//------------------------------//
// Chapter 38: The Dragon and the Monster 
// Story: The Elements of Honor 
// by Flanagan 
//------------------------------//

Greatsword and Battleaxe walked back to the cave’s main chamber, supporting one another as they limped towards the others. Event, Derpy and Warhammer ran to their side, but upon seeing the two they were blown back by what they saw.
“What the hell happened to you two?” Event asked looking them over. “Looks like you just-“
“Had some male bonding time…” Battleaxe said with a smile, pushing himself off of Greatsword. “You know, colts will be colts.”
“I see…” Event said, raising an eyebrow. “Well don’t do any ‘bonding’ near my experiments… those things cost a lot of money.”
“Deal,” Battleaxe replied with a bloody smile, then he turned his attention to the giant in the room. “Warhammer,” he began. “Greatsword and I would like to have a word with you.”
“Indeed…” Warhammer answered. “I also require a word with the two of you, about something that has been bothering me for quite some time.”
“Hey, we’re here for you little bro.” Battleaxe said placing his hoof on Warhammer’s shoulder. “But we’ll need a place to talk… we’re gonna need a room.”
“My quarters are yours,” Dante said nodding. “You have my word that nothing will disturb you while you speak.”
“Thanks big guy,” Battleaxe said with a smile. “Come on guys we don’t want to waste any more time.”
Greatsword and Warhammer nodded in agreement and with that the three were off into the deeper parts of the cave. Once they were out of sight the four that were still with Dante began to wonder why he would allow such a thing. The only pony that he ever allowed into his own quarters was Derpy. They looked up to him but he didn’t respond to their inquisitive looks.
“My lord…” Sun Screech began. “May I ask-“
“I am not your lord, Sun Screech,” Dante’s voice echoed. “You are free, as are your fellow ponies, to do whatever you wish.”
“That’s right!” Derpy said popping out from behind Dante’s ear. “He lets us follow our dreams!” She did her best to wrap her hooves around his head. “No matter what they are.”
“Which is why he spent close to one million bits to put you through college, just to stay a mail mare…?” Sun Screech mumbled under his breath.
“Derpy might not have been able to hear you Sun Screech…” Dante said lowering his head to be just in front of him. “But I can…”
“Of course Dante…” Sun Screech said wiping away fresh sweat from his brow. “I believe that there are a few things that I need to check around the cave.”
“I believe so as well…” Dante said watching him fly off to the cave’s lab.
“Dante,” Event said. “I’ve known you longer than everypony here except for Derpy, you brought these guys here not even a half-day ago and already you let them have a private talk in your chambers…”
“And?” Dante replied looking to the pegasus.
“Look, I’m not second guessing your judgment, but I think it’s a little weird that you already trust them that much.”
“You think I don’t trust you?” Dante asked again.
“Oh, Celestia no…” Event said waving his hooves frantically. “I just… uh… you see…”
“There is no need to answer that question.” Dante replied with a smile, gently grabbing Derpy of his head and placing her softly on the floor. “I trust you, I trust Guilty Spark… and though you may find it hard to believe, I trust Sun Screech, the fact that Derpy is allowed in my quarter’s means nothing when it comes to trust.” Dante turned his attention to deeper in the cave. “The three are this world’s only hope against Destruction, and if they’re minds are in turmoil they won’t be able to achieve the power that they are capable of making.”
“So you giving them their space is-“
“A way for them to calm their thoughts,” Dante answered. “As well as allowing them to grow the bond necessary for them to defeat Destruction.”
“Bond?”
“Yes, a bond… the elements are strong on their own, but without a bond as close as brothers the weapon’s power will never be fully realized.”
“So you’re making them stronger.”
“More than they will ever know.”
“The underlying reasoning for your actions is acceptable.” Guilty said nodding his head. “To keep the elements strong they must remain united, or else our world will fall apart.”
“Precisely…” Dante replied slowly nodding his head.
“This was a very revealing conversation, even though I didn’t have much input, I’ll be sure to log every detail into my journal,” Guilty then began to float to his personal lab. “These findings were quite fascinating, I’m sure…” He floated out of ear shot before the others could hear him finish his statement.
Dante shook his head and turned his attention the the two that remained at his claws. “I’m sure you both have things to accomplish on your agendas?”
“Not exactly Dante,” Event said looking around. “But we did run out of gears about a day ago… I could go-“
“You may take all the treasure you need,” Dante said. “Just return in a timely fashion.”
“Um… thanks?” Event said taking flight. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Take your time…” Dante said. “Take as much time as you need.” 
Finally he turned his attention to Derpy, she was still sitting there staring right up at him with her little smile and opposite facing eyes. Letting out a deep sigh he placed one of his titanic claws on her head and ran it through her mane, causing her to kick the air like a dog. It actually made him smile to see her like this. She was always so cheerful, so innocent, and so pure. Lowering his head to where he was right there he spoke.
“Derpy… it’s getting quite late, I’m sure you’re getting tired.”
“Oh…” Derpy said, doing her best to fight a yawn. “I’m fine I’ll go to bed when you do.”
“I have much to do still Derpy,” Dante replied with a smile. “Go, get your rest, I promise that I will bring you your muffins when you wake up.”
“Ok Dante…” She said sleepily, wrapping her forelegs as best she could around his nose. “I’ll see you in the mornig.” And with a quick kiss on his nose Derpy was off to her bed deeper inside the cave.
When she was finally out of sight Dante’s smile quickly faded, turning into a menising frown. “You know you’re not welcome here…” he said not even bothering to look around.
“Oh you’re GOOD…” The Shadow said appearing behind him. “And here I thought I was masking my presence expertly.”
“You were…” Dante replied. “But no amount of magic could shield your dark presence from me.”
“I figured on that…” The Shadow said flying to speak with Dante face to face. “But your little pets would’ve noticed something pretty quick if I didn’t do anything, also very smart of you to get them away-“
“They are not my ‘pets’…” Dante growled.
“Well excuse me sir…” The Shadow said smiling. “But in all seriousness I know that you could keep them safe, but you would risk never harming one of them even if it was an accident.” 
“The ponies are under my protection…” Dante said. “After Omnipotent -“
“Blah, blah, Omnipotent, blah, blah…” The Shadow said mockingly. “Yeah we both know what he did and we both know why and that’s why you’re like a ‘guardian’ to his little ponies he so idiotically died to save.”
“At least he believed in something…” Dante said. “The same thing you did once.”
“The key word is ‘once’…” The Shadow said, smiling from ear to ear. “And I’m just asking right now. If you call yourself the ‘guardian of Omnipotent’s creation’ why have you allowed so many horrors to occur under your watch?”
“I have faith in them,” Dante answered. “Just as he did.”
“Don’t make me throw up…” The Shadow gagged. “You let the windgos freeze the north, allowed Onus take over Equestria, you even let me have my way with a pony that when she knew you, treated you like the uncle she never had… you’ve been an absolute failure at your job.”
“You forget who I’ve trained in the arts of magic, what I’ve created and the many things I have set in motion… You are so blind by your hate that you not see how I have protected them.”
“For the love of all that is unholy… you are too much like Omnipotent, using your power and skills to protect and watch over them when you could easily rule them.”
“It takes so much more strength to control your power than it does to unleash it all.”
“But you could enslave this world without breaking a sweat. Why not use some of that power to impose your will on those ungreatful bastards?”
“I will not abuse the power I’ve been blessed with,” Dante growled his voice getting a bit louder. “Not like you.”
“Now, now Dante remember your temper…” The Shadow said waving his hoof back and forth. “You wouldn’t want to endanger your most precious asset would you?” 	Dante remained silent staring down The Shadow. His deep growl even shook the loose rocks around the cave. “You cannot harm the three here…” he said. “They are-“
“I wasn’t talking about the boys …” The Shadow laughed looking toward a particular cavern.
Dante’s lips curled into themselves, bearing his massive fangs. “If you go ANYWHERE near her I’ll-“
“Easy there scaly, remember your blood pressure…” The Shadow chuckled. “Now back to what I was saying… Actually something different… Why do you but all your faith in three stallions with insecurities that bother them so deeply if you even bring up anything remotely similar to their issued they get all pouty and cry?”
“You know damn well who they are,” Dante replied. “The three are-“
“The last hope of Equestia, saviors of pony kind all that crap…” The Shadow said finishing Dante’s statement, much to Dante’s disapproval. “Haven’t you ever heard never put all your eggs in one basket?”
“They will become what they need to be…” Dante said. “I know this beyond any doubt.”
“Well I’d hate to shatter your confidence but…” The Shadow took a deep breath “Battleaxe is a playcolt that’s slept with more mares than he can remember simply because he’s afraid that he’ll be forgotten by everypony again and he’ll never get a chance to leave a legacy other than his escapades, Warhammer is so good at keeping his emotions locked up that here soon he will erupt and not even dear ol’ Luna will be able to quell the years of emotion he’s locked away and Greatsword… oh Greatsword… He’s been falling deeper and deeper into a selfmade hell hole that if he so much as thinks about death he becomes so catatonic that he’ll just collapse into a ball and cry uncontrollably, not to mention he hides everything he feels from even his brothers.”
“All of that WAS true…” Dante said with a smile. “But not anymore.”
“What?”
“As we speak the three are letting everything off their chest…” he explained. “And if you so much as look to my quarters I won’t hesitate to strike you down.”
“I know you’re not bluffing…” the shadow growled. “But you know that won’t stop me.”
“But you can be defeated…” Dante added. “And with every attempt you will be struck down.”
“Ok… ok I get it, I try anything here you’ll make my life a living hell…” The shadow said rolling his eyes. “That’s about the eightieth time I’ve heard that one.”
“Then leave,” Dante said. “So I don’t risk the chance of repeating myself.”
“You should know that I’m harder to get rid of than that,” The shadow said. “You can’t get rid of me. I’m a lot like herpes in that way.”
“And also like the disease you only appear in our most stressful hours.” Dante growled.
“That’s right,” The shadow said rather proudly. “I do do that… it’s a part of my charm…” he took flight stopping only feet away from Dante’s face. “Then you should know why I’m here.”
“You’ll have to elaborate…” Dante replied, “Being as achient as I am can take its toll on the memory.”
“Don’t think you can play the dumb lizard with me Dante,” The shadow said angrily. “You know when he comes back, and he will soon I assure you, that you won’t survive.” Landing on Dante’s muzzle he walked towards his eyes. “You’ll be going the way of Omnipotent.”
“What makes you so sure?” Dante asked. “I am still the most powerful being in Equestria.”
“That may be so, but you’re no longer connected to YOUR element,” The Shadow explained. “And even WITH it you were no match for the boss man.”
“I will still fight,” Dante replied. “I will not allow Destruction to take away the most basic of all rights.”
“And that would be?”
“The right to exist.”
“Well look who’s talking!” The Shadow laughed. “The right to EXIST?! Do you even remember what you’ve done?”
“It’s in the past,” Dante growled. “Where it belongs.”
“But it’s SO fun to bring it up!”
“Nothing you say will break my faith in ponies, in the elements, or myself…” Dante replied, “I have never broken, nor will I start to break for you.”
“Then I guess you’ve made peace with yourself…” the shadow said flying off Dante and back to the ground. “I hope you enjoy death, but from my experiences with it, it’s not very fun.”
“You will experience it again soon enough…” Dante said forbodingly.
“Excuse me?” 
“You know that the three have yet to uncover their full potential.” Dante explained. “But when they do…”
“They couldn’t…”
“Would you like to try them? Everything you’ve done to break them has only made them stronger…” a smile came across Dante’s face. “And you know it.”
“Indeed it has…” The Shadow growled, allowing a small smirk to come to his face. “But they can’t do that… NOT again…”
“Time will tell us…” Dante said, “Now if you don’t mind Isc-“
“DON’T you even TRY to say that!” The shadow roared. “THAT was the old me.”
“Very well…” Dante said. “But I suggest you stay quiet, my friends are trying to sleep.”
“This isn’t over Dante…” the shadow growled. “This is FAR from over…”
“You’re right…” Dante replied lowering himself to the shadow. “This has only JUST begun.”
And with that the shadow disappeared in a cloud of darkness. Just then Derpy sleepily walked into the main cavern, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What was that scary noise?” she asked, doing her best not to yawn.
“Only a nightmare Derpy…” Dante answered gently gathering her in his claws. “But fear not, I scared it away.”
“You’re the best Dante.” Derpy said snuggling herself against his scales. “What would I do without you?”
“I would ask the same of you,” Dante said nuzzling her. “Now let’s get you back to bed, there are still several hours before morning.” 
With Derpy still in his arms he kept her close as he lie down. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep once more, but this time in Dante’s protective embrace. He looked to her then back to the opening of the cave. Soon, he thought to himself; soon the destinies of many shall become one and the most basic of all rights will be contested for. The winner is unknown, only time will give us the answer. He looked back to his chambers then back to Derpy. 
“I’m ready…” he said softly laying his head next to the sleeping pony at his side. “I’m ready…”