//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Night Fight // Story: Rise of the Element Gang, Book 3: Heroes United // by Power of Six //------------------------------// Chapter 8: Night Fight I was shaking with anticipation as my master transported us to the home of my weaker self. Performing those deeds of chaos on those pathetic mares had been immensely satisfying and I was looking forward to bringing my disharmonic Kishin powers to Dusk’s disgusting hovel of a home. I, like my master, reveled in chaos. It was what I lived for since it was the fear that Dusk had developed of me coming to life. I had just been idea, a nightmare that Dusk had hoped would never come to pass. Discord had simply made that stronger, increased his fear of it with the power of Black Blood. Now, the idea had become reality and I—Diablo Nightfall—had been given life, though it filled me with disgust that I had been brought into being by one so pathetic, so weak… I had not been merely taunting when I had referred to myself as Dusk’s brother. In a sense, I had all of his strengths, of what little they were, especially his sharp mind. But my master had been kind and granted me power, both strength in body and in magic, with Black Blood so that I was tougher and faster than Dusk. All of Dusk’s, my brother’s, negative emotions were increased tenfold within him. Rage, anger, hatred, deceit, cruelty, they were all of what made up me, with none of Dusk’s more useless ones, like compassion, love, hope, and empathy. In short, I was everything my useless former hadn’t been: strong with no weaknesses and no holding back. Except perhaps… Every now and again, I felt an uncomfortable emotion I didn’t like and I tried to ignore it. It surfaced whenever I saw those mares or did something to them, a kind of urge that I should stop and I actually ended up feeling a little guilty afterward, regret for what I had done. Some small part of Dusk that still lingered in my mind, no doubt. Eventually, it would fade away and all that would be left would be my thoughts, my desires. Dusk Noir was gone and now it was my turn, my reign over his mind and body. “Come along now, Diablo. I just know you’re going to enjoy this.” Discord prompted, floating in the air before me. “Yes, master. As you wish.” I replied, following him to our destination. The Spirit of Disharmony was the only being on this world that I would hold allegiance to. Everyone else, everything else, was worth nothing other than to be part of a world drenched in chaos. My master had been the one who had given me life, forming me from madness and Dusk’s fear, and giving me the strength to become real, to challenge my weaker self. Like my master, I too reveled in chaos and anarchy, tormenting all of the ponies I knew would never accept me and would revile me as a monster. That was what I was… and I was proud of it. As I followed Discord through the town, I stopped when I noticed something. It was a rose growing out of the ground nearby, its delicate petals as white as snow, but the thorns were wicked and sharp. Thinking of those mares again, I thought bitterly to myself: How fitting. Once upon a time, Dusk might have found it beautiful, enchanting even. But I found it ugly, unfitting in my master’s and my own vision. Selecting the appropriate spell, I cast my magic at it so that its petals became black and it writhed for a moment like a living animal before it stopped and became still again. Now, whenever anypony would try to pick it, it would wrap around their leg and trap them there. There. That’s much better. I thought to myself. Satisfied with my work, I continued on after my master. “Ah, here we are!” Discord said as he rounded a corner. I followed and felt my blood boil in anger. It looked to be any normal home in Ponyville: two floors, white walls held up by wooden struts, thatched roof, and surrounded by a garden fence with nothing too spectacular about it. But I knew from the memories I’d be examining in Dusk’s broken thoughts that this house was once his home. This had been where Dusk had resided, where he had lived out his pathetic little life. “Why are we here, master?” I asked, trying my best not to explode in a fit of rage. “We’re here so that you can have a little more fun, my partner in crime.” He gestured expansively to the house. “I take it you know who used to live here?” “I do.” I growled again. “What of it?” “Well, since he’s not around anymore, he won’t need it. So it’s yours now.” He stood back and patted me on the neck. “You can do whatever you want to it.” I felt my excitement grow at this. “You mean… you will let me…?” “Yes, my little pony.” he clarified with a grin. “Go nuts.” “With pleasure!” In seconds, I was off to start my work. It was immensely enjoyable, a task that I took on with utter reverence, using my great strength to commit to it. First, I went for the fence, tearing it out of the ground and tossing the wood into the air, disintegrating or shattering it with blasts of magic. Then I used magic to zap the flowers so grown around it, so that they withered and died in seconds, their petals rotting and leaves blackening. With almighty swings of his fists, I cracked and collapsed the walls on the left side so that half of the house fell on itself, crumbling with a wonderful sound of destruction. Words couldn’t describe how much joy, or the closest approximation of it for one so despicable, I took in this task of destruction as I made the left side of the house sink into a chocolate syrup quagmire I conjured up. It was like when I had beaten Dusk’s mind into submission with my own powerful thoughts and desires, how glorious and wonderful it had been to revel in such destruction and pain and now to do it again! Destroying what I considered to be a symbol of my enemy was truly… spectacular. “Having fun, are we?” Discord asked when I stopped to gather up my strength again. “Very much so.” I replied, grinning up at him. “Thank you for this opportunity, my lord. You are good to me.” “Call it a ‘job well done’ present for your wonderful deeds of chaos. I’m very proud of you so far.” he told him. “Keep this up and you’ve got a bright future indeed, Diablo.” “I am most gratified by your praise, master.” I said, bowing my head. “May I continue?” “Oh, please do! Don’t stop on my account.” he insisted, snapping his fingers. He conjured up a row of seats and sat on it with his popcorn and cola. “I must say, quite enjoy watching this myself.” “I shall make it as entertaining as possible then.” I whipped around back to the house, about to cast another spell until… “HALT! Thy princess commands thee to cease at once!” I felt no shock, only increased rage at the sound of this new voice. Standing nearby, a midnight blue alicorn along with stood nearby, glaring at both myself and my master with an authority she certainly didn’t deserve. Her starlit mane was flared, her wings poised and ready to fly, her expression determined and her horn aglow with magic. Princess Luna, a name I mentally said in anger. Alongside her was a being that resembled El Dragon, my brother’s pathetic excuse of an elemental form. Though this individual held differences, said differences being that he held a more muscular frame and was slightly bigger than the princess. His horns were interconnected to resemble somewhat of a crested helmet with a triple-bladed weapon as the horn on top. He also bared more armor than El Dragon, being made of golden gauntlets over his claws, clawed boots on his hooves in the back, a row of golden slate armor plates on the top of his tail, and a golden chest plate. On the chest plate was a big, crystal blue diamond. With him looking at the two of us the same way as the princess, I knew that this was the great guardian of Equestria Dragonis Maximus, one who I despised just as much as the alicorn. Both looked ready for a fight and I was only more than willing to give them one. Discord appeared a little shocked himself at the appearance of these new arrivals. However, he recovered swiftly and beamed wickedly at the sight of them, as if they were old friends rather than his mortal nemeses. “Why, hello again, Dragonis!” He greeted, as if addressing to foals. “And I see Luna is with you. How lovely it is to see you again, my dear. How have you been keeping? Well, I hope?” “Be silent, thy forked-tongued wretch!” she commanded. “We have not traveled here to bandy crooked words with thee!” “Sounds like somepony hasn’t been keeping up with the times.” he remarked casually. “But then again, a thousand years trapped in the moon will do that to you. By the way, how was that? Lonely? Isolated? Scary?” “What has passed has passed and we have no desire to speak of it again.” she responded harshly. “Certainly not with the likes of thee, Discord!” “Just as grim as her sister.” he murmured to me, then to her. “I must say, I’m sorry I wasn’t around for your big change. Even more so that I wasn’t the cause of it. Well, not in a direct sense anyway.” “She already knows about what happened, Discord.” Dragonis spoke up, dangerously. “What led to her banishment was because of your Paraserpent, which means it is all your fault!” “Oh, yes. Black Fang, my only Paraserpent that ran to fight another day.” Discord remarked. “Well, he certainly did do well to get a little payback for me. Though what happened to the Black Blood he left, I wonder? Still crawling around inside your mind, is it, Luna?” “The madness that thou’s beast left behind to infest my soul has been long since purged and we shall never succumb to such tyrannical thoughts again.” Luna told him. “Come now, Luna. Don’t you ever miss it?” he asked temptingly. “All the power that you had, the idea of night eternal? All my ideas put into that single drop of black goo my Paraserpent spiked your drink with… Those thoughts not still in there?” “Not one bit of them. Not now nor ever again.” she declared firmly. “Really? Aw! That’s a shame, we could have made a great team.” He gestured his hands, so our names lit up in neon lights. “‘Discord, Diablo Nightfall, and Nightmare Moon: Agents of Chaos and Disharmony’!” “Diablo Nightfall, huh?” Dragonis said as he and the princess turned their gaze to me, myself giving the two a seething glare of anger. “So it looks like we were right. You used Black Blood to twist Dusk’s mind with madness and Kishinize him.” “Twisted? Dragonis, you make it sound like it’s a bad thing.” He gestured to me. “This is an improvement. Isn’t that right, Nightfall?” “Yes.” I met the gaze of the two with a piercing glare. “I am more powerful and stronger. Not to mention have none of the weaknesses of that weakling Dusk.” “You say that, but I highly doubt that is true.” Dragonis said, returning the glare. “Oh, Dusk,” Luna said to me, seemingly not intimidated or even scared. Instead, she looked at me with pity and compassion which made me feel sick, “what has happened to thee?” “DON’T CALL ME THAT!” I screeched at her. “I am not Dusk Noir for he is gone! I am DIABLO NIGHTFALL THE BLACKHOLE OF DOOM!” “We don’t believe that.” Luna insisted. “He can still be saved from thy dark influence.” “Then you are a fool!” I roared, my anger towards them raging like a fire. “I have defeated him, I have broken his mind, and dropped him into the darkest recesses of my own! He, is not, coming, BACK!” “I think you’ve touched a nerve, my dear Luna.” Discord put in. “Tell you what, Diablo. Why don’t you have some stress relief? I’m sure the princess and her little boyfriend would be happy to oblige.” “Thank you, master.” I said, letting my anger flow through me, my bitter hatred for the ponies in front of me focused on the fight. Though it all went away when I realized what Discord just said. “Wait, boyfriend?” “Wait, do you not…” He said to me with exasperation before looking to Dragonis and Luna, a smile slowly forming on his face. “You two didn’t… Oh, this is too much!” With a moment, Discord unleashed a burst of laughter as he fell and began rolling around on the ground. This pretty much confused me. Did my master know something about the two I didn’t? If so, what exactly was it that he found amusing. “Oh-ho! I honestly still can’t believe it!” my master as he stood back up, his laughing slowly beginning to diseased. “You really didn’t tell anypony about you two? And I thought it was naughty enough with Luna not wearing her ring.” “Ring? Master, what exactly are you talking about?” I asked, now curious as to what he knew. “Well, you see, Diablo,” Discord answered me, “before she became Nightmare Moon, Luna had other plans besides being the ruler of the night.” What he whispered in my ear shocked me. “She was actually planning on becoming the first Mrs. Dragonis Maximus.” “What?!” I still couldn’t believe what I heard. “You mean those two were engaged?” “Correct! Dragonis proposed to little Luna before I even showed up.” He said while looking to the two. “They were still looking for a wedding date, one they had spent moons thinking about.” “We nearly found the right date!” Dragonis spoke out to my master, furiously. “We would’ve been happily married by now if it weren’t for you!” “Oh-ho!” Discord chuckled. “Seems like Luna isn’t the only one who touched a nerve.” “Well…” I said, smiling in excitement at how much I’ll enjoy crushing the two. “This makes things even better. I’m going to enjoy crushing you both into the ground.” “Well, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.” Dragonis said, looking ready to fight while Luna appeared to be surprised. “You would order your minion to attack us? You would have such an audacity, Discord?” “Well, you did trap me in stone and you did enrage him in the first place.” the spirit shrugged. “Consider this making us even.” “Thou hast never killed, Discord.” she said to him. “This is quite a change of form.” “Oh, he won’t kill you…” He paused and stroked his beard thoughtfully. “At least, I don’t think he will. He can be quite uncontrollable in these little fits he has, but I'm sure he won't snuff you out entirely.” “I’ll try, at least for Luna.” I promised, intending to leave the princess in a pathetic enough state that she shouldn’t be able to defend herself. “I shall make sure there is enough of her left for you to make use of, my lord. I can’t say the same for Dragonis though.” “Excuse me?” he sounded surprised by this as he raised a brow at me. “Well, she is only one of the two ponies who actually defeated you.” I told him, keeping my gaze on Dragonis. “I can at least let you have the pleasure in finishing her off. But I’ve decided what the guardian’s fate will be.” “And… what exactly is that?” “What else? Death.” I then went on to explain. “I’m a Kishin, remember? But I’m not a complete one. In order to become a full-fledged Kishin, I need to absorb the life force of other ponies. I was planning on making some specific ponies my key to ascension, but Dragonis will do better than them. He’s lived for more than a thousand years, which means absorbing his life force will allow me to obtain my true form! Not only that, but I will accomplish two other things. I’ll both rid Equestria of its precious guardian and leave the Princess of the Night with the worst punishment of all: the loss of a loved one.” “While I do see your motives for this, Diablo,” my master said to me, “I’m afraid I can’t let you kill Dragonis.” “What? Why?” “Because I have big plans for him, plans that are bound to make things more interesting. You can have all the ponies we can get once we take all of Equestria, just don’t kill Dragonis or Luna.” “But…” “Uh-uh! No buts.” Discord then brought out the leash again. “Do you want to fight them or not?” “Yes…” “Then promise me you won’t kill those two.” Though I did want to tell him no and just do what I pleased, I simply growled and said “As you wish, master.” “Very good, then have fun!” Discord then proceeded to sit back on his chair and pop another piece of corn into his mouth. “This should be fun.” “Don’t do this, Diablo. You can still back out.” Dragonis told me as he and Luna locked eyes with me. “You know we are stronger and possess more power than you.” “Once again, you are mistaken.” I growled. “I want to fight you more than anything and your power is nothing compared to mine, seeing as no doubt one of you had her strength diminished since my master has returned to power.” “That doesn’t mean we cannot best thee.” Luna countered, tensing her body for a fight. “We shall see about that.” I let her see my smile. Then, with a loud roar… I pounced! Shield’s view “Sweet spouts!” Leon said, looking out the back window of the library with shock. “It’s all topsy-turvey out there!” “And Dusk still isn’t back yet.” Dog said, worried about our bud. “Really hope he hasn’t gotten lost in all that.” “I hear ya, Dog.” Spike said to him. “I hate to be anypony stuck in that mess.” “Okay, that’s it!” I said, slamming my hooves on the table before getting up and walking over to the door. “I’m going!” “Where are ya goin’, Shield?” Dog asked me. “Where else? I’m going to find Dusk!” I told him, stopping at the door. “He’s out there somewhere and he’s in trouble! Just as much as Ponyville!” “I know that.” he said to me. “Yeah?” I then turned to him. “And don’t you think we should do something about this?” “What can we do about this? Dusk was the only one who knew how to deal with this. Until he comes back, it might be best to do what he told us.” “Oh, you want that to be our plan? Sitting here on our butts while Discord makes a mess out of Equestria?” “I’m just sayin’ that it’d be best to stick here than to go out there without a plan.” “I already got a plan! I’m going to look for Dusk and I’m gonna bring him back here so he can tell us exactly what those stones are for!” “Shield, that’s not a plan!” “Better than what you want to do!” we glared at each other before Spike came over and pushed us away from each other. “Guys! Guys! Take it easy!” he told us. “Look, none of us like having standing around do nothing, but fighting isn’t really gonna help anypony, is it?” Me and Dog looked at each other before we saw that he was right. “You’re right, Spike.” I said. “I’m sorry, Dog. I’m just worried about Dusk.” “I’m sorry too, Shield.” The cowpony said to me. “I’m worried about him too.” “So am I.” Leon said as he walked over. “For once, I’m really hoping nothing bad happened to him.” “Man, I really wish Twilight were here.” Spike said before we heard some voices coming from outside. Going out there, we were all pretty happy to see Dusk’s fellow egghead right there. “Twilight!” I said as she turned to us. “Boy, are we glad to see you!” “Not as much as I am to see you.” Twilight said, giving us a small smile. “Um… did something happen?” Leon asked, noticing Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie who were looking really different. “What’s up with the pale quartet?” He wasn’t wrong. Those girls did look different and it wasn’t just the pale color. They looked the same, but at the same time, didn’t. Wasn’t really sure about Applejack, but the others were pretty obvious: Pinkie Pie looked as down in the dumps as she did on when we ignored her, Fluttershy had this smile like one of Dusk’s old school bullies, and Rarity—weirdly enough—was holding onto a rock. “Yeah.” I said before I noticed something else. “And where’s Rainbow Dash?” “I don’t know, but that’s not important.” Twilight said to us before she looked to the girls. “Everyone, please, please, please just go inside. Please?” “I absolutely refuse.” Applejack lied, walking past me and the guys and into the library as she suddenly turned gray. “AJ?” Dog said, just as surprised as the rest of us to hear her lie. “With pleasure.” Same thing happened to Fluttershy as she trampled on a bush of flowers before heading inside. “Flutters?” Leon said, worried about her. “I hate libraries!” Pinkie put in, also becoming gray. Confused by all this, me, Dog, and Leon went over to Twilight to see if she knew anything about this. “Twilight, what the heck is going on?” I asked the only mare who still had her color. “Yeah, what’s going on with Fluttershy?” Leon asked. “AJ is actin’ weird too. She just told a lie.” Dog said, just as worried as the rest of us. “Discord.” She told us. “I’m not sure what he did, but he’s changed them. It’s like he made them forget who they are.” “Is that why Dash isn’t with you?” I asked. “And why Rarity’s pushin’ that rock over here?” Dog asked as we looked at the fashionista in question, who was struggling against the weight of her boulder with sweat rolling down her face as she pushed against it. “Yep. She thinks it’s a diamond.” Twilight told us before she talked to Rarity. “Rarity, pleeeease! We’ve gotta hurry!” “Forget it, Twilight! I know what you’re up to.” Rarity said with a glare. “The second I go in, you’ll have Shield and your little minion Spike come and take Tom!” “Did she really give that thing a name?” Leon asked as we couldn’t believe she actually gave a name to a rock. “Well, it’s not going to work.” she said as if she hadn’t heard her, rubbing her boulder lovingly as her fur turned to gray as well. “What the heck did Discord do to her?” I said, surprised by how Dusk’s cousin was acting. “I’ve never seen her act so… greedy.” “Hang on a second!” Dog said, moving his hoof around like he was counting stuff. “Glum, mean, lyin’,” he then pointed at Rarity, “greedy. All these are the opposites of joy, kind, honest, and generous. Discord didn’t just make them forget who they are…” “He’s made them the exact opposite of themselves!” Leon finished. “The opposite of their Elements of Harmony!” “And I thought things were bad enough with what Discord did to Ponyville and what happened to the stones.” I said, making Twilight look to me. “Stones? What stones?” she asked. “We’ll explain once we’re inside.” I told her. “Okay.” Twilight said before she looked to Rare. “You’re not going in without him, are you?” After Rarity shook her head, Twilight sighed and looked to Dog. “Fine! Dog, hold this!” “Dusk’s hat!” Dog said as he held up our bud’s hat, which looked like it had seen better days. “Where’s you get this?” “Long story.” Twilight said before took the boulder with her magic and put it on my back. “Shield, take ‘Tom’ inside.” “On it.” I told her as I carried the boulder insider. “Hm… you know, this is quite a nice hat.” Rarity added, looking over the hat with interest. “Once you wash off the dirt, sort out a few of the frayed bits, it’s still wearable…” “Don’t even think about it!” Twilight growled as I moved the boulder in front of the door, Rarity saying nothing about it. “Yeah, I don’t think this is gonna fit through the door.” I said before Twilight then used her magic and slammed through the wall of the library, creating a big hole and breaking the door. Seeing her panting, I knew Twilight did that to blow off some steam. “Feeling better?” “A little, yes.” She said to me before Rarity rushed over to the rock. “Careful, Twilight! You’ll ruin his beautiful finish.” “Oh, for the love of…” Twilight didn’t even finish her sentence before Spike ran over to her. “Twilight, what’s going on?” he asked her, a little bit of water dripping from his scales. “Why does everybody look so… gray?” “Don’t ask.” She scooped him up onto her back. “I need you to help me find something.” “Wait, you mean what Princess Luna told us to look for her?” I asked her. “Princess Luna?” She said me. “Wait, did she send you and Dusk to the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters?” “Yeah. How did you know we were there?” Leon asked, just surprised as the rest of us. “Discord showed me.” Twilight paused for a moment, looking like she was trying not to cry. “So you said she sent you to look for something?” “Ee-yep!” Dog told her. “She wanted Dusk to find somethin’ she thinks can help y’all beat Discord.” “‘This time, you’ll see, it’ll take more than that to stop me’.” Twilight said before she gained a smile. “Of course! That’s what he meant!” “What who meant?” I asked her, confused by this. “When we went to Canterlot, Discord told us that we’d need more than the Elements of Harmony to defeat him.” Twilight explained. “It’s only until just now that I realized what he meant. Princess Luna must have known we needed more than the Elements to succeed and she sent you to find what we need!” “Well, we found it.” I told her as we all found it hard to tell her what happened while she was gone. “Though we’re not sure if they can help us now.” “What do you mean?” “Come see for yourself.” I said as we led Twilight over to the table before Dog used his magic to put Dusk’s hat on the table and lift Dusk’s necklace up to Twilight. “Dusk wanted us to give this to you, said that it might be able to help.” “But… this is…” Twilight she began to sob, taking the necklace in her hooves. “Guys… what happened?” “Twilight…” “What happened?” She glared at me that time, surprising me. I sighed before I explained everything. “When we were searching around the castle, Dusk had a run-in with Discord. We’re not exactly sure what he did, but Dusk told us that he wouldn’t be able to help us if he didn’t find a way to fix it.” it was there, knowing Twilight was out there, I asked the question that was on everypony’s mind here. “Twilight… Dusk… is he…?” “No… no, he isn’t.” Twilight said to us, looking even more depressed than the rest of us as tears rolled down her face. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” “No…” me and the guys then realized what she was trying to say. “You mean… we lost him?” “Yes…” She bowed her head, shutting her eyes shut. “Lost him? What are you…?” Spike said before he then figured out what was going on. “No… Dusk is… No!” “Well, now we know what the stones turning black mean.” Leon said as we all looked down in despair. To think that our bud was now gone from our lives. How could any of us have hope to stop Discord when the only pony who gave us that was now gone? It was only a moment before Dog went up to me, putting a hoof on my shoulder. “Shield…” he said to me. “Ya know what we’ve gotta do.” “Yeah.” I said to him before pulling myself together and talking to everypony. “Come on. We can’t waste our time crying over it. We still got to beat Discord. It’s what Dusk would have wanted us to do.” “You’re… you’re right, Shield.” Twilight sniffled as she got herself back up, putting on Dusk’s necklace. “Let’s do this, for Dusk.” “That’s what I like to hear.” I said, smiling to her as me and the guys gathered around to her what she haves plan. “So, Twilight, got a plan?” “Of course! But first, we need to find the Elements!” She told us. “Find the Elements? Aren't they with you?” I asked her, confused by this. “No, Discord took them, but I think I know where to find them.” Twilight said as she looked around the library. “Now where is that book?” “Hey, Twilight! What’s soaking wet and clueless?” Fluttershy said as she picked up a bucket and smiled like a jerk. “Fluttershy, I’ve had just about enough…” She was cut off as the pegasus pour water onto her head, soaking her mane and fur. “Your face!” “This is gonna be a long day.” Leon said as Twilight groaned with the bucket on her head. Dragonis’ view I knew fighting Dusk would be dangerous, especially since Discord turned him into a Kishin and how his dark half shared similarities to Nightmare Moon, but I wasn’t expecting anything like this. That ferocity he threw at us while roaring like some wild beast, I was actually afraid of him. Flaring our wings, Luna and I took to the sky, avoiding his attack and keeping our eyes locked on him. To tell the truth, Diablo certain was stronger than we thought. With Luna’s powers weakened thanks to Discord, I was starting to think we might have some trouble dealing with what once the young Fire Dragon. I could see the ground crack around him as he landed, shaking the very earth he stood upon. There was nothing holding him back, he was pure rage and anger in pony form. Rather disconcerting, considering how shy and kind he had been before all of this… But despite this, Luna was still an alicorn with the advantages of a Pegasus and a unicorn as well as the Princess of the Night and co-ruler of Equestria. And I was still the guardian of Equestria. She had defeated Discord with her sister before and, with me by her side, she would manage the same feat with Diablo Nightfall. All we had to do was catch him off-guard so I could give Luna an opening to hit him with her spell, which had to be in direct contact with his horn. For now, we would have to do our best to weaken him. Calling upon the powers of the weather, I watched as Luna gathered storm clouds to her and commanded them to rain lightning down onto Diablo. I heard him scream out in pain as the bolts struck his body, lighting him up and making his skeleton visible. I watched him buckle from the impact of volts of electricity running through him, his body smoking from the heat. Perhaps this would be easier than we thought. But the Kishin recovered from the attacks and snarled up at us. He then began to weave and dodge around the bolts, feinting in one direction and rolling to another, and making himself a very difficult target. Soon enough, he started to counter-attack, levitating or even heaving chunks of stone and debris the bolts blew out of the ground and hurling them at us with great strength and incredible speed. Recognizing the danger of remaining stationary on Luna’s own cloud, we both ducked and dodged around the chunks of stone, Luna having some hit her. She was finding it difficult to dodge the attacks and still keep up her lightning bombardment on him, especially in her weakened state. She was about to try for a counter-strike herself, when Diablo appeared, flying down at her. I had to assume that he used the stones as cover while he snuck past the lightning. Seeing Luna had nowhere to go as Diablo raised a fist to strike, I rushed over and instantly tackled Diablo, sending both him and myself crashing to the ground. With him tossing me away from him, we both picked ourselves up and looked at each other, the two of us ready to fight. “Seems as though you’re the only one with any fight, Dragonis.” Diablo sneered. “Luna’s powers are weak. Neither of you hope for victory in this fight.” “Some of her power might’ve been taken away, but Luna is not weak.” I told him, glaring at him before gaining a smug. “Besides, she’s got a few more tricks up her sleeve.” With a raised brow, Diablo barely had to react as a dark grey cloud appeared and consumed him. Before he had the chance to break out, Luna kicked it once more to stir up the lightning within. The Kishin roared out as the electricity coursed through his body once more. Every time she kicked the cloud, there was another flash, another exclamation of pain. I thought this must hold him, but he suddenly burst out of the cloud, his claws sparking with power. Gazing in horror, I watched as he then dealt her a barrage of punches, said punches now added damage with sending small jolts of lightning into her as they made contact with her skin and sending shots of pain through her body. The strength, the ferocity! What was that motivated him, that drove him after receiving such punishment? Still having strength in her, I watched as Luna returned a punch, sending him away before he used his wings to stop him. Still wincing from her injuries, she galloped straight towards him, using her wings to glide across the ground, the magic empowering her horn. She was out to end this fight quickly. I understood she didn’t like to think that she would be hurting Dusk somehow for that’s how I felt to. It had been incredible he was still standing now. She reached him, lowered her horn… “GET AWAY FROM ME!” A blast of magic sent her flying backward, skidding across the ground. She recovered herself and landed back on her hooves, turning to see Diablo with his horn glowing and his features alive with malice and rage. “Thou are strong in thy body, Nightfall.” she said, preparing to catch him off-guard with a spell of her own. “We shall concede to that much.” “I don’t care about your concessions, princess!” he shouted back. “All I want is to see you on your knees, begging for my mercy… like your little subject did. Quite pathetic and disappointing, I thought he would last a little longer, at any rate.” “Then we shall try our best not to disappoint thee!” This last part, she yelled out and sent her spell at him as she did. The spell managed to hit him, sending him to the ground and leaving a smoking spot on his fur. They were only meant to weaken him for even he couldn’t fight on forever. He stood back up, looked down at the wound, and gave a screech of fury. I was going to join in when… “Dragonis, don’t!” She said to me with a serious look in her eyes. “I shall take things from here.” Seeing this, I back down and watched as the two entered into the magical duel. They were both relatively well-matched in terms of their style of fighting. Diablo chose to simply bombard her with all manner of spells, apparently not having much in the way of a plan and guided by his uncontrollable anger. Luna chose to counter with defensive spells, leaping and dodging when required, Diablo’s violent attacks being enough to keep her on her hooves and occasionally sending a spell back, which either hit him or was blocked. It had been a long time since I’ve seen Luna fight like this and I was glad to see she wasn’t entirely out of practice. One moment, she decided to become formless, dancing around as a cloud of purple smoke, much like she had done when she was Nightmare Moon. Diablo, not expecting this, was unable to hit her and didn’t have time to react when she sent more bolts of lightning at him, followed up with a quick kick to the head. She then backed away in case she hurt Dusk as well. I saw him buckle at the knees and grimace. “Thou are weakening, Nightfall.” she told him. “Soon, thou shall have no more strength and will have to concede defeat to us.” “While I breathe, I have strength. I…am not…WEAK!” he roared, sending more spells at her and returning to the duel. Luna tried her best to block his spells and dodge them, but I could see she was starting to lose energy too. Becoming formless had taken a bit out of her as had the rest of her magical attacks along with Diablo’s relentless bombardment. If she didn’t bring this fight to a close and soon, he might end up winning and her fate wouldn’t be a good one. At one point in the duel, he sent a spell to the ground below her hooves. She barely had time to react as the roots in the grass sprung to life and wrapped themselves tightly around her legs, fixing her in place. Attempting to struggle free, she was unable to dodge the next spell which caused her wings to move of their own accord. As a result, she was painfully stretched, enough to make her cry out in agony as she was being pulled both from below and from above. Through the blinding pain, I wondered why Diablo hadn’t attacked her while she was in this vulnerable state. When I looked at him, he was standing still, laughing at her pain and discomfort. Feeling a flare of rage of my own, I realized that he was toying with her, enjoying the pains she was in. Looking to Luna, even though she didn’t want to hurt Dusk, I knew what was going to happen next. She saw that, right now, Diablo was in control and I knew he was about to learn the consequences of thinking of her as his sick plaything. With a powerful blast of magic, she disintegrated the roots that held her in place and regained control of her wings, shooting upwards into the sky. Banking around, avoiding more blasts he sent her way, she shot more bolts of lightning towards him, each striking him. Before he could recover, she shot straight at him, her hoof before her, and smacked him right across the face. The blow sent him flying backward and skidding across the dirt himself. She sprinted straight at him, not holding anything back now. Just as he returned to his hooves, she hit him with another bolt of magic that sent him down again. Levitating him up, she sent him crashing into a rock, which split on impact. A few more bolts of lightning and a punch sent him to the ground again, Luna now fighting just as ferociously as her opponent had been. She was about to strike again as he whipped around to face her, but he no longer looked angry, but scared. Luna raised her hoof to strike when… “Luna! Please, stop!” Diablo said, speaking in a voice that made her stop when she recognized it. “Please, no more!” “Dusk?” she whispered, still tensed and ready to strike. “Yes, it’s me. Please stop… you’re hurting me…” He gazed up at her, tears glimmering in his eyes. She gritted her teeth, still determined to strike him, to leave him in a weakened enough state to perform her magic. But then she then calmed down and offered her hoof to help him up. “Dusk…I'm sorry.” She held out her hoof. “Here, let me help you.” “Thank you, Luna.” he replied weakly, reaching out to take it. “Luna, don’t!” I said as I began galloping over, but it was too late as Diablo grabbed her hoof with an insidious grin. Yanking her forward, he sent a punch straight into her face, followed by another that sent her staggering backward. “You would resort to such… underhanded trickery?” she asked of him before as he grabbed her neck with his magic. “It is simply further proof of how weak your compassion makes you.” he snorted, tightening his hold and raising his claw. “I have no such weakness!” SMASH! His hold on her neck released, but his attack certainly didn’t. She couldn’t counter as he kept up this physical attack, striking her wherever she might be vulnerable. Luna wasn’t as adept in hoof-to-hoof combat and certainly didn’t have the strength that he had. I wanted her to avoid getting too close, but now… he would show her no mercy. Punch after punch after kick after blow after strike followed without end, sending waves of agony throughout her body. Whenever she tried to respond in kind, it was like he anticipated the move somehow, blocked it and returned it. A punch intended for him ended up with Luna being struck with her own hoof. Just when it seemed like she would black out from the pain, he stopped. Her knees buckled, gave way, and she collapsed in a heap before him. She tried to fight, tried to get back up, but she had nothing left to give. She was beaten. “Now…” He bent low and locked eyes with her. “Beg for mercy.” “Never…” she spat, unable to believe the trickery he had steeped to. “I said… BEG!” He raised his fist up and she was determined to look him in the eye, to show him she wasn’t afraid. Looking to him, however, I was surprised to find his arm falter, his fist paused. Just for a second, she could have sworn his purple eyes became green, anger turned to pity. No one’s view Back at the library, unknown to anyone there, the seven stones on Dusk’s necklace flickered with colored light for a moment before the light faded away. Dragonis’ view Even though it was for a moment, I knew this had to mean something. Seeing Diablo hesitate and his eyes change color like that, I was starting to think that maybe he didn’t have as much control as he said he did. That deep down, Dusk was still in there, trying to break free from Diablo. This is what gave me hope that maybe… Dusk could still be saved. Acting quickly, I then teleported myself over and punched Diablo away. Standing in front of Luna, I watched as he recovered and the two of entered our own fight, going hoof-to-hoof. Diablo tried to use his magic on me, but was shocked when nothing happened. “What the…?” He said before I gave him a punch to his face, knocking him down. “Feeling a little tuckered out, Diablo?” I asked him, giving the Kishin a smug as he picked himself up. “What… what did you do?” He said, now having trouble standing up. “Why do I feel so weak?” “Oh, that’s not us.” I told him as I explained. “What you’re experiencing is self-confliction: the state of where a pony becomes conflicted with themselves. With you, this is a conflict in power, control over the body of which you stole.” “What are you talking about?” he asked, evidence of a strain upon his features. “I’m the only one in control!” “Doesn’t look like that to me.” I said to him. “Have you really forgotten about your brother?” “Dusk?” Diablo soon realized what was happening. “No… you did something! There is no way that weakling could do this!” “You may think that, but I think he begs to differ!” “SHUT UP!” Diablo tried to throw a punch at me, but paused at the last second, like something had gotten a hold of his arm to stop him. “Dusk, keep fighting!” I said, hoping my suspicions were right. “I know you’re still in there! Both Luna and I know you’re in a lot of pain! We can help you, but you need to keep Diablo still! Please, Dusk! We need you!” Dusk’s view Floating somewhere in that cold, dark, lifeless void Diablo left me in, I felt so weak, so helpless. My body was covered with bruises and cuts, from which blood trickled steadily. My chest rose and fell weakly with my breathing, but apart from this I was completely motionless, lifeless. Broken. It felt like I was just waiting for death, that being the only thing to do. It seemed like nothing would wake me from this slumber. Perhaps I had once had life, once had hopes, dreams, disappointments and failures. But they were gone now, for it seemed there was little of me left, no hope for me at all. At least, that what I thought until… Dusk! With my sudden stir, I instantly recognized the voice. It was… Dragonis? Dusk, don’t give up! Keep fighting! Dusk! DUSK! With that and a gasp, I instantly opened my eyes. Dragonis’ view From there, I watched in awe as the plume on Diablo’s horn suddenly started glowing blue. Seeing a blue aura that forced Diablo to lower his fist cover the Kishin, I smiled seeing my theory was true: Dusk was still alive and was now fighting against Diablo. “What?!” Diablo was in absolute shock as he struggled to move, the aura keeping him still. “No… Impossible!” “That’s it, Dusk! Keep it up! Don’t let him move!” I said before I turned to Luna, who had managed to pick herself up. “Luna, if you please?” “It would be our pleasure.” She said as she started using her magic, walking over to Diablo. “NO! Stay away from me!” He told her before she then pressed her horn against his, casting her spell on him. Dusk’s view As I fought against the black tentacles, Diablo trying to push me back down, I soon felt it. A surge of magic flowing through me, like a buzz from a defibrillator. Soon after, a light appeared below me, one so bright that it burned away the tentacles. Though I ended up screaming as I soon found myself falling, going straight into the light. I had no idea where it was taking me, but it was better than being stamped down by Diablo. Once more onto the brink… Dragonis’ view After a moment, the aura disappeared and Diablo then pushed Luna away. I managed to catch her as we watched Diablo enter a state of panic. “What did you do to me?” he demanded angrily, looking a little scared. “Why don’t… you tell me?” she asked weakly as I helped her to stand. He waited a few moments, still looking fearful, and then grinned. “Whatever it was, it didn’t work. Your magic is useless.” “Perhaps…” She let a smile form on her face. “We shall see. Dragonis?” “With pleasure.” I returned the smile as I got ready to teleport us away. Seeing what was happening, Diablo’s grin faltered and I heard him scream with rage and charge at us. But, by the time he’d reached the spot we had been, we had returned to the safety of Luna’s room in Canterlot, Luna feeling utterly spent of energy. “You okay, Lunes?” I asked her, helping her to her bed. “I’m fine. Even more so that we succeeded.” She said as she forced herself onto her bed. “Hopefully, the spell I cast will be enough to save him.” “Let’s hope so.” I said, looking out in the hope Dusk was saved. “I believe Equestria will now need him more than ever.” Dusk’s view Feeling something cold and solid beneath me, I raised my head and tried to open my eyes, groaning as I felt like I had received a blast of Nightmare Moon’s magic. Rubbing my head, I was eventually able to open my eyes and got to look around my surroundings. I saw I was no longer in the void, but in this big room made with red walls and a floor of a black and red checker pattern. Floating around were these odd, little, white orbs of light floating around. I had to guess these were the only source of light that kept this room illuminated. Processing all of this, I only asked one question: “Where… am I?” My voice echoed as I continued to look around.