“Come on Spike, we’re going to be late!” Twilight shouted up the stairs impatiently.
“Give me one second Twilight!” Spike’s voice carried through the bedroom.
“Just hurry!” Twilight then began to pace around the main room. After a few seconds there was a dark flash, as it subsided Sean appeared in front of her. “Hi Sean.” Twilight walked up to the human
“It’s good to see you Twilight.” Sean smiled. Twilight offered him a skeptical look, his voice was different. It lacked the typical warmth and friendliness that usually greeted her. It was calmer, almost cold.
“Are you feeling ok?” She raised an eyebrow as she noticed his green eyes.
“Never better.” Sean continued the smile, the grin mostly disturbed the unicorn due to the fangs that filled it.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Twilight took a step back.
“I believe so.” The human nodded. “May I see the elements?”
“Why?”
“Celly wants me to check on them. You know how vital they are to our little country.”
“Why didn’t the princess contact me then?”
“She is very busy.”
“I guess so.” Twilight looked him over. “What’s with the new clothes?” She flicked the tail of his long jacket.
“I was helping with guard duty at the Canterlot prison.”
“Um, Twilight!” Spike’s head poked out from around the door frame to the room. “Can you come here for a minute?” He almost seemed scared.
“Of course.” Twilight briskly began to move up the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”
“Curse that dragon,” Sean said under his breath. “He cut me off before I could probe that stupid pony’s mind.” He let out a growl. “Guess I’ll have to find them the old fashioned way.”
The human then began to look around the room, tilting books and lifting the wooden head in search of secret entrances. Eventually he spotted something interesting, there was a small amount of magical energy coming from a nearby door. Moving to it he turned the handle and swung it open.
“Jack pot.”
“What’s wrong Spike?” Twilight asked the baby dragon. His eyes were wide as he handed her a scroll. Taking it in her magic the unicorn unfurled it and began to read.
Dear Twilight,
I have sent this to warn you about Sean, he is currently not of sound mind and a threat to anypony he comes in contact with. He has already wiped out seventeen guards with no trouble or mercy. Odds are that he will be arriving at your home in search of the Elements of Harmony. Make sure they do not fall into his clutches. Luna and I are making preparations and will arrive as soon as we can. Be careful my student.
-Princess Celestia
“This is bad,” Twilight said as she gave the letter to Spike. “I left him alone down there!” Twilight then turned and began to rush down the stairs.
“Too late mortal!” Twilight skidded to a halt, her eyes wide as Sean came through the basement door. The case that stored the elements was tucked under his arm. “Thanks for the gift.”
“Give those back!” Twilight ordered as she glared at Sean.
“I have a better idea.” Sean then disappeared in a dark burst before suddenly appearing next to Twilight. “I’m going to take these rocks with me.” One of the chains coiled from his free arm and began to wrap around her neck. “Then I will summon my father here.” The two chains around his torso shifted, one of them coiling around her body and the other around her horn.
“I won’t let you.” Twilight glared at him. It was becoming difficult to move as the metal links tightened their grip.
“How about this?” Sean shifted his voice to a whisper and leaned in closer to the pony. “After Bolas and I reform this plane it will need a queen to follow the new king.” The chain on her neck reached her chin and turned her head to look at him. “How about it.”
“Don’t do it Twilight!” Spike shouted from the top of the stairs.
“Quiet pest!” Sean’s final chain shot forward at the dragon, just as it neared him he rolled out of the way. Clumsily falling down the stairs the dragon groaned.
“Spike run!” Twilight ordered.
“No!” The chain retracted before making another move for Spike. Again the young dragon dodged before running out the front door. “Curses.”
“You’re in trouble now, Spike is going to get help.”
“Fine, he can bring all the help he wants. It makes little difference.” Sean smiled. “I plan to transform this plane, then I shall ascend to the next level of power.”
“Next level?” Twilight looked at him in confusion.
“Yes, once Bolas arrives we will drain this world of its magic. After that we shall absorb that power, a portion will go to me so that I may evolve to a true planeswalker.”
“She’s in here,” Spike said as he led the five ponies to the library’s front door.
“I’m still finding it a bit hard to believe that Sean of all beings would hurt Twilight,” Rarity said in disbelief.
“Well it’s true.” Spike pointed to the large tree. “When I left he had weird chains coiled around her body.”
“Didn’t know Twilight was into that,” Rainbow said with a chuckle.
“Into what?” Spike looked at her in confusion.
“Um.” The multicolored mare looked away. “Let’s just go inside.”
“Think about it Twilight,” Sean said as he leaned closer to Twilight. “Unimaginable power, you would be stronger than even Celestia.”
“I will never betray the princess!” The unicorn glared at the human.
“Fine.” Sean’s slitted pupils shrank as he growled. “I suppose you will just have to die!” The chains then began to tighten their grip. Twilight gasped for air as her windpipe was restricted.
“Let go of her!” Both Twilight and Sean looked towards the front door in time for Rainbow Dash to ram into the human.
Flying back he was slammed against the wall. The surprise and sudden blow loosened the chains around his captive. Taking the opportunity Twilight shook off the chain around her horn and teleported to stand beside her friends.
“This place is getting a bit too crowded for my taste,” Sean said with a smile. “No matter, I have what I came for.” There was a flash before Sean vanished.
“Oh no.” Twilight’s shoulders sagged. “He got the elements.”
“Fools.” Sean smiled as he walked towards the outskirts of Ponyville the Everfree Forest not far ahead. “Too easy.” The human grunted as he suddenly bumped into something. “What the?” Looking around he raised an eyebrow, there didn’t seem to be anything nearby. Reaching a hand out he growled as it pressed against an invisible wall. “Nice of you to join me Celly.” Sean turned around as the alicorn appeared.
“I can’t let you get away Sean,” Celestia said with a glare. Her golden armor shined in the daylight.
“Looks like you broke out the war gear for little old me.” Sean smiled. “I’m flattered Celly.”
“I will stop you, no matter what it takes.” The white alicorn spread her armored wings, the bladed edges glistening.
“I’m afraid it will take more than one washed up Alicorn to stop me.”
“How about two?” A smile crept along the human’s face as Luna appeared next to her sister, clad in her own armor.
“Did you seriously just agree to being called a washed up alicorn?” Sean chuckled a bit.
“What!?” Luna’s eyes widened. “No, I didn’t mean-”
“Don’t let him get to you Luna.” Celestia shook her head.
“But Celly.” The alicorn jumped as Sean appeared next to her. “Letting me in your head will make it less painful.”
“Enough!” Celestia shouted as she swung a bladed wing at the human. As expected he vanished before reappearing beside Luna.
“Can you believe her?” He looked at the younger princess. “Attacking me just out of the blue.” He vanished again as Luna aimed her sword for his heart. Reappearing in front of the sisters he smiled. “Why don’t you two surrender? You know that you can’t beat me, I am perfection.”
“We will stop you,” Celestia said, determination in her eyes. “And we’ll get Sean back.”
“You fool.” Setting the elements down and covering them in a magical aura he began to smile, the chain on Sean’s right arm began to lower. Snapping a long portion off it began to change. After a few seconds the human lifted a halberd over his head. “Let’s finish this quickly.”
Both alicorns took a step back in surprise, not simply from the sudden weapon. The human’s voice had lowered in pitch with a seeming echo to it, his pupils had shrunk to the point of being almost nonexistent, and his eyes were filled with a fusion of predatory and hatred.
“Are you ready sister?” Luna looked at Celestia, determination was in her eyes. “He may be our friend but Equestria comes first.”
“I know Luna.” Celestia sighed. “It will still be difficult.”
“Not for me!” The white alicorn’s eyes widened as a large blade began to come down on her. Thinking quickly Celestia was able to teleport away as Sean slammed his weapon into the ground. “That was a good dodge Celly.” Raising the halberd to rest on his shoulder the human turned the Celestia. “But it will only work once.”
“We’ll see,” Celestia said before firing a blast of magic at him. Smiling Sean vanished, Celestia then spun around and swung a wing. The alicorn gasped when her blades didn’t make contact with flesh.
“You missed,” Sean said as he appeared in front of her. Before she could react the princess’s face met the human’s fist. Falling to the ground Celestia groaned, rubbing an armored hoof against her cheek. “Bye bye Celly!” The solar princess’s eyes widened as Sean raised his halberd, with a cruel smile the weapon came down.
“Sister!” Luna shouted before tackling the human. Slamming into the invisible barrier Sean growled as he and Luna began to struggle. With a battle cry the blue alicorn rammed her sword into his chest, exactly where his core was located.
“Insolent brat!” Sean glared at his attacker.
Suddenly there were several flashes of silver, before Luna could react four chains had pierced her body. She let out a pained wheeze as she looked at herself, two of the steel lines had jabbed through her shoulders and proceeded to coil her throat, the other two had forced their way into her stomach. Sean began to laugh as the alicorn’s blood trickled out, the drops landing on his cloak leaving darkened patches.
“Luna!” Celestia cried out.
“How?” Luna asked, her voice weak and quiet. “I pierced your core.” Blood began to fall from her mouth. Sean’s laugh grew louder and more viscous as he stood up, his chains lifting with him to keep the bleeding alicorn at eye level.
“You mean this core?” Sean asked before opening his mouth, on his tongue rested the gold gem.
“What?” Luna’s eyes widened in shock.
“My life source,” Sean said as the gem began to sink into his tongue. “Has taken up safer residence. After all, I knew you would go after it. Now then, why don’t we find out what the inside of a princess looks-” The sentence did not finish as the human was enveloped in a fireball. The singed black corpse fell back to land on the ground. The chains holding Luna slowly disintegrated, before she could hit the ground a golden aura enveloped her.
“Luna!” The blue alicorn’s fuzzy vision attempted to focus on her sister.
“I’m sorry Celestia,” She said weakly.
“You’re going to be fine.” Celestia’s horn began to glow, slowly the wounds on Luna began to close. “There, I’ve stopped the bleeding.” Slowly the younger alicorn’s eyes began to close. “Luna, don’t close your eyes!”
“Defeat him.” Then Luna’s head fell back limply.
“Luna!” Slowly pressing her head to her sister’s chest Celestia sighed with relief as she heard weak breathing.
“Oops, I broke it.” Looking behind her Celestia’s eyes shifted to a glare as the human began to get up. His face was slowly recovering, the sadistic smile becoming visible again. “Oh well, I guess you’ll have to do.”
“I don’t care if you used to be Sean,” Celestia said, hatred evident in her voice. “You are not him anymore, and I will make you pay.” Her mane began to catch fire as she finished.
“Oh, I’m so scared.” Sean picked the halberd back up with a smile. “Let’s dance Celly.”
Without responding the white alicorn began to charge towards the human. Spreading her wings she prepared to slice him. Chuckling Sean side stepped to dodge the attack, his eyes widened as he bumped into Celestia, she had managed to teleport at the last second and ended up behind him. Before he could move the human’s head was separated from his body. As he began to recover Celestia shouted and blasted him with fire. This went on for several minutes, breathing heavily Celestia glared down at the blackened corpse beneath her. To her surprise no sparks appeared to show his regeneration.
“Geez, you have some anger issues.” She gasped as a chain stabbed through her ribs. Looking back her eyes widened as Sean appeared through a portal. “You should really consider counseling.”
“How did you?” She looked to the singed body in front of her.
“You mean the zombie I replaced myself with?” His fanged smile crept onto the human’s face. “Have you learned nothing?” Celestia cried out in pain as the chain began to shift inside her body. “I am a god, the embodiment of perfection.” Slowly the chain inside Celestia removed itself, the tip sparked and was replaced by a spear head, the metal shining in the light. “Goodbye Celly.” Before the weapon could strike a purple beam shot through it, splitting the chain in half.
“Princess!” Both combatants looked towards Ponyville to see a group of six ponies running towards them.
“I am getting sick of these pesky interruptions,” Sean said with a growl. “Oh well, the more blood the merrier.”
“Twilight, stay back!” Celestia ordered. The six ponies suddenly stopped, Twilight looked at the princess in confusion.
“What?”
“It’s too dangerous, get away from here!” Celestia ducked as a chain flew at her face.
“Princess-” Twilight took a step towards them.
“I said get out of here!” Celestia shouted as she blocked Sean’s halberd with a wing. “Take Luna and run!” The princess grunted as the human’s foot slammed into her chest, causing her to fly back.
“Luna?” Looking around the purple unicorn’s eyes widened as she saw the bloodied body of the lunar princess. “Oh no.”
“That does it!” Rainbow Dash shouted angrily before charging at Sean.
“Rainbow Dash stop!” Twilight cried.
“Listen to her child.” Rainbow let out a gasp as a chain coiled around her body, before the pegasus could react she was slammed into the ground. Sean walked up and put a foot on her head. “You hope to stop a god?”
“Get off her!” The human growled as he became covered in cake and confetti. Cracking his neck Sean prepared to deal with the pink and orange pests running towards him.
“Mortals are so foolish.” With a smile Sean fired his four chains towards the oncoming ponies. Unable to do anything the two were coiled in metal, detaching them from his body Applejack and Pinkie fell to the ground in their metallic coffins.
“Enough Sean!” Turning, the human smiled to see Celestia fully transformed. The heat from her mane and tail reached him even from the several foot gap. “This is between you and me.”
“It’s really not between any of you.” Sean shrugged. “My father wants to visit and he needs all of you out of the way.”
“I will stop you no matter what it takes.” Celestia spread her wings.
“Fine, if you want to die I can oblige.” Glancing at Twilight and the others he smiled. “But only if there are no more interruptions.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” Rainbow Dash said weakly. Then a wall of golden magic appeared in front of them. After a few seconds the gold orb became clear.
“Princess?” Twilight’s eyes widened.
“I can’t risk your lives over this.” Celestia’s voice was filled with sorrow. “I almost got Luna killed, I will not let him get you too.”
“How touching.” Sean rolled his eyes. “Let’s go already.” Before his opponent could respond, Sean charged at the alicorn.
In a fluid motion Celestia dodged and swung with her wing, she let out a grunt as the appendage collided with two chains that had shifted to block the attack. Spinning on his heels Sean turned, quickly transforming his left arm into a dragon head he sent out a fireball. With a smirk Celestia raised a shield to block. Her face quickly shifted to a look of pain as Sean’s halberd smoothly cut through the barrier and sliced across her chest. Teleporting away she looked at her wound, it was shallow, not bleeding very much. The princess had to duck as the halberd flew towards her, looking up she saw Sean twirling one of his chains.
“I hope I didn’t hurt you too much,” he said with a smirk before slamming his fist into the ground. “After all, there is still plenty of fun to be had.” After that a red glow went down his arm before the ground began to shake. Suddenly the earth beneath Celestia spewed a column of fire, completely enveloping her. Celestia smiled as her mane and tail absorbed the attack.
“Did you forget?” Celestia shook her head. “Fire can’t harm me like this.”
“I’m aware.” The alicorn’s eyes widened as a cold voice appeared behind her. “That was just a distraction.” Before she could react a sword pierced through her stomach. Coughing up blood Celestia fell to the ground. Slowly the flame left the princess as she looked at the blade in her side. It was stabbed deep enough that she could only see the hilt. Looking up she watched Sean kneel to look her in the eyes. “It’s over Celly.”
“Sean-” Celestia coughed, more blood escaping her. “Please, fight this.”
“So annoying.” Sean rolled his eyes before standing up tearing off some of his left arm’s chain he transformed it into an axe. “Goodbye Celly.” As he prepared to bring the weapon down sparks began to fly from his body, letting out a roar he dropped the axe. Celestia recoiled as the blade landed a few inches from her face.
“That was close.” Celestia sighed before looking back to the sparking human.
“Stop it!” Sean was gripping his face. “You were weak, unwilling to do what was necessary for power!” He grabbed his left arm in chains as it transformed into a blade and flew towards his face. “You can’t win, my power surpasses the simplistic will of something as pitiful as yourself.” As Sean looked towards Celestia she saw his eyes were purple.
“Sean?”
“Enough!” The human’s eyes regained their green tint as he shouted. “Lucky for you Celly, that fool is protecting you.” Turning around Sean walked to the glass case containing the elements. “No matter, I merely needed to incapacitate you.” Freeing the jewels from their containment he lifted them with his chains.
“What are you doing?” Celestia asked weakly. Her vision was beginning to cloud as the blood loss continued.
“I’m going to use these little rocks to bring the mighty Nicol Bolas here.” Sean smiled as he clipped two elements to each arm, one to his neck, and placed the crown on his head.
“No, you can’t.” Celestia attempted to stand before falling over again. Her coat was soaked red by now.
“Of course I can.” Sean smiled as he began to carve something in the ground. “Who will stop me?” Stepping back the human admired his work. On the ground he had carved the shapes of Bolas’ horns. “Now then, let’s put these stones to work.” The elements began to glow before two rainbow patterned orbs appeared in his hands. With a grin the human pointed his palms to the horns, suddenly the orbs turned into beams of light. Letting out a laugh Sean watched the horns begin to faintly glow. “Soon he shall arrive, and your pitiful plane will strengthen him.”
“Sean, stop!” Celestia shouted in fear. What the human hadn’t noticed was the tails of his trench coat were beginning to disintegrate.
“Deal with it Celly!” Sean glared at the alicorn. “You lost, there is no stopping what has been set in motion!” Suddenly the human’s hands began to disintegrate. “What’s happening?!” He watched in horror as his shoulder began to fade away.
“Sean.” Celestia finally lost consciousness.
“Princess!” Twilight cried out as she watched Celestia’s face fall to the ground. Slowly the golden barrier vanished. Running to her mentor the unicorn began to shake the fallen alicorn. Putting her head to her chest Twilight sighed with relief to hear her breathing. “We need to get the princesses to a hospital.”
“What about him?” Rainbow Dash asked with a hint of anger. Looking behind her Twilight’s eyes widened. A few feet away rested the mutilated form of Sean, he was sitting back on his knees. Cautiously moving towards him Twilight looked the human over.
One of his hands was missing, there was a chunk of flesh missing from one shoulder, part of his cheek had vanished, one of his eyes was gone, and there were a few chunks of his torso gone as well. His trench coat was shredded and several parts were missing, his arms and neck were black and singed, and the elements were scattered around him. Then he began to shift, weakly the human looked at her his one green eye looking her over.
“Twilight?” His voice was quiet and strained.
“Is that you Sean?” Twilight asked skeptically.
“Please, come closer.” Leaning in Twilight looked at him with concern.
“What is it?” Suddenly the human jerked forward, his fangs shining as he lunged for her. Before he could reach her a rope wrapped around his throat and yanked him back.
“Are you ok Twilight?” Rarity asked worriedly.
“I’m fine.” Twilight said sadly, watching as Applejack dragged Sean’s writhing body towards a nearby tree, the human shouting many obscenities as she tied him to the trunk. “Let’s get the princesses to a hospital.
“I’ll kill you all!” Sean shouted. “When I free myself you will feel the true wrath of a dragon!”
“Sister, it is time,” Luna said solemnly as she entered her sister’s hospital room. The two alicorns had been transported to Canterlot and treated, after two weeks they were almost fully recovered.
“I know we can save him,” Celestia said sadly.
“Perhaps, but for now he is too dangerous to keep here.” Luna sighed before looking to the ground. “Twilight says he has already recovered his cheek and shoulder. It is only a matter of time before he is strong enough to escape our simple binds.”
“I suppose.” Climbing out of the bed Celestia stretched before her horn began to glow, after a few seconds the two sisters vanished.
“Are you sure about this princess?” Twilight asked nervously as they neared the hill.
“I’m afraid so,” Celestia said sadly, her gaze low and her shoulders slumped. “The magical backlash of the elements is beginning to wear off. He can’t be left in this realm much longer before he escapes.”
“Here we are,” Luna said as they reached the top of the hill. Nearby a single tree sat with a familiar figure strapped to it. As the three ponies approached he raised his head. Celestia internally winced at his current state. His arms and throat still had not recovered and where dark as the night, his empty eye socket had begun to recover, flesh having covered the hole. Offering a cruel smile Sean greeted them.
“Well, if it isn’t the goody four shoes brigade.” His voice still had a roughness to it and was filled with malice and spite.
“I assume you know why we’re here?” Celestia asked, giving him a cold gaze to match the ice in her voice. She hated this creature, no matter the appearance it was not her old friend. She knew that deep within he still existed but it was being trapped by this horrid beast.
“There are a few theories,” Sean said with a laugh.
“Sean.” The human turned his gaze to the other alicorn. Luna stood over him with a glare. “For your crimes against Equestria you are hereby banished to Tartarus.”
“What?!”
“Goodbye Sean,” Celestia said, tears going down her face as her horn began to glow.
“You can’t do this!” Sean shouted with anger, though the ponies could have sworn there was a hint of fear.
“Have fun in there,” Luna said before her horn began to glow. Sean’s eyes widened as a portal appeared beneath him. Through it he could see a dark abyss. The only structures were several jagged mountains and winding stone roads. In the distance he saw a three headed dog patrolling the grounds.
“I’ll just escape when I recover.” Sean shook his head.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but Tartarus drains the magic of its captives,” Luna said with a smile. Before the human could reply he was dropped into the portal. As he landed onto one of the mountains a cage appeared around him.
“You will pay for this Celestia!” He shouted as the portal closed
“I’m sorry Sean,” Celestia said with a frown. “But I will find a way to save you.”
“I hate to be the that pony.” Luna came to stand next to her sister. “But I do not think there is anything to save.”
“No Luna, there is.” Celestia gave a slight smile. “I saw it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just as he was about to kill me, he began to have some sort of inner battle and for a split second I saw his eyes change to purple. Then that monster said that somebody was protecting me.”
“Even if that is true-”
“It is Luna!” Celestia suddenly shouted. “There is still good in him!” Luna took a step back. “I’m sorry Luna, but I know I can save him. I just need to work on that cure I was testing.”
“I understand sister.” Luna sighed. “Let us go home and get some rest.”
“Wretched creature,” Sean said in a whisper. “They cannot contain me forever.”
“Well hello,” A voice said. Looking up the human saw a strange thin black and red creature in front of his cage. It seemed to have the lower half of a goat, yet the upper body almost resembled a human.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Sean asked skeptically.
“Just another being, wronged by those filthy princesses.”
“Am I meant to care?”
“You will when you hear what I have to say.”
“Then spit it out.”
“Listen, you and I were both trapped her by Celestia and Luna.” The creature began to circle Sean’s cage.
“Thank you for the game of catch up.” Sean growled.
“What if I told you there was a way for us to escape and have our revenge?” The monster returned to the front of his cage.
“Go on.” A smile began to creep upon the human’s face.