As the deadly wave of magic spread across the land, numerous non-Unicorns and non-ponies started feeling its effects.
"My head..." A hapless Earth Pony groaned.
A Griffon fell out of the sky in midflight, convulsing in agony.
"What's... happening..." He groaned, clutching himself.
The effect spread out, affecting more and more beings. It wasn't long before the effect spread overseas. It reached places like Aerovis and Minostan, the citizens crying out in agony. And before long, it reached Equestria.
It affected the Wonderbolts in Cloudsdale, leaving the flyers rolling in pain on the clouds.
"Gahhh!" Spitfire screamed.
"Who jammed the icepick in my brain?" Soarin' cringed.
Even Canterlot, with its mostly-Unicorn population, was affected. Dove was forced to watch in shock as her Earth Pony fiancee Captain Fletcher Ulysses convulsed on the ground.
"Fletcher, what's wrong?" She yelped.
"I... don't know..." Fletcher groaned.
"I'll do everything I can." Dove picked Fletcher up with her magic, planning to take him to the hospital.
Ponyville was hit even worse, with it's diverse population. All the Earth Ponies and Pegasi screamed in pain, while the Unicorns looked on in horror, unable to help.
"May!" Murray Napoleon yelled. "What's wrong?"
"I... don't know!" May cringed. "Feels like my whole body is on fire!"
The suffering continued as the wave spread further outward.
Meanwhile, Shine and Discord approached Nalik, who was positively brimming with twisted anticipation.
"I'm giving you one chance, Nalik." Shine declared. "Surrender. Release Osiris from whatever hold you've got on him, and give up this insane scheme."
"Give up?" Nalik sneered. "When I'm so close to making this a perfect world? Never!"
"Because it's all about what you want?" Discord snorted.
"You can't do this, Nalik." Shine growled. "To corrupt others with your supremacist ways is one thing, but to bring about the death of millions upon others because they weren't born as a pony with a horn? It's not fair!"
"Fair? What about me?" Nalik shrugged. "You may be content to live amongst mongrels and lesser creatures, but I'm not! I suffered in silence long enough while those foul Pegasi fly above us, thinking they're so great, and the Earth Ponies dig around in the dirt like savages! And don't even get me started on those mismatched Griffons! Are they lions, or eagles? They can't make up their bucking minds! And there's more, many more, all of whom insult me just by existing! I've always wanted to dispose of them all, and now I finally have the chance!"
"It doesn't matter what you want!" Shine snarled. "Do you think all those others want to die? No, they don't! They deserve to live like you and me! So what puts your desires above theirs?"
"Because I am better than they are!" Nalik roared. "I and all the other Unicorns. We are meant to stand on top of this world. Sure, Alicorns and Deities may be stronger than us, but that's okay, they're immortals. But we Unicorns will become the greatest race ever. And no one can say otherwise, because they're dead!"
"I won't let you do this." Shine snarled. "Not in a million years."
"Suit yourself." Nalik sneered. "I've been wanting to settle the score with you for quite some time..."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Shine growled. "Come get me!"
"Like I even need to sully my hooves on you, feather freak." Nalik spat. "Eat this!"
Nalik fired a blast from his horn, catching Shine in the side.
"Ahhh!" Shine yelled, thrown off his hooves by the sheer force of it.
"I gotcha!" Discord caught him.
"Where did that come from?" Shine frowned. "Didn't think he'd be that powerful."
"Unless..." Discord realized.
"What, you think I wouldn't soak up some of Osiris' power for my own?" Nalik asked. "What's the point in having a world of only Unicorns if I'm not the most powerful among them?"
"Of course." Shine snarled. "This isn't about Unicorns being on top. Not really. It's about you being on top."
"And why not?" Nalik smirked. "I am a Prince, after all. It is my birthright to rule over others. Unlike you, an inbred hick who somehow charmed an Alicorn!"
"And there you go, bringing Celestia into this." Shine scowled. "Can't you get it through your head that she despises you?"
"Shut up!" Nalik fired another blast.
Both Shine and Discord managed to dodge it.
"Because of you, my vision of a perfect life was ruined!" Nalik roared. "It was so perfect! I would have Celestia as my mate, the other races would be groveling at the Unicorn's hooves, and together, me and Blueblood would had ruled the world together... but no. You came along, and took Celestia away from me, turned Blueblood into a filthy Earth Pony lover, and humiliated me at that summit!"
"I did nothing of the sorts!" Shine growled. "Celestia chose me because we love each other, and Blueblood decided for himself that he loved Dusty and had become a better pony for it. As for me humiliating you...well, you had it coming!"
"Well, so will you!" Nalik growled, "Once Osiris is done, that miserable harlot Blueblood dares call a wife will be gone and Blueblood will come to my side. Furthermore, Celestia would have no choice but to come crawling to me after her precious 'Earth Pony and Pegasus-reliant' country is in ruins!"
"And what makes you think I am going to allow that?!" Shine glared.
"What makes you think you are going to be alive after this?!" Nalik snarled.
Nalik fired a continuous beam of magic. Shine and Discord ducked it, and Shine tackled Nalik, who managed to throw him off. Discord dived in, but Nalik blasted him in the face, sending him reeling back.
"Looks like this fight will be tougher than I thought." Shine frowned.
"At least you have me in your corner." Discord declared. "For what little good it'll do..."
"Back-up is back-up." Shine smiled. "Now let's go get 'im!"
"Charge!" Discord whooped, as they both rushed Nalik.
"That's it." Nalik growled. "Come get a heaping helping of pain!"
Meanwhile, the others searched the rooms for Nalik, stumbled upon Caboose and Globe.
"Globe!" Big Red, Eclipse and Huckleberry gasped.
"Guys! Pa!" Globe ran over and hugged them.
"Caboose!" Daring embraced her husband. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." Caboose rubbed his still-aching head. "Wait, how are you guys still standing?"
"Nalik said he was using Osiris to kill everypony who wasn't a Unicorn." Globe declared. "So how are you still-?"
"Because of me." Isis swept into the room. "I protected them with my own life magic."
"We haveta stop Nalik." Big Red declared. "Before he makes Osiris cause a massacre!"
"I think Osiris might be upstairs." Caboose declared. "On the highest floor."
"Yeah, we heard Nalik mention it." Globe nodded.
"I'll bet Shine and Discord are already there." Eclipse declared.
"If they are, then they might need some help." Isis announced. "Who knows what defences Nalik has around Osiris."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Huckleberry said sternly. "Let's go!"
With that, the group raced back out into the corridor, heading for the very top of the palace.
"We have to stop Nalik fast." Daring declared. "Otherwise, my family will be gone!"
"And Hurricane." Caboose gulped.
"Cherry, jest hold on..." Big Red fretted.
Over in Canterlot, Hurricane was in her room, struggling to stay standing.
"Mom... dad..." She groaned. "...Help me..."
In Dodge Junction, Cherry was leaning against the kitchen.
"Gracious..." She croaked, sweat dripping off her brow. "What's happening? ...Red, where are you?"
Over in the Crystal Empire, the Crystal Ponies that weren't Unicorns felt the agony of the spell, and those who were panicked over the fate of their fellows.
"Ahhhh!" Echo Alchemy cringed, his wings twitching in pain.
"Echo!" Sunset tried to comfort him. "What's going on?"
"I don't know!" Echo cringed. "But whatever it is... doesn't feel natural..."
"Whatever it is, fight it." Sunset urged.
"I'll... try..." Echo groaned.
Up in the castle, Shine and Cadance watched the unfolding events in horror.
"What is this?" Shining asked. "A plague?"
"Whatever it is, we're powerless to stop it." Cadance despaired.
Inside, their son, Anthem, was trying desperately to help his wife, Winter Beach. He tried every healing spell he knew, but to no avail.
"Hang in there, Winter." He said desperately. "Don't you leave me, you hear?"
"I'll try my best, Ant." Winter smiled despite the pain.
Meanwhile, in the Castle's dungeon, Sterling Cross, Silas Necross, and Lunard Cloudskipper were eating their dinner.
"Nice, gruel, huh?" Sterling joked.
"Oh, yes." Silas sneered. "Only a couple of lumps today. They must be trying a new recipe."
"I wonder how our pals in the Forefathers are doing?" Sterling asked.
"Better than we are, of course." Silas scowled.
"I sure do miss the old gang..." Sterling sighed.
"What gang?" Lunard asked. "What are you talking about?"
Sterling and Silas didn't answer.
"Tell me." Lunard growled. "We're cellmates, right? So get to sharing some secrets!"
Sterling and Silas were still silent.
"Stop ignoring me, you flapping pieces of sh-" Lunard roared... before suddenly, he began to keel over in pain.
"Yahhh!" Lunard screamed, clutching his body.
"What the..." Silas murmured.
"What's going on?!" Sterling gasped, "What's wrong?"
"Don't know..." Lunard groaned. "Whole body... feels like it's... on fire!"
"Well, look at that." Silas Necross sneered, pushing aside his food tray. "Dinner and a show."
"Oh shut up..." Sterling hissed, as he suddenly yelled out to the guards, "Guards! We have an ill prisoner!"
The guards came in to investigate... only for the Earth Pony/Pegasi among them to suddenly begin to suffer.
"Ahhh!" The Earth Pony cried.
"Urrh!" The Pegasus groaned.
"What's going on?" One of the Unicorns gasped.
"Oh, now I see what this is..." Sterling realized. "Project Transcendence."
"What?" Silas asked.
"I heard about it a while ago." Sterling frowned. "That spoiled brat Nalik was working on it. He wanted to wipe out all non-Unicorns. I never thought he'd actually succeed."
"Just non-Unicorns?" Silas smirked. "It's not my problem, then."
"We'll see about that." Sterling said sourly. "I doubt Nalik will have much use for us, even if we are Unicorns..."
"Why not?" Silas asked.
"Maybe because we both wound up in jail?" Sterling pointed out.
"Oh, right." Silas said sheepishly.
Meanwhile, Shine and Discord were doing their best against Nalik. The arrogant Prince unleashed more powerful blast, but they managed to dodge (Discord by contorting his slender body, and Shine by taking flight).
"Hold still so I can hit you!" Nalik roared.
"What's the matter, Nalik?" Shine taunted. "If Unicorns are so superior to other races, then surely you can hit a 'pigeon' like me with no trouble, right?"
"Rargh!" Nalik fired another blast, which Shine dodged.
"Evidently not." Discord smirked. "All that stolen power, and you can't do a thing with it."
"I'll show you what I can do!" Nalik screeched. His face screwed in concentration, the hateful Prince unleashed a shockwave of pure magical force, knocking Shine and Discord off their feet and outside the room. Cackling madly, he ran up after them. "Are we impressed yet?"
"Maybe a little..." Discord groaned.
"Now do you see?" Nalik snarled, grabbing Shine by the neck. "This is why my kind will always be superior to yours. We're stronger, smarter, and better than you. Face it, Shine, you will never be my equal!"
"You're right." Shine said quietly.
"I know." Nalik sneered.
"I'd never stoop down low enough to be your equal!" Shine kicked Nalik in the face, sending his foe tumbling to the floor.
"Hrrr..." Nalik put a hoof to his face. He could feel warm blood trickling down his nose. "Why, you..." He glared hatefully at Shine. "you dare to damage my perfect face again? Now you're really going to pay!"
Nalik fired a concentrated beam of magic at Shine. Shine tried to dodge, but the blast singed one of his wings.
"Ah!" He yelped. "My wing!"
"Well, look at that." Nalik smirked. "Always wanted to clip those turkey wings..."
"Try that again!" Discord scowled.
"Gladly." Nalik fired more blasts.
Discord managed to dodge the blasts, and grabbed Nalik.
"Release me, you patchwork abomination!" Nalik struggled.
"Oh, sure." Discord nodded. "Just as soon as you release Osiris from whatever spell he's under."
"Never!" Nalik unleashed another shockwave, blasting Discord away.
"Ugh!" Discord groaned, as he slammed against the far wall, neatly concertinaed down to the floor. "I really wish I had my powers right now..."
Shine, already back on his hooves, tackling Nalik.
"You rise to challenge me again?" Nalik snorted. "After the thrashing I already served on you? By nature alone, I hold the advantage over you! An advantage that has only been increased!"
"True, I don't have the kind of magic you do." He admitted, grappling with his foe. "But I have something just as good; A physique strengthened by years working on a cherry farm!" Shine grabbed Nalik by the chest, and tossed him into the wall. "You're just some pampered spoiled brat who never worked a day of real hard work in your life. You may have magic, but I have the edge in brute strength."
"Fine." Nalik sneered, his horn glowing. "Let's see how long your precious hick strength keeps you alive!"
Nalik unleashed more blasts. Shine dodged them, and tackled him again. As they struggled, he turned to Discord, silently urging him to get to Osiris while Nalik was distracted. Nodding, Discord rushed towards the room containing Osiris' cell.
"Oh no, you don't!" Nalik yelled. He ensnared Discord in a magic field, then pulled him back towards the wall. "You think you can fool me that easily?"
With a blast of his horn, Nalik sent Shine flying over to Discord.
"I won't let you fools stop me." Nalik snarled. "I've worked too long and hard on this to have my plans ruined by a pigeon and a glorified jester!"
"Jester?!" Discord spluttered. "Moi?"
"Let's see how your immortality protects you from this." Nalik charged up a massive pulse of power.
Shine and Discord were up against a corner, with no way to go.
"Goodbye." Nalik taunted, before unleashing his biggest blast yet.
Suddenly, a green and white blur suddenly rushed into the room. The blast glanced harmlessly off her scales.
"What?!" Nalik roared.
"Isis." Discord smiled. "You're okay!"
"Better than okay." Isis grinned, as the others came into the room.
"How about you, pardner?" Big Red asked Shine.
"A little banged up, but I'll be okay." Shine groaned.
"Impossible." Nalik gaped at Isis. "How did you free yourself from the collar? That was a cutting edge piece of technology! It's impenetrable!"
"To everything except hairclips." Huckleberry smirked, waving his clip mockingly.
"Think you could hook a Draconequus up?" Discord indicated his own collar.
"Sure thing." Huckleberry nodded.
"Not so fast!" Nalik blasted the clip to dust with a single, pinpoint blast. "How did you manage to escape?" He cast his eyes on Slink and the others. "And why are you allowing them to roam free?"
"Your highness, we know the truth about your plan." Slink declared. "It is... unconscionable. We cannot in good conscience allow this to continue."
"You dare to defy me?" Nalik snarled. "Betray your own kind?"
"Not our own kind." Sepulchre growled. "Just you."
"We believed in you." Sartorius said quietly. "We trusted you. We listened when you said Unicorns were better than all the other races. But after what we've just seen, I'm not so sure I believe that anymore. How can a member of a 'superior' race do something so evil?"
"Evil?" Nalik smirked. "What I'm doing is for the good of the world! Without all the mongrel races cluttering it up, we will be free to build a utopia! A paradise!"
"But at what cost?" Slink scowled. "Prince Nalik, I hereby resign from your employ."
"Me too." Sartorius added.
"So do I." Sepulchre declared.
"You miserable traitors." Nalik spat. "You swore an oath of loyalty to me!"
"We swore an oath of loyalty to a Prince, not a monster." Slink retorted.
"Even your own servants think you're scum." Daring told Nalik. "We're taking you down, pal."
"Down like a clown!" Caboose added. Everypony stared at him. "Well, I thought it was clever..."
"You think your coming here has changed anything?" Nalik sneered. "Hah! With the power I stole from Osiris, even Isis won't be able to stop me!"
To emphasize his point, Nalik unleashed more magic blasts, sending the others scattering for cover.
"Isis, can you keep Nalik busy?" Shine asked.
"I can try." Isis nodded.
"Good. In the meantime, I'll get to Osiris." Shine declared. "I think I might be able to snap him out of his trance."
"Why you?" Eclipse asked.
"Yeah, isn't Isis the best candidate to get to Osiris?" Daring added.
"Normally, yes." Shine admitted. "But you need her power to keep Nalik from turning us all to dust."
"He has a point." Globe agreed.
"I'll do my best." Isis nodded. "Besides, I want this. That monster is going to pay for what he did to my brother."
"Ooh, grudge match." Caboose chuckled.
"Nalik!" Isis swooped over. "Your crimes against the Serpents will not go unpunished!"
"Is that so?" Nalik sneered. "Forgive me for not quaking in fear at the rage of a little sister. Especially one who wields the power of life. What are you going to do, increase my lifespan?"
"Come and find out... if you're brave enough." Isis taunted him.
"I'll show you 'brave' you overgrown garden snake!" Nalik charged. He fired a blast, which Isis dodged, and retaliated with one of her own. He created a shield to protect himself.
While they clashed, Shine rushed back Nalik to the room containing Osiris' cell.
"Where do you think you're going?" Nalik spat. He prepared a magic blast, but Isis grabbed him with her tail and pulled him back.
"You're not done with me yet!" She hissed.
"Wanna bet?" Nalik unleashed another blast wave, forcing Isis' tail to uncoil. "I'm going to make a snakeskin belt out of you, with matching boots!"
Shine raced across the walkway to Osiris' still-open cell. The Serpent was entranced in the spell, carrying out his spell.
"Osiris!" Shine yelled. "Osiris, can you hear me?! It's me!"
Inside the illusion, Osiris looked down from his spell casting... and saw Midnight Blossom standing before him.
"It's me!" She called.
"You?!" Osiris gasped. "How can you be here? I killed you!"
"Errr... what?" Shine frowned.
"How can you still be alive?" Osiris asked. "Even if you had somehow been resurrected, my spell should have ended you!"
"...Osiris, this isn't what you think." Shine declared. "You have to stop what you're doing. Listen to me..."
"I will never listen to you again, you lying she-devil!" Osiris roared, still only seeing and hearing the Thestral he once knew. "You have the gall to approach me after you betrayed me, Midnight Blossom?!"
"Midnight Blossom..." Shine murmured, before realizing what was going on, "He must be stuck in a illusion... if I try to tell him otherwise, he might react violently... I just have to play along."
Back in the illusion, 'Midnight Blossom' was silent for a bit, before suddenly...
"That's right, I'm Midnight Blossom." 'Midnight Blossom' said a bit awkwardly. "And you're right. I am dead. This is my spirit. I had come to speak with you."
"You have nothing to say that I wish to hear." Osiris spat. "Begone, spirit!"
"Look, I know I wronged you." 'Midnight' frowned, "I used you and your powers for my own misguided ends. I should had never taken our friendship for granted. But you have to listen to me! You're being used once again!"
"And why should I believe you?!" Osiris snarled, "After you caused me such pain? After you betrayed my trust? We were friends, Midnight! Good friends! I... I... even started to think of you as more than a friend..."
"You did?" Shine gasped.
"Yes." Osiris scowled. "But those feeling were for a sham. A fake. The mare I cared for never existed. I made a vow, the day, I last saw you, that I would never be manipulated by unscrupulous mortals again!"
"Well, guess what?" Shine frowned. "That's exactly what's happening!"
"What?" Osiris glared. "What lies are you spouting out?"
"No lies." Shine replied. "Just the truth. You've been deceived by a very evil pony. One who has trapped you in an illusion."
"You honestly expect me to believe that?" Osiris snorted. "It was my sister who told me of the truth. Who helped me see that the non-Unicorns must perish."
"Do you honestly believe Isis would even think of telling you to do something like that?" Shine asked. "She is the Deity of Life. She would never sanction something like mass genocide."
Osiris paused, "Midnight's" words ringing true...
"No!" He shook his head. "She told me the truth! That the Earth Ponies and Pegasi killed all of our kind! And now they will pay!"
"Oh, really?" 'Midnight' asked. "Don't you think Isis would have brought you some proof?"
"Well, she..." Osiris frowned.
"And does she even seem like the kind of Deity who would provoke revenge?" Shine asked.
"No." Osiris admitted. "No, she wouldn't..."
"Even you must see that what you are doing is asinine, even for you." Shine explained, "You are a good and noble being, and so is Isis. Neither one of you would ever commit mass genocide, no matter who wronged you. That goes against everything you stand for."
"...You're right..." Osiris nodded. "This... this isn't me..."
"And do you even remember how you got here?" Shine urged.
"I... I don't." Osiris admitted. "The last thing I remember is... is..."
"That's it." Shine smiled. "Remember..."
"...Is... Nalik!" Osiris realised. "He used some kind of spell! This... this isn't real! None of this is real! It's a trick!"
The illusionary world began to flicker and warp. 'Midnight' herself began flickering between Shine's form and Midnight's.
"I've been deceived... used..." Osiris snarled, his body quivering with rage. He then glanced at the orb he had conjured up "This ends now!"
With a swing of his tail, he shattered the orb, causing the waves to cease. All over the world, the victims were suddenly freed from its effects.
In Cloudsdale, the Wonderbolts got back on their hooves.
"That's enough lying down on the job." Spitfire declared. "Back to work!"
"That's my girl." Soarin' grinned.
In Ponyville, the denizens recovered.
"May, you're alright!" Murray smiled.
"Yes..." May smiled. "Worse case of heartburn I've ever had..."
In Dodge Junction, Cherry stood up once more.
"Hoo!" Cherry gasped. "That's the last time I eat week-old cherry pie..."
In the Crystal Empire, the victims recovered to much joy, but none moreso than Winter.
"You're okay!" Anthem hugged her. "I thought... I thought..."
"Shh, shhh..." Winter hugged him back. "It's okay..."
Back in the dungeons, both Lunard and the guard began to recover.
"I... I'm okay." Lunard gasped for breath.
"Pity." Silas sneered. "I was enjoying the show."
"You okay, guys?" The Unicorn Guard asked.
"Yeah, fine..." The Pegasus groaned.
"Just peachy..." The Earth Pony cringed.
"What in Equestria was that, anyway?" The guard frowned.
"Hmm, looks like the project hit a snag." Sterling glanced upwards with a knowing grin. "Pity..."
The force of undoing his spell caused the illusion Osiris was trapped in to shatter.
"Uhhh..." He groaned, as he readjusted to reality.
"It worked!" Shine smiled.
"Shine?" Osiris frowned. "Where's... Midnight?"
"Not time for that now." Shine declared. "Nalik's still got some of your power."
"Not for long." Osiris snarled.
Nalik was still locked in combat with Isis. For the Deity of Life, she was quite a fearsome opponent.
"I won't let anypony stop me!" Nalik roared. "Not a bunch of mudwalker, a pigeon, a couple of race traitors, an abomination, and certainly not a-"
"NALIK!"
The loud roar was enough to cause everypony to jump in horror as Osiris smashed through the walls of the cell, his eyes glowing with fury.
"What the?!" Nalik gaped.
"Osiris!" Isis smiled.
"He's back!" Discord grinned.
"Someone's bucked now!" Eclipse sneered.
"I'd normally tell you for the language." Daring admitted. "But when you're right, you're right!
"It's flank-kickin' time!" Caboose whooped.
"Go fer it, big guy!" Big Red chuckled.
"Yeah!" Huckleberry and Globe cheered.
"S-serpent...h-how did..." Nalik stuttered, dread starting to loom over him.
"How I broke free of your illusion does not matter. I believe you have something of mine, arrogant Prince." Osiris declared as he menacingly crawled over to him. "And I would like it back!"
"Try and take it!" Nalik roared, firing a beam of magic.
The beam just bounced off Osiris as he made his way over to him.
"What?!" Nalik gaped. "No! Stay back!"
In a panic, Nalik fired more blasts, but Osiris was unfazed. As soon as he was in grabbing distance, Osiris wrapped his tail around him.
"Enough, Prince...my power is too much to be a toy for you." Osiris hissed. With a squeeze, he began crushing Nalik in his coil.
"Gak!" Nalik heaved, as suddenly, Osiris's magic began flowing out of his horn and back into his scales.
"Much better." Osiris huffed as he released the prince.
"No..." Nalik fell to his knees, his body aching all over. "I was so close... I could have created perfection..."
"Nalik-Aqqbar Royale." Osiris said coldly. "You had done something that no one ever did before. Not only that you captured me, but you detain my sister, whom I love above all others, and you tried to use my powers to commit worldwide genocide. With that, you had commited the mother of all travesties. Such a crime would see you in prison for the rest of your days... but unfortunately for you... I am your judge."
"Nopony is my judge!" Nalik roared. "Not you, not that collection of mudwalkers, pigeons, traitors and freaks of nature!" He pointed to the others. "Not even those cloaked fools can do that, and they hold judgement over all!"
"Who?" Shine asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Nalik sneered. "Rest assured, no matter what happens to me, they'll make all of you pay!"
"But first, I'll make you pay." Osiris growled.
"No, you won't." Nalik sneered. "You won't kill me. You're bound by some ridiculous code of honor. You ain't gonna do crap!" Nalik taunted as he stood defiant. "You ain't gonna do craaaap! You ain't gonna do crap! You ain't gonna do it-"
Suddenly, Nalik clutched his throat, as he felt himself choking.
"My, it isn't everyday that somepn taunts 'Death'." Osiris scoffed. "But now, your time has come. It wasn't enough that you held a foolish belief that Unicorns were better than all the others, but to hold all the other races in such contempt that you would rob them of their lives? You are nothing but a monster, and a coward... and now, you will die a slow and painful death..."
Osiris released his grip. Nalik stepped back in fear, realising that his belief may have been premature.
"Now wait a second..." He spluttered. "Maybe we can work something out..."
"You know, the pony body amazes me... especially with how long you can live without your lungs..." Osiris's eyes glowed, as Nalik suddenly clutched his chest, struggling to breathe. "...or your liver..." Osiris's eyes glowed again, Nalik's body beginning to grow pale, as he felt his lower body, "or your kidneys..." Nalik suddenly keeled over as Osiris's eyes glowed once more.
"Is... is he...?" Globe quivered.
"Ah think he is." Big Red grimaced.
"Shouldn't we... do something?" Eclipse asked.
"There's nothing we can do." Shine declared. "Osiris has passed his judgment."
"But I don't have to watch it." Daring buried her face in Caboose's shoulder.
"I got you, babe." Caboose comforted her, as he glanced at the scene, "And here I thought Slot was brutal..."
"Times like this make me glad I don't have internal organs." Discord remarked.
At this point, Nalik was struggling to stay standing.
"Me... Mercy..." He gagged, or rather mouthed as a lack of oxygen prevented him from saying any words.
"That's the problem with ponies like you." Osiris sneered, his eyes glinting again. "No guts..."
Nalik dropped to the ground, wheezing.
"Pl... please..." He seem to say, his body a trembling pale mess.
"Oh, I am not without mercy." Osiris declared. "I don't like to watch others suffer... even slime like you." He manifested a thread between his mandibles. "Allow me to... put you out of your misery."
"N-noooo..." Nalik wheezed.
Osiris severed the thread.
"Huuuuh!" Nalik choked, as he finally collapsed, dead.
"Farewell, Nalik." Osiris declared.
"You... killed him." Slink noted.
"It had to be done." Isis said solemnly. "He crossed a line today. One that no mortal should cross."
"I suppose." Sepulchre sighed. "But how will our mighty nation go on without our Prince?"
"You'll find a way." Shine assured him. "In fact, I'm willing to bet your nation will be stronger than ever, with Nalik and his prejudice no longer corrupting you."
"I hate to interrupt this poignant moment, but can somepony get this collar off me?!" Discord yelled.
"Coming right up." Isis smiled. Using her claw, she pulled the collar off.
"Ah, finally!" Discord shapeshifted into a tree, a kite, a bird, a dog, and a half-fish, half-ostrich creature. "It's so good to be back!" He held claws with Isis. "And it's good to have you back, Isis. For a while there, I thought I'd lost you again."
"Never again." Isis smiled.
"Sorry I got you into this." Discord apologized. "One day out and everything just went to Tartarus."
"Don't be." Isis declared. "My first day back on the surface world was quite an adventure. And we're back together now. That's the important thing."
"It sure is." Discord dipped Isis and kissed her on the lips.
"Awww..." Caboose sighed. "Isn't that sweet?"
"I suppose." Osiris scowled. "If you like that sort of thing."
"We really should be going." Shine declared.
"How?" Big Red asked. "Mah poor ship done crashed!"
"We would be happy to enact repairs on your vessel." Slink smiled. "A couple of days, and it will be as good as new. In the meantime, please enjoy our hospitality, as true honored guests this time."
"That's very gracious of you." Daring declared.
"It's the least we can do." Slink replied.
"I suppose we should bring the Prince's body for interment." Sepulchre frowned. "I don't know what we'll tell everypony..."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Sartorius shrugged.
"Come on, everypony." Shine smiled. "We saved millions of lives today. That calls for a celebration."
"Hear, hear." Eclipse smiled.
"Does that include food?" Globe asked. "I'm starving."
"So what else is new?" Huckleberry grinned.
"Wait for me!" Discord smiled. "Come on, Isis!"
As they left, Isis was about to join Discord... before noticing that Osiris was standing there, over Nalik's corpse. He almost looked... sad
"Hey..." Isis approached Osiris. "Brother... are you alright?"
"...It happened again..." Osiris murmured., "...Because of me... innocents almost..."
"It's okay." Isis told him.
"No, it's not." Osiris frowned. "It's Midnight all over again..."
"Who?" Isis asked.
"Midnight Blossom." Osiris confessed. "A mortal I was once friends with."
"You were friends with a mortal?" Isis gasped. "You never told me about this."
"Because I was ashamed." Osiris sighed. "Midnight used our friendship. Tricked me into giving her a scale, which she used to wipe a entire village."
"Oh, no..." Isis gaped in horror. "So that's why you disliked the surface world so much."
"It's also why I didn't like you and Discord being together." Osiris admitted. "I was afraid you'd fall into the same trap."
"Osiris..." Isis frowned.
"But I was wrong." Osiris declared. "Discord is a good being. He deserves to be with you."
"Thank you, brother." Isis beamed.
"You have better taste in friends than I ever did." Osiris sighed. "Midnight abused my power for my own gain, and I allowed her to. Just like I allowed Nalik to do the same."
"You didn't allow him." Isis declared. "You couldn't have defended yourself from his spell. Not with that collar around you."
"But I still fell for his illusion." Osiris sighed. "And I nearly became the worst killer in this world's history."
"Yes, nearly." Isis declared. "But you didn't. You can't blame yourself, Osiris. As stiff and stern as you can be, you're still a great Deity. And honestly, I couldn't ask for a better brother."
Osiris smiled lightly.
"Nor I a more wonderful sister." He declared.
"Come on." Isis smiled. "Let's go join the others."
"Yes." Osiris nodded. "It's good to know there are more good, decent mortals than evil, cruel ones."
"No argument here." Isis grinned.
The two Serpents glided out of the room, eager to put their harrowing experience behind them.