-Kirito’s POV-
As we reached a nearby building we both quickly dropped onto the ground as I once again switched forms and lay prone on the ground, my sniper aimed towards the castle throne room.
“So what do you see?” Asuna asked curiously.
“At the moment just one big bug surrounded by a tonne of smaller bugs… but..”
“But what?”
“It looks like there are other ponies in there… I don’t know who, though?”
“We need to be sure this isn’t a trap Kirito… do we have anything on who she has?”
“Not…. she can’t be serious… dammit.”
“What’s happened?”
“This isn’t a trap… it’s much… much worse.”
“What is she doing!”
“She’s got Scootaloo… and.”
“What is she doing Kirito.”
“No… this is not good, not good at all.”
“Kirito!” Asuna shouted in worry at what was happening.
“She’s cut off her wings… the idiots hurt Scootaloo… and… Craig’s just seen her.”
“What is she doing trying to get him to kill everyone… she’s going to get him to lose it!” Asuna said in shock.
“She must want him to get mad… and… he’s just punched her away from Scootaloo.”
“Well, he’s not killing anyone right now… that's good?”
“And everyone in the room has just collapsed and… what the hell… since when was he a Saiyan!”
“A what now?”
“A Saiyan… an alien race from Dragonball Z… but why is his hair red?”
“That could be a good thing it could be helping him control his powers,” Asuna suggested.
“Wait… why is there someone else behind him?”
“What do you mean… pass it here.” Asuna asked as he looked down the scope before he saw a boy that for some reason looked familiar to her swinging a Scythe towards Craig which he just caught in one hand before shattering it before he grabbed his sword and swung it at the figure as stone began to creep up his body before Craig swung a sword towards the boy killing him before a bright purple light moved from the body into some sort of gem at his side.
“Whats going on in there.”
“Someone else is fighting Craig… but it’s not ended well for the guy that attacked him.”
“By that you mean?”
“He killed him… that guy must have really done a lot to him to make him do that.”
“Oh… should we stop him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Rainbow Dash just flew out with Scootaloo… I think we should go with them,” Asuna said as she passed Kirito the rifle back before he switched forms before they flew off after Rainbow Dash.
As they approached the Hospital they saw that Rainbow Dash had stopped just nearby as we reached her.
“Why have you stopped?” I asked as we reached her.
“What… when did you get back… did Craig ask you to come to the future again?”
“No… we’re free from stone now… what do you think the light that Craig had from his sword was?” Asuna asked.
“...That could only be the elements or a new power.” Rainbow Dash admitted.
“Exactly… he borrowed their power to free us so we could help everyone.” Kirito asked “Anyway… why are you not in the hospital?”
“Take a look,” Rainbow Dash replied gesturing towards the hospital as we saw that it was swarmed with what looked to be anthropomorphic Changelings some of which that seemed to be holding some of the doctor's prisoner.
“That’s just great,” Kirito muttered in annoyance.
“Well… we need to get Scootaloo into the hospital,” Asuna admitted.
“Well… we can’t get near with those things there.”
“Well then… we’ll just have to make them move,” Kirito said calmly as he drew his two swords.
“What… how will you take on an army with just the two of you?!” Rainbow Dash asked in surprise.
“Do you know who helped fight Nightmare Moon one thousand years ago?” Asuna asked.
“Yeah… you two helped her.”
“Well, maybe you should know… Celestia just stoned him… Kirito and Sombra were the ones who fought her all that time ago.”
“Wait… you actually battled Nightmare Moon as in a real fight to death thing?”
“Well yeah… we didn’t exactly have much of a choice,”
“You need to tell me what happened.”
“Later, let us liberate the hospital first.” Kirito said with a smirk as he looked at Asuna before he said “same as before?”
“Agreed,” She replied with a smirk.
“What are you going to do?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“You’ll see,” Asuna said before bright yellow letters appeared around her as she said “Ek skýt fjórir ískaldur ör” as four arrows made from Ice flew in front of her.
“What’s that going to do?” Asked Rainbow Dash before she noticed one thing “Hey… where Kirito.”
“Look ahead of you,” Asuna replied.
Rainbow Dash then looked ahead of herself as she saw Kirito riding the first arrow towards the hospital “He really is crazy.”
“Not by a long shot… just watch how this plays out.”
“If you're sure?” Rainbow Dash replied curiously watching as Kirito rode the arrow towards the Hospital.
“Sombra… you ready for this?”
“Honest answer… no… but I guess we’re doing this anyway.”
“Definitely… we need to save Scootaloo and to do that we need to free the doctors… ready.”
“Ready,” Sombra replied as shadows engulfed them both as the Ice arrows impacted on the ground distracting the Changelings as they used the shadows to get towards the captured ponies before Sombra whispered “Shall I?”
“Yep… cut them down.”
“Thought you’d never ask,” Sombra replied as the shadows on the side of the building merged and somehow dragged a group of Changeling as it hardened before dragging a group of unconscious bodies away around the corner of the hospital, only for the group they’d distracted to return seconds later.
“Where did the others go?” One of the Changelings asked.
“How should we know we were with you,” another replied.
“Then who was with them?” A third asked.
“Maybe the one who took them out,” Sombra said his voice causing the Changelings to go stiff.
“Oh Chrysalis help,” One of the changelings said in fear.
“Oh, you wondering where you god is,” I mocked.
“Who are you!” One of the Changeling shouted as he shook in fear, “Show yourself!”
“If your want your god to show himself,” I said as I appeared from the shadows before he said, “I’m right here” before a Changeling backed into him as the shadows rose around it’s head as it began screaming as the shadows hardened around its body, as it continued screaming in fear under the shadows as they somehow cut off the Changelings air supply before it suddenly went quiet and limp as the other Changeling looked towards it the Changeling as it was dropped to the ground.
“Who are you!” One Changeling shouted it’s eyes closed tightly not wanting to look at the body in front of it.
Seconds later the rest of the group started screaming as he opened his eyes and turned to them before he stopped and dropped his weapon as he saw that everyone's heads were surrounded by shadows, and in one case it looked to suffocating one of them who looked to have its hands near its throat.
“Please, whoever you are… stop don’t kill them I'll do anything,” The changing begged.
“Anything you say.”
“Yes… please just spare them.”
“We’re not used to someone just giving up,” I said as Sombra created a few air hole in the shadows holding the Changelings as we heard them breathing hard, ”First… surrender.”
“Yes, sir… anything,” the Changeling said as it lowered its head to them.
“How about to abandon your queen and follow us?”
“Yes… sir…. Anything just please release the others and I’ll swear loyalty to you.”
“Sombra… if you would.”
“Okay if you're sure,” Sombra replied as the shadows disappeared and the Changeling dropped to the floor the majority curling up into balls whilst two others walked up to the Changeling that had surrendered.
“Tohya… why… you know what she’ll do if she finds out you surrendered.”
“Let her… Shiroe’s plan should be playing out as we speak.”
“You both put too much faith in him and Akatsuki you know that.”
“In who?”
“Oh I’m sorry I think I better explain, Shiroe is the hives tactician, our queen has almost got all the hive killed through a war with some dragons from the south… we were saved by a strange boy who had agreed if we killed a boy named Craig and his son Nick he would drive the dragons away and save the hive. Shiroe though doesn’t believe, but our queen is so desperate she sent anyone who could fight here to kill them, Shiroe’s plan is to dethrone her and have some else take the throne.” Tohya explained
“So… he’s basically is using us to assert the throne?” I asked.
“No… he has no intentions or leading us… sure he can plan ahead… but he’s not strong enough to lead the hive… we have a tradition where if a queen loses in a duel she forfeits her throne to the victor.”
“So you're after a new leader for your hive… is that it?” Sombra asked as he appeared sitting on Kirito’s shoulder.
“Well in a way… anyway, what do you want me to do now… I do have that promise to keep for you sparing everyone.”
“I want you to free everyone… we need the help of the Doctors… my granddaughters dying after you queen tried to kill her… she’s enraged one of those people she was told to kill by doing that… the foals his father.”
“She really is an idiot,” Tohya groaned. “Minori… Thorax release the doctors then start helping anyone who’s injured… we need to fix whatever relations we have here… I have a feeling it’s gonna be a long job.”
“Well… you do have the help of three captains of the royal guard,” Asuna said as he landed next to Kirito.
“Oh… I'm so sorry miss…”
“Asuna… could you get the doctor free so I can save my Granddaughter.”
“Of course miss Asuna… Minori, keep the foal alive till the operating theatre ready for her, Thorax start freeing the doctors.”
“Yes sir,” they both replied as they ran off to do as they were asked.
“So then Tohya… what's your plan now.”
“Well… I guess go into…” he was then cut off as an explosion was heard in the distance before smoke seemed to be rising from near where the castle was.
“What the hell just happened!” Kirito shouted.
“That wasn’t in Shiroe’s plan!”
“Plan’s don’t always work… you can never predict every variable in a fight before it happens, something that he wasn’t aware of simply happened that wasn’t accounted for,” Kirito suggested.
“I guess you're right… if you don’t mind I need to see who survived your attack.” Tohya said as he rushed over to the other Changelings before Asuna ran Scootaloo into the Hospital with Minori.
“Oh and one more question… where is your hive located?”
“In the badlands, close to the border with the southern dragon kingdom, look for the ruined castle it’s hidden inside,” Tohya explained.
“Thanks… we’ll see if we can get anyone out of there and help them.” Kirito said before he flew off.
-Nick’s POV-
“Ha……..” I start to laugh.
“Careful there Nick… you shouldn’t move too fast,” Asuna said as the smiled.
“I know what I’m doing to the kid's body. Ok?” The voice changes. “You people worry too much! Just like…….. Nevermind but still! I can take care of the kid on my own!”
“Okay… whoever in their, at least let me know who you are… Craig left me to keep an eye on you whilst he deals with… Scootaloo’s state.” Asuna admitted.
“A Reaper. The Dark reaper to be exact.”
“I don’t need to worry about you trying to kill me do I?”
“.......I am only here to protect the kid. Ok?”
“Okay… do you have your own name or is it just The Dark Reaper?”
“Jayden.”
“Well, Jaydan… how is Nick doing after what happened.”
“His soul is almost gone… His body… Well…. Almost beyond repair.”
“Craig’s not gonna like that… is there anything we can do to save him?”
“I only bring death not life!”
“But you also have control of the soul after death… in theory, you could put it back in his body.”
“No…. I can’t I only move soul’s.”
“Ugh… so there’s nothing we can do for him… no matter how many potions we give him.”
“... Only…. I can’t believe I am saying this. But pray.”
“Craig’s gonna be on his knees constantly then… being both Nick and Scootaloo are near death right now.”
“I am letting Nick have control now…” Nick changes again.
“Nick how you feeling,” Asuna asked.
“F-fin- Ow…” Nick says. His body appears smaller than normal.
“Don’t try to fake it Nick… you need to rest… at least you're up and moving right now.”
“O-ok… Who are you?”
“I suppose it may have been a while since we last met Nick, it’s me Asuna… your Aunt.”
“...Oh yeah, I remember because I was watching you for years in a Dark, cold, place…”
“Should I be worried about that?”
“Well, It wasn’t my choice to I was stuck… With time…”
“As in Time spinner, that who you mean?”
“Yes… I think…” Nick said looking weaker by the second.
“Nick you need to get some rest,” Asuna said as she carefully placed a red phial of liquid to his mouth before she said, “Here this should help.”
“Thank…Thank… You…" Nick said Drifting back to sleep.
“It’s not a problem,” Asuna said as she kissed him on the forehead, “just get better soon.”
-Kirito’s POV-
As I made my way towards where Tohya had said the hive was I saw a flash below me before I saw Craig standing in front of two people who both had weapons drawn before I flew towards them.
-meanwhile-
“Son of a ” Craig said before quickly waking back up as he turned behind himself as he said “Bitch… if you want to start a war we should take this outside.”
“I want to finish him that’s all,” Dan said with an evil smile.
“How about no… you want to try and kill Nick or Scootaloo, you will end up like Dilin.”
“What do you mean he’s roaming about right now. In fact, that’s him above Nick’s body.”
“I doubt it… unless there's another one being his souls sealed in a soul gem.” Craig said as he quickly drew his sword thrusting it into the air through a portal that opened above nick in another room above Nick. Blood came with.
“Damn you pack a punch, don’t you? hehehe”
“What do you think?” Craig said with a sigh before they were all teleported into the badlands. “Now… just try and kill me… I no longer care.”
“With…….. You know what the odd’s should be even this time.”
Seconds later a voice behind them said “Like two against one’s fair… maybe we should even this up.”
“You know I was just saying………… Oh, shit……” Both of them disappear.
“Nope,” Craig said as a portal opened before Dilan was pulled back to them “You ain’t going anywhere.”
“Shit!”
“Now… you will just give in and surrender… unless you want to come in quietly for your attack on Canterlot.” Kirito said as he drew his sword.
“Self Destruction!”
Craig simply clicked his fingers before he said “What part of you not escaping do you not get?”
“Dammit….. At this rate, I’ll never meet his level. DAMMIT!!!!” He starts to bash his head on the ground which started to glow.
“Who are you trying to reach… maybe I can help with that.” Kirito said as his shadows began to bind Dilan’s body together leaving him immobile as lifted him from the ground.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!” Dilan starts screaming.
“Dilan… this is your one chance to get out of this peacefully… I am offering you a lifeline here, you’d be wise to take it,” Craig offered calmly as he rubbed the boy's head.
“I never meant for you two to go so far……” A hooded figure in the background said.
“Who are you,” Kirito asked as he placed Dilan’s body on Craig’s shoulders.
“Alas I am the one they all are looking for…. I am their father.”
“...You’ve got to be kidding me,” groaned Craig. “If you really are their father why let them try and kill Nick so often?”
“Because….. I am stuck in a contract……. One that will never be broken……. The one to be a God.”
“I need to ask… do you know a way to save Nick’s life,” Craig asked hopefully.
“Nick…. Can’t really die you know that right?”
“I do… but I hate seeing him the way he is right now… I want to help him but… well, to be fair I want to help them all… including Dilan.”
“Some sleep should do the trick for Nick…… Craig…?”
“Is something wrong… mr… umm?”
“Leavitt….. It’s Leavitt. And no…. Just be a better father than I…….. Don’t abandon him…….”
“I have no intention of doing that… but… how can I help Dilan and Dan… I want them to all get along as a family again.”
“Sadly that is their choice…. They made the choice to kill their family.”
“Then how can we stop them permanently,” Kirito asked.
“Have you ever thought of sending them to hell?”
“Do we look like we can even do that?” Kirito argued.
“You have a very capable young man to do that. And he’s sleeping over there.”
Craig then smiled before he said, “...is there anything you want me to tell him for you?”
“No. I…. was never here.” He said as he disappeared.
“So… we need Nick to send Dilan to hell… Craig… this is unfair… he’s just a child… we have to be able to give him his childhood back.”
“Kirito… we have tried before he just came back and tried again.”
“But….”
“Tis…. Fine. I will be alright!” Nick said as started chanting a spell.
“Nick please there has to be another way!” Kirito shouted.
“There isn’t… we tried everything else… this is all we have left,” Craig admitted sadly as he looked at Dilan’s unconscious body on his back.
“I know that there’s no hope Hiding in this cruel world, Yet you don’t stop trying. How do you keep on smiling?” Dilan said as Nick just smiled at him. “This is the price that I have to pay, If I want to keep you around me I’ll force you to reset everything. Bring it all back down to zero!”
“Good….. Bye…….” Nick said.
“Nick…. Wait… maybe if Craig went inside his dreams we could help him… maybe get him to go back to being your brother again,” Kirito pleaded.
“.............”
“Can’t you just consider it… even try it… he just a child… he just needs help!”
“CAN’T YOU SEE I ALREADY HAVE TRIED!!!!!!!” Nick started crying.
“Nick… I… I just want to help him… I know you’ve both tried all you can… but why give up on him… this could work if you both go their together.”
“Kirito just give up… we have tried everything!”
“THIS ENDS NOW!!!” Dilan said as he finished the spell Dragging Nick with him. And with that, they were gone.
“No!” Craig shouted before his eyes sharpened.
“Craig… I’m.”
“Kirito… just go home… I'm bringing him back.”
“What can you even do you can’t get to hell!”
“Watch me,” Craig argued as he suddenly disappeared, before Kirito did as Craig asked, abandoning the original reason he original came to the Badlands as he realised something was off with Craig.