//------------------------------// // The potential within.. // Story: The Endless // by BloomingStar //------------------------------// MEANWHILE... Out in the courtyard, Phan Tom was practicing his signature skills for the battle. He fired several dark spears at each of the targets that passed through, causing them to be sliced almost instantly in half. Next, he dodged through every arrows that were thrown at him as he countered with a crescent slash, deflecting them at random directions. He then conjured a dark orb as he approached his next target with blinding speed. As he reached to it without a mere second, he pushed the orb into the dummy, pushing it to the wall. He stopped to catch his breath from the exhaustion of his energy in getting almost perfect results in his training. Sighing, he felt like he hadn't use further his power since he believed that it could be enough to battle his cousin in equal strength, but it could also lead to the risk of losing permanent focus. Sure, he was given immortality, but he could still experience true death through different means. One would be a weapon that was forged into the undying dark magic that was strong enough to truly harm any foes. Another would be done by a ritual as simple as that. There was one way, but he didn't know of what would it be since he only heard rumors about it. The last would be done by a mere being who possessed the power of life and death that was given by their ancestors. He shuddered to think of who would it be. "You feel disappointed?" the Master asked. "I feel like I still do not have the efficient capacity to ever face him in true battle, Master," Phan Tom sighed. "I understand, he may be a mere child, but he possess such power as the Wretched Fiend herself," the Master nodded. "I must have the efficiency to further match equally against him," Phan Tom said. "Which is why I am giving you this," the Master showed a mysterious orb to him. "What is this?" Phan Tom took it from his hold, "Some kind of a boost?" "Yes, this orb contains a portion of my power," the Master declared. "But why?" Phan Tom asked. "In ever I will fall, you will be our last hope to bring our tribe to a bright future and eliminating that cursed colt," the Master explained. "If I absorb this, I will receive your ultimate abilities?" Phan Tom inquired. "Yes," the Master nodded, "You will feel my power as it is also your own." With that, Phan Tom started to absorb it, sensing dark traces of dark magic going inside him. As more magic he absorbed, he thought to himself that he was being buffed like using steroids to boost the muscles. He heard voices of the dead whispering at his ears. As he completed the process, he felt stronger. He let out a laugh that could signify of how much the darkness consumed him into the very end. His eyes were glowing bright red, a means of a dangerous beast unleashed. IN CANTERLOT... Shard and Venang looked at the night sky, seeing stars twinkling with grace as they felt the colt air breezing upon them. Staying close to one another as the thestral wrapped her side wing around him as a blanket. They had been thinking of what would be the possibility of their fate if they ever win the war. Will they still be together after, will Venang's parents let Shard to propose their daughter in such a young age, and will they have a peaceful life with no worries. Few minutes later, they went inside the castle, straight to their quarters for to slumber. As they opened the door, they saw something glowing at their front table. It was a bluish orb of some sort. They approached it and examined what kind of the orb was and why it would be at their room. They touched the orb as they noticed a mist surrounding the room, even the door, so they could not get out. Then, spectral beings appeared around them as the two flinched of being surrounded by ghosts. The spirits were in different species, one was a hybrid of bull-pony, the other was bull-snake, the next was a pony-snake that looked similar to Neezra, then lastly was a normal unicorn with a cloak, covering his body, but only his face. "Do not fret, children, we mean you no harm," the cloaked unicorn declared. "How can it be when you guys are surrounding us with this mist?!" Shard yelled. "We only wish to speak with you foals," the pony-snake assured. "I hope you won't give us nightmares," Venang cringed. "We will not," the pony-snake smiled. "Okay, start talking," Shard declared. "As you wish," the cloaked unicorn nodded as he began to explain, "You see, this battle will determine the future of our tribe if it will ever to be continued to exist or to be erased from history. Standing triumph against the Master will only be just an obstacle. The real challenge is the one who will face you in equal battle, a battle that will truly shake the fate of our souls." "The real challenge?" Venang asked. "Phan Tom..." Shard frowned. "Correct, he has become one with the legends," the bull-snake nodded. "He's just a pretender," Venang scoffed. "Exactly. We have full confidence that you two have the potential or at least one of you ever strong enough to face him until your last dying breath," the cloaked unicorn declared. "Why are you telling us?" Shard asked. "Because this will mark your finale in your history," the bull-snake replied hastily. "Farewell, children," the spirits bellowed as they disappeared from view and the mist subsided. The duo looked at each other for a moment. "This is so bucked up," Shard shook his head. "No kidding," Venang nodded, "Facing the leader and then your cousin. Such complication." "So, this will be the end of all things, eh?" Shard asked. "I guess so, fate and all even if we are invincible," Venang frowned. "But hey, at least we still have each other." "Always," Venang smiled. "We may never get another chance to continue in life, but for the very least, we will find worth to our end," Shard declared. "Forever best friends?" "Forever!" the duo said proudly in unison. Suddenly, they felt magic whirling around them as they sensed their respective abilities showing them something. Venang felt the flame covering her as if like armor. Her flame sword appeared unknowingly from her hoof without even summoning it. She noticed she had a flame star from her other hoof, it was the same her cutie mark. For Shard, looked at the mirror to see himself in his archon form. He noticed he was in a frost immolation and an orb appeared at his side. He held it and it transformed into the knife sword that he first conjured, but only sharper now and longer. It had a distinct traces of dark frost air swirling around the blade. He also noticed that he was wearing a dark armor chest plate. It looked like a royal guard's, but it had symbol of a strange skull with glowing bluish eyes. The plating was made of such dark magic like it was forged from Tartarus. "Could this be?" Venang asked. "I think so," Shard replied, "We must be in our advanced forms now." "This is awesome!" Venang beamed. "Totally, I got a fresh chest here," Shard smiled. The filly giggled as she kissed him on the cheek. "Let's sleep now so we can prepare our techniques," Shard declared. "Right beside you," Venang nodded. The duo went back to their original appearances as they went to bed, embracing each other to sleep smoothly for the cold night and to have good dreams. They needed it to be prepared for the conflict. They would either succeed or fail as they would soon find out of what would be the ending of their everything.