//------------------------------// // 5 - Broken Lock // Story: Not alone in life, but alone in the darkness // by BloomingStar //------------------------------// At Ponyville... After school, Eternum asked Apple Bloom to keep his assignment at the clubhouse, but the filly replied by a grinning look. She grabbed his hoof and asked him that she's going with him since of what happened before. Eternum really wanted to be alone to train again on his own, but he just can't do it because she is going with him even if he tried to refuse. He told her that it's really important to be alone, but Apple Bloom wouldn't just accept it as she tightened her hold on his hoof. Honestly, he wanted to use his magic to stop her from holding his hoof, but he couldn't just do it out in the open. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath and said, "Alright, you can come along, just remember to stay close to me so can safely go back home later." "Okay. Let's get going then." The two then walked together with their destination to the open field as Eternum thought of himself in his mind 'I regret for accepting it, but I guess that's how I will live with it'. After a few minutes, they reached the plain area and sat down at the ground as they watched the sky. Eternum had a thought of being here to practice his powers, but since with her along, he had no choice but to postpone it. He would've show it to her right now, but he couldn't just take the risk of not just losing a friend, but also himself. He may not know what would really happen if he will ever either tell her or show her who he really was before he could even know himself. Nonetheless, he would dream that either the reality to turn out to be just fine or a disgrace to himself. After three hours, still watching the sky, Eternum realized just now that Apple Bloom slept while he was looking up for the past hours. Although he may use the time to bring her home now, he decided to just wait for her. He thought to himself if what would possibly happen if he will ever meet again his cousin. What would he do if he ever have to face him again for like the last time? Will Apple Bloom ever forgive him for not telling her the truth about him? Those questions he made up will be answered as he gave out a big sigh before hearing something that caught his attention. He heard a scream coming from the town, he wanted to wake her up now, but he didn't want it to worry her. He left without her knowing as she continued in her slumber. Though far from what he's in right now, he took a long deep breath. When he finally reached Ponyville, he looked at the caped mastermind and knew that it's his cousin, Phan Tom. He looked at every buildings being burned down as some of them were being burned down to ashes, ponies being imprisoned in stasis cells, and finally, he looked at the center of the town and saw the Elements of Harmony trapped under a static spell shield. Eternum knew that he would be back and understand that he came back for the reason that he really never cares. "I can't believe you did this just for you and your tribe's stupid vision." He said as he charged up a dark orb at his hoof. "You know this has to be done, Eter. I will not be stopped to make this our reality. Not even you." Phan Tom replied as he sent out a massive earthquake which caused ruptures everywhere. "I'm not gonna let you take this! I will stop you even if I have to KILL YOU!" The young colt shouted. "So be it..." The two cousins then fought into a death battle. Little by little, yet, blood spread from their scars, flames expanding, and thunder roaring. The long battle impaled the balance of Equestria as the two demons fought with powerful and dark energies. Eternum had the upper hand as he absorbed the energies that Phan Tom used at him. He was about to deal the final blow with a more powerful orb, but Phan Tom casted a dark force at him which caused Eternum to pushed back until hitting to a wall. Unable to stand up to his hooves, the draconequus summoned a dark lightning ball and began throwing it straight to the colt. Just as he was about to meet his death, he heard a spark of electricity. He thought it hit him, but as he raised again to his hooves, he saw from his very own eyes that he could never forgive himself. In front of his view, he saw Apple Bloom took the shot and fell to the ground unconscious. Eternum just cannot believe it that his own friend sacrificed for his sake to live. He wouldn't accept it as he gave out tears from his eyes. After moments of looking at her with silence, another earthquake began to erupt, but it's source is no longer from Phan Tom this time cause the eruption became stronger by the minute. He looked at Eternum's face and shocked by what he saw from his own very eyes. The young colt's eyes turned light blue and a gray mist appeared surrounding his body. The mist became larger as it's energy now hit the sky. three flashes of lightning appeared in front of him. He gave out a scream and said to Phan Tom, "I'M GONNA KILL YOU... YOU BUCKING PIECE OF BUCKING BIT!!!" He shouted as he turned his head to Phan Tom. "What the... Eternum?! Is that his true talent?! I've never seen such hatred... and POWER before!" Phan Tom said quietly as he gasped. Eternum combined his two front hooves together in making an orb, but this time, the orb's color turned into gray with a white spiral symbol in it's center. He then placed it at his right hoof and began charging his way to Phan Tom. The young draconequus was in shock to see Eternum's eyes glowing into something more different than being evil and looked at the symbol of his orb. He summoned a dome around him as to be prepared to deflect the attack. When the orb finally collided with the barrier, it was shocking as the demon saw it piercing through. Now in a bad situation, Phan Tom looked at his dome sides cracking even at his front as Eternum continued pushing it. After thirty seconds, the dome finally cracked to pieces and the orb finally launched directly at his chest. He was pushed back by a sheer force, but he wasn't done yet as he saw Eternum instantly teleported in front of his face. The young colt punched him straight down then instantly teleporting at the ground in a quick phase to punch him back up. Phan Tom didn't really expected the kind of power that Eternum has right now, so he closed his eyes and began shedding a tear. As he took in his last breath in the air, Eternum grabbed his back hooves and began spiraling like a ball before letting him go. As he made contact with the ground, a force of air appeared and covered him with dust and dirt. Phan Tom knew that he lost the battle and failed his mission. Eternum, now with normal eyes and without the mist surrounding him landed down and began walking slowly to the site of where Phan Tom is. The young colt said, "This is now over, cousin. You took one part of my heart that I will not forget. Now, we are even." He said as he closed his eyes and began falling to the ground. He remembered a voice being heard near him before he went to a deep slumber. Yer gonna be alright. Don't leave me, pardner... TO BE CONTINUED