//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: The Enemy Within 
// Story: On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound 
// by AdamThePony 
//------------------------------//

(A/N: The following chapter heavily uses Zalgo-style text. That being said, you are advised to make sure that your computer is capable of interpreting this form of text.)

On Light Hooves I Tread 2: Homeward Bound
A Fanfiction by Adam Nelon

Chapter 7: The Enemy Within

My night following the revelations prior to what all I had experience only addled me with a lack of rest. I had nothing else but the thought that Jade would soon betray me. Though the windows remained shut, the cold persisted. It was not the chill of night, but rather, that of fear. The fact that my closest of companions harbored such a great and evil power within him left tremors in my spine. I slept with a single eye open that evening, and what little I saw in the opposite eye, I was once again in mist. I saw yet another masked pony. Only the number on its mask was XIII. A bad omen, if nothing else.

For a while, the pony in the mask did not speak. It stared at me through his mask. I shared with it a companionable silence before he spoke.

Memento Mori...

Oh goodness. Latin. Usually, when something starts chanting Latin, that's a sign you are pretty much entirely screwed. Ironically, I actually knew that this was a real phrase, rather than just gibberish that sounded like Latin.

Remember that you are mortal...

That phrase has been echoed in tragedy after endless tragedy, and in every case it is uttered, it has but a single purpose to its use; it warns all who hear it of the possibility of death. It is a reminder to even the greatest heroes that they can still fall, no matter what they do.

I tried to speak with the pony, but he kept speaking that phrase, and that phrase alone. It rang in my head like an ear worm that wouldn't be easily exorcised from my conscience, a maddening serenade that would rake at my sanity until I dared to jerk myself awake in as violent a manner as I could. Almost immediately as I did so, my dread only became further exacerbated as I took stock of the area around me. 

Darkness still persisted. I examined the clock. It was five in the morning, yet the moon hung in the sky as if it had replaced the sun entirely. The night was clear as day, and my blood ran colder than the ice planet Hoth. In instinct, I turned about face to the other bed, only to find that Jade was no where to be found. Instinct then took me like a wild bull. 

I didn't bother with my armor this time. I simply let my adrenaline lead me through as I charged through the door. I let nothing come between me and the royal chambers, be it the guard, late-working students and staff, or the lowly janitors. I just had to run. Run as fast as I could. This was too important to let anything else interrupt it. My hooves must have sounded like a rolling thunderstorm as I charged like the warhorse inside me.

"Princess!" Called I as I bashed my way into the throne room. 

"Adam! What is the matter with you? Why do you cause such uproar this late into the evening?" Princess Luna barked, looking rather cross.

"It's not evening! The sun hasn't risen, and Jade's nowhere to be seen!"

And, like a virus, my dread had proliferated to the Princess and her Sister. But I couldn't end it there. I had to keep explaining.

"Art thou sure thou art not simply deprived of sleep?" She asked, a quiver in her voice.

"That is the issue; I could barely sleep at all last night. I felt a dreadful chill, and not the kind one would normally feel... I felt that energy heavily last night... when I woke up, the moon was full, and it was supposed to be sunlight out!"

For a moment, Luna remained solemn, going to the window nearest her and her sister to take a closer inspection before attempting to use her magic to rectify the sky. But, no matter how much magic she had poured into the sky, the moon refused to move. It was as if it were anchored down by some dark and maleficent force. My liege, a stoic, graceful pony, turned to me, her face stern, but fearful at the same time. I could feel her anguish as she looked to her sister.

"This does not bode well..."

I hung my head in shame for some time after those words were uttered. I had failed my dear princess. That alone was worth grief, but the fact that the failure would also cost one of my closest of companions as well left a feeling not unlike a knife being driven into my heart. I had betrayed my word through my failure, and it was saddening. Right now, my friend was gone to parts unknown, and it was all but my fault.

Then, I felt that familiar feeling of magic lift me from my saddened state.

"Do not look so burdened by this, my apprentice. We realize you had no way of knowing..." the Lunar mare hummed, taking me into a comforting embrace before looking me in the eyes.

"However, given the circumstances, we must be prepared for the worst. If this incident is anything like the previous one, your friend should be in-"

"The Everfree Forest!"

Inspiration dawned on me as I stood boldly. A fire brewed in my heart as I looked out the window.

"And if he's in the Everfree, I think I know EXACTLY where he is!"

In that instant, I found myself darting out of the throne room, far beyond the reach of the princesses or guards.

"WAIT!" called Luna, but to no avail. I was long gone.

A silence fell upon the castle, before the mare of the moon turned to her solar sister.

"Sister, we must stop him. He is a fool to go chasing after a Nightmare without the Elements of Harmony!"

"Oh, I think he'll be just fine..." Celestia replied, a curt smile as a scroll popped away in her magic.





♪
For one of the few times in my equine existence, I felt truly bestial. As I charged through the rough, jungle-like expanse that was the Everfree, I payed neither mind nor attention to my obstructions; I used what all magic I could muster to blast, slash, and reap my way past stone, vine, and branch. For an instant, I recalled the appearance of Zecora's hut. Ironic how I never did bother to have a reunion with the rhyming Zebra, but given the circumstances, I had no time for pleasantries such as those. I had one goal in mind; The Temple of the Royal Pony Sisters.

For what felt like so many minutes, I cleared my way through ever more obstructions before coming across the narrow rope bridge connecting the cliffs to the temple proper. A stream of wind blew, causing the bridge to swing erratically in the breeze for a few moments before I dare tried to canter across. For a moment, I flinched as part of the bridge seemed to give beneath my hooves, freezing me as I took hold of the ropes. I looked at the temple before me, taking in the archaic structure and the moon that hung above. 

I simply couldn't let this stop me. My friend was in there, and I was going to save him. 

Once I regained my balance, I walked to the temple, practically throwing the doors before me in tranquil fury.





For a few moments, tranquility continued. Before me was ruined cobblestone. Kudzu and other vines sprawled across the floor through the cracks. An eerie cold pervaded the area. Windows that once displayed beautiful stained glass now held shards of iridescent slag. The sounds of long-dead trees scraped against the walls as my hoof steps echoed down the halls. I was quiet through most of my walk down the hall.My eyes were dead set upon the doors before me. I brought my horn down to my hooves for a moment, imparting within them some of my energy. It was at that point that I turned about-face and slammed my rear hooves against the door, sending them crashing open.

What lied beyond the door was a sight I did not think I would have beheld. It was a figure not unlike Jade... However, it was a taller version of him. His hues were much darker, more resembling an emerald than a jade, but his eyes glowed a ghastly green color to make up for the darkness around his coat. An amethyst armor covered his hooves, neck, and head. His horn was now much larger, and equally more menacing than before. But, what shocked me most was the fact that this being sported two giant wings. These wings were not feathered, like that of a usual Pegasus, or a usual Alicorn, for that matter, but rather, they were leathery and bat-like in shape. For a moment, I stood awestruck at this massive stallion before me, before it beat its wings and bore into my soul with a piercing gaze.

"̹̩̠̻S͎o̪.̰̰͖̯̫̣̳.̬̟̝ͅ.̖̪̤̫̪̭̣i̺̥̼͙t̯͍ ̳̫wo͇ul̬͎͈̠̮̟̟d̩̗̪ ͓̙͇̟s͖͔͓̥̣̞͓e͉͈͎͎̹͉̖e̠m̫̗̭̩̪ ̦͉̙̠͔tͅh̹̭̖ạ̣̥͈̦̙̗t̯̘̣̤̝̹͓ ̠yo̤u̱̟͇̜ ̱̦̦̲h̥̲a͚v̮̳͉e̹ ̱̺̗͙̩a͍̦̼̯̼̱̘r̥̳̻̪̮̼r̰̙̳̩̹̱ͅi͙̯̘̦͉ͅͅv͚͙ed̝͔̘̼̰͔..̙̣͎̻̤.̝̥̜a̟̠̱̜͈̺n̦ͅd͙̘̺͇̭ w̫h̹̖a̺t̮ a͇̖̭̻͎ ̲͙̩su͎̙̞̦͙̯̟r̺̫̬̟̗p̟̥͇̭r̫i̫̱͈͚͎̲s̰̤e̹!͚̪̭ ̪͖̬͕Y͖o͚͍̥͉̼̝ͅu ͕͖̥̖̻ḍ̖̜̪̺̝̯e͙̲c̺̜i̞̝̳̫͕̥ded̹̫̩̼̺̘̰ ͈͕t̰͎̥̦̹̥͔o ͚̩̺͉͓s͉̣h͚͙̺̠̥̫ͅo̬̭͚̭w ͈̙̠̤̣̪u̖̭̖͖̜̻̞p̣̺̭̳̩͖̦ ̪̝̫̲w̟̗̮̙̥i͉̩̱͔͕̮t̬͚̟̝ͅhou͔̹̲̟͎͇t ̦̠̱̮y̰ou̜͎r̺̖̺̦ ̻a͔̫r͓̳m̖̭̳̥̠o̹r̟͓͎!̼̩̰̠̞̳"͎̼ called the voice, his armor glinting as he spoke.

"Where is Jade?" I asked in a cold, polite voice, digging my hooves into the stone as I let out a plume of hot air from my muzzle.

For a moment, this bastardized version of what I could only assume was my friend laughed at me, a wicked grin on his face as he said very snidely, "͍͙̥̠̗H̱̤̹͕̯a̙̭̹v̯̹̖͇̮̘e ̘̗͔y̰̬̯̬͓̰ͅo̹̣̺̖̘u͚̬͉̺̦̠ ̰̮͖̱̟l͕͖̣̖o͚̞s͉̬͔̮̺͈̠ṱ͕̼͚̲͖̖ ͍̥y̱͖o͇̥̹͖ͅṳ̳̤͈̪̲r̤̻̦̗͎̣̹ ̻͚̠a̞͉̝b̯̘͍̬͔̳ͅi͖͙̮̮l̲̗͚̝̝i͍t͖̣̫̰̯y̠̯̦̦̮̳̫ ͎̞t̜̠̺o͓̰͈͙̯͖̤ ̗̠̳̪s̭͖̬e͕̖̻͕e̳ ̠̗̲͕̮̻̦w̩͉͍̥̘̤i̞͇̜̳̩̺̪ṱ͉͈h̪o̘̯̖͍u͖̦͉̝t̙̻̠̥̰͍ y̩̠̮͎͕̤o̹u͇̻r͍ͅ a̝̦͉̹͔r̞̞͈m̞̣o͈̝̬̩̦͍͍r̺̳?̖̦̝͓͖ ̤̫͓̺I̱̻ ̘̬͇AM̱̤ ͇J̮a͓͈de!̭̳̹̫"̝

The dark stallion flared his wings. 

"̥̺̯̬̞B̰̤̪̲͖͎u̝̯̲̲͉͚̤t ̘͔͓͔̗̥̻I͙͍͙̯̜'͉̠m ̼̜̲̜̭͈n̲̗̹o̯͔ͅt̰ ͕̩͉th͙e̤̖ ͍̣͎̩̞J̹̲̳a̖̮̝̤d͚̪͈e͉̬̟ ̺y̩o̞̝͇̥̫̣ṳ̫ ̪̼̤͖̻k̗̮̝̼̪͓̠n̪̣̮͈e͖̙̭w͓ ̹̠͕̣̬̺͔a̤̭̝n̟y̺̩͉ͅm̱͖̙̖o̜͓̦̗̩̠r͈̙̩̼̳e̮̫̪.̤̺̰͎͍͔̲.̙͉̤͎̱̙̖.̖̲̺̦͔ ͍̘͖I̜̭̼̲̜ ̫͓̣a͎̤̗̠͙m͉̭̯̭͖͉̩ m͙̜̭̯̻̞u͕̪̣͇ͅͅc̙̝̯h̳ ̜m͙͎or̮̮̺̣̠e̫͉̖̩ ̰͙̮̝̖̥s͍u̹p͎̩̻̯͓e̥͈̘r̹̙͇ͅio͍͔̪̻̖̞r̟̮̯̳̹͖̰ ̹̞t͍o̥̬̬͉̝͉ ̭̱͎͍͓͖̞h͎̜̹i͙͈m̻̦.͚̖̤̘̭ ̟̼B͔͙e̬̩n͇̘̖͖e͉̣̤̘̟̲a̱̯͇̰̦ͅt̜h̜̺̲͈̰̲͇ ̗͈̤͚̙̼m̳̝̰̘̹̼̰y͔̩̱͙̩̺ w̗͎̯̪̪e̹a̩͕͎̟k ͓͉̟̗f̲̲̙̺̦̪͚o̟̰̗͙̤̜͚rm̭͉͈̜ ̼̫͎̞̪̗ͅl͈͈̫̙̤i̹̪̣͚̪̗͔e̱s̬͎̝̪͔ ̥a̳̤ v̞̭ẹṟi͎͚̻t͎̞̞̪̠̹͚a̫b̹̦̦̺̤le̻̙̗̬̠͓̲ ̤̱g̱͖o̬̭l̲̝̘͎̝̹̝d ̦m͖i̳̮̖̥̖̖̥n̝͈̠̳̤̠e̥̰̭̫̼̮ ͚̺̹̲̝̘of̦̗̥̼ͅ ̥͔̼̻̲̩͉pe͇̼ṉ̤̦͉̫̬͔t-͍͍̺̬̖u̹̟̞̝͖̲ͅp͚̹̖̦͇ ͙͙͔a̹g͎̼̦̱g̻̘r͚̱̺e̮͍s̜͈̯̲̦si̮̜͔̘̦o͖̖͕͓n.̻͔̥̙͍.̘̦.̭p̝̮̣̗e̦n̹t͔-̥̗͔u̠̭̮̝̭̬̝p ͈̲͍͖̻̱ͅpo̻w̹e̹͎r͔̺͇ ̼͓͕̭t̻̭̹̻̺̯h͎̬a̗ṭ̹͕͇͖͉̠ ̹I̻͔ ̤̩͍̟wo̰͕̤̮u̟l͓̭̯̘d̙͈̟͇ n̼e̫͇̤̣v̙͎̞̩̪̤e̞͕̥͓̣̪r̠̭̠̲͙ ͉t̻̯̞͕h̠ͅo͈ug̘͎̝̠̺h̯̩̼̙̠̜̼t͕̮ ̥̬̟̻p͓̠̯o̟ș̘̺͍̜͉si̖͎b̦̠l̜e͇̖̹͉!̞"̤̮̤̼̜ͅ

I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing. This wasn't Jade. This was a shade of himself! He spoke as if he were possessed by some demon, or as if he had become one himself.

"͍̻̮H̠͍̰̳̮a̠͓̖̣d̙̣̖̦ I ̰̖n̝o̰͇̬͈̯t͇̼͕ ͓͇͉͙͉b̖͚̬̮̥̬͎e̖̤e̯̦͎n͖ ͙̖͙͔̰in̤͍̼̲t̫̰̦̹̝e͎r̘͚r̤̠̘̤u̦̭͙̪͍pt̺e̦d̻̠͙̖,̫ ̺͎p̟̮̩͇̳̟e͖͕͙̟̥͓ṛ̹̙ḫ̟͚̘̱̖a̟̗p̦s͇͉͙͕ ͚͈̱͖I̺͍̺̪̫ ̠̩͎̭̱̙co͎̹̣͙̪u̯͔͎͉ḻ̻͕ḍ͇̩͚̻̝ ̝h̘͇̹̺͈ͅa̗͎̜v̤̥̯̗̣e̪̭͉̙̼̬̪ ̮̦sh͇o̟̥̮̜w̖̙̳̟̦n͔̪͓̱ ̞̺y͚̣̗̻̖̗͖o̼͓͉̬̺̹̹u̖ṛ̰͍̲̺̜̯ ̜̹̻̯̳̰l̼̻i̟̗̣̣t̩̱̠̩̰t̜͕͈͖̗le̬͓͍ p͚͉̱̙̣̜r̻i̤͎̹̥̠̠n͉͕c͍͇̹̻̗͍ͅe͙͈̘̥̜s͇ṣ̱͙̼ ̺̳̰͈̠͚m̠̲̪̜̰͖̤y̝͈̟ ̼tr͉̗͓̰̳̰u̦̘͎̗͍ͅe̹͙͖̰̪ ̳po̥̱̤w͍͎̞̱͚̣̞e̦r.̪.̣̙̳̬̻̥͚.̫ ͚͕̻̘̻ͅT̜̭̗h̹͖̘̺͕̦e̗͓̖̲͇̳ͅn,̝̖̼̞̳ ̺͍̺̟̲I̹ͅ ͎͍͇̻̬̱̗w̥͙͇̲͈o͈̩̮u̠̲̼l̹̪̰̣͚̮d͍̫͕̟͇̭ ̺̰̝͇͙̼͍h̦̝̘̳͕̲a͚̼v̜̫̯̫ͅe̻͙̞̖̬̤̖ ̼̲̱b̺͕̻̠̻̳̳e̝̘͎ẹn̮̞͍ ̭̬͍̣̖͕t̙̦͍̙͍ḥ̭̫̺e̞̝̲͇̻̟ ̞̻̹̲͙͔̻o̩̟͕̳n̟̦e̲̞ ̭͖̱̲̪̗͍t̬̝͇͇͉o͍͈̣͈̯ ̮̣͉̗̼̺̪s̮̟̤̝̯t̗̦a̙͉̱nd͕͈̯̞ b̩̯̮y͎̖̼̩̟ ̱̭͔̘̤͇̳h͔͉̩͇̖͙͙e̠r͙̠ ̝̻͎̥̞̙̰s̪̺͙͍ͅi̙̮̤̲̳̮̮d̙̦̖̥e͍̬͚! ̫̙͙͕̙ͅḄ̯̫u̞͓͙̦̲t͓̼̥ͅ,͇̠̮͖̣ ̤̮̘͕̹n̦̠̜͙̫̫̞o̗̟͖̳̩̘͓.̗͙.̱̻͓̝̮̭.̭͎͙ ̫̬̰̣͓L̞̜̺͖uͅn̤͔̯̣̯̖a̝̰ h̥ad̬͓̹̮̞ ̮̹̗̭̘̪t̖o̥̖͕͇ ͉͚̹̰̝͉̹s̺̩to̞̱͚̙̬͎̼p͓̱̦̠ ̺̥̺o̞͔̤͔u̯̫̖̜r̬͔ l̘͔͇̬ͅi̠̘͙̥͕̠tt͕̺̯̼ͅͅl͔͍̝̫̤͖e̟̖̙̟͉̗͕ ͕͇̟m̬̜ͅa̭̥̮͍͓̻͔t͙͓͍̤c͕̺h.̤̣̭̣̖.̟̝͍͈̦.̭͙̬͔̟̤͖a̲͈̗̣͎̫̪n̫̲̮̖̤d͙̗ ̻̫s̫̞h̝̺͉̩͔͈e̜̳̹͈͈̦ ̲̲̤c͖̭͍̰͎ẖ̯̟̱͉̖̘o͍s̞̣͎̘̦͖̼e̫ͅ ̝̻y̙͕̖o̦̜̤̝̘̪ͅu͖̱͈̬ͅ. ̲̞̪̝I̯̬̱͍̖̱ ̖̘̲gu̗̰̞̮es̻̳̗s̞̩̠ I̙͈͚̮͈ ̟s͓̣h̬͖̰̩̖̤o͚͕̻̻̠̱u̬̖̬̘̞l̖̭̬͇d͍̤̱͉̼n̯̮͍̫͖͕̠'̞̥̭̙t̺ ̺̝͉̗̭͓ͅb̤͚̫̜̟̙͔e̠̟͉͓ ͓̱̺̙̙̺s̟̝̲̝̟̣͍u̠r͔p̭͍̯̘̭̟r̳̫͖̳̮̬͈i̥̤̜̳̤̜s̙̻ͅẹ̥̘̤̩d̘̙̹ ̟͚̳s̱̹̲̲͕i̺͇̪͈̖̩͙n̼̘̟̩̳͕̪c̺̮̠͉͕̖̺e̳̻̬̼ ̖̖ͅY͓̼O̦̤͚͖͎͓U'̼̭̦̱̩RE ̠̮̪͙ͅh̬̥͙͉̜e̮̲̟̜̹͍ͅr͈ ̤͚̠̠̮͓͕f̯͔̯͇̫a̗̩̻͈̰̩v̞͚͇̠o͓͎̺̜̹͓ͅr̭͚i̝̘͖̱ṱ͔̗̗̤ḛ̻͖̘͖͚ ̗̣̩p͇͉͈̙ṵpi̹͓͎̱͙l̗!̹"

This shadow of Jade pointed an accusing hoof at me, a dark flame erupting from his mane.

"You're speaking nonsense! She chose me because I was the more well-taught student!" I rebutted, not changing my stance.

Suddenly, the doors slammed shut behind me.

"̴̬̗̙̟̻̙̗̻͙̖͙̯̮̤͖̯̲̫̙̐͐ͬ̇͛ͪͫ͑͊̌ͨ̓̔̉̾͌̀̑̀́́́T̶̰͎̻̣͖̮͇̭̝̬̓ͬ̈́ͮ̂́ͫ͒̀͟Ḧ̴͉̥̳̙̥̦̮́̈́͛̔ͮ̅ͨ̑͋͐ͨ̿̑͘͟E̸̸̽̊ͨ͆̋̅̊͊̅̈́͛̚҉̡̹̭͇̝̞̭͍̰̦̦͓̰͙̀N̷ͯͥ͗̓͆̉ͧ̈̀̽̎̽ͣ̿ͫ̀̀͜͏̥̤̟̫͕̻̲͖̪̼̖̹̬̹ ̴̡̧̱̟̺͚̭̤̺̰͓̮͍͚͉̩̯̺̯͍ͬ̅͊̅̐͗̔̆̂̅ͣ̍̓̆̆̚͘ͅPͨ̾́̓̈́ͩͪͦͯ̚͜͏̖̩̼̤͍̝̭R͉̯͈͎͒̈́͆̎̈͌̎ͬ̉͐̓̔͒ͫ͗̈̍ͬ̚͘͞O̟͉̪͓͇͇͖̬͕ͥ͐̋ͬ̊̏̍ͥ̂̋ͪ̆̏́̚̕͠ͅV̨̧̭͓͉͔̜̥͙̟̰̠̹̹͖̗̹ͮͩ̃ͫ̽̔͐ͫͬͤ̒̉ͮ̀̾ͫͧͥͧ͠E̛̟̥̯̘̼͉͉̰̭̖̻̱̻̪ͭ̃ͯͩ̏ͤͤ́͑̀̅̌̀͋͋̾̒͟͡ ̷̴̡̧̜̦̯̜̗͉̤͖̳͈̹̭̻̝̙̈̅̿ͨ̇͌͐̓͘ͅͅͅḬ̶̫̱̰͓̗̥̥̦͔̮̅ͩ̄̈̋͐̾̆̑ͨ͛̑͗͠T̡̮̣̦̮̙̠͈͉̏ͩ́̒̒̓ͥ̀͋̽̍̂̇ͦ̚̚͘͡.̴̡͚̥̲̘̞̙͎̟̣͉̠̞ͮͨ̔͑̔ͧͥ̅͊ͦ̓̓͐̈́ͮ̚͢"̸̼̜̣̠̻͖̗̳̑̓͌ͮ̈́ͫ̀̚͡

♪

Suddenly, the shadow that was Jade lunged toward me, his horn pointed at me as I braced for impact, locking horns with him as we both began to charge each other with our respective energies. For a time, we were locked as if were but two swords before I eventually had to leap back to avoid succumbing.

"̦͈͉͉I͉͉̮ͅm̗pre̻̗͍̠̲̫ssi͙v͖e̠̳̣͈̳͕!̼̝͍̳͎̟̹ ͖̱̹̲͔̼̯P͚̖̰̣e͕̠͇̹̳͈̪r̜h̩̲̮̞̳̘͖a̳ps ̭̖̞̘̝͚y͔͍͎̱o̻̙̪u̩͖̮̥̖ ̝a̤͖̼̳ͅr̠̼e̯̖͚͈ ̠̝d̞̫̲̬̦ͅes͓e̤͉̣͖̖r̫̥͚̰͉͎v̰̬̮̝̤͉̫i̠̣͉̬̝͍͍n̫g͎͓̱̞͉ ̥̫̻͚o͈̦̠̻͓f͈̳̙ ̱͓y̩̪̱̬͓̱̩o̖̩̳̙͉u͔͔̜̖̳ͅṟ̪͈̬͚̟ ̮͍̪̝͉̭̝r̺̭̦̟̥e̳p͓̬̣ͅͅut̗̠̹at̟̹̭͔i̬͕o̞̮n̜̰͙̦! ̘͉̟̮̲B͙u͈̠̺t̠̬̤ ͈̙͈yọu̜̪̖̠ͅ ̯̩͓̳͔̬a̩͉͓̩̦̱r͓̯͇̻̤̠e̖͇̱̗̙͎̻ ͇̰̞̞foa̬ḻ̰ ̩̺to̬̗̯ͅ ̗̟t̻̥̲͍̙̣̯hin͓k͔ ͍͚̲th̺a̜̞̦̱t̼̪̭̗̯̣̬ ̳̣͔̘s͙o̯̗͖̟̦̬m̤̺̘̟̤ͅe͔̝p͖o̺̼̱̗n͚̯̟͙͚y̦̺ ̯̤̗͉s͖̞̥̬u̟̪͉͓ͅch͙̯͙ ̟̰a̗̦s͈̗̮̣̩̙ ͔̖̱y̞͔̬̜̤̞̫o͉̱u͖͙̝ co͖̤̺͕̳͙̳u̯͍͈͈̭l̯̳̺̲d̞͔̪̗͇͈ ̮͔s̺̦t̬̗̖̦a̞̠̺̱̣n̰̗̗̱̪͔d̳ a̖̤g̤a̫̬̯͇i̮͈ṇs̝̲͚t͇̠̺ ̤̲̦̘̭̮͚a̪̹̜ ̤̦̣̯͎̤G͕͔O̬̜̣D̠!̪̙̖͕͉̮̱"̻̥͉͈

"I admire your praise, but allow me to say that it seems you are far from being any sort of deity. If anything, you seem to be more of an avatar for something, rather than its embodiment." I chuckled, doing my best to stand firm.

"̭̘͇̯P̺̤̝͔̣̝it̬i̖̯̲̮͎̥f͔̠̪̦ṳ̤̻͎̳͎l̠ ̰̙̺̼w͕̰̻̼̘̟̖o̩̘̩̫̙r̪̥̮̖̳̠ds ͔͓̲̜fr͍o̲̬̖̺͓̙m͉̳͎͍ͅ a̠̖͍̖̩̹ ͖̟͓p̯̠̝̠͙̤i̺̻̼ti͕f̳̠̜͉u̖͚̝̬ḻ͚̳̹͓ ̣̣͓̗p̳o̦̳̖̗n͕͚̘̣͈̻y̳̦̲.͖̣̟͈͚"̳̼͇͈

Quicker than I would have anticipated, waves of sickeningly green energy lashed out from this Dark Jade's horn, impacting me like a pair of sledgehammers to my stomach.

"̱͈͕̭̺̤Y͍̮̼͕͔͕o͈u̳ m̙̭̩̯u̩s̞̝̤̥̭̦t̘̫̪̭̪ ̠̖̥͚̠͙b̲͔͕̥e̠͎ ̙e͉̟̥i̼͇̣̻̩t͉̮̣he̞͎̭̦r̜̹̜̮̞̦ ̭̜v̝͖͓̩͖͙̤e̩̣͔̺̯r͙͕̫̼̙̘̹y̟ ̜͇m͉̬̬̣̘̼u̙͙̬̼̬̥c͚͇͖̳̜͖h͖̦̤̹ͅ ͇͖̩͕̦b͖̙l̖̖̮̻i̥̺̱̯n̗͙̞̖d̠̠̻̜̱͔ o̻̗͚͍r̙̳ ͇v̲e̤̻̤̗̗͖͓r̤̫̰̙̜̤ỵ̤̦̝̠ͅ ͖͙͙r̫̭͈̥e̦̜̲̞c̗̘͔k̼l͓͙e͔̲̱̠̜ss͉͓̗̳̟̮ ̻̞̥͚ͅtͅo̦͚͚̯̘͙̝ ͎̳e͉̘̰̺͎̼̥v̩̩̘̠̟̳en̲̩̝͖̯̻ ͍̰̻̠̳th̹̗̳̱͓̭͕i̮̺͓̰̲̠n͚̜̭k ̮̺̮̹̬͈o̬͕̮̙̪ͅf͎̟̗ ͎͔̗̯̖m͎e̙ ạ̠̭s̠ ̮͉̠͕a̤̮̤̳͙͕n̘y̞t͈͈̱̩h̥̟͔̟̞͖i͓̟̜͙n͉͚͉̹̻g̮̙̖̣̰͔ ̯͖̜̙le̼͈̝̤̠̘sṣ͓̣̱ͅ ̥̱͇̲̭͎t̲̝͕͎̖̫ͅh͎̭͉̹a͍̺͚̝n̹̯̩͉̼ ̻s͙̘̱̤̝͍u̯̣̫͙̻̝̣p̺ẹr̠̬̲̳̹i̭̲̥̟̮̪o̤͍̞͍r͎̘.̜͍̙͇̗͉"

Moments before I could even try to rise up from my agonized state, Dark Jade held me in a firm grasp of telekinetic force, latching me into a stranglehold.

"̖̠I r̪̮̝͙e͈̟̯̫a̲l͓̲̥̭̟ly̮̻̫͇ ̣d͇͔̗o̥̱͔͖̹n̘'̗̘̙͍͖̖͍t͖͉͙ ̳hav̟̟̜͍̗e͖͇͕̖ ̤̹̭t͚i̤͙̜̻ͅm͓̹̙̞̥̱e̳̪͉̱̥̯ to̲͖̫͎ ̭̹d̳̺̳̗eal͈͚ ̘̥̮w͇̯̖̞i͕̟͈̬th̭͇ a̯͈̮̙̺ͅ ͔̮̺p̺͔̰̭e̻͖̯̺a͈͈̜͈s̼a̼n̘̼̼͖͉̗̫ṭ̣̳̺̫̙ ͖w̘̝͉̘͉̘ho̠̥͓̠̤̘ͅ ̫̰̤̹̝t̮̦̮h̯̪i̞̺̗̗̼n̥̗̞̟͔̯k̤͙̰̺̗̥s̥ ̜̠̩͔̳h͍͔̥̗̞ẹ ̩͇̗̼̗̫̜c͈͔̗̱a̩̩̩͙̺̫n͇̬ ̘̖̥͖͇͈f̮̖̻̯̣͎ͅe̤̱̲͍̬̭͓l̹̫l ̺a̹̺̰ ͕̜̱̗̜p͖̬̭͇̲̭̜r̼͓̺̠͚i̼̹̣̤nc̫̜̼e̗͖̤, s͕͍̪̬̯͕o̱ ̺͖̦be̺̱̘͉͎f͚̞o̜̩̗̫r̠̩ẹ̝̰ ̱̮̯̻̠̳I̗͚̯͈̞ ͚͖͙̞͔̭f̰͍̟̝̼i̹̪͎̼̹͈n̪̘͍̪̱̱̼i̠s̫͕͇̦ḥ̙͕ ̰̼̮͚̗̗y̖̳o͈̪̗͉̝ͅu͎,̱̲̘ ̼̟͉͙͈̩f͓e̥͉̫̤̱̻̖e̩͇l̦̰ ͉͍̤̼̖f͕̫̹̳̲̯r̖̱͕͖e͈e ̻̙̭̩͓to̟̘̗͚̞̯̣ ̫̭̘̦͖say ͔̝̱̬̝y͍̺̠̳̦ou̻͚͉̦̝̗r̼̞͙̜͚̩͙ ̱͚̞̲̮̻f͖̜̠͓̝i̖n̟̱͈͈̬a̜l͇͖̜̻͓̥ ̞̺͇̼̦̖w̥͕̭̠̺͉̣o̥rd͉̼̙̤s̰̭͓͈̯.͉͎"̲

I was running out of breath quickly, but I had plenty of stamina left in me...I merely had to focus my will. 

"I have just five..."

I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Can you feel the sunshine?"

The world grew bright as I shined a gorgeous light directly into the shadow stallion's eyes, forcing him to loosen his vice upon me, allowing me to focus further as I let loose my own waves of luminescent energy. I may not have had the sun, but inside me dwelt the flames of a thousand burning stars, all of which wished to be imparted upon the darkness. Jade, of course, was none too pleased.

"̧̣͇ͭ̿̇ͦ͒ͬ̃ͥ̈́͜I̴͚͛͑ͦ͑̆͋̃̏͞M͉̥͓͒͊̇ͯ̿ͣͪ͘͜͢P̣̠͔̏͒͞U͉̫̘ͯ̈̀̕͘D̶̹͖͙̼̬̲͓̑̔͟͢ͅḚ̝͂̉͆͆̓Ņ̵͓̱̲̫̜̊͑ͦ̕ͅT̡̠͙̲͓̤͚͇ͤ̉̎̅̄̓̓ͯ ̲̜̦̓ͨ̄̑ͤ̍̈̚͢Ŵ͈̗̣͍͓̀͡H̢̡̝̼͚̮̐͂ͥ̓ͪ̑ͥ͘E̛̯̼̪͍̟̘̪̽̀ͭ͆ͧ̓̒L̷̙̪̟̋̀ͧͧ͢͢P̷̱̮̠̳̖̤͉̦͈̑̍ͣ!̭͍̗̑͊ͩ͑ ̣̯̫̜͈͍̋̾̍̒̍̎͝Y̫̦̰̯͖̽̈̾̅ͦ̔͆͞õ͍͕͖̤̠̣͂͊ͫ̕͡u̴͔̳͓̘̯ͬ̐̿͋ͥ̒͊͟ ̨͖̺̜̺ͫ̀͠ͅt̓͊̍̉҉̤̟ḩ̱̟̖͙̆͌̽̚i̘̗̻̘͔̜̥̔̉͜n̡͕̯̺̗͉͖̜̬̔̆̈́͋k̸̬͓͙̹̩̎̍̈̌ ̜̰ͦͣ̃ͩͥͮ̔͆t̼͎̲̯̆ͭͯ́h̀ͨ̎̌̐̏ͯͭ͘͏͓̥͖̱ą̵͙͓̺͙̠̦͕͇̒̋ͫ̊ͮͩt͕͙̍̌͗ͮ͠ ͖̼͑̐̉̊̓̏̏̚͘ă͔̮̯̖̳̞̼͋͋̑͌͑̀͟͟͝ ̷̫̟̤͇ͬ̒̔̍f̬̖̭̘̪̤͉̻͍̆͗̈ͯ́e̖̫͕͈͔̺̥͇̼̎̑̉͌ͬͧw̡͂͑҉̷̳͙̟ͅ ̴̛̥̮ͩ̈́͑̑͡b̃͛̒̃ͪ̔͏̲̠̬̦̰̥̰r̸̼͕̼̮͈̘̬͇̿̅̌͌̽͊ì̸͈̲̠̞͙̖̝͗ͮ̾́g͕͓͈̖̙͋̇͌͐h̸̴̻͙̥̗͎͎̓ͧͫ̚ṫ̈ͩ҉̞̲̱̬̘͎͉̰ ̡̰̙̖̭͇̖̺͚̒̔͋lͮ̈ͩͬ̾҉͍͍͝ͅi̦̫̱̥̭̠̣ͧ͐̀g͔̖̳͚͎̒ͨ̿h̢̅̈́̀ͪ̍̔͑͏̥̞̮̩̬̟̺̲t̯̼͓̑̓͟s̀̍ͬ̈́͌̇̀̐ͥ҉̡̭͙ ̷̲͉̤̗͍̗͚̥̑̍͢͟w̡͎͙̏ͪ̍͛͠͝ͅi̸̞̖͌̍ͬͯ̇ͨ̕ľ̷͙̦̰̹̺͋̂͆̊̋̀̚l̛̜̖͔̊͟ ̶̯͔̖͈̮̼͙̒͗͜s̬͎͖͕͈͉͎͍̮ͮͤ̀̊ͨ͋̌t̙̳̬̟͓̠̦̣ͤͮͩ̋͗͢ō̻̠̰͔̫͜ṕ̥̱̞̪̗̳̯̲͠ ̄̇̋͠͏͍̺̹̘͓̦̙M̻̖͔͍͇̟̮͗̌͊E̾̉̈́ͤ̚͏͔͉͖?̰͉̱͉̦ͩ̊̎̃̇͋̀!̨͙̻̿͗͗͋̇̉̂"̳̱̱̬̤̎̾͒͆̊̎̿̂ͅ

For a moment, I smirked.

"No, but I think that door coming for your head might."

And so it was that my corrupted companion became acquainted with with a couple of cherry wood doors. It was at this moment I saw a few familiar faces come rushing in.

"Adam!"

For a moment, the jostled Jade turned to what remained of the doorway, staring face-to-face with Twilight Sparkle, with all five of her friends in tow.

"Twilight! Of all the times you could have shown up, I couldn't have asked for any sooner!"

Jade looked none too happy that he now had company, turning to face the ponies with a stare of great trepidation.

"̜̻̙̻O̙̖͓̲̜h̟̬͎̙̝̰̥̳,̜̤̥͔̱ ̜̗̙̭̟̩̯h̙͇̰̘̟̺̘o͍̟̥̬̺̼w̹̝̪͖̪͖̣ ̖̞v͓̘̬͕̣͓e̤͓r͓̳̦̯͉y͔̝͉̹͉̩̮̮ ̰͍͎q̖u̳̣̱a̠̜̹̝͍̠i͓̠̝̲͙̺̜n̳̮t̜͉̳̝.͉̝.͙̭̣̣̲̠ͅ.̤̣̠̜̞͚ ̯̦̤ͅͅS̮͚̬̳͎o͙̩̦͓̺ͅ ̼͇̲̭͔t̙̞̼h̫̙̲e̗̲̲ ̮̲̜̬l͙̯i̘͉̺̼̙͙͔̝t̝̫͕̥̗͎t̻̮̞͍̺l͕e͎͇̥ ̳̩̦̗p̯̬͓͚̟o̗̟̺̳̬̣̼n̲͖̘̖̘̼͖̟y̰͙͇'̺̱̦̥s͈ ͙l̪̭̮i̺͍͕̲̩̘̬t̝͍͖̪̘͓̦t̖̳̹l̬͈̹̪̠͈̥̻e̬̤͎̪̦͙͙ ͉̹̻̩̦f̲͇̯̹r̫͈i̭̫̗͈e̜͈͎̬̬̼n̠̲̙̼d͔̫̯̘̠͈̮ș̞̣̗̜̤͕ ̪̯̪̜͓h̳̘̦̹̫a͓̟͍̰ͅv̗e͇̮͈̥͈͉̠̫ ̭͖̘̮͙̬̻ͅc̜͓̖̼̗͖o̻͉m̰e̟͖͓͚͇̲̹ ̱̲̩͎̩̫̝t̤̮̭͈o̥̜ ̗͓͈̬͙̣s̟͚̱̖͇̰a̰̤̣̩v̬͚̲ẹ̪̮̯͓̪̠͓ ̱̖̜̙̯ͅͅh̳̳̺̗̜̦̱ͅi̳͍m̹.̫̱̦͚̦̪ ̥̻̲I̻͙ ̪͓̗̟͎̺͎̩g͖̩̼u̘̫̦̮̻e̺̗s͖̤s͕͙ ̪̱̦̼͉̭̪͍y͍̼̹̣̥̭͔o̖͍̘u̮̫̜̹̪̠̥̝ ̙͍̝͕͓̺̬a̞̞̠͇͚̳r̟̩̣͚̜̪e͍̬̖͔͕n̙̬͖͉̯̦̜̠'͕̟͔͓̝̳t͎͉̥̹͖ ̳̱̮a͈͎̻̼̙̦s̯̣̗̳͈̣ ̘͎̻̱s͇͈̣̯t̙̪̳̘͙r̻͍̗o̗͖̥n̮̳̜͇̬̗g̖̲̳̹̹̮͚̯ ͎̲͚̹͎̗̞̜̼a̮s͎̫ ͈͈I̩̖͎̹̟͓̻͕ ͖̭̱̲̭h̲̯a͓͈̦̞͈d̫̙ ̩̺h͙͈o̠̳p̳͍̯e̥̻̲̱͈̱̭͈d̟̫.͈͙͕̰̻̙̳ͅ.̜̱̜̥͉̩̫̖.͈͓̮̥̗̙͙"͎̜̳̪

For a moment, the stallion looked ready to kill the cavalry before me, but I wasn't going to have any of it. Focusing, I put myself between my fallen friend and my kind comrades.


"You're not going to hurt my friends! I don't care what you've done to him, but Jade would never do this!"

"̪̱̙̝͍Y̥͎̗͚̪̖̗̙̫o̱̭͉̗̹̫͓͇͈u̺̻̺̮̺͍̺ ͔͍ị̻̙̩̹m̫̦̘͍̩̙͉̘p̤̞̺̝̣e͎̟͓͚̬̥͇̹r̳̫͍ͅt͍̩̦i̮̹̱n͉͉͙̝̞e͕̭̰̬̻̰͈ṉ̼͕̯͓̪̠ṯ̞̹͉̖ ̦̯f͍̘̹͓̙̞͙o̜̘̘o̫̤ḻ͔̬͎̰͍̼!̙̘̬̭̗̙̜̙̤ ͔̦̥T͇̙͍̲͖̫͕h͍̠̮̪e͎̣͕ ̬͔̣̝̥͙J̗̻̱̩̤ͅa̞d̼̥̟̻͖̹̣͖̳e̗͕̘̮̤̥͇ ̥̠y̦̤̳̞̮o̮͎͚̮u̘̙͔̗ ̣͙͙̣k̦̠̘̥n̰̜̠̝e͖̜͚̜̠w͎̪̤̦̪̜̰̻ ̟̘̞i̮̫s̻̭ ̪͕̞̣n̤̖͙͔̯̩̤ͅo̙̮̬̻̬̖ ̫̞m͍o̦̥͈͉͉r̻̳͉e͇̲̙̘̯!͎͎̻͚ͅ ͕͓̥͉̥̱I͖͇̼̖ ̠͚̠̬a̲̭͍̞̟͕̮̺m̖̭͕ ̫̮̭B͉̟̳̮̰l̬̯̤̣ͅa͈͈c̭̺̙̻k̝͇̯ ͙̲̟̤G̖͖͈͕a̪͔ͅr̪n͚̙͉̼e̺̮͔t͎ͅ ̜͉̰ͅn̮̮̺̘̱͕̬̻o̱̼̻̠̘̳w͕͎̪͔̺̳!̝͉̘ ̺ͅJ͓̦̗̜͖̣̹a̦͍̮̖d̟͎̻̳̮̙̗͙͚e̩͈̼̥͚̬̤̣ ̩̪͈̹͚w̪̻a̭̹̳͖͈͍̯̙̪s̲͇͈̮͍͕͚ ͔̳͓̰͇a̗͎͇͕̺͇ ̤̪̞̻w̱̬̰e̝̠͓̤̘̱̟̪̙a̳͇̳̯̱̝k̦̠̹̭̱̜̺l̙̮i̜͎̜̪n̮̣̦̭̠̙͙̫̗g̻,̼̙̻̙͉͎̮͖ ̲͇̺̹̗w̪̠̝̮̣̥̤͇h̭̬̟ͅe̥̣r͕͔̹̯̘̣̦e̦̬̭̫͓ͅa̜̗̙̻̘̲s͎̝ ͔̙͚͓͖͎̰ͅI̪̣͚͔ ͓̣̤̤a̬̙͙̗ͅm̼̯͕͉̝̼͕͉ ̘̫̘̘̬̲̯͈̫s̗̝̞̣t͔̹͈̥̫̯̰͔r͇̭̮͓o͎̥̣̻̟n͚͉̼̬̬g̭͇̜̜!͚"̙̖͕̱̘̣̙̤͈

"Then prove it! Leave the girls out of this, and we'll settle this like the stallions we are!"

"But Adam-!" Twilight began, before I took a deep gaze into her eyes.

"This is my fight, Twilight; You and the others stand back. I'll try to handle him for as long as I can!"

For a moment, she seemed to want to speak again, but nodded, as the mares flocked to safety, the Elements of Harmony giving off a gleam as they did so.

A plume of black smoke shot from Garnet's nostrils.

"͇͈́͂̅S̞͎̟͐ͨ̈́̆ͅȎ͉̙͔̼̽͌̈́̽ͅ ͖̖̰̰̖̳͚ͭͧ͑̊̅̋̎B̙͍̠̺̦̭̱̻̉̋̔ͪE̘͔͕̹͙͉̟ͮͯ͌̍ͣ ̼̟͖̌ͥͫ́̿I̩͈͚̰̍͂͑͐ͥ͊ͅT̜̮̞̺̣̫̼̭̅ͨ̓.̫͔̜͍̤̬̺̞͇̃ͤ̏͌ ̝͓͍̫̞͉͎̅ͥ͑̋P͉̺̺̒̊͂̿ͧ̀̀R̬̠̞̩͓̔̾ͭͬ̑ͫ͗E̟̜̘͂ͣ̂̇ͪͥP̪̖̮̘͉̲̀ͮ̆̚ͅȦ̮̬̬̾́R̫̞̖̩̭̩͍̿͛͂̍͗ͥͩ̚E̟͎͕̾̉̑ͥͨ̓̌ͯͅ ̲͔̫̯̬̣̰̺̪ͩ̑T͖̭̼͊͗̓͊̂ͫ͌ͨ̓O͚̪̭͈͓ͫ̍ ̝̎ͭͤ̀ͪͤ͋̇̄D͈̺ͯ̐͑̆ͭ͗İ̤͖̩̔ͮ̾́ͫ͊̇̈Ě̲̪̪̞͒͒̈́̆.͕̝ͯ̃"̖̗͕̻̣͉̆͊̽

♪

And so the battle resumed, in which Garnet showed far less relent then he had previously. Like a mad swordsman, he bat his horn against mine, the two of us swinging wildly, the force of our impacts sending us rocketing back with each strike. Even with all the dueling knowledge I had accrued, it became ever more obvious that I was dealing with an enemy I couldn't possibly defeat. But that wasn't the reason I was finding him mano y mano. It was to prove that I was able to stand against him, at least long to allow the Elements of Harmony to land that final blow. Until then, I'd have to hold out.

Just as the power of the sun had emboldened my attacks, the power of the shade and hatred fueled the attacks of Garnet with far greater ferocity than before. Time and again, I had to exhaust the fire in my heart just to keep myself from the brunt of so many forceful bursts, holding my breath as smothering shade enveloped me. My stamina was going at a rapid pace, and yet my magic didn't seem to be reaching its limit yet. And that's when things got decidedly tougher.

Realizing that pure magic couldn't keep me down, Garnet decided to do me one better. He flung massive pillars of Earth at me, ripping out tile after tile to make missiles to assail me. The fact that I was still able to evade was either sheer dumb luck of my body's fight or flight going into overdrive. I had never felt this sort of genuine danger and risk. I had always thought that I would merely just be a hometown hero, whose one claim to fame was being the name that dragons of ill intent would fear. But no; Now, there was more than just a town at stake. An entire nation- Nay, an entire world hung in the balance here, and I simply couldn't fail them.

"̮̱̼̘͚̳̜̜͛̽̐͂̄̊Ì̭̥̠͖̱̹̗̦͕̂͛̀̍̆ͦs͖̻̞͚̯̱͙̾̆ͅ ̼͍̖̽t̪̫̭̼̆ͣ̈́̃̆ͮ͂h̥͎̜̣̥̟͗̊͛̐ͫͮ̏ͩi͙͚͕͙͕̒̓ͣͤͨ̍̚s͚͚̄̏ͬ͂͋͋ͮ ̥̦̮̫ͮ͆̀̈ͅt͇̰̹͇̺͔ͭͪ̀ͫͅḥ͓̹͈͍̈ͩͯͫͮ̀ͮ͛é̘͓̪͕̝͚̜ͫ̒̿̿̄̌̚̚ ̹̟̜̄̋̈̀̋l̤͈̜͓̤̗͕̯̐̿͆ͧ̀̇̄̄ͣi̬̠̹̠͚̭̘ͫ͂̚m͎̙̖̟̮͍̝ͬ̇̆̎i͖̞̹̳̹̭̎͌ͭ̀t̞͉̦ͦ͋͗ͭ ̟̠͊̐̈́ͭͬo̬͉̥͍̯̹͎̠̎̏͊̎͑̌f͔̼̝ͮ̑̑ͥ̐ ̮͕̦͉̠͙̹̝͒̽̃̾̀͌ͭ̀ͨt̙̞̥̏ͥ̑ͤ͐̐h̳̰͎̀ȅ̻̬̩͒̅̄͐͂̍͋ ̭̭̂̏ͮ͒́ͨl̲͉̫̖̪͖̘͇̮͊͋̐e̬̺͇͍̺͋͛g̝̙͓̯̏̑e͖̭͙̟̘̻̫ͪṉ̜̹̿ͬ͊͆́ͦ̃d͇̦̜̻̝̰͍̑͑a͈̪ͤ̒̑̂r̩̟̈́͐ͯ̾̍̈̅y̙̭̿ͨ͊̍̉̌̄ͅ ͚ͥͨ̂ͭt̺̥͚̜ͩ̌ͣ͛̓̈́̆r̺̙̖͇̖͖̻̒̌̾͒͑a̟̤͑ͥ̒͗͛̅͛̌̑v̫̲̦̳̬͖̺̱͚͒ͩ̈e͎͍̿̿͋͗̆ͧl̻͖̹̹̦̙̰̗ͦͦe͈̦̠̭̰̦͓̎̃͌̚r̖̫̳̻̠̱ͭͤ͑̂̌ͫ͒̋̎?͙̠͈͚̬͊ͧ̂̈ͯ̎ͅ!͖ͩ͒ͫ̋ͤ̂ͥ ̤̞̪̄̂̈́ͧH̼̥̪̑ͮ̋̓͒̔͗a͔͐̄ͪ̋͑͋̒ͧ̓s͇̮̖͙ͣ̀͛ͣ̅ ̪͕̻͍̮ͭ͛y̱̱̯͍̲̩̞̰͐̽̽̋̀ͥ̚̚o̖̥͙ͥ̒̊͊̉ṷ̲̅ͤ͗ͪ̓ͅr͔̫̳̔͂̿̂̔ ̫̘̱͎̱̗̗̒͐̈́̃m̗̼̻̗̖͎͂͛ͣ͒̈͌̽y̪̥̝ͯ̀̓̃̓̅ͮt̙͉͓̥͖͖ͥ̃̓̓ͭ́͌̓̚h͎͖̱̮̩͚͚̠ͩͫ̾̏̐ ̭̦͍̌̇ͥͭͧ̿̾o̤̦̹̮̫̐ͮv̱̤̗͋̄̅ͨͣ̓ͅe̩̫̟͓̳̗͈̩̭ͮ͑ͣͩͪ̏̌̊͌r͉̙̠̬̤ͪ̆̊͗̅̚ṡ̤͍̞̬̖̥̖ͥͦ̈ͫ͊t͎̱̳͎͚̙͔̤̆̋͗̎̓͆̈́̊̌e͍̙ͯ̈́ͥͅp̺̬̬̜͇̔̎͂ͨ̓̇͌̈ͅp̻̪̬̤̪͖̾ͪͥ͐ͅe̱̖̩̖͕̗͋͛͊̿̾̌d̼̰̏̍̎̉͋̄̈́ͪ ͍̉̑͑̋͊ͨỳ̞̱̠̓̉ͪͩ̓̓̔o͔̔̊̆ủ̗̮̠͎͍̜̎r̪̻̊͛̏ͧ͋͌ͣ ̱͖̝̲̰̗͓̰̃̇̓ͫ͆͗ͧẗ̗̭̰̟̤̞͈͈́̎̂ͫ̆ͧȑ̳͉͎͈͉ͅu͉͈͛̍̑ȅ̲͎̩ͭͭͨ ̙͉̓͛ͨ̂̈ṣ͍͙̪̜͉͑ͦͮ̄ẽ̯̲l̫͒̈́ͩͥf̻͚͍̥ͫ̉͋͛̏̿͆̚?̭̗̭̭͎ͥ̓̔̓!͎̤̻̱̣̭͈̘ͬ͋͒ͪͅ ̖ͪ̏̅͊


I stared intently at Garnet for a few moments, taking in a few good breaths before I mustered what little strength I had left inside me, forming a spear of incendiary force to hurl at Garnet, hoping to strike something to force him back. But, for how potent of a shot I could have made, it was parried in almost an instant, and soon, my vision swam in red. In one swift blow, I had joined the ranks of Polyphemus, leaving but a single intact eye.

"̱̲̲͇̗̻P̝͔̺̪a͖̜̦̬̟̪̼̮t̳͍̜̲h͎̪e͙͍͇̻t̼̻͓͙̤̙̬i̝̱͙c͍̯̬̗.̞͓̲͎̹.̩̥̼̭̖.̦͉͉͚̩ ̫̫̹͈̖͓̦ͅR͈͇̰̜̤e̮̳̞̼̱̮͎ͅa͔͕̹̲̘ͅl͎̙͎͉̺̠l̪̪̦̖͓̻̠ͅy̩,͚̞ ̭̗̗̯f̣̟̝̻͉̜̝̩r̯͚͉̲͚̹̖o̬̰̤͖͙̝̘m̱̺ͅ ̟̟̗s͚̺̬o̝͎͉m͓e͎͖̗͎̘̯ͅo̯̪̭͎̬̞̱ͅn̺̻͈ͅe̖̼͖̮̙̖̪ ̥̱̺͓c͔̭̙̮͇̰a͍͈͖̫̳͙l͎̩̼̹̪͔̥͇l͉̦̞̦̳̼e̮̭͙̤̝ͅd̘̠̠ ̩̜̞̗̹̰"̰̟̱͈̬͍̞̤Ṱ̺̖̩h͎̯̞̮̺e̬̗͇̝ ̬̲͈̙̮̠͙͓̤L̠̞͔̬e̼͇g͖̜͙͈̳e̝̺̫̮̯͕n̲̥ḏ̹̻a̦̲r̳̹̰̮̤y̼͚͖ͅ ͉̪̥͉͈T͇͔͈̣͈r͕̼̼͍̪̰a̺̦͖v̝͍̗̻̤͓̬e̜̘̲͔͍̳̜̤l̰̣̗͓̞̞̰e͙͚̭̘͎͇r̗̞"̩̖̣̘̯̠̘,͈͖̞̻͓̙ ̝͈ͅI̠̘ ̗̹̯̖̠͚͉w̦o̱̱͉̻̣̗̻u͙l̯̗̼d̺͍͈͇'͓̘̜͎̮v̥̥͔̙̘̪̲e̼̰̥̰̤̩̯ ̻͎̲e̬̞͍̙̜̰͓͉x͉͓͍̺͍͇͍p̮͈͙̣͖̠e̩͉̥̠̭̲c͉̰̣̱͇̣͙̭͓t̬̳̠̖ḙ̲͕͈̖̘ͅd̙ ̯͎̤͇̥̲b̦͍̜e̦͈̭t͇̝̦̤͕̪̪ͅt͉̳̺̠͓̲̣ͅe̱̖̙͕͉r̪̝̹͉̫̞̞ ̲̣̬̥̝̱̬͚f̳̮̦r͕͓͇̲̠̺͓̺̣o͓̭̫̲͇m̖̠ͅ ̞y͔̤͕͚̮̙ọ̣̭̳̹͇u̬̤͚.̫̪̙̘̥̘̦.̗̲̣͎͙̖̝ͅ.̹̩͈̣̞̲"͓̼͔͇

As I tried to wrestle to my hooves once again, I found myself in a vice grip of telekinetic force, my life literally being squeezed away. 

I began to lose my conscience, until I felt myself falling. I felt the grip loosen I heard a strange humming noise, and the sound of hooves slamming against tiled flooring. 

"That is enough! I don't know who you think you are, but you don't treat your friends like this! It's time we put an end to this!"

For a moment, I tried to rise, but in an instant, I shut my eyes, as my gaze took in a surprise of so many hues and dyes. I beheld a sight unlike that which I'd ever seen before. The Elements of Harmony, in their full capacity! Simply viewing such a sight was all well and good, but I was practically right alongside them! I felt the intensity of the magic that was being unleashed, and was deafened by the intense explosive force that came across, followed by the echoing cries of my friend as the large illusion broke from him.

After I watched the spectacle from what little remained of my vision, I felt a brief respite. The area I was in was quiet as I could vaguely make out my friend, weary. But, as my vision began to clear to some degree, I saw his eyes weren't quite right. They glowed again a strange hue, even though he was only a unicorn now. They were like topazes, glistening gold. And then I heard that telltale laugh...

Suddenly, I heard the girls wail in horror as the laugh began to escalate. As I turned, holding my injured eye, I saw them beyond the doorway they originally came in, a barrier replacing the destroyed doors, marked with a very familiar star-like image. 

"̴̸̛̗̥͔̹̤̥̱̋̔ͪ̒͛̍̃S̸̞̬͙̮̫͉̞̀̂̏̔̃̈́̉̚O̯̰̦͋̄͐ͤ̇͑͆ ̶̴̫͓͆Ÿ̬͉̰͉̻̦͇́̐ͤ̒̓͞ͅO̪̮ͤ͊̅̐̈́͑ͨU̡̡̞̱̤̞̳͑̇̆ͥͭ̏̍̉ͅ ̢͍̭͖́́T͓̥̙͕̈ͬ̊ͨ̎̆ͤH̛̰̫̘͈̆͊͐I̸̸̤̞̞͈̠͍̜̥͗ͫ̅̊̆͘N̢̙̻̠̔̒͒͟ͅḲ̩͙ͪ͊́ͬͯ̋͋͡ ̛̘̦̖̦̟̻̤͚̬ͦ̌͂ͫ͊̓̿́̕͡Y͙̝ͭ̑̍̑̀Ǫ̷̱̗̤̒ͨ̽̿ͩU̝̠ͬ͌͑̏̎́͌̍̅͞ ̿̑̇̆̀̊ͧ͒̈́҉̪͖̕H̶̟͎͎̟̐ͥ͐̚͝Ă̈́͏̢̤̰̦V͙̤̱̰ͨ̒́̚E̒̎ͯ̃ͤͥ̐ͤ͏̨̘͎̥̝ ̘̥̳ͥ͒ͣ͌̿͂ͪ͝Ẃ̩͉̕͘O̗͓͖̙̗͊̒̏̃N͇͚͇̳̯̏̎̈́͘͟͟,̨̺͇̦͓̗͚̈̓̒̉ ̷͎̬̝̿ͪ͆ͩT̵͙̱̝̟ͧͩ̓ͪ̕R̵̺͎̖̭̭̹̈́͗̈̂̏̽͌̅͡Ǡ̧̲̠̼͎͉͈̓́̿V̾ͩ͊͏̪̙̙͙̟E̸̶̴̥̝͈̯͚̐̚L̢̨̰͎̤̼̬͔̜̃̎ͥ͞Ė̵͈̩̩͎̻͎̑ͬ̈͘͜R̷̥͓̠̦̎̋ͭ̾͐̏ͫ?̵̤̭̥̖͚̖͖̩̃ͩ̒ͯ̕"̵̧̛͚̩͇͉̜ͫ̓ͥͫ́ͪͅ ̵̶̙͖̗̣̫͕̰͑

A deep gust nearly blew me off of my hooves as the shadow beneath Jade began to elongate in a most serpentine manner, leaving me awestruck at the madness that began to unfold before me. A mysterious shape took shape and cackled as I beheld the most entropic of sights I'd have ever seen. 

Discord.

♪

"You have not won just yet, my friend...for you see, the one you affectionately referred to as 'Jade' was but an unwitting pawn to my plan. Unbeknownst to him and the rest of you ponies, this inner hatred hidden within his mind made it all the less clear. His will became weak. The barriers throughout his mind began to whittle away, allowing me to implant a piece of myself within him. A seed, if you will... And with that seed, I had a way to enter the physical world once again. All that remained was for those foolish mares to use their magic against my pawn," spoke the serpentine abomination, as his visage became all the more clear.

I was struck with fear as my eyes widened. 

"What...?"

"Simply put, The Elements of Harmony, for all their power, require a great deal of magic to wield. Because of this, only Alicorns or six persons of significant mental faculties are able to wield them, and even then, it is incredibly draining. Each time it is used, it requires preparation and leaves the users significantly tired afterward. With Twilight and her friends having  successfully fallen into my gambit, it gave me the ideal opportunity to show my true self."

As he approached, I began to backpedal away, shuddering. My vision began to play tricks upon me. I swear that what I was seeing looked...human! 

 

"What I didn't anticipate was yourself... If it had not been for you being the martyr, I would have been fairly certain that the Elements of Harmony would have fallen before I even got the chance to awaken myself... So in a manner of speaking, I have you to thank for this all to have been possible."

I tried to speak, but found myself lifted by a hand lacking any form of meat.

"I should give somepony...or rather....somebody such as you a proper reward... something to compensate your injuries and strife..." He hummed, before squealing as if he were a giddy schoolboy. "I could give you a seat next to me! Together, you and I, as the masters of a new world that changes only to our whims and desires! You and I could really set this whole world on fire!"

"Why would I even want to ally myself with someone like you? What would possess me to join hands with a being whose very purpose to existence is to pervert and corrupt all it touches?" I asked, still shaken by this entropy I beheld.

"Well, now that's just not nice at all," mused the...thing holding me. "Granted, I may not be the most trustworthy of people, but I do keep my word. I assure you, if you simply surrender and join by my side, I will heal your wounds, and your friends will not come to harm...much..."

"And if I were to refuse?" I moaned, unable to free myself from this grip.

"Well, let's consider this: You're barely able to stand as you are, one of your eyes is pretty much gone, you've got several nasty bruises and cuts, you're isolated from the one thing that could save you, and your friend is just as close to death's door as you are. So if you valued your life or those of your precious little friends, I'd suggest you take this humble offer I've been so kind enough to give you. Otherwise, you are going to be in quite the little predicament."

I didn't even consider. I simply worked up a lob of saliva and spat into his hands.

"So be it.", sighed Discord, before throwing me to the wall, leaving me with barely any conscience left.

"Before I leave you to contemplate your decision, allow me to impart upon you a little secret that not even your dear little teachers shared with you or Jade. Do you know the reason why you and your friend are capable of performing such great feats of magic?"

I didn't speak; my body was writhing in too much pain to do so.

"It's because you're not simply reincarnations of yourselves as ponies... Your very souls are inhabiting bodies consisting almost entirely of pure magical energies. Your consciences and intellects were transferred into empty vessels...homunculi, if you will. It is because your mind is still human that you are able to retain such knowledge or capacities as you do. Thus, even if you did die, your bodies could just as easily be rebuilt...and you both could just as easily stand to face me again... Thus, in all reality, the both of you are expendable... and thus, I shall leave you to your fates. If you do perish, or by any miracle manage to awaken again, I'll give you the liberty of reconsidering your choice. Until then, I bid you goodbye...





I didn't know where I was now. When I came to, I was in a verdant field. A vast plain of amber grain, and an apple tree in the distance. Without even thinking, I ran toward this tree. I trudged through stalk after stalk of this grain, disregarding the fact that I was wading in what would be my food if I ever had to stay here. The tree was all that I cared about at that moment, and as I neared, I saw a human woman. She wore a stetson hat, a red plaid shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and worn tan work boots. In a way, she resembled Applejack, but she had a certain charm to herself, as well. But I couldn't put my finger on why. As I neared, she turned to me, tipping her hat.

"Howdy there, stranger!" She chirped calmly. "I didn't think I'd get a chance to meet ya!"

She seemed rather happy that I was there. No harm in being friendly.

"Uh...howdy." I said, extending my hand.

"Why so nervous, boy? First time being au natural, I take it?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what she meant. That was, of course, until I looked down, and realized that I was, in fact, completely nude. For a moment, I recoiled, trying to cover my private area in case she saw. Being naked in front of a woman, even in such an empty place, was rather embarrassing for me.

"It's alright, boy; You seen one nekkid boy, you seen 'em all. Besides, we're all born that way, ain't we?" she asked, taking my hand helping me down.

"I guess that's true. So who are you, anyway?"

The girl tipped her hat upward and smiled. 

"Name's Megan; I've been hearin' an awful lot of ruckus about you. How you were the first human to make it over to that world of ponies."

"Really?" I replied, blushing.

"Yeah. But, truth be told, you ain't."

And there went my mood. Although it did lead me to ask, "Then who was?"

"Yer lookin' at her, partner," She replied with a curt smile. "Back in my day, it wasn't called Equestria. I used to run the place, if I remember right."

"You're kidding!" 

She shook her head, placing a hand to her heart. 

"So what are you doing here? And while I'm asking, just where is here?"

Megan burst out laughing then. What was so funny?

"Boy, you'd think standing next to a girl buck naked would give a kid a clue!" She chuckled, before sighing. "We're in your mind, Adam. You done lost consciousness fighting that ornery old Discord, I reckon."

"Then how are you here, might I ask?" I replied, not in the least bit amused.

"Because you and I are two of a kind; we're both humans, and we've both been to that land of ponies. I figured I could get in touch and give you some advice!"

"Advice? What kind of advice?"

"Advice on how to kick Discord's tail!"

"But, how?! I don't have the Elements of Harmony! And the ones that I did have are pretty much out cold!"

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice speak to me. A voice of deep authority. Before me now stood Asturl, who craned his neck downward toward me.

♪

"Do not forget the lessons I taught you, dear Traveler. In every enemy, there is weakness. But in every ally, there is strength. Let my teachings be the sword you carry into battle, and may that sword be forged by the fires of your camaraderie."

Not long after him came Gunnery Sargent Drillbit.

"He's right, Soldier! When you first walked into my gym wearing that fancy golden plate, I thought you were just some greenhorn. But, when you started showing us you were all they made you out to be...well, I honestly misjudged you. You've got heart, kid. Stay close to your friends, boy; you never know when you'll need 'em."

Then came Ms. H, wearing a nurse's cap.

"Adam, when I first saw you, you were so polite and wise...I was honestly honored to be able to teach you how to take care of yourself...honestly, you looked like you needed the help."

Gee, thanks. I really appreciate the sentiment.

"I don't know how bad you're hurt, but no matter what, you can't let anything keep you down! You're supposed to be a warrior. Stand up again and finish what you started!"

Next came Musky Tome.

"Adam, from what I've seen of you, you are a bright young stallion who could grow up to be just about anything he could ever dream of. You have a lot of potential in that mind of yours, and I think with enough brainpower, you'll find a way to unleash that hidden potential! Let the haze around your mind be lifted, let the truth empower you!"

After him came Lyra.

"When I heard there was a human among us, you bet I got majorly excited! Then I met you, and I just geeked out! You're probably one of the few humans I'll ever see, so I hope you make it out this a-okay! I have so many questions left to ask you!"

Then there came Trixie, who removed her hat in respect.

"When you came to Trixie five years ago, she was in what was essentially the low of her career. But you gave her inspiration. You showed Trixie how to better herself. And when she saw you again on the field of battle, you proved to be a worthy foe to her. So Trixie will give her power to you. Do not fail her!"

Last, but not least came the last two people I would have expected to see. 

"Hi, Daddy!" 

Catherine and Angela.

"Adam... I got your note... I wanted to let you know that we miss you. Cathrine keeps telling me she sees you on the TV. She keeps waving whenever a certain pony walked on the screen. She called out to you whenever she could, hoping that you'd hear her. One day, I got to see you...and I wished you could hear me some day. I guess today is that day. We wanted to let you know that we're rooting for you. We want to find a way to come see you someday...but if we make it and you don't, we'll be devastated! But, if we don't make it and you're still alive, we both want to wish you the best of luck. Let the power of our hearts help you defeat Discord. Reach out of this mist of lies and grasp the truth!"

Part of me began to cry before all seven of them gathered to hug me.

"Well, you heard 'em, Kid. They're all rootin' for you out there. So what do you say? You gonna get back on your hooves and go fight for them?" Megan asked.

I looked into the eyes of my friends and loved ones and cocked a grin, nodding my head confidently.

"I won't disappoint you!"

"That's the spirit! Go show Discord what you're made of!"

Trixie put a hoof to my shoulder and smiled. "Show us all!"

In that instant, the world around me faded away, and again I rose.





Pain still ran through me as I wrestled back onto my hooves and stared down Discord with what remained of my vision. Discord sat upon a ruined throne, drinking a glass of chocolate milk before disposing of the glass over his shoulder, causing a detonation behind him.

"Oh, my," Discord hummed, a talon to his chin. "So it seems the little traveler's still got some moxie left in him. So did you consider my offer?"

"Yes I did, you aberration," Said I with a determined glare. "And I've decided you can take your offer and send it to the moon!"

Discord was none too pleased to hear my disobedience. 

"Why do you still help these pathetic ponies when in reality, you will never really be one yourself?! How can you still have hope in fighting me, even without the Elements of Harmony?!"

I spat a glob of what I supposed was blood in a random direction.

♪

"Because, Discord. The Elements of Harmony aren't just tools. They are the power forged by the bonds one has to those they love!"

At that instant, I felt an amazing rush of energy. Suddenly, I lost what I knew to be pain. My body became almost featherweight. My hooves and my horn felt aglow with magical power, and I began to feel myself be lifted from the ground! Ephemeral wings began to take shape, and my vision became all the more clear. In that instant, I became more than just a pony. I had become a raw force of magical energy.

Discord's bravado shook then. He was taken aback at my sudden recovery, but then furrowed his brow and sneered.

"So you think now that you've obtained a vast array of power that you think you'll stand any ghost of a chance? Come then fool, and let us dance!"

Discord lashed at me like a serpent, streaking bolts of powerful chaotic energy in my direction, which while it would have frightened a normal pony, it was but a mere annoyance. When I gained an opening, I countered with my own lash of incendiary fury, sending Discord recoiling back before he launched his own counter attack, causing us to be locked in a struggle of power. Two beams of energy, one bright as the noon sun, and the other black as pitch clashed against each other, beginning to shake the very foundations of the ruined temple to its very core. Like a man possessed, I channeled all of my will into this spell, not letting anything stop my resurgence. I poured my heart and soul into stopping the bastardization of all things sane and logical, showing no regret, relent, or remorse.

"How are you capable of doing this!? This isn't supposed to be possible from a mere mortal!"

I smiled as I closed my eyes for a moment.

"There is nothing mere about this mortal!"

In an instant, light filled the room. Discord laid splayed out upon the floor, and I still had plenty of energy left. It was time for me to rid the world of this menace once and for all.

"Discord...You can't possibly fathom what kind of stress I've had to go through up to this point. Even before I'd come here, I had to deal with chaos that even you yourself could never have orchestrated. I've seen things that make things like you insignificant in comparison. So I'm going to say this as clearly as I can. If you show your face again, I pledge upon my very blood that I will come back to settle the score. Even when I'm gone, the flames I carry in my heart will be passed to a new generation, and I can assure you, they will be ready. That being said, why don't you be a good little avatar of mayhem and stay put?"

It was at this point that I began to rise, energy once again coursing through my body. I felt a cold rush through my veins as I cast my horn toward the abomination before me. 

T̩h̯̼̝̗i͍̲̜n̪̘g̪̯̱̣̙ ̪͍̖͚ọ͔͙ͅf̙͚̗̬͚ ̣̝͉̹ͅͅe̲̦ͅvị̹l̹̮̳̫̻,͎͎͉̯̰̻͉ ̗̻t̺̙̬̞̯h̳͇̟̲̳̺͔in̠̝g̘̺̲ ̜̱͍̩̠̝o͕̠̝͚̬f̻̻͖̱ ̯̠̙pl͚͙͇̯͉͓ͅig̬̖̟̗h̲̤̻̺̣̝t̺̦̠̯̥
G̳͓͕̪ͅe̖̦̯̖̩͖̙t͓̮̙̞ͅ ̥͔̥̥th̟̞̩̪͉̦e̝͚̖̘̩̦̲e̖̻̝̘̻ ̥͖̺̣͎̝̰h͇͎̭̩̪̹e̦̥̯n͖̹̟͓ͅc̥̤e̼͚̮̞̻̩ ̲͖͔̤̙̝fr̤o̙̰͔̭̥̖̺m̪ ̫̫̘m̞̞͇͇̯y̩̗ ͈s̬̣̖i͕gh̝̪̬̟t͇͚̻̳͍̹ͅ
̼̮̩̤̯L͔̬͙̜͚ḙ̳t͈͍͇ ̼y͇̖̯̩̟o̱u̲̥ ̪̥w͕̻̘͙h̥ͅo̬̰ ̦̙͇͓̯͍̹s̳͓͉͖̗̰̪ta̫̫̮̯̮͖̜n̰̣̲͈̭d̫ ̠̤̬͍a̲͓̲̲̜ga̫̼̺͎i͙̳̘̘̝̤̳n͎͉̮ș͙t͚̮̟ ̖̖̮t̟̳̲h̰̻̣̳̝e̪ ̜̹L̩i̥̣g̣̠̹h̙͈̺̟t̼̺͉̻͚̰
͎̩B̼̳̰͍̝e̞̯w̘͈̥̦̖a̗̲͙̰r̠̘ͅe̩̗͚͎ͅ ̱̩̲̮̬̫̯th̠͚i̜͎͇̜̩̰͚s͎͍ ̜̱͈͈̙po̼͙w̥̮̯̭ḙ͓͔͉̲̥ͅr͖̰̳̱͍,̱͚͖̮͍̤ͅ ̪͈̫̭͍f͕̹͉̮̣͉ͅr̟̠͇͍i̯̥̼̯̲̙e̬̲͎̘͉n͉̺͖̦͙̯̜d͍̙̹s̲͓h̩͎ͅi̜̣̣̞͕̺̤p̹̲̭̣'͕͓s ̼͙͓̮͎m̜i͚̥̺͕̦g͚h͍̲̪̙̞ͅt̥͙͚͍͚̙!͈̬
̯͉͙
͚͓̳	A̼͓͉͖ͅṋ̙̠̩̙̪d̤͎̝ s̖̬̜̜̗o̖̼͉͍ ̩̼̩̞y͚̤o̟u̪̹̩͕͚r̟̻͖͖̥̹ ̹̩̰̺̩p̻͓̗̘͍̟̲ẹ͓̣̺͙ͅn̤̞̻̭a̟͎͓̲͖n̫͍c͖͚͙e͈͓͉̪ ̹̬̫͍ͅh̳̱̙̼a̘̲̝̙͇s̤̲̲̝̘̻̼ n̯o͇͙̯̞̞w͈̱͉ ̟͖̰͖̫̯b̦̩̤̞e̦̣̖g͎̞̤͕u̻̘̬̭̭̫̞n̳̰͓̦͚̫̣
̪̝̥̝F̫͉ͅo͓̬̹̦̣ṛ̺̬̬ͅͅ ̠͓̟̼̼̻̯a̬̞l̗l̹̮̩̩͉̭ ̭̪̳t͈̩̲̠̳h̪̪e͍̙̼̥ ̼̯̫s̺̱̝̫̻i̞n̺̣̖̩̩s̟̬̖͕̰ ̮̘̭̯̱ẉ̖̼̺h̞̫͔̙̜̼̘i̜̳͕̲͕̯̤c̦̼h ͕̝y͓̠̬o̙̙̗͔̞̠u̮ ̙͇̣h̲̤a͈̹v̻̺e͉͖̘̭̙̩̩ ̺̞̮d̞o̠̗͚̘n̰e͉̖
̣̩͔̟̳̫Fr͚̜̺om̙̬̜̫ ͔͉̥͈͎̳y̼̼̩̺our̟ ̭͇͔f͇̯͉̜͕̗̞e͕̞̙t̘̹̻͉̦̬i̖͖d͈̳̻̲̖̟͍ ̺̞̳̻f̻͍̫̬̯̣̯l͕̲̫̳̹̼e̜̳͉͕̹͓s̗ẖ̠ͅ ̙̯͙t̘͎̭̮̘̲o̮̹̻̫ yo̰̞u̦̠̭̩͍̠r ̱̻͕̩͚̜b̟̟l̰̝̩͉̖i̜̦g̟̖͇h̟͇t̬̖̦͖̻̹e̥̪̠̣̦ͅd͙͙̞̟ ̳̺̼̼͖b͉̱on̖͉̯ͅe̪̥̘͎
͈͙̦̩̤ͅI̯̞̯̗̞ c̝̥̗͙̤ͅu͙̩͉̘̤͍̻r͙̱̝̼̺̥̬s͇͕ẹ̫̜̱̣̜̻ ͔̝͚͖y̥̹o̭̝u̝̜̤̲͎ ͍̘̺̱͖n͖̤̝͍o͉̬̲w̹͙̼͉͍̭, ̬̣R͎̫̦͙̹͕̜E̟̗̤͓TU̪͖͖̥̠̪̣R͇̺N͙̻̝̖̰ ̬͇T̼͓̤͙͚̥͚O̝͓̥̙̟͕ ̫̘̼̳S̪͓̠̪T̗͕͈͖͖͓̞ON͙̭͚̼͉ͅE̟!̬͈͕̠ 

In an instant, Discord froze. A grey film arced about his body as he slowly lost all sense in his body, his muscles contorting as his face was once again frozen in a look of horror as his fur greyed away. His body grew cold and hard, his flesh becoming little than a solid sculpture of stone in the floor. What was once a lively aberration against all I had known had now become a statue once more, and the exchange of energy took far too much out of my new body, as my wings slowly dissolved, the energy I had wielded all but fading from me as I met the floor again, my body collapsing next to my unconscious friend.

A familiar voice came, and soon I saw Twilight in my vision.

"I... I can't believe what I just saw... You... were able to use the Elements of Harmony?! But... you had nopony who represented the elements! You aren't an element yourself!"

I placed a hoof on Twilight's cheek and smiled.

"You're right...I wasn't...but what I was was a creature made OF magic...and with the memories of those I hold dear to guide me, in a way, I had my own Elements...The Elements of Harmony aren't just a bunch of trinkets... They're powers that manifest in the best and brightest minds... The magic that is found in the mind, body, and soul... With faith, I managed to tap into that power... and with it, the Elements just came naturally."

"That's...that's amazing! I couldn't be more proud of you right now!" Twilight squealed, holding me up

I smiled, wrapping my front hooves around her.

"I couldn't have done it without you girls..." I whispered, before turning to Pinkie Pie. 

"Pinkie, could you be a dear and find an eyepatch? I took a shot to the eye from all this..."

"Sure!" Pinkie Pie said, producing a black eyepatch from an unknown source. "I keep these stashed all over Ponyville in case of emergencies!"

"Thank you," I hummed, slipping on before I shut my eyes again. "Now if you don't mind, all this fighting tuckered me out. I think I'm gonna have a nice, long nap..."

And it was then I let my conscience fade, taking respite in Twilight's arms as my eyes closed to the sleeping form of Jade.

Today was perhaps my finest day.