if your car landed at Sweet Apple Acres… then whose car did I see when your Twilight 'ported us out?" she commented. "But I'd do what I can with your Delta 88," she sighed as she activated the dumbwaiter, lowering them downward.



“Thanks” Ash says before looking towards Alexis. “We’ll need to head back to the castle first, I can’t leave Twilight alone with Sam at the castle”



A small smirk crossed Alexis' face. "She's protected by someone whom wouldn't let Samantha near her," she quipped before her gaze shifted forward to the descending tunnel wall. "And Rónghuà won't see her harmed."



Several weeks before, she stumbled upon a capsule that turned out to have a very honorable Reploid. Said Reploid was now guarding Twilight.












Rónghuà's deep golden emerald irises within pale golden sclera shifted around as he stood just inside the alcove just inside Twilight's chamber, his camouflage giving the impression of dull, lifeless marble rather than his burgundy, gold, and copper 'skin'.



Only his apparently gray eyes drifted slowly with a slight glow giving away his irises, giving away the truth. 








Alexis tilted her head as another tremor occurred, crystalline dust raining down. "There aren't too many known Earth Element Mavericks. I'd wager, though, that it's most likely former Red Alert member Kong Heishi, going by records of known Mavericks," she commented cautiously, goggles with pale coppery red lenses covering her eyes. 



"Can we pretend that I have no fucking idea what you're talking about so we can find a way to get me and my Twilight back into our Equestria" Ash said rather forcefully. 



"Oh, you do have an idea?" Alexis teased. "Honestly, if I had a Sherman Tank, I'd turn Kong's ass into its silencer… mouth first just so not to hear his big fucking mouth… and when your Chrysalis shows up…. we're gonna turn her ass into roadkill, then drag her ass screaming back," she drawled as the dumbwaiter came to a stop before she pushed open the door, noticing the pile of sediment and the single Delta headlight. She blinked as an idea occurred to her as she focused. The Titan Breaker hammer materialized in her grasp before she spun it in her grasp a couple of times before bringing it down in an overhead blow that created a far weaker tremor…. more than enough to expose the buried car, however.







"Sweet. Merciful. Jesus." Ash uttered out as he moved towards the car. "It's the Deathcoaster, the one Ash Williams drove at the end of Ash vs the Evil Dead"



Immediately an eerie voice spoke up. "I take it you like the car, Ashley"



Ash dropped his head upon knowing exactly who that was. “You’re here,” Ash said exasperated. “Of course you’re fucking here,”



Ash and Alexis turned to face the cloaked figure that sent Ash and Sam to Equestria



“I just figured you might want these,” the Merchant said tossing a set of keys to the demon slayer, turning back to the Deathcoaster Ash was surprised when he found it gone as well as the keys in his pocket. “You’re Delta is in the main road above you, Give the key an extra turn after starting it.”



“Well since you’re here got anything useful to tell me” Ash asked the merchant



“Sure” the Merchant said with a light chuckle. “First and foremost Celestia is on her way here now, Chrysalis has managed to get Sigma and Queen Imago to aid her in the attempt to Acquire her book”



"Kinda figured Sigma was active. Wouldn't surprise me if he already knows about me, too," Alexis deadpanned. "Though I doubt Chrysalis would trust them, even if they temporarily allied," she sighed. "Though I know Virgil called in a favor, I'm guessing, not only to Displace me, but plant their old Devil Arms around, aye?" she finished.



"Great, now I need to deal with Sun-Butt too," Ash groaned, dragging his hand across his face. "Any more good news you wish to give?"



The merchant turned to leave before looking at the pair. "The two of you are about to have company" the merchant said walking down a path



Ash went after him to get more of an answer only to find the merchant gone



"God dammit, I fucking hate it when he does that shit!" Ash yelled before being knocked off his feet by a changeling from his world.



However this changeling was different, it had metal parts all over its body. It's eyes had what looked like circuit board wire inside, its claws and arms were reinforced with a metal alloy which caused the claws to dig into Ash's arms. Before Alexis could move to help she was tackled to the ground by one of Sigma's Mavericks, and like the changeling it was different. The Maverick was stronger, far stronger than any she faced before. 



Alexis' eyes narrowed as her hand reared back before she drove her fists into either side of its head where its ears would have been. She noticed other Changelings, some with unnatural stony scales and barbs before her head tilted  as she drove a brutal uppercut into the face of the Maverick pinning her as a serrated spear of ice shot through its head before, with a snarling grunt, she tossed the twitching Maverick at the demonized Changelings.



She pulled Agni and Rudra off before slashing upward with both blades, a small maelstrom of bright golden red demonic flames shot forward for several feet in a tight cyclone that left a scorch mark behind. "Cryomancy? Meh… fuck it… I'll figure shit out later… got bitches to MDK now," she muttered.



The Changeling inched itself closer to Ash in an attempt to sink its teeth into the Hunter, in response Ash slammed his head into the changelings. This was a bit of a mistake on the hunters part as part of the changelings skull was laced with metal, however the changeling still recoiled allowing Ash to wedge his leg in between them. Kicking the Changeling off of him Ash pulls out the Triple barreled gun that Alexis gave him, as the changeling rushed Ash pulled the trigger sending a series of plasma bullets made contact with the demonic changeling



Alexis smirked as the plasma shells hit the Changeling. It impacted like an explosive slug, yet to the cybernetically enhanced Changeling, it acted like a compacted sledgehammer at Mach Two and an EMP at the same time. Unholy shrieks escaped the Demonic Changelings as the demonic ally charged flames ate flesh and bone. "That looked painful, but I don't really care too much… if they're trying to maim us… it's matter of seeing whose head splatters first," she sighed before she focused.



“Just do yourself a favor and don’t let a single one bite you,” Ash warned quickly getting to his feet. “They can take control over anything they bite” 



One of the cybernetic changelings lunges only to have its head blown off by Ash’s gun. “Don’t suppose you have a way out of…” Ash began only to fall to the ground



Alexis spotted a momentary distortion in the air before she barked Ash's name in warning. "ASH!"



Unknown to the two of them the Changelings demonic spirit left it’s body upon death and forcefully entered his body.







Alexis saw Ash grit his teeth, though she'd half drawn Aevitèrnìus. Ash grabbed hold of Alexis and threw her into the mine walls, the possessed human let out a demonic scream before turning towards the Changeling Mavericks.




Alexis growled, biting back a groan. "Note to self: Kandarian possession is a pain in the ass," she muttered.



“He'͇̎s ̣ͫụnde̹rͮ ̘ͨth̻e̥ q̍ṳee̓n̖s cͅontr̦ol n̥ͤoŵ” one of the changelings said before being tackled into the walls by Ash.



Ash grabbed the Changeling by the arms before ripping him in two, Ash pointed his gun at the other Maverick before pulling the trigger. In his possessed state the damage was much more severe than before, the changelings hit by the plasma immediately imploded covering the mines in their demonic blood.



"What did you say? Oh well, guess it wasn't important," Alexis quipped. "Hopefully, demonically charged blood on these Crystals don't cause any reaction," she muttered at the detonation of splattered Changelings.



Upon hearing her voice Ash turns back to the cybernetic hybrid before letting out a growl . 



Alexis' eyes narrowed as her grip tightened on Aevitèrnìus as the blade ignited a brilliant iridescent blue. Unknown to her, a shard of both Rebellion and Yamato were fused into her blade by its bladesmith: HER FATHER.



Ash charged the cybernetic hybrid with pure corrupted rage in his eyes as Alexis shifted her weight before she heard a whisper, a memory.



"If Yamato can separate a Devil from a Human, what can Rebellion do?"



She twisted as she sliced downward, the blade flaring bright blue as it dragged a shadowy form from Ash's body.







Ash slowed his sprint to a slow stumble before dropping to his knees, The hunter arched his back backwards letting out a howling screech before falling to the ground. His body no longer having the demonic orange glow and his skin and eyes return to normal.



"Damn… you are one ugly motherfucker," Alexis deadpanned before the Kandarian Demon erupted into ebony flames tipped with silvery white. It was the infamous Ebony Lunar Fire of Princess Luna… one of Alexis' mothers.



“Yo̝ͣu͔'̯ͫl̉l͔ͩ ̼͒n̟evḛṙ̲ s͇tͭo̝̎p͙̌ ͚u͊s,” the demon spoke with laughter. “ ̦W͑e ̣w̖i̇l̖l͉ c̯o̳ͮnq̣ͪu̠er͈ͮ ͦṯ͗h̜i͌ṡ͚ ̗w̤o͚̿r̳ld͓̏ ̽ă̪s͛ ̄w̫e̐'̖̅v̌eͥ d̈o̲neͨ o̚t̲he̦̚r͋sͣ” 



The demonic spirit laughed as he burned away to nothing.



"The only thing you're going to conquer is this," Alexis deadpanned before she farted at the burning demonic spirit. "Asshole," she muttered as she sheathed Aèviternìus before noticing Ash sprawled on the ground before she rolled him over.



"Wakey, wakey," she muttered as she patted his cheek before an impish grin crossed her face before she reared her hand back. "Wake up!!"



[Shotgun Cocking sound]



Alexis looked down to find the gun in Ash's hand aimed right at her stomach. “Do it, I dare you”



"Do what? I was tempted to slap you a bit, but I doubted that you were completely unconscious… though I do know that having a demonic blade through ya tends to be murder on your blood sugar," she quipped.



“Just help me up” Ash said, extending a hand to the Cybernetic Hybrid



Alexis rolled her eyes before she pulled out a copper colored cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting before she pulled him to his feet with her other hand. "Just to make sure you don't pass out on your feet, ya idjit. Might be wise to go with explosive rounds," she drawled.



“No promises there,” Ash said weakly, as Alexis draped his arm across her neck. “You try being possessed and see if you still walk around,”



Alexis chuckled tiredly. "I've had Chaos Demons try to take my head… and ended up with pretty good scars on my left clavicle for it. Though I did have to fight Nevan in here when she initially woke up," she commented wryly, tapping her temple.



“Whatever, just do me a favor” Ash said to Alexis



"Oh?" Alexis purred teasingly. "Hope you don't need me to bed any Princesses," she quipped. 



“No,” Ash shouted. “Do me a favor and don’t tell Twilight about this,” Ash requested before remembering about a Solar problem approaching the city. “And especially don’t tell our Celestia”



Alexis pouted, but chuckled. "Neither will know… although if Tia doesn't kick your Celestia's ass… I will myself, because judging others by assumptions makes one an utter fool, and from what you've said, yours is very much a fool with her nose shoved so deep in her own ass she can't taste the shit falling out her mouth," she deadpanned. 



“Can we just get out of here” Ash said as he and Alexis left the mines



Alexis opened her mouth before a bellowing roar cut her off as she noticed a broad pit ahead as well as numerous thick wires swaying like vines. What caught her attention was the Maverick supporting himself by a thick stone platform slightly above where they were. "And that… is Kong Heishi," she sighed, noticing an elevator on the other side of the pit.







“Friendly or Hostile?”Ash asked



Alexis cocked an eyebrow before she saw Kong reach back before he hurled the thick stone shield on his back before a sharp cracking caught her attention as she shoved Ash and dove aside, barely evading the two foot thick stalactite tha blocked the tunnel they'd entered through with a second, even thicker, stalactite blocking the exit. "Is that answer enough?" she deadpanned. 







“We can’t catch a break, can we?” Ash asked as he lifted himself from the ground.



"You're telling me… a rabid wolf on the street, cybernetic and demonic Changelings," Alexis sighed. Her eyes narrowed slightly as Kong raised thick stone walls around himself.



“Damn,” Ash cursed, causing Alexis to turn to him and seeing his eyes had shifted to his Mangekyou Sharingan. “My black flame can’t reach him now.”



Can you focus those flames like a spear if I get you a line of sight?" Alexis said sharply.



“I haven’t had much practice with these,” Ash said pointing to his eyes. “But I can try.”



Alexis' armor shifted, gaining green and pale rose streaks as she felt Harpuia 'step forward' to assist her. She knew Fenrir had power, but she wanted speed more than power. She pulled free Rudra as pale emerald energy engulfed him, tendrils of his sky bluish purple wind mingling with it. "Hope Kong has a hard head, 'cause I'm bringing those walls down right on his head," she growled as she pushed off suddenly, thrusters flaring out from her shoulders as bright pink flames flared, launching her faster.



A trail of bright emerald light bisected the walls several inches over Kong's head before, with an almighty crash, they collapsed… right on top of the Maverick as his platform broke.



As Alexis broke through Kong’s earth wall, Ash trained his eyes on the Maverick causing Black Flames to spread across his chest. However, Ash had to close his eyes from the strain, though fortunately the flames were already burning away at the Maverick



Alexis blinked as Agni grumbled in her mind before she nodded. "This is going to be one hell of a blast, no doubt," she muttered. She drew Agni, holding him inverted next to Rudra before, with a surge of heat, they merged into a bow with their heads naught more than gemstones. She blinked before smirking as she drew back the bow, wind surging inward to gather as an arrow of white hot flames. "Shinkūha," she whispered before releasing the energized arrow. An echoing boom and a thick cloud of dust was the result.



Ash coughed through the dust and debris before calling out to the hybrid. “Alexis,” Ash called out as the dust began to settle. “Did you manage to kill Kong?”



"Bloody hell… that's gonna... leave a big fucking bruise... ugh," Alexis coughed out as she was sprawled half buried in the four foot thick stalactite. The settling dust, however, revealed a foot deep crater… with half melted metal chunks. A heavily cracked, pulsing, four inch diameter smoky quartz crystal sat, the dull green glow fading away. "Another one of your little bitches down, Sigma," she groaned as the crystal shattered.



“Alright, can we please get out of here before someone else tries to kill us?” Ash advised looking at Alexis



Alexis tried to push her way out of the stalactite. "We can… but… I'm kinda… stuck," she sighed, grimacing.



Ash groaned as he approached the Hybrid and attempted to dig her out of the heavily fractured stalactite.

> Returns and Preparations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Ugh… damn. I'm glad I had my wings pulled in on that… 'cause that hurt like hell," Alexis sighed as she was freed before she pushed over the top two-thirds of the stalactite before it collapsed with a low boom, leaving them with a good five and a half feet from the top of the elevator doorway. 



“Me too,” Ash said to the Hybrid. “It would have been a bitch and a half to dig those out with the rest of you.”



Alexis smirked slightly. "You haven't even seen them, have you?" she teased, rolling her shoulders.



“I have not, nor do I want to,” Ash said in a rather rude tone. “I just want to get back to Twilight and make sure she’s safe.”



She rolled her eyes. She paused as a red dragon with reddish copper irises shimmered into sight in a hologram, an unconscious Sam held by the scruff of her neck as bloody wires writhed in his free hand. "You were right, girl. Not only in the control chip, but that they'd try to get to the marked girl. Had to snap her neck to get the damn control chip out. Luckily, it wasn't embedded too deep… but the way they consume the nervous system…. very unpleasant, since the user feels their mindset shifting but can't do shit to stop it," the dragon rumbled.



“Do me a favor,” Ash asked the dragon. “Until we can return home, keep her locked up somewhere away from me and Twilight”



Rónghuà's eye ridge rose slightly. "You are aware that she was intended as a sleeper agent." His observation was not a statement, Alexis noticed. 



“Fully aware,” Ash said with a glare. “Put her in the dungeons... I don’t care,” Ash said, moving past his former friend. “Just make sure she can’t escape.”



Alexis cocked her head. "Aèviternùs was able to break the hold the Kandarian Demon had on you… what if it can break the connection between her and Chrysalis?" she commented. 



“She isn’t a demon like the rest,” Ash said to the Hybrid. “Besides, what she did when she betrayed us, she did of her own volition,”



Alexis tilted her head before her six and a half foot broad coppery red wings flared out, the iridescent cream under feathers shimmering slightly. "Yet, I notice you aren't even considering that she might have been manipulated. How do you know that Samantha didn't have a fondness for you, yet was never confident enough to admit it to you? Hmmm?" she commented dryly as she retrieved the Zhēnkō Bow.



“It was never a surprise she had feelings for me,” Ash said loudly. “However, she’s stabbed me in the back and I want nothing to do with her.” 



Ash didn’t give Alexis or Rónghuà a chance to speak as he straight up and left the pair heading towards his princess.



Alexis rolled her eyes. "He's an idiot. Focusing on the small picture and disavowing the broader picture is what Mavericks do," Rònghuà deadpanned. "She will be put away," he sighed before cutting the connection. 









Ash walked up to Twilight’s room before turning the knob and opening the door. As he entered the room, Ash found Twilight sitting at a desk with numerous books levitating around her. Her sleeves were pulled up revealing the red Sumerian marks



“Hmm...Okay this one combined with the other two would allow one to take control of any living creature,” Twilight said not knowing Ash just entered the room



“Twilight,” Ash said, only to receive nothing. “Twilight!” The hunter said louder before looking to a vanity which held other books all nice and neat stacked on top of each other.



With a flick of his wrist, Ash taps the stack causing the one on top to move out of place. With a slight smile Ash saw the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end as she lifted her head from her books, Twilight whipped her head towards Jacob with a slight look of fear. However she quickly relaxed seeing it was only Ash.



“Oh, it’s just you, Ashley,” Twilight said, approaching him before moving past him to correct the book. “Is everything alright, You look like you’ve been in a warzone,”



“Feels like that,” Ash said before moving to her desk. “I was in the mines with Alexis, ended up fight Robotic changelings and other robots”



"Though you're a lot stronger than you look, you know. But knowing Sigma is active… I wouldn't be surprised if he's aiming to use Chrysalis just as much as she plans to use him…. and Sigma is much nastier since he has no true physical body… but can infect other bodies," Alexis deadpanned, hovering outside one of the windows, her wings flapping slowly. She wore a copper pair of baggy pants tucked into dark crimson sandals and shin guards as well as a dark forest green qipao top with navy-indigo highlights.



“So he’s basically Ultron,” Ash said before gazing at the books on Twilight’s Desk. “These are the books you used to translate the Necronomicon,” he observed.



"Who?" Alexis said blankly, not getting the reference. 



“Oh that’s right I think I found a way to get us back into our Equestria,” Twilight said with excitement. “Take a look at this” 



Twilight moved towards her desk and pulled a picture from the pile and showed Ash.



“That’s a picture of the Necronomicon’s pages” Ash stated with a confused look



“Exactly I used a spell to print my memories onto parchment” Twilight said pointing at a specific page. “now look at this symbol here”







“This is the page I read from when I tried to send you back to your world” Twilight explained before lifting the back of her shirt and showing me the same set of symbols on her back hip. “But if you look here, you’ll notice a difference between the two”



Looking closer between the picture and the marking Ash soon found the difference. “The one’s on your body are more rigid and straight then the ones in the book”



“Precisely, I can properly translate the markings on my body because they are Equestrian Sumarian” Twilight said with excitement. “I can send us home,"



“That’s good to hear,” Ash said with a smile. “Any chance you know how long?”



“I’m sorry, Ashley,” Twilight apologized to the one handed human. “But this is a dead language... it’ll take time to find the right Symbols and even longer to find the proper translation”



"Might not be a bad idea to master said spell. Then you could just portal Chrysalis into the heart of a volcano," Alexis deadpanned. "Or straight into the todash Void.. where there are things better left unknown," she commented. 



“That might actually be a bad Idea,” Twilight said to the Hybrid. “As I said this is a dead language, I’m going for world to world if I try to pick a specific location. Something might go wrong in the translation and I don’t think I have the right symbols to do either of those options.”



“Just focus on taking us home, that’ll be enough” Ash said, helping Twilight to calm down a bit



Alexis felt something hit her head and bounce off as she instinctively retracted her wings, her hand flicking up as a quarter inch thick strand of webbing shot upward, clinging to the eave outside the window before she fired off a web-line that snagged what had fallen before she tugged it back up and caught it. She blinked at the crystalline Delta in her palm. "Ash," she deadpanned. 



“That works too,” the human said before looking at his stump. “But Imma need to find my belongings, My chainsaw, my gatling which the guards confiscated, my delta, and my shotgun which Sam had before we made the jump



Alexis cocked her head. "You could look behind you," she drawled.



Ash turned and found Celestia at the door with Ash’s shotgun in hand. “Fuck me,” Ash groaned as Celestia approached.



“Twilight grab your things, we’re leaving” Celestia said pushing Ash back with the tip of his shotgun pushing into his chest



“Celestia, why don’t we put the gun down and talk about this” Ash said raising his hand and stump in the air



“Be silent demon” Celestia said pushing Ash back against the wall



Alexis' eyes narrowed as a slight growl escaped her, unaware her incisors lengthened slightly, sharpening. 



“Nosveratos, Velnar, Unthanet,” Twilight said as her eyes rolled back and her body went limp.



Alexis' eyes widen fractionally. 



“Twilig…” Celestia began before her body began to twitch and convulse.



Once Celestia stopped twitching she opened her eyes which had a purple glow to them, Celestia exhaled slowly before handing the shotgun to Ashley.



“I really wish you and Celestia could just talk this out” Celestia said but her voice was mixed with Twilights. “But it looks like I’d only be grasping at straws, I’m done trying to convince her”



Celestia’s eyes closed as her body fell to the floor, Twilight began to stir causing Ash to help her up.



“Are you okay Twilight?” Ash asked moving Twilight to a chair



“I’m fine, just a little light headed” Twilight said putting a hand to her forehead



Ash looked at the Solar Princess who began to stir. “What did you do to her?”



“I used a spell from the marking on my body to take control of her” Twilight said recovering from the dizziness



Alexis' arm flashed out, cuffs latching onto Celestia's forearms, throat, and calves. They didn't just suppress magic, but emitted a shock depending on how much magic the prisoner tried to employ.



“Hm..Kinky” Ash said before being elbowed by Twilight. “Sorry”



"She's going to get a nasty surprise when she wakes up…. and guess who's going to have the key to release her?" Alexis commented with a small, vindictive smile, holding up the key.






“It’s me or Twilight, Isn’t it?” Ash asked.



"Actually, I had intended to give it to Twilight… but I think giving it to you, Ashley," Alexis commented with a teasing tone, "would really piss her off… but… she wouldn't have a choice but to listen… and think about how badly she's fucked up," she deadpanned. 



“That’s not actually a bad Idea,” Ash said with a coy smile on his face as he took the key. “Now all we need to do is find my car and my chainsaw, while someone gets my gatling from the guards.”



Alexis smirked slightly before she shifted, tugging free a prosthetic gatling gun. "Which guards?" she commented nonchalantly as a crack like a firecracker sounded off before yelps of surprise followed.



“I don’t know,” Ash answered. “All I know is that I had it on me when I came here and when I woke up it was in the hands of the guards”



"Hmmm… how could it be in the hands of the guards… when it's in yours?" Alexis commented nonchalantly as she flexed her arm before lightly tossing the gatling prosthetic towards Ash, very aware she was stronger than an average human. "And as I recall, that creepypasta reject mentioned your car wasn't far from where I put down that rabid wolf, despite how trustworthy that ass is…." she deadpanned. 



"Well then, let's go home," Ash said as Twilight sends her books into her personal storage and follows Ash.



As the group of three leave the room with Celestia in tow, they failed to notice a black fly being engulfed by an emerald flame, the changeling of this world approached the desk with the images of not just Ash's necronomicon but also the markings across the Alicorn's body. 



"These are the markings Queen Chrysalis spoke of" the changeling said as it gathered the images and left the castle disguised a messenger bird









Ash and company walked down the streets of Canterlot until they stopped at Ash’s Delta 88 Oldsmobile.



“Hello baby,” Ash said with a smile seeing his car still in pristine condition. “Ashy’s back”



“Ashley, whenever you’re done talking to your car can we please return home” Twilight said causing Ash to snap back to his surroundings.



“Sorry Twi,” Ash said before opening the trunk and finding his chainsaw.



Ash put’s the gatling in the trunk before putting the guns Alexis gave him in there with them, Closing the trunk Ash realised he was forgetting something.



“Shit, We can’t leave yet” Ash said with a groan. “We need to get Samantha”



"Your Celestia's gonna be more salty than the Dead Sea when she wakes up, methinks," Alexis quipped. She hummed in thought.



“More than likely” Ash said as he turned around and entered the castle, about twenty minutes Ash comes out of the castle with Sam in chains who was glaring at the princess



Alexis hummed. "You do know that little stunt called betrayal is going to be gnawing your ass for a long time," she drawled. She held up a jar with the writhing mass of wires and the control chip. "Or would you rather suffer for eternity, trapped in your body and unable to control yourself? I have little doubt that Sigma claimed to Chrysalis this would tie you to her tighter… no… it would have linked you to him. And did you notice that there are next to no humans and Reploids? There's a reason why: Sigma killed them all… and enjoyed it. Those he didn't kill, he enslaved with these," she said coldly. She saw Sam's eyes widen at that.



"Ponder that while we return to the Crystal Empire" Ash said putting her in the back seat before easing Celestia next to her



"Damn she's heavy," Ash complained, popping a few bones in his spine. "Does her diet consist of nothing but cake?"



"I dunno, but from that brief incident before Twilight knocked her ass out… she came off as a big bitch," Alexis drawled. "Although there's a pretty big problem: the Crystal Empire won't reappear for at least three and a half years," she deadpanned. 



“Our’s has already returned,” Twilight corrected the Hybrid. “It’s currently ruled by my brother and his wife, Princess Cadance.”



"Huh… I know both, though I know Shining is going to be the next Royal Captain within a few weeks," Alexis hummed.



“Oh!” Twilight exclaimed with excitement. “That was around the time I became Celestia’s personal student.”



A small smirk crossed Alexis' face. "I know about that… since I saw not only the Rainboom but a certain dragon-made skylight as well," she quipped.



“Hmm. interesting” Twilight mused but before she could go into full analyze mode but was stopped by Ash. “Right sorry, Let’s go home” Twilight moved around the Delta before getting into the passenger seat and tightening her seatbelt



“Thank you, Alexis,” Ash said, opening the driver's side door. “Now just say that our business is done and we can go home”



However before she could utter a word Alexis' eyes widened upon seeing the Repliforce Warship.







“Oh you have got to be shitting me!” Ash shouted before racing to his trunk. “Twi, Get out of the car” the human said attaching his chainsaw to his stump



“Hey Alexis, care to explain what the fuck we’re dealing with” Ash said as Twi approached him.



A swarm of Maverick changelings began to approach the castle causing chaos, though numerous Changelings dropped from the plasma bombardment.



Ash shoved the Bore Pistol into her hands. “Take this and go to the castle”



“But..”



“Now!” Ash shouted in worry as he grabbed the heavy Shotgun.



Alexis' eyes narrowed slightly before smirking as plasma shells began firing up at the Maverick Changelings. "Looks like Sigma's been busy… rebuilding Repliforce. And that's a mid-level war ship," she commented.



“And the Repliforce would be?” Ash said, opening the rear passenger door before pulling Sam out. “Betray me again and I will kill you” Ash said putting his boomstick in her hands



"Repliforce was once intended as a peacekeeping force of both humans and Reploids working together, until Sigma perverted their purposes for his own gain," Alexis said grimly. "The Maverick Hunters that the original Zero and Mega Man X were part of were allied with Repliforce but not part of them," she said.



“Great, I can’t leave you to fight this by yourself” Ash said, turning his gaze to the Alicorn in his car. “Think she could help us?”



"I trust her about as far as I could kick Luna's Moon," Alexis deadpanned bluntly.



“I figured as much” Ash sighed in frustration before looking at his chainsaw. “And if we’re going to face anything like we fought in the mines, then I’m going to need to use the gatling”



"It's possible, but I rather doubt that it's easy to rebuild former Mavericks, especially with demonic energy cores," she commented with a smirk as her armor gained deep red and pale gray highlights.



Ash looked between his chainsaw then back to the ship. “Yeah….I’m going to get the Gatling,” Ash said, going back to the trunk before unhooking his chainsaw and tossing it to Sam. “I’m serious Samantha, Betray me and you Die” 



"Think about this, Sammy… you survive this without betraying him again… you may regain a tiny amount of trust from him," Alexis deadpanned with a roll of her eyes. 



Ash attached the gatling to his arm before closing the trunk, before closing his eyes. Ash slowly opened them showing his Sharingan.



Alexis noticed the hopeful look Samantha shot Ash, but said nothing else to her. She shifted her weight as numerous cracks sounded along with a growling roar. "Sounds like Dante's breaking out the Cavalier… he's a nasty Devil Arm," she commented.



“Well the more, the merrier,” Ash said before his thoughts went to his dragon ball token, before shaking his head, “No not needed, we got enough,” Ash said silently.



Alexis blinked as a streak of brilliant iridescent blue bisected a dozen cybernetic Changelings before Virgil stepped through the rift. "Trash," he commented coldly. She smirked at Virgil's boredom. 



“With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior” Ash said as he watched the army form



“Samuel 22:30,” Sam commented with a grin. “And here I thought you forgot about the teachings”



“You never forget what’s been taught,” Ash said gripping his gun



Alexis chuckled before her head bowed slightly. "Amen… now let's give 'em hell," she muttered, "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord," she murmured. 



“Agreed” Ash said but stopped when the Changeling Queen descended from the ship.



"Thought I smelled something that died, oh, wait… it's still twitching," Alexis deadpanned. 



“H̲ell̥o, W̽ḯ̤l͇͑ĺiȃ̲ms̈́ͅ, ̦ͯDͯi͐ͅd̜̂ ̪̔ȳ̺o̫u̥ͯ ͙̈miś̯s̱ ̍yo̙u̝ͪr̞ ̋Q͊u̝͂e̳̎e̤n̘͛?” Chrysalis said with a grin



“Yeah, like a Whore misses her virginity” Ash said coldly



Alexis sneered. "You're about as much a Queen as a rat is a human," she commented bluntly. 



“C̖hͧarmi̖ṅ͖g͈” Chrysalis sneered before looking right at Ash. “I̗'̙̿l̑l͚ m̑ak͕e̫ ͣtͯh̗i̲s̳ ͦo̼f͉ͦf̩e͍rͥ t͉̑ō̻ ̂y̆o̫u ̗̀on̺ly ͎once ̏W̪i͕lͣḻ̋i͓a̯m̊s͕” Chrysalis spoke the changeling Mavericks behind her growing more feral by the second. “S̀u̼rre͐n̬ͬd͉e͊r͉ ̻ẗ̙he ̪̎Al̻i̞ͤc̯̀o͒ŕ̲n̾ ̚a̪nd̘̊ ̩͐n̥o ͎h̺̓ar͛m̜͆ ͗wil̼l ̳͊f̦̊al̖͆l ͨu̓pö̮́n you̿ ͯỏr̳̍ ̼ͦyo̪̐u̪̔rs͚”



“Heh, she’s all your” Ash said motioning towards the white Alicorn in the backseat of the Delta



“Nͣoṫ ̰C̥͑el͙e̖s͇ti̓ă̮!” Chrysalis shouted as the changelings grew agitated. “G̝ḭv͂e͚ ͚ͧT͉w͇̾ĩ͍l̔ig̖ht̉ t̂o ̲̎m̪̔e̜ ̭ͯo̲r͒ ͎you̥ ͯan͉͑d͔ͨ ͚ṭḧi͚ͩs ̲̃e͆ṉ͑t͂ir̃eͦ cͩiẗ̯́y̙͐ ̻͂an̔d̪ͧ ͮi̪t's̆ ̭p̟o͖nͪy'̮s̆ ̍wi̱l̗l͇ ͊b̘eĉ͔o̿m̭̊e̜̓ ̳f̈́o̹od̬ ͙f̠͛ȏ̤r ̌m̯y̟̅ c̝hil̤ď̪re̊n͉͗”



"I have a counteroffer… walk away… or by blood and fire… I'll find a way to shove your head up your own ass while it's still attached… of course, you don't seem to realize you're as full of shit as the Fat Bitch in the backseat…" she paused, leaning a bit closer to Ash before deliberately stage whispering as she noticed Celestia stirring. "Though if I thought it would really help your home, I'd say take both their heads and save everyone the trouble," she commented.



“͍̲͊ͩH̰̞ẻḧ̳͛”̇ Chrysalis laughed as she began to fly above them. “K̳̓i͕l̹ͭl̾ ̺t̠ẖem͐”



The changelings charge causing the group of four to open fire on the cybernetic demons.



“Let’s see if these Metal fuckers are still allergic to lead,” Ash said as the gatling chatted out its rounds as the shogun's bark joined in.



Gunshots rang through the streets as both Changeling and Maverick alike were cut down, both lead and plasma tore through their flesh and wires. Any that got close were cut down my Sam with the aid of Ash’s chainsaw.



Alexis rolled her eyes as she felt the Void form in her mind as she fell back in ingrained training that she didn't consciously recall, yet the fact that few of Chrysalis' demonic Changelings nor Sigma's cybernetic Changelings that got closer than four feet of her remained standing… or breathing… spoke for itself. Aèviternìus' blade was a glinting blur of silver, burning with Rebellion's crimson flames.



Virgil moved fluidly, employing Iaido to drop attackers swiftly. His eyebrows rose slightly, seeing Alexis' lethal skill in martial combat.



Dante whooped as he sped through the streets, ramming numerous cybernetic Changelings and shearing others with Cavalier's blades or horns. Those the Devil Arm didn't take out, Ebony and Ivory blew large holes in. Heads exploded and limbs were torn off.



Alexis shifted her weight before she pushed off, somersaulting twice as she evaded numerous explosive feathers before she landed as she twisted, pirouetting as her metal sheathed wings flared out, their razor sharp edges shearing through metal and flesh alike even as Aèviternùs and one of the Bashou Fans were out, cleaving through flesh and metal even as the fan deflected and reflected both plasma shots and magical shots.



Elsewhere on the battlefield Sam and Ash were fighting close by, however the Half-deadite felt it right to make amends.



“Jacob, I’m sorry,” Sam called out as she stabbed a Changeling with the chainsaw before blowing its head off.



“Now’s not the time, Sam,” Ash said, aiming his heavy shotgun behind the Half-deadite before pulling the trigger, killing three Mavericks instantly. “We’ll talk about this back in our Equestria.”



“Ash, I never meant to hurt you,” Sam said shoving the shotgun under Ash’s armpit



A Changeling stopped when he saw the shotgun, before looking shocked as Sam pulled the trigger, the changeling’s body was knocked back with a gaping hole in its chest.



“That doesn’t change the fact that you betrayed me,” Ash said headbutting a charging changeling, before gunning it down with the gatling.



“Chrysalis promised you wouldn’t be harmed,” Sam kicked a Maverick in the chest before unloading lead into its robotic head. “I handed over Twilight to protect you,” she tried to claim.



“Bullshit!” Ash yelled swinging his Gatling connecting with two changelings and a maverick. “You betrayed us to get something you never had,” the demon hunter shouted, firing his gatling at all three.



“Ashley,” Sam said, turning her back to the enemies.



“DON’T CALL ME ASHLEY!” Ash yelled as his eyes changed.







In their moment of distraction they failed to notice the horde of Changelings and Mavericks jumping to attack them, without warning Ash was surrounded by a purple rib cage connected to a bony arm. Swinging his arm the giant copied his movement, swatting away the enemies.







"See, that's the problem, you trusted Chrysalis. Probably wasn't helped by her link to you manipulating you, but you should have realized that Chrysalis had no intention of keeping her word anymore than a zombie could restrain itself from ripping your skull open and eating your brain," Alexis commented. "Though it looks like Sigma was able to revive one of X's old enemies," she commented wryly.







"Storm Eagle, A Class Maverick. Elemental Affinities of wind and fire. His maneuverability is going to make taking him in the air from the ground difficult," a voice yawned from Alexis' forearm bracer. 



"Took you long enough to wake up, Axl. Damn, boy…. you could give Shikamaru a run for his money," Alexis deadpanned. 



"How do you know my old name?" Axl's voice was cautious.


 Alexis smirked slightly. "Not telling," she chirped, though the fact he recalled whom he'd once been implied that, for some, however they'd become Reploids was, if not willing, necessary to survive.
> Final Brawl and Hunter's Departure
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Alexis exhaled softly. "I know you aren't alone, Stormy. Explosive energy feathers? Not your style. So tell your boyfriend to show himself," she said coolly.



Haughty hooting laughter gave away the presence of the other Maverick as the wind picked up sharply.







"Storm Owl. Elemental affinity of wind, finds blowing the limbs off others before shredding them with his Double Cyclone funny," Axl relayed.



"That's fucked up," Alexis groaned.



“That’s comforting,” Ash said, turning his gaze to the ship. “What would it take to take that thing out?”



"More than we have, unless you have a Proton Cannon lying around," Alexis deadpanned. "And notice that Sigma hasn't shown up… yet. Either he's just going to leave your bitchy ass to get maimed…" she deadpanned, shooting a look as Chrysalis, "or he's aiming to tire us all out… and pull an Independence Day on us," she deadpanned dryly.



“How about we focus on the army first?” Ash shouted using the Susanoo arm to swat the changelings away, however even as Ash the human spoke, more Cybernetic Changelings and Demonic Mavericks flooded from the ship



Alexis noticed that Chrysalis' demonic Changelings were dropping fast, as were Sigma's cybernetic counterparts, forcing reinforcements. "And dispose of the head of the snake," she muttered. 



“Hang on, I have an idea,” Ash said, running to the delta before getting in and turning the key.



The engine roared to life as the human grinned.



"Don't really see how that helps, but meh," Alexis sighed before she took a deep breath as he hand brought Aèviternùs to her side as she clicked the blade into the sheath.



Ash however ignored the cybernetic hybrid as he gave the key another turn, the car raised itself as the metal began to shift and turn turning the Delta into the Deathcoaster







Stepping on the gas, Ash tore through the advancing army. “You were saying!” Ash yelled out of the window



Alexis took a few slow, steady breaths, her legs sliding apart slowly as they tensed as steam began to leak from the vents of her masked countenance. She had no idea that her mothers, in this particular Equestria, were also Hashiras.



She shifted her weight as she abruptly vanished, an echoing boom of thunder the only warning as no less than forty demonic Mavericks and cybernetic Changelings were ripped apart before no less than ninety more joined them in two more, almost consecutive, booms before Alexis reappeared several dozen feet from where the Deathcoaster was ripping through the invaders as the Chevalier shot past. 



"Nice trick, kid," Dante commented with a smirk. A boom caught him off guard as Alexis spun the gun in her grip.





 He blinked as he turned, his eyebrows rising in mild surprise as a bulky demon dropped, its head and chest blown apart. "Well, shit," he sighed.







“Jesus Christ,” Samantha said, looking at the demon in disgust. “I think he would have stood to lose a couple thousands of pounds.”



"Pretty sure he was from the Circle of Gluttony… now, he's just splattered and scattered," Alexis said as she coughed, catching a whiff of the foul stench from the demonic corpse as it began to char and disintegrate. "Damn… that thing makes Liquid Ass look like the finest perfume, ugh," she gagged as she stumbled back nearer to Samantha. 



"Doesn't surprise me Mundus is trying to take advantage of this mess," Dante deadpanned. 



Alexis sneered. "If he shows up, I'm turning his ass into a leg warmer… ass first, mouth last," she growled.



“Gruesome,” Sam commented with a grin.



Alexis smirked. "I believe the expression is don't poke the bear unless you want the claws," she commented. 



A low thrumming shook the air as Alexis noticed movement above them. "Uh… I think we should move… demon Changelings and Mavericks to humiliate," she said cautiously. If that sound was what she thought, it was very bad. She also noticed that Bitch Celestia was stirring in the back of Ash’s car.



She jerked when a four story condominium a couple of blocks away that was under construction was hit by a huge bolt of bright purplish red energy before, with an echoing boom, the building and half the surrounding block exploded violently in a crimson fireball. She saw Samantha's eyes widen in shock and surprise. Soon a sound of an engine was heard approaching fast, the blasts seemed to approach along with the sound. The Deathcoaster comes into view swerving left and right trying to avoid being hit by the energy blasts, however one such blast hit the ground in front of him causing him to sharply turn left. The reaction caused the armored car to flip itself over the crater and right towards Sam and Alexis at a fast rate, Alexis was able to roll to the right as Sam just went wide eyed.



“Oh Fuc…” was all Sam could let out before she collided with the car



The car continued to roll until it hit the side of the palace, with the car on its roof blood dripped from both driver and passenger



Ash groaned as he opened his eyes. “That...Bitch...is gonna..Die,” Ash groaned as he unclipped his buckle and fell to the roof of his car. “Nobody….Wrecks...the Delta” Ash said kicking the door open



Ash crawled out of the Armored car and immediately noticed a pair of legs and a lot of blood under the roof of the car, however he relaxed once he realized they belonged to Samantha. Ash looked up to the massive ship before looking to his passenger



“Alexis” Ash shouted to the Hybrid. “I think I have a way to take out the ship” Ash said slowly moving to his feet. “Just give me some time” 



Ash then moved to drag Celestia from the back seat and into the castle.



Alexis groaned softly, her head pounding not only from the concussive reports of the war ship's cannons, but from the fact that Storm Owl had tried to take advantage and pelt her with explosive feather arrows. She glared at the Maverick, her eyes narrowing. "Axl… any record for a number of high level Mavericks put down in a day?" she muttered. 



"I believe the record is Zero's, at five. You're… huh…. damn. You're basically a rookie Hunter, and you've already taken down two heavy Mavericks. Impressive. If you take out the Storm twins, that'd be four," Axl replied with mild surprise.



Alexis smirked before, to her mild surprise, a pale rose barrier blocked a volley of feather explosives from Storm Owl. She recognized the magical tone and color as Cadence's.



A force beam pelted Storm Owl before she spotted Storm Eagle charging for Cadence's back before her eyes narrowed slightly as her feet slid apart slightly. Her eyes hardened as she drew Aèviternùs with inhuman speed before she slashed upward, a bright blue aura flaring around her blade as she laid open a cleaving flash roughly from mid right abdomen to upper left chest before she added a second slice bisecting the first before her fist flashed out, crashing into the armored jaw of Storm Eagle before she somersaulted, the heavy slash cleaving off one of Storm Eagle's wings before she twisted, her stomp slamming the Maverick into the street before, even as he bounced, she charged her thrusters and shot past Storm Eagle, rebounding off a half collapsed wall with a dashing cut and rebounding with a stronger dashing cut, before rebounding off Cadence's barrier and tagging Storm Eagle a third time before she grabbed Storm Eagle in a twisting Lotus piledriver with a shriek of crunching metal. She turned, tagging Storm Owl with an Iaidao slash.









Ash Dragged the bleeding Celestia through the castle before stopping at the throne room doors, unfortunately he was stopped by the royal guards.



“Stop” the guards announced aiming their weapons at the human.



“Stand aside, I need to speak with the princesses” Ash says pushing past the guards and forcing the doors open



However in lieu of the current attack, the guards believed him to be a possible changeling and forced their weapons into his back. Ash Williams cursed loudly as he released Celestia and dropped to the ground



“Ashley!” Twilight exclaimed, running up to the fallen human.



“Men, remove your arms at once” the Celestia of this world ordered, before running to Ash’s aid.



Celestia flared her magic and began to heal the human’s wounds, Ash regained some of his strength but most was still gone. He began to stand before looking at both Twilight and the kind Celestia that had assisted him.



“I have an idea,” Ash said, struggling to stay up. “I need all three of you to fire a beam of magic at the ship”



“But there’s only the two..” Twilight said before eyeing the chained alicorn on the ground. “Ashley, do you honestly think She’ll even listen to your plan”



“If she wants to go home to Her Equestria” Ash said to the purple alicorn. “Then she has no choice”



Ash pulled the key from his pocket and unlocked the restraints around the Alicorn, with a grin on his face Ash lifted the princess as he raised his hand.



I am going to enjoy this a little TOO much



With a growing smile Ash brought his hand across the unconscious alicorn causing her to jolting awake with panic plastered on her face, A look that soon became a scowl when she saw Jacob.



“You better sleep light, Demon” Celestia said with a death glare so fierce, it looked like she was trying to light him on fire.



“Will do,” Ash said sarcastically before picking the mare up. “But you are going to help us destroy a massive ship or else none of us will be going home,”



Celestia went to retort before turning away in anger. “Don’t order me around, Demon,” Celestia said leaving the throne room



“I really wish she wouldn’t call you that,” Twilight said following behind Celestia



“Not now,” Ash said, tailing The Princess of Friendship









Alexis twisted as she drove an elbow into the face of Storm Owl even as she noticed smoke pouring from Storm Eagle's body before, with a shriek, he blew apart violently, tossing herself and Cadence through the wall into the throne room. "Eat that, you hooting rat," she snarled, groaning a bit with the impact as she saw Cadence rising to her hooves even as she saw Tia at the entrance of the throne room, obviously startled. Alexis spun as she heard Storm Owl's shooting laugh before she focused as her arm lashed out, a serrated drill blade firing out even as the air distorted from how cold it was. It caught Storm Owl just above the center of the chest before the metal began to flash freeze around the inch wide puncture point. If Storm Owl had been a human, the wound would have been instantly fatal… puncturing the aorta and vena cava… even as the blood vessels were flash frozen.



"Get fucked," Alexis said with a wince as she swayed a bit. She staggered towards the entrance, grimacing. "Not to mention if she hopes to repair any sort of relationship with you, Twi… ugh… definitely gonna feel this tomorrow. Damn Reploids are lucky they never felt exhaustion," she interjected, not bothering to watch as Storm Owl's body began to crystallize and freeze. 



Tia's eyes widened slightly upon seeing Storm Owl's frozen form alter slightly, revealing its demonic core.







It was minutes later that the frozen statue shattered with an agonized shriek. 








Alexis stalked after Celestia. "You're a very big fool, you realize that? Ash has knowledge that will keep those Deadites from killing and converting your precious little ponies into their own kind… yet all you do is antagonize him. On top of that, from what I gathered, what happened to Twilight was done at your orders which woke up the Kandarian Demons… hence it isn't Ash's fault, but yours that the Deadites are showing up. On top of that, everything Ash has done was to protect Twilight. Makes me wonder just how precious your student is to you that you would rather risk antagonizing her to the point where she washes her hands of you… or worse, the other Elements because of you… which would leave your Equestria pretty well fucked in the ass, you think?" she barked, her eyes narrowed.



“You will not speak to me like that again” Bitch Celestia spoke, venom lacing her voice as she approached the castle doors. “Nopony speaks to the Princess of Equestria like that”



The outer doors to the palace were thrown open by Bitch Celestia, letting her see Canterlot burning in places. "This isn't your Canterlot nor your Equestria, so trying to throw your weight around ain't gonna get you shit… and pissing off those whom are actually bothering to protect this city will turn out worse… especially if it's me or him," she deadpanned as Rónghuà threw out a fireball that seared through a half dozen demonic Changelings before detonating, tearing apart four more.



“Quit your bitching and whining and use that horn on your head” Ash said from behind before igniting approaching Mavericks in black flames. “Unless it’s just for show”



“I am in no mood for words, demon,” The angry alicorn barked at the human. “Once We get back to my Equestria, I will personally see to Twilight's protection since you clearly can’t be trusted to do it yourself.”



Twilight went to argue with the alicorn but Ash quickly covered her mouth. “Whatever you feel is the right thing to do, Celestia,” Ash agreed with the Alicorn



Celestia cracked a grin hearing the human’s words. “For once we agree on something, Demon,”



However, Twilight knew what Celestia heard was nothing more than a lie, Ash would never give her up to nobody other than himself. He was her bodyguard and she was his princess, no force on this or any world would keep them apart. However, part of her needed to know Ash was lying to her former teacher and not giving into the Princess of the Sun, Flaring her horn Twilight connected her mind to his.



“You don’t mean that do you? handing me over to Celestia?” Twilight asked into Ash’s mind.



“It would take her walking over my dead rotting corpse to get you away from me” Ash said with a smile looking into her purple eyes. “I promise nothing with pull you from me again”



Cadence growled as she stalked out of the palace, followed by Tia. Alexis smirked as both the Elder Alicorn and the younger Alicorn glared up at the Repliforce Warship.



"Something tells me that Sigma is about to get a very nasty surprise," Alexis commented. 



"Huh… thought Enzo had those two knuckleheads," Dante deadpanned. 



"Turns out there was an emergency exit to the Mines guarded by these knuckleheads… took 'em down without firing a single shot or drawing Aèviternùs, baka-nii," Alexis quipped with a playful smirk. "I'm guessing the gakis in that photo were you and Vergil, hai?" she commented nonchalantly, seeing him wince a bit. "Don't worry. If Mundus shows up, I'm going to rip his heart out… through his ass," she chirped. "Though it might get a point across to stupid mares," she commented, her eyes flicking to Ash's Celestia.



She leaned closer to Ash. "We both know you don't trust her any more than you'd eat shit, and her stifling approach will hurt more than help even if she did try. No doubt she'd fuck it up far worse than any mistakes you've made, accidental or otherwise," she murmured quietly to Ash.



“Maybe,” Ash said, tightening his fist. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it”



"Either way, that eyesore needs to drop. What do you bet Chrysalis' mangy ass is up there?" Alexis commented with a small smirk. 



Twilight flared her horn with magic as did her Celestia, This world's Celestia, and Cadance, all flour Alicorns aimed their arms at the hulking ship in the sky. Magic began to cover their hands before four separate beams of raw magic were fired at the ship, however the ship retaliated with a plasma beam of its own. Both beams collided with one another, neither giving the other any headway, but unfortunately four more smaller beams joined in making the ships attack much stronger than the Alicorns. Slowly but surely they princesses were losing this battle of might.



“Any ideas?” Ash asked, looking towards the hybrid.



"We're gonna need some sort of power boost. Ain't no damn way this bastard's pulling a fucking Brainiac on us," Alexis snarled. She was unaware that dark red flames were flickering over her armor, an old fox reacting to her agitated emotions. She shivered, grimacing as she could feel a sensation much like a rubber band stretching within her as her crystalline ultramarine-lapis lazuli magic focus just above her brow began to glow, pulsing with her agitated heartbeat.



She could feel the energy rushing through her body as her reserves became stronger and denser. Admittedly, the side effect would demand much more practice on control. Her hand rose to the focus before she bent her legs as her wings flared out. Unknown to her, the dark red energy seemed to be 'dripping' off of her body yet never touched the ground. It did, however, heat up the air.



As her fingers paused just shy of the focus, its garnet glow seemed to intensify, gathering at the tips of her fingers. Within moments, it had condensed around the pads and tips of her middle and forefinger as arcs of pale bluish purple lightning and arcs of pale golden electricity flickered subtly.



“Whatever you’re going to do,” Ash said to the Robotic Hybrid. “You’d better do it now.”



Alexis' eyes narrowed as the energy streamed swiftly, the spark becoming a brilliant reddish copper orb before her gaze snapped skyward. "We are going to fuck Sigma's day up," her voice came out as a raspy growl far too deep to be purely human. Her arm rose skyward, aiming at the Warship, before the orb which was the size of a basketball, abruptly shrank to the size of a ping-pong ball. Then, with a dull boom not unlike a cannon blast, the blast fired skyward in a beam of lurid scarlet.



The blast impacted a barrier roughly half a meter from the beam cannon overwhelming the Princesses. The shield, however, only held up for a matter of a few seconds before, with a shrieking crack, it gave way before a boom echoed as the beam cannon faltered as the beam from the Princesses pushed it back towards the Warship slowly but steadily.



Unfortunately another beam fired only this one was aimed at Alexis, the plasma hit the Hybrid in the chest sending her crashing into the castle. Ash looked at the colliding beams with worry as he saw the Repliforce overpowering the princess.



‘We’re going to die’ Ash said within his thoughts. ‘Alexis is out and I have no magic to help, I’m not an alicorn of the Sun or of..’



“Love…” Ash said, looking towards Cadance then to Twilight. “Well if this doesn’t work we’re dead anyway”



Without hesitating Ash pulled Twilight into a kiss which caused the purple Alicorn’s eyes to widen, however Twilight closed her eyes accepting the kiss from the human. Cadance soon felt a massive surge in her magic as she witnessed the action, smiling, the Alicorn of love unleashed every ounce of her magic at the ship. Unfortunately Ash’s Celestia couldn’t help but look enraged at the human’s actions, so enraged flames began to lick around her hair and her magic took on a more red hue. Tia smirked as her pupils slitted for a second as a spiral of bright golden white flames spiraled around the beam of magical force.



With the increase of Cadance and both Celestia’s magic, the Alicorns' combined magic overpowered the Repliforce. The Beam of magic tore through the ship like a hot knife through butter.



Alexis' eyes fluttered as she groaned, her body twitching as she gritted her teeth amidst a foot and a half pile of rubble. "Fuck… just barely managed to leap with the impact of that shot so it pushed me back with its force… but damn… ugh… definitely going to be feeling that tomorrow," she groaned as she sat up. The Extremis Armor receded, revealing that roughly 60% of her body looked like it had borderline second degree burns. 15% of her body had definite second degree, borderline third degree burns.



 There were no less than four columns she'd been slammed through plus roughly a third of a fifth. "What is it with me and getting slammed into and through walls and columns today? Hope this doesn't end up as a running gag," she sighed.



Tia's eyes narrowed slightly as she spotted two forms dropping from the descending wreckage. One wore a dark, ominous cloak, the other Ash knew too well. Dust rose from the impact of one form, though the other came down a bit more slowly. 



Alexis' eyes narrowed as she pushed herself out of the column, wincing at her tattered clothes. She noticed a thick spur of what she recognized as cast iron reinforced with a steel-platinum blend hanging out of the rubble before her hand lashed out, a barbed chain lashing out and embedding into the metal before she saw thin hair-like tendrils engulfing the metal before retracting to her, her eyes widening slightly upon realizing that the supports had been consumed. 



“Alexis!” Ash called out as the missing supports caved in on her



"Damn… that was too close," Alexis said wryly, wincing as, thankfully, she'd darted towards the gaping hole in the wall her body had made. Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing the trio of demonic Changelings trying to jump Ash from behind before her eyes narrowed as she drew Aèviternùs from her back and slashed outward with inhuman speed, close to three dozen wounds penetrating each of the trio as she vaulted the wall in a half second span, unknowingly recreating Dante's Million Stabs technique before she thrust hard, a surge of bluish purple flame blasting outward and ripping the demonic Changelings apart. She knew she'd be in the infirmary after this was over to recover. Unknown to her, her magical signature held the slightest demonic hint. Her eyes narrowed as she shifted her weight, spotting Sigma. She also noticed he was twitching a bit. "Sigma's body is glitching. Most likely a very bad match for his Viral Core," she noted. "Either way, it's something we can exploit against him," she noted.



“Right behind you, Alexis,” Ash said, gripping his Heavy Shotgun.



Alexis pushed off, engaging her armor as she pushed off, drop kicking a demonic Changeling at Chrysalis and Sigma before she twisted, evading the claws of two more as she shifted her weight, reinforcing her lower legs with demonic energy as she spun, her Tatsumaki Senpu Kyaku jerking the Changelings with the force before tossing them head-over-heels at the dark duo in dual tumbles, streaks of diseased dark greenish black blood splattering the cobblestones.



Ash followed behind, slamming his Gatling into a charging Maverick, the human took aim and fired at Chrysalis which hit her in her leg. Ash then lifted his gatling and began firing a barrage of bullets, Calling forth the black flames of his Sharingan Ash covered the bullets in the flames burning the maverick and changelings. Rushing beside the Hybrid, Ash summons the skeletal black arm and opened the hand



“How's about a boost?” Ash asked Alexis with a cocky grin.



Alexis shrugged as she smirked. "Fastball Special?" she quipped as she equipped the Durga Glaive as her armor gained dark purple and burgundy tints, unintentionally making a certain stocky feral Canadian and tall metallic armored Russian sneeze simultaneously in another universe.



Ash grabbed Alexis with the skeletal hand and threw her at fast speed at Sigma, even as she extended the energy blade and began somersaulting at high speed, turning herself into a spinning buzzsaw. Sparks erupted as she scored a cleaving slash upon Sigma's armor, leaving a long slash that ran from his equivalent of a left clavicle to floating ribs on the right side.



She twisted with the landing and smashed the Titan Hammer full into Sigma's chest, sending him skidding back with roughly a fifth of his chest plate caved in. She leaped back as he unleashed a jet of blazing napalm at her, igniting no less than four demonic Changelings. 



Ash was thrown across the battlefield by a beam of green magic, The human’s smoking body landed near the Hybrid as he rose to his feet with his teeth clenched.



“I’m going to kill that bitch” Ash said through his clenched teeth.



In his moment of anger he failed to notice a large blade form in the hands of his Susanoo skeleton hand, raising to his feet the human glared at Changeling Queen







Chrysalis lowered herself until she hovered above Sigma, With her magic she lifted the Viral Maverick before her green magic turned blood red.



“B̡u͞r͞z͘u͟m͞ th͜r̢a͠͝k̸͠ ҉khand͜a҉r͘” Chrysalis said as her eyes turned red for a split second before the red magic surrounded Sigma



“I don’t like that,” Eric said, lifting his Gatling.



Alexis noticed the damage repairing before she bared her teeth. "Funny how you claim that your Hive is your children… Yet not only did you, in all likelihood, kill your counterpart's mother here, you don't care about sacrificing your own Changelings. Makes me wonder if Bhaal didn't consume your bitch ass. He is a Deity representing Betrayal, Corruption, and Murder," she  drawled lazily. 



"I wouldn't put it past this bitch to have taken someone's form as a way to set this Chrysalis against ponies," she muttered to Ash.



“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Ash said as his Susanoo lifted its blade.



Alexis' eyes narrowed as Sigma smirked as he lifted his flamethrower before she smelled ozone as a bloody glow built in it. "I'm picking up on a 650 megavolt charge not far from you, I'd advise evading it," Axl warned. Her head tilted. "Around two tenths of an amp would be fatal to a human… which means the charge Axl is picking up from Sigma… if I were unarmored… would be fatal around to both of us around three hundred and twenty five BILLION times… and frankly, I have no desire to see what that charge would do to me armored… Alicorn hybrid or not," she muttered as she had suspicions that she wasn't quite human.



“We need to wrap this up.” Ash said to the Hybrid. “The longer this drags out the worse it’ll be for Canterlot.” 



Alexis nodded slightly, staring at the smirking Sigma. His comment mirrored her thoughts. "Can you focus that black flame over the last third of what I'm forming?" She clasped her hands as electricity flickered and gathered between her fingers and palms before she jerked them apart, a spear of golden force crackling with arcs of electricity flickered before she gripped the eighteen inch long spear and pushed off suddenly.



Ash snapped his eyes open engulfing the spear tip in his black flames, the Demon Hunter was soon tackled by the Changeling Queen. Chrysalis held the human’s hand to the ground as she raised a claw to slash Ash’s throat, Ash used his Gatling to hold the Changeling’s claw back. Alexis moved to save the human only to have him bark at the Hybrid.



“Don’t worry about me” Ash barked at Alexis. “You take out the bucket of bolts” the human ignited a bit of the Changeling Queen’s hair forcing her off of him. “I’ll handle the Bug Bitch”



Alexis jabbed at Chrysalis' back, the electrical charge within the spear likely making her jolting retreat far more unpleasant as she shifted her weight, shoving the spear deep into the upper portion of Sigma's chest. "I'd wager that whatever bodies you have on this world are 'backups' of your true body. Either way… get fucked, asshole," she muttered as she grunted, forcing the larger Reploid up off the ground before she kicked the end hard, sending it flying skyward. She took a deep breath before she felt a familiar power rush through her before she held up a hand, letting her feet slide apart as they bolstered her balance as her wings emerged, flaring out. "Sanzai suru, kemono no hone ! Sentō, kōshō, kōtetsu no sharin. Ugokeba kaze, tomareba sora. Yari utsu neiro ga kyōjō ni michiru! Hadō no Rokujūsan: Raikōhō!!" she barked as golden spiritual magic flowed into her palm before firing at the now distant spear which detonated violently in an explosion of golden energy and ebony flames.



Chrysalis let out a feral growl as she ripped out her burning hair, magic charged in her hands as green orbs formed in her hands. The Changeling Queen raised her hands as both Ash and Alexis were forced to the ground from the increase in gravity and the two orbs became one, Chrysalis grinned as she strolled to her opponents.



“I'm͞ d͞o͢ne ̕pl҉ay̴in̨g͡ ҉w̶i̡ţh́ yo̶u̶ all,͏” Chrysalis said delivering a swift kick to Ash’s face. “Es͠pe͟c͜i͏a͢l͏ly ̵yoư”



Alexis' eyes narrowed as her eyes began to glow a hot ultramarine-aquamarine color. "Playing with us?" her voice was low but held a dangerous note to it.

 

Ash followed the direction where Chrysalis was heading and found the Princesses in the same predicament as they were, Ash used all his strength to rise to his feet.



“Hey Bitch!” Ash called out, causing the Changeling Queen to turn to him in shock. “I’m not done yet”



Alexis' eyes were half-lidded as she lurched to her feet as her fingers curled inward as bluish purple flames flared abruptly before cooling into an unexpected form as her other hand drew Aèviternùs.







“S͠t̀il͟l ̕def̕i̶a̧nt̕” Chrysalis said increasing the size of the orb causing the force to become stronger. 



Ash and Alexis did everything they could to keep themselves from dropping to the ground, Ash lifted his arm and aimed it at the Changeling but the force of the Changeling’s spell was making it difficult.



Alexis' eyes narrowed as a ring of golden fire shimmered in her irises. "Raze the skies with your wrath, Droaie Ceruri," her voice was a whisper as her crimson blade ignited into holy golden white plasma resembling flames.



Ash pulled the trigger of his Heavy Shotgun which missed the changeling entirely, however the human wasn’t aiming for Chrysalis. The plasma hit the orb regulating the spell and disrupted it, there was a massive explosion as the force of the spell was dispelled. Unfortunately for Ash he had strained himself and fell to the ground as the weight was lifted, the magic dust cleared and revealed Chrysalis looking worse for the wear as part of her fanged teeth were visible from the side of her jaw.



Alexis pushed off with inhuman speed, rearing back both blades as her wings flapped, accelerating her even faster before they drew into her skin, removing an exploitable vulnerability. Aèviternùs ignited with bright crimson-amethyst flames, picking up on the demonic energy before it. She twisted into a leaping pirouette, her form seemingly melding into a maelstrom of blended golden white and crimson-amethyst flames.



A Split second before the Hybrid’s blades made contact with the Changeling there was a massive flash of light blinding Alexis, however her weapon still rendered her demonic flesh from her body. Once the light faded Ash and Alexis saw a chunk of the Changeling Queen’s hand on the ground



Alexis' eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing the removed fingers. "If she's smart, she fled… but she doesn't strike me as smart," she grumbled. She blinked as Droiae Ceruri whispered in her mind, revealing that its Shikai's plasma reacted to demonic energy like Chrysalis' much like acid.



“She’s smarter than you think, but she’s persistent and incredibly stubborn” Ash said as he struggled to get to his feet.



Twilight appeared between the two with a flash of purple light, the Princess of Friendship ran up and wrapped her arms around Ash’s neck.



“Why do you have to be so reckless?” Twilight said burning her face into Ash’s shoulder



"Better to be reckless than dead, in this case," Alexis sighed as the golden white plasma receded from Droiae Ceruri as she felt the rush of strength fade as her legs wobbled and almost gave out from beneath her as her lightly armored bodysuit receded, revealing numerous bleeding scrapes, bruises, and her left eye was heavily blackened and bloodshot. She didn't realize that her crystalline irises were glowing, revealing her slightly slitted pupils. "Not to mention we don't need another version of Evil Ash," she sighed.



“Evil Ash?” Twilight said, glancing towards Alexis than to Jacob. “What’s she talking about?”



“A Changeling tried to attack Alexis using my image as a disguise” Ash lied before glaring at the Hybrid.



Alexis was struck by a disturbing thought. "What if there's a **Necronomicon Ex Mortis** in this world? If so, we had better hope it's never found… especially by a certain annoying duo," she commented. "I'm pretty sure the Changeling that impersonated you is in the east hall not far from where I got knocked on my ass," she commented, flicking a thumb at the battered palace. What she hadn't said was that a Changeling actually had impersonated Ash's voice and had tried to lead her into an ambush… and failed. 



“Anyway… I highly doubt there’s a Necronomicon in this world because your changelings are different from mine,” Ash said, rising to his feet with Twilight’s help. “And besides, if there was, it’s probably in the human world with Sunset.”



“He’s right the Book of the Dead was banished from our world by Starswirl the Bearded” Twilight confirmed



The three of them made their way towards the castle, however Ash soon saw Sam’s thrashing legs underneath the Deathcoaster.



“Can someone get her out from under there?” Ash requested, completely exhausted from this whole ordeal.



Alexis rolled her eyes, squaring her shoulders as she took a deep breath before she heaved the side of the armored car a few inches off the ground, unknowingly tapping into her Earth Pony nature for an instant and grabbing Sam's leg before pulling her out from under the car. "You check the undercarriage while you're under there?" she drawled in a grunt.



“Fuck off, bitch,” Sam cursed before glaring at Ash. “And how much longer were you going to let me stay under there?”



“You want to go back under?” Ash asked, receiving an apologetic look on her face. 



“Please don’t,” Sam said furiously shaking her head



"I could have left you under there, darlin'. You really want to antagonize me at the moment? I'm exhausted and really not in the mood for this shit," Alexis deadpanned as Droiae Ceruri flickered with golden white flames along its crimson steel edge. "And I already took three of the Bug Bitch's fingers… no doubt she's feeling the very nasty effects by now… as Droiae Ceruri's Shikai energy has a tendency to act like acid to demonic flesh," she finished.



“The More she suffers the better” Ash said looking towards the Hybrid. “You can send us home now,” The human said, feeling utterly exhausted. “You still have my token right?”



Alexis nodded slightly. "Not sure if she'll find a way to purge it from her body or not… considering I was aiming to take her fucking head," Alexis deadpanned. 



“Knowing her, she’ll live from that” Ash deadpanned as Twilight used her magic to set his armored car on it’s tires.



“Those of you not of this world Get your asses in the Deathcoaster” Ash said as Twilight helped him into the drivers side



Sam opened the door to hop in the passenger side, unfortunately Ash pulled out the Heavy Shotgun and fired a round into her stomach knocking her back.



“Backseat it Sam” Ash said coldly as Twilight used her magic to retrieve Ash’s weapons before putting them into his trunk.



Once the regenerative glow stopped around Sam she jolted up and glared angrily. “Come on!” Sam shouted before jumping to her feet. “Ash I’m sorry, can’t we just bury the hatchet”



“Sure..” Ash said sarcastically. “So long as we bury it in your skull,” Ash said with a glare. “Back. Seat. It.”



Sam reluctantly went into the back seat as Celestia sat next to her, all the while burning a hole in the back of Ash’s head. Closing the Trunk Twilight entered the Deathcoaster and fastened her seatbelt.



"Too bad we weren't able to take down the Bug Bitch down at the same time as Sigma's shell… Though there's no telling what her blood could do to anyone or anything hit by it," Alexis said grimly. "Regardless… our contract is complete… for now. And Celestia, I strongly advise you get whatever's on your chest about Twilight off. Being overprotective to the point of stifling will cause the exact thing you want to avoid…. if you're lucky," she deadpanned as she straightened,  her gaze flicking to the version of her blood aunt in the backseat. "You don't want a repeat of Sunset Shimmer, do you?" she finished, seeing her jolt in reaction. 'Now that was fucking satisfying… and it confirms my suspicions that Sunset left for some reason, considering her journals,' the Hybrid considered.



Celestia said nothing as her eyes turned orange when she glared at Alexis, the moment Celestia went to open her mouth a loud horn cut her off.



“Oops sorry accidentally hit the horn” Ash lied, watching the princess in the rearview mirror.



The Princess went to protest the noise only for Ash to hit the horn everytime she opened her mouth.



“Sto..[HONK!]..Wil..[HONK!]..Qui..[HONK!]”



“Ya done?” Ash asked the Solar Princess. “Cause I guarantee my horn can last longer than your voice can”



Celestia closed her eyes and let out a breath through her clenched teeth. “Just take us home Demon”



Alexis takes the token in hand before tossing it ahead of the Deathcoaster as Ash turned the keys, the Car roared to life as it returned to its original shape which made the human smile. A portal opened up in front of the group, Ash put his foot on the gas and drove into the portal returning to his Equestria.



Alexis rolled her eyes as she heard the car's engine rumble to life. "Think about it. And consider how your actions can either bring what you hope, a good ending… or continue the way you're going and fuck yourself, farewell, Meinu Taiyō," Alexis deadpanned as she turned away, her wings flaring out. "Ugh… repairs are going to be a bitch… eh?" she sighed as she cocked her head, noticing a rhythmic glint in one of the damaged towers nearest the mountain. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she flew towards it, her flight shaky before her bare feet touched down on the rubble and sun warmed metal. What she did not expect was for jets of steam to blow upward for a few seconds before the octagonal segment of the floor under her feet began to drop, revealing it to be an elevator.



Her eyes narrowed warily before the elevator stopped in front of a closed door which hissed open. Within was what she recognized as a laboratory with two stasis chambers.







What really caught her attention was the two forms within the stasis chambers.