The silence in the palace had an immensely heavy feeling to it. It weighed down the four ponies standing in the reception room, dread tightening in their chests.
Persei was drenched with sweat, watching a dark silhouette cast upon the staircase wall. The shadow was slowly descending the steps, each step measured and drawn out.
A pony swathed in a dark hood appeared on top of the staircase. His icy blue eyes pierced the darkness, glowing with an ethereal fire. She heard Cepheus gasp, and Starlight immediately took a step back.
It’s him, Persei thought. It’s Necron.
Necron reached the bottom of the steps and faced them. He cast off his hood and Persei stared, horrified. This was her first time actually seeing the fearsome commander, and she recognized him immediately.
Even past his dark aura, the new black tattoos that snaked up from his torso onto his face, the cold gleam of a skilled killer in his eyes, and his maniacal expression, she could still identify him. Sirius? Could it actually be him?
Persei swallowed hard. She remembered the fight that they had, the one that had made Sirius run away in the first place. Had Persei and Mother inadvertently created the monster that stood before them?
Necron smiled at them, the predatory grin that a serial killer gave his victims before he murdered them. Persei found herself unnerved, almost guilty. He approached them, still grinning. “Ahhh… you must be the four scientists.”
His voice was deeper than she last remembered it. He had also grown larger and leaner. His presence had gone from meek and love-desperate, to imposing and aggressive. This stallion had made a total metamorphosis. Was it possible for a pony to change that dramatically in such a short period of time?
Necron beckoned them. “Follow me,” he said, authoritatively. “We have so many things to discuss….”
What things exactly? Persei thought. She hesitated, but Starlight trotted ahead of her. Cepheus and Candle followed, leaving her behind. She pushed her fear down and trailed behind them.
The baggy hazmat suits bogged down her movement as she climbed up the steps. Her mind was still reeling from the revelation. She looked up at Necron, his dark gray cloak having the insignia of the Night Terrors emblazoned on it. Nightmare Moon’s elite intelligence agents….
Persei knew that all members of the Night Terrors especially were driven insane by their training. The more damaged that had been done to their minds, the more vicious and cunning they behaved as a result, and that was a marker of Nightmare Moon’s favor.
If I had treated him differently, would we all be here? If I had loved instead of hated, would Equestria still have gone through this apocalypse? Persei asked herself.
They reached the stop of the steps and she saw Darkheart waiting at the top. The captain gave a nod and began to trot alongside Necron. Persei thought about their plan, how it was all falling apart. Where was Necron taking them?
The answer became apparent when they reached the end of the hallway. Necron and Darkheart opened the double doors leading into a ballroom. Their group reluctantly stepped into the room and Necron locked the doors behind Persei. She stared at him fearfully, and he smiled. “We don’t want to be disturbed, do we?”
Persei just stared and he left her with a snicker. Necron walked to the center of the once illustrious room, which had now been beset by cobwebs and dust. Darkheart remained aloof, watching the doorways.
“Why don’t you take those sweaty outfits off?” Necron offered with a false kindness. “As your host, I have to ensure your comfort.”
Persei looked at Cepheus and he nodded. They were all wearing another robe underneath this, so the Elements of Harmony would remain hidden.
They all unzipped and stepped out of the polyester hazmat suits and Darkheart rushed up to collect them.
Persei felt the cold air against her damp skin and she actually felt a lot better. She looked behind her and saw Starlight slowly taking his suit off. Necron was watching them all with a satisfied smirk, but when Starlight revealed his face, Necron’s expression turned into one of fear.
As quickly as it came, the fear was gone. Necron collected himself, eyeing Starlight aggressively. What just happened?
Necron cleared his throat, watching all of them. “Well, well, well… it’s as I expected. My past has come back to haunt me.”
Cepheus stepped forth. “Sirius… is that you?”
Necron looked as though he had been struck. “THAT NAME,” he shouted, and then quickly simmered down, staring at Starlight. “That pony no longer exists. You will refer to me as Commander Necron.”
There was a moment of tenseness between the half-brothers, and Candle spoke up. “Sirius…” he glared at her. “I mean Necron… we would like to inquire to the health of Nightmare Moon. We are doctors….”
“Ha!” Necron laughed. “You four aren’t doctors, nor do you have a chance of healing Nightmare Moon. She isn’t sick with what you think she has.”
Darkheart drew closer. “Shall we kill them now?”
Persei felt herself beginning to panic and watched as the doorways were slammed open. Dozens of Night Guards filed in, surrounding them.
This was all a trap! Persei thought, preparing to fight.
Necron raised his hoof, halting the guards. “Not yet,” he grinned. “I want to hear what sweet Celestia’s reincarnates have to say before they die.”
Cepheus looked around, standing protectively in front of Candle. “Stop this, Sirius! This isn’t you!”
“THAT’S NOT MY NAME!” Necron screamed.
“You’re right!” Starlight yelled. “It’s MY name!”
Necron stared at Starlight incredulously. “I knew it,” he whispered. “I don’t know how you broke free… but I am in control of this body now. You shall not have it back so easily!”
What is Starlight trying to do!? Persei thought.
The two pegasi leapt forward, clashing with each other in the air. The Night Guards started to move forward, but Necron screamed. “Stand down!” he said with bloody slaver dripping from his mouth. “He’s mine!”
Necron punched Starlight hard across the muzzle, knocking him to the ground. They both took their fight to the ground. It was a flurry of wings and hooves, and Necron gained the upper hand. Starlight was pinned underneath him, and the frenzied Necron rained down punches on his face.
Persei couldn’t just sit back and watch. She lowered her horn and unleashed a bolt of fire at Necron. He ducked down and the magical projectile flew over his head, hitting the rank of Night Guards behind him with a burst of flame.
Darkheart gave the order, and Persei barely sidestepped a powerful stroke of a club that would have easily knocked her out as the Night Guards rushed forward to subdue her. Somepony grabbed her hind hooves and began dragging her back, and Cepheus leapt into the fray. He slammed the guard who was trying to bind her and she wriggled out of his grip.
But it was futile. They were quickly overwhelmed as dozens of Night Guards piled onto her and Cepheus, crushing them underneath their collective weight. Persei was immobilized, and as the guards stood back up, coarse ropes were wrapped around their hooves, binding them.
Persei blew a strand of hair out of her face and watched Starlight and Necron fight. Starlight was obviously losing. His wings were mangled, his face bloodied, and his right hindleg twisted at an unnatural angle. Necron jumped on him as he was trying to crawl away, flattening him. “It’s all over for you, Sirius!” he screamed.
Necron pulled out a dagger from its sheathe that was hidden underneath his torn cloak. Starlight struggled, and Candle screamed. Necron was distracted and Darkheart slammed his cudgel down on his head.
Necron could barely give out a cry of alarm as he was thrown off of Starlight by his own captain. Darkheart brought the cudgel down again and again on Necron, screaming on the top of his lungs. “You killed Ember!” he said, bringing the cudgel down hard. “She was to be my wife!” he brought it down hard again, tears in his eyes. “I found her half-eaten body in your lair, you filthy insect!”
Through the battering, Necron twisted around and thrusted the dagger forth. Darkheart immediately stopped swinging the cudgel, and Persei tried to shift her head around to see what had happened. Darkheart backed away, disoriented. He suddenly collapsed, and she saw the dagger sticking out of his throat.
Persei gasped, her stomach turning as she watched the blood gushing out of Darkheart’s torn neck.
Necron slowly stood up, beaten and bloody. He trotted over to the pool of blood Darkheart lay in, and spat on his corpse. “You were weak. Just like your wife.”
“Necron!” Starlight shouted, pulling him into a headlock. The two stallions stumbled around, Necron choking. “I am Sirius!” he shouted. “And this is MY body!”
Necron shook his head and Starlight tightened the pressure on his neck. Necron writhed, flailing his hooves, jerking up and down like a fish caught in a net. He struggled for a minute and then his body suddenly went slack, his head slumping.
Starlight immediately let go and Necron collapsed onto the ground, completely still.
Is he dead? Persei thought, still tied up on the ground.
Necron suddenly took a deep breath and looked up at Starlight who was standing over him. Something had changed about his demeanor. Necron blinked, confused. “Where am I?” he asked, frightened. “Who are you?”
Starlight smiled. “Sirius… I am your father.”
The dazed pony just stared up at the stallion claiming to be his father. “H-how?” he struggled with his words, looking around at his surroundings. His eyes caught Cepheus and Persei tied up on the ground. “Cepheus!” he shouted. “Are you all right?!”
I can’t believe it, Persei thought. Is Sirius back?
Sirius looked up at Starlight, tears in his eyes. “Father….”
“Son,” Starlight replied, embracing his long lost foal.
Cepheus began to laugh, edging closer to Candle who lay beside him. “Perhaps our plan will work…” he whispered to his wife.
Starlight suddenly gasped and became very still. Candle screamed and Cepheus stared in horror.
Necron was still holding Starlight in his embrace as he ripped the dragger across Starlight’s belly, his entrails spilling out in an outpouring of blood and gore.
Necron let Starlight slip from his hold and fall to the ground, the bloody dagger still in his hooves. Starlight lay on the ground, clutching his belly, betrayal and shock on his face.
“You bastard!” Cepheus screamed, breaking free of his bonds and charging towards him.
A Night Guard was able to grab the end of his robe. With his forward momentum, the robe was completely torn off. The shining golden girdle around Cepheus’ belly was exposed, and everypony stared at the jeweled piece.
Necron stepped over the dying Starlight and laughed. “Today just gets better and better!” he gestured to Starlight’s gut wound. “I managed to kill both of the wretched ponies who brought me into this world,” he pointed at Persei. “The arrogant bitch that is my half-sister is finally under my hoof,” he then finally looked at Cepheus. “And the brother I loved,” his smile disappeared. “I am truly sorry that you got caught up in all of this.”
Cepheus was devastated. “No! You were better than this!” he began to cry as Necron turned his back on him. “I believed in you!”
Necron looked over his shoulder, appearing remorseful for the first time. “You always did.” He turned back around and waved his hoof. “Make his death quick and painless,” he gestured to Candle. “The same goes for her as well.” He stopped and looked at Persei, grinning viciously. “Break her horn and sedate her. I want her in my chambers within the hour.”
Persei’s heart filled with fear and she desperately struggled in her bonds. Cepheus and Candle’s heads were forced onto the ground, and a guard with a massive executioner’s axe lumbered towards them.
“Stop,” a voice groaned.
Necron froze. He turned around and saw that Starlight was standing. “Please, Sirius…” he said, his voice weak. “I should have been there for you….”
Necron blinked.
“I am sorry that it had to come to this, but you are still my son.” Starlight gasped, blood trickling from his muzzle. “I need to take responsibility…” he gasped again, taking in a ragged breath. “You deserved a father… and even as I am dying, I will take my last few moments to say,” he paused, his eyes full of sincerity. “I love you.”
Necron shook his head, not understanding. “Why?” he asked. “I’ve dealt you a fatal blow!” he shook his head again. “Why would you love me even after all that I’ve done?”
“Because you are my son,” Starlight said, “because we are family.”
Cepheus and Candle lay on the ground, the executioner holding his axe above their heads. A guard had put some kind of clamp on Persei’s horn and was preparing to break it, but everypony had stopped to listen at what was happening.
Starlight collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a wet thump. Necron was transfixed. “I don’t understand,” he whispered. “Why would anypony love me? I don’t need love… especially from a stranger.”
Persei watched as Necron muttered to himself, desperately trying to make sense of what was happening. Behind his cold blue eyes, she saw an intense battle raging within. The guards silently awaited their commander, watching for what he would do next.
Starlight lay on the ground, his breathing becoming weaker and weaker. “Sirius,” he croaked, looking up at him. “You deserve to be loved. Everypony does…” he trailed off and his head dropped.
Necron broke down, genuine tears running down his face. “No!” he shouted. He galloped over to Starlight, and held his father’s head against his barrel. “Please tell me again!” he begged. “Tell me that you love me again!”
Starlight looked up at his son’s face, an utter calm settling over his features. “I love you,” he whispered. Starlight gave his last shaky breath and became very still, his body going limp in Necron’s embrace.
Necron was anguished. He shook his father desperately, but the light had gone out of his eyes. Starlight was gone.
Cepheus cried out, sobbing. “Starlight! No!”
Persei couldn’t believe this. He was dead.
Necron held his father’s lifeless body, looking at what he had done. “Father…” He lifted Starlight’s head and held him against his barrel tightly, tears running down his face. Necron threw his head up, crying out. “Nooo!”
Persei felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I was wrong!” she cried out in grief.
Necron stared at her, holding his father tightly.
“I was wrong!” she repeated herself, sobs racking her body. “I was wrong to treat you as I did. I should never have been so harsh to you.”
Necron was overwhelmed. “Oh, Persei!” he cried out. “I’ve killed millions of ponies. I unleashed a devastating plague. I killed both of my parents, and I could have just as easily killed my entire family!”
Persei shook her head. “Yes, things are bad… but you can still turn things around!”
Candle held her hooves out. “Sirius, you must now look to the future!”
Sirius nodded his head and lastly looked to Cepheus. His half-brother’s blond mane obscured his face and he was the only one who hadn’t spoken. Sirius gently called to him. “Cepheus… do you still believe in me?”
Cepheus was silent, unmoving.
Sirius looked anguish. “Please, brother… I am so sorry for all that I’ve done.”
Cepheus sobbed. “Starlight was my friend. He died because he made the mistake of trusting you.”
Persei saw Sirius’ already broken heart shattering behind his blue eyes. “Please forgive me!” he cried out, hugging Starlight’s corpse. “Please!”
Cepheus didn’t respond, and looked away from Sirius.
“No, no…” Sirius begged, his eyes wide. “Please don’t shut me out.” Seeing that Cepheus wasn’t even going to look at him, he picked up the dagger from the ground. His hoof was trembling as he raised it up to his throat. “Perhaps this is the only way I can make things right….”
Sirius pressed the dagger against his throat, and Cepheus cried out. “Sirius!” He froze, a streak of blood running down his neck. Cepheus looked up at Sirius, his eyes red with tears. “I’ve already lost somepony I loved today, I don’t want to lose another one!”
“Cepheus….” Sirius said, dropping the dagger.
Cepheus swallowed his tears. “I still believe in you, Sirius. I always will. I forgive you.”
Sirius stared for a moment and sighed with relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest. He kissed his father’s head and closed his eyes. “Guards, at ease.”
The Night Guards retreated. The clamp was removed from Persei’s horn and she was untied. The executioner that was standing over Cepheus and Candle lowered his axe, disappointed.
There was a bright light from where Cepheus was. Persei shielded her eyes and saw that the Elements of Harmony were shining. What in Equestria is going on?
The light faded and all was still for a moment.
Then, there was a terrible roar. The palace began to shake violently, and a mare’s voice resonated through the ballroom. “From this moment on, there shall be no night or day….”
Persei shielded her head as debris fell from the roof. The Night Guards were rushing out of the room, desperate to get out of the palace. Was that Nightmare Moon roaring?
Nightmare Moon’s roar grew in intensity and from the ballroom bay window she saw fissures appearing in the streets. The Night Guards were running about, trying to figure out what was going on. In the distance, Persei heard screaming. The ground shook harder, and massive cracks appeared on the city’s walls.
She felt a hoof grab hers, and she saw Cepheus trying to lead her out. “C’mon, we have to get out of here!”
Persei began to gallop out with Cepheus and Candle when the ground suddenly stopped shaking. She looked back out the window one more time. “The walls!” she screamed, pointing.
They all looked back and saw that a massive breach had been opened up by the aftershock of Nightmare Moon’s roar. The horde of infected ponies that were waiting outside rushed in, overrunning the Night Guard. Nightmare Moon was laughing maniacally. “There shall now only be oblivion!”
“The infected have broken through!” Candle said, terrified.
“The city is lost,” Sirius said, and they all looked at him. He hadn’t moved from his spot, Starlight’s corpse still in his hooves. “You three have to go now!” he pointed to a staircase leading up to the royal quarters.
“What about you?” Cepheus asked.
“I wish to be alone with my father,” he said solemnly. He pointed at the staircase again. “Go now!” he shouted. “It is up to you three to save Equestria from oblivion!”