A Hoof In Two Worlds

by Silverwing Strong

Training

'Training'

Silence permeated the air about the now cramped hospital room. At the doorway, three pegasi were cowering, sniveling even, unable to move with their hooves held in place by large blocks of obsidian. At the other end, where the bed was, the human sat there, his eyes holding a fierce glare at them, his hand glowing silver, his hair flowing about like he was an alicorn. Then there were the ponies off to the side. Five pegasi, three unicorns, one earth pony, and an alicorn. The tension was so great, it seemed like the smallest of sounds would set this off and somepony would cease to exist...

"I know you three," Tory eventually said. His voice seemed... Different. "I guess being shown up by my wife wasn't enough. Now look at you, ready to piss yourselves, practically begging for mercy."

"W-We don't beg," Hoops countered, his voice breaking. "Score.. D-Do that thing... Quick."

Raising a still free hoof, the shortest of the brutish pegasi aimed and slammed down on the obsidian block below him. He pulled back a second later with a roar of pain. Evidently, his new power to dispel magic was useless here. Dumbbell tried to break free with his boosted strength, but the blocks below him would not give, no matter what he did.

"You can't get free of this seal," Tory smirked. "That circle below you nulls all powers you posses. You three are just normal pegasi now."

The human got up and stretched slowly. Fluttershy could only stare as she noticed yet another difference. Her lover's body had changed dramatically, his muscles larger, his hair longer, and instead of the usual air of confidence about him, there was this feeling of restrained power. His skin looked a slight shade darker, and for a second she was able to see some strange marking on his left shoulder. The shirt sleeve covered it back up before she could identify it though.

The golden pegasus looked up at his face, and then bit back a gasp as she saw something in his eyes. They not only glowed silver, but underneath that she noticed all of the emotions he could feel at the moment. Sadness, regret, longing, passion... Anger. It seemed like he was fighting for control of his own emotions. Fluttershy wished to hug him, but her body refused to move.

"T-Tory..." Rainbow whispered, her voice so quiet that it was almost inaudible.

"Hey Rainbow," he smiled, planting a soft kiss between her eyes. "Sorry I didn't get to say anything a minute ago, I heard the ruckus out here and I felt obligated to do my part."

"You're... Awake," Luna said, tears in her eyes.

"And I'm not going anywhere," he replied, bringing a hand up and stroking her mane gently. "I promise I'll be with you four always... I love you all."

Turning his attention back to the intruders, Tory raised a hand. It glowed a dark silver before a familiar golden blade with a pink hilt appeared within. He grabbed the broadsword and held it firmly. The blade also seemed to have change. Raven Smite looked upon it to find the hilt was adorned with a diamond in the center, and along the length of the weapon there was a long strip of ruby that pulsed weakly. The blade was radiating with power, almost as much as the owner did.

"You three work for him," Tory continued at the brutes. "That I cannot allow. I'll be sure to make this quick for each of you."

The entire room glowed white for a second. Everypony was blinded quickly, save for the human. When the light vanished, they all noticed the scenery had changed. Instead of the hospital room, the area about looked to be an empty field, the moon shining brightly above. A teleportation spell, with so many ponies, so quickly and smoothly? That was a feat for even a small group of unicorns talented at the particular spell!

"Where are we?" Twilight asked.

"The hill outside of Ponyville," Tory answered, pointing to the town just a small distance away. "Where I can rid us of these pests."

"Wh-What are you gonna do?" Dumbbell stammered, fear and defiance in his voice.

"Nothing, just make you three learn your place," the human replied.

Taking the hilt of his blade in both hands, Tory rushed forward and was almost instantly upon them. The human kicked Score into the air, and before the pegasus had a chance to react, his wings were sliced off, causing him to scream in absolute pain. His attacker hadn't even moved from his place on the ground. Rainbow gasped as she watched. His speed was... It was faster than most would ever see!

Rainbow was the best when it came to speed. She made it her goal in life to be the fastest, to know speed, breathe speed, to live it. So when her husband had rushed forward, she had followed him, to a degree. She had seen most of the attack. He had charged, kicked, and this is where it got hazy for her. Before the kick had been completed, Tory had brought his blade up, slashed the wings off in one fluid strike that she almost missed, and then spun, landing an uppercut while returning to his initial kick to add the last bit of force.

"Woah, that's fast," she whispered.

But not satisfied, Tory grabbed Hoops and spun, causing him to crash right into Dumbbell. The two pegasi fell back and in the swiftest of motions, had their own wings cut off by the same being, who came out of nowhere from the side. His golden sword shined silver in the moonlight, and not a speck of blood from the attacks could be seen on it's magnificent blade. His attacks were faster than even Rainbow could see. The rainbow-haired mare was afraid to blink, knowing she would miss so much if she did.

"Hmph," Tory started, his voice calm. "You three were a waste of time."

"Agh," Dumbbell moaned, to weak to cry out fully. "M-My... My wings..."

"Are gone, and will never heal," the human finished. "I severed every single nerve and implanted my own magic to seal them off. You'll never fly again."

"T-Tory..." Fluttershy whispered, mortified at the onslaught.

"Now then..." he continued, sheathing his blade slowly. "Return to your boss and tell him that his days are numbered. I'll come for his head soon..."

The human turned around and walked back to his friends. His gaze softened, and the silver glow vanished quickly. He looked over at his wives and they slowly approached him, something between fear and awe on their faces. He frowned when he noticed that, and sighed quietly. He had anticipated this reaction to his sudden change, but that did not make it any less painful to see his lovers afraid of him.

"I know I must seem bad," he started, taking a seat a short distance from them to not cause any intimidation. "But please believe me when I say, I'm still the same Tory. I would never, not in a million lives, cause any harm to you. My love for each of you remains, despite my strength, my speed, or how I look. Fluttershy, Luna, Rainbow Dash... You still have my heart in your hooves."

Not sure what to think Luna came forward. She stepped up to Tory, got down to his height, and gazed into his eyes, the deep pools of blue now a stark, bright azure. He looked at her without a word, praying that whatever she looked for would be proof enough that he was still the same. After what seemed like year of silence, or perhaps it had been merely a moment, Luna gasped and tackle hugged the human. She decorated his face with light kisses, earning a laugh and a kiss back.

"You jerk!" she scolded playfully, lightly punching his arm. "You made us worry! We were scared to death!"

"I'm so sorry Angel," Tory apologized, pulling her in for a tight and loving hug. "I wanted to come back immediately, but he wouldn't let me. He said I had to finish training first..."

"Training?" Rainbow asked, coming over as well.

"There she is, the madness to my method!" her lover smiled widely, lifting her onto his lap and pushing his lips to meet hers for a kiss that warmed both their hearts. "I missed that rainbow mane and that daring attitude of yours!"

Rainbow Dash blushed and gave Tory a light hug, stepping back so he could greet his first lover, and the one she knew that he cared the most for. Yet as she looked over, the pegasus noticed Fluttershy had not moved from her spot. The look in her eyes held so much fear of him. Rainbow was afraid the golden mare would flee if he moved to her.

"F-Fluttershy," Tory whispered, his eyes sad. "I swear upon everything I am, this is still me. I haven't changed, I promise..."

"Leave her alone," Shadow stepped in, getting between them. "Can't you see she's afraid?"

"Shadow, what are you doing?" Rainbow Dash stepped up to him.

"I can see that she doesn't like him," the deep gray pegasus responded. "If he tries anything, I'm going to protect her."

"I... Do you really..." Tory trailed off, unable to form a coherent thought now. His eyes started to water up. "Am I so scary? I..."

"Fluttershy, you can't be afraid of him!" Luna argued. "Think! What about all those memories you two shared? What about in the corridor? Surely you know that has nothing but love for you!"

Fluttershy remained silent, her eyes down at her hooves, her body shaking. Shadow continued to glare at Tory, who was unable to act, though Rainbow and Luna tried to bring him back up. Twilight and the rest of them could only watch as this entire scene unfolded before them. It was a minute before the silence was broken, and Fluttershy spoke up.

"I... I'm not afraid of you," she started, looking up. "I'm afraid of what you became. Those things you did, your looks... It's all so... Wrong. I loved the kind, gentle Tory. Not this dark, hurtful one..."

"I... I..." was all he could say in response.

Everypony was shocked to hear this from her, the most loving, caring, and trusting of them all. She had the most faith in Tory from the very beginning, yet now she had none? Did he really seem so... So bad to her? Rainbow shook her head free of these thoughts and came over to Fluttershy. Raising a hoof, she slapped the mare across the face with a very angry face.

"Dark? Hurtful?" the rainbow-haired pegasus started, her voice rising. "You think that Tory is any of those things?! I can't believe you! He was ready to die just to hold you in his arms!!! Remember what his cutie mark is? It's a golden shield with a pink heart! Meaning his talent is to love and protect YOU! Not me, not Luna, and not anypony else! YOU! Do you think he wants to hurt anypony? Do you think he likes fighting?!"

"Rainbow," Tory started. "You don't have to-"

"Oh but I do!" she cut him off. "Fluttershy, think back to every memory you and Tory shared. You know in your heart he is good! He still loves you like he always has! He doesn't want to fight either, but he does, and you know why? So he can protect you! He fights so that you can be happy!"

"Stop it!" Fluttershy cried, turning away. "I... Please, just stop."

"I think perhaps something is wrong with YOU, Fluttershy." Octavia challenged, entering the conversation for the first time. She stepped over to Tory and nuzzled him lightly. "I see the love in his eyes, and the hurt that your words inflict upon him. Look, look at this face, those eyes, and tell me that this is someone else, that this is not the one you fell in love with."

"O-Octavia..." Fluttershy whispered, casting a sad look at the cellist.

Working up her nerves, the golden pegasus looked into Tory's eyes, deep blue into pure azure. They held their gaze on each other for minutes, not a word said between anypony. Tears formed in Fluttershy's eyes eventually, and she came forward. She rushed up to the human, and pinned him down, planting the deepest of kisses upon him. The smile she wore was not lost to any of them, especially not the one she was kissing.

"Oh, how could I be so mean?!" she cried into his chest, wrapping her hooves around him. "I was so scared of how you changed, I... I didn't want to believe it was you! I feel so bad about this!"

"It's okay, my Golden Dove," Tory whispered into her ear, stroking her mane gently all the while. "I understand. We are together, and that's what matters..."

"Yes," Rainbow nodded, joining the hug.

"Of course," Luna agreed, getting in as well.

"Quite," Octavia smiled, watching them.

"... Why are you standing there," Rainbow asked, her expression one of confusion.

"Pardon?" the cellist responded, using the same tone.

"You're a part of this family too," Luna smiled.

"She is?" Tory blinked. 

"Oh don't lie to us Tory," Fluttershy giggled, her happy self once more now that she knew her husband was the same. "We know you love Octavia.~"

This earned a soft blush from both the human and the cellist. She smiled and came over, reluctantly joining the group hug. The gray mare was enveloped in hooves, fur, and the smiles of the ones around her. She sighed happily, and opened her eyes to see pure azure eyes looking back. Tory smiled, leaned in, and kissed Octavia lightly. The blush she gained made his grin even larger, and she couldn't help but return it.

"So now our music will soar on wings of silver, am I right?" Tory asked, his voice playful.

"Y-Yes," the mare stammered, unable to contain the happiness she felt within.

In an instant, Octavia had closed the distance between their faces, and kissed him more passionately than ever before. She didn't know what fueled such a motion, but she didn't care, because she had someone to love now. No longer would she be alone, like she always felt. Now, her soul could find happiness in the company of this human, and his other wives.

"I take it that you want to join our little family?" Tory asked, breaking the cellist out of her musings.

"I-I... Am I permitted to?" Octavia stammered, looking at each of them.

"Of course!" Luna smiled.

"Heck yeah!" Rainbow joined in.

"We'd be happy to let you," Fluttershy nodded.

"Happy? No, I'd love it if you would..." Tory finished, embracing her.

"Th-Then... Yes, I would be delighted to!" the cellist beamed at each of them.

"Heh, then I guess another wedding is in order," the human smiled. "But this time... It'll be just those close to us."

"I'd like that... Very much," Octavia blushed.

Once more they all hugged, but this time the focus was around Tory and the cellist, instead of evenly spread out. The two new lovers held each other close and smiled, azure eyes gazing into amethyst. The outside group just smiled as they watched the while thing. Vinyl herself felt the happiest at seeing her friend so content. She knew this was right...

"U-Um Tory," Fluttershy whispered into his ear. "I um... H-have something to tell you... Something important... And p-private."

"... Alright Fluttershy," he nodded, looking at the other girls. They understood and walked over to their friends. "So, what's bothering you? Is it still about this new me?"

"N-No I..." the golden pegasus stammered. She looked down at her hooves. "I just... Well I... Found out..."

"Yes?" Tory pressed, his face showing concern for his wife. She hadn't stuttered like this in forever now.

"R-Remember what we... We um..." Fluttershy tried again. She shuffled her hooves and blushed. "What h-happened in the... Gardens?"

"The Gardens... Oh yes, our wedding night," he nodded, smiling and kissing her.

"Well..." she pointed a hoof down at her stomach.

Tory was wondering what she meant exactly by that. He looked from her blush to her stomach, and slowly it started to dawn on him. The deepest of blushes formed on his cheeks. He could feel the redness grow hot with each second. His smile faltered for a second, but then grew much wider. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he quickly hugged Fluttershy to him.

"YOU'RE KIDDING ME?!" he shouted. "You mean that I... That you... WE... Are going to-"

"Yes," the golden pegasus whispered, placing a hoof over his mouth to silence him. "You're going to be a father..."

She kissed him softly, and he returned the motion happily. He wrapped the mare in his wings, caressing her mane. Fluttershy giggled in his embrace, and snuggled into his chest, content once more. Things felt so right again. She was married, she was happy, and now she was going to have a child, a little colt or filly, with her husband. And she wouldn't be alone either. The golden pegasus knew she had the support of Tory's other wives, her fellow sisters.

"Hey!" Rainbow called out, grabbing their attention. "What's going on over there?"

"Should we tell them?" Tory smiled at his first love.

"Let's get them all together first," she giggled, loving the smile her husband sported at this news.

Truthfully, she had been scared of how he would react. When she found out, she had nearly fainted herself. The doctor had said the foal would arrive in nine months, which she was grateful to learn. That meant plenty of time to tell everypony. Yet the entire time Tory had been unconscious, she had wondered what he would think. Time started to make her panic, yet now... Now she felt at ease, knowing he was happy. It brought a large smile to her face to know he wanted to go through with this.

"Alright," Tory replied, kissing her between the eyes. "We'll tell them soon..."

"Oh, nothing really," Fluttershy called back to Rainbow. "Just... I wanted a quick moment to be alone with Tory."

"Aw c'mon Fluttershy," the rainbow-haired pegasus complained. "Don't hog him for yourself!"

"Oh Rainbow, you know she can't do that," came an ever so familiar voice behind her.

She turned to see Tory standing there, sporting the largest smile she had ever seen. Turning back, she saw her lover hadn't moved an inch. With a large smile herself, she tackled the human to the ground and glomped him, kissing him passionately. With a light blush, he returned it. The love she saw in his eyes was so intense, the mare was unable to keep herself from kissing him again and again.

"You have to teach me how you do that..." Rainbow whispered into his ear.

"I think I'll just keep it my little secret," he chuckled.

"What about me?" Luna asked.

"As if I could forget about my Lunar Angel," her husband spoke up from behind her, yet another clone appearing.

"This is getting a little too much," Raven sighed. "Let's go back to town and just rest..."

"Happy to," all of the Tory's said in unison.

I.I.I The Next Day I.I.I

"So darling, what is it that made you come back to town again?" Rarity asked for Fluttershy the second time that day.

"You'll see Rarity," the golden pegasus answered once more, a large smile on her face.

When they got back to town, Tory had it in his mind to mess with their friends. He said they should all meet up outside Twilight's library around noon. Fluttershy hadn't been so sure, but she knew it wouldn't be bad. What confused her though was the little chuckle her husband gave a few seconds later. She asked him what was funny and his answer left her wondering.

"You'll see, my Golden Dove," he laughed. "Just don't freak out when you see what comes through..."

Having just left it at that, she went to collect Rarity from the Carousel Boutique. Rainbow went to grab Applejack, and Luna went after Pinkie. Octavia had been wondering what she could do, but Tory held her back saying her role in this was important and big. Fluttershy simply smiled and left them to plan whatever it was. All she knew was that it was going to be big. Maybe he planned on proposing to her, in front of all their friends?

"This tension is not good for my complexion deary," Rarity protested, trying to get the answer once more. 

"Just wait please," Fluttershy sighed. "We're almost there. Just wait until we are all together at Twilight's."

"Is this about that incident in Canterlot?" the alabaster unicorn questioned. "Oh I do hope that Tory will be alright..."

"I-I know..." Fluttershy stammered, trying to fake being sad about it. "I... I miss him so much..."

"We all do deary," Rarity soothed, falling for the ruse. "But I know he'll be back soon, so just keep your head up."

"I'll t-try..."

Fighting the giggles, Fluttershy turned a little to see the library just ahead, with Rainbow and Applejack coming down the road opposite. Luna was standing outside with Pinkie Pie bouncing around her crazily. The dark alicorn looked so dejected, sitting there listening to the pink earth pony launch question after question. But upon seeing her sisters, the Princess of the Night got up and trotted over, a smile on her face.

"Is this everyone?" she asked.

"I think we're missing Raven, Ditzy, Fantasia, and a few others," Rainbow answered, walking up to them.

"Just wha's so gosh darn important tha's gotta take me an Cory from tha orchard?" Applejack asked, looking irritated.

"Hey, wait up!" came the orange haired human from down the road. "I can't gallop like you guys!"

"Hurry up city-slicker!" the earth pony laughed. She turned back to the girls and smiled. "He's been helpin' me with tha farm ev'ry day. He can't stop talkin' 'bout Twilight though."

"Can you blame him?" Rainbow laughed. "I bet if you found somepony that loved you so much, you would think about them all the time."

"Fair 'nough," Applejack sighed. "Darn shopkeeper been lyin' this while time... Just wanted mah family's secret recipe."

"Oh don't worry Applejack," Fluttershy hugged her. "I'm sure you'll find your special somepony..."

"Yes, if I can, then you most likely will as well," Luna smiled. "After all, you are Applejack. You are nice, strong, and of course, you never lie."

"...Ya think so?" the orange earth pony asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"We know so," Rainbow nodded, hugging her.

"Hey!" came a commanding voice from above. The slowly growing group looked up to see Raven and Ditzy. "We heard that a get together was going on?"

"Yeah, when the rest of our friends get here," Rainbow told him. She looked at Cory who was now resting since he caught up. "Hey, where are Grace and Big Macintosh?"

"They... Went to Earth," he gasped. "Z-Zecora... Took them..."

"Big Mac went 'cause she wanted ta go home," Applejack continued. "They left 'bout two hours after tha wedding."

"Excuse me for interrupting," Rarity interjected. "But is that who I think it is?"

Everypony turned towards where she was looking to see a blue unicorn swaggering down the road, her cape blowing in the breeze, her hat tilted over her eyes. Fluttershy had to suppress a smile at how badly the mare was trying to blend in. After a minute, the newcomer made it over to them, and revealed her face. Applejack and Rarity glared at her.

"H-Hello," Trixie stammered, her face one of false confidence. "Trixie would like to ask if this is the right place?"

"Wha' are y'all doin' here?" Applejack challenged. "Didn' learn yer lesson tha last time?"

"Please wait," Fluttershy stopped before her friends did something unpleasant. "Trixie is good, she helped us..."

"I simply refuse to believe that," Rarity shook her head. "After this showoff tried to hurt our dear Fantasia and Ditzy?"

"Trixie knows what she did was bad..." the blue unicorn Hun her head. "She wishes to... A-Apologize for her... Rash and destructive actions. Had she a chance, Trixie would fix it..."

"Ah'm not buyin' it," Applejack glared. "How can we trust ya when ya almost killed yer own sister?"

"Hey, it's fine everypony," came a soft voice behind them. They all turned to see Fantasia. "I forgave her for what happened... She means well now, I know it."

Both Rarity and Applejack looked from one sister to the next, trying to decide what to believe. On one hoof, it was Trixie, who had almost destroyed the town because of her gloating. On the other, it was Fantasia who had almost been killed by the showpony, but forgave the incident... After a moment, they both resigned their anger and looked at Trixie.

"Alright, this one time," Rarity started. "We shall give you one chance, and only one."

"If ya mess up, ah'll be over ya like red on an apple!" Applejack threatened.

"Th-Thank you," Trixie nodded, flinching from the threat. "Trixie shall do her best to prove worthy of your trust."

"Is this everyone?" Rainbow asked, looking around.

"I think so..." Luna nodded. Let's go inside now. Twilight said it was important..."

Walking into the library, everypony gasped to see the place in a complete mess. Books littered the floor, pages torn out and scattered across the room. Other decor in the first floor lobby was strewn about recklessly, adding to the mess. Spike was nowhere to be found, and Twilight was in the center of all the pages on the only piece of visible floor.

Her mane was a complete mess, and her eye twitched uncontrollably. This giant creepy smile could be seen on her face. Her eyes were dilated, and her tail lashed from side to side, random strands poking up. She looked absolutely insane to them. She had a piece of chalk in her hoof and was drawing some strange circle with symbols into the wood.

"Y-Y-Yes, very soon," Twilight laughed crazily. "The seal is almost done, and then Master will be here... Ponies will not know what hit them, they won't."

"T-Twilight?" Applejack started, fear and worry in her voice. "Wha's goin' on here?"

"The ponies!" the purple unicorn shouted, getting up and glaring at them. "Master does not like you! Will hurt, like Master would want!"

"You're really starting to freak me out Twi'..." Rainbow told her.

"What is that Master?" Twilight asked nopony in particular, tilting her head to the side and perking an ear up. "Wish to see the ponies? If you desire it, I will grant to you..."

Taking the chalk, the purple unicorn added a few more symbols to the circle on the floor. She aimed her horn at it then, released some magic, and it glowed white. These was a bright flash, causing everypony to look away, when it died they saw a portal in the ground. Then something horrible happened. A tall figure emerged slowly, his form ever so familiar to them.

His horns and single fang was a dead giveaway to his identity. Appearing from the portal in the floor was Discord, his yellow eyes with red pupils gleamed with a twisted happiness, and his grin held this unspeakable malice. Yet what horrified them the most was what he held in his claw. Within his grasp was a struggling Octavia, fear evident within her expression.

"HELP!!" she screeched. "FLUTTERSHY, RAINBOW, LUNA!!!"

"OCTAVIA!!" everypony shouted, taking a fighting stance.

"Oh how fun," Discord laughed. "If only you could see your faces. Today has just been so good. I got to beat Tory, kidnapped his little mare, and now thanks to Sparkles here, I get to beat all of you!~"

"Tory would never lose to you!" Rainbow challenged. "He could take you down without even trying!"

"Yes," Luna nodded, her horn glowing a deep indigo. "Our husband has more power than ever before, and anything you can do, he can do so with much more skill and grace."

"Oh really, then why hasn't he stopped me from taking this pony here?" the demon asked, chuckling.

"My name is Octavia," the cellist huffed in his grasp. "How uncouth you are, taking a lady without even knowing her name."

"Ugh gag me," Discord sighed. "All you ponies do is complain and whine... You're so boring."

"...H-Hey wait a moment," Rainbow started, thinking about this scenario. "Weren't you in a human body last time we saw you? And weren't you more... Evil?"

"... I-I simply have no idea what you mean Rainbow Dash," the demon returned, his voice less confident.

"Yeah, and something is confusing me," Luna pressed. "If I remember, Tory put a barrier spell around all of us. How did you get control of Twilight Sparkle?"

Discord blinked one, and his expression became flustered. His grasp on Octavia slipped, and she dropped to the floor landing on her flank. Twilight also seemed to look confused. Fluttershy noticed this and had a thought. Things weren't adding up here, not at all. Twilight's behavior, the portal... Everything. Suddenly she understood what was happening and smiled.

"Okay Tory, you can stop now," she giggled.

"Heh..." Discord chuckled, his voice slowly changing. "Hahahaha! Oh I knew you'd get it first Fluttershy!"

"TORY?!" Rarity yelled, her expression one of complete shock.

There was a soft silver glow around the false demon's body, and it slowly shrunk down. His form became more familiar,'his tail vanishing, his horns retracting, and his claws becoming hands once more. His back grew a little, and large angelic wings bathed in the same silver glow emerged. Slowly the shine of his form died down, and everypony saw the human standing there, a confident and lovable smile on his face.

"Well duh," Tory laughed. "Who else could pull off a troll like that?"

"DUDE!" Cory shouted, tackling him. "We've been freaking out!"

"Yeah sorry about that," the silver-winged human smiled. "Trust me, I didn't plan to go into a coma."

"Um, if I may," Rarity started, coming forth. "You look absolutely dashing now but... Just how did you get so different?"

"Why yes, I too have been wondering," Octavia commented, walking up to her new lover. "What brought about this transformation?"

"Ah, now I can explain," Tory grinned. He walked over to a wall, leaned against it, and crossed his arms. "Well it's a kinda long story, so try to get comfy... Well it started right after I thought I died..."

I.I.I Time: Unknown, Location: Unknown I.I.I

Endless white, and then black. Gray... No, Silver. It was a deep silver. Nothing seemed to be there, nothing around. Tory opened his eyes to this emptiness, feeling no pain, and oddly calm. He looked about at the silver that consumed everything around him. He looked down to see the same thing. Above, below, left and right... Just silver. He sighed loudly, surprised to hear his voice echo all around him.

"Is this death?" Tory asked nobody in particular. "Just a never-ending nonexistence around me?"

"If things were like that after death, then everything would be boring," came a female voice behind him. "No, this is just a fragment of your comatose mind."

Turning around, Tory saw a young woman, maybe a year or two older than him. She had long brown hair, two bangs on the sides of her face with the rest tied back by a bow. She had eyes a stronger shade than emeralds, and her smile was the kindest he had ever seen, second only to Fluttershy's. She wore a small red jacket over a light pink shirt, with red pants. She carried a staff, which she held behind her in both hands.

"A-Aerith," Tory stammered.

"Well, not really," the Ancient giggled. "I'm just a creation of your mind and the true force behind everything. I was the person in your head that seemed best to explain things."

"Uh-huh," he commented. "So um... The true force?"

"Some refer to the forces as God, others call them Zeus, Minerva..." Aerith explained. "But none of these are exact. The true forces created everything in equality, and have seen things from afar. They have no definite form, no gender or likeness to anything. All of existence came from these forces."

"Okay so then..." Tory though aloud. "... The true forces are essentially creation and existence in a realm beyond our comprehension?"

"Yes, there you go!" she beamed, hugging him.

"U-Um..." he stammered again, blushing.

"Oh don't be embarrassed," Aerith smiled. "Just relax! I'm here to help you grow. The true forces have a distinct hate of Discord and his using of their powers so cruelly. They want you to fix things."

"Hence the prophecy, and why I'm not dead..." Tory finished.

"Yup!" the Ancient nodded. "I'm supposed to train you before you go back. Ready?"

"Not really," the human sighed. "I don't have my weapons, and I don't even know how long this will take. I don't have forever to do this after all..."

"Yes you do," Aerith countered with a smile. "This place is existence outside of time. Physics, temporal restrictions... Anything that existed doesn't while you're here. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything."

"So if I wanted to, I could make anything happen here?"

"Yes, exactly!" she hugged him again. "Rules do not apply here, so have fun with it!~"

"R-Right..." Tory sighed. But he smiled when he got an idea. "If I can do anything... Then my mind is the only limit. So if I wanted to..."

Tory stepped back, extended an open left hand to the side, palm facing behind him. A soft white glow emerged from the ground and a large bow emerged, rising up into his grasp. A quiver faded into existence on his back, a leather strap going across his torso. He pulled out an arrow, a simple one made of iron, and nocked it in the bow. He took aim, and released the shot, a target landing from above just in front of the projectile. With a smile he tossed the gear into the air, and it vanished in a flash of white.

"Most impressive," Aerith giggled.

"Just messing around," the human shrugged. "I always wanted to use a bow."

"Then learn it," she told him. "You have the time now.."

"Maybe, but I want to set myself up first." Tory told her. "Time for a little redressing."

A haze covered his body, and his form started to alter. There was the sound of clothing moving around, but that was it. Then the smoke cleared and Aerith smiled. Tory had gained a new appearance alright. His regular clothing had vanished to be replaced with a silver shirt and black pants. He wore black fingerless gloves, and black combat boots. Over his shirt was what looked like a leather breastplate, with a leather strap going under it. Over-top all of this was a black trench-coat, with the collar extended up. On his forehead were a pair of goggles, wide and silver-colored.

Across Tory's chest was a black strap which held the sheathe of a large sword on his back. At his hips were two daggers, their sheaths crossing his waist like a pair of belts in an 'x' fashion. Once more he had a quiver and a bow, both slung across his back and shoulders. If one looked close enough at the end of his coat sleeves, they would see two leather bracers on his wrists.

"A little?" Aerith smiled.

"What? I like this outfit. Plus it'll help me train," he replied.

"If you say so.~" the Ancient sang with a giggle. "Ready?"

"Yes... What do I do?"

"You fight... Him," Aerith answered, pointing behind him.

Turning around, Tory came face to face with a familiar figure. He stood just a little taller than this character, who had blonde hair parted from the middle to the sides. He wore a blue denim jacket over a white shirt, with blue baggy pants. He had on white gloves, and he sported a tail as well. In his hands were two daggers, which he held behind him.

"... Zidane," Tory whispered, stepping back.

"Yup!" the newcomer laughed. "You fight me, and I have to help you get better. Don't hold back, or you might get hurt."

"R-Right..."

With that, Tory unsheathed his own daggers, holding them upside down like his opponent. His shoulders could be seen shaking, not out of fear, but from excitement. Zidane, of Final Fantasy Nine, his favorite character in the entire series. The human held back a laugh. Now he got to fight the character he held in such high esteem. This would be a good test of his skills.

"Trance!" Zidane yelled, his clothing vanishing to be replaced with red fur. His body glowed the same shade.

"Off the bat?!" Tory protested, jumping back and spreading his wings.

"Whatsa matter, scared?" the thief laughed. He jumped up high, far above his opponent and brought his dagger hilts together, combining them. He started to spin the weapon and dived downward at Tory. "Rah!"

The human dodged, but Zidane wasn't done. The character separated his weapons, tossed them off to Tory's sides, and they angled themselves towards him, glowing blue. With a yelp, the human flew backwards, just barely dodging two beams of energy from the blades. He gained some altitude and took a moment to catch his breath.

"Damn you're fast," Tory laughed.

"Can't handle it?" Zidane smiled.

"If you want to get stronger, you have to beat Zidane," Aerith told the human. "You're speed must be faster than his if you hope to get stronger. Discord is twice as fast, and triple the strength."

"What, you think I'm giving up?" Tory challenged. He laughed and landed beside her. "I'm not even getting started. I can't lose to someone whose attacks I know better than my own."

"Then let's up the difficulty..." the Ancient nodded at Zidane.

"Triple Threat!" the character shouted, three copies spawning around him. One rushed upward, one left, one right, and one down the center.

"Hyah!" Tory roared, spinning wildly and rapidly with his daggers extended.

The copies all collided with the spin attack, slashing them in two instantly. But before they dissipated, the human stuck out his feet, flipping their lower halves and propelling them into the air. He jumped, grabbed them, and tossed the legs into the aerial one who swatted them to the side. Then the Zidane saw his opponent had closed the distance, and his daggers were angled at two vital points.

"Blade Storm!" Tory shouted.

He started to slash the character to bits, each strike landing on a vital area of the body. The assault tore at Zidane's body, which still glowed red with power. The knives cut deeply into him, quickly draining his strength. With a shout, the thief deflected a strike and kicked the human away. They both landed and fell to their knees, tired from that little bout.

"Whew, I didn't expect to get this far..." Tory laughed weakly.

"Sheesh, you didn't even... flinch," Zidane gasped.

Aerith smiled, watching them. This was going good. The human's speed was about as equal as his opponent's. That meant to win, Tory had to surpass Zidane's lightning quick attacks and anticipate where the character would move, then counter with his own strikes than had to be just as swift. Since speed was his worst trait, the Ancient felt that should be capitalized on. This was the first part of her special training regiment she would put Tory through.

"Alright, enough of this," the human spoke up, getting to his feet. He tossed all of his weapons to the side and took a fighting stance. "You and me, right now. No more tricks, no weapons, just a man to man fist fight."

"Alright, I'll play " Zidane nodded, dropping his daggers at his feet. "Just don't complain when I knock you out!"

"We'll see..."

The two rushed at each other quickly, closing the small distance between them in almost no time. Zidane lashed out with a right jab, but Tory ducked and tried to uppercut. The character stepped back, pivoted off his left foot, and smashed the human from the side, who reeled back from the strike and flipped off his hand. Not letting up any, the thief rushed after him, performing a jump spin kick, which was blocked and countered with a grab. He was thrown behind his opponent, his own momentum carrying him farther.

Tory charged at him, weaving left and right. He closed the distance and feinted, landing a solid punch in Zidane's stomach. He continued by grabbing his opponent's head, bringing his knee up, and slamming them together. The thief fell back, and that was the opportunity the human needed. He went in low, swept his foot under the character, and as his opponent fell, he spun, brought the same foot up and slammed it into Zidane's stomach, making the impact against the ground twice as strong.

The character grunted, rolled away, and used his tail to catch Tory's leg, bringing the human down. Using the fall, the silver-winged one brought his elbow down, just barely missing his opponent. They split apart, stood up, and panted heavily. Aerith could only watch these two figures brawl, her expression one of excitement. This was great to watch!

"Sheesh," Tory gasped, clutching at his chest. "Y-You don't... Give up."

"Course not," Zidane laughed weakly. "Gotta be strong to... To protect my friends..."

"I know... The feeling," the human sighed, taking a knee. "If I don't... Protect my wives, then I am a failure."

"Married eh?"

"Happily," Tory chuckled.

"Okay, break time!" Aerith broke in, sitting down by the human.

"Break welcome," the two fighters responded in unison, collapsing immediately.

"Heh, boys.." the Ancient laughed kindly.

I.I.I Golden Oaks Library, current time period I.I.I

"So who won?" Rainbow asked her husband.

"It was a draw," Tory smiled, hugging her. "Our first battle ended like so many others did. Me and Zidane fought so many times, I lost count."

"How many fights do you think you both had?" Twilight questioned, a quill and parchment hovering nearby in her magic.

"Let's see... I'd say about a thousand," he laughed. "Aerith made us fight about three times a day... Least I think it was a day. Hard to tell when there isn't a sun in the sky, or a beautiful moon to grace the night..."

This earned a blush from Luna, which got her a kiss by the human she loved. Each of Tory's lovers were huddled around him, content to have him back. Rainbow Dash was over his left shoulder, her head resting on his arm. Luna was at his right, her hoof in his hand. Fluttershy was curled up on his head, eyes closed but she was listening. Octavia was in a similar position in his lap, having her mane caressed by his free hand.

"You fought him a thousand times?!" Cory shouted, incredulous.

"I think," the brown-haired human told him calmly. "I stopped counting when Aerith threw in a little twist one day..."

I.I.I Location/Time: Unknown I.I.I

"Okay you two," the Ancient started, grabbing the attention of Tory and Zidane. "We need to do things differently now."

Though time was not existence in this blank space, the equivalent of two years had passed. Tory's form had not changed much, but he looked stronger. Yet he nor Zidane had taken notice, having fought each other every day for hours at a time. His body was more lithe, and any excess weight he once held was now hardened muscle. His hair was twice it's length, over his eyes now. His outfit was torn in many places, some parts of it ripped off to stop the hindrance, yet his weapons looked as fresh and strong as the day he made them.

"Oh, I finally get someone that can fight?" Tory joked, crossing his arms.

"Heh, last I checked you were down by three loses," Zidane taunted.

"I'll make it up by five wins in our next fight day," the human countered, lightly punching his friend.

"You two..." Aerith sighed, shaking her head with a smile.

During the time Tory had been here, all three of them had become close friends. Zidane was like a brother to him, and Aerith, a sister. Though they were not exactly real, they still existed, and that proved to be the only thing keeping him sane in this place of absolute emptiness. Now the human had so much trust in them, he would place his life in their hands, knowing they would do the same for him.

"Anyways, it's time to step up your training Tory," Aerith continued.

Okay, so what are we doing?" he asked.

"WE are not doing anything," the Ancient responded, placing two fingers on his forehead. "But YOU are..."

Before the human had a chance to ask what she meant, she pushes him gently, enough to knock him back. He rocked back on his heels, and felt the ground beneath him vanish. His body slowly descended down, his companions standing there, watching him fall. He kept his eyes on them, watching the blackness around him swell up, engulfing his body. The only thing remaining was the shaft of light where he could just barely make out the two small figures of his friends.

After a couple more seconds Tory landed against something, a large splash of water surging around his form. He looked at it, saw the red tinge to it and gasped, air bubbles emerging in place. He felt cold emptiness about him, and his vision started to blacken... No, the water was turning black! What the human had initially taken as bloody water was actually...

"Madness," Tory thought to himself, regaining control of his body and forcing his way up. "This stuff will drive my soul insane if I don't get out of it quick!"

The human swam for the surface, reaching out to the air above. He could breathe in this dense water, but he longed for the relief of warm oxygen over this cold, blackness that threatened to send him into insanity. He came within just a few inches of the surface, and found his way barred by a durable, thin layer of hardened madness. It resisted all of his pushing, not even cracking.

"I don't have long..." the human mused to himself, feeling a dark nagging at the back of his head. "The madness is already digging it's claws into me."

Starting to get desperate, Tory reared back and slammed his fist into the barrier. He punched at the dark wall that kept him in the darkness, smashing against it as hard as his body would allow him to. He fought against the twisted thoughts his mind willed before him. Why does pain hurt so much, yet feel so good? Should I keep doing this because I like what I feel or because it hurts?

"Gah, get out of my head!" Tory roared at himself, shaking his head quickly. "I'll not succumb to the insanity! I... Will... FIGHT!!!"

With a shout of anger into the madness, the human punched the wall one more time, putting his soul into the attack. He smashed against it, cracking the dark barrier. He gave a smirk, one much darker than he had intended to give, and swam down just a little. He looked up, and pushed forward as hard as his legs would allow, building all the speed he could muster.

He charged at the wall before him and instead of using his fists, he rammed against it with his head. The end result was him bursting from the black water of insanity. He coughed and sputtered for air as he rested halfway out of the madness, his torso over the hard layer that originally held him down. Now it served as the one thing keeping him free of the madness.

"Uhn," Tory grunted, dragging his lower body from the murky depths of evil. "I... Made it."

"Or have you?" came a soft voice to his side. He turned and saw Fluttershy approach from the black abyss to the side.

Like above and below, there was just darkness. Pure black to the darkest degree on all sides. Yet still Tory found his sight unhindered by the lack of light. He could still see color, or actually the many shades of gray around him. Just like Fluttershy was right now, her body a light gray, her mane a blackish gray. Yet what he saw in her eyes was what startled him most. Hatred, evil... Absolute malice directed at him.

"Fluttershy?" Tory questioned, a hint of fear in his voice.

"You're weak, a loser like on Earth!" she sneered, her words making him flinch and stinging his heart. "I don't even know why I married you!"

"Nor I," came a dark and regal voice from the shadows behind him. He turned to see Luna, the same disdain in her eyes. "How I came to like you, something so softhearted and not even a pony. I feel so vulgar, having touched you... Having kissed you. The taste on my tongue is absolutely revolting!"

"And you're not even loyal!" barked the rebellious voice of Rainbow Dash, who emerged beside the dark alicorn. "Who falls in love with three ponies and marries all three of them?! If you ask me, you were cheating on all of us! I bet you have some fourth mare hiding somewhere from us, don't you?"

"I-I... Never," Tory stammered, his voice weak with the pain each comment had struck him with. "You know I love all three of you, with every bit of my heart!"

"Stop lying!" Rainbow yelled at him, getting close and glaring, her eyes burning holes into his. "I know what you think of that Octavia mare! I saw the look you gave her at OUR wedding!"

"Hmph," Luna huffed, turning away. "How tasteless and cruel, to harbor feelings for a pony you have no connection to and not even a day after getting married!"

"You don't deserve us," Fluttershy finished, breaking the last of the human's heart. "You belong in that black water, where you can just die!"

That tore it for the human. Despite everything he had gone through for them, all three of his wives held no love for him. His heart shattered into hundreds of tiny fragments, each one crumbling to dust and flying away in a breeze of hate and disdain. His eyes teared up, and his stomach clenched. Tory broke into a massive sweat and for a second he thought his body had stopped entirely.

Unable to hold himself up, he buckled and went to his knees, then his entire body dropped, back into the black madness he had tried so desperately to escape. The hard layer on the surface parted and welcomed him, embracing his being with cold, black love. His mind didn't even try to resist the insanity forced upon him. His thoughts and beliefs fell before the surge of darkness.

"I don't deserve them..." Tory thought to himself, his thoughts flashing an evil scene for a second. "I'm weak... Softhearted... I belong in this madness..."

The darkest of his thoughts pushed forward, his blade drenched in blood. He saw himself standing over a figure, the most twisted of smiles upon his face. He was covered in blood as well. He laughed, a dark haunting chuckle that reverberated through his whole body. His eyes were bloodshot, his pupils dilated and his entire body was shaking. It wasn't from fear, it was from sheer joy. Tory hadn't done it, yet he knew the feelings that his vision self was experiencing.

The human focused his attention on the figure on the floor, the one 'he' had just killed. Who was it? He could only see a massive blood puddle about them, they had a long mane and... No. There had to be some sort of mistake! He'd never do something like THAT!!!!

“F-Fluttershy...” Tory whispered, seeing the dead body of his wife, his insane self laughing maniacally.

“I've finally done it,” the twisted version of him started, his voice excited and ever so different, scaring the original. “I've killed her at last. No more will she berate me, or beg for my help! I killed Fluttershy, and I'm free!”

“This... isn't right!” the original thought to himself, shaking the vision from his mind. “I'd never kill my wife! I love her too much!!”

Tory opened his eyes, the cold and dark madness around him, numbing his body with it's insanity. Every dark thought imaginable flashed through his head, and it scared him. These were not his own thoughts, just those of his dark side, the one he would never give in to! He forced every little drop of blood, every hysterical laugh, every violent thing he saw out of his mind.

“I won't let myself lose to this!” he thought, his confidence returning in a massive surge. “I'll die before I give in to the insanity, before I even consider hurting Fluttershy, Luna, or Rainbow!!!”

There was no doubt in his mind now, no fear, and his heart stood strong once more. Tory clenched his fists, and corrected his body, aiming upward. He swam upward, willing his legs to kick harder, his hands to pull him closer to the barrier he knew waited for him. Yet this time, there would be no stopping, not from the wall, not from his emotions... nothing!

With a shout, the human reared back, his momentum shooting him upward and right at the wall. He slammed his fist into the hard exterior, and it shattered almost instantly, breaking a large hole in the surface. He climbed out once more, and looked about the emptiness on all sides, the single shaft above his only light.

“Alright, you can come out now,” Tory started, relaxing his muscles and taking a moment to rid himself of those horrid thoughts the madness instilled. “I know each of you are there.”

“Who cares what you know!” Fluttershy started, approaching from the shadows with his other wives in tow. “You're just a loser! You're too weak to do-”

At that exact moment, Tory had crossed the distance between him and her, and embraced his wife lovingly. He caressed her mane gently, feeling each and every strand of her soft pink hair. He held her close, a smile upon his face and tears in his eyes. Yet the ones he shed now were happy ones. He was overjoyed at seeing Fluttershy alive and well, instead of dead with her blood everywhere.

“It's alright,” the human soothed, whispering into her ear. “I'm here for you, even if you don't want me to be. I love you, so incredibly much, and that will never change.”

“T-Tory...” the golden pegasus unable to speak fully. “You... You're...”

“I'm right here, with you, Rainbow Dash, and Luna,” he finished for her. “Right where I need to be.”

“Hmph!” the rainbow-haired pegasus huffed. “You're still a cheater!”

At this, Tory slowly released his first wife, something she didn't want to happen, and got up. He started for Rainbow, and grasped her hoof tightly. He looked into her magenta eyes and leaned in, planting the most passionate of kisses he could give her. He poured every bit of emotion into the action, and after a minute, slowly broke away, his blue eyes locked on her.

“That...” she started quietly, blushing intensely. “That was... Wow.”

“Yes, and now you understand, I love each of you, and I'd never cheat,” Tory smiled, giving her a light kiss between the eyes.

“You sicken me!” Luna spat, pushing him to the ground, where he stayed, watching her calmly. “You're weak, a nopony! You can't do anything!”

“...I may be weak, but I have the one thing that makes me stronger than anything else,” the human replied, climbing up slowly. “I have a heart. Your words hurt, but they will never repel me from you, my wife. I love you too much to give you up Luna.”

“Y-You should... give him a chance,” Fluttershy whispered, getting beside him. “He's good, he really is.”

“And he does love us, you know it!” Rainbow Dash pushed, joining them. “Admit it Luna, you love him too, but you won't let him in!”

“I care not for this freak of nature!” the dark alicorn shouted, turning around. “He is nothing to one of my stature!”

“The real Luna would never say such a thing,” Tory countered, getting up and standing beside her. He ran his fingers through her mane slowly, eliciting a sigh of content from her. “But the real one would do that right there.”

“D-Damn you... vile...” she tried, feeling her resistance slipping. “How is it you... and those other two...”

“I know none of you are real now,” the human started, kissing her cheek, and making her collapse beside him, unable to hold up her maliciousness. “You were all created by the madness inside me, brought out to feed on my weakness. But once I realized that nothing could be gained from those dark thoughts, I cast them aside, and showed you my heart, my one real strength. You each needed something from it, and I gave you exactly what it was.”

“Your support...” Fluttershy smiled.

“Your loyalty...” Rainbow Dash nodded.

“...And your love,” Luna finished, joining them.

The girls walked over to him, smiles on their faces, tears in their eyes. They blushed lightly and gave the human they loved a light kiss. As they stepped back, a soft glow appeared around each of them, and their forms turned into one of pure energy. The one that was Fluttershy originally came forward, and phased into Tory's body.

Instantly, his entire being filled with a warmth that brought a smile to his face. The human relished in the feeling, and focused his thoughts on his first wife, and all the great times he shared with her. He recalled those days when they first met, and she healed him. The time they spent on Earth.... everything came back to him, all in an instant.

Next to follow Fluttershy's example was Rainbow Dash. She sent waves of courage and bravery through him. Tory felt his mind run through his memories with the bold pegasus. He saw them on the beach in the moonlight, the time they watched the sunset together, all those times in the Cloister, and their wedding. He placed a hand on his chest, and for a second he thought he felt a hoof rest over it.

Finally came the dark alicorn he loved just as much as his other two brides. She smiled at him, and changed into the orb of light the other girls had become. She flew into him and the feeling that followed brought a tear to his eye.

The time he had been Tails, and spent the night within her chambers... His wedding to the same alicorn whose beauty he so loved, and the dance they shared... And his last memory before death, having her by his side. Love was the only way to describe every single moment they had spent together.

"But there is one more thing," came the echoing voice of Luna.

"You may love us, be loyal to us, and give us your support..." Fluttershy started.

"But without the fourth and final piece," Rainbow continued. "You'll never have the one thing that can best even the darkest of beings. Your body is tempered and ready, yet your mind and soul have not harmonized yet."

"For you still have not mastered the last requirement," the dark alicorn stated. "Tory Mills, we give to you the one thing that will complete you, physically, mentally, and spiritually..."

The sound of hoofsteps echoed from the darkness to the side. The human turned and watched the absolute black, listening for who would approach him next. What he saw emerge from the shadows surprised him, to say the least. Now standing less than five feet from him, a loving smile upon her face, was Octavia, her eyes shining brightly. Her smile brought one to his lips as she came over.

"We give to you, a pure heart," The gray mare finished, bowing to him, her eyes watering up quickly.

"O-Octavia..." he whispered, returning the gesture.

She came up to him, and pressed her nose to his, a slight blush upon her cheeks. She began to shine brightly, and she turned into the energy form like the others. Yet instead of flowing into the human and filling him with emotions, she floated there. Tory smiled and placed a hand on the ball of light. Then the most peculiar of feelings rushed into him.

Peace, understanding those about him, the desire to protect, courage to do so, knowledge to guide him and others down the right path, as well as the one emotion that had always fueled the human's actions before, sheer love for the ones he called friends. Tory's entire being became overwhelmed with the intensity of these feelings. His chest burned hotter as the moments passed, but he felt no pain. His mind shot images across his eyes, pictures and fragments of memories, yet each was so short he could not fully grasp them beyond the fact that they brought a smile to his face. And his soul...

Tory was at peace, with everything. His mind was calming down now, his body began to relax, and everything became quiet around him. He could hear the madness under his feet stir restlessly, yet left him to stand alone. Everything made sense to him, much more than it ever had before. Originally he was just a lone human, out to stop the destruction Discord would bring about. Now, he was a protector, a defender, a shield for his wives, his friends, and his family.

"I am..." he whispered, hearing his voice echo about him. "A Paladin..."

"The armor that deflects Discord's blade," Luna agreed within him.

"The wall that keeps his black spirit outside," Fluttershy joined in.

"The heart that listens and guides those in need," Rainbow stated.

"And the soul that shines brightly in the darkest of hours," Octavia concluded, her voice now inside his head as well.

"My sword is not meant to harm, but to protect," Tory nodded, pressing a hand to his chest and feeling his heartbeat. "To pave a path for those with a bright future!"

The human smiled, raised his right hand up, and a large gust billowed about him. The dark abyss on all side retreated, vanished into nothingness, only to be replaced with a large hill overlooking a dense and bright green forest. Atop this hill stood one large sakura tree, the petals flying along the wind and circling into a now blue sky, one that shone brightly like never before on Earth or Equestria. He looked down and the lake of madness was now a small pool of red water at his feet. A petal from the tree landed in it and the dark murkiness within became clear, crisp water that reflected the human's look back at him.

"This is..." Tory started, looking first about him and then the water, observing the one that looked back.

"What your mind finds peace in," Luna finished for him, her voice a lovely whisper in his ears.

"Where you can always find a reprieve should you need one," Fluttershy continued, the feeling of her soft breath against his cheek making him blush.

"When doubt, hesitation, and fear clouds your judgement," Rainbow followed up, the feeling of hooves around his neck a welcome presence.

"Return and find yourself once more," Octavia finished, the feeling of a kiss being placed upon his lips sending his blush into overdrive. "The door will open so long as your heart stays unlocked and free."

A soft light emerged from Tory's chest, and four orbs of energy came forth. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Luna, and lastly Octavia took their forms. They stood around him, one in front, one behind, and one on each side. He looked at each of them and felt his smile grow with each second that they held his gaze. The moment his eyes rested on the gray Earth Pony in front of him, he could not help but step forward.

She stood beside the tree, her cello resting against the hard wood. She gazed up at Tory as he approached, and stepped forward. He came down and embraced her quickly, his lips meeting hers within a heartbeat. Neither of them could deny the blush upon their faces, nor would they want to deny it. For the truth was one they enjoyed.

The human that held Octavia now had desired her affections for some time, yet he could never let them exist while his love for the others persisted. When he met the mare at his wedding, he found himself drawn to her. Yet his place had been with his wives, and as such he could do nothing about what his heart wished to say. But suddenly she was before him, and there was a warm glint in her eyes that reminded him of his wives.

"Yes," the cellist said, a tear in her eyes.

"Pardon?" Tory asked, looking at her quizzically.

"The question you want to ask," Octavia giggled. "I would love to become Octavia von Mills."

...Speaking of wives... The blush that came upon his face caused the gray mare to let out a soft laugh once more. How had she known that he wanted to ask such a large question? He turned that thought away and broke into his signature grin. He shifted a few steps back, took one knee, and reached behind him...

I.I.I Current Time Period I.I.I

"Octavia Von Clef..." Tory started, his voice a little more than a whisper, yet it was loud in the silence of his friends.

At this part of the story, the human stopped and moved to the floor where he got down upon a single knee once more. Everypony and Cory watched as he pulled a small black box from his pocket. He held it before him, in front of the gray mare who could do nothing but let her eyes water up. The box opened to reveal a small silver bracelet that held an onyx gem in the shape of a heart.

"Though little time has passed since we came together, I have a love for you that equals the ones a share with Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Luna." Tory continued, his azure eyes shining in the candlelight. "I would be honored if you would allow me to take your hoof in marriage, so that we can be together forever, so I can hold you in times of distress, smile with you in times of peace, and share my life with you in a way so few can ever see. Would you allow me, Tory Mills, to become your husband, the one you can turn to when you are sad, the one you can laugh with when happy, and the one who you can lean on in times of trouble?"

"T-Tory..." Octavia whispered, the tears rolling down her cheeks now. Her smile betrayed her answer just seconds before she said it. "Yes! I would love to!"

Every one of them there gave a giant cheer, the loudest coming from Tory's wives. Besides the human that just proposed to Octavia, they were the most delighted about this. They understood how much this meant to their husband, and just as well they wanted the cellist to be happy as well. It was just an enjoyable bonus that she would become their sister by marriage.

When the noise died down, Tory placed the bracelet upon his new fiancé's left hoof, and gave her a loving kiss between her eyes. She pressed against him gently and they all started to congratulate the couple, with Luna, Rainbow, and Fluttershy crowding the gray mare and talking about how the wedding should go. Tory just smiled at them, then glanced at his first love.

His eyes wandered down to her stomach, and for a split second his grin faltered. It passed just as quick as it came, and he pulled away from his loves. He got free of the group, and made for the door in a casual manner. Shadow Breeze took notice of his leave and cocked an eyebrow. Deciding to see why the one that had just proposed would separate from the group, the deep gray stallion followed.

Once the human found himself outside and alone, his smile fell apart. He collapsed to his knees and tears started to fall from his eyes. Why?! It didn't seem fair to any of them!!! He pounded his fist into the ground a few times, making a very small crater in the dirt. Quietly, Shadow opened the door and saw his best friend's husband break down right in front of him. This didn't make much sense...

"There has to be a way around this..." Tory whispered, his voice breaking and his statement more of a question. "I can't allow something like it to happen... Agh!"

The human smashed his hand into the ground a few more times and breathed heavily, his anger and distress slowly easing away. He sniffled once, wiped away, the tears and stood up, brushing the dirt from his pants. Turning around he slapped his cheeks a few times and reached for the door, only to finally take notice of the pegasus with a blue streak in his mane.

"...How... How much did you just see?" Tory stammered, his face calm but his eyes revealed his horror.

"E-Enough?" Shadow returned, his comment a question but a challenge as well.

"... Get out here, before any of them notice you," the human instructed, turning around and stepping a few feet away.

The stallion did as he was told, and quickly removed himself from the building. The two of them stood in silence before one motioned to the balcony on the building. It would prevent any inside from hearing what would inevitably come next. They flew up there and took a seat on the wood floor. Silence lasted for another minute until Shadow gave a sigh and looked at the one beside him.

"Notice how the sun sets so perfectly against the horizon," Tory commented, his eyes glued to the sight of Celestia's daily task falling ever so slowly into the earth. "It is almost as beautiful as the moon, or a sonic rainboom, or Fluttershy's smile..."

"A-Agreed," the stallion nodded, not sure where this conversation was going.

"... Four of five, and three of two," the human said, catching his listener off-guard. "Pure of heart, and bravery true. Together they battle the ones of tainted air, when fair is foul and foul is fair..."

As he finished, Tory cast his eyes to the pegasus beside him. They were filled with tears, and something else... Confusion, doubt, defeat... Shadow felt the urge to hug him, and did so. The human returned it, letting a small sigh go. They sat there for another minute before the silence ended.

"I understand the four of five, and I can guess the three of two..." Tory continued, casting his gaze into the setting sun once more. "But that last line... It scares me. A-And I know for a fact things will not be good. That entire thing is... It's a prophecy about my children."

"You mean... Your kids are the four of five... But what about the other three?" Shadow asked, voicing his thoughts.

"I don't know..." the silver-winged human admitted, sighing once more. "I just figured it was Cory, yet right now I... I can't say for sure who it would be."

"How will you deal with this?" the pegasus pressed, looking at the one before him with worried eyes. "Does anypony else know?"

"Not a one," Tory answered, looking back with azure eyes stained red. "This problem, this destiny belongs to others. I have my prophecy, and I still have yet to complete it..."

"Well you're not alone," Shadow smiled, patting his back. "You have Rainbow Dash, and Luna and Fluttershy... Now you have Octavia too. And all of your friends as well."

"... You remind me of someone I know..." The human said suddenly, looking over the black pegasus. "He would say the same kinda stuff as you. He was a brother to me..."

"Perhaps I can be that brother then?" Shadow asked. "I feel as though I know you as well. Were we to stick together, maybe something could be formed here?"

"I'd like that," Tory nodded, extending a hand. "We haven't been properly introduced yet. I'm Tory Mills..."

"Shadow Breeze," the pegasus returned, shaking his hand. "I am an old friend of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash..."

"Heh, you're more than an old friend," the human chuckled. "You and Fluttershy have a close connection, possibly love?"

"H-How did you-"

"When I got rid of those brutes last night," Tory started, cutting him off. "Fluttershy thought I had become bad. You tried to protect her from me, and the look in your eyes said everything."

"You're... You're not mad?" Shadow asked, not believing the one before him.

"Well, anger is not the path for me," the human returned, shrugging. "And I can understand liking her... She is amazing."

"Yeah..." the pegasus sighed, looking down. "You are so lucky..."

"...You know, you can be too." Tory smiled, throwing an a around him in a light hug. "What if I told you I could maybe find a way for you and Fluttershy to be together?"

"But... She's with you," he stated, confused. "I can't take her from you, and I doubt she would leave..."

"What if there was another Fluttershy?"

"A... A second Fluttershy?" Shadow questioned, incredulous.

"Yes, I can-" the human started, but was cut off by the balcony door behind them opening.

"Tory, what might you be doing up here?" Octavia asked as she came out and nuzzled him. She smiled and continued. "Everypony is wondering where you and your friend have removed yourselves to."

"I had to talk with Shadow about something," the human grinned, wrapping her in a loving hug. "Sorry for worrying you."

"Maybe we can talk about this thing later?" Shadow Breeze suggested. "I am sure you wish to spend time with your beautiful lovers..."

"And we want to spend time with him too~" the cellist whispered into the human's ear, a sultry hint to her voice and an open invitation that made him blush.

Before Tory could respond, Octavia wrapped her fore-hooves around his arm and started dragging him from the balcony into the library. He sighed with a smile and cast one last glance at Shadow that said "Sorry, gotta go. We'll talk later..." As the balcony door closed completely, and he was alone, the pegasus gave his own sigh and shook his head, still trying to understand that suggestion of Tory's.

"Another Fluttershy..." he whispered to himself, getting up and grasping the balcony door. He rested his head there and thought about those two words. "But the question is, would she even love me?..."

I.I.I

"So what happened next?" Twilight Sparkle asked, her notepad almost full with Tory's account in the unknown location outside of time.

"Well, u-um..." the winged human stammered.

"Dude, what's up?" Cory asked, still beside Twilight with his arm around her.

"N-Nothing just... Thinking," Tory replied quickly.

Perhaps it had been too quick, for now everypony was giving him a curious look, one filled with worry as well. Luna, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Octavia glanced at each other then back to him, a flicker of concern in their eyes. They gazed at him, their expressions saying "Tell us. We love you and want to help."

"... Fine," Tory sighed after a few seconds of holding their stare. "What happened next is well... Bad."

"What did you have to do?" Cory inquired, watching his lover put down a few more notes.

"I had to... Kill them."

This response earned a much expected gasp from the winged human's friends and wives. Fluttershy hugged her husband tightly while Rainbow Dash nuzzled his neck comfortingly and Luna put her head against his to show her support. Octavia let her lips meet his in a light kiss. He gave a light smile and looked at each of his lovers.

"I had to kill all of them... But I didn't." Tory finished, hugging each of them to him. "I refused to hurt the ones I love, so the path I chose was longer and all the harder than it could've been."

"What trials did you face?" Twilight asked, her quill blazing notes across the parchment as she magically wrote them.

I.I.I Location/Time: Unknown I.I.I

The sight of Octavia when he proposed was like a dream, one that he could not live without. Yet right as she said yes, everything vanished into pure silver again. He stood up, pocketing the wedding bracelet with a sigh. This was expected, as it had been merely a test. Now his path must continue forward. He had to become stronger so that he could protect them all.

"You did well Tory," Aerith said, walking up to him from behind. "You passed as I knew you would."

"Thanks..." the winged human replied with a nod.

"You look tired," Zidane noted, seeing the exhaustion in his eyes.

"I'll be fine," Tory countered calmly. "Just give me the next trial."

"In due time," the Ancient responded, nodding at the thief who returned it and pulled out his daggers. "Now we have to see just how much progress remains..."

"I'm fighting him again?" Tory sighed with a smile.

"Not just him..." Aerith answered, pointing out to the side at two approaching figures. "Them too."

"Who're th-" The human started, but stopped when he realized who they were. "... No... Way."

"Lets see what ya got!" the bolder of the newcomers challenged.

"Be warned, we have no intention of holding back." the other stated calmly, giving a peaceful and confident smirk.

The first one wore a black jacket and cargo pants, both with parts in orange. He had short, spiky blond hair, with deep blue eyes, and three whisker-like marks on each cheek. He had blue sandals that were strapped up to his ankles, as well as a small tan pouch held on his right leg. He had this giant grin that was as confident as it was contagious. It was Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja, and a deadly adversary.

Beside him stood a figure with red body armor, parts of it as white stripes. His chest was heavily equipped with a round breastplate of red, with red-bordered square shoulder-plates that had a white background behind a red "Z". His stomach, neck, upper arms, and his upper legs were not armored, instead had a black covering with a metallic sheen it them. He wore a red helm that did not guard the face, much like a Royal Guard helm except without the neck guard, and the crest of the helm over the head was white with a sapphire like gem on the forehead.

A long... Incredibly long golden blonde ponytail flowed out from the back of his head gear. His lower arms and legs were roundish and bulky with red armor. At his waist was a sword hilt, and Tory knew it was infinitely more than JUST a hilt... Zero, from the Megaman X series wielded an energy saber that came to life when he swung with it. His right hand could also turn into an energy blaster as well...

Zero was a special character for many reasons. He wasn't human for one of them. Instead he was a human-like robot, designed for many purposes. His was a kind known as “Reploids”, and each were special in the fact of how they acted. They were human for the most part, and although being machines had personalities and such, but they were also skilled in the fact that some, few but some, could copy data from those they defeated that were mechanical like themselves.

Zero was not just any Reploid, he was among the best. His skills exceeded all others by leagues! He had the abilities of many rouge Reploids, called Mavericks, to call his own now, as he had taken those skills and altered them to enhance his already deadly swordplay.

"THEY are my opponents?!" Tory asked, incredulous. "I'm supposed to fight two of the strongest and most iconic characters from video games and anime?!"

"Scared again?" Zidane taunted, using the human's shoulder as an armrest.

"A little bit... Zero is like, a legend to me, and Naruto is as strong as he is many. Fighting each of you individually is going to kill me easily!"

"I should probably mention..." Aerith started, grabbing his attention. "That you're going to fight all three of them at once."

"ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME?!!!" Tory roared, stupefied beyond imagination. "I'm gonna take on not just Zidane, but Zero and Naruto at the same time?!"

"What's the big deal 'bout it?" Naruto lazily asked.

"Am I right to think you might overestimate us, or underestimate yourself?" the Reploid inquired.

"He thinks we're gods or something," Zidane told them, twirling a dagger in one hand. "He doesn't wanna fight his heroes."

"That's true, but I don't want to fight, period," Tory told them all with a sigh. "I just want a peaceful life, you know?"

"Nothin' wrong with that!" the ninja responded loudly, plopping onto the ground to lay back and relax.

“Those that strive for peace are the ones that must fight the most,” Zero returned philosophically. “You know of us, so you must be aware of the hardships we each faced. My trials are many, and I've died from them before. Still the battles must be waged, until peace can be brought about by one end yielding to the other.”

“But... Fighting you serves no purpose,” the winged-human protested, trying to escape a battle he felt was wrong. “To what end would losing to you three serve?”

“Discord is an enemy capable of eliminating all of us combined, and still remaining able to withstand entire armies.” Aerith explained to him. “No amount of Reploid assaults, ninja swarms, mages, soldiers, or otherwise could bring harm to him when he gains his full powers back.”

“So... I have to defeat all of them single-handed if I'm to hold a candle to Discord?” Tory questioned, feeling weaker than ever, even after his change.

“If you should overcome each of these three in a single bout, your abilities will be proven.” the Ancient answered. “You'll not have to remain here any longer for after this you'll be ready to take on that vile creature himself.”

“Then... I'll accept this challenge!” the human nodded at his new opponents, his eyes flashing confidence. “I will strive for what I believe in, and best each of you to reach that goal!”

“Be quicker than the wind,” Zidane grinned.

“Stronger than the earth!” Naruto joined, standing up.

“And wiser than the water,” Zero put in, grasping his Saber.

“Begin!” Aerith called out.

Immediately Tory was swarmed by his opponents, each rushing him with their own techniques. Zidane charged at him with blades drawn, Trance activated and ready to unleash powerful skills. Naruto opened up with his signature attack and bore down on the lone fighter with hundreds of himself. Zero merely stood at the back and watched the battle open.

Tory saw each of these moves coming, having knowledge on how these fighters went about things. He started by creating a clone of himself to meet Zidane in a dagger fight, then swung his blade outward, pushing his magic into the attack and causing a wave of fire and ice shards to fly out, striking the many Naruto clones and dispelling them. Then with a new opening the human spawned a third him and sent it after Zero.

Aerith watched on with a smile as she saw his tactics. Dividing the opponents so he could handle each of them one at a time, starting with Naruto who she assumed was his biggest threat. Having watched Tory for some time now, she had an understanding of how he worked. He knew his limits and planned to strike against his opponents with not brute force or ability, but with his mind.

Tory's first clone rushed Zidane quite openly, having perfected the ways to best the thief. The human simply had to catch him off-guard, and victory was within grasp. The clone reached out with a hand that glowed silver, and Zidane's Trance appearance started fading back to his normal look. He felt his power fall sharply back to it's normal scope, and just as quick saw how the clone began to glow entirely. He was draining his energy!

The one that rushed Zero was destroyed almost instantly upon reaching it's target. But during the rush it had taken a few precautions that would make the fight with the Reploid easier when the time came. Having the knowledge of your opponents is quite useful beforehand, and Tory used it effectively with his clone.

The copy had charged at the Reploid with daggers drawn, hoping to make Zero tire with his blades, but that idea turned sour as immediately Zero had three mechanical dragonflies hovering near him. They fired off small volleys of energy rounds as they circled their user protectively, creating a pattern that was easy to dodge. No, what made it difficult was when the clone got close, he couldn't harm Zero as the dragonflies broke formation and took the attack, deflecting it and firing at him point blank.

The clone Tory had dodged this blast, but he could not inflict damage like this, and all the while Zero was simply watching, gathering info. Evidently he felt like the copy wasn't a threat, so he didn't need to do much yet. But Tory remained calm and used his powers to grab one and make it attack the others. When they dragonflies moved, they would cross each other at a certain interval, which the clone noticed and used to his advantage, making the flying turrets strike each other and crumble.

Zero smirked and pulled his blade out, rushing faster than Tory's copy assumed he was, and within an instant had destroyed the fake, his blade cleaving right through the center. The attack had been so fast, it was almost instant, and the strike itself had been quicker than that, for not a speck of blood came free before the clone was eliminated.

Meanwhile the original Tory was countering Naruto, who was still holding back by the looks of it. The ninja fought back, matching his sword blows with martial arts and countering with clones that would deliver weak punches. The winged-human could tell he was holding back because he'd seen Naruto use abilities far beyond the normal scope of others.

“Stop taunting me Naruto!” Tory shouted as he slew the last clone with a quick jab of his dagger. “You could easily fight me in Sage Mode, and you still haven't used your other skills...”

“I don't need them!” Naruto grinned, hurling a couple kunai at him as he charged forward. “You're not so tough!”

“Best prove him wrong...” Tory thought as he tossed his knives into the air.

The winged-human unsheathed his sword and placed the hilt in his mouth, followed by catching his daggers and holding them all in a battle pose. Using all three of his bladed weapons should get him a win, if only he could tell which Naruto was the original. For now, he had about ten rushing at him.

The human propelled himself at the mass of clones, shredding the first into three pieces with his dagger and using the blade in his mouth to pierce one to the side with a flick of his neck. He kicked another in the stomach and twirled one of his knives, proceeding to fling it at the clone. The small blade sunk into his throat all the way to the hilt. Tory dodged a swift blow from another clone with a roll and grabbed his knife. As he stood up he saw the remaining seven clones had surrounded him.

Tory smirked and tossed the daggers into air, gripping his blade in both hands instead of his mouth. The clones swarmed at him a second later, and that was when the human struck. He spun in a large circle rapidly, creating a whirlwind effect, his sword slicing all the clones that were caught and swept into the now hurricane force winds. The original Naruto watched with a confident grin, which turned to surprise as the last of his clones was dispelled as Tory shredded it.

The blonde stepped forward and decided perhaps it was time to get serious. He looked back at a clone he made when the battle began, which had been storing a special energy the entire fight. It sat there with a red tinge around it's closed eyes. Naruto dispelled the clone and received that energy, gaining the same tinge around his own eyes, which turned his pupils into wide, flat bars.

"Went Sage mode eh?" Tory grinned, catching his daggers and sheathing them. "Finally gonna take me seriously?"

"Yeah, I wanna fight now!" Naruto shouted, creating a clone that began to focus energy around one of his hands.

"The infamous rasengan..." the winged-human thought to himself, sheathing his sword as well. "Best fight back with my own ninjutsu..."

Tory made a few handsigns, bit his thumb hard enough to draw blood, and slammed the same hand onto the ground. A giant cloud of smoke appeared, obscuring the area in a weak shroud. Everything went silent for a few seconds as the smoke dissipated. When it vanished, Tory stood there with a pack of wolves around him. They each varied in size, some no more the size of pups, others as large as a cow. Yet all of them had the same viscous look in their eyes, the same sharp fangs and claws, the same protective pose as they stood on all sides of their summoner, their intense, yellow eyes locked not only on Naruto, but on Zero and Zidane as well.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Wolf Clan Wall" Tory said, standing up and sending his challenging glare to each of his opponents.

"Big deal!" Naruto scoffed, his rasengan ready. He charged forward, poised to strike the winged-human. "A bunch of wolves ain't gonna-"

Naruto's eyes widened, for as he rushed forward, Tory snapped his fingers. One of the cubs vanished and reappeared before the ninja's face, a very sharp claw poised to slash him. Naruto barely had time to finish saying "-stop me?" as the cub spun and struck him hard. He went reeling off to the side, clutching his cheek where three deep gouges could be seen.

“These wolves aren't like the summons you're accustomed to Naruto,” Tory smirked. “They are my own personal creations. They have an intellect that could rival that of Zidane over there, and are at least twice as fast as he is.”

“I don't think that's saying much about how smart they are then,” Aerith giggled.

“What does that mean?!” the thief shouted in protest. “Are you calling me stupid?!”

“No no, not at all!” the Ancient laughed, running in the opposite direction.

“You there, Zidane,” Zero called out, grabbing his attention. “Focus on the fight...”

“Yeah yeah...”

Zidane had managed to defeat the clone of Tory, who had gone down relatively quick. Although the actions the copy took had drained the thief of all his powers. He could not go trance, and his others abilities felt weakened. Perhaps that had been the plan the whole time? Quick wits seemed to be something Tory had at times, and those were usually in the heat of battle.

“I think I can anticipate this guy now,” Zero mused, having observed Tory throughout the fight, even when taking care of his own clone.

The Reploid nodded to Zidane, and they both rushed at the original Tory, which was focused deeply on his battle with Naruto. They circled around to the sides, and charged in, blades ready to take the victory. Tory's wolves howled and snarled at the newcomers, but they continued to advance. With a snap of his fingers, Tory commanded the wolf clan to counter.

Each of them moved blindingly fast, vanishing for an instant and appearing around the two fighters, five wolves to each one, leaving Tory to fight Naruto with four other wolves. Zidane tried to strike at the wolves but found his daggers countered from his hands, and his body was bitten down on quickly, disabling him. Zero on the other hand, simply smirked, jumped, and gripped his saber in both hands.

“Sentsuizan!” the Reploid shouted as he kicked off the air somehow and propelled himself downward diagonally, slashing through three of the wolves that he had seen coming. His Z-Saber rent through their flesh and bones almost as if they were nonexistent.

“Ivan! Isaac! Igneel!” Tory shouted as he heard the wolves howl in pain before vanishing in a poof of smoke, leaving a small splash of blood where they had been.

“Gotcha!” Naruto roared as he slammed his fist into Tory, knocking him to the ground where his blades scattered to each side and his summons vanished, no longer sustained by a constant flow of energy.

“G-Gah!” the winged-human cried, feeling his back tweak from the impact.

Zero simply continued forward, but now his course carried him to Zidane. The Reploid moved to his side and picked him up, carrying him to Aerith. As he did all this he kept an eye on the fight. Naruto was steadily striking Tory where there were openings, and there were many by the looks of things. This fight would be over quick he figured...

Tory thought he was fast, his fights with Zidane made him think so. But when compared to the lightning quick reflexes and attacks of Naruto, the winged-human felt as though his speed was nothing once more. He could not keep up, nor could he counter for each move he made was reversed against him. It was almost as if Naruto could predict his next action.

“I need to think...” Tory mused as he blocked a kick to the head but was then punched in his stomach, sending him dragging in the dirt backwards. “GAH!! If only I was faster! I would.... That's it!”

Tory stood up and closed his eyes, crossing his arms in an x shape across his chest with his palms open and facing behind him. He glowed silver for a mere second before he dropped the pose and leered at Naruto. They locked eyes for a moment, and yet so much was said. Tension was high before, but now it was almost suffocating.

“Your attacks were fast... far faster than mine,” Tory admitted with a grin. He entered a battle stance and his eyes turned into silver discs. “But now I shall fight your speed with my own. No longer is strength a factor... only agility.”

“Bring it then!” Naruto challenged, rushing forward quickly.

Zero saw an opportunity to end this and entered the fray, moving to strike the winged-human from behind. One would strike, and the other counter if Tory dodged. It would've worked, had the human not vanished a half second before the first attack. Naruto's punch was now aimed for Zero, who blocked with the hilt of his blade and flipped over his ally so they were back to back.

Zero closed his eyes and concentrated, used the knowledge he gained to predict Tory's next move. It took him only a half second to realize it and look up. But in that half second, the winged-human had already bore down upon the duo, his wings looking sharper than before. The Reploid had barely any time to push Naruto out of the way and sidestep himself, but even still he had part of his arm grazed, and that had hurt incredibly much.

“W-Woah...” the ninja stammered, seeing Zero's pain. “That was... fast.”

“Extremespeed phase one...” Tory said quietly, mostly to himself. “Phase two, engage.”

The winged-human vanished and the duo had to not blink to prevent themselves from thinking he had never been there. Suddenly Zero felt a hand on his helm, and reflexively he struck out with his sword, only to hit air. He felt a sharp pain in his back and his body shot forward at impressive speeds. Naruto had just barely seen the strike Tory had delivered. Was this what he was truly capable of?

“Zero!” the ninja yelled, calling out for his teammate. “Can you stand?!”

“D-Damn... that was faster than I anticipated!” the Reploid whispered to himself. “But... That attack was vicious, not with a heart. Perhaps acquiring this power has altered Tory's mental state?..”

“I'll kill you all here and now...” Tory said calmly and with a strong hint of malice in his voice.

“Tory stop this!” Aerith shouted at him, seeing something she didn't like in his eyes. “You're taking this too far!”

I.I.I

“So what happened next?” Twilight Sparkle pressed, now writing on a blank roll of parchment since her notepad had run out.

“At that moment,” the winged-human started. “Zero said-”

“TORY I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!”

“No he didn't say that,” the human chuckled. After a few seconds he realized who shouted that and stood up quickly. “Who said that?!”

The door to the library burst open, the wooden frame flying off it's hinges and smashing into the wall. Everyone turned and saw a lone figure within the doorway, a human with eyes that shone blood red. He held a sword that spiked out at points and twisted in an evil way. He gave a dark laugh as he entered the room.

“It's been far too long... Tory,” Discord/Eric chuckled, his face a twisted smile that showed the true evil underneath. “So long, that I feel it's time I killed you! After all, it's only fair since you LOCKED AWAY MY POWERS!!!”

“Oh.... Shit.” Tory said as he stared death in the eyes.