//------------------------------// // Chapter 42 // Story: The Bill-inning // by EmperorDalek //------------------------------// Rise of the Avengers! *A couple weeks earlier* "Look out, again!" *ZAP!* *KA-BOOM!* A pony cries as she points her hoof towards a large silhouette in front of them...before said silhouette shoots several beams from its eyes towards them! One of the tallest buildings around is hit and explodes. As it falls, it crushes and destroys more buildings underneath it as it crumbles! Ponies screams in terror and panic as they flee. Horrified at being forced to have their city destroyed again. This time by some unknown humanoid figure with multiple horns (four big ones and two smaller ones) and great flaming eyebrows! Once more Canterlot burns as the tall humanoid demon moves throughout the city. Continually firing its eye-beams. Destroying structures/buildings and/or ponies! "BWA HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Aku laughs as he rampages throughout Canterlot. Destroying the city piece by piece. His shadow and the flames consumes the city. Burning anyone and anything within the city walls. Unlike the first time, there are hardly as many survivors as of the previous assault. No more than fifty ponies survives...out of a thousand! ********* Soon, Aku grins madly as he stands amidst the ruined remains of Canterlot, before he makes his way through the burned and collapsed city towards its center. He narrows his brows and smirks. Then he extends, and holds his hand outstretched towards the city' center. The ground starts shaking, but his smirk just intensifies. He balls his fist and the ground intensifies its shaking...until a wall of black slime explodes up out of the ground! Aku is engulfed by the black slime as it grows into a tall monolith of black ooze. Slimy and dripping branches grows out at the top but soon solidifies. Becoming sharp and pointed. The black slime tree solidifies until its identical to Aku's previous castle when he ruled over the earth. Soon, the ground shakes again at spikes springs up around the castle. Inside the castle, the center opens as the wall becomes motionless red flames. Aku emerges inside the castle standing on the edge overlooking the Pit of Hate. Aku soon opens his eyes and smiles at seeing his castle's restoration. He looks up and watches the ceiling pull back to reveal the dark clouds in the skies above the castle. ********* *A couple weeks later* Time is dead. Meaning has no meaning. Existence is upside down, and Bill reigns supreme. The Weirdmageddon...is truly here! Several days have passed since Bill Cipher instigated the event known only as; Weirdmageddon. An event of interdimensional proportions, as its allowed various entities and villains onto Equestria. Enveloping the entire world in chaos that surpasses even that of Discord, himself. ''Twilight'' Velvet Sparkle, Night Light, and the rest of their friends travelled across Equestria in search of anyone to help them fight back Bill Cipher and his minions. At present, they're trotting along a path when they suddenly freeze in their tracks. "Quick, hide!" Velvet instructs, before she and her friends hides in the bushes. Peeking their heads out, they look towards a small (but still sizable) crowd of silver humanoids. One of them is tallest, and is looking down towards something. Within the crowd, Ultron looks down towards the human before him. His Sentinels restraining, and holding up, the beaten and battered humanoid, whose white robes are torn and shredded. Ultron stares down towards the samurai, as one of his Sentries hands him a kitana. He holds up the sword, to which the sword's blade gleams in the sunlight (or what little sun there is, considering the terrible darkness. The samurai raises his head and looks up at Ultron as he examines the sword. "Impressive, samurai," Ultron remarks as his attention shifts from the sword to his captive. Staring blankly at the samurai. "However, you still haven't answered how you ended up here," Ultron says. Annoyed, the samurai shakes his head. "I've already told you. I don't know," the samurai responds. "I've already told you; I was just walking through a forest when this ring of fire appears around me. The next second, it transports me here," the samurai explains annoyed. "Hmmm," Ultron grumbles as he touches his chin. "You may have not been my intended target, but you are still a threat to this world. You will be brought in for questioning," Ultron says as he holds the sword down beside him. The samurai's glare just intensifies. Looking back up at this...this ''man of steel'' as the Sentries forces him to stand up. Ultron ignites his thrusters, and gently lifts off the ground. The Sentries do the same, and hover in the air around Ultron. The Sentries fly up, but as they do, a magical blast shoots towards and hits Ultron's hand. He exclaims, and drops the sword. The samurai's eyes shoot wide-open at seeing his chance. Ultron's head snaps down at losing the sword, but the samurai pulls his arm free of the Sentries' grasp and grabs the sword! "No!" Ultron exclaims as he thrusts his arm out and shoots red energy/concussion beams down towards the samurai... However the samurai grabs the sword as it falls, and immediatly uses it to catch and re-direct the beam towards one of the Ultron Sentries (that was restraining him) Destroying it. He then decapitates the other Sentry with a single slash, before it can attack him. Causing its head-less body to clatter on the ground. Ultron ignites his boosters, and quickly flies up towards the other Sentries. All while firing energy beams down towards the samurai. The samurai, though, just jumps up after Ultron and deflects the beams with his sword. Hitting several Sentries, which falls dead. Ultron groans, and flees higher up while his Sentries speed down. All of them converging on the samurai. The Sentries opens fire, but the samurai just leaps back. Dodgeing the blasts, as the ground explodes. Ultron flies higher into the sky, above the Sentries, and repeatedly fires down towards the samurai. The samurai, though, deflects the blasts and leaps up after Ultron. Ultron intensifies his barrage, and forces the samurai back down to the ground. The Sentries close in around the samurai, and raise their arms. Aiming their arm-canons towards the samurai to fire. The samurai notices them, but is unable to move...lest he get hit by one of Ultron's blasts. "Like a miss-spelled word in any document, you, samurai, will be deleted!" Ultron says as he flies down closer towards the samurai. Awaiting the samurai's destruction by his Sentries... *ZAP* *BOOM!* "ARGH!" Ultron exclaims as something explodes against his back. He groans, and turns around to see where the attack came from. Spotting a unicorn filly standing by a bush, and frowning at him. "You!" Ultron exclaims annoyed. The filly just narrows her brows, as she continues glaring. Ultron thrusts his arm out and fires a beam at her. Velvet, though, fires a blast back, which explodes upon impact with Ultron's attack. Ultron grabs and levitates the ground beneath her hooves, but she just teleports back onto the ground. Ultron growls and throws the chunk of earth at her, but she raises a protective barrier around herself. The chunk shatters against the shield, but the filly is unharmed. Velvet and Ultron lock eyes. Silently glaring back up/down at each other, until that silence is abruptly ended when they cry out to each other. Both firing their beams at each other, which violently explodes into a bright flash of light. As the light dies down Ultron and Velvet groan, as their beams clash against the other. His red beam pushes down against her blue beam. Their beams loudly crackling and shoots out sparks at the power both are exerting. Attempting to dominate the other. From a nearby bush, Velvet's friends watches in shock of the power within Velvet. Even the samurai, as he fights off the Sentries, cannot help but spare a glance towards the clash between Ultron and the horny horse... Wait, that can't be right, he thinks to himself before deflecting an incoming blast with his sword. The blast is redirected back towards the Sentry that fired it, and hits it right in the chest. Destroying it. Velvet gritts her teeth as Ultron's beam steadily pushes her's back. Straining herself as she gives it everything she has...yet her rage is fading, and Ultron's beam has begun overwhelming her's. "Oh no, this isn't good! He's overpowering her!" Night Light says while he and the rest of their friends watches Ultron gain the upper hand on Velvet. The samurai hears Night Light and shifts his attention towards Velvet. Watching as Ultron intensifies his beams, and is indeed starting to overpower the little horse-creature. He turns back towards the horde of Sentries surrounding him, and then back towards the little horse. No! he exclaims in his head. His head snaps up towards Ultron, and he narrows his brows. She helped me. I cannot abandon her! All of the Sentries lock their weapons on him and fire at the same time, but he suddenly leaps up into the air. The Sentries' beams shoots through the air...and hits themselves in their own crossfire! Ultron smirks, as his beam finally beats the unicorn filly back. "Your defiance is impressive, my little pony, but its going to take more than sheer willpower alone to defeat me," Ultron says to Velvet as a silhouette leaps up from behind him. "Yes... Me!" Ultron hears a familiar voice behind him, which startles the cyborg. He quickly turns his head to look behind him, but his eyes widens at seeing the samurai raise his sword above his head...! Ultron turns back and looks down towards Velvet. "You know, with the benefit of hindsight-AUGH!" *SLASH!* Before his sentence can be finished, Ultron's head is suddenly cut in half by the samurai's sword! The blade slashes down along the center of Ultron's body, until coming out the bottom. Ultron freezes in mid-air. His jaw hanging open in shock. Feedback is sent back down towards Velvet, and explodes. Knocking her backwards. The samurai plants his feet on the ground, and immediatly spins on his heel to face anyone that's left. He's greeted by countless destroyed Sentries laying motionless on the ground, and finally the two halves of Ultron's body slams into the ground. Clattering upon impact. Ultron's systems shut down, and sparks explode out of the two halves of his body. The samurai's brows jump as he sees that Ultron and the Sentries have been defeated. He stands up and sheathes his sword back in its scabbard. He soon turns around and looks towards the little horse-creature that helped him. Gasping as he sees her lying on the ground, and quickly runs over towards her... While running he hears someone else approach, and his head snaps towards the source. Only to see a group of identical creatures running up towards her, as well. Night Light and the others surround Velvet, while also turning their attention towards the samurai. Assuming defensive stances, should he try anything. "Not another step, whoever or whatever you are!" Night Light says, sternly. The samurai's eyes widens, and he abruptly stops in his tracks. Holding out his arms defensively to calm the little equines. "Whoa, I mean you no harm." Night Light raises his brow, skeptically. "Yeah, well, these aren't exactly normal times...and besides, you're not exactly a pony," Night Light replies. The samurai's brows jumps at hearing this. "Wait, you're...ponies?" he asks, confused. "Mhm! Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies," Night Light explained. Pointing his hoof at himself and Velvet, then Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, and finally Igneous Pie and Cloudy Quartz. The samurai raises a befuddled brow. Looking towards the three couples in the same order that Night Light mentioned them. Examining them. "Hmm," he grumbled, putting a finger to his chin in thought. Focusing on Bow and Windy in particular. "Those two, I have seen poni-er-horses like them during my travels," he says, as he points towards Bow and Windy. Confused, Night Light raises his brow. "And?" Night asks. Not seeing the relevance. The samurai hangs his hand beside him, and looks back down at Night. "I saw them once in a land known as Greece, where I fought robots like this ''Ultron''," the samurai explains, before hanging his head, "...back when Aku ruled the earth." Velvet's eyes shoot open at the mention of Aku, and she immediatly sits up. "Wait, you know who, or what, Aku is?!" she asks. The samurai flinches at Velvet's sudden recovery from such an intense blast. Even Night Light and the others are caught unawares. Seemingly not knowing about it, themselves. "Y-yes. I've fought and defeated him in the past...but it appears that he's somehow returned from death if you know of him," the samurai says. "This ''Aku'' must be who Bill Cipher was talking about before he and his minions went off to his castle," Velvet says, putting a hoof to her chin in thought. The samurai narrows his brows, confused. "I don't know this ''Bill Cipher'' is, but it sounds to me like he's allied himself with Aku, which makes a bad situation worse." Velvet, Night and their friends looks towards the samurai confused, and greatly worried. "W-why do you say that?" Velvet stuttered, nervously. "Because Aku's powers were unmatched by only the gods, themselves," the samurai replies. "Aku possesses the ability to shapeshift, superhuman powers. He...even holds power over time, itself," the samurai says, as he hangs his head. Velvet, Night, and their friends' eyes widens, and they gasp in shock. Night turns to face Velvet with a look of pure terror, but she just closes her mouth. Nervously swallowing her fear. "I know, Night Light. I know." She draws the attention of the samurai in saying that, and he looks at her, curiously. "What?" he asks. A faint, but growing concern within him. Velvet turns her head, and looks towards the samurai with a blank frown. "Bill Cipher...has abilities like that. Perhaps on a scale even rivaling Aku." The samurai's mouth hangs open, and he closes his eyes. Hanging his head. He balls his fist, and inhales a deep breath (that he soon exhales) "Then...I am afraid that my sword, alone, will not be enough to defeat Aku this time if he is allied himself with this Bill Cipher," the samurai soon says, as he looks back up from the ground. Velvet and Night narrows their brows confused, and looks back at him. "What do you mean ''your sword''? I thought you said that only the gods of your world could defeat Aku?" Velvet asks. "That is true. I did say, but I also said that I managed to defeat Aku." The samurai nods, before he grabs and pulls the sword out. Slashing the blade through the air, which causes it to shine in the faintest rays of sunshine. "This sword belonged to my father, and it was forged in purity and strength. A weapon to combat Aku, and the forces of darkness that seek to surpress and rule the innocent," he proudly proclaims. Velvet, Night and the rest of their friends' eyes are drawn to the blade. Their eyes widening at the sight of it. "And you defeated Aku with this?" Velvet asks, pointing her hoof towards the sword. "Yes, I did." The samurai nods. "Hmmm," Velvet grumbles, as she puts a hoof to her chin in thought. Smiling, as she looks back up towards the samurai. "Then, we might just have a fighting chance of defeating both Bill Cipher and Aku." Velvet's friends look at her, confused. "How so?" Night asks, to which Velvet smiles as she turns towards him. "Don't you see? If this guy's here, then there must be others that have ended up here as a result of Bill's interference!" Velvet replies, excited. "Hmm," the samurai grumbles, as he puts a hand to his chin in thought. "Are you suggesting-" He says, before she interrupts him. "Yes... We raise an army, then storm Bill's castle!" Velvet hits the top side of her left hoof with her right hoof. "Save Princess Celestia, smash the projector, and save Equestria!" "Hmm," the samurai, again, touches his chin in thought. "Well, it seems that with Aku's involvement in conquering this world-" "Equestria," Velvet interjected. "Right right... In conquering Equestria, that I will be seeking him out regardless of your decision. But in light of this partnership between Bill Cipher, it would be nice to not take them both on by myself," the samurai says. "Precisely...!" Velvet remarks. Gesturing towards the samurai with her hoof in agreement. "He's going to try and defeat Aku and Bill no matter what we do, so doesn't it make sense for us to join forces. Work together to liberate Equestria from this insane tyranny?" Velvet asks Night and the rest of their friends. Night and the rest of their friends exchange confused glances with each other, but soon look back towards Velvet. Their eyes widening, as it finally dawns on them what Velvet is suggesting. Velvet just smiles at their understanding. "Yes," she says softly, "we're going to war!" Velvet's friends begin muttering amongst themselves, while Night stares directly at her. The samurai's brows, surprised at the leadership skills this little pony has. "Excuse me," the samurai speaks up, drawing Velvet's attention, "but how old are you exactly?" he asks. Velvet raises a confused brow. "Twelve years old. Why?" The samurai's brows jumps, shocked at the skill of someone so young. Even he spent a lifetime travelling around the world learning all manner of skills, so he'd be best suited to deal with Aku when he returned. "Oh, no reason," the samurai replies, while oblivious to a silhouette that stands up from the pile of destroyed Sentries. Its glowing eyes looking towards the samurai and ponies, before it turns away and flies into the air. Flying North. "Oh, and I almost forgot. I can't believe it slipped my mind, but we've never been formally introduced, sir," Velvet says. "Oh, well, my name is Jack," Jack says putting a hand to his chest. "Most, if not everyone, including friends and enemies, know me as Samurai Jack." "Well, Jack, i'm Velvet Sparkle." Velvet extends her hoof, and Jack shakes it. "I look forward to working with you." ********* *Several days later* The Ghastly Gorge's ambience is interrupted by a black train that speeds across the landscape. The train, though, soon comes to a halt at a bridge(/the bridge one would use to reach the other side) Several humanoid figures clad in red and black uniforms gathers outside the train. The captain narrows his green eyes annoyed and turns towards one of his subordinates. "Contact the outpost. Inform them that we require assistance in repairing the bridge." The captain orders at pointing his (sharp) finger towards one of his warriors. The warrior stands at attention and salutes the captain. "Yes sir, I will make- AUGH!" The warrior replies before he's struck by an arrow and knocked to the ground. The warrior's body turns to smoke and leaves only his uniform behind. "Its an ambush-AUGHHH!" the captain shouts. "AHH!" "AHHH!" "AHHHH!" Both the captain and its warriors shouts at being hit by a barrage of arrows! Their lifeless bodies hits the ground and turns to smoke. Leaving behind empty uniforms. With their numbers dwindled, the remaining warriors turns and runs away...only to be suddenly caught un-awares by a group of ponies charging straight for them! The surviving warriors try to fight but are quickly overwhelmed and slaughtered by the equestrians. After a brief and pointless clash, the final warrior falls down and the equestrians cheers at their victory... That is until several smooth triangular pod-like shapes detatches from several train cars and launches into the air. The (pod-like) shapes lands on their legs and stands up. Revealing four-armed (six-armed with the legs) insect-like creatures. Beetle drones! The Beetle drones towers over the ponies and doesn't hesitate before going on the offensive. Using their sharp blade-like arms, they Beetle drones slashes at the nearest ponies. "Pull back! Puulll back!" A pony cries out from amidst the crowd. The ponies turns around and runs away, but the Beetle drones just jumps and slashes them as they flee! Cutting them down as easily as they overwhelmed the warriors. "SHOT THEM! SHOOOOOT THEM!" The same pony shouts from the crowd at running towards the nearby forest. Again the arrows shoots towards the Beetle drones, but merely bounces off their metallic hide. The drones are unaffected by the counter-attack and continues cutting ponies down. "Retreat! Retreat!" A pony calls out from the crowd. "Retrea-!" *WHOSH* The pony calls out before a shadow passes over him, as a silhouette leaps over him towards a Beetle drone. The silhouette raises its arms above its head and swings them down. Its' scissor blades impales the Beetle drone, and slices down along the front of its body. Cleaving it into three halves. *THUD* The other Beetle drones' attention shifts towards their defeated comrade and sees humanoid, wielding what looks to be scissor blades in her hands. Every Beetle drone turns and looks towards a humanoid whose skin is white, with spiked arms, horns and long red hair with bangs that covers her right eye. The humanoid wears a yellow-orange ballgown, a black tiara, and has an orange flame that constantly burns above her head. The Beetle drones stares silently at her, and she at them...until several drones, then, lunge themselves at her. The females leaps straight into the air for one of the drones, and holds her scissor blades out in front of her. The drone tries to slash her with its blades, but she just extends her arm...and uses the scissor blade to cut a hole in reality, that she vanishes into. A hole opens up beside the drone that she emerges from, and slashes the drone's head off. She kicks-off the drone's body as it hits the ground, and flies straight towards another drone. This time she doesn't cut a hole in reality, but just pierces the drone with her scissor blades and cuts it in half. A Beetle drone lunges at her, and forces her to jump away to dodge its attack. She lands in the middle of the Beetle drone horde, but immediatly assumes a defensive stance as the drones encircle her. However, as the drones' attention is focused on her several figures emerges from the forest. Charging towards the drone horde, where the newcomers shoots crystals and magic beams towards the Beetle drones! Drone after drone is pierced by crystals, and pierced by magic beams that makes them explode. The Beetles turn their attention towards the newcomers, but this gives her the perfect oppertunity to charge the horde and slice several drones. Another drones' slashes at her, but she uses her scissor blade to cut open another hole in reality. The drone's blade dissapears inside the hole, but soon re-appears and impales the drone's own head as she cuts another hole in front of the drone's face. She also slashes her scissor blades up along the center of the drone's front and cleaves it in half. Both halves slam into the ground. Every Beetle drone turns their attention towards the female, just before several figures jumps down behind her. One is a reptillian humanoid (with green skin) and snakes for arms and legs, and a crystal with an eye inside it. Another of the newcomers is composed of etheral smoke with a skull face, and two horns that are composed of three horns stacked atop each other. Another is a human/oid wearing grey battle armor (that is a sleeve-less top, and knee-length plaid skirt), and whose long, silver hair has been done up. One very noticable detail are the diamond shaped markings on her cheeks. The drones leaps towards Moon, but she raises her magic wand and shoots a magical blast towards them. Destroying a group of drones with a single blast. Rhombulus extends his arms and shoots crystals from his snake-appendages. Impaling several drones through their chests, which causes them to explode in mid-air. Omnitraxus Prime punches the drones with large fists (that he conjures) Punching the drones so hard that they explodes, but not with fire. Their (the drones') bodies erupts into hundreds of parts that scatter around the landscape. Hekapoo duplicates herself, and all of her clones thrust out their outstretched hands together. Sending waves of fire upon the Beetle drones. Incinerating them. Another figure soon leaps out of the trees towards the charging Beetle drones. The newcomer raises its sword above its head, and slashes it down along the center of a Beetle drone. Slashing it in half, which clatters upon impact with the ground. The newcomer jumps jumps up, as several Beetles try to stab him with their blades. As he comes back down, he slashes of their arms. Shortly, slashing them to pieces with his sword. More Beetle drones try to charge him, but he jumps up on their heads and runs across them. Decapitating them as he runs. He kicks-off from one Beetles' head, and leaps through the air towards Moon, Hekapoo, Rhombulus, and Omnitraxus. Landing in front of them with his kitana held out in front of him. The remaining Beetle drones charges at the group, but Moon, Hekapoo, Rhombulus, Omnitraxus and Jack leap straight at the Beetles; Burning them with Hekapoo's fire... Shooting them with Rhombulus's crystals... Smashing them with Omnitraxus's giant fists... Destroying them with Moon's magic... And slashing them with Jack's sword. Explosions erupts throughout the landscape, but when the dust settles hundreds of lifeless Beetle Drones lies strewn about. Sparks flying out of their lifeless bodies, as a couple time twitches. Jack smiles, and sheathes his sword back into the scabbard. "Clear!" A voice calls out from the forest, as Jack and the Magical High Commission stands down. From out of the forest, behind the trees, a large crowd of ponies runs up towards the train. They surround, and board the train. Pillaging it of whatever its transporting. A pony soon emerges from the train, and extends his hooves in the air. "We've (literally) struck gold!" The pony informs the crowd, before several Unicorns trott out from the train. Levitating gold and other treasures out of the train with their magic, which they the crowd gathered outside the train takes with them into the forest. From out of the forest, a small unicorn trotts up towards Jack and the Magical High Commission. "So, I heard we scored big?" Velvet asks, as she stops beside Jack. Jack turns his head and looks down at Velvet. Smiling at her. "Indeed. With this victory against Aku, himself, others will flock to our cause. Eager to help liberate Equestria from Bill's control," Jack replies. "Precisely!" Velvet replies. "Then, we will finally be strong to march on Bill's castle and end his tyranny once and for all," she adds. As the Equestrians and their allies continues to strip the train of anything valuable, a hooded figure watches them from the shadows. Turning away, she walks off into the woods... ********* *One hour early* At the Fearamid, several humanoid figures patrolls Bill's castle. Meanwhile, Bill Cipher sits on his throne. Hands folded, as various places, events and individuals flashes in his eye. "Rrrrrgh!" Bill growls as his anger gets stronger. "RRR-ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!" Bill screams enraged. "WHERE ARE THEY?!" His voice explodes outwards. Sending a powerful shockwave throughout the Fearamid. A (silver) humanoid figure shortly appears in the throne room' doorway, following Bill's outburst. "Master? Is something the matter?" Ultron asks. Bill's eye returns to its normal self, and he looks across the room towards the humanoid. "I am about to rewrite history, and someone is trying to ruin my moment!" Bill replies, sternly. Slamming his fist against the throne's armrest. Ultron nervously swallows, as he silently observes Bill's rage. "Have your Sentries found anything? We are running out of time, Ultron," he says in a calmer tone. "N-negative, master. These individuals have hidden their tracks well." Bill grumbles, annoyed, and folds his hands again. "Re-call all your Sentries. Nothing can be left to chance, not tonight." Bill points his finger at Ultron. "The time has come for Equestria to tremble at my feet." Bill narrows his eye as he smirks, deviously. "Yes, master," Ultron responds. Holding his hand to his chest as he bows his head, before he leaves. Ultron turns around and walks out of the throne room. Exhaling a heavy breath, before he encounters several other Ultron Primes. "Its okay. He managed to keep it under control," Ultron informs his duplicates. Each of the other Ultron Primes sigh in relief, before turning around and flying away. Following Ultron's departure, Bill sits in his throne grumbling to himself. He stands up from his throne, and hovers in the air. Snapping his finger, as he teleports to another room in the castle. Re-appearing in a circular room, with a lone black tree in the center. He puts his arms behind his back, and silently stares at the titular tree. He holds out his right hand, and looks att it. Specifically, the finger that he cut off. "Just a little sacriface," he says softly to himself. ********* Meanwhile, in the rebuilt city of Canterlot or as it's better known these days, the City of Aku, a large vehicle rolls through the busy streets of the vast metropolis. The vehicle soon arrives at a large tree-like structure in the center of the city, and a masked humanoid steps out of it. The masked figure walked up to an elevator, and proceeded to enter it. As the doors closed behind it, the humanoid turned around and pressed a button on the wall. The button dinged, and the elevator moved upwards. Moving up along the side of the structure, while the humanoid looks out upon the city through the glass viewscreen in front of it. Seeing the tall spires that rose high in the sky. Their dark and hellish apperance giving the illussion that they stabbed the very heavens, themselves, above. The humanoid didn't react until the elevator dinged. Reaching the very top of the castle. The doors opened, and the humanoid stepped outside. Not reacting as the walls resembled large flames. Silently following as it followed a passage to a large-open chamber. Though in truth, it was more reminiscent of a vast abyss. Composed of spiraling flames that vanished into darkness at the bottom. Stepping out onto a cliff, that resembled a lone flame, the humanoid put its arms behind its back. Across the abyss, another humanoid figure clad in blue robes raised a large pole, and slammed it against a giant gong. The gong rang throughout the entire chamber until a tower of darkness shot up from the beneath the abyss. The dark mass gained a human apperance with four large and two smaller horns, fiery eyebrows and a goatee. The humanoid kneeled before the Shogun of Sorrow. "My lord, Aku, I come bearing news of the rebels," the humanoid said. "Yes, speak," Aku commanded. The humanoid raised its head and looked up towards the Shogun. "They are getting bolder, my lord. I witnessed them assaulting one of your transports. They looted everything." Aku narrowed his brows, angrilly, and growled loud enough for Chamberlain and the other humanoid to hear him. "They are indeed getting bolder if they dare to attack one of my transports," Aku said, sternly clenching his fist. "However, there is more, my lord," the humanoid said, drawing Aku's attention. "I personally witnessed the raid, and saw that the ponies are being aided by four unknown individuals of incredible power, several ponies that are not like the rest of their kind...and a samurai-" at the mere mention of a samurai Aku's eyes widened, "...that the ponies and their allies call-" "...Jack!" Aku interrupted. The humanoid's head shot up towards Aku, and even Chamberlain flinched a bit. Aku's eyes widened in fear, but soon narrowed as he grits his teeth and growls. "Even in death that fool cannot leave me alone!" Chamberlain and the humanoid looked at each other. Aku then abruptly turned towards Chamberlain. "Chamberlain, double our security around the city. I want every vehicle inspected and everyone double-no!-tripple checked before they're allowed inside the city!" he instructed. "Yes, my lord!" Chamberlain sharply replied. "I and the others will hunt him down, my lord!" the humanoid said. Holding an arm to its chest as it stood up from the floor. "No...! You have already failed me," Aku snapped. "If you could not deal with these rebels, then you stand no chance of defeating the samurai. Even my most powerful minion, Demongo could not vanquish the foe," Aku replied. "Back to the issue at hand, did you learn of the samurai and his allies' next target?" he asked the humanoid. The humanoid nodded back. "They appear to be held up near the Everfree Forest, my lord." Aku raised a confused brow at the answer. "The Everfree Forest? Of all the places in Equestria, why that forest? Even the ponies do not being close to it." The humanoid shrugged, just as confused as its master. "I don't know, my lord, but my best guess would have to be that they're going to attempt an assault on Lord Cipher's castle," replied the humanoid. "Hmm..." Aku brought his hand to his chin in thought, until his brows jumped as he sensed something. He immediatly turned around, and swung his arms out towards the walls. Causing the flames to move aside, revealing a screen composed of the flames as a border. The hovering form of Bill Cipher appearing. "Greetings, lord Aku, how goes your hunt for the rebels?" Bill asked. Aku frowned, and audiably grumbled. "Not good. It was bad enough ruling earth and having to put up with that accursed samurai on the loose...but now its even worse' cause he's aqquired some allies." Bill brought a hand to his chin and grumbled. "I see..." "Well we'll deal with him and his little band in time, but in the meantime your are more than welcome to join us," Bill replied. "Lord Cipher?" he asked, raising a confused brow. "I am holding a small gathering for the elite at my castle. Due to everything's been going on, we could really need to cool off," Bill explained. "Hmm. Sounds just like what I need." "Excellent!" Bill clapped his hands together. "I'll see you there." Bill grinned before the flames closed shut. Ending their communique. However, while Aku smirked he received confused stares from Chamberlain and the humanoid. "Why did you mention that the rebels are establishing themselves near Lord Bill's castle?" the humanoid asked. Aku just smirked, and turned around to face her. "It looks like you'll get to face the samurai afterall."