The Final Days of Man

by Anima Reaper


Chapter Thirteen

Equestria, ponies who hailed from this beautiful continent could never find equal to their beloved home. The bountiful green land was filled with beauty and wonder that was simply unrivaled. Equestria was more than just a land of friendship and harmony. It was the land that mares and stallions called home.

                   Or at least it was… until one creature returned from a forgotten age.

                   Ajax, the last human, scourge of Equestria, singlehandedly brought ruin to the joyous land. He built armies that leveled all the resistance that Equestria could muster, armies that brought even the most proud champions to their knees.

However, the human who had lost his humanity long ago somehow managed to make a friend on his quest for blood.

                   Trixie, a unicorn who knew very little about friendship, befriended the human and in his darkest moment; helped him save himself. The man was finally able to let go of his hatred, but it was too late. Ajax’s sins eventually caught up to him, but rather than bring his allies down with him, he choose to give himself up in return for their freedom. At least he would have the privilege of dying with an unclouded heart.

                   However, before this tragic fable could reach an end, a creature far more sinister than Ajax was exposed. A menice of legend, a being of paramount strength, was revealed to be a master puppeteer. Malice, brother of discord, had tricked a lone pegasus into reintroducing Ajax to the world; so that he could leave Tartarus through the Everfree Scar uncontested and reclaim his power. The beast of myth predated both Ajax and Celestia, a monster with unmatchable power, no one could stand a chance against the godlike fiend. He ravished the land swift and mercilessly.

                   And no man or pony stood a chance.
 
 
                   Two hooves dragged across hard stone brick, occasionally popping up when glazing over a crack or a small stone. The sound of heavy footstep finally restored consciousness to the captive mare. Two groggy eyes slowly opened halfway. The pony’s vision was hazy, she couldn’t make out where she was, but one thing was clear; the stench of blood in air. The mare finally gained sense of the iron crushing grips holding onto her front hooves, something was dragging her somewhere.

                   “Gahaha” cackled a high pitched voice in the pony’s right ear. “For royalty she was quite resilient! You would expect a princess’s will to break before her bones!”

                   “The way I see it; is that we will be able to have more fun with her soon…” slowly spoke a heavy lumbering voice.

                   “Maybe. As long as she doesn’t die down here! HAH!” laughed the first voice. The mare’s eyes finally regained focus, but she couldn’t see anything past long strands of blue, green, and velvet hair. Just as Celestia regained all of her senses, she felt her body tumble forward. The pony slammed against the cold stone floor, but couldn’t let out anything more than a gasp for air.

                   “You think she’ll be ok? We dun messed her up bad,” mumbled the heavy voice.

                   “Who cares!? She’s nothing more than a plaything! All the creatures in here are just for our amusement! Now come on let’s not saunter! Mephistochlees will have our heads if we don’t return soon,” said the high pitch voice.

                   Celestia caught site of her captors as the iron barred door slammed shut. Both of them were demons, the first one was only the size of a small filly. The demon had the head of a raven but the body of a primate. Jagged morbid spines that seeped some sort of green ooze covered the entirety of its back.

                   The second demon was nearly fifteen feet tall. The creature was an abomination twisted out of an ox, a snail, and a mantis. The behemoth crawled on a slug like body, but had the head and body of an ox. Two long folded arms similar to that of a mantis pressed up against its chest. Celestia had never seen such horrid creatures before, she never thought that the creatures of Tartarus would be so repulsive.

                   The two monstrosities soon disappeared into the darkness of the dungeon, leaving Celestia broken on the floor. The alicorn struggled to push herself up, but her front hoofs were far too weak.

                   “No way, is it really you, Princess?” said the familiar voice of a young dragon.

                   Celestia looked up, a smile came across her face, something that hadn’t happened for a while.

                   “Spike… is that you?” mumbled Celestia. The alicorn’s eyes hadn’t yet adjusted to the dim prison.

                   “Hold on, let me grab you something to drink!” shouted Spike as he scurried around. Celestia let out a sigh of relief as she listened to the soft footsteps of the dragon as he ran around the cell. Finally, Spike returned with a dish of brown water. “I know it’s disgusting, but it’s all I could find.”

                   Celestia pushed the dirty water away with a shaky hoof and tried her best to sit up again. With the help of Spike she was finally able to pull it off. “Tell me, what is this place Spike?” muttered Celestia as she laid her back against a rough stone wall.

                   “I’m not quite sure actually, I haven’t been here very long,” said Spike.

                   “I see…” said Celestia.

                   Spike pressed the tips of his claws together. “Um, Princess?”

                   “Yes?” said Celestia as she looked up at the young purple dragon. Spike was covered from head to claw in dirt, but didn’t seem injured in any sort of way.

                   “Do you know where Twilight is? I haven’t heard anything about her ever since things kinda…”

                   Celestia placed a hoof on Spike’s shoulder. “I’m sure she’s fine. There’s no need to worry. Most of our friends managed to escape without being capture-“ The sound of a steel door sliding open cut the princess short.

                   At the end of the hall a hulking figure with bright pink skin approached. Two heavy hooks dragged across the ground as the beast went from cell to cell. An eyeless pig head sat on the creature’s shoulders and snorted the putrid air as if it were a hound dog.

                   “What’s it doing?” whispered Celestia aloud as she continued to observe the swine-like fiend peek into each cell.

                   The monster scratched its fat belly as it stopped at a cell door not too far away. “You’ll do nicely woncha?” the beast nearly spat after every word. “Consida ya-self tha Butcha’s Specility,” snorted the hog as it opened the cell door. Celestia’s eyes strained as she anxiously tried to see what was happening.

                   A bloodcurdling scream rang out through the stone hall.

                   “Scream-a wasn’t cha?” giggled the hog-creature as it stepped out of the cell. A bright yellow mare was impaled on the beast’s left hook. “I’ll cook ya up nicely for the warden. Stick a fat appla in ya mouth.”

                   Celestia’s blood ran hot, but she was powerless to do anything. Ever since Malice had taken over it was pretty much all that she felt… powerless. Celestia had no choice, but to try and contain her anger, she couldn’t let her emotions cloud her judgement. If Equestria even had a chance of surviving this nightmare she would have to keep her head down until an opportunity arose. After all, this was the apocalypse, ragnarok, the end of the world, Equestria herself had opened up allowing the fiends of Tartarus to run amock.

                   Suddenly a bright ray of light shone on Celestia’s face grabbing her attention. She hadn’t seen the sun for quite some time. The alicorn looked up to see a small barred window and the distant sun emerging from behind a cloud.

                   “Spike, could you go up there and see what’s out that window?” asked Celestia. Spike was still quivering in fear after witnessing a pony impaled as if she were just a worm on a hook. “SPIKE!” shouted Celestia.

                   “W-what?!” cried Spike as he instantly relapsed into a state of paralyzed fear.

                   “I need you to go up there and see what’s out that window,” said Celestia gently. “Please, I know I’m asking a lot of you, but this is very important. I’m too weak… and I need your help.”

                   “A-alright,” said Spike as he dug his claws into the stone wall. The tiny dragon climbed the wall of the cell until he reached the window. “I-I see just a wide open space,” mumbled Spike as he looked out the window.

                   “What else?” asked Celestia.

                   “Nothing else really. The window is on the ground level. All I can see is just a wide open area…”

                   “Please Spike, there has to be something else,” said Celestia.

                   “I d-don’t see anything else,” said Spike.

                   “Just look again!” shouted the frustrated Alicorn as she continued to lay against the wall. As the sun continued to emerge from behind the cloud, light flooded the cell through the small window. Celestia began to make something out in the corner of the cell, but a grim voice caught her attention.

                   “Well, well, well, look what we have here.”

                   Celestia looked over. Standing at the cell door was a pair of demons. The foul creatures drooled as they stared at the princess. “Can ya believe it Kruak? The legendary princess herself be sitting right before our eyes.” A festering mound of flesh ridiculed in boils stood at the doorway accompanied by a blood red satyr.

“She doesn’t seem so legendry looking like that down here,” laughed the satyr.

                   “Be gone demons, I don’t speak to your kind,” said Celestia as she turned her gaze from the two creatures.

                   “Wha ya say?” gurgled the boiled flesh-creature.

                   The Satyr growled at the alicorn before turning to his comrade. “How about we teach this prisoner how to be a bit more submissive, Glob?” The satyr pulled out a key and began unlocking the cell door. Both demons stepped inside and slowly approached Celeastia. The alicorn’s horn glowed with magic, but a spark of yellow was all that she could conjure.

                   “Stay back!” shouted Spike as he threw himself in between the demons and Celestia.

                   “Spike! No!” shouted Celestia.

                   “Out of the way pipsqueak!” hissed the satyr as it knocked Spike aside with a sweep of its arm. “Time to teach you a lesson,” growled the demon as it grabbed Celestia by her neck. Celestia couldn’t breathe. Her vision grew dark, but before she passed out the pressure around her neck suddenly released itself. The alicorn caught her breath and looked up to see the two demons frozen in fear.

                   “I don’t get much sleep anymore, so you better have a good reason for waking me up,” said a voice that Celestia had grown to recognize very well. The voice of a man.

                   “Y-y-you Idiot!” shouted the satyr as it turned back to the flesh-demon. “T-t-that’s the Guardian! Why didn’t you tell me the Guardian was in this cell?” The other demon however didn’t seem interesting in standing around and arguing. The disfigured monster was already hobbling towards the door.

                   “It’s him! It’s the guardian! Lock the door! Lock the door!!! In the name of all that’s unholy, LOCK THE DOOR!”

                   “Guardian…” whispered Celestia under her breath as she glanced over her shoulder.

                   A figure was towering over Celestia, it was none other than Ajax himself. The man who had devoted his entire life to exacting revenge on her. Celestia continued to glare at the human without saying a word. She showed no fear despite her susceptible state.

                   “What’s with that look…?” muttered Ajax as he walked over to Spike and placed the tiny dragon back onto his feet.

                   “Hey! Hands off!” shouted Spike as he flailed his arms around. Ajax raised up both of his hands and took a step back. The man was covered in bruises and cuts, his exposed back had dozens of deep slashes that ran across one another. He wasn’t dressed in his usual black armor, he wore only rags for pants.

                   “What are the odds that we get stuck as cellmates… eh, Celestia?” muttered Ajax as he approached the dirty dish of water that Spike had originally offered Celestia. As the human kneeled down to reach for the bowl, Celestia pulled it close to herself with a hoof.

                   “This is mine.”

                   Ajax looked down at Celestia. The human glared at the pony before giving her a smirk and returning back to his dark corner of the cell. He had been the figure that Celestia had begun to notice when the sun was coming out. Both Spike and Celestia watched Ajax closely as he walked away.

                   “Man, look at you. They did quite the number on you Celestia,” said Ajax as he sat back down.

                   “Silence! I don’t want to hear a word from your mouth. All of this is your fault anyways!” shouted Celestia, the alicorn seemed to despise the man more than the demons.

                   Ajax spat off to the side, and slouched back down in the corner of the cell. Neither dragon, pony, nor man said a word for the next hour. The three sat in an uncomfortable silence, until the screeching of a steel door sliding open filled the prison block. The same hog-like creature from before trotted down the corridor tossing chunks of something into every cell.
                   *SPLAT*

                   A slab of red meat landed in the middle of Ajax, Spike, and Celestia’s cell. Ajax stood up and approached the chunk of flesh. As the man picked up the red chunk, Celestia noticed a coat of hair still on the outside of the raw meat… and on that coat, a cutie mark.

                   “STOP!” shouted Celestia when she realized what Ajax was holding. “T-that’s-“

                   “Yea, so? Do you see anything else to eat around here?” said Ajax abruptly. “Unless you want a piece, save your breath.” The man set the chunk of meat ablaze with his black fire and bit into the hunk of flesh. “Reminds me of the meals I had to eat back when I was stuck in the Everfree Scar.”

                   “I won’t let you!” cried Celestia as she lunged forward, but the alicorn collapsed at Ajax’s feet. “You bastard… I won’t let you eat that in front of me…”

                   Ajax wiped his mouth and returned to his corner of the cell with his meal.

                   “Why…why were the guards so afraid of you?” asked the curious voice of a young dragon.

                   Celestia looked over at Spike. “Don’t speak to the likes of him! He’s no better than the demons!”

                   Two green eyes looked up from behind a shroud of darkness at the purple dragon. “Curious one aren’t you? Well, there’s no reason for me not to tell, and besides, it’ll pass some time. It’s not like I got anything better to do,” said the shadowy figure as it continued to bite into its meal. “If you recall, those cowards called me “The Guardian” it’s the name the inhabitants of Tartarus gave me. The lone guardian… of the Everfree Scar.”

                   “If the demons know you so well, then you should know some of them pretty well. Right?” asked Spike.

                   “Spike! Stop!” ordered Celestia as she struggled to sit herself upright again.

                   “What are you getting at tiny dragon?” asked Ajax.

                   “Well, I was just thinking that you might know something about the big guy. You know, the one who looks a lot like Discord,” said Spike.

                   The figure of Ajax looked up at Spike. The darkened figure paused for a moment before taking another bite from its meal. “I suppose I know more about Malice than anypony else… After all, we’ve fought before.”

                   “D-did you win?”

                   “Yes.”

                   “Then you-“

                   “And no.” added Ajax, interrupting Spike. The young dragon paused for a moment and looked over at Celestia. With the help of the cell wall Celestia had managed to push herself upright again. She was now looking over at Ajax, waiting to hear what he had to say.

                   “What I lost that day was far too great for me to call a victory.” Ajax bit into his meal once more. “He wasn’t even at half of his full strength that day… and I… lost… everything. Every single thing that I had left… and that was when my humanity finally failed me. The man I was... what I used to be… what I now wish to be… died that day along with his friends. All that survived was a demon, which mindlessly slayed whatever crawled out of the Everfree Scar for the next couple hundred years.”

                   “So you’re saying that it’s hopeless…” said Celestia. The alicorn’s eyes were cold, but determined, she clearly hadn’t given up hope… yet.

                   “Not at all. You of all ponies should realize one thing by now,” said Ajax as he rose to his feet and approached Celestia. The man carried the remains of his meal in his left hand. “I am a man of conviction. With an unwavering will, stronger than anything my fragile body could ever hope to accomplish. I will not rest, I will not find peace, until Malice is brought to justice.”

                   The man stopped in front of Celestia. “You of all ponies should know how strong my hunger for retribution can be… Celestia” Ajax grabbed the leftovers of his meal with both hands and tore of the remaining hunks of meat, now there was only bone left. “And how far I’m willing to go in order to achieve it.”

                   The man knelt down besides Celestia holding a long femur bone in his left hand. The alicorn bit her teeth at the man, she couldn’t fight him off if he was to attack her.

                   “Hold still…” scolded Ajax as he grabbed Celestia.

                   “Let go of me!” shouted Celestia.

                   Ajax pressed the long bone against the alicorn’s front left leg before tearing off the bottom part of his pants and tying it against her.

                   “What are you…”

                   “Your leg won’t be able to heal properly if you keep struggling,” groaned Ajax as he tightened the knots.

                   “I don’t need help from the likes of you!” shouted Celestia as she tried to push Ajax away with her other hoof.

                   The man grabbed ahold of Celestia’s other hoof. “Even now you still see me as the enemy?! Don’t you understand that if we are to have any choice of survival we must work together!? I can’t believe that I managed to overcome my hatred before you, Celestia.”

                   “Shut up!” shouted Celestia as she tried to pull her hoof away.

                   Ajax refused to let go and continued to hold onto Celestia’s other hoof. “You need to realize that every decision that I made, every choice… was justified through my eyes! Every word I said, every action that I did, through MY eyes was pure in heart! Sure, I walked a darker path than you, but you must try to understand why I chose to travel down such a detestable road! You know the circumstances of my upbringing! You have to look things through my eyes! That is the only way you’ll ever be able to forgive me; is by understanding me!”

                   “Shutup! Why do I even care?! Why do you even care!? Why do you want me to forgive you so badly!? Just let go of me already!”

                   “Because that is the only way we can work together!” shouted Ajax.

                   “Work together? Work together?! I will never ally myself with the likes of you!” yelled Celestia.

                   “Even now at the end of the world?! You are willing to throw everything all away? How selfish! I have friends to protect! There is a monster I need to bring to justice! I won’t let your bitterness be the end of what little I have left!”

                   “How?! How could I possibly forgive you for what you’ve done?! How could you rationally expect something like that!?” screamed Celestia.

                   “BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT I DID!” Shouted Ajax before pausing. “I FORGAVE YOU! I LOOKED THROUGH YOUR EYES! I REALIZED THAT WHAT YOU DID ALL THOSE YEARS AGO WAS JUSTIFIED IN YOUR HEART! AS MUCH AS IT PAINS FOR ME TO ADMIT IT, THROUGH YOUR EYES YOU ACTED JUSTLY! NOW YOU MUST DO THE SAME FOR ME!”

                   “NEVER! YOU ARE LIKE YOUR FATHER AND HIS FATHER BEFORE HIM! MONSTERS! EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF YOU!”

                   *SLAP*

                   Celestia’s cheek stung. The pony placed a hoof against her bright red face. She looked up at Ajax, the man had a distant expression.

                   “Maybe the reason you make so many enemies is because you don’t even try to understand anyone else. All you do is sit on your high pedestal and judge every creature that your light touches.”

                   “Go to hell…” hissed Celestia.

                   “Fine! You can rot here and die with you hatred. Be another toy for these monsters! I don’t care!  I’m sure I will find others who are willing to ally with me.”

                   “GUARDIAN!” growled a voice.

                   Ajax looked over and saw a werewolf standing at the door dressed in steel armor. The half man half beast snarled as it held up a pair of iron cuffs. “You’re coming with me… we’ve got something special prepared for you,” said the werewolf as it began fumbling with the lock on the door.

                   Ajax looked back down at Celestia, the human brushed away his messy white hair. “You know Celestia I wish I could be like you… so sure that every single decision I’ve ever made was right.  Whether that’s unremarkable wisdom or just unmatched arrogance, I bet it makes sleeping at night a lot easier.”

                   “Get over here Guardian! And don’t try anything funny!” hissed the wolf beast.

                   Celestia looked away as Ajax’s words sank in. The man was placed in cuffs and hauled away into the darkness.

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                   “What’s going on!” cried Celestia as she shot up. It was now morning and the pony had awoken due to fact that the entire prison was shaking violently. The shouts and cheers of hordes of monsters could be heard from outside the prison walls.

                   “Some sort of event?” she thought to herself.

                   “Spike! Spike, wake up,” said Celestia as she nudged the sleeping dragon.

                   “Wh-what’s going on?” asked Spike while rubbing his eyes.

                   “There’s something going on outside. See if you can crawl up to the window and see what’s happening.” Spike gave the alicorn a tired nod before climbing the stone wall.

                   “See anything?” asked Celestia.

                   “Yea, I think I see Ajax,” said Spike.

                   “What?!” exclaimed Celestia as she started to look around the cell. Ajax hadn’t returned last night.

                   “What’s he doing out there?” asked Celestia

                   “No idea, but there are sure a lot of monsters out there.”

                   “Doing what?”

                   “Cheering and stuff.”

                   A booming voice from outside could be heard throughout the entire prison. The demonic voice was heavy and fierce, but well-spoken and refined.

                   “Fiends, beasts, succubi and all you other fine creatures, gather around because we have quite a show for you today. On behalf of Mephistochlees, warden of this fine establishment, I welcome you all to enjoy one of the most satisfying matches you will ever see in this arena.”

                   The screams and howls of various creatures filled the air as the demon’s shouts continued to grow. “Without further to do. Let’s introduce you to our first combatant! I have never met this man before, but I’m sure plenty of you have. Please put your claws together for the guardian of the Everfree Scar!!!”

                   Boos and scowls filled the arena. The demonic crowd threw their food at the man as they sneered in disgust. Ajax however didn’t seem to care for the disgruntled crowd. The man remained motionless with his arms folded.

                   The loud demonic voice filled the air once again. “Now, let’s welcome to the arena. I’m sure everyone knows this beast’s name. The one, the only, the three headed dog himself. CERBERUS!” When the introduction was over, a large gate opened at the end of the coliseum and the legendary beast Cerberus entered the arena. Unsurprisingly, more boos were heard as the massive dog entered the arena.

                   “Both of these two creatures are responsible for keeping us locked up for longer than we like to remember, but today we have the pleasure of watching them fight to the death! Who will win? Guardian, or Cerberus!?

                   Screams of cheer filled the arena. “TEAR HIM TO PIECES CERBERUS!” “SHOW THAT MUT WHO IS THE TRUE WARDEN OF HELL, GUARDIAN!” “DON’T LET ME DOWN YA PUP I BET ALL MY SLAVES ON THIS!”

                   A pair of eyes could be seen peering through a small slit near the floor of one of the arena walls. Spike was still watching, curious to see what was going to happen. The little dragon gulped when he saw the enormous beast enter the arena.

                   “Glad it’s not me out there,” thought Spike.

                   Celestia chuckled. “There is no way Ajax will survive against Cerberus. The guy’s tough, but that dog is going to maul him…” said Celestia as she stared at the makeshift splint that Ajax had made for her.

                   Spike looked back at the princess, but the dragon didn’t have anything to say.

                   “Nothing can save him now…” added Celestia.

                   Black as night, with three sets of razor sharp jaws and the strength to crush any foe. Cerberus was a beast of legend for a reason. Standing before the monstrosity was a man dressed in ragged shorts. The two once guardians of Tartarus gazed into each other’s eyes. It was clear that Cerberus had been tortured, the hound’s fur was covered in dry blood. The demon’s had made sure that the dog would be fierce for today’s event.

                   Suddenly, a burst of green flame emerged in the center of the arena. A towering humanoid figure with long sharp claws and large bat-like wings. Dressed in thick steel armor coated in magma, stood a demon who was well known throughout all of Tartarus. A beast whose mouth was stitched shut, but spoke directly into the minds of mortals. The pale creature glanced at the crowd that had gathered to his prison arena. With two extended claws, he greeted the crowd.

                   “I am Mephistochlees… warden of the prison. On behalf of Lord Malice, I welcome all of you. Let this be a bloody match… to the death.” The creature’s voice spoke directly into every being’s mind, even Spike’s. It was a ghastly feeling to have such a terrifying creature speak directly to one’s head.

                   “AHH!” The demon turned to see Ajax charging him head on. With a flick of the wrist the man was instantly bounded in magical green chains. The human continued to struggle as Mephistochlees approached him.

                   “You must be the “Guardian. I’ve heard a lot about you from the master,” said the creature to Ajax’s mind.

                   “F*ck, he’s ugly…” thought Ajax as he got a closer look at the pale creature’s face. The bat wings on Mephistochlees back spread open.

                   “Strange, I was thinking the same thing about you…”

                   “Wait, you can read my mind?” said Ajax out loud.

                   “Yes, I can… I have something I would like to show you by the way... before you die.” In flashes of green fire two large swords appeared in Mephistochlees’ hands. One sword black, the other white. “Quite lovely weapons, they’ll serve me well.” They were none other than Ajax’s prized weapons.

                   Ajax spat in the demon’s face. Mephistochlees slowly wiped it away and backhanded Ajax across the arena. “Impudent little roach! I will enjoy watching you fight like the dog you are!” Mephistochlees vanished in another bust of green fire and appeared in a large throne in the stands. “Now then wardens of Tartarus… begin!”

                   Cerberus snarled at Ajax and took a step towards the human. Ajax had only his black fire at his disposal. However, rather than try to get the first attack in, the man extended an arm and slowly took a cautious step forward. The crowed was displeased, they were expecting a brutal match to the death.

                   “I don’t know if you can understand me, but I’m not your enemy Cerberus. You and I are not so different.” The enormous hound stopped growling at Ajax and took a cautious step towards the human. “I don’t want to fight you…” the man’s hand was now only a few feet from Cerberus.

                   “YOUR WILL IS NO LONGER YOUR OWN!” A chill ran down Ajax’s spine when he heard the demonic voice ringing in his head. Cerberus in the blink of an eye lashed out at the man ready to tear him to shreds.

                   “Wait!” shouted Ajax, but he realized that it was pointless. Cerberus’ mind had been driven into a frenzy by Mephistochlees. The man narrowly avoided losing his head to the onslaught of bites, but luckily found an opportunity to roll underneath the beast and put some distance between him and the hellhound.

                   “You’ve given me no choice…” said Ajax as he summoned black fire at the end of both of his palms. The man dashed forward and shot bursts of black fire at the beast, but the attack seemed to have no effect on Cerberus.

                   The crowd was deafening, it seemed like every demon was drunk with pleasure from watching Ajax and Cerberus fight.

                   Cerberus charged at Ajax, with each set of jaws wide open ready to tear the man to pieces. Ajax dug his feet into the dirt ground of the arena, waiting for the beast to come closer. Just as the three headed dog was upon him, Ajax leapt up into the air and over the beast. Cerberus crashed into the arena wall, shaking the entire coliseum.

                   Spike fell flat on his back, the dragon was knocked off the cell wall from the thunderous blow. It was a miracle that wall was still intact. Cerberus shook its heads, the hound showed no sign of slowing down. Once again the beast charged towards Ajax and this time Ajax did the same. The man sprinted straight toward the legendary gatekeeper of Tartarus fearlessly. Cerberus held its jaws open, ready to devour the man, but Ajax slid under the beast and grabbed ahold of one of its hind legs.

                   The man pulled with all of his might in an attempt to pull the beat’s leg out from under it, but Cerberus’ strength was far too great. The beast pulled its hind leg forward and slammed a paw down, pinning Ajax to the ground. The man desperately dug a flaming fist into Cerberus’ paw in an attempt to free him from the beast. The enormous hound released its paw off of the man and snapped down at him with its three set of jaws. Ajax managed to grab ahold of Cerberus’ left face and dug both of his feet into the bottom of the beast’s mouth. The man struggled to keep the creature’s mouth open while trying not losing his grip on its face.

                   Cerberus began jumping around the arena in an attempt to shake off the man, but Ajax held on firmly still holding the beast’s mouth open with his feet. Still holding onto Cerberus’ face, Ajax reared back a burning fist and dug it into one of the dog’s eyes. Cerberus cried out in pain as Ajax jammed his entire arm into the hound’s skull. When the head went limp Ajax let go and tumbled to the ground.

                   The man sprung to his feet and dusted himself off, ready to fight, but Cerberus was still whimpering. Both of the other heads looked towards the one that Ajax had skewered. Blood continued to gush out of the dead head’s eye. When Ajax took a step forward the other two heads glared at Ajax and began to snarl and growl at him. Ajax charged forward and so did Cerberus, the man leapt up again and grabbed ahold of the middle head of the beast. Once again he dug his feet into the hound’s bottom jaw and held it open. The man once again raised up an arm, but felt an intense pressure clamp down on his arm before he could try to deliver any sort of blow.

                   “This is it! There’s no way he’s getting out of this alive!” cried a succubus spectator in the crowd.

                   Ajax turned to see the beast’s other head firmly clamped over his entire right arm. The man reached over, in an attempt to free himself from the beast’s jaws, but then the middle head snapped at his legs. Ajax quickly raised up his legs, and barely avoided having the lower half of his body ripped off. The middle head lashed out once again, but Ajax managed to backflip onto Cerberus’ right head. The man’s arm twisted in the still clamped jaws, Ajax bit his teeth as he muffled his cries. He grabbed ahold of his right arm and with all the strength he could muster attempted to free himself from Cerberus. He succeeded by tearing off his entire arm. All that remained was a short stump.

                   Ajax slid to the floor, the adrenaline was coursing through his veins. Thankfully his modified body was able to keep him conscious despite the blood loss, but he had to end the battle soon.

                   Cerberus spat out the human’s arm. The dog’s right head drooled a mixture of saliva and blood. Ajax grit his teeth and charged forward at the beast. The man’s eyes glowed red, with every step he took his body began to twist into a fiendish shape. “The gift of Traeger” that which granted Ajax his inhumane powers was doing whatever it could to guarantee his survival.

                   Cerberus lunged forward at Ajax but the man spun around and with a kick shattered the middle head’s front teeth. As the right head dove down towards him, Ajax leapt over it and wrapped his legs around the dog’s neck. Ajax began to suffocate the right head’s throat, while firing blasts of his black fire at the middle head. Cerberus’s body began to struggle and flail as another head slowly died. All that remained now was the middle head. Ajax leapt towards the final head, but Cerberus jumped backwards. The dog raised its front paws up and slammed down towards the man. Ajax spread his leg stance and with his one arm uppercuted the beast.

                   Cerberus fell backwards and collapsed on the ground. Ajax didn’t hesitate to crawl on the beast’s throat and with a final blow end the legendary hound’s life. Drenched in blood the man slowly stood upright as the crowds chanting filled the arena.

                   “Guardian! Guardian! Guardian!” The demons were pleased with seeing Cerberus’ life ended so brutally. Ajax glanced at his missing arm before shouting.

                   “SHUT UP!!!”

                   The crowd fell silent. All eyes were on the on human.

                   “Spike what’s going on up there?” asked Celestia. The alicorn had finally found enough strength to stand on her own, but she wasn’t tall enough to see what was going on outside. Spike continued to stare with wide eyes out of the window as he spoke to Celestia.

                   “Ajax won… but he’s hurt bad.”

                   Celestia was quite.

                   The demonic crown continued to stare and wait for Ajax to say something. Finally the man looked up at all the beasts, fiends, and ghouls that filled the stands.

                   “MALICE! I KNOW YOU’RE OUT THERE WATCHING! I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL KILL YOU AND WHEN YOU BEG ME FOR MERCY IN YOUR FINAL MOMENTS, I WILL DENY YOU! THEN I WILL HUNT DOWN EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF YOU WRETCHED SCUM! DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU SHALL NOT ESCAPE MY WRATH! I WILL HUNT ALL OF YOU TO THE DEPTHS OF TARTARUS IF I-“

                   The man’s ramble cut short when he fell flat on his face, Ajax had passed out. The man was sweating and breathing sporadically. Every single demon in the audience busted out in laughter after seeing Ajax collapse after all of his boasting.

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                   “Ajax!” cried out a voice.

                   The man was half-dead, he had nearly bled out in the arena.

                   “AJAX!” the same voice cried out once more. The man awoke covered in sweat in a dark dungeon. The floor was covered in filth and dry blood, a foul stench that would make even roaches flee filled the air. “I can’t believe it, you’re awake,” said the voice. Ajax’s blurry vision finally focused in on Celestia. The mare was covered in blood. Ajax looked over to see that whatever remained of his right arm was wrapped in torn cloth. “Ajax, stay with me,” said Celestia as she shook the man. Ajax clenched his eyes shut before opening them.

                   “What’s going on?” asked the man as an intense wave of pain washed over him.

                   “Hold still, I’ve stopped the bleeding, but you’re still in danger,” said Celestia.

                   “What?” gasped Ajax as he continued to look around, his vision was beginning to spin.

                   “I’m trying to save your life, damn it!” cried Celestia as she stuffed a wad of cloth into Ajax’s mouth. “Bite down on this. I have to tighten the wrapping on your arm.”

                   “Hm?” was all that the man could say as Celestia grabbed ahold of the cloth wrapping around his amputated arm. With a hard tug the alicorn tightened the bandages.

                   “AHHHHA!” Ajax screamed out into the wad of cloth.

                   “Well, at least the pain in your arm is keeping you awake,” said Celestia. “Spike go get us more water!” The dragon saluted the princess and quickly fetched a bowl of water at the other end of the cell. Ajax’s head grew heavy, his body began to shiver.

                   “You’re freezing. If you don’t die of bloodloss you might just freeze to death.” The pony’s voice grew distant. Ajax couldn’t stay awake any longer, the pain in his arm had gone numb. “No don’t pass out if you do…”

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                   A bright ray of sunlight cast down on a man’s face. Ajax laid in the middle of a dark cell, the man somehow managed to survive the night. His enhanced body and demonic curse was to thank for his survival. Ajax rolled over and felt his right shoulder bump against something. The man’s eyes slowly opened, Ajax’s face was practically touching Celestia’s. Ajax pushed the pony away with his only arm and sat upright. The alicorn woke up and looked up at Ajax.

                   “You’re awake I see,” said Celestia.

                   “The hell do you think you’re doing?” asked Ajax.

                   “What are you talking about?”

                   “Why were you all up against me like that? What the hell happened last night?” Ajax looked over at the wrapping around his arm. The man moved the short stub up and down.

                   “What happened was; me saving your life. You were freezing, I had no other choice but to use my body heat to make sure you didn’t freeze to death.”

                   Ajax paused for a moment and looked at his missing arm and then at Celestia.

                   “So… does this mean...?” Ajax looked up at Celestia with a curious look.

                   “Yes, I’m willing to work together, but don’t think I’ve forgiven you for your crimes,” said Celestia.

                   “Sounds good to me,” said Ajax as he rubbed his head. “So, how long have I been out?”

                   “Two days…” said Celestia.

                   “Not bad…” Ajax’s stomach growled, the man placed his hand against his belly.

                   “I and Spike have saved you what food has been thrown into the cell. We figured you’d be hungry when you woke up,” said Celestia as she pointed to a corner of the cell. A pile of meat chunks could be seen sitting in the middle of a pool of red blood.

                   “What about you?” asked Ajax

                   “What?” responded Celestia

                   “If we’re going to break out of here you’ll be needing your strength. What have you eaten?”

                   “I’m not eating that.” Celestia looked up at Ajax. “I’ll be fine, just worry about yourself.”

                   Ajax walked over and began to eat a piece of meat. The man had seemed to have already made a full recovery… except for his missing arm. While Ajax continued to eat, Celestia trotted over and woke up Spike. The purple dragon looked up to see Ajax eating.

                   “Wow, you made it after all, and you’re looking all better. Well, except for…”

                   “Yea, well. It’s not like it’s that much of a new experience. I just wish that I could’ve kept all my limbs for a bit longer.” Ajax swallowed one final bite. The man had eaten the entire pile of meat in only a minute. Ajax walked over to Celestia and Spike and sat down. “We’ll let’s get down to planning, shall we?”

                   Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Already?”

                   “The longer we wait the worse things will get, and the less of a chance we have at surviving this.”

                   “Sounds like you’ve already got a plan,” said Celestia with a smirk.

                   “Nope, but that’s why we’re brainstorming. So let’s first look at what we have to work with.” Ajax leaned back and began thinking. “One baby dragon, one injured alicorn, one injured human, and whatever is left of my pants,” said Ajax as he looked down at his short shorts. The ragged cloths had served in providing not only as Celestia’s splint but the bandages for his amputated arm as well.

                   “What if we dug our way out? Like in those old movies,” said Spike.

                   “Digging will take too long. Most forms of break-out will take too long actually. We don’t even have the time to learn the pattern of the guard’s schedule and without help from the outside we’re left with only one option.”

                   “And what would that be?” asked Celestia.

                   “Brute force,” said Ajax with a smile.

                   “Great…” groaned Celestia. “So let’s say we do manage to break out. Then what?”

                   “I know where the Elements of Chaos are, and it sounds like Malice needs them to complete whatever he’s got planned,” said Ajax.

                   “If you know of their whereabouts then why hasn’t he forced you to tell him yet?” asked Celestia.

                   “The lashes on my back aren’t for show. Luckily for Equestria’s sake, I’m quite stubborn.”

                   “That you are…” said Celestia.

                   Ajax walked over to the pile of bones left from his meal. The man grabbed the largest bone he could find and began sharpening an end of the cartilage. “Did you regain any of your magic?” asked Ajax as he continued to grind the large bone against the stone floor.

                   “No, guards drop by every day to drain me of it all,” said Celestia

                   “When?”

                   “Um, it should be pretty soon.”

                   “Then get ready.”

                   “Wait, what?!” cried Celestia. “You mean we’re going to do this now?”

                   “Like I said; the sooner the better.” Ajax twirled the sharpened bone in his left hand. “Besides, I don’t think we want to stick around till one of us loses another limb.”

                   The shrieking of rusted steel grinding against one another rang throughout the prison block. The heavy stomping of steel boots could be heard in the darkness as something approached the cell.

                   “That must be our cue,” said Ajax as he stepped back into the dark corner of the cell. “I hope you two are ready.”

                   “Spike, quickly get on my back,” ordered Celestia as she galloped over towards the baby dragon.

                   “Hey! What’s going on over there, princess? You not trying to get out of our little appointment are ya? I don’t mind having to cut ya again till yar obedient,” The demon was the swine-like creature with two large hook hands. Celestia stared at the hog fiend as it struggled to open the cell door, the moment the demon managed to open the door, a figure charged from out of the dark corner.

                   Ajax drove the bone spike deep into the hog’s throat. The fiend squealed as it choked on its own blood. Ajax quickly tore out the beast’s neck and looked back at Celestia.

                   “Well? Don’t just stand there. Let’s get the hell out of here!” shouted Ajax as he darted down the prison corridor. Celestia quickly followed after the man. Spike held on tight to the princess’ back.

                   “Wait help me!” cried out a voice. Celestia halted and ran up to a cell. Inside the prison was a handful of mares, covered in filth. “Celestia?! Look girls, the princess is here to save us!” Celestia tried to bash open the lock with her hooves, but she was still too weak. “Hurry up, dammit! What the hell do you think you are doing?!” cried one of the mares in the cell.

                   “I’m doing the best I can!” cried Celestia as she tried to break the lock again.

                   “Do you want us to die?! What are you doing?! You just want to save yourself!” The ponies were desperate to get out of the prison. “You bitch! Hurry up dammit!” cried another mare in the cell.

                   Celestia once again felt powerless, she could do nothing for the ponies. A different voice yelled at Celestia this time.

                   “What the hell are you doing, Celestia? We have to get out of here!” shouted Ajax as he ran up to the alicorn. The man turned to see all the frightened mares in the cell.

                   “It’s him! It’s the human! He’s here to kill us!” cried out the fearful ponies.

                   Ajax turned to Celestia. “God dammit! We have to keep moving! We can’t save every prisoner!”

                   “Please, we can’t just leave them!” cried Celestia as tears began to gather in her eyes. “I feel so powerless! I just want to help somepony! Rather than watching helplessly as they die!”

                   Ajax turned to the cell door and raised his fist into the air. The man swung down with all his might and crushed the small lock on the door. The man turned to Celestia and grabbed one of her front hoofs. “Let’s go! We have to be quick for this to work!

                   Celestia tried to keep up, she hadn’t regained all of her strength, but since Ajax was holding onto her, she was managing to keep up. The man and pony barged through another door and stumbled into the prison’s cafeteria. Dozens of demonic guards glared at the man, pony, and dragon. After a brief moment to register the current situation all hell broke loose.

                   Ajax exterminated waves of demons with his black fire, while Celestia bucked demons away with her hind legs.

                   “Sound the alarm! The Guardian and Celestia have escaped!” cried out a demon
.
                   As more demons fell to Ajax and Celestia’s fury a presence of evil filled the room.

                   “Well, what do we have here…” the voice of a powerful demon filled the heads of, Celestia, Spike, and Ajax. Mephistochlees appeared in a burst of green fire and pointed his talons at his rebellious prisoners. “This ends here… You’ve finally given me an excuse to execute the both of you…”

                   “Oh no! Not this guy!” cried Spike. The tiny dragon trembled in fear, upon seeing the terrifying creature.

                   “Don’t worry, he’ll soon be nobody,” growled Ajax.

                   “I agree, we’ll make him regret ever setting hoof in Equestria!” added Celestia.

                   “How interesting, two of the greatest enemies become allies in an attempt to defeat a common enemy. A basic instinct that even the most simplistic animal possesses. Shame that you are just throwing your lives away, but I suppose that when I’m done with you two Lord Malice will be pleased with my work.”

                   Ajax and Celestia nodded at one another, the man and the pony began to slowly encircle Mephistochlees from opposite sides. The two were cautious, they were unsure of what their opponent was capable of. Ajax struck first with a flaming fist, Mephistochlees summoned both of Ajax’s swords in a flash of green fire and counterattacked.

                   Ajax narrowly avoided losing another limb to the demon’s onslaught of slashes. “How insulting, you don’t seem to know how to properly hold a sword! It’s such a shame that a clown like you has the privilege of wielding my blades!” laughed Ajax.

                   “SILENCE” Mephistochlees pushed his hand forward and blew Ajax backwards. The demon turned around just as Celestia fired a beam of golden fire. Mephistochlees teleported around the room, avoiding Celestia’s attack. “Still feeling powerless, Celestia?”

                   “Get out of my head!” cried the alicorn as she engulfed the entire room in gold fire.

                   “Could it be, that you are finally realizing how much of a failure you turned out to be? The only reason that you were able to rule over Equestria for so long was because you banished anyone who stood in your way. Others have saved you multiple times, but it seems like you are never the hero yourself.” The demon’s voice continued to speak directly to Celestia’s thoughts.

                   “Shut up! I said shut up!” cried Celestia as she looked around for Mephistochlees.

                   The demon appeared silently above the alicorn and extended his claws before dropping down on top of her. Celestia looked up, but it was too late, Mephistochlees swiped down with both of his claws, but a last second foot to the face sent the demon flying. Ajax landed down next to Celestia and gave the princess a smirk.

                   “Don’t tell me that you let that piece of trash get to you, Celeastia?” asked Ajax as reached down to pick up the ebony and ivory swords that Mephistochlees had dropped. “We got no time to mess around so how about we end this?”

                   Celestia looked up at Ajax. “Yea… let’s end this together.”

                   “You are a fool Celestia! Any idiot can see that the human plans on betraying you after escaping the prison. He is using you and when he’s done, he’ll just take your life. Lucky for you I was able to read his thoughts and warn you…”

                   “Don’t believe the demon’s lies, he’s only trying to trick you,” said Ajax as he gripped his sword and looked around the room for Mephistochlees.

                   “Am I? Come Celestia, we both know the nature of man. The Guardian is selfish, he’s only using you for personal gain.

                   “You are wrong!” shouted Celestia. A bright white light began to gather at the tip of the pony’s horn. Celestia’s eyes glowed white as she spread her wings and hovered off the ground. “He’s changed. I now trust him more than the likes of you!” The energy that had gathered in Celestia’s horn shot out and filled the entire room.

                   Mephistochlees‘ location was revealed by the bright light. The demon cowered in fear when he realized that his cover was blown. Celestia shot towards the fiend as fast as her wings could carry her. “If you can truly read minds, then read this!” The alicorn pinned the demon against the wall with her hoofs, her horn glowed brightly with intense magic.

                   “F*ck you

                   Celestia fired a blast of magic point blank, annihilating the demon in an instant. The demon’s final cries of spite rang out in Ajax, Spike and Celestia’s head. The beast was no more, or at least it seemed like it. A grim shadow could be seen slithering across the floor, Mephistochlees had been defeated, but not destroyed.

                   “You wretched, mongrels how dare you strike down a demonic lord. Next time we meet you won’t be so lucky. I won’t underestimate you two again...”

        Celestia struggled to stand upright. “Damn, that was all of my magic that I had…” she said.

                   “We still got to keep moving!” shouted Ajax as he ran past Celestia and grabbed her hoof. Spike was now sitting on the human’s shoulder. The alicorn’s leg finally caught up to her as she continued to follow behind the man. Ajax glanced back at the pony as they continued to run. “You trust me more than a demonic lord, huh? I’m quite flattered,” said Ajax.

                   “Just because I trust you, doesn’t mean I don’t think you still will betray me...” grimly stated Celestia.

                   “Ah, I see.”

                   The dragon, pony, and man, finally made their way out of the prison. The three carried on running for an hour in order to ensure their escape. They had managed to escape captivity, but now the real challenge was just beginning. They had to find a way to defeat Malice.