"WIFE?!" I shouted out, "I thought you said she died?!"
"I thought she was." Blade replied sorrowfully, "But it seems I was tricked in the end."
"Now, seeing as you've been searching for so long, it's only fair I tell you what happened. . ." Cruelty whispered into Blade's ear.
Some few years before Swift encounters the letter. . .
Shi'ara was quietly humming. Her husband was away on business. Which was good, she had a visitor who can't be seen.
"Cruelty, you know that you have to lose that cripple." Deceit said, watching Shi'ara from the couch.
"I know. But I also know my Husband. He'll search endlessly." Shi'ara replied, finishing up the last of the dishes.
"Oh, having second thoughts are you? I thought you wanted me?" Deceit asked in a hurt tone.
Shi'ara smiled, "I do. And that's why I need to make preparations. If I just drop dead, Blade will see right through it!"
"But, he isn't here right now, and I can't wait for you forever. Besides, what else could be more cruel?" Deceit said with an all-knowing smile.
Shi'ara smiled back, "Then what are you waiting for? Take me."
Present Day. . .
I stared speechlessly as Blade stared at Cruelty with disgust.
"Stings, don't it?" Cruelty smirked, "That the wife you loved so much didn't even so much as hesitate to find somepony else. . "
Blade's glare intensified, but he remained silent.
"So, how about a bargain? We fight, one on one. If you win, I'll let you go. You can even take the element." Cruelty suggested, "But if I win, I'm going to show you even more pain. And by the time I'm done, you will wish I killed you."
Blade looked about ready to burst. But he still remained silent. I thought about Swift, I hoped that wherever he was, he was still thinking about me.
Then, the silence broke.
"I have a condition." Blade finally answered, "You'll finish your story first."
Cruelty smiled, "Of course."
The Day Shi'ara died.
Shi'ara was smiling. All of her plans were set. She would leave home, walk down a street, then, be replaced with a burning corpse.
As soon as the clock chimed, she left. It was time.
Time for Shi'ara the Kind to die. And Cruelty to rise.
Shi'ara was walking down the street to the meet up point when she saw it. A zebra child, playing in the street, watching her. Wordlessly, she motioned for the kid to follow her.
When they had walked for awhile, she pulled the foal into an alley. There, others were waiting for her. Near them was a Zebra who was barely alive. Lighter fluid sat in buckets around the poor zebra.
"W-what's happening?" The kid asked.
"Simple, making sure that I get my ticket to freedom." Cruelty responded, before grabbing the foals neck and giving it one yank. With a snap, the foal fell lifeless.
"And that means no witnesses." Cruelty whispered.
"Ma'am, if you'll follow me." Deceit asked.
Cruelty smiled, "One last thing." She walked over to the zebra about to burn, and dropped a wedding band and it's chain on top of it. The last thing tying her to Blade.
And as she left the city, now with a small smoke cloud above it, Cruelty looked towards the horizon.
Soon, she would have power, and a pony to share it with.
Present Day. . .
Blade snorted, "Now, let's fight." And immediately jumped at Cruelty.
However, Cruelty only laughed. "Does it hurt? Knowing that I caused you all that grief, only to find out I didn't want you anymore?" She asked while dodging Blade's attacks.
Blade gave a small roar was he swung his blade at Cruelty, who merely dodged.
"That's it! Use your anger, show me the cruelty I showed you!" Cruelty cackled as Blade's blade kept barely missing her.
Blade didn't stop trying. I could see the hurt in his eyes. He loathed her. That's when the Cat's words reached me.
"Keep an eye on the Bounty Hunter, his greatest trail is coming." He knew? He knew that Cruelty was Blade's wife? How?
"And the icing on the cake?" Cruelty spoke up, "I had those Cats lie to you!"
"No. . " I whispered.
"I used their petty beliefs to help me meet you again Blade. Just so I could watch you writhe in agony!" Cruelty cackled.
Blade finally had enough. He turned on he hooves and bucked his hind legs at Cruelty. The sudden change in direction threw Cruelty off, and it was enough for Blade's hooves to connect. Cruelty went flying.
Before she could stand up, Blade stood on top of her. Making sure she was pinned.
"Well? Do it! teach me my lesson! Hurt me!" Cruelty laughed sadistically, "Show me YOUR cruelty!"
Blade raised his metal hoof, but he never brought it down. He sat there, his hoof raised as he studied Cruelty's face. Finally, he stood up.
"You, you are not worth it." He told her.
"What?!" Cruelty asked in shock.
"You'd have me hurt you, like you did to me. But, I cannot. Because that's not who I am. Unlike you, I was kind. I spent so much time looking for you, because I didn't want to believe you were dead. But, now I know that my wife died long ago. And it's for her that I spare you." Blade explained, feeling a pulse ring through him. "And now, I'm going to help save Equestria from you and your friends. Laying down my life for Equestria is the kindest thing I can do."
If I was speechless before, I was in pure shock now. As was Cruelty.
First, Cruelty was quiet, then, she began to hiss. As she hissed, I noticed a soft dark green glow. I turned my head to look at the element. Instead of a craggily black crystal, it was smooth and polished. It was dark green. It was beautiful.
I felt kindness radiate from it.
I turned back to Cruelty, who was now sobbing in the sand. Blade picked up his element, only for it to disappear.
"W-what happened?" I asked Blade. But before Blade could respond, another voice spoke.
"The errors of the past are being mended."