Here it is. I hope it's better now. Sorry for the freakishly long wait. As it is summer this might become a more regular occurance seeing as I have a full time and part time job now. So patience for the rest would be nice and thank you for hanging with me for this long.

Fury of the Elements

Insanity continued to walk toward the six Elements. Their eyes growing wide with every step he took. His red aura began to grow and expand. It was whipping this way and that searing the parts of the wall that it touched. His footsteps made the granite slightly rumble under the weight of his steps.

“Be ready, this will be the ultimate test.” Thanatos told the six, who all nodded in acknowledgement.

Thanatos summoned a blade to himself holding it to his side with both hands. The six elements prepped themselves and braced for an attack while Rarity and Twilight channeled magic into their horns. Insanity’s aura disappeared before them and the darkness took his place.

“I don’t know Fluttershy but be on your guard.” Twilight responded quickly also lowering her voice.

Thanatos was scanning the room, never letting go of his weapon. He started to lower it slightly trying to fool his former master into attacking them. His eyes frantically moved about the room taking in their dark surroundings. The area began to play tricks with his eyes. He began to see things moving that were not there. He shook his head trying to clear his eyes of the illusions. Thanatos turned to see if his companions were doing the same. They were all scanning the area trying to find the monster that was once before them. As Thanatos lowered his weapon a little bit more a thunderous sound echoed off of the walls around them.

“It’s not good to lower your weapon with your enemy so close!” Insanity’s voice reverberated off of the walls. Thanatos felt a sharp pain in his arm. He looked over too see that he had been cut. The wound was shallow and did not draw much blood. “Did you think that this place was not under my control!? As i told you before…this is my domain!” his voice thundering off of the walls again.

“Everyone, stay on your guard. He can control the shadows.” Thanatos told the others using a low tone, trying to listen for any sounds that could indicate Insanity’s location. The six did not look at him but nodded and went back to trying to pinpoint him on their own.

The shadows moved and rustled across the floor, taunting the six and Thanatos. They moved in the direction that the shadows would prod from. Insanity was toying with them and they knew it. They stayed in the same spot waiting for an attack that never came. The shadows no longer prodded at their legs. They began to get nervous. The seven of them were perspiring; their breathing was quick and shallow.

The shadows danced around them, keeping a short distance away. Thanatos brought his sword above his head and made a downward strike at the shadows. His sword hit the ground with a loud clang. The vibrations from the metal traveled into his hands and up through his arms causing them to ache. He turned trying to gauge where the shadows were being controlled from.

“What’s the matter? Can’t find me?” Insanity said through the darkness. “Inside my castle, I am everywhere and nowhere. You cannot hurt me.”

The six elements and Thanatos were at a loss as to what they could do. They could not see Insanity nor could they harm him. They stood motionless for a few moments continuing to listen and wait. A few minutes passed without incident and they were beginning to relax little by little. When they were sure that the immediate threat had passed they relaxed fully and stared at one another.

“He’s playing tricks on us. He’s only toying with us!” Thanatos said angrily.

“I don’t know what’s going on but I do know that the immediate threat is gone. I think he wants to fight the six of us alone.” She looked up at Thanatos, who had lowered his sword. “Thanatos, why don’t’ you go and do what you had originally planned to do.”

“But don’t you need me for this fight? Insanity was my former master after all.” He said looking at Twilight.

“We’ll be fine. If you succeed then there will be no need to worry about us. The princesses will be restored and they can help if the need should arise.” Twilight told Thanatos matter-of-factly. Thanatos nodded and went down the corridor on his own mission.

“That means that it’s going to be just us for this fight.” Twilight said to the others.

“Truly? Well, how about we put that statement to the test?” Insanity said seeing an opportunity to increase the duration of his fun. The six jumped in surprise, believing that Insanity had left them earlier. “If you think you can beat me, then come to my throne room and we shall test your mettle.” He said.

“Fine!” We’re coming, and when we get there you’ll be sorry you monster.” Twilight said half growling.

“GOOD, GOOD. I’LL BE WAITING THEN.” he said watching them through his magic orb he had fashioned. “They are doing exactly what I had hoped they would, in a short while they will be nothing more than a memory.” Insanity thought to himself.
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The six elements made their way down the corridor and found six different pathways from the main corridor.

“I don’t know but it’s strange that there are exactly six different pathways.” Twilight responded.

“Well, there are six of us and six different ways, should we split up and try all six at once?” Rarity asked.

Twilight though hard for a while “Alright, we’ll split up, but if anything goes wrong you must holler. Got it everypony.”
She said against her better judgment. They all chose a pathway and walked their separate ways.
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Applejack made her way down the path that she had chosen when she came to a dead end.

“Well, it aint this way.” Appljack told herself. She turned to leave when she heard a scraping sound on the wall nearby. “Who’s there? Ah, now you’re there, com out now ya hear!” she called.

A creature faded in through the wall. Applejack jumped back a little at the sight. It was a tall creature. It was hunched over slightly. Its arms were large and muscular. It had a hand on each arm but its fingers resembled razor blades more than fingers and it had large toned legs. Applejack studied the creature for a moment, her eyes never leaving it. It turned to face her.

“Come little pony, show me what you’re made of. I want to see your guts by my feet.” it said with menace.

Applejack tilted the brim of her hat up a little bit and took a charging stance. The creature tensed itself and took its own defensive stance. Applejack charged at the creature. The creature stayed still and waited for his moment. Applejack turned and bucked. She smashed her back hooves into the creature’s face. She lowered her hooves and turned to look at the damage that she had inflicted. Her eyes got wide and her pupils went to the size of pinpricks.

“That was good pony. That almost hurt.” The beast said never moving from its original position. “You have some strong legs there. Now how do you like mine?!” it said while swinging its leg in a roundhouse kick. Applejack ducked and let its leg sail over her head making a small breeze as it passed.

Applejack stumbled backwards knowing that the kick could have taken her head off. She got down in a fighting stance again her eyes narrowed in a determined stare. The creature lowered itself into a fighting stance again as well.

They both charged one another and Applejack slammed into the creature’s massive shoulder and he ran her into the farthest wall. Applejack slammed hard into the wall and some blood escaping her lips. The creature eased off and watched Applejack fall to the ground coughing and spitting up some blood. She tried to stand but her legs would not support her. The creature towered above her and went in for the killing blow using its razor like fingers to pierce her body. Applejack saw the creature’s hand coming down and she moved her body over just enough to survive the blow. The creatures fingers cut through the floor and only one of his bladed fingers hit her skin. Applejack winced a little and tried to stand once again. She was able to find her footing and stood up, her legs shaking slightly.

“Not bad Element. You have some fight in you after all. Or have you been holding back?” the creature asked the Element of Honesty.

“Come on over here ya varmint and find out.” Applejack stated a small grin on her face.

The creature’s face contorted into a face of rage at being insulted in such a manner. He roared and ran at the earth pony. Applejack readied herself for the attack. The creature thrust its fingers at her and she waited until the last second to move. She sidestepped and his hand smashed into the wall behind her. He let out a roar of anger and tried to get his hand free. Applejack used the few seconds she had to buck at his outstretched arm and hit it square on the elbow. A loud snapping sound was heard and the creature let out a sound of intense pain. Applejack stepped back to get ready for another shot at the creature.

The creature stopped wailing and used his other hand to cut its own arm off of its body. It let out a cry of pain as blood rushed from the wound. Applejack was dumbstruck for a moment. The creature turned its newly freed body from its lodged hand and stared at Applejack with fury in his eyes.

“You are going to pay for that!” the creature roared while running at the still frozen Applejack. She woke up from her trance and used the short time she had to brace for the impending attack. The creature lifted its leg and shot it forward a hard as he could. Applejack could move in time and was smashed in the face by the creature’s foot. Her nose was almost flattened to her face and she was sent backwards into the wall behind her. The creature stood there breathing heavily as he watched Applejack squirm on the floor clutching her face with her hooves. “Now you insect I’m going to squash you like the bug you are!” he roared bringing his foot above Applejack. He forced his foot down as hard as he could manage with the massive blood loss from cutting off his arm.

Applejack rolled to the side and watched as his foot smashed a small hole into the floor. Knowing he missed, the creature used his other foot to attempt a punt kick on Applejack. Applejack swiped at the creature’s knee with her hoof and he stumbled. Applejack managed to stand and punch him in the face. He fell on his back and lay there for a moment. The creature got up roaring n frustration. It lunged at her while crouching. The creature caught Applejack on the side with its remaining claw as she tried to dodge it. She did not fall to the ground as the creature had predicted instead she turned and bucked it in the side of the head. Applejack winced after she bucked the creature as blood shot from the wound because of her movement. The creature’s neck snapped its head smashed to the wall in a bloody mess. The creature slumped to the floor unmoving.

“Heh, guess ah won.” She said walking along the wall using it for support as she clutched her side trying to minimize the blood loss. She continued walking but did not reach the main area. Her vision was fading and she felt dizzy. She collapsed to the floor unconscious.
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Rarity walked down the path she had chosen timidly. She looked around her with caution and fear, her vision still ingrained in her mind. She made her way down the long hallway and stopped a moment so she could compose herself.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of Rarity, this is just a hallway, nothing scary about it.” She told herself trying to calm herself down. She kept going forward until she came to the end of the hallway. There was a door in front of her and she opened it hoping that it was the throne room so she could call her friends. “What’s in here?” she asked while opening the black door. She cautiously peeked inside not knowing what she would see. She opened the door to its full amount and stood there looking into a dark room.

“What is with this place?!” she hollered to herself. “It’s always so dark in here, why can’t there be some form of light?” she said appalled by the lack of color and light sources. She studied the room with the limited light she had until she got fed up and started making her horn glow to give her more light. She walked inside and stood in the center of the room. She turned her head trying to study the room. It had nothing in it; the door was the only object there. Rarity heard a screeching noise before the sound of latch could be heard. She turned to see that the door had been closed and locked from the outside.

“What is this?! I demand to know right now!” she yelled into the empty room expecting somepony or something to answer her.

“My you’re a bossy one. How do any of the other Elements put up with you?” a voice asked the white unicorn.

“Who’s there? And I am not bossy but because I am a lady, I expect an answer.” She said defiantly causing the voice to become agitated.

“Whether you are a lady or not makes no difference here or to me!” the voice called.

“And that is another thing, come out here and speak to me face to face! It is very impolite to speak without looking at the other pony that you are talking too.” she said in her famous ‘I am a lady’ voice (S1 E19).

“GAH! You are insufferable! Truly! How does anyone put up with you!? The voice said angrily.

Rarity threw her nose in the air “Well I never!” she said stomping to the door. Putting a hoof on it she tried to pull it open with no success. “I demand you open this door immediately!” she called into the room expecting her agitated conversation partner to speak once more and do as she commanded.

“Will you shut up!” the voice roared. “How did that idiot dragon put up with this all the time? For Insanity’s sake, you are the most insufferable and stuck up creature I have ever had the displeasure of talking to!” the voice roared, its voice ringing off of the walls.

Rarity looked up, rage in her eyes. Her breath was heavy and quick. She stopped listening after the ‘idiot dragon’ comment. “H…How Dare you! How dare you insult Spike!” she roared into the dark space of the room. Her horn began to glow more vibrantly until the room was completely illuminated. In the corner of the room sat a being with his beet red eyes fixed on her, he had a small smirk on his face.

“Ooohhh, looks like I touched a nerve with that dragon comment.” he said studying her face a little longer. “Wait, you liked that dragon didn’t you?! Oh, how perfect! Not only was he an idiot for putting up with you but you had a crush on a freaking dragon!” he laughed at her. Rarity’s cheeks turned red with rage and charged at the creature sitting on his small chair.

“You will shut your mouth about him!” she bellowed while running at the creature. The monster had not time to react; Rarity was upon him in an instant. She began to punch the solidified shadow creature in the face, its dark face becoming slightly bruised under the assault. The creature grabbed her two front hooves as she brought them down once again. Rarity could not escape his grip. The shadow creature stood up to its full height lifting Rarity completely off of the ground. The creature’s eyes burned with rage. He looked at her in the eye. Rarity thought that he was burning her soul, his gaze menacing.

“Now, I’m going to make sure you can’t open your mouth again!” he roared at her. He tossed her across the room. Rarity landed on the ground hard and slid back a couple feet.

Rarity staggered onto her hooves and took a charging stance. The shadow beast walked toward Rarity not caring to take any fighting stance. Rarity charged a fire spell into her horn and charged at him. The shadow monster crouched low and put his hands up to grab her shoulders to keep her from stabbing him with her horn. Rarity made contact with his hands and was stopped dead in her tracks. She smirked and launched her spell form her horn. The shadow monster was hit pointblank causing him to reel back in pain a little bit.

“She hid her spell in the light caused by that light spell.” He said grunting in pain. Rarity stood panting and watched the creature get to one knee. “Alright, that settles it. I’m going to turn your white coatred!” the creature said lunging from its lower position. He let a fist fly which caught Rarity on the side of her mouth. Rarity’s head shot to the side and her body followed suite. She landed on her side her mouth throbbing.

The creature stood over her and picked her up by one of her hooves. Her mouth had a small trail of red coming from her lip. The creature smiled with pleasure. He did not stop looking at her closed eyes taking in the sight. He managed to stop her mouth from moving. He chuckled while admiring his work when her felt a sharp pain rise from his gut. He looked down and saw a white hoof in his stomach. He dropped Rarity and put a hand on his stomach. Rarity got up and looked the creature angrily.

“How dare you lay a hand on me you ruffian!” she screamed. She turned around ready to buck him the gut to finish the job.

“DIE!” roared the shadow as his foot met her stomach. Rarity was lifted off of the floor by the force of the kick and hit the ceiling. Falling she was caught by the shadow creature. He turned her head to his face. “You’re a clever one. But it’s time to stop this farce!” he said bringing a fist back and launching it at her jaw one last time, intent on ending her life. Rarity put up a small barrier to keep his hand from reaching her. “That won’t help you!” he said bringing his fist at her full speed. His hand made contact with the barrier making a sizzling noise before the unmistakable shattering sound. Her barrier broken, his fist went unhindered into her face. Rarity was launched from his grip by the force and smashed into the wall and fell to the ground in a slump. Blood was seeping from her mouth; he had broken her jaw.

Satisfied the shadow creature went to leave the room when he heard a stirring from behind him. He turned to see Rarity trying to get up. Her eyes locked with his and she stared for a moment. Her horn glowed once more and released a beam of pure light energy into the shadow monster causing him to yell in pain. The monster of shadow fizzled and evaporated as the light seared him into nonexistence. Rarity’s eyes closed and her head hung at her chest, exhausted from the injuries and the extent of her energy use.
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Fluttershy continued down her pathway. It was a small and narrow corridor but she didn’t care. She walked slowly, occasionally stopping too look behind her because she kept thinking that something was there. She would let out a small ‘eep’ sound whenever she had heard something. She was becoming more frightened with every passing moment because of she was alone in such a dark place.

“Don’t be afraid little one.” said a small voice. Fluttershy’s ears perked up at the small whisper.

“It’s alright. You have nothing to fear from me.” it told her. Fluttershy came out her mane only a small amount, her nose barely through it. “That’s right you have no reason to hide. I won’t hurt you.” It said comfortingly. Fluttershy’s face was now almost completely visible. “There you go, was that so hard miss?”

“Um…no.” Fluttershy responded weakly. “But who are you and why are you helping me?” she asked quietly, trying not to offend the creature or pony that the voice belonged to.

“My name is unnecessary right now. As for why I am helping you, that is my little secret. You’ll just have to trust me, alright?”

“Now then, just keep coming this way and you’ll be back with your friends before you know it. No more being scared ok?” At the mention of being back with her friends, Fluttershy did not answer. She began to run as fast as she could down the small corridor. “Well, that was easy.” the creature thought to itself.

Fluttershy reached the end of the hallway where a medium sized door waited. Fluttershy studied the door for a moment, trying to decide to go through. Her ears perked when she heard something on the other side. She opened the door slowly and found that there was no room waiting behind but her old cottage stood in front of her. She reached out for it timidly and when her hoof passed through the entry the space around it rippled making the picture of her cottage become wavy.

“Why is my cottage here, and why did the picture have ripples go through it?” she asked the disembodied voice.

“Child, is this not you wanted? To go back to the way things were?” the voice asked.

“Well, yes but my friends need my help and if I leave then I won’t be able to help them.” Fluttershy responded with a small pang of guilt in her voice.

Fluttershy felt the ground shake and the walls begin to close in on her. She stood frozen in place and could not move. Her face was buried deep inside her mane and she had tears forming in her eyes. The ground continued to shake and the walls caved in front of her causing her way back to become blocked. When the ground stopped shaking, Fluttershy peeked out from behind her hair and looked around her.

“Listen child!” the voice roared, “You have two choices now! You can go through this portal back to your home to when things were peaceful and happy or you can close this door and try to find a way back!” Fluttershy shot back behind her mane and started to cry at the sudden outburst from the voice. Her body began to tremble slightly because of her fear. She suddenly shot back out and stood there trying to be brave in this new situation.

“No, I will not be afraid.” She told herself. “But what should I do? I don’t want to abandon my friends.” She said looking at the floor.

“Your friends are waiting for you in Ponyville. I went to them all earlier and they all went back, you’re the only one who has yet to do so.” It said in its most convincing voice. Fluttershy’s face beamed at the news. She didn’t want to make her friends wait for her any longer so she ran through the portal and the door closed promptly behind her. “You and I are going fun.” The voice said after the door closed.

Fluttershy looked at her new surroundings. Her face became downtrodden and tears poured from her face. She had been tricked. The picture of her cottage was only a picture, nothing more. The room she now resided in had a lone candle in the corner casting shadows across Fluttershy’s face. She collapsed to the ground and began to cry until she heard the sound of wind permeating from the wall behind her. She looked behind her, tears still training down her face. In the corner of the room she saw a glowing face with a sinister smile. She squealed in fright and backed up to where the candle was sitting.

“Poor Pegasus, you’re so frightened.” said the glowing face. “Now then I have some plans for you little one. Are you ready to begin?”

“It’s a little something I do to any creatures that I can capture with false hopes of home and friends.”

“What do you do to them?” Fluttershy asked; her face soggy with old tears and new falling down her face.
“You’ll see.” The face said to her grinning widely.

Fluttershy tried to back away knowing that whatever this thing does to any that it captures is more than likely to be horrid in nature. She tried to back away but was stopped by the wall that she was already against. The face charged at her with its mouth open. Fluttershy let out a scream. The candle went out and darkness returned to the room, followed by complete silence.
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Pinkie Pie continued down her chosen path and the corridor did not seem to end. She kept walking for what felt like hours to her. She was beginning to become frustrated that she did not come to the end of her path by this point in time. Her face was contorting into an angry and frustrated one when she smashed head first into a solid wall. She recoiled and rubbed her nose cursing herself for not paying attention.

“Who put this here?” she stated while rubbing her nose her voice more nasally because of her squished nose. “Oh well, guess I have to go all the way back.” She said turning around. She started to take a few steps away from the dead end when she heard a big crash and a…a confetti popper? She turned around and the wall had disappeared and in its place stood a brightly colored room decorated from top to bottom with party decorations. Her face beamed and she was off like a rocket leaving a smoke trail.

She stopped in the door way looking about to find where the best place to start would be. As she stood another pony came up to her. She was an ice blue earth pony with a cake adorning her flank.

“Sure am! Nice party, I love the decorations!” Pinkie boomed out causing the ice blue pony to recoil slightly. “OH! I almost forgot, my name is Pinkie Pie!” she said grinning widely.

“Uhh, thank you. My name is Ice Vein.” She stated somewhat awkwardly. “Hey come on in we have plenty of food and things.” Ice Vein and Pinkie rushed inside to partake in the festivities.

Pinkie made a big inhalation sound. “YOU’RE RIGHT! Nopony should need a reason to party! Let’s GO!” she bellowed while pulling Ice Vein along quickly causing her to drop her drink. For the next hour Pinkie and Ice Vein partied hard.

“Whoa, Pinkie I’m going to go sit down for a minute.” she told Pinkie Pie while panting. She made her way into the adjacent room and took a seat. “Where does that one get her energy from? I’m sure she’s already broken at least all of the laws of physics in the first two minutes of being here. But…all fun must come to an end sometime.” She said with a devious tone. “She likes cupcakes, yes? Well what if one became her demise. My name isn’t Ice Vein for nothing. I have blood like ice water.” She said while chuckling quietly to herself. She went back into the party room.

“There you are Ice Vein. I was starting to get worried.” Pinkie said rushing over.

“Pinkie Pie, would you mind helping me bake some cupcakes? We’re beginning to run low.” Pinkie Pie about lost it then and there.

“Out of cupcakes!? Not on my watch!” she said while bolting away somehow knowing where the kitchen was. Ice Vein ran after her trying to keep up.

They got into the kitchen and gathered all of the necessary supplies. They began to bake them once they had finished with mixing the ingredients and putting them into the pan. They chatted for the time being until the cupcakes were finished.
Pinkie pulled them out of the oven and set them on the counter top to cool for about five minutes. Pinkie had begun ot clean up the mess while Ice Vein remained for a moment. She went to the cupcakes and put a light powder on the entire sheet. Pinkie Pie returned hoping the cupcakes were ready to be eaten by now.

“Hey Pinkie, how about you eat the first one since you helped me out with this when you were a guest at my party.” Ice Vein said with a grateful look on her face.

“Wow! Thanks Ice Vein!” Pinkie exclaimed while gulping down the entire cupcake in one large bite. “Hey Ice Vein, I don’t feel too good.” Pinkie said while her face contorted into a sick look a short time later.

“What are you talking about, grrulp.” she asked while trying to keep her vomit down. She began to stumble around until she collapsed onto the floor. The last thing she saw before succumbing to sleep was Ice Vein standing above her with a devilish grin on her face.
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Rainbow Dash slowly flew down her path never setting foot on the ground. She hoped that it would give her an advantage should she end up in a fight. She had flown down her path for what, to her, felt like hours. The hallway appeared to go on forever, a tunnel of never ending darkness. She was getting agitated and began to speed down the hall leaving a rainbow colored trail in her wake.

Rainbow sped down the hall when a trail of blue sped by her. Rainbow increased her speed and tried to stop when she saw. Rainbow Dash followed the blue trail for what seemed to be minutes at the speed that she was traveling. Eventually she was able to make out the figure in front of her. Her eyes widened when she realized that she was racing Fleetfoot.

“F…Fleetfoot?” she said under her breath, tears of happiness forming in her eyes.

Fleetfoot stopped and landed on the ground. Rainbow Dash flew down to her and landed as well. Rainbow Dash watched as Fleetfoot turned to face her. She saluted to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash tried to compose herself to no avail. She jumped and tackle-hugged Fleetfoot. Rainbow Dash let tears flow into the blue Pegasus’ mane. Fleetfoot was stunned and did not move for a moment.

“I thought you had died that day. After your return from the recon mission.” Rainbow dash said while still letting the tears flow.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I remember flying in and passing out. Then I remembered a sharp pain on my body. It was like I was being burned.” Fleetfoot said flatly.

Rainbow Dash’s heart stopped. Had she just heard correctly? She stepped back and recalled the events of the day when Fleetfoot died. She remembered Fleetfoot dying in her arms and yet she was telling her that she was alive the whole time.

“No. That’s not possible I held you in my arms when you died! You couldn’t have been alive!”
Fleetfoot went up to Rainbow Dash and looked her dead in the eye. Rainbow noticed something off about her eyes. They were not their original color. They had become a lighter shade. They were the eyes of a walking corpse. Rainbow Dash stepped back.

“You’re not fooling me Fleetfoot! I know you died and your eyes prove me right!” Fleetfoot’s face changed from serious to one of infuriation.

"Because you died when you came back from your recon mission.” Rainbow Dash cried.

“You let me die! I would have made it if you had just flown faster!” Fleetfoot shouted in Rainbow Dash’s face. Rainbow Dash’s heart sank. She did not want one of her heroes to die the way that she had.

“Shut Up! Do you know what it’s like to be so close to home, to see it in the distance only to fall short on the doorstep? I didn’t even get to see the rest of my crew before I died!” Fleetfoot cried at the top of her lungs. Rainbow Dash could only remain silent and stood. “It’s your fault I’m gone! It’s all your fault!” She screamed. Rainbow Dash had tears flowing from her eyes as Fleetfoot spoke.

“I’m so, so, sorry Fleetfoot. If only I flew faster.” Rainbow said, her voice wavering. She bent her head and closed her eyes.

“So, after all of this you can’t even look me in the eye anymore. Fine!” Fleetfoot yelled while bringing a hoof across Rainbow Dash’s face. Rainbow landed a short distance away with a thud. Rainbow Dash stood up.

“If this is the price I have to pay then fine” she said under her breath. “Come on then, show me what you’ve got.” Rainbow said with confidence.

Fleetfoot screamed and pounced upon Rainbow Dash delivering blow after blow to Rainbow’s face and body. Rainbow Dash remained standing, though wavering at times. Fleetfoot brought another hoof to Rainbow’s jaw and she hit the wall and slumped to the ground unable to recover. Fleetfoot did not relent. Fleetfoot pounded Rainbow Dash into the ground until Rainbow’s chest had stopped moving and blood covered the floor.
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Twilight continued down her path which was different than the others. As she walked, the walls appeared to play images of her past; days of happiness and sadness. They played the days of old when she was in school under the tutelage of the Princess to the most recent of events. Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head trying to erase the images that had been burned into her head by the walls. Her steps became somewhat irregular the farther she went. She would stumble and stop with every few steps.

“Congratulations Twilight Sparkle, Faithful Student of Princess Celestia. You found me.” Insanity said; his voice quiet and unassuming. Twilight watched as the walls collapsed and vanished in clouds of black smoke.

As the smoke cleared she could see Insanity sitting upon his throne with the Princesses on either side. He sat straight and unmoving. His eyes burned with pleasure at the sight of the purple unicorn. He moved his hand down to his side and began to pet Celestia’s head like she was nothing more than a pet. He studied his prey like a wolf waiting to strike. Twilight stood unmoving at the sight of the Princess being treated like an animal and at her grossly distorted figure.

“What’s the matter? Don’t like seeing them like this?” Insanity asked, still petting Celestia.

“Yes, I know. And I could really care less about what you think. But answer me this, why did you come alone? I thought you had to have your friends with you in order to defeat me.” he said with a hint of confidence.

“I was just about to call them.” Twilight said while her horn glowed and she tried to teleport her friends into the room with them. She gave up resting for a minute before trying again. Her horn charged up with purple magic and again nothing happened. “What’s going on? Why isn’t this working?” she said while she strained trying to summon her friends. Insanity straightened himself.

“Having trouble? That’s unusual for a magic wielder of your caliber.” He said on the verge of laughing. “The reason that your spell is not working is because, your friends are already here.” He said while standing up.

“What are you talking about? They can’t be here. I saw them go down different halls!” Twilight said becoming extremely worried.

Insanity snapped his fingers and the throne room became illuminated revealing that the other Elements were indeed already with them in the throne room. “You see? They are already here.” Twilight looked around the room in horror as she witnessed her friends lying on the floor around them or lying against the walls. Their bodies battered, maimed and unmoving.

“How… I… I don’t understand. How could this have happened?!” Twilight wailed from her spot in the room.

“I will tell you how this and everything else came to be, my dearest pony.” Insanity said while walking to her side. He placed a claw on her shoulder. Twilight shuttered under his touch. “You already know a little about my origin, yes? About whom I was before and how I became what I am?” Twilight remained silent. “Good. What your dear Princess did not tell you was that it was not the old stallion that was Celestia’s father who contained the knowledge that drove me insane but another.” Twilight remained unmoving. “It was my older sister. She was unnaturally similar to you actually. Tell me, do you know why everything has transpired?”

“I read a book and released you, that’s all I know.” Twilight stated flatly trying to hold back the memories of that day.

“Yes you are close. But there is one minor detail that I neglected to mention. That knowledge that I stole was a tome written by my sister. She had a rare talent, not even Celestia’s father possessed it. It was the gift of foresight. She would write her visions within its pages and would warn us of any terrible tragedies that were to come.” Twilight’s face contorted trying to comprehend Insanity’s story. “Yes I know, it’s difficult to understand. My sister could see the future, none of us knew how far but she saw a particular vision that made her worry more than any other. That vision was my future. The future Equestria under my rule and under my command. She shared the vision with me in order to try to keep me from going down the path that I was destined to follow. But when she told it to me, I couldn’t resist. I wanted that future to occur. I knew that if those events came to pass than I would be more powerful than Celestia’s father, our maker.” Twilight shivered with fright when he had finished, she did not want to listen any longer. “That brings me to how this came about.” He said while waving a claw in front of his body pointing to the room and everything and everypony in it. “You see, your friends were always here inside this place. Those paths they took were all illusions. By going along with the plan to split up, you gave me the opportunity to take care of your friends one by one, making easier to defeat you. Tell me, why did you go along with a plan that you knew would yield this result?” Insanity asked while walking to the center of the room and turning to face Twilight.

“It is because I told you too.” Insanity stated flatly. Twilight’s head shot up and stared at Insanity.

“I mean that you have always been my puppet! I have been influencing the events of your life to lead up to this point! I made you what you are! I crafted your life ever so delicately and changed events so that you end up here in my throne room!” Insanity said smiling. He walked up to the shocked Twilight and got down to eye level with her. He put of his clawed fingers to her chest. “In a manner of speaking, I created you.” He whispered into her ear. Twilight jumped back and fell to the ground her heart pounding and her mind racing thinking back on her life up too this point.

“No…No…No! H…How? The Princess freed me from you and I have always lived my life the way I wanted to. You were sealed in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters! You couldn’t have used me!” she screamed while tears flowed.

“Silence!” Insanity bellowed while storming up to her. “I weaved your life around my will! You made choices that I told you to make! I put you under the tutelage of Celestia! It was I who gave you the life you had; even being an Element of Harmony was my doing!”

“No…No! Please stop!” Twilight wailed while covering her ears to keep from hearing any more.

“You have never been free! Even when the princess ‘freed’ you of me, I still controlled you ! I was the god of knowledge, remember? I knew how to manipulate the flow of time, the flow of the universe. The life you had then and the life you have now, it was all, my doing. You have always been my little pony.” He said still eye to eye with Twilight. Twilight could not take much more. She felt as though her head would explode.

“An apt question my dear. You see my sister decided to give up her godhood and become a mortal like you.” Insanity said with disgust. “Why she decided to do this none of us knew. What I did know was that she shamed all of us in doing so but the only one who was glad to see her do this was the Father of Celestia. It was him who talked into her ear planting that nonsense. He was the one who made her turn her back on us, on me! That is why I had to make this future occur. That! Is why I do what I do and have done what I have done!” Insanity tried to calm himself in order to keep himself from destroying them in that moment. “But to answer your question about why I picked you out of all of the other unicorns in the world, I picked you because you are her descendent.” he spoke. “I picked you to make my sister and the old coot suffer beyond all measure. I wanted to make my sister cringe in her grave when I manipulated her offspring into the scourge of the world. I made it so that her offspring would become the gateway for me to take over this world and the best way to do that was to weave the threads of time into what I wanted them to be. I have been manipulating every event of every day, of every hour, of every minute ever since Celestia and Luna took over the throne. And now I have succeeded. I rule Equestria. I rule time and I rule you.” He said with deviousness unlike any before.

“How can this be? I am free of you, I…I always have been.” Twilight said breathing short, sharp breaths. Insanity walked back over and stood looking down at Twilight.

“No! After my sister told me my future, I have been planning your life since before the original Elements were created! She told me of you of your latent abilities and of your life. Your life was to be so grand, becoming queen one day and leading Equestria into an era of benevolence and a golden age unlike any the world had ever seen before. You were to live to see your grandchildren’s grandchildren grow up and become leaders and political figures. You were to have a life that only I deserved.” He said with bitter resentment. “Once I discovered the way to control time and space I began to twist your life away from what it was meant to be. You weren’t even supposed to be an Element of Harmony! I made sure the true owner of your Element was never born and destroyed his family line in an instant.” Insanity was beginning to become more infuriated by the memories of times past. Twilight had lost it. She lifted her head and hoof and struck Insanity in the knee causing him to collapse.

“Ughg. Stupid girl!” he bellowed while grabbing her and tossing her into the wall. “You were not supposed to be born into the family you were! You were to be born to the. Great! Princess! Celestia!” Insanity roared while punching Twilight’s stomach in between words. Twilight lay on the ground coughing and trying to catch her breath. “When the others became old and they transferred their powers into the Elements of Harmony I was unable to continue because I had to draw power from the others in order to succeed. I was not powerful enough on my own at the time. I waited for years before the waiting drove me mad! I had to read that tome in order to stay sane and continue waiting. But in time I went mad. I was cast out! My madness granted me some power but it still not enough! But then I was summoned by the good scientist Orion Lunarious. After devouring his colleagues and taking as much of his mind from him as I could I had enough to continue. My plans were able to move forward but not until I was sealed in that blasted castle!” Insanity picked Twilight up by the throat and held her tight. “But even when I was sealed I was unhindered in manipulating time and space. I planned the rest of your life to this point and once I have killed you I will take the Elements and rebuild them using a dark magic I know. I will bring about a fury unlike any the world has ever seen before and I will be the sole ruler of this world now and for the rest of eternity!” Insanity told Twilight who was struggling to escape his grip. Twilight went limp and he threw her to the ground, his mission complete. Satisfied he began to gather the necklaces off of the others before he went over to Twilight.

He had gathered the five necklaces from the other Elements when they began to glow. The jewels had become hot as fire and were burning Insanity’s hand. He threw them down and began to heal his claw before the damage became greater. He looked on as the jewels began to levitate and they flew over to where Twilight lay. They touched her skin and were absorbed into her body. The jewel in her tiara did the same.

“What is this?” Insanity said with venom in his voice, holding his claw in the other and walking over to Twilight’s body.

Twilight’s body began to glow a vibrant white and lifted into the air. Her features began to change. Her face became more elongated similar to the Princess’s and she grew large and vibrant purple wings. Her coat color had become a lighter purple and she had golden shoes on her feet. Her mane became long and flowing. Her eyes opened and a pair of glowing sapphire eyes pierced Insanity’s very being with their stare. She was set back upon the ground and stood.

“No, it cannot be.” Insanity’s said in disbelief while his face contorted with anger and hate.

“You will do no such thing! I will not allow it!” the Alicorn said. Insanity growled for a moment and regained his composure.

Insanity War

by InsaneBatPony

Fury of the Elements Part 1