Exdeath slowly phased into existence on his throne. The aides in the room jumped in shock, and bowed quickly. Even Sunset swallowed her tongue - she knew when her master was angry. He was methodically tapping his fingers on the edge of his throne. Tap tap tap tap. Tap tap tap tap. Tap tap tap tap. Tap tap tap tap.
He said nothing as he solidified, but the entire room could feel barely checked emotion wafting off him.
An enemy meteor struck down near the edge of the castle, shaking the very foundation of the structure.
“…We are under attack.” Exdeath spoke. It wasn’t a question, but one of the less intelligent gargoyles decided to answer anyway.
“Yes we are, milord.”
“Then why, in the name of all that is and isn’t, are you not out there fighting?”
“Uh-“ The gargoyle felt his insides heat up. He began to gasp, then scream as his very flesh boiled off. Sunset and Starlight dove for cover, some of the others following their lead, others not sure what was going on.
“AAAAAAAA-“ The insulting gargoyle exploded, sending fiery chunks of flesh and bone everywhere, catching more than a few unprepared on fire.
“…The satisfaction has dwindled…” Exdeath muttered.
Starlight winced, looking down at the necklace around her neck. What had happened at that forest? Exdeath was obviously mad - had the heroes won? Had he won? Was there a winner?
It ate at her, not knowing.
Sunset stood up tall. “Milord Exdeath! We will endeavor to destroy the enemies! Just give the word and we will-“
“No. You two need to stay here. You are…” He paused, as if thinking about something he hadn’t considered before. “Important. Those Warriors of Light will come to the castle and try to get to the core. You cannot let them.”
Sunset nodded. “As you wish.” Starlight nodded in return. At least that meant they were still okay - though she was going to have to confront them now.
As they walked out, Starlight sighed. “Sunset, you ever think life is impossible?”
“All the time.” Sunset said, twirling her fiery halberd around haphazardly. “But we’ve got to deal with what we’ve been dealt. We will have the highest of positions when all this is over - the very universe will be ours!”
Starlight frowned. “Yeah I… I suppose so. I just… sometimes I wonder if that’s it, you know? Like… Like I had something but missed it.”
Sunset shrugged. “Eh, I suppose so. I’ve wondered if there was more before. But then I realize I have a super-duper-powerful boss, lots of power, lots of adventure, and an amazing best friend. What more could I ask for really?”
“Besides that legendary sword you keep ranting about all the time?”
Sunset twitched. “The Excaliburr is worth my attention. Like… Oh like that necklace you have is. I’ve noticed how you keep looking at it.”
Starlight blushed. “It’s uh.. It’s something I found on my adventures.”
“Yeah. By the way, how were those Warriors of Light? You spent time with them, I need to know how to totally show them who’s the boss.”
Starlight bit her lip, thinking of her experiences. “Twilight Sparkle is the unspoken leader, even though no Crystal ever chose her in any way. She’s extremely intelligent and in many ways a more competent mage than I am - though not as powerful. She’s caring, determined, and will do whatever she thinks is right.”
“So the smarty pants? Great. Hate those types.”
Starlight shrugged. “Next… Applejack. She’s a down-to-earth type who was chosen to represent… well Earth. Her powers are hard to pin down, more physical in nature - she looks like an ordinary earth pony but is much too strong to be one, and wields a sword like some kind of biped. She’s very honest and will tell you whatever the truth is, regardless of if you want to hear it or not.”
“Do not get hit by the heavy hitter. Got it. Next?”
“Rarity. Not a fighter at all - in fact she finds it distasteful and cares more about politics and fashion. Was an actual princes, apparently, though her haughtiness keeps her from being the leader of the others. She specializes in staying back while fights are going on and manipulating time so her friends can achieve victory.”
“Annoying healer. Always annoying.”
“Then we have Rainbow Dash, Rarity’s sister. They couldn’t be more different. Rainbow Dash is brash, headstrong, and even though her powers relate a lot to magic she tends to charge into fights headfirst. Her main skills involve launching spells at you from any element imaginable, including some sort of flesh-melting spell. She’s also exceptional at flying and speed.”
“Ah… a battlemage. Interesting.”
“And lastly… Pinkie Pie. We all know about her.” Starlight bit her lip as she spoke. “She’s… not exactly what you expect from a legendary mare. She’s happy go lucky, carefree, and seemingly random. She’s also the most powerful of all of them. She has powers that make no sense, in addition to the ability she has to learn any magic you throw at her. She also has a mastery of summons…”
Sunset smirked. “She’s the best fighter indeed. I’ve dueled her twice. I’m looking forward to a rematch.”
“Yeah… She is rather fun isn’t she?”
“Oh you bet! She will understand what it means to face the great Sunset soon!”
“Soon.” Starlight said, smiling. “Soon.”
—
The dropship was speeding back to Exdeath’s castle, soon to join in the war. But until then, Fluttershy had closed the door to the small cargo bay for some alone time. She stared at the ground - the others had tried to be comforting, but they weren’t doing any better than her. Rainbow Dash had tried to put a positive spin on things and just started screaming. Rarity just kept crying despite her forced smiles. Twilight seemed broken, hollow. Applejack was the only one who seemed to retain their sense - and even then, she was still obviously affected.
The yellow pegasus sat down in the cargo hold, glad for some peace and quiet at last.
…only there wasn’t quiet. There were voices in the back of her mind.
“What are we going to do what are we going to do what are we going to do-“
“Be calm. Logic will discover a way out.”
“I WILL MAKE HIM FEEL THE HELLFIRE!”
“Titan… Wut?”
Fluttershy sighed, reaching inside herself and touching the power of the crystal inside her. The summons - all five of them - popped into existence in front of her.
“Could you all keep it down in there? It’s hard to think.” She asked.
Shiva put her hands over her mouth. “Oh I’m sorry! We’ll-“ She glanced at Ifrit. “I’ll be quite from now on.”
Ramuh huffed. “Why should we be quiet? She wasn’t the master we had. She wasn’t the one who bested us. Who said we were under her control?”
“PINKIE!” Ifrit yelled. “AND YOU BETTER REMEMBER THAT BEARDY!”
At the mention of her mother’s name, Fluttershy drooped and started crying again. The three elemental summons continued bickering with each other.
Titan sat down next to her, shaking the ship. “You new master.”
“…Yes…” Fluttershy sniffed. “Though I don’t know if you deserve you… You were hers…”
“Her daughter. Right is yours.” Titan responded.
“Right?” Fluttershy said. “But I’m weak… I can’t be the master of you…”
“We can make you strong.”
“But why would you do that?”
“Daughter.” Was his only response.
Fluttershy sighed. She looked at the three elemental summons - still arguing viciously, obviously hurt at Pinkie’s…
“…Do you want revenge?”
“Them? Yes. Me? No. Revenge is shallow.”
Fluttershy looked up in surprise. “You… You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
“I… I thought I needed to take revenge…”
“You do not.” Titan said. “Revenge swallows one whole.”
“But… I still want to fight.”
“Right and revenge are different.” He looked deep into Fluttershy. “You can fight. You can have our strength. You do not have to dwell on vengeance. Only what is right.”
Fluttershy sighed. “…Can I?”
“Not fully. We are all but human - or pony.” Titan looked up wistfully. “We cannot be perfect. We cannot be right. But we can try.”
“That’s… That’s really profound.” Fluttershy said. “Thank you Titan.”
“You are welcome. Excuse me.” He stood up. “STOP!” He yelled at the other three.
They turned to him in fear.
“We are done.” He said. “Silence.” He ordered.
The other three nodded vigorously, and vanished into the aether. Titan leaned down to Fluttershy. “You have our strength. Always.”
Fluttershy nodded, feeling a little better.
—
“Here we are. We can see the battle now.” Applejack said.
The island of Exdeath was on fire. Meteor impacts were everywhere, part of the castle had collapsed, and only one of the towers even remained standing. It didn’t look good for Exdeath’s forces - but they kept fighting anyway, unwavering loyalty for their master driving them forward.
“We’re being given coordinates.” Twilight said, looking at the screen, eyes unfocused. “Limestone apparently.”
“Land where they say.” Rarity said. “We need to stop this madness.”
Rainbow Dash growled. “I am going to make Exdeath suffer… Slowly…”
Fluttershy put a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder - and shook her head slowly.
“What? No?”
“Bitterness leads to bitterness.”
“What do you suggest then? That I bucking forgive him?!”
Fluttershy winced. “No. But don’t let your only drive be revenge. It… doesn’t work.”
Rainbow Dash twitched. “But… I…” Then she realized who she was talking to - Pinkie’s daughter. “I… I see…”
“But we still fight.” Fluttershy said. “Always.”
“Always.” Applejack echoed.
Twilight mumbled something, a faraway look in her eyes.
The dropship landed in a camp, doors sliding open to reveal a bunch of makeshift trenches and tents in the scorched landscape. Limestone was there, ready to meet them.
She looked like she was barely holding together when they came out. Then she realized Pinkie and Marble weren’t with them.
“Where are they?” She deadpanned.
“Marble’s with Discord.” Fluttershy said. “Pinkie’s… gone.”
Limestone grinned. “Well that’s just great! You know why it’s great?!”
Rarity gasped. “What-“
“MY POWER RUNS ON ANGER POINTY MAGGOT!” Limestone yelled, drawing her swords from seemingly nowhere. “IT’S TIME FOR SOME DEATH.”
“Is there a plan?” Applejack asked.
“NOPE!” Limestone yelled. “They’re weak anyway. Gabby, you’re in charge. Warriors of Light, WE’RE MAKING THE PUSH. Try to keep up.”
Then Limestone was off, smashing through a wall of earth keeping the bullets of the enemy out. She charged right into ranks of dozens of gargoyles, slicing them in half with deadly precision. “TWO SISTERS!” She yelled. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND? TWO! TWO.” She roared, berserking even more than Applejack. “YOU WILL ALL PAY, AND YOU WILL ALL WISH YOU WERE ALLOWED SUFFER IN THE DEEPEST PITS OF TARTARUS. IT’S TOO GOOD FOR YOU.”
Rainbow Dash glanced at Fluttershy, understanding. What was before them was a mare overcome with anger - a mare who had lost control of herself and her life. It was a harrowing sight to see a mare lose all sense of her dignity and integrity, losing all restraint and honor. Stooping to a level so low that she might as well be one of the enemy.
But she was leading them to the castle… So they followed and gave support where they could. But they kept their distance - Limestone was in such a fury they expected she might cut them down by accident. Though would it be an accident?
She was just out for blood after all…
They arrived at the doors rather quickly, Limestone tearing the one that was still on its hinges off. “Several squads have been sent in here already.” She growled. “None reported back. Time to do it myself. Come.”
They crawled through the familiar corridors, the sounds of battle outside - though a lack of excitement on the inside. The occasional gargoyle or pony was easily taken care of with a loose spell fired absent-mindedly.
They charged through hall after hall, room after room, looking for Exdeath - they found nothing.
“Something’s wrong…” Twilight said. “These rooms… they all seem empty. Devoid of detail. And I swear we keep entering the same rooms again and again, but we don’t see any of those we’ve killed…”
Applejack grunted. “We’re being lied to. This castle isn’t what it seems.”
Limestone growled. “No crap.” She shook. “Pinkie would have been able to figure it out. She just knew things.”
Everyone looked down at the ground.
“I’ll try dispelling the illusion.” Twilight monotoned. “Give me a few minutes…”
—
Marble silently watched the statue of Discord. He silently watched back.
She heard the sound of flapping wings behind her. She hummed.
“Hey Marble.” Gilda said, entering into a coughing fit. Marble shot her a look. “What? I know I’m sick. I didn’t expect to come back from here.”
Marble’s eyes widened. She shook her head.
“You know you have to do it.” Gilda said. “Pinkie was the only one who could navigate that mess otherwise. And you sensed her passing just as I did.”
Marble looked down at the ground. She sighed. Then she turned to Gilda and nodded.
“Good. I’m dying anyway… Don’t feel guilty.”
Marble spoke. “It’s not guilt. It’s never is. It’s pity.”
“Oh?”
“The pain.” Was all she said in response. Then she looked deep into Gilda’s eyes, asking if the griffon was sure. Gilda nodded.
Maud placed her hoof on the ground, and a magical circle surrounded Gilda, shifting from the normal purple color to a deep, menacing red. The glyphs appeared, latching onto Gilda’s skin - making her scream.
Marble winced - the blood sacrifice hadn’t even really begun. There was a reason she never did this…
Gilda yelled as her talons began to turn into dark red charcoal dust, her wings fraying at the edges. Her eyes began to melt, and her blood started to pool in an unnatural shape. She gagged, letting out her last words.
“Dawn is over! Now comes the light! The Darkness has no sway! AAAAAAa-“ Then her vocal cords faded, the griffon now unable to make noises. But she suffered for a full five minutes before she was reduced to cinders.
The spirit of the sacrifice rose from the ground, a formless red ethereal blob. Then it shot towards Exdeath’s castle, ready to make things right.
The Shrine was once again the way it was. Marble stared once more into Discord’s eyes. She sighed.
Discord seemed to stare at her judgingly.
—
Twilight felt a force of magic blow past her, infecting the very castle itself. “That’s not me!” She shouted, as the illusion began to fall. The simple brick walls became fleshy, red, wet - seemingly made of faces. The ground became red, covered in carpet woven from pony hair. The ceiling dripped blood and other bodily fluids, the air of the place feeling warm and damp.
Limestone was disgusted. Then she realize what had happened. “Oh no.”
“What?” Applejack asked.
“Gilda. She… She must have sacrificed herself…” Limestone sat on the ground, unable to move. “She… She was the only one left with enough connection to Exdeath… Why… Why… Why…”
A voice screamed from the castle itself - Limestone paid it no mind. She had broken, no longer able to understand the world around her. Instead, the white light that began to take shape before them was left to the Warriors of Light. It was two legged, two armed, and humanoid. It was also green, but encased in a white aura that kept it’s true form from being seen.
“I am Carbuncle.” He said, the voice hard to pin down. “The illusion of this castle.”
“Oh.” Twilight said. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in telling us where Exdeath is?”
“I…” Carbuncle twitched. “GAH! He… He has me bound. I cannot move… I am bound by Eidolon rules…”
“So.. We have to fight you before you can help us?”
“Sadly, yes. My sealing is more advanced than most.” He sighed. “Hero of Magic… Bound to a Castle of Darkness…”
Fluttershy spoke up. “We… We don’t want to hurt you!”
“You must! For you need to be taken to Exdeath!”
Fluttershy summoned Shiva. Shiva smirked. “Carbuncle… Come on, it’s us!”
“You were freed as well? Good. You should be able to take care of me quickly. Make it swift and bind me to the summoner. It will be a relief to be free of this hell.”
“But… It’ll hurt…” Fluttershy objected.
“Pegasus, your meekness fills my heart with joy. Rest assured that when the illusion was dispelled by pain was decreased a hundredfold. Defeating me will do nothing worse than I have already experienced.”
“O…okay…” Fluttershy said. “Titan? Ramuh? Could you please be gentle…?”
“Sure, my lady.” Ramuh said. Ifrit said nothing and just started burning Carbuncle. The shifty humanoid took the damage head on, the rules forcing him to respond, punching Ramuh out of existence - but this allowed Shiva to freeze him solid. He retaliated with a burst of random magics, white powerful bursts that pushed the summons away.
Rarity grunted, trying to stop Carbuncle’s time - and failing. “What?”
Rainbow Dash grunted. “Here, I’ll just drain the magic from him.” Her wings lit up a purple color and Carbuncle’s power began to flow into her. “Yeah!”
Carbuncle gasped. “Good… Good! Now finish it!”
Titan appeared, driving Carbuncle into the ground. He exploded, and his essence flowed to Fluttershy. She was crying.
“Do not let tears fall, fair maiden. I am eternally grateful for what has been done here. I bind myself to you.”
“O.. Okay…”
“Down the hall, first door on the left. Take the third right and you’ll be in the hall leading to Exdeath’s private chambers. Hurry, time is of the essence.”
The Warriors of Light nodded - then turned to the broken Limestone. Twilight sighed. “She’s… She’s too far gone. She’s snapped.”
“We can’t just leave her.” Rarity objected.
“No… We can’t.” Twilight said. She lifted Limestone into the air, touching her mind. “Limestone Pie, you must return to your army.”
“I must return to my army…” She said, weakly. Twilight set the earth pony down and she walked away.
“Ah’m not sure how Ah feel about that…” Applejack said.
“She wasn’t capable of thinking.” Twilight said. “But yes, that is… Wrong.”
The five mares looked down the hall. “Well.” Rarity said. “I guess this is it. A bit of a final confrontation if you will. Going up against the source of all our problems.”
They trotted down the hall. Rainbow Dash sighed. “He… He’s evil. We need to kill him.”
Fluttershy reluctantly nodded. “Yeah… But the Warriors of Dawn couldn’t kill him, only seal him away in the Otherworld…”
“We aren’t doing that again.” Rarity said. “This menace must end.”
“You’re all right.” Twilight said. “We cannot let this stand. So much death has come from this man. He must not be allowed to stand any longer. He must be struck down.”
“Careful…” Fluttershy said.
“I… I know.” Twilight sighed. “It’s.. It’s hard.”
Fluttershy put a hoof on her. “I know.”
They walked through a pair of large double doors, leading into a grand hall. The fleshy walls pulsed as they entered, the banners shaking in disgusting ways. The torches lit up with unpleasant blue and orange fire, directing the group’s eyes to the large doors at the end of the hall.
In front of the doors were two familiar unicorns. Starlight kept her face expressionless, but Sunset allowed herself to cackle. “Welcome Warriors to the most amazing hall on this world! Where the greatest of showdowns will occur - the Champions of Exdeath versus the Warriors of Light! Betting pools are open twenty-four seven, though not even one is going to be needed before the verdict is certain.”
“You.” Rainbow Dash said, pointing at Starlight. “YOU!”
Starlight made no response.
“SAY SOMETHING YOU TRAITOR!”
Starlight twitched, her face contorting in rage. “You… You… You…” She choked. “Never mind. Not going to give you a response.” Her face darkened. “You will not be making it to Exdeath.”
“That’s right!” Sunset shouted. “HIT THE MUSIC! LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!"
The hall changed- the fleshy walls became more colorful, a strange disco ball dropped from the ceiling, and an "audience" of strange blobby creatures filled the sidelines. They cheered.
"What in-" Applejack began, but Sunset's announcer voice stopped her.
"Prepare for the showdown of the ages! The fate of the world hangs in the balance! Welcome one and all to... THE GREATEST BATTLE IN THE HISTORY OF EVER!"