Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Prayers for the Wicked”
I felt like I’d been running after the light for ages but whenever I thought I was ready to give up, the calm voice came back and encouraged me onward. It was perilous as well, the surging darkness chasing me every step of the way.
But I had to keep going. He’d do the same for me.
Eventually, I did something I never thought would be possible; I reached the end of the hallway and found myself face to face with a softly glowing door and I knew it was the one I wanted. As I reached for the knob, however, the voice returned to me.
‘Wait. There is something you must know.’ It said, and I waited patiently for it to continue ‘In order to bring him back, you must remind him of what is truly important to him.’
I considered the words carefully, then gripped the knob and turned it. The hallway faded immediately and was replaced with a vast city. The only problem was that the sky was blood red with black clouds drifting across it and the buildings all looked half destroyed, and I could see fires in the distance.
“What fresh Hell have I landed myself in?” I asked quietly.
‘His. This is the darkest part of his heart, but also the one that sheds the brightest light.’ The voice said, and I set my jaw firmly.
“So, do I just… walk around until I find him?”
“Find who?” A cold voice said from behind me and when I turned to it, I discovered it was Leon. However, he looked horrible.
His face was twisted by hatred and his brown eyes blazed with fury, his skin had a grayish tone to it and his cheeks were sunken. He glared at me fiercely and I returned the glare.
“There you are. Time to wake up, Hoss.” I said, extending my hand, though he merely glared at it.
“What makes you think I’m going anywhere with you?” He spat, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Because you can’t keep pretending that you’ve moved on from what happened.” I replied calmly “The hatred still burns within you and unless you let it go, it’s going to consume you.”
“’Let go’?!” He snarled in rage “You mean forgive those bastards for what they did to her?! Forgive them for not only allowing her death to be swept aside, but also tarnishing her memory, the memory of someone who was a better person than anyone else on that god-forsaken rock?!”
“Yes, that’s exactly what you need to do!” I replied desperately, and he practically exploded with rage.
“NEVER!” He roared, his features contorting even more “They deserve to fucking burn for their crimes! I will have vengeance for her and they will know Wrath like nothing they’ve ever seen before!”
“At what cost, Leon?!” I yelled, my own anger making itself present “What are you willing to give up for your revenge? Are you willing to sacrifice Equestria for it? What about Terra, are you willing to sacrifice her?!”
“I don’t care about any of that, I’ll give everything!” He replied his eyes blazing.
“Even Twilight Sparkle?” I said calmly, and his features went from angry to surprised.
Then he winced and put a hand to his head, like it was hurting him.
“Twi…light?” He said in confusion “Who’s… that?”
“Your soul mate, the woman you love above everything else!” I said, walking forward and grasping his shoulder while leaning my head to try and look into his eyes “Easily the single most important person to you and you’ll lose her if you don’t let go of the hatred!”
“But… I can’t.” He said, his voice pained “If I do, I’ll forget about her, and if I forget about her… she’ll disappear.”
“Forget about who, Leon?” I asked him, and he cringed in pain, holding his head in both hands.
“S… Sar…” He said, struggling to say the name, and he gave a scream of pain.
‘I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Veronica.’ A dark voice said from behind me and I turned swiftly, drawing my keyblade and positioning myself in front of Leon ‘You see, if Leon remembers her name, I won’t have nearly as much control over him.’
“Show yourself, you bastard!” I called out defiantly and I was rewarded with dark laughter.
‘But I already have, stupid Nobody.’ It replied with amusement ‘After all, I’ve been hounding you every step of the way; you are lucky she’s been there to protect you or you would not have made it this far.’
“Oh yeah?” I called back, looking around for the source of the voice “Who’s been protecting me?”
‘Oh, ho! But what fun would that be, spoiling the surprise so soon.’ It replied calmly ‘Regardless, it’s time I dealt with you, pathetic little Nobody. You wished to see me, now here’s your chance!’
And then the shadows coalesced in front of me. It was vaguely humanoid shaped, but also demonic, a pair of horns snaed out from its head and it's eyes glowed balefully, it's mouth fiery and outlining razor-harp teeth.
‘Come, little Nobody!’ It cried out, gesturing with one of its hands ‘Come see if your light is stronger than the deepest of shadows!’
“With pleasure…” I snarled “Light, guide us!”
As I said that, I spun and conjured five pearls of light then sent them at the cloud with a flick of my keyblade. It was some really cool Final Fantasy crap.
Unfortunately, the pearls only made the shadow demon laugh as they vanished within it. I stared in shock for a moment before holding my keyblade up in my normal fighting stance. I stared at the creature and thought that this was gonna be more difficult battle than anticipated, before charging at it with a battle cry.
I just hoped that maybe Twilight would get the girls together and give me some help.
Twilight’s POV
I couldn’t believe it… our one chance to save Canterlot, Shining Armor, and Leon… and we failed.
Despite fighting a savage battle outside the tower where the Elements lay, we were captured as soon as we opened the door and discovered hundreds more Changelings inside. It was over…
As the Changelings led us back to the throne room, where Chrysalis was gloating over her victory and Celestia was bound from the ceiling in an enormous cocoon, I looked around and saw that both Cadence and Lyra had been cemented to the floor by some kind of gunk, while Leon stood guard in front of them, his eyes still burning with hatred. Then I noticed he had his weapon out and Lyra was nursing some kind of wound on her leg.
However, I also saw that Leon looked uncomfortable, wincing every so often like he was being pinched. His eyes met mine and they flashed with something, but it was gone so fast that I didn’t have a chance to see what it was.
Chrysalis dismissed the other Changelings in the room before turning her attention to me and my friends.
“It’s funny, really.” She said with a wicked smile, and took my head in one of her clawed hands, but I swatted it away “Twilight, here, was suspicious of my behavior the entire time. It’s just too bad the rest of you were so caught up in your ‘wedding plans’ to realize she was right.”
“Sorry, Twi…” Applejack said, putting a hand on my shoulder and giving me a sorrowful look “We should a’ listened to ya from the start…”
“It’s not your fault, Applejack.” I replied, giving her a warm smile “She fooled everypony, even the Princesses.”
“Well, not everypony…” Chrysalis said, walking over to Leon and caressing his head lovingly again “Your lover knew who and what I was from the start. He actually thought he could best me at my own game, but then I made him an offer he simply could not refuse…”
She walked past him to a window that overlooked the city.
“And soon, Equestria and all of its inhabitants will be under my…” She began, but then she looked out the window and her eyes widened “Wh- what? How…? When did…?”
Curious, the girls and I also walked over to a window and looked out it, and our mouths dropped at what we saw.
The city was in chaos, though not in the way I’d thought it would be; the Changelings were being pushed back by a huge amount of ponies, all letting out enormous battle cries as spells were launched from unicorns, pegasi knocking Changelings down and Earth ponies taking the ground forces out in a flurry of fists and hooves. There were also Royal Guards and some Gryphons thrown in the mix.
At the front though, was Seeri and Terra, though I could barely recognize them in their new and terrible forms. The two were tearing into the Changelings with a ferocity I never thought they were capable of with Terra, who I barely recognized, flinging high-powered magic the likes of which that made me shiver to watch and Seeri summoning and manipulating flames as though they were as much a part of her as her own body.
“PUSH THEM BACK, MY LITTLE PONIES!” Luna’s voice cried out from the mass of ponies and I saw her closer to the ground near the front, pointing a finger at the throne room “SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE NOT AS WEAK AS THEY WOULD BELIEVE! FOR EQUESTRIA!”
The mass of ponies all roared “FOR EQUESTRIA!” and surged forward, the line of Changelings crumbling underneath the unified assault.
‘Sweet Celestia… he knew.’ I thought, and turned my head to Leon, who was now almost doubled over, holding his head in pain ‘He knew what was going to happen and must’ve gotten with Luna to form a resistance group!’
But then a new thought came to me ‘If that’s the case, he must’ve told her something about what was going to happen… so why didn’t he tell me?’
I shook my head immediately, casting the thought aside. I’d made a promise that I would trust him no matter decision he made and I was going to stand by it until the very end. It didn’t stop me from feeling slightly hurt, though.
Apparently, Chrysalis had come to the same conclusion that I had and spun on Leon, lifting him one handed off the ground and glaring at him.
“What did you do?!” She hissed, and for the briefest moment, his eyes lost the green hue.
“I told you…” He said, the ghost of a smile on his face “You lost the moment I became a piece on the board…”
And just like that, his eyes turned green again and he groaned, holding his head in one hand. Chrysalis snarled and threw him across the room, causing him to slam into a pillar.
“LEON!” Lyra and I screamed at the same time, and I heard the sound of magic activating.
“Go to Shining Armor, Cadence!” Lyra yelled, and I heard her limp down the steps “This bitch is mine…”
I ran over to Leon, who was lying on his side, groaning in pain.
“Leon!” I breathed as I got to him, turning him over and taking his head in my hands “C’mon, Leon, open your eyes. It’s me, Twilight!”
“Twi… light…” He murmured, and opened his eyes slightly “R… run…”
“No, I’m not going to leave, not without you!” I replied and tried to lift him onto his feet, but then he suddenly shoved me away.
“You need to leave, Twilight, it’s not safe to be near me anymore!” He said, glaring at me though his eyes were scared “It’s coming and I can’t stop It!”
And with that, he screamed in agony and his body convulsed violently. I wanted to hold him, to comfort him, but I was unable to get any closer to him because he was moving too much.
“Twilight, what’s going on over there?” Lyra called out to me, concern in her voice as apparently she and Chrysalis had been distracted from their confrontation “Is Leon okay?”
“I- I don’t know!” I replied, backing slowly away from him “Leon, calm down everything’s going to be alright.”
“NO!” He roared out suddenly, and stopped convulsing “Nothing will be ‘alright’, not until I have my vengeance on that world for what they did! They will pay for all the years of pain I went through, and all the years of life they deprived her! I will have justice! THEY WILL BURN!”
He drew in a sharp breath and his eyes bulged, and then foul black smoke spewed from his mouth and nose, and coalescing above him in a vaguely humanoid shape. We all stared at it in horror, even Chrysalis. It made a sound like it was drawing a deep breath and exhaling.
“Ah, it has been far too long since I have tasted fresh air…” It ‘spoke’ and turned its attention to the Changeling Queen “Ah, Chrysalis… how kind of you to stoke the flames of Wrath in this human. I must find a way to repay you somehow.”
The Changeling Queen was too terrified of this development to respond, though I was more than willing.
“What did you do to Leon?!” I shouted, and it ‘looked’ at me with amusement.
“Don’t worry about your precious human, Twilight Sparkle.” It sneered at me, and I felt a chill spread through me “I’ve got him tucked away nice and safe, I’ve even dealt with that annoying pest he keeps around in his head. He should honestly be thanking me.”
There was silence for a moment before Lyra spoke up.
“What… are you?” She asked, and it turned to her.
“Now that’s an excellent question.” It said with amusement “I… am known as Sin.”
Veronica’s POV
Sin threw me violently away and I slid to a stop near Leon, my keyblade clattering to the ground a few feet away. I struggled to rise, but I had barely strength left… I was nearly finished.
“Dammit…” I muttered weakly “Dammit all to Hell…”
‘Was that the best you could do, little Nobody?’ Sin said, then made a sound like it was spitting on the ground ‘Absolutely pathetic, the human you’re based on could at least make me take him seriously. You’re just a joke.’
“Shut up.” I snarled, and this time managed to rise shakily to my feet “I can… still fight!”
“Don’t be stupid.” Leon said from behind me “You’re obviously no match for Sin, just lay back down and stop fighting.”
“Fuck that.” I snapped at him in response, turning slightly to face him “The Leon I know wouldn’t give up on me so easily, and I’m sure as hell not giving up on you…”
I looked back at Sin, which was staring at me patiently. I stumbled forward towards my keyblade, bent down carefully and picked it up. Then I held it in both hands in a rough combat stance and stared at the creature defiantly.
“Who… are you?” He asked me. I turned my head slightly and gave him a small smile.
“Why don’t you tell me.” I replied calmly, and I winked at him “After all… I’m your Nobody.”
And with that, I turned to Sin and put on a fresh burst of energy, a battle cry escaping my throat as I charged, landing a few strikes that had no effect on the mass of shadow. Sin, however, made a sound like a yawn and slapped me away with its arm. I flew back down the street, rolled painfully for a few seconds before coming to stop some distance past Leon, who’s eyes widened in concern. The hilt of my keyblade landed not far from my hand though when I looked at it, I saw that it was broken; half the blade had snapped off from the blow.
“My Nobody?” Leon said quietly, and then he groaned and held his head “Ugh, Veronica… Nica!”
“Cool, you remembered me…” I breathed, and my mouth curved into a small smile “Now you need to remember the rest.”
I reached for my broken weapon, grasped the hilt and attempted to rise again. It was hard, but I managed. I also discovered I couldn’t see out of my left eye anymore, probably from the blood pouring down my face (or what appeared to be blood anyway). Holding my side with my free arm, I walked slowly towards Sin again with the intent of continuing the fight.
“Nica, please stop!” Leon said, trying to block my path “You can’t win against It, It’s too strong!”
“Again I say, fuck that.” I muttered, and pushed him aside calmly “I’m not gonna stop until you tell me you remember and find forgiveness…”
“I… can’t do that.” He replied, looking away and I stopped to stare at him.
“Can’t do what, remember your best friend or forgive your world?” I asked him, causing him to wince and hold his head again.
“I can’t…” He groaned, and I stared hard at him.
"Yes you can, you just need to concentrate!” I stated.
“I can’t… it hurts too much!” He replied, dropping to his knees in pain.
“Push past the pain, you’re stronger than that, Leon!” I retorted.
‘While this is oh-so interesting to watch, I thought you might like to know I’ve manifested in your precious Equestria.’ Sin said wickedly ‘This world is so pure… I shall snuff out it’s light and plunge it into a world of darkness and despair the likes of which it has never seen before, and I’m going to start by eliminating it’s greatest champions; the Elements of Harmony.’
At that, everything froze, and Leon looked up at Sin with a venomous expression on his face.
“I will destroy you if you touch her!” He snarled, then groaned in pain again “Don’t you… harm Twilight!”
‘It’s too late for that, Leon. You can’t stop me at this point.’ It snarled in response ‘Cease resisting and just accept the inevitable!’
“Not while… I can still fight!” I snapped, raising my broken keyblade shakily “Leon, you have to remember… remember why you’ve born this darkness for so long!”
“I- I… it’s because… of what they did… to her.” He replied, panting in agony.
“I don't think that's true. You need to accept what happened.” I stated and he screamed.
“I- I don’t-” He gasped, holding his head.
“Don’t give me that, you have to or you'll die, is tht what you want?!” I snapped back, causing him to scream again.
“It hurts… I can’t!” He replied, breathing rapidly.
“Why can't you?!” I roared with finality and this brought one long, bloodcurdling scream of pain.
"Because it's my fault!"
The world around us became still and quiet, the only sounds were that of Leon's sobs as Sin and I stared at him.
"It's my fault..." He said again in a broken voice "I killed her... she... she's dead because of me."
‘It’s okay, James…’ The voice from earlier came to us, causing Sin to glance around furiously ‘Just let it go, it’ll be okay…’
‘Go away, you insignificant spirit, you can’t help him anymore!’ Sin roared in fury, with a touch of fear in his voice ‘His soul belongs to me now!’
‘Don’t listen to It, James, It hasn’t claimed you yet.’ The voice said calmly, and this time a calm blue light descended in front of Leon, taking the form of a pretty young girl with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She stared at Leon with emerald green eyes and a warm smile on her face.
I stared at her in surprise. She looked remarkably like… me.
“Sarah…” He murmured, a reached a hand to touch her face, though it passed right through her.
‘That’s right, James, I’m here.’ She said calmly.
“But you’re… I watched you die.” Leon said, as tears formed in his eyes “I held you…”
‘I know…’ She replied, and this time her face became sad, though she was still smiling ‘Thank you for being there for me in the end… it made me happy.’
“I'm so sorry, Sarah, I... I was so, so stupid. If I'd listened to you, you wouldn't have...” Leon sobbed “And then they just… you must hate me so much...”
‘I don't blame you, James, and I don't hate you either.’ She replied sadly ‘But you can’t hold on to it anymore; what’s done is done and you can’t change it.’
“But I can get the justice denied you, return the dignity they stole from you! I can make them pay!” Leon exclaimed desperately, though Sarah shook her head.
‘I don’t want that, James, I never wanted that.’ She said, her voice sad ‘All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, and here in Equestria you are… with Twilight, who needs you now more than ever.’
“But…” Leon began and I snorted.
“I think that’s enough ‘buts’ from you, Leon.” I said jokingly, causing Sarah to laugh. Leon, however, was quiet and he looked down.
“What should I do, Sarah?” He asked quietly “It hurts so much… I’m not sure if I can forgive them... or myself.”
‘Yes you can, because it’s the only thing still tying you to that world.’ She replied calmly ‘If you truly wish to call this world home, you must break the chains that keep you tethered to the other one.’
“I still don’t think I can…” He said, and Sarah looked at him.
‘Sure you can. I did.’ She said and Leon looked at her in surprise.
“You… you forgave them?” He asked incredulously “After everything that happened to you, you still forgave them?”
‘Yes.’ She replied warmly ‘You and I are both better than the petty grudges that rule our world, and you are so much stronger now than you were then. But to realize that strength, you have to let go.’
‘I’ve heard enough of this.’ Sin snarled ‘I’ll destroy you and finish what I started with Leon.’
And with that, his arms shot forth to strike Sarah down… only to collide with a wall of light I’d brought up between them.
“Oh, no you’re not.” I sneered as I raised my keyblade against him, strong and unwavering “Play time’s over, jack-ass; it’s time I put you back in your place.”
As I spoke, my broken keyblade began to reform itself, glowing brightly once it was finished. Sin stared at me in surprise.
‘What is this?’ It said, caught off guard by this new development ‘You’re supposed to be weakened, barely able to stand! Where is this strength coming from?!’
“Oh, about that…” I replied as a wicked grin crossed my face and the wounds across my body disappeared “I was just acting, trying to get Leon to see through the darkness within.”
“Nica… you’re okay?” Leon asked and I shot him a winning smile.
“Yup, gonna take more than this ugly son-of-a-bitch to knock me down.” I replied confidently “We gotta hurry this up, though. Everyone’s waiting for you outside.”
Leon looked from Sarah to me and back again, then nodded his head.
“Alright, I’ll… try. To forgive…” He said and Sarah smiled.
‘Just remember, James; the prayers we say for the wicked are not for them and the same goes for forgiveness.’ She says with a smile, which slowly vanishes as she begins to fade ‘I’m sorry, James… but it’s time for me to go now, my purpose has finally been fulfilled.’
“Wait, Sarah.” Leon said, reaching for her and his hand once again passed through her “Will I ever see you again?”
‘Of course you will, silly!’ She replies with a giggle ‘You’ll see me every time you remember the moments we shared together, because I’ll always be close to your heart.’
Leon sighed heavily and was quiet for a moment before opening his eyes again and giving her a confidant smile.
“Alright. I’ll see you on the far side, Sarah.” He said, and she smiled at him.
‘Goodbye… Leon. Embrace your Light and use it to defeat Sin.’ She says as she vanishes completely ‘Oh, and I like your new name; it suits you much better.’
Leon looks at me and nods, then we both turn our attention to the stunned shadow demon.
‘Why... why do you resist?!’ Sin snarls, angry and confused ‘I can give you the justice you want... bring death and ruin to everyone that wronged you... why, at the very last minute, do you refuse me?! WHY?!’
"It's because... I have someone new to protect, one who means more to me than all the promises of vengeance you offer." Leon replied calmly.
'You will suffer! Your days will be full of naught but suffering and misery!'
"Maybe..." Leon says, smiling as the world around us begins to grow brighter "But it will be worth it if I spend each and every one of those days with her... with Twilight... because she's worth it."
And then… he opened his eyes to the chaos occurring in Canterlot.